Good Morning,
It wasn’t very long ago, friends and people who follow us here asked how long will this war in Ukraine grind on? I predicted unless something happens to Russian leader Putin, it could go on for years.
Putin launched his assault in Chechnya (A break away republic in Russia) in 1999, and the war lasted more than 20 months.
And the Russian dictator did the same to neighbouring Georgia, and Russian forces remain in parts of that independent country to this day, as do Russian forces continue to fight in Syria years after entering that conflict.
Putin simply won’t accept defeat, because it’s not in his DNA as defeat means an end to his own power which he has clung to since he was appointed to a 4 year Presidential term by his predecessor President Boris Yeltsin way back in 2000.
But Ukraine is surely a different moment in Putin’s checkered history, because in invading that independent nation, we all understand Russia won’t stop, unless it is stopped by a collective West.
As weapons continue to pour into Ukraine, intelligence leaks show Ukraine has lost tens of thousands of soldiers in defending it’s territory. And it is running low on air defences which are needed to repel Russian air attacks.
Restocking Ukraine’s air defences will be taken up by NATO in meetings this week, because if Russia can begin bombing Ukrainian front lines with so called dumb bombs, their forces will be left extremely vulnerable.
This just as Ukraine may be close to mounting a long touted counter offensive with new brigades formed with Western tanks and other weapons, to retake areas near Crimea and possibly cut Russia’s resupply land bridge.
The rumours of a Ukrainian Spring offensive swirl around the end of April, but the notion Ukraine can retake all of it’s lost territories is for now fantasy.
Russia still has superior troop numbers, a large air force, and Putin shows no sign of tiring of his dream of a Russian empire, although surely the last year has been sobering for a Kremlin that sought a short war and removal of Ukraine’s leadership within in weeks of invasion.
Other News…WTF (What the Fox)
-Fox News settled out of court a law suit with Dominion voting machines by paying 787.5 million dollars to essentially stop the bleed. If the trial had proceeded Dominion would be ready to show that Fox lied about the results of the 2020 election largely to keep its splintering audience.
As a journalist I am disgusted that a news organization would spin truth and torque facts for audience gain. I am not naive, but I am shocked Fox management and it’s so called hosts would knowingly lie and undermine American’s faith in democracy.
Fox still faces several legal battles related to its decision to broadcast false claims. Smartmatic, another voting equipment company, is sueing the company for $2.7 billion dollars.
The law suits restore some accountability in U.S. media, because even if their is no licensing consequence for irresponsible and unethical journalism, there is a staggering law suit consequence.
Will Fox now fire some of it’s management team which allowed and encouraged the lies to spread on its ‘lies for profit programs’?
Dominion attorney Justin Nelson said the out of court settlement was “vindication and accountability”.
“Truth matters,” “Lies have consequences. The truth does not know red or blue,” he continued. “People across the political spectrum can and should disagree on issues, even of the most profound importance. But for our democracy to endure another 250 years and hopefully much longer, we must share a commitment to facts.”
But the settlement allows Fox to dodge an embarrassing trial and escape admitting on air that serious lies were told.
Fox responded afterwards that the settlement reflects its “continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards”.
What a ridiculous and vacuous corporate statement by Fox, but no one can say management there isn’t consistent.
Have a good day everyone.
Dana