You'd have to be a blind, deaf, ignorant grizzly bear in hibernation to not be aware of the unprecedented (recently at least) activities in the Ukraine over the past 4 weeks, or even since 2014. But I personally (it's me, not you) am a bit stumped about the hyperbole echoing around the world knocking on about how Putin was forced into his decision to invade the Ukraine, because of the relentless (albeit, slow-motion) eastward expansion of NATO. I find this concept flabbergasting, particularly when I simplify it down to a more understandable level. That rationale is not much different to this:

So the people next door passed away and their adult son that lived with them anyway inherited the property. I had heard that he was a member of the Hell's Angels and I certainly didnt want them living next door to me. (they already had the house on the other side of his) Not with all their drugs and parties and floosies and loud bikes and crap. So I preempted that. I climbed over the fence (actually, I broke it down) and shot the son and quite a few of his mates. The rest ran off down the road a bit and some, they just stood there watching to see what I did next. So once I'd cleared the house out, I got a mate of mine to come and live in it and that way he could keep an eye on it and deter anyone else from coming back. We also had a few parties ourselves. The gang on the other side, just sat there grumbling away, but they didnt come back to next door.

I know that it really isnt that simple. I know that this involves real people, real lives, real deaths and real danger. But for goodness sake!

In brainstorming (which isnt always a pleasant or successful activity for some of us) ways in which this could be bought to an end and some semblance of sanity bought to the fore, I came up with more questions than answers, more un-usable solutions than pragmatic ones and more possible complications than resolutions.

I still cant get past the: What is the point in having a United Nations if they cant /don't do anything?

Why doesnt Nato leap in or at least impose a no-fly zone? Chicken? Nah! Broke? Nah! Lack of Leadership? Nah! Cant make the call? Nah!

Its because they have no right to. Ukraine is not a member of Nato. Therefore there is no legal (forget the moral issues) remit for them to enter the fray.

If any organisation has the 'right' or moral obligation to, its the United Nations. But here's the achillies heel in the ass of the UN. This is the outdated mechanism by which sneaky shite gets done around the globe by sneaky despots and nasty tyrants.

There are 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council; China, Russia, US, UK and France. For a military intervention to be staged by the UN, the Security Council must agree. But if a single one of them votes to veto and action, or even a resolution,... that it, scuppered. Effectively the veto neuters the UN like a mad vet with a pound of puppies.

Big ideas:

So, I get it why Nato cant go in. But I think this seriously highlights the need for radical UN reform. How about a global referendum - binding on all nations by common vote, of each population, for reform including removing the veto and introducing a simple majority rules system.

Instead of waving sanctions and wet hankies at uncle Vlad, they need to get serious ,.... ALL 195 member states of them, and stage an intervention. Yes it might precipitate WW3, but so does having independent nations cruelly eaten up. Whats next? Lithuania, Estonia or Latvia?

Target the targets: This is not about 'Russia", this is just about Vlad and his psychotic and very rich mates. Theyre the key to unravelling this bullshit. Save some of the money being poured into the Ukraine and put a couple of million dollars up for grabs for the arrest of Vladimir Putin and each of his mates, and have them delivered to the Hague to stand trial for war crimes. That might inspire some of the saner citizens to sort him out.

Reform the UN

Remove the Veto

Grow some hairy round things

Have a global referendum on the UN

The UN needs to get up of their respective asses and tell Vlad to stop, or feel the weight of EVERY NATION not just NATO/US AND if he is still hell-bent on pushing back against that, then get it on now, rather than let him consume another independent innocent nation. Sitting on our thumbs is distinctly uncomfortable and just not right.