Monday, February 21, 2022
1157
Wikipedia says the capital of Russia moved from Kiev to Moscow that year, as Moscow was a minor trading center compared to the great city of Kiev. The Russian Orthodox Christian church was founded in Kiev by Andrew the Apostle. Andrew the Apostle put up a cross at the site of a future great city on the Dnieper River and now that is a hallowed site in Kiev. Kiev was the capital of the Duchy of Moscow in the 14th century in another account.
1856
The "Charge of the Light Brigade" becomes a legend as British cavalry attack the Russians in Crimea. This illustrates the long affiliation of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia. The long-standing Russian desire for a warm water port makes Sevastopol and Crimea an essential part of the Russian Empire and a threat to maritime Britain, the leading world empire at the time.
1941
Ukrainians fed up with Stalin's purges initially welcomed the invading Germans. But then they found out Hitler was worse than Stalin and joined the resistance. Stalin moved the factories out of Ukraine back to the Ural Mountains, saving the production he needed to win the war. Decades later, Russian Jews became a leading immigration group to the new state of Israel. Many have gone to the settlements on the West Bank.
1954
New Premier of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev, a Russian who became Ukrainian, transfers the Russian speaking peoples of Crimea and the Donbas from Russia to Ukraine, with the idea that the two republics and peoples were inseparable, so it didn't seem to matter at the time.
Khrushchev was born in the Donbas when it was still a part of Russia. Khrushchev became president of Ukraine and was brought back to the politburo in Moscow just prior to Stalin's death as he became the dark horse candidate for Premier when Stalin died. As Premier he brought his homeland into Ukraine his first year out of love for Ukraine.
1991
Ukraine, third largest nuclear power in the world at the time, destroys its nuclear weapons in exchange for Russian promises by treaty to never invade Ukraine.
1991
First Bush president promises Russia that NATO will not expand Eastward into Eastern Europe.
1994
Last Russian troops leave Berlin September 1994, as Russia completes withdrawal from Eastern European Warsaw Pact occupied countries.
1997
American President Clinton begins the process of expanding NATO into Eastern Europe, especially the Baltic States.
2014
Putin moves in "green men" troops just prior to a plebiscite in Crimea, wherein the people vote to be a part of Russia. The occupation may have influenced the 98% approval, as those opposed probably did not vote. But the vote under more fair circumstances would probably still be overwhelming. Jealous, the Russian speaking peoples of the Donbas rebel against the central government of Ukraine and ask Putin to intervene. Putin resists at first, then eventually goes along with the rebels, preferring to limit Russian direct involvement largely to providing arms.
2020
Minsk agreement passes UN general assembly unanimously December 20. This allows some autonomy in the two Donbas provinces. Ukrainian parliament refuses to approve agreement, no doubt frustrating the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Zelenskyy and Putin.
2022
"Bellicose Western assessments" says Ukraine, are more a problem than the Russians. President Zelenskyy fears alarmist statements will encourage business to leave Ukraine, allowing Putin to destroy the Ukrainian economy just by threatening.
NATO
The NATO alliance is just a defensive alliance, says the West, nothing for Russia to fear. Oh, really?
What about Kosovo vs Serbia in 1999 or Afghanistan 2001, or when NATO members France, Britain, and USA attack Libya in 2011. What about refusing to let Russia join NATO? Putin's fears are not unrealistic.
Empire Problem
It has been said that those who come to believe absurdities can easily be led to commit atrocities.
Witness what happened in storming the US capital January 6, 2021. The growing acceptance of militarism and empire in the USA since WWII has taken the republic a long way down the road to fascism and dictatorship, a lot like what happened to the Roman Empire. The Empire run by Emperors gradually eclipsed the Roman Senate. In the modern American example, the imperial presidency has all but eclipsed the exclusive congressional right to declare war. Obstructionism in congress shows how far demonization of the other side has eroded the essential democracy principles of tolerance and forbearance. Honeymoons disappear for Democratic Party presidents. Tradition of being united in overseas policies also disappears.
Captives of the Military Industrial Congressional Media Complex
Much of congress has become attached to their local examples of the military industrial congressional media complex. Yes, truth is the first casualty in war. Most congresspeople and presidents do not understand how military spending is a dead end for economic growth. They keep using the military to stimulate local economies and fail to see the widespread manufacturing job loss that comes with every military buildup. Kowtowing to the warmongers becomes rampant among politicians, with little deference to the other side's claims. Empire becomes a Cold War legacy as Gulf War 1991 is ginned up to keep the military money addiction going. Media get caught up in "if it bleeds it leads" seeking high wartime ratings.
Wargaming View
From a wargaming point of view, it is clear from the map that Ukraine points like a dagger into the heart of Russia. It is no wonder Putin is freaking out about Ukraine joining NATO or the EU. Furthermore, Putin fears the example of a successful democracy next door might inspire Russians to replace him with someone like Navalny. In the West, people keep ignoring the twenty-year effects of $5 billion in USA money and operations that helped depose the Russian leaning leader for a Western leaning leader in 2014, forcing an alarmed Putin into action. Why are so many Ukrainians dying (14,000) to keep territories, once a part of Russia, that don't want to be a part of Ukraine? Why isn't the Minsk agreement the solution?
Six summary pages from new book:
https://www.academia.edu/69983378/Weather_Wealth_and_Wars_Empire_and_Climate_Discoveries_Change_Everything
New Book:
Weather Wealth & Wars, Empire and Climate Discoveries Change Everything!
This 400-page book was copyrighted October 29, 2021 with a price of $20 postpaid (paypal).
Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2022, February 21), "Ukraine War Absurdities" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Ukraine-War-Absurdities,2022267645.aspx
Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2016-2021 with accelerating interest from the deciding Norwegians. A consistently growing pattern shows intense interest in my work on my expertclick.com website; daily "hard looks" per year went from 2 to 3 to 48 to 128 to 200 to 322 by the October 8th, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize announcement.
Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com Info: www.realeconomy.com