Russia Currently Has Battlefield Advantage, Ukraine Concedes. US Aid Is Mostly Defensive

The six-month delay on the U.S. military aid package has led to tactical disadvantages for Ukraine, says Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Shmyhal talks about the country's relationship with NATO and Canada's support for Ukraine during the war. Click. The U.S. aid is almost entirely defensive, and will not empower Ukraine to regain lost territory, analysts …

‘New Cold Wars’: David Sanger Examines U.S. Conflicts With China and Russia

PBS News Hour: "In 1991, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and with it the Cold War. At the same time, China was amid its rapid expansion. Now, Russia is again a principal adversary and China is a much stronger competitor. Nick Schifrin discussed the challenge presented by both nations with David Sanger, author of …

Ukraine Aid FINALLY Passes U.S. House

After a six-month delay due to signals from President Trump to House Speaker Mike Johnson and some of their isolationist supporters, the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday finally passed a $60.8 billion aid bill for Ukraine. "The vote was 311–112, with all Democrats and 101 Republicans voting in favor and 112 Republicans voting against. …

Sweden Joins NATO, Prepares for War With Russia

Formerly neutral Finland joined NATO in 2023, and formerly neutral Sweden joined in March 2024. “Anything can happen. New NATO member Sweden prepares for war with Russia.” — France 24 English. By preparing for war, once passivist Sweden preserves the peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JUGnCWVVaA I offer more context to this in my Substack e-newsletter. Click.

Will Murder of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Strengthen Democracy Movement?

The murder of Russian opposition leader Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny (June 4, 1976 - Feb. 16, 2024) in a Siberian prison reveals the brutality of Vladimir Putin and the brazen arrogance of rigidly authoritarian systems. Navalny was a lawyer and anti-corruption activist. He organized anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to advocate reforms against corruption in …

How to Define Fascism?

"The danger of fascism lies in its ability to coopt legitimate resentments resulting from inequality and refashion them as hostility towards outsiders. Instead of addressing working-class grievances, fascistic regimes offer their followers a different form of reward by redrawing the lines of inclusion and exclusion, mass-producing myth and arms in equal measure. Until moderates and …

1991: Shocking End of the Soviet Union

Shocking to generations that had endured the Cold War and the "long twilight struggle" between capitalism and communism, on December 26, 1991, Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev resigned and the Soviet Union dissolved. Here is a gift link from The New York Times report on that day. END OF THE SOVIET UNION; GORBACHEV, LAST SOVIET LEADER, …

Powerful Predictors of the Future: Population Pyramids

Ted-ED: "Population statistics are like crystal balls -- when examined closely, they can help predict a country’s future (and give important clues about the past). Kim Preshoff explains how using a visual tool called a population pyramid helps policymakers and social scientists make sense of the statistics, using three different countries' pyramids as examples. Russia, …

Thin Line Between Good and Evil

"The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained." …

Rules-Based International Order Is Under Attack in Ukraine, Middle East

After World War II, in order to prevent another world cataclysm, countries banded together to create a rules-based international order, a way to resolve international disputes, prevent territorial wars, and end or at least reduce unlimited slaughter. These rules have by no means been perfect, but a series of agreements -- the United Nations Charter, …