Friends, the fighting in Ukraine goes on, with Russia making what appears to be slow progress against the Ukrainian military. One thing which isn't moving slowly at all these days, though, is blistering scorn directed against Russia by the West. It's become so fashionable to condemn Russia, and to cut ties with anything resembling a Russian, that the dominoes are falling faster than anyone can count them. In fact, the actions being taken are so reflexive and thoughtless that one might almost think the West has mistaken the warmonger Putin for a drunk celebrity who's caught in flagrante delicto, and who overnight loses his studio contract and his endorsement deal with "Cap'n Crunch". I mean, take a deep breath, people, before we plunge ourselves headfirst into WWIII!
What's the latest? Russian airliners are being banned from U.S., Canadian, and European airspace (there's an intriguing Reagan-era precedent for this one), major U.S. and global corporations are virtue-signalling by refusing to sell to Russians or do business with Russian companies, Russian ships are no longer welcome in foreign ports, social media companies are cracking down on Russian state media, and even Hollywood is getting in on the recriminatory fun. It's denying Russians the edifying influences of its forthcoming blockbusters. Oh my! It's an avalanche, a stampede, of Russophobia! One has to begin to ask: to what effect? What's the endgame of this widespread effort to cancel Russia itself, and even innocent Russians who have no connection to the regime of Vladimir Putin? Keep in mind that, as the West fulminates against Russia, which has, after decades of saber-rattling, invaded Ukraine, Red China, which commits genocide (so I hear), and oppresses its own people routinely, gets a pass. In fact, anyone who points out China's misdeeds is asked to apologize and never reoffend! It's a very odd dichotomy. More to the point, though, I question a Western campaign to isolate Russia totally from the West. That could do phenomenal damage to Russia's economy and society, yes -- but is that really so wise? Will it cause Russia to back down...or might it cause the world's largest nuclear power to lash out? No one seems to have thought of that. Well, I have. You heard it here first!
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/state-of-the-union/2022/03/01/id/1059161/
https://liveandletsfly.com/united-states-ban-aeroflot/
https://www.newsmax.com/world/europe/britain-russia-ukraine-war-shipping/2022/03/01/id/1059117/
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/iphone-apple/2022/03/01/id/1059132/
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2022/02/twitter-adding-labels-limits-to-russian-state-media
Nick,
ReplyDeleteIsn't that your private jet parked at an undisclosed location in Russia? Those Slavic looking flight attendants are real cuties. They are all so happy to be serving Daddy Waddensky.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: OK, let the West continue to slight Russian longterm concerns about the recklessly sggested Nato inclusion
ReplyDeleteof Ukraine.That this is of consummate strategic ,tactical, historical, geographical and issues of national pride, for RUSSIA (yes?) is of no apparent moment to the West. " Why sure, the Russkies have been retreating eastward since the fall of their 'USSR'yes? "The West has gone too far against a proud and rugged nation which understandably (I mean look at a map) sees its national security and pride at hazard! Let not revulsion at Russian execrable warmaking in Ukaine blind us, to our disadvantage, to their objectively plausible motvation. We pushed Russia too far! In doing so we invite d this catastrophe on Ukraine. We must now do right by both countries!
Dr. Waddy from Jack: "Russophobia" , cynically,ignorantly and yet disingenuously advanced by the American far left for purely domestic gain has (surprise, surprise!) been noted by Russia !
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Jack. A question: is the West, in the full bloom of self-righteousness, capable of self-correction? Might it realize its mistake and offer the Russians a fig leaf to permit the deescalation of this crisis? I'm not sure we have the requisite sense, but maybe the Ukrainians do? I mean, they're the ones getting pounded to rubble!
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: The radical American left's dread of a marginalizing common sense deluge in November may be driving the administration, supported by its MSM shills and both cringing vassals of that left ,to stoke the fire of of reflexive hostility to Russia. Why? In order to motivate their cynically and disdainfully imagined rush to patriotic real America wartime support of the marionette in the White House and thru him, his ventriloquists. Its a historically proven tactic.
ReplyDeleteDr.Waddy from Jack: So I do not expect restraint or objectivity of Pino Biden. Can Ukraine muster the remarkable self effacing courage Finland displayed, thus sadly but realistically preserving most of the country , twice against the Russian monster, in the '40s? How hard a thing to ask of Ukraine now! We irresponsibly encouraged them! Of RIGHT we should now go to the very WALL for them. That could bring WWIII. What now? The Amercan left is motivated in this solely by its totalitarian domestic intent.It may even assume it would rise triumphant from the ashes.
ReplyDeleteJack, I'm sure the Biden Administration does relish the chance to redirect Americans' focus to...something, anything, besides Biden's inadequacies. Personally, though, I don't regard the Russia/Ukraine conflict as a promising avenue by which to breathe new life into Bidenism. I mean, there won't be any Western intervention -- just bellyaching as we watch our "side" go down in flames. The economic toll will also be burdensome. Seems to me that the crisis is likely, in the final analysis, to underline Biden's ineffectiveness. But that's just my take.
ReplyDeleteNow, I do worry about the Biden Administration and/or the Left making use of a "wag the dog" stratagem, once we get closer to the 2024 election. That's when I fully expect them to reach all the way down into their bag of (dirty) tricks...