American Complacency: repeating History?

American Complacency by many our citizens is looking more and more like authorities of our world’s past. There is plenty of blame to go around regarding how this happened. The leadership within the U.S. A. are doing a terrible job. I am not talking about the Democratic leadership. Don’t get me wrong they have their problems too. I am talking about the Republican parties leadership and what they have been doing over the last several years. It seems I am watching scenes from a movie unfold about WW 2 and Hitler. However, I am not. I see this real time. Today I am wondering why Trump’s followers have consumed the cool Aid that Hitler gave the people of Germany. The Republican leaders seem hell bent on believing the party is more important then our country. They demonstrated that by not upholding the US constitution in Trump’s 2nd impeachment. I believe these are the same type of people that wouldn’t have stopped Hitler. Trump is much like Hitler. There are lots of red flags about Republicans right now. However, one of the big red flags is Trump’s support for Putin. How does that fit in a democracy? I want to talk about the Republican party, world history and what it takes to have healthy leadership.

Quote:

“You can’t right a ship with your eyes closed.”
Defend that

I worry about our country because the Republicans seem really off. As I mentioned they have demonstrate the party is more important then our US constitution. For example, Trump was charged with impeachment for incitement of insurrection on January 13, 2021 by the House of Representatives. I remember listening to Trump’s speech and he had all sorts of inflammatory remarks. We have it all on video and audio. He has lied to the people and they still follow him. Why? I don’t really know. Except I do know if someone lies to people, but keeps repeating that lie continuously and often enough. Those people will believe it as the truth. Trump and others has continued to do just that. They claimed the election was stolen and It wasn’t stolen. Trump kept saying this at rallies ,. “stop the steal”. Trump repeated this any chance he got. Back when 9/11 happened I remember someone say if a lie long enough and keeps repeating it. People will believe it as truth. That was the first time I heard it. It was regarding the Pilots of 9/11 the news said they were from Iraq. And I knew from the newspaper those pilots were from Saudi Arabia. Although this is nothing really new. The Nazi party had used this same tactic. Lies become the truth. In Trump’s speech on January 6th he encourage the crowed to go after then VP Mike Pence to change the vote. First of all VP Pence couldn’t change the vote it is more of a ceremony to finalize the vote of each state and put the votes in the record books. Second, Pence doesn’t have the power to change the vote it is in the US constitution. Another lie by Trump he was telling the crowed he hoped Pence had the courage to change the vote. However, that is not all that is bad with our republic. Many of our Republican Senators dismissed their duty to uphold the US constitution and possibly dismissed our democracy.

Donald J. Trump

The Republican Senators are messing with our democracy to keep the ring of power on their fingers. We are supposed to be a country of laws with leaders who follow and support those laws. I believe the Lord of the Rings movie demonstrated the craving for power visually. When someone puts on the ring they get very addicted to it’s power as shown in this film. Yes power can be addicting for people that are not grounded. Not impeaching Trump was egregious sin by majority of the Republican Senators. It was an abuse of their power given them by the people. I believe what Trump said at that rally on January 6, 2021 made him guilty of insurrection. Even though this may not meet the legal definition. It showed a screaming red flag that he should never hold office again. However, those Republican Senators that voted to acquitted him are playing with fire because they want the votes. They want that power is my belief. Republicans are looking the other way when it counted most. They seem to be afraid of the Far right, the MEGA types and their religious slant. At least one leader spoke after the vote.

Quote:
“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
John Stuart Mill in an address at the University of St. Andrew 1867.

One Senator spoke out about Trump after his acquittal. Senator Mitch McConnell denounced Trumps conduct. It was so unwise for these Senators to do just that. There was no punishment. No keeping Trump from further ambition. Just like what happened to Adolf Hitler when he went to jail for a short time. No real punishment. Hitler was able to write a book while in prison for a failed coup. Just as the Germans didn’t know the real ambitions of Hitler. He was allowed to be active politically. I am sure they didn’t know the threat he would be to their democracy. I am not sure what real threat the MEGA republican party is to our democracy. The problem I have is all these similarities to the Germany occupation are showing up or red flags if you will. They keep popping up and I guess I have been in a hole for so long I didn’t see it until I did research for this blog. Trump claimed victory and labeled his 2nd impeachment as a witch hunt. This just emboldened him to be more defiant. The republicans need to remove Trump, but I fear there will be others just to take his place. The Nazi Germany playbook is well documented I believe and it seem MAGA republicans are following it. In part, I hold the Democratic managers responsible for not calling witnesses at his 2nd Impeachment trial. It was a foolhardy mistake. Trumps speech reminds me of an event in the 1960’s.

Mitch McConnell’s remarks after Impeachment Senate vote

http://www.law.cornell.eduAs you may know President John Kennedy was shot and killed in the 1960‘s. When I have watch news reels of the event. I think about how comical it was of the reporters kept say how Lee Harvey Oswald was guilty, yet they had no film evidence of Lee shooting John F. Kennedy. The press kept saying he was guilty of the killing. Again no film evidence. A few days later Lee Harvey Oswald is covered by all the major networks of the time for his jail transfer. He is in TX police custody walking with detectives and police all around. Out of the right corner of the camera Jack Ruby steps in front of Lee Harvey Oswald with detectives to either side and shoots him several times. Of course all these officers and detectives apprehend Jack and detain him. This is on live TV mind you. Whenever the reporters talked about Jack Ruby they remind the audience that Jack Ruby is innocent until proven guilty. What? Lee is guilty with no film, yet Jack is innocent with film evidence. On January 6th, Trump’s speech is all there recorded and the majority of Republican Senators voted he was innocent. Jack Ruby and Trump are alike. They both did crimes that were recorded. These are the facts and Trump got away because of jury nullification.

http://www.law.cornell.edu

Jury nullification refers to a jury’s knowing and deliberate rejection of the evidence or refusal to apply the law either because the jury wants to send a message about some social issue that is larger than the case itself, or because the result dictated by law is contrary to the jury’s sense of justice, morality, or …

In its strictest sense, jury nullification occurs when a jury returns a Not Guilty verdict even though jurors believe beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant has broken the law.

To me it is beyond a reasonable doubt that the majority of the Republican Senators committed nullification as a body to preserve their desire for power and control of the US government. “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, as the quote goes. Ex president Donald Trump has shown he isn’t a man of great character. He has lied, he has cheated. He called Vladimir Putin a “genius and savvy. That was just incredible, but not unexpected. Trump thinks bullies are all the rage. There is an old saying, “People of the same feather flock together.” Trump is a bully too and he has fooled so many people. Other leaders around the world have fooled many people many times. Maybe not so much in the United States, yet we are a very young country when compared to the other countries. A common theme in our world seems to be that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

“People are people and it doesn’t matter what century they are from.”
Defend that, 1984

Note:
Often drinking the cool aid refers to being a blind believer in someone or something. One example is of John Jones who was a fanatical religious leader who had people follow him in death. They drank poisoned cool aid.

Maybe you know who I am about to talk about from history or maybe you don’t. As humans we have belief systems and we believe in certain people. I believe trust is a pretty big part for followers. My dad was often a very trusting man. He would often trust people he shouldn’t have. I am not sure why he trust people they shouldn’t. I know myself that I have trusted people I shouldn’t. Maybe it is something passed down from generation to generation. Although I believe most if not all people want a leader they can trust. Also, it can be something that the speaker said that resonated with a particular group or person. And people begin to sip the cool aid. He speaks again and more people gulp that cool aid. Eventually if no one is really listening to what is being told or said people will blindly follow and to chug that cool-aid. Well during WW2 the people of Germany were drinking the cool aid from Adolf Hitler. He was a pretty dramatic speaker and had showmanship qualities. Weimar Republic.

The destruction of Democracy- Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

https://www.studynlearn.com/blog/the-destruction-of-democracy/

During Hitler’s time as he gave speeches much like Trump. I have watched some clips and often wonder what he was saying as I don’t speak German. He seems to get the crowds pumped up just like Trump. As I have said people are people. People are fools sometimes. Trump is the same to the American Republicans as Hitler was to the German people at that time. One thing I didn’t know is that Germany was a democracy Hitler took power. There was a suspicious fire at the German Parliament in February of 1933 that allowed him to destroy democracy in Germany. After Hitler indefinitely suspended civic rights like freedom of speech, press and assembly he went after his enemies. He was able to eliminate these liberties because President Hindenburg offer the Chancellorship which was the highest position in the cabinet of ministers. Hitler completed the destruction of democracy by smashing the nations democratic institutions. Like they say about making pottery , “ it has all been done before”, so it is with the kinds of leaders a country can be guided by or dominated by. “ Hindenburg’s advisors convinced him that Hitler must be given the chancellorship to ensure the support of the Nazi Party and a functional government. Despite his distaste for Hitler, Hindenburg made him Chancellor on 30 January, 1933, and gave his Nazi Party two seats in the cabinet.” 1

1 https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/paul-von-hinderburg

Even though President Hindenburg offered the Chancellorship to Hitler, it was Vice chancellor Franz von Papen who thought he could keep Hitler under control. However Hitler built up his political power of the people where von Papen was weakest. von Papen was strong within the establishment, but not with the people. Hitler also used Article 48 of the Weimar Republic. That article states the President can declare a state of emergency in Germany in times of National problems. It allowed him to be a dictator for short periods of time. It seems to me Mitch McConnell is in the same situation as Franz von Papen was in back in January of 1933. McConnell wasn’t able to control Trump either. Plus, our country seems to be under the similar economic circumstances as that of Germany when Hitler took power.

…… (Andrei Tapalaga; the Man who Brought Hitler to Power)

https://historyofyesterday.com/the-man-who-brought-hitler-to-power-85fb3f2b678a

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsrwjxs/revision/9

Mitch McConnell

As far as political dynamics go I believe Mitch McConnell is much less powerful then Trump. Trump has national political clout where Mitch McConnell only has it in his home state of Kentucky. It sort of looks like we are going down the same road as the Germans did just prior to WW2. Trump has a very strong political support. We are currently in the beginning of a recession and the Germans were in the depression. Republicans are starting to dismantle some Institutions that have been established for a long time. Are these the institution that democracy is built on? As I have done some research for this blog, it is really scary close the way Trump and Hitler do mirror each other in the speeches, political power and how they wreck things. The way to prevent all of this is to get healthy leaders elected. One philosopher developed ideas on political characteristics and leadership skills that are desired.

I have always said, “Politicians don’t fix things, they just claim to.”
Defend that

That philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli who worked from 1469 to 1527. He wrote a book called the Prince. Here are some of the ideas from that book that make for good leaders. He defined virtue as behavior which showing high moral standards (i.e., They are honest, respectful, courageous, forgiving, and kind, for example). Moral standards are those concerned with or relating to human behavior, especially the distinction between good and bad behavior. Moral standards involves the rules people have about the kinds of actions they believe are morally right and morally wrong. …”the medieval Italian philosopher asserted that a good leader: Should be feared rather than loved “if you cannot be both” in order to avoid a revolt. One should have the support of the people because it’s difficult to take action without their support. Should hold good virtues.”- – Machiavelli

https://www.saybrook.edu/unbound/humanizing-machiavelli/

Some thoughts by Aimee Juarez on her blog in the Saybrook forum stated some leadership theories on what that entails. When talking about authentically in her translation of Machiavelli’s principles. She explained the why. It is because believe it or not the man didn’t appreciate dishonesty. She states that “there is no other way to guard yourself against flattery,” Machiavelli wrote, “ then by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you”. Aimee couldn’t have possibly know how our world would change so much in June 29, 2012 when she wrote these words about leadership at that time. In our frail world, USA leadership consists of power grabs for the sake of power- grabbing, leadership will ultimately fall apart. Machiavelli wrote, It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.” Any leader who focuses solely on the accrual of power is acting disingenuously and, when the people revolt against this behavior, this leader’s employment status may meet a tragic end.

Moral Standard

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-morals.html

While morals tend to be driven by personal beliefs and values, there are certainly some common morals that most people agree on, such as:
Always tell the truth.
Do not destroy property.
Have courage.
Keep your promises.
Do not cheat.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
Do not judge.
Be dependable.

Ex AG William Burr talks on Trumps lies

https://www.cnn.com/videos/poitics/2022/10/13/bill-barr-donald-trump-2020-election-claims-2022-january-6-hearings-vpx.cnn

These senators from the Republican party did their job on voting to convict then President Donald Trump. These brave men and women showed leadership, courage, determination and most of all they kept their oath of office promises. These are the types of leaders the United States needs:

Senators:
(R) Richard Burr [NC], (R) Bill Cassidy [LA], (R) Lisa Murkowski [Alaska], (R) Mitt Romney [Utah], (R) Ben Sasse [Neb], (R) Pat Toomy [Pa], (R) Susan Collins [Maine].
House of Representatives:
(R) Liz Cheney [Wy], (R) Tom Rice [SC], (R) Dan Newhouse [Wa], (R) Adam Kinzinger [IL], (R) Anthony Gonzalez [OH], (R) Fred Upton [Mi], (R) Jaime Herrera Beutler [Wa], (R) John Katko [NY], (R) David Valadao [Ca]

Again, these are the kinds of leaders we need in the USA. They are the ones with honesty, courage, dependability, keep their word/ promises and they stood by the truth in our time. They knew when it is time to stand up no matter what your party wanted them to do. It is amazing to me that the Republican party dropped support for Liz Cheney for someone who would continue the lies of the president Trump that lost. Liz protected the constitution of the United States and stood up to a Tyrant. That is leadership who speaks their mind and defended the US constitution. She was good for our country as were the others. There in another Philosopher, Scientist and professor of economics who actually talks about Machiavelli. He says that Niccolo made a mistake.

Machiavelli’s Mistake: Why Policies Designed for “wicked Men” fail

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8s2HB1cP-k

Sam Bowles presented a lecture at Yale University and it is titled, “Machiavelli’s mistake: why good laws are no substitute for good citizens. Although, I can’t go into this at the moment. Just that statement make a whole lot of sense to me. Even now as the Republicans and Democrats try to force their beliefs on people of the USA whether it is rescinding a law or writing a new one. They both are trying to write some good law for guiding citizens. In the moral standard most of us know to treat others as we want to be treated.

“Lawgivers make the citizen good by inculcating habits in them, and this is the aim of every lawgiver. If he does not succeed in doing that, his legislation is a failure. It is in this that good constitution differs from a bad one.”
Aristotle Nicomachean ethics (350 BC)

Judaism symbol. Jewish Star of David. Jude Cemetery in Cracow Ghetto. Kazimierz district. Poland. Auschwitz and Holocaust metaphor. Black and white.

In closing, I wish American citizens who will be voting could see where we are headed. The thing is people are people. One can find the same kinds of people no matter what generation your search covers. We have the bad and the good. We haven’t changed all that much, however; technology has changed. I believe a mirror of history has returned to our soil from Nazi Germany of World War 2. Our American counterparts are now in play. These are not people of good character nor are they men and woman of honesty. They are going where the wind blows them. At the end of the day lying is still lying and that is not a good thing. The MAGA hat Republicans are becoming the main stream Republicans which seems to be adopting extremism which has emphasized nationalism and patriotism. It wouldn’t be bad if it was centered and not on the extreme edges of the political spectrum. It makes me think this was the attitudes of the Nazi party and maybe many of them didn’t think it would end up that bad. Maybe they didn’t know? Undoubtedly some people did know I’ll never know, yet I do see things that are the same. The Republican leaders didn’t speak out about the scapegoating of Mexicans, of Muslims and whoever else they included. Scapegoating is what the Nazis did in Germany. Check. Trump was a dynamic speaker, he told lies and he used propaganda. Hitler and the Nazi party did those things too. The party was characterized by extremism and scapegoating. Check. The Untied States of America has weak political parties which includes the Democrats, moderate Republicans, Libertarian and Green parties. All of these parties seem much weaker the those of MAGA republicans. With many of the candidates continue to spread lies initially started by Trump. The stolen election is a lie and always has been. In Germany at the time the older parties couldn’t form a majority government between them. The Nazis blame the economic down turn on the current party or parties. Hitler had determination to follow the law now and try to gain power through elections. Check. In November of 1923, Hitler lead a coup attempt. He only served several short sentences as the authorities probably thought he wasn’t a threat to their Republic. Interesting Trump tried a coup attempt too on January 6, 2021. Trump spent no time in jail so far as the Republican majority Senate voted to acquit his through jury nullification. Check. In Germany 1936, Hitler had Nazi you groups one for boys and girls to indoctrinate them into the way of Nazi though or beliefs. Although Trump’s MAGA party aren’t with children per-say, but there is an organization that is Pro Trump anything and everything called TPUSA. They have contact with 2, 500 High schools and colleges. It is a youth movement just like Hitler. Check. In the end Germany leadership in 1933 and 1934 dismantled the republic of democracy to dictatorship. The elected leaders that can’t be trusted. But that blind following happens in religions all the time. What concerns me is that these followers/ voters are acting just like religious zealots. They have already drank the cool aid and have been lied to for so long. I believe it is in Hitlers book that if you keep feed people the lies they will eventually believe. You just have to keep saying it and saying it. Trump has done that. Check. The propaganda came from newspapers to craft language and imagery carefully to praise Nazi policies and Hitler himself, and to demonize their enemies…. In America, that sounds like FOX news. Check. I am going to vote for the democrats because frankly the republicans can’t be trusted. The republican candidates follow party lines religiously. We need politicians that don’t lie. That don’t continue those lies like Germany of old. Lying is bad. For me voting has always been about choosing between the lesser of two evils. We need leaders of good moral standing. They have now outlawed Roe vs Wade. Where will it stop? Seriously, I don’t want a dictatorship do you?

Quote: First they come for

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I am not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jew, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller – a German Protestant pastor

My political Science 101 class book in the 1980’s had a paragraph that kind of jumped out at me as we were reading. It said something to the effect that people don’t care about laws that don’t affect them. Eventually a law is passed that does affect them, but now it doesn’t affect others, so they don’t care about that law. We needed to vote out bad laws. Martin Niemoller seems to sum that up pretty well in his poem.

F7NJH6 mentally and physically handicapped Jewish prisoners, in Buchenwald concentration camp 1938

Trump calls Putin genius and savvy for Ukraine invasion

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/23/trump-putin-ukraine-invasion-00010923

The Tragedy of Trump’s Second Impeachment 38:14 minutes by LegalEagle….. Devin Stone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc3H4woraHc

SE Cupp: MAGA Republicans, please stop calling yourself conservatives

https://www.cnn.com/videos/opinions/2022/10/21/conservatives-maga-republicans-se-cupp-orig-vf.cnn

Wikipedia- 2nd Impeachment of Donald Trump

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_impeachment_of_Donald_Trump

Devin Stone who is a lawyer who makes videos on Legaleagle on youtube. See below. Did certain politicians commit sedition?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLeMKM4ArlA

What is Sedition? A brief description.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTFypKbml9o

Crimes the capitol Rioters committed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct3XOs7nQ38

All the possible January 6th crimes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5SUhbegZtc

The political parties in the Weimar Republic (Germany)

https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/189776/01b7ea57531a60126da86e2d5c5dbb78/parties_weimar_republic-data.pdf

Germany 1933: From democracy to dictatorship

https://www.annefrank.org/en/anne-frank/go-in-depth/germany-1933-democracy-dictatorship/

Joining Hitler youth

https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/joining-hitler-youth

Money and misinformation TPUSA

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/23/turning-point-rightwing-youth-group-critics-tactics

Dismantling Democracy

https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/dismantling-democracy-0

The History of Nazi book burning

https://bookriot.com/nazi-book-burning/

Holocaust Encyclopedia

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-come-for-the-socialists

The Ukraine Event- a repeat of history

written Feb.25, 2022

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash Horsemen

Why did Germany invade Poland during World War II ? (and what was the justification of the Nazis?)

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Germany-invade-Poland-during-World-War-II

See Douglas Adolph. These are some of his words. I am using some of the points he made in a much bigger article. (Douglas wrote this 6 months ago)

“Bullying and violence had worked in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, so why would the West grow a spine to help Poland, some faraway county your typical French or British citizen wouldn’t care about?
Hitler thought he held all the cards. If Poland wasn’t going to kow tow to bullying, he would drive over their people and watch the West do nothing. Chamberlain had convinced Hitler that the West was being run by cowards unwilling to go to war. To his own peril, Hitler seriously misjudged the West- they had had enough.
Of course, Hitler didn’t want to invade Poland without “provocation.” He needed an excuse to make sure the West’s leaders could save face. So, he tried to provoke Poland into doing something stupid.
The Polish government wasn’t going to give Hitler an excuse- try as Hitler might, he couldn’t get them to do something stupid.
So, Hitler decided to fake “something stupid.” He started by making false claims about Polish atrocities perpetrated against German minorities in Poland. When the West didn’t drink the Kool-Aid, Hitler upped the ante with a false flag operation. He had a handful of Germans murdered- some dressed up like they were Polish soldiers- and argued that the Polish government had attacked German troops.
Hitler invaded Poland for the same reason he invaded everywhere else- he wanted to conquer and secure Lebensraum for Germany, no matter the cost of human life for the sovereign nations he wanted to put under the jackboot. When justification based on a united German nation (at the expense of a sovereign Poland) failed, he conjured up his own excuse, not seeing the writing on the wall (and not listening to his own diplomats).” **

https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Germany-invade-Poland-during-World-War-II

Photo by British Library on Unsplash WW1 trench picture

Intolerance and tolerance has been a mixed up theme for quite some time here in the US. The USA, are so Knoted up on so many issues. We are conflicted with slavery, BLM, Covid -19, LGBQ and T, Republicans not supporting an impeachable ex. President Trump, sculptures of the Civil war themes and so on. Our politicians are not completely concerned with solutions to these problems. They are more concerned about getting re-elected. However, we have a more serious problem at the moment. It is about standing up to tyrants and authoritarian regimes. Our country with Europe once did that in WWII. Germany attacked Poland because they thought no outside force would do anything about it. The world didn’t do anything when Georgia was attacked by Russia’s government in 2008. President George W. Bush did nothing to stop that Russian incursion in 2008. Then President Obama also did nothing when Putin decided to take over the Crimea Peninsula in 2014. President Obama only applied Visa and financial sanctions when they stole this Ukraine property. The world did nothing really, so now just like Germany of World War ll invading Poland. We need NATO to stop talking, it is War. Russian President Putin had gotten the green light to attack Ukraine when NATO did not act. Our President Joe Biden needs to do more. Talk is cheep, so are sanctions.

I believe there is only one thing that alters a bullies behavior. I know the United States in no angel. The government is not the white knight in shinning armor. Members of the US government have done some terrible things. I mean how far back do you want to go? I am not going to go there for now. Why weren’t sanctions put in place earlier? Why did President Joe Biden taking his time? Putin invaded and he has a 5 billion dollar war chest. So are sanctions really gonna work? As Mike Tyson recently said, “Everyone has a plan to fight until you punch them in the mouth”. Stop pussy footing around and “punch him in the mouth”. The US and NATO should not listen to Putin threats us to not get involved. That is exactly what German’s leaders of World War II said, don’t get involved. It is like you are a witness to a crime and the thug doesn’t want you involved. It appears to me that History is repeating itself. How is a few messily troops going to protect Eastern Europe? I get it. Our President is in a tough spot. He has told Russia that he won’t use military against them. WTF Biden doesn’t want to start WW III. Now that is actually kind of laughable.

Why is that laughable? For one he is repeating history. Two, you didn’t start this aggression Putin did it. Biden could have put US troops in Ukraine with Congresses approval before this war started. He still could put troops on the ground.. He could have said, we are just going to do a military exercise with the Ukrainian military. You had eyes in the sky and saw this storm forming. You could see what was going on. I get it that you had to let Russia’s military strike first, but you aren’t preventing a war from happening. Putin was already committed to it. In my opinion WW II got really started because no one punched the bully in the mouth. Sanctions to me don’t really do that much except after the damage is done. Buildings are in ruin with untold Ukrainian lives perishing at this very moment, so are Russian soldiers. This conflict may not be contained to just Ukraine now that the fighting has started. It has been said,” an ounce of prevention is worth more then a pound of cure”. Millions of refuges are not going to be any easier to feed, house and find work etc… on foreign soil then it is to have a first rate military fight the bully on the block. I think it is more difficult to deal with the citizens that are displaced. Just as Germany wanted other countries oil for their war machine.. Maybe Putin wants to take Ukraine for it’s food production, their wheat, where it’s nickname is the bread basket of Europe.

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash Ruined House – war with ISIS

Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together.”
by William Turner c. 1545, Rescuing of Romish Fox

Most if not all US Presidents have made mistakes. If President Joe Biden has made a mistake, it may only be discovered when the history of this fight is written. Will it be the complete truth? When Biden stated he didn’t want to start WW 3, it made it sound like he was saving that one for China and Taiwan. Biden should never had taken military force off the table when talking to Putin. He needed to project strength and not weakness. Biden is starting to look a lot like Barak Obama who in my eyes was a peacenik. No US president should be a peacenik. You are a commander and chief of the United States armed forces. It is ridiculous to be a pacifist and in control of one of the most powerful armies in the world. Now if we are going to keep China from following Putin’s play book, we may have to go to war with Putin’s Russian army. The thing is that the US military has never gone up against a peer army since WW 2. We have gone against more inferior militarizes and lost. A standing army can’t win against a guerrilla army. I believe if you look back at our wars, we lost to guerrilla type battles. Maybe that is part of what our military needs to do with Ukraine?

In all wars, the truth is the first casualty. That is a paraphrase of some Greek Philosopher from the BC era. I believe it is true. The one problem I see now is that Russia and China have seemingly been pushed together and have agreed to “no limits.” I was like oh crap. What did Biden do? I am not sure if it can be blamed on Biden or if this would have happened regardless of what he said. Another saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Which means people of the same sort or with the same tastes and interests will be found together. This is fitting that Russia and China are together. It seems I wonder if this is the Biblical prophecy for end of times?? This maybe how it starts with Israel willing to take in 5 million Ukrainian refugees?? Does this mean that crazy Putin will want to attack Israel because so many Ukrainians will live there? Putin has fabricated history to fit his own agenda in his speech. He has been lying for a long time. Why does the West still listen or even trust Putin? His word doesn’t mean crap.

Bust of tragic poet Aeschylus- stock Editorial Photography see depositphotos.com

“In war, truth is the first casualty.”
Aeschylus ” the father of tragedy”; Born: 524 BCE Died: approx. 455 BCE

Two powerful countries seemingly in cahoots now. China’s leader has made similar speeches regarding Taiwan as has Russian regarding Ukraine. Xi Jinping wants Taiwan to be a part of mainland China. Are we similarly going to just stand idly by when China attacks Taiwan? Are we going to use sanctions like we did for Ukraine? I know the USA has a agreement with Taiwan to help defend them if and when China attacks them. China has often spoken of reuniting by force. How is this any different then what is going on between Putin’s Russian troops and Ukraine? I believe the UN and NATO need to start acting differently. Our politicians need to unit and have the courage to use military force when it is necessary. Because we need to protect the sovereignty of all countries. It is said to be international law. Sanctions can be tolerated and fighting forces need to confronted when the bullies interfere with the sovereignty of another nation. I realize how much hypocrisy that is because the US has done a regime change. Putin wants one too, yet Ukraine has done nothing wrong. I really wish President Joe Biden would involve our troops in small guerilla like formation to help Ukraine.

“speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
President Theodore Roosevelt c. 1901, speech titled, “National Duties” as it relates to foreign policy.

We need different leadership in this group of world leaders. Money and power seem to be the driving force behind all/ most conflicts as well as other things. I know I don’t know the whole story here. What I do know is the West, US, and NATO is repeating history. For now Russian troops have attacked Ukraine just as German troops attacked Poland in WW 2. It is appalling to me that our leaders aren’t showing the courage it will take to nip this in the bud. I wish we could all choose peace and work together to solve the worlds problems. Yes, it will most likely lead to war and maybe even a World War 3. How do you expect the US troops to respond if they are attacked while in NATO countries? Biden stated if American and Russians start shooting at each other it will be WW 3, so you are hopping they will leave NATO alone. It has been 77 years since the last WW. Yes we have had skirmishes over the years, but none of them has lead to a World War. Standing up to the bully, Putin, now or another bully, Jinping, later? The world today has an immediate threat. We did not have the eyes in the sky as we do now in WW 2. Sanctions should have been put in place before the attack. They saw the troop movements. They saw the build up. They should have spoken of sanctions and put them in play with the possibility of sticks for later. Then come to Putin’s table and calmly say, “ Move your troops where they came from and then we can talk about removal of sanctions. Someone once said,” Speak softly and carry a big stick.”

Photo by Kevin Schmid on Unsplash Russian Tank

“People are people. Right now Putin is acting just like Hitler.”
defend that

Side note:

The Russians lost so many people due to the wars being fought on their soil and the lack of caring by their communist government. Their own History seems to demonstrate this type of carelessness toward their soldiers as demonstrated in WW II.

The battle of Stalingrad estimates are roughly 800,000 to 1,100,000 Russian soldiers killed ,plus 40,000 civilians from August 1942 to February 1943. That is about 7 months of war, so that equates roughly to 114,285 to 157,143 Russian soldiers died/ month. Take these numbers and divide by 30 days. That is roughly 5,238 dead per day. This in turn comes to 218 soldiers dead per hour.

In the Battle of Berlin, Russian military losses are estimated to be 81,000 killed and another 280,000 wounded. They had approximately 20,000 tanks compared to Germany’s 1200. I have found conflicting reports of when it started and when it ended. Some articles say it started on April 16, 1945 while others say it started on April 23, 1945. The ending in one is April 19, 1945 while another mentions May 2, 1945. If it was indeed 4 days, then that translates roughly to 20,000 soldiers died /day. In a 4 day x 24 hour period equates to 833.33 Russian soldiers died /hour. If it started on April 23rd to May 2nd, that means 9 days. Therefore, 9 days x 24 hours equates to 370.37 Russian soldiers died /hour. That is equates to 6 Russian soldiers died every minute. The reason for the big push was that Stalin did not trust the Western allies.

Those men and woman who fought in WW II had the courage to put a stop to the destruction by aggression. We need to do that too now. The gloves need to come off and punch Russian forces in the mouth now and not later. These Russian soldiers and Putin himself have ordered them to break international law and boundaries. We are a nation of laws. The world has international laws that have now been broken. Will we stand by if Russian troops are told to slaughter people? Our countries need to take up arms to assist Ukraine because displacing them from their country breaks all the rules of self governing. You think the Ukraine’s care about sanctions? The West can still provide so much more. War is what Putin wanted and he sees that the West won’t stop him. The Western government are speaking tough words, but in reality that is nothing. How does that affect the Russian troops on the ground exactly? As the people of Ukraine die, how can you say you stand with the people of Ukraine. That is a bunch of nonsense or rubbish. You can’t help dead people?? Standing with the people of Ukraine to me means you got their backs. It is time to fight an invader. To me it doesn’t matter they aren’t part of the club of NATO. They are a sovereign nation and all countries should be willing to assist in this fight, but so many politicians want to kick the problem down the road to deal with it when it is more convenient. I think it is a bit silly to apply sanctions after an army has already invaded. Joe you need to put US troops in this fight along with NATO troops to help the Ukrainians fight Russian aggression. If you don’t, there will be more of these kinds of events to come. Just heard China is supplying Russia with wheat. I don’t know if it is a sanctioned item?? This is what they call more then a leakier in the article below regarding Economic Sanctions.

I wish that people, world leaders, would choose peace. I wish world leaders would have more courage to choose to defend Ukraine even though they are not part of the NATO club. They are sovereign country to choose their own destiny. I think about all of the money these war machines cost. If we could turn the focus more on peace, sharing wealth by choice. The world could be a better place, yet to have a better place the world needs to change it’s leaders. Out with the old ways of thinking and in with some new. Tools of war turned into plow shears…….

Side note: April 6, 2022

I removed the word genocide back in February when I first wrote this article. I removed it because I didn’t believe that the Russian military would do such things. However, I have since been informed that it is the Russian military’s MO. They have done this in the Balkans, they have done it in Syria and now they are doing it in Ukraine. I feel like I am watching a real live horror show when I think of this unjust war. I believe some of our special forces should be used only in Ukraine to help defend them. Perhaps just our small teams regular army or marines would do? Give them the weapons they need or let them borrow soldiers that are trained to use our weapons? Working in small units using guerilla tactics against the Russian Military. Guerilla tactics have most often defeated large standing armies.

-Defend that

Using Economic Sanctions to prevent Deadly Conflict

https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/using-economic-sanctions-prevent-deadly-conflict