"Russian soldiers are targeting hospitals, cutting-off power to civilian populations". We should take a moment to consider how Russia dealt with Chechnya. Well before the Chechnya wars of the 1990s, Russia transferred nearly a half million Chechens to Central Asia where, among other barbarities, 700 people were burned to death in a barn (consider that early thermobaric weapons). Deported Chechens who remained alive were eventually allowed to return to the Caucusus. In the first war of the 1990s and beyond (1991-1994), after two years of intense fighting, the Russian army withdrew. The army returned in 1999 after a Moscow apartment building bombing attributed by Moscow to Chechens, destroyed the city of Grozny, put Chechnya under direct control, and poisoned or otherwise killed local leaders. Resistance continued, marked by an attack and hostage taking in a Moscow theater, a school hostage crisis in 2004, and an airport bombing in 2011. Chechnya is quiet (or quieter) now under the rule of Ramzan Kadyrov. The international community never got involved in what was seen as a regional problem for Russia and can now be seen as an example of what Putin might understand as an example of what success would be like in Ukraine.
Leonard, thanks for the history of Chechnya and Russia/Putin's brutality. The lesson is that we should have isolated Russia decades ago, but we ignored atrocities. Putin assumed we would do so again.
First, thank you so much for Today's Edition. I have followed it for several years and consider it required daily reading. Second, and a minor correction, the Womens March was held in January 2017, the day after trump's inauguration. I (age 60something) traveled overnight by bus from South Carolina to Washington DC to join that march. It was an inspiring experience to be part of that crowd. In November 2016, of course, the election was held and we just learned the outcome. The planning began then for the march a couple months later. Many thanks for all you do to keep us informed and heartened!
Hi, Cathy. thanks for the note, and you are right. The massive global march took place in January. I checked the date and noted that the planning for the event began in November 2016, days after Trump was elected. I erroneously referred to that date. I will update my post.
Woman voters from both parties are the key to the midterm elections. Many of the critical issues that must be addressed I.e. abortion, childcare and elder care, healthcare, gun control and affordable wages to name a few unfortunately impact woman more than men since they are the principle caregivers. The woman of this country should ask a simple question: “ Which party supports, respects and honors woman and has their best interests at heart? It’s time woman ask candidates directly what are you going to do for me, my family and my sisterhood.
Bravo re having the leaders of VoteRiders: I have been asking friends with capacity to undertake raising the money VoteRiders needs to meet the needs for expanding into PA, MI, and adding another staff into TX where voter ID rules have necessitated on the ground work. Look at TN: to get photo IDs is difficult.. and voting by mail with the right ID a nightmare. Student IDs aren't allowed but a gun registration card is!. .. Students turning 18 can only register a few days before their birthday, teens don't have the ability we have in CA to register when they turn 16 and receive voter information though they can only vote at 18 (except in the primary if they are 18 by election day) and they can work at the polls as well.
Many of us are suffering along with the Ukrainian people but, certainly, not as they are. A maternity hospital bombed, child dying of dehydration... I don't have to list what we have seen and heard. Is it reasonable to wonder whether in the caution to avoid World War III, some military options are too readily dismissed by both the US and NATO?
'On Tuesday night, the United States rejected a Polish proposal to move MiG-29 warplanes to a U.S. base in Germany so they could be deployed to aid Ukraine at the United States’ direction.'
'Why does Ukraine want fighter jets?'
'Ukraine has pilots ready to fly and fight Russians, but it can’t compete with Russia’s air power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told U.S. lawmakers that fighter jets are his country’s top priority, even over antiaircraft missiles that Ukraine has been getting from its allies.'
“If you can’t do [a no-fly zone], at least get me planes,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told members of Congress in a call this weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported.'
'No one has given Ukraine fighter jets since Russia’s invasion, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
‘We cannot blink’: Eastern Europe tells the West it is time to stand up to Putin'
'Left unsaid is that if Washington does find a way to get fighter jets into Ukraine, it wants to do it as quietly as possible. “They are trying to find a low-visibility way to send planes to Ukraine,” Cancian said, “as opposed to holding a news conference to announce they’re trying to do it.”
'Could the U.S. still send planes to Ukraine?
Possibly. In fact, Cancian thinks it’s likely that Washington could find a way to transfer these Soviet-era planes to Ukraine when no one’s looking. “They’ll find a secret airfield somewhere,” he said.
'For now, though, the United States and NATO publicly launching planes into Ukraine could be a step too far for officials.' (WashingtonPost) See link below.
From the need for air power to the horrendous difficulties in evacuation...''A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the Pentagon, said Wednesday that Russia’s military campaign appears to be growing more indiscriminate as its troops make small but strategic gains on key cities.'
'There are “indications” the Russians are dropping “dumb munitions,” the official said, but added that it was “not totally clear whether that is by design” or because precision-guided munitions were somehow damaged.
'By Friday morning, much of Ukraine could be hovering around 14 degrees Fahrenheit, with gusty winds from the east that make the air feel even more bitter. And parts of northeastern Ukraine could get up to four inches of snow through Friday. The bitter temperatures are expected to make the situation in the country more difficult — for soldiers and civilians alike.' (WashingtonPost)
Hi, Fern. Like all things, the MiG-29 transfer is complicated. It all comes down to how close to the line of direct confrontation does anyone want to come to starting WWWIII. If fighter jets took off from a NATO airfield, say in Germany, and were met by Russian fighters then engaged in a fight, it is difficult to see why that would not be viewed as "direct military intervention"--which Putin claims is the basis for resorting to nuclear deterrence. The images of brutality we are seeing today are horrific, immoral, and criminal. If Putin were to use a "battlefield nuclear device" to destroy a Ukrainian city, everything we see today would pale in comparison by orders of magnitude. In discussing horrors we are seeing, we must always compare them to the the risk that we will provoke even greater horrors.
I'm back with Adam Kinzinger, Robert. He is not the only person open to a no-fly zone, which Zinzinger explains doesn't come in one flavor. You seem to have made up you mind, for understandable reasons, but thought you would be interested in Zinzinger's point of view. He on video doing an interview with Anderson Cooper.
Hello Robert. As my comment indicated different options for the transfer of planes may be under consideration. Lessoning Putin's control over this tragedy must be part of the strategy as well. I don't know that choices need to be limited to Putin's dictates or that the transfer of planes to Ukraine equals nuclear war. Putin has stepped into it; he's erratic and made big mistakes. One of my worries is him using a nuclear weapon without provocation.
Robert, You are aware of how most of us feel about hell in Ukraine. We know that it will get worse. Another Syria? There is no way to implant a conscience in Putin. I accept that certain military actions may not be advisable for the US. You have been very thoughtful and kind in your responses to me. My focus is to stay informed and continue to donate to relief organizations, such as Razom Ukraine Emergency.
Mar 10, 2022·edited Mar 10, 2022Liked by Robert B. Hubbell
The asymmetry of the Ukraine Russia conflict is appalling. Russia’s attacks on civilian targets appear to seek out targets designed to horrify the world the most - residential areas, schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities. In contrast how many civilian casualties have been reported in Russia or Belarus? None, zero. While I do not advocate direct military conflict with Russia, it is time for all world leaders to speak out forthrightly and clearly to characterize these Russian actions as genocidal war crimes and join the International Court of Justice case Ukraine has filed with the court. I do not expect that such a move would stop what the Russians are doing in Ukraine but it could put additional pressure on countries not yet aligned with Ukraine in this conflict and in opposition to Russia. This is particularly true of China. China’s failure to condemn Russia for its atrocities in Ukraine should be questioned daily and additional pressure brought on them daily to join the rest of the world in sanctioning Russia. Putin must be made to understand he has no “friends” anywhere in the world and is entirely isolated. Likewise those Middle Eastern countries trying to remain non-aligned and India must be made to feel additional diplomatic pressure as well. The U.S. and our western allies have significant capability to apply that diplomatic pressure and should begin to do so.
Hi, Bruce. I agree completely about China, Saudi Arabia, UAE etc. The world needs to isolate Russia completely to maximize the economic pain of its war on Ukraine. The fact that those countries are willing to look the other way suggests that they believe such tactics are permissible for use against their own people (or in Taiwan).
I think it is important to emphasize that I am advocating for diplomatic pressure on these nations claiming "non-alignment" in the Ukraine Russia conflict, not economic sanctions against them. There are many diplomatic pressures available to the U.S. and our western allies to employ and at this time I urge the application of those before any economic measures. I also urge the political leadership of the nations in the western alliance supporting Ukraine to speak out forthrightly and publicly for the necessity of all nations to condemn the war crimes now being committed by Putin and his military. I know some will say they fear the U.S. being charged for war crimes it may have committed in earlier conflicts. I do not accept that as an excuse for not speaking up now. War crimes and genocide are simply wrong in any conflict and there is no acceptable excuse for them now, in the past, or in our shared future. Let Biden and the nations of the U.N. now propose a resolution based upon the Geneva convention signed almost universally by most countries defining and declaring what are war crimes and genocide and banning their use.
Women are not a monolith, in terms of opinions and sentiments, but the fact remains that the commitment and drive instilled in the best of us, men and women alike, by our mothers, has made all the difference in how we turned out as adults.
The course of the war as Putin, in your words, is probably sleeping fitfully and as late winter brings a solid blast of snow and cold to the Ukrainian steppe, will be a grinding, miserable affair-shades of Leningrad and Stalingrad. The irony is surely not lost on Vladimir Putin, even as he keeps his poker face in public appearances, such as the scene with the three flight attendants, two of whom looked like they would have loved to smack him.
Re Russians accusing the west of doing exactly what the Russians are doing or intend to do, I say this is also a tactic of the Republican party--you can't listen long to conservative talk radio without hearing it, and I believe part of Trump's reason for pushing the Big Lie is because he contemplates using fraud to win in the future (or maybe even did so in 2016).
It has puzzled me for a long time how many of the shady characters on the Trump bandwagon have been able to fund the huge cost of litigation brought by and against them. Many of them do not seem to be independently wealthy so it's been obvious that they had outside financial support, but from whom? Today, BuzzFeed News reported that crackpot lawyer Sidney Powell's nonprofit has raised over $15 million ($15 million!) and has been funding the legal defense of several Oath Keepers in connection with their involvement in Jan. 6. And we know that the Republican National Committee has spent large sums on Trump's legal bills. How will Mesa Colorado County Clerk, Tina Peters, and Deputy Clerk Belinda Knisley, pay what are sure to be substantial legal bills? How about Mark Meadows, Steven Miller, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, Alan Weissleberg, Roger Stone, Rick Gates, Rudy Giuliani, and so many others? Most of them are not independently wealthy. Clearly, they are tapping into a deep reservoir of financial support. My suspicion is that this funding comes from wealthy individuals and countless small denomination donations that are not easily tracked. I find the depth and breadth of this support for people who are trying to undermine our democracy to be particularly troublesome.
You are right, Charles. There is a pool of dark money that is defending the insurrectionists. Let's hope that some enterprising journalist is able to find the sources of that defense money.
Thank you for your comment on the Women's March. I took my entire family to the march (my husband drove us) and it was a powerful event. I live in Oakland, California, a city in which there had not been a totally peaceful, non-violent march in recent memory. I remember waving at the police who were cheering us on. My son-in-law who grew up in Boise, Idaho, and whose field of study was medical history, was blown away. "We just made history," he said. And we did and we will continue to do so. What the women's march showed the world is that it is possible to fight injustice with strength, dignity, and common purpose without firing a shot.
I am a retired Army LTC who served two years in Vietnam. In Vietnam the US lost 50,000 plus lives. The war was fought incrementally. Our strategists made incremental decisions that strung out the war for 15 years. Until late in the war, we never sent our forces into neighboring safe havens in Laos or Cambodia. Beware of China was the mantra, Now we are supporting a proxy war in Ukraine. Support is being applied incrementally. Beware of Russia. Are we going to learn from history?
It seems to me that we should have three goals for the outcome of this war in Ukraine.
1. Help Ukraine win the war.
2. Win it quickly and minimize the physical and humanitarian damage to the people of Ukraine.
3. Get rid of Putin.
Strategists say that in the long run Ukraine will win the war. Yes, but at what cost. The Russians have already decimated most of the cities in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainians are paying a huge cost. The current state of hostilities is likely to continue for months or even years. What are the plans to kick the Russians out of parts of Ukraine that they now hold. Are the Ukrainians going to return to their prewar borders. And what about Putin? Does he really have such control that his Generals would consent to chemical or nuclear warfare? What and how are the EU and NATO going to convince Putin's generals to oust him from power and withdraw from Ukraine.
Right now NATO (the US is included in NATO), the EU, and the World are united against this Russian invasion. We are in a position of strength. Collectively NATO could kick the Russians out of Ukraine in a short time. Russian Generals must recognize that. The Generals will only revolt against Putin if they understand that NATO is coming all in. NATO must stand up and right now. Enforce a no-fly zone Tell the Russian generals that NATO troops are coming into the war in 15 days. Move NATO troops into the first 100 miles of western Ukraine. Give the Russians the alternative of withdrawal or face decimation of the Army in Ukraine. Tell the Generals that if Putin uses chemicals or threatens nuclear strikes that Mother Russia will pay the price. Collectively the Generals must see that they must standup to Putin and remove him from power. Russian generals will only respond to force. Make them see that NATO and the EU are resolve to provide that force.
Hi, Robert. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and analysis. You make many good points, but the problem arises when you get to the point of telling the Russian generals that "if Putin threatens nuclear weapons . . . Mother Russia will pay the price." I assume you mean that we will use nuclear weapons to decimate Russia. But no one will win any war that uses even a handful of nuclear weapons, much less thousands. A limited nuclear war will result in shortened / no growing seasons for 3 - 5 years. Billions of people will starve as a result. Europe will be a radiation zone with hundreds of millions slowly dying from radiation sickness. So, saying that "Russia will pay the price" really means "the world will pay the ultimate price." We simply cannot go there.
Many readers say that Putin is bluffing. But they cannot guarantee that Putin will not engage in an irrational act. If you assign a percentage to that possibility, the risk is still unacceptable. Is destruction of the earth acceptable at a 1% risk level? Or 0.5%? Or 0.001%? If you are talking about the the death of billions of people, we cannot take a risk.
Robert- When I said "pay the price," I meant conventionally. By NATO only declaring a NFZ and going into the first 100 miles of Ukraine, I hoped that the Russian generals would see this as an off ramp and pull out of the country. At that point, fighting between NATO and Russia would be minimal. I recognize that any use of nuclear weapons on either side would be a disaster. The Russian generals should recognize this also and stop Putin from using either nucs or chemicals.
Clarification on Chernobyl: the "nuclear reactors" were in fact decommissioned after the disaster and the problem now is not a "meltdown". Yes, there are large containers of radioactive waste
which do generate heat, but each is equivalent to a 35 watt bulb; if the plant's power was off for two weeks after the emergency generators lose diesel fuel, maybe the large pools of water covering the containers might get to be warm. Agencies say no danger at this time. (by PBS Miles O'Brien, science reporter). But there are OTHER reactors in Ukraine which ARE operating and could be threatened.
Hi, Bob. Thanks very much for the clarification. I will note that this evening. If you have a link, that would make my job easier, but if not, i will research. Thanks again.
I commented on a Reuters story about the Russians bombing a childrens' hospital by saying, "Putin is a war criminal and should be hanged for his crimes. But who will bring him to justice?" So now I'm banned from FB for 30 days.
If you can, I would appeal. That seems like an algorithm flagged terms and booted you. Arguing that a war criminal be brought to justice is something that millions of people are calling for every day. It's not like you are Lindsey Graham suggesting illegal actions against Putin.
Thanks, I did appeal. No reply yet. Yes, FB's "algorithms" are profoundly flawed. Either that, or Zuckerberg is a Putin sympathizer(!?!) I've been banned before; once for quoting (and citing) Shakespeare’s King Henry VI, part 2, act 4, line 75, in the context of TFG's 60+ court cases alleging voter fraud, and again for suggesting we use comedian Gallagher's "stupid darts" to tag anti-vaxxer's (again cited and linked). Yep, FB is pretty out of control.
That happened to me too...but just for a couple of days. The WaPo is reporting today that FB has been and continues to allow sanctioned pro-Putin Russians to promote his Big Lie about the war against Ukraine, to use their accounts to recruit volunteers to fight against Ukraine and to raise money for Putin's war. I'm now afraid to even write the complete word "Ukraine" on my FB page, since apparently FB has made its stand with Putin. At least that's how it feels to me.
Absolutely LOVE your reflection on the hypocrisy of McCarthy's handling of GOP members speaking supporting white nationalists vs. participating on the Jan 6 committee! Posted it on FB (which I don't do often), with attribution, of course.
"Russian soldiers are targeting hospitals, cutting-off power to civilian populations". We should take a moment to consider how Russia dealt with Chechnya. Well before the Chechnya wars of the 1990s, Russia transferred nearly a half million Chechens to Central Asia where, among other barbarities, 700 people were burned to death in a barn (consider that early thermobaric weapons). Deported Chechens who remained alive were eventually allowed to return to the Caucusus. In the first war of the 1990s and beyond (1991-1994), after two years of intense fighting, the Russian army withdrew. The army returned in 1999 after a Moscow apartment building bombing attributed by Moscow to Chechens, destroyed the city of Grozny, put Chechnya under direct control, and poisoned or otherwise killed local leaders. Resistance continued, marked by an attack and hostage taking in a Moscow theater, a school hostage crisis in 2004, and an airport bombing in 2011. Chechnya is quiet (or quieter) now under the rule of Ramzan Kadyrov. The international community never got involved in what was seen as a regional problem for Russia and can now be seen as an example of what Putin might understand as an example of what success would be like in Ukraine.
Leonard, thanks for the history of Chechnya and Russia/Putin's brutality. The lesson is that we should have isolated Russia decades ago, but we ignored atrocities. Putin assumed we would do so again.
Exactly right.
First, thank you so much for Today's Edition. I have followed it for several years and consider it required daily reading. Second, and a minor correction, the Womens March was held in January 2017, the day after trump's inauguration. I (age 60something) traveled overnight by bus from South Carolina to Washington DC to join that march. It was an inspiring experience to be part of that crowd. In November 2016, of course, the election was held and we just learned the outcome. The planning began then for the march a couple months later. Many thanks for all you do to keep us informed and heartened!
Hi, Cathy. thanks for the note, and you are right. The massive global march took place in January. I checked the date and noted that the planning for the event began in November 2016, days after Trump was elected. I erroneously referred to that date. I will update my post.
Yes, even at election time we knew he was going to be a disaster!
Woman voters from both parties are the key to the midterm elections. Many of the critical issues that must be addressed I.e. abortion, childcare and elder care, healthcare, gun control and affordable wages to name a few unfortunately impact woman more than men since they are the principle caregivers. The woman of this country should ask a simple question: “ Which party supports, respects and honors woman and has their best interests at heart? It’s time woman ask candidates directly what are you going to do for me, my family and my sisterhood.
There is a marvelous article about Finland - a country today run by women - that is really worth reading: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/opinions/international-womens-day-finland-sanna-marin-moriyama-doyle/index.html
Thanks for hte link! I will check it out. I always appreciate it when readers direct me to resources.
Thank you for this. What an inspiring article!
Bravo re having the leaders of VoteRiders: I have been asking friends with capacity to undertake raising the money VoteRiders needs to meet the needs for expanding into PA, MI, and adding another staff into TX where voter ID rules have necessitated on the ground work. Look at TN: to get photo IDs is difficult.. and voting by mail with the right ID a nightmare. Student IDs aren't allowed but a gun registration card is!. .. Students turning 18 can only register a few days before their birthday, teens don't have the ability we have in CA to register when they turn 16 and receive voter information though they can only vote at 18 (except in the primary if they are 18 by election day) and they can work at the polls as well.
Many of us are suffering along with the Ukrainian people but, certainly, not as they are. A maternity hospital bombed, child dying of dehydration... I don't have to list what we have seen and heard. Is it reasonable to wonder whether in the caution to avoid World War III, some military options are too readily dismissed by both the US and NATO?
'On Tuesday night, the United States rejected a Polish proposal to move MiG-29 warplanes to a U.S. base in Germany so they could be deployed to aid Ukraine at the United States’ direction.'
'Why does Ukraine want fighter jets?'
'Ukraine has pilots ready to fly and fight Russians, but it can’t compete with Russia’s air power. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told U.S. lawmakers that fighter jets are his country’s top priority, even over antiaircraft missiles that Ukraine has been getting from its allies.'
“If you can’t do [a no-fly zone], at least get me planes,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told members of Congress in a call this weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported.'
'No one has given Ukraine fighter jets since Russia’s invasion, said Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.
‘We cannot blink’: Eastern Europe tells the West it is time to stand up to Putin'
'Left unsaid is that if Washington does find a way to get fighter jets into Ukraine, it wants to do it as quietly as possible. “They are trying to find a low-visibility way to send planes to Ukraine,” Cancian said, “as opposed to holding a news conference to announce they’re trying to do it.”
'Could the U.S. still send planes to Ukraine?
Possibly. In fact, Cancian thinks it’s likely that Washington could find a way to transfer these Soviet-era planes to Ukraine when no one’s looking. “They’ll find a secret airfield somewhere,” he said.
'For now, though, the United States and NATO publicly launching planes into Ukraine could be a step too far for officials.' (WashingtonPost) See link below.
From the need for air power to the horrendous difficulties in evacuation...''A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the Pentagon, said Wednesday that Russia’s military campaign appears to be growing more indiscriminate as its troops make small but strategic gains on key cities.'
'There are “indications” the Russians are dropping “dumb munitions,” the official said, but added that it was “not totally clear whether that is by design” or because precision-guided munitions were somehow damaged.
'By Friday morning, much of Ukraine could be hovering around 14 degrees Fahrenheit, with gusty winds from the east that make the air feel even more bitter. And parts of northeastern Ukraine could get up to four inches of snow through Friday. The bitter temperatures are expected to make the situation in the country more difficult — for soldiers and civilians alike.' (WashingtonPost)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/09/ukraine-poland-mig-29-fighter-jets/
Hi, Fern. Like all things, the MiG-29 transfer is complicated. It all comes down to how close to the line of direct confrontation does anyone want to come to starting WWWIII. If fighter jets took off from a NATO airfield, say in Germany, and were met by Russian fighters then engaged in a fight, it is difficult to see why that would not be viewed as "direct military intervention"--which Putin claims is the basis for resorting to nuclear deterrence. The images of brutality we are seeing today are horrific, immoral, and criminal. If Putin were to use a "battlefield nuclear device" to destroy a Ukrainian city, everything we see today would pale in comparison by orders of magnitude. In discussing horrors we are seeing, we must always compare them to the the risk that we will provoke even greater horrors.
I'm back with Adam Kinzinger, Robert. He is not the only person open to a no-fly zone, which Zinzinger explains doesn't come in one flavor. You seem to have made up you mind, for understandable reasons, but thought you would be interested in Zinzinger's point of view. He on video doing an interview with Anderson Cooper.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/03/07/ukraine-russia-no-fly-zone-kinzinger-ac360-wknd-sot-vpx.cnn
Hello Robert. As my comment indicated different options for the transfer of planes may be under consideration. Lessoning Putin's control over this tragedy must be part of the strategy as well. I don't know that choices need to be limited to Putin's dictates or that the transfer of planes to Ukraine equals nuclear war. Putin has stepped into it; he's erratic and made big mistakes. One of my worries is him using a nuclear weapon without provocation.
Robert, You are aware of how most of us feel about hell in Ukraine. We know that it will get worse. Another Syria? There is no way to implant a conscience in Putin. I accept that certain military actions may not be advisable for the US. You have been very thoughtful and kind in your responses to me. My focus is to stay informed and continue to donate to relief organizations, such as Razom Ukraine Emergency.
https://razomforukraine.org/razom-emergency-response/
The asymmetry of the Ukraine Russia conflict is appalling. Russia’s attacks on civilian targets appear to seek out targets designed to horrify the world the most - residential areas, schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities. In contrast how many civilian casualties have been reported in Russia or Belarus? None, zero. While I do not advocate direct military conflict with Russia, it is time for all world leaders to speak out forthrightly and clearly to characterize these Russian actions as genocidal war crimes and join the International Court of Justice case Ukraine has filed with the court. I do not expect that such a move would stop what the Russians are doing in Ukraine but it could put additional pressure on countries not yet aligned with Ukraine in this conflict and in opposition to Russia. This is particularly true of China. China’s failure to condemn Russia for its atrocities in Ukraine should be questioned daily and additional pressure brought on them daily to join the rest of the world in sanctioning Russia. Putin must be made to understand he has no “friends” anywhere in the world and is entirely isolated. Likewise those Middle Eastern countries trying to remain non-aligned and India must be made to feel additional diplomatic pressure as well. The U.S. and our western allies have significant capability to apply that diplomatic pressure and should begin to do so.
Hi, Bruce. I agree completely about China, Saudi Arabia, UAE etc. The world needs to isolate Russia completely to maximize the economic pain of its war on Ukraine. The fact that those countries are willing to look the other way suggests that they believe such tactics are permissible for use against their own people (or in Taiwan).
I think it is important to emphasize that I am advocating for diplomatic pressure on these nations claiming "non-alignment" in the Ukraine Russia conflict, not economic sanctions against them. There are many diplomatic pressures available to the U.S. and our western allies to employ and at this time I urge the application of those before any economic measures. I also urge the political leadership of the nations in the western alliance supporting Ukraine to speak out forthrightly and publicly for the necessity of all nations to condemn the war crimes now being committed by Putin and his military. I know some will say they fear the U.S. being charged for war crimes it may have committed in earlier conflicts. I do not accept that as an excuse for not speaking up now. War crimes and genocide are simply wrong in any conflict and there is no acceptable excuse for them now, in the past, or in our shared future. Let Biden and the nations of the U.N. now propose a resolution based upon the Geneva convention signed almost universally by most countries defining and declaring what are war crimes and genocide and banning their use.
Women are not a monolith, in terms of opinions and sentiments, but the fact remains that the commitment and drive instilled in the best of us, men and women alike, by our mothers, has made all the difference in how we turned out as adults.
The course of the war as Putin, in your words, is probably sleeping fitfully and as late winter brings a solid blast of snow and cold to the Ukrainian steppe, will be a grinding, miserable affair-shades of Leningrad and Stalingrad. The irony is surely not lost on Vladimir Putin, even as he keeps his poker face in public appearances, such as the scene with the three flight attendants, two of whom looked like they would have loved to smack him.
Re Russians accusing the west of doing exactly what the Russians are doing or intend to do, I say this is also a tactic of the Republican party--you can't listen long to conservative talk radio without hearing it, and I believe part of Trump's reason for pushing the Big Lie is because he contemplates using fraud to win in the future (or maybe even did so in 2016).
Ah! I should have made that point. Trump perfected that gambit . . . .
It has puzzled me for a long time how many of the shady characters on the Trump bandwagon have been able to fund the huge cost of litigation brought by and against them. Many of them do not seem to be independently wealthy so it's been obvious that they had outside financial support, but from whom? Today, BuzzFeed News reported that crackpot lawyer Sidney Powell's nonprofit has raised over $15 million ($15 million!) and has been funding the legal defense of several Oath Keepers in connection with their involvement in Jan. 6. And we know that the Republican National Committee has spent large sums on Trump's legal bills. How will Mesa Colorado County Clerk, Tina Peters, and Deputy Clerk Belinda Knisley, pay what are sure to be substantial legal bills? How about Mark Meadows, Steven Miller, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon, Alan Weissleberg, Roger Stone, Rick Gates, Rudy Giuliani, and so many others? Most of them are not independently wealthy. Clearly, they are tapping into a deep reservoir of financial support. My suspicion is that this funding comes from wealthy individuals and countless small denomination donations that are not easily tracked. I find the depth and breadth of this support for people who are trying to undermine our democracy to be particularly troublesome.
You are right, Charles. There is a pool of dark money that is defending the insurrectionists. Let's hope that some enterprising journalist is able to find the sources of that defense money.
Thank you for your comment on the Women's March. I took my entire family to the march (my husband drove us) and it was a powerful event. I live in Oakland, California, a city in which there had not been a totally peaceful, non-violent march in recent memory. I remember waving at the police who were cheering us on. My son-in-law who grew up in Boise, Idaho, and whose field of study was medical history, was blown away. "We just made history," he said. And we did and we will continue to do so. What the women's march showed the world is that it is possible to fight injustice with strength, dignity, and common purpose without firing a shot.
I am a retired Army LTC who served two years in Vietnam. In Vietnam the US lost 50,000 plus lives. The war was fought incrementally. Our strategists made incremental decisions that strung out the war for 15 years. Until late in the war, we never sent our forces into neighboring safe havens in Laos or Cambodia. Beware of China was the mantra, Now we are supporting a proxy war in Ukraine. Support is being applied incrementally. Beware of Russia. Are we going to learn from history?
It seems to me that we should have three goals for the outcome of this war in Ukraine.
1. Help Ukraine win the war.
2. Win it quickly and minimize the physical and humanitarian damage to the people of Ukraine.
3. Get rid of Putin.
Strategists say that in the long run Ukraine will win the war. Yes, but at what cost. The Russians have already decimated most of the cities in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainians are paying a huge cost. The current state of hostilities is likely to continue for months or even years. What are the plans to kick the Russians out of parts of Ukraine that they now hold. Are the Ukrainians going to return to their prewar borders. And what about Putin? Does he really have such control that his Generals would consent to chemical or nuclear warfare? What and how are the EU and NATO going to convince Putin's generals to oust him from power and withdraw from Ukraine.
Right now NATO (the US is included in NATO), the EU, and the World are united against this Russian invasion. We are in a position of strength. Collectively NATO could kick the Russians out of Ukraine in a short time. Russian Generals must recognize that. The Generals will only revolt against Putin if they understand that NATO is coming all in. NATO must stand up and right now. Enforce a no-fly zone Tell the Russian generals that NATO troops are coming into the war in 15 days. Move NATO troops into the first 100 miles of western Ukraine. Give the Russians the alternative of withdrawal or face decimation of the Army in Ukraine. Tell the Generals that if Putin uses chemicals or threatens nuclear strikes that Mother Russia will pay the price. Collectively the Generals must see that they must standup to Putin and remove him from power. Russian generals will only respond to force. Make them see that NATO and the EU are resolve to provide that force.
Bobert B. Thomas, Matthews, NC
Hi, Robert. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and analysis. You make many good points, but the problem arises when you get to the point of telling the Russian generals that "if Putin threatens nuclear weapons . . . Mother Russia will pay the price." I assume you mean that we will use nuclear weapons to decimate Russia. But no one will win any war that uses even a handful of nuclear weapons, much less thousands. A limited nuclear war will result in shortened / no growing seasons for 3 - 5 years. Billions of people will starve as a result. Europe will be a radiation zone with hundreds of millions slowly dying from radiation sickness. So, saying that "Russia will pay the price" really means "the world will pay the ultimate price." We simply cannot go there.
Many readers say that Putin is bluffing. But they cannot guarantee that Putin will not engage in an irrational act. If you assign a percentage to that possibility, the risk is still unacceptable. Is destruction of the earth acceptable at a 1% risk level? Or 0.5%? Or 0.001%? If you are talking about the the death of billions of people, we cannot take a risk.
Robert- When I said "pay the price," I meant conventionally. By NATO only declaring a NFZ and going into the first 100 miles of Ukraine, I hoped that the Russian generals would see this as an off ramp and pull out of the country. At that point, fighting between NATO and Russia would be minimal. I recognize that any use of nuclear weapons on either side would be a disaster. The Russian generals should recognize this also and stop Putin from using either nucs or chemicals.
Clarification on Chernobyl: the "nuclear reactors" were in fact decommissioned after the disaster and the problem now is not a "meltdown". Yes, there are large containers of radioactive waste
which do generate heat, but each is equivalent to a 35 watt bulb; if the plant's power was off for two weeks after the emergency generators lose diesel fuel, maybe the large pools of water covering the containers might get to be warm. Agencies say no danger at this time. (by PBS Miles O'Brien, science reporter). But there are OTHER reactors in Ukraine which ARE operating and could be threatened.
Hi, Bob. Thanks very much for the clarification. I will note that this evening. If you have a link, that would make my job easier, but if not, i will research. Thanks again.
Thanks, sorry for not getting link to you sooner.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-highlights-vulnerability-of-nuclear-power-plants
And finally, amen to the amazing role women have played since 2016 in defending democracy against fascism.
I commented on a Reuters story about the Russians bombing a childrens' hospital by saying, "Putin is a war criminal and should be hanged for his crimes. But who will bring him to justice?" So now I'm banned from FB for 30 days.
If you can, I would appeal. That seems like an algorithm flagged terms and booted you. Arguing that a war criminal be brought to justice is something that millions of people are calling for every day. It's not like you are Lindsey Graham suggesting illegal actions against Putin.
Thanks, I did appeal. No reply yet. Yes, FB's "algorithms" are profoundly flawed. Either that, or Zuckerberg is a Putin sympathizer(!?!) I've been banned before; once for quoting (and citing) Shakespeare’s King Henry VI, part 2, act 4, line 75, in the context of TFG's 60+ court cases alleging voter fraud, and again for suggesting we use comedian Gallagher's "stupid darts" to tag anti-vaxxer's (again cited and linked). Yep, FB is pretty out of control.
That happened to me too...but just for a couple of days. The WaPo is reporting today that FB has been and continues to allow sanctioned pro-Putin Russians to promote his Big Lie about the war against Ukraine, to use their accounts to recruit volunteers to fight against Ukraine and to raise money for Putin's war. I'm now afraid to even write the complete word "Ukraine" on my FB page, since apparently FB has made its stand with Putin. At least that's how it feels to me.
Their hypocrisy is infuriating.
Guess I commented too soon ... or from the wrong country.
Facebook breaks its own rules to allow for some calls to violence against Russian invaders
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/10/facebook-violence-russians/
Thank you!
Absolutely LOVE your reflection on the hypocrisy of McCarthy's handling of GOP members speaking supporting white nationalists vs. participating on the Jan 6 committee! Posted it on FB (which I don't do often), with attribution, of course.