Second comment after conclusion of the discussion: as I outlined in my first comment below, IF Russia simply and completely "takes out" the existing Ukro regime, proceeds at least to the Dneiper (including controlling Odessa), installs a leader (the guy now waiting in the wings in Moscow), quickly rids the world of known neo-Nazis in a few "show trials," and then supports and show-cases re-building a "sane" Ukraine, there wouldn't be much a recalcitrant Europe could really do (their little "darling Zalinsky" would be gone and the U.S. would back away) and more likely than not they would be happy to "suck it up" after a period of "reflection" and slowly crawl out from under mythologies going nowhere to "reality" re-connecting economically with Russia. No?
Perhaps commenting too soon here, but nothing mentioned yet about the bridges over trains blown up (killing civilians) and Kerch bridge attacked by the Ukros. This invites a change in the designation of the Ukro war by Russia (from the SMO) to include outright Terrorism and consequent -- now even likely -- application by Russia of a legal change in prosecuting the war against the Ukros (and by extension the West) to justify "taking out" the Kiev Regime (already talk of this). This may well be in the offing to be decided soon in an upcoming Duma meeting. If so, a concerted effort to eliminate the regime (too bad Kiev), including surrounding neo-Nazis and MI6/CIA should not (1) be discounted, and (2) could end the conflict quicker because the West would have no "skin in the game." . . . Just sayin' . . .
In my personal opinion Mr Doctorow is not on the same level as most other guests. Quality control is essential for all concerns.
Second comment after conclusion of the discussion: as I outlined in my first comment below, IF Russia simply and completely "takes out" the existing Ukro regime, proceeds at least to the Dneiper (including controlling Odessa), installs a leader (the guy now waiting in the wings in Moscow), quickly rids the world of known neo-Nazis in a few "show trials," and then supports and show-cases re-building a "sane" Ukraine, there wouldn't be much a recalcitrant Europe could really do (their little "darling Zalinsky" would be gone and the U.S. would back away) and more likely than not they would be happy to "suck it up" after a period of "reflection" and slowly crawl out from under mythologies going nowhere to "reality" re-connecting economically with Russia. No?
Perhaps commenting too soon here, but nothing mentioned yet about the bridges over trains blown up (killing civilians) and Kerch bridge attacked by the Ukros. This invites a change in the designation of the Ukro war by Russia (from the SMO) to include outright Terrorism and consequent -- now even likely -- application by Russia of a legal change in prosecuting the war against the Ukros (and by extension the West) to justify "taking out" the Kiev Regime (already talk of this). This may well be in the offing to be decided soon in an upcoming Duma meeting. If so, a concerted effort to eliminate the regime (too bad Kiev), including surrounding neo-Nazis and MI6/CIA should not (1) be discounted, and (2) could end the conflict quicker because the West would have no "skin in the game." . . . Just sayin' . . .