Comments by "LancesArmorStriking" (@LancesArmorStriking) on "Finland and Sweden consider NATO membership" video.

  1.  @EUenjoyer  "EU" has no shell, it is not a civilization, but an organization. By this logic, once the EU/NATO expands to Finland, it still needs a shell for Finland so it needs to expand into Russia! Where does your "shell" stop? What exactly defines a buffer zone? Unlike a nation, the Western alliance is just borders and agreements. And I think Finland, being non-aligned and having no issues with Russia due to that commitment, is a perfect "shell". And by your logic, NATO has no rights upon the Russian population. Do you think the U.S would be okay if Chinese warships set up a naval base in Cuba? Of course not! National security affects everything, including quality of life of the country. An agreement needs to be reached where all parties are satisfied, not just one (ukraine).
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  2. Well, the cycle started when, contrary to American promises, NATO expanded twice during Yeltsin/Putin years. This was during a time when Russia was friendly to the West (remember how close Yeltsin and Clinton were?) So the question is, why expand? Why push American power closer to Russia? The argument that "if Russia would just leave its neighbors alone, countries wouldn't ask to join NATO" is a complete lie. Russia did leave them alone, tried its best to integrate into the Western system, and NATO expanded anyway. And then Western countries act angry when Russia gets aggressive. If NATO expands either way, what benefit does Russia get from being friendly with Europe??
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  3.  BusterPlanet  See my other comment. Also, Yeltsin was elected fairly (the first time- 2nd time he won fraudulently, with the Americans' help. Glad we could pay back the favor in 2016). And during his administration, Russia fell into complete chaos. We tried openness already, but instead of investing into the Russian economy and small businesses, the Americans set up a system that re-created the boyars (now oligarchs) and kept doing business with them. "Shock therapy" it was called. They economically screwed Russia, while promising an integration into the West. Neither they, nor Europe, deserve any sympathy.
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  4.  @MrAlexkyra  Well, like it or not, Russia does not appreciate American troops inches from St Petersburg, so it will likely have a seat at the table. This is what is known as a conflict of interests. If you think so, then why are no Ukrainians understanding of the actions taken? They say "well it's such a shame that Russia was rejected from the Western system... oh well too bad, now let us surround you" Also, it is absolutely possible. The U.S is allies with Israel and Saudi Arabia, which is even more of a dictatorship (ruled by 1 family) than Russia. So why the double standard? You seem to forget, Europe and Asia have invaded and burned Russia many times before. The fact that only 80 years have passed since the last invasion attempt should give you a clue of why Russia is not ready to listen when Europeans say, "you know about NATO, that organization created by the Americans to contain the USSR? Well we are going to keep expanding it, don't worry though!!" What naivete is expected of Russia? The closer NATO gets, the fewer political (and economic) options Russia has. Ironically, doing this is bringing it closer to China, giving the Americans reason to keep expanding it. Closed circle. You also seem to forget, that this isn't just countries asking to join. NATO has to accept all of them, and did, despite the U.S assuring Russia it wouldn't: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/16117-document-06-record-conversation-between
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  5.  BusterPlanet  ...You must be joking. The US doesn't even treat its own citizens well. It's one of the most obese countries on earth, and the reason there's so much sugar in foods is bc the government allowed it. There's no free healthcare, no public transport, people's mental health is worsening (and not solvable- no healthcare). The infrastructure is aging, corruption is legal ("campaign funds") and nobody can afford to live anywhere. The CIA plotted to assassinate Assange and Snowden (when the government is embarrassed, they forget about being "saints"). That's to say nothing of the crimes they have committed abroad. Also, the USSR did the brunt of the work. If it weren't for them, the Nazis would have won. The U.S just jumped in halfway through and sat comfy behind an ocean.
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  6.  @hypegamer2362  Also, I will say it again: for almost 3 administrations, Russia tried its best to integrate with the West. We wanted to cooperate with America, but all it did was financially exploit and ruin Russia. Up until 2008, nobody (not even Ukraine) had any reason to believe that Russia was a threat- and yet it was still treated as one. If you say "well trust takes a long time to build" that is fair, but you don't back a country into a corner and expect them to act trustworthy. That is not how rehabilitation works. Thee U.S also acted irrationally when missiles were sent to Cuba, despite it being completely legal.
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  7.  BusterPlanet  1) Sounds like someone's never been fat before! It makes your life much, much worse. 2) You ignored every other point that I made. Stop cherrypicking. "This is not a commie country" Bismarck's Germany was the first to invent public healthcare, the USSR was just the first to make it nationwide. Also, most capitalist European countries pride themselves in how much better their system is than US. So I'm not really sure what you are trying to prove. "And again, dude, dont come at me with "whataboutism" Also you: "the US did some shady sh*t, but.." You're ridiculous. Accusing me of doing something which you clearly have no problem doing, when it suits you. You started off with a comparison. I simply replied to your comparison by going deeper. I have lived in both countries, and in many ways, life in US is better. But it comes at the heavy cost of your sanity. Pace of life is much faster, there are almost no vacations even for high earners, poor infrastructure (yes, Russia's is better- 60% of Russia is like Alaska. Alaska's infrastructure is poor, and is mostly comprised of roads. Russia's is mostly rail.) You have money, but no time to spend it. Your life becomes a cycle of work. You are not living anymore. This is the trap. It looks like paradise to an immigrant, but by the time they have realize the negatives, it is too late. Europe is much better than both. Also, "extremely shady history"? Again, if you are comparing the two countries, which you just did, this is no standard to judge America as any better than Russia. At least Russia's Native tribes still exist. "Oh, and in WWII the Nazis bassicly reached Moskau which is pretty emberessing." Considering that they occupied most of Europe, it's not embarrassing. The only reason Britain (and US) escaped Nazi fighting was because of water. 80% of Nazi deaths were in the USSR, America just cleaned up the crumbs. "And did you forget that you also had the Japanese to worry about?" Did you forget that the reason the US dropped the bomb was to stop the Soviets from invading (they already killed 700.000 Japanese in Manchuria), and taking the northern half of Japan? They also refused to attack the Soviets even when Hitler asked, I wonder why...
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  8.  @hypegamer2362  It wouldn't have "invaded" had you not expressed interest in posting American military as close to Moscow as possible. Russia needs a buffer state, plain and simple. In the past, this was achieved by conquering the land directly. I don't think Russian government really cares whether (I am assuming you are from) Ukraine is independent or not- just that it acts as a buffer between Russia and Europe (now the U.S). We are now facing a conflict of interests- Ukraine's desires are fundamentally opposed to Russia's security. And Russia's desires are opposed to Ukraine economy.
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