Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
October 29, 2022
Drone Attack On Sevastopol

This morning at 4:20 local time the Russian fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol was attacked by nine unmanned aerial vehicles and seven autonomous maritime drones. Earlier a maritime drone that had run aground in Crimea and had been found and pictured.


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During today's attack a large U.S. drone had flown circles south of Crimea. It likely relayed data from and to the drones.

The maritime drones are British and Russia alleges that British specialists had trained the Ukrainian navy in using them. It also says that British soldiers were involved in the attack on the Nord Stream pipeline.

The Ukrainians published two videos shot by the maritime drones while attacking. One of the video shows extensive gun fire impacts near the drone from a Russian helicopter that is attacking it.

The Russians say that all the aerial drones and 4 of 7 maritime drones were defeated before they could caused damage. They also say that one mine seeking ship was damaged in the harbor. It is possible that the damage is greater than Russia admits.

As a consequence of the attack Russia declared that the deal which allowed for grain exports from Odessa has been suspended. That deal had already been in danger as the 'west' had not fulfilled its part of the deal which would have allowed for the export for Russian fertilizer to third parties.

I find it likely that Russia will take additional measures to punish the Ukrainian navy for the brazen attack. Additional attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure is another possibility.

Meanwhile all recent attempts by the Ukrainian army to penetrate the Russian held lines have failed. It is notable that these are now much smaller in size with just a battalion or in some cases just two companies in the lead.

It is now definitely mud season in Ukraine during which it is impossible to cross most farmland even on feet. This will hinder the attacking forces on both sides until winter sets in.

Comments

My Congressman has been heard from: Jamie Raskin say Russia must be destroyed at any cost:
https://topwar.ru/204255-amerikanskij-kongressmen-zajavil-o-neobhodimosti-unichtozhenija-rossii-ljuboj-cenoj.html .
He says Russia is «православная страна, исповедующая традиционные ценности»: An Orthodox country, confessing traditional values.
He calls Moscow: «мировым центром антифеминистской, антигейской, антитрансгендерной ненависти»: The world center of anti-feminist, andti-gay, anti-transgender hatred.
So there you have it, a line drawn in the sand. Tucker Carlson characterized it as Jamie Raskin’s anti-Russian jihad, which indeed it is. May be some distant recollection of the “pogroms” 120 years ago.
[A pity, really, in more ways than one. I once corresponded with him about some local matter, when he was my state senator. He wrote a very reasonable reply in return, explaining his position. But nothing can explain this: Russophobia, pure and simple. He lost his adult son this year from suicide, which may have unhinged him a bit; more than a bit.]

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:53 utc | 201

My Congressman has been heard from: Jamie Raskin say Russia must be destroyed at any cost:
https://topwar.ru/204255-amerikanskij-kongressmen-zajavil-o-neobhodimosti-unichtozhenija-rossii-ljuboj-cenoj.html .
He says Russia is «православная страна, исповедующая традиционные ценности»: An Orthodox country, confessing traditional values.
He calls Moscow: «мировым центром антифеминистской, антигейской, антитрансгендерной ненависти»: The world center of anti-feminist, andti-gay, anti-transgender hatred.
So there you have it, a line drawn in the sand. Tucker Carlson characterized it as Jamie Raskin’s anti-Russian jihad, which indeed it is. May be some distant recollection of the “pogroms” 120 years ago.
[A pity, really, in more ways than one. I once corresponded with him about some local matter, when he was my state senator. He wrote a very reasonable reply in return, explaining his position. But nothing can explain this: Russophobia, pure and simple. He lost his adult son this year from suicide, which may have unhinged him a bit; more than a bit.]

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:54 utc | 202

Thanks for the web site update b. It must be a bit frustrating….
Best to you and your efforts…..this too will pass

Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 31 2022 15:59 utc | 203

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:54 utc | 202

He says Russia is «православная страна, исповедующая традиционные ценности»: An Orthodox country, confessing traditional values.
He calls Moscow: «мировым центром антифеминистской, антигейской, антитрансгендерной ненависти»: The world center of anti-feminist, andti-gay, anti-transgender hatred.

Sheikh Imran Hossein’s Islamic eschatology foretold this perfectly:
The Role Of Russia & China In WW3 & The Significance Of Turkey & Iran

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 16:12 utc | 204

Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:54 utc | 202
Abortion in Russia is legal as an elective procedure up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and in special circumstances at later stages.-per wiki.
i bet fewer people fire randomly at “gay pride” parades in Russia than in the US. who the hell is this “Russia hates fags” shit supposed to appeal to? AOC and the Dem “Socialists” are already convinced that “Ukraine must win,” no matter how many Nazis are in Ukraine. it doesn’t matter how many Russian women (or Chinese or Iranian) have advanced degrees or are in so-called positions of power, Russia is the world center of anti-feminism? not the Saudis?
I’m sure your local congressthing really, really, truly, deeply cares about inflation, too. and how the local professional sports teams are truly great for the economy. they all care so much, it’s a miracle there’s any problems at all.
one thing that will become more and more apparent to the American public is how much the defense budget is public corruption. these “competitors” cannot do anything but blame someone else when their trillion dollar war toys don’t work. are they going to confess that the F35 is mostly a form of bribery and graft, with some attempts at R&D? or will they be “driven by chthonic powers”, i.e., their own guilt and the ancient Furies, daughters of primeval Night born from the earth, avenging the drops of blood everywhere?

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 16:26 utc | 205

You candy-ass pansies crapping your pants because the site goes down for a couple of days and then triple commenting about Cloudflare … Jesus! Spam the place up, why don’t you.

Posted by: Herr Ringbone | Oct 31 2022 16:29 utc | 206

Hello!
You have been offline for two days in the US, via firefox, brave, yandex. I still get an odd message about checking to see if you are real.
Hope the problems are resolved soon!!!

Posted by: Bonami | Oct 31 2022 16:31 utc | 207

Hello!
You have been offline for two days in the US, via firefox, brave, yandex. I still get an odd message about checking to see if you are real.
Hope the problems are resolved soon!!!

Posted by: Bonami | Oct 31 2022 16:31 utc | 208

Hello!
You have been offline for two days in the US, via firefox, brave, yandex. I still get an odd message about checking to see if you are real.
Hope the problems are resolved soon!!!

Posted by: Frances | Oct 31 2022 16:32 utc | 209

“From my point of view, it is at least possible to keep these 300 billion euros as a guarantee until Russia voluntarily participates in the reconstruction of Ukraine” European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
300 billion euros is real money, and losing than kind of money has to hurt. But 300 billion is a cheap price to pay, if it results in dollar and euro being discredited.

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:37 utc | 210

“From my point of view, it is at least possible to keep these 300 billion euros as a guarantee until Russia voluntarily participates in the reconstruction of Ukraine” European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
300 billion euros is real money, and losing than kind of money has to hurt. But 300 billion is a cheap price to pay, if it results in dollar and euro being discredited.

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:38 utc | 211

“From my point of view, it is at least possible to keep these 300 billion euros as a guarantee until Russia voluntarily participates in the reconstruction of Ukraine” European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.
300 billion euros is real money, and losing than kind of money has to hurt. But 300 billion is a cheap price to pay, if it results in dollar and euro being discredited.

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:38 utc | 212

Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:38 utc | 212
How about banning ALL these idiot Americans who keep pushing the button over and over again until they get what they want?

Posted by: sippy the shot glass | Oct 31 2022 16:45 utc | 213

sippy the shot glass@213
Your suggestion has genocidal implications.

Posted by: bevin | Oct 31 2022 16:54 utc | 214

sippy the shot glass@213
Your suggestion has genocidal implications.

Posted by: bevin | Oct 31 2022 16:54 utc | 215

sippy the shot glass@213
Your suggestion has genocidal implications.

Posted by: bevin | Oct 31 2022 16:55 utc | 216

Odnamrod Meditation #2
I’ve been pondering the mystery of how the leaders of the West (EU, UK, US and their vassals) all seem to be so completely and consistently moronic.
It’s clear that none of these leaders are actually stupid but are in fact highly intelligent since that is what is needed to occupy the positions they do.
Yet the mentality they exhibit is not only reminiscent of a 5 – 8 year old child but appears consistent in expression despite their differing backgrounds.
The consistency of their behaviour can only be explained by the possibility that all western leaders are under control of a single directing consciousness.
The apparent immaturity, childish greed, malevolent spitefulness of this “directing consciousness” can only be explained by proposing that it is one accustomed to power and dominance and that it has never needed to fear the consequences of reality or it’s failure.
It is an imperial consciousness.
It is a singular consciousness.
It is accustomed to dominance.
It is ancient, multigenerational.
It is not located in any one or more of the apparent “leaders” presented to us on television screens.
It works from the shadows and has never been revealed to us.
Our leaders, their servants and the machinery of state that extends from them bow in complete subservience to whatever “it” is.
In a sense, we bow too …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 16:56 utc | 217

I posted once.

Posted by: bevin | Oct 31 2022 16:58 utc | 218

Wondering how much the drone attack was just an opportunity to test out a new method of warfare.

Posted by: Gail Storm | Oct 31 2022 16:59 utc | 219

re Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:38 utc | 212
Paul Robinson talks about this issue here – https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/financial-war-and-its-discontents
His key points
The western financial system is of huge advantage to the west
Western Governments had already stolen money from Afghanistan (half of Afghan assets given to 9/11 victims) and Venezuela (by recognising a government in exile who basically stole the cash) which was in the western financial system
This together with stealing Russian money (if/when they alter the laws) has undermined credibility in the Western Financial system – why would anyone outside the west keep any money there?
“It remains to be seen whether it is legally possible to confiscate and redistribute Russian funds. But even if it is, one may doubt whether it is wise. Little by little, such acts have the effect of sending a message that the international financial system is subservient to Western political interests. This, of course, will hardly be a revelation to many. Indeed, it has long been a criticism of the way the financial world operates. But up to now, critics have had to accept the system as it is because of the lack of alternatives. This is now changing. The more we abuse the system to suit ourselves, the more we encourage others to separate themselves from it and set up their own parallel systems, thereby detaching themselves from our control while also undermining the globalization that has so far served us so well.”
In this way, for the sake of short-term advantage the West is sabotaging its own long-term interests.

Posted by: Aslangeo | Oct 31 2022 17:00 utc | 220

Posted by: Herr Ringbone | Oct 31 2022 16:29 utc | 206
Oh the irony …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 17:01 utc | 221

My apologies to all for conflating Laozi and Sun Tzu. It has been a long time since I read either.
Putin’s stated objective was the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. What is perceived as his inaction is the strategy of letting Ukraine to advance from strong fortifications (trenches) to open fields where they are more easily demilitarized. No need for the western, Schwarzkopf blitz tactic, which risks more RF casualties.
OK, I looked up the quotes that I should have done pre-comment. This is what I remembered:
>>Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near…If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. << Putin has adjusted tactics, kept the higher legal ground, has had excellent intel, and hasn't bothered to broadcast his strategy. Like a martial arts practitioner, he is using Ukraine's bodyweight (attack) against it. He seems to be writing a transcription of the earlier masters

Posted by: Richard Whitney | Oct 31 2022 17:03 utc | 222

My apologies to all for conflating Laozi and Sun Tzu. It has been a long time since I read either.
Putin’s stated objective was the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. What is perceived as his inaction is the strategy of letting Ukraine to advance from strong fortifications (trenches) to open fields where they are more easily demilitarized. No need for the western, Schwarzkopf blitz tactic, which risks more RF casualties.
OK, I looked up the quotes that I should have done pre-comment. This is what I remembered:
>>Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near…If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. << Putin has adjusted tactics, kept the higher legal ground, has had excellent intel, and hasn't bothered to broadcast his strategy. Like a martial arts practitioner, he is using Ukraine's bodyweight (attack) against it. He seems to be writing a transcription of the earlier masters

Posted by: Richard Whitney | Oct 31 2022 17:03 utc | 223

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 31 2022 16:38 utc | 212
The euro is losing relevance every day correspondingly as EU-rope loses the most important export base.
Also notice the eurozone current account balance dipping into deficit, something it hasn’t done since first couple of years of euro zone existence. Of course it would have been nice to convert the euros into gold or other non-western currencies, but overall the western currencies lose relevance, anyway. The opportunity cost for the EU in seizing these assets is massive, yes they can keep it, but in the process they lose the base that has been responsible for a functioning eurozone and EU.
In this sense it doesn’t matter. The eurozone will turn into even larger parasite on the world economy than the US has been – in the new game, there is no space for parasites. US is involved in the massive looting as well.

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 31 2022 17:03 utc | 224

Posted by: Gail Storm | Oct 31 2022 16:59 utc | 219
It’s only new to the Brits/Americans. Iranis, Yemenis, Shia Lebanese are past masters of this art.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 17:06 utc | 225

Posted by: Richard Whitney | Oct 31 2022 17:03 utc | 223

He seems to be writing a transcription of the earlier masters

The entire conduct of this war has been classic Sun Tzu in all but one respect:
Duration.
Sun Tzu advises strongly against long wars, even against weak opponents.
Subsequent commentators on the Bing Fa believe that long wars eventually result in a weak opponent reaching a level of equilibrium with the stronger opponent.
Of course, there is some debate over what can be considered a long or short timeframe in the current context.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 17:13 utc | 226

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 31 2022 17:03 utc | 224
I would surmise that the intention of using the Russian’s 300 billion euros to “rebuild” Ukraine would be an attempt to slow down eurozone decline and generate some new aggregate demand, as this is the perfect opportunity to do so “for free without losing” i.e. without printing new debt. But it won’t solve anything for the long term – the rump Ukraine and the Lvov regions have no natural resources and therefore are of very little economic value to the EU. The population is also mostly useless and excess for the EU economy, who will pile up on existing welfare schemes, etc.
They get the short term boost of building stuff and then it turns into an even larger black hole. EU is done. This is why they will just use as much of the brainwashed country as fodder as possible.

Posted by: unimperator | Oct 31 2022 17:18 utc | 227

Debsisdead | Oct 30 2022 0:32 utc | 119 nd others:
Cloudfare is a bit suspicious as it has refused to reveal the Ip addresses used for “Mitvorets”, the Ukrainian kill list. (Langley was proposed as the “originator”. I don’t know how true that is).
****
EV Is being used, but the origin of this recent example is carefully NOT mentioned. Black sea.
Second point, is that Russian missiles can turn 90% to avoid anti-missile defenses. It is not known if these are “pre”-instructions or if this is a reaction by the system in the missile itself.
https://avia-pro.net/news/nad-severo-zapadnom-chastyu-chyornogo-morya-fiksiruetsya-rabota-neizvestnoy-sistemy-reb

Posted by: Stonebird | Oct 31 2022 17:19 utc | 228

Arch Bungle @ 217

The consistency of their behaviour can only be explained by the possibility that all western leaders are under control of a single directing consciousness.

I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it turns out to be something like this:
James Earl Jones slowly turns into a snake in Conan the Barbarian
Really, I’m not kidding, it would be, “Hells, “I knew it all along.”
But it’s most likely the below link, or in the vernacular, “you have to live it to know it.” I might reduce it even further, money makes you stupid. They pass on the money – and the stupidity – generation after generation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 17:26 utc | 229

karlof1 | Oct 31 2022 15:48 utc | 200 …Lagarde saying “the inflation came from nowhere…”
Inflation picked up when the money printing press was put in overdrive after the subprime crisis, in order to provide liquidity to the “too big to fail” banks. Core CPI was engineered by basket manipulation to numbers small enough to claim that interest rate hikes are not justified. Otherwise a number overindebted countries (Greece, Italy, Spain,…) would have failed. The investment goods price hike was over 35% in the last few years. Core CPI MUST follow this trend eventually. Which is NOW, and which indicates the magnitude we will see. 30…40% (e.g. 12% for 3 years) is my expectation. WITHOUT backfiring sanctions, without money burning in Ukraine, without fattening transatlantic LNG robber-speculators,… – The core CPI hike was delayed by vectoring it into the investment sector (real estate, rent, agrarian land, health insurance,…). Finally, the over-stretched rubber band snaps and smacks us right in the face. And this immoral witch Lagarde, mastermind of the whole process, has the audacity to say it came from “nowhere”.
In modification of a graffiti which I saw in the late 1980s near the house of parliament in London, reading “Bring back hanging. Start with the prime minister, then stop.”, I herewith request to “Bring back witch burning. Start with Lagarde, then stop.”

Posted by: OttoE | Oct 31 2022 17:26 utc | 230

@202 Wonder how Raskin’s words will go down in Flyover Country. Quite a few Americans would like to see a return to more traditional values.
Ukraine isn’t exactly renowned for Gay Pride parades either.

Posted by: dh | Oct 31 2022 17:31 utc | 231

rjb1.5 @ 205 Doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:32 utc | 232

rjb1.5 @ 205
Doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:33 utc | 233

Reply to rjb1.5 @ 205
Doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:34 utc | 234

Reply to rjb1.5 @ 205
Doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:35 utc | 235

Re 205
Doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:35 utc | 236

The poster 205 doesn’t seem to realize that I’m appalled by Jamie Raskin’s polemic, not favorable to it. I’m particularly disappointed because I had thought Mr. Raskin was a reasonable person. His polemic is particularly obnoxious because it is explicitly anti-Eastern Orthodox Christian. Although I’m a member of the much larger parent body, which could be called “Western Orthodox,” I recognize that an overt attack upon one branch of Christianity is an attack upon all. The small, close-knit group that has seized control of our foreign policy and much of our media is drooping their collective mask, coming out into the open, not bothering to hide any longer. Things will likely get (much) worse before they get better.

Posted by: Seward | Oct 31 2022 17:37 utc | 237

Someone kindly explain to me why Russia doesn’t shoot down the Global Hawks? I understand the hesitation to shoot down the various intelligence planes but the Hawks are drones.
In Ukraine and Taiwan USA is begging for RF and China to give them the Pearl Harbor they need to rally the populace to accept military causalities they haven’t seen since WW2, but will Americans line up at recruitment offices over knocking out of drones?

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 17:38 utc | 238

I think Ukranian MoD exaggerates their success, underestimates their setbacks, and lies aggressively about their misconduct. But, the basic picture in which Ukraine now has the upper hand and is in a dominant battlefield position, at least for now, is right.
So what is the long-term situation? It seems it’s a battle of attrition now. Russia is going to trade men and equipment for NATO’s fancy long-range artillery shells. Can Russia recruit enough men and hold them in place as human shields long enough for the West to run out of fancy weapons? Can Russia regenerate artillery and basic equipment faster than the West can resupply Ukraine?
These are the questions now. This is a bitter and terrible war. I feel for the people on both sides getting turned into meat for their political masters. We should call the damn thing off ASAP.

Posted by: GoFast | Oct 31 2022 17:42 utc | 239

I think Ukranian MoD exaggerates their success, underestimates their setbacks, and lies aggressively about their misconduct. But, the basic picture in which Ukraine now has the upper hand and is in a dominant battlefield position, at least for now, is right.
So what is the long-term situation? It seems it’s a battle of attrition now. Russia is going to trade men and equipment for NATO’s fancy long-range artillery shells. Can Russia recruit enough men and hold them in place as human shields long enough for the West to run out of fancy weapons? Can Russia regenerate artillery and basic equipment faster than the West can resupply Ukraine?
These are the questions now. This is a bitter and terrible war. I feel for the people on both sides getting turned into meat for their political masters. We should call the damn thing off ASAP.

Posted by: GoFast | Oct 31 2022 17:43 utc | 240

Let us all absorb the irony of all these multiple postings and use it as a chance to examine if we are indeed all victims of trying to communicate in an echo chamber.. chamber… chamber

Posted by: Et Tu | Oct 31 2022 17:45 utc | 241

Unable to get dbh for role ‘user2’. Is ‘user2’ a declared role in your STACK.yaml ? ‘Lost connection to MySQL server at ‘reading initial communication packet’, system error: 111′ (2013)
FYI 🙂

Posted by: Et Tu | Oct 31 2022 17:45 utc | 242

@241 Good idea…idea….idea

Posted by: dh | Oct 31 2022 17:50 utc | 243

OttoE @ 230

In modification of a graffiti… reading “Bring back hanging. Start with the prime minister, then stop.”

Whenever I get into a discussion with people on the death penalty my position is, I’m against it, except for white collar crime.
My fave graffiti from the ’80s seen on a beerhall bathroom stall was, “What animal has a cunt on it’s back? Margaret Thatcher horse.”

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 17:52 utc | 244

Hi everyone and thanks to the host. It was a depressing two days of not having access to one of the most relevant sites in todays world. Since March, in search of information that was not propaganda, I found this bar. I am a heavy drinker who loves to imbibe the sated views of those who lurk. I have read with interest the views and opinions of all the commentators who often go off-script. I dislike the anti Semitism. The current situation is indeed a tragedy. The Prologue most telling of its Parodos and Episode. Now the Stasimon and Exodus. Will there be an Epidaurus? Who could have predicted the Western propaganda blanket? Total destruction of any perceived democratic morality. A weapon more powerful than the threat of NW it would seem. A global population of bewildered individuals. It is hard sometimes to resist the impact of such relentless propaganda. We talk nothing of the suffering of the soldiers sent to their death. I digress. This is not my first post. It is my second. In my first post some months ago, perhaps April, in the heady days of mass mobilisation, physically and emotionally. The columns ”destroyed” There was no feint? Really? I now go back to my first post. China… A proxy war between the USA and China. The meeting days before the launch. The lockdowns? Trial run for what they know the neocons might be planning. (Ukraine Bio weapons program perhaps??) The Russians made a surgical strike and dismantled that program. Is a program like that going on elsewhere? I don’t know. What do you reckon? I’m no C/Theorist but I’m pretty sure that in the 70’s the neocons were a bunch of crazies who, if ever got in office, would destroy the whole world. They came to power in the 90’s. Wolfowitz and the like. And here we are. China are not fools. Russia are not fools. It is foolish and untrue to tell your constituents otherwise. This SMO is part of a bigger plan. The US is weak from years of unbridled expenditure. They have a failing infrastructure. It is old and needs an upgrade. China is new. They have built their infrastructure with cheap Western commodities. They, like Russia, are ready for this. This escalation… They will strike strategically. They have. What I want to know is why their state run media is so freaking lame. The website is dull and the reports are brief. There are no links to Putin…the brilliant and informed, most well spoken leader by far. He would easily win global leader x factor. There are no links to Russian history for us, the uneducated West. We need education. All we have had since WWII, perhaps earlier, is anti Russian rhetoric. It is no surprise that most people in the West support Ukraine. Russia needs a Western publicist. Then again perhaps it’s arrogant to assume they care. Keep writing pundits. I hoped I resonated with a few. Cheers
P.S as an Australian I rue the day we entered the fro.
”Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred…”
I’m pretty sure a lot of them didn’t come back. What a tragedy.

Posted by: Tobias | Oct 31 2022 17:53 utc | 245

… RT also has a short report about ECB Parasite Lagarde saying “the inflation came from nowhere,” as if the results of the illegal sanctions on Russia were never contemplated; and of course, she’s just as ignorant of the post-2014 reality as the rest of the EU pukes.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 31 2022 15:48 utc | 200

Lagarde‘s escalating the rhetoric up to pure infamy. It’s not ignorance or even delusion, it’s a pack of lies to distract from the fact that their Ponzi will collapse without US domination of the RF-CN alliance.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/terrifying-putin-driven-by-evil-forces-says-ecb-s-christine-lagarde-122102900089_1.html
Vladimir Putin is “a terrifying person,” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said, referring to her past meetings with the Russian president, though “he was not as sick as he is today.”
“Why would you do things like that, invading a country, having people killed, destroying the fabrics of a society, and failing?” she said in an interview on Irish national broadcaster RTE’s Late Late Show on Friday. “Anyone who is behaving in that way must be driven by evil forces.”
Putin’s attack on Ukraine is his attempt to “cause chaos and to destroy as much of Europe as he can,” she said.
Even so, Putin’s actions have “reunited” the Ukrainian people, she added. “He has rejuvenated NATO and he has certainly brought the Europeans together.”
After expressing her view, Lagarde stressed that she’s “just a central banker,” so “shouldn’t be saying all these things.”
Explaining the recent actions of the ECB, which on Thursday doubled its key interest rate to the highest in more than a decade, Lagarde said the central bank is “fighting inflation” caused by a speedy recovery after the pandemic plus “the energy crisis caused by Mr. Putin who has decided in an unjustifiable way to invade another country.”
“This energy crisis is causing massive inflation, which we have to defeat,” she said. “That’s why we have to raise interest rates because we want to tame inflation, bring it back to reasonable levels so the cost of living isn’t as high as it is for people.”

Where to even start with this rubbish?

Posted by: anon2020 | Oct 31 2022 17:54 utc | 246

LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 17:26 utc | 229
“all western leaders are under control of a single directing consciousness.”
wait, what? society being organized around the profit motive explains the psychology of individual leaders perfectly. not of every individual tic and fetish, but each person qua “leader”, as public voice and figure, yes.
Does the devil exist? what does it explain if we answer the question yes? in their “brain fever” (Dostoevky, Mann) could people recognize him if he did? despite awesome Halloween flicks like “the thing” and “they live”, the fault lies not in our ET’s…

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 17:54 utc | 247

LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 17:26 utc | 229
“all western leaders are under control of a single directing consciousness.”
wait, what? society being organized around the profit motive explains the psychology of individual leaders perfectly. not of every individual tic and fetish, but each person qua “leader”, as public voice and figure, yes.
Does the devil exist? what does it explain if we answer the question yes? in their “brain fever” (Dostoevky, Mann) could people recognize him if he did? despite awesome Halloween flicks like “the thing” and “they live”, the fault lies not in our ET’s…

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 17:54 utc | 248

@ 226
Time scale is relative indeed. WOII still was a victory and somewhat better than a pyrrhic one (though I’m not discounting the cost for Russia). The SMO has been evolving into a far broader war for months now, thanks to NATO. Europe however, much less the world, can’t be sorted out in a short time. At the start of the SMO President Putin said something like “we keep all possible complications in mind” (I do not remember the exact quote but he stressed the “all”). And he now warns us for a difficult, unpredictable decade ahead. In a way, we are still fighting WOI-WOII and after a couple of centuries historians may speak of a 150 years war. Hopefully those historians won’t be from another planet.

Posted by: Anthony | Oct 31 2022 17:57 utc | 249

Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:53 utc | 201
no i’m not obsessed w/your traditional values bullshit and could care less about your professions of whatever about religion. i assume based on your reply that you are just as big a hypocrite as your congressman is. just like him, you really truly deeply “believe things.” that’s why you fight over them.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 17:59 utc | 250

Et Tu @ 241

Let us all absorb the irony of all these multiple postings and use it as a chance to examine if we are indeed all victims of trying to communicate in an echo chamber.. chamber… chamber

👍 Brilliant.
And yes, we are in an echo chamber the lunatic juggernaut rolls on without us and couldn’t care less. That’s the prerogative of a juggernaut.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 18:00 utc | 251

OttoE @230–
Thanks for your reply and for dressing that poorly written article with what it required. She and all EU pukes deserve to be clapped into pillories and starved to death in public.
////
The latest round of retaliatory strikes in Ukraine seem to be aimed at hydroelectric plants which have been employed to pick up the slack from those damaged earlier. However, in order to run their turbines faster to increase generation, their fuel–water–from their reservoirs will soon be depleted. Readovka has a long series of very informative reports on this issue like this one:

Blows to the energy infrastructure of Ukraine have reached a new level, losses account for up to a third of the total electricity generation – Zelensky’s fake blackouts can be replaced by real ones.
As we wrote earlier, the main share of generation in Ukraine is provided by nuclear power plants and coal-fired power plants. These stations provide a consumption base of approximately 9 GW (~6 + ~3 GW respectively). At the same time, The consumption of Ukraine now fluctuates within 10.5-12 GW. The remaining capacity is compensated by gas TPPs and HPPs. At the same time, hydroelectric power plants are used primarily to cover peak loads and compensate for generation losses after missile strikes. So, if until October 10, when the first blow to the power system occurred, the generation of hydroelectric power plants rarely exceeded 0.8 GW, then already on the 11th the generation through the hydroelectric power station increased 2 times to 1.32 GW.
At the moment, damage to the Dniester (0.7 GW), Kremenchug (0.7 GW) and Dnipro (1.5 GW) hydroelectric power plants is reported. Yes, they did not work at full capacity, so it is too early to talk about the loss of 3 GW of generation. But even 1 GW for today’s Ukraine is a huge capacity. Do not forget that damage to the ORU of hydroelectric power plants affects the overall connectivity of the power system.
Today’s blow, which also affected the switchgear of the Dnieper hydroelectric power plant, deprives Ukrainian power engineers of opportunities for maneuver. They will not be able to compensate for the loss of generation at the expense of their largest hydroelectric power station. The only reasonable solution would be the maximum use of coal and gas TPPs, but this may be prevented by both the eternal shortage of fuel and the continuation of strikes by the Russian Armed Forces. Moreover, specifically the Dnipro HPP helped to stop the energy deficit in the Kiev region and transfer the excess capacity to the east of the country.
The impact on the Dnipro HPP in its real effect is comparable to the attacks on high-voltage substations of 750 kW and 330 kW. We cannot yet judge the severity of the damage and whether Ukrainian power engineers will be able to quickly eliminate them. But we can only welcome the clearly emerging transition of the Russian Armed Forces to serious action.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 31 2022 18:09 utc | 252

karlof1 @ 200

ECB Parasite Lagarde saying “the inflation came from nowhere,”

Cut her some slack. The universe appears to have come out of nowhere, so she’s partially right.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 18:12 utc | 253

Test

Posted by: Bonami | Oct 31 2022 18:13 utc | 254

Seward | Oct 31 2022 15:53 utc | 201
no one will ever confuse your religion for a “love feast,” will they?
“Erastes, the city treasurer, greets you all.” Romans 16. what kind of things were they getting up to in 1st century CE Corinth, center of Roman sex-trafficking and religious prostitution, where, by tradition, Paul wrote the book of Romans? and just how do you get today’s “traditional Christian morality” (bah! what a joke) from the books of 1st or 2nd Corinthians?
you don’t. you don’t know what you are talking about. mr gender confused. “I gave you milk”. 1 Corinthians 2. when has the church ever forgiven the adulteress? when has the church ever given women “the equal inheritance”, as commanded in the book of Numbers?
you christians are idiots. would be a shame if your god made a big spectacle of you all. all this empty boasting about your “values”.
since it’s you Christians, incl Russia, who run the fucking world. and then blame Jews, for starters. nothing new under the sun, is there?

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255

The consistency of their behavior can only be explained by the possibility that all western leaders are under control of a single directing consciousness.
It is an imperial consciousness.
It is a singular consciousness.
It is accustomed to dominance.
It is ancient, multigenerational.
It works from the shadows and has never been revealed to us.
Our leaders, their servants and the machinery of state that extends from them bow in complete subservience to whatever “it” is.
In a sense, we bow too …
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 16:56 utc | 217
If I were a religious man, which I am not, I would suggest that Satan has achieved dominance over a large part of the Judo / Christian world; first with the banks and international finance, then with the leadership (Board of Directors) of the most powerful corporations like the MIC, Oil and Gas, and finely al the fortune 500 businesses. From this conglomeration comes the politicians and state bureaucrats who can use the power of the state to do just about anything that Satan wants. It would explain a lot, if I were a religious man, which I am not.
Oh yes, I was unable to log on yesterday, has B made any comments about that, and why. Just asking. I see that October 30 and 31 pages are missing.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 18:15 utc | 256

Russia needs a Western publicist.
Posted by: Tobias | Oct 31 2022 17:53 utc | 245

Russia and Putin had a New York publicist, Ketchum Inc., one of the world’s biggest, until they were fired in 2015, after the events in Crimea and Donbass.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchum_Inc.#Russian_government_work
What Russia is now saying is we don’t give a damn what the west thinks.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Oct 31 2022 18:16 utc | 257

karlof1 @ 200

Lagarde saying “the inflation came from nowhere…”

Cut the woman some slack. The universe appears to have come from of nowhere, so she’s partially right.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Oct 31 2022 18:19 utc | 258

Looks like John Helmer’s site has the same issues as MoA. Are Ukraine and their handles initiating DDOS attacks on all dissident narrative servers?

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Oct 31 2022 18:23 utc | 259

Now I wonder where all the UK’s artificial courage is coming from? Cheap spirits? Possibly, well certain! they are not coming from the warmth of their homes! Ohh it will get much colder this year!
My heat pump and pill furnace will get me through winter on a budget,fuel is here and paid, so I do not care a lot now. Unfortunately, I can’t store anymore as I have no room. To bad will instead buy some wood to stack.

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:46 utc | 260

Now I wonder where all the UK’s artificial courage is coming from? Cheap spirits? Possibly, well certain! they are not coming from the warmth of their homes! Ohh it will get much colder this year!
My heat pump and pill furnace will get me through winter on a budget,fuel is here and paid, so I do not care a lot now. Unfortunately, I can’t store anymore as I have no room. To bad will instead buy some wood to stack.

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 261

Now I wonder where all the UK’s artificial courage is coming from? Cheap spirits? Possibly, well certain! they are not coming from the warmth of their homes! Ohh it will get much colder this year!
My heat pump and pill furnace will get me through winter on a budget,fuel is here and paid, so I do not care a lot now. Unfortunately, I can’t store anymore as I have no room. To bad will instead buy some wood to stack.

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 262

The small boats used to attack Sebastopol harbor had Starlink terminals mounted on top. And those Starlink terminal are shouting skyward “Here I am!”.

Posted by: Passerby | Oct 31 2022 18:49 utc | 263

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 262
I believe the UK is operating with a last chance saloon mentality. They know the econmy is screwed, and so have decided to go down fighting.

Posted by: Night Tripper | Oct 31 2022 18:53 utc | 264

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 262
I believe the UK is operating with a last chance saloon mentality. They know the econmy is screwed, and so have decided to go down fighting.

Posted by: Night Tripper | Oct 31 2022 18:53 utc | 265

Not sure if my reply to psychohistorian at the non-Ukraine O/T will make it through, but now I get a different error message.
Failed to execute INSERT INTO event
(user_id, event_id, type, created_on, arg1, arg2)
VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?) with user_id, event_id, type, created_on, arg1, arg2: DBD::mysql::st
execute failed: Got error -1 from storage engine
FWIW, again this seems very specific to MoA and not seeing the same on other TP based blogs.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Oct 31 2022 18:54 utc | 266

Posted by: GoFast | Oct 31 2022 17:43 utc | 240
You forgot the ‘sarc’ tag.

Posted by: Jax | Oct 31 2022 18:59 utc | 267

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255
To be fair it was the Jews who proclaimed that they were God’s chosen people. Kind of like the Americans declaring themselves the “exceptional country,” it does rub the wrong way.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:04 utc | 268

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255
To be fair it was the Jews who proclaimed that they were God’s chosen people. Kind of like the Americans declaring themselves the “exceptional country,” it does rub the wrong way.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:04 utc | 269

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255
To be fair it was the Jews who proclaimed that they were God’s chosen people. Kind of like the Americans declaring themselves the “exceptional country,” it does rub the wrong way.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:05 utc | 270

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255
To be fair it was the Jews who proclaimed that they were God’s chosen people. Kind of like the Americans declaring themselves the “exceptional country,” it does rub the wrong way.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:05 utc | 271

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Oct 31 2022 18:14 utc | 255
To be fair it was the Jews who proclaimed that they were God’s chosen people. Kind of like the Americans declaring themselves the “exceptional country,” it does rub the wrong way.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:06 utc | 272

B, sorry about the repetition above, but it seemed to me that the post wasn’t taking. There is a weird comment that comes up when you try to save. Could you give us any clarification? Thanks.

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:11 utc | 273

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:06 utc | 272
And the prize to the new record holder!

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Oct 31 2022 19:14 utc | 274

Posted by: Ed Nelson | Oct 31 2022 19:06 utc | 272
And the prize to the new record holder!

Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Oct 31 2022 19:14 utc | 275

Failed to execute INSERT INTO event
(user_id, event_id, type, created_on, arg1, arg2)
VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?) with user_id, event_id, type, created_on, arg1, arg2: DBD::mysql::st
execute failed: Got error -1 from storage engine

I think this means the “event” table is either corrupt (and needs recovery with myisamcheck – assuming it’s myisam) or is no longer compatible with the DBD-MYSQL Driver code (which means either upgrade the table storage engine or downgrade the code …).
Either way, looks like we need to wait for b to complete the site and backend db upgrade.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 19:31 utc | 276

So, we have no idea how many there are with a voluntary desire to take part in the Special Military Operation.
Posted by: Belle | Oct 29 2022 23:57 utc | 114
I was informed by perhaps either Ritter or Mercouris, I don’t recall which, that the overall number of volunteers that presented themselves at recruitment centers was +/- 70,000.

Posted by: nwwoods | Oct 31 2022 19:34 utc | 277

So, we have no idea how many there are with a voluntary desire to take part in the Special Military Operation.
Posted by: Belle | Oct 29 2022 23:57 utc | 114
I was informed by perhaps either Ritter or Mercouris, I don’t recall which, that the overall number of volunteers that presented themselves at recruitment centers was approx 70,000.

Posted by: nwwoods | Oct 31 2022 19:34 utc | 278

So, we have no idea how many there are with a voluntary desire to take part in the Special Military Operation.
Posted by: Belle | Oct 29 2022 23:57 utc | 114
I was informed by perhaps either Ritter or Mercouris, I don’t recall which, that the overall number of volunteers that presented themselves at recruitment centers was approx 70,000.

Posted by: nwwoods | Oct 31 2022 19:34 utc | 279

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 261

Now I wonder where all the UK’s artificial courage is coming from?

Nuclear weapons. It’s amazing what m.a.d does for one’s self confidence. It’s like vaihagrah for the soul …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 19:37 utc | 280

Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 31 2022 18:47 utc | 261

Now I wonder where all the UK’s artificial courage is coming from?

Nuclear weapons. It’s amazing what m.a.d does for one’s self confidence. It’s like vaihagrah for the soul …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Oct 31 2022 19:37 utc | 281

RT published two articles dealing with polls today, one about Germany, the other Outlaw US Empire. “55% say Scholtz not up to job” and adds the following reflection on German “democracy”:
“If Germans were able to vote for a chancellor directly, only 27% would pick Scholz, the survey found. However, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the biggest opposition party – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) –would garner even less support, with only 15% of Germans willing to vote for him. Almost a half of respondents would choose neither of the two candidates.”
In the other, “Most Americans think US is ‘out of control’ – poll: A survey finds that 73% of respondents believe things are ‘going badly’ for the country.” Yet, “A majority of 56% of Americans disapprove of the job Joe Biden is doing as US president, while 44% have a positive view of his performance.”
Voters are deluded in oh so many ways as this paragraph proves:
“Should Republicans win, more than half of voters expect them to push for an increase in US energy production, impeach Biden, ban abortions and overturn Democratic victories in elections. Meanwhile, if the Democrats retain a House majority, respondents expect them to try to pass legislation guaranteeing the national right to abortions, open the border with Mexico, cut police funding and increase social security.”
The most lucrative place to look for more hydrocarbons lacks the infrastructure needed to support the exploratory work and thus cannot support any actual drilling and extraction–Beaufort Sea off Alaska’s North coast. Fracking peaked. There’s no facility for uranium enrichment to fuel nuclear power plants. Coal peaked long ago. Proven reserves for oil and gas at current rates of extraction have 20 years at best remaining before depletion sharply reduces what comes from those taps. Most of the best bets for Gulf of Mexico oil and gas are already drilled, although some will be found in marginal fields that will somewhat ease the rates of depletion. And right now, very few believe what the government might say about that.
In other words, the West is falling victim to itself in many different ways all at once.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 31 2022 19:46 utc | 282

A form of attrition.
Unlimited printing of dollars can pay for thousands of such unsuccessful attacks.

Posted by: CitizenKayne | Oct 31 2022 19:51 utc | 283

A form of attrition.
Unlimited printing of dollars can pay for thousands of such unsuccessful attacks.

Posted by: CitizenKayne | Oct 31 2022 19:52 utc | 284

Tobias #245
Thank you for the post. As an Australian you might appreciate reports in Pearls and Irritations as well as Crikey of USA seior military officers stationed in Oz Parliament House in order to keep the vassal state well directed and other assistance.
The charge of the Light Brigade is on again for sure.
The resistance, small as it is, is building yet again.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Oct 31 2022 19:55 utc | 285

Apologies for the multiple posts, each time I tried to post I got the same message as 242.
Best wishes B in your efforts to vanquish whatever demons have seized control of the system!

Posted by: Bonami | Oct 31 2022 20:02 utc | 286

Apologies for the multiple posts, each time I tried to post I got the same message as 242.
Best wishes B in your efforts to vanquish whatever demons have seized control of the system!

Posted by: Bonami | Oct 31 2022 20:02 utc | 287

@ michaelj72 | Oct 29 2022 21:11 utc | 75
There’s a lot of politics involved with grain, all the way around. To me, it’s only a matter of time before the hammer drops on Odessa. But, the harvest, the grain, must ship first.

Posted by: ? | Oct 31 2022 20:17 utc | 288

@ michaelj72 | Oct 29 2022 21:11 utc | 75
There’s a lot of politics involved with grain, all the way around. To me, it’s only a matter of time before the hammer drops on Odessa. But, the harvest, the grain, must ship first.

Posted by: ? | Oct 31 2022 20:18 utc | 289

Pretty simple.
USA wants to fight Russia, Iran and China simultaneously. Lots of Demmie media on how they can.
Wallace quickly running to DC?
They wrote a blank check and gave verbal unlimited support to UK to attack the first two.
They have delegated. Rich arrogant people like to delegate.
Now USA is planning their attack on China. They are poor at operations. It might take years for them to do whatever they are planning.

Posted by: StainesG | Oct 31 2022 20:18 utc | 290

@ michaelj72 | Oct 29 2022 21:11 utc | 75
There’s a lot of politics involved with grain, all the way around. To me, it’s only a matter of time before the hammer drops on Odessa. But, the harvest, the grain, must ship first.

Posted by: ? | Oct 31 2022 20:18 utc | 291

A thought of note:
The weapons Russia is using to destroy the electrical infrastructure appear to be primarily large payload missiles, rather than low payload drones.
I have been watching the timing of attacks and they strongly suggest a period of time after an attack is necessary to get satellite imagery of the target, and observe repair strategy underway, and then the next attack takes place.
The crying out of air defense has been particularly interesting, because there seems to be no evidence any defense against this sort of attack exists. Very much similar to ICBMs. There has always been talk of Anti Ballistic Missile systems, but there was never any indication in simulations that appreciable % of inbound missiles could be killed.
If you have satellite imagery, and unstoppable weapons, there’s not a lot of point in sending anti air systems there. The radar frequencies they use can be sampled and recorded by the Russians for further countering polish in their labs.
I don’t see how Ukraine survives this. I would guess any elections will be cancelled because people with no water or food transport aren’t going to support whoever is in charge.
It’s a very uncomfortable reality. As noted by many, Ukraine doesn’t have the ability to make choices and decide anything. It comes from the US. So the Ukraine populace starving, freezing and dying of thirst doesn’t connect with the US folks sitting in warm rooms with Doordash food making decisions. They will feel no pressure.
I am convinced the only eventual outcome is a Ukraine military coup of senior officers who went to military schools in Russia in their teens and 20s, classmates of the Russian officers. The US intelligence people know this. They will have to be killed by the military before a proper coup can occur.

Posted by: I Know Things | Oct 31 2022 20:20 utc | 292

To those quoting “the Art of War.”
Never interrupt your enemy when he is in the process of destroying himself.
Hitler used Blitzkrieg. Russia responded with brutal, methodical patience, excelled in artillery to slaughter the enemy and preserve their own troops. Secure in the knowledge that their new found friendship with the UK and USA, would at best be a temporary accommodation.

Posted by: Kupkee | Oct 31 2022 20:22 utc | 293

Good to see MofA back, here in Ireland you were unavailable for 48 hours. I notice that on a few occasions now, when the site is unreachable that some kind of “site verification” stuff is running, it always impedes reaching the site. Is this something genuine or is it a feature of whatever knocked MofA offline in the first place? I would like to know if that “site verification” stuff is perhaps also verifying the electronic identity of those of us who are trying to view and read MofA?

Posted by: Sean in Ireland | Oct 31 2022 20:37 utc | 294

Good to see MofA back, here in Ireland you were unavailable for 48 hours. I notice that on a few occasions now, when the site is unreachable that some kind of “site verification” stuff is running, it always impedes reaching the site. Is this something genuine or is it a feature of whatever knocked MofA offline in the first place? I would like to know if that “site verification” stuff is perhaps also verifying the electronic identity of those of us who are trying to view and read MofA?

Posted by: Sean in Ireland | Oct 31 2022 20:37 utc | 295

Good to see MofA back, here in Ireland you were unavailable for 48 hours. I notice that on a few occasions now, when the site is unreachable that some kind of “site verification” stuff is running, it always impedes reaching the site. Is this something genuine or is it a feature of whatever knocked MofA offline in the first place? I would like to know if that “site verification” stuff is perhaps also verifying the electronic identity of those of us who are trying to view and read MofA?

Posted by: Sean in Ireland | Oct 31 2022 20:38 utc | 296

Good to see MofA back, here in Ireland you were unavailable for 48 hours. I notice that on a few occasions now, when the site is unreachable that some kind of “site verification” stuff is running, it always impedes reaching the site. Is this something genuine or is it a feature of whatever knocked MofA offline in the first place? I would like to know if that “site verification” stuff is perhaps also verifying the electronic identity of those of us who are trying to view and read MofA?

Posted by: Gabriel in Ireland | Oct 31 2022 20:40 utc | 297

Good to see MofA back, here in Ireland you were unavailable for 48 hours. I notice that on a few occasions now, when the site is unreachable that some kind of “site verification” stuff is running, it always impedes reaching the site. Is this something genuine or is it a feature of whatever knocked MofA offline in the first place? I would like to know if that “site verification” stuff is perhaps also verifying the electronic identity of those of us who are trying to view and read MofA?

Posted by: Gabriel in Ireland | Oct 31 2022 20:41 utc | 298

I Know Things @292–
Currently the weather in Kiev isn’t too frightful as below 0c temps aren’t forecast to begin until December. But without power to move water and sewage through pipes, they’ll freeze then burst and thus create an additional problem Russia didn’t want to visit on Ukrainians in general. As Karaganov stated in his op/ed,
“Many of us had not counted on such a strong willingness on the part of the West to fight militarily, and on such a determination from some Ukrainians – who had been transformed into the likeness of the German Nazis previously set against Moscow – to fight desperately, and at their level of armaments.”
The power of intense propaganda and indoctrination is what we see in Ukrainian behavior much as was seen from Germans in WW2. Then there are the many who for excellent reasons are scared to death of their Overlords, so they remain cowed and cower, hoping to survive the siege.
And yes, it’s becoming a siege. The UKies have zero defense against Russian missiles as you note, and some of the Telegram sites like the one I cited upthread are able to quickly do BDA without satintel. By running their hydroelectric plants to make up the power difference, the reservoirs will be lowered which will lower the levels of the rivers flowing into them which will cause them to freeze up earlier thus slowing flow even more to the point where it’s likely water levels will fall below the intakes and idle the plants. Yes, the future looks very bad for Ukies. Unfortunately for them, the Outlaw US Empire is bound and determined to kill most of them one way or another. I don’t know but it seems likely the remining civilians will be subjected to forced labor.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 31 2022 20:53 utc | 299

There’s a glitch since in the script. Allegedly 299 comments posted but only 253 comments displaying.

Posted by: Willow | Oct 31 2022 20:57 utc | 300