You are right Julius. We have indulged in wishful thinking ( especially those of us with grandsons in the Forces ) that the Russians only have an argument with Ukraine. While Putin has his own people brainwashed, this is his moment in history to continue westwards , while we who faced the Russians during the Cold War can only look on in disbelief at the betrayal of the Americans and the inertia of Europe . How can we project the truth to the people of Russia before it is too late ?
Hi Martin. I think it needs a multi-pronged effort. It is not about destroying Russia or anything like that - they have nuclear weapons and we know that at least at one point in the war they discussed using a tactical nuke in Ukraine - but about changing the incentives. So far every time Putin has started a new effort - Georgia, Crimea, Ukraine proper - he has been rewarded with more land. In his eyes what he is doing is working so why should he change? But if we can say to the Russians: no more land through aggression and meanwhile offer carrots for better (less expansionist) behaviour Moscow (whether Putin or his successor) might reconsider. The crazy thing is we now have people willing to take the losses for us to hold the Russians back (the Ukrainians). All they are asking for is material help and so, of course, Europe should give it. In terms of influencing Russians, it's not going to be easy in what is effectively a dictatorship but avenues like BBC Russian Service, Radio Free Europe and the like are very cost effective methods. The Russians have run rings around us in the information war - you only have to look at the current White House to see how well their talking points have been taken hold - and we have to fight back. There is so much nonsense talked: 'Nato expansion is the real problem', 'All Putin needs is respect' etc.. and we have to challenge those narratives. On that note there was a great commentary by Fareed Zakaria yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MEXluSnAAc. Nothing new but a great summary.
Wondering why we haven't heard from you for awhile??
I think we need to say it - it could happen.
And 'could' in this case is enough. I was amongst the ones who said this time 'Ukraine is not gonna happen'. Days before it happened.
And it is not like I haven't done Russia/Ukraine during some of its previous turbulences, I WANTED to be naïve and I wanted Ukraine not to happen.
I will now go to another place here and I want to hear your thoughts...because I think it is important and in a strange way co-related...
I am watching carefully what is happening in Turkey (elections) and India (import of agricultural goods from US)
I hope you're wrong, of course, but fear you are not ... J.
You are right Julius. We have indulged in wishful thinking ( especially those of us with grandsons in the Forces ) that the Russians only have an argument with Ukraine. While Putin has his own people brainwashed, this is his moment in history to continue westwards , while we who faced the Russians during the Cold War can only look on in disbelief at the betrayal of the Americans and the inertia of Europe . How can we project the truth to the people of Russia before it is too late ?
Hi Martin. I think it needs a multi-pronged effort. It is not about destroying Russia or anything like that - they have nuclear weapons and we know that at least at one point in the war they discussed using a tactical nuke in Ukraine - but about changing the incentives. So far every time Putin has started a new effort - Georgia, Crimea, Ukraine proper - he has been rewarded with more land. In his eyes what he is doing is working so why should he change? But if we can say to the Russians: no more land through aggression and meanwhile offer carrots for better (less expansionist) behaviour Moscow (whether Putin or his successor) might reconsider. The crazy thing is we now have people willing to take the losses for us to hold the Russians back (the Ukrainians). All they are asking for is material help and so, of course, Europe should give it. In terms of influencing Russians, it's not going to be easy in what is effectively a dictatorship but avenues like BBC Russian Service, Radio Free Europe and the like are very cost effective methods. The Russians have run rings around us in the information war - you only have to look at the current White House to see how well their talking points have been taken hold - and we have to fight back. There is so much nonsense talked: 'Nato expansion is the real problem', 'All Putin needs is respect' etc.. and we have to challenge those narratives. On that note there was a great commentary by Fareed Zakaria yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MEXluSnAAc. Nothing new but a great summary.