If you're surprised by the horrific scenes out of Bucha, then you weren't paying attention to Aleppo and/or Grozny. This is the Russian playbook; we're just getting a better view of it now. The question is, are we willing to risk to a nuclear war and/or the cyberdestruction of our power grid to take Russia down? I question whether as a society we are willing to pay that price. And, what will China do? Will it actively intervene on behalf of its Russian ally?
Oh, I know you have, and I’m sorry that I inadvertently implied that you hadn’t! I was speaking more generally. My comments are more appropriately directed at the talking heads on the news networks who seem shocked by what is happening now.
What we are doing is not working and it's time to quickly change strategy. Nato needs to get lethal defensive and offensive weapons into the hands of Ukrainians PDQ, air defense, planes (yes!), anti ship missiles, anti tank stuff. I don't believe this would escalate to nuclear war. I think Putin is bluffing. This war could go on for a considerable time and Ukraine must be properly equipped to defend itself. The US and Nato owes this to Ukraine. They dangled Nato membership to Ukraine at the 2008 Bucharest summit without giving them an actionable plan and which also infuriated Putin. Ukraine was used as a bait and switch. If we don't do anything different Ukraine will be destroyed, depopulated, Europe will be destabilized, millions could starve and have food insecurity. Very disappointed in Israel's response but that's another topic.
With respect to Israel's response, Israel is in a difficult position here--it essentially needs tacit Russian approval to act as it wants in Syria, and so it is trying desperately to "straddle the line"--condemning what the Russians are doing without doing much more than that. Would I like to see Israel be (much) more supportive of Ukraine? Certainly, but I do understand Israel's predicament here.
Turning to Russia itself, I am not so sure that Putin is bluffing. Desperate men do desperate things, and the invasion of Ukraine has already gone far worse than he could have imagined. If this does drag on, as you have predicted, it would not shock me if he employs more "extreme measures" in his effort to destroy Ukraine.
Finally, I agree with you that NATO needs to get better (and more) equipment into the hands of the Ukrainian military. However, we had best be prepared for what the Russians will do in response (I would expect major cyberattacks on our power grid, health care facilities, food and fuel distribution systems, etc.).
We have to do more because following genocide of whole of Ukraine, the inevitable will follow. There will be attack on Baltic states, one at a time, russian passport holders to be protected. What will West do ? NATO? Nothing cause of nuclear fear!!! Putin and russian people need to be wiped out morally and militarily. Now.
Excellent commentary Diane. You nailed it when you said “Putin’s mass murder is rooted in a Hitlerian ‘super race’ theology”. It is “chillingly similar.” How else do you explain their hubristic, chauvinistic, arrogant behaviour where they refer to Ukrainians as ‘khokhols’, a derogatory term that denigrates Ukrainians to sub-human status? Russians have been fed this super race rubbish since 1917. They have been inundated with propaganda that only Mother Russia can purify the world. First, by Soviet Communism and now with idiots like Dugin running around like some Russian mystic spouting doctrines of Russian glory. You are right Diane that Russia’s armed forces must be obliterated and it’s economy dismantled.
I read yesterday, that 66% of Russian Gas production is exported to the E.U. 58% of Ukraine's Gas consumption is imported from Russia. There are at least 4 major pipelines that cross through Ukraine. Russia transits much of that 66% gas from Russia to the E.U. through these pipelines. Ukraine gets a Commission as payment for the gas to transit. Apparently, the Russian separatists in south eastern Ukraine take exception to this transit tax. If Ukraine wants to ramp things up, just prevent the transit of that gas to the E.U. Their domestic gas needs are shrinking every day anyway. If Putin was to win control over Ukraine, the new 'owner' of those pipelines may substantially increase the pipeline fee. In that Putin thinks as a Crime boss first, is this one of his targets?
Ukraine could blow up the pipeline to EU but EU has asked that it doesn't -- wrote that in Atlantic Council and Financial Post pieces I wrote after interviewing Yuriy Vitrenko, head of Ukraine's energy conglomerate Naftogaz
A man Putin imprisoned for 10 years was on NBC saying Biden was right to call for his removal and this was an ethical statement the soft media condemned. Also said Macron of France is under Putin's thumb. He said Putin is a criminal dictator and the west has to get tougher as he understands this. Send in fighter jets to control the skies and anti airplane missiles NOW. Get Russia out of UN, G20. Get India to stop its charade of supporting him. Canada should pump more oil and stop the green fearmongering the BBC promotes. Trudeau needs to get tougher and back off the endless PC regime he heads.
Yes best information is Trudeau playing a Macron cowardly game. Hope Biden turns on him by insisting he pumps much more oil as Biden is doing. Ashamed to be a Canadian
Granted that there is fear of the unknown (and that rushing to judgement quickly can cause unnecessary escalation ie WW1) and the result is obfuscation of a leader's mind.
Rolling Thunder approach to arms relief for Ukraine should be encouraged as to lethality ie longer range air defence, hand over the Migs, implement Harpoon missile defence for the south.
The major oil port of Novorosiysk exports Russian and Kashakastan oil and it's origin could be lied about. If non public arms lethality doesn't work then it would be time to start threatening Putin with elimination of his Novorosiysk exporting facilities.
An escalation yes; but can you imagine what damage an obfuscated mind is already doing?
I think we have reached that point of taking action NOW. With the election in Hungary going in favour of a Putin ally, this is getting out of hand. As mentioned by Ian Sirota below, Putin has been practicing in other peoples backyard. Putin must stay out of our backyard. We must test this nuclear option, JFK did with Cuba in 1962. We can no longer afford to be held for ransom by a butcher.
Maybe Putin looks at this like after WW@ with the Nazis. And he wants what was after the war where he had many countries under Russia. Putin doing the same as the Nazis but projecting that Ukraine is Nazism and doing what Russia did to the Nazis but now to Ukraine. Food for thought.
If you're surprised by the horrific scenes out of Bucha, then you weren't paying attention to Aleppo and/or Grozny. This is the Russian playbook; we're just getting a better view of it now. The question is, are we willing to risk to a nuclear war and/or the cyberdestruction of our power grid to take Russia down? I question whether as a society we are willing to pay that price. And, what will China do? Will it actively intervene on behalf of its Russian ally?
I've written and referred to both atrocities repeated in my newsletters in recent weeks
Oh, I know you have, and I’m sorry that I inadvertently implied that you hadn’t! I was speaking more generally. My comments are more appropriately directed at the talking heads on the news networks who seem shocked by what is happening now.
What we are doing is not working and it's time to quickly change strategy. Nato needs to get lethal defensive and offensive weapons into the hands of Ukrainians PDQ, air defense, planes (yes!), anti ship missiles, anti tank stuff. I don't believe this would escalate to nuclear war. I think Putin is bluffing. This war could go on for a considerable time and Ukraine must be properly equipped to defend itself. The US and Nato owes this to Ukraine. They dangled Nato membership to Ukraine at the 2008 Bucharest summit without giving them an actionable plan and which also infuriated Putin. Ukraine was used as a bait and switch. If we don't do anything different Ukraine will be destroyed, depopulated, Europe will be destabilized, millions could starve and have food insecurity. Very disappointed in Israel's response but that's another topic.
The Ukrainian diaspora is fighting hard to get arms to Ukraine. All nations must act quick.
With respect to Israel's response, Israel is in a difficult position here--it essentially needs tacit Russian approval to act as it wants in Syria, and so it is trying desperately to "straddle the line"--condemning what the Russians are doing without doing much more than that. Would I like to see Israel be (much) more supportive of Ukraine? Certainly, but I do understand Israel's predicament here.
Turning to Russia itself, I am not so sure that Putin is bluffing. Desperate men do desperate things, and the invasion of Ukraine has already gone far worse than he could have imagined. If this does drag on, as you have predicted, it would not shock me if he employs more "extreme measures" in his effort to destroy Ukraine.
Finally, I agree with you that NATO needs to get better (and more) equipment into the hands of the Ukrainian military. However, we had best be prepared for what the Russians will do in response (I would expect major cyberattacks on our power grid, health care facilities, food and fuel distribution systems, etc.).
Good points
We have to do more because following genocide of whole of Ukraine, the inevitable will follow. There will be attack on Baltic states, one at a time, russian passport holders to be protected. What will West do ? NATO? Nothing cause of nuclear fear!!! Putin and russian people need to be wiped out morally and militarily. Now.
Better hurry.
There is always risk and price. When both are high, it becomes dangerous. Best to get it early.
Excellent commentary Diane. You nailed it when you said “Putin’s mass murder is rooted in a Hitlerian ‘super race’ theology”. It is “chillingly similar.” How else do you explain their hubristic, chauvinistic, arrogant behaviour where they refer to Ukrainians as ‘khokhols’, a derogatory term that denigrates Ukrainians to sub-human status? Russians have been fed this super race rubbish since 1917. They have been inundated with propaganda that only Mother Russia can purify the world. First, by Soviet Communism and now with idiots like Dugin running around like some Russian mystic spouting doctrines of Russian glory. You are right Diane that Russia’s armed forces must be obliterated and it’s economy dismantled.
I read yesterday, that 66% of Russian Gas production is exported to the E.U. 58% of Ukraine's Gas consumption is imported from Russia. There are at least 4 major pipelines that cross through Ukraine. Russia transits much of that 66% gas from Russia to the E.U. through these pipelines. Ukraine gets a Commission as payment for the gas to transit. Apparently, the Russian separatists in south eastern Ukraine take exception to this transit tax. If Ukraine wants to ramp things up, just prevent the transit of that gas to the E.U. Their domestic gas needs are shrinking every day anyway. If Putin was to win control over Ukraine, the new 'owner' of those pipelines may substantially increase the pipeline fee. In that Putin thinks as a Crime boss first, is this one of his targets?
Ukraine could blow up the pipeline to EU but EU has asked that it doesn't -- wrote that in Atlantic Council and Financial Post pieces I wrote after interviewing Yuriy Vitrenko, head of Ukraine's energy conglomerate Naftogaz
Thank you. Didn’t read that. As time goes on, mistakes can happen.
A man Putin imprisoned for 10 years was on NBC saying Biden was right to call for his removal and this was an ethical statement the soft media condemned. Also said Macron of France is under Putin's thumb. He said Putin is a criminal dictator and the west has to get tougher as he understands this. Send in fighter jets to control the skies and anti airplane missiles NOW. Get Russia out of UN, G20. Get India to stop its charade of supporting him. Canada should pump more oil and stop the green fearmongering the BBC promotes. Trudeau needs to get tougher and back off the endless PC regime he heads.
agreed
Yes best information is Trudeau playing a Macron cowardly game. Hope Biden turns on him by insisting he pumps much more oil as Biden is doing. Ashamed to be a Canadian
Canada under influence of greens and Trudeau playing Macron cowardly game and shame on him and NDP cowards
Rarely any simple solutions.
Thanks Mary Ann. Seems that Trudeau will not pump more oil because he will not take on the greens? Or what do you think?
Incredible coincidence (?) that the creation of the Nazi party in Germany was Feb 24 and the invasion of Ukraine was 102 years later on Feb 24th also.
Apparently NATO not sending jets to Ukraine is because they think Russian jets will destroy them on the ground.
Granted that there is fear of the unknown (and that rushing to judgement quickly can cause unnecessary escalation ie WW1) and the result is obfuscation of a leader's mind.
Rolling Thunder approach to arms relief for Ukraine should be encouraged as to lethality ie longer range air defence, hand over the Migs, implement Harpoon missile defence for the south.
The major oil port of Novorosiysk exports Russian and Kashakastan oil and it's origin could be lied about. If non public arms lethality doesn't work then it would be time to start threatening Putin with elimination of his Novorosiysk exporting facilities.
An escalation yes; but can you imagine what damage an obfuscated mind is already doing?
I think we have reached that point of taking action NOW. With the election in Hungary going in favour of a Putin ally, this is getting out of hand. As mentioned by Ian Sirota below, Putin has been practicing in other peoples backyard. Putin must stay out of our backyard. We must test this nuclear option, JFK did with Cuba in 1962. We can no longer afford to be held for ransom by a butcher.
Maybe Putin looks at this like after WW@ with the Nazis. And he wants what was after the war where he had many countries under Russia. Putin doing the same as the Nazis but projecting that Ukraine is Nazism and doing what Russia did to the Nazis but now to Ukraine. Food for thought.