The Donbass has some similarities to Northern Ireland but I would ask how would the UK react if NI had suffered to the same extent. If the ROI became a state that was heavily influenced by extremely dodgy WW2 ideologies, was being heavily armed by China after a coup that kicked out the elected government, followed by a revolt in the North by English speakers which then led to a hot war in which the hardcore in the East, who considered themselves to be British were partially successful in holding back the Irish forces resulting in a stalemate.
How long before the British intervened ? As Irish forces start to shell civilians in Lisburn, Bangor, Larne etc ? after having incinerated about 50 protestors in a trade's union HQ in Newry. Putin waited 8 years & during that time the estimated deaths for those shelled civilians in the Donbass is estimated at around 12,000. The Russian language was banned, Bandera turned up in the curriculum, critics were disappeared & of late ethnic Russians stuck West of the frontline when pressganged are those who are mainly used as cannon fodder, often as a buffer between RFU forces & the likes of the Azov, if they are not all taking part in a PR visit to some Western capital which in the past included Israel.
As for the main subject I am still just glad that the escalatory unholy trinity of Biden, Blinken & Sullivan are gone & it does look as though Trump is going to concentrate on China which is at least faraway, hopefully meaning that the butchery could end in Ukraine & if RFK Jnr can improve health in treatment & in food quality without catching a big pharma or Agg bullet all the better. Medical bills are apparently the biggest cause of bankruptcy in the US - coming to a town near you ? Trump loves his tariffs although as Richard D. Wolffe explains it could well backfire inflation wise, while US farmers are increasingly struggling while being worried about 100% tariffs being put on Canadian & Russian imports of fertilisers.
All horribly interesting in that Chinese curse sort of a way.
Hello Steve. I love your comments. They always make me think.
I 'think' we are arguing in roughly the same vein are we not? I don't like Putin and am not championing any country invading another but as I think you are pointing out Ukraine and its backers were not innocent and peace-loving victims. Is that what you were pointing out Steve? If I've misunderstood please forgive me.
The Ukraine has been destabilised for a decade or more by the West as much as Russia. Your reference to Bandera is apposite. A Nazi ultranationalist whose group participated enthusiastically in the Holocaust and is now a 'hero' of the present Ukrainian military leadership. Those people, that military and its western backers, will they make life better in the Donbass should they prevail? I honestly don't know. Better for some probably and worse for others.
There was a moment when a peace deal was on the table, till Boris at Washington's behest, killed it. Yes, Ukraine would have been divided. Yes a national border would have been ignored and redrawn. Yes, Putin would have succeeded in arms. And hundreds of thousands of mothers would still have their sons.
And then, in this alternate history, what might have happened? Might some diplomatic rapprochement have been pursued? If Trump does force peace, even at this blood-soaked hour, we might find out.
As for Trump the tragedy for me is not that he was elected, but that for those who voted for him who wanted a radical change, he was the only choice they were offered. Of course there are some who love his every idiot idea. But there are others who voted less for him and more against the continuation of the system which for the last 40 years has overseen the gradual destruction of everything which is noble and wonderful about our culture. Sacrificed on an alter of greed, self interest and lies.
Is it nobler to vote to continue such a feast of vanity and death than to vote for change?
I couldn't agree more David & I don't particularly like Putin but for the most part he has managed Russia very well, since the nightmare of the 90's shock therapy & personally I don't blame him for not wanting nukes within 3 minutes of Moscow, which I suppose is not a good thing for anyone unless you are an ideological lunatic with a taste for Mexican standoffs.
I guess that I am just sick of the double standards, hypocrisy & lies constantly spewing out of the West. You mentioned Hearst who was bad enough but Clinton due to his Telecommunications Act as I assume you well know has resulted in massive vested interest control of the media by the corporate sector, which in my opinion as a collective is killing many people in various ways.
I don't like Trump who reminds me of a boss I once had who I was always at odds with, but to be honest as of this moment the Liberal order worries me more at the moment especially within the EU Commission bureaucracy who are increasing their power over member states , while being led by people with an ideological tunnel vision resulting in for the most part self harming - for the people that is.
It's a massive mess & here in the UK we have increasing repression under Starmer who it appears wants us to join the EZ, which with the potential likelihood of another financial meltdown would likely mean we would suffer much in the way of Greek style discipline.
You are correct about cultural degradation which is not so bad over here in comparison to at least my old industrial hometown - which is a hollow shell of despair in comparison to what it once was.
The Left IMO has become inconsequential as with Galloway badly effected by divide & rule in relation to immigration. Maybe the centre needs to collapse in order to breathe life into the Left in order to properly fight the oncoming Right.
I guess that I am as they say over here " Giving out " & I just hope that before I kick the bucket that I won't again be forced to quit a place that while never really having been Bedford Falls has completely evolved into Pottersville.
Getting the popcorn ready 🍿
Thank you for bringing some clarity to the general confusion. The Greeks say that "Hope dies last."
The Donbass has some similarities to Northern Ireland but I would ask how would the UK react if NI had suffered to the same extent. If the ROI became a state that was heavily influenced by extremely dodgy WW2 ideologies, was being heavily armed by China after a coup that kicked out the elected government, followed by a revolt in the North by English speakers which then led to a hot war in which the hardcore in the East, who considered themselves to be British were partially successful in holding back the Irish forces resulting in a stalemate.
How long before the British intervened ? As Irish forces start to shell civilians in Lisburn, Bangor, Larne etc ? after having incinerated about 50 protestors in a trade's union HQ in Newry. Putin waited 8 years & during that time the estimated deaths for those shelled civilians in the Donbass is estimated at around 12,000. The Russian language was banned, Bandera turned up in the curriculum, critics were disappeared & of late ethnic Russians stuck West of the frontline when pressganged are those who are mainly used as cannon fodder, often as a buffer between RFU forces & the likes of the Azov, if they are not all taking part in a PR visit to some Western capital which in the past included Israel.
As for the main subject I am still just glad that the escalatory unholy trinity of Biden, Blinken & Sullivan are gone & it does look as though Trump is going to concentrate on China which is at least faraway, hopefully meaning that the butchery could end in Ukraine & if RFK Jnr can improve health in treatment & in food quality without catching a big pharma or Agg bullet all the better. Medical bills are apparently the biggest cause of bankruptcy in the US - coming to a town near you ? Trump loves his tariffs although as Richard D. Wolffe explains it could well backfire inflation wise, while US farmers are increasingly struggling while being worried about 100% tariffs being put on Canadian & Russian imports of fertilisers.
All horribly interesting in that Chinese curse sort of a way.
Hello Steve. I love your comments. They always make me think.
I 'think' we are arguing in roughly the same vein are we not? I don't like Putin and am not championing any country invading another but as I think you are pointing out Ukraine and its backers were not innocent and peace-loving victims. Is that what you were pointing out Steve? If I've misunderstood please forgive me.
The Ukraine has been destabilised for a decade or more by the West as much as Russia. Your reference to Bandera is apposite. A Nazi ultranationalist whose group participated enthusiastically in the Holocaust and is now a 'hero' of the present Ukrainian military leadership. Those people, that military and its western backers, will they make life better in the Donbass should they prevail? I honestly don't know. Better for some probably and worse for others.
There was a moment when a peace deal was on the table, till Boris at Washington's behest, killed it. Yes, Ukraine would have been divided. Yes a national border would have been ignored and redrawn. Yes, Putin would have succeeded in arms. And hundreds of thousands of mothers would still have their sons.
And then, in this alternate history, what might have happened? Might some diplomatic rapprochement have been pursued? If Trump does force peace, even at this blood-soaked hour, we might find out.
As for Trump the tragedy for me is not that he was elected, but that for those who voted for him who wanted a radical change, he was the only choice they were offered. Of course there are some who love his every idiot idea. But there are others who voted less for him and more against the continuation of the system which for the last 40 years has overseen the gradual destruction of everything which is noble and wonderful about our culture. Sacrificed on an alter of greed, self interest and lies.
Is it nobler to vote to continue such a feast of vanity and death than to vote for change?
I couldn't agree more David & I don't particularly like Putin but for the most part he has managed Russia very well, since the nightmare of the 90's shock therapy & personally I don't blame him for not wanting nukes within 3 minutes of Moscow, which I suppose is not a good thing for anyone unless you are an ideological lunatic with a taste for Mexican standoffs.
I guess that I am just sick of the double standards, hypocrisy & lies constantly spewing out of the West. You mentioned Hearst who was bad enough but Clinton due to his Telecommunications Act as I assume you well know has resulted in massive vested interest control of the media by the corporate sector, which in my opinion as a collective is killing many people in various ways.
I don't like Trump who reminds me of a boss I once had who I was always at odds with, but to be honest as of this moment the Liberal order worries me more at the moment especially within the EU Commission bureaucracy who are increasing their power over member states , while being led by people with an ideological tunnel vision resulting in for the most part self harming - for the people that is.
It's a massive mess & here in the UK we have increasing repression under Starmer who it appears wants us to join the EZ, which with the potential likelihood of another financial meltdown would likely mean we would suffer much in the way of Greek style discipline.
You are correct about cultural degradation which is not so bad over here in comparison to at least my old industrial hometown - which is a hollow shell of despair in comparison to what it once was.
The Left IMO has become inconsequential as with Galloway badly effected by divide & rule in relation to immigration. Maybe the centre needs to collapse in order to breathe life into the Left in order to properly fight the oncoming Right.
I guess that I am as they say over here " Giving out " & I just hope that before I kick the bucket that I won't again be forced to quit a place that while never really having been Bedford Falls has completely evolved into Pottersville.
Good to see Jonathon here - take care all.