Do you still think that we are “one nation”? Do you still think that you can scare us, break us, make us make concessions? You really did not understand anything? Don't understand who we are? What are we for? What are we talking about? Read my lips:
“What happens when a gangster state implodes?” A democracy is born. If the Russians can keep it. And, as the Ukrainians have shown, the new free Russians hopefully inspired will become staunch defenders as well. One. Can hope anyway.
The description in UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING covered aspects of Putin's invasion of Ukraine; his war against the country and its people to establish post-Cold War security architecture, a major feature of his imperial dream to integrate Russia into Western and global institutions -- UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING is an unforgettable hymn to people 'fighting for their own country'; it is a hymn to democracy, and a hymn to the Ukrainian people. It began with President Volodomyr Zelenskiyy's prose poem to Putin -- to Ukrainians -- and to the world:
"Do you still think that we are “one nation”?
Do you still think that you can scare us, break us, make us make concessions?
You really did not understand anything?
Don't understand who we are?
What are we for?
What are we talking about?
Read my lips:
Without gas or without you?
Without you. "
and it ended with the words of Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine,
“We have learned not to be scared,”
“Now we ask the rest of you not to be scared too.”
Reading and thinking about UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING was the most memorable early morning hour I have spent in months.
Thomas McKelvey Cleaver's report about the Ukrainian military's achievements during Putin's war
against their country is also a hymn to people 'fighting for their country'. Tom speaks to us all.
"It is a truism that what happens on the battlefield is rarely what decides a war. The planning and preparations beforehand determine the result of the fighting." - And still there is room for surprise, "the Russians don't fight back"! - I always liked v. Clausewitz: try-to-make-sure-the-soldiers-don't-have-wet -socks-all-of-the-time sort of attitude. It seems the Ukrainian preparations also included to make sure the Russians were hungry too.
Swedish commentator is stressing that these successes are on one or two fronts, not the whole scene, but it sure looks hopeful. It will be interesting to see if the Kosacks, organized to fight for Russia, will turn their weapons against the Russians when it comes to the Crimea. They have been living in Crimea for a long time.
What is the basis for Putin’s power? The criminal Oligarchs? He’s now killing them “mysteriously”; perhaps to keep the others in line. How many will he need to kill? When they’re dead, where does his future support come from? Is Putin just a smarter Trump?
There’s a truism that exists for “off-road” enthusiasts; “the length of your winch line is always 2 feet shorter than the distance to the nearest tree”
Putin believed his own propaganda and his bully boy generals played along because what else could they do? Now that the house of cards that was Putin’s grand imperial land grab is unwinding, what happens next? Who is going to be the next strongman and what kind of Russia will be left to rule? Will Putin’s oligarch buddies sit on their hands looking to see which way the wind blows now? Lots of questions and it’s all going to play out very soon, and hopefully NATO, the EU, and the U.S. have some sort of plan…just don’t fuck it up like the last time the Soviet Union collapsed.
Olena Zelenska was at the EU meeting today. Here is a link to the article. I check out the Office of the President of Ukraine every day, especially to read/hear the evening address but today of course there is much news on the site.
"What happens when a gangster state implodes?" What a question. And the reality is the gangster state will exist without Putin because the history of Russia, which Gorbachov tried to change, while still remaining a communist (a miscalculation), will take generations to become different. Russia is not innocent, (no nation is - there is no maga) though Putin proclaims it is, hearkening back to a supposedly "better time" that he wants to reimpose on former satellites held by terror. (BTW the second most voted party in Sweden's elections have a saying - make sweden great again!)
My heart leaps for joy at what Ukraine is accomplishing. Obviously, without the support of the free world we would all be in a different place today. But the free world must not wobble or begin to look at their bank balances. The situation we're facing in the world of nations is this: Fascism and dictatorship or Democracy and independent/interrelated nations and peoples. The past as present? Or the present as a step toward a better future for the living and for those who may follow? Putin will not give up. He'll cause something awful to happen you can bet on it. But the west must not give in to his terror. Put on more sweaters people. Donate money to Ukrainian NGO's. It will be a long winter. But the Ukrainians have lit a fire in the hearts of humankind with their courage, heroism, and fortitude. And their lives. Those who have died, just like those who fell in Sicily and Normandy and the Argonne and God knows where, did for humanity in defeating the terror that was Hitler. It is finally up to all of us now alive to not let Fascism and terror win - either on the battlefield or at the ballot box.
TC, Why hasn't Ukraine sunk the cruise missile ship in the Black Sea that sailed in to replace the sunken Moskova? Seems like this is Russia's strongest asset in theater that is not behind Russian borders. The Navy in the Black Sea supports the Crimea and the southern ports.
Wonderful news, indeed! I hope that implosion of the gangster state happens soon so that the seemingly random missle and artillery attacks can cease. I wonder if Uk counter battery fire is reaching into Russia at this point.
Thanks for this very clear assessment of what has happened over the past six days in Ukraine. It is helpful to understand how the strategy unfolded, since the news that was coming fast and furious was not all that easy to interpret.
Thanks for sharing Zelensky's poem. It needs to be put to music!
a question, completely unrelated to the topic at hand: does anyone think that Barr's many recent appearances on Fucks-TV trashing TFF over the document issue might possibly be related to the fact that he had a pretty good idea that the more recent news about his wanton criminality as AG was coming to light? I'm obviously not saying there IS a connection (I mean, how the fuck would I know?), but only that the thought OCCURRED to me.
“What happens when a gangster state implodes?” A democracy is born. If the Russians can keep it. And, as the Ukrainians have shown, the new free Russians hopefully inspired will become staunch defenders as well. One. Can hope anyway.
The description in UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING covered aspects of Putin's invasion of Ukraine; his war against the country and its people to establish post-Cold War security architecture, a major feature of his imperial dream to integrate Russia into Western and global institutions -- UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING is an unforgettable hymn to people 'fighting for their own country'; it is a hymn to democracy, and a hymn to the Ukrainian people. It began with President Volodomyr Zelenskiyy's prose poem to Putin -- to Ukrainians -- and to the world:
"Do you still think that we are “one nation”?
Do you still think that you can scare us, break us, make us make concessions?
You really did not understand anything?
Don't understand who we are?
What are we for?
What are we talking about?
Read my lips:
Without gas or without you?
Without you. "
and it ended with the words of Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine,
“We have learned not to be scared,”
“Now we ask the rest of you not to be scared too.”
Reading and thinking about UKRAINE'S VICTORY IS COMING was the most memorable early morning hour I have spent in months.
Thomas McKelvey Cleaver's report about the Ukrainian military's achievements during Putin's war
against their country is also a hymn to people 'fighting for their country'. Tom speaks to us all.
Thank you.
Add to the list of demands from Ukraine officials after the war is won, Putin in the dock of an international court tried as a war criminal!
"It is a truism that what happens on the battlefield is rarely what decides a war. The planning and preparations beforehand determine the result of the fighting." - And still there is room for surprise, "the Russians don't fight back"! - I always liked v. Clausewitz: try-to-make-sure-the-soldiers-don't-have-wet -socks-all-of-the-time sort of attitude. It seems the Ukrainian preparations also included to make sure the Russians were hungry too.
Swedish commentator is stressing that these successes are on one or two fronts, not the whole scene, but it sure looks hopeful. It will be interesting to see if the Kosacks, organized to fight for Russia, will turn their weapons against the Russians when it comes to the Crimea. They have been living in Crimea for a long time.
Navalny waits in the wings?
What is the basis for Putin’s power? The criminal Oligarchs? He’s now killing them “mysteriously”; perhaps to keep the others in line. How many will he need to kill? When they’re dead, where does his future support come from? Is Putin just a smarter Trump?
There’s a truism that exists for “off-road” enthusiasts; “the length of your winch line is always 2 feet shorter than the distance to the nearest tree”
Putin believed his own propaganda and his bully boy generals played along because what else could they do? Now that the house of cards that was Putin’s grand imperial land grab is unwinding, what happens next? Who is going to be the next strongman and what kind of Russia will be left to rule? Will Putin’s oligarch buddies sit on their hands looking to see which way the wind blows now? Lots of questions and it’s all going to play out very soon, and hopefully NATO, the EU, and the U.S. have some sort of plan…just don’t fuck it up like the last time the Soviet Union collapsed.
I’m reading this as I wait in snaking car line to pick up my baby grand from pre-k class.
I add that I am weeping for joy. What a people the people of Ukraine are. So valiant. So heroic.
TC…. honestly the most fascinating essay I’ve ever read. You are a gifted gift. I am sending this with Light as the postage everywhere.
🗽🇺🇸🇺🇦
I so much want to see Ukraine victorious, thank for your post. It is interesting to think that Russia might migrate towards democracy without Putin.
Olena Zelenska was at the EU meeting today. Here is a link to the article. I check out the Office of the President of Ukraine every day, especially to read/hear the evening address but today of course there is much news on the site.
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/persha-ledi-ukrayini-pribula-u-strasburg-dlya-uchasti-v-ogol-77781
"What happens when a gangster state implodes?" What a question. And the reality is the gangster state will exist without Putin because the history of Russia, which Gorbachov tried to change, while still remaining a communist (a miscalculation), will take generations to become different. Russia is not innocent, (no nation is - there is no maga) though Putin proclaims it is, hearkening back to a supposedly "better time" that he wants to reimpose on former satellites held by terror. (BTW the second most voted party in Sweden's elections have a saying - make sweden great again!)
My heart leaps for joy at what Ukraine is accomplishing. Obviously, without the support of the free world we would all be in a different place today. But the free world must not wobble or begin to look at their bank balances. The situation we're facing in the world of nations is this: Fascism and dictatorship or Democracy and independent/interrelated nations and peoples. The past as present? Or the present as a step toward a better future for the living and for those who may follow? Putin will not give up. He'll cause something awful to happen you can bet on it. But the west must not give in to his terror. Put on more sweaters people. Donate money to Ukrainian NGO's. It will be a long winter. But the Ukrainians have lit a fire in the hearts of humankind with their courage, heroism, and fortitude. And their lives. Those who have died, just like those who fell in Sicily and Normandy and the Argonne and God knows where, did for humanity in defeating the terror that was Hitler. It is finally up to all of us now alive to not let Fascism and terror win - either on the battlefield or at the ballot box.
TC, Why hasn't Ukraine sunk the cruise missile ship in the Black Sea that sailed in to replace the sunken Moskova? Seems like this is Russia's strongest asset in theater that is not behind Russian borders. The Navy in the Black Sea supports the Crimea and the southern ports.
Wonderful news, indeed! I hope that implosion of the gangster state happens soon so that the seemingly random missle and artillery attacks can cease. I wonder if Uk counter battery fire is reaching into Russia at this point.
Thanks for this very clear assessment of what has happened over the past six days in Ukraine. It is helpful to understand how the strategy unfolded, since the news that was coming fast and furious was not all that easy to interpret.
Thanks for sharing Zelensky's poem. It needs to be put to music!
a question, completely unrelated to the topic at hand: does anyone think that Barr's many recent appearances on Fucks-TV trashing TFF over the document issue might possibly be related to the fact that he had a pretty good idea that the more recent news about his wanton criminality as AG was coming to light? I'm obviously not saying there IS a connection (I mean, how the fuck would I know?), but only that the thought OCCURRED to me.
Sorry to load up your site, but here is another link to a panel discussion from the YES (Yalta Conference) that happened over the weekend. 45 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TW-af5DGBo