This is not to say that the Russians are blameless here in any way (and your personification of them as entirely agents of Putin is rather crass) I'd be more inclined to accept your arguments here if you gave more (or even any) indication that you'd considered the goings on in the Donbas over the eight years prior to the invasion/SMO in your analysis. The shellings, the Odessa torching, the cultural repressions, those kind of things - to ask your question if we ignore such things completely then "how human are we"?
Russia's motivation for the invasion of Ukraine is not imperialistic. Even the most rudimentary investigation of the situation there would reveal that.
To compare what is happening in russia to what the US has done for 70 years is Absurd.
Your header says it all, 'Western and Russian Imperialism: Our Wrongs Don’t Make Putin Right'
That is True on the surface.
The Problem is the US absolves itself from it's wrongs without making any repentance, demonizing the other side for doing what the US has done in all the WARS it waged against only poor, 3rd World Countries since WWII with the most expensive Military Force in the History of Nations, and couldn't get a win in any of them.
Winning a WAR quickly stops the steady flow of MONEY to the US Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.
The 20 year occupation of Afghanistan, one of the poorest Countries on Earth, cost the US Taxpayer some $2,000,000,000,000 in a steady flow of cash to US Arms Industries and Contractors.
The US Taxpayer is paying for the Ukraine WAR with BORROWED MONEY, and most of the $100,000,000,000 given to Ukraine so far is actually going to the US ARMS MANUFACTURES profiting off it like a bandit. US ARMS SALES to the NATO Vassal States are going through the roof like never before.
Who wants to negotiate stopping WAR it's so profitable for US Oligarchs?
But the establishment elite still won’t put you on all the guest lists and talk shows, though perhaps some openings may now become available. Just kidding. I know you are cool with the ostracism.
So to your view of this escalating war, how about we look at global rather than national issues.
If international law must be applied to Putin then let’s back that action. I’m a fan of yours and think you could take your analysis of the situation far far deeper.
The war hasn’t really appeared to be managed with that it mind.
The very real critique at hand -
rather than your straw men - has to do with a hypocritical oligarchy calling the shots against a despot that seems to be a threat to a flawed hegemony, while coddling others of far more questionable character.
What say you to the very real probability that the Nordstream pipelines were destroyed as reported by Seymour Hersch? What entity could investigate that act, and hold a perpetrator accountable ? None? Why is that?
Thoughtful perspective...and having spent over 30 years interacting with people & orgs in the USSR and then the 15 independent republics (esp Russia) I can say it IS complicated. Nevertheless, Putin's greatest flaws are cynicism towards people (including his own, not just Ukrainians or Westerners) and revanchism...the effort to restore what is past.
The judgment of history has long been a central point of reference for Putin the czar. Russia always had all the people, resources, opportunity to create a strong, post-empire 21st century Russia. Instead, Putin has used corruption and now this bloody war to pursue a 19th century illusion. The people of Ukraine are paying a catastrophic price for this delusional war; Russians will pay even more.
Yet, there also won't be a simple happy end to the war. Cancel-mindedness is it's own delusion. Human civilization with all its beauty and tragedy and drama will go on. Envisioning the next period of order matters. For it to be a sustainable period of order, it must be inclusive. Best wishes to us all.
Thanks Russ. Spot on. People do not understand Putin or Russia and how it has suffered. Nor do they understand how Ukrainians have suffered. It’s the Ukrainians we must think about. They have a right to be a people and a democracy. All corruption is endemic in most of the developing world, the vast majority of the corruption in Ukraine can be traced back to pro Russian leaders there like Yanukovych who Putin wanted to put back in power. Russia breeds corruption. It was fundamental to the czars, the Soviet’s and now Putin. We thought when the Berlin wall fell that we’d come in and show them capitalism and they’d become like us. Instead we are becoming like them with Brexit paid for by Russia and now democracy in America at risk from extremism possibly paid for but certainly modeled after Russia. The house is acting much like the Duma. History will be very unkind to Putin but I am reminded of Churchill having to deal with Lord Halifax and Neville Chamberlain who sought always to make a deal with Hitler. You don’t appease narcissistic psychopaths. Putin murders his enemies - now in the form of wave after wave of poor Russian men from the regions. The only solution is to support Ukraine with everything we have. I’d personally give them nukes. You must not allow countries with nukes to benefit from unchecked aggression or it will lead to your house.
This is not to say that the Russians are blameless here in any way (and your personification of them as entirely agents of Putin is rather crass) I'd be more inclined to accept your arguments here if you gave more (or even any) indication that you'd considered the goings on in the Donbas over the eight years prior to the invasion/SMO in your analysis. The shellings, the Odessa torching, the cultural repressions, those kind of things - to ask your question if we ignore such things completely then "how human are we"?
Russia's motivation for the invasion of Ukraine is not imperialistic. Even the most rudimentary investigation of the situation there would reveal that.
To compare what is happening in russia to what the US has done for 70 years is Absurd.
you are not a writer you are a propagandist.
Your header says it all, 'Western and Russian Imperialism: Our Wrongs Don’t Make Putin Right'
That is True on the surface.
The Problem is the US absolves itself from it's wrongs without making any repentance, demonizing the other side for doing what the US has done in all the WARS it waged against only poor, 3rd World Countries since WWII with the most expensive Military Force in the History of Nations, and couldn't get a win in any of them.
Winning a WAR quickly stops the steady flow of MONEY to the US Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.
The 20 year occupation of Afghanistan, one of the poorest Countries on Earth, cost the US Taxpayer some $2,000,000,000,000 in a steady flow of cash to US Arms Industries and Contractors.
The US Taxpayer is paying for the Ukraine WAR with BORROWED MONEY, and most of the $100,000,000,000 given to Ukraine so far is actually going to the US ARMS MANUFACTURES profiting off it like a bandit. US ARMS SALES to the NATO Vassal States are going through the roof like never before.
Who wants to negotiate stopping WAR it's so profitable for US Oligarchs?
Certainly not the US!
US WAR Propaganda appeals to Emotion, not Reason.
Spot on, Russ! Thank you for posting, and for your extensive research and embedded citations. MarkT
100%. Thank you, Russ!
Thanks Russ,
But the establishment elite still won’t put you on all the guest lists and talk shows, though perhaps some openings may now become available. Just kidding. I know you are cool with the ostracism.
So to your view of this escalating war, how about we look at global rather than national issues.
If international law must be applied to Putin then let’s back that action. I’m a fan of yours and think you could take your analysis of the situation far far deeper.
The war hasn’t really appeared to be managed with that it mind.
The very real critique at hand -
rather than your straw men - has to do with a hypocritical oligarchy calling the shots against a despot that seems to be a threat to a flawed hegemony, while coddling others of far more questionable character.
What say you to the very real probability that the Nordstream pipelines were destroyed as reported by Seymour Hersch? What entity could investigate that act, and hold a perpetrator accountable ? None? Why is that?
Thoughtful perspective...and having spent over 30 years interacting with people & orgs in the USSR and then the 15 independent republics (esp Russia) I can say it IS complicated. Nevertheless, Putin's greatest flaws are cynicism towards people (including his own, not just Ukrainians or Westerners) and revanchism...the effort to restore what is past.
The judgment of history has long been a central point of reference for Putin the czar. Russia always had all the people, resources, opportunity to create a strong, post-empire 21st century Russia. Instead, Putin has used corruption and now this bloody war to pursue a 19th century illusion. The people of Ukraine are paying a catastrophic price for this delusional war; Russians will pay even more.
Yet, there also won't be a simple happy end to the war. Cancel-mindedness is it's own delusion. Human civilization with all its beauty and tragedy and drama will go on. Envisioning the next period of order matters. For it to be a sustainable period of order, it must be inclusive. Best wishes to us all.
Thanks Russ. Spot on. People do not understand Putin or Russia and how it has suffered. Nor do they understand how Ukrainians have suffered. It’s the Ukrainians we must think about. They have a right to be a people and a democracy. All corruption is endemic in most of the developing world, the vast majority of the corruption in Ukraine can be traced back to pro Russian leaders there like Yanukovych who Putin wanted to put back in power. Russia breeds corruption. It was fundamental to the czars, the Soviet’s and now Putin. We thought when the Berlin wall fell that we’d come in and show them capitalism and they’d become like us. Instead we are becoming like them with Brexit paid for by Russia and now democracy in America at risk from extremism possibly paid for but certainly modeled after Russia. The house is acting much like the Duma. History will be very unkind to Putin but I am reminded of Churchill having to deal with Lord Halifax and Neville Chamberlain who sought always to make a deal with Hitler. You don’t appease narcissistic psychopaths. Putin murders his enemies - now in the form of wave after wave of poor Russian men from the regions. The only solution is to support Ukraine with everything we have. I’d personally give them nukes. You must not allow countries with nukes to benefit from unchecked aggression or it will lead to your house.