Would a DeSantis administration have a better approach or even more of the attitude that rightly concerns you? Surely not a Mike Pompeo one. Do we need to populate the US Department of State picked from those who are Quincy Experts see here: https://quincyinst.org/experts/? All of what you write makes sense in many ways and I just don't see a practical way to implement the changes given the domestic political situation and the realities of the world. Then I suppose one needs to hope you are something like out of the Book of Isaiah; “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.” Indeed you are calling forth the coming of new age. Tough job and somebody has to do it. Somehow I don't get the best case scenario is going to occur though. That said Bob, you go guy!
Dominic Cummings talked about The Godfather advice in his latest substack which is: Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement. Michael Corleone says it. Unfortunately it’s in part 3 but isn’t this the perfect way to brand cognitive empathy?
Regarding Russia avoiding General mobilization, I saw a Twitter thread pointing out that post September vote, the Donas and Luhansk will be considered part of Russia. So Russia will be able to move conscripts there legally without a general mobilization call.
That doesn't mean they would be fighting in offensive operations though.
I don't often comment here, but I think Bob has gotten so many things wrong here that some correction is in order. Perhaps Bob didn't notice the reports yesterday that German Chancellor Scholz offered Putin to keep Ukraine out of NATO for 30 years and did not even get a response.
This war happened for one reason and only one reason, and that's because Putin wants to take back Ukraine. He had no interest in negotiating anything. If he had wanted to negotiate he could have started negotiations at any time. But there is nothing Putin wants from negotiations. He just wants Ukraine. Also the assassination of Dugina is of no long term significance, except that it indicates the Ukrainians or whoever did it may have the ability to strike at Putin's inner circle. If so, the good news is that they or whomever carried out the killing may be able to take out other key people in that circle as they have been taking out Russia's top generals in Ukraine.
There isn't going to be a nuclear war over Dugina or any other assassination of Putin's inner circle. In that circle assassinations are regarded as commonplace and people are always falling off buildings or having heart attacks after they are poisoned by the FSB. This war will only end when Putin is removed from power or when he conquers Ukraine or is defeated. If Russian advances are stopped then Putin will leave his troops there and preserve a frozen conflict perhaps for many years. This is his standard procedure and was predictable from the outset. After all he has had a frozen conflict in the Donbas since 2014.
There will be no negotiations until Putin wants to have them because he thinks he can get something.
Right now there is nothing the Ukrainians can offer him that he wants. This will be a long conflict and everyone should get used to the idea.
"Macho posturing and virtue signaling"
I feel like every politician is auditioning for some poorly produced Tom Clancy film; American foreign policy really lacks imagination.
Would a DeSantis administration have a better approach or even more of the attitude that rightly concerns you? Surely not a Mike Pompeo one. Do we need to populate the US Department of State picked from those who are Quincy Experts see here: https://quincyinst.org/experts/? All of what you write makes sense in many ways and I just don't see a practical way to implement the changes given the domestic political situation and the realities of the world. Then I suppose one needs to hope you are something like out of the Book of Isaiah; “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.” Indeed you are calling forth the coming of new age. Tough job and somebody has to do it. Somehow I don't get the best case scenario is going to occur though. That said Bob, you go guy!
Dominic Cummings talked about The Godfather advice in his latest substack which is: Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement. Michael Corleone says it. Unfortunately it’s in part 3 but isn’t this the perfect way to brand cognitive empathy?
Regarding Russia avoiding General mobilization, I saw a Twitter thread pointing out that post September vote, the Donas and Luhansk will be considered part of Russia. So Russia will be able to move conscripts there legally without a general mobilization call.
That doesn't mean they would be fighting in offensive operations though.
I don't often comment here, but I think Bob has gotten so many things wrong here that some correction is in order. Perhaps Bob didn't notice the reports yesterday that German Chancellor Scholz offered Putin to keep Ukraine out of NATO for 30 years and did not even get a response.
This war happened for one reason and only one reason, and that's because Putin wants to take back Ukraine. He had no interest in negotiating anything. If he had wanted to negotiate he could have started negotiations at any time. But there is nothing Putin wants from negotiations. He just wants Ukraine. Also the assassination of Dugina is of no long term significance, except that it indicates the Ukrainians or whoever did it may have the ability to strike at Putin's inner circle. If so, the good news is that they or whomever carried out the killing may be able to take out other key people in that circle as they have been taking out Russia's top generals in Ukraine.
There isn't going to be a nuclear war over Dugina or any other assassination of Putin's inner circle. In that circle assassinations are regarded as commonplace and people are always falling off buildings or having heart attacks after they are poisoned by the FSB. This war will only end when Putin is removed from power or when he conquers Ukraine or is defeated. If Russian advances are stopped then Putin will leave his troops there and preserve a frozen conflict perhaps for many years. This is his standard procedure and was predictable from the outset. After all he has had a frozen conflict in the Donbas since 2014.
There will be no negotiations until Putin wants to have them because he thinks he can get something.
Right now there is nothing the Ukrainians can offer him that he wants. This will be a long conflict and everyone should get used to the idea.
Seems as likely that the killing of Daria Dugina was in fact Russian mob related.