Category: Musings
If NATO wants to avoid direct conflict with Russia, assistance to Ukraine must expand
Ukraine does not have the population that would be required to survive and win a protracted war of attrition defending itself from Russian aggression. Ukraine’s success in this conflict depends on being able to significantly outperform Putin’s forces. Ukraine’s allies need to stop dithering about which weapons systems can be used. Ukraine’s military needs more training, more ammunition, and more heavy and/or longer-range equipment. If that means ramping up production, then so be it.
Poland, the Baltic states, and other Russian border states understand all too well what is at stake. Failure to defeat Russia in Ukraine will automatically raise the threat level from Putin’s megalomania. The Putin contagion must be eliminated now before it has a chance to spread.
Russia terrorism expands
Let’s start with this recent report:
Russia’s actions in the war they started with Ukraine have no limits. There is no line they won’t cross, there is no action too appalling, no atrocity off-limits. This isn’t state-sponsored terrorism, this is state perpetrated terrorism. There is no attempt at a fig leaf of plausible deniability. The fact is that Russian propagandists openly acknowledge the terrorism and call for more, including wiping France, The U.K., and Germany off the map with nuclear weapons.
NATO and many other countries are providing aid to Ukraine, and the more the better. However, at some point NATO needs to draw a line re Moscow’s attempt at slow-motion genocide in Ukraine. Russian success in Ukraine will only lead to further adventures in the rest of the former Soviet states. This needs to be stopped sooner rather than later.
Christmas miracle
I was never a believer in such a thing as a Christmas miracle, but now I believe. This past Christmas season I managed to go through the entire time without even once hearing The Twelve Days of Christmas. A miraculous event! Praise be! A corollary is that I never saw or heard a news story explaining how much it would cost to purchase all twelve items. Another miracle!
I have been well and truly blessed! Miracles can happen!
My eternal thanks
My eternal thanks go to the humans and wolves that came together some 30,000 years ago to share food and protection in difficult times. This required bravery and trust on both sides, and the bond between the two continues to ever strengthen. Go hug your dog now.
The Top 5 Butter Delivery Systems
5) lobster — delicious but messy and expensive
4) whole wheat toast — straight from the toaster to your butter dish
3) egg bread (challah) — sliced thick and served warm
2) egg noodles — yummy, hot, wet, and buttery*
1) corn muffin — nature’s perfect butter delivery system
*yes, I realize that could also describe oral sex
Morality Police in the U.S.?
As the right wing drifts ever farther into madness, some form of morality police will no doubt arise in the U.S., most likely in Texas first. They will probably call themselves the “Purity Posse” or something similar. The racial connotation and explicit authorization are carefully chosen. You have already seen the first stages with laws encouraging snitching and allowing third parties to sue suspected abortion lawbreakers.
This more organized form of moral vigilantism will then spread to other states. Meanwhile, demagogues looking to promote themselves on the national political stage will start submitting competing – and ever more draconian – federal legislation to force conformity.
You have been warned.
Thinking aloud. 
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