In an internal email obtained exclusively by Popular Information, Stand Together, the influential non-profit group run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, argues that the United States should seek to deliver a partial "victory" to Russia in Ukraine.
Well, since corporations are people and if a person were to give aid & comfort to the enemy they should be charged with treason just like an individual would be if they betrayed the interest of the United States.
Thank you for another great expose, Judd! Ruger’s statement highlights the selfishness of the Koch/GOP mindset, namely that the only justification for aiding Ukraine is self-interest.
The Kochs: the ultimate Robber Barons. Robber Barons are only interested in making money and having power, they do unethical things, and regular people only exist to enrich them. We now call them Oligarchs. Daddy was active with all the worst regimes (Hitler, Stalin). You can thank the Kochs for Citizens United and for the Federalist Society that gave us the last 3 Trump SC justices. They have their tentacles into everything. If you haven’t read it, Dark Money by Jane Mayer will give an idea of how awful and strange the Kochs really are. It’s a hard book to get through. The only way we can truly free the US to be as great as it could be will be to control the Koch entities and the other entities that represent US Oligarchs: very hard to do. In the past, labor unions helped to curb the power of the Robber Barons. There is a movement right now to bring back more labor unions. It was great that in NY, Amazon workers can unionize. This is what we need to see more of.
Thank you for shining a light on the self-serving objectives of these people and organizations. I resent their justification for their actions as “not in the best interests of America”- they only act in their own best interest.
"The United States can and should do very little for Ukraine," Ruger said. "Ukraine simply doesn't matter to America's security or our prosperity."
WOW. Not only is this blatantly and demonstrably false merely through casual observation of the effects on other European countries, but also by looking at the ripple effects of having Europe and the Middle East's breadbasket come to a screeching halt. And that's assuming I agree with the implication that morality shouldn't be a factor in such decisions -- which I friggin don't.
Coming back to the original topic, this letter is nothing but a flimsy self-justification on Koch's part. Koch and fam don't care a whit about lowly, non-billionaire, follower nobodies, in Ukraine or otherwise. If they care about Russian economy it is only to the extent that it protects their own business interests. Let no one be fooled by that. If you do agree with this letter, then neither do you care about anybody but power and profit. To that I say the love of money is the root of all evil.
I attended this seminar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6DG4Zl7EQY) with Georgetown University hosting "economists Sergei Guriev and Tymofiy Mylovanov, two of the foremost experts on the Ukrainian and Russian economies" in which they said that the impact on wheat prices is surely going to cause bread prices to increase greatly in the Middle East, which itself causes instability there, and hinted that high bread prices were likely a significant factor in unseating Hosni Mubarak.
In this seminar they also said that Russia has been for over a decade attempting to destabilize Ukraine and sending special forces in to sabotage their agriculture amidst Ukraine's massive efforts to fight corruption, become more democratic and self-sufficient.
Russia, as we know, also holds some of the world's largest oil and natural gas reserves. Now consider for a moment if you are Putin and your strategy is to regain control of all former Soviet bloc countries, a brilliant strategy is to gain control of fuel and food. And here we see this is exactly what is happening, for if you control fuel and food going into EMEA then you have a measure of control over NATO as well as some leverage with oil-producing Middle Eastern countries. Now look at how Putin has cozied up to Assad and you can see what the strategy is here. He is not only trying to gain more Russian-controlled territory but build a buffer of alliances and neutral zones between said territories and the rest of Europe. With alliances to countries who are actively hostile to American and Western Europe he would then have the buffer zone he wants and also more power in the UN.
I think I have made my case here. It's not only ludicrous that Russia is a member of the UN Human Rights council, it's ludicrous to assert that Ukraine "doesn't matter."
What can a morally rational person say but Charles Koch and his minions care for one thing only: unimpeded "business as usual", damn the human suffering and gratuitous acts of horrific cruelty! Koch is a disgrace to America and humanity.
While I agree with the sentiments that a diplomatic solution would be ideal and that sanctions should be aggressive and targeted, it is not as if these avenues aren't being pursued. My understanding is that these sanctions have been consciously targeted, if perhaps somewhat timid. And a diplomatic solution seems unlikely given the intensity of the fighting going on. These objections are questionable, to say the least.
What Koch, Caldwell et al are actually saying is not that we (meaning the U.S. writ large) have no vital interests in Ukraine, but that "they" have no vital interests there. Would like to see their analysis of Russia and its "immoral" actions and what should be done about them if Putin for some reason decided to seize those Koch companies in Mother Russia and nationalize all their assets.
Judd, I appreciate your work but must push back a little here. No, Koch Industries isn't acting in the interests of anyone but themselves...however, the statement in Caldwell's email that "The United States should support diplomatic efforts to help end the war" is 100% correct. Neither side is going to win a war of attrition and letting it continue for years (as seems to be General Milley's preference) would be immoral and - perhaps most critically - a serious impediment to achieving a 1.5C limit on global warming.
Wonderful work, Judd! We all would do well to understand why anyone has reluctance to aiding Ukraine and our European allies. We know that the Koch family, like the Trump family, get most of their money from Russia. Don Jr. and Eric told us explicitly the source of most of their money comes from Russia--that they don't have to rely on American banks, and that Russia financed many of Trump's golf courses.
The heartlessness of Caldwell and Ruger indicates that they choose not to watch the coverage of this war in Ukraine. Regarding "Diplomacy" maybe it's because I'm older and have been raised with a lifelong interest in world affairs, but those who know anything about Putin, know that he can NEVER be trusted. I'm with Zelensky--he knows this, but he's diplomatic when asked about diplomacy.
Now, another important aspect to this war and the Ukrainian people that seems not to be addressed: the populace in the eastern area is filled with politically Pro Russian right wing groups (like MAGA types but ready to fight for Putin). Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the Dancing With the Stars professional, born a Ukrainian, just back and returning to help, touched on this when on Morning Joe. I'd like to know what he has to say about that situation.
Please, Judd, can you re-instate my membership--all of a sudden a few weeks ago I stopped receiving your reports (I had paid, and I also paid for someone else to have a paid subscription--do I owe something now?)? I do not want to miss these gems.
I see on Twitter that they are "shocked, shocked" by your reporting. Ha ha ha ha ha. I am sure they wish they were in Saudi Arabia right now and could protect themselves from journalists who speak truth to power.
Well, since corporations are people and if a person were to give aid & comfort to the enemy they should be charged with treason just like an individual would be if they betrayed the interest of the United States.
Thank you for another great expose, Judd! Ruger’s statement highlights the selfishness of the Koch/GOP mindset, namely that the only justification for aiding Ukraine is self-interest.
FBI report on Russian Transnational Organised Crime
(including Rupert Murdoch, Trump, McConnell, and many other GOP turdds)
https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/organized-crime
The GOP has gone from “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” to “Why should I hate Putin?” Just reprehensible! Bottom Line: Follow the Money!
The Kochs: the ultimate Robber Barons. Robber Barons are only interested in making money and having power, they do unethical things, and regular people only exist to enrich them. We now call them Oligarchs. Daddy was active with all the worst regimes (Hitler, Stalin). You can thank the Kochs for Citizens United and for the Federalist Society that gave us the last 3 Trump SC justices. They have their tentacles into everything. If you haven’t read it, Dark Money by Jane Mayer will give an idea of how awful and strange the Kochs really are. It’s a hard book to get through. The only way we can truly free the US to be as great as it could be will be to control the Koch entities and the other entities that represent US Oligarchs: very hard to do. In the past, labor unions helped to curb the power of the Robber Barons. There is a movement right now to bring back more labor unions. It was great that in NY, Amazon workers can unionize. This is what we need to see more of.
Thank you for shining a light on the self-serving objectives of these people and organizations. I resent their justification for their actions as “not in the best interests of America”- they only act in their own best interest.
"The United States can and should do very little for Ukraine," Ruger said. "Ukraine simply doesn't matter to America's security or our prosperity."
WOW. Not only is this blatantly and demonstrably false merely through casual observation of the effects on other European countries, but also by looking at the ripple effects of having Europe and the Middle East's breadbasket come to a screeching halt. And that's assuming I agree with the implication that morality shouldn't be a factor in such decisions -- which I friggin don't.
Coming back to the original topic, this letter is nothing but a flimsy self-justification on Koch's part. Koch and fam don't care a whit about lowly, non-billionaire, follower nobodies, in Ukraine or otherwise. If they care about Russian economy it is only to the extent that it protects their own business interests. Let no one be fooled by that. If you do agree with this letter, then neither do you care about anybody but power and profit. To that I say the love of money is the root of all evil.
I attended this seminar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6DG4Zl7EQY) with Georgetown University hosting "economists Sergei Guriev and Tymofiy Mylovanov, two of the foremost experts on the Ukrainian and Russian economies" in which they said that the impact on wheat prices is surely going to cause bread prices to increase greatly in the Middle East, which itself causes instability there, and hinted that high bread prices were likely a significant factor in unseating Hosni Mubarak.
In this seminar they also said that Russia has been for over a decade attempting to destabilize Ukraine and sending special forces in to sabotage their agriculture amidst Ukraine's massive efforts to fight corruption, become more democratic and self-sufficient.
Russia, as we know, also holds some of the world's largest oil and natural gas reserves. Now consider for a moment if you are Putin and your strategy is to regain control of all former Soviet bloc countries, a brilliant strategy is to gain control of fuel and food. And here we see this is exactly what is happening, for if you control fuel and food going into EMEA then you have a measure of control over NATO as well as some leverage with oil-producing Middle Eastern countries. Now look at how Putin has cozied up to Assad and you can see what the strategy is here. He is not only trying to gain more Russian-controlled territory but build a buffer of alliances and neutral zones between said territories and the rest of Europe. With alliances to countries who are actively hostile to American and Western Europe he would then have the buffer zone he wants and also more power in the UN.
I think I have made my case here. It's not only ludicrous that Russia is a member of the UN Human Rights council, it's ludicrous to assert that Ukraine "doesn't matter."
Koch group: This hydra needs to be defanged. GOP should be asked if they accept this argument. Thanks Judd.
What can a morally rational person say but Charles Koch and his minions care for one thing only: unimpeded "business as usual", damn the human suffering and gratuitous acts of horrific cruelty! Koch is a disgrace to America and humanity.
While I agree with the sentiments that a diplomatic solution would be ideal and that sanctions should be aggressive and targeted, it is not as if these avenues aren't being pursued. My understanding is that these sanctions have been consciously targeted, if perhaps somewhat timid. And a diplomatic solution seems unlikely given the intensity of the fighting going on. These objections are questionable, to say the least.
What Koch, Caldwell et al are actually saying is not that we (meaning the U.S. writ large) have no vital interests in Ukraine, but that "they" have no vital interests there. Would like to see their analysis of Russia and its "immoral" actions and what should be done about them if Putin for some reason decided to seize those Koch companies in Mother Russia and nationalize all their assets.
Judd, I appreciate your work but must push back a little here. No, Koch Industries isn't acting in the interests of anyone but themselves...however, the statement in Caldwell's email that "The United States should support diplomatic efforts to help end the war" is 100% correct. Neither side is going to win a war of attrition and letting it continue for years (as seems to be General Milley's preference) would be immoral and - perhaps most critically - a serious impediment to achieving a 1.5C limit on global warming.
Wonderful work, Judd! We all would do well to understand why anyone has reluctance to aiding Ukraine and our European allies. We know that the Koch family, like the Trump family, get most of their money from Russia. Don Jr. and Eric told us explicitly the source of most of their money comes from Russia--that they don't have to rely on American banks, and that Russia financed many of Trump's golf courses.
The heartlessness of Caldwell and Ruger indicates that they choose not to watch the coverage of this war in Ukraine. Regarding "Diplomacy" maybe it's because I'm older and have been raised with a lifelong interest in world affairs, but those who know anything about Putin, know that he can NEVER be trusted. I'm with Zelensky--he knows this, but he's diplomatic when asked about diplomacy.
Now, another important aspect to this war and the Ukrainian people that seems not to be addressed: the populace in the eastern area is filled with politically Pro Russian right wing groups (like MAGA types but ready to fight for Putin). Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the Dancing With the Stars professional, born a Ukrainian, just back and returning to help, touched on this when on Morning Joe. I'd like to know what he has to say about that situation.
Please, Judd, can you re-instate my membership--all of a sudden a few weeks ago I stopped receiving your reports (I had paid, and I also paid for someone else to have a paid subscription--do I owe something now?)? I do not want to miss these gems.
Treasonous B*stards
I see on Twitter that they are "shocked, shocked" by your reporting. Ha ha ha ha ha. I am sure they wish they were in Saudi Arabia right now and could protect themselves from journalists who speak truth to power.
Putin must be defeated. Saving face is his problem.