"We believe we're now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine."

[RandySF]

“We believe we’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack on Ukraine. I would say that’s more stark than we have been.”

— White House press secretary Jen Psaki, at her press briefing.



https://politicalwire.com/2022/01/18/bonus-quote-of-the-day-1606/

[Lovie777]

1. COVID is consuming Russia and Putin wants to kill more people . ...

[Texaswitchy]

2. Power is all consuming.

He really wants back all those countries and resources.

[jimfields33]

5. Question is what are we going to do about it?

Honestly, I hope nothing. Other countries can deal with it.

[Torchlight]

3. Moscow moving troops into Belarus while removing families from embassy in Ukraine

That in addition to the already 90,000+ Russian troops on/near the Ukraine border. I'd be surprised if Moscow didn't attempt a peremptory offensive as spring rolls around if not sooner.

Ukraine's grain is a tempting target for Putin, as Russia's own agricultural product has been steadily declining (albeit slightly) over the past twelve years. Despite being one of the poorer nations in Europe, Ukraine is still often considered the Breadbasket of Europe.

Were I to guess, I'd say a conflict between Kiev and Moscow is imminent.

[roamer65]

9. I would agree with you.

[Klaralven]

14. When does the frost come out of the ground in Ukraine, turning the country into a sea of mud?

It has to be over by then.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. You mean like we did on Iraq, killing one million civilians.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but I don't like being hypocritical either.

[RandySF]

8. Just because Bush did something wrong in 2003 doesn't mean it's ok for Putin in 2022.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. Thus, the two wrongs don't make a right

[Torchlight]

12. Was that conflict brought in the press briefing up and did Psaki address it?

[rockfordfile]

6. We must support Ukraine.

[pwb]

7. Just like we do?

No.

[Runningdawg]

10. America hasn't been at war for 4 months. Let's get it on.

[marie999]

13. Ukraine needs to become a buffer country.

If Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, Russia and Belarus will have almost a 2,700-mile border with NATO. Russia and the U.S. split Korea in two so it wouldn't totally be a Democracy or a Communist country. And then there is Vietnam which was kept in two by Eisenhower by not accepting the 1954 Geneva Convention.

[Xolodno]

15. It's also entirely this is dog and pony show.

Move the forces close and make it appear they are getting ready to invade, then do nothing. But what if it's a permanent move of the forces? Come spring, suddenly construction equipment shows up and they start building a new permanent base.

Putin could have shoved the military there to make some rather nervous at first and help destabilize Ukraine even further. But putting a permanent new base there, now you don't know what will happen or when. But it would be prudent to have prepared forces nearby, in case all hell breaks loose internally in Ukraine down the road. Or for that matter, maybe that's what the plan is, continue to fan the flames internally and thus create the justification to invade in the name of stability at a later point.

[budkin]

16. GOP blames Biden for "wagging the dog" in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....

You know it's coming.

[FakeNoose]

17. Russia has already launched a cyber attack against Ukraine

Data of several Ukrainian government agencies is wiped in cyber attack

(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/world/2022/01/18/Data-of-several-Ukrainian-government-agencies-is-wiped-in-cyber-attack/stories/202201180146

ELLEN NAKASHIMA AND DAVID L. STERN
The Washington Post
JAN 18, 2022 6:50 PM
Several Ukrainian government agencies had their data wiped in a cyberattack that was coordinated with another attack that defaced government agency websites in recent days, according to the Ukrainian government and other individuals familiar with the incident.

The actor behind those attacks has not been officially determined, although the Ukrainian government has said it believes Russia is responsible. The cyber aggression comes as Kyiv braces for a potential invasion by Russia, which has close to 100,000 troops massed on its border with Ukraine.

The presence of destructive malware on dozens of computers belonging to several Ukrainian government agencies was first reported by Microsoft in a blog post late Saturday. That malware, which Microsoft dubbed WhisperGate, “has been recorded in several institutions that have become victims of the attack,” the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine said in a statement Tuesday.

“Thus with a high probability it can be argued that the defacement of the websites of the attacked government agencies and the destruction of data using a wiper are components of one cyber attack aimed at as much damage as possible to the infrastructure of state electronic resources,” the agency said.

- more at link -

Cyber attacks are Russia's favorite way to go, am I right?