Interesting. I watched the video and immediately thought it was for American eyes and ears. Very similar to Afghanistan, where every woman given air time on the BBC spoke English well, wanted to be a doctor or an engineer, despite being steeped I the gender studies language of inclusions, and was afraid of the Taliban. Fair play, but this was not representative of the country–in fact only a small minority in Kabul. I suppose Western reporters rarely ventured out.
I sympathize with Marta, but it’s not my business. Why is it the job of Western youth (read American youths) to fight and die in Ukraine? Even on BBC I heard two Ukranian guys–one wanted to fight, one didn’t. Representative? If so, is NATO supposed to pull the weight of the 50% who wish to stay on the sidelines? WHY?
Trump was right. NATO is useless–rainbow flags, gender advisors–disband NATO! NATO won! It was designed as a counterweight to the USSR, that’s over, so if needed, come up with a new military (not “equity”) organization to meet 21st Century needs.
And Germany! Germany! Pay your 2%, Germany. Germany won’t let EU countries such as Estonia send military kit to Ukraine. Will Germany be behind the Mother of All Sanctions–I think not, taking Russia out of SWIFT (international banking system) would mean Germany can’t pay Russia for oil and gas? Mutti’s completely moronic decision to kill nuclear in Germany coming back to bite. And what is so great about sanctions? Is there a real desire to create a criminal class–even bigger than the existing criminal class–which is exactly what sanctions will do?
Back to Marta. If the Russians invade, her life expectancy is about 7 seconds. Not a smart move. Her husband was onto something, about making the cost of invasion very high. Marta being a target, though well-intentioned, is not the way. Look to Finland. Something like a guerrilla war. Good luck Marta, but be smarter.
Really, Putin’s won? At best he gets to preserve limited Russian influence in Europe for 10 years at most. Instead of seeking to build strategic relationships with Europe that will help Russia.
When Putin leaves the stage in 15 years or so Russia is done – like every other succession failure in dictator states. Strong dictators are never replaced adequately. And there will be far reduced demand for their oil and gas as net zero is pursued, so their current economy is screwed, and he isn’t building it to do anything else.
We just need to make sure their nuclear weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands when he goes, probably like Stalin with submissive helpers too scared to ask if he’s dead yet, or is assassinated.
Putin has won by showing what a useless organization NATO is, by dividing the West, and by showing that Russia is a great power and entitled to a sphere of influence.
Putin has won by showing how feckless and unreliable Germany is, and how Mutti’s completely stupid decision to kill nuclear has come back to bite.
Putin has won by showing he is not afraid of sanctions–though perhaps Germany is, if Russia is taken out of SWIFT (international banking system), it will really hurt Germany, which may not be able to pay for oil and gas.
Putin has won by showing what a doddering, demented dotard Biden is, though in fairness this was already widely known, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: Putin alone, the senile “leader” of the free world surrounded by aides, lest he say something off script as often happens, as his mind is gone. Biden says that Nord Stream 2 will never go live. Really? Does anyone believe that? What a dunce!
All points to Putin. He has won, though I don’t disagree much with your 10-15 year prediction.
Russia isn’t Saudi Arabia. One of the topics in my professional community right now is whether possible sanctions would impact our industry’s widespread usage of Russian-made software products. They have a very serious and growing economy that’s not oil/gas based.
Putin is probably doing the right thing – giving Russia years of relative stability into which genuinely competitive firms can grow. That seems to be his appeal, more or less, along with the fact that him and the people around him consistently come off as pretty dramatically more competent and well informed than western leaders. The Truss/Lavrov incident isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened. Read a transcript of Putin’s open address to the nation+phone-ins some time. He is apparently not pre-briefed on the questions yet provides complex, in depth answers to serious questions on the hoof. I also recall when he wrote an article on Syria and got it published in the NYT as an op-ed. The clarity of thought and deep understanding of US culture compared to US politicians was impressive.
A convenient means, perhaps, for middle-aged Ukrainian men to be rid of their harridan wives for a time while they chat on internet sites with single young Russian women.
George Glashan
2 years ago
Have progressives been learning from Vladislav Surkov?
if I’m understanding correctly, which I’m probably not and that’s part of the point, a German based progressive group is funding a Ukrainian propagandist video for the benefit of American Democrats / Progressives. did i follow correctly? With the aim being to get America to defend the borders Germany has undermined? or has Surkov been funding the German progressive group all along?
I feel for the plight of Ukrainians, they are being left to twist in the wind, Germany has traded eastern Europe’s stability for cheap access to Russian gas. But the notion of an army of Hilary Clintons is hardly going to dissuade Russia, I’m sure it’ll get likes and retweets from the actual Hillary Clinton but will it actual lead to any meaningful American support? Am i really supposed to believe that the administration that fumbled the evacuation of Afghanistan is now looking to start a war in Russia?
My instinct on it is that these progressives are toothless they want others to fear the power of the institutions they have taken over, but they have hollowed them out, is Russia really in fear of the gender fluid CIA disrupting its operations?
An army of Hilary Clintons! Hahaha I can’t say I’d be in a hurry to run to their defence. Might be more inclined to encourage Russia to “ get Ukraine done!”
They seem to be doing rather better than Trump.
A low bar easy for almost anyone to step over.
Lennon Ó Náraigh
2 years ago
What happens to the feminists in Ukraine when the West gets bored of backing them? Look no further than Afghanistan for the answer.
Lennon Ó Náraigh
2 years ago
I’m terribly confused. The NATO Office of the Gender Advisor aims to utilize the “the complementary skills of both male and female personnel”. This sounds suspiciously like Complemenatarianism – a theological point of view that is the polar opposite of egalitarianism. Woke theory will collapse very soon under the weight of its own contradictions.
Hersch Schneider
2 years ago
A portent for the future of the liberal West? Women doing the fighting for weak, Beta males
Martin Logan
2 years ago
The simple fact is: the more revisionists like Putin and Xi there are in the world, the less stable the world order.
Every nation on the planet has had some territory outside its present borders–and bad actors play on that for their own ends.
Going back to the Hundred Years War…or the Thirty Years War…or the Napoleonic Wars, is not “muscular realism.” It’s historical naivete, masquerading as something more.
Learn a little history.
William Shaw
2 years ago
Men have died for centuries to protect their countries and families.
It’s high time equal numbers of women were on the front lines in any future conflict.
Interesting. I watched the video and immediately thought it was for American eyes and ears. Very similar to Afghanistan, where every woman given air time on the BBC spoke English well, wanted to be a doctor or an engineer, despite being steeped I the gender studies language of inclusions, and was afraid of the Taliban. Fair play, but this was not representative of the country–in fact only a small minority in Kabul. I suppose Western reporters rarely ventured out.
I sympathize with Marta, but it’s not my business. Why is it the job of Western youth (read American youths) to fight and die in Ukraine? Even on BBC I heard two Ukranian guys–one wanted to fight, one didn’t. Representative? If so, is NATO supposed to pull the weight of the 50% who wish to stay on the sidelines? WHY?
Trump was right. NATO is useless–rainbow flags, gender advisors–disband NATO! NATO won! It was designed as a counterweight to the USSR, that’s over, so if needed, come up with a new military (not “equity”) organization to meet 21st Century needs.
And Germany! Germany! Pay your 2%, Germany. Germany won’t let EU countries such as Estonia send military kit to Ukraine. Will Germany be behind the Mother of All Sanctions–I think not, taking Russia out of SWIFT (international banking system) would mean Germany can’t pay Russia for oil and gas? Mutti’s completely moronic decision to kill nuclear in Germany coming back to bite. And what is so great about sanctions? Is there a real desire to create a criminal class–even bigger than the existing criminal class–which is exactly what sanctions will do?
Back to Marta. If the Russians invade, her life expectancy is about 7 seconds. Not a smart move. Her husband was onto something, about making the cost of invasion very high. Marta being a target, though well-intentioned, is not the way. Look to Finland. Something like a guerrilla war. Good luck Marta, but be smarter.
You forget the small detail that Putin wont invade.
Maybe. He doesn’t have to–he’s already won.
Really, Putin’s won? At best he gets to preserve limited Russian influence in Europe for 10 years at most. Instead of seeking to build strategic relationships with Europe that will help Russia.
When Putin leaves the stage in 15 years or so Russia is done – like every other succession failure in dictator states. Strong dictators are never replaced adequately. And there will be far reduced demand for their oil and gas as net zero is pursued, so their current economy is screwed, and he isn’t building it to do anything else.
We just need to make sure their nuclear weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands when he goes, probably like Stalin with submissive helpers too scared to ask if he’s dead yet, or is assassinated.
Putin has won by showing what a useless organization NATO is, by dividing the West, and by showing that Russia is a great power and entitled to a sphere of influence.
Putin has won by showing how feckless and unreliable Germany is, and how Mutti’s completely stupid decision to kill nuclear has come back to bite.
Putin has won by showing he is not afraid of sanctions–though perhaps Germany is, if Russia is taken out of SWIFT (international banking system), it will really hurt Germany, which may not be able to pay for oil and gas.
Putin has won by showing what a doddering, demented dotard Biden is, though in fairness this was already widely known, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: Putin alone, the senile “leader” of the free world surrounded by aides, lest he say something off script as often happens, as his mind is gone. Biden says that Nord Stream 2 will never go live. Really? Does anyone believe that? What a dunce!
All points to Putin. He has won, though I don’t disagree much with your 10-15 year prediction.
Russia isn’t Saudi Arabia. One of the topics in my professional community right now is whether possible sanctions would impact our industry’s widespread usage of Russian-made software products. They have a very serious and growing economy that’s not oil/gas based.
Putin is probably doing the right thing – giving Russia years of relative stability into which genuinely competitive firms can grow. That seems to be his appeal, more or less, along with the fact that him and the people around him consistently come off as pretty dramatically more competent and well informed than western leaders. The Truss/Lavrov incident isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened. Read a transcript of Putin’s open address to the nation+phone-ins some time. He is apparently not pre-briefed on the questions yet provides complex, in depth answers to serious questions on the hoof. I also recall when he wrote an article on Syria and got it published in the NYT as an op-ed. The clarity of thought and deep understanding of US culture compared to US politicians was impressive.
A convenient means, perhaps, for middle-aged Ukrainian men to be rid of their harridan wives for a time while they chat on internet sites with single young Russian women.
Have progressives been learning from Vladislav Surkov?
if I’m understanding correctly, which I’m probably not and that’s part of the point, a German based progressive group is funding a Ukrainian propagandist video for the benefit of American Democrats / Progressives. did i follow correctly? With the aim being to get America to defend the borders Germany has undermined? or has Surkov been funding the German progressive group all along?
I feel for the plight of Ukrainians, they are being left to twist in the wind, Germany has traded eastern Europe’s stability for cheap access to Russian gas. But the notion of an army of Hilary Clintons is hardly going to dissuade Russia, I’m sure it’ll get likes and retweets from the actual Hillary Clinton but will it actual lead to any meaningful American support? Am i really supposed to believe that the administration that fumbled the evacuation of Afghanistan is now looking to start a war in Russia?
My instinct on it is that these progressives are toothless they want others to fear the power of the institutions they have taken over, but they have hollowed them out, is Russia really in fear of the gender fluid CIA disrupting its operations?
An army of Hilary Clintons! Hahaha I can’t say I’d be in a hurry to run to their defence. Might be more inclined to encourage Russia to “ get Ukraine done!”
It reads like a spinoff of Yes Minister with Humphrey replaced by a 20 something liberal arts graduate.
They seem to be doing rather better than Trump.
A low bar easy for almost anyone to step over.
What happens to the feminists in Ukraine when the West gets bored of backing them? Look no further than Afghanistan for the answer.
I’m terribly confused. The NATO Office of the Gender Advisor aims to utilize the “the complementary skills of both male and female personnel”. This sounds suspiciously like Complemenatarianism – a theological point of view that is the polar opposite of egalitarianism. Woke theory will collapse very soon under the weight of its own contradictions.
A portent for the future of the liberal West? Women doing the fighting for weak, Beta males
The simple fact is: the more revisionists like Putin and Xi there are in the world, the less stable the world order.
Every nation on the planet has had some territory outside its present borders–and bad actors play on that for their own ends.
Going back to the Hundred Years War…or the Thirty Years War…or the Napoleonic Wars, is not “muscular realism.” It’s historical naivete, masquerading as something more.
Learn a little history.
Men have died for centuries to protect their countries and families.
It’s high time equal numbers of women were on the front lines in any future conflict.