I have a great deal of admiration for Ex Weapons Inspector, Scott Ritter, among his many other qualifying attributes as a notable authority to comment on matters of warfare. And so I commend to you his latest written piece on the developments of the past few days…
On the Brink – Scott Ritter Extra – Nov 24, 2024
Scott ends this piece, one of the most vital among his many most erudite writings, with a call for Americans to join a rally in Washington in two weeks time, aimed at persuading the government to reverse it course towards Nuclear conflagration. I hope they succeed.
But what then?
Backing away from one course of action to a less dangerous one for all humanity, will not end the conflict in Ukraine at the heart of the current crisis (and please do not deny that ‘crisis’ is exactly what we are now facing). Nuclear war or not, Russia (who it must be understood are not the cause of any amplified escalation of the conflict) is not – actually can not – back away from completing all of its goals (all of which are noble and justified) in relation to that conflict.
There can be only one ending to that. Actually there are two endings- the alternative being nuclear conflict, which at all costs is to be avoided (though I don’t personally subscribe to the theory that would be totally life-ending for either our own or all species). In order for Russia to complete all of its goals, the Russians must utterly either totally defeat, subdue, and reshape Ukraine – along with all who continue to assist that hapless nation, or Ukraine must be persuaded to capitulate and accept Russia’s demands – in toto. And in order for this to happen quickly, with minimal further damage, which pre-supposes that it will eventually end this way anyway, those nations currently propping up the faltering Ukrainians (mostly US and NATO) must bend the knee to Russia and bow out of the failing conflict while retaining any shred of dignity they can drag with them. There is not much time left to avoid either a minor or major tragedy. I’m not sure it can wait even until January 20 next year.

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