All too often. And every time we look back on it and see that we could have stopped it earlier with more resolve. This isn't the first time and it won't be the lastâI'm hoping we can start drawing the lessons from this that we should have already learned.
As for the present...all I can do is make ready for the refugees. Again.
More important. When it comes to US foreign policy, transparency and accountability should always be avoided at all costs.
Historical lessons should always be avoided. Treaty of Versailles and WW II? Watz dat?
Thankfully the USA and NATO took advantage of Russia's weakness after the implosion the Soviet Union and pushed NATO membership into the Baltic states and other former Warsaw Pact member nations.
Personally, I believe the USA should avoid the "Man of Great Stature" approach to international relations and foreign policy but if the will of the American people is to accelerate US hegemonic decline maybe that points a bright Panglossian future.
let's stick to the tragedy unfolding here. There is a distinct feeling of unease that this is not going to stop with Ukraine and that the sanctions imposed so far are going to have the opposite effect to that intended, namely that he'll just laugh at the mamby-pamby soft westerners with their decadent lifestyles as he shows them what a real strong man can do. The man is unhinged. Living in an information bubble fed by the frightened sycophants around him, emboldened by the lack of any real resistance. None of this is good. And yes, haven't we been here before?
All too often. And every time we look back on it and see that we could have stopped it earlier with more resolve. This isn't the first time and it won't be the last—I'm hoping we can start drawing the lessons from this that we should have already learned.
As for the present...all I can do is make ready for the refugees. Again.
Snippet from the end of a report in the NYT, by Michael Schwirtz No commentary necessary.
c.
"Even as the artillery barrages intensified, not everyone was ready to hide. Walking with intention toward the source of the artillery booms on the outskirts of Kharkiv was Roman Balakelyev, dressed in camouflage, a double-barreled shotgun slung over his shoulder.
âI live here, this is my home. Iâm going to defend it,â said Mr. Balakelyev, who also pulled out a large knife he had strapped to his back as if to show it off. âI donât think the Russians understand me like I understand them.â
A short while later, Mr. Balakelyev reached the edge of the city, where the Ukrainian troops were huddled around the abandoned Russian troop transports. They watched as he passed. No one moved to stop him. One soldier uttered: âIntent on victory.â"
some of the separatist groups have neo-nazi backgrounds, and which groups are ok to post about on Facebook while others are not allowed to be discussed. Lots of narrative control going on
Russia will “partly limit” access to Facebook, Russia’s censorship agency has announced.
No different than what occurs if you post on many topics, such as ivermectin, you can get your Facebook suspended for 30 days. Some people have been de-platformed for hundreds of days, right in USA, Canada, Europe.
are you aware that you always pick the best examples to present a stunningly strong argument against your own propositions?
Russia will âpartly limitâ access to Facebook, Russiaâs censorship agency has announced.
No different than what occurs if you post on many topics, such as ivermectin, you can get your Facebook suspended for 30 days. Some people have been de-platformed for hundreds of days, right in USA, Canada, Europe.
Well, yes, but they are kind of useful, for you can rest assured that the arguments they tout are meant to divert away from the stuff that really upsets their paymasters. This whole fear of NATO thing and protecting the geographical borders is actually bullshit. The invading hordes are not on horseback anymore. They come via the internet and with rules-based agreements in their hands. It's also obvious that geopolitical manoeuvring is not Putin's main reason for the war, as he just opened his entire back door to the Chinese, who will be rubbing their hands in glee. No, Robert Reich is right at least on this one. What Putin is actually afraid of is the spread of liberal democracy. Look at how repressive the reaction was in Belarus. Now Ukraine. Putin knows his days are numbered and he feels like a cornered rat - and he's acting like one.
Wait, Robert Reich is right about something? Who knew? OK, his observations are pretty blindingly obvious....when they don't revert to his usual partisan hackery (his response to rising oil prices: tax oil companies. Yeah, that'll fix it! Wasn't he supposed to be an economist at some point?) but I guess it's useful for those in his bubble. There may yet be some positive consequences from this. Europe may finally take responsibility for its own defense. It may serve as a wake-up call for voters in Poland and Hungary, who have been electing nationalist autocrats recently. If we have the patience and commitment to bear the consequences of isolating Russia after this it may undermine Putin in Russia to the point his crumbling economy finally turns people against him. Don't hold your breath on that last point (Fidel Castro died of old age) but somewhere there is a lamppost with Putin's name on it. I hope it finds him soon.
let's stick to the tragedy unfolding here. There is a distinct feeling of unease that this is not going to stop with Ukraine and that the sanctions imposed so far are going to have the opposite effect to that intended, namely that he'll just laugh at the mamby-pamby soft westerners with their decadent lifestyles as he shows them what a real strong man can do. The man is unhinged. Living in an information bubble fed by the frightened sycophants around him, emboldened by the lack of any real resistance. None of this is good. And yes, haven't we been here before?
Charitable Foundation Voices of Children helps children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine. Thanks to you, we provide psychological and psychosocial support to children. It helps them overcome the consequences of armed conflict and develop.
Well, yes, but they are kind of useful, for you can rest assured that the arguments they tout are meant to divert away from the stuff that really upsets their paymasters.
This whole fear of NATO thing and protecting the geographical borders is actually bullshit. The invading hordes are not on horseback anymore. They come via the internet and with rules-based agreements in their hands. It's also obvious that geopolitical manoeuvring is not Putin's main reason for the war, as he just opened his entire back door to the Chinese, who will be rubbing their hands in glee.
No, Robert Reich is right at least on this one. What Putin is actually afraid of is the spread of liberal democracy. Look at how repressive the reaction was in Belarus. Now Ukraine. Putin knows his days are numbered and he feels like a cornered rat - and he's acting like one.
Wait, Robert Reich is right about something? Who knew?
OK, his observations are pretty blindingly obvious....when they don't revert to his usual partisan hackery (his response to rising oil prices: tax oil companies. Yeah, that'll fix it! Wasn't he supposed to be an economist at some point?) but I guess it's useful for those in his bubble.
There may yet be some positive consequences from this. Europe may finally take responsibility for its own defense. It may serve as a wake-up call for voters in Poland and Hungary, who have been electing nationalist autocrats recently. If we have the patience and commitment to bear the consequences of isolating Russia after this it may undermine Putin in Russia to the point his crumbling economy finally turns people against him.
Don't hold your breath on that last point (Fidel Castro died of old age) but somewhere there is a lamppost with Putin's name on it. I hope it finds him soon.
Sure, that seems to be the narrative...backwards thinking ideology - MEAGA! But the west is unwilling to do the one thing that might actually hurt Russia: stop buying their oil. Because why? Can't get our other "allies" like Saudi Arabia to pump more? Maybe work out a deal with Venezuela? Pump more domestic, or still need to push through the progressive narrative of fossil fuels are evil? Seems weak we can't make that type of sacrifice.
in the US we have misused liberal and conservative labels out of convenience
there are generally liberal and conservative people, but we shouldn't conflate them with dogmatic radicals on the far right and far left
those radicals (far left and far right) certainly aren't liberal or conservative, they're two sides of the same authoritarian coin
liberal values, which are essentially basic human rights, are at a stark difference with extremists endorsing violence
the challenge with some of the poor reasoning and logic of the post modern believers is there isn't an objective truth
especially when attempting to justify bad behavior and their unprovoked aggression you'll frequently hear loaded emotional phrases like my lived experience, standing in my truth, etc.
when definitions are comprised, language is up for grabs and objective reality gets distorted (reality is what we say it is type of thought)
spooky mysticism begets distorted epistemology resulting in societal chaos and it is all up for a power grab
bottom line: it is all about power, who has it, wields it and forces it on the masses to comply with whatever they think society should be
power, forcefully ruling over other humans it is the only thing they know
regards
Keep thinking the good thoughts...maybe one day.
100 years ago, most populations put more faith in the state, relative to the individual.
The liberal view has shifted that, with the individual overriding the state.
Some of that is good, some not so much,
to your point of standing in my own truth and imposing upon others...postmodernism relativism.
Well, yes, but they are kind of useful, for you can rest assured that the arguments they tout are meant to divert away from the stuff that really upsets their paymasters.
This whole fear of NATO thing and protecting the geographical borders is actually bullshit. The invading hordes are not on horseback anymore. They come via the internet and with rules-based agreements in their hands. It's also obvious that geopolitical manoeuvring is not Putin's main reason for the war, as he just opened his entire back door to the Chinese, who will be rubbing their hands in glee.
No, Robert Reich is right at least on this one. What Putin is actually afraid of is the spread of liberal democracy. Look at how repressive the reaction was in Belarus. Now Ukraine. Putin knows his days are numbered and he feels like a cornered rat - and he's acting like one.
Sure, that seems to be the narrative...backwards thinking ideology - MEAGA!
But the west is unwilling to do the one thing that might actually hurt Russia: stop buying their oil.
Because why? Can't get our other "allies" like Saudi Arabia to pump more? Maybe work out a deal with Venezuela? Pump more domestic, or still need to push through the progressive narrative of fossil fuels are evil?
Seems weak we can't make that type of sacrifice.
Hmm, MEAGA? (MakeEurAsiaGreatAgain). Backwards looking, trying and maybe successfully unwinding global progress...though he is right in some cases, like how far gone today's liberals are. ps., glad you are safe and hopefully things settle down.
coffee thoughts
in the US we have misused liberal and conservative labels out of convenience
there are generally liberal and conservative people, but we shouldn't conflate them with dogmatic radicals on the far right and far left
those radicals (far left and far right) certainly aren't liberal or conservative, they're two sides of the same authoritarian coin
liberal values, which are essentially basic human rights, are at a stark difference with extremists endorsing violence
the challenge with some of the poor reasoning and logic of the post modern believers is there isn't an objective truth
especially when attempting to justify bad behavior and their unprovoked aggression you'll frequently hear loaded emotional phrases like my lived experience, standing in my truth, etc.
when definitions are comprised, language is up for grabs and objective reality gets distorted (reality is what we say it is type of thought)
spooky mysticism begets distorted epistemology resulting in societal chaos and it is all up for a power grab
bottom line: it is all about power, who has it, wields it and forces it on the masses to comply with whatever they think society should be
power, forcefully ruling over other humans it is the only thing they know
are safe and hopefully things settle down.