Drumbeats category archive
Russian Impulses 0
At the Arizona Republic, E. J. Montini comments on the Republicans who are supporting Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. A snippet:
I bet he would if they were Democrats.
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*A reference to Congresswoman Liz Cheney’s characterizing the Republicans who voted against sanctions against Russia as the “Putin wing” of the Republican Party.
The Lies of the Land 0
Behavioral economist Lionel Page explores how propaganda works. A tiny little snippet from a very long article:
In a related vein, Badtux argues that, strictly defined, propaganda may be slanted and manipulative, yes, but it may not necessarily be false.
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*Hence the success of Fox News.
Stray Thought, War and Mongers of War Dept. 0
A bayonet is not a scalpel.
On the battlefield, there is no such thing as a “surgical strike,” despite what the mongers of war would have you believe.
All that Was Old Is New Again 0
In the Portland Press-Herald, Bill Nemitz reminds us that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.*
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*As Mark Twain said.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
A caller calls out America’s color-coded double standard on granting refuge to refugees.
War and Mongers of War 0
At the Bangor Daily News, Gordon Weil decodes de code, in this case, Vladimir Putin’s self-styled “justifications” for invading Ukraine. Here’s one little bit; follow the link for the rest.
Useful Idiots 0
At The Seattle Times, Mike Vaska argues that four columns are enough. A snippet:
Follow the link to read how he marshals his evidence.
The Fifth Column Flip-Flop 0
Aside:
My old Philly DL friend Noz thinks that Vladimir Putin has maneuvered himself in a corner. Noz is less than optimistic about the implications thereof.
Me, I don’t do predictions as a matter of policy. Hell, understanding the past is hard enough. I must say, though, that Noz is much more familiar with that part of the world than I.
The Cost of War 0
Citing an article from The Atlantic, Michael in Norfolk suggests that it may be a lot higher than Vladimir Putin anticipated.