[ceejayoz]

> The entire good guys vs bad guys narrative falls apart

It really doesn't. There'd be precisely zero shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant if Russia hadn't invaded anyone. They clearly bear the lion's weight of responsibility here, and they additionally have a vested interest in using the plant as cover for their forces.

The IAEA isn't going to rock the boat, as criminal responsiblity isn't their mission; keeping the plant safe is. Getting thrown out by the Russians won't help that mission any; any criticisms are going to be... cautious.

(Like the ones in https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/update-192-iae...; "The IAEA experts also need access to all six turbine halls together. However, they were only granted partial access to the turbine hall of reactor unit 2 on 27 October, after earlier the same month receiving similarly restrictive access to the turbine halls of units 1 and 4.")

[meeuwer]

And again moving the moral goalposts. One minute it's an existential struggle between good and evil, the next minute it's "well, it's a gray area, you actually are allowed to shell nuclear power plants, everything that's gonna happen is on your enemy anyway, and as a bonus we'll keep our mouth shut about any inconvenient evidence, mkay?". Seems more like one sports team versus another one looking to bend the rules a little.

That's my problem. One can't have their moral cake and eat it too.

[ceejayoz]

No, it’s not a moral grey area. Russia shouldn’t be in Ukraine. They bear the responsibility of that invasion.

[justsomehnguy]

I assume you have a similar standing on the presence of USA in Middle East? Or this doesn't work this way for you?

[ceejayoz]

I wouldn’t really equate Ukraine with Hussein or the Taliban, but yes, the US bears huge responsibility for the mess there.

[justsomehnguy]

It's amusing what you can't spill 'USA shouldn't have been in ME'.

[ceejayoz]

“I am mad you didn’t answer the question I didn’t ask.”

No, the US shouldn’t be in the Middle East in a military capacity. It hasn’t done the world much good there.