According to Reuters, “Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defence minister on Sunday in an attempt to gird Russia for economic war by trying to better utilise the defence budget and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine. More than two years into the conflict, which has cost both sides heavy casualties, Putin proposed Andrei Belousov, a 65-year-old former deputy prime minister who specialises in economics, to replace his long-term ally, Sergei Shoigu, 68, as defence minister. Putin wants Shoigu, in charge of defence since 2012 and a long-standing friend and ally, to become the secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, replacing incumbent Nikolai Patrushev, and to also have responsibilities for the military-industrial complex, the Kremlin said. … That, said Peskov, meant it was vital to ensure such spending aligned with and was better integrated into the country’s overall economy, which was why Putin now wanted a civilian economist in the defence ministry job.”
So, this is just more proof that Putin is transforming Russia into a wartime machine, and what are Western allies doing? Nothing! Not a d*mn f***ing thing. It’s business as usual for NATO et al. Oh, sure, I’ve gleaned a few articles here and there about some private companies in European countries willing to help Ukraine build up their domestic military-industrial complex — eventually. And I’ve read a couple of headlines here and there about some European countries contemplating ramping up armament production — eventually. But I’ve read nothing about NATO et al. taking this conflict seriously enough to mobilize Western economies to counter the threat of Russian aggression. It’s literally all quiet on the Western front. Whatever! I can’t anymore with the stupidity. No one cares. I hear a lot of European countries worry about Russia moving beyond Ukraine’s borders, but like in World War II and with Hitler, these nations really don’t want to do anything about it. By the time the West wakes up, it will be too little, too late. Welcome to stupid America! This is why democracy is retreating across the globe!