Biden needs to express how extreme the sanctions will be. Isolating Russia from Europe and ending trade. If they invade. Freezing bank accounts. Etc. Why would Putin care? He likely would not. Others in Russia will. We have been weak with our sanctions. It has to hurt those in power.
Excellent analysis. Subsequent questions: has the GOP become a pro-Russian or Russian-enabling party? Is it time to remind the “American carnage” crowd what a real carnage regime looks like and help them fall in love with democracy again ...
The look on the face of Putin and the expression in his eyes have become ever more obviousl sinister and untrustworthy the longer he continues as President. In so many photos as a much younger man the contrasts are so evident. Putin, with his early days poverty in St Petersburg, has proved he has absolutely no conscience, and a pathological need to accumulate wealth. Third parties have accumulated huge fortunes in places like Panama. on his behalf. The Putin Palace, not far from The Black Sea, indicates total indifference to the poverty which exists in Russia, and his desperate need for utter self interest in this little man of very unimpressive physical stature. A very brave man like Alexei Navalny is very well aware that The Russian Federation is being run by a very evil criminal supported by those of similar ambitions. Now Oleg Navalny is being picked on in the usual utterly corrupt system. In all his political life, Putin has been incapable of even one decent memory of his very long Presidential term. On the contrary he will be remembered for acts of barbarity and manipulation with Syria as an example of this little man's depravity. So many posed photos of Putin attempting to play the part of a fine masculine cult figure prove how unbalanced and mentally unstable he has become.
Biden and others did well with knocking down the element of surprise and unpredictability. Fact is neither NATO, EU or US want a ground war with Russia. Sanctions are only pushing Putin closer to China. We need to strengthen and expand NATO. Putin wanted and needed the vast coal mines, steel industry and foundries, as well as seaports. Mariupol and Odessa will be prizes.
Despite the threat of impending economic sanctions, strongman Putin marches ahead with revanchist aggression against eastern Ukrane which he covers with a false narrative of lies dripping out everywhere. Repetition and saturation are essential to pounding home such outrageous propaganda. Words like fire hose and avalanche come to mind.
His calculations might include sanctions being lifted by his comrade Trump if he is returned to power in three years? God forbid if that happens, it would mean the dissolution of NATO and American leadership in the world that promotes liberal democratic values. If those two goals of Putin's are met, he will have then succeeded in creating a new system of worldwide alliances built on authoritarianism and tightly controlled autocratic states.
Absolutely brilliant insight as always Dr. Ben-Gait! Putin has been using the same playbook his entire career. He is a former espionage agent and the only thing he knows is to use force to achieve his goals. He has aspirations to try to reestablish the former soviet states, but does not realize that people want the ability to make their own choice in choosing their destiny and not to have it dictated to them by some two bit thug and bully! Putin and his cronies along with all of the oligarchs need to pay a hefty price for their transgressions against the Russian people and the world! Putin needs to be taken before The Hague and tried and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ukraine is just another extension of his continuing aggression and unless he is stopped all of Europe and the world are at risk! Estimates say over 100,000 civilians could lose their lives in this Ukrainian invasion and that is not acceptable!
Biden needs to express how extreme the sanctions will be. Isolating Russia from Europe and ending trade. If they invade. Freezing bank accounts. Etc. Why would Putin care? He likely would not. Others in Russia will. We have been weak with our sanctions. It has to hurt those in power.
Excellent analysis. Subsequent questions: has the GOP become a pro-Russian or Russian-enabling party? Is it time to remind the “American carnage” crowd what a real carnage regime looks like and help them fall in love with democracy again ...
The look on the face of Putin and the expression in his eyes have become ever more obviousl sinister and untrustworthy the longer he continues as President. In so many photos as a much younger man the contrasts are so evident. Putin, with his early days poverty in St Petersburg, has proved he has absolutely no conscience, and a pathological need to accumulate wealth. Third parties have accumulated huge fortunes in places like Panama. on his behalf. The Putin Palace, not far from The Black Sea, indicates total indifference to the poverty which exists in Russia, and his desperate need for utter self interest in this little man of very unimpressive physical stature. A very brave man like Alexei Navalny is very well aware that The Russian Federation is being run by a very evil criminal supported by those of similar ambitions. Now Oleg Navalny is being picked on in the usual utterly corrupt system. In all his political life, Putin has been incapable of even one decent memory of his very long Presidential term. On the contrary he will be remembered for acts of barbarity and manipulation with Syria as an example of this little man's depravity. So many posed photos of Putin attempting to play the part of a fine masculine cult figure prove how unbalanced and mentally unstable he has become.
Biden and others did well with knocking down the element of surprise and unpredictability. Fact is neither NATO, EU or US want a ground war with Russia. Sanctions are only pushing Putin closer to China. We need to strengthen and expand NATO. Putin wanted and needed the vast coal mines, steel industry and foundries, as well as seaports. Mariupol and Odessa will be prizes.
Krushehev's granddaughter says, "That is as far as he is going."
Each person on earth struggles to survive their government.
Despite the threat of impending economic sanctions, strongman Putin marches ahead with revanchist aggression against eastern Ukrane which he covers with a false narrative of lies dripping out everywhere. Repetition and saturation are essential to pounding home such outrageous propaganda. Words like fire hose and avalanche come to mind.
His calculations might include sanctions being lifted by his comrade Trump if he is returned to power in three years? God forbid if that happens, it would mean the dissolution of NATO and American leadership in the world that promotes liberal democratic values. If those two goals of Putin's are met, he will have then succeeded in creating a new system of worldwide alliances built on authoritarianism and tightly controlled autocratic states.
History is watching.
Absolutely brilliant insight as always Dr. Ben-Gait! Putin has been using the same playbook his entire career. He is a former espionage agent and the only thing he knows is to use force to achieve his goals. He has aspirations to try to reestablish the former soviet states, but does not realize that people want the ability to make their own choice in choosing their destiny and not to have it dictated to them by some two bit thug and bully! Putin and his cronies along with all of the oligarchs need to pay a hefty price for their transgressions against the Russian people and the world! Putin needs to be taken before The Hague and tried and convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ukraine is just another extension of his continuing aggression and unless he is stopped all of Europe and the world are at risk! Estimates say over 100,000 civilians could lose their lives in this Ukrainian invasion and that is not acceptable!
Excellent article