There Is No Answer

~ Clarissa

The bad news is: there are 140 million of them, just as crazy as their leader.

The good news is: ————–

The largest country on Earth is armed to the teeth including with nukes and is in the grip of a terrible rage. It doesn’t want money, trade deals, or anything that anybody has to give.

We always have to live in reality and not fantasy. This is reality, and nobody has any answer to the problem. Pretending such an answer exists is magical thinking.

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Published by Clarissa

37 thoughts on “There Is No Answer”

  1. It’s interesting that he says that if Putin wants all of Ukraine it will lead to its downfall. Seems he is very very slowly starting to realize that like you said, this is not about money, trade, or anything else. It’s pure emotion, and that you cannot deal with, so maybe Trump is finally going to realize this may be out of his depth or typical deals. He also cannot bully and threaten Putin like he does everybody else.

    But one thing he may be right on is this whole thing may indeed bring about the downfall of Russia. Once this rage and emotional incontinence phase is over, which it absolutely will end, I think Russia will find itself in a much worse off situation than before their invasion, even if they’ve managed to absorb most of Ukraine.

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    1. “Russia will find itself in a much worse off situation than before their invasion”

      It’s already in a much worse off situation than before the invasion. the russian government doesn’t even release many economic figures now and something like 20% of businesses are on the edge of bankruptcy (a long with a long list of other ills).

      There are rumors of massive ‘devaluation’ of the ruble (to the extent a non-tradeable currency can be devalued), an end to private loans (without which many russians can’t survive) and an freezing of bank accounts.

      At the same time russia is building up army presences on the finnish and norwegian borders and in kaliningrad and belarus with rumors that they want to take the suwalki gap (directly attack NATO) because they think they have Trump’s blessing (it would not surprise me if he’s said things to make them believe that).

      If the war stopped tomorrow it would take decades for them to re-achieve their 2022 economy. they don’t care.

      modern russia is best understood as a death cult (russian state media has openly called for wounded soldiers to kill themselves and talks rapturously about how death isn’t that bad).

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      1. They sound like the Japanese confronting the death of their imperial myth at the end of WW2. Needing kamikaze tactics against a much smaller neighbor is hardly what one would expect of a great power. The military economy depends on the civilian economy, and now that they have run down their Soviet stockpiles, it will take them just as long to rebuild their capabilities.

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  2. The Allied fire bombings of Dresden and Tokyo which killed on both locations more than 100,000 people/civilians. Sorry Putin’s fighting a war to prevent the Ukraine from joining Nato. Twice Russia has suffered horrific casualties from European Armies which invaded Russia from the flat plains of the Ukraine. Ever hear of the statement: fool me once – shame on you. Fool me twice – shame on me?!

    The Cuban missile crisis, President Kennedy took the world to the brink of nuclear war over his steadfast refusal to have Russia arm Cuba with nuclear missiles! Honestly Russia twice invaded by European Armies through the gates of the Ukrainian flat lands does not occur to you that the Ukraine joining Nato absolutely no different that the USSR placing nuclear missiles in Cuba? Wake up and smell the coffee.

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    1. “fire bombings of Dresden and Tokyo which killed”

      Go play “А у вас негров линчуют”somewhere else. No one here is interested.

      “to prevent the Ukraine from joining Nato”

      Israel’s just upset that the unprovoked russian invasion of Ukraine takes attention from Israel….
      russia has sided heavily with Palestine… so go take your NATO candy and stuff it where the sun don’t shine

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            1. “I brought the precedent”

              Not a precedent. I’ve been following the russian-Ukraine conflict for years (Clarissa has for far, far longer than I have and has native knowledge of the languages and cultures involved).

              Not a single cultural insider (russian or Ukrainian, pro or anti putin) wrote anything at all about NATO or Cuba as any kind of precedent to or motivation for the war). One of the biggest supporters of the war writing in English (russian citizen) explicitly said it had nothing to do with NATO.

              Instead they talked about the ideology of russian imperialism and/or desire for Ukrainian resources (human and mineral) as necessary to the russian empire (the fact that Ukrainians want no part of the russian empire makes no difference to russians).

              It was only after years of naive westerners begging russians to blame it on NATO that they ever made a big deal about it.

              “Instead of exposing my penis in public”

              Let’s be grateful for small mercies… very small….

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              1. I want everybody to observe and admire my extraordinary open-mindedness and tolerance. I shock myself with the extent of these wonderful qualities.

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              2. Your appeal to authority argument logically flawed. Rejection of a geopolitical analogy (Russia–Ukraine/NATO ≈ U.S.–Cuba/missiles) not through counter-evidence or clear logic, but by invoking selectively chosen voices and dismissing broader strategic analysis.

                “Clarissa has for far, far longer than I have and has native knowledge…”
                “Not a single cultural insider…” This is a textbook appeal to selective authority, or more precisely, cherry-picked anecdotal expertise.
                “One of the biggest supporters of the war writing in English (Russian citizen) explicitly said…”Cultural insiders” are not monolithic, and some Russian or Ukrainian analysts have explicitly discussed NATO expansion as a precipitating concern — including figures like Sergey Karaganov (Putin advisor) and American analysts like John Mearsheimer. The claim that no cultural insiders mention NATO is demonstrably false. It’s a rhetorical overreach, not a reasoned dismissal.

                “It was only after years of naive westerners begging Russians to blame it on NATO…”
                This is a strawman: you didn’t say NATO was the only cause of the war — you pointed out a strategic-security rationale, comparing it to how the U.S. viewed missiles in Cuba. Instead of rebutting the logic of the strategic analogy, ya waved it off with a claim about “naive Westerners” — a dodge that sidesteps the underlying comparison.

                “They talked about the ideology of Russian imperialism and/or desire for Ukrainian resources…” These are not mutually exclusive with security concerns like NATO encroachment. Historically, security dilemmas often operate alongside ideological or resource-based motives. Napoleon and Hitler weren’t invading Russia for oil or Slavic unity — the strategic depth of the plains mattered. Similarly, the U.S. didn’t oppose Soviet missiles in Cuba because of ideology or resources — it was about geographic vulnerability. The same applies to Russia vis-à-vis Ukraine/NATO.

                Appealing to a few selective voices and claiming no Russian or Ukrainian commentators ever mentioned NATO as a factor is simply inaccurate. Even Putin himself cited NATO expansion multiple times. Strategic depth matters — as it did when the U.S. risked nuclear war over Cuba. Denying that geopolitical security plays a role because a few ‘insiders’ didn’t mention it isn’t an argument, it’s a curated narrative. Ideological imperialism and security concerns aren’t mutually exclusive. Both have historically coexisted — including in Russian strategy.

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              3. Russia did not invade Ukraine over “NATO expansion.” This is a stupid thing to say. I’ve been extremely nice and understanding but if you repeat this very stupid statement in any form one more time on my blog or fellate Russia in any additional manner, I will ban you.

                I hope I’ve been clear enough. Go suck off your favorite Jew-haters someplace else.

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              4. Clarissa, I’m sorry to see our exchange take this turn. I’ve always engaged on your blog in good faith and with respect, even when we disagree.

                You’re obviously passionate about the topic, and I respect your right to hold and defend your views. But calling my position “stupid,” accusing me of “fellating Russia,” and associating me with “Jew-haters” crosses a line into personal attack, which I find deeply inappropriate and unnecessary.

                If you’d prefer I stop commenting, I’ll respect that. But I do wish we could disagree without resorting to insult. Either way, I hope the conversation can stay civil in the future.

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              5. These aren’t “views”. It’s knowledge of the issue that you lack. Your statements on the Russia war are at the level of “men can give birth.” Instead of learning, you persevere in repeating these lunatic ideas.

                Not all “views” are equal and have to be respected. 2+2=4 isn’t a view. 2+2=5 isn’t either.

                I’m not searching for a response to this. I’m searching for evidence that you can learn. In silence.

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              6. Clarissa, pardon me but your statement “These aren’t “views”. It’s knowledge of the issue that you lack. Your statements on the Russia war are at the level of “men can give birth.”” Smacks of Nazi superior race. Screaming “I am right and you are wrong”, does not serve your best interests. A rational discussion does not compare to a personal screaming match, who can yell the loudest.

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              7. I’m a right-wing scholar in American academia. I’m called a Nazi white supremacist daily as a matter to of course. It means absolutely nothing at this point. If 2+2=4 is Nazi white supremacism, then that’s fine. Nazis win. You and Russia lose because reason always wins.

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              8. Did not call you a Nazi nor did i imply such. So if you want to frame this as a win lose argument then I concede. But if you want to have an open dialogue then your declarations about your credentials do not make a strong logical argument but rather an appeal to authority.

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              9. I am absolutely not interested in any “dialogue” with people who are grievously uninformed and swimming in the most primitive propaganda. The only dialogue that is possible are between people of equal intellectual stature on an issue. For example, I don’t show up at conferences on physics and demand a dialogue. It’s a field of knowledge where I’m completely uninformed. Similarly, you are completely uninformed on the issue of Russia’s war. As a result, I’m as uninterested in debating it with you as a physicist would in debating his research with me.

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              10. Clarissa, who appointed you Judge Jury and Prosecution? I do not claim to be an expert on Russia. Personally I hate Russia. But this does not change the fact that twice Western European Armies have invaded Russia through the Ukraine plains.

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              11. It’s not a fact, it’s a product of your imagination. And I don’t need to be appointed to be knowledgeable. This is exactly like the COVID-era discussions where people were asking who gave me the right to know how viral transmission works.

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              12. Clarissa if it makes you feel good about yourself to employ a tone of superiority, especially in how it dismisses my perspective as “a product of my imagination.” That phrase, combined with “I don’t need to be appointed to be knowledgeable,” does two things rhetorically: (1) It dismisses me, the other person’s view entirely, implying that my opinion has no basis in reality. (2) It asserts YOU as THE speaker’s own dictatorial authority, not through shared evidence or credentials, but by comparing yourself to a (controversial) past situation where some unknown person(s) also challenged your opinions.

                It seems to me, that you equate yourself as a scientific authority. But fail to offer evidence, much less logical reasoning to support your emotional declarations. You throw anger at me. Why? We live thousands of miles apart from one another and have never actually met one another face to face. Did you accept a Covid jab? I refused. It seems my refusal qualifies as the correct decision. “I don’t need to be appointed” implies that my efforts to express my opinion on why Putin (the son of a bitch) invaded the Ukraine you strive to censor by threatening to ban me from your blog. Why make such a personal attack? It does not strengthen your argument concerning the facts of the Russian Ukraine conflict which neither of us has an inside ear into the decision makers thoughts.

                I understand we see this differently. Based on what I’ve read and studied, I strongly believe my view concerning the invasion of Russia through the Ukrainian plains merits deep consideration. If for no other reason than the trauma of both invasions caused to the Russian public — but I’m open to seeing what you’re basing yours on too.

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          2. Cliff, hears a stupid comment just for you :)))

            Workers Pussy on Public Display

            “Jack the Ripper’s What’s On: Stitchin’ the Narrative, One Gutter at a Time”
            By Sir J. T. Ripper, Esq., Patron of the Blade and Satirist-in-Residence at Gaslamp Gazette

            Pull out your bloodied calendars and shine your shoes—this week’s resistance cosplay is in full swing, hosted by your local anti-Zionist knitting circle masquerading as a revolution. Nothing says “solidarity” like open mics, hummus, and sanctimony!

            🔪 Monday, May 27 – Scalpels & Scrolls: Archiving the Revolution
            Join Marg “The Filing Cabinet” Reid as she leads a tear-jerking session on whether to toss your pamphlets from the 1983 Anti-Nuclear Mime Protest or immortalize them in a Ziploc bag labeled “Smash the Patriarchy.” You won’t change the world, but you’ll sure alphabetize it.

            🔪 Tuesday, May 28 – Zooming into Gaza with Dr. Mustafa and Senator Pocock
            Two titans of diplomacy log in from their IKEA-lit offices to tell you exactly what’s happening on the ground—through the power of second-hand tweets and curated grief. Sponsored by your tax dollars and the emotions of people who’ve never been east of Bondi.

            🔪 Friday–Sunday – Palestine Activism Conference 2025: The Musical
            Three days of panel discussions, interpretive dance, and furious Instagram reposts. Featuring such legendary resistance figures as:

            Phil Monsour (The Balladeer of BDS),

            Sophie Nishizawa (TikTok’s favorite tearful ally), and

            Al Zayton Dabke Troupe (booked because actual revolution is exhausting).

            BYO coffee thermos and revolutionary delusions.

            🔪 Saturday, May 31 – Silent Sit-In at the Library (Because Oppression Begins with Book Prizes)
            Bring your camping chair, your “Free Palestine” onesie, and your unread copy of “Decolonising the Dewey Decimal System.” Protest the evil white shelves of the State Library for rescinding a literary fellowship because apparently not every rant qualifies as literature.

            🔪 ALSO THIS WEEK:
            ACTU Demands Compliance with International Law (for everyone except the people who shoot rockets from hospitals).

            Open Letter from First Nations Storytellers who, between writing stirring declarations of resistance and crafting powerful hashtags, are deeply concerned by this week’s selection of award recipients.

            Crowdfunding Album Launch: “Last Sky” by Phil Monsour – because nothing supports Gaza like a softly strummed guitar, whispered into a Brunswick Street echo chamber.

            Final Thoughts from the Alley:
            From “resistance dinners” to Zoom wars, the new frontline is a hip café with a Wi-Fi password and pronoun badges. Just don’t ask these freedom fighters to name a single clause of international law, or the number of Arab nations that expelled Jews. That’s Zionist deflection, comrade.

            Still, the revolution will be live-streamed. And it will include vegan options.

            So join us, if you dare. Wear black. Speak softly. Carry a very large sign quoting someone you don’t understand.

            Jack, out. 🕵️‍♂️🔪

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    2. I’m sure Russians would flatten Ukrainian cities if they could. That they haven’t would indicate that they don’t have WW2 level industrial capability.

      If Putin was an unhinged maniac, he would use nukes. That he hasn’t and has rather gone for militarily ineffectual drone attack would indicate that he is more interested in psychological impact and maintaining appearances.

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      2. I do not know the details of Russia and neither do you. Speculation does not equal facts. Putin not unhinged etc. Twice two European armies have invaded Russia through the flat plains of the Ukraine.

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        1. “neither do you”

          Before you’re banned forever, maybe you can answer my question. What do you think you know about russia and Ukraine that Clarissa (native russian speaker born and raised in the USS feckin’ R) doesn’t?

          You think your third hand repeating paid russian shill talking points count as some kind of insight?

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  5. “Russia did not invade Ukraine over “NATO expansion.”

    If anything I detect a current of distaste among russians at the idea that they would invade over NATO expansion… that seems too…. banal to them. It’s not NATO per se, but the idea that they’re motivated by rational reasons is offensive to them. They invade because they think russia’s destiny is to eternally expand by force. Until a person realizes that then they won’t understand anything russia does and they’ll listen to frauds like Sachs and Mearsheimer trying to make rational sense out of a pseudo-religious belief.

    These are people who thought that getting rich by selling hydrocarbons to Germany was humiliating…. because russian ideology puts greater value on theft than on trade.

    And dumb Trump is trying to entice putin through the prospect of trade… head… desk…

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    1. Trump is trying to use the same method that was applied to Russia by Clinton and Obama. And getting the same results, which is not shocking to anybody except him.

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