Ukraine's Unwinnable War
In 2023 Ryan Wesley Routh published a 291 page e-book, entitled Ukraine's Unwinnable War: The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen-Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea and the end of Humanity, after he spent months, as a volunteer, living in Ukraine, doing his best to aid that country in its defense against Russia's invasion.[1]
Media commentary
[edit | edit source]This otherwise unremarkable book became the subject of media attention after Routh was caught allegedly trying to assassinate former President of the United States Donald Trump. Many commentators claimed the book included a call for the assassination of Trump.
The Economist called the book "rambling" and "incoherent".[1] The article noted that Routh described himself in heroic terms, and compared himself to George Orwell, who documented his effort to aid the doomed Spanish Republic, in Homage to Catalonia. The article notes that Routh implies he is willing to martyr himself, for the right cause, and suggests that in writing the book Routh goaded himself into action against Trump.
Nick Paton Walsh, writing for CNN, asserted that the existence of the book was a "propaganda win for Moscow", and that the government of Ukraine would have to distance itself from Routh.[2]
Glenn Thrush, writing in The New York Times, calls the book both rambling and "self-aggrandizing".[3] While noting the permission Routh offered to Iran to assassinate Trump, noted the leader he was most critical of, was Putin, devoting a whole chapter to the question of why Putin had not been assassinated. He noted Routh's relatively positive comments on Kim Jong Un "Mr. Routh does not appear to deplore all autocrats equally. He offers a relatively positive assessment of Kim Jong-un of North Korea, describing him as reasonable, and a Western-educated leader who can be swayed with diplomacy and politesse." He noted Routh volunteered to join Dennis Rodman as an unofficial ambassador to North Korea.
Bernard Condon, of the Associated Press, argued that his book was one of the factors that should have triggered greater scrutiny of him from security officials.[4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1
"Who is Ryan Routh, Donald Trump's would-be assassin?". The Economist. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
The book’s rambling subtitle—“The Fatal Flaw of Democracy, World Abandonment and the Global Citizen: Taiwan, Afghanistan, North Korea and the End of Humanity”—offers a sense of its broad scope and incoherent prose. The 291-page text is something between a diary and a political treatise.
- ↑ Nick Paton Walsh (2024-09-17). "Analysis: Ryan Routh's support for Ukraine is a propaganda win for Moscow, at a very tricky time for Kyiv". CNN. London. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ↑
Glenn Thrush (2024-09-16). "Suspect's Self-Published Book Assails Trump, Hinting at Approval of His Killing". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
His most vitriolic language is directed at Mr. Putin. In Chapter 18 — titled “Why has Putin not been assassinated?” — he writes, “We all ponder as to why our great minds did not simply kill Hitler early on, and now why have we not taken steps to kill Putin at all costs.”
- ↑ Bernard Condon (2024-09-21). "'Ticking time bomb': Those who raised suspicions about Trump suspect question if enough was done". Associated Press via CTV News. Retrieved 2024-11-07.