Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
March 14, 2022
Ukraine – Officials Announce False Flag Attack – Sanctions Hit Back

There is significant danger that the Ukraine, the UK or the U.S. will launch a false flag attack in Ukraine.

People have started to take note of the directional fear mongering that is coming from various 'western' officials.

The Sirius Report @thesiriusreport – 23:36 UTC · Mar 12, 2022

Setting the scene for a false flag?

Polish President:
If Putin uses weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, NATO will have to think seriously about what to do.

You would have to be sub 100 IQ not to see what is going on.

To which I responded:

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA – 17:56 UTC · Mar 13, 2022

They are indeed doing this on all channels.
IMHO an upcoming false flag attempt to get NATO into the fight.

Historian and Russia expert Gilbert Doctorow points into the same direction:

Warning: it is “highly likely” the United States is now about to carry out a ‘false flag’ operation in Ukraine in which it will accuse the Russians of using chemical weapons.

The caption which yahoo.com is now carrying reads as follows:

USA Today: Russia could be preparing for chemical weapons attack; 35 killed in strike on base near Lviv: Live updates

Now why would Russia stage a chemical weapons attack in Ukraine? The idea defies all reason. Russia has vast possibilities of destroying Ukraine that it has not deployed to date precisely to avoid civilian casualties. These include cyber attack, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and more intense use of its airpower which has been restrained due to shortage of smart bombs and reluctance to use munitions that might cause greater collateral damage.

Given these manifest signs of Russian caution in staging the war, even at the cost of greater casualties among its own troops and slower progress in a campaign that is very time sensitive, one would have to be utterly mad to consider using universally banned chemical weapons. I rest my case: any so-called chemical attack which may be staged in Ukraine in coming days can only be the dirty work of the United States and its agents.

Having seen how easy it was to deceive the 'western' media by staging a fake hospital attack one can easily understand how a fake 'chemical attack by Russia' would lead to a public stampede that would push NATO into the Ukraine war.

Meanwhile Patrick Lancaster reports from Donetsk:

Patrick Lancaster @PLnewstoday – 10:47 UTC · Mar 14, 2022

#BREAKING Dozens Killed By Ukrainian Cluster Bomb Attack On Center Donetsk. Full report coming soon
video

The U.S. is trying to pressure China to join their anti-Russian campaign. Yesterday 'anonymous officials' claimed, without evidence, that Russia had asked China for military and economic aid.

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA – 20:21 UTC · Mar 13, 2022

"U.S. officials said .." equals "Guaranteed to be a lie .."

Quoted Tweet:

Michael Birnbaum @michaelbirnbaum · 17h
NEW, and BIG -> Russia has turned to China for military equipment and aid in the weeks since it began its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said. @nakashimae scoop. https://washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/..

"Scoop" now means picking up the phone when some official calls you to plant a lie.

Russia is exporting weapons to China, not importing weapons from it. China has now confirmed that there were no such Russian requests:

Beijing blasted Washington’s recent allegations as disinformation that Russia sought military assistance from China to conduct its special operation in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday.

"The allegations on the matter disseminated by the US are false information," the diplomat specified.

The first story on this also includes this lie:

In recent days, Chinese diplomats, state media organizations and government agencies have used a range of platforms and official social media accounts to amplify a conspiracy theory that says the Pentagon has been financing biological and chemical weapons labs in Ukraine.

That is not a conspiracy theory but, as Tulsi Gabbard points out, a hard fact which even the U.S. government now admits.

The British press took note of it:

Vladimir Putin could unleash biological weapon from seized Ukraine lab, experts fear

The U.S. is delusional in its attempts to deter China from working with Russia:

Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is scheduled to meet on Monday in Rome with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s elite Politburo and director of the party’s Central Foreign Affairs Commission.

Mr. Sullivan intends to warn Mr. Yang about any future Chinese efforts to bolster Russia in its war or undercut Ukraine, the United States and their partners.

“We are communicating directly, privately to Beijing that there will absolutely be consequences for large-scale sanctions evasion efforts or support to Russia to backfill them,” Mr. Sullivan said on CNN on Sunday.

“We will not allow that to go forward and allow there to be a lifeline to Russia from these economic sanctions from any country, anywhere in the world,” he said.

China will of course continue to have good relations with Russia. It is not for the U.S. 'to allow' or disallow China to trade with Russia. The Biden administration has nothing it could do about it. It should stop its campaign and think about how it can dig itself out of the huge hole it has jumped into.

Reviewing the trade shock 'western' societies will now experience because of their extensive sanctions campaign against Russia Yves Smith concludes:

Although the complexity of this situation makes it impossible to make any forecasts, consider: a worst case scenario is much much worse than stagflation. Just wrap your mind around the consequences the merely the two outcomes described above: a fair bit of famine and supply shortfalls, even potentially problems with maintaining some critical infrastructure due to chip scarcity. Some of that productive capacity loss could become permanent due to business failures.

And let us remind you … so far we are discussing only what the West has done to itself. What happens if Russia goes full Smoot-Hawley and retaliates, or engages in the passive aggressive version, as in no formal pronunciations, just supplies go to friendlies and the West gets chocked down, not 100% but enough to feel like that.

The Democratic Party is in the process of executing a controlled flight into terrain. Too bad that we are along for the ride.

Yesterday and today there seemed to be only minor Russian movement on the battlefield. Presumably Russia is regrouping its forces for the next steps. What those are going to be is for anyone to guess. They will come as soon as the current negotiations between Kiev and Moscow fail. The U.S. will see for that to happen.

Comments

Why did they plant the story of Russia asking for Chinese help?
So they can later tell China to “prove it” by joining the “world” with their petty sanctions.
If China says no then its “evident” that the Chinese are “highly likely” helping the Russians. Ergo, more sanctions!
Empty boxes of DJI consumer drones and receipts from alixpress will be used as iron clad evidence.
Seriously you have to stoop down to 3rd grade schoolyard psychology to understand western actions right now, how sad…..

Posted by: A.L. | Mar 14 2022 17:45 utc | 101

@91 james | Mar 14 2022 17:21 utc
I posted this reply to you yesterday at #79 in the non-Ukie thread, but the filter held it up until today, so you probably didn’t see it.
It offers two useful pieces for the larger perspective on the situation. In the first one, the author is discussing what’s happening inside of Russia, and why it took this long for the state to begin to purge its 5th column. It’s war now, and war opportunities and imperatives apply.
In the second, Rostislav Ishchenko provides a dead-sober analysis of why Russia couldn’t take this action any sooner than it has, for example in 2014. It didn’t because it couldn’t, and if it had, what we see now is what would have turned the effort to disaster 8 years ago.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:48 utc | 102

Posted by: A.L. | Mar 14 2022 17:45 utc | 101
Yeah, who writes the script for this? So many “idiotic” moves on the international chess/go board. No diplomacy at all, or rather diplomacy by threats? The mind boggles.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 14 2022 17:51 utc | 103

As the city of Mariupol is about to fall I am speculating on what might have happened to its mayor. He seems friendly to Russia, but he’s funded by oligarch, Rinat Akhmetov.
https://johnplatinumgoss.com/2022/03/14/mariupol-about-to-fall-its-mayor-has-vanished/

Posted by: John Goss | Mar 14 2022 18:14 utc | 104

Memento 2014:
Transcript:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26079957
“Victoria Nuland [then Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs]: What do you think?
Geoffrey Pyatt [then U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine]: I think we’re in play. The Klitschko [then leader of the Ukrainain Democratic Alliance for Reform party] piece is obviously the complicated electron here. Especially the announcement of him as deputy prime minister and you’ve seen some of my notes on the troubles in the marriage right now so we’re trying to get a read really fast on where he is on this stuff. But I think your argument to him, which you’ll need to make, I think that’s the next phone call you want to set up, is exactly the one you made to Yats [Arseniy Yatseniuk, then another opposition leader]. And I’m glad you sort of put him on the spot on where he fits in this scenario. And I’m very glad that he said what he said in response.
Nuland: Good. I don’t think Klitsch, should go into the government. I don’t think it’s necessary, I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Pyatt: Yeah. I guess… in terms of him not going into the government, just let him stay out and do his political homework and stuff. I’m just thinking in terms of sort of the process moving ahead we want to keep the moderate democrats together. The problem is going to be Tyahnybok [Oleh Tyahnybok, then leader of the ultra-nationalist Svoboda party] and his guys and I’m sure that’s part of what [then President Viktor] Yanukovych is calculating on all this.
Nuland: [Breaks in] I think Yats is the guy who’s got the economic experience, the governing experience. He’s the… what he needs is Klitsch and Tyahnybok on the outside. He needs to be talking to them four times a week, you know. I just think Klitsch going in… he’s going to be at that level working for Yatseniuk, it’s just not going to work.
Pyatt: Yeah, no, I think that’s right. OK. Good. Do you want us to set up a call with him as the next step?
Nuland: My understanding from that call – but you tell me – was that the big three were going into their own meeting and that Yats was going to offer in that context a… three-plus-one conversation or three-plus-two with you. Is that not how you understood it?
Pyatt: No. I think… I mean that’s what he proposed but I think, just knowing the dynamic that’s been with them where Klitschko has been the top dog, he’s going to take a while to show up for whatever meeting they’ve got and he’s probably talking to his guys at this point, so I think you reaching out directly to him helps with the personality management among the three and it gives you also a chance to move fast on all this stuff and put us behind it before they all sit down and he explains why he doesn’t like it
Nuland: OK, good. I’m happy. Why don’t you reach out to him and see if he wants to talk before or after.
Pyatt: OK, will do. Thanks.
Nuland: OK… one more wrinkle for you Geoff. [A click can be heard] I can’t remember if I told you this, or if I only told Washington this, that when I talked to Jeff Feltman [United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs] this morning, he had a new name for the UN guy Robert Serry did I write you that this morning?
Pyatt: Yeah I saw that.
Nuland: OK. He’s now gotten both Serry and [then UN Secretary General] Ban Ki-moon to agree that Serry could come in Monday or Tuesday. So that would be great, I think, to help glue this thing and to have the UN help glue it and, you know, Fuck the EU.
Pyatt: No, exactly. And I think we’ve got to do something to make it stick together because you can be pretty sure that if it does start to gain altitude, that the Russians will be working behind the scenes to try to torpedo it. And again the fact that this is out there right now, I’m still trying to figure out in my mind why Yanukovych (garbled) that. In the meantime there’s a Party of Regions faction meeting going on right now and I’m sure there’s a lively argument going on in that group at this point. But anyway we could land jelly side up on this one if we move fast. So let me work on Klitschko and if you can just keep… we want to try to get somebody with an international personality to come out here and help to midwife this thing. The other issue is some kind of outreach to Yanukovych but we probably regroup on that tomorrow as we see how things start to fall into place.
Nuland: So on that piece Geoff, when I wrote the note [US vice-president’s national security adviser Jake] Sullivan’s come back to me VFR [direct to me], saying you need [then US Vice-President Joe] Biden and I said probably tomorrow for an atta-boy and to get the deets [details] to stick. So Biden’s willing.
Pyatt: OK. Great. Thanks. ”

Posted by: Figleaf23 | Mar 14 2022 18:14 utc | 105

We were too many and grandma gave birth, poor translation of a Spanish saying, BHL the silk dressed “philosopher” showed up in Odessa, and we know very well that whenever that vulture shows up a lot of terrible things are going to happen.
https://t.me/vorposte/16096

Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 18:16 utc | 106

But despite their endeavors to prove that the cause of events lies in intellectual activity, only by a great stretch can one admit that there is any connection between intellectual activity and the movement of peoples, and in no case can one admit that intellectual activity controls people’s actions…War & Peace, 2nd epilogue, ch 2.
the mistake one makes w/the US is to look for intellectual activity. it is beyond the capacity of the imagination of every person in the US congress, DOS, DOD, and MSM that NATO *cannot* impose a no-fly zone in Ukraine. what thinking is required when the answer to everything is to smash whatever gets in your way? and what do you do when that destruction no longer is possible?

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 18:17 utc | 107

b: Analysis spot in, as always!
Funny how this US propaganda blitz about a “Russian” false flag chemical attack began way back in January, just a few days after this first-hand report from the Donbas of an impending *US/NATO* false flag chemical attack was published:
” ‘Expect Escalation of Conflict in Donbass and Ukraine Soon,’ Says Foreign Correspondent ”
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/01/11/expect-escalation-of-conflict-in-donbass-and-ukraine-soon-says-foreign-correspondent-embedded-in-ukrainian-anti-fascist-brigade/
“…[A Texan who enlisted as a freedom fighter in eastern Ukraine, author Russell Bentley claims that Biden administration war hawks and neo-Nazi Ukrainian officials are plotting a “false-flag” chemical warfare attack to blame on Putin as a pretext for declaring war.—Editors] …”

Posted by: JMF | Mar 14 2022 18:18 utc | 108

rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 26
I was too young to see the Vietnam media circus in real time, but why don’t peoples’ minds go back to at least Iraq/Afghanistan and have some suspicion about the same recycled crap being shoved in their faces?
The Vietnam coverage was fairly realistic with daily body counts supplied by the Pentagram. Many in the Pentagram feel the coverage lost them the war. Too much media filming too many bad things.
From there they swore never to lose control of the narrtive like that again. They have done an excellent job controlling the narrative to keep the public contained. This debacle is no exception.

Posted by: circumspect | Mar 14 2022 18:19 utc | 109

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:14 utc | 88
I believe that Russian high command said the spetznaz did the assault.
I suppose it was ealy morning operation with night vision goggles / chopper assault on each well identified Azov position (roofs and courts in civilian neighbourhoods) by special teams dedicated to each one of said positions.
Quick and merciless storming.
Not to minimize bravery of Chechen and LDNR fighters though …

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 14 2022 18:19 utc | 110

b: Analysis spot in, as always!
Funny how this US propaganda blitz about a “Russian” false flag chemical attack began way back in January, just a few days after this first-hand report from the Donbas of an impending *US/NATO* false flag chemical attack was published:
” ‘Expect Escalation of Conflict in Donbass and Ukraine Soon,’ Says Foreign Correspondent ”
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/01/11/expect-escalation-of-conflict-in-donbass-and-ukraine-soon-says-foreign-correspondent-embedded-in-ukrainian-anti-fascist-brigade/
“…[A Texan who enlisted as a freedom fighter in eastern Ukraine, author Russell Bentley claims that Biden administration war hawks and neo-Nazi Ukrainian officials are plotting a “false-flag” chemical warfare attack to blame on Putin as a pretext for declaring war.—Editors] …”

Posted by: JMF | Mar 14 2022 18:20 utc | 111

Russia keeping its end of the bargain, the same can’t be said of the Nazis.
“Every day, for the eleventh day in a row, from 10 o’clock in the morning, the Russian side opens humanitarian corridors in the Kiev, Chernigov, Sumy and Kharkov directions. The exit of civilians and foreign citizens through them is provided both to the Russian Federation and in the western direction through the territories controlled by official Kiev.
The imposed ceasefire by the Russian Armed Forces is strictly observed.
Of the ten routes we have proposed, the Ukrainian authorities have agreed on only three for today, but at the same time, again cynically towards their own people – there is not a single humanitarian corridor to the Russian Federation.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 14 2022 18:23 utc | 112

“uncontrolled flight into terrain”–what is that phrase used to describe planes nosediving into the ground? vertical insertion or something.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:07 utc | 15
Light to moderate falling aluminum.

Posted by: AntiSpin | Mar 14 2022 18:23 utc | 113

Grieved @102–
Thanks very much for relinking to your comment that linked to Occidental Observer. I’m reading the second in his series on internal Russian politics and social media and found this paragraph very illuminating:
“With the closure of Facebook in Russia and the Kremlin’s well-founded fear that social media might be used to organize mass protests, there is reason to believe that other sites will be closed down as well. It is worth pointing out that the administrative team of Durov’s VK Facebook clone is pro-Ukrainian and pro-LGBTQ+ and has actively censored even relatively benign pro-Russian content on their platform, while Durov’s Telegram was critical to organizing the recent protests in Belarus (Nexta and its operations) and the near overthrow of Lukashenko, and, of course, Facebook is really nothing more than arm of the CIA—this is hardly disputed by serious people anymore. Also, Yandex, a superior Google clone which is now based in the Netherlands, has had prominent members of its organization openly attack Putin in the past and has even gone so far as to astroturf woke media content in Russia. The most egregious example is no doubt the “New Mothers’ podcast which promotes raising sons as daughters and the same sort of SJW insanity that is so common now in the West. Twitter employs teams of Russian-speaking Ukrainians who actively seek out and destroy pro-Russian accounts. They outmatch the Western censors in their zeal, and this is one of the primary reasons why dissident right-wing Twitter sages never really grasped their cultural impact to the same extent in Russia as they did in the English-speaking world.”
Indeed, the entire background of Russian media and social media provided is much different from that painted by the CIA. On his note regarding VK, I can testify to having my pro-Russian comments posted to Escobar’s VK disappearing, and older articles of mine seemingly tampered with–the portal still intact but the contents deleted.
Those curious about that site would do well to keep your critical thinking skills well honed as you read. The author clearly has some biases that require more investigation to confirm.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 18:40 utc | 114

Posted by: LawTread | Mar 14 2022 14:56 utc | 10
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/01/please-support-moon-of-alabama.html

Posted by: kral | Mar 14 2022 18:41 utc | 115

To those 300 foreign brands that left Russia, a sugar-coated Warning from the Minister of Finance:
https://www.rt.com/business/551864-russia-warning-leaving-firms/

Enterprises of foreign companies that have pulled out of Russia may be subjected to bankruptcy proceedings, according to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. He said on Monday that the insolvency procedure for such businesses could take from three to six months.
At the same time, the minister said, “Russia wants foreign companies to continue to operate in the country,” noting that their departure “is not beneficial to anyone.”

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 14 2022 18:44 utc | 116

to those doubting what purpose a false flag operation would serve, I have no details to add but point out more generally that the empire’s interventions use a different paradigm of purpose. whereas a normal person in everyday life thinks of purposefulness as achieving a final goal, the US’ purpose is to precisely to prevent a final resolution. the US ‘failing’ in Afghanistan for twenty years was not a bug but a feature. the goal is perpetual ‘failure’ and chaos, as long as it is away from the homeland.

Posted by: mastameta | Mar 14 2022 18:44 utc | 117

local gas prices holding steady for the last few days at about 4 bucks a gallon. I’m afraid this is the calm before the financial meltdown.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 14 2022 15:00 utc | 13
The market is a bit hard to manipulate because oil is the most liquid commodity of them all, with enormous aggregate volume. There are issues with transporting oil to the destinations and the required grades, but they are secondary (unless you are a truck driver or a farmer who uses diesel). However, the sense of the market goes back and forth as the player try to divine the future. Two sides here can invoke weapons of mutual assured economic destruction, and since neither is insane (questionable assumption or not??), nothing too bad will happen.
The darkest cloud I can imagine is the issue of restoring nuclear agreement with Iran. In the light of secondary sanctions being threatened, Iran, perhaps with the benefit of Russian advise, wants “pre-waiver” of possible future secondary sanctions on the trade with Russia. Since for its security and to a lesser agree, for its economy, Iran needs Russian products, this is an essential requirement. But in the same time, it would create a “dangerous precedent”, a huge number of countries (counted as an aggregate of their imports, i.e. markets) would demand the same waiver, rendering such sanctions toothless. Thus avoiding economic insanity requires to reduce the addiction of the collective West to sanctions.
A rational actor would give up booze when reduced to small fragments of functional liver and kidney, but addicts, even if sane, are not rational. At least, sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t, so we cannot predict what will happen.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 14 2022 18:50 utc | 118

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 18:40 utc | 114
The info flow is narrowing drastically, many Russian sites are not available anymore, for the time being Yandex and VK are available, I’m not a fan of VK, it is a Farcebook copy with an awful interface. Basically everything is hanging on in Telegram but who knows for how long, besides I do not enjoy their interface either, cannot make the text size appropriate for comfortable reading, if any techie has a tip on how to improve that it will be appreciated.

Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 18:58 utc | 119

Part of the overall war. Martyanov has posted this important news and translated it:
“YEREVAN, March 14 – Sputnik. The member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China will develop a project for an independent international monetary and financial system. This was agreed upon by the participants in the economic dialogue ‘A New Stage of Monetary, Financial and Economic Cooperation between the EAEU and the PRC. Global Transformations: Challenges and Solutions’, which was held on March 11 via videoconference. It is envisaged that the system will be based on a new international currency, which will be calculated as an index of the national currencies of the participating countries and commodity prices. The first draft will be submitted for discussion by the end of March. As Sergei Glazyev, Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics of the EEC, emphasized, China was the first in the world to move to the stage of national economic recovery.”
I searched using the conference’s title as provided above but got no hits. Yet another question for Dr. Hudson in our next Patreon chat.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 19:01 utc | 120

AW…HELL
–by Copeland Morris
Megadeath jumps up at High Noon
Doomsday before the crocuses bloom.
Winter is shaken like salt and pepper
Sprinkling bones of every prepper.
Nightingales moan, the tar sands burp,
The cuckoos coo, the sparrows chirp.
The sperm whale still remembers when
He first saw the hulking shape of men.

Posted by: Copeland | Mar 14 2022 19:07 utc | 121

Paco @119–
Thanks for your reply! If you have the time, I’d appreciate your analysis of the series of essays Grieved linked to at the Occidental Observer blog. Yes, they’ll be time consuming. I doubt I’ll finish the series today given all the other happenings. But I do think the series is worthy of discussion. Enjoy your evening!

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 19:08 utc | 122

The Russian MoD is saying that they do not have information that the Chechen leader is in Ukraine, and that questions regarding his whereabouts should be directed to his office – according to RT. I wonder if the suggestion that he is in Mariupol with his fighters is a ploy intended to spook the remaining defenders into surrendering…. In any case it is good news that civilians have been able to evacuate the suburbs at least.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Rn3xFH9rM

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 19:10 utc | 123

Estonian parliament called for immediate establishment of no fly zone over Ukraine. I know, Estonia is political midget, but the US likes to fulfil wishes of its “allies”, and most of the time hidding behind them. This no fly zone mantra obviously won’t go away, I think collective west is slowly loosing its minds. And Bernard Henry Levy is in Odessa, for sure it’s not a good sign. This vulture is bad omen everywhere he go.

Posted by: denazi | Mar 14 2022 19:10 utc | 124

I see the software doesn’t like this URL either. So I’ve removed it to repost.
Paco @119–
Thanks for your reply! If you have the time, I’d appreciate your analysis of the series of essays Grieved linked to @ 102 above, specifically The Great Russian Restoration series. Yes, they’ll be time consuming. I doubt I’ll finish the series today given all the other happenings. But I do think the series is worthy of discussion. Enjoy your evening!

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 19:12 utc | 125

This is the facebook account of a French guy who survived the Russian attack on the facility of the Ukrainian Foreign legion. He says somehting about 100 guys there. From his pictures, he seems to be on his way back to France.
https://www.facebook.com/mickael.sciacca

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 14 2022 19:12 utc | 126

@the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 19:10 utc | 122
Chechan special forces are less than 15 km away from Kiev.
https://t.me/intelslava/22333

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 14 2022 19:15 utc | 127

denazi @123–
Estonia will soon need to debate staying in NATO or having a NFZ emplaced over their tiny nation as the Baltics are the next targets for the “aim” of rolling back NATO to its 1997 status.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 19:15 utc | 128

An article in New Eastern Outlook by Vladimir Odintsov -“Number of Extremists and Neo-Nazis in Europe will Increase at Ukraine’s Expense”- highlights the danger to Europe of the Nazis in Ukraine migrating west.
This, too, could have been foreseen.

Posted by: Hal Duell | Mar 14 2022 19:19 utc | 129

@118 Piotr Berman
Agree completely, re: oil market being globally connected and oil being the one of the most fungible commodities. Disruptions due to tanker and insurance logistics are short term, because there are existing obligations on the commercial side to try to send it to customers whose governments are politically obligated to stop receiving it. Both Russia and China have a tanker fleet for seaborne supply, and the global market (ie many importers, who can’t afford $100/bbl) will find a way to iron out the transport and paperwork technicalities in exchange for a $15 discount or whatever it is.
JCPOA is unfortunately looking unsalvageable now. Iran’s admirable diplomatic and public relations job for the past year, holding their ground and eloquently and patiently making the case that the US should respect prior promises, was all unfortunately undermined by the escalations arising out of the Ukraine war. But I think they realize with full clarity, that the best they could have hoped for was a temporary relief of sanctions until Republicans return to power. Possibility of even less than that.
China is likewise leaving few illusions about the situation. The latest messaging via Global Times signals, with the bare minimum of politeness, that they interpret Sullivan’s threats as disrespect, US conduct as duplicitous.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202203/1254862.shtml

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 19:19 utc | 130

“Having seen how easy it was to deceive the ‘western’ media by…”
No one deceives the western media, it is the western media which deceives mostly gullible westerners. The western media are part and parcel of the treachery going on. Indeed, the so-called media are the main instigators of most of such acts of sabotage and false flags.
“Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad”, would be the fitting epitaph on the NATO grave if it gets itself pushed into this conflict.

Posted by: Steve | Mar 14 2022 19:22 utc | 131

minds go back to at least Iraq/Afghanistan and have some suspicion
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 15:29 utc | 26
How old they are?
Every generation should have their ‘Nam.
In Ukraine there was social advertisement about hiding grandparents passports so those could not go vote fore backward Putin’s commies
Oh, of course those were not serious, those were jokingly done, so it was okay!!!
But widening and then using generational gap works.

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 19:24 utc | 132

Germany tells Poland, don’t send any more Ukrainians we’re full up.
“Poland’s Deputy Interior Minister, Pavel Shefernaker, told news channel TVN24 on Monday that Warsaw has been asked to stop sending Ukrainian refugees by train to Germany, as Berlin struggles to cope with the influx of people fleeing conflict.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 14 2022 19:26 utc | 133

@ Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:48 utc | 102
thanks so much! you’re right – i missed it.. i guess it got held in the cue… at any rate – the first article is excellent and i am posting it here again for others to see..
The Great Russian Restoration I: The Purge of the Liberal Media and Rumblings of Economic Nationalization
i haven’t listened to all of Rostislav Ishchenko’s inteview on the saker site yet, but thank you for this as well.. i agree with his position on why didn’t this happen in 2014, but it is now happening…
i encourage others to read or watch both of you links.. thanks for helping broaden my understanding here grieved – james

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 19:27 utc | 134

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 19:19 utc | 129
“experts” is my favorite source that Global Times quotes.
https://www.google.com/search?q=experts+site%3Aglobaltimes.cn

Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 19:28 utc | 135

@ 102 grieved – my response to you is in the cue!! must be something about those links that this format doesn’t like… i linked to it again in my response.. great article and video.. thank you! everyone needs to read and watch what you linked to @ 102 for a more comprehensive viewpoint… cheers james

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 19:29 utc | 136

I tried putting my thoughts together about the collective suicide of the West, focusing in on the Tweedledum and Tweedldee man-boys act of Blinken and Sullivan, but it was a little long for a past – so its here if anyone wants to read it.
Looks like the terrible twins are even pushing India into the arms of China and Russia. Perhaps they are Manchurian candidates, set to crater US influence from the inside?

Posted by: Roger | Mar 14 2022 19:29 utc | 137

@Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 19:19 utc | 129
JCPOA is fortunately looking unsalvageable now. Fixed it for you, Iran needs to forget about the West and find its home in Eurasia, including reeducating those neoliberals that act against the nation’s interests.

Posted by: Roger | Mar 14 2022 19:34 utc | 138

Steve@130
You are right. One of the problems with assessing the rationality of governments like those of the Baltic states is that, almost literally, the decision makers don’t live there.
Of course the real decision makers are in Washington but the local agents in the Presidential Palaces and Legislatures are either emigres, born and educated in Canada or France, perhaps, or carpetbaggers prepared to leave with their loot at any moment. Mind you the story of other NATO powers is very similar- large numbers of The Establishment in the UK are American educated. They are almost all imperial loyalists, colonials twice as rabid as anyone in the metropole, and quite reconciled to offering up their homelands as nuclear weapon targets, provided that they can take refuge in Miami, along with all the other foreign dross, such as Guiado

Posted by: bevin | Mar 14 2022 19:41 utc | 139

Roger@135 – Well written!

Posted by: David F | Mar 14 2022 19:41 utc | 140

@ Roger | Mar 14 2022 19:29 utc | 135 – great article! i subscribed.. thanks…

Posted by: james | Mar 14 2022 19:45 utc | 141

Of course there will be a chemiAttack. The film has already been made. Three films were (said to have) been made in Kiev before the fighting got intense. (Before, during and after) This is simply a bit of the very unofficial “trailer”. Scroll down, there is a boy as well and a change of decor for a hospital scene.
https://twitter.com/5thSu/status/1503327447487549440/photo/1

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 14 2022 19:47 utc | 142

I am confused by the question of purpose of false flag attack. It is fairly common practice with established utility I had though. I suppose one my survey its recent use to look for empirical range of application but is that valuable for other than war studies?
Its use would depend on how much is needed to support the public acceptance. However as Ritter suggests, they may not want to over stimulate the public to create support for unwise action – could lose control.
The discussion seems pedantic and not useful.

Posted by: jared | Mar 14 2022 19:48 utc | 143

Saudi Arabia Invites China’s Xi to Visit Kingdom Amid Strained U.S. Relations-
Trip could happen as soon as May, as alliances shift in the Middle East and Washington’s regional partners seek out new security and economic ties
https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-invites-chinas-xi-to-visit-kingdom-amid-strained-u-s-relations-11647284211
The Saudis are doubling down on their re-orientation towards China. The US-Saudi alliance is as old as modern KSA itself, Standard Oil received drilling rights in the early 1930ies. The invitation in itself at this particular time is a political earthquake.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 14 2022 19:49 utc | 144

No one mentions the 8 years of the daily Donbas bombing by the Ukie army and their nazi minins, just mind blowing.

Posted by: Hannibal | Mar 14 2022 19:50 utc | 145

First post here. Kind of expecting to get raked, but that’s okay. Just trying to figure out what’s going on over there.
So what additional sources can I use to verify b’s various claims? He seems to rely on sources all slanted heavily towards the Russian perspective.
So is the Azov Brigade the one actually doing all the bombing and shelling then? The Russians are just innocent bystanders? They didn’t actually invade? Or they did invade, but they were forced into this by the evil US empire? But I thought the evil empire and its handmaiden NATO are just paper tigers. No? That’s some feat for a paper tiger. The Russians are not actually attacking anyone? It’s all the Nazis that are there, that we support? Those are not Russian tanks now under the trees? They’re actually Azov tanks? And it is Azov’s air force making periodic air strikes? Or perhaps NATO planes disguised as Russian ones? And the bombings and video we have of destroyed civilian infrastructure? Not Russia at all, but devious western forces who have infiltrated themselves into the fray? And it was the Nazis who motivated Russia to grab Crimea, and in fact are the ones in charge there, not the Russians? So all of Ukraine is Nazi, and not just average Ukrainians going about their daily lives? There was absolutely no legitimate justification for denying Putin his desires for a bit of additional territory on his western flank?
I’m assuming y’all support what Putin is doing because he’s ridding the world of the evil Ukrainian people, every last one of whom is a known Nazi and getting their just desserts?
I get that the main stream media in the US has lots of issues. Are they really just fronts now for the intelligence services of the west? By contrast, the Russian sources are somehow the enlightened force that will save us from western darkness? Putin is now the epitome of tact and restraint? Ukrainians of all stripes should lay down their arms and welcome him with vodka and caviar?
I admit to being completely baffled by b’s take on this. But since y’all seem to agree with him I figured you’d school me on it all.

Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 146

@144
Don’t feed the troll!

Posted by: denazi | Mar 14 2022 19:57 utc | 147

Just trying to figure out what’s going on over there.
Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
No you’re not.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Mar 14 2022 19:59 utc | 148

Posted by: mastameta | Mar 14 2022 18:44 utc
I agree that preventing a resolution (particularly a quick and graceful one) would be an intermediate goal of a false flag perpetrated by any opponents of Russia within the immediate conflict, as is the dispatching of weapons and mercenaries to Ukraine.
More broadly, my thinking of late is that the preferred outcome is regime change in Russia, but in a manner that has at least a veneer of democratic agency behind it — more specifically, targeting the March 2024 presidential election in Russia. And it is not just about dislodging Herr Putin, but the entire Russian sovreigntist camp from power to be replaced by a liberal, Western-leaning administration, therefore opening the country to more-or-less direct exploitation by Western finance and business interests.
From the perspective of the Western camp, there is the belief that the combination of sanctions and a protracted and costly (both in terms of resources and casualties) will exact a tremendous political cost to Putin and company, so much so that a liberal rival promising a restoration of peace and stability would be attractive after nearly two years of conflict.
I find that belief absurd, and the consequence of utter misconceptions about Russia (Putin is a dictator, the people are miserable and contrary polls are the result of totalitarian imposed fear, big gas station with a tiny economy, desire to reconstruct the USSR) which are themselves the result of things such as groupthink/intellectual insularity and an almost religious belief in the universality of Western (and particularly American) values (End of History, “inside of every Russian is an American wanting to get out”, market fetishism, etc.)
Other outcomes, such as removal of Putin through legal means (such as recall, if that is even constitutionally possible), or a coup, or even simply a protracted conflict to gradually change the political situation in Russia would be acceptable.
Here, I am ignoring here the even broader geopolitical situation — that of the emerging multi- (or perhaps bi-) polar world, and the US attempt to prevent this and maintain its privileged status globally.
Pardon me if this is rambling or incoherent; hopefully it makes some sense despite a recent spate of insomnia. I have been trying to develop this idea more formal thesis and will post here if I ever complete it. Criticisms are welcome.
The major hole in this theory is that it requires that the Western political elites that I speak of hold two contradictory positions: 1) that the Putin regime is totalitarian, and 2) that succession by an acceptable political camp can be achieved through democratic means. Possible explanations are that they either don’t really believe 1 but simply present that to the public, or that they are entirely capable of holding two contradictory positions at once since self-reflection is not typical of the intellectually arrogant.

Posted by: hamstak | Mar 14 2022 20:03 utc | 149

So the real news as posted above is that Mariupol is liberated. I shall celebrate
Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:14 utc | 88
The suburbs, not the city core as I read official Russian statements. Important to set aside one’s inclinations and just hope for it to end for the sake of the innocents.
No way I know of to predict what the Azov lot will do, but what I’ve read from the Russian side states quite clearly, those characters will not be treated like regular UAF soldiers and as I take it, will be eliminated. Not much motivation there to surrender.
Which fills my old mind with scenes of the last days of the defense of Berlin.
As history tells the little people who can read and pay attention, that wasn’t an end, it was just another beginning of the competition for dominance. And here are, powerless once again to change the course madmen have set for us.
I read some famous Canadian Sniper set off to participate on the Uke side. Also read a comment about how killers really like a free fire zone, no legal consequences back home.
And Jesus wept.

Posted by: bubbles | Mar 14 2022 20:04 utc | 150

Pepe Escobar has on his Twitter thread the video of “the SU-25 ….a flying work of art. Hit by a MANPAD And Flew Back to Base”.
https://twitter.com/RealPepeEscobar
========
@ WJ 84
UN Secretary General also in the mix that nuclear war is a possibility
https://www.rt.com/news/551903-un-nuclear-war-ukraine/

Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 14 2022 20:08 utc | 151

@Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Putin is the Great Liberator. He has single handedly liberated the world from the coronavirus. Remember how the media was totally dominated by coronavirus stories? That horribly dangerous killer virus, all gone now. There’s only Ukraine dominating the media now.
PS, the Russian army still has not killed as many Ukrainian civilians as the Ukrainian army (spearheaded by overt nazis indeed) has since the bloody Maidan coup, not even by far. Bet your balanced news sources hadn’t told you that, did they?

Posted by: Lurk | Mar 14 2022 20:09 utc | 152

Speaking of BHL here is an insightful link:
https://bernard-henri-levy.com/en/activism/ukraine/

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 20:11 utc | 153

it was a good position to take, and I know that I was right.”
Posted by: too scents | Mar 14 2022 15:54 utc | 37
Yeah, delicious is few aspects at once.
Indeed, can there be something wrong in makng quick monies on subhuman wars? How dare you to shift your riske on this noble, civilzied, righteous frau???

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 20:13 utc | 154

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 14 2022 17:48 utc | 102
Thanks for that!
Agree with karlof1 and james, the series Grieved provided of the Occidental Observer series
by Rolo Slavski is well worth reading. Here is the link again: Great Russian Restoration
Also, thanks to Roger @ | Mar 14 2022 19:29 utc | 135 for more fine writing.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Mar 14 2022 20:13 utc | 155

@133 too scents
Yah, NYT/WAPO would *never* do something like that, now would they?
In this case, when stating the opinion that the host government wishes to promote, I’ll take them at their word. It’s the main purpose of these publications, and the only reason to read their ‘international-news’ sections.

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 20:14 utc | 156

Some light entertainment by Natasha from Russia, she has a point 🙂
https://twitter.com/SAM_Volhov/status/1501883688187015169

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 14 2022 20:14 utc | 157

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 19:10 utc | 122
I tend to believe that the expected Chechen assault of yesterday was up to fool Azov folks into awaiting some street assault; while they got something more unexpected like an airborne spetznaz attack or something of this kind.

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 14 2022 20:16 utc | 158

Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Imagine everything you’ve been told about this war is an invented narrative inverting the true goals of both parties. The truth is, the Russians are protecting the Russian speaking ppl of Eastern Ukrain, basically Russians themselves, while the ukro terrorists from Azov battalion don’t care about them.
Everything becomes clear after that…

Posted by: Boo | Mar 14 2022 20:19 utc | 159

Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Wasting your time here, go back to msnbc and video games and sleep well…
Most of us here have been educating ourselves for at least 8 years thru many channels and feel no interest in exchanging with newbie trolls …
Good day though.

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 14 2022 20:20 utc | 160

Norwegian@126
Makes sense that they might be deployed to Kiev if it is anticipated that there might be an assault at some point, not just encirclement. Perhaps an insurance policy in case defeat in the east doesn’t lead to realistic negotiations.
@153 – thanks for that – very sweet 🙂

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 20:22 utc | 161

Thank you b for the Yves Smith quote from NC. Sad to see she can only write word salad even after years of practice.
Gozalo Lira fears a cbw attack too and talks about it on his latest utoob.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 14 2022 20:23 utc | 162

@142 Arne Hartmann … wow.
Chinese commercial bonds with Saudi + Iran = eventual control of the Persian Gulf. Would be quite the earthquake indeed. The big US garrison in the Kingdom would more likely see MBS whacked by one of a hundred jealous royal cousins, however, than allow this. Besides that, the kingdom lives off of foreign contractors who hate their guts, and wouldn’t last 6 months if the bankers pulled the plug on that. Maybe MBS instead wants to negotiate something to do with Yemen, or Iran (which would still be quite revolutionary). Something to keep an eye on for sure

Posted by: ptb | Mar 14 2022 20:25 utc | 163

Zelensky to address US Congress?
Perhaps he’ll perform his cover of Bohemian Rhapsody…
Posted by: vinnieoh | Mar 14 2022 17:35 utc | 94
That was clever,apt, and darn funny too.

Posted by: bubbles | Mar 14 2022 20:27 utc | 164

@ karlof1 7
Your optimism regarding the sheep not going along with the BS the US government is steering, is commendable, although in my opinion futile. Having talked to many people I know, just to get a sense of where they are at, I don’t see any intelligent and educated thought emanating. Most Americans and western cultures still can’t dissociate today’s Russia from the Soviets. In fact, some told me that communism must die and Russia with it.
I would not put any hope on the people to stop this madness. The only thing that one can wish for is a reaction where the pocket books are hurt. And that is a very low bar.

Posted by: Alpi | Mar 14 2022 20:29 utc | 165

Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 18:16 utc | 106
BHL in Odessa? How did he get there? Are roads to Odessa open? They way they are casually walking doesn’t give impression of a town under partial siege. Could this be somewhere else (like Lavov) or could have the photos been taken earlier?

Posted by: Milos | Mar 14 2022 20:31 utc | 166

Figleaf23 @ 105
On the Pyatt – Nuland conversation
I realize I never took the time to read the whole transcript. Thank you Figleaf. I’d be interested to hear your take on the exchange.
There is so much in there. The plan to manage the three way dynamic of the opposition figures is hard to follow but provides some good insight on how Uncle Sam steamrolls his way onward.
I find interesting the deferent, yet focused, request for specific assistance from the top. We’re left wondering how Nuland’s call to Klitsch went down. Apparently her previous conversation with Yats was productive. Are we talking carrots, sticks? Bit of both maybe, to help him focus on the endgame.
It’s remarkable how casually Nuland refers to a prospective UN endorsement for the project. She sounds as if her guy Serry is tasked with retrieving a takeout order. Maybe some hot and sour wings with extra sweet sauce to help glue it all together.
It’s a shame we only focus on Nuland’s ‘fuck the EU’ because there is so much damning material here. The shameless interference of the highest order in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation, now there’s a story that should make the headlines! Now how about a hat tip to the miracle workers at marketing who had us focused on Russian interference for months and months and months.

Posted by: robin | Mar 14 2022 20:35 utc | 167

karlof1, I know you are trying to put it all together, and I wonder, have you seen this?

10 March 2022 09:56
Foreign Ministry statement on the situation in the Council of Europe
471-10-03-2022
The EU and NATO states, which are unfriendly to Russia, are using their absolute majority in the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to continue the destruction of the Council of Europe and the common humanitarian and legal space in Europe.
The events are approaching a point of no return. Russia will
not accept the subversive actions being taken by the
collective West to replace international law, which the United
States and its satellites are trampling underfoot, with a “rules-based order.” Russia will not participate in the
campaign being waged by NATO and its obedient EU
followers to turn the oldest European organisation into
another platform for preaching about Western superiority and
for grandstanding. Let them enjoy each other’s company without Russia.

Interestingly, it was but a few days after I put up this
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/open-thread-2022-19.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef0282e1477ebf200b#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef0282e1477ebf200b

Posted by: John Cleary | Mar 14 2022 20:42 utc | 168

We were too many and grandma gave birth, poor translation of a Spanish saying, BHL the silk dressed “philosopher” showed up in Odessa, and we know very well that whenever that vulture shows up a lot of terrible things are going to happen.
https://t.me/vorposte/16096
Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 18:16 utc | 106

Here is the answer:
https://boriskarpov.tvs24.ru/2022/03/14/bhl-en-ukraine-un-million-de-roubles-pour-sa-mise-hors-detat-de-nuire/

Posted by: Olivier | Mar 14 2022 20:44 utc | 169

What’s going on? Simple, Some people in the world are getting tired of getting their Govts. being
undermined and subverted by the U$A’s corporate empire, and it’s henchmen.
A simple perusal of a world map that shows NATO membership, and who they surround, is very enlightening.
The U$A’s 800+ military basses around the globe. No other nations on earth combined, have so many.
Here is a old list of the U$A’s “interventions”
https://williamblum.org/essays/read/overthrowing-other-peoples-governments-the-master-list
Could someone, anyone, grab an F##king clue?

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 14 2022 20:49 utc | 171

circumspect | Mar 14 2022 18:19 utc | 109
yes, i realized your point after my comment, the media landscape was different around 1970 than now. i even seen it on the youtube! thus, we in the US are seeing the effects of bombs (some of which is stage managed, no doubt) in Ukraine, which we never saw in Baghdad, Gaza City, and everywhere else on the damn planet. we’ve suddenly discovered our concern for refugees. just not even the ones on our own goddam border. or how a bunch of Somalis wind up on Poland’s border. don’t bother any of us w/such details. Belarus bad, period.
such made in America heroism and concern for stuff on the other side of the planet, requiring one not to even change the tv channel. that great lump of fat sitting on the couch will support whatever doesn’t require him to get up or think about anything more difficult than how much he needs to let out and loosen up his sweat pants today. and, is the last straw, the last fashion emergency, getting shoes with velcro straps instead of laces?
but we are marching on Moscow!

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Mar 14 2022 20:51 utc | 172

Translation from French:
“The rotten BHL has arrived in Ukraine. A group of Russian Patriots is offering one million rubles for his disabling in any form. He is not worth more. In case the executor of the order cannot be identified, the money will be donated to an association that provides humanitarian aid to the Donbass. If some of you want to increase the amount, you can contact us by e-mail, a bitcoin address will be provided.
Let’s kill two birds with one stone: We get rid of a scum, and we provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Donbass.”
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Posted by: Olivier | Mar 14 2022 20:51 utc | 173

@160 Whatever he does will get a standing ovation. Guaranteed.

Posted by: dh | Mar 14 2022 20:54 utc | 174

Every generation should have their ‘Nam.
Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 19:24 utc | 131
What does that mean? Should I take it literally?

Posted by: bubbles | Mar 14 2022 20:57 utc | 175

From “TYRANNUS NIX” BY Lawrence Ferlinghetti:
“Oh Emperor The World’s Great Age begins anew……I hope you do not turn out still to have the Jupiter Complex with the idea you can win all war if you throw enough thunderbolts I hope he’s not you in disguise Old Nick There’s a great Doomshape greybombhead in the sky It’s mouth is made of merde and it’s saying Fuck you to humanity and love The lights are burning late in the Kremlin these nights tryin to exorcise that same Head which they see over them too A huge paranoid vision of imagined hate+ fear While still in Moscow tonight there’s music on Borodin Bridge and even tonight ‘love slides down the sides of the street’ ‘Oh dreams sweetness of face Oh words like traces of love’ ‘We’ll build our new society on the vacant lots of the old’ ”
I spent 2 hours last night watching the debate that circulated through the Security Council concerning whose side’s False Flag biological attack was in the planning stages. It is mostly all on the visceral level of loathing and disdain. But it is brinkmanship of the most irresponsible order. Only those outside of the permanent members circle seem disturbed about their luck running out.

Posted by: Copeland | Mar 14 2022 20:58 utc | 176

Here’s an excerpt from the third part of the essay series linked to by Grieved @102 and commented upon by me @114. It’s context ought to be understandable:
“Now, Russia has declared that they are planning to do a thorough “denazification” campaign, which almost certainly means a thorough purge of the Galician faction from the positions that they have taken since Yushenko let them into the government. As for what will happen to the oligarchs who bankrolled this whole operation, well, that’s still somewhat up in the air. It’s worth point out that Russia used to have dealings with them right up until the events of Euromaidan. The arrangement was simple: Russia paid them to behave and not ally against Russia with the West. As we can see looking back, this was clearly a catastrophic strategy, and what’s worse, I can only shake my head at how uncreative and uninspired it was—a cardinal sin in my book. The worst possible outcome for Ukraine at this point is if Russia comes to a compromise with some element of the existing power structure in Ukraine once they wrap up the military operation. We now know that no negotiations with the Galician faction are possible, so we can cross them off the list. That leaves the Eastern Mafia. Rumors of Kholomoisky’s imminent surrender aside, I can’t help but hope that his chutzpah has finally crossed the line and that he will be forced to spend the rest of his days exiled in Israel along with his puppet Zelensky. As for the rest of the oligarchs, well, both Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Timoshenko held photo-ops in Kiev with Kalashnikovs in their hands, so we can cross them off the list as well. Further than that and we enter the realm of pure speculation.
“Clearly, the best outcome would be for a military man from Russia with no history of doing politics or business in Ukraine to come in and take the reins as a vizier or military governor of sorts for a time. This solution may offend committed ideologists and apologists for Liberal Democracy (read: Oligarchy), but the hard truth of the situation that Ukraine finds itself in is one in which literally no one who was anywhere near the reins of power in that country for the last three decades has his hands clean. These people all looted, collaborated and murdered with near impunity for 30 years. With Russia now performing a political prison break from Liberal Oligarchic Occupation Government right before our very eyes, we can only hope that Ukraine will be able to follow suit and break free from the shackles as well.”
Quite fascinating material as is the author. I intend to read the entire series before I comment.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 21:01 utc | 177

@ Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Tom,
There is a strong consensus toward one side in this matter. It seems to me that most arrived at that view having looked at the evidence and there is little tolerance for debating it here – discussion has moved beyond that. One very cool thing about this site is that even among those who are very boorish and biased here, one learns things from them.
By all means you should investigate the issue and form your own view and express it, hopefully in open minded and constructive manner.
I am the least qualified among the group I thing to offer opinion, but I will try briefly on one aspect being the matter of Crimea:
I suppose you might argue that when the west overthrew the government of Ukraine (using nazis as moderate rebels, and I dare say its not really in dispute), that they had stolen the whole thing fair and square and were entitled to all of it. But one must realize that much of Ukraine was essentially gifted by Stalin around 1940 something. But in the example of Crimea, it had been part of Russia (specifically) for something like 300 years and is majority Russian population (subject to mistreatment by naxi forces) and is home to key Russia military base. So while it was nominally Ukraine it was more like on loan from Rissia. So Russia did what it had to do – the least it could do inresponse to over throw and effective take over of Ukraine. Are you not also offended by the overthrow of Ukraine and the attrocoties committed during and since by western operatives and nazi minions. Are you not concerned about supporting nazi’s is that not pertinent?
Its a little hard to believe that you are not aware pf these concerns and rationale at this point since you could get this and more on wikipedia – or is it that you are not actually open to considering another point of view and simply feign pbjectivity or interest while passively denying the views expressed.
I suspect it is the latter. Prove me wrong please if it matters to you really.

Posted by: jared | Mar 14 2022 21:02 utc | 178

@ Tom Herrera 144
Your long winded post reeks with sarcasm and condescension guised as naïveté and looking to learn. If you want to learn is best to be quiet and just read, as my grandfather used to say. But, somehow the barflies smell something else in between the lines of your comments and they are not often wrong. I take it we won’t hear from you again, and that is ok.

Posted by: Alpi | Mar 14 2022 21:07 utc | 179

My Soviet friend Sergey I met in college at UT-Austin 1974 told me by email after Maidan that his house and neighborhood in Donetsk had been shelled and destroyed by (US weapons)lobbed by Ukrainian Military forces. He has written twice since the onset of the Special Operation to Demilitarize and DeNazify Ukraine with videos from Donetsk that are unfortunately in Russian, perhaps they will be of interest to Moon and MoA readers. Here are his brief messages and the links:
Dear Tom!
Sorry for not answering for a long time….Thank you for your concern, I’m fine… There is a lot I would like to write to You, but I think that the online translator will not be correct. Ukrainian troops continue to shell the city. Ukrainian troops are located near the city. Our main forces are now near Mariupol (this is the south of our republic) and in the north, near Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. Huge military formations of Ukraine are concentrated there. And there they are successfully destroyed! It’s not fast! But I think that in a week THERE WILL BE ALL FINISHED! And today in Donetsk …. however, watch the video! It shows what the Kiev authorities arranged in Donetsk! I want to emphasize: in the center of Donetsk there is not and was not any military equipment … and NO military! This is a TERRORIST ACT of Kyiv against the civilians of Donetsk.
Hug you!
Best regards, Sergei.
Here are all the details. Unfortunately, only in Russian…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLRGkmF3rZ4&ab_channel=Perehvat
https://vk.com/donetsk_info?z=video-128366722_456242566%2F402be21bcb3ef99365%2Fpl_wall_-128366722
алутин сергей
Thu, Mar 3, 11:09 AM (11 days ago)
to me
Hi Tom! Unfortunately, I can’t write much today… I’ll drop some new information for you. I’ll post as soon as I get news. Thank you … ! I was not mistaken, you are a true friend and a person who has not only a bright mind but also a big heart and a pure soul!!! Thank you for THAT! Donetsk all these days continue to shoot. The main forces are thrown into the most important battles. And under the city there are small units … They have not been able to drive the Ukrainians away yet. I’m fine! Thanks for worrying about me! I have everything and I don’t need anything! Really want simple and bright emotions … and just calmness! I think it’s very soon! I am posting links to one video and I really want you to watch it! And if you find it necessary to show your friends – show! This is Donetsk of the period in 2015-2016…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkbPqG1XGIE&ab_channel=%D0%98%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8C%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%B2

Posted by: Thomas Prentice | Mar 14 2022 21:12 utc | 180

@49
Covid is still killing a 9/11 of Americans a day (and many more on a global level). Just because our media and leaders want to pretend it’s gone doesn’t mean it actually is. The narrative was already changing months before current events in Ukraine. Official Biden policy now is ‘pretend it’s over; masks off’.

Posted by: Ben | Mar 14 2022 21:13 utc | 181

Alpi @161–
Thanks for your reply. Actually, I was saying the public would mostly ignore the ongoing bullshit while it focuses on its favorite distractions this time of year and some connect the dots. Having reviewed what I wrote, I see my intent wasn’t made very clearly.
John Cleary @164–
Thanks for your reply and info. Yes, I did read that over the weekend. The MFA’s reply fits within the Putin Doctrine of allowing the old institutions to die or be destroyed so new ones can be born both within and outside Russia. IMO, when this is over and if humanity survives, many of the old structures will be swept away and replaced, while the few that remain will be reformed. I entertain hopes we’ll see the emergence of a new political world, but I’m not ready to count chickens.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 21:21 utc | 182

16:53 UTC | 71
Thank you very much for the link.

Posted by: Resom | Mar 14 2022 21:24 utc | 183

https://t.me/rogers_kitchen/3704
Ukrainians created some “Union of Donbass Mothers” – in all social networks they could – and demanded women to gather at Donetsk city government yesterday at 12:00
IOW, those women should had gathered together exactly where and when Ukrainian ballistic missile Tochka-U with cluster warhead was launched by Ze to explode.

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 21:29 utc | 184

@1: I take issue with the translation you have provided.
It would be more accurate to state that:
Russian Defense Ministry: Mariupol’s liberation is underway. The special forces eliminated the main forces of the nationalist formations in positions in residential areas along the perimeter of the city.
Humanitarian corridors open from 15:00, mass evacuation of population begins.
Some Russian terminology has no direct English meaning, and machine translation is simply not good enough for the first sentence.

Posted by: Kaiama | Mar 14 2022 21:31 utc | 185

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 14 2022 19:12 utc | 125
Here you have the french guy huffing and puffing after his Rambo movie came to a sudden end.
https://vk.com/video-4144008_456252410
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 19:12 utc | 124
Checked the beginning of Ischenko’s clip and I agree with his take, a lot of people blamed Putin for not going all the way back in 2014 but it was too risky then.
I also read the first part of the Occidental Observer link and makes a lot of sense, yes, amazing changes are taking place in Russia, I wish I would be there now, it won’t be easy for the Moscow “creative” crowd as they’re called, but a renaissance was needed and China showed the way, they learned from Gorbachev’s mistakes, Putin is learning from China’s success.

Posted by: Paco | Mar 14 2022 21:31 utc | 186

https://t.me/rogers_kitchen/3741
“Minched meat of russian soldiers”
Hopefully photoshooped
No, there is no nazism in Ukraine, putin’s disinfo

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 21:34 utc | 187

The past few days one drone has fallen in Croatia and one in Romania. NATO did not take revenge for this violation of their airspace, therefore the drones were not Russian.

Posted by: Passefby | Mar 14 2022 21:41 utc | 188

Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Q:So what additional sources can I use to verify b’s various claims?
A: A lot that aren’t at the same time western and mainstream.
Q:So is the Azov Brigade the one actually doing all the bombing and shelling then?
A:No, the bombing and shelling of Ukrainian Armed Forces/NATO-affiliated/ukronazi/foreign terrorist legion assets is by Russian armed forces.
Q:The Russians are just innocent bystanders?
Which russians in particular? The russian-speaking population of Ukraine that has been scapegoated and killed for 8 years straight are for the most part innocent VICTIMS, the wholly unrelated Russians facing retaliation because of Western hysteria, were certainly innocent bystanders, until they became innocent victims too.
Q:They didn’t actually invade?
A: Rhetorical question, next.
Q: Or they did invade, but they were forced into this by the evil US empire?
A: What is the proper answer when a neighboring country is being armed to the teeth by their sworn enemy, victimizing local population for speaking russian, and all diplomatic moves are answered with outright trolling?
Russia has received 3 invasions from europe in slightly over a century, what makes you think that they were going to wait for a fourth?
Q:But I thought the evil empire and its handmaiden NATO are just paper tigers. No?
A: Have you seen them actually battle anything except much weaker forces?
Q: The Russians are not actually attacking anyone?
A: Rhetorical question, next.
Q: It’s all the Nazis that are there, that we support?
A: Western forces certainly are supporting nazis which are embedded in the ukrainian government, armed forces and security forces.
Q: Those are not Russian tanks now under the trees?
A: Russian, Donetsk People’s Militia and Luganks People’s Militia.
Q: They’re actually Azov tanks?
A: Well, there is also Ukrainian armor; fortunately dwindling.
Q: And it is Azov’s air force making periodic air strikes?
A: Azov doesn’t have an air force, although there probably were nazis embedded in the Ukrainian Air Force, which for the most part doesn’t exist anymore, fortunately.
Q: Or perhaps NATO planes disguised as Russian ones?
A: Rhetorical question, next.
Q: And the bombings and video we have of destroyed civilian infrastructure?
A: Depends. The nuclear plant fire was an ukrainian attack, a building in Mariupol was dynamited by nazis, and they continue shelling civilians in Donbass for shits and giggles.
The maternity hospital had been taken by Ukie forces for days.
Q:Not Russia at all, but devious western forces who have infiltrated themselves into the fray?
A: Well, UK/USA/CAD trainers, handlers and assorted spooks have been active in Ukraine for the last 8 years.
B: And it was the Nazis who motivated Russia to grab Crimea, and in fact are the ones in charge there, not the Russians?
A: The major motivation to grab Crimea was that there is a historical russian naval base in there, which NATO was drooling over. Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR by Khruschev for shits and giggles, and the population is overwhelmingly russian.
Q: So all of Ukraine is Nazi, and not just average Ukrainians going about their daily lives?
Rhetorical question, next.
Q: There was absolutely no legitimate justification for denying Putin his desires for a bit of additional territory on his western flank?
A: Your obsession with the person of Putin is your own problem, and it is obvious that russia doesn’t need more territory. What russia needs is not being ever more encircled by hostile neighbors armed by far away sworn enemies.That every diplomatic polite request and agreement proposal to ameliorate this has been given a middle finger is the failure of western “diplomacy”.
Q: I’m assuming y’all support what Putin is doing because he’s ridding the world of the evil Ukrainian people, every last one of whom is a known Nazi and getting their just desserts?
A: Loaded rhetorical question, next.
Q: I get that the main stream media in the US has lots of issues. Are they really just fronts now for the intelligence services of the west?
A: For the most part, yes.
Q: By contrast, the Russian sources are somehow the enlightened force that will save us from western darkness?
A: I haven’t yet caught the international output of russian sourced making shit up from whole cloth or even demonizing their adversaries.
Q: Putin is now the epitome of tact and restraint?
A: No, Lavrov is.
Q: Ukrainians of all stripes should lay down their arms and welcome him with vodka and caviar?
A: Last time I checked, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin isn’t mowing down Ukronazis with an AK in each hand and a Saint George bandanna, so this is just another instance of a stupid hyperbolic rethorical question fueled by a stupid hyperbolic obsession with him in particular.
I admit to being completely baffled by b’s take on this. But since y’all seem to agree with him I figured you’d school me on it all.
Posted by: Tom Herrera | Mar 14 2022 19:51 utc | 144
Personally, I won’t side with NATO for anything, for several reasons, but just one suffices: NATO is entirely okay with collaborating with NAZIS of all things, which isn’t anything new anyhow.
On another level, I’m old enough to remember several invasions and other foul play by the USA and its allies without anything resembling the ABSOLUTELY RETARDED level of hysteria in media and international institutions.
US and its lackeys bombing the shit out of far away countries like Yugoslavia, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan – it’s just Tuesday.
But Russia invading a hostile neighbor that victimizes its own russian-speaking population? Well now that’s THE END OF THE FUCKING WORLD!
Nah. This could have been fixed in many other ways, but Ukronazis didn’t want to because their entire schtick is having a hateboner for Russia big enough to compromise blood flow to their brains, and NATO didn’t want to because encircling rusia IS their point – and share the same vascular disorder.
NATO didn’t want to take out their Nazi trash – now they both will go out hand in hand.
Whether they do so running tail tucked between their legs or in a wooden box is a secondary matter.

Posted by: Misotheist | Mar 14 2022 21:44 utc | 189

Hal Duell #128

An article in New Eastern Outlook by Vladimir Odintsov -“Number of Extremists and Neo-Nazis in Europe will Increase at Ukraine’s Expense”- highlights the danger to Europe of the Nazis in Ukraine migrating west.
This, too, could have been foreseen.

That is why there is no move south from Belarus to close the western border. Europe created these demons so europe can live with them.
On the liberation of Mariupol, this is likely now to turn into a rout and there may be no opportunity to stage a successful false flag.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 14 2022 21:45 utc | 190

Kiev, the capital “in the heart fo Europe”
https://t.me/denazi_UA/2796
All civilizedler and civilizedler

Posted by: Arioch | Mar 14 2022 21:45 utc | 191

That leaves the Eastern Mafia. Rumors of Kholomoisky’s imminent surrender aside, I can’t help but hope that his chutzpah has finally crossed the line and that he will be forced to spend the rest of his days exiled in Israel along with his puppet Zelensky.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 21:01 utc | 173
After all his outrageous actions, including the Privat Bank / fleecing of IMF $6 billion intended for Ukraine’s stabilization, the ever so righteous USA has decreed he is no longer welcome in their den of thieves. For now anyway. He’s been barred entry to the US to be clear. The Horror wot? He has multiple citizenship’s, so it’s just another Washington exercise in being seen to do something. Clearly he’s useful and America’s Political Moral Majority don’t have to take ownership of their useful ex Privat Bank majority owner, who btw has Burisma thing attached. But hey, who can keep up with the dark arts from the cheap seats?

Posted by: bubbles | Mar 14 2022 21:46 utc | 192

Posted by: the pessimist | Mar 14 2022 20:11 utc | 150 etc
Bernard Henri Levi – how full of shit is that sphincter? If he should receive a sniper shot or ordnance/mine/shrapnel or other such injury, that leaves him alive but permanently deformed and crippled and in 24/7 pain it would be his due/jew reward.

Posted by: tucenz | Mar 14 2022 21:47 utc | 193

Spare a tear, or an OMG for these innocent victims:
Social media influencers left adrift after Russia Instagram ban: ‘My life is being taken away from me’

Posted by: Keith McClary | Mar 14 2022 21:49 utc | 194

CBC didn’t say a word about the strike on the Donetsk city center today and they said that pregnant woman who was in that maternity hospital and he kid is dead. Can’t believe CBC has become this bad. Also, I had to read Global Times to find out “China, US keep dialogue, but ‘no respect, no cooperation'” CBC still pushing that Sullivan is going to talk tough.
I hope India would follow what Badrakumar suggests and quit quad.

Posted by: Calgary Guy | Mar 14 2022 21:49 utc | 195

Republicofscotland | Mar 14 2022 19:26 utc | 132
“Germany tells Poland, don’t send any more Ukrainians we’re full up.”
So that didn’t take long, did it? 😀
Just a few weeks into the war they so desperately worked for, and they’re surprised by the inevitable side effects.

Milos | Mar 14 2022 20:31 utc | 162
“BHL in Odessa? How did he get there? Are roads to Odessa open?”
Roads are clear almost everywhere in Ukraine. Everybody and their uncle is coming and going as they please.

The false flag chemical surprise we’re being primed for would of course be “investigated” by the OPCW. Long time no see! Results are already predetermined, of course. Good to know that only a few months back, H. E. Ambassador Alexander “Ignorant Igor” Shulgin donated €70,000 to the OPCW’s Scientific Advisory Board! That money will sure pay off.

Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Mar 14 2022 21:54 utc | 196

Just finished the fourth and last essay in the series and feel I was shortchanged, that far too much was omitted, although what was included was interesting. I probably shouldn’t fault the author since the subject matter merits book-length treatment, perhaps two or even three volumes. As a sketch, it’s a good effort and fills in some details. I again thank Grieved for linking to it.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 14 2022 21:59 utc | 197

“The rotten BHL has arrived in Ukraine. A group of Russian Patriots is offering one million rubles for his disabling in any form. He is not worth more. In case the executor of the order cannot be identified, the money will be donated to an association that provides humanitarian aid to the Donbass. If some of you want to increase the amount, you can contact us by e-mail, a bitcoin address will be provided.
Let’s kill two birds with one stone: We get rid of a scum, and we provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Donbass.”
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Posted by: Olivier | Mar 14 2022 20:51 utc | 169
The Russia Patriots had my supporting wishes (Posted by: tucenz | Mar 14 2022 21:47 utc | 189) before I knew of their plans!

Posted by: tucenz | Mar 14 2022 22:00 utc | 198

ptb #129

JCPOA is unfortunately looking unsalvageable now. Iran’s admirable diplomatic and public relations job for the past year, holding their ground and eloquently and patiently making the case that the US should respect prior promises, was all unfortunately undermined by the escalations arising out of the Ukraine war. But I think they realize with full clarity, that the best they could have hoped for was a temporary relief of sanctions until Republicans return to power. Possibility of even less than that.

Thank you for that post and can I add SALUT to Iran for holding the Biden idiot’s feet to the fire of international obligation. It takes an Iranian to comprehend the absolute stupidity of Xerxes Biden. Dangling the mendacious USA empire before all to see like a head on a pike and keeping it aloft for two+ years. I am fairly sure there was no great expectation in Iran for there to be any greater outcome than simply that.
THAT takes commitment, dedication and excellent tactics. Iran has demonstrated all of that and more. If only the USA and its european lackeys had equivalent intentions for peaceful nuclear industry and skill.
Every step by any nation to oppose global hegemony and restore a world of nations united in human betterment and industrious productivity, is to be celebrated.
I think of Julian Assange and his dedication and contribution as an exemplar of individual human efforts for peace.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 14 2022 22:05 utc | 199

BHL. What an awful excuse for a human being. There is a good book of a correspondence he had with Michel Houellebecq. Public Enemies. Worth the read if you are a Houellebecq fan or a BHL hater.

Posted by: lex talionis | Mar 14 2022 22:05 utc | 200