Thank you for a succint summary of the stupidity and cruelty of Trump's Keystone Kops-like Administration with regard to Ukraine. And Churchill? Trump can't even do a Chamberlain.
"Fog" or not, I think the fix is in. Trump does not understand geopolitics because he deceives himself into believing that all it takes is his personal relationship with Putin and a handshake and the two will emerge "best of friends" in front of the cameras. He admires autocrats and has had gratifying and fruitful dealings with Russians for a great many years. Ukraine means little to him other than someday it "may be Russian".
The mafia "loan-shark" tactic was, undoubtedly, his idea. It's one of the tools of "deal-makers": hit the other guy while he's down, demand an outrageous sum, and make him believe he's getting off easy. I'm not sure about the source, but I read that Zelensky was told to sign off on this "deal" right then and there.
Your recognition of Zelensky's clear vision in this "fog" is correct. He refused to buy into any of it.
Where does this leave us? Zelensky has stated that Ukraine produces 40% of its military needs domestically. It would not be too far-fetched for him to look to Europe to provide the remainder, and - with the frozen Russian funds (thank God it is no longer in Trump's control!) and intense and immediate reforms and reorganizations of Ukraine's recruitment program and armed forces, - test Russia's military and economic capability. Many very credible and respected experts and institutions still believe Ukraine can win.......if it does not throw in the towel prematurely. Then Trump and Putin can go pound sand together.
Even Chamberlain is too nice a metaphor for Trump. Try Alfred Hugenberg, the German banker who bailed out Hitler when the Nazis were bankrupt in 1933 and then installed him in the Chancellorship. His oligarch friends told him he would live to regret this. They all did after it was too late. Zelensky has my vote for the Churchill Statesman of the Year Award.
Actually the loan proposed to Zelenskyy is brilliant and a God Send for Ukraine. Have you read the actual terms? It is actually a draft of the collateral agreement. It is not the royalty price. It says that if loan payments are not made, 50% of this and that can be attached in court to force repayment. And the real brilliant part is that it applies to PAST aid also. Why is this important? It means that the only reason for Putin to invade Ukraine no longer exists. Putin is not invading Ukraine for the sake of reuniting brothers or any such nonsense. He wants the resource$. But as soon as Zelenskyy signs it, the rare earth is security signed over to Trump. Its like stealing a car on which a bank has provided a loan....and Putin is in no position to steal what belongs to the US. He learned that lesson in Syria when they approached a US owned oil field. Trump bombed them for 4 hours. https://www.voanews.com/a/6740871.html
Apparently Zelenskyy believes it has merit....at least that is what is reported today.
.....................................
"As reported by Ukrinform, Zelenskyy during an online press conference with Ukrainian journalists stated that there is nothing "fundamentally new" in the agreement – similar arrangements have existed at different times....
For instance, Zelenskyy pointed out that if the document mentions security guarantees, they should be considered in the context of NATO or alternative mechanisms.
He emphasised that security guarantees are not just military assistance, but also economic and political commitments."
"European leaders have panicked..." Finally! ...and thank Heaven for small miracles. Seriously, isnt it about time? This is the second invasion of Europe by Russia and with loads of help from China, Iran, N Korea, Cuba, and Africa it is a genuine World War III.
Hopefully today in France, Europe will take its first concrete steps to forge its own defensive line and it ought not be in Poland or the Baltics! It should be in Ukraine and at the first sign of a direct attack, it should take a hot pursuit with air support all the way to Moscow if need be.
Yes fog of war. Looks like Trump has abandoned Ukraine and wants its mineral wealth. Up to Europe to get tough and support Ukraine and stop Putin. And Canada also should turn its back on the Ugly American and support Ukraine.
Probably a good moment to reassess this War on Ukraine. Lets just see if Europe can do more of the heavy lifting.
1. Canada is near broke and sent more $$ than it should spend to the Ukraine.
2. Likely true of the USA, who too should should rethink their defence spending given their own debt load which may be some of the current decision-making.
Having said all this, recently I attended an Armenian Orthodox dinner celebrating their St. Sarkas. Included despora (not so geographic far away from Ukraine, fleeing from Syria, Iraq, Russia. Russia/Bulgaria allows their culture to thrive yet Canada offers their children more.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive, forcing the surrender of Stepanakert, the capital of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh. This resulted in the mass displacement of nearly the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh (over 100,000 people), marking the end of Armenian control in the region. We in North America hardly noticed.
So we conveniently forget. Since 1911 this Ancient culture has been targeted (with its lands holding Ancient artifacts of original human civilization). And is currently been destroyed by Azerbaijan plundering and murdering aided with Turkish funds of a NATO nation. Where has been the global support for them? Is Ancient History worth less military support -- never mind constant displacement of human lives?
Trump's administration is not behaving in this manner in Ukraine. They are not the good guys OR the bad guys. Europe must take care of their own heavy lifting.
Ukraine is not the good guy? Considering that the Russians have genocided 15 million of them to steal their nation and resources, by what leap of faith are we to expected to believe they have not be unjustly targeted?
Thanks for excellent article Diane. There is a mafia running the USA with a headbanger, ignorant leader. Then there is a fascist headbanger running the Russian mafia. I had no idea how big the Ukraine armed forces are and thanks for pointing this out. Yes time for EQurope to wake up to defend Ukraine and for Canada to join Europe and hit back hard against the tariffs of the vicious man in the White House. Fortunatley Canadians are united to this.
This American old guy is ready to accept and witness the consequences of our oligarchy run amok. There's no consequences quite as satisfying as logical consequences. I don't know what it's going to take to cripple the over-reach of the US financialist mafia, but I can do without ALL of what THEY'RE selling.
but there was as well Ursula von der Leyen on the MSC:
"Europe proofed, that it can move mountains."
Today is the 10th anniversary of the key agreement on solving Greece's depth crisis - and thereby the 2008 financial crisis in which Europe entered in fact as a party not at the table - but it solved it.
Europe faced CoVid first after China, with the major outbreaks around Bergamo and in Spain - got resilient quick and got - despite significant malign disinformation campaigns - through CoVid second to none with one of the two most effective vaccines, three in total, among major societies the most effective vaccination campaigns and the least economic downturn.
Europe, against every RuZZian attempt, got through the hybrid disruption campaigns with in fact not much more than lower temperatures in public swimming pools and slower running Skilifts.
Europe managed to not only GET through the energy crisis but did set up a framework for future proof, independent and finally most affordable energy supply, that even people running for office on changing details of that will let them fail at the framework.
And now - since last Saturday - Europe has the mastermind it needed since DeGaulle/Adenauer, Giscard-dEstain/Schmidt or Mitterand/Kohl:
Zelenskyy.
That could be comforting.
But - and this is my question and ask to analysts - isn't the real danger for the entire freedom aspiring and law obeying world not what the former world's superpower DOES, and INTENDS, but HOW it ATTEMPTS it?
Isn't the world facing a Doha-Accord on steroids and wasn't mediocre Pompeo brilliant compared to the recent cast?
And now THIS cast faces the - to recognize - likely most virtuous "negotiators" around?
And isn't it, that such characters, when inevitably facing disaster not to sugarcoat retreat to alternate means of "success" in the attempt to cover up their failure?
Means, that then will let Greenland/Denmark, Canada, Panama, Germany, Romania, Europe, Palestine - only be the first in a quickly increasing club?
Other than economists do - we should doubt at an ongoing economic superiority of US in traditional economies.
We had means to counter digital superiority - if we wanted and would wake up.
But what about the military?
Will US troops follow their oath - or the emperor?
Will they put their salaries above their moral - or moral over salary?
Will there be any cohesion in the ranks at all when those ranks get fed by those around in Europe last week?
With what Ursula von der Leyen pointed out, there should be no doubt Europe can deal with THAT RuZZia on the side of Zelenskyy's Ukraine.
But these Washington surrogates that woke us up and made us aware that there are now many Vances as "new sheriffs" in that town - they have unimaginable means of havoc at their disposal.
And no capacity to assess what they do with them...
"Other than economists do - we should doubt at an ongoing economic superiority of US in traditional economies."
Yup. All one has to do is look at the Fed data, while it's still reliably available, to see the rise in past-due home mortgage and rent payments, the upside-down nature of most vehicle loans, the fall in credit scores and the number of people now homeless, and the weakness in the US economy with its dependency on 'financialization' driving the economy ( I think it's over 30% of 'GDP'), and you can smell disaster waiting for the levy to break somewhere.
Actually - this is something WE the people could do, as media don't do that.
Here in Europe daily stock exchange analysts still preach soaring of investments in US and disadvantages of Europe. I neither have the figures nor the knowledge. I only know, that with however much I had spare to loose, I would neither put it in Crypto nor in a market with a federal department of education shutting down, with a purge in government according political affiliation and not competence, with a federal secretary of finance walking into a meeting in Kyiv with a bribery-contract that simply didn't make sense and follow any kind of law, with the mob of the most violent and brainwashed people feeling on top - ok - the later is here not so much different - but at least we still have courts that actually punish former heads of state even if they committed only laughable petitenesses in US no one would talk about.
So - if WE the people keep shouting out what media don't, that actually it's not really the golden age there as WE thought it would be, but only for the price of gold as a safe retreat for investment itself, THEN
these here reporting from and analysing the stock exchange could get countered in the attention of public and investors,
investments would go where it makes sense, to Europe,
and with everything resulting out of that,
not Europe would have to beg any longer to be at a table where it's and Ukraine's fate get potentially decided,
but the other way round.
And As a European leader I would even ask for conditions for that:
Many thanks, Burkhard. The media here are all taken with the movements of The Market as well, as though it indicated something more than clever manipulation of shares and currencies. I've been in the role of local government administrator of small towns, and also the treasurer of a small church supported with an endowment. Any attempt by me to suggest that The Market was anything more than a lot of jiggery-pokery and NOT representative of the productive power and output of a region or nation is met with the skepticism that comfortable folks have for Karl Polanyi or Greta Thunberg. I still say it. But the media is beholden here.
And I think you're correct: if heads of state and powerful financial leaders get away with lies, fraud and outright thievery, then the whole system comes nearer to collapse, and the ones that suffer the most are NOT the ones who generally benefited. My parents were both children / young adults for the Great Depression here, and lost the farm, employment, security. That sense of always pending insecurity informed them deeply. I don't see that ability for that kind of awareness now, nor do I see the sort of resiliency that grounded them for the ensuing struggle that's present now.
Europe and the West would be a better place if European leadership exhibited the tenacity you suggest and demanded the conditions you list.
We were taught, and learned at our parent's knees, that the Marshall Plan saved Europe from destitution post-war, and that it was the right thing to do; now it almost seems that rescue of democracy and self government is on the other side. Who would be the General George C. Marshall in this new situation?
Some of us here have figured out the nature of the tyranny wrought on our own land; I don't know yet how we'll figure out how to break this fever; but,
Do not assume that when Trumps mouth moves it is “engaged” to his brain and it appears that, outside of his instinct to bully, his brain is incapable of higher level strategic functionality. Together with Europe’s penchant for talk rather than hard forceful action it is difficult to be optimistic about our future. In simple terms, the 1994 “Budapest” agreement is already in place securing Ukraine's pre-invasion borders (including Crimea) as signed by Russia, U.S., and the U.K. ENFORCING this agreement is all it would take to clean up the mess there and alert all the planets criminal regimes (and “wannabee’s) that WE have entered a new era!! Yes, it may become messy and costly now but it is a cakewalk to any plausible alternative!!
You write: "An attack on a Baltic state will bring in NATO and America." Not under President Trump; he has already proved he doesn't care for treaties, as in imposing tariffs on the other signatories to the North American free trade agreement.
Does Trump care? Anyway, Finland would be a very tough nut to crack. The Russians didn’t find fighting the Finns very easy in 1939-1940; and Finland is much better prepared this time. The Poles would also be ready to fight, especially since the Russians haven’t proved themselves exactly invincible in Ukraine. Anyway, I think the Russians would try first for the low-hanging Baltic fruit. I think the citizens of those countries are feeling pretty nervous just now.
I don’t believe that when push comes to shove with China over their Putin like impulses that Trump behave any differently than he is now. Especially when you consider Musk’s involvement with China. He admires dictators.
Thanks, as always, Diane. Reading you, Timothy Snyder and others is like going through the ice in a Northern Illinois pond. There's no escaping the sharp cold of it. The folks down here who've now captured pretty much all the levers of power just want more of it. It's common knowledge that The Boss of our New Order has long admired the manner in which Putin has captured the common wealth of Russia to his own benefit, using his untrammeled access to violence and the impunity of his position to garner percentages on the extraction of raw materials. Drumpf, his skeevy clan and hangers-on are following this same slide to oligarchy, and we seem powerless to set stakes and call "Enough! and refuse to comply.
The only hope I hang on to is that the very greed that drives this mentality is the thing that keeps them from burning it all down in a fit of pique. They want to die in the comfort of their own beds with full stomachs, surrounded by sycophants who will serve their egos and their needs, both basic and prurient. But, underneath it all, they have some sense, and are surrounded by clever folks who actually know that the path they've assumed as their 'right' is no longer sustainable without 'reaping where they have not sown'.
Let’s see whether the Republicans who have staffed Trump’s cabinet have the intelligence and moral courage to stand up for democracy, for the “little guy” they clained has been neglected by Democrats, or whether the Republicans are just as venal, just as corrupt a set of governmental grifters as were the Democrats they have recently replaced.
Trump has done what the Biden government failed to do and that is to get European countries united (although initially against him) and ready to actually take the steps needed to finally end this horrible and costly (in lives and assets) war.
My response to Trump's actions is: "EU, what the hell have you been waiting for?" Europe is most at risk from Putin's ruthless agressions, not America (economic impact aside), and should step up NOW.
Same with the Middle East. Trump's ridiculous (or is it?) "plan" for Gaza has brought the Arab nations together to (hopefully and finally) agree on a plan to deal with Hamas (and by extension all of Iran's terrorist proxies). Where have they been all these years, and especially since Oct 7?
Of course the third potential military threat in the world is China's aspirations to invade Taiwan, and I'm sure Trump's opening negotiating plays in Europe and the Middle East will help keep Xi from doing anything foolish there.
The U.S. is heavily in debt and I'm sure a good deal of that comes from their lengthy role as the global police force without much, if any, compensation from the nations and peoples it protects. That isn't fair and if I were an American (and as I've said to my American friends for decades) I'd want compensation.
Banks require collateral for loans, and would require Ukrainian resources and Gaza real estate in return, so what's wrong with America finally doing the same thing?
Thank you for a succint summary of the stupidity and cruelty of Trump's Keystone Kops-like Administration with regard to Ukraine. And Churchill? Trump can't even do a Chamberlain.
"Fog" or not, I think the fix is in. Trump does not understand geopolitics because he deceives himself into believing that all it takes is his personal relationship with Putin and a handshake and the two will emerge "best of friends" in front of the cameras. He admires autocrats and has had gratifying and fruitful dealings with Russians for a great many years. Ukraine means little to him other than someday it "may be Russian".
The mafia "loan-shark" tactic was, undoubtedly, his idea. It's one of the tools of "deal-makers": hit the other guy while he's down, demand an outrageous sum, and make him believe he's getting off easy. I'm not sure about the source, but I read that Zelensky was told to sign off on this "deal" right then and there.
Your recognition of Zelensky's clear vision in this "fog" is correct. He refused to buy into any of it.
Where does this leave us? Zelensky has stated that Ukraine produces 40% of its military needs domestically. It would not be too far-fetched for him to look to Europe to provide the remainder, and - with the frozen Russian funds (thank God it is no longer in Trump's control!) and intense and immediate reforms and reorganizations of Ukraine's recruitment program and armed forces, - test Russia's military and economic capability. Many very credible and respected experts and institutions still believe Ukraine can win.......if it does not throw in the towel prematurely. Then Trump and Putin can go pound sand together.
Even Chamberlain is too nice a metaphor for Trump. Try Alfred Hugenberg, the German banker who bailed out Hitler when the Nazis were bankrupt in 1933 and then installed him in the Chancellorship. His oligarch friends told him he would live to regret this. They all did after it was too late. Zelensky has my vote for the Churchill Statesman of the Year Award.
Actually the loan proposed to Zelenskyy is brilliant and a God Send for Ukraine. Have you read the actual terms? It is actually a draft of the collateral agreement. It is not the royalty price. It says that if loan payments are not made, 50% of this and that can be attached in court to force repayment. And the real brilliant part is that it applies to PAST aid also. Why is this important? It means that the only reason for Putin to invade Ukraine no longer exists. Putin is not invading Ukraine for the sake of reuniting brothers or any such nonsense. He wants the resource$. But as soon as Zelenskyy signs it, the rare earth is security signed over to Trump. Its like stealing a car on which a bank has provided a loan....and Putin is in no position to steal what belongs to the US. He learned that lesson in Syria when they approached a US owned oil field. Trump bombed them for 4 hours. https://www.voanews.com/a/6740871.html
No rationale for this. It's treacherous, and the deal that was on the table and offered is ignored. This is not smart. It's amoral and criminal.
Apparently Zelenskyy believes it has merit....at least that is what is reported today.
.....................................
"As reported by Ukrinform, Zelenskyy during an online press conference with Ukrainian journalists stated that there is nothing "fundamentally new" in the agreement – similar arrangements have existed at different times....
For instance, Zelenskyy pointed out that if the document mentions security guarantees, they should be considered in the context of NATO or alternative mechanisms.
He emphasised that security guarantees are not just military assistance, but also economic and political commitments."
...........................
"European leaders have panicked..." Finally! ...and thank Heaven for small miracles. Seriously, isnt it about time? This is the second invasion of Europe by Russia and with loads of help from China, Iran, N Korea, Cuba, and Africa it is a genuine World War III.
Hopefully today in France, Europe will take its first concrete steps to forge its own defensive line and it ought not be in Poland or the Baltics! It should be in Ukraine and at the first sign of a direct attack, it should take a hot pursuit with air support all the way to Moscow if need be.
PS, if this seems to be an over reaction, read this account of Russia's intentions in 1941. https://www.usni.org/press/books/chief-culprit
Yes fog of war. Looks like Trump has abandoned Ukraine and wants its mineral wealth. Up to Europe to get tough and support Ukraine and stop Putin. And Canada also should turn its back on the Ugly American and support Ukraine.
Probably a good moment to reassess this War on Ukraine. Lets just see if Europe can do more of the heavy lifting.
1. Canada is near broke and sent more $$ than it should spend to the Ukraine.
2. Likely true of the USA, who too should should rethink their defence spending given their own debt load which may be some of the current decision-making.
Having said all this, recently I attended an Armenian Orthodox dinner celebrating their St. Sarkas. Included despora (not so geographic far away from Ukraine, fleeing from Syria, Iraq, Russia. Russia/Bulgaria allows their culture to thrive yet Canada offers their children more.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive, forcing the surrender of Stepanakert, the capital of the self-declared Republic of Artsakh. This resulted in the mass displacement of nearly the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh (over 100,000 people), marking the end of Armenian control in the region. We in North America hardly noticed.
So we conveniently forget. Since 1911 this Ancient culture has been targeted (with its lands holding Ancient artifacts of original human civilization). And is currently been destroyed by Azerbaijan plundering and murdering aided with Turkish funds of a NATO nation. Where has been the global support for them? Is Ancient History worth less military support -- never mind constant displacement of human lives?
Trump's administration is not behaving in this manner in Ukraine. They are not the good guys OR the bad guys. Europe must take care of their own heavy lifting.
Ukraine is not the good guy? Considering that the Russians have genocided 15 million of them to steal their nation and resources, by what leap of faith are we to expected to believe they have not be unjustly targeted?
And that's the point. Who was there to help. . . money and arms donations was not enough.
The sine qua non of the Holodomor is its coverup by the left with FakeNews. There was no money or arms- just memory hole over an entire country.
Thanks for excellent article Diane. There is a mafia running the USA with a headbanger, ignorant leader. Then there is a fascist headbanger running the Russian mafia. I had no idea how big the Ukraine armed forces are and thanks for pointing this out. Yes time for EQurope to wake up to defend Ukraine and for Canada to join Europe and hit back hard against the tariffs of the vicious man in the White House. Fortunatley Canadians are united to this.
This American old guy is ready to accept and witness the consequences of our oligarchy run amok. There's no consequences quite as satisfying as logical consequences. I don't know what it's going to take to cripple the over-reach of the US financialist mafia, but I can do without ALL of what THEY'RE selling.
but there was as well Ursula von der Leyen on the MSC:
"Europe proofed, that it can move mountains."
Today is the 10th anniversary of the key agreement on solving Greece's depth crisis - and thereby the 2008 financial crisis in which Europe entered in fact as a party not at the table - but it solved it.
Europe faced CoVid first after China, with the major outbreaks around Bergamo and in Spain - got resilient quick and got - despite significant malign disinformation campaigns - through CoVid second to none with one of the two most effective vaccines, three in total, among major societies the most effective vaccination campaigns and the least economic downturn.
Europe, against every RuZZian attempt, got through the hybrid disruption campaigns with in fact not much more than lower temperatures in public swimming pools and slower running Skilifts.
Europe managed to not only GET through the energy crisis but did set up a framework for future proof, independent and finally most affordable energy supply, that even people running for office on changing details of that will let them fail at the framework.
And now - since last Saturday - Europe has the mastermind it needed since DeGaulle/Adenauer, Giscard-dEstain/Schmidt or Mitterand/Kohl:
Zelenskyy.
That could be comforting.
But - and this is my question and ask to analysts - isn't the real danger for the entire freedom aspiring and law obeying world not what the former world's superpower DOES, and INTENDS, but HOW it ATTEMPTS it?
Isn't the world facing a Doha-Accord on steroids and wasn't mediocre Pompeo brilliant compared to the recent cast?
And now THIS cast faces the - to recognize - likely most virtuous "negotiators" around?
And isn't it, that such characters, when inevitably facing disaster not to sugarcoat retreat to alternate means of "success" in the attempt to cover up their failure?
Means, that then will let Greenland/Denmark, Canada, Panama, Germany, Romania, Europe, Palestine - only be the first in a quickly increasing club?
Other than economists do - we should doubt at an ongoing economic superiority of US in traditional economies.
We had means to counter digital superiority - if we wanted and would wake up.
But what about the military?
Will US troops follow their oath - or the emperor?
Will they put their salaries above their moral - or moral over salary?
Will there be any cohesion in the ranks at all when those ranks get fed by those around in Europe last week?
With what Ursula von der Leyen pointed out, there should be no doubt Europe can deal with THAT RuZZia on the side of Zelenskyy's Ukraine.
But these Washington surrogates that woke us up and made us aware that there are now many Vances as "new sheriffs" in that town - they have unimaginable means of havoc at their disposal.
And no capacity to assess what they do with them...
"Other than economists do - we should doubt at an ongoing economic superiority of US in traditional economies."
Yup. All one has to do is look at the Fed data, while it's still reliably available, to see the rise in past-due home mortgage and rent payments, the upside-down nature of most vehicle loans, the fall in credit scores and the number of people now homeless, and the weakness in the US economy with its dependency on 'financialization' driving the economy ( I think it's over 30% of 'GDP'), and you can smell disaster waiting for the levy to break somewhere.
Thanks for your observations here.
Actually - this is something WE the people could do, as media don't do that.
Here in Europe daily stock exchange analysts still preach soaring of investments in US and disadvantages of Europe. I neither have the figures nor the knowledge. I only know, that with however much I had spare to loose, I would neither put it in Crypto nor in a market with a federal department of education shutting down, with a purge in government according political affiliation and not competence, with a federal secretary of finance walking into a meeting in Kyiv with a bribery-contract that simply didn't make sense and follow any kind of law, with the mob of the most violent and brainwashed people feeling on top - ok - the later is here not so much different - but at least we still have courts that actually punish former heads of state even if they committed only laughable petitenesses in US no one would talk about.
So - if WE the people keep shouting out what media don't, that actually it's not really the golden age there as WE thought it would be, but only for the price of gold as a safe retreat for investment itself, THEN
these here reporting from and analysing the stock exchange could get countered in the attention of public and investors,
investments would go where it makes sense, to Europe,
and with everything resulting out of that,
not Europe would have to beg any longer to be at a table where it's and Ukraine's fate get potentially decided,
but the other way round.
And As a European leader I would even ask for conditions for that:
Commit to the rule of law
Commit to multilateralism
Commit to treaties.
And stay out of our internal affairs...
Many thanks, Burkhard. The media here are all taken with the movements of The Market as well, as though it indicated something more than clever manipulation of shares and currencies. I've been in the role of local government administrator of small towns, and also the treasurer of a small church supported with an endowment. Any attempt by me to suggest that The Market was anything more than a lot of jiggery-pokery and NOT representative of the productive power and output of a region or nation is met with the skepticism that comfortable folks have for Karl Polanyi or Greta Thunberg. I still say it. But the media is beholden here.
And I think you're correct: if heads of state and powerful financial leaders get away with lies, fraud and outright thievery, then the whole system comes nearer to collapse, and the ones that suffer the most are NOT the ones who generally benefited. My parents were both children / young adults for the Great Depression here, and lost the farm, employment, security. That sense of always pending insecurity informed them deeply. I don't see that ability for that kind of awareness now, nor do I see the sort of resiliency that grounded them for the ensuing struggle that's present now.
Europe and the West would be a better place if European leadership exhibited the tenacity you suggest and demanded the conditions you list.
We were taught, and learned at our parent's knees, that the Marshall Plan saved Europe from destitution post-war, and that it was the right thing to do; now it almost seems that rescue of democracy and self government is on the other side. Who would be the General George C. Marshall in this new situation?
Some of us here have figured out the nature of the tyranny wrought on our own land; I don't know yet how we'll figure out how to break this fever; but,
We know it's a fever.
Do not assume that when Trumps mouth moves it is “engaged” to his brain and it appears that, outside of his instinct to bully, his brain is incapable of higher level strategic functionality. Together with Europe’s penchant for talk rather than hard forceful action it is difficult to be optimistic about our future. In simple terms, the 1994 “Budapest” agreement is already in place securing Ukraine's pre-invasion borders (including Crimea) as signed by Russia, U.S., and the U.K. ENFORCING this agreement is all it would take to clean up the mess there and alert all the planets criminal regimes (and “wannabee’s) that WE have entered a new era!! Yes, it may become messy and costly now but it is a cakewalk to any plausible alternative!!
You write: "An attack on a Baltic state will bring in NATO and America." Not under President Trump; he has already proved he doesn't care for treaties, as in imposing tariffs on the other signatories to the North American free trade agreement.
It will automatically invoke all members under Article 5.
If he renegs, it's catastrophic and Russia will be in Finland and Poland by the spring
Does Trump care? Anyway, Finland would be a very tough nut to crack. The Russians didn’t find fighting the Finns very easy in 1939-1940; and Finland is much better prepared this time. The Poles would also be ready to fight, especially since the Russians haven’t proved themselves exactly invincible in Ukraine. Anyway, I think the Russians would try first for the low-hanging Baltic fruit. I think the citizens of those countries are feeling pretty nervous just now.
I don’t believe that when push comes to shove with China over their Putin like impulses that Trump behave any differently than he is now. Especially when you consider Musk’s involvement with China. He admires dictators.
Thanks, as always, Diane. Reading you, Timothy Snyder and others is like going through the ice in a Northern Illinois pond. There's no escaping the sharp cold of it. The folks down here who've now captured pretty much all the levers of power just want more of it. It's common knowledge that The Boss of our New Order has long admired the manner in which Putin has captured the common wealth of Russia to his own benefit, using his untrammeled access to violence and the impunity of his position to garner percentages on the extraction of raw materials. Drumpf, his skeevy clan and hangers-on are following this same slide to oligarchy, and we seem powerless to set stakes and call "Enough! and refuse to comply.
The only hope I hang on to is that the very greed that drives this mentality is the thing that keeps them from burning it all down in a fit of pique. They want to die in the comfort of their own beds with full stomachs, surrounded by sycophants who will serve their egos and their needs, both basic and prurient. But, underneath it all, they have some sense, and are surrounded by clever folks who actually know that the path they've assumed as their 'right' is no longer sustainable without 'reaping where they have not sown'.
I don't respect someone who threatens to abrogate a treaty for better personal results, especially someone weaker than they are.
Although Canada has let down on it's end it has been too loyal for too long to be treated like this.
Time to diversify our customers.
Good article Diane.
Thank you, Diane, like Putin, Trump continues to be the most dangerous man in the World. Musk is sidekick is right there with him. I'm speechless.
Let’s see whether the Republicans who have staffed Trump’s cabinet have the intelligence and moral courage to stand up for democracy, for the “little guy” they clained has been neglected by Democrats, or whether the Republicans are just as venal, just as corrupt a set of governmental grifters as were the Democrats they have recently replaced.
Trump has done what the Biden government failed to do and that is to get European countries united (although initially against him) and ready to actually take the steps needed to finally end this horrible and costly (in lives and assets) war.
My response to Trump's actions is: "EU, what the hell have you been waiting for?" Europe is most at risk from Putin's ruthless agressions, not America (economic impact aside), and should step up NOW.
Same with the Middle East. Trump's ridiculous (or is it?) "plan" for Gaza has brought the Arab nations together to (hopefully and finally) agree on a plan to deal with Hamas (and by extension all of Iran's terrorist proxies). Where have they been all these years, and especially since Oct 7?
Of course the third potential military threat in the world is China's aspirations to invade Taiwan, and I'm sure Trump's opening negotiating plays in Europe and the Middle East will help keep Xi from doing anything foolish there.
The U.S. is heavily in debt and I'm sure a good deal of that comes from their lengthy role as the global police force without much, if any, compensation from the nations and peoples it protects. That isn't fair and if I were an American (and as I've said to my American friends for decades) I'd want compensation.
Banks require collateral for loans, and would require Ukrainian resources and Gaza real estate in return, so what's wrong with America finally doing the same thing?