Europe at War

[LKB]

Man raps about killing Putin during Texas town council meeting

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1504902960622583811

Par for the course, in Texas.

[Todd]

Par for the course, in Texas.

You wrote that you could murder Putin.

[Todd]

Russians were go-to movie villains in the 1980s. What a new Cold War might bring

Thoughtful, relevant analysis from CNN.

[LKB]

You wrote that you could murder Putin.

That I did, though the more appropriate term would be, " assassinate. "

[Florestan]

Russians were go-to movie villains in the 1980s. What a new Cold War might bring

Thoughtful, relevant analysis from CNN.

As Karl recently noted, cancelling Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is plain stupid --- as it celebrates precisely the repelling of a megalomanical tyrant's invasion by patriotically-minded forces, both military and civilian. Plus, Tchaikovsky died before 1900, so what could he possibly have had in common with Putin? 

I can very wery well understand political Russophobia --- I subscribe to it myself. Cultural Russophobia, otoh... 

[Todd]

That I did, though the more appropriate term would be, " assassinate. "

Sophisticated.

I can very very well understand political Russophobia --- I subscribe to it myself.

I understand it - it can garner votes in the US.  Since I will never run for any elected position, I can never subscribe to it, or any other ethnic phobia (eg, Sinophobia).  Besides, it would grow exhausting, what with all those monsters the US must destroy.

[Florestan]

I understand it - it can garner votes in the US.

I am not a US citizen. I am a Romanian citizen. As such, my first and foremost concern is Romania's security, which is inextricably linked to NATO and  EU.

I can never subscribe to it, or any other ethnic phobia (eg, Sinophobia). 

I am not an ethnic Russophobe. I am not an ethnic Sinophobe. I am a politically, economically and socially Russophobe and Sinophobe. If you really can't or won't make the difference, then please spare me any further reply on the issue, thank you.

[Todd]

I am not an ethnic Russophobe. I am not an ethnic Sinophobe. I am a politically, economically and socially Russophobe and Sinophobe. If you really can't or won't make the difference, then please spare me any further reply on the issue, thank you.

I understand the difference.  I do not fear any group or ethnicity in any domain, political, cultural, economic, or whatever.  Well, maybe Tongans.

[greg]

Man raps about killing Putin during Texas town council meeting

https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1504902960622583811

That takes the cake as one of the most cringiest things I've ever seen, only lasted a few seconds watching that. This will be the headliner of every new cringe compilation video now.

As Karl recently noted, cancelling Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is plain stupid --- as it celebrates precisely the repelling of a megalomanical tyrant's invasion by patriotically-minded forces, both military and civilian. Plus, Tchaikovsky died before 1900, so what could he possibly have had in common with Putin? 

I can very wery well understand political Russophobia --- I subscribe to it myself. Cultural Russophobia, otoh... 

That sort of thing is about virtue signaling, not broad ideas or logic. There's alcohol stores throwing away their vodka here in the US, one place got rid of Russian condiments... I'm sure that's going to be unrecoverable, shattering damage to Putin's teeny tiny cold, black heart.

[Florestan]

I understand the difference.

I am relieved, I really am. 

I do not fear any group or ethnicity in any domain, political, cultural, economic, or whatever. 

Group or ethnicity, yes, I don't fear either.

It's governments and their (armed) policies that I fear.

No, really. Todd, are you going to tell me / us that it's indifferent to you whether you live under the respective political, economical and social  policies of the USA, Russia or China?

[Todd]

No, really. Todd, are you going to tell me / us that it's indifferent to you whether you live under the respective political, economical and social  policies of the USA, Russia or China?

I do not and will not live in China or Russia.  I may visit those countries - I'd love to see Lake Baikal in person, or the eastern edge of the Taklamakan.  I will not have to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of those countries.   

[drogulus]

     Cold wars will bring all kinds of attitudes. The worst will come from ethnic nationalists who will attack Koreans for being Chinese, and won't spare actual Chinese as well.

     Regarding the West and the principles it occasionally abides by and hopes to spread, one proposed solution is to abandon them in favor of some version of realism which disregards as irrelevant what publics want in democratic countries. That seems oxymoronic to me, a form of anti-realist idealism. People should cease to care about what they care about. Realism should be like an abstraction and less like what people want.

     I think we can get over the hump of Chinese decline better than China can. Right now Xi is confronted with a classic "use it or lose it" dilemma. I think we can help out a bit by discouraging Chinese aggression, and though Ukraine is being defended for reasons particular to Europe/NATO, there's more at stake.

[Florestan]

I do not and will not live in China or Russia.  I may visit those countries - I'd love to see Lake Baikal in person, or the eastern edge of the Taklamakan.  I will not have to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of those countries.

I think you're wrong. Freedom is not for free. There is a price you have to pay for you not having to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of [Russia or China]. It's the same price we all, who don't want to have to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of those countries, have to pay. I, for one, am willing to pay it. The question is, are you?

[LKB]

I do not and will not live in China or Russia.  I may visit those countries - I'd love to see Lake Baikal in person, or the eastern edge of the Taklamakan.  I will not have to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of those countries.

I was in Taiwan for a few weeks, long ago. Lovely people, interesting food, and a surprising pop culture. I keep telling my friends to visit while it retains its independence.

[Todd]

Freedom is not for free...I, for one, am willing to pay it. The question is, are you?

Not quite sure what this is supposed to even mean.  I pay my taxes.  That tiny action helps fund the most powerful war machine in history.  And that combined with two massive oceans separating the US from the Eurasian land mass helps assure, for the rest of my life and well beyond, US security.  I will not have to worry about living under the political, economic, and social policies of China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, a unified Europe, or whatever other Very Bad Actor may threaten to rule the USA. 

If you are trying to inquire about whether I would fight and die for the US, no, I would not.  The US military would not want me to; I am well past the maximum enlistment age even for US Space Force.  Perhaps if Chinese Special Forces invaded the suburbs of Portland and threatened to seize my Beethoven piano sonata collection I might dust off my Remington 11-48 and fight back with the ferocity of Comanche warriors, but in the real world, the US Air Force, US Navy, US Army, and US Marines would do the fighting for me. 

[drogulus]

     It would be good to fight elsewhere than the US. I'd pay a lot for that. The question is, are we paying really a lot for value received? In my estimation the answer is no. The proportion of GDP for military expenditure isn't very high.

     

     I would spend more to acquire more advanced planes and missiles. Chinese missiles are pretty good and we need something to handle Chinese SAMs. That way we might not have to use the less good ones we have now.

[Todd]

and excluding the threat that EU might pose to the USA, which I take as a rhetorical device. I mean, Todd, really? China, Russia, North Korea and Iran are to USA as the EU is to USA?

The EU threatens no one.  I wrote about a unified Europe.  That does not currently exist.  If it did exist, it would represent a direct economic threat to the US, and potentially a military threat.  That is why the US should oppose, more clandestinely and bureaucratically than directly (for now), more effective integration and unification of Europe.  I do not view Europeans as being better than Russians, Chinese, Iranians, etc.  Europe's unsurpassed history of gruesome violence and exploitation prevents that.

[Todd]

NATO always and forever!

No international relations and security framework has existed forever.  The existing international order and NATO will be no different.

[Todd]

Putinist propaganda...

It is a recognition of the brutal past - ancient and recent - of Europe.  I expect most Europeans and Americans to display a certain degree of cultural chauvinism when extolling the virtues of The West.

[amw]

Interestingly, while Russia has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine has imported battalions of foreign fighters who are committing war crimes and whatever, we're hearing a lot from actual foreign fighters who travelled to Ukraine (mostly from the USA/Western Europe) via Telegram, Twitter and other social media and they're pretty much universally complaining about not being given anything to do: they were largely stationed at military bases in the Lviv area, far from the front lines; a large number were killed by Russian cruise missiles; Ukrainian National Guard/Territorial Defense units are highly suspicious of them and have even detained and killed a few as suspected spies; and the majority seem to be planning to head back home. It's unclear if this is because the Ukrainian government doesn't want to risk the deaths of foreign fighters potentially drawing NATO into a war that would undoubtedly destroy the country's infrastructure to a much greater degree than is already being done, or if it's because the Ukrainian government is confident in the ability of its own troops and irregulars to fight the Russians to a standstill on their own.

Regardless, it seems that if you're not a Ukrainian citizen but still want a chance to fight the Russians on their behalf, you're not very likely to get the opportunity.

Not much else to report: some 250,000 people (out of a normal population of 450,000) are reportedly still trapped in Mariupol, with remaining Ukrainian forces dug in around the steelworks complex on the true left of the Kalmius river. Claims that 80% of the city's buildings have been destroyed are inaccurate, but it's likely that a very high percentage have been damaged and it'll take weeks to restore power and water. RuAF is obliged to do so and provide humanitarian aid, as per the ongoing Belarus talks, but with various death squads/contras (Kadyrovtsy, Russian National Socialists, Eurasianists, etc) acting as the point of the spear, it has plausible deniability if that doesn't happen. (It would of course be politically expedient for Russia to rebuild Mariupol since the city is largely Russian-speaking and presumably would be annexed into any Donbas puppet state, but the Russian government has long since lost any support it once had from Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine, and therefore may be more bent on petty revenge than political benefit.)