What is the difference between UN "peacekeeping" forces and NATO ?

Why cannot UN peacekeeping forces act as a buffer in Ukraine?

As a permanent member, would Russia have the right to veto it?

Could the UN make an exemption to the rule when a member nation goes off the rail? Could that nation be expelled from the UN if they failed to go along with the rest of the world?

It is becoming a desperate situation in Ukraine. If they cannot use air support to diminish the threat and they cannot go into the country because they are not a member of NATO, then what other options do they have?

FOX News decided that it could praise Zelenskyy and Trump and criticize Biden at the same time...

They hope people will forget that they have been cheerleaders for Putin for the last 5 years. No matter what he did, it was OK with them. But, no more.

It doesn't matter to them that Trump was a puppet of Putin's for his entire Administration and that they were a puppet of Trump's for the same time period. Putin's smell did not rub off on Trump, according to the FOX News talking heads. They are capable of putting the first impeachment out of mind and out of history. They are ready to believe that Trump was not trying to get rid of NATO. They believe he was only trying to get them to pay their dues. It never occurred to them that was his strategy to give him an excuse to leave it. It was all for the benefit of Vladimir Putin. Just like his call to Zelenskyy when he needed the weapons to defend his country in the Donbass region.

But, nothing can stop them from criticizing Joe Biden at every turn. They are always capable of telling half the story when it fits their narrative.

They have no shame.

Putin is a "genius".

Who said that?

Secret strategy meeting in the FOX News room?

"We have to be very careful about how we report on Putin and this Ukraine invasion."

"Yes, we cannot be defined as unpatriotic."

"Someone will need to talk to Sean and Tucker and put a governor on their motors."

"We will need to be very careful with our interviews with Dear Leader."

"We may need to disavow all the old coverage that might come up on other networks."

"Putin has made us all look stupid."

A Golden Oldie from Helsinki

Sensible leaders should be calling for a ceasefire.

Before everything gets much, much worse.

It has to be humiliating for Putin and his military leaders to see photos of his tanks strewn alongside the roads in Ukraine. With his narcissistic ego, Putin will be looking for revenge. He will not have a second thought about the lives that will be lost.

Historically, his blunder may be on a par with Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812. https://www.history.com/news/napoleons-disastrous-invasion-of-russia

The UN and NATO should be calling for a cease fire and the withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine immediately.

Putin's "authoritarianism" vs democracy

Putin has advanced an attack against democracy around the world. He fails to see the flaw in his thinking. The "authoritarian" believes that he knows what is best for the people, and that democracy is flawed, in permitting the people to decide what form of government they might want.

He alone can decide what is best for his country in regards to Ukraine, for example. He governs like a crime boss. He will mete out rewards and punishment as he sees fit.

In a speech before the House of Commons in 1947, Winston Churchill made a speech about "democracy". He said, "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time; but there is the broad feeling in our country that the people should rule, and that public opinion expressed by all constitutional means, should shape, guide, and control the actions of Ministers who are their servants and not their masters."

That is the advantage of democracy over authoritarianism, despite all its flaws. Any authoritarian that believes he knows what is best for his people will eventually lose all legitimacy and credibility.

That also, was the flaw in Donald Trump's idea of governing. He believed he alone had the right to overturn the will of the people, the 81 million that voted for Joe Biden, and that his minority was all the legitimacy that he needed. Like Putin, he was very wrong.

Jimmy Brown, the Newsboy

The cult is still alive and well...

I watched a high school basketball game last night. High school basketball in Eastern and Southeastern KY is almost a cult. They follow their teams religiously.

It was a thrilling game between Harlan County and a neighboring county for the 52nd District Championship. Either of them looked to have the potential to make it to the Sweet Sixteen in the Kentucky High School Basketball Tournament.

It went to double over-time, with Harlan County losing a game they probably should have won.

There were video and comments in the Youtube of the event. Someone had brought their "Trump flag" to the finals of the 52nd District Tournament. Someone in the comments questioned why someone would do such a fool thing? Because Trump was going to win in 2024, someone responded.

Some respondents thought it had intruded into something that should have been a celebration for the school and the community. They did not think it was appropriate.

Nonetheless, basketball will continue to be played. The "March Madness" is almost upon us.

Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine immediately.

And let those people return to their homes and their lives.

This is a war crime worthy of the Hague and the World Court.

Perhaps Mr Putin should remember the former leader of Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu? He was tried as a war criminal and was found guilty and executed, along with his wife Elena.

Mr Putin should withdraw those troops before the situation gets worse. He could start to look like a war criminal.