Re: Take back control
>>If you shrug your shoulders over the annexation of part of a soverign state(1) just because you think "some"(2) of the people there "might"(3) be happier ruled "elsewhere"(4)
Corrections to some of your weasel wording:
(1) An autonomous region attached to a sovereign state which snaffled it up after WWII.
(2) "Large majority"
(3) Are known to by reputable surveys and the fact that by referendum the people there didn't want to be controlled by the Ukraine.
(4) The country that the Crimean Peninsula used to be part of and which the people there identify as.
>>"Also since when did ignoring a dictators illegal actions EVER make any of them more inclined to follow the rule of law?"
(1) Putin has majority support in Russia. You might not want to believe that but he does. Standard of living has risen dramatically in his time in office.
(2) Strawman because what I was saying was that most European people don't want confrontation with Russia. Putin's feelings on our lack of desire for a war are immaterial to whether we want it or not. (We don't).
>>"Yes, god forbid would should respond in kind to russian military build up."
If NATO forces are surrounding Russia at key strategic points right on its borders, it's a little whimsical to affect that its a defensive and reactive measure. Building missile bases in Poland (against the wishes of the majority of Polish people) is provocation, not defence.
>>"No, we should just tuck our tails between our legs and run off like typical EU cowards"
Does that actually work on people? Calling people cowards for not wanting to act aggressively towards our neighbours? I'm sure there's some hyper-testosterone'd uneducated types out there that will leap up to attention if you tell them they're cowards, but I don't think it's going to work on El Reg forums.