[NOTE: These two short columns offer an admirable review of two key moments in the impact of Putin’s Ukraine invasion on my own thinking. When I imagined these countries as actual places (which, I admit, wasn’t often), my speculation was that they held to a “plague-on-both-your-houses” stance vis-a-vis the USSR/Russia on one side, and the West, … Continue reading Sweden, Finland, NATO, Neutrals & Nukes: A Concise Analysis
[NOTE: O.M.F.G. — I can NOT believe the Army is bringing back an Eighties recruiting slogan; but by god they are. And recruiting has fallen so below target they’re sending out the Army Secretary herself to do recruiting blitz weekends, like this one in Chicago. It was a very tough gig, as this report details. … Continue reading Army Sends Top Brass Recruiters Up Against Gen Z Resistance: “Hell, No— We Don’ Wanna Go!”
Washington Post — February 22, 2023 By Liz Sly Year of war : A global divide on the Ukraine war is deepening Russia capitalizes on disillusionment with the United States to win sympathy in the Global South. JOHANNESBURG — Clement Manyathela, who hosts a popular and influential talk show on South Africa’s Radio 702, remembers the outrage he … Continue reading Ukraine, Year Two: A Pair of Particularly Pointed Perspectives — Liz Sly & Gwynne Dyer: Escalation
GOOD NEWS Washington Post There were few Black historic landmarks. Two brothers changed that. By Nick Tabor — February 11, 2023 In 1970, there were only two National Historic Landmarks focused exclusively on Black history. By 1976, that number had risen beyond 70. Behind this change was a large coalition of Black scholars, policymakers and … Continue reading Good News/Other News/Bad News
Ukraine: Will Western tanks bring victory? Gwynne Dyer — Jan 27 2023 Gwynne Dyer is a UK-based Canadian journalist and historian who writes about international affairs. OPINION: On Tuesday they reset the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds before midnight. How did they know that Germany would agree to give Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on Wednesday?