John S.D. Eisenhower, son of the general, recounts the moment of Germany’s total surrender in his book, “The Bitter Woods: The Battle of the Bulge“:

General Eisenhower was sitting in his office awaiting the outcome of the surrender negotiations. Past the desk of his secretary and into the office came the Nazis, erect and cold. Eisenhower stood up. Rigid, and fixing a cold eye on his enemies, he demanded, “Do you understand all the provisions of the document you have just signed?”

“Ja!“

“You will, officially and personally, be held responsible if the terms of this surrender are violated, including its provision for German commanders to appear in Berlin at the moment set by the Russian High Command, to accomplish formal surrender to that government. That is all.”

The Nazis saluted and left, and Eisenhower relaxed. A few minutes later he sent a message to the Combined Chiefs of Staff: “The mission of this Allied Force was fulfilled at 0241, local time, May 7th, 1945.”

At first glance it may seem that the War in Ukraine is unrelated to Climate Change. I am not so sure. In fact, I would submit that we cannot begin to address CC without Russia’s defeat.

Prior to Feb-2022, Russia was in the top fossil producing league. When Putin, at his annual public forum, was asked what Russia had done to reduce its CC impact. Here is what he said. How can we make progress with a 900 pound russian bear breathing down our necks?

Russia has been knocked down from the top fossil league, but unless its Ukraine venture ends in utter failure, it will quickly regain that status and earth will lose out to the predatory russian bear.