Ukraine Always Get What You Want

You should follow Slava.

 

It is what’s important here.

 

Damn straight.

 

I would be interested to hear from/talk to current U.S. military members about whether they would be willing to go to Ukraine to fight.

This seems like a case where, at least in terms of principles, the stakes are high, and the cause right and worthy. And, although I'm sure they will have an impact, all the economic sanctions being imposed and bandied about, frankly, seem too easy, and as if they may take too long for the effects to be felt, for Ukraine's good.

Obviously, if you have family members in the military who could be called upon, such a move would be frightening and hit close to home, but I'd be interested to know the thoughts of the troops themselves. Because if this nakedly aggressive invasion is offending the sensibilities of, say, us, and we're just watching it on TV, there are probably a lot of people whose job it actually is to defend freedom, life, liberty and humanitarianism who might feel compelled to want to help and support Ukraine in ways more concrete and direct than attending protests and lighting up buildings in blue and yellow, and the like.

 

I understand why we (meaning the U.S.) would be hesitant to send troops to directly help Ukraine. It is World War III at that point, and that's just the biggest of a hundred obvious geopolitical reasons to stay at arm's length and see if the Europeans can handle it first.
At the same time, if we're ever supposed to represent everything we say we represent, then isn't this when we should stand up and fight for it?

 

There should be a Harry Anderson oral history or bio pic. Some damn thing. Is there?

He was a street hustler who made it to the big time.

I listened to the Amazing Johnathan RIP on Maron's pod this week, so that's in my head right now.

 

Problem is one political party is more aligned with Putin than Ukraine. So we no longer are unified on the values we used to represent.

 

Putin uses weapons one step removed from nukes and that’s a sign of weakness, not strength.

He’ll also lose any support he has (minimal now) other than the Chinese. It’s like Nixon riffing on whether he should nuke the North Vietnamese.

 

Here's a sports-related story regarding the fight for Ukraine. Good for Poland and Sweden.

Poland and Sweden refuse to play Russia in World Cup qualifiers

 

Shrug. Rephrase that as more women in active combat roles and it's probably true.