Winter And War
Snow continues to fall. I, the creature of habit, fetched my usual cup of coffee from Starbucks, despite the slippery roads. I returned safely. Perhaps I was a little lucky. No accident and here I am.
One has to be somewhere, as long as one is alive. I’d rather be in Batavia, Illinois than in Ukraine. Russian tanks, artillery and over 100,000 men are poised on the border with Ukraine, 
with reports of three amphibious warfare ships capable of transporting heavy armor leaving Baltic ports a few days ago.
Will today be the day?
In past generations before the industrial age, warfare was not conducted in winter time. The severity of winter conditions made movement of men and animals impractical, and battlefield operations impossible. Spring was the time of conquest. In the modern era, winter is prime time for 
launching an armored assault. Frozen ground supports heavy tanks, and the advance of self propelled artillery. When the “погнали,” (let’s go) is given by Russian generals, where will all of this end?
Will the West respond in time, respond with enough men, with enough will to give pause to the first of many dominoes which will surely fall? Equivocation, a salvo of slippery words is the response so far. Words are well, ambiguous, veiling possibilities. Mere sanctions (which are expected) or the certainty of the sharp edge of shrapnel… Time will tell.
These are some winter photos captured while walking in the woods yesterday. Nature, unlike human machination is clear, as hard edged as life and death.
Enjoy!
