The Russians have long since destroyed any possible legitimate military target in Ukrainian cities. At this point, the Russians are shelling cities that have been reduced to rubble. The only reason to bounce rubble is to kill civilians. Any suggestion that the Russian shelling is merely indiscriminate and not intentionally targeting civilians is now untenable. The Russian target is not the Ukrainian army, it is the civilian population.

This conclusion leads to a question: Is there a line short of the border of a NATO country which the Russians may not cross in their war crimes or NATO will respond with force? Is Russia free to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine? Can Russian use tactical weapons or enhanced radiation (neutron) bombs in Ukraine without a response from NATO? Is Russia free to depopulate Ukraine by any means?

Is there anything short of crossing a NATO border that will result in a NATO military response? If not, the world should never again say "never again."

I understand that national policy should not be made based on emotions but I'm past being dispassionate.

Putin is an international criminal. He committed a crime against peace by his invasion of a non-threatening neighbor. He has committed numerous war crimes by targeting civilians. He is engaging in genocide against the Ukrainian people. But targeting a maternity hospital is simply a bridge too far. Dispassionate decision making be damned. Something has to be done to preserve international law.

If I was in charge, I would give the Russian military an ultimatum to withdraw from Ukraine within 24 hours or the US will intervene in Ukraine to prevent additional war crimes. That intervention could include attacks on any Russian military units in Ukraine and artillery units in Russia that fire on Ukraine.

It's a damned good thing I'm not in charge.

Lawrence O'Donnell and Eugene Robinson were discussing the return of the Cold War and how nuclear powers simply cannot get into a shooting war with each other lest it escalate to a nuclear exchange.

The discussion was about why NATO cannot impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine. However, this will be the argument for why the US must not honor its NATO obligations when Russian invades the Baltic States or Poland.

If Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, he will attack a NATO member. The US must decide soon where the red line is drawn. Is an attack on Latvia crossing the line? How about attacking Poland or Germany?

If your college, high school, or community band wants to play the Ukrainian National Anthem, there is a free pdf of US Army band arrangement.

[link:https://www.acbands.org/ukraine-anthem|

I'm starting tomorrow I'm bugging the director of my community band to play this in our next concert.

TomSlick
Trombone hack