Aaron’s Self-immolation Anniversary

Bob (Scheer) and Ray on Gaza and US-Russia-Ukraine. FIRST THINGS FIRST, THOUGH. As Aaron Bushnell self-immolated one year ago, recall his bracing words: “What would I do if my country was committing genocide? The answer is: You’re doing it now. Right now.”

Doing the Right Thing… Finally

Churchill supposedly said “Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing after they’ve exhausted all the alternatives.” An apt way to look at Trump’s outreach to Russia & Ukraine? Visiting European leaders are still choosing doltish alternatives

Understanding that No Means No on NATO

Trump has better intel advisers than the clowns who told Biden in mid-2023 “Putin has already lost.” Acknowledging that Putin’s NYET on Ukraine-in-NATO is “written in stone”, Trump says he “understands Russians’ feelings on this “right on their doorstep”

Bob and Ray Talk Russia-US Relations

Bob and Ray (Scheer and McGovern): Their weekly Tuesday discussion came just minutes after an early spring thaw in US-Russia relations took concrete shape at mtg of the two delegations in Saudi Arabia. Implications are HUGE (and not only for Ukraine war).

Cautious Optimism for Russia and US

Graham Fuller & I discuss Six Days That Changed the World, as Russia and US try to recoup a measure of trust – on Ukraine, Palestine, West Asia, as well as in bilateral relations. Obstacles remain formidable, but some hope now warranted. Europe, Grow Up!!

Elites Weep End of War

European elites gobsmacked, meet, and weep. Trump & Putin deal. Russia’s Lavrov says today’s talks in Saudi Arabia with Secretary of State Rubio were “very useful”. Rubio concurs. As for Zelensky, see Garland Nixon’s suggestion re the “Samsonite Option.”

Wider War Threat Removed by Trump and Putin

BREATHE EASIER: PEACE IS AT HAND. Trump and Putin have removed the threatening shadow of wider – even nuclear – war stemming from Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov just termed today’s talks in Saudi Arabia “very useful”; so did the US troika. See:

Rapid Rapprochement with Russia

FAST MOVING US-RUSSIA RAPPROCHEMENT. Feb 12th: Trump-Putin 90-min telecon; 13th: Hegseth: No Ukraine in NATO; 14TH: Vance: Why not fix Democracy in Europe? 15th: Rubio-Lavrov: Repairing the damage done by Obama and Biden and preparing for Russia-US summit.