The Russian airstrike on the maternity hospital in Mariupol on Wednesday, as well as the artillery shelling they have carried out in Kharkiv and across the country of Ukraine in recent days, tells us all we need to know about how Russia has chosen to fight this war. The Washington Post published a story on Wednesday with photographs as well as a minute and a half video of the damage done to the hospital. A man with a cell phone or video camera moves through the wreckage monotonously describing the scene in Ukrainian. As he walks through one wrecked hospital room after another, it's like he can’t believe what is in front of him: “One bomb. One bomb,” he exclaims over and over.
If this is not a war crime, nothing is. But how we get it to stop and get those in charge in front of the ICC is another matter.
Putin knows we don't dare do any more than we can right now because he's got one damn good ace in the hole and so he's laughing at us, "HA! You stupid fools! You can't stop me because my nuclear weapons are my ace and you don't dare play THAT hand!"
It is very frustrating to wage war with one hand tied behind our backs. Won't anyone in the Kremlin please stand up and denounce him?
Is there anyone brave enough in Russia? I seem to doubt it.
the people I'm reading and watching who know him best seem to be in pretty universal agreement about this being the only real option. I understand why you'd say "sadly," but there ARE exceptions. history is littered with guys who needed to be taken out long before they were rendered ineffective one way or another....
Well written as always. You're totally correct on all points. Putin's Potemkin military has fallen back on by Zhukov's tactic of using artillery to reduce cities to rubble, then sending in an army of poorly disciplined savages to rape and kill anyone who survived. That was rationalized as retribution for the Nazi invasion. Putin's reasons are ridiculous and demonstrably false.
Within a week or so, the world will demand that US and NATO stop inventing excuses and step up and stop this pointless destruction and murder. Putin is gambling that neither will do anything serious. Perceptions count. Should humanity decide NATO and the US are toothless tigers, the future will be lost.
It is not much different than the way the Red Army went at Germany, and German controlled areas, during WWII. Then, briefly, the Russians were "good guys" inflicting their brutality on the "bad Germans" and nobody much cared.
Talk about false equivalence. The Red Army had watched the Germans lay waste Russian territory and civilians for years. The Ukrainians have done what to the Russians exactly?
I certainly do not suggest that there is an equivalence, simply that history shows that this is how the Russian army wages war. I would disagree with your implicit suggestion that the Red Army's conduct in WWII was justified by the Nazi's prior conduct. Explained, perhaps, but not justified.
This is not a war. This is a rape. Ukraine did nothing to putin to provoke this rape. Putin decided he wants to possess Ukraine. He will devastate and destroy and humiliate and reduce Ukraine to rubble for fighting back. How dare they? He is all powerful man! He will show the world how strong he is and all will fear him. But instead of seeing him as strong and powerful, we can see how weak and small and damaged and insane he is. The only valuable thing to come out of this rape is that we can see exactly how despicable this “me first” mindset really is. “Me first” is the mindset of all rapists. “Me first” is the mindset of all sociopaths. “Me first” is the downfall of civilized society.
I suggest a weekly estimate of financial damage to buildings and human beings, to include physical and psychological injuries, hospital costs and, sadly, funeral expenses. A big 8 firm could do it. The Russian government will be forced to pay back to the Ukraine a hefty overall financial penalty which will take a decade to repay and will hit the wallet of every citizen of Russia which is now watching the Death of The Ruble, Gucci and McDonalds.
Heartbreaking, scary, and very sad on top of maddening! I repeat, MEN cause wars! Putin is as tyrannical as Stalin or Hitler. Their demise was not quick enough before millions were killed. We must not let that happen to the Ukrainians. We can’t keep silent as we gave Repubs waiting in the wings to overthrow what democracy we have left. DO SOMETHING!
Since we can't play chicken with nukes, the West must tighten the sanction screws even tighter. Cut Russia off from the world. Yes it will be painful and costly to stop buying Russian oil and gas. But if not now, when? After the tenth hospital is bombed?
It is time that the US, EU, Japan and Canada cease all humanitarian processes in Russia and Belarus until bombing and shelling of Ukrainian civilian sites ceases and refugee corridors are established and maintained. This would mean cessation of all Pharma and medical device and supplies business activities, stopping all clinical trial activities and expelling all Russian and Belarus medical trainees from these countries. Although innocent people in Russia and Belarus will suffer, this would be a fraction of the inhumanity now displayed in Ukraine, and would end as soon as the civilian toll in Ukraine ends. Until the people in Russia and Belarus wake up to the horror and react, Putin will keep going.
if people are going to mention the usual "Russian Way of War," they need to mention the standing policy of ordering their soldiers to commit rape whenever possible.
What Putin is doing is ghastly crimes against humanity. Someone needs to put him down. Now.
Trump and pro Putin allies scampering like the cowards we watched in action for many long years.
If this is not a war crime, nothing is. But how we get it to stop and get those in charge in front of the ICC is another matter.
Putin knows we don't dare do any more than we can right now because he's got one damn good ace in the hole and so he's laughing at us, "HA! You stupid fools! You can't stop me because my nuclear weapons are my ace and you don't dare play THAT hand!"
It is very frustrating to wage war with one hand tied behind our backs. Won't anyone in the Kremlin please stand up and denounce him?
Is there anyone brave enough in Russia? I seem to doubt it.
Take him out sadly is what’s needed.
the people I'm reading and watching who know him best seem to be in pretty universal agreement about this being the only real option. I understand why you'd say "sadly," but there ARE exceptions. history is littered with guys who needed to be taken out long before they were rendered ineffective one way or another....
Well written as always. You're totally correct on all points. Putin's Potemkin military has fallen back on by Zhukov's tactic of using artillery to reduce cities to rubble, then sending in an army of poorly disciplined savages to rape and kill anyone who survived. That was rationalized as retribution for the Nazi invasion. Putin's reasons are ridiculous and demonstrably false.
Within a week or so, the world will demand that US and NATO stop inventing excuses and step up and stop this pointless destruction and murder. Putin is gambling that neither will do anything serious. Perceptions count. Should humanity decide NATO and the US are toothless tigers, the future will be lost.
This conflict, instigated by Putin, has war crimes and crimes against humanity written all over it.
Feeling like Putin, in addition to destroying Ukraine, is purposely targeting the collective soul of humanity to draw the planet into battle.
It is not much different than the way the Red Army went at Germany, and German controlled areas, during WWII. Then, briefly, the Russians were "good guys" inflicting their brutality on the "bad Germans" and nobody much cared.
Talk about false equivalence. The Red Army had watched the Germans lay waste Russian territory and civilians for years. The Ukrainians have done what to the Russians exactly?
I certainly do not suggest that there is an equivalence, simply that history shows that this is how the Russian army wages war. I would disagree with your implicit suggestion that the Red Army's conduct in WWII was justified by the Nazi's prior conduct. Explained, perhaps, but not justified.
Explanation indeed. There could never be a justification. Then, or now.
We are certainly in agreement about that.
This is not a war. This is a rape. Ukraine did nothing to putin to provoke this rape. Putin decided he wants to possess Ukraine. He will devastate and destroy and humiliate and reduce Ukraine to rubble for fighting back. How dare they? He is all powerful man! He will show the world how strong he is and all will fear him. But instead of seeing him as strong and powerful, we can see how weak and small and damaged and insane he is. The only valuable thing to come out of this rape is that we can see exactly how despicable this “me first” mindset really is. “Me first” is the mindset of all rapists. “Me first” is the mindset of all sociopaths. “Me first” is the downfall of civilized society.
I suggest a weekly estimate of financial damage to buildings and human beings, to include physical and psychological injuries, hospital costs and, sadly, funeral expenses. A big 8 firm could do it. The Russian government will be forced to pay back to the Ukraine a hefty overall financial penalty which will take a decade to repay and will hit the wallet of every citizen of Russia which is now watching the Death of The Ruble, Gucci and McDonalds.
Heartbreaking, scary, and very sad on top of maddening! I repeat, MEN cause wars! Putin is as tyrannical as Stalin or Hitler. Their demise was not quick enough before millions were killed. We must not let that happen to the Ukrainians. We can’t keep silent as we gave Repubs waiting in the wings to overthrow what democracy we have left. DO SOMETHING!
yes.
and i think i know what further you will add to what putin will do.
i'm afraid
Putin has committed a crime against humanity.
Since we can't play chicken with nukes, the West must tighten the sanction screws even tighter. Cut Russia off from the world. Yes it will be painful and costly to stop buying Russian oil and gas. But if not now, when? After the tenth hospital is bombed?
China and North Korea are watching closely...
Excellent BDA!
It is time that the US, EU, Japan and Canada cease all humanitarian processes in Russia and Belarus until bombing and shelling of Ukrainian civilian sites ceases and refugee corridors are established and maintained. This would mean cessation of all Pharma and medical device and supplies business activities, stopping all clinical trial activities and expelling all Russian and Belarus medical trainees from these countries. Although innocent people in Russia and Belarus will suffer, this would be a fraction of the inhumanity now displayed in Ukraine, and would end as soon as the civilian toll in Ukraine ends. Until the people in Russia and Belarus wake up to the horror and react, Putin will keep going.
if people are going to mention the usual "Russian Way of War," they need to mention the standing policy of ordering their soldiers to commit rape whenever possible.