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Carrington Ward's avatar

Unfortunately, in terms of geopolitics, we've seen what's going on 1856 and 1948, and the numerous Balkan crises in between. Russian influence over the Bosphorus and Dardanelles has been a a nightmare scenario for basically all Western European statesmen since 1815.

Turkey's relations with NATO are ruptured, a Russo-Turkish alliance is all but assured. Putin has succeeded in 2019 where Stalin failed in 1948, and Nicholas I failed in 1856. Not only will the Kurds likely free their ISIS prisoners, the Turks will allow the Black Sea Fleet free access to the Med.

But, for the most part, we're thinking 'War on Terror' while Russians are thinking "Warm Water Ports."

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EllTeacher's avatar

Very nice historical overview of what's driving the current political and military engagement.

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Matt, NYC's avatar

Are you tacitly suggesting that Trump may be following Putin's orders...? He ignorning not just his military advisors (he's too busy gutting them) but also his staunchest Party supporters, and seemingly overnight. Either he is the strategic blithering idiot we know he is and/or this is proof he's beholden to Putin. All ties back into his debt obligations that we're not allowed to know about.

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Carrington Ward's avatar

The stark reality: Putin is succeeding in 2019 where, in 1948, Stalin failed. There will be hell to pay.

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