“The Sounds Of Silence” Lyrics Have A Familiarity Today In Kyiv
Last evening between the clouds were stars so bright they appeared to at first be aircraft.
Interruptions at 9:50 am, 10:00 am, 10:02 am, 11:30 am, 11:33 am, 11:34 am, 11:45 am, 11:59 am, 12:15 pm, 12:26 pm, 1:03 pm, 1:05 pm, 1:07 pm, 1:09 pm, 1:45, 1:55, 2:13 pm, 2:20 pm and through the late afternoon (5:11 pm, 5:32 pm, 5:34 pm, 5:37 pm, 5:44 pm, 5:46 pm) with nearby projectile impacts. A noticeable increase in Ukraine military forces outside of the hotel. First air raid siren of the evening at 6:23 pm.
No reasonably-informed person should be surprised by the effort thus far shown by the armed forces of Ukraine- they have been modeling outcomes for years, not months or weeks or days. And, this outcome modeling has included the use of resources not only from the United States, but the individual members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the collective entity itself.
Thought of the moment. What if? As governments begin to sanction the Russian Federation and companies begin to withdrawal from the Russian Federation- doing precisely what the government of Ukraine pleaded for weeks be implemented proactively to deter the Russian Federation from doing what the Russian Federation has now done… the question:
Had the perceived threat by the Russian Federation served as the basis to implement sanctions and private sector disengagement, would the result have been different? Would have happened the attack on 24 February 2022 at 5:00 am in Kharkiv, Ukraine?
As previously written, today additional evidence that the attack by the Russian Federation upon Ukraine will be the basis for governments to increase spending on defense- which in most countries means politicians will be supporting additional spending- which create jobs and create export opportunities. Yes, this also means justifying in many instances shifting limited taxpayer funds from healthcare, education, and social programs, but the decision by the Russian Federation has provided political cover.
Remember- Russian Federation President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on 7 October 1952; he is sixty-nine years old. He does have an expiration date- physically and politically.
The Federal Republic of Germany (the executive producer of both WWI and WWII) yesterday decided to change policy and deliver lethal weaponry to other countries and reported that it would begin a march (pun intended) toward spending 3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense. This is controversial for Germany given its history. This cohesion among nations may not last as “the moment” that is defined by conflict with the Russian Federation will eventually lessen, with or without the Putin Administration (2012- ), and politics will again be localized and thus focus upon domestic issues- meaning a pull away from ever-increasing military spending.
NOTE: The Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021) had made a foundational policy for members of NATO to increase their defense spending to more than 2% of GDP. Out of office for thirteen months and one week, their desire may now become a reality- courtesy of a country who NATO had continued to maintain was not an enemy.
The Russian Federation-Ukraine war will result in an increase in defense spending not only by the thirty members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but by other countries who have been reticent for historical and domestic political and social reasons.
The 1964 song, “The Sound of Silence” by the duo Simon & Garfunkel connected when looking out the large-paned window at the moving waters of the Dnieper River. Infrequent traffic- military vehicles, ambulances, and vehicles carrying authorized passengers along Naberezhno-Khreshachatytssa Street and the Naberezhne Highway when normally both directions of the nine-lane thoroughfare are sometimes bumper-to-bumper. When the loudest noise is from the wind (notwithstanding the two tanks late this afternoon).
“The Sound of Silence” delivered a message about the implications from a lack of communication… “Hello Darkness My Old Friend…”
A cloud-covered morning in Kyiv; cold. Yet, the sun seems intent upon breaking through. The clouds are not stationary- huge rectangles moving slowly across the sky. A change from the last days of sun, pure blue sky, and warm temperatures. Update at 12:28 pm- opening in the cloud cover.
The curfew remains in effect until 8:00 am on Monday morning, perhaps. The “real” in “reality” is taking hold among everyone.
Lakeside city Geneva, Switzerland; and the city of Vienna, the capital of Austria; and 109-acre Vatican City (the city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy) are considered for leader-to-leader bilateral peace talks by delegations led by President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin. One challenge for Geneva is a potential optical issue of the talks- not to hold them at the same location in 2021 for the meeting between United States President Joseph Biden and President Putin. The government of Turkey would like to host the talks, but Turkey remains a NATO member (with Russian Federation-manufactured S-400 missile system opposed by NATO) and has provided military hardware (drones) to Ukraine- which has reported using them against forces of the Russian Federation. The Recep Tayyip Erdogan Administration (2014- ) has also worked with the Russian Federation in other countries and the Russian Federation has natural gas pipelines (Blue Stream, TurkStream 1 & 2) traversing Turkey.
Increasing challenges for the delivery of military hardware to Ukraine from outside its borders. From which border to transport (land/air) lethal weapons- with a primary goal to ensure the shipment does not become an asset for the Russian Federation to intercept and use against Ukraine. Thus far, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia active.
One outcome- Ukraine promises to respect Russian Federation sensitivities with possible guaranties. Eventually, despite guarantees and promises, Ukraine becomes a member of NATO and of the European Union (EU).
Today begins with an air raid siren and the regularized journey from the hotel room, down the corridor, selecting the elevator which reaches the underground parking garage- serving as the bomb shelter.
A goal of the Trump-Pence Administration (12:00 pm on 20 January 2017 to 12:20 January 2021) was for the dismemberment of the now, after withdrawal of the United Kingdom in 2020, twenty-seven member European Union (EU) and dismemberment of the thirty member North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The goal was attentive far more by President Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States, rather than collectively embraced policies by leadership of departments and agencies throughout the United States Government.
Forward to 5:00 am on 24 February 2022 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, the country’s second-largest city, located in the northeast region of Ukraine, approximately twenty-six miles from the border with the Russian Federation, where the first projectiles delivered from forces of the Russian Federation began their journey to the earth that is the territory of Ukraine, a country, nation, of approximately 44 million.
As of today, 27 February 2022, NATO is acting collectively- even Germany (which important to remind always was the executive producer (with Italy having a producer credit) for WWI and WWII), was required to reverse a nearing eighty-year policy due to peer pressure- the delivery to Ukraine of 5,000 helmets was not inspiring; the now approved high intensity weaponry a much improved optic. And, at this moment, optics do matter.
For the EU, even Hungary and Poland, with its respective heads of state and heads of government having emulated the behavior of the 45th United States President, and served as indigestion for the collective EU membership decision-making processes, are supporting Ukraine.
The government of Turkey, a NATO member (who has been sanctioned by the United States for purchasing military hardware from the Russian Federation) and once a legitimate candidate for EU membership, who has significant commercial, economic, and political relationships with the Russian Federation and entanglements in conflicts where the Russian Federation also participates- Syria, Libya, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
Observation: On the Dnieper River which flows through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea, rectangular-shaped islands of ice some fifty years long by ten yards wide, whose sole occupants are birds and branches frozen into the surface, drift under the five bridges which divide the city of Kyiv. Watching the ice islands- are they a metaphor for evacuation? Normalcy? A signal of continuity- the environment continues with its journey while those who inhabitant it exhibit anything but normalcy?
Historical context is always important, so… In 2008, during the Dimitry Medvedev Administration (2008 to 2012) the Russian Federation supported the invasion and occupation of the landlocked South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast and the coastal area of Abkhazia, both within the territory of the Republic of Georgia (birthplace of Joseph Stalin) which emerged in 1991 independent of the U.S.S.R. Note- Vladimir Putin was Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012.
In 2014, during the Vladimir Putin Administration (2012- ) the Russian Federation invaded, occupied, and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula located along the northern coast of the Black Sea, then within the territory of Ukraine. Dimitry Medvedev had become Prime Minister serving from 2012 to 2020.
This belief is truer with each day… The Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict, invasion, war has more resonance to the citizens of the United States, members of NATO, members of the EU, and other countries is the story is not about two countries whose location is in the Middle East and whose populations are Muslim who follow Islam. The conflict is not about religion- Shia versus Sunni, Catholic versus Protestant, or Black versus White.
Ukrainians are white, they dress in “Western” costumes, they follow the Christian (Orthodox) faith. The Volodymyr Zelensky Administration (2019- ) is led by a youthful former comedian with a television program and who is of Jewish faith. His comedic and television training provide him with an ability to project effective messaging- and other country politicians and the international media gravitate to effective, and sometime acidic tongue stagecraft.
Ukrainians on television appear “like us” so they are worth defending- up to a point and that point being sacrificing a member of the United States armed forces fighting members of the armed forces of the Russian Federation on behalf of anyone.
Unlike with refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and other Muslim-majority countries/nations, no politician, no journalist, no pundit, no scholar, no retired military officer is saying no to assisting in the relocation of citizens of Ukraine. No one is saying keep these people out because they are or could become terrorist and blow something up or kill civilians.
Lyrics From “Sound Of Silence”
Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence
