Before the untimely death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in that suspicious, still unexplained airplane crash in August of this year, I wrote six blog chapters entitled “Where’s Yevgeny?” I had to stop, of course, when we were told that his body parts had been identified in a wreckage on a field somewhere northwest of Moscow. We now know exactly where he is buried . . . or, at least, we have the Kremlin’s word for it.

But Yevgeny’s legacy is one of continuing mystery. What will be the ultimate fate of his Wagner Group? Will a substantial number of its members stay together, or will they — like the old Soviet Union — be broken into discrete parts? What will their purpose be? Will they remain an independent mercenary organization, or will they be absorbed by the Russian military? And . . . the big question . . . who will lead them in their next incarnation?

For the most part, those questions remain unanswered. But one name — Dimitry Sytii — has already popped up in the Central African Republic (CAR), where he is apparently at work endeavoring to preserve the Wagner Group’s multi-billion-dollar African operations.

That’s not a small undertaking for anyone, let alone a 34-year-old relative unknown. But he is not unknown within the Wagner Group or to its African clients. Born in Belarus, and a multi-lingual graduate of a French business school with a master’s degree in marketing and business, he worked first for Prigozhin’s Internet Research Agency (you know — the bunch who were so busy interfering in our elections). He has spent the past half-decade managing Wagner’s corporate and propaganda ventures in Africa. He doesn’t look the part of a Wagnerite: unlike their typical beefy, tough-looking military types, his slight build, dark beard and long hair have been described as giving him “an almost saintly look . . . reminiscent of a revolutionary Che Guevara.” [Benoit Faucon and Gabriele Steinhauser, The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2023.] I’m not sure about the “saintly look,” but he certainly does stand out among his fellow Wagner Group members.

But he doesn’t claim to be a fighter; he’s a manager, a facilitator, the guy who handles the finances and makes the deals that keep the group operating. According to people “familiar with Wagner’s business operations,” he is said to oversee “a network of front companies that the group has used to export gold, diamonds, lumber and other raw materials from his base in the Central African Republic. Sytii also directs Wagner-funded media outlets and social-media campaigns that share anti-Western propaganda designed to prop up Moscow-friendly leaders . . .” [Faucon and Steinhauser, The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2023.]

Not a bad resume for such a young man. But he is not without competition, specifically from other mercenary companies managed by oligarchs closely associated with Vladimir Putin. So, as with everything else in Russia, it all tracks back to the catbird seat in the Kremlin . . . and what its occupant will decide remains to be seen.

Young Mr. Sytii has one or two other serious hurdles to overcome in the battle for dominance. Despite his invaluable experience and knowledge of the workings of the Wagner Group’s activities in Africa, he was, after all, Prigozhin’s man. And this must necessarily have Putin questioning where Sytii’s loyalties lie — other than to Sytii himself, of course. He also lacks Prigozhin’s history of connections with Putin and the people closest to him: connections that facilitated Prigozhin’s journey to fame and fortune — and to that last, catastrophic fall to earth. Mr. Sytii would do well to keep that in mind.

*. *. *.

It will be interesting to follow the continuing saga of the Wagner Group’s direction post-Prigozhin, and the future of Dmitry Sytii and others as they attempt to navigate the murky waters of Kremlin intrigue. Stay tuned for updates.

Brendochka
10/1/23

Hello again, blog buddies. It’s still me, Brendochka, just checking in to let you know I’ve updated the name of my blog to conform to its current format. It started out as a history of my journey into all things Russian. But eventually I reached the end of that trip, and began regaling you with my perspectives on all sorts of life’s oddities, anomalies, and even a few tragedies, but still with a world view. So it will henceforth be known as “The Blog About Everything.” Hopefully this will make more sense to new followers as well as my loyal readers.

So stay with me — we’ve only just begun.

Brendochka
9/30/23

Another mouth from Moscow. That’s one thing they seem to have in abundance these days — unlike ammo, natural gas, and friends. So, let’s see what the Foreign Minister has to say for himself this time.

Well, that must have been quite an interesting U.N. General Assembly meeting at New York last week, between Turkish President Erdogan’s declaration of fealty to Vladimir Putin, and now Sergei Lavrov’s hard-line pronouncement of Russia’s intentions toward Ukraine, and his all-too-familiar, Soviet-style diatribe against “the West.” As cited by two Kremlin-friendly media sources, TASS and RIA Novosti, following is the gist of his statements:

– Russia is allegedly ready for negotiations with regard to Ukraine, “but will not consider any proposals for a cease-fire because it has allegedly already been deceived once.”

– “. . . nobody in the West wants to show enough understanding of the war in Ukraine seriously, and ‘since they want to solve the issue on the battlefield, it means that it will be [done] on the battlefield.’”

– “. . . the ‘peace formula’ of the President of Ukraine . . . is allegedly absolutely impossible to implement, and everyone knows it.”

– “In his speech, Lavrov called the West an ‘empire of lies’ because Western countries allegedly assume obligations and do not fulfil [sic] them.”

– “He also claims that ‘rejection of the principle of equality and total inability to negotiate became a kind of calling card of the collective West long ago.’” [All as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, September 23, 2023; Lavrov’s actual words in single quotes.]

Gee, Mr. Minister . . . don’t mince words. Tell us what you really think.

*. *. *

Actually, everything he reportedly said is typical Orwellian doublespeak, so familiar from the old Soviet days: you just turn everything around so that the blame points to the other guy, then act indignant. It’s the same bullshit Hitler used to screech at the German masses, and Lenin fed to the Russian proletariat. It’s just toned down a bit, and spoken by a grandfatherly-looking man incongruously clothed in an expensive-looking Western suit and tie.

But where are the specific examples of the West’s alleged deception, lack of understanding of the war, and failure to fulfill its obligations? Not surprisingly, they’re conspicuously absent. I would like to challenge Mr. Lavrov to back up his accusations with detailed, provable facts; but unfortunately, he doesn’t read my blog.

In fact, no one from Russia has ever read my blog, which is shared worldwide on Facebook. I have had readers from 26 different countries in addition to the United States, including China, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Nigeria. But not one single reader from Russia. Could it be because communications there are once more under government control? Is it not resoundingly clear what is happening again to a people who, just 30 years ago, were celebrating their freedom and sharing a hope for a bright future?

Of course, it’s clear . . . to most of us. But there are those who still take Vladimir Putin and his minions at their word. People who, like Turkish President Erdogan, still say, “I have no reason not to trust them.” And America’s own Donald Trump, following a face-to-face meeting with Putin at Helsinki in 2018, when he famously answered a question from the press concerning the issue of Russian meddling in our elections: “President Putin . . . just said it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be.” And who to this day continues to express his delight when Putin praises him. These are people who should know better, and whose followers . . . well . . . follow them.

And that scares me to death.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/30/23

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know from my comments yesterday what I’m talking about today: the deluge of interesting news items confronting me when I woke up and checked yesterday morning’s news reports. I could probably make an individual article out of each of them, but that might be overkill. So I’ll try to sum it all up in one long spiel. Ready? Let’s start with . . .

U.S. Army Private Travis King. Now, there’s a young man carrying a big load of grief. Two months ago, he was supposed to be on his way home from South Korea to face the consequences of an alleged assault with which he had been charged. Instead, he somehow joined a public tour of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea, and managed to cross the line into the North, where he either requested asylum or was taken into custody, or both. The word from North Korean authorities was that Private King said he was fed up with the mistreatment he had received in the Army, and with the U.S. as a whole.

Did he actually say that? We don’t know. But now, after two months during which the North Koreans have had ample opportunity to question, debrief, and possibly brainwash him, they’ve decided they don’t want him hanging around any longer and have sent him home. We (the U.S.) acknowledge only that there were negotiations (through Sweden as the “protecting power,” since we have no diplomatic relations with North Korea), and that “no concessions were made to North Korea in the transfer, ‘full stop.’”

Wait a minute! North Korea gave back an American captive without demanding anything in return? I don’t know about Private King, but I’d be pretty damned upset if anyone wanted that badly to get rid of me. That’s just insulting. Is there something we’re not being told? Come to think of it, if that is the case, I don’t want to know. What happens in North Korea, probably should stay in North Korea.

Private King, of course, still faces possible military disciplinary action, once he’s been found to be in good health. But what on earth would have caused his extreme behavior in the first place? Fear of discharge from the Army? Possible incarceration? Those are bad enough, but are they really worse than life in North Korea? I’d like to hear his answer to that, now that he’s had a taste of it. But in any event, welcome home, Private King.

*. *. *

Slovakia. In 1991, I was fortunate to be able to spend a summer living and working in Prague, then the capital of Czechoslovakia. Two years earlier, the fall of the Berlin wall had ended Russia’s hold on a number of Eastern European countries; and when I arrived in Prague, the Czechoslovak people were celebrating the departure that very week of the last of the Russian military occupiers. What an amazing time that was!

But in 1992, a year after I returned home, the eastern half of Czechoslovakia declared itself a separate and independent nation by the name of Slovakia, leaving the western half to find a new name for itself. They settled on The Czech Republic, or Czechia for short.

Both The Czech Republic and Slovakia are members of NATO and have fully supported Ukraine in its war with Russia. Slovakia even shares a border with Ukraine, and has taken in large numbers of refugees, in addition to providing military hardware to its embattled neighbor. But that may be coming to an end. The people of Slovakia are getting ready — tomorrow! — to elect their fifth Prime Minister in four years, and the man leading in the polls is Robert Fico, a Kremlin sympathizer who has blamed “Ukrainian Nazis and fascists” for provoking Russia into its invasion of Ukraine, and promises that if he is elected, Slovakia will “not send another round of ammunition” to Ukraine.

It’s useful to note that, in addition to Ukraine and Czechia, Slovakia also shares borders with Poland, Hungary, and Austria. If it should indeed become another of Russia’s puppet states (like Belarus), that makes its location strategically all the more significant, should Russia proceed with its westward expansion.

Be assured that I will be following the results of the election, though I don’t know how long it will take to receive the final tally. But stay tuned — this one’s important.

*. *. *

Nagorno-Karabakh. Oy! This little enclave has a long, bloody history; but as briefly as possible, I can tell you that it’s an area geographically located inside the borders of Azerbaijan with an estimated 95% ethnic Armenian population. There has been back-and-forth killing of Armenians and Azerbaijanis for decades, and in the latest battle, Azerbaijan won. Every single Armenian in Nagorno-Karabakh is now being ousted with only what they can carry, sent in an endless convoy to Armenia, where they have been informed they are welcome. And then, says the government at Baku (capital of Azerbaijan), Nagorno-Karabakh will simply cease to exist. Poof! Gone. Never happened. A tragic end to a very long, convoluted story. For you history buffs out there, it’s worth a read to get the full background.

*. *. *

The Case of the Missing Admiral. I mentioned him on Wednesday, but here’s a quick recap. Last week, Ukrainian missiles took out the Russian Naval Headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, reportedly killing 34 or 35 people, including the commanding officer, Admiral Viktor Sokolov. But the Kremlin insists he is still alive, and have posted a picture of him seated at a meeting . . . though looking oddly stiff, and with a pillow propped behind his head. Other photos purport to show him in perfect health; but there is no way to know when or where those pictures were taken. So, is he alive? If so, why isn’t he speaking? Or if he’s dead, where is his body? Have we got ourselves another Yevgeny Prigozhin? “He’s in Sevastopol.” “No, he’s in Moscow.” “He’s alive and well.” “The hell, you say — we got him with one of our missiles.” Good grief! I’ll be following up on this one, too.

*. *. *

Farewell, Professor Dumbledore. Sadly, pneumonia has taken the life of Michael Gambon, aged 82, who was best known to the millions of Harry Potter fans as Professor Dumbledore. R.I.P. Michael . . . or Professor . . . whichever you prefer. You will be missed.

*. *. *

The End of the World. All sorts of people have made all sorts of dire predictions about this for as long as I can remember, and long before. But according to Nature Geoscience, a study now shows that all the land on Earth will form a volcanic supercontinent known as Pangea Ultima, which will somehow wipe out all the mammals on Earth. (There is no mention of cockroaches, though, so I assume they will once again beat the odds and survive.) But before you panic, don’t make a run for Elon Musk’s Mars shuttle just yet — this isn’t going to happen for another 250 million years. Although I have a bad feeling that we humans will be wiping ourselves out a few million years before that, if we don’t change our ways. Either way, it’s a pretty gloomy prospect for our long-range descendants, don’t you think?

*. *. *

And . . .

Did I hear someone say, “You mean there’s more?” Well, yes . . . there’s China’s missing Defense Minister (another missing person?!!); mysterious “fairy circles” being studied all over the world (as if UFOs weren’t enough); the denial of Alexei Navalny’s appeal of his prison sentence by a Russian “court” (big surprise!); and — if you’re really desperate for dinner table conversation — there’s always Kim Kardashian’s fake haircut. (I don’t know about you, but I hope and pray I will never be that desperate for something to talk about.)

*. *. *

And now . . .

That’s enough for one writing session. I may expand on some of these topics another day, but right now, I need to stretch my legs, my back, my neck . . . just about every body part. See you tomorrow.

TTFN,
Brendochka
9/29/23

I read recently that this “masterpiece” by Picasso of his young mistress will be auctioned by Sotheby’s later this year, and I can’t help wondering what the young lady who inspired the painting actually looked like. Mercifully, we may never know.

Because if this was indeed a representation of Pablo Picasso’s mistress, then love truly must be blind. But considering the present minimum value placed on the painting by Sotheby’s — a whopping $120,000,000 — she must have possessed charms that I just can’t see.

Although, viewing some of his other choices, maybe he didn’t do so badly after all:

Well, the harem doesn’t look all that bad by comparison . . .

*. *. *

And it isn’t just Picasso’s work that baffles me. I also have to wonder what Salvador Dali actually saw when he looked at the world:

To me, his visions are the stuff of nightmares. His colors are restful, though.

*. *. *

There are innumerable genres of art, and I frankly admit that I neither appreciate nor understand all of them, or what makes them “art.” For example, I feel as though even I could turn out a reasonable facsimile of a Mondrian with just a ruler, a pencil, and some poster paints:

Or just take a picture of anything on a supermarket shelf:

*. *. *

No, my taste runs more to the beautiful and serene: the realist and impressionist scenes in which I would like to immerse myself.

Monet’s water lilies:

Degas’ ballerina series:

And Vincent Van Gogh, who saw the beauty in everyday flowers, despite the madness that drove him to cut off his own ear:

Sunflowers . . .

Irises . . .

Oh dear . . . and a tragic self-portrait. Not so serene.

*. *. *

I love the charm of “Grandma” Moses’ happy style of so-called “naive” art:

*. *. *

And then there’s the 20th Century as seen through the eyes of Norman Rockwell. Some art connoisseurs might criticize me for including his work with that of the “great masters,” but Rockwell’s world is the one in which I grew up . . . though probably idealized just a bit. Still, wouldn’t you prefer to see yourself in one of these pictures, rather than in Dali’s melting world?

So eat up. In the art world, there’s plenty for everyone.

TTFN,
Brendochka
9/28/23

This is a little off the beaten track for me, but there are some things I just can’t wait until tomorrow to pass along. Here are a few choice tidbits from today’s CNN news that I couldn’t resist sharing:

1) “A surge of saltwater is creeping up the Mississippi River toward New Orleans, threatening to pollute the drinking water of around 800,000 people. Officials are working to quickly find solutions before the end of October — when the saltwater is expected to infiltrate several treatment plants and make tap water unsafe to drink or use.” [CNN News, September 27, 2023.] What the hell??? Has the Earth started turning in the wrong direction on its axis? That’s just crazy! It sounds like something out of a Japanese horror movie: The Saltwater Surge That Swallowed New Orleans. Not funny.

2) One of the Biden family’s beautiful German shepherds, a two-year-old named Commander, has bitten yet another Secret Service agent in the White House — his 11th attack in just two years. Has no one thought that the stress of all the people and the hubbub in the White House might just be too much for the poor pup, and that he needs a quieter environment? Or maybe the Secret Service guys give off a threatening vibe, as they are trained to do. Dogs are very sensitive, you know. In any case, my sympathy is with Commander. Maybe he should be housed at Camp David, or — sad but possibly best — found a new forever home, for his own sake. I’d take him, but he’s bigger than I am.

3) In the “I really don’t give a damn” category: I don’t care whether the singer Adele has gotten married or not. If she has, best wishes to her; if not, best wishes on remaining happily single. Okay?

4) And yet another one: I really don’t give a flying you-know-what that Kim Kardashian has gotten an extreme haircut. It doesn’t matter. She’s not Samson.

*. *. *

4) And this final note, which did not come from CNN (obviously), but arrived in an email that I previewed but did not open, then quickly double-deleted. Caution: I would not show this to your minor children, and you might not want to continue reading if you’re bashful:

“Congratulations.

Asian sex cult penis ritual leaked. (Disturbing video.) [Yeah, that leakage thing sounds very disturbing.]

Just a handful [No comment. -Ed.] of Hong Kong sexologists knew this until recently.

Every man suffering from a small penis could easily reverse that and achieve massive growth instead.

By doing this 10-second tantric trick that Asians have been performing for centuries! [10 seconds, huh?]

Find out more here: . . .”

[Underlining in the message indicates links to click on. I did not click. Since I deleted the message, I also did not watch the video. Yuck.]

Question: If Asians have been doing this for centuries, how come those Hong Kong guys just figured out the alleged benefits?

I realize this is wa-a-ay outside my usual range of topics, and I truly have no prurient interest in the subject matter. But I am curious about one thing: Could this be the secret to the phenomenal growth (don’t say it!) of Asia’s industries and economies? Or how they maintain such an exceptional work ethic? Is this taught in the schools, and beginning at what age? No wonder the school kids work so hard! (Will you please get your mind out of the gutter!)

I will say no more. And no pictures for this one. Sorry.

*. *. *

Okay, that’s more than enough weird news for now. Enjoy the rest of your day. I’ve already had all the fun I can stand.

TTFN,
Brendochka
9/27/23

There’s some weird stuff happening out there this week. A little weirder than usual, I mean, and specifically with regard to Ukraine and our old standby for weirdness: Russia. Let’s start with a Russian Admiral.

His name is (or was) Viktor Sokolov, and he is (or was) the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at the time its headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea was destroyed by a Ukrainian missile attack a few days ago. The problem appears to be in determining whether he’s dead or alive. Officials in Ukraine publicly “confirmed” on Monday that Admiral Sokolov was among 34 senior officers killed in that attack. But according to The Daily Beast, yesterday he appeared for just a few seconds in a Russian video, allegedly at a meeting chaired by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He was in dress uniform, oddly propped up against a pillow, appearing uninjured, but with eyes closed behind his glasses. Then a still photo was released showing him with his glasses off and eyes open, though still propped up against a pillow as though in a hospital bed.

So — as we did in the case of our now-departed friend Yevgeny Prigozhin — we ask the question: Where is Admiral Sokolov? Were these just old pictures of him dug out of an archive, or — eerily — were they photos of his propped-up corpse? And if the latter, how long can they keep him “alive” before he is no longer photographable? The Russians are known to be adept at altering photos, but how far can they go, and for how long? Perhaps until they can think up an excuse for his “departure,” and find an adequate replacement? We’ll see. Whatever transpires, it will surely be the story most fitting for propaganda purposes.

*. *. *

Next up: Defense Minister Shoigu’s deadline. Yes, the same Shoigu who purportedly met with Admiral Sokolov yesterday. As reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing an insider source, Vladimir Putin has given Shoigu a deadline until early October to “improve the situation on the frontlines, stop Ukrainian counteroffensives, and have Russian forces regain the initiative.” Oh, is that all? It is not clear from the report when the order was issued, but “early October” is right around the corner.

And thus we are left wondering whether there is an “or else” attached to that order, possibly leaving Shoigu on the unemployed line if he is unable to deliver. Is there any such thing as tenure in the Russian military? This poor guy has had so many ups and downs since Prigozhin began picking on him, there’s no telling where he’ll land. In the meantime, he’s certainly been busy.

*. *. *

And finally, we have the unexpected re-emergence of Henry Kissinger. Dr. Kissinger is now an even 100 years old — officially a centenarian, and a renowned statesman who has more than earned a peaceful retirement. Yet he was able to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky while the latter was in the United States last week. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Dr. Kissinger “was previously against Ukraine’s membership in NATO and now supports Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance.” And Dr. Kissinger himself is quoted directly as saying:

”Before this war, I was opposed to the membership of Ukraine in NATO because I feared that it would start the very process that we are seeing now. Now that this process has reached this level, the idea of a neutral Ukraine under these conditions no longer makes sense.” [Emphasis is mine.]

Dr. Kissinger, I salute you. The passing years obviously have in no way dulled your knowledge, your wisdom, or your ability to distinguish right from wrong . . . nor are you too proud to alter your judgment when changing circumstances dictate. From your work in reopening relations with China to the present day, you have been an invaluable asset, not only to the United States, but to the world at large.

Now, if only we could get you into a room with Vladimir Putin . . . but I fear he is beyond redemption and immune to even your persuasive powers. That’s really too bad. But thank you for everything else.

*. *. *

So it’s been a rather strange week thus far. But is that so different from most other weeks? Nah . . . not really.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/27/23

There are probably a few people out there who will find it surprising to know that I — who obviously spend a great deal of time perusing the daily news — am totally uninterested in, and sometimes even repulsed by, some of the crap that makes it onto the pages of the real news. For example, I really, truly, honestly do not care about . . .

– Who (actually, “whom”) Taylor Swift is hanging out with this week.

– Or who is or is not singing at Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi’s wedding. By the way, I don’t even know, or care, who Millie Bobby Brown is.

– Who (again, “whom”) Rudy Giuliani did or did not grope.

– I don’t give a flip how many years ago Will & Grace aired on TV (apparently it’s 25).

– How “confident” Demi Lovato feels during sex. (Yuck.)

– Or how difficult it was for Cher to accept her daughter Chastity’s transition to son Chaz. (As a mother, I’d be more concerned about his unhealthy weight.)

– And I really don’t give a damn what any of the Kardashians are up to, now or ever.

– Or anything else about any celebrity’s sex life, family issues, BFFs, gender identification, social activities, or questionable behavior.

Those things are none of my business . . . or anyone else’s, really. I wish all of these people well, and I also wish they would keep their personal issues out of the news. Just because they’re famous (to a greater or lesser degree), are people supposed to care about every little salacious detail of their lives? But I know there are many folks — the ones for whom those items are written — who do enjoy living vicariously through others, and that’s fine for them. But I don’t. Some days it’s all I can do to manage my own life.

*. *. *

There are, however, a lot of things I do care about . . . some quite passionately. And you know I’m going to tell you what they are, even though you haven’t asked. So . . .

At the risk of sounding like a Miss America finalist, I care about world peace. I know that there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of ever achieving it, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing for it. It’s the governments, you know, that have caused all the problems since the dawn of “civilization.” But we need some form of governance to maintain law and order so as to prevent anarchy and chaos. So . . . it’s a classic case of “damned if we do, damned if we don’t.” Still, I do care.

I care about the environment. In the name of “advancement” and “progress,” we’re killing our beautiful Earth. I want to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and swim in a trash-free ocean. And I want future generations to be able to do the same. I want polar bears and penguins to have enough ice to sustain their beautiful lives. I want trees to be free of danger from wildfires. And I don’t want to have to move to Mars.

I care about catastrophic diseases . . . or, rather, the elimination of them. Finding treatments and cures — that’s the kind of progress and advancement I love reading about.

I care about the economy. Life today is simply too expensive for most people to be able to enjoy themselves, or even to maintain a dignified life style. The middle class is disappearing; single-income families became extinct decades ago. Highly-educated people are working at jobs for which they are over-qualified; skilled folks are working two or three jobs just to survive. How do we fix it?

I care about learning. Every book, every news item, every bit of trivia that I pick up along the way adds another wrinkle to my brain. If I can recite a soliloquy from Macbeth, or think of an obscure word to win a game of Scrabble, or remember what happened in 1066 A.D. (look it up), it doesn’t change the world. But it keeps me compos mentis. And I definitely care about that.

I care about music, art, theater, a really good book. They nourish my soul, and remind me that the world isn’t all about war and pollution.

I care about morality. I know we each have our own definition of it, and I won’t burden you with mine. But I think it’s important, and even though it’s not fashionable to discuss it these days, I still care about it.

I care about laughter. It feels good, and it’s healthy. Whether it’s a huge belly laugh or an appreciative chuckle, I’ll take it, and I’ll revel in it. And by the way, I really miss Robin Williams.

And most of all, I care about caring. Call it love, or friendship, or just empathy . . . it’s becoming a rare commodity. People are stressed, tired, angry, even hateful and hurtful. And that drains all of the good out of life. With so many other problems today, we need to care about each other more than ever. I care about you; all I ask is that you return the favor. I guarantee we’ll both be better for it.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/26/23

Judging from this picture, Turkish President Erdogan looks as though his perpetual fence-sitting might be irritating his backside a bit. Or perhaps he’s just squirming from the effort involved in keeping himself from becoming an irritant to Vladimir Putin. In either case, he deserves to squirm.

Because he can’t seem to make up his mind whether he (and thus his country) should honor his (and its) obligations to his (and its) fellow NATO member countries. Or whether to continue sucking up to Vladimir Putin until he can figure out whether Putin — or even Russia — will still be standing when the smoke clears in Ukraine. That’s a tough decision . . . particularly if you don’t have a conscience.

Erdogan continues verbally to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and has even provided it with drones for its defense against Russia’s continuing assault. But he has stopped short of joining in the sanctions against Russia, claiming to be a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv — though, thus far, not a very successful one.

So here’s the latest example of his problem. On September 20th, speaking to Turkish journalists while in New York for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, he said the following (as reported by European Pravda):

“Both leaders and prime ministers have negative attitudes toward Putin. Of course, we do not have the same attitude. I do not find these attitudes right. Because Russia is not an ordinary country.”

He added that, because Russia is one of the world’s leading grain producers, “. . . such a country cannot be ignored.”

“We will continue our relations with Russia in a positive way,” he went on, referencing Turkey’s desire to become “a hub for natural gas exports to Europe,” and “Ankara’s dependence on Russia for imports of natural gas.” [European Pravda, September 20, 2022.]

And a few days earlier, he was quoted — again by European Pravda — as saying that he trusts Russia as much as he trusts the West. “I have no reason not to trust them,” he is reported as saying.

He has even, on other occasions, straddled the fence with regard to the prospect of Turkey’s accession to the European Union. Decisions, decisions . . .

It’s becoming clearer by the day that this man, who is the leader of a strategically vital, NATO-member country, cannot decide whether he’s left-handed or right-handed, left-brained or right-brained . . . or politically left-leaning or right-leaning. Methinks he needs a sharp poke in the ass to get him off of that fence.

Where’s a pitchfork when you really need one?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/25/23

There’s an old joke that goes something like this: Question — What is the shortest book ever written? Answer — Polish War Victories.

Ha ha, very funny. Now think about this:

Nicolaus Copernicus; Frederic Chopin; Ignacy Paderewski; Marie Curie; Lech Walesa; Zbigniew Brzezinski; Pope John Paul II. Not an insignificant roster of native sons (and daughter) for any country — and one of which Poland is justifiably proud.

And recently, Poland has had another claim to fame: its immediate and total commitment to the defense of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of February 24, 2022; and its continuing aid in terms of providing weaponry to Ukraine’s military and shelter to 1.5 million of its war refugees.

But wait . . . what has happened to change that? And what will be the effect of any such change on the dynamic between these two historic allies? First indications are more than a little unsettling.

And it can all be laid at the feet of that professed paragon of virtue: Mother Russia.

Very briefly — or as briefly as possible — the chain of events goes something like this: First, Russia stages its “Special Military Operation.” Oh, hell . . . let’s call it what it really is: Russia’s war of attrition against Ukraine — a country known as “the breadbasket of Europe” because of its massive grain exports to numerous countries. And as part of Russia’s strategy, her naval ships are sent to blockade the Black Sea ports through which those vital exports are transported . . . thus punishing not only Ukraine, but the hungry people of a number of Russia’s professed African allies, among numerous other countries that normally depend on those grain shipments for their very survival. Makes sense, no?

NO! It does not. But that’s what Russia does.

Next, Ukraine seeks alternate routes through which to send its food, one of which is an allied country with whom it shares a large land border — Poland — as well as two other friendly neighbors, Hungary and Slovakia. This works well, for a while, but then . . .

You’ve heard of the trickle-down effect, of course. Well, here’s where it begins in our story. The EU, in order to support Ukraine’s continuing food exports and alleviate the threat to global food security, sets up what it calls “solidarity lanes,” and temporarily lifts all duties and quotas on Ukraine’s exports. And suddenly there is a glut of inexpensive Ukrainian grain flowing into Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, severely cutting into the profits of the farmers in those countries. And those farmers don’t remain silent for long.

There are demonstrations in Poland, and back-and-forth insults and accusations are traded between Poland and Ukraine. Surprisingly and uncharacteristically, an angry Ukrainian President Zelensky steps into the fray, stating that the nations involved (the Poland-Hungary-Slovakia triumvirate) “may seem to play their own role but in fact they are helping set the stage to a Moscow actor.”

Oh, dear. Needless to say, that does not go over well in Warsaw, where the foreign ministry summons the Ukrainian ambassador to convey its “strong protest.” And now, Poland is saying that it may “no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine.”

I think I have the order of things straight. The whole situation has become muddled, with each side now trying to walk back some of the strongest statements and find a resolution to the conflict. Ukraine and Poland are long-time allies in their resistance to Russian dominance, and — like an old married couple — they need each other despite some differences and disputes.

But . . .

I have said before that in Russia there is always a “but.” And the most recent interjection, as reported by CNN on September 22nd, comes from that pesky Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. As reported by CNN, quoting Peskov:

“‘As we can see, there are certain tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv. We predict that these tensions will increase,’ Peskov said during a regular call with reporters, when asked to comment on Poland signaling that it would stop sending arms to Ukraine.”

[A self-fulfilling prophecy, if I ever heard one. -Ed.]

“‘We understand that tensions between Kyiv and other European capitals will also increase over time. It’s unavoidable. In the meantime, we continue our special military operation to fulfill the tasks that we have set for ourselves,’ Peskov said.”

[No longer a prophecy, but a blatant threat. -Ed.]

“When asked to comment on the Polish government’s remarks that the country will focus on arming its own forces, and whether that’s causing concern in Russia and Belarus, Peskov said work to ensure Belarus and Russia’s security is ‘underway.’

“‘As for weapons, the neighborhood [border?] with Poland is not the most comfortable for our Belarusian comrades. The country [Poland] is quite aggressive. It does not refrain from subversive activities and interference in internal affairs,’ Peskov said. ‘But our Belarusian friends and allies are on alert against the background of potential threats that could come from Poland, as we are.’” [Emphasis is mine.]

[The gauntlet is thrown. -Ed.]

*. *. *

And there you have it: the opening gambit of Russia’s standard game, wherein they depict their target — in this case, Poland — as the bad guy, the aggressor, the threat to Russia’s security. Is it not eerily reminiscent of Russia’s accusations against Ukraine when they were preparing their “special military operation”? Poland has every right to be worried, as they are now wedged between the proverbial rock and hard place. They have pledges to fulfill to their friend and neighbor, Ukraine; and they have their own people to protect from another neighbor with whom they share a long border: Russia’s “friend and ally,” Belarus, through whose territory Russian forces would have free rein to walk straight into Poland. And all with the compliments of Belarus’ self-proclaimed President and dear friend of Vladimir Putin: Aleksandr Lukashenko.

So what is going on? Is this simply a Russian tactic to shake things up in Poland prior to its upcoming elections in order to swing the results to Russia’s satisfaction? Or, even more ominously, are we seeing the next step in a planned westward march into the former Soviet Bloc of Eastern European nations? In that case, one has to ask whether today’s Russia is even capable of implementing such a plan, considering the state of its economy and its military forces?

And finally, we must ask ourselves, as Vladimir Lenin himself once did: “Shto dyelat?” — “What is to be done?”

Stay tuned, folks . . .

Brendochka
9/24/23