Europe thinks the unthinkable: Retaliating against Russia

How do you think the unthinkable?

With an itheberg.

I'll see myself out.

It seems that Europe hasn't forgotten that appeasement does not work.

So fucking DO something already.

The idea of cyber/hybrid warfare against Russia is pretty interesting. Would be interesting at any rate to see how they like having a troll brigade stirring up their populace.

EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said such threats posed an “extreme danger” to the bloc, arguing it must “have a strong response” to the attacks.

Last week, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto slammed the continent’s “inertia” in the face of growing hybrid attacks and unveiled a 125-page plan to retaliate. In it, he suggested establishing a European Center for Countering Hybrid Warfare, a 1,500-strong cyber force, as well as military personnel specialized in artificial intelligence.

“Everybody needs to revise their security procedures,” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Nov. 20. “Russia is clearly escalating its hybrid war against EU citizens.”

Walk the talk

Despite the increasingly fierce rhetoric, what a more muscular response means is still an open question.

Part of that is down to the difference between Moscow and Brussels — the latter is more constrained by acting within the rules, according to Kevin Limonier, a professor and deputy director at the Paris-based GEODE think tank.

As much as I'd love for the EU to get its shit together right now, I have to agree with this 100%.

“This raises an ethical and philosophical question: Can states governed by the rule of law afford to use the same tools ... and the same strategies as the Russians?” he asked.

So far, countries like Germany and Romania are strengthening rules that would allow authorities to shoot down drones flying over airports and militarily sensitive objects.

National security services, meanwhile, can operate in a legal gray zone. Allies from Denmark to the Czech Republic already allow offensive cyber operations.

So, some nations (mostly those bordering on Russia) are already taking, hmm, "semi-offensive" action while we're still waiting on the EU's official response - the "walk" as opposed to the "talk".

About ducking time

WW3 right around the corner, which is fucking horrible, but what other choice does the world have? What an awful predicament we're creeping towards :/

...finally, a russian stooge in charge of america, so let's maybe bring the choccy carts to the fight.../s, i shouldn't need this, it happened before

EURO-NATO should just declare war and get it over with. Putin's Russia is a festering wound, that needs disinfectant and proper care.

Just say what it is. WW3. There? See, it's that easy. Way to go humankind. 🙄

"Retaliating".