Exactly how in technical means would USA return to Afghanistan? Just flying in? What would be the explanation? Some explanation would certainly be needed.

Posted by: Catilina | Jul 17 2023 11:25 utc | 203

Ishchenko, a former member of the Ukrainian government (under Pres. Kuchma) :
“If another attack on the Crimean Bridge had occurred on the eve or even at the time of the NATO summit in Vilnius, it would be possible to say almost without a doubt that it was organized in the interests of Vladimir Zelensky. The question of Americans’ complicity in this event would then remain open.
However, the bridge came under attack on the morning of the 17th, when Zelensky’s failure at the summit could no longer be hidden, but it was on this day that the deadline for the next extension of the “grain deal” ended. The Russian authorities made it clear that they were not satisfied with the current parameters of the deal, but there was no final answer to the question whether it would be extended.
Previous extensions gave reason to believe that Russia is sufficiently interested in the deal even without the access to the world markets of Russian grain and fertilizers. Generally speaking, even now, only the re-connection of Rosselkhoz Bank to SWIFT was put forward as a non-negotiable condition. That is, the deal appeared to be was possible.
At the same time, from the very moment of signing the deal, the US and Britain have been doing everything possible to break it off ahead of schedule, or at least to make Russia to refuse to extend it. The demonstrative use of the grain corridor for attacks by unmanned boats both on the Sevastopol base and on fleet ships has begun last year and never ended. The grain corridor was also used by saboteurs of the MoD of Ukraine. When Russia announced the suspension of the implementation of the deal last year, the Americans openly rejoiced:
The USA itself is one of the leading traders of agricultural products and sabotaging the Ukrainian grain sale automatically raises the price of American grain. Of course, the US could not block its ally’s trade. But if Russia withdraws from the deal, then Russia is to blame.
Btw, the demarche of the Eastern European American puppets, who have obtained from the European Commission a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain into their territory, would have been impossible without the tacit consent of the US. Of the 5 countries that initiated the ban, only Hungary allows itself independence in foreign policy (within reasonable limits). Bulgaria is afraid to even breathe without American permission. Nevertheless, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria are now demanding another extension of the ban on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products into their territory, which practically interrupts grain exports from Ukraine on land. Russia’s refusal to extend the “grain deal” will finally bury these exports.
Who is interested in the deal, besides Russia and Ukraine? Erdogan.
Americans expect that if such a trump card as the “grain deal” is knocked out of Russia’s hands, providing Turkish flour mills with work, and the country’s budget and Erdogan himself with income, Turkey will be persuaded to provide not only symbolic, but also practical support for Ukraine.
Washington had every reason to worry that Russia could extend the deal at the last moment. Therefore, a blow was struck in the most sensitive place — on the Crimean Bridge.
This is a sacred structure associated with the first successes and hopes of the Crimean Spring, a symbol of Russian technological power and Russia’s return to its ancestral lands. Extending the “grain deal” after the strike will be too risky from the point of view of public reaction. In the end, the loss of the trust of its own people is a hundred times more dangerous for the Russian government than all possible grievances of Erdogan.
Besides, there’s a purely military component of attack as well. The Crimean Bridge is a bottleneck of the most important transport artery of the Russian army. It is especially important from the point of view of uninterrupted provision of troops in the Zaporozhye direction.
After his failure at the NATO summit, Zelensky needs a victory. When the summit ended and the expectation of a major provocation has subsided — one cannot be on high alert constantly — the bridge was hit not when it was convenient for Zelensky, but when it was convenient for the Americans.
However, Washington politicians will give the Ukrainians all the “glory” of organizing this strike, even if they are responsible for it. Washington is not even against Zelensky using this attack to tout the success of his ‘offensive.’ However, the US and its European partners no longer believe in the APU’s ability to successfully advance, even if the Crimean Bridge disappeares altogether. Therefore, the Americans are trying to push Zelensky’s Ukraine to inflict maximum damage to Russia, and then, “five minutes before midnight”, when the fate of the regime is finally decided, bring to power the “president of the world”, who, instead of Zelensky, could start negotiations with Russia from scratch and save at least something from Ukraine.
Erdogan’s favorable mediation will be very useful for such a “president of the world” as he’ll need someone to convince Russia not to finish off Ukraine completely , but to sit down at the negotiating table. And in this regard, too, the more Russia has contradictions with Erdogan and the less they have in common, the better off the Americans are.”
Comments appreciated.

Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205

William Gruff | Jul 17 2023 11:24 utc | 202
While having the reputation for a good high, I am not sure heroin is top of the line when it comes to gourmet opiates but then I am not too much of an expert on this.

Posted by: Mushroom | Jul 17 2023 11:37 utc | 207

Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205
Comments appreciated.
“Americans expect that if such a trump card as the “grain deal” is knocked out of Russia’s hands, providing Turkish flour mills with work, and the country’s budget and Erdogan himself with income, Turkey will be persuaded to provide not only symbolic, but also practical support for Ukraine. ”
The country’s budget doesn’t need any ” income ” it is not a profit and loss sheet like a household budget or business balance sheet. Households and businesses are ” users ” of the currrncey . The Turkish government are ” issuers” of the currrency.
You have fallen hook line and sinker for the tax payer money myth. Russian exports funds Putin’s war myth.The myth that nation states are like households and businesses and have to earn a profit ( income ) before they can spend.
So you start from the wrong starting point and thus unfortunately “some ” of your analysis is flawed.

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Jul 17 2023 11:49 utc | 209

Comments appreciated.
Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205
About right. Agree with Bungle @208. I see the Kremlin says the deal is now “suspended”. Russian (English language) media seems to be reporting the attack. Always keep the Brits or USA in mind when you get these “No you are NOT going to stop fighting” sort of attacks. The Izzies are very fond of this sort of thing too, they think it is very clever.

Posted by: Bemildred | Jul 17 2023 11:53 utc | 211

Russia’s response is to “suspend” the grain deal? How about stomping om the little cockroach who shot the bridge?
So, we’re what, 18 months into this thing, and the “terrorist” government in Kiev is still free to carry out these attacks? You would think Moscow would be a bit more serious about them out. Enough already with the SloMo operation. We need regime change in Kiev now. I can’t believe that little shit, Zelensky, is still walking around and breathing.

Posted by: Intelligent Dasein | Jul 17 2023 11:59 utc | 213

Slavyangrad shows pictures of young boys who died fighting for Ukraine. This is their future being buried. People commonly feel ‘to the last Ukrainian’ is just feeble hyperbole but Russia must find a way to overcome this Vietnam war situation – since no one will oppose Zelensky.

Posted by: Eighthman | Jul 17 2023 12:13 utc | 215

Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205
Comments appreciated.
This will help osi….
https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/03/04/no-we-dont-need-to-balance-the-books/
Please do not for one second think I am blaming you for falling hook, line and sinker for the tax payer money myth. The $billion Satchi and Satchi Marketing campaign during the Thatcher and Regan years that convinced millions of people that governments are like households and businesses. Was the most successful marketing/ propaganda campaign in human history.

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Jul 17 2023 12:26 utc | 217

Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205
OK he says this:
>Americans expect that if such a trump card as the “grain deal” is knocked out of Russia’s hands, providing Turkish flour mills with work, and the country’s budget and Erdogan himself with income, Turkey will be persuaded to provide not only symbolic, but also practical support for Ukraine.
and then:
>Erdogan’s favorable mediation will be very useful for such a “president of the world” as he’ll need someone to convince Russia not to finish off Ukraine completely , but to sit down at the negotiating table.
So dragging Erdogan more fully into the NATO camp and obviously therefore pissing-off RF, this will enable Erdogan to more easily persuade RF to do what the US wants it to? ?

Posted by: airstrip1 | Jul 17 2023 12:32 utc | 219

Posted by: laguerrre | Jul 17 2023 12:20 utc | 216
I hope Tobias Ellwood gets the job, declares martial law and introduces the draft. The UK will be on fire with riots in the streets and the war will be over by Xmas. The draft will be the spark that engulfs all of these psychopaths.

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Jul 17 2023 12:38 utc | 221

The attack on the Crimean bridge does not serve a military purpose, because Russian troops in Kherson and Zaporozhye oblasts are supplied via the land bridge (the DNR).

Not only that, but also they failed to take out the rail part of the bridge, so train traffic full of weapons can continue to flow to Crimea.
Beginning to look like a pure terrorist campaign, run by the West. Zelensky doesn’t even have to exist anymore, it can be run directly from London and DC. Just spin up some fake terror group, like the Ukrainian Liberation Army or something. Run it all from Al-Tanf with astroturfed Jihadis.
Russian response to this should not target Kiev. De-energize London or send a volley of Kinhhals straight into Al-Tanf. Better yet, use a tactical nuke so it is contaminated and can never be rebuilt. Shadowbanned is right, the West only understands one thing – ruthless power.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 17 2023 12:53 utc | 223

Posted by: osi | Jul 17 2023 11:27 utc | 205
The correct translation should be “a president of peace” or “peace president”, rather than “president of the world”. The two words “peace” and “world” are the same in Russian, which caused the mix-up.

Posted by: Greg Ulster | Jul 17 2023 13:03 utc | 225

Ghost of Zanon | Jul 17 2023 12:53 utc | 223
Shadowbanned is never right. If they (because they are a sockpuppet being run from a military boiler room by whoever’s on duty this week, not because they deserve the slightest dignity as a person of gender) were actually right they wouldn’t need to cleverly swap international characters into their name to get around users’ filters.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | Jul 17 2023 13:13 utc | 227

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Jul 17 2023 12:26 utc | 217
Well yes, govts could create money without debt. But there are two problems (I am going off piste here so I might be wrong)
1. I understood the Maastrict Treaty to ban govts from creating money without creating debt through banks. The banks run the world and they have no intention of rooting up their magic money tree…?
2. There must be a way to destroy the money created or it will obviously lead to rampant inflation. The way it is done is to spend the money into existence, then collect the money back through taxes to destroy it. This is a necessary and perfectly just and sensible step.

Posted by: Tim | Jul 17 2023 13:16 utc | 229

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 17 2023 12:53 utc | 223
>Shadowbanned is right, the West only understands one thing – ruthless power.
Meanwhile, USA hesitates to give ATACAMS to Ukraine because of escalation concerns:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-XlDzvodET0
You pathetic commentators here at MOA aren’t even fighting and yet you have the patience of children. Imagine how Ukrainian soldiers feel when told they can’t have the best USA weapons because USA doesn’t want to offend Russia. At least Russian soldiers don’t have to listen to something like that. Maybe Russian soldiers can’t have nukes or direct attacks on NATO, but they can have everything else Russia has. As for the decision to stay in the east, versus attacking south from Belarus to open a new front, that is not unreasonable for now. The attack from Belarus can wait until Ukraine is weakened.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-defense-minister-explains-why-172400990.html

Posted by: Revelo | Jul 17 2023 13:22 utc | 231

From Oleg Tsarev’s Telegram channel:

Instructions for traveling through the liberated territories:
1. From Crimea, you need a border crossing through Dzhankoy to Melitopol.
2. Refuel the car, withdraw cash. Buy plenty of drinking water.
3. Remember that you are entering the regions, in the north of which hostilities are taking place, in the regions themselves martial law has been introduced.
4. If possible, do not stop in places not equipped for this. Stop at gas stations and cities.
5. Gas stations will be every 50-100 km. Many accept cards. You can have a snack.
6. Along the way you will meet military posts. Do whatever the soldiers say. Do not be rude, do not “swing rights.” At most you will be asked to present documents and show things.
7. Always keep documents nearby.
8. A perfectly smooth new road has been built from the Crimea to the Rostov region.
9. In Melitopol in the city center you can have a delicious lunch and withdraw money.
10. Your way lies through Melitopol, bypassing Berdyansk, then Mariupol and Taganrog. 400 km. 5-6 hours drive.
11. Download offline maps, in case the connection is lost, select manually in the “settings – cellular connection” section.
12. Let the military and cars with symbols of V and Z pass.
13. No need to drive at night.
14. Insurance policies do not work.
15. The road is safe, but vigilance must be maintained constantly.
16. Do not stop outside posts and rest areas.
17. Medical assistance can be requested from the military and the police.
18. Do not enter fields and forests. Do not take pictures of equipment and soldiers of the Russian army.
19. Be polite and calm. In the NWO zone, everything is built on mutual respect and patience.
https://t.me/olegtsarov/7270

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jul 17 2023 13:31 utc | 233

Speaking of SloJokeaMo’s, Aleks at Black Mountain Analysis now says enough is enough, the Go-Slow-SMO strategy has worn out whatever benefits it ever had, and Russia needs to finish the theater war this year. All the Yes-men better head over there and call him a “troll” as well.
https://bmanalysis.substack.com/p/nato-summit-and-further-geopolitical

Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Jul 17 2023 13:54 utc | 235

The grain deal is dead according to confirmation by Peskov. As you’d expect, the empire lackey’s are immediately shedding crocodile tears for “developing Global South countries”, disregard the fact that they didn’t get much as EU was hoarding most grain.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 17 2023 14:41 utc | 237

I found the link I was looking for, on direct funding of Ukrainian sovereign debt from DC. To give fair credit, it was from @psychohistorian:
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/07/open-not-ukraine-thread-2023-165.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02b751ab0b05200c#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02b751ab0b05200c
Thanks, Psychohistorian.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Jul 17 2023 14:46 utc | 239

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 17 2023 14:48 utc | 240
Addendum: one (probably best) solution would be to create a large crater on the location of the Odessa port, docks, cargo handling equipment and storage location, which would solve the issue of weapon shipping once and for all and render the port useless for the duration of SMO.

Posted by: unimperator | Jul 17 2023 14:53 utc | 241

….The slow bleed is roasting the Western economies. The terrorist strikes are an attempt to rile up Russian popular opinion because Maerica NEEDS Russia to hurry up and finish Ukraine off.…
……What’s the debt servicing part of the federal budget of Maerica up to now, 20 percent? Maericas ability to indefinetly support the Ukrainian state is waning and will soon come to an end.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jul 17 2023 14:09 utc | 236

Well Said
Interest payments are forecast for FY23 to be 20% of Federal Outlays and 28% of Federal Tax income. Strictly speaking – There is no debt servicing because principle is always rolled over.
For FY24, estimates vary, but if average interest in Federal Debt goes to 4% as expected – then interest payments will be (roughly) 30% of Federal Outlays and …..drum roll please….. a whopping 40% of Federal Tax Income.
De-dollarization is what ends this war.

Posted by: Exile | Jul 17 2023 15:02 utc | 243

Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Jul 17 2023 14:56 utc | 242
It was, or “A Man In Full”; so many ways Tom Wolfe enlightened me about my fellow “Americans”. I’ll never forget the scene with the horse.

Posted by: Bemildred | Jul 17 2023 15:19 utc | 245

The elimination/severe injury of someone important in Ukraine is confirmed. A flying ambulance of the specialised airline ASL FLY MED flew to Rzeszów today and spent an hour there.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/55383

Posted by: Norwegian | Jul 17 2023 15:28 utc | 247

Re the grain deal /bridge revenge.
I agree with unimperator. Destroy all the port facilities in Odessa. Or bring in a hulk or two and sink them, blocking the entrance (classic British tactic) . Or do both – belt and braces.
No ships can then use Odessa.
Every few weeks, check on the port repairs. Bomb them again.
Check. Bomb. Repeat.

Posted by: scepticalSOB | Jul 17 2023 15:35 utc | 249

tim@229
banks create money when they make a loan, money is uncreated when the loan is written off in default, or the central bank sells the loan and takes the cash out of circulation.
the us’ federal reserve quantitative tightening is meant to take some of the us’ $21 trillion is circulating cash out of the us economy.
because of the virus scam us government debt increased by $6 trillion, all ‘bought’ by the federal reserve.
con artist in the media refuse to allow discussion around inflation coming from money expansion. inflation is a detrimental tax used to harm citizens and business.

Posted by: paddy | Jul 17 2023 15:39 utc | 251

Posted by: Ed | Jul 16 2023 15:54 utc | 27
“…We’re history’s actors. . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do….and learn from our stupid mistakes.”

Posted by: farm ecologist | Jul 17 2023 15:42 utc | 253

https://vk.com/wall701885602_82320

Another successful attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Crimean Bridge was inevitable due to two factors.
The first is political, connected with the policy of “agreements” with Ukraine and its allies, which the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin personally are actively trying to pursue. The “grain deal” allowed Ukraine to launch semi-submersible kamikaze drones from the sea coast near Odessa, as well as from sea cargo ships that provide this deal from the Black Sea. This is also facilitated by a virtual ban on strikes against Ukrainian transport communications, as well as against production facilities involved in the production of Ukrainian Mykola-3 marine drones, as well as against energy facilities that provide these enterprises with energy.
The second factor is military-technical. The Russian army does not have weapons systems capable of successfully combating semi-submersible kamikaze drones. Hundreds of defense industries and research institutes were deliberately destroyed in the largest deindustrialization in world history in 30 years. As a result, thousands of technologies were lost, and in this regard, our lagging behind the advanced countries is already decades.
For a successful fight against semi-submersible kamikaze drones, their timely detection by means of space and aviation technical intelligence is necessary.
But our space grouping is extremely small andthis task is not possible.
Our naval aviation is more dead than alive. In order to timely detect these drones and target strike aircraft at them, it is necessary to provide round-the-clock patrolling of the airspace over the Black Sea by anti-submarine patrol aircraft equipped with modern radar equipment for detecting surface and underwater objects. But according to the open press, we have only 22 obsolete Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft and about 20 Tu-142s in the Northern and Pacific fleets. All of them, in terms of their tactical and technical characteristics, do not meet the requirements of today and are significantly inferior to the modern American Boeing P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft, of which only the United States has 128 and dozens of their allies. Moreover, it is not known will the outdated radar equipment of our Il-38 and Tu-142 be able to provide effective detection of small-sized semi-submersible kamikaze drones. The supply of new anti-submarine aircraft for the Russian army is not even planned.
Another effective means of detecting semi-submersible kamikaze drones are airborne early warning and control aircraft (AWACS), which easily detect surface sea targets. But even with this we have huge problems. Our nine obsolete A-50 (A-50U) aircraft manufactured in the 1980s, due to their small number, are not capable of meeting all the needs of the Armed Forces, and we do not have the production of new AWACS aircraft.
And without long-range detection of semi-submersible kamikaze drones by technical means, followed by targeting strike aircraft at them, an effective fight against them “on distant frontiers” is impossible.
Only passive means of combat remain – blocking the Kerch Strait with booms, which proved their effectiveness back in the years of the First World War for combating submarines. Judging by today’s attack, they are absent in the Kerch Strait. Why? Is there a large sea traffic from the Black Sea to the Sea of ​​Azov and vice versa in the conditions of war in connection with the entry of the Russian grouping to the coast of the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and its transformation into the inland sea of ​​the Russian Federation? Is it really impossible to temporarily completely stop this traffic and thereby secure the Crimean bridge at least from the strikes of semi-submersible kamikaze drones.
I am sure that now among my readers there will be many who will begin to ask the question: “What does Putin have to do with it?”.
I hope most people don’t ask this question.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jul 17 2023 15:45 utc | 255

-> Doctor Eleven | Jul 17 2023 14:09 utc | 236
-> Flying Dutchman | Jul 17 2023 13:54 utc | 235
I am pretty much puzzled like everyone else, on why RF didn’t take those airborne ISR assets down near Crimea, but one has to think as with which consequences that might result.
RF has in North Atlantic a surface and an underwater presence, very near North-West coast of UK and between Norway, for some time.
That is why there is such high activity of Typhoons and Hawks, various rotaries over it. It is not just oil rigs taxis. Those RF’s assets must be secured first.
Also in Syria things are very tense, on the ground and in the skies.
Generals that were “fired”, are, in my view, staging for the new reformed army groups West and South. That is why we see big reshuffling, but cannot interpret it unless we have a God’s eye view on it. It is difficult to see it as just one event, and its causalities.
However, I think that now a resolute answer to all RF’s woes is in preparation.
Tonight Putin will address to its Security Council live and on the TV.
I can think of a simultaneous push on the Black Sea dominance, Syrian broom and bin, and a change of mood in the upcoming offensive actions, that RF might be announcing. It is the time to end this in a most cruel and decisive way otherwise the other side will never understand, and will never give up.
I do not expect long moralizing about the grain deal, but a coherent, decent a heads-up and the action that follows. Tonight is not going to be fun in Ukraine, that is for sure. It might be also upping change in Syrian conflict.
Slo-mo is over soon, I dare to think. Maybe I am just too optimistic there.

Posted by: whirlX | Jul 17 2023 15:47 utc | 257

Whatever happened to Russia’s much vaunted acoustic counter artillery spotter, seems like Ukrainian arty is still a factor in this conflict, particularly with the complaints of a lack of counter battery work by Russian commanders.
Posted by: Johnycomelately | Jul 16 2023 22:53 utc | 99
Yes you are a Johnnycomelately, aren’t you? Its called Penicillin 1B75. It is fully functional and highly effective, some superb video of Ukrainian mortars firing off and getting hit moments later by Russian counter battery fire. Try a bit of research and get your facts straight.

Posted by: madmarc | Jul 17 2023 15:55 utc | 259

Posted by: Night Tripper | Jul 17 2023 15:44 utc | 254
I believe a military conflict between Russia and Turkey is now brewing.
I wonder if they’ll invoke Article 5. Even if not, will NATO feel compelled to come to Turkey’s aid or lose a key component of NATO … ?
In any case, it will be an extremely stupid act on Turkey’s part considering how well their (Ottoman) previous wars against Russia have gone.
I see history repeating itself.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jul 17 2023 15:56 utc | 261

@ Posted by: Bemildred | Jul 17 2023 13:07 utc | 226
Allister Crooke is very rational and writes well.
There is a tipping point approaching – the election.
It’s not Biden that is up for re-election so much as CIA/State.
Biden claims Russia has suffered strategic defeat and will seek negotiated settlement.
There has been rumors of dialog between Russia and CIA (Burns).
I think it is USA that is starting to feel the pain (of humiliation, the actual pain is to Ukraine) and elections near it worries that there might be risk of unplanned outcome – perhaps they are hesitant to fudge elections again. So US will attempt to portray negotiations as needed by Russia and Russia might allow that deception, but two problems: US is not trustworthy and what Russia requires is the death of NATO. The problem is not thye NATO military (something of a joke), it is the missiles.

Posted by: jared | Jul 17 2023 15:57 utc | 263

All this does is shut the mouths of those who try and reason with Putin not to go all in and completely destroy Ukraine. But maybe this is what is the desired outcome by the West? Maybe Russia should protected the black sea as the US protects the gulf of Mexico? Not sure of the talks going on behind closed doors…

Posted by: Dferg | Jul 17 2023 15:59 utc | 265

257
That would be NE Coast of UK
Between NE Coast and Norway, correct?

Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Jul 17 2023 16:00 utc | 267

Arch Bungle | Jul 17 2023 11:38 utc | 208
*** None, other than this is the most rational analysis of the situation I’ve encountered thus far and probably the best reasoning for why Putin should indeed extend the grain deal, if he wants to stick it to the Anglo-Zionist Empire.***
Erdogan might still pop up with a “grain” suggestion acceptable to Moscow, which will enhance his own status (and wallet).

Posted by: Cynic | Jul 17 2023 16:09 utc | 269

@ Chaka Khagan | Jul 17 2023 16:00 utc | 267
Yes, there, sorry.
Also subs around NW between Scotland and Island, for sure.

Posted by: whirlX | Jul 17 2023 16:11 utc | 271

I believe a military conflict between Russia and Turkey is now brewing.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Jul 17 2023 15:44 utc | 254
Then you dont understand Turkey.
Turkey has two Foreign Policy objectives on Ukraine 1) Dont get dragged into a US War against Russia 2) Make money.
Erdogan won the last election by painting his opponent as a US puppet.

Posted by: Turk 152 | Jul 17 2023 16:17 utc | 273

indian punchline from today…
Ukraine war takes its toll on UK politics

Posted by: james | Jul 17 2023 16:21 utc | 275

Escobar posted a portion of Dugin’s reaction to the Crimea attack at his Telegram:
“About a new attack on the Crimean bridge. Notice the rabid stubbornness of the enemy. This is a distinguishing feature of the Malorossians. But now it looks ominous. They started shelling Donetsk in 2014 and do not stop for a day. They attacked the territory of the old Russian regions – Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk – and continue to. They began to kill Russians with terrorist attacks, and they do it again and again. They attacked nuclear facilities, and they do it again and again. The same with the Crimean bridge, as long as Ukraine exists with its gone mad population and manic regime, it is simply foolish and irresponsible to think that anything in its behaviour will change. In my opinion, it is necessary to curtail the simulation of peaceful life in Russia, postpone the elections (we have already elected Putin, but we certainly don’t have anyone else) and move on to full-fledged mobilization. Personnel changes are inevitable, delaying them becomes a suicidal process. We are dealing with a completely insane, extremely aggressive, deranged enemy. And behind him is the West. Rabies has no cure.”
That’s a rather radical suggestion coming from a conservative. Postponing elections IMO is the wrong thing to do.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 17 2023 16:36 utc | 277

indian punchline from today…
Ukraine war takes its toll on UK politics

Posted by: james | Jul 17 2023 16:21 utc | 275
Interesting piece, but I think it over-complicates things; in my view the US veto of Wallace’s candidature for NATO resulted from objections by several NATO member countries. Now, if just one or two had objected I can believe the US would have overridden those objections, but I believe there was a groundswell of strong opinion from quite a few nations, such that the US could not ignore it.
Let’s have a look at the “likely suspects”:
France – there’s always been a complex and antagonistic relationship (after all, the British government thought it hugely funny to have the original Channel Tunnel trains arrive at a London terminus named Waterloo…).
Spain – post-Brexit, Gibraltar has become an irritant, plus they will have half an eye on the Spanish-speaking nations in Central and South America as their audience: think Malvinas.
Turkiye – possibly still has faint hopes of interposing itself as a peacebroker in the SMO. Seeing a “hawkish” Wallace being appointed will make this even less likely.
Germany & Denmark – have strong suspicions (if not outright evidence) of British government involvement in Nordstream.
Sooo… quite a few NATO members have compelling reasons to complain to the US about the prospect of a British NATO Secretary-General

Posted by: West of England Andy | Jul 17 2023 16:44 utc | 279

275 – The UK has only 40 main battle tanks? No wonder it is not rushing to supply them to Kiev…

Posted by: Waldorf | Jul 17 2023 16:53 utc | 281

“We Must Get Tough on Iran before it’s too late” — Sir John Jenkins

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jul 17 2023 16:55 utc | 282
Whenever I come across British politicians and pundits using the word “tough” I am always reminded of Bliar’s speech from June 2006: “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.”, so, Sir John Jenkins is proposing to get “tough on Iran, tough on the causes of Iran.”…
Good luck with that Sir John…

Posted by: West of England Andy | Jul 17 2023 17:10 utc | 283

The Telegraph has so thoroughly ruined it’s reputation over Ukraine.
God riddance to it and it’s hack journalists.

Posted by: scepticalSOB | Jul 17 2023 17:46 utc | 285

Posted by: Tim | Jul 17 2023 13:16 utc | 229
Correct on both accounts Tim.
In reality there are two ways that money is created out of thin air…
[1] Bank lending
[2] Government spending
There are two ways that money is sent back into thin air…
[1] Paying off a bank loan
[2] Government taxation

Posted by: Echo Chamber | Jul 17 2023 18:26 utc | 287

@shadowbanned #255
You’ve been posting quite a few posts by Viktor Alksnis, but you never mention his name, which has led some barflies to think that these posts are yours. In the future, please mention the author.

Posted by: S | Jul 17 2023 19:08 utc | 289

Doctor Eleven | Jul 17 2023 14:09 utc | 236
Affirmative: The West (US) is caught in its own net. Couldn’t happen to a better bunch of facist robbers.

Posted by: donten | Jul 17 2023 21:14 utc | 291

That’s a rather radical suggestion coming from a conservative. Postponing elections IMO is the wrong thing to do.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 17 2023 16:36 utc | 277
I am inclined to agree. It might get frustrating for Russians but it is Ukraine that has banned political parties and elections. This SMO seems to be going ok. Russia doesn’t need to inherit any more destroyed cities or contaminated land. And attacking directly from Belarus would be foolish. That would bring Belarus into the conflict. For now it is a great big buffet.

Posted by: Inki | Jul 18 2023 7:12 utc | 293

Kerch bridge attack was done with British plot and with British help
Again and again.
Only correct response is for Russia ready to annihilate and kill English and wipe England out of face of earth. Anything else is tinkering. Even if Ukraine submits today, the English pirate race will seek other. Means to destroy Russia. So Russia must destroy England start by killing all M26 employees and their HQ Now!

Posted by: Sam | Jul 18 2023 21:08 utc | 295