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Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Sad Old Man Prepares to Wrestle Russian Bear

 


Friends, today I bring you another very special treat: a guest essay by our very own Jack Stengel.  Jack is well known in these parts as the Bard of the Southern Tier.  He's articulate, his knowledge base is encyclopedic, and his adamantine conservative convictions put us all to shame.  Let's see what he has to say about the current brouhaha over an impending (?) Russian invasion of Ukraine...  See if you agree with his POV.

 

7 comments:

  1. Well said, Jack! I agree wholeheartedly. I don't regard a Russian invasion as likely or imminent, but I believe the best possible solution is to give Putin private assurances (probably mixed with public face-saving insults) that we have no intention of allowing Ukrainian admittance into NATO. This would be prudent for many reasons, but best of all is the fact that it would be a DISASTER for Ukraine to join NATO, because then not only would Russia be provoked, but we and NATO would suddenly be responsible for the future of a failed state. No thanks!

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  2. Dr.Waddy from Jack: Thanx and your main point is very well taken. I'm assuming the ethnic Ukrainian part of Ukraine does not want Russian rule. I wonder if the Russian part does want it. As much as we may feel for all who fear Russian government and make certain efforts to defend or advocate for them, if we cross Russia's sincerely expressed "red line" in Ukraine, then "chaos is come again" and it could reach beyond Ukraine.

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  3. Jack, I expect it wouldn't be easy to sound out the Ukrainians on their views re: Russia versus their own (dubious) democracy. A fair assumption, though, is that, as one moves west to east, the Putin fan club grows larger...

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  4. Dr. Waddy from Jack: As strong as we are, we must nonetheless leave this to Ukraine and Russia. We have not the necessity or the understanding, to interfere. Should we assure Russia that our sympathy for Ukraine does not extend to Nato membership, the continued freedom of at least ethnic Ukraine may well be assured.

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  5. Dr.Wwddy from Jack: IF! we fully understand Russia's relation to Ukraine it would be madness for us to intercede in any potentially decisive manner! Its an onerous reality with whicn we MUST reconcile ourselves, for own good and for that of those we may harm in overreach!

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  6. I couldn't agree more, but the chances that we will mind our own business are slim to none. That isn't our style. We WILL interfere, and to no good purpose, but it remains to be seen just how much mischief we will cause.

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  7. Dr.Waddy from Jack: Good gads! Are there not people in Federal office who KNOW Russian history and geography!?

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