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

Andanothe from Australian ABC…
“It took less than 24 hours from the time Russian President Vladamir Putin announced the invasion of Ukraine to the emergence of predictions that the country’s fall, and its rapid fall, was a fait accompli.
But after weeks of theorising about Putin’s strategic objective; whether it was just about stopping Ukraine joining NATO, or something more; about his military capability, and assessments of whether Ukraine’s capabilities had improved in the last decade, it was not just the speed of Russia’s attack but its widespread nature that came as a shock.
This was no assault confined to a couple of eastern regions but a comprehensive attack from all directions designed to wipe out any military resistance quickly and, presumably, overthrow the government.”
…….
I don’t know about other vassal states, but it sure has come as a shock to many here just how impotent US is. Russia dumping the US west and going all in in Ukraine has shown for some at least that US is a paper tiger when it comes to great power competition.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 5:46 utc | 301

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 27 2022 5:35 utc | 294
The Anti-Russian sentiment is buried deep in the Western psyche no matter their political leanings. To tell them that Putin is doing the right thing is akin to telling them that their entire belief system is wrong (which will create complete cognitive dissonance and fry their brains). Not all of course, but a great many are like that, from youths all the way to professionals in journalism and foreign service (within my circle at least).
Contrast that to the majority of the Global South who have are in support of Putin’s action, whether implicit or explicit. They have lived through CIA’s regime changes and they want to see the globalists taken down a peg, and their arrogance beaten to pulp.

Posted by: bonks | Feb 27 2022 5:48 utc | 302

I just got off a zoom visit with a friend that is connected with social media and all that but was radical in 60’s….anyway she sent me and I watched a Rachel Maddow Tiktok link before we visited.
It is an amazing anti-Russia/Putin rant that I would like to see someone take apart, projection by projection.
In the zoom visit we talked about how the current propaganda is comprehensive and provides all the zombie talking points you see coming from the brainwashed masses that only know the world through the shadow’s shown to them via the MSM/social media (Plato’s Cave wall).
My friend thinks all this is irrelevant because climate change is going to kill us in a decade…..grin….alright then, fatalism anyone?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 5:49 utc | 303

STILL think, short-term, the telling factor will be whether or not there’s any REAL opposition to the Russian move on Ukraine, that manifests itself by non-support of Russia’s actions, it’s their right, so, in the coming days, and weeks, We’ll all see.
Here, in the U$A, the anti-Russian slant by our MSM is just sickening…..

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 27 2022 5:50 utc | 304

Mr. Papi Escobar giving his viewpoint about the ongoing conflict. Unfortunately it is only in Portuguese but I trust Spanish speakers will be able to catch something.
https://youtu.be/akl0483_i6Y

Posted by: Mariátegui | Feb 27 2022 5:51 utc | 305

Peter in Toronto | Feb 27 2022 5:24 utc | 293
WARNING kaotic dot com is a graphic porn site risk of virus ☠️

Posted by: Oui | Feb 27 2022 5:53 utc | 306

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 3:14 utc | 242
“SWIFT in conjunction with the privately owned Bureau of International Settlements (BIS)…”
So we can conclude from this, if the Federal Reserve (in conjunction with other select central banks?)decide that Russia is to be excluded from SWIFT, they will then instruct the US government to make the announcement, and using their position in the ‘member owned co-operative’ implement the decision.
So it comes down to how much inflation can the Federal Reserve tolerate and how much they want to pin the blame on Russia for their disastrous policies of the last couple of years.
In a nutshell – Central banking will control this ‘war’.

Posted by: ted001 | Feb 27 2022 5:53 utc | 307

@297
India can’t be the key, because if it is, then Russia has no chance.
India will not side with Russia beyond very faint sympathy. Its main objective is to keep friendly ties with West, and it won’t deviate from that.

Posted by: Venom | Feb 27 2022 5:56 utc | 308

@301 psycho historian
That’s kind of what I’m getting from my “liberal” friends
A lot of regurgitating of memes and pre packaged anti Russian claptrap
I don’t quite get where they are going with it.
I’m seeing the propaganda, and the echoing, portray Putin and modern Russia as some kind of Hitler/Nazi
taking the Sudetenland.
While ignoring the neo Nazis in Ukraine, and everything that led up to this point.
There are gonna be some teaching points to be made, when this is over

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 27 2022 5:59 utc | 309

@ ted001 | Feb 27 2022 5:53 utc | 305 who wrote
”
In a nutshell – Central banking will control this ‘war’.
”
In 2016 Michael Rivero put out a movie titled “All Wars Are Bankers Wars” and I haven’t seen the flick but agree with the title.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 6:00 utc | 310

juliania #276

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.

Thank you I took a peek and much of that late 400’s posting was good. It was vintage red that posted on the troll eradication front. :))

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 6:02 utc | 311

Re: India
I’m sure India can easily be bought by offering her a permanent seat on the UNSC in the new world order. Westerners are way over represented anyways. IMO, the whole idea of permanent seats should be scraped and a more representative system should be enacted.

Posted by: Jun | Feb 27 2022 6:05 utc | 312

@ Venom | Feb 27 2022 5:36 utc | 296
i don’t doubt russian leaderships resolve here… that rings out loud and clear to me at this point..
@ cadence calls… i share your concern.. you can get free stuff on the net.. here’s a pdf of michael hudsons super imperialism.. fuck amazon.. buy used.. i find this site helpful in this regard – https://www.bookfinder.com/?ref=bf_s3_hd_1
Super Imperialism 2nd ed. from 2003
does anyone here other then me find it interesting how when the usa-uk went to war on iraq in 2003, there were no threats of financial sanctions and etc. etc? these chicken shit hangers on – europe, canada and etc. etc. are such full time hypocrites, it is shocking… well.. maybe not as someone upstream was mentioning how they are all in for some kind of totalitarian type future where everyone tows a particular line..
i did a gig this afternoon and so i got to be in the car for an hour driving home and listened to cbc news at 6pm.. this is the flagship news thing for a lot of canucks and it was full on russia hate.. they gave us interviews with annie applebaum, bill browder and russian haters like that, while throwing everything they could at big bad russia… the problem with this type of propaganda is when you flick it around to put the shoe on the other foot, you never hear it said towards canada… meanwhile, canada is home to the 3rd largest group of ukrainians, outside russia and ukraine… so i guess it is understandable… maybe i should join the local
Canadian Bandera Network chapter? i guess i would have to move to alberta – edmonton or something to join…
thanks for the many posts from everyone.. what happened to YourMom? i enjoyed the quick short telegram and etc links..

Posted by: james | Feb 27 2022 6:05 utc | 313

Regarding SWIFT
Reading the TASS story linked upthread, it seems clear that the banks to be removed from the SWIFT system are only those banks recently sanctioned, and not the banks that were exempted from sanctions. And those banks NOT sanctioned were the ones crucially connected to fuel supplies to Europe and to US.
So it seems that Russia can experiment with a prototype for getting the non-crucial banks up on an alternative clearing system, and depending how that proves out, it would then own the option to put the rest of its banks on that alternative system.
~~
Now, the non-sanctioned banks, crucial to the west for fuel and other strategic reasons, are already a sword over the heads of the western nations, and Russia holds that sword.
And forcing Russia to trial the new system on the non-crucial banks will sharpen that sword to a razor edge, with a now-known outcome from switching.
So Russia then moves from position of “reaction to a critical emergency” into a position of “proactive, planned options” at its will.
~~
And all this testing and proving was forced on Russia by the US, thereby strengthening Russia’s hand.
Did I get that right?

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 27 2022 6:06 utc | 314

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 1:28 utc | 208
My guess: When Germany runs out of gas and fuel, we will see a revolution from the top. Germans are notoriously for being unable to revolt from the bottom, so this must happen from top. Recently BASF hinted that being cut off gas is not only a problem of heat, but also of feed, as fertilizers require NG. Not so much LNG, because, to my knowledge, it contains too much contaminations for the subsequent process. Chemical lines are often quite picky about the raw materials.
The VDI (organisation of german engineers, quite business leaning) has warned of severe consequences, should SWIFT be killed.
manager magazin has quite clearly depicted SPFS and CIPS lately. Which is kind of funny, because all my comments on Spiegel Online mentioning these systems were censored. Yesterday I tested the phrase “Read about Semi-Permeable-Filtration-Station, ideally combined with some ChIPS”, it went through. This must be how chinese feel behind the great firewall.
Economy has, unsurprisingly, no problems switching systems. I am curious to see if it will be allowed. Otherwise, get blankets and collect fruits from the woods.

Posted by: TomD | Feb 27 2022 6:06 utc | 315

I’ll be retiring soon, but thanks to psychohistorian for recent comments on the SWIFT scenario (others as well) and my still-functioning brain thanks also whoever posted the Hannah Arendt quotes – plus thanks to all for much needed info I wouldn’t find any place else; thank you b.
As Cadence Calls says, there are gonna be some teaching points to be made when this is over. Amen.
Postscript: Thanks to waynorinorway | Feb 26 2022 18:07 utc | 402 [at the Day 2 thread] for the Byron King analysis. Very important read that.

Posted by: juliania | Feb 27 2022 6:07 utc | 316

Ukraine says Russian forces blew up gas pipeline in country’s second-largest city – cbc.. sounds like something ukraine would say and cbc would run with… intel agencies rule!

Posted by: james | Feb 27 2022 6:11 utc | 317

Don Bacon | Feb 27 2022 4:03 utc | 264
SWIFT is not all that sophisticated in terms of technology. I was amazed to read a year or so ago that a participating bank needed to run a PC with Windows XT to access it.
You can be assured that if the technology is that primitive then the CIA will be able to read every transaction as it happens as well of course as knowing the participants thereto.
So losing access to SWIFT might mean that an unsophisticated bank is out in the cold but there has to be better technology available with adequate security and privacy provisions. I’m sure that Putin would have an alternative ready to go, probably crypto based.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he is counting on being banned from SWIFT. It makes it so much easier for Russia to refuse supply to any country which refuses to use its new system. And of course should it do so the prospective purchaser has only themselves to blame.
It can’t say “Russia cut off supply” when it has refused to pay.

Posted by: Cyberhorse | Feb 27 2022 6:14 utc | 318

Venom #306

India can’t be the key, because if it is, then Russia has no chance.

That gave me a good laugh and I fully agree.

India will not side with Russia beyond very faint sympathy. Its main objective is to keep friendly ties with West, and it won’t deviate from that.

Therein lies an enormous dilemma for many nations. The demanding, menacing insistence by the UKUSA to choose a side will be very difficult for them. This mafia gang will never accept indecision or neutrality. Look what they did to Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia for his insistence on neutrality over the illegal USA invasion of Vietnam, and then the revenge they instigated against Cambodian people.
If the USA $$ system crashes fast and hard there might be some respite due to their self adsorption otherwise their fury will unleash against any waverer.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 6:15 utc | 319

re: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 6:00 utc | 308
Rather than watch the film, I suggest you read the pdf file of “All Wars Are Bankers Wars”. I assure you, it is better than the film.

Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 27 2022 6:15 utc | 320

Grieved #312

And all this testing and proving was forced on Russia by the US, thereby strengthening Russia’s hand.
Did I get that right?

Thank you, and I believe you did get that right :))
There is something humorous about the blind fury of a deranged hegemon that encourages me to drink.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 6:20 utc | 321

Cyberhorse #316

I wouldn’t be surprised if he is counting on being banned from SWIFT. It makes it so much easier for Russia to refuse supply to any country which refuses to use its new system. And of course should it do so the prospective purchaser has only themselves to blame.
It can’t say “Russia cut off supply” when it has refused to pay.

Thank you and I would like to see the look on Scholz face when Zelensky falls and Russia is setting up the transition protocols and informs Germany that all gas purchase settlements from that minute on will be via the Russian system they now share with Ukraine.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 6:26 utc | 322

Thanks bonks @300
I admit, I’m Americancentric, and often have trouble recognizing that ther is a whole other world that gives zero shits about me and my America.
And that’s why I’m here. I want to learn about the rest of the worlds peoples experiences and perspectives.
I believe that will make me a better human, regardless of my political leanings.
Thanks again for the reply.

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 27 2022 6:30 utc | 323

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 27 2022 6:00 utc | 308
Thanks – surprisingly on youtube.
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 27 2022 6:15 utc | 318
Thanks – downloaded.

Posted by: ted001 | Feb 27 2022 6:32 utc | 324

a really good editorial at the Strategic Culture site
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/25/us-nato-backed-aggression-towards-russia-finally-checked/
“…Russia has for years warned that U.S. and NATO aggression was posing a critical danger to international security and had to stop. The revoking of arms control treaties by the U.S. (the ABM, INF, Open Skies Treaty) and the expansion of missile threats near Russia’s borders were no longer tolerable. Ukraine is really just one element of the bigger picture. But this week, Russia has moved finally to stop the aggression. It is a historic watershed….”

Posted by: michaelj72 | Feb 27 2022 6:38 utc | 325

Thanks, B!
I read this on RT today and will post a snippet of the article:
“The two largest lenders reportedly restricted funding for the purchase of Russian commodities
China’s largest public financial institutions are reportedly limiting financing to purchase raw materials from Russia under the threat of sanctions from the US and allies over the military operation in Ukraine.
The step, which might only be temporary, was taken by at least two of China’s largest state-controlled banks, ICBC and Bank of China, which are at major risk of secondary sanctions from Washington, Bloomberg news agency reported on Saturday, citing unidentified sources.
ICBC, the world’s biggest bank by assets, and Bank of China, the country’s largest commercial bank for currency trading, could potentially lose access to the dollar, as financing purchases of Russian commodities may be regarded as support for Moscow.”
Ruh-Roh?
Also just saw another article that says EU getting ready to cut Russia from SWIFT
In light of this, what do you think the outcome might be? Will the EU/US be successful if they cut off Russia from SWIFT in isolating it from the rest of the world?
Secondly, what I read about China above is very concerning Is literally everyone afraid of the US?
This is so frustrating! When will the world get a grip and kick this hegemon to the curb??

Posted by: Kay | Feb 27 2022 6:44 utc | 326

latest from craig murray Ukraine: How Can the War End?

Posted by: james | Feb 27 2022 6:46 utc | 327

Posted by: Kay | Feb 27 2022 6:44 utc | 324
This is limited only to Dollar-denominated lending. Lending in Yuan has not been restricted. So Russia is free to borrow in Yuan … with all that implies for the future of the Dollar.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 6:47 utc | 328

“Posted by: bachac | Feb 26 2022 20:12 utc | 51”
The troll army is moving again inside Alabama. Pure propaganda bullshit.

Posted by: Olivier | Feb 27 2022 6:58 utc | 329

Kay | Feb 27 2022 6:44 utc | 324
china will simply set up banks that are air gapped from the US though I think China already has this for its trade with iran

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 7:02 utc | 330

@ Don Bacon 271
Thanks for the China – N. Korea story. I saw this coming. It’s a signal to the Far Eastern vassals Japan and S. Korea that there is another serious player in the region, and to be eternal Tabaqui’s will not severe them in the long run. The US looks primarily after itself and abandons its allies quickly once the fire it starts is out of control.
No one should think Putin has not aligned at the very least with China and Iran. India is a long standing ally, and ties between China and Pakistan run deep. He has planned this in fine detail. Being cut off from SWIFT will not come as a surprise.
Many may be silent and obedient because they are afraid of the Hegemon. Many will be relieved and cheer when a multipolar world order based on International law arrives. That indeed would be a “Great Reset” of a welcomed kind.

Posted by: Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 7:03 utc | 331

A good read at the UNZ: “Did NATO Just Declare War on Russia?” by Mike Whiteny.
https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/did-nato-just-declare-war-on-russia/
Along with a very interesting link to a 2014 “Interview with Sergei Glaziev – Advisor to President Putin” at https://youtu.be/cikvqdMRTTA

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 7:05 utc | 332

Afghanistan yesterday, Ukraine today, your country tomorrow: those who chose the side of the Americans thought they could act with impunity, and the time to pay the bill would never come.

Posted by: Passerby | Feb 27 2022 7:12 utc | 333

@Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 3:40 utc | 252
>>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
Have they gamed out how RF could deliver modern weapons to IRA/ETA/Catalans/Corsicans, plus all the islamists that Europe saturated itself with? In Iraq and Syria, even easier to find people who’d like to take a shot at the Empire.
Besides, someone else may know better, but don’t such weapon deliveries mean that you engage in the war? Same with Poland letting Ukie planes operate from their airfields, instead of merely providing them refuge. Deep denial that you’re now engaging in acts of war against the Russian military. Doesn’t this open yourself to direct military strikes?

Posted by: Ma Laoshi | Feb 27 2022 7:14 utc | 334

james | Feb 27 2022 6:46 utc | 325
I started reading murrays piece but the start was a bit much for me. US went halfway round the world to destroy a country that was no threat to itself using false pretenses. Russia on the other hand is right next to a country that a hostile superpower has taken over and is using as a weapon against Russia by encouraging nazi’s which took over 25 million soviet lives in WWII. There is also the ongoing killing of of ethnic russians that became citizens of that country with the collapse of the soviet union. He may be good in some areas but has the typical anglo blind hatred of Russians.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 7:16 utc | 335

Posted by: Ma Laoshi | Feb 27 2022 7:14 utc | 332

Have they gamed out how RF could deliver modern weapons to IRA/ETA/Catalans/Corsicans, plus all the islamists that Europe saturated itself with? In Iraq and Syria, even easier to find people who’d like to take a shot at the Empire.

I don’t think NATOs thinking extends that far. It’s an interesting possibility though.
However, I can imagine the Russians would respond in Syria and Iraq.

but don’t such weapon deliveries mean that you engage in the war?

No. *somewhat* “Plausible Deniability” – as in Afghanistan and Syria.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 7:20 utc | 336

@james | Feb 27 2022 6:46 utc | 325
Well, that was a waste of 10min — and I’m not sure which had more holes; the article or the comments. If these aren’t the sops of propaganda systems then they are severely retarded in their capacity to read the world events in play. I suspect there is a more-than-coincidence causal relationship between the two.

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 7:22 utc | 337

“To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.”
— Henry Kissinger
Someone tell Ze.

Posted by: Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 7:23 utc | 338

The reason SWIFT was dying anyway, per IBM:
“Blockchain defined: Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. An asset can be tangible (a house, car, cash, land) or intangible (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, branding). Virtually anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk and cutting costs for all involved.”
SWIFT is sooooo twentieth century.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Feb 27 2022 7:31 utc | 339

So it’s Rules Based R2P for me, and No R2P under International Law for you.This is typical Anglo, fishnchip for me and only saltnvinigar for you nonsense.

Posted by: Anon | Feb 27 2022 7:35 utc | 340

I have a lot of respect for Craig Murray for his willingness to push back against his superiors in the Office, to the extent of losing his job, and his willingness to push back against the corrupt Scottish legal system in its persecution of Alex Salmond, to the extent of losing his liberty to that system. But he’s got a blind spot when it comes to Russia.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Feb 27 2022 7:39 utc | 341

err “Foreign Office”

Posted by: pretzelattack | Feb 27 2022 7:40 utc | 342

@karlof1
I knew that the beetles had spread to other states, didn’t realize they had reached as far as Washington. They’re probably in Canada by now. I’ve seen their effect in New Mexico and Colorado, though–great swathes of dead and dying trees, including my favorites, the Aspens.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Feb 27 2022 7:44 utc | 343

@Activist Potato | Feb 27 2022 1:51 utc | 219
Thank you for the support! Yes I agree that “evil” captures it. I am not a religious person and “evil” sounds like a religious concept, but maybe that is wrong. Maybe “evil” is a basic human trait, the very engine of the runaway train that needs to be stopped before the inevitable crash. There is no doubt in my mind that such evil now manifests itself openly in people with power in the west (they are not “leaders”).

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 27 2022 7:45 utc | 344

Hopefully, if Russia can sort out The Ukraine to its own satisfaction; then it can proceed to work with China, Iran, the BRI etc and turn its back on the EU, US/NATO and all the other mosquitoes for the next couple of decades no matter how nice they eventually try to be well down thee road to the future.
They do NOT need any of them for its future prosperity.

Posted by: digital dinosaur | Feb 27 2022 7:50 utc | 345

Peter AU1 #333

He may be good in some areas but has the typical anglo blind hatred of Russians.

Craig Murray is definitely with the ‘crown’ when it comes to the great game.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 7:50 utc | 346

Smart people generally don’t end up on the receiving end of a Burisma.
The gene pool is being cleaned.

Posted by: Jezabeel | Feb 27 2022 7:55 utc | 347

Re: India
It has to balance between fanatics heaven Pakistan and bully PR China on one side and unreliable uncle Sam on the other:
It was December 1971, and the world’s two leading democracies were now threatening the world’s largest democracy. An SOS from Delhi was sent to Moscow. The Red Navy soon dispatched 16 Soviet naval units and six nuclear submarines from Vladivostok to block USS Enterprise.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1497432664961261568.html
Russia came to the rescue.

Posted by: Antonym | Feb 27 2022 7:55 utc | 348

Lol or a Buratino

Posted by: Jezabeel | Feb 27 2022 7:59 utc | 349

Thanks for the link to Super Imperialism pdf, James.
Am getting into it now.
It’s long, but I’ll pound it out.
Already 60 pages in, and im reminded of things my political economy professor
Was teaching me 6 years ago.
Lots of questions, that I’ll save for an open
Cheers

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 27 2022 8:01 utc | 350

@190
“My personal gut feeling is that Ukrainians are living in a dream, one like painteed in Gogol’s novels (and some Loginov’s ones). Where reality and surreality do not just o-exist but are one and the same. It is not doublethink, it is something transcending it.“
a great example of this is former president poroshenko strutting around kiev in a flack-jacket for cnn when just a week ago he was awaiting trial for supposed treason with russia. that his successor is a stand-up comedian is more than appropriate.

Posted by: line islands | Feb 27 2022 8:03 utc | 351

@Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 2:24 utc | 231

“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

This is a profound statement. Now, consider why the school systems have been systematically eroded. Consider why the irrational LGBTXYZ nonsense is being promoted. Consider why all communication is funneled through tightly controlled systems like Facebook, Twitter and the like, where fiction is presented as facts and truth is rejected as false. This is a world where supporting Nazis in Ukraine is something good and preventing murders of women and children in Donbass is reprehensible. This is a world where the a trace gas in the atmosphere, the basic requirement of photosynthesis i.e. human life, is presented as a death threat so we must give up our way of life. This is a world where the common cold is simply renamed to something else and used to impose unlimited suffering on people taking away even the right to control your own body. This is evil on display. This is a systematic process to blur the boundaries between fact and fiction in order to pave the way for totalitarianism.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 27 2022 8:07 utc | 352

@Antonym 346
Re: India
You forgot to sign off with a “Jai Hind”.
On a more serious note, the regional differences are not only played up by the hegemon, they were created by the Empire to divide and rule. It’s their original playbook.

Posted by: Moses22 | Feb 27 2022 8:08 utc | 353

@ Norwegian 350
That’s pretty much how I feel.
The dissonance is in my face, and I’m havIng trouble
Believing anything, because hardly any of it makes sense,
And that’s the point, isn’t it?

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 27 2022 8:15 utc | 354

Craig Murray was predicting what could happen with international politics the way they are, not taking sides. It is difficult to see how Russia can find a satisfactory exit; invasion was not the right choice.
But I can only agree that the war is a consequence of long-term US aggressivity since 1991, and the US has done a lot worse itself. Scott Ritter is right though that the invasion is a classic follow-up to Russian ways of thinking.

Posted by: laguerre | Feb 27 2022 8:23 utc | 355

Economic World War?
Europe has confiscated almost all of Russia’s foreign reserves. some 640 billion dollars or something. Only a small portion of it is in Renminbi or gold. Gold is almost worthless for protecting the Ruble, as it is immovable.
Keeping reserves in the ECB was worse than a crime, it was a mistake.
…unless there is a plan.
Maybe there is. From Monday all Russian exports, including oil and gas has to be paid in some truly convertible currency. That excludes the Dollar and Euro. Russia can simply say all oil and gas exports must be paid in rubles.
As Russia has a huge trade surplus, this should cause the ruble to appreciate. Europe thinks they can cause a run on the ruble. For this to work, they have to block Russia’s oil and gas exports. We will see how that will work out. Without acts of war, that is.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:27 utc | 356

The big mistake that Putin committed was signing off on the antivax propaganda. This is having way far reaching consequences everywhere in the world. I usually comment on a social media site, and the anti-Russian hate is approaching psychopathic levels. Due to RT and other Russian media giving airtime to antivaxxers. The War for Ukraine is going to be a long drawn affair.

Posted by: Mr.nobody | Feb 27 2022 8:29 utc | 357

laguerre | Feb 27 2022 8:23 utc | 353
how could Ukraine be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. And how could Ukraine’s persecution/ethnic cleansing of ethnic Russians be stopped?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 8:30 utc | 358

1. Epic PR fail for Putin, but wait…
2. Where are the concentration camps he’s hiding per the Western “Next Hitler” narrative?
3. The PR fail is in the western mainstream media where it’s unanimous propaganda, e.g., the stuff b intentionally didn’t repeat b/c there’s no fucking proof of it.
4. War really sucks and although Counterpunch and Jeffrey St. Clair who gets shit around here, he called it right when he said that there are more anti-war protestors in the streets of Russia – risking much – than there were protestors (only Code Pink) in the USA protesting Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Niger, etc. – of which the number (again other than CodePink) was/is FUCKING ZERO. Hence, is the West really – really – anti-war? Laughable to assume and think so. “We” are all for war on “commies” and brown people or Russians/Slavs – the “white niggers” of the Ukrainian Nazis.
5. Hoping for a swift end to this and no further escalation or drawn out impasses which might lead to a nuclear winter.
6. Let us all sleep a peaceful night and be thankful that we were or are not in a situation like the Kurds, the South Vietnamese, the Ukrainians or many other citizens who were made false promises by Unkkkle Scam and left to fend for ourselves.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 27 2022 8:33 utc | 359

Petri Krohn 354
Do you have a link to that?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 8:34 utc | 360

@Mr.nobody | Feb 27 2022 8:29 utc | 355
I doubt that the hatred of couch potatoes and their “social networks” matters to Russia.
RT did not take sides in the war of wokes vs “antivaxxers”, and the strife about corona. They reported both sides of the argument, as journalists should do. Maybe not always balances, but never entrenched.
I wonder how long we are able to receive RT.

Posted by: aquadraht | Feb 27 2022 8:35 utc | 361

Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:27 utc | 354
Russian reserves appear to be in Russia’s central bank which is being targeted with sanctions.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 8:38 utc | 362

“Russian military halted its advance to give time to the Ukrainian president Zelensky to agree ”
And that’s (more) believable as information, how? This would ruin the whole concept and endanger the military missions. It’s way more likely progress was too slow and supply lines somewhat disrupted. Maybe one definite case where statements from western intelligence and military were at least partly correct. Time was needed to regroup, connect slower armor and redeploy. Not sure if this was logistics of “tougher resistance”. Of course it’s a perfect moment to also offer some time for diplomacy as a gesture. But we all know it’s not gonna end for Russia before stated goals are accomplished as soon as possible. If Zelensky is still around he can sign off on it with some small details on where all the no-fly neutral zones exactly will remain.

Posted by: John Dowser | Feb 27 2022 8:38 utc | 363

Re: MH17 and Ukrainian attack plans

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 26 2022 21:38 utc | 100
I remember it well. Both the Dutch and Australians sat in Kiev fora couple of weeks, feet up and drinking beer. On the 3oth, the EU finally agreed to sanction Russia. The Ukraine rada met and passed a law allowing the Australians and Dutch to officially go to the crash sit. On the 31st, a Ukie armored column pushed up through Torenz and sporadic fighting commenced at the crash site.

I saw that huge danger and wrote about it then:

Ukraine: WARNING of imminent WWIII! – July 26, 2014
…a lot of detailed technical analysis of crash site location, GPS spoofing, attack directions, etc…
We are now waiting for direct US and NATO aggression on the Ukraine and Novorossiya. Russia needs to make the choice now; whether to defend Novorossiya or allow total NATO occupation of the Ukraine.
It is clear that all NATO actions are aimed at provoking Russia to act militarily. This would allow the US to isolate Russia from its “International Community”. It is widely believed that this is a trap and Russia should not fall for it.
Yet others are saying that Putin has a cunning plan, and after two years of US occupation Russia would somehow magically turn the tide. Maybe.
On the other hand, NATO very much wants all of Ukraine. They very much hope that Russia will not intervene and kill their troops. (Russkies killing Russkies is always a good thing.) They want to occupy Ukraine without any effort.
Russia is now between Scylla and Charybdis. Both alternatives are horrible. To decide, Russia must resolve which is the outcome NATO wants – and chose the other.
Russia must understand that NATO is now the reincarnation of the Third Reich.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:39 utc | 364

Head of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Robert Pope, warns that the US’s network of Pentagon-run bio-labs in Ukraine could unleash deadly pathogens if hit by Russian forces.
Thread ==> https://twitter.com/gumby4christ/status/1497838322017869829

Posted by: too scents | Feb 27 2022 8:48 utc | 365

too scents | Feb 27 2022 8:48 utc | 363
Untrue … the Russians finding heavy resistance from valiant Ukrainians unleashes their CBW grenades … there your false flag (what failed in Syria in Aug. 2013) and the US/UK/NATO will enter the war …
A Gulf of Azov incident as Poroshenko attempted is not an option. 😉

Posted by: Oui | Feb 27 2022 8:59 utc | 366

@Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 27 2022 8:33 utc | 357
… or the poor BBq’s souls in 2014 (and mid-20th!
Be careful where we hang our little ribbons and sanctimonious hats!
“Right Sector” of Euromaidan – Part I
https://vimeo.com/99757698
[Warning: for the woke-hearted, it is graphic. Not for the sensitive woke-kids still sipping on their latte teets.]

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 9:00 utc | 367

Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:39 utc | 362
Those troops were the idea of our PM of the day Tony Abbott. The dickhead wanted to put them around the entire debris field and make it a no go area for the rebels. This would have effectively cut off Donetsk. A lot of those fighters that were seen at that time looked to be middle aged and carried machine guns like they were assault rifles… Total madness. I suspect the military would have talked the nutter out of that idea.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 9:08 utc | 368

how could Ukraine be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. And how could Ukraine’s persecution/ethnic cleansing of ethnic Russians be stopped?
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 8:30 utc | 356
I quite agree Zelensky (a fool) going on about nuclear weapons was probably a major tipping factor in the decision. I have no idea how serious a danger it was. The question though is: was invasion the right solution to the problem? How was military occupation going to change Ukrainian politics in the way desired? The big problem is the long-term US aggressivity towards Russia, which isn’t going to be changed by action in Ukraine. As we all know, the US sees itself as unaffected by whatever happens, so what is the pressure to change its policy?

Posted by: laguerre | Feb 27 2022 9:21 utc | 369

@Cadence calls | Feb 27 2022 8:15 utc | 352

That’s pretty much how I feel.
The dissonance is in my face, and I’m havIng trouble
Believing anything, because hardly any of it makes sense,
And that’s the point, isn’t it?

Indeed, you are supposed to feel confused and helpless.

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” – H. L. Mencken

Have you noticed the expression “stay safe” that has suddenly sprung up in conversation between people? It causes my alarm bells to ring for all the wrong reasons (see above). People didn’t use to talk like that.
We are conditioned to believe in TINA (There Is No Alternative) if we are to “stay safe”. One reason why the hatred toward Russia is so strong among the “elites” is that Russia does indeed present an alternative.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 27 2022 9:30 utc | 370

laguerre | Feb 27 2022 9:21 utc | 367
Russia will give Ukraine a spring clean then move on to the US. Achieving a security agreement with the US before it fields hypersonic weapons is I think is essential for US survival.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 9:35 utc | 371

Oui | Feb 26 2022 20:17 utc | 55
the dutch volunteered about two hundred of their people as sacraficial goats in MH17.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 26 2022 20:57 utc | 83

The House of Orange is the second most powerful monarchy in Europe, and probably the world.
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, the King of the Netherlands, followed in his mother’s footsteps and became a Knight of the Garter in 2018. This means that he has sworn an oath to Queen Elizabeth II just like his mother.
Mark Rutte is simply a lightning rod.

Posted by: John Cleary | Feb 27 2022 9:37 utc | 372

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 9:35 utc | 369
What is a ‘spring clean’? You mean regime change, don’t you? Forced regime change hasn’t worked well in recent years, has it? Imposing a new regime is not exactly democratic and may not be well received.

Posted by: laguerre | Feb 27 2022 9:40 utc | 373

@365 continued, …
The only English subtitled version of the 10-min Part II I can find is here on YouTube. But you’ll have to “confirm your age” and make a tracking mark in the Great Register in the Clouds. It just adds the group association links up to more recent (2014) events. There are non-English versions on Viemo. The Moslem Chechens, under the Christian Orthodox Russian Church framework, are likely now in the process of cleaning out this vermin nest as we sip our lattes. The G_d knows best.
https://youtu.be/4mjUDqXYMiE

Posted by: imo | Feb 27 2022 9:47 utc | 374

# imo | Feb 27 2022 7:05 utc | 330
Thank you for the link at Unz and the Whitney report.
This link at Unz is OT but it is a riveting read on global unfairness to Russia and its children. Beware it will enrage your sense of fair play.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 9:48 utc | 375

@Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:39 utc | 362
Wow, what a prescient post that was! You got that right from the very beginning. I suggest everybody read that whole blogpost of yours from July 2014: Ukraine: WARNING of imminent WWIII!
Another quote from that post:

I now think MH17 crashed exactly where it was planned, right in the center of Donbass. Cities form a protective ring around Donbass, but the crash site in the middle of agricultural fields is the perfect spot for an Ukie / NATO airborne invasion.
The retired Russian air force colonel Aleksand Zhilin claimed the NATO plan was to crash the plane in the Southern Calderon so that the Ukie troops now trapped there could be relieved by airborne NATO forces.

If we assume the crash was indeed planned, and looking at what has actually happened since then wrt. to the MH17 “investigation” and the use of Ukraine as NATOs way of entrenching on Russia, it seems more likely than ever that the GPS spoofing you were describing is correct:

The fact is, that the GPS data received by MH17 and forwarded to Russian ATC by its transponder beeps and to the FlightRadar24 database through its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) beeps is 20 km from where the plane was at the time.
This can only be explained in two ways:
1. The false GPS data came form an escort fighter spoofing HM17
2. MH17 was fed false GPS by the GPS jammer on the escort fighter.

Now, if we accept this as a false flag, is there a great leap of imagination to consider the possibility that the passengers of MH17 were not actually live Dutch tourists etc., but instead the already dead passengers of never-to-be-found MH370? Because of all the circumstantial evidence and even witness reports from local people on the ground at the time, I don’t think this possibility should be discounted out of hand.
Thanks for your post.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 27 2022 9:56 utc | 376

@Posted by: bachac | Feb 27 2022 0:09 utc | 159
What’s wrong? You don’t like my metaphor?
Like I said, the bad guy is reaching for his gun.
You appear to want to talk about Messi, Barcelona and Paris San Germain.
Your prerogative, of course, but it seems to me you assume you have perfect information, and I don’t think that is the case. You are certainly knee deep in Nazi leaders.
If I were a Russian citizen I think I’d rather have Putin making the decisions than your good self.

Posted by: John Cleary | Feb 27 2022 10:03 utc | 377

Posted by: enough | Feb 27 2022 0:55 utc | 192
Russophobia exists because there are miserable people like you..and you know it…you are part of the smelly lousy mockingbird but you should know that your work here is wasted.

Posted by: LuBa | Feb 27 2022 10:04 utc | 378

When you understand Judo.

#BREAKING International Judo Federation suspends Putin as honorary president

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1497864618101854219

Posted by: too scents | Feb 27 2022 10:04 utc | 379

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.
Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 2:50 utc | 235
hey, not so fast.
There is a precedent already: Iran.
Still SWIFT is in use

Posted by: Arioch | Feb 27 2022 10:05 utc | 380

Ukrainian convoy destroyed by Russian military.
warning: very graphic
https://t.me/intelslava/20673

Posted by: Occasional Poster | Feb 27 2022 10:09 utc | 381

ted001 | Feb 27 2022 5:53 utc | 305
In a nutshell – Central banking will control this ‘war’.
Indeed. The Federal Reserve Bank has controlled every war since 1914.
I’ve seen a
An argument made that WW1 was wanted sooner, but couldn’t get under way until the Fed had been spawned. (1913).

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 10:16 utc | 382

In a nutshell – Central banking will control this ‘war’.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 10:16 utc | 379
—
What if they lose control of one side?

Posted by: too scents | Feb 27 2022 10:25 utc | 383

# Petri Krohn | Feb 27 2022 8:39 utc | 362
Salut. You were absolutely correct in 2014.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 10:28 utc | 384

laguerre | Feb 27 2022 9:40 utc | 371
Russia have had eight years to sound things out. They won’t have gone in without a plan.
I doubt they will try and put a fully pro Russia puppet government in power rather somebody that is neutral, but whatever they do, It will be done with a good knowledge of local identities and also the general mindset of the non extremist majority.
It will be very different to what the Americans would do, that is about the only thing we can be certain of.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 10:34 utc | 385

Atlantic undersea cables are a good place to start. Russia has nothing to lose. Spy satellites over Russia must be taken out.

Posted by: Jason | Feb 27 2022 10:35 utc | 386

# too scents | Feb 27 2022 10:25 utc | 380

What if they lose control of one side?

And are left with the least productive, highly indebted, energy import dependent side.
Now, that is a collateral deficit problem.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 10:35 utc | 387

John Cleary 370
That is interesting and ties events together a little more.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 10:36 utc | 388

Possible false flag operation as the Azov Nazi battalion attack residential areas in Mariupol.
“On 26 February from 16.00 to 16.20, Ukrainian nationalists from the Azov battalion attacked residential areas of the Sartana settlement in the suburbs of Mariupol and at School No. 8 in the city of Mariupol. As a result, there is destruction of residential buildings and there are dead among the civilian population,”
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/russian-mod-azov-battalion-used-grad-systems-to-hit-residential-areas-on-mariupol-outskirts-1093412906.html

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2022 10:40 utc | 389

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is thinking of deploying Belarusian special forces in Ukraine because Ukrainians are beating up any Belarusians they find in Ukraine.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 27 2022 10:46 utc | 390

What is the Russian end game in all of this?
-> USSR 2.0, a union state between Belarus, Ukraine and Russia?
-> GUS 2.0, a confederacy where all member states remain independent?
-> leaving Ukraine outside as it is and forcing Ukraine to sign away Crimea and Donbass + neutrality / no to NATO?
-> Carving up Ukraine?
“Denazification” isnt cutting through the status of Ukraine.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 10:47 utc | 391

Patrick Boyle discusses the sanctions and banking impacts on the world.
This is a comprehensive commodities analysis in 20 minutes. Do watch this report.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 10:55 utc | 392

interesting speculation about maybe the plan of Russian army now
https://aftershock.news/?q=node/1069983 (in Russian)
The guy is somewhat shady but he was making rather good tactical prediction about Azerbaijan vs Artsakh/Karabakh war

Posted by: Arioch | Feb 27 2022 11:02 utc | 393

# laguerre | Feb 27 2022 9:21 utc | 367

As we all know, the US sees itself as unaffected by whatever happens, so what is the pressure to change its policy?

Repetitive loss of face, eviction from occupied states, rejection by another power on the basis of their ignorance and untrustworthiness.
Consider their apoplexy upon being thrown out of Afghanistan after 20 years of ungracious occupation. A puny state made them into ridicule because the USA simply was suffused with arrogance to the point of being entirely outsmarted in 14 days of tactical superiority.
The USA is likely too ignorant and arrogant to change policy so other nations of superior capacity will work around that minor impediment.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 27 2022 11:13 utc | 394

too scents | Feb 27 2022 10:25 utc | 380
What if they lose control of one side?
Well that’s why we’ve seen them “go nuclear” this weekend with sanctions
Previous sanctionssanctionssanctions were like pre war skirmishes.
And Russia has proved impervious, (mostly).
But this weekend they’ve really firing the heavy artillery.
But as this is an economic war, rather than a kinetic war, blowback will likely be a real bitch.
Let’s see what Russia has to volley back. The SWIFT threat has been flung around since 2014. And increasingly. People (media and FB posters) who a month ago didn’t know a SWIFT from a SLOAT* are all opining authoritatively about online today about how Russia is fucked now, for sure(™️).
[Statement of Loans and Other Account Transactions]

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 11:14 utc | 395

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Feb 27 2022 10:47 utc | 388
Unless Putin (or his successor) wants to repeat this tragedy again he will have to do:

-> Carving up Ukraine?

Specifically, he needs to create a buffer state between Europe and any future Ukraine and cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea, leaving Ukraine surrounded by Russian controlled client states …
Unless he does that Russia will have to face constant insurgencies and NATO/US supplied destabilisation from whichever part of Ukraine remains politically connected to Europe.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 27 2022 11:16 utc | 396

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 27 2022 5:50 utc | 302
“…Here, in the U$A, the anti-Russian slant by our MSM is just sickening…..”
Well put VetinLA.
It’s the same all over the Anglo?Zionist empire. spew, chuck, chunder, throw up, technicolour yawn, burp.
Now RT is banned in Australia but not NZ.
It’s a delicate matter in NZ because the government can’t control the front lawn of parliament house, let alone events in Europe. The NZ protests have become a huge party, according to recent first hand accounts, as recently related to me. There is, reportedly, NO covid there among the protesters. A party atmosphere and erudite crowd.
PM Jacinda is already on the nose in NZ because of her previous association with Klaus Schwab’ s politicians training school and her role as a volunteer at Tony Blair’s office.
Banning RT would be a step too far at the moment.
OZ barflies only need a NZ VPN to access RT TV.
Strange scenes inside the goldmine.

Posted by: Paul | Feb 27 2022 11:16 utc | 397

You know what I’d like to see.
Iran, this week, back at the Vienna JCPOA table. Get up, stretch, yawn, perhaps a scratch of the balls.
Yeah. Nah. Thanks but no thanks. We’re done here.
And take their bat, ball and pads and go home.
It’d put the bookend to an interesting small epoch.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 27 2022 11:20 utc | 398

Arne Hartmann 388 and laguerre
The second video posted by imo I think. The people in this video will be number one on the Russian hit list. Just removing these will make a big difference to Ukraine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mjUDqXYMiE

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 27 2022 11:23 utc | 399

I know that it’s one thing at a time. This military operation must be first won by Russia before other things follow. However I’m hoping over hope that Russia is not bluffing when it promises a retaliatory sanctions that will hurt those who are sanctioning it now. The collective “empire of lies” is not reasonable. If Russia fails to deliver on that promise of a devastating response to the santions, we can be sure that poking the Russian bear would continue in some other ways. And history will not forgive the current Russian government for that.

Posted by: Steve | Feb 27 2022 11:23 utc | 400

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