Understanding the Russia-Ukraine War
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Essential Clarifying Background
Many Americans see the Russia-Ukraine War as an extension of the 1945-1991 Cold War that pitted the U.S. and its NATO alliance against the former Soviet Union. The smaller Russian Federation that succeeded the former Soviet Union, however, is not the Communist Soviet Union. Communism was rejected by the Russian Federation, which strives for economic growth through a freer more capitalistic economy with a more democratized political system. These economic and democratic reforms are far from perfect. Abruptly transitioning from corrupt totalitarian Communism to a freer society seeking the public good was a mountainous task and that task is still ongoing.
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Conservative Victory in Sweden
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Immigration, Crime, and Economics Lessons for America
Sweden has a population of about 10.5 million, about the same as North Carolina. It has long had a tradition of liberal immigration policy, but this has accelerated tremendously in the last three decades. Previously, the largest share of immigrants was from neighboring Northern European countries. This has changed dramatically. From 2011 to 2021 Sweden received approximately 1.3 million immigrants, accounting for more than the population growth since 2011. More than 573,000 of these arrived during the Syrian War crisis years of 2014 to 2018. These mostly came from the Middle East, West Asia, and North Africa, and were predominantly Muslim. The estimated Muslim population of Sweden is now close to 6 percent. Close to 26 percent of the population is foreign born, and only 67 percent of Swedes were born of Swedish parents. One area of Sweden (Malmö, 325,000 population) is nearly 50 percent foreign born, and these are predominantly Muslim. Just over 6.5 million voters participated in the 2022 election, and over 200,000 of these were recent immigrants. The Muslim population has a strong affinity for voting for the Social Democrat Party or the Left (socialist) Party.
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Putin’s Russian Economy - Eastern Economic Forum
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Vladivostok, September 7, 2022
War News Notes - September 11, 2022
Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin kicked off the multi-day Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok with a one hour address plus Q&A time on September 7. Prime Ministers or senior officials from China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Armenia, and Vietnam also attended and gave addresses in person or by video.
Putin appeared to be in vigorous health and stood more than two hours during his presentation and the Q&A.
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Russia-Ukraine War Update
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
According to military consultant, retired Army Colonel Douglas MacGregor, on Friday, September 2, the Biden Administration asked Congress for another $11.7 billion in aid to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. $4.5 billion of this is for budgetary support of the Ukrainian government. Another $4.5 billion is to replace military equipment stockpiles being transferred by US Armed Forces to Ukraine. $2.7 billion is for defense and intelligence aid for Ukraine. The US continues to be the principal provider of military, financial, and intelligence aid to Ukraine. A substantial part of the military aid will be HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, M777 Howitzer artillery guns, and combat drones.
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Russians Ramping Up Major Campaign in Ukraine
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Combined Air, Rocket, and Artillery Attacks
On August 27, the Russian Federation Defense Ministry announced completion of major combined air, rocket, and artillery attacks against Ukrainian forces, It was led by Russian Air Force bombing and major rocket and artillery forces bombardment on key Ukrainian military positions. The fact that the Russian Air Force led such a significant combined attack is strongly indicative that the Russians are launching a major campaign to defeat and drive out Ukrainian forces in Eastern and Southern Ukraine. All information in war is subject to emotional bias, distortion, and perpetrated deception. A Sherlock Holmes approach to interpretation is advised.
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Mike Scruggs is the author of two books: The Un-Civil War: Shattering the Historical Myths; and Lessons from the Vietnam War: Truths the Media Never Told You, and over 600 articles on military history, national security, intelligent design, genealogical genetics, immigration, current political affairs, Islam, and the Middle East. 
