The civilized world is slow to realize that it found itself again under a frontal assault by a wily dictator, who is both smarter and more powerful than Hitler and Stalin have ever been. Unlike them, he can destroy the human civilization as we know it what makes him hypothetically both untouchable and invincible. Hypothetically, because the price he would have to pay for it would be his own life and mafia bosses like Putin do not believe into dying for whatever cause - such outcome is for suckers. Consequently his dream of governing the world is not realizable either, making this war a stalemate until he dies of more, or less natural causes. However, without American help he will overcome Ukraine and then take the Baltic States, three small NATO countries connected to Europe only via the narrow Suvalki gap. Then our boys will have to engage in Europe in person to fight and probably die there in droves as twice before. Thus the cost of inaction today will become exorbitant tomorrow, especially if invigorated China attacks Taiwan in coordination with Putin. Today, it would be easy to use the frozen Russian money to effectively finance the Ukrainian resistance against Russians. Tomorrow, such sums will seem like pennies compared to what will be needed.
The article misunderstands the "laws and norms" at issue here. The issue isn't that seizing Russian assets would destroy some vague sense of law and order in the world-on that Russia has already broken. Rather it would undermine the free movement of money around the world. We still want to preserve that system- one in which people can freely move capital around, where you can send your money to a bank in the US and feel its just as safe as it is in your home country. Seizing Russian assets *would* undermine those norms- it would undermine the current international economic system. You may think its worth it, you might even hate that system. But you still have to acknowledge what's at stake. There's a reason US officials aren't willing to cross that line.
It's just money anyway. Giving Ukraine a pile of money isn't going to change their fortunes.
Excellent reporting. This could totally change the complexion of the war if Ukraine were being funded by confiscated Russian assets. I’d imagine they’d want to use those funds for their defense, as soon as possible.
How can we apply pressure? Is there an avenue thru Congress or only Executive action?
The civilized world is slow to realize that it found itself again under a frontal assault by a wily dictator, who is both smarter and more powerful than Hitler and Stalin have ever been. Unlike them, he can destroy the human civilization as we know it what makes him hypothetically both untouchable and invincible. Hypothetically, because the price he would have to pay for it would be his own life and mafia bosses like Putin do not believe into dying for whatever cause - such outcome is for suckers. Consequently his dream of governing the world is not realizable either, making this war a stalemate until he dies of more, or less natural causes. However, without American help he will overcome Ukraine and then take the Baltic States, three small NATO countries connected to Europe only via the narrow Suvalki gap. Then our boys will have to engage in Europe in person to fight and probably die there in droves as twice before. Thus the cost of inaction today will become exorbitant tomorrow, especially if invigorated China attacks Taiwan in coordination with Putin. Today, it would be easy to use the frozen Russian money to effectively finance the Ukrainian resistance against Russians. Tomorrow, such sums will seem like pennies compared to what will be needed.
man I wish I could live in the illusion this guy lives in. I have never heard of a country that won a total victory having yo pay war reparations.
The article misunderstands the "laws and norms" at issue here. The issue isn't that seizing Russian assets would destroy some vague sense of law and order in the world-on that Russia has already broken. Rather it would undermine the free movement of money around the world. We still want to preserve that system- one in which people can freely move capital around, where you can send your money to a bank in the US and feel its just as safe as it is in your home country. Seizing Russian assets *would* undermine those norms- it would undermine the current international economic system. You may think its worth it, you might even hate that system. But you still have to acknowledge what's at stake. There's a reason US officials aren't willing to cross that line.
It's just money anyway. Giving Ukraine a pile of money isn't going to change their fortunes.
Excellent reporting. This could totally change the complexion of the war if Ukraine were being funded by confiscated Russian assets. I’d imagine they’d want to use those funds for their defense, as soon as possible.
How can we apply pressure? Is there an avenue thru Congress or only Executive action?
ANY poll in MSM is garbage-a majority of Americans support Ukraine and understand Ukraine MUST WIN, & that REQUIRES USA support!
Please stop quoting any MSM polls as ALL recent have been found skewed & lacking in their methods.