Mitchell

One man in power for way too long and in isolation is very dangerous. Something all nations need to understand and work damned hard to avoid.

The tragedy continuing in Ukraine is the work of one man, Vladimir Putin. Two countries are already severely damaged. And as you would say -- for what?

XI Jinping is shaping the same dangerous configuration in China with too little resistance from other Chinese. I hope a few around him will scratch their heads and change course. Making sure that power is spread -- something Xi Jinping, himself, once advocated.

Mitchell, It's not all gloom. We have a hero in Volodymyr Zelensky who stood his ground in Ukraine and put a spine back in democracy for the rest of the world. Also, Xi Jinping can be instrumental in bringing about an end of the war in Ukraine as China's future is overwhelmingly tied into the West and not with Russia. American diplomatic skills need to be all out making that happen -- competition spats aside.

Many thanks. Best to you.