What's more, Bob, we are starting to see significant internal (Russian) resistance to Putin's madness, with many brave Russians demonstrating in the streets, despite the very obvious threat to them from the FSB and Russian police units. Furthermore, there are reports starting to trickle out of Ukraine that Russian soldiers who have been taken captive are admitting that they are themselves not fully committed to not fighting a war with Ukraine!

Here in the US, among my own confreres, there are some who have investigated the possibility of going to Ukraine as part of an 'International Brigade' (somewhat along the lines of the Spanish Civil War International Brigade). One of them, an ex USAF fighter pilot who is now a commercial ATP 'left-seater' (Captain) says 'just give me a fighter aircraft...' (and he means it!).

I suspect that, given all the extreme outrage expressed by people on both sides of our highly polarised political spectrum, and as tragic as all this is, it may well help draw us back together as a nation and help heal some massive internal schisms! [God willing, eh?]

Cheers, K2