Well, they say anything is possible, and here's Binoy Kampmark hitting the nail on the head: Russia was provoked - threatened - by NATO, and Putin decided that he had to protect Russia. What a surprise! Well, not to people free of the 'big-bad-Russia', 'poor-little-Ukraine' emotionalism syndrome.

OK. So Russia is on the wrong side of the political fence, and Putin is bad, mad and mean. But he is doing what is best for Russia, as would be expected from the leader of any country.

The warnings were given: they were ignored.

A lot of words that simply say: Another US losing war.

The Biden/Obama Administration has done more to sink the US credibility than any preceding Administration in history, I would safely guess.

Israel beware!…And definitely add Australia to that list.

Absolute C.R.A.P. writ large! And written I believe by a brown-nosing sycophant! Shite shovelled by the shipload!

The man is a liar and a thief who has no moral compass whatsoever! And neither has the brown-nosing sycophantic Putin loving Author.

Anyone who can condone the unprincipled murder of 400 babies a day doesn't deserve any recognition as a member of the human race! Needs medicating with a little lead pill between the peepers. If only to make this world a safer place for humans with normal empathy and an operational moral compass!

NATO is solely a mutual self defence organisation that threatens nobody or nothing except the mad czar's future illegal expansionist plans.
Alan B.

Dearest Al B

Ukraine is Russia, like an arm is to a body: So likewise, Taiwan is China, like an arm is to a body, as is the silly little island called Hong Kong.

Many such things are historically so.

Not observing the simple facts is how the US loses its wars, another historical fact oft ignored.

Diver Dan,

What Rubbish. Ukraine is to Russia like a battered wife to a cruel husband.

Ukraine like Poland has often been occupied and abused by the Russians and has long wanted independence. It has a different language and culture and has often been subject to brutalisation and genocide by the Russians.

The 1000s of crimes against Ukrainian civilians in occupied Ukraine show how little the Russians care for the lives of those they have conquered.

The provocation that Russia suffered was primarily the Ukrainians telling the Russians to piss off and let them run their own affairs.

Australian based 'analysis' is bonkers....

US faux academic grifter Mearsheimer has no credibility as he is a generalist, no current expertise specific to Russia-Ukraine (cf many European academics who do) and he is supported by the US Charles Koch Foundation, should ring alarms bells?

Gets better, he also visits and meets the same people as Abbott, Downer, Sheridan et al in Hungary inc. kissing the ring of PM 'mini Putin' Orban while visiting &/or presenting at govt. supported think tanks inc. Atlas or Koch Network Danubius Institute (led by Quadrant's Euro correspondent) and MCC Mathias Corvinus Collegium; also very popular with UK Tories & US GOP....

Why are Australians so naive?