Comments by "peabase" (@peabase) on "Forbes Breaking News" channel.

I can sense your utter desperation.
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Bye yourself.
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Sure, Putin fancied himself the emperor of a reborn Russia empire, but what he got instead is a reinvigorated NATO empire that's nipping his plans in the bud. But unlike Putin's empire-building, NATO expansion involves no subjugation. Why wouldn't it be out in the open? Unlike Putin's machinations, NATO's expansion can stand the light of day.
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More like dissuading Putin from starting WW3. Russia's Baltic Fleet has little elbow room left in what is now being referred to as a NATO lake. Striking west through Finland would invite disaster for the Russian army, as NATO air power gains unrestricted access to Finnish air space. Also, the security situation of the Baltic states improved considerably, and that of the Russia's Kaliningrad exclave worsened. Northern Europe is a formidable fortress now. If Putin has a rational brain cell left in his head, he'll leave it alone.
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What's your problem with indirect democracy? There was no doubt whatsoever that the Swedish and Finnish electorates overwhelmingly supported NATO membership. Also, NATO's decision-making is based on consensus -- if anything, you should fault it for being too democratic.
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@peterrozowsky4218 Are you suggesting that everyone gets paid, the electorate included? That would be democratic all right, but I'm afraid it's the other way around -- the electorate pays the politicians to represent them correctly. And if not, we can withhold payment.
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It's your old nemesis again, geography. Neither Finland nor Sweden has an arctic shoreline. Norway does, but then again they've been in NATO from the very start.
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@danjohnston9037 You sound incoherent. Let's leave it at that.
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@londop.a.3048 Don't be so sure. We Europeans favour European weapons.
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@londop.a.3048 The OP was wondering about the positives for American citizens of Finland and Sweden joining NATO. You listed the pre-existing F-35 customers in Europe. Did you have a point?
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@londop.a.3048 I think you're being deliberately obtuse. Finland picked the F-35 after a thorough evaluation already in December last year. The deal included a weapons package with the latest of the latest. Unlike just about every existing NATO member, Finland didn't let its guard down when the Cold War ended. Also, Finland has worked towards NATO compatibility for more than a decade. Myself, I served under NATO command in Kosovo. My cousin did the same in Afghanistan.
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