News & views …
Back to Main
January 8, 2015
Open Thread 2015-02
Comments
more insufferable cunt…
sean
*If they want the west to help them they must put in western governments to run their countries or they must f**k off.*
denk [ a few seconds ago Hold on, this is waiting to be approved by Independent Online.]
kid
if the west hadnt screwed africa such big time,
it wouldnt be in such a mess in the first place !
may be u’r the ones who should fuck off from africa, or even better , from the rest of the world ?
http://www.rastafarispeaks.com/community/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=159
Posted by: denk | Jan 14 2015 4:34 utc | 201
Russian Spring
01/14/2015-00:48
Combatant Evgeniy of brigade “Vostok” (“East”) informed about clashes in Donetsk airport:
“Motorola” (a commander of combatants’ unit “Sparta”, which has been fighting in the airport for months) got “300ths” (wounded). Transported to hospital… wounded severely. How many – do not know!
Ukrainians attempted a new rotation, but had to take back “300ths” and nearly 10 “200ths” (killed). Except for artillery, their support is none.
Will press them as promised (18:00 was when an ultimatum for Ukrainian forces to leave the territory of the airport expired).
The flight control tower, used by Ukrainians to guide the artillery, was demolished by two shots of our “T-64” (tank). Otherwise passage was impossible. At the moment, a greater territory around the new terminal is controlled by Donetsk Republic! The combat is still going on.
Ukrainians carry on strikes at our Peski and airport positions by incinerating (phosphorus) shells, utilizing the last and banned – skunks!
Russian Spring
01/14/2015-00:19
Summary by military journalist “Borisich” from combatants’ positions in Nikishino at fringes of Debal`tsevo pocket:
The first artillery strike (combatants’) went on at 7:30 a.m. The warming up took quite a while. Then storming groups were engaged. The shootout was very active: small arms, grenade launchers, machine guns …
Ukrainians were firing back quite upbeat, rolled out a couple of “Nonas” (self-propelled artillery) “Vasileks” (automatic mortar)… As the first half of day passed, either side retained status quo.
Artillery duels continued through the second half of day. Towards evening, two combatants returning to dislocation were shot dead by sniper fire; their names are “Maestro Senior” and “Lisiy” (“Bald”).
Russian Spring
01/13/2015-22:27
Ex-Minister of Defense of Donetsk Republic Igor` Strelkov informed of a counter-offensive by the army of Novorossia on the south:
According to coming data, Military forces of Novorossia turned into offensive. There is some success. The Mariupol` direction. Awaiting for details.
Posted by: Fete | Jan 14 2015 4:51 utc | 202
“US airstrike killed 50 civilians in Syria”
And the US claims it killed ISIS fighters. Another sign US intelligence is “not too accurate”. Like it was in in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 14 2015 13:47 utc | 203
“US airstrike kills 50 syrian civilians”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/01/11/252671/us-airstrike-in-syria-may-have.html
Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 14 2015 13:48 utc | 204
Posted by: denk | Jan 13, 2015 9:13:38 PM | 198
:-)) right
Russia to render assistance in fitting out African peacekeeping contingents
“We will keep actively contributing to the efforts of the African Union, various subregional organizations on the continent,” Lavrov said. “We will help strengthen the peacekeeping potential of African countries in the form of training peacekeepers from African countries and helping them equip their peacekeeping contingents.”
African peacekeeping getting crowded
Posted by: somebody | Jan 14 2015 15:26 utc | 205
@74: No, it will happen when US interest rates go “through the roof”. US interest rates peaked in 1981 at ~ 15% and have been going down for 31 years. In 2012 those rates bottomed at ~ 1.5% and are currently at ~ 2%. Interest rates going up to say 6% will already wreck the US economy. The US economy has taken on (in total) ~ $ 60 trillion in debt in the last say 30 to 40 years.
Those interest rates going lower allowed the US Federal debt to go up from ~ $ 1 trillion (in 1981) up to ~ $ 17 trillion USD.
No, I expect both the USD and the Yen to go higher (e.g. against the EUR) when the US economy goes pearshape.
Here in the US there was Always a “deep state” that Congress & the White House are afraid of. The (upcoming) military coup will only confirm/reveal who the people are that control that “deep state”. Then a general will become president. I hope there won’t be a (succesful) coup but I think it’s very likely there will be a (succesful) coup in the US.
Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 14 2015 19:56 utc | 206
Chuck is lining up his next job. Anyone care to guess what the actual per plane cost will be?:
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article6263400.html
Posted by: IhaveLittleToAdd | Jan 14 2015 20:02 utc | 207
@ somebody, 193, 195
The existing Trans-Siberian lines are conventional, and from what I gather either somewhat antiquated or refurbished up to something approaching modern spec since the ‘90’s. This is the rail transport that was stated in the link you posted to be twice as cheap as air transport and twice as fast as sea transport. What the Chinese are planning is nothing less than a multicontinental expansion of their national high-speed rail lines, which run at a minimum of 200kph, many at 300kph (the fastest runs at over 400kph)—a qualitative advance over the existing lines. I can only imagine that once in place this system will be so much more efficient than the existing lines that we may in fact see a radical drop in air and sea transport and a “sanctions-proof” consolidation of the Eurasian “World Island” (with Africa eventually drawn in as well).
And I agree the Chinese have an interest in Afghanistan, both for geopolitical as well as resource reasons.
Posted by: Vintage Red | Jan 14 2015 20:07 utc | 208
@Demian, 200
You are welcome; I’m glad to contribute! I don’t remember seeing any reference to Mackinder and/or Mahan in the Anglosphere left media; over the past year I’ve perhaps seen one significant and one passing reference in the English-language Russian media, both I think a few months ago on FortRuss. I’m sure Russian thinkers and strategists are fully aware of Mackinder/Mahan; it’s not secret as such even if they’re not particularly household names for most people. Brzezinski (“Son of Mackinder”) is doubtless much more recent and known in peoples’ memories.
Another thing I remember from that military geography course was the statement that the one country for which the US would go to the wall to prevent a hostile government from taking over is Saudi Arabia. I think oil figures greatly as a factor in US geopolitical strategy because of the Pentagon’s own need for it to project force globally—civilians can go renewable or do without as far as the PTB are concerned, but they can’t run the Army or Air Force without it. And the US wants to deny any other country from becoming a global or even regional power capable of resisting US will (such as the USSR once was) through control of the oil spigot, in addition to divide and rule. This might not have been quite as important when Mackinder first propounded his thesis as it is now, but I think might be considered an additional factor in US geopolitical calculus.
I think the same would be true of Mexico—that the US would go to any length to prevent a hostile government forming (e.g. a Second Mexican Revolution), but for different reasons: a huge shared border, a huge Mexicano/Chicano population in the US, value of resources, investments, etc. and effects on relations with the rest of Latin America, among others.
Posted by: Vintage Red | Jan 14 2015 20:11 utc | 209
12 Civilians Killed When Shell Hit Bus in Southeast Ukraine
12 civilians were killed and an unknown number of others were wounded between the town of Volnovakha and Mariupol, in southeastern Ukraine, when a stray artillery shell hit a passenger bus.
The Ukrainian government and eastern rebels traded blame for the incident, with the military saying they believed the rebels were trying to hit a military roadblock down the road.
Antiwar.com just cuts and pastes the msm …
Mass murder by Kiev Nazis (PHOTOS, VIDEO 18+)
January, 13 at about 2:30 p.m. a passenger bus near Ukrainian army checkpoint was attacked by fire. The accident happened near Bugas settlement which is about 35 km (22 miles) south-west of Donetsk Republic stronghold.
Ukrainian media immediately announced “terroristic attack” as it was in July 2014 when MH-17 Boeing had been downed.
Kiev authorities insist the bus was hit with a missile of the type used at multiple rocket launcher systems like GRAD (M1964).
No phortos, but the videos clearly show the bus was machine-gunned. The bus is intact, as it would not be if it were ‘hit be a shell’ or missile.
Think we’ll hear anything of the US/EU/Ukrainian NAZI genocide in East Ukraine?
Or will we instead hear more from National Workers’ Socialist Party Fuehrer Hollande and his Stuermabteilung house organ : Charlie.
Posted by: jfl | Jan 15 2015 2:52 utc | 210
Lost in the shuffle, from earlier in the week, for those interested in press freedom in the Ukraine. Video journalists declared “wanted criminals” by Ukraine’s secret service as newspaper office in Kharkiv firebombed
Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 15 2015 3:55 utc | 211
Russian Spring
01/15/2015-02:04
Military journalist “Borisich” summarized today’s battles at fringes of Debal`tsevo pocket – Nikishino:
The combat lasted all day; either side was occasionally supported by artillery, which did not deter a Donetsk Republic’s unit to advance. Ukrainians were kicked from hamlet Redkodub (a little north of Nikishino), in which the combatants are fortifying positions.
If Ukrainians do not hope on something supernatural, the best is to leave Nikishino today when dark. For those remaining in Nikisishino are out of luck: advancing from Redkodub tomorrow would shut them off…
Russian Spring
01/14/2015-23:35
A combatant of Lugansk Republic army nicknamed “Sich” (“Owl”) informs about situation in the region:
Per a report over the radio the combatants have secured positions near Novotoshkovka (?).
Today, as I know, in Debal`tsevo pocket, in Bakhmutka, under Zolotoye and in area of Trekhizbenka, losses of opponent are big: about 50 combat vehicles: burning tanks, APCs, 20 trucks of supplies, SUVs, pickup trucks; up to 20 cannons, mortars were destroyed. About three hundred of punitive troops are wounded, near two dozens fallen.
Despite of victories, combatants’ losses at same places amount to 5 tanks, 12 APCs, 2 “Urals” (lorry truck), 2 pickup trucks, 5 mortars, 1 howitzer. About 100 combatants left ranks (majority are wounded)…
Finally, we received the command to start active operation, therefore – working upon the opponent by all means including a couple of trophy “Uragans” from summer.
Under Stanitsa-Luganskay and in Valuyskoye (?), the combatants counter-attacked the opponent. In area of Schast`e the enemy was struck by “Grad” systems and self-propelled artillery.
Posted by: Fete | Jan 15 2015 4:59 utc | 212
in re to Fete at 212 — and thanks as always
A report in the Kyiv Post confirms growing military activity. The Astana peace summit postponed as both sides mobilize in east Ukraine
Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 15 2015 5:50 utc | 213
And for those of you with the stomach for it, I just noticed this over at Kyiv Post. By a consulting firm in Kiev and linked from New Eastern Europe, Four Scenarios for the Future of Donbas lays out a no. of scenarios ranging from independence to status-quo. The bottom line on their report proposes a fifth scenario:
Consequently, it is fair to say that the Russian Federation is not in a practical position to calm the situation in Donbas under these scenarios. The further development of scenarios may include the conflict’s escalation. The only scenario acceptable for Ukraine and its allies has not yet been considered by the Kremlin. This implies the need to keep international pressure on Russia’s leadership tasked with forcing to restore peace, law, inviolability of Ukraine’s territory and stopping the supply of weapons and secessionism in the country and in the region.
I’m unsure how this isn’t the Western/junta side of the “status quo” scenario. As it’s pretty much unacceptable to Novorossiya and Russia, the “Great Game” continues after a restocking of the pcs., courtesy Mil.Sec.Gov.Com.
Isn’t it an ELP song that begins “Welcome back my friends/to the show that never ends”? Colorful, tragic, not really that entertaining. Thanks, Barry…. Je suis Pervomaisk.
Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 15 2015 6:14 utc | 214
“Free speech & Double standards”
https://consortiumnews.com/2015/01/14/a-free-press-and-double-standards/
Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 15 2015 14:38 utc | 215
It’s official:
Russian Tank Caught Crossing into Ukraine!
Kiev’s only hope now lies in General Summer!
Posted by: Vintage Red | Jan 15 2015 17:11 utc | 216
Obit today of one of the founding fathers of neoconservatism, Walter Berns, reminds us that it is a reactionary ideology born of racism, Leo Strauss and a hatred of 1960s campus occupations.
Posted by: Mike Maloney | Jan 15 2015 18:59 utc | 217
@216: Are these tanks coming from the west (like some papers reported) ? (LOL) 😉
Posted by: Willy2 | Jan 15 2015 19:13 utc | 218