I spoke to a man here in the US who was quite religious. When I told him that Russia was now the most Christian country in Asia, he was surprised and aghast. He hadn’t heard about the reinstallment of the Russian Orthodox Church after the fall of the USSR, perhaps he didn’t even believe it. I told him also about the Ukrainians imprisoning priests. His mindset was that the USSR was still basically what Russia was, that there really was no transition worth talking about or even considering. I am sure he is not alone.
On the street in Ukraine, the Russians are “orcs” and Putin is “Putler.” The seeds of hate germinated by Putin’s invasion may last generations. I see no way for Russia to win, even were they to win the physical battles of war. To occupy a people that hate you is so senseless. A once divided Ukraine is very United now. I wish something like that would happen to the United States, without the violence.
"Sure, driving us all into the loving arms of thermonuclear war is perilous, but so is being soft on Putin"
What the fuck did I just read? Glenn, what the fuck man?? Where's the "accountability" for the Obama admin and the Maidan coup that caused *literally* all of the mess we find ourselves in? Or the repeated NATO expansions? This is an intellectually lazy, overly emotional and trite piece, if I'm honest, and it was concluded in a spectacularly immature way. The same reasoning of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Hillary Clinton and Victoria Nuland.
I must say that the flag-waving, virtual signaling, not to mention vicious vitriol towards Russia and Donbas is as disturbing as anything I've ever seen. At least, in my lifetime. People, particularly in America, have a very difficult time understanding the nuances of this civil war, and I imagine much of that is the consequence of propaganda.
We all know that it is not ethical to spend billions of dollars overthrowing a democratically elected president, yet that is precisely what America did.
Obviously, the people who voted for Yanukovych saw that as a coup. And they seceded.
It is also unequivocally true that Donbas has been attacked, irregularly and monstrously, by factions in Kiev. People are living in their basements for the last seven years for fear of shelling.
All we hear from our elected officials is that they have "evidence" that Russia is engaging in a false flag operation, and that all of the shelling is the result of Putin's mastermind plot to destroy the west, and that Kiev, like little babies, perfect princesses, have nothing at all to do with it.
Yet, bizarrely, and somewhat disturbingly, they refuse to present the evidence to American citizens and the international community. It reminds me of the old soviet union during the Cuban missile crisis. In this case, of course, the roles were reversed. America did have the evidence and presented that evidence. Today, however, the U.S. sounds like the old soviet union. You make bold accusations, but when pressed for hard evidence you begin to babble and prattle.
So the facts are clear.
1. Kiev violated the MINSK agreement.
2. The poor folks in Donbas have been living in hell.
3. The U.S., oddly, supplies Kiev with weapons.
4. Russia gets dragged into the conflict after eight years of trying to negotiate.
If you point out that permitting Bosnia to unilaterally secede is the same as permitting Donbas to unilaterally secede, they will claim you don't understand. Putin is different. Putin thinks different. Putin wants to take over Europe.
But again, when you ask them for evidence, you get nothing but crickets. It turns out all of these so-called crimes are perceptions, grounded in belief not fact.
And then, of course, there is the overtly disgusting AZOV battalion, which before the war was widely reported on for its Nazi roots, and neo-nazi members, and by mainstream outlets; yet, after the war began, miraculously, Russia is the Nazi, and Ukraine is the princess.
Sadly, this is all true. The 2023 version of the U.S. is more totalitarian than 2023 Russia.
We have fewer freedoms.
It doesn't have to be this way. Our constitution is as elegant as it ever was. But the disease of wokeness has gripped the west in such a way that it's starting to resemble the old Soviet Union. And maybe this is the conspiracy theorist in me, but I think an awful lot of money has been spent trying to convince people that the state is their friend, that the state can solve all of their problems, and that the horrible people are those awful individualist, conservative, Christians. there does seem to be a concerted effort to convince Americans that CCP style of governance, which is to say Stalinist style, is the right approach. The destructivists are certainly on the march, especially in academy. And the social justice foot soldiers are their infantry.
If this young man has fought in Ukraine then I suppose I have to make a small bow to his bravery. But I can't find a single argument in this piece for continuing this dangerous and cynical proxy war in Ukraine, nor can I find a single argument in it that even tries to refute arguments against that support. Disappointed in finding it posted here.
I think Haim likes his own voice very well, but does not appear to be interested in the FACTS of the Russo-Ukraine conflict. Does 2014 ring any bells for him, or Victoria Nuland, or the fate of the Russian-speaking Ukrainians in Donbass, and their 14,000 slaughtered fellow-citizens at the hands of the Ukrainian military and its various fascist affiliates? Does the word NATO mean anything to him? Does not sound like it does, as he prefers name-calling the Russians in general and Vladimir Putin in particular. A couple of speeches or interviews by American John Meatsheimer are in order for our silvertongued but not very relevant Haim.
Why listen to *American* John Mearsheimer when there are plenty of East European experts, including from Russia? Mearsheimer knows squat about Russia. My best English-language recommendation to you is Konstantin Kisin, a Russian Jew with a Ukrainian wife:
Anyone who doubts the West’s support of Ukraine should follow the posts by Dr. Timothy Snyder - a Yale historian whose specialty is Eastern European History. Anyone can take his course on Ukraine for free in YouTube. And also watch the three hour meeting at the UN where he testified about Russia’s misguided attempts to justify this war. Additionally his substack explaining the ICC’s charges that support their stance on arresting Putin for documented war crimes. All of these support and add to the stance taken here.
Sure many smart scholars, intellectuals, historians and even some economists have their own views on this and Snyder's is NOT to be dismissed. But that is my point. All sides of the argument need to be included for any argument to be fully understood. Jeffery Sachs, John Miersheimer and Scott Ritter are but three others who have views which include Power Political realities and not just morality.
I'm not advocating support for Putin and Russia. I'm not "rooting" for Russian victory. I'm noting that in the "narrative", "the rest of the story" needs its place in our consciousness to relate to the whole picture.
None of this narrative addresses Russia's incessantly repeated logic and well expressed reasons from their point of view. Any such reasons are dismissed as immoral. None of this narrative expresses the contribution of NATO and American National interests in participating in the regime change in Kiev in 2014. None of this reflects Ukraine's political, social and violence aggression upon Russian interests in Eastern Ukraine and by whom.
Again, all dismissed as if national and human democratic rights (as declared by one side over the other) trumps national interests and security interests of the other side and pure Power Politics.
America has it's how history of gaining and maintaining geography and establishing government and regime change for its own interests. Power Nations do this where necessary. Morality does not necessarily trump Power Politics.
Finally, insincere negotiations by either side does not help peace or aspiration.
The Ukraine government, the US government, the European governments were well warned and knew what would come (over time) for their failure to encroach too far upon Russian interest. I would hope the US would vigorously protect its people and territory against its adversaries and enemies.
Instead, many Americans are losing faith in their own institutions - military, financial, legal and government. Don't these concerns deserve the same analysis and actions for protection as does Ukraine and Russia?
It depends on which Russians you listen to: Putin's propagandists or opponents. Same as Americans have different opinions, Russians are also divided (obviously, as many are now in exile). If you're only watching mainstream media, you're only getting Russia's official view.
None (zero) of my input and perceptions come from mainstream media. Like much of our once well and shared intended traditional institutions, American media is not to be trusted. American media ownership is not to be trusted.
I don't understand how anyone who knows history can say Ukraine is a "sovereign nation." It hasn't been sovereign since the US engineered a coup in 2013 and overthrew the elected government of Ukraine, and installed a government selected and controlled by US. Ukraine has been a US colony since 2014.
If the goal is to grind up as much meat as possible, than the current strategy of feeding arms to Ukraine should continue. If the goal is to restore Ukraine's borders, than something much bigger needs to happen and happen now. I'm not at all sure anyone is ready for that, in social or economical terms, and frankly, I hope no one is.
All any honest person has to do is put the shoe on the other foot and ask what would happen. Unless you are an "American Exceptionalist" or you are a part of the grift, or just a stupid unguided idealist, this is an easy exercise.
That's quite a selective review of events, especially the decades-long run up to this completely avoidable conflict. Any narrative that leaves out NATO's eastward expansion since the fall of the Soviet Union are either uninformed or disingenuous. And that does not even account for Ukraine's status as Europe's most corrupt nation and the scene of a coup some years ago that toppled the sitting govt. Ukraine is burning through a generation of men at our urging, men who cannot be replaced. This is a country already abandoned by millions who will never return. That's on top of the millions who were already living abroad. What do we think is going to be left after the inevitable Russian victory?
It remains possible to hold multiple thoughts simultaneously. One can think what they wish about Putin while also recognizing our own role in this madness. Our country purposely harmed alleged allies by blowing up two pipelines, and now we're selling nat-gas as a much higher price. We've squashed, along with the Brits, attempts at a negotiated settlement since war benefits no one. Haim is wrong, dead wrong; we need not enlist at all. We have no plan; we can't even define "victory" so it could be recognize if achieved.
I spoke to a man here in the US who was quite religious. When I told him that Russia was now the most Christian country in Asia, he was surprised and aghast. He hadn’t heard about the reinstallment of the Russian Orthodox Church after the fall of the USSR, perhaps he didn’t even believe it. I told him also about the Ukrainians imprisoning priests. His mindset was that the USSR was still basically what Russia was, that there really was no transition worth talking about or even considering. I am sure he is not alone.
On the street in Ukraine, the Russians are “orcs” and Putin is “Putler.” The seeds of hate germinated by Putin’s invasion may last generations. I see no way for Russia to win, even were they to win the physical battles of war. To occupy a people that hate you is so senseless. A once divided Ukraine is very United now. I wish something like that would happen to the United States, without the violence.
"Sure, driving us all into the loving arms of thermonuclear war is perilous, but so is being soft on Putin"
What the fuck did I just read? Glenn, what the fuck man?? Where's the "accountability" for the Obama admin and the Maidan coup that caused *literally* all of the mess we find ourselves in? Or the repeated NATO expansions? This is an intellectually lazy, overly emotional and trite piece, if I'm honest, and it was concluded in a spectacularly immature way. The same reasoning of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Hillary Clinton and Victoria Nuland.
I must say that the flag-waving, virtual signaling, not to mention vicious vitriol towards Russia and Donbas is as disturbing as anything I've ever seen. At least, in my lifetime. People, particularly in America, have a very difficult time understanding the nuances of this civil war, and I imagine much of that is the consequence of propaganda.
We all know that it is not ethical to spend billions of dollars overthrowing a democratically elected president, yet that is precisely what America did.
Obviously, the people who voted for Yanukovych saw that as a coup. And they seceded.
It is also unequivocally true that Donbas has been attacked, irregularly and monstrously, by factions in Kiev. People are living in their basements for the last seven years for fear of shelling.
All we hear from our elected officials is that they have "evidence" that Russia is engaging in a false flag operation, and that all of the shelling is the result of Putin's mastermind plot to destroy the west, and that Kiev, like little babies, perfect princesses, have nothing at all to do with it.
Yet, bizarrely, and somewhat disturbingly, they refuse to present the evidence to American citizens and the international community. It reminds me of the old soviet union during the Cuban missile crisis. In this case, of course, the roles were reversed. America did have the evidence and presented that evidence. Today, however, the U.S. sounds like the old soviet union. You make bold accusations, but when pressed for hard evidence you begin to babble and prattle.
So the facts are clear.
1. Kiev violated the MINSK agreement.
2. The poor folks in Donbas have been living in hell.
3. The U.S., oddly, supplies Kiev with weapons.
4. Russia gets dragged into the conflict after eight years of trying to negotiate.
If you point out that permitting Bosnia to unilaterally secede is the same as permitting Donbas to unilaterally secede, they will claim you don't understand. Putin is different. Putin thinks different. Putin wants to take over Europe.
But again, when you ask them for evidence, you get nothing but crickets. It turns out all of these so-called crimes are perceptions, grounded in belief not fact.
And then, of course, there is the overtly disgusting AZOV battalion, which before the war was widely reported on for its Nazi roots, and neo-nazi members, and by mainstream outlets; yet, after the war began, miraculously, Russia is the Nazi, and Ukraine is the princess.
Sadly, this is all true. The 2023 version of the U.S. is more totalitarian than 2023 Russia.
We have fewer freedoms.
It doesn't have to be this way. Our constitution is as elegant as it ever was. But the disease of wokeness has gripped the west in such a way that it's starting to resemble the old Soviet Union. And maybe this is the conspiracy theorist in me, but I think an awful lot of money has been spent trying to convince people that the state is their friend, that the state can solve all of their problems, and that the horrible people are those awful individualist, conservative, Christians. there does seem to be a concerted effort to convince Americans that CCP style of governance, which is to say Stalinist style, is the right approach. The destructivists are certainly on the march, especially in academy. And the social justice foot soldiers are their infantry.
How can I listen? The Substack app doesn’t work except when it asks me to contribute more monthly. Please help.M Ballard
This post has no audio component.
If this young man has fought in Ukraine then I suppose I have to make a small bow to his bravery. But I can't find a single argument in this piece for continuing this dangerous and cynical proxy war in Ukraine, nor can I find a single argument in it that even tries to refute arguments against that support. Disappointed in finding it posted here.
I always give snowflake morons the last word, take your best shot!
Ah, another Putin boot licker. Have you pissed yourself yet.
I think Haim likes his own voice very well, but does not appear to be interested in the FACTS of the Russo-Ukraine conflict. Does 2014 ring any bells for him, or Victoria Nuland, or the fate of the Russian-speaking Ukrainians in Donbass, and their 14,000 slaughtered fellow-citizens at the hands of the Ukrainian military and its various fascist affiliates? Does the word NATO mean anything to him? Does not sound like it does, as he prefers name-calling the Russians in general and Vladimir Putin in particular. A couple of speeches or interviews by American John Meatsheimer are in order for our silvertongued but not very relevant Haim.
Why listen to *American* John Mearsheimer when there are plenty of East European experts, including from Russia? Mearsheimer knows squat about Russia. My best English-language recommendation to you is Konstantin Kisin, a Russian Jew with a Ukrainian wife:
https://www.youtube.com/@triggerpod/search?query=ukraine
Should had listened to Mearsheimer and the left over USSR nukes.
Anyone who doubts the West’s support of Ukraine should follow the posts by Dr. Timothy Snyder - a Yale historian whose specialty is Eastern European History. Anyone can take his course on Ukraine for free in YouTube. And also watch the three hour meeting at the UN where he testified about Russia’s misguided attempts to justify this war. Additionally his substack explaining the ICC’s charges that support their stance on arresting Putin for documented war crimes. All of these support and add to the stance taken here.
Sure many smart scholars, intellectuals, historians and even some economists have their own views on this and Snyder's is NOT to be dismissed. But that is my point. All sides of the argument need to be included for any argument to be fully understood. Jeffery Sachs, John Miersheimer and Scott Ritter are but three others who have views which include Power Political realities and not just morality.
I'm not advocating support for Putin and Russia. I'm not "rooting" for Russian victory. I'm noting that in the "narrative", "the rest of the story" needs its place in our consciousness to relate to the whole picture.
None of this narrative addresses Russia's incessantly repeated logic and well expressed reasons from their point of view. Any such reasons are dismissed as immoral. None of this narrative expresses the contribution of NATO and American National interests in participating in the regime change in Kiev in 2014. None of this reflects Ukraine's political, social and violence aggression upon Russian interests in Eastern Ukraine and by whom.
Again, all dismissed as if national and human democratic rights (as declared by one side over the other) trumps national interests and security interests of the other side and pure Power Politics.
America has it's how history of gaining and maintaining geography and establishing government and regime change for its own interests. Power Nations do this where necessary. Morality does not necessarily trump Power Politics.
Finally, insincere negotiations by either side does not help peace or aspiration.
The Ukraine government, the US government, the European governments were well warned and knew what would come (over time) for their failure to encroach too far upon Russian interest. I would hope the US would vigorously protect its people and territory against its adversaries and enemies.
Instead, many Americans are losing faith in their own institutions - military, financial, legal and government. Don't these concerns deserve the same analysis and actions for protection as does Ukraine and Russia?
It depends on which Russians you listen to: Putin's propagandists or opponents. Same as Americans have different opinions, Russians are also divided (obviously, as many are now in exile). If you're only watching mainstream media, you're only getting Russia's official view.
None (zero) of my input and perceptions come from mainstream media. Like much of our once well and shared intended traditional institutions, American media is not to be trusted. American media ownership is not to be trusted.
Only Jewish financiers and speculators operate with impunity within Ukraine and "plunder"?
I don't understand how anyone who knows history can say Ukraine is a "sovereign nation." It hasn't been sovereign since the US engineered a coup in 2013 and overthrew the elected government of Ukraine, and installed a government selected and controlled by US. Ukraine has been a US colony since 2014.
The Russian Bear, if accommodated, will not be sated. It that matters, the way forward is plain.
If the goal is to grind up as much meat as possible, than the current strategy of feeding arms to Ukraine should continue. If the goal is to restore Ukraine's borders, than something much bigger needs to happen and happen now. I'm not at all sure anyone is ready for that, in social or economical terms, and frankly, I hope no one is.
All any honest person has to do is put the shoe on the other foot and ask what would happen. Unless you are an "American Exceptionalist" or you are a part of the grift, or just a stupid unguided idealist, this is an easy exercise.
That's quite a selective review of events, especially the decades-long run up to this completely avoidable conflict. Any narrative that leaves out NATO's eastward expansion since the fall of the Soviet Union are either uninformed or disingenuous. And that does not even account for Ukraine's status as Europe's most corrupt nation and the scene of a coup some years ago that toppled the sitting govt. Ukraine is burning through a generation of men at our urging, men who cannot be replaced. This is a country already abandoned by millions who will never return. That's on top of the millions who were already living abroad. What do we think is going to be left after the inevitable Russian victory?
It remains possible to hold multiple thoughts simultaneously. One can think what they wish about Putin while also recognizing our own role in this madness. Our country purposely harmed alleged allies by blowing up two pipelines, and now we're selling nat-gas as a much higher price. We've squashed, along with the Brits, attempts at a negotiated settlement since war benefits no one. Haim is wrong, dead wrong; we need not enlist at all. We have no plan; we can't even define "victory" so it could be recognize if achieved.