Vladimir Putin has officially declared war on Ukraine

I will only agree that many Americans are woefully ignorant of history. We don’t even study our own adequately let alone study that of Europe, Asia, etc.

I love history more than almost any other subject. If I had to do it again I’d have been a historian. But even though my job is more technical, my leisure time goes mostly to history and geopolitics.

There is a wealth of information out there.But so many Americans just don’t care.

I’m sure there are some here who follow Jim Wright. This is his take.

I think he’s right.


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“ The simple truth of the matter is this:

The world is not united against Russia.

Hell, this morning, half of AMERICA supports Putin -- openly or by default.

As such, there is no threat of economic isolation that will stop Russia. Sanctions ONLY work if there is united opposition to the sanctioned nation. And there isn't. Russia has oil and gas and military hardware, someone will always being willing to trade for it. China most likely.

Not that we won't try, of course.

But you should prepare yourselves for disappointment because those sanctions aren't going to do very damn much.

As an example: Cuba has been under economic sanction for going the better part of a century now, and it's had exactly zero effect on changing their government's attitude in any fashion. Because they don't need a damn thing from us. If anything, those sanctions have hardened their resolve. Also, see North Korea. Iraq. Iran. Et al.

So, we are now left with two options.

War.

Or let Putin have Ukraine.

You can protest. You can whatabout whatabout. You can wallow in denial. But that's what it comes down to. We fight. Or we let Russia have Ukraine.

What's that?

Heh heh. Sure. We can provide military support to Ukraine. And we will. Are. But like Vietnam, that will INEVITABLY draw us deeper and deeper into direct conflict. And then, sooner or later, we'll have to get bloody or get out.

And so again, we're back to only two options. Those who think otherwise are fooling themselves.

So, we fight.

Or we let Putin have Ukraine.

(Or we do our usual and fight for a couple of decades and THEN give the enemy the country anyway, but that's just a variation on the theme)

Which is, of course, what we'll do. We'll let Putin have Ukraine. Oh, we'll pretend like that's not what we're doing, but we will. We'll protest, issue strongly worded proclamations, and pass resolution after resolution in the UN, but Russia will ignore us and why wouldn't they?

Putin won't stop with Ukraine, of course.

But, hey, Ukrainian lives will at least buy Europe a few years.

Until Russia advances towards its next target.

What's that target? I don't know. Whoever isn't NATO. Whoever doesn't have the nuclear means to defend itself.

And when that happens, and it will, for the same reasons as now, we'll have to throw those nations under the Russian tank treads too.

Pessimistic?

Oh yeah.

Or pragmatic, which in this case is pretty much the same thing.

The simple brutal truth of the matter is that at this point, nothing short of a united international military force will stop Russia. Events have made that very clear.

So, those are the options.

We fight. Or we give Putin what he wants.

Of course, we don't want to face that. Right now, the denial is raging full force on my Twitter feed. Just as it will soon be here in the comments under this post.

We want other choices.

There aren't any, not any more. But we're going to pretend like there are. So, we won't fight. And we won't just abandon Ukraine. We, the world, the US, we'll half-ass it. Everything we do will make it worse. So this will go on and on, we'll watch the usual utterly ineffective UN fumble and bumble about. NATO will rustle its sabers but do nothing. We Americans will pick sides like we're rooting for a sports team and there will be protests and shouting matches in Congress and Tucker Carlson will blame Hillary Clinton and Ukrainians will die. The Press will cheer each death as proof of whatever agenda each outfit is pushing at that moment. Political parties will blame each other and ask for your support, and your money. Mostly your money. And behind it all, Russian Intel will be pulling the strings via social media without any barriers or restrictions. And you're going to pay a hell of a lot more for everything, starting with gas.

That's how it's going to go.

When it's over, years from now, Ukraine will be part of Russia and the Cold War -- which is what everyone wants because, godDAMN was that profitable -- will be back in full swing.

Because that's all the violent old men running the world know.

Pessimistic? Yeah, I guess so.

I'd love to be wrong.

Hell, I'd be happy to be wrong. And if I am, I'll be the very first one to admit it.

But I've done this before.”

Oh sleepingbooty I get it. As an European married to an American (Navy vet) I understand what you've said 10000000000%. Today my heart bleeds. I have no words. I am so angry, so sad and so very frustrated. ((HUGS))

History is what makes us who we are as a community.

I hope you'll reconsider. I am finding your posts to this thread to be amongst the most informative. I appreciate them. If need be, please consider using the "mute" feature if you think it will help, and carry on.

I doubt you will. Or maybe you’ll take a few hundred, when millions will be displaced.

I hear you. And I do appreciate your perspective. Please remember that we are large and by far a group of women trying to make sense of things that we have no first hand knowledge of especially being American.

Please keep conversation going!

Even here there is a large difference between us normal people and those in the government who hold the purse strings. Although with Biden in office it is far more likely that people from Ukraine will be welcomed. Surely former would have said a resounding no!

Thank you, Darcy. I am glad to hear that.

I just spent time looking at a map and am wondering if anyone knows why Putin chose the Ukraine over the other countries that used to ne part of the USSR? It sounds like part of Purim’s goal is to put it back together so why start with the Ukraine?

sideways

Is it possible for you to provide a link to that Jim Wright column or article? I'd like to share it with somebody, but I've not been able to locate it via search engine. I'd appreciate it!

Ukraine has a warm-water port.  Russia does not.

Ukraine also shares a border with Belarus, and Putin controls their government. Easy to invade when the other country that borders them is willing to help.

Geopolitical power. Ukraine has important water ports on the Black Sea. It’s seen as s bulwark between Russia and Western Europe. It provides clearer access to the Baltic states where Russia also has its sight set.

To illustrate some of what sleepingbooty is talking...

If you are not aware, there is quite a bit of tension going on down in the south of Morocco right now over the Western Sahara. Supposedly, this area might have oil. It has been ongoing for quite sometime. Tensions are building again. Morocco is getting training and weapons from the US. The Polisario (primarily backed by Algeria) is getting their weapons from Russia. While the conflict may have some roots in gaining independence, lets be honest, the BIG players are in it to get at the oil.

In my opinion, so many of these conflicts are never quite what they seem...never black and white.