Follow-Up on the Russian Aggression against Ukraine

Call for Protests Against Russian Aggression: The leader of the Russian liberals, Alexei Navalny, has called for daily protests in Russia against its aggression in Ukraine, despite the risk of persecution, as freedom to assemble peacefully and of any dissent is not tolerated by the regime of Vladmir Putin. Over 8,000 Russians have reportedly been arrested. The center-right anti-corruption activist, who is a political prisoner the Kremlin had poisoned, is also calling for international protests on March 6. Navalny’s organization has effectively been shut downby Putin’s oppression, like many other opposition organizations, rights monitors and independent media outlets. Journalists and critics of the Russian regime are imprisoned, forced into exile or murdered, even abroad. East Asian States Sanction Russia: South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have joined Western States and Japan in sanctions on the Russian Federation for its aggression against Ukraine. They are thus sending a message to Communist China of what the consequences would be for China were it to invade Taiwan. Putin’s Inconsistent Excuse for War about Language: There is an inconsistency between ex-Soviet intelligence officer Putin’s argument that Russian-speakers in Ukraine, whom Russia has backed in a rebellion, should be independent because they are different from Ukrainian-speakers and his current argument that because Russians and Ukrainians are one people, Ukraine should be part of Russia. The only consistency is his belief in re-establishing the Soviet Union. Right to Keep and Bear Arms Essential: Another lesson learned in Russia’s aggression, in addition to those I listed in a recent post, is how the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to defense and, therefore, to liberty.