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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
Table of contents
There is a fellowship intrinsic to military service that is tough to describe to those who have not lived it. For starters, we were all so terribly young. The battalion commanders under whom I served who seemed like such old men back then were, in retrospect, only in their late thirties. Our grizzled Command Sergeants Major were the same age. Now that I have 58 years on my own personal Hobbs meter, I find that to be simply fascinating.
Coming Together
We came from all over the country, and we were total strangers. I never served with anybody I had known before the Army. However, we all had a few things in common. We all, by definition, loved our country. This common character trait created some of the most remarkable relationships. Such stuff can drive young soldiers to do some frankly amazing things.
It was really all about the tribe. The Army was masterful at weaponizing that primal tribalism into something deep and powerful. Take 100 young strangers and put them in a confined space long enough and cannibalism might ensue. However, make them all wear the same clothes and give them a common enemy and they will move heaven and earth together to accomplish some righteous goal.
Another component is time. If given the benefit of introspection, much of what young soldiers do professionally might seem foolish or ill-advised. However, combat is a hectic, frenetic thing. It is arguably the most hectic and frenetic of all human pursuits. Decisions must be made on the fly that have eternal consequences. One such decision was made on 24 February 2022, near Henichesk, Ukraine. The young man who made it was named Vitalii Volodymyrovych Skakun.
The Guy: Vitalii Skakun
Vitalii Skakun was born on 19 August 1996, in Berezhany in western Ukraine. Growing up, he attended the No. 3 School in his hometown. His mom was a teacher there. Eventually, Vitalii graduated from Higher Vocational School No 20 in Lviv with a certificate in welding. He subsequently earned a degree from Lviv Polytechnic. The next six months he spent in Leszno working in construction.
Eventually, Vitalii joined the Ukrainian Marines. Given his background in construction, he trained as a combat engineer. Combat engineers are interesting creatures in the general military pantheon. While they are trained in infantry tactics, their real forte is reducing obstacles, crossing minefields, and blowing stuff up. They clear the way for the combat forces to follow.
All that always seemed a bit daft to me. I worked with the engineers on occasion when I was a soldier. The only thing worse than having to close with and engage the enemy with a rifle would be crawling forward into a minefield full of concertina with a Bangalore torpedo so some other poor slob behind you could eventually close with and engage the enemy with a rifle. That’s one of many reasons I went into Aviation.
The Issue
The war began nearly a decade earlier in 2014 with the invasion of Crimea. At the time, the world just couldn’t be bothered. Israel and Hamas were, yet again, getting all kinetic in the Middle East. We had also just had our first few playdates with some psychopathic losers called ISIS.
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In Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, and America tried to burn itself to the ground. President Obama had lots more pressing stuff to fret with than Russia’s Little Green Men creeping into the Crimean Peninsula. However, ignoring Crimea turned out to be a short-sighted strategic decision.
Irredentism
Vladimir Putin is a Russian irredentist. That has nothing to do with teeth. Russian Irredentism is the term used to describe someone who views Russia as having a territorial right to land that was once part of the Soviet Union. That worldview had already put Russian troops in Georgia in 2008. In February of 2022 this same Russian irredentism rolled 110 Battalion Tactical Groups (BTGs) into Ukraine proper. Vitalii’s combat engineer battalion was tasked to defend the town of Henichesk against this onslaught.
Henischesk was strategically important because it overlooked an isolated crossing point between Russian-occupied Crimea and Ukraine. The natural chokepoint in the area was the Henichesk Bridge. Built in 1915, this was originally a combination rail and road bridge. In 2022, seizing the Henichesk Bridge was necessary for advancing Russian armored forces to access the Ukrainian heartland. Vitalii and his comrades in the 35th Naval Infantry Brigade were painfully aware of this fact on the chaotic morning of 24 February.
Vitalii Sacrifices For the Fight
The tactical situation was chaotic. Intelligence indicated that a substantial Russian armored column was advancing toward the bridge. Vitalii and his comrades were directed to destroy the bridge by any means necessary. Many of these bridges had been rigged for demolition in advance. However, this particular bridge had to be prepped on the fly.
These young studs used military explosives and land mines to prepare the bridge for demolition. However, the enemy column was approaching rapidly. They lacked the luxury of rigging the time fuse properly. Vitalii and his mates were quite simply out of time.
Vitalii sent a text directing his comrades to retreat to safety. As the lead vehicles from the Russian column approached and with no other reasonable options, Vitalii clacked off the charges by hand. The resulting explosion severely damaged the bridge and halted the enemy advance. It also blew Vitalii Skakun to pieces.
Aftermath
Vitalii Skakun’s selfless sacrifice did indeed buy his combat engineer battalion some critical time. Once regrouped, they organized and executed a spirited and effective defense of the Ukrainian side of the bridge. Two days later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posthumously awarded Vitalii Volodymyrovych Skakun the Order of the Gold Star. This is the military version of the Hero of Ukraine award, Ukraine’s highest recognition for valor in combat. Vitalii was 25 years old when he gave his life for his country. He left behind a young child.
Now with a little breathing room, the Ukrainian Air Force pulverized both the Henichesk and Chonhar Bridges. Though no one realized it at the time, the ferocious defense of the Ukrainian homeland in those critical first few days ultimately sealed the Russians’ fate. Once that initial momentum was lost at places like Henichesk and Hostomel, there was just no way the Russians would ever reach the Polish frontier. That’s because of Vitalii Skakun and thousands of other patriotic Ukrainians like him.
Four days after the battle for the Henichesk Bridge, Libor Bezděk, a political representative in the Czech Republic, proposed that a bridge on Korunovační Street near the Russian embassy in Prague be renamed the Vitalii Shakun Bridge. The proposal passed. Now Russian embassy staff have to drive across Vitalii’s bridge to get to work every day.
The Rest of the Story
We all know what happened after that. Against all expectations, the beleaguered Ukrainians have successfully resisted the murderous Russian assault for more than two years. Bitter fighting has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Russia’s economy is wheezing and much of Ukraine is a shattered ruin, yet the Ukrainians refuse to capitulate. The war rages on as I type these words.
It is extraordinary that, this deep into the Information Age, nations still go to war over the actions of a single unhinged madman. At this late date, Putin does not have an off-ramp. Having already sacrificed nearly 700,000 Russian troops, if he relinquishes his grip on power even a little bit somebody is going to defenestrate him or dribble a little Novichok into his morning coffee.
Now it seems that the North Koreans are cycling into Russia to fight. When things are so ghastly that you are pushing a bunch of starving North Koreans into the combat zone, your war plan sucks pretty bad. It remains to be seen how these unfortunate malnourished guys will perform once they meet Ukrainian FPV drones and HIMARS precision-guided multiple launch rocket systems.
Deep Magic
We have all seen the movies. The hero realizes that the situation is dire, and the enemy is at the gates. He then selflessly volunteers to sacrifice himself so that others might live. He goes to his death calm, defiant, upright, and sure of himself. However, those are just actors. They still get to go home when the production is a wrap. That is not the way people behave in the real world.
Normal people will only relinquish their lives with the utmost reluctance. All of God’s creatures are hardwired to live. For a 25-year-old man with a child at home to willingly blow himself up to stop an advancing armored column is dedication and sacrifice on a whole different scale.
Vitalii Skakun’s Legacy
The war in Ukraine is important. Yes, it is politically and morally ambiguous. It is also lyrically inefficient and wasteful. All wars are like that. Even the good ones like WW2.
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I have said it in this venue before, but the war in Ukraine represents the only chance in a century to castrate Putin and his war machine without spilling a single drop of American blood. I have viewed the Russians over a set of rifle sights ever since I first donned the uniform back in 1984. I’m just the word monkey and my opinions don’t much count, but this still seems like a golden opportunity to me.
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Will is still trying to figure out what he really wants to be when he grows up. However, shooting guns and claiming it was work seemed like a pretty sweet hustle. As a result, Will serendipitously transformed an avocation into a vocation.
Raised in the Mississippi Delta, Will flew UH1H, OH58A/C, CH47D and AH1S helicopters operationally as an Army Aviator. He is SCUBA-qualified and has parachuted out of perfectly good airplanes at 3 o’clock in the morning. Will has summited Mount McKinley, Alaska, six times…always at the controls of an Army helicopter, which is the only way sensible folk climb mountains.
Will has delivered sixty babies and occasionally wrung human blood out of his socks. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has three awesome adult children. Turn-ons include vintage German machineguns, flying his sexy-cool RV6A airplane, Count Chocula cereal and the movie “Aliens.”
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Dr. Dabbs,
Another interesting & informative article. Your’s are always the 1st I go to whenever I get an email from G.A.
As for all the idiots pissing & moaning about geopolitical bullshit, STFU!!! The point of this article is about a 25 year old “kid” with young family at home who sacrificed himself to protect his fellow soldiers and for he believed in.
Great article Doc. Always enjoy your research and insight into moments in history. It’s quite disappointing to see so many people commenting and arguing back and forth about the Ukraine situation. Never thought I would see the day that Americans are pushing Russian propaganda. No matter what party you support or no party at all I always thought we would be in agreement that communism and dictators are not the people we want to be associated with.
We in America have learned bitter lessons from two world wars: It is better to be here [in Europe] ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent. – Ronald Reagan
And with that, I say good night, and goodbye – Jack
“We in America have learned bitter lessons from two world wars: It is better to be here [in Europe] ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent.” – Ronald Reagan
And with that, I bid you good night and goodbye – Jack
So many evil people here. Putin = Lincoln. To hell with your empathy. F* Ukraine. Sigh. I shall pray for Rock, AK, Patrick, and the rest of the ignorant vatniks on this thread.
Will… I have the greatest respect for you. Yours is always the first article I read in the GOA Digest. I thank you for your service, as I took an oath to defend the Constitution against all comers as well. I do not agree with you that we (USA) have any responsibility whatsoever to prosecute this proxy war on behalf of the most corrupt country in Europe. This was and is, a European problem. Do you hate Putin so much that you’re willing to send your own children to the front lines in an unwinnable war, or just other folks’ kids? You seem to be completely tone deaf by releasing this directly on the heels of Zelensky throwing a fit on camera, while in the Oval Office, in front of the whole world. He’s just one more greedy, self-important jackass suffering from “Little Man Syndrome”. The gang of European lefties all jumped on the bandwagon afterwards pledging their full support of Ukraine, so let them run with the ball… It ain’t our fight!
For all the Zelensky worshippers posting herein, you’ve picked quite a slimeball as the object of your affections. For him to act the way he did in this nation’s office AFTER receiving hundreds of Billion$ in taxpayer hard-earned pay to bail him and his little country out of complete destruction, he deserves NOTHING more from US. If you personally want to keep kissing Zelensky’s ass, I echo the other Patriots who’ve suggested that you get your own asses over there on the front lines so that you can a give full measure of your devotion to satisfy your Zelensky Love, or Putin Hate… whichever applies.
The war in Ukraine was started in 2014 and Obama and Europe did nothing.
Putin did not attack again while Trump was President.
Putin attacked again while Biden was president and Europe and Biden sent him just enough weapons. They were bleeding Russia and letting Ukranians die while profiting from it. That is evil. It does not matter that Putin is evil. Two wrongs do not make a right.
The two sides are stalemated and if anyone is slowly winning, it is Russia. They have the land. There is no way to take it unless Europe and the US send combat troops. If we send troops then Putin goes tactical nuclear. He will not lose. So he is not bluffing and we know it.
That is reality. Europe knows it. Putin knows it. Trump knows it. Biden knew it and did nothing to end it these last two years. Trump will end it.
The hypocrisy that the war in Ukraine, is the last stand against Putin is laughable. Take in contrast an island 90 miles from Florida called Cuba. For the last 60 years it has destabilized central, South America, Africa and parts of Eastern Europe. Not included in this article Cubans are currently deployed in Russia fighting the Ukrainian forces. Cuba is a satellite hub for Russia, china and now also Iran. So this fear mongering about the Russians is BS, we have them literally 90 miles away. Let’s not forget under Biden the Russian attack submarine that was cruising of the cuban waters, or the Chinese frigate that u.s. customs patrol ran into at night. Let the Europeans handled this mess is in their best interest and is also in their backyard.
You know, A. Martinez, that for Ukrainians this is a last stand. Putin is a tyrannical murderer.
I so much enjoy Will’s many articles that he has writtren. His accurate and skillfull way of writing is refreshing and I appreciate that he includes his fairh without condecending. Kudos Will and keep up the great work!
Well said, Dave!
Not our fight. For over 100 years every American generation has killed, maimed and psychology screwed up the best of its breeding stock in ” foreign entanglements”. For what? To enrich the Globalist Bankers that fund every side of the war. Now the Dancing High Heeled Penis Pianist wants American security guarantees- your kids and grandkids to act as a trip wire for 20 years of bloodletting. Come on…be a hero. Ruck up and carry your ass over there and show us how it’s done. I’m sitting this one out.
Hey, the Nazis, Il Duce and Tojo would have loved to have you around 85 years ago!
I’m with you on this one, Mike. It’s not our fight, and likely none of our business whatsoever. There have been way too many American lives and dollars spent trying to fix a continent whose tribes have been warring since the first member picked up a pointy stick. They will be killing one another until this earth is replaced with the new one, whether or not we (US) are involved to any extent. If there’s a threat to our Constitution from afar or at home, I’ll fulfill my oath… but this ain’t it. Having read all that “Jack” penned in this thread, don’t give his remark the least bit of consideration. “Jack” is only the first four letters of his name… he conveniently leaves off the last three.
Good on you, Dr. Dabbs. Appreciate your thoughtful words in support of principles I once thought transcended political parties.
The very idea of comparing Putin to Lincoln, with a straight face, is really something. Putin seeks to reestablish a violent and oppressive empire, and will smear, poison, or murder anyone in support of that goal. Lincoln, you may remember, went to war to preserve an extant union, after slave owners seceded because new states would not be slave owning states and the slave owners feared losing their political advantage in the union.
Equating the two men is edgelord BS.
Well said, Eric.
Sad to see Putin apologists here. The man is a psychopathic murderer. How many of his opponents have been poisoned, blown up, had their planes mysteriously explode mid-air, or (this is a common one) fallen out of windows?
As you said Will, “The war in Ukraine represents the only chance in a century to castrate Putin and his war machine without spilling a single drop of American blood.” How people can be too stupid to realize this is beyond me. Ukraine is our ALLY. Don’t we take care of our friends?
If not, what does that say about us?
As for those repeating Kremlin propaganda that Zelenskyy is a grifter, A) proof please that he has benefited financially from this war. No memes allowed. Solid proof. All the ‘bought a yacht’, ‘bought a Bentley’, ‘bought a mansion’ stories have been thoroughly debunked. And B) if he cared about money, why wasn’t he on Biden’s first flight out of Kyiv on day one? He wasn’t. He said he needs bullets, not a ride.
To the Neanderthals here saying ‘F Ukraine’; I hope if you or one of your loved ones is trapped in a burning car or house, passers-by don’t say ‘it’s not our problem’.
So . . tell us how much of YOUR money and how many of YOUR kids have you sent to Ukraine! Please, stop the pretendville hypocrisy. All of this started from democrat “leadership” under Bill Clinton and the lust to expand NATO in order to enrich the MIC.
Lots of my money, and the money of friends and neighbors who care about freedom loving people. We sent tons of supplies for the armed forces, and our relatives. Me? I’m an old man, but I have many nephews proudly serving and every night I pray for their safety. And Rock, what lust to expand NATO? Did NATO threaten countries to join, or did the countries, for some reason (Russia?) ask to join?
I suggest you try empathy. You might like it.
It always seems to be “a rich man’s war and a poor man’s fight”. This Ukraine mess was ALL brought about because of YEARS of wanton NATO expansion BECAUSE of our politicians licking the boots of the military industrial complex and international bankers profiting huge off it. Stop with the BS about “tyrannical dictators”. Please, you could not care less about what Putin does or what Russian or Ukrainian people do. Its laughable. Yes, Lincoln was no different than Putin. Both promote “union” via the barrel of a gun. Thats not freedom bud, you go die for it.
Wow. Just wow. I could not care less? When it’s my cousins, nieces, nephews and friends getting bombed?
And you equate Putin with Lincoln? I’m guessing you’re Russian, not American, because no American patriot would ever spew such garbage.
And you blame NATO for countries wanting to join NATO because of their history with Russian aggression? That’s like blaming the firefighters on 9/11.
Sad. Very sad. I will pray for you, Rock. You need help. Serious help.
Goodbye.
Jack, first you must examine the REASON for Russia’s actions and LISTEN to the opponent in order to solve the problem. Brother, I shall pray for YOU especially if you have loved ones in this fight. We see things differently but pur country’s security is at risk. God Bless. Peace out.
Not our war. Sells this sad story to someone else.
Americans don’t want to hear it.
F*CK the Ukraine.
America First.
Your mom must be so proud, Patrick. What an intelligent rejoinder.
And FYI, most Americans still DO support Ukraine, despite the best efforts of vatniks like Tucker Carlson and his ilk.
Most Americans are STUPID. Do not forget that an airhead named Harris got more votes than Obama did on his second round and more votes than HiLIARy. Polls can be engineered to confirm ANY premise the creator intends. Sure we desire the best for Ukraine and its people. This “war” is a bar fight though and it has to stop. The sane people are exiting the bar.
Also . . . stop with the Russia is a threat BS. Russia is pushing back at stupid NATO expansion which IS nothing more than a money laundering scheme for the MIC, the Bilderbergs, and Rothschilds!
Now if YOU want to go there and die or send YOUR kids to go there and die, here is how you do it. Leave my money and my kids the H€££ out of it.
To volunteer . . .
https://ildu.com.ua/#candidate-requirements
To donate . . .
https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI0DJ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfs3cdOrsfuulKIPhK2qizAXK8PkoEoO5ZjU2o__78tb02xNdNdmP3d3cQ_aem_gi-VwV7qxDcdEK9DTm2gOQ
Only the Dumbass liberals and Democrats like yourself support the Ukraine, Jack.
Thanks for backing me up Rock.
Yeah, except I voted for Trump, vatnik. And Rock is a Troll.
I doubt you voted for Trump with you being all teary eyed for the Ukraine.
Patrick, actually I did vote for Trump, but believe what you want, vatnik. It’s a free country, no thanks to the likes of you.
Goodbye.
“We in America have learned bitter lessons from two world wars: It is better to be here [in Europe] ready to protect the peace, than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost. We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent. – Ronald Reagan”
Putin is no different than Abraham Lincoln. They both wanted their territory back and violated their nation’s constitutions to do it. You hypocrite warmongers are laughable. You say one is a hero and the other a villain. How much of your money and how many of your kids have you sent to Ukraine?
Hmm. I don’t remember Abraham issuing orders to murder ex-associates and their families in foreign countries, defenestrating those who displeased him, stealing billions of dollars and stashing them in a Swiss bank, interfering with the internal affairs of multiple countries, and plotting for decades to corner the market on artillery shells prior to invading his declared enemy, or promising security in exchange for his opponent giving up its nuclear weapons, a promise he immediately broke. The debate about whether Lincoln was right to preserve the union is long and complex, and this is not the place for it.
Well said, Mark
Dear Dr. Dabbs. Thank you for an incredible article. I know from past comments that I am your only fan who despises the draft dodger in the Whitehouse. He made it clear that he will give his buddy Putin the go ahead to take as much European land as he wants. If I’m the only one sick over this then we as a super power are doomed. President Bush hit the nail on the head when he called it the axis of evil. Now we’re part of that. All those brave Ukrainian soldiers deserve more.
No, you simply fail to understand that Ukraine was once a part of the Russian federation (the most important one) and Putin wants it back just as Lincoln wanted the southern states back. Trump has one “buddy” the American people. How many of YOUR kids have you sent to Ukraine to assist in this grand cause? Please, stop the posturing. Sell hour house, pick up a rifle and go over there yourself.
Ukraine has been struggling for independence for centuries, an aim subdued repeatedly by force of arms. It only became a part of the Russian Federation in the 1920s after being overrun by the Red Army during the “reorientation” of borders after WWI. As a member of the Federation, Ukraine became little more than a Russian province, important to Russia mostly because of its abundant wheat harvests. Even then, there were several rebellions against Soviet control, forcefully put down by Russian tanks and troops. As the USSR collapsed, Ukraine overwhelmingly voted for independence from the Soviet State in 1991, and it has been independent since.
The Ukrainian language is related to the Russian language, but it is not the same. Most Ukrainians (except those transplants from Russia itself, of which there are many in the east) do not consider themselves to be Russian, so much so that Putin has made a concerted effort to wipe out Ukraine history, culture, and cultural artifacts. Ukraine children are being taught with Russian textbooks. A argument can be made that Putin is engaged in a genocidal campaign, not just fighting the Ukraine Army but its civilians directly, bombing infrastructure, hospitals, apartments, houses, shopping malls and so. If Ukraine will not accept the Russian yoke, Putin intends to crush them. And he has said so. The Ukraine War was not started by Ukraine; Putin had been planning the subjugation of Ukraine since 1991, and just waiting for an excuse to start the war.
Well said, Mark N.
The same story you presented is exactly the same “story of man” since the very beginning. It is the story of Europe and the Americas, a continual cycle of war, money, and power. MANY different “tribes” of people have suffered unjustly throughout history. Peace does not make money. Health does not make money. Our “healthcare” makes money by FIGHTING disease, not curing it. Same thing with geopolitics. Remember the words of our greatest president, George Washington when he warned against “foreign entanglements”. Millions of lives and trillions of dollars in wealth has been WASTED because of OUR refusal to follow that advice and our refusal to learn from history.
Putin wants those territories back in federation and he sees NATO as a threat, which it is! It is not just a threat to the Russian people but a threat to the US people. Putin and Lincoln are two sides of the same coin. One a hero and the other a villain? No, I think not.
Remember how the Cuban Missile crisis was solved? By TWO men directly talking with one another, bypassing the MIC, the bureaucrats, and their governments. JFK agreed to pull NATO missiles out of Turkey and Khrushchev agreed to turn the Russian ships around and vacate Cuba. Problem solved.
Folks, Rock is a vatnik Russian troll with an inadequate cranial capacity. He ignores salient rebuttals and regurgitates the same propaganda, over and over and over again.
You mean George Washington who declared independence from HIS sovereign and led an army of traitors and rebels against a sitting government? That George? Who headed an army that was undermanned, underfed, under-armed, and under-trained against the most powerful nation on Earth at the time—and won? That George?
NATO is a perceived thereat to Russia according to its leaders, but it is not an actual threat. NATO has no interest in invading Russia, and quite frankly it doesn’t have the military might to do so. Moreover, the NATO treaty only obligates its members to come to the defense of a member who is attacked; it specifically does not obligate any member to come to the aid of an aggressor member. The real threat of NATO to Russia is that it stands in the way of Russian hegemony over the whole of Europe.
Funny you should mention the Cuban Missile Crisis without also mentioning that Khrushchev did not come to the table until JFK imposed a naval blockade on Cuba and threatened to sink any Russian cargo ship carrying nuclear weapons that tried to evade it. Being checkmated, Khrushchev had no choice. Significantly, Putin has reached that point. He is running out of men, tanks, transports and missiles. His economy is collapsing. If he does not strike a deal now, he will have to take the deal that is forced on him.
Trading land for security guarantees that Hitler would not invade Poland if he got Sudetenland is why the start of WWII is blamed on British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlaine. Are you suggesting that Trump make the same mistake?
Regarding the idiot here who thinks George Washington “declared independence” please put your crack pipe down and read some history. NATO is about nothing more than geopolitical chess and profiting from it. NATO is a part of a gigantic money laundering scheme that does not benefit the United States. This war must stop soon and concessions will have to be made. Trump, Putin, and Zman will make a deal and the fires will die down.
For those here who fancy themselves “Righteous Rambos” get your butts on over to Ukraine before the truce! I showed you how to do so! Your hypocrisy is galling, get to work.
Dear Dr. Dabbs. Thank you for an incredible article. I know from past comments that I am your only fan who despises the draft dodger in the Whitehouse. I can’t understand how or why every one reading this isn’t sick over the disrespect the draft dodger and his vice puppet showed that brave President Zalinsky. He made it clear that he will give his buddy Putin the go ahead to take as much European land as he wants. If I’m the only one sick over this then we as a super power are doomed. President Bush hit the nail on the head when he called it the axis of evil. Now we’re part of that. All those brave Ukrainian soldiers deserve more.
Putin is no different than Abraham Lincoln. Both men violated their constitutions and brought terrible war on their populace in order to FORCE a “union” at the point of a gun. The neocons and warmongers use this to work their money laundering schemes to enrich Raytheon and a host of other MIC masters. Young men write the checks with their blood while the MIC, Rothschilds, and Bilderbergs laugh.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. You can hate on Putin all you want. I’m not a fan per se, but anybody that keeps homos and other deviants at bay, is okay in my book. As far as ZelinskyNazi…just another grifter.
Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the Gate:
“Haul down the bridge, Sir Consul,
With all the speed ye may;
I, with two more to help me,
Will hold the foe in play.
In yon strait path a thousand
May well be stopped by three.
Now who will stand on either hand,
And keep the bridge with me?”
–T.B. Macaulay, Lays of Ancient Rome
This is just a load of neocon garbage. He may have been a great soldier. His country sucks and its supporters are dupes.
You’re an Idiot……… you have no idea what is at stake here. Get educated.
He was played and used up like a snot rag while General Dynamics, Raytheon, and many other “entities” profit and celebrate their version of “victory”. Que up Gordon Lightfoot’s song “patriots dream” while sampling a good glass of your favorite brew, and THINK.
There is no doubt that this “war” is enriching the MIC at the waste of young lives. Putin simply wants his “states” back in the fold. Failure to listen and constant posturing by NATO pleading for more countries to join only pokes the bear. Stupid stupid stupid.
What an idiotic statement. NATO isn’t pleading for anyone to join. Countries ask NATO. And hey, I wonder why all these eastern European countries wanted to be in NATO in the first place? Hmmm… think about it, if you have an adequate cranial capacity.
You may be a neanderthal but if you are an American, you are MAGA if you have any common sense. You have no concept of how the MIC and international bankers have played simpleton a$$es like you to make money! My gawdd, open your eyes and wise up man.
You sound like a typical Russian Bolshevik. Is there some reason that the Republicans have gone back on 70 years of hawkish policy and facing up to the Russian Bear at every turn?
You are not serious are you?
Are you serious?
Thanks for nothing
I wish more people understood what support of Ukraine means for the rest of the world. Not just tax dollars and the perceived insult of someone not wearing a suit.
Stated beautifully. Send a copy to Donald Chamberlain Trump.
Better yet, leave your comfy life behind, pick up an AK, and be like those American Bolshies who fought valiantly in the “Abraham Lincoln Brigade” for the Stalin-loving murderers of Catholic bishops, priests and nuns in the Spanish Civil War. I mean, if you reeeeally believe, like I did 60 years ago re: Vietnam,. that “if we don’t fight them in a trackless rain forest12,000 away, today, they’ll be swimming in our backyard pools and fondling our daughters next week.
Last I saw we were pretty good buds these days with the Marxist gubmint of Vietnam. 59000 combat dead. Agent Orange killed my brother 40 years later.
Individual heroism aside, Zelensky is as much of a grifting dictator as Putin. Bottom line, this is not our fight.
“Zelensky is as much of a grifting dictator as Putin.” Proof please. Solid proof, not memes. All those nonsensical stories about him buying yachts, mansions, Bentleys etc. have been thoroughly debunked.
As a side note, on social media whenever anyone make this claim I ask for proof. I’ve been asking for years now. No one has responded with any. Not a single person.
I’m not your research assistant, Jack. When **you** can give me a detailed account of the expenditure of literally billions of dollars of US taxpayer money pi$$ed into that black hole, you will have answered your own question.
Or maybe you’re just one of those people who are still so angry at the myth they have been sold, that Putin was responsible for the Hilaroid’s 2016 dethroning, any price is not too high to Get Vlad.
People have been fighting over those Bloodlands long before you or I were born, and will be doing likewise long after we are gone. It’s not our fight. However, if you have military-age child you’d lke to donatwe to the cause, why, suit/arm him/her up and buy them a plane ticket. Because without resolutuion, that’s where this is headed. The French and Brits are already talking about sending troops. It’s inevitable we will be sucked in. And to paraphrase Bismarck, Ukraine is not worth the bones of one Kentucky National Guard infantryman.
So in other words, you’ve got nothing. Just like all the rest.
FYI I voted for Donald. And I have many relatives in the Ukrainian military, and I know more about Ukrainian history than you ever will.
You sir lack empathy. As I told Rock, I sure hope that if one of you’re relatives is caught in a burning car or house, passers-by don’t go by sating, “It’s not our problem.”
Goodbye.
Empathy? How about TRUTH, how about REALITY? The reality is the Zman holds no cards and Ukraine is not worth the bloodshed that has been wasted.
50 years ago, a NATO ally, Turkey, invaded my fathers home nation, Cyprus. “Operation Attila,” brutal as only barbarian Turks can do, with rape, murder, destruction, theft of antiquities. 50 years later, aside from some sanctions and travel restrictions, we are still allies with the Turks, who occupy almost half the island, and my family – some of whom died as a result of the invasion – had to rebuild after losing everything that had been theirs for generations.
Bottom line, nations like the US do what is best for their national interest and security. The Bloodlands War is not our fight. To hell with your empathy. And your fallacious analogies.
Thanks for a great comment