This is one of your best editions! Thank you Robert.
I was watching Anderson Cooper tonight from Lviv. The two retired generals whom he interviewed gave good reasons for not putting a no fly zone over Ukraine along with the risk of World War 3. They said that the majority of attacks on buildings is coming from tanks and from ground missiles. They need radar to find out where the artillery is and missiles that can be fired from the ground.(I have no military experience and I don’t remember exactly how the generals described the military weapons, but you get the picture.)
Also, he showed video of three American veterans who went to Ukraine to train civilians how to fight like soldiers. How to clear a room or building, the use of hand signals. etc. They did not go as combatants, they went to train regular people. They had already left Ukraine before this video was shown. They gave out a call for other veterans who felt the call to do what they had done.
Women who have fled to Poland are now going back to Ukraine to fight alongside their husbands.
I am so amazed by the bravery of all of the Ukrainian people, men and women. I just hope that we can get them the weapons that they need to defend themselves and their country.
Grim GOP irony: Blustery soundbite of no-fly-zone “aid” for Ukraine after abetting Trump’s overt withholding of true US aid, all to suit his own ends. While an average citizen like me can learn why no-fly is not advisable, it seems elected members of our US legislative branch cannot be bothered. Biden deserves a real Senate majority. Bravo, Senate Circle!
You really nailed it! Besides the fact that it’s impossible to read Putin’s mind, we really don’t need to. We have seen over and over again exactly what he is capable of. I respect Pres. Biden for what he has done thus far, despite the probable damage to his poll numbers. Thank you for your clarity in writing about this.
I cannot claim to read Putin's mind either...but I can see what he's done in the past. He leveled the city in Chechnya (Grozny?) and he did the same in Aleppo. He doesn't fight a normal military engagement, where one military attacks the other side's military. Instead he destroys the village in order to "save" it. He goes after civilians and civilian targets...apartment houses, hospitals, schools, etc. That's what he's doing now in the Ukraine. I'm afraid that by the time this is resolved, most of Kyiv and large parts of other Ukrainian cities will have met the same fate.
Robert, Thank you for expanding the original scope of your newsletter to include Putin and his war. I'm grateful for your perspective and detailed information.
Here are links to some of the most perceptive and informed articles and podcasts I've found about the war:
But for the bravery of the Ukranian people, and the wisdom and doggedness of our President, Biden. Well said, Robert. Funny how the tone of conservative voices change when it's not their war, or their "war president." Very little "support the President," no bumper stickers; just criticism , political maneuvering, and damn-fool talk about assassinations. The loyal opposition is all opposition, and no loyalty. I do hope that Zelensky refrains from feeding the Republican sound-bite machine.
Another fine letter. I like the balance between issues. Ukraine is critical in terms of world democracy but so are these mid-terms.
And your clarity about NATO compliments Heather's thoughts today. To over react is foolish beyond words. But I do think we should brace ourselves for the next escalation from Putin. It may not be strategic nuclear weapons - but it certainly could be chemical and/or biological. That would be consistent with his current strategy of murdering and terrorizing innocent civilians instead of fighting a military war.
Putin knows he is outmatched - soldier to soldier. So he slaughters families to demoralize. It has had the very opposite effect. He is a fool and hasn't learned the lessons of history. But he will not stop this genocide unless he sees an off ramp. This is where Zelensky will determine the future - via negotiation. He is working from strength, but he will need to feed the Russian bear some red meat he can roar about.
I say negotiate - whatever it takes. Putin is a walking dead man anyway. He is a "short timer".
Anyone who wants a more complete understanding of how Ukrainians feel about Russians should watch the movie "Mr. Jones". It is an eyeopening chronicle of a Welch journalist and advisor to former British PM David Lloyd George. Set in the early 1930s, it shockingly depicts how the Soviet Union under Stalin was presenting to the outside world a utopian vision of communism while Ukrainians were literally starving to death in their beds as their wheat harvests were confiscated and sent to Russia.
I have commented before on what the NATO (includes the US) and EU can do to defeat the Russian invasion. I favor a NFZ others differ. Today I have a suggestion that will help Poland, Rumania and the other countries taking in refugees. Today we have over 10,.000 troops in NATO states sitting on their butts or maybe doing some limited joint training. Why not give them a mission to set up refugee camps along the borders of NATO countries. The US forces have tents, engineers, and medical personnel to include field hospitals. They could partner with the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations to setup temporary camps to house Ukrainians who want to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. This would relieve the pressure on NATO countries who now state they are reaching their limits on finding living space for the refugees. I know that this is not a "military" mission. The troops are not trained for this. It is time to think outside the box and give our soldiers something to do other that cool their heels and get in trouble. We setup base camps for thousands in Vietnam overnight, we can do it again for refugees until they can return to their homeland.
"How many of us would hunker down in bombed-out buildings to defend our country against a vastly superior army? How many of us would risk fifteen years in prison for using the word “war” to describe a full-scale invasion of a neighboring country?" And how many of us would hand our country over without a word of protest and in fact welcome those who want to bring down the United States as we know it? Plenty of Republicans, including a few members of Congress and a particular Fox News reporter. War and destruction of our values can happen from within, as we have seen and continue to see. We have to fight, and in some ways the fight is harder because the opponents are our fellow-citizens.
We all need to focus on, and think very seriously about, the points made in the last paragraph of today’s newsletter; it is spot on. Thank you, Robert, as always for your wisdom and perspective.
Re donations for Senate races, I am confused and turned off because the more money I give through Act Blu, the more daily requests I get. With Adam Schiff, I couldn’t attend Wednesday. His requests seem to filter through Act Blu and say they are for his campaign. How do I give money to Adam for use on other senate races? I will give to Circle.
This is one of your best editions! Thank you Robert.
I was watching Anderson Cooper tonight from Lviv. The two retired generals whom he interviewed gave good reasons for not putting a no fly zone over Ukraine along with the risk of World War 3. They said that the majority of attacks on buildings is coming from tanks and from ground missiles. They need radar to find out where the artillery is and missiles that can be fired from the ground.(I have no military experience and I don’t remember exactly how the generals described the military weapons, but you get the picture.)
Also, he showed video of three American veterans who went to Ukraine to train civilians how to fight like soldiers. How to clear a room or building, the use of hand signals. etc. They did not go as combatants, they went to train regular people. They had already left Ukraine before this video was shown. They gave out a call for other veterans who felt the call to do what they had done.
Women who have fled to Poland are now going back to Ukraine to fight alongside their husbands.
I am so amazed by the bravery of all of the Ukrainian people, men and women. I just hope that we can get them the weapons that they need to defend themselves and their country.
Like Don Winslow writes, "We need to show up for the 2022 midterms as if we were Ukrainians!"
https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1502820776302444545?s=20&t=8BeE0UgdmE4Vt73gRtwMFQ
Grim GOP irony: Blustery soundbite of no-fly-zone “aid” for Ukraine after abetting Trump’s overt withholding of true US aid, all to suit his own ends. While an average citizen like me can learn why no-fly is not advisable, it seems elected members of our US legislative branch cannot be bothered. Biden deserves a real Senate majority. Bravo, Senate Circle!
A shrewd assessment of Putin. A useful call for us to continued steady action.
You really nailed it! Besides the fact that it’s impossible to read Putin’s mind, we really don’t need to. We have seen over and over again exactly what he is capable of. I respect Pres. Biden for what he has done thus far, despite the probable damage to his poll numbers. Thank you for your clarity in writing about this.
I cannot claim to read Putin's mind either...but I can see what he's done in the past. He leveled the city in Chechnya (Grozny?) and he did the same in Aleppo. He doesn't fight a normal military engagement, where one military attacks the other side's military. Instead he destroys the village in order to "save" it. He goes after civilians and civilian targets...apartment houses, hospitals, schools, etc. That's what he's doing now in the Ukraine. I'm afraid that by the time this is resolved, most of Kyiv and large parts of other Ukrainian cities will have met the same fate.
Superb column this morning, Robert. You're so right about the members of the GOP now howling for a no-fly zone after supporting Putin for so long. Below is an homage to the brave Marina Ovsyannikova by Steve Brodner. https://stevebrodner.substack.com/p/wednesday-31622-marina?r=gx0h&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Robert, Thank you for expanding the original scope of your newsletter to include Putin and his war. I'm grateful for your perspective and detailed information.
Here are links to some of the most perceptive and informed articles and podcasts I've found about the war:
Timothy Snyder, excellent long view looking at history, ideas, Russia, Ukraine, w/ Ezra Klein podcast 3-15-22 - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-timothy-snyder.html
Fantastic New Yorker Radio interview w/ Steven Kotkin, 3-11-22 https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/putins-descent-into-despotism-and-jane-campion-on-the-power-of-the-dog
Jonathan Pie video re: Putin 3-11-22 - it's cathartic watching this: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/opinion/london-oligarchs-sanctions-putin.html
Putin's Road to War: Julia Ioffe (interview) | FRONTLINE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSNo2FPQDQw
Masha Gessen on Ezra Klein; https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-masha-gessen.html?action=click&module=audio-series-bar®ion=header&pgtype=Article
But for the bravery of the Ukranian people, and the wisdom and doggedness of our President, Biden. Well said, Robert. Funny how the tone of conservative voices change when it's not their war, or their "war president." Very little "support the President," no bumper stickers; just criticism , political maneuvering, and damn-fool talk about assassinations. The loyal opposition is all opposition, and no loyalty. I do hope that Zelensky refrains from feeding the Republican sound-bite machine.
Another fine letter. I like the balance between issues. Ukraine is critical in terms of world democracy but so are these mid-terms.
And your clarity about NATO compliments Heather's thoughts today. To over react is foolish beyond words. But I do think we should brace ourselves for the next escalation from Putin. It may not be strategic nuclear weapons - but it certainly could be chemical and/or biological. That would be consistent with his current strategy of murdering and terrorizing innocent civilians instead of fighting a military war.
Putin knows he is outmatched - soldier to soldier. So he slaughters families to demoralize. It has had the very opposite effect. He is a fool and hasn't learned the lessons of history. But he will not stop this genocide unless he sees an off ramp. This is where Zelensky will determine the future - via negotiation. He is working from strength, but he will need to feed the Russian bear some red meat he can roar about.
I say negotiate - whatever it takes. Putin is a walking dead man anyway. He is a "short timer".
Wonderfully sobering thoughts!
Koch is keeping his interests alive and well in USSR. See this morning’s edition of Judd @ Popular Information.
Anyone who wants a more complete understanding of how Ukrainians feel about Russians should watch the movie "Mr. Jones". It is an eyeopening chronicle of a Welch journalist and advisor to former British PM David Lloyd George. Set in the early 1930s, it shockingly depicts how the Soviet Union under Stalin was presenting to the outside world a utopian vision of communism while Ukrainians were literally starving to death in their beds as their wheat harvests were confiscated and sent to Russia.
I have commented before on what the NATO (includes the US) and EU can do to defeat the Russian invasion. I favor a NFZ others differ. Today I have a suggestion that will help Poland, Rumania and the other countries taking in refugees. Today we have over 10,.000 troops in NATO states sitting on their butts or maybe doing some limited joint training. Why not give them a mission to set up refugee camps along the borders of NATO countries. The US forces have tents, engineers, and medical personnel to include field hospitals. They could partner with the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations to setup temporary camps to house Ukrainians who want to return to Ukraine as soon as possible. This would relieve the pressure on NATO countries who now state they are reaching their limits on finding living space for the refugees. I know that this is not a "military" mission. The troops are not trained for this. It is time to think outside the box and give our soldiers something to do other that cool their heels and get in trouble. We setup base camps for thousands in Vietnam overnight, we can do it again for refugees until they can return to their homeland.
"How many of us would hunker down in bombed-out buildings to defend our country against a vastly superior army? How many of us would risk fifteen years in prison for using the word “war” to describe a full-scale invasion of a neighboring country?" And how many of us would hand our country over without a word of protest and in fact welcome those who want to bring down the United States as we know it? Plenty of Republicans, including a few members of Congress and a particular Fox News reporter. War and destruction of our values can happen from within, as we have seen and continue to see. We have to fight, and in some ways the fight is harder because the opponents are our fellow-citizens.
We all need to focus on, and think very seriously about, the points made in the last paragraph of today’s newsletter; it is spot on. Thank you, Robert, as always for your wisdom and perspective.
Thank you for your newsletter. Much appreciated.
Re donations for Senate races, I am confused and turned off because the more money I give through Act Blu, the more daily requests I get. With Adam Schiff, I couldn’t attend Wednesday. His requests seem to filter through Act Blu and say they are for his campaign. How do I give money to Adam for use on other senate races? I will give to Circle.