Russia Guard “Red Lines” Where Sword is Mightier than the Pen

“In politics you don’t tell someone to go to hell unless you can actually send him there.” – President Lyndon B. Johnson

Activists, Journalists and Hostages remind us that Dictators will cross bloody red lines to bring hell to them.

Russia, “Red Alert.” From Space, satellites gazing down at your body of land view your head at the realm of the Arctic Ocean near the Kara Sea. It is your right arm below the shoulder of the Baltic Sea that you need to watch.

A deep “Red Line” has started to be drawn from the bottom, Ukraine, extending upward toward Belarus. The world stage has showcased yet another citizen who has offended their leader, Alexander Lukashenko.

The reported “authoritarian ruling style” of Lukashenko may seem familiar and affable. Sure, Belarus’ proximity to Ukraine has and may serve some future purpose. President Vladimir Putin, bear in mind that even with Lukashenko carrying a lead of five years on you in power, your position of strength and influence is unparalleled. Russia has eyes in the skies, feet on the ground and hands in the waters.

Arrogance taking extreme measures to silence a citizen leaves a dark lasting mark especially in the digital age and across the dark web. Drastic hasty actions not only reveal to the people their leader’s thin skin but the power of the individual and the numbers that support him/her. Recall criticism towards U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

Brute force against non-enemy combatants have included journalists and scientists from countries who can count on their adversary or close ally, U.S., to not defy them as I noted in my January 2019 paper, “Statecraft or Command Decision? Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Russian Federation, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Yet, 2021 is not 2018 which appeared to have been a critical year for Russia with media reports positioning Vladimir Putin as the winner in the presidential election and hosting that summer’s FIFA World Cup. Negative publicity could have put a dark shadow on Russia and the World Cup, by which Putin’s enemies could have benefited.

In matters of the speaking rights of humans it is best to avoid foreign interference. Use your power to influence a positive outcome, and if possible one to the advantage of your missions. Remember “the importance of laser-like focus,” a hard lesson from former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Important to also remember that activists of “democracies,” monarchies, or totalitarian dictatorships are forced to live in exile or not live at all. Still, Russia did not resort to dangerously intercept a foreign aircraft with multi-nationals to force extradition of one. The Russian citizen who opposed his leader’s policies freely returned to the motherland.

Russia, you are in a unique position on the ground and space. Leading in the Nuclear Power & Possession Hierarchy makes you a strong contender in defense. Your private sector reportedly engages with U.S. companies in R&D nuclear power.

A key partner of the International Space Station, Russia literally sits front and center on Command & Control decisions irrespective of not being privy to U.S. Space Force special operations. U.S. admitted failure to operationalize reportedly by Mark Milley U.S. Army General brings to mind a lesson from Johnson, “Presidents need operational intelligence – not just intellectual intelligence – to know everything about people and political forces.”

Morever, to your advantage, U.S. allies continue to be in the dark due to delays of declassification by the Pentagon. But as you may know, this runs across other critical areas as the State Department contends with continued speculation of the source of the viral outbreak.

President Putin, Belarus and Syria, both being members of NAM, I see the interest. However, as I point out to Israel’s leader in “J’Accuse…U.S.↔Israel Defense Forces and Hamas↔IRAN,” do not confuse Europe with the Middle East. Red lines drawn by the U.S across eastern sands are as common as teachers’ edits on students’ badly written papers.

Speaking of “red lines,” U.S. Joe Biden’s “clear red line,” brings to mind Rosa Brooks Foreign Policy paper, “Would Machiavelli Have Drawn a Red Line?” Brooks, law professor at Georgetown University, served as a counselor to the U.S. defense undersecretary for policy from 2009 to 2011 and previously served as a senior advisor at the U.S. State Department. Leaders’ tiring rhetoric of “unacceptable” does not cease as she points out a decade ago.

President Putin, association with Belarus leader on domestic issues can only darken and elongate the thin red line that runs across its borders down to Ukraine. Now, if drawing a “dark red line” is key to your objectives on land, be sure it does not interfere with those at sea.

Stand Guard. Heat of the political climate on land can have an adverse effect on your “frozen assets.” Lest you forget, “Waging War” is in China’s blueprints. “Laying Plans” and concealed enterprises stand ready for execution on Russia’s orders. Lukashenko’s overt actions counter Russia’s covert operations.

Russia and U.S. upcoming meeting in June. Gentlemen, a few words:

President Joe Biden, as you come face to face with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, and dare look into his eyes, you may recall the strong word describing him, “Killer.”

Sir, President Biden, I remind you of the lesson that “Today’s antagonist may be tomorrow’s ally” from Joseph A. Califano, Jr. in his book, “The Triumph & Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson,”  can easily be learned and ignored. But do not forget Johnson’s words, “In politics you don’t tell someone to go to hell unless you can actually send him there.”

President Vladimir Putin, in combat we say, “Watch your six o’clock” but in your case watch the big hands of the West at three and nine o’clock. “Red lines” have been drawn, again. Stand Guard. Not the first time the sword is mightier than the pen.