Attorney (USA), mar 40+ yrs, 6 kids, 14 grands, 124 foster kids, TKD 6th Dan, competition pistol, LDS, pepper gardener, former mil officer, adj college faculty.
Nebraska
Joined May 2012
- Tweets16.4K
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- Followers897
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Old Person retweeted
A burning tanker on a Russian train attempting to illegally transport fuel into occupied Ukraine.
Reports say the train was warned by an Ukrainian strike drone.
Old Person retweeted
The visibility of all pro‑Ukrainian accounts, including mine, has dropped dramatically. Please help me fight the algorithm by visiting my profile and boosting posts about today’s Russian war crimes.
Pic for attention.
Old Person retweeted
Day 423 of #GeorgiaProtests
1. Further international isolation of the regime, which is an enabler and sanctions evasion tool in the Russia-Iran-China axis;
2. Further targeted sanctions. It works;
3. Aid to CSOs and independent media.
Please amplify! Thanks!
📷 Merab Metreveli
Old Person retweeted
‼️ Ukraine CANNOT Launch Tomahawks!
It must be understood that Tomahawk strikes into Russia must necessarily be launched from the Aegis Ashore installations in Poland and/or Romania, or by the US Navy.
Ukraine is irrelevant to the question of Tomahawk strikes against Russia.
Old Person retweeted
Dear Viktor,
I understand that there is an election campaign in your country, and that this time you are truly being challenged for power.
But we do not interfere in your election campaign, nor do we want to become part of it.
Sweden and the Swedish people have always been friends of Hungary and the Hungarian people, as you know. We were friends of Hungary before your government, during your government, and we will remain so after your government.
We remember when Hitler’s genocide of Jews struck Hungary, and how Sweden in 1944 sent diplomat Raoul Wallenberg on a special mission to Budapest, to save as many Hungarian lives as possible.
Tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews survived because we provided them with provisional protective passports and citizenship here in Sweden. When the Soviet Union later invaded Hungary, Raoul Wallenberg was forcibly taken to Moscow and disappeared.
The Swedish diplomat died, but tens of thousands of Hungarian lives were saved. We would do it again.
We also remember when the Soviet Union brutally crushed your Hungarian struggle for democracy and freedom in 1956, and when Prime Minister Imre Nagy was later executed for his efforts to democratize the country.
When Russian tanks crushed the Hungarian freedom struggle, the Hungarian people pleaded with the UN and all Western powers for help. Almost no one listened.
But one country that showed deep solidarity with you was Sweden.
We opened our arms to your freedom fighters and dissidents. We allowed you to build exile opposition against Soviet communism here, despite our non-alignment. It was not without risk for us. But we did it anyway—because it was the right thing to do.
Today, over 40,000 people of Hungarian descent live in Sweden, many of whom are descendants of the Hungarian refugees who came here in connection with the 1956 uprising. They are a well-integrated immigrant group in our Swedish society.
Democratic states help each other, then and now. And they stand up against countries that try to oppress others.
That is why, just as in 1944 and 1956, we support democratic countries that Russian tanks try to overrun. Back then, it was about Hungary; today, it is about Ukraine. And if we do not act, it could be about another country tomorrow.
This is also why we often express concern about the developments in Hungary in recent years. Hungary ultimately regained its freedom, but freedom must also be defended.
That is why we question when you go to have coffee with the leader of the same country that crushed your compatriots’ freedom struggle in 1956 and that today attacks your neighbour, Ukraine.
Hungary and the West are not strengthened by closing the door to their European friends or by attacking each other and the very things that distinguish us from barbarism — democracy and the rule of law.
Let me conclude with some wise words from yourself in 2007:
“As kind of a new generation of the West, our message to those younger than we is to stick to a Western type Hungary, not to let Hungary be derailed from its Western path, and to love that Hungary is a Western type country, which means that we believe in the free will of people and in the mutual responsibility towards each other that we take upon us, which are inseparable parts of Western culture.
The oil might come from the east, but freedom always comes from the west. And democracy cannot be directed from above, it can only grow from the hearts of people and in this way create a viable, Hungarian life.”
Finally, I wish to convey Sweden’s respect for the Hungarian people, and to wish your country a free, peaceful, and successful election.
Old Person retweeted
ME: Grok, tell what dictator Putin has done to all independent media after they start to criticize him and what happened to most of all serious journalists who criticize Putin and his team?
GROK:
### Suppression of Independent Media in Russia Under Putin
Since Vladimir Putin first became acting president in 1999 and was elected in 2000, his regime has systematically dismantled independent media outlets that criticize him, his policies, or the government. This process has evolved from early takeovers and financial pressures to outright shutdowns, especially accelerating after the 2011–2013 protests and the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The goal has been to create a media landscape dominated by state-controlled or Kremlin-aligned outlets, turning journalism into a tool for propaganda rather than accountability. Russia's media environment now ranks among the world's least free, with the country at 164th out of 180 in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), down from 148th in 2014.
Key tactics include:
- **Ownership Changes and Takeovers**: Putin has forced "disloyal" oligarchs and owners to sell media assets to Kremlin allies or state entities. For instance, in 2001, the independent TV channel NTV, owned by Vladimir Gusinsky, was seized after critical coverage of the Chechen wars; it was restructured under state control and became a pro-Kremlin outlet. Similarly, in 2013, Putin dissolved the semi-independent state news agency RIA Novosti via decree, replacing it with the propaganda arm Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today), leading to mass layoffs and the shutdown of independent projects. Between 2011 and 2016, over 12 major newsrooms with nationwide reach changed ownership under government pressure, all previously known for honest reporting.
- **Legal and Regulatory Harassment**: Laws enacted since 2012 have enabled censorship, including the "foreign agents" designation (expanded in 2017), which labels independent outlets or NGOs receiving foreign funding as threats, forcing them to register, disclose finances, and add disclaimers to every publication—effectively bankrupting them through legal costs and advertiser flight. Roskomnadzor, Russia's media regulator, blocks websites, issues warnings, and fines violators. By 2022, around 1.2 million internet sites were blocked, including social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (now X). The 2022 "fake news" law, signed by Putin, criminalizes any reporting contradicting the Kremlin's narrative on the Ukraine war (e.g., calling it a "war" instead of a "special military operation"), punishable by up to 15 years in prison. This prompted self-censorship and closures.
- **Shutdowns and Blocks**: Post-2022 invasion, nearly all remaining independent media were shuttered or exiled. Echo of Moscow (Ekho Moskvy), a 32-year-old liberal radio station, ceased broadcasting on March 3, 2022, after Kremlin pressure. TV Rain (Dozhd), the last independent TV channel, stopped operations the same day and moved online-only before being blocked. Novaya Gazeta, a Nobel Prize-winning investigative paper founded in 1993, suspended operations on March 28, 2022, after two "foreign agent" warnings; it now operates in exile as Novaya Gazeta Europe from Latvia. Other outlets like Meduza, The Moscow Times, and MediaZona were blocked or labeled "undesirable organizations" (a 2015 law banning any cooperation with them, punishable by fines or jail). Foreign media like BBC, CNN, and Bloomberg suspended operations in Russia for staff safety. By mid-2022, RSF described this as the "final blow" to independent media, reducing free press to levels below the late Soviet era.
- **Broader Control Mechanisms**: Internet censorship laws since 2011–2013 have enabled surveillance and throttling of dissent. YouTube faces slowdowns as of 2024 to curb anti-war content. State subsidies for regional newspapers were centralized in 2000, giving the press ministry leverage. Advertising booms since 2022 have bypassed independents, favoring state media. Critics argue Putin allows token independent voices (e.g., small online outlets) to deflect international criticism while ensuring they pose no real threat.
This has created a near-total monopoly: Over 90% of Russians now rely on state TV or Kremlin-friendly platforms for news, fostering propaganda that justifies wars and silences opposition. As one analyst noted, "Russia’s independent media are being silenced to death."
### Fate of Serious Journalists Criticizing Putin and His Team
Journalists who critically report on Putin, corruption, human rights abuses (especially in Chechnya), or the Ukraine war face severe repercussions: imprisonment, exile, physical attacks, or death. Since 2000, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented 43 media workers killed in Russia, with at least 25 in direct retaliation for their work—more than in any country except war zones like Iraq during that period. Investigations into these cases are often stalled or superficial, with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in multiple instances (e.g., Anna Politkovskaya's case) that Russia failed to protect journalists or pursue masterminds. Putin has been accused of fostering an environment of impunity, with critics like Reporters Without Borders labeling Russia a "predator" against the press.
Common outcomes:
- **Murders and Assassinations**: At least 21 journalists have been killed since 2000, many in contract-style hits. Prominent examples:
- Anna Politkovskaya (2006): Shot in her Moscow apartment building on Putin's birthday. She exposed Chechen war crimes and criticized Putin's policies in books like *Putin's Russia*. Five low-level perpetrators were convicted, but organizers remain at large; Western media accused Putin of failing to protect independents.
- Natalia Estemirova (2009): Abducted and shot in Chechnya; she documented abuses by pro-Putin forces, continuing Politkovskaya's work.
- Yuri Shchekochikhin (2003): Died from apparent poisoning after investigating corruption tied to Putin's inner circle.
- Other Novaya Gazeta staff: Six killed overall, including Dmitry Muratov's contributors, for war and corruption reporting.
Patterns include shootings near homes or offices, often unsolved. Boris Nemtsov (2015), an opposition leader and Putin critic, was assassinated near the Kremlin; while not a journalist, his death highlighted the risks for media allies.
- **Poisonings and Suspicious Deaths**: Exiled critics face extraterritorial attacks. Alexander Litvinenko (2006), a former KGB officer turned journalist, was poisoned with polonium-210 in London after accusing Putin of corruption and the 1999 apartment bombings; a UK inquiry blamed Putin. Sergei Magnitsky (2009), whose case inspired anti-corruption reporting, died in custody from neglect after exposing fraud linked to Putin officials.
- **Imprisonment and Prosecution**: Hundreds face charges under "fake news," "extremism," or "foreign agent" laws. Vladimir Kara-Murza (sentenced to 25 years in 2023) survived two poisonings before conviction for "treason" over anti-war speeches. Ivan Safronov (2020) got 22 years for "state secrets" after reporting on military failures. Evan Gershkovich (Wall Street Journal, detained 2023) faces espionage charges for routine journalism; he's one of over 20 journalists jailed as of 2024. Post-2022, at least 30 journalists were prosecuted for war coverage.
- **Exile and Harassment**: Thousands have fled, including editors from Echo of Moscow and TV Rain. Many are labeled "foreign agents" (over 200 media workers by 2023), forcing self-censorship or relocation to Latvia or Lithuania. Harassment includes raids, fines, and travel bans. As of 2025, outlets like Byline Times report their contributors sanctioned by Russia for exposing war crimes.
In summary, most serious critics end up dead, jailed, or in exile, with the regime rarely held accountable. As Garry Kasparov noted, this mirrors Putin's broader consolidation of power, where media control is central to his dictatorship. Independent voices persist in exile via VPNs and platforms like Telegram, but their reach inside Russia is severely limited.
xitter.cf/i/grok/share/gglYInoJh…
Old Person retweeted
Russia is dragging out the war against Ukraine for one reason only – it has the money to keep the war going. All sanctions that restrict Russia help bring peace. All weapons that strengthen Ukraine help bring peace. All political actions that isolate Russia help bring peace.
I am grateful to President Trump @POTUS for his determination to end the war and for the corresponding pressure from the United States – a shift in sentiment is already being felt in Russia, and new decisive steps, new strong sanctions will push the Russians toward peace.
I thank everyone in Europe and around the world who, together with the U.S., supports Ukraine, strengthens our air defense, our front line, and all efforts in the name of peace.
Old Person retweeted
Mr President, your policy towards Russia is not working. While we negotiate, Putin bombs Ukrainian cities. Here is Kyiv today. It is time to change strategy. We and our allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth & we need the toughest sanctions. Putin is mocking you and America.
Old Person retweeted
Amplifying this translation of a powerful open letter to Trump from a Ukrainian doctor, on several Ukrainian FB pages. I believe it was first posted in late February.
Ukrainian doctor's appeal to Trump
You want to talk about "peace agreements," Mr. Trump? Then listen to me, a doctor who puts the torn bodies of children on the operating table every day! Who cuts off fragments from their brains with a scalpel, who wipes blood from the eyes of mothers who have lost everything! Are you talking about "giving up territories"? I will show you the territories: these are pieces of muscle on the asphalt near Mariupol. These are baby strollers crushed by tanks in Bucha. These are burned-out school classrooms in Chernihiv, where children managed to write "HELP" in chalk on the blackboards before they were killed.
Do you dare to accuse us?
Are we to blame for the fact that Russian executioners rape women in basements? For killing prisoners by shooting them in the back of the head? For spreading cluster bombs along civilian evacuation corridors? Your logic is the logic of a rapist: "It's your own fault that you didn't submit." Do you want us to "not lose land"? So why don't you say this to Putin, who slaughtered entire villages in the Kherson region? Why don't you threaten him, and not us - those who defend themselves with old machine guns against his army?
Your "negotiations" are a spit in the face of thousands of my colleagues who died under shelling of hospitals. Do you know what it's like to work in a basement without light, without antibiotics, without morphine, when a child dies in your arms from pain? Have you ever heard a person scream when their leg is amputated without anesthesia? Is this your "small loss of land"? Is this what you are kicking us out of the negotiating table for?!
You call Putin a "genius"? Then genius is the ability to burn people in their homes. This is a scorched earth tactic, when only corpses and mines remain after the occupiers.
Do you admire his "smartness"? He is smart as a plague rat: he knows how to escape responsibility, hide behind civilians, shoot with nuclear threats. And you, like a child playing with fire, want to make him a world leader.
Your plan is not peace. It is euthanasia for Ukraine. You propose to lift sanctions? That is, give Russia money for new tanks. Western technology for their kamikaze drones. Do you want to return them to the G7? As if they don't bomb gas stations so that we freeze in winter. They don't steal Ukrainian children. They don't destroy our museums, churches, theaters - everything that makes us a people.
You ask why we don't make concessions? Because every one of your "deals" stinks of corpses. Do you want us to give up even more territories? So that millions of Ukrainians live under Russian machine guns? So that my fellow doctors hide in bomb shelters again when Putin breaks this "deal" too?
You say: "The war could have been stopped without casualties." Lie. It didn't start in 2022. It started when Russia seized Crimea, when the world was silent. When the first bodies with tied hands disappeared in Donbas. Do you think that if we surrender now, it will end? No. Putin will come later. And then you will justify him again: "Oh, he's just restoring the empire, he's a genius!".
And what will you say to the families of the 15-year-old girl who was shot by the Russians on her bicycle? That her death is a "small loss of land"? Will you tell her mother that she "doesn't deserve a seat at the table"? That her daughter died because Ukraine "didn't agree"?
We are not asking you to fight for us. We asked for weapons - you gave them too late. We asked for sanctions - you relaxed them. But now you want to become an accomplice in genocide. Because when you lift sanctions, when you recognize the occupation - you give Russia a license to kill. Every dollar that Putin receives will become a bullet in the body of my patient. Every compromise you make is a new corpse.
I am a doctor. I swear to save lives. And you, Mr. Trump, swear to take them away. Don't you want to hear our voice? Then listen to our sirens. Our cries. Our curses. Do you want to be friends with Russia? Then be friends. But know this: history will not forgive you for this. Every child killed by Russian weapons, every raped woman, every burned doctor is your joint responsibility with Putin.
We will not be your "victims of politics". We are a nation that survives despite your cynical indifference. And when you celebrate your deal with the dictator, remember: we are already building new hospitals in the destroyed territories. And in each of them there will be a poster: Death to fascism. Shame on the traitors.
Old Person retweeted
If you’re serious about defending democracy, help me amplify this message.👇🏻
Tomorrow, EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss Georgia. On June 26, the European Council gathers.
These meetings are a test of Europe’s commitment to its values.
Russia’s war doesn’t always arrive with tanks. In Georgia, it comes through a captured regime, propaganda, rigged elections, and the jailing of protesters, activists, journalists, and opposition leaders.
This is not about Georgia alone — this is about whether Putin’s hybrid war can win inside Europe!
Here is what you can do:
1. Freeze EU funds to the regime
2. Sanction Ivanishvili & his circle
3. Demand free and fair parliamentary elections
4. Demand the immediate release of political prisoners
5. Fund independent media & civil society
6. Build a joint EU–UK–US pressure group
If Europe looks away now, history will not be the only judge — the price will be paid in freedom, in security, and lives.
@eu_eeas @EUCouncil @kajakallas
#StandWithGeorgianPeople
#GeorgiaIsEurope
Old Person retweeted
Please ask your Heavenly Father for blessings and guidance for the important decisions you need to make.
Share with Him your hopes, dreams, and desires.
Answers to your prayers will come.
Old Person retweeted
Gen. Petraeus says if Russia prevails in Ukraine, they'll invade Lithuania next to test NATO's resolve. He is not alone in assessing that Russia is threatening the Baltic countries, the most Pro-American & Pro-Western countries in the world. It is in our national security interest Ukraine prevails & defeats this Russian invasion.
dailymail.co.uk/news/article…
