Here’s a supposition that gains in plausibility with almost every new post from PG V: he’s on the payroll of Bonner Private Research. He reminds me of the fellow who wore a ratty sweater while greeting guests to his upscale party, thereby essentially guaranteeing that no guest would be the worst-dressed person at the bash. What better way to put your guests at ease right out of the blocks? So PG V’s importunate presence should reassure the other subscribers here that no matter what they post they’ll run little risk of being judged more tiresome, self-centered, obtuse, or vulgar than is our self-proclaimed “warrior.” Not an inconsequential boost for the more diffident among us!
PG: No, I'm actually a little older than that. But I appreciate the question since you will never find out my real age. You can keep believing what you believe.
“Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what is wrong. . . . The truly civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant, in this field as in all others. His culture is based on ‘I am not too sure.’”
And this from Freddie Nietzsche, a thinker much admired by Mencken:
“A very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's convictions!”
Zelenskyy a rat? When the Russians were threatening Kyiv, did he load up with gold bars and flee the country on the plane that Biden offered? No, he stayed put at great personal risk, with crack Russian hit squads searching the city to blow him away. To me, this is not the behavior of a "rat". My two cents...
Zelensky will win even if Ukraine falls in the hands of it's former owners. He'll collect the billions squirreled away from NATO and USA and head to the Greek Isles or some other warm location. He'll be jet setting with the billionaires.
On another note how much carbon has been released into the atmosphere during the Ukrainian war?
Now you are talking... those missiles, by all parties seem to emit a lot of pollutants into the atmosphere. Talk about crimes against (the whole of) humanity
These two sentences highlighted to me that war in the end is eventually a losing proposition for those that continue to use it as a means to their end. I’ve always believed “peace through strength” as being a truth we could hold on to. Could it be a misnomer?
“That there are no accidents in war is surely incorrect too. Military history is full of them. In almost every battle, the fog of war is thick with mistakes, lies and accidents.”
“Take out the accidents, mistakes and miscalculations and not much military history would remain.”
Thanks Bill for bringing this history lesson to our attention’s.
No. The charge of the light brigade was written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. I have a copy of his poems won by my maternal Grandfather from King William College on the Isle of Man for first in modern languages.
While we’re on the subject of war, I wonder who is going to foot the bill for rebuilding the Ukraine. What would be the cost if US and NATO hadn’t soaked billions of military aide to the Ukraine?
The fog of war will give you eye strain is you look long enough. But, not to worry, AI now has been found to have political bias. No need to guess where this leads. Just sayin'
There was a movie back in the 60s, Our Man Flint, about a group of elitists who sought to control the world through climate change. I find it amazing that not too many years later (57), we should find ourselves in the real world, dealing with a group of elitists that seek to control the world through climate change.
First time commenting: Humans make a lot of mistakes. History judges. If your cause is just then even history is kind to you. And if you voluntarily sacrifice yourself to the good of others then you are a martyr. Unfortunately, the nobility of sacrifice is judged differently, but the universal truth remains. Therefore the only action considered just is that performed in one's duty. Unfortunately, duty can be enforced against one's will. Thus being human can be a mistake in itself.
Bill, I enjoyed your historical anecdotes but I did not found in your writing any argument why we have to support the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Any aggression has no justification and should be stopped. Otherwise, Putin's next step will be an annexation of the Baltic republics that are NATO members (the Russian propaganda openly says this), and if NATO is coward enough , swallows this, and do not invoke Article 5 of defense of a NATO member, this would be the end of NATO. It will trigger an annexation of Taiwan, and actually ends the World as we know it. There are a lot of people in the West now who are ready for a concession to the Putin's aggression (and reading your message, I suspect that you are one of them) . Since your post is mostly historical, let me please also use an historical example. The cowardice Munich accord with Hitler and failure to stop his aggression against Czechoslovakia since the very beginning triggered the WW2 and millions dead. I am sure that Europe in 30s also had a lot of people who preferred to sacrifice Czechoslovakia and had a lot of convincing arguments in favor of this . The Russian Gulag's argument "let you die today but I will die tomorrow" turns out to be quite convincing.
I don't know much about Putin, but with Zelenskyy I smell a rat.
Here’s a supposition that gains in plausibility with almost every new post from PG V: he’s on the payroll of Bonner Private Research. He reminds me of the fellow who wore a ratty sweater while greeting guests to his upscale party, thereby essentially guaranteeing that no guest would be the worst-dressed person at the bash. What better way to put your guests at ease right out of the blocks? So PG V’s importunate presence should reassure the other subscribers here that no matter what they post they’ll run little risk of being judged more tiresome, self-centered, obtuse, or vulgar than is our self-proclaimed “warrior.” Not an inconsequential boost for the more diffident among us!
Very clever, BPR!
You mean PG V is like a CASINO SHILL at the craps table but on BPR payroll?
😂
J/K PG V, I always enjoy reading your posts and replies. 😃
I remember one time PG V told someone here “You and I, we are done” “seek help!”
Hahaha that was hilarious!
I look forward to PG V’s input every post
Happy Birthday Dorothy!
Like George Burns (also his birthday today, 1/20/1896) 😃, used to say:
“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”
I always play nice, because I’m usually happy. 😂
ES: Thank you! Fortunately, some of my relatives live in other states which for them is a good place to be. Have a great day.
Feliz cumpleaños 👏👏👏🎊🎁🎈🎂
PG: No, I'm actually a little older than that. But I appreciate the question since you will never find out my real age. You can keep believing what you believe.
Alan. LOL!!
This from H. L. Mencken:
“Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The more uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what is right and what is wrong. . . . The truly civilized man is always skeptical and tolerant, in this field as in all others. His culture is based on ‘I am not too sure.’”
And this from Freddie Nietzsche, a thinker much admired by Mencken:
“A very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's convictions!”
Zelenskyy a rat? When the Russians were threatening Kyiv, did he load up with gold bars and flee the country on the plane that Biden offered? No, he stayed put at great personal risk, with crack Russian hit squads searching the city to blow him away. To me, this is not the behavior of a "rat". My two cents...
and here’s more evidence
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/pislya-zavershennya-vijni-amerikanskij-biznes-mozhe-stati-lo-80561
Zelensky will win even if Ukraine falls in the hands of it's former owners. He'll collect the billions squirreled away from NATO and USA and head to the Greek Isles or some other warm location. He'll be jet setting with the billionaires.
On another note how much carbon has been released into the atmosphere during the Ukrainian war?
Now you are talking... those missiles, by all parties seem to emit a lot of pollutants into the atmosphere. Talk about crimes against (the whole of) humanity
Love the military history “out takes”. Makes for an interesting read.
And mankind has been one accident after another since the garden of eden.
Really pathetic with little improvement.
Krugman is a dick. Always has been!
Hi Donald -
I second the penis assessment...
These two sentences highlighted to me that war in the end is eventually a losing proposition for those that continue to use it as a means to their end. I’ve always believed “peace through strength” as being a truth we could hold on to. Could it be a misnomer?
“That there are no accidents in war is surely incorrect too. Military history is full of them. In almost every battle, the fog of war is thick with mistakes, lies and accidents.”
“Take out the accidents, mistakes and miscalculations and not much military history would remain.”
Thanks Bill for bringing this history lesson to our attention’s.
I love your historic references...you impart a world of knowledge. I learn a lot just reading your column everyday.
Sweet music to my ears Bill, thank you for setting the record straight, once again, as always! 😃
I'm back in the U.S.S.R
You don't know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the U.S
Back in the U.S
Back in the U.S.S.R
Well
The Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
That Georgia's always on
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my mind
(Beatles, 1968)
Wooo!
The US needs to add 100,000 pounds of cheese to the Ukraine package for that tunnel rat bastard Zelenskyy!
Hahaha!
Roman Putin will replace Vladimir Putin and lead Russia on or after next year.
“Putinism”will remain and Roman will stay the course until the end of time, literally, as we know it. 😂
Do you know most Russians?
Tennyson wrote "Charge of the Light Brigade" not Kipling...
In ONE NIGHT in March of 1945, over 100,000 Japanese civilians were killed in a firebomb raid on Tokyo...
Hi Frank -
Now do Dresden, Hamburg, London and Coventry - just to name a few.
War IS HELL, especially once the antagonists decide that civilians are fair game...
No. The charge of the light brigade was written by Alfred Lord Tennyson. I have a copy of his poems won by my maternal Grandfather from King William College on the Isle of Man for first in modern languages.
Bill, in one of yesterdays posts you stated I (we) will tell you tomorrow why we are here, Normandy,
the reason is not stated in this post. Is there more coming???????
Ralph W.
Bill's memory ain't what it used to be-LOL.
While we’re on the subject of war, I wonder who is going to foot the bill for rebuilding the Ukraine. What would be the cost if US and NATO hadn’t soaked billions of military aide to the Ukraine?
The fog of war will give you eye strain is you look long enough. But, not to worry, AI now has been found to have political bias. No need to guess where this leads. Just sayin'
Don Harrell
LOL!!!!
A great piece. I fear much pushback you will get from readers about these opinions on Ukraine, Love it! 👏🏻
There was a movie back in the 60s, Our Man Flint, about a group of elitists who sought to control the world through climate change. I find it amazing that not too many years later (57), we should find ourselves in the real world, dealing with a group of elitists that seek to control the world through climate change.
Thanks for sharing, sometimes one wonders if the guys are inspired by movies when they conspire to control the world
First time commenting: Humans make a lot of mistakes. History judges. If your cause is just then even history is kind to you. And if you voluntarily sacrifice yourself to the good of others then you are a martyr. Unfortunately, the nobility of sacrifice is judged differently, but the universal truth remains. Therefore the only action considered just is that performed in one's duty. Unfortunately, duty can be enforced against one's will. Thus being human can be a mistake in itself.
Bill, I enjoyed your historical anecdotes but I did not found in your writing any argument why we have to support the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Any aggression has no justification and should be stopped. Otherwise, Putin's next step will be an annexation of the Baltic republics that are NATO members (the Russian propaganda openly says this), and if NATO is coward enough , swallows this, and do not invoke Article 5 of defense of a NATO member, this would be the end of NATO. It will trigger an annexation of Taiwan, and actually ends the World as we know it. There are a lot of people in the West now who are ready for a concession to the Putin's aggression (and reading your message, I suspect that you are one of them) . Since your post is mostly historical, let me please also use an historical example. The cowardice Munich accord with Hitler and failure to stop his aggression against Czechoslovakia since the very beginning triggered the WW2 and millions dead. I am sure that Europe in 30s also had a lot of people who preferred to sacrifice Czechoslovakia and had a lot of convincing arguments in favor of this . The Russian Gulag's argument "let you die today but I will die tomorrow" turns out to be quite convincing.
Hi Bill,
It was not Kipling but Tennyson who wrote, Into the Valley of Death Rode the 600.
You’re Forgiven
Best Regards, Robert
Tennyson, not Kipling