@ Mike R 128
Why don’t you forget the Math and look at the photos of US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for no military purpose.
My father was a mathematician and spent his whole life having to design weapon systems.
He could put up with about 3 minutes of emotional talk.
Pretending that nuclear war is survivable is Passive Aggression. Oh sweetie, I’m just doing the Math, looks like we’ll be alright after Nukes. Liberal democracy allows you to sweet talk nukes. If I was in charge, I’d lock you up for disturbing the peace.
I do understand that in the places they call Maths Math Passive Aggression is the normal way of life. That’s what Russia is fighting against in Ukraine, the US pretending to be finger in the mouth innocent, while funding Terrorists, Al Shabab, Al Qaida, Azov, Daesh.
Freedom of speech is not intended for Nihilist , A I minded, racist , control freaks. This is the kind of talk that goes into schools and shoots teachers and kids.

Posted by: Giyane | Mar 13 2023 3:55 utc | 204

Shitbird trolls need to listen… Latest from Andrei Martyanov, for the haters…
Submarine Deterrence
More on Russian subs and deterrence. Revisiting some old news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXE_FZN8F-o

Posted by: Richard Steven Hack | Mar 13 2023 4:14 utc | 206

“Отечество в опасности!”.
It is used quite often. Originally it is borrowed from the French revolution as a slogan.

Posted by: Catilina | Mar 13 2023 4:25 utc | 208

But Americans need to understand what happened during that 10 years and the impression it left in the minds of many Russians and the degree to which people in Russia accept that it was Putin who pulled them out of it.
It also says something about the underlying resiliance of Russian society.
Posted by: Dan Farrand | Mar 12 2023 19:42 utc | 99
Thank you, Dan! And welcome here. I will add that there had been a similar resiliance in Ukraine, as others have noticed. To coin a phrase, Ukraine had been the jewel in Russia’s crown. I read a while back a travel book, an account of an American travelling from Moscow across Siberia in those years that reflected very much what you are describing – it was disturbing, a description of ongoing dissolution. I will see if I can find it again in our library.
I myself see the hopelessness falling upon US society as very much a beginning, a similar symptom of malaise, but hopeful as well, if we can endure it, in the very manner in which Putin has been able (and those around him) to revive the spirit of Russia by exemplifying that spirit, having endured those hard times with them. I don’t think he himself would say he was in any way special, except that he had endured what they were enduring, saw what was the cause of it all and helped them free themselves from it. That kind of solidarity comes at the end of a long tunnel which only those who have experienced it can testify about. Putin himself has predicted that the US is on this path, a path he wouldn’t wish upon any nation.
I thank also Norwegian and Paco for remaining calm in the face of insult – well done. Each of us here is a warrior in his own way, and you both, along with the many who do not come here to cancel but to inform, have exemplified why coming here is important for all, even(and especially) for those who seek to disrupt.
Ask yourselves, you legion, what will you have if you succeed?
It’s a question to ask the NATO schemers as well. Without a strong Russia and a strong China, what will you have? You will turn them into the same wrecked martian landscapes your own nations are fast becoming, banks like leeches sucking dry every morsel of wealth, with military laboratories where gain of function experiments will escape into the environment, factories pollute, trains of toxic chemicals breach their sagging rail lines in community after community, while reruns of old tv programs blare in empty livingrooms, and all the capitalized alphabet letter young folk go down without perpetuating their narcissistic lives by means of progeny.
Is this what you really want to see happen? Ten years of this? Oh, I do hope it will not be so! How amazing that Russia came through it!
Oh Lord and Master of my life
Take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust for power, and idle talk!
Give rather the spirit of courage, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant! To Thy servants!
Grant me to see my own error, and not to judge my brother.
Thanks, Dan, for this response. Perhaps it is time for more of this. We can’t affect what is happening in Ukraine; it will play itself out. Our battlefield is here.

Posted by: juliania | Mar 13 2023 4:52 utc | 210

Posted by: Mike R | Mar 12 2023 23:35 utc | 158

Well duh, particulate matter and co2 are not the same. What I said is there isn’t nowhere near enough nuclear yield in the entire world to emit enough particulate matter from detonations to cover even a small fraction of the atmosphere.
I showed that by estimating particulate matter emitted per volume of Co2 from coal plants annually which is way more than the total yield of all nuclear weapons. As well as forest fires.
Now why don’t YOU demonstrate how 10000 nuclear detonations would cause a nuclear winter? Show the math.
Because there have already been 400 atmospherics detonations from nuclear tests and yet I can still see the sun, bright and clear blue sky and all.
I find it hilarious that some commenters are speculating about “my angle” and my “political leanings”. I already gave you my angle.

nuclear winter from nuclear weapons is a myth made for propaganda purposes just to persuade countries to sign the NNP treaty that leave them defenseless against countries who already have nukes.

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Mar 13 2023 4:59 utc | 212

Not sure if English is your first language but this expression is an oxymoron.
Posted by: RB | Mar 12 2023 20:18 utc | 114

“…It’s not established if it was general US policy to damage Russia or if was a faction attempting to corrupt otherwise well intentioned US efforts.
But Americans need to understand what happened during that 10 years and the impression it left in the minds of many Russians and the degree to which people in Russia accept that it was Putin who pulled them out of it…”

RB, as English doesn’t seem to be your first language, (more correct usage would be for you yourself to say “I’m not sure…”) I’ve helpfully bolded your extracted phrase within the complete passage posted by Dan Farrand. You may disagree with the argument, but in this instance there is no oxymoron, since I myself believe that it was indeed a faction of the US (referred to often as the ‘one percent’ or decimal percentages even smaller thereof) that perpetrated the actions in question.
You may also disagree with me on this, but please be aware that English is my first language; if I am guilty of nitpicking,so, sir, are you.

Posted by: juliania | Mar 13 2023 5:26 utc | 214

As I understand it, there are some neo-cons in the Pentagon, the Military, and in and out of the State Department, who share your minimalist views about a nuclear war, and its aftermath. Some are convinced that if the US can deliver a massive first strike on its enemy, let’s say Russia or China, then the US can survive a nuclear conflagration quite well with minimal disruption for American’s and US world hegemony. The key words being “massive” and “first strike”.
In my experience there are two political and ideological forces that push the minimalist nuclear war views: The world economic and political reset crowd (Soros and Bill Gates for example) and the US hegemony or bust crowd (Wolfowitz, Bolton, and their ilk).
Posted by: Ed | Mar 13 2023 4:15 utc | 204

If they really believe that, then they’re far more stupid than they appear to be. A nuclear war is economically devastating for a country — Russia has enough nukes to take out most US military bases and defense infrastructure in a second strike. And China has the industrial capacity to make them during an all out total war. The country will be left defenseless. People will pull their money. That would collapse the US economy to a banana republic on a permanent basis with perpetual riots and social unrest. The neocons would have to find jobs sweeping floors.
But what won’t happen is human extinction. The planet is too large and humans too numerous and too spread out for that. Most countries that don’t get involved in a nuclear war will be fine and would inherit the status as the hegemon.

Three trolls in a pod.
Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 5:28 utc | 214

How ironic. You have a nice day now

Posted by: FieryButMostPeaceful | Mar 13 2023 5:49 utc | 216

GraphicW@GraphicW5
Literally kilometers of underground defenses being cleared…
The longest underground corridors of the fortified area in the “gray zone” of the Zaporozhye region
In the “gray zone”, the front line of the defense of the Zaporozhye region, the area that is visible and under fire, all movements occur through hidden passages, which are the longest. This is a whole city with streets, intersections and turns . Corridors and labyrinths do not end hundreds of meters or even kilometers.

https://twitter.com/GraphicW5/status/1635140899045818369

Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 5:58 utc | 218

Re: De-Dollarization
The Federal Reserve ( private banking cartel ) decided to stick to the 2008 playbook and print money to save their fellow bankers. Questions remain 1) does this end the fight against inflation ( interest rate hikes ) ? and 2) will this financial scare accelerate de-dollarization ?

Posted by: Exile | Mar 13 2023 6:05 utc | 220

Dingo, a month or so ago when there was some debate in the US about funding for Ukraine, Blinken made the statement “it’s more than Ukraine.” What did he mean? I think he meant that the real target is Russia, that Ukraine is simply a means to that end. The two problems that Russia poses for the US are: (1) it is the leader in the effort to replace the dollar as the world currency. Having the world currency is important for the financing of the massive US debt. (2) Russia has developed, and is in the process of putting them into service, some really sophisticated weapons, especially nuclear weapons some of which are said to be unstoppable.
So, to counteract these threats, the strategic calculus is, destroy Russia. Collapse it, disintegrate it and then install leaders favorable to the West.
Posted by: Kellen Cramer | Mar 13 2023 5:17 utc | 211

It’s more than that unfortunately.
There are a lot of conspiracy nuts here (don’t get me wrong, there are real conspiracies out there, but this isn’t one of them) that think climate change and resource depletion are scam to trick people out of what exactly that needs such methods they can’t quite explain.
Well, look at the action of people and think carefully whether it is really a scam.
Much of the useful agricultural land on the plant when global warming becomes really extreme will be in Russia (due to an unfortunate accident of geography, the southern hemisphere has very little land in the higher latitudes, so humanity will have to migrate north), and on top of that Russia has some of the largest reserves of still untapped mineral resources.
So ultimately this is what the war is about. Lebensraum in conditions of ever increasing scarcity.

Posted by: shadowbanned | Mar 13 2023 8:00 utc | 222

Posted by: juliania | Mar 13 2023 5:26 utc | 213
Love your posts but I think you may have misunderstood. I think RB was suggesting that “well intentioned” and “US efforts” are irreconcilable. Some may think that’s a bit harsh but they have a point!

Posted by: Tim | Mar 13 2023 8:28 utc | 224

Weeb Union reports, according to Wagner sources, Ukraine has concentrated up to 10 brigades (40k when full strength, probably a lot less) to Chasov yar area and an attack is expected.
I think if UAF get local superiority, they might give some ground in a similar effort as in Kherson and use air power to reduce the UAF forces if they come out of their fortified lines. It has a potential to become a major turkey shoot, if the pieces are placed correctly.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 9:16 utc | 226

In Bakhmut, the cauldron may repeat again, as in Debaltseve in 2015, – officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
▪️This was announced on TV by the commander of one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
▪️”Now in Bakhmut there are battles right on the streets. There are shooting battles for every lane. A particular danger is that the neck of the so-called operational boiler is no more than 4 km. Without logistics, there is nothing – no rotation, no supply of ammunition. The enemy understands this and is trying, first of all, to cut off logistics. We understand that there may be a repetition of Debaltseve. The same situation, when the routes are cut off and a targeted exit of troops can jeopardize the entire convoy. Because of this neck, 4 km away, it is very dangerous,” he said. D. Yaroslavsky.
▪️This was also stated by a fighter of the 93rd brigade: “As soon as the Russians take the road to Khromovo, Bakhmut will gradually begin to turn from a fortress into a large mass grave. Then there will be no point in keeping silent about things that enrage for many months. Maybe someone then he will see evil in them, but I will already deeply spit. Patience is running out. ”
▪️It’s funny that in Debaltseve in 2015 the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were commanded by Alexander Syrsky, who is now in charge of the defense of Bakhmut.
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/24238

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 9:22 utc | 228

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 9:22 utc | 229
To be honest, it sounds like UAF commanders don’t like this and are probably forced by Zelensky to attempt this counter-offensive NE and E and SE of Chasov Yar. But if you look at weather forecasts for a few weeks away, there’s a very high chance of temperatures hovering just above or below zero, meaning a lot of mud on the fields and potentially black ice making moving equipment very hard.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 9:24 utc | 230

This is very interesting, these meetings btwn head honchos are never advanced, always very formal and planned months before, even in an emergency it’s protocol to never show it, you show urgency to make peace, shuttle diplomacy style, but you play it cool to make war.
Maybe after the KSA-Iran deal China is visibly muscling into geopolitical primacy. They are smart enough to not push a war message, I’m guessing this will, at least visibly to the world public, be another push for China’s Ukraine peace plan on the back of the middle east brokered deal. Behind the scenes what’s discussed btwn Putin and Xi might be otherwise.
Exclusive: China’s Xi plans Russia visit as soon as next week – sources, Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to travel to Russia to meet with his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as soon as next week, people familiar with the matter said, which would be sooner than previously expected.
Xi scores 3rd term and comes straight to Moscow. His April trip moved fwd. Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to pay a visit to Moscow next week. This was reported on Monday by Reuters, citing sources.
According to their information, the Chinese leader intends to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. No other details are given.
“>https://www.reuters.com/world/chinas-xi-plans-russia-visit-soon-next-week-sources-2023-03-13/
https://t.me/rocknrollgeopolitics/6458

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 13 2023 9:38 utc | 232

About these rumors of counter-attack on Bakhmut and Ukraine sending new divisions, I’m trying hard to see where they might attack, and it looks fishy, or suicidal. The whole place is damn muddy now, rasputitsa came early and videos from cars and trucks stuck in the middle are quite bad. Besides, I can’t see how they hope to make a genuine pincer attack like Operation Uranus, since it would mean one push would have to come from inside Bakhmut, which can barely be reinforced. The only 2 options I can see is an armored push from NW from Slovyansk towards Krasna Gora or a direct infantry assault on a wide part of the frontline – no major motorized assault on the flanks is realistic now.
So all they could hope to achieve is delaying the fall of Bakhmut, but wasting thousands of men and entire divisions on that also means there won’t be enough manpower for any serious attempt at cutting through the Southenr corridor, meaning AFU will not be able to reach the sea and might not get very far at all in a push towards Melitopol, Mariupol or Berdyansk.

Posted by: Clueless Joe | Mar 13 2023 9:57 utc | 234

🇺🇦☦️🇷🇺”Brothers and sisters, you should not stand aside, because “whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father (Matthew 10:32-36).” We elected these deputies and today we have to give an answer: as we chose, we can also remove it, as is customary in the democratic world. We must defend our faith, we must not shame the Church, even if they shoot me. I’m not afraid of death. We are not for riots, not for revolutions, let us pray and pray as we want, as we have been taught,” said Metropolitan Pavel last night.
Today’s statements regarding the event:
“The Apocalypse Begins in Ukraine” – the Vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel is not afraid of execution and intends to defend the shrine to the last
The abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, commented on the decision of the Ukrainian authorities to expel more than 200 monks of the UOC from the monastery by March 29 and urged parishioners who were ready to listen to a sermon even on the street not to stand aside. According to the metropolitan, “the devil cannot stand it when believers pray,” so he does everything possible to stop conversations with God in the Lavra.
“And the pocalypse begins with Ukraine, but we will defend our rights and shrines to the last. There are people who have put on the clothes of priests who dream of defiling everything they can, they have desecrated the Assumption and Refectory Cathedral ,” the Metropolitan addressed the parishioners.
The same rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra called the Ukrainian authorities “grandchildren of the leaders of the October Revolution”, who carried out repressions against Orthodoxy. He also urged Ukrainians to defend their faith at any cost: “ Let them even shoot me. I’m not afraid of death. We are not for riots, not for revolutions, let us pray and pray as we want, as we have been taught ,” the Metropolitan said.

https://t.me/azmilitary11/40636

Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 10:01 utc | 236

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦💡Rybar’s Analysis: #Kharkov Region’s Energy Sector almost destroyed⚡️
Not long ago, we wrote on #Odessa’s power problems. After the 👉 9 Mar Strikes, #Kharkov region became the 2nd region where the RF Armed Forces inflicted critical damage to the power system.
The regional centre was without light, water and heat. Transport and communications were disrupted. Part of the damage has begun to be repaired. But they got hit pretty good.
🔹What is #Kharkov based on?
▪️ Electricity is received through substations Zalyutino 330, Kharkov 330 and Losevo 330.
▪️ The regional centre has two stations of its own – TPP-5 and TPP-3. While the former mostly feeds the residential sector, the latter is closely linked to industrial plants.
▪️ In close proximity to the city is TPP-2 Eskhar and the powerful Zmievskaya TPP.
The most important is the Zalyutino PS: through it Zmievskaya TPP and TPP-5 are connected to #Ukraine’s center. After Zalyutino was hit systematically, the Ukrainian energy sector began to use the Losevo PS and an alternat route for power transfer.
🔹What about these Stations now?
✅ Zalyutino 330 PS: all three 330/110kV autotransformers were destroyed. The OSG has been destroyed. Breakers, equipment, outbuildings and substations have been damaged. The PS can now only operate on 330kV and 110kV power transit.
✅ Losevo 330 PS: At least three of the four 330/110kV autotransformers were destroyed in total. The building of the PS and high voltage equipment was severely damaged. Repairs have been started, but the maximum that can be achieved is to bring back the possibility of power transit, which in the case of Losevo will not help the city much.
❓PS Kharkovska 330: There is indirect evidence of explosions near the PS. Ukrenergo has already said that one of the substations has been put into operation, most likely, it is the Kharkovska PS, which suffered incomparably less damage.
✅ TPP-5: The combined heat and PP with a generation capacity of 540MW has already been hit in Dec and Feb. In Feb, rockets hit the turbine hall, causing a serious fire that damaged at least two turbine generators. On 9 Mar, missiles allegedly hit a 3rd. The TPP stopped generating heat and electricity for up to a day and a half.
❓ TPP-3: A TPP with an 80MW generation capacity was hit in Feb, but there was no major damage. The extent of damage after the latest airstrikes is unknown.
✅ PS 188 Zhukovsky 110: Transit PS on the northern ring of the 110kV overhead line. Equipment damaged.
🔹What does this mean?
Ukrenergo said today that it has managed to restore operation of one of the PPs – we are talking about TPP-5. According to the most optimistic scenario, #Kharkov can count on:
▪️570МВт capacity at the Kharkov 330 PS;
▪️240МВт capacity from TPP-5;
▪️~360MW, which can be transferred by HV-110kV from Eskhar TPP-2, Zmievskaya TPP and from #Sumy region.
❗️A total of 1170MW can be transferred to #Kharkov. This would allow the existence of power supply constraints. But the situation is complicated by large damage to substations and distribution equipment.
🔹What are the Engineers doing?
The main efforts are aimed at rescuing the survivors. Substations cannot be restored to full functionality, so the focus is on restoring at least transit capacity.
But because of the city’s distance from the NPP, it is more vulnerable. Damaged autotransformers cannot be replaced. Only 110kV and lower networks are being restored.
🔹How do we fight back?
Zmievskaya TPP plays a key role in supplying #Kharkov. It is used to transfer power to the remaining autotransformers and distribute it to the city’s networks.
❗️After the removal of the Losevo and Zalyutino substations, the Kharkov PS became the key power distribution hub. It is too early to talk about a complete blackout, which is confirmed by reports from #Kharkov, where power engineers manage to restore power supply to the city.
📌 Therefore, it is necessary to continue!

https://t.me/sitreports/5745

Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 10:05 utc | 238

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦”The goals set by Russia in Ukraine can now be achieved only by military means.” – Dmitry Peskov

https://t.me/azmilitary11/40645

Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 10:16 utc | 240

“🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦Situation in the Avdeevka Region: 12:00 13/03/2023
Offensive operations conducted by units of the Donetsk Army Corps of the WMD continue in the Avdeevka – Pervomaisky Region. Units continue to focus their offensive attacks on the village of Kamenka and the Avdeevska Coal Mine 01 & 02. Overnight, the AFU transferred elite shock troop from Zaporozhye and Velekya Novoselika in order to reinforce this area.
In the Krasnogorivka – Novokalynoye area, units of the Donetsk Army Corps supported by Missile and Aviation Troops continue to advance within the vicinity of Krasnogorivka. Over 95% of the city has been liberated and cleansing operations continue.
In the Kamenka – Avdeevka area, Units of Special Forces of the Donetsk Army Corps were able to establish control over the Kamenka Dam; and establish entrenched positions on hills surronding Avdeevka.
Offensive operations continue.
Nabrezhnye (https://t.me/NabrezhnyeIntel)”
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40642
Notice, UAF transferring “elite units” to Avdeevka from Zaporizhe, means they aren’t going anywhere else. The railway track area north of Avdeevka is within 2.5km, putting it well within range of tank fire and ATGMs, and snipers. If I were to guess, Ukraine will have a hard time holding the north part of Avdeevka at this point, it’s already much too compromised, but they may still be able to reinforce the line west of Avdeevka with this new unit.
Avdeevka itself is being attacked by the 1500kg and 500kg FAB bombs, which reportedly are effective against the steel concrete fortified structures.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 10:24 utc | 242

Re: De-Dollarization
The Federal Reserve ( private banking cartel ) decided to stick to the 2008 playbook and print money to save their fellow bankers. Questions remain 1) does this end the fight against inflation ( interest rate hikes ) ? and 2) will this financial scare accelerate de-dollarization ?
Posted by: Exile | Mar 13 2023 6:05 utc | 219
————
Good questions.
Unfortunately I think we have to start with the fact that the US has a corrupt financial system and is only being brought to some level of capitulation by the power of Russia militarily and China economically.
Instead of thinking it can take on Russia, China and Iran it needs to get a grip as do other western countries and focus on the well being of the 99% and trying to be useful members of the global community.

Posted by: financial matters | Mar 13 2023 10:45 utc | 244

Could someone please delete #245.

Posted by: Goingo | Mar 13 2023 11:18 utc | 246

Yuri @247. For the “West” substitute the “Jews” and that would shed light from another angle. Though of course it’s all in tandem and they might even believe that it was all for the good.

Posted by: Ivan | Mar 13 2023 11:34 utc | 248

Ukrainian TV channel “Legitimny” writes that “the office of the President continues to massively transfer all combat-ready units to the Donbass in order to turn the tide of events in the Bakhmutov meat grinder.
Zelensky goes all in.”
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/24336

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 11:48 utc | 250

@ Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 13 2023 5:56 utc | 216
Thanks for cutting through the garbage posting narratives abounding here on nuclear cataclysms. Yup they would irradiate poisonously but life would adapt over generations- unfortunately for humans our generations are longer than fruit fly’s. The truth around the Chernobyl, currently surrounded by war and , pacific atolls, Australian deserts and the Fukushima leakages is still working its way to final outcomes. Decades yet to see it.
Meanwhile…
As you say the truth is OLDER and still relevant. The astronomical CYCLES as the solar system itself is also in a orbit of something and even that is in a a longer orbit means that some cyclical events range upto and upwards of 18k years – of course these greater cycles are barely recorded or survived and thus known as religious fables, or artefacts.
That is what gives religions power – the power of prediction. Hence the deep rooted human psyche/spiritual need – it’s an evolutionary trait. These who shun such evolved archetypes and emotional cues are the ones who are doomed – for lack of foresight and thence fortitude necessary to survive and remember! Hence the supposed irony of religious scientists!
The Oldest Texts are MORE than some grand delusion – they are science written as parable. Because if you lose written records – an Oral tradition keeps knowledge exactly transferable – hence ‘First there was the Word’ … which is emulated in all the oldest surviving religions.
But that does not mean that a fairytale of Supremacy is real and any actual objective scientist and logician would easily understand that.
As they understand that the fascist of the world are just some voodoo priests and bishops who never were capable of rising above their base entitlement and struggle to impose their control through base racism, recently recreated as ‘Jungle’ and Russo and Sinophobia’s , nazism, banning of other religions , terror and murderous war to get rid of the Many who refuse their Few Masters.
I am not as religious as I was brought up – but I know it has its comforts – hence it is heartwarming to see the Ukrainians worshippers in the cold even as they are locked out of their churches.
The Capitalist fascists are as bad as the Anti-Capitalist communists when it comes to destroying religious worship – it’s almost as if their twin brothers from the same mother!
Bastards that they both are.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 13 2023 12:30 utc | 252

Telegram channel Kartel is right that the awarding of the film about Navalny is a bad signal for Zelensky. Many even took it as a symbol of the fact that the Western lobby is gradually beginning to “cool down” the Ukrainian crisis (they don’t want to raise the stakes in the game), gradually leading everything to peace agreements, which Zelensky ignores in every possible way. In simple words, they began to merge.
It is also a correct idea that a sharp turn in the Bakhmut case and sending literally everyone there is an attempt by Zelensky to attract attention to himself.

https://t.me/legitimniy/14937

Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 13:02 utc | 254

The Ukrainian biolabs story, Pfizer mRNA toxicity & US deep state involvement in Gain of function research in a range of pathogens including Marburg & Covid conspiracy theories just got a huge endorsement from none other than Russian General Kisilov in charge of Russian military biological weapons Defence in an official press release.
Already censored from YouTube but still at BIN (a not so reliable site but the General’s speech appears appropriately translated)
https://m.beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2023/03/new-maria-zeee-aussie-cossack-the-russian-military-just-dropped-huge-truth-bombs-on-the-entire-world-you-will-be-shocked-2539354.html

Posted by: PJB | Mar 13 2023 13:04 utc | 256

Too lighten the mood , it is reported that a very naughty boy has been summoned by the headmaster immediately for causing a ruckus in the school and classrooms, and ignoring whilst being very rude about the teachers and other students! And even the school itself.
If he isn’t careful and doesn’t respectfully comply there will be some ‘sanctions’ and no doubt tears before bedtime.
‘BREAKING: China’s President Xi plans to speak with Ukraine’s leader Zelensky and will meet Putin next week in Russia, WSJ reports’

Posted by: DunGroanin | Mar 13 2023 13:17 utc | 258

For the “West” substitute the “Jews” and that would shed light from another angle. Though of course it’s all in tandem and they might even believe that it was all for the good.
Posted by: Ivan | Mar 13 2023 11:34 utc | 252
Especially when we think of Chabad movement propaganda in Russia and their pro-western stance and connection to Putin that definitely sheds light from different angle.
I viewed them with disdain until actions of West after 1990 proved them to be true and see what we really were
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Mar 13 2023 11:38 utc | 253
Some of those who were responsible for anti-western propaganda in the USSR back in 60-70s on the other hand were taking all the cream from shadow economy they actively participated in. That’s called hypocrisy and it doesn’t deserve any sympathy. That propaganda was a good cover where each of the sides benefited each other. Shadowbanned mentioned it @138.

Posted by: Yuri | Mar 13 2023 13:57 utc | 260

Posted by: Yuri | Mar 13 2023 14:07 utc | 264
I’m pretty sure that this is not WEF theatre – there is no techno/kleptocratic global project unfolding here. BRICS and RoW will not be controlled and we can see in real-time the new world emerging from under western hegemony. Russia’s leadership have made it very clear why they are fighting and what they are fighting for.

Posted by: irish al | Mar 13 2023 14:25 utc | 262

@ DunGroanin | Mar 13 2023 13:17 utc | 262
LOL 🙂
&
Translated:
Military Chronicle – Telegram

‘Reports’ from the field that in the area of ​​​​Golubovka and Minkovka, 20 km north-west of Artyomovsk(Bahkmut), there is a strong battle going on. You can hear how the artillery works.
Presumably, the “orchestra” assaulted/has taken under Fire, the core AFU reserves of the 4th and 17th tank brigades, the battalions of the 61st Jaeger brigade and the 116th territorial defense brigade, accumulated between two villages.
According to the Military Chronicle, Ukrainian units have been arriving in the area since the beginning of March to actively counter PMC artillery and were being reinforced by mobile artillery and mortar groups.

Comment:
IF true, then likely AFU units were taken under Fire whilst dispersed in incohesive non-combat formations, in assumptive secure rear reserve Locs.
Translated:
INTERCEPTION (Z) – Telegram

Kiev resource about the delay in the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artemovsk / Bakhmut:
Uncorroborated source in the OP said that the counteroffensive near Bakhmut is postponed to next week, Syrsky will hold the city to the last, despite the situation. The weather (& mud) does not allow the Armed Forces to use wheeled vehicles, and without it there is no possibility of flank attacks.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 14:46 utc | 264

Lol bridelayers autocorrect sounds dirty.
Bridgelayers

Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Mar 13 2023 15:09 utc | 266

The relevant fact is that if the Greenland, and Antarctica ice sheets melt, sea-level will rise 80 meters.
Posted by: banned | Mar 13 2023 8:40 utc | 225
“if”.
It will take time, mean temperature in Antarctica is -70 celsius in Winter.
In summer mean temp is 0 celsius on sea shore and below on the continent.
Increasing ice mass on Antarctica, due to increased snowing on most parts – supposedly due to man made global warming …
Anyway there is still the solution of nuclear winter pushed forward by Soros, Gates, Schwabb and the rest of the Asylum Magnum.

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 13 2023 15:40 utc | 268

For a long time, most of Russians thought that hard life of 90s was caused by oligarchs and the West had nothing to do with that. Only now people understand that oligarchship was a creation of the West. Yeltsin wasn’t really seen as a betrayer until recently. He was rather seen as incompetent.

Yes, indeed, and when I wrote that Germans keeping their thermostats at 25C while the people who used to keep their windows open in winter were suddenly freezing to death was the two sides of the same coin, I myself only realized that somewhere around 2010. Until then I too thought that it was because of merely incompetent rule, because that was the overwhelming narrative. It was known that the USSR had been surrendered by traitors already by the early 2000s, as various people with inside info started talking, and if you were connected to the right circles, you knew that in the early 1990s already, it just wasn’t openly discussed in mainstream media until about a decade later.
But somehow the economic part of it — how real resources started flowing West for peanuts in exchange, the same way that it had been, and still is the practice for Third world shitholes in Africa, Asia and Latin America (which is why the former Eastern Bloc turned into a Third world shithole) — got even less attention until very recently. Most people still don’t understand it to this day even there.

The degeneracy of the 90s was phenomenal, the further you were away from Moscow. Glaziev calls it a genocide. I remember my mother had to wait for 5-6 months to get her salary and some part of it was given in buckwheat or macarons. Vegetable garden with potato field was a must even for the townsfolk. Margarine was a delicacy, forget about butter. In the villages the power was cut often because the wires were stolen. Double steel doors and window bars were a necessity together with dogs. Though often times on the weekend, right before the collapse of the country, curtains were used on the door frames without doors being shut. Russians laugh at western sanctions after all they experienced.
Posted by: Yuri | Mar 13 2023 10:38 utc | 247

Yes, indeed, and there is a very important additional consideration here.
There were two fairly well known stories about this process from outside Russia. When the USSR collapsed, it cut off is satellites from cheap commodity exports, and some of them found themselves high and dry.
Cuba is a famous example — the average Cuban lost 20-30 pounds in the first half decade after that. But largely nobody died of starvation because Cuba is a very fertile tropical island where you can grow multiple crops a year, so people went back to growing their own food and mostly managed to get through.
On the other side of the globe you had North Korea, which is unpleasantly situated on the northeast edge of the Eurasian landmass and is a mountainous wasteland with freezing temperatures for several months in winter. There, they had a full blown large-scale famine once they no longer got fertilizers and fuel for almost free and a lot of people died.
Those were the extremes.
The core Eastern Bloc was somewhere in between. In Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Moldova, the Caucauses, Central Asia, the southern Russian lands between the Caspian and the Black Seas it is mostly milder climate that allows for growing a lot of vegetables, fruits, etc.
But most of Russia is much further north, including a lot of cities that the Soviets built in absolutely barren wastelands. So people there didn’t even have that option and were entirely reliant on the state moving food from where it was grown to those areas. And the state fell apart and stopped doing that reliably. Resulting in a lot of really dire situations. It was a gradient of course, from Vorkuta way up north to subtropical Sochi in the south, but the point is that much of Russian population was in the area where it really really sucked.
Add US-ghettos-in-the-1980s-crack-era rampant crime and drugs on top of it, but spread everywhere, not localized to the inner cities (there were generally no nice and better off areas in Soviet times, everything was at the same level, and degenerated all the same, with some minor exception), and you are in a really hellish situation.

Posted by: shadowbanned | Mar 13 2023 16:08 utc | 270

@ Republicofscotland | Mar 13 2023 16:10 utc | 274
Um, old F-18s in proposed exchange for US F-35s(IIRC).

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 16:13 utc | 272

Shame to see @197 passed over by the discussion. Safe to say that whatever happens, strategic nuclear war would be very bad, especially for those of us in the firing line.
Also why do the trolls and magical thinkers of the bar still insist on banging on about the jews? Can’t we agree that a class-based analysis of the world works better? Education systems the world over letting so many down that they resort to that nonsense.

Posted by: Lachlan | Mar 13 2023 16:23 utc | 274

🇷🇺⚔️🇺🇦”The goals set by Russia in Ukraine can now be achieved only by military means.” – Dmitry Peskov
https://t.me/azmilitary11/40645
Posted by: Down South | Mar 13 2023 10:16 utc | 243
Deconstructing the obvious – as Seymour Hersh might put it.
And Xi in Moscow next week.

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 16:35 utc | 276

@ 272 Thank you for bringing our attention to this.
A peer-reviewed paper initially approved and praised by a prestigious academic journal was suddenly rescinded without explanation. Its author, one of the world’s top scholars on Ukraine-related issues, had marshaled overwhelming evidence to conclude Maidan protesters were killed by pro-coup snipers.
https://thegrayzone.com/2023/03/12/academic-journal-maidan-massacre/
Posted by: Apollyon | Mar 13 2023 16:08 utc | 272
Among those fervently supporting Katchanovski’s appeal was renowned US academic Jeffrey Sachs. “You have written a very important, rigorous, and substantial article. It is thoroughly documented. It is on a topic of great significance,” Sachs wrote to the scholar. “Your paper should be published for reasons of its excellence…The journal will only benefit from publishing such a work of importance and excellence, which will further the scholarly understanding and debate regarding a very important moment of modern history.” [Grayzone]
I read one of Katchanovski’s working papers on this a few years ago – and posted it on an MSM blog – it was deleted within an hour. I highly recommend his work
He has certainly convinced me. Note that German Intelligence, and Angela Merkel, fully aware of this work – as are many other European intelligence services.

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 13 2023 16:55 utc | 278

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 14:46 utc | 267
Perhaps somebody needs to send any one of the dozens of books about the Ardennes offensive to the Ukrainian General staff, they might find some useful historical parallels. I will be very disappointed though if their Leopard’s and are not painted in Hinterhalt-Tarnung and Marders in a dunkelgelb, olivgrun and rotbraun 3-tone camo scheme.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 13 2023 17:00 utc | 280

If no one else is going to suggest it, I wonder if China and Russia are playing good cop, bad cop on the West.
Russia can’t trust anything the West says or agrees to. However, could China provide guarantees to settle the Ukraine war? They can offer economic help to Ukraine and threaten to help Russia with weapons if the West reneges. If Russia and China are doing a lot of personal visits and communications, I have to wonder if they are planning something. Nor has Ukraine completely ruled out China’s negotiation. Difficult as it seems, it might be fairly easy if both sides ( especially Ukraine) are tired.
The big deal for China? It would be HUGE ‘street cred’ for China and an enormous defeat for US hegemony, almost overnight. The media would scream ‘end of unipolar world’.

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 13 2023 17:26 utc | 282

Eighthman @285–
I proposed that about three weeks ago on Feb 21:
“On China’s/Xi’s Global Security Initiative, I’ve commented elsewhere that there’re no differences between the two partners on this as they both know the Outlaw US Empire will never willingly submit to the principle of invisible security that its broken so many times already. What we have is a different version of good cop/bad cop on the international stage with China the former and Russia the latter. Recall Russia’s offer of December 2021 was completely premised on the indivisible security principle that was previously embodied in three OSCE Treaties and is part of the UN Charter’s basis which both Russia and China have pledged to defend and started an organization aimed at doing just that. So, Good Cop China draws RoW to the GSI–80 nations already–while Russia attrits the Outlaw US Empire and its vassals’s ability to exert hegemony. Notice how the Empire hasn’t tried to ridicule Russia over its organizing the Friends of the UN Charter bloc.” [My Emphasis]
And again on Feb 24:
“Thanks b for roping together China’s four Foreign Policy Propositions into one article. As they were made public, I wrote my critiques and analysis of them which generated short discourses here and at my VK. As I wrote yesterday, the Peace Plan was made to be rejected by the Outlaw US Empire, but the Empire wasn’t the intended audience. All China’s proposals are aimed at RoW as part of its new international role as Good Cop with Russia as the Bad Cop part of the tandem, while the Outlaw US Empire is clearly cast into its proper role as criminal/villain. I’ve stated why this is being done–to get RoW to gather together into a bloc adhering to the GSI and thus counterpose it with the Outlaw US Empire and its vassals bloc. Yes, I realize this perpetuates Cold War Bloc Geopolitics, but I don’t see any other way of eventually ridding the world of the Empire’s hegemony without first containing it then reducing those that provide succor, all without a major global military confrontation.” [My Emphasis]
Very few commented on my proposal at the time, psychohistorian’s being the one I recall. But that scenario is becoming even more visible now thanks to China’s efforts and those nations that have benefited from its mediating.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 13 2023 17:40 utc | 284

Posted by: Golddiggr | Mar 13 2023 17:27 utc | 286
Can’t agree more.
My plant director told us last week that the energy bill for the single month of january 2023 was 350K Euros. It was 50K euros back in January 2020. Not the mere 12% inflation that the MSI is talking about, but a whooping 600 % inflation in 36 months.
I also went to the local swimming pool. The card for 10 entrances has jumped from 32 Euros to 50 euros in less than 12 months. This is a communal non-profit facility, whose increased price reflects the increased cost for the pool heating. 56% inflation compared to march 2022.
Also big shortages of raw materials, shortages of components. Scrapping the bottom everywhere.
Nobody seem to notice or pretend not to. The wheels are coming off.

Posted by: Pierrot | Mar 13 2023 17:46 utc | 286

reply to 287
Excellent. Thank you. I think this scenario suddenly gains credibility after what happened with Iran and Saudi Arabia. I have also wondered why China accepts a ‘loss of face’ in regard to being ordered not to sell weapons to Russia, while the US pours weapons into Taiwan. Maybe they have a longer term plan to be a neutral peacemaker.

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 13 2023 17:53 utc | 288

Posted by: shadowbanned | Mar 13 2023 16:57 utc | 282
That is the best pro-communist comment on the internets I have come by lately. Not that I am one but you drive a good argument.

Posted by: alek_a | Mar 13 2023 17:55 utc | 290

3 banks shutdown:, SVB, Silvergate, Signature, what is next?
Posted by: Arata | Mar 13 2023 17:48 utc | 290
Helicopter Money
Amusing little video from 2009 explaining how money printing worked last time around
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PTUY16CkS-k

Posted by: Exile | Mar 13 2023 17:56 utc | 292

The Psy-Ops work miraculously.
Posted by: MetvRitchie | Mar 13 2023 2:04 utc | 182
Thanks for yr extensive reply.
Disregarding His Highness Psycho’s typical arrogant, whining insult-fest from his God of Mammon Altar, I think you are onto something. However, to differ somewhat, I find the term ‘China’ almost as meaningless as the term ‘USA’ or ‘Outlaw US Empire.’ They seem to make sense but if you drill down it is like picking up water in an outstretched hand.
For example, China is by far the world’s largest manufacturer. As such it is intimately connected with nearly every population in the world. This development occurred with huge Western ‘imoerial’ inputs, both economic and political. Regarding them as a separate, autonomous entity is a bit like pretending that the food you just chewed and swallowed is forever different from yourself.
Put another way: assuming even half of what you said about ‘China’ and Canada is true (though I suspect the truth goes much further) , I believe that this is all being done with full knowledge, consent and active participation of Western elites. As are the WEF initiatives, the SMO and so many other things you rightly label ‘psyops.’
China is not just China, in other words. That’s part of the charade so we don’t see what our own ruling classes are up to.

Posted by: Scorpion | Mar 13 2023 18:09 utc | 294

… assuming even half of what you said about ‘China’ and Canada is true (though I suspect the truth goes much further) , I believe that this is all being done with full knowledge, consent and active participation of Western elites. As are the WEF initiatives, the SMO and so many other things you rightly label ‘psyops.’
China is not just China, in other words. That’s part of the charade so we don’t see what our own ruling classes are up to.

Wow, just … wow.
So endearing, being back to your old self, bonding with kindred spirits among the serial thread spammers & trolls whilst casually tossing about ad-hominem. Swish irrational, even delusional, Planet wide ‘Psy-Op’ conspiracy ya got going there. Cool, & normal. Sweet.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 13 2023 18:24 utc | 296

Artyomovsk.
Enemy media resources report that “something terrible is going on in the city, the shelling does not stop for a second, and the Russian troops are advancing all along the front line. The air force and missile forces are at work. They are striking at the rear of the Artemovsk grouping of the enemy.
Massive missile strikes have been launched against Kostyantynivka, Chasov Yar, and the Kramatorsk district.
The battle for Artemovsk continues
@Slavyangrad
The fact that they are hitting Chasov Yar and Konstantinovka seem promising. There must be relatively dense Ukrainian formations there, if the rumors of 10 brigades gathering in vicinity of Chasov Yar is true. It can help end the large offensive gambit before it even starts, we’ll see.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 13 2023 19:27 utc | 298

I believe you will find that China is China and does what China does. Your oligarchs do not reach or have influence on policy decisions here. It is not wise to judge China’s actions through the lens of western understanding and culture, such as it is.
Posted by: irish al | Mar 13 2023 18:32 utc | 297
I respectfully disagree. Without the Rothschild Ambassador Kissinger et alia, not to mention trillions in Western investment since then along with tariff-free access to Western markets who de-industrialized rapidly in the process the China you are now imagining wouldn’t exist as such. Things are far more interconnected than we tend to perceive.
But let’s hope you and the hysterical Outraged are correct and the unwelcome Scorpion is deluded and China is independent and entirely free of the Central Bank and WEF et alia financial-mercantilist-fake government networks and will soon bring down the wicked Outlaw US Empire and a Brave New genuinely decent world will emerge with most congenitally evil white Anglo Saxon demons dying in poverty and pain as they deserve and as this bar’s anti-imoerialists do fervently (and I humanely) desire.
I just think right now, based on what is visible, that such views and desires are over-simplistic, indeed absurdly naive.

Posted by: Scorpion | Mar 13 2023 20:21 utc | 300