The English present continuous tense is awesome. It can refer to events that go on for ever. Mr Putin can no doubt carry on running out of options, weapons, oil, money, ideas and whatever else for a few more more decades. LOL.

Posted by: Stephen | Jun 3 2022 7:50 utc | 1

Interesting report from the Anglosphere paywall mouthpiece in Asia - asiatimes.com

"Yuan-ruble trade boom a wakeup call for Biden"

Yuan-ruble trade volumes have surged 1,067% since the Ukraine war, putting new pressure on the dollar’s reserve currency status

by William Pesek June 2, 2022

TOKYO – As JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns of a coming economic “hurricane” in the US, global investors are simultaneously observing a potential earthquake, too. The shakes are coming from efforts in Moscow and Beijing to join forces against the dollar’s dominance in trade and finance. News this week that monthly ruble-yuan trading volumes skyrocketed 1,067%......

Posted by: Thatami | Jun 3 2022 8:00 utc | 2

Putin's days are numbered - just as Assad's were!

Posted by: Brendan | Jun 3 2022 8:07 utc | 3

It looks like Putin and Russia have joined the Mark Twain club.

Posted by: Andrew S MacGregor | Jun 3 2022 8:16 utc | 4

Another interesting report from Pravda which ensures total support for Putin in what is turning into the 2nd Great Patriotic War. Guess this will lead to the end of humanity if there are no sane leaders in the 'West' to admit the world is now multipolar and move on.

NATO's new global doctrine reminds reincarnation of Third Reich
See more at https://english.pravda.ru/world/152182-nato_third_reich/

Posted by: Thatami | Jun 3 2022 8:17 utc | 5

Perhaps, as with Donald Trump, for Putin, 'the walls are closing in'.

Posted by: Hidari | Jun 3 2022 8:17 utc | 6

End of the road, writing's on the wall

Posted by: Lonkal | Jun 3 2022 8:25 utc | 7

While this is a very funny collection of rubbish, virtually none of the publications involved can honestly be described as trustworthy, and were not trustworthy long before the war broke out.

Posted by: MFB | Jun 3 2022 8:29 utc | 8

Seems that Russia is playing "rules based order" better now than US - as is, he who has more (fire)power makes the rules.

And US is crying foul.

Posted by: Abe | Jun 3 2022 8:30 utc | 9

They gambled, lost and failed to crash Russia's economy. It looks more like West is going to suffer from shortages of everything.

Posted by: mikhas | Jun 3 2022 8:42 utc | 10

We had nonstop hysteria with Russia Gate. When the plebs were starting to realise the holes in the story we had Covid hysteria. When the plebs were starting to realise the hysteria didn’t match the severity of the disease we had Ukraine hysteria. When the plebs realise the hysteria doesn’t match the reality on the ground, what will be the next hysteria?

Gotta keep the plebs distracted whilst the walls are crumbling around them.

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 8:46 utc | 11

These disgraceful clowns have been claiming that Russia is about to run out of ammo since the very first week. Some of them (looking at you Belingcat) even pronounced the exact date when Russia would run out ammo, which was supposed to happen at some point in early March. The entire western press has turned into an utter embarrassment and they've completely trashed all the brand equity built up over the past century plus. They've disgraced their brands to the point where it's become an insult to accuse someone of reading their publications.

Posted by: Francis | Jun 3 2022 9:02 utc | 12

Posted by: Brendan | Jun 3 2022 8:07 utc | 3

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJsMs2DXYAEEPiP.jpg

Posted by: Paco | Jun 3 2022 9:06 utc | 13

@Brendan #3

Putin's days are numbered - just as Assad's were!

Western journalists are telling the truth. Putin’s days are indeed numbered.

Putin was born on October 7, 1952. That’s day number 1. The next day, October 8, 1952, is numbered 2, and so on. According to my calculations, today’s Putin’s day is numbered 25442.

Posted by: S | Jun 3 2022 9:15 utc | 14

As a former East German, I never once felt threatened by the Soviet Union or now by Russia.

But over the years I learned the amount of fear that was installed into the West German (and probably many a Westerner`s) mind, which essentially can easily be termed Russophobia. Most likely dating back to the Cold War, the whole media machine was and is geared up to either ridicule the poor state of Russia on every level, while on the other hand paint a picture of power-mad politicians - well, apart from the joke that was Jelzin. (On hindsight, how sweet it is that Jelzin got back on track during his election run with the help of US driven PR campaigns, clearing the way for his successor as well, i.e. Vladimir Putin.)

That level of inept contempt, which is also present when the topic and history of East Germany is on the agenda, has led journalists and politicians alike down the Ivory Tower paths, where they don`t deal with all facts and information at hand, but only what suits their agenda. Consequently, the average German has probably no idea how the war is actually going, the reason for the SMO and the latent racism shown against the Russians. Not the Russians of Russia that is, but those ethnic Russians of the Donbass. In Germany, Russia wages a war on Ukraine and all dead Ukrainians thus must be Russia`s victims. There is not one blemish on anything the Ukrainians do, their weapons never strike a civilian ... the media doesn`t even question why missiles kill people in Donetzk in a market place. It`s just dead people and a random city name, the source of the missile is omitted.

It is total anti-Russian propaganda (down to the word`s actual definition), very opposed to what they claim the Russian side is doing (without ever delivering a sample of it - well, most Russian sides are blocked / zensored over here). You couldn`t make it up.

Some technical tidbit, probably known to many on here: If you use the Opera browser, it not only has a build-in VPN, you can also connect your smartphone (via a generated QR code) apps Telegram, Instagram and whattsapp to your PC/notebook and use these apps there. Probably spares you tons of GBs on your mobile.

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 9:17 utc | 15

Yesterday the people in London on a fine spring day were forced to celebrate 70 years of unelected rule by head of state , from a despotic ancestry which spans borders. ie Not Even original English Anglo Saxons! Or even related to the Bastard son of Falaise who actually successfully invaded a thousand years ago but ‘German’ if anything!

The Whole British Airfarce got to have a fly past - from the last raggedy spitfires , to the last raggedy Red Arrows, Hawker Siddely Hawk training jets - British Air industry is no more, who needs old fashioned fighter jets anyway ? What with UAV’s and precision missiles.

As the crowds, forced to remain in London by last minute cancellation of their flights to the sun spots denied by Covid (curious no?) , were forced to endure the cod celebration of that unelected head of state, most looked confused at this show. Hyde Park was full of bemused kids and their parents.
The ancient link of master and slave by show of might , being subconsciously reinforced.

The only war the Collective Waste has ever been capable of winning is the one of Words.
Or to be fully correct the mass media Narratives.

These are peopled by the aristocraps who have throughout history reigned over their slaves.
They position their progeny into the seats of power.
Through having the right schools (private) right universities (redbrick) and right jobs - priests and bishops, merchant bankers, something in the City, senior civil service , Media and TV News supremos, they are all easy to spot with their same ways of speaking, their likes and dislikes , their ‘culture’

Cultural hegemony - all these rich pop stars with dodgy common people accents, etc etc.

They achieve nothing.
They create nothing of value.
They are incapable.
They steal, they have ghost writers, they have servants.

The only thing some of them are good at is casting spells. Word wizards. That is how they keep a hold , preserve their privilege and keep the poor as poor - because when though the poor they’d have to mind their own babies, clean their own shitty arseholes , cook their own dinner, and squeeze their own toothpaste.

PR is all they have needed to keep their slaves in their place through the various bully pulpits that I list.

It is sophisticated and clever and does work on the receptive minds Pavlovianly trained from birth to salute when a posh accent presents itself to them.

Fighting the Power starts with overcoming the Spells - it ain’t easy but howling at the Moon is a good start.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Jun 3 2022 9:22 utc | 16

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 9:17 utc | 15

Agree 100%

The common Mischel is extremly confirmation biased.

Posted by: Kartoschka | Jun 3 2022 9:28 utc | 17

https://t.me/intelslava/30650

Western countries will have to negotiate with Russia, because side effects of anti-Russian sanctions lead the world to a series of global crises, - Guardian.

The West's "economic war" against Moscow is progressing "not according to plan" and is causing a number of dangerous "side effects," writes a leading British publication.

Thus, due to anti-Russian restrictions, developed countries are already threatened with an economic recession, "rising inflation and unemployment." And developing countries will soon experience a "combination of fuel, food and financial" shocks, which, apparently, will lead to a series of defaults on obligations to Western creditors and lead to a "full-scale global debt crisis

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 9:37 utc | 18

I recently heard a similar, speculative report stating that Mr Putin is actually already dead, as in deceased, and that this fact is being hidden from the Russian people by the use of Body Doubles. My question therefore is, what's the likelihood of Russia running out of 70 year old males with an uncanny resemblance to VVP...RIP...or maybe not.

Posted by: Pyewacket | Jun 3 2022 9:42 utc | 19

Elen Sky running Second soon.

Posted by: NoOne | Jun 3 2022 9:55 utc | 20

Maybe Putin is also 'All out of love'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWdZEumNRmI

Posted by: Bart Hansen | Jun 3 2022 10:10 utc | 21

I am not surprised

Most "journalists" know nothing about the cold War or russia its armed forces. They know nothing about russia as they did see during their visit to moskou.

Second the compare russia to nato while the latter using as standard

And as we all know, indeed nato is ending out if stocks.

The "journalists" make a lot of assumptions they research nothing, if they read something in a report it is utmost the summary.

And at last they just are dumb. They don't sell news but opinions.

Posted by: Bas vos | Jun 3 2022 10:10 utc | 22

It is as if Russia and Putin can be defeated with headlines.

Posted by: Sam Bullard | Jun 3 2022 10:24 utc | 23

I wish Rubio's time would run out in the US Senate. A first-class chicken hawk.

Posted by: Tony | Jun 3 2022 10:25 utc | 24

Yep Western media is about as absurd as all those 'experts' who kept saying Russia would annihilate Ukraine in 3 weeks, how its air force was destroyed in the first week, how all supply lines were cut off, and then how it would surround 100,000 men in a big 'cauldron' which was already closed off 'by fire'... and here we are 3 months later still fighting in Donbass one town at a time...

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 10:29 utc | 25

What somehow seems funny is that NATO is disarming itself by shipping its weapons to Ukraine, where it is destroyed.
Ok, the cynical narrative might be that NATO is getting rid of old to make place for the new, please lobbies, please industry etc.

The new weapons take time to be made and delivered. In the meantime, if the war spills over, an interesting question that arises is how they are going to defend from RF?

Not to talk about battle hardening that troops need. That takes about 2-3 month.
A real ground/terrain conditions (mud, woods, rain, snow etc.), training, logistics corrective measures and so on. A very complex planning operation and a myriad of other stuff that kinetic conflict requires just to be on a minimal operational level for any army to function.

Someone here mentioned the resentment that RF have to shoot their Ukrainian cousins.
Chechen unit of RF calls AFU 'niemtzi' which is funny as they perceive them as WWII Nazi-Germans.

Just imagine how RF would be motivated and angry if they have to fight NATO?
And also amounts of lo and hi tech they would throw at them. That is scary to imagine.
RF is rebuilt and upgraded to the point to resist and damage NATO without using anything nuclear.

I have not yet seen the title in any of the Western news in the last 12 years that 'Russia did something good or cool'. Anything, ever, at all.

So, of course the narrative is 'Russia, Putin and his cronies are losers and do bad stuff'.

The very idea that RF will run out of anything is stupid.
Very short supply lines and piles of various ammo and combat equipment.

So far, SMO is run with minimum acceptable resources.
If things go wild and beyond control, I think we have seen nothing yet of what RF can really do, if it gets angry enough.

Posted by: whirlX | Jun 3 2022 10:43 utc | 26

Just yesterday. I think it was on The Mirror but parroted on other media like Jerusalem Post, sky news:

"Putin underwent Cancer treatment in April and the end is near says US intelligence"

Posted by: Comandante | Jun 3 2022 10:48 utc | 27

and here we are 3 months later still fighting in Donbass one town at a time...

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 10:29 utc | 25

You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it, there are countless videos showing the UAF taking firing positions near civilian homes, nurseries and the upper floors of apartment buildings.

What are the Russians supposed to do? Burn the village to save it, US style?

So yes, they will take the Donbas one village at a time due to the tactics employed by the UAF in using civilian shields.

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 10:59 utc | 28

Failed at achieving Strategic objectives, failed achieving tactical objectives. reduced to fighting WWI all over again. So much winning, all Putin can do is bluster about his nukes and how he will murder billions if he does not get his way. He won't make it to the Dneiper before July, won't be in a position to advance westward till September. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/03/are-there-even-any-left-100-days-of-war-in-ukraine-for-an-elite-russian-unit-a77877

Posted by: wobblie | Jun 3 2022 11:07 utc | 29

Oooh, I love Mad Libs! (Or should I say Mad NeoLibs, amiright?)

Turn about is fair play, so let's retitle to what The West is running out of?
"The West is running out of clean underwear! And good judgment!"

No, it needs more random. Let me look up a randon noun generator... I got "efficiency." "The West is running out of efficiency." Hmm, a bit more prophetic than I was wanting, but there we go.

Let the Game Begin!

Posted by: JR whenDallasdreamt | Jun 3 2022 11:15 utc | 30

From IntelSlava

🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇦 The West urged to come to terms with Russia's victory in Ukraine

In an article entitled "The Unpleasant Truth About Ukraine", the American edition of The Hill used the deduction method and went through 4 options for the outcome of a military special operation in Ukraine. The conclusion is that there is no other end to the events in Ukraine, except for the victory of Russia. Here are the options:

1. The transformation of Ukraine into a vassal state of the "Russian Empire".
2. An impossible outcome is the complete defeat of the Russian military and the restoration of Ukraine within the borders that existed before 2014.
3. The third and final of the impossible outcomes is a limited Ukrainian victory that will undo all or most of the gains Russia has made since February 24, 2022.
4. The only possible outcome: a fragmented and partially dismembered Ukraine, completely not under the control of either Russia or the West.

The unpalatable truth in Ukraine

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 11:24 utc | 31

[email protected] experts?

Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jun 3 2022 11:26 utc | 32

Sorry to bother you all with a repost but it’s a request for information and/or opinions:

Moskva was hit 13th April, a “firework storage unit exploded near RAF Welford (UK)” on 16th April.

I can’t find anything one way or the other on whether this was just a cover story or not. Is RAF Welford alive and well or was it blown to bits?

Does anyone have any thoughts or links on this UK explosion?

Posted by: anon2020 | Jun 3 2022 11:32 utc | 33

@Comandante #27:

"Putin underwent Cancer treatment in April and the end is near says US intelligence"

That can’t be true. The Sun transits Cancer from late June to late July. He must have underwent Aries treatment or early Taurus treatment. Remember, Putin is very meticulous when it comes to all things calendar—he even has his days numbered!

Posted by: S | Jun 3 2022 11:32 utc | 34

The Australian media is dreadful, when it comes to Russia. All Ukrainians are war heroes, and all the Russians are war criminals, who are not following our beloved 'rules based order'!

The ABC acts as if it is the front office for AUKUS, and they must send their scripts to the 'secret service' ASIO', for confirmation, before they can be presented as 'news'. There must be something in the ABC Charter which says, they must do at least three, anti-Russian shows per week.

Utterly embarrassing! I have sent then emails, suggesting that if they are in the Truth telling business, and yet they are lying, then they should resign, and go and flip burgers for a living!

Posted by: Ric G | Jun 3 2022 11:34 utc | 35

Notice how B, the Saker, Duran and the rest no longer discuss Putins strategic plan of lcreating a new European security architecture that was central to his December ultimatum. Conquering the Donbas, and wrecking Ukraine seems like a very small achievement given Putins stated objectives. His SMO is proving to be as successful as the US special military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The CCP I am sure has taken notice of the futility of armed intervention as means of advancing national interest, and will continue on its present course and f peaceful but watchful coexistence. Meanwhile Russia will be seen as a not very effective regional power—much like Saddam enmeshed in the trenches in Iran. Dictators rarely learn from the mistakes of other dictators.

Posted by: Wobblie | Jun 3 2022 11:43 utc | 36

@ Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 10:59 utc | 28

All i was highlighting is how propaganda and bs is ubiquitous, and how many narratives have been shattered, not just Western MSM ones.

For sure no one is defending the despicable actions of the UAF, although to be fair, any self professed 'expert' could have foreseen that, don't you think?

Also, I've seen plenty of footage too, and while it's likely true that Russia is avoiding civilian casualties where it can, it's also true plenty of towns have indeed been wrecked all over wherever fighting occurred, it's raining artillery 24/7 everywhere, including urban areas.

Wouldn't you say the most likely reason for slow progress is the limited number of Russian forces committed for the big task, the obstinate resistance of (mostly) well armed and organised UAF, and a change of plan by Russia aimed at reducing the significant losses of the first few weeks' assault style tactics, which have now switched to more positional/attrition style artillery battles followed by mop up?

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 11:57 utc | 37

Two thoughts:

The West thinks that Russia will withdraw from the areas it has captured to get back into the West's good books. That's changed but the West hasn't grasped that. Russia might capture some parts of Ukraine it's not really interested in but those parts will be used as bargaining chips. What Russia has captured and wants will not be returned to Ukraine.

The US government is scamming Europe. Because of the high price of energy (including overpriced LNG from US, European companies will face bankruptcy in the future at which point American corporations, kept afloat by cheap Russian oil ("bought to keep oil prices down"), will sweep in and buy these companies for cents on the Euro. Once they've all been bought out, Washington will demand that Europe ends sanctions on Russian oil so that all the new American subsidiaries return to profitability.
If JBF and UvdL were anything like capable they would foresee this and take appropriate countermeasures but with their heads firmly stuck up Washington's backside, by the time they understand what is going on it will be too late.

Posted by: Ghost Ship | Jun 3 2022 12:00 utc | 38

Pyewacket, I suspect the only reason the MSM hasn't spent more time proving that Putin had run out of life is that if he's dead he can't run out of all the other things he's supposed to run out of. Meanwhile, the only thing the MSM is running out of is credibility. But who needs credibility when you have Hollywood? We know such icons of the MSM as WaPo are trustworthy because of a stream of movies like The Post and State of Play, in which the sacrament of courageous reporting is shared with viewers and the self-referential psychosis restored to health.

Posted by: TPaine | Jun 3 2022 12:05 utc | 39

Read the western media headlines as the projection that they are. It’s NATO running out of munitions and equipment. Official statements from DC are all projection too. I think the Ukrainians read the Russian MoD reports and just switch the names.

BTW, I’m also thinking that the Ukrainians are going to use the HIMARS on the Crimean bridge. It’s not the only lifeline anymore, but (successful or not), that attack will unleash serious Russian vengeance. Arestovich has been giving away the plan in ways he thinks are clever.

Posted by: Lex | Jun 3 2022 12:10 utc | 40

@29 I read that stupid article to save the rest of your time.

Put down Moscow Times as another "independent media" in the grand tradition of er...."Kiev Independent".

It quotes the usual laughable pundits like Michael Kofman and "Baghdad Rob" Lee. (BTW the best BrOSINT thread concerned how the Russians would lose because they don't have good tyres!)

Incidentally, apart from the clickbait headline, towards the end of the article, it talks about 50-60 killed out of a unit of 2000, which is actually quite minimal.

Posted by: JulianJ | Jun 3 2022 12:15 utc | 41

Wouldn't you say the most likely reason for slow progress is the limited number of Russian forces committed for the big task, the obstinate resistance of (mostly) well armed and organised UAF, and a change of plan by Russia aimed at reducing the significant losses of the first few weeks' assault style tactics, which have now switched to more positional/attrition style artillery battles followed by mop up?

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 11:57 utc | 37

There are two main reasons I see for the limited progress:

1) UAF have had 8 years to build extensive fortifications in the Donbas. It will take time to dismantle them as they are well fortified and near or in towns across the region.

2) Minimising civilian casualties. As noted in 1 these fortifications are near or in urban areas. No point using shock and awe to destroy these fortifications if it results in mass civilian casualties.

They will not burn the village to save it. Negates the point if the SMO which is to protect the residents on the Donbas.

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 12:18 utc | 42

Posted by: wobblie | Jun 3 2022| 29, 36

Hey buddie, can I buy you a beer?
You look a little lost. We've all been there: Unfamiliar neighbourhood, stagger into the wrong bar.

Cheer up. Have a beer on me. After, you can check out 'The Golden Billion' back aways on Main Street. They're probably more your crowd.

Posted by: Andrew Celestina | Jun 3 2022 12:19 utc | 43

@ Posted by: Wobblie | Jun 3 2022 11:43 utc | 36

I kind of agree with you... and don't.

It is true to a point that progress is slow and the quick war plan has failed. But it is also true that the ground war is being fought alongside the broader geopolitical strategy. There are many seeds being sown, which will pay off in the medium to longer term and will ultimately serve to achieve Russia's goals and make amends for any eventual military shortcomings.

My guess is Russia is aiming to get Donbass and Black Sea coast done by autumn, which should be doable even at the current rate, and then aim to sign a treaty to end the war, counting on Europe to cooperate in light of their losses in the economic war, which is already paying off.

Russia will by then have considerable leverage both in critical oil and gas supplies for winter, either by cutting them off directly or by making them even more unacceptably expensive than they already are now. This strategy is also extending to food and key minerals, all of which takes time to creep up the supply chain, but by winter will have become so critical, US and EU will have no other choice but to agree to Russia's terms, at the very least in Ukraine anyway. Few are yet discussing the political disaster of Europe being flooded by starving refugees yet, but for sure that is also on the menu.

So any perceived lack of aggression and decisiveness on the ground in Ukraine indicates to me the number one priority for Russia is not to escalate and allow the conflict to expand militarily before the pain threshold of its broader economic war has begun to pay dividends.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:21 utc | 44

Just for the pleasure; Ukrainians are NOT running out of film crews. This is called an "organised retreat"?

https://twitter.com/5thSu/status/1532686836862439424/video/1

Posted by: Stonebird | Jun 3 2022 12:21 utc | 45

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 9:17 utc | 15

well said.

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 3 2022 12:30 utc | 46

About the timing: here's a thought. If you are Russia, and seeking to strengthen combat capabilities against NATO, why woukd you want a "fast" war? Wouldn't you seek to rotate as many troops through the combat zone as militarily feasible, to give them essential combat experience in combined arms modern conventional warfare? Especially if you know that at any moment, if push comes to shove, you could actually just unleash hell and crush Ukraine in under a week?

Posted by: Konstantinos | Jun 3 2022 12:33 utc | 47

Lex 39. I suggest you get out a map and study how far the nearest Ukranian military positions are to the Kersch Bridge and compare that to the range of the munition that is to be supplied by US. You may wish to re-evaluate your proposition.

Posted by: Phil Espin | Jun 3 2022 12:33 utc | 48

@ Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 12:18 utc | 41

I'd be wary of overplaying the myth of sparing civilians. In many ways, Russian artillery is doing the exact same job the US gave to its Air Force.

Perhaps another myth in how Stingers and Javelins are useless and have made no difference, when, while ultimately not altering the outcome, perhaps they did change the manner in which it will be achieved.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:34 utc | 49

I'd be wary of overplaying the myth of sparing civilians.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:34 utc | 48

You do realise the residents of the Donbas are actual ethnic Russians many with Russian passports?

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 12:40 utc | 50

lulz ... the Russians are running out of security updates for their aircraft and will soon be grounded (per Reuters piece re German Econ Miniter’s prognostications).

Written by someone who actually updates his iOs software to the latest battery-killing update.

Posted by: Cato the Uncensored | Jun 3 2022 12:44 utc | 51

[email protected] US is supplying the system, other ZATO nations are supplying the 'long range' munitions. The bridge hit, like the island attack is for PR will not change outcome, if anything it'll give Russia the excuse it needs to glass over London and Washington should they choose too ....I'm ok with that, we all gonna die someday, I'd prefer mine being after it cause it sure would suck to go the day before and miss it ....like really suck.

Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Jun 3 2022 12:45 utc | 52

All the US invasions never got news coverage like this. The media magnates must be running out of "news!"
So they get desperate:
Russia-Ukraine war: what we know on day 100 of the invasion

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 3 2022 12:47 utc | 53

@ Konstantinos 46
why would you want a "fast" war?
Yes, why take losses chasing the enemy all over the place when it's easier to kill them where they are, and meanwhile the profits from energy sales more than maintain the war effort.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 3 2022 12:52 utc | 54

From IntelSlava

🇺🇸🇺🇦⚡Americans have become less supportive of US participation in Ukrainian events

In his study, William Moloney, a correspondent for the American edition of The Hill, came to the conclusion that Washington failed to cause significant damage to the Russian economy with the help of sanctions.

“Foreign wars tend to be most popular early on, especially if they are effectively “sold out” to the American public in morally unambiguous terms, but unless they end fairly quickly in a decisive victory achieved at a reasonable cost, public support and political consensus begin to wane. sometimes very quickly. This seems to be happening with the war in Ukraine as well,” he writes.

The article goes on to cite polls that show that in March, more than 60% of Americans were in favor of "the decisive role of the United States in Ukraine", and by mid-May this number had fallen to about 45%.

Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 12:55 utc | 55

And what about Putin's cancer , brilliantly sourced by Newsweek ?

It's the 2nd or 3rd Pancreas cancer he has suffered from, or maybe another flavour this time ...

If one want to purchase a bridge !

Posted by: W | Jun 3 2022 12:56 utc | 56

@ Posted by: Down South | Jun 3 2022 12:40 utc | 49

Of course i do.

I also realise their homes are being destroyed wherever the Russians go. Kinda comes with having a war and using artillery as your primary weapon... we could debate how much and to what extent, but ultimately neither you or i can answer that definitively.

Perhaps you misunderstood my acceptance of reality for questioning the reasonable claim that Russia would be more careful in the Donbas than the US ever was in the Middle East. That is not what i was saying. I see videos of wrecked homes, factories, apartment blocks and villages every day, and that's just from the pro Russian sites...

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:58 utc | 57

If people believed the codswallop of past times from those regime media organs cited in that marvelously and meticulously constructed list of yours, there never would have been a war in Ukraine -- we'd still be doing our fighting in Vietnam, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Posted by: ChrisHerz | Jun 3 2022 13:01 utc | 58

The DC crowd, the princes/princesses of Potomac, are still cocooned in the belief that propaganda* wins war.

I am not being satirical; the most commonly held belief in DC in the aftermath of Viet Nam was; "if only the media had done a better job propagandizing the war, we would have won". This belief is still held today and DC has become far more insular in the last 5 decades. Sociopaths are drawn to DC as a moth to a flame.

*what the hoi polloi refer to as bullshit

Posted by: S Brennan | Jun 3 2022 13:01 utc | 59

...Another favorite theme is what Putin expected:
Putin had expected to seize Kyiv in two days
Putin expected to demand guarantee in Biden call that NATO won’t expand east
Putin thought he’d roll into Kyiv the way the Taliban rolled into Kabul
Putin expected Ukrainians to lay down their arms
Putin underestimated Ukraine
Putin also underestimated Zelenskiy
Putin expected Afghanistan in 2021
etc.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 3 2022 13:03 utc | 60

...

BTW, I’m also thinking that the Ukrainians are going to use the HIMARS on the Crimean bridge. ... Arestovich has been giving away the plan in ways he thinks are clever.

Posted by: Lex | Jun 3 2022 12:10 utc | 39

You’d have to assume RF have deployed serious missile defense to protect that bridge. Might Arestovich have been hinting at some other target?

Posted by: anon2020 | Jun 3 2022 13:07 utc | 61

According to the ever truthful and accurate NYT, Russia's also running out of American technology. Clearly Ukraine is winning.

Posted by: pasha | Jun 3 2022 13:09 utc | 62

Posted by: Wobblie | Jun 3 2022 11:43 utc | 36

A most intriguing comment.

"Fibius Media" reported on June 2, 2022 . That "El Presidente 'Z'!

Now confesses that Russia has total and absolute control of 20% of country 404.

Truth is stranger than fiction...........

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 3 2022 13:17 utc | 63

About the timing: here's a thought. If you are Russia, and seeking to strengthen combat capabilities against NATO, why woukd you want a "fast" war? Wouldn't you seek to rotate as many troops through the combat zone as militarily feasible, to give them essential combat experience in combined arms modern conventional warfare? Especially if you know that at any moment, if push comes to shove, you could actually just unleash hell and crush Ukraine in under a week?

Posted by: Konstantinos | Jun 3 2022 12:33 utc | 46

This EXACTLY what I believe Russia is doing.
1. Putin explicitly stated the goal to remove NATO infrastructure from not only Ukraine, but also other countries bordering Russia that are currently members of NATO by force if necessary. That means war with NATO.
2. The sanctions are actually helping Russia and severely weakening EU/NATO countries. There will be economic depressions and possibly economic collapse this year and the next in Europe if sanctions continue at the current states.
3. NATO is rapidly running out of armaments. Russia is destroying/capturing a year's worth of NATO weapons production in days. Even western press admits it will take years or even decades to replenish stocks to previous levels.
4. Ukraine is almost completely of troops. The current troops sent to the front are reportedly unfit for combat.

So, all this means Russia is almost certainly preparing for NATO conflict outside Ukraine at some point in near future. Ukraine has been the live-fire training exercise while also draining NATO's weapon supplies.

In the possible upcoming NATO vs Russia conflict, Russia will possess a freshly battle hardened military facing a completely unprepared NATO with empty armories and economies facing food shortages, teetering on collapse and possibly internal revolutions.

Posted by: Mar man | Jun 3 2022 13:17 utc | 64

If war was decided by how much bullshit each side was capable of producing, this would truly be a unipolar world. The Russians are hopelessly outmatched by the excrement emitted by DC's denizens. But to be fair, under DC's tutelage, the overlords of Kiev are punching well above their weight in manure production.

Posted by: S Brennan | Jun 3 2022 13:21 utc | 65

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 3 2022 12:47 utc | 52

Ah , the vary same paper that says "Information supplied and not verified" ;)

Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Jun 3 2022 13:21 utc | 66

Paco and Stonebird you guys are the best for those posts!

Posted by: Lbanu | Jun 3 2022 13:24 utc | 67

Last weekend we hosted 4 old friends from Chicago: 2 couples. Very good friends since 1980s. 3 of us taught together, organized and marched against the Contra war, traveled to Mexico and El Salvador together, networked with Ursuline nuns who lived in El Salvador (and knew the nuns who were raped and murdered there in 1980). They are now 100% mainstream Democrats. Putin is the number 1 monster in their head, pushing Trump back to number 2. Supper was good, then we played music, then someone said Putin's name. 3 of them got up and went to bed. Then my wife disappeared. One old friend-- a retired PhD education professor-- stayed up and argued with me for half an hour. I was struck by how uninformed he was. He knew little of the massive neocon/neoliberal makeover throughout Clinton, Bush, Obama years, 2014 coup, the Donbass war. He cited the Guardian, BBC, the Economist. Biolabs? He hadn't read anything. Ukraine plans to invade the Donbass in March? didn't know about it. Azov, right sector power within the Ukraine administration? not clear. NATO? They are "defensive", not "offensive". He did have lots of detailed information about Putin: net worth, etc.
Our visit was difficult, some good, but the subject of Russia kept coming up.
Bottom line, they were going to stay 3 nights but left after 2. They have allowed their worldview to be shaped by the "blue team". Our friendship is strained.

Posted by: migueljose | Jun 3 2022 13:29 utc | 68

If Russia finished off things quickly and the war ended, wouldn't oil and gas prices plummet?

As it is the extra profits from higher prices are paying for all the financial costs of the war, so what is the hurry?

The longer it lasts, the weaker the west gets and Russia seems to be able to continue at this pace for many years.

My guess is that Russia will take as much time as possible so might as well minimize Russian and civilian casualties and maximize territory gained.

Posted by: ct | Jun 3 2022 13:32 utc | 69

@ Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:34 utc | 48

I kind of agree with you. On the pro-Russian side, there have been indeed a fair share of predictions which in retrospect appear kind of ludicrous. Sorry to incriminate the saker here, which I like quite a lot, but in the first weeks he was quick, with others, to declare victory and claim that the Ukie army was decapitated, that the Eastern forces were in a practical cauldron, "closed by fire" and the like.

In retrospect, this was childish bunk, sorry to be frank. The Ukie army is absolutely not decapitated and continues more or less to function (with significant and continuous losses) ; the famous cauldron never materialized, all big arrows drawn on a map notwithstanding. The war is obviously a lot more protracted and difficult than what it was portrayed to be.

This it not to say that victory for Russia is unachievable. It seems that chances are high that Russia will in the end at least conquer Donbass ; and no matter the deficiencies, if Russia really wants it and puts all its weight behind it, on the long term it should achieve its goals. But it is clear that the cost has been significantly higher and it is by no means a walk in the park. Some kind of introspection or honest reappraisal from all the people who claimed that Russia's stand-off weapons would crush Ukraine in 48 hours would be in order.

Posted by: Micron | Jun 3 2022 13:38 utc | 70

No army conducts a war perfectly.

https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/7654680.html

Seems a decent summary of the mistakes that Russia made, but if there was a similar list for the Ukrainian side the level of mistakes would not be comparable.

Even with all the rearming from the west, Ukraine is not making any progress, rather just continues to lose about half percent of its men every day.

Certainly Russia could have not made any mistakes at all and scored a perfect 10 of 10 in some imaginary perfect world. However, getting a solid 7 or 8 in the real world seems a very good outcome against what is almost a NATO mercenary force

Posted by: ct | Jun 3 2022 13:42 utc | 71

migueljose @ 67

This sounds very familiar. Recall that the number of persons reading at this forum and the few others that can be compared is quite small.

How intelligent people were sucked in by the Clintons in the 90s and then fell in love with the first black president mystifies me. It happened.

Your friend is demonstrating some vestige of critical thinking by reading English journals. Americans and Chicagoans don't do that. Of course they are awful English journals. Might be some leverage for you there. I see my old friends in same position and they are truly lost.

Posted by: oldhippie | Jun 3 2022 13:42 utc | 72

@Micron

If Ukraine has only losses in the Donbass and continues to lose ground and men and equipment, what exactly is the difference between that and a cauldron?

Posted by: ct | Jun 3 2022 13:44 utc | 73

@Micron

Cauldron in this context means encircled troops, as in they cannot maneuver out of containment.

Not sure what universe you are in where you see Ukrainian troops able to escape their encirclements, evacuating from one encircled town to another is not really effective maneuver.

All of those that said the Ukrainian forces were in a cauldron have been proven to be correct. The only thing that would contradict this would be if all the Ukrainian Donbass forces escaped. Instead they keep getting killed in the cauldron that they are trapped inside.

Posted by: ct | Jun 3 2022 13:51 utc | 74

The only thing Russia has run out of is patience and friendship towards the Anglo European west.

As for weaponizing things, Deir Ezzor was a classic. The graveyard of ISIS. Ukraine is starting to look like a global Deir Ezzor. Very much in Russia's interest to keep Anglo European gaze fixated on Ukraine for as long as possible.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jun 3 2022 13:57 utc | 75

Russia is in every aspect of this war always too late and behind time lines. The clown in Kiev is actually copying the Israel strategy in their six days war against Syria and Egypt. Under normal conditions Syria and Egypt would have overunned Israel but the weapons deliverys from USA were the game changer. Same development now in Ukraine. The whole time schedule of this Special Incompetent Operation plays into the hands of Jews in Kiev. Now they re on the best way to establish their six days moment on the battlefields with new heavy weapons. Putins very hesitant approach to a full scale war regardless of the consequences among the brainwashed ukraine nazi civilians is inexplicable. Total miscalculation of Putin and his services.
Sorry i always adored Putin as a geopolitical chessmaster but this Special Desaster Operation ist breathtaking.

Posted by: Chessmaster | Jun 3 2022 14:01 utc | 76

Our visit was difficult, some good, but the subject of Russia kept coming up. Bottom line, they were going to stay 3 nights but left after 2. They have allowed their worldview to be shaped by the "blue team". Our friendship is strained.

Posted by: migueljose | Jun 3 2022 13:29 utc | 67

I have faced much the same experience and have been consistently told not to listen to "Putin's Propaganda". That is the essence of the problem, they don't recognize that what their own government and media produces is propaganda.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jun 3 2022 14:05 utc | 77

Moreover US warmongers re already planing SPECIAL Midterms in November. Biden and dems cant win without a miracle or war. The useful ukraine idiots will for sure target russian territory. Russias retribution will be addressed to supplier of these special equipment. Biden and Dems will cancel the midterms because the Master must make war against Russia. WW III

Posted by: Chessmaster | Jun 3 2022 14:05 utc | 78

@ migueljose | Jun 3 2022 13:29 utc | 67
& oldhippie | Jun 3 2022 13:42 utc | 71

These are really sad stories, you should't allow the stupid war spoil your relationships. Meanwhile everyone in my vicinity is trying very hard to talk about anything else BUT the Ukraine war. So do I. I spoils every conversation.

Caitlin Johnstone had linked to a great comic strip that explains very well why you guys should treat your friends very careful with information they hadn't heard of before or which doesn't fit into their world view:

https://theoatmeal.com/comics/believe

The bottom line is that we are evolutionary coined to fight back unpleasant information in the same way as an attacking saber-toothed tiger. So, please, show some understanding for the poor suckers. ;-)

Posted by: Cemi | Jun 3 2022 14:07 utc | 79

Yes, here in USofA, folks I have known for decades as anti war, are (for now) cheerleading JB. It makes me sick to see so many in favor of war and death. I can not explain it rationally. The Clintons' demonization of Putin is part of it. There are many Hillary fans who are convinced Putin stole what was 'rightfully' hers, the presidency. I think some folks support war or not based on the political affiliation of the leader, which is not rational.
Good luck to all. We are going to need it.

Posted by: horatio | Jun 3 2022 14:11 utc | 80

DG @ 16; Nice rant, brings to mind the old quote; "The comfort of the rich, is dependent on an abundance of the poor."

Posted by: vrtinLA | Jun 3 2022 14:16 utc | 81

>>>>>: Lex | Jun 3 2022 12:10 utc | 39

BTW, I’m also thinking that the Ukrainians are going to use the HIMARS on the Crimean bridge.

The nearest area Ukraine could fire them from is around Orikhiv, at a distance of 256 km (160 miles). Anyway Russia regards Crimea as Russian territory so would result in attacks on decision makers in Poland where I suspect the HIMARs are prepared for distribution into Ukraine. A transport base goes up in an explosion, is NATO prepared to go to WW3 for that JBF and UvdL might think so but I suspect European armies will say no.

Posted by: Ghost Ship | Jun 3 2022 14:18 utc | 82

@ Cemi

It would be fascinating to find out how many of the nice folks at USC who made that cartoon also believe that Russian and LDNR soldiers are baby-raping monsters . . . which is to say that I'm especially skeptical of those who preach about overcoming prejudices. They're usually as bad as the rest of us, if not worse because they're so sure they've put those nasty amygdalas of theirs in their place. I honor the exceptions -- but I've found very few of them.

Posted by: malenkov | Jun 3 2022 14:20 utc | 83

What gives,suddenly,MoA...the list of previously published sources of 'refuse misinfo propaganda' does not provide trustworthiness to this useless and puerile argument:'...Russia is running out of everything...', after 'big T' did so much for it! What a load of complete BS,to such an extent that it makes me smell a rat...received 'veiled threats' from 'deep state warmonger direction' by any chance...Stick to the valid,professional intel from the field which you have been producing until yesterday...you'll do yourselves and the rest of the world much good...

Posted by: condor | Jun 3 2022 14:23 utc | 84

@ malenko

:-)

You are probably right. Nevertheless, reminding that cartoon helps me a lot to overcome my itch to persuade people of something that is too far away from their "reality".

Posted by: Cemi | Jun 3 2022 14:27 utc | 85

I predict; Eventually, reality will set in, and it'll settle all debate..

Posted by: vetinLA | Jun 3 2022 14:27 utc | 86

@ Cemi

I should have added that the argument in the cartoon is intelligent, virtuous, and necessary. It's just that all too often intelligent, virtuous, and necessary arguments are articulated by people who use them to widen their own blind spots and nurture their own prejudices.

Posted by: malenkov | Jun 3 2022 14:30 utc | 87

I predict; Eventually, reality will set in, and it'll settle all debate..

Posted by: vetinLA | Jun 3 2022 14:27 utc | 85

It won't settle the debate but instead render it untopical. The losers won't acknowledge or realize their loss; they'll just move on to the next Russia- or China-bashing opportunity.

Posted by: malenkov | Jun 3 2022 14:33 utc | 88

@ Posted by: Micron | Jun 3 2022 13:38 utc | 69

LOL yeah, it's amazing to see the same people who before February had for years denigrated both UAF & NATO, their tactics and weapons, how they were all a bunch of incompetent losers and no match to the mighty Russian war machine... and now suddenly having to sing their praises in order to justify the slower pace of the war.
And how conveniently some decided to give up altogether on even being part of the conversation for 'health reasons' right during the one chance in a lifetime to make good of their life's work and everything they ever professed to know about... yeah, reality must have affected their health alright... like being smacked in the face.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 14:36 utc | 89

Russia is vulnerable on two pressure points that the western media rarely refer to, so I'm wondering if that is where they are gonna hit. The first is Syria, the west may be imagining that Russia, reluctant as are all, to fighting a war on two fronts can be 'got at' thru a major offensive outta idlib this summer. Turkey may be involved which would account for the way the amerikans aren't pushing that hard over the objections from Turkey over Sweden/Finland signing up for Nato. The other big tell is occupied Palestine whose occupiers are claiming neutrality in the Ukraine on the grounds that they don't want to upset Russia to the point where Russia forces an issue for the return of Golan Heights without which Israel is screwed for fresh water, aside from it being an excellent defensive position. Of course the occupiers have more reasons than that the major one being that many occupiers of Palestine are former russians who back it in the current blue & most importantly they depend on remittances from Russia especially amongst the wealthy types.

It is quite droll to see Palestine's occupiers whose entire apartheid system is based upon amerika's support is happy to give amerikans the finger if/when it suits them, revealing to amerikans if their media told them that is, that they're all getting sodomised with a broken bottle.

The fact that the occupiers do that indicates, that they know a renewed major conflict is very likely.

The other vulnerable point for Russia is the gazprom bank payment in roubles scheme.

The fact that it is gazprom bank who does the swap rather than the customer corporations means that the bank is stuck with a big mob of euros and eurodollars which they need to swap out of if they don't want the coalition of western arseholes to seize that as well.

Gazprom bank will be swapping them out for Yuan etc as much as they can, but western arseholes will be tracing the routes of those billions which are being used.
China has to take care lest the swap can be shown to have happened and those assets seized. Yep a tougher job than with Russia, but if amerika can demonstrate a particular money line and connect that to payments for Russian gas, amerika will go for it.

The better Russia does on the battlefield, the more likely it is that amerika + poodles will attack Russian vulnerabilities. I'm certain that the blokes in the kremlin are well aware of these potentialities, the only question is whether they have good counter strategies.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Jun 3 2022 14:36 utc | 90

Posted by: Stonebird | Jun 3 2022 12:21 utc | 44

I'm not an expert on military hardware, but that looks like (in the linked video, foreground, opening sequence) an Australian-built 'Bushmaster' Infantry Mobility Vehicle 'in action'.

It is perverse to see it deployed, at least temporarily, as a prop in a video. Recruitment video? Training? Propaganda? All the same really. I and others in Aus can keep a look-out for this imagery appearing in our local media.

When, to my shame, my Australian government sent 20 of these vehicles to Ukraine, I knew that many men would be thus delivered 'safely' to the place of their premature and futile deaths. Many would be obliterated, vapourised, without even having the chance to alight
....."Alight"......I weep.

Posted by: Andrew Celestina | Jun 3 2022 14:42 utc | 91

@ CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 9:17 utc | 15

I grew up in West Berlin. I was aware of the Soviets all around Berlin: when leaving to go by 'transit' to West Germany, we'd pass miles of Soviet barracks, particularly going towards Hamburg. The thought of defending West Berlin with conventional arms was clearly a joke, it couldn't be held more than a day. Yet no one was afraid of them, it was just a balance of power with more-or-less sane politicians on either side of the wall.

I second the fact that Germans tend to be totally brain washed, with few exceptions (e.g. found among bar flies on this site). I am loosing friends arguing about anything related to media coverage of this war - or most other wars, for that matter. Just recently I pissed someone off when I equated what's happening with contemporary German media with Gleichschaltung. I also mentioned that this media coverage may be beneficial when Germany shoots itself into the foot repeatedly: in a sense it is good to have consensus among the population when committing economic suicide. Unfortunately, I see nothing positive in the future of Western Europe, and advise younger people to be open to emigration.

Posted by: WBerliner | Jun 3 2022 14:42 utc | 92

Somewhat amazed of people claiming Putin is late with his plans, the SOM is a complete disaster and whatnot.

I might be mistaken, but neither the Kremlin nor Putin put any sort of timeline on the SOM, just said what they were trying to accomplish. As per usual in a war, not everything went or will go according to plan, but I would hesitate to give any Western intelligence service, analyst, media expert or the like any sort of greater insight of what was planned and what the final outcome shall be. What is clear that - if you read the OP and give at least some attention of what is being claimed by said intelligence services or experts - the West has really no idea what is actually happening with the Russian military, and, in a larger context, in Russia. IMHO, they will hardly like these embargoes and sanctions and whatnot, but Russia, as opposed to Europe, can largely sustain itself with anything what they need. That the Russians won`t be able to shop in IKEA, Starbucks, McDonald`s and the like, or buy the newest VWs and BMWs will not bring the country down. They can, again just my humble opinion, easily sit that out. How the Western economy and people will fare without oil and gas, wheat and sunflower et al is anyone`s guess.

One last point. According to the UN-High Commissioner for Human Rights, the war till May 31st saw at least 4.113 dead "Ukrainian" civilians, including at least 264 children. 5.000 more people were wounded. I would assume that this figure includes dead civilians on both sides of the frontier, as Kiev`s missiles continue to rain on residental areas in the East. And as has been pointed out, the advancing allies are rather careful not to flatten residental areas filled with people they actually want to save from Kiev`s grasp. In turn, digging into these areas and placing tanks on school yards clearly shows how much Selenskij`s soldiers care about the local people.

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 14:44 utc | 93

Chessmaster | Jun 3 2022 14:01 utc | 75

You have chosen the wrong moniker. Going by your comment, draughts would be a challenge.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jun 3 2022 14:47 utc | 94

@ Et Tu

I guess that "those people" just don't lust for the extermination of the ethnically Russian populace of the Donbass. What a shame, right?

Posted by: malenkov | Jun 3 2022 14:48 utc | 95

I'd be wary of overplaying the myth of sparing civilians. In many ways, Russian artillery is doing the exact same job the US gave to its Air Force.

Perhaps another myth in how Stingers and Javelins are useless and have made no difference, when, while ultimately not altering the outcome, perhaps they did change the manner in which it will be achieved.

Posted by: Et Tu | Jun 3 2022 12:34 utc | 48
______________________________________________________________________

I'd say you really don't understand physics (artillery vs. aerial bombing) or the "dead battery" effect, very well, do you?

Posted by: Garry Owen | Jun 3 2022 14:49 utc | 96

You might say that since WW2 ended and the UN was formed the overall Guiding Belief among "civilized, educated" people was that we would, over time, merge into a connected, bound worldwide system, and so we did with trade agreements, the container shipping industry (which enabled the offshoring of consumer goods manufacturing). The EU formed. Davos began to happen. All was Good, and of course the underlying premise behind all this was the endless and continued co0ntinuationn of the primacy of the dollar-dominated capitalist system.

I think what is happening, and remains unmentioned by nearly everyone, is we are shifting to something else - a bloc-based system. I think Russia and China and India saw how things were going and they created the Shanghai Cooperative Organization in I believe the late 1990s. This was noticed by the West but generally ignored. The Belt and Road initiative, heavy Chonese investment in Africa and South America, all steps to build a different network of trade flows and methods. All happening, for decades, and ignored by the West because the West has been bewitched by their power, wealth, and sense of smartness and entitlement.

As mentioned above in some comments, but not emphasized, the truth here is that Russia is basically self-sufficient - Russia has energy, minerals, agricultural land, a strong scientific community, a powerful military and nuclear weapons. Russia can survive perfectly well if totally isolated. This is the root of Putin's power and I believe the basis of his SMO. On one level the SMO has limited objectives, all being met over time, but on another it seems the SMO is also being used as a lever to see if Russia and maybe China, too, can pry the economic system away from the dollar. The truth is, as mentioned above many times, as each month passes the pain and impact of the sanctions on Europe and the East only grows, and grows. At the same time Russia gets stronger, more centered in its isolation, despite all the articles claiming Putin is about to expire and fail.

If we are in a new bloc-based system, and I think we are, then Russia is in a powerful, powerful position. China? Much of China's wealth depends on US consumers buying shit built there. China has little energy available and must import fuel. China may also have a food problem especially if the Three Gorges dam collapses (rumors persist of cracks). Europe? Europe also lacks energy, though Europe may be able top grow its food, but Europe needs minerals from Russia and elsewhere. This tells me that the Europe bloc and the China bloc needs alliance with another bloc with energy and minerals (true for India too - energy and food growing ability). The United States? The US has energy, food capacity, and many minerals, and surely the US and Canada and Mexico could form a self sufficient bloc although there would be a huge downward adjustment in life style for Americans especially to get there, unlike Russia which is already there anyway.

All of this to say, in the grand picture, Russia is in maybe the strongest position of any nation or bloc on the earth right now, but nobody sees that. NATO and the US have exhausted their weapons wasting them in Ukraine and thus leaving themselves open to Russia simply advancing into the rest of Europe if Russia so chooses. I don't think Russia will do that. I think instead they will meet their terms for the SMO, continue to let the West swing on their stupid sanctions, and watch as the dollar declines and a new currency system emerges. I have said, from the start of this thing, in the end the Russians have a memory and experience of suffering, still raw within their population, which will now strengthen them for the lean times to come. This may also be the case for China (cultural revolution memory) but as for Europe and the US?

It is going to be a sobering awakening, I fear....

Posted by: Boomheist | Jun 3 2022 14:55 utc | 97

Anders Östlund @andersostlund - 10:18 UTC · Jun 1, 2022

Very limited ambition and creativity with regards to Russia's future. Why do we need a Russia? What value did it ever add? Time to push for a final break up so Europe can finally become secure.

10k+ likes.

Posted by: S | Jun 3 2022 14:56 utc | 98

LOL. Honestly the collective West is running out common sense. The West has run out of common decency a long time ago.

Posted by: Steve | Jun 3 2022 14:57 utc | 99

Posted by: WBerliner | Jun 3 2022 14:42 utc | 91

Well met!

Posted by: CM of Berlin | Jun 3 2022 14:57 utc | 100