Perspective is everything. But, we should remember Edmund Husserl’s wise observation that “all perception is a gamble”. There is a firestorm of words about war that we ignore at our peril. Historians are going to say "How did they miss this?"
The Russian perspective is clear. I haven't stumbled across ours. Presuming we do things because we can or because we must -- Cortez conquered Mexico because he could and I wash the dishes because I must -- where do we stand?
I mean, is the US afraid of losing Europe as an ally? And is the EU just expanding for the sake of expanding?
There's a lot of resource value and political value in Russia, which we all could use about now. Why not try to unlock it. So we have to show up at the table armed. We'll pass it off as etiquette:)
When I think about Putin, especially after reading your father's reflections about meeting him in the 1980s, I am reminded of the musical number in "To Be or Not to Be" (Mel Brooks' 1983 film) in which the comical Hitler character sings that all he wants is "... peace... peace... a little piece of Poland, a little piece of France, a little piece of Portugal and Austria perchance..." What is the Russian word for Lebensraum?
Ike didn't stop the Soviet tanks in Hungary. Carter didn't send B52's to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And your boss Bush didn't launch cruise missiles when Russia marched into Georgia. Do you really think the U.S. will intervene with anything stronger than words if Putin invades eastern Ukraine?
Of course, with inflation ripping higher and very serious systemic problems if interest rates rise, maybe Biden sees an opportunity to change the channel? That's what concerns me most about this...
If I read you for long enough, I may lose my boyish enthusiasm for the future. but thank you for succinctly raising such critical issues and connecting the dots
The Russian perspective is clear. I haven't stumbled across ours. Presuming we do things because we can or because we must -- Cortez conquered Mexico because he could and I wash the dishes because I must -- where do we stand?
I mean, is the US afraid of losing Europe as an ally? And is the EU just expanding for the sake of expanding?
There's a lot of resource value and political value in Russia, which we all could use about now. Why not try to unlock it. So we have to show up at the table armed. We'll pass it off as etiquette:)
And the events in Kazakhstan ....... or do they not fit the narrative ?
Just in time for Joe "Contrite"/"Sleepy" Biden's Midterm elections to stew! pressure.
When I think about Putin, especially after reading your father's reflections about meeting him in the 1980s, I am reminded of the musical number in "To Be or Not to Be" (Mel Brooks' 1983 film) in which the comical Hitler character sings that all he wants is "... peace... peace... a little piece of Poland, a little piece of France, a little piece of Portugal and Austria perchance..." What is the Russian word for Lebensraum?
Ike didn't stop the Soviet tanks in Hungary. Carter didn't send B52's to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And your boss Bush didn't launch cruise missiles when Russia marched into Georgia. Do you really think the U.S. will intervene with anything stronger than words if Putin invades eastern Ukraine?
Of course, with inflation ripping higher and very serious systemic problems if interest rates rise, maybe Biden sees an opportunity to change the channel? That's what concerns me most about this...
If I read you for long enough, I may lose my boyish enthusiasm for the future. but thank you for succinctly raising such critical issues and connecting the dots