Russia Has Launched Phase Two Of Its Operation In Ukraine
The neo-conservative 'Institute for the Study of War' (ISW) releases daily 'Russian offensive campaign assessments'. A lot of people in Washington DC seem to read them.
They are of course pure propaganda only slightly aligned with the actual tactical situation in the Ukraine. I confess that I read them once a while purely for my amusement.
Their main source seems to be the Ukrainian defense ministry which is of course lying left and right about the state of the war.
This for example is from their assessment from Sunday, April 17:
Russian forces continued to amass on the Izyum axis and in eastern Ukraine, increasingly including low-quality proxy conscripts, in parallel with continuous – and unsuccessful – small-scale attacks. Russian forces did not take any territory on the Izyum axis or in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in the past 24 hours. Russian forces deploying to eastern Ukraine reportedly continue to face significant morale and supply issues and appear unlikely to intend, or be able to, conduct a major offensive surge in the coming days. Deputy Ukrainian Minister of Defense Anna Malyar stated on April 17 that the Russian military is in no hurry to launch an offensive in eastern Ukraine, having learned from their experience from Kyiv – but Russian forces continue localized attacks and are likely unable to amass the cohesive combat power necessary for a major breakthrough.
I have no idea how anyone could have come to those conclusions.
- "appear unlikely to intend, or be able to, conduct a major offensive surge in the coming days"
and
- "the Russian military is in no hurry to launch an offensive in eastern Ukraine"
and
- likely unable to amass the cohesive combat power necessary for a major breakthrough
What are these guys smoking?
Yesterday evening heavy artillery attacks on Ukrainian frontline positions announced the launch of the expected offensive.
Belatedly ISW took note of that:
ISW @TheStudyofWar - 23:40 UTC · Apr 18, 2022
#Donetsk and #Luhansk Oblasts Update:
#Russian forces likely began large-scale offensive operations in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on April 18. These offensive operations are unlikely to be dramatically more successful than failed operations around #Kyiv.
Today the start of phase two of the Russian operation was officially announced:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was starting a new stage of what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine which he predicted would be a significant development."Another stage of this operation (in eastern Ukraine) is beginning and I am sure this will be a very important moment of this entire special operation", Lavrov said in an interview with the India Today TV channel.
After the heavy artillery preparations last night several offensives were launched into multiple directions.
Source - bigger
A major one is from Izyum (in the upper left on the map) towards Slovyansk. The distance between the two cities is 27 miles (47km).
Several villages on that route have already been taken. The "low quality proxy conscript" who "continue to face significant morale and supply issues", as ISW claims, might have something to do with that.
Phase two will include the liberation of all of Donetzk and Luhansk as demarcated on the above map by the dashed red lines.
I expect the whole phase two operation to take four to six weeks with maybe some extra time necessary to clean up the well defended cities Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
Questions remain. Will there be a third phase? What will it include?
Posted by b on April 19, 2022 at 17:49 UTC | Permalink
next page »The Institute for the Study of War is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kagan/Nuland Family Enterprises as most people here probably know.
Why bother to debunk their obvious propaganda?
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 19 2022 18:02 utc | 2
thank you b! i think there will be a phase 3... there is too much at stake in all this for their only to be 2 phases...
@ Opport Knocks | Apr 19 2022 18:02 utc | 2
in answer to your question.. my impression is that b is not bothering to debunk the bunk... or flunk the funk.. or whatever want to call it.. it is pointless.. as many of us have said all along - it is the details on the ground that matter here... all the soothsayers can say what they want.. it matters not..
Posted by: james | Apr 19 2022 18:08 utc | 4
Thanks for the posting b about the ongoing Empire of Lies keeping this shit show going
I am not in favor of a protracted military action but whatever it takes to back the bully of empire into its grave is ok with me.
Here in America the fog of lies keeps the zombies of my country in their fear induced stupor....sad
The inertia of empire is keeping it alive. It certainly isn't the merit.
Where is the knockout blow going to come from?
Maybe Russia can break through the fog to show the war crimes of the Ukraine but I haven't seen a crack yet...even about the biolabs...sigh
Maybe Le Pen will win in France and it will cause further empire crisis.
Maybe Pakistan will evolve back to the China/Russia axis and this will be the straw.
Maybe Occupied Palestine will do something stupid causing response from Iran/Syria/???
Maybe Yemen will lash out to save its starving people
May all of the above occur so this shit show can stop.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 19 2022 18:12 utc | 5
Posted by: Alejandro | Apr 19 2022 18:07 utc | 3
Perhaps you meant Odessa?
Posted by: donten | Apr 19 2022 18:15 utc | 7
How does War Mapper make that map? He/she has no explanation at the map website. And the website notes that "Ukraine successfully repelled some of the attacks". Do the low quality conscripts with morale and supply issues have something to do with that as well?
The "no hurry" comment was from the deputy Ukrainian Minister of Defense, not ISW. And it remains to be seen if offensives located in the Donbas will be any more successful than the failed Kyiv operations or they will wind up being passed off as distractions as well.
Posted by: Inkan1969 | Apr 19 2022 18:15 utc | 8
ISW was founded by Kimberley Kagan who runs it. She is married to Fredrick Kagan and is the sister in law of Robert Kagan and his wife Victoria Nuland. Go figure.
https://consortiumnews.com/2017/03/15/the-kagans-are-back-wars-to-follow/
Posted by: Tom Hickey | Apr 19 2022 18:17 utc | 9
Latest from Scott Ritter on Finland and, potentially, Sweden's entry in NATO:
https://www.energyintel.com/00000180-28b3-dd6c-af83-feb7b9ec0000
As noted at the time of the invasion, when it comes to defending itself from perceived existential security threats, Russia does not bluff. The West ignored Russia’s warning about Ukraine. Expanding Nato to Sweden and, in particular, Finland could only create more problems for the future.
There's this odd video from few days back on the the movement of Russian rockets, not sure what they are (could be S-300, S-400 as well), closer to Finland's border. It's geotagged by a sign in Russian showing a road fork that includes Helsinki. Could be just a regular movement, but Russia is already preparing it seems:
https://t.me/BellumActaNews/75888
Posted by: Boo | Apr 19 2022 18:17 utc | 10
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 19 2022 18:02 utc | 2
ISW is the child of Victoria Nuland's sister-in-law, the wife of Frederick Kagan.
b should maybe add that fact to the main article.
Lang's blog has been providing an outlet for ISW but Lang censors any suggestion that the reports are self-serving or arise from a Conflict of Interest.
Posted by: ChasMark | Apr 19 2022 18:17 utc | 11
Alejandro in #3, #6
Careful that #3 might've been a Freudian slip. Pro Russian regions like the Donbass and Mariupol were supposed to welcome the Russian troops with open arms. Instead the Russians wound up destroying everything in sight.
Posted by: Inkan1969 | Apr 19 2022 18:18 utc | 12
The Zionist neocons will certainly be looking after their own tribal interests even in the midst of the US/EU war against Russia. They will mostly be concerned with how much of Ukraine they can get for new Khazaria and how to get the EU to pay for resettlement of Israeli Jews and redevelopment. Then they will be thinking of how to permanently subvert the EU as they have done with the US.
Posted by: Obamavirus | Apr 19 2022 18:20 utc | 13
Not content with being humiliated the first time around, the Russians have decided to launch Special Military Debacle 2.0
I wonder if they will have enough soldiers surviving for the the Victory Day parade on the 9th of May?
Posted by: Phantom of Kiew | Apr 19 2022 18:20 utc | 14
The only battles the ukies are winning are the virtual ones. Cleanup on, currently, isle 14.
Posted by: Boo | Apr 19 2022 18:21 utc | 15
All in the family
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a United States–based think tank founded in 2007 by Kimberly Kagan, providing research and analysis regarding issues of defense and foreign affairs.
Institute for the Study of War
Who is Kimberly Kagan?
Kimberly Kagan is the daughter of Kalman Kessler, a Jewish accountant and school teacher from New York City and his wife Frances.[3][4][5] She received her BA in classical civilization and her PhD in history from Yale University. At Yale, Kagan met her husband Frederick Kagan, who is an American resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI),[6] son of Donald Kagan, a well-known historian, and brother of Robert Kagan, another well-known writer and publicist. Robert Kagan's wife is Victoria Nuland, a former US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
Kimberly Kagan
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2022 18:21 utc | 16
Must be Odessa. Russian city. Nazi rule. Must remove all threats to black sea fleet. Then Ukraine will refuse negotiations, then fourth phase will be to take Kiev.
Posted by: Wilbur | Apr 19 2022 18:24 utc | 17
Shits about to get worse.
From Zero hedge.
EU To Impose Full Embargo On Russian Oil Next Week, Will Send Price Above $185 According To JPMorgan
Posted by: Kim | Apr 19 2022 18:35 utc | 18
Thanks as always b and barflies...
IMO Phase 3 is the Empire Strikes Back... which leads to phase 4; Civilization's end.
These 'neo-conservative' crazies in the basement who now infest the corridors of power will be the death of us all.
Cheers!
Posted by: gottlieb | Apr 19 2022 18:35 utc | 19
Yes there will be a Phase 3
It will include the capture of Odessa oblast.
The rumoured strike on the cruiser and the UK shipment of Naval Strike Missiles will have made RF aware the naval base at Sevastopol can be attacked from Odessa and the tongue of land extending down to Romania.
This would deny the rump Ukraine a coastline and would permit RF forces stationed in the southern end of Odessa oblast to threaten NATO missile installations in Romania and any associated NATO port facilities.
Posted by: Sushi | Apr 19 2022 18:35 utc | 20
Phase 3 in Ukraine theatre (possibly) will be to push for a new State that includes Kiev & Odessa thereby leaving a landlocked West Ukrainian Banderistan population surrounded by countries who generally dislike them, esp. Poland, Belarus, Hungary. A wall might be built to keep them out of Eastern Ukraine. After mass surrenders in Donbass in Phase Two which will likely be steadily increasing this month (making Phase Two perhaps shorter than most now project) the next Phase might go very quickly except for the twin nuggets of Kiev and Odessa being hard to chew and swallow without getting into overly destructive methods.
On the political front, Phase Three might include various referenda in Eastern Ukraine establishing a few more independent republics up to and later including Odessa and Kiev (or wherever) with more municipal offices and schools flying the Russian flag, re-establishing Russian language and so forth. This time Russia will recognize these new Republics and probably facilitate their joining together to create a new federation/State called Novorussiya or some such. As the military victories are settled, political changes soon follow something which I gather is already modestly under way in several municipal jurisdictions which have recently been liberated albeit no referenda as yet.
Meanwhile, the most important theater is the geopolitical restructuring to facilitate Eurasia's emergence as a powerful new civilization leading the way forward into a new multipolar (and fairly administered rules-based) world order. For this to proceed successfully they must bleed America to collapsing point whilst ideally prizing Europe from her control so that she can join this new civilization.
And all this must be effected without provoking some sort of ghastly neocon/AngloZionist Samson option. These dynamics are longer term, of course, but after a successful Phase Two and with the unfolding of a Phase Three along the lines sketched above then the West's over-reaction is no doubt a major concern for the Eurasian powers. Presumably they have counter-measures in place already.
Interesting times...
(and terrific blog - thank you)
Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 19 2022 18:36 utc | 21
From ISW above:
"#Russian forces likely began large-scale offensive operations in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts on April 18. These offensive operations are unlikely to be dramatically more successful than failed operations around #Kyiv
Lol, what terrific gobbledygook. What does that even mean?
Where is the "Ghost of Kee-eev" to translate for me?
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Apr 19 2022 18:45 utc | 22
What are these guys smoking? Sounds like maybe meth. Thanks b for all your hard work and those of all the commenters here.
Posted by: Immaculate deception | Apr 19 2022 18:45 utc | 23
New:
Russia has entered the Azovstal Steel Building in Mariupol where Azov battalion was locked down. Russia rescued civilians who were trapped inside. They may have been held there as hostages by Ukrainian AZOV
Video https://youtu.be/fRGWe7n2ZOI
Posted by: Dean Oneil | Apr 19 2022 18:47 utc | 24
Scorpion | Apr 19 2022 18:36 utc | 21 describes the critical aspect of this conflict.
If RF simply liberates a chunk of Ukie territory and hangs out different flags she will have lost.
If "Winning" is to have meaning the RF must, together with all like countries of the global south and thier allies, dethrone the USD as world reserve currency. This is the single greatest threat to the globe.
As long as the USD has status as the reserve currency the USA benefits from an unwarranted global subsidy. This makes it possible to spend billions promoting conflict outside the US borders, more billions on arming its vassal states, endless appropriations to pay for the global network of 600 military bases, the 100+ bio-warfare labs, the funds to control and/or undermine international institutions such as the IMF and UN.
The "customer states," the deindustrialised states that consume over 50% of the worls resources and happly promote famine in Yemen and elsewhere are about to be dethroned by the "producer states" that do all of the work and reap but a small share of the benefits.
This conflict may alter its dimensions after Ukraine but it will not be brought to an end until the above outcome is achieved.
Posted by: Sushi | Apr 19 2022 18:49 utc | 25
``Pro Russian regions like the Donbass and Mariupol were supposed to welcome the Russian troops with open arms...`Inkan1969
There is plenty of evidence that the Russian troops were welcome, in areas where fascist thugs had been beating people for speaking Russian for the past eight years. They were wiser, however than to show their enthusiasm, knowing that to do so was to risk being tortured and killed by NATO`s nationalist agents.
You would appear to be endorsing the terror tactics of the Azov and other gangs.
This would include, I suppose, your support for the execution of large numbers of people who saw the Russian Army as liberators, just as the Red Army had, undeniably, been in 1944, in the town of Bucha.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 19 2022 18:51 utc | 26
Thanks, b, for your continual skewering of the deep state propagandists. Soar is an interesting reference.
Why has Russia not taken the rest of the Kherson peninsula that points to Odessa? It seems strategically important.
Posted by: Platero | Apr 19 2022 18:52 utc | 27
james | Apr 19 2022 18:08 utc | 4
I look at this from a number of different angles. karlof1 and others keeps us updated on the world economy side of things but I think as Martyanov says all this rests on military power. WWIII being fought in Ukraine. Russia using an economically sustainable force. western military doctrine calls for 3x numbers in attacking force yet Russia's numbers are one third of defending force.
Russia now pushing back rather than simply blocking US expansion and large parts of the world are starting to dump the US dollar.
"it is the details on the ground that matter here..." yep.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 18:53 utc | 28
Cookie Nuland reminds me of Christia Freeland up there in Canada, similarly ignorant, narcissistic, dogmatic, and destructive.
Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 19 2022 18:55 utc | 29
``What are these guys smoking?```
It will be expensive and you will by buying it for them.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 19 2022 18:55 utc | 30
while the Nazi forces in the eastern Ukraine get slaughtered, the US administration in Kiev will have to change the narrative about “the glorious Ukrainian military is winning” to “Russians are killing babies”...
Andrei's summary today features Lavrov's announcement of the 2nd phase, now commencing (concurrently with the flattening of the Azovstal Steel Plant) -- then he checks out for a few days to observe Orthodox Passion Week.
There's an interesting alignment of occasions here: an historic campaign, ramped up to rolling with Passion Week. Does this mean anything? For instance -- is such a temporal coincidence at all unexpected or unprecedented?
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Apr 19 2022 18:57 utc | 31
"Will there be a third phase? What will it include?"
This initial theater of hot war will have to proceed to at least its third and fourth phases, securing Odessa and the Black Sea littoral (third phase) and then the central-western part from Kiev through to Lvov (fourth or more), if the proclaimed war goals, along with preventing further imperial subversion within the Borderlands, are to be attained.
Then the Polish and Romanian missile bases beckon, plus any lunatic Finnish accession to NATO.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 19 2022 18:57 utc | 32
Wonder if Vicky "Fuck the EU" Nuland has any input over at the in-laws' "Institute for the Study of War"...
Why does every neocon/neolib/globalist/billionaire have an "institute" these days, anyway? Heck, I wish Mike Gravel's people (RIP, Mike) would change the name of the Gravel Institute to something a little less tainted by association.
Ah well, back on the topic, it sure is evident that they're hell bent on managing the narratives coming out of Ukraine. That, to me, is enough proof they sure as hell *aren't* in charge or managing what's actually happening on the ground.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 19 2022 18:59 utc | 33
I have some questions/thoughts on the involvement of the „Kadirowzy“, now that Phase 1 ended and Phase 2 is starting:
1. What is the USP (unique selling point), these Chechen fighters have that makes them special compared to main Russian army?
2. Is there any key advantage The Russian army has in having these troops being part of Operation Z?
3. Or is it more of a propaganda tool (to pull the Muslim world in Russia side) and/or psycho warfare (to scare Ukros off)
4. What would be the purpose of these troops in phase 2 now that heavy artillery is in place to grind Ukro forces?
Posted by: Rasta | Apr 19 2022 19:00 utc | 34
It hasn't been discussed in these terms a lot, but it occurred to me today that - in line with my previous comment about the narrative managers being hell bent on one particular narrative being the dominant one - the media message in the West is actually quite simple.
"Root for the 'good guys' against the evil 'bad guys'!!!"
Now, of course we all know that Russia and Putin have been set up as bad guys going back to 2008 or 2013 and much earlier when you drop Putin and talk about Russophobia. But I don't think most Americans understand this psyop/information warfare.
"We tell you who to root for and who to hate. Don't listen to any other opinions."
Is as common and ancient as the Western oligarchy owned press.
The main difference now is the power to cancel, censor or censure. Actual anti-war voices - as has been the case since 2001 - are not allowed on the airwaves or in the pages of venerated "institutions" such as Bezos Post or the Langley Times.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 19 2022 19:04 utc | 36
Rasta | Apr 19 2022 19:00 utc | 34
A different mind set very much a warrior culture and very good at it. They have also specialized in urban warfare. Highly trained dogs of war unleashed.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:06 utc | 37
It is hilarious for anyone to claim to be a 'institute for the study of war', but not display what some claim are over a 100,000 men and implements of war from one side that were positioned there over the past years.
Posted by: dan | Apr 19 2022 19:13 utc | 38
Aleph_Null | Apr 19 2022 18:57 utc | 31
How long this phase of the war will last is anybody’s guess. Optimists think a week, pessimists a month, but in reality nobody really knows because the outcome will be determined not by maneuver like during the first phase, but by logistics, specifically fuel and ammunition, in other words by mobility and firepower.
Every town, every village, every city will have to be cleared. That small section of eastern Ukraine is the size of Syria. The defending forces are drugged the same as ISIS in Syria yet most commentators think this will go the way of conventional warfare against undrugged rational forces.
One thing that has come from the many videos of Ukraine POW's. They expect torture and death if captured by the barbaric hordes of Russia. The result of many years of brainwashing.
US will fight to the last Ukrainian.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:17 utc | 39
IntelSlava has a diagram purporting to show the underground complex of Azovstal
Further, here is an interesting write up about the history of Azovstal
What kind of place is this? A giant steel works sprawling over several square kilometers. It has tunnels in which the fighters are withstanding the bombardment. But how did it end up there? What brought us to this point of a factory fight in Southern Ukraine?At moments like this, history truly reveals its quality as a pal·imp·sest - a manuscript or piece of writing on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain. The search functions of the internet reinforce that quality, constantly surfacing long-forgotten pieces from a different era.
Chartbook #114: Azovstal - Mariupol's final battlefield
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2022 19:18 utc | 40
Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:06 utc | 37
I see your point, but Russian army in general gained a lot of expertise and lessons learned for urban warfare in Chechenia, Syria, and Mali (Wagner esp.) .
I really wonder if these Kadyrowzy are a game changer that Rusdian main army is lacking.
Kadyrow is a Social Media Star doing much media work so my assumption is more of doing media/psyop stuff than really making a difference on the battleground.
Please Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Posted by: Rasta | Apr 19 2022 19:20 utc | 41
Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr. (USFS, Ret.)
Visiting Scholar, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University
By video from Washington, DC 16 April 2022
Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 19 2022 19:21 utc | 42
Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 19 2022 19:04 utc | 36
Pysops on the sheeple. Works the same as fads and fashions.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:21 utc | 43
Below is a current posting headline at Reuters that shows the future as being all around us but not equally distributed
"
Mariupol may fall within days, European official says
"
LOL!
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 19 2022 19:22 utc | 44
Posted by: Rasta | Apr 19 2022 19:00 utc | 34
I have some questions/thoughts on the involvement of the „Kadirowzy“, now that Phase 1 ended and Phase 2 is starting:
1. What is the USP (unique selling point), these Chechen fighters have that makes them special compared to main Russian army?
A. Extremely tough urban warfare.
2. Is there any key advantage The Russian army has in having these troops being part of Operation Z?
A. They do not share a sense that Russian-speaking Ukrainians are their brothers and so will not tread lightly as some Russian troops might tend to do.
3. Or is it more of a propaganda tool (to pull the Muslim world in Russia side) and/or psycho warfare (to scare Ukros off)
A. Certainly the latter. A little with the former, esp. given Islam is one of the official religions (along with Orth. Xtianity and Buddhism I believe).
4. What would be the purpose of these troops in phase 2 now that heavy artillery is in place to grind Ukro forces?
A. Any urban pockets of stubborn resistance. Especially Kiev should it come to that. Odessa.
Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 19 2022 19:25 utc | 45
From Telegram//"Intel Slava Z"
At least one Village have recently Voted to Join Up with DNR.
Per Helmer+Orlov+Others' Assessments, looks like UKR will be split into 2-3 Regions:
A) The Russian-Languaged and Protected East+South including the Black Sea Coastals;
B) Kiev or Kiev-Lvov;
C) Lvov. Smoking Piles of Destroyed Bandera-Nazi Gear and Bodies...
After Reviewing Many Criminal Acts conducted by the UKR_ArmedForces + Bandera-Nazi, I personally can't see the Bandera-Nazi surviving in Great Numbers for very long. Russia/DNR/LNR are probably going to be Pounding Rounds upon their Boots On Ground - most likely for months after "Novo-Russia/DNR-LNR/Secessioned-Section_A" are established as a Legal Entity Recognized by SCO/CSTO/EUEA/BLR/HUN/Others.
Posted by: IronForge | Apr 19 2022 19:30 utc | 46
Posted by: Down South | Apr 19 2022 19:18 utc | 40
Thanks for that DS
Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 19 2022 19:33 utc | 47
@PeterAU1 (28) "Russia now pushing back rather than simply blocking US expansion and large parts of the world are starting to dump the US dollar."
Could you please provide us with examples of dollar dumping?
Posted by: Rob | Apr 19 2022 19:34 utc | 48
Rasta | Apr 19 2022 19:20 utc | 41
The Chechens are not a game changer. They are part of the multi ethnic nation the Russian Federation.
The peace keepers that were the halfway house between Syria militias and Syrian government were mostly from Dagistan. Dagistan is also very much the warrior culture.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:37 utc | 49
Eastern Europe's fear/paranoia towards Russia may well bring its ultimate downfall. Make love, not war.
Posted by: Rob | Apr 19 2022 19:37 utc | 50
A Song Dedication to the Russians and Russian-Speaking Ukrainans Fighting for their Security:
"Rise" by the Late Origa.
Opening Theme for the 2nd Season Animation of the SciFi Novel "Ghost in the Shell - Mobile Cybernetic Mechanized Public Security Team"
Posted by: IronForge | Apr 19 2022 19:38 utc | 51
Keep in mind that anything that Pentagon and the western media write is for local consumption. They don't really care about the truth, they make their own truth. There are huge swaths of people who still watch CNN and MSNBC and believe those fairy tales.
Posted by: Balkanizer | Apr 19 2022 19:41 utc | 52
I visited the grocery store and had the look at the headlines of the local Finnish tabloid:
Russia in trouble, huge losses!Eight generals killed, flagship sunk
The purpose of the "Russia is losing" narrative is the get NATO and the EU involved in the war. Part of the disinformation is exaggerating Russian losses and hiding Ukrainian losses.
I believe the collective "Russia" made a strategic mistake in not publicizing the true number of casualties suffered by the Ukrainian forces in 2014 and 2015. It is impossible for Westerners to understand that the "low-quality proxy conscripts" in 2014-15 decisively defeated and annihilated the Ukrainian army.
Officially Ukraine only admits some 5000 killed. The real number may be up to 40,000. There were 8000 Ukrainian troops in the Debaltsevo salient and cauldron. Only some 1000 got out alive. No one has been able or willing to explain what happened to the rest. Similar cauldrons were formed and liquidated throughout Donbass in the summer of 2014. By September 2014 practically every Ukrainian unit deployed to the Donbass battlefield had been either destroyed or demilitarized. Lost Armour recored some 1500 pieces of armor destroyed or captured, most of them Ukrainian.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Apr 19 2022 19:42 utc | 53
Petri Krohn | Apr 19 2022 19:42 utc | 53
Russian English language news is shit. China's English language news is much better. While we read the news Russia establishes facts on the ground. Sort've like the difference between a faith based currency and a commodity based currency.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:48 utc | 54
Posted by: Boo | Apr 19 2022 18:17 utc | 10
Probably moving their new S-550's over there.
600 km range,can track super sonic missiles,F35's,ICBM's.
I think they have more than 30 in service so far.
Posted by: Kim | Apr 19 2022 19:51 utc | 55
Posted by: IronForge | Apr 19 2022 19:30 utc | 46
Re: At least one additional village voting to join up with the autonomous region, you can bet your last dime that the Western media will cook up the same narrative as they did for Crimea. Namely that no fair vote was possible given 1) They are "occupied" by Russia at the time of the vote and 2) Potential voters (people who have fled) were not counted and they *surely* would have voted NOT to join.
Pure BS based on selective reasoning, of course.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 19 2022 19:52 utc | 56
Phase 3? Lviv and everywhere east of that? Phase 4? Poland, Romania? Phase 5? NATO no no's joining up after the 90's? We can speculate but only Vlad inc. will know.
Posted by: Befree | Apr 19 2022 19:53 utc | 57
In this link you can see the steel works, Azovstal, on Ria Novosti drone footage.
Google Translate first paragraph:
MARIUPOL. April 19 - RIA Novosti. A RIA Novosti drone filmed the territory of Azovstal, where the Ukrainian military and nationalists remain, a few minutes before the start of the silence regime, which was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry from 14:00 Moscow time on Tuesday, in order to give those who lay down their arms a chance to leave through the newly opened gum corridors.
The footage shows pockets of smoke, but there are no signs of hostilities directly at the time of shooting (between approximately 13:30 and 13:55 Moscow time) is not visible.
https://ria.ru/20220419/azovstal-1784378579.html
- I hope the Russian army does not kill all those in the complex, because they are in an impossible situation, as the Russians themselves stated today. They should capture them.
Posted by: JB | Apr 19 2022 19:54 utc | 58
Rob | Apr 19 2022 19:34 utc | 48
It can be seen in the number of countries moving to national currencies.
this is the economic side of things. go back through the comments at the link. there is a sell off of US securities.
https://twitter.com/thesiriusreport
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 19:54 utc | 59
What are these guys smoking?
Massive amounts of copium.
Posted by: One Too Many | Apr 19 2022 19:55 utc | 60
Posted by: Befree | Apr 19 2022 19:53 utc | 57
Nah, unless one of those countries gets directly into things (or is providing NATO equipment in an obvious manner after having been warned) I doubt Russia will expand this any further than central/western Ukraine. The goal is to neutralize that country and not an attempt to build some sort of new empire or have this become a global war (WWIII).
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 19 2022 19:55 utc | 61
Regarding the article Down South posted @40 on the history of Azovstal - written from the 'western' perspective of course, and attributing the attempt to take it in 2014 to "Kremlin desires" rather than the fact that over 80% of the population had voted in favor of a separatist referendum. They are comparing the defense of the plant to "Stalingrad" - wrong analogy.
So where is Akhmetov now? Seems he was afraid of the separatists in 2014 and backed the coup government and their nazi fighters. The battle for Mariupol in 2014 was still raging at the time of the Minsk settlement if I recall. I am guessing that a couple of reasons that DPR fighters took the lead, with support from the Russians, were familiarity with the city and finishing up what they tried to do in 2014. A shame they weren't successful then.
Posted by: the pessimist | Apr 19 2022 19:59 utc | 62
psychohistorian | Apr 19 2022 19:22 utc | 44
LOL! :) Ukraine is a drug fueled mess. The lucky ones will be the POW's that are brought back to reality. Those with swastikas tats though can expect to spend the rest of their lives in hard labour rebuilding what they have destroyed.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 20:07 utc | 63
Phase 3; Odessa, and consolidating all land East of the Dnjepr.
Phase 4; destruction of the US$ and the world reserve currency (and the Euro while they're at it).
Posted by: Michael | Apr 19 2022 20:10 utc | 64
@40 That diagram of the tunnels under the steelworks was in the Daily Mai (I know, I know) a few days ago. It looks a bit like Bin Laden's secret mountain hideout.
Posted by: dh | Apr 19 2022 20:11 utc | 65
``While claiming to defend democracy, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has outlawed his opposition, ordered his rivals’ arrest, and presided over the disappearance and assassination of dissidents across the country....``
Posted by: bevin | Apr 19 2022 20:11 utc | 66
@Obamavirus | Apr 19 2022 18:20 utc | 13
The neocons should really be called ziocons.
@Kim | Apr 19 2022 18:35 utc | 18
I read that and I was thinking it must be false. They cannot be that stupid but it seems The New York Toilet has also mentioned it.
Also here's a video from Le Pen's camp: https://t.me/BellumActaNews/75960
The EU is preparing an embargo on Russian oil that would explode prices at the pump, but is waiting until after the presidential election to announce it... so as not to penalize candidate Macron.
We are ruled by idiots.
Posted by: Sundial | Apr 19 2022 20:17 utc | 67
No stage 3 would be stupid on Russia's part, they have the superiority of forces, are about to destroy the last of the best fighting forces Ukraine has, cannot guarantee neutrality of the part of Ukraine closest to Moscow unless they take the central north of the country, and almost certainly for the sake of their allies in the middle east have to take Odessa now that the global sanctions war has started, because last I knew Odessa is where western Ukraine's food exports are shipped out of and those may be cut off if Odessa isn't Eurasian friendly at the end of all of this. In fact if I were Iran I might be willing to offer a lot of "volunteers for Russia" in order to be certain that Odessa is Eurasian friendly.
Finally there is the domestic situation in Russia where the primary fear of Russians is the Kremlin selling out to a diplomatic solution that feels underwhelming to the population and Saker's "sixth columnists" will certainly be complaining very loudly unless Russian armed forces push all the way to Calais, and they certainly won't, so in order to keep the sixth columnists quiet Russia ought to take land approximating Novorossia to sell to the domestic population as a clear cut victory.
Internationally Russia will have excuses to do so too, they may cite uncertainty about Kiev's honestly about neutrality, pointing to the violations of the Minsk agreements and the burning to death of people in Odessa after the original Maidan revolution as an excuse to take Odessa to "protect the Russian speaking population" furthermore of course they could cite any amount of illegal human trafficking and drug smuggling done through Odessa and allowed by the CIA Kiev regime.
Posted by: Cthulhu | Apr 19 2022 20:19 utc | 68
4. What would be the purpose of these troops in phase 2 now that heavy artillery is in place to grind Ukro forces? Rasta 34
Artillery cannot defend itself. It needs infantry and, ideally, air cover to survive sallies from defensive positions. Even the incompetent torturer cowards in the Azov and other fascist militias could deal with guns unprotected by infantry.
(I will leave it to someone else to ask what you are smoking.)
Posted by: bevin | Apr 19 2022 20:23 utc | 69
Peter AU1 @43--
And brought to you by the same people. That's why I called the "generals" at Martyanov's Madison Avenue Generals.
Rob @48--
"Dollar dumping" is the wrong descriptive term. The act is shunning the dollar for use in commerce, domestic and international. As global dollar circulation slows, more pile up within the Empire causing additional inflation. This was predicted back in 2008 when the first round of extreme "quantitative easing" began. Another effect is to decrease demand for the dollar which lowers its purchasing power in the bidding for commodities on the international market making them more expensive for dollar buyers, which is another inflation pusher. When the dollar finally loses its status as THE reserve currency, inflation will really hop. Another potential problem when the new international trading currency is formulated along with a new set of international institutions to replace those controlled by the Outlaw US Empire will be the repudiation of odious dollar denominated debt owed to IMF and World Bank which will likely add up to many billions of dollars in debt defaults.
For dollar holders, all the above implies the need to find another store of value other than dollars such as commodities or strong currencies like the yuan, ruble, and rupee--all of which will strengthen at the dollar's expense.
@Cthulhu | Apr 19 2022 20:19 utc | 68
https://t.me/BellumActaNews/75957
This been floating around, but it seems Russian goods are being transported to Kherson and the currency is becoming roubles. Secession might be on the table. If they take all the shore line, which I think they will, Ukraine would become a permanent failed state. Ukraine without access to the black sea is a nothing.
Posted by: Sundial | Apr 19 2022 20:29 utc | 71
Has anything more been reported about the fire at the second biggest armoury in the UK?
Posted by: tucenz | Apr 19 2022 20:29 utc | 72
Not in any way suggesting I'm impatient, but...
I really don't see Phase 2 going on for very long*. This is a tipping point and I believe that it'll tip pretty fast. The chaos that the Russians are going to unleash is going to so confuse the Ukie forces that they'll be running out with their hands up. Nazis will do what the Nazis do, but there isn't enough of them to contain the Ukie regulars AND the RF (plus the separatists forces). Again, defections, fragging and such, is going to explode and once this starts heating up it'll go VERY fast. Yes, the entire area will have to be swept of Nazis, but for all practical purposes the big battle is likely to go fairly quickly.
* Mop-up will take the most time, but for all intents and purposes the back of the Ukie forces will be broken early-on in Phase 2.
Posted by: Seer | Apr 19 2022 20:35 utc | 73
@Inkan1969 | Apr 19 2022 18:15 utc | 8 and any other takers:
For a 15 year old student not near the US or Europe, I tried to develop 4 criteria to help young minds quickly gauge a simple question: who is the aggressor and who is the defender?
1. Geography 2. budgets 3. history, esp recent 4. body counts (casualties, refugees, etc.)
1. Americans are so blind and sickened by their ruling class that they cannot even recognize the principle of geography, that by definition, legally the US is doing nothing but committing war crimes by its involvement in Ukraine. Americans haven't the slightest fucking clue where they are on this planet, so the concept of self-defense is meaningless.
2. budgets - do I really need to get into this? re the West in general, the US in particular and to the total of the rest of the world? yes, b/c like *everything* they try to lie and dissemble and hide how much money is wasted via the DOD and US global warmaking. who knew that nuclear weapons were part of the "Dept of Energy"?
3. history - I say recent, b/c this is for students who can't trace conflicts back to the Northern Crusade and crap like that. what kind of a self-blinding (Oedipal?) fool believes that the people starving Yemen and Afghanistan are anything other than imperialist warmongering shitbags who *must* steal others' stuff to be "successful"? what was the destruction of Yugoslavia but a phase in "de-russification"?
4. body counts - the US doesn't do 'em. but the tens of millions of piles of bodies from Afghanistan to Libya just in last 40 years don't lie. how much energy does Uncle spend just to lie about what it's doing? ditto Israel, Britain, France, etc.
I don't support the Russian state. I support Russia as the focus of global resistance to Nazis who now have a proxy army, another proxy army, with which to attack their generations old foe. To me as an American thousands of miles away from Ukraine, I know that *everything* about this war is mediated, to me. The character of the USG is unmediated to me. I know they are lying bags of shit from top to bottom running this society from opening my own goddam eyes when I walk out the door. I know, have absolute certainty, that nothing I was told growing up, nothing i'm told today, about Russia is true. nothing. not even "facts", b/c they are in a narrative of rubbish.
i got a fambly member, from the radioactive part of the fambly, that's been "de-russifying" in E Europe for over 20 years now. It's impossible for him to understand that USAID doesn't care what he does when it supports his 'work', they only care about its PR value, so they can privatize assets and put missiles on Russia's border. nope, per him, the problems in Europe are mostly the legacy of communism and Russian interference. no matter that the commies fell over 30 years ago now. still their fault. nothing is the fault of those whose leadership is somehow so desperately needed. vomit.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 20:37 utc | 74
At Turcopolier, after disguising themselves as opposed to the neocons during the past decade or so, they remained posting the "analysis" of this ISW since the start of the Russian SMO...Curiously...
Do you think this site has been taken over by TPTB, coinciding with the banning of some of its regular authors and now even the dissapearance of the owner, remaining posting only, casually, that Lithuanian, with his anti-Russian family old bias, concidentally with tha start of this SMO? Recall that this author was always full defending the globalist agenda during the past two years..
I have always kept the impression that many sites which played kinda neutral or pro-Russian stance during these past decade were in fact NATO sites destined to catch dissent and OSINT in the US and the West in general..
Posted by: Ghost of Mozgovoy | Apr 19 2022 20:41 utc | 75
Another nancy boy. https://www.bitchute.com/video/dQLaHNLJTlWQ/
Gonzalo Lira unpicked a few of these - all working from an outdoor studio setting with various paraphernalia of earlier years of the war about them.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 20:48 utc | 76
What the idiots call failures were probing operations to pin enemy's forces in an area away from the main objective. They took territory, held it, and relinquished it when it came to consolidate forces in the Donbass.
"Reconnaissance-in-force (RIF) is a type of military operation or military tactic used specifically to probe an enemy's combat ability."
Posted by: Les` | Apr 19 2022 20:52 utc | 77
rjb1.5 @74--
I don't support the Russian state. I support Russia as the focus of global resistance to Nazis...
That's 100% hypocritical. For Russia to do what you ask requires supporting the Russian state for that's the power behind the resistance.
@71 Kherson oblast has a referendum tabled for independence soon.
A small part of Zaporozhia has voted today to join DPR.
Novorussia is in the making..
Posted by: Lozion | Apr 19 2022 20:53 utc | 79
Lavrov clarifies the Ruble payment requirement. I didn't understand what the big deal was with the EU, unless they're just being contentious. There was an odd rumor about maybe pallets of cash - which would be way preferable to bank transfers ( although cumbersome)
Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 19 2022 20:56 utc | 80
The Russians will be happy to run as many phases as they can keep shipping in bodybags for the nazis.
Someone from the saker board said (may be andrei himself) now its not about who wins, it's about who will or can admit defeat.
It is known from the past Russians will accept a PR defeat if they can in fact achieve their objectives: To wit, USSR got the US to remove their missiles from Turkey during the Cuban crisis but were not allowed to talk about it. 50 years on every Tom, Dick and Harry think the USSR was soft and JFK had won when in fact all he did was faced reality and wind-back an over-reach.
This is but one well known example of such.
I hope the Russians don't fall for it again but it is likely the exact outcome when all is said and done.
Posted by: A.L. | Apr 19 2022 20:58 utc | 81
The 'Institute for the Study of War' is wholly owned and operated by the notorious Kagan family, including Robert and his wife Victoria (Toria) Nuland. It was founded in order to promote the neocon agenda while superficially distancing from the tainted PNAC brand, and as a way to funnel public defense funding into private hands. Please watch the 3-part documentary series 'A Very Heavy Agenda' for a detailed look into the Kagan family and their ISW project.
Part 3 is particularly focused on the ISW and can be viewed at:
https://odysee.com/@QuantumRhino:9/A-Very-Heavy-Agenda---Part-3:8
Part 1 can be viewed here: https://odysee.com/@QuantumRhino:9/A-Very-Heavy-Agenda---Part-1:3
Part 2 can be viewed here: https://odysee.com/@QuantumRhino:9/A-Very-Heavy-Agenda---Part-2:9
Posted by: Francesca | Apr 19 2022 20:59 utc | 82
rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 20:37 utc | 74
I could highlight each of your numbers rjb1.5 but 4 really covers it.
"4. body counts - the US doesn't do 'em. but the tens of millions of piles of bodies from Afghanistan to Libya just in last 40 years don't lie. how much energy does Uncle spend just to lie about what it's doing? ditto Israel, Britain, France, etc."
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 20:59 utc | 83
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 19 2022 20:27 utc | 70
I think that’s a very good analysis of what’s going to happen to the USD.
In simpler terms I would say ‘implosion’.
The US has a lot of resources, people and commodities. But a lot of eggs are going to be broken for this new omelet.
Posted by: financial matters | Apr 19 2022 21:01 utc | 84
karlof1 | Apr 19 2022 20:52 utc | 78
jesus, that's ridiculous. I support Iran's right to self-defense, but otherwise, fuck them and that government.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 21:01 utc | 85
@tucenz. Second biggest in Europe apparently.
No. The barflies accept the explanation that it was a minor incident involving fireworks, and any concerns are dismissed with an indulgent smile.
Posted by: Tim | Apr 19 2022 21:03 utc | 86
"I confess that I read them once a while "
Then you have more tolerance than I do for consuming the endless river of slightly couched aggression flowing from the chicken hawk agitators.
"What are these guys smoking?"
Did you watch Saving Private Ryan? If so do you remember the part where there was a representation of German speaking through a loudspeaker churning out propaganda? Dude said the Statue of Liberty is kaput...
US soldier said that's Major Dusseldorf, our friendly neighborhood morale officer..
It's something like that..
This isn't an endorsement of the accuracy of Spielberg's historical assertions, just a comparison.
I'm sticking with my overall assessment of the horror, "When Elephants fight,it's the grass that suffers most". Always was, always will be.
Posted by: bubbles | Apr 19 2022 21:04 utc | 87
Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 20:59 utc | 82
of course, but that's the one they lie the most about, isn't it? if we start poking around in these other areas, we'll find out who is lying about where the bodies are, too.
"we have got this great military. why can't we use it?" the humanitarian impulse of the US ruling class, courteous of Madeline Albright.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 21:05 utc | 88
rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 21:01 utc | 84
I agreed with the surface of the post I replied to but from your post @84 you seem to have no understanding of other cultures.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 21:08 utc | 89
well if pat langs site has gone to shit, you can now read larry johnson, independent of that... this from yesterday....
UKRAINE CLAIMS RUSSIAN PHASE 2 HAS BEGUN
peter au... we're on the same page here... cheers..
Posted by: james | Apr 19 2022 21:11 utc | 90
@66 bevin
re: link to Aaron Mate's Grayzone piece on the intensifying reign of terror under Zelensky's "man of peace / freedom fighter" government
Thanks. Recommended!
Posted by: ptb | Apr 19 2022 21:11 utc | 91
What if? After taking the oblasts on this side of what ever river they choose, they settle in to allow Novorussia to rebuild. The Russians may fight to control all of the old Ukraine, or;
Engage the Romanian, Hungarian, Slovakian, Poles. Arrange for them to become gas/oil transport points and earn money as well as getting Russian petroleum products, give them an opportunity to reclaim the land they lost to the CCCP, become part of the euro/asia club, and just one more thing, disassociate themselves with NATO and understand who protects them and who won't. They will have to bear the issue that NATO will put the missiles and tanks on their border and try to purchase their friendship yet again, but they will understand the difference. Until their western neighbors decide to drop NATO as well.
As soon as the world economy collapses just a bit more, the decision will be simple. Their western will also change their minds just before the next winter sets in.
Follow the money
Posted by: Tard | Apr 19 2022 21:12 utc | 92
EU To Impose Full Embargo On Russian Oil Next Week, Will Send Price Above $185 According To JPMorgan
Posted by: Kim | Apr 19 2022 18:35 utc | 18
Excellent! As 50% of French diesel comes from Russia, it will be indeed very interesting to see the new prices. Or they will be obliged to cut the taxes on diesel or the price will skyrocket.
Posted by: Olivier | Apr 19 2022 21:17 utc | 93
karlof1 | Apr 19 2022 20:52 utc | 78
sitting on the w coast of the US, my opinions about russia don't mean shit anyway. i've got them, but they have no impact on this world.
quite unlike what i might say about the homeland. you know, the people who bray about russia "violating international law" while bragging that the US constitution is just a goddam piece of paper. on the more local front, the same people who move some phony numbers in the budget around in order to claim that they are "tackling homelessness". People are so innumerate they can't connect the increasing homeless sleeping in the park w/rising housing costs. Nope, the governor cares! it's in his budget.
btw, i read every comment you write. much appreciate the heavy-lifting you are doing with international news sources, russian MoD, etc.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 21:17 utc | 94
Azovstal might harbor some swedes?
svt.se (Swedish television) claims it's "the last pocket of resistance in the Ukraine", no less.
nrk.no (Norwegian state broadcasting) claim Biden is giving fighter-jets to Ukraine. it turns out it's the Ikea-version.
But they also headlines our two British mercs, and how Boris Johnson is cutting them short.
Posted by: Anne B | Apr 19 2022 21:19 utc | 95
Posted by: A.L. | Apr 19 2022 20:58 utc | 81
The key to the next phase will be whether the Donbass region willingly accepts the change and is part of a stable, peaceful and secure state. Russia will not want to be responsible for suppressing a hostile set of territories or creating neighbour statelets that are unstable and could fall to US imperialism. Balancing that will of course be significant stategic objectives that make supressing a hostile population worth the risk. This applies I think to Odessa and the black sea coast.
Let me be clear. a) I expect that Lukhansk to easily manage - the whole of it and possibly even join Russia willingly like Crimea. b) I think half of Donesk will be easy, but not sure about the other half, c) I expect that the Kherson region and the strip joining to Crimea to be relatively easy too - either part of Russia or a separate statelet, d) who knows about Mariupol, but I suspect it too will become easily part of Russia- I think it would be wise to annex this city completely, e) Odessa and the rest of the Black sea coast will be very, very tough but strategically worth the risk. it will probably need to be Russian territory.f) The rest of Ukraine may well be just too hard for Russia to suppress and it may be that it has to live with a hostile neighbour but one where significant military installations are taken out instantly they appear.
I am sure that others with more information on the ground will be able to comment sensibly on this scenario. ideally of course Kharvov will also easily join a pro Russia statelet and Kiev will be genuinely neutral, but I am not holding out too much hope.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 19 2022 21:19 utc | 96
rjb1.5
Apologies my last reply to you was a bit sharp. Most of us here are pissed off with the way our countries/societies are going although we have different thoughts on the answers.
That thing about cultures needs a bit more detail. I'm not really up to it at the moment but I think respect for cultures that are not our own is a big thing. Iran has been able to fend off the US because the vast majority of the people support the leadership. Or another way to put it is the leadership is the voice of the people. I do not believe in any religion, but Iran is a Muslim nation and I respect that.
That old saying - when in Rome do as the Romans do.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 21:23 utc | 97
https://t.me/russian_truth_is_real/2195
Ukropoganda staged a video of "delivering humanitarian aid".
The aid was delivered to the cinema actor, earlier filmed in UkroISIS beheading video.
Really, does Ukraine have such a short bench of propaganda artists???
Posted by: Arioch | Apr 19 2022 21:25 utc | 98
Peter AU1 | Apr 19 2022 21:08 utc | 88
fine. whatever. that comment was directed toward the government. and iran isn't "other cultures." but whatever. i'm in the US, i'm sure i'm pretty uninformed about "iranian culture," when Taco Bell = Mexican culture. not so much Iranian history, though. again, as w/Russia, sitting in here in the US, it matters little what the Iranian gov't is up to, when I know: the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today is the USG, and it's only gotten worse, much worse, since MLKj said that.
i do know that Iranians come to the US and become "Smiley's People", like many are allowed to immigrate to the west. from very personal experience.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Apr 19 2022 21:26 utc | 99
another twitter person map (interpret loosely) shows closing in on Lyman
https://nitter.net/pic/media%2FFQvH8nbWQAU61uc.jpg%3Fname%3Dorig
Posted by: ptb | Apr 19 2022 21:26 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
well, they are well paid to come to these conclusions, they will find a way to do it.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Apr 19 2022 17:57 utc | 1