Quote Originally Posted by OngBonga View Post
Are we just pretending that Iraq, Afghanistan, and the many other wars didn't happen now?
Of course not.

But seriously, friend. Compare other facts in these cases. Compare body counts. Both of the invaders and the invaded. Compare the political motivations - both public and private. Compare the actual events on the ground that happened.

There are similarities. There are stark differences, too.


The whataboutism critique of your position seems apt, frankly.
Your position to quell criticism of the current situation in Ukraine with only comparisons to other similar actions by "the West" while not giving any sense that you are aware of the differences... it's provocative to say the least.
Frankly, it comes across as being a Putin apologist, despite your frequent denials thereof.

I think you are presenting yourself in such a way that it feels like you're excusing or justifying the mass murder of political opponents for personal gain.

Which, let's be clear... that's what Putin is doing. That's what he has done. That's why he's the leader of Russia. Not because of any moral semblance of earning the authority of his constituency. But by killing, coercing, and imprisoning his opposition and seizing authority. His modus operandi, if you like, is well established historically.


But whatever. My editorial on Putin as a person implying I'm better than him aside...


Past atrocities committed by anyone do not excuse current atrocities.

Putin is attempting a genocide of Ukrainian people. The towns Russia occupied and left in the past week are testament to his purpose. He's not trying to liberate anyone. He's not trying to end Nazi values in Ukraine. He's the one bringing Nazi values. Just because the actual Nazis did that on a larger scale doesn't mean what is currently happening is somehow OK.

Just because there are sparse instances of Cities being destroyed by NATO occupation doesn't mean that it was OK then, and it certainly doesn't mean ramping up the scale on previous bad actions is justifiable.