Not true but sounds dramatic. The history of Russia and many other nations, tribes and relgions were built on land grabs. Most unwanted and most in times of "civilization".
Lots of boring historical maps and history of how Russia began and expanded, even more maps of Europe's colonial expansion, Mongols, Ottomans, Cossacks and more. But what's the point? Historical entitlement to land is moot.
Code of Hammurabi covers cadastral laws that define and protect land ownership. Magna Carta deal with taxes. The right of an individual to claim ownership over land and the right to claim taxes has a fascinating history. directionsmag.com/article/8517
Putin is not "stealing" Ukraine. He hopes to control the "government" of Ukraine which then controls property, wealth, ownership and taxation. That's old school city state. Pure medieval. Or is it new school? To control the cities and businesses? bigthink.com/strange-maps/t…
Russia is an autocratic oligarchy. An almost feudal state in which the labor of the population and resources serve the needs of the wealthy few. Putin and the oligarchs need Ukraine. No they want Ukraine. So they will take it. codastory.com/newsletters/ru…
Putin has Wagner via "the Chef" in the "breakaway" regions but why don't Ukrainian oligarchs have mercenary armies...just like the city states did? Because Ukraine is a democracy with a citizen army. Who will win? This is the fundametnal question. forbes.com/sites/giacomot…
If an alliance of citizen nations cannot protect Ukraine then we will see the same petrodictator sponsored degradation of democracy we see in Africa. So yes, it is a watershed moment that will define the future of all free states in Europe and elsewhere. worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankin…
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Kurt Vonnegut was part of era of American writers forged by the horror of World War II. Vonnegut chose quirky humor and plain speaking to tell stories but above all he was passionate about writing. This doc, his story is definitely worth a watch. vonnegutmovie.com
Director Robert B. Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm) inserts his friendship and life into the film. We realize that this is not a work of dispassionate observation and analysis but it works. It is depressing how few of Vonneguts appearances and speeches can be found online.
In the interviews available on line, Vonnegut is candid and entertaining. But the doc's discovery of hundreds of old films and interviews in the doc shows us America doesn't really preserve and honor their cultural icons well.
"just like that, without any sanctions," "out of spite." , "this must be responded to in a quite symmetric manner."Like the E...and a number of singing-along states of the Anglo-Saxon world that will take part in this," he said on his VK page Saturday." tass.com/politics/14119…
Sing-along states celebrating after four days of frustrating the desires of carnal desires of VladPutin. Ra Ra Vlad Putin... Russia's smallest war machine.
The developer of World of Tanks: In 2015 news paper Zerkalo Nyedeli Ukraine suspect GlobalMoney of transferring cash from the territories of the so-called LPR and DPR not controlled by Ukraine, as well as financing terrorist groups kiprinform.com/en/cyprus_news…
Or are they? There is no official mention of of any investigation into the Minsk based company. Could there be something else in play?reddit.com/r/WorldofTanks…
"a think-tank founded in 2008 whose goal is to protect and promote human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God" dignitatishumanae.com/index.php/abou…
Luckily GOP hopefuls have done their sentiment analysis and pivoted. Apparently they were tough on Russia.Mike even saw Soviet tanks on TV. Reaganesque is the new old mantra. wesh.com/article/pompeo…
At CPAC Donald is still machining gunning fear salad to the slope pated. He would have stopped Putin. Cue Sam and Dave. c-span.org/video/?518150-…
That moment when survival and freedom depends on individual efforts. The war in Ukraine being taken up by citizens might be single most unifying event for Americans. washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/…
The American militia movement began as an armed force against outside forces and then was led astray. Good paper on the US Militia movement: scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/x346…
One missing historical link in the current Ukraine conflict are the modern version of our WW2 era "Jedburgh's". Men and women dropped in behind enemy lines to support, coordinate and train resistance forces. Ukraine is at that point of need.