On the basis of its actions at the moment, Russia merits being sanctioned or bombed back to the dark ages.
That shouldn't and won't happen, rationally, because
- the Russian people are victims too
- Russia has nuclear weapons and if its leaders have nothing to lose they will be much more likely to use them
- the sanctions are being used as leverage to stop the war - if Russia withdraws, the legal sanctions must be lifted.
Putin has undoubtedly damaged Russia and himself with his miscalculation. The challenge for the west must be to do what it can to remove obstacles to the rehabilitation of Russia, not to punish it forever because of an evil leader, although they do seem to have a track record.
It could get worse. The Yanks could re-elect Trump.
|
