Vlad Sorokolat, Kiev Ukraine

I'm wishing he stays safe and his independent country can persevere. Hopefully, we can all get together, remember the failure of appeasement and non-action in the 1930's, and put a stop to the insanity unleashed by dictator Putin, a modern day Hitler.

I was in contact with Vlad earlier this week and suggested he get out while the getting was good. But the sense I got was that he was resigned to the fate of his country. 

Some have said that the US has no obligation here, and after the hasty withdrawl from a 17-year Afghan occupation there is no taste for another war, especially against a superpower. But when the USSR collapsed, Ukraine found themselves with a lot of nukes, in fact, the world's third largest nuclear power. The US and Russia made an agreement for Ukrainian security if they gave them up. So much for that promise, and I bet they wish they had kept them.

Political discussion/debate aside, our obvious concern is for the Ukrainian people who are affected by high level politics they really cannot control.  As we all know, with war comes horrible, undeserved collateral damage and suffering.  I will pray for their well being and a resolution, but it certainly sounds ominous at this time.

Vlad e-mailed me in the last hour. So for now he is OK and communications have not been cut.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (Click on picture for today's history lesson)

@mikedetorrice 

Your phrase is still true. Unfortunately, it took a world war to stop Hitler.

@mg-harv 

Thanks for the update. Vlad, if you are reading this, stay safe.

Heard today that Vlad and his family (and cat!) made it to Lviv, close to the Polish border, so safe for now. He posted this pic: