I cannot help remembering constantly two sayings: He who will not when he may, when he will, he shall have Nay; and, Crazy is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.
The ICC? Is no one listening to Applebaum's warning that Russia doesn't care about "rules"?
Is not clear that we are dealing with a madman on the doorstep of Europe - again? That he is ruthless, amoral, probably mentally ill at this point, and that he is either stopped or we may consider our precious world order so damaged no one will care about defending it any longer?!
I note that Biden has just issued another "severe consequences!" warning to Russia in re chemical warfare. Didn't we hear that with Obama and Syria, and didn't America, again, back down? Now Syria controls the airspace in that region. Which is to say, Assad controls it.
Does anyone suppose that Putin will be cowering before a man who has publicly announced that under no circumstances EXCEPT incursion into a NATO country will he lead the West into the only military solution to the problem of Putin? And, therefore, giving Putin plenty of scope elsewhere in Europe, because as long as stays out of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Denmark, Iceland, et al., he'll have a free hand? It should be noted that Switzerland and Austria, as well as Ireland, Sweden, and Finland, are non-NATO countries.
Exactly how much more "severe" consequences does Mr Biden envision beyond the already full to the brim economic consequences?
What you are unwilling to defend, you lose. What is the point of saying, Well, Ukraine is gone, but Lithuania's safe, so that's all right then?!
The West shouldn't have made its unwillingness to fight so plain. It isn't dealing with a rational Marquess of Queensbury situation here. What will it take?! TC
Hearing President Zelensky say Putin will have to raze Kyiv to the ground to take the city is chilling and he means every word! My heart breaks for the outcome...... 🇺🇦😢
Alas TC, many of the world leaders cannot accept that Putin had no regard for the letter of the law otherwise he wouldn't have invaded in the first place, and called it a 'special military operation'. It is what it is at face value and it's an invasion.
I've been writing up my latest article for today, and I was shocked to find that many African countries have remained neutral (even if they voted with the UN) and that AFrican countries are actively supporting Putin and telling others to do the same. What we did not see is that Putin had been lobbying the African countries and making arms deals for the past couple of decades, and that has now paid off.
When all the sanctions possible have been made, then what? Can the politicians have a clear conscience when Ukrainians have died waiting for them to make a decision to act ?
In this, EL, Russia has been following China's playbook: both countries have been for some time investing heavily in projects in Africa, exchanging building of roads and things like that for heavy investment in other ways. The EU and America are far behind, yet again realising what has been happening too late. Just as China is heavily invested in rural America, behind companies that don't have Chinese names.
As always, the Little People have been sold out by the Powers That Be, all whilst the latter bawl about their values, precious freedoms, their commitment to democracy and the moral high ground.
I keep returning to the Noah's Ark scenario as the most desirable outcome. A thorough cleanout might be just the ticket. TC
@M.M. Meanwhile, the West argues about pronouns and who is or isn't a woman. I imagine Putin and Jinping are laughing their sides off as they mobilise and find out just how unwilling the West is to take any risks. TC
I have written essays about how useless the UN is, and that it exists as basically a discussion group where the vote has no binding effect. We all know what the worst case scenario is but rather than wait too late and do it because there is no choice, they choose to take control and do what is necessary to prevent bloodshed.
Many westrn countries are too concerned about the pressure groups and the activists and keep trying to pacify and appease them. While some didn't like Thatcher, the Russians didn't mess with her and she made necessary and unpopular decisions. That's the nature of the job—don't become a politician if you want to be liked by everyone.
Thank you, EL, for your concise and continuing summary of the days/actions of this terrible situation. I remain solid in my belief that none of the NATO countries wants to be the first to 'declare war' by actively providing the support that the Ukraine needs to fend off the Russians. As an American, I'm sorry to say that, historically, my country has tended to drag its feet and been one of the last to throw in their physical support more often than not (especially in WW I and WW II), and I have no doubt the same will happen given our current Administration's ideologies--although I am hoping beyond hope to be proven wrong on this thinking, and we will see the NATO countries actually prove to be more than just words on paper! I so feel for the people of the Ukraine, and also Russia, neither of whom did anything to warrant these abhorrent changes to their lives, and the terrible conditions all are now having to deal with.
For the first time in history things can and are being reported/shown at warp speed. That the Nuremberg trials started in 1945/6, is a feat in its self, of human determination. Baring in mind many service men particularly POW's were not even home.
It was heartbreaking watching families burying their loved ones. I also find it quite worrying that men from the Middle East that are pro Russia are offering to fight against the Ukrainians.
I cannot help remembering constantly two sayings: He who will not when he may, when he will, he shall have Nay; and, Crazy is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.
The ICC? Is no one listening to Applebaum's warning that Russia doesn't care about "rules"?
Is not clear that we are dealing with a madman on the doorstep of Europe - again? That he is ruthless, amoral, probably mentally ill at this point, and that he is either stopped or we may consider our precious world order so damaged no one will care about defending it any longer?!
I note that Biden has just issued another "severe consequences!" warning to Russia in re chemical warfare. Didn't we hear that with Obama and Syria, and didn't America, again, back down? Now Syria controls the airspace in that region. Which is to say, Assad controls it.
Does anyone suppose that Putin will be cowering before a man who has publicly announced that under no circumstances EXCEPT incursion into a NATO country will he lead the West into the only military solution to the problem of Putin? And, therefore, giving Putin plenty of scope elsewhere in Europe, because as long as stays out of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Denmark, Iceland, et al., he'll have a free hand? It should be noted that Switzerland and Austria, as well as Ireland, Sweden, and Finland, are non-NATO countries.
Exactly how much more "severe" consequences does Mr Biden envision beyond the already full to the brim economic consequences?
What you are unwilling to defend, you lose. What is the point of saying, Well, Ukraine is gone, but Lithuania's safe, so that's all right then?!
The West shouldn't have made its unwillingness to fight so plain. It isn't dealing with a rational Marquess of Queensbury situation here. What will it take?! TC
Hearing President Zelensky say Putin will have to raze Kyiv to the ground to take the city is chilling and he means every word! My heart breaks for the outcome...... 🇺🇦😢
Alas TC, many of the world leaders cannot accept that Putin had no regard for the letter of the law otherwise he wouldn't have invaded in the first place, and called it a 'special military operation'. It is what it is at face value and it's an invasion.
I've been writing up my latest article for today, and I was shocked to find that many African countries have remained neutral (even if they voted with the UN) and that AFrican countries are actively supporting Putin and telling others to do the same. What we did not see is that Putin had been lobbying the African countries and making arms deals for the past couple of decades, and that has now paid off.
When all the sanctions possible have been made, then what? Can the politicians have a clear conscience when Ukrainians have died waiting for them to make a decision to act ?
In this, EL, Russia has been following China's playbook: both countries have been for some time investing heavily in projects in Africa, exchanging building of roads and things like that for heavy investment in other ways. The EU and America are far behind, yet again realising what has been happening too late. Just as China is heavily invested in rural America, behind companies that don't have Chinese names.
As always, the Little People have been sold out by the Powers That Be, all whilst the latter bawl about their values, precious freedoms, their commitment to democracy and the moral high ground.
I keep returning to the Noah's Ark scenario as the most desirable outcome. A thorough cleanout might be just the ticket. TC
Putin has been lobbying countries in the Caribbean region as well.
@M.M. Meanwhile, the West argues about pronouns and who is or isn't a woman. I imagine Putin and Jinping are laughing their sides off as they mobilise and find out just how unwilling the West is to take any risks. TC
I can't say I blame them for laughing at the woke brigade.
I have written essays about how useless the UN is, and that it exists as basically a discussion group where the vote has no binding effect. We all know what the worst case scenario is but rather than wait too late and do it because there is no choice, they choose to take control and do what is necessary to prevent bloodshed.
Many westrn countries are too concerned about the pressure groups and the activists and keep trying to pacify and appease them. While some didn't like Thatcher, the Russians didn't mess with her and she made necessary and unpopular decisions. That's the nature of the job—don't become a politician if you want to be liked by everyone.
@EL - Well said. Or, as Mr Gekko famously said in "Wall Street": "You want a friend, get a dog." TC
Thank you, EL, for your concise and continuing summary of the days/actions of this terrible situation. I remain solid in my belief that none of the NATO countries wants to be the first to 'declare war' by actively providing the support that the Ukraine needs to fend off the Russians. As an American, I'm sorry to say that, historically, my country has tended to drag its feet and been one of the last to throw in their physical support more often than not (especially in WW I and WW II), and I have no doubt the same will happen given our current Administration's ideologies--although I am hoping beyond hope to be proven wrong on this thinking, and we will see the NATO countries actually prove to be more than just words on paper! I so feel for the people of the Ukraine, and also Russia, neither of whom did anything to warrant these abhorrent changes to their lives, and the terrible conditions all are now having to deal with.
For the first time in history things can and are being reported/shown at warp speed. That the Nuremberg trials started in 1945/6, is a feat in its self, of human determination. Baring in mind many service men particularly POW's were not even home.
It was heartbreaking watching families burying their loved ones. I also find it quite worrying that men from the Middle East that are pro Russia are offering to fight against the Ukrainians.
Mayo They will freeze.
I have no words…
I have no words either, only prayers for the poor people who have died, their families and all those suffering in Ukraine.
Thank you to EL for another timely up-date.
😢😢😢