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May 28, 2022
Ukraine Open Thread 2022-75
Comments
Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2022 21:38 utc | 96
Nice. I want one of those Bavar – perfect for the San Francisco Bay area. 🙂
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 28 2022 21:45 utc | 101
I’m no longer going to talk about what Russia can do to deal with Ukraine after the Donbass reduction is done.
Too many idiots here parroting the “party line” that Russia will stop then. I certainly hope Russia isn’t that stupid.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 28 2022 21:48 utc | 102
S:
The standard list of Russian oligarchs I see tossed around usually contains these names:
Roman Abramovich, Alexander Abramov, Oleg Deripaska, Mikhail Prokhorov, Alisher Usmanov, German Khan, Viktor Vekselberg, Leonid Mikhelson, Vagit Alekperov, Mikhail Fridman, Dmitry Rybolovlev, Vladimir Potanin, Pyotr Aven, and Vitaly Malkin
Are you saying they have no political power or sway? How are you defining “oligarch” in order to say Russia has NONE?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 28 2022 21:50 utc | 103
Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2022 20:12 utc | 72
Thanks for your reply. Interesting. Seemingly RF is attracting Arab support and thus distancing from Israel. And yet the latter enjoys good relations with China and suspect much is shared viz cyber security and surveillance etc. They are the best network with well positioned contacts throughout the West to be perhaps involved with the clearly well organized take down now underway. They also hardly figure at all in the mainstream Ukraine narrative which is a little unusual…
A most interesting development.
Oz , this news site since the death of ‘Oz AP’ does a lot of internets troll copy & paste. Believes the USSA/Estonia ‘ministry of truth’ claims when “Putin ” visited the wounded soldiers in the Russian Military Hospital.in Moscow. The one standing at attention to his left. Is actually a factory worker from a previous state visit. Or , so says a UK sauna salesperson in Estonia.
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | May 28 2022 22:00 utc | 105
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 28 2022 21:48 utc | 102
Sorry I must have lost track. What is that comment a response to?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 28 2022 22:13 utc | 106
Even if a message cannot be decrypted, traffic analysis can still tell you a lot.
Posted by: Lysias | May 28 2022 22:17 utc | 107
Starlink’s earlier claim of changing one line of code to somehow prevent hacking or jamming is nonsense to anyone who understands EW. I’m sure it fixed some kind of vulnerability, but was meaningless overall in a modern EW environment.
Posted by: PavewayIV | May 28 2022 20:04 utc | 70
heh. “meaningless over all”
3 March 2022 SpaceX Chief Musk Warns That Its Starlink System Could Be ‘Targeted’ in Ukraine
Posted by: sln2002 | May 28 2022 22:20 utc | 108
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/05/04/starlink-ukraine-elon-musk-satellite-internet-broadband-drones/
Somebody linked this. Says Starlink saved comms in Ukraine but I’ve also read here many times that RF didn’t disable internet etc because isn’t at war with ukrainian people…
So which is it, or?
RSH@102
Traditionally, Russia had a geostrategic weakness of long borders with little to no natural obstacles. It is why they get invaded occasionally. All of their national doctrines and even much of their culture originate there. It is due to that weakness that Russia always needed a barrier of countries at its borders separating it from the rest of the (militant) powers in Europe. It is also why the NATO membership of Finland hurts so much. They need to defend that border with more intensity now which brings costs to the national living standard.
That is also why taking the area of Kharkov and Sumi under control or at least as a demilitarized zone is important. The rest of Ukraine that is not bordering Russia is, I believe, less important in that regard, although not insignificant. It is exactly what they mean when they say demilitarization is the goal.
Denazification of the entire Ukraine is I think meant indirectly. By showing that this path to “Ukraine strength” (remember: they have a weak state of statehood) leads to much suffering and is thus a poor choice compared to a neutral status. For example, the families of all those dead soldiers can find the current Ukraine goverment doctrine a failure soon. Or life in the liberated territories may turn out to be much better than what the nationalists in Kyev were telling the people.
But, things in warmaking have changed. Abudance of standoff weapons with precision may mean that the traditional weakness of Russia is now less of an issue. We shall see.
Posted by: alek_a | May 28 2022 22:32 utc | 110
MEANWHILE, in imminent PUTIN’S WAR starvation news,
China Daily: Recently, some people in certain Western countries have been accusing China of “hoarding grains” in the international market. They demand more actions from China for global food security. Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: The Chinese government always attaches great importance to the issue of food security. We follow a vision on food security that is centered on “self-sufficiency in grain supply and absolute security of staple grains”. The year 2021 marks the seventh consecutive year that China secured an annual grain production of over 1.3 trillion jin (650 million tonnes). China stands as the world’s largest grain producer and third largest grain exporter. We have the capability and confidence of being self-reliant in securing our own food supply. It is unnecessary for China to “hoard grains” in the international market.
China has managed to feed one fifth of the world’s population with a quarter of the world’s total food production on less than 9% of the world’s arable land. This achievement is in itself a significant contribution to world food security. In the meantime, China has shown its responsibility as a major country and made positive contributions to ensuring global food security. Under the Global Development Initiative put forward by China, food security is one of the eight priority areas of cooperation. We will mobilize efforts from all parties across the globe to draw on each other’s advantages, and pool the strength for achieving all sustainable development goals including food security. China has always been an important strategic partner of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in South-South cooperation.
[…]
In 2021, China held the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste, which received warm response from the international community including G20 member states.
We are sad to see that in many developing countries with food shortage, people don’t have enough to eat while in some developed countries, food often goes uneaten and gets dumped in the trash can. The amount of food wasted in developed countries each year is nearly as much as the sum of food produced in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the US Department of Agriculture, food waste is estimated at between 30-40% of the food supply in the US. In 2018, food waste in the US totaled 103 million tons, with an approximate value of $161 billion.
We urge relevant countries to reduce food waste, fulfill their due international obligations and shoulder more international responsibilities. Instead of racking their brains to make an issue of other countries, they should do their own homework well, take earnest efforts to save food, maintain the steady operation of international trade in agricultural products and help developing countries improve the capacity of food production in order to uphold global food security
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 27, 2022
Posted by: sln2002 | May 28 2022 22:32 utc | 111
Kadyrov claims Severodonetsk liberated by LPR forces.
Posted by: Pagan | May 28 2022 22:32 utc | 112
https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/atlantis-ukraine
It is the year 2025. The war in Donbas is over and the National Guard of Ukraine has emerged victorious against the Russians. What’s left of the Donetsk Basin is a scarred landscape of flooded mines, unexploded ordnance, and bodies yet to be buried.
i’ve got a few “spoilers” for the idiot who directed this crap. apparently filmed around 2018 in mariupol…and we know who was running the city around that time. sure he had some extras and film crew with fun tattoos.
Posted by: the pair | May 28 2022 22:34 utc | 113
Its been reported that authorities in Donesk have finished the first trials of foreign mercanaries. Two British, Sean Pinner and Andrew Hill, and a Moroccan, Saadoun Brahim. No verdict was reported. They face the death penalty.
Posted by: Mark R Glass | May 28 2022 22:39 utc | 114
Scorpion @104–
Thanks again for your reply. Yes, seems a case of strange bedfellows. Russia and China both take pride in their willingness to communicate with all regardless of circumstances, which is the ideal sought by any entity wanting to be an honest broker and is the very reason the Outlaw US Empire and its vassals fail in that role.
There came a time when the Mafia realized it needed to go straight since it could no longer compete with the CIA. A similar epiphany must occur within the minds of the top Neoliberal Parasites ruining the USA lest they suffer Hitler’s fate and the USA that of WW2 Germany and Japan.
@Tom_Q_Collins #103:
Are you saying they have no political power or sway?
Yes. If they had political power, they would be oligarchs. They don’t, so they aren’t.
Posted by: S | May 28 2022 22:54 utc | 116
Posted by: circumspect | May 28 2022 20:05 utc | 71
“I do know Musk’s propaganda is very effective.”
Yeah, he’s hardly going to say it’s a pile of stinkin’ ole horseshite, is he?
Posted by: Mongo | May 28 2022 22:55 utc | 117
Posted by: Mark R Glass | May 28 2022 22:39 utc | 113
I’d prefer “rendition” and a lifetime of “enhanced interrogations”, ala Guantanamo Bay, for those ‘illegal combatants’…Normally I’d suggest blasting Nazi themed death metal at high volume 24/7 like what our “troops” do to our prisoners, but these guys’d probably like that.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 28 2022 22:56 utc | 118
Posted by: S | May 28 2022 22:54 utc | 115
But some of them do have political power in the same manner as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, do they not?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 28 2022 22:57 utc | 119
RF moves as far west as logistics dictate.Former Ukraine is a rump landlocked state with kievv divided into national sectors like Berlin 45
Posted by: Steve | May 28 2022 22:58 utc | 120
@117 – I am pretty sure a lot of them are metal heads.
NSBM video from Vice
Posted by: lex talionis | May 28 2022 23:02 utc | 121
Posted by: sln2002 | May 28 2022 22:32 utc | 110
“China Daily: Recently, some people in certain Western countries have been accusing China of “hoarding grains” in the international market. They demand more actions from China for global food security. Do you have any comment?”
Yeah. Piss Off! (In Chinese)
Posted by: Mongo | May 28 2022 23:06 utc | 122
@ Mongo | May 28 2022 23:06 utc | 121
okay… a poster who doesn’t read, doesn’t reflect, spouts off ignorance… clearly english is not your first language.. please do piss off…
Posted by: james | May 28 2022 23:14 utc | 123
Tom_Q_Collins @118–
No. All CEOs of Russian State Enterprises are completely subordinate to Putin and the Russian government, although some do hold parallel positions as ministers such as Roscosmos head Rogozin. However, genuine entrepreneurship is promoted and encouraged by Putin and Russia’s government. On both topics, S will have more info. One of the great limiters on knowing is language–to really know about Russia and Russians, you must learn to communicate in Russian. Yes, machine translations are nice, but you must first find what needs to be translated.
//////
Speaking of translating, TASS interviews “Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Yermakov about Washington’s role in illegal biological activities in Ukraine, and also answered questions about new weapons of Russia and the United States.”
What follows is the translation of the relevant Q&A about the biolabs/weapons issue:
Earlier it became known that Russia is forming a package of documents in order to begin an official investigation of military-biological activities in Ukraine. Could you tell us more about what these documents are, what is their volume, sources? Is there any understanding when they will be sent to the UN Security Council and whether it is planned to make this evidence public? What kind of reaction do we expect from the international community in this regard?
Indeed, we are currently preparing documents to activate the mechanisms provided for in Articles V and VI of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). It will be recalled that article V provides for consultations among States Parties to the BTWC on any issues relating to the purpose of the Convention or in relation to the implementation of its provisions, while article VI prescribes and defines the modalities of any investigation into possible breaches of BTWC obligations.
We intend to complete the preparation of materials in the near future and initiate the activities prescribed by the above-mentioned Articles of the Convention at the BTWC and the UN Security Council. The relevant meetings will be of an open nature.
The “package” of documents we form is based on facts and evidence obtained during a special military operation. They confirm that in biological laboratories on the territory of Ukraine, with the support of the Pentagon’s Military Threat Reduction Agency and its affiliated companies, military-biological activities were carried out contrary to Articles I and IV of the BTWC. In particular, work was carried out on potential elements of biological weapons based on especially dangerous pathogens that have natural foci both in Ukraine and in Russia, as well as on the study of possible ways and means of their epidemic spread. Emergency destruction of bioagents was required precisely to prevent the disclosure of facts of violation of the BTWC.
The information received in Ukraine confirms the validity of the claims repeatedly made by Russia in the context of the implementation of the BTWC regarding the military-biological activities of Western countries in the post-Soviet space. We will demand from the United States and its allies, instead of the previous empty excuses, to provide exhaustive explanations, information and documents on such activity on Ukrainian territory in order to resolve all the issues that have arisen, as well as to return to the proper implementation of the BTWC.
In order to prevent the recurrence of such a situation and to prevent biological-military activities contrary to the provisions of the BTWC, decisive measures are required to strengthen the Convention regime. First of all, it is necessary to resume work on a legally binding Protocol to the BTWC with an effective verification mechanism, which since 2001 has been blocked by the United States. Decisive practical steps are also needed to implement a number of other initiatives (including those proposed by Russia) that are aimed at improving the effectiveness of the BTWC regime.
There’s more to the interview dealing with arms control talks and Outlaw US Empire development of hypersonics.
@MarkU | May 28 2022 18:33 utc | 37
I have Strategic Culture bookmarked but haven’t been able to access the site since the Special Military Operation started.
Posted by: cirsium | May 28 2022 23:19 utc | 125
from TASS
Chechnya’s head Kadyrov says Russia takes control of Severodonetsk
Kadyrov: “The initial plan was to liberate Severodonetsk in a week, but today I made corrections and set the task of taking control of the town in three days. As a result, our soldiers have done it even more quickly – in three hours,” Kadyrov added. . .here
Now (if true) all Luhansk oblast belongs to Russia.
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2022 23:24 utc | 126
Posted by: k | May 28 2022 21:07 utc | 87
Like good capitalism, good liberalism is a lie, except to those who benefit, never mind the rest. And oddly enough the “rest” most often happen to have darker coloured skin
It is not a lie, but a myth.
The underlying concepts of free will and a indivisible individual are debunked by the modern science, but it does not matter, because you cannot fight old myths with truths but with new myths.
And of course that dubious notion of feelings as the ultimate arbiter and validator of all things existing or not.
When you have no external god you have to substitute it with something. Your personal Jesus.
Posted by: hopehely | May 28 2022 23:31 utc | 127
Posted by: Boomheist | May 28 2022 17:45 utc | 15
I always am quite surprised to see some (many?) people interested in this kind of information. Their own life must be empty to care or spend time on others’ life.
I never go to cinema, I have no subscription to any channel. Life is too short to spoil it. Instead : Guy Debord, La société du spectacle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g34XVscFkIs
No surprise, gg will spy on you, if you want to see this film. Otherwise read it:
https://files.libcom.org/files/The%20Society%20of%20the%20Spectacle%20Annotated%20Edition.pdf
Posted by: Olivier | May 28 2022 23:34 utc | 128
Future role of European Union as seen by Carlos Branco, a retired NATO Major-General
In this Great Game, a disoriented European Union (EU) emerges, without realizing what space it intends to occupy in the emerging international order. It preferred to abdicate a peer-to-peer relationship with Russia, to embrace a subordinate relationship – political, economic and geostrategic – with Washington. In the first case, it would be able to project itself as a global political actor of the first magnitude, in the second, it will be nothing more than a geostrategic appendix.
Without energy resources and raw materials (colonialism will not return), Europe is condemned to always be dependent on someone. Dependence on Russian energy was reciprocal (the euros were very useful for the Russian Treasury) and beneficial to both parties, and the low price of Russian gas allowed for a competitive European economy, a model of economic development that is now being called into question.
https://estatuadesal.com/2022/05/24/nao-foi-por-acaso/
Posted by: António Ferrão | May 28 2022 23:36 utc | 129
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2022 23:24 utc | 125
> Now (if true) all Luhansk oblast belongs to Russia.
Almost. Lisichansk needs to be liberated too. It is across the river.
Posted by: hopehely | May 28 2022 23:38 utc | 130
Don Bacon | May 28 2022 23:24 utc | 125
There is still Lysychansk and a number of settlements across the river. For whatever reason Russian forces have been unsuccessful to date in attempted river crossings.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1B1PLMhbHmG1aJ2-QNxHY1TksI6HlNhqF&ll=48.86042346721107%2C38.38446539898613&z=11
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 28 2022 23:38 utc | 131
The Saker has published what I’ll call a legal brief defending Russia’s SMO as legitimate and declares the Outlaw US Empire to be the “the illegal aggressor in Ukraine” and that “The US’ covert and overt military actions establish it as a legal “co-belligerent.” And that make me a target. The brief is excellent, terse, to the point, and festooned with appropriate links.
Welcome to the MOA Saturday encounter meeting.
Meanwhile, to tide us over. . .
New York Post
Joe Biden whispers ‘I’m your commander-in-chief’ to Naval Academy grads
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 28 2022 23:39 utc | 133
Hey Olivier @ 127 – Thanks so much for the Guy Debord reference! Have you seen Can Dialectics Break Bricks? A fantastic piece of Situationist film. If you like Situation of the Spectacle, you will love CDBB.
Can Dialectics Break Bricks
Posted by: lex talionis | May 28 2022 23:41 utc | 134
Its been reported that authorities in Donesk have finished the first trials of foreign mercanaries.
Posted by: Mark R Glass | May 28 2022 22:39 utc | 113
What is finished are the investigations.
Posted by: Olivier | May 28 2022 23:42 utc | 135
procedural drama
First look AZOV Азов Ukraine in Prison custody of Russia English subtitles
Posted by: sln2002 | May 28 2022 23:46 utc | 136
@129 Peter AU1
yep, but RF can now advance along the opp bank of the river, from already held territory to the SE (Toshkovka). Possibly that would continue further Westward all along Donets until Izyum.
Posted by: ptb | May 29 2022 0:20 utc | 137
Posted by: sln2002 | May 28 2022 23:46 utc | 134
> procedural drama
> First look AZOV Азов Ukraine in Prison custody of Russia English subtitles
So when the guy said that the thing that distinguished Azov fighters from the ordinary soldiers were that they had lots of money with them: dollars, euros, grivnas and gold too. But he said that the gold was with something I could not quite catch the word, anyone picked up what was that?
Posted by: hopehely | May 29 2022 0:27 utc | 138
Olivier @ 127 and lex talionis
Since you appreciate Guy Debord’s and René Viénet’s films, check out our homage to the Situationist International which contains some lessons that can be applied to our contemporary times of geopolitical turmoil:
Class Wargames Presents Guy Debord’s The Game of War
t-Q-c @ 84, thank you! i shall procure a VPN, well worth 75$. & karlof1, thank you for your kind endeavours to help keep us all informed, most deeply appreciated.
Posted by: emersonreturn | May 29 2022 0:39 utc | 140
Posted by: lex talionis | May 28 2022 23:41 utc | 132
No! Thanks for the link!!!
Also Raoul Vaneighem, Traité de savoir-vivre à l’usage des jeunes générations:
https://thecharnelhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Raoul-Vaneigem-The-Revolution-of-Everyday-Life.pdf
Some people were fooled by the French title.
Posted by: Olivier | May 29 2022 0:42 utc | 141
Posted by: Richard | May 29 2022 0:36 utc | 137
Thanks!
Posted by: Olivier | May 29 2022 0:47 utc | 142
Posted by: BLP | May 28 2022 17:46 utc | 17
RE: Poland incursion.
We’ll have to wait and see. If Polish forces arrived in Lviv to pacify and prevent Lviv being used to attack Russian forces then yes they might work under Russian tacit agreement.
But if they are there to fan the flames, letting Ukrainian fascist continues their combat operations from Lviv, embedding itself to fight RF i see no reason why Russian wouldn’t flatten the place with or without Polish soldiers around.
Posted by: Lucci | May 29 2022 0:49 utc | 143
I’m in Northern California, and cannot access Strategic Culture. I haven’t been able to for several months – the difficulty arose sometime in February if I recall correctly (I had no problem at all in months and years prior). However, I can reliably access the site from my girlfriend’s place in Southern California. It seems to be a selective geographic censorship algorithm, quite possibly actively managed by Master Diaper’s Totalitarian Fascist Junta in DC. It’s a very strange feeling to be starved of information, context, and knowledge, akin to how some Germans must have felt amidst the Third Reich.
Posted by: Ken | May 29 2022 0:50 utc | 144
But some of them do have political power in the same manner as Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, do they not?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 28 2022 22:57 utc | 118
The most popular and respected organizations in Russia is still their military alongside it’s academic institutions. During the wholesale looting of the country they do not betrayed their country and sell their secrets to their enemy, whilst the newly self appointed barons are busy enjoying praise and mundane luxury offered from the West.
Currently yes there’s no Oligarchs in Russia in the same sense of US or the West where it controls the country. Those people influences were burned alongside the bridges US and West burned in total war against Russia.
Posted by: Lucci | May 29 2022 0:59 utc | 146
@Tom_Q_Collins #95
I disagree with your characterization of what Putin did.
Putin exercised sovereign power and unquestionably crushed the former oligarch’s power.
The deal, as I understand it, is: you can keep and enjoy your billions, but you stay out of politics in Russia. Period. Or you get Khodorkovski’d.
Yes, of course that much money still can buy some influence, and there are cities and regions which are barely disguised fiefdoms, but the influence that is bought is only what is permitted and the fiefdoms must always acknowledge Putin’s authority.
Contrast this with oligarchs in the US and the bureaucrat-garchs in the EU…
Posted by: c1ue | May 29 2022 1:07 utc | 147
In response to
”
t-Q-c @ 84, thank you! i shall procure a VPN, well worth 75$. & karlof1, thank you for your kind endeavours to help keep us all informed, most deeply appreciated.
Posted by: emersonreturn | May 29 2022 0:39 utc | 138
”
There is a free alternative by using the Opera browser. It took me a couple of minutes to configure my Opera VPN virtual location to Asia but then I could get Strategic Culture.
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 29 2022 1:11 utc | 148
@Tom_Q_Collins #118
A Russian billionaire can have power by getting elected into the Duma or being appointed a regional governor or some such.
They have NO power based purely on their money though. Russia does not have the US system of regularized bribes in the form of campaign finance, and I’ve never seen a TV ad for a politician in Russia. Khodorkovski was the last one who tried to deploy his money in US/Ukrainian style vote buying and we all know the outcome of that.
In fact, Putin has his annual Christmas dinners where the billionaires get to come kiss the ring. COVID cancelled one or two, but I suspect that will restart again soon.
Posted by: c1ue | May 29 2022 1:16 utc | 149
@145 c1ue | May 29 2022 1:07 utc – “you can keep and enjoy your billions, but you stay out of politics in Russia”
And crucially, “you will pay taxes” – they had not been paying any (the advantages of having political control).
~~
As I recall, the notorious 7 Oligarchs who ran Russia were in charge of the polity enough to plan for who would be the head of state. They allowed Putin to become President because they saw no threat in him, I believe. But they learned their mistake in short order.
Posted by: Grieved | May 29 2022 1:26 utc | 150
Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2022 22:42 utc | 114
The little quibble I’m chewing on of late is being unable to see who and why is America clearly being brought down and the degree to which this is or is not being coordinated with other nations or power networks.
It’s just all too pat: the PTB from within in the US and the Eurasian bloc resilience to sanctions which immediately blew back on the US-NATO bloc. Wittingly or not they seem to be all playing on the same team in that both sides want the same end: the collapse of America.
I don’t have any clear theories and generally don’t like speculating too much – the process is tedious and overly abstract – but it seems highly improbable that all this stuff is so well lined up and it’s just a complete coincidence.
I am in wait and see mode now. Let’s see how Russia proceeds in Ukraine. So far everything seems above board, indeed an extraordinary demonstration of power, restraint, discipline, principles and vision. Meanwhile the West is full of bluster and bullshit, surrealistically so with its leadership class seemingly hell-bent on collapsing it. Indeed, this latter story is finally making it onto mainstream media with one Fox News guy explaining that the current team is bent on engineered collapse so they can turn the country into a ‘collectivist welfare state.’ Some are talking of a Reset from WEF/Davos networks. Etc. etc.
But the thing that gets me stymied still is how it seems that the Powers that Be in the US are doing exactly what the Russia-Chinese axis wants.
I smell a rat, and not only in DC. This smacks of world-wide coordination, something which has taken decades to bring to fruition and moreover something which could not have occurred by chance alone.
Oh well. Che sera sera.
Scorpion | May 29 2022 1:27 utc | 149
Just the history of the rise and fall of empires and civilizations repeating itself. US went through/entered its period of decadence after the collapse of the soviet union
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 1:32 utc | 152
I have read that the aim of the US/UK Neocons in the hybrid war against Russia is to empty Ukraine of ethnic Russians in order to make room for mass migration from the failed state of Israel to their Khazar homeland. Comments?
Posted by: Richard | May 29 2022 1:36 utc | 153
Scorpion@108 – Terrestrial connections to the internet were cut as a consequence of battle damage and bombing from both sides. Same thing with electricity, water, phone and gas. They were not specifically targeted nor intentionally cut by Russia for the reasons stated. And that, regardless of whether the local regions, towns and villages subject to service disruption have (or had) ethnically Russian or Russophone populations or not. Russia is fighting Ukraine armed forces, not Ukrainian civilians.
For its part, Ukraine’s military strategy has largely been to wage a defensive war from the cover of front line urban areas. That makes Russian/DPR/LPR clearing and advancement operations immensely destructive and civilian services are bound to be affected. There is no alternative – Russia cannot simply bypass UAF-held urban areas that are firing on them with small arms, RPGs, ATGMs, mortar and artillery.
Despite some of the claimed use by Ukraine for military operations, Starlink is also being used (in the absence of terrestrial internet connections) by medical and municipal services, utilities, etc. Russia has no desire for wholesale destruction or total disruption of Starlink for the same reasons – ‘punishing’ all civilians simply to deny the internet’s select use by the Ukraine military makes no sense because it’s not that important in the grand scheme of things.
Russia can block Starlink communications in specific small areas during military operations and that seems to be enough for them. Their artillery guys probably also appreciate the opportunity to accurately target Ukrainian military users of Starlink terminals.
By contrast, Ukraine and NATO military use of GPS *is* enough of a threat that Russia can and does jam or alter those signals persistently and on a regional basis despite the effect on civilian users. Even those efforts are limited. Russian EW can black out GPS over all of Kiev, er Kyiv, and western Ukraine if they wanted to, but they don’t. There’s simply no compelling military reason to do that – yet.
Posted by: PavewayIV | May 29 2022 1:39 utc | 154
@ PavewayIV 70
Thanks for going into that discussion so I didn’t have to.
I can’t see where any “simple” software change would suddenly change the whole design structure of a comm system using those frequencies. Keep in mind there are several “limited use” areas around those bands, set aside for the military, NASA and deep space use.
In fact, several of those “step” on 5G signals as well. I wonder how Starlink works in an urban, heavy 5G environment.
Posted by: BroncoBilly | May 29 2022 1:44 utc | 155
ptb | May 29 2022 0:20 utc | 135
Advancing from the southeast is what I have been thinking. The Izium bridgehead appears to be waiting until the north bank is cleared then I think they will start moving.
Apparently some Russian forces have crossed the river from the Liman/Lyman direction. Looking on the map there looks to be a road bridge, rail bridge, plus some sort of dam to divert water into a channel. That may be much harder to destroy than a road or rail bridge.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1V8NzjQkzMOhpuLhkktbiKgodOQ27X6IV&ll=48.91447969191541%2C37.75198100301665&z=17
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 1:44 utc | 156
Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2022 21:25 utc | 93
Corollary: Haste makes waste!
Posted by: Seer | May 29 2022 1:49 utc | 157
a real warning from A. Martyanov about US and nato escalation in the Ukraine, and all those long range missiles and weapons the idiots are now talking about delivering
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/plans-are-changing-for-us-larry-talks.html
“….So, what are you going to do, if you are CIA, State Department or Pentagon? Right, do what you always do, continue to support your very own SOBs and, preferably, widen the conflict. That’s the “change of plans”. The only way the US can “widen” the conflict is to continue to provide weapons to Kiev regime and hence the talk about Harpoons and now HIMARS. As I stated on a number of occasions, these deliveries will not change the outcome, but if HIMARS will be used against Russia’s territory, we may have some very serious escalation by Russia and some of it will be very nasty for the US. Keep in mind, the US has very many assets and bases around the world. All of them are within the range of Russia’s stand-off weapons and Russia will retaliate directly against both NATO members who delivered weapons, such as Danish Harpoons, and most US military bases will be under a direct threat of retaliation.
And here is the issue: even Iran’s retaliation against the US bases in 2020, after assassination of General Soleimani, was an eye opener for the US. Russia’s retaliation will be much more devastating and it may go without prior warning to the US side unlike it was done by Iran in 2020….”
Posted by: michaelj72 | May 29 2022 1:52 utc | 158
@ 151 – Perhaps this interests you. Written by Wayne Madsen in 2014. Archvillain Ihor Kolomoisky figures large.
Israel’s Secret Plan for a «Second Israel» in Ukraine
Posted by: lex talionis | May 29 2022 1:54 utc | 159
https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/
This is ( T.C.) Brian’s blog worth checking out. He covers issues in his own way as you can see in the embedded videos. I like his style of presentation, its as if he is just having a conversation with you.
Posted by: deal | May 29 2022 2:02 utc | 160
Below is a quote from a related ZH posting
On Saturday Russia announced it conducted another successful test of the Zircon hypersonic missile, which reportedly flew over a distance of 1,000km (or 621 miles) after it was launched at a target in the White Sea.
The missile was fired from the Russian navy’s Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate the waters of the Barents Sea. The identified area for the test, given the hypersonic was launched from the Barents, is very close to waters off Finland and Sweden.
Who says Russia doesn’t do PR?…I think this is a clear message to Finland and Sweden
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 29 2022 2:04 utc | 161
PavewayIV | May 29 2022 1:39 utc | 152
I believe this is as much a psychological operation on the whole of Ukraine as it is a military operation against the nationalists and armed forces. The nazi’s of the Azovstal rathole – Russia allowed them to broadcast their bleats to Ukraine and the world.
The regular forces that go on social media to give their reason for refusing to carry out any more combat duties. All the same, all following Russian munition leaflet instruction to the letter.
Russia regularly has artillery involved in leaflet distribution. It doesn’t call on Ukraine forces to surrender, become Russian or any other propagandist bullshit. It tells them how to go about refusing to continue fighting. Kill or isolate nationalists. One person is a deserter. A unit is legal. Highest ranking solder must state the reasons for not continuing fighting. Avoid nationalist when moving back from the combat zone.
Those soldiers, and I think there will be many more in the coming month or two, plus the current POW’s, will I think, be part of the new Ukraine that will start to emerge in the not too distant future. My thought at the moment is it will be these ordinary Ukrainian soldiers that undertake the denazification of Ukraine.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 2:10 utc | 162
Posted by: Scorpion | May 29 2022 1:27 utc | 149
The ruling powers absolutely know the future. The very system that has been in place for nearly forever, that of perpetual growth, has a very clear outcome and can be summed up in the phrase: “hitting the brick wall.”
The US/West understood quite some time ago that a Russia + China formation would effectively upend US/West markets. It’s all about market growth. Not only are new markets fading (global saturation) but old markets are starting to slip. The current counter by the US is to push Russia out of Europe, sever the energy connection (and ramp up weapons sales as such is one of the last value-add products that the US makes).
The “Green Energy” push could very well be an angle on conditioning Europe (and to a lesser extent the US) to accept less fossil fuels , to push to diminish Russia’s revenues (a global push to get others to reduce fossil fuel use).
In summation, it’s really about acknowledging that growth has hit the wall and that the main economic system by which the world’s economy operates is NOT programmed to operate without growth. Little chance of conveying this reality to populations at-large. Covering up the “failure” (of the system) with “Russia’s fault” (because it’s shown to be easily swallowed by the masses) is an initial step in introducing what will be, and what would always be (sans an educated/informed population), a collapse/failure. There will be an initial hit/shock in which we are told “outside forces” (Russia and China) are responsible and that it’ll take a while to recover. That will be followed with continued attempts to recreate what was previously seen as working; the pieces won’t be there, but we’ll be told that more needs to be done. Eventually all semblances of the old will be abandoned; participation rates will be so low that the ruling elites no longer have a choir- they’re done, put a fork in ’em!
Posted by: Seer | May 29 2022 2:12 utc | 163
Posted by: Olivier | May 29 2022 0:42 utc | 139
https://thecharnelhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Raoul-Vaneigem-The-Revolution-of-Everyday-Life.pdf
I have that. I prefer Vaneigem to Debord.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 29 2022 2:28 utc | 164
Yikes! Russian Observer might be back. My God, Patrick Armstrong is allowed to comment again. Not be serious. Not believing’ nothin.
Ledovik | May 29 2022 2:32 utc | 163
The latest is march 20
I am going to pause this site and my other activities for a while until I see how things break out.
What was a post-retirement hobby – a continuation of my job of trying to figure out what was happening in Russia – has now led to accusations of being a Russian agent of disinformation.
Deviation from the approved narrative is to risk, at best, being accused of sowing disinformation and, at worst, of treason.
I’m too old for this.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 2:39 utc | 166
All well and good Russia clearing the Ukrainians out of Lugansk and Donetsk. The tactical prize. But the strategic goal, after clearing NATO out of the Sea of Azov is going to be getting the U$A and its satellites out of the Black Sea littoral, all the way down to Transdniestria and the Moldavian border.
Unless dealt with now the regions around Odessa will continue a source of trouble and threat to Russia, leaving NATO an opportunity to not only pressure Russia from the South but also to push Turkey into abandoning the Montreaux Convention.
IMHO matters have gone too far to leave NATO and its U$ proprietors any room or further mischief.
Posted by: ChrisHerz | May 29 2022 2:50 utc | 167
And Ukraine, despite all the malicious efforts of NATO the psycho, remains, at heart a population longing for peace and all the things that make life bearable.
Posted by: bevin | May 28 2022 20:23 utc | 75
Very well put. There is a malignancy propelling the Ukrainians in the current direction that is unnatural to the human psyche. But weakness and fear allows this. The Ukrainians have to throw their lives on the line in the other direction. Instead of getting shredded by Russian shells they must risk the wrath of their Nazi overlords and take them out.
Posted by: Activist Potato | May 29 2022 2:57 utc | 168
Eva Bartlett interviews Larry C. Johnson.
Veteran of the CIA & State Department, Larry C Johnson, on Ukraine, Donbass & Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHIap72SViY
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | May 29 2022 3:05 utc | 169
Peter AU1@160 – Russia has only to wait until the day the US/ZATO alliance stabs Zelensky’s Ukraine in the back (because that’s how we roll). Our ‘Victory through Azov/Nazi power’ scheme is running out of steam and they’ll start abandoning Ukraine as well (with Russian encouragement, if necessary). I just hope the Ukrainians left alive have the energy to reclaim what’s left of their country. They can always declare prior IMF loans and the Lend-Lease financial shackles as odious debt illegally incurred by the current non-representative, corrupt, foreign-dominated government. Unfortunately, I don’t see any intrinsic anger from ordinary Ukrainians on how they have been usurped or used by US/ZATO powers. I would think they would be seriously pissed off about that. I would, but maybe that’s just me.
Posted by: PavewayIV | May 29 2022 3:06 utc | 170
PavewayIV | May 29 2022 3:06 utc | 168
It will happen. Russia is shaping the psychological battlefield. Putin with Sun Tzu characteristics.
As Escobar wrote, Russia is rewriting the art of hybrid war.
What we are seeing is a denazifying psyops.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 3:23 utc | 171
Macron and Scholz in fantasy land. . .
from BBC
The leaders of France and Germany have urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin to hold “direct [and] serious negotiations” with Ukraine’s president, the German chancellor’s office said.
Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz spoke to Mr Putin by phone for 80 minutes.
The pair “insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian troops”, the chancellor’s office said.
France and Germany also urged Mr Putin to release 2,500 Ukrainian fighters taken as prisoners-of-war at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 29 2022 3:32 utc | 172
re: withdrawal of Russian troops
It’s a simple fact that terminating a war prior to victory is not fair to the soldiers who have given their lives.
As I recall, Colin Powell made that argument regarding Iraq. . .’They will have died in vain if we pull out now.’
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 29 2022 3:46 utc | 173
PavewayIV | May 29 2022 3:06 utc | 168
<…” Russia has only to wait until the day the US/ZATO alliance stabs Zelensky's Ukraine in the back”……
And the $40billion will further facilitate that^
Jill visited, Nancy visited, Adam Schiff visited, Schumer visited. Boris visited. Justin visited.
And then Congress approved the $40billion.
The players/parasites realise the Ukrainian carcass is picked bare. Time to abort.
Durans latest explains the only funds in the Ukrainian budget have been provided by UK US, loans and money printing.
Time to move on from Ukraine….
Posted by: Melaleuca | May 29 2022 3:51 utc | 174
@168 PavewayIV | May 29 2022 3:06 utc – I don’t see any intrinsic anger from ordinary Ukrainians
I think that’s because it’s not allowed.
I think that when the area in which they live is completely freed from the Nazi terror, and in the safe hands of Russia, with local and regional leaders engaged in a democratic process, then you’ll see the anger.
I think that any people of any country have the energy to reclaim their country when the pressure lid is lifted. A new energy comes that never came before, because it would have been suicide even to let it in.
I’ve seen multiple clips of civilians after liberation by the Chechens or Russians, spouting off in long rants about what the evil bastards did over the last eight years, thank god freedom was here at last – on and on, etc, etc…
I do believe that the entire Russian play is based on this expectation, that the remaining people of Ukraine will seize the great prize of having a real country, freed from terror, and as well as possible freed from corruption and false politics. And I agree with Peter above that Russia has always wanted the remaining Ukrainian army to take over the denazification as soon as it could become reconstituted after the military action ceases.
Posted by: Grieved | May 29 2022 3:56 utc | 175
France and Germany were deeply involved in Afghanistan for many years. Suppose Russia or China had insisted on an immediate ceasefire and a withdrawal of troops. Would it be taken seriously? France and Germany are impressed with their own importance, but nobody else is. And where is the UK, another self-important small nation.
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 29 2022 4:09 utc | 176
“Like good capitalism, good liberalism is a lie, except to those who benefit, never mind the rest. And oddly enough the “rest” most often happen to have darker coloured skin.”
Posted by: k | May 28 2022 21:07 utc | 87
Unmitigated and complete BS, but to each, their own..yahoo.com/search?p=liberal+definition&fr=yfp-t-s&fp=1&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
For your edification:
Posted by: vetinLA | May 29 2022 4:12 utc | 177
@ 175; trey this;
.yahoo.com/search?p=liberal+definition&fr=yfp-t-s&fp=1&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
Posted by: vetinLA | May 29 2022 4:13 utc | 178
.yahoo.com/search?p=liberal+definition&fr=yfp-t-s&fp=1&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8
Or this.
Posted by: vetinLA | May 29 2022 4:14 utc | 179
@ Grieved 173
the remaining people of Ukraine will seize the great prize of having a real country
You’re assuming that what the people want is determinative in a corrupt country.
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 29 2022 4:20 utc | 180
Below is a Xinhuanet link to a story about the Russia testing of the Tsirkon missile. The question I have is about the picture of the launch provided with the story. In the picture it looks like there is thrust coming from the nose of the missile as well as the tail…thoughts?
Russia conducts another test-launch of Tsirkon hypersonic missile
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 29 2022 4:27 utc | 181
@ karlof1 | May 28 2022 19:38 utc | 65
I remember rather well that at the outset of the SMO there was surprise at Russia’s use of conscripts and untested troops to fight the Ukrainians. These last 2 weeks or so even Russian sources on Telegram have been saying that Russia was “only now” beginning to bring up the “big guns” and seasoned troops. Are you saying that wasn’t true?
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 4:28 utc | 182
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 29 2022 4:27 utc | 179
The nose thruster exists in Iskander missile as well. They went over the top with another directional thruster in the tails. If they did it right that missile can perform maneuvers like magic. Nose and tail thruster in addition to Thrust vectoring from the main rocket engine.
Posted by: Lucci | May 29 2022 4:38 utc | 183
Russia conducts another test-launch of Tsirkon hypersonic missile
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 29 2022 4:27 utc | 179
That was the initial trajectory, directional adjustment thrusts. Later on at Mach 5 or more, only minor targeting adjustments.
Posted by: KitaySupporter | May 29 2022 4:39 utc | 184
PA 180
I read somewhere that the Kremlin was furious when it was learned that conscripts had been sent to Ukraine at the start of the SMO.
It seems that the initial attrition in the RF ranks was attributed to the troops being green and not seasoned.
I would be hard pressed to provide a link on this but recall having heard or read about that undesired happening.
It is all over the MSM of around 9 March.
They claimed those conscripts were not in fighting units but in logistics and assorted functions.
Posted by: CarlD | May 29 2022 4:45 utc | 185
@ tucenz | May 28 2022 21:07 utc | 88
Pacifica Advocate – the prospect of a wedge between Russia and China, now and or in the near future is delusional. The only bignose/roundeyed/ghostmen the Chinese would trust speak Russian.
I thought it was clear that I wasn’t talking about “now ir in the near future,” but rather about what will happen following the cultural transformation the US is careening towards.
US leadership is old and out of touch, even moreso than it is corrupt. The “new blood” coming into government is effectively neutered by the Oligarch-run Intel agencies that dictate to the media what the group think shall be.
All of this is, however, predicated on the idea, held by nearly all, that the US is the most powerful, just, and advanced (whether economically, socially, or technologically) culture in the world.
Losing a war and suffering casualties at the hands of a country that is generally held in utter contempt by the English speaking world will shake that faith so significantly that a public shift–perhaps even a split–must happen. Continuing underemployment, enforced poverty on an increasingly large portion of the population, stagflation, a steep general decline in living standards for all but the most wealthy–the last time that happened anyone in the US who wasn’t a farmer was either bumping elbows with or actively joining the Socialists, Communists, and Fascists.
A 3rd way was found then and will be found again. Trump was as much a wake-up call for the Oligarchs as he was for the establishment parties. This war and the looming economic hardship the short-sighted policies our Corporate Overlords have sold themselves on will spawn a reckoning, one I never thought I’d see until I were much older.
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 4:49 utc | 186
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 4:28 utc | 180
Russia used their VDV. Not their bestest but they are better than the regular units, their mission and deployment circumstances prevented them from using their full equipment. Aside from Kadyrov Chechen brigades which is actually Military police brigades Russia also used their Wagner units whose members are former Russian SF.
So yes Russia does already made significant commitment to the war right from the start. That Russia haven’t use their Best is false although definitely have not using their bestest units.
That Russia haven’t use their full firepower is also true.
Posted by: Lucci | May 29 2022 4:49 utc | 187
psychohistorian@ 146! ty, even better! i love it, xo
Posted by: emersonreturn | May 29 2022 4:51 utc | 188
That was the initial trajectory, directional adjustment thrusts. Later on at Mach 5 or more, only minor targeting adjustments.
Posted by: KitaySupporter | May 29 2022 4:39 utc | 182
So it doesn’t actually help it maneuver in terminal speed?
Posted by: Lucci | May 29 2022 4:53 utc | 189
Also, you grossly overestimate how close China and Russia really are. Russians in the far east generally look at East Asians in much the same way Western Eyrope looks at Slavs: people who can be tolerated so long as they know their place. China, OTOH, generally sees itself as a much more polite version of the US’s own vision: the keeper of world balance.
It’s easier to put a wedge in there than you think, especially if the US is willing to make significant regional power concessions to make it happen.
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 4:57 utc | 190
STRATEGIC CULTURE.
Copied from their site.
As political censorship in the West is growing, non-mainstream media are bullied, denied access to financial services such as PayPal or simply blocked. If you cannot access our website, you can use a VPN service, but a better option would be signing up for our Telegram channel, where all of our articles are available from anywhere in the world. Stay tuned and support independent media!
I have had intermittent problems in past with Strat.Culture, even with a quality VPN, but less and less lately. I can state that their Telegram channel does seem to work well.
Posted by: paxmark1 | May 29 2022 4:57 utc | 191
Posted by: PavewayIV | May 29 2022 1:39 utc | 152
Thank you. So I gather then that some of the initial Ukie internet in many embattled areas did go down as ordinary collateral damage after which Starlink stepped in as a replacement where possible.
Interesting how a US based oligarch with factories in China is helping in the fight against China’s partner…
@ Lucci | May 29 2022 4:49 utc | 185
Thanks for the clarification!
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 5:01 utc | 193
Posted by: Boomheist | May 28 2022 17:45 utc | 15
“This, the weekend to celebrate our soldiers, those who sacrificed to support democracy and this country, must be having all those warriors rolling over in their graves….”
I like your post except for the part quoted above which is out of sync with the rest of your comment. You seem to have a good grasp on reality so this part is all the more puzzling.
When do you think American soldiers “sacrificed to support democracy and this country”? In Korea? Vietnam? Lebanon? Grenada? Iraq? Syria? Even WWII was not fought to defend democracy but like all wars it was a fight to defend national interests. You can argue about whether it was justified or not but the dying for democracy bit is a very western, particularly Anglo-American trope. All their wars are on behalf of democracy dontcha know.
Am curious what your take on this is. Thanks.
Posted by: darren price | May 29 2022 5:19 utc | 195
Posted by: Seer | May 29 2022 2:12 utc | 161
“Eventually all semblances of the old will be abandoned; participation rates will be so low that the ruling elites no longer have a choir- they’re done, put a fork in ’em!”
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I see it differently viz yr wall: far from hitting up against one the emerging Eurasian civilization is about to engender a new boom and possible period of peace and plenty with huge growth in Central Eurasia especially but also Latin America and Africa.
However the credit cartels based in the City, Zurich and Manhattan are threatened by the more communitarian based strong state directed financing methods in Russia and China because clearly they are more efficient and humane models which, as they spread, will undermine their csrtel’s hegemony.
So the old order is over but the new one not yet established. If there is a struggle about this perhaps it is between two models of the same new digitally controlled world.
West wants continuation of credit cartel control with ongoing rentier class cut and influence whereas other model wants honest system without cartel corrupting distortions.
With clean agriculture and industrial processes from inception to disposal and honest socio-political polities the planet can easily support ten times more. Quality is the issue not quantity.
My 2 cents!
France and Germany also urged Mr Putin to release 2,500 Ukrainian fighters taken as prisoners-of-war at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | May 29 2022 3:32 utc | 170
France and Germany dropped the ball with the Minsk accords and are supplying Ukraine with support to help kill Russian citizens. They are, therefore, both ‘agreement incompatible’ and hostiles.
RF has no reason to engage with them.
The statements are mainly for domestic propagandist purposes anyway.
And I agree with Peter above that Russia has always wanted the remaining Ukrainian army to take over the denazification as soon as it could become reconstituted after the military action ceases.
Posted by: Grieved | May 29 2022 3:56 utc | 173
A consummation devoutly to be wished!
ph@159 lol, indeed.
scorpion@149. like many, i too have circled this maze for many months/years. my current thread through the spider’s web suspects the director (s) of the universe have not yet fully grasped the loss (nineties) & for some years believed it could be reclaimed. it must now (finally) be dawning they indeed lost, miscalculated & the treasure that slipped between their fingers will never be reclaimed. blame putin, certainly putin, patrushev, lavrov, glazynev, all out played them. after some hundred years defeat must be nearly impossible to comprehend. worse, china will not take their invitation to join & play. what to do what to do??? we are indeed living in interesting times. nothing is going as certain supposed it always would. i suppose it’s possible the empire of lies might win, bt i expect good will overcome evil. & that is (for me) what this is all about. biblical certainly, good & light. yes, certainly, a work in progress…bt honour, intelligence, resources up against cunning, greed, envy & deceit. i have to believe light cannot bt win.
Posted by: emersonreturn | May 29 2022 5:38 utc | 199
It’s easier to put a wedge in there than you think, especially if the US is willing to make significant regional power concessions to make it happen.
Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | May 29 2022 4:57 utc | 188
The ordinary people with ordinary prejudices are easy to manipulate. Much depends upon the leadership. The people are what its leadership is in most cases.
The anglo wedge will be sent back somewhat like a hypersonic dildo.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 29 2022 5:59 utc | 200