Ukraine in Pain - The David Hunter Perspective - 2022-03-16

David's Ambitious Agenda Below

Retired US Diplomat to 5 different nations  David Hunter shares his knowledge, passion, interest, and experience.


1)  South Korea Elections:  Did North Korea's Recent Missile Tests Cause A More Conservative Government to Get Elected in South Korea?   Elections just took place in S. Korea, and Mr. YOON Suk-yeol (61 yrs old) of the conservative PPP party  narrowly won with 48.5% of vote.  He replaces Mr. MOON, who was of the liberal party that had sought "Sunshine II" policies with North Korea.  What will Yoon's election mean to North-South Korean relations?  

2)  Is Biden Administration Abandoning Ukrainian Employees who Worked for US Embassy?:  In the same way US  abandoned Afghans who worked for US Government in Kabul, it appears the Biden Administration is now abandoning Ukrainian Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) who worked for our US Embassy or consulates.  On Feb 25 2022  ForeignPolicy.com reported Ukrainian Employees who worked at US Embassy Kiev  say they felt abandoned by the American government and left with neither support nor means of escape.  What is going on?

3)  Ukrainian Bio-weapons Research as Reason of Russia Invading Ukraine?:  Last week Fox News Anchor Tucker Carlson claimed evidence that Ukraine was engaged in bio-weapons research.  Russia is using this as another basis---besides their claims that  Ukraine's Jewish President Zalensky is a neo-Nazi----for their invasion of Ukraine.  Is Tucker crazy?   Does Russia have legitimate grounds for accusing Ukraine of conspiring with the US to develop bio-weapons against Russia? 

4)  Is US Limiting Military Support for Ukraine because Russia Rattled It's Nuclear Weapons?  The US Biden Administration seems to fear  any direct military engagement of US forces w/ Russian troops invading Ukraine since it could escalate to nuclear conflict (aka WWIII).  Part of this is because Russia is a nuclear power and threatens to use such weapons.  But should we be afraid of this possibility?   Where does it end?   Does that mean we would refrain from supporting non-NATO  democratic allies if they are attacked by other nuclear weapons possessing dictatorship states, such as China or North Korea?

5)  Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince MBS Ordered Execution of 81 Prisoners:  This is the largest single day execution in Saudi Arabia, even exceeding when revolutionaries in 1979 tried to take over the Grand Mosque of Mecca and 63 were subsequently executed.  Why is Saudi Arabia doing this now? 

6)  St. Patrick's Day and Indian Spring Festival of Holi Celebrating on Same Day:  Holi celebrates the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and for many, it is a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of  Purnima (Full Moon Day). Is this similar to our Christian St. Patrick's day? 

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