Olympic Rust

Originally written on February 19, 2022. the day before the closing ceremonies of the winter olympics in Beijing, China.

In the Starting Block

Is Russia about to take the Olympic Rust metal?

Beijing, China has been busy hosting the winter olympics while Russia has been busy surrounding Ukraine with soldiers and and heavy armament. Everyone from military experts (the true and the self-proclaimed) to mass media pundits (seldom experts, often empty talking heads) are telling us that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will invade Ukraine.

Soon after the opening olympic ceremony in Beijing, Putin visited the Games and met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. They publicly expressed a type of bromance. However, it wasn’t quite the love fest we once saw between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. How’d that turn out?

The public display of support Xi Jinping given to Putin is significant because Russia appears ready to invade Ukraine with overwhelming troop and fire power. If it does so today, it will steal the thunder from China’s closing ceremony for the olympics. It is believed that if Russia pulls the trigger, it will come soon after.

Flipping Switches

Update: Written two days after the closing of the olympics.

Sunday evening, Beijing Winter Olympics held its closing ceremony. The olympic torch was extinguished. I suspect the torch was still hot when Russia began moving its troops into eastern Ukraine that night.

The immediate concern is for the Ukrainian people and even Russians who oppose war. We should be praying for their safety. But people in the region won’t suffer alone. Many people around the world will be negatively affected by Russia’s move. We will likely see higher gas prices, lengthier supply chain disruptions, possible cyber attacks and more. The ‘and more’ is the bigger concern.

I know this sounds amonomus. Don’t be scared. Be prepared.