William Ruger on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Instituting a "no-fly" zone would be the U.S. "essentially going to war with Russia."
William Ruger, who holds a Ph.D. in politics specializing in foreign policy, is the newly appointed president of the American Institute for Economic Research. A veteran of the war in Afghanistan, he was a prominent voice in calling for U.S. withdrawal from that country. He was picked by former President Donald Trump to be ambassador to Afghanistan, but his nomination was never voted on.
Ruger supports "libertarian realism" in foreign policy, holding that America's interventions abroad should be focused on defending a narrowly defined national interest.
In March, Ruger went on The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie to discuss NATO expansionism, what role the U.S. should play in the Russia-Ukraine war, and whether punitive sanctions actually achieve what they are intended to.
Q: Were you surprised that Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine?
A: This is one of the largest uses of force we've seen in Europe since 1945. So in that sense, it shocks a lot of people. On the other hand, you can see that this was somewhat predictable. The reason why we could think about it as being somewhat predictable is because even though it's unjustified, you can understand why it happened. And a big part of that is because of the fact that Russian national interests dictate that they should be concerned about the expansion of Western and American power eastward.
Q: How does Russia's experience fighting in wars stack up against Ukraine's?
A: I think a lot of the Twitterazzi have been out there really gushing about Ukrainian bravery. And I get that. I'm excited to see people standing up against this aggression. But we shouldn't get too excited that this is necessarily going to end well for Ukrainians. I think they're going to get a good dousing of cold water as Russia learns, as it reconstitutes itself and starts to adjust on the battlefield. The local balance of power favors Russia. And then the question is, what is the balance of will?
Q: Why is instituting a "no-fly" zone a bad response to Russia invading Ukraine?
A: It's essentially going to war with Russia. The fact is that we would have to enforce it. No-fly zones don't enforce themselves. It means that we would have to shoot down Russian aircraft that were involved in either bombing or close air support on the battlefield. And so what happens when you start shooting down Russian planes? Well, they're going to shoot back. You can imagine the escalatory spiral.
Q: Do you think NATO should exist at all?
A: You know, that's not a debate that's happening right now. I think the bigger question is one of enlargement, right? That's where the actual debate is right now. And I think it's very clear to me that enlargement creates problems where you may not have them.
Q: Are sanctions legitimate and moral?
A: The history of sanctions shouldn't leave anyone all that sanguine about their ability to effect the ultimate ends that you're trying to seek. Now, these sanctions may be extreme in many ways. If you impose essentially a financial blockade, they may have more bite. But the question is, do they actually cause what you're trying to achieve or do they make it much harder for Russia to stand down? You can imagine Putin and the Russian state not wanting to appear to cry uncle to this pressure. I think that's a real concern.
This interview has been condensed and edited for style and clarity. For a video version, see below.
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Well, at least his version of libertarian realism does not seem to grant a right to a local hegemon to demand the submission of the smaller states surrounding it.
The author is right about this war being far from over: it has yet to be declared and Putin has already occupied more than a quarter of the Ukraine. What if he offers to settle for half? Stay tuned for 9 May.
https://washingtonspectator.org/letters/#seitz
Just enough to ensure that it is not a right but enough to ensure it becomes a reality.
Instituting a “no-fly” zone would be the U.S. “essentially going to war with Russia.”
Excellent. I’ve been advocating that ever since they attacked us in 2016.
#StillWithHer
What if we violently enforced a no-lie zone instead?
Yeah, if we decide to get in the air war we should openly target Russian aircraft only and not pretend to play neutral peacekeeper.
Ruger supports “libertarian realism” in foreign policy, holding that America’s interventions abroad should be focused on defending a narrowly defined national interest.
Did Dr. Ruger ever articulate what narrow American interest there was in Ukraine, Mr. Gillespie? I don’t see it in your article.
For that to be relevant wouldn’t he have needed to advocate going to war first?
You cannot enforce a no fly zone without eliminating Russian air defense capability. You cannot do that without not only attacking Russian forces in Ukraine but also attacking Russian forces inside Russia. Russia has long range surface to air missiles that can knock NATO aircraft over Ukraine out of the sky from Russia.
A no fly zone is starting World War III and would be an act of insanity.
No one in the US government is advocating for a no-fly zone. This guy is beating a dead horse.
Sure is a lot of talk about something “nobody “ wants.
actually several politicians are calling for a no fly zone. thankfully even Biden has so far said no. of course i think some like Biden want the war in Ukraine to last so we can sell them product and let them fight a proxy war for teh U.S.
The only mention of a no-fly zone in any news article on Google is one at Disney World and this article. Is there a Disney World in Ukraine ?
Do not engage Joe Asshole; simply reply with insults.
Not a one of his posts is worth refuting; like turd he lies and never does anything other than lie. If something in one of Joe Asshole’s posts is not a lie, it is there by mistake. Joe Asshole lies; it’s what he does.
Joe Asshole is a psychopathic liar; he is too stupid to recognize the fact, but everybody knows it. You might just as well attempt to reason with or correct a random handful of mud as engage Joe Asshole.
Do not engage Joe Asshole; simply reply with insults; Joe Asshole deserves nothing other.
Ukraine bots are hollow shells programmed to merely repeat State Department talking points.
RuSsIaMaNbAd!!!
Don’t say anything bad about nardz’ BFF Putin. He’ll try offering his lame excuse for irony in return.
Another guy advocating Ukraine lie back and think of England.
If that is what you got from the posted interview excerpt then you are truly stupid.
You got to know when to hold them and when to fold them.
Of the many outrages imposed upon us by the elites pushing the machinery of civilization, perhaps the worst is denial and perversion of what is perhaps the most true and pure fact of human existence that there is: might makes right. What is yours is mine, if I can take it. In some ways, you could describe this as being the most essential truth of libertarianism.
“narrow American interest” says it all. This guy wants to go back 108 years, and we all know how that ended. There are almost no “narrow American interests” in a world shrunk by military means, travel, and global trade, except maybe who will win the Super Bowl. Pretending we can go back to that is kids’ stuff.
Somebody actually pays this guy to think and write?
Get into a war with Russia and we will go back a lot further than 108 years. We are no longer playing around with tribesman in Afghanistan. Our number one interest is not getting into World War III.
Do not engage Joe Asshole; simply reply with insults. He deserves nothing other.
Not a one of his posts is worth refuting; like turd he lies and never does anything other than lie. If something in one of Joe Asshole’s posts is not a lie, it is there by mistake. Joe Asshole lies; it’s what he does.
Joe Asshole is a psychopathic liar; he is too stupid to recognize the fact, but everybody knows it. You might just as well attempt to reason with or correct a random handful of mud as engage Joe Asshole.
Do not engage Joe Asshole; simply reply with insults; Joe Asshole deserves nothing other.
Q: Do you think NATO should exist at all?
A: You know, that’s not a debate that’s happening right now. I think the bigger question is one of enlargement, right? That’s where the actual debate is right now. And I think it’s very clear to me that enlargement creates problems where you may not have them.
Exactly how are Oceania and Eurasia problems?
We have always been at war with eastasia.
Here’s two guys to not rely on for answers on Ukraine:
Pope Francis Suggests ‘The Barking of NATO at Russia’s Door’ May Have Forced Putin to Invade Ukraine
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/pope-francis-suggests-the-barking-of-nato-at-russias-door-may-have-forced-putin-to-invade-ukraine/ar-AAWVKns
Preacher Franklin Graham Condemned for Telling Fox News Viewers to Pray for Putin: ‘You Pervert the Word of God’
Umberto Gonzalez
April 16, 2022·3 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/preacher-franklin-graham-condemned-telling-201805778.html
That’s funny, I thought these guys stood for “Absolute Morality.” Yet here they are making moral equivalence between Ukrainians defending their Life, Liberty, and Property and the global gangster Putin trying to destroy them.
Pope Francis and Franklin Graham might as well have asked what dress was Ukraine wearing.
Graham: “I admire them [the Ukrainians], and we want to do all that we can to help them. It’s a mess. It’s going to get worse, I’m afraid. And what President Putin’s end game is, I don’t know. But I think we just need to pray that God can change his heart,”
What is wrong with that? He wants people to pray that Putin will have a change of heart. I get that you are some kind if militant atheist, but what’s the harm? He’s certainly not supporting Putin’s actions.
To draw that conclusion would mean looking at what was said without bias, thinking critically rather than making assumptions.
President Trump praised Putin by calling him “smart”.
And that was stupid too.
What’s so Goddamn “smart” about slaughtering Ukrainian and ethnic Russian civilians as well as wasting the lives of young Russian troops for The Donbass? Was the “Don” in “Donbass” what prompted The Donald to say such stupid shit? Did Trump think Putin was protecting his favorite fishing spot?
Putin is smart. It doesn’t make him moral, correct, or any other praiseworthy adjectives.
Remember, Trump was the one warning the German delegation that getting all their oil from Russia was a bad idea, while they laughed at him. I’d say it was pretty “smart” for Russia to sell Germany and other NATO countries oil and gas, especially if Putin planned to invade Ukraine. Kind of gave him some leverage, no?
Putin is the dumbest leader of Russia since Nicholas 2.
He gutted Russia army via the kleptocrat siloviki. Which is why so much weaponry does not actually work now. The grunts are either conscripts who have more interest in fragging officers than fighting Ukraine – or morally degraded scum. He destroyed the reputation of Russia as a powerful effective military. He permanently destroyed any brotherly affection between Ukrainians and Russians at the personal level. He will preside over a Russian economy that will hit 1990’s level wasteland – with no interest by anyone outside Russia to help. He will soon turn Russia into china’s poodle.
Hella smart there.
The Ruble is rubble!
So is Barney
Yet another reason Putin isn’t “smart.”
C’mon, Paul! You’re not even getting a Russian mail-order bride out of this deal. Give it up.
If Putin were smart, he would trade for resources rather than plunder for them and spill blood and treasure. Everyone in the Classical Liberal/Libertarian camp from Adam Smith, Frederic Bastiat, Richard Cobden, John Bright, Hayek, Von Mises, Friedman, and Werner Keller would agree.
Since Putin won’t his only smart option is the Makarov in his pocket placed in his mouth and aimed for his basal ganglia lizzard brain.
I don’t know what he’s thinking with a lot of what has happened un Ukraine, but he is undoubtedly a very high IQ person with a very good grasp of history and international relations. That doesn’t mean he’s good or can’t make serious mistakes.
He doesn’t have a grasp of actual history. He spouts history but little of it is true and it mostly just pseudo history narrative that supports a highly ideological agenda.
^confession via projection
It always makes me laugh when jfree calls somebody else stupid.
Putin didn’t ecen learn Napoleon’s lessons from dealing with Russia i.e. an army runs on it’s stomach and “For want of a nail, a horseshoe is lost…”
Frqnklin Graham can figure out Putin’s end-game of Greater Eurasian Empire as good as anyone else. Franklin Graham hesitates to back Ukraine 100 percent over Putin because Putin clamps down on LGBTQ+ people and Graham backed Putin years ago for it.
And both Graham and Pope Francis are acting like Putin is not a moral agent responsible for his actions and who “just can’t help himself.”
Worst yet, both Graham and Francis are making moral equivalence between Ukrainians defending their Life, Liberty, and Property and Putin who’s trying to destroy those Ukrainians.
I don’t think that’s what he’s doing at all. I think your animus towards religion gets the better of you. And I’m an atheist.
In this rational Universe, prayers do not change minds or bring the dead back to life, and compassion belongs to victims, not to their victimizers.
Also, consider this: Atheism per se is blamed by Theists and Christians in particular for all the horrors of the Twentieth Century, none of which is true.
We’re also told that morality comes exclusively from Divine Command and Religion and cannot exist otherwise.
Yet when Vladamir Putin wants to bring those aTwentieth Century horrors back through his invasion of Ukraine, two of the leading moral paragons and spokespersons of Christian morality, Pope Francis and Franklin Graham, basically have this to say:
“Both Sides” or Utrimque (“Both Sides” in Latin.)
If that is the best they can do in the face of the brazen evil of war, tyranny, and genocide, I have no use for anything they have to say about morality.
Fuck Vladamir Putin, Fuck Pope Francis, and Fuck Franklin Graham!
Nobody tell our resident super atheist that Christians pray for their enemies.
I’m not even a Christian, but it should be pretty obvious that praying for someone does not equal an endorsement of that person or his actions.
I doubt many people around here can tell the difference.
You can’t tell Zeb isn’t a Christian? I thought it seemed pretty obvious. What with the praying five times a day.
I know this shit. I was one once. It is not to my credit that I prayed for my school bullies instead of kicking their asses. It is not to your credit to pray for global bullies like Vladamir Putin.
By the way, would your prayer l8st include all the bullies who caused all the horrors of the Twentieth Century that you falsely blame on Atheism, such as Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Ceauşescu, and Mister You-Know-Who-Else?
Pope Francis Suggests ‘The Barking of NATO at Russia’s Door’ May Have Forced Putin to Invade Ukraine
It certainly does appear that that was what drove Putin to do what he did. However the word “forced” implies that the person suggesting this was his reason is also legitimizing what he did. It’s inserting a false premise, otherwise called a lie, and a very common debate tactic around here.
Here’s the original quote from the Italian newspaper where the interview was published:
“Pope Bergoglio’s main concern is that Putin won’t stop any time soon. He tries to consider the roots of his behaviour, the reasons that are pushing him to engage in such a brutal conflict. Maybe it was «Nato barking at Russia’s gate» that compelled Putin to unleash the invasion of Ukraine. «I have no way of telling whether his rage has been provoked»” Bergoglio wonders, «but I suspect it was maybe facilitated by the West’s attitude». ”
It may or may not change your assessment of the statement, but the Yahoo link only contains a short portion of the direct quote.
I have found that Pope Fran is often deliberately imprecise in his language. He also has a pretty strong anti-Western bent, and is himself a communist, so some level of sympathy toward Russia doesn’t surprise me from him.
In full context, it changes nothing. Pope Francis is psychologizing the monster Putin and trying to “get to the root causes” like some damn Social Worker from LBJ’s “War On Poverty.” Fuck Pope Francis!
As for who is the Communist, Putin apologists Nardz and Geiger Goldie will tell you that if you don’t support Putin and do support Ukrainians defending themselves, then you are the Communist. Fuck them and fuck the Bizarro World worm-hole we’re obviously trapped in that permits this to be proclaimed and accepted as fact!
No one “forced” Putin to do anything. Presumably competant adults make choices. Now it’s stupid prize time.
don’t have a pHd and even i know a no fly zone would be war. don’t always need a degree to tell us something is stupid if you do it.
Instituting a “no-fly” zone would be the U.S. “essentially going to war with Russia.”
Says everyone with at least a 3rd grade education.
Oh, BTW, this one is quietly slipping under the radar. Biden promised $33 billion in aid to Ukraine.
In total we’ve pledged $46 billion of US taxpayer dollars to “help fight the war in Ukraine”. $46 billion represents more than 2/3ds of Russia’s entire defense budget.
Think about that, for a moment.
So what are you arguing? That Ukraine should “fight fair” on “parity” with the monster Putin?
Sounds like Ruger doesn’t want to pull the trigger.
In the midst of all this excitement, I forgot to tell you that, second only to Chumby and Utkonos, you have the most powerful pun in the world that blows our heads clean off. I feel very lucky having heard it. 🙂
And?
The USSR essentially did this to us in Vietnam. Sending something like 10,000 troops, including those manning air defense systems that shot down a whole lot of our planes
Time to return the favor and prevent the erasure of Ukraine from the world.
But I know, the supposed libertarian position is to be neutral and even to sell weapons to people attempting to commit genocide
You should be shot.
Why? Because he stated a fact?
The Vietnam War also involve Soviet, Red Chinese, and North Korean actual combatants, not just “advisors.” This war was less a “proxy war” than I had previously thought, as documented here:
Vietnam War–Wikipedia
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
Despite this, no one died from “Mutually-Assured Destruction.”
By the way, before you say someone should be shot, never forget that some of us practice “stand your ground,” law or no law.
Fuck Off, Dugin Hooligan!
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It’s indeed shocking, and I don’t get why Putin makes his own people suffer because I bet that all the sanctions don’t worry him at all. Maybe he’s just trying to get enough from playing with his power before he retires, idk. Russia is actually an amazing country, and he ruins it. I even thought about getting a visa on https://www.russia-travel.com/visa-services/ and going there, but now is definitely not the best time for that, and I’m not even sure if I’ll ever have that opportunity, to be honest.
Or just reusing it against Ukraine.
There are a lot of complications here. One I heard was it was floated to give the Ukrainians artillery shells, but the West/Nato use a different caliber than Ukraine does… since Ukraine’s artillery is all Soviet made, as is most of their equipment.
The Ukrainians are not as stupid as I think you are.
Fuck Off, Dugin Hooligan!
Gotta drink something to throw up the poison of false moral equivalence.
Judging from the way the Ukrainians fight, Putin should worry about his weapons getting taken away. 🙂
As for differing calibers, one can always tweak the ammo manufacturing equipment or the cannon to the right size.