The holding up of military assistance in Congress shows that we have some of the same thinking problems in the U.S. How anyone can have any sympathy toward Putin is astonishing. Some argue that since many in the Donbas are Russian they naturally would prefer Russian leadership! Unbelievable!
There are grounds for hope. If Ukraine can build and launch one million drones in one year, even if only a fraction hit targets that can do some extensive damage to Russia's ability to continue the war. And, many with public voices are speaking up with sound arguments. Possibly the fate of mankind for the next few hundred years could depend on Ukraine's success.
"They tend to cluster around figureheads rather than ideas and principles. They behave like activists, with a black-and-white perception of the world, rigid adherence to an ideology, and an intolerance of other opinions. Activists can only become politicians when they are ready to offer a positive picture of the future to as many people as possible. Relying on fanatically devoted supporters is a direct path to marginalization and oblivion,” noted Bondarev."
Is it weird that I read this and immediately thought of the far left and far right in the US?
Again a very good article. Putin is taking a page out of Stalin's play book where there was no protests back then if there were they all were killed or Siberia goo Lags . Stalin killed millions. Hope for an underground revolution but Putin is tightening up. So many Russians have died in the war and not much protests.
There is a good reason why history is filled with noble but fruitless internal rebellions. Once a dictatorship takes hold, it takes external interventions to destroy the enmeshed mythology. That is why Ukraine has to win this war. Keep up the message Diane!
diane excellent as Always ....... how about an article on the continuing problems in quebec??.....bill 21 upheld by quebec court of appeal???billl 96 which is a direct attack on english quebecers...the outrageous attack on mcgill university and concordia university....."too much english spoken in montreal"".......and now a contemplated referendum on immigration powers ......this latter is federal jurisdiction but legault wants complete control....meanwhile a gutless trudeau does nothing about any of this and tranfer payments in the billions continue to quebec....please dont take this as a criticism diane.....your in put would be most welcome...
I've written about Quebec for decades and all the language issues. It's local stuff which I may addres in my National Post columns. It's of no interest to anyone outside of Canada.
The saddest part of this tale was the turnout for the funeral. The Russian population seems resigned to the fact that barring any health surprises Putin will hold power for as long as he wishes. This is where the Ukraine equals Russia argument falls flat. One country’s population willing to die for a cause while the other simply shrugs. That Navalny knew his chances of martyrdom were near certain after returning to Russia and then his country witnessing the apathy of the people he died trying to help will stifle any recruitment efforts to end the rot.
Freedom of expression for Russians doesn't look so good. In Canada freedom of expression is being stifled given new controls over the media and the recent passing of new censorship laws. Canada is moving in the wrong direction.
Agree with your analysis Diane - the quagmire of ruthless terror is well established . Change will be . . . more than difficult.
The holding up of military assistance in Congress shows that we have some of the same thinking problems in the U.S. How anyone can have any sympathy toward Putin is astonishing. Some argue that since many in the Donbas are Russian they naturally would prefer Russian leadership! Unbelievable!
There are grounds for hope. If Ukraine can build and launch one million drones in one year, even if only a fraction hit targets that can do some extensive damage to Russia's ability to continue the war. And, many with public voices are speaking up with sound arguments. Possibly the fate of mankind for the next few hundred years could depend on Ukraine's success.
"They tend to cluster around figureheads rather than ideas and principles. They behave like activists, with a black-and-white perception of the world, rigid adherence to an ideology, and an intolerance of other opinions. Activists can only become politicians when they are ready to offer a positive picture of the future to as many people as possible. Relying on fanatically devoted supporters is a direct path to marginalization and oblivion,” noted Bondarev."
Is it weird that I read this and immediately thought of the far left and far right in the US?
my reaction as well
Again a very good article. Putin is taking a page out of Stalin's play book where there was no protests back then if there were they all were killed or Siberia goo Lags . Stalin killed millions. Hope for an underground revolution but Putin is tightening up. So many Russians have died in the war and not much protests.
Yet another reason for Drill Baby Drill....if the weed cant be cut off at the top, starve the root.
There is a good reason why history is filled with noble but fruitless internal rebellions. Once a dictatorship takes hold, it takes external interventions to destroy the enmeshed mythology. That is why Ukraine has to win this war. Keep up the message Diane!
Very interesting thank you
diane excellent as Always ....... how about an article on the continuing problems in quebec??.....bill 21 upheld by quebec court of appeal???billl 96 which is a direct attack on english quebecers...the outrageous attack on mcgill university and concordia university....."too much english spoken in montreal"".......and now a contemplated referendum on immigration powers ......this latter is federal jurisdiction but legault wants complete control....meanwhile a gutless trudeau does nothing about any of this and tranfer payments in the billions continue to quebec....please dont take this as a criticism diane.....your in put would be most welcome...
I've written about Quebec for decades and all the language issues. It's local stuff which I may addres in my National Post columns. It's of no interest to anyone outside of Canada.
The saddest part of this tale was the turnout for the funeral. The Russian population seems resigned to the fact that barring any health surprises Putin will hold power for as long as he wishes. This is where the Ukraine equals Russia argument falls flat. One country’s population willing to die for a cause while the other simply shrugs. That Navalny knew his chances of martyrdom were near certain after returning to Russia and then his country witnessing the apathy of the people he died trying to help will stifle any recruitment efforts to end the rot.
Think about this. The millions
Stalin murdered and drove out of Russia. Current population under Putin 143
million scattered over how
many thousands of miles?
All who fled Russia under
fear of conscript for fighting
in Ukraine and the actual
unknown Russian death toll
of this war.
This country has never really
known how to live without
fear of reprisals over some
of the mildest offenses; not
tipping your hat to an ogliarch. How could, under
underthe present regime and
the past atrocities of others,
can these people trust one
another to break free from
oppression?
Freedom of expression for Russians doesn't look so good. In Canada freedom of expression is being stifled given new controls over the media and the recent passing of new censorship laws. Canada is moving in the wrong direction.
Seeing plenty of protests re Hamas and many other causes - no arrests. No censorship laws have been passed. Please stop comparing Canada to Russia.