An American tourist in Russia
The American system of statutes, regulations, executive orders, guidance documents and directives, and case law has grown too unwieldy to be applied or interpreted fairly and consistently. The problem is complex. The solution is comparatively simple. Introduction Every law, every regulation, every executive order, and every binding court decision is enforced by violence or the … Read more
The plot thickens. Russian authorities claim to have foiled a planned assassination attempt against the Belorussian president, Alexander Lukashenko. Two men were allegedly in Moscow to meet with disloyal Belorussian generals to discuss murdering Lukashenko on May 9, Victory Day. Lukashenko also alleges a kidnapping conspiracy against his family.
While significant in itself, assassinating Lukashenko correlates with the standoff simmering in Ukraine. The Black Sea Fleet currently maintains total superiority and could effortlessly sink the entire Ukrainian navy within minutes of hostilities breaking out. Russia has combined arms units assembled in Crimea, along the Eastern border of Ukraine, and in Belarus, creating a three-sided “cauldron” that could potentially end a shooting war almost before it started.
As stocky 18-year-old cursed with premature baldness and a dull mind, Hanson didn’t have much going for him before he was drafted. With little education to speak of and no family connections, the boy seemed destined to disappear down a mineshaft, probably die in one like his father did. The Venusian Defense Corps changed all that. Hanson liked the black uniform and the Spartan aesthetics of military life didn’t bother him. Now he was part of something special and bigger than himself. He was part of something important.
Encased in body armor, packed like sardines with the rest of his platoon, all hurtling to the ground in a black coffin, military life doesn’t seem like so much fun anymore. But this doesn’t bother Hanson much either. Nothing really does. A simple mind has its benefits.
The standoff in Eastern Ukraine continues. Here’s a rundown of events so far and what may come next. I’ll continue adding live updates to this post as the situation develops.
The Kremlin doubles down on their troop and ship movements, the White House is ineffectual as always, and Ankara gets bolder with their support of Ukraine. That last development (which includes new Turkish drones and Syrian mercenaries) is particularly good for Kiev, but probably gives them little comfort since just about every player at the table has made it clear they won’t face open warfare with Russia.
Ukrainian Special Forces are recruiting Syrian mercenaries to fight in the disputed Donbass region. The American media has mostly declined to report on this event, for reasons that I’ll leave up to readers to infer. However, The Syrian Observer reported last month that Turkish special forces asked Syrian militants to prepare for deployment to Ukraine.