Appropos of the previous post, NBC News runs an opinion piece by a Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis who is probably retired as it omits the usual disclaimer "the opinion expressed is not that of the U.S. military." Davis argues that NATO should not accept Finland and Sweden as new members.
His argument is basically that they (a) face no threat by Russia, (b) risk being dragged into a conflict they could otherwise avoid by being neutral, and (c) paradoxically increase the risk faced by NATO's current members of having to defend them. Clearly for starters, (a) and (c) cannot both be correct.
What Davis entirely fails to explain in why two nations which have maintained a neutral stance for decades have suddenly decided that they are at risk of a Russian invasion? He presents no evidence of an 'epidemic' of paranoia in either nation.
It appears Putin's invasion of Ukraine has convinced a majority of people in both nations that, under its current leadership, Russia cannot be trusted to respect the integrity of neighboring sovereign nations. The invasion of Ukraine has been an object lesson illustrating the truth expressed in a Ronald Reagan campaign video, "there really is a bear in the woods" and it is dangerous.
