The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Closure
This is the concluding thread of the small Moon of Alabama series on the buildup to war in Ukraine.
Here is a list of the the posts belonging to it.
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Sunday, February 13, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Monday, February 14, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Tuesday, February 15, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Wednesday, February 16, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Thursday, February 17, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Friday, February 18, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Saturday, February 19, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Sunday, February 20, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Monday, February 21, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Tuesday, February 22, 2022
- The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Wednesday, February 23, 2022
I decided to add a copy of the piece I wrote and posted for Moon of Alabama on Thursday February 24, 2022, a few hours after the war had begun. It looked at the likely outcome of the war. I am somewhat astonished and relieved that today, one year later, I see no reasons to correct my previous outlook.
Repost:
Disarming Ukraine - Thursday, February 24, 2022
The military of Russia has launched an operation to disarm, and possibly regime change, the Ukraine.
I do understand why Russia is doing this - it is either attack now or defend itself later with way more casualties and the danger of total defeat.
I had hoped though that it would find other methods to protect Russia from further NATO aggression.
In 2014 the U.S. instigated regime change in Kiev and has since controlled the Ukrainian government. It has build up the Ukraine as a base to strangle Russia economically and militarily.
During the last two centuries Russia had to defend itself, with horrific casualties, against two huge invasions from the west. It is understandable that it does not want to repeat that experience.
It is difficult to discern what the planed end state of this operation is. Where is this going to stop?
Looking at this map I believe that the most advantageous end state for Russia would be the creation of a new independent country, call it Novorussiya, on the land east of the Dnieper and south along the coast that holds a majority ethnic Russian population and that, in 1922, had been attached to the Ukraine by Lenin. That state would be politically, culturally and militarily aligned with Russia.
bigger
This would eliminate Ukrainian access to the Black Sea and create a land bridge towards the Moldavian breakaway Transnistria which is under Russian protection.
Excursion:
The yellow part of that map marked 'Ukraine in 1654' was actually the land of the Eastern Orthodox Zaporozhian Cossacks. Under threat from the Catholic Lithuanian-Polish Commonwealth, which at the time held the green parts under serfdom, the Cossacks negotiated the Pereiaslav Agreement (1654) with Russia and pledged allegiance to the Tsar. They area thus became an autonomous part of Russia.
End Excursion
The rest of the Ukraine would be a land confined, mostly agricultural state, disarmed and too poor to be build up to a new threat to Russia anytime soon. Politically it would be dominated by fascists from Galicia which would then become a major problem for the European Union.
Thanks to Stalin's additions to the Ukraine three countries, Poland, Hungary and Romania, have claims to certain areas in the Ukraine's western regions. If they want to snatch those up again it is now probably the best time to do so. Despite being part of NATO, which likely would not support such moves, those three will have domestic policy difficulties to withstand the urge.
I hope for a sharp but short fight which destroys the Ukraine's military capabilities but causes as little casualties and other damages as possible.
It is sad that NATO countries, including mine, did not have the courage to make the necessary concessions to prevent this from happening.
Update:
Putin's speech last night (English version) explains why this is happening.
End of the repost.
Posted by b on February 24, 2023 at 16:54 UTC | Permalink
next page »b: "I am somewhat astonished and relieved that today, one year later, I see no reasons to correct my previous outlook."
Extraordinarily insightful assessment given it was given on Day 1 of the SMO. Kudos...
Nato is another obsolete paper shuffler, that needs reminding how small it is.
Why focus on the little chicken when the entire buffet is open.
Posted by: Remorseless | Feb 24 2023 17:07 utc | 4
This series needs to be made into a video. Great work B.
Posted by: kana | Feb 24 2023 17:08 utc | 5
One year on (today) from the onset of the conflict and the UK media have gone overboard on pro-Ukrainian propaganda today. I've had my fingers in my ears all day.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 24 2023 17:16 utc | 6
Meawhile, some bampot in Berlin challenged the local city council in court, so that he could place an allegedly Russian tank-wreck in front of the Russian Embassy.
Since we are all experts on modern warfare, he even speculates that it was a French* anti-tank mine that blew the tank up.
"The campaign's initiator hopes that the pictures will go around the world and show Ukraine: we stand behind you!"
Mad, bad, and dangerous to know!
*How did a French anti-tank mine got into Ukrainian hands before the invasion started is not revealed ...
Posted by: CM of Berlin | Feb 24 2023 17:17 utc | 7
Good series of articles Bernard, and accurate as well (very honest), that's way more than can be said for the alleged professionals that work for the New York Times.
60% of the population are native-russian speakers.
80% of the population are russian orthodox.
Kiev has a special meaning for them...
Posted by: andy | Feb 24 2023 17:28 utc | 10
This series needs to be made into a video. Great work B.
Posted by: kana | Feb 24 2023 17:08 utc | 5
I heartily agree but being somewhat old school think a book would be a better format. I suppose making it into a video narrative would appeal to those from Millennials & more recent generations who suffer from "TL;DR" liabilities!!
Posted by: SkepticalThinker | Feb 24 2023 17:32 utc | 11
Jacob Dreizin discusses why Russian air power has been more unused than not in this conflict.
https://thedreizinreport.com/2023/02/22/russian-air-power-mystery-explained/
The problem is that hoarding air power might not work out either since Western electronics is monitoring all data that can about Russian aircraft movements in Russian airspace as well and the longer this goes on the more Russian data will be available for analysis by NATOstan (something I - yet again! - have been warning of for years). Dreizin doesn't mention that but just today I saw an article in the Euasian Times discussing the possibility that NATO is getting to know all the electronics secrets of the TU 160 bomber from snooping on them when they fly to launch cruise missiles.
Sunzi wrote over 2000 years ago that no nation ever benefits from a long war. This applies to Russia as well as Ukranazistan. This whole thing could and should have been finished with an overwhelming bombardment a year ago.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 24 2023 17:35 utc | 12
Great expose b!! Loved the series this past week, it really refreshed in my mind the events that unfolded a year ago. I truly believe your comment about limiting civilian casualties came true ON THE RUSSIAN SIDE!!
Posted by: safe | Feb 24 2023 17:41 utc | 13
The title 'The Buildup to War in Ukraine' is misleading. The war in Ukraine did not start a year ago but in 2014, nine years ago. A year ago the ongoing war in Ukraine just entered the new phase, and the world could not ignore it any more.
Posted by: hopehely | Feb 24 2023 17:54 utc | 14
Consider me part of the choir. Beautiful job on this series sir.
Posted by: gottlieb | Feb 24 2023 17:55 utc | 15
When nations "hide" behind organizations like Nato, it clearly represents weakness, nations not able to defend or speak for itself. Eliminates sovereignty and put nations at more risk by having to get permission to innovate for it's own people
Posted by: Timewilltell | Feb 24 2023 17:55 utc | 16
Posted by: CM of Berlin | Feb 24 2023 17:17 utc | 7
Leaving aside the substance of those particular claims, you might recall that there was a TG post early in SMO that purported to show German manufactured ATGMs (Panzerfaust?) captured by RF troops in an overrun UA ammo store.
The peculiarity was that pictures showed what was claimed to be official German MoD documentation accompanying the weapons showing a schedule of yearly inspections that ended the year of the Maidan coup. The possible implications was that those weapons were transferred covertly by the German MoD to Ukraine sometime very shortly after the coup, during UvdL’s tenure, quite as odds with the publicly stated position of the German government at the time.
In light of revelations, confessions and unguarded admissions since then, this is now a completely uncontroversial conjecture.
Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 24 2023 17:55 utc | 17
Great work b!
A stellar collection of journalism not found anywhere else on the planet.
The SMO will continue until empire surrenders to a multi-polar world and NATO is dead.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 24 2023 17:56 utc | 18
b
I have so appreciated your collection. Thank you for sharing it in the public domain.
A clip reminding us of how the US media, in this case CNN, used to report on Ukraine and the Donbass before Feb 24 2022:
https://twitter.com/CraptnFreedom/status/1628853142329896960
Posted by: Irish | Feb 24 2023 18:05 utc | 19
B....Thank you for your diligence and insights, quickly and effectively delineated in today's overview. The breakup of the current Ukrainian Frankenstein-Monster, originally created by the Bolsheviks and then transformed horrifically by elements of the U$$A Department of $tate, the Agency and also by private shit-stirrer, George $oro$, the highest minion/agent of the topmost level of financier capitalism....this pending breakup is the key to peace in Eastern Europe amongst Slavic brother peoples.
NovoUkrainia is a concept I've long favored, as well as the return to their nations of portions of Transcarpathia where ethnic Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian peoples are in the majority. It seems totally logical that the Banderite elements in Galicia and parts of Volhynia should be divorced by the NovoUkrainia government. Perhaps that new entity could be transformed into a disarmed country, but protected by their Orthodox neighbors to their east.
New borders should be established on the basis of ethnic identities and preferences. Like Belarus, NovoUkrainia would constitute independent entities in close alliance with Mama Bear. Such an arrangement would be the highest achievable and fairest outcome of the current conflict.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 24 2023 18:09 utc | 20
Year 1 of the new 30 year war in Europe has finished, only 29 more years to go. Yawn.
Posted by: gT | Feb 24 2023 18:28 utc | 21
80% of the population are russian orthodox. Kiev has a special meaning for them... Posted by: andy | Feb 24 2023 17:28 utc | 10
Wrong, the 80% is a declared affiliation with either the Ukrainian Orthodox Church or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Among those, the split had far more belonging to the Ukrainian subset.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 24 2023 18:30 utc | 22
Error, sorry...
"Wrong, the 80% is a declared affiliation with either the Ukrainian Orthodox Church or the Russian Orthodox Church."
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 24 2023 18:31 utc | 23
I echo james at #1 on b's stellar effort at chronicling an event that will be remember in history as the inflection point of the demise of the Empire. I'm sure there are similar efforts in Russia and China hoping to document the same, but these would invariably be constrained by geopolitical and ideological biases inherent in their political bureaucracies. b's alone will be the standard for truth seekers of the future.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 24 2023 18:43 utc | 24
Year 1 of the new 30 year war in Europe has finished, only 29 more years to go. Yawn.
Posted by: gT | Feb 24 2023 18:28 utc | 21
Not true. By 2040 at the latest everything is over for those who live to see it. Not long now, 10-15 years left.
Posted by: Vikichka | Feb 24 2023 18:51 utc | 25
@ Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 24 2023 17:35 utc | 12:
Sunzi wrote over 2000 years ago that no nation ever benefits from a long war. This applies to Russia as well as Ukranazistan.
Well, it's unusual for me to disagree with Sun Zi, but Afghanistan/Vietnam benefited from their long wars with the Empire. They kicked Empire's ass.
Actually, Afghanistan benefitted multiple times from long wars with different empires, earning itself (rightly so) the Grave of Empires :-)
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 24 2023 18:53 utc | 26
By the way, one of Mao's immortal piece of strategic writing in his Yenan days was his Treatise on Long War, stating that for the weak side, long war is a viable strategy to wear down one's dominating opponent and ultimately wins out.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 24 2023 18:58 utc | 27
Exactly what the West wanted!
The war was unavoidable. It is what the West always wanted. This is what I wrote on February 7, 2014, two weeks before the Maidan sniper massacre and the NATO coup d'etat.
On the situation in Ukraine (February 7, 2014)From the point of view of Western geopolitical strategy it would be very desirable to see Soviet tanks in the streets of Kiev. In the absence of Soviet tanks Russian tanks will do – if not in Kiev, then at the very least in the Crimea. Western strategy is the same as that in Afghanistan, get Russia tied up to its own Vietnam. Russia must be internationally condemned and isolated from the "international community."
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Feb 24 2023 18:58 utc | 28
UK, France and Germany are apparently insisting Zelensky negotiate with Russia. Moreover, they are offering a "collective" defense treaty to Ukraine after potential peace deal. This would absolutely solve none of the original security question and omits Nato completely, but we'll see what happens.
The problem is that Zelensky is just a messenger boy for the US. You don't make deals with messenger boys, you tell them go get their boss to the table and bring something concrete with him. Negotiating with Zelensky is a loss in itself, that's why it probably won't happen.
The gridlock seems to be that US has total control of Ukraine government and therefore has total ability to suppress information and any kind of revolt. These are enforced by the US armed nazi factions, namely Azov and Kraken.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 24 2023 18:59 utc | 29
I am sure that what this series amounts to is the solid core of a definitive work on the conflict. Such things can be published electronically. And then there is Amazon.... Of all the commenters here, I suspect that I am one of the least qualified to advise on either financial or IT matters but there must be plenty of people who can make constructive suggestions.
Putting b's work before a wider audience and making it a resource for the peace movement could be very important.
"During the last two centuries Russia had to defend itself, with horrific casualties, against two huge invasions from the west. It is understandable that it does not want to repeat that experience."
I take it that you are referring to Napoleon's invasion and Hitler's. Of equal importance and of particular relevance in the current situation was the long war which began in 1917, involved, finally, the forces of 23 or so foreign countries and ended with the victory of the Red Army.
It is often called a civil war but it is more accurate to call it a proxy war against the revolutionary government. I have no idea how many died in the fighting, the famines and the other economic ill effects of the war but it must have dwarfed anything Napoleon's campaign was responsible for. And possibly approached the casualties of 1941-45.
Of particular interest is that behind those proxy wars were the same people behind NATO, plus Japan and including even the Czechoslovak Legion and sundry separatist movements, including Baltic states, the Ukraine and three Caucasian states. In many ways it was a dress rehearsal for NATO with only Ataturk among Russia's neighbours resisting the temptation to pick the Bear's pockets while it was occupied.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 19:01 utc | 30
thanks for the series, b. this site became an informational haven of sanity of mine after everything and almost everyone around me became gleichgeschaltet.
someone here from europe and thinking about emigration? which countries are somewhat developed, souvereign and not affiliated with the empire?
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:02 utc | 31
I believe the Long War by Mao that I referred to in #27 is translated as "Protracted Battle" in English.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 24 2023 19:04 utc | 32
@ Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 24 2023 17:35 utc | 12:
Sunzi wrote over 2000 years ago that no nation ever benefits from a long war. This applies to Russia as well as Ukranazistan.
In his times 300 years was considered a long war.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 24 2023 19:04 utc | 33
Oriental Voice@26
With probably three million casualties in Indo China and a very large number in Afghanistan's US induced wars over forty years, not to mention the impoverishment of populations, the generational setbacks to development, the immense loss in resources, the cost of pollution etc etc... in the end the only 'asses' kicked in Vietnam were those of the poor bloody conscripted infantry who gave all or parts of their lives for the "Empire that never pays its bills."
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 19:09 utc | 34
Everyone thought this would be a quick war even the site owner. Everyone was wrong. We should have learned the lesson from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Its a good time to list the inconceivable shocking events that nobody expected over the past year:
- the inmmense number of military deaths and casualties to both sides (especially Ukraine)
- the small number of civilian deaths
- the blowing up of the Nordstream pipelines
- the amount of propaganda mainly from the West
- the ignorance and complacency of the populations to this brutal war
This next year absolutely no event would shock me anymore. Including the assasination of a Putin/Zelensky/Biden or a nuclear exchange.
Ill go on the record to say if we all go out in a nuclear fireworks show we all deserve it 100%. Mother Earth will be happy to be rid of the vermin that is the human race.
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 24 2023 19:12 utc | 35
@bevin, #34:
From a humanity point of view, I concur with your observations. Sun Zi was/always will be right, after all.
Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 24 2023 19:13 utc | 36
Kudos, b.
With all the clearing and slash-burning of Ukrainian Slavs in the west, one can not help but notice that the Neo-Khazaria theory makes a lot of sense. Jewish President, Jewish Oligarchs, Israel's involvement, BlackRock looking to rebuild Ukraine, and indeed Zelenksy's comment that future Ukraine will look a lot like Israel.
If Russia can eliminate Black Sea access, I see this possibility being severely diminished and untenable. All the whispers about Putin being a Jewish-Agent would be proven an obfuscating smear by the Talmudists at that point. A rump Neo-Khazaria would not last very long with Russia's ability to administer and monitor all of it.
So it seems to me that the water will continue to boil until the consciousness of us westerners becomes reinvigorated by the common plight of restoring National Sovereignty, something that Putin has promised would occur throughout Europe as a secondary-effect of the SMO.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 24 2023 19:15 utc | 37
someone here from europe and thinking about emigration? which countries are somewhat developed, souvereign and not affiliated with the empire?
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:02 utc | 31
Serbia, Turkey, Russia, Hong Kong, Brazil, PRC.
Posted by: Exile | Feb 24 2023 19:21 utc | 38
@31 slothrop
Knowing enough Spanish to find a bathroom in paises hispanohablantes, I think that when America gets taken down a few pegs in the future, many of the migrants will permanently return home as the trek north, the isolation and alienation wherein, and the equalizing of national currencies will make the weather-question the greater deciding factor. This is great news for Europeans and Americans with European heritage because we are accustomed to cold weather.
My daughter is in 3rd grade and we are homeschooling her. I plan on taking a look at other languages, including Russian, to start instructing her and myself with. Russia is the Land of Opportunity now.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 24 2023 19:30 utc | 39
Posted by: Chris | Feb 24 2023 19:04 utc | 33
LOL
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 24 2023 19:34 utc | 41
Interesting comments from all, history much appreciated. However, most comments from those who have never experienced war, or the rampant corruption in Ukraine. As one who spent time in country during the 90s, working the periphery of some stupid things related to Ukraine trying to bypass the Russian hold on petroleum products, I can attest first hand to the corruption (then they called it “mafia”, not having an English translation I would understand), and, in retrospect, the insidious influence of the Soros organization even then. Soros was being applauded as a philanthropist helping the academics with equipment and support in their activities. What BS, which I didn’t come to understand until 20 years after the fact! This war, sponsored by the U.S., being led around by the nose by Nuland and Sullivan and their ilk, has tragically destroyed the culture and the people. Regardless of blame, and who can truly assign such, the world is a poorer and more dangerous place for all of us!
Posted by: Vilhelm | Feb 24 2023 19:36 utc | 42
*How did a French anti-tank mine got into Ukrainian hands before the invasion started is not revealed ...
Posted by: CM of Berlin | Feb 24 2023 17:17 utc | 7
https://en.topcor.ru/27486-francuzy-peredali-vsu-zapreschennye-protivotankovye-miny.html
Many weapons have most likely been supplied at the latest since Russia's ultimatum.
The USAto wanted war. Then all that was left was to ignore Russia's ultimatum, Ukraine now bears the risk.
@b
That a GaliCIA must remain is clear. Ukraine needs a legal successor who also takes over the national debt. A total annexation of Ukraine to the RF would place this burden on Russian citizens.
Posted by: 600w | Feb 24 2023 19:36 utc | 43
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 24 2023 19:30 utc | 39
Since we're just spitballing here, the thing is, if and when TSrHTF, Latin American countries will be denying entry to Americans fleeing, all but the most rich anyway. And since I'm talking about TSreallyHTF, the collapse of the petro dollar as the world's reserve currency will have probably led to a dramatic decrease in the purchasing power of most Americans. Only the ones who can afford to buy property (the hallmark of true wealth everywhere already) will be admitted after the first wave of permanent tourists, but laws will be enacted denying foreign property investment shortly thereafter.
P.S. I've got a long and short answer for you on the question of FDR and the commies, which I will post in an open thread in the next couple of days, probably the Week in Review on Sunday.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 24 2023 19:39 utc | 44
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 24 2023 19:30 utc | 39
Sorry I think I misinterpreted you. My mistake. That said, my statements on gringos fleeing south still hold. Nobody likes cold weather if they have a choice.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 24 2023 19:48 utc | 45
I think the author of this place, and I know it ain't the fella whose quotes get placed, but not now.....I think the author of this place should take pride in journalism well provided and no wonder so many are here chatting and talking about this and that.
Now, I looked up the name of the fella whose name was quoted not too many hours ago, and he was a German individual, and well I am as well - in fact, most of my family is German for sure and proven.
So, sometimes it is good to just sit back, and know that you have made an effort to communicate and I applaud said effort.
With that said, I think attempts to "edit" post made are fruitless and lead to confusion, and truly the discerning reader can tell the difference, so why trouble yourself with editing as such - it just leads to more confusion, and is the effort here not to get the word out....so don't do what the enemy does.....don't edit needlessly, don't censor....trust the readers to know better and if somebody is posting needlessly and diminishing the conversation, then as the host, by all means - ban them.
~
As somebody been banned at so many places, I think I have standing to state that.
Peace is easy, but not easy-peasy.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 24 2023 19:51 utc | 46
The West likes to talk about Ukrainian sovereignty and how it has been violated by Russia as a primary reason for its support of Ukraine. One thing Russia has not done is invade a sovereign state. Ukraine is anything but a sovereign state having sold that to the West in 2014, if not before.
An illegitimate Western vassal puppet regime is not and never will be a sovereign state.
Posted by: John G | Feb 24 2023 19:52 utc | 47
@39 NemesisCalling
I also thought about going back to Russia, since I was born there and am fluent in Russian. Can't decide whether it's a good or really bad idea in terms of future conflicts and uncertain partnerships with other countries.
China seems to be an interesting place, but in the long term the cultural and language barriers are hard to overcome, I suppose.
How hard could it be to get a job and visa with rudimentary knowledge of Spanish in SA countries like Chile or Argentina?
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:53 utc | 48
Ukraine needs a legal successor who also takes over the national debt.
Posted by: 600w | Feb 24 2023 19:36 utc | 43
---
Odious debt is discharged.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 24 2023 19:59 utc | 49
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:53 utc | 48
Without knowing more seems to me you are most employable. I'm sad to hear you want to leave your place.....but I can empathize I suppose.
Myself - I'm fixed where I am. I will never leave and I will defend ferociously if need be......still...happy travels if you decide to move on, and being my Grandma fled Russia when she was not even one year old - the family fled from Serotov...they were "Volga Germans"....unwelcome and for good reason....anyhow - I hope whatever you decide, things go well for you. Seriously. Seriously - I don't know you direct, but what you type - it resonates in a way....but me....I'm effing fixed and ready to defend.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 24 2023 20:00 utc | 50
Disarming may take awhile, just read of attacks on Mariupol.... speculation is long range 150k Himars.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 24 2023 20:02 utc | 51
Biswapriya Purkayast (12): You seem not to have learned the true military lessons of this war. Russians do not rely on offensive aviation power but rather extremely capable anti-air defenses and increasingly effective drones. Why fly a $100 million aircraft and risk pilot capture when $10,000 drones (i.e., guided missiles) can be launched from the ground or from distant airspace to do the same task? The nature of warfare has changed and the era of expensive fighters and mammoth aircraft carriers is behind us. The obsolescence of the very expensive American military machine is becoming more apparent as this war goes on.
Posted by: FHTEX | Feb 24 2023 20:08 utc | 52
There have been a lot of "firsts" in this last year as a result.
I'm not doing the list justice, but recall historic tectonic shifts in geopolitics since WW2, what were shockers to my 1980s trained geopolitical sensibilities:
-the "remilitarisation" of Germany since 1945; increasing weapons productions and selling weapons to Ukraine (at one point it was reported that Germany now has 3rd largest military budget in Europe/world?)
-Sweden begins to sell weapons again, first since 1939
-deneutralisation of Switzerland and almost Ireland
-dedollarisation of USD
-the militarisation of the EU - buying weapons, providing weapons, …army?
-Sweden and Finland express interest in joining NATO
-Russian targets bombed in Russia!!!
other tectonic shifts?
comments?
Posted by: Irish | Feb 24 2023 20:10 utc | 53
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:53 utc | 48
If you still have Russian citizenship - that’s a super easy decision
Low Taxes
Growing middle class
Sensible Culture
First Rate Educaton for your offspring
Posted by: Exile | Feb 24 2023 20:10 utc | 54
"Bloomberg writes that Russia has frozen Western assets in its possession to the tune of $150 billion. Many investors are afraid to say they have investments in Russia, making it difficult to calculate the exact amount."
It is high time Russia starts going after Western assets and it should also kick out all U.S./NATO spooks and NGOs if it hasn't already.
Posted by: MiniMo | Feb 24 2023 20:13 utc | 55
The main focus of today's press conference Zelensky. "Ukraine will win this year." The President specifically emphasized this, realizing that he had a year left, then the West would reduce its “gifts” and financial / military support, we have been inside about this many times.What is Zelensky's message about winning this year based on?
On nothing.
The purpose of the message is to instill hope in people so that they continue to humbly endure, since the fatigue of society is already being felt, depression comes with it, followed by a loss of spirit.
People in the kitchens are already saying that they are tired of all this, they don’t care who it is, the main thing is to stop the war, devastation, poverty, lawlessness and all this “hell”.
Posted by: Down South | Feb 24 2023 20:25 utc | 56
unimperator | Feb 24 2023 18:59 utc | 29
i agree with you.. thanks for saying all that..
Posted by: james | Feb 24 2023 20:26 utc | 57
"Moon of alabama t shirts would be cool, I'd buy one." Mark2@40
The question is who will design one ? Brecht never had time and Bernhard has more important things to do.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 20:26 utc | 58
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 24 2023 20:02 utc | 51
Just wrote on open Ukraine chain. Ukraine might have GLSDBs (small diameter guided gliding bombs) and they attacked Mariupol with them. There were claims that they were hit with air defense systems, being sub-sonic and glide bombs, and having similar radar signature of F-35 they could have been targeted easily.
Don't know what's the truth in this case, "explosions" not many people can probably distinguish explosion sound from ground or from air, as the claim went.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 24 2023 20:37 utc | 59
Ukraine needs a legal successor who also takes over the national debt.
Posted by: 600w | Feb 24 2023 19:36 utc | 43
---
Odious debt is discharged.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 24 2023 19:59 utc | 49
Lol, of course not.
That'd only serve the same ghouls who instigated this war.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Feb 24 2023 20:41 utc | 60
Odious debt is discharged.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 24 2023 19:59 utc | 49
We will see. As a German, I see it more realistically.
Posted by: 600w | Feb 24 2023 20:43 utc | 61
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 20:26 utc | 58
I'm sure it would be easy to make this happen, but it depends on the host and whether the host wants to participate in the system of marketing ideas. That is upon the discretion of the host and truly, I'm not sure it is really in keeping with socialist ideas, but whatever, we all need a penny to get by day-by-day and good ideas - why not share them?
~
Kropotkin probably would advise against such ideas, but myself, tis the 21st century, and really, if you don't keep up you get left behind, but can't deny once you start advertising and offering goods up for sale.....does it not possibly diminish the message in the minds of some? I reckon it does, so if you don't need the funding, then why waste time advertising.
~
Myself - I offer up some peppers for sale, not because I want to make money out of it, but because I think my peppers are special and mysterious in a way and I want them to propoagate.
~
You know - I suspect even Kropotkin would not disagree with that, and if he and I were here together, I'm pretty sure I could get him to drop a nickel my way, and then I'd say to him - "Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours"....then, that would be that.
~
When Lenin and Kropotkin got together, the beauty is there was a transcriber of the whole encounter, and to be honest I'm more interested in the one who transcribed it than I am in Kropotkin, but the one transcribed it seems to have been under Lenin's crutches if that is the word for it....nonetheless, the history of it was transcribed, and I provided a link to that here already, so I won't again.
~
Peppers for sale - I prefer local trading.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 24 2023 20:43 utc | 62
> During the last two centuries Russia had to defend itself, with horrific casualties,
Two - during single XX century (Entente's intervention in 1917).
Plus one small by Poland 1920.
If you take XIX in account - there also would. Be UK+France+Turkey invasions. And some more. I once skimmed through wikipedia for a reddit argument, and I think I counted 5:2 of invasions into Russia vs by Russia. Plus two continuation wars (Poland 39 and Finland 41) which one can not count or not, but which balance each other. Not sure specific number, was some years ago, but in remember my surprise, even with my Russian bias I thought it was less skewed.
Of course, those were smaller invasions than pan-European ones by Buonoparte and Hitler, still they were
Posted by: Arioch | Feb 24 2023 20:46 utc | 63
I think a tshirt would be cool. I would also buy one. That being said, not sure what the minimum order would be for a tee shirt printing company... I think a crescent moon with moon of alabama in the "dark part" would be nice, with alabama following the curve of the moon into the crescent part...
Posted by: ctiger | Feb 24 2023 20:46 utc | 64
My apologies...
When Lenin and Kropotkin got together, the beauty is there was a transcriber of the whole encounter, and to be honest I'm more interested in the one who transcribed it than I am in Kropotkin,
Meant to say I'm more interested in the transcriber than I am in LENIN - as for Kropotkin, I reckon he can speak for himself.
(Not sure this will work, but what is there to lose...
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 24 2023 20:47 utc | 65
slothrop @31: "someone here from europe and thinking about emigration? which countries are somewhat developed, souvereign and not affiliated with the empire?"
It's been mentioned, but China cannot be recommended highly enough. I'd steer away from Hong Kong unless you are independently wealthy, though. You will face language problems in mainland China that don't exist in Hong Kong, but the Chinese don't tend to be very prejudicial about it and the lower cost of living easily makes up for it.
If you are younger I would look into one of China's Tier 1 cities, while if you are older and would appreciate a more relaxed lifestyle I would recommend a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city. China's countryside is depopulating as younger people move to the cities, so if hanging around with senior citizens in somewhat neglected and half-empty small towns many miles from a McDonald's is more your style then China has you covered there too. Getting into a rural community is complicated by the fact that properties are owned collectively, so you pretty much have to make friends with the town elders, but it is doable even for a foreigner.
Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 24 2023 21:04 utc | 66
@NemesisCalling | Feb 24 2023 19:30 utc | 39
Mandarin.
Posted by: Hermit | Feb 24 2023 21:09 utc | 67
Moon of Alabama t shirts would be cool, I'd buy one.Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2023 19:31 utc | 40
You can get a Jim Morrison T-shirt with the text "Show me the way to the next Whiskey Bar". Search for "jim morrison t-shirt moon of alabama"
Posted by: Spiny Norman | Feb 24 2023 21:13 utc | 68
English subtitles
‼️🇺🇦🏴☠️ From November 2013, just days before the US-financed EuroMaidan protests started in Ukraine:
Oleg Tsaryov, an MP in Donetsk region, announced in the Ukrainian Parliament that the US is preparing a civil war in Ukraine, and that alleged "NGOs" are organising an illegal coup from inside the US Embassy in Kiev.
https://t.me/ZandVchannel/53539?single
Posted by: Jo | Feb 24 2023 21:17 utc | 69
Another voice here in appreciation of b’s work with these retrospectives. They should become the ‘go to’ for anyone researching sources for the days leading up to 24 Feb 2022.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Feb 24 2023 21:20 utc | 70
Well looks like NATO and Biden blinked. They will throw the Coke Head Mayor of Kiev Zelinsky under the bus after all.
NATO and US calling for negotiations with Russia and partition of Ukraine.
Russia will not do this I do not think. They will go all the way to Poland now and not accept piece meal crumbs.
They have the hammer Ukraine is finished.
Hungary wants Transcarpathia, which was part of Hungary up until WW2, Poland wants Galicia which was part of Poland until ww2 almost all the land as far east as Kiev. Russia will take Transnistria and Odessa all the way to the Donbas, all the coast.
Ukraine will be left a rump. With 500,000 KIA and wounded.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/west-cold-shoulders-chinas-ceasefire-proposal-ukraine
Posted by: jgalt | Feb 24 2023 21:28 utc | 71
What does the bar make of John Helmer's continuing criticisms of Seymour Hersh's article about Nordstream? I find his writing at Dances With Bears to be very convoluted lately and difficult to parse. Maybe it's the site's design, but I don't think so - I had previously found his writing to be just fine.
In any case, soon after Hersh's article came out, Helmer called out what he claimed were several issues. One of them centered on the proper acronym for one of the offices in (near?) which the operation was allegedly planned. However, Hersh - having "corrected it" subsequently - referred to the old acronym using the words "WAS called..." so I fail to see why Helmer fixates on this particular detail.
Otherwise he insists that Hersh intentionally left out the Brits, but to my knowledge the only "evidence" provided that the British were involved was the Kim Dotcom troll tweet where he said that Truss sent Blinken an SMS saying "It's done" within a few minutes of the explosions. Again, I think Dotcom is being facetious there and TMK he hasn't backed up that tweet after he first sent it.
Thoughts? I would have provided links to DWB, but MoA's software tends to disappear comments that contain that (and other) URL(s).
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 24 2023 21:36 utc | 72
". . . an operation to disarm, and possibly regime change. . ."
No. Denazification means regime change or it means nothing. As we are seeing. From both sides.
The pipe bomber President and the midget Neo-Nazi pal so far "have been give world enough and time," as they say. Obviously the Russians in charge prefer this bottom up slaughter house. Indeed a shambles of a policy.
Posted by: Elmagnosr | Feb 24 2023 21:41 utc | 73
Bevin @ 58
Says "the question is who would design the t shirt"
Well come on thats easy...
Gotta be banks.
When i see him next i'l ask him. he lives near me.
How about a big ole angry bear shoving a hornets nest up uncle Sam's
rear. With of course the MOA logo.
Think of the revenue. For b of course.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2023 21:46 utc | 74
No more hatred over the heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdM8vtVh4sI
Posted by: Jeeva | Feb 24 2023 21:48 utc | 75
're my last post
Banksy not banks
Dammed predictive text.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2023 21:50 utc | 76
Ill go on the record to say if we all go out in a nuclear fireworks show we all deserve it 100%. Mother Earth will be happy to be rid of the vermin that is the human race.
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 24 2023 19:12 utc | 35
Let me quote Albert Einstein:
"I recently discussed with an intelligent and well-disposed man the threat of another war, which in my opinion would seriously endanger the existence of mankind, and I remarked that only a supra-national organization would offer protection from that danger. Thereupon my visitor, very calmly and coolly, said to me: “Why are you so deeply opposed to the disappearance of the human race?”
I am sure that as little as a century ago no one would have so lightly made a statement of this kind. It is the statement of a man who has striven in vain to attain an equilibrium within himself and has more or less lost hope of succeeding. It is the expression of a painful solitude and isolation from which so many people are suffering in these days. What is the cause?"
Quoted from
Albert Einstein, "Why Socialism?"
https://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism/
Posted by: Helmuth von Moltke | Feb 24 2023 21:55 utc | 77
Sunzi wrote over 2000 years ago that no nation ever benefits from a long war.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 24 2023 17:35 utc | 12
When was the last time the United States was not at war?
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 24 2023 21:56 utc | 78
@ b,
Many thanks for an exceptional effort.
The series can only be described as spectacular; waiting to be published in book format.
+ + + + + +
came across this bit. I need this guy's phone number or email coordinates to ask him to share his menu.
What is the juice he drinks? Betcha it is not Beet-Carrot juice with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Or has fatigue overcome him?
Less than 30 minutes ago, Sputniknews reports CBS interviewed Blinken and,,,,, can't make this stuff up in a month with 1000s Sundays.
Blinken says, "Americans Dislike Countries Bullying Each Other
WASHINGTON, February 24 (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Americans dislike seeing countries bully each other, despite the United States maintaining an armed presence at approximately 750 bases across 80 countries."I think viscerally most Americans don’t like to see a big country bullying another, and they just feel it’s wrong and want to do something about it," Blinken said during an interview with CBS.
Blinken accused Russia of violating international norms of non-aggression by launching its special military operation in Ukraine. Russia insists the operation is intended to demilitarize and denazify territories targeted by the regime in Kiev, with Moscow also pointing toward NATO’s expansion and destabilizing activities in Ukraine as reasons for the operation.
The NATO alliance was founded by 12 countries in 1949, expanding to 30 members as of February 2023.[.]
What about the NordStream destruction, a critical infrastructure of U.S. Ally Germany? Was that not classified as over-the-top bullying?
February 7, 2022 with Olaf Scholz at his side, Biden promised..a promise that will live in infamy. Did Scholz give his pre-consent to the Act of War on his citizens before Biden went public?
That question is deserving of a response.
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 24 2023 21:59 utc | 79
someone here from europe and thinking about emigration? which countries are somewhat developed, souvereign and not affiliated with the empire?
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 19:02 utc | 3
I would not emigrate to a country that allows me in just because of my passport.
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 24 2023 22:00 utc | 80
@54 Exile
I gave it up some years ago but it should be easy to get it back or at least getting a job for a staying permit. Your points are all valid, it's just the feeling of never leaving the antagonist zone / cold war battlefield by going back. When my family left Russia, they were fleeing the horrors of the nineties and hoped for an end of the cold war bipolar grudges. Now we see that it never really ended and will continue for an indefinite amount of time. It gets tiresome. On the other hand, sitting in the Empire's protectorate of Europe, a lot of things seem to me like Perestroika. Just in slow motion. Is it just paranoia or generational trauma, I can't tell.
Posted by: slothrop | Feb 24 2023 22:09 utc | 81
Since b is reminiscing from last year, I might as well plug my post at "The Five Essentials" from April 3, 2022...
UKRAINE - EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW - BUT DIDN'T DARE ASK
Wherein I explore what is known about the Ukraine conflict and what you should do about it...
https://richardstevenhack.substack.com/p/ukraine-everything-you-need-to-know
My main ending point was:
3) Absolutely no one outside of the Russian government – Putin and his team – have any idea what the end goals on the ground are. Period. End of story. I made predictions in the past. I disavow all those now for two reasons: 1) I have zero evidence except logic to support them, and 2) human beings always screw up. Which means Russia is likely to screw up its own intentions and means of achieving them. The US and NATO even more so, as has been clear since before the war started. The one thing you can count on with human beings is that they can always make a bad situation much, much worse – and usually do.
I still agree with the last sentence.
However, I have reversed myself on my disavowal of my predictions - or rather, conclusions - on the Russian end game in Ukraine. I'll be discussing that in my upcoming three (or more)-part essay on Ukraine coming...whenever the hell I get around to it. My intent is have at least one part on how the war has progressed, another on what Russia is likely to do now - which is likely going to be very tentative - and a third on Russia's end game. Most of you know what I think that will be, but I'd like to flesh it out in one place for future reference so I don't have to keep repeating myself here.
Once again, I'd like to thank the literally scores of new subscribers I've gotten from MoA over the past year. My Substack posts are irregular, to say the least, but hopefully they'll pick up at some point, so hang in there.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 24 2023 22:16 utc | 82
So this thread concludes b's 'build up to the Ukraine war' series.
What an absolutely amazing tour de force!
The effort, time and commitment needs to be properly noted.
So on that I would like to offer up a good old rant.
I won't link for personnel secure reasons.
Lady's and gentlemen i give you...
Charly Chaplins anti facism speech.
Choose you search engine wisely.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 24 2023 22:36 utc | 83
Regarding Post by: Down South on Feb 24 2023 @ 20:25 | 56
"What is Zelensky's message about winning this year based on?"
First off I want to thank you, Mr. South, for all the work you do providing us with updates and information. I know it takes time and I greatly appreciate it.
I saw the walkabout of Biden and Zelensky the other day and was struck by the zombie behavior of Biden and the sober aspect of Zelensky. This was likely a private and confidential conversation. I think it was likely the zombie was telling him that he had a year to win the war. 2024 is an election year and the zombie is likely to lose. Republicans will campaign against the war and Biden will no longer be able to write blank checks as he has in the past.
Posted by: Quid Me Vexare | Feb 24 2023 22:41 utc | 84
Statement made today by FBI Director Christopher Wray
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/task-force-kleptocapture-unseals-two-cases-charging-evasion-russian-economic-countermeasures
"It has been one year since Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of its neighbor, but the FBI has been working with our Ukrainian partners for years to battle Russian aggression there — and we aren’t going anywhere,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI's commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering, and we will continue to stand against Russia at home and abroad.”
Posted by: Irish | Feb 24 2023 22:43 utc | 85
@84
Admission that the US has been involved in this conflict before this conflict officially began.
The FBI seems to be involved in a lot of things...
Why is the Federal Bureau of Investigations involved in foreign affairs?
When did the FBI and FBI funding delegated authority to engage in monitoring and advocating for non US entities?
Posted by: Irish | Feb 24 2023 22:48 utc | 86
Hermit@67 I agree, my grandsons have been learning it, at school, since Grade 2.
My father a soldier urged me to learn Russian when I was 18.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 22:57 utc | 87
Great series with a significant defect: "The Buildup to War in Ukraine" started in 2014, and the war started in Mariupol on 9th May 2014:
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/least-among-us-war-donbas-terrorizing-ukraines-most-vulnerable-citizens/
«The deep anger toward both Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (I was told by one young woman, a native of Donetsk, that “this is Poroshenko’s war”) and an equally deep sense of alienation from the Ukrainian state in Kiev are equally unmistakable. One young mother told us “there is no ‘back’ to Ukraine for Donbas.” If Poroshenko and his cheerleaders in the Obama administration and the US Congress believe that an economic blockade, Kiev’s deployment of snipers, the shelling of Donbas’s civilians and a proposal to send American weapons with which to facilitate the shelling is the recipe for winning eastern Ukrainian “hearts and minds” they couldn’t be more wrong. Yet, tellingly, this is the strategy Poroshenko himself laid out last November in a speech in which he declared:“Our children will go to schools and kindergartens, theirs will be holed up in the basements. Because they are not able to do a thing. This is exactly how we will win this war!” Well, he may have half the job done. The little children we saw are indeed cowering in filthy conditions in underground Soviet-era bomb shelters.»
Pretending that the war started with an invasion of Ukraine by the RF on 24th of February 2022 seems to me ukrainian propaganda.
The ukrainian attack and invasion and partial ethnic cleansing of the Donbas (and more widely Novorossya) was not a detail in the history of the "Buildup to War In Ukraine", it is the most important aspect of the LPR-DPR-RF counterattack against that invasion and partial ethnic cleansing.
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 24 2023 22:57 utc | 88
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 24 2023 22:57 utc | 87
«The ukrainian attack and invasion and partial ethnic cleansing of the Donbas (and more widely Novorossya)»
There are two important things that show how the "Washington Consensus" propaganda about Poroshenko's (or more precisely Obama's) war against the people of Novorossya is so wrong:
* One mentioned above is that the war started in 2014 with an ukrainian attack, not in 2022 with a RF attack.
* The other is that the biggest group of ukrainians that have left Ukraine because of Poroshenko's war have gone to the Russian Federation (and to Belarus or Kazakhstan). Obviously those many millions of ukrainians are not afra of being enslaved or exterminated by Putin.
The second point is so important that the "Washington Consensus" propaganda claims that those millions of ukrainians have been forcibly *abducted* by the RF, because nobody otherwise would want to leave the prosperous democratic freedom of Ukraine to move to a miserable and corrupt dictatorship under Putin.
Why are self-described Putin fans rarely using the label "Poroshenko's war"?
Why are the same self-described Putin fans rarely mention that so many ukrainians have chosen the RF as a refuge from Poroshenko's war?
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 24 2023 23:09 utc | 89
The Comedian seems to have been celebrating his 1 year anniversary in a BIG way:
“We are preparing for the takeover of the Crimean Peninsula....We’re taking military steps, we are preparing for them. We are mentally prepared already. We prepare technically, with weapons, forces, we form new brigades, we form offensive units of various kinds and types, we are sending people for training not only in Ukraine, you know, but also in other countries,”
LoL
What kind of military genius telegraphs this kind of move like this?
Must have been some strong stuff
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 24 2023 23:11 utc | 90
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 24 2023 21:36 utc | 71
«What does the bar make of John Helmer's continuing criticisms of Seymour Hersh's article about Nordstream? I find his writing at Dances With Bears to be very convoluted»
My understanding is that he makes two main points:
* Hersh reports acritically and seems to endorse the argument that the attack on the NS2 was a fine and brave operation against a vile enemy.
* Hersh seems to have published the article with the main purpose to prove that the NS2 operation was *legal* under USA law, so the USA president and the military and intelligence officials who carried it out are not guilty of a crime against Congress etc.
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 24 2023 23:15 utc | 91
@Blissex 87 & 88
An important next piece of work for sure in the historical journalism and chronicalling that would totally compliment The Buildup to War in Ukraine with crucial context by telling more and more of the fuller story:
Part 1 The Buildup to the Maidan Coup
Part 2 The Maidan Coup
Part 3 Poroshenko's War
Posted by: Irish | Feb 24 2023 23:20 utc | 92
Elmagnosr @72
"Pipebomber President". Good line. Wish I'd come up with that one.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 24 2023 23:24 utc | 93
Likklemore @ 78
Along with Winken and Stinken, Blinken has no agency. He is connected Tribal, so his orders come directly from City of London. We need to bear in mind....however painful it be for some P.C. types and various nervous nellies who fear for their job, etc...there are orders which circulate downwards from the Eye of Horus which hovers over the Pyramid scheme depicted on the ass-end of the $1 Fednote.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 24 2023 23:29 utc | 94
«What does the bar make of John Helmer's continuing criticisms of Seymour Hersh's article about Nordstream? I find his writing at Dances With Bears to be very convoluted» Tom_Q_Collins@71
One of the attractive things about Helmer's journalism is that he is dogged to the point of obsession: he won't leave a story alone. On both MH17 and Skripal he was pursuing the inconsistencies and lies of the states involved long after most people had agreed with his suspicions and moved on.
On the Hersh question his objections are simply irrelevant. Hersh has always adopted the persona of the liberal, loyal American shocked by his government's betrayal of the founding principles of the Republic.
This makes it difficult for the likes of Biden to discredit him as a traitor or agent of Russia.
Hersh was brought up in a country dominated by what is called McCarthyism but was a plague long before McCarthy emerged and long after he was dead. And it shows.
In fact Hersh has immensely damaged not just Biden but the duopoly-bi-partisan imperialism- which allows Presidents to get away with crimes which are unforgivable.
I don't care which of the Empire's Gurkha armies was responsible for what- the important thing is that Hersh has confirmed what we all knew that the US did it. The US commands NATO. In this case it commanded NATO to attack Germany. Then it ordered it to cover up the crime scene.
My guess is that Hersh got it right and when the detail emerges it will confirm his sources. But that doesn't matter this isn't about Pulitzer Prizes its about a criminal gang which wants to rule the world.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 24 2023 23:36 utc | 95
https://i.imgur.com/O2yFu0i.jpg
Anyone want to venture a guess as to the outcome of attempt 4.0?
Posted by: liveload | Feb 24 2023 23:39 utc | 96
[email protected] least he changed his shirt.....
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 24 2023 23:41 utc | 97
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 24 2023 18:30 utc | 22
Thank you B for all the great work you have done, and I mean WORK, there is a great degree of conscientiousness and care displayed in your postings throughout the year.
As regards the posting by Opport Knocks, as an Orthodox Christian,I would like to refute the assertions he has made, and the confusion he created by ludicrously giving the two Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine the same initials. The "breakaway" schismatic Church is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which is in effect a tool of the Kiev regime. These schismatics were lent some spurious credence by the confused and controversial granting of "autocephaly" to them by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul). The latter have become heavily influenced by western "soft power" over the past decade and more, and increasingly express positions which are conveniently in step with an increasingly pro-western and anti - Russian stance. This has not gone down well with a very large number of their own followers in Greece, but deep seated loyalty to the Ecumenical Patriarchate has prevailed despite misgivings. As regards Ukraine the majority Orthodox Church remains the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) despite fake research which has tried to prove otherwise. A significant number of Ukrainians who I have met here in Ireland at services of the Russian Orthodox Church here have described the huge amount of repression inside Ukraine by the Zelensky regime of the UOC (MP). If you doubt any of this watch this video https://youtu.be/iFMQyNYEqTM
Posted by: Gabriel in Ireland | Feb 25 2023 0:03 utc | 98
Just ran across this in my weekly ebook downloads process... Might be interesting to some of you. Free download if you have premium access to the file download sites listed - otherwise download is likely to be very slow (this 18MB book might take half an hour to download.)
The Territories of the Russian Federation 2023
https://sanet.st/blogs/booook/the_territories_of_the_russian_federation.4403752.html
From the description:
This excellent reference source brings together hard-to-find information on the constituent units of the Russian Federation.The introduction examines the Russian Federation as a whole, followed by a chronology, demographic and economic statistics, and a review of the Federal Government.
The second section comprises territorial surveys, each of which includes a current map. This edition includes surveys covering the annexed (and disputed) territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as updated surveys of each of the other 83 federal subjects. The third section comprises a select bibliography of books. The fourth section features a series of indexes, listing the territories alphabetically, by Federal Okrug and Economic Area. Users will also find a gazetteer of selected alternative and historic names, a list of the territories abolished, created or reconstituted in the post-Soviet period, and an index of more than 100 principal cities, detailing the territory in which each is located.
Also available on Amazon - for $500!
The Territories of the Russian Federation 2023 (Europa Territories of the World series) 24th Edition
https://www.amazon.com/Territories-Russian-Federation-Europa-World-dp-1032469749/dp/1032469749/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 25 2023 0:19 utc | 99
@Arioch 63
a few weeks ago I too looked at Wiki numbers re: 1917-23
The losses are tremendous. I was a bit surprised.
If you add all Russian sides (Reds + Whites) you have almost as many KIA as in WWI just months/years before.
The total human loss is very rough with 7-12 mio. That is no minor war. But treated as such.
In the West (school education!) it´s non-existent.
If you think of it - Russian people had to endure this shit for 10 years (1914-1923) mourning two-digit millions.
No wonder they accepted Stalin´s madness for a little security, and the Bolsheviks helped those millions nameless nobody gave a shit about for centuries before.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Civil_War (right column)
Posted by: AG | Feb 25 2023 0:24 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
b.. your work on all of this has been stellar.. thanks so much for chronically all of this in what i believe is a very neutral and non biased manner.. thank you.. hopefully others will benefit from all the work you have done to bring clarity on this troubling dynamic..
Posted by: james | Feb 24 2023 16:59 utc | 1