Nick | Apr 2 2022 22:03 utc | 97
The ground war going poorly for Russia? Only if you read the MSM. Think about why the empire is starting to donate replacement armored vehicles. Russian MoD’s figures will most likely prove fairly accurate. It will be interesting to see MoD’s casualty figures next time they put them out. Before Mariupol it was 1400 or so Russian casualties to about 14000 Ukraine. I don’t know how many were trapped in Mariupol which was Azov plus standard military. It seems to have been a fairly large grouping most of those are now added onto the Ukraine KIA list.
that 10 to one ratio in Russia’s favor of KIA says a lot about how the ground war is going.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 2 2022 22:24 utc | 104

@Posted by: David F | Apr 2 2022 22:12 utc | 101
Yes, and I certainly don’t mind being reminded,
again and again.
Why do you ask?

Posted by: librul | Apr 2 2022 22:34 utc | 106

Idealy, not necessarily possible the ruskies would present the ukraian army with clearly insurmountable situation.
Then offer last time terms.
If they dont take the terms proceed vigorously then pause and repeat.
Terms would need to include assistance in rounding up the nasties. Then help in taking control of government in Kiev.
Ze talked of two traiterous Generals. I suspect they advised something like surrendor.
As Ze becomes more desperate, the risk of us of (my guess would be) chemical weapons increases – in Ukraine or across the border in Russia. Need to try to head that off.

Posted by: jared | Apr 2 2022 22:43 utc | 108

uncle tungsten | Apr 2 2022 22:12 utc | 100
Much depends I think on when crops need to be planted and how long this war takes. The Ukraine forces are much different now to back in 2014, 2015. Eight years of anti Russia propaganda and better trained. Add to that the neo-nazis spread through the regular forces. I suspect this will take some time, just a rough guess at the moment would be a minimum of six months before the majority of Ukraine starts coming back to regular fuel supplies and that sort of thing. Much also depends I guess on what Russia’s final plan is. I suppose Russia will secure the majority ethnic Russia areas first and get them up and running with the denazification and demilitarization ofbthe rest of Ukraine an ongoing process.
US/UK look determined to fight to the last Ukrainian ad with the last eight years of non stop propaganda the clowns in western Ukraine may do just that.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 2 2022 22:45 utc | 110

This expected casualty is now official. From an item at RT:

According to Rogozin, joint work on the International Space Station cannot go on as usual unless restrictions are lifted.
“The position of our partners is clear: the sanctions will not be lifted,” he wrote on social media. “The goal of the sanctions is to kill the Russian economy, impose despair and hunger on our people, and bring our country to its knees. They will obviously fail, but the goals are clear.”
This is why I believe the restoration of normal relations with [our] partners regarding the International Space Station and other joint projects is only possible with the full and unconditional lifting of the illegal sanctions. [My Emphasis]

I wanted to build a scale model of the ISS but now I’m glad I didn’t. China has its own, and Russia will soon follow. Then it’s on to the moon. The bankrupt West will never again be human spacefarers.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 2 2022 22:46 utc | 112

Librul – No particular reason. When I read your explanation of “selfish unselfishness”, I was reminded of the Brahma-viharas
I think your summation is better than what most monks would have to offer.
I have tried to argue that there is no such thing as an unselfish act, it is impossible.
The general reaction is people looking at me as if I was retarded, occasionally I can get a “hmmm”, but only once have I met another who grasped this self evident logic.
Perhaps you are the second I have met who can grasp this.
Cheers.

Posted by: David F | Apr 2 2022 22:53 utc | 114

Reading Nightvision’s sitrep over at The Saker. He suggests that the 200-250,000 Russian troops initially reported to be on Ukraine’s border before the war, totaling 150 BTGs, didn’t actually exist. In which case, the 50 BTGs he and the UAWarData guy counts would be all that Russia has inside Ukraine.
But that doesn’t explain the reports of more armor sitting inside Russia on the border.
So I’ve asked him to comment on that. Because if there are no more forces inside Russia – which I find hard to believe Russia doesn’t have reserves to be deployed if necessary – then that changes my whole calculation on Russia’s intentions subsequent to the Donbass reduction. If Russia really has invaded Ukraine with only 50-60,000 troops – which I also find hard to believe – then clearly there is no intent to “capture” all of Ukraine, to use Lira’s term. And the feint to Kiev does become a risky endeavor.
OTOH, I have heard reports that at least half the 200 Russian helicopters that engaged in the Kiev push from Belarus are still in Belarus, in an airfield further north than the airfields where the other half of the helicopters are supporting the Kiev region front. That would tend to support my contention that at least half the Russian army is still not in the field.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 2 2022 22:53 utc | 116

Posted by: Kadath | Apr 2 2022 16:57 utc | 19
Actually these days it might be very easy to identify any captured/dead people provided there is a sample of their DNA. Using ancestor.com or similar it will be possible to identify first second third, fourth or even fifth cousins of the deceased. You may not be able to prove that xyz was from France but you could publish a record of his relations which allows people to put two and two together.

Posted by: watcher | Apr 2 2022 23:00 utc | 118

@bevin | Apr 2 2022 21:58 utc | 95
” …the idiots running Finland… seem to have chosen the moment before the fall of the US Empire to join up with NATO, presumably in order to enjoy the descent. Its like ski jumping for politicians.”
Hahaha this image is hilarious. May have plenty of use for it soon in the US itself.

Posted by: Vintage Red | Apr 2 2022 23:04 utc | 120

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 2 2022 22:47 utc | 113
Dream on my friend. I wish, but cannot see it EVER.

Posted by: watcher | Apr 2 2022 23:10 utc | 122

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 2 2022 22:53 utc | 116
Thing is Richard we do not really know what Russia’s objectives were, but I agree with Saker that they never planned a full invasion/capture of Ukraine. It was too expensive, and suppressing a hostile nation is almost always a disaster.
Russia I think wanted to put on enough pressure to kick NATO out and to ensure no dangerous installations too close to Russia’s borders. That and of course to finally protect the Russians in the Donbass.
Additionally I would guess that Russia would be very, very careful not to leave itself unprotected in the case of a surprise NATO plus Quad attack.
Now of course objectives may have changed as the war progresses. Germany’s self destruction could surely NOT have been expected. It has happened however and plans must change.

Posted by: watcher | Apr 2 2022 23:19 utc | 124

Another interesting RT item, “Japan says it won’t scrap Russia projects: Tokyo intends to continue working with Russian oil and gas enterprises.” Yes, Japan’s an unfriendly because it illegally sanctioned Russia, but:

“Japan has stakes in both [oil and gas] projects and has secured long-term supplies. The projects provide our country with energy at below-market prices, and soaring energy costs are making the projects even more important,” the official emphasized.
Koichi also said that while Japan imports about 90% of its crude oil from the Middle East, Russia’s Sakhalin-1 project is viewed in Tokyo as an important energy source outside that region. He added that the Sakhalin-2 project, in turn, accounts for about 9% of his country’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Moreover, the minister stressed that Japan will also stick to agreements on another LNG development project in the Russian Arctic.

Looks like Japan doesn’t want to be lumped in with the West even though it’s occupied.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 2 2022 23:20 utc | 126

Another interesting item from RT: “Anti-Russian sanctions don’t work – Poland.” Yes, that statement makes Poles appear intelligent until you read more:

“I must say this very clearly: the sanctions we have imposed so far don’t work. The best evidence is the ruble exchange rate,” [PM] Morawiecki said on Saturday.
“The ruble exchange rate, this litmus test, has returned to the level it was before the Russian aggression against Ukraine. What does it mean? It means that all economic, financial, budgetary, and monetary measures have not worked as some leaders wished. It needs to be said very loudly,” he added, speaking at a center for Ukrainian refugees in Otwock near Warsaw.
Poland has advocated for tougher sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, the prime minister tweeted that “The sanctions are supposed to stop Putin. If they haven’t, it means they are not robust enough!” [My Emphasis]

And just what does the brilliant Polish PM think will be more powerful sanctions when “sanctions from hell” have backfired onto the sanctioning nations? So far, none of the various rounds of sanctions have worked, so this guy proposes to try again! Gee, maybe I was wrong in saying he’s intelligent. But then he does have an excuse–he’s Polish.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 2 2022 23:29 utc | 128

# 111
One reason could be the necessary internal legal, bank accont opening etc. arrangements, for which Putin gave some 10 days in his speech.
And it was earlier said, that the billing for Russian natural gas is done a month afterwards.
After losing several years national savings, what’s one month here or there?

Posted by: ka | Apr 2 2022 23:36 utc | 130

Could this operation end shortly?
Most of stated objectives have been met or soon will be, so I expect Putin will declare end of operation in next two months.
No quagmire for Russia.
De-nazification? – Almost complete.
De-militarisation? – well on way – destruction of heavy equipment east of Dnieper probably needs to be done by pushing Ukraine Army back across Dnieper. With no diesel heavy equipment gets left behind. Then establish DMZ east of Dnieper in negotiaitions. Also capability and willingness of Russia to destroy “NATO assets” in western Ukraine shows that Russia can enforce neutrality without another invasion. Ukraine and Washington need to understand that neutrality doesn’t mean US or NATO can re-arm Ukraine or donate weapons to it..
Destruction of Ukraine MIC – Done
Crimea Canal secured – done but wait for negotiations.
Luhansk Oblast – 100% liberated.
Donetsk Oblast – 50% liberated.

Posted by: Ghost Ship | Apr 2 2022 23:40 utc | 132

“Remember also a lot of children grew up being brainwashed. 8 Years of full control of a nation…” Sundial@125
You make a very good point. But the situation is a lot worse than you suggest. The suffocating anti-Russian, Nazi based mythmaking and historical revisionism has dominated the media and the education system in Ukraine since before 2004.
And hundreds of millions have been invested on mass brainwashing- exemplified by the demolition of monuments to the liberators of 1944/5 and the consecration of statues to war criminals, traitors and agents of the CIA and MI6.
Needless to say the patrons of this mass propagandising are the Canadian and US governments, using the taxes collected from the people.
Ukraine is the poorest country in Europe. The bulk of its income from abroad is either donated to crooked oligarchs or used to implant racist lies in the minds of the young.

Posted by: bevin | Apr 2 2022 23:50 utc | 134

can anyone confirm this story:
Chechens just captured what looks like billions in cash from a Red Cross convoy. Two of the ambulances also had Azov guys trying to get out of dodge

Posted by: Manage without me | Apr 2 2022 23:52 utc | 136

The quote is a little long but seems to give a decent overview of Ukraine’s main crops.
Wheat is planted in the fall and harvested July August so fuel and equipment supply lines plus infrastructure for storage distribution and export would have to be back in place by then.
The other main crops all appear to be planted in April though apparetly much of Ukraine can have several crops per year.
I think this is from the early 2000’s http://wdc.org.ua/en/node/29

Wheat is grown throughout the country, but central and south-central Ukraine are the key production zones. About 95 percent of Ukraine wheat is winter wheat, planted in the fall and harvested during July and August of the following year. On the average, approximately 15 percent of fall-planted crops fail to survive the winter. The amount of winterkill varies widely from year to year, from 2 percent in 1990 to a staggering 65 percent in 2003, when a persistent ice crust smothered the crop. Wheat yield declined during the 1990’s following the breakup of the Soviet Union and the loss of heavy State subsidies for agriculture. Farms struggled with cash shortages, and the use of fertilizer and plant-protection chemicals plummeted. Due to a combination of favorable weather and a modest but steady improvement in the financial condition of many farms, wheat production has rebounded in recent years (except for the disastrous 2003/04 crop which fell victim to unusually severe winter weather). Ukraine produces chiefly hard red winter wheat (bread wheat), and in a typical year roughly 80 percent of domestic wheat output is considered milling quality, by Ukrainian standards. Feed consumption of wheat dropped sharply during the 1990’s, from over 12 million tons to less than 5 million. Meanwhile, food consumption has remained steady at around 10 million tons.
Barley has been the top feed grain in Ukraine for most of the past ten years in terms of consumption, surpassing wheat in the early 1990’s. Spring barley accounts for over 90 percent of barley area, and the main production region is eastern Ukraine. Spring barley is typically planted in April and harvested in August, and is the crop most frequently used for spring reseeding of damaged or destroyed winter-grain fields. Area is inversely related, to some degree, to winter wheat area. Winter barley is the least cold-tolerant of the winter grains, and production is limited to the extreme south. The increasing demand for malt from the brewing industry has led to a jump in malting barley production and the import of high-quality planting seed from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and France. Consumption of barley for malting purposes has surpassed 300,000 tons, but still accounts for only 5 percent of total barley consumption.
Increased production — specifically, three bumper harvests since 2001 — and diminishing domestic demand for feed grains have contributed to a jump in Ukrainian wheat and barley exports. The boom in exports was fueled also by relatively low production costs and the reduction or elimination of price controls and export restrictions in 1994. Most exports go to the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. (See attaché reports: Grain and Feed Annual, April 2004, and How is Ukrainian Grain Competitive?, August 2002.)
Corn is the third important feed grain in Ukraine. Planted area has increased despite several impediments: obsolete and inadequate harvesting equipment, high cost of production (specifically post-harvest drying expenses), and pilferage. The main production region is eastern and southern Ukraine, although precipitation amounts in some oblasts in the extreme south are too low to support corn production. Corn is typically planted in late April or early May. Harvest begins in late September and is usually nearing completion by early November. Only 25 to 50 percent of total corn area is harvested for grain; the rest is cut for silage, usually in August. (The USDA corn estimates refer to corn for grain only.) Corn is used chiefly for poultry and swine feed, and production and consumption have risen since 2000 concurrent with a rebound in poultry inventories. Russia and Belarus are the chief destinations for Ukrainian corn exports.
Sunflowerseed is Ukraine’s chief oilseed crop. Production is concentrated in the southern and eastern oblasts. Sunflowers are typically planted in April and harvested from mid-September to mid-October. Because of a combination of high price, relatively low cost of production, and traditionally high demand, sunflowerseed has become one of the most consistently profitable crops. (See Sunflowerseed Production in Russia and Ukraine, June 2004.) Its high profitability fueled a significant expansion in planted area beginning in the late 1990’s. Many farmers in Ukraine abandoned the traditional crop-rotation practices recommended by agricultural officials which called for planting sunflowers no more than once every seven years in the same field. The aim of the 1-in-7 rotation is to prevent soil-borne fungal diseases and reduce the depletion of soil moisture and fertility. (Because of their deep rooting system, sunflowers reportedly extract higher amounts of water and nutrients from the soil than do other crops in the rotation.)
Sugar beets are grown primarily in central and western Ukraine. Beets are planted in late April and early May and harvested from mid-September through the end of October. Production has been on the decline since the early 1990’s due chiefly to low profitability compared to grains and sunflowerseed. Between 1994 and 2003, planted area declined by 50 percent to less than 0.8 million hectares, and production from 28.1 to 13.4 million tons. Large farms are sometimes encouraged by the local administrators to plant sugar beets not so much to make money but rather to provide a social safety net or to supplement to pensioners or farm workers. A family may be responsible for weeding a specific section of a field and the workers in turn receive 20 percent of the sugar processed from the beets harvested from its section. Sugar also frequently serves as part of farm workers’ salaries.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 2 2022 23:53 utc | 138

Nightvision’s response to me on the numbers…

Nightvision on April 02, 2022 · at 7:02 pm EST/EDT
Truth is no one knows for certain. Scott Ritter I presume is just repeating numbers he’s heard elsewhere, and those people got it from the ‘Pentagon’ who just made up the highest number they can think of to scare monger the world that the brutal Russian ‘barbarians’ are coming to take your children. The reality is the true troop dispositions are secret for obvious reasons, Russia would never publish the exact amount they are using nor WHERE they are deployed. We can only speculate and try to piece things together. It’s POSSIBLE Russia has used 150k+ troops, almost anything is possible, we don’t know for certain. But I am merely presenting other possibilities supported with evidence that go against the one way tide of the Pentagon/west’s questionable numbers.
Also don’t forget DPR / LPR likely have somewhere in the 20-40k range as well, which is counted separately. As to your question about why would Russia go in with a smaller force, well simply because:
1. It’s not like Ukraine’s entire 200-500k force is concentrated in one area, many of their forces are dispersed or also held in reserve in the west of the country and not actively utilized (yet) on the battlefield.
2. Russia knows it has the massive technological superiority and airpower advantage which for obvious reasons nullifies or equalizes the disparity in troops. For instance 50k with air support can likely defeat 100-200k without air support, etc.
The other thing is, I think that Ukraine’s forces are likely also greatly exaggerated. On paper they have a vast amount but I have a feeling a huge amount of them fled, mutinied, etc., and the actual amount they can call to arms or form effective organized units with is likely much smaller than expected as well.

I’ve asked Martyanov what he thinks about the disposition of forces inside and outside Ukraine. We’ll see if he has anything to say.
What bugs me is I can’t find any confirmation of those references to reports that there is still a large Russian force inside Russia on the Ukraine border. I can’t imagine Russia would only send in 50-100,000 troops against a potential 250,000 Ukrainian troops without a large reserve inside Russia or already committed inside Ukraine. Something just isn’t right here.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 0:10 utc | 140

Patroklos #113

This could be Australia’s century if only we had the will, the vision and the stamina! It is a dream I have…

It is a bit bleak I’ll admit but there are stirrings. The UKUSA grip is stifling but unusual events can bring forth astounding change. There is a strong core of independent mind in Oz and I trust it will gain traction in time to save us from becoming an actual state of the USA.
The Citizens Party is an interesting group with a sort of ‘old left’ agenda, some of which I find ok and some items unbearable. The Greens have been Democratted mostly with a few honest and sincere people still on board.
Labor tries but has been shackled for some time by right wing branch stacking and right wing unions such as the AWU and CFMEU. They may even get elected in a month. But expect the USA lovers and the many decades of loony right nazi recruitment in the LNP to take to the streets at the least pretext with copious funding from the US embassy. Remember Oz has been one of the refuges of choice for European nationalists for many decades and many recruited to the LNP immediately upon arrival or at the nationalisation ceremonies well staffed by spotters and recruiters.
The problem I encounter is that so many people are tied to their propaganda transmission devices and, no matter what one says or corrects or debunks, they return to reprogramming immediately. I remind people often that it is offensive to see Oz supporting a fascist resurgence in Ukraine only to be told that Putin is a witch or some such nonsense. I retort that the spirit of Anzac NEVER countenanced nazis and if the dead soldiers could hear them they would rise up to remind…. but the apologists for nazis just wander off muttering that Putin is a witch – worse than Stalin… and so on. Programmed! Sad.
There are so many revisionist ‘old lefties’ about that it is a worry I’ll admit.
I live with trust in change for the better and one’s capacity to manifest a better world through sheer effort and persistence. It has stood by me life long. The changes in motion right now are immense and very pleasing. As I said earlier: its good news week or month or so.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Apr 3 2022 0:19 utc | 142

Thanks to two posts on my favorite subject, I hope b will forgive us for ‘swerving the atom’ away from war in Ukraine — Aleph_Null does post links to Orthodoxy, and these extracts do relate to life and death as we are painfully witnessing on these threads, so perhaps my added thoughts can help on that subject:

…Dostoevsky’s epitaph (also the epigraph of his final novel) strikes me as most profoundly Orthodox: “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24”
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Apr 2 2022 18:05 utc | 40

Aleph, you quoted also from Dostoievski’s diary – I’d just comment that I don’t find the novel to be the same sort of literature as the diary, though of course by the same man. For me, the novel presents Orthodoxy; the diary presents Russia. I will note that on the same page as the Scriptural epigraph, above it, the dedication is inscribed, to Dostoievski’s wife.
I have a few corrections for the following comment:

The A fellow traveler, I see. Dostoevsky’s take on the Catholic Church as told through Father Zozimov in “The Brothers Karamazov” is extremely impactful. His conclusion is that because the Catholic Church involves itself in the problems of the secular world, it acts as if it owns the souls in its flock. As such, if Jesus were to return the Catholics would crucify Him again.
But then the whole theme of the book is that a soul detached from the physical world can do no material good. Instead it falls into mysticism. Effectively condemning the Orthodox Church too.
And a Church too entangled in the secular world loses its ability to lead morally (many Protestant faiths) because it becomes a tool of short term political interests.
Posted by: VtObserver | Apr 2 2022 19:53 utc | 63

I would say the critique of the Catholic Inquisition, an essay read by older brother Ivan to youngest brother Alyosha in the novel (not by Father Zossima) is not Dostoievski’s own ‘take’ on the matter, since it is Alyosha who is called the hero, not Ivan, and his reaction on hearing it read is depicted as Christ-like towards his brother – he kisses him, as Christ kisses the Grand Inquisitor in the tale. It is admittedly a powerful indictment of the Inquisition, but I wouldn’t say of Catholicism as a whole.
I am puzzled by your view of the theme of the book. Perhaps it would help to know that the hero is named for Dostoievski’s three year old son, who had sadly died of the same brain affliction that the author himself struggled with. I myself connect that to the dedication, and I don’t find the novel a condemnation of Orthodoxy, but rather an example of it. The long central section entitled “The Russian Monk” has been written by Alyosha, the novel’s hero, who indeed leaves the monastery but carries his vision of his elder out into the world, into his final memorial speech to children who sing his praise.

Posted by: juliania | Apr 3 2022 0:24 utc | 144

@ Petri Krohn | Apr 2 2022 22:07 utc | 99
He was probably dressed as a woman, wearing a dress and face scarf, thus no search for tattoos?

Posted by: suzan | Apr 3 2022 0:28 utc | 146

This Ehret essay is explosive thanks to the work of those he helps spread: “New Revelations Shed Light on Nazi Roots of House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha”:

Another explosive revelation which has sent shockwaves through the western zeitgeist in recent days was featured in a documentary which aired on Britain’s Channel 4 called ‘Edward VIII: Britain’s Traitor King’.
This film, based upon a soon-to-be released book by historian Andrew Lownie, uses recently declassified reports from the Royal Archives to tell the story of Britain’s Nazi King Edward VIII who not only desired a Nazi victory in WWII, but actively worked towards said goal from the moment he was forced to abdicate the throne in 1936 (allegedly to marry an American divorcée Wallis Simpson) throughout the darkest days of the war itself.
As this documentary proves, teaching his young niece Elizabeth II how to do a proper ‘sieg heil’ wasn’t his only dance with Nazism.

And there’s more all barflies will enjoy learning, John Cleary in particular.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 3 2022 0:40 utc | 148

Peter AU1 @138–
Thanks for unearthing that info. Ehret’s been doing some digging and found quite a number of interesting facts. Somehow, they need to be put to use.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 3 2022 0:48 utc | 150

Those barflies commenting about religious views of today need to know that Pope Francis is now wading in against Russia.
It is good to know who your enemies are. It came to me a while back that the catholic popes are members of the God of Mammon cult of the West. The catholics no longer are against usury and never say bad things about the structure of finance in the West which makes me believe they are part of the core problem….why is In God We Trust printed on US money?
Doing God’s work? I call BS

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 3 2022 0:54 utc | 152

To add to 152
The CIA used to filter its black money through the Vatican Bank for a 15 percent cut. Nowadays all the banks “filter” CIA money.

Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Apr 3 2022 0:59 utc | 154

“Ukraine potential in terms of numbers. All men between ages 18 and 60 getting called up/press ganged for military service…” Peter AU1@145
You raise an interesting point. Ukraine, like most of eastern Europe has a population which is rapidly declining. Young people in particular are leaving to search for work elsewhere. The difference between large scale immigration, motivated by declining living standards, and people trafficking is a narrow one. It is likely that very large numbers of young Ukrainians have been trafficked in recent years, with the numbers rising as living standards and prospects declined.

Posted by: bevin | Apr 3 2022 1:02 utc | 156

karlof1 | Apr 3 2022 0:48 utc | 150
Re the Ehret piece. We both live within anglo Lebensraum. Nothing like a bit of genocide to create living space.
I sent my sister the Russia China statement plus the Russian security proposal ad said this was important because it is the future. She said she was worried about China’s human rights record.
She has zero understanding of how we treated and still treat the indigenous inhabitants of Australia let aloe the sort of stuff we look at i b’s bar and other places like this.
So many people I talk to are sort of receptive but tend to do the ostrich thing because confronting reality is just too difficult. Some people become distressed when confronting reality and put it out of their minds hoping it/bad things will go away

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 1:15 utc | 158

bevin | Apr 3 2022 1:02 utc | 155
From what I have read, a lot of me of military age left Ukraine over the past eight years specifically because they did not want to go into the military. Since this war has begun, all males in that age group 18-60 are now prevented from leaving. No doubt some will still get out but many will not.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 1:24 utc | 160

@148 karlof1
wow… some things they failed to mention in the press kit for these org’s

Posted by: ptb | Apr 3 2022 1:26 utc | 162

fyi
a pretty big claim here in the title of this March 31, 2022 sitrep
by former US Army Jacob Dreizin,
https://thedreizinreport.com/2022/03/31/this-month-will-decide-world-politics-for-next-30-years/
This month will decide world politics for next 30+ years
“….What happens here (and how it happens) will determine the fate of Russia, the Ukraine, Europe, and U.S. global military hegemony (to include on the Pacific Rim) for decades to come. If Russia is able to complete its Donbass mission by the end of April as I have predicted, then Uncle Sam’s Ukraine project is basically over—we’ll have to find another stick to poke in Russia’s side, and to keep our military-industrial lobby in the bonbons….
…..By now, many hundreds of “politically unreliable” persons across the Ukraine have been detained, many of them disappeared with no communication and no trace; it is likely that many have been killed.
Among the more well-known detained are prominent human rights and Russian language rights activist (not the ice skater) Yelena Berezhnaia; socialist party leader Vassilii Volga; writer and journalist Dmitrii Zhangirov; writer, lyricist, and Orthodox activist Yan Taksiur; Odessa journalist Yurii Tkachev; and many others. These people and their peers are the intellectual nucleus of what’s left of independent, “pre-2014”, non-fascist public opinion in the Ukraine.
The socio-political field is being cleared and cleansed, something that—despite all the media outlet closures since last year—the Ukraine could not fully accomplish under the daylight of peacetime. Now, they can get away with anything….”
the neo-fascist Ukraine, and its handlers/puppet masters the USA-CIA and nato are an absolute disgrace to humanity.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 3 2022 1:30 utc | 164

theresamarquesa | Apr 3 2022 1:30 utc | 162
Different experience, Different reference points: Thomas Wolffe Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test…

Posted by: Doesitreallymatter | Apr 3 2022 1:46 utc | 166

@ NemesisCalling | Apr 3 2022 1:37 utc | 164 who wrote
”
Francis is a wolf.
”
Francis is a Jesuit wolf….the worst kind. I know because I was “taught” by them for 4 years…..they give patriarchy a new meaning
Many christian values are valuable but the institution is corrupt and anti-humanistic, IMO.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 3 2022 1:49 utc | 168

Don Bacon | Apr 3 2022 1:46 utc | 166
TTG’s forrest brothers background is coming to the fore. At one time when he backed Russia vs assorted jihadis in syria, I thought the silly old fart had a bit of decency. It is nothing more than a anglonazi site.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 1:56 utc | 170

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 0:25 utc | 145
Yeah, I don’t care about callups. As Scott Ritter says, they’ll just die.
I’m beginning to think everything I thought was established is not. Which throws all my speculation out the window. Except I still operate on the premise that “if Russia wants to do this, then they need to do this.” But then, what do I know? Maybe Russians are stupid and they’re going to do what everyone is saying, i.e., settle for Donbass and maybe Odessa, do nothing with Kiev, and go home with next to nothing accomplished except “liberating Donbass”.
The sad fact remains is that approach will solve absolutely nothing except freeing Donbass – except Donbass later will have even more trouble from the rest of Ukraine.
Maybe I should just sit this one out until the war is over one way or the other.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:03 utc | 172

@ librul and @ David F | Apr 3 2022 1:17 utc | 158
Comprehending interdependence
The “blurring” of assumed existential boundaries of labeled entities like “a self” flows from comprehending reality as interdependent.
When one’s understanding of interdependence becomes internalized beyond mere language and logic, it is “realized.” The self is not negated because it never existed on its own, a misperception and source of much disharmony and suffering.
This comprehension may come easier to people whose language emphasizes relationships and processes structurally instead of entities, things.
ξ ξ
Thanks to everybody here for your contributions. Very rich with thought. Thanks b.

Posted by: suzan | Apr 3 2022 2:11 utc | 174

I see some of my last posts are missing the letter N in places. Not my fault, I have tried to wean my key board off booze and coffee – like prohibition it does not seem to be working.
I have to thump N and the space bar to knock some sense into them.
I see Russia used western letters for its three forces. A sensible decision as the west is canceling its ow alphabet rather than Russian cyrillic.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 2:12 utc | 176

Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 3 2022 1:30 utc | 163
He says this:

Russian forces are now advancing near the border of Donetsk and Zaporozhia, west of Ugledar. This is a big development as it suggests that Russia’s strategic reserve in the Crimea has been committed.
The involvement of “mainland” Russian (not just Donetsk and Lugansk) forces in the central and northern Donbass fronts has increased markedly in recent days.

But where’s the evidence? This is what ticks me off about all these armchair analysts (including me): They make assertions but have no reference to back it up. He may well be right, but where are the numbers? Assuming that the mainland Russian forces are now in Donbass because the front is advancing is purely an assumption. It was advancing fine all through the war just on the basis of what Russian troops were there and the LDR forces. So why assume that just because the Donbass front is heating up that Russia has committed reserve forces from Crimea or elsewhere?
I’ve seen one – one – video from someone’s car inside Russia showing a long lineup of Russia military vehicles by the side of an unknown road. That’s it for evidence of reserves inside Russia or reserves being sent to the border. Where are the satellite photos that were all over the place before the war? No one can take a satellite photo inside Ukraine any more? No one can take a satellite photo of the Ukraine border? WTF?
Just getting more irritated by the minute.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:22 utc | 178

Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:03 utc | 171
Putin is writing a new book on war. I have studied him, speculate on the future .. make that tactics and am wrong.
The one thing I will put money on is that by the time Putin is no longer president of the Russian federation, US will no longer be a threat to Russia.
On the military side is the Tuvian defense minister. Perhaps history is nothing to go by but Genghis Khan’s main strategist was a Tuvian.
Putin will no doubt have input into military moves but the main planning is the defense ministry, the military people – in how to go about achieving their presidents goals.
Recall earlier Putin asked both the foreign ministry and the defense ministry to come up with proposals?
It is good to watch.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 2:26 utc | 180

@ Richard Steven Hack 171
Russia has done a lot in a month, and her major objectives are in sight: No more eastward NATO and freedom for Donbass. Plus the bonus in rubles.. . .and “It ain’t over ’til it’s over”. . .Yogi Berra

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 3 2022 2:28 utc | 182

Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:22 utc | 177
There are some differences but look to Syria for how Russia will operate in Ukraine.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 2:32 utc | 184

Dreizin also repeats the conscript callup stuff, although he thinks it’s to increase the number of humanitarian workers in Ukraine. I posted a comment pointing out the the conscript callup is done twice a year, that they can’t be sent outside Russian territory, and if Russia wanted more humanitarian workers, they could just ask for some, they don’t need to draft them.
See what I mean? Assumptions based on nothing but speculation, and speculation not supported by logic.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:38 utc | 186

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 2:26 utc | 179
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 2:32 utc | 183
Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 3 2022 2:28 utc | 181
I’m aware of all that. Except that “no more eastward NATO” won’t happen if Russia gives up half of Ukraine which will then be scooped up by NATO, thus moving NATO weapons even CLOSER to Russia. The only way Russia avoids that is to control ALL of Ukraine up to the Polish border and store their own strategic weapons as close to the Polish border as possible. Or they will have to repeat this operation in a couple years and have to attack NATO directly.
I do not believe Russia intends to go that route and I can’t comprehend why anyone does.
Bah, wasting my time.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 3 2022 2:42 utc | 188

Regarding conscripts, Russia can’t and shouldn’t use infantry to get at the Ukraine infantry in trenches. The best way would be to cut off their logistics so they’ll surrender when they get real hungry. Plus the artillery has been hitting at them and drones are keeping tabs on them. It’ll take some time, but time is on Russia’s side.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 3 2022 2:47 utc | 190

Remember, the US had Poroshenko put NATO and EU in the Ukraine constitution after the US-led coup. That has to come out, with an understanding that any action to go there would be met kinetically, as they say. Also there would be some autonomy (if not recognition of independence) for Donbass, like many other regions in Europe that have some autonomy, so it isn’t unusual.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 3 2022 2:55 utc | 192

Hi,
Is this delisting of all Russian companies on Foreign market exchanges?
The State Duma Committee approved the bill on delisting (withdrawal from the exchange) receipts of Russian companies from foreign exchanges – State Duma database

Posted by: Kim | Apr 3 2022 3:04 utc | 194

Oops! s/b impure/pure

Posted by: David F | Apr 3 2022 3:12 utc | 196

I don’t know about Niemoller’s original words (he doesn’t seem to have later either), but most of the versions I’ve seen do an admirable job of “cancelling” who went to the torture-centers and concentration-camps first, the Social Democrats, who were left the sole remaining support of the Weimar Republic after the Catholic Center Party, by order of the Vatican, withdrew from the Weimar Coalition, the great “stab in the back’ of the interwar-years that set the stage for rule by decree, the appointment of Hitler, and, after Hindenburg’s death, Hitler’s appointment of himself as ruler.
This destruction of the Weimar Coalition by the Vatican was even more disastrous than its later engineering of America’s Vietnam War, or Cardinal Spellman’s War.

Posted by: John Kennard | Apr 3 2022 3:25 utc | 198

Robert Lindsay | Apr 3 2022 2:42 utc | 187
Lithuanian. He has written about forbears uncles ect.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 3 2022 3:45 utc | 200