For a brief moment, Ukraine was beacon of freedom. Now, it is clear that for all our talk, no one in the West really thought they could beat Russia. Worse, it is clear that many never wanted them to.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing " - Edmund Burke
I expect nothing less from our PM, he's mostly all mouth, no substance. Besides, after decades of neglect our cupboard is pretty much empty.
Macron is a surrender monkey, so no surprise there either, nor with the Germans. They'll squeal like pigs though when/if Russia comes for them .
I'm disgusted at others too. India for kissing up to Pudolphs backside, for a start.
This article is so very true and depressing to contemplate. Thank God my dad, uncles and their generation had the balls to step up and stop evil 80 years ago. They must be rolling in the grave.
Journos do this weird conflation of "journalistic interest" with "actual commitment". I don't believe the actual flows of either money or weapons have slackened yet. I don't think Andrew can point to any reduction in actual, material, measurable support. Joe Biden's personal age has no effect on his political powers, and nearly the ONLY area of politics where he and Boris can immediately get money and support from their legislatures, is Ukraine support.
Boris' one light in the darkness right now is talking Ukraine, his one Good Deed that even opponents will shut up for and even link arms.
The shocking thing about the 'perfidy' of central Europe is that it is population-deep, not just Macron; I'd expected big public marches and movements for "turn down the thermostat, and don't drive, don't fly" as patriotic campaigns, sustained by TV ads. Like WW2 and "don't travel, save all your metal" campaigns were.
The equivalent on this continent, of course, are all the right-wing pols and people that happily blame war inflation of energy costs on some mysterious, unexplained mismanagement by their opponents. Every right-winger that endlessly harps on "gas prices" and inflation in general, is helping weaken our resolve and empower Putin. They aren't just putting party over country, they're putting party over Democracy. (In the States, of course, that's not new; it's Canada that disappoints.)
The final long-scream about how we secretly hate Ukraine is over-the-top, of course. Fine article at The Atlantic about how we were much, much more cowardly when we first supported Hungary in 1956, then backed off completely when Russia moved in. We were just much, much more scared of nuclear war in 1956. Now we know that Russia is very scared of it, too, we are pushing the envelope much harder than in 1956. But, at the end of the day, World War 1 happened because defense of small nations dragged large nations into conflict with each other, and, well, Never Again. We know that Putin is more than a little crazy, and exactly how hard we should push him is not a judgement call I envy.
No, Ukraine was never a beacon of freedom. Zelensky ran on a platform in 2015 to seek peace in the Donbass, winning with over 70% of the votes. The fascist elements within the army and ukrainian society undermined (he was threaten to be killed if he did so) his efforts. Instead the Russian language was banned, and the eastern provinces began to be bombed. NATO's intention was never that Ukraine could win this war but to engage Russia in a war. It was absurd to pretend that Ukraine could defend against the huge Russian army. The motto was "we'll fight Russia until the last Ukrainian". That has not changed. And as far as from 2014 on, there were many reports in western media of the influence of pro nazi and fascist groups within the country. And overnight, Ukraine transformed itself into a "beacon of freedom"?
Give me a break!
Profile: Ukraine's ultra-nationalist Right Sector - Apr 28 2014 - BBC
The Neo-Nazi Question in Ukraine - May 11 2014 - Huffpost
Fascism returns to the continent it once destroyed - May 12 2014 - TNR
Ukraine conflict: 'White power' warrior from Sweden - Jul 16 2014 - BBC
Preparing for War With Ukraine’s Fascist Defenders of Freedom - Aug 30 2014 - Foreign Policy
German TV Shows Nazi Symbols on Helmets of Ukraine Soldiers - Sep 9 2014 - NBCnews
Azov fighters are Ukraine's greatest weapon and may be its greatest threat - Sep 10 2014 - Guardian
Volunteer Ukrainian unit includes Nazis - Mar 10 2015 - USA Today
US House Admits Nazi Role in Ukraine - Jun 14 2015 - Consortium News
Why Ukraine’s New Ultranationalist Party Will Not Last - Oct 19 2016 - Atlantic Council
Ukraine's Hyper-Nationalist Military Summer Camp for Kids | NBC Left Field (vid) - Jul 13 2017 - NBCnews
The reality of neo-Nazis in Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda - Nov 9 2017 - The Hill
The US is Arming and Assisting Neo-Nazis in Ukraine, While Congress Debates Prohibition - Jan 18 2018 - The RealNews Network
In Ukraine, Ultranationalist Militia Strikes Fear In Some Quarters - Jan 30 2018 - RFERL
Commentary: Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problem - Mar 19 2018 - Reuters
America’s Collusion With Neo-Nazis - May 2 2018 - The Nation
Ukraine’s Got a Real Problem with Far-Right Violence (And No, RT Didn’t Write This Headline) - Jun 20 2018 - Atlantic Council
Ukraine, Anti-Semitism, Racism, and the Far Right - Oct 16 2018 - Atlantic Council
Azov, Ukraine's Most Prominent Ultranationalist Group, Sets Its Sights On U.S., Europe - Nov 14 2018 - RFERL
Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine - Feb 22 2019 - The Nation
Ultranationalism in Ukraine – a photo essay - Apr 11 2019 - Guardian
There’s One Far-Right Movement That Hates the Kremlin - Apr 17 2019 - Foreign Policy
Is America Training Neonazis in Ukraine? - Dec 8 2019 - DailyBeast
The Azov Regiment has not depoliticized - Mar 19 2020 - Atlantic Council
Like, Share, Recruit: How a White-Supremacist Militia Uses Facebook to Radicalize and Train New Members - Jan 7 2021 - Time
Profile: Who are Ukraine’s far-right Azov regiment? - Mar 1 2022 - Aljazeerah
How Ukraine’s Jewish president Zelensky made peace with neo-Nazi paramilitaries on front lines of war with Russia - Mar 4 2022 - Grayzone
Ukraine's Nazi problem is real, even if Putin's 'denazification' claim isn't - Mar 6 2022 - NBCnews
Right-wing Azov Battalion emerges as a controversial defender of Ukraine - Apr 6 2022 - Washington Post
Your evaluation of the military situation could be right, although it's contrary to what I'm reading elsewhere, ie that some long range artillery has been received and that early stages of a Ukrainian counteroffensive are evident now. The facts on the ground will settle this. The rest of this article I find a bit baffling: Who are these Western leaders who simultaneously desire the humiliation of Russia and its military but also feel threatened by or hostile to the idea of an independent Ukraine? If such people exists, what is their unspoken rationale? Losing interest is one (very human) thing. Actively wishing for the failure of the Ukrainian cause is another. Not sure how you're going from one to the other.
The frustration in this, as in so many things Canadian, is the inability to do anything remotely constructive (or, in the case of Russia and Russians... destructive.)
On a military level, interesting to watch the war progress. Russia stumbles at the beginning, but is now reverting to old-school artillery. Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of shells per day. Talk about your logistics. Russia started out with dodgy tires on their vehicles, yet they also have hypersonic missiles. We send Ukraine the very promising Javelin missiles, and they burn through a year's worth of production in a few weeks, and I'm told their effectiveness (old batteries, etc.) has been shall we say, mixed. This isn't a war against goat herders with AKs and RPGs. This is army with satellites, standoff weapons, helicopters, jets, subs, missiles. I'm told the Pentagon is the moderate voice in the halls of power these days; THAT is something.
On a financial/economic level, holy shit the west has no clue. Energy is EVERYTHING, and Russia has the EU by the throat. Quite a beta test of green policies. Talk about your "Great Reset". We'll see if they freeze in the dark come next fall. The only reset has been to globalization and the dominance of the US dollar. Sanctions, shmanctions, the ruble is as good as can be.
On a political level, it's been an eye opener. Poorest country in Europe is the biggest donor to the Clinton foundation? Hmmm. Nothing-to-see-hear on the Azovs? Hmmm. Propaganda? Hmmm, this has been quite a case study in modern propaganda. The worst is this war didn't have to happen. The leaders in charge are corrupt and naive and stupid and evil.
Same comment. Hope you are dead wrong but suspect that with current “woke” state of the western part of the “West” you are likely correct. The woke folks see this war as a sideshow in the larger changes that must be visited upon western society. I feel for Ukraine and all the other Eastern European nations who know what Putin is and what he could do to them as well.
Isn't humiliating Russia one of the primary objectives? Obviously, the over-riding goal is a Russian withdrawl with as few civilian casualities as possible.
A humiliation would send the right messages to other other authoritarian, nationalist, kelptocratic and expansionist governments:
-authoritarianism discourages transparency. The military capabilities of authoritarian regimes may be less than that they appear to be due to military coommanders failing to disclose troop deficiences and looting of equipment
-governments rule over geographies, not cultures. Putin has no authority or obligation to protect the alleged interests of Russian speakers or ethnic Russians outsides the borders of Russia. Ukranians did not welcome Russian forces despite cultural ties, much as Taiwanese would be unlikely to welcome Chinese advances
-Putin is one of the world's wealthiest individuals. The invasion is at least paritally motivated by Eastern Ukraine's natural gas reserves. Dedicating wealth seized from Putin and his oligarchs to rebuilding Ukriane will make other kleptocrats think twice about pushing thier luck
-borders can only be changed after substantial majorities in the subject territory express the desire to do so through a clear and open referendum
Only Canadians think that Canada still matters at the big boy table. Canadians don't have the work ethic or willpower to punch at its weight. As long as we get our free cradle to grave welfare state we don't care.
For military and political strategists, Ukraine is a break from norms and into untested territory. We are back to political brinksmanship with a nuclear power which is also providing a great deal of the EUs energy needs. Suddenly the whole climate change strategy is caught with its pants down. It is also the first of the drone wars. Tanks and helicopters are proving highly vulnerable to more sophisticated hand held weapons. Unfortunately, both sides are falling back on artillery and rockets which are not particularly accurate and therefore take heavy toll on infrastructure and the population as a whole.
The news seems to have the west falling into a reactive strategy. Given the Russian takeover of Crimea and their activities in Syria, this should have been predicable. Canada had been doing some training of military personnel before this and Trump had visited Ukraine ( although the whole visit was overshadowed by the Hunter Biden thing ). Somewhere in the classified files there is likely a plan that was never followed and therefore we are doing an ad hoc job now.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing " - Edmund Burke
I expect nothing less from our PM, he's mostly all mouth, no substance. Besides, after decades of neglect our cupboard is pretty much empty.
Macron is a surrender monkey, so no surprise there either, nor with the Germans. They'll squeal like pigs though when/if Russia comes for them .
I'm disgusted at others too. India for kissing up to Pudolphs backside, for a start.
This article is so very true and depressing to contemplate. Thank God my dad, uncles and their generation had the balls to step up and stop evil 80 years ago. They must be rolling in the grave.
Ugh. I want you to be wrong but very much fear that you are right.
Journos do this weird conflation of "journalistic interest" with "actual commitment". I don't believe the actual flows of either money or weapons have slackened yet. I don't think Andrew can point to any reduction in actual, material, measurable support. Joe Biden's personal age has no effect on his political powers, and nearly the ONLY area of politics where he and Boris can immediately get money and support from their legislatures, is Ukraine support.
Boris' one light in the darkness right now is talking Ukraine, his one Good Deed that even opponents will shut up for and even link arms.
The shocking thing about the 'perfidy' of central Europe is that it is population-deep, not just Macron; I'd expected big public marches and movements for "turn down the thermostat, and don't drive, don't fly" as patriotic campaigns, sustained by TV ads. Like WW2 and "don't travel, save all your metal" campaigns were.
The equivalent on this continent, of course, are all the right-wing pols and people that happily blame war inflation of energy costs on some mysterious, unexplained mismanagement by their opponents. Every right-winger that endlessly harps on "gas prices" and inflation in general, is helping weaken our resolve and empower Putin. They aren't just putting party over country, they're putting party over Democracy. (In the States, of course, that's not new; it's Canada that disappoints.)
The final long-scream about how we secretly hate Ukraine is over-the-top, of course. Fine article at The Atlantic about how we were much, much more cowardly when we first supported Hungary in 1956, then backed off completely when Russia moved in. We were just much, much more scared of nuclear war in 1956. Now we know that Russia is very scared of it, too, we are pushing the envelope much harder than in 1956. But, at the end of the day, World War 1 happened because defense of small nations dragged large nations into conflict with each other, and, well, Never Again. We know that Putin is more than a little crazy, and exactly how hard we should push him is not a judgement call I envy.
No, Ukraine was never a beacon of freedom. Zelensky ran on a platform in 2015 to seek peace in the Donbass, winning with over 70% of the votes. The fascist elements within the army and ukrainian society undermined (he was threaten to be killed if he did so) his efforts. Instead the Russian language was banned, and the eastern provinces began to be bombed. NATO's intention was never that Ukraine could win this war but to engage Russia in a war. It was absurd to pretend that Ukraine could defend against the huge Russian army. The motto was "we'll fight Russia until the last Ukrainian". That has not changed. And as far as from 2014 on, there were many reports in western media of the influence of pro nazi and fascist groups within the country. And overnight, Ukraine transformed itself into a "beacon of freedom"?
Give me a break!
Profile: Ukraine's ultra-nationalist Right Sector - Apr 28 2014 - BBC
The Neo-Nazi Question in Ukraine - May 11 2014 - Huffpost
Fascism returns to the continent it once destroyed - May 12 2014 - TNR
Ukraine conflict: 'White power' warrior from Sweden - Jul 16 2014 - BBC
Preparing for War With Ukraine’s Fascist Defenders of Freedom - Aug 30 2014 - Foreign Policy
German TV Shows Nazi Symbols on Helmets of Ukraine Soldiers - Sep 9 2014 - NBCnews
Azov fighters are Ukraine's greatest weapon and may be its greatest threat - Sep 10 2014 - Guardian
Volunteer Ukrainian unit includes Nazis - Mar 10 2015 - USA Today
US House Admits Nazi Role in Ukraine - Jun 14 2015 - Consortium News
Why Ukraine’s New Ultranationalist Party Will Not Last - Oct 19 2016 - Atlantic Council
Ukraine's Hyper-Nationalist Military Summer Camp for Kids | NBC Left Field (vid) - Jul 13 2017 - NBCnews
The reality of neo-Nazis in Ukraine is far from Kremlin propaganda - Nov 9 2017 - The Hill
The US is Arming and Assisting Neo-Nazis in Ukraine, While Congress Debates Prohibition - Jan 18 2018 - The RealNews Network
In Ukraine, Ultranationalist Militia Strikes Fear In Some Quarters - Jan 30 2018 - RFERL
Commentary: Ukraine’s neo-Nazi problem - Mar 19 2018 - Reuters
America’s Collusion With Neo-Nazis - May 2 2018 - The Nation
Ukraine’s Got a Real Problem with Far-Right Violence (And No, RT Didn’t Write This Headline) - Jun 20 2018 - Atlantic Council
Ukraine, Anti-Semitism, Racism, and the Far Right - Oct 16 2018 - Atlantic Council
Azov, Ukraine's Most Prominent Ultranationalist Group, Sets Its Sights On U.S., Europe - Nov 14 2018 - RFERL
Neo-Nazis and the Far Right Are On the March in Ukraine - Feb 22 2019 - The Nation
Ultranationalism in Ukraine – a photo essay - Apr 11 2019 - Guardian
There’s One Far-Right Movement That Hates the Kremlin - Apr 17 2019 - Foreign Policy
Is America Training Neonazis in Ukraine? - Dec 8 2019 - DailyBeast
The Azov Regiment has not depoliticized - Mar 19 2020 - Atlantic Council
Like, Share, Recruit: How a White-Supremacist Militia Uses Facebook to Radicalize and Train New Members - Jan 7 2021 - Time
Profile: Who are Ukraine’s far-right Azov regiment? - Mar 1 2022 - Aljazeerah
How Ukraine’s Jewish president Zelensky made peace with neo-Nazi paramilitaries on front lines of war with Russia - Mar 4 2022 - Grayzone
Ukraine's Nazi problem is real, even if Putin's 'denazification' claim isn't - Mar 6 2022 - NBCnews
Right-wing Azov Battalion emerges as a controversial defender of Ukraine - Apr 6 2022 - Washington Post
Your evaluation of the military situation could be right, although it's contrary to what I'm reading elsewhere, ie that some long range artillery has been received and that early stages of a Ukrainian counteroffensive are evident now. The facts on the ground will settle this. The rest of this article I find a bit baffling: Who are these Western leaders who simultaneously desire the humiliation of Russia and its military but also feel threatened by or hostile to the idea of an independent Ukraine? If such people exists, what is their unspoken rationale? Losing interest is one (very human) thing. Actively wishing for the failure of the Ukrainian cause is another. Not sure how you're going from one to the other.
Ultimately, it’s all a business decision. The loss and misery is a write off in the grand scale of things. So sad that this is the state of affairs.
The frustration in this, as in so many things Canadian, is the inability to do anything remotely constructive (or, in the case of Russia and Russians... destructive.)
On a human level, it's awful. Those poor people.
On a military level, interesting to watch the war progress. Russia stumbles at the beginning, but is now reverting to old-school artillery. Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of shells per day. Talk about your logistics. Russia started out with dodgy tires on their vehicles, yet they also have hypersonic missiles. We send Ukraine the very promising Javelin missiles, and they burn through a year's worth of production in a few weeks, and I'm told their effectiveness (old batteries, etc.) has been shall we say, mixed. This isn't a war against goat herders with AKs and RPGs. This is army with satellites, standoff weapons, helicopters, jets, subs, missiles. I'm told the Pentagon is the moderate voice in the halls of power these days; THAT is something.
On a financial/economic level, holy shit the west has no clue. Energy is EVERYTHING, and Russia has the EU by the throat. Quite a beta test of green policies. Talk about your "Great Reset". We'll see if they freeze in the dark come next fall. The only reset has been to globalization and the dominance of the US dollar. Sanctions, shmanctions, the ruble is as good as can be.
On a political level, it's been an eye opener. Poorest country in Europe is the biggest donor to the Clinton foundation? Hmmm. Nothing-to-see-hear on the Azovs? Hmmm. Propaganda? Hmmm, this has been quite a case study in modern propaganda. The worst is this war didn't have to happen. The leaders in charge are corrupt and naive and stupid and evil.
Depressing accuracy, and a reminder; again, of how little leadership there is in the west, and that power unchecked, corrupts absolutely.
Same comment. Hope you are dead wrong but suspect that with current “woke” state of the western part of the “West” you are likely correct. The woke folks see this war as a sideshow in the larger changes that must be visited upon western society. I feel for Ukraine and all the other Eastern European nations who know what Putin is and what he could do to them as well.
Isn't humiliating Russia one of the primary objectives? Obviously, the over-riding goal is a Russian withdrawl with as few civilian casualities as possible.
A humiliation would send the right messages to other other authoritarian, nationalist, kelptocratic and expansionist governments:
-authoritarianism discourages transparency. The military capabilities of authoritarian regimes may be less than that they appear to be due to military coommanders failing to disclose troop deficiences and looting of equipment
-governments rule over geographies, not cultures. Putin has no authority or obligation to protect the alleged interests of Russian speakers or ethnic Russians outsides the borders of Russia. Ukranians did not welcome Russian forces despite cultural ties, much as Taiwanese would be unlikely to welcome Chinese advances
-Putin is one of the world's wealthiest individuals. The invasion is at least paritally motivated by Eastern Ukraine's natural gas reserves. Dedicating wealth seized from Putin and his oligarchs to rebuilding Ukriane will make other kleptocrats think twice about pushing thier luck
-borders can only be changed after substantial majorities in the subject territory express the desire to do so through a clear and open referendum
Only Canadians think that Canada still matters at the big boy table. Canadians don't have the work ethic or willpower to punch at its weight. As long as we get our free cradle to grave welfare state we don't care.
The situation is heartbreaking for Ukraine. I'll never forgive France and Germany for taking this position. India has disappointed me too.
If Britain, Europe, The US, Canada through assisting Ukraine cannot defeat one man’s ruthless desire for conquest, democracy has lost.
Good summation of the unfolding situation, Andrew.
Glory to Ukraine, Disgrace and Shame to the Hypocritical West. As a Canadian, I feel the shame.
For military and political strategists, Ukraine is a break from norms and into untested territory. We are back to political brinksmanship with a nuclear power which is also providing a great deal of the EUs energy needs. Suddenly the whole climate change strategy is caught with its pants down. It is also the first of the drone wars. Tanks and helicopters are proving highly vulnerable to more sophisticated hand held weapons. Unfortunately, both sides are falling back on artillery and rockets which are not particularly accurate and therefore take heavy toll on infrastructure and the population as a whole.
The news seems to have the west falling into a reactive strategy. Given the Russian takeover of Crimea and their activities in Syria, this should have been predicable. Canada had been doing some training of military personnel before this and Trump had visited Ukraine ( although the whole visit was overshadowed by the Hunter Biden thing ). Somewhere in the classified files there is likely a plan that was never followed and therefore we are doing an ad hoc job now.