[Dolores12]

> Tell me, when has NATO threatened to place nuclear missiles in Ukraine?

I never said it has to be nuclear missiles. Tomahawks will do for 800km range. And that's a threat for national security.

>I'm willing to admit Putin may have convinced himself and some Russians that there's a national security concern, but the evidence is severely lacking.

If your neighbor says your dog is a concern, you better listen to your neighbor and do not adopt 10 more.

[scottLobster]

The Cuban missile crisis was over nuclear missiles, not conventional. NATO put nukes in Turkey and Italy, Russia tried to match with Cuba. The crises ended when both sides agreed to withdraw nuclear missiles from said countries.

If my irrational neighbor says my quiet, well-behaved dog is actually barking all day and night, growling at him as he walks by (even when the dog is inside), and if I don't stop it he'll break into my house and kill my dog: I keep my dog inside, put up some cameras, clean my gun and file a police report.

[Dolores12]

Well, that's the point. Ukraine never behave well, and its master seems to ignore numerous warnings and refuses to listen. Go file a report now.

ps: the good thing the master is safe and fine. he will adopt another one just to annoy the neighbor again.

[scottLobster]

Yeah, Ukraine is downright angelic compared to Putin's Russia. They actually had the potential to become a thriving democracy and regional economic power, something Putin can't have on his border. Makes him look bad and destabilizes his legitimacy, same reason the Soviets put up the Berlin wall.