Congratulations Jessica, you have achieved that which few have managed on this platform, and no doubt far more than many who denigrate your point of view, which is, engagement. Every writer's dream surely.

Whether your opinions be right, wrong, lacking in research and experience, or a cocktail in-between, it has created debate, thought, and riled emotions in many minds too idle to structure an argument. The article has nurtured discourse from a varied and sometimes informed lot who contribute to the comments section. Bravo.

If what comes to pass is; the loss of the Ukraine as we know it to Putin and thereby the loss of cheap oil to Europe and 25% of the world wheat exports (the two nations output combined), in conjunction with the costly Chinese repression of semiconductor-laden, high tech Taiwan, and for measure joined by the radical criminal hacker base of North Korea as it invades the South (and perhaps in hubris Japan), what will we have?

Three large armed forces dangling at the behest of three communist/autocratic nations controlled by calculating, unscrupulous, virtual dictators.

This trio, controlling over a quarter of the earth's population will rage and rattle their sabers against any group who should challenge them.

Economic sanctions will wither.

Bombast will be laughed at.

Nuclear, biological, and EMP threats will be impotent.

The one aspect they cannot control is the one that has served them so well, the information access of the masses and their right to self-determination and individual thought.

Misinforming their countries has maintained their status.

Misinforming the West has boosted their options. Eventually such a charade fall to pieces, probably after a horrendous number of deaths and abuse of the planet, but intelligence and humanity will come to the fore.

We must live in hope. Hope is unique and indestructible among homosapiens.

To hope or not to hope? That is the core of humanity.

Thanks for your work, Jessica.

K