US Army Secretary John McHugh warns Russia over the crisis in Ukraine as US troops hold war games in the country. He said “bigger nations “must never be allowed to bully the small, or impose their will at the barrel of a gun”. http://www.presstv.com/detail/379287.html I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, that mad General in Dr Strangelove has nothing on this lunatic.

Posted by: harry law | Sep 20 2014 19:24 utc | 3

SecArmy was actually talking about the US, wasn’t he?
–He said “bigger nations “must never be allowed to bully the small, or impose their will at the barrel of a gun”.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 20 2014 20:05 utc | 5

@ Dr. Wellington Yueh #4
The opinion of one Belgian EU employee differs from that of another, stated thirteen years ago.
EU Presidency Statement – The right to self-determination
Summary: October 31, 2001: Statement on behalf of the European Union by Mr. Michiel Maertens, First Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the United Nations. Rights of peoples to self-determination (New York)
Mr Chairman,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union on agenda item 118 “Right of peoples to self-determination”.
The right of peoples to self-determination features prominently in the main instruments concerning human rights, such as the United Nations Charter or the two International Covenants on civil and political rights and on economic, social and cultural rights respectively. . .

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 20 2014 20:13 utc | 7

@8 don.. your last paragraph is an interesting thought.. it was more generally the basis for a book i just read “a bigger prize” by margaret heffernan. a quick summary of this book can be found here.

Posted by: james | Sep 20 2014 21:36 utc | 9

A reminder that this warmonger-nation will not hesitate to manufacture the reasons for, and the instigation of aggression –
2011 – military intervention in Libya
2003 – 2011 Iraq war
2001 – present war in Afghanistan
1998 – 1999 Kosovo war
1994 -1995 Haiti war
1993 -1995 Bosnian war
1992 -1994 Somali War
1990 -1991 Iraq war
1989 – 1990 Invasion of Panama
1983 invasion of Grenada
1981 operation in Libya
1965-1966 Operation in Dominican Republic
1961 – invasion in Cuba
1953-1975 Vietnam war
1950-1953 Korean war

Posted by: chet380 | Sep 20 2014 21:50 utc | 11

@12 If Russian troops were there, Obama would be presenting the evidence at the UN himself. Our politicians are unhinged because sticking it to Putin was supposed to be easy. When Putin failed to overreact and the brute force tactics of Kiev didn’t lead to success, the West has gone into a panic. They don’t want to be perceived as weak because if they are governments outside of NATO will be free to join a BRIICS relationship or for regional blocs which can’t be pushed around by NATO in their backyard.
A Paris/Berlin/Moscow axis was a direct threat to our MIC because it would signal a power that could deal with Eurasian problems. Now Moscow, Brasilia (the whole continent), Tehran, and Beijiing are moving closer together creating a real counter power. Despite China’s size, it can be held in check in a region by its growing alliances. American corporations are done as competitors in these countries and their client states. The panic from this is driving the Western elite to find a way to isolate Putin in the eyes of the world in hopes of averting this situation, but like Democrats who expect voters to turn back to them this is purely wishful thinking.
The question is how long Germany and France will tolerate this. Washington is out to cripple the French arms industry in retaliation for arms contracts they picked up after the NSA revelations. Needless to say, I think FDR is the perfect anti-FDR. Despite W’s lunacy, he understood the imperial system. Nukes for mangoes wasn’t such a bad deal if it kept India in the orbit. I think Obama and much of the U.S. elite really believe this exceptional crap and expect non-Americans to admire non-redneck Americans, and because they aren’t offering anything in exchange for servitude, they are seeing push back they can’t deal with.
From my perspective, I think a Paris/Berlin/Moscow axis would share similar interests to the U.S./Oceania, but the MIC and Wall Street would suffer in the short term which terrifies Obama because they are his bosses or the people he admires most.

Posted by: NotTimothyGeithner | Sep 20 2014 23:11 utc | 13

Read Stephen Kinzer’s “Overthrow : Americas century of regime change from Hawaii to Iraq .” Been going on for a long time.

Posted by: Montanamaven | Sep 21 2014 0:53 utc | 15

@ 15: Thanks for the Kinzer reminder (“Overthrow” the book). Some who frequent these threads, should read the book.

Posted by: ben | Sep 21 2014 2:04 utc | 17

re the Luhansk airport bombing, wasn’t there a ‘fully discredited’ false flag leak about this w the US ambassador’s approval, months ago – where there was some specification not to destroy anything but out-of-service planes…surely someone here remembers. The US ambassador it was linked to was a real guy, a young up and comer who was married to another US ambassador in Kiev…I’m drawing a blank. It was relegated to CT territory but as usual the attention span for such things, such pattern recognition, is SHAMEFUL.

Posted by: L Bean | Sep 21 2014 2:38 utc | 19

@ 18: A nice collection of Kinzer videos, thanks! Mucho food for thought.

Posted by: ben | Sep 21 2014 4:47 utc | 21

@chet380
The 1990-1991 Iraq war actually lasted from 1990 until 2011. We maintained a “no fly zone” over Iraq continuously during those two decades, which included armed overflights and active bombing of ground sites and shoot downs of aircraft.

Posted by: Bill H | Sep 21 2014 5:19 utc | 23

Russian Spring
09/20/2014-21:07
Memorandum on specific measures to implement the Minsk Protocol of September 5 2014 based on President Poroshenko’s Peace Plan and President Putin’s initiatives:

1. Cessation of use of weapons is assumed to be common
2. Halting advancement of divisions and military formation at the line of engagement as of September 19
3. Prohibition of use of all kinds of weapons and conducting offensives
4. In one day from adopting this Memorandum: withdrawal of means of destruction of caliber 100mm or higher by 15 km or farther from the line of engagement by each side (exception are indicated below) including from settlements; this allows for at least 30 km zone free of weapons use (security zone). Moreover, withdraw artillery systems of caliber higher than 100 mm to distances of their shooting ranges, in particular: 100 mm cannon “MT-12” – 9 km; 120 mm mortars – 9 km; 122 mm howitzer “D-30” (2C1 “Gvozdika”) – 16 km …
5. Prohibition of deploying of heavy weapons and military equipment in the region bounded by settlements Komsomol`skoye, Kymachovo, Novoazovsk, Sakhanka – OSCE
6. Prohibition of new mine and explosive-engineered barriers in boundaries of the security zone
7. Prohibition from the moment of adoption of this Memorandum missions of combat aviation and foreign unmanned aircraft (drones), except for drones deployed by the monitoring (observational) mission OSCE, throughout the line of engagement in the zone of cessation of weapons use no less than 30 km wide
8. Deploying of the monitoring (observational) mission of OSCE in the zone of cessation of weapons use as soon as one day from the moment of adoption of this Memorandum. It is practical to divide the zone into sectors of number and boundaries coordinated in the process of creation of the OSCE mission
9. Withdrawal all foreign armed formations, military equipment, as well as fighters and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under monitoring of OSCE
Participants of Trilateral contact group:
Ambassador of OSCE Heidi Tagliavini
Second President of Ukraine L. D. Kuchma
Ambassador RF in Ukraine M. Y. Zurabov
A. V. Zakhrchenko
I. V. Plotnitskiy
September 19, 2014

Posted by: Fete | Sep 21 2014 5:40 utc | 25

Start thinking about a form of progress reports regarding the War-on-Syria, which would be carried out via press conferences by the Pentagon, sec. of defence or by Obama himself:
– Obama – As a commander-in-chief of the greatest military in the Universe serving me the president of the exceptional hyper-Super power Country that is the US of A, where am I?, yes today I ordered an attack with 50 Tomahawk missiles on critical installation that is the Command-and-Control center of the Assad regime, reason folks I wanted to prevent Assad from attacking ISIS so he would not interfere with my attack on ISIL.
Sir: but the installation you refreing to is a Nursing Home for old folks, some of them are Syrian/Americans retiree.
Obama: Nursing Homes, Milk Factory, UN run Schools, is not my concerns “did I say I am the commander in chief” it is the Syrian regime who is using Nursing Homes as human shield.
– Obama or somebody: Today we launched several air strikes at strategic locations in Damascus and surrounding areas including the southern region to assist and protect our allies advances toward Damascus to destroy ISIL.
– Sir/Madam: but there is not a single evidence pointing to ISIS presence in Damascus.
– Obama or somebody: WMD, Yellow Cake, Chemical Weapons, etc. is Assad problem. We are operating based on solid intelligence provided by the CIA, which was vetted by Condi I mean Susan Rice and NYT, WPO, CNN, MSNBC (Rachel Meddo no less), NPR, PBS, Al-Jazeera Arabic, all Saudi’s press, and so on, and more important it was confirmed by our Allies in the region and the Brits.
– But Sir/Madam the CIA is providing the same Intelligence to our Allies and MSM, etc.
– Obama or somebody: Not true, but to shut you up, we are asking Tony and Dick to coordinate intelligence gathering and reporting between coalition of the willing to agree with our position.
– Obama: Today I ordered (did I say I am the ….) a no flight Zone and no unauthorized ground movement across northern Syria from the Mediterranean coastline to Iraqi borders. My objectives, what is it now?
– Sir: the capitol building is in lockdown due to an alleged terrorist attack by ISIL, and we must stay where we are until Wolf Blitzer say we are free to go.
– Couple of hours later:
– Sir, it turns out that the alleged attack by ISIS was merely an 8 years old boy wearing ISIL’s halloween outfit, beard, robe, and all that, and he was a making a slashing motion with his sword against the necks of Sen. John Mccain, Lindsey Graham and Darrell Issa who were holding a press conference declaring that Obama, maybe! is getting on track with “his” war on Syria, but not in Benghazi, and the bad news is that the despicable IRS is exempting ISIL from taxes on their revenue generated by selling oil, Bank raids, ransom money etc.
couple of days later;
– Obama: Today as a ….

Posted by: DanE | Sep 21 2014 6:10 utc | 27

There it is – German MH17 victims take Ukraine to the European Court for Human Rights – in German.
Reason: Ukraine was responsible for its airspace according to international law – if they could not guarantee security they would have been obliged to close it.
The lawyer is asking for one million Euro per victim. Malaysia Airlines has already paid 5000 Euro per victim and plans to pay another 50 000 Euro per victim.

Posted by: somebody | Sep 21 2014 7:16 utc | 29

@somebody #29:

Ukraine was responsible for its airspace according to international law – if they could not guarantee security they would have been obliged to close it.

The Russians have been making that obvious legal point all along. I’m glad that some German citizens are now using that legal argument, and that the right-wing rag Bild is reporting that.

Posted by: Demian | Sep 21 2014 7:51 utc | 31

Assange interview by RT yesterday:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYqzGwwoF8&feature=player_embedded&list=UUpwvZwUam-URkxB7g4USKpg

Posted by: okie farmer | Sep 21 2014 9:11 utc | 33

Mina, I think this is wishful thinking by Barber:

Most of these kidnapped people know where they are. They’re in familiar territory, not far from Sinjar. If their captors were subjected to an aerial campaign—an intense helicopter assault on IS targets for as little as a half-hour—most of these people would be able to flee.

Posted by: okie farmer | Sep 21 2014 9:29 utc | 35

Different take by Bhadrakumar:
An interval in Ukraine conflict
The agreement on a memorandum of peace plan reached on late Friday between the Ukrainian government and and the pro-Russia separatists in the southeastern regions of that country at the talks held in Minsk, Belarus, has the look of a breakthrough, but in fratricidal strifes with external involvement, there are too many cooks spoiling the broth at any given time and this one is no exception.
The terms of the peace plan exclusively aim at freezing the conflict as of now on the ground, which means a great relief for the civilians who are caught up in the crossfire. On the other hand, nothing has been proposed about the underlying political factors behind the turmoil in the southeastern regions of Ukraine.
Of course, it is a long haul to reach a compromise between the opposing sides, if ever, in such conflict situations where there is external involvement that is linked to regional and international politics. The great game is riding high in Ukraine and the conflict is overwhelmingly geopolitical in nature. In immediate terms, it remains to be seen whether the freeze that the Minsk memorandum proposes would allow the government to conduct the parliamentary elections in Ukraine, as earlier planned, without which the country is in a constitutional and political limbo.
The prospects appear dim, as the separatists would expect a broad understanding on regional autonomy first.
On the other ground, any such concessions by the government at this juncture will be seen as capitulation by the Ukrainian nationalists and that can grievously wound President Petro Poroshenko’s political fortunes in the parliamentary election.
On the ground, the separatists have almost brought the Sea of Azov under their control. Their medium term game plan seems to be fasten control of Ukraine’s regions opening into the Black Sea. Conceivably, another phase of conflict is inevitable until the objective of expelling the government forces from these regions is reached.
The separatists calculate that an American or NATO military intervention is out of the question and that emboldens them to carve out a viable and secure cartographic and political entity (Novorossiya or New Russia) as their land, and until they get it, they will take to arms no matter what it takes. The conflict may become a ‘frozen conflict’ once the separatists realize their military objectives.
On the contrary, Kiev is not going to accept such a denouement, easily. No country, in fact, will acqiesce with it partition voluntarily, whatever the reasons could be. Besides, its self-appointed friends are only egging it on to fight to the bitter finish. It’s an ugly spectacle.
Whereas, political wisdom demands that Poroshenko prioritizes the preservation of the unity of his country at any cost by granting regional autonomy to the separatist regions and striking a balance regarding his country’s neutrality between the West and Russia.
But all that is easier said than done as things stand. Plainly put, therefore, the Ukraine conflict doesn’t seem to be anywhere near ending soon until Kiev is drained of blood and resources to keep fighting.
In the Minsk memorandum, we probably have an interval till conflict resumes with renewed vigor. The parties decided for own reasons that pressing the ‘pause’ button is useful at this point — that is, until they are ready to press the ‘play’ button again.
By M K Bhadrakumar – September 21, 2014

Posted by: okie farmer | Sep 21 2014 10:20 utc | 37

The Turkish gov getting closer to IS?
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/111286/World/Region/Rise-of-Islamic-schools-causes-alarm-in-secular-Tu.aspx
Suprise! You’ve been assigned to the district religious school!

Posted by: Mina | Sep 21 2014 11:36 utc | 39

#34 some of the Kurds are yazidis.

Posted by: Mina | Sep 21 2014 11:44 utc | 41

Posted by: Mina | Sep 21, 2014 7:44:39 AM | 41
I don’t think they are involved in Kobani, Syria/Turkish border. There is a clear difference in Western media when things happen to Iraqi Kurdish people (ours) or Syrian/Turkish Kurdish people (terrorists). Kurdish parties don’t seem to mix easily either.
I don’t know what to think of ISIS primarily fighting Kurds just now (at least according to media). It could be that they are driven to Kurdish areas by more powerful enemies. Iran’s Kurdish relations are far from free of conflict.

Posted by: somebody | Sep 21 2014 12:32 utc | 43

The first tranche of IMF funds (actually the nth but the first under Poroshenko) has been for a good part mysteriously ‘disapeared’ like all the others.
http://johnhelmer.net/?p=11289
The Kiev-Ukranian-oligarchs-and-affiliated are the most fantastical thieves.
They are selling their dead soldiers, struggling citizens, and rabid russophobia (luckily for them they don’t need to struggle with pretense or deception re. the latter) for cold cash. One might even argue that the pigeons here at not Ukranians but the “West.” (Obviously, I don’t mean the Ukranian ppl who are powerless hostages.)
The Rada has been voting in some extraordinary legislation. (If one can even call it legislation, c’est du n’importe quoi , it is any rubbish and BS.) Some of these words are for the gallery and blatantly insincere or unworkable (e.g. some autonomy for unspecified regions in the East.) Others do signal real intent of an alarming kind.
Sanctions, being all the rage, can now be applied to any citizen in Ukr., by-passing whatever rule of law or judiciary system exists.
Article 1, section 2. Sanctions can be applied by Ukraine against a foreign state, a foreign legal person, a legal entity where a foreign legal person or entity is the owner of a qualifying shareholding, foreigners and stateless persons, citizens of Ukraine, legal entities established under the laws of Ukraine, and other subjects engaged in terrorist activities.
The whole is dressed up in considerations about ‘foreign powers – UN general Assembly …’ and so on. Anybody (note article 4 mentions only ‘persons’ and not ‘companies’ ‘foreign state’ etc.) can be stripped of their homes, assets, travel, licenses, permits, banking, postal services, telecom services, scientific cooperation, and on and on. Who takes the decision to ‘sanction’ is left in the air, couched in lunatic bureaucrat speak.
http://slavyangrad.org/2014/09/16/the-new-ukrainian-sanctions-act/

Posted by: Noirette | Sep 21 2014 14:44 utc | 45

Ukraine. De-escalation for the moment, as I said long ago. Putin and Obama wanted nothing of this mess. The fire was lit in Ukraine by neo-con (+ other, whatever) factions, and it didn’t work out. Kiev lost militarily in the Donbass, and that was that. Neither the EU or the US are willing (or possibly able) to help the Kiev Gvmt., they don’t want to spend any money, it is a bottomless pit with no rewards – they are also afraid of escalation and confronting Russia, not to mention business and corporate interests in the sacro-sanct ‘economy’, which play a role as well.
Sums offered for ‘aid’ are symbolic, a vague encouragement or grudging show of support. Poroshenko gave a neo-con speech in the US (who wrote that?) but got nothing of what he wanted except applause. Putin said right from the start that he would not ‘take’ the Donbass, and the only solution was political, proposed ‘federalisation’, etc. Russian intereference (to what degree? idk) has been limited to only one aim: seeing to it that the Donbass separatists are not entirely defeated, hold considerable ground, and remain a political and military player of enough strength to count.
Kiev has been pressured and obliged to pretend to conform to such a plan, by the ‘West.’ The ‘annexation’ of Crimea is a fait accompli.
Imho, this will boil down to a ‘frozen conflict’ – a buffer zone of 30 kms between part of E and Kiev-Ukraine has already been proposed, see Fete at 25, not that these ppl have much power on the ground… – and will fester for a long time. The Minsk memorandum appears to be purely technical, to stop the war, keep the fighting parties apart.
How exactly, and by whom, the cease-fire agreement is being violated I can’t make out. For sure the war drums beat on. Meanwhile the economy in Ukraine will soon visibly collapse, that can’t be hidden for much longer, the Gvmt. becomes more crazed by the day, infighting and madness.
Putin is to be invited back to the G20.

Posted by: Noirette | Sep 21 2014 15:54 utc | 47

Nesweyan soinds like Federov:

Russia stands before the same choice—first we can expect a coup. Unlike Syria, a significant part of the contemporary Russian elite are common compradors that have nothing in common with the country other than the fact that it is from Russia itself that they pump their subcutaneous wellbeing. It is these people that their Western owners are now beginning severely to pressure, using sanctions as a whip so as to encourage them to organize a coup. And the longer they delay, the stronger and fiercer the sanctions will become.

Posted by: okie farmer | Sep 21 2014 17:14 utc | 49

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/20/us-libya-security-idUSKBN0HF0LX20140920
News from Libya

Posted by: Mina | Sep 21 2014 18:00 utc | 51

“a significant part of the contemporary Russian elite are common compradors that have nothing in common with the country other than the fact that it is from Russia itself that they pump their subcutaneous wellbeing”
Very true. But if these characters challenge Putin, it will mean their death sentence, and 99% of Russians will back them. There is no hope for a color revolution in Moscow.
A revolt of the anti-Kremlin oligarchs may give the West a chance to crow about “autocratic Russia”, but it will not get them what they want – a subservient Russia. For that, they will have to do something more drastic. And that “something” may well be Ukraine’s role.

Posted by: guest77 | Sep 21 2014 20:51 utc | 53

Posted by: guest77 | Sep 21, 2014 5:17:51 PM | 54
Not at the level of 18 year old recruits who are doing the fighting.

Posted by: somebody | Sep 21 2014 21:23 utc | 55

Good post on rising food prices in Ukraine from Voice of Sevastapol.
http://en.voicesevas.ru/news/analytics/2926-the-government-has-prescribed-a-strict-diet-to-ukrainians.html
Can Poroshenko blame that on Russia too? Are is this part of the plan to squeeze the Ukrainians so hard that putting on a uniform and invading Russia seems like the only alternative?
Any Ukrainian who imagines that they’ll get the largess that Poland got ($350B in aid!) is fooling themselves. They are still, to the west, little Russians to be used to destroy big Russia.

Posted by: guest77 | Sep 21 2014 22:08 utc | 57

interesting blog focusing on the phase change of the “frozen north” contra sun irradiation declining because of the wobbly epicenter of the planet
http://robertscribbler.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Jay M | Sep 22 2014 0:49 utc | 59

Russian Spring
09/22/2014-00:14
Summary from combatant Prokhorov:

Detachments of “Praviy Sector” were relocated to city Uglegorsk to stop disbanding units of Ukrainian Military Force and National Guard.
Battles continue near Debal`tsevo, Mariupol`, Avdeevka.
The OSCE mission was in Mariupol` today. Ukrainians decided to commence a provocation and shelled nearby settlements from airport territory. The combatants retaliated by striking at Ukranian outpost 7. In response, Ukrainians attempted to gun down the combatants’ artillery by “Grads”, yet the rockets hit in the city (or it was to show the scene to OSCE – blame the combatants).
Now, in these minutes, the combatants’ artillery works at Ukrainian outposts 13 and 14 again.
OSCE is leaving concerned, but instead of having nice scene, Ukrainians wash with blood (?).
For cowardliness and surrender, the 51 brigade was decommissioned by Poroshenko.
Also, 28 prisoners from 30th and 93rd brigades, 40th territorial battalion and 6th border detachment were handed to Ukrainians.

Question: A lot of information about atrocities the punitive troops subject the local population. What is combatant reaction?

On the freed territories cases are left for local police to investigate – the combatants lack resources to pursue criminal charges. But if locals know nicknames of a perpetrator – these are executed…
I wrote about repressions against civilians in city Schast’e (north of Lugansk) from early days – there were unwarranted abductions and rapes. This had become large-scale merely in this city. Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are “showrooms” of Ukrainian occupation. Ukrainians keep themselves composed there, evern do some repairs.
That the Khar`kov branch of Ukrainian Security Service arrested people for posting in social media, I told since first week of city occupation. There were executions, but not on public (in Novosvetlovka, “Aydar” (territorial battalion) did not hesitate to execute openly).
A concentration camp was located in Schast’e, where prisoners were served drinking water once a day (in summer!). It was restructured to a filtration station, since the city became an interim OSCE base (arrested were moved to the north and in Khar`kov region).

Posted by: Fete | Sep 22 2014 5:00 utc | 61

willy wimmer, longterm member of the bundestag and a national security guy (was responsible for absorbing the GDR armed forces into the bundeswehr), discusses a NATO network in major german news outlets, among other things (article in german). point of note: the 1999 war against serbia aimed at correcting a fault by gen. eisenhower from 1944, in that he did not station US troops in the region.
http://www.jungewelt.de/2014/09-13/007.php?sstr=willy%7Cwimmer

Posted by: persiflo | Sep 22 2014 14:41 utc | 63

Transnistria (no border with Russia, and no access to the sea) has been begging to join Russia – or at least the Customs Union, now rebaptised Eurasian Union, for a long time. In 2006 a referendum was held (as in Crimea) and 90+% voted to join Russia. Russia has never accepted this appeal or hinted that it might do so in the future, afaik. Transnistria is the ‘richer’ and perhaps ‘more stable’ Eastern minuscule strip region of Moldova, the ex – Soviet Republic.
The separation took place soon after the USSR dissolved, following a war, in 1992. Transnistria is really, de facto, independent in its State Structure, but not recognized by other countries, the UN, etc. It is a rich region, in industry and agriculture, and is dependent on its exports (production not diversified) mostly > Russia. It’s GDP per capita is high, very high.
Ukraine signing an Association Argreement with the EU has been a big screen spectacle. Yet Moldova (still to be ratified, maybe by a new Parliament?) and Georgia did so at the same time, in early summer 2014.
On 27 June 2014 the EU will sign Association Agreements with Georgia and the Republic of Moldova and complete the signature process with Ukraine, each providing for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. (DCFTA)
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-430_en.htm
Transnistria is now blockaded (transit of goods, taxes, quarrels, etc. etc.) by Ukraine + Moldova who have put it ‘under sanctions.’ Russia has sanctioned the EU in retaliation for its sanctions – big media storm – but concurrently and with same or very similar (?) conditions, sanctioned Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. Not Transnistria, though it is unclear how it could possibly export and transport its goods.
Upshot: Ukraine scenario is about to erupt in other places.
For ex. in Moldova, in a desperate position. It is an extremely poor country living off remittances (somewhat below a million expats working in Russia, Romania, etc. in either OK or shitty illegal jobs..) and exports to Russia that it has now forfeited with its EU agreement. Farmers have lost their harvest this summer / soon fall (as no export) and can’t pay their bank loans. (Ukraine, on the other hand, brought in the harvest (mostly) and sold it.) Then there are calls to meld with Romania (i.e. EU), etc. etc.
The essence is an economic war, where different powers, oligarchs, PTBs, foreign corps, figures, etc. vy for control and pieces of a dwindling pie, caring not how much they destroy in the process.

Posted by: Noirette | Sep 22 2014 18:34 utc | 65

Russian Spring
09/23/2014-02:39
Summary from combatant Prokhorov:

Earlier information on Debal`tsevo appeared to be premature. In afternoon a duel by artilleries was initiated, which has not stopped yet. It is Cossacks working from settlement Bryanki. But Ukrainians provoked – everyone was certain Ukrainians are to leave, instead they reversed by surprise.
A combat goes incessant in Avdeevka – one Ukrainian APC with paratroopers destroyed.
Clashes go on in Peski (next to Donetsk airport).
In city Schast’ye (Lugansk) sides clash as well.

Russian Spring
09/23/2014-01:38
Review by 1st Inter-brigade on September 22, 2014:

… Overall, less information is coming from Donetsk air port. The clashes there turned into positional – the punitive troops have not vanished, just not able to breach; the combatants (either because of insufficient means or the ceasefire regimen) do not pursue the enemy liquidation.
… Overall, it is tempting to note lessening of intensity of so called ceasefire regimen after second phase of Minsk negotiations. Of course, it is too early to declare the real abolishing of the fire, but its heat is significantly less. Ukrainians seize opportunity and retreat.

Russian Spring
09/22/2014-16:47
Information from combatant Prokhorov:

About Zhdanovka (a caldron between Donetsk and Gorlovka): Ukrainians indeed exit the area under white flags. This is not Minsk agreement though, which provisioned 15 km retreat by artillery only. They (Ukrainian paratroopers) exit to escape caldron. But they are allowed because of the ceasefire agreement. Before, Ukrainian troops were shamelessly encroaching under disguise of ceasefire, now – they are pulling out.

Posted by: Fete | Sep 23 2014 4:35 utc | 67

Michail Khodorkovsky wants to take on Putin:
http://news.yahoo.com/khodorkovsky-launches-movement-challenge-putin-193938861.html
Another Color Coded Revolution in Russia ??
See how the US have set up the public relations campaign. Keywords: Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/mikhail-khodorkovsky-happy-10-years-prison-putin

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 23 2014 14:48 utc | 69

It seems the US has lost its influence in Jemen, as the current president Saleh is ousted.
The US (predominatly through airstrikes with unmanned drones) did the dirty work for president Saleh. That didn’t help him to improve Saleh’s popularity in Jemen. No wonder the Houthis were able rise up against Saleh.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/09/22/240647/triumph-of-anti-american-rebels.html

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 24 2014 20:21 utc | 71

Another way to not win the “hearts & minds” in Yemen:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/04/21/225094/us-drone-strikes-came-despite.html

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 24 2014 20:29 utc | 73

“US strikes don’t stop ISIS” ?
http://news.antiwar.com/2014/09/24/us-airstrikes-in-syria-dont-slow-isis-offensive/

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 24 2014 23:11 utc | 75

Russian Spring
09/24/2014-23:05
Overview of the situation from combatant Prokhorov:

The wind today night was awesome (and persists) – howled like a jet plane; trees snapped like matches, plus rain.
But the weather did not stop the truce. The punitive troops shelled Donetsk again from the airport and Krasnogorovka; the combatants were striking in response. A glow over the airport resembled one over a stadium during a game – that is as bright as noon. In the morning the punitive troops resumed the truce at Donetsk.

Journalist remarks: Decreasing intensity of the fight after the Minsk Memorandum is very relative. That is, through the past day the fight in area of Peski (next to the airport) lasted less by 2 hours.
Shelling of Gorlovka and skirmishes in Debal`tsevo also continued.
Question: Does liberating of Mar`inka, Avdeevka and Peski remain in agenda? Why do they bomb Donets, but refrain from bombing Lugansk?
Prokhorov:

The airport demands unbelievable greatness of personnel and ammunition (for combatants). Ukrainian military maintains 3-5-fold superiority; they are well entrenched and communicate with garrisons in suburbs of Donetsk. At one time, the airport was practically conquered. But happened what happened – Ukrainians were allowed time to surrender – they used it for reinforcement.
“Khmuriy” (“Sullen” – a moniker, he is a commander) strives as hard as he can, even more – strives above human abilities – but on other fronts things are bad either: the detachment of commander “Chechen” went to south; “Motorolla”- in area Zhdanovka; others – to other places. Lugansk detachments were requested under Schast`ye and can not assist any longer.
Peski as well as Mar`inka and Opitnoye are attaced periodically. Battle for Avdeevka lasts for 30 hours already (with short respites). Ukrainians will be squeezed, but everything takes time.
There is nothing supernatural about Lugansk. The enemy was thrown off the city. These, who in Schast`ye, are being attacked immediately upon attempt to shell the city. Besides, there is no that much artillery as in Donetsk.

Posted by: Fete | Sep 25 2014 4:17 utc | 77

Here’s an informative essay on the “Russian World”, which explains how the Russian Federation works as a multicultural state. It should be required reading for all Russophobes. (I don’t mean anyone by MoA by that.)
Russian civilization at stake in Novorossia

In essence, the Russian World is grounded in the long-established precept of uniting nations, cultures, and religions in accordance with rules that are consistent, understandable, and acceptable to all. It differs from the American “melting pot” and the Chinese “heavenly mandate” in that the Russian World does not assimilate the surrounding cultures, turning everyone into Han Chinese, for example (yet borrowing from many of the achievements of the peoples being assimilated). And the Russian World does not impose a “single democratic standard,” as does the American model. The Russian World creates a setting in which all can flourish. The watchword of the Russian World is “non-interference.” Freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, freedom of speech – all these freedoms are fully exercised, but only to the extent that one freedom does not conflict with another. But for all its diversity, this world is unified by common interests (security, economics, and culture), as well as a common understanding of the crucial, cementing role played by the Russian Orthodox people in the provision of the very existence of not only the Russian World, but also its member nations.

So, unlike Western imperial powers, Russia follows the Prime Directive. This is the self-understanding of Russians of Russia. It is why when Russians understand their own culture, they cannot be nationalists. I think this rosy view of the Russian state is realistic, since it explains how Russia manages to rule such a huge amount of territory, with hundreds of different peoples.
Another good passage:

The Russian World, however, unites people around a premise that is more trustworthy, more elevated, and more acceptable to all nations than the vapid American urge to consume. The Russian World ensures a respect for tradition as well as the promise that any necessary changes will be carried out in the most conservative manner possible, in order to avoid the revolutionary turmoil that can sever the ties between generations.

Russians have had their fill of revolutions. Three revolutions (two in 1917 and one in 1989) are enough for any people.

Posted by: Demian | Sep 25 2014 23:41 utc | 79

Ferguson is our “libertarian moment,” but not in the way some libertarians want you to believe — Nice piece of reporting on the US return to the 1930’s by Mark Ames.

Posted by: Malooga | Sep 26 2014 10:14 utc | 81

Francis Fukuyama: “America is in decay”. (You don’t say ……….)
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141729/francis-fukuyama/america-in-decay
When even Fukuyama acknowledges that very Obvious fact, then things must be really bad.

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 27 2014 0:05 utc | 83

Russian Spring
09/27/2014-00.01
Summary from 1st Inter-Brigade of South-East:

In Donetsk the night passed tensely (fights went on in Kuybishevskiy and Kievskiy districts). Since the evening the punitive troops shelled settlements Novobakhmutovka (area of Yasinovataya) and Krasnogorovka (area of Mar`inka) by “Grad” systems. Later, punitive troops from Avdeevka joined the attack (targeting combatants’ positions surrounding airport and settlement Spartak, but in practice, lashing a friendly fire at themselves). Through the night, the center of Donetsk was struck by artillery from the airport no less than 6 times.
At about 5:00, a large group of punitive troops (250 paratroopers of 25th airmobile brigade plus 600 National Guards, without armored hardware) started an operation to unblock the surrounded (in the airport?) from a number of directions (most actively in area of Spartak). Some of them fought the way through.

Russian Spring
09/26/2014-23:41
Summary from combatant Prokhorov:

At the moment the combatants “truce” Ukrainian outposts north of Mariupol`.
In Debal`tsevo the outposts are being stormed.
Reciprocal artillery strikes are exchanged between Kirovsk-Gorsk, Poposnaya-Pervomaysk.
Battles continue in Schast`ye.
The leadership of Donetsk Republic decided to interrupt the exchange of prisoners unilaterally. According to the Mister of Defense of the Republic, Vladimir Kononov, having been handed 174 people, 30 were merely combatants.

Russian Spring
09/26/2014-23:35
Message from brigade “Vostok” (combatants):

Thursday, September 25, the most active combat took place in area of Donetsk airport. Battalion “Oplot” of Donetsk army sustained large losses during a storm of the airport. They lost from 3 to 5 tanks and crews.

Posted by: Fete | Sep 27 2014 4:52 utc | 85

Lots of links to developments in Central Asia:
http://christophgermann.blogspot.nl/2014/09/porkins-great-game-episode-1-isis-is.html

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 27 2014 18:21 utc | 87

Russian Spring
09/27/2014-11:15
Night, Gorlovka (Donetsk): military commanders of Ukraine, Donetsk and Lugansk Republics, and Russia met to discuss “smoothing” of the front line (video):

The regimen of ceasefire was not observed satisfactory, but now the situation may change. The sides of the conflict met in new format that has never happened before. Officers of Ukrainian army, field commanders of the combatants, observers from OSCE and Russia bent over the map. They negotiated the adequate realization of the Minsk Memorandum. It is obvious that today the agreement about ceasefire does not work. The shells continue to fall on residential quarters. The meeting was extremely important as yet another attempt to stop the war. By the way, Russia’s generals also participated in the meeting.
General-lieutenant Aleksandr Lentsov, Russia:
“There are concerns which have found common understanding; some others pose problems – we will address these to find solution. The paramount problem to tackle today is the halt of fire. This must be appreciated by either side.”
Hours-long negotiations went hard, and so far no new agreements have been signed. It was emphasized the need to pull the heavy weaponry away the line of engagement. Additionally discussed was the issue of recalling Ukrainian units from Donetsk airport.
First Vice-Minister of Donetsk Republic, Ravil` Khalikov:
“As we have heard from observers from Russia, the Ukrainian side is ready to provide guarantees. So far Ukrainian forces occupy the territory of airport. It remains to see if they fulfill the promise.”
The line of engagement will smooth out if units of Ukrainian forces currently surrounded exit caldrons; this is true for the airport as well.
A number of reasons make so called front “smoothing” convenient to either side.
No one pronounced the word “border” today. This was considered undiplomatic. But as the matter of fact, discussed was how the border would go: where will be the border between Ukraine and Novorossia. Though, the sides of conflict did not exchange by any guarantees. And representatives of Ukraine declined speak to the press (media).
Therefore, saying that the meeting was productive is likely exaggeration. But merely the fact of military of opposite sides talking rather than shooting is itself important.

Posted by: Fete | Sep 28 2014 5:19 utc | 89

About the growing unrest in Libya.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/26/234545/amid-growing-libyan-unrest-us.html
Again from the McClatchy newpaper (on-line).

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 29 2014 18:14 utc | 91

Russian Spring
09/30/2014-01:45
Commentary: Soldiers of Novorossia took another building on the territory of Donetsk airport: initial plan was to rid of occupants a police building, hotel “Polyot” (“Flight”) and an administrative building next to the new terminal. However, due to difficulties, by the end of the day the group of combatants recaptured only the police building. Both sides endured fallen and wounded.
In one video combatant “Bezpilotnik” (“Unmanned (aircraft)”) tells that “as of today the combatants regained about 90% (of the airport); just a little more effort is needed”
Russian Spring
09/30/2014-01:07
Summary from combatant Prokhorov:

In Donetsk the evening discotheque is transiting to the night one.
In area of Avdeevka, near village Orlovka, two hours ago the combatants blasted the occupants.
In area of Nikishino the punitive troops were struck by “Grad”; from Yenakiyevo the combatants work at Maloorlovka.
Near Debal`tsevo the fascists are shelling areas of foliage – like a prophylactic. Ukrainian forces do not plan to leave Debal`tsevo; reinforcement arrives constantly. (Debal`tsevo caldron did not materialize?).
Yesterday the occupants were greatly plucked in village Mayorsk (area of Gorlovka); today before noon Bezler (commander of the Gorlovka unit) was chopping Ukrainians near Krasniy Partizan (Red Rebel) (south of Gorlovka).
In Lugansk Republic the government has three items in agenda: arrange for heating season, organize work of industry, defense. Recapturing city Schast`ye does not present a problem to the army of Lugansk Republic. However resuming combat is at odds to the passionate desire to arrange live for civilians.

Posted by: Fete | Sep 30 2014 4:16 utc | 93

ISIS is one hour away from Baghdad and there’s heavy fighting going on.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-an-hour-away-from-baghdad–with-no-sign-of-iraq-army-being-able-to-make-a-successful-counterattack-9763658.html

Posted by: Willy2 | Sep 30 2014 23:00 utc | 95

Russian Spring
10/01/2014-03:10
Summary from the front by combatant Prokhorov:

The night discotheque has started in Donetsk. 79th airmobile is squeezed at a terminal. The combatants work by anything that happens to be at hand. The tower has not been captured, but it is not really important.
Reportedly, in Mariupol` is also noisy.
…
For one day Ukrainians reported 18 units of armored equipment and one artillery unit repaired. But such a pace is apparently unsatisfactory. According to the prosecutor general of Ukraine Vitaliy Yarema:
“The director of Kiev tank factory was detained and incarcerated … Criminal proceedings initiated at other armored hardware facilities of L`vov, Zhitomir, Khar`kov. Active investigations are being conducted to verify facts of administrative abuses and theft of military inventory.”

Posted by: Fete | Oct 1 2014 3:46 utc | 97

So my hope for this years mid term election and the upcoming presidential election in 2016 is that . . .
the elections might somehow be seen by the losing side as being illegitimate which would hopefully end up in some sort of “constitutional crisis”, which with a bit of luck would result in armed groups engaging in all out civil war, with, hopefully DU-tipped projectiles – which if we are really really lucky might develop in to an all out slaughter leaving the US devastated socially economically with maybe as much as 50-75% reduction of it’s population (if we’re REALLY lucky)
Then the rest of us on this planet can just go on living happily ever after with out ever again having to listen to the nauseating moronic nasaldrone bleatings of fat retarded US idiots
IF we’re lucky . . .

Posted by: anonymous | Oct 1 2014 19:55 utc | 99