By Ray Cardello for September 27, 2022 Season 13 / Post 22

We are quietly approaching a crucial point in time with the conflict in Ukraine. Remarkably, the Ukraine military is pushing the Russian insurgents back and reclaiming a good percentage of territory claimed by Putin’s army. On the surface, this may seem like great news, but it could signal the worst of events for Ukraine, Europe, and the world. Putin is being pushed into a corner, which is not a good position for a crazed individual.

Putin thought this would be a swift operation when he invaded sovereign Ukraine. He knew he had the numbers and the firepower to topple Ukraine and return it to the Russian mainland. He did not take into account the heart of the Ukrainians and the strength of its leadership. The will of the Russian military has been broken and forced Putin to call up 300,000 young men to reinforce his troops. This action leads to protests, unrest in Moscow, people fleeing the country, and reports that Putin has gone into hiding for his safety. It has also been reported that Putin is not a healthy man, possibly suffering from advanced stages of cancer. An injured animal can be the most vicious as they fight for survival and have little to lose.

Putin has commented that no ammo in his arsenal is out of bounds, including nuclear. These undertones should have the entire world on the highest alert and unified to prevent a nuclear assault on Ukraine. A nuclear attack by Russia could trigger like action from the United States and its allies. The world should never have to survive a nuclear battle between superpowers and more minor actors. We also have to be cognizant that China and Russia have been meeting, and no one knows how China would react if the Ukraine conflict elevates to a nuclear level.

Joe Biden is not the man we need in control at this time of heightened tension. His official comment to Putin yesterday was, “cool it with your threats of nukes.” This weak statement and action are indicative of the problem we face. Biden is soft and does not garner much respect on the world stage. It is not funny, but James Taylor is practicing You’ve Got a Friend. We require a stronger, more respected team than Joe Biden and Antony Blinken. No one is stronger in this feckless administration, and we may have to look to Germany or England to step up and shut Putin down. America is no longer a superpower, and that is solely on Biden.

These next few weeks are crucial. With Ukraine gaining strength, the Russian people acting out against Putin, and Putin showing weakness in how he is reacting to these current situations, it is time to tighten the screws with financial constraints. The world has to isolate Russia and prove to Putin that he will face the wrath of the world’s power should he opt to go nuclear on Ukraine. Let’s hope that Biden can muster enough strength to hold onto the ball, and let’s keep JT quietly at home on Martha’s Vineyard.