Thank you for an excellent recap of the challenges facing the World; it is a complex matrix of so many issues. I believe the invasion of Ukraine is simply Putin trying to put the USSR back together and an ego trip. If we throw in all the past issues around the World and cry "poor me", we will never resolve the Ukraine problem. Self interest or national interest will step in to complicate matters to possibly trigger WWIII, which is unimaginable. It's astonishing to see all the money (natural resources) being spent/wasted on weapons to protect territories. Humanity is self destructing because of a small number of male egos.
Israel has become a broken state...the lack of support for Ukraine is inexcusable..while the west is clearly on the wane, this war can be stopped...in some places lack of support is really plain racism against Ukrainians- a feature of the west from 19th century on...lots of excuses are to be found..but courage to step out of tribal self interest is lacking everywhere
Another great article, and your point is well taken. It's dispiriting that the myth that the West doesn't intervene on behalf of non-White majority nations is so easily promoted. The US and NATO intervened for the minority Muslim Serbs in the Croatian War in the 90's; The US attempted to intervene for Somalis against the warlords in 1993. the US has ongoing military operations in a host of African nations with the "Operation Enduring Freedom" initiative. The US also spent decades militarily supporting ethnic Kurds too, until Trump's base betrayal in October of 2019. I could go on but by now the point should clear; the idea that the West doesn't intervene in behalf of non-White nations is a chimera, it's a comfortable and false narrative that those who wouldn't support Ukraine in any circumstance use to justify their opposition. Thank goodness, we have Biden as president at this time or else Russia might have already accomplished their goal.
Not as simple as we thought it would be - defeat RU & restore UKR - I guess we had peace for too long, a peace that put the free countries to sleep while the rats built up their lust for power.
Thank you for another great geopolitical article that puts a different spin on this complicated problem. I now see that most of the world is not behind Ukraine. I wonder how this will end?
The two divides will remain but my opinion is that the West will defeat Russia because Ukrainians are fierce and because it has the money to do so. The rest is just noise and China is chastened and will bide its time until Russia falls apart to snap up its Asia republics.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, cities, infrastructure, factories, offices, hospitals, and schools have been leveled to rumble, and Russian troops occupy over 20% of Ukraine's territory. Besides the enormous economic hardship, the result is that thousands died, 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their bombed-out homes, and 8 million Ukrainians, mainly women and children seeking safety, have become refugees in Europe and worldwide.
The free nations of the world have faced similar problems before. Over 83 years ago, in WWII, Hitler attacked Poland. Hitler claimed that Poland was prosecuting ethnic Germans and that Poland was planning to dismember Germany with its allies, Great Britain and France.
After 91 years, Ukrainians now know that Russians under Stalin starved 7-10 million Ukrainians in the genocide of 1932-33, and they do not want that to happen again or to be slaves to the Russians.
On February 20, 2023, President Biden arrived in Kyiv before Putin. President Biden vowed "unwavering" support for Ukraine and continued North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) resolve as the invasion's first anniversary approached on February 24. "President Putin's craven lust for land and power will fail, and the Ukrainian peoples' love for their country will prevail," Mr. Biden said. "Democracies of the world will stand guard over our freedom today, tomorrow, and forever. That's what's at stake here: freedom."
A squadron of Warthogs would blunt the Bakmught danger and bludgeon any further such strikes.. Five Patriot batteries would completely stop strategic air borne worries. The LR shells would dishevel RU logistics completely. Then a tank based attack would roll over RU defences.
But Biden is gutlessly worried about escalation. To solve an invasion you need overwhelming force, not a frightened liar.
Very well researhed article. And yes, the US has been a disgraceful world leader at times. Think of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. And as you say, propped up corrupt dictatorships in Latin America. Then European countries were exploitive colonialists and for 2 world wars that were totally avoidable and left Russia in the hands of brutal leadership, thank you Karl Marx. And no end in sight Diane as you write.
Thank you for an excellent recap of the challenges facing the World; it is a complex matrix of so many issues. I believe the invasion of Ukraine is simply Putin trying to put the USSR back together and an ego trip. If we throw in all the past issues around the World and cry "poor me", we will never resolve the Ukraine problem. Self interest or national interest will step in to complicate matters to possibly trigger WWIII, which is unimaginable. It's astonishing to see all the money (natural resources) being spent/wasted on weapons to protect territories. Humanity is self destructing because of a small number of male egos.
male egos are the operative words
Israel has become a broken state...the lack of support for Ukraine is inexcusable..while the west is clearly on the wane, this war can be stopped...in some places lack of support is really plain racism against Ukrainians- a feature of the west from 19th century on...lots of excuses are to be found..but courage to step out of tribal self interest is lacking everywhere
Another great article, and your point is well taken. It's dispiriting that the myth that the West doesn't intervene on behalf of non-White majority nations is so easily promoted. The US and NATO intervened for the minority Muslim Serbs in the Croatian War in the 90's; The US attempted to intervene for Somalis against the warlords in 1993. the US has ongoing military operations in a host of African nations with the "Operation Enduring Freedom" initiative. The US also spent decades militarily supporting ethnic Kurds too, until Trump's base betrayal in October of 2019. I could go on but by now the point should clear; the idea that the West doesn't intervene in behalf of non-White nations is a chimera, it's a comfortable and false narrative that those who wouldn't support Ukraine in any circumstance use to justify their opposition. Thank goodness, we have Biden as president at this time or else Russia might have already accomplished their goal.
Not as simple as we thought it would be - defeat RU & restore UKR - I guess we had peace for too long, a peace that put the free countries to sleep while the rats built up their lust for power.
Thank you for another great geopolitical article that puts a different spin on this complicated problem. I now see that most of the world is not behind Ukraine. I wonder how this will end?
The two divides will remain but my opinion is that the West will defeat Russia because Ukrainians are fierce and because it has the money to do so. The rest is just noise and China is chastened and will bide its time until Russia falls apart to snap up its Asia republics.
OHHHHH I hope you're right - I trust your opinion - I can't see USA giving up nor UK nor Australia nor Germany.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, cities, infrastructure, factories, offices, hospitals, and schools have been leveled to rumble, and Russian troops occupy over 20% of Ukraine's territory. Besides the enormous economic hardship, the result is that thousands died, 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their bombed-out homes, and 8 million Ukrainians, mainly women and children seeking safety, have become refugees in Europe and worldwide.
The free nations of the world have faced similar problems before. Over 83 years ago, in WWII, Hitler attacked Poland. Hitler claimed that Poland was prosecuting ethnic Germans and that Poland was planning to dismember Germany with its allies, Great Britain and France.
After 91 years, Ukrainians now know that Russians under Stalin starved 7-10 million Ukrainians in the genocide of 1932-33, and they do not want that to happen again or to be slaves to the Russians.
On February 20, 2023, President Biden arrived in Kyiv before Putin. President Biden vowed "unwavering" support for Ukraine and continued North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) resolve as the invasion's first anniversary approached on February 24. "President Putin's craven lust for land and power will fail, and the Ukrainian peoples' love for their country will prevail," Mr. Biden said. "Democracies of the world will stand guard over our freedom today, tomorrow, and forever. That's what's at stake here: freedom."
A squadron of Warthogs would blunt the Bakmught danger and bludgeon any further such strikes.. Five Patriot batteries would completely stop strategic air borne worries. The LR shells would dishevel RU logistics completely. Then a tank based attack would roll over RU defences.
But Biden is gutlessly worried about escalation. To solve an invasion you need overwhelming force, not a frightened liar.
Yes Diane, I thought your article good.
Very well researhed article. And yes, the US has been a disgraceful world leader at times. Think of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. And as you say, propped up corrupt dictatorships in Latin America. Then European countries were exploitive colonialists and for 2 world wars that were totally avoidable and left Russia in the hands of brutal leadership, thank you Karl Marx. And no end in sight Diane as you write.