9 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

To use the vernacular of the youngsters of today to describe this post: Nailed it!

Watching this conflict over the past 18 months, a few things became clear to me. With the quickly advancing technology in weapons & surveillance all around the world, in many nations, no nation is "out of reach". The lack of high-quality, integrated, layered air defense here in the US is concerning to me, your point is well taken. Never underestimate your adversaries. You can hate them all you want to, shout all the usual political & social insults about them if it makes you feel superior or comfortable, but feeling superior does not translate into superiority on the battlefield. So much of what I hear from the folks in Washington, London, Brussels, et al are just the same old stereotypes and tropes; Russians are all uneducated peasants without indoor plumbing and the Chinese can only make cheap trinkets for mass consumption and steal technology. Add to that silly type of thinking the profits over efficiency mindset in the MIC money-go-round and we end up with the type of reckless decision making that you've repeatedly hammered home. The people in positions of power in the US/UK/EU/NATO seem to be trapped in some collective fever-dream where the world never changes and they are never wrong. Its absolutely divorced from reality. Narrative over strategy. As Bette Davis once said in a film, "buckle up, its going to be a bumpy flight". Its going to be a very hard landing for these folks & what worries me is what will their reaction be? Unfortunately, we're all strapped in with them. Unfortunately I'll be sitting in economy, where my last meal will be peanuts & pretzels, lol.

Also, my condolences on the loss of your friend.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you all around. I think the Blinken visit to Zelensky is very significant. I am not sure why he rushed over there, but I would guess that Erdogan passed something to him and he took it to Zelensky. I don't know the outcome, but if Zelensky is true to form, he will reject any initiative to settle the conflict, since part of any deal would be he would have to go. Blinken ought to know that, but there was no other urgent reason for him to go to Ukraine. We will learn more, I suspect, in due course. Blinken stuck his head out, for sure.

Expand full comment

I hadn't thought about the Erdogan angle (but this is why I subscribe to you lol) - he does always avail himself to be right in the middle of things. Wonder if the grain deal was any part of that message, too. I did think Blinken's trip was, at the least, questionable optics given the crisis in Maui and the hurricane in Florida. Seeing lots of comments from folks questioning $1 billion to Ukraine while we have humanitarian crisis at home.

Expand full comment

Elections are due next March.

I doubt Zelensky will stand.

Expand full comment
author

if they have an election at all

Expand full comment

As Svein Tore Ulset posted below, Zelensky originally said no elections since they are under martial law; but if I recall correctly he made a statement more recently that in order to hold elections, Ukraine would need $5 billion from the US.

Expand full comment

I think Zelenska might prefer to wear stilettos somewhere else.

Expand full comment

Elections are postponed indefenitely, under martial law. No elections in Ukraine, except in the four oblasts that voted to join Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Ukrainian_presidential_election

Expand full comment

With no opposition and no opposition media, not to mention unconditional western support as their neocon poster boi, Zelenskii will do just fine.

Expand full comment
Error