In the coming weeks, if the Russian / Ukrainian border tensions continue or escalate, we will read a story and watch video of a looming conflict between these two nations and some talking head, Chris Cuomo’s replacement, will tell us that Western Civilisation itself, is imperilled. Somebody wants America to be Ukraine’s tag team partner. Never mind Russia and Ukraine have a long history of rivalry both within the Russian Empire and the Soviet Era. The cultural links between the two nations are deep, most notably the Orthodox Church. The political roots of the Russian state are placed in the soil of the medieval kingdom of Kievan Rus.
The Madison Avenue propagandists will decry the plight of “plucky little Ukraine”, to sell yet another foreign entanglement, and Vladimir Putin will be the next tin pot Hitler for our consideration. And somehow Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr will be the next Churchill.
Absurd? You bet. Expensive? Without doubt. Bloody? Yes, if it comes to that. And Russia, facing American intervention in their homeland, will fight with a ferocity we have not seen since Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This has catastrophe written all over it. If you think your Congressional Representative actually cares, write them. Maybe enough people in both parties will see this for the disaster it is.
Dispatches From Dystopia 
I think we should stay out of it…for too long we’ve been the world’s police whether the world wants us to be or not. And like you, I don’t think this will end well…
Thanks. I get the creeps watching Democrats and Republicans talk about this situation, spoiling for a fight. They’ve learned nothing in the last 20 years. What is particularly galling is hearing them talk about using nuclear weapons.
Who, exactly, are the politicians beholden to? Certainly not us.
In my opinion, they are beholden (bought and paid for or blackmailed) to what is referred to as the one-percent, the elite, whatever you want to call the big corporations and individuals who hold the real power in the world. Everyone else are only peons.
Only an idiot would use nuclear weapons. Even if fired upon first, if you fire back, that pretty much is the end of us. Sadly, most governments in this world are idiots.
Senator Wicker has a shipyard in Pascagoula MS that keeps his constituents employed. Diplomacy doesn’t keep the contracts coming in. As Oskar Schindler said of Amon Göth in the film Schindler‘s List, “He’s a wonderful crook.”