Gift article from Washington Post:
Russia, Remastered
Long and interesting, with a number of interviews with current and former Russians. The metaphor of Putin turning Russian society into another North Korea is not too far off base. Particularly chilling how they are indoctrinating the children in this. And encouraging women to have 8 kids (need that cannon fodder entering the pipeline, you know...)
Given what Russia is turning into, it seems they must be defeated and thereby forced to change themselves into a new less aggressive ideology. One would think Europe would recognize this with even more clarity than the US, being next in line as it were after Ukraine.
Russia, Remastered
Under Putin, a militarized new Russia rises to challenge U.S. and the West
https://wapo.st/4dxlWwgLong and interesting, with a number of interviews with current and former Russians. The metaphor of Putin turning Russian society into another North Korea is not too far off base. Particularly chilling how they are indoctrinating the children in this. And encouraging women to have 8 kids (need that cannon fodder entering the pipeline, you know...)
Given what Russia is turning into, it seems they must be defeated and thereby forced to change themselves into a new less aggressive ideology. One would think Europe would recognize this with even more clarity than the US, being next in line as it were after Ukraine.
Being in the US, I accept that right now, we probably politically can't do what General Ben Hodges and others suggest: make it official US policy that "Ukraine wins", instead of the current policy of "keeping Ukraine in the fight". If Biden wins in November, and perhaps wins bigger than expected, I wonder if we could take that step. It is not the sort of thing a President wants to or can declare if there is not a Congress behind them. And that is very much the status today (witness the House these last 6 months) but, hopefully, could change, come next year. With the political will would come a whole lot more aid, possibly other more direct steps (for example, some have mentioned we still don't allow military contractors to go to Ukraine, thus lengthening the repair supply lines) or more consistent, predictable aid that Ukraine can actually form military plans on (right now they likely need to stay rather ad hoc).
I'm keeping hope alive. A big part of that future success will have to include the US evolving some national immunity against the Russian propaganda flood which has whittled support back a bit over the years it has had to work.
I'm keeping hope alive. A big part of that future success will have to include the US evolving some national immunity against the Russian propaganda flood which has whittled support back a bit over the years it has had to work.
