In 1950, the U.S. attempted to send terrorists into Ukraine with the mission of starting an uprising to separate Ukraine from the rest of the USSR. Not one American in 10,000 knows this, but --trust me -- the Russians know about it.
Ukraine did not exist until 1918, when it was invented by the German army. It was the first fascist state, whose only policy was to exterminate Jews. If a Jew hadn't put an end to that by assassinating Petliura, when we think of fascist leaders we would not use the Italian (duce) or German (fuehrer) words but the Ukrainian one -- hetman.
Crimea was never part of any ethnic, religious, cultural, economic, social, linguistic, racial or any other sort of group that also included speakers of Ukrainian.
Nevertheless, because the US is committed (when it is convenient) to national organization, our government is sort of obliged to support Ukraine. Few, if any, identifiable national groups have done less to deserve our sympathy.
Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons from the USSR, and agreed to give them to Russia in exchange for a pledge to respect the borders as they existed. Renouncing that agreement not only means that Ukraine is entitled to acquire nuclear weapons if they can, but also that Russia has renounced the general principles of respecting other nations' borders and of abiding by treaty agreements. Allowing that to stand is fatal for the prospect of world peace.
Trivia: "Frisco" was so named by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, which intended to connect to California but never got anywhere near there; however, they named a station in Texas "Frisco" so they could tell investors they had made it to Frisco and if the investors misunderstood, that was their lookout.
Antifascist Germans won a decent and prosperous country. The Soviets won an empire they could not keep. The democratic West, ourselves in particular, seemed to be winners for a long time, but whether we will continue to see it that way depends greatly on what we do now.
I am not of the opinion that we enjoyed our victory. (Ours against Japan; we really had little to do with the victory over Germany which was accomplished by the USSR, Britain and [often overlooked] the sacrifice of the Serbian monarchists.)
We might have and maybe would have if FDR had lived, but we threw in with the colonialists and the fascists.
I do not quarrel with what Biden's policy (to the extent I know what it is) has been, but the US is leading from weakness and will lose if Putin keeps his nerve.
"I am not of the opinion that we enjoyed our victory." You have a very warped and privileged view, then. We have enjoyed a level of prosperity beyond the dreams of most past generations, for a very long time.Putin is leading from weakness and will lose if we keep our nerve.
i was not thinking in terms of consumption but of international politics. I did not much enjoy the killing of 6 million in Indochina, nor the success of fascists in southern South America, to choose 2 among many, many examples.
He hires, but he signed a hands-off management, with the Graham family, that seemed in effect, until he hired that awful new editor in May, who has stories praising the forced birthers. The gloves are off.
That is their role: protector of the status quo.
Yep: Nice Polite Republicans.
And I talked back, since it is what I do.
Why should I not be concerned? Capitalist media aint't gonna stop being capitalist so that progressives have an easier time of it.
Don't cavil, organize.
A little history is in order.
In 1950, the U.S. attempted to send terrorists into Ukraine with the mission of starting an uprising to separate Ukraine from the rest of the USSR. Not one American in 10,000 knows this, but --trust me -- the Russians know about it.
Ukraine did not exist until 1918, when it was invented by the German army. It was the first fascist state, whose only policy was to exterminate Jews. If a Jew hadn't put an end to that by assassinating Petliura, when we think of fascist leaders we would not use the Italian (duce) or German (fuehrer) words but the Ukrainian one -- hetman.
Crimea was never part of any ethnic, religious, cultural, economic, social, linguistic, racial or any other sort of group that also included speakers of Ukrainian.
Nevertheless, because the US is committed (when it is convenient) to national organization, our government is sort of obliged to support Ukraine. Few, if any, identifiable national groups have done less to deserve our sympathy.
How about a free and independent Great Kurdistan?
You're joking, I hope. If you are not, you're not paying attention.
Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons from the USSR, and agreed to give them to Russia in exchange for a pledge to respect the borders as they existed. Renouncing that agreement not only means that Ukraine is entitled to acquire nuclear weapons if they can, but also that Russia has renounced the general principles of respecting other nations' borders and of abiding by treaty agreements. Allowing that to stand is fatal for the prospect of world peace.
Trivia: "Frisco" was so named by the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad, which intended to connect to California but never got anywhere near there; however, they named a station in Texas "Frisco" so they could tell investors they had made it to Frisco and if the investors misunderstood, that was their lookout.
That, and Bezos requires support of the biz side support. I'm sure he has some pull at the paper he owns
So would be fighting a war to uphold it. Not a good range of options.
Well that's up to him, but fighting a war and winning it decisively can have a long-lasting deterrent effect. Ask the Germans.
Ask who won that one.
Antifascist Germans won a decent and prosperous country. The Soviets won an empire they could not keep. The democratic West, ourselves in particular, seemed to be winners for a long time, but whether we will continue to see it that way depends greatly on what we do now.
I am not of the opinion that we enjoyed our victory. (Ours against Japan; we really had little to do with the victory over Germany which was accomplished by the USSR, Britain and [often overlooked] the sacrifice of the Serbian monarchists.)
We might have and maybe would have if FDR had lived, but we threw in with the colonialists and the fascists.
I do not quarrel with what Biden's policy (to the extent I know what it is) has been, but the US is leading from weakness and will lose if Putin keeps his nerve.
"I am not of the opinion that we enjoyed our victory." You have a very warped and privileged view, then. We have enjoyed a level of prosperity beyond the dreams of most past generations, for a very long time.Putin is leading from weakness and will lose if we keep our nerve.
i was not thinking in terms of consumption but of international politics. I did not much enjoy the killing of 6 million in Indochina, nor the success of fascists in southern South America, to choose 2 among many, many examples.
He hires, but he signed a hands-off management, with the Graham family, that seemed in effect, until he hired that awful new editor in May, who has stories praising the forced birthers. The gloves are off.