Drumbeats category archive
Roots 0
At The American Scholar, an American descendant of Ukrainian immigrants who is still in touch with her family in Ukraine looks eastward. A bit of what she has to say:
In that time, I have seen the country change in ways big and small. In the past five years in particular, Ukraine seems to have blossomed—while the Russian occupation of the Donbas ground on in the east, it did so relatively quietly, and Kyiv thrummed with youth, style, and energy. The country’s filmmakers have won major prizes at Sundance; Ukrainian literature is increasingly translated into other languages. I have watched my cousins’ children grow up in a Ukraine that is resolutely independent and cosmopolitan; in a departure from previous post-Soviet cohorts, their opportunities seemed to be growing, not shrinking.
Plus ca Change 0
Brian Greenspun, publisher of the Las Vegas Sun, draws a lesson from history. Here’s a bit of what he has to say; follow the link for the rest.
The irony of the 1938 Munich Agreement should not be lost today as we think about the Munich Security Conference held last weekend to figure out how to stop Putin from pursuing his megalomaniacal dream of putting the Soviet Union back together again — starting with Ukraine.
The players are a little different in 2022 but the prize is the same.
A Tune for the Times 0
From the Youtube page:
Trump loves to “go with a winner”, and he sees Vladimir Putin as a HUGE winner of late, making major real estate acquisitions with very little investment of his own, just as Trump always did. Trump can’t help but envy Putin’s incredible ability to skip legalities and jump right to the ‘moving-in’ stage. That, and Putin’s ability to look good shirtless give Trump a major case of “nipple envy”, but in a really wholesome, Christian sort of way.
Game of Thrones 0
I do not see what Vladimir Putin hopes to gain by attacking Ukraine, other than a step towards the resurrection of the Russian Empire. It does not seem to be a rational move in any sort of chess game of international diplomacy.
Bloomberg’s Andrew Kluth argues that, indeed, it is not.
The Fifth Column 0
At Above the Law, Alaric Dearment minces no words about Putin’s American dupes, symps, and fellow travelers. A snippet:
More unminced words at the link.
Recommended Reading 0
Noz’s thoughts on what’s happening in Ukraine, particularly his first point.
All That Was Old Is New Again 0
At the Des Moines Register, Richard Cherwitz reminds us of another purported “attack” in another gulf which was used to justify another war for a lie, this one in a country whose name did not start with “I.”.
Flirting with War 0
Thom fears another Great and Glorious War for a Lie in a Country whose Name Starts with “I.”
In Security 0
I tend to be skeptical when persons raise concerns about “national security.” Too often that phrase is used to either intrude illegitimately into areas that are nobody’s business or to hide official misconduct or, perhaps more often, official acts of stupid.
Nevertheless, “national security” is a real thing and ignoring or weakening it costs blood and treasure, as when President George the Worst ignored warnings that Osama Bin Laden was determined to attack the U. S.
In The Guardian, Jeffrey H. Smith argues that Donald Trump and his administration are inimical to legitimate national security. Here’s an excerpt:
Second, some of his actions and utterances are so far outside the bounds of responsible presidential conduct that many professionals who serve in the national security agencies lack confidence in him as commander-in-chief. Much damage has been done and whether it can be repaired, and if so how, is not clear.
Do please follow the link.
