Disarming Ukraine – Day 3 – Moon of Alabama

February 26, 2022

Disarming Ukraine – Day 3

Yesterday the Russian military halted its advance to give time to the Ukrainian president Zelensky to agree to ceasefire talks. The U.S. however told him not to hold such talks and said he should leave Kiev. Up to this morning Russia had received no response to its ceasefire offer and resumed the attack. Zelensky decided to stay in Kiev.

There was little operational news from the ground that could be verified. Despite that lots of claims were made about the progress or non-progress of the Russian campaign. I believe that these claims are nearly all propaganda and will refrain from reproducing them.

Approximate situation today

"Blue dots=Ukraine forces presence/siege of military HQ or control of all main roads around."
Source – bigger

The units from Crimea are moving towards north and east. The eastern group, together with a move from Donbas west, is supposed to surround the Ukrainian units in and around Mariupol. Some Ukrainian units near to Donbas seem to fear getting encircled and are moving out.

There was a Russian attempt to capture another airport by an air assault. It may have failed. I have seen no hard evidence to confirm that in either way.

Russia has moved in more heavy rocket and mortar artillery. The so far rather light touch of the traditionally very strong Russian artillery may well get stronger.

Several European countries are sending weapons to the Ukraine. This is mostly 'small stuff' like machine guns and anti-tank missiles. Throughout the day there were lots of international diplomatic reactions and promises. AP had a live update that catches these.

The idea of kicking Russia out of Swift seems to be still on that table. It would be the beginning of the end of U.S. dollar supremacy.

Cutting Russia off from SWIFT a "matter of days" – euro zone central banker Reuters

The U.S. aim is to create an insurgency in the Ukraine.

The Coming Ukrainian Insurgency – Foreign Affairs
Russia’s Invasion Could Unleash Forces the Kremlin Can’t Control

Since 2015 the CIA has trained Ukrainian groups for exactly that purpose.

CIA-trained Ukrainian paramilitaries may take central role if Russia invades – Yahoo

CIA support for Ukrainian Nazis has a long history.

Op-Ed: The CIA has backed Ukrainian insurgents before. Let’s learn from those mistakes – LA Times

A new Nazi insurgency in eastern Europe is an exceptionally bad idea. Fascist groups form everywhere would join in. A few years from now it may well lead to Nazi terror in many European countries. Have we learned really nothing from the war on Syria and the ISIS campaign?

Posted by b on February 26, 2022 at 18:15 UTC | Permalink

Comments

i knew the swift move was coming but was still somehow surprised. with unipolarity at stake, the hegemon will do anything to defend its nazified garrison state.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 1:14 utc | 201

Posted by: enough | Feb 27 2022 0:55 utc | 192
Illiteracy, nazis, and the virginity of earth’s orbit.

Posted by: Misotheist | Feb 27 2022 1:14 utc | 202

About disappearing links.
As happened in covid, some requests for links here seem connected to the rapid disappearance of the same a few hours later.
Before publicizing a link to an article, copy it so at least you can repost it if it should disappear

Posted by: Les7 | Feb 27 2022 1:16 utc | 203

Situation looking precarious per southfront. Errors of coordination.

Posted by: jared | Feb 27 2022 1:18 utc | 204

Accessing RT:
you can access RT with out any impediment using Yandex browser, then pick the language of your choice on the left hand corner of the web page

Posted by: Grishka | Feb 27 2022 1:20 utc | 205

According to TASS, in addition to cutting Russia off from SWIFT, the West will sanction Russia’s Central Bank to prevent the Russian government from propping up the ruble. I would love to know exactly what this means. It sounds like doomsday, though.

Posted by: AnalyticMind | Feb 27 2022 1:21 utc | 206

from the MSM.
“Two of the key new measures target the heart of Russia’s financial system, its Central Bank, and cut an unspecified number of Russia’s banks off from the SWIFT financial network. SWIFT is a vital element of global commerce and banking that moves money from bank to bank around the world.
U.S. and European officials made clear they still were working on implementation of the sanctions, and said they would take care not to impact European purchases of Russian natural gas.
U.S. officials said the moves would send Russia’s ruble currency crashing in value, and intensify its isolation financially. It’s the latest and toughest in days of new sanctions since Russian forces moved into Ukraine late last week.”
A very interesting week or two coming up.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 1:22 utc | 207

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 1:22 utc | 207
I read that as well. But that is what they intent to do. Have they thought Russian counter moves through? AFAIK Western sanctions left those banks untouched that are being used to make gas payments. They can still clear those transactions via SWIFT. Russia can now counter sanction and force those banks to only accept clearance, if the Russian SWIFT alternative SPFS is used. Will Germany then accept that it has to use the Russian alternative setting the precedent to undercut the US dollar? Will the US allow this? And there it begins: I dont think Germany has the political capital and will to use SPFS. So it cant pay for the gas deliveries anymore and Russia will cease to sell Germany its gas. What happens then?

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 1:28 utc | 208

Posted by: enough | Feb 27 2022 0:55 utc | 192
Actually it was the USSR that gave Ukraine many of its lands, including Crimea.

Posted by: Passer by | Feb 27 2022 1:32 utc | 209

…to prevent the Russian government from propping up the ruble.
Posted by: AnalyticMind | Feb 27 2022 1:21 utc | 206
Insane moment there is that the very same people accuse Chinese bank of “propping Yuan down” to give Chinese export goods a price advantage. Also a significant part of Russia’s economy expanding in domestic international market (like food, etc) as actually the western attack in 2014 that made Ruble to USD rate 1/2 of what it was. It was (and still is) a big hit about purchasing consumer electronics, but made-in-Russia products started blooming.
Are they really try to invent sanctions that sound bold but in reality do not interfere with Kremlin’s plans ?

Posted by: Arioch | Feb 27 2022 1:32 utc | 210

# karlof1 | Feb 27 2022 0:02 utc | 154

“Roscosmos will cease work on joint space projects with Europe and the United States and instead seek cooperation with China, the head of the Russian space agency Dmitry Rogozin announced on Saturday.”
Bye Bye ISS. Bye Bye any ESA or NASA participation in the Russian/Chinese Lunar Research Base. IMO it will take at least an entire generation of peace and lack of Russophobia before Russia enters into any form of relations with most Western nations.
The biggest question now for Russia: Do we continue to sell our gas to those that threaten us?

Great news from Roscosmos and it is about time.
On the gas issue, I doubt that energy sales will rearrange anytime soon at Russia’s behest but I would not trust some of the EU members on that. The SWIFT situation is likely to resuly with Russian exclusion given that the west will just HAVE TO USE every weapon they have dreamed up / bragged about to date. They won’t be able to resist it and they will be shamed into it by the congresscritters and cheer squad. It would not surprise me if Bernie Sanders and his fraudsquad were to lead the charge.
They will just pick that swift shotgun, point it at their foot and shoot.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 1:33 utc | 211

@206
“It sounds like doomsday, though.”
yes. not that it matters, but i’ve been saying that here since even before the war (which i said was coming) even started.
everything’s up to putin. for all of us, i hope he huddles with china and comes up with a solution. “the west” needs to be cordoned until it’s come to its senses. but the chances of a hot war are very high, and the “western” public and political class seem too addled or senile to see that.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 1:33 utc | 212

“enough” is a funny little person. The sort who was probably was waving a flag in his Mom’s basement when the United States invaded Grenada.

Posted by: zakukommander | Feb 27 2022 1:33 utc | 213

Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 1:28 utc | 208
I do think the US/EU realizes as yet that Russia turned its back on the combined west when it decided on a full cleanup operation in Ukraine.And when I say turned its back, I mean a total break with the west. Russia has long prepared for this whereas the west in its combined exceptionalism has not.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 1:35 utc | 214

nom de derriere,
karlof1
circumspect
Thanks for your comments that help me to understand the bigger picture.
yes Nazi is just a name and I think the best summary is that the British Empire are the original Nazis and are still most surely behind US, Canada, Australia, NATO etc.
I remember about half way through covid here I realised that the masks of our government (left and right) were coming off unapologetically and I recall thinking these people are all psychopaths and are so secure in their takeover of our country that they aren’t even bothering to hide anymore.
The rhetoric is now so blatant and at such a crescendo that I can’t even look or listen anymore, it hurts my heart and soul!
But it’s happening for a reason, and I do not think that reason is merely the dying screams of Empire.
I find this worrisome where Russia is concerned because if this is true and the masks come completely off in Europe, what might happen in retaliation? I do believe that Russia had no choice, but escalation seems like a real possibility. at a certain point why would nato care if a larger war broke out? the same people benefit either way. Hopefully there is enough humanity left in this alliance that would prevent this dreadful outcome.
It is curious that the US published the map of the invasion beforehand, making it look very much staged, something tells me that the empire was already gloating having taken so long to set this up and now it’s finally happening.
I would like to add that I find comments about how stupid the West is to be somewhat naive. If the MO is wealth and power accumulation via destruction and disruption then they are not stupid, they are successful. I don’t call it intelligent or good, but stupid no. They do use very stupid people as front persons, but that’s becasue they are easier to control.
While it would be naive to divide this situation into good and bad players, there is such a thing as what’s right and good for humanity. I always try to find who is doing that to the best of their ability and support them. So far Russia seems genuine in this endeavour.
Peter AU: so are you saying that fascists are on both sides of our parliament they just have slightly different allegiances? if so that’s what I think. That is what all their behaviour is saying, including the Greens and most of so called independents.

Posted by: K | Feb 27 2022 1:36 utc | 215

@pretzelattack
The U.S. is a declining power. This is clearly evident. Russia could easily sit back and watch them tear themselves apart after the next election. As some great strategist had said, “When your enemy is in the act of destroying themselves, stay out of the way”
With videos coming out of captured Russian troops, this is begininng to look like a massive blunder. Spectacular own goal on so many levels. Unbelievable.

Posted by: bachac | Feb 27 2022 1:37 utc | 216

It seems to be official now that Germany sends anti-tank weapons and stingers to Ukraine. Hopefully they’ll get destroyed as soon as they cross the border. However, while I’ve been disappointed by every single German government so far, no matter what party constellation – this is truly an absolute and extremely appalling low point of German foreign policy. I am deeply ashamed for my country. Not only did Scholz call the notion of a genocide in the eastern Ukraine “ridiculous” – which in itself is outrageous enough for the head of a country responsible for tens of millions of barbaric murders in the past. Now he decided to send weapons against the very people who liberated us from the murderers! This will not be forgotten by Russia, and it’s far beyond insensitivity. It’s an historical affront of unbelievable proportions in my eyes. Germany has killed at least 25mio Russians in the last century, the least we should do would be to shut up and stay neutral. If anything, send medical supplies or food. But this? Unforgiveable. As Arne Hartmann in post 148 already stated, I too think our current government has sealed our economic fate – 10 to 20 years from now the wealth and power of today’s Germany will only be a fading memory (if it’s not a nuclear wasteland anyway). Turning off NS2 and Swift is stupid enough, but sending weapons not only closes the door for any future relations, but locks it too. Adding the very probable high influx of Ukrainian refugees, I don’t see any possible positive outcome for Germany in the foreseeable future – and it will take most of Europe with it, downhill.
The big question is if this is all just caused by stupidity, blindness, arrogance and dependancy on the hegemon, or maybe an orchestrated course of action? I vaguely remember when I read about the “Great Reset” plans of the Davos crowd something along the line that “to create something new you have to destroy the old” (not a real quote and I can’t provide a link, sorry). So maybe the powers that be intentionally try to create the worlds biggest economy crisis ever to pave the way for the reset, grabbing even more power and resources while at it. Given that the financial ponzi scheme of the collective west is going to collapse soon anyway and the last crises consolidated power rather than overturn it, it seems like a good explanation to me. And another international crisis right after Covid is as useful a trigger as any.
As for Putin, I think he turned his back on Europe for good. After reaching out for 20 years, trying to be friends or at least good partners, but getting nothing but rejection and outright hate as response, he probably decided to really don’t give a shit anymore. And rightfully so. If Europe can’t bring itself to imagine a future without it’s master’s boot in the neck, so be it.

Posted by: xototox | Feb 27 2022 1:43 utc | 217

@bachac (216)
Put your URL’s where your loudmouth is.

Posted by: bjd | Feb 27 2022 1:44 utc | 218

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 26 2022 22:30 utc | 126
I like your posts generally and I agree with this one too. ‘Nazi’ is one shade of a negative human condition that manifests in superficially different forms in different times and places. Let’s call it “evil.”

Posted by: Activist Potato | Feb 27 2022 1:51 utc | 219

K | Feb 27 2022 1:36 utc | 215
I think there has been a general move to the right since the collapse of the soviet union. the shearers at Barcaldine were the beginnings of the labor party but the labor party today has nothing in common with those shearers. I guess the point I was trying to make though was that the current liberal faction in power relate directly to the pre WWII fascists that joined the fascist parties in various European countries and welcomed Nazi Germany as their country’s liberators. Prior to WWII, I think most of Europe had their fascist and communist parties. Two opposing political ideologies.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 1:55 utc | 220

Really what this all is, is that ONCE AGAIN Putin has beaten victorianudelman synagogue of satan to the punch. Last time they wanted Crimea, and Putin took it instead. This plan B shelling was to divide and set up a yiddish khanate state with Odessa as capital, the dumb goyim in the EU/US/Lviv/nazi parubiys are all under hypnosis, the khazar jew has kabbalah over the slav race,they don’t know. But the Russian Orthodox Church (read Sura 5:82) has the spiritual power to see through synagogue of satan. As we speak Odessa is being taken, and all of Southern/Eastern Ukraine to River Dneiper. The SoS controls Western media but Putin has warned he will nuke them if they try to interfere and stop, its simple, RUSSIA JUST CANNOT ALLOW ANOTHER KHAZAR KHANATE “ISRAEL” TO SURFACE ON ITS BORDERS its an existential threat to mother RUSSIA. And BEWARE the jew today has the money and power in the West to do it like they did to Palestine in 1948.

Posted by: Anon | Feb 27 2022 1:57 utc | 221

The West is growing visibly more desperate with every hour. The last -and most potent – reserves of sanctions are about to be thrown into the battle in vain hope of extinguishing Kremlin’s newly found assertiveness. The latest of which are “paralyzing” Russian Central Bank’s reserves stranded in the western financial system, which should ostensibly lead to ruble’s collapse. The problem with this approach is that it can be very easily mitigated by the Russians. All it would take is demand by Moscow that its exports to be paid in rubles. This will lead to huge demand for Russian currency, and instead of diving it may very well skyrocket (which, of course, may prove to be equally problematic, since overvalued currency leads to recession in tradeable sectors of the economy). In essence, instead of RusCentBank selling USD and Euros to buy rubles, exact same transactions will be conducted by the importers of Russian goods. And since the latter are vital for the functioning of the world’s economy, Russia is more or less immune to sanctions. The real problem will arise if Russians – contrary to all common sense – decide to accept western currencies in exchange for rubles. That’d be unwise as they’d be accruing assets which will be parked in western banks and can again be frozen at will. To circumvent such an outcome, Russians should demand precious metals, with physical delivery, as payment for rubles. And to compensate for “paralyzed” assets, they should slap “sanctions tax” on their exports. This will slow down the commerce, but most of the inconvenience will become burden of Russia’s counterparts.
Truth is, Russia is not sanctionable. Whatever sanctions can be imposed on Moscow, they’ll always rebound on the originators with significant multiplier, if Kremlin decides to fight with real gusto.

Posted by: Venom | Feb 27 2022 1:58 utc | 222

Old hippie @69
Hilarious news clip! Thanks. Tells pretty much the whole story.
To all others, keep in mind the very purpose of PSYOPS is to disorient and demoralize.
Common on: Do you guys really believe what is being reported in the news is true? The Zone A media has no other function except propaganda.
Be patient and wait. The truth will become very clear when the dust settles. Putin and the Kremlin have got all this figured out. The West is shitting themselves. All they have right now is their endless BS ability to spin illusion.

Posted by: Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 1:59 utc | 223

@Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 1:28 utc | 208
“What happens then?”
They start eating themselves; or move to Occupied Palestine for a winter on the Gaza strip.
What do you think “they” will do as they slide down the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs pyramid? … That social structure which 5,000 years of Chinese history and change of dynasty has well mapped.
Here’s an “elephant in the room” hint: “When we have plenty to eat, elephants are beautiful; when we are hungry, elephants are meat” [Zimbabwean farmer, Redmond 1996, p. 371).
Of course, they could just de-hypnotize themselves and sit down with the Russians and work out a new “Dec 2021” mutual peace agreement. But it’s “Cult Time” again in the hyper-rational north-European mind ecology, so the only ones who know the probability of that route are the Euro-plantation owners in the lands between Mexico and Canada (or their management agents in the lands between Syria and Egypt).

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 2:02 utc | 224

Insane moment there is that the very same people accuse Chinese bank of “propping Yuan down” to give Chinese export goods a price advantage. Also a significant part of Russia’s economy expanding in domestic international market (like food, etc) as actually the western attack in 2014 that made Ruble to USD rate 1/2 of what it was. It was (and still is) a big hit about purchasing consumer electronics, but made-in-Russia products started blooming.
Are they really try to invent sanctions that sound bold but in reality do not interfere with Kremlin’s plans ?
Posted by: Arioch | Feb 27 2022 1:32 utc | 210
It seems like one of those “mass effect” moments to me.

Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 27 2022 2:05 utc | 225

@ 215,
K says: “If the MO is wealth and power accumulation via destruction and disruption then they are not stupid, they are successful. I don’t call it intelligent or good, but stupid no. They do use very stupid people as front persons, but that’s becasue they are easier to control.”
i respect this view, and there’s a lot of truth there, but, by any measure, under all circumstances, risking nuclear war with russia is stupid, unless putin’s another frontman.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 2:05 utc | 226

Israel fails to sign onto US text condemning Russia at UNSC
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-698743
Key words: Putin | Moscow | Berel Lazar | Chabad |

Posted by: Oui | Feb 27 2022 2:07 utc | 227

The Ministries of Truth of your Western country with the Ministry of Truth of the puppet Government of Ukraine have jointly announced that throwing Molotov Cocktails aka Bandera Smoothies from your balcony onto advancing Russian troops is safe and effective. If you do not trust your Ministry of Truth then you are a traitor, Putin apologist, a misogynist and a white supremacist. You are not really (an obedient) citizen of your f’ed up Western country and therefore not a citizen at all.
Honking your car or truck horn twice means Heil Putin.
But in the good news from the ministries, the three Uki grannies who singlehandedly stopped the Russian military convoy in Ukraine are now on the road to Moscow to personally show Putin for the hyperinflation people in the West will be soon suffering, for food shortages, for stealing of money from their bank accounts, for vaccine side-effects as well as for climate change.

Posted by: Kiza | Feb 27 2022 2:12 utc | 228

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 27 2022 0:13 utc | 161

Sad?!? I’m about to bake some excellent bread, drink some really good beer, and have a delicious dinner.

Excellent menu. Being located in a pro_Nazi jurisdiction I intend to break out the clandestine Russian vodka and have a few surreptitious shots (perhaps more than a few) and drink to the health of all the Ukrainian anti-banderites. May they return safely home, live long, and prosper as they reconstruct their failed state.
Для вашего здоровья!

Posted by: Sushi | Feb 27 2022 2:17 utc | 229

The crying by those who banked everything on US might has begun.
“With the war in Ukraine, US resolve is crucial — and yet we can see the sunset on the American century”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-27/war-on-ukraine-where-did-americas-great-power-go/100859774

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 2:18 utc | 230

@K 103
I see your point. However I think it has more to do with the “banality of evil”.
“Evil comes from a failure to think. It defies thought for as soon as thought tries to engage itself with evil and examine the premises and principles from which it originates, it is frustrated because it finds nothing there. That is the banality of evil.”
― Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil
“The trouble with Eichmann was precisely that so many were like him, and that the many were neither perverted nor sadistic, that they were, and still are, terribly and terrifyingly normal. From the viewpoint of our legal institutions and of our moral standards of judgment, this normality was much more terrifying than all the atrocities put together.”
― Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist.”
― Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

Posted by: Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 2:24 utc | 231

@19 Barofsky
When I search “Intel Slava V” I get nothing. Am I doing something wrong?

Posted by: Cresty | Feb 27 2022 2:30 utc | 232

Posted by: Cresty | Feb 27 2022 2:30 utc | 232
He was Z not W
Go through comments of last few days and open Telegram links there, some of them were from his channel, so you would sooner or later stumble upon it

Posted by: Arioch | Feb 27 2022 2:34 utc | 233

Posted by: Cresty | Feb 27 2022 2:30 utc | 232
Here are some good war situation links
https://t.me/s/intelslava
https://t.me/s/boris_rozhin
https://twitter.com/200_zoka
https://twitter.com/spriter99880

Posted by: Passer by | Feb 27 2022 2:38 utc | 234

One last thought before I go to bed:
The West has put the world on a destruction path: Either they can destroy Putin and then slice up Russia or they will go down themselves: The SWIFT ban on Russian banks is a bit of a nuclear bomb thrown at Russia. It is suppose to kill off Putin and show China that it cant break Western dominance. It can lead to a mutual destruction. Even if not: The SWIFT ban in itself can be the nucleus for a Western demise: The West, especially Europe, doesnt have the ressources to keep its industry competitive. It relies on the rest of the world to buy ressources and process them into goods they can sell and consume. If Russia manages to survive the all out attack and the West undercuts its abily to force compliance via sanctions, its basically done. Using SWIFT as a political tool destroys trust that cant be restored. Who wants to rely on the Western clearance system for payments, when there is a precedent to be cut off at any moment? Yes, nobody. Does the West realize it already has lit the fuse on its own demise?

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 2:50 utc | 235

Peter AU1| 207

cut an unspecified number of Russia’s banks off from the SWIFT financial network.

I don’t understand this. Can’t people just use a non-sanctioned bank for international transactions?

Posted by: Keith McClary | Feb 27 2022 2:52 utc | 236

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-27/war-on-ukraine-where-did-americas-great-power-go/100859774
YES ! They ‘get it’. End of Empire coming.

Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 27 2022 2:57 utc | 237

Keith McClary | Feb 27 2022 2:52 utc | 236
Yep. US still wants to buy its oil and diesel and Europe still wants to buy its gas. All well and good until Russia counter sanctions.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 3:01 utc | 238

Thank heavens if the SWIFT messaging system (that’s all it is) is being limited (if true). Using another messaging system would be a blow to the Leader Of The Free World, and to the dollar. There are other systems available. Let’s go with say. . .China’s Cross-Border International Payments System (CIPS), founded in 2015.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:03 utc | 239

NAZI’s scream the people who have been wrong at every turn.
The Jewish Prime Minister of Ukraine makes a lie of that absurdity.
But having been wrong at every turn the author has nothing left to justify his bankruptcy.
Meanwhile the innocent will die in a war that the author said would not happen.
But the author doesn’t give DAMN about the innocent. None of the people in the thread do either.
The idea that a country that spends less than $1 Billion a year on defense would provoke a war with a country with nuclear weapons is just idiotic
Stupid.
But that is the last refuge of the author – who with each passing day embraces the largest war crime since the start of the Iraq War.

Posted by: No War | Feb 27 2022 3:04 utc | 240

bachac #216 is a firm believer in Ukie propaganda.
https://thesaker.is/ukrainian-propaganda-in-conflict-with-the-truth/
Doubt he wants to follow this site.
https://t.me/intelslava

Posted by: Surferket | Feb 27 2022 3:05 utc | 241

enough | 171

This supremely irresponsible action by Putin that is placed the entire planet under threat of nuclear war is due to frustrated ambitions of Russians.

How is this a threat of nuclear war? I don’t recall anyone saying that aggression by nuclear powers US or Israel are a threat of nuclear war.

Posted by: Keith McClary | Feb 27 2022 3:10 utc | 242

First a little OT digression for Cadence Calls about Michael Hudson and Amazon
I can’t speak for Michael Hudson but remember that he use to work for all those finance folk he is saying bad things about now. The tools of finance are necessary for society, like sewage treatment plants and potable water systems. His point is that we need to look at what sort of mixed economy will work and is saying the finance should be public like local water and sewer systems, where I live anyway.
How does this relate to Amazon and Michael’s words about his books available there? Here is where I am extending my perceptions about how he thinks. I think that Michael admires the integrative efficiencies of Amazon and is only appalled that, because of our unbalanced mixed economy, Amazon has developed horizontal and vertical business leverage they would not be able to exert in a more public focused mixed economy….he accepts reality for what it is currently because he is big picture focused…no identity economics for him…..grin
Back to Russia/Ukraine
I know a bit about SWIFT so let me throw some stuff out about it and Russia, or more appropriately, the Russia/China axis.
SWIFT is privately owned and processing financial transactions for sovereign countries and individuals without public oversight or any transparency
SWIFT in conjunction with the privately owned Bureau of International Settlements (BIS), which also lacks transparency, historically and still currently, process the majority of global financial transactions. These organizations help enforce the US dollar Reserve Currency status and manipulative overhead of middle-money status. As others have noted, this is a long standing complaint about global finance by countries that may be coming to an inflection point because of the Ukraine crisis.
The SWIFT issue is not going to go away and will be the same sort of threat to China and other aligned nations. Maybe those nations are ready to take on the split. I hope so. Taking SWIFT away from Russia will impact other nations more than Russia, IMO, and will be another nail in the coffin of God of Mammon empire
“Empire of Lies”

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 3:14 utc | 243

The dam build by the Nazis are blown up freeing water supply to Crimea.
Ok read Donbassinsider too.
https://t.me/donbassinsider/4340

Posted by: Surferket | Feb 27 2022 3:17 utc | 244

on SWIFT
…from The White House

As Russian forces unleash their assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, we are resolved to continue imposing costs on Russia that will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies. We will implement these measures within the coming days.
Specifically, we commit to undertake the following measures:
First, we commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally.
Second, we commit to imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions.
Third, we commit to acting against the people and entities who facilitate the war in Ukraine and the harmful activities of the Russian government. Specifically, we commit to taking measures to limit the sale of citizenship—so called golden passports—that let wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government become citizens of our countries and gain access to our financial systems.
Fourth, we commit to launching this coming week a transatlantic task force that will ensure the effective implementation of our financial sanctions by identifying and freezing the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within our jurisdictions. As a part of this effort we are committed to employing sanctions and other financial and enforcement measures on additional Russian officials and elites close to the Russian government, as well as their families, and their enablers to identify and freeze the assets they hold in our jurisdictions. We will also engage other governments and work to detect and disrupt the movement of ill-gotten gains, and to deny these individuals the ability to hide their assets in jurisdictions across the world. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:22 utc | 245

@Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 2:18 utc | 230
Same here in west-Oz.
Along with pictures of “Evil Putin” in the Sunday rag, there is a small “page 15” headline that expresses much sentiment in a rural state/province backwater (still wearing pathetic c-19 cloth masks) that has sacrificed chunks of its primary industry market into China in order to satisfy the hegemon.
Next is one of the last major income streams, other than iron ore export to China (for their belt and road etc): “Wheat on war alert — China-Russia alliance spells trouble for WA farmers”.
I’ve read the paper copy at the local cafe, but no online link so far that I can find. Now that starts to sound like tractors in front of parliament and early elections, imo. Problem is, many of these rural backbone folk have long since retired and gone — now it’s mainly a farm management culture with doctors, lawyers leveraging their tax refund money and international owners.

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 3:25 utc | 246

@ psychohistorian 242
re: sewage systems
I had a civil engineer instructor once in college who said: “It may be sewage to you, but it’s bread-and-butter to me.”

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:26 utc | 247

“U.S. and European officials made clear they still were working on implementation of the sanctions, and said they would take care not to impact European purchases of Russian natural gas.”
the gall. “we will wage economic war on you, while you continue to sell us everything you need.”
nothing’s sure, but the silence of russia right now suggests something big’s coming.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 3:29 utc | 248

*“everything we need,” not “everything you need.”

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 3:30 utc | 249

Thank God for the barfly’s of MOA, you guy’s really help to pierce through the fog of war

Posted by: Fernando Martinez | Feb 27 2022 3:34 utc | 250

imo | Feb 27 2022 3:25 utc | 244
I think china will be just leaving us to wither on the vine of empire and I can’t say I blame them.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 3:34 utc | 251

psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 3:14 utc | 242
“SWIFT in conjunction with the privately owned Bureau of International Settlements (BIS)”
I take it you mean:
Bank for International Settlements

Posted by: pogohere | Feb 27 2022 3:35 utc | 252

re: my 243
. . .removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system . .
So is connection to “the international financial system,” i.e. SWIFT messaging, essential to buying/selling oil for example? . . .Is the US exaggerating?

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:38 utc | 253

The big question now is how Putin is going to deal with the coming insurgency the Empire of Lies is planning.
The EU plan to flood millions of dollars of anti-tank and large calibre arms into Ukraine is going to cause a long lasting threat to the security of Russia, and if not properly handled any victory over Ukraine will turn out to be Pyrrhic.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 3:40 utc | 254

Re: SWIFT
Why use financial transactions at all? Countries can barter their goods, just like the good old days. This is how the 3rd Reich circumvented international finance and was one of the primary reasons for triggering the Second World War as the capitalists lost their cut (Source: Hitler’s Revolution, Tedor Richard)

Posted by: Pete | Feb 27 2022 3:41 utc | 255

A couple of really outstanding analyses of what is really happening in Ukraine and why the Russian advance has slowed:
What Russia Wants From Its Invasion of Ukraine—and Why Zelensky Is Evil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vdiEABLFoo
The Russian Way of War
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/02/26/the-russian-way-of-war/

Posted by: ak74 | Feb 27 2022 3:41 utc | 256

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:26 utc | 245
Just wonderful! lol and thanks!

Posted by: Cortes | Feb 27 2022 3:44 utc | 257

For the nth time, all this could have been avoided if Putin had ordered the Russian army into Ukraine in 2014 t destroy the Ukranazi coup regime. It would have been infinitely faster, easier, and the reaction no stronger than it had been to the liberation of Crimea. How many times have I been called a troll and an idiot for pointing this out since 2014? A lot of people owe me apologies, but none will be forthcoming.

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 27 2022 3:51 utc | 258

I’ve been wondering what the effect of taking Ukraine’s pipelines down would be. I saw something tonight that one of them and an oil terminal had been attacked. Would this change Europe’s posture on NS2?
Thoughts?

Posted by: ian | Feb 27 2022 3:52 utc | 259

Would a new “Nazi insurgency” on the periphery of Europe even be noticeable? Some pretty dubious, brutal, and criminal ultranationalist movements have already been lionized as “freedom fighters” or something even saintlier already, especially in the Balkans. No one will notice that Ukrainian ultranationalists have Nazi lineage (I do wonder if this is a major source of disconnect between the “Russians” and the “West”), unless they start openly attacking Jewish or Polish targets like their ancestors. I doubt that will happen too overtly any time soon. (Their political allies may (probably will) eventually become Ukrainian versions of, say, Orban (another one time hero of “democracy,” but it’ll be decades before that happens–assuming they are actually successful in keeping their political influence in the medium term), but that will be decades from now.

Posted by: Khc | Feb 27 2022 3:54 utc | 260

bachac | Feb 26 2022 21:58 utc | 109

I really did not perceive an imminent threat from Ukraine, and I think the costs of this action far outweigh the benefits. I really can’t even articulate what the benefits are.

Then you obviously have not been paying attention for the past…. let’s say, 8 years.
Nor, it would seem, have you read Putin’s speeches of the past week.
He articulates quite lucidly WHY Russia MUST do this. And why NOW.
Then, as a lawyer, he cites international law as his basis for legitimate action.
In his speech he articulates the West declared Russia an “enemy” in 2008. Every action since then has been as an aggressor. Russia sought a treaty with the West in December 2021. They were rebuffed and the West proceeded to escalate its arming of Ukraine.
Putin cites the Soviet Union hesitation to confront Nazi Germany, which left it vulnerable when Hitler attacked.
Putin states quite clearly the West has every intention to attack Russia.
He cannot make the mistake of 1942.
He has caught the West flat footed as they intended to “call the shots”.
Putin needs a rapid and demonstrable victory in Ukraine.
Or, sensing vulnerability, the West will escalate.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 3:57 utc | 261

So is connection to “the international financial system,” i.e. SWIFT messaging, essential to buying/selling oil for example? . . .Is the US exaggerating?
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:38 utc | 251
It is an exaggeration. Russia and China both have their own clearance system. Russia as a core supplier of natural ressources can then counter sanction and demand to use its own system called SPFS. Then eg Germany can decide to either buy ressources via SPFS clearance or try to get them somewhere else for a way higher price. Demand for natural gas is high enough that other buyers will take the condition Russia set out. This in turn will undercut SWIFT and thus Western hegemony on world finance, especially the dollar. If then Germany wanted to use the Russian SPFS, but the US warned against it, because it feared that would threaten the dollar, what would Germany then do? It can either crush its industry with non payment and higher energy costs or it can go against the US.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 3:58 utc | 262

Twitter videos show oil depots and pipelines being blown up.
Can Russia leverage the destruction of pipelines to force Germany and others to use NSII? Or punish others?

Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 27 2022 3:58 utc | 263

Russia will have to take a new outlook. Its real friends are in Asia not Europe. China and India abstained in the anti-Russia UNSC vote, and both countries have strong commercial and military ties with Russia which is 77% in Asia.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 3:58 utc | 264

A nazi Europe has been on the plans since the 2014 coup in the Ukriane.
That was just the general rehersal with everything.
No other way than through terror they think they will be able to submit the whole population to their designs, that is equal impoverishment for all, and enslavement life conditions as wages will not reach to pay for the basics like electricity, gas and fuel.
We have seen this already staring the Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, but mainly in Canada, not in vain main supporter of the Ukraine nazi regime.
That this is the plan of nazi uncle Schwab is an understatement.

Posted by: Givi | Feb 27 2022 4:01 utc | 265

@ Arne Hartmann 260
Thanks for that. And SWIFT is only a simple messaging system, nothing deep about it, easy to be replaced if a country has the will to do so, right?

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 4:03 utc | 266

India will have to pick a side. The “pro-Russia but anti-China” game will no longer be tenable.

Posted by: Ghan-buri-Ghan | Feb 27 2022 4:17 utc | 267

The mixed branding…
This from twitter

Once upon a time, four sons were born to Jewish Ukrainian parents. Three sons were murdered by the Nazis. One son survived.
The survivor’s grandson is now an international hero fearlessly confronting his country’s invaders. He is Volodymyr #Zelensky, President of #Ukraine.

—-Three sons were murdered by the Nazis.
___One son survived.
To be a supporter/ stooge of nazis.
It’s kind of comical.
Luckily, Zelensky is an actual, professional clown.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 4:20 utc | 268

Incredible, US leadership is going all in financially, betting the future of the petrodollar on China’s cooperation.
Guessing the People’s Republic just scored all-you-can-eat oil and gas for life, and that may not even be the end of it.
Not sure how this is fits in with the US grand strategy, but at the rate these psychos are raising the stakes, we’ll see real soon. Monday is gonna be brutal in the markets.

Posted by: ptb | Feb 27 2022 4:20 utc | 269

>>>> One son survived.
To be a supporter/ stooge of nazis
Oops.
Meant the grandson became a nazi stage hand

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 4:21 utc | 270

Posted by: Ghan-buri-Ghan | Feb 27 2022 4:17 utc | 265

India will have to pick a side.

It’s not the Asian way to pick a side.
It’s the Asian Way to find equilibrium.
That’s what we Westerners can’t understand.
Everything is Black or White for us …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 4:23 utc | 271

India is key, if they stay with Russia/China it is over for the West. I hope Modi has a good security detail and control of the military.

Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 27 2022 4:23 utc | 272

. . China “under a new situation”
Reuters
China’s Xi, in message to N.Korea’s Kim, vows cooperation under ‘new situation’ -KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the significance of cooperation between the two countries, North Korea’s state media KCNA reported on Saturday.
In a message to Kim, Xi said China is ready to work, together with the Korean side, to steadily develop the China-DPRK relations of friendship and cooperation … “under a new situation”, KCNA said.
KCNA did not further elaborate on the nature of “a new situation.” . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 4:24 utc | 273

line islands | Feb 27 2022 3:29 utc | 246
>>nothing’s sure, but the silence of russia right now suggests something big’s coming.
To date in the economic and political fronts of this war, Russia has taken it’s time to thoroughly and professionally deeply analyse exactly what the sanctions involve. It them reciprocates either directly or asymmetrically.
To date, this is yet another Russian behaviour to infuriate the West.
Russia has not lashed out in rage and emotion.
It’s responses have been calm, sober, and painfully effective.
Russia knew this “nuclear”:financial response was one of the options for the West. It will have planned and strategies prepped.
And, when it has its chess pieces in place… it will make its move.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 4:33 utc | 274

@109
“I really did not perceive an imminent threat from Ukraine, and I think the costs of this action far outweigh the benefits. I really can’t even articulate what the benefits are.”
ukraine last weekend said, in so many words, it would go nuclear, fulfilling the party platforms of ukrainian nazis, who want nukes. anyone, especially the u.s., could’ve then given ukraine nukes at any time. russia would never accept that, and a key benefit of the war is that it won’t have to.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 4:34 utc | 275

India tilts toward Russia

As the Ukraine crisis rages on, where is India’s voice? Until recently, it was mostly missing in action. But a vote on Tuesday at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on whether to hold an official session to discuss the crisis saw New Delhi tilting toward Moscow. While Russia and China expectedly cast no votes, India (along with Kenya and Gabon) did not support the U.S.-led push for the meeting by abstaining. . .India has just begun a two-year innings as a non-permanent member at the UNSC.
And Indo-Russian ties are, if anything, growing stronger. Vladimir Putin was received with open arms during his recent visit to New Delhi and important agreements were signed despite U.S. pressure. Prioritizing the Russian leader’s visit, India even put off a key U.S.-India dialogue between their respective foreign and defense ministers.
In September, India also went ahead and took delivery from Russia of the cutting edge S-400 air defense system, disregarding veiled threats by U.S. officials of sanctions under the 2017 CAATSA law. . . .here

and
India mulls rupee trade accounts with Russia to soften sanctions blow

India is exploring ways to set up a rupee payment mechanism for trade with Russia to soften the blow on New Delhi of Western sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, government and banking sources said.
Indian officials are concerned that vital supplies of fertilizer from Russia could be disrupted as sanctions intensify, threatening India’s vast farm sector. . . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 4:35 utc | 276

Apparently Australia’s puppet PM Morrison is throwing a tantrum over China importing Russian wheat. It’s the #2 trending search on Bilibili (Chinese Youtube) at the moment.

Posted by: Ghan-buri-Ghan | Feb 27 2022 4:38 utc | 277

“…They will just pick that swift shotgun, point it at their foot and shoot.”
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 1:33 utc | 211
It’s not even ten o’clock here and I’m enjoying some funny comments probably more than I should. (On the bottom of the 400’s, Day 2, do see the suggested tactics to use against trolls…)
And no, I swear, I haven’t been drinking. It must have been that Mevdeyev (sp?) comment set me off.

Posted by: juliania | Feb 27 2022 4:41 utc | 278

Melaleuca #272

Russia knew this “nuclear”:financial response was one of the options for the West. It will have planned and strategies prepped.
And, when it has its chess pieces in place… it will make its move.

We definitely live in interesting times. A new world is coming and it is bound to be eye popping to watch the hegemon mind invert.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 4:43 utc | 279

Posted by: K | Feb 27 2022 1:36 utc | 215
Thanks, K. You have sobered me up. The consequences will bring pain to all of us, but at the same time I do believe Russia had no choice. Her survival was at stake. May her resolve bring sanity to the world.

Posted by: juliania | Feb 27 2022 4:49 utc | 280

As someone said on the Duran – the response to SWIFT is that as each gas contract comes up (as they do month by month) the Russians can just refuse to renew them. So, contract by contract the Europeans (and the US?) will slowly strangle.
The Russians do not have to suddenly cut it all off.

Posted by: digital dinosaur | Feb 27 2022 4:55 utc | 281

@275 Ghan-buri-Ghan Ol’ Scottie From Marketing has an election to win this year, and polls suggest his odds are not good.
Not good at all.
And this is a truism of Australian politics: if you are a conservative party leader and you are behind in the polls then Play The Yellow Peril card.
It works every time.

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Feb 27 2022 5:01 utc | 282

There are a lot of “news” stories telling us how great Zelensky is. Does that mean something is going to happen to him?

Posted by: Keith McClary | Feb 27 2022 5:07 utc | 283

Not The Onion:

“[On] March 30, a Soyuz spacecraft will return as scheduled carrying NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anton Shkaplerov back to Earth,” NASA Spokesperson Josh Finch told Nextgov on Friday. “Upon their return, Vande Hei will hold the American record for the longest single human spaceflight mission of 355 days.”
For decades, Russia and the U.S. have partnered to push the boundaries of space travel—even when the counties and their leadership clashed back down on Earth. Together with certain other nations, the two run the ISS.
Right now, four NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one German astronaut are orbiting aboard that outpost. The ISS is divided into a Russian segment and an American segment. Essentially, Russia relies on the U.S.’ electricity and the U.S. depends on Russia’s propulsion systems in their cooperation.
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced new and harsh sanctions against Russia, in response to the latter leading a still-evolving, large-scale invasion of Ukraine. He explicitly noted that some of the provisions were meant to directly degrade Russia’s space program.

(https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2022/02/record-breaking-nasa-astronaut-return-earth-russian-spacecraft-march/362471/)

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 5:08 utc | 284

So far, all Russia has done in Ukraine is prep the battlefield. I don’t believe that has gone as smoothly as they would have liked, but ultimately the maneuvers look successful. The real war in Ukraine is yet to start.
It looks to me that Russia has positioned a lot of it’s assets anticipating the possibility that things could escalate rapidly with NATO. One of the reasons Russia has not used their higher end weapons is those weapons might be needed for higher end targets.
This, and their desire to minimize harming their Ukrainian brethren puts them in a position where they are going to take some losses.
I also think there are some Ukrainian S-300 components that have survived, causing some headaches. The S-300 is a great and survivable system.
That apartment building hit looks like a misfired Ukrainian S-300 to me, not a BUK, although there might be some of those around, too. The Ukrainian Su-27 that was shot down over Kiev also looks like an S-300 friendly fire incident.
In any event, in my opinion, everything Russia has done so far is about positioning for the real battle.

Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 27 2022 5:08 utc | 285

on wheat. . .for Egypt and others

BAGHDAD — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could cause havoc for wheat-importing nations in the Mideast.
Bread is more than just a staple of the Egyptian diet. In Cairo, the small round loaves are called aish, or “life.”
Egyptians consume bread at twice the global average. To support this love of aish, they import more wheat than any other nation in the world. And recently, 85% of Egypt’s wheat imports have been coming from Russia and Ukraine.
This week, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly called a special Cabinet session to consider how the Russian invasion of Ukraine may disrupt bread flour supplies and drive up prices in the most populous country in the Arab world. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 5:09 utc | 286

@ 284 link here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 5:11 utc | 287

Modi,like Erdogan sees which way the wind is blowing. Far smarter than the tie eater or the comedian, with the Galwin valley incident he waited and watched to see if India would get physical backing from the US, not seeing backing coming he said China did not set foot on India’s sacred land. Hopefully at some point in the future, the Indians can get over the time bomb left by the brits and settle the border with China. It is good to see them all working together now.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 5:11 utc | 288

Ghan-buri-Ghan | Feb 27 2022 4:38 utc | 275
I shouldn’t laugh, because this will have an eventual knock on effect to my own comfortable lifestyle.
But. Damn. Who’da thunk trade wars had consequences.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 5:12 utc | 289

re: progress on invasion
These things take TIME. It took the US Army three years to pacify Baghdad, for example. General Casey was in charge. I wrote a poem abut it at the time.

The outlook isn’t bright for the coalition forces this year.
For a long three years Iraqis have held Baghdad with seemingly nothing to fear.
Shock and Awe was mission accomplished, the sign behind the President read.
Iraqi resistance? “My answer is bring ’em on” our fearless leader said.
Baghdad is an ancient and storied place, with many centers of antiquity.
Its suburbs include Abu Ghurayb, Adhamiya, Kadhimain, Karradah Sharqiyah, Mamoon and Sadr City.
The Iraqi army was defeated there, April ninth in oh-three,
But then regular Iraqis took control, and now people must fight or flee.
In June Operation Together Forward was announced by the new Iraqi Prime Minister,
as if he could really command, or had the freedom to administer.
The operation was a failure, with more and more GIs and Iraqis dying,
As the Islamic militias strengthened their hold, there was no more use in trying.
But wait! There’s hope for us yet, perhaps the situation’s not so bad,
General Casey, mighty Casey, will be taking control of Baghdad!
There was ease in Casey’s manner, as he moved to his rightful place,
There was pride in Casey’s bearing and confidence on his face.
Casey said that the next six months will be decisive, and will determine Iraq’s fate.
What a man! What a call! Inspirational and moving, and none other could speak as great.
Except maybe Casey himself, in his last bogus pre-election prediction.
“We’ll have the majority of the country pacified by New Year’s” was that years fiction.
Oh someday in Iraq there will be freedom, when people can do as they please.
Their oil and water will be theirs, and they won’t be brought to their knees.
But ’til then there will be airstrikes, cluster bombs and depleted uranium,
Kidnapping, shooting and torture, and other forms of military mayhem.
Until men like General Casey learn what to the rest of us is plain,
You can’t militarily pacify

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 5:17 utc | 290

Zelenski wants The Apartheid State to negotiate peace with Russia:

During a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday morning, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky asked that Jerusalem serve as a mediator with Russia to help resolve the military conflict between the countries.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukraines-leader-asks-bennett-to-mediate-with-russia-host-talks-in-jerusalem/
Because of their excellent track record in the middle east, of course …
Sheikh Imran’s eschatology is beginning to ring truer every day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YF0H5fnvis

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 5:18 utc | 291

Keith McClary | Feb 27 2022 5:07 utc | 281
>>>”There are a lot of “news” stories telling us how great Zelensky is. Does that mean something is going to happen to him?”
Laughing. We’ve reached levels of cynicism that should not even be
possible.
But yeah. Zelensky is playing the role of his career. He should be careful, because in modern noire, the hero dies heroically. Oh so tragic.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 5:20 utc | 292

I forgot to give you the title: “Casey at Bag-dad”

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 5:20 utc | 293

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 5:17 utc | 288
But Russia doesn’t have time. While pacifying Ukraine it’s going to be under pressure of subversion from all around.
Neither does it have the luxury of distance as the USA had: The conflict is right on it’s borders.
Whatever the Russians have planned for pacifying Ukraine has to be done very quickly, so it’s going to be totally new approach, something nobody has seen yet

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 5:22 utc | 294

Footage from the town of Tokmak, north of Melitpol and very close to the the city of Dnipro. Mind you this is in daylight so over 10+ hours ago now. It appears the entire Ukrainian force in the east is at risk of being encircled.
https://kaotic.com/video/69703ce8_20220226114333_t

Posted by: Peter in Toronto | Feb 27 2022 5:24 utc | 295

Just from my mostly left- moderate friends in America.
They are falling for everything.
The Ghost, the Brave 13 on the bridge,the tearful goodbyes/hands on the train window.
The handing out of Kalashnikovs, and molotovs.
I read one associate, he said he was “envious” of the Ukes, laying down their lives for “freedom”
From Russian invaders.
And this from an American lefty
I had to stifle a laugh
Eeesh.
I dpersonally don’t have enough info to go at it with anyone of my extended circle.
I’ll wait, and learn.
But I’m a little shocked at how easy it is to manipulate supposedly informed people.

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 27 2022 5:35 utc | 296

@ pogohere | Feb 27 2022 3:35 utc | 250 with the correction to my full name for the BIS
I confess to having holes in my brain you could drive a truck through….sigh…sorry
I trust folks understood the thrust of my comment in spite of my memory fart….don’t ever get sideswiped by a truck while riding your bicycle…grin

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 5:35 utc | 297

@270
India is not the key.
The key is Russian political leadership’s resolve. If it has enough of it – after completing the task in Ukraine – to start smashing NATO borders and place nuclear revolver to Europe’s temple along with sensical demand of NATO withdrawal to 1997 posture (with the alternative being total annihilation), then it has a good chance of making it all worthwhile.
If not, then Russia disappears from the world map for good.
Stark choice, I know. But that’s all there is to it. I’m sure Putin knows the stakes.
Prepare for a total collapse of western financial markets in coming days, quite possibly starting this Monday.

Posted by: Venom | Feb 27 2022 5:36 utc | 298

@296
That is just crazy talk with zero strategic merit. India is key, who cares about NATO border? You are over-estimating the importance of Europe. Putin knows this.

Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 27 2022 5:42 utc | 299

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 4:33 utc | 272
I am remembering that in the ‘some time back’ realignment of Russia’s government, Putin chose as his Vice President an economist of some renown. At the time that seemed strange; not so much now.

Posted by: juliania | Feb 27 2022 5:43 utc | 300

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