Ross, I have also written about the aggression in Ukraine and favored diplomacy. War is horrible. I was in Sochi during the first invasion. Sadly, no one listened to me then, or now. That said, I am heartened to see you continuing to advocate for a peaceful resolution. May you draw strength from my words and the support of others. For what it’s worth, I have noted a steady increase in the comments section of the New York Times and Financial Times favoring a negotiated resolution. Keep writing, we will get there.
The thing you seem unable to grasp is that there is no deal Putin will honor. Any deal is just time for him to rearm and try again.
I’m an American who came over as a refugee from the former Soviet Union as a small child. I am under no delusion that there is a single agreement anywhere and with anyone that russia will actually abide by.
You’re not being silenced on this and there’s no religiosity about Ukraine. I’m sorry, you’re just wrong.
Isn't it funny how everyone is happy to send billions to Ukraine, and yet after a decade and a half, we haven't been able to scrape together the money to fix the water in Flint or fix the water in Jackson.
I'm not saying that skin color is the only thing here - no one would get rich providing clean water to Mississippi's capital, whereas support for Ukraine is sending donor class profits through the roof.
Ross, I will always welcome another voice for peace. Putin is the autocratic aggressor here, as you pointed out. But there are no good guys here. The U.S. helped overthrow the democratically elected Ukrainian president in 2014. They are blocking every peace initiative now, primarily to sell the wares of our war industry. Russia is an imperialist, but an amateur compared to the U.S., 20 yrs in Afghanistan. Zelensky has shut down dissident media and jailed anti-war church leaders. Either the U.S., or Ukraine, blew up the Nord pipeline, which even before the invasion they insisted the Germans abandon. Why? So they would have to buy our expensive, dirty oil. The Donbass has had a majority Russian population that has fought a sessesionist battle for 7 yrs before the invasion. The Crimean, 300 yrs part of Russia with 90% Russians voted to go BACK to Russia in 2014. It was given as a "gift" by Kruschiev to Ukraine vs their will.
These are important facts, which people have a right to know, and the U.S. surppresses.
I have had many of the same thoughts over the last few months. No end in sight and so many people displaced or killed on both sides. And Trump is out there saying he would have "negotiated" with Putin before this even started - perhaps allowing annexation of additional "Russian speaking" territory. DeSantis going in the same direction as the costs both economic and human start piling up.
Well articulated. The only people who win in war are the MIC. Eisenhower warned us, JFK was killed for opposing them, and DJT faced a coup throughout his term for not starting any wars. $100 billion later, 10% for the big guy!
Like you I am appalled at what is happening in Ukraine. The conduct of the Russian army amounts to gross human rights violations. I marched and demonstrated against Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. That was our country and we weren’t listened to. What effect can we expect to have on Putin. The lesson I learned a long time ago is that I should focus on where I can help to better government and expand social justice here in my community. You do such important work writing about the city and state. You work is a change agent. This is where to keep your focus. This is your mission. That is what I propose.
>>the positive reverberations will be felt across the globe,” Francis Fukuyama wrote
It is a kind of neo-domino theory.
>>his all has the taste of Vietnamization
It is more like the beginning of the Vietnam war than the end. Steadily escalating the engagement and commitment. I wouldn't be surprised if we already had "advisors" on the ground.
It is indeed verboten to lay most of the blame for the war on Putin without turning it into a good and evil fairy tale.
Thanks for your article. It's good to see a continued push for peace and diplomacy, even in the face of "appeasement" hysterics. Nobody likes to mention the majority pro-Russian sentiment in Crimea and the Donbas, or the active role the CIA and US Government played in fostering anti-USSR hatred in Ukraine (which then transformed into hatred of ethnic Russian Ukrainians), or the anti-democratic policies the US employed to undermine the elected governments in Ukraine, but these all played an integral role in the conflict today. Understanding that the US's actions have crossed red lines and created legitimate national security concerns, not just for Putin, but for all of Russia is something the US will need to come to terms with as it navigates an end to the war (at some point? in the near future? Maybe?)
Keep writing Mr. Barkan. Anyone even within shouting distance of diplomacy deserves to be heard. But be careful - you say "diplomacy" or "peaceful settlement" too loudly, you'll get labeled 'far right', 'isolationist', and a host of other pejoratives by the people in power and the Corporate Press for whom you seem to still have a bit of affinity.
Yeah this was really quite a silly and hysterical article. Strip out all the hyperventilating and authorial self-regard as the brave critic refusing to be silenced by mindless zealots, etc etc, and the argument is just a link to another paper somewhere else that you haven't even accurately summarized. Yawn.
Ross, I have also written about the aggression in Ukraine and favored diplomacy. War is horrible. I was in Sochi during the first invasion. Sadly, no one listened to me then, or now. That said, I am heartened to see you continuing to advocate for a peaceful resolution. May you draw strength from my words and the support of others. For what it’s worth, I have noted a steady increase in the comments section of the New York Times and Financial Times favoring a negotiated resolution. Keep writing, we will get there.
The thing you seem unable to grasp is that there is no deal Putin will honor. Any deal is just time for him to rearm and try again.
I’m an American who came over as a refugee from the former Soviet Union as a small child. I am under no delusion that there is a single agreement anywhere and with anyone that russia will actually abide by.
You’re not being silenced on this and there’s no religiosity about Ukraine. I’m sorry, you’re just wrong.
Isn't it funny how everyone is happy to send billions to Ukraine, and yet after a decade and a half, we haven't been able to scrape together the money to fix the water in Flint or fix the water in Jackson.
I'm not saying that skin color is the only thing here - no one would get rich providing clean water to Mississippi's capital, whereas support for Ukraine is sending donor class profits through the roof.
Stick to what you know. You are on the mark on state and city politics but all over the place here. A lot of hand wringing with little knowledge.
Ross, I will always welcome another voice for peace. Putin is the autocratic aggressor here, as you pointed out. But there are no good guys here. The U.S. helped overthrow the democratically elected Ukrainian president in 2014. They are blocking every peace initiative now, primarily to sell the wares of our war industry. Russia is an imperialist, but an amateur compared to the U.S., 20 yrs in Afghanistan. Zelensky has shut down dissident media and jailed anti-war church leaders. Either the U.S., or Ukraine, blew up the Nord pipeline, which even before the invasion they insisted the Germans abandon. Why? So they would have to buy our expensive, dirty oil. The Donbass has had a majority Russian population that has fought a sessesionist battle for 7 yrs before the invasion. The Crimean, 300 yrs part of Russia with 90% Russians voted to go BACK to Russia in 2014. It was given as a "gift" by Kruschiev to Ukraine vs their will.
These are important facts, which people have a right to know, and the U.S. surppresses.
I have had many of the same thoughts over the last few months. No end in sight and so many people displaced or killed on both sides. And Trump is out there saying he would have "negotiated" with Putin before this even started - perhaps allowing annexation of additional "Russian speaking" territory. DeSantis going in the same direction as the costs both economic and human start piling up.
Well articulated. The only people who win in war are the MIC. Eisenhower warned us, JFK was killed for opposing them, and DJT faced a coup throughout his term for not starting any wars. $100 billion later, 10% for the big guy!
Like you I am appalled at what is happening in Ukraine. The conduct of the Russian army amounts to gross human rights violations. I marched and demonstrated against Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. That was our country and we weren’t listened to. What effect can we expect to have on Putin. The lesson I learned a long time ago is that I should focus on where I can help to better government and expand social justice here in my community. You do such important work writing about the city and state. You work is a change agent. This is where to keep your focus. This is your mission. That is what I propose.
>>the positive reverberations will be felt across the globe,” Francis Fukuyama wrote
It is a kind of neo-domino theory.
>>his all has the taste of Vietnamization
It is more like the beginning of the Vietnam war than the end. Steadily escalating the engagement and commitment. I wouldn't be surprised if we already had "advisors" on the ground.
It is indeed verboten to lay most of the blame for the war on Putin without turning it into a good and evil fairy tale.
Thanks for your article. It's good to see a continued push for peace and diplomacy, even in the face of "appeasement" hysterics. Nobody likes to mention the majority pro-Russian sentiment in Crimea and the Donbas, or the active role the CIA and US Government played in fostering anti-USSR hatred in Ukraine (which then transformed into hatred of ethnic Russian Ukrainians), or the anti-democratic policies the US employed to undermine the elected governments in Ukraine, but these all played an integral role in the conflict today. Understanding that the US's actions have crossed red lines and created legitimate national security concerns, not just for Putin, but for all of Russia is something the US will need to come to terms with as it navigates an end to the war (at some point? in the near future? Maybe?)
Keep writing Mr. Barkan. Anyone even within shouting distance of diplomacy deserves to be heard. But be careful - you say "diplomacy" or "peaceful settlement" too loudly, you'll get labeled 'far right', 'isolationist', and a host of other pejoratives by the people in power and the Corporate Press for whom you seem to still have a bit of affinity.
Yeah this was really quite a silly and hysterical article. Strip out all the hyperventilating and authorial self-regard as the brave critic refusing to be silenced by mindless zealots, etc etc, and the argument is just a link to another paper somewhere else that you haven't even accurately summarized. Yawn.
I can't
Who can understand this world