I think the bit you were missing in 2014-2022 was just how deep the Russian prejudice against Ukraine runs. I learned of this while doing expat work in Russia, and it really surprised me. I didn't see it as virulent, but it was deep and persistent. Ordinary Russians really think Ukraine is Nazis. It was as deep a misunderstanding as the American misunderstanding of Iraq was.
Thank you for all your analyses. While I did not see the seriousness of Putin's military actions until after the 2022 invasion, it immediately became apparent to me that this was today's equivalent of 1937 in Spain. I completely agree with the global significance you have outlined here. Glad to see people saying it out loud. Thank you again.
Mark, that’s a really important point, and I think you’re right. I underestimated just how normalized that prejudice was inside Russia, not as frothing hatred, but as a steady, state-fed assumption that Ukraine isn’t real, isn’t sovereign, and must be “rescued” from itself. That kind of belief doesn’t need to be virulent to be dangerous; it just needs to be widespread and unchallenged. I appreciate you sharing that perspective, and I’m glad you said it out loud.
I now understand why your beliefs are so personal with regard to Ukraine and its future. Why can’t the “so called diplomats” Witkoff and Kushner read your article and gain the proper insight. Of course, they know all this and couldn’t care less pertaining to their transactional goals. History will ultimately treat them very cruelly and accurately. And your president will be included.
I don't know why a blue collar high school graduate who has read a lot of WWII and pre-WWII history can see that Putin is doing exactly what Hitler did, and if Ukraine falls the rest of Europe will be next. Russia definitely can't be trusted on anything and neither can the US. We've proved again and again that treaties mean nothing. Just ask any Native American.
You thought you knew Russia because you studied Russian literature and history. What you didn’t realize, but should realize now, is that you fell for the Russian con, the one that created Ruskiy Mir, the one where the KGB cultivated most all Russian history professors at American universities (while usurping and stealing the Ukrainian identity). I fought this at Georgetown university in the 1980’s which at least was a conservative institution compared to Harvard and Colombia the other two leading Russian schools. Russian literature is nihilistic and feeds the death cult that is Russia , so called Russian culture is like a zombie feeding off others brains, Tchaikovsky was made up entirely of Ukrainian peasant melodies for his leitmotifs, and even the architecture is stolen form Kyivan Rus. Without Ukraine they are simply the Mongol Horde. Time to re learn your history and see the so called culture through a new lens
The idea that a country can behave in any way it wants, what you term “sovereignty” Is a childish notion. You simply must take your neighbours wishes into consideration. Do you blast heavy metal at midnight and expect your neighbours to put up with it? Do you expect that Russia would allow NATO into Ukraine?
I think the bit you were missing in 2014-2022 was just how deep the Russian prejudice against Ukraine runs. I learned of this while doing expat work in Russia, and it really surprised me. I didn't see it as virulent, but it was deep and persistent. Ordinary Russians really think Ukraine is Nazis. It was as deep a misunderstanding as the American misunderstanding of Iraq was.
Thank you for all your analyses. While I did not see the seriousness of Putin's military actions until after the 2022 invasion, it immediately became apparent to me that this was today's equivalent of 1937 in Spain. I completely agree with the global significance you have outlined here. Glad to see people saying it out loud. Thank you again.
Mark, that’s a really important point, and I think you’re right. I underestimated just how normalized that prejudice was inside Russia, not as frothing hatred, but as a steady, state-fed assumption that Ukraine isn’t real, isn’t sovereign, and must be “rescued” from itself. That kind of belief doesn’t need to be virulent to be dangerous; it just needs to be widespread and unchallenged. I appreciate you sharing that perspective, and I’m glad you said it out loud.
I now understand why your beliefs are so personal with regard to Ukraine and its future. Why can’t the “so called diplomats” Witkoff and Kushner read your article and gain the proper insight. Of course, they know all this and couldn’t care less pertaining to their transactional goals. History will ultimately treat them very cruelly and accurately. And your president will be included.
From your lips to God's ear.
Passionate and logical. Thank you ... I agree.
I don't know why a blue collar high school graduate who has read a lot of WWII and pre-WWII history can see that Putin is doing exactly what Hitler did, and if Ukraine falls the rest of Europe will be next. Russia definitely can't be trusted on anything and neither can the US. We've proved again and again that treaties mean nothing. Just ask any Native American.
You thought you knew Russia because you studied Russian literature and history. What you didn’t realize, but should realize now, is that you fell for the Russian con, the one that created Ruskiy Mir, the one where the KGB cultivated most all Russian history professors at American universities (while usurping and stealing the Ukrainian identity). I fought this at Georgetown university in the 1980’s which at least was a conservative institution compared to Harvard and Colombia the other two leading Russian schools. Russian literature is nihilistic and feeds the death cult that is Russia , so called Russian culture is like a zombie feeding off others brains, Tchaikovsky was made up entirely of Ukrainian peasant melodies for his leitmotifs, and even the architecture is stolen form Kyivan Rus. Without Ukraine they are simply the Mongol Horde. Time to re learn your history and see the so called culture through a new lens
The idea that a country can behave in any way it wants, what you term “sovereignty” Is a childish notion. You simply must take your neighbours wishes into consideration. Do you blast heavy metal at midnight and expect your neighbours to put up with it? Do you expect that Russia would allow NATO into Ukraine?
No-one is safe if Putin is allowed to conquer Ukraine.