We have a portrait of my mother as promised painted to the BBC reports of the Little Vladz's1 invading Ukraine. That's as real as it comes suddenly. As my mother sat she talked of the war she was a part of, WW2. She lived in London and at the age of 6 was sent away to Cornwall with her sister for a few years to stay with 'orrible' strangers while the bombs dropped. Now I know not what has been happening with daily events and reported diplomacy but as we told the Borg it seems rather simple to us. Vladz the dictator moved all sorts of weapons and equipment to the border, waited a bit, then invaded. Does he claim he is responding to call from Russians in Ukraine as he did Crimea? Or is he sending in peace keepers? We're not sure, can you tell us? And what of Sweden's position?2 How far does it go, does he want the whole of Ukraine? He probably realises that he will face only sanctions in response and he could get a loan from China so will it spread beyond? Worrying worrying worrying but we know nothing and still refuse to follow the action.
We have had Russia down as key architect of the post truth era,3 not in creation but as benefactor and pioneer of the disinformation game, they are old hands after all. They want to weaken Europe, to break up Europe. They want to weaken democracy by poisoning it. They were pioneers of post truth disinformation trolling through the state scale IRA4 operation. Their success has been enormous. We have seen and sensed the popularity of Putin to alt far right politicians. Forage had to admire the political strategy of the man I seem to remember during the Syria chemical weapons situation for example and Trump is their man in ways we might never know but it is enough now to say that he is far enough right to logically support the authoritarian over the democratic. We can say this categorically after the charge at the steps and we will not see any criticism from Don Donald that 's for sure. That moment which one so desires when someone finally says 'ok that's too far' will not come and in fact we see in the Trumpism after Trump investments of Orange Peil that another crack at the steps is on the cards. Every country that has seen the far right rise and that means every country that has the internet will contain supporters of Putin but does Putin invade now precisely because Trump or similar is not in power in the US? He needs the opposition to work the magic perhaps, or would he do it anyway? Trump and his base are Putin's mug.5 He perhaps thinks it's the best chance, he has taken advantage of the tech to stir up such division and confusion that it just may be that now is the time, plus he's getting on so he has his legacy to think of. Could it spiral?
Although there has been much will he won't he speculation we have heard plenty of sage talk over the years, from my sister in particular, that war is very much on the cards. When there is a great financial crisis, the rise of far right populism, economic devastation, and a pandemic for good measure then war is likely. Well this is it then.
I believe some handicapped children from the Ukraine have been installed in Väddö?
With a look at the sky,
John
1. Refers to Vladimir Putin.
2. We have no ideas.
3. The role of Russia was first referred to in Dignity Scholarship Season 1, Work 8, see note 5. Reference is made to Russia's role in the post truth era on numerous occasions. 'Russian meddling' DS1, Work 12, paragraph 10. The 'disinformation campaigns of Russia' are mentioned in DS1, Work 15, paragraph 4. In DS1, Work 35, paragraph 10 John discusses his "A VOTE FOR SD IS A VOTE FOR RUSSIA" slogan. 'Don Vladimir' is mentioned in DS1 Work 40, paragraph 4. Vladimir Putin becomes 'Little Vladz' in verse 2 of John's Dignity Scholarship Season 2 proposal poem Johnny B Goode.
4. Internet Research Agency.
5. A person or people that are gullible and easily controlled.