It turns out that, after suddenly fleeing to South Africa last year, Princess Charlene demanded a king’s ransom from Prince Albert to return to royal life in Monaco. And Albert reportedly feared the longer he waited to pay it, the more tabloid reports, about her becoming his runaway princess, would resonate. So he obliged. Of… Read more.
The World
Crises in Ukraine and Sri Lanka Are Opportunities for China…
Albert Einstein is noted for saying that, in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity. And so, in the midst of the genocidal war Russia is waging in Ukraine and the food and energy shortages that have Sri Lanka reeling, lies great opportunity for China. Specifically, these crises present opportunities for China to finally… Read more.
Putin, the Butcher of Bucha, Presides Over May Day Parade
The Western world watched as Russian President Vladimir Putin (aka the Butcher of Bucha) presided over his May Day parade today. But everyone waited with bated breath to hear what he would say about his “special military operation” in Ukraine. To say what he said was anticlimactic would be an understatement. Frankly, it was like… Read more.
Prof Snyder Says He Reintroduced the ‘Big Lie.’ That’s a Big Lie
On Thursday’s edition of The Rachel Maddow Show, Professor Timothy Snyder of Yale University claimed that he reintroduced the concept of the “Big Lie” into public discussion in 2019. But that itself is a big lie. Snyder is arguably the heir apparent to Noam Chomsky as America’s bestselling (academic) author. In fact, his book On… Read more.
Russia’s Victory Day Parade
The International Criminal Court must file charges against Vladimir Putin. This, for the war crimes he’s lording over in Ukraine. Granted, it might take a revolution of the kind Vladimir Lenin mounted to arrest him. But they should file the charges and issue the arrest warrant as a matter of principle. This will help the… Read more.
Secretary General Will Meet Putin to Talk Humanitarian Aid. But No Safe Haven…?
UN Secretary General Mr. António Guterres will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. Reports are that he hopes to prevail upon Putin to allow for the safe passage of civilians from areas of conflict and the delivery of humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas. (Reuters, April 19, 2022) Never mind that this will… Read more.
PSA: Help Ukraine, Call Russia
Podcast Episode 72: Unlike the Germans, You’d Even Be Willing to Ration Gas, Right…? Related commentaries: Ukraine… Read more.
Few Africans Blame Putin for His War. Now We Know Why…
Like me, you have probably wondered why so few Africans blame Vladimir Putin for what so many know is his own war in Ukraine. But now we know… Of course, this is the same president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is aping other world leaders by playing mediator between Russia and Ukraine just for… Read more.
Biden Calls Putin Murderous; Murdoch Dangerous…
US President Joe Biden offended all notions of diplomatic sense and sensibility last month when he called Russian President Vladimir Putin murderous and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch dangerous. I found his candor – in calling a spade a spade on the world stage – refreshing and encouraging in equal measure. But perhaps it just… Read more.
Advisers Lied to Putin Cos War in Ukraine Not Going to Plan
News reports went viral yesterday about how military advisers to Russian President Vladimir Putin routinely lied because his war in Ukraine was not going to plan. Putin was misled by advisers who were too scared to tell him how poorly the war in Ukraine is going and how damaging Western sanctions have been, White House… Read more.