never trust a corporation to do a library’s job

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Feb 1 2015 19:14 utc | 3

I repeatedly tried to post a comment with a link to Sputnik – about Obama on CNN: “US President Obama stated that the United States took an active part in the February 2014 coup in Ukraine, which installed pro-Western authorities.” But it does not show up – is the problem the Sputnik-link?
I can not find the original story on CNN, but my google-skill are not to great.

Posted by: Fran | Feb 1 2015 19:29 utc | 5

Posted by: Fran | Feb 1, 2015 2:29:07 PM | 4
This here
well, he said “we brokered a transition”.

Posted by: somebody | Feb 1 2015 19:32 utc | 7

I am still trying to get the Young Turks to issue a correction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMxWxdR-1ao&list=PLfrlsC1yJ2dTrrP7mJxjnrt9VoZsx5I2_

Posted by: Tom Murphy | Feb 1 2015 19:47 utc | 9

somebody – thanks for the link – I guess it must be it. I tried to listen to it, but I am hearing impaired, so I am not sure I got him correctly. What I understood sounded like the usual bla, bla, bla.

Posted by: Fran | Feb 1 2015 19:56 utc | 11

Posted by: Fran | Feb 1, 2015 2:56:14 PM | 10
He is incredibly arrogant. Very personal. He is basically telling Putin he is taking the wrong decisions and all was well for Russia when Obama had that special relationship with Medwedew.
Says “war no option” but will “raise the costs” for Russia. Says Putin missed any “off ramps”.
It is clear he plans to keep destabilizing Ukraine with the intention to “raise the costs”.

Posted by: somebody | Feb 1 2015 20:16 utc | 13

@ fran http://rt.com/op-edge/228379-obama-power-transition-ukraine/

Posted by: ruralito | Feb 1 2015 20:53 utc | 15

Here’s a link to the latest from Timothy Garton Ash; it seems to represent a new level of desperation – and madness- among those who supposedly rule our roost.
I don’t know why the piece should be so troubling with the great amount of crap flying about the media these days.. scares the hell out of me anyway. Maybe Gorbachov’s comments on the US looking for a hot war with Russia were not misplaced.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/01/putin-stopped-ukraine-military-support-russian-propaganda#comments

Posted by: bassalt | Feb 1 2015 20:57 utc | 17

bassalt, Timothy Garton Ash is maybe the most anti-Russia/anti-Putin columnist at the Guardian. Still, I’m surprised he’s such a warmonger in that article.

Posted by: okie farmer | Feb 1 2015 21:18 utc | 19

Putin’s comeback as President was especially cheered during the Syria crisis. Had Medvedev been there, another area under Russian influence would have been “sold out” to the West.
In this rapidly deteriorating climate, a pro-Western prime minister is simply not the right man for the job. With the likely demise of Medvedev, the West has again done its cause yet another disservice.
“Medvedev himself has tight relationships with the West. And the West plays on them to advance its desires.
Medvedev’s eventual resignation could follow , because in Moscow don’t wash the dirty laundry in public”.

Posted by: ALAN | Feb 1 2015 21:21 utc | 21

Well, comments have dried up here. I guess everyone is watching the super bowl.

Posted by: okie farmer | Feb 1 2015 23:04 utc | 23

The State Department just can’t help itself:
Tony Cartalucci: US-backed Mobs Back in Hong Kong’s Streets

Google search results for “Hong Kong protests” are topped by sponsored ads posted by the US State Department’s Freedom House – raising the absurdity and transparency of American meddling abroad and their attempts to misinform and manipulate people’s perception at home.

Posted by: Demian | Feb 1 2015 23:16 utc | 25

German links – the separation of Ukraine has been discussed in German military circles since 2009.
Should Ukraine join NATO Eastern Ukraine would split off, they estimated, like Abchasia, only Western Ukraine would join.
Western Ukraine according to them would include Odessa, the important oil ports and pipelines.
map
All those crocodile tears ….
Nato’s Eastern extension was a German idea first. Washington followed later.

Posted by: somebody | Feb 1 2015 23:30 utc | 27

Re #22:
I guess I should have read the heise story before posting that. Yes, indeed expanding NATO eastward was Germany’s idea; the US was initially skeptical.
But it should be noted that at least the German military realized that bringing the Ukraine into NATO would break the country up. The US, in contrast, clearly thought it could get all of the Ukraine, including Crimea.

Posted by: Demian | Feb 2 2015 0:07 utc | 29

Ukraine: “We Target Civilians.” Separatists: “Their Targeting Maps Prove It.”

The actual reason why this southeast-Ukrainian ethnic-cleansing campaign is necessary for Obama… is that … if the people who lived and voted in the Donbass region (Ukraine’s far-east) were … allowed to vote there as being citizens of Ukraine, then they would vote at least 90% against the regime’s candidates … Now, after this extermination-campaign, the vote there against the Obama stooges would be virtually 100% — not just 90%.
In other words: Obama needs to get rid of those people. They can die, or else they can flee to Russia, but Obama needs them gone from Ukraine.
As regards why Obama had wanted their land to begin with … unless the gas and other assets in the ground there can be privatized or sold off by the Ukrainian Government to pay its debts, the Ukrainian Government will go bankrupt and become an enormous drag on everyone who had previously lent to it, including the U.S., IMF, EU, World Bank, and others (ironically including even Russia).
Now that … this land will not be able to be controlled by the Ukrainian Government, Obama’s best bet … is to allow the war simply to end with Ukraine’s defeat, so that no more good money will go to Ukraine … just cut the losses and bring this … western half of Ukraine into NATO … surrounding Russia with U.S. nuclear missiles and with regimes that hate Russia, in order to get Russia’s capitulation to America’s aristocracy.
The only beneficiaries of today’s NATO are the West’s arms-merchants and other military suppliers. For everybody else, it’s catastrophe …
[T]hat’s the reason why the United States has been supporting (and, until now, even demanding) an ethnic-cleansing campaign in the former Ukraine. It’s part of the evil and supremely dangerous insanity that is NATO.

The reports are all of the NAZIs beating the drums for the overthrow of the coup regime as well as Poroshenko. Will Obama overtly support the NAZIs? If not … what will he do?

Posted by: jfl | Feb 2 2015 0:50 utc | 31

Posted by: jfl | Feb 1, 2015 7:28:24 PM | 29
Yellow means “wrongly claimed by East Ukraine”.

Posted by: somebody | Feb 2 2015 0:59 utc | 33

@33 That map is about 5 years old. I imagine the German military tacticians would like to revise it in light of current events.

Posted by: dh | Feb 2 2015 1:50 utc | 35

@okie farmer@17
The Debaltseve Encirclement Complete- 9000 Ukrainian Soldiers Trapped! Mercy Offered!
Thanks, okie farmer, for the report. The Ukinazis have gone totally mad, scorched-earth policies a-la Nazi. It is probably time for DNR/LNR to evaluate the need to decimate this rag-tag Ukinazi “army” a-la Viet Cong, instead of sending back to Ukraine for R&R and get them back shooting civilians in Donbass. There has to be a way to push back the artillery ravaging Donetsk. Civilian casualties are the main loss in Donetsk and other areas. Time to focus on these criminals once and for all.
@okie farmer@22
Well, comments have dried up here. I guess everyone is watching the super bowl.
Either you join the conversation about “pretaliatory” or you’re out of the loop.

Posted by: Lone Wolf | Feb 2 2015 2:19 utc | 37

@okie farmer #17:
According to Colonel Cassad, the encirclement is not yet complete. There is one road going north that supplies can still be sent through, although the Armed Forces of Novorossiya periodically shell it.
The Saker also has a post about this, although I can’t give the link.

Posted by: Demian | Feb 2 2015 3:27 utc | 39

@25 Seahawks were a good choice. Patriots Owner is a big fat Zionist and so is Tom Brady. http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-super-bowl-matchup-pats-have-israel-connections-cornered/#ixzz3QYUMzAqC Too bad they won. ;(

Posted by: Linda J | Feb 2 2015 4:13 utc | 41

@Scott@37
Be patient…so far so good…
Besides a healthy dose of condescension, you may have never seen the face of war, and hopefully you never will, you will lose. Most conflicts at early stages have the likes of Zakharchenko doing some PR job about their humane treatment of their enemies. As the conflict deepens and prolongs, atrocities kick in as a general tool to terrorize the enemy, a war to the psyche, and enemies work outdoing each other at instilling terror. This conflict is still at its early stages, and DNR/LNR can afford the luxury of showing the human face of war. Problem with the other side, Banderastan, is the presence of neo-nazis from the beginning, the backbone of the Maiden charade, the Ukinazi Death Squads. They were behind several massacres of civilians protesting/resisting the CIA/MI5/Brussels mafia junta, and they are now behind the civilian carnage taking place in Donbass oblast. I used the term “decimation” purposely, instead of “annihilation.” To decimate is to kill about one in every ten, which I think is about the proportion of neo-nazis vis-a-vis the conscripted Ukinazi rag-tag army. According to many reports, the neo-nazis are killing regular soldiers who refuse to fight or beat a retreat, that means, there will be plenty of neo-nazis inside the Debaltsevo cauldron. None of those should leave without being held accountable for their crimes. This is not about petty revenge, just sticking to the book of sound military tactics. I celebrate Zakharchenko making mothers cry, lecturing their children about humanitarian principles, but he can’t be doing that forever, and I certainly hope he is doing a triage of who is going back to their relatives. War, unfortunately, is the imposition of one’s will over one’s enemy, and no bleeding hearts have ever won a war. None so far. As for the MSM accusing the Novorossiya federalist (as per b) army of atrocities, they are already doing so, despite all Zhakarchenko videos. That shouldn’t be your concern.
Remember…artillery is mobile.
No shit.

Posted by: Lone Wolf | Feb 2 2015 4:45 utc | 43

D@28
If what I have read about NATO is correct Ukraine cannot join so long as there is an active conflict occurring in the country seeking admission.
This means that the likelihood of them being incorporated into NATO is about as likely as the Seahawks winning a Super Bowl.

Posted by: Wayoutwest | Feb 2 2015 5:21 utc | 45

Posted by: Wayoutwest | Feb 2, 2015 12:21:25 AM | 44
Defacto they already are incorporated in NATO – without the all for one defense clause. Russia is not paranoid. There are also plans to build a European common defense.
Europe/US tried/tries to build a “European (Union) security structure” without Russia.

Posted by: somebody | Feb 2 2015 6:24 utc | 47

@Demian@45
I really thank you for those two links, and for introducing YuraSumy to us. Great catch.

Posted by: Lone Wolf | Feb 2 2015 6:59 utc | 49

I just watched The Iron Curtain, which is about the defection of Igor Gouzenko. Wikipedia says, “The ‘Gouzenko Affair’ is often credited as a triggering event of the Cold War,[1] with historian Jack Granatstein stating ‘Gouzenko was the beginning of the Cold War for public opinion’ and journalist Robert Fulford writing ‘I am absolutely certain the Cold War began in Ottawa’.” It turns out Gouzenko was Ukrainian. Why am I not surprised? So a Ukrainian traitor played a major role in getting the Cold War started.
According to the movie, the Soviets were most interested in nuclear secrets. That is understandable, given that one of the reasons the US dropped the Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was to make a threat against the USSR.

Posted by: Demian | Feb 2 2015 8:28 utc | 51

36
So I’m cross training and cross reading this weekend, trying to
stay one e-FOB ahead of Mil.Gov and their action plan to steal
all America’s passport savings for the EuroTrash BailIn, and to
steal Americans’ health and human services trust fund for DoD.
‘Trust Fund’, now there’s a funny word in the 21st Century.
Remember when it meant something, back in the idyllic 1960s?
Now ‘All MIC, All The Time’ seems to be our immediate future.
Let’s recall a happy ’60’s song, as we go merrily marching:
Silver Cross
Fighting snipers from Maidan,
Fearless men who shoot and lie.
Men who mean just what they say.
The brave men of the MIC Beret.
Silver cross upon their chest,
These are men America’s best.
Five thousand men will fight and die,
And none will know, the reason why.
Trained to live at MICs command,
Red circle is in their right hand.
Men who shoot by night and day,
Why they kill, not one can say.
Back at home a young wife waits,
Her MIC Beret has met his fate.
He has died for Rich possessed,
Leaving Them his last bequest.
Keep your cross off my son’s chest,
Leave him one of America’s best.
Take all the chiefs in High Command
Exile them in the Land of the Damned.
So I’m reading Middle East accounts of McCain’s visit to Syria
last summer, sneaking in through Israel to arm and fund the
mercenary terrorists of Al Nusra AQ and The Caliph ISIS, and
getting a little hot he’s such a Jacobin forked-tongue liar.
Got up to put on a pot of tea, then got distracted thinking
of what Haaretz might have said re McCain, and his NeoSyrian
War to fight the ISIS mercenaries he just armed and funded,
then too his call for more sanctions against Russia and Iran.
And I find an article that Israel is openly offering free trade
zones and special favor deals to … Russia and Iran!! There
it is! Bibi is coming to lecture Americans about the ‘Cry-ISIS’
in Ukraine and terrible threat from Russia, and the ‘Cry-ISIS’
in Syria and terrible threat from Iran, but he’s cutting deals!!
The Israelis are openly advertising sanction-breaking trades!!
They are bleeding US, EU, IR and RU with economic sanctions,
while the Zionists are making inside Madison Avenue deals!!
I started feeling really sick just then, as the smell of Hades
filled my small room. My mind was swimming, I wanted to vomit,
that these Zio-Satanists have so destroyed our world in just a
scant few years, after eons of careful artisanal agriculture art,
centuries of brilliant craftsman design development and decades
of the hardest labor that’s ever been done to keep civilization
alive … and the Ukies and the Likudniks are openly laughing!
So I went and laid down, the smell of Satan stronger and
stronger. Felt myself drifting off, sensation gone, like
when you’re drowning, if any of you have ever drowned too.
A sense of being pressed by stones in an inevitable death.
Don’t know how long I was gone out, but woke up when the
neighbor’s dog had pushed the door open, and was licking
my face, whining. The place stunk like hot sulphur pits,
… that’s when I remembered the forgotten pot of tea.
I’d turned on the gas but forget to light fhe flame, so enraged
by McCain, Ukies and Likud’s perfidy, treason and high crimes.
From now on, I don’t want to know. I want it to hit me like a
Ukie mortar shell, crossing the street in a pedestrian path,
thinking my life is good, I’m safe and OK, … then kabaam.
We will rise up, in Iceland, in Argentina, in Greece, in
Ukraine, in Syria, across the world we will rise up and
destroy them utterly and entirely, as though they were
wiped off the map of history, and never spoken of again.
Kerry-Kohn is the Heinz fortune. Boycott Heinz…hard.
McCain is the Budweiser fortune. Boycott Bud…hard.
There are e-lists of Zionist firms. Boycott them…hard.
Monsanto, Dow, Wyeth, Pfizer, Novartis,
BOYCOTT!
Boycott is the only power on earth that destroys them.
And too, boycott is the only power that we have left.
Like Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, step away!
‘Whatever you do, …stop Zio-shopping!’

Posted by: ChipNikh | Feb 2 2015 10:46 utc | 53

@53
They are so doctrinaire at wsws.org, aren’t they? I read an obit there wherein, after a few ‘kind words’, they lit into the deceased’s ‘pseudo-left’ essence. Made my skin crawl. The analysis is often (usually) good at wsws.org … unless it’s one of there ‘fellow travelers’ … then its shiv between the ribs and a twist of the handle. I’ve gotta give the Greeks a chance to blow it on their own, at least.
@50
Wonder where in the Ukraine the Gouzenkos were from? A lot of Ukrainian fascists settled in Canada, I understand. That would explain the tender of Communist secrets by an OUN spy/double agent … and possibly King’s refusal to have anything to do with an ‘ex’-‘NAZI.
The start of the Cold War would have been the US at work … the Hollywood film was made just the year after the CIA was invented … while the over propaganda machine was still oiled up and cranking.

Posted by: jfl | Feb 2 2015 11:20 utc | 55

What, no blog post on the Super Bowl? I’m disappointed. Games within The Game are still important despite the carnage. If you cover soccer, you should cover American football — it’s only fair. You do have a significant American following afterall. All these intelligence goons love their American football so throw them a bone — or I should say another bone on the heaping pile you’ve already thrown them.

Posted by: Cold N. Holefield | Feb 2 2015 11:46 utc | 57

Demian at 45 —
Behind on my reading after working the weekend, Super Bowl. Fort Russ had YuraSumy’s work once or twice since the Rada elections. Until recently, when they’ve been posting his work almost daily. J. Hawk has it on the ball as well. I think “Nishino” is the first stand-alone analysis. I think the delay is a mix of prudence (forces limited, no overstrech, consolidate control) and a desire to see the junta implode. Warring mini-Banderastans pose less of a threat than a consolidated fascist regime. More minor annoyances, no serious threat. Either outcome exposes DC’s policy.
ps. Outcome should put paid to “Deflategate.”

Posted by: rufus magister | Feb 2 2015 12:51 utc | 59

France. Orwell re-born.
Educational program from state TV, F 4.
Supposedly kiddos write in w. questions – answered in comic-graphic format. Title: One day, one question.
Not a joke. See TV station:
http://www.france4.fr/emission/un-jour-une-question
A compendium of q-a (i can view it, not sure about other countries)
http://tinyurl.com/mmlmkcf
Description of the 4 min. Youtube vid below:
Some critical pix and comments are inserted, but the original is there. Summary good enough to understand the vid:
What is 9/11? Al Q. are radical terrorists who attacked the twin towers. The US thus invaded Afghanistan suspected of being Al Q.
What use is the President of the European Commission? (from a 9-yr. old !) – Reinforce European solidarity! So that they, we!, become stronger!
Who is Bachar Al-Assad? No free democratic election! He is a dictator, who governs in an authoritarian way, without taking the ppl’s opinion into acccount.
Why are some ppl against marriage for all? Some ppl are embarassed. To settle the issue, ALL opinions had to be consulted.
How do countries fight terrorism? Saudi Arabia gives money to humanitarian orgs to support ppl persecuted by the Islamic State. Sometimes the terrorists are French, they went to Iraq to fight war. The F Gvmt has thus voted in a law to stop these ppl from leaving the territory. This law also ups surveillance of internet sites that promote terrorism.
What use is a Region? The project is to reduce regions (in F) from 22 to 14. Super Regions will be created! They will be stronger economically and will be able to ‘have more weight’ facing other European regions. (err??) // Relates to a long time project within the EU to Balkanize the EU itself – F has moved forward//
Who is Putin? There is no place in Russia for ppl who have a different opinion! He is accused of taking over part of Ukraine. So Europeans took sanctions against Russia.
What does it mean right and left in politics? There are two main pol. forces in F and it is important that all the ideas can be expressed! in a Democracy! //attempt to reinforce a US type 2-party kabuki//
Many millions of F children watch. The last child to be arrested for ‘apologie du terrorisme’ is aged 8. When asked “what is terrorism” he said he didn’t know.
http://tinyurl.com/qf7xozs

Posted by: Noirette | Feb 2 2015 13:05 utc | 61

They will go far, these guys :-))
Obama signals support to loosen Greece’s austerity program

Posted by: somebody | Feb 2 2015 13:57 utc | 63

Mike “Mish” Shedlock’s take on the situation in eastern Ukraine:
“Ukraine lost the war but the west won’t admit it (yet)”
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.nl/2015/02/cyborg-silliness-no-glory-in-stupidity.html

Posted by: Willy2 | Feb 2 2015 15:21 utc | 65

If you go back far enough in Yanis Varoufakis’ blog, you will discover he had (has?) a plan to have the EU kick Greece out of the EU as well as the Eurozone. His refusal to meet with the Troika could be a part of that plan. His reasoning was something like, ‘because Greeks love the Euro, there’s no way to stay in power long enough to effect change with immediate withdrawal from the Eurozone – on the other hand if Greece get’s kicked out, Greece can recover (slowly) and regain economic sovereignty.’
His willingness to meet with individual countries rather than with the Troika means he’s trying to show cooperation, but it’s a cynical game intended, in my opinion, to fool the Greek public, but more importantly Europe as a whole – that is if the Syriza govt seeks getting “kicked out”.
Well, maybe not cynical, just “smart” politics.

Posted by: okie farmer | Feb 2 2015 17:19 utc | 67

Is there any more updates on what is going on in Debaltsevo? Last I heard the national guard fled and 7000 troops surrounded. I looked in RT but there is nothing new. Also any thoughts on what is going on in Venezuela? Maduro accused Biden of being behind the coup attempt. Theres talk of some high ranking military guy seeking asylum in NYC and evidence he was behind the violent protests. Why doesn’t Venezuela expel the US diplomats?

Posted by: Amber Carey | Feb 2 2015 17:55 utc | 69

Six Veterans of Stalingrad Write Open Letter to Angela Merkel

The truth is, Frau Merkel, that in Ukraine an all-out orgy of fascism is going on. It’s not just some anti-semitic remarks in Parliament or by dropouts about the superiority of one “race” over another. It is a matter of full-scale bloody crimes, whose victims now number in the hundreds and in the thousands.
But the west has taken a very strange position, and we do not understand it. The position can be understood as accommodating Ukrainian Nazis. It is understood in Ukraine as the position of Europe, and it is beginning to be perceived as such in Russia. And we would like to know what the German people would say about it from the vantage point of their historic national experience.
It is important for us to know your view, the view of the leader of the great people that once suffered the Brown Plague, but at the cost of terrible sacrifice, recovered from it. We are aware of how they struggle in your country with any manifestations of Nazism, and believe us, we appreciate it. All the more, it makes us wonder why, cleaning out any possible germs of nazism in you country, you are unconcerned about a full-scale outbreak of it in another part of Europe?
Why do European leaders march in support of French caricaturists murdered by Islamic terrorists, but do not march against fascism in Ukraine? Why did the head of state, who ordered annihilation of part of his own population, participate in this march? Why do 12 French victims deserve attention, but thousands of Ukrainian and Russian victims do not?

I would be really surprised if Merkel does not ignore this completely. And the German media has so far ignored it, too. I did a German Google News search for “angela merkel brief stalingrad”, and nothing relevant came up. Doing a plain Google search on <"angela merkel" brief stalingrad> produces one hit, to Sputnik news: Stalingrad-Veteranen rufen Merkel zu gemeinsamem Kampf gegen Nazismus in Ukraine auf.
There can be little doubt that the de-Nazification of Germany has failed.

Posted by: Demian | Feb 2 2015 18:09 utc | 71

Amazing how the EU has backed away in horror at Syriza’s election. The Greeks democratically declare that they will not be debt-sponged slaves to banks and the EU and even Obama immediately shift to a renegotiating tone.
If Ukraine can stay together, discontinue the sectarian politics, gain competent, strong and sensible leadership they could certainly leverage it for significant economic gains, on its own terms. I hope that the Ukrainians will seize the opportunity after the absolute tragedy that’s unfolded over the past two years.

Posted by: PeteCaroll | Feb 2 2015 18:14 utc | 73

Sorry, forgot the link.
http://redpilltimes.com/useu-backed-ukraine-army-now-trapped-debaltsevo-pocket/

Posted by: okie farmer | Feb 2 2015 18:17 utc | 75

@74 Let’s see:
-fascists are by nature un-creative
-the rebels are fighting defense
-air superiority has weakened Western understanding of tactics, they simply don’t know how to fight
-Soviet Era weapons seem to actually function for defensive purposes
-the Ukraine rump population really has no reason to fight after a coup. They can’t bring force to bear.
-Kiev politicians are pushing for a time table resolution instead of adjusting the time table to fit the goals (D-Day in May would have been a disaster; Market Garden, Galipoli were disasters for similar reasons.
-mercs are thugs not soldiers; when the going gets tough they get the hell out and don’t incorporate the Ukrainian recruits
-as far as Western weapons, U.S. defense contracting is rife with inefficiency and fraud. Who knows what works?
-Fascists view their enemy as subhuman even the kinder, gentler fascists of the West. The idea the rebels could fight back is an absurd notion. In their minds, there must be Russian troops because Pentagon generals can’t be this stupid.
-there were a number of Veterans in the combat of last year in the NAF, as opposed to raw recruits. The NAF didn’t send the kids signing up to fight with these guys because young men do stupid stuff and can’t be trusted without people checking over their soldier. Old soldiers know to dig in. Recruits run around aimlessly.
-The Ukrainian military was already in serious decay, and I suspect much of their munitions factories and depots were under rebel control.
I wouldn’t say any one issue is impossible to overcome for Kiev, but it’s a operation of clowns. Sam Grant went from a drunk who despite combat experience couldn’t join the regular army in April 1861 to crushing the once invincible R.E. Lee, the pride of West Point four years later. Grant was promoted because almost everyone ahead of him was stupid. Not much has changed. A bad naval officer will probably run his ship on a reef before he gets promoted to admiral, but the Western ground forces haven’t faced much since Vietnam, an Iraqi army which retreated in ’91 and chose not to fight in ’03 after a decade of decay.

Posted by: NotTimothyGeithner | Feb 2 2015 19:42 utc | 77

NotTimothyGeithner
Yes “they dont know how to fight” seems to sum it up, still thats weird since they are well equipped and gets aid by nato/U.S they should be better and could have finished off this 2-3 months at most and most every assault they have done havent led to any real gains. Just take the pathetic assault on the aistrip some weeks ago.

Posted by: Anonymous | Feb 2 2015 20:09 utc | 79

@ Posted by: somebody | Feb 2, 2015 1:03:57 PM | 70
Have you overlooked that every loan imposed on Greece by the troika was covered every which way from Sunday by derivatives in the financial casino? Greek default will bring down the house; recall the derivative panic by Lehman’s bankruptcy (for example). It is the derivative casino that is being protected, no? Lehman’s bankruptcy was what? a few billions? and the cost to the public purse? Greece debt is about €240 billions which on a similar scale will be in the tens of trillions to hide. May you live in interesting times.

Posted by: Formerly T-Bear | Feb 2 2015 20:44 utc | 81

@80 There is one other issue. When the war abated in the fall, the NAF front line units, not the kids carrying guns and bags for the elderly, had been fighting for six months. Even though the regime was on the run, the NAF was tired and needed to absorb the recruits into cohesive units. A replacement unit of recruits is basically useless, so they need to spread the Frontline fighters into the leadership. This might have forced Kiev’s hand because victory is possible against 20,000, but if the NAF can field 100,000 solid fighters over a relatively small area they can’t be moved. As long as they have ammo, the NAF could have respond to a full Kiev mobilization by the Spring given that fascist regimes tend to become less popular over time.
I imagine either Kiev or Langley said they had to stop the NAF from reorganizing and turning the “home guard”, yahoos, those with gumption into frontline units.

Posted by: NotTimothyGeithner | Feb 2 2015 23:00 utc | 83

@70
‘ 3) If Greece defaults European banks – on the forefront German banks – will have to write off a lot of money in their books.
This probably means they would need another government bailout – much more damaging than to give Greece some relief they can use to appease their voters. ‘
Isn’t this the reason behind the EU’s new QE? Aren’t they going to have ALL Europe’s taxpayers fund the German banks after Greece grexits – and Portugal, Ireland, and Spain PIS on them?

Posted by: jfl | Feb 2 2015 23:51 utc | 85

Ukraine wants peace while Kiev junta wants war

80% in Odessa region are for ending the war by any means.
In Kiev this number is near 60%.
In Western Ukraine it is approaching 70%.
The mood in the Ukrainian society is shifting towards pacifism. But those who are in charge will continue to push for war.

Well, they are going to have to remove the fascist war-mongers from power if they want peace then, aren’t they? Where have all the young men gone … ?
Russia was invaded by one MILLION Ukrainian men of military age, hiding from Poroshenko – official data

“According to the Federal Migration Service there are 2 million 430 thousand citizens of Ukraine now in Russia, including 1 million 172 thousand men of military age”.

“Kiev should not expect military superiority” – Zakharchenko

He [Zakharchenko] reminded that, in view of another wave of Ukrainian mobilization, DPR and LPR made a decision to start the recruitment of volunteers into the militia, and called on the people of Ukraine to turn against the unnecessary war.

… might not Russia arm them and help them back to Ukraine to answer Zakharchenko’s call for volunteers? Presumably a good part of them are from the Yellow zone in the 2009 German Wehrmacht’s map of Ukraine, and just as eager at this point – 80% in Odessa region are for ending the war by any means – to regain controi of their homelands as are those in Donbas.

Posted by: jfl | Feb 3 2015 0:28 utc | 87

Nice to see that as frontline losses and internal bickering mount, folks are paying more attention to Fort Russ and Russia Insider. A quick look at the other side is in order.
Komsomolskaya Pravda v Ukrania has mostly human interest stories, including tales of the refugees from Debaltsevo. But they do have yesterday’s communique from “anti-terrorist operation” spokesman, Andrei Lysenko, who “considers that the decision of so-called leadership “DNR” & “LNR” declaring mobilization in the Donbass to be an indicator of the lack of manpower…. [It is] the end of the militants as a living force, as they have not been able to fulfill its mission to the last few days to take the city Debaltsevo, which is a strategic railway point that our military successfully held.” He went on to say that the UAF are not going to surrender Debaltsevo, and their manpower is sufficient.
And everyone is thinking — duh, yeah, ‘cuz y’all just announced, what is it, the fourth mobilization? KPvU reports elsewhere on their “Situation in the East” tab, that you need official permission to travel if you’ve been called up.
With regard to the situation in Debaltseve, Lysenko said that Ukrainian military is not going to give up the city and that they have a sufficient number of soldiers.
They also have a very intriguing report — police checkpoints, covered by snipers, are being thrown up around the city. This is a expansion of a program begun in late April, which was primarily directed against traffic coming from Russia. Citizens are asked to be patient.
One has to wonder, who’s being kept in, and who out? And more vitally, who will be permitted to pass? Will it include volunteer units under order for the General Staff to be somewhere else?
Over at the Kyiv Post, the story is Ukraine throws reinforcements at Debaltseve. They too discuss the mobilization.

Army generals appeared to have responded on Feb. 2 with reinforcements, but it may yet prove too little, too late for the thousands of Ukrainian soldiers battling to repel the Russian-backed forces’ offensive at Debaltseve. They now find themselves surrounded but for a single supply road under constant threat of attack.
Military officials were tight-lipped about the battle, with Ukrainian army spokesperson Colonel Andriy Lysenko refusing to comment beyond “all attacks were repelled”….

The Post cites a fig. for the regions pop. (3.3 mil. total; source, accuracy?) and states that the 100K mobiization “is considered by many as a thinly veiled threat to bring more Russian troops into the region.” Again, sources unnamed.
It does accurately report growing interest in at least some quarters of Congress (including Sen. R. Menendez, D-NJ) in providing US/NATO “lethal aid” to the Banderaists. We’ve armed the jihadis, wny not the brownshirts, eh?
I’d like to send this one out to all you draftees in Banderastan — Uncle Joe says, you don’t have to heed The Call Up.

Posted by: rufus magister | Feb 3 2015 1:23 utc | 89

Cranking up the pressure for escalation. Same old strategy….president looks weak and indecisive….Kiev needs help.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31013452

Posted by: dh | Feb 3 2015 2:22 utc | 91

further to 92 — There we go, seen the byline at Russia Insider, German politics, usually, as here.

Posted by: rufus magister | Feb 3 2015 2:58 utc | 93

Russian Spring
02/03/2015-00:33
Combatant Prokhorov provided insight into situation and clashes in Donbass on Monday, February 2:
“Yesterday, by “Grads”, blasted a battery of “Gvozdikas” (“Carnation” – self-propelled howitzer) of 80th (brigade ?) in sector “A” (?). Three units less. Ukrainians have just confirmed.
Has it been written about activities of air force of Novorossia? Today was first combat flight. Have even heard it flying in the sky.
Reportedly in Kurakhovo (?), positions of 28th were blasted well, so were a Ukrainian battery in Kurakhovo.
Near Debal`tsevo, an APC delivering ammo to besieged Ukrainians was liquidated. One killed and 4 wounded”.
“Street clashes in Stanitsa-Lugankaya have been launched”, Prokhorov reported later.
Russian Spring
02/02/2015-20:13
Ex-Minister of Donetsk Republic Defense Igor` Strelkov incurred enforcement structures of Donetsk and Lugansk Republics to offer him a position:
“Within a framework of announced mobilization. For my spouse being a native of Donbass (born on territory of Donetsk Republic), please consider a possibility of having me mobilized in the ranks of the military forces of Donetsk Republic.
44 years old, suitable for combat service in 3rd medical category.
Have the following military specialization: a marksman, a commander of infantry detachment, a second in command of platoon, a commander of cannon crew (2S3 “Akatsia”), a gun aimer and main loader of 2S3 “Akatsia”, a loader of 82 mm mortar. In addition, have significant experience in operations, combat operations and leadership in reconnaissance, counter-reconnaissance work in near-front and behind front zones, also – in combat against neo-fascist formations and bandit underground.
Ready for call to serve in any of above qualifications in military forces or security services of Donetsk or Lugansk Republics.”

Posted by: Fete | Feb 3 2015 5:03 utc | 95

@91 dh.. a view into herbst who was quoted in the article from bbc you posted..
1 – “Following the Orange Revolution, Ambassador Herbst facilitated funding of objective sources of news in Ukraine. His efforts led to the United States Agency of International Development funding $2.4 million to be spent towards the development of mass media in the country.” … i get a kick out of the use of that word “objective’..

Posted by: james | Feb 3 2015 7:16 utc | 99