It does not look like Putin will fall into the Kabul trap. If I was Zelenski I would be studying up on Deim. Look for Generals in Kiev around Easter (your choose, Catholic or Orthodox).

Posted by: wobblie | Feb 18 2022 15:13 utc | 3

Librul (1)
Don’t expect much from the OSCE, Russia has already publicly berated the OSCE for its silence in the recent Kazakhstan events. Expect even less co-operation from the OSCE now Poland has the chair, infact I’d say that the two peoples republics will be blamed for hostilities kicking off, when its more than likely that Zelensky will sanction the offensive against them.
Cue the neo-Nazi Azov battalion and their war crimes that will follow on.
https://eng.belta.by/politics/view/osces-reaction-to-events-in-kazakhstan-slammed-as-shameful-146951-2022/

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 18 2022 15:19 utc | 5

My guess is this could be Putin’s game plan with regard to Ukraine.
Here’s the situation.
1. Today, both Donetsk and Lugansk have announced they are evacuating the non-combat population (women, children, etc.) to Russia.
2. A few days ago, the Duma (Congress) voted overwhelmingly to recognize Donetsk and Lugansk. This is something Russia did not do a few years ago, instead opting for the Minsk agreement.
3. At this point, the Kremlin has not OKed the vote. Putin is still pressing for Minsk to be implemented.
4. There is no way in hell Minsk will be implemented. Ukraine (and the US behind the scenes) will never concede to allowing any kind of autonomy to Donetsk and Lugansk.
Here’s my speculation. Probably has some holes, but I think it makes sense strategically from Russia’s point of view.
With the non-combatants evacuated, Russia would have a free hand to inflict massive damage on Ukrainian troops without killing civilians. If Ukraine continues to not honor Minsk, Russia will simply OK the Duma vote and recognize the two provinces as being independent. At that point, Russia can enter the territories without violating Ukraine sovereignty since they would have been invited by sovereign entities. And without civilians in the way, Russia could unleash powerful weapons that they normally couldn’t because much of the fighting would occur in urban settings.

Posted by: Musburger | Feb 18 2022 15:25 utc | 7

@Musburger | Feb 18 2022 15:25 utc | 7

With the non-combatants evacuated, Russia would have a free hand to inflict massive damage on Ukrainian troops without killing civilians. If Ukraine continues to not honor Minsk, Russia will simply OK the Duma vote and recognize the two provinces as being independent. At that point, Russia can enter the territories without violating Ukraine sovereignty since they would have been invited by sovereign entities. And without civilians in the way, Russia could unleash powerful weapons that they normally couldn’t because much of the fighting would occur in urban settings.

This will regardless be used as “russian invasion” and voila, you have NS2 sanctions in no time.
This is the dream scenario of the warmongers in the west. It will not happen.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 18 2022 15:32 utc | 9

I civili stanno sfollando in Russia, restano solo le milizie a far fronte ad un esercito ucronazi, un esercito soverchiante che potrebbe aver ragione delle milizie separatiste che vista l’impossibilità di resistere si ritirano aprendo varchi consistenti e permettendo all’esercito ucronazi di avanzare per molti km,
Dopo che i pesci sono entrati nella rete ai russi e alle milizie basterà issarla.

Posted by: Alessandro Cagliostr | Feb 18 2022 15:36 utc | 11

Ok I get it. The Duma recognizing break away Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk is perfectly legal under international law because Russia is agreement capable?
The US Congress once recognized the breakaway republics of Texas and California so there is precedence.
Not to mention the breakaway nations and territories of Native Americans which became absorbed by the US.
Is this all logically, historically consistent and agreeable to barflies under international law?

Posted by: Useless meat beater | Feb 18 2022 15:38 utc | 13

Tweet with pics of the evacuation buses.
https://twitter.com/michaelh992/status/1494684295566397444

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 18 2022 15:40 utc | 15

@13, Russia would simply be following the precedent set in Crimea. What would be the difference?

Posted by: Musburger | Feb 18 2022 15:49 utc | 17

It appears as though the roles have now switched… The Donbas republics and Russia are beginning to claim that the Ukrainians are positioning themselves to imminently attack, as evidenced by the continuous shelling over the past couple of days, and now the evacuation of Donbas civilians (women, children, and elderly first).
Suddenly, the onus is on the Ukraine (and the USA/UK) to prove that this is not the case, which is a perfect counter to the months of the western barrage of accusations that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine.
Also, it frees Russia from worrying about inflicting civilian casualties, if and when they retaliate against any Ukrainian incursion into the Donbas – they can then let loose as they please.

Posted by: marsal | Feb 18 2022 15:55 utc | 19

@ Musburger 17
Russia would simply be following the precedent set in Crimea. What would be the difference?
Crimea has an important naval base and can be defended. Donbas has neither, it’s simply a rump area with nasty coal mines.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 18 2022 16:16 utc | 21

Machinetranslation:
Civilians are displacing in Russia, only the militias remain to face a Ukronazi army, an overwhelming army that could be right of the separatist militias that given the impossibility of resisting retreat opening substantial gates and allowing the Ukronazi army to advance for many kilometers, After the fish have entered the net, the Russians and the militias will just hoist it. Posted by: Alessandro Cagliostr | Feb 18 2022 15:36 utc | 11
Thank you for your comment.

Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 18 2022 16:16 utc | 23

Putin asking Zelensky to get around a table and talk with the leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukraine must begin talks with the two breakaway regions in the country’s war-torn east to put an end to fierce fighting that has escalated in recent days.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/549880-putin-ukraine-stop-war-negotiations/

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 18 2022 16:19 utc | 25

Posted by: Maracatu | Feb 18 2022 15:16 utc | 4
I appreciate your updates from Latin America, I think Chinese and Russian moves there are part of the “military & technical means” being employed.

Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 18 2022 16:22 utc | 27

Bemildred #23
Thank you for the translation and thanks to Alessandro.
That seems a likely scenario. I doubt that Azov battalion will be there as they are more likely to sacrifice merceneries first.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 18 2022 16:26 utc | 29

. . . from Maduza (quote)
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s response to Washington’s security proposals, in a nutshell
On Thursday, February 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a written response to Washington’s counter-proposals on security guarantees in Europe. Unlike the response Moscow received from the U.S. and NATO earlier this month, which wasn’t officially made public (though the full text was leaked to Spanish newspaper El Pais), the Russian Foreign Ministry published its 10-page commentary in full. Here’s what it says, in a nutshell.
The United States didn’t give a constructive response to key issues, including halting NATO enlargement, guarantees that Ukraine won’t join the alliance, and rolling back the bloc’s infrastructure to its 1997 lines. The response ignored the fact that the Russian proposals are a package, deliberately choosing “convenient” topics and then “twisting” them to create advantages for the U.S. and its allies. ” . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 18 2022 16:29 utc | 31

Will the Ukronazis and foreign mercenaries enter Donbas
and will it be their last stand?
Even if no Russian troops enter the fray the US will
claim that they did.

Posted by: librul | Feb 18 2022 16:32 utc | 33

So, I recognize that the paper has not yet been peer reviewed, and cnn is not exactly credible on many subjects, but Omicron BA.2 looks like it is very infectious (significantly more than plain jane Omicron BA.1), and the severity of infection looks like it could be up there with Delta. We could well be looking at another Covid surge in North America in a month, and the impact on our health care systems could well be catastrophic. Time to relax all those mandates?
Omicron BA.2 →
The Covid death rates for many countries are decreasing nicely, but it is worrisome that for others the death rates are surging. This may be because of BA.2 kicking in. See Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, etc…

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 18 2022 16:50 utc | 35

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 18 2022 16:50 utc | 35
The most vaccinated countries get the great number of “cases” whatever a case is.
Look at Africa. It have low level of vaccination and there is no problem.
COVID is a mix of panic, PCR test and experimental vaccines.

Posted by: Roberto | Feb 18 2022 16:56 utc | 37

” Large Explosion Near Govt Building In Donetsk”

Posted by: librul | Feb 18 2022 16:59 utc | 39

@Posted by: librul | Feb 18 2022 16:59 utc | 39
url won’t post

Posted by: librul | Feb 18 2022 17:00 utc | 41

Patrick Lancaster’s video from the DNR that oldhippie linked to in his comment #6 has English subtitles (click the “Subtitles” button in the lower right corner of the video) so you can understand what DNR residents are saying. I think it’s important to hear them out—not a single “objective and impartial” Western media outlet would talk to them for some reason.

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 17:02 utc | 43

Posted by: Blue Dotterel | Feb 18 2022 17:01 utc | 42
Japan, Turkey, Chile, Singapore appear to have surging covid death rates, based on today’s Worldometer 7 day trends. There are other countries as well, but maybe not so statistically significant.
I don’t want to be accused of cherry picking data, as the death rates are decreasing nicely in a lot of countries too. And there may be other factors at work as well, such as maybe we are seeing a delayed BA.1 surge.

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 18 2022 17:14 utc | 45

@ Down South | Feb 18 2022 16:22 utc | 26… thanks.. it a worthwhile read…. uncle tungsten shared this link a few days ago on the week in review thread…
regarding canada and the emergencies act… this sets a very bad precedent as i see it and is a type of roll out of the wef agenda, given that both trudea and freeland are on the board, or big role models for the world economic forum…. i find it ironic the truckers being labeled with neo-nazis while crystia freelands grandfathers nazi connections, not to mention freeland and trudeas support for ukraine which has the azoz battalion as an active part of there system, are being fully supported….
as we saw with 9-11, all sorts of new measures were enacted… now we are seeing with the emergency act people who have donated to the truckers are having their bank accounts frozen… to me this is extremely scary…. next step will be for any demonstration for this to happen… meanwhile the cbc is demonizing some man in london with a full article on him – who was the largest financial supporter of the truckers convoy… we are moving in an extremely ugly and dangerous direction in canada and most people seem to be totally fine with it…. i am very saddened by these developments and recommend the article down south links to for more insight into all of this.. thanks..
b – i would really appreciate you chiming in on this… i think it is extremely important..

Posted by: james | Feb 18 2022 17:16 utc | 47

Don Bacon linked an external image of the “kindergarden attack” in the prior thread.
This image shows the hole from the interior:
https://dailystormer.name/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AATZ0GW.jpeg
There is no evidence of an explosion. A shell exploding against the exterior wall would be expected to send shards of brick and plaster peppering the internal walls.
A shell which penetrates and then explodes would cause significant internal damage. None is visible.
I think you could create this damage if you used a backhoe and smashed its bucket against the wall. You might also create this damage using a C4 breeching charge. Breeching charges are a common military item and are used for “mouseholing,” creating holes in wall structures to allow troops to move between buildings without exposing themselves to fire by advancing along the outside street.

Posted by: Sushi | Feb 18 2022 17:30 utc | 49

It is obvious: The Empire wants to pick up where it left off after the 2016 elections in the US threw everything into disorder. The “no fly zone” in Syria has become complicated, but resumption of hostilities in the Ukraine shouldn’t be a problem, should it? The crazy “Mighty Wurlitzer” mass media campaign these last few months has been intended to scare the Russians off so they don’t interfere with the Empire’s renewed assault on the republics in eastern Ukraine. The Empire wanted this action to kick off last spring but the Russians cock-blocked them, so this time the Empire has been barking at Russia first to frighten them away.
The reason for the mass exodus of spooks and assets from Kiev and eastern Ukraine is also obvious. The Russians made clear that they wouldn’t just target the canon fodder if a conflict broke out and would instead go after the command and control assets. These assets are running for the (perceived) safety of Lvov (or Lviv as lisping homosexuals pronounce it) because their plans for renewed slaughter in the Donbass have been put into motion and soon the Russians will be looking for the string-pullers to target.
I wonder if Lvov is far enough away?

Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 18 2022 17:36 utc | 51

There is an open thread at The Saker. He posted this

Dear friends,
The civilians of the LDNR are being evacuated from the towns near the LOC (line of contact).
The Ukies are bombing the LDNR with artillery and mortar fire along the full LOC.
The city of Gorlovka has lost power. The city is under tank fire. The only road between Donetsk and Gorlovka is under Ukronazi fire.
The cities of Dokuchaevsk, Staromikhailovka and Belaia Kamenka are under mortar attack.
It appears that the Ukronazis want to cut through the defenses between Lugansk and Donetsk.
That’s what I just caught myself.

The Ukronazis are on the offensive (OPEN THREAD)

Posted by: Down South | Feb 18 2022 17:37 utc | 53

Re: DPR/LPR
Well, looks like the Zelensky government and/or their military, decided to force matters. Foolish, but them’s the orders.
The civilian evacuation in DPR is a very considerate step, hopefully the Ukraine side does the same thing, but they might feel more secure in close proximity to their own civilians for human shields. Settle in for many weeks or months of this like last time.
Benchmark TTF (Dutch/EU) natgas futures remain steady, pretty much centered within the year’s trading range.

Posted by: ptb | Feb 18 2022 17:48 utc | 55

james|47

regarding canada and the emergencies act… this sets a very bad precedent

When there are old hippies sitting in a park singing Kumbaya (not blocking traffic or even keeping the neighbors awake) it does not take Canadian police 3 weeks to drag them away. More like 3 hours, and without any need for the Emergencies Act.

Posted by: Keith McClary | Feb 18 2022 17:55 utc | 57

PeterAU1 @ 56
From Tass

DONETSK, February 18. /TASS/. The People’s Militia (NM) of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) announced on Friday the prevention of two sabotage at dangerous chemical facilities near the city of Gorlovka, undertaken by sabotage groups that infiltrated from the territory controlled by the Ukrainian side.
Sabotage groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) planned to blow up a container of chlorine on the territory of treatment facilities near Gorlovka, two people from their composition were killed when trying to enter the territory of the DPR, reports the NM DPR in its Telegram channel. “In the Gorlovka direction, servicemen of the NM DPR stopped an attempt to penetrate the enemy sabotage group into the territory of the DPR. Along the forest belt near the village of Zheleznaya Balka, our observers revealed the movement of two special purpose groups of VFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine – approx. TASS) in the amount of 10 and 12 people. Our defenders were forced to open fire with on-duty fire. The enemy suffered the losses of at least two militants killed, three wounded and was forced to retreat. According to our intelligence, saboteurs planned to blow up a tank of chlorine on the territory of treatment facilities near the city of Gorlovka,” the statement reads.

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/13755607/amp

The NM DPR also reported on Friday about a failed attempt by Ukrainian saboteurs to undermine the ammonia storage tank at the Stirol plant in Gorlovka. “According to information received from the DPR MGB today, around 04.00 a.m. in the city of Gorlovka, a group of Ukrainian saboteurs attempted to undermine the ammonia storage tank at the Stirol plant. During the attack, a security guard of the enterprise was wounded, who found a group of saboteurs. He was provided with medical care, there is no threat to life,” reports the NM DPR. Special services are working at the scene, the message reads.

Posted by: Down South | Feb 18 2022 17:59 utc | 59

Qualsiasi cosa dicono o fanno o faranno o non faranno i russi, la colpa sarà sempre loro,
Blocco totale di tutte le esportazioni di gas, petrolio, legname, terre rare,e tutti i commerci con l’occidente, ad Est c’è un mondo, che i servi sciocchi europei comincino a scaldarsi con i fiammiferi.

Posted by: Alessandro Cagliostr | Feb 18 2022 18:07 utc | 61

Updates on the takedown of the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa:
(These are all reporters.)
From Twitter feed of Annie-Bergeron Oliver…At Nicholas- Police have started towing vehicles. Many of the tow truck drivers wearing full face coverings and the logos on the tow trucks have been covered. Dozens of police and vehicles plus ambulance and drone flying overhead.
Per Mackenzie Gray – Police continue to live on Rideau and Sussex. Cops have rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray. Over a loudspeaker, “You must leave, you will be arrested, leave north on Sussex”
Nice overhead photo from Pascal Robidas
https://twitter.com/pascalrobidas/status/1494722733367869451?s=20&t=uw2mEKfqHm1aGY8FJmsdjQ
Organizer Pat King just arrested. He Live-streamed it on Facebook
Per Evan Solomon – Massive police presence coming up Colonel by Rideau Sector. Heavy tactical truck at Convention Centre
Per Sean O’Shea – shirtless dancing dude in front of riot police (from Quebec I think the police not the dude) Riot squad out at Chateau Laurier – SQ officers advanced up Rideau to Mackenzie Ave
Per Ashley Burke at Rideau Centre – arrests, horses, a sonic cannon (not in use yet)
Multiple embassies and Dept of National Defence telling employees not to come to work today. Sitting of House of Commons and Senate were closed earlier this am.
I saw footage of snipers, but can’t find the post to see where they are.
Last word to the Beaverton:
“Jailed Ottawa protesters offer to co-run prison with warden”
https://twitter.com/TheBeaverton/status/1494727032852336645?s=20&t=Tw9yHuXCrh25SWe-JkZlfQ

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 18 2022 18:11 utc | 63

I’m hoping this EMA in Canada is just smoke and mirrors. The vote isn’t until Monday and the protest on parliament may be largely cleared by then thus reducing the need for an emergency.
Maybe instead of letting gov topple with a possible vote Trudeau withdraws it last minute or lets it get defeated in the courts before hand and “strongly disagrees with the decision”.
This could all be a ruse to put extra pressure on the protest movement by freezing accounts etc. and bitch slapping the damn deplorables on his way out of the pandemic which he doesn’t want to end.
This is hope.
@ James
b has obviously been noticeably absent on the topic of covid tyranny instead focusing on the disease itself. I called him on it before but came to the realization that b himself is only one person and has a right to ignore the subject however frustrating that may be. It’s like asking for the teachers opinion lol and there are other sites that we could probably discuss such things but I believe we value this one more. Like asking a priest to discuss his favourite porn star.
@id
Hang in there buddy. At least we’ll be able to go into a bar soon enough and get drunk like…..normal people even if it’s with the spare change we get from begging in front of it.
I have hope and im currently writing an email to my member. Hope man hope. Hope harder!

Posted by: PleaseBeleafMe | Feb 18 2022 18:13 utc | 65

@retiredmecheng #54:

4 Trucker Polls

These polls are meaningless. The Canadian media and its totalitarian little helpers among the citizenry are spreading lies about the protesters; it is no wonder then that the misinformed citizenry would think poorly of the protesters. After all, aren’t they all “terrorists” and “white supremacists”? That’s what I’ve heard!
Here’s a Freedom Convoy YouTube livestream, by the way:
Freedom Convoy 2022 | Friday morning Feb 18 trying to get downtown!!!
All I’m seeing are lots of Canadian flags, one “Fuck Trudeau” flag and one Gadsden (“Don’t Tread On Me”) flag.

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 18:19 utc | 67

The logic of moving Donbass civilians away from the potential conflict zones is sound. This allows employment of stand-off weapons in support of the defence of the territory without messy complications should the advancing Ukie battalions inhabit towns and cities. It also reduces the optics of the “invasion” as presumedly the Russian military would have no need to cross the border. The UNSC meeting yesterday featured all sides agreeing on the primacy of diplomacy and realization of the Minsk Accords – about to be fully repudiated by the Ukraine side itself with, presumedly, the active encouragement of the US and lackeys.

Posted by: jayc | Feb 18 2022 18:20 utc | 69

So far I have considered the Russian invasion stories a hoax. Now I believe the war will start on Monday. Donetsk and Lugansk have started evacuating civilians to Russia.
The Russian attack or counter attack, if it comes will encircle Kharkov. Maybe the aim is Poltava and the Dnieper. Russia has concentrated a large number of tanks and tracked artillery on the border opposite Kharkov. The tanks are offloaded from trains at the railway station in Tomarovka, a small town northwest of Belgorod and some 27 km from the border.
I have seen videos of almost a 100 tanks coming from the railway station and turning west on the road to Poltava. This latest batch has 28 T-80s.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Feb 18 2022 18:26 utc | 71

Ryan Alford, a professor of law at Lakehead University in Ontario:
Trudeau’s Power Grab Is Unconstitutional (Newsweek, Ryan Alford, February 15, 2022)

…
First, the Emergencies Act specifies that only certain types of threats to public order can authorize emergency powers—which is why an order issued by the Governor General on Tuesday made the shocking allegation that the Freedom Convoy’s activities are “directed toward or in support” of terrorism.
It’s an astonishing claim for those who have been following the protests both in Canada’s capital and at border crossings closely. There is not a single violent incident that could possibly support a legally sufficient argument that the protests have been in support of or connected with terrorism.
Second, the new Emergencies Act required a “national emergency” to be invoked, something so serious that it cannot be resolved by means of any other law or combination of laws. And yet, the two most significant challenges to the government—the blockades of the Ambassador Bridge (from Windsor to Detroit) and the crossing from Sweetgrass, Montana to Coutts, Alberta—were both resolved peacefully, and without a single act of violence on the part of either the protesters or the police. At the end of the Coutts blockade, the demonstrators lined up to shake hands with law enforcement (the same ritual that ends every hockey game). Only the protest in Ottawa remains, and evidence of terrorism, at least outside of the realm of mind-reading, remains rather thin. Moreover, Trudeau has refused to even meet with the truckers.
All of this means that Trudeau has failed to meet the requirements for invoking the Emergencies Act. His doing so is clearly unconstitutional.
Trudeau has repeatedly said in the media that the Freedom Convoy is an illegal protest. It is not. In multiple hearings on applications for injunctions, many related to noise complaints, the courts in the national capital have acknowledged that the fundamental freedoms of speech and assembly are constitutional in nature. For that reason, municipal by-laws that relate to noise and the use of public parks can only be enforced against those exercising those freedoms if they constitute a reasonable limitation on these constitutional rights in the circumstances.
Rather than allowing the courts, the provincial authorities, and the police continue to take a considered and balanced approach to legal and constitutionally protected activity, Justin Trudeau has chosen to fan the flames of division.
Pierre Trudeau’s actions in 1970 created deep and longstanding divisions within the Canadian public, some of which persist 52 years later. What his son is now doing is perhaps even worse. Destroying the fabric that holds the nation together on a far flimsier pretext than even the October Crisis is unconstitutional—and the real threat to Canada’s democracy.

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 18:28 utc | 73

Murad Gazdiev
@MuradGazdiev
·
4h
Evacuationg priority will be given to women, children and the elderly, say local authorities
1
30
79
Show this thread
Murad Gazdiev
@MuradGazdiev
·
4h
Ukraine’s separatist province of Donetsk says it is evacuating civilians to Russia (population 2+ million) in anticipation of a Ukrainian military attack.
More than 100,000 Ukrainian troops are concentrated near the front lines, now boosted with NATO weapon supplies

Posted by: Down South | Feb 18 2022 18:34 utc | 75

Posted by: Keith McClary | Feb 18 2022 17:55 utc | 57

When there are old hippies sitting in a park singing Kumbaya (not blocking traffic or even keeping the neighbors awake) it does not take Canadian police 3 weeks to drag them away. More like 3 hours, and without any need for the Emergencies Act.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the Ottawa police service had difficulty in countering the protestors as there were a significant number of police taking sick leave, vacation time, or retirng. This suggests the police were supportive of the truckers and the OPS lacked the ability to conduct any form of enforcement.
The Emergencies Act permits the participation of RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police but it takes time to muster those forces and organize their deployment to Ottawa.
Agree with James @47 that it would be good to hear b’s perspective.
The last time for a similar emergency law implementation was during the Quebec FLQ crisis in the early 1970’s when armed separatists killed a British diplomat.
As a kid at the time I remember travelling into Montreal and coming out of a bookstore and hearing the rat-ta-tat of machine gun fire. All the folks on the sidewalk were looking down the street toward the source of the gunfire. I asked what was happening and was told simply that it was “Machine gun Molly making a withdrawal.” She was an FLQ supporter and the FLQ robbed banks to support its drive for separatism. Despite this level of violence (which has not been seen in the Truckers Protest) there was no declaration of emergency powers until after the diplomat James Cross was taken prisoner and killed by the FLQ.
In my view Trudeau has 1) Scared the population to death with false information on COVID 2) Imposed a series of draconian restrictions (what the Truckers are protsting) and 3) Implemented emergency measures as other G7 nations complained the Canadian example was provoking similar demonstrations in foreign nations.

Posted by: Sushi | Feb 18 2022 18:35 utc | 77

@c1ue #68:

Links which are 2 tier – i.e. have a “:” with a web site on either side of it – will not post correctly.

Yep. That’s why links from the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine do not work here, for example. To post such links, replace the second occurence of

://

inside the link with

%3A%2F%2F

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 18:40 utc | 79

@66 / 78
Good, they figured it out

Posted by: ptb | Feb 18 2022 18:45 utc | 81

Posted by: james | Feb 18 2022 17:16 utc | 47
We’ve been saying from the very beginning that the covid situation is an unprecedented assault on basic freedoms and rights but you were so tired of all the ppl obsessed with the mater.
Now you sound a bit more anxious.
Welcome to the club.

Posted by: DG | Feb 18 2022 18:47 utc | 83

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 18:28 utc | 73
Trudeau has called the “Loyal Opposition” Nazi supporters. When he was challenged on this and asked to issuse an apology for language the Speaker of the HOuse called “inflammatory” he simply walked out.
While labelling both the Truckers and the opposition party as Nazis and Nazi supporters his government has delivered 7 million in military arms to Ukraime despite the fact that such action promotes the conflict.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/02/canada-commits-lethal-weapons-and-ammunition-in-support-of-ukraine.html

Posted by: Sushi | Feb 18 2022 18:52 utc | 85

@DG | Feb 18 2022 18:47 utc | 83

We’ve been saying from the very beginning that the covid situation is an unprecedented assault on basic freedoms and rights but you were so tired of all the ppl obsessed with the mater.

What is happening in Canada is really terrible, and I have full sympathy for the Canadian people and the way they have behaved in face of tyranny, but the above sentence is true. Some of us have maintained from the very beginning what this “covid” situation was all about. Now it is visible to everybody.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 18 2022 19:03 utc | 87

@DG #83
Some measures were justified because there was a need to flatten the curve so as not to overwhelm healthcare systems. Mandatory vaccinations, however, can not be justified with COVID-19’s low level of mortality. Were it, say, 50%, I would definitely support forced vaccinations, as we’d be talking about survival of the human race. But it’s not. It is mere 0.13% (ranging from 0.01% for 18–29 y.o. to 0.63% for 65–74 y.o. to 3.48% for 85+ y.o.). With such low mortality the decision on whether to take a vaccine must remain with the patient. Of course, I encourage old people to take COVID-19 vaccines because they drastically reduce the probability of dying. But forced vaccinations are simply uncalled for in the present situation.

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 19:12 utc | 89

A good article to send to clueless friends and family:
Lies About Ukraine Conflict Are Standing in the Way of a Peaceful Resolution (Truthout, Ivan Katchanovski, February 16, 2022)

Posted by: S | Feb 18 2022 19:21 utc | 91

it would be good of Danilov to explain who is shelling the civilians then, if it isnt on orders of the NSDC.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Feb 18 2022 19:30 utc | 93

@Norwegian 87
What is happening in Canada is truly terrible. I have the deepest respect for the Canadians who resisted the draconian covid measures and are still resisting. I hope that this is a waking up call for all the ppl who thought that this was about the protection of the public health. It was a charade. Nobody can explain why the governments that wanted to protect the public health did NOTHING to boost the national health systems. On the contrary they did everything to weaken them.
@S 89
The right to not accept a medical procedure that proved to be inadequate and maybe not safe is a fundamental right. I encourage no one to either have it or not. I simply say that mandatory vaccinations with inadequately tested vaccines is a form of fascism and should not be implemented.

Posted by: DG | Feb 18 2022 19:33 utc | 95

@DG | Feb 18 2022 19:33 utc | 95

I hope that this is a waking up call for all the ppl who thought that this was about the protection of the public health.

Indeed, to those people: The wakeup call is ringing NOW if you didn’t get the message before. Don’t say you have not been warned.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 18 2022 19:38 utc | 97

Et tu, Bolsonaro?
BRASILIA, Feb 17 (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday criticized Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s declaration of “solidarity” with Russia during a visit there this week as it amassed troops near Ukraine’s borders, raising fears it is planning to invade.
“The timing of the president of Brazil expressing solidarity with Russia, just as Russian forces are preparing to launch attacks on Ukrainian cities, could not be worse,” the State Department said.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 18 2022 19:47 utc | 99