natokraine | Jan 23 2023 4:08 utc | 190
Opportunity knockers will surface in due course. Your username is one I do not recognise.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 23 2023 5:55 utc | 204

DakotaRog | Jan 23 2023 3:22 utc | 183
I post under my given name. Some clown hiding behind an anonymous username accuses me of using a fake name.
I have no tolerance for clowns that shallow. You use a name that I assume is not the one your parents give you. It doesn’t matter to me. But when someone using a fake name accuses me of using a fake name……………… their face their legs their arms their guts are toast.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 23 2023 6:06 utc | 206

@Peter AU1
You were discussing of gold and when Opport Knocks said « unsurprising position, given your screen name » (# 131), it was just because « he was making a reference to the chemical symbol for Gold in English which is “AU” », as Tom_Q_Collins
pointed out to you (# 143). So this misunderstanding was no reason to start a brawl, let alone continue it.
My best to you both.

Posted by: Leuk | Jan 23 2023 6:51 utc | 208

Leuk | Jan 23 2023 6:51 utc | 208
Opport Knocks can contact me publicly or privately and all is finished. I was accused of hiding behind a false name by some clown hiding behind a false name. Opport Knocks has been around for awhile and is a username I recognize. The idiot clown has been around long enough to understand that unlike him/her I do not hide behind a fake name. An apology will suffice.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 23 2023 7:02 utc | 210

Posted by: Weimar | Jan 22 2023 21:03 utc | 88
The most recent media statement by the French Communist Party was calling for a ceasefire. https://www.pcf.fr/guerre_en_ukraine_l_urgence_du_cessez_le_feu_est_plus_que_jamais_d_actualite

Posted by: Pete Jones | Jan 23 2023 7:46 utc | 212

The most recent media statement by the French Communist Party was calling for a ceasefire. https://www.pcf.fr/guerre_en_ukraine_l_urgence_du_cessez_le_feu_est_plus_que_jamais_d_actualite
Posted by: Pete Jones | Jan 23 2023 7:46 utc | 212
The claim that “Russia bears the greatest responsibility” is just disingenuous. As Lenin said, it does not matter who fired the first shot, but rather the cause and effect behind it.
Obviously, the only possible correct Marxist position is to admit that “responsibility lies with every imperialist country involved and to oppose imperialist intervention in Ukraine”.
I pointed this out, and then was accused by all pro-Russian and anti-Russian people.
This is like calling for peace in the Vietnam War instead of a complete victory of North Vietnam.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 23 2023 8:06 utc | 214

unimperator #59
Yes, Orban says they are de-Natoizing the force. It is really more than that though. Back in 2010 they changed the military retirement from years of service to 62 years of age thus locking in everyone for a long time. The obvious effect was that people were blocked from promotions until the senior personnel got old enough to retire. The other effect was an immediate retirement prior to the implementation of anyone that could retire did. Now a lot of people will get promotions and all NATO sympathizers will be gone. This is a re-engineering of the military similar to what Obama did with his loyalty test in the US military that eliminated anyone who supported the Constitution more than the President. I recall a ton of officers were eliminated and may be partly the reason we suck so bad as an effective fighting force now.
I have a friend who is an MI-24 pilot and is now a 2-star general. He has ben working in deployment at various assignments the latest being at NATO HQ. Interestingly, he tried to retire last year and was refused and sent to a Ministry of Defense position as NATO liaison. So, in his case he got his wish to retire. I was going to teach him sailing so now we get some time together for that. I was for a 4 year period in my career a UH-1 aviator so I have a bond with the thousands of retired Hungarian pilots who were forced out in 1992 when Hungary closed down the enormous helicopter base nearby and kicked everyone out. In my area a lot of these pilots are all friends of mine now and all speak English as pilots around the world must speak English to fly outside their country.
The other dumb thing they did when Orban first came back into office and transmuted into a Conservative was change the military retirement system. He was previously Prime Minister as a neo-Liberal and was a Soros disciple turned traitor against Soros after his first disastrous administration. Now he is horribly corrupt (but doesn’t remotely compare to Biden or Zelensky in that regard or for that matter all of our Congress). Anyway, Orban made all private, military, police, emergency services, and Firemen retirement programs illegal and absorbed all of it into the National Retirement system (what we could call Social Security). Prior to this, these people received much better retirements but it was all rolled into the SSA system which is dismal in comparison. This was the beginning of the unrest in Hungary against Orban. Luckily for Orban, the refugee problem came along which united the country and ignited the anti-EU flames. Imagine a country where the average wage is $400 a month but the EU forces you to give refugees $650 per person. That didn’t go over well especially considering Hungarians all hate Muslims. They hate a lot of people though and the list from what my 13 years living here indicates runs from Gypsies, Gays, Muslims, and then Jews. Say what you want but I can say this is roughly 98% of the people are unified in this regard. The US/EU style of neo-Liberalism will never take hold here and any attempt to force it is met with fierce and growing resistance. So, people tend to look the other way here about Orban as long as he keeps the Muslims out and no gays. The other governments since the breakup of the Soviet Union were worse in many ways. Roughly half the country would love to go back to Communism as things for the working people were far better. The rich here are happy but not the bottom half of the socio-economic strata.
Regarding NATO, I think Orban is enjoying poking them at every opportunity and there is nothing the NATO can do about it. All countries are “equal” (although “some animals are more equal than others”) and all decisions require 100% support hence why the US often does things outside of NATO. BY the way the same policy exists in the EU which VDL wants very badly to change but it is enshrined in the Constitution so requires again a 100% vote to change. VDL HATES Orban!! Both Turkey and Hungary can block the entry into NATO of any new countries so Sweden, Finland (because they consider the Kurds an actual thing), and Ukraine as they hate Hungarians and the Nazis kill them just as much as they do ethnic Russians. Hungary especially hates the US/Zelinsky regime as it treats ethnic Hungarians equally badly under the “minority laws”.
I can add there is an undercurrent here in Hungary about the very unfair Trianon Treaty which took away 66% of Hungarian territory. They want it back and will do anything to get it. This was the reason they joined Hitler’s Army willingly as they were promised to get back all that territory some of which is in Ukraine. The people living in these regions that were absorbed have all refused to assimilate and consider themselves to be full Hungarians despite what the borders say. Orban also gave automatic citizenship to all descendants of former Hungarians in these territories and they vote here and carry Hungarian passports if they wish. Hungary used to be a large empire and the Hungarian people still think this way I can’t see this ever-changing.
I know I have over-simplified a lot of complex problems but this is how it is here in a nutshell.

Posted by: Old Microbiologist | Jan 23 2023 8:17 utc | 216

Re: USD/SCO currency efforts/Sur, etc. which I believe are on topic because they are a fundamental factor..
A currency is only worth what it can be exchanged for. The currency itself doesn’t matter. Although increased use does enhance the value of a currency, The biggest factor in the petrodollar was not the purchase of oil in USD, it was that surplus nations recycled the surpluses into USD denominated assets (read: bonds, etc.) (this was an explicit part of the KSA agreement). The USD has had a massive trade deficit for decades, but was supported by China, Japan, KSA etc recycling this surplus back into dollar assets and most of the rest of the world accumulating USD CB reserves to ‘support’ their currencies. Saving in currency assets, e.g. withholding demand is the only mechanism by which to avoid the effects of a trade deficit. It is what has prevented the USD from declining in value to balance trade flows, and allowed it to export inflation to the rest of the world.
But this mechanism is already broken for the USD. The surplus countries: China, Japan, Russia, KSA etc are no longer accumulating treasuries (indeed China is divesting), and many more are diversifying CB reserves (the accumulation of USD and EUR CB reserves was another mechanism for suppressing currency realignment). In this sense, the game is already half won.. US trade deficits will now show up in inflation as the surplus on the other side will now be used to buy other, tangible, things. Nobody will be investing their hard earned surpluses into ponzi paper anymore.
There is little point in trying to make a new reserve currency and repeat the US ponzi… nobody will bite. All that is needed is something that can be transformed into commodities, critical goods, and land with minimal friction. All that is needed for an SCO currency is the guarantee that it can be settled for any of the critical physical goods. Russia needs sufficient export markets for commodities, China needs access to both commodities and markets for goods, etc. etc. Redirect all trade surpluses into same, and the world will rebalance itself. What medium of saving and settlement is chosen is everything, not the specific currency used.

Posted by: dask | Jan 23 2023 8:28 utc | 218

Budanov confirmed that Kireev was killed by the SBU – he said that the murder happened so that he could not drag out the negotiation process
In Ukraine, an all-out war between the GUR and the SBU continues. According to the head of military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, Denis Kireev was indeed killed by members of the Security Service of Ukraine. At the same time, Budanov notes, the negotiator had an important task – to stretch the process in order to buy time for the militants. In his opinion, this was done so that Kireev did not fulfill his main task.
“I can express absolutely my subjective opinion. I want to emphasize this again: the one who deliberately did this had the goal of preventing us from interfering in someone else’s game and dragging out this process in order to allow our Armed Forces, let’s say, to take certain actions to repulse the enemy, ” he said.
Budanov also stated that he really believes that the SBU “killed a Ukrainian hero.” According to him, the fact of the crime was recorded in the investigation. However, he did not focus on whether the resignation of the ex-head of the service, Ivan Bakanov, who is a friend of Zelensky, is connected with this murder.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad/30214

Posted by: Down South | Jan 23 2023 8:34 utc | 220

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 23 2023 6:59 utc | 209
Very incisive. The top spin doctor going off message, the leadership of the interior ministry mysteriously dying. It feels like the deep state is moving. If the existing narrative needs to change, new actors may be needed to front it up. Zelinsky may be sleeping with an axe under his pillow these days.
Posted by: Colin | Jan 23 2023 8:06 utc | 214
Don’t shoot the messenger! The original post said the PCF were supporting sending tanks to the Ukraine. They may be politically confused, but they haven’t strayed that far. I agree with you that their position is flawed, and the underlying blame for the conflict lies with the Empire.

Posted by: Pete Jones | Jan 23 2023 8:36 utc | 222

Russia has reliable data that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are storing Western weapons at nuclear power plants – SVR
If detonation of warehouses and destruction of nuclear power plants occur at Ukrainian nuclear power plants, it is planned to blame Moscow – Foreign Intelligence Service
Posted by: Down South | Jan 23 2023 8:31 utc | 219
Of course they are. Grossi/IAEA said one-two weeks ago they’re sending teams to every Ukr NPP, but in the past they refused many times to go to ZNPP. Why this sudden change? IAEA is what OSCE observers were in Donbass, Grossi is providing support for weapon storage and dirty bombs, denying everything. Grossi still doesn’t want to say who is shelling ZNPP.
“Slow is best” is so retarded that it can also be explained by an inside job, probably paper generals are preparing to take power as soon as a big terrorist attack happens, like missiles falling in Moscow, a dirty bomb or who knows what.

Posted by: rk | Jan 23 2023 8:47 utc | 224

The ISW campaign assessment of January 21 has just made me laugh out loud, and all in the first paragraph.
Get a load of this
“The Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut is likely a strategically sound effort despite its costs for Ukraine.”
Uh-huh. Do tell. I expect that we are going to be subjected to some world-class Orwellian double-speak.
“While the costs associated with Ukraine’s continued defense of Bakhmut are significant and likely include opportunity costs related to potential Ukrainian counter-offensive operations elsewhere, Ukraine would also have paid a significant price for allowing Russian troops to take Bakhmut easily.”
So holding Bakhmit *is* important. Okay…..
“Bakhmut itself is not operationally or strategically significant but had Russian troops taken it relatively rapidly and cheaply they could have hoped to expand operations in ways that could have forced Ukraine to construct hasty defensive positions in less favorable terrain.”
So the town of Bakmhmut *is* important, even though the town *isn’t* important, even though the town *is* important.
I’m fairly certain that Orwell never attempted triple-speak but, well, there it is thanks to Fat Freddie Kagan.

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Jan 23 2023 9:09 utc | 226

@217
Not sure that would work. Lots of Ukrainian men have gone to Ireland and are apparently being given preferential access to housing. In a country where lack of affordable housing is at crisis level. Irish people are very discontented.

Posted by: Valerie Swales | Jan 23 2023 9:26 utc | 228

@ Passerby / 84
I’ve got a question about Germany. The German government opposes being the first to send tanks to Ukraine. Why? Is this because sending tanks would make the current government impopular? Is this because images of German rolling over the Ukrainian plain bring back memories? Or is this because the German government feels that returning to business as usual with Russia after the war is becoming a rather remote possibility?
I’m from Germany, and here is my opinion:
As I mentioned before, the German public is brainwashed by russophobe propaganda day in day out. Nevertheless, Germans are divided on this issue, and so is the governing coalition, which consists of three parties: Social Democrats (SPD), Green Party and Liberals (FDP). The Greens (the party of Annalena Baerbock) is pro-war and anti-Russia (in my opinion, the Green Party is totally controlled by the USA). The Liberals are mostly for arms deliveries, too. The party of Olaf Scholz, SPD, is divided, but I think, a majority is anti-war. Rolf Mützenich for example, the chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, is anti-war and wants Russia to be part of an European system for security. So the SPD delays any decisions, while the Green Party and the FDP is pushing. I think, Scholz hopes that the war is over soon and no decisions have to be taken anymore.
But there is the possibility that the governing coalition breaks up over this issue. And then the Green Party and the FDP would form a new coalition with the CDU. The CDU is also pro-Ukraine (Ursula von der Leyen is a member of the CDU, for example). The problem is, that the German population is not represented in the parliament. And the media are pressing for arms deliveries, but the media doesn’t represent the German population either*. The only two parties opposed to a conflict with Russia is the Left Party and the AfD (patriotic right wing). But a coalition of SPD, Left and AfD is impossible, so Scholz has to maneuver: Try to keep the war-mongers in check, but don’t overstep the mark to avoid the break up of the coalition. I think Scholz is hoping that Putin will see how hard he’s trying to delay this. He definitely doesn’t want to burn the final bridge between Russia and Germany.
*) https://www.anews.com.tr/world/2023/01/19/most-germans-against-sending-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine

Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 23 2023 9:53 utc | 230

They didn’t want to kill anyone”: Arestovich spoke about the beginning of the SMO
After leaving the post of adviser to the Office of the President, Arestovich launched into all serious frankness – he said that the Russian special operation was conceived as a bloodless mission and should have passed without casualties.
“They tried to wage a smart war… Such an elegant, beautiful, lightning-fast special operation, where polite people, without causing any damage to either a kitten or a child, eliminated the few who resisted. And they didn’t even eliminate them, but offered to surrender, switch sides, understand and etc. They didn’t want to kill anyone. Just sign the renunciation.”
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/30253

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 23 2023 10:37 utc | 232

John Helmer’s latest has a cohort of retired German Generals accurately assessing that the NATO partners (mostly USA) have stabbed Germany in the back and are seeking to reduce its dominant position in the EU.
http://johnhelmer.net/german-general-kujat-warns-the-ukraine-war-is-lost-revives-the-stab-in-the-back-charge-against-the-us-and-nato-for-exposing-germany-to-russia/

Posted by: Opport Knocks | Jan 23 2023 10:42 utc | 234

@desk
You have hit the nail on the head. So many misunderstand the petrodollar and miss the fact that the dollar surpluses must be recycled into treasury bonds and other things.
Of course that’s not the whole petrodollar story because it allows the us to shut off a countries access to oil on a whim in theory, not sure that would work anymore, and that’s beside the point anyway.
Many in the bar would do well to heed your words.

Posted by: Lachlan | Jan 23 2023 10:57 utc | 236

Another aspect of the German problem: this Leopard is only part of a much bigger weapon-system. It needs a lof of infrastructure, well-trained people and can be applied only integrated with said system. To have air superiority is an unavoidable part of any successful application of that Leopard. – If these requirements are not there, they are not there, it will ony fail. And the fiasco will damage the German repuation as producers of sweet and successful war equipment.
Out of the blue sky Poland demands huge amounts of war compensation. It seems to be backed by the US, but secretly. With this money Poland coul buy huge amounts of US weapons, but not much without it. It seems that the US changed its strategy in Europe: build a new iron curtain against Russia using Sweden, Finlad, the Baltic states, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria – and forget about the rest of Western Europe.
The slowly recovering German instinct does not want the confrontation against Russia and grows from day to day.

Posted by: Hausmeister | Jan 23 2023 11:03 utc | 238

A currency is only worth what it can be exchanged for.
That isn’t the case. A currency isn’t the same as a commodity.
A currency is issued by an entity that wishes to provision itself. It can enact that provision because it has the power of confiscation. But rather than confiscating what it wants directly, it gives a token in exchange. That token is then payable to a collector of taxes at a particular rate, which spreads out the cost of the physical confiscation amongst multiple people.
Therefore the currency is worth something to somebody with a tax or other bill in that denomination and is worth whatever real loss they would otherwise incur by failing to pay that bill.
Currencies are discount tokens that are issued instead of physical confiscation. It’s the strength and power behind the physical confiscation that matters for the base value of a currency.
The suspension of Russian access to foreign reserves shows how the confiscation scheme can and does work.
And that’s why commodity backed currencies will fail. Where are the commodities stored and what is to stop the country they are in from confiscating them or short changing somebody? That will happen eventually as the constant collapse of gold standards and other fixed exchange systems testifies.

Posted by: The Accountant | Jan 23 2023 11:29 utc | 240

@Hausmeister
It seems that the US changed its strategy in Europe: build a new iron curtain against Russia using Sweden, Finlad, the Baltic states, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria – and forget about the rest of Western Europe.
The US changed its strategy some time ago:
https://www.dw.com/en/rumsfeld-repeats-old-europe-comments/a-890806

Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 23 2023 11:39 utc | 242

The dark reality is that the primary and final support for the currency comes from the violence of the state.
The violence of the United States underpins the purchasing power of the dollar. Fearing or needing U.S. violence, oil nations and China have to accept the slavery of the dollar.
The ability to produce sophisticated commodities has supported the Deutschmark and the yen in the past versus the current Swiss franc, but this is not the case with the United States.
Even in the days of the gold and/or silver standard, the state often used violence to expropriate Seigniorage.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 23 2023 11:52 utc | 244

Some barfies here missed Baerbock’s last statement on sunday.
Leuk | Jan 23 2023 11:40 utc | 243
Just some lip service for French LCI TV (LCI is OTAN asset, the ” journalist” Rochebin probably the most pro Otan embedded…).
Wait and see

Posted by: La Bastille | Jan 23 2023 11:57 utc | 246

Mercouris also claims that US told Ukraine that the newest “package” is the last large delivery of heavy weapons Ukraine will get. There won’t be anything else for a while.
That means that UA losses will go up parabolically and they will get run over pretty much everywhere, after they waste this batch.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 23 2023 12:16 utc | 248

Chatter from russian tg:
Kamenskoe has fallen. RF are marching on Stepnogorsk.
RF are storming predtechino and Stupochek between Artemovsk and Konstantinovka.
The two remaining major roads are close to be physically cut leaving only a local road for all supplies from and to artemovsk/bakhmut.

Posted by: Orgel | Jan 23 2023 12:18 utc | 250

Posted by: 3anonZ | Jan 23 2023 12:44 utc | 251
So what?
Seems that they are in Poland. They are “repayment” to Poles for sending their T-72 and 14 Leopard 2 to Ukraine.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 23 2023 12:48 utc | 252

@ Leuk | Jan 23 2023 12:17 utc | 249
But now, they cornered Scholz.
As Merkel on NS2.
The Ampel German Gouvernement is the next step.
Scholz ist Deadman Walking.

Posted by: La Bastille | Jan 23 2023 13:05 utc | 254

The decision of the German authorities to refuse the transfer to Ukraine tanks The German-made Leopard 2 is due to a number of reasons, among which economic considerations play an almost key role.
https://www.nzz.ch/international/kampfpanzer-warum-sie-fuer-die-ukraine-existenziell-sind-ld.1722259
Berlin fears that if other European countries are given the go-ahead to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine, then they may later be replaced by American Abrams tanks. Thus, Germany will lose its markets for military equipment,
Germany believes that the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine will only speed up the process of replacing German-made weapons in European armies with products of the American military-industrial complex. Already, the United States is offering countries supplying tanks to Ukraine to replenish their stocks of armored vehicles with products of American industry. As a result, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz found himself in a difficult situation: on the one hand, the refusal to supply tanks could worsen the position of the Kyiv regime, on the other hand, their supply could lead to a blow to the German military industry.

Posted by: La Bastille | Jan 23 2023 13:23 utc | 256

Hausmeister | Jan 23 2023 13:12 utc | 255
the main battle tank: abrams, leclerc, leopard, etc are shock weapons against the small units with no artillery of the taliban and isis.
against a modern, integrated military force as established by the russian federation in areas of donbas the tank must be a part of a large, very complex team of other weapons and vast logistics support.
sending 14 leopards without a mass of infantry fighting vehicles, air cover, huge amounts of transport, spare parts and lakes of fuel is a token of political correctness.
the us army doctrine for the abrams was the “air land battle” obeying the principle that the glorious big tank is just a small part…..

Posted by: paddy | Jan 23 2023 13:33 utc | 258

Ukraine may soon* join Russia in her war against NATO.
* <= 10 months

Posted by: Stavrogin | Jan 23 2023 13:40 utc | 260

Added: for example the USA is right now in the business of keeping Germany down so it has to buy our stuff, AND provoking Russia, a twofer. Welcome to the “rules based order”.

Posted by: Bemildred | Jan 23 2023 13:49 utc | 262

Posted by: Apollyon | Jan 23 2023 13:33 utc | 259
1] Kujat makes sense
2] UK closed down Challenger MBT production lines 2013
3] UK stopped production of munitions for Challenger MBT 2006
4] Abrams tank is not designed for Central Europe and is not suited to cold weather
5] Leopard tank is not properly armoured against ATGM
6] Us wants Germany embroiled in war with Russia then it will withdraw
7] Poland thinks US and UK will back it as a new Big Power
8] Romania and Poland are being prepped for destruction
9] US has no manufacturing capacity to supply tanks and they are wholly unsuited to Central European Plain
10] Abrams and Leopard is essentially the same tank – it was a common design

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Jan 23 2023 13:53 utc | 264

@ Yeah, Right | Jan 23 2023 9:09 utc | 226
Lol. 🙂
@ La Bastille | Jan 23 2023 13:23 utc | 256
There is a larger, medium & long term, strategic & geopolitical objective beyond what you validly address.
Once the EU/NATO States are transitioned to predominantly US Arms, MBTs, Aircraft, follow-on IFVs, their militaries become evermore directly suborned & entirely at the mercy of US withheld & drip-fed spares/parts/components/ammunition/logistical support, all at massively inflated ‘Tribute’ costs annually. Current EU/NATO MIC capacity, not just Germany, would evaporate.
Further loss of sovereignty, independence, loss of political/military/economic freedom of action outside of Empires literal directives. Polities at the mercy of color coups. Militaries loyalties compromised & suborned. See: Latin American imposed military dictatorships, Current Iraq executive government, etc …
21st century pseudo Slave Plantations. See: CSA prior to 1865, Australia, Canada (?) today, …
@ paddy | Jan 23 2023 13:33 utc | 258
Well said. Also critically requires effective/integrated Theater wide ‘mobile’, not static, Air Defense, and trained experienced Infantryman, up-skilled to accompanying troopers, Mechanized Infantry (Motor Rifle), to support/protect & closely interoperate with MBTs.
Indeed all this is in support of the political propaganda narrative, zero relevance to real world military operations nor the military outcome of the SMO.
Cheers.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2023 14:12 utc | 266

@ Paul Greenwood | Jan 23 2023 13:53 utc | 264
Same geopolitical strategy as WWI, WWII, Iran-Iraq War, etc, borrowed from the former British Empire.
Let’s you & him fight to the death, join in at the 11th hour once the outcome is determined, then scour over the scraps afterwards. However in this case, it appears that strategy is foreseen in possible phases, RF vs Ukraine, then RF vs ‘Willing’ Poland/Baltic States outside NATO ‘Coalition’, then RF vs EU/NATO remainder, then the 7th Cavalry rides to the rescue, followed by mass rapine & PLUNDER.
If not viable to continue at any stage, merely walk away … Adios.
Much talking heads messaging ongoing, official/unofficial, of simply ‘walking away’ by June/July if probable outcome does not improve to US advantage. The Pentagon is not amused, nor onside.

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2023 14:31 utc | 268

“Men nearly always speak and write as if riches were absolute, as if it were possible, by following certain scientific precepts, for everybody to be rich. Whereas riches are a power like that of electricity, acting only through inequalities or negations of itself. The force of the guinea you have in your pocket depends wholly on the default of a guinea in your neighbors pocket. If he did not want it, it would be of no use to you; the degree of power it possesses depends accurately on the need or desire he has for it, – and the art of making yourself rich, in the ordinary mercantile economist’s sense, is therefore equally and necessarily the art of keeping your neighbor poor.” – John Ruskin “Unto this Last”
Bemildred@261
Thanks for the quotation. Ruskin is not much read nowadays-he is difficult- and his importance is underrated.
I believe that the Labour MPs elected in 1905-the first real Labour delegation in the House of Commons- were asked by a newspaper what book had the most influence over the development of their ideas. And the answer was Ruskin’s “Unto This Last.”

Posted by: bevin | Jan 23 2023 14:49 utc | 270

No shortage of astute observations in this thread.
However, the factor which exposes the utter fraudulence of US-ZATO’s Ukraine Fake War is Jewish-occupied PALESTINE.
If ZATO’s do-gooders were even mildly interested in opposing oppression and/or spreading Freedom, Democracy & Sovereignty, they would have done so. But they have consistently ignored the plight of Palestinians, armed the “Israelis” and helped “Israel” in its policy of keeping them disarmed/powerless.
ZATO just as fake as “Israel” and more evil (if that’s possible).

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jan 23 2023 15:18 utc | 272

I believe that the Labour MPs elected in 1905-the first real Labour delegation in the House of Commons- were asked by a newspaper what book had the most influence over the development of their ideas. And the answer was Ruskin’s “Unto This Last.”
Posted by: bevin | Jan 23 2023 14:49 utc | 270
Thank you. Agree. That is interesting to know. I remembered him from my mother’s books. There is a lot of illumination in the 19cy literature of the Western powers, really wised me up. Made a lot of things here come into focus better. Ruskin was difficult, and they do have some funny ideas …
Most of all you see that nothing is really new. All the Aristotelian babble about race with all their nice little categories and measurements. And they had no idea what they spoke of. Just like today.
And I came to the idea that they were all trying to imitate Swift.
And that is the one of Ruskin’s I liked best.
My wife/is was a lit. major, and I’m a stone nerd but I will read anything, and we bonded over it, we talk about English lit. and novels and books all the time.
That was 15 years ago now, they have already made a bunch of new “realities”.
Appreciate your efforts too.

Posted by: Bemildred | Jan 23 2023 15:31 utc | 274

Forgive the Off Topic remark, but I had to LOL when Bibi decided to demote the Supreme Court of “Israel” and transform it into the Sub-prime Court 😄

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jan 23 2023 15:33 utc | 276

The zombie warriors of Ukr: https://t.me/ZandVchannel/48440

Posted by: rk | Jan 23 2023 16:00 utc | 278

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 23 2023 15:33 utc | 276
Are there any recommended English channels? I can’t read Russian.

Posted by: Colin | Jan 23 2023 16:04 utc | 280

@ CommiesGOFY
Congratulations, I guess, for the stupidest comment I’ve seen on this site in quite dome time, and the competition has been fierce.

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 23 2023 16:08 utc | 282

LightYearsFromHome | Jan 23 2023 16:05 utc | 282
Yes. From today’s news: “Slovenia does not have tanks for Ukraine, but Ljubljana supports deliveries to Kiev from other countries” the country’s foreign minister said.

Posted by: rk | Jan 23 2023 16:15 utc | 284

I see where the western media seem to have shifted from “Ukraine is winning” to “It’s a stalemate”. Well, at least it’s a step in the direction of telling us the truth?

Posted by: Guy L’Estrange | Jan 23 2023 16:17 utc | 286

If you can use the phone app, the settings will allow you to translate easily.

Posted by: donten | Jan 23 2023 16:34 utc | 288

” @217
Not sure that would work. Lots of Ukrainian men have gone to Ireland and are apparently being given preferential access to housing. In a country where lack of affordable housing is at crisis level. Irish people are very discontented.
Posted by: Valerie Swales | Jan 23 2023 9:26 utc | 228 ”
I have a strange feeling migration form Ukraine is Ireland’s smallest issue right now. Ireland is being culturally enriched from other areas of the world at a much higher rate, but you had to bring up Ukrainian men. Very telling.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Jan 23 2023 16:37 utc | 290

oldhippie @ 276
Colin @ 281
Been working perfectly for me from the start, on the computer, over a year. I even had the translation function from the get go no idea why for others it just arrived recently. Make damn sure you click “mute” on each site. The go in stetting and get to work there, Data & Storage is likely whats f’ing you up, the vids are huge and seem to have no buffer on their end. Prevent auto download vids and set autoplay media vids off but gifs on if you choose. Limit the caching. Should TG ever lock up on your phone try clearing the caches. If not reinstall. It saves your channels and chats.
Russian channels translated quickly and as accurate as one could hope for. Here’s the better ones. Mind you it’s all the same info and vids that go round and round I’ve absolutely no idea were it originates. Despite fealty the Russian cause it’s obvious these channels are somehow monetized based on hits and just recirculate everything.
Some of these English channels are very right wing pro war but pro RF. There doesn’t seem to be any pro RF lefty English channels, those seem to be the traditional punditry on Twitter.
English
https://t.me/Slavyangrad
https://t.me/vicktop55
https://t.me/NewResistance
https://t.me/IntelRepublic
https://t.me/intelslava
https://t.me/CIG_telegram
https://t.me/warandtruth
https://t.me/EurasianChoice
https://t.me/ZandVchannel
https://t.me/azmilitary11
https://t.me/geromanat
https://t.me/ChDambiev
https://t.me/donbassinsider
Escobar
https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics
Bentley
https://t.me/TXDPR
Lancaster
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday
Cradle
https://t.me/thecradlemedia
Ruskie:
Kadyrov
https://t.me/RKadyrov_95
Wagner?
https://t.me/grey_zone
Sladkov
https://t.me/Sladkov_plus
Medvedev
https://t.me/medvedev_telegram
SCF
https://t.me/strategic_culture
Anna News
https://t.me/strelkovii
Rybar
https://t.me/rybar
Reports of the militia of Novorossiya Z.O.V. (DNR, LNR, Ukraine, War)
https://t.me/swodki

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Jan 23 2023 16:43 utc | 292

Re: Posted by: rk | Jan 23 2023 13:50 utc | 263

Hungary has decided not to block the EU’s decision to provide Ukraine with the seventh tranche of 500 million euros from the European Peace Fund, which is used for military assistance

Can’t blame Hungary for this. No doubt Hungary would probably have been assured the war would be over by now. I imagine they are very frustrated by the Russian “go slow” attrition type of warfare that continues to put them in a tough position – and for how many more years will it continue?
I’m sure Orban is wondering whatever happened to the much-vaunted “Winter Offensive”?

Posted by: Julian | Jan 23 2023 16:44 utc | 294

What is the first rule of failed diplomacy. If war is inevitable strike first and hard!
I expect a possible attack against NATO. US fleets and bases in EU.
Russia has been building up their defenses along the borders. They will Turtle up and force what is left to fight in Russia!
Could be wrong, Russia might drop a nuclear bomb on the border crossing areas to stop transports.
I hoped peace was possible but I think it is way too late.

Posted by: Peace | Jan 23 2023 17:02 utc | 296

“Could be wrong, Russia might drop a nuclear bomb on the border crossing areas to stop transports.”
Yeah, I’m sure Russia would just love having its soldiers fighting under those clouds and occupying nuked territory.

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 23 2023 17:18 utc | 298

@ David Levin | Jan 23 2023 15:42 utc | 277
Was referring to infrastructure. 😉
Langley directly attributed ? That would be unusual.
@ Neofeudalfuture from TrollHeim | Jan 23 2023 14:31 utc | 269

Do they know ukraine is harboring designs on its territory? To trade for leverage on the inevitable peace negotiations?

Pitiful satire at best.
Engels ? “ALL Nazi’s must DIE!”, wouldn’t you agree ?

Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2023 17:26 utc | 300