Is Our Ukraine Policy Working?
The US wants to avoid war with Russia. But is our Ukraine policy achieving that goal or pushing us closer to war?
Ukraine
Thoughts on Ukraine, Part 7: The Joint Corporatist Scenario
Part 7 looks at the Joint Russia-China corporatist scenario. At what point would the differences rupture cooperation? In the event of a rupture, would one turn on the other? Could China buy up Russian companies and co-opt the interests of the kleptocrats or are their cultures and motives too dissimilar?
One thing is clear, there are stresses in the mix. Lukoil shines a spotlight on them.
Is Putin losing his grip if LukOil feels like they can criticize his strategy and call for an end to it?
Thoughts on Ukraine, Part 6: Mutual Destruction?
The attack on the Ukrainian nuclear plant was a risk. If the strike damaged the containment vessel, it could have unleashed nuclear radiation. That got me thinking about the broader risks of destruction.
• Russian destroys Ukrainian cities and infrastructure trying to take it. More adventures like the nuclear plant could do it.
• Oligarchs in Russia see both a crisis and an opportunity and arrest/kill Putin and take control and force a “favorable” settlement with Ukraine that lets the oligarchs buy Ukrainian assets and resources.
• The west’s sanctions cripple the west and the Russians, leaving an opportunity for the Chinese to go after both. Perhaps they are crocodile watching the two snakes fight it out to take them both.
Is Russia-Putin-Threatening to Use Nuclear Weapons-Weapons of Mass Destruction-in Ukraine? And We Were Told the Bad Orange Man was Gonna Cause This!
Doesn’t it seem strange that with all the hysteria over war mongering politicians and presidents over the past 60 years-including the egregious treatment of candidates like Barry Goldwater-recall the LBJ political cartoon of Daisy Girl happily holding flowers on a sunny day when a nuclear detonation suddenly reflects in her eyes (two additional great candidate …
What Went Wrong In Deterring Putin
We had many opportunities to discourage the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and missed all of them.
There are NO Winners in a Nuclear War
The United States detonated nuclear bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the 6th and 9th of August 1945. The nuclear bombs laid to waste these two cities. The after-mass was devastating.
Vladimir Putin’s repeated call for a Russian nuclear arsenal in the Ukraine crisis
The Russian invasion has relied entirely on conventional weapons — tanks rattling down highways, bombers flying overhead, ships landing in the port city of Odesa — and experts told Vox that in the absence of a shocking escalation, that isn’t likely to change.
Meet the Leader of the Free World
Since the World War II era, the President of the United States is looked upon as leader of the free world. Some of the men handled this task well, accepting the challenge from their first day in office: Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any …
Thoughts on Ukraine, Part 3: Klepto-Free Energy
Part 3 looks at energy. I think it is the number one security threat. It is at least partly responsible for the situation in Ukraine, both through funding and supporting Russia’s attack through Europe’s current dependence on petroleum-based energy from Russia.
Responsibility Goes Beyond The Obvious
Here’s a brief query to those who don’t miss Trump: In this really what you wanted?
Russian antiwar activists from Moscow tO Siberia once again took to the streets SUNDAY
Protests against the invasion started Thursday in Russia and have continued daily ever since, even as Russian police have moved swiftly to crack down on the rallies and detain protesters. The Kremlin has sought to downplay the protests, insisting that a much broader share of Russians support the assault on Ukraine.
Thoughts on Ukraine, Part 2: Kleptocracy, Not Patriotism or Shared Nationality
Kleptocracy is at the heart of Putin’s government. CSIS states, “The breadth and depth of Russian organized crime already runs so wide and deep, that Russia is on the verge of becoming a criminal syndicalist state, dominated by a lethal mix of gangsters, corrupt officials, and dubious businessmen.”
Part 2 discusses Ukraine’s abundant resources as the possible objective for the Russian invasion. While it may not be the only objective, it is quite possibly a significant driving force. If the Russian kleptocrats are concerned about the security of the Siberian resource basin, Ukraine could be extremely important.
It’s The Oil Stupid!
The Biden Administration is clueless on why Putin is invading Ukraine and worse, why it is important to these United States.
Thoughts on Ukraine, Part 1
Thoughts on Ukraine Figure Conceptual Framework for Russian Invasion of Ukraine I will be the first to admit that I really cannot understand Putin’s objectives and end state in Ukraine. I suspect that I am not alone in that regard. Listen to the news with the talking head experts and read the news and internet …
Brandon Goes To War
Remember how decisive FDR was about asking for a declaration of war against Japan in 1941? He minced no words. He knew that day of infamy was coming for a long time, especially after he cut off U.S. oil supplies to starve the Imperial Japanese war machine. He laid down the gauntlet and there was …
Biden Deputy Nat Sec Adviser to CNN: ‘Borders should be inviolate’ and ‘sovereignty should be respected’
On Tuesday morning, CNN’s John Berman asked Biden’s Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer why Americans should care about what’s happening in Ukraine. Finer replied: Because it goes to a very fundamental principle of all nations, which is that our borders should be inviolate, that our sovereignty should be respected. If the international system …