To foster cooperation, leaders of the G20 softened their condemnation of Russia's brutal war in Ukraine. Could this cause it to slip further from public focus?
It is MSM. They have ADHD and are driven to report on the newest shiny object. There have been plenty of disasters and human tragedy that is fresh and sells more copy. Not to mention their complete adoration and obsession with DJT which is nonstop 24/7. Those that truly care about democracy and what Ukraine represents to the democracies of the world have not forgotten and get news of the war and progress and tragedies from other verifiable sources than MSM. The G20 may be softening the condemnation but hopefully not foolish enough to give them a pass. I think the real fear of global hunger from Russias destruction of Ukrainian grain is a driving force.
It’s been increasingly apparent that coverage of the war in Ukraine has fallen away from mainstream televised news channels. Pushed no doubt by those same conductors of the polls showing disappointment in the remarkable achievements of the Biden administration.
A churning state of war profits above all that same military-industrial complex Eisenhower warned us about.
Must we support Ukraine? Unequivocally Yes.
The consequences of letting Putin succeed in this aggression is unacceptable. Hitler taught us that much.
As Clausewitz aptly noted more than 200 years ago, war is politics by other means. A corollary to that is economic competition is just an extension of politics. As for the communiqué, China has little interest in saying even as much as this did. India has been directly benefiting from the oil price cap on Russia and Modi himself is a rabid ethno-nationalist. Others are undoubtedly helping Russia circumvent other sanctions and making money on that.
With that being said, Ukraine has the full weight of the EU/NATO militaries and economies helping. Not enough from the US in my opinion (too much Pearl clutching about escalation which Putin never does when pushed), but strong support. See the words for what they are, but look at the actions. Russia is largely isolated in getting arms but for Iran and N Korea. They are taking 1950s era munitions out of of storage. Putin’s can buy off a handful of people in various countries, but cannot change the trends and that is where we should focus.
What have I learned from a summit called to discuss world economics and climate change? Well, that support for Ukraine is waning, Joe Biden said he was going to bed at the presser, and he enthusiastically shook hands with the Saudi crown prince, a murderer leader of a country that still stones women, cuts off hands and saws up bodies. Why the hand shake? Oil. It is said Putin and Xi did not attend, but you can be sure their representatives did. Countries afraid to speak up against Russia just like GOP leaders afraid of trump. Leaders are supposed to lead. Even leaders should have a leader. That person should have been Joe Biden. It wasn't. Go along, get along. Heat will still prevail, hurricanes will continue to be more ferocious, coal will still be burnt, oil pipelines will still be built, inflation continues, starvation persists, pretensions will continue, future generations will suffer, anger will increase. Mad Max may check in.
NATO is the organization to decide about Ukraine. Putin will grab Europe if he can. I question the president's leadership here, also. Aid has been doled out, little by little. Planes finally given wanted a long time ago, might have made the difference. Instead we are now down to providing cluster bombs. and people with big mouths who want attention are convincing people that their tax dollars are being misspent. Let Putin have it. After all, Ukraine was a Soviet Republic.
Name a country that hasn't tried to take another one. Rome extended far and wide, Mongols controlled the largest empire in history,Germany wanted Europe and Russia, Japan wanted China, China wants anything it can get (belt and road), England had India, America, etc-sun never sets thing, France went into Africa, The Netherlands took today's NY, Spain took S. America, and of course, the US took all the indigenous land from coast to coast plus the southwest from Spanish Mexico, plus Guam plus Hawaii plus Alaska, tried to take Canada. So it goes.
We love our country, which ever it is, but overall, it's a global world now. Earth is but the size of a period in one solar system. We need to get along. Be satisfied with what we have. Disown power seeking disruptors who value a mile of land over a human life. Won't happen. Do people care?
I have a Ukrainian flag sticker on my front door, blue and yellow for all to see. What do people walking by comment on? My pretty flowers.
I remember driving to a breakfast meeting when the first broadcast was made about a fire in one of the towers. During breakfast, hearing an aircraft slammed into the second tower, it was clear the tower was an attack. At that point I drove to work, sat around with my fellow workers watching the astonishing developments. When that first tower collapsed I told everyone we are closed for the day. Go home! Be with your families.
Yet again, Steven, you so eloquently state my own sensibilities and concerns. For this I am truly grateful.
Just yesterday, while pondering all the coverage of the anniversary of “9/11”, I was finding myself so overwhelmed with a sense of sadness, I had to change the channel(s). Am I insensitive to the plight of people who are truly suffering? Am I indifferent to the depth of pain many are having to endure, through no real fault of their own? NO! The ever persistence in the media to find the latest sensation to garnish ratings for the sake of profit, becomes more than I desire to validate. Tragedy abounds, whether in climate induced storms or earthquakes, to continual suppression of people due to some desire for more control. Conflicts persist, suffering continues, and I can strive to be mindful of just how much I can possibly do to help alleviate such sorrow.
Many who have endured a heart wrenching loss (be it by gun violence, racial injustice, even “climate change”) have made it clear “thoughts and prayers” are not the remedy. They desire ACTION. And, the courage of True leadership that will see such action come to fruition. These “actions” will take much reflection, consensus, and ever persistent striving to do what is right and proper. After all, we are a work in progress. Systemic issues have been at work in all of us for some time now. Issues that more and more are coming to the fore. I, for one, am encouraged by what I read here to grasp a better understanding of all that ails us. My hope is to overcome my ignorance, be enlightened, and try, REALLY TRY to make some difference.
It is MSM. They have ADHD and are driven to report on the newest shiny object. There have been plenty of disasters and human tragedy that is fresh and sells more copy. Not to mention their complete adoration and obsession with DJT which is nonstop 24/7. Those that truly care about democracy and what Ukraine represents to the democracies of the world have not forgotten and get news of the war and progress and tragedies from other verifiable sources than MSM. The G20 may be softening the condemnation but hopefully not foolish enough to give them a pass. I think the real fear of global hunger from Russias destruction of Ukrainian grain is a driving force.
It’s been increasingly apparent that coverage of the war in Ukraine has fallen away from mainstream televised news channels. Pushed no doubt by those same conductors of the polls showing disappointment in the remarkable achievements of the Biden administration.
A churning state of war profits above all that same military-industrial complex Eisenhower warned us about.
Must we support Ukraine? Unequivocally Yes.
The consequences of letting Putin succeed in this aggression is unacceptable. Hitler taught us that much.
As Clausewitz aptly noted more than 200 years ago, war is politics by other means. A corollary to that is economic competition is just an extension of politics. As for the communiqué, China has little interest in saying even as much as this did. India has been directly benefiting from the oil price cap on Russia and Modi himself is a rabid ethno-nationalist. Others are undoubtedly helping Russia circumvent other sanctions and making money on that.
With that being said, Ukraine has the full weight of the EU/NATO militaries and economies helping. Not enough from the US in my opinion (too much Pearl clutching about escalation which Putin never does when pushed), but strong support. See the words for what they are, but look at the actions. Russia is largely isolated in getting arms but for Iran and N Korea. They are taking 1950s era munitions out of of storage. Putin’s can buy off a handful of people in various countries, but cannot change the trends and that is where we should focus.
What have I learned from a summit called to discuss world economics and climate change? Well, that support for Ukraine is waning, Joe Biden said he was going to bed at the presser, and he enthusiastically shook hands with the Saudi crown prince, a murderer leader of a country that still stones women, cuts off hands and saws up bodies. Why the hand shake? Oil. It is said Putin and Xi did not attend, but you can be sure their representatives did. Countries afraid to speak up against Russia just like GOP leaders afraid of trump. Leaders are supposed to lead. Even leaders should have a leader. That person should have been Joe Biden. It wasn't. Go along, get along. Heat will still prevail, hurricanes will continue to be more ferocious, coal will still be burnt, oil pipelines will still be built, inflation continues, starvation persists, pretensions will continue, future generations will suffer, anger will increase. Mad Max may check in.
NATO is the organization to decide about Ukraine. Putin will grab Europe if he can. I question the president's leadership here, also. Aid has been doled out, little by little. Planes finally given wanted a long time ago, might have made the difference. Instead we are now down to providing cluster bombs. and people with big mouths who want attention are convincing people that their tax dollars are being misspent. Let Putin have it. After all, Ukraine was a Soviet Republic.
Name a country that hasn't tried to take another one. Rome extended far and wide, Mongols controlled the largest empire in history,Germany wanted Europe and Russia, Japan wanted China, China wants anything it can get (belt and road), England had India, America, etc-sun never sets thing, France went into Africa, The Netherlands took today's NY, Spain took S. America, and of course, the US took all the indigenous land from coast to coast plus the southwest from Spanish Mexico, plus Guam plus Hawaii plus Alaska, tried to take Canada. So it goes.
We love our country, which ever it is, but overall, it's a global world now. Earth is but the size of a period in one solar system. We need to get along. Be satisfied with what we have. Disown power seeking disruptors who value a mile of land over a human life. Won't happen. Do people care?
I have a Ukrainian flag sticker on my front door, blue and yellow for all to see. What do people walking by comment on? My pretty flowers.
Sadly, war has always been “normal.” When not shooting and killing other people, we go to war against things: drugs, disease, poverty, fat, cavities.
Sudentenland. That is all. Thank you.
I remember driving to a breakfast meeting when the first broadcast was made about a fire in one of the towers. During breakfast, hearing an aircraft slammed into the second tower, it was clear the tower was an attack. At that point I drove to work, sat around with my fellow workers watching the astonishing developments. When that first tower collapsed I told everyone we are closed for the day. Go home! Be with your families.
Yet again, Steven, you so eloquently state my own sensibilities and concerns. For this I am truly grateful.
Just yesterday, while pondering all the coverage of the anniversary of “9/11”, I was finding myself so overwhelmed with a sense of sadness, I had to change the channel(s). Am I insensitive to the plight of people who are truly suffering? Am I indifferent to the depth of pain many are having to endure, through no real fault of their own? NO! The ever persistence in the media to find the latest sensation to garnish ratings for the sake of profit, becomes more than I desire to validate. Tragedy abounds, whether in climate induced storms or earthquakes, to continual suppression of people due to some desire for more control. Conflicts persist, suffering continues, and I can strive to be mindful of just how much I can possibly do to help alleviate such sorrow.
Many who have endured a heart wrenching loss (be it by gun violence, racial injustice, even “climate change”) have made it clear “thoughts and prayers” are not the remedy. They desire ACTION. And, the courage of True leadership that will see such action come to fruition. These “actions” will take much reflection, consensus, and ever persistent striving to do what is right and proper. After all, we are a work in progress. Systemic issues have been at work in all of us for some time now. Issues that more and more are coming to the fore. I, for one, am encouraged by what I read here to grasp a better understanding of all that ails us. My hope is to overcome my ignorance, be enlightened, and try, REALLY TRY to make some difference.
Along with my “thoughts and prayers”…