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[Loud Whispers]

Putin saving tigers in Russia from poachers

Challenge: Read the comments

[NJW2000]

I read 5, then had to stop. Do I get a reward of some kind? I think I did quite well...

[Loud Whispers]

The only acceptable comment I saw was that one guy saying he wanted to touch a tiger's fluffy tail, and even then that'd translate into a darwin award

[Frumple]

Eh, not if they're young enough. The cubs are pretty harmless, especially if you've got some nice thick gloves. Less dangerous than a maine coon, really. Could probably manage it with an adult, too, if you knew what you were doing (and that's discounting, y'know, tranqs). Large cat psychology is fairly well known, last I checked. There are situations where petting a tiger isn't an invitation to dinner. Not necessarily a lot of them, but they're there.

[Culise]

No, the other NATO nations wouldn't let an invasion of, say, the Baltic states (both the most vulnerable and arguably among the lesser important NATO members) slide.  It'd be the one line in the sand that absolutely cannot be crossed.  It's the whole reason there are 2000 troops training in southwest Poland right now, along with the naval exercises in the Baltic, the April mobilization exercises in Czech Republic and Netherlands, and the reason the present Allied Shield exercises (alluded to in the linked article) are going to cover 14000 soldiers from 22 nations (19 NATO).  Basically, if NATO refuses to fulfill the reason for its own existence, there will be no NATO, and for their own reasons, the nations you term as "important" have little desire to see that happen.

It's also the reason Putin is not...well, is probably not foolish enough to attack the Baltic states overtly.  He's more likely to stick to more indirect methods, and hope they don't blow up in a way that catches him in an awkward situation like Donetsk. 

[Sheb]

Yeah, Putin says he's not going to attack the Baltics, but then according to him he's not attacking Ukraine at the moment either...

[Helgoland]

I'm certain Poland wouldn't let it slide, but I'm not so certain about Germany or the US...

By the way, DIE ZEIT reports a flareup of violence around Mariupol. Sergarr, Guardian, your takes?

[Loud Whispers]

The only guarantee that Russia will not invade the Baltics is that he's incapable of doing so for now.

[Sergarr]

By the way, DIE ZEIT reports a flareup of violence around Mariupol. Sergarr, Guardian, your takes?

Typical positional warfare. I haven't heard of any advances happening over there, so it's "ceasefire" as usual.

Yeah, Putin says he's not going to attack the Baltics, but then according to him he's not attacking Ukraine at the moment either...

Well we aren't attacking Ukraine right now. If we were, then Ukraine would've stopped existing as a sovereign state within several weeks. We're just, as mainiac would say, "astroturfing" in Donbass to make them expend their vital resources on keeping their army in combat shape and thus ensure the failure of Europeanization of Ukraine, which will hopefully lead to failure of the current Ukrainian government and its replacement with a more "neutral" one.

[Ukrainian Ranger]

I'm certain Poland wouldn't let it slide, but I'm not so certain about Germany or the US...

The only reason for The Western world to intervene in case of Russian attack on Baltics is international prestige...

From a strategic point of view, what Russia gains? Another area it needs to feed and keep occupation forces on?

When Hitler annexed territories before WW2, he annexed useful territories. He got military stockpiles of two countries, he got manpower pool to form new divisions from, he got more defence industry.

What Putin can get from Baltic states? What it got from Crimea and War ruined Donbass? Will Russia be anymore dangerous for USA or Germany than before gaining new territories? No.

By the way, DIE ZEIT reports a flareup of violence around Mariupol. Sergarr, Guardian, your takes?

Shirokine? Well, it is not calm for months so nothing new

[Helgoland]

He'd effectively obliterate NATO's credibility. That's gotta count for something.

[Loud Whispers]

It costs the taxpayer millions to fund for a Khornate bodyguard to protect the blood God as he inspects his skull throne in the middle east.
Labour confirming they have no shame by whoring themselves to the EU's colours.
Hilarious debate between Emily and sexy Milo.
UK trade with EU ALL TIME LOW. Tea from Ceylon! Not Brussels!

[Ukrainian Ranger]

He'd effectively obliterate NATO's credibility. That's gotta count for something.

You mean force all NATO to actually prepare for a war and not hope that USA will come and save their asses?

[smjjames]

He'd effectively obliterate NATO's credibility. That's gotta count for something.

You mean force all NATO to actually prepare for a war and not hope that USA will come and save their asses?

We probably will anyway, if not because of treaty obligations, then to be 'worlds police'.

[SirQuiamus]

Hilarious debate between Emily and sexy Milo.

Repeat after me: INEQUALITY IS FAIRNESS, OPPRESSION IS CARING, DEPRIVATION IS PRIVILEGE, TRUTH IS THE STRONGEST FORM OF RHETORIC.

...

AND MILO IS SEXY NO HOMO.