War and the Russian Winter

The Russian Winters are legendary for their impact on a war.  Invaders have in several moments of history pressed deep into Russia until defeated by the difficulty of supplies and the bitterness of the Russian Winters.  It is not surprising that the bitter cold is a weapon once again. Telling his Country the false belief that the failures of its government are a U.S. invasion through the puppet Ukraine Government, Russia has once again attacked the Ukraine. They have unleashed  a multi-faceted invasion in Donetsk sending tanks, rocket launchers and troops into the embattled region. No mind that there were a truces and ceasefires, no matter that delay after delay the scheduled peace talks have failed to materialize. Russia’s economy has suffered from Putin’s ridiculous leadership and now Ukraine must once again pay the price.

With more than 5,000 dead and thousands more wounded, the death toll does not slow Putin any more than world opinion.  The pretexts used to disguise the invasion, and deflect full blame, will disappear as soon as it is time to celebrate a victory. We saw this in play once before in the Crimea. First the green men (--) Russian troops in green outfits posing as volunteer fighters. Then, a rout of the overwhelmed brave Ukrainian Army.  Finally, a new piece of Russia will vote for independence or affiliation. Bit by bit- Putin consumes the weaker, unoffending neighbor- well, offending in the way that the people of Ukraine have decided to build a democracy.

 The sanctions have put a hole in the Russian economy. They were intended to place costs on the economy with as little pressure as possible on the average citizen- they have little voice in the decisions of the government. The average citizen can only receive the propaganda of the Russian state news agency.  We have seen that effect in the U.S., the world according to Fox News is a strange and completely fictional place. Those who digest it daily live in a fictional environment where Obama is a Great Satan and Healthcare destroys the moral fiber.

With the economy in tatters, Putin needs a victory and a diversion. A victory over a weakened ally is convenient and easy – if you don’t mind killing innocent people. A victory over democracy is important because it is an idea that is antithetical to Russian style government. Dictatorship may appear benign, but it is not, and Putin is a Dictator. By any reasoned assessment, his conduct is in violation of international law, and it costs lives every day.  The contrived rebellion in Eastern Ukraine is a provocation and the desperate efforts of a failed government.  Russia has the keys to peace, and always has. The lack of truth fouls the equation, the Russian people are also victims here.

Now once again the Russian Winter is a scene of war. The invaders are imaginary; the assault on Russia exists in the minds of Putin and a few greedy billionaires. The costs will continue to wipe out precious lives in Donetsk. The drive to advantage before settlement (--) like in the Crimea, involves taking land and boasting of Russian power.  It is ultimately just pathetic that one can so badly use such great strength and power, the faith of a great Nation,  and by such small men.

Peace or deeper war are equally at hand; there is a pattern here of Russia grabbing land before the peace talks. However having seen it before, I think the West will aid Ukraine's economy , and the sanctions are likely to increase to further punish Russia..