Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , ,

Russia and China, Frenemies Forever

Just because it’s not the end of the world doesn’t mean we can take our eyes off the ball. That’s important because international relations is just like a kindergarten but when nation-states throw tantrums they also throw very nasty things like bombs and bullets. I know, everyone is wringing their hands over the coming of World War Three and nuclear annihilation and monkey pox and every other impeding form of doom. You can stop now. It’s okay. There’s not going … Continue reading “Russia and China, Frenemies Forever”

Author Archena Posted on Categories Current, MondayTags , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Just Go, Brandon

Mondays I try to talk foreign policy. So why, you ask, am I talking about the Resident of the United States? (No, I didn’t misspell.) Simple, there’s a difference between messing up and being able to laugh with others at yourself afterwards – something we’re decent at – and being an international laughingstock. We are fast becoming the latter and it is a very bad thing. Mostly because the Democrats and the Leftstream Media are desperate to save the party, … Continue reading “Just Go, Brandon”

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Who’s Winning? Ukraine Versus Russia

No one, yet. All right, already, here’s the long version: We’re not even through the first quarter yet. Russia scored big at the kickoff but couldn’t hold out. Ukraine came back with a massive wave, taking the lead. But Russia went back to its old playbook and has started to gain yardage. It only took Russia three months to get a first down. If wars had nice, clean rules like football, we still wouldn’t be sure who was really doing … Continue reading “Who’s Winning? Ukraine Versus Russia”

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What Happens When Russia Collapses?

Historically, not much. A lot of killing if they happen to have a tsar and a lot of complaining to go along with a whole lot of behind the scenes feuding until someone finally becomes the new leader. Yay, milk and cookies, and a few decades of oppression. Wash, rinse, repeat. Seriously, the last five hundred years of Russian history is pretty much an unending cycle of revolt, strong man government, economic prosperity, economic downturn and a new revolt. Corruption, … Continue reading “What Happens When Russia Collapses?”

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Cracks Forming in NATO?

Short answer: No. See y’all next time… Okay, okay, long answer: No, it’s just politics as usual. Frankly, I’m amazed it took this long. The problem is the leadership vacuum. There really isn’t a leader on the NATO side. Biden is, well, Biden. He has trouble getting his dog to follow him. Johnson is as close to a leader as NATO has right now as he’s gotten in front of a lot of the stuff that needed doing. He’s not … Continue reading “Cracks Forming in NATO?”

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Y’all Do Know We’re Winning, Right?

The most incredibly frustrating thing is listening to conservatives I normally agree with go off the rails over the Ukraine War. I don’t mean that they disagree with my position – that’s fine. I try not to listen to people I never disagree with because I’m probably not really listening. But opposing support for Ukraine because you want NATO members to meet their obligations and run their own business is just so so so D-U-M-B. The Ukraine crisis is literally … Continue reading “Y’all Do Know We’re Winning, Right?”

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Gnocchi and the Threat to Europe

Imagine for a moment that you are a grandmother, sitting in her little cottage outside Warsaw, finishing the last of your gnocchi and listening to the radio. It’s a lovely sunny day in Poland and you are just reminiscing about your life, remembering what it was like to grow up in a Warsaw Pact nation. Well, your momma’s gnocchi was a lot better than yours. Little wonder – she made it almost every day. You were married before you knew … Continue reading “Gnocchi and the Threat to Europe”

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Define Win

Before you start the game, make sure you know what the objective is and how to win. Also a good idea to make sure everyone agrees on what those things are – I once ‘won’ a chess game against a seeded player. I stink at chess but I defined ‘win’ as ‘not losing in ten moves or less’. I kept him busy for thirty minutes – then he figured out that I didn’t have a winning strategy, just a stalling … Continue reading “Define Win”

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Nuclear Triad, NATO Expansion and Russian Security – or Lack Thereof

We already discussed the nuclear triad which is just an ominous way of saying that there are three flavors of nuclear warhead delivery: big ballistic missiles, nuclear armed submarines and nuclear armed bombers. All will spoil your lifetime. NATO expansion: unless you have been lost in the mountains for the last month, you’ve heard this term Either it’s a horrible evil plot by the nefarious West to reduce Russia’s border security or it’s an innocuous club that just accepted a … Continue reading “Nuclear Triad, NATO Expansion and Russian Security – or Lack Thereof”

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Ukraine Versus Russia: What it Means to the US

Short answer: if Ukraine falls it will predicate a geopolitical realignment that the US will have very little say in. The reason: Biden. If Ukraine survives, there will still be a geopolitical realignment but to a lesser degree and US power will remain in play. Probably despite Biden. Conclusion: If you don’t like military conflicts with Russia, don’t vote Democrat for the next decade or so. Now, for those who prefer some meat on the bare bones, there is no … Continue reading “Ukraine Versus Russia: What it Means to the US”