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This is going to go all out war, fight to the death, until Ukraine is largely destroyed because that is what has been decided by the same people who think the Iran deal is smart, so this question is purely academic.

This isn’t like China taking over Oregon. Ukraine was Russia 30 years ago. So, honestly, would living in Eastern Ukraine, turned Russia again, be so bad that it’s worth destroying everything and a series of massacres to stop that from happening?

I wouldn’t want to live under Putin either but if the alternative is a gigantic massacre, with some rapes and mass graves mixed in, and also my neighborhood getting exploded and turned to ash, then I’d at least think about it. No? This is definitely Sudetenland 2.0? Okay. Fine. Here’s your weapons. I already paid for them.

Please remember that the BEST case scenario, unless you think Ukraine is going to invade Russia and win that war too, is a destroyed Ukraine that is still right next door to Putin or the even worse psycho who comes after him.

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One of the great casualties of war is the cultural heritage of those attacked. In addition to the loss of life, families being torn apart, and people becoming displaced—identity and heritage is erased when beautiful cultural centers like Odessa are destroyed.

Historically, any time people have waged war on others, one of the first orders of business was to destroy their art and literature. They burn books, destroy paintings, pull down monuments, kill or threaten the educated, and erase any evidence that these people ever existed to begin with.

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War is hell. I pray for peace. I wish our leaders desired peace. Thanks for making the trip.

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Aeschylus, a Greek playwriter in the fourth centry BC said, " Truth is the first casualty of war." I am not excusing the Russian thugs who invaded Ukraine but can we trust our corrupt network reporting to be truthful?

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I was born in Odessa, lived there half of my life, got married, had my first child. Beautiful city, beautiful sea, wonderful childhood memories. At the same time, Soviet Union was a terrible place to be a Jew, so my family left as soon as door was opened. For many years we were staying in touch with some people there, but for me and my friends US and Israel became "our countries". We were staying away from local politics and discussions about russian versus ukranian language usage, for example.

This terrible war and distraction it caused changed our perspective. Killing civilians, destroying cities, telling people in russia that Kiev was ready to attack them and this is "special operation" to prevent it - WTF????

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Nicely done. At turns bittersweet and poignant but with shades of a darker side. War is war, and here is the American jumping in, cognac in hand, understanding he's privileged in knowing he can jump out. This piece brings to mind a warrior journalist from another time, Hunter Thompson. Too bad he's gone, his take on the madness in Ukraine would have been well worth reading.

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This topic has been a source of extreme anxiety for me. I lived in Odessa in 2009 and 2010 and the city has become one of my most adored places in the world. If it gets destroyed, I will live in despair. If an onslaught does begin, I almost wish it could be declared an open city like Paris in WWII. It is a naïve desire, but I just can't bear to see this city destroyed. It is a jewel of Europe with the most amazing architecture and spirit like no other.

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War is a fundamentally human endeavor, and will and morale are synergistic and interdependent. Arguably, will to fight is the single most important factor in war. Will to fight is the disposition and decision to fight, to keep fighting, and to win. The best technology in the world is useless without the force of will to use it and to keep using it even as casualties mount and unexpected calamities arise. Ukraine has infinite reservoirs of will and morale; Russia is running on fumes.

https://euphoricrecall.substack.com/p/russias-achilles-heel?s=w

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Your story of your visit is incredible. You have given such a visual, so much a visual, I felt I was standing right there. I want to thank you so much for that. I’m exhausted.

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The ambulance driver’s Russian sister must be a democrat. They don’t let facts change their minds either.

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Back in the 60s and 70s I worked as a newspaper reporter and editor.

If I could find my damn time machine and once again pick up my red ink pen I'd be disappointed.

After reading your report, Nicholas, I'd have put that nasty pen back in my drawer.

Your bosses are blessed to have hired you.

Seriously, Nicholas, your ability to write word pictures of places and events reminds me of the first essay I edited at the University of Maine student newspaper, where I volunteered my time as a mentor.

The essay was written by a tall goofy looking 18 year old freshman whose glasses seriously did look like the bottom of a Coke bottle. That fellow's name? Steven King.

Four paragraphs into his offering I knew my dreams of writing the next great American novel was done and dusted.

I hope to read more of your work, and thank you for this excellent first person report about the people you met during your visit to Ukraine.

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When I read the headline I was sure it was going to be about Portland or Seattle

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Astounding. I'm glad I read this impressive essay. It reminded me a bit of P.J. O'Rourke in Lebanon in the 80s.

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I understand that this war is criminal and unnecessarily cruel, but that doe not excuse lack of perspective that we often hear. For example the idea that if Odessa was "built by Europeans" this somehow excludes Russians, and more broadly that Russia is not part of the European culture - the way of thinking that is at the core of the historical tension between Russia and the rest of Europe. Resolving this tension is the key of not just ending this war, but is the key to future European stability.

Secondly, Tennyson wrote Charge of the Light Brigade many moons ago about another Russian war over Crimes, so what is going on now is not some random obsession of a crazed leader. Russia has fought over control of that region for centuries.

Yesterday I read about how the steel mill under siege in Mariupol has been the focus of intense fighting in WW2 and that it was rebuilt after the war with a purpose to be able to withstand and attack like the one it's under right now - in other words it's a fortress.

A weird Odessa fact, aside from the mayor depicted in this article, is that Mikhail Sakhashvilli, former President of Georgia (Europe), has later spent some time as a Governor of the Odessa Oblast. I don't think I have ever heard of a case of a former president of one country who later gets involved in politics in another. In other words, Odessa seems to attract interesting characters. Nevertheless, I wish them safety and peace.

Regardless of what happens, this city will not "disappear tomorrow". It outlasted worse, and many incarnations of Russia, so it will outlast this one as well.

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Beautiful piece! I read him in the Washington Examiner. He never disappoints, certainly not here.

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Apr 21, 2022·edited Apr 21, 2022

"...as bald as Jada Pinkett Smith..." Perfect simile. Topical and apt, so the reader has a mental image immediately. How many unfortunates who are looking to be offended (for someone ELSE who happens to be rich and powerful, btw) immediately saw it otherwise??? BTW, when the mayor of Odessa was described, I immediately thought of Colonel Nathan Jessup: "Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns."

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