101 Comments

My dad wrote this in a text to me March of 2022 when I was asking him WTH was really going on. No, we have no ties to Russia, no one I know personally has ever been there, the closest I’ve ever gotten to financial anything related to Russia is Russian hackers trying to steal my money online, and we are racially mutts but no Russian. Long story but my dad was a formalist and is a human encyclopedia - without the modern bias and this was a casual text 😂:

“Hi. A little history is in order. First, Stalin defeated Hitler. Eighty percent of German casualties were on the Eastern front. The success of the D-Day Normandy landings were important in keeping Stalin from over-running Western Europe, which he certainly would have done had they failed.

Stalin was acutely aware that in 1814, Czar Alexander I, after forcing Napoleon out of Russia, pursued him to Paris. The Napoleonic wars ended with Russian cavalry in Paris. Stalin wanted to emulate him, spreading the Communist revolution to the Atlantic. NATO was formed after Stalin’s death In 1953 but with Stalin’s aspirations still in the air. It was a defensive pact — a shield against Soviet expansionism. After the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO changed. Instead of a shield to protect Western Europe, it became a sword aimed at the Russians.

During negotiations prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, James Baker, Bush I’s Secretary of State, promised Gorbachev three times that NATO would not move “one inch” to the East. Der Spegiel, the German magazine, wrote an article early this month saying the Germans promised Gorbachev the same thing. In 1996, NATO began accepting former Eastern Bloc countries into alliance.

The last to be accepted were the Baltic states. Although formerly part of Russia, they are heavily Germanic from virtue of their creation by the Teutonic Knights in the late Middle Ages. Ukraine and Belorussia are different. Both are ethnically Slavic, the same as the Russians. Ukraine was an integral part of Russia for hundreds of years. What we are seeing in Ukraine today is a civil war. The United States might have played a productive role in peace mediations and possibly prevented the war. The neocons in charge of policy today have nixed that. I think the war will end in partition and bitter feelings all around. Our policy here is comprehensively incomprehensible. Sad.”

Expand full comment

John Mearsheimer also says this. He’s my favorite foreign affairs analyst. Very sane and intelligent. He has a lot on YouTube about Ukraine and also now about the Middle East and Israel. Some very good interviews with Lex Fridman on YT.

“The most important video on Ukraine.” (7 min)

John Anderson interviews Prof. John Mearsheimer. Jan 10, 2024

https://youtu.be/emD1cN2xEz4?si=Q1g9PLmrAz0qQ2wP

Expand full comment

Mearsheimer’s video lecture from Chicago is fascinating

Expand full comment

I learned a lot of Russia from Professor Michael Rossi of Rutgers

https://youtube.com/@MichaelRossiPoliSci?si=VpaTG_j0_rBQDPrY

Expand full comment

Thanks. I’ve never heard of him. I’ll check it out.

Expand full comment

Sorry - former journalist. Not “formalist”. I don’t know what that means, but autocorrect likes it. Sorry 🤦‍♀️

Expand full comment

Tap the 3 dots on the right to edit but you have to be in the browser. When you get the email of the latest article it will say on the top right side “View in browser” If you don’t get the emails go to the settings on your account and turn email on.

Expand full comment

Thank you. I worry about editing though…. Even though I’m not changing the content.

I’ve posted this in probably half a dozen comments back to March 2022 - I really wish I knew how to find them. I thought it interesting my dad recognized it as a civil war from the start and Putin sees it that way. I wouldn’t have come to the conclusion on my own.

Expand full comment

Why not make a copy of it and save it to your notes and then edit this one to make sure it works. It will though. I do it often and have never had a problem with it.

Expand full comment

Thanks for this clarity

Expand full comment

Your father is a very wise and observant man. From our brief interactions here on SS, I'd say the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Expand full comment

That’s very kind. Thank you. In reality my dad has forgotten more about human history than I’ll probably ever know, but he certainly engrained in me to seek the truth and see the world as it actually is over seeking confirmation of my own flawed assumptions. I fall short of that goal at times, but it is my goal.

Expand full comment

My Hungarian Grandmother (my Grand Uncle was in the Austro-Hungarian army) told me, "Never trust a Russian".

Expand full comment
Comment removed
Feb 9
Comment removed
Expand full comment

Look at you "Mr Raven"! LOL! What a foodking clown. You're a joke and a see you type all the time ... stupid old loser that thinks they are smarter than everyone else. Probably a closeted homosexual pedo.

Expand full comment

Half way through. - I can’t imagine Joe Biden sitting down and doing an interview like this. Putin comes across so much more articulate and yes, intelligent, than Joe it’s embarrassing.

Thank you Tucker

Expand full comment

Just finished. One for the history books, in more ways than one.

Question: Who would you rather have a beer with, Biden or Putin?

Expand full comment

Who would you trust more, Biden or Putin? Based I what I know of our ruling class and their behavior against Putin and Russia and against Trump and his supporters I’d go with Putin without a doubt plus Putin is appalled by Woke ideology which he considers insane and poisonous. I totally agree with him on that.

Expand full comment

Biden and his cohorts have already done more damage to America than Putin could ever do. Or ever intends to ever do.

Expand full comment

Russia uses Wokeness as a weapon. Its not tin foil hat talk. They learned it from the Germans. Who do you think got Lenin in power? The Kaiser.

Expand full comment

In what way does Russia use Woke as a weapon? Putin hates it and will not allow it in Russia.

Expand full comment

Yes he exports it. He thinks it damages societies ... get it?

Expand full comment

No. That’s not at all true. Woke started in American universities with academics who got the basics from Foucault. The left basically traded class for race. Still sees the world as divided between oppressors vs oppressed but now labels white people as the oppressors of “people of color” in general and blacks in particular. That’s what “systemic racism” is all about. Has nothing to do with Russia or Germany.

Michel Foucault talking about the influence academia has on politics.

“Cynical Theories- Que Sera Sera.” (2 min)

Michael Nayna. July 11, 2020

https://youtu.be/4gdWHm1oR5k

Expand full comment
Comment removed
Feb 9
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Comment removed
Feb 9
Comment removed
Expand full comment

Do you realize Russia is allied with Iran you foodking idiot. You know the Death to America people. You're a fool.

Expand full comment

Neither of them. But if I had to choose, Putin, if only because in the other hand would be a snifter of Smirnoff

Expand full comment

I like Putin. He’s a dictator but then so is our ruling class which despises us and wants to grind us into the dirt in order to “Save Democracy in America!!!” I consider them insane and totally distrust them. I think they’ve done immense damage to this country with their open borders, dumbing down our schools, demonizing “Whiteness!” and waging war on meritocracy to destroy it and replace it with “Equity” aka Equal Outcomes.

Expand full comment

Seva, I think Hur’s report is the news of the day, and not Tucker’s interview of Putin.

NBC gave this report, which tells me MSM has turned. Biden came out swinging with a fight back response tonight, but then promptly messed up Egyptian & Mexican Presidents, making the report all the more damaging. I think Joe will now be replaced, but it may take until Convention? This is kind of report that can make those on fence think about voting for a 25th Amendment removal…

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/-nightmare-special-counsels-assessment-bidens-mental-fitness-triggers-rcna137975

Expand full comment

Another major mess we’re in and all because the democrats are such deranged fanatics. This is just not working at all.

Expand full comment

America's enemies laugh at us and Biden. They say "HA HA! We made those stupid Americans select a senile old fool."

Expand full comment

IMO Tucker did something very remarkable. Also, Pres. Putin did something even more remarkable, gave clarity to his views. I hope this will open more pathways as this is real journalism. Not the propaganda that our corporate media outlets control. I want more… thank you Sasha!

Expand full comment

Agreed. THIS is THE WAY.

Expand full comment

I also think that Putin was surprised by many of Tucker's questions, but I give him credit for answering all of them.

I learned a lot tonight, and will be mulling over this for quite some time.

Expand full comment

Glen Greenwald, “System Update” on Rumble @4pm PST, is reviewing the Tucker interview. It will be very good.

Expand full comment

Oh dang that'll be good.

Expand full comment

Here's the Rumble link. It's odd but you have to jump ahead to minute 11 before it actually begins:

https://rumble.com/v4c923r-system-update-show-226.html

Expand full comment

Glenn talked about that and said if you download the rumble app you won’t get that but I have the app and still get it.

Expand full comment

I think this interview is fascinating!

Expand full comment

This is an example of why I just subscribed to Sasha!

Expand full comment

Great, Sasha! You Tube just killed, a moment ago, Russian and German chanels conducting transmission.

Expand full comment

Just sad...

Expand full comment

YT is not airing it? Is this what u mean?

Expand full comment

The American people do not want this flippin’ war. It has become, at least in our minds, our biggest national export… which only brings death.

Expand full comment

I love what you do Sasha..Keep it up!

Expand full comment

Putin again demonstrates that Russians take their history seriously which is more than I can say for Americans.

Expand full comment

Russians embrace their history and their schools teach it. American schools distort and debase our history, teaching our young to hate their nation and those who fought to defend it.

Who will still be around 50 years from now? Or even 25?

Expand full comment

Well Nazi means something to the Russian. For us in the west, fortunately, Nazi are incel basement dwell jokes like PG Wodehouse's character Spode and his Black Shorts. Maybe to Russians like Putin old school hard nose KGB true believer looks at the 'N' in Nazi. Putin sounds like an "One Worlder" the opposite of a nationalist. While in the west neo-Nazis are a sad joke. But America is the sole super "N"ation state and you cannot have a One World One Nation (No Nation) utopia as long as there is an America.

Expand full comment

This was so interesting. Tucker was brave, respectful and diplomatic. Putin was firm in his views and respectful as well. I thought it courageous of Tucker to personally appeal to Putin for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was charged with espionage and currently jailed in Russia. Thank you for posting Sasha.

Expand full comment

So Tucker is the modern day Dennis Rodman. Sounds about right. Just wondering why Tucker didn't ask Putin why he's bombing the crap out of civilians in Ukraine, or why his political adversaries keep falling out of the windows of tall buildings.

Expand full comment

Amazing! Biden, who stumbles up stairs, is no match for Putin. Biden couldn’t even stay awake for an hour let alone be interviewed for 2 hours.

Expand full comment

Biden is apparently so non compos mentis that he cannot be held legally responsible for stealing and illegally storing classified documents in the trunk of his 'vette. While Trump (and Putin) are threats to American freedom and democracy.

"Hey Joe, where did you leave the nuclear football?"

"I can't remember. What time is kick-off?"

Expand full comment

"What a coup for Mr. Tucker" Vladimir Putin is an extremely intelligent and perceptive politicia. . Old Joe it's like comparing Einstein with Shemp of The Three Stooges. I trust Vlad more than I trust the Delaware Dummy. Putin says the U.S. govt. controls the mainstream media and that is true. The war in Ukraine has been a disaster for America and the west, it could have been halted on at least two occasions, the last one being scutlled by bellowing Brit Boris, you know the man who still thinks Britannia rules but actually they have become a decrepit bulldog.

Expand full comment

Most left leaning publications will likely take issue with Tucker not 'pushing back' enough against some of Putin's positions. Personally, I was pleased with Tucker broaching 3 specific subjects:

1. Asking Putin whether Austria had same rights to Western Ukraine territory as Russia claims. Tucker snuck this in following Putin recounting his early adulthood road trip through West Ukraine and seeing culture/costume of Austrians, from that former empire still holding/occupying those lands.

2. Asking Putin whether his Eastern Orthodox Christianity played on his conscious as it related to war and conflict. Putin in his historical diatribe had brought up the 'baptism' of Russia in year 988AD (Prince Vladamir)

3. Asking Putin if Tucker could take back home with him, 32-year-old imprisoned Wall Street Journal correspondent, Evan Gershkovich. Tucker pressed in the point that this kid is not on the same level as professional spies and appealed to Putin goodwill. At a minimum, Tucker put Evan back into the spotlight and that is a good thing

Expand full comment

Thank you Sasha for keeping us all in the loop.

Expand full comment