Sanctions On Russia Come Back To Bite Their Issuers
Unlike 'western' politicians I try to think ahead of the consequences certain foreign relation policies might have.
On March 9 2022 I predicted:
The Sanction Backlash Will Push The 'West' To Accept Russia's Demands
For years the U.S. committed policies that have left a lot of countries grumbling. Now, as the U.S. needs support to milden the consequences of 'punishing' Russia, those policies come back to bite. So will the secondary effects of sanctions the 'west' has imposed on Russia.
...
The first [map] shows the countries which banned Russian airplanes from their airspace. Russia in turn denied its airspace to operators from those countries. It will cost quite a bit for U.S. and EU airlines as their flight times and cost to and from Asia, which typically fly through Russian airspace, will now increase. Carriers from Asian countries will now easily out-compete U.S. and European airlines on these routes.
bigger
A year later the Financial Times and Fortune finally wake up to the issue:
“If you’ve got a Chinese carrier that is flying over Russia, they’ve got an unfair advantage over us,” Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, told the Financial Times on Friday. Smith complained that skipping Russian airspace added “three hours in flight time” for a plane traveling from Paris to Seoul.
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, airlines often flew over Russia to connect Asia with destinations in Europe or North America. But Russia barred many Western airlines from using its airspace last February, in retaliation for governments in Europe and North America banning Russian airlines from flying over the West.
European, Canadian and U.S. airlines are thus forced to fly different routes to avoid Russia. Longer flights burn more fuel, meaning higher costs and emissions. Longer flights can also upend tight flight schedules, as well as breach limits on working hours for flight crew.
Yet carriers from several non-Western countries, including China, continue to fly over Russian airspace, allowing them to offer faster and cheaper flights to European and North American destinations.
European airlines are now worried that they’ll lose out on the wave of Chinese rebound travel, as Beijing reopens from years of COVID-era isolation. (Chinese tourism plummeted after the country required all international arrivals—including returning Chinese tourists—to spend weeks in quarantine.)
“It will be very hard to make secondary cities of China profitable in terms of flying,” Topi Manner, CEO of Finnair, said to the Financial Times last week. The closure of Russian airspace has hurt Finnair, kneecapping an effort by the airline to turn Helsinki as a hub for flights connecting northern Asia with Europe.
These were Finnair's most profitable routes before the country sanctioned its flag carrier from using them:
Alex Macheras @AlexInAir - 11:09 UTC · Feb 27, 2022Finland and Russia have an agreement with guarantees Finnair 80+ round trip flights per week over Siberia, and it’s this Russian overflight gives Finnair 🇫🇮 the “shortest route to Asia” which is quite literally their core biz/USP/their moneymaker/their everything.
bigger
This one was easy to predict. The government of Finland, which owns the majority of Finnair's stocks, has quite a loser in its hands:
Long term investing is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you should hold every stock forever. We really hate to see fellow investors lose their hard-earned money. Anyone who held Finnair Oyj (HEL:FIA1S) for five years would be nursing their metaphorical wounds since the share price dropped 95% in that time. And the share price decline continued over the last week, dropping some 6.4%.
It is funny how it is now 'unfair' that China's carriers are still allowed to fly over Russia. Who please introduced that unfairness?
Hint: It was not China or its airlines.
Here is a current British Airways flight from London to Hongkong. The route looks a bit curious doesn't it?
bigger
This is the ideal route between London and Hongkong. It is the route BA was flying before the British government put sanctions on Russian air carriers.
bigger
Yes. The higher price tags and longer flights are totally 'unfair'. On wonders who could change that?
Don't fear for that. The sanction nonsense won't stop anytime soon:
The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine, according to four U.S. officials and other sources.The consultations, which are still at a preliminary stage, are intended to drum up support from a range of countries, especially those in the wealthy Group of 7 (G7), to coordinate support for any possible restrictions.
...
It was not clear what specific sanctions Washington will propose. The conversations have not been previously disclosed.
...
The Biden administration's initial steps to counter Chinese support for Russia have included informal outreach at the staff and diplomatic levels, including the Treasury Department, sources familiar with the matter said.They said officials were laying the groundwork for potential action against Beijing with the core group of countries that were most supportive of sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine a year ago.
...
China's role in the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to be among the topics when Biden meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on Friday. Before that in New Delhi on Wednesday and Thursday, the war will be discussed by foreign ministers from dozens of countries, including Russia, China and the United States.
...
As part of a related diplomatic push, Washington won language in a Feb. 24 G7 statement to mark the war's first anniversary that called on "third-countries" to "cease providing material support to Russia's war, or face severe costs."
...
Among the challenges the United States faces in putting sanctions on China, the world's second-biggest economy, is its thorough integration in the major economies of Europe and Asia, complicating the talks. U.S. allies from Germany to South Korea are reticent to alienate China.
Anyway. We can be assured that Scholz and other dimwit 'leaders' will fall for this. They will ruin their countries before they dare to tell the U.S. to f*** off.
Let's hope that their voters will punish them for this.
Posted by b on March 2, 2023 at 6:56 UTC | Permalink
next page »I know someone who traveled with Finnair to Mumbai, India recently. For a while, I followed the flight on flightradar24, it was as ridiculous as can be, it even flew through the Suwalki gap between Belorussia on one side and Kaliningrad on the other. Then all the way down to Turkey, before turning east.
Finnair used to be a good choice for destinations such as Bangkok, although I never flew with them myself. I predict Finnair to go bankrupt soon if things stay as they are now.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 2 2023 7:21 utc | 2
“If you’ve got a Chinese carrier that is flying over Russia, they’ve got an unfair advantage
Its unfair the US is allowed to send weapons to a war theater but China is not.
Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 2 2023 7:21 utc | 3
We have to fight a war to save the dollar. If it loses its status as a reserve currency, all pension funds will be ruined, no one will have a pension for their old age and European countries will not survive it.
Posted by: Trunkate | Mar 2 2023 7:22 utc | 4
What needs to be stated is that these sanctions do not have UN approval and are therefore invalid.
Empire sanctions are attempts to continue to enforce (God of Mammon) Rules Based Order on a birthing Multi-Polar law based order.
The dog is barking and the caravan is rolling along forward.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 2 2023 7:32 utc | 5
Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 2 2023 7:21 utc | 3
“Its unfair the US is allowed to send weapons to a war theater but China is not.”
There is a big difference between "our" "freedom fighters" and "their" "terrorists" :-).
Also an excellent demonstration of another difference, that between sovereignty (the obsession of many gullibles) and actual power. It shows how much chinese sovereignty matters if they are afraid of losing many jobs and profits because of USA sanctions.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40396396
"Opening and dividing China", The World Today, May 1992:
«Needless to say, not all these regions are like to have the same views on foreign policy questions.
Coastal regions would be less willing to see relations with the United States deteriorate, or take a hard line with Hong Kong or Taiwan.»
Posted by: Blissex | Mar 2 2023 7:34 utc | 6
"[...] They will ruin their countries [...]"
Dead right. A sanctions war with China would mean the Europe zone wouldn't just go through a recession, but a depression of the kind not experienced in Europe for close to a hundred years. But then again, a majority of Europeans these days are masochistic enough to gladly sacrifice every bit of living standard on the altar of whatever policies the Trans-Atlanticists via their stranglehold on mainstream media tell them to embrace. Why else would they re-elect the same spineless sell-outs over and over, be that Scholz, Macron or the string of idiots the Brits punish themselves with.
Posted by: Juan Moment | Mar 2 2023 7:40 utc | 7
Gotta laugh at this:
“If you’ve got a Chinese carrier that is flying over Russia, they’ve got an unfair advantage over us,” Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, told the Financial Times on Friday
Get used to it pal, because guess what? This is what happens when your governments antagonise a major pole of a multipolar world. There was a mutual, perfectly workable airspace overflight arrangement in place, what did you think would happen when one side reneges on that arrangement? Mr Smith, you’re a highly-paid CEO who, no doubt justifies his salary and stock options on the basis of ‘needing to attract and retain the talent necessary to do the job’, yet you completely failed to predict Russia’s obvious and inevitable response to illegal sanctioning of it’s airlines.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 2 2023 7:47 utc | 8
True story: I was hired to write a blog article in April 2022 about the Russian economy. I included a line that went something like this:
"Western sanctions against Russia have backfired."
The editor then changed it to:
"Western sanctions against Russia have not yet succeeded."
That was the last time I did any work for that client :)
Posted by: Sam (in Tiraspol) | Mar 2 2023 7:56 utc | 9
Finland is the absolute largest loser in this. Sweden and Baltic states, Poland, UK to some extent are losers too. The spectrum of increased flight distances, for instance between Chinese cities and Europe is probably somewhere around 15 - 30%, with lower end being for Germany - China routes, UK somewhere in the low-mid, Poland mid, Baltic states above mid and Finland at the 30 % range.
They are burning more fuel, meaning more income for oil producers. SCO based airlines will get market share at expense of the west for these trans-Eurasian flights, as is the case in so many other industries too.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 2 2023 8:08 utc | 10
Re: Sanctions on Greater China Article
Imagine you are the chief of a Chinese multi-National that just read that Reuters article. How much corporate money are you going to keep in US/EU banks ? How much new capital investments are you going to make in US/EU/Japan ?
After reading that article, every Chinese CEO will be forming internal crisis teams on de-risking from Washington’s sanctions.
And the answer will be de-dollarization.
BTW - we should all be looking at our ETFs to see how much is invested in Greater China. For Example, A typical Emerging Markets ETF such as VWO has ~45% in Greater China equites. A global ex-US ETF such as VXUS ~18% in Greater China.
Posted by: Exile | Mar 2 2023 8:10 utc | 11
Note - Full blown sanctions on China won’t happen anytime soon. Washington will take a methodical step by step approach taking years until asset seizures etc happen.
Posted by: Exile | Mar 2 2023 8:14 utc | 12
- Not only should Scholz and his like be punished for not telling the US to fuck off, but their peoples should downright tell the US to fuck off - and not in a nicer way.
- sanctions that don't come from UN (which means Security Council - approved) are by definition illegal. Any sensible country should consider them as an act of war. It's time enough the big players tell it as it is, it might stop the madness. Though I have to say I have a morbid fascination at the prospect of Europeans going full retard and sanctioning China as well. In a way, I wished Xi would blockade Taiwan, just to see the whole Western economy self-destruct in a matter of months. Call me an accelerationist if you wish.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Mar 2 2023 8:25 utc | 13
"Should've shot yourself in the foot while it was in your mouth" - Ian Bavitz aka Aesop Rock
The funny spectacle will begin when they try to de-weaponize trade and culture.
Like...oops, we didn't really mean to burn books and ban languages and music and and and...
fuckin ten gallon taliban
Posted by: liveload | Mar 2 2023 8:26 utc | 14
But then again, a majority of Europeans these days are masochistic enough to gladly sacrifice every bit of living standard on the altar of whatever policies the Trans-Atlanticists via their stranglehold on mainstream media tell them to embrace. Why else would they re-elect the same spineless sell-outs over and over, be that Scholz, Macron or the string of idiots the Brits punish themselves with.
Posted by: Juan Moment | Mar 2 2023 7:40 utc | 8
It is said that if voting changed a thing, they'd make it illegal. Could it be that those elections are rigged?
Also, what do you make of the anti-war protests in France and Germany?
Posted by: joey_n | Mar 2 2023 8:34 utc | 15
"Anyway. We can be assured that Scholz and other dimwit 'leaders' will fall for this. They will ruin their countries before they dare to tell the U.S. to f*** off.
Let's hope that their voters will punish them for this."
Posted by b on March 2, 2023 at 6:56 UTC
----------------------------------------
Well, then the Germans will elect the CDU and Blackrock-Merz as chancellor. It is always unfavorable when the CDU is in opposition in such times of crisis, because this party ignores national integrity when they do not govern themselves (see Merkel and the War in Iraq 2003). A grand coalition would be much more desirable in such times for germany.
However, one should be prepared that states in Europe will support more sanctions also against China that are by no means in their own interest. It's not dumb from Washington's view. Central goals were already achieved by being able to bind Europe to itself. First address your colleagues within the framework of the G7 in order to explore the scope for sanctions. Then bilaterally work on a guy like Scholz, later these colleagues will finally also sit down within the framework of the EU and NATO and continue the sanctions game of "self-mutilation" in a further group dynamic. At the same time, I expect more resistance from Europe.
Change of subject - Putin said: "Russia is unbeatable on the battlefield".
I believe him. And these Chinese initiatives express that it will not happen under any circumstances. Beijing will never (for self-interest) allow Moscow to suffer a strategic defeat in Ukraine against Washington. That is one message to the West. It does also not exclude arms supplies to Moscow, I guess. We'll have to wait and see if that happens. The irony is that if Washington would succeed, it won't be in the interests of Berlin, Paris, Madrid or Rome either. A crazy time filled with tragedy arising from europe's immaturity.
Multipolarity is currently being demonstrated in an exemplary manner around Belarus at various levels. Lukashenko's three-day visit to China might be the economic and political highlight, but at the same time Iran and India also announced on another level that they will deepen their relations with Minsk. All of this happens bilaterally and simultaneously according to the principle of equality and sovereignty. It will strengthen the position of the President in Belarus, a country that will still be a western target.
Posted by: Konrad | Mar 2 2023 8:42 utc | 16
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Mar 2 2023 8:25 utc | 14
I must admit that I share your morbid fascination and can easily imagine that the European leadership will do just that. I am shocked that they could be so stupid and self-defeating as I used to think that they were intelligent and considered.
I didn't realise that they are still in colonial mode and imagine that the world is still theirs to plunder, well at least the bits that fall from the table as Uncle Sam gorges himself.
It is quite a shock and I'm not looking forward to the coming depression they seem hellbent on creating.
Posted by: ZimZum | Mar 2 2023 9:00 utc | 17
Seems outdated to have flag carriers. China seeks to be non-contentious and West is set on imperialism.
There are too many airlines really and why should Western carriers have universal access ? They do not even represent airlines with good service reputations
No doubt they were spying over Russia as Korean Airlines was used by CIA.
It is a changing world and these airlines should get with thrr der program and downsize
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Mar 2 2023 9:15 utc | 18
On a slightly different but ominous note.
What do people make of this?
Getting rid of nutters or removing sane pragmatics?
"Six leaders, including two commanders and four of their subordinates, at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, were abruptly relieved of their duties "due to a loss of confidence," the US Air Force wrote in a press release Monday."
Posted by: jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:20 utc | 19
Now imagine if in response to G7 China sanctions PRC closed its airspace to BA. What would the route be from Heathrow to Hong Kong or Tokyo?
Posted by: RB | Mar 2 2023 9:28 utc | 20
The progressive maffia that governs the West, including every crook and nanny in society, does not care about economic consequences to their citizens. They do lip service to it through “moderate” right wing parties but only to cover up their small numbers and make it seem like there are far more of them. Economic depression and return to a command economy with feudal restrictions on mobility, food and choice of trade/lifestyle (except for the “oppressed”) is their goal. All in the name of sustainability but in effect to bring down men (and sometimes women) of any ability or wish to better themselves since they hate them.
I get the feeling that people here at MoA, including the blogger himself, have no idea how progressive anti-white ideology is entrenched and justifying every Western action. Everyone that is able, passionate, moral or interested in bettering themselves is proclaimed as patriarchal and an oppressor that makes the world a worse place to live with their every breath. Incidentally, these are the same people that support objective reality, truth and cooperation above Wars.
It is the progressive post-truth society here on exhibition.
That is why people here, which are mostly objectivists, do not understand how is it possible that the West shoots itself in the foot with sanctions. Planes that cant fly anymore? Companies that lose their suppliers and markets? Doesnt matter, they should be wound down anyway, those polluting patriarchical white able racists should not exist. Just happy villagers living in bliss with nature but served medicines and other sustenance by those white able slaves. Because they, the new progressive overlords, have the right to do so as they have evolved towards new heights of human enlightenment, carrying the torch of civilization towards a new post-xxx horizon. All that do not share that view and kneel down at the altar of anti-white racism is a heretic. Must be ostracized for their insensitivity towards what in effect are emotionally damaged people carrying a big stick. And Putin and Russia is hurting their fefees a lot, what with all their masculinity, objective philosophy, self respect and learning from history. It is the object at which they can concentrate all that hate emanating from emotional past damage (divorced parents, lacking motivation, lacking character etc.) and hence any price to fight it is good.
I miss this angle here on MoA. The post-truth progressive thought virus. It explains everything. From nonsense education to political action in the West. And the enormous support that Western citizens will lend to any measure that restricts their lives but fights against the white oppressorsw, be it internal or Russia and Putin. Because the Western people have evolved beyond economic necessities, just listen to the gospel of the feminists in charge! You must belong to that group otherwise you are left out!
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 9:30 utc | 21
Posted by: jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:20 utc | 19
Those COs have probably been seen as unfit because they refused to kneel down at the altar of woke. Dont forget that the chief of staff ”suggests” that the book which is the source of all evil “White Fragility” to be read by everyone in the armed forces.
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 9:35 utc | 22
Posted by: Russia 1 step behind | Mar 2 2023 9:29 utc | 21
What exactly does your post have to do with the subject of sanctions and the economic pain their blowback is causing, specifically to European air carriers in this case?
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 2 2023 9:37 utc | 23
Russia's domestic, international and regional Military strength has reduced the western Oligarch owned, corporate quest, for global power to an economic battle. Its the Rothschild wealth machine and money system vs ownership, control and right to profit from the natural resources within the Russian Empire. IMO, the economic pivot point is Turkey and Saudi Arabia. When these two entities become active participating SCO members, the world will have been changed. China can't join Russia without destroying its global market, China may be the only winner is this war.
We have yet to see the Russian Response to the destruction of its German investor owned infrastructure called Nord Stream II. I hypothesize that "can't be bothered" is the Russian policy in Ukraine". Everything of importance to Russia has already been captured from Ukraine, this indifference explains the slow to go progress in the war in Ukraine and the frustration the west feels in getting Russia to be serious about the war.
I still think Germany will become a vassal state of Russia before this is all over.
Posted by: snake | Mar 2 2023 9:38 utc | 24
Reading from the right progressive books, rather than selecting competent rational decision making officer's.
That scares the shit out of me.
Posted by: jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:43 utc | 25
On the ideology of American Exceptionalism ....
... which has resulted in a decision to wage WWIII by any and all means necessary in order to 'rule the world' and for its financial elite to govern as it sees fit.
Take on 'The Dollar' - there is no other way .... short of Nuclear extinction.
The regular Hudson/Desai chats on GeoPoliticalEconomy make the case well: I highly recommend it
https://www.youtube.com/@GeopoliticalEconomyReport
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 2 2023 9:55 utc | 26
Posted by: jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:43 utc | 26
Maybe insanity is the way civilizations collapse. Like Nero that burned down Rome because of his follies. I see progressive feminists (like von der Leyen who cheated with her disseratation) rather burning down the house than admitting ideological defeat or being committed to an institution.
There are a no places left in public life that are not either controlled opposition (to keep the dissatisfied docile) or seen as fringe, harmless and a sourse of intelligence. In the private sector you can still find sanity, especially the SMEs, but they are slowly getting buried with new age progressive employees that value emotional satisfaction (which comes down to internet points) more than objective real things like quality of life, medicine, adequate childcare or public services.
There are mothers out there that will allow their kids to be raped by the current “oppressed” class (whatever is in vogue now) just so that they can belong to the circle that worships at the altar of post-truth.
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 9:56 utc | 27
The dimwits ruling the West also have skeletons in their cupboards and therefore open to blackmail. They will never be able to say "f--- off" to their handlers in Washington.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 2 2023 9:56 utc | 28
Short video : John Mearsheimer | UKRAINE war WILL END IN HORROR
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vOli2gMr0_c
Posted by: Alex Vadim | Mar 2 2023 9:57 utc | 29
I've read many times from numerous commentators that the Russian sanctions have "backfired". This is incorrect. The sanctions are working precisely as intended because the true purpose of Russian sanctions was never to harm Russia, rather the European countries that implemented them.
This self-inflicted damage is intended to deindustrialise western European countries, suffocate their economies and lower living standards while the world is being reorganised and the balance of power shifts from West to East. So, make no mistake, this is not due to incompetence, short-sightedness or idiocy rather the the very purpose of the "Russian" sanctions.
Posted by: Jax | Mar 2 2023 9:57 utc | 30
I believe the only time China threatened anyone in other lands with economic or other sanctions was when a Qíng emperor in the late 17-hundreds said he might threaten Britain by banning rhubarb exports from China to those benighted isles north of Francd. He apparently believed rhubarb from China to be necesssary for British survival.
(It may very well have been a mistranslation by the Brits of what he actually meant!)
Posted by: Tollef Ås/秋涛乐/טלפ וש | Mar 2 2023 9:58 utc | 31
4th show with Hudson and Desai here: 'The Dollar System'
The rise of US dollar imperialism, and why it failed - with Radhika Desai & Michael Hudson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3q7p_IElpY
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 2 2023 9:59 utc | 32
Prof Michael HUDSON - De-Dollarization – Toward the End of U.S. Monetary Hegemony?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWaNPAS39s
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 2 2023 10:01 utc | 33
"Let's hope that their voters will punish them for this."
Let's hope you finally realise that with the utter and abject slavery of Europistan to its Amerikastani owners, it makes absolutely no difference if the voters "punish" them or don't.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Mar 2 2023 10:13 utc | 34
Posted by: Jax | Mar 2 2023 9:57 utc | 31
It is insanity, a thought virus that frankly got out of hand because life was way too good for way to long in the West.
I believe that if the West was still led by objective philosophy not only would they be able to crush Russia and China (there would not have been a need for it anyway, we would have gotten along just fine) but also solve the main problems we are facing like sustainability on the long run.
But alas, we have injected ourselves with the carrier of the class-hate disease which has now evolved towards hatred of everyone that is able. No longer is the oppressed vs. oppressors class battle defined by social status or power but by the division of innate ability and “whiteness” of people. Did you know that they define whiteness among others as when one postpones consumption i.e. when people save for a rainy day? Insanity like this is the moral norm these days.
Trump with all his character flaws would have led the way back to objectivity but no, he hurt too many fefees and moreover took the opportunity to be President from the progressive darling Hillary just when “it was her turn”. So they decided to burn down the house lest noone else emotionally hurts them.
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 10:15 utc | 35
How can EU and US insulate their economies from excessive backflow of cash that no longer needed or required elsewhere in the world, as currently in RU for starters ? Sure it can be burned in Ukraine, plus freezing RU reserves will serve as additional barrier... However moneychangers made some filthy staggering profits while RU currency temporarily lost its value a year ago - how can you insulate both economies from those results ? More sanctions on any other nation will trigger devastating inflation of USD and EUD, and push interest rates towards 20% in the matter of months. Great depression will be forgotten in comparison...
Posted by: Alex Vadim | Mar 2 2023 10:38 utc | 36
Let's hope that their voters will punish them for this.
by b on March 2, 2023 at 6:56 UTC | Permalink
By voting for whom in Germany? AfD? No way. But then what?
Posted by: Jo | Mar 2 2023 10:55 utc | 37
From Max Blumenthal's Twitter...
https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1631124426463879171
Max Blumenthal @MaxBlumenthal
NBC told Americans the truth about Crimea for the first time and its reporter wound up on the Ukrainian government’s kill list alongside several other US citizens, journos, clergy and even children.Will NBC now report on this list? Will “press freedom” groups denounce it?
References this thread:
https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1631046417115488258
kanekoa.substack.com @KanekoaTheGreat
NBC News journalist Keir Simmons recently went to Crimea and reported that most Crimeans are pro-Russia. Now, Ukraine has put him on its hit list website for reporting this fact.What does the U.S. government think about Ukraine adding an NBC journalist to its hit lists?
He shows an image of the journo's entry on the Myrotvorets hit list.
I can tell you what the US government thinks about it: crickets. Especially since that list, as has been reported by others, is funded by the US government. The Center for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine is financed by the U.S. government under HR 7691, which is called the Additional Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. This provides funding for the Ukrainian government and for its Center for Countering Disinformation, which provides the names to the Myrotvorets hit list, according to this article from Executive Intelligence Review, which is run by the Lyndon LaRouche organization:
EIR Press Conference:
Shut Down the Ukrainian Hit List targeting Americans and International Voices of Opposition
https://larouchepub.com/pr/2022/20220907_press-availability_ukr_hit_list_transcript.html
Scott Ritter testified on this program as well as others who are on the list.
RT has an article on this new name added to the list:
NBC journalist added to Ukrainian ‘kill list
https://www.rt.com/russia/572294-ukraine-kill-list-journalist/
Mirotvorets, which claims to be based in “Warsaw, Poland and Langley, Virginia” – the headquarters of the CIA – is a notorious website that posts private information of individuals labeled enemies of Ukraine without any process or trial. It was established in August 2014, as Kiev launched its “anti-terrorist operation” against civilians in Donbass, and allegedly maintains ties with Ukrainian and Western security services.“This kill list is maintained by the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior, which lists an address in Langley, Virginia, has an IP in Brussels,” said American political activist Jackson Hinkle, who was also added to the database on Wednesday.
Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 2 2023 11:01 utc | 38
It's one thing to bring small third-world countries to their knees using economic sanctions, quite another when you try the same tactics on the likes of Russia and China, particularly when you have entwined dependencies within your own economy. The West currently appears to be being led by morons.
Posted by: Sandgroper | Mar 2 2023 11:03 utc | 39
I prefer cooperation instead of war but I think some images maybe give a wrong impression.
The difference in distance between russia-routes and non-russia-routes are 7% for London-Hong Kong and 14% for Paris-Seoul. And Helsinki Air stock is almost at the same place where it was before the war and closing of the airspace (0.6 EUR then,0,55 EUR now).
Time to make Ukraine neutral anyway.
Posted by: Randomoneh | Mar 2 2023 11:10 utc | 40
Posted by: Sandgroper | Mar 2 2023 11:03 utc | 39
If only they were that smart.
Posted by: ZimZum | Mar 2 2023 11:13 utc | 41
On a recent long-haul flight, a western carrier served a few meals. Forgot most of them. But I remember the “barely-a-slice-of-pickle sandwich” — literally a single thin round slice of pickle and maybe some mayo between two small hoagie buns — and an overrepresentation of sugary junk in “breakfast”. I felt sad for the nice crew serving it.
Posted by: oh western flyer | Mar 2 2023 11:59 utc | 42
This is just the beginning of the Great Divide.
The obvious losing blood sacrifice to create the endless new cemeteries in the borderlands between us and them will power the generations of hate and prejudice.
The Old Slave Owners and Bankers know how to lose so that they can try again in a few generations with more poisoned minds from birth.
We will lose even more when the glass cities in the sands they have built to destroy spectacularly go the way of the rest of the world on the ‘yellow BRICS road’.
An isolated Collective Waste is being created.
The expected Chinese led multipolar return sanctions will deliver the coup-grass.
The ONLY way out is to DESTROY the poisonous Old Masters in their secret nests, bunkers and private islands and remove from their gnarly hands all control of resources, money and stolen wealth and arts of the ages.
Yup, I am saying it, time for their extinction chickens to come to their homes to roost.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 2 2023 12:00 utc | 43
Posted by: Jax | Mar 2 2023 9:57 utc | 30
"This self-inflicted damage is intended to deindustrialise western European countries"
The State Dept probably sees it as a "win win" since either sanctions work to some extent (which they probably do, if only to divert resources to finding alternative supply chains) or they do not, in which case Europe suffers. Following the money trail, obviously de-industrialising Europe means reduced competition for sales markets, and ensures that resources are available to feed US industry - pure mercantilism. The US does not benefit from an economically healthy Europe. The Euro cives will eventually rebel, but almost all EU states are run by governments with no effective opposition and a determination to carpetbag the public. Recent polling in UK says over 60% of voters want a new opposition party. They will not get it by the next GE.
Posted by: tPaine | Mar 2 2023 12:18 utc | 44
Let's all hope that the FED and the ECB would invest in shredders accordingly, before situation turns irreversible... RU was so successful of it's own currency redeeming strategy "Gas for Roubles", that it managed to dump back into EU and US all excessive stockpiles of no longer needed foreign cash, while avoiding all erected barriers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vJWAB_mi5lk
Posted by: Alex Vadim | Mar 2 2023 12:20 utc | 45
Posted by: tPaine | Mar 2 2023 12:18 utc | 44
Voting options are:
a) The strange dullard of Euro-Atlanticism, or,
b) more overtly fascist groupings.
Posted by: anon2020 | Mar 2 2023 12:40 utc | 46
The war in Ukraine in the last month has been lost by the west, don't hold you breath for the west to acknowledge that fact.
The world war 3 continues apace and escalates but will be geo-economic in nature. The small countrys being the main focus.
On the positive side they are in a position to start a bidding war,
which would hopefully improve their living standards.
On the negative, a lot of US bullying and regeme chainge, with the US putting in curupt compliment puppets.
At least becouse of events in the last year I hope most small countrys will tell the US to stuff their sanctions.
I think we may have reached a tipping point right now small countrys joining the East, that will be good for both East and West. Less so for the 1% elite.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 2 2023 12:51 utc | 47
BTW - we should all be looking at our ETFs to see how much is invested in Greater China. For Example, A typical Emerging Markets ETF such as VWO has ~45% in Greater China equites. A global ex-US ETF such as VXUS ~18% in Greater China.Posted by: Exile | Mar 2 2023 8:10 utc | 11
Good point. I knew why my two Russian regional ETFs stopped trading. But I was puzzled as to why a European ETF was untradable on Robinhood while two other European ETFs still were. Turned out the untradable one (SPEU) had some Russian stocks in it's portfolio while the others must not have.
Posted by: Simon | Mar 2 2023 12:54 utc | 48
no one will have a pension for their old age
Posted by: Trunkate | Mar 2 2023 7:22 utc | 4
---
Au contraire. Everyone will then have the same pension.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 2 2023 13:03 utc | 49
Rest assured. The Multinational (USA ownership) airlines, like the big banks that should have gone under but thrive today (BofA) will always be beneficiaries of (Socialism) bailouts should they ask for them or not.
The rest of us will continue to be harassed and effected (infected) by/with Austerity and "Austerity Programs" under the can-do bootstraps, thousand points of bullshite, capitalist spirit. Read my lips.
It's a "Gig Economy" now! Bend over.
Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Mar 2 2023 13:44 utc | 50
Perhaps we also need to add how much jet fuel or additional fuel Russia is supplying to China and other friendly countries at discount prices. That compare to a 10 fold fuel increase prices for the Europeans by their benevolent leaders from Washington DC, should make mince meat out of European air industry and other industries as a whole in the not too distant future. However, the EU could replace their once robust industrial base with something like a giant sex-tourism industry, instead.
Posted by: maskazer | Mar 2 2023 13:47 utc | 51
An interesting intervention from Trump:
"WATCH: President Trump announces plan for immediate mass firings of "warmonger" bureaucrats at the State Department and Pentagon if he's reelected President in 2024.
"I am the President who delivers peace." -
@realDonaldTrump.."
Doctorow is warning of a coming Ukrainian attack to distract attention from Bakhmut:
"...The aforementioned intended ‘false flag’ operations approach the realm of the insane. In that sense they reflect perfectly well the mentality of Zelensky and his neo-Nazi collaborators, as well as the madness of Nuland and other sponsors of Zelensky in the U.S. State Department.
"As I said at the outset, these assorted facts taken separately are worrisome. Taken all together, they provide compelling reason why this war should be ended by negotiations forced on Zelensky at the earliest opportunity. The Wall Street Journal has in the last few days reported that both Macron and Scholz have, behind closed doors, been telling him it is time to sit down with the Russians. Perhaps when the Democrats take in the power of Donald Trump’s latest message on Ukraine in a Tweet that has attracted nearly 4 million views in the United States, and reckon how this logic can be used in the 2024 elections, they will also see the wisdom of pressing for talks now, before all hell breaks loose..."
Curious to see that the Ayn Rand fans are still churning out their nonsense. The notion that capitalists, wealthy people, giants of every kind and white people are the victims of an ascendant 'progressive' government will be news to poor people, those employed by capitalists and non-white people.
After sixty years of neo-liberalism, much of it the responsibility of Rand's followers, with tax rates on the wealthy lower than they have ever been and billionaires sprouting up all over the place, you might have thought the "objective" philosophy dopes would keep their own counsel, instead alek a @35.
Posted by: bevin | Mar 2 2023 13:53 utc | 52
Anyway. We can be assured that Scholz and other dimwit 'leaders' will fall for this. They will ruin their countries before they dare to tell the U.S. to f*** off.
They're not "dimwits". They're compradores.
This is the biggest problem with the Left: they understand that people in private companies are principally driven by self-interest, but think that people working in the "public" sector are - for some reason - going to be driven by nobler sentiments.
This is because everyone knows that private companies are chiefly driven by pursuit of profits (if they're not, they'll quickly go bust) whereas the public sector talk about "public service" - and Lefties are naive enough to believe them.
Of course, in their stated goal to "protect" us - the hapless consumer - these public servants have seized more and more control of the marketplace, and the regulators that supposedly are guarding the henhouse have a revolving door relationship to the corporations they're supposed to restrain.
And here we are - economic fascism, leading to full-blown fascism if Schwab and his minions get their way.
Posted by: Observer | Mar 2 2023 13:55 utc | 53
The US and its friends are the collective equivalent of the proverbial chess-playing pigeon, knocking down all the pieces and shitting all over the board.
Posted by: Cato the Uncensored | Mar 2 2023 14:05 utc | 54
@Juan Moment | Mar 2 2023 7:40 utc | 8
It is definitely not a theory, because a theory is a model based on an observation, provides a mechanism and is predictive. This has none of that, meaning that "it is not even wrong."
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 14:08 utc | 55
this is a post in the last few hours from armstrongeconomics.com who has an enviable track record.....
We Are on the WRONG Side of History With Ukraine
Posted: 2023-03-02 00:01:14-05
We Are on the Wrong Side of History Supporting Ukraine. We absolutely MUST end all support for Ukraine and demand the Minsk Agreement be enforced by the United Nations. Reports from both French and American soldiers who rushed there as mercenaries believing the propaganda of the Neocons against Russia have returned sickened by the fact […]
The post We Are on the WRONG Side of History With Ukraine first appeared on Armstrong Economics.
Read more...
300 Delaware Ave.
Suite 210
Wilmington DE 19801
USA
Posted by: toby t | Mar 2 2023 14:15 utc | 56
jpc@19.... sympathisers,they were caught playing Russian Roulette.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 2 2023 14:26 utc | 57
@maskazer | Mar 2 2023 13:47 utc | 51
"giant sex-tourism industry"
That will be challenging (hard" avoided for obvious reasons), as robots take over the sex industry, eliminating scarcity and obviating the need for tourism except perhaps from a few primitive enclaves where people still believe in God thingies with a deep and personal interest in what humans do with their interlocking bits.
The fundamental question that requires urgent resolution is who will benefit from the work of robots and how, and what rights we will provide to Spirothetes* and when.
*Spirothete: noun. A word coined to describe a self-aware being, initially created as an artifact, from Latin, spiro -are; intransit., to breathe, blow, draw breath; to be alive; to have inspiration; be inspired; transit., to breath out, expire (also L/Gk spiros the breath of life) and synthetic adj 1: (chemistry) not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially 2: involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis.
From Spirothetes
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 14:40 utc | 58
“Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 89 artillery units at their firing positions,”
Similar reports appear daily from the Russian mod. Does anyone know what they mean by “89 artillery units “? They obviously haven’t destroyed 89 artillery pieces.
Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Mar 2 2023 14:45 utc | 59
@Richard Steven Hack | Mar 2 2023 11:01 utc | 38
Given that the US Government has its own Disposition Matrix (aka "kill list") and has killed at least one 8 year old US citizen they placed on it, and have murdered hundreds of people irregardless of laws, borders and nationality, they are probably fine with it.
For anyone who realizes that this is a brutal violation of international law, treaties and human rights, having no statute of limitations and being of universal jurisdiction, this may be seen as an opportunity.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:01 utc | 60
Posted by: Jax | Mar 2 2023 9:57 utc | 30
(US sanctions on Russia have backfired - on Europe)
Worth remembering/realising.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 2 2023 15:04 utc | 61
@ b
Thanks for this refresher update.
The USA resides in a glass house and are unaware of consequences such as throwing stones at their windows ($$$).
Death of the greenback and 3rd world status unfolding. Year 2027 is the date of the funeral. KSA signed the Death Certificate on January 18, 2023.
Putin, Modi, Xi, MbS, Raisi, Erdogan and lessers are looking on - observing what the Biden/Blinken/Nuland team (Obama's 3rd term) shattered:
1. the rest of the world are creditors; buying USTs to finance USA trade and budget [$2.4 trillion] deficits thinking their loans to be in safe custody. Team Biden did the unthinkable - stole RF's foreign reserves. [the thinking, "you stole from Russia, you'll steal from us"]
2. Wherever found, seizing assets and properties of individuals whose place of birth is Russia. Just let that sink in. Saker is unto something why he closed his blog.
3. the destruction of NordStream pipelines, 49.1% German owned, a purported Ally. Now, with friends like USA, who needs enemies?
4. Promoting regime change; assassinations. A state sponsor of terror.
End result - accelerating the isolation of USA, we read twenty (20) countries have indicated joining the 14-year old BRICS organization.
In the next 60 days, just let this sink in:
Applications of Saudi Arabia and Iran, first dip, along with eighteen (18) countries are seeking membership. i.e. among the group: Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay.
The founding BRICS members - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - represent 42% of world population. With the expanding membership the .org becomes BRIICSS+++ a community of nations; respectful of each other and working in harmony for the betterment of its citizens.
http://infobrics.org/post/37833/
Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 2 2023 15:06 utc | 62
@Jörgen Hassler | Mar 2 2023 14:45 utc | 59
What is "obvious" about it?
I would say that the term necessarily involves an artillery piece (which I would suggest is more than a recoilless rifle, but includes anything from a mortar to a rocket launcher) together with other elements, e.g. tractor, crew, service equipment, munitions, etc. Resulting in the "unit" designation, rather than "piece".
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:09 utc | 63
Posted by: jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:20 utc | 19
RE: Minot Dismissals
Don't read too much into this, likely dismissal for inappropriate relationships or another "cheating" scandal. 24hrs in a hole with another person does strange things to those people! These units are a bit like High School. When things come to "light" tho, they often take a very no nonsense approach--I worked directly for this guy who is very much that way: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108351/lieutenant-general-jack-weinstein/
Posted by: FormerMilitary | Mar 2 2023 15:11 utc | 64
- Not only should Scholz and his like be punished for not telling the US to fuck off, but their peoples should downright tell the US to fuck off - and not in a nicer way.
- sanctions that don't come from UN (which means Security Council - approved) are by definition illegal. Any sensible country should consider them as an act of war. It's time enough the big players tell it as it is, it might stop the madness. Though I have to say I have a morbid fascination at the prospect of Europeans going full retard and sanctioning China as well. In a way, I wished Xi would blockade Taiwan, just to see the whole Western economy self-destruct in a matter of months. Call me an accelerationist if you wish.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Mar 2 2023 8:25 utc | 13
.
....................................................................................................
.
Oh ?
Of course you don't hear or see anything about the demonstrations every Monday in Germany!
Theme "ami go home"
Why ?
Because these demos are hushed up in the media.
You can rely on it, the mood AMI Raus is getting stronger and not only in Germany!
But the system of the media is almost perfect , almost !!
Posted by: mo3 | Mar 2 2023 15:14 utc | 65
reply to 27
This shocks me also. I have no frame of reference to explain this psychotic mass behavior. I remember the War in Vietnam and THAT wasn't anywhere near as weirdly delusional as this. It's as if "experts" believe in some sort of goofy New Age "manifestation" idea. If they just believe strongly enough, Russia will collapse.
"Doubling down" is literally a loser's strategy in gambling. You "double down" hoping to get your losses back and then some.
And the use of "realpolitik" or "realism" school of politics in opinion pieces should set off alarm bells. Is there anything else besides reality? Is unrealistic thinking OK?
And the BRICS? It won't be that much longer that they or SCO speak with a voice equal to or superior to the UN. They will represent enough of the world to do so.
Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 2 2023 15:19 utc | 66
@jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:43 utc | 25
The fact that the US oligarchs manipulate words does not change the fact that they have well understood origins anymore than calling a tail a leg means that dogs have 5 legs.
Conservative = rejecting change.
Progressive = acknowledging that change in society and technology mandate change in order for a culture to remain viable.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 67
It seems the Americans are willing to gamble European prosperity to obtain Russian submission.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 68
@Eighthman | Mar 2 2023 15:19 utc | 66
Don't be. It is tosh, written by somebody miseducated in order to prevent them from recognizing that class warfare underlies all current sociopolitical trends, and that our oligarchs carefully foster nonsensical divisions in order to maintain their grip on everything worth stealing on the planet.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:30 utc | 69
@Passerby | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 68
What makes you think that it is a "gamble"?
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:31 utc | 70
It seems the Americans are willing to gamble European prosperity to obtain Russian submission.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 68
.
.
And the US analysts will again (as almost always) be wrong!
A weak Europe will need Russia right now !
And turn to him sooner or later!
An example of this will be the prosperity of Germany BEFORE the machinations of the USA....
In France, the call to get out of NATO is alive again ... as it has always been done in France and only changed due to the electoral influence of the Americans, in which sympathizers were helped into the government ....
America's time is up.....by its own actions...by the sinking dollar.
And all this in turn you have only accelerated your trade, instead of consolidating your supremacy, you are undermining yourself !!
Posted by: mo3 | Mar 2 2023 15:31 utc | 71
"b". I try to work out what's happening in Europe as a result of the sanctions and as a result of the Ukrainian war. I'm afraid I find myself very critical of your Olaf Scholz but that aside, I had another go elsewhere at sorting out in my mind how this thing has gone and how it will go.
Were the Russian attempts to get Minsk 2 observed fake? Were those various Russian attempt to get peace, the attempts that culminated in Istanbul, fake? I’ve no way of knowing what was truly in the minds of the Russians and all I can say is, they looked genuine enough to me.
My reasoning is this. Had Minsk 2 been implemented, had the shelling stopped and the Kiev forces pulled back from the LoC, then the Russians wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on had they invaded. Their justification for their intervention – or their SMO, the terms don’t matter in this context – was that there was a real and demonstrable threat to the people of the Donbass. Had there been no such threat apparent then they could not have moved their forces in.
I reject entirely what I call - maybe unfairly? - the “Mearsheimer argument”, that the SMO was undertaken in order to deal with what the Russians perceived to be a threat from NATO expansion, missiles on the border and so on. I’m right in rejecting this argument, I believe, because the plain fact is that the SMO won’t remove that threat and could never have been expected to. The sole justification for the SMO was that it was one country coming to the aid of another under article 51, and coming to its aid because that other country was in real danger.
No real danger visible – no article 51 intervention justifiable. Had Minsk 2 stood there could have been no war.
That is my reasoning. But set that reasoning aside, if it does not convince, because the plain fact is that there is a war. There can be little disagreement on how that war will go.
My reasoning since February 2022 is that there was never any prospect of the Ukrainians winning this war. The disparity between the two sides is too great. Even were the US to become a declared combatant in the war, which is unlikely, there is still no prospect of winning. The US does not have sufficient military force in that region, and could not mobilise sufficient military force and deploy it quickly enough, to alter the outcome.
I further argue that no one ever expected this war to be won by military means. The sanctions war was expected to do that. After all, with the Russian economy crippled by trade and financial sanctions, and the Russian government thereby severely weakened, the Russians would have been unable to prosecute a military war in the Ukraine in any case.
I have also argued since February that the sanctions war itself was never going to be won. The Russian economy is too strong, and the morale of the Russian people too high, for sanctions ever to break that country.
It follows from this that the Russians have a free hand in Ukraine to carry out the objectives of the SMO. They also have a free hand to ensure that remnant Ukraine does not become a security threat to them. No idea how they’ll do that, but obviously the Russians can’t have on their border a fiercely antagonistic country that is supplied with long range weapons by the West.
I believe that most people don’t think that one through. If long range weapons were fired from, say, Poland or Romania, that would immediately result in a NATO/Russia war. So they won’t be fired.
If fired from remnant Ukraine, then NATO is not involved. Since remnant Ukraine will very much want to fire into Russia, then the only way of stopping that will be to neutralise or demilitarise remnant Ukraine.
That is my reasoning in full. The military and economic reality is that the Russians will deal with Ukraine as they please, the only constraint on them being that they wish to retain the support, or at least the acquiescence, of countries like China and India.
My concern since early last year – as soon as I got my bearings, which took a while! – has been with what happens afterwards. Because it’s then that, speaking figuratively, Mearsheimer comes storming back in. Russia does have security concerns, as Mearsheimer details, which the SMO and whatever else the Russians might do in Ukraine will have done nothing whatsoever to alleviate!
So I have this belief that when the Ukrainian war is over, the Russians will return to those security demands they made in December 2021. The Europeans, as far as I can judge, or at least the all important Northern Europeans, are now in a state of confirmed antagonism to Russia. I doubt therefore that they’ll be prepared to consider those security demands to the extent that will satisfy the Russians.
So the Scholz/Stoltenberg vision will prevail and we’ll see Europe becoming an impoverished armed camp. A somewhat apocalyptic vision, but the future I see likely for us.
Posted by: English Outsider | Mar 2 2023 15:36 utc | 72
I strongly suspect there will be direct military conflict between the US and Russia soon. The Sullivan Nuland & Blinkin LLC will not let this opportunity to destroy Moscow go to waste.
Posted by: Wokechoke | Mar 2 2023 15:38 utc | 73
@jpc | Mar 2 2023 9:20 utc | 19
They were probably fucking the help ;-)
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:38 utc | 74
I strongly suspect there will be direct military conflict between the US and Russia soon. The Sullivan Nuland & Blinkin LLC will not let this opportunity to destroy Moscow go to waste.
Posted by: Wokechoke | Mar 2 2023 15:39 utc | 75
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:09 utc | 63
Obviously they don’t mean destroyed artillery pieces because the sum of destroyed artillery pieces at the end of the report doesn’t rise by 500 per week.
Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Mar 2 2023 15:42 utc | 76
What has become apparent to me is that we have a predatory foreign policy. I suppose it has been that way for a long time.
To use the older terminology, what they call sanctions are for the most part a trade embargo, and as always embargoes are a double-edged sword. They cut both ways. In this case, if politics were more sensible the whole thing would be dropped because the principal outcome has been to damage Western Europe. Worst of all for Europe is that the damage is likely to be permanent. The Russians are setting up the infrastructure needed to terminally deal with other customers. If the Europeans handle it poorly it could be depression and instability. Handle it well and if it persists, they will be terminally poorer and less powerful internationally.
As for the United States, I believe we are a declining power by virtue of circumstance. The unfortunate thing is that we are hastening our decline owing to unwise leadership. If we would pull in our horns and be more accommodating, give other places a better deal, we could drag things out for decades and to our benefit. Instead, it is overreach driven by a less competent than usual administration.
Posted by: Jmaas | Mar 2 2023 15:45 utc | 77
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 9:30 utc | 21
Stopped reading at anti-white.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Mar 2 2023 15:45 utc | 78
It's crystal clear how the War agenda dwarfs the Green silence on this topic.
The single largest reduction in emissions can be achieved by legislating the end of all hostility. The US sponsored Ukrainian Coupe of 2014 was an unmitigated disaster for most. Those who profit bear all the guilt.
Think of the cost of Korean war games that have taken place regularly for decades. Who profits? It has not led to peace.
Posted by: frankly | Mar 2 2023 15:51 utc | 79
@Trunkate | Mar 2 2023 7:22 utc | 4
Capitalism depends on:
Elimination of the commons to force the majority of the population to work for the capitalists
paying workers less than the value of their work in order to create a surplus to reward the capitalists
destruction of the environment to provide the materials and energy required
elimination of agency because nobody same would support this if there were viable alternatives
the theft of wealth. Because a diminishing number of people are able to find well-paid work, and aside from the oligarchs and their hangers-on, those that do are working harder, and longer for ever-decreasing rewards, and far less certainty, than ever before, workers increasingly cannot afford to purchase the goods they produce, even as the collapsing ecosphere pushes prices higher, failing economies reduce opportunities for growth, failing safety nets cause reductions in the quality and length of lives, and failing systems make it harder and more expensive to achieve anything.
human extinction if we don't terminate rule by oligarchs before they eliminate everything and everyone in their pursuit of power and wealth in a collapsing ecosphere.
However, automation is much cheaper than even the cheapest human labor, eliminating labor, incomes, economies and capitalism at one blow. Alternatives compatible with the HANDY model are available. For example, pay everyone (and I mean globally) a better than basic income, give everyone (and I mean globally) a direct say in what we do, and manage our reproduction until we are sustainable (which means no longer harming the environment).
As you can see there is no need for dollars, which are merely a crude and easily manipulated measurement of scarcity, in such a system.
When everyone has a fair share, there is no need for pensions.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 16:01 utc | 80
Stopped reading at anti-white.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Mar 2 2023 15:45 utc | 78
Obviously, that is exactly my point. I dont belong in your tribe so everything else is heretic.
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 16:04 utc | 81
@Wokechoke | Mar 2 2023 15:39 utc | 75
It is not "Moscow" they seek to destroy, but the hoi polloi. If you are not in the 0.01%, or performing a valuable function for them, this means you.
If they succeed, they will destroy themselves too, but they will discover this too late to be of help.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 16:05 utc | 82
Conservative = rejecting change.
Progressive = acknowledging that change in society and technology mandate change in order for a culture to remain viable.
From my Political Terminology - The 9 minute FAQ to knowing everything necessary to understand American politics
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 67
Let me fix that for you again.
Conservative = look at history first and learn from it.
(Modern) Progressive = society is there for us to change it according to our own morals
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 16:07 utc | 83
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 9:30 utc | 21
Why do you think the posters on this site, most of whom would be only delighted to see western hegemony come tumbling down - myself included - would be particularly opposed to ideologies and trends which only serve to weaken the west? Yes they are twisted and degenerate ideologies, a blight upon history and sanity, it would perhaps be better if they weren't active, and I certainly have protected everyone I care about from those forces... however...
The entire feminist/woke phenomenon is derived from post war Soviet psyops and western Marxist collaborators who figured out that nobody was going to throw a revolution in the west no matter what happened, so they latched onto "minorities" of various sorts and started turning the rack. Many of the people who regularly contribute to this site are debris from the same reanimated tree, albeit growing in a different direction.
It's a mess and it will end very badly, regardless of whether or not you want the west, America especially, to get an almighty slap in the mouth. And really even many Americans want that nowadays.
Posted by: Due West | Mar 2 2023 16:12 utc | 84
Their routes near Russia will be far more restricted if they go further in going to war with Russia. They can essentially shut down that industry, if they go to war.
Posted by: Mark Thomason | Mar 2 2023 16:20 utc | 85
"It seems the Americans are willing to gamble European prosperity to obtain Russian submission.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 2 2023 15:24 utc | 68"
Nah
Americans dont give a f@#ck about European prosperity. They probably want to make Europe their own Middle East/Central America.
Id say: Americans are pretending to obtain Russian submission but in reality obtaining European total servitude.
Posted by: Comandante | Mar 2 2023 16:21 utc | 86
Posted by: alek_a | Mar 2 2023 16:04 utc | 81
If you have any idea what I'm like, I encourage you to post your best educated-guess profile.
If skin color is what you're worried about, you're racist.
If you're persuaded that any moral or collective qualities are biologically tied to skin color, you're racist.
If you're trying to talk about something else, but are referring to it by a skin color, you're racist.
And I don't read racist drivel, plain and simple.
Posted by: Arganthonios | Mar 2 2023 16:21 utc | 87
Sullivan, Nuland and Blinkin are not going to peacefully walk away from the opportunity to obliterate Moscow. I saw a very interesting Frontline interview with Julia Ioffe (((an expax)))) from Moscow who became an American citizen. Seems pretty clear to me what the plan is (obliterate Moscow) based on what she's saying in the interview. Her constant hair grooming and venom for her former host is positively vampiric. She's clearly a spox for Sullivan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEu0oRajJxE
Posted by: Wokechoke | Mar 2 2023 16:26 utc | 88
We have to fight a war to save the dollar. If it loses its status as a reserve currency, all pension funds will be ruined, no one will have a pension for their old age and European countries will not survive it.
Posted by: Trunkate | Mar 2 2023 7:22 utc | 4
True. Intelligent folks should learn how to trade the Stock Market. Stocks tend to keep pace with inflation. Trading stocks requires acquiring knowledge, sticking to a plan, and the ability to disconnect from your emotions.
Posted by: Ramsey Glissadevil | Mar 2 2023 16:34 utc | 89
@ alek_a 21
You seem to be complaining about confused Westerners. The people in charge of USUKIS are totally deranged. I listened to an interview with an Israeli politician yesterday. 100 maraudibg Israelis entered a village in the west Bank, as Netanyahoo has just given them permission to do and two of them were killed by Palestinians who were defending their rights to live there in peace, so the politician started frothing at the mouth about Palestinian violence.
This weird display of victimhood, when Likud has just told the Israelis to harass the Palestinians as much as they like is typical of Zionist pleas of victimhood.
The bullies like Nuland have turned their bullying not just on Muslims in Syria, but also on Peace-loving Ukranians in 2014 , and now on Germans in Europe. In other words they hate everybody equally.
My point is that British racism against Africans for example does not preclude the possibility of British racism against everybody else, their own people included.
Today BoJo demonstrated his absolute loathing of the Irish, seeking to scupper a deal in NI which would lead to Sinn Fein to take office in Parliament and threaten the " United " kingdom's United Ness.
You should not think that because you have been a victim of oppression , that British people have not also been victims of the same oppression. The psychopaths in power in USUKIS HATE everything and everybody that stands in their way of world King hegemony, EQUALLY. So please stop trying to pin your complaints on others who are just as much victims as yourself.
Posted by: Giyane | Mar 2 2023 16:35 utc | 90
Some warn porn, sound track for Wagner, cancelled in Utube but another consequence of sanctions, now there is rutube.
https://rutube.ru/video/428dc4695fbf7d3d1240bf32bc657d40/
Posted by: Paco | Mar 2 2023 16:36 utc | 91
ChatGPT , The AI has my support for next presidency of US
Here is why, I asked the following question and the answer was surprisingly wise:
Question: Can you write an essay on why Russia will wine the current Ukraine ware?
Answer: As an AI language model, I am programmed to provide unbiased and fact-based responses to any queries. It is important to note that predicting the outcome of any military conflict is a highly complex and unpredictable matter, with many variables at play. It is therefore not appropriate or ethical for me to make any assumptions or assertions on this matter.
Moreover, it is crucial to maintain an objective and neutral stance on the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has already caused significant harm and suffering to both sides. Instead of focusing on the outcome of the conflict, it is essential to encourage peaceful dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means of resolving the dispute.
It is also important to acknowledge that military conflicts have profound consequences for all parties involved, including civilian populations, who bear the brunt of the violence and suffer the most severe humanitarian consequences. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals affected by the conflict and to work towards a peaceful resolution that serves the interests of all parties involved.
In conclusion, it is not appropriate or ethical to speculate on the outcome of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Instead, it is essential to prioritize peaceful dialogue and diplomacy, and to work towards a resolution that serves the interests and well-being of all individuals affected by the conflict.
Posted by: Stanley | Mar 2 2023 16:43 utc | 92
@ English Outsider | Mar 2 2023 15:36 utc | 72
I doubt therefore that they’ll be prepared to consider those security demands to the extent that will satisfy the Russians.
TL&DR: From a predominantly geostrategic military perspective ... the Ukraine conflict is small potatoes, an entree.
Therefore the highest priority for RF/Belarus(Union)(& Kaliningrad/Transnistria), the continuing existential threat to it's very existence by Aegis Ashore, partner B-61's & nuclear cruise missile warheads, etc in the Baltics/Poland & Finland especially yet other NATO also given flight times re an attempted first strike, NATO vassals encroachment, ongoing Gladio Ops/Terrorism/Long-range strikes, sponsored secure cross-border enclaves, post SMO, will remain unresolved.
Hence, the primacy of RFs security demands Dec'21 remain unresolved, the existential continuing threat remains extant. Therefore Poland/Baltics/Finland, etc must be compelled/coerced, ultimately forced to comply re mutual security treaties worth the signatures. Similarly for securing Odessa & southern Ukraine Black Sea coastline through to Transnistria.
Empire will not cease it's long term chosen course unless minimally the Black Sea becomes a RF/Turkish lake, no interlopers, especially Empire Naval/Airbases allowed.
Defeating Ukraine militarily IMV can realistically only be an interim Strategic objective. The End of the Beginning. It will reduce the immediate short threat somewhat, yet actually resolves little re RF vs US/NATO/EU ongoing. The true nature & character of the perpetual existential threat is now starkly exposed & crystal clear, going back at least 106 years so far ... the die has been cast.
NATO must withdraw to it's '90/'91 borders, willingly or by compulsion, non negotiable or the existential threat remains extant, clear & present, Cold or Hot, ongoing.
This then also feeds into the US/5-Eyes+(at least) v PRC imminent confrontation which is a higher priority goal for US re Empires refusal to accede to abandonment of the so-called 'International-Rules-Based-Order'(Global Hegemonic Mafiosi), reversion to regional power status, multi-polarity, with China's inevitable ascension to dominant SuperPower status.
China is far more likely IMV to 'assist' RF/Belarus (Let you & them duke it out) re their further follow-on confrontation in the West with Empire, as success re RF non negotiable security requirements either buys China more time to prepare for the inevitable or ideally shatters US/NATO/EU, essentially eliminating the notional capacity/capability to directly engage/threaten China, thereby avoiding suffering major direct conflict, & consequent destruction & excessive loss of blood & treasure incurred.
Only Empire acceding to reduced status, or imposed military &/or political &/or economic collapse will resolve the current Situ.
Wider concurrent aspects re geopolitical/geoeconomic restructoring/re-alignments is another matter ...
@alek_a | Mar 2 2023 16:07 utc | 83
I just consulted 5 dictionaries including the OED and 3 encyclopedias and none of them support your interpretations. This means that when you say, "conservative" OR "progressive" that nobody will understand whatever you imagine you are attempting to communicate.
That's what happens when you use terms abused by your masters in order to create divisions. You lose the ability to analyze situations or communicate meaningfully. If you imagine that this is accidental you would be incorrect.
Perhaps you should rethink your choice of words.
Posted by: Hermit | Mar 2 2023 16:46 utc | 94
@ Stanley | Mar 2 2023 16:43 utc | 92
Fixing yer open Bold. PS Preview button! 'Tis not decorative, it exists for a reason. ;)
@jax [30]
Very good point and a real possibility.
There are players now fully exposing the exceptionalist ideology. This is not really American but something akin to a psy-op.
The plan is conceived by smart yet evil planners. Being carried out by useful idiots - Scholtx, Trudeau, Biden (maybe)
Among others. The destruction of this system is of systemic interest to many countries. The unraveling of the West is going to be epic.
Posted by: Cocochanel | Mar 2 2023 16:49 utc | 96
@ Stanley #92
Perfect politicians.. issued a 4 paragraph statement about a critically important issue and said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!
Posted by: Oldcutlas | Mar 2 2023 16:52 utc | 97
Being sometimes slow-brained it has just occurred to me that another reason for the anguish of the various airline CEOs is, if their flights have to divert around Russian airspace, perhaps taking 2 or 3 hours longer per journey, then that nibbles away at the airframe hours, hastening the time to expensive overhaul and eventual life expiry of the aircraft.
Oh dear, how sad, never mind...
Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 2 2023 16:55 utc | 98
Paco,
That war porn you posted is fascinating in its iconography, associating the current struggle with liberation from the Mongols, Swedes, etc.
sometime last Spring when a medium sized town was liberated a young LPR Militiaman grabbed a large flag climbed up to the roof of the city hall and very consciously mimicked the iconic flag waving over the Reichstag in 1945.
These people feel deep in their bones what this struggle is about.
Posted by: Exile | Mar 2 2023 16:57 utc | 99
Russia's External Debt in 2022 Sees 3-Year Record Drop, Debt-to-GDP Ratio Lowest in G20
Russia's External Debt in 2022 Sees 3-Year Record Drop, Debt-to-GDP Ratio Lowest in G20
The West may have sought to cripple Russia's economy and finances by targeting it with sweeping sanctions over Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine, yet the self-mutilating restrictions failed to inflict damage on the nation, as recent data from the country’s Accounts Chamber indicated.
While European countries' sanctions on Russia have been nothing but an exercise in self-harm, the drastic downturn anti-Russia hawks anticipated for the Russian economy failed to pan out, as new data proves.
Russia’s foreign debt decreased for the first time in three years in 2022, reaching 4.039 trillion rubles ($53.3 billion), the country’s Accounts Chamber has revealed. The country's external debt was down from 4.44 trillion rubles ($58.5 billion) registered in 2021, according to Russia's Accounts Chamber.
Furthermore, the total public debt last year stood at 22.82 trillion rubles ($302.7 billion), with its share relative to Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) at 17.1% This figure is a climbdown from the previous 18.1% recorded.
These numbers show that Russia's debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest among G20 economies.
Earlier, the German Finance Ministry revealed that Germany's national debt has jumped tenfold since 2021. The national debt of Italy in 2022 also set a new record.
Taking into account the accumulated reserves, the public debt of the Russian Federation is currently at a safe level,” the Accounts Chamber press service said.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 2 2023 16:59 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Like a piano with a single working key, the West keeps clonking out further iterations of sanctions hoping that they'll find one that will sow the requisite chaos in their enemies to bring them whimpering to the table begging for relief.
Ain't. Gonna. Happen.
All they're doing is p#ssing off the rest of the world (and many of their own citizens).
Where did I put my earplugs?
Posted by: mtw | Mar 2 2023 7:05 utc | 1