9 Comments

Hi Diane. Nice article. Problem is the axis of evil Russia and Iran, Hamas, NK, China all on the same page as they all meet. The US and Europe have to continue supporting Ukraine, Israel. democracy depends on countries coming together to defeat evil.

Expand full comment

Those people, groups and national governments crying out for an immediate cease fire in Gaza would have a great deal more credibility if at the same time, they demanded immediate freeing of the Israeli captives, and cessation of the rocket fire into Israel - which seems to continue unabated.

Expand full comment

Excellent report, Diane.

The photo of Putin and the Ayatolla is precious. There's

one very like it of Putin and

Trump, Putin and Xi. How about MBS? I doubt we'll ever see one like this of Putin and

Zelensky. Ukraine must win!

As for China joining the grand

scheme of things, no matter

the recent conglomeration of

all those authoritarians who

met and posed in China, there's still Manchuria in

China's sight and Putin hasn't

given it back. China always plays the long game, thus the

real possibility of Biden and Xi in San Francisco in the near future.

I can't comment on Israel and

Gaza in an unaffected way. The dogs of war have been

unleashed and there's too much blood on both sides

of that ground.

Expand full comment

I hope all democracies on Planet Earth know the ramifications of the wars in Ukr & Gaza - should they lose to 'evil'. Has WW II taught these leaders nothing? (double negative caught - sorry so sloppy)

Expand full comment

There was good reason for Trump to investigate the former VP. The Obama-Biden Whitehouse stopped the shipment of approved weapons for Ukraine (by a Republican House and Senate) and Biden openly bragged about stopping aid to Ukraine if Ukraine continued to investigate his son. The lesser Biden worked for the pipeline that sold Russian gas to Ukraine and Europe. (Trump was switching Europe and Ukraine to American gas).

But that is water over the dam. Right now, there is growing awareness that Russia is the fountainhead of Middle East, Far East, and European terror. Even the displaced refugees flooding into Europe and taxing the support systems have their basis in Russian bombings in their home countries. So the coming year will see a world relatively united in getting rid of the Russian threat.

Expand full comment

Thanks for this Diane And have we seen the UN calling Hamas to release the hostages and cease their intimidation and killing of their fellow Palestinians? Sad to say the UN head is taking an anti Israeli stand supported by most members.

Expand full comment

As usual, excellent summary of the situation where Democracies must stop Putin and Iran in their track. Their hatred for the West, Israel and UKR is well known but stopping them might trigger WW III. As noted below, China and NK are also disruptors. These are indeed challenging times especially when you consider the upcoming election in the US.

Expand full comment