Russia

What's happening? Is Newsweek mad? How is it that they are finally beginning to see what has been pretty apparent (to some of us) from almost the start of the present conflict in the Ukraine? We still need to stay out of it. 

Putin seems to have a plan and is holding back

Anyone who knows a little bit about Russia's/the Soviet Union's historic use of artillery will understand that if Russia had wanted to destroy the Ukraine, they could have done it very quickly. Soviet artillery barrages before they started major attacks were terrifying. They had 9,000 guns and rocket launchers lined up across an 18 mile front on their assault on Berlin.

I believe Soviet artillery killed more Germans than any other weapons in WWII. And the old commies were not overly sensitive as to who was on the other end of the shell.

Boom  


Rockets

In interesting POV about Russia and China. Putin may still pull out of this mess and keep his position, just like Asaud in Syria. The longer this goes on the worse it will be for him. Will the PRC decide to take Siberia, it is a tempting target. 

www.americanthinker.com/blog/2022/03/russias_dire_future.html

Putin has started requiring "unfriendly" countries make payment for natural gas in rubles. We mentioned this was in the works a week or two back. Watch as this policy expands to cover everything exported from Russia to Europe.  Another crack in the US dollar primacy. 


Commodities to be bought in rubles

NATO isn't the problem. Putin is the problem.

BlackRock and I see the same thing happening. They think it is bad, I think it is good. 

Fink says Ukraine conflict beginning of end of globalization  

Fink lamented that the invasion was the latest manifestation of global turmoil that has seen more people embrace authoritarianism and political divisiveness.

Let me translate. What he means is:

"if you don't go along with his idea of globalism you are embracing authoritarianism and political divisiveness."

As is so often the case in history, the tyrants and grifters running a scam, in this case globalism, have over reached themselves. They have shot themselves in the foot with their unconsidered sanctions on Russia and threats of sanctions against India and China. If anything positive can be seen as good coming out of this whole tragedy, it will be the globalists' program has been dealt a deadly blow.  Putin might also go, but I doubt it. 

Fink and his ilk truly believe that they are so much smarter than everyone else that the world would be a better place if run exclusively by them. These people have never learned from history and I doubt they will learn from this setback, but it may give the rest of us a chance to go back to a more normal economic and political situation.  

Unfortunately, I am afraid the globalists will blow up our country before things get better. 

Trying to understand a situation and what brought it about, i.e. trying to explain reality should be in "the conservative playbook." 

The left has long demonized those they disagree with who try to point out facts about any given situation which show the left might be wrong. This has resulted in so-called Cancel Culture. We, i.e. honest people, used to push back against that "leftist" ploy. It now appears that "conservatives" have decided to use the same device they once condemned.  Cancel culture truly has taken over this country. I refuse to play along. 


One could say that NATO was founded to protect Western Europe from Russia, but one would be "mistaken."  It was founded to protect Western Europe from the Soviet Union, of which the Ukraine was a member, and Communism.  Saying otherwise is simply historical revisionism. 

The rest of Europe is certainly "protected" from Germany. Today, Germany cannot even protect itself, much less attack another country. Yes, we have done a wonderful job in this regard. 

As to stabilizing American hegemony,  this may have been possible, even desirable 70 years ago. The USA was responsible for something like 50% of world GDP in 1949. That number is less than 25% today.  Even if we wanted to be the "world's policeman," we can't afford it.  And frankly, I don't trust American hegemony any more than I trust any other hegemony, particularly given our record over the last thirty years. Remember, Reagan left office over 33 years ago. We are not living in his world. 

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

“Everybody likes to get as much power as circumstances allow, and nobody will vote for a self-denying ordinance.”

“Absolute power demoralizes.”

I see this in Putin and given history and geopolitics, I expect it. That doesn't mean I have to like it. On the other hand, if you don't think that describes what has been happening in the USA and the direction in which this country is moving then look again.


Stipulate the above is correct, the Ukraine is not a member of NATO. What business do we have getting involved there? 

You are in the business of splitting hairs to try to bolster an untenable position. Russia was the essence of the Soviet Union. The boundaries and member states may have changed. But that Russia continues to be a mortal enemy has been made crystal clear by Putin. This isn't Biden's fault. It's not NATO's fault. It's not the fault of the myriad of excuses you've proposed. This is the Bear lashing out again with its claws.

Putin could have simply joined the family of civilized nations and pursued trade and economic development. Instead he turned medieval. This is not a perfect world. But in even a marginally decent world we would all join together to oppose these kinds of bullies in ways that we can.

This first sentence is a statement of moral principle. You've surely heard of such a thing. You may not agree with it. But it has been a guiding force for America in much of its international affairs. We are the good guys. Or used to be.

The right thing to do is support Ukraine. The wrong thing to do is to make excuses for Putin. Or (as I'm sure some conservatives are wont to due) get caught in "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" in regard to Biden's involvement. No matter one's disagreements with Biden, we ought to despise Putin more than we do our own president.

Anyway, you clearly have a bee up your butt on this and there is really no good to come out of any further discussion. I suggest we pray for the Ukrainians and send them a few bucks to help them defend themselves.

The sad history of Russia is tied to the war in Ukraine. Putin has, to his mind, a rock solid case for keeping Ukraine in the Russian influence and his view from Moscow of the tactics oF NATO make sense to the average Russian. They look back to 1941 German invasion and the horrific loss of life that war cost and, quite logically, say never again. In this Putin reflects the mood of his country. 

I thought Putin had a winning position by threating invasion but never fallowing through. Staring war was a mistake. However, all assumptions go out the window once the tanks roll across the border. Putin and his commanders did not expect the level of resistance Ukraine has put up. I think they expected a kind of reverse Blitzkrieg with Ukraine rolling over in two weeks. It has now become a quagmire with casualties on both sides exceeding acceptable levels. 

Putin now faces a very angry and determined foe, on their own ground, armed with anti-tank and anti-air missiles. As long as Ukraine desires the fight, NATO will arm them. Thus, Putin is in a lose, lose situation. By staying he faces more bodybags returning, to date Ukraine claims 14,000 KIA, by extension that would make WIA  at over 40,000. I doubt those numbers but I could believe 7,000 KIA and 21,000 WIA. In either case, for Putin to come home with either number and no gain, military or political would be untenable. It appears his fallback position is taking the eastern provinces. It is unknown how that would play at home. The question is there room for compromise here?