253: The Russian invasion of Ukraine. What's Putin thinking?

<p>The boys drink and review Double High-Pitch IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing, then discuss the invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pigweed gives a little historical background on the relationship between Ukraine and Russia, then P&amp;C go through the four possible explanations of the situation recently offered by Jordan Peterson.&nbsp;</p> <p>1. Putin is an evil expansionist thug who wants to expand his territory and restore the old Soviet Union.&nbsp;</p> <p>2. [Following John Mearsheimer] The West has been provoking Putin by inviting all of Russia's border states into NATO and the EU.&nbsp;</p> <p>3. Russia's concerned about the stability of its petrochemical-based economy and needs to secure bordering countries.&nbsp;</p> <p>4. Russia is more serious about Christendom than the West is, and wants to save Ukraine from the decadent, anti-Christian West.&nbsp;</p> <p>Each of these explanations might have a piece of the truth.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, how did the United States get drawn into this? It was understood -- just a short time ago -- that Ukraine was a horribly corrupt oligarchy, and we didn't particularly care about it. Now we defend Ukraine as if we're defending "democracy."&nbsp;</p>