Sadly for all of the world, the US Empire does not ever admit that their criminal designs lead to incalculable suffering, and they are as loathe as any Russian leader to admit defeat. The US military has launched over 500 ''operations' since the end of WWII, ALL of them international crimes. While I believe Putin's invasion of Ukraine is horrific, it pales in comparison to US history. Since the overwhelming majority of our media is State propaganda (Virtually all real journalists with any integrity have been banished to the margins.), the average USian is as ignorant of world affairs as Soviet citizens were always portrayed to be. Neither your government nor ours is likely to choose a humane course of action. We, of course, will not suffer the bombs, displacement, etc., but we will be negatively affected, nevertheless. I wish you and your fellow citizens well. Peace.
You are a skilled writer, and the deep feelings for your homeland are apparent and memorable. I listened to your President's press conference on 22/12/22. He did not talk of victory. I believe he is a realist and knows that this war has grown bloated with missiles and weapons from England, France, Germany and the United States. He knows that the United States and its allies will continue to pelt Russians till they collapse, which has been their goal since 1990. He feels he must defend Russia against her aggressors. Ukraine will suffer a horrible death. I hope my country will stop sending weapons and allow Russians and Ukrainians to work out their differences peacefully. But, this is not the American way. I am sorry that American leaders hate Russia. Please continue writing so more people can see that words can heal and persuade better than bombs... Thank you for this.
The US defense industry needs to be broken up. The US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) was mentioned in Financial Times, WSJ and other conservative MSM news for recently approving sending RTX's Patriot (developed starting in the late 60's/early 70's) to Ukraine. Of course the US SecDef would approve that idea. Why would the US SecDef *not* do that? He has served on RTX's board of directors. Signing off on the approval for a "signature" product means more money for all on the RTX board, and any who are using RTX stock as a means to retire.
A more competitive landscape for US companies -- competitive as in there are tens, perhaps hundreds of companies who have to bid on programs rather than just the usual five -- *might* mean
a reduction of "market place" strength in the US Empire. This is just a theory unfortunately, and a boycott is not that simple and ultimately of no comfort to the original writer.
I hope too for the Russians and Ukrainians to work out their differences peacefully. It's a disgrace that US "leaders" will throw in as many obstacles as possible, with a major apparent reason being almost as old as the hills -- financial gain, status gain.
I'd like to point out the Irish peace process from the '90s, and perhaps the truth and reconciliation process in South Africa from years ago. Flawed processes, yes, but backed by an admirable amount of determinism by participants. May they serve as a better model than whatever the current DC chaos-makers want to export.
I agree with Ochkina that the special military operation was a mistake and from a narrow perspective a defeat (de-Nazification and de-militarization of Ukraine) but certainly not the greatest defeat Russia has experienced by any measure. Putin is right, the greatest defeat was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I strongly believe that the war option was not a good one, but after 27 million dead at the hands of the Nazis, how could Russia allow the Western neo-Nazi fascists take over Ukraine and allow it to suffer what happened to Russia after the fall of the USSR – become a humiliated, subservient colony of the West. The defeat was initiating a war that has pretty much destroyed Ukraine – the very thing Russia was trying to save. Nevertheless, the Ukraine civil war is only a side show for the much larger economic war against U.S. global financial hegemony. A war that Russia, China’s “Trojan Horse,” is very much winning.
"The capture of Ukraine" was never stated by President Putin as a purpose for his invasion of the country. Perhaps the writer ought to look closer at the words he has spoken, as well as the lies uttered by US Presidents since the demise of the USSR in 1991. This British socialist is no supporter of the reactionary nationalist Russian President, but his speeches about the Nazi elements in Ukraine have long been borne out by evidence widely reported in US publications among many others in the years before 2022. Strangely, that reporting has since ended.
Sadly for all of the world, the US Empire does not ever admit that their criminal designs lead to incalculable suffering, and they are as loathe as any Russian leader to admit defeat. The US military has launched over 500 ''operations' since the end of WWII, ALL of them international crimes. While I believe Putin's invasion of Ukraine is horrific, it pales in comparison to US history. Since the overwhelming majority of our media is State propaganda (Virtually all real journalists with any integrity have been banished to the margins.), the average USian is as ignorant of world affairs as Soviet citizens were always portrayed to be. Neither your government nor ours is likely to choose a humane course of action. We, of course, will not suffer the bombs, displacement, etc., but we will be negatively affected, nevertheless. I wish you and your fellow citizens well. Peace.
You are a skilled writer, and the deep feelings for your homeland are apparent and memorable. I listened to your President's press conference on 22/12/22. He did not talk of victory. I believe he is a realist and knows that this war has grown bloated with missiles and weapons from England, France, Germany and the United States. He knows that the United States and its allies will continue to pelt Russians till they collapse, which has been their goal since 1990. He feels he must defend Russia against her aggressors. Ukraine will suffer a horrible death. I hope my country will stop sending weapons and allow Russians and Ukrainians to work out their differences peacefully. But, this is not the American way. I am sorry that American leaders hate Russia. Please continue writing so more people can see that words can heal and persuade better than bombs... Thank you for this.
The US defense industry needs to be broken up. The US Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) was mentioned in Financial Times, WSJ and other conservative MSM news for recently approving sending RTX's Patriot (developed starting in the late 60's/early 70's) to Ukraine. Of course the US SecDef would approve that idea. Why would the US SecDef *not* do that? He has served on RTX's board of directors. Signing off on the approval for a "signature" product means more money for all on the RTX board, and any who are using RTX stock as a means to retire.
A more competitive landscape for US companies -- competitive as in there are tens, perhaps hundreds of companies who have to bid on programs rather than just the usual five -- *might* mean
a reduction of "market place" strength in the US Empire. This is just a theory unfortunately, and a boycott is not that simple and ultimately of no comfort to the original writer.
I hope too for the Russians and Ukrainians to work out their differences peacefully. It's a disgrace that US "leaders" will throw in as many obstacles as possible, with a major apparent reason being almost as old as the hills -- financial gain, status gain.
I'd like to point out the Irish peace process from the '90s, and perhaps the truth and reconciliation process in South Africa from years ago. Flawed processes, yes, but backed by an admirable amount of determinism by participants. May they serve as a better model than whatever the current DC chaos-makers want to export.
Beautifully written, thank you.
1) i don't think the Russians will lose .... i think they have already won. Its only Zelensky and the USA who don't care about more Ukr deaths.
2) and i think the invasion of Ukr was justified to fight USA aggression.
3) carry on
Very nice essay. Russia has a great civilization, but terrible leaders. It is a tragedy that has befallen them now.
I agree with Ochkina that the special military operation was a mistake and from a narrow perspective a defeat (de-Nazification and de-militarization of Ukraine) but certainly not the greatest defeat Russia has experienced by any measure. Putin is right, the greatest defeat was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I strongly believe that the war option was not a good one, but after 27 million dead at the hands of the Nazis, how could Russia allow the Western neo-Nazi fascists take over Ukraine and allow it to suffer what happened to Russia after the fall of the USSR – become a humiliated, subservient colony of the West. The defeat was initiating a war that has pretty much destroyed Ukraine – the very thing Russia was trying to save. Nevertheless, the Ukraine civil war is only a side show for the much larger economic war against U.S. global financial hegemony. A war that Russia, China’s “Trojan Horse,” is very much winning.
"The capture of Ukraine" was never stated by President Putin as a purpose for his invasion of the country. Perhaps the writer ought to look closer at the words he has spoken, as well as the lies uttered by US Presidents since the demise of the USSR in 1991. This British socialist is no supporter of the reactionary nationalist Russian President, but his speeches about the Nazi elements in Ukraine have long been borne out by evidence widely reported in US publications among many others in the years before 2022. Strangely, that reporting has since ended.