"Rather than pushing for Ukrainian capitulation or American isolation, Washington should work with its European partners to limit the avenues of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and give our allies in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East the tools they need for victory." Right on!
Whatever needs to be done to bolster Ukraine defenses should be done. We need to support candidates here that are standing for Ukraine. I’m doing so in my state.
"— Is Biden doing everything he can for Ukraine? The bad news, of course, is that because Republicans in the House have blocked further aid to Ukraine for a year-and-a-half since they took power in January, 2023, that country is now under an unprecedented and massive, savage attack by Russian bombs and missiles. This week they took out the largest power station in Kiev, because Ukraine has largely run out of air defenses. In the face of this treason by the GOP, some have criticized President Biden for not doing more by executive action. Turns out he’s now on it! CNN reported this week: “The US transferred thousands of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine last week, US Central Command announced on Tuesday.” In addition, European Union countries have given Ukraine $5 billion to purchase weapons on the open market and Biden just authorized them to purchase those from US defense contractors. The first purchase was just released: “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of HAWK Phase III Missile System Sustainment and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $138 million.” Step by step, Biden and the Democrats will overcome the treasonous behavior of this Putin-loving GOP.
And the stakes in the Ukraine war couldn’t be higher. The EU’s top diplomat, Josph Burrell, recently said that a full-scale European war with Russia was “no longer a fantasy.” In a speech last Tuesday in Brussels, Burrell said, “Russia threatens Europe,” both through its ongoing war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks on EU member states, and, “War is certainly looming around us. A high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.” Every day that Republicans in the House continue to block aid to Ukraine brings that Europe-wide war — which could trigger WWIII — closer. If you haven’t already called your member of the House at 202-224-3121 to register your opinion, please do so now!"
I stopped to talk with a young American woman in a German supermarket yesterday and asked if she was a member of Democrats Abroad. She says she does not like either party and is not political. I told her not being political is a political position. Anyway, for each thing she told me, I told her not voting is a vote for Trump, voting for someone who is not Biden is a vote for Trump and that her cosy life in Germany could turn into living in a war zone in Europe in WWIII if Trump wins again, and not keeping him out of office is a political stance. It ended with her giving me her phone number so we could talk further since we were standing at self check out stations and wanted to let other customers have a chance to check out. I am aware that many American expats think that because they left the USA they don't have to worry about what goes on in the US. That is a position that Europeans do not share. They know that what happens in the US election will affect them for good or for bad, and already you see the EU attempting to prepare for the onslaught from Russia if Biden does not win!
Things are getting crazy. Iran is also making noises about closing the Straight of Hormuz. That means a direct confrontation with the US Navy and the Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf.
"Rather than pushing for Ukrainian capitulation or American isolation, Washington should work with its European partners to limit the avenues of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and give our allies in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East the tools they need for victory."
Is trite and meaningless.
The road to "Peace in Ukraine" is going to go through China. Because that's who we are REALLY at war with. Putin is Xi's dog to put back on his chain.
IF "Peace in Ukraine" is even possible at this point.
That's your other "blind-spot". Your refusal to see that this conflict is related to the developing Climate Crisis. This war signals a massive break in the world order that has endured since 1945.
You think this war is about POWER. It's about FOOD.
Pundits, who for the most part know shit about what’s happening with the climate system, are baffled by Putin’s actions. No one can understand why he would take such an existential risk for no obvious reason. They point out that the sanctions are going to cause the Russian economy to wither “in the coming years”.
This is absolutely true. Unless there is no “long term”.
Putin isn’t invading Ukraine because he’s crazy. He’s invading because he thinks food is about to get scarce.
He thinks that in a few years no one is going to “give a crap” about Ukraine in a world where 100’s of millions are starving and countries are collapsing under the stress.
He thinks that the Russian people will call him “a genius” for securing a stable food supply in a world where agricultural production is collapsing and famine is widespread.
He might be right. He’s willing to put it all on the line betting that he is. Because that’s what invading Ukraine is for him. He is putting all of his power on the line. He is betting his life on this.
That’s how sure he is that things are about to start getting bad.
If this war signals that an ENDGAME state of play has happened and global mass starvation is about to happen then this is actually a "War to the Death".
Have you considered that Putin wants to simply "liquidate" the ENTIRE Ukrainian population?
If billions are about die from starvation, to Putin and Xi the Ukrainians may simply be viewed as "the walking dead". People who are already dead, but just don't know it yet.
Your need to consider this conflict in the larger context if you want to find a path to a "victory" for the Ukrainians.
What is Trump threatening Speaker Johnson with you think? It’s frustrating that Trump is allowed to have all this sway over the House and what they vote on.
I wonder, are those active in our military asking the same questions? Are they on the same page as you, Lt.C., when it comes to your suggestion of how to work with our allies? Do you have input when it comes to what the best course of action is? I hope so.
"Rather than pushing for Ukrainian capitulation or American isolation, Washington should work with its European partners to limit the avenues of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and give our allies in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East the tools they need for victory." Right on!
Things are ramping up. Scary to think where this might end. The House has got to get off its tush!
Whatever needs to be done to bolster Ukraine defenses should be done. We need to support candidates here that are standing for Ukraine. I’m doing so in my state.
Likewise in my state.
If we ever needed Jewish space lasers this would be the time.
I read in Thom Hartmann's Substack yesterday,
"— Is Biden doing everything he can for Ukraine? The bad news, of course, is that because Republicans in the House have blocked further aid to Ukraine for a year-and-a-half since they took power in January, 2023, that country is now under an unprecedented and massive, savage attack by Russian bombs and missiles. This week they took out the largest power station in Kiev, because Ukraine has largely run out of air defenses. In the face of this treason by the GOP, some have criticized President Biden for not doing more by executive action. Turns out he’s now on it! CNN reported this week: “The US transferred thousands of machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine last week, US Central Command announced on Tuesday.” In addition, European Union countries have given Ukraine $5 billion to purchase weapons on the open market and Biden just authorized them to purchase those from US defense contractors. The first purchase was just released: “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of HAWK Phase III Missile System Sustainment and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of $138 million.” Step by step, Biden and the Democrats will overcome the treasonous behavior of this Putin-loving GOP.
And the stakes in the Ukraine war couldn’t be higher. The EU’s top diplomat, Josph Burrell, recently said that a full-scale European war with Russia was “no longer a fantasy.” In a speech last Tuesday in Brussels, Burrell said, “Russia threatens Europe,” both through its ongoing war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks on EU member states, and, “War is certainly looming around us. A high-intensity, conventional war in Europe is no longer a fantasy.” Every day that Republicans in the House continue to block aid to Ukraine brings that Europe-wide war — which could trigger WWIII — closer. If you haven’t already called your member of the House at 202-224-3121 to register your opinion, please do so now!"
I stopped to talk with a young American woman in a German supermarket yesterday and asked if she was a member of Democrats Abroad. She says she does not like either party and is not political. I told her not being political is a political position. Anyway, for each thing she told me, I told her not voting is a vote for Trump, voting for someone who is not Biden is a vote for Trump and that her cosy life in Germany could turn into living in a war zone in Europe in WWIII if Trump wins again, and not keeping him out of office is a political stance. It ended with her giving me her phone number so we could talk further since we were standing at self check out stations and wanted to let other customers have a chance to check out. I am aware that many American expats think that because they left the USA they don't have to worry about what goes on in the US. That is a position that Europeans do not share. They know that what happens in the US election will affect them for good or for bad, and already you see the EU attempting to prepare for the onslaught from Russia if Biden does not win!
"The mopeds are coming!" could be the current GOP's theme.
What options would the USA allies have to stop Russia and Iran
What about something on the order of a truck mounted CIWS?
Things are getting crazy. Iran is also making noises about closing the Straight of Hormuz. That means a direct confrontation with the US Navy and the Royal Navy in the Persian Gulf.
I respect you greatly but simply saying that.
"Rather than pushing for Ukrainian capitulation or American isolation, Washington should work with its European partners to limit the avenues of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and give our allies in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East the tools they need for victory."
Is trite and meaningless.
The road to "Peace in Ukraine" is going to go through China. Because that's who we are REALLY at war with. Putin is Xi's dog to put back on his chain.
IF "Peace in Ukraine" is even possible at this point.
That's your other "blind-spot". Your refusal to see that this conflict is related to the developing Climate Crisis. This war signals a massive break in the world order that has endured since 1945.
You think this war is about POWER. It's about FOOD.
Pundits, who for the most part know shit about what’s happening with the climate system, are baffled by Putin’s actions. No one can understand why he would take such an existential risk for no obvious reason. They point out that the sanctions are going to cause the Russian economy to wither “in the coming years”.
This is absolutely true. Unless there is no “long term”.
Putin isn’t invading Ukraine because he’s crazy. He’s invading because he thinks food is about to get scarce.
He thinks that in a few years no one is going to “give a crap” about Ukraine in a world where 100’s of millions are starving and countries are collapsing under the stress.
He thinks that the Russian people will call him “a genius” for securing a stable food supply in a world where agricultural production is collapsing and famine is widespread.
He might be right. He’s willing to put it all on the line betting that he is. Because that’s what invading Ukraine is for him. He is putting all of his power on the line. He is betting his life on this.
That’s how sure he is that things are about to start getting bad.
If this war signals that an ENDGAME state of play has happened and global mass starvation is about to happen then this is actually a "War to the Death".
Have you considered that Putin wants to simply "liquidate" the ENTIRE Ukrainian population?
If billions are about die from starvation, to Putin and Xi the Ukrainians may simply be viewed as "the walking dead". People who are already dead, but just don't know it yet.
Your need to consider this conflict in the larger context if you want to find a path to a "victory" for the Ukrainians.
Lt. Col Vindman,
This is outstanding analysis.
Now, what are we seeing from the Shahed 238 right now?
What is Trump threatening Speaker Johnson with you think? It’s frustrating that Trump is allowed to have all this sway over the House and what they vote on.
I wonder, are those active in our military asking the same questions? Are they on the same page as you, Lt.C., when it comes to your suggestion of how to work with our allies? Do you have input when it comes to what the best course of action is? I hope so.