What can I say but thanks for stating what has been clear. That western liberal democratic values are not shared by everyone, and those who believe they are, are deluded. In the end power matters. My greatest disappointment this week (although I burst into laughter at the time) - hearing my boss, UN SG António Guterres, and a former president of the Socialist International, use a line straight out of a John Lennon song in his first comments after Putin announced his invasion - "give peace a chance". The man is 73, but talks like a 15 year old; still isn't that the very definition of an international socialist.

While I do believe that you only stated truths here, you should not talk about military might. Warfare today depends on the willingness of being submissive to M.A.D. and Russia is overusing this card. It has nothing to do with military might, that ridiculously enough is struggling to take over a militia.

Thank goodness for serious and honest historians like David Starkey.

Thankyou

I don't think I've ever heard a talk with which I've agreed so completely.

Ironically, part of Dr. Starkey's lesson is that, in essence, it has been given many times in the past and ignored, and our leaders will still keep ignoring it. When given the choice between war and dishonour, our leaders have invariably chosen dishonour, but they got war.

It's all well and good to condemn aggressive action, generally. The calcification of resignation for history to repeat itself is grounded in the non-response false narrative which is to ignore just security concerns and factual history concerning Russia's possession of eastern parts of the Ukraine going back to when Poland-Lithuania holding the west mutated the language and the culture.

Starkey follows my analysis of Ukraine very closely. One thing Starkey misses out is the unreliability of Russian technology and manufacture, which may leave the Russian army with broken tanks strewn all over the battlefield. See my analysis of this, taken from first-hand experience. See my analysis on the Nutrient Nirvana video channel. Apologies for the poor internet connection, but I live in the sticks. Ralph Ellis

@@DonBean-ej4ouThe standing joke used to be that, after turning up late for the previous two world wars, the USA was determined to be early for the third. Ironically, after committing trillions of dollars and the lives of countless thousands of its citizens to protect America (and the 'Free World') from totalitarianism (dressed up as: 'Communism', 'Soviet Socialism', 'National Socialism', 'Imperialism', 'Islamism', etc.), lately essentially the same Trojan Horse has been dragged into the republic smothered in fake tan and draped in the stars and stripes. Hopefully, the old adage will still hold true, that: “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.”

@@DonBean-ej4ou at the cost of their citizens

The truth is that a large number of people in Russia want a new empire but here is the question far do they actually want that empire to stretch? Most people do not seem to understand how wide they want their influence to go. I may surprise people to find they want it to stretch from the Bering Sea to the Atlantic Ocean with them hold everything in between. And the subjugated areas are not going to be free.

Can you not make up your own mind?

@@garymitchell5899 Indeed, I certainly had my own thoughts about Starkey’s comments. Yet Alex and Alexander are always able to bring their own wisdom and perspective to an answer some one gives. I’m merely expressing my respect for them and their experience, that’s all. I don’t think I indicated an inability to think my own thoughts, but rather an interest in gathering more information about an enormously complex situation. (Edited for typo)

Any student of history, as I formally was, uses all sources available to uncover the truth as far as it's possible to discern.

@@bighands69 so, the French, Germans, Italians, Spanish, etc (Britain?) are going to let themselves be subjugated? You do have to be careful poking the beast (that conquered the world) or it may wake up.

While the west has made mistakes it cannot really behold directly responsible for what is developing in the east. If the west was to try and get directly involved in the east it would still get push back. The only way this could have really been avoid was after the collapse of the USSR if the west with force had of went into Russia and took over the place and installed their own leadership but that would still have got us to where we currently are only it would have happened 25 years ago.

@@bighands69 you make absolutely no sense. When the wall came down in 89. Russia was never vulnerable. It always had neuclear deterent. Can't you see Putin will not allow NATO up to his border, which was his fear, with Ukraine expressing interest in NATO. Do you seriously believe USA would stand for russian military on the Mexican or Canadian border? I thought not. Remember USA action when Russia had missiles in Cuba?

​@@bighands69 Do you ever step back and wonder what "the West" even is? If it's the people, history and values, then what are those? The people: a multicultural nation of immigrants. The history: racism and sexism. The values: Globalism, LGBTQ+, Progressivism, Eco-lunacy, Managerialism, Divesity, Equity, Inclusion, and censorship, corporate partnership and the law to enforce all this. If anything, it would be even more terrifying if our elite were more competent and confident in the use of force because they would use it to do even more terrible things. I will always be on the side of my country's people, but it's like a body-snatcher has flayed the country and is wearing it as a hideous skin suit. This freak is now dancing in my face and demanding I show patriotism toward it. Think of a patriotic Russian in 1930 being asked to bow before the Soviet regime. I would take up arms if it came to a 1942 situation, but other than that, I would secretly wish for my elite to face defeat.

Spokes 101 Yeah , Well it's the Leaders who have caused it all and cowardly hide behind Putin , using him as their scapegoat because it is extremely important that they don't get found out exposed ? Putin has been misrepresented as public enemy number one I myself have never seen it that way Putin never wanted to be a leader ( in my opinion a sign of a good natural leader ) I believe they want to topple Putin like Gadaffi and other leaders because once they get into Russia properly there is only 100 years of resources waiting for them ? So yeah they need Russia and yeah they want rid of its leader to set up their NWO !

Leaders? Do you mean the largely mealy mouthed followers of fashion which clutter the House of Commons at our expense?

You can still fail those courses, but you have to have certain immutable, European, characteristics. Or should I say more accurately, you have to _be failed_ from those courses.

I've not actually taken the courses right through (full year or more with examination etc) but have attended many a lecture and discussion, and what seemed to be doable was to use jargonista filler so long as the sentiment - Europeans and anything civilizationally attributable to this group being bad, implicitly if not overtly, with the philosophical quandaries being the extent to which these perceived pathologies are conscious/intentional or dangerous ignorance - was rightly oriented. It did seem to be of interest that the European/colonial progressivism would itself have to be torn apart, albeit much later than the pressing issues of the imposing -ists, -isms & -phobias. What did not seem to be an endearing direction to take was that of applying the deconstructive, reductionist, critical lens to those very concepts, of like origin to the maligned concepts, which are held in near religious esteem and which have so much utility to these new brave souls; namely those notions of Progress, Equality, Secularism, Human Rights, and that whole slew of Idols. It was a tad strange given that receptivity to the eventuality of euro/colonial prog-liberal infrastructure having to be overcome was something to ponder, but clearly naming the particular concepts and highlighting that by the otherwise haughtily accepted rationale so too would these be relics of the ingrained, inseparable -isms for which the rest must be conquered. Im quite tempted to write up some works that take that line to see what broader reception might be had, haha

Starkey follows my analysis of Ukraine very closely. One thing Starkey misses out is the unreliability of Russian technology and manufacture, which may leave the Russian army with broken tanks strewn all over the battlefield. See my analysis of this, taken from first-hand experience. See my analysis on the Nutrient Nirvana video channel. Apologies for the poor internet connection, but I live in the sticks. Ralph Ellis

Could probably add a late 20th century version of this: it's a mistake to expect despots to behave as they did when they actually were at school in Winchester.

@@corneliuscapitalinus845 EH?

Plus I would not trust any historian who changes his viewpoint for the fashionable thinking of the day, over facts. To stand with facts despite not being popular at the moment is crucial. We need more of that. To go back and colour history with our modern sensitivities, notions, values, may suit some, but completely negates the truth. A great disservice. We are only fooling ourselves. History is often not pretty. Not Kumba Ya! We cannot sanitize it or judge it from our modern viewpoint. We have to allow history to live in it’s time. As imperfect or appalling as it may be to some of us.

@@DreamsSketcher Yes. IMO, David Starkey is rigorous and erudite toward his approach to history and analysis. I was mostly convinced of this after watching two of his videos - 'Interpretations of History' and 'Really Bad History'. It is the methodology, the approach to the subject that caught my interest. Your other point is regarding presentism, also known as retrospective bigotteering. In the case of recent cultural events I think it is moral presentism that is at work for political and quasi religious reasons.

His history seems fine. It is his viewpoint. But he is indeed old fashioned in his political.outlook. And what does woke mean? A person who believes in social justice and equality? Then I sign up.to the club! I think he is a rather outdated old schoolboy. He should keep to.writing about the Royals. That is his scholarship, and leave schoolgirls alone.

@@chowes41 woke is a religion and nothing more. It helps no one. It harms many. If you were using your human skills of observation and critique you would know that.

@@nonfictionone Please use your '"skills of critique" as you put it, to tell me why social equality and justice is a 'religion'. I do not believe in God. I do know how to use these skills, which is why I would like to know why forwarding a society in which equality is a valuable asset "harms many".

It's a shame that Stakey has effectively been banned from speaking on the BBC.

Just because it was easy to understand does not make it better. David is historian, but BBC is news. You do not blame ice hockey team for being shitty in basketball game. I'm happy that you made an effort and listened to historian, but do not blame BBC for not spoon-feeding all you want to know.

@@iamnooneu.k.1957 are you really comparing us to Russia?

How far back do we go with History, nana? What right have the Russians to their territory? What right have any of us to a grain of soil?

@@David-cm4ok I think it's undeniable. There are a list of opinions one cannot hold and words one cannot say. At the least you will be censored and in many cases arrest and prosecution will follow

I am not a European so I've no emotions attached with whatever happened in the past wars or cold wars in Europe. But I've read little bit history and it helps. For example if you read a master piece "The Great Game" you'd know there's a deeply entrenched russophobia in English speaking media and UK parliment since last 2 centuries, there were guys 2 centuries ago who were paranoid about the Russian invasion of Delhi, Indian subcontinent and they were the one who started great game with Russia which ended in 1990. Now as Europe is aligned with UK and USA this russiohobia has sunk into Europe. You'd see Switzerland which was neutral during WW2 and bankrolled the genocide of Jews is taking side against Russia. I know Russia has her own share of mess but amount of russophobia in Europe doesn't justify it.

@@David-cm4ok you might have the lowest IQ take on any subject I’ve EVER seen on any comments section.

Blair has destroyed BRITIAN

@@risenshine2783 Not yet, take heart friend.

Blair is a war criminal

Blair has done far more than destroy Britain, he has destroyed the West. What's more the MSM keeps giving the war criminal airtime. If he now blabbers on about Ukraine he should be challenged on Serbia

@@theresagwhite3175 Blair is just "a" criminal.

There's a difference between power and force. By showing force you're actually showing your lack of power. And Mr Putin as an individual will certainly lack power in a very short space of time.

@@zootsoot2006 nice example of why we're here. Smart asses arguing over words whilst others are getting their might together ready to smash anyone that's in their way.

@@barrychuckle5565 Throw your words away then and pick up a stick, goddam you.

Yep, he absolutely nails it.

@@zootsoot2006 nice observation.

Amen.

The only problem with that is other countries have a Big stick aswell now. Try using the carrot you get more with that.

Are vegans the symptom or the cause ?

@Gethin Hooper What you're describing isn't liberalism; it's financialization. And you're right: allowing the oligarchs of the big banks and hedge funds to "rationalize" the economies of the great powers in their own interests has totally emasculated us.

The Russian military has a lot of mechanical breakdowns and cheap Chinese tyre blow outs . Not buying this invincible russian military thing

All leading up to the inevitable CBDC. Humanity is sleepwalking into slavery. It's all been in the planning for a few decades now.

@@mididoctors okay bro

Thanks for mentioning this I must find this!

I second the above

Yes. After the last 5 years I no longer have any trust in the MSM and feel unable to even entertain the idea that politicians have my best interests at heart.

The Indy’s editorial policy is dictated by a Russian Oligarch and ex-KGB officer.

The HSE would have to be involved for a start.

" legal constraints that make nuclear war almost impossible" hahahahaha BOOM

It just shows how stupid those in power have become. It's that kind of thinking that kills your own people. The only reason Putin wouldn't use nuclear weapons is that he is trying to rebuild the Russian Empire and have that as his legacy.

Given what Russia has shown of its military in the last nine days... Equipment simply breaking down, systems from the 60's still in use, weapons systems being abandoned useless and what they do have being soundly beaten by civilians... Not to mention their armed forces deserting due to a lack of food, water, supplies and fuel... I have doubts any of the Russian nuclear arsenal will even work as intended. In fact if it weren't for the nuclear arsenal, I'd be advocating for a preemptive invasion of Russia to force through a regime change that the public have wanted and been denied for decades. They've shown their army and air force to be utterly pathetic and inconsequential. Now's the time for a preemptive strike whilst half their army is bogged down in a country of mostly civilian insurgents that they still cannot achieve air superiority over.

We have no one in our Political Class who is reliable and trustworthy, those who may be simply do not have a strong enough support base, largely due a diabolical to Media machine and the cognitive dissonance of the British Public...harsh but true and it needs to be said.

Go back and read the diaries of soldiers through the last 200 year they have never been treated well. A very sad fact I am afraid

We can only hope 👏👏

Yes ditch carbon neutral nonsense start digging up Britain's coal and expand oil and gas. 👍 and nuclear

Boris has this week already very slightly moved from absolute net zero to necessary temporary deviation to carbon power if faced with greater threat.

@@beckyweisfeld6977 My comment was rather more focused on farming in 2022. With grain exports from Ukraine and Russia curtailed by war and sanctions, we should be looking to local farming to secure our food supplies this year.

@@beckyweisfeld6977 there is no global warming. I've been waiting for it for 20 years and it hasn't arrived my fuel bills in winter still high.

The biggest issue is that we are talking about the post-nuclear age ... Russia could be stripped out of the map in a second, what he has done is not "military might" ... It's cowardice, Putin prefers to nearly destroy its country in order to stay in power. It's not that he is stupid, he is just desperate.

@@GH-lq9fg The thing is that's not true, Russia is a vast landmass with it's population scattered all over it, plus Russia has actually taken the time to build nuclear shelters for entire cities. The US is nowhere near as big, it's population is massed together in major locations which are at the mercy not just of the blast raduis and fallout of nuclear weapons but the fallout of what they are targetted at, - dams, fault lines, tidal waves etc. Remember it was Trump that scrapped the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty not Putin and it's the US touting the "First Strike" option as a valid military strategy not Russia. I can see where Putin is coming from not wanting the reduced flight times and increased risk of having missiles on his doorstep accompanied by rhetoric and policy like this.

You revealed another problem unwittingly, an addiction to pleasure and avoidance of PAIN. Westerns want comfort, will give away their country and allowed their women to be raped to avoid being called RACIST. Europeans need to seize the historical moment.

@@cannibalholocaust3015 wtf are you talking about? Where are you from?

@@GH-lq9fg Rubbish.

I mostly agree with Dr Starkey however I am absolutely 100% against fracking. It is too damaging to the local ecologies where it is set-up. The future is, and always was, small modular nuclear reactors. The left's ideological disposition against Nuclear Energy has paralysed us. We are, paradoxically, more dependent on fossil fuels now than we would have been with a consistent nuclear energy policy.

Aren't they competing insanities, west and east ? Jane Goodall observed our closest surviving relatives, whose best and bestial behaviours resonate with our own. Perhaps our species is due its Darwin Award, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. As David so masterfully demonstrates, Poisoner Putin is more realistic than our arrogant and condescending establishment. Yet how foolish and delusional is the wise ape, the self-named homo sapiens ? The great brain, the binocular vision & the opposable thumb, all trumped by narcissism.

Insane? Would you like an Eastern outlook instead?

Only common sense for you.

@Ram Rod I think there is an awful.lot of testosterone here. Comparing Trudeau with a schoolgirl. My my..patriarchy always undermines the so called feminine values, such as Liberal humanism, equality and holistic ecological thinking, when it feels under threat. I am sorry to say that I cannot stand Starkey's politics, despite his rather good historical research on the Royals especially. But he is an outdated old fashioned patriarch. Perhaps he should be living in the Victorian era. We can maintain a strong defence at the same time as espousing all those so called feminine values. He speaks just like Putin. He too has anti "schoolgirl" rhetoric. I suppose schoolboys are acceptable though?

@@Paulsyfi These are culturally associated with the female. Thus the arguments forwarded by eco-feminists. Starkey uses the term 16 year old schoolgirl to undermine these values. He uses age and gender as derogatory. And by doing so, falls into the very argument that Putin and his mafiamen uphold.

I think, ultimately, there are probably enough people left who will. But no doubt there's a substantial number who would flee, or refuse to take up arms in defence of the country. It isn't the same country in any meaningful way as it was in 1939 and the balance changes for the worse all the time, I think. I am one of those soft democratic liberals who welcomed mass migration with open arms finding it pleasant to hear foreign languages spoken on our streets, to see the diversification of food and other items in our supermarkets. I didn't anticipate the tremendous damage caused to our society by the presence of millions of people who don't necessarily share our ways, our manners, our values and who only seek a better pay packet and will leave as soon as that narrow financial incentive evaporates while simultaneously the country destroyed its industrial base and effectively converted its service base into clients of China or other foreign powers, that would fold in a moment if the financial interests were threatened. These things are immediately connected; Britain was resilient in the past largely due to its much-mocked "nation of grocers" state. The small businesses in their multitudes and immediate connection to specific places had deep roots, they bought from the larger businesses that were rooted via these smaller firms, and even the largest businesses were often quite localised due to these local incentives. Take the aviation industry focused around the South Midlands and the West of England, largely due to small firms locating there initially and staying even when relocation probably would have made more sense. Today, however, these globalised rootless firms will close any factory or facility that scores poorly in a transient financial climate, uprooting thousands of people or causing them grave hardship. Such people are more likely to become similarly rootless if they follow their jobs around the country (or world), and naturally they lose their immediate connection to home and country. Why stay to defend a home you rent, in a neighbourhood with only shallow acquaintances, a city you've lived in for six months, a country you've lived in for eighteen months?

@@alexmckee4683 thank you for your detailed reply

The trick is to find one that's unbiased, and many are. Real history, as compared to what's peddled by the governments, one will find, is very different.

Ours employs the snake oil salesman David Olosuga

Or at the very least elect prime ministers who understand history. Churchill wrote history to a distinguished level, and Thatcher read history religiously. Since her we've had prime ministers with heads either in the clouds or stuck up their own rear ends.

sadly they, the government only hear what they choose to hear, and hear only what fits or suits their narrative. look at the dis-rest amongst the populace, and how instead of addressing the issues they are grouped together and described as deplorable.

Absolutely, make that a team of scholarly historians in their domestic and foreign office departments!

These days we don't like leaders they get weeded out in most selection processes. Look at the idiots in charge of most of our institutions.

Nato is the military wing of the Woke American Empire and its open borders Globalisation project. Its been surrounding Russia for decades and has overplayed its hand. European Civilisation is being destroyed by the Woke American Empire not Christian conservative Russia.

"...the aim of public education is NOT: ...to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence...Nothing could be farther from the truth. The aim...is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality..." Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through The Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto

@@evolassunglasses4673 Who cares about christian? Both woke america and russia are anti-white

...and good for those countries and their leaders. Our elite's shortsightedness means they deserve to lose. Our elite's imposition of progressivism in social affairs, immigration, education and the economy means that I have no attachment to the regime that rules us.

THIS is the test of the free world, which has been looking drunk and doddery on the throne for some time. Either we stand up and say NO, or our borders start rolling inwards from this point. With terrorists (eg the woke, blm, etc) working at bringing down the culture from within. I don’t want nato fighting Russia that would be WW3, but the free world must act as one to cut Russia out of the world until it utterly capitulates or thus is very much the beginning of the end.

No, it was all too credible.

But the Soviet Union was like a single country. It's only in 1991 that Ukraine became an independent entity.

The issue for the new east is that it will not be able to expand quickly enough to reach the UK. By the time it reaches if it can at all Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and France will have massed armies so large and technical that they will be extremely formidable. And that excludes the Americas.

🤔 hitler did france In six weeks...... With modern tech, cyber. It will be quicker. Do you think the remaining west could do anything? So if the uk has 20'000 fighting strength now In its army, portugul a lot less and spain the same as us. We dont stand a chance, when it comes to numbers. What military industry does spain, portugul have to build a military In six weeks?

@@marktyler3381 Memory holed ???

@@istvanglock7445 Like that.

Its disgusting that you don't think the west did anything to provoke this. This is entirely the fault of the US.

@@henryclamore4791 Dana didn't say that the West was innocent in all of this. Read it again from 'but so many just chose ...' etc.

I don't think we were sleepwalking, we were being intimidated by the liberals with threats of being denounced, losing your job, smeared, you name it. Of course people complied or fell silent! Who wants to lose their source of income? There were only a few who could "afford" to speak out. Now, we should send those same people to the front lines to battle it out. I've always noticed that the people who scream the loudest about being victims are the ones who run the fastest when the sh*t hits the fan, suddenly they can fight for *themselves* and be damned the others. They're real brave to destroy your property but don't you come for them.

@@cosmicmauve I agree with you. By sleepwalking I meant that we allowed it to happened. Just to avoid confrontation. What is the 'most tolerant' group is so good at. But we do need to work on our self reliance. Food, energy, consumer goods, you name it. End 'throwaway' consumerist society and even the 'green targets' will be met instantly.

It's not that our leaders are being told off by highschool girls, it's that these screechers are taken seriously. It amazes me that people with decades of life experience behind them seem to think that a high school girl knows more than they do.

And now we look like getting thousands more refugees pouring in.

Western powers still have a massive level of military capability. Take the US for example it has an airforce that is twice as large as China and Russia combined. The French and British navy would control the mediterranean and Northern Sea's. The Americans will control the Atlantic and Pacific Seas. Once the west realizes what is at stake they will wake from their slumber which is already starting to begin.

Fundamentally, it's not about wokism; it's about international finance buying off the politicians to allow them to offshore our manufacturing, erode our work force's skills base, and dominate our media. They're the termites, and they've hollowed us out from the inside.

They aren’t adversaries until you make them adversaries

@@-M0LE the west particularly the US, needs adversaries to keep the military industrial complex rolling and also justify the continued existence of NATO

Those selfish truckers held us other Canadians hostage in our own city for weeks. They do not understand that freedom is never free, and they are unwilling to make simple and small sacrifices to help their fellow citizens. Those truckers are a vocal but very small minority of entitled fools, who are a national embarrassment. Their protest was not for human rights, it was for special treatment that they certainly do not deserve. The protest was also an excuse for racists and conservative religious zealots to try to disrupt a political system that correctly excludes them.

What treatment? Most of the truckers got off with no consequences. The ringleaders, who were financed by far-right groups in the US wanting to embarrass Trudeau, were jailed and had their bank accounts frozen. You think it's OK to keep a city awake for 3 weeks with 24 hr horn blaring and drunken parties, disrupt businesses and deny them customers? You think it's OK for the truckers at the Alberta/US crossing to harbor an armed group planning to murder police officers? Canada isn't the US. We believe in peace, order, and good government. We don't think individual rights trump societal rights. People are free to demonstrate peacefully, but when they start to seriously disrupt the lives of others, then that's where it ends. Trudeau should have moved in much earlier than he did. These motherfckers are going to find out that breaking the law has consequences. Affected Ottawa citizens and businesses have banded together to sue them for millions of dollars. They'll almost certainly win. In case you didn't know - and I suspect you don't, just being a talking points parrot - Canada is one of the most free countries in the world, far more so than either the UK or US - as numerous international studies have shown.

Our elites are completely captured by the Woke American Empire and its open borders Globalisation project. Unfortunately Globalisation destroyed democracy decades ago.

I would hope they have more sense than what they say in public.

Now we know what the Emperor thinks of this.

In the 1970s, in Australia we manufactured everything we needed, today, like you say, there is little besides food and wine. But worse than this we have, for two years been shown we have no freedoms, not even bodily autonomy. And if war comes what are the values a patriotic person would be willing to risk their life to defend, open borders, late term abortions or gender fluidity being taught to four year olds ?

@@grannyannie2948 What I don't understand is that why should Australia be a part of any war??? Let China and USA fight and you can make money out of it

@@arminius6506 If we had spent the last seventy years building nuclear power and a real defence. We could do so. Only powerful nations like the US in the first half of WW3*, can opt out of war. It is madness we still export coal and iron ore to China to further empower them. What the last decades, and especially the last two years has shown, our politicians think nothing of their country and less about their people. *WW2

@Ram Rod Our governments have been taking orders from globalists like the World Economic Forum.

I believe the wise virgins "trimmed their wicks" so that their lamps burnt brighter.