‘You know what seems obvious to me about the ongoing war in Ukraine is that Russia is in this fight not for territorial gains but in order to make Ukraine into a failed, corrupt and dysfunctional state. Putin uses this war as a black hole where thousands of lives and billions worth of western technology and weapons disappear into,’ Camp said.

            ‘The ground war we can actually document and see, analyze and to some extent predict. What we don’t see are the Kremlin’s efforts to destabilize the whole western world and its concepts of freedoms, like freedom of speech, free elections, free media and free citizens who enjoy free movement and choices.’

            ‘What do you think these peace and re-construction conferences in Berlin and Switzerland accomplished?’

            ‘Millions in expenses, a mountain of paper and not one bullet saved. An exercise in futility really. How can they talk rebuilding Ukraine when bullets and missiles are flying uninterrupted. They were basically fancy cocktail parties with lots of words and no consequences.’

            ‘Yes, and through it all Putin and his fellow dictators in North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Nicaragua and even in Cuba despise the disbursement of wealth and the fact that ordinary people in the west enjoy a measure of wealth and independence unheard of in any of those dictatorships.’

 ‘And they ignore their people and election outcomes.’

            ‘These despots and their cronies want an all-powerful oligarchy and kleptocracy that controls all the money and state institutions, the media and even the schools and certainly any elections. They want to keep the people supressed and only as a workforce for their war machines and factories while they themselves live in their castles, yachts and luxury compounds. Keep the masses uninformed and misinformed.’

            ‘There was a rise in the middle class in Russia after the fall of the wall and the nouveau-rich Russians were prominent and loud in the playgrounds of Europe, from Prague to Paris, London and Berlin. Not so much anymore. Let them go on holiday to North Korea or Iran,’ I said.

            ‘The scary part is that they are succeeding in destabilising the west and its democracies with state sponsored cyber-attacks, social media propaganda and shoring hate and discord by pitching neighbours against each other. The rise of the extreme right in Europe and North America is exactly what Putin and his cabal of dictators want.’

            ‘And then there is Trump and half of the American people who want this gangster as president despite his felonies, lies and hateful personal vindictiveness. Trump’s latest public meltdowns and fits of petulance and insults against his new opponent, Kamala Harris, are not just indicative of his obsessive narcissism but also of senility, not to mention utter ignorance.’

            ‘Her optimism and intelligence has him ranting and raving like a lunatic.’

            ‘And yet, the deaf, dumb and blind will follow him over the cliff.’

            ‘What about the young people, the women and immigrants? Why would anyone vote for a clearly unhinged and incohesive old white man with such a self-serving agenda?’

            Camp just shook his head and we both concentrated on our drinks.

            ‘Do the gen-Z’ers and millennials really believe in a simple world where algorithms solve all the problems while populist leaders promising bumper-sticker solutions for immigration, crime, drug dependencies and homelessness. Who is upholding and fighting for hard fought progresses like equality of sexes and races, better income distribution and fundamental freedoms to vote, associate and travel? Instead, they rather follow their sports teams and tabloid celebrities.’

            ‘Once again, you’re painting a cynical future my friend but I do agree with you. The climate deniers, immigrant haters, conspiracists and religious fundamentalists are gaining ground. At least that’s what the media and social platforms have us believe. This is the year of elections all over the world and by the end of the year we’ll be lucky to still live in a free, educated and tolerant society.’ 

            ‘This is a two-beer conversation,’ Camp said and just like magic Vicky appeared with two suds. ‘Aren’t you two interested in sports? We have soccer tournaments, the Stanley Cup, the Tour de France, the Olympics and every kind of ball game on the telly.’

            ‘We like the sport of politics. Just as many dramas, cheaters, winners and losers except with consequences for the rest of us,’ Camp said.

            ‘Politics don’t fill the pub, sports do.’