The Present Mirrors the Past

I don't usually get into politics in my work in Healthcare. There is very little relaxation and mental healing to be had in such content unless something has come to a positive end. After watching the live stream on YouTube of the meeting between Zelenski and our President, though, I was reminded of one of the most incredible segments of American history. The War Between the States began in a man's back yard and ended in his living room, and contained some of the most improbable tactical successes in modern warfare. https://civilwartalk.com/threads/a-bluff-beats-a-streight-the-surrender-at-cedar-bluff.109526/ Is a great place to read about what happened in 1863 between Nathan Bedford Forrest and Colonel Abel Streight.

Supplied with a greater military force but using mules instead of horses (imagine how noisy that was in the morning), Streight was already at a disadvantage of his own making. His force was 3x larger than Forrests (Forrest and his boys seldom had a numbers advantage), but it was impossible to hide their position. After three days of fighting, and a severe emasculation of their own brewing, Streight received a letter of credence from Forrest demanding his immediate surrender to "prevent the further effusion of blood". Without much ado, Streight threw in his winning hand and surrendered because he had no idea that he had the upper hand. Forrest was just that good tactically. He (forrest) is one of the historic figures that excites me the most.

Fast forward to the meeting today between Trump and Zelenski.

Zelenski has the support of the EU, some of the biggest bleeding hearts in the US, and even some of Canada and some of the Russian people. He has SO MUCH verbal and financial support, but he can't keep from being a stubborn donkey who doesn't do its job for the sake of its country. Like Forrest, Trump kept his hand close, used his resources well and kept his guns loaded because he KNEW that he had the tactical advantage. The eyes of the world were on the WHOLE situation while Trump reminded Zelenski that he was incapable of winning the war without learning some diplomacy. Trump praised the valor of the men and women of Ukraine, but clearly did not plan on wasting love on a dimwitted Zelenski if no compromise was going to be made to do what is necessary for peace.

I won't choose sides because the only position with the US toward Ukraine should be a financial one. Objectively, though, I will express the opinion that Russia allowed Ukraine to have independence less than 30 years ago. Russians CIVILIANS have been murdered and tortured since 2014 in the Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine, to the horror of Russians and Ukranians alike (and the rest of the world). And in the state of democratic infancy, Ukraine is unable to conduct elections for a new president in a state of war, as directed by their Constitution. This is not a winning situation for the people of Ukraine, and my heart goes out to them. May you be ALLOWED to find peace. May you keep your pride and your dignity for all you have given for your country, and may you find that you have or will have leadership that is worthy of your nobile sacrifice and allegiance. I wish that the USA were in a financial and diplomatic position to give freely what you need, but that will not be the case for a while. Good luck to the powers that be. May you use wisdom and integrity to uphold your many duties in the support of your country- and that goes to US, Ukrainian, and Russian leadership.