Ukraine Open Thread 2022-106
Only news & views related to the Ukraine conflict ...
The current open thread for other issues is here.
Posted by b on July 7, 2022 at 13:58 UTC | Permalink
next page »Stories abound that this morning some plucky Ukros stepped onto the abandoned Snake island to plant a flag and were immediately greeted with some cruise missiles. Poor chaps, it was simply too tempting a slice of cake to leave unmolested.
Posted by: DaVinci | Jul 7 2022 14:25 utc | 2
My thought this morning was that in making Ukraine a priority here, b, you keep the subject of war front and center in the same way the western press kept the Vietnam war front and center, and considerable opposition to western ways was able to be heard.
As it should be. We may not have the best news concerning this special operation, the best 'boots on the ground' narrative, as we did back then. But we are paying attention.
Thank you for doing this. If anyone in Ukraine can see this, you are not forgotten. Be well; have peace; hang in there.
Posted by: juliania | Jul 7 2022 14:28 utc | 3
I do not understand why in propaganda as a rhetorical counterweight to the Western accusations that Russalnd "invaded" a country, the concept of "forward defense", der ursprünglich ein NATO-Konzept beschreibt, nun umgekehrt benutzt.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorneverteidigung
Forward defense (also Forward Strategy, Advance Defense, or Forward Strategy) was a NATO strategy during the Cold War. This strategy stated to counter an attack by the Soviet Union on Alliance territory in Europe with conventional forces as far east as possible. It was based on the modified Strategic Concept for the Defense of the North Atlantic Area (DC 6/1, then MC 3/5 as of 1952) adopted by the North Atlantic Council on December 3, 1952, and the NATO Military Committee's Strategic Guidelines MC 14/1. In May 1957, it lost its validity and was replaced by the Strategic Concept MC 14/2 of Massive Retaliation.[1] The Strategic Concept MC 14/2 was the first of its kind in Germany.
Originally, the term Forward Strategy was used in the Federal Republic of Germany. In April 1961, Adolf Heusinger, as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, ordered the use of the term Forward Defense to indicate that NATO was not planning offensive operations. In 1967, then-Federal Defense Minister Gerhard Schröder had the term changed to forward defense,[2] in order to take the approach away from the GDR propaganda of an "aggressive offensive strategy."[3] The term was used to describe the military strategy of a moving forward defense.
The military-strategic principle of a mobile-led advance defense was also based on NATO's superiority in nuclear weapons. Since the buildup of the Bundeswehr and the commitments to increase personnel and defense spending among NATO member states could only be implemented slowly for financial as well as economic reasons, this new concept provided for the obligation of defending the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany against Warsaw Pact forces. It corresponded to a continuing line of defense along the Rhine. West Germany was considered a combat zone and a delaying area against an attack from the East. The attacker was to be held off as long as possible in order to build up a stable defensive front and thus be able to hold as much of its own territory as possible and mobilize further forces.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Posted by: Peter | Jul 7 2022 14:35 utc | 4
▫️ As a result of Russian Aerospace Forces high-precision weapons strikes on Ukrainian combat positions in Soledar direction, the total losses of the 24th mechanized brigade of AFU already amount to about 2.5 thousand people, or 60 per cent of its personnel.▫️79th Airborne Assault Brigade of AFU has been almost completely destroyed, with losses exceeding 80 per cent of its personnel.
In my understanding a brigade was about 4,500 people.
Does anybody know how many Ukrainian brigades still operate in Ukraine? Or how many were at the beginning of the war (in February) and how many are now?
"I do not understand why in propaganda as a rhetorical counterweight to the Western accusations that Russia had "invaded" a country, the concept of "forward defense.."
I agree. Forward defense is another formulation of "just preemptive war," a concept that has been a bone of contention at least since the days of Grotius. It's not as though the current conflict will inspire a resolution of the debate. What's telling, as you suggest, is that the question is never, ever raised, and is routinely supplanted with the assertion that "Putin's war is of course illegal" when, in fact, the question of formal legality is not easily resolvable. When have you seen someone assert illegality while acknowledging the UKA intensifying its bombardment of Donetsk while Zelensky was talking about acquiring nuclear weapons?
Posted by: dadooronron | Jul 7 2022 15:02 utc | 6
Harley Schlanger forecast Boris' resignation and its relation to Ukraine a monmth ago:
Boris Johnson Pushes War with Russia to Save the Empire's Global Britain Project
2,199 views Jun 8, 2022 "Global Britain" is a rebranding of the British Empire, designed to defend the "Rules Based Order" which serves City of London and Wall Street oligarchs as they move to impose the "Great Reset". His strut with Zelensky through the streets of Kiev, his promise to deliver multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine, and his praise of veterans of Thatcher's "Falklands War" are signs that he is committed to maintaining Britain's provocative role within the Special Relationship, while promoting neoliberal economics and war to defend the collapsing Empire.
SEARCH: Boris Johnson Pushes War with Russia to Save the Empire's Global Britain Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVJUp2dWhPw&t=3s
Posted by: GEORGE M CHAMBERLAIN | Jul 7 2022 15:20 utc | 7
Posted by: juliania | Jul 7 2022 14:28 utc | 3
Peeps go off-topic intentionally ... in an effort to 'hijack the thread'
it was pretty obvious, so posts were deleted
Posted by: crone | Jul 7 2022 15:21 utc | 8
If you want to see some deluded people, visit any Ukraine thread on Reddit. There are legions of Redditors who seriously think that Ukraine is kicking ass right now. Anyone expressing a view to the contrary, no matter how benign, is downvoted to hell.
Posted by: Gigo | Jul 7 2022 15:28 utc | 9
Dmitry Medvedev
News from London"Ukraine's best friends" are leaving. "Victory" is in danger!
The first one went...The logical result of British arrogance and mediocre policy. Especially on the international track.
P.S. We are waiting for news from Germany, Poland and the Baltic States😂
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 15:32 utc | 10
Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia U prof - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Sachs - sets the record straight ....
Ukraine Is the Latest Neocon Disaster
Jeffrey D. Sachs | June 27, 2022 | OtherNews
The war in Ukraine is the culmination of a 30-year project of the American neoconservative movement. The Biden Administration is packed with the same neocons who championed the US wars of choice in Serbia (1999), Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003), Syria (2011), Libya (2011), and who did so much to provoke Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The neocon track record is one of unmitigated disaster, yet Biden has staffed his team with neocons. As a result, Biden is steering Ukraine, the US, and the European Union towards yet another geopolitical debacle. If Europe has any insight, it will separate itself from these US foreign policy debacles.
Etc.
Things that interest me and can't find enough info. As the hot front moves further into the Ukraine, what happens with the territories under Russian control? Did they restarted the reconstruction, are the civilians back, is it an effort put in to clean up the mess left behind after the fighting, are the people who emigrated to other areas (including Russia) returning?
Any info would be appreciated
https://t.me/s/intelslava/32716
Today, during the successful offensive of the units of the Vostok group northwest of Slavyansk, the elite of the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surrendered.
Against the background of the rapid actions of the assault detachments of the 29th, 35th and 36th armies of the "Victory" group, with the support of artillery and army aviation, the enemy, without offering resistance, chooses the only chance to survive - to surrender.
Posted by: crone | Jul 7 2022 16:01 utc | 13
@ Fred From what little I can find Russia is introducing Russian currency, passports and political leadership into the occupied//annexed/liberated areas. Not sure how much rebuilding of cities is going on right now. I read one article which suggested it could take $14 billion and 7 to 10 years years to rebuild Mariupol.
Posted by: The Toad Prophet | Jul 7 2022 16:02 utc | 14
Re Saggy's citation of Sachs: Sachs is trying to make up for his involvement in the clumsy dismantling of the Soviet economy, which also subjected the economies of other Soviet bloc countries to severe downturns. In the essay you cite you'll see that he's critical of the neocons without acknowledging that his "big bang" approach to dismantling state-based economic structures went hand and glove with their aims. His criticisms are useful, mainly because he has maintained his elite status and so has some cred, but they are disingenuous.
Posted by: dadooronron | Jul 7 2022 16:02 utc | 15
@ The Toad Prophet
I've read somewhere that the Russian army started building an 1,000 apartments complex in Mariupol, which lets say will host 4,000 people. It's a start but they need 100x more.
Fred | Jul 7 2022 15:36 utc | 12, re: what's happening in the territories liberated by the allies.
For what its worth, I follow https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/
He or she is all over the place, but I find it very entertaining and informative, as I don't read Russian.
On the type of info you're looking for, see for example Ukraine War Day #132: Who’s Who In The New Kherson Government!
Posted by: htyul | Jul 7 2022 16:14 utc | 17
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 15:36 utc | 12
The Russians say that they are working hard to provide succor to the recently liberated. They are vague about outcomes, but it seems clear more than the two republics will not return to Ukraine.
I haven't seen the western media address the issue much. They prefer war-hype, but that may be changing as things fall apart.
Posted by: Bemildred | Jul 7 2022 16:18 utc | 18
@ juliania | Jul 7 2022 14:28 utc | 3
ditto your last line in particular.. thanks b and juliania
@ crone | Jul 7 2022 16:01 utc | 13
that is positive news.. the more that surrender, the better for everyone involved...
@ ETA | Jul 7 2022 16:16 utc | 18
this has been asked repeatedly at moa.. i believe it is not possible based on the typepad format here, or b probably would have done so... use the time stamp as a reference...
Posted by: james | Jul 7 2022 16:22 utc | 19
@ htyul
The site is a as you said 'all over the place' for my likening, but, thanks for your answer.
Here is English Outsider's response to my post at juliania | Jul 6 2022 23:17 utc | 79 on the previous Ukraine Open thread:
"The state of public opinion in the UK is difficult to gauge. So too in Germany.Many are anti-Russian because they don't know the facts. I don't know whether the facts will eventually come out but at present most just don't know they've been scammed.
This contrasts with the then state of knowledge about, say, Iraq or Libya or Syria. On those occasions enough did know the facts and opposition to the ventures there could emerge, though that opposition was ineffectual.
In this case, Ukraine, there's very little sign of informed opposition amongst the general public. There cannot be. As Eva Bartletts said recently, "I don't really blame the Western public for being ill-informed about what's happening here". If one doesn't know of Minsk 2, or the Revolution of Dignity, or of Azov, or of a thousand other pertinent facts, how can one be other than ill-informed?
Unfortunate but how it is. Maybe the facts'll come out later.
But it may go deeper than that. Certainly in some parts of Europe hatred of Russia is deep seated and will be expressed whatever the facts. Whether that's the case in England I can't tell. Is this a hangover from the Cold War? Are we, like many in the Baltic States, pre-disposed to hate Russia no matter the rights and wrongs of the case? Or do we in England, sensing as many of us do that we're in deep economic trouble anyway, need an enemy to strike out at, any enemy, and our politicians have presented us with an enemy that fits the bill: Russia.
So all that is, as said, difficult to gauge. But there's no doubt that, whatever the cause, anti-Russian sentiment is widespread in the Northern European general public.
This presents the politicians with a difficulty. I think they've realised that the sanctions war is lost. Not only lost, but destructive for a West already weakened economically. But they cannot row back from that sanctions war to the extent needed without arriving at least some rapprochement with Russia.
How can they arrive at that without losing face with their electorates? "When you turn the shower thermostat down, say "Take that, Putin!" has been, almost in those words, the politicians' cry. We've been told no sacrifice is too great if that sacrifice will defeat the sinister Putin. They can't now say, well, he's not that sinister after all and we can do business with him.
And if the politicians could manage to square that circle without losing face, what of the Russians themselves?
They don't like us. We're sending guns over to kill Russian soldiers. We have attempted, explicitly attempted, to break their economy. We would many of us like to see the RF dismembered. Our media promulgates values they do not share. And what the Russians see coming from our politicians and media is a dislike and contempt they can scarcely not reciprocate.
So, with both the Western and the Russian publics in that state of mutual dislike and contempt, I don't believe the position is retrievable. The politicians on neither side will be able to pull back.
Ok for the Russians, more or less. They can get along without Europe. One gets the feeling they'd quite like to do that anyway. But we're in no state to get along without them. Meersheimer recently described the situation as a train wreck. It's now a wreck we're heading towards whether we like it or not. The politicians can do no other.
Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 7 2022 14:52 utc | 188"
Thanks, very much, English Outsider. You have the advantage, being a British citizen, I assume, so your assessment may be valid. I will address it in the following post.
Posted by: juliania | Jul 7 2022 16:39 utc | 21
@ juliania
I think that the upcoming winter will have a sobering effect on the EU electorate. When you are cold and hungry you tend to realign your priorities.
Homing in as my post at 79 on the previous thread had been, specifically on the British reservations about the war operation in Ukraine, I will simply answer English Outsider's comment at juliania | Jul 7 2022 16:39 utc | 25 thusly:
You have the advantage, English Outsider, and you may indeed be correct in your assessment of the present British populace. I am in the US, but I was a British subject once. I have hopes for British subjects yet. So I stand by my previous assessment.
I do not think you have it right with respect to Russia. But that is a subject for the open forum, as it doesn't concern Ukraine specifically. Although, in the terms I would formulate cohesion, Ukraine occupies a major historical literary focal point. I have in mind the blowback influence of "cancelculture" versus the Russians' respect for British literature, and specifically, Shakespeare.
I think, if Britain itself still has threads remaining of this respect for its own classical heritage, there is common ground there.
We might discuss it on the open forum/not Ukraine. Be my guest there, if you like.
Posted by: juliania | Jul 7 2022 17:01 utc | 23
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 16:36 utc | 24
The site was a pleasant surprise for me, the first article about Poltava and Pushkin poem I found really interesting, a lingüistict-literature-historical point of view ideal for Russian language students.
This one about reconstruction might be of interest to you, the video clip included reveals how the locals view the UAF as occupiers and refuse to be “deported” as someone in the clip claims.
Thanks to @ htyul.
Posted by: Paco | Jul 7 2022 17:01 utc | 24
We have many parties, the Motherland - one.PutinAfter February 24, all branches of power needed to act decisively, in concert and quickly, and the Duma worked just like that.
We managed to maintain macroeconomic stability. which is important for our economy.
They should have realized that they had already lost with the start of the SMO.
The collective West is the culprit of what is happening now.
The attempts of the West to impose its world order on the world are doomed.
Today we hear that they want to defeat us on the battlefield, well, what can I say, let them try.
By and large, we haven't started anything there [in Ukraine] yet.
We do not refuse peace negotiations, but those who refuse should know that the longer it takes, the more difficult it will be to negotiate.
The desire of the West to fight us to the last Ukrainian is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people. But it looks like it's all coming to this.
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 17:11 utc | 25
Fred | Jul 7 2022 16:46 utc | 26
Sure. But it is not totally impossible, that when the European people start looking for scapegoats, they find the one sitting in the Kremlin. You may not agree, I may not agree, but that's how it has been lately.
Posted by: Joe6pack | Jul 7 2022 17:15 utc | 26
So glad to have found MoA ! in our western world - i'm French - nobody's perfect ;-) - it's hard to hear a different bell's sound (I apologize for my poor english).
I had the dream that, following bojo, each european leader was resigning one after the other.
I totally agree, it would be "old shoes on new feet". But that would be simply delightful.
It's terrible that the "english spoken" world has prevented europe from developping ties with russia. It was once the case in litterature and music realms. Did you have a look at the 2022 Scarlet Sails event ? Magnifique.
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 17:32 utc | 28
And the 'french spoken' world is also guilty of not keeping his culture alive and kicking. De Gaulle is dead, twice.
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 17:36 utc | 29
@juliania | Jul 7 2022 16:39 utc | 21
The need for a scapegoat to focus the public dissatisfaction with their diminishing daily lot, makes Russia and China an essential part of domestic crisis management.
As long as the Empire continues this will be the M.O.
Posted by: Spinworthy | Jul 7 2022 17:38 utc | 30
@Bemildred | Jul 7 2022 16:18 utc | 18
MSM is hiding any reconstruction, the switch to rubles and cell numbers, banks etc. They also like to say cities are completely destroyed but even Mariupol is far from being all affected. Nato movie must hide that areas liberated from nazis are no longer part of what was Ukr. Even French tv showed how happy locals are that Russians have arrived.
It's also a problem in the regions near Hungary, some protests. Zelly is collecting new soldiers from those parts again. If he starts killing them in large numbers, Orban might use the new powers he has since last month or two.
Posted by: rk | Jul 7 2022 17:52 utc | 31
Macgregor https://www.bitchute.com/video/1ghxwaXDAMvT/
Ukraine armed forces losses at 80%. That very much matches with what individual Ukraine units have been saying.
Jacques Baud who was in Ukraine as part of the Nato operations there has said there were 102,000 nationalists and they accounted for 40% of Ukraine's armed forces. Makes a total of around 250,000. 80% of 250,000 equals 200,000 losses of all causes. KIA, wounded, captured, deserted, accidents, sickness ect.
Then there is the destruction of the territorial defence units and conscripts that have been sent to the frontlines with little or no training.
Those sort of numbers also fit with the recently passed law to conscript women.
There is a number of around 600,000 total Ukraine forces that is used often which I take to include territorial defence and reservists.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 7 2022 18:00 utc | 32
You can widely publish a rumor for free. It is best when they are believable.
Russian intelligence conducted a multi-pronged operation that resulted in the purchase of an American HIMARS missile defence system
https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxBeblsak5WvYpRChj2KR4P_pAhzbmsMPT
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 18:06 utc | 33
I made a comment on the open thread
If you want to end the war (on Russia) in Ukraine, read the thread on our currency system and how it is a raw deal for all but a small "Privileged Class" and is the only way the war is funded by the West. Wanna end the war? Cut off the funding! It's all fun and games, until the money is gone. If you don't take away the money they use to fund this sort of stuff, it will persist forever.
Posted by: Carl | Jul 7 2022 18:09 utc | 34
@28 Fabrice
Welcome to the bar. Your English is way better than my French. :)
Since you're French, can you comment on how the French are evaluating the effect of U.S./NATO policy on France's interests? Do you have a sense of how the political mood is developing?
And what is the assessment by the French of Germany's economic and industrial situation (impact of sanctions, etc.)
Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Jul 7 2022 18:35 utc | 35
@ Carl
I really doubt that any of us posting here are multi-billionaires. And even so you need few hundreds of them to make a difference. What you can do is to stay informed, and try to plan not to get squished.
You can widely publish a rumor for free. It is best when they are believable.
Russian intelligence conducted a multi-pronged operation that resulted in the purchase of an American HIMARS missile defence system
...
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 18:06 utc | 32
It’s not something I’ve been following so I don’t know if the rumour is believable or not - though I am trying very hard not to be surprised by anything =)
Do you think it’s believable, is that what you were hinting at in the other thread with the disposition of forces in the field?
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 18:49 utc | 37
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 15:36 utc | 12
…seems clear more than the two republics will not return to Ukraine.
Does appear to be the growing consensus. :) When the Soviet Union broke up they lost a lot of seaports especially . Like access to the only warm water ports they ever had, the Black Sea. It’s a high value piece of water front property they can project power from. Plus I’ve read that some bridge builders and engineers because of engineering and build quality don’t think the Kerch Bridge will last long. If true, then Russia really needs that land bridge too.
But keep in mind why Russia finds itself the position it does now of having to roll tanks and artillery into Ukraine.
As Anatoly Chernyaev, one of Gorbachev’s closest advisers, noted in his diary later that month: “Eastern Europe is pushing away from us completely and there is nothing we can do. . . . The Communist Movement is crumbling everywhere.”
As Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl told President Bush in May 1990, the Soviet leader had “big problems. His East European allies say they want to be in NATO.”
Posted by: The Toad Prophet | Jul 7 2022 19:01 utc | 38
The end result of the SMO will be achieved in any case, there is no doubt about it.Putin today
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 19:02 utc | 39
Do you think it’s believable
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 18:49 utc | 39
---
It is believable that Ukraine is a weapons bazaar, and rife with corruption. It is also believable that the Ukrainians don't operate the HIMARS by themselves.
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 19:04 utc | 40
@ The Toad Prophet
Then the logic part would be to cut Ukraine from the Black sea access to prevent a NATO land bridge, and to get rid of the Baltic states, just because they don't play nice and are full of NAZIs. Poland may need some trimming, also
Adding to my last post ... It is reported that civilians can earn a military pension for espionage work.
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 19:09 utc | 42
@Carl #33
So simple - imagine why no one else thought of that!
Why don't you go right ahead and turn the spigot off?
I won't be holding my breath...
Posted by: c1ue | Jul 7 2022 19:12 utc | 43
Re: Poland
Never understood the Polish people, do they enjoy getting their asses kicked, because they continually bet on the wrong horse.
The Poland empire is GONE, now they live in a shitty small country, like the rest of EU countries.
And, NO US or Russia or even Germany does NOT care about Poland
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the leadership of the State Duma and heads of factions of political parties.
Main theses:
🔷 The West, led by the United States, has been extremely aggressive towards Russia for decades. Our proposals to create a system of equal security in Europe have been rejected.
🔷 We have many supporters, including in the US itself, and in Europe, and even more so on other continents and in other countries, and there will be more and more of them.
🔷 We are told that we started a war in the Donbass, in Ukraine. No, it was unleashed by this collective West, organizing and supporting an anti-constitutional armed coup in Ukraine in 2014, and then encouraging and justifying genocide against people in the Donbass.
🔷 The truth and reality is that the peoples of most countries really strive not for formal, decorative, but for substantive, real sovereignty and are simply tired of kneeling, humiliating themselves in front of those who consider themselves exceptional.
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 19:24 utc | 45
I think it has been obvious to many that this war is only going one way, and that is Exit Ukraine.
The Ukrainians have only themselves and warmonger US to thank for that. But stupid will be stupid.
The US has a sublime record of causing destruction, murder and theft and mayhem since 1776. They have had 23 years of peace since then.The rest of the time has been spent killing people.
The bestest news I could read in the newspaper would be that: California slid off into the pacific, a major, major earthquake in Yellowstone, maybe we, the rest of the world, would have peace in our lands. (If they also had a Tunguska event in New York City, that would be the icing on the cake.
Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Jul 7 2022 19:27 utc | 46
It is believable that Ukraine is a weapons bazaar, and rife with corruption. It is also believable that the Ukrainians don't operate the HIMARS by themselves.
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 19:04 utc | 44
Agreed. Similarly, it’s possible that the Caesar howitzers were accompanied by at least one French “volunteer” to “advise” on correct usage, so rumours of RF having managed to buy one might be problematic on that score,
For large systems, like MLRS and artillery, there’s also the question of Yankee satellite surveillance and any onboard tracking / locator beacons.
There’s almost always a way, though.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 19:32 utc | 47
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 15:36 utc
I agree with your curiosity, Fred, because I think it will be pivotal in the medium term success of the operation and hugely important in the event that Russia does not occupy the whole of Ukraine. Telegram is a decent source of information on reconstruction, but it's not very targeted (at least I haven't found any channels that are specific to reconstruction). And because of that, I can't cite anything that follows.
Mariupol has been the focus of reconstruction. I know that one concrete batch plant has already been finished and two more were close to completion as of about a week ago. This is a big deal because the original construction of apartment blocks in the city was mostly concrete, which means that it can be recycled. I know that significant cleanup has been going on in Mariupol since liberation. This includes demolition work of buildings that can't be restored. Russia built a tent city to house 1,000 construction managers/specialists right after liberation. With local labor, this is enough to operate some very large projects. As someone else said, several large apartment blocks have been started in Mariupol. Very recently it was published that the port of Mariupol is fully restored.
In other places, my take is that reconstruction is mostly still in the necessity phase. So restoration of utilities, demining, humanitarian aid, etc. It's worth noting that that the Russian military has been doing a lot of demining. Back in Mariupol they even demined the beaches very early. That suggests to me that the Russian authorities are trying very hard to return what they can to a state of normality because demining beaches would seem like a lower priority.
I haven't seen as much news from other liberated areas, but many of them are probably too close to the front lines to see serious reconstruction efforts yet. I do know that in Kherson, and in addition to the switching to Russian systems, there's been an effort to build out Russian grocery stores with at least one or two being operational. There's propaganda value in this sort of thing, especially in Kherson since it contrasts with what civilians in Nikolaev are dealing with. It's hard to keep track of the humanitarian aid information because it's impossible to tell whether the MoD numbers of tons delivered is just the Russian state or in total. There are a fair number of volunteer organizations in Russia providing humanitarian aid. I know Armenians in Russia have done a lot, several Moscow-Petersburg organizations, and Chechnya has been sending large humanitarian aid shipments everywhere the Chechen forces go.
I expect that reconstruction will happen faster than expected, though winter of 2022 may be difficult because that timeline is simply too short now. But there is no reason why by winter 2023 reconstruction has created reasonable living conditions for those still in the liberated cities and full reconstruction of some locations as early as 2024/25. These sorts of projects, especially the way Russian architecture is constructed, can move really quickly. I also expect Chinese money to start pouring in as soon the active hostilities end.
Posted by: Lex | Jul 7 2022 19:37 utc | 48
@ The Toad Prophet | Jul 7 2022 19:01 utc | 42
The motive for the Russian intervention, from 2014 on and in 2022, remains the aggressive interference of the United States and NATO and the threat of their stationing nuclear weapons on Russia's borders. It is not really correct to say that it is about ports, as Russia has the highly-developed port of Novorossiysk in the undisputed territory of Russia on the Black Sea east of Crimea, so it wasn't being blocked from access to a Black Sea port. This is the largest port in Russia and in the Black Sea and the third largest in Europe. So Russia itself does not need Odessa or Mariupol as ports, and Russia's motivation here is not materialist or expansionist but is defensive against the perceived US/NATO aggression and intrusion into Ukraine, particularly that that happened through the coup of 2014 in Ukraine.
While I haven't seen elsewhere an argument that Russia simply needed ports in general, the argument that it wanted to keep its naval base and port in Sevastopol is often made, and certainly Sevastopol resonates with Russians owing to the history of the Crimean War of 1853-1856. However, in a peaceful, equitable world, Russia could still have done fine without Sevastopol, but her motivation there was specifically to prevent the Americans from getting it, which relates back to Russia's main motivation throughout the entire conflict: defense against the dominationist aggression of the US policy elite.
As for the actual annexation of Crimea, that was because, as Ukraine was under a hostile, anti-Russian regime actually persecuting ethnic Russians, and Crimea had previously petitioned to join Russia, it was time to honor the inhabitants' request. Also, I think a major motivation for that annexation may have been to establish a claim to the undersea Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Crimea, which is very large in the Black Sea, to prevent any possibility of US or other western capitalist intrusion there to exploit the undersea resources. Even if Russia's title is not recognized by western countries, western corporations cannot and will not go into a disputed space, so the annexation completely checkmated such intentions.
Posted by: Cabe | Jul 7 2022 19:38 utc | 49
@anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 19:32 utc | 51
---
One has to wonder who the encryption keys are entrusted to, for the equipment that uses NATO targeting data.
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 19:39 utc | 50
@ Fred nr. 5
Yes a brigade is roughly there about's depending on military. It is in many militaries recognized as the smallest independent unit operational. It is commanded by, surprise, surprise a brigadier General (one BIG star) and is capable of performing operations on its own, with options of air support or even special artillery units.
There are huge differences between traditional East and traditional west. East once had a favour of huge tank brigades or even Armies, 1. Guards Tank Army, elite unit, and huge, an example.
Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Jul 7 2022 19:41 utc | 51
The issue of EU stupidity of cutting the main (Russia) energy supplier.
While you can put another blanket on your back, it only takes ONE night for your home pipes to burst if they are unheated, and that is damn expensive to replace.
To the last Ukrainian (NATO's motto)
@ Den Lille Abe
Any idea how many Ukrainian brigades were in February, and how many are still around, now?
@dadooronron, #15:
Good post! I agree with your criticism of Jeffrey Sachs. His citation of the 6 wars instigated by Neocons (Ukraine being the 6th) is correct, but such arrogant exercise of power over weaklings is not confined to Neocons. Rather, it's a continuation of the 'Whiteman Exceptionalism' mentality of Europeans since the colonial scrambling days. They did similar feats in the Americas, Africa, and Asia throughout the 1700's, 1800's and 1900's. Just that in the 2000's their power has waned and their dictates turned into debacles. In this latest one, the Ukraine Debacle, I foresee that it will turn into a 'disaster' for them. We will see a much humbled Europe soon, and shortly afterwards a humbled America.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jul 7 2022 19:54 utc | 54
Putin on a roll:
(Google Translate)
(20:06) Putin: "The West has failed to sow discord in Russia"
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the West has failed to sow discord in the country. “Of course, they didn't just want to hit the Russian economy hard. Their goal was to sow discord and devastate society, demoralize people. But they miscalculated: it did not happen and I am sure it will not happen , "Putin said in a meeting with the leadership of the Duma deputies, according to reports from the Tass news agency.
(19:49) Putin: "The further we go, the more difficult it will be to negotiate with us"
Those who reject the peace talks "should know that the further we go, the more difficult it will be for them to negotiate with us". This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with the leaders of the Duma, according to reports from Interfax . “Does the West want to defeat us in battle? Try it, ”he added later.
(19:48) Putin: "In Ukraine we haven't started seriously yet"
“Everyone should know that we have not, in principle, started anything serious in Ukraine yet . At the same time, we don't even refuse to hold peace talks . But those who refuse must know that the further we go , the more difficult it will be for them to negotiate with us ”. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a meeting with the leaders of the State Duma , as reported by Interfax.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 19:55 utc | 55
,,,Anybody having problems downloading The Saker ?,, Currently not downloading on Yahoo..
Posted by: sigmund | Jul 7 2022 19:58 utc | 56
@ Oriental Voice
// Rather, it's a continuation of the 'Whiteman Exceptionalism' mentality of Europeans since the colonial scrambling days. They did similar feats in the Americas, Africa, and Asia throughout the 1700's, 1800's and 1900's. Just that in the 2000's their power has waned and their dictates turned into debacles //
You may want to notice that BOTH Russians and Ukrainians are VERY white
If anything this war is to exterminate white men.
@Fred | Jul 7 2022 19:52 utc | 57
---
Military Summary's most recent update has a situational map with battalion level detail.
https://youtu.be/URfjNxMAbLc
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 20:06 utc | 58
Posted by: Joe6pack | Jul 7 2022 18:59 utc | 41
Wouldn't it be hilarious if Russia would offer to sell a battery of HIMARS or CAESAR or Pzh2000 back to the country that donated them to Ukraine?
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Jul 7 2022 20:10 utc | 59
Posted by: juliania | Jul 7 2022 17:01 utc | 23
I'll certainly look out for it. I haven't been clicking on the non-Ukraine open forum recently but will do now. It's been as much as I can do to retain (if I can!) the information pouring out of "b" and his commenters on the Ukraine specific site.
Should add, I think I got out most typing errors but missed the error I made in referring to Eva Bartlett. As "s" crept in somehow that I missed.
Posted by: English Outsider | Jul 7 2022 20:11 utc | 60
@34 Tom Pfotzer
Thank you for your kind words, Tom !
>> Since you're French, can you comment on how the French are evaluating the effect of U.S./NATO policy on France's interests? Do you have a sense of how the political mood is developing?
You will find me resigned... I hate to say that, but :
Maybe only 1 or 2 % might have an opinion on that matter. Because politics do not interest people anymore.
To "survive", they accepted to segregate un'vaccinated' people.
The factory of digital morons is working at full scale here. Nothing to develop anymore.
People think what the TV tells them to. Better ask : Netfix, or Amazon prime ? Then people would have an opinion.
Just tell them that the Russians want to kill them, they will accept anything.
Macron knows better, it seems. People do think they don't have the knownledge, they just want to be told what to do or not to do, to be in a feeling of security.
There are psychanalytic studies around the "scientific medical pragmatic totalitarism" we are experiencing.
Political parties all tell the same story. Take that, Putin !
>> And what is the assessment by the French of Germany's economic and industrial situation (impact of sanctions, etc.)
I think most people won't even understand your question, because there is no problem, no ?
But I can speak for myself :
My grand father, as a communist, fighted against the nazis during WWII in the so called "résistance". I was born in a city with a communist major since the end of the war. Youri Gagarine himself inaugurated the city's festival hall ! The city gave food to the passengers of the "Exodus" boat. All my family was simple workers, my father a kind of anarchist. So I am a little bit oriented...
And yes I do not recognize my own country.
For me this is : Anything but the US imperialism ! Anything but the European Commission diktat !
It is not even a pragmatic choice based on food or energy supply.
Call that ideology.
There are a few people like this left in France.
"Fossilized peoples" ;-)
There is a strange thing happening, a little bit like during the war : right wing and left wing start sharing the same understanding of the situation. A call for liberty and mutual respect.
I don't think I did answer your questions, Tom.
Best regards,
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 20:12 utc | 61
@Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 19:52 utc | 57
The number of brigades may not be an important number as (i) a given brigade may be greatly depleted (ii) a given brigade may have lost many of its experienced soldiers which have been replaced with little-trained territorials (iii) a given brigade may have lost a significant amount of its vehicles and other equipment (iv) many of the remaining troops may be severely shell-shocked and worn out through continuous combat against a stronger enemy.
A good marker for Ukrainian losses is the desperate attempts to find every last military-aged male in Ukraine, the reduction of the military-age, attempts to get other countries to return military age males, and now the moves to conscript women. I think that the "1,000" per day losses in dead, injured and taken prisoner is a pretty good number for the Ukrainian army. The competent part of their army is being bled white and psychologically ground down, and has lost at least 1/2 of its equipment.
From the military summary channel there seems to be a significant number of the best Ukrainian units around Siversk and opposite Luhansk, plus north of Kherson. The former two seem to be the new target for the Russian army, once they are smashed there will not be much competent defence left around the Donbass. The latter groups are being continuously pounded by Russian artillery, missiles and air power. The Ukie command still seems to be helping the Russians by putting their best troops and kit (e.g. moving HIMARS to near the southern and Siversk front lines) right under the Russian artillery, and in front of the Russian offensives, rather than carrying out a strategic retreat to a more defensible line.
@Oriental Voice | Jul 7 2022 20:07 utc | 63
It already happened ~8200 years ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storegga_Slide
Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 7 2022 20:13 utc | 63
@Fred: See e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-pUTRNeUzU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpTv78eEW9c. I don t know if you speak any Russian, they spent about a month demining the zone (I think this is the Levobreznyj district, but I am not sure, the place which was really badly devastated and featured in all the Azov made videos from drones), and started to build - first the five-storey buildings, but should build nine-storey buildings later. First people should move in during the autumn. They also started to build a completely new, modern, maternity hospital. Clearly, they also do it to win the hearts and minds of Mariupol citizens, because although the buildings were used by Azov et al. they were badly damaged by Russian artillery. But it seems the building started in Mariupol, and I hope in other smaller cities as well. As for Mariupol, there are the daily videos, in which people are seen cleaning the streets etc., e.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6-0fQKgmwA&t=145s - Naturally, nothing about this is in the western mainstream media
Posted by: lucerna | Jul 7 2022 20:14 utc | 64
Found this on RT and couldn't believe my eyes:
German troops planned attack on Crimea bridge
Two Bundeswehr soldiers were reportedly involved in a theft ring and had plans to intervene in UkraineAmong the dozen suspects arrested in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein for a series of burglaries at military bases were two Bundeswehr soldiers who wanted to use the purloined explosives to destroy the bridge between Crimea and the Russian mainland, a German tabloid reported, citing police sources.
“A series of burglaries, long investigations, a crazy plan: How German soldiers wanted to intervene in the Ukraine war,” the Hamburg-based weekly Stern said in a headline. The story, pieced together from police reports, details the investigation into a theft ring that involved a total of four Bundeswehr soldiers and eight other suspects rounded up by the police in Kiel.
The arrests actually happened on May 22, to little or no media attention, as the probe was focused on break-ins at military facilities and the theft of weapons, explosives, and other ammunition for resale at the black market. The bridge plot was discovered by accident, as police monitored the suspects’ phone conversations, according to the magazine.
Jesus Christus!
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Jul 7 2022 20:15 utc | 66
@Fred, #61:
Yes I'm aware that Russians and Ukrainians are White. Actually they may both be genetically closer to each other than any other ethnicities. But my Whiteman Exceptionalism mentality comment wasn't racially intended. It's just a cliche. Maybe Colonialist mentality is a better (and more accurate) characterization :-). No offense intended.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jul 7 2022 20:17 utc | 67
@ lucerna
Probably, establishing few rail connections with Russia, will speed up reconstruction, since rail delivery is the cheapest, and they need EVERYTHING.
@Fred | Jul 7 2022 20:14 utc | 70
https://rumble.com/v1bfupn-ukraine.-military-summary-and-analysis-07.07.2022.html
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 20:22 utc | 69
Posted by: lucerna | Jul 7 2022 20:14 utc | 69
Five story buildings do not require elevators/lifts, anything over five stories require elevators/lifts.
Posted by: Peter Williams | Jul 7 2022 20:27 utc | 70
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 20:12 utc | 66
--------------------
What's the attitude of French toward to EU? Do the French want to get out of it? Do the French consider the high prices, unemployment as problem brought to France by the EU?
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 20:28 utc | 71
For those who doubt it, Mariupol (not totally destroyed by any means) will be a vibrant and modern city in a few years, using the example of Grozny. And just as Chechens today are 100% behind Russia, so, too, will all Ukrainians in liberated territories be storng allies of Russia. If anyone doubts how fast Russian civil engineers can build, look at the magnificent Kerch Strait bridge--the longest in Europe--was built in just two years. The cost of the Western imperialist aggression in Chechnya and Ukraine was and will for a while be borne by Russia. But payback by the West is coming!
"Ukraine Is the Latest Neocon Disaster
Jeffrey D. Sachs | June 27, 2022 | OtherNews"
Ukraine Is The Latest Neocon Disaster
He is right, but he omits two key facts: (1) Neocon ideology is uniformly of Ashkenazy Jewish descent (chosen people, exceptional nation, greatest people on earth, etc.), and (2) neocons were brought into USG in force during the Ronald Reagan administration.
Posted by: The Rev. David R. Gr | Jul 7 2022 20:31 utc | 73
@ Oriental Voice
As a rule of thumb we 'Whites' kill each-other much better than we kill the rest. From time to time we go on a rampage and kill other colors, but most of the time we keep it to ourselves.
Plus the eastern whites (Russians) are very different from the western whites Germanic and Anglo, which are different from the southern whites, Spanish, Italians, Greeks so on.
What is common is that we HATE each-other.
One has to wonder who the encryption keys are entrusted to, for the equipment that uses NATO targeting data.
Posted by: too scents | Jul 7 2022 19:39 utc | 54
NATO+ is apparently aware of potential “conflicts of interest” =)
It was said, of the m777s in Ukraine, that they lacked the advanced targeting electronics, to avoid the tech falling into RF hands.
Also, supposedly, RF has previously overrun UA command posts and captured “NATO laptops” that were configured to access live NATO battlefield information sources.
Loss / capture of access credentials surely results in them being revoked but captured hardware might reveal exploits or jamming strategies, just guessing.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 20:34 utc | 75
Russia MoD
As a result of strikes by high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces on the combat positions of Ukrainian troops in the Soledar direction, the total losses of the 24th mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine already amount to about 2.5 thousand people, which is 60 percent of its strength. The 79th Amphibious Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was almost completely destroyed-its losses exceeded 80 percent of its strength.
The above Ukraine losses and percentages is just over a period of some weeks (3?) rather than from the start of the SMO.
Macgregor in an interview with Sky News said Ukraine has lost 80% of its pre SMO trained forces.
Jacques Baud in an April article said 102,000 nationalists in Ukraine military is 40% of Ukraine's military.
That would put Ukraine's prewar standing military at around 250,000. I would guess that number does not included territorial defence or reservists. 80% of that number is losses from all causes - KIA, wounded, captured, accident, sickness ect - 200,000.
Ritter and others have used numbers around 600,000 for Ukraine's total military strength so I guess that would include territorial defence and reservists.
Those sort of numbers would also show why Ukraine has recently brought in a law to conscript women.
Ukrainians are being fed on a conveyor belt into an industrial killing machine, all too dumb to turn around and fight their real enemies.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jul 7 2022 20:38 utc | 76
@ ostro | Jul 7 2022 20:28 utc | 76
>> What's the attitude of French toward to EU? Do the French want to get out of it? Do the French consider the high prices, unemployment as problem brought to France by the EU?
A deep feeling that we won't be able - allowed - to change anything.
We said no to Europe in a referendum. But we had Europe nonetheless a few years later.
There is no democracy left, may it be at national or european level.
Only story telling.
did you hear the commissioner for competition asking us to shorten our showers ?
or the president of the commission asking us to lower temperature 2°C ?
This is the European project we are given.
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 20:44 utc | 78
For those having difficulty accessing strategic culture, a suggestion: change the DNS provider in your router settings.
I started having trouble reaching the site during the last 2 days which was puzzling, but then it occurred to me that a recent lightning strike close to my home resulted in a 'fried' modem which needed replacing and that's when the troubles started. I changed the DNS provider to quad9 from telus and it's been good since.
Instructions here for telus (probably similar for other ISPs)
Posted by: deNatofied | Jul 7 2022 20:47 utc | 79
//Those sort of numbers would also show why Ukraine has recently brought in a law to conscript women.//
Told that to my wife, and her answer was 'who's going to take care of the households'?
Good point, don't you think?
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 20:12 utc | 66
A beautiful comment.
Posted by: anon2020 | Jul 7 2022 20:58 utc | 81
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 20:33 utc | 78
You miss the most violent Caucasoid ("white") linguistic/cultural/ethnic(ist) divide of all, the Indo-European/Semitic divide!
Posted by: John Kennard | Jul 7 2022 21:04 utc | 82
@34 Tom Pfotzer
@ Fabrice
I'm French too and agree with Fabrice
>> Since you're French, can you comment on how the French are evaluating the effect of U.S./NATO?
Maybe only 1 or 2 % might have an opinion on that matter.
[...]
People think what the TV tells them to. [...] they will accept anything.
[...]
Political parties all tell the same story. Take that, Putin !>> And what is the assessment by the French of Germany's economic and industrial situation (impact of sanctions, etc.)
I think most people won't even understand your question, because there is no problem, no ?
The media system in France is 99% controlled. And, yes, unfortunately even the so-called "far left" is talking about "support Ukraine" "evil Putin"....and badmouthing LePen for "pro Putin's stances".
Macron had increased an abyssal debt from €2200 to €2800 billion in just the last 2 years but sending more helicopter money to erase some effects of his "war for European democracy".
But as Fabrice said
"
there is no problem, no ?"
But that's just on the short term.
The problem is probably like in Germany and UK that even if people don't want to know more about the coming crisis and the causes, some and a large majority of peoples in charge of economics KNOWS WHAT IS COMING AND ARE BECOMING AFRAID.
The next yellow vests insurrection could be violent.
Passent les jours et passent les semaines
Ni temps passé
Ni les amours reviennent
Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine
Vienne la nuit sonne l’heure
Les jours s’en vont je demeure
Guillaume Apollinaire, Alcools, 1913
Posted by: La Bastille | Jul 7 2022 21:06 utc | 83
All I read now, from the Putin-hating crowd, is the MASSIVE number of Russian tanks destroyed. Just today I’ve read 900 to over 3,000. It is staunchly maintained that independent sources have verified such.
Never mind 3,000 destroyed. Never mind 900 destroyed. Has Russia even deployed 900 tanks ?
Posted by: Dale | Jul 7 2022 21:16 utc | 84
Maria Zakharova
The German vice-chancellor has publicly asked the Canadian government to return the turbine, which is under sanctions against Russia and is critical for gas flows to Europe: "I will be the first to fight for a further strong package of EU sanctions, but strong sanctions mean that they should hurt and harm Russia and Putin more than our economy.So I ask you to understand that we must take away this "turbine" excuse from Putin."Inspired by:
Турбину Берлину скорее верните
И газопотоки восстановите.
Назло Кремлю её запретили,
Теперь на зло же обратно решили.
Оттаве приказано это понять,
Турбиноправданье у русских отнять.
Да вредоболь России чинить,
Чтоб и самим нормально не жить.
Well, not easy to translate the "short poem"
Posted by: ostro | Jul 7 2022 21:17 utc | 85
You may want to notice that BOTH Russians and Ukrainians are VERY white
If anything this war is to exterminate white men.
Posted by: Fred | Jul 7 2022 20:03 utc | 61
I think not quite. They are slav untermenchen that happen to be white, snow niggers as lowly humans as the sand niggers, the jungle niggers, the yellow niggers and the niggers proper.
On the other hand, looking for the prospects of the american and european populaces, maybe yes, the time where the white men canibalizes themselves has arrived.
Posted by: Ricardo Ramirez | Jul 7 2022 21:26 utc | 86
Really impressed by the quality of the comments !
Thank you all, it really lifts my spirit, in these troubled times.
Posted by: Fabrice | Jul 7 2022 21:32 utc | 87
Posted by: Ricardo Ramirez | Jul 7 2022 21:26 utc | 91
From George Carlin:
"We can bomb the shit out of your country, all right! Especially if your country is full of brown people. Oh, we like that, don't we? That's our hobby! That's our new job in the world, bombing brown people. Iraq, Panama, Grenada, Libya, you got some brown people in your country, tell them to watch the fuck out or we'll goddamn bomb them! Well, when's the last white people you can remember that we bombed? Can you remember the last white people we bombed? Can you remember any white people we've ever bombed? The Germans! Those are the only ones, and that's only because they were trying to cut in on our action. They wanted to dominate the world. Bullshit, that's our fucking job!"
Posted by: Ursula Zandt | Jul 7 2022 21:37 utc | 88
i see a number of folks thoughtfully replying to fred, but not getting any response in return... what does that tell you?
@Cabe | Jul 7 2022 19:38 utc | 53
thanks for articulating all that cabe.. cheers james
Posted by: james | Jul 7 2022 21:46 utc | 89
"I do not understand why in propaganda as a rhetorical counterweight to the Western accusations that Russia had "invaded" a country, the concept of "forward defense.."
I agree. Forward defense is another formulation of "just preemptive war," ...
Posted by: dadooronron | Jul 7 2022 15:02 utc | 6
Sorry, but it is not an invasion, nor a forward defense, it is a liberation operation. Like in 1944.
Sorry if you don't understand Russian. It is never too late to learn. For the future.
Posted by: Olivier | Jul 7 2022 22:16 utc | 91
@11, @15, @58, @77, re: Jeffrey Sachs. At this late date, his words about "neocons" don't earn Sachs a place among normal humans. If Jeffrey Sachs wishes to remain in public life he should first should publicly apologize to the Russian people for the enormous damage his arrogance did to their fledgling country in the 1990s, the massive suffering, famine, premature deaths. Secondly he should apologize to the American people. Two articles describe his activities, 1998, "The Harvard Boys do Russia," The Nation, Wedel, and 9/2016, "Clinton and Russia: Has US Media Forgotten the 1990s?" New Eastern Outlook, Maupin. From The Nation: "Through the late summer and fall of 1991, as the Soviet state fell apart, Harvard Professor Jeffrey Sachs and other Western economists participated in meetings at a dacha outside Moscow where young, pro-Yeltsin reformers planned Russia’s economic and political future."
Posted by: susan mullen | Jul 7 2022 22:19 utc | 92
Russia offers a social safety net to the people of Ukraine. The US offers the same thing to Ukraine that it offers its own people. That is - increasing austerity.
The road "The West" offers Ukraine is the road to austerity for the commons and exploitation of labor and resources. Same as it ever was.
It's amazing that they can bullshit people so much. Their track record shows their modus operandi. Closest example may be Yugoslavia.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Jul 7 2022 22:29 utc | 93
Now Boo-boo, err BoJo has resigned as PM, maybe he'll walk-the-walk and command a Battalion on the Donbass Front Line.
Posted by: WTFUD | Jul 7 2022 22:26 utc | 99
Funny you say that... that's exactly what Churchill did after he got turfed out as First Sea Lord. Went to command a battalion in the trenches. A sociopath he might have been (I think he was more interesting and complex than that but..) but at least he walked his talk.
I remember reading only on Moon about how the only facility that repairs and maintains the gas turbines used in Nordstream 1 was in Canada and one of the turbines was being blocked from being returned by the Canadian government weeks ago. MSM and German gov at time said Russia was making up the technical problems excuse to shut off the gas, never mentioned Canada or gas turbine at all.
Well, now the German government is publicly pleading with Trudeau to let the turbine go and saying without it there won't be any gas flow no matter what the Russians would prefer while Ukraine is asking them to not. I don't know how this helps Ukraine to have Germany industry and with it, the German political establishment implode but again, bold strategy Cotton, let's see how it pays off for him.
Posted by: Altai | Jul 7 2022 22:37 utc | 95
Carlin and US bombing brown people... Posted by: Ursula Zandt | Jul 7 2022 21:37 utc | 93
Serbians are white.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jul 7 2022 22:40 utc | 96
I don't know how this helps Ukraine to have Germany industry and with it, the German political establishment implode but again, bold strategy Cotton, let's see how it pays off for him.
Posted by: Altai | Jul 7 2022 22:37 utc | 102
One of the goals of this sorry NATO-drive mess is to 'keep Germany down' (along with keeping the US in and keeping Russia out).
Also, some of the movers and shakers of this thing hate Germans almost as much as they hate Russians.
The next yellow vests insurrection could be violent. (...)
Posted by: La Bastille | Jul 7 2022 21:06 utc | 88
No, it will not. For such movement without an organisation backbone is and will be worthless.
A vast majority of the the French people submitted to the injections. Fear is used to control people and it is working. And blackmail too. Of course there are many resistants, but they are a meaningless minority and are again not organised. The only way to get something (and what?) would be a general strike. Let's dream. But nothing is ready for a general strike, especially the trade-unions never did something get ready for that and in any case, only few workers are affiliated to a trade-union.
The fracture does not run inside european countries, but between the western countries and the rest of the world. Even the workers of the western countries received something from the looting of the rest of the world. The strong individualism does not allow anymore to change the power structure. The sheep are under control. And who is ready to lose the few things he could still possess?
Among the few positive things I could notice: many people do not swallow that the current inflation is due to Russia.
a large majority of peoples in charge of economics KNOWS WHAT IS COMING AND ARE BECOMING AFRAID.
No, they are not afraid. If they would, the first solution would be to remove the sanctions against Russia. If they don't do it, it means that they have an agenda.
To notice: with every crisis, the riches are becoming richer and the poors, poorer.
Posted by: Olivier | Jul 7 2022 22:56 utc | 98
Has "theSaker.IS" been down? My Safari couldn't connect to its server for some time.
Thanks much.
Posted by: KitaySupporter | Jul 7 2022 23:05 utc | 99
KitaySupporter | Jul 7 2022 23:05 utc | 106
We have been under a DDOS attack using encrypted https to bypass existing router and software firewalls.
Disabled https://thesaker.is
Working http://thesaker.is
Posted by: George | Jul 7 2022 23:11 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Note to @all.
Off-topic posts will deleted and their posters might get banned.
b.
Posted by: b | Jul 7 2022 14:14 utc | 1