Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 08, 2022

Disarming Ukraine - Day 13 - Lies Do Not Win Wars

One hundred thousand re-tweets is a lot:


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It is indeed a 'most incredible' video.

FoxNews:

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian military commander POW claims forces were told 'Nazis' had overtaken Ukraine
Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich, a Ukraine POW, tells reporters: 'This is genocide'

A Russian military commander and prisoner of war in Ukraine said he and his forces were led to believe they were invading the country because "nationalists, Nazis have seized power," according to a video that surfaced Monday. 

Russian Lt. Col. Astakhov Dmitry Mikhailovich was flanked by two badly bruised men as he said they were told in Russia "that Ukraine's territory is dominated by fascist's regime," according to video shared by Ukraine’s News Channel 24, via a translation from the New York Post

To which Pat Lang remarks:

Comment: Lying to troops going into battle is a really bad idea. When disillusion shows up, they become unreliable like this officer. Officers in the Russian Army have beards?

That 'officer' is not unreliable. He does the job his army assigned him to. And no, officers in the Russian army do not have beards.

Quora tells me:

According to the Chapter 8 Article 344 of the Charter of the Armed Forces servicemen are obliged ‘to regularly bath, brush teeth, cut nails, hair and shave clean’.

The Russian regulations have, as usual, exceptions. Chechen units (Muslim) allow beards as do some special forces. But that dude does not look Chechen and he is certainly not fit enough for a special force command.

Some Marko tells me that he rather looks like this Ukrainian soldier.


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The reverse image search service TinEye tells me that the picture above was first uploaded to imgur.com on February 26.


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Russia's 'special military operation' in Ukraine had started just two days earlier.

Did that man pictured before or on February 26 since defect to Russia, got commissioned as Russian army officer and then caught by Ukrainian troops?

When in between was he told "that Ukraine's territory is dominated by fascist's regime"?

That claim is, by the way, the only somewhat true element of the whole story.

Posted by b on March 8, 2022 at 9:46 UTC | Permalink

Comments
next page »

Ukronazis do not take Russian prisoners, they kill soldiers who are surrendering.

Posted by: Olivier | Mar 8 2022 9:51 utc | 1

is ANY information coming from Ukraine side true?
i hope the russians get their hands on a BILD "journalist" and get him prosecuted.
Ronzheimer or even better Röpgen.
This guys are realy guilty, i want to puke

Posted by: kartoschka | Mar 8 2022 9:55 utc | 2

The Easter Bunny is the only reliable source for news.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 8 2022 9:58 utc | 3

Now that OSCE monitors have left Ukraine expect all sorts of psy-ops and false flags to be conjured up by the Nazis and blamed on Russian forces.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 9:59 utc | 4

I love it when Subcontinental Indians are born or raised in the US from infancy , and display exactly the same kind of imbecility as the natives.

Posted by: Brother Ma | Mar 8 2022 10:00 utc | 5

reminds me of the woman who "sniffed" the alleged poison gas canister and wrinkled her nose, saying that it sure smelled toxic. or the little Israeli girl who was miraculously transformed into a Ukrainian child.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 8 2022 10:00 utc | 6

Meanwhile.


Ukrainian President Zelensky will give a speech today via video-link to the House of Commons from his bunker in the US embassy in Poland, no one will be allowed to ask Zelensky any questions.

Zelensky currently carries with him at all times a state of the art military phone that connects him with US President Joe Biden.

I fully expect the clapping seals in the HoC to give Zelensky a rousing round of applause,

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:00 utc | 7

You can feel is a ”msm information” when everything he say is ”emotional”... no military infos, just ”disney stories”

Posted by: John | Mar 8 2022 10:04 utc | 8

Japan announces a new round of sanctions against Russia/individuals, including sanctions against the Chechen leader and sanctions against Belarus.

We know through Edward Snowden when he was informing us of the USA's Prism programme that Japan's civilian infrastructure is completely hacked by the US, they could turn everything off in Japan at the flick of a switch. Of course Japan has a history with Russia in mind, and would love to see it broken up, and islands returned under Japanese control.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:17 utc | 10

just ”disney stories”

Posted by: John | Mar 8 2022 10:04 utc | 8

Too bad, disney (and netflix) are boycotting Russia.

In fact, great! Less propaganda!

Posted by: Olivier | Mar 8 2022 10:17 utc | 11

Not the same person, look at separate features: nose, ears etc

Posted by: volf | Mar 8 2022 10:19 utc | 12

@ Brother Ma 5
The people you are talking about are not native to America. They arrived in the recent past and killed most natives.

Posted by: Kaspar | Mar 8 2022 10:22 utc | 13

It looks like the same guy, the two picture are from different angles. We see the nose from a different angle, and in one picture we see his left ear and in the other we see his right ear. and what about the beard, did he grow that in a couple of days? do the ukis give the pow's fake beards?

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 8 2022 10:24 utc | 14

and btw never forget Disney was an FBI snitch. he probably told the FBI disney stories, too. not that they cared about the truth.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 8 2022 10:27 utc | 15

"Canberra announced the decision of new sanctions on Tuesday afternoon, with Foreign Minister Marise Payne noting the new penalties will also target senior commanders in the Russian military"

For a country of around 26 million folk Australia is playing a very risky game in goading China and prodding the Russian bear, like Ukraine I doubt the US would come to Australia's rescue if the Beijing authorities tire of Australian antics and decided to launch a military offensive against it.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:28 utc | 16

Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:17 utc | 10

The Japanese have gone full-on and declared the Kurils as "sovereign territory". Final outcome is unknown.

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 8 2022 10:36 utc | 17

People have said that Russia is losing the propaganda war but considering how afraid the MSM is becoming of the whole nazi topic and how keen the Ukrainian nazis are at endlessly copying Streisand…

Every intelligence agency in Europe knows the truth of the last decade and I would think just about all higher level officers in all the various European armies do as well.

They all also know that the main reason for the conflict is the US and the same for the consequences that will hurt them, their families, friends, and countries directly.

I meant to comment yesterday about that Russian list; every single country on that list already have every incentive to seek the complete downfall/removal of the US by any means available but to do so covertly. They will gladly sink the north American continent to survive. As long as they have plausible deniability nothing is holding them back. The politicians will catch up afterwards, they have no need to know.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 8 2022 10:40 utc | 18

I thought a large part of the success of the Syrian insurgency was that lies win wars. Ukraine is in a somewhat similar situation. Emotional footage of civilian misery compel us to support piling on aid and sanctions. Crying alarm about nuclear facilities compel us to intervene.

Posted by: Tuyzentfloot | Mar 8 2022 11:03 utc | 19

Empire wagging the dog is nothing new
the theatrical distractions will not be enough to obscure the upcoming release of the evidence of the pentagon biowarfare labs.

They cannot disappear the evidence like they do in allied countries there is no CIA or Mossad to step in to bury the truth.
If the evidence is damning we will see them Nuremburged
It will also precipitate an investigation into Ft. Detrick et all.
Evidence of covid crimes are now mounting.

Posted by: ld | Mar 8 2022 11:11 utc | 20

Don't be too quick to assume these bearded men are one and the same. Although Ukraine has been up to a wide variety of dodgy tricks there are many stock bearded me on both sides and these two do not look identical. For reference, the men were allegedly captured at the end of March and people have identified their families
https://www.zdg.md/ru/?p=91234
which is one of the things the Geneva Convention is supposed to protect against.
The Ukrainian figure apparently lost his right hand as can bee seen in a photo here:
https://www.yaplakal.com/forum1/st/25/topic2405886.html
While a third photo shows that the prisoner does not. In this case, at least, it seems that the Ukrainians are not lying but actually using POWs in propaganda sessions, I'm not sure which is worse.

Posted by: Brannagyn | Mar 8 2022 11:20 utc | 21

It will be quite embarrassing (for him) if it turns out only he was lied to.

Out of 100000+ other soldiers only he figured out the 'truth'?

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Mar 8 2022 11:25 utc | 22

It is neither nor there whether any one wears a beard
officer or no officer.

it matters not one iota.

Besides he is certainly the truth as regards Ukrainian people in general (ie the majority 90%+)
they are being lied to just as is everybody else.

Posted by: chris m | Mar 8 2022 11:27 utc | 23

How much does electricity cost in Russia?
The average cost of a kilowatt-hour in Russia in 2022: 4 rubles/kWh (0.026 euro/kWh);
The region with the cheapest electricity: Irkutsk region (1.23 rubles/kWh, 0,0081 euro/kWh);
The region with the most expensive electricity: Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (8.82 rubles/kWh, 0,059 euro/kWh).

Posted by: passerby | Mar 8 2022 11:28 utc | 24

Whome would you rather trust?
Some anonymous B or auuthoritative respectable news and politicians whos reputation is on the line???

https://thegoodcitizen.substack.com/p/gospel-of-the-ukrainian-borg?s=r

Always make a choice you won't be made regret!!!

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 8 2022 11:33 utc | 25

dunno, doesn't frankly look like the same, especially with one less arm :)
https://twitter.com/LoveCharacter/status/1500617288889901056

Posted by: rototo | Mar 8 2022 11:34 utc | 26

@Posted by: Petri Krohn | Mar 8 2022 3:49 utc | 401

Bypassing censorship.
I did post that this morning on the topic « To Punish Russia The 'Liberal Order' Attempts To Suicide Itsel »
It was a question to Petri Krohn regarding accesses to RT and sputnik.
As I did not get any answer I try another time here, because If feel lost now with all this censorship in France. I do not intend to troll B in any ways…

Hi Petri, I have used your tip to access RT and Sputnik. I am on manjaro linux. I did change the etc/hosts file as described for ubuntu in your link.
I am now able to access both sites but the frame of the content does not display correctly, so it makes it almost impossible to read…
If you (or anyone else) can help me solving that I will be very gratefull.
Regards,

Posted by: UnCopEra | Mar 8 2022 11:37 utc | 27

in the 2 pictures above, you cannot see both arms. also it absolutely matters if he wears a beard, cause that means they are lying about him being a Russian officer. and the lies he alludes too are ones he was supposedly told in Russia, so he's lying.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 8 2022 11:43 utc | 28

Lies are a very narrow definition of propaganda. A major part of propaganda happens on the reputation level. This controls how events are perceived. Because Putin has a bad reputation none of his motivations are legitimate: he has got dementia, is very frustrated, is driven by nostalgic ambitions to reconstitute a russian empire. Putins actions can be understood as resulting from an internal power struggle. Some Russian concerns can be conceded but not to Putin: Putin opportunistically takes advantage of these real concerns. Putin's arguments are pretexts and deceit, not real motivations. They show how sly he is. What this also means is since Putin has no legitimate concerns there is nothing to negotiate about.
All this thinking flows naturally and spontaneously once you have established the consensus that Putin has a bad reputation and all that propaganda has to do is drive down the consensus reputation. Narratives drive perceptions drive reputation. No further top down control needed.

Posted by: Tuyzentfloot | Mar 8 2022 11:43 utc | 29

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:28 utc | 16

Mate what are you smoking? China would never launch a military offensive against Australia. Even the Japanese during WW2 could look at a map and see that was utterly futile. The Chinese can't really even cut themselves off completely from our resources. They can hit us in other ways, but pull out your atlas and have a look at Australia. No military on the planet, barring nukes, could invade us. The logistics alone would bankrupt them.

If we had brains we would use our strategic isolation, food and energy self-sufficiency and tell the rest of the world to stew in its own shit. But our adolescence as a nation means that we fear the Asiatic horde and look to mummy (UK) and daddy (US) to tell us what to do.

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 8 2022 11:44 utc | 30

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 10:28 utc | 16

Actually, no offence, but that post displays a remarkable ignorance of the relationship between Australia, China and the US, as well as an absurd assessment of the strategic military risks Australia faces (none) versus our economic exposure (high). The main threat to us militarily are the US troops stationed on our soil and the depth of CIA penetration into our political institutions. China knows we're just the USA's little dog yapping—meanwhile they buy our education, minerals, property, business as usual.

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 8 2022 11:55 utc | 31

@b

I can't see any real resemblance between these two. Wouldn't it have been better to point out that parading POWs and getting them to denounce their own side is what the NVA did to USAF pilots in captivity during the Vietnam War? Or did the Western media erase 'hypocrisy' from their dictionaries?

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 8 2022 12:00 utc | 32

Wait a minute. If he is a Russian soldier, isn't he correct? Neo-Nazis have taken over the regime. So where's the "lie"? The rest of his alleged "confession" is undoubtedly bullcrap.

If he's not a Russian soldier, which is by far the most likely, then who cares what he says? In that case this is just another Ukrainian propaganda stunt. No surprise there.

Everyone knows Russia will lose the propaganda war in the West. This is just another example. It will have no affect on the actual outcome of the war.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 12:01 utc | 33

The logical error alone should be enough: if having access to all the information and internet in Russia still would be able to "brainwash" him about the true state of Ukrainian government, something not to explore in a few weeks or being in a holding cell, the only thing that it should have taught the soldier (or anyone else for that matter) is that brain washing, ideology and subversive media campaigns are real and massive. And that coming to a "true" position is not that simple. Something surprisingly many Russians would actually admit to when asked (they have experience from another generation). Instead he seems to flip from one radical conviction to another. If this guy really is a Russian soldier in captivity, he's surely not a deep thinker but perhaps more hoping to have a good diner tonight?

The story makes more way sense with him begin Ukrainian to start with. Less head ache that way too.

Posted by: John Dowser | Mar 8 2022 12:05 utc | 34

Watching these events play out vindicates the PRC's decision to install the so called Internet Fire Wall, Western infowar is just as dangerous as any military adventure.

Posted by: Gege | Mar 8 2022 12:07 utc | 35

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 8 2022 11:44 utc | 30

He said "military offensive", not "invasion." If Australia screws up, China will pound you with missiles until the kangaroos come home. And given the size of the country and the locations of the bulk of the population, that wouldn't require that many missiles. Otherwise, you're correct - China would never invade. You're also probably correct that China couldn't care less about Australia - unless it actually gets nuclear subs (with missiles which from what I understand is unlikely) and takes part in any US effort around Taiwan. Then you're toast. The same applies to Japan and South Korea.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 12:09 utc | 36

Parroting the supplied message. I have turned off the MSM because it is 24/7 sheep food. When the Russians cannot put their point of view in the western media due to censorship, you know something smells.

Posted by: Kaiama | Mar 8 2022 12:23 utc | 37

Might want to revise this post b, Ukrainian fake news that is actually fake is a dime a dozen, no need to give it any shred of legitimacy with an off-target attempt to debunk.

Posted by: J D | Mar 8 2022 12:23 utc | 38

Compare the graying of the beards. Definitely not the same man.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Mar 8 2022 12:38 utc | 39

To me, they look like different persons as well

Posted by: Grasdackel | Mar 8 2022 12:45 utc | 40

They don't look like the same guy. Beards are different, amount of grey in the beard is different (And it would imply his beard got less grey over those days), eye shape is different, head and face are different. Might even have different eye colour.

Posted by: Altai | Mar 8 2022 12:52 utc | 41

Found this video with the same guy, but a bit less beaten up: https://myrotvorets.news/smert-okupantam-nasoloditsia-video/

Posted by: TB | Mar 8 2022 12:56 utc | 42

There is still the point about the beard. This guy is not a Russian officer.

Found this on Quora from 2020:

Boris Sanochkin , former (Ret.) Lt. Colonel
Answered Aug 24, 2020 · Upvoted by Will Bentley , Retired USMC after 28 years: service as officer and enlisted, active and reserve

According to the Chapter 8 Article 344 of the Charter of the Armed Forces servicemen are obliged ‘to regularly bath, brush teeth, cut nails, hair and shave clean’.

Technically it means that the facial hair is not allowed.

Meanwhile, the same charter says that ‘mustaches has to be tidy and not to prevent the proper use of individual protective equipment’ meaning a gas mask.

That means the mustaches are allowed when they are tidy.

At the same time Navy has its own Charter and its Article 531 says that ‘the haircut, mustaches and beard of the serviceman has to be tidy’ - meaning the beard is allowed to the sailors and marines.

In real life it mostly depends on a command of the unit. In Far North beards are usually tolerated because they help to avoid frostbites.

If the serviceman has scars on the face or medical conditions preventing shaving the command would most likely allow the beard.

In other units there might be zero tolerance. There are even instances of women reprimanded under Article 344 for unshaved legs.

Boris Ivanov , lives in Moscow
Answered Aug 24, 2020

No, they are not. Russian servicemen are allowed to have a small, accurate mustache, but beards are not allowed. This rule exists (with some variations concerning mustache) since the 18th century. There was a break at the time of the very last Emperors who were bearded themselves. But the Soviet Union reinstated the old rule, and it is still in effect.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 13:00 utc | 43

https://waronfakes.com/

Is a Russian Govt sponsored initiative to debunk false stories as they appear.

Posted by: Powerandpeople | Mar 8 2022 13:04 utc | 44

Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949.

signed by Ukraine SSR on 12.12.1949 and ratified 03.08.1954

It is not permitted to use POWs in this way, though I recall how North Vietnam used US POWs as Wikipedia states: John McCain later wrote of finally being forced to make an anti-American statement: "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine."[14] Only a small number of exceptionally resilient prisoners, such as John A. Dramesi, survived captivity without ever cooperating with the enemy; others who refused to cooperate under any circumstances, such as Edwin Atterbury, were tortured to death.


So I tend to discount anything POWs say - this is the only way to prevent them being tortured to recite whatever the captor wants

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Mar 8 2022 13:11 utc | 45

The Uk ch 24 picture as reprinted by the NY Post https://nypost.com/2022/03/07/captured-russian-officer-apologizes-to-ukraine-for-genocide/

Even if it was real, having him sit next to two other POWs who look like they were beaten should raise the issue of coercion. The soldier on his right has a perfect black eye as if he was sucker punched. This should by itself create negative imagery in the U.S. as it should remind us of the forced confessions U.S. POWs ended up making in N.Korea and Vietnam.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 8 2022 13:26 utc | 46

Trump seems strangely silent about JCPOA 2, remembering his ire towards much more benign JCPOA 1

Now Iran would have facilities to 60% enrichment fully functional and ready to start ptoduciton at minute notice. While i can see reason for Iran to demand that, it still make me somewhat nervous. Would Biden likely fail to be re-elected Trump would just have to kill JCPOA 2 like he killed JCPOA 1

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 8 2022 13:27 utc | 47

"That claim is, by the way, the only somewhat true element of the whole story."

Now what would happen to this guy if captured by actual Russians?

Posted by: Stumpy | Mar 8 2022 13:29 utc | 48

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 13:00 utc | 43

i would argue, that from a everyday language aspect "clean shave" does not have to necessarily mean removing ALL of hair (eyebrows too?) but that those skin parts not intentionally selected to have hear - should have none. There should be no unruly hair existing just because soldier felt lazy to remove it. It should be groomed and tidy hair or smooth clear skin.

This is just from a common ssense of language standpoint, but "In Far North beards are usually tolerated" seems to correlate.

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 8 2022 13:33 utc | 49

I do not believe those two ukies are one and the same ukie, the nose is just not the same.

OTOH some Ukie has had to pass himself as Russian in public opinion and probably speak in Russian too (haven't seen the video) and deny their own existence aloud, so there's a sort of poetic justice element to it.

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:35 utc | 50

Either he's a fake or this is a war crime (breach of the Geneva conventions). Or possibly both!

Posted by: Hidari | Mar 8 2022 13:39 utc | 51

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 8 2022 13:33 utc | 49

Are you looking at that beard? No way that qualifies. Look it up. The only time Russia allowed beards was back a hundred years ago under the Tsars. It has nothing to do with language - the rule is no beards except in the Far North and for sailors or people with facial deformities. Does this guy look like he qualifies? No.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 13:44 utc | 52

Australia has put a target on its back
In this world don't make assumptions on past relationships
Threats are taken very seriously now.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the AUKUS deal supplying Australia with nuclear submarines "seriously damages regional peace and stability, intensifies the arms race, and undermines the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1234460.shtml

Posted by: ld | Mar 8 2022 13:44 utc | 53


That particular fellow has popped up in at least different four roles so far, he's getting a lot of acting work out of this opportunity.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 8 2022 13:46 utc | 54

We were not allowed beards, if a gas attack alarm goes off you have literally less than ten seconds to get your gas mask on, and hermetically sealed around ones face.....ever see a burly lumberjack type with a beard down to his chest wearing.....a N95 mask. Too funny seeing masks are the end-all be-all of self protection these days....

Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 8 2022 13:46 utc | 55

"The main threat to us militarily are the US troops stationed on our soil and the depth of CIA penetration into our political institutions."

Patroklos (31). (32).

Fair enough on some of your points but, no country not even Australia with it huge size can expect to prod the likes of China and not have at the very least sanction returned. At least you realise that the enemy within is the US.

I saw a five minute video a few months back I can't recall where and a US envoy was giving a speech in Australia to the political class or business chiefs, and he said to them quite bluntly and not in a joking fashion, though they sort of nervously laughed back at him, if you're not with us then you're against us.

I don't know if you or anyone else saw that particular video it was doing the rounds for a while there?

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 13:48 utc | 56


@Hack, just in case you wanted to slither away from a 500+ thread.

You have exactly zero knowledge of the philosophy - which has absolutely nothing to with "rich people."

Basically you've watched too much "Altered Carbon."
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 11:41 utc | 500

I have been into transhumanism in the past, including following both national and international newsletters.

I also have my own two eyes to see the social background and livelihood of some prominent advocates for transhumanism, but don't try to minsconstrue this as a blanket statement of homogeneity.

In addition I have formally studied bioethics, technological ethics and philosophy of the mind.

And I have been an eager reader of Greg Egan. If you don't know about this author, I'd advise you to refrain from talking in public about tRaNsHuMaNiSm until you fix this glaring failure.

In contrast, I haven't watched a single episode of Altered Carbon - a few previews revealed it to be the usual sci-fi excuse for a "people talking to each other" drama show - hard pass.

So don't try to tell me where my "misconceptions" come from, and don't assume what I know or don't about this issue.

Transhumanism is cool for science-fiction, in the current real world that we inhabit it's a keyring-jangling distraction for turboliberalism and ultraindividualism, a fetish for prosthetics run amok, "let the world stew in its problems and enhance yourself [if you have the money]", not to speak of increased avenues and methods of control over the "trans"human body by private companies.

Transhumanism taken seriously would inevitably lead to the creation of an augmented elite within the liberal elite, giving them an actual basis for their supremacist attitudes

I'm also an AVID consumer of comics, videogames and cinema with a transhumanist background, doubly so if they actually explore the problems of transhuman individuals.

So don't give me the bullcrap that it's anything else but the secular quest for immortality by the powerful and a desire to substantiate supremacist delusions.

And don't pretend that opposition stems necessarily from ignorance.

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:13 utc | 502

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:54 utc | 57

One person, or persona, totally dominated the last thread. Happening again. The persona is active all over the web. Writes a thousand posts a day, 24 hours a day.

Do not feed trolls.

Posted by: oldhippie | Mar 8 2022 13:54 utc | 58

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 8 2022 11:43 utc | 28

"in the 2 pictures above, you cannot see both arms. also it absolutely matters if he wears a beard, cause that means they are lying about him being a Russian officer"

If you watch the video at 0:30 the alleged one-armed soldier lifts two, natural looking arms, onto the table to speak.

Posted by: Atiya | Mar 8 2022 13:54 utc | 59

He said "military offensive", not "invasion." If Australia screws up, China will pound you with missiles until ...

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 12:09 utc | 36

Absolutely not. As an ultimate defensive measure, Australia got a contract with USA to purchase nuclear fueled submarines with all services, for tens of billions, THUS United States of American will defend Australia to the last dollar (Australian?). This methods works very well for non-Persian monarchies in Persian Gulf.

As an aside, targeting kangaroos is typically not effective. Even using kangaroo smashing attachments in the front of trucks did not dent their numbers too much. Perhaps some strategically important kangaroos, like those in courts, can be eliminated, but at worst, Australia can revert to normal courts.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 8 2022 13:55 utc | 60

That particular fellow has popped up in at least different four roles so far, he's getting a lot of acting work out of this opportunity.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 8 2022 13:46 utc | 54

Links plz

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:56 utc | 61

Waste of time to debunk. At this point, views on the conflict are fully entrenched and only propaganda that aligns with confirmation bias will be received.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Mar 8 2022 13:58 utc | 62

@Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 13:48 utc | 56

Professor John Mearsheimer gave such a speech in Australia.

Posted by: Northman | Mar 8 2022 14:02 utc | 63

When someone retorts, "but President Zelensky is Jewish".
Just make it clear and accurate, "he is not a Nazi, rather, he is a Nazi collaborator."

--------

In 2019 Zelensky moved to bring peace and reconciliation to eastern Ukraine.
The Nazis made it very clear to Zelensky that he would be killed if he continued to try.
The US did *not* have Zelensky's back. The US, however, did continue to budget more weapons for Ukraine.

Posted by: librul | Mar 8 2022 14:02 utc | 64

BREAKING: Ukraine is ready for negotiations with the Russian Federation on key points, but wants to receive a "clear and specific, legally binding set" of guarantees for its security in a situation where NATO has openly announced that it will not accept Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/ASBMilitary/status/1501189428647276561?cxt=HHwWosC9sZ31pdUpAAAA

It seems like that the US wants to keep most of its influence on Ukraine intact and is ready to sacrifice Crimea and the Donbass. The US doesnt need Ukraine in NATO, it needs Ukraine as a launching pad for US military and US intelligence. You can store everything in Poland and move up on a short notice, but only if you retain the influence on Ukrainian politics. In this regard, the US has its back to the wall.

It was the same after Debaltsevo in 2015. Had Russia pressed on in 2015, it would have taken Ukraine out of US reach. Since Russia agreed to Minsk2, the US could position Ukraine as a counter to Russia and build it up for 7 years. If Russia makes the same mistake again, it deserves everything that comes her way. I can only see a satisfactory case for Ukraine to have Russian soldiers stationed at key sites, eg nuclear plants and military bases, with a semi independent sovereign policy, like Germany after WW2. Letting Ze run Ukraine without Russian intervention, would set Russia up to fail again.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 8 2022 14:05 utc | 65

Where can I read more (from a reliable source) about Hunter Biden and his connection to Ukraine + how this conflict is in Biden's benefit?

Posted by: Curious | Mar 8 2022 14:09 utc | 66

Russia should retaliate with an interview of a Ukrainian Pow who will express his 'emotional' feelings about bombing Donbass and killing women and children. He will also reveal the presence on Nazis infiltrated in the Ukrainian army units...
Tit for tat.. who cares anymore about international convention! No one enforcesvthem anymore as we have seen.

Posted by: Virgile | Mar 8 2022 14:13 utc | 67

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:13 utc | 502
Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 13:54 utc | 57

"And I have been an eager reader of Greg Egan."

I've read him and most of the other sci-fi authors in this genre.

"Altered Carbon - a few previews revealed it to be the usual sci-fi excuse for a "people talking to each other" drama show - hard pass."

You should. It's precisely what you're talking about - rich people lording it over everyone else due to their immortality denied everyone else.

Which, again, has absolutely zero to do with the Transhuman philosophy.

"Transhumanism is cool for science-fiction, in the current real world that we inhabit it's a keyring-jangling distraction for turboliberalism and ultraindividualism, a fetish for prosthetics run amok, "let the world stew in its problems and enhance yourself [if you have the money]", not to speak of increased avenues and methods of control over the "transhuman body by private companies."

What you seem incapable of grasping is the Transhuman philosophy has nothing to do with any of that. That is has been seized on by the usual asshole suspects does not render the original concept invalid.

"So don't give me the bullcrap that it's anything else but the secular quest for immortality by the powerful and a desire to substantiate supremacist delusions."

Again, if you can't comprehend that the original philosophy has been seized on by certain persons for their own purpose, in other words, co-opted, then I don't know what to tell you.

This is not to say that the threat of the future you cite isn't real. Everyone in the Transhuman space has been discussing that for decades. Most of the cyberpunk fiction is exactly about that threat. But that threat is NOT inherent in the philosophy.

"And don't pretend that opposition stems necessarily from ignorance."

Except when it does.

In any event, this is off-topic here. I only mentioned it in passing in response to someone hoping for "human evolution" - which you're not going to get any other way. Anyone who thinks this society is going to somehow change into kumbayah-land is delusional.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 14:14 utc | 68

b,
The photo from "Marko" of the Ukrainian soldier and the video don't match. imho
Go to 11 seconds in the video and pause. Look at the ear in the video and then
look at the ear in the photo. Different ears, imho.

----
As an aside, when criminals get cosmetic surgery to hide their identity,
they are known to ignore their ears. Some people have very distinctive ears.

Posted by: librul | Mar 8 2022 14:15 utc | 69

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 8 2022 14:05 utc | 65

Agreed. Which is why it won't happen. Russia isn't going to fall for that. Russia is going to take all of Ukraine, including Galicia, clean out the neo-Nazi element, reset the Constitution, get a new government in place, then install Russian strategic weapons in Ukraine to counter the ones in Poland and Romania.

That's the only logical outcome and the only logical solution for Russia's conflict with NATO.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 14:19 utc | 70

Buckle Up.

Option traders in Oil futures are betting oil will hit USD$200 per barrel by end of March, to be exact March 28, 2022
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Traders-Are-Now-Betting-On-200-Oil-By-The-End-Of-The-Month.html.

Stop thinking not probable.
Now what has set the table for such speculation?

Chancellor Scholz gladly announced suspending certification of Nord Stream 2
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/german-regulator-confirms-suspension-of-nord-stream-2-certification-1093280013.html

RF’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that’s just fine. Stakeholders could ask the Court of Arbitration /seek compensation from Berlin for their investment.

RF’s deputy PM stated we could ban pumping gas through Nord Stream 1
https://sputniknews.com/20220307/russia-has-right-to-ban-pumping-of-gas-through-nord-stream-1-because-of-nord-stream-2---deputy-pm-1093668938.html

Russia has the right to reciprocally close the flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 because of the ban on Nord Stream 2, but does not do this, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Monday.[.]

Giving up Russian oil would be disastrous for the global market, causing prices to surge to $300 a barrel or more, Novak said.

And stupid as stupid does,
Bloomberg today: US to Ban Import of Russian Oil.

Do they have a replacement for supplies?

Be prepared, at anywhere near $200 Nothing Moves

@ Curious 66

In 1991 Russia should have asked: Can US NATO be trusted?

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 8 2022 14:19 utc | 71

there may need to be a demonstration detonation of a hydrogen weapon in an empty area in northern russia. a one-off thing, not a resumption of nuclear testing, w live broadcasting and an accompanying address by putin to the world — not russia — laying out the stakes. people not in america have no idea how bad it’s getting here. the spirit of 1914 is alive and burning brighter than in 1914. maybe it’s time for something even brighter.

the idea’s hateful, and i’m only toying with it — but i’m struggling to think of any other way to break the wwiii fever.

Posted by: line islands | Mar 8 2022 14:21 utc | 72

Adam Tooze on economics around Russia sanctions

Russia getting 720 million dollars a day in energy sales from Europe

European customers now paying even more exorbitant prices, Russia is benefiting from a staggering surge in revenue. According to Javier Blas of Bloomberg, at the start of the year, Russia was earning $350 million per day from oil and $200 million per day from gas. On March 3 2022 Europe paid $720 million to Russia for gas alone.

...

The sanctions on the central bank have effectively forced the imposition of an exchange-control regime in Russia. A non-exhaustive list of measures taken so far includes

(1) Fees on exchange transactions: up to 30% commission according to Jack Cordell.

(2) “Blocked” rouble accounts into which Russian debtors repay their foreign loans without the debt service being transferred. (Very reminiscent of 1920s and 1930s Germany).

(3) $5000 per month limits on conversion of rouble into western currencies.

There are charts on the impact of Russian government spending on the economy; the problem is that the conclusions drawn are highly suspect.

Let's start with the reality that the Russian government budget was set assuming an oil price of $45/barrel in 2021 and presumably a similarly low level for 2022 and beyond.
CFR source

So if Russia's government income is largely dependent on energy - and energy prices are skyrocketing plus the spending portion is set at 1/3 of the present price - why exactly will the Russian government not be able to continue to spend?

Note also the ruble devaluation means the Russian government is getting even more relative rubles per dollar/ruble than before: 50% to 85% more.

And last: Russia had a trade surplus of ~$80B in 2020 and ~$180B in 2021 (obviously before the sanctions/devaluation). Money was flowing directly into the NWF and central bank reserves. Does the Russian government really face an income reduction such that spending based on ~$45/barrel plus enormous trade surplus gains are offset?

Far from clear to me.

Then there's the assertion of technology dependence. Tooze points to a Kamil Galeev thread asserting that Russia is dependent on energy export and technology import - but I saw no details whatsoever about what technology is imported. The thread talked in detail about how the deals with China aren't great (in his opinion) and the pipelines are too expensively built etc etc but that's it.

Lastly: exchange control regime.

Is this a bad thing? China has an exchange control regime - actually much more severe as China has long instituted a capital export limitation.

There is also competing assertions on how sanctions will affect Russia. The most idiotic is that it will be like Iran. The more mainstream ones are negative but nowhere near Iran impact.
Again, the problem here is that Russia has been living under sanctions for 8 years now and been doing fine.
The latest round will have an impact, but what is not talked about in the Tooze article is what the corresponding impact on the West will be.

Unlike the Iran sanctions, Russia's economic impact on the West is very large - and so the sanctions aren't a one-way punishment for misbehavior.
They are more like the means by which an economic pain endurance game has kicked off.

All in all, a mainstream economic viewpoint.
All I can say is: time will tell.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:21 utc | 73

Are we seriously going to be arguing over this guy's ears and nose for the entire thread? The beard is what matters. This guy is not a Russian officer. Period. End of story.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 14:22 utc | 74

Re: POW
He could be LDPNR military.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:23 utc | 75

Where can I read more (from a reliable source) about Hunter Biden and his connection to Ukraine + how this conflict is in Biden's benefit?
Posted by: Curious 66

https://rumble.com/vaok4n-ukrainian-officials-release-records-46-payments-to-hunter-biden-from-burism.html

There were quite a few of the investigators at press conferences but they have been scrubbed

Posted by: ld | Mar 8 2022 14:27 utc | 76

My take away so far and predictions:

- The ruble is not falling as the US has hoped. The fall of the ruble and the rise in essential commodities kind of even things out. I dont expect that the plan to crush Russia with economic sanction will be working in the short term.

- Russia is clearly winning militarily in Ukraine. This puts Putin in a commanding postion for the upcoming negotiations. He is very likely to get everything what he wants: Neutrality, surrender of Crimea and Donbass, and - most importantly - influence on Ukrainian politics (=US driven out).

- My hope: After the dust settles, the EU - under the leadership of Scholz and Macron - will form a EU institution on European security that serves as a counterweight to NATO and incorporates Russia as an equal partner. The US can have an observer status, but without any rights to intervene in European security affairs. By establishing a EU security framework, NATO becomes irrelevant. It wont be abolished, but replaced in importance, pushed to the side. To put it in simple terms: Handing over European security to the US via NATO, does not serve our interests and needs.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 8 2022 14:30 utc | 78

I used to be a fan of Putin but it didn’t take many days of the attack on Ukraine to turn me around 180 degrees. In addition to the horrific suffering, the destruction and death – including thousands of Russian soldiers – Putin has done the impossible: he has made Biden, and NATO look good He has made all Europeans want to be under the NATO umbrella.

I notice that Moon doesn’t address the 2 million and counting refugees, the direct attacks on civilian areas, the Russian closing down and attacks on civilian escape routes. Nor did he examine Putin’s speech trying to justify a return to an imperial Soviet Union; the contrast between the freedom of speech in Ukraine to critique government policy and the closing down of any sign of criticism of Putin; alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the course of the 1963 Cuban Missile Crisis we afterwards learned that it was the U.S. Military Chiefs – and the CIA – who were out of control and we were saved by JFK and Khrushchev. This time it seems that it is Putin who is out of control. Very scary.

Posted by: Ronald Bleier | Mar 8 2022 14:33 utc | 79

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:21 utc | 73

You are missing the real reason Russia will still be able to spend money in its state budget. Domestic expenditures in Russia are paid in rubles. Russia does not need foreign currency revenue to create rubles to spend in its own economy. That was a self-imposed limitation (encouraged by American agents) by Russia's neoliberal central bank. It's a crippling delusion that they had now better abandon. And if they still won't, even in this present extreme situation, then too bad. Russia will be finished as a country, because of its own stubborn stupidity, mainly in economic affairs.

You can read more about this here:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2016/08/10/russias-weakness-is-its-economic-policy-paul-craig-roberts-and-michael-hudson/
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2018/08/03/the-only-existential-threat-to-russia-is-neoliberal-economics/
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2022/02/22/russia-and-china-should-go-their-own-way/

Posted by: Unnamed | Mar 8 2022 14:34 utc | 80

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:23 utc | 75
"He could be LDPNR military."

Sure, he could be anybody. What he's not is a Russian officer. That's all that matters. If the suggestion is that he's a Russian officer assigned to the LDR forces, that still doesn't jibe with the story. If he's been embedded with LDR for the time it took to grow that beard, he knows the score and knows it's not a lie that the regime is neo-Nazi. He would know all about the Azov Battalion.

Seriously, b took a bad fake news to focus on. Who cares about this propaganda move? There are plenty of others.

The serious issue is the allegation by Ukraine that Russia is shelling the humanitarian corridors. That's a hell of a lot more important than this clown and equally as false. Plus, that the Ukrainians made this guy emphasize that he was told about "neo-Nazis" clearly shows that it was neo-Nazis setting up this scam, in order to fight back against the fact that a lot of people are mentioning them in reporting this war. They're trying to save their asses with this stunt.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 14:36 utc | 81

@Unnamed #80
It appears your reading comprehension is as poor as your understanding of economics.

I specifically wrote:

Note also the ruble devaluation means the Russian government is getting even more relative rubles per dollar/ruble than before: 50% to 85% more.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:40 utc | 82

sorry about that last video I didn't watch it first.
There were several press conferenced with two of the ivestigators throughout the investigation as it unfolded,
Sorry b
OT

Posted by: ld | Mar 8 2022 14:41 utc | 83

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 14:40 utc | 82

I would be careful about throwing around insults about "reading comprehension" or understanding of economics. Your quoted passage actually highlights your lack of understanding of my point (and more importantly, Michael Hudson's and Paul Craig Robert's). How many rubles Russia "gets" per dollar they receive for their exports is irrelevant, as Russia does not need to "earn" its own currency. It is, and can only be, created by their own central bank.

There are good reasons why actually competently run economies in contrast to Russia don't sit and plan their domestic government budget in a foreign currency like the US dollar, even if just like Russia they are quite export dependent (like Germany, Japan, China etc.) and receive payment for their exports in foreign currencies. To do so is to pretend, with disastrous results, that two separate, but connected systems, that is the dollar system on the one hand and the ruble system on the other, are actually one and the same. China even recently (as I recall for the last five year plan) introduced the term "dual circulation" to highlight this point.

Posted by: Unnamed | Mar 8 2022 14:54 utc | 84

Apologies if this was posted already. Inconclusive results of 3rd peace talks...

https://tass.com/politics/1418475

Posted by: dh | Mar 8 2022 14:54 utc | 85

Posted by: Ronald Bleier | Mar 8 2022 14:33 utc | 79

Could you take your idiotic concern trolling somewhere else? Western rubes like you are responsible for the "2 million refugees", not the Russians.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 8 2022 14:54 utc | 86

Curious | Mar 8 2022 14:09 utc | 66
"Where can I read more (from a reliable source) about Hunter Biden[...]"

The links below are from a blog I already recommended here and only two out of many, the author is German but lives in Russia. I'm reading him for some years now and he has been working extensively on the subject. For translation to English run it through deepl.com
https://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2021/die-skandale-der-familie-biden/
https://www.anti-spiegel.ru/2020/abgehoerte-telefonate-von-joe-biden-der-chronologie-des-vielleicht-groessten-korruptionsskandals-der-geschichte/

Posted by: xototox | Mar 8 2022 14:56 utc | 87

on info blockade

Another favourite German website of mine published tips and tricks to circumvent the RT-blockade, as well as reader's replies and their tips, many of them useful for non-German speakers as well:
https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=81643
https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=81672
For translations run deepl.com

One of the tips was the following link, and since I don't use app stores I tried it immediately, took me but a few seconds and works fine:
https://apkpure.com/de/rt-news/com.rt.mobile.english

Posted by: xototox | Mar 8 2022 14:58 utc | 88

Perhaps we can spin that the beard grew since he was captured? Part of the Russian genetic enhancement operations? As witnessed at the olympics. . .?

Posted by: Geoff | Mar 8 2022 14:58 utc | 89

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 8 2022 14:14 utc | 68

Your stupid "movement" hasn't been co-opted.

That "co-optation" is the inevitable result of transhumanism inside liberalism and individualism, which make up the philosophical and social context in which transhumanism exists.

And since liberalism is THE paradigm and transhumanism cannot get outside of it, what you call "original philosophy" is nothing more than sheep-counting yourself to sleep, amounting to nothing until you, transhumanists, accomplish the task of discrediting "bad actors" and purging them from the "movement".

Basically: I have no reason to listen to you over "the usual suspects" wrt transhumanism, since your alleged "good faith" fraction is politically impotent; giving a pass to transhumanism on account that "not all transhumanists are sick rich fucks" is EXACTLY carrying water for the sick rich fucks.

Regarding Altered Carbon - no thanks. It looks bland as fuck. I'll stick to Shirow, Kishiro, Nihei and Hoshino; and love/death/robots.

Relevant: not long before the Russki Invasion, a cybernetics company withdrew support for optical implants for blind people.

On a different note, you don't get to define evolution. That's the job of biologists. Societies aren't evolutionary subjects; populations are.

And if your position is that a humane society is only possible via transhuman individuals - leaving aside the obvious paradox - you've already turned your back on humanity, and are certainly a supremacist given that you imply that humans aren't fit for self-governance.

Really, sell your cyborg oil somewhere else.

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 8 2022 14:58 utc | 90

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 8 2022 11:44 utc | 30

No military on the planet, barring nukes, could invade us. The logistics alone would bankrupt them.

To be fair, the country was invaded successfully once before, via Botany Bay.

Nobody saw why they bothered at the time, a point of view that would probably afflict modern invaders as well.

Posted by: Herr Ringbone | Mar 8 2022 15:03 utc | 91

I thought Russian soldiers shaved their heads anyway - take a look at the two grunts on either side of the officer.

Also, take a look at the account of the whore who posted the video. Sounds like a propaganda account if you ask me.

Posted by: Pete | Mar 8 2022 15:03 utc | 92

If you can believe this pathetic middle-aged man to be an officer in the Russian military then you have nothing to fear from Russia. But then why the 24/7 fear-mongering? This video is clearly a sub-standard propaganda product: (1) The "Russian Officer" is an unfit, unhealthy individual aged 45+, has several front teeth missing, has a wispy untidy beard, and overall a very unsoldierly bearing and appearance. The missing front teeth and the badly stained mouth look like they belong to a street panhandler or street musician/artist holding out his cap for a few pennies.

Posted by: In passing | Mar 8 2022 15:08 utc | 93

Northman (63)

Yes that's the guy thank you.

A excerpt from his speech in Australia.

"And where does Australia fit in? Mearsheimer created a stir in Canberra last August (2019) when he told a Centre for Independent Studies audience that the US will behave exactly as his theory predicts; that it will further decouple from China in an attempt to retain and enhance its hegemonic primacy; and that it will compel Australia to also decouple from China."

"Australia will not be given a choice, he said. “You’re with us or against us,” he said. If Australia chooses not to fall in line, “you will be our enemy.” And “you do not want to underestimate how nasty we can be.”


https://johnmenadue.com/john-tan-john-mearsheimer-foreign-policy-hawk-controversial-as-ever-part-1-of-2/

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 15:13 utc | 94

According to Tucker Carlson:
Tucker Carlson excerpt from 3/7 on Youtube

Ammonia fertilizers were $265/ton in January 2021; they are $846/ton now.
[If fertilizers are 15% to 30% of farming cost for affected crops - between that and higher transport costs, it is safe to say that we will see at least a doubling of food prices]

LA gas price: $7.27/gallon (probably the Beverly Hills Mobil)

If Russian oil is sanctioned, supply will have to be made up from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela [Freedom! LOL]

US policies have driven Russia, China, India and Turkey away from the US dollar.
[Note: The 4 countries above - their PPP GDP is only slight less than the US + EU]

Miss Grand Ukraine "defending" with an Airsoft pellet gun.

Russia Ukraine war is terrible! But no attention paid to Azeri/Armenia war, Ethiopia war (ongoing), Yemen (ongoing), Mexico drug war (ongoing, 10000 people disappeared in 2019 alone, 100K dead)

"Republicans in Washington, to their eternal shame, are having no problems with any of thus"

Bryce Mitchell: "I'm not going nowhere to fight none of these wars for none of these politicians. When the war comes to Arkansas, I will dig my boots into the ground and I will die for everything I love and I will not retreat"

full Bryce Mitchell interview

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 15:14 utc | 95

@Unnamed #84
You can deny the reality all you want. You specifically said

You are missing the real reason Russia will still be able to spend money in its state budget. Domestic expenditures in Russia are paid in rubles.

And I specifically noted

Note also the ruble devaluation means the Russian government is getting even more relative rubles per dollar/ruble than before: 50% to 85% more.

The reality that you don't understand what I wrote is your problem.

It is also equally your problem that you don't understand that

a) The Russian government derives a very large percent of its income from exports. Thus they DO need foreign currency.

b) The Russian government is a very significant portion of the Russian economy via the passthrough of energy profits.

But then again, we have already established that you don't understand reserves, currency or the real role of gold.

Why should your understanding of economics and the Russian economy be any better?

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 15:21 utc | 96

From what I take from this the UK expect Russia to come into conflict with Poland, Poland is by the looks of things now the main staging post for Nato weapons into Ukraine.

"UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has reassured Poland that Britain will support it, “whatever choice” Warsaw makes with respect to handing over military aircraft to the Ukrainian government. The UK official, however, warned that the move could possibly mean military confrontation between Warsaw and Moscow."

"Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, Wallace noted that London itself could not provide Kiev with the kind of jets that Ukrainian pilots can operate. However, according to the defense secretary, Poland is in a position to do so, and should it start handing over war planes to Ukraine, Britain “would protect Poland” and “help them with anything that they need.”

"Wallace went on to say that “Poland will understand that the choices they make will not only directly help Ukraine,” but also possibly “bring them into direct line of fire from countries such as Russia or Belarus.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 8 2022 15:23 utc | 97

@Richard Steven Hack #81
Agreed - just noting that an LDPNR officer is less of a lie, as a Russian officer, than an outright Ukrainian plant.
The LDPNR military is fighting side-by-side with the actual Russian military, after all.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 8 2022 15:24 utc | 98

@30 “No military on the planet, barring nukes, could invade us.”

and why would you bar nukes?

Posted by: line islands | Mar 8 2022 15:27 utc | 99

If Biden bans Russian oil I might die of Schadenfreude.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 8 2022 15:30 utc | 100

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