Quotes Of The Day -- Winners And Losers

 

"Before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, some U.S. officials privately warned their Russian contacts against hubris. It would be easy to start this war, they cautioned, but difficult to end it successfully. All of the United States’ modern military history, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, told this humbling story. But the Russians didn’t listen.

"Now, nearly a year later, we see the devastating results — for Russia, Ukraine and the whole world. Putin miscalculated what military strategists call 'the order of battle' — overestimating his country’s strength and underappreciating Ukrainian and U.S. resolve. He’s caught in a trap of his own creation, which makes him desperate and dangerous but ultimately doomed to failure..." -- David Ignatius, Washington Post, on "What a year of war has revealed of three leaders."

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"...Ukraine’s armed forces have admirably adapted in each phase of this fight, learning lessons from training they received over the past decade, and from the scars earned on the battlefield itself. And Russia has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to do the same.

"It will remain difficult for Russia to change — simply because it can’t. A nation’s army is drawn from its people, and a nation’s army reflects the character and values of the society. While equipment, doctrine, training and leadership are important qualities of any army, the essence of a fighting force comes from what the nation represents. Putin’s autocratic kleptocracy is thus far proving no match for Ukraine’s agile democracy." -- Gen. Mark Hertling, USA (ret.), also in the Washington Post, on "Why Ukraine will win the war."

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"...Putin can win only by Ukraine’s allies choosing to lose by not maximizing their moral and material advantages. He is counting on Western publics’ support for Ukraine being brittle, and especially on the multiplication of Josh Hawleys.

"This freshman Republican senator and probable presidential aspirant exhorted the Jan. 6 mob moments before he did what it demanded, trying to block some states’ electoral votes. Now, continuing his pandering to the most primitive portion of the GOP base, this Missouri Metternich is opposing what no one is proposing — giving Ukraine a 'blank check.' He evidently has not noticed the excruciating incrementalism of NATO allies’ aid to that valorous nation. Perhaps Hawley, advocate of nanny government “conservatism,” has been too busy promoting his plan to make the federal government not Big Brother but Big Parent, taking over parenting with a law against children under age 16 using social media.

"Hawley, a caricature of a (rhetorically) anti-Washington demagogue, is a human windsock, responsive to gusts of public opinion. An Associated Press poll shows that public support for aiding Ukraine militarily has declined from 60 percent last May to 48 percent today, and to 39 percent among Republicans. So, Hawley says the U.S. policy of supporting Ukraine’s survival 'has to stop.'” -- George Will, on "Josh Hawley-esque" Putin caucus Republicans.  "Human windsock."  That describes lightweight Hawlin' Ass Hawley perfectly.

Monday Reading

 

As always, please go to the links for the full articles/ op eds.

First, Happy Valentine's Day to the "observant"!  If you're curious, here's a history of the holiday.

The Freedumb Convoy hosers are melting away, thanks to overdue enforcement actions:

North America's busiest land border crossing has reopened after a nearly weeklong blockade by protesters decrying Covid-19 mandates crippled the key trade route, while demonstrators in the nation's capital are expected to begin shifting out of residential areas Monday.

The standoff at the Ambassador Bridge, which links Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, had paralyzed traffic between Canada and the United States. Its reopening allows "the free flow of commerce between the Canada and US economies once again," the Detroit International Bridge Company said in a statement Sunday night.

 

Protesters with the "Freedom Convoy" in recent weeks also have gridlocked Ottawa's downtown core and impeded border crossings at Alberta and Montana, Manitoba and North Dakota, and British Columbia and Washington state.  [snip]

 

Windsor Police on Sunday started arresting protesters blocking the Ambassador Bridge. Up to 30 protesters had been arrested, most of whom were charged with "criminal mischief," Windsor Police Chief Pamela Mizuno said Sunday afternoon.

 

Police also seized five vehicles from protesters Sunday, Mizuno said, and seven vehicles were towed Saturday. Police expect to have a heightened presence in the area to maintain order, the chief said.

 

"Let me be crystal clear: It is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure," Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted Sunday. "Fines for noncompliance will be severe, with a maximum penalty of $100,000 and up to a year imprisonment." 

 

Hopefully, we've learned some lessons from this, because the fascists and their dupes are already planning to have Freedumb Convoys here in the States as they have in other Western nations.

 

David Ignatius writes about Putin's impending "march of folly" into Ukraine:

 

The world will be watching in horror if Russia invades Ukraine this week — but just watching. Ukraine will fight alone, as Russian tanks roll across the flat, frozen terrain; precision bombs destroy key targets near Kyiv and other cities; and the country becomes a killing field unlike anything Europe has seen since 1945.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will quickly win the initial, tactical phase of this war, if it comes. The vast army that Russia has arrayed along Ukraine’s borders could probably seize the capital of Kyiv in several days and control the country in little more than a week, U.S. officials believe.

But then Putin’s real battle would begin — as Russia and its Ukrainian proxies try to stabilize a country whose people largely detest them. If just 10 percent of Ukraine’s 40 million people decided to actively resist occupation, they would mount a powerful insurgency. Small bands of motivated fighters subverted America’s overwhelming military power in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Russia’s problems wouldn’t just be inside the borders of Ukraine. As Putin tried to digest what U.S. officials hope will be a Ukrainian “porcupine,” Russia’s economy would be squeezed tight by sanctions; its business and political leaders would become international pariahs; and much of the wealth Putin and his chums have accumulated would be frozen.

We'd rather Putin alone digest a porcupine and not have the people of Ukraine, and even his fellow Russians, suffer and die for his megalomania.

 

David French reports on disturbing examples of a growing Christofascist movement:

On Thursday night in Castle Rock, Colorado, a group called “FEC United” (FEC stands for faith, education, and commerce) held a “town hall” meeting that featured a potpourri of GOP candidates and election conspiracy theorists. Most notably, the event included John Eastman, the Claremont scholar who authored the notorious legal memos that purported to justify the decertification and reversal of the 2020 election results.

During the meeting, a man named Shawn Smith accused Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold of election misconduct. “You know, if you're involved in election fraud, then you deserve to hang,” he said. “Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.” 

“I was accused of endorsing violence,” he went on. “I’m not endorsing violence, I’m saying once you put your hand on a hot stove, you get burned.” As soon as he said, “you deserve to hang,” an audience member shouted “Yeah!” and applause filled the room. You can watch the moment here. 

The moment, almost entirely ignored by the national media, is worth noting on its own terms, but perhaps the most ominous aspect of the evening was its location—a church called The Rock. 

If you think it’s remotely unusual that a truly extremist event (which included more than one person who’d called for hanging his political opponents) was held at a church, then you’re not familiar with far-right road shows that are stoking extremism in church after church at event after event. 

Having seen their Lord Jesus Trump ousted from the White House, these Christofascists are organizing for the next battle to restore him to power.  (Btw, why is seditionist John Eastman still at large?)

If you're a fan of rap and hip-hop, last night's Super Bowl halftime performance was a star- studded spectacle.  You can read one largely non- judgemental review here. Wonkette's humorous view here.

On the other hand, we feel we can be totally judgemental about Infidel 753's latest link round-up to interesting posts from around the Internet:  it's an epic labor of love (very appropriate for today), and well- worth checking out!

QOTD II: Leveraging Biden's Successes Abroad

 

The WaPo's international affairs pundit David Ignatius makes some uncharacteristically interesting points in his column today:

"Biden’s next challenge, after the successful summits, is to pass key parts of his domestic legislative agenda over objections from Republicans who seem, weirdly, more antagonistic toward him than Putin. He should use the same tactics that worked in his trip abroad. Negotiate with his adversaries but remind them of his hard options. Be a pragmatic centrist, not bipartisan. Make them worry about the political dangers of obstruction.

An outside-in strategy would use Biden’s new strength on the international stage to challenge Republicans: When the whole world seems to be celebrating the fact that America is back, does the GOP really think it can remain in its own bubble of resentment and lies?

When Europe and Asia are uniting with Biden to contest Beijing’s agenda, do Republicans really want to appear, with their recalcitrance, as China’s best friends? And really, is the GOP so brain dead it imagines — after the obsequiousness of Donald Trump — it can criticize Biden as soft on Russia?"   (our emphasis)

Not that the Dems will draw a contrast with themselves and the Russia-aligned, autocrat-loving Republican / Dear Leader cult of personality, or exploit the fact that the GQP has handed them a semi-tractor trailer sized opening. Of course the Dear Leader's cult is impervious to persuasion (and they love Putin), but there's always hope that independents, undecideds and wavering Republican suburbanites will wake up and smell the borscht that the Republicans are peddling.

Wanker Of The Week - David Ignatius

The once great Washington Post Bezos Bugle's David "Iggy" Ignatius, who has a suggestion (and names!) for saving the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid/ Shooter's Party from the likes of Donald "Rump" Trump and Sen. "Tailgunner Ted" Cruz:

Enter the candidates on horseback: While military leaders can sometimes be dangerous in politics, our best generals and admirals embody the democratic values and leadership skills for which the country is yearning. [snip]

The GOP should consider some other names, if it’s looking for a former military leader who could unite a divided party and nation. [snip]

Maybe it is time for Republicans to consider a nominee who might actually be able to lead the country out of the wilderness.

Middle- aged white Generals and Admirals with shiny buttons and medals on a white horse!  To "unite a ... nation"!  And "lead the country out of the wilderness"!  That's surely the ticket to bring an increasingly young, multicultural America together!  By force if necessary!  Because leadership!  Plus, a President with a rising approval rating, 73 straight months of job growth, millions with health insurance for the first time, etc., etc., doesn't strike us as being in "the wilderness."  This guy sounds like a member of  Ron Fournier's Daddy Issues therapy group.

As a measure of how unhinged Iggy is, one of his preferred Republican candidates to Lead Us! is (wait for it) ... disgraced former Gen. David Petraeus! 

Wanker!