Sun Tzu, the Chinese theorist of war, wrote that you must always build your opponent a “golden bridge” so that he can find a way to retreat. Can such a bridge be built that would persuade Putin to end his barbaric war against Ukraine? I don’t know. But I do know this – that’s what sober minded and responsible leaders are supposed to do at moments like this!

Am I missing something? Or are U.S. peace organizations flatfooted as the Russian invasion of Ukraine goes into its 4th week? Where are the mass demonstrations demanding a cease fire, withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, suspension of sanctions and arms, and resumption of negotiations between the two governments?

I hear people on the left say that Ukraine is not much more than a nestful of fascists and Nazis as reason to temper their criticism of Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. What is astonishing here? It is the indisputable fact that Putin is an imperialist minded, anti democratic, racist, authoritarian, fascist like leader who enjoys the support of a powerful white Christian, hyper natonalist, cross class constituency in Russia and elsewhere. But that doesn’t seem to register in their thinking in any significant way.