“The era of authoritarian imperialism is back with a vengeance,” a Wall Street Journal editorial proclaimed hours before Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Ukraine is only the first target,” the editorial entitled “Russia’s Looming War in Europe” continued.
Russia’s latest dictator, President Vladimir Putin, launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine last Thursday following Russia’s initial incursion into contested provinces the previous Sunday.
History makes clear that when emboldened dictators go to war in Europe it costs U.S. treasure and blood to put them down.
Putin, emboldened by his successful takeover of Crimea, encouraged by his hardline military leaders, armed with massive and well-equipped land, sea, air, and cyber forces, strengthened by Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and gas, his eastern border secured via a new pact with China, chose war to bring Ukraine back under Russian control. He has made it clear for years that his ultimate goal is to re-establish the old Soviet sphere of control in eastern Europe.
Unwilling to risk all-out war with a nuclear powerhouse, NATO and the U.S. will try to disrupt Putin’s takeover of Ukraine by supplying arms and supplies to resistance forces and imposing stiff economic sanctions on Russia. Should Ukraine be subdued, Putin will methodically turn his attention to other former Soviet satellites, many now members of NATO. While NATO will mobilize and deploy troops and arms to these areas, the treaty to fully defend NATO partners has never been tested.
Populations in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania next door to Russia will be watching what happens in Ukraine. Any widespread bloodshed, targeted assassinations, economic collapse, or fuel supply chaos will supplement Putin’s intimidation capacity to coerce them back under Russian influence.
Have no doubt that China is watching as it holds Putin’s hand during this invasion. Any Putin success exposing weakness of will and/or power in the West will embolden China to move more aggressively to extend its power and control in the East, initially against Taiwan. Lack of Russian success will do the opposite.
“Russia and China want to topple the U.S.-led international order and create spheres of influence they dominate,” wrote The Wall Street Journal.
What will the United States do?
Nothing if you listen to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former President Donald Trump who applauded Putin’s initial incursion. Trump even called Putin’s strategy “genius.” Other Republicans initially saw political opportunity, so blasted President Joe Biden as “weak.” Many later joined with Democrats to support sanctions Biden orchestrated carefully with Europe.
Both Russia and China “see a retreating America, consumed with internal division, and they are going to exploit it,” wrote The Wall Street Journal.
Meanwhile, back in Mississippi, military families still weary from two decades of National Guard deployments related to Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, will be the first impacted by this new war. Deployments to support new active duty missions to Europe will start soon with Asia deployments likely to follow.
A week ago Sunday the world changed, and not for the better. Once again, a megalomaniac dictator instigated war in Europe. Eventually, this will impact us all.
“Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor” – Jeremiah 22:3.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.
25 comments:
Putin is in over his head and knows it. The key to getting this thing over with quickly and with as little loss of life as possible is a negotiated peace which allows Putin to appear as if he won something so as to retain his tough guy image to his people for the present. Then leave the sanctions in place and let his own citizenry get frustrated and eventually remove him. I pray this happens and soon.
Meanwhile, Crazy Joe Xiden is vacationing in Delaware.
Mind your business. That's all you gotta do, America, Mind YOUR business.
Anyone with half a brain should absolutely know that this started with left wing communist that were voted into office. They have degraded America to where we all are now. Allowing free trade with communist China and allowing Chinese spy’s loose on our universities has allowed both China and Russia to steal military secrets and build their armies that face the West now. Biden immediately killed Americans ability to supply either America or Western Europes with gas or oil and the ability to stop propping up the mad man in Moscow. Make no mistake this war and the coming war with China is bought a paid for in America dollars.
Biden turned over classified intelligence and information to his benefactors in China that detailed what our response woukd be be if Russia invaded. Of course, China immediately sent it to Putin,while laughing at Biden’s incompetence and stupidity.
What is Crawford trying to say here other than repeating stuff that’s all over the news and copy/paste from the WSJ? The title is The War in Europe will Impact Military Families First, well no shit, yet he only mentions this at the end of the article with no explanation. What a joke
Lmaooooo @ 4 comments
@12:47 Yeah, I always forget just how much of a left wing communist Richard Nixon was. 🙄
1) American military families are FAR from being the first impacted by this war.
2) If families and guardsmen are 'tired of deployment', don't join or stay in the damned guard. If you thought it was periodic encampments and weekend drills around the barrel fire with hunting buddies, welcome to reality. Thousands of boys joined the guard in '66 to avoid the draft and found their asses in Nam.
3:09 - I reckon I trusted Nixon then and now just about as much as any other president and way more than most. The man has finally been vindicated. Whatever he knew and when he knew it, was Ned In The First Reader.
Those 80 million people who voted for Biden can be drafted first because you people got us unto shit.
Whatever we do it cannot strengthen our position to have Americans in government or potential government positions expressing admiration for Putin while we are on the verge of a shooting war. Mr. Trump calls everyone who doesn't kiss his ass a traitor but at the same time shows that his brand of patriotism has little to do with the U.S. and everything to do with him. This is a crucial time and Putin and China are looking for division and weakness, we should at least show unity now.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a quid pro quo for closing the Keystone XL pipeline. Putin will make sure that no evidence of wrongdoing between the Obama/Biden administration and Ukraine/Burisma will ever again see the light of day. Never forget that when Zelinsky won on an anti-corruption campaign and then opened an investigation into Burisma, Veep Biden shut it down.
Just remember that there are two large bodies of water between us, Europe and China. They will actually only slow them down a bit. Don't think we will be able to do much if invaded. Believe the west coast will take the brunt based on China and Russia having direct access to the Pacific and EU could be blocking Russia's way to the Atlantic, but never know. I'm sure that expeditionary forces may come up through the southern part of our country as it's already been proven and easy access route. Conspiracy thoughts, well, maybe, but if I and others can think this, why not. I'm sure our arm chair Generals and Admirals will have much to say. I have seen the elephant.
Lock & Load, as they (commies) may be coming to our shores.
"This is a crucial time and Putin and China are looking for division and weakness, we should at least show unity now."
That is a position always popular among liberals when they feel heat. Unity, unity! We must have unity! Sound familiar? We hear it every time the balance of power in D.C. tilts to the right. We must work across the aisle and come together! It's sorta like telling Alabama, "We'd like to have the ball more often. We must share! We're all in this thing together."
Our shores. Whatever, man. You don't own any shores.
@10:06
The commies have already been in power here for a long time.
No wonder y’all got Tater and Comrade Cindy, listen to Wicker.
A war started when Obama was potus when they overthrew Ukraine government... If you haven't figured it out by now then what's the point ? Oh, and it's not a "war"....like many other ones like it, it's a play. And it's being narrated by the media on both sides to DISTRACT you from something much more ugly. Notice COVID be no more ? 81 million are your enemy. Not Russia.
Fortify Alaska
@ 2:39; You need to lighten up there Frank. Our Shores is very appropriate.
Military families know what they signed up for and since I know from experience, anyone actually in the theater of "war" gets paid extra for the trouble. Soooo, in a way it will be great for these families. Especially the ones who have been cooped up on the base with their hubby because Covid had them working from home. Yes ! This is happening !
Good Lord...
Name a communist country that still exists?
Before you mention Vietnam or China etc., I'd remind you that they are using capitalism for their economies.
Nixon?LOL He opened the door to China and our capitalists couldn't wait to sell them,not just our goods, but our technology.
Please learn to tell the difference between economic systems and forms of government.
What you don't want is a dictator with a one party system that gives the citizens no vote or voice in their fates and offers no equality before the law.
Learn what an oligarchy is , for crying out loud!
There is NO capitalism when monopolies, nepotism and favoritism is sanctioned by the government at any level!
The role of government in capitalism is to level the field for competition to keep competitors honest and so " the better mouse trap can be invented.
Some of you don't even know the definitions of conservatism, liberalism or socialism.
Was political science or civics never taught in Mississippi or what The KKK run Sovereignty Commission dictacting content?
12:03 : So some Bubba with no teeth is running a Commission ? Now ? Today ?
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