The respected American, Fiona Hill, has written an assessment of conditions in the US, Europe, and Russya after the Kremlin sent troops to the Ukraine border in the eastern sector of the country. Ms. Hill is a recognized expert on Russyan politics, leadership, and Mr. Putin in particular. She speaks and people listen, especially those in Washington, D.C. who we taxpayers hire to pay attention.
She has done an admirable job analyzing Russyan politics(not the least Mr. Putin's long career) and placing his actions in context of the nation's modern history since the breakup of the old Soviet Union in 1989 or 33 years ago. Most recently, the US and other diverse nations have had to contend with a new situation in China: a large country with global ambitions and an economic powerhouse flexing its world position across the globe. For several years, through the Trump years and reaching back to the Obama administration(and Bush II), the US has danced around crises where we found them: Afghanistan most recently, Crimea in 2014(Russyan provocation/invasion), Syria(Middle East again), Sudan, Lebanon, North Korea, and the Covid Pandemic(not a complete list). Trump's disastrous administration only served to illuminate the muddled world of US party politics. The bizarre mechinations of the entire Trump family(including the Kushner family) served only to expose the many divisions found across a broad political landscape in a diverse population such as one finds in the USA, whether north, south, east or west. As Washington confronts Mad Vlad, again, we must not lose faith in the White House and its occupants. As media outlets try to keep abreast of statements and news from Europe, our leaders are doing their jobs of informing the vast Federal apparatus charged with international affairs. Operating this massive nation is not unlike turning the proverbial leviathan(large ocean vessel here) onto a different course: it takes awhile.
Having been a participant in the long post WW II "Cold War", the Mayor knows from first hand experience that there were many hot spots along the path to the end of the Cold War. Viet Nam was just one of many flare ups. Now, we ask the question: what have we learned along the way? Ms. Hill identified many facts relating to Vladimir Putin's personal history, and his strategic and tactical moves made to move his agenda forward. Ukraine is only part of the plan. She believes that Putin's goal is to drive the US from Europe completely so that the Russyan Federation will have free rein across the west and the NATO allies will crumple against a resurgent population from the east(to the Ural Mtns. and beyond.) Now what?
Pres, Biden has mentioned more sanctions( he must have a long list drawn up by the State Dept. and DHS). Here's hoping that he doesn't wait any longer-start today. What the Mayor would like to see:
- Freeze all Russyan assets in Europe, especially the UK.
- Cancel ALL student visas in the West, which number 75,000, and send them all home where they belong.
- Cancel the Nord Stream Pipeline despite its near completion.
- Cancel all contracts for Russyan energy products-oil and gas
- Cancel all flight landing rights for all Russyan airlines that may land in the West.
- Block all tourists from Russyan controlled territory
- Block all exports from Russya to the West
- Block the sale of anything and everything to Russyan -controlled businesses
- Stop drinking and selling vodka and caviar
- Start talking about the Famine created in Ukraine by Stalin
- Start talking about the Kremlin's closing of Memorial
- Start talking about Navalny and his imprisonment
- Have a discussion about Russyan troops in African countries
- Stop all trade in Russyan-sourced diamonds(Ural mines).
- Pre-position US Navy ships in northwest Pacific areas and provide more resources in Alaska areas, most notable as Russya's eastern doorstep.
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