Given continual brainwashing by corporate media on Russia/Ukraine, most Americans are in the dark as to how the war started. A year ago I gave a talk at USC during which I used the following ten slides. (The entire lecture is at: https://raymcgovern.com/2024/10/23/the-truth-about-ukraine/).
Let me call your particular attention to the last two slides I used. Professor John Mearsheimer has the kind of reputation that comes of having been right (unlike most of his professional professor pundit peers). He is the informal Dean of the “Realism” school of International Relations and typically, got the Ukraine conflict correct from the start:
Sept 2014: “Why Ukraine Crisis is the West’s Fault” (Foreign Affairs)“US/NATO now face choice on Ukraine. They can exacerbate hostilities w/ Russia & devastate Ukraine or work to create a prosperous but neutral Ukraine.”
May 2023: “Putin invaded Ukraine with great reluctance. I do not think he had any other options. He was deeply committed to the Minsk agreement so that he would not have to invade.”
The last slide is on the lighter side; a gift for Thanksgiving.
