Today, meetings began to take place before the Munich Security Conference begins in Berlin, Germany, on February 17. This conference is the world’s leading forum for talking about international security policy. Begun in 1963, it was designed to be an independent venue for experts and policymakers to discuss the most pressing security issues around the globe.
Lev Parnas, who had been part of the attempt to smear Hunter Biden in Ukraine, said that his “real job was to help undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian government.”
So, it's up the Europeans and Americans who have formerly "just talked to each other" to convince many other nations that those noted forms of inequity tolerated or practiced by participants in the liberal, rules-based international order are really not going to continue? That more will happen to improve the world than reams of appealing and hope-inducing rhetoric? I dearly hope so, but am sadly skeptical about how hard how many "Haves" are going to work to make sure Have-Not Lives Matter.
Great summary as usual. I am glad the freedom, loving countries of the world are gathering in Munich. I'm sorry China will be there. But I really think it is time and past time that the United States of America cleaned up its own house. We need to establish beyond any doubt that we are and intend to remain a unified Democracy. To begin this journey we need to prevent the evil conservative wing of the formerly American Party know as the Republicans. The FCC is a government owned agency, they need to make it clear to all broadcasters using the airwaves of this Country will no longer be permitted to broadcast outright lies in the name of "both sidesism" There is only a choice between supporting a Representative (democratic) Republic or supporting Authoritarianism, If they wish to support authoritarians they must move their business to another country, or cease and desist from broadcasting false news reports. Freedom of the Press and Freedom of speech does not now and never has included he right to treason, false information, or advocacy of either.
Please correct me , but my limited understanding of African Nations is that China has invested heavily in Africa. It would make sense that leaders who count on support from China would not confront China’s policy to stand with Russia. And what would be their benefit if they were to oppose China and Russia? We can oppose Russia and stand with UKraine without risking economic support. Poorer nations do not have that luxury. It seems like for many generations we saw Africa as a place to take from, not caring to notice the damage to their people, to the environment and to their social structures we did in the process. It is not surprising they find it hard to get behind American & European ideals of democracy.
'The report goes on to identify a growing conflict around the globe between intensifying authoritarian regimes and a liberal, rules-based international order. It calls for shoring up that liberal order and for strengthening it by addressing the legitimate claims of countries and regions that have been excluded from that order or have even been victims of it. That many governments in Africa, Latin America, and Asia have refused to speak up against Russian aggression shows that there is deep dissatisfaction there with existing international patterns, and that dissatisfaction threatens the survival of democracy. The people of all countries must have a say in how the global future plays out.'
In other words, Black Lives Matter goes global.....
Everything w Trump goes back to the three defining events that disqualify him from the presidency: his collusion w Russia to win the 2016 election, his withholding of federal funding from Ukraine in a quid-pro -quo scheme, and he is resistance to leave the white house after he lost the 2020 election. All three of the events are a violation of the US Constitution, and all three have shaken the institution of American democracy. The big picture is coming into focus and it is a world of empires with wars that decide how to colonize what’s left to take. It won’t be about serving citizens but amassing wealth through greed and theft at their expense.
Watershed: a crucial dividing point, line, or factor, a TURNING POINT. The United States and other Democracies and countries transitioning to Democracies must continue to work together to stand with the Ukrainian people and NATO and against Putin and his brutal and continuing invasion. The history of Eastern Europe and authoritarian governments goes back centuries. Only recently is Ukraine joining forces with Democratic governments and against the fascism and aggression of autocracies. But Russia, as aggressor, is joined by other rising autocratic governments. Dictatorships. HCR’s letter warns us to pay attention as republican forces here in our country threaten our Democracy, including the Trump family’s connections with Saudis and attempts to destabilize the Ukrainian government, as well as steal the 2020 election with a full cast of corrupt characters including family and repubs. What happens here in our own government with the repubs controlling the House Oversight Committee and more may determine the future of our Democracy. Think repub scandals and wasted time investigating laptops. We must continue to support President Biden’s agenda to preserve and expand social safety programs including medical, family, children and education, gun safety, voter’s rights, equality, racial Justice, abortion rights. And tax laws that insure wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. And remember the separation of church and state. We must recognize the reality of the needs of our diverse population. That’s it for now!
I expect this “meeting” to be an echo-chamber, ultimately, but a nice stage to allow the media to highlight the problems most acknowledge exist.
As most realize, the issue with these regimes is that they throttle, if not completely restrict, facts. Authoritarianism is, at its best, when it has control of the media, at least as it relates to the media it’s populace has access to. And these regimes do.
I don’t “hate” Russians, Syrians, Iranians, or North Viets. Or (fill in your favorite oppressed populace) any other populace. These people likely are part of our pastiche of culture in America and are suffering after all. They undoubtably have relatives suffering.
But America has a poor history (in the 20th Century) of supporting oppressed people, despite its hortatory rhetoric.
But I digress.
The folks at this “summit” have a chance to stiff-arm aggression from a weak has-been regime and emphasize that this aggression will not stand (man) and hopefully the support is broad and resolute.
I understand that China needs the petroleum that Russia has, and needs our insatiable desire for “dollar-store” trinkets, but if we can let that go, and China can put its full-faith-and-credit on the line by not supporting weak autocrats with outdated nukes, IF IT WANTS TO, then we can ALL talk about true global trade… terribly hopeful, but I’m ever-the-optimist.
Destroy all, or get-along. (I’ll leave the issue of global warming on the table for now, thanks)…🤷♂️
I think it is time for the Senate to set up a Select Committee to investigate Saudi deals with Trump and Kushner. The House won't go there. Can a case be made that Kushner's "delayed compensation" makes him an unregistered lobbyist or can it be considered an outright bribe? Same for payments to Trump for the golf courses and hotel usage. Kushner clearly was about 1000X better at negotiating than his father-in-law--He got billions from the real estate bailout and the hedge fund. TFG got a paltry few million.
Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the other crimes being committed (assassinations in other countries, interfering with democratic elections) are gross violations of the UN mission.
The UN is making itself look irrelevant or worse by allowing their representatives sit in the General Assembly.
All we get is silence!
At a minimum, Get Russia out of the Security Council.
Right now it feels like there is a turning point for Russia in the war on Ukraine, which is quite concerning. Putin is as dirty as they come and apparently there is no end of Putin types in the world to join in with him. I am so admiring of Maia Sandu in Moldavia as she tries to fight off the enormous bully that Russia is being to her little country. The situation with China is unclear to me. I am not sure what the significance of these flying spying machines is, since they have been using them for a long time. I have noticed when I am in Germany and Austria that Huawei is largely featured and last spring when I was in Vienna I was not sure that I wanted to be giving up certain privacy when using the internet where I was staying. I could not help but notice the huge Huawei sign on the Mariahilfer Street, announcing its presence. I was glad to read the Giorgia Meloni, however repugnant she is to me, is staying firmly behind Ukraine. The modern autocrat versus the old timer Berlusconi. This seems to be true in Sweden too. They are standing with Ukraine. it seems that Finland may lose their liberal female leader as well in the next elections. Berlin just voted their more Conservative CDU into the top seat locally, which means they are a coalition partner either with Social Democrats or with the Green party, or with both. Immigration, a right wing, White Supremacist rallying cry seems to be taking over the USA and Europe, and maybe even the global North just as the global south is suffering from our wealth and policies the most severely. There are so many pieces at play right now. I cannot imagine what would be going on in the world if Trump were in power. What I do realize is that each time that the Republicans shine the light on something that Biden is supposedly doing it shines a light on a corruption of Trumps. I wonder if this is intentional. Trying to kill two birds with one stone. It seems to end up making Trump look bad and Biden look good in comparison. It shines a light on how Biden is not Trump.
The rise of autocrats in large part is the reaction to the opposition to immigrants. The sense of threat that immigrants presents to the native population is enough for them to give autocratic power to a strongman to protect against 'those others'. We see this phenomenon here, where voters vote against their own interests for a politician who they think will protect them against 'those others'.
I suppose HCR penned this morning's letter before the gun violence at Michigan State last night. Very simply, if we require a license to drive a car, we should require one to own a gun. Both are weapons of death, one accidentally, and the other specifically intended for that purpose. More blood on the hands of the Supreme Court Justices who went along with the late Justice Scalia in 2008.
There will be a herd of elephants in the room at the Munich Security Conference all stamped: can the US be trusted not to slide down the authoritarian path at the next election? I can only hope we get out the vote again.
Whoa!
Lev Parnas, who had been part of the attempt to smear Hunter Biden in Ukraine, said that his “real job was to help undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian government.”
He SAID that? Out loud?
So, it's up the Europeans and Americans who have formerly "just talked to each other" to convince many other nations that those noted forms of inequity tolerated or practiced by participants in the liberal, rules-based international order are really not going to continue? That more will happen to improve the world than reams of appealing and hope-inducing rhetoric? I dearly hope so, but am sadly skeptical about how hard how many "Haves" are going to work to make sure Have-Not Lives Matter.
Great summary as usual. I am glad the freedom, loving countries of the world are gathering in Munich. I'm sorry China will be there. But I really think it is time and past time that the United States of America cleaned up its own house. We need to establish beyond any doubt that we are and intend to remain a unified Democracy. To begin this journey we need to prevent the evil conservative wing of the formerly American Party know as the Republicans. The FCC is a government owned agency, they need to make it clear to all broadcasters using the airwaves of this Country will no longer be permitted to broadcast outright lies in the name of "both sidesism" There is only a choice between supporting a Representative (democratic) Republic or supporting Authoritarianism, If they wish to support authoritarians they must move their business to another country, or cease and desist from broadcasting false news reports. Freedom of the Press and Freedom of speech does not now and never has included he right to treason, false information, or advocacy of either.
Please correct me , but my limited understanding of African Nations is that China has invested heavily in Africa. It would make sense that leaders who count on support from China would not confront China’s policy to stand with Russia. And what would be their benefit if they were to oppose China and Russia? We can oppose Russia and stand with UKraine without risking economic support. Poorer nations do not have that luxury. It seems like for many generations we saw Africa as a place to take from, not caring to notice the damage to their people, to the environment and to their social structures we did in the process. It is not surprising they find it hard to get behind American & European ideals of democracy.
'The report goes on to identify a growing conflict around the globe between intensifying authoritarian regimes and a liberal, rules-based international order. It calls for shoring up that liberal order and for strengthening it by addressing the legitimate claims of countries and regions that have been excluded from that order or have even been victims of it. That many governments in Africa, Latin America, and Asia have refused to speak up against Russian aggression shows that there is deep dissatisfaction there with existing international patterns, and that dissatisfaction threatens the survival of democracy. The people of all countries must have a say in how the global future plays out.'
In other words, Black Lives Matter goes global.....
Everything w Trump goes back to the three defining events that disqualify him from the presidency: his collusion w Russia to win the 2016 election, his withholding of federal funding from Ukraine in a quid-pro -quo scheme, and he is resistance to leave the white house after he lost the 2020 election. All three of the events are a violation of the US Constitution, and all three have shaken the institution of American democracy. The big picture is coming into focus and it is a world of empires with wars that decide how to colonize what’s left to take. It won’t be about serving citizens but amassing wealth through greed and theft at their expense.
Watershed: a crucial dividing point, line, or factor, a TURNING POINT. The United States and other Democracies and countries transitioning to Democracies must continue to work together to stand with the Ukrainian people and NATO and against Putin and his brutal and continuing invasion. The history of Eastern Europe and authoritarian governments goes back centuries. Only recently is Ukraine joining forces with Democratic governments and against the fascism and aggression of autocracies. But Russia, as aggressor, is joined by other rising autocratic governments. Dictatorships. HCR’s letter warns us to pay attention as republican forces here in our country threaten our Democracy, including the Trump family’s connections with Saudis and attempts to destabilize the Ukrainian government, as well as steal the 2020 election with a full cast of corrupt characters including family and repubs. What happens here in our own government with the repubs controlling the House Oversight Committee and more may determine the future of our Democracy. Think repub scandals and wasted time investigating laptops. We must continue to support President Biden’s agenda to preserve and expand social safety programs including medical, family, children and education, gun safety, voter’s rights, equality, racial Justice, abortion rights. And tax laws that insure wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. And remember the separation of church and state. We must recognize the reality of the needs of our diverse population. That’s it for now!
I expect this “meeting” to be an echo-chamber, ultimately, but a nice stage to allow the media to highlight the problems most acknowledge exist.
As most realize, the issue with these regimes is that they throttle, if not completely restrict, facts. Authoritarianism is, at its best, when it has control of the media, at least as it relates to the media it’s populace has access to. And these regimes do.
I don’t “hate” Russians, Syrians, Iranians, or North Viets. Or (fill in your favorite oppressed populace) any other populace. These people likely are part of our pastiche of culture in America and are suffering after all. They undoubtably have relatives suffering.
But America has a poor history (in the 20th Century) of supporting oppressed people, despite its hortatory rhetoric.
But I digress.
The folks at this “summit” have a chance to stiff-arm aggression from a weak has-been regime and emphasize that this aggression will not stand (man) and hopefully the support is broad and resolute.
I understand that China needs the petroleum that Russia has, and needs our insatiable desire for “dollar-store” trinkets, but if we can let that go, and China can put its full-faith-and-credit on the line by not supporting weak autocrats with outdated nukes, IF IT WANTS TO, then we can ALL talk about true global trade… terribly hopeful, but I’m ever-the-optimist.
Destroy all, or get-along. (I’ll leave the issue of global warming on the table for now, thanks)…🤷♂️
I think it is time for the Senate to set up a Select Committee to investigate Saudi deals with Trump and Kushner. The House won't go there. Can a case be made that Kushner's "delayed compensation" makes him an unregistered lobbyist or can it be considered an outright bribe? Same for payments to Trump for the golf courses and hotel usage. Kushner clearly was about 1000X better at negotiating than his father-in-law--He got billions from the real estate bailout and the hedge fund. TFG got a paltry few million.
Why hasn't the United Nations expelled Russia?!
Putin's invasion of Ukraine and the other crimes being committed (assassinations in other countries, interfering with democratic elections) are gross violations of the UN mission.
The UN is making itself look irrelevant or worse by allowing their representatives sit in the General Assembly.
All we get is silence!
At a minimum, Get Russia out of the Security Council.
I'm mystified by the silence on this subject.
That last paragraph is a great ending. But he is a few years late!
Right now it feels like there is a turning point for Russia in the war on Ukraine, which is quite concerning. Putin is as dirty as they come and apparently there is no end of Putin types in the world to join in with him. I am so admiring of Maia Sandu in Moldavia as she tries to fight off the enormous bully that Russia is being to her little country. The situation with China is unclear to me. I am not sure what the significance of these flying spying machines is, since they have been using them for a long time. I have noticed when I am in Germany and Austria that Huawei is largely featured and last spring when I was in Vienna I was not sure that I wanted to be giving up certain privacy when using the internet where I was staying. I could not help but notice the huge Huawei sign on the Mariahilfer Street, announcing its presence. I was glad to read the Giorgia Meloni, however repugnant she is to me, is staying firmly behind Ukraine. The modern autocrat versus the old timer Berlusconi. This seems to be true in Sweden too. They are standing with Ukraine. it seems that Finland may lose their liberal female leader as well in the next elections. Berlin just voted their more Conservative CDU into the top seat locally, which means they are a coalition partner either with Social Democrats or with the Green party, or with both. Immigration, a right wing, White Supremacist rallying cry seems to be taking over the USA and Europe, and maybe even the global North just as the global south is suffering from our wealth and policies the most severely. There are so many pieces at play right now. I cannot imagine what would be going on in the world if Trump were in power. What I do realize is that each time that the Republicans shine the light on something that Biden is supposedly doing it shines a light on a corruption of Trumps. I wonder if this is intentional. Trying to kill two birds with one stone. It seems to end up making Trump look bad and Biden look good in comparison. It shines a light on how Biden is not Trump.
What's the exchange rate with MBS in Saudi i.e. how many boxes of classified documents from Jared and DJT = $2 billion.
The rise of autocrats in large part is the reaction to the opposition to immigrants. The sense of threat that immigrants presents to the native population is enough for them to give autocratic power to a strongman to protect against 'those others'. We see this phenomenon here, where voters vote against their own interests for a politician who they think will protect them against 'those others'.
I suppose HCR penned this morning's letter before the gun violence at Michigan State last night. Very simply, if we require a license to drive a car, we should require one to own a gun. Both are weapons of death, one accidentally, and the other specifically intended for that purpose. More blood on the hands of the Supreme Court Justices who went along with the late Justice Scalia in 2008.
There will be a herd of elephants in the room at the Munich Security Conference all stamped: can the US be trusted not to slide down the authoritarian path at the next election? I can only hope we get out the vote again.