Lots of angst in my little corner of the world as it relates to Ukraine.
First, there is the US election. If Kamala Harris wins, there is every reason to believe that she will continue with Joe Biden’s cowardly, mealy-mouthed support for Ukraine – enough to stay in it but not enough to win it. “Do or do not. There is no try.” No wonder both Ukrainians and Americans are getting tired of a scenario where there is no clear plan for Ukrainian victory and certainly no clear plan for a just and lasting peace.
On the other hand, if Donald Trump (along with his virulent anti-Ukrainian running mate, J.D. Vance) wins, his “relationship” with Vladimir Putin will almost certainly put an end to Ukraine’s quest for sovereign statehood and a just peace. In fact, his election will likely even mean an end to the hope for peace in Europe entirely, as the US – who is already seen as a weak ally – will be unlikely to come to the aid of the next country that Putin and his ilk attempt to coerce back into the fetid imperialist “Russian world”.
“I’ll end the war in 24 hours,” Trump has said. Sure, by giving Putin everything he wants, including all of Ukraine. For any American voter who cares about Ukraine, you are indeed on the horns of a dilemma.
Then, you can add Germany to that mix of angst. Olaf Scholz, with his “no Ukraine in #NATO” nonsense, makes Biden and Harris look like the ultimate warriors. “Fear of escalation, blah, blah, blah…” The only thing Germany, the rest of Europe, and indeed the rest of the world should fear is the continued existence of the top “sh*thole country” in the world, namely #Russia. Russia’s escalating every day by bringing North Korean troops into the fray and killing Ukrainian civilians daily, but Scholz doesn’t seem to get that.
Maybe his next step will be for Germany to sign another non-aggression pact with Russia of the 1939 type. That’ll show ‘em.
Because the West is so weak and cowardly, Russia is making gains both on the battlefield and in the high offices of the world. Putin is loving this. Thirty years from now, we’ll all be wringing our hands again and moaning, “Never again!” and it’ll ring just as hollow then as it does now.
Angst indeed.
More Friday pot pourri
American Administration “angry” at Putin for not showing his commitment to peace in Ukraine
“Ceasefire?” Trump, Putin, and the selling out of Ukraine
Will Allen Dromgoole – “The Bridge Builder”
“Three Million Acres of Flame” – A review
It’s OUR OWN stories that speak most to us!
“Imagining Imagining”: Wisdom from award-winning author Gary Barwin
Flag Day is February 15 in Canada
Global communication: These are the “good old days”
The blind men and the elephant
Resolutions for 2025 for a man in his mid-60s
Basketball has changed in the past 40 years – but has it changed for the better? (Part 2)
Basketball has changed in the past 40 years – but has it changed for the better? (Part 1)
Thanksgiving 2024: Gratitude for those who share this writing journey with me
Another trip to Ireland in the books in 2024
The day in 1980 I struck a blow for Canada
Interesting place names in New Brunswick and Alberta
Ukrainian independence in the face of cowardice and appeasement
Ukrainian invasion of Russia??!
Steiner – What does it mean to live a “good” life?
Bremen, Indiana – “A good town”
Unreturned messages: A New Brunswick particularity?
“Zelensky” (the boat, not the man) has moved on to other seas
Jourard – Life has value as long as a person has “meaningful projects”
Moving to a new community: Take the first steps
The brilliant thesis advisor I never had: Professor Ivan Lysiak Rudnytsky (1919-1984)