Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 29 2022 10:20 utc | 276

I got:
Error 503 Service Unavailable
Service Unavailable
Odnamrod Meditation:
XID: 3031136099
The origin web server timed out responding to this request

CloudFlare is saying it timed out getting to MOAs web server. Not sure if that timeout was real (only b could say), or malicious.
I’d prepare an alternative to CloudFlare ahead of the day they decide to stop their service:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/04/bidens-ministry-of-truth/

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 29 2022 12:37 utc | 304

Piotr Berman 281
Please: where do you learn all this tribal history? I haven’t been able to find books describing what happened in those times…

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 29 2022 12:45 utc | 306

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 28 2022 20:34 utc | 157
Lolol! I thoroughly enjoyed that bang on, slamming bit of Irish temper from Clare Daly.
A big thank you to President Putin for the Euro slide this week. A freefall will have the Euro Zone begging for mercy. I’m kind of wishing in that direction.

It is what great societies must do for less fortunate.
Posted by: SailorsWife | Apr 28 2022 23:16 utc | 199

Did you know the U.S. Congress intends to send the bill for all that reconstruction you listed there to Russia’s oligarchs? Not sure if it can be legally justified and feasible, but that’s the plan.
No more foie gras and oysters for them.
Of course, Abramovich is twisting himself into a pretzel to head off that threat by asking bidders for Chelsea FC to contribute an extra $500 million for Ukraine charitable aid.
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
Early 3 a.m. Wednesday, Ukraine struck a munitions depot inside Russia, and *elensky’s advisor, Podolyak, stated: Karma is a cruel thing for Russia.
Later, Thursday overnight, Ukraine struck a TV tower in Kherson in an effort to take down Russian channels which was unsuccessful. Service was soon after restored.
Then Kiev military infrastructure was struck by multiple Russian missiles, and Podolyak tweeted: Postcard from Moscow? Recall why 🇷🇺 still takes a seat on the UN Security Council?…bla bla bla.
Silly Podolyak, 🤫 better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt. That was no postcard; that was your cruel thing boomeranging back…with a little help from Z.
The SMO is steamrolling through Eastern Ukraine. The EU is scrambling over gas imports with the Euro in decline; the U.S. economy got a reality check yesterday, and the mainstream media is rehashing a tired narrative and out of propaganda talking points. Oh, and one more thing: Putin’s in charge.

Posted by: Circe | Apr 29 2022 12:57 utc | 308

According to reports in telegram:
Vladimir Zelensky, his wife and children, received British citizenship. Zelensky’s parents categorically refused to obtain [British] citizenship.
Also, by the decision of the British government, citizenship was granted to Andriy Yermak and his family members, Mikhail Podolyak and his family members.
A number of employees of the General Staff of Ukraine and the SBU are also in the process of obtaining British citizenship.

Posted by: alaff | Apr 29 2022 13:01 utc | 310

Posted by: Cthulhu | Apr 28 2022 17:11 utc | 96
The US has almost total control of this war, including the use of nukes. Russia has control of their actions in the war but the US controls what weapons go into Ukraine, political support for Ukraine, and all the financial sanctions. Russia’s actions are basically a reaction to what the US does, including the start of the war. The US could easily cool off the war or even stop it in a heartbeat. Or they could expand it to total nuclear WWIII. There’s nothing out of control about this war and there will be no nukes without the US willing it. The US is a grand-master puppeteer in this.

Posted by: ACPAL | Apr 29 2022 13:17 utc | 312

I now know the Big Picture. This New Cold War cannot end except in nuclear war or the economic collapse of one of the 2 sides.
There can’t be anything else because the West is ruled by a greedy, narcissistic elite. They will not suffer the job loss or inflationary harm of a prolonged financial war. Their sons and daughters will not go to fight. Indeed, they probably hope to profit from it all.
More than that, the West is ruled by political mobs – as shown by Yellen’s remarks to slow down the oil embargo talk. The EU can’t stop or learn humility.
This is “prepper” time. I predict the West will goad a somewhat reluctant China into attacking Taiwan and sanctions war within two years. The dollar will soar, the yen will crash, then the euro. Finally, the US will lose dollar hegemony after giving the false impression of strength.
China’s harsh lockdowns are good practice for the sacrifice they will need to emerge in triumph. And Russia will suffer but can’t be defeated because it is too autarchic.

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 29 2022 13:23 utc | 314

First German companies are closing due to high energy prices. The company the newspaper piece is about is a mineral water producer in Baruth / Brandeburg. 225 ppl are losing their jobs. Local politcians are shocked and demand help from the govt.
https://twitter.com/sven_henschel/status/1519996620548546563/photo/1

Posted by: Arne Hartmann | Apr 29 2022 13:29 utc | 316

Bloomberg is reporting that Russia has made their bond payment in usd.

Posted by: Platero | Apr 29 2022 13:30 utc | 318

The Polish government seizes Russian gas companies infrastructure in the country, and hands it over to Polish state gas suppliers.
“Warsaw has obliged the Polish subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Novatek to transfer its gas infrastructure to the nation’s state companies, Government Spokesperson Piotr Müller said on Friday. Novatek, which is on Poland’s sanctions list, on Thursday stopped gas supplies to some of the country’s regions.
“Today Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki requested state companies PGNiG, PSG and Gaz-System to immediately supply gas to grids formally owned by Novatek, on the basis of the crisis management law,” Müller said.”

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 13:46 utc | 320

Russia Rejects German Gas Payment From Seized Trading Unit
Russia’s major gas bank rejected a payment from a trading firm that Germany seized from Moscow’s control, the first sign of friction following the take-over amid a broader regional energy dispute.
Gazprombank declined payment for some April and May gas deliveries to Germany and Austria under contract with Gazprom Marketing & Trading Ltd., even as the company sought to pay for the fuel using a rubles account as Russia has demanded, according to people familiar with the matter.
GM&T was previously under the direction of Russian-state gas producer Gazprom PJSC’s German subsidiary. Germany took over the unit earlier this month to secure the country’s gas supplies, and it now risks being shunned under its new ownership.
…
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/russia-rejects-german-gas-payment-143628924.html

Posted by: Sundial | Apr 29 2022 14:02 utc | 322

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 13:42 utc | 318
If it is a Non-Profit why is it registered as a Company to a terraced house in Stroud worth £346,000 and only started up in Nov 2021 with one Director being Danish ? Normally a cHarity is a charity

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Apr 29 2022 14:10 utc | 324

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 14:06 utc | 322
Can you provide a link, or a link to some confirmation of this claim? Thanks.

Posted by: WJ | Apr 29 2022 14:13 utc | 326

Paul Greenwood (323).
Yeah I’ve been looking for info on it, here’s the trio that front it.
http://presidiumnetwork.com/

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 14:16 utc | 328

WJ (325).
Its from the Saker’s blog (SITREP : Operation Z). I don’t think a Saker link appears on here when you post it, so go the site and click on the Sitrep link, there you will find the info.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 14:19 utc | 330

Posted by: Cthulhu | Apr 29 2022 4:07 utc | 251
Very insightful — from your keyboard to Putin’s ears!

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 29 2022 14:38 utc | 332

@ my 324
More on Poland/Galicia from Doctorow
“According to SVR, Poland is coordinating this issue with the United States. The idea is to establish military and political control by Warsaw over the “its historic territories” which today fall within the boundaries of Ukraine. Poland would introduce its troops into the Western regions of the country under cover of a mission to “protect the territory from Russian aggression.” . . .However, none of the foregoing takes into account the military powerhouse that Russia is today. We may take the possibility of a Polish move of its forces into the Western Ukraine as the kind of intervention that Vladimir Putin had in mind when he said yesterday to legislators gathered in St Petersburg that it would provoke a lightning fast counter blow by Russia.”. . here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 29 2022 14:45 utc | 334

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 29 2022 13:46 utc | 319
Posted by: Sundial | Apr 29 2022 14:02 utc | 321
I’m dead, as the Z-ppl say.
BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
“Russian blackmail” or “Energy independence”? You be the judge.

Posted by: sln2002 | Apr 29 2022 15:01 utc | 336

Biden tried to implement aid and recovery programs for Americans worth three times as much as that sum but was blocked by the Republican party and two of his own two renegade Senators, Manchin and Sinema.
Posted by: Malchik Ralf | Apr 29 2022 10:01 utc | 271
____
Democracy ain’t broke, it’s fixed.
As with Obama’s perceived “failures”, votes are fixed back-room around true policy intent. Blocking votes are all scripted for democracy theater. Or am I too cynical?
Paraphrasing Lily Tomlin(?) re politics: “No matter how cynical I get, I’m not cynical enough.”

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 29 2022 15:09 utc | 338

Today, three more new traction substations on Ukrainian railways were hit by missile strikes: in the area of ​​​​Fastov, Krasnoselka and Polonnoe stations.
https://t.me/intelslava/27259
The Map is possibly quite telling about Russian future intentions imo,(Rump Ukraine) although Russia could still use Diesel locomotives if it intends full occupation of Ukraine as it moves west and north from the Dombass.Who knows really.

Posted by: Kim | Apr 29 2022 15:12 utc | 340

If the Russian MoD has assumed this war will be over in three months, then Russia will lose. As simple as that.
Again, the key, the reverse side of having production stamina, is stamina in keeping up an offense. This, the way this war is being fought, translates to missile strikes against Ukr assets and infrastructure. If Russia has to expand its offense against, to start out with, Romania and Poland, they either have to up maintain the rate of offense but over a much greater area of targets (hence much greater missile expenditure), or lower their offense to stay within a missile expenditure budget. If they can sustain their missile expenditure and also increase their attack area, the NATO/Ukr/U$A will run out first and either have to go nuclear or sue for peace.
The next month will be scarey interesting.
As for Ukr attacks on Russia, this is the “Bomber Harris” play – the German Luftwaffe had the RAF on the ropes hitting their airfields, and Bomber Harris turned it all around by bombing Berlin, tricking the arrogant Goering and Nazi leadership to change a winning gameplan for one that just “felt good” in providing revenge against German victims of the bombing…
The Ukrs (no doubt counseled by UK) are trying to make the Russians lose their concentration…

Posted by: Simplicius | Apr 29 2022 16:58 utc | 342

karlof1 @172, Doug Hillman @210, Richard Steven Hack @178
RSH, it is true that NATO isn’t what it used to be. Still, a bum-rush by a million psycho fluorescent-haired shrieking bearded ladies is nothing to laugh at regardless of how comical it would appear to be.
“Russia can decapitate NATO in a few days.”
The operative word here is “can”. The way Russia launched the SMO is encouraging, and the argument that Russia has no reason to pull their punches when the fight extends beyond their “family” in the Ukraine is a good argument, I still want to see those gloves come off before I will believe it. The liberals in Russia worshiped the West and hitting their former heroes hard will pain them.
The issue here is that if Russia still refuses to use nukes then the Empire of Stupidity will continue to believe the Russians don’t have what it takes to escalate that far, which would in turn mean that the Empire retains nuclear escalation dominance. The Russians are just not “man enough” as the psycho war pigs would say.
I hope that you are correct RSH, but I know that a demonstration will be required before the Empire of Delusion will be deterred by Russia’s nuclear deterrence.
karlof1, I’ve not been to Russia and I cannot read or otherwise understand Russian, so it is quite true that my knowledge of the details of the steps the current administration in Moscow have taken to prepare for war are limited to what I can piece together from incomplete sources. One of those sources that was somewhat revealing, though, is this article from John Helmer: “Last week the Duma began reviewing two new laws to decide whether the war economy will run on state planned lines, starting with the nationalization of the assets in Russia of all companies belonging to the hostile axis…”
If the Duma is debating starting state planning of the war economy, then that certainly seems to imply that they have not yet started such planning. Helmer then quotes Putin stating “…we are also aware that the most correct decision in the emerging situation is to debureaucratise the economy…”. It could be that my interpretation is flawed or the translation is munged, but “debureaucratisation” sounds a whole lot like “deregulation” which is in turn pretty much the opposite of state planning.
It needs to be remembered that it was the Communist Party; the real opposition in Russia, that introduced the bill to recognize the independence of the People’s Republics from the Ukraine. That move did not arise from the leadership of Putin or the party he is associated with. More important in my opinion is Helmer informs that the Crimean parliament, with the backing of the Communist opposition, has submitted a bill to nationalize assets needed by the federation with the control over those seized assets devolving to the various parliaments across the Russian Federation. Again, that such a bill is being proposed strongly suggests that this isn’t current policy. Why propose a new law if what is required by the new law is already current policy?
Doug Hillman, I recall immediately rejecting the claims America was making about Iraq’s WMD programs to justify war all those years ago based upon the simple fact that no country can have a secret military industry that is greater than that country’s aggregate industrial capacity. You simply cannot hide the supply chains and human resource development/education systems needed to produce technically complex products of any sort, military or otherwise. You can get a rough idea of a country’s military production capabilities by looking at their steel, motor vehicle, ship, and aircraft production capabilities. While Russia ranks at a decent level in all of these categories, it is by no means a monster in any of them. The supply chains for these industries pretty much define the limits for what Russia can produce, and you cannot rapidly grow those supply chains without aggressive state intervention and planning. “The Market™” [Hallowed be Its name] cannot accomplish that rapid development of supply chains, and Putin is definitely a fan of “The Market™” [Hallowed be Its name].

Posted by: William Gruff | Apr 29 2022 17:04 utc | 344

I feel you went a little hard on Altai though.
Posted by: Boomhauer | Apr 29 2022 0:48 utc | 230
I’m an “earnest noob” here, with no business going “a little hard” on anyone. I try to avoid that “t” word entirely, as it’s often deployed to silence dissent. So I apologize to Altai (I really do) if I appeared to fling that accusation. My wording was too careless (and nobody’s perfect).
Sometimes an irritated oyster produces a pearl. I’m glad Henryk Gorecki’s name came up — his Symphony #3 is practically a canticle on anguishes of war. At some point, healing might become possible, via epic masterpieces of empathy such as Gorecki’s #3.
Wendell Berry is uniquely attached to the place he lives, for a white US American. Hardly anyone else writes about simply staying put and appreciating where you’re planted. Where I live, the original inhabitants — the indigenes — are called Ohlone. An Ohlone elder once told me that Indians are puzzled about how Europeans could stand to leave their homes. This tangent has strayed too far — I’m just attempting to hold firm to this fervent prayer: I love my home — irrationally, unconditionally; Other folks feel the same about their own place on Earth; It’s possible to imagine understanding arising, if there’s any future for the human species.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Apr 29 2022 17:25 utc | 346

re: karlof1 | Apr 29 2022 18:09 utc | 349
What has been the situation in the SMO with regard to the use of conscripts in the Russian military? I have yet to read a clear and authoritive report about this.

Posted by: tucenz | Apr 29 2022 20:04 utc | 348

Sometimes I sit back and regret my career choices.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 29 2022 12:39 utc | 307
____
Right! Oh, to be a murderous criminal oligarch — the essence of life in all its abundance.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 29 2022 21:16 utc | 350

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 29 2022 21:16 utc | 352

Right! Oh, to be a murderous criminal oligarch — the essence of life in all its abundance.

Oh calm down, you old drama queen. I said “sometimes” not always.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 30 2022 4:59 utc | 352

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Apr 29 2022 21:31 utc | 353

However, some conscripts did make it into Ukraine, and when some were captured, the rest were pulled out

I suspect a lot of these would have been young men itching to get to the front who sneaked themselves in, as has often been the case in previous conflicts (lying about age and fitness, etc …)

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 30 2022 5:19 utc | 354

In regards to the nuclear weapon angle, I would like this intelligent group to consider the possibility that nuclear weapons do not function.
Growing up pretty much all of my knowledge about them came from the movies and books. I almost thought I could build one if I had all the right materials. I’ve never seen one explode though. Has anyone?
It’s just a giant scam. One of the biggest and best kept secrets. Billions were stolen. Even today they’re at it again retouching all the “footage” and making it HD.
With the kind of funding there was, don’t you think it’s possible that one could get enough TNT laced with radioactive dust on some remote atoll in the Pacific, blow it up, and film it from all angles? Just calibrating the instruments right?

Posted by: John | May 1 2022 3:27 utc | 356