this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
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[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Your lucky if they hang you Putin.

Exactly, won't be much left to hang when they're done with him

[–] Nurgus@lemmy.world 30 points 5 hours ago (7 children)

Unpopular opinion: We should offer all dictators and their friends a safe retirement package.

Cornered dictators are dangerous. They will always keep escalating because the alternative isn't just their neck on the block, it's all of their friends and family too.

[–] heartSagan5@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 hour ago

Wait, prison isn't a retirement package (of sorts)?

[–] Smaile@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

Putin had that posibiblty by not doing what he did, giving this option to them mans they have no reason to not try this shit, I disagree fermly with this idea

[–] volvoxvsmarla@sopuli.xyz 2 points 10 minutes ago

Hey come on we all went a bit crazy and looked for a new hobby during covid /s

[–] abc@suppo.fi 6 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think most of them would do it if they had to give up their power and wealth.

[–] Nurgus@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

It's not for when things are going well. It's for when their backs are against the wall. They are very heavily incentivtized to fight to the last no matter the cost.

[–] braxy29@lemmy.world 4 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

this assumes rational motivation and decision-making.

[–] Fredthefishlord@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 minutes ago

It assumes a self preservation instinct. There's plenty enough examples of escaping dictators that I think it's a fair assumption

[–] Nurgus@lemmy.world 1 points 18 minutes ago

It's always rational at a personal level. Everyone thinks they're doing the right thing for some combination of themselves, their friends and their allies.

[–] skaffi@infosec.pub 7 points 4 hours ago

I absolutely agree. What good is retribution, in the face of all the untold future injustices and suffering that could be prevented by allowing dictators and their ilk to simply... stop being dictators?

At the end of the day, "just desserts" really aren't all that they're cracked up to be. Tasty as they may be, they are just desserts. Have a strudel or a pudding instead.

[–] AmphoePai@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago

Agree. We all hate Putin, but he is the only person with the power to stop the war.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

tried that with Napoleon - didnt stick

[–] Smoogs@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

he was exiled. not exactly chopped.

[–] Furbag@pawb.social 11 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Yes but that was supposed to be the magnanimous and merciful "safe retirement package" as an alternative to certain death at the hands of an executioner. Exile wasn't a death sentence. Life definitely wouldn't have been easy, but he had servants who joined him in exile to help keep him alive and happy.

Instead, he found a way back to France and the first army that arrived to intercept him immediately put themselves under his command again. That's the danger of allowing warmongering dictators to have their cushy exit strategy - they may not see it as a way out of ultimate punishment, but as a reset button.

[–] ThrowawayPermanente@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I'm less worried about that in this case. Napoleon was one of the greatest generals in human history, he was inspiring. Putin has been failing to conquer the poorest country in Europe for over four years.

[–] Furbag@pawb.social 2 points 2 hours ago

With the frankly shocking number of Americans who espouse their unwavering support for Trump, no matter what he says or does, I have very little faith in humanity's collective ability to judge leaders objectively.

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[–] ThrowawayPermanente@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I don't know man, this sounds good at first but think of how many thousands of lives would be saved if we let a handful of evil people go unpunished.

[–] abc@suppo.fi 4 points 3 hours ago

The most probable "punishment" that Putin is going to get at this rate is dying while sleeping without any pain.

[–] WanderWisley@lemmy.world 16 points 7 hours ago

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 16 points 8 hours ago

One source said Putin believes ending the war without capturing at least all of the Donbas could threaten his survival.

Even if all of Donbas is captured, he had relegated all of Russia into irrelevance for generations to come. Russia will become a vassal to China. The future Russians will despise him for it. Putin may not personally care what people think of him, but he certainly cares what will happen to Russia's prestige.

[–] spacegoat@lemmy.world 14 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Can we chip in to buy the rope

There's United24 for that, I think

(I am not a financial or geopolitical advisor, make sure to double-check before donating)

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 7 points 7 hours ago

I don't like Putin.

[–] aggelalex@lemmy.world 21 points 10 hours ago

They will hang me

As they ought to

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