Au Cochonnet Marin

Damn, damn, damn you pesky media. This thousand eyes monster is everywhere, and it is annoyingly scrutinizing everything you do. You cannot anymore fight a  good old-fashioned war like it was done in the past, because everything you do is recorded and made public. There out to be a law against that, don’t you think? It is immoral! Wars you should know, are not made for public consumption… Just for a select few who can afford it.

And the young conscripts thrown into the war don’t show the same enthusiasm as their elders. Many are saying that their hearts are not in it. They say that they were misled, lied to… They don’t want a war with their Slavic brothers. Can you imagine the nerves of these ignorant people?

And the media, the ubiquitous green-eyed monster, is responsible for this state of affairs. These fearless fools will even risk their own lives to capture the gore of the ongoing conflict. Don’t they know that wars are an X-rated business not suitable for all audiences? It is full of blood and destruction and could badly traumatize some sensitive people.

Where the hell is the old-fashion censure to camouflage and embellish all these abominable actions? There are underaged children in the audience for chrissake…

But the pesky media does not want to listen. The public has the right to know they say… Aren’t they aware that “Toutes les vérités ne sont pas bonnes à dire » (not all truths are good to tell)?

 And all these gruesome films and images have a negative effect on patriotic people… These malicious reports could even alter the course of the war and force it to stop. Absolutely unthinkable!

Big Tech companies are also to blame for this. They have developed these incredibly sophisticated devices that can film or photograph anything from a very long distance. Even from space. They have made it too easy for anybody to spy on what ought to remain very secret.

In conclusion…
Thank you magnificent bastards for keeping us clear-eyed and informed about all the evils happening on our fragile little planet. Without your nosiness, some people might be tempted to blow it up.

Keep looking, digging, and pointing your fingers at the warmongers.

Alain

More than ever, today’s conflicts are fought and fed by disinformation. False information, which is intended to mislead friends and foes alike.

The people of Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of the world have been fed widely different stories regarding the war in Ukraine. For Russians, Ukraine and NATO countries are the villains. For NATO countries, Russia is the aggressor and deserves retribution.

We live in a world where all wars will begin as cyberwars… It’s the combination of hacking and massive, well-coordinated disinformation campaigns. Jared Cohen

What Russia, Ukraine, or America are broadcasting to their respective populations deserves scrutiny. I am not convinced that everything we hear in America is nothing but the holy truth; on the other hand, I also believe that anything emanating from Russia is highly suspect.

Following my blog’s publication of 2 small articles regarding the situation in Ukraine, I was surprised by the visceral reaction of one of my Moscow followers. This person thinks, and I am convinced that she is sincere in her beliefs, that Ukraine and NATO provoked this war. She is obviously a patriot, and she cannot be blamed for that, but what she wrote surprised me.

I quote verbatim, warts and all.

 You say “No war “I agree with you in general, but the slogan is not applicable for this situation because the military operation unfortunately is the one way to stop genocide of Russian people in Donetsk and We are for our safety from NATO forces.”

 Genocide, according to the dictionary, is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group. I try my best to stay informed, but I never heard of a Russian genocide in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Yes, there was a real genocide in this area during WWII, and in September 1941, 33,000 Jews were slaughtered within 2 days in Babi Yar. But no genocide in this area since WWII.

“The purposes are 1. to help Russian people suffering from humiliation and discrimination in the west of Ukraine 2. To make Russian borders safety from NATO.”

Yes, disinformation is alive and well, in Russia… and the rest of the world. Truth for many people is what they want to believe.

Alain

Life is full of surprises, and the Fates who determine the course of human life, like to make heroes out of the most unlikely individuals. People like Volodymyr Zelensky.

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve

In war-torn Ukraine, this is what Volodymyr Zelensky (a comedian turned politician) did, despite overwhelming odds. In dire situations, ordinary leaders usually prefer to flee rather than fight, but Zelensky chose to remain and lead the combat against the invaders.

“The United States and Turkey have both reportedly offered Mr. Zelensky an extraction out of Ukraine, but he has refused to leave. The Washington Post quoted Mr. Zelensky as saying: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”

 You cannot help liking a guy like that. In just a few short hours, he became a hero, praised by all the world’s democracies. “Ukrainians are proud of their President” and are galvanized by his resolve and steadfastness. Such a leader inspires his followers and increases their will to fight to the bitter end.

Russia’s commander in chief claims that Zelensky is a “fascist” running a “Nazi” regime. Hardly. The Ukrainian president is Jewish and lost several family members during the Holocaust. It is difficult to imagine that such a man would be a “fascist.”

Unfortunately, heroes tend to have a short lifespan. Despite some losses and some setbacks, the Russian behemoth will probably prevail and Zelensky will be in great danger. But he is a hero precisely because of this; knowing that his life is hanging by a thread and continuing to fight.

Regardless of the outcome of this detestable war, Volodymyr Zelensky deserves world admiration and a special spot in Valhalla.

Alain