First things first: Glad to announce the keys lost last week were retrieved by owner. That’s worth at least one Yippee! Also, I’ve received another silver disk! The FBI is on it.

*****
Now for a comment I’ve needed to make for a long time about the management of the Ukrainian war, then to a response to Kelly Scoles’s letter.

I make no mystery of my opinions on President Trump’s bad (foreign) policies, and the domestic which I mostly praise. I also admit I’m not a “yes-man.” When the President makes serious mistakes (sometimes egregious, again mostly foreign policy) I have to sound off (because I’m sure he reads the Gazette). Even the most gifted leaders need to hear from their loyal troops. Otherwise, he’s doomed by uncontrolled hubris, and having listened to those yes-men.

Trump’s greatest weakness lies in his need for recognition of his global leadership, and reluctance to take advice from even loyal contrary sources. This causes him to miss out on the invaluable experience and advice of others. For example, he ignores trustworthy military luminaries like Mike Pompeo, Gen. David Petraeus, Gen. Christopher Caroli, Gen. Jack Keane, and Gen. Ben Hodges. There are several others. Most of the best seem to be retired. I am especially impressed with Ben Hodges and Jack Keane. These are rich military resources largely wasted on Trump, many on purely personal grounds. Had these men been retained from the beginning I believe Ukraine would have defeated Russia by now. Also, had the U.S., Europe, NATO, the EU and the rest of the Free World seen the danger clearly and provided ALL necessary munitions and financial assistance QUICKLY, Russia would have exhausted itself.

We were timid and cowardly, and acted reluctantly, and squeamishly. We all gave some, some a lot, but not what we knew was ENOUGH.

We have been too late in acknowledging our mutual enemies, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Now we scramble to meet that enemy at the gate. This meeting of Trump with Putin in Alaska is a farce! Trump is an easy target for Putin. Putin should not be rewarded for his murders and the demolition of Ukraine, a sovereign democracy. He should take NOTHING. He is in a panicked race to take a part of Ukraine before his robber fiefdom goes bankrupt – like the Soviet Union. An invincible full press was needed yesterday.

As to Trump’s unfathomable remarks about Ukraine, to Zelenskyy, “You should have never started the war, you could have given up land” (BBC News) “Trump Says Ukraine “Should Have Never Started” War With Russia.” (10 News First.) “I’m disappointed [with Ukraine]. If I were President, it would never have happened.” “You don’t start a war with someone 20 times your size.” (YouTube). I can’t stand to find more of these false, stupid quotes. They are so revoltingly ignorant they almost turn me away from MAGA, saved only by domestic wins. We (US, NATO, EU. et al) will pay dearly for letting Ukraine slip away into the criminal communist hands of that demonic Federation – at infinitely greater cost.

*****
Mr. President: Don’t confuse the victim with the killer! You have done a great job of halting illegal immigration but have utterly failed to stop Putin. Statistics tell us “1,200 men are killed in combat today.” “More recently, Ukraine has reported even higher numbers, with over 1,270 Russian troops lost in a single 24-hour period, according to (The National Interest).”

You gave 30 days to get a ceasefire, then 10 days. At 30 - we lose 36,000 men. At 10 days we lose 12,000. Do you see any urgency here? Do you think Putin does?

*****
Well, I got carried away and lost a lot of space. Sorry, Kelly.

Kelly, I’m confronted with a crisis of logic as I read your letter. The very high status in which I hold women is only magnified by my condemnation of abortion. It is not an “absurd claim”, its honorable, it is profoundly Christian, it is to protect uniquely eternal human souls, the tinniest, most beautiful preborn boys and girls. Only the female human being is capable of generating new life. It is her greatest human distinction of which men must be forever in awe and a perpetual state of protection. Human life is the first and greatest gift of God, without which no other is possible. Far from “denying their humanity in the control of their own bodies” as you say, Christians rejoice in the exquisite glory of a newborn baby – because it is made “in the image and likeness of God.” And, “Blessed art thou [Mary] among women… and blessed is the fruit of thy womb [Jesus]. “Holy Mary, Mother of God….”

God bless all mothers with their newborn babies; keep them safe.