I think the Russian generals have figured out that crushing Ukraine will not be a cake walk. So they have already pulled some favorite dirty tricks out of their huge bag of dirty tricks. They agreed the other day to a cease fire for evacuations to proceed in the form of a safety corridor for evacuations of civilians . Then before the ink was dry, began bombardments again and laid the blame on Ukraine for the violation.
Vlad and his goons never seem to stray too far from their time honored tradition of using any means to attain their goals, with the emphasis on brutal means rather than any effort to include nonviolent means. Promises from Russia regarding their support for nonviolent conclusions always turns into lip service so their chosen victims will let their guards down. Look to Syria if you want a perfect example of Russian tactics when they are using armed conflict to achieve anything.
So now, as the West wrings its hands harder, the question is what can we here in the West do to increase our pressure on Russia? No matter what the West chooses to do in addition to what has been done already on Ukraine's behalf, a decrease in the creature comforts considered birth rites will affect everyone in the West.
Just where does our gung ho support stop once we see gas go over $10 a gallon? Where does the righteous indignation over the invasion of another country cross the line into anger over the cost and inconvenience to our couch comfortable lifestyles?
Based on historical precedent, I don't see the West tolerating too many constraints on their fat lifestyles for too long.
Only time will tell. It always does. How much time is the question? And time is not what Ukraine has much left of.
Later ...................................
_____________________________
I was sure I had the tune I wanted. As I wrote this, all I could think about was "For What its Worth" recorded in the 1960s by Buffalo Springfield. It was the song that helped me in my trip to becoming a limp wristed pink commie anti war losing Hippie. But once I listened to it again, I realized it didn't fit as cleanly as I thought. And then I came across this version of that classic anti war tune.
This is "Stop and Bust a Move" with some more modern mixing by Young MC. It flippin rocks. Turn it up to wow! Its a definite toe tapper.
12 comments:
You mention "Promises from Russia" And I remembered an old quote. So I googled it and found this.
PIE-CRUST QUOTE "Promises are like pie crust, made to be
broken."
Lenin did make use of these words in an article he wrote in
1905, but he was quoting what he called "an English proverb" (actually written by 18th-century English satirist Jonathan Swift) in order to criticize some of his Socialist adversaries in Russia. But the words were attributed to him and
used widely as a Leninism in reputable, as well as disrepu·
table, circles in the United States.12
Thank you for your this post about Ukraine.
Only.
I would point out -- that there is bigger danger for USA, than it is for my Ukraine.
Becasue.
Just a day before invasion, nobody was believing it will happen. Because "Putin not that stupid, isn't he?".
But here it is.
But for USA.
For decades, they in RFia, was drooling at propaganda of how they would "put America on its knees", how they'll "reduce it to atomic dust"(precisly cited).
So, if Putin THAT stupid to start a war against Ukraine. While that involved millions of people, which could mitigate the danger of it. Like today POW of RFia showing obvious lack of incentive to fight.
But.
Between Putin... and Big Red Button. There hardly can be many people. And even less of ones who could stop him.
And.
What if he have terminal desease? What is he gone crazy, in that self-inflicted isolation?
And biggest problem of it all -- what if he not. What if he see that as Perfect Plan... so inability of USA to respond, he sees as proof of his imminent victory?
Does it impossible to imagine?
But we know such people, with such a mindset.
Hitler was that way.
All recent dictators and terrorists was that way -- highly reassured that they will win against "weaklings" USA.
And there'd be no Pearl Harbour. As today's weapon allow All-Out attack at USA.
Hope your CIA concidered all pros and cons of it. And devised some smart and decisive move.
We all hope.
PS Sorry for my blatant bluntness, but I see it as damn important topic to rise.
\\And time is not what Ukraine has much left of.
That is WRONG idea.
Right thing to ask is -- what else can we give, help with, to Ukraine?
Because... Russia already have plan to undermine NATO -- with blockade of Baltic countries.
Under same pretence of "that is not we, that is some refugies,nationalists,separatists,nuclear terrorists".
So.
The more weak and half-assed response will be from NATO to a war in Ukraine, the sooner you'll have your own problems of that kind.
Kulkiri - Never considered the pie crust promise when I pointed out the Russian tendency to break theirs at the drop of a hat. But I would be remiss if I also did not point out now how all countries tend to break promises should their self interests be threatened. The problem is Putin seems to be using a a perceived threat that does not exist to cover for aggrandizing his ego and not Russia's best interests.
One from Ukraine - Of course the United States faces potential disastrous consequences should Putin go any further off the rails. But I disagree that it would any worse for us than Ukraine. If we get dragged into a shooting war with Russia, the whole damn planet may suffer like they have never suffered before. If that happens, this conflict in Ukraine will read like the Duke's assassination before World War One or the invasion of Poland before World War Two.
I am afraid Americans will be as complacent as they were back then, many whining about "its not our problem" or just whining about not being as comfortable as they were before all this trouble burst their bubbles. And then because we will most likely pussy foot around awhile not making a decision, it will be too late to resolve the problem preemptively and everything that happens then is the US reacting and not pro-acting. These are dangerous times.
I'm no military leader but if I was I would muster up the means to somehow raise hell on their turf.
I'm willing to pay extra to put damper or complete stop on Putin.
Coffee is on and stay safe
That same Russians that was talking about war against Ukraine,
two week ago, days before it started...
started talking about Third WW.
If we get dragged into a shooting war with Russia, the whole damn planet may suffer like they have never suffered before. If that happens, this conflict in Ukraine will read like the Duke's assassination before World War One or the invasion of Poland before World War Two.
You most surely know/remember nasty logic of MAD (mutually assured destruction) -- one who fires first, have most chances. And that must be and can be ONLY All-Out attack, with hope that there'd be no retaliation.
Given that Russia's economy is a dead man walking. And people of Russia NOT willing to go to a fight.
What else remains for a Put-in? Who already hid himself in a deep bunker under Ural mountains?
I have very grave thougths about that "this conflict in Ukraine will read like"...
In best situation that'll be read in Mandarine or even Soahili, only.
BBC - I agree with you as far as wishing we would take the fight to Putin on his own ground. The reality is we just can't at this point.
Dora - My wife and I have also decided a higher gas price here is the least of the sacrifices we can make.
One from Ukraine - Certainly I remember MAD. I am of the generation who hid under school desks in and around October, 1962. My father was an Air Force officer who many times assured me we were all dead should a nuking war break out. Scary stuff drilled into me at a young age that caused me problems at school. But that is another memory I will share soon. Thanks for the tickle.
As you say, Russia's economy went from a functional one to a disaster basically over night. Should this agony continue too long and Russia (Putin) may lash out in desperation and then your scenario of an Asian dominated planet is certainly foreseeable.
I just keep hoping and praying that it will all go against Russia and Ukraine will come out on top..but they need more help.
...we would take the fight to Putin on his own ground. The reality is we just can't at this point.
But. But you already are. That sanctions you inflicted on Russia, already wretching havok and inflicting much pain to Russians -- hope it'll snap them out of their dream world. But I would not be too sure that that'll be enough.
So far, it seems that Poo-tin's regime will only start using more potent drugs on them. Already started, cawing that "that is war to kill ALL Russians", with whatever scary weapon they can come up to instil fear in that stopid sheeps.
They already talking about bacteriological, chemical and genetical weapon -- directed at mere Russians.
Well, that is task for you CIA.
To take again that files from that dusty shelfs of cold war times,
and try to make some clue of dire murderous possibility.
From our side, we can only keep our eyes open, even to such scary possibilities.
\\Thanks for the tickle.
Send all credits to a Poo-tin.
I would not start talking about such things, if not this situation.
Blogger yellowdoggranny said...
...and Ukraine will come out on top..but they need more help.
Thank you for your kind words.
But it seems that is not question of unilateral help anymore,
but a question of mutual survival. We need to learn again -- what being Democratical World mean.
yellowdoggranny - At this point, I think all we can realistically do is hope.
One from Ukraine - The problem is all the various foreign policy gurus and it seems even his inner circle have a serious problem trying to predict the actions of an insane man. While he is using time honored tactics (USSR and Russian tactics) to further his interests, nobody can get a handle on exactly what his real reasons are. I have certainly given up trying to understand him.
Because of that lack of understanding, a huge void exists in the available tactics to use to counter his stupidity non violently. Rock and a hard place for both sides comes to mind.
\\...nobody can get a handle on exactly what his real reasons are
Russia is dieing.
Well, Russia, as he remembers, or as he was imagining to himself.
That was words of a last true gensek(general secretar of communistic party of USSR), as they say, in a moments before diving into complete marasm before his death: "Elephant is dieing. But do not know about it. Because too big".
Russia as a country. Cannot survive as it is. It need to change.
But that change would mean -- end of being ultimate ruler, for him.
And that, he cannot allow.
Well, that is too old, to often story.
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