I doubt if he made this decision voluntarily. Some Russian government agent from their embassy may well have stopped by and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. I am sorry to hear this; it’s always painful when a good friend is lost to the “dark side” for whatever reason. War is hell; always has been.

I only wish I could honestly say “this too will pass” but I don’t think this platitude applies any more. What’s happening today feels like the beginning of World War III— that is, the beginning of Armageddon, a relentless, accelerating global conflagration that will consume us all. I hope I’m wrong about this, but I feel it in my bones. All we can do is cope and hope, and when there’s no hope, hope we can cope. Breathe, observe, let go, taking care of yourself and everyone around you. I recently came across a simple slogan well worth remembering, even in the darkest times: “Hurt people hurt people; free people free people.”