Earlier today in a comment I quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, sarcastically but very cleverly smacking down the notion of an “international rules based order.” We all know that all that amounts to is the US saying to the rest of the world: Heads we win, tails you lose. So, Zakharova first exposes the hypocrisy of the collective West, then adds, in effect: We can play that game, too.
Macron: “Allowing Russia to win means exposing yourself to the risk that the established rules of the international order will no longer be respected.”
Maria Zakharova: “If Macron has a copy of the “rules” mentioned, please share.
"As for victory, it does not depend on the “permission” of Macron or anyone else - Russia will do what it said.”
Danny Davis, in six minutes addresses the perilous situation in which the Neocons’ rules based order has place the American Empire. It’s time, he says, for America to look out for its own interests, and not be led by Israel. This comes a day after Iran’s assertion—by demonstration of its missile prowess—that it will not be bullied by the likes of this goofy and corrupt coot. Davis explains exactly how our bluff is being called in the Middle East. We’re in a no-win position that will almost certainly get worse unless we tell Israel who’s boss and start talking to nations like Iran. Because military force will not transform our no-win position.
Then, Davis continues with a 21 minute monologue about Russia. It is in this monologue that he plays video of Putin the other day—telling the collective West to take its nuclear arms control proposals and shove them (around the 17:21 point in the video). Davis is being a bit unfair to Putin, in his following remarks. Before you condemn Putin, understand this. It was the United States that arrogantly and unilaterally terminated existing arms control agreements with Russia—Russia favored maintaining those agreements. Further, Putin explicitly reaffirms Russia’s nuclear doctrine: Russia will only use nukes in the face of a threat to its very existence. It was the United States that arrogantly and very foolishly revised its nuclear doctrine to a stance that amounts to: We’ll use nukes when it suits us, when we think it’s in our interests. If you think that’s an oversimplification, reflect on the way in which the US has regularly changed its stance unilaterally over the years. The result is that there is no reason for Russia to trust the US—that’s on us, not on Russia. And so there’s no reason for Russia to take arms control proposals from the West—which has been engaged in a nearly two year war to destroy Russia as a sovereign nation—seriously. This is where the rules based order of the Neocons has landed the us. It’s a very bad place:
I spoke too soon yesterday re the Iran / Pakistan thing. Here's what's going on today:
Pakistan recalls ambassador in Tehran, kicks out Iran ambassador
Iranian reports on border clashes
IRGC commander killed
China mediation failed: local media
Unconfirmed reports that border shut
Saudi mediating
India statement backs Iran
Mr. Putin is a traditionalist. Listening to him is like listening to the Speeches of Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the century. He is a nationalist, but not an unreasonable one. You want an example of hard-core Russian nationalist? Look at Igor Girkin or a blogger who goes by the name of “the Saker”. It is an eye opener.
So what are we dealing with? The a partial key to understanding what we are facing can be gleaned from what is said on Russian tv or listening to the common man on the street.
The Russian view point can be summed up as:
a. This is an existential fight, a life and death fight for: our Country, culture and people. We fail, we die.
b. The West hates our guts. It has consistently lied to us (think Minsk agreements) and cannot be trusted under any circumstances.
c. This war is not against Ukraine, they are our Slavic brothers. They have been lied to and cozened by the West. This war is against the United States and the NATO European vassals .
d. We are Russia, no matter what happens, we will survive and a Mighty God is with us.
Now this may sound bizarre to a sophisticate in Foggy Bottom. But it does not matter what we think. It matters what your opponent thinks.
Do our leaders understand this concept? Do they understand that this is not about America? But how Russians feel about themselves? How Russians perceive their place in this conflict?
From our elites past actions, it would not be imprudent to think that they have no clue.
Our problem is that our leadership is not capable of understanding the Russian mentality. And if they do understand it, they do not care. To put it another way, someone once said “our elites lack empathy”. They lack the ability to walk in another man’s shoes. “
Surprised? I am not. This is just like our current progressive leadership is not capable of understanding the values of the average American small farmer in the mid-west. Our political elites blind spot is their arrogance combined with an intransigent myopia.
And this is their great failure.
For Knowing one’s enemy, is the first rule of war.
I may not know much, but I can say the above from past experience.
Do not be fooled by MSM sources that the Russians will not exact their own pound of flesh from this mess. Putin said a long time ago that if the Ukraine launched a war, it would not exist afterwards. The Russians will have their day. As far as future relations with the Russian nation. This whole episode is a tragedy. A tragedy that men like George Kennan warned us about and tried to avoid.
By Americas own actions, it has pushed the Russians into the Chinese camp. This is a monumental disaster. American won WW2 because of industrial might. Who now can equal the combined industrial might of the Russian and Chinese nations? Certainly not the USA or Europe. Remember Lend Lease? If we go to war with one, the other will become the supplier of needed weapons. This is the scenario of doom for us.
The greatest part of this tragedy is that American was just about there. Do we remember that Vladimir Putin was one of the first persons to call George Bush after 9/11 and say:
“We are with you.”
That there is a monument in the USA from the Russian people commemorating the tragedy of 9/11. That the Russians opened their air space to us for military operations Afghanistan.
All that goodwill, just thrown away. A travesty of epic proportions for future generations of Americans. Lost Victories.
Wish you the best.
Robert Fausti