Russia's invasion of the nation of Ukraine grinds on.
It most certainly does not look like the blitzkrieg most of the world expected. Whether this is due to Ukrainian resistance, Russia incompetence, or just a slow deliberate methodical approach to the invasion, none of us outside of Putin's inner circle knows.
From my vantage point, and with the scant knowledge I have, it strikes me as though Putin's plans might have changed at the last minute. It appeared that his forces were building up to launch an invasion of eastern Ukraine, protecting the "independent" republics in that part of the country, and, perhaps, firming up the Russian position around Crimea. It SEEMS--those more knowledgeable, please join the discussion--that the plan got expanded at the last minute, and a multi-prong invasion of Ukraine undertaken. This new plan, it SEEMS (there's that word), was neither fully developed nor properly resourced; it had not counted on the resistance APPARENTLY shown by the Ukrainians, or the reported incompetence of the Russian logistical system. If this proves so, Russia risks becoming a puppet, a colony of the PRC. The reports coming out that indicate Russia seeks Chinese military equipment and economic assistance seem--that word--to bear this out. That process is underway, it SEEMS.
I really don't know, and my speculation proves almost worth the price of admission to this blog.
Issue number one: Ending the assault on freedom at home.
What makes it even harder to figure out what's happening is the almost total shut-down of information from Russia, not by the autocrats and yacht-set oligarchs in Moscow, but by the autocrats and tech-set oligarchs of the "Free" World. If one expresses an interest in hearing the other side of the story, one risks getting labelled a traitor, and getting de-platformed or otherwise shutdown. We see Senator Mitt Romney, for example, calling former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard a traitor because she's asking questions about the bio-lab issue. What? A "traitor"? A death penalty offense? The USA is not a belligerent in this conflict; it is between two foreign nations, neither an ally of the USA. How in a free country is questioning the official line "treason"? Is dissent now treason? We have to accept the government line or we are traitors? Just as with COVID, we see our masters using a crisis to stifle democracy and independence of thought at home. What happened to the slogan from just a few months ago about dissent as the highest form of patriotism? Boy, that shifted quickly.
Issue number two: Reestablishing our energy independence and industrial base.
We also see that these new found "patriots" calling us to rally around the president and the flag do nothing to protect the long-term interests of the USA--a country many of them openly hate. In fact, they actively work to undermine the position of the US in the world and destroy freedom and prosperity at home.
I have said this before, sorry, but will say it again. The USA can only have security by restoring not just our energy independence, but our technical and industrial independence, as well. This is actually not that hard to do. On energy it's obvious: remove the absurd "green-powered" restrictions on oil, gas, coal, and nuclear development. On industry, takes a little longer, but we need to start. A combination of tax, regulatory, and tariff policies can go far in bringing industry home, stopping the hemorrhaging of our jobs and technical know-how. Sorry, but all those PRC-citizen students in our universities studying science and engineering, need to leave. This is not racist; this is common sense.
We are fools to allow the PRC to mine our technical institutes and companies. The gravy train should end for those American tech moguls who get rich outsourcing key industries. It is absurd, for example, that we have become nearly 100% dependent on China and India for antibiotics, and becoming increasingly likewise dependent on China for microchips and other key components for civilian and military applications.
Towards a New Isolationism?
I wish the Ukrainians good luck; I hate what is happening there. My overwhelming concern, however, is for the United States.
No more foolish wars or endless expansion of our commitments, and so-called interests abroad. No more flag-draped caskets coming home.
You want to label it "Isolationism"? That word maligned in all the history books? Yes, maybe.You might call it that. I find the word less and less odious, and ever more endearing. Will write more on that.
Dip best write up on this I have read yet, and it's not first or hundredth
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that going to change the upper class left is for this idiocy to finally be bad enough that they feel the effects. Because as it stands, for most of the left, it's "Let them eat cake" thinking.
ReplyDeleteIf you use a VPN and redirect it to a node in Hong Kong or India you will probably be able to connect to sites in Russia.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone ever wonder how the poor corrupt Ukraine is doing such an outstanding job of winning the Twitter War? Is it all thanks to the efforts of ordinary Ukrainians -- or are they getting help? We should expect the fog of war, but what we are getting is almost like intravenous Goebbels.
ReplyDeleteYes, the US needs to rebuild our industrial base. First step towards that is rolling back excessive regulation, making sure that the benefits of the many fewer regulations we retain greatly exceed their costs. This will also release from government/NGO employment large numbers of people who will have to find genuine productive employment. We also need to cut Big Law down to size.
However, we need to be realistic. Doing what needs to be done domestically will break a very large number of iron rice bowls. The situation will have to get much worse before there is a strong enough push to begin to make it better.
Trying to be positive, the Biden* crew and the Deep State are doing everything they can to make things much worse for the US, and thereby accelerate the day when we finally start to turn things around.
A most enjoyable post! You are accurate, and to the point!
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that the "financialisation" of the economy has led many to discount the fundamental nature of manufacturing as the basis for all wealth and prosperity.
ReplyDeleteWithout manufacturers making products for profitable sale at prices people consider good value, there is no wealth or prosperity.
The "financial industry" does not create wealth, it merely churns and concentrates it.
And as the finance and marketing types take over advanced technology companies, they eventually crash and burn.
Boeing, for example. In the lead up to the 737 Max debacle, there was not a single engineer on Boeing's board, except for James Stavridis, whose job is to keep the Pentagon sweet, not engineering or product quality.
You should compare Russia's attack on Ukraine to the US' invasion of Iraq. (Both war crimes) It took the US over a month to reach and occupy Baghdad. Russia has already occupied an area of Ukraine substantially larger than all of Iraq. Also we have never stabilized our occupation of Iraq, despite 19 years of trying. Of course we never succeeded in anything in Somalia, despite 29 years of trying.
ReplyDeleteWait another two to four weeks to judge the Russian invasion.
Not judging the Russian invasion. I have repeatedly stated I don't know what exactly is happening; I don't think anybody else does either aside from the Russian and Ukrainian generals. My concern is not the Russian invasion; my concern is the national interest of the US. I want us to be independent as much as we possibly can be so that events such as this have a minimal impact upon us. I think we can do that.
DeleteThis is amazing if anywhere near true:
ReplyDeletehttps://turcopolier.com/russia-may-only-have-14-days/
The "Syria Tale" as those of us may recall was similar:
Deletehttps://theweek.com/articles/473510/what-happens-syria-bashar-alassad-falls-4-scenarios
I would humbly suggest Dip's over the target and we're all catching flak.
Nobody knows nothing.
JK
True. We in the West want to view the conduct of war through Western morals and sensitivity. Not so the East. Western media and others view any casualties as moral failure and the reason we should not be involved militarily anywhere. Never mind it is usually non stop media saturating our news with heart rending pictures of death and destruction demanding We DO something.
DeleteWhat is even more absurd with regard to the antibiotic situation is that this was identified by the Trump Administration as an issue in 2020. Yet, NOTHING has been done to change or improve the situation. Extremely shortsighted and unforgiveable.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most accurate article I've read in a long time.
ReplyDeleteNice condensed history lesson
The Architects of Our Present Disaster
https://amgreatness.com/2022/03/14/the-architects-of-our-present-disaster/
Excellent offering Ravenworks, a sincere 'Thank you very much' as Nuland's (of the same era as Hillary's tenure of State - Benghazi anyone?) role seems, for whatever reason, sarc, to be totally ignored [cancelled?] in this current ... uhm ... mess.
DeleteI hold no brief for Assange but we too might be well advised to recall which specific episode got him to his present straits - Wikileaking what was going on in Ukraine (the Nuland/Pyatt communications. *As well the mostly forgotten shenanigans perpetrated between Eric Ciarmello and LtCol Vindman which more lately figured into the final effort at impeaching Trump - Yep, Ciarmello was Cc'd onto the exact emails by which Nuland communicated her orders: from a *higher authority presumably).
And all that that went before has got us into our present strait - Thank y'all very much Obama, Hillary [sarc] We really appreciate all y'all have done on our behalf.
I would though Ravenworks add material to your comment for those of us desirous of adding to the *condensed version - tho' I be running the risk being labelled perhaps as just another of 'Putin's Puppets' (that slander I can live with).
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/ukraines-deadly-gamble
https://cartographer.substack.com/p/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-day-12?s=r
My God what hath the Hillary State Department wrought?
JK
It's not isolationist to choose wars wisely. This is not our war and the risk from entering it is far greater than any gain we will achieve. Like Serbia/Kosovo 1999 and Libya 2011, we would be much better off not fighting this war.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you said a dirty word: 'tariff'. Our free-trade ideology masks the fact that trade is never perfectly free anywhere and has never been. Every WTO country imposes tariffs, despite the free trade language they espouse. 'Tariff' should not be a dirty word.
I thought the vast majority of generics, including antibiotics, came from Israel via Teva courtesy of a stupid and fatally flawed french boycott and economic assault back in the 1970s?
ReplyDeleteI think our response to Ukraine so far has been ok.
It's clear to me that Putin launched this expanded attack with Kabul in mind. Seeing a vastly violent group waltz into a capitol unopposed creates a strong incentive for a conquering 'me too' movement of sorts.
But most of all, I think you are right, Russia has become a CCP satellite/client-state. Russia can count its blessings that the PRC doesn't simply divert CAR oil resources directly through Xinjiang via one of their massive works projects.
- reader #1482
A breath of fresh air, again, from DiploMad.
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