The whole Natcon project is a contradiction in terms. How can you have an international movement based on each country's nationalism?
Go the the Claremont Review of Books and Charles Kessler's critique of their Statement of Principles and in the current issue, their responses and Kessler's response to them.
"I should have foreseen it." No, Thomas, you couldn't have foreseen everything. You could have foreseen that Russia is led by a clan of former KGB officers who usurped power in the country and subjugated the entire people through repression and corrupt corruption. You could have foreseen that imperial ambitions always serve authoritarian power. You could also have foreseen that aggressive expansion of neighboring countries and the incitement of conflicts in distant countries are always close to regimes like Putin's regime. But you couldn't have foreseen that Putin's government will develop a new type of propaganda that will completely (not completely, but at least 86%) brainwash the entire population in 20 years, that this propaganda has been working for Western countries for 10 years (or more), is being introduced into the press and media (hello, Tucker Carlson!) of democratic countries, creating narratives and myths that people around you, not knowing the reality, have been repeating for many years. Have you ever wondered why your opponents have a poor knowledge of the history of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the sequence of events, the geography of the area and political phenomena over the past 30 years, but are well aware of what Russia falsely accuses Ukraine of, and different people and sources convey this with almost the same words and terms? Why do your opponents talk about "Nazis" in Ukraine now, but do not know how much Ukraine suffered from the Nazis 80 years ago, why do your opponents talk about Ukraine as an "undemocratic state", but do not know that democratic elections are held there and presidents are changed, when Putin has been sitting in Russia for almost a quarter of a century. Why do your opponents talk about "total corruption" in Ukraine, but do not know that this corruption was inherited by Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union, was cultivated and encouraged by Russia, and it was after the Ukrainian people wanted to break this vicious dependence that a hot war began.
This is truly a new type of propaganda, it differs from Soviet propaganda, which was obvious and recognizable, and only people with critical thinking can resist it, clearly understanding where the line between good and evil is, not succumbing to ideologies that lead into the philosophies of "blurred" concepts of lies/truth, good/evil. That is, as you understand, not everyone.
We are faced with this new type of propaganda in the conflict between Israel and Iran and terrorist organizations, when, with obvious aggression and cruelty of terrorists, we see millions of anti-Israeli people who repeat memorized myths and cliches.
We see this in Ukraine, when, with obvious aggression, obvious Russian Nazism, many people consider Ukrainians "Nazis".
It seems you didn't foresee this. By the way, neither did I.
Why does Putin want to rule “imperially” over so much Eastern European mud? I don’t see it. There's no oil. Maybe wheat. What is it? It makes no sense outside of security concerns in Ukraine. And don't give me the argument back that the US (aka NATO) is just some kind of neutral, benevolent power. The US has spent the last 35 years stomping its way around the world, starting and fueling wars, and breaking up countries. Who needs that on their border?
Bad statecraft all around, but especially by the boys and girls running Washington. We picked a fight on the Russian border, and now the Russians are acting like Russians. I'm not surprised one bit. It's going to get even uglier now, too. What are we supposed to do to fix this mess of a war — bomb inside Russia? Insane. Always was. We should have supported the Minsk agreement and calmed things down. But the boys and girls in DC and London said no — let’s keep fighting, with Ukranian lives. And here we are—total FUBAR.
We picked a fight? How was that? It’s Russia that picked a fight by invading Ukraine. And please don’t give that b.s about V. Putin just reacting to “NATO aggression.” If Russia were not a predatory power, intent on re-enslaving neighboring countries, it would have nothing to fear from NATO. WHAT Putin hates about NATO is that it stands in the way of his imperial ambitions. Well, screw him. He’s just a bush-league Stalin.
So anyone who disagrees with Ukraine support is necessarily a Putin fan? Sounds like the Hunter Biden laptop story all over again.
Here are some more potential Putin fans; note the dates are all before 2022 and one of them is West Point, all regarding neo-Nazi influence in today's Ukraine
One can well say that Ukraine is a corrupt, undemocratic state with heavy neo-Nazi strains without being a Putin fan. Bring up Google maps and see all the places in Ukraine named after Stepan Bandera, Roman Shukevish, Simon Petlyura; if you don't recognize those names you know nothing about 20th century Ukraine.
One might have for a more intelligent response than "they're all Putin fans" to any counter on the current Ukraine PR campaign.
Anybody who disagrees with US support of Ukraine is serving the interests of Putin—obviously. And as far as I’m concerned, the natcons in this country rely on specious arguments and selective historical citations to make their case.
I’m one of the undecided voters here in Arizona. I’m a big supporter of Ukraine. My vote for President is more on national security because the President is the commander in chief. That’s why I voted for Reagan and George H.W. Bush even though I’m a Democrat. The single biggest problem I have with Trump is his position on Russia/Ukraine. Vance is even worse. I don’t trust Harris on national security either. So I’m not sure how I’m going to resolve the issue but I will pick one of the two because there is no credible third party alternative.
Trump was pressing for better defense funding in Europe and less reliance on Russian oil for years before Biden showcased spectacular weakness in Afghanistan and invited Putin to make his move.
Trump continues to press for better defense, while the Democrats think we don't need defense at all.
A certain portion of the blame for this must be laid at the feet of one Tucker Carlson, V. Putin fan extraordinaire, and his sidekick, former Army colonel Douglas MacGregor.
The whole Natcon project is a contradiction in terms. How can you have an international movement based on each country's nationalism?
Go the the Claremont Review of Books and Charles Kessler's critique of their Statement of Principles and in the current issue, their responses and Kessler's response to them.
"I should have foreseen it." No, Thomas, you couldn't have foreseen everything. You could have foreseen that Russia is led by a clan of former KGB officers who usurped power in the country and subjugated the entire people through repression and corrupt corruption. You could have foreseen that imperial ambitions always serve authoritarian power. You could also have foreseen that aggressive expansion of neighboring countries and the incitement of conflicts in distant countries are always close to regimes like Putin's regime. But you couldn't have foreseen that Putin's government will develop a new type of propaganda that will completely (not completely, but at least 86%) brainwash the entire population in 20 years, that this propaganda has been working for Western countries for 10 years (or more), is being introduced into the press and media (hello, Tucker Carlson!) of democratic countries, creating narratives and myths that people around you, not knowing the reality, have been repeating for many years. Have you ever wondered why your opponents have a poor knowledge of the history of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the sequence of events, the geography of the area and political phenomena over the past 30 years, but are well aware of what Russia falsely accuses Ukraine of, and different people and sources convey this with almost the same words and terms? Why do your opponents talk about "Nazis" in Ukraine now, but do not know how much Ukraine suffered from the Nazis 80 years ago, why do your opponents talk about Ukraine as an "undemocratic state", but do not know that democratic elections are held there and presidents are changed, when Putin has been sitting in Russia for almost a quarter of a century. Why do your opponents talk about "total corruption" in Ukraine, but do not know that this corruption was inherited by Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union, was cultivated and encouraged by Russia, and it was after the Ukrainian people wanted to break this vicious dependence that a hot war began.
This is truly a new type of propaganda, it differs from Soviet propaganda, which was obvious and recognizable, and only people with critical thinking can resist it, clearly understanding where the line between good and evil is, not succumbing to ideologies that lead into the philosophies of "blurred" concepts of lies/truth, good/evil. That is, as you understand, not everyone.
We are faced with this new type of propaganda in the conflict between Israel and Iran and terrorist organizations, when, with obvious aggression and cruelty of terrorists, we see millions of anti-Israeli people who repeat memorized myths and cliches.
We see this in Ukraine, when, with obvious aggression, obvious Russian Nazism, many people consider Ukrainians "Nazis".
It seems you didn't foresee this. By the way, neither did I.
No. I don't. That's why I asked.
Why does Putin want to rule “imperially” over so much Eastern European mud? I don’t see it. There's no oil. Maybe wheat. What is it? It makes no sense outside of security concerns in Ukraine. And don't give me the argument back that the US (aka NATO) is just some kind of neutral, benevolent power. The US has spent the last 35 years stomping its way around the world, starting and fueling wars, and breaking up countries. Who needs that on their border?
Why? Russian "greatness" demands it.
Lame
> Why does Putin want to rule “imperially” over so much Eastern European mud?
A common Russian attitude is "our ancestors didn't conquer this territory to us to just give it up".
You don’t see it? Then you’re a blind man.
Bad statecraft all around, but especially by the boys and girls running Washington. We picked a fight on the Russian border, and now the Russians are acting like Russians. I'm not surprised one bit. It's going to get even uglier now, too. What are we supposed to do to fix this mess of a war — bomb inside Russia? Insane. Always was. We should have supported the Minsk agreement and calmed things down. But the boys and girls in DC and London said no — let’s keep fighting, with Ukranian lives. And here we are—total FUBAR.
We picked a fight? How was that? It’s Russia that picked a fight by invading Ukraine. And please don’t give that b.s about V. Putin just reacting to “NATO aggression.” If Russia were not a predatory power, intent on re-enslaving neighboring countries, it would have nothing to fear from NATO. WHAT Putin hates about NATO is that it stands in the way of his imperial ambitions. Well, screw him. He’s just a bush-league Stalin.
You are setting yourself up as a target, Thomas. I salute you for that.
I’ve been targeted by more dangerous people than these wet ends…
So anyone who disagrees with Ukraine support is necessarily a Putin fan? Sounds like the Hunter Biden laptop story all over again.
Here are some more potential Putin fans; note the dates are all before 2022 and one of them is West Point, all regarding neo-Nazi influence in today's Ukraine
https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-nexus-between-far-right-extremists-in-the-united-states-and-ukraine/
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/359609-the-reality-of-neo-nazis-in-the-ukraine-is-far-from-kremlin-propaganda/
https://forward.com/opinion/552958/why-did-stanford-host-azov-neo-nazis/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/kiev-renames-major-street-to-honor-russian-nazi-collaborator/
One can well say that Ukraine is a corrupt, undemocratic state with heavy neo-Nazi strains without being a Putin fan. Bring up Google maps and see all the places in Ukraine named after Stepan Bandera, Roman Shukevish, Simon Petlyura; if you don't recognize those names you know nothing about 20th century Ukraine.
One might have for a more intelligent response than "they're all Putin fans" to any counter on the current Ukraine PR campaign.
I would think by now right wingers would know better than to take accusations of Nazism at face value.
Anybody who disagrees with US support of Ukraine is serving the interests of Putin—obviously. And as far as I’m concerned, the natcons in this country rely on specious arguments and selective historical citations to make their case.
Anyone pushing Russia and China closer together is serving the interests of Xi Jinping, the most powerful opponent of the United States today.
I’m one of the undecided voters here in Arizona. I’m a big supporter of Ukraine. My vote for President is more on national security because the President is the commander in chief. That’s why I voted for Reagan and George H.W. Bush even though I’m a Democrat. The single biggest problem I have with Trump is his position on Russia/Ukraine. Vance is even worse. I don’t trust Harris on national security either. So I’m not sure how I’m going to resolve the issue but I will pick one of the two because there is no credible third party alternative.
Trump was pressing for better defense funding in Europe and less reliance on Russian oil for years before Biden showcased spectacular weakness in Afghanistan and invited Putin to make his move.
Trump continues to press for better defense, while the Democrats think we don't need defense at all.
The choice is clear.
With certain reservations, I agree.
A certain portion of the blame for this must be laid at the feet of one Tucker Carlson, V. Putin fan extraordinaire, and his sidekick, former Army colonel Douglas MacGregor.
Absolutely.