The big story of the day is Biden’s decision to put 8,500 U.S. troops on “high alert” for a possible deployment to Eastern Europe to reinforce NATO in the region. The Department of State has also ordered civilian dependents of U.S. Embassy employees and all non-essential personnel out of the country in preparation for Russia’s possible invasion of Ukraine.
Never underestimate your opponent. Especially where Russia is concerned. While they are rolling across boundary lines, EVERYTHING in our infrastructure is at risk for a cyber attack. And don’t think they haven’t had the benefits of learning “national secrets” while Trump and Jared Kushner were providing them with access to . . . All of it. Trump’s merry band answer to Mogilevich ; they are all TRAITORS. The GOP received laundered money from Russian contacts through the NRA. “Pings” from Russian entities were received at the DeVoss-owned hospital in Michigan and at Trump Tower, NY. Russians have been flying into the US through Salt Lake City, bypassing the usual channels. On and On…don’t underestimate this enemy. They have insiders.
Personally, I think this was a brilliant move by Biden and his team. Hit Putin and his fellows where it hurts. He is always “one-upping” us but I do think he has met a willing opponent. Ukraine is rich in oils and agriculture. That’s what he wants to gobble up. Also, there has been no mention of Zelensky. He is Jewish so, of course, Putin wants him out of power.
The question no one seems to ask is how Putin can pay for a war, or even putting down an insurgency in Ukraine? The Russian economy is smaller than Italy's, even though it has three times as many people. Indeed, Russian GDP is half that of California, which has a quarter of it's population and 2.5 percent of its land area.
“This country has all but forgotten the sacrifices made during the great war in Europe ...”
I don’t know if that’s true, but I can see why you would say it, Lucian. I think the core factor here is that the war did not happen in continental North America. And those unexploded bombs they’re digging up over there? Downtown Frankfurt. Places like that. The big cities are where many of the bombs were dropped. So they couldn’t forget even if they wanted to.
This imminent conflict makes me very angry, given it’s being instigated by a single human being. The Russian people have no interest. They’re trying to get on their feet and have some basic security.
this is so hard to believe. I have been watching Foyle’s War (my father was a Royal Navy submariner in WWII) and am at the part where the war has just ended but the majority of the characters are questioning what has actually changed—and it is so little. My friends admire you, which is why I have begun to follow you. I appreciate your feelings and knowledge-but almost want to bury my head in the sand instead of thinking of all those poor countries-not to mention my grandchildren.
Putin can't win the greater war, but he is an astonishingly successful mischief-maker, inconveniencing the West and propping up strongmen like Trump and Orban.
Thank You So Much For This Lucian!!! I will sleep much better tonight. Even though we still have a precarious and dangerous situation, Putin is no longer our marionettist. We got this.
I have great confidence in your assessment here. And great hope that if Russian oligarchs lose access to their material stuff, they’ll jump all over Vlad the Unstable!
Right now sounds like July 1914. Every power has arms, soldiers and a itch to show some muscle. Putin knows he is in the late years of his career. Getting another ten years does not erase the truth he will be seventy and tired. Russia clings to glory in WW2 and the Great Soviet Union while everyone else has moved on. What is tragic is August 1914 arrives, when everyone thought it would be a 6 week war. Weill, it lasted 4 years and bled Europe white. Only the power of America arms gave everyone an excuse to end it. Putin won't stop and he does not care about cars, microchips or real estate. He will fight until the last soldier is dead and then send mercenaries. For him, all that matters is former Soviet Glory. Lets hope the oligarch's and the Generals in Moscow instruct Czar Putin to wrap it up.
Never underestimate your opponent. Especially where Russia is concerned. While they are rolling across boundary lines, EVERYTHING in our infrastructure is at risk for a cyber attack. And don’t think they haven’t had the benefits of learning “national secrets” while Trump and Jared Kushner were providing them with access to . . . All of it. Trump’s merry band answer to Mogilevich ; they are all TRAITORS. The GOP received laundered money from Russian contacts through the NRA. “Pings” from Russian entities were received at the DeVoss-owned hospital in Michigan and at Trump Tower, NY. Russians have been flying into the US through Salt Lake City, bypassing the usual channels. On and On…don’t underestimate this enemy. They have insiders.
Putin has $billions in western banks. Just freeze his western assets immediately if he crosses the line.
Personally, I think this was a brilliant move by Biden and his team. Hit Putin and his fellows where it hurts. He is always “one-upping” us but I do think he has met a willing opponent. Ukraine is rich in oils and agriculture. That’s what he wants to gobble up. Also, there has been no mention of Zelensky. He is Jewish so, of course, Putin wants him out of power.
The question no one seems to ask is how Putin can pay for a war, or even putting down an insurgency in Ukraine? The Russian economy is smaller than Italy's, even though it has three times as many people. Indeed, Russian GDP is half that of California, which has a quarter of it's population and 2.5 percent of its land area.
“This country has all but forgotten the sacrifices made during the great war in Europe ...”
I don’t know if that’s true, but I can see why you would say it, Lucian. I think the core factor here is that the war did not happen in continental North America. And those unexploded bombs they’re digging up over there? Downtown Frankfurt. Places like that. The big cities are where many of the bombs were dropped. So they couldn’t forget even if they wanted to.
This imminent conflict makes me very angry, given it’s being instigated by a single human being. The Russian people have no interest. They’re trying to get on their feet and have some basic security.
this is so hard to believe. I have been watching Foyle’s War (my father was a Royal Navy submariner in WWII) and am at the part where the war has just ended but the majority of the characters are questioning what has actually changed—and it is so little. My friends admire you, which is why I have begun to follow you. I appreciate your feelings and knowledge-but almost want to bury my head in the sand instead of thinking of all those poor countries-not to mention my grandchildren.
Putin can't win the greater war, but he is an astonishingly successful mischief-maker, inconveniencing the West and propping up strongmen like Trump and Orban.
Thank You So Much For This Lucian!!! I will sleep much better tonight. Even though we still have a precarious and dangerous situation, Putin is no longer our marionettist. We got this.
Bulgaria and Romania used to be part of the Soviet Union? I don't think so! Part of the Soviet *bloc* for sure, but not part of the USSR.
I have great confidence in your assessment here. And great hope that if Russian oligarchs lose access to their material stuff, they’ll jump all over Vlad the Unstable!
Right now sounds like July 1914. Every power has arms, soldiers and a itch to show some muscle. Putin knows he is in the late years of his career. Getting another ten years does not erase the truth he will be seventy and tired. Russia clings to glory in WW2 and the Great Soviet Union while everyone else has moved on. What is tragic is August 1914 arrives, when everyone thought it would be a 6 week war. Weill, it lasted 4 years and bled Europe white. Only the power of America arms gave everyone an excuse to end it. Putin won't stop and he does not care about cars, microchips or real estate. He will fight until the last soldier is dead and then send mercenaries. For him, all that matters is former Soviet Glory. Lets hope the oligarch's and the Generals in Moscow instruct Czar Putin to wrap it up.
Excellent insight.
All hail to the semiconductor chips.
While he fiddles with ancient marbles, may we hope that NATO and our guy are playing three dimensional chess?
Don't forget who Putin would like in the White House again. I still despise him for his NATO insults!
Thank you. Great article!