Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 1:31 utc | 93 “additional activated forces in 3 Tank/Mech Armies (~4 heavy Divisions, 40K+ each)”
How long will it be before these appear on the line? Is the consensus that Russia is still waiting for the ground to freeze?

Posted by: Bill Smith | Jan 21 2023 1:52 utc | 103

unca tungsten @77
If things don’t go haywire in keeping that Zap NPP hale and healthy, it may become a better come on for the Uke troops and populace than field kitchens featuring hot borscht and dark rye bread.
Why?
That power source was a major part of the Ukrainian power grid. Imagine, grimy half-starved Ukies cheering when the Russkies come to town with the promise that they will immdiately or as soon as possible, restore a huge power-source to their network.
Electricity, hot water, internet, all available again due to the largesse of Uncle Ivan.

Posted by: aristodemos | Jan 21 2023 2:01 utc | 105

@ Muthaucker | Jan 21 2023 0:44 utc | 83
Moved on from targeted abuse/provocation & spouting faux NAFO crap, hm ? A persona shift. A demonstration of knowledge now, heh ?
You expose your actual knowledge, a display, by your slanted statements yet use of key insightful phrases & specific words. You did not say the quiet part out loud though, yet near enough.
Therefore you know precisely why US/NATO wants control of Crimea(Sevastopol) or at least Odessa(Port) (Whilst denying same to RF):
To obtain treaty Naval basing rights(and consequent AirBase rights).
As a consequence freedom of access through the Bosphorus Straits & Baltic Sea (Even in time of War) due the privileges then granted of the Turkiye administered Montreux Convention (Directly or indirectly via host nation State).
The RF Black Sea fleet would be overwhelmed/constrained & a US Task Force, even a CVA supported Fleet would be stationed there, regularly rotated or re-inforced, permanently. To then exercise power projection/interference/threats, threaten trade flows, all along the coastlines & interior of the Black Sea, close the straits themselves, & not merely only RFs Churchillian ‘soft underbelly’ along the Black Sea.
Hence, you are no mere MSM/Narrative propagandized/indoctrinated war porn Empire Good ‘ol Boy.
Just another Psyop sock, best actively completely ignored.
Troll.
@ Bill Smith | Jan 21 2023 1:48 utc | 102
@ Bill Smith | Jan 21 2023 1:52 utc | 103
See.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 2:15 utc | 107

Back in 2008, William J. Burns warned that if Ukraine moved toward NATO, this would cause a civil war in Ukraine and that would then bring Moscow in. This might be exactly why Western officials subsequently enacted policies leading to such a result.
https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1502177250300600320
Petro Poroshenko, Angela Merkel and François Hollande had publically stated that Minsk II was never intended to bring peace and never intended to be fully implimented. Rather, they intended to delay war until Kiev was better prepared to fight one, all of three then simply might have intended the war to eventually come about.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/12/22/ffci-d22.html
Oleksii Arestovych predicted the war with remarkable accuracies and argued he wanted this to come about – Otherwise, Ukraine would later slip back into siding with Moscow by electing neutral president. This follows that, if he saw such a war as the means to his ends, he will seek to bring that war about.
https://intellinews.com/former-ukrainian-presidential-advisor-perfectly-predicted-russian-invasion-in-2019-238183
A report was commissioned from RAND Corporation on ways to weaken Moscow and suggested provoking this with Ukraine.
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/RB10000/RB10014/RAND_RB10014.pdf
During the high tension as Moscow and Kiev built forces up, in the week before invasion, Ukrainian army massively increased shelling of Donbass, as observed by the organization for security and co-operation in Europe. This looked like an offensive on Donbass would be launched, in such a period of tension that simply might have been intended to provoke Moscow in. No other credible reason to do this at that time but provocation.
https://www.osce.org/files/2022-02-22%20Daily%20Report_ENG.pdf
I would further argue that ‘Russiagate’ was intended to facilitate public opinion in preperation for a war against Moscow – Similar to the growth of the invasion genre of literature in United Kingdom, prior to the great war.

Posted by: Carnyxcall | Jan 21 2023 2:25 utc | 109

When you don’t own a mirror.
The USA has long been a criminal enterprise masquerading as a country, but not recognizing that it is no position to point fingers, it is now verbally attacking the Wagner group for managing to kill the enemy without slaughtering massive numbers of civilians the way the USA has in every conflict in which it has been involved.
Debusmann Bernd Jr (2023-01-20). US to designate Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organisation. BBC News, Washington.

Posted by: Hermit | Jan 21 2023 2:32 utc | 111

I think Russia is waiting to see if it’s carnival barker shell-game of constant troop movements and deployments is working. Under near-total NATO ISR, traditional methods of concealing intent, misdirection and hidden force build-up are pointless, so I think they are doing all three in the open. If they do move decisively it will be in conjunction with previously unused ISR blocking technologies and develop counter to expectations that they themselves have reinforced. The window this will present will be small, so a highly dynamic operation will unfold and the plan, months in the making, will be put to the test. Until then, expecting a live action version of Command & Conquer Red Alert is somewhat misguided.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 21 2023 3:09 utc | 113

“Posted by: Bill Smith | Jan 21 2023 1:48 utc | 102
After that what happens? Why wouldn’t NATO fire a thousand or so conventional missiles into Russia to cripple its ability to supply its troop fighting Ukraine?
For all the talk about the West having run out of weapons, they still have a lot left.”
– – –
This is f*cking nuts. The moment the “West” fires missiles into Russia the world as we know it will cease to exist.

Posted by: Just Observing | Jan 21 2023 3:30 utc | 115

@ David Levin | Jan 20 2023 23:53 utc | 75
Whoo-hoo! What a hoot! Approaching Hootenanny levels.
@ Hermit | Jan 21 2023 2:32 utc | 110
Given evermore sarcastic & acerbic RF comments, statements, responses over time, from Lavrov, Medvedev, Zakharov & now Prigozhin … brings to mind the probable RF perspective re Empires approach since becoming the worlds supposed ‘Sole remaining SuperPower!’ post USSR:

First they rapine you,
Then they ignore you,
Then they laugh, mock & ridicule you,
Then they attack you,
Then they LOSE!

😉
(Apologies to that Ghandhi fella (Apocryphal ?) or followers)
The US, Empire, is literally, Organized Ultra-Capitalist Mafiosi (Vampyres) preying on Terra.

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.
Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
― Smedley D. Butler, War is a Racket

And has only gotten much, much worse ever since, especially post ’89-’91, given the complete abandonment of the previously perceived situational temporary strategic advantage of the ‘need’ to present & project the faux ‘Better’ societal model for the ‘Others’ to aspire towards. Ass-wipes & Vampyres.
@ Milites | Jan 21 2023 3:09 utc | 112
Have been observing & noting constant reports/clips transportation of mass quantities of support/service/engineering/bridging/etc materiel & logistical stores being shuffled around road & rail endlessly, Nth, Sth & Center near rear of FEBA, including Belarus, since late Nov22. Am not talking about AFVs/Arty/MBLRS, yet that too.
As you say, a shell game. Very much so, agreed indeed.
There is a tendency for Intelligence Imagery/Data ELINT/Comms Analysts to focus too much on the Arms materiel & HQ/Sub-Unit Comms, not the logistical stores & support materiel. Sexy. And of course in servicing the high priority fleshing out of Order of Battle & associated locs. So RF gives us what we want, whilst we … overlook the rest …
The logistics stores/non-Arms equipment can be pre-positioned & dispersed & concealed re future plans/needs unnoticed, whilst the Arms keep being openly shuffled around, false HQ & Comms chatter/signals generated … hey, lotsa squirrels!
Until the music stops playing. Thence the Arms disembark, Form Up & promptly, enter Line of March. Subsequently transition to Advance to Contact, prior to the Assault, Penetration &/or Exploitation.

The window this will present will be small, so a highly dynamic operation will unfold and the plan, months in the making, will be put to the test.

Agreed.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 3:45 utc | 117

@ Posted by: Carnyxcall | Jan 21 2023 2:27 utc | 109
You have put together an excellent summary of the political context that has lead to this war. It is very surprising to me that the European people acted to cut themselves from an excellent commercial route to the markets of Asia by promoting chaos in Ukraine. They have been working against the material interests of their own counties. The moral high ground they think they stand on is baseless in my view and I can find no good reason for Europe to support the continuation of the war by sending money and weapons.

Posted by: Richard L | Jan 21 2023 3:53 utc | 119

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Malye Shcherbaki Captured & the Battle for #Orekhov – Situation at the End of 20 January 2023⚡️
♦️On the Orekhov Sector, after the liberation of #Lobkovoye, Russian troops swooped down and took the neighboring village of Malye Shcherbaki, knocking out the combined forces of the enemy from there.
▪️ Immediately afterwards, the RF Armed Forces were able to consolidate their success by blockading Ukrainian formations in #Shcherbaki. Russian fighters also advanced in the #Orekhov suburbs of #Novoandreyevka, #Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka. Cleansing continues in the vicinity.
📌 Establishment of control over #Lobkov and #Shcherbaki allows to increase pressure on the line #Kamenskoye – #Stepovoye, where units of 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, 9th Gepard Regiment and other Forces of Special Operation are located. And with the complete liberation of #Novoandreyevka, #Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka to cover #Orekhov from the south and east.
❗️The situation for the AFU is complicated because the T0812 route is under full fire control of Russian artillery, which makes it potentially dangerous to send reinforcements for a counterattack due to the possible collapse of the front in #Kamenskoye.
♦️The RF Armed Forces’ 291st Regiment has established control over several strongholds in the #Novopokrovka area southeast of #Orekhov.
The AFU command expects the continuation of the active assault on the #Belogorye – #Charivnoye line and in the direction of #Gulyaypole.
📌 A break of the first line of defence at this line with a simultaneous attack from the west will allow the RF Armed Forces to reach #Orekhov from the east and develop an offensive on #Gulyaypole, cutting the AFU grouping into two parts.

https://t.me/sitreports/3580

Posted by: Down South | Jan 21 2023 4:11 utc | 121

@18 inclined to agree a nuclear strike will not be in Ukraine. That would be a waste of a strike.
@19 yes complete nonsense. Perhaps a translation.

Posted by: Inki | Jan 21 2023 4:13 utc | 123

@ Milites | Jan 21 2023 3:09 utc | 112
expecting a live action version of Command & Conquer Red Alert is somewhat misguided.
Oh, not even a Mammoth Tanks for Ukraine would help change the situation at their pretty worn out front-line.
But at some point RF will have to speed this up and bring the dynamics into it.
Time for slow long grind is running out. I think RF has learned a lot from NATO and should be capable for pretty vicious EW, while maneuvering armies about. Weapons aside, maybe RF is waiting for daring NATO to try to form some Rapid Reaction Force to protect Ukraine leftovers.
All in all general idea for RF might just be to start moving towards its goals a bit more agile and decisive.
Otherwise NATO will use stasis and provoke even more yapping about no fly zones and whatnot.
Then we might get some even more wild entertainment. This ends when one side concedes and capitulates. It is so serious.

Posted by: whirlX | Jan 21 2023 4:23 utc | 125

RT reports on the cover-up the Outlaw US Empire is doing to mask “US Navy SEAL killed in Ukraine” by using this crap, “Washington says the Iraq and Afghanistan veteran was a deserter from the American military.” It’s Friday night, so it’s possible a few barflies will allow this explanation to stand, but IMO it’s malarky. I’ll bet he’s part of a large number of AWOL SEALs.
Bears eat seals.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 21 2023 5:10 utc | 127

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 20 2023 23:26 utc | 67
Looking at that shabby hodge-podge of hastily-assembled collectibles, I am assured, more than ever, that the end is near for a coherent defence of the Ukraine and that, at a visceral level, NATO is well aware of that impending fact.

Posted by: Activist Potato | Jan 21 2023 5:50 utc | 129

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 20 2023 21:10 utc | 44
As Peter alludes to ,we have legalities with Russian army activities, especially “big – arrow “movements on “foreign “ land. As far as I know , according to Russia’s own law, no Russian can legally fight on land not legally part of Russia. We all know Putin is a stickler for the law. So what does that mean for those, like myself , who believe Russia needs big -arrow movements -at some stage before a major Koreas-like ceasefire or even a real peace treaty?
Will Putin make all present “ Ukrainian” lands part of Russia before the order to “ sicc them “?
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 20 2023 20:53 utc | 40
From what someone said , Z has not been seen personally by any Ukrainian for many many months. Either Z is greenscreened from Rsezhow (sic) in Poland or Tel Aviv, or is only seen by his courtiers in Ukrolandia. The poster said he has lots of family in diff parts of Ukroland?and they travel much? Z obviously does not trust the masses. A big difference from Stalin ,Churchill , Metaxas /Papagos and King Haakon of Norway. This tells me all I need to know of who is on the right side of this war and has the moral high ground.

Posted by: Brother Ma | Jan 21 2023 5:57 utc | 131

He secured his place alright, right there with Stalin, Mao, and Pol-Pot.
Posted by: Muthaucker | Jan 21 2023 0:35 utc |
When will he defeat the Nazis, like Stalin, and make Russia great again, like Mao?
“It will take Russia 30 years to regain its economic stature and just as long to rebuild it military.”
Are you referring to Russia’s re-direction towards independence thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union?
You seem too optimistic about Russia’s military and economic power like Russian talking points, I suspect you are a Russia bot. /s

Posted by: Colin | Jan 21 2023 6:27 utc | 133

@ Anthony 26
My first father in.law spent 2 years as a pow in a Nazi concentration camp, after being shot down. He just said there was no point in him trying to explain to me how evil the Germans were, because I wouldn’t believe him. I not only believed him but experienced the cruelty of my wife having been raped as a teenager by an Austrian ski instructor.
I experience on a daily basis the hostility and bigotry if the South Asian community , the retaliation for the British Raj. So us Brits were much worse than Germans and left a great scar on our reputation around the world. South Asian parents terrorise their kids with fear about us Gora white people. Manic and sad.
Anyway they say what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. At the moment in Ukraine the expat loonies ( understandably ) from Ukraine, Nuland Blinken, are weaponising victimhood against Russia. 14 Challenger tanks says Sunak really cares about European wars. Probably cost more to melt them down than to ferry them to.Polsnd for recycling in La la land.

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 21 2023 6:34 utc | 135

@ 134
When I worked as a bookbinder I read some of Nartin Luther’s work in the book I was repairing, and I was struck by the anti-semitism in an otherwise revolutionary mind. Wars leave unhealed scars which can be manipulated by what us Muslims call human Shaytans. You just call them elite banksters, but I prefer divide and rule shaysteen , human devils.
I cannot absolve Russia 100 % from the deep resentments felt by the Ukranians against historical ,Russian crimes. Every historical event can be manipulated into the realms of hysterical. Martin Luther’s innocuous anti- semitic was later weaponised by Khazarian Btitish zionists who created Hitler and took Palestine.
My point is very simply that the same British Khazarian deviants who masterminded the Arab Spring , Al Qaida, and Daesh tobdestroybtge Middle East for Israel, and who are now destroying Ukrsine, WILL ONE DAY do with South Asian ,( understandable ) resentment against the British people, what they previously did with Nartin Luther in Germany and are now doing in Ukraine.
In other words, weaponise hate. Authu bilkahi min ashshaytsnirrajeem/ I seek refuge from Allah from the deep state Khazarian zionists of USUKIS. Nothing to do with the ordinary people of those 3 nations except that they will ALLOW themselves to follow the weaponised tripe of these elites. EVERY TIME.
The quickest way out of this war is to open the slumberers’ eyes. The devils are “having a party on the rooftop of no 10 during lockdown ” equivalent in Ukraine.
Where is your moral indignation?

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 21 2023 7:10 utc | 137

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 21 2023 7:10 utc | 136
Hasbara has entered the chat

Posted by: Exile | Jan 21 2023 7:21 utc | 139

Richard …. Please, why pick on someone like a crow picks apart carrion?

Posted by: Timbo | Jan 21 2023 7:52 utc | 141

Re 140. RSH. Love most of your post’s though.

Posted by: Tlmbo | Jan 21 2023 7:58 utc | 143

Considering all the resolutions raised in the UN to condemn the “unprovoked invasion”, and given the overwhelming out-in-the open support for Ukr by countries halfway around the world to whom RF poses no credible threat to, would it not make sense for RF to do their own UN Res.
staying: “Ukraine run by nuke wielding bio-haz neo-nazis is a legitimate security issue, and the West and it’s vassals are all officially at war with RF to support said Nazis.” Let’s condemn that? I know it won’t pass but the GA vote would be interesting.

Posted by: Parfum | Jan 21 2023 8:03 utc | 145

Posted by: blues | Jan 21 2023 7:59 utc | 143
Probably should be called “Assbrams” – because if you’re in it, your ass is grass against modern antitank weapons. 🙂

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jan 21 2023 8:05 utc | 147

Jeez Hack, bored today or red ants got into your petticoats or what? Besides, pronunciation has got sweet fanny adams to do with grammar.

Posted by: petra | Jan 21 2023 8:18 utc | 149

Foreign snipers arrived on Bolshoy Potemkin Island in Kherson region – Slavyangrad
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 21 2023 6:28 utc | 133
No problem, they can’t reach the general staff’s offices on Pantsir street in Moscow. For the rest… good luck or move to Kiev, the safest city in Amerika.

Posted by: rk | Jan 21 2023 8:24 utc | 151

Foreign snipers arrived on Bolshoy Potemkin Island in Kherson region – Slavyangrad
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 21 2023 6:28 utc | 133

I checked it out on Google maps, a big island in a river delta. Likely good hunting there.

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jan 21 2023 8:35 utc | 153

Love your posts Hack.
My advice is just see it as a form of grammer anarchy and learn to live with it.
Jeez those yanks what are they like ?
Ask any one about my spelling.
Pure anarchy.

Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 21 2023 8:38 utc | 155

Re 145 RSH. Language is continually evolving. Why quibble? …you’ve even got me doing it

Posted by: Timbo | Jan 21 2023 8:47 utc | 157

Posted by: Timbo | Jan 21 2023 8:47 utc | 156
Proper personal names are not “evolving”. They are assigned at birth (or later upon personal decision) – they don’t “evolve”. The concept makes zero sense.
How many times do I have to be attacked here for a post wherein I merely pointed out someone’s improper terminology for a topic currently important in the Ukraine issue?
Is this issue that important to everyone here – or is everyone just being assholes because they have nothing better to do tonight?
Fucking trolls. Kiss my ass.

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Jan 21 2023 8:53 utc | 159

hacket 101 #151

I like it. “Beeden” it is

I’m with Brandon 😉

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 21 2023 9:05 utc | 161

@ uncle tungsten | Jan 21 2023 9:11 utc | 161
🙂
Drink Drink Drink (The Drinking Song) Youtube. Runtime: 2m11s.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 9:16 utc | 163

From Rybar at telegram:

Highlights of Russian Military Operation in Ukraine on January 20
▪️After a massive artillery preparation, Russian troops launched an offensive in Zaporizhzhia Direction.
The main attacks are directed towards Orikhiv and Hulyaipole, which are AFU’s central defence links in this sector of the front.
▪️In Polohy Sector, the 58th Army broke through the enemy defences and took strategic heights near Malynivka.
At the same time, intense fighting is taking place in the southern edges of Hulyaipole near the previously liberated Dorozhnyanka.
▪️To the west, the situation is developing even more rapidly. Using the effect of surprise, Russian units came close to Orikhiv from the east.
As a result of rapid fighting, AFU defences were broken through and Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka were liberated.
▪️Russian units are equally successful to the west of Orikhiv. During the current day, all of AFU’s defensive lines to the southwest of the settlement have been taken under control.
By the end of the first day of the offensive, the first line of AFU’s defence in this sector had been broken through almost along the entire line of contact.
▪️Near Vuhledar, Russian Army continues to probe the enemy defences. Rocket and barrel artillery is actively working in this sector.
The strikes are launched all along the entier depth of the front. Precise fire destroyed enemy positions uncovered by reconnaissance near Yelyzavetivka.
▪️In Mar’inka, Russian motorized rifle units continue to heavy street fighting and push Ukrainian units to the western outskirts of the town.
Despite redeployed reinforcements and counterattack attempts, AFU failed to regain control of their lost positions.
▪️Wagner’s PMC assault units continue to push Ukrainian units and wedging deeper and deeper into the residential areas of Bakhmut from the east.
At the same time, an offensive on the town is developing on Opytne side, and at least one block on the southern outskirts has already been taken over.

Keep on walking forward comrades.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 21 2023 9:23 utc | 165

@ both Lysa | Jan 20 2023 16:45 utc | 2 and watcher | Jan 20 2023 21:56 utc | 53
Russia has hypersonic weapons, and good military technology generally. Enough to win this Russian Civil War. But to overweigh this is to commit the wunderwaffe error in the opposite direction. The US has an incredible lead in military spending, GDP, and it’s a massive reach to sign it all away to corruption (massive though it is).
It is foolish to equate spending with technological advantage as the US space biro versus Russian pencil shows. However I agree that too many commentators on the Russian side have excess hubris about their wonder weapons. My unskilled observation it that the Russian technology works very well but i do not think they have enough of it for a full scale war.
Interesting thoughts. I agree with Watcher’s statement that it is foolish to equate spending with tech advantage. I’ll add that it’s foolish to equate spending with capability. Compare the US spending of 800-odd billion on defense with Russia’s 65-odd billion (USD equivalent according to estimates). The US has been spending roughly that, or near that for 20 years (between 600 and 800 billion), and what does it have to show for it? 4 failed wars (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria – failed in the sense that they didn’t achieve what they purportedly set out to achieve), weapon systems that underperform (to put it diplomatically), and a demonstrably catastrophic failure to even stand toe to toe with Russian capabilities in Ukraine (whether it’s weapon systems or tactical abilities, or strategic planning/doctrine). In other words, the US has spent a fu*k-ton of money in the last 20 years and got sweet F/A for its efforts. Meanwhile the RF has spent less than a tenth of the money and is cleaning the US’s clock – and as an added bonus, it has true wunderwaffe to sweeten the deal.
I take issue with Watcher’s statement “My unskilled observation it that the Russian technology works very well but i do not think they have enough of it for a full-scale war.” Putin just said the other day that they make more than 3x the number of missiles that the US makes, and more than the rest of the world combined! Hezbollah, last I saw, had something like 40k missiles to use against Israel. Iran, last I saw, had something like 20k long range missiles to use against Israel. Do you really think that Russia, with it’s vast industrial base, and which has been preparing for this war since 2008, has less? It’s had functional hypersonic weapon systems since March 2018; most likely sooner than they announced it to the world. That’s 5 years ago. It has improve on them since then and deployed them – they’re operational! Do you recall that general Breedlove commented on the Russian level of EW capabilities in Syria as “eye watering?” That was 8 years ago. So yeah, the “Russian technology” works well, and there is absolutely no evidence that they don’t have enough of it. Quite to the contrary; they haven’t run out of missiles, they are dominating the battlefield, and Putin said the above about manufacturing capabilities. There is no evidence that he’s lying, the indicators are that he’s correct, and therefore I have no reason to disbelieve him.
To Lysa, no, it’s not all assigned to corruption. The corruption is massive, but so is the US commitment to it’s 800 plus bases and its commitment to outdated weapons systems. The US fritters money away, and spends enormous amounts of money on mediocre weapon systems and lost causes. It does have an enormous lead on military spending and GDP; the simple answer is that a fool and his money are soon parted. The US economy is a FIRE economy. Tell me, how many tanks and shells and artillery tubes, how much stuff does a FIRE economy make when its currency is hollowed out as is now happening? How much physical stuff can the nominal US GDP acquire when it alienates and makes an enemy of its principle manufacturer? What happens when the Chinese say “we don’t want your dollars, give us gold?” Well, if we had 20 years to rebuild the manufacturing base in the US, we could tell them to go get bent. But we don’t have that time, things are happening right now, and we aren’t prepared. As someone above commented, we are only 23 years into this century and you think that the US is going to stay on top for the next 77 years? The US order is already unravelling, we’re in the midst of it. The US will be lucky to still be functioning in its present form in the next 2 years. Just today it was announced that there have been 55k layoffs from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and others this year – 20 days into the year! Record setting inflation, massive debt, rising interest rates, a population leveraged up to their eyeball’s, a recession on it’s way, hollowed out manufacturing base, supply disruption, rising energy costs, increasing immiseration and desperation, and somehow you think that the wealthy are immune, can carry on and that the present US order will endure throughout the century? That there is enough of a buffer in the US? I think that the US order is about to come crashing down and the poor will eat the rich, and the world won’t have to worry about the US meddling in their countries, because the people in the US will be busy clubbing each other to death over their next morsel of food or house in which to keep warm.

Posted by: Scuppers | Jan 21 2023 9:26 utc | 167

– US NAVY Seal killed in Ukraine. The Navy said he had gone absent without leave and had been listed as an “active deserter” since March 11, 2019. nytimes
The story that a deserter from an elite unit goes to an active war zone is ludicrous. Deserters run away from war zones.
– Drones attack US military base in Syria centcom
Someone is rapping the US on the knuckles – plausible denial goes both ways.

Posted by: Passerby | Jan 21 2023 9:38 utc | 169

Hello folks, last week had seen an interview with former General Erich Vad, published on »Emma«, which made some splash concerning the matter at stake here.
Currently, there is a highly interesting interview with one of Germany’s former highest military ranks, both in the forces and NATO, Harald Kujat: https://zeitgeschehen-im-fokus.ch/de/newspaper-ausgabe/nr-1-vom-18-januar-2023.html.
Though the facts named being already known to most people here, it’s still interesting to see, how those things – regularly dismissed as ‘conspiracy theory’® or concealed completely by the european media of quality (MSM)- come into public, slowly but surely.
Possibly sb. here can help with regard to transferring it to English.

Posted by: Yogi | Jan 21 2023 9:42 utc | 171

It will be interesting to see if Russians manage to set up another pre-designed “grinder” similar to Soledar somewhere else, since it was such a huge success. My guess Nato command will be scrambling to plug holes in Zaporizhe at expense of everything else, well atleast they should be. The ground beyond Orekhov, and Zaporizhe on the river bank is open steppe, rushing in reinforcements should be easier to whittle down with drones etc.
There were talks that ukie abandoned their attacks on Kreminna after Soledar (and maybe due to mini crisis situation in Orekhov).

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 21 2023 9:50 utc | 173

@ Paul Greenwood | Jan 21 2023 9:25 utc | 165
Ho ho ho. Priceless.
&

French politician accuses US of intent to start war in Europe
Florian Philippot noted that French President Emmanuel Macron will probably ship Leclerc tanks to Ukraine
MOSCOW, January 21. /TASS/. Florian Philippot, head of France’s The Patriots political party, accused the US of desire to start a world war in Europe.
“Under the pressure of American hawks, EU countries fall into total unconsciousness regarding shipment of increasingly heavy weapons [to Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky,” Philippot tweeted Friday. “The American hawks want a world war in Europe.”
He noted that French President Emmanuel Macron will probably ship Leclerc tanks to Ukraine.
…

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 9:57 utc | 175

Ergo – how will Ukraine maintain advanced armoured systems from Germany ?
It is not as easy as with Abrams where you give an illiterate GI a CD-ROm and a Gameboy and he can keep those gas turbines purring. I mean Challenger 2 can manage 100 miles across country before refuelling.that means a lot of transporters to get them 700 miles from Poland to the Front
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jan 21 2023 9:25 utc | 165
They don’t have to really use them like an army, it’s terrorism. Some slefies for MSM, hunt for civilians, shoot at buildings, dams, factories, many options for nato entertainment. Like 2014-2022 but extended all over Syria2 Russia. Don’t forget the dirty bomb idea, more delivery options and longer range with each weapon package.
Since the Soviet stuff is gone from natostan, why not recycle a large amount of nato weapons manufactured by a competitor too? All will be replaced by US. natostan will lose hundreds of German tanks this year and Germany can’t make them like before, when energy, metals and other resources were cheapest on the planet and unlimited, thanks to Russia. US will have guaranteed billions over billions each month for decades and kill Russians at the same time.

Posted by: rk | Jan 21 2023 10:06 utc | 177

@ Yogi | Jan 21 2023 9:42 utc | 170
Article is too long to translate & post here. Though here’s a taste:

Ukraine conflict: “Now would be the right time to resume the broken negotiations”
“Arms deliveries mean pointlessly prolonging the war”
Interview with retired General Harald Kujat*.
* Current Affairs in Focus What value do you give to the coverage of Ukraine in our mainstream media ?
Retired General Harald Kujat The Ukrainian war is not only a military conflict; it is also an economic and an information war. In this information war, one can become a participant in the war if one adopts information and arguments that one can neither verify nor judge on the basis of one’s own competence. In some cases, motives that are understood as moral or ideological also play a role.
This is particularly problematic in Germany because the media mainly feature “experts” who have no knowledge or experience of security policy and strategy and therefore express opinions that they draw from publications by other “experts” with comparable expertise. Obviously, this also builds up political pressure on the German government. The debate about the delivery of certain weapons systems shows abundantly clearly the intention of many media outlets to play politics themselves. It may be that my unease about this development is a consequence of my many years of service in NATO, including as chairman of the NATO-Russia Council and the NATO-Ukraine Commission of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I find it particularly galling that so little attention is being paid to German security interests and the dangers to our country from an expansion and escalation of the war. This shows a lack of sense of responsibility or, to use an old-fashioned term, a highly unpatriotic attitude. In the United States, one of the two main players in this conflict, the approach to the Ukraine war is much more nuanced and controversial, but nonetheless always guided by national interests.
They spoke out in early 2022, when the situation on the border with Ukraine was becoming increasingly acute, to the then Inspector General of the Navy, Vice General Kai-Achim Schönbach, and in a sense backed him. He issued an urgent warning against escalation with Russia and reproached the West for humiliating Putin and that it was necessary to negotiate with him on an equal footing.
I did not speak out on the matter, but to defend him from unqualified attacks. However, I have always believed that this war must be prevented and that it could have been prevented. I also spoke out publicly on this in December 2021. And at the beginning of January 2022, I published proposals on how a result acceptable to all sides could be achieved in negotiations that would avoid war after all. Unfortunately, things turned out differently.
…

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 21 2023 10:16 utc | 179

By way of comparison, the US economy is $21T and growing.
Posted by: Muthaucker | Jan 21 2023 0:35 utc | 81
Don’t tell this guy what purchasing power parity means and what China’s GDP and GDP growth rate are, he will go crazy.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 21 2023 10:47 utc | 181

@ Smith | Jan 21 2023 10:30 utc | 180
There may be a bit of US-German theater there.
Like the US insisting troops be pulled away from Artemovsk (Bakhmut) for reorganization for a Crimean campaign, without reference to what would be happening in Artemovsk and points west in the meantime.
CYA all the way.

Posted by: John Kennard | Jan 21 2023 10:57 utc | 183

Correction @182: …the entire American Ruse not mark to market…

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 21 2023 11:08 utc | 185

⚡️Zaporozhye direction – thoughts about the offensive of the RF Armed Forces.
Judging by the incoming information, the enemy is not yet able to build a solid line of defense, especially in several echelons, as in the Donbass (not enough forces).
Its defense is built around communications centers in the hope that our units will not go forward, leaving them in the rear. He is given confidence by the fact that last summer the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed how they can work on the communications of our troops. And then there are the Hymers, which can really spoil our plans for us.
The tactics are dangerous for the Armed Forces of Ukraine because if we have much more forces than the enemy expects, and we will be able to solve the issue of covering the rear and the interaction of troops (and here we have a lot of progress compared to the summer, although not everything is as good as we would like ), then this can cause the collapse of the front. And then, in order to prevent this, the enemy will have to urgently transfer forces from other directions.
And there are already so few of them and this can cause crises in other “directions”.
By the way, this may force Kyiv to surrender Artemovsk and Seversk more quickly in order to free up reserves.
And this gives us a unique chance (before spring) to carry out an offensive operation on a large scale.
The only question is can we? In fact, it’s not even the enemy that worries me more in this matter, but the ability of the military branches of the RF Verkhovna Rada to interact on the battlefield, communications, and rear. If critical problems can be avoided here, then there are chances of success.
Analyst Yury Podolyaki

https://t.me/geromanat/4618

Posted by: Down South | Jan 21 2023 11:39 utc | 187

Posted by: Julian | Jan 21 2023 11:31 utc | 186
You must have had a very sketchy education if you find the Dawes Plan a revelation !! Next you will discover Kellogg-Briand, or maybe the Young Plan ?
Did you realise Germany post-1919 was funded by speculative capital from USA ?
Had you no idea how much funding came from New York ?
Were you unaware of GM buying Opel in 1929 after Ford set up in Cologne in 1925 ?
Did you know ITT bought into Focke-Wulf and sponsored Heinrich Himmler ?

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jan 21 2023 12:01 utc | 189

Mercouris & others downplay western propaganda, then turn around and believe the blurb that the west is running out of weapons.
Old ex-military drinking buddies still tell me there are mountains of stuff stashed away,literally inside mountains.
Who to believe?
Putin himself said NATO has no shortage of weapons.

Posted by: SIXTUS V | Jan 21 2023 12:14 utc | 191

Posted by: Julian | Jan 21 2023 11:31 utc | 186
I am not arguing that US was not economically top dog in 1924. It was or even earlier, but there are three elements of being the dominant empire- first comes the economy, then comes the military and last the cultural dominance. The US did not have undisputed military dominance until 1945.
What I am saying is that while an objective observer may well have looked at the world in 1900 and accurately predicted that the UK would lost its status, with the US taking over, in reality in too WWI for it to be clear to military observers and WWII to make it obvious to the whole world and for the USA to willingly pick up the baton.
Until the French revolution, France was top dog and UK the challenger.

Posted by: watcher | Jan 21 2023 12:35 utc | 193

Posted by: watcher | Jan 21 2023 12:35 utc | 193
To pursue your argument you need to explain US. “Plan Orange” and “Plan Red” and Washington Naval; Conference 1921-22

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jan 21 2023 12:39 utc | 195

The Soviets never threw away equipment, preferring to put it into storage, hence the TOE of a Category III division was like reading museum exhibit cards. Useful against irradiated NATO remnants, or equally decrepit NATO territorial units, but worthless against the top tier. Having a surplus is only useful if it can hope to counter the threat, otherwise it’s mainly designed to be a morale booster and not a significant contributor to any tactical success.

Posted by: Milites | Jan 21 2023 12:56 utc | 197

RU making yet more incremental advances S (Klischeevka) and N of Bakhmut city. The real story may turn out to be not the eventual capture of Bakhmut itself, but those 25 brigades that Ukraine deployed around the city, in that area. Many of them may already after months be shattered, but if remnants are held in position, they will be completely dismantled. If they are withdrawn, they’ll too become subject to bombardment in the open, as the defenders inside Bakhmut. There’s no hurry here.
https://t.me/geromanat/4616

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 21 2023 13:22 utc | 199