Alexei Navalny and strength

Listening to The News Agents yesterday, I heard a guest claiming that Putin killing Alexei Navalny was a sign of weakness. He was wrong. Putin learned from the fall of the USSR. The 1991 Soviet coup attempt would probably have succeeded if not for Boris Yeltsin. Putin, a fan of history (though with his own soin that distorts reality) is aware that if Yeltsin had been dealt with sooner, he would not have been present to help organise effective resistance against the coup. By killing potential rivals including the late Boris Nemtsov, he is ensuring that there is no figurehead to take advantage of any instability, should it happen. Remember that this almost came to pass when The Wagner Group marched on Moscow last year. 

At least his rivals are not dismembered while still alive, unlike what has happened with our friend and ally, Saudi Arabia. The ally we have continued to sell arms to despite their use in Yemen. 

Yesterday

Yesterday was fun. After having a lie in, I took my daughter for a drive to Brightlingsea, or rather, with her learning to drive, she took me. We had an interesting discussion about some household chores, but she relented. The drive was a good one, I only had a few concerns with her. She does not like the way I like to stalk other learner drivers, but I do it so that if it happens to her, she will not be too stressed.

The burger van where we normally eat was closed, so we ate at the Lido, where a Leia met a racist dog who did not like black dogs! It was not just Leia as another black dog came in later. But as they forgot our order, we were there for longer than we had hoped. The walk along the front was windy, something I did not consider when I saw rain in the distance. I thought we had about thirty minutes, instead it was on us while walking along the old rail tracks. By the time we got to the end of the walk, we were soaked, but the rain then passed and we were left with sunny skies. Leia had loads of fun running about with another dog on the walk, but needed a bath when we got home, something she does not enjoy.

My daughter had a friend over, so our Sunday dinner had an extra person. My son like the guest so he was happy. He spent the day recovering from his mock exams earlier in the week. After dinner, other than my son, we went to the pub quiz. Our main rivals were not there in force which meant, for the second time ever, we won! We did not expect it and were very happy to do so. But my wife may have volunteered herself to run one of the quizzes this year! 

Alastair Campbell will not be happy

What a result! We can only play who we play, but how we play is up to us. Arsenal needed a big win to overcome the goal difference that the team with City have, or had. However, with the draw they got against Chelski, once they win their game in hand, they will be a point ahead of us. I doubt we will win the league, but at least we are still in the title race. 

Alexei Navalny

I do not mourn the death of a far right politician in Russia. However, his death was wrong, and while I strongly disagree with many of his views, his imprisonment and previous attempts to kill him were wrong. I considered him to be insane to return to Russia when he could have lived in exile, but his decision while brave, has made him into a martyr. But to be fair, living abroad has not saved others.

There have been many who have defended Russia and Putin after his interview with Tucker Carlson. I do wonder if they are to defend yet another assassination in Russia. 

Voter ID laws will help the Conservatives

Recent elections in the UK have shown a huge swing to Labour, but this is not something Labour should be complacent about.  Too many people chose to stay at home, and in absolute terms, Labour did not gain many votes in the areas.

I think that Labour should work to get people to register for free voter ID.  Turnout is going to be a factor in the next election along with Voter ID. With job-centres being told to stop referring benefit claimants to food banks, Labour should be helping people get free ID outside job centres and also at foodbanks.  The danger is that too many people will be disenfranchised and that Labour will be the party that will lose out the most.

Senility in American politics

In the USA, both the candidates for the presidency are making gaffes.  Both have done so before, but Biden is looking more frail than Trump when he does so. 

Personally, I think that Trump is going to win the elections this year.  His attack adds work, and Biden is doing himself few favours.  If Nikki Haley was standing, the outcome would be even more certain, but when have Americans chosen the best person for the job of leading them?

Trump for some reason mixed up Obama with Biden.

For the record, the husband of Nikki Haley is serving in the military.

There are loads of others, but these are two of the more recent and memorable ones.

NATO expansion

It appears according to Putin that NATO expansion is the cause of Russia invading Ukraine.  

An agreement about NATO expansion apparently had been made in 1990, this being that NATO would not expand beyond the reunified Germany.

After this agreement, in 1992, Russia aided in the 'liberation' of Transnistria from Moldova as well as Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia.  Both areas had a substantial Russian population which some would argue was the reason for Russian intervention.  Since then, Russia has helped to 'liberate' Crimea from Ukraine, an area of Ukraine with a large Russian speaking population. Following this, other areas of Eastern Ukraine sought independence, which is when the frozen conflict started which resumed in 2022. 

Nations on the borders of Russia, watching how Russia had helped with the liberation of parts of Moldova and Georgia understandably became concerned that they would be next.  So when someone blames NATO for its expansion, ask them if those new nations should have trusted a nation which invaded, and still occupies, old parts of the USSR to create a Greater Russia.

And if people feel that Russia has a right to obtain its ancestral lands, does China have that right with territory that now belongs to Russia?