All the US troops in Poland, ships in the Mediterranean, and planes in the UK are sitting ducks for hypersonic missile volleys of 4-6 missiles per target. This Rambo posturing only impresses girl scouts anymore.

Posted by: Tom Huck | Jun 29 2022 20:53 utc | 104

“Army’s 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Europe in 80 years.”
Putin’s and Shoigu’s pants are trembling!

Posted by: Milos | Jun 29 2022 21:00 utc | 106

ostro #40
A moment might come soon when NATO will realise its doom is nigh unless it negotiates the non aggression pact offered by Russia. Already it appears to be an abject failure led by fools. Same for the EC/EU. When a loud uproar is heard from the European people who come to the above conclusion, I expect we might see ‘leaders’ fall.
There is a chance that the people will not see this reality or be permitted to protest it and NATO and EC/EU will stagger into a superb debacle. It will be economic ruin for the people of Europe yet again.
Does Easter Ukraine harvest good popcorn?

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jun 29 2022 21:09 utc | 108

We reaffirm that the Russian side is preparing retaliatory measures that are painful for Lithuania, which will be applied if the situation with the Kaliningrad transit does not normalize.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 29 2022 20:42 utc | 102
————————————————
That’s dip-speak, but she actually had given a warning. The decision will be taken by someone else authorised to do that, and we’d know about that, after the action taken. Guessing game in on!
My guess: Klaipeda will be blocked, electricity cut off, Vilnius either surrounded/overtaken, all Lithuanian/foreign military bases hit.

Posted by: ostro | Jun 29 2022 21:09 utc | 110

Posted by: Pagan | Jun 29 2022 19:52 utc | 80
“I am of the opinion that if the Ukrainian leadership had any illusions of stopping the Russians by giving up Donbas they would have made some move to at least explore that option. I believe they have no such illusions, they are aware that their best chance to stop the collapse of the country is right there at the Line of Contact, where they have fortifications and where they have accumulated men and arms and where they can use local population as human shields. Such “favourable” conditions do not exist in the rest of the country. To conclude, I think that the intransigence of the country’s leadership is a sign that they know this is an all-or-nothing battle.”
If Russia’s goal in Ukraine is to enlarge Russian territory, Putin has a funny way of going about it. In 2014 the DPR and the LPR (the Donbass region) voted to leave Ukraine and become a part of Russia. For nearly 8 years Putin refused to honor their vote and instead worked with certain EU countries to implement the Minsk agreements l and ll. During this time, the US and NATO were training Ukraine forces and shipping a multitude of weapons into Ukraine all while Russia looked on. Yes, at this point, Russia will be slow to give up Eastern and Southern Ukraine paid for with the blood and treasure of the Russian people. But there was a time early on in the conflict when Elensky could have retained most of Ukraine by agreeing to Russian terms about being natural with NATO and removing neo-Nazis from the government and the Ukraine military. The DPR, LPR, and Crimea would have remained within Russia’s orbit. I don’t think that Russia has any desire to own Western Ukraine, why should it. Western Ukraine is a shit hole.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Jun 29 2022 21:18 utc | 112

Joe6pack | Jun 29 2022 16:45 utc | 21
Hahaha! Even that would be better that being subject to the Rentier Capitalist Oligarchy…As they know by now: they were hollowed out not long ago by such vampires.

Posted by: donten | Jun 29 2022 21:23 utc | 114

@Posted by: Nico | Jun 29 2022 21:04 utc | 108
One of the biggest shocks for Tesla will be its falling market share in China as a myriad of local competitors are starting to eat its lunch with a mix of features and luxury (and reliability and cheaper insurance and maintenance) at significantly lower prices. First-mover advantage has left the station for Tesla in China, which will not have a new model out until well into 2023 while Chinese manufacturers are bringing out new model after new model. The model 3, and even the Y, will start looking long in the tooth to Chinese consumers pretty soon.
The Chinese EV manufacturers will also be eating the German Chinese car market share (nearly all ICE), up to a third of the sales of VW, BMW, Mercedes, Audi etc. are in China. With a lack of affordable natural gas helping to shut down their factories in Germany, the coming winter will be a hard one for German car manufacturers; as well as for other industries competing with a China that has cheap Russian and local natural gas and coal.
New Tesla Model 3 rival 700km range $26,800 Shenlan SL03
China’s EV market hits 31% – over 50% of all EVs worldwide
The Ukraine conflict just keeps on giving to Russia and China, while exacerbating the lack of competitiveness of European industry.

Posted by: Roger | Jun 29 2022 21:30 utc | 116

ostro @116–
Belarus was gifted a significant portion of the port of Bronka, which is at St. Petersburg, which Lukashenko discussed with Putin during their meeting on the 25th.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 29 2022 21:41 utc | 118

If Russia’s goal in Ukraine is to enlarge Russian territory, Putin has a funny way of going about it.
Posted by: Ed Nelson | Jun 29 2022 21:18 utc | 113
I do not think that the goal of SMO is to “enlarge Russian territory” as you say. Russia insisted on Minsk agreements because it did not want Ukraine broken up. That is true even today. Ukraine broken up into pieces may be more difficult to manage than Ukraine in its present borders under a new pro-Russian government. Russia recognized Donbas republics’ independence to give legal cover to its intervention, but I would not be surprised if it negotiated that they remain in new Ukraine. Yes, it is a tall order, but from the perspective of Ukraine politics in the future pro-Russian regions would be a much needed balance to the regions not so inclined.
You also said “In 2014 the DPR and the LPR (the Donbas region) voted to leave Ukraine and become a part of Russia.”
At the time they wanted independence, and Russia did not want to break up the country. They may have wanted to join Russia but that would have put them both in an impossible situation internationally. Crimea was different but still there was an uproar.

Posted by: Pagan | Jun 29 2022 21:46 utc | 120

You also said “In 2014 the DPR and the LPR (the Donbas region) voted to leave Ukraine and become a part of Russia.”
At the time they wanted independence, and Russia did not want to break up the country. They may have wanted to join Russia but that would have put them both in an impossible situation internationally. Crimea was different but still there was an uproar.
Posted by: Pagan | Jun 29 2022 21:46 utc | 121
This is pure speculation of course but: my guess is that up until the beginning of the SMO Russia was open to friendly relations with the West albeit by the end of 2021 they pretty much knew it was hopeless as their firm push for a clear accord was rebuffed.
That was then. This is now. And now is a new paradigm. I believe that Russia and China are going ahead with divorcing from the West, at least for the foreseeable future. So part of the Ukraine campaign is to rid Russia of hostile aggressor on her borders and have a nice large buffer state between NATO countries and Moscow on that front. How much of Ukraine gets reconfigured remains to be seen. If things escalate to include NATO involvement, then surely all of Ukraine will be forcefully occupied and the three little Baltics probably too. Finland and Sweden will not be allowed big missile silos. And so forth.
The other and more important part is the geopolitical sphere where the intention is to so weaken the West that they can no longer be any threat militarily but above all they will no longer exert any moral or financial leverage over Eurasian rise (and many other ‘Global South’ partners). This latter is now the goal and everything aligns to that end at this point.
It’s going to be a long, hard winter in the West. If there are not major riots this summer, just wait until next!

Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 29 2022 22:20 utc | 122

The probable experiences of Europe this winter remind me of the UK “Winter of Discontent” which lead to the thrashing of the Labour Party and a major change in UK politics that has lasted decades. Perhaps this winter of discontent will produce a thrashing for the US-puppet parties and a replacement with something else.
If only Jim Callaghan the British Labour PM had called the election in the Autumn of 1978, before the Winter of Discontent, Thatcher may never have happened …. would also have helped if he hadn’t engaged with the IMF just before the North Sea oil revenues were about to flood in.
Secret History: Winter of Discontent

Posted by: Roger | Jun 29 2022 22:30 utc | 124

@ptb #4
I’m surprised that everyone is taking this as Lithuania taking orders rather than them doing something dumb and escalatory on their own like Poland has done repeatedly to the point that they’ve been publicly dressed down by Blinken.
It’s entirely possible given the prevailing attitudes and hysteria among Lithuanians.

Posted by: Altai | Jun 29 2022 22:35 utc | 126

“I was on both sides of the iron curtain in the 70s, 80s and 90s to have look at NATO of those days…NATO absolutely feared the USSR (and the Warsaw Pact) those days…” ostro@40
That was not my experience, which was based entirely on talking with military and political people in the UK, US and Canada. None of them was concerned that the Soviet Union would attack. They knew that it would take considerable provocation to elicit any military response from them. Most of them had the brains to respect the power of the USSR and the need to prevent any confrontation. Sensible people were extremely worried by the cruise missile and ABM crises of the early eighties. It was felt that there were madmen in Washington and in its pay who might act in such a way as to make war inevitable.
NATO as I said above, pretended to fear the USSR but only in order to frighten their own populations into going along with expensive arms budgets and the diversion of wealth from peaceful social purposes to military waste.
Now those idiots appear to be in charge. But my guess would be that the real powers in the Pentagon, for example, regard the neocon hawks and their intellectual cheerleaders with contempt

Posted by: bevin | Jun 29 2022 22:42 utc | 128

Posted by: James Cook | Jun 29 2022 19:18 utc | 71
Posted by: polarbear4 | Jun 29 2022 19:54 utc | 82
Posted by: Thomas | Jun 29 2022 20:09 utc | 86
All these moves are meaningless. Russia can counter all of them in the event of a war with NATO. I’m not saying Russia wouldn’t take some hits, but thirty NATO war games show NATO losing against Russia despite being given the initial advantage. Short of nuclear weapons, NATO can not win against Russia.
As I said in an earlier thread, so what if NATO moves in another 300,000 troops? They’re still outnumbered and outgunned by Russia. And Russia can simply mobilize their 2 million reserves. Over to you, NATO… Finally, of course, there are the hypersonic missiles that NATO simply can not defend against, which, from Russia, can neutralize every NATO and US ship in the Med.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 29 2022 22:52 utc | 130

K @128–
Sorry, should have been more specific in my criticism. Gross mismanagement of the political-economy during the Soviet years that enabled the Rape of Russia during the 1990s.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 29 2022 22:56 utc | 132

@ Posted by: Altai | Jun 29 2022 22:35 utc
>> (a) on their own like Poland has done repeatedly to the point that
>> (b) they’ve been publicly dressed down by Blinken.
(b) implies (a). But it does not prove it.

Posted by: dfg | Jun 29 2022 23:14 utc | 134

I have almost the same comment as yesterday: here is a link to the main store at the ‘mall’. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Amstor/@49.0702474,33.4247481,513m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m7!3m6!1s0x40d75322b00163bb:0x9981e1c6d335dd9c!8m2!3d49.0702474!4d33.4247481!9m1!1b1
Yesterday it implied that the ‘mall’ was operating at certain hours. The day before that, according to a post on MOA, it showed Closed. Today, it shows Closed again. Some outfit is playing with the implications of that info, but they didn’t bother to look at the Reviews section in the lefthand column. Sort by Newest – latest reviews show “4 months ago”, and there are many such listed. Then it starts with “5 months ago” reviews. The ‘mall’ quit operating in early March…

Posted by: paul spencer | Jun 29 2022 23:25 utc | 136

Richard Steven Hack | Jun 29 2022 23:27 utc | 138
That’s very similar to my estimates. Somewhere between 3-1 and 5-1 in the first phase, 10-1 or better in the second phase.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jun 29 2022 23:32 utc | 138

From the latest ISW assessment report:
“Russian forces continued offensive operations in and around Lysychansk”….
“Russian forces continued offensive operations east of Bakhmut”….
“Russian forces continued offensive operations northwest of Slovyansk”….
“Continued Russian offensive operations around Kharkiv”….
Of course, as far as Fat Freddie Kagan is concerned all this is evidence – nay, proof! – that the Russians are just foolishly continuing their head-long rush towards their fateful “culmination point”, after which they will fall over exhausted and the Ukrainian military will march on Moscow.
Just you wait. Any day now. Annnnnnny day.
Meanwhile, over in cloud-coo-coo-land, Pat Lang is fantasizing about Putin being assassinated by his inner core of Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Bortnikov and Sergei Shoigu.
Or some combination therein, it’s all a bit unclear as to motive.
He is inclined to believe this because, you know, wish-fulfillment is the American way nowadays, innit?

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Jun 29 2022 23:43 utc | 140

Posted by: Dodgy Bodger | Jun 29 2022 20:39 utc | 100
preposterous. That UN complaint is 404. Besides, erryone knows neither thr RF nor CN are capable of extra-terrestial transportation. And even if they were, we all know the fact that they stole NASA IPR is a crimes against humanity subject to international law–as soon as the docket clears all the African AUTHORITARIAN criminals. Furthermore, Eloon is gonna replace Roscosmos ISS modules any.day.now. on the way to colonizing Mars with high-net worth indivijools.

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 29 2022 23:47 utc | 142

paul spencer | Jun 29 2022 23:25 utc | 137
Imediatly after the event, google maps had that Amstor as Permanently closed. That has now been changed to Temporary closed.
Only men in the initial videos rather than women children and older people that would normally be seen at a shopping center. I am guessing all those men, a number in full military kit came from the plant behind the mall.
At or near the rear right corner of that mall was something the powers that be did not want us to see. Early drone footage carefully avoided that area which is where the blast occurred.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jun 29 2022 23:50 utc | 144

Posted by: Dimitri Xi Jones | Jun 29 2022 19:46 utc | 79
Public opinion well, Dutch mainstream media is acting like stenographers for Zelensky
Whatever the UK military says about Ukraine is presented as neutral and unbiased.
Everybody still remembers MH 17 of course and there is a trial in progress against some folks that are accused of transporting the SAM from A to B. They are charged with 298 counts of murder and the prosecutor demanded a life sentence, trial wil resume in September. Suspects are no where to be found.
Some small new public broadcaster that broadcasts couple of hours per week on government TV just got a fine for spreading fake news because they sad NATO expansion caused the war in Ukraine
Poeple are pissed off of course because we got 10 % inflation now, but according to polls they will still vote for the same politicians that got us into this mess.
I only voice my opinion on the war to friends and family, never to strangers , never at work, But then at work folks don’t talk about the Ukraine any more, they did the first couple of weeks but now they don’t. At my Job we drive a bunch of cars and motorcycles and well what we do talk about all the time is gas prices of course
I dont see that many Ukranian flags on houses or buildings where I live, seen like maybe 5.

Posted by: Jimmy | Jun 30 2022 0:01 utc | 146

Linda Wood @134–
I very much sympathize with your POV, but paper dollars don’t work very well in a modern war. Look at what little all the trillions already printed have provided us with–a military according to the Heritage Foundation that’s merely mediocre and mostly under repair and unusable.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 29 2022 23:58 utc | 146
Also: it is doubtful that US has the industrial capacity along with access to raw materials any more – and especially so if their USD depreciates considerably making those materials far more expensive. As far as I can tell the West is played out. They know it and there is a collapse plan after which a reboot with entirely different rules and expectations (probably featuring drastic declines, restrictions, reductions, limitations etc.). But we’ll find out one way or another.
But any day we choose we can wake up, become sane, stop being demons and join the human race as cheerful, productive can-do people. Stranger things have happened…

Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 30 2022 0:03 utc | 148

Lithuania is a vassal state and a very minor one.
Posted by: Pagan | Jun 29 2022 22:55 utc | 132
No. Lithuania is not a vassal state. Lithuanis is a sovereign state. Name just one “mandate” or “mechanism” that compels its government to enact any public project contrary to its constituents’ instructions.

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 30 2022 0:08 utc | 150

@127 Altai
I hope so, but am skeptical.
I feel like it’s just a variation on the “good cop / bad cop” hustle. So the bigger power (the US with PL, or the EC with LIT) can stay a step removed and have a fig leaf of oh-we-didn’t-really-mean-it, if it all goes to shit… while still enjoying what they reckon is the benefit of more risk being taken.

Posted by: ptb | Jun 30 2022 0:16 utc | 152

watcher | Jun 29 2022 23:41 utc | 140
First phase was a partial failure by Russia. That would have to compared to their stated objectives for phase one. Do you remember or have a link of those objectives?
To me looking at the first phase – Two nuclear sites, one containing according to the west 30 tons of plutonium and 40 tons of enriched uranium three or more bio weapons sites with a treasure trove of documents, Azov nazis plus nato locked in Mariupol, All of Kherson securing Crimea water supply, land bridge to Crimea, and last but not least, 50% of Luhansk oblast.
Take note of when Russia pulled back its forces threatening Kiev. It was only when Mariupol was securely locked in, when no forces could break in or break out that Russia withdrew its forces in the north. Threatening Kiev and Kharkiv, Ukraines two biggest cities tied up a large number of Ukraine forces.
Russia accepted casualties for huge gains in that initial phase. Second phase is at a different pace different tactics. Its now a bit of practical work experience for its military that if it wishes to can continue indefinitely.
The old saying don’t interfere while your enemy is making mistakes. The longer the war goes on in Ukraine, the more mistakes the US west will make. The big picture is in what karlof1 posts here.
Ukraine is essentially a sideshow/glittery object/polished turd in the bigger contest. Russia vs the senile warmongers of the west.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jun 30 2022 0:22 utc | 154

In Krivoy Rog, they want to make Biden Street instead of Pushkin Street.
▪️Boris Johnson Street instead of pilot Vodopyanov Street
▪️John McCain Street instead of Armavir.
Deja Vu Kosovo and Bosnia. In Sarajevo and Pristina street names Clinton, Albright,….
Everything reminds me Nato aggression against Serbia.
SAME PLAYBOOK!
What we ve learned from Nato aggression vs Serbia?
NEVER EVER SIGN ANY CEASEFIRE or AGREEMENT! ITS ONLY A TRAP! THEY WANT TO BUY TIME!
MILOSEVIC HAS ALWAYS FALLEN AGAIN AND AGAIN INTO THESE PEACE TRAP.
As a reward for his cooperation the new serbian traitor government has brought him to The Hague

Posted by: Chessmaster | Jun 30 2022 0:26 utc | 156

i know all you folks are pretty serious about all this, but i found this rt article that seemed to sum up some of the major differences between the west and russia here… on the one hand you have comedians in positions of power and on the other you have an intelligent, thoughtful person leading russia! the differences couldn’t be more stark.. this is what we are probably dealing with on the war front as well… leadership by bozos, verses leadership by an actual leader.. now, maybe i am being a bit too cynical on the western leaders here, but from everything i see – i think richards hubris may not be as dramatic as suggested above… in fact – richard might actually be closer to the reality on the ground – which is always an impossible thing to figure out either way, until much later…
Vladimir Putin comments on Boris Johnson’s remarks……………
Speaking to journalists in Turkmenistan on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to questions about several recent remarks from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. During the latest G7 summit, the UK leader joked that his allies should take their clothes off for the photoshoot – to show that they are “tougher than Putin.”
“I don’t know how they wanted to undress, waist-high or not, but I think it would be a disgusting sight either way,” the Russian president quipped. “Everything should be harmoniously developed in a person, both the body and the soul. However, in order for everything to be harmonious, one has to abandon excessive drinking and break other bad habits, start exercising, take up a sport.”
Johnson’s another recent remark suggested that what he described as a “macho war of invasion” in Ukraine would not happen “if Putin was a woman, which he obviously isn’t.”
The Russian leader responded: “I just want to remind you about the events of modern history, when Margaret Thatcher made a decision to launch military action against Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Here’s a woman, deciding to launch military action. Where are the Falkland Islands and where is Britain? And this was dictated by nothing but imperial ambitions.”
“So coming from an acting British Prime Minister, this is not exactly a correct remark in regards to what is happening today.”

Posted by: james | Jun 30 2022 0:27 utc | 158

Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 29 2022 18:01 utc | 52
This raw fish is having great difficulty with reality.
Ukraine has forced conscription of everyone from age 18 to 60, male or female, blonde, disabled or not.
Yet when 1,000 Ukrainian citizens are found out shopping when they should be enlisting, going to 1 day boot camp, and then straight into the trenches of the Donbass, the world erupts in great indignation.
Why is this?
Under the laws of Ukraine can you not be shot for failing to obey the forced conscription law? Does not Z have the authority to put 1,000 shoppers a day up against the wall? Is this not a great waste of scarce NATO resources?
Does not one RF missile save the Z regime thousands of NATO bullets?
If the draft evaders are not shot in the mall is it not true that they will get their 6.5 hours of basic training, learn which end of a rifle is the bad end, how to eat cardboard chicken, and live in a grave trench for 3 days before the incoming artillery strike makes drying your socks completely unnecessary?
Why is that when the citizens of Ukraine are dispatched by the Z regime this is a great heroic event, but to be killed by the Z forces is totally immoral and repugnant to all the citizens of the world?
Do the dead really have a preference one way or another?
The only way I can cope with these issues is by channelling my inner Joe Tzu.
The art of war lies in graduated response
Never go senile all at once.
Joe Tzu

Posted by: Sushi | Jun 30 2022 0:28 utc | 160

@144 Scorpion
I don’t think they’re organized enough, or united enough, to pull something like that off.
There might be factions in the Western power structure who would go for what you say, but there are also balls-to-the-wall hegemonists, true-believer-exceptionalists, and neocon-aka-idiot-imperialist types. And they all rose to power thru their skill in sabotaging each other (not to speak of foreign rivals and sometimes partners too).

Posted by: ptb | Jun 30 2022 0:32 utc | 162

Posted by: watcher | Jun 29 2022 23:41 utc | 140
You’re clueless. Not surprising, since I’ve dealt with your BS before. A master of hand-waving and not much else.
In particular, describing the rejection by the West of Russia’s treaty proposals as a “diplomatic failure” is risible. That was a failure by the West. Russia offered them a way out, fully expecting the West wouldn’t take it, which is why Russia spent 2021 preparing the Ukraine war in parallel with the development of those proposals.
Moskva had nothing to do with any Odessa invasion, which, as long as the area was mined, was never in the cards. Not to mention we still don’t know what actually happened to the ship, as the one apparently valid pictures does not show missile damage according to most analysts. So it could have been a mine or could have been what the Russians said: a fire and armaments explosion.
And the Kiev gambit has been debunked so many times only a moron like you would still bring it up.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 30 2022 0:35 utc | 164

Posted by: james | Jun 30 2022 0:27 utc | 159
“the UK leader joked that his allies should take their clothes off for the photoshoot – to show that they are “tougher than Putin.””
I’d like to see fat-boy Johnson go up against high-ranked judo black belt Putin. LOL

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 30 2022 0:39 utc | 166

rjb1.5 @156–
You mean something like 911? How long did that saga last? Most of the day, yes? I’m talking something extremely devastating that will be over in a few minutes leaving between a dozen to 16 smoking piles of twisted metal, cement and other rubble that will decapitate the US government, its Neoliberal Parasite Center, and its strategic East Coast military and commercial ports without generating any radioactive fallout with very little damage to civilians and their infrastructure. That’s what war with Russia means for the Outlaw US Empire–Defeat.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 30 2022 0:39 utc | 168

@ Sushi | Jun 30 2022 0:28 utc | 161
brilliant!! and very good for a raw fish too, i might add! but then i always did love sushi!

Posted by: james | Jun 30 2022 0:43 utc | 170

Jason @166–
The two ponds don’t protect the Outlaw US Empire’s mainland anymore. In fact, as I’ve commented above several times, the mainland is a very soft target that’s essentially undefended. The Neoliberal Parasites need to wake up to that reality. They don’t hold a winning hand, nor can they outdraw their opponents. Reality says they’ve already lost. But they’re clearly blinded by their pleonexia–“the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others.”

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 30 2022 0:55 utc | 172

I’m re-posting something from yesterday’s thread with the initial link included – seriously…it’s worth reading…just open the link and click on the pdf – CIA planning doc about Ukraine from 1957.
CIA Doc – Resistance Factors in Ukraine
I have been reading the sections where the CIA analyzes the parts of Ukraine which oppose/support the USSR/Russia. The CIA (thus the US government planning apparatus) clearly knew (and knows) that the entire southern (Odessa to Kherson) and eastern parts of Ukraine (Donbass) are either culturally Russian, ethnically Russian, or supports the Russian (USSR back then) government. The document also clearly shows that the CIA was planning operations for western Ukraine at that time and this probably connects to the ‘stay behind’ operations connected to Operation Gladio (I’ve just purchased a few books about this topic).
Also, I was just listening to the Multipolarista podcast where I learned about this interesting article from January 2022 re: CIA/US planning and involvement in preparation for war with Russia pre-SMO. Another interesting read.
Link to article re: CIA in Ukraine pre-SMO
Cheers!

Posted by: Objective Observer | Jun 30 2022 0:56 utc | 174

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 29 2022 23:47 utc | 143
I am sorry 4 404 try…
https://www.unoosa.org/res/oosadoc/data/documents/2021/aac_105/aac_1051262_0_html/AAC105_1262E.pdf

Posted by: Dodgy Bodger | Jun 30 2022 1:01 utc | 176

karlof1 | Jun 30 2022 0:39 utc | 169
sorry, i don’t think russia is dumb enough to attack the US at all at this point, certainly not at some random shopping center. were such an attack to occur, it would undoubtedly be a “white helmet” affair, whose sole purpose would be to keep enflamed the baseless hysterical war passions of a gullible populace that is already tiring of the latest in atrocity theater from Ukraine. (and, with such a stage managed affair, why not take out the garbage, the human refuse piling up in our shopping mall parking lots, at the same time? i probably shouldn’t be giving our leaders any ideas…)
but, based on the ongoing detailed analysis provided by you, the host, rsh, et al, “winning the war” is no longer possible. and they know it. so what’s the game, and how to keep it running? probably others, but i thought of two reasons:
one, the war wastes a lot of money, and, for the US audience on the other side of the planet, can be made to disappear in a way that it cannot in e.g., Germany, Poland, etc. partly, w/the purchase of toys like the F35, such waste is a kind of “tribute” to the hegemon, as people have noted. much easier in the US to blame it all on Russia than in countries which, by proximity, have more skin in the game.
two, the war enables the further “command and control” militarization of society and authoritarianism, as western societies strain, groan, creak and likely collapse under the bloat of corruption and dysfunctionality. that airsuit that holds Baron Harkonnen aloft is about to deflate or run out of gas, leaving a beached diabetic baby whale with no diapers or bottle floundering and flopping around. but, until then, domestic control, austerity, totalitarianism, is in. the constant external threat justifies the regime of oppression, wherein something like going on strike at Amazon or even reading “the Idiot” become “aiding and abetting” the enemy.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jun 30 2022 1:19 utc | 178

Posted by: DutchZ | Jun 29 2022 16:49 utc | 22
“If voting made any difference, they would’t let us” (as old as the idea of democracy)
This applies to some countries at least. It’s a pretty big list.

Posted by: Tard | Jun 30 2022 1:53 utc | 180

Linda @134
well said!

Posted by: polarbear4 | Jun 30 2022 2:02 utc | 182

There might be factions in the Western power structure who would go for what you say, but there are also balls-to-the-wall hegemonists, true-believer-exceptionalists, and neocon-aka-idiot-imperialist types. And they all rose to power thru their skill in sabotaging each other (not to speak of foreign rivals and sometimes partners too).
Posted by: ptb | Jun 30 2022 0:32 utc | 163
Well – obviously – am out on a limb speculating. But the sheer stupidity is becoming suspicious. If they were just stupid but trying to do well then some things would be so-so OK and others would tank. But for a while now everything they do – at least in the US – is all wrong every time. It smacks of coordination.
And look at Europe: every single leader at the same time agreeing in lockstep to overwhelmingly stupid and terrible policies. Since when do European leaders agree on anything? Never. Again, it smacks of coordination.
And take Russia-China. Right now what do they want? Do create a new system free of Western interference to which end they want nothing better than US-EU weakness or worse. And US-EU is giving them what they want on a platter! Coincidence or happenstance? Possibly. But really, everything is so consistently following the same vector….
As to your possible list above: take away the hegemons and the rest are probably the ones. But also hegemons can change: if the name of the game is no longer capturing Eurasian countries but exploiting home-grown populations in a new techno-fascist regime, they might feel fine being the Titan-Lords of such a dystopia with captive populations to toy with.
Anyway, I guess we’ll be finding out in the next 6-36 months, eh?

Posted by: Scorpion | Jun 30 2022 2:20 utc | 184

democracy: governance by the people
Outcome of Ukraine war will determine long-term American security, senators attending NATO summit say

Two members of the Senate NATO Observer Group vowed Wednesday to keep the American public engaged with the war in Ukraine despite inflation and other domestic challenges, linking the outcome of the conflict to long-term national security.
Thom Tillis, R-N.C. . .“[People] need to understand that Vladimir Putin is playing a chess game,” Tillis said at a forum in Madrid. “He’s trying to reestablish an empire, and it only starts with the success in Ukraine and it continues. So yes, to that constituent of mine in North Carolina, [Ukraine] may seem an ocean away, but they’re not. And every time we turn our backs, we live to regret it.”. . .here

These “wise men and women,” these senators, know better than their constituents that war is necessary. Most Americans probably don’t give a hoot about Ukraine, or even know or care where it is. The senators expect their constituents to follow their wise senatorial counsel, aided by the MSM of course, when it should be the other way around, with senators representing constituents.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Jun 30 2022 2:37 utc | 186

Posted by: polarbear4 | Jun 30 2022 1:59 utc | 182
“putin recently started a mobilization/training program.”
Russia does mobilization – or perhaps conscription might be a better phrase – programs twice a year. New conscripts undergo up to eight months of training before being sent to designated units. Mandatory conscription lasts for 12 months, after which the soldiers can join Russia’s two million-strong military reserves.
Also, under Russian law, conscripts can’t serve outside Russia’s borders (presumably unless there is a general war mobilization), although allegedly some did end up in Ukraine where they were pulled out after it became public knowledge.
In short, it has nothing to do with the progress of the war.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 30 2022 2:52 utc | 188

Are we STILL discussing the shopping mall, which has already been adequately explained? Some people have a lot of free time.
It might be better spent by viewing Mercouris’ latest video, in which along with an update on the Donbass situation, he discusses Erdogan’s approval of Sweden and Finland being admitted to NATO, the history of Swedish and Finland “neutrality” – which doesn’t exist – and also the “Russian default” and the insanity of the “oil price cap” which apparently the idiots at the G7 want to apply to all oil-producing countries, which is even more insane.
Russia Traps Ukraine Troops in Lysychansk, Turkey Drops Veto on Sweden Finland-NATO, Russia Unfazed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSPvz4LuoSw

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 30 2022 2:57 utc | 190

@Richard Steven Hack #138

As you say, the LDNR and Chechyans and Wagner are doing ground fighting (with some Russian units, of course.)

Russian MoD has denied that Wagner mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, understandable given Russian statements on Western mercs. What evidence is there that they are indeed fighting for Russia in Ukraine?

Posted by: Kingsmeg | Jun 30 2022 3:07 utc | 192

Reality says they’ve already lost. But they’re clearly blinded by their pleonexia–“the insatiable desire to have what rightfully belongs to others.”
Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 30 2022 0:55 utc | 173
That reminds of a quip attributed to Reagan, but it could have been just a joke about him: Allegedly he said “What’s our oil doing under their sand?”

Posted by: Pagan | Jun 30 2022 3:22 utc | 194

Posted by: Kingsmeg | Jun 30 2022 3:07 utc | 193
I have no idea. It just seems to be the consensus on Telegram channels. In any event, by some accounts the number ranges from 300 to 1,000, so they’re not particularly significant, if they are there.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jun 30 2022 3:31 utc | 196

We’re not following the same Telegram channels then.
And I don’t know what use a bunch of mercenaries (aka terrorists) would be on the front lines of an artillery shoot-out.
I’m not saying they aren’t there, but I have seen obviously fake Ukie propaganda trying to prove they are, and I read the denial by the Ru DoD saying they aren’t.

Posted by: Kingsmeg | Jun 30 2022 3:51 utc | 198

fyi, a well worth while thread, and here are a few snippets
from Will Schryver’s
Observations on the Ukraine War, 2022-06-28
https://twitter.com/imetatronink/status/1541780685937332224
“…..But it is irrelevant. Because, since no later than the Korean War, the US has not faced a peer or near-peer adversary in a high-intensity conflict. The US military has not been, for almost three-quarters of century, truly tested “under-fire”. This is an indisputable fact.
The US has measured its battlefield mettle, for decades, against brave sandal-shod men with AK-47s, RPGs, and a certain savoir faire for constructing IEDs. But they have *never* faced anything like Russian artillery or missiles. Not even in Hollywood movies or video games….
….They deluded themselves into believing the Russians lacked: strategic and logistical acumen, a sufficiently well-trained force, and – arguably the biggest miscalculation of all – sufficient stockpiles of ammo to conduct a protracted high-intensity conflict….
…In short, I have come to believe the US/NATO actually persuaded themselves that this “Mother of All Proxy Armies” they built in Ukraine seriously had an excellent chance to soundly whip the Russians in a battle situated on their borders.
In other words, they not only grossly underestimated their enemy, but they ignored centuries of history that they somehow convinced themselves had no relevance to their 21st century aspirations to defeat Russia militarily and take a great spoil of its resources.
Even more revealing is that once-vaunted and universally feared US/UK weaponry – almost all of it rather antiquated – has proven to be far less “game-changing” than the pea-brained strategists in Washington and Whitehall mistakenly believed.
Javelins, NLAWs, and Stingers have been exposed as effectively useless against their intended targets. M-777 howitzers break down after just a few fires. GPS-guided “precision” munitions are routinely jammed by Russian EW counter-measures.
…..What sober military men in potential adversary countries across the globe see is that Russia has, with one hand tied behind its back, eviscerated the massive, relatively well-armed and well-trained Ukraine military. The US intimidation factor has been forever compromised…..
…More concerningly, the Chinese have been watching all of these developments with great interest. They are almost certain to be emboldened to act decisively to secure their sphere of influence in the emerging multipolar world. Great dangers now await in east Asia.”

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jun 30 2022 3:59 utc | 200