So far it seems Andy and Professor Gilbert Doctorow are the only two persons who have commented along the lines of Mr. Lavrov. MSM either ignores Russia's position or intentionally distorts it. The alternative media, usually conservative, tend to be very concerned about nuclear accidents. Ray McGovern a day ago also reminded us that nuclear deterrence still exists although more and more people seemed to think they can survive a nuclear shoot-out therefore it may be worth it to take the risk. As usual, the truth is frequently somewhere in between the polarities.
Most of us grew up in an era in which political leaders acted like responsible adults who worked tirelessly to reduce the nuclear threat. Somewhere along the line, I think starting with Clinton, the neocon disease took hold and both diplomacy and nuclear caution were tossed. At the beginning of Ukraine, our own nuclear red lines were crossed and many of us over-estimated the reality of the threat. Thankfully, Mr Putin proved a far better leader than many of us expected. I do think the neocons have been playing recklessly and are now embarrassed their bluffs have been called. Nevertheless, Russia can't give them a face-saving way out without fear that any graciousness will be misinterpreted by these idiots as weakness. Personally, while deeply horrified at the human cost, Im also experiencing a certain schadenfreude watching the neocons squirm. I keep trying to understand them but I am simply unable to bend my mind far.
I would say that the neocons mentality is that of a typical control freak church going mother-in-law. She wants to control based on the belief that she has right answers and solutions to everything. She manipulates and punishes, and becomes violent when she can’t get her way. She lectures about morality and values but has no ability for self reflection. The only allowed reaction to whatever she says is: “sieg heil!”
These characteristics are a prerequisite to enter the Washington foreign policy circles, or, maybe, Washington’s whatever?
When the mother-in-law drops dead, her funeral turns into the family celebration. Let’s hope that somebody somewhere is practicing a celebratory dance.
I'll be dancing for sure. The whole idea of their rules-based order is silly. Initially it seemed a wise way to keep order, but exercising power has resulted in immense disorder and unnecessary suffering and hatred. The idea failed.
There are a lot of logical inconsistencies in the narratives peddled by the "AMC," as you have named them. I have always supported Russia in this conflict, and while the balance of probability indicates that Russia will prevail, I am not at all sanguine about the pace and direction of the SMO.
There really is no good argument to be made for not quickly finishing the job. There is no good argument to be made for letting an enemy hang around long enough to arrange little surprises like Crocus Hall and Kursk. The AMCs like to point out that these attacks did not change the overall calculus of the military conflict, but that is not really the point. Those attacks still killed civilians. Those attacks still indicated embarrassing intelligence failure on Russia's part (especially Kursk, for which many heads should have rolled). And most importantly, you have to remember that you can never completely predict what's going to happen once you let slip the dogs of war. War is not predictable. Even a militarily inferior enemy can still get lucky. If you let your enemy continue to take potshots at you, day after day, then eventually they are going to get lucky and hit something.
Russia's red lines have proven to be quite a joke. Russia's dithering has allowed the West to become fully involved in a conflict that never should have lasted this long. Putin gives absolutely idiotic answers whenever he is asked about the West's latest commitment of new weapons to the conflict, saying, "Russia has these weapons too," as if it were some kind of pissing contest. Zelensky remains untargeted and safe in Kiev, despite holding no valid constitutional position for the last 4 months. Russia continues to send transit gas through Ukraine to customers in Europe.
This is a ridiculous way to fight an "existential" war and it simply redounds to the opinion that Russia is not a serious country. Putin seems intent upon snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and I just don't understand why.
You are right. His restraint will become legendary. With having to carry the burden of the public and political and military powers talking of escalation and retaliation I not sure how he even functions.
This video of a Mike Benz interview is extremely interesting. My initial reaction to it (need to watch twice and spend time pondering) is that it's an apologia for the neocons. Benz almost sounds fearful of them and I suspect Andrew would chew him to pieces both historical facts and picking apart flaws in his logic (not to mention lack of even a shred of decency or morality).
In the US, they're saying Putin never sticks to his red lines so the liberals won't worry about their lifestyles being disrupted by a war. Never mind the fact that Putin DID act militarily when one of his red lines was crossed before he invaded Ukraine in the first place.
And the propagandized fops believe it because the Very Intelligent People in their trusted media tell them to, and because they'll lose all of their friends and some of their family members if they don't. IOW, they believe it because they are in a cult and they don't even know it.
So far it seems Andy and Professor Gilbert Doctorow are the only two persons who have commented along the lines of Mr. Lavrov. MSM either ignores Russia's position or intentionally distorts it. The alternative media, usually conservative, tend to be very concerned about nuclear accidents. Ray McGovern a day ago also reminded us that nuclear deterrence still exists although more and more people seemed to think they can survive a nuclear shoot-out therefore it may be worth it to take the risk. As usual, the truth is frequently somewhere in between the polarities.
Most of us grew up in an era in which political leaders acted like responsible adults who worked tirelessly to reduce the nuclear threat. Somewhere along the line, I think starting with Clinton, the neocon disease took hold and both diplomacy and nuclear caution were tossed. At the beginning of Ukraine, our own nuclear red lines were crossed and many of us over-estimated the reality of the threat. Thankfully, Mr Putin proved a far better leader than many of us expected. I do think the neocons have been playing recklessly and are now embarrassed their bluffs have been called. Nevertheless, Russia can't give them a face-saving way out without fear that any graciousness will be misinterpreted by these idiots as weakness. Personally, while deeply horrified at the human cost, Im also experiencing a certain schadenfreude watching the neocons squirm. I keep trying to understand them but I am simply unable to bend my mind far.
I would say that the neocons mentality is that of a typical control freak church going mother-in-law. She wants to control based on the belief that she has right answers and solutions to everything. She manipulates and punishes, and becomes violent when she can’t get her way. She lectures about morality and values but has no ability for self reflection. The only allowed reaction to whatever she says is: “sieg heil!”
These characteristics are a prerequisite to enter the Washington foreign policy circles, or, maybe, Washington’s whatever?
When the mother-in-law drops dead, her funeral turns into the family celebration. Let’s hope that somebody somewhere is practicing a celebratory dance.
I'll be dancing for sure. The whole idea of their rules-based order is silly. Initially it seemed a wise way to keep order, but exercising power has resulted in immense disorder and unnecessary suffering and hatred. The idea failed.
There are a lot of logical inconsistencies in the narratives peddled by the "AMC," as you have named them. I have always supported Russia in this conflict, and while the balance of probability indicates that Russia will prevail, I am not at all sanguine about the pace and direction of the SMO.
There really is no good argument to be made for not quickly finishing the job. There is no good argument to be made for letting an enemy hang around long enough to arrange little surprises like Crocus Hall and Kursk. The AMCs like to point out that these attacks did not change the overall calculus of the military conflict, but that is not really the point. Those attacks still killed civilians. Those attacks still indicated embarrassing intelligence failure on Russia's part (especially Kursk, for which many heads should have rolled). And most importantly, you have to remember that you can never completely predict what's going to happen once you let slip the dogs of war. War is not predictable. Even a militarily inferior enemy can still get lucky. If you let your enemy continue to take potshots at you, day after day, then eventually they are going to get lucky and hit something.
Russia's red lines have proven to be quite a joke. Russia's dithering has allowed the West to become fully involved in a conflict that never should have lasted this long. Putin gives absolutely idiotic answers whenever he is asked about the West's latest commitment of new weapons to the conflict, saying, "Russia has these weapons too," as if it were some kind of pissing contest. Zelensky remains untargeted and safe in Kiev, despite holding no valid constitutional position for the last 4 months. Russia continues to send transit gas through Ukraine to customers in Europe.
This is a ridiculous way to fight an "existential" war and it simply redounds to the opinion that Russia is not a serious country. Putin seems intent upon snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and I just don't understand why.
The bombing of Nord Stream 2 would have been enough to kick off WW3, under a leader different from Putin.
I am not taking a stance that it would have been better: I have no way of knowing, and, perhaps, time will tell.
You are right. His restraint will become legendary. With having to carry the burden of the public and political and military powers talking of escalation and retaliation I not sure how he even functions.
🙏🙏
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This video of a Mike Benz interview is extremely interesting. My initial reaction to it (need to watch twice and spend time pondering) is that it's an apologia for the neocons. Benz almost sounds fearful of them and I suspect Andrew would chew him to pieces both historical facts and picking apart flaws in his logic (not to mention lack of even a shred of decency or morality).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o98Y1cEja-U&t=9927s&pp=2AHHTZACAQ%3D%3D
In the US, they're saying Putin never sticks to his red lines so the liberals won't worry about their lifestyles being disrupted by a war. Never mind the fact that Putin DID act militarily when one of his red lines was crossed before he invaded Ukraine in the first place.
And the propagandized fops believe it because the Very Intelligent People in their trusted media tell them to, and because they'll lose all of their friends and some of their family members if they don't. IOW, they believe it because they are in a cult and they don't even know it.