Falstaff’s Fatal Fallacy

By Tony Candela

Here is an easy question: What do Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986), and Fukushima (2011) have in common with the Russian assault on the Ukraine (2022)? As of now, thank goodness, only the similarity of nuclear power plants under duress and much danger for the greater environment at stake. The Russian rampage in the Ukraine has gotten terribly bad and still there is no visible military counter-measure no less the much-neglected prophylactics that might have mitigated the terror and destruction there. I will return to the notion that discretion is the better part of valor in a moment, but first, look what the Russians have had the temerity and absolute heedlessness to put at stake: the Ukraine’s nuclear energy system and more fearful, the specter of radiation-fires, explosions, and nuclear fallout not only in the Ukraine, but across all of Europe. If the Russians do not cease their recklessness immediately, there is an accident surely about to happen. The world should condemn the actions of the Russians in general, but for certain their assault on nuclear power plants. There is no silver lining here, but perhaps there is an opportunity. The risk to all of Europe created by these attacks, in my view, requires and justifies a European Union and NATO response now. Attacking the plants has in effect crossed geographic borders, if not geopolitical boundaries. How much more “discretion” must we exercise to safeguard the fallacious notion that if we lay back militarily, we will forestall an even worse outcome? Too late the Polish people who have behaved wonderfully in taking in so many Ukrainian refugees are willing to give the Ukraine air force old Russian-made MG fighter planes. The U.S. will replace them with American planes. Wouldn’t it have been better to use our collective air forces to degrade and prevent the assault to begin with? We and the Ukrainians had a golden opportunity to do serious damage when a 40-mile column of Russian army troops and equipment was stalled due to logistical shortfalls. Has this been discretion or cowardice? If JFK were alive today, would he write another book, this one entitled “Why NATO Slept?” Please understand. I am not nearly as hawkish as I sound here, but, much as I have written about human shortcomings forestalling a shorter and less deadly COVID19 pandemic, especially the anti-vax “movement”,, when is enough enough and when do we take bigger risks than are in our comfort zone?

Anthony R. Candela, Author

Saying aloud what should not remain silent.

Stand Up Or Sit Out: Memories and Musings Of a Blind Wrestler, Runner, and All-around Regular Guy

A memoir about life lessons learned, especially through sports

Vision Dreams: A Parable

A sci-fi novella about how a dysfunctional society forces people to go to extremes, including four blind people who seek out artificial vision.

Christian Faith Publishing, 2019

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Anthony+Candela&i=stripbooks

Tony Candela has worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor, supervisor, manager consultant and administrator for more than 40 years in the field of blindness and visual impairment. His work has included promoting literacy and employment of blind persons and a special interest in enhancing the career preparation of blind persons who wish to work in the computer science field. He is a “retired” athlete, loves movies, sports, reading, writing, and music, including dabbling in guitar. Read more at

https://www.anthonyrcandela.com/