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Our hearts are breaking in this house as we watch helplessly while a bully destroys an innocent country. We watch despondently while the world’s leaders attempt to stop the tyrant from wrecking a sovereign country filled with normal people, like you and me. We watch while the bully’s military destroys decades of progress toward building a humane democratic society. We watch aghast as some in America praise the actions of a thug on the world stage instead of joining the country and the world in condemnation of the atrocity unfolding before our eyes. We watch through tear filled eyes as family members mourn the loss of their homes and family members.
The dictator knows the world will not, cannot, respond militarily to the invasion of Ukraine due to the real possibility of China and Iran joining the bully on the battlefield. Putin knows the world will not respond militarily due to the possibility of a nuclear response. He is showing signs of being lunatic enough to use his nukes making this a very real possibility. So, what is the world to do?
With a military response off the table the world has other options at its disposal. I hope the world uses every one of them to hurt the murderer in every way possible before he moves on into other countries. Here are some I can think of quickly.
With the Russian action against Ukraine the Russian leadership has forfeited their standing in the world order. The world no longer owes Russia any respect and can and must say to Russia what the Ukrainians in their last moments facing superior forces declared, ‘Russia go f*** yourself.’ The world is beginning to do just that announcing sanctions on Russia and its leadership. This is an obvious step designed to hurt the bully economically.
More can be done with the sanctions. Any asset the Russians own outside of the country must be taken from them. The assets can be used to pay debts the Russians owe. Any country with debt to the Russians can now cancel that debt. Nothing, associated with Russia must be left for Russia to procure. The loss of these resources is language the thug understands.
The world must stop doing business with Russia (to include buying Russian vodka). To make this action viable the world’s countries must work together to fill the gaps left in energy and agricultural resources currently supplied by Russia. Frozen Russian assets can be used to help make this happen. The world has plenty of resources for this to work and must do so. This is a perfect time to invest the Russian assets in renewable energy resources. Losing income will hit the tyrant where it hurts.
The world’s countries must reduce the Russian diplomatic personnel in their countries and in Russia. Losing face around the world will hurt the bully a little bit.
The United Nations must remove Russia from the Security Council and remove their voting rights in the General Assembly. With the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has broken The United Nations Charter and must have no voice in world affairs until such time as Russia is willing to live with the rest of the world. This will make the bully angry, but it will hurt his ego.
The world’s people must stop traveling to Russia. Slashing the Russian tourism dollars ought to hurt.
In sports some countries already have refused to compete with Russia. The world needs to exclude Russia from all sporting events including and especially The Olympics. This will hurt the intimidator a great deal.
All these actions and probably others must be set in motion to stop the dictator. In the meantime, our hearts are breaking for the people of Ukraine who are the current target of the bully’s cruel actions.
See you next time.