Again an excellent piece. Of particular interest was your comment on Trump's offer (:-)) to bring the war to an end in 24 hours and the consequences of a Trump win. As regards Trump's offer, Zelensky may have "trumped" Trump by inviting him to Ukraine, but only on condition that Trump discloses how he intends to end the war without giving Putin Ukrainian land in exchange.
But putting aside Zelensky's deliberate stepping on Trump's toes, it was interesting to learn the reaction in Davos of Europeans and many other American allies such as Australia and South Korea to a possible Trump victory in November. They are already beginning to look seriously at rearming themselves with the expectation that the U.S. will no longer have their back. Europeans openly predict war with Russia in the next 5-10 years. Every one of these countries must recognize that if it should come to war, they will come out far ahead if they make up for America's default by providing Ukraine with all it needs to further cut away at Russia's conventional forces and industrial base. By the end of this year American support may become largely irrelevant. Even the bulk of the frozen Russian assets are under European control - not American. But the impact of America's loss of leadership and its untrustworthiness will have very serious global economic, political, and geopolitical repercussions. The key here is for Europe to begin the process of greatly expanding military production to fill their own and Ukrainian needs, start providing Ukraine with Russia's frozen assets, and ensure that Ukraine gets enough support to continue cutting Russia back to size and winning the war.
It may be unnecessary, but I'd like to state the obvious - American untrustworthiness and loss of leadership are concerns because of Trump and his Republican allies.
Absolutely. The very fact that Biden succeeded in implementing his campaign pledge to unite Western democracies in resisting the evil Axis is an incredible accomplishment in itself and a clear indication of his understated leadership skills.. Can you imagine Trump even thinking of confronting that fat little North Korean butcher or genocidal Putin?
I've been a lifelong conservative Republican but I will not join the parade of Republican and populist disparagers of a president who - except for migration and hesitancy and delays in providing ever more advanced weapons to Ukraine - has not been all that bad a president. And he didn't have to increase the national debt by 40% (nearly $8 trillion) to achieve his goals while Trump's wall is still unbuilt despite having a Republican Senate and House for his first 2 years in office.
Excellent. We must take Putin's words seriously if he publicly states "Russia's borders do not end anywhere". What do the EU, UN and other countries think about "his" aspirations? I'm not sure his aspirations reflect the aspirations of the Russian majority. Time to take affirmative action as March 17th comes into play.
Poland has warned NATO of that very threat - that Putin will NOT quit even if he takes UKR. The complete lack of support, in every aspect now, just amazes me. The 'rot' in USA has been a long time coming and we saw that when the 'gun control' groups ignored the school shootings - just as a litmus test. USA is still the wild west even IF tRUMP doesn't gets in.
1. Sanctions against Putin/Russia are not fully exercised against countries still supporting Russia through trade and other actions (i.e. South Africa, India)
2. Iran's oil shipments are not blockaded thereby cutting the cash flow into that country which allows them to build and develop weaponry used against the west.
3. Oligarchs from those countries living the good life elsewhere (Dubai, Qatar, London, etc.) are not deported. In fact, I would extend that to all Russian citizens living abroad who have failed to convert to become citizens of their country of residence, including athletes like Alexander Ovechkin.
The leadership void in the democratic world and growth of a generation of snowflakes who won't even talk to strangers on the phone, let alone be one day capable of making difficult decisions, is enabling authoritarian criminals everywhere to take over. Unless things change by the end of 2024, democracy - not the climate - will be our ruin.
Superb analysis of the growing opposition to Putin's vile war with Ukraine and led by Russian women. Lenin and Stalin's legacies of fascism live on but now have internal and exernal opposition. The coming danger is the election of the Ugly American boy narcissist lover of dictators by GOP Americans. Also worth mentioning his Dad did not fight against Hitler and got a false medical report to avoid conscription eh Diane?
Again - the same question I Keep coming back to is why the lack of interest in this clearly crucial conflict in favor of what is currently happening in Palestine/Israel. My social media feeds are dominated by people (rightly) calling for a cessation in the fighting and much needed aid to Gazans. But this is ALL they talk about. There is never any reference to any other conflict. They are telling people to strike (from work/shopping etc), call their senators, promote only Palestinian voices. Then it appears to be a platform from which they can play up various other consistent grievances. Which is fine - but none of it really connects with what's actually happening on the ground. Why are so many people seemingly obsessed with it, many of whom I suspect couldn't have pointed Gaza on out a map four months ago? The lack of attention and concern towards Ukraine just stumps me because geographically and politically it seems like that war has the potential for so much more of an impact on Western countries in the short term.
Again an excellent piece. Of particular interest was your comment on Trump's offer (:-)) to bring the war to an end in 24 hours and the consequences of a Trump win. As regards Trump's offer, Zelensky may have "trumped" Trump by inviting him to Ukraine, but only on condition that Trump discloses how he intends to end the war without giving Putin Ukrainian land in exchange.
But putting aside Zelensky's deliberate stepping on Trump's toes, it was interesting to learn the reaction in Davos of Europeans and many other American allies such as Australia and South Korea to a possible Trump victory in November. They are already beginning to look seriously at rearming themselves with the expectation that the U.S. will no longer have their back. Europeans openly predict war with Russia in the next 5-10 years. Every one of these countries must recognize that if it should come to war, they will come out far ahead if they make up for America's default by providing Ukraine with all it needs to further cut away at Russia's conventional forces and industrial base. By the end of this year American support may become largely irrelevant. Even the bulk of the frozen Russian assets are under European control - not American. But the impact of America's loss of leadership and its untrustworthiness will have very serious global economic, political, and geopolitical repercussions. The key here is for Europe to begin the process of greatly expanding military production to fill their own and Ukrainian needs, start providing Ukraine with Russia's frozen assets, and ensure that Ukraine gets enough support to continue cutting Russia back to size and winning the war.
It may be unnecessary, but I'd like to state the obvious - American untrustworthiness and loss of leadership are concerns because of Trump and his Republican allies.
Absolutely. The very fact that Biden succeeded in implementing his campaign pledge to unite Western democracies in resisting the evil Axis is an incredible accomplishment in itself and a clear indication of his understated leadership skills.. Can you imagine Trump even thinking of confronting that fat little North Korean butcher or genocidal Putin?
I've been a lifelong conservative Republican but I will not join the parade of Republican and populist disparagers of a president who - except for migration and hesitancy and delays in providing ever more advanced weapons to Ukraine - has not been all that bad a president. And he didn't have to increase the national debt by 40% (nearly $8 trillion) to achieve his goals while Trump's wall is still unbuilt despite having a Republican Senate and House for his first 2 years in office.
Excellent. We must take Putin's words seriously if he publicly states "Russia's borders do not end anywhere". What do the EU, UN and other countries think about "his" aspirations? I'm not sure his aspirations reflect the aspirations of the Russian majority. Time to take affirmative action as March 17th comes into play.
Poland has warned NATO of that very threat - that Putin will NOT quit even if he takes UKR. The complete lack of support, in every aspect now, just amazes me. The 'rot' in USA has been a long time coming and we saw that when the 'gun control' groups ignored the school shootings - just as a litmus test. USA is still the wild west even IF tRUMP doesn't gets in.
I do not understand why:
1. Sanctions against Putin/Russia are not fully exercised against countries still supporting Russia through trade and other actions (i.e. South Africa, India)
2. Iran's oil shipments are not blockaded thereby cutting the cash flow into that country which allows them to build and develop weaponry used against the west.
3. Oligarchs from those countries living the good life elsewhere (Dubai, Qatar, London, etc.) are not deported. In fact, I would extend that to all Russian citizens living abroad who have failed to convert to become citizens of their country of residence, including athletes like Alexander Ovechkin.
The leadership void in the democratic world and growth of a generation of snowflakes who won't even talk to strangers on the phone, let alone be one day capable of making difficult decisions, is enabling authoritarian criminals everywhere to take over. Unless things change by the end of 2024, democracy - not the climate - will be our ruin.
yep
Totally agree - very good comment!!!
Superb analysis of the growing opposition to Putin's vile war with Ukraine and led by Russian women. Lenin and Stalin's legacies of fascism live on but now have internal and exernal opposition. The coming danger is the election of the Ugly American boy narcissist lover of dictators by GOP Americans. Also worth mentioning his Dad did not fight against Hitler and got a false medical report to avoid conscription eh Diane?
Reported today, Putin will now confiscate all properties
of any openly critical remarks, by anyone, of the
way he runs the country and
especially Ukraine.
I've read that the women of
Russia were its only real hope. I sincerely hope the
White Scarves will not fall
under this new doctrine.
Biden has been a good President. His diplomatic
relations around the world
have been the best in 30
years. He has been hamstrung by a do nothing,
far right, weak, dysfunctional and bending knees republican congress.
The United States is the oldest surviving democratic
republic in the world. We,
the people, cannot take one
step back from the threat of
losing our freedom to the
likes of a wannabe Putin.
Thank you, Diane for always
laying it on the line.
Again - the same question I Keep coming back to is why the lack of interest in this clearly crucial conflict in favor of what is currently happening in Palestine/Israel. My social media feeds are dominated by people (rightly) calling for a cessation in the fighting and much needed aid to Gazans. But this is ALL they talk about. There is never any reference to any other conflict. They are telling people to strike (from work/shopping etc), call their senators, promote only Palestinian voices. Then it appears to be a platform from which they can play up various other consistent grievances. Which is fine - but none of it really connects with what's actually happening on the ground. Why are so many people seemingly obsessed with it, many of whom I suspect couldn't have pointed Gaza on out a map four months ago? The lack of attention and concern towards Ukraine just stumps me because geographically and politically it seems like that war has the potential for so much more of an impact on Western countries in the short term.
Excellent thank you