Dear CCI Friends,
From NATO, the EU, Great Britain, the G7 (including us) and of course, from the President of Ukraine, comes a growing cacophony; more, bigger, harsher, all-encompassing war. Escalate (to de-escalate? Who came up with that brilliant idea?), increase sanctions, send more long-range armaments and drones to cause more pain more deeply into Russia, pressure the people to remove Putin…. It beggars belief, or it should. Do any of the ‘leaders’ of these countries, the promoters of full-on, large-scale war between the ‘West’ and Russia have any idea what they are wishing for? Or do they imagine war to be like a video game – something to be played at for a while then put on pause if you’re losing, go make dinner, have a glass of wine, find another distraction?
Alex Krainer knows better. In the article below he explains vividly how people go from the comfort of believing war can’t really happen, no matter how much the news may tell them otherwise, to finding themselves fully committed with no turning back.
Please see his description of how a population of civilized citizens turns overnight into something else entirely. He should know; he’s been there.
“If Russia retaliated…”
“Before leaving 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer authorized another large-scale attack on Russia.”
https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/if-russia-retaliated
Ray McGovern sees the warmongering crowd in a different light – warmonger wannabees, at best. Let’s hope he’s right. Watch his interview with Glenn Diesen to the end for a moving recapitulation of CCI’s 2016 trip to Crimea for the 75th anniversary of the launch of Operation Barbarossa.
“Putin Under Pressure to Retaliate Against NATO…”
….but he’s smarter than that.
https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/ray-mcgovern-putin-under-pressure
And finally, a bright note in memory of a dreadful day….
“Russia Must Not Be An Enemy!”
“There are people in Germany who remember history and disagree with the current government’s anti-Russian policies.”
“On June 22, 1941, at 3:15 a.m., Nazi Germany launched its attack on the Soviet Union on several fronts. On Saturday, June 20th, to mark the 85th anniversary of the start of Operation Barbarossa, approximately 700 people gathered in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin under the motto “Russia is not our enemy.”
Best wishes to all,
The Center for Citizen Initiatives