I think it's time to call Russia's Bluff

[eric]

As long as we're too scared to be in conflict, he'll just keep doing whatever the hell he wants. Just like any bully on the playground.

[exploited]

That is a disturbing level of brinkmanship for literally zero payoff. There is zero chance this results in less flybys and a 100% certainty it results in more.

We'll have to agree to disagree, but I'll leave this one final thought: no.

[eric]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm confident that he isn't intent on war, and if he is intent, then let's just get this shit rolling right now. Otherwise, make him knock off the stupidity and lose face in Russia. We lose nothing either way, and he loses face big time by letting a bomber or two get blown up.

[exploited]

[spacemonkey]

I wish I had all the money wasted by stupid people doing stupid shit.

[Spider]

[exploited]

[eric]

[Spider]

[exploited]

We're not worried about war now, because neither he nor us have committed acts of war. It will be way more complex and difficult to come to any sort of understanding when we're killing Russians for literally no reason.

What you are suggesting is that we play pointless brinkmanship with foreign policy for no other reason than the Russians flying in international airspace. It makes no sense at all.

When Russia bombs Britain, shoots down an American jet, or otherwise does something actually important, we'll talk.