I have never seen President Biden so clear, purposeful and oratorical as in these past few months. He has given some excellent speeches with the one yesterday being so powerful. He really shines away from the pettiness, sabotage and disinformation that exists in America today. He is eating the Republican's lunch on this. Their pro-Ru…
I have never seen President Biden so clear, purposeful and oratorical as in these past few months. He has given some excellent speeches with the one yesterday being so powerful. He really shines away from the pettiness, sabotage and disinformation that exists in America today. He is eating the Republican's lunch on this. Their pro-Russian faction is making the whole party look bad.
And I don't believe what he said about removing Putin was a gaffe or careless. He said what everyone has been hinting at for weeks.
The pro-Russian faction is making the whole party look bad. Really. The whole party has been engaged in treasonous rhetoric and treasonous action for years. They no longer attempt to govern anything, or even participate on any level. We have enemies within that are as dangerous as Putin, most carrying the cross. Sorry that statement triggered my memory of Putin leading Chump around by the nose in Helsinki, and decades of republican evil deeds.
My point. Anti-Russian sentiments run long and strong in this Country. The Republicans misjudged that and now they are on video supporting Putin; wonderful campaign fodder for the Democrats. The pro-Putin, pro-Russian rhetoric backfired which is why the Republicans changed their tune.
In addition I am fully, painfully and fearfully aware of the damage the Republicans have done and continue to wrought against Democracy in the United States. Only someone in a coma or a cult or could miss that fact.
Barbara I would like to parse the phrase ‘anti-Russian sentiments.’ Recent polls reflect such ‘sentiments.’ However, this is a response to Putin and what he has done and is doing with his ‘silovikis.’
President Biden made clear that he was attacking Putin, not the Russian people. (His ab lib about Putin having to go could be interpreted as a sentiment for a better way of life for the Russian people.)
Perhaps the most dramatic example of how the U. S. Government could distinguish between a brutal regime and its population was 1919-1923 in Russia. We had troops fighting the Russian Reds in northern Russia and eastern Russia.
Several years later, in response to a massive Russian famine, Herbert Hoover (prior to his entry into government) organized and implemented an extraordinary food relief program that was gratefully honored by the Leninist/Stalinist government and the Russian people for years.
The American government did not recognize the Russian/Soviet government until 1933.
I am speaking of the Red Scare, Cold War, Cuban Crisis and Communists scare when saying anti-Russia sentiment. These are the things that are in the DNA of an awful lot of Americans. And yes. President Biden exhibited masterful skill in attacking Putin and not the Russians.
leaders turn populations against each other, and once the shooting starts it is usually too late. the cuban missile crisis was all about optics. the missiles in cuba would have been on above ground platforms and would have taken hours to deploy. meanwhile, there were missiles on russian nuclear subs off of both us coasts, not to mention missiles in underground silos in siberia. these were the real threat, but they were out of sight and out of mind for most americans. russia, meanwhile, was in paranoia mode. at a time when russia controlled the iron curtain countries from poland to bulgaria, she still thought of herself as 'surrounded' by enemy missiles, a laughable notion. kruschchev agreed to 'turn his ships around' when kennedy agreed to remove us missiles from turkey. kennedy hadn't even known they were there. in her second paragraph, HCR mentions the failed polish uprising in warsaw. it failed because of a cold-blooded decision on russia's part. the russian army was at the gates and the days of the germans were numbered. the polish underground asked that, as a matter of polish pride, they be allowed to signal the final offensive against the germans by coming out into the open to begin the battle, after which the russians would move in to assure victory. the russians agreed. but when the fighting started, the russians did nothing. the resistance leaders were all captured or killed in the german counteroffensive. then the russians moved in. without firing a shot the russians had killed off the future leaders of poland, the best, the bravest. this made it much easier for russia to control poland after the war. it took poland two generations to find new leaders, a pope and a shipyard electrician, who led a revolution in which less than ten people died. this has to be one of the great achievements of human history.
"the russians agreed. but when the fighting started, the russians did nothing. the resistance leaders were all captured or killed in the german counteroffensive. then the russians moved in. without firing a shot the russians had killed off the future leaders of poland, the best, the bravest. this made it much easier for russia to control poland after the war."
So Russian. Today, Russian Putin says one thing and does another. Things don't change.
"These are the things that are in the DNA of an awful lot of Americans."
Absolutely. We have been drowned in anti-communist propaganda for a long time. Consider the many Hollywood dramatic and documentary films of the late 1940s and '50s which brought a rabid anti-communist message to Americans. (Sen. Joe McCarthy really capitalized on this.) We were bathed and fed with endless propaganda, and that message has further been instilled in subsequent generations. Even the word "socialism" can trigger fear and anger in so many millions of Americans today.
Interesting information. What present Russia forgets is the massive support from the west that enabled Russian victory in WWII. It is propagated that they did it all by themselves, and they are boasting about loosing more lives than all others, 20 millions, which was largely due to Stalin's recklessness.
Olof History depends upon one’s personal perspective. Through Lend Lease and later, after Pearl Harbor, America provided massive supplies to Russia through Murmansk and the Persian Gulf. One might say that this was in our self interest. From memory I recall that the Russians lost about 20 million (mostly military) persons. By contrast,, I believe that America lost about 320,000 soldiers during the entire war in Europe and the Pacific.
I recall at Teheran that Stalin was pushing FDR/Churchill for a major invasion of Europe. (Normandy occurred on June 6, 1944). We delayed while Russian troops were bearing catastrophic losses. Our military assistance for their massive loss of life.
As for Stalin’s ‘recklessness.’ Stalingrad was the turning point of the war. It was fought building by building. Stalin ordered that any Russian soldier caught leaving the frontlines would be shot. Also, in the race to Berlin, he encouraged two field marshals (Zhukov was one) to move forward with no concern about loss of life. I think the Russians lost about 100,000 soldiers, while Ike kept American troops at a safe distance away from Berlin.
"We delayed while Russian troops were bearing catastrophic losses. Our military assistance for their massive loss of life."
I don't know if we "delayed." But if we did, it was out of rational self-interest. This was a European war, not ours, and it took forever to get Congress out of its isolationist sour apples. Realpolitik demanded that if millions of troops were going to be sacrificed anyway, better Europe's than ours.
Also, Stalin had no problem being Hitler's friend in the early stages; what went around came around.
I'm glad we made the blood-and-treasure sacrifices to help Good Europe beat Evil Europe. Defeating Hitler was a moral imperative. But our national interest was never in volunteering to let America kids die so Russian kids wouldn't.
What we COULD do that Russia and the rest of Europe couldn't was manufacture and ship billions of pounds of war goods. We did. America did nothing wrong in letting Russia take the hit on the Eastern Front.
Well, I was not thinking of body counts, but at the lack of gratitude, and the glorifying of Stalin in the present version of Russian history. I have heard Zhukov was Stalin's favorite because he was just as merciless to his own people as to the enemy. So, I believe the loss of 20 million was not necessary, and it is appalling that it is now taken as a sign of having done so much more than everyone else against the nazis. - What the Russians are staging now in Mariupol is a revenge for Stalingrad; that's why the narrative of Ukrainian nazis is so important. - Americans were not at a safe distance in the Ardennes.
Yes on the need for Americans to focus solely on anti-Putin sentiments instead of people quickly jumping to an anti-Russian bandwagon. Further, Americans should consider our part in getting Putin into power through a series of changes--i.e., Reagan's drive to "end the evil empire"; then the installation of Yeltsin and our role in that election; and subsequently Putin coming into power and his being amenable to the seedier side of capitalism which quickly led to establishing the Russian oligarchs. trump is just another oligarch; and that's why he bonds so well with Putin, some business quid-pro-quo between them. In the end, the common Russian people suffer as they have for so much of history.
Yes, I've read that Herbert Hoover demonstrated great organizational skills. (Must have been enabled by his engineering background.) Unfortunately, when the Great Depression occurred during his presidency, he didn't bother organizing anything to help the American people endure it. He took the laissez faire approach, and things just got worse until Pres. Roosevelt was elected and able to put his relief plan into effect. (I know this info is not new to you.)
Heydon You would be surprised at what dour-faced Herbert Hoover actually did to address the Depression. While he was against massive public employment programs, he initiated some structural programs that FDR, after his 100-day blitz, greatly expanded. The RFC, I recall, provided, for then, a massive amount (without checking my notes—$500 million when the entire federal budget was minimal) for the RFC. Indeed, some economists credit Hoover. With employing more sound economics than FDR is addressing the Depression.
Of course Hoover was zero in charisma and FDR was 100. After the Roosevelt recession in 1937, it took WW II to get us out of massive unemployment.
Well said, Keith. He seemed to always have that look.
My overall impression of the RFC Act of 1932 is that it was too little, too late. When FDR entered the WH in March 1933, the banking system was near total collapse, and unemployment had reached 25%.
I think about the term used to describe any collection of shanties in the U.S.--"Hooverville". That's a classic.
Keith, with your knowledge of Russian history, I’m wondering if you might have heard about something I recently read about on a Twitter feed: “dedovshchina, which is an extreme form of hazing that new conscripts in the Russian forces are subjected to.” ?
Christy I haven’t heard of ‘devovshchina’ related to hazing of Russian conscripts. It sounds similar to what occurred at Marine training at Quantico, where some of the new recruits died. I read that, at some American fraternities, hazing has led to deaths.
I much preferred the Foreign Service process: extreme written exam after which the survivors (about 10%) faced an oral exam (33% passed). That enabled me to operate alone in rebel-infested Congolese provinces with a M-16 and .45. At times I sort off wished that I had flunked the entrance exam.
Lisa. No offense intended at all, but, I am sure hoping you are wrong. My son is 22. Plus, depending on what other countries get involved, we might all be getting a little action.
None of it will be romantic, fun, or rewarding like a WWII propaganda movie.
Rather: It will all be a slog of heartbreak, loss and waste.
I have a 22 year old son too - and a 28 year old son and a 26 year old daughter. Thoughts of what this all might mean for them consumes and terrifies me. I’m with you, Mike.
I fear the EXAMPLE being set by the nefarious Republican clan is actually teaching our youth by saying nothing about exactly how they plan to make our country better is an autocracy begging for attention. When tfg was in office all he did was sow milk toast "doing great, really" comments with absolutely no substance to back it up. President Biden is carrying the cross and like it or not, showing by example, by action how things get done.
Yes, there is a large reason for concern. I'm making sure I make my position clear to all my friends and relatives. I believe I have the biggest clout in that theatre. Sadly, after the tfg stood on the steps of the church with a Holy Bible while his "security" team threw flash-bangs at peaceful protesters I alienated myself from a lot of family by condemning his actions. Oh well.
Lest you forget, there are people on the left, on this very page who have threatened to do harm or wished bodily harm to another because of the difference of beliefs, they've called them ugly names, questioned another's right to make dissenting comments, even questioned their patriotism, declared them un-American. That behavior, too, begets violence and hatred. It ratchets up the temperature. The door swings both ways. Never forget that.
There are many things that generate fear in the world. Hearing lies and misinformation shouted from televisions, tablets, radios, pulpits adds more fuel to the fire of hatred. Simple solutions, like stripping so called churches of their tax exempt status so they have to function like a normal business would go a long way to help. Clamping down on the outright lies broadcast over our airwaves, would go a long way towards changing the course we're on.
The number of whites in the US is decreasing, that is a fact. And you are right, some white people are very afraid. Perhaps it's because they have historically failed to do the following:
Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
I do not think any of us who have not served in a war/conflict zone have any idea what a war of invasion on US soil will mean for us. We look at photos and videos and feel horror at what what were seeing but we are not, ourselves, sitting on a curb holding the bullet riddled dead body of a loved one in our arms. Our children have not been bombed to death while attending school.
We should hope only for peace. Anything else will be devastating for generations to come.
Biden does this a lot I think. Thanks for pointing it out. Biden is all over the media; drowning out Republicans horrific SCOTUS nominee debacle and depriving them of more air time. And honestly at this point trump mews and complains in the far distance.
Indeed -“Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out,” tweeted Graham (R-SC).
I want to know why Putin thinks that murdering innocent women and children will restore greatness and glory to Russia. I want to know why Trumpist Putin-loving Republicans think that white nationalist racism will make America great again. I want to see Xi Jinping step up and prove China's greatness by brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
If I were Putin, I'd laugh at that controversial comment of Biden's. It demonstrates our exasperation with how imprecise and slow are all the non-military options in opposing Russian hegemony. If it weren't for the nukes and other WMDs, we'd have taken a far more aggressive posture as the troops gathered on the Russian-Ukrainian border. In spite of the poor performance of his military and the improbable degree of coordination and vigor in the European and American responses, he has called our bluff again and has exposed the limits of our willingness and ability to act in coordination against Russia from a military standpoint. I think he cares far less about western rhetoric than he does about what information reaches the Russian public and how effective the propaganda machine is in deflecting what news from outside does leak through the firewall.
Do you think OUR fake news is any better than THEIR fake news?
My assessment of the habitual mendacity of the mainstream news media, including its deplorable coverage of the situation in Ukraine, together with my inclinication to condemn the genocidal imperialism emanating from Washington, D.C., has been strongly influenced over the past three decades by my reading of Davison Budhoo's 100-page resignation letter from the International Monetary Fund, which I view as essentially honest, and which is a taboo subject, blacked out of the mainstream news media.
(Ahem, that's my run-on sentence for the day.)
And now, for the first time, the first 29 pages of Budhoo's letter are readily available online. I'll share a few quotes:
"To me resignation is a priceless liberation, for with it I have taken the first big step to that place where I may hope to wash my hands of what in my mind’s eye is the blood of millions of poor and starving peoples. Mr. Camdessus, the blood is so much, you know, it runs in rivers."
"The charges that I make are not light charges - they are charges that touch at the very heart of western society and western morality and post-war inter-governmental institutionalism that have degenerated into fake and sham under the pretext of establishing and maintaining international economic order and global efficiency."
"Will the world be content merely to brand our institution as among the most insidious enemies of humankind? Will our fellowmen condemn us thus and let the matter rest? Or will the heirs of those whom we have dismembered in our own peculiar Holocaust clamor for another Nuremberg?
"I don’t mind telling you that this matter has haunted me; it has haunted me particularly over the past five years. It has haunted me because I know that if I am tried I will be found guilty, very guilty, without extenuating circumstance."
"In guilt and self-realization of my own worthlessness as a human being, what I would like to do most of all is to so propel myself that I can get the man-in-the-street of North and South and East and West and First and Second and Third and Fourth and All Other Worlds to take an interest in what is happening to his single planet, his single habitat, because our institution was allowed to evolve in a particular way in late twentieth century international society, and allowed to become the supra-national authority that controls the day-to-day lives of hundreds of millions of people everywhere."
"We get away with our works of Dracula hiding behind the mask of Superior Technocracy and a Greater Wisdom striving for “financial balance” and “structural adjustment” in the Third World."
"And so it goes on and on and on. And nothing changes in the developing world except more death and destitution for the people in the slums, and more power for the Fund. And with the passing of every meeting our staff becomes even more reinvigorated; they wield a sharper and more bloodied tool; an even more terrifying Executor’s Axe stand poised for service everywhere in the South. And the children scream, Sir; my God, how they scream!"
(Budhoo is referring here to the incessant screaming of starving infants. When they stop screaming, you know that death is near.)
"The business of a New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same -- his salary. You know this, and I know it; and what foolery to be toasting an 'Independent Press! We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the string and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes." ~John Swinton (1829–1901)
As previously asked; whom do you distrust the least? So far, we've apparently only identified two parties; the corrupt powerful and the duped masses, except for a few brave dissidents who can see the truth without the benefit of reliable sources of information (and yourself, of course).
I have never seen President Biden so clear, purposeful and oratorical as in these past few months. He has given some excellent speeches with the one yesterday being so powerful. He really shines away from the pettiness, sabotage and disinformation that exists in America today. He is eating the Republican's lunch on this. Their pro-Russian faction is making the whole party look bad.
And I don't believe what he said about removing Putin was a gaffe or careless. He said what everyone has been hinting at for weeks.
The pro-Russian faction is making the whole party look bad. Really. The whole party has been engaged in treasonous rhetoric and treasonous action for years. They no longer attempt to govern anything, or even participate on any level. We have enemies within that are as dangerous as Putin, most carrying the cross. Sorry that statement triggered my memory of Putin leading Chump around by the nose in Helsinki, and decades of republican evil deeds.
My point. Anti-Russian sentiments run long and strong in this Country. The Republicans misjudged that and now they are on video supporting Putin; wonderful campaign fodder for the Democrats. The pro-Putin, pro-Russian rhetoric backfired which is why the Republicans changed their tune.
In addition I am fully, painfully and fearfully aware of the damage the Republicans have done and continue to wrought against Democracy in the United States. Only someone in a coma or a cult or could miss that fact.
Barbara I would like to parse the phrase ‘anti-Russian sentiments.’ Recent polls reflect such ‘sentiments.’ However, this is a response to Putin and what he has done and is doing with his ‘silovikis.’
President Biden made clear that he was attacking Putin, not the Russian people. (His ab lib about Putin having to go could be interpreted as a sentiment for a better way of life for the Russian people.)
Perhaps the most dramatic example of how the U. S. Government could distinguish between a brutal regime and its population was 1919-1923 in Russia. We had troops fighting the Russian Reds in northern Russia and eastern Russia.
Several years later, in response to a massive Russian famine, Herbert Hoover (prior to his entry into government) organized and implemented an extraordinary food relief program that was gratefully honored by the Leninist/Stalinist government and the Russian people for years.
The American government did not recognize the Russian/Soviet government until 1933.
I am speaking of the Red Scare, Cold War, Cuban Crisis and Communists scare when saying anti-Russia sentiment. These are the things that are in the DNA of an awful lot of Americans. And yes. President Biden exhibited masterful skill in attacking Putin and not the Russians.
leaders turn populations against each other, and once the shooting starts it is usually too late. the cuban missile crisis was all about optics. the missiles in cuba would have been on above ground platforms and would have taken hours to deploy. meanwhile, there were missiles on russian nuclear subs off of both us coasts, not to mention missiles in underground silos in siberia. these were the real threat, but they were out of sight and out of mind for most americans. russia, meanwhile, was in paranoia mode. at a time when russia controlled the iron curtain countries from poland to bulgaria, she still thought of herself as 'surrounded' by enemy missiles, a laughable notion. kruschchev agreed to 'turn his ships around' when kennedy agreed to remove us missiles from turkey. kennedy hadn't even known they were there. in her second paragraph, HCR mentions the failed polish uprising in warsaw. it failed because of a cold-blooded decision on russia's part. the russian army was at the gates and the days of the germans were numbered. the polish underground asked that, as a matter of polish pride, they be allowed to signal the final offensive against the germans by coming out into the open to begin the battle, after which the russians would move in to assure victory. the russians agreed. but when the fighting started, the russians did nothing. the resistance leaders were all captured or killed in the german counteroffensive. then the russians moved in. without firing a shot the russians had killed off the future leaders of poland, the best, the bravest. this made it much easier for russia to control poland after the war. it took poland two generations to find new leaders, a pope and a shipyard electrician, who led a revolution in which less than ten people died. this has to be one of the great achievements of human history.
"the russians agreed. but when the fighting started, the russians did nothing. the resistance leaders were all captured or killed in the german counteroffensive. then the russians moved in. without firing a shot the russians had killed off the future leaders of poland, the best, the bravest. this made it much easier for russia to control poland after the war."
So Russian. Today, Russian Putin says one thing and does another. Things don't change.
"These are the things that are in the DNA of an awful lot of Americans."
Absolutely. We have been drowned in anti-communist propaganda for a long time. Consider the many Hollywood dramatic and documentary films of the late 1940s and '50s which brought a rabid anti-communist message to Americans. (Sen. Joe McCarthy really capitalized on this.) We were bathed and fed with endless propaganda, and that message has further been instilled in subsequent generations. Even the word "socialism" can trigger fear and anger in so many millions of Americans today.
Socialism and Communism are not the same thing.
Keith, thank you for sharing that information. The more I learn, the less I realize I know about our history.
Interesting information. What present Russia forgets is the massive support from the west that enabled Russian victory in WWII. It is propagated that they did it all by themselves, and they are boasting about loosing more lives than all others, 20 millions, which was largely due to Stalin's recklessness.
Olof History depends upon one’s personal perspective. Through Lend Lease and later, after Pearl Harbor, America provided massive supplies to Russia through Murmansk and the Persian Gulf. One might say that this was in our self interest. From memory I recall that the Russians lost about 20 million (mostly military) persons. By contrast,, I believe that America lost about 320,000 soldiers during the entire war in Europe and the Pacific.
I recall at Teheran that Stalin was pushing FDR/Churchill for a major invasion of Europe. (Normandy occurred on June 6, 1944). We delayed while Russian troops were bearing catastrophic losses. Our military assistance for their massive loss of life.
As for Stalin’s ‘recklessness.’ Stalingrad was the turning point of the war. It was fought building by building. Stalin ordered that any Russian soldier caught leaving the frontlines would be shot. Also, in the race to Berlin, he encouraged two field marshals (Zhukov was one) to move forward with no concern about loss of life. I think the Russians lost about 100,000 soldiers, while Ike kept American troops at a safe distance away from Berlin.
"We delayed while Russian troops were bearing catastrophic losses. Our military assistance for their massive loss of life."
I don't know if we "delayed." But if we did, it was out of rational self-interest. This was a European war, not ours, and it took forever to get Congress out of its isolationist sour apples. Realpolitik demanded that if millions of troops were going to be sacrificed anyway, better Europe's than ours.
Also, Stalin had no problem being Hitler's friend in the early stages; what went around came around.
I'm glad we made the blood-and-treasure sacrifices to help Good Europe beat Evil Europe. Defeating Hitler was a moral imperative. But our national interest was never in volunteering to let America kids die so Russian kids wouldn't.
What we COULD do that Russia and the rest of Europe couldn't was manufacture and ship billions of pounds of war goods. We did. America did nothing wrong in letting Russia take the hit on the Eastern Front.
Two philosophies of war. Troops as fodder versus troops as weapons. Alas.
Well, I was not thinking of body counts, but at the lack of gratitude, and the glorifying of Stalin in the present version of Russian history. I have heard Zhukov was Stalin's favorite because he was just as merciless to his own people as to the enemy. So, I believe the loss of 20 million was not necessary, and it is appalling that it is now taken as a sign of having done so much more than everyone else against the nazis. - What the Russians are staging now in Mariupol is a revenge for Stalingrad; that's why the narrative of Ukrainian nazis is so important. - Americans were not at a safe distance in the Ardennes.
Yes on the need for Americans to focus solely on anti-Putin sentiments instead of people quickly jumping to an anti-Russian bandwagon. Further, Americans should consider our part in getting Putin into power through a series of changes--i.e., Reagan's drive to "end the evil empire"; then the installation of Yeltsin and our role in that election; and subsequently Putin coming into power and his being amenable to the seedier side of capitalism which quickly led to establishing the Russian oligarchs. trump is just another oligarch; and that's why he bonds so well with Putin, some business quid-pro-quo between them. In the end, the common Russian people suffer as they have for so much of history.
Yes, I've read that Herbert Hoover demonstrated great organizational skills. (Must have been enabled by his engineering background.) Unfortunately, when the Great Depression occurred during his presidency, he didn't bother organizing anything to help the American people endure it. He took the laissez faire approach, and things just got worse until Pres. Roosevelt was elected and able to put his relief plan into effect. (I know this info is not new to you.)
Heydon You would be surprised at what dour-faced Herbert Hoover actually did to address the Depression. While he was against massive public employment programs, he initiated some structural programs that FDR, after his 100-day blitz, greatly expanded. The RFC, I recall, provided, for then, a massive amount (without checking my notes—$500 million when the entire federal budget was minimal) for the RFC. Indeed, some economists credit Hoover. With employing more sound economics than FDR is addressing the Depression.
Of course Hoover was zero in charisma and FDR was 100. After the Roosevelt recession in 1937, it took WW II to get us out of massive unemployment.
"dour-faced Herbert Hoover"
Well said, Keith. He seemed to always have that look.
My overall impression of the RFC Act of 1932 is that it was too little, too late. When FDR entered the WH in March 1933, the banking system was near total collapse, and unemployment had reached 25%.
I think about the term used to describe any collection of shanties in the U.S.--"Hooverville". That's a classic.
Keith, with your knowledge of Russian history, I’m wondering if you might have heard about something I recently read about on a Twitter feed: “dedovshchina, which is an extreme form of hazing that new conscripts in the Russian forces are subjected to.” ?
Christy I haven’t heard of ‘devovshchina’ related to hazing of Russian conscripts. It sounds similar to what occurred at Marine training at Quantico, where some of the new recruits died. I read that, at some American fraternities, hazing has led to deaths.
I much preferred the Foreign Service process: extreme written exam after which the survivors (about 10%) faced an oral exam (33% passed). That enabled me to operate alone in rebel-infested Congolese provinces with a M-16 and .45. At times I sort off wished that I had flunked the entrance exam.
"We have enemies within that are as dangerous as Putin, most carrying the cross" Scary, isn't it?
The quote iften used: “Facism will come wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross.”
Lisa. No offense intended at all, but, I am sure hoping you are wrong. My son is 22. Plus, depending on what other countries get involved, we might all be getting a little action.
None of it will be romantic, fun, or rewarding like a WWII propaganda movie.
Rather: It will all be a slog of heartbreak, loss and waste.
I have a 22 year old son too - and a 28 year old son and a 26 year old daughter. Thoughts of what this all might mean for them consumes and terrifies me. I’m with you, Mike.
🖤🖤🖤, dear KR.
Thanks, Ashley. Worrisome times to be a parent, in so many ways.
I agree with you on all of this Mike. Especially the hope that Lisa is wrong about “It won’t be much longer before we too are at war.”
I fear the EXAMPLE being set by the nefarious Republican clan is actually teaching our youth by saying nothing about exactly how they plan to make our country better is an autocracy begging for attention. When tfg was in office all he did was sow milk toast "doing great, really" comments with absolutely no substance to back it up. President Biden is carrying the cross and like it or not, showing by example, by action how things get done.
Yes, there is a large reason for concern. I'm making sure I make my position clear to all my friends and relatives. I believe I have the biggest clout in that theatre. Sadly, after the tfg stood on the steps of the church with a Holy Bible while his "security" team threw flash-bangs at peaceful protesters I alienated myself from a lot of family by condemning his actions. Oh well.
Well said.
Lest you forget, there are people on the left, on this very page who have threatened to do harm or wished bodily harm to another because of the difference of beliefs, they've called them ugly names, questioned another's right to make dissenting comments, even questioned their patriotism, declared them un-American. That behavior, too, begets violence and hatred. It ratchets up the temperature. The door swings both ways. Never forget that.
There are many things that generate fear in the world. Hearing lies and misinformation shouted from televisions, tablets, radios, pulpits adds more fuel to the fire of hatred. Simple solutions, like stripping so called churches of their tax exempt status so they have to function like a normal business would go a long way to help. Clamping down on the outright lies broadcast over our airwaves, would go a long way towards changing the course we're on.
The number of whites in the US is decreasing, that is a fact. And you are right, some white people are very afraid. Perhaps it's because they have historically failed to do the following:
Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
I do not think any of us who have not served in a war/conflict zone have any idea what a war of invasion on US soil will mean for us. We look at photos and videos and feel horror at what what were seeing but we are not, ourselves, sitting on a curb holding the bullet riddled dead body of a loved one in our arms. Our children have not been bombed to death while attending school.
We should hope only for peace. Anything else will be devastating for generations to come.
Hear, hear, Daria. Well said.
Hi Lisa. No offense intended. I was referring to the old WWII propaganda movies not your comment which held no romantic content.
It is an old ploy. Say what you mean, knowing you will later apologize or reframe a statement. The satisfied smile is enjoyed in private.
Biden does this a lot I think. Thanks for pointing it out. Biden is all over the media; drowning out Republicans horrific SCOTUS nominee debacle and depriving them of more air time. And honestly at this point trump mews and complains in the far distance.
I love how far from the limelight that guy has been, except for the occasional mention in articles about investigations and indictments
Indeed -“Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out,” tweeted Graham (R-SC).
I want to know why Putin thinks that murdering innocent women and children will restore greatness and glory to Russia. I want to know why Trumpist Putin-loving Republicans think that white nationalist racism will make America great again. I want to see Xi Jinping step up and prove China's greatness by brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
Unfortunately, under Xi in 2018, China took a decisive turn toward arrogant, neo-imperialistic thuggishness.
Yes, so true
I so agree with this! I think this could be a great opportunity Xi Jinping to become a statesman on the world stage.
If I were Putin, I'd laugh at that controversial comment of Biden's. It demonstrates our exasperation with how imprecise and slow are all the non-military options in opposing Russian hegemony. If it weren't for the nukes and other WMDs, we'd have taken a far more aggressive posture as the troops gathered on the Russian-Ukrainian border. In spite of the poor performance of his military and the improbable degree of coordination and vigor in the European and American responses, he has called our bluff again and has exposed the limits of our willingness and ability to act in coordination against Russia from a military standpoint. I think he cares far less about western rhetoric than he does about what information reaches the Russian public and how effective the propaganda machine is in deflecting what news from outside does leak through the firewall.
Do you think OUR fake news is any better than THEIR fake news?
My assessment of the habitual mendacity of the mainstream news media, including its deplorable coverage of the situation in Ukraine, together with my inclinication to condemn the genocidal imperialism emanating from Washington, D.C., has been strongly influenced over the past three decades by my reading of Davison Budhoo's 100-page resignation letter from the International Monetary Fund, which I view as essentially honest, and which is a taboo subject, blacked out of the mainstream news media.
(Ahem, that's my run-on sentence for the day.)
And now, for the first time, the first 29 pages of Budhoo's letter are readily available online. I'll share a few quotes:
"To me resignation is a priceless liberation, for with it I have taken the first big step to that place where I may hope to wash my hands of what in my mind’s eye is the blood of millions of poor and starving peoples. Mr. Camdessus, the blood is so much, you know, it runs in rivers."
"The charges that I make are not light charges - they are charges that touch at the very heart of western society and western morality and post-war inter-governmental institutionalism that have degenerated into fake and sham under the pretext of establishing and maintaining international economic order and global efficiency."
"Will the world be content merely to brand our institution as among the most insidious enemies of humankind? Will our fellowmen condemn us thus and let the matter rest? Or will the heirs of those whom we have dismembered in our own peculiar Holocaust clamor for another Nuremberg?
"I don’t mind telling you that this matter has haunted me; it has haunted me particularly over the past five years. It has haunted me because I know that if I am tried I will be found guilty, very guilty, without extenuating circumstance."
"In guilt and self-realization of my own worthlessness as a human being, what I would like to do most of all is to so propel myself that I can get the man-in-the-street of North and South and East and West and First and Second and Third and Fourth and All Other Worlds to take an interest in what is happening to his single planet, his single habitat, because our institution was allowed to evolve in a particular way in late twentieth century international society, and allowed to become the supra-national authority that controls the day-to-day lives of hundreds of millions of people everywhere."
"We get away with our works of Dracula hiding behind the mask of Superior Technocracy and a Greater Wisdom striving for “financial balance” and “structural adjustment” in the Third World."
"And so it goes on and on and on. And nothing changes in the developing world except more death and destitution for the people in the slums, and more power for the Fund. And with the passing of every meeting our staff becomes even more reinvigorated; they wield a sharper and more bloodied tool; an even more terrifying Executor’s Axe stand poised for service everywhere in the South. And the children scream, Sir; my God, how they scream!"
(Budhoo is referring here to the incessant screaming of starving infants. When they stop screaming, you know that death is near.)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oJzvpfFzIKu76oE1CkzZlarRiVpYIggFMFzSt6OgHx0/mobilebasic"
----
"The business of a New York journalist is to distort the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread, or for what is about the same -- his salary. You know this, and I know it; and what foolery to be toasting an 'Independent Press! We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are jumping-jacks. They pull the string and we dance. Our time, our talents, our lives, our possibilities, are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes." ~John Swinton (1829–1901)
As previously asked; whom do you distrust the least? So far, we've apparently only identified two parties; the corrupt powerful and the duped masses, except for a few brave dissidents who can see the truth without the benefit of reliable sources of information (and yourself, of course).
Ten are the number.
We remember Reagan "Tear down this wall, Mr. Gorbachev"
Agree!
Yes, indeed.