NATO, good or bad for Ukraine?

[StasUA]

I think that NATO would protect Ukraine from POSSIBILE Russian aggression. But on the other thought it would bring Ukrainian guys to wars like in Yugoslavia.

[johnstruthers]

Man, you picked a good topic. I'm going to take a day or so to think about it. Just the way you worded your opening comments puts a lot of weight on the question. No room for off-the-top answers here. When you put dead bodies in the picture, the subject deserves respect.

[Phillip]

Besides Nato being incompetant - a real peace keeping mission is an honourable task.

that's all...

Think of East Timor - sure thay are in a very bad way, but they are still alive. They are now free...

A small or disorganised army would mean death to many troops, but if have to fight (young people do) then you should fight for something with the only reward being that others have the chances that you do.

[johnstruthers]

There is already a substitute for NATO that is more home grown emerging in the shadows. NATO was designed to check the USSR. It's outlived its usefulness. Stoking Russia's paranoia isn't in anyone's interest.

[StasUA]

Actually John is right, NATO should not exist anymore, what they did in Kosovo, was United Nations thing to do. And as far as I know, Ukrainian part of UN is doing a lot of hard jobs, they were in many wars in Africa, trying to keep peace. Not only in Africa, in Horvatia and Kosovo, in middle east and on other missions. That is why I think that there are a lot of Ukrainian guys fighting on different international peace missions.

[johnstruthers]

Incidentally, a lot of people don't know that Ukraine was one of the founding members of the UN. They've been carrying their share of the load there all along.

[Phillip]

Russia, China and America have the power to vito any UN decision - isn't that unforunate...

The UN in Africa were totaly inefective. They are TOO slow to act. In the former Yugoslavia they sat by until America took over and went in without anybodys express aproval and in Indonesia they broke their promise and deserted the East Tiorese after promising them protection. Australia went in almost alone and some small support came at the last hour. They existed to control the situation in Europe after ww2. USA don't pay the money they owe them and they exist mainly in concept alone.

Sure their intentions are great, and they are the only real vehicle for peace today but they are to SLOW!!

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