Today's News: Threading the Needle

Undeniably, the coming days and weeks of the Ukraine Russia War will prove to be the most important challenge in world history since Operation Overlord in 1944. 

The West is trying to save Ukraine without declaring war on Russia. 

That is a difficult needle to thread, and it will get harder as the weeks go by. 

I suspect that's mainly why Trudeau, Anand, Freeland and Joly went to Europe this week, to communicate directly with European leaders and strategize for how the West can protect democracy and defeat Putin without embroiling the world in Armageddon.

Please watch this clip of 🇨🇦 Prime Minister, @JustinTrudeau speaking in Berlin just now.

It’s actually quite incredible.#Democracy #WeMustProtectItAlways

(please excuse the colour on the TV, my phone recorded it oddly & Twitter only allows 140s of time) pic.twitter.com/V9GlCrLe2y

— Carolyn Brost Strom (@carolynstrom) March 9, 2022

As usual, the National Post just can't stand it. 

They really hated hearing about how popular Trudeau is in Europe -- 45 minutes with the Queen! Cheers in Latvia! and in Berlin! So they have been trying to re-cast the trip as just another Trudeau photo opportunity (I refuse to link to their so-called "opinion" pieces). 

And then of course here comes the CBC, trolling obediently behind, sniping about the "taxpayer dime" when the world is facing World War 3. 

This is CBC reporter Travis Dhanraj's whiney tweet this morning, trying to justify his cringe-worthy question to Freeland and Joly - a question that was ratioed so unmercifully that he finally had to follow it with a mealy-mouthed sort-of apology:

Verdict continues to roll in. Some love Q some hate it. My take after a few hrs: was worded clumsily as was tweet…my fault, I take responsibility…However there are legit Q’s about what this trip will do to substantially address the situation Ukrainians are dealing w/right now.

— Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) March 9, 2022

And when you've lost Robin Urback....

Quite right Ms.Urback and it's a puzzle why Mr.Dhanraj asked such an inane question.🤔 #cdnpoli
Also, am assuming he's on the same plane as the PM et also why is he being contrary; just enjoy the ride n do a better job.

— TLDarby 🍁🌿🌻3x💉2x😷 Proudly Anti-Fascist (@darbyTL) March 9, 2022

Getting back to the real world -- the war -- it was a hard, sad day.

The overall picture looks much less rosy, as the latest @TheStudyofWar chart shows. Mariupol under siege. Clear danger of Kyiv following, operations on Mykolaiv and then Odesa. https://t.co/az5LGB7Qmj

— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) March 9, 2022

The destruction of a Ukraine hospital dominated the news, and the stories from refugees are incredible, in both good ways and bad:

This woman changed a part of me when I first saw this from @BylineTV. I will never forget her.

"I don't feel myself anymore. I'm a different person. I was a journalist, very proud of myself & glamorous. Now I'm a refugee"

Everything can become nothing.pic.twitter.com/I2QkLByzmX

— Hardeep Matharu (@Hardeep_Matharu) March 8, 2022

The 14th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw more bloodshed and destruction. Amid the unrelenting assault, more citizens joined the frantic exodus from the beleaguered nation. https://t.co/8oAdf6cVvJ

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 10, 2022

When we look back on that phone call between Trump and Zelenskiy, it seems like it was from another, safer world:

And when Trump was on that call to Zelenskyy he thought he was nothing, a supporting character in the Trump Show, another mark to be exploited. And Zelenskyy has turned out to be a major historical figure. And Trump is now seen as one of the smallest men in history.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) March 10, 2022

Again today -- because people are wringing their hands and can't think of anything else to do -- we keep hearing the No-Fly-Zone-NOW! drumbeat. 

Once again the US and NATO have had to respond that it is both unnecessary, and dangerous:

Too many, inc. Zelenskiy, have developed a No-Fly-Zone fetish, like it's the only military strategy they ever heard of.
Military experts say repeatedly a NFZ would only provoke WW3 & Ukraine can defeat Russia's army & missiles using the weapons the West is now delivering.

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) March 9, 2022

Ukraine: What the Libya War tells us about Why we Really don't want a NATO No-Fly Zone https://t.co/o4ROU4O7Co via @jricole

— Juan Cole (@jricole) March 9, 2022

This is why we don't need and are not doing a "no-fly zone" in Ukraine. https://t.co/IweaF4vQw8

— StrictlyChristo🇺🇦 (@StrictlyChristo) March 10, 2022

I do not criticize any Ukrainian trying to get help in any way they can. But you can't watch the Russian military in deep trouble in Ukraine, where their plans have gone to shit, and they're forced to resort to Syria and Chechnya tactics, and think: "And now the dash for Warsaw." https://t.co/XHYfM8PukO

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) March 10, 2022

I was glad to see China is starting to acknowledge that this is endangering us all:

China’s President Xi Jinping called for 'maximum restraint' after Russia invaded Ukraine and said Beijing is 'pained to see the flames of war reignited in Europe' ⤵️ https://t.co/LTLNL6kUZ6

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 10, 2022

Finally, something a little humorous:

Remember the good old days when people were just mad at Russia for cheating in the Olympics?

— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) March 6, 2022