I think this is the crux of the problem for people like Biden and others who rely on maintaining their long-long-outdated mask of democracy: there was never a majority with high hopes for the success of America stretching out its unipolar moment. Sure, there are still lots of low-IQ McCain-type morons dragging their knuckles through the corridors of power, but any illusion they may have once been able to nurture about their majority is fast shimmering away, like a mirage in the desert.
As more and more people become more and more familiar with the machinations required to maintain the military-industrial complex of the American Century, fewer and fewer are willing to thump their chests and get behind the idea that this was ever a good idea in the first place.
The hope eluded to above is an illusion: no-one hopes to drag this out any longer, with the exception (1%?) of those who have no other way of making so much money. It is NOT a democratic proposition. See what the Global South thinks of it!
Leveling with the people is something the American elites running the show have never done, not in the entire history of the country. There's no reason to assume they'll start now.
Here's a better path to peace (at least in Europe): Russia finally steps on the gas and wins the war. Ukraine's complete defeat will deal a massive blow to U.S. credibility and prestige, since the U.S. was both the chief instigator and driving force behind this war. America's stranglehold over the European continent might finally be loosened, if not broken. There could be knock-on effects elsewhere, too, as suddenly the idea of embracing U.S.-backed color revolutions will seem a lot less appealing. Thus, the road to a multi-polar world opens a little more.
It seems obvious to me that the Administration's goal for the war is to destabilize the Russian government in the hope that Putin will be overthrown. If that were to lead to a period of chaos that would ultimately lead to the Russian Federation coming apart into its constituent parts, well, so much the better is their belief. Indeed, shortly after the SMO began General Austin said that the goal is to weaken Russia. He was forced to backtrack on this at the time, since the official line was that as long as Kiev wanted to keep fighting we would supply them with weapons, etc. This is obviously not something that Biden, Blinkin et. al. are willing to come right out and say, given that it amounts to a declaration of war on the Russian Federation, on the one hand, and admits that the number of Ukrainians who die to achieve this goal does not matter, on the other.
Many of us know that the war in Ukraine are started by USA & NATO already in 2014. No matter who’s president in USA they have 3 priorities and that is with all methods to weaken Russia China Iran and another unconditional rule is to fully support Israel no matter how many international laws they break or how many innocent people they kill in their genocide
From a European perspective it’s strange to see that no matter where on earth there are conflicts or war is USA involved Either directly or indirectly USA is the most aggressive warmongering country in the world and the biggest threat to world peace They will do everything to keep their military complex running They have probably killed about 30 M people since WW2 and they still do. It’s unbelievable that Europe support all their illegal loser wars and follow USA everywhere. Diplomacy do not exist in USA anymore Only sanctions threats and wars. Why are USA so afraid of other countries and why do they see enemies everywhere They have as the only country in the world more than 800 military bases 1000 of miles from their homeland Russia China don’t have that. BRICS nations want to cooperate and trade with other countries USA want to fight them Who can convince them that their way to act is and old fashioned stupid violent strategy with no winners ? Negotiations diplomacy compromise are they way intelligent people solve problems and discrepancies Not by killing each other. We want peace not endless wars
I suspect that the "strategy" is the one outlined in the 2019 RAND report, which is to weaken Russia. The problems with publishing a strategy paper saying this are two-fold.
First, admitting that the goal is not actual "victory" would be baldly admitting to Ukraine that we don't care about "winning" in the traditional sense. Ordinary Ukrainians that haven't yet internalized this truth would have their noses rubbed in it, which wouldn't exactly do wonders for political stability there.
This takes us to the other problem: to admit that we do not seek an actual victory removes a definitive endpoint to our participation. We can, at any time, declare Russia "weakened enough" and say "our job here is done." Wretched Ukraine is left holding the bag.
LOL! The only "strategy" the Blinken & Sullivan(B&S) Administration has for Ukraine is to keep the grift flowing for as long as possible and to hope against hope that somehow Russia will magically collapse.
Transparency should have been a by-law for most of the government actions except as related to diplomatic, military, and national security issues. The spokespersons were supposed to be a channel for transparency, but now these folks are simply professional liars. POTUS should have the right to classify and declassify. However, Congress should make its own decisions on any classification on decisions and documents out of Congress.
"...getting their hopes unrealistically high..."
I think this is the crux of the problem for people like Biden and others who rely on maintaining their long-long-outdated mask of democracy: there was never a majority with high hopes for the success of America stretching out its unipolar moment. Sure, there are still lots of low-IQ McCain-type morons dragging their knuckles through the corridors of power, but any illusion they may have once been able to nurture about their majority is fast shimmering away, like a mirage in the desert.
As more and more people become more and more familiar with the machinations required to maintain the military-industrial complex of the American Century, fewer and fewer are willing to thump their chests and get behind the idea that this was ever a good idea in the first place.
The hope eluded to above is an illusion: no-one hopes to drag this out any longer, with the exception (1%?) of those who have no other way of making so much money. It is NOT a democratic proposition. See what the Global South thinks of it!
Leveling with the people is something the American elites running the show have never done, not in the entire history of the country. There's no reason to assume they'll start now.
Here's a better path to peace (at least in Europe): Russia finally steps on the gas and wins the war. Ukraine's complete defeat will deal a massive blow to U.S. credibility and prestige, since the U.S. was both the chief instigator and driving force behind this war. America's stranglehold over the European continent might finally be loosened, if not broken. There could be knock-on effects elsewhere, too, as suddenly the idea of embracing U.S.-backed color revolutions will seem a lot less appealing. Thus, the road to a multi-polar world opens a little more.
It seems obvious to me that the Administration's goal for the war is to destabilize the Russian government in the hope that Putin will be overthrown. If that were to lead to a period of chaos that would ultimately lead to the Russian Federation coming apart into its constituent parts, well, so much the better is their belief. Indeed, shortly after the SMO began General Austin said that the goal is to weaken Russia. He was forced to backtrack on this at the time, since the official line was that as long as Kiev wanted to keep fighting we would supply them with weapons, etc. This is obviously not something that Biden, Blinkin et. al. are willing to come right out and say, given that it amounts to a declaration of war on the Russian Federation, on the one hand, and admits that the number of Ukrainians who die to achieve this goal does not matter, on the other.
Thanks for sharing Andrew.
Many of us know that the war in Ukraine are started by USA & NATO already in 2014. No matter who’s president in USA they have 3 priorities and that is with all methods to weaken Russia China Iran and another unconditional rule is to fully support Israel no matter how many international laws they break or how many innocent people they kill in their genocide
From a European perspective it’s strange to see that no matter where on earth there are conflicts or war is USA involved Either directly or indirectly USA is the most aggressive warmongering country in the world and the biggest threat to world peace They will do everything to keep their military complex running They have probably killed about 30 M people since WW2 and they still do. It’s unbelievable that Europe support all their illegal loser wars and follow USA everywhere. Diplomacy do not exist in USA anymore Only sanctions threats and wars. Why are USA so afraid of other countries and why do they see enemies everywhere They have as the only country in the world more than 800 military bases 1000 of miles from their homeland Russia China don’t have that. BRICS nations want to cooperate and trade with other countries USA want to fight them Who can convince them that their way to act is and old fashioned stupid violent strategy with no winners ? Negotiations diplomacy compromise are they way intelligent people solve problems and discrepancies Not by killing each other. We want peace not endless wars
I suspect that the "strategy" is the one outlined in the 2019 RAND report, which is to weaken Russia. The problems with publishing a strategy paper saying this are two-fold.
First, admitting that the goal is not actual "victory" would be baldly admitting to Ukraine that we don't care about "winning" in the traditional sense. Ordinary Ukrainians that haven't yet internalized this truth would have their noses rubbed in it, which wouldn't exactly do wonders for political stability there.
This takes us to the other problem: to admit that we do not seek an actual victory removes a definitive endpoint to our participation. We can, at any time, declare Russia "weakened enough" and say "our job here is done." Wretched Ukraine is left holding the bag.
LOL! The only "strategy" the Blinken & Sullivan(B&S) Administration has for Ukraine is to keep the grift flowing for as long as possible and to hope against hope that somehow Russia will magically collapse.
Transparency should have been a by-law for most of the government actions except as related to diplomatic, military, and national security issues. The spokespersons were supposed to be a channel for transparency, but now these folks are simply professional liars. POTUS should have the right to classify and declassify. However, Congress should make its own decisions on any classification on decisions and documents out of Congress.
Why do you think American people care what's happening in Ukraine (or Gaza for that matter)?
It's so far removed from them.