The Buildup To War In Ukraine - Tuesday, February 22, 2022
To provide a legal framework for Russian military support to Donetsk and Luhansk the Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed executive orders to recognize the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lunhansk People's Republic as independent countries:
In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision and to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.I would like to ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision and then ratify the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance with both republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed shortly.
On Tuesday, February 22, 2022 the Federal Assembly held an extraordinary session and did as Putin had ask:
In a session held on Tuesday, the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, unanimously backed the deals, with 400 MPs voting in favor. Earlier that same day, the parliaments of the two regions simultaneously ratified the ‘Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Russian Federation.’
This was sufficient reason for the U.S. and EU to implement their long planned fireworks of sanctions against Russia:
The European Union agreed to new sanctions on Russia that will blacklist more politicians, lawmakers and officials, ban EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with separatist entities.
...
Russia’s formal recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine was an unacceptable breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty, Borrell said.“This package of sanctions that has been approved by unanimity by the member states will hurt Russia, and it will hurt a lot,” Borrell told a news conference alongside France’s foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at a meeting in Paris.
Separately, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Reuters that further Russian aggression in Ukraine would result in more sanctions, in coordination with the United States.
The package of sanctions includes all members of the lower house of the Russian parliament who voted in favor of the recognition of the breakaway regions, freezing any assets they have in the EU and banning them from traveling to the bloc.
U.S. sanctions on Russia were imposed in a coordinated manner.
Germany halted the approval for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Later that day Putin signed the Federal Law On Ratifying the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic and a similar treaty with the Donetsk People’s Republic:
The Federal Law was adopted by the State Duma and approved by the Federation Council on February 22, 2022.
...
The Treaty provides for broad cooperation in the political, economic, social, military and humanitarian areas.
After recognizing the independence of the LPR/DNR Russia all three could claim a right of collective self-defense in analog to Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Sticking to the necessary legal formalities Putin then asked the Federal Council to authorize the use of Russian Armed Forces abroad:
On the basis of Paragraph “d”, Part 1, Article 102 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and under the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People’s Republic, and the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic, I am submitting a proposal that the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation approve a resolution authorising the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation abroad on the basis of the generally accepted principles and norms of international law.
Putin then took media questions. He made some interesting points.
- Russia recognizes the republics in their constitutional borders, i.e. their original borders in Ukraine before the conflict there started.
- He compares Crimea, where a referendum was held and people voted to became part of Russia, with Kosovo, where only a parliament vote was held to declare itself independent.
- He lays out what the conditions for peace had been before: Recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, no NATO membership for Ukraine, fulfillment of the Minsk agreements and a certain extend of demilitarization of Ukraine.
- Being asked about Ukraine's intend to build and deploy nuclear weapons (as announced by Zelenski on Feb 19 in Munich) Putin responded that the Ukraine has the means to do that. This would be a strategic threat to Russia.
Last but not least he is asked about the length and extend of the potential military deployment:
Andrei Kolesnikov, Kommersant newspaper:Mr President, do you think it is possible in today’s world to resolve problems with force and remain on the side of good? This is my first question.
The second one is more technical, if you will. In your view, how far might troops advance: up to the contact line, to the administrative borders of the DPR and LPR, or somewhere else?
Thank you.
Vladimir Putin: First, I did not say our troops would enter right away, after our meeting here. That is first. Second, it is absolutely impossible to predict the detailed path of possible actions. It depends on the concrete situation that is unfolding on the ground, as they say.
Regarding the question if all issues can and must be resolved by force or if it is possible to remain on the side of good. Well, why do you think that good must always be frail and helpless? I do not think that is true. I think good means being able to defend oneself. We will proceed from that.
The OSCE Special Observer Mission at the ceasefire line in southeast-Ukraine reported of Tuesday, February 22 2022.
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 528 ceasefire violations, including 345 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 703 ceasefire violations in the region.In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 1,182 ceasefire violations, including 1,075 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 1,224 ceasefire violations in the region.
The OSCE reported slightly less incidents than the day before.
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Both sides moved further equipment towards the ceasefire line:
In violation of withdrawal lines, in government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the SMM saw 13 tanks near a residential area of Karlivka (25km north-west of Donetsk), eight towed howitzers, including four in a residential area of Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk), as well as four surface-to-air missile systems and two towed anti-tank guns. In non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, the SMM saw two surface-to-air missile systems and eight towed howitzers, of which four were moving south on road T-0508 near Bessarabka (85km south of Donetsk), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is further proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.
...
The SMM saw five armoured combat vehicles in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, including one in a residential area, and a self-propelled anti-aircraft system near a residential area, as well as eight armoured combat vehicles in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including two near Novomykhailivka (52km south of Donetsk), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.
The map shows ceasefire violations in yellow, orange to red colors. The most appear on the side of the Donbas republics. The source of most of the ceasefire violations, like noise of shooting or explosions recorded by cameras, drones or heard by the observers, is listed as 'undetermined'.
The map shows explosions, as small black dots, on both sides of the ceasefire line. While only a part of the hundreds of explosions were located and marked on the map a count of the black dots shows that a great majority of those happened on the side of the Donbas republics. I count 68 impacts marked on the Donbas side and 34 on the government controlled side of the ceasefire line.
This was no longer an artillery duel or exchange of harassment. From a military standpoint this looked like artillery preparations for an attack along roads that could then be used as future lines of attack for a mechanized force.
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Posted by b on February 22, 2023 at 16:05 UTC | Permalink
next page »"When the Rand Corporation planned the current war in Ukraine, it briefed the Representatives in Congress. That was on September 5, 2019. It relied on two reports [3]. In them, they explained that the objective of the operation should be to provoke Russia to deploy beyond its borders, when it already cannot defend them. It is therefore necessary to force it to enter Ukraine, then Transnistria.
We must understand what the Pentagon is doing, not with regard to the situation imagined by the Western press agencies, but with regard to the plans of the Rand Corporation, in this case an additional round around, not Novorossia, but Transnistria."
https://www.voltairenet.org/article218875.html
Nice to know the names of the genocidal planners of WWIII: [3] "Overextending and Unbalancing Russia," by James Dobbins, Raphael S. Cohen, Nathan Chandler, Bryan Frederick, Edward Geist, Paul DeLuca, Forrest E. Morgan, Howard J. Shatz, Brent Williams, Rand Corporation https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB10014.html
Posted by: Cerena | Feb 22 2023 16:19 utc | 2
Perhaps the most interesting, and correct, statement cited here...
'Regarding the question if all issues can and must be resolved by force or if it is possible to remain on the side of good. Well, why do you think that good must always be frail and helpless? I do not think that is true. I think good means being able to defend oneself. We will proceed from that.'
He's right in saying that. A great many people have been very very wrong in pretending otherwise.
Note these are illegal sanctions
Only UN sanctions are legal
Posted by: Exile | Feb 22 2023 16:23 utc | 4
IMHO, British colonial rule of India - deliberately or unknowingly - more or less set up things so a newly independent India would run into problems for years to come. I get the same feeling about Europe today: the United States know their time as rulers of Europe is running out, and before they leave make sure an independent Europe will run into debilitating problems for decades to come.
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 22 2023 16:26 utc | 5
For what it's worth, despite all the propaganda and Biden's latest claim that he sees Ukrainian flags in yards across America (I see not one), a recent AP poll showed only 26% of Americans believe America should have a major role in the Ukraine war, and only 17% of Republicans. If only American leaders would pay attention to their constituents...
Posted by: Larissa | Feb 22 2023 16:53 utc | 6
Feb 22 2023 16:19 utc | 2
rand believes the specification sheets for the military industry profit centers' wunderwaffen were designed, tested and produced
and that the wunderwaffen can be 'operated' 6000 miles from the military industry profit centers.
and that the enemy is dumb as they are......
Posted by: paddy | Feb 22 2023 16:57 utc | 7
Now the PeeWee Herman U.S. Administration has cemented an Alliance between Russia and China.
Decoupling the U.S. from China is going to be extremely costly.
Taiwan need only look at Ukraine to see what the U.S. Neocon Warmongers have in mind for Taiwan's future.
Posted by: kupkee | Feb 22 2023 17:12 utc | 8
[email protected]
The consequence of (almost) two centuries of British rule was that Indians were prevented from solving their own problems. Divisions were widened and wounds were frozen unhealed. To a much lesser but more easily observed extent the same thing happened in northern Ireland.
What you say about Europe is interesting, but I don't think that the US is acting deliberately-if it were we could be confident that its plans would fail- its mere presence brings about divisions. Where it is responsible is in harbouring fascist emigre communities and sustaining them so that, eighty years after the war, their attitudes remain frozen and live, long after all the men involved are long dead.
Hence the Waffen SS parades in Latvia. In Germany where there were far more SS soldiers there are no such parades and there is no public yearning for them, nor is there any noticeable government sponsorship for them, but in places like Latvia they thrive. And this is the underlying problem in Ukraine where there is no more real hatred of Russians then there is hatred of Yorkshiremen in Manchester, the madness has been fostered, taught, subsidised, rewarded by cynical politicians in places like Toronto and Chicago who buy votes for the thousand from community 'bosses' who live off Russophobia, just as they long lived off negrophobia, francophobia, anglophobia and the Yellow Peril.
It is one of life's ironies that politicians simultaneously affect to be woke-and fulminate against the prejudicial treatment of lesbians or transexuals and pretend to believe that Black Lives Matter- and sponsor the revived nazism of murderous slavophobia and the treatment of Palestinians as members of an inferior race.
Justin Trudeau and Freeland throw up their hands in horror at VV Putin's support of a ban on homosexual propaganda but they say nothing when Israeli settlers beat Palestinian children to death; when thugs with swastika tattoos burned 40 Trade Unionists to death in Odessa, they did so with the explicit support of all Canada's Parliamentary parties.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 22 2023 17:15 utc | 9
US "wunderwaffen" looks like it was not QC-ed. Perhaps the drug tests need to be done more frequently on the workers in the HMARS ammo factory.
https://southfront.org/in-video-himars-missile-hit-russian-control-post-near-ugledar/
Posted by: Chris | Feb 22 2023 17:17 utc | 10
Mr. Putin certainly has lots of support (and i don't mean people holding his arms and directing him where to walk on the carpet)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=26pF5zxwdHM
Addressing a rally in Moscow today
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Feb 22 2023 17:23 utc | 11
@ Chris | Feb 22 2023 17:17 utc | 10
---
Its been reported that Russian EW can defeat the electronic fuses of US munitions.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 22 2023 17:25 utc | 12
A year of direct war between Russia and the West with Ukraine as the proxy has almost gone bye.
I wonder how much different things went than first anticipated by both sides?
I wonder which side has lost the most in this conflict?
I wonder which side has advanced its military the most?
I wonder who gained the most from this tragedy? It certainly was not the troops along the zero line.
The whole affair is a wonder that now seems to be in the fog of war where the lies constantly get thrown into the air just as the fog lingers close to the ground preventing a clear sight of the truth.
Perhaps the wonder and the fog will lift before this year is over.
The scarry thing about the end of the fog may be a most horrible reality for many millions of people in both the East and the West.
Posted by: young | Feb 22 2023 17:33 utc | 13
Antony Blinkers is the true unifier for the East.
Looks like he annoyed the Chinese envoy in Munich asking for an apology for the balloon. LoL
That probably set off China to say all kinds of statements of unity with Russia.
Blinkers had a much similar effect when he visites India and Africa.
Blinkers is a mich better Russian FM than Lavrov himself. LOL
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 22 2023 17:36 utc | 14
'To provide a legal framework for Russian military support to Donetsk and Luhansk the Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed executive orders to recognize the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lunhansk People's Republic as independent countries.'
b is so correct to point this out. I have known this from the beginning and posted myself blue in the face against the wsj drumroll and Pavlov style invoked comments.
Thirteen British colonies declared themselves independent. It took eleven months for the first country to recognize the USA 'Volksrepublik.' The Netherlands did, having the governor of the Caribbean island of Saint Eustatitius fire the first salute to the US warship entering the harbor, in response to which the captain dipped the flag. I heard this from the Dutch Ambassador to the US a while back when he was given a talk in the Corcoran Gallery near the White House. The Dutch also were the weapons merchants of the American revolution. The French get all the credit. It is a bigger country. Turns out Barbara Tuchman wrote the book, 'The First Salute.'
I have been proud of the US for a long time, arriving in 1966. The country has changed dramatically. BTW, not a single MSM nor member of the Commentariat cares about Article 51 of the UN Charter. That brutal, aggressive invasion you know, not that (by international law) legal request from two recognized volksrepubliks for assistance.
Typing this, I still get infuriated.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 22 2023 17:43 utc | 15
Antony Blinkers
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 22 2023 17:36 utc | 14
Fun fact:
https://theintercept.com/2021/07/06/westexec-biden-administration/
Posted by: Vikichka | Feb 22 2023 17:46 utc | 16
bevin @ 9
I will largely agree with you on most of that post and certainly know from experience the depth of Russophobia in emigré populations. And the nostalgia for the Third Reich. Will quibble with your idea of community "bosses". Haven't had those in a long time. They never had to buy votes, the currency used was patronage jobs which were paid by the public purse.
No one has any idea who installed the current mayor and few are curious. Whoever it was has maintained impressive opsec. Which does limit the field of possibility. And lets everyone know it is way above our heads, not to be trifled with. And whoever may be in charge they are running the city into the ground. No one gives a damn about the city or its citizens. Everyone does know the people who live here are of zero interest to the owners. Which is dumb politics if any were taking the long view. Which they aren't.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 22 2023 18:10 utc | 17
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 22 2023 16:26 utc | 5
no doubt at all about that.
the question is why is Europe going along with it. no doubt the ruling class of Europe sees its current posture as the most secure route to maintain its position and future *relative to the population of Europe*, its own hyper-exploited working class. "Gladio" type stuff and all that aside, the fact remains, Europe's leaders are fully on board w/the plan. (and there is no exception in Europe to that fact. unless one is "holding out for a hero" in some fascist Klown like Viktor "no muslims allowed" Orban.)
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 22 2023 18:28 utc | 18
Will Moldova be a new front in this war? Was Sandu with Biden in Poland a sign of things to come?
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 22 2023 18:34 utc | 19
Will Moldova be a new front in this war? Was Sandu with Biden in Poland a sign of things to come?Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 22 2023 18:34 utc | 20
Future considerations for territorial trade-offs? The Russian loyalist/separatist populations there move to Donbass.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 22 2023 18:46 utc | 20
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 22 2023 18:28 utc | 19
«the ruling class of Europe sees its current posture as the most secure route to maintain its position [...] "Gladio" type stuff and all that aside, the fact remains, Europe's leaders are fully on board w/the plan. (and there is no exception in Europe to that fact.»
That seems to me the usual silly fantasy, because while many of the west european ruling classes have been trained and funded by the USA (CIA, DOD, State Dept., "N"GOs, ...), even if they were fully independent as individuals, they would still choose vassalage to the USA, because losing the USA markets and USA controlled raw materials supplies is much worse than losing those of the RF and PRC (and they fear much more USA regime-change capabilities than those of RF or the PRC). Geo-economic realities don't disappear when one starts chanting "sovereignty" and waving the flag.
Consider what the ultra-nationalist older generations of England and France have chosen, reluctantly: vassalage too. Even if they were quite delusional as to their options, consider this comical quote:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2009/10/23/geye23.ART_ART_10-23-09_A17_DVFEUK6.html
«Documents released by the British Foreign Office in September, for instance, show the surprising depth of the antipathy British leader Margaret Thatcher and French leader Francois Mitterrand held toward the changes in Germany. [...] At one point, the prime minister even went so far as to warn Mitterrand that a restored Germany would "dominate" Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, leaving "only Romania and Bulgaria for the rest of us."»
HHAHAHAHHHAA! just like Poland, etc. Romania, Bulgaria are zealous USA vassals, not subvassals of France or England (never mind Germany).
«and future *relative to the population of Europe*, its own hyper-exploited working class.»
The european ruling classes are keen to point out that the worldwide average wage is around 1€/hour, that in western Europe is more like 10€/hour.
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 22 2023 19:07 utc | 21
Perhaps the ammo dump is rigged with C4 and a deadman's switch.
That would be a fitting way to greet the NATO scum if they're dumb enough to try such a thing.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 22 2023 19:10 utc | 22
I’m really enjoying this Build up To War In Ukraine series– it is a good opportunity to relive a year ago in hindsight, and to fill in gaps in my records. Really important to document because the media rewrites it so quickly.
I remember my utter fury at what happened and the lies spewing forth from USA/UK/Europe, and the great efforts made by Putin and Macron and others to avert disaster. I was so ashamed at Liz Truss (Lizzie lettuce) warmongering and Boris Johnson intervening to prevent negotiations, and Wallace and Sunak later. I haven’t watched mainline news for a year i can’t bear it, especially if the odious dwarf ‘z’ is on.
Buildup To War In Ukraine - Tuesday, February 22, 2022
diary Tuesday February 22 2022
Putin signs 30 years gas deal with China.
Shelling continues along the entire front line. LDPR People’s Militias recorded 114 incidents of shelling by the Ukrainian side; BM-21 Grad in the vicinity of Donetsk. Intense attacks targeted the cities of Lugansk and Gorlovka, Ukrainian army continuously fires 120mm mortars at the settlements of Zaitseve and Dokuchaevsk Donetsk region. Local power station caught fire leaving over 40,000 residents of the town of Shchastya with no power.
Russian legislators have given President Vladimir Putin permission to use armed forces abroad.
"By approving the use of the armed forces abroad, we assume they will be peacekeeping forces - forces designed to maintain peace and stability in the (self-proclaimed east Ukrainian) republics,"
Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya argued for the need to defend the rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region from what he called Ukrainian aggression. "Allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do”.
Russia is deploying heavy rocket systems to the area near the Ukrainian border.
Putin said the best solution to the Ukraine crisis would include Kyiv dropping its NATO membership ambitions and staying neutral. The crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognized Russia's sovereignty over Crimea.
Zelensky said Ukraine wanted peace, but declared: "We are not afraid" and "will not give anything away to anyone". Kyiv needed "clear and effective actions of support" from its international partners”.
Posted by: olaf22 | Feb 22 2023 19:13 utc | 23
bevin | Feb 22 2023 17:15 utc | 9
‘no more real hatred of Russians then there is hatred of Yorkshiremen in Manchester’
Hahaha try being a Man U fan living in Leeds, it can be awkward at times.
But yes, spot re Odessa etc.
Posted by: olaf22 | Feb 22 2023 19:14 utc | 24
Zelensky said Ukraine wanted peace, but declared: "We are not afraid" and "will not give anything away to anyone"
Posted by: olaf22 | Feb 22 2023 19:13 utc | 24
"not give anything to anyone". While "European solidarity" is literally feeding them.
Posted by: Vikichka | Feb 22 2023 20:01 utc | 25
looks to me like all the USSR federation states will once again become part of Russia, the efficiency of the Russian federation is much greater than the USSR and the trade benefits with the west are diminishing, even becoming problematic. Time will tell, but the China Russian alliance likely will impose on these outlaying states all kinds of reasons to return their territories and resource managements to Russia.
The parts of Poland taken from Germany will probably end up being returned to Germany.. In light of the destruction of Nord Stream II, its possible Germany may pivot to Russia [such will require a regime change, but as near as I can tell the governed Germans are demanding one already).. as the various Asian alliances grow stronger.
We are witnessing a complete flip in the power structure of the global world.
Posted by: snake | Feb 22 2023 20:07 utc | 26
Topic - De-Dollarization
German Gov’t changes the way it calculates inflation
https://m.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/neuberechnung-der-inflationsraten-weiter-eine-hohe-belastung-18697819.html
Posted by: Exile | Feb 22 2023 20:17 utc | 27
We are regressing way back in reason
Western leaders are capable only of primitive hind brain primitive limbic system thought
All metaphors for being alive have been taken back to the stone age
Many human emotions have been severed, leading to an impoverishment of the human condition. This current condition has to run it’s course. Humans have to become dumber, before reasoning and a better horizon returns.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 22 2023 20:28 utc | 28
Borrell said that the recognition of the breakaway provinces is an unacceptable breach of Ukraine's sovereignty.
What sovereignty? The United States government and the European Union stole Ukraine's sovereignty in February 2014. Borrell is just projecting, as usual.
Posted by: Steven | Feb 22 2023 20:48 utc | 29
"....Will quibble with your idea of community "bosses". Haven't had those in a long time. They never had to buy votes, the currency used was patronage jobs which were paid by the public purse."
[email protected]
You're right about the patronage jobs- that's true of Canada as well. As for the bosses they are, if not gone, then transformed: the old boss has been replaced by a smart looking academic or lawyer a bridge between two communities. Something like the other guy in this debate with Doctorow on PressTV.
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2023/02/21/presenting-a-no-holds-barred-debate-on-the-current-status-of-the-ukraine-war/
[email protected]
You are a brave man coming here and confessing that you're a Man U fan.
[email protected]
De-dollarisation is the big question. I just read an article in Tribune which puts it in a very interesting perspective.
Essentially the story is this: much of the "Third World" (as it used to be called) is deep in debt to the usual suspects in Wall Street. And this debt is in dollars ('..the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reminded the world at the end of last year, between 70% and 85% of developing country debt is denominated in a foreign currency) which have been rapidly appreciating in value since the beginning of the pandemic and the freezing of world trade, which left many poor countries unable to sell their commodities except at ruinous discounts. As a result their debt burden rose.
We are at the stage when the financiers have to realise that those who can't pay won't pay. And humanity insists that those who can't pay without implementing austerity programmes that kill millions of, for the most part, kids should not even attempt to pay.
And what this means is that in the clash between the world and Wall Street that must come, there is going to be an irresistible temptation to refuse to pay the debt. A debt which, in any case, is almost certainly odious.
"...https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/02/cost-of-living-crisis-global-south-debt-restructuring-poverty"
In other words the governments of most of the world's population have a real and very justifiable reason to repudiate their dollar debt. And, in an era in which the governors of Wall St have already explained that states can be justified in stealing Afghan, Venezuelan, Russian, Iranian and other currency reserves and other assets, the principle of state action against financiers is well established.
A general debt repudiation, together with the development of an alternative currency system for trade and investment could kill the dollar in a very short time.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 22 2023 20:49 utc | 30
Great stuff, helpful to review.
So 2022/02/22 was the day the post-war order dominated by the Western Allies, principal amongst which the U.S.A, lost its seat.
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador is hauled into the Kremlin for a bit of a talking (down) to...
(via PCR's latest:
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2023/02/21/breaking-news-a-nano-second-to-midnight/)
This is the 2nd news outlet to publish this:
Prigozhin accused Shoigu and Gerasimov of treason
The head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the head of the General Staff of trying to destroy his private military company and equated this with treason. According to Prigozhin, the head of the Defense Ministry and the head of the General Staff of the Defense Ministry forbade the transfer of ammunition to PMC fighters. Prigozhin's statement was published by his press service.
https://alldaily.ru/2023/02/21/prigozhin-obvinil-shojgu-i-gerasimova-v-izmene-rodine/
Posted by: Cond Zero | Feb 22 2023 21:23 utc | 33
Recent from ZH:
[Title:] China Says Ready To "Join Forces With Russia" To "Defend National Interests" As Putin Confirms Xi Visit
Despite all latest among Washington's repeat warnings to Beijing against strategic or military cooperation with Moscow, China is now pledging to "join forces" with "like-minded" partner Russia to defend national interests. The statement came by the close of the first day of the director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee Wang Yi's trip to Moscow."The People’s Republic of China is ready to join forces with Russia to decisively stand up for national interests and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas," Wang said Tuesday while meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev. On Wednesday he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what appeared a warm and cooperative visit.
a nano second to annihilation
well
lets hope some people start to seriously think about the stakes
Posted by: Macpott | Feb 22 2023 21:39 utc | 35
#. 32
Stay well &whole
In this un-easy
Rusted tinny era.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 22 2023 21:49 utc | 36
Interesting times.
For every minor victory. Country 404 army suffers more than 1000 losses. The pyrrhic victories by country 404. Is bleeding the lightly armed militia dry.
USSA has it appears condoned the shipment of longer-ranged weapons to country 404. Thus condoning the continuing war crimes committed by the USSA since 1776. To date, approximately thirty-six million dead innocent foreign peons. The direct cause of premature death was war crimes committed by USSA troops under the direct orders of the CinC, from VJ day to February 2023.
Whatever is left of the country 404. Will be a tiny landlocked barbwire prison enclave! All transport in/out under strict Russian Federation strict entry visa/exit permits. This should be about the size of the former Russian Imperial province that existed at the dawn of the 20th century. Burdened by a massive back-breaking debt incurred by Diktator Little 'z'.
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Feb 22 2023 22:19 utc | 37
This current condition has to run it’s course. Humans have to become dumber, before reasoning and a better horizon returns.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 22 2023 20:28 utc | 29
Yes and by contrast (referring to Putin's speech) Russia's leadership team is clearly returning their motherland to a more socialist, inclusive, well educated society. The west has devolved itself to the stone age while projecting all the blame across the world. While many were expecting even drooling for an announcement of more war, Putin surprised everyone and introduced a raft of internal changes to the benefit of all Russian citizens. Prompting many standing ovations.
Complete respect.
Anyone who likes to listen to the Russian and read subtitles instead of voiceover, Prof Rossi does an excellent job of translation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04p5pIrQ4Mk
Posted by: K | Feb 22 2023 22:23 utc | 38
Blinken's pants are on fire, again.
..first, let's recap a bit of history
Dec 17, 2021 -- Russia has put forward a list of security guarantees it says it wants the west to agree to in order to lower tensions in Europe and defuse the crisis over Ukraine, including many elements that have already been ruled out. The demands include a ban on Ukraine entering Nato and a limit to the deployment of troops and weapons to Nato’s eastern flank, in effect returning Nato forces to where they were stationed in 1997, before an eastward expansion.
Jan 26, 2022 -- The United States and its allies on Wednesday formally rejected Russia’s demands that NATO retreat from Eastern Europe and bar Ukraine from ever entering the alliance. In a written response to Russia's demands delivered in person by its ambassador in Moscow, the U.S. repeated its commitment to upholding NATO's "open-door" policy
Feb 21, 2023 -- Blinken: Look, no one, except for Vladimir Putin, wanted this war. We tried to prevent it. We saw it coming. We engaged for months with Russia to see if they had any genuine security concerns that in any way explained what they were starting to do. And unfortunately, they made very clear that, as I said, what this was about was Putin’s obsession with eliminating Ukraine. It was never about any security concerns. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 22 2023 22:24 utc | 39
Iraq dropped dollar for yuan in settling trade w/china
Iraq needs another lesson in democracy&freedom from USA
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 22 2023 22:28 utc | 40
If the Southfront link is correct: a three way invasion by Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.
Romania is NATO. If Russia retaliates against Romanian troops does that trigger Article 5?
Did Biden go to Poland to green light World War 3.0?
I have been saying for years World War won’t start in Ukraine but either Transnistria or Kaliningrad
Posted by: Anunnaki | Feb 22 2023 22:32 utc | 41
The build-up to an even bigger war is ongoing .... this is a useful summary of the economics to date and it includes the following very troubling comment on US arms production:
'The Reed-Inhofe substitute amendment to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act authorized “wartime” multi-year, no-bid contracts to “replenish” stocks of weapons sent to Ukraine, but the quantities of weapons to be procured outstrip the amounts shipped to Ukraine by up to 500 to one. Former senior OMB official Marc Cancian commented, “This isn’t replacing what we’ve given [Ukraine]. It’s building stockpiles for a major ground war [with Russia] in the future.”
Since weapons have only just started rolling off production lines to build these stockpiles, the scale of war profits anticipated by the arms industry is best reflected, for now, in the 2022 increases in their stock prices: Lockheed Martin, up 37%; Northrop Grumman, up 41%; Raytheon, up 17%; and General Dynamics, up 19%.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/whos-winning-and-losing-the-economic-war-over-ukraine.html
Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 22 2023 22:38 utc | 42
@Bad Deal Motors On | Feb 22 2023 22:19 utc | 38
You know, it is country 404 for the Russians. For the West it is country 402.
Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 22 2023 22:47 utc | 43
"If the Southfront link is correct: a three way invasion by Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.
Romania is NATO. If Russia retaliates against Romanian troops does that trigger Article 5?
Did Biden go to Poland to green light World War 3.0?"
Just yesterday Putin has stated. "If any external country attacks on ANY area in Ukraine or obviously Transnitria then Russia will respond by attacking the countries themselves."
This is a warning to any of the lunatics in Poland, Romania, Moldova and any other clown government of the consequences if they try to enter Ukraine for "humanitarian reasons" even.
I think he put it very clearly. So NATO and their famous Article 5 would be moot at that point.
Just like exactly 1 year ago these are signs the patience of Russia has again run out.
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 22 2023 22:50 utc | 44
The West pushed on a string and got the suspension of START yesterday. And ....
February 23, 2023 will be celebrated as Defender of the Fatherland Day. out of the opened gates 15 mins ago as I write; Sputniknews reports:
Hypersonic Missiles & Modernization: Putin Vows to Strengthen Russia's Nuclear Triad
[.]
"We will pay increased attention, as before, to strengthening the nuclear triad," Putin told an audience of World War II veterans on Thursday, referring to the country’s three methods of attacking with nuclear weapons: land-based ballistic missile, submarine-based ballistic missile, and nuclear bomber.According to the Russian leader, this will include placing on the first RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers on combat duty, pushing forward the development and production of more hypersonic missiles, and the commissioning of the Russian Navy’s latest nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
"This year, the first launchers of the Sarmat missile complex with a new heavy missile will enter into combat duty. We will continue the mass production of hypersonic air-to-surface Kinzhal missiles and begin mass deliveries of anti-ship hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles," Putin said.[.]
"The entry of [submarine] Emperor Alexander III into Russian Navy combat duty will ensure that the share of modern weapons and equipment in the naval strategic nuclear forces will reach 100%,"
Putin added. “In the coming years, the fleet's combat strength will be enhanced by three more similar ballistic missile submarines.”[.]
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 22 2023 23:03 utc | 45
#39
Thanks for the link.
Viewing 30 min,very civilized speaker&audiance
Effect&focus of Russian people is visibly more authentic.
Time is their friend.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 22 2023 23:04 utc | 46
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 22 2023 19:07 utc | 22
which is it: terror, or economic advantage? can you make your mind up?
thanks for that info from 1987. as you said, the winds of change don't stop blowing because thatcher farted something out of that killer whale blowhole of hers.
"The european ruling classes are keen to point out that the worldwide average wage is around 1€/hour, that in western Europe is more like 10€/hour."
good for them. do they count food as part of inflation in Europe? are those numbers just as fake as they are in the US? what's a suitable answer? "oh, you betcha!"
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 22 2023 23:43 utc | 47
Posted by: Blissex | Feb 22 2023 19:07 utc | 22
what raw materials does the US have the other countries don't have, incl China and Russia?
i know the US can hydro frack Oklahoma. We can sure as hell do that. the question why that gas is superior to gas from Russia will have to be decided, i suppose, by the invisible hand of the market, and its very visible fist.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 22 2023 23:51 utc | 48
Re: Third World debt: which countries owe what amount of money, and to whom do they owe that? China has been employing a debt-trap strategy around the world. Some in the Third World are waking up to this trap. Which countries owe China?
Do EU countries hold Third World debt? How much?
Posted by: Richard Whitney | Feb 22 2023 23:52 utc | 49
Egypt has left the USD and issues bonds in yuan. It is also into heavy gold purchases.
Posted by: Hutch | Feb 23 2023 0:01 utc | 50
Note these are illegal sanctions. Only UN sanctions are legal
Posted by: Exile | Feb 22 2023 16:23 utc | 4
-------------------------------------
As things stand right now, the UN is a worthless instrument for international justice: too many nations (particularly small nations) suckle on the tit of US Imperialism to feel free to vote against the wishes of the US and the Collective West.
Imagine a murder trial where the defendant had such control of 10 of the 12 jurors that they dare NOT vote to convict for fear of the consequences. That is the situation that exists today with US international relations through entities such as the World Bank, the IMF, USAID, and many more US sponsored and financed programs.
Never mind that the punishment for opposing US Imperialism in a UN vote could be a color coup or a direct invasion ala Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, or Syria....
Posted by: Ed | Feb 23 2023 0:19 utc | 52
Richard [email protected]
It is true that China in investing growing amounts of money in the "South" but this does not mean that it is operating a debt trap.
In fact China has made efforts to ease the situation among its debtors. As Tribune reports:
"..today, a significant portion of the international debt of the poor world is owed to the Chinese state. Pressure is mounting on China to reach agreements with debtor countries to write down some of the debt it is owed.
"Yet the CCP has little incentive to do so if it knows that any debt relief it provides will simply flow directly into the hands of wealthy private investors in the rich world, who are often the last parties to agree to any restructuring process..."
The problem lies with capitalist corporations in the rich countries, they are obliged by law to ignore any interests but those of their investors. In order to collect money they will use the courts in a ruthless way, as was shown by the billions made by a Vulture Fund in the US, working in conjunction with the courts, which having bought debt heavily discounted in bankrupt Argentina, pushed for 'repayment' at full value.
Such things make it dangerous for poor counties to borrow from US dominated institutions and diminish the attraction of the dollar.
One of the current examples of the Debt crisis is Sri Lanka, whose problems can hardly be blamed on China which has invested in two massive infrastrucure programmes, neither of which, unsurprisingly, has yet proved profitable.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 23 2023 0:23 utc | 53
https://thesaker.is/the-dire-significance-of-putins-feb-21-speech/
The Russian Method Projected Forward Just as in December 2021 when Russia asked NATO for security guarantees, Russia follows the letter of the law and procedure. They gave NATO the opportunity to back down or negotiate. When they were rebuffed, Russia intervened militarily in Ukraine, about 70 days after the initial demand for negotiation with NATO.Following the same method, in 2023, Russia has just made the legal case that the USA and NATO are at war with Russia and pose an existential threat to Russia’s existence.
It seems likely to me that in the coming weeks Russia’s ally, China, will offer a peace deal which freezes the Ukraine conflict within the current lines of contact, i.e. Ukraine conceding lost territory to Russia.
If the West rejects the offered peace, which seems fairly likely, then all of the conditions for a nuclear war will be in place. All it will take is a new provocation by NATO to trigger a first strike by Russia. Or worse, if both parties realize this is the case, both will have the incentive to strike first.
In the next 360 days we are in greater danger of a nuclear exchange between Russia and NATO than we have ever before seen. There is a 60 to 90 day window remaining for this outcome to be avoided. Let us pray that God will turn the hearts of the Western leaders away from the suicidal folly they have embraced.
Forgive if already linked. Cannot keep up.
In any case, seems like a new phase is a-comin'.... I personally doubt nuclear war will happen, but it's possibility will play a part in upcoming dynamics, principal among which is ongoing economic decline and politico-cultural disintegration of the West who will blame others for the evils visited upon them by their own elites.
It is a Water Hare year. Things might flow downhill (water) rapidly (hare)!
sry, but does anyone know the annual budget of Wagner?
How do they fare internationally?
How big/small are their operations in comparison to the Pentagon spec. ops in Ukraine e.g.
Obviously I don´t know this area.
But I am often being confronted with the "Wagner" issue as an example of how horrible RU is.
(Interesting that almost none what is known about CIA covert operations is noteworthy 2022. Usually people loved it. Great conspiracy stuff. But we all are suddenly supposed to be appalled by all these state affairs. The hypocrisy...wow)
Posted by: AG | Feb 23 2023 0:44 utc | 55
Re: Third World debt: which countries owe what amount of money, and to whom do they owe that? China has been employing a debt-trap strategy around the world. Some in the Third World are waking up to this trap. Which countries owe China?
Do EU countries hold Third World debt? How much?
Posted by: Richard Whitney | Feb 22 2023 23:52 utc | 52
--------------------------------------
Mr. Whitney, I know nothing about you. You may be an old timer here at the MoA bar. But I am not going to pussy foot around about this lie you are spewing here at the MoA. China has given developing nations super deals compared to the economic rape that the World Bank and the IMF has committed against developing (and not so developing) nations over the last 40 plus years.
You are spewing a US bullshit narrative. The IMF and the world bank have always been a Ganster organization, a front man, to get US Corporations foot into the door of any nation poor enough to let them in due to financial problems.
Using loans with small print requirement that force debtor Nations to sell all their public holdings to foreign private enterprises for pennies on the dollar. And you have the nerve to wag you your finger at China and say, "China has been employing a debt-trap strategy around the world."
I you don't know this, then you have NO RIGHT to comment on this web site with parental guidance and supervision.
Posted by: Ed | Feb 23 2023 0:45 utc | 56
sorry, but does anyone know the annual budget of Wagner?
How do they fare internationally?
How big/small are their operations in comparison to the Pentagon spec. ops in Ukraine e.g.
Obviously, I don´t know this area.
But I am often being confronted with the "Wagner" issue as an example of how horrible RU is.
(Interesting that almost none of what is known about CIA covert operations is noteworthy 2022. Usually, people love it. Great conspiracy stuff. But we all are suddenly supposed to be appalled by all these state affairs. The hypocrisy...wow)
Posted by: AG | Feb 23 2023 0:44 utc | 58
-----------------------------------------------
Go ask the CIA, they know?
Posted by: Ed | Feb 23 2023 0:48 utc | 57
#57
If desperation becomes
A idiosyncratic condition
Frenzy inability to control
Manifests into a release of energy
Or the frenzy is so exhausting
A shut-down trigger takes over
For self preservation.
Let’s hope adults make nuclear war decisions
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 1:00 utc | 59
The Wagner leader was speaking as a Ukrainian, the west published many articles about the M-17 transport helicopters and ammo/tanks that they were going to get from south America and they got nothing but a few sappers from one country.
"There is only Wagner"
"The Russians ministry cut us off"
Classic Russian troll job
Posted by: OohCanada | Feb 23 2023 1:06 utc | 60
Posted by: Light Sleeper | Feb 23 2023 1:00 utc | 63
You are one of the lousiest troll around to infest this site! The best thing you do with any thing from Washington Post, is stick it up your sleeve! to use a polite term.
Posted by: Grishka | Feb 23 2023 1:14 utc | 61
Today also marks the 9th anniversary of the Nuland Coup that started the war as Maria Zakharova reminds us in today's weekly briefing. Here's the opening paragraph of her very long and detailed recap that poses many questions:
"Exactly 9 years ago (on the night of February 21-22), an unconstitutional armed coup d'état orchestrated by the West took place in Kiev. National radicals were brought to power in the country, who did not hide their Russophobia and aggressive anti-Russian plans. The bloody putsch has become a watershed and the starting point of the Ukrainian tragedy unfolding before our eyes. Everything that happened in Ukraine in the future can only be described as political chaos, legal nihilism and rampant ultranationalism and Nazism."
It's also noteworthy that we all missed that Biden's visit to Kiev was on the anniversary of the Coup he helped to arrange. I'm very tempted to post Zakharova's entire Ukraine statement but have decided to refrain as it's available at the link.
#63
Ghost nato forces are there already
Perhaps Present Biden will announce Poland will enter the conflict in earnest.
Poland seems more than willing.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 1:28 utc | 63
According to Southfront (https://southfront.org/a-new-front-in-the-smo/), Ukrainian troops have been transfered to and are amassing along the Transnistrian border. I wonder what the ammunition cache stored there would look like when detonated.
As far as Moldovan forces' participation in a potential attack to Transnistria, never mind their NAFO status: they would be legit targets. Plus, NAFO's already at war anyway.
Escalation galore.
Posted by: Sektion2B | Feb 23 2023 1:41 utc | 64
The Kosovo justification for the intervention in Ukraine by the Russian Federation is a dangerous justification for two reasons: 1. It is unacceptable to Serbia (obviously) and 2. it is unacceptable to the Peoples Republic of China (Taiwan independence). So for strategic and political reasons the Kosovo justification cannot be used as it would alienate the two most significant allies, to say nothing of India (Kashmir). However, the justification of humanitarian intervention is a valid basis for the Russian intervention. Humanitarian intervention has been a controversial issue in international law. However, recent cases in the international legal system has developed this law. The most relevant is the case for Ugandan intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prevent a genocide. This has direct relevance to the killings in Ukraine and the Donbass of ethnic Russians by the Ukrainian state. For a long time, international law held that no intervention in the internal affairs of another state was allowed whatsoever even by the United Nations itself. Intervention by one state in another state's affairs was allowed only when that other state was exercising its right of self defence. I have raised the issue as to whether Ukraine should be considered under the Westphalian doctrine of sovereignty, a sovereign state after the 2014 coup. However, recent events have shown that humanitarian intervention can be pled in international law when particular circumstances are taking place within a country. In support of humanitarian intervention, former United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar observed,"[w]e are witnessing what is probably the most irreversible shift in public attitudes towards the belief that the defense of the oppressed in the name of morality should prevail over frontiers and legal documents'. The justification pled by NATO in its intervention against Libya is of particular relevance. A justification supported by Ukraine which sent troops. The legal justification for the integration of Crimea is sui generis given the unique history of the Crimea in Russian history.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Feb 23 2023 1:54 utc | 65
Posted by: Richard Whitney | Feb 22 2023 23:52 utc | 52
Replying the troll with the fake narrative of China debt trap.
In 2014, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) launched the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI), based in Washington, DC. In June 2020, SAIS-CARI published a report titled “Debt Relief with Chinese Characteristics.”
I would like to share of few lines from this report, which begins with:
“In December 2019, a Zambian economist commented: ‘Chinese debt can easily be renegotiated, restructured, or refinanced.’ Is this true?
…In this working paper, we draw on data from the China Africa Research Initiative (CARI) to review evidence on China’s debt cancellation and restructuring in Africa, in comparative and historical perspective. Cases from Sri Lanka, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Angola, and the Republic of Congo, among others, point to debt relief patterns with distinctly Chinese characteristics. In nearly all cases, China has only offered debt write-offs for zero-interest loans. Our study found that between 2000 and 2019, China has cancelled at least US$3.4 billion of debt in Africa. There is no ‘China, Inc’…We found that China has restructured or refinanced approximately US$ 15 billion of debt in Africa between 2000 and 2019. We found no ‘asset seizures’ and despite contract clauses requiring arbitration, no evidence of the use of courts to enforce payments, or application of penalty interest rates.”
It continues:
“During the debt crisis of the late 20th century, we saw that many sovereign borrowers simply did not service the interest-free loans lent by the Chinese government. Because the interest-free loan program was diplomatic in nature, a core part of China’s foreign aid, pressing hard for loan repayment was simply not done. As of 2019, with a much wider variety of loans in play—many commercial–rescheduling is no longer so easy, although it is happening. Beijing’s main tool to press for payments when a country goes into arrears is to suspend disbursements on projects currently being implemented (which slows their completion but also hurts Chinese contractors), and to withhold approval of new loans.
… A committee led by China’s Ministry of Finance (which has overall authority for debt relief), with delegates from MOFCOM, China’s Exim Bank, and China Development Bank will approve or reject the debt cancellation request. ‘The Chinese government will see how the money was used. They will consider this thoughtfully. They will refuse applications from some whose economy is doing well…’ a Chinese official told one of the authors.”
The SAIS-CARI report concludes:
“Chinese debt relief for Africa has been going on for many decades, following the ups and downs Africa’s economic recessions, recoveries, and booms… As Zhou Yuyuan, a researcher with the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, noted in a recent article: ‘the cost for violating the contract is actually quite low for the borrowers.’ Furthermore, Beijing is concerned with its international reputation and its long term political and diplomatic relationship with individual countries. In addition, Chinese contractors, who usually advance their own money to get a project launched before being reimbursed through Chinese bank disbursements, suffer from project suspensions. Although loan contracts provide for arbitration in case of default, there is no evidence that Chinese banks have ever used this option, or that a judgment could actually be enforced, were it to be in their favor. We also see no evidence of penalty interest rates.
…We started this paper with a quote from a Zambian economist. A fuller version of that quote is:
‘It’s the US$ 3 billion worth of eurobonds that are the problem, not the Chinese loans…with eurobonds, you don’t play around when the payments are due. Chinese debt can easily be renegotiated, restructured or refinanced’.”
According to the Jubilee Debt Campaign in 2017, China owned 24%, the IMF and World Bank owned 20%, the Paris Club 10%, the private sector 32%, and other multilateral institutions 15% of Africa’s debt.
The Center for International Policy’s “Africa Program,” based in Washington DC, tracks and analyzes U.S. foreign policy toward the nations of Africa. Interestingly they conclude:
“As a debt crisis looms, there has been a growing demand from various advocacy groups for debt cancellation and the issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the IMF. According to the Advocacy Network for Africa (AdNA), the SDRs are the IMF’s reserve currency that could ‘enable countries to boost reserves and stabilize economies, helping minimize other economic losses, without any cost to the U.S. government.’ Although SDRs offer African countries a lifeline, the U.S. has yet to support the initiative, adding yet another hurdle in their attempt to break free from their debt trap. In addition to advocating for SDRs, organizations like the Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) are also urging the IMF to sell its stockpile of gold to cancel the debt of the poorest countries. According to JDC, the profit from selling less than 7% of IMF’s gold (worth $11.8 billion), ‘would be enough to pay for cancelling all debt payments by the 73 countries eligible for the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for the next 15 months’ and ‘would still leave the IMF with $26 billion more gold than the institution held at the start of 2020.’
The efforts of debt-cancellation advocates seem to continue to fall on deaf ears, as the IMF and the World bank refuse to make any move towards cancelling the debt of African countries. The Bank’s hypocrisy is observed in the fact that it continues to pressure China, Africa’s largest creditor, to cancel its debt to poor countries while itself has yet to cancel the debt it is owed.”
China is Africa’s largest creditor, it is also Africa’s largest debt canceller and is the most flexible in its renegotiation of debt and does not penalise through interest rates as we saw with the Johns Hopkins report. As the Center for International Policy confirms, it is in fact the IMF and World Bank loans, who refuse to be flexible in repayment of these debts. It is they who refuse to make any significant cancellation of debt owed to them by Africa, and who maintain these loans at exorbitant interest rates, which are behind the debt problem in Africa.
Sri Lanka
Let us look at another example. What about Sri Lanka’s debt crisis, surely China is to blame like we have all been told repeatedly?
This is a graph included within an article by the German news press DW. As we can see, China owns only 10% of Sri Lanka’s debt. The Asian Development Bank owns 13% but don’t be fooled by its name, it is modeled off of the World Bank and has only held Japanese presidents on its board. Japan is beholden to the west’s diktat in all of its foreign financial affairs.
So, who owns this 47% market borrowings share of Sri Lanka’s foreign debt? Well, according to NIKKEI Asia, the world’s largest financial newspaper based in Tokyo, Japan:
“By the end of 2020, a year into Gotabaya’s term, the country’s foreign debt was $38.6 billion, accounting for 47.6% of the central government’s total debt, according to the IMF. International sovereign bonds made up the largest share, at $14 billion, followed by $8.8 billion in loans from multilateral lenders and $6.2 billion in bilateral debts. The top 20 ISB [International Sovereign Bonds] holders included BlackRock, Allianz, UBS, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase and Prudential, according to Advocata Institute, a Colombo-based think tank.”
It is here that we start to see the truth behind such graphs that hide behind vague titles such as the “private sector,” “other multilateral institutions” or “market borrowings”. These are predominantly British and American banks and investment firms who are extending loans at exorbitant interest rates. Why are the names of these institutions not even mentioned, conveniently hidden behind such generic and seemingly benign labels?
We also see the outright slander and lying that is occurring against China in being blamed for Sri Lanka’s debt crisis. How can such an accusation be justified if China owns only 10% of Sri Lanka’s debt?!
Once again, we see, it is not China that is responsible for the economic mayhem that is occurring today in Sri Lanka (formerly the British colony Ceylon, and who was a significant organiser of the Bandung Conference). In fact, there is great reason to believe that the National Endowment for Democracy is behind much of the chaos in Sri Lanka (refer here for more).
Posted by: Surferket | Feb 23 2023 2:10 utc | 66
Real studies have debunked the fake US disinformation campaign against China debt trap.
https://fair.org/home/why-comparing-chinese-africa-investment-to-western-colonialism-is-no-joke/
Posted by: Surferket | Feb 23 2023 2:12 utc | 67
Originating motives? The proportionality explains a lot of seemingly unfathomable political behavior. The final backroom split would include other EU beneficiaries --
"Why would Germany commit suicide for, at best, sketchy LNG at 5x the price? The only answer is, Biden guaranteed that Russia would collapse under sanctions and the plunder would go to the west. "Join us and you'll be controlling Russian Resources!" -- GDawg2K2 commenting today on Andrei Martyanov's post.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Feb 23 2023 2:23 utc | 68
# 72
Instant gratification in war
Is a stupidity
Being conditioned by “lesser opponents “
In past wars an invincibility is assumed
Victory will always be ours
This is a deadly naïveté
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 2:45 utc | 69
China loans are a death trap for under-developed countries?
@ Richard Whitney Post 52
You are working hard on the pivot "China is the enemy" and, right after finishing off Russia China is next.
The multipolar world you will not countenance. However, it's unfolding gathering speed. The BRICS+, SCO+, with the US and its vassals left behind; meaning 87% of the world population vs the 13%
I strongly recommend you engage yourself to read the book by John Perkins,
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
- the behind-the-scenes mechanics of Third World debt. And it is not Chinese who are the baddies.
It's likely you have heard of the IMF and the World Bank under the full control of mighty exceptional USA? No, eh.
What's inside the book?
How John Perkins trapped developing countries in a web of greed, debt and war to benefit big U.S. corporations.
Or this interview of Perkins may be helpful:
An Economic Hit Man Speaks Out: John Perkins on How Greece Has Fallen Victim to “Economic Hit Men“
John Perkins, author of “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man,” discusses how Greece and other eurozone countries have become the new victims of “economic hit men.”John Perkins is no stranger to making confessions. His well-known book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, revealed how international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, while publicly professing to “save” suffering countries and economies, instead pull a bait-and-switch on their governments: promising startling growth, gleaming new infrastructure projects and a future of economic prosperity – all of which would occur if those countries borrow huge loans from those organizations.
Far from achieving runaway economic growth and success, however, these countries instead fall victim to a crippling and unsustainable debt burden.
That’s where the “economic hit men” come in: seemingly ordinary men, with ordinary backgrounds, who travel to these countries and impose the harsh austerity policies prescribed by the IMF and World Bank as “solutions” to the economic hardship they are now experiencing.
Men like Perkins were trained to squeeze every last drop of wealth and resources from these sputtering economies, and continue to do so to this day. In this interview, which aired on Dialogos Radio, Perkins talks about how Greece and the eurozone have become the new victims of such “economic hit men.”[.]
LINK:
Truthout
And that was Greece and the eurozone. What of the unsophisticated countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean?
And of death trap you write. We are in it.
Welcome to the unfolding financial collapse. It's a global $300 trillion of debt on the books and of the hidden debt off books, we dare not ask.
The UKR war is a distraction..."when the economy is collapsing they take us to war."
Watch Credit Suisse (CS), and the mega Wall Street banks. CS is a G-SIB (Global Systemically Important Bank) all are interconnected with derivatives.
Yesterday there were mysterious 'financial happenings' and we are so distracted.
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 23 2023 2:55 utc | 70
Russian T-72 Autoloader vs. U.S. Abrams, Merkava, Leopard 2 and Challenger loaders:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/Thv4BTdUaBcA/
Posted by: Sektion2B | Feb 23 2023 2:57 utc | 71
Richard Whitney | Feb 22 2023 23:52 utc | 52
Chinese “debt trap diplomacy” is a U.S. propaganda advanced to obscure its own imperialist policies, to distract from the IMF and World Bank’s own practice of pushing predatory loans with exorbitantly high interest rates onto Global South countries. Chinese loans are granted toward infrastructure projects, which are critical to a country’s development. They are not tied to privatization projects and structural adjustment the way IMF and World Bank loans are.
I have a bridge here is Sydney to sell. No predatory loans. Just cash. Interested?
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Feb 23 2023 3:46 utc | 73
https://cirno.substack.com/p/russia-will-not-use-nuclear-weapons
Does anyone agree with the … eccentric predictive scenarios listed within this article? (Especially the bits about the supposed Russian nuclear supremacy, that they can achieve an annihilating first strike and a complete successful defense against a second strike.)
Posted by: Mat spak | Feb 23 2023 3:48 utc | 74
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ #Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for 22 Feb 2023⚡️🔹#Russia's Border Areas:
▪️ In the #Kursk region, Ukrainian terrorist formations shelled the border villages of #Guevo and #Gornal, as well as #Tetkino village. There were no casualties, but the strike damaged a sugar factory.
▪️ In the #Belgorod region, the AFU terrorists launched massive strikes on the border settlements of #Shebekino and Pervoye Tseplyayevo. Private households and a shopping centre were damaged and three civilians wounded.
🔹#Kharkov Region:
▪️ In the afternoon, Russian troops hit the Kharkov Aircraft Factory, which is the site of production and maintenance of AFU drones.
🔹#Starobelsk Direction:
▪️ In the #Liman sector, the situation has not changed significantly. Russian SRGs are searching for targets to hit artillery and armoured vehicles in the rear of the AFU.
🔹#Soledar (#Bakhmut) Direction (MAP):
▪️ In the #Soledar sector, combined Russian units have dislodged the enemy from the fortified area at the approach to #Veseloye. Ukrainian forces try to slow down the RF Armed Forces' offensive with the use of drones and SRGs.
▪️ Northwest of #Bakhmut, Wagner PMC fighters have entrenched themselves in the centre of the #Berkhovka settlement, expanding their area of control.
➖ Russian units are engaged in heavy fighting in #Yagodnoye. The enemy is not going to give up the settlement without a fight and is moving reserves to hold the front.▪️ In #Bakhmut, the "Wagnerians" advanced along Zarechnaya Street in the area of the meat processing plant, knocking the enemy out of its positions. The Ukrainian command is pulling reserves to backup positions in order to slow down the advance of the assault squads.
▪️ In the southwest near Sobachevka, Russian forces managed to clear several blocks of residential areas along Gogol Street.
▪️ Southwest of #Bakhmut, at the approaches to #Krasnoye, the Wagner PMC assault squads approached close to the H-32 highway connecting the settlement with Chasov Yar.
🔹#Donetsk Direction:
▪️ In #Maryinka, fighting continues on Druzhba Avenue in the centre, and near the tyre repair plant in the south. The RF Armed Forces are actively using tanks and aviation to target identified concentrations of enemy forces.
▪️ The AFU terrorists continue indiscriminately shelling civilian infrastructure in #Donetsk agglomeration.
➖ Overnight, the enemy launched a rocket attack on #Mariupol, damaging residential areas.
➖ In #Makeyevka, the terrorists fired HIMARS rockets at the Solnechny prophylactic centre.
➖ Residential buildings in #Donetsk were hit: several civilians were killed.🔹 #Kherson Direction, #SouthFront:
▪️ Artillery duels continue along the entire line of contact: RF Armed Forces units hit enemy concentrations around #Kherson, #Mikhaylovka, #Dudchany, and #Chernobayevka.
▪️ For their part, the Ukrainian terrorist forces again shelled the left bank of #Kherson Region. Civilian facilities in Nova Kakhovka and #Kairy were damaged. In #Tavriysk, a mortar strike damaged a water pumping station.
https://t.me/sitreports/4896
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:48 utc | 75
Biden dared not visit Kiev without asking Russia for security guarantees first — ZakharovaMaria Zakharova noted that "the US leader’s visit was staged with drama, but, in reality, resembled a failed stage of a provincial theater"
US President Joe Biden dared to make a ‘brave’ visit to Kiev only after obtaining guarantees of security from Russia, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing Wednesday.
"Biden did not dare to visit Kiev without warning Russia and without asking the Russian side to ensure his safety," she noted.
The spokeswoman noted that "the US leader’s visit was staged with drama, but, in reality, resembled a failed stage of a provincial theater.""In order to assign some drama to this moment, they have even sounded the air raid alarm," she noted. "Although, they told the people of Kiev in advance not to pay attention to it, due to the absence of any actual threat. Everyone warned their neighbor: Biden is about to come, they will launch the siren, but it’s okay, we can stay home or do our own stuff, because it is a part of the staging."
"If Washington wanted to make another example to its allies on how to support the Kiev regime, it didn’t come out too well," Zakharova concluded. "Especially amid the loud claims that they are in total control of the situation and the Kiev regime has endured and is about to win."
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/34583
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:51 utc | 76
Will Ukraine be able to use American bombs JdamBloomberg has released information that the Pentagon plans to transfer Jdam-ER precision guided bombs to Ukraine.
These bombs have an impressive flight range of 70 km, which allows the carrier aircraft to partially protect itself from short and medium-range air defenses without entering their affected area. Everything seems to be great, but there is a nuance. No more than 20 combat aircraft of all types remained on the balance sheet of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. What, in what condition they are, whether they are able to take off is unknown.
The activity indicator of the Ukrainian Air Force in recent months has been tending to zero. In addition, all NATO countries refused to transfer aircraft. The Armed Forces of Ukraine can get as many high-precision bombs as they want, but they are of no use. And the training vehicles of the L-39 type that remained in the ranks will not be able to take on such a combat load without serious design changes.
To realize the capabilities of the bomb, Ukrainian aviators will have to wait for the MiG-29 from Poland, but it is not certain that Kyiv will receive them. The Ukrainian Air Force is left with one option - to use the few remaining in the ranks of its own MiG-29, Su-25, Su-24 and Su-27. Here difficulties will arise, because the on-board equipment is not intended for the use of American corrected ammunition. Ukrainian pilots will have to drop the bomb without avionics, which will greatly complicate the combat mission. However, the operation itself will be fraught with dangers due to the opposition of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Air Defense.
Once again, the thought comes to mind that this whole circus with weapons for Ukraine from the United States is just a “tick” in President Biden’s merit journal. He sent it, then he sent it - what a hero and well done, the electorate will “certainly” eat it. But if you think about it, this is not help, but rather a burden of useless weapons.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/34589
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:53 utc | 77
🇺🇸💸🇺🇦Reuters: The United States has warned Kiev that their support will not be endlessThe agency reports that support for the provision of military assistance to Ukraine has decreased among Americans
The US administration has warned the Ukrainian authorities that Washington does not have inexhaustible resources to support Kiev. This was reported on Wednesday by Reuters.
As noted in the publication with reference to a source from among American officials, "the administration told the Ukrainian government that the resources of the United States are not infinite." "Everyone understands that this has to stop at some point. And we all would like it to end as soon as possible," the source's words about the fighting in Ukraine are quoted in the material.
The Agency presented the results of sociological surveys conducted by it earlier together with the Ipsos service. According to these data, support for providing military assistance to Ukraine has decreased among Americans. In April 2022, 73% of respondents were in favor of this. By the beginning of this month, the indicator had decreased to 58%. These estimates are based on a sociological study involving 4 thousand residents of the United States.
The publication states that Republicans in Congress oppose the provision of unlimited military assistance to Ukraine. https://news.yahoo.com/analysis-ukraine-war-enters-second-163157009.html
https://t.me/azmilitary11/38768
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:55 utc | 78
❗️❗️❗️ Kyiv is preparing an armed provocation against Transnistria with the participation of Azov*This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The Ukrainian military is planning to carry out a staged attack.
▪️For staging, Kyiv plans to imitate the alleged offensive of Russian troops from the territory of Transnistria
▪️The regime plans to involve units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Azov for execution *.
▪️Ukrainian saboteurs to participate in the production will be dressed in the uniform of the military personnel of the RF Armed Forces.
▪️The Ministry of Defense of Russia is closely monitoring the situation on the border between Ukraine and Pridnestrovie and is ready to respond to any changes in the situation.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/34595
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:57 utc | 79
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Feb 23 2023 2:23 utc | 72
There is much to be gained today studying British imperialist policy against Germany and Russia in Eurasia. The whole thrust of British policy, and now the US, was (and is) to prevent a political and economic alliance between Germany and Russia and to foster every possibility of Germany and Russia fighting land wars. It led to two world wars. In the 1930's the British imperialists led by Churchill did everything to point Germany to attack the Soviet Union and rebuffed every attempt by the Soviet Union to form an alliance against German aggression is a continuation of that policy. Nord Stream is the latest incidence of that policy with the US keeping Germany at the throat of Russia.
Posted by: Paul McGrory | Feb 23 2023 3:59 utc | 80
🇺🇦Ukrainians of draft age (18-55) who want to leave through Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia to Russia, as well as from Poland to Belarus, are forcibly returned to Ukraine at the request of Kiev, where they will be mobilized into the Ukrainian army.The Baltic and Polish authorities are also detaining Ukrainians trying to enter the EU at the border crossing points with Russia and Belarus.
At the beginning of 2023, the Ukrainian Cabinet approved new rules for military registration of those liable for military service, conscripts and reservists - diplomatic missions should "facilitate the return of those liable for military service and reservists to Ukraine in the event of mobilization and in wartime."
https://t.me/DonbassDevushka/45612
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 4:00 utc | 81
Elon [email protected]Replying to @jordanbpetersonand @POTUS
Nobody is pushing this war more than Nuland
https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1628441775923949569
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 4:04 utc | 82
The war in not a distraction, Russia and China are making the largest power move since WW2. The western control of money is being removed on a global scale. The "take it or leave it" demands on raw materials and produced goods will no longer be used as a tool to stay on top. The standard of living will skyrocket for some and absolutely tank for the west.
Ukraine isn't short on weapons or manpower neither is Russia. The cost of this war on the EU is going to cause a need to hurry and escalate, the threat of the loss of power will also make certain nobody has there foot on the brake.
This is far more dangerous than a distraction.
Posted by: OohCanada | Feb 23 2023 4:13 utc | 83
Posted by: Sektion2B | Feb 23 2023 2:57 utc | 75
Thank you. Informative. But for the majority of readers Cyrillics are as hieroglyphs.
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 23 2023 4:20 utc | 84
#86. You mean the lady passing out goodies out of a bag to nazi. After the elected president was overthrown in 2014?
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 5:13 utc | 85
Re: Comandante | Feb 22 2023 22:50 utc | 46
you wrote:
"Putin has stated. "If any external country attacks on ANY area in Ukraine or obviously Transnitria then Russia will respond by attacking the countries themselves."
can you please provide a link for that, it is very important, thank you
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:17 utc | 86
re:Down South | Feb 23 2023 3:57 utc | 83
First report was from Southfront, now the Russian Ministry of Defense also reports the same, a massive Ukrainian attack on Transnistria about to happen.
I still marvel that Russia seems to have not deployed enough troops to Transnistria to preclude, or at least adequately defend against such an attack. The largest ammunition dump in Europe is in Transnistria; it is all Soviet era munitions, which I suspect are exactly what Ukraine needs for its military. Why would Russia leave it guarded with a few thousand troops under wartime conditions?
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:26 utc | 87
Re: Don Bacon | Feb 22 2023 22:24 utc | 40
Amazing the outright lies from that bastard Blinken:
Feb 21, 2023 -- Blinken: Look, no one, except for Vladimir Putin, wanted this war. We tried to prevent it. We saw it coming. We engaged for months with Russia to see if they had any genuine security concerns that in any way explained what they were starting to do. And unfortunately, they made very clear that, as I said, what this was about was Putin’s obsession with eliminating Ukraine. It was never about any security concerns. . .here
17 December 2021 13:26
Agreement on measures to ensure the security of The Russian Federation and member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
17 December 2021 13:30
Treaty between The United States of America and the Russian Federation on security guarantees
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:33 utc | 88
Re: Comandante | Feb 22 2023 22:50 utc | 46
you wrote:
"Putin has stated. "If any external country attacks on ANY area in Ukraine or obviously Transnitria then Russia will respond by attacking the countries themselves."
can you please provide a link for that, it is very important, thank you
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:17 utc | 90
Its in this video of Macgreggor and Judge Napolitano. They describe a source provided by Macgreggor on Putin giving a direct signal (via his speech I believe) to the West.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QR4jnW7u3Zw
Its at around 9:20
I believe this is the Red Line. Just like one year ago. I believe something will happen in next 30 days just like 1 year ago. Either they gonback to negotiating table or its goimg to be a full on war or worse.
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 23 2023 5:41 utc | 89
@ Passerby 5
Yes, the wall to wall, pervasive anti Socialist rhetoric is remarkably similar to the penalty of death imposed during the Reformation on anybody proselytising the newly arrived knowledge of Islam.
Britain has always relied on perverting philosophies that contradict their pillage, rape and piracy, as the wall to wall Russophobia today demonstrates.
Russia is democratic , we are authoritarian. Russia has an intellectual forum for both Judaism and Islam, while we have backward , aggressive imams and Anti-semitism ignorance.
As to deliberately perverting Russia or India in preparation for the end of life stage, maybe, but the perversion created during the British or US empires of lies is quite enough to destroy the poisonous legacy periods.
I agree with you that both empires died in an apoplexy of wall to wall shit. The totalitarian enforcement of the Anti- Putin narrative will soon lead to NATO men and women dulce et decoriumly dying for their disgusting Empire same as us Brits 80 years ago in WW2.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 23 2023 5:47 utc | 90
re: Comandante | Feb 23 2023 5:41 utc | 93
thank you
If anyone else has a URL for a news article (english or russian) that contains this information, please post on this thread, thank you
"Putin has stated. "If any external country attacks on ANY area in Ukraine or obviously Transnitria then Russia will respond by attacking the countries themselves."
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:58 utc | 91
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 23 2023 5:41 utc | 93
Re. Transnistria, technically it's UAF trying to attack it so it's not the "external country", I doubt anyone will show Moldovan or Romanian nato uniforms. But there were report on the ground that "UAF" near Transnistria is actually composed of British and Polish troops.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 23 2023 6:37 utc | 92
🇲🇩 Moldova is going to European integrationThe country is starting to denounce agreements with the CIS. This was announced by the head of the Moldavian Foreign Ministry, non-native Nikolay Popescu.
📝 “Moldova has declared that it will join the EU, all foreign policy goals and participation in international organizations will be subordinated to the goal of European integration. It is obvious that the exit from the CIS agreements, which are not compatible with our goals, will continue ,” the politician said on Jurnal TV.
✖️ During the years of independence within the framework of the CIS, Chisinau has signed over 330 agreements , which, according to Popescu , "do not function or are not applied for the good of the country" anymore.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/34598
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 6:51 utc | 93
If Moldova asks Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will take Transnistria in 3 days, - Arestovich.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/34590
Posted by: Down South | Feb 23 2023 6:54 utc | 94
#98
Desperation has run amok
Doubt it makes a bit of difference
It’s all for show, let’s see what realistically becomes of it
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 7:10 utc | 95
Look, I appreciate all the good-spirited debate going on here, but it's clear you people know next to nothing about Moldova and PMR (aka "Transnistria").
1) Russia has zero desire or plans to invade, occupy, conquer, or anything else in PMR. I could explain why but it's a long one.
2) You can't just blow up the ammo dump in Cobasna (PMR) to prevent it from getting in the wrong hands. There are 200,000 tons of explosives in there. It'd be like setting off a nuclear bomb (Nagasaki size).
3) Moldova and/or Romania are NOT going to invade PMR. Hotheads can talk, but there is next to zero public support for that.
Posted by: Sam (in Tiraspol) | Feb 23 2023 7:58 utc | 96
Posted by: Perimetr | Feb 23 2023 5:33 utc | 92
You have to be impressed with the sang froid and enthusiasm with which they lie. It is like they think it does not matter.
Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 23 2023 8:17 utc | 97
# 100
Thanks for the clarification
My heart rate was racing
Now it’s back to normal
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 23 2023 8:18 utc | 98
Posted by: Sam (in Tiraspol) | Feb 23 2023 7:58 utc | 100
Thank you for your commment. I was hoping you would stick around. I think the Ukrainians really NEED that ammo, so the risk they will try to take it is real. They are nuts. The risk they will blow themselves up trying looks real too.
Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 23 2023 8:20 utc | 99
Posted by: miraculous | Feb 23 2023 8:32 utc | 105
Ze is a professional actor and known teller of tales. His words mean zippo. What do you want us to analyze? You might as well analyze a TV show.
Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 23 2023 8:47 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
"This package of sanctions that has been approved by unanimity by the member states will hurt the EU, and it will hurt a lot"
There - fixed it
Posted by: Sir Keef | Feb 22 2023 16:19 utc | 1