From the Right and the Left:The Crisis in Ukraine

the future between these two superpowers would be one of cooperation not conflict. But those hopes have been dashed as Vladimir Putin has pursued what can only be described as a slash and burn policy destined to fulfill the former KGB operative’s fantasy of rebuilding the Soviet Union in his own autocratic version, or more likely perversion. While the United States has effectively promoted democratic institutions that have been sought by many of the former Soviet republics, Putin has seen his dreams of what only apparatchiks must lament were the “good old days” rejected by former Soviet citizens who prefer the promise of democracy. And so here we are in 2023 staring at the prospect of dangerously heightened relations with our former and now present adversary in a world that has seen the ascension of autocratic movements aimed at tamping down democratic efforts. There is even internal political chatter in the U.S. designed to question this nation’s efforts to both strengthen NATO and promote freedom.

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a dyed-in-the-wool MAGA leader has led a small movement in Congress to question whether or not another “penny will go to Ukraine.” Recent polling has suggested that 48 percent of all Republicans feel we are doing too much for Ukraine.

There is, however, strong bipartisan support, not for a blank check approach to the Ukranian effort, but a strong coalition determined to hold Putin in check.

The world is poised on the precipice of watching autocratic and dictatorial regimes making inroads on a global scale. China is cautiously weighing at least a degree of military support to Russia, while North Korea, and Iran are gearing up and in some instances already chipping in. Any signals that the United States might scale back its support would both damage our relations with a strong and growing NATO and encourage other plans for aggression say for instance with respect to Taiwan. We must solidify our resolve to promote democracy and reject Neo-isolationist sentiment at all costs.

Anthony Cordesman, emeritus chair of strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), argues that while the U.S. contributions to Ukraine are indeed significant, the benefits far outweigh the costs. He has written “the key to dealing with the cost of U.S. military and civil aid to Ukraine is not to eliminate U.S. aid that is critical to Ukraine’s survival and recovery …Ending U.S. aid, or cutting it to ineffective levels, would be an act of gross strategic stupidity, effectively snatch defeat from the jaws of a considerable victory, do immense damage to America’s role as a leader of the free world, and betray the principles on which the United States is based.”

We are a country that has a heart; we must strengthen our responsibility to engage in humanitarian crises and prevent crimes against humanity that have been carried out both on civilians and soldiers alike. Putin’s desire to build an empire, his ego and his callous disregard for human life are on full display and demand that nations in the region continue to band together to defend against such aggression, but in the end the most important signal that needs to be sent to the world is that it simply is the right thing to do. The costs are substantial, but the benefits far outweigh the potential calamity that awaits us if we fail to address the crimes against humanity that are the hallmark of the post-Soviet regime.

Lance Simmens is an independent columnist for The Malibu Times, he along with Don Schmitz write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings you can forward any comments you have to editorial @malibutimes.com.

The war for Ukraine rages on into the second year, a war which our analysts thought would see the fall of Kiev in the first week. It’s time for us to reflect on our policies and what is in the best interest of the U.S. Ukraine is a democracy, its courageous defenders awe-inspiring.

Russia is the naked aggressor, grabbing land and resources, demonstrably guilty of war crimes, including the torture and murder of civilians. We are clearly supporting the right side. Russia’s war against Ukraine actually started in 2014 by invading and annexing the Crimean Peninsula. American response was tepid, President Obama would only send non-lethal aid like blankets. As fighting continued in the occupied Donbas, President Trump sent weapons including Javelin anti-tank missiles. Now, with the fullscale invasion, President Biden opened up the floodgates with $47 billion of sophisticated weapons systems. Essentially, the two largest nuclear superpowers are in a proxy war on Russia’s border, and that should alarm you.

The history and demographics are complicated. Kiev was the original capital of Russia, but then again, it used to be Polish, Lithuanian, Tartar, Mongolian, and Viking. Russia justified annexing Crimea as it is 58 percent ethnic Russians, ignoring that they signed the 1994 Budapest Memorandum respecting Ukraine’s borders in exchange for them giving the nuclear weapons to Russia that they inherited when the U.S.S.R. collapsed. Hitler justified annexing Sudeten - land and other areas because of ethnic German majorities. World wars start this way, and the similarities are striking. Some validly argue that if the West had stood up to Hitler early on, global war might have been averted, and that we should stand up against Russia. I concur, but Hitler didn’t have nuclear weapons. The risk of miscalculation is unimaginable.

Our government must make decisions based on what is best for America, so what is the end game here? Ukraine vows to fight without conceding an inch of land, including the Crimea. I would do the same if America was invaded, but will Russia accept complete defeat?

The U.S. gave tacit approval to the illegal annexation of the Crimea almost 10 years ago, shamefully emboldening Russia. They must be shocked now by the tenacity of the Ukrainian defenders, and by the united cohesiveness of the U.S. and most of the world supporting them. The boldness of the Biden foreign policy is very risky, but has already manifested broad successes for American foreign policy. Russia’s dream of empire expansion back to the borders of the Soviet Union appears unrealistic. The superiority of American weaponry against the best of Russia is now clear.

Russia’s military is now weakened, diminishing their ability to threaten NATO allies. Importantly, China has observed that the free democracies are at a minimum willing to arm allies, impose sanctions and suffer economic pain to oppose tyrannical expansions. China also sees that a committed, well-armed people can bleed a modern army horribly. The 24 million people of Taiwan have noticed too.

Forty-three thousand Russian soldiers have died with 150,000 wounded. Their economy is hurt, their prestige damaged, and their autocratic ruler could be deposed. The Russian bear is wounded, but still very dangerous. The

Where’s the Good News?

stay far, far away.

Afavorite musical of mine is “Fiddler on the Roof,” a story of a Russian Jewish village around the year 1905. Villagers gather around a member of their community who has a newspaper relating bad news from St. Petersburg about pogroms against a distant Jewish community. The local Rabbi asks, “why don’t you bring us a newspaper with good news?” to which the villager replies he’s only reading what the paper printed. After this they said a short prayer for the Czar, to stay far, far away. Some things never change as millions of Americans sympathize during this tax preparation season, wishing their government would

I wish I had some really good news, but we live in perilous times, for our freedom, our national survival and immediately, for the health of our wallet. New direction to that most loved institution, the IRS, is to go after the income of those overpaid waitresses and waiters, especially their tips, requiring a blizzard of paperwork to justify their bloated incomes.

After all, someone has to pay for those 87,000 new IRS agents Biden hired to go after the hidden income of our top 1 percent earners and make them “pay their fair share.”

Not to be outdone, the Department of Energy has just floated a new rule to ban 50 percent or more of the gas stoves currently on the market within three years.

We were assured that wasn’t going to happen. The same department’s laboratories also released a report that states it’s most likely the COVID virus originated from the Wuhan

Laboratory in China via an accident, not using the highest levels of bio-safety for their experiments. Biden directed the study be conducted. They reached the same conclusion as did the FBI regarding the origins of COVID despite two years of emphatic denials parroted by the lapdog mainstream media that insisted the pandemic was an accident of nature, not man. Anyone, scientist, politician or pundit who dared question that narrative was subjected to vicious personal attacks and “canceling” by the thought police of big tech/big media.

It’s not surprising that public trust of the media has dropped to a 7 percent confidence rate. Forty years ago, 77 percent of the public trusted the media; how far they’ve fallen. A democratic Republic depends upon a well-informed public to survive. This doesn’t bode well for the future of our First Amendment, the bedrock freedom we rely upon to maintain the institutions and values that have attracted millions of hopeful refugees to our shores since our founding in 1776. You’d think they’ve learned, but calls for continuing censorship of contrary opinions or facts has continued unabated by the self-appointed watchdogs of public comment. Approved thought and comment has taken on the trappings of a religious cult rather than an informed public discussion on a host of issues. Reasoned debate has been replaced largely by “feelings,” with emotions counting more than any fact or reasonable disagreement. Threats to our freedom abound, especially in the Golden State as unelected officials of state agencies continue to impede any effort to alleviate a host of issues. Rainwater continues to be flushed out to sea even as record rain falls, the infrastructure to capture it not built despite numerous bond issues to remedy drought water shortages. Your electri -

International Atomic Energy Agency released a report this week that Ukraine’s nuclear power plants have been shelled, including Zaporizhzhia, the largest facility in Europe. The nightmare of Ukraine’s Chernobyl meltdown could be repeated, with Russia blaming the Ukrainians. Remember that Stalin starved to death 8 million Ukrainians in the 1930s. Or perhaps a desperate Putin might resort to tactical nuclear weapons. President Biden said that would be a “red line.” cal grid is weak and in danger of collapse as government mandates place unachievable burdens on your electrical supply. District Attorneys refuse to prosecute repeat-offender criminals, forcing the closure of stores and turning your urban streets into war zones. Prisons are emptied and extremely violent criminals put your lives and homes at risk. Never-ending higher taxes drive thousands from the state and a budget surplus has turned into a $25 billion deficit. Governor Newsom’s answer to this is to refuse responsibility and run for president to cripple the rest of the nation.

President Obama said that Syria using chemical weapons on their people would be a red line, but did nothing, which Putin observed. Does Putin believe the U.S. would go to war against Russia over that and risk Armageddon?

Do you, and if so, is that in America’s interest?

It is essential to counter Russian armed expansion in Europe, it is morally correct to honor the territorial boundaries of sovereign countries, and it’s our deeply engrained national ethos to defend democracies from tyrants. President Biden says we will support Ukraine “as long as it takes.” We used to say that about the democratic government of Afghanistan, yet we grew weary after years of funding the fight. It is not for us to tell Ukraine on what terms they accept cessation of hostilities, but we are paying the tab, and providing the weapon systems for the fight. Ukrainian courage won’t carry the day alone, and it is time for us to try and broker a peace deal. The political courage of the Western allies, and the ferocious defense of their country by the Ukrainians, has opened the door to negotiations from a position of strength. It’s time to vigorously do so.

Don Schmitz is an independent columnist for The Malibu Times, he along with Lance Simmens write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings you can forward any comments you have to editorial@ malibutimes.com.

On the national level, we face threats from multiple peer competitors, China and Russia, both armed with massive arsenals of nuclear weapons. Regional threats such as North Korea have developed the capability to launch nuclear weapons against America, and Iran is close to having the Bomb, blocking nuclear inspections while enriching uranium to 84 percent. The CIA Director says Iran can reach critical mass of 90 percent enrichment within weeks. This week China threatened to shoot down one of our reconnaissance aircraft flying in international waters over the South China Sea. The aircraft is part of my old reconnaissance squadron (VQ-1) from Vietnam days; it’s from the same squadron the Chicoms forced down on Hainan Island in 2000. In 1969 the North Koreans shot down a VQ-1 aircraft, killing all 31 aboard. We aren’t prepared for a Pacific War with China nor a European war with Russia, nor a regional nuclear war in the Middle East, all of which are looming.

The Rabbi had a point.

Al Fonzi is an independent opinion columnist for The Atascadero News and Paso Robles Press; you can email him at atascaderocolumnist@gmail. com.

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“All of the events and the positive energy and the changes that we’ve seen downtown have just been incredible. It takes a big team, but we’re all really actively working towards that, and you can see the differences that have occurred, particularly in the last seven to five years,” she said.

Rickard added that she’s also proud of Atascadero’s Road Program and

FLORES UPDATE

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Evidence shown during the trial last year was recently released to NBC Universal by the Monterey County Superior Court, according to Executive Officer Chris Ruhl. In this evidence that has begun being the project manager when City Hall was rebuilt, which took up 10 years of her administrative services director career.

“Working through the FEMA process, building City Hall, meeting with contractors, climbing scaffolding, and picking paint colors. [It was] a lot of work, it was a huge project, and I’m incredibly proud of how it turned out,” she continued.

When her time as city manager concludes in July, Rickard is looking to circulate are original taped interviews between Flores and the Arroyo Grande Police Department on June 19, 1996, where William Hanley and Larry Hobson, investigators with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, questioned Flores. Also included in the trial bridge on Dover Canyon Road at Jack Creek,” stated Balster.

She went on to say that the bridge is one of the county’s lowestrated bridges and that the bridge is weight restricted and can not carry legal loads, including fire trucks and safety equipment. The bridge is also the sole access point for residences in and along the northern part of Dover Canyon Road.

It is proposed that the bridge will

LIGHTHOUSE

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Atascadero News was invited to attend the Reality Tour on March 6. The tour was a poignant and important step in creating dialogue about drug use in youth circles in Atascadero and the rest of the county. It featured a parent education lecture by Paloma Creek High School Principal forward to traveling with her husband. They have plans to not only visit their daughter in Boston but also explore what the rest of the U.S. has to offer. evidence was photos of Kristin Smart’s belongings found in her dorm, a handwritten letter from Denise Smart to her daughter in 1996, and dirt samples taken from Ruben Flores’ home on White Court in Arroyo Grande. Additionally, there was a wiretap recording of a phone call between Paul and his mother, be replaced with a two-lane concrete bridge with the capacity to carry emergency personnel and create a safe two-way exit for residents in case of an emergency or fire.

“I haven’t seen a lot of this country, and we did a little road trip last year, and I enjoyed it thoroughly and probably will start there,” Rickard added. Though it’s only been a little over a week since her retirement announcement, Rickard has already had many co-workers, and community members, reach out to her.

In 2020 the project and environmental documents were approved by the board. The project is funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program. Staff hired a consultant to evaluate the historical significance of the bridge, and the consulate recommended the bridge be listed in the National Register of Historic Places,

Dr. Libby Manning and the tour, which dramatized the steps of drug use, from dealing, incarceration, overdose, and even death.

“It’s a collaboration of a bunch of different entities, with The Greyhound Foundation, The Atascadero Poice Department, [and] Fire Department. We have the school district completely engaged in it, and our mothership LIGHT- assistant content editor camille devaul camille@atascaderonews.com copy editor michael chaldu michael@atascaderonews.com office administrator cami martin office@atascaderonews.com

“The response has been a little overwhelming, and that’s honestly what I’m going to miss the most. I know in the [City] Council meeting I said it was a little sad, and that’s because I’m going to miss working with amazing people day in and day out,” said Rickard. “It [Atascadero] is a great community. It has a great community spirit that wants to pull together to get things done. Not everywhere has that. So, taking off my city manager hat and becoming a community

Susan Flores, on Jan. 26, 2020. During this wiretap, Susan asks her son to start listening to the “Your Own Backyard” podcast that investigated the case. She goes on to tell Flores they need to punch holes in it wherever they can.

Another notable piece of evidence was the audio record- but state cultural authorities determined that the bridge is not historically significant.

“To complete the project, the county requires the acquisition of a permanent easement for public road and slope purposes and two temporary construction easements,” Balster said. “The subject property consists of three parcels totaling approximately 313 acres, zoned rural lands, agricultural, and open space. Improvements include single-family residents and shops. The property’s current use is as a residence and cattle grazing.”

HOUSE Atascadero,” added Allen.

In addition, The Elks Lodge and the Quota Club apply financial backing for both the licensing and putting on the Reality Tours every year. And The Chapel of Roses participates by putting on the funeral scene featured in the tour.

LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero was created out of tragedy in 2011 after several young men ad consultant dana mcgraw dana@atascaderonews.com layout designer neil schumaker neil@atascaderonews.com layout designer evan rodda evan@atascaderonews.com layout designer anthony atkins anthony@atascaderonews.com ad design jen rodman graphics@atascaderonews.com correspondent christianna marks christianna@atascaderonews.com member, I’m sure I’m going to be involved in something trying to help the community move forward, but it’s a transition for sure.” ing from May 19, 2021, when San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Detective Clint Cole collected DNA samples from Ruben Flores, Susan Flores, and her boyfriend. During the collection, Ruben said, “Well, they [Susan and her boyfriend] haven’t committed no felonies […] I mean, I’m only the one.

The City of Atascadero will be recruiting for a new city manager in the coming weeks while getting ready to say “goodbye” to Rickard. “Thank you. It’s been a two-way street. I love this community, and I love the people and thank you for letting me do this,” Rickard stated to the community of Atascadero.

The owners of the property are Jerome and Irene Baltzer. An offer of compensation for the use of their property was made to the Baltzers in December 2021, many meetings took place with them and their attorney during 2022, and the project was redesigned to reduce the impact on their property, and a reappraisal was made with a new offer of just compensation. As of the meeting date, the Baltzers had not accepted the offer.

The Baltzer’s attorney spoke on their behalf, stating that though from the community died of heroin overdoses within a short amount of time.

“A lot of us were mad as heck, and we were going to do something about it, and then we ultimately got together and had a town hall meeting at Atascadero High School (AHS),” Allen said. “I think we had 400-450 people arrive because everybody else understood this [drug] problem we were having.”

LIGHTHOUSE works with CANDLE Inc. out of Pennsylvania to put on their Reality Tours. The nonprofit provides direction and licensing, and

I’ve been arrested.” something does need to be done to help the bridge, the county should be proud of the 100-year-old bridge and go about repairing it instead of replacing the beloved bridge. then in Atascadero fashion, LIGHTHOUSE tweaks the program to the community’s needs. This year they morphed their tour to include the AHS drama team, who was placed in the audience to give the attendees statistics on fentanyl. And each Reality Tour ends with pizza and the ability for all the attendees to have conversations with professionals who know the impacts of drug addiction in the community.

Flores remains in custody at the San Luis Obispo County Jail until his sentencing, which will again be held in Salinas, where the trial took place. But first, the court filings for a new trial will be heard at 9 a.m. that same day. If sentenced, Flores faces 25 years to life in prison.

It was discussed that the new fire engines are 48,000 pounds and that the current bridge can not hold that much weight. Meaning the existing bridge is a public safety issue. Though the supervisors agreed that they love historic bridges, the Resolution of Necessity vote passed unanimously 4-0 to the confirmed public safety issues.

“Getting the conversation to continue, not just put on the Reality Tour, not just have the parent education, now through the development of what we decided to do with Reality Tour, we morphed into this where we bring subject matter experts sitting at a table so kids and parents, grandparents, and guardians can talk to police officers, firefighters, school district employees,” stated Allen.

To find out more about LIGHTHOUSE and to make sure you catch next year’s Reality Tour, go to: lighthouseatascadero.org

“Our main goal is to save one life, and we believe we’ve done [it],” Allen said. “We know for a fact, we’ve had kids come back and say, ‘without LIGHTHOUSE, I would be dead.’”