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April 6, 2022
Ukraine Open Thread 2022-42
Comments
@ Opport Knocks | Apr 6 2022 20:39 utc | 99
He’s also repeatedly railed against government subsidies for the private sector while taking billions of government dollars. He’s absolutely untrustworthy. But then, that’s part of being a sociopath.
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 20:45 utc | 101
willie @93–
Thanks for your reply. Your targeting omitted Wall Street and the NY Fed. The proforma warnings were issued today not to “play games” with Kaliningrad and the very real threat to completely cut relations given all the diplomat oustings and sanctions, although Russia will keep its diplomatic staff at the UN as it learned the lesson from 1950. If the hypersonics fly, the UN mission won’t be needed to do anything anyhow.
Finnian Cunningham links the meaning of the propaganda campaign with the Crusade against Assange. Julian is a very brave man, but I believe he knew his current fate was quite possible. It’s a shame Snowden isn’t a tenth of the man Assange is.
I see the Big Smear has rejoined the thread to further roil it.
I wonder how many S-500 are deployed and ready to shoot down the MIRVs before they impact and how many SSBNs have crosshairs atop their locations on the situation map? And when will Russia perform its next Civil Defense Drill before the sirens announce the real thing?
Peeps, could we please not engage in public nuclear bloodthirst?
I get it, with all the kinds of nuclear annihilation hype since the 20th century it’s quite understandable, but it’s not only unbecoming; it’s a downright horrible fate.
😬
Posted by: Arganthonios | Apr 6 2022 20:54 utc | 103
Posted by: james | Apr 6 2022 15:50 utc | 3
James it is absolutely brilliant. No idea who wrote it but it says so much. Despite being very long, it is worth the effort
Posted by: watcher | Apr 6 2022 20:56 utc | 104
I have not understood why my country is so stupid and evil (I’ve read-up onnthe history of ehe British Empire, oh yes we’re evil, and I suspect- the bad influence on even the Americans.
Posted by: Lonkal | Apr 6 2022 20:17 utc | 92
It’s the French, stupid!
The French Normen (Duke William) took over the Saxon Kingdom in England 1066.
for two centuries they didn’t even bother to learn to speak English. They imported 45% of current English vocabulary and all customary manners from the French nobility – including “droit de cuissage” or “de seigneur” … looting, plunder and murderous sprees …
“Shrewd and cunning” French nobles were a mix of Germanic Frank brigands + decadent Roman slave owners (add to that the barbary from the Northmen-Vikings) and you got the perfect blend of piracy that was about to Rule Britannia (the Perfid) for one thousand years.
Anything remotely democratic or rather humanitarian in Great Britain comes from the remains of the Celtic substrat unfortunately become the proper belonging of the poor and the destitute under Roman-Frankish cruel rule.
No wonder J.R.R. Tolkien hated everything French, same about Dante who hated the fickle French monarchy so much that he had to invent the Italian language to write his “Divine Comedy” in order NOT to write it in “Provençal” one of the Languages of the French Kingdom at the time …
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Apr 6 2022 21:02 utc | 105
NemesissCalling @100–
Thanks for your reply and the film suggestion; I’ve not seen that one. The one major move I thought capable of preventing the hypesonics from flying is the collective introduction by Eurasia of a new currency and trading regime that would immediately shock and terrorize the Neoliberal Parasites who’re at the core of the Evil in a manner similar to the pail of water being cast upon the Wicked Witch of the West, but I’m beginning to feel that’s a lost hope.
@105 Yes the Anglo-Saxons continue to get a bad rap. First the Romans, then the Normans, then the Plantagenets reduced them to serfdom. It took the Welsh to restore some dignity. Mind you the Tudors could be pretty crafty too.
Posted by: dh | Apr 6 2022 21:12 utc | 107
#97 rjb1.5
I understand your point .
In the end it comes down to the question”Have we the right to kill somebody when we know for sure this will prevent the death of many others,whether they are hundreds or millions?” It’s the philosophical question that is presented at the end of the “Come and See” motion picture (shooting Hitler as a toddler in his mother’s arms).
A hypersonic missile wiping out NATO head quarters will kill many innocent people who are not in the decision making process at all.I fully understand russian leadership refraining to kill pizza delivery boys and cleaning ladies and of course they are right.The devil’s game is to dehumanize humans,so as to prove the non-existence of the soul,and hunting down the spirit.
But those new weapons make things possible that never were possible before.Millions of young men sent to slaughter each other while their commanders lead cosy lives behind the frontlines are screaming from beyond the grave to do something about it,and precision missiles seem like an answer to their outcries.
The Book of Job comes to mind,i’ll read a chapter before turning off the light.Good night.
Posted by: willie | Apr 6 2022 21:19 utc | 108
@ Sushi | Apr 6 2022 20:16 utc | 91
thanks.. yes, there are some differences here too, such as you outline… i agree!
@ Oldhippie | Apr 6 2022 20:30 utc | 94 – agree with you..
@ watcher | Apr 6 2022 20:56 utc | 104
thanks..
Posted by: james | Apr 6 2022 21:19 utc | 109
Lavrov stated that Russia will start to distroi railways due to the plans of EU-Countries to deliver tanks and they blame the EU for this. We do not want to distroi the railways, but when they are used for transport of tanks, we ll not let it happen.
Posted by: Andre | Apr 6 2022 21:20 utc | 110
@ karlof1 | Apr 6 2022 20:50 utc | 102
although Russia will keep its diplomatic staff at the UN as it learned the lesson from 1950.
I hope Mr. Nebeznia and the Russian UN diplomatic staff have room in their UN offices for beds and showers, and I wish them all long lives. The USA has already demonstrated that it does not feel obligated to respect UN diplomatic credentials, and I wouldn’t put it past the USA to order him and his staff out of the country.
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 21:20 utc | 111
Hey guys
sharing here John Michael Greer’s latest post, he is usually outside of the MoA topics, but he holds some quite consistent views with regards to civilizations and their decline. The saker actually highlighted one of his books once (Twilight’s last gleaming).. and this this latest piece is great:
https://www.ecosophia.net/the-end-of-the-european-age/
Posted by: EoL | Apr 6 2022 21:22 utc | 112
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 6 2022 20:39 utc | 99
This and your other posts before regarding Musk are hopefully an attempt to sarcasm. Not only has this single person more financial power than two handfuls of smaller countries, but he frequently manipulates crypto- and stock-markets just whimsily, driving countless people out of business, making their life-savings vanish and probably causing many suicides on the way. Not to mention his attitude towards the coup in bolivia a few years ago, which incidentally has large natural reservoirs of resources needed to manufacture batteries for electric cars.
This person is, next to bezos, zuckerberg and gates, the embodiement of a future dystopian society, ruled by a handful of mega-rich without regard of anything. He is all science fiction movies ever warned us about.
And he stole most or all his ideas from those movies, or science fiction novels. He is not the great innovator, he is the great impostor. And a huge strategic factor for the MIC, for he will attempt to bring the star wars fantasies of the nineties alive, just in the “private sector”. And I’m sure his “neurolink” will succeed and help to deprive humans of independent thought.
People like this are the biggest threat to civilization as we know it.
Posted by: xototox | Apr 6 2022 21:28 utc | 113
Arganthonios @103–
Unfortunately, the EVIL ones apparently thought they could avoid that outcome. How can anyone believe their pledge not to use nukes when they lie about absolutely everything under the sun?! I don’t trust them; do you?
And IMO if we are to be realists, we must contemplate that potential. I’m at the point of calling out Biden et al as cowards for not manning-up and confronting Russia straight-on instead of hiding behind a proxy–saying: Come-on! If you want to destroy Russia and China so badly then put up your nukes and take the consequences of your evil idiocy. Fucking put-up or shut-up!!!!! And to the insidious trolls, I say the same thing–If you’re so gung-ho to kill Russia and the world, then fucking do it!!! Come-on!!! Put the gun to your head and pull the trigger!!! Come on!!!! What the fuck are you waiting for!!! The sun’s shining so today’s a good day to die. Comeon mutherfuckers!!!!! Either fulfill your EVIL DESTINY or drop the gun and leave humanity alone!!!!!
Is that horrifying enough? If not, what should I add to penetrate the skulls of the Evil Neoliberal Parasites since it ought to be rather apparent the only thing they value besides their ill-gotten monies is their worthless life?
karlof1 | Apr 6 2022 20:50 utc | 102 “although Russia will keep its diplomatic staff at the UN as it learned the lesson from 1950.”
After the UK president of the UNSC twice refused Russia’s request for an emergency meeting, the UN may well go the way of the league of nations before this is over. A major problem with the current UN is that diplomats require a US visa to get to the UN.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 6 2022 21:36 utc | 115
For those here who are German, there’s a petition at change.org for the removal of Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Mr Andriy Yaroslavovych Melnyk. For obvious reasons…
When I signed it this morning at 10 AM it had still under 2.500 signatures. It now has 5.600. Not bad…
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Apr 6 2022 21:38 utc | 116
Dmitriy Medvedev’s April 5 Telegram post (in Russian):
On fakes and real history
“Ghost of Kiev”, an image of a plane taken from a computer game. A drone shot down by a can of cucumbers. “Dead heroes” who have surrendered to a Russian warship. Mariupol maternity hospital, now Bucha. What is uniting these? These are all fakes, ripened in the cynical imagination of Ukrainian propaganda. Numerous PR agencies, “troll factories” overseen by Western governments and their puppet NGOs are cooking these up for huge sums of money.
Day by day, the news about “horror stories” and “victories” are becoming more and more delusional. However, the Kiev machine of fakes will stop at nothing! With the goal of dehumanizing Russia and causing its maximum denigration, the enraged beasts from national battalions and territorial defense are ready to casually kill their own civilians. That is because deep Ukrainianism, fueled by anti-Russian poison and all-consuming lies about its own identity, is one big fake. It has never existed in history. And it doesn’t exist now.
Leipzig University professor Oscar Peschel came up with a legendary phrase, later misattributed to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck: “The Austro–Prussian War of 1866 was won by the Prussian schoolteacher.” German militarism was cultivated at the desks. Its spirit at the end of its journey was reborn into the monster of National Socialism and was eventually destroyed only by the Red Army in 1945. German high science and culture—Roentgen, Planck, Freud, Mann, Hesse—could not oppose those who thirsted first for blood and colonies, and after the First World War—for revenge and Lebensraum in the East. And if even the great German minds have failed to curb the war machine, then what can we expect from today’s Kiev—there are definitely no “Einsteins” there. Although, there’s Klitschko.
The Ukrainian radical of today has also grown up at a student desk. In beautiful embroidered shirts and with thoughts of hatred for everything Russian. Instead of being proud of the joint achievements of their ancestors, since 1991, they’ve cobbling together a pseudo-history of Ukrainian statehood: the generational connection of Kievan Rus with the lands of Novgorod, Pskov and Vladimir–Suzdal Rus has been “severed”. For the sake of the mythical “history of the Ukraine” of the 14th to 17th centuries, the idea of a united Russian people has been destroyed. And the gallery of the 20th century is composed only of animalistic Nazis, murderers and collaborators, elevated by the modern Ukrainian “agitprop” to the rank of heroes—Konovalets, Shukhevych, Bandera, Klyachkovsky, Melnyk.
The passionate segment of Ukrainians has been idolizing the Third Reich for the last 30 years. Literally. It’s disgusting to see photographs in which Nazi symbols are found in almost every Ukrainian military unit taken by our army—flags, literature, posters. Even cups with swastikas! This is not a game of fascist aesthetics, as the Westophiles are trying to assure us. This is an ideology. It should not be surprising that, mentally transformed into the Third Reich, having written down the names of Judases and Nazi henchmen in history books, the Ukraine will suffer the same fate. Good riddance to such Ukraine! As well as individual freaks who consider themselves entitled to represent such Ukraine. There’s a lesson for them not only in the ongoing special operation, but also in the episodes of the glorious past. For example, when Pavel Sudoplatov has eliminated the nationalist Yevhen Konovalets, politely handing over to that lover of sweets in Rotterdam a box of candies with a bomb inside: “Here’s a present for you from Kiev.” There will be many more such “presents” for Nazi criminals!
Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly set the goal of demilitarization and de-Nazification of the Ukraine. These complex tasks can not be fulfilled instantaneously. And the outcome will be decided not only on the battlefields. To change the consciousness of some of today’s Ukrainians, a consciousness that is bloody and full of false myths, is the most important goal. This goal is for the sake of peace of future generations of Ukrainians themselves and an opportunity to finally build an open Eurasia—from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
Posted by: S | Apr 6 2022 21:44 utc | 117
Posted by: Likklemore | Apr 6 2022 16:13 utc | 14
Look at the NBC News headline…
In a break with the past, U.S. is using intel to fight an info war with Russia, even when the intel isn’t rock solid
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-using-declassified-intel-fight-info-war-russia-even-intel-isnt-rock-rcna23014
Does anyone believe that the US has always in the past used “rock solid intel”? LOL Anyone remember “slam dunk”? They had to word it this way because otherwise people would realize theyve simply been lied to. But even that makes no sense: “We never lied before, but we’re lying now, OK? It’s for a good cause!”
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 21:44 utc | 118
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2022 21:32 utc | 114
Trouble is that no one in the west actually believes or even imagines that this is possible. They still think that worrying about gay rights, transgender politics and coal mining matters, when the reality that nuclear war is around the corner, is just beyond their comprehension.
Even those in the peace movement just have not the sense of urgency.
I was pilloried by my family and friends because I said that had I been in the USA, I would have voted for Trump, because he was less likely to start a nuclear war. I was right then and I still am, but even now NONE of them will accept it. I cannot rest however, if only to try to save the lives of my grandchildren.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 6 2022 21:45 utc | 119
Dmitriy Medvedev’s April 5 Telegram post (in Russian):
On fakes and real history
“Ghost of Kiev”, an image of a plane taken from a computer game. A drone shot down by a can of cucumbers. “Dead heroes” who have surrendered to a Russian warship. Mariupol maternity hospital, now Bucha. What is uniting these? These are all fakes, ripened in the cynical imagination of Ukrainian propaganda. Numerous PR agencies, “troll factories” overseen by Western governments and their puppet NGOs are cooking these up for huge sums of money.
Day by day, the news about “horror stories” and “victories” are becoming more and more delusional. However, the Kiev machine of fakes will stop at nothing! With the goal of dehumanizing Russia and causing its maximum denigration, the enraged beasts from national battalions and territorial defense are ready to casually kill their own civilians. That is because deep Ukrainianism, fueled by anti-Russian poison and all-consuming lies about its own identity, is one big fake. It has never existed in history. And it doesn’t exist now.
Leipzig University professor Oscar Peschel came up with a legendary phrase, later misattributed to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck: “The Austro–Prussian War of 1866 was won by the Prussian schoolteacher.” German militarism was cultivated at the desks. Its spirit at the end of its journey was reborn into the monster of National Socialism and was eventually destroyed only by the Red Army in 1945. German high science and culture—Roentgen, Planck, Freud, Mann, Hesse—could not oppose those who thirsted first for blood and colonies, and after the First World War—for revenge and Lebensraum in the East. And if even the great German minds have failed to curb the war machine, then what can we expect from today’s Kiev—there are definitely no “Einsteins” there. Although, there’s Klitschko.
The Ukrainian radical of today has also grown up at a student desk. In beautiful embroidered shirts and with thoughts of hatred for everything Russian. Instead of being proud of the joint achievements of their ancestors, since 1991, they’ve cobbling together a pseudo-history of Ukrainian statehood: the generational connection of Kievan Rus with the lands of Novgorod, Pskov and Vladimir–Suzdal Rus has been “severed”. For the sake of the mythical “history of the Ukraine” of the 14th to 17th centuries, the idea of a united Russian people has been destroyed. And the gallery of the 20th century is composed only of animalistic Nazis, murderers and collaborators, elevated by the modern Ukrainian “agitprop” to the rank of heroes—Konovalets, Shukhevych, Bandera, Klyachkovsky, Melnyk.
The passionate segment of Ukrainians has been idolizing the Third Reich for the last 30 years. Literally. It’s disgusting to see photographs in which Nazi symbols are found in almost every Ukrainian military unit taken by our army—flags, literature, posters. Even cups with swastikas! This is not a game of fascist aesthetics, as the Westophiles are trying to assure us. This is an ideology. It should not be surprising that, mentally transformed into the Third Reich, having written down the names of Judases and Nazi henchmen in history books, the Ukraine will suffer the same fate. Good riddance to such Ukraine! As well as individual freaks who consider themselves entitled to represent such Ukraine. There’s a lesson for them not only in the ongoing special operation, but also in the episodes of the glorious past. For example, when Pavel Sudoplatov has eliminated the nationalist Yevhen Konovalets, politely handing over to that lover of sweets in Rotterdam a box of candies with a bomb inside: “Here’s a present for you from Kiev.” There will be many more such “presents” for Nazi criminals!
Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly set the goal of demilitarization and de-Nazification of the Ukraine. These complex tasks can not be fulfilled instantaneously. And the outcome will be decided not only on the battlefields. To change the consciousness of some of today’s Ukrainians, a consciousness that is bloody and full of false myths, is the most important goal. This goal is for the sake of peace of future generations of Ukrainians themselves and an opportunity to finally build an open Eurasia—from Lisbon to Vladivostok.
Posted by: S | Apr 6 2022 21:46 utc | 120
Has everyone noticed how on Google now if you try to search for articles on alternative news sites on Ukraine that they are WAY down in the search results? Or not there at all unless you specify the site? Obviously Google has altered its algorithms in support of the war effort.
“Don’t be evil”, my ass. That ship sailed long ago.
Remember: Google was created by the CIA:
How the CIA made Google
https://productivityhub.org/2019/10/04/how-the-cia-made-google/
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 21:50 utc | 122
I was pilloried by my family and friends because I said that had I been in the USA, I would have voted for Trump, because he was less likely to start a nuclear war. I was right then and I still am, but even now NONE of them will accept it. I cannot rest however, if only to try to save the lives of my grandchildren.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 6 2022 21:45 utc | 118
As someone who proudly voted for neither Trump nor his opponents, I can say I understand and sympathize with your position. Trump was/is sleazy, as are many of his tactics, but ultimately he’s all about cutting deals. I do worry, however, about having a deranged/senile fool with his finger on the nuclear trigger — especially when that fool is increasingly being cornered by renewed revelations of his family’s Ukrainian business deals and political manipulation.
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 21:55 utc | 123
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Apr 6 2022 21:02 utc | 105
“droit de cuissage” is agitprop of the times, has been conclusively debunked as a myth.
“No wonder J.R.R. Tolkien hated everything French” -> J.R.R Tolkien hated a lot of people, among which Shakespeare, the Beatles, middle-easterners and southerners in general.
From your wild tirade I gather you hate Germans, Latins and Scandinavians, in addition to French and English. Well done sir, you pretty much hate most peoples of the West.
Posted by: Lemming | Apr 6 2022 21:55 utc | 124
Posted by: Hausmeister | Apr 6 2022 17:32 utc | 48
“It is impossible to censor farts.”
I’m gonna try and remember that one. Excellent.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 21:56 utc | 125
@ S | Apr 6 2022 21:46 utc | 119
Thanks for posting this. My two reactions:
1. Maybe Medvedev really, truly is making his way from globalist opposition (within United Russia) to loyal opposition to no-longer-opposition?
2. Can you imagine an American politician writing something half as learned? or even having something half as learned ghostwritten for him?
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 22:00 utc | 126
S | Apr 6 2022 21:46 utc | 119
Thanks for posting that. Russia is certainly under no illusions as to the task ahead of them in Ukraine.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 6 2022 22:00 utc | 127
malenkov | Apr 6 2022 22:00 utc | 125
My guess is Medvedev is unchanged. He and Putin have worked as a team for many years yet many commentators could not understand why Putin did not get rid of him. I guess most could only see the velvet glove.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 6 2022 22:07 utc | 128
Posted by: Butties | Apr 6 2022 19:03 utc | 71
Wow. That article was outstanding. I didn’t read every word but even I learned some things I didn’t know before from it. Many thanks for the link.
The author’s credentials are substantial.
Reposting the link. Recommend everyone read it!
The Military Situation In The Ukraine
https://www.thepostil.com/the-military-situation-in-the-ukraine/?utm_source=sendfox&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-postil-april-newsletter
Author’s credentials:
Jacques Baud is a former colonel of the General Staff, ex-member of the Swiss strategic intelligence, specialist on Eastern countries. He was trained in the American and British intelligence services. He has served as Policy Chief for United Nations Peace Operations. As a UN expert on rule of law and security institutions, he designed and led the first multidimensional UN intelligence unit in the Sudan. He has worked for the African Union and was for 5 years responsible for the fight, at NATO, against the proliferation of small arms. He was involved in discussions with the highest Russian military and intelligence officials just after the fall of the USSR. Within NATO, he followed the 2014 Ukrainian crisis and later participated in programs to assist the Ukraine. He is the author of several books on intelligence, war and terrorism, in particular Le Détournement published by SIGEST, Gouverner par les fake news, L’affaire Navalny. His latest book is Poutine, maître du jeu? published by Max Milo.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:08 utc | 129
@ malenkov | Apr 6 2022 22:00 utc | 125
That much said, Medvedev errs in naming Mann as one of those powerless to “oppose those who thirsted first for blood and colonies.” Mann was in fact an enthusiastic supporter of Germany during the First World War, and even broke off communication with such pacifists as Hermann Hesse and . . . his brother, the novelist Heinrich Mann.
Maybe Medvedev meant Heinrich and not Thomas?
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 22:08 utc | 130
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2022 21:32 utc | 114
If I’m not mistaken and if what I read was true, the first hypersonics from Russia with love (about 2 weeks ago) destroyed an Ukrainian bunker 60m under the surface. With conventional warheads. From that point on my acute fear of nuclear world war has shrunk significantly, because I think the ones pushing for the use of tactical nukes are also the ones who formerly thought to survive the all-out eradication in bunkers. Now that it has been openly demonstrated that this is not a given anymore, I guess they re-calculate and reconsider their options. Boiling in rage, though.
Posted by: xototox | Apr 6 2022 22:11 utc | 131
S @119–
Thanks for your continuing to supply us with Medvedev’s journal entries as he seems to be the only diarist within the Russian government’s upper echelon. He’s 100% correct to refer to learning OUNism from school desks, but he’s wrong about the timeline as it’s much longer, the current version going back to 1944-5.
The bigger problem is that OUNism was spread and fed by CIA to Poland, Baltics and other Warsaw Pact nations and continues to be fed. IMO, deNATOfying those four nations must be accompanied by Denazification, a task IMO Russia as yet doesn’t perceive.
Scotch Bingeington | Apr 6 2022 21:38 utc | 116
Hi Scotch,
I had the same reflection like you when I first heard of this petition. This guy is way beyond anything of rationality and say decent behaviour.
But exact for this reason he is the perfect anti-envoy for the goals Ukraine. And so he should stay to perpetrate and continue his valuable work until the bitter end!
Imagine how influential for the average German Bild-reader is the massive personal accusation to have not been belligerent enough on each and every cause the Ukrainian morons believe! The average German is mostly very busy to follow the preformed narrative of Russia bad-Ukrainians angels. Insults are not welcome here. Mr. Melnyk delivers those en bloc!
Verbally injuring our head of state Mr. Steinmeyer not to be total in line with the abstruse Russian-hatred of the Ukrainian psychopaths is a wonderful insult especially because Mr. Steinmeyer cannot answer this other than “I did all what I could!”.
Please don’t expell him if anyhow possible. We need him here! He is to worthy for igniting development of despise concerning all Ukrainian Nazi-infestation! The man is Gold! Go On Brandon Melnyk!
Posted by: Piepenbrink | Apr 6 2022 22:18 utc | 133
xototox | Apr 6 2022 22:11 utc | 130
I have been thinking along the same lies. US is going all out to field some basic hypersonic weapons. When they achieve that, the danger of direct conflict between US and Russia/China will increase.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 6 2022 22:18 utc | 134
Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 6 2022 21:32 utc | 114
“Unfortunately, the EVIL ones apparently thought they could avoid that outcome. How can anyone believe their pledge not to use nukes when they lie about absolutely everything under the sun?! I don’t trust them; do you?”
No, I don’t trust them. But neither can they escape a nuclear fate if we reach that stage, only at best postpone it. Which would be the only consolation in such a scenario.
” I’m at the point of calling out Biden et al as cowards for not manning-up and confronting Russia straight-on instead of hiding behind a proxy–saying: Come-on!”
I often think, Russia and the US are fucking close over the pacific, why the fuck don’t they just have a direct fucking war over there?
I get the anger at the suicidal incompetence, the boundless arrogance and conniving evil.
Is that horrifying enough? If not, what should I add to penetrate the skulls of the Evil Neoliberal Parasites since it ought to be rather apparent the only thing they value besides their ill-gotten monies is their worthless life?
Which evil neoliberal parasites in particular?
“Reaching through” to the ringmasters is impossible – They cannot be moved by empathy, and they think themselves invulnerable. The only things you can do are removing them or their power base by force.
The lackeys, however, do not really think themselves invulnerable; so fear could have an effect.
**********************
“This goal is for the sake of peace of future generations of Ukrainians themselves and an opportunity to finally build an open Eurasia—from Lisbon to Vladivostok.”
Posted by: S | Apr 6 2022 21:46 utc | 119
Oh boy. Did somebody raise the thermostat or is it me?
From Lisbon to Vladivostok.
Fuck yeah.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Apr 6 2022 22:24 utc | 135
Richard Medhurst will be live with Scott Ritter to discuss his Twitter ban.
From his Telegram channe:
I’ll be live with Scott Ritter at 9:30pm EST to discuss him being banned from Twitter.
Subscribe and don’t miss it: youtube.com/richardmedhurst
By the way, there are TWO Scott Ritter channels on Telegram. One is termed “ScottRitterOfficial”. That one says the other one is fake. But I can’t tell which is actually the fake one. Did he have a Telegram account before April 6, because “ScottRitterOffical” was created April 6 and the other goes back months?
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:29 utc | 136
xototox @130–
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I gained the same observation but already knew such kinetic penetration was possible, which is why I opined they should be used on the Donbass bunker system. However, it appears Russia first wants to employ some of its rarely used city blasters and their ammo that’ve been collecting dust.
Can you imagine an American politician writing something half as learned? or even having something half as learned ghostwritten for him?
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 22:00 utc | 125
American speechwriting has fallen a long way since Teddy Sorensen made JFK look much better than he was.
Our household is still baffled at Medvedev’s “rehabilitation” after his very public demotion a couple of years ago. Maybe Putin wants to encourage open competition in the succession game.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 6 2022 22:32 utc | 138
Posted by: S | Apr 6 2022 21:46 utc | 119
Dmitriy Medvedev’s April 5 Telegram post (in Russian):
…Wall of text…
All this can be said in one line:
“Ukraine” is a racist theory about the inferiority of the Russian people.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Apr 6 2022 22:39 utc | 139
Couple more appearances by Scott Ritter… If you have seen one of his longer appearances, such as on The Duran Monday, probably nothing new here.
Interview w/Scott Ritter, April 6, 2022, By Don DeBar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kfHohl6gCJY
HomeFront Rising Ep. 7 War Crimes Explainer with Scott Ritter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=RWvk61Dry-Q
Here’s The Duran interview from Monday again:
The first casualty of War is Truth (Live w/Scott Ritter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN7o-ThhFfY
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:45 utc | 140
Arganthonios @134–
Thanks for your well reasoned reply! Financial Parasites: Bezos, Dimon, Soros, Schwab, Musk, Yellen, and another 2 dozen or so Wall Street & MIC CEOs and Board Members of Parasite banks and their Congressional/Executive Branch kin. Other Evil: Top CIA & MI-6 management and the heads of a few stink tanks and Media; perhaps another 2 dozen. All told, about 100. And hypersonics doesn’t imply nukes. Note I omitted Biden, Blinken, Sullivan, and Harris and European stooges. Most of the 100 comprise the Deep State apparat which is the EVIL behind it all. Yes, it’s a Hydra, but we aren’t living a myth and the heads won’t grow back leaving those remaining with something to ponder.
Richard Medhurst on Bucha… I’m really surprised Medhurst is still on Youtube. He never pulls any punches.
What Happened in Bucha? What We Know and What We DON’T Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiwiTtuWA6M
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:49 utc | 142
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:08 utc | 128
thanks for that link, well worth reading.
Posted by: pretzelattack | Apr 6 2022 22:50 utc | 143
Posted by: xototox | Apr 6 2022 22:11 utc | 130
Along the lines of your post, can any barflies point to a video clip that unambiguously shows a kinzhal impacting a target in Ukraine? I don’t doubt that this has happened a few times, but it seems that one party, or maybe both parties, want to keep the damage assessments under wraps…
Posted by: retiredmecheng | Apr 6 2022 22:50 utc | 144
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 6 2022 22:18 utc | 133
I hope you meant to say lines, not lies 🙂 but I also read that even though the US proclaims to have hypersonics soon (and want to station some of them in Germany and probably Eastern Europe as well as soon as next year!), it seems more likely that it will take a few years still. Which btw I think is one of the reasons why the special operation takes place now – a window of Russian strategic superiority which might close all too soon. But I’m hopeful, if not confident, that Russia will develop counter measures in the meantime. Maybe already has, in form of laser surface-to-air defense systems (or even space-to-atmosphere?). Which would probably be the only way to stop hypersonics short of area emp, at least for the time being and according to my limited knowledge and imagination. Or, well, maybe they just buy them from China, or trade them for the gas europe has no use for anymore 😀
Posted by: xototox | Apr 6 2022 22:53 utc | 145
Posted by: Butties | Apr 6 2022 19:03 utc | 71
Thanks for the link to the article on the recent history of Ukraine:
https://www.thepostil.com/the-military-situation-in-the-ukraine/
Must reading.
Cheers!
Posted by: Sushi | Apr 6 2022 22:55 utc | 146
John Michael Greer’s … this this latest piece is great:
https://www.ecosophia.net/the-end-of-the-european-age/
Posted by: EoL | Apr 6 2022 21:22 utc | 112
Thank you, I enjoyed it very much!
Especially this one:
“That said, it’s the European age that’s ending, not the American age. The American age hasn’t begun yet. The United States these days is a Third World country catapulted by a chapter of historical accidents into a temporary position as global hegemon. Its Europeanized elites, in the usual Third World fashion, are a small minority maintaining a tenuous temporary mastery over restless masses that don’t share its ideals and its interests, and are beginning to sense their potential power.”
Posted by: njet | Apr 6 2022 22:57 utc | 147
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 6 2022 22:32 utc | 137
It is wise never to have a black and white view of any person. Medvedev led the European faction of government, which truly believed in the possibility of friendship with Europe. Putin and I suspect Lavrov had leanings in that direction too. It was a perfectly reasonable approach if a little naive.
Gradually people have lost faith in that possibility, but it is hard to give up a dream. Putin I think gave up dreaming in 2014. Lavrov I suspect only gave up this year. Medvedev perhaps only now with the vicious sanctions and insanity of Germany has given up his dream. Zarakhova I suspect being younger and more in touch with the thinking in the younger west, realised the direction earlier. She after all did not grow up in a world where the west was the idolised dream of the Russian young.
Remember that for Russians aged between say 50-70, their formative teenage years were those envying the west blue jeans and pop music. For those just a bit younger, their formative years were the hideous depression of the 90s. Am I right”? I ask those of you who know Russia best. Are those in the 30-45 age group less sympathetic to the west, or have i got it completely wrong.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 6 2022 22:58 utc | 148
thanks @ Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:08 utc | 128 and @ Sushi | Apr 6 2022 22:55 utc | 145 – the link @ 71 is a must read…
here is the link again – The Military Situation In The Ukraine
Posted by: james | Apr 6 2022 23:00 utc | 149
This was recommended by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Telegram channel. Anyone seen this yet? I’m about to download it. English subtitles.
Nazism documentary 2021 by Arkady #Mamontov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRXNEjovom8
A history of Nazism in Ukraine from WWII to 2021
Notice Age-restricted video (based on Community Guidelines)
In addition, Russian MoFA blasts Israeli politicians for their support of Nazis in Ukraine… Read the whole thing, he lays out every Israeli persecution of the Palestinians.
Israel reacts to the Ukrainian crisis: Tel Aviv’s political manoeuvres
Sergey Ivanov, Head of the Department of Diplomacy and Consular Service at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy April 06, 2022
https://telegra.ph/Israel-reacts-to-the-Ukrainian-crisis-Tel-Avivs-political-manoeuvres-04-06
One striking example of this was the recent statement made by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who said that there was “no justification” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As they say, a word spoken is past recalling, and serious politicians, especially at such a high level as Minister Lapid, have no right to talk idly. They should be aware of the possible consequences of what they say, including with regard to relations with Russia.
It is especially regrettable that these ill-considered statements have not been made by a Western official (Russians have long become immune to what they say) but by the Foreign Minister of Israel, a major regional partner with which Russia has a decades-long history of multifaceted relations. Moreover, these statements could undermine trust in Israel as a country that wanted to mediate the settlement of the crisis around Ukraine, which is evident from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s actions, such as calls to President Vladimir Putin, a visit to Moscow and contacts on this issue with the main players.
Regrettably, this is taking place despite the positive experience of our cooperation, when Russia helped Israel deal with extremely delicate matters on numerous occasions. In 2018, Moscow’s contribution helped convince pro-Iranian paramilitary forces in the Golan Heights to move back to a safe distance for Israel. In 2019, in Syria, Russia found the remains of an Israeli soldier who had died during the 1982 Lebanon War and transported the body to Israel. In 2020, President Vladimir Putin pardoned Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, who had been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for drug trafficking. There were also other delicate episodes where Russia met Israel halfway.
Our country, which knows about the threat of terrorism from its own experience, has always expressed sympathy and unconditional solidarity in connection with the terrorist attacks which, regrettably, happen regularly in Israel. Russian society was outraged by the terrorist attacks that were staged in Israel in late March 2022. The Foreign Ministry of Russia expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
In this context, it is all the more strange to hear anti-Russia statements from the Foreign Minister of Israel – the country that has been largely responsible, over many decades, for the failure to achieve a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the lingering regional problems that continues to affect the lives of millions of people and their futures, as well as international security. The unsettled crisis also plays into the hands of international terrorists, fuels extremist sentiment and serves as a constant source of tension in the Middle East and beyond.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:06 utc | 150
An analysis of the Ukraine conflict. “Soviet Deep Battle and OODA Loops in the Ukraine”
https://readingjunkie.com/2022/04/05/soviet-deep-battle-and-ooda-loops-in-the-ukraine/
Posted by: Ian Kummer | Apr 6 2022 23:06 utc | 151
Well, that post disappeared. Quoting from an old British comedy radio show, “I’m sorry, I’ll read that again”…
This was recommended by the MoFA Telegram channel. Anyone seen it yet? I’m downloading now. English subtitles.
Nazism documentary 2021 by Arkady Mamontov
A history of Nazism in Ukraine from WWII to 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRXNEjovom8
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:11 utc | 152
And here is a Russian MoFA official, Sergey Ivanov, Head of the Department of Diplomacy and Consular Service at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy, blasting Israel for its remarks on Ukraine. He pulls no punches.
Israel reacts to the Ukrainian crisis: Tel Aviv’s political manoeuvres
https://telegra.ph/Israel-reacts-to-the-Ukrainian-crisis-Tel-Avivs-political-manoeuvres-04-06
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:12 utc | 154
Piepenbrink | Apr 6 2022 22:18 utc | 132
Really sorry to answer myself, I apologize, but I want a connection to my thoughts of #132.
It is for the time being absolute impossible to stand up against this MSM-terror and deluge of Anti-Russian judgement. Everybody who does will be immediately purged. No question about that.
People that disagreee or doubt even parts of the narrative keep their mouths shot. Better so. Don’t get burned, this is becoming really evil, they will destroy you.
The more important is to use the impact of the propagandists of the blatant lies and unbelievable stories that we all have to stand coming over us all now for more than 40 days. Let them claim their absurd stories of the Russians did this or the Russians did that – all evil to the most. But listen, the big Wurlitzer is way too loud, and their handlers do not realize that loudness leads directly to deafness.
Not that the folks can’t clear the fog of war anyhow but soon there will be a moment of “What the hell are they doing?” Mr Zelinsky displayed on huge screens claiming the 3. WW will be worth because Ukraine made a such pathetic start and we all have to abide on it?
Actually they try us to believe that cold homes are the state of the art of living today.
From my point of you only more crazy propaganda provided by Zelinsky and Melnyk will help the public opinion in Europe may come to their senses. If not help us God.
Posted by: Piepenbrink | Apr 6 2022 23:16 utc | 155
Well, apparently I can’t post an article from Telegram’s telegram.ph Web page, but this article is well worth the read despite being long, so here’s the entire thing. This guy pulls no punches. He lays out every Israeli persecution of the Palestinians in contrast to their support of Ukrainian Nazis.
WARNING: LONG POST!
Israel reacts to the Ukrainian crisis: Tel Aviv’s political manoeuvres
Sergey Ivanov, Head of the Department of Diplomacy and Consular Service at the Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic AcademyApril 06, 2022
In many countries, public and media attention is focused on the events in and around Ukraine. Adjusting their actions to the situation, some political analysts and journalists have become “experts on Ukraine” and Russian-Ukrainian relations. At the same time, politicians in the West and allied countries in other parts of the world, seeking to improve their ratings, are making rash and ill-considered statements in the hope of achieving immediate results. They don’t give a thought to the fact that their statements might be counterproductive or could have a negative impact on a settlement in Ukraine.
One striking example of this was the recent statement made by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who said that there was “no justification” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As they say, a word spoken is past recalling, and serious politicians, especially at such a high level as Minister Lapid, have no right to talk idly. They should be aware of the possible consequences of what they say, including with regard to relations with Russia.
It is especially regrettable that these ill-considered statements have not been made by a Western official (Russians have long become immune to what they say) but by the Foreign Minister of Israel, a major regional partner with which Russia has a decades-long history of multifaceted relations. Moreover, these statements could undermine trust in Israel as a country that wanted to mediate the settlement of the crisis around Ukraine, which is evident from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s actions, such as calls to President Vladimir Putin, a visit to Moscow and contacts on this issue with the main players.
Regrettably, this is taking place despite the positive experience of our cooperation, when Russia helped Israel deal with extremely delicate matters on numerous occasions. In 2018, Moscow’s contribution helped convince pro-Iranian paramilitary forces in the Golan Heights to move back to a safe distance for Israel. In 2019, in Syria, Russia found the remains of an Israeli soldier who had died during the 1982 Lebanon War and transported the body to Israel. In 2020, President Vladimir Putin pardoned Israeli citizen Naama Issachar, who had been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for drug trafficking. There were also other delicate episodes where Russia met Israel halfway.
Our country, which knows about the threat of terrorism from its own experience, has always expressed sympathy and unconditional solidarity in connection with the terrorist attacks which, regrettably, happen regularly in Israel. Russian society was outraged by the terrorist attacks that were staged in Israel in late March 2022. The Foreign Ministry of Russia expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
In this context, it is all the more strange to hear anti-Russia statements from the Foreign Minister of Israel – the country that has been largely responsible, over many decades, for the failure to achieve a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is one of the lingering regional problems that continues to affect the lives of millions of people and their futures, as well as international security. The unsettled crisis also plays into the hands of international terrorists, fuels extremist sentiment and serves as a constant source of tension in the Middle East and beyond.
Let us briefly recall the background, and also highlight the roles of the main players.
In any conflict, it is often difficult to find the one perpetrator. The picture of the Middle East crisis is complex, multidimensional and ambiguous.
However, it is difficult to deny that one of the main obstacles to achieving a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem (envisioning two states in the former British Mandate of Palestine: the State of Israel based on the borders as of the 1967 “six-day war” and an independent State of Palestine on the West Bank of the Jordan River and the Gaza Strip) was Israel’s disregard for the right of the Palestinian people to form their own independent state. The Israelis are not demonstrating any interest in resolving the conflict within the generally recognised international legal framework but pursuing a policy of creating irreversible realities on the ground, primarily Jewish settlements and related infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories.
For decades, Israel has been continuously expanding its military and administrative presence in areas where, according to UN resolutions and international law, a Palestinian state was to be established. As a result of this policy, more than 630,000 Jewish settlers now live west of the Jordan River. An extensive network of roads, hospitals, checkpoints and communities guarded by the Israeli military has been built there for them – some replacing the destroyed buildings of Arab residents. At the same time, the Palestinian territories are turning into a patchwork of disparate enclaves.
Even according to Western human rights groups, which take an overtly biased stance on most problems, promoting the Anglo-Saxon agenda, Israel’s actions are reminiscent of the apartheid regime, which ruled South Africa until 1994. Over 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank are crammed into scattered areas and are effectively isolated from each other by a system of motorways. The Israeli authorities are pursuing a deliberate policy of confiscating Palestinian lands, as well as demolishing Palestinian buildings on a regular basis.
The situation regarding the Gaza Strip deserves special attention. It is a rather unique example from the historical, political, and demographic perspectives. In fact, 80 percent of the people living in one of the world’s most densely populated areas, where some 2 million people share an area of 362 square kilometres, found themselves there against their will. They are refugees chased from their ancestral lands. In fact, most of the people living there were forced into a reservation. They are like prisoners in a huge prison under an open sky, fenced off for many years by Israel’s impenetrable sea, air and almost complete overland blockade.
The Israelis seek to keep this enclave under their control, which regularly gives rise to intense confrontations with Gaza residents. The elderly, people with disabilities, women and children suffer disproportionately from the use of force by Israel.
In 2009, Israel carried out Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, which killed over 1,300 Palestinians, including some 300 children, with more than 5,000 wounded, while Israel had just 13 casualties, including 10 army personnel and three civilians, with 150 wounded. This gives us a 1 to 100 ratio in terms of casualties.
In 2012, Operation Pillar of Defence, also known as Operation Pillar of Cloud, cost the lives to 161 Palestinians, and left 1,200 wounded. The Israeli strikes hit 1,800 targets, devastating Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. Israel lost five people during the operation, and over 90 were wounded.
In the summer of 2014, Gaza went through its bloodiest conflict, which lasted for 50 days, resulting in the deaths of 2,251 Palestinians, including 299 women and 551 children. More than 11,000 Palestinians in Gaza were wounded, and more than 1,500 were permanently disabled.
Powerful media resources are being used to conceal the true state of affairs and suppress objective information on what is going on in and around Gaza. Israeli and Western political spin-doctors, mostly from the United States, use a wide array of methods to manipulate media coverage and spread false and misleading concepts and stereotypes.
This is how the situation is in reality: numerous documents released by UN experts and Middle Eastern think tanks show that following the 15-year blockade, the humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza is on the verge of collapse, with food, fuel and medical supplies reduced to the bare minimum necessary for people to survive there.
Against the backdrop of Israeli occupation, the Palestinian people have been suffering for decades as a result of Israel’s discriminatory economic policy. The Israeli authorities use all possible means to retain full control over the Palestinian territories, as well as their physical assets, fuel, media and human resources. Israel has fully assimilated the West Bank and the Gaza Strip into its economy, with the shekel used as the primary currency on Palestinian territories.
Customs duties from imports into Palestine through the Israeli borders account for a significant share of the Palestinian budget due to dwindling aid from international donors. The Israelis have been using this to their advantage since they control seaports, as well as logistics checkpoints and border crossings on land. Even minor protests by ordinary Palestinians or a diplomatic protest by their representatives on the international stage regularly result in Israel cutting off these meagre funds that Palestine has every right to receive. This leads to salaries being delayed for many months and the Palestinian population sliding deeper into poverty and towards radicalisation.
Let us take a look at how the current Israeli leadership is approaching the Palestinian problem. The prime minister and other Cabinet members have repeatedly made it clear, ever since the coalition was formed in June 2021, that they were unwilling and thought it “inexpedient” to negotiate the final status with the Palestinians.
In this context, it was emphasised that the creation of an independent and territorially continuous State of Palestine was not even under consideration. Aimed at perpetuating the present-day status quo in the shape of the longest-lasting postwar occupation, this policy is conducted with the tacit connivance on the part of the United States, Israel’s chief overseas partner and patron. Any attempts to resume the peace process and re-launch the Israeli-Palestinian talks, including within the framework of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, have been blocked under various pretexts by the United States, eager to please Tal Aviv.
Neither does Israel have peace with Lebanon. With that country, it has failed to settle matters such as their land and maritime border, division of water resources, and the repatriation of several hundred thousand Palestinian refugees, who have found refuge in Lebanon. Following Israel’s large-scale blood-letting offensive war against Lebanon in 2006, Israeli aircraft continue their regular incursions into that Arab country’s airspace, incursions that flagrantly violate its sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Specifically, the UN Secretary-General’s report of March 11, 2022, says that between October 26, 2021, and February 18, 2022, the UN peacekeepers recorded 131 Israeli flights with a total duration of 197 hours 45 minutes, which constituted violations of Lebanese airspace.
Since the period of Arab-Israeli wars, Israel has failed to reach peace with Syria. Since 1967, it has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights. In keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 497 (1981), the law on extending the Israeli jurisdiction to the Golan Heights, passed by the Knesset in December 1981, cannot be regarded as legitimate. This document, like President Donald Trump’s 2019 decision recognising Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, is an indisputable and blatant violation of international legal norms.
Moreover, under the pretext of ensuring its national security, Israel has for several years delivered air strikes at targets in the SAR, this on top of the existing differences with Damascus. These actions grossly violate international law, trample upon Syria’s sovereignty, and run the risk of further escalating confrontation in the region. They have repeatedly led to Syrian civilian casualties, including among children, not to mention the damage done to the combat potential of the Syrian armed forces and accordingly to the efficacy of their efforts to eliminate the terrorist presence on Syrian soil.
Attacks by the Israeli Air Force are directly threatening the Russian military personnel who are providing assistance to the legitimate Syrian authorities in their fight against terrorism. Fifteen Russian officers were killed in an air strike on a Syrian facility in Latakia on September 17, 2018. Israel wrongfully believes that the incident has been forgotten. However, even after that tragedy, on multiple occasions, Israeli pilots on combat missions in Syrian and Lebanese airspace used civilian aircraft as shields, thus putting them in great danger. And once again, we are hearing the same claims that the air raids are to eliminate threats to Israel’s national security.
Essentially, we are witnessing a number of states, such as Israel and, obviously, its main ally, the United States, bestowing on themselves the right to a certain immunity when it comes to international law. For many years, they have been ignoring mandatory UN Security Council resolutions and other decisions by the United Nations, interpreting the fundamental principles of international law and multilateral agreements as they see fit. And, in the case of Washington, they have been condoning similar conduct by their allies.
It seems appropriate to once again mention the sanctions that have become the main foreign policy tool of the collective West these days. Against the will of the international community, Tel Aviv has managed to avoid and continues to avoid various restrictions that could have been imposed against it for the systematic violation of the will of the majority of countries. This would have been impossible without total support from the United States.
Back to Yair Lapid’s statement in the context of the recent events around Ukraine, specifically that “war is not the way to resolve conflicts.” Perhaps, in this case, the Israeli leadership will consider immediately starting talks with Palestine, in order to implement the UN’s two-state solution? Or maybe the foreign minister of Israel, who said that “the Russian attack on Ukraine is a grave violation of the international order,” could review the foundations of this order, for educational purposes?
He may remember that this order stands on the UN Charter and the decisions of the UN and primarily its Security Council. Perhaps it would be helpful for Israel to take a look at its own conduct with a bit of healthy self-criticism before it allows itself to comment on how Russia defends its legitimate security interests.
We regret the fact that Israeli politicians have made irresponsible and emotional statements at a time when a reasonable, well-thought-out and objective approach is required. It is not appropriate for Israel and still less the United States, which resort to sabre-rattling instead of talks, to tell Russia what to do. Nor should they lecture us on international law or reproach us for using force to resolve national security matters.
For Israel, it would also be useful to recall that Washington’s logic ̵ “What is permissible for Jupiter may not be permissible for a bull” ̵ has already failed to pass the test of time. One would also like to ask Israeli officials whether they have any misgivings about the fact that the United States, their main ally, and Ukraine, which the Israeli foreign minister so staunchly defends, are the only ones to vote against the UN General Assembly’s annual resolution on combatting the glorification of Nazism? Would Mr Yair Lapid like to say anything on this score?
Perhaps the foreign minister would like to comment on the following matter. On March 30, the international community received evidence showing how the Kiev regime is using synagogues to stockpile weapons and gather neo-Nazis to be sent to the war zone. They did not even shy away from using buses, marked with signs saying “Children”, for these purposes. A member of the Jewish community in Uman, Ukraine, provided this information. We are looking forward to Mr Lapid’s response on this subject and possibly a reconsideration of his approach and admission of the inappropriateness of his statements.
In our opinion, it is blasphemous for Israel to voice support for the Kiev regime, which has openly started Nazifying all aspects of state and public life, and it is impossible to interpret Mr Lapid’s words in any other way. This betrays the memory of numerous Jews who were tortured to death by Bandera’s henchmen in Babiy Yar and in other locations in Ukraine, Poland and Belarus. We hope that Tel Aviv will modify its rhetoric in this connection, and that it will objectively assess the Kiev regime’s persistent neo-Nazi practices.
At this time of radical transformation of the world order, an opportunistic approach pandering to the Russophobic western line is an extremely near-sighted tactic. This could impair interaction with one of the 21st century’s global centres of power and development and a country that continues to play a highly important role in world affairs, including efforts to facilitate international security in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:18 utc | 156
American speechwriting has fallen a long way since Teddy Sorensen made JFK look much better than he was.
Our household is still baffled at Medvedev’s “rehabilitation” after his very public demotion a couple of years ago. Maybe Putin wants to encourage open competition in the succession game.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Apr 6 2022 22:32 utc | 137
I always feel a little less alone when someone mentions the brains behind Kennedy’s words, including that book of his — the first in a long and mostly inglorious series of paperweights that say “Vote for me! I can write a book!”
You might be right about the reason for Medvedev’s “rehabilitation.” Who knows, maybe someday we’ll really find out?
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 23:30 utc | 157
*a long and mostly inglorious series of ghostwritten paperweights
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 23:31 utc | 158
According to Intel Slava Z Telegram channel, another of the “big guns” has been brought into the battle… Between this and the Tulip 240mm mortar I referenced earlier, the Nazis in the steel plant and the Ukrainian army in their bunkers in Donbass are going to be in a world of hurt. That’s not a prediction – that’s a fact.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2S7_Pion
The 2S7 Pion (“peony”) or Malka is a Soviet self-propelled 203mm heavy artillery. “2S7” is its GRAU designation.
Type Self-propelled artillery
Service history In service 1976–present
Wars
Soviet–Afghan War
First Chechen War
Second Chechen War
Russo-Georgian War
War in Donbas
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war Russo-Ukrainian War
Russia Pounds Ukraine With ‘World’s Most Powerful’ 2S7M Malka Artillery Guns As War Enters Critical Stage
https://eurasiantimes.com/russia-pounds-ukraine-with-worlds-most-powerful-2s7m-malka-artillery-guns-as-war-enters-critical-stage/
#Russia points 2S7M Malka heavy artillery at #Ukraine !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hol5FcWXlYI
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:38 utc | 159
I see that Caitlin Johnstone approaches the issue I raise @114 a bit differently, “Pundits Who Advocate Hot War With Russia Are Enemies of Humanity” as she doesn’t bother to refute all the lies and propaganda. I haven’t followed her for several months so I don’t know what she’s written about this, but she ought to know that the refusal of NATO/Outlaw US Empire to answer Russia’s security proposals in December would lead to a confrontation and it’s those running the Outlaw US Empire who are the Anti-Humans as I’ve been saying for several years now. The producers of the lies and propaganda are also Anti-Humans as are those who transmit it unquestioningly, like those Caitlin singles-out in her essay.
Many of us have examined the root of the problem and have shown it stems from WW2 and the preservation of NAZI Ideology by the Outlaw US Empire and its nurturing by the CIA and MI-6. So, we can assuredly say that’s where the current Anti-Humanism sprang from, although that ought to be common knowledge given all the Anti-Humanism engaged in by the CIA, MI-6 and the respective Empires they support, the many millions they’ve already killed and displaced along with the millions more whose lives were ruined. I’ve watched all that transpire over my entire life and nothing has stopped the killing, and I’ve learned about all the killing and Anti-Humanism of the British and European Imperialists. IMO, they hate Russia for not being killers like they were/are. Yes, Russia is a continental empire and its wars of expansion were also deadly. However, they didn’t enslave those they conquered; rather, as they learned from the Mongols, they allowed assimilation and peaceful co-existence, the retention of language and culture. The deeper differences are extremely important and are key to understanding Russia and Russians–not just the European Russians, but all Russians.
I know why Russians wouldn’t want to live in a world without Russia. I don’t want to live in a world without Russia either. The Evil resurrected, promoted and unleashed yet again on humanity by those who were already clearly Anti-Human must be destroyed to the point where it’s expunged never to rise again. Russia was right to destroy Hiler’s body and scatter its remains wherever they did so no fragment could be turned into a relic to be worshipped as we now clearly see that such relics would have most certainly been used in that manner. The problem is that the EVil doesn’t just reside within Ukraine; it resides within the Outlaw US Empire, within the UK, within segments of Latin American societies, and wherever there’s a CIA, MI-6, or Terrorist Foreign Legion member. It might be considered a plague. Russia’s intimately aware of that plague. And that’s why the Outlaw US Empire supports Ukraine because it wants the plague to continue and grow.
I don’t think Caitlin should be so afraid of nukes. IMO, the Nazi Plague is far worse.
You might be right about the reason for Medvedev’s “rehabilitation.” Who knows, maybe someday we’ll really find out?
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 23:30 utc | 154
Admittedly, I’m not even familiar with the character, but his recent writings sound pissed off as fuck.
I imagine he must’ve been getting lots of “told yas”…
Posted by: Arganthonios | Apr 6 2022 23:44 utc | 161
Richard Steven Hack@153
Thank you for publishing that comment. Your regular reports and research are greatly appreciated.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 6 2022 23:49 utc | 162
From the Donbass Insider Telegram channel…
Statement by the official representative of the DPR People’s Militia on the situation on April 5, 2022
Since the beginning of the day, the enemy has fired more than 100 shells and mines from 122-mm multiple launch rocket systems BM-21 “Grad”, 122-mm cannon artillery and 120-mm mortars.
The areas of 9 settlements of the Republic were under shelling. As a result of the Ukrainian aggression 1 civilian was injured. 15 residential buildings, 3 civil infrastructure facilities were damaged.
Materials on the fact of wounding civilians and damage to infrastructure will be transferred to representatives of international human rights organizations, as well as to the DPR General Prosecutor’s Office for inclusion in criminal cases initiated against the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The servicemen of the Donetsk People’s Republic, together with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, continue to liberate the settlements of our Republic from Ukrainian invaders.
Since the beginning of the day, our servicemen have destroyed 79 Ukrainian nationalists, 6 firing positions, including 2 120-mm mortars, 2 tanks and 4 armored vehicles. Captured 1 tank, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 2 cargo vehicles.
The Kiev regime is concerned about the publicity to the whole world of war crimes committed by Azov nationalists in Mariupol, including executions and torture of civilians, as well as brutal excruciation of prisoners of war.
In this connection, before leaving the city of Mariupol, Ukrainian militants received an order from Kiev to destroy all possible witnesses who may testify to the crimes committed by Ukrainian punishers.
At the same time in the absence of alive witnesses the Kiev regime expects to shift responsibility for deaths of civilians committed by Azov nationalists to the military personnel participating in a special military operation.
In turn, I officially declare that units of the Russian troops and military personnel of the Donetsk People’s Republic conduct only pinpoint fire on the firing positions of Ukrainian gunmen.
Unfortunately, there were losses among our fighters. Over the past day, in the struggle for independence, 5 defenders of the Donetsk People’s Republic died in the line of military duty and 22 comrades were injured.
We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:49 utc | 163
Sushi–
You should know that the comment/article you wrote about the number of LNG shipments needed to make up for the loss of Russian gas that I copy/pasted to my VK Wall has had 147 views and 7 likes plus one share, which is a very good response. I know it had some errors; I left it standing in its original format, yet no one commented upon them. Thanks again for your efforts to expose reality!!
From the Russian MoD Telegram channel…
Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
High-precision ground-based missiles in Donetsk Region destroyed the command post of Ukraine’s 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade near Novogrodovka, as well as a nationalist base in Grodovka.
High-precision air-based missiles in Kharkov Region destroyed a fuel depot near Chuguev from which fuel was supplied to Ukrainian troops.
In addition, a concentration of foreign-made weapons and military equipment supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed at Lozovaya railway station in Kharkov Region.
During the day, operational-tactical aviation hit 34 military assets of Ukraine. Among them: 1 artillery battery, 2 logistics depots, and 9 strong points and areas of Ukrainian military equipment concentration.
Russian anti-aircraft defence means shot down Bayraktar TB-2 unmanned aerial vehicle near Taranovka, Kharkov Region.
In total, 125 Ukrainian aircraft and 93 helicopters, 408 unmanned aerial vehicles, 227 anti-aircraft missile systems, 1,987 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 216 multiple launch rocket systems, 862 field artillery and mortars, as well as 1,888 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.
According to confirmed information, the Ukrainian special services are preparing a serious provocation using poisonous substances in Pervomayskiy, Kharkov region.
Security Service of Ukraine has mined a storage facility containing 120 tonnes of chlorine on the territory of the Khimprom production association.
This storage facility is planned to be blown up in order to accuse Russia of allegedly causing a chemical disaster, which caused the death of local residents.
#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing
@mod_russia_en
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:55 utc | 165
Butties | Apr 6 2022 19:03 utc | 71
Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 22:08 utc | 128
You booth are right. This is an outstanding article. Everybody have to read and repost this. In the core he says this is a legal war.
Posted by: rico rose | Apr 6 2022 23:56 utc | 166
“..However, they didn’t enslave those they conquered.”
Nor did the British or Americans, they wiped most of them out. And that too is a major difference between the cultures of Russia after 1750 and north America where most of the First Nations went the way of the great herds of Bison.
It was the policies of Canada and the US in replacing the indigenous with settlers that excited Hitler who longed to repeat their policies in both Russia and the Russian imperial lands in which so many nations- imprisoned or not- retained their cultures, religions and lands.
Not, Karlofi that any of this is new to you, whose contributions are such an ornament to a site which b’s honesty and intellect have already made unique.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 6 2022 23:58 utc | 167
Donbass Insider has a detailed analysis of the Bucha event… By Christelle Neant, a French journalist. She has been living in DPR since 2016 and obtained its citizenship. She works there in DONi International Press Center. Articles have pictures, satellite images and videos.
Bucha massacre – when satellite images and videos are manipulated to tell a false story
https://www.donbass-insider.com/2022/04/06/bucha-massacre-when-satellite-images-and-videos-are-manipulated-to-tell-a-false-story/
Plus the earlier article from the day before:
Ukraine – The massacre of Bucha, a Ukrainian Timisoara
https://www.donbass-insider.com/2022/04/04/ukraine-the-massacre-of-bucha-a-ukrainian-timisoara/
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 7 2022 0:01 utc | 168
This is not a nice post.
Just 1 on SA’s capacity to export petro. Which country would hit back,,,and thus expose themselves, with certainty, to full WW3?
Or, just 1 on London to clearly get attention to the certainty of full WW3 if they hit back?
Or, just 1 on Israel? Who would hit back knowing, with certainty, that full WW3 would be next?
Or, Warsaw?
Or, Miami?
Just 1, to get full attention on what is really at risk by having proxies continue doing all the provoking for the real trouble-makers.
Yes, there still exist the happy-clapper suicidalists who seem to have certainty that they are doing god’s or gods’ will by having WW3 straightaway, and even pray for it. But there is no stopping them, anyway, unless their peers do a LOT MORE to keep them under control…which is the current scene.
We are NOT in a stalemate. We are sliding toward WW3 out of neglect of how close it is. Better to do something to alert their sleepy peers what is coming.
Posted by: chu teh | Apr 7 2022 0:04 utc | 169
Very likely just propaganda
https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/numerous-reports-u-s-army-general-captured-in-mariupol-with-azov-nazis
Posted by: Vayezatha | Apr 7 2022 0:11 utc | 170
I should confess I wrote all my comments before reading today’s Saker essay where we seem to be thinking together.
Ellen Brown on Russia’s response to sanctions.
https://www.unz.com/article/the-coming-global-financial-revolution-russia-is-following-the-american-playbook/
Ellen used to be a regular contributor to what used to be Counterpunch.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 7 2022 0:14 utc | 172
bevin @164–
Thanks very much for your kind words, bevin. IMO we should be happy the West’s “leaders” are cowards.
Michael Brenner has had enough of the jerks. Haven’t we all?
Here he is talking about Biden’s call for Putin’s death:
“…. So, it was left to…U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, then the State Department’s public relations flack to “walk it back.”
“Habitual use of that moronic term itself is an indicator of our conceit and arrogance. It is not an apology, nor an admission of error. What it really means is: “Look. I slipped up in saying what I really think – maybe jetlag; but now this one is causing me heartburn. So, let’s lighten up and just erase it from memory.”
“”Yet, you can’t simply erase things like that. People beyond the cowed press corps have heard it — like the guy to whom you passed the black spot. To add to the insult, Biden the next day told us (and “killer/war criminal” Putin) that he didn’t really “walk” it back; rather it was a sort of “stroll back.”
“In the course of his stroll, he made a number of pit-stops to emit accusations that the Putin gang in Ukraine were the same Russians who suppressed the Hungarians in 1976, the Czechs in 1968 and the Afghans in the 1980s. It was in their DNA, thereby seconding James Clapper and Wendy Sherman, among others.
“Of course, if this impeccable logic were applied to us, he would have to link his government to the Americans who ethnically cleansed the 10 million indigenous peoples from its territory, conquered Mexico and stole half of its territory, caused the death of 400,00 Filipinos who rebelled against the Yankee imperial yoke, fire-bombed Hamburg/ Dresden/Tokyo, nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, wreaked death and destruction in Vietnam, financed and supplied “death squads” across Central America, illegally invaded Iraq with the heavy consequences we are still enduring, was an active accomplice in the mass killing of Houthis, committed atrocities at Abu Ghraib, Camp Bucca, Guantanamo and “black sites.”
“And, just a few months ago, Biden personally stole outright $ 8billion belonging to the starving Afghans whose country we occupied on the specious grounds that we were escorting them into the land of milk & honey….”
Read the whole thing here: https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/06/jerks/
Posted by: bevin | Apr 7 2022 0:24 utc | 174
Wow,check out this photo,the translation of description of photo.
One shot is enough to understand the media significance of the “Bucha massacre” for Ukraine and the West.
We are waiting for a similar landing in Borodianka.
https://t.me/rybar/30700
Posted by: Kim | Apr 7 2022 0:25 utc | 175
An important video timeline of events has been released that exposes the Kiev-regime’s lies about Bucha. The Russian military did not kill civilians there. The crime was very clearly carried out by Banderite extremists who murdered civilians that they accused of being sympathetic to Russia, after the Russian military withdrew from the area.
You can watch the video here:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/bucha_timeline_botsman_06-yt:7
Posted by: Nate | Apr 7 2022 0:35 utc | 176
To fight 29 years like the last Japanese soldier had done is only a wish.
As for the Japanese soldier, there is a very fine line between fighting for 29 years and hiding out for 29 years.
As for the US being greedy selfish criminal pigs, the US is run by converts to Judaism. Such as Masons and Jesuits, Kazarians, and secret societies. Look at the Magna Carta, who has standing in England? As Voltaire pointed out, the peasants are not mentioned once, but the Jews are. The US has been plundered. Europe has been plundered. Germany should be cheering Russia on, praying for Russia to win to vindicate the German people. 100 years after the German people took on the black royalty, the Russians are running the gauntlet. God Bless Russia, God Bless Putin and Lavrov, God Bless the Orthodox Church.
Posted by: john beasley | Apr 7 2022 0:52 utc | 177
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 23:30 utc | 154
re American speechwriting has fallen a long way since Teddy Sorensen made JFK look much better than he was.
I offer my take on that history ,relevant to the current scene:
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 6 2022 23:30 utc | 154
On Kennedy…JFK was the youngest Prez ever to that office, elected at age 43. I recall when I was 43 and how very much experience I did not have. We both missed WW1, but JFK was an adult during the Great Depression, whereas I was only born toward the end of it.
JFK was utterly brilliant and fully fluent in speeking his thoughts, even extemporaneously. Awesome press conferences.
But JFK, when he took office, was instantly surrounded by the apparatniks and older, long-term .gov employees who had been running things for years. He was overwhelmed. He could not stop the invasion of Cuba. He had to go along with assassination attempts on Fidel Castro. He could not stop the slide into war in Vietnam, which was arranged before Dien Bien Phu in 1954. He went along with sending the first US combat troops into active battle, beyond mere “advisors”. [VN was a CIA operation that began under OSS to get the French to re-occupy VN in 1945. Then CIA guaranteed the undeclared [!] war if the French lost at DIenBienPhu, which the French lost.]
JFK’s own integrity and effort to be decent was overwhelmed by pre-existing .gov plans-in-progress and the long-timer personnel in-charge of those plans..as was his predecessor DDEisenhower, who got great credit for stopping the Korean war…so that the operations in VietNam could go forward…. DDE might not have had any knowkedge about that.
Arguably, any new Prez since HSTruman gets overwhelmed as soon as he takes office…unless he was part of the plans before taking office, like GHWBush. RMNixon was part of the plans before the 1960 election, but lost to JFK…but RMNtook over later after 1968 election and kept the killing in VN going for 6 more years.
Posted by: chu teh | Apr 7 2022 1:08 utc | 178
bevin | Apr 7 2022 0:24 utc | 171
From the Tsar’s to the communist era to today’s actual democracy, Russia has changed its world outlook a number of times. US on the other hand has remained unchanged 150 years or more with its Monroe doctrine type outlook on the world, so very much a case of projection.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 7 2022 1:12 utc | 179
Yo, Dutchman–
You ran away from me, on the last thread.
I’m back, again, asking you:
Why should anyone here care in the slightest what your opinions are about anything, considering your open game is to discredit people using…CNN?? Fox News?? The NY/FBI-Times? The Bezos-blog WaPo?
Would you care to explain to those of us who aren’t stupid which intelligence agency you work for?
My guess is that you’re a private in US Naval Intelligence agency, but honestly that’s just a WAG based on my knowledge of who “educated” you filth.
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | Apr 7 2022 1:16 utc | 180
There may be some Marine privates in U.S. Naval Intelligence (Oswald may well have been one), but this retired lieutenant commander in Naval Intelligence hazards the guess that most low-ranking people in the program are seamen.
Posted by: Lysias | Apr 7 2022 1:28 utc | 181
In addition, a concentration of foreign-made weapons and military equipment supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed at Lozovaya railway station in Kharkov Region.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 6 2022 23:55 utc | 162
This is the best kind of news from the front! It really put a smile back on my face. I only wish it were a regular occurrence.
I was under such a dark cloud all day because of the news earlier from Brussels regarding the additional sanctions on Russia.
Thank you and welcome back!
Posted by: Circe | Apr 7 2022 1:33 utc | 182
Comment: Given the number of videos we’ve seen of civilians taped to poles, and being beaten to death in Ukraine right now, there is a very real risk of retribution against anyone who is not ra ra, glory to the heroes. So polls like the one below are being answered by an effectively captive audience.
Poll: 95% of Ukrainians believe Ukraine will win the war
https://ratinggroup.ua/en/research/ukraine/sedmoy_obschenacionalnyy_opros_ukraina_v_usloviyah_voyny_30-31_marta_2022.html
Posted by: aquileia | Apr 6 2022
Posted by: Rhinoskerous | Apr 7 2022 2:13 utc | 183
Can someone please explain why Russia is STILL sending gas to Germany. Do they need the money? Would the pipelines explode? Please someone tell me.
It seems absolutely stupid. Germany cannot be redeemed. Ditch it until it comes begging. yes i understand about contracts etc, but that surely died the day they nationalised the storage facility. Germany needs to feel some pain and soon.
Posted by: watcher | Apr 7 2022 2:14 utc | 184
Russia must take Odessa at any cost. Over 70% of Ukraine’s international trade passed through Odessa. Ukraine can be permanently tamed if it is taken. Must continue to destroy Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure. Plenty to go.
Posted by: Jason | Apr 7 2022 2:17 utc | 185
Pacifica Advocate | Apr 7 2022 1:16 utc | 177
“Why should anyone here care in the slightest what your opinions are about anything, considering your open game is to discredit people using…CNN?? Fox News?? The NY/FBI-Times? The Bezos-blog WaPo?”
I see how badly I upset some of the more extreme sycophants of the can-do-no-wrong Russian political leadership, as well as those who have lost their nerve for the war and want to “cash in their winnings now”, because I cited that leadership’s own words proclaiming how they gave up military positions and sold out friendly civilians in order to prove some kind of bona fides to Zelensky. I assure you, my only sources and inspirations were the quoted words of Lavrov and Peskov themselves. Anyone not retarded could read that easily in my remarks.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 7 2022 2:18 utc | 186
watcher | Apr 7 2022 2:14 utc | 180
“Can someone please explain why Russia is STILL sending gas to Germany. Do they need the money? Would the pipelines explode? Please someone tell me.”
I could tell you but everyone here dislikes my answers. But as you say, the fact that Putin is a self-professed idolator of “contracts” with the West is a big part of it.
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 7 2022 2:20 utc | 187
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Apr 7 2022 2:20 utc | 183
That might have washed until a week ago, but no longer. there has to be a better reason
Posted by: watcher | Apr 7 2022 2:24 utc | 188
Very strange. Every day there is news of the U.S. heightening tensions with China. Last week it was restrictions on visas for Chinese officials who violate human rights.
Yesterday, it was AUKUS planning to expand cooperation.
Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have vowed to expand cooperation on hypersonic weapons under the AUKUS pact as the three countries press on with the trilateral plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
China responded.
“The US, UK and Australia will cooperate in developing hypersonic weapons and other advanced military technology,” Mr Zhao said.
“Their ultimate goal is to create the Asia-Pacific version of NATO and serve the US hegemony outright. Asia-Pacific countries are of course firmly opposed to this.”
Asia-Pacific NATO
Today the Pentagon announced it plans to increase arms shipments to Taiwan and China shot back with another statement.
Looks like the U.S. is trying to punish China for not denouncing Russia on the Ukraine SMO?
Wrong psychology.
Posted by: Circe | Apr 7 2022 2:24 utc | 189
@Tannenhouser | Feb 26 2022 22:39 utc | 130
post truth dark age
the matrix is live
cats r glitching everywhere
hate is now a cultivated ‘commodity’ in the West
***
Been meditating on your little verse…
the matrix has gone full live with lies
pledge allegiance to all false flags
fiat money, fiat truth both hypnotize
cats glitch everywhere, narrative sags
how dark will be our age before the dawn
will it bring new life, or a half-life spawn?
Posted by: Vintage Red | Apr 7 2022 2:27 utc | 190
If you take believe Russia actually left their positions around Kiev as a sign of goodwill in respect to future negotiations you are a fool.
Posted by: Arthurdent | Apr 7 2022 2:32 utc | 191
Peter AU1@176
That is a perfectly reasonable interpretation of Russian policy. But there is a sense in which the constant in Russian policy, since Peter the Great at least, has been to win acceptance and respect in Europe. And it has always been rebuffed. And most often by the liberals. This was true too of the Communists who began by seeking the alliance of workers and oppressed peoples of the world, then for a United Front with the antifascists and peace lovers, before settling for alliances with the victims of neo-colonialism.
My own view is that Russia, like hot metal, has been shaped by those hammering at it. But there comes a time when its enemies forget why they are fighting against her.
Which is to say that they cease to be even marginally rational: History will shake its head in disbelief as it examines the way in which the United States drove three completely different political regimes, the Chinese, the Russian, the Persian into alliance with each other and then got to work driving any other state, pursuing its own interests towards the Eurasian bloc. How will it explain the way that India and Brazil, as well as South Africa are drifting into alliance with Communists, Shia fundamentalists and Russia still making up its mind but inclined towards collective politics and conservatism.
As to the United States it has never had any enemies to knock into shape. It has no conception of what war is about, which is why it makes war so often. And so often employs proxies to do it.
Time for bed in Canada. It is up to the Antipodes for the next 12 hours.
Posted by: bevin | Apr 7 2022 2:33 utc | 192
I thought I might throw in a bit of a long comment of my own here. Yesterday (courtesy of another blog) I came across an article in Strategy Page about this Ukraine business. I’m not familiar with that publication, but it is clearly on the Russia-is-bad side. The part of interest to the other blogger was the bit about China’s role in the whole affair (as seen by the author). That section is excerpted below, without comment from yours truly. I’m a bit curious as to what the various barflies here have to say about this analysis:
China Disappointed
Officially, China supports Russian efforts to deal with “Ukrainian aggression.” Unofficially, China is critical of the Russian war on Ukraine, if only because of the negative impact on Chinese trade and diplomacy. China was a major customer for Ukrainian military tech and wheat. That trade is disrupted and will take a while to recover, no matter who wins.
There were other problems. China was not happy with the poor performance of Russian troops in Ukraine. China was kept informed about the preparations for the invasion and asked Russia to wait until the Winter Olympics in China were over on February 23rd before invading. The invasion began before dawn on the 24th and was, according to Russia, supposed to be over in fifteen days. After about a week, China concluded that the Russian plan and the Russian military had failed. Russian troops quickly ran into trouble because of the unexpected stiff resistance by Ukrainian troops and armed civilians. China initially remained silent about the invasion and as the Ukrainian resistance increased, along with unprecedented sanctions imposed by Russia’s Western trading partners, China refused to openly support the Russian operation. China was also dismayed at the degree of European military support for the Ukrainians, despite Russian threats of nuclear retaliation. That did not dissuade the Europeans or Americans, just as it had not worked on China during their 1969 border war between Russia and China. In 1969 China had recently tested its first nuclear weapon but did not have a nuclear retaliation capability. Russia approached the Americans about joining in a nuclear attack on China. The Americans refused and criticized the Russian threats to use nukes. When China found out about that, there was a warming in the long-frosty relations with the Americans which soon (1972) led to the U.S. recognizing the Chinese communist government.
The Chinese consider themselves more astute students of history than Russians and now believe that the invasion was poorly planned and carried out. China is more willing to acknowledge problems with readiness and training in their own military, lessons that Russia appears to have forgotten. Any perceived Chinese support of this Russian disaster causes problems for China, as well as inspiring the Chinese military to pay more attention to avoiding the Russian approach.
China is not assisting Russia economically, unless it benefits China. To do otherwise would be expensive, reward Russian bad judgment and imply Chinese approval of the Ukrainian operation. With no Chinese economic lifeline available, Russia is under more pressure to end the Ukraine operation as soon as possible. The Russian plan was to rush in and occupy key areas, like the capital Kyiv and all Ukrainian ports, and then declare the war ended and call for negotiations. That didn’t work but opposition inside Russia did appear. Many prominent Russians have risked arrest by openly criticizing the invasion. China has less openly agreed with these critics by refusing to rescue Putin and the Russian economy. China has also been investing more money in its “lost territories” in Pacific Coast Russia. More Chinese are coming into these territories to live and do business while, since the 1990s, more Russians left. China expected to eventually take control of the lost territories economically and with a lot of Chinese residents. The Ukraine-related sanctions have sped up this process.
The Russian invasion is something China warned against because it was reckless, something China avoids at all costs. Now that the Russian invasion has failed and produced unprecedented economic sanctions, China is making the most of that and forcing Russia to be even more dependent on China. For example, Russia was able to use the Chinese credit card network and a new China controlled international banking system. This system is still small and new members tend to be outlaw states, but it’s a start. Ukraine, which has done a lot of business with China over the last decade, is aware that China could order Russia to halt their invasion and deal with the aftermath via negotiations. It suits China to allow Russia to weaken itself further and become more dependent on China. This is their long-range strategy to defeat Russia and retrieve the Pacific coast territory lost to the Russian monarchy centuries ago. For the moment China goes along with the Russian version of the war, in which Russia is simply defending itself from NATO aggression. China intends to be the only winner in this war and so far, that is happening.
Posted by: DougK | Apr 7 2022 2:36 utc | 193
“Wrong psychology.” Circe @185
A polite way of saying total insanity- which US Foreign Policy has been for years. Now they are working on making it impossible for any European with the slightest whiff of self respect to continue to work with them/for them. Soon even Stoltenberg will have to get off his knees.
“Those whom the Gods would destroy, they persuade to use false psychology.”
Posted by: bevin | Apr 7 2022 2:39 utc | 194
Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent Aleksandr Kots has published a video of Russian military surgeons operating on Ukrainian civilians at a field hospital in Izyum (unmute audio by clicking the icon in the lower right corner, skip to 0:59): video.
So much for the claim of evil Russians genociding Ukrainian civilians.
Posted by: S | Apr 7 2022 2:41 utc | 195
Ah yes, the old China is after Russian territory psyops. Looks like one of the monkeys escaped from the Zero Hedge zoo.
Posted by: Useful Beet Eater | Apr 7 2022 2:44 utc | 196
Posted by: watcher | Apr 6 2022 21:45 utc | 118
Thanks for your posts, watcher. I would just comment that being pilloried by our families is something we can and must endure — it is far less than many are facing in this conflict, but it is a small measure in which we can emulate the patience of those operating on the international level. We owe it to those we encourage on that level to do our best on our own personal level, and that is to bear with our families. They might be said to be currently on a different wave length, tuned in to what we would consider the wrong station entirely. We can’t let it upset us or turn us from our resolve, which is to support the right. And we have to not give up on them. Even if we don’t see ourselves succeeding in bringing them to our own understandings, they are our family and we in our hearts CAN love them.
I read a comment on Saker by Michael Hudson that the empire Saker calles the Empire of Lies should be called ‘the Empire of Hate’. So, to defeat it, and if we who are not involved directly wish to help, we defeat it with love.
Russia is doing that with respect to Ukraine. They may not succeed in having the country they would wish it to be when this is over, but they will still feel it is family. Because it actually is. Many places around the world that cannot be reconciled strive continually to have peaceful borders; may they all succeed!
Please, dear barfolk, do not lose heart! In our own very small way, we help by feeling compassion, even if only here, and if only with family and friends. We even help by expressing our thoughts, our understandings – in ways we may never become aware of — someone out there appreciates what we say, and is heartened by it!
There is a larger family, and we all belong to it.
Posted by: juliania | Apr 7 2022 2:49 utc | 197
@13
The other 5% are scared to say anything.
Posted by: dh | Apr 6 2022 16:18 utc | 15
You don’t want to be fingered as am “antihero” under the 2014 Regime.
Posted by: John Kennard | Apr 7 2022 2:50 utc | 198
If you belive Russia ever meant to occupy Kiev and all Ukraine…you are a fool.
Posted by: Nook | Apr 7 2022 2:52 utc | 199
@DougK #189:
I’m a bit curious as to what the various barflies here have to say about this analysis
No, you’re not. The article is complete bullshit, and you’re a concern troll.
Posted by: S | Apr 7 2022 2:55 utc | 200