Any chance that Belarus will “invade” in the coming days, dividing West Ukraine from the rest of the country, so that when/if Poland sends its “peacekeeping” mission, it does not advance beyond the Belorussians?

Posted by: AnalyticMind | Mar 24 2022 13:03 utc | 4

@5 Vragtes
The Brutes should send more mercs. A lot of incinerated mercenary corpse photos on Telegram, they must be running short of hirepower.

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Mar 24 2022 13:14 utc | 6

An independent journo, Patrick Lancaster, makes videos on the ground in the war zone. He doesn’t seem like a corporate/spy shill. Here’s an interview with locas from Mariupol (with subtitles):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhLB5Wp1lGs
Meanwhile the Russiasn are building new highway in Crimea – “Tavrida”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHITvjI3aZo

Posted by: Stefan | Mar 24 2022 13:15 utc | 8

TTF natgas (ICE) seeing another 10% daily increase today in front month, another 8% increase for DEC’23, which I’m using as my reference point for next heating season in EU.
EU likely to come under intense pressure from Blinken/Sullivan to refuse Russian commerce and make drastic reductions in energy use instead.

Posted by: ptb | Mar 24 2022 13:32 utc | 10

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Mar 24 2022 13:14 utc | 6
Apparently Ukrainian are executing foreign mercenaries/volunteers that insubordinate or deserting and left their corpse purposefully unidentified. DPR found many of such bodies inside their abandoned dugouts that see no battle yet.

Posted by: Lucci | Mar 24 2022 13:34 utc | 12

@9
Joe Lauria reports this morning there were two leaks by MoD providing facts to fight against the MSM hysteria.
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/03/23/pentagon-drops-truth-bombs-to-stave-off-war-with-russia/
There is currently a fight between MoD, the President, the Congress and the MSM over the next actions to take over Ukraine. Maybe I am exagerating a bit but they feel the dangers of escalating this any further.

Posted by: Richard L | Mar 24 2022 13:38 utc | 14

@14 I meant DoD, not MoD as I have written. Sorry for the typo.

Posted by: Richard L | Mar 24 2022 13:43 utc | 16

LOL! I’m sorry, but you gotta love Kim’s timing, synchronizing the test of his most advanced ICBM with USNATO’s Summit and the vote on Ukraine’s Humanitarian Resolution at the UNGA. Ha-ha-ha! What a card that Kim is!

SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) – North Korea conducted what is thought to be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test ever on Thursday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, marking a dramatic end to a self-imposed moratorium on long-range testing.
It would be the first full-capability launch of the nuclear-armed state’s largest missiles since 2017, and represents a major step in the North’s development of weapons that might be able to deliver nuclear warheads anywhere in the United States.

Read on; it’s priceless!
North Korea puts West on notice That’s my title 😉.

Posted by: Circe | Mar 24 2022 13:53 utc | 18

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 24 2022 13:38 utc | 13
It looks like Hungary and Poland have to grab their chunk of land first!
See for example: https://www.rt.com/russia/552496-ukraine-hungary-russia-criticism/

Posted by: Barofsky | Mar 24 2022 13:58 utc | 20

Steve, tell them the truth: everything that the West’s MSM says or prints is a lie. Russia and China basically tell the truth. Leave it up to them. You’re not responsible for their ignorance and their pride in ignorance. Learn to laugh at them when they repeat the lies. Save your breath otherwise. Patrick

Posted by: pdb | Mar 24 2022 13:59 utc | 22

@ Posted by: Steve | Mar 24 2022 13:26 utc | 9
That is the crux of the problem Steve – how can one force others to see and to think? This is a case of the question provides the answer, I think.
The question relates to the wider question of how does one or many combat facism? There was a Will Smith movie, humanity infected by a virus which turned those affected into blood-thirsty zombies. It turned everyone he knew into a zombie, including those who he loved or who had helped himto find the virus. Everyone is turning facist. This is done to combat something that important people fear. In the past I think it was communism or even populism. When wishing to persuade people, it helps if you are beautiful, rich and successful.
I think it comes down to either lead by example or vote with your feet. I think one satisfying step would be to invest in Russia – no doubt a crime. Or speak carefully in a way that is non confrontational. In many cases people are not ready to hear.

Posted by: jared | Mar 24 2022 14:11 utc | 24

Posted by: Steve | Mar 24 2022 13:26 utc | 9
How I do communicate with propagandized ppl? I keep it to the economic difficulties that are arising for Germans. Even if you are a believer, most ppl see the difficulties coming. I refer to the santions on Russia and how these are supposed to be enforced, when China is supporting Russia and Russia can basically buy everything from China. In return, China gets Russian commodities. So we are out. How should we keep your factories going, if we dont get the raw materials and energy. How are the workers to be paid. Prices will keep rising, especially energy.
This is just basic stuff most ppl understand and agree with. That is usually enough to put a dent in their propaganda armor.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 24 2022 14:19 utc | 26

We’re at day, what 27 now ? I think it’s the occasion to point out several major misses in predictions :
– last week it was predicted that Mariupol would fall in 4-7 days (DPR, Intel Slava). We’re 9 days later and Mariupol show no signs of falling soon.
– since about day 3 of the operation many people, Saker included, have predicted encirclement in the East. Now my impression is that encirclement is far from done, there are still three roads linking the Eastern forces to Dnipro.
Sorry to sound sarcastic, it’s just that I’m horribly frustrated myself. It does seem indeed as if the operation has stalled and we’ve reached an equilibrium. the only way to break this equilibrium is to bring more resources and troops. I don’t know the Russian plan here but I sure hope they have one.
Key predictions I will follow until end of March :
– several forecasts, by the French army, by Defense Politics Asia, that the Ukrainians would run out of fuel and ammo and weapons somewhere at the end of March. If beginning of April I don’t see signs, I will slowly despair…
I must say that so far the one which has been closest to the reality was Strelkov, although he’s horribly depressing to read and far too pessimistic. However I can’t help but notice that Saker and Martyanov were way too optimistic at the beginning.

Posted by: Micron | Mar 24 2022 14:27 utc | 28

Steve et all re de-programming from the cult of mainstream media…
Too late for that, unless as someone says, a person approaches you for your opinion. Otherwise if it’s just one world view pitched against another – futility.
Concentrate on laying in some stores, provisioning for emergency conditions – remember they all laughed at Noah. It’s only in the end ‘they’ will see their folly of putting faith in charlatans and liars.
If you must try to save someone from the cult of trusting for-profit authority, you can trace the history of lies from the Empire of lies – from the mid-20th Century onward, it has all been the work of propagandists to forge USA! USA! USA!

Posted by: gottlieb | Mar 24 2022 14:34 utc | 30

For those who ask for support to counter mainstream views.
Richard L | Mar 24 2022 13:38 utc
Has posted a Consortium News story that links to a NewsWeek article, with lots of twaddle but also very direct quotes from anonymous sources, a US Air Force and a DIA Analyst.
I’ve excerpted the meatier bits to send to a friend who always says “Don’t link to any of your Russian liars or non-US sources.”
This is an article in Newsweek (hosted by MSN Microsoft News) with a Pentagon assessment of Russia’s methods in Ukraine. Note the DIA Analyst and US Air Force officer agree:
“I’m frustrated by the current narrative—that Russia is intentionally targeting civilians, that it is demolishing cities, and that Putin doesn’t care. Such a distorted view stands in the way of finding an end before true disaster hits or the war spreads to the rest of Europe,” the second U.S. Air Force officer says.”
“I know that the news keeps repeating that Putin is targeting civilians, but there is no evidence that Russia is intentionally doing so,” says the DIA analyst. “In fact, I’d say that Russian could be killing thousands more civilians if it wanted to.”

Putin’s Bombers Could Devastate Ukraine But He’s Holding Back. Here’s Why
As destructive as the Ukraine war is, Russia is causing less damage and killing fewer civilians than it could, U.S. intelligence experts say.
Russia’s conduct in the brutal war tells a different story than the widely accepted view that Vladimir Putin is intent on demolishing Ukraine and inflicting maximum civilian damage—and it reveals the Russian leader’s strategic balancing act.
…
As of the past weekend, in 24 days of conflict, Russia has flown some 1,400 strike sorties and delivered almost 1,000 missiles (by contrast, the United States flew more sorties and delivered more weapons in the first day of the 2003 Iraq war). The vast majority of the airstrikes are over the battlefield, with Russian aircraft providing “close air support” to ground forces. The remainder—less than 20 percent, according to U.S. experts—has been aimed at military airfields, barracks and supporting depots.
A proportion of those strikes have damaged and destroyed civilian structures and killed and injured innocent civilians, but the level of death and destruction is low compared to Russia’s capacity.
“I know it’s hard … to swallow that the carnage and destruction could be much worse than it is,” says the DIA analyst. “But that’s what the facts show. This suggests to me, at least, that Putin is not intentionally attacking civilians, that perhaps he is mindful that he needs to limit damage in order to leave an out for negotiations.”
…
When it came to Ukraine, not only did many observers “mirror-image” Russian objectives to match U.S. practices, they also made premature (and incorrect) observations that Russia was fighting such a conflict.
Even before Russian ground forces reached Kyiv and other cities, this narrative goes, the air and missile forces would have so damaged Ukraine—including its communications and other infrastructure needed for defenses to continue working—that it would secure victory on the ground.
…
The fabric of communications in the country continues to operate intact. There has been no methodical Russian attack on transportation routes or bridges to impede Ukrainian ground defenses or supplies. Though electrical power plants have been hit, they are all in contested territory or near military installations and deployments. None have been intentionally targeted.
In fact, there has been no methodical bombing campaign to achieve any systemic outcome of a strategic nature. Air and missile strikes, which initially seemed to tell one story, have almost exclusively been in direct support of ground forces.
…
“I’m frustrated by the current narrative—that Russia is intentionally targeting civilians, that it is demolishing cities, and that Putin doesn’t care. Such a distorted view stands in the way of finding an end before true disaster hits or the war spreads to the rest of Europe,” the second U.S. Air Force officer says.
Heartbreaking images make it easy for the news to focus on the war’s damage to buildings and lives. But in proportion to the intensity of the fighting (or Russia’s capacity), things could indeed be much worse.
“I know that the news keeps repeating that Putin is targeting civilians, but there is no evidence that Russia is intentionally doing so,” says the DIA analyst. “In fact, I’d say that Russian could be killing thousands more civilians if it wanted to.”

I do try to keep an eye out for “credible” sources, that in this case show professionals who not only point out the errors in the news, but explain why those are not helpful.
We need to pry away at the small cracks in the narrative, which word by the way means “story” and, no small point, every piece of fiction has a “narrative.” That’s for another post!

Posted by: jonku | Mar 24 2022 14:42 utc | 32

Beatless Meat Eater – In these troubled times, I trust comments such as the one you made help to put a smile on b’s face. We’ve witnessed all kinds of fantasy-land commentary, but the only dualing (your spelling) fascism around here is the one occurring between your ears. Or aren’t you capable of learning? Well, check it out – the tables are turning. Good luck with that.

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Mar 24 2022 14:44 utc | 34

Celtic
Likewise, ignorant comments and the type of ideologically incoherent posts such as b’s of late also put a smile on my face.
Glad we can all laugh about the War in Ukraine.

Posted by: Useless meat beater | Mar 24 2022 14:57 utc | 36

Steve – I think c1ue has given best response. IMO, this is the same mass formation psychosis discussed by Robert Malone and Joe Rogan that was present during the plandemic, also probably in Germany during WWII and also, IMO, in Ukraine at this time. The western Ukrainian speaking inhabitants seem to be filled with unreasonable hate of the eastern Russian speakers and any Ukrainians who are for peace. There are short terrifying videos online of people tied to telephone poles or trees or lampposts, with their hands tied behind their backs and disrobed from the waist down. Some videos show unidentified people hitting them with belts or sticks. it is bizarre – I mean it is on the order of stocks in midieval times where people’s heads and arms were stuck in holes in standing boards and people did what they wished to them.
There has to be some kind of madness present in the people who think this is all right to do to their fellow citizens.
This is of course an extreme example of mass formation psychosis.
There was a poll in Canada asking unjabbed and jabbed people what they thought should be done about the situation in the Ukraine. It was startling to see that jabbed people are all in for many heavy sanctions and actions against the Russians during this police action, in contrast with the views of unjabbed people!
I am sorry this does not give any hints on how to deal with the msm news worshippers but IMO there is none. There may never be one.

Posted by: lizzie | Mar 24 2022 15:00 utc | 38

A prominent U Tuber (TimCast) says a bunch of redditors went to Ukraine to fight against the Rooskies.
The redditers used their phone, photos and posts, alerted the Rooskies to their location, and got a warhead killing 100 Ukraine forces

Posted by: Carl | Mar 24 2022 15:05 utc | 40

Special Prize for Ukrainian’s
Special Prize” from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine – those liable for military service who violate the curfew and traffic rules will be handed summons to the front
In Ukraine, they came up with a new way to replenish the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The patrol police will be engaged in the forced delivery of subpoenas and the subsequent sending to the front of all citizens who violate the curfew or do not comply with traffic rules, said Alexei Beloshitsky, deputy head of the country’s patrol police.
“For the duration of the war, all impolite at checkpoints, curfew violators and gross violators of traffic rules will receive a special prize. In addition to administrative responsibility, we also contribute to obtaining such a special gift as a referral to the military medical commission with further registration in the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Beloshitsky wrote on Facebook*.
From now on, in Ukraine, the order is as follows: left the house in the village on the street to the toilet at curfew – be ready to be sent to the front line. Exceeded the speed limit or missed a pedestrian – welcome to the army!
* banned in Russia

Posted by: Kim | Mar 24 2022 15:19 utc | 42

I saw a great graphic somewhere displaying opinions on the Ukraine war by Covid vaccination status. Surprising nobody, the folks who believed all the news on Covid also believe all the news spin on Ukraine. Those who were skeptical on Covid, are also skeptical on Ukraine.
Mainstream liberals tend to be very trusting of government and the media.* Progressive libs, especially the anti-war libs, are more skeptical, especially on foreign policy. (They probably know more history too.) And on the Right, we see the populist/ isolationist wing of the Republican party wondering what exactly the US interest is in Ukraine. So we get Tulsi Gabbard in agreement with Tucker Carlson against the Establishment middle.
*Not sure why they should be so trusting. Anybody that lived through the Gulf War knows the president lied and the media was complicit.
Two issues i would like to see get far more attention than they are:
1) This is a US neocon war. The neocons dominate the foreign policy establishment. The same folks that brought us all those wars over the last 20 years are out to get Russia. In particular, someone should write a big piece on Victoria Nuland and her husband Robert Kagan. We all know Nuland was deeply involved in the 2014 coup under Obama. She now works in the State Department under Biden. Meanwhile her husband Robert Kagan, founder of PNAC, shapes public opinion by writing op-eds in the influential Washington Post. There is a Jewish connection here, although I don’t want to dwell on it. too much. There is a new interview w Michael Hudson over at Saker that very briefly touches this issue. American Jewish Neocon are rabidly anti-Russia in a way that the Israelis are not. Interesting.
2) The war between the US and Russia began in Syria. Not enough is made of this connection. Russia thwarted US plans to overthrow Assad. And why was the US trying to do that? Surprise, surprise, Israel turns up again.

Posted by: Joe | Mar 24 2022 15:22 utc | 44

Steve@9
The easiest and the surest way of exposing the lies of the BBC and the other media is to concentrate on their stories about 1/ How the Russians are being defeated, losing thousands of men and tanks and
2/ The stories about the massive damage being caused by “total war”.
The first takes care of itself. Just explain what is going to happen and contrast it with what the BBC is saying.
The second is not difficult either- there are webcams that show people walking around Kiev-business as almost normal. Then there is the fact, which is really astonishing, that Russia continues to supply Europe with gas through a pipeline running right though the war zone. The flow of gas has actually increased since the war started.
When people begin to realise that you are right, the Ukrainian forces are in retreat or about to surrender, rather than fight to the heroic death, they will become amenable to historical reason.
And the story of what happened to the eastern Russian speaking regions since Maidan is very clear and compelling, tell it and it becomes obvious that Russia had no alternative. If it hadn’t recognised the two ‘republics’ there would have been a bloodbath as the Azov led troops set about ethnic cleansing to get rid of the hated Russian speakers and conquer the land- famous for its black earth agriculture- for western settlers.
The old dream of Lebensraum that their English grandparents (the most mobilised population in the War) wasted their lives fighting to prevent, arm in arm with the Russian Army. A dream now revived under US sponsorship in order to weaken Russia so that the US can rule the world the way it does Britain.

Posted by: bevin | Mar 24 2022 15:34 utc | 46

“Zelensky is Jewish so how can there be Nazis in Ukraine?”
“US foreign policy is evidently held hostage by a venal, avaricious and, above all, reckless claque of elites
known as neocons.” They represent an extremely tiny minority of Americans, their influence vastly exceeds
their numbers.
Likewise the number of Ukrainians waving Wolfsangel flags is tiny compared to their obvious influence.

Posted by: librul | Mar 24 2022 15:45 utc | 48

Claim here that Russia may have broken through final Azov defenses in Mariupol, eliminating many.
https://twitter.com/NovichokRossiya/status/1507016326321123334?s=20&t=w3wvNIoLoy1zRbFq161P-g

Posted by: joncutt | Mar 24 2022 15:47 utc | 50

Great post Anon. Thats the same strategy I use with regular people
“So I gave up explaining things. Instead, once at work I just said: “I don’t believe the media bullsh!t. They lied about Iraq, they lied about Vietnam, they lied about Libya but now I’m supposed to believe the media bullshit? Hell, even the advertising is usually a lie. Don’t know what’s really going on, but I don’t believe a word these bastards are telling me”. ”
As long as you start with that and that you believe un world peace, freedom and properity to ALL (not just westerners)
I also bring up recent proven false mass lies such as:
– Russia stole the election
– anything Dr Fauchi has said
– Hunter Bidens laptop is Russian Disinfo
Lies lies lies lies
How can we possibly belive them fully on Ukraine???

Posted by: comandante | Mar 24 2022 15:49 utc | 52

Very interesting content in Zelensky’s speech to the Swedish Parliament.
“We are inviting Swedish architects to rebuild Ukraine. Sweden is the first country for which we are proposing such a project. You can help. We have common values. We are not just fighting for Ukraine, but for Europe as a whole.”
You gotta scroll aways down to get to that but it’s there.
https://pledgetimes.com/sweden-if-ukraine-did-not-defend-itself-everything-we-value-and-you-value-would-be-destroyed-zelenskyi-called-on-swedes-to-rebuild-ukraine/

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Mar 24 2022 15:50 utc | 54

@ Steve | Mar 24 2022 13:26 utc | 9
First of all, you have to consider your relations with people like family members that you don’t want permanently to alienate, so silence is golden sometimes.
Second, as mentioned by c1ue | Mar 24 2022 14:03 utc | 23, “It is a waste of time arguing.” This is particularly true with ignoramuses on social media who are immune to any kind of proof or expertise. Don’t burn yourself up over such persons, because you only do harm to yourself thereby. Remember that great events are marching that are beyond the power of any of us as individuals to affect or alter much, and that includes beyond the power of the ignoramuses.
Third, you can raise side issues, as it was suggested above by Arne Hartmann | Mar 24 2022 14:19 utc | 26 to raise the issue of the self-inflicted harm the sanctions cause. Because that issue will hurt the people you are talking with directly, they are more likely to pay attention to it. The other big issue is the threat of atomic warfare and the absolute inability of the US ever to do anything about Russia’s parity in nuclear weapons or anything to prevent massive destruction in case of an attack. The threat of nuclear war, even if it were deemed unlikely actually to occur, is nevertheless still there and is a real show stopper. One must also arm oneself with enough information to utterly crush any suggestion that victory of any sort is possible in a nuclear war, because there also are the stupids who will quibble about that.
Fourth, in the US at least, there is a substantial population now who disbelieve anything the government and MSM say. They may be a minority, but are nonetheless demographically significant. Because they are general right-wing nationalists, they do not concede that the government is either democratic, legitimate, or representative of true patriotism and are open to calling the ruling elite and their media traitors. Sometimes this factor can be worked in, and also it is important to wean these people away from the myths of US empire that they may have imbibed.
Fifth, if a person is sufficiently well-armed with information and is not faced by a hostile mob but is talking to an individual or a couple of persons, sometimes it is possible to really smash them. The opportunity for this does not often arise, but occasionally it might work. I remember in a public debate over Iraq in 1991 when I completely humiliated two stupids so that they slumped red-faced in their chairs.

Posted by: Cabe | Mar 24 2022 15:53 utc | 56

India just isn’t following into line when it comes to sanctioning Russia, and the US isn’t happy about that.
“India’s largest oil and gas company, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), bought three million barrels of Urals crude oil from Russia on Wednesday, the Deccan Herald newspaper reported citing trade sources.
According to the publication, the oil was purchased through European trader Vitol at an undisclosed discount.
This is the second time the Indian company has bought oil from Russia since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. Despite repeated calls for India to join in isolating Russia.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 24 2022 15:58 utc | 58

Steve
The tendency of people to trust publicity starts at an early age. In grammar school we’re disciplined to sit down and shut up, and you can’t go to lunch until we have silence, and we’ll tell you what to believe in because you’re not capable of figuring it out yourself. The truth comes from textbooks, and the bible, and to straighten out your mind you need counseling from a professional, the same with investments, and so on. It’s “education” in their terms, not according to the root of the word ‘educar,’ drawing out from you as a unique individual with talents you didn’t even know you had. Its not education you get, no it’s training. This is what you should believe, and then we’ll test you for algebra and English because they simplify universal testing and also indicate to many people that they’re imbeciles because they can’t do, or want to do, algebra and they see no need to classify verbs, etc. They may be the most creative individuals in town, or athletic, or musical, or have some other talents valued by society but the ‘education’ system never goes there.
. . .You can’t change all that.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 24 2022 16:04 utc | 60

Posted by: Joe | Mar 24 2022 15:22 utc | 43
Somebody just did write a short expose on Nuland (dual-citizen) and her neocon compatriots here:
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-return-of-the-hawks

Posted by: WJ | Mar 24 2022 16:09 utc | 62

Most NATO members in the Balkans are of very recent vintage, several having been admitted against the will of the people due to the politicos being bought. Bulgaria’s fuming about having to pay for gas with rubles is due to its participation in the sanctions regime which is why it’s on the Unfriendly Nations list, while Serbia and Hungary aren’t. IMO, Russia ought to woo this underdeveloped, exploited region that has nothing to gain from NATO or EU membership and much to lose which ought to becoming very clear to leaders and public now. Both Hungary and Serbia can aid this endeavor as it’s also to their interest. And there’re other interest ties to be seriously considered, BRI benefits being the most important. Romania is also another nation that needs to be awakened to the folly of NATO and EU membership and shown that it has much more to gain from membership in EAEU/BRI/CSTO.
IMO, the Russians must see this possibility, but I’ve yet to dig and discover to what extent, although I do know that NATO is very sensitive about that region because it knows it’s hold there is very tenuous.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 16:12 utc | 64

from intel slava Z channel, https://t.me/intelslava/23389:
The Ukrainian leadership missed its chance for a sovereign state, – the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova
“They have already missed the main chance for the existence of Ukraine within their own borders, a sovereign Ukraine, an independent Ukraine,” she said.
If you read between the diplomatic lines and Zakharova does not carry a gag, then this can be understood in such a way that a course has been taken for the annexation of Ukraine.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 24 2022 16:14 utc | 66

@55 Cabe, re:

@ Steve | Mar 24 2022 13:26 utc | 9
First of all, you have to consider your relations with people like family members that you don’t want permanently to alienate, so silence is golden sometimes.

Yes, I have a dinner party on Saturday and I am wondering how to deal with this. In a way I agree with you, but I am at least going to ask people where they get their information from. If they reply the BBC, Sky, The Guardian, etc., I will say that there is no point discussing the matter further. If they mention any of the alternative sources that we discuss here, I will continue the conversation and see where it goes, e.g. how do they explain the discrepancies in reporting. I am certainly not planning to convince them of anything, just raise minor doubts and then change topic.

Posted by: echelon | Mar 24 2022 16:23 utc | 68

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 16:12 utc | 63
As a Bulgarian, now living abroad, I can share that the tops of the political, media and military pyramids have been systematically purged in the recent past. The journos are on Integrity initiative, 77 brigade, DW, Free Europe, NED payroll. Most of the politicians are spineless toadies. We currently got a Canadian “parachutist”, as we call these marginally associated with Bulgaria politicians, as our prime minister. He recently rolled over for NATO when his Washington master wistled at him. Most of the ppl are indifferent, including sadly most of the younger generation. In my estimate, probably only about one third, mostly older and poorer ppl, still have some immunity left to the NATO propaganda.

Posted by: Boo | Mar 24 2022 16:24 utc | 70

Don Bacon (64).
Yeah, I read this today.
“Last week, the Business Standard reported that India plans to import about 15 million barrels of oil from Russia this year, taking advantage of Russia’s recent offer to sell its crude at up to a 25% discount, if the buyer is ready to cover the cost of insurance and transportation.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Mar 24 2022 16:30 utc | 72

Posted by: Steve | Mar 24 2022 13:26 utc | 9
“How I do communicate with propagandized ppl?”
I agree with Arne. Focus on the great difficulties coming for the West if this war continues. I wrote a letter to all of my friends and family explaining Russia’s outsized role in providing energy, food and fertilizer to the world. (For example, Russia produces over 60% of the world’s ammonium nitrate, which is the world’s primary nitrogen fertilizer, nitrogen being the primary fertilizer for all crops).
Then keep asking – what is the quickest and easiest way to resolve this conflict? Isn’t it to simply acknowledge Russia’s legitimate national security concerns? Ask them what the US would do if they were in Russia’s shoes.
Sending arms to Ukraine will clearly not bring a quick resolution to this conflict.
Planting time for the majority of crops in the world is in the next few months. We need the quickest resolution.
Pass on my letter if you wish. https://cluelesshonky.blogspot.com/2022/03/one-big-backstory-behind-everything.html
Write your own.

Posted by: Clueless Honky | Mar 24 2022 16:39 utc | 74

I see the same psychological mechanism at work in the Ukraine war that was the basis for the Trump derangement syndrom after Trump won in 2016. Liberal Hillary supporters were disconnected from reality and instead of accepting reality they were trying to mold it according to their perception of it.
What will happen, when Russia wins the war against Ukraine and the propaganized Western audience dont get the promised economic downfall of Russia, but instead their own? The cognitive dissonance between reality and their perception is so big that I fear they would only be satisfied with an all out war against Russia. This mass psychosis was funny when it came to Trump, but its extremely dangerous when it comes to nuclear armed Russia.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 24 2022 16:47 utc | 76

All these other countries are dealing or will deal in rubles but Germany (largest buyer) is reeling . . .
Germany reeling as Putin tells Europe to pay for gas in rubles . .German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Putin’s demand was a breach of contract and that Berlin will discuss with European partners “how we would react to that”.. .here
…from France on contract mods. . .
3° of article R. 212-1 and 6° of article R. 212-2 do not preclude the existence of clauses by which the contract, when concluded for an indefinite period, stipulates that the trader may unilaterally make changes related to the price of the goods to be delivered or the service to be provided on the condition that the consumer has been notified within a reasonable time to be able, if necessary, to terminate the contract. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 24 2022 16:53 utc | 78

Boo @69–
Thanks for your reply and telling us your former nationality! Looks like cracking the Balkans will be a difficult task. Your testimony conforms Hudson’s assessment about EU politicos. Such people are clearly traitors to their nations, but national polities seem too inert to do the right thing and reclaim their nations. My conclusion during the Hudson talk was Europe collectively needs to employ the 1789 French solution, which he agreed seems to be their only escape pathway. Perhaps a year of poverty and privation will motivate enough people. I’m sure we’ll find out.
Don Bacon @68 & 70–
Thanks for those reports. The big bugger will be the realization in Congress that Biden hasn’t cut off Russian imports and thus rubles will need to be found. Or perhaps Congress will pass the bill it dropped, force Biden to sign it with vetoproof vote, and further paralyze the economy and inflame people’s passions. I think the latter’s most probable. I see fuel prices have mostly stabilized, but I don’t expect that to last much longer. Brent’s @120 today, WTI not far behind.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 16:59 utc | 80

In terms of a coordinated propaganda campaign, the reporting of this conflict is the international equivalent of the UK’s anti-Corbyn smear campaign. It’s dispiriting to see how the western media and politicians all fall into line to promote a narrative which is, at best, deeply distorted.
If they can get the whole western world to treat Zelensky, who ordered his country to vote against a UN resolution condemning the glorification of Nazism, as some kind of hero, what else can they get the majority of people to believe? Worrying times we’re living in.

Posted by: D J G | Mar 24 2022 17:05 utc | 82

@Don Bacon #77
The German minister is an idiot.
The existing Gazprom contracts are the Germany’s advantage because they stipulate natural gas delivery prices far below what spot prices are now.
If he really wants to get breach of contract, Germany will get breach – right up the ass in natural gas price.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 24 2022 17:10 utc | 84

@Roger | Mar 24 2022 17:03 utc | 80
Yes, the USSR liberated Poland from the Nazis, but then they kept the country under military occupation for more than 40 years. I imagine Poles didn’t feel all that “liberated” and maybe that is why they hate Russians.

Posted by: WhyCantWeJusGetAlong | Mar 24 2022 17:20 utc | 86

Roger @80–
Yesterday, Martyanov linked to a study in Russian you might be interested in, Russia and USSR In The 20th Century Wars, that I can only access via the link he provides. Other barflies interested in an exhaustive statistical analysis of Russia’s casualties during the 20th Century will find this source a trove.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 17:26 utc | 88

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 24 2022 17:10 utc | 83
And this the problem for Habeck right now. If Habeck doesnt accept paying in rubles, he has to somehow organize LNG replacements (they are not available in the needed quantity). US, Qatar, all suppliers, will ask for current spot prices. Spot prices are through the roof, which means that Habeck kills the German industry and the German consumers, if he concludes contracts right now out of necessity. Around 50% of homes in Germany rely on natural gas for heating (oil is second with around 25%). Every new home owner buys expensive natural gas heatings to save money. Ironically, many German families rely on cheap Russian natural gas to be able to pay their loans.

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 24 2022 17:27 utc | 90

Battle of Mariupol is over. Azov does not exist. Mariupol becomes part of DPR.
See intel Slava.

Posted by: Oldhippie | Mar 24 2022 17:29 utc | 92

It appears Wobblie @88 thinks Putin and Putin’s Russia is as bad as Stalin and Stalin’s USSR. The Baltics were reoccupied by the USSR because they were allying with Germany against the USSR. The War against Finland was also a preemptive aimed at preventing Finland’s allying with Hitler; and although the USSR lost tactically, it obtained its strategic goal. From what you’ve exposed as your POV, you clearly favor Hitler and Naziism, so you probably support the Outlaw US Empire’s attempt to control the world.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 17:35 utc | 94

LuRenJia @92–
Nice to see your comment! SK exercises far more independence than all the nations occupied by the Outlaw US Empire combined. Japan as I wrote yesterday is hopeless and will suffer further. SK as you may know isn’t on the Unfriendly Nations list and continues to trade with Russia even after the change in government. IMO, SK has about as much love for the Empire as Okinawans and would like them to disappear.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 17:40 utc | 96

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Mar 24 2022 17:27 utc | 89
The astounding thing is that it was widely understood and openly said only a few weeks ago that Germany could not divorce itself from Russian oil and gas. The question is whether its decision makers just forgot about this in the meantime, or are desperately betting that Russia will crack any day now and return to providing energy at whatever terms the EU sets. (Notice how both France, Germany and Italy have come out and said that they will “keep paying in euros”, as if they were in any position to dictate this.) But they will not be able to explain a collapse of German industry and the bankrupcies (or freezing to death) of German households and the very continued existence of the German state will be in question.
Even Habeck himself said as recently as about a week ago that a boycott of Russian energy “would threaten (“gefährden”) the social peace in Germany”. That is exactly what Germany is going to get, very soon. I have to admit that despite the hardship this will inflict on ordinary Germans (who, it should be remember however, by a wide margin support the West’s war on Russia, including even stronger measures than already taken), it is amusing to witness Germany and the rest of Europe committing suicide through sheer arrogance and rage. Going down with their beloved USA/UK/Israel is exactly the fate Europe deserves.

Posted by: Unnamed | Mar 24 2022 17:42 utc | 98

my previous comment @ karlof1 | Mar 24 2022 17:28 utc | 90

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 24 2022 17:43 utc | 100