Facing Truth in Europe about the Ukraine War

 Finally seeing articles clarifying truths about war in Europe this weekend. The Guardian and FT had opinion pieces bringing clarity to the situation in Europe. Rolling Stone had a tremendous article by an in-country reporter. 

Putin is not at war only for Ukraine. The goal is to conquer Europe to take back most USSR territory and own the Black Sea. “He has weaponised food, energy and refugees.” The only option is to defeat him militarily per The Guardian. 

Belgium and eastern EU have a fantasy they can negotiate peace for land. Putin thinks he is winning. Looking at maps where Russia controls an eighth of Ukraine, would agree. Why else would he terrorize randomly shelling residential areas. Wants to scare people to surrender.

Putin warned on July 7 that “we haven’t even yet started anything in earnest” in Ukraine. Russia is not on war footing yet. In the Rolling Stone article Edward Lucas, of the Center for European Policy Analysis, “I think Putin’s aim is 1) to render Ukraine non-viable — crippled, uninvestable, in political social and economic torment, and 2) to show that the West doesn’t have the willpower to resist him.” 

FT points out the concentration of spending has been on expensive weapon systems and Europe’s confidence no one would attack NATO led to minimal stockpiles of artillery and other ground force weapons and little manufacturing to produce replacement quickly. Know from working on M-16 and M-203 production lines, the army paid to maintain production capability. We may have lost that knowledge. How quick can we ramp up production in Europe and USA? 

We have many issues to solve beyond providing weapons, and more are needed to stop the war. Feeding the world without Ukraine and Russian production. Europe may have low-income and pensioners freeze to death if we can’t get more natural gas there and find ways to generate more electricity this winter. 

Likely we will be in this war after Putin passes away. He set this up as his legacy. We also need to watch other dictators who want their legacy.