Upfront: I’ve changed my position on Ukraine and I should be honest about it. I support Ukraine against Russia.Thanks for reading Going Orthogonal! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. I started this Substack to vent about Ukraine. I got off the subject—because other subjects intervened, and because discussing Ukraine seemed futile. Was futile. The situation seemed to have devolved into a stalemate, with, perhaps, Russia “winning.”
I’m curious how you ever found sympathy in your heart for Putin. Yes, he inherited a mess, and he sees himself as Russia’s savior. But, still?
I see Putin in the lineage of Soviet/Tzarist authoritarians, apparently the only form of government that Russians can handle, with an exceptional brief foray into kleptocracy.
Ukraine is aiming toward a Western-style democracy. This is not an easy road as there’s plenty of Soviet-style corruption, but to abandon it to Russia would be not only dishonorable, but bad geopolitics.
Lots of good points here. We can support a country even if they are not perfect. We do have to admire the bravery of many Ukrainian men who are fighting on the front but we don't have to idolize Ukraine.
As for Putin - he is evil and his not being an anti-semite gets him only a few points.
I don't buy this Ukraine being a red line for Putin or Russia as neither Ukraine nor anyone in the West had or has any desire to invade Ukraine. The basic establishment case now is to appease and when that doesn't work, appease more.
Had Putin not invaded Ukraine it is pretty clear that threats here and there would have got concessions from Biden that he might not even get after this war is over (whenever that may be).
I’m curious how you ever found sympathy in your heart for Putin. Yes, he inherited a mess, and he sees himself as Russia’s savior. But, still?
I see Putin in the lineage of Soviet/Tzarist authoritarians, apparently the only form of government that Russians can handle, with an exceptional brief foray into kleptocracy.
Ukraine is aiming toward a Western-style democracy. This is not an easy road as there’s plenty of Soviet-style corruption, but to abandon it to Russia would be not only dishonorable, but bad geopolitics.
Lots of good points here. We can support a country even if they are not perfect. We do have to admire the bravery of many Ukrainian men who are fighting on the front but we don't have to idolize Ukraine.
As for Putin - he is evil and his not being an anti-semite gets him only a few points.
I don't buy this Ukraine being a red line for Putin or Russia as neither Ukraine nor anyone in the West had or has any desire to invade Ukraine. The basic establishment case now is to appease and when that doesn't work, appease more.
Had Putin not invaded Ukraine it is pretty clear that threats here and there would have got concessions from Biden that he might not even get after this war is over (whenever that may be).
Am I 1 of 100? In any event, to my mind support for Ukraine isn’t specific enough. What US enactment in do you support? Is there a limit?