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February 5, 2023
Ukraine Open Thread 2023-31
Comments
The liberals in the West are very committed to the war as Russia is producing big quantities of weapons 24/7. Especially the Danish:
https://uk.investing.com/news/economy/thousands-of-danes-protest-cancelling-of-public-holiday-2903856
Posted by: Flavius | Feb 5 2023 21:50 utc | 101
Posted by: always banned? | Feb 5 2023 17:49 utc | 39
I agree with your criticisms of Surovikin’s actions, or more precisely, the actions of the Russian military prior to Surovikin being put in charge.
However, I disagree that his action of withdrawing the troops was some form of treason. I suspect he recognized that since those troops were not doing anything useful across the river because the General Staff apparently did not want to use them as you (and I) suggest, he might as well pull them back and use them elsewhere to reinforce the other areas of the front until the 300,000 mobilized troops could make an appearance.
Yes, it was a mistake not to reinforce the bridgehead and solidify the Russian strategic advantage of being on the west side of the Dnieper. But it was not Surovikin’s mistake since he wasn’t in charge for the ten months it was a mistake, and it was not treason to correct that mistake by withdrawing. I do agree that the excuses used were just that – excuses to avoid blaming the General Staff for its error.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 21:50 utc | 102
Hi Barflies!
I’ve been a regular reader of this blog, short of commenting so far. But now it seems compelling to me to add my opinion.
@Kareem | Feb 5 2023 16:03 utc | 18
On this thoughtful assessment of Russia’s performance so far in the war, I totally concur. For the records, I have always been a crusader against the US hegemonic bullying all over the world via its military and economic power. Since the onset of the SMO last year, I have been on the side of Russia’s quest to extricate itself from security threats of the US-led NATO war machine. My expectation at the onset was that Russia would have finished their task in Ukraine within one month, applying the “killing the ant with a sledge hammer”, knowing that the US and its allies will mess things up for them if allowed time to mobilize and enter the conflict as they had done since. Even at some point last year the war seemed like a stalemate save the Russian mobilization.
Frankly, as a world superpower (at least on nuclear capability), for me it is inconceivable how Russia’s tactics, inability, or both is making the war to drag on till such a time US-NATO may decide that the proxy game is enough/over and then directly enter the war theatre. I believe that since the Kiev regime, as US puppet, cannot be reasonably expected to suddenly realize the legitimate concerns of the Russian state against their dangerous alliance with US, THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST ACT DECISIVELY NOW TO GET THIS MONKEY OFF THEIR NECK. This grinding-it-out type of warfare (in the context of a superpower) is, to say the least, absurd and embarrassing! The fear that hammering a crushing defeat to the Kiev regime may trigger a nuclear exchange with NATO is not realistic because even the US and NATO themselves love life and as such will most likely not initiate a direct attack on Russia as this will inevitably provoke the much dreaded nuclear holocust. Ask them: Is the entire life on earth worth sacrifizing for Ukraine’s Zelensky and his Nazis in Kiev?
People must realize that because “of the real situation at the front and [know] that there is no real advance of the Russian group in Ukraine. With the exception of small tactical successes in a couple of directions, consisting in advancing several kilometers, or even several hundred meters”, US and its allies have loosened and further shifted their red-lines, concluding therefore that “it is necessary to increase the flow of assistance to Ukraine and provide it with more and more modern and more long-range weapons. To hasten the defeat of Russia.” FM Lavrov’s postulations on pushing Kiev forces further commensurate to the extent of more long range arms delivery to Kiev sounds too weak of Russia’s supposed military might. From my analysis, it is giving credence to the conclusion already drawn by some Western analysts to the effect that Russia is actually a “tiger-on-paper”. The US have always declared their intention as “to defeat and weaken Russia such that it will not be able to exert power (militarily, economically, politically and even culturally) beyond its boarders”. For God’s sake, what else defines an existential threat to Russia than this agenda! And Russia seems to me, by a general assessment of its responses so far in Ukraine, to be doing more of the talk (complaining) than a decisive action to save its soul from this rampaging hegemonic war empire.
An effective stop to this unprecedented evil crusade by the collective West against Russia should not be seen to be the incorporation of the Russian-speaking regions in Ukraine alone. In fact, it in turn provoked the West to further escalate. Still, those currently rumoured peace/negotiation initatives by the US are at best to be seen as mere ploy akin to the MINSK 2 deciet. Somebody at the top echelon in Russia must be DECISIVE TODAY, else the grinding-it-on strategy or the we-shall-respond-to-their-escalatory-actions tactics will fail to achieve Russia’s ultimate goal of security guarantees by NATO within territiories of its spheres of influence.
Posted by: cegnovelty-esq | Feb 5 2023 21:51 utc | 103
Derek Henry | Feb 5 2023 20:59 utc | 86
Let’s say for talking sake, Putin stops at the borders of the new territories. Yet, 70% of Russia public opinion wanted him to go to the Dnieper and take back Odessa ? Public opinion matters and regime change might take place after all ?
Putin losing the presidency because he’s too soft on Ukraine – what a scenario. The current four oblasts, and the rest of Ukraine agreeing to keep NATO out and assume a demilitarized – or even occupied by Russia – status, looks like a huge success to me. There will not be 70% pushing him to go further. Allthough he might, if need be… the remaining 5 oblasts that you mentioned are still largely pro-Russian. I have a map of the 2004 regional election results which shows that clearly.
Posted by: grunzt | Feb 5 2023 21:52 utc | 104
Derek Henry | Feb 5 2023 21:10 utc | 88
That is an interesting comment. Putin is certainly not the wash rinse repeat type leader. Syria? Russia fulfilled Putin’s stated objectives. Destroy the terrorists without starting new wars.
There are still the whiffs of terrorist groups emanating from the US held sections of Syria but they are manageable.
All wars are different, but the main thing that differentiates Syria from Ukraine is that in Syria, Russia had limited objectives. The rhetoric from the Kremlin was that of peace and reconciliation. Soothing words for the savage beast.
Compare that now to the Russian rhetoric re the empire of lies. The Anglo Saxon world thought it had set an Afghan trap within Ukraine for the Russian Federation. Like Dier Ezzor, Putin has turned that into a killing fioeld in which the empire opf lies will be destroyed.
Turkish Foreign minister? to US ambassador – “get your filthy hands off our country”. Hungarian diplomat the same. The tide has turned.
Martyanov writes that military power underlies all. Any reading of history – military power underlays all. Any goodness spouting source will be blown away by military power if it does not have military power.
Where the US has MMA trash talk and somewhat limited military power, Russia and China have diplomatic backed by military power.
That term about what soothes the savage beast needs to be updated in light of Russia’s next gen strategic weapons systems.
As to how Russians want this to end – watch best in hell.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 5 2023 21:53 utc | 105
@ Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 21:36 utc | 96
Apart from up to ~40,000-60,000 arty/mortar/rocket rounds, RuAF averages ~50+ CAS sorties per day.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 5 2023 20:39 utc | 78
Thank you for your welcome. I’ve lurked at the bar for some time, was linked here from the Vineyard of The Saker; lurked there since about 2014, reading Andrei’s coverage of the Maidan coup and its aftermath (sad to read about that blogs impending closure). Occasionally posted there, very occasionally post at Larry Johnson’s Sonar21 blog.
Re: West Country, I don’t live in a count’s louse but they’ms me daps me babber! UTG!
Re: arguing/debating with friends/acquaintances; while I wouldn’t call it success, I’ve definitely caused some cognitive dissonance when I’ve used the word apartheid to describe the Ukrainian regime’s approach; they seem inured to the term Nazi but using the ‘a’ word I can definitely hear the neurons fizz in the brains of the “blindly woke”.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Feb 5 2023 21:56 utc | 107
The largest disadvantage since the beginning has definitely been the inability to project strategic bombing, and even tactical bombing. Although this has been compensated through use of precision missiles and drones, which might make gravity bombers “moot”, as the aircraft carrier made the dreadnought battleship.
They can use tactical close air support to some limited extent on the immediate front lines, but it still seems to be very restricted. Of course there have been losses for Ka-52 and close support planes, too. Artillery is doing the real heavy lifting in this war, and Ukraine has had their artillery ranks thinned out pretty successfully.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 22:00 utc | 108
Posted by: cegnovelty-esq | Feb 5 2023 21:51 utc | 104
Nothing you said is true and it sounds exactly like most of the other concern trolls appearing here. So for a “first time” post, you are starting off rather badly.
Russia is managing the NATO response to events while simultaneously encouraging NATO to expend itself well before it is in any position to enter the war, which Russia knows NATO will lose anyway.
Therefore Russia is winning everything handily. The war will be over in six to nine months, and NATO will either be forced to accept the new reality of a Russia-controlled Ukraine with Russian military bases on Poland’s borders, or they will have to resort to WWIII – which Russia will also win, albeit with having to accept some terrible damage.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 109
I don’t think anyone has a good overview of losses on both sides, Ukraine and Russia know what their own losses are and can estimate the other side but no one has an incentive to be honest. If Ukraine really lost 30% KIA and wounded plus thousands of vehicles and artillery how can they still fight effectively?
Russia took a risk when they invaded, most Ukrainians outside of Crimea and Donbas probably hate them now. Plus the anti Russian sentiment in Poland and other Eastern European countries is probably worse. That’s was the goal of the USA to ensure a permanent split between Europe and Russia.
Posted by: Swiss | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 110
If Ukraine really lost 30% KIA and wounded plus thousands of vehicles and artillery how can they still fight effectively?
Posted by: Swiss | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 111
Because they are “recruiting” people in road blocks, supermarkets, beaches, streets and apartment blocks. Now they are hunting their own “refugees” from EU countries.
That can net you temporarily a couple of hundred thousand people, enabling to keep the grinder going. But, depending on coming UAF general staff choices, it may more or less suddenly be over at some point.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 22:06 utc | 111
Posted by: Swiss | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 111
“If Ukraine really lost 30% KIA and wounded plus thousands of vehicles and artillery how can they still fight effectively?”
They can’t. They aren’t. Without the fortifications they built up over eight years, plus eight or ten waves of mobilizations, plus $100 billion worth of Western weapons, the war would be over by now. But they certainly aren’t “fighting effectively” per se.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 22:07 utc | 112
Interesting. The “NAZO trash cleaning” grinds on. Country 404 has zero reserves all the way to the western border. I would suspect a naval landing west of Odesa. A country 404 Incheon diversionary landing is in the planning to the execution stage, as we speak.
All this talk of canned fairy air concerning RF losses of men and material losses in country 404. All western estimates of the so-called destruction of the RF forces originate from only two sources. Neither is known for the truth! Need one say more?
As for the final settlement of country 404. All western and government media info will be flushed away straight to the DC swamp sewer. Where it belongs.
Ultimately in a new multipolar world. All Western politicians who previously openly and publically supported the “NAZO z’s of Country 404”. Will become a permanent career-ending bummer. Will opt for fast-track permanent early retirement. Using ghost writers to write their “Colin Powell greenwashed style memoirs”. Nobody actually reads that lying sewer trash. Ultimately to be made free on your local BitTorrent. Within one hour after going on sale. The hardcover book will be sold for a dime as ready-to-use toilet paper. 🙂
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Feb 5 2023 22:10 utc | 113
@ Richard Steven Hack 96
Even the poorest Afghani is richer than the average Westerner who is now mortgaged to keep himself or his family warm and dry.
War in Europe will find the weakest links and the predatory bankers are drooling for the feast.
And when that happens , the billions of un-mortgaged people living in the Rusdiam Federation will realise what crap the West really is. So please add those as combatants on the RF side to defend humanity from.predatory capitalism.
The Kurds , Somalis, Yemenis, Libyans etc have already given up hope of taking any benefit from their countries’ oil. So please add all.of them as combatants in jihad against the West, should the West not wake up to its terrible mistake in starting this war.
By the middle of this year the US won’t exist.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 22:11 utc | 114
Technophobe | Feb 5 2023 21:21 utc | 90
The Gerasimov myth.
Early days of sloSMO, telegram reports of the death of Gerasimov.
Indeed a Gerasimov was killed. But not *the* Gerasimov.
Back then, few of us here had mastered telegram.
The western media took the “Gerasimov” confirmed killed and went into megaphone mode. Proving how effective the western megaphone media is… a year later and the misinformation about “Gerasimov” survives.
Now, most barflies and many beyond here are conversant with telegram.
Able to know which accounts are reliable, which are pro Ukrainian/ pro Russian.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 5 2023 22:15 utc | 115
@ Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 110
thanks richard… saved me and a few others the effort to reply to that post..
Posted by: james | Feb 5 2023 22:15 utc | 116
You know, the Americans, on a side note, have a centuries old doctrine called the Monroe Doctrine, whereby hegemony over the Western Hemisphere, North and South America, belongs to the USA.
As early as 200 years ago, they didn’t want France and Britain there. ‘Don’t come here.’ And to a degree that’s Putin’s perception, ‘don’t come here, this is my backyard,’” Bennett said.
This. This right here is what I’ve been saying all along. Russia gets Europe and Africa, America gets the Western Hemisphere, and China/Japan can have Asia. Middle East can be for everyone.
I’m getting up there in years, but I do believe that a multi-polar world is possible in my lifetime.
Posted by: LGB! | Feb 5 2023 22:18 utc | 117
Swiss | Feb 5 2023 22:02 utc | 111
That’s was the goal of the USA to ensure a permanent split between Europe and Russia.
Nope, not even close. The goal has been for over 110 years, & still is, to dismember & erase Russia as a State & turn it into a series of slave plantations & facilitate mass resource extraction for the sole benefit of the ‘Walled Garden’, the West.
Generalplan Ost MkII.
@111 ukraine has a large foreign component (who are always medics or aid workers lol) that is financed from abroad and goes willingly to hot spots.
However Ukrainian offensive capabilities haven’t been fully tested. They had russian withdrawals to account for their big victories. They’ve been stymied at kremmina where they’ve been going to sverodonetsk.
Aside from that it’s all defense all the time which is easier but they can’t win that way. I think they’ve been hiding lots of western gear though. Their troops complain of poor gear and being outnumbered. So the big test is coming I think, when they try to land bridge then mariopal.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Feb 5 2023 22:20 utc | 119
Amusingly off-topic discussion flourish. When you trace back the sources of used toilet paper on the subject. Not one is known to be reliable. Whilst all are routinely used as cover for covert ops from the various name branded western spies agencies.
As with the ten million conspiracy theories floating on the net. The summary is the odds of that being the unredacted truth is one chance in one hundred million.
Posted by: Bad Deal Motors On | Feb 5 2023 22:21 utc | 120
To #1: Well, if you seriously believe that the offensive force has a 10:1 kil ratio, I just dont know what to tell you. it defies all the laws of warfare and all common sense, but I guess thats your chosen reality.
Posted by: Fnord73 | Feb 5 2023 22:28 utc | 121
Posted by: Fnord73 | Feb 5 2023 22:28 utc | 122
Which side has major artillery and air superiority? Which side is currently kidnapping male civilians from the streets and forcibly conscripting them onto the front lines?
Would you accept 8:1 or 9:1?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 22:31 utc | 122
Posted by: b | Feb 5 2023 15:18 utc | 1
Interesting numbers, pretty close to my own. I had Russian aerospace losses between 35-40, but that is a lot of guesswork.
Abandoning Kherson was the right move. Due to the geography, river crossings and HIMAR it became a serious liability. Reinforce and resupply would have been extremely costly and possibly disastrous. Getting 35,000 soldiers surrounded and trapped would have been a major defeat for Russia. A retreat is no big deal, the goal isn’t to hold land.
Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 5 2023 22:35 utc | 123
@ Swiss 111
You give too much credit to money-worshippers of the West by saying they ever had a plan other than piracy, plunder ,rape and murder. They didn’t unleash their terrorist dogs on Iraqi Kurdistan , Syria , Libya, Somalia to steal oil, not to mention Africa and South America?
A combination of Chinese wealth and Muslim manpower will be like Clint Eastwood on the Mexican bandits Biden and BoJo.
Pan pipes play.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 22:37 utc | 124
Posted by: always banned? | Feb 5 2023 17:49 utc | 39
Why so bitter, bro? You get one on those letters with a one way ticket back to the Uk to save the glory of the fatherland??
Posted by: drsmith | Feb 5 2023 22:38 utc | 125
I see we have a full complement of armchair Generals opining (and projecting) about the SMO this morning.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 5 2023 20:07 utc | 69
A phrase I quite like (which was coined by some other MoA poster) is the “101st chairborne.”
Posted by: David Levin | Feb 5 2023 22:39 utc | 126
Ukraine forced to stop conscription in Transcarpathia after Hungarian government promised a “response”. They are now recruiting more in Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk regions.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 22:40 utc | 127
Posted by: Fnord73 | Feb 5 2023 22:28 utc | 122
No, that ratio is a common one for the losing side. Check out Fallujah, Raqqa, Grozny II or many other battles. The defenders all took huge losses compared to the offense. Being on defense does not predicate the KIA ratio although.
You should study military theory a little more.
Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 5 2023 22:41 utc | 128
New article at Covert Action Mag today.
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2023/02/05/ukraine-the-inevitable-war/
Good summary of what brought us here with some links to articles I must have missed.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 22:42 utc | 129
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 22:11 utc | 115
Uhm, no. Gonna take considerably longer than that – short of nuclear war.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 22:43 utc | 130
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 5 2023 15:39 utc | 3
It seems is another “Konrad” in the bar. This post is not from me (Konrad). Does this site allow two people posting under the same name?
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 5 2023 22:46 utc | 131
Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 5 2023 22:41 utc | 129
You can be pretty sure if the defenders get holed up, isolated and immobilized, they can easily be ground to dust with various methods at the attackers convenience. Also, contrary to the common belief in the Western media sphere, Ukraine has been the one doing most of the attacking in this war. The attacks have been spotted by drones and preset artillery have been easily guided.
During the first half of operation Russians had to rely on the so-called mobile defense doctrine, requiring fire brigades to respond to attacks. However, that doesn’t work when there’s a continuous attack on wide front, it will simply force the mobile defense brigade to withdraw, as there’s no coherent next line of defense. But they sure did a number on those attacks, especially on plains in Kherson.
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 22:48 utc | 132
#64 Bang your head against the wall till you can’t do it no more. And then you fall.# 75 thanks for the hook up.Stay strong and well in this bitch world.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 5 2023 22:52 utc | 133
James@87
Spot on. Way too many people tend to individualize the struggle which occurs on a national and international basis.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 22:52 utc | 134
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 22:42 utc | 130
Good article. Thanks for the link.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 5 2023 22:58 utc | 135
@JimG, §7:
Thanks for the link, Jim.
RAND is listened to and their analysis seems sound – at least consistent with apparent reality – which is rare in many analyses!
Posted by: John Marks | Feb 5 2023 22:58 utc | 136
Derek Hnry@94
In the ruptured republic, at the least, public opinion polls are frequently quoted skewed. So I generally consider them as worthy of deep scrutiny before any reliance upon them.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 23:00 utc | 137
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 5 2023 22:48 utc | 133
Yep, gotta agree, we’ll put.
My biggest gripe with the retreat from Kherson as Russia was inflicting huge losses on those plains. I still believe it had to be done.
Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 5 2023 23:03 utc | 138
Neofeudalfuture 120
Hiding as in selling and hiding the money.
I cannot conceive of a Banderite Nazi keeping an item entrusted to them for a purpose by the ALT Right of USUKIS, longer than it can be flogged on ebay.
Barzani flogged the modern German rifles he asked for to fight Daesh, to Daesh.
When Obama’s Daesh got them , Trump had to get Britain and Iran to destroy Daesh.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 23:03 utc | 139
@OttoE, §16:
Thanks for the link to KASG, Otto.
It is an excellent website.
We need to find our sixties spirit again – and another John Lennon or Bob Dylan
Posted by: John Marks | Feb 5 2023 23:07 utc | 140
Breitbart citing AP report:
‘There Will Be Planes’ – Ukraine Claims Western Jets Already a Done Deal
Feb. 5, 2023
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine’s defence minister expressed confidence Sunday that Western allies would agree to the country’s latest weapons request – warplanes to fight off Russian forces that invaded nearly a year ago.
Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told a news conference in Kyiv that Ukraine has already received everything from its “wish list to Santa,” except planes.
“There will be planes, too,” Reznikov predicted. “The question is just what kind exactly…. Consider that this mission is already completed.”[.]
Since the war began, Western leaders have balked at some of Ukraine’s requests, such as for longer-range missiles and tanks, only to agree later. The warplanes are the latest example.
Ukraine has relocated its warplanes and concealed air defence assets, hampering Moscow’s efforts to gain full control of the skies. After suffering early losses, the Russian air force has avoided venturing deep into Ukraine’s airspace and mostly focused on close front-line support.[.]
LINK
OOPS but Oleksii Reznikov, had a fall- slipping on the banana corruption peel.
Ukraine to replace Defense Minister – lawmaker
Alexey Reznikov is expected to be reassigned following a corruption scandal within the military.
RT: 5 Feb. 20223
Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov will be relieved of his duties and instead appointed minister for strategic industries, according to David Arakhamia, who heads the parliamentary faction of President Zelensky’s political party. The planned reshuffle follows multiple corruption scandals and resignations by other officials, including Reznikov’s deputy.
The chief of the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Major-General Kirill Budanov, “will head the defense ministry, which is absolutely logical in wartime,” Arakhamia announced in a Telegram post on Sunday night. He did not offer a timeline, but according to RBC-Ukraine news agency’s sources, the parliament is expected to finalize the reshuffle during the next session.
Asked about his rumored dismissal, Reznikov said earlier on Sunday that it was up to President Vladimir Zelensky to decide his fate, but he was “ready for anything” and his conscience was “absolutely clear.”
[.]
You think, just maybe?
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 5 2023 23:07 utc | 141
Richard Steven Hack 131
The god the US worships is the Market.
Abraham peace be upon him broke the idols his father worshipped and told the elders that the biggest idol had done. Nah , said the elders, you know these idols cannot speak nor move.
Just because you believe the US exists, does not mean that it actually does. The RoW has realised that it’s not more than a hot air balloon. Pffffffffffff! Gone.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 23:15 utc | 143
Oh OK, well neither side has photos for hardly any kills. There’s some but I think maybe most stuff goes undocumented. Might be dangerous to try and even to release sensitive military information.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Feb 5 2023 20:50 utc | 83
This side has over a thousand vehicles documented:
https://www.lostarmour.info/armour
They show just the newest ones, you have to set for example a date or search after a type of vehicle.
They say on the website: Внимание! Потери бронетехники ВС РФ не публикуются до окончания СВО.
google translate: Attention! Losses of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are not published until the end of the CVO.
Posted by: NoName | Feb 5 2023 23:15 utc | 144
@ Konrad | Feb 5 2023 22:46 utc | 132
unfortunately moa is not set up to only allow for one user name… b has encouraged people to use one name and honour others who have already taken up that name, but that is tricky with newbies who are not made aware of this…
@ aristodemos | Feb 5 2023 22:52 utc | 135
thanks.. i agree with you..
Posted by: james | Feb 5 2023 23:26 utc | 145
Critical though, logical thought, introspection knowing yourself, being honest with yourself. Not trying to angle others to your point of what existence is. I try to let people draw their own conclusions on everything. That’s why I read the posts and respond.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 5 2023 23:27 utc | 146
9 countries close their embassy in Turkey Thursday.
US
Sweden
Belgium
France
UK
Netherlands
Germany
Switzerland
Italy
I also understand Kurds are being armed by the US
This is directly related to Ukraine even if it is not on the radar yet.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 5 2023 23:28 utc | 147
@Konrad, §23:
You´d limit “official” troops to very few countries?
Presumably that would exclude Americans?
Only east European cannon-fodder, eh?
Posted by: John Marks | Feb 5 2023 23:29 utc | 148
Personally I don’t think now peace is possible. I think Germany and France will have major problems in a few years as Russia had no sights on Europe but after such hatred and backstabbing I think tanks in Berlin by 2025 and US turtle up leaving its allies in the wind.
Europe is toast either way. Russia will be standing and fine cant say the same thing about the US or any EU countries.
Posted by: Peace | Feb 5 2023 23:29 utc | 149
grunzt
Brian Beletic agrees with you and can see it happening.
Peter AU1
Thanks for the tip. I’ll watch it this week.
Posted by: Derek Henry | Feb 5 2023 23:31 utc | 150
Posting as a ‘blast from the past’ reminder to user @fnord from an exchange the other day…
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/ukraine-sabotage-trump-backfire-233446
If Trump was chosen to start the war with Russia, then why was Ukraine attempting to help Hillary Clinton and hurt Trump?
Also go to roughly 58:00 of this video: https://rumble.com/vwy6pm-revealing-ukraine.html (sorry, it’s not possible to generate a direct link to a timestamp at Rumble)
@RSH, re: the CAM piece – I agree; good article and good up-to-date summary.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 23:37 utc | 151
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 5 2023 23:28 utc | 148
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K2QB44nA0PQ
Posted by: blueswede | Feb 5 2023 23:40 utc | 152
Do any of you remember yellow toilet paper, or the cheap brown stuff? Well it is more environmental having not been whitened with titanium dioxide.. Yellow legal, letter and note lined writing paper used to be the norm 70 years ago..
Posted by: T S | Feb 5 2023 23:44 utc | 153
@Eighthman, §61:
What´s the problem with Russia taking Odessa?
Once the Donbass is sorted, what´s to stop the Russians pouring across from Kherson, with a diversionary threat from Belarus through Zhitomir and Vinnitsa? The Russians should be able to easily establish a defensive frontier along the Dniester.
Posted by: John Marks | Feb 5 2023 23:46 utc | 154
Does anyone know why RT links won’t post here?
I had posted a comment with some interesting excerpts from this interview conducted by RT with a young Russian soldier. I seem to recall a conversation about RT links not working at MoA.
Here it is from another source: https://www.veteranstoday.com/2023/02/05/this-conflict-will-fundamentally-change-russia-a-young-muscovite-explains-why-he-volunteered-to-fight-ukraine/
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 23:47 utc | 155
It should be a sobering thought that:
The United States of America would not exist if George Washington had followed the strategy that Ukraine is following. It isn’t merely ill advised or not an optimum strategy. It is directly the worst possible strategy that could be adhered to, apart from simple surrender. It leads to the loss of capable males and the possible loss of the whole nation.
The correct approach is a Fabian strategy of avoidance of direct confrontation against a superior opponent. With satellites and drones, they should be able to find weaknesses and exploit them opportunistically. Don’t stand and fight. “Not one step back” is exactly wrong. Mobile warfare is right. But childishly, that won’t happen.
Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 5 2023 23:48 utc | 156
Figured this would go here as well as it would in the O/T thread.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Colin Powell attempting to lie the UN into the eventual illegal invasion of Iraq.
https://sputniknews.com/20230205/making-the-case-for-war-20-years-ago-colin-powell-lied-to-the-un-1106970009.html
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 23:51 utc | 157
blueswede | Feb 5 2023 23:40 utc | 153
Turk 152 | Feb 5 2023 23:28 utc | 148
Is this source reliable? This news confirmed somehow?
Posted by: Hausmeister | Feb 5 2023 23:54 utc | 158
Hausmeister @ 159 =
Yeah, several countries (mostly EU I think) closed their consulates in Turkey (temporarily I think) due to an alleged “terror threat.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/3/turkey-says-western-nations-gave-no-evidence-of-security-risks
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 0:02 utc | 159
Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 0:02 utc | 160
Thank you! But not the embassy. For me it is a difference.
Posted by: Hausmeister | Feb 6 2023 0:08 utc | 160
Hello fellow barflies and uninvited trolls.
Question for the day is how many Chinese balloons required to ground entire US F22 fleet?
Posted by: Suresh | Feb 6 2023 0:16 utc | 161
@ Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 5 2023 | various + appreciated
Our “friend” David Korn is out front of the “balloon(ey) that 3 *three* THREE chinese-spy-balloons penetrated the US during Trump’s term.
Numerous Trump admin have come out to deny, not in support of Trump, but because some semblance of truth seems to still be important to some.
Twitter replies: herrderr, just because you were Director of National Intelligence, that doesn’t mean you knew… it happened.. you just were too far out of the loop to know….
I think Trump’s term inflicted permanent brain damage on a significant number.
The lies senior people told, and convinced themselves and others, have permanently disabled their connection to reality.
RussiaRussiaRussia, Ukraine, covid, experimentally gene therapies, Ukraine……
Have demonstrated that anything can be claimed about anything, and there simply isn’t an objective “truth” anymore (for some).
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:26 utc | 162
Progress is not achieved by individuals; progress is always community-driven. Talented individuals can only give expression to their talent when there is community support.
Posted by: Steve from Oz | Feb 5 2023 21:43 utc | 99
Nice thanks 🙂
Posted by: K | Feb 6 2023 0:30 utc | 163
Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 0:02 utc | 160
Yep. Something was attempted in Turkiye end of last year.
There was the suicide bomber in the main shopping tourist area.
Then some activity in the Kurdish Turkiye Iraq Syria region.
Turkiye went in with bombers and killed a dozen or so Kurds…. And the U$ backed out, of course.
The U$ has forgotten it tried to assassinate Erdogan.
Funnily enough. Erdogan hasn’t forgotten….
Erdogan understands the Ukrainian situation because he’s seen Kurds used the same way for 30? 40+? Years.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:34 utc | 164
Thank you, Down South, for publishing selected info from Telegram. At 64 you point out that even the Ukrainians are kept in the dark about how many of their citizens are dying. They have no clue. But people think that the US or other NATO countries could never keep dead mercenaries a secret? We have 323 million people in the US. I think that a couple hundred dead mercenaries can be kept secret. Most people here have no idea how many of those who suddenly and surprisingly drop dead have recently been injected, after all.
Germans have stated that they are not allowed to talk about just who blew up their pipelines lifeline. But the authorities can’t stop them from spreading news of their dead mercenaries?
I certainly hope that Putin doesn’t agree to a Syria solution. The US is occupying 30% of Syria and is stealing their oil and wheat. Surely a solution like that in Ukraine would not go over well in Russia.
The prisoner trade of azoz defenders may not go over well with some barflies, but once they are unloaded from the buses and promptly sent to the front at Bakhmut, it may not seem like such a good deal to the nazis, either.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 6 2023 0:34 utc | 165
I believe that since the Kiev regime, as US puppet, cannot be reasonably expected to suddenly realize the legitimate concerns of the Russian state against their dangerous alliance with US, THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST ACT DECISIVELY NOW TO GET THIS MONKEY OFF THEIR NECK.
“…. The US have always declared their intention as “to defeat and weaken Russia such that it will not be able to exert power (militarily, economically, politically and even culturally) beyond its borders”. For God’s sake, what else defines an existential threat to Russia than this agenda!
Posted by: cegnovelty-esq | Feb 5 2023 21:51 utc | 104
—————————————-
“THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP MUST ACT DECISIVELY NOW TO GET THIS MONKEY OFF THEIR NECK.” cegnovelty-esq, I feel your concern, but exactly what do you want “the Russian leadership” to do? Should the Russian MOD attack NATO and the US because you think they “must act decisively?” I realize that your concern is deeply felt and should be a factor in the Kremlin’s consideration, but don’t you think that the Russian people might have a say in this matter?
Moving too fast and too aggressively could result in WW3 and a nuclear confrontation. Perhaps the Russian people, the Russian political leadership, and the Military leadership, may well prefer the slower but effective “grinding-it-out type of warfare” rather than a mushroom cloud.
From all that I see and read on this subject the US, and a few NATO countries, are the only ones who, like yourself, a flash bang end to the US proxy war, though almost All people of good will want it to end.
See this article about the RAND Corporation which is now calling for supporting a quick and peaceful end to the US proxy war, hot an escalation.
Keep in mind, wars don’t end because the public opposes them. That is a myth. Wars end when a critical split emerges between elites that eventually leads to a change in policy. The RAND Corporation’s new report, “Avoiding a long war: US policy and the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” represents such a split. It indicates that powerful elites have broken with the majority opinion because they think the current policy is hurting the United States. …. In other words, the RAND report is the first step towards ending the war.
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2023/02/04/ukraine-is-sinking-are-western-elites-bailing-out/
Posted by: Ed | Feb 6 2023 0:42 utc | 166
When one lie just blends seamlessly into the next, with added historical context for spicy flavouring.
https://twitter.com/thatdayin1992/status/1622147136392421376
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:46 utc | 167
For those who believe that the US would back off of trying to overthrow the Russian government and divide Russia into pieces if only Russia would flatten Ukraine in a Shock and Awe type operation…..you are wrong.
Also, to add to the list of world leaders killed by the US Deep State, don’t forget John F. Kennedy.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 6 2023 0:52 utc | 168
Oh man, here is a tell that lets you know the Ukies are done for – When pro-Uke Twitter accounts are admitting as such. Am I hearing a fat lady warming up her vocal chords?
WarMonitor🇺🇦
@WarMonitor3
There will be little good news from the eastern frontline in the coming days.
Last edited
6:34 AM · Feb 5, 2023
·
1.2M
Views
https://twitter.com/WarMonitor3/status/1622272579254853633
Posted by: LGB! | Feb 6 2023 0:53 utc | 169
Russia eliminating Starlink in Ukranazistan:
https://stuartbramhall.substack.com/p/new-russian-technology-deciminates
The new passive artillery detection system is also proving lethal. It isn’t a coincidence that Europistan is sending literally all its artillery to Ukranazistan; the guns are being located and destroyed as soon as they fire.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 6 2023 1:17 utc | 170
@LGB! 170
Isn’t this the immune-to-suspension, hence probably CIA, naziganda account that claimed he’d be standing in the centre of Mariupol “next spring” (that is, this spring), “mark my words”?
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 6 2023 1:22 utc | 171
Wow, Orban of Hungary compared Ukraine to Afghanistan and called it “no-man’s-land,” and the mayor of Dnipro (Ukr) Boris Filatov didn’t take it at all well, starting his public letter on his Telegram channel to Orban by calling him “slut-face”, and asserting Ukraine would wipe Hungary out in three days if given the opportunity:
https://index.hu/kulfold/2023/01/28/haboru-oroszorszag-ukrajna-dnyipro-orban-viktor-miniszterelnok/
Posted by: John Kennard | Feb 6 2023 1:26 utc | 172
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 5 2023 23:15 utc | 144
Need to lay down the crack pipe, homey.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Feb 6 2023 1:27 utc | 173
Isn’t this the immune-to-suspension, hence probably CIA, naziganda account that claimed he’d be standing in the centre of Mariupol “next spring” (that is, this spring), “mark my words”?
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 6 2023 1:22 utc | 172
Not sure. I’ve been following him on the daily for a few months now. He ain’t said it lately, that’s for sure! I can go look through his old tweets, do you know about when he said that? I’m not above talking some smack on some old predictions!
Posted by: LGB! | Feb 6 2023 1:27 utc | 174
@LGB 175!
Around June or July last year. I was still on Twitter then so it was before August, and it was old enough that he was already getting roundly mocked about it.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 6 2023 1:32 utc | 175
@173
Banderites: Of course the reason why Ukraine’s economy in the shitter for so long is because we Nazis haven’t generated enough hate for us yet.
Posted by: JW | Feb 6 2023 1:33 utc | 176
So what’s going on with this.
Large earth quake between Turky and Syria. Just now.
7 on the scale
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 2:15 utc | 180
“I think Trump’s term inflicted permanent brain damage on a significant number.
The lies senior people told, and convinced themselves and others, have permanently disabled their connection to reality.
RussiaRussiaRussia, Ukraine, covid, experimentally gene therapies, Ukraine……
Have demonstrated that anything can be claimed about anything, and there simply isn’t an objective “truth” anymore (for some).”
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:26 utc | 163
——————————–
The permanent disabled to reality began a long time before Trump, and I am no defender of Trump. Still, does anyone Rember the “great” con artist Karl Rove who said that: “We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you’re studying that reality — judiciously, as you will — we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out.
Also, in the same vein, how about this great whooper by a “great” neo-liberal Francis Fukuyama whose book: The End of History and the Last Man (1992), argued that the ascendancy of Western liberal democracy —which occurred after the Cold War (1945–1991) and the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991)—humanity has reached “not just… the passing of a particular period of post-war history, but the end of history as such: That is, the endpoint of mankind’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.”
I call it Francis “As Good as It Get” but without Jack Nicholson. This was a message to the working class that humanity will advance to anything more than a Capitalist Dictatorship hiding behind a bourgeois “democratic” form. The liberal and neo-liberal Democrats bought it hook, line, and sinker, as well a whole shit load of “progressive” lefties, some who now reside over at Counterpunch today: all agony and no ecstasty.
Posted by: Ed | Feb 6 2023 2:27 utc | 181
I call it Francis “As Good as It Get” but without Jack Nicholson. This was a message to the working class that humanity will NOT advance to anything more than a Capitalist Dictatorship hiding behind a bourgeois “democratic” form.
Posted by: Ed | Feb 6 2023 2:30 utc | 182
Posted by: Hausmeister | Feb 6 2023 0:08 utc | 161
Yep, just the consulates which deal with individuals from their home country, not the diplomatic missions/embassies which is where the so-called “diplomacy” takes place (and where spooks reside).
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:26 utc | 163
Ah yes, you’re welcome. I see you found my post from the O/T regarding David Corn’s unhinged TDS. He goes well beyond that, though. I think he’s always been off the rails on everything Putin/Russia related and sees Wagner mercs under his bed at night. When I think of a typical former journalist who has completely sold out, Corn comes immediately to mind.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 2:35 utc | 183
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 2:15 utc | 181
Says Gaziantep. 7.8. My. Nature clears its throat.
Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 6 2023 2:37 utc | 184
This was a message to the working class that humanity will advance to anything more than a Capitalist Dictatorship hiding behind a bourgeois “democratic” form. The liberal and neo-liberal Democrats bought it hook, line, and sinker, as well a whole shit load of “progressive” lefties, some who now reside over at Counterpunch today: all agony and no ecstasty.
Posted by: Ed | Feb 6 2023 2:27 utc | 182
Funny someone should broach this topic in the Ukraine thread. Over in the O/T I posted a new article from Yasha Levine and it’s pretty funny.
https://yasha.substack.com/p/victims-of-commcapitalism?
So our new Republican congress critters are basically praising fascism out in the open now, with many Democrats gladly joining in!
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 2:38 utc | 185
For those who believe that the US would back off of trying to overthrow the Russian government and divide Russia into pieces if only Russia would flatten Ukraine in a Shock and Awe type operation…..you are wrong.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 6 2023 0:52 utc | 169
############################
People who struggle to comprehend complexity tend to see everything as black and white, the hammer/nail paradigm.
No problem that can’t be solved with more destruction and force, is a very Western perspective, IMO.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 6 2023 2:39 utc | 186
Found this article today during my regular reading. Must’ve missed it back in August.
https://theconversation.com/the-inside-story-of-the-cia-v-russia-from-cold-war-conspiracy-to-black-propaganda-in-ukraine-188550
Fun little trip down memory lane that leads right back to present day Ukraine. Relevant to a couple of side-bars in this thread.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2023 2:43 utc | 187
David Levin @127
“A phrase I quite like (which was coined by some other MoA poster) is the “101st chairborne.””
I remember that exact phrase from the Guardian way back when they had an awesome (lightly moderated) discussion board 2001-2006 or so and people argued about Iraq, etc. Can’t remember who used it the most then, but it was pretty f*ing effective.
Posted by: Wisco | Feb 6 2023 2:53 utc | 188
#182 Liberal & neoliberal residing in a corrugated abode Watching their breasts & beard growing in tandem.
Posted by: Dingo | Feb 6 2023 3:23 utc | 189
LGB@180
Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota…the biggest roadblock for Baby Bush’s invasion plans II against Iraq.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 6 2023 3:24 utc | 190
aristodemos @63
“…the deliberate dumbing-down of the population, both through controlled mass media and the educational system, as actuated by John D. Rottenfeller with his funding of the school of education at Columbia University (ca 1920).”
You are a very effective poster and I largely agree with what you post. But I think it would be more effective, on your more serious posts, to not intentionally misspell names like that. It isn’t obvious to mosr normies that “Rottenfeller = Rockefeller”. There are many people who arrive at this site from links shared by people who want to get at least some of their friends and maybe even some relatives to see things from a different perspective than what we know is the flat out lies of the MSM.
I see it all the time, the intentional “comic” misspellings. Sometimes indecipherable, even to me. Maybe I’m wrong, just my 2 cents.
Posted by: Wisco | Feb 6 2023 3:25 utc | 191
Posted by: Kareem | Feb 5 2023 15:55 utc | 10
and elsewhere
I dismissed all facts pointing to Putin.and its billionaires being both atlanticists and zionists, as western psywar..
I gather that a majority of the peoples of Russia disagree with you.
Ditto to “cegnovelty-esq” post 104 | Feb 5 2023 21:51 utc… a lot of people, trolls or not, should learn some humility and not make fools of themselves by giving advice or criticising something about which they have very little info/knowledge/experience/wisdom/whatever… unless of course their intention is to make noise.
Posted by: SlowDL | Feb 6 2023 3:26 utc | 192
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ #Chronicle of the Special Military Operation for 4-5 Feb 2023⚡️
🔹#Russia’s Border Areas:
▪️ In the #Kursk region, Ukrainian terrorists formations have hit the border village of #Gornal. Residential buildings and power lines were damaged. Civilians were not injured.
▪️ In the #Belgorod region on Saturday, the enemy terrorists shelled residential buildings in the village of #Krasnoye as well as civilian infrastructure near #Borisovka.
🔹#NorthUkraine:
▪️ The announced “63 by 55” formula prisoner of war exchange took place in the border areas of the #Sumy region.
▪️ Russian troops have hit the enemy’s deployment point in the eastern wing of the national university building in #Kharkov. According to some reports, foreign advisers and high-ranking Ukrainian officers may also have been at the site.
🔹#Starobelsk Direction (MAP):
▪️ In the #Kupyansk sector, Russian soldiers are fighting the enemy on the western and northwestern outskirts of the village of #Dvurechnoye.
➖ Concurrently, the RF Armed Forces units are entrenching themselves in the vicinity of #Gryanikovka.
➖ Russian soldiers are fighting the enemy on the western and northwestern outskirts of the village of #Dvurechnoye.
➖ Concurrently, Russian Armed Forces units are entrenching themselves in the vicinity of #Gryanikovka.
▪️ In the #Liman sector, Russian troops have established control over AFU strongholds in the direction of #Yampolovka.
➖ The RF Armed Forces have dislodged Ukrainian formations from positions at a tactically important height near #Makeyevka.
➖ Fierce fighting continues in the vicinity of #Zhuravka gully. Russian forces repel enemy counterattacks in the area.
🔹#Lugansk People’s Republic:
▪️ On Saturday, the Ukrainian terrorist formations fired HIMARS rockets at the town of #Svatovo. Residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, power lines and a gas pipeline were damaged.
▪️ On Sunday, the Ukrainian Terrorist Forces shelled residential buildings in #Kremennaya, wounding seven civilians.
🔹#Soledar Direction (MAP):
▪️ In the Soledar sector, PMC Wagner assault troops are advancing on enemy positions south of #Razdolovka.
➖ Concurrently,the “Wagnerians” are advancing towards the AFU defensive lines around #Vasyukovka.
▪️ In the Bakhmut sector, Russian troops are pushing through the AFU defence near #Paraskoviyevka and Krasnaya Hora.
➖ Russian fighters storm enemy positions near #Stupka.
➖ On the northern outskirts of #Bakhmut, Russian formations advanced in the area of the meat processing plant, and also established control over a plant south of Krasnaya Gora.
➖ In the southern districts of #Bakhmut, Wagner PMC assault troops are attacking the AFU defensive lines in the Sobachevsky district.
▪️ West of #Bakhmut, the “Wagnerians” approached the Chasov Yar – Bakhmut track and also began an assault on the enemy defences on the southwestern outskirts of #Krasnoye.
➖ Concurrently, Russian forces are advancing towards the southwestern suburbs of #Bakhmut.
🔹#Donetsk Direction (MAP):
▪️ In the vicinity of #Ugledar, positional fighting and artillery duels continue. The Ukrainian command is deploying additional forces to the city to compensate for the losses.
▪️ The Ukrainian terrorist formations fired indiscriminately at residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in #Donetsk, #Makeyevka, #Gorlovka and other settlements in the agglomeration. There are casualties among civilians.
🔹#Kherson Direction on Southern Front:
▪️ Artillery duels continue along the entire line of contact, with RF Armed Forces units striking enemy concentrations around #Kherson, #Antonovka, #Dneprovskoye and #Gavrilovka.
▪️The Ukrainian Terrorist Forces again shelled the left bank of the #Kherson region. Among others, civilian infrastructure and residential buildings were hit in Novaya Kakhovka, #Alyoshki and Golaya Pristan.
Posted by: Down South | Feb 6 2023 3:29 utc | 193
Hi Barflies!
I’ve been a regular reader of this blog, short of commenting so far.
Posted by: cegnovelty-esq | Feb 5 2023 21:51 utc | 104
Please return to your previous state of “short of commenting.”
Posted by: Activist Potato | Feb 6 2023 3:35 utc | 194
I suspect perhaps the reason that Zelensky keeps his soldiers in losing situations is that he is somewhat bitter about the weak, slow, dithering support from the west and he is going to humiliate them over it and lose the war “prematurely” if support is not forthcoming soon and big.
It is interesting that it seemed that Zelensky seemed to support the negotiations early on and now one of the negotiators is assasinated as traitor and Zelensky says he was just kidding. Says something about his position.
Posted by: jared | Feb 6 2023 3:46 utc | 195
@Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 0:34 utc | 165
In addition to the above, Turkey demanded concessions from the US before allowing the Americans to use their airspace and airfields during the first US Gulf War. America could not partition Iraq, provide a Kurdish enclave in Iraq, or permit profits from oil sales to go to the Kurds. US solemnly agreed, used the airspace and airfields, then blew off the agreements. Turkey remembered that when the US requested assistance for the second US Gulf War, and, reminded daily by the US-Kurdish alliance in Syria, Iran and Iran, and the US provision of shelter and funding to Kurdish enemies of Turkey, it is unlikely to have slipped their minds.
Posted by: Hermit | Feb 6 2023 3:47 utc | 196
it seems is another “Konrad” in the bar. This post is not from me (Konrad). Does this site allow two people posting under the same name?
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 5 2023 22:46 utc | 132
Can you please link to an older thread or posts that you want to claim for yourself under the account of “Konrad”. Then both of us and the admin can get an impression if the latter want to investigate it. Otherwise I feel a bit flattered. The posts #23, #29 and #36 were also written by me, at least I hope.^^
That’s not an accusation. You will be able to understand that your comment leaves a strange impression on me, thanks.
Posted by: John Marks | Feb 5 2023 23:29 utc | 149
You´d limit “official” troops to very few countries?
Presumably that would exclude Americans?
Only east European cannon-fodder, eh?
Well, it’s not my main issue and I have justified my point of view in several respects as far as soldiers of the Bundeswehr are concerned.
Certainly, based on the statements made by heads of government, a possibly greater readiness for such adventures can be deduced in countries in Eastern Europe, don’t you agree? However, you can see the static division in the list yourself to answer your question:
“NATO military trainers (US and UK)
NATO soldiers (Germany, Poland, Lithuania, …)”
Accordingly, soldiers from the USA or GB apparently only “train”. Others are then cannon fodder, eh? In the end, it’s all about beliefs and ideas about what reality might be. Do you think that these NATO troops are integrated in the command structure of Ukraine? Mercs would definitely be.
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 6 2023 3:52 utc | 197
James @87
“you come to a lot of wrong conclusions based on your belief that putin needs to kill zelensky… i see it just the opposite.. what good would killing zelensky do?”
James, I have seen you rightly criticize others for responding to trolls. This “kareem” is very clearly a troll (imo). WTF are you doing!?
I have lurked a long time here. Lots of new troll names today, lots of scrolling. I was shocked to see your very long and serious reply to that troll, James. Maybe I am wrong. Seemed obvious though.
Posted by: Wisco | Feb 6 2023 3:59 utc | 198
@Piotr Berman | Feb 5 2023 18:29 utc | 48
The following may actually be better located in the off topic branch, but it is an interesting bit of information about Anarchists, so I put it here. Some more can be hopefully found in archives of large libraries in Germany (or elsewhere) in collections of publication “Der Ziegelbrenner” – which was edited by a young man, who later became famous as B.Traven (Treasure of Sierra Madre).(he was allegedly the illegitimate son of the last German emperor, Wilhelm II). The periodical was based in Munich in 1918-1919 and maybe later. I only know of its existence from my family, where it was collected, but destroyed during the WW2 – for fear that Nazis would find it. Nazis, like communists, and the capitalists intensly hated anarchists and persecuted them. In the US there were anarchists in Chicago in late 19th century.
Posted by: fanto | Feb 6 2023 4:09 utc | 200