Putin’s Getting Ready for More Land Grab. US Laughs It Off.

Hi Global Recap readers,

Today, we’ve got a story of one of the biggest copium inhalers in geopolitics.

• First, Putin signs a decree that lays the groundwork for more land grabs in the future - including Alaska.

• The US laughs it off.

• Then Medvedev frantically inhales it to cope.

🌐 Around the world:

• 🕵️ CIA baits Russians.

• 🇺🇸 US shows Taiwan support.

• 🇺🇦 Ukrainian POWs shot down.

• 🇰🇵 Peace monument: Destroyed.

• 🇷🇺 Putin’s getting ready for more land grab. US laughs it off.

Let’s get into today’s news.

🕵️ CIA’s Russian Bait

The CIA released a new video targeting potential Russian informants who are unhappy with their country’s involvement in the war in Ukraine.

• Story: The video shows a fictional father reflecting on his life and his son's future while criticizing the corruption and greed of the Russian elites.

• Tactic: This is the third video of its kind, which the CIA claims is an effective way to recruit spies from Russia. They even have a YouTube playlist of such videos.

• Reaction: Meanwhile, Russia mocked the CIA’s efforts on Tuesday.

*VKontakte is a popular Russian social media platform, similar to Facebook.

Click for more

🇺🇸 US Backs Taiwan

Two US lawmakers landed in Taipei, showing support for Taiwan post-election.

• Lawmakers: The visit, led by Representatives Mario Diaz Balart and Ami Bera, co-chairs of the US House of Representatives Taiwan Caucus, comes after the Democratic Progressive Party secured a third term.

• Aim: Reaffirm US support, express solidarity in democratic values, and explore opportunities to strengthen economic and defense ties.

• US Policy: When asked about his reaction to the Taiwanese elections, President Biden sparked controversy by stating that the US does not support Taiwan’s independence. Yet, this “strategic ambiguity” policy, where the US unofficially treats Taiwan as sovereign while not formally recognizing it, has been in place for years.

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🇺🇦 Ukrainian POWs Shot Down

Russia accused Ukraine of deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport plane carrying captured Ukrainian soldiers on Wednesday.

• Crash: The plane crashed near the Russian city of Belgorod, killing all 74 people on board, including six Russian crew members and three guards.

• Denial: Ukraine said it was clarifying what happened and did not confirm or deny the accusation.

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🇰🇵 Peace Monument: Destroyed

North Korea has reportedly demolished a monument that symbolized peace and reunification with South Korea, according to satellite images.

The decision reflects the deteriorating relations between the two countries, as Kim Jong Un ramps up his nuclear and missile programs and calls South Korea a "primary foe".

• Monument: The Arch of Reunification was built in 2001 by Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, after a historic inter-Korean summit in 2000.

• Demolition: Kim Jong Un ordered the removal of the monument, calling it an "eyesore" and a "concept that must be completely eliminated".

Click for more

Russia

Putin’s Getting Ready for More Land Grab. US Laughs It Off.

🌍 Putin’s Wants More. A recent decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin has caught global attention. It pertains to Russia’s “historical real estate holdings” overseas. In essence, it’s laying the foundation for potential future territorial claims.

🏰 The Decree Details. Putin’s recent decree sets aside funds for identifying, registering, and legally safeguarding Russian assets overseas, including those in territories once part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union.

• The task of executing this decree falls on the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Property Management Enterprise of the presidential administration.

• This is a classic dictator move. When things are not going too well internally, divert people’s attention elsewhere and stir up nationalism while at it.

Here’s a rough translation of the decree:

For the original Russian version, click here.

🤔 Why It Matters. The decree’s implications are far-reaching. While it doesn’t explicitly name the following regions, it’s thought to encompass:

• Alaska

• Parts of eastern and central Europe

• Large sections of Central Asia

• Parts of Scandinavia

📣 The Nationalist Narrative. The decree has been framed by a prominent ultranationalist, pro-war military blogger as a step towards new territorial conflicts with Russian neighbors, including the US.

• One blogger named Two Majors suggests starting with Alaska.

Yeah… Good luck.

🌐 Global Implications. Putin's decree has ignited worries over possible land conflicts. Observers speculate that Moscow might use the excuse of "defending" its alleged properties in nations beyond its globally accepted boundaries.

😂 US Response: Laughter. The US State Department has brushed off speculations about Putin’s territorial ambitions reaching Alaska. Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, humorously dismissed these assertions, affirming that Alaska is definitely not up for grabs by Putin.

Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, responded on X:

🌐 Opinion

Yesterday’s poll:

Do you think DEI is discriminatory?

• 🟢 🟢 🟢 🟢 ⚪️ Yes: 82%

• 🔴 ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ No: 9%

• 🔴 ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ ⚪️ Not sure: 9%

To keep it brief, let’s concentrate on the No responses.

Introduction: Several individuals who chose No argued that DEI isn’t discriminatory because:

• It aims to rectify America’s racist history.

• Factors like academic performance and credentials continue to be considered.

I am willing to bet that most DEI critics acknowledge America’s history of slavery and associated racism. Many might even agree that rectifying past wrongs is a noble endeavor.

The contention, however, lies in the strategies used to accomplish this aim.

• Let’s take affirmative action for example. According to a National Study of College Experience, Asians must score:

  • 140 SAT points more than whites,

  • 320 more than Hispanics, and

  • 450 more than African Americans to compete equally.

• Some may argue this is a temporary necessity, as historically disadvantaged minorities need time to reach parity.

• While the intent behind such policies is often agreed upon, the methods and outcomes can be divisive. Questions arise: Is affirmative action just for Asians? Does it constitute discrimination?

One reader expressed support for DEI, acknowledging it aims to rectify historical errors, “even if it adversely affects me personally.”

• This illustrates that someone can subconsciously sense the personal disadvantage, yet intellectually and ethically, endure it due to the past transgressions of forebears.

Conclusion: Unquestionably, this is a multifaceted issue encompassing various aspects. Both the proponents and opponents undoubtedly empathize and wish the best for all. Both are unquestionably empathetic.

The divergence lies in their preferred approaches.

Closing Thoughts

Once again, thanks for your insightful responses; they’ve broadened my perspective and given me much to ponder.

Despite media depictions that often label them as extreme right-wing, racist, MAGA-supporting fanatics, not all DEI critics are driven by racism or hatred. Likewise, not all policy supporters are determined to propagate more discrimination.