Excellent reporting and thank you. This proves how important it is for NATO to allow Ukraine into the organization and for Ukraine to win the war as soon as possible. The US needs to pass that funding bill to help secure victory.
I hope, Diane, you are correct about your conclusions. I share them but not without some trepidation that the "rot" of Russian (and now China is getting into the game) infiltration and disinformation has taken hold so strongly that the forces of freedom and civility (such as yourself and your readers) are up against very strong headwinds.
Every day brings disturbing news that Trump is gaining more ground. Good people - including those who are both old and rich and have no business kissing Trump's ring (such as Gov. Burgum) are joining the "Hallelujah" chorus so as not to find themselves outside the Pale. Patriotic schools like Hillsdale are posting videos parroting the Russian line. Congressman McNaul is warning about pro-Russian sentiments taking over the Republican base, and Trump is raising $50 million from one event at Mar-a-Lago. Even Trump's hand-picked Judge in Florida is thumping her nose at Biden's Justice Dept.
The point, Diane, is this. Putting the "Russia Hoax" aside (it was no "hoax" but tacit collusion), if Trump is elected, he will give Putin free rein to drown in blood any thoughts of secession in Siberia and to (at best) reduce Ukraine to a vassal state not unlike Byelorussia but under greater supervision. Just think of what kind of mayhem Putin can do in Europe - already fearful of Russia - with Ukraine and its resources in hand. Consider the stream of politicians and diplomats quietly (at first) flying to Moscow to make separate "arrangements" for their respective nations and prepared to make amends for their support for Ukraine. Who will then receive the frozen Russian assets to rebuild?
We can only hope for a Biden re-election or, more importantly, a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive before the end of this year. Europe and Ukraine must take full advantage of the remaining time this year to build up sufficient strength and solidarity to be independent of whatever policies Trump may want to impose on Europe.
Excellent reporting - not sure the future for the West is good - like RU, don't trust China - since they took Hong Kong (7 million affected). Two power houses with much the same kind of governing - I guess a 'wait & see' will be the flavor of the day. It's Siberia that concerns me a ton!!
Yes the Chinese can bide their time and wait for Russia to break up. The Hall of Supreme Harmony ( the Emperor's palace} in the Forbidden City, was built around 1420CE and was designed to withstand earthquakes. It is still standing, though no longer the seat of government. Building that imperial city cost several hundred thousand "peasants" their lives, (over 15 years) even though it is now a UN World Heritage site. We need to treat China as the totalitarian empire it is, and not wait for it to go Western. Ukraine needs to win now, so that Putin will face revolutions in the East.
Excellent reporting and thank you. This proves how important it is for NATO to allow Ukraine into the organization and for Ukraine to win the war as soon as possible. The US needs to pass that funding bill to help secure victory.
I hope, Diane, you are correct about your conclusions. I share them but not without some trepidation that the "rot" of Russian (and now China is getting into the game) infiltration and disinformation has taken hold so strongly that the forces of freedom and civility (such as yourself and your readers) are up against very strong headwinds.
Every day brings disturbing news that Trump is gaining more ground. Good people - including those who are both old and rich and have no business kissing Trump's ring (such as Gov. Burgum) are joining the "Hallelujah" chorus so as not to find themselves outside the Pale. Patriotic schools like Hillsdale are posting videos parroting the Russian line. Congressman McNaul is warning about pro-Russian sentiments taking over the Republican base, and Trump is raising $50 million from one event at Mar-a-Lago. Even Trump's hand-picked Judge in Florida is thumping her nose at Biden's Justice Dept.
The point, Diane, is this. Putting the "Russia Hoax" aside (it was no "hoax" but tacit collusion), if Trump is elected, he will give Putin free rein to drown in blood any thoughts of secession in Siberia and to (at best) reduce Ukraine to a vassal state not unlike Byelorussia but under greater supervision. Just think of what kind of mayhem Putin can do in Europe - already fearful of Russia - with Ukraine and its resources in hand. Consider the stream of politicians and diplomats quietly (at first) flying to Moscow to make separate "arrangements" for their respective nations and prepared to make amends for their support for Ukraine. Who will then receive the frozen Russian assets to rebuild?
We can only hope for a Biden re-election or, more importantly, a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive before the end of this year. Europe and Ukraine must take full advantage of the remaining time this year to build up sufficient strength and solidarity to be independent of whatever policies Trump may want to impose on Europe.
Excellent thank you
Excellent reporting - not sure the future for the West is good - like RU, don't trust China - since they took Hong Kong (7 million affected). Two power houses with much the same kind of governing - I guess a 'wait & see' will be the flavor of the day. It's Siberia that concerns me a ton!!
Excellent. Succinct summary of current reality.
Wow. Just Wow. Thank You, Diane.
Yes the Chinese can bide their time and wait for Russia to break up. The Hall of Supreme Harmony ( the Emperor's palace} in the Forbidden City, was built around 1420CE and was designed to withstand earthquakes. It is still standing, though no longer the seat of government. Building that imperial city cost several hundred thousand "peasants" their lives, (over 15 years) even though it is now a UN World Heritage site. We need to treat China as the totalitarian empire it is, and not wait for it to go Western. Ukraine needs to win now, so that Putin will face revolutions in the East.
This was one of the reasons why I commented that Putin is sitting on a block of ice.
The joyful irony is that the Kremlin hired Mao Tse Tung nearly 100 years ago to foment rebellion in China. It has come back to haunt them.
Is the current invasion force comprised of 40% "yellow zone Russians"?
There are reports now, Politico, since the ISIS K shooting and fire, of the xenophobia that has
spread in Russia and attacks
against anyone who isn't
considered pure Russian. In
other words Asians, Tukits, non-whites on down the line.
Not a good sign for Russia.
Thank you Diane for such a
succinct report.