Ukraine Weekly Update, January 12th 2024: May be useful to some: https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-cf0

Posted by: Dr. Rob Campbell | Jan 12 2024 18:05 utc | 4

British RN Rumour mill states that X4 “decomishoned” Royal Navy warships have been allocated to Ukraine for this year alone.
These are actually modernised war ships with advanced mine laying and air defence / anti sub capabilities.
Training of Uki sailors is already well advanced in several NATO countries.
Cover stories for the transfer include UK recruitment issues.

Posted by: Ex RN rating | Jan 12 2024 18:12 utc | 6

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/04/royal-navy-few-sailors-decommission-ships-new-frigates/
Heading to Ukraine, but to be parked in the Med, apparently.

Posted by: Ex RN rating | Jan 12 2024 18:21 utc | 8

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Front #Summary for 12 Jan 2024 by 19:18⚡️
🔹In #Kherson Direction, our aviation and artillery continue to hit ammo depots and AFU locations on the right bank, shelters on the left.
🔹In #Zaporozhye Direction, a new area of our attacks, on #Nesteryanka northwest of #Kopani appeared. Active (counter)attacks by our military continue at #Verbovoye, our troops are clearing the AFU positions west of the village (⚠️yesterday there were repulsed AFU attacks). Ours are actively using Aerostar drone pilots are aiming artillery. The AFU respond with blows to our rear. They hit #Tokmak and #Molchansk.
🔹In #SouthDonetsk Direction, our forces continue to squeeze the AFU from positions near #Staromayorskoye. To the west of the village, we managed to suppress the defence of the AFU at three strongpoints. At #Rovnopol, ours prevented the enemy from rotating, several AFU drone control points were hit. In #Maryinka sector, the southern flank of #Novomikhaylovka has stabilised. The territory that ours had to withdraw from a few days ago is grey zone. Our army is actively advancing northeast of the village, expanding the zone of control over the “Menagerie” (Zverinets fortified area).
🔹In #Donetsk Direction, our forces are developing success in the area of the treatment facilities at Coke Plant. Fierce fighting is going on at #Stepovoye. the AFU has quantitatively strengthened their units at #Berdychi and is holding back our attacks. In the eastern part of #Pervomayskoye, our troops are moving along Voroshilov Street and the Volna garden plots.
🔹In #Bakhmut Direction, our army is storming the heights northwest of #Kleshcheyevka and advancing southwest of the village. Ukrainian resources reported that our forces began to storm #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye), advancing in small groups on the northern flank. A sudden attack by our army hit the AFU between #Vesyoloye and #Berestovoye, which are located northeast of #Soledar. It is reported that ours are moving towards #Vyemka, which is in the direction of #Seversk. An interesting twist.
🔹In #Svatovo Direction, the AFU’s attempt to counterattack in the area of the #Torskoye ledge was not successful. Ours, in turn, continued the attacks at #Yampolovka, today. However, without success. In the #Kupyansk sector, at #Sinkovka and #Ivanovka, our troops repulsed the AFU counterattacks. The enemy, apparently, is expecting a new blow from our army.
💥The Russian strikes on the #Kharkov region do not subside. There is evidence of the defeat of Ukrainian MLRS.

https://t.me/sitreports/21002

Posted by: Down South | Jan 12 2024 18:23 utc | 10

Rishi Sunak and the UK just promised to continue all aid military and economic to the Ukraine, they even INCREASED it.
Britain’s Sunak, in Ukraine, announces increase in military aid
If Russia is looking to outlast NATO in Ukraine, it’s a doomed strategy.
Posted by: bored | Jan 12 2024 17:59 utc | 3
I disagree.
Russia, China know that the economies of the West are weak, the populace divided and is debt ridden both in Sovereign debt and private debt. Russia has low debt , many resources and they fighting on their home field.
Russia, China want the Empire to go down, but slowly…
Time is on Russia’s side.

Posted by: canuck | Jan 12 2024 18:25 utc | 12

Lira’s death unfortunately isn’t at all surprising, nor is the Biden admin’s abetting it and provides yet another reason not to vote for Biden as if another was actually needed. The Great Satan continues its work.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 12 2024 18:42 utc | 14

Posted by: bored | Jan 12 2024 17:59 utc | 3
Isn’t the all-in total for Ukrainian aid over the last two years somewhere north of 100 billion a year ? Very nice of the Brits to pledge two and a half billion but where is the other 97.5 % going to come from ? Let’s not even explore the hypothesis that, if 100 billion a year only got the Ukrainians into the perilous state they are in now, actual victory would require a several-fold increase in support.

Posted by: OnceWere | Jan 12 2024 18:49 utc | 16

… change can’t happen soon enough to my liking..
Posted by: james | Jan 12 2024 18:09 utc | 5
Thank you b at 1.
It is happening, james. This is the year of the dragon, or it will be in China’s reckoning of these matters. As Plato said, inner change which is invisibly connected to the visible world is already occurring, and nothing we do or say can prevent it.
Gonzalo Lira has brought his witness to us from earliest Ukrainian upheavals, thanks to b and others who called attention to his messages. We know his name, and that of others like him. He is still part of our company and a credit to his nation, which needs such heroes. I did not know his age; he always seemed young in spirit to me.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 12 2024 18:55 utc | 18

Pass me the saltshaker.

Posted by: John Kennard | Jan 12 2024 19:18 utc | 20

To all who mentioned Gonzalo Lira’s death, thank you for recognizing him and his contributions. I watched many of his podcasts and am so very sad.

Posted by: Belle | Jan 12 2024 19:29 utc | 22

Russia-Putin’s special war plan generously allowed for Gonzo Lira’s Neo-fascist imprisonment/death–one very good man among the many loses in the fiddler’s burning fire. Zelensky, on the other hand, is alive and well and in the chips.

Posted by: Elmagnostic | Jan 12 2024 19:30 utc | 24

What can Russia do about the English ships and soon about English army in Ukraine. Nothing. Russia is weak and the chessmaster is old and afraid. Somebody like Igor Strelkov is needed to manage this war.

Posted by: zorge | Jan 12 2024 19:39 utc | 26

The UK sending a couple of billion to Ukraine is merely them staying up to date in their dues to the tight-knit club which is intent on looting the wealth and land of that country.
Imo, payoffs have already been made to the political class by those who will after the war become Ukraine’s new generation of feudal Lords.
That’s how they roll in Great Britain, ever since the Norman invasion.

Posted by: Babel-17 | Jan 12 2024 19:45 utc | 28

Maybe belonging in the Palestine thread (as well), but how many Liras in the Gaza strip?
Getting back to ukraine and Lira’s slow murder.
The truth is that they were able to establish a very strong blackout on any news and information.
As technically there are no unsurmountable barriers this says a lot about the level of mind control, and/or plain fear, that made ukraine such an informational black hole.
Just saying

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 12 2024 19:49 utc | 30

It’s horrible what happened to Gonzalo Lira, however I think the war affected him severely emotionally causing him to take irrational risks. As for his tragic demise, fear alone without any physical torture, could have been enough to precipitate a significant physical decline. In any case, very sad news indeed.

Posted by: Ludo | Jan 12 2024 20:01 utc | 32

Sorry, meant to say @ 36 that I was sad to see and hear of Gonzalo Lira’s death at age 55 years.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Jan 12 2024 20:04 utc | 34

Waterboarding is bad for the lungs.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 12 2024 20:16 utc | 36

What can Russia do about the English ships and soon about English army in Ukraine. Nothing. Russia is weak and the chessmaster is old and afraid. Somebody like Igor Strelkov is needed to manage this war.
Posted by: zorge | Jan 12 2024 19:39 utc | 27
Probably nothing Russia is said already to have called the Yemeni terrorist and Russia seems to run from conflict with the westernized nations? As an aside I observe that Britain and its city of London have been at the center AFAICT of every major war and at the center of all wars that have had anything to do with oil and gas.

Posted by: snake | Jan 12 2024 20:23 utc | 38

Won’t those decommissioned British ships be a legitimate target if they are allocated (gifted?) to Ukraine? Would they be safe in the Mediterranean?

Posted by: auximenes | Jan 12 2024 20:29 utc | 40

R.I.P Gonzalo Lira

Posted by: HERMIUS | Jan 12 2024 20:30 utc | 42

Making selections from Maria Zakharova’s first weekly briefing of the year will be difficult. Here’s the Russian language link. As of now, there’s not anything at the MFA’s English page, and might not appear there until Monday.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 12 2024 20:46 utc | 44

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Front #Summary for 12 Jan 2024 by 19:18⚡️
🔹In #Kherson Direction, our aviation and artillery continue to hit ammo depots and AFU locations on the right bank, shelters on the left.
Great news. Very informative. I just love how specific and to the point those reports are. In other news, the sky is blue, and forests are green.
🔹In #Zaporozhye Direction, a new area of our attacks, on #Nesteryanka northwest of #Kopani appeared. Active (counter)attacks by our military continue at #Verbovoye, our troops are clearing the AFU positions west of the village (⚠️yesterday there were repulsed AFU attacks). Ours are actively using Aerostar drone pilots are aiming artillery. The AFU respond with blows to our rear. They hit #Tokmak and #Molchansk.
Translation : nothing is happening, some pot shots are being exchanged. Stalemate.
🔹In #SouthDonetsk Direction, our forces continue to squeeze the AFU from positions near #Staromayorskoye.
Wonderful. They have “squeezed” the AFU in Staromayorske since.. Let’s say… September last year. I’m very happy to hear they “continue squeezing them” and I won’t have the impertinence to ask for how long.
To the west of the village, we managed to suppress the defence of the AFU at three strongpoints.
And the award for pointless, meaningless information goes to…
At #Rovnopol, ours prevented the enemy from rotating, several AFU drone control points were hit.
Cool. Russians have also destroyed some old shack up north and conquered three trees in the middle of nowhere near Novomikhailovka.
In #Maryinka sector, the southern flank of #Novomikhaylovka has stabilised. The territory that ours had to withdraw from a few days ago is grey zone.
Translation : we got our ass whupped a few times, but thankfully the Ukrainians do not have enough resources to go after us, so it’s a stalemate at Novomikhailovka, which, let’s recall, is just a tiny town with one or two roads, like 10 meters from the Russian lines, which the almighty Russian army has been unable to take despite trying for two months.
Our army is actively advancing northeast of the village, expanding the zone of control over the “Menagerie” (Zverinets fortified area).
“actively advancing”. You gotta love those terms. The Russian army has been “actively advancing” since February 2022. By the way, can someone explain to me why this TG channel uses such terms, which seem to imply that the Russian army does want to advance, which implies that the Russians do indeed aim at conquering territories, while all the luminaries and resident military experts tell us that the Russians are not interested in territorial advances ? Why has nobody remarked until now that such telegram channels have apparently completely misread Russian SMO strategy ?
🔹In #Donetsk Direction, our forces are developing success in the area of the treatment facilities at Coke Plant.
Very happy to know that. A quick look at the map shows,however, that the Russians have not advanced one single meter and the coke plant is still firmly in Ukrainian hands (as it has been for 10 years). So I don’t really know what they mean by “developing success”, but I’m sure that any day now the Coke Plant will fall. Not.
Fierce fighting is going on at #Stepovoye.
Yeah, we know. Russians got their ass kicked half a dozen times, and have not learnt any better or tried a different strategy. The Avdeevka front remains stuck. You can put lipstick on a pig all you want, Avdeevka remains a terrible failure.
the AFU has quantitatively strengthened their units at #Berdychi and is holding back our attacks.
No shit, Sherlock.
In the eastern part of #Pervomayskoye, our troops are moving along Voroshilov Street and the Volna garden plots.
Stay tuned. In two to three weeks I’m sure the Russian army will conquer at least one cabbage patch.
Same question as before by the way : why does this TG channel seem to think it’s a positive that the Russian forces are moving along ? I thought it was crystal clear for everyone that the Russian strategy was just to attrite the Ukies ?
🔹In #Bakhmut Direction, our army is storming the heights northwest of #Kleshcheyevka and advancing southwest of the village.
Not according to any map I know.
Ukrainian resources reported that our forces began to storm #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye), advancing in small groups on the northern flank. A sudden attack by our army hit the AFU between #Vesyoloye and #Berestovoye, which are located northeast of #Soledar. It is reported that ours are moving towards #Vyemka, which is in the direction of #Seversk. An interesting twist.
I would bet my ass the front line will not have moved on inch in three months time.
🔹In #Svatovo Direction, the AFU’s attempt to counterattack in the area of the #Torskoye ledge was not successful. Ours, in turn, continued the attacks at #Yampolovka, today. However, without success.
Stalemate.
In the #Kupyansk sector, at #Sinkovka and #Ivanovka, our troops repulsed the AFU counterattacks. The enemy, apparently, is expecting a new blow from our army.
Nothing happens. Stalemate.
💥The Russian strikes on the #Kharkov region do not subside. There is evidence of the defeat of Ukrainian MLRS.
There has been “evidence” since March 22. Not sure however how that translates into any strategic success.
It’s really amazing how pointless and useless such TG reports can be.

Posted by: Micron | Jan 12 2024 20:54 utc | 46

If Russian’s had an iota of common sense then they would heavily arm Yemeni Houthis and Iranians to sink British junks in med and black sea. England is the main villain but is coward and weak – kill them first. Russian’s Have been perennial fools that is why they get attacked heavily every hundred years.

Posted by: Sam | Jan 12 2024 20:56 utc | 48

@ bevin | Jan 12 2024 20:29 utc | 43
thanks bevin.. i appreciate that… you are probably right, but i am still wavering on not saying anything at this point..

Posted by: james | Jan 12 2024 21:04 utc | 50

Yves Smith republished Gonzalos last video, which I just watched for the first time. I stopped watching him at a certain point, because I found more sincere sources of information. In his last message he appeared to be desperate. He tried to keep calm and cool, but you can smell the fear. Very touching. I feel sad and angry.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/gonzalo-lira-is-dead.html

Posted by: Moses | Jan 12 2024 21:10 utc | 52

by karlof1 | Jan 12 2024 20:46 utc | 46
Thanks for the link karlof1. Yes she is summing up last few day pretty well. I am worried about Moldavia, as Zakharova claims:
“It seems that this « concern » (as the Government of Moldova says) about the mental health of the audience lies at the heart of the policy of the Moldovan authorities aimed at breaking down business, humanitarian and human ties of Moldovans with Russia.”
The more Russia waits with Odessa Raion the more the USA management of South Eastern Europe will get messy.

Posted by: whirlX | Jan 12 2024 21:27 utc | 54

British RN Rumour mill states that X4 “decomishoned” Royal Navy warships have been allocated to Ukraine for this year alone.
These are actually modernised war ships with advanced mine laying and air defence / anti sub capabilities.
Training of Uki sailors is already well advanced in several NATO countries.
Cover stories for the transfer include UK recruitment issues.
Posted by: Ex RN rating | Jan 12 2024 18:12 utc | 6

So what exactly are those ships expected to achieve given that their life expectancy in the Black Sea is measured in minutes assuming there is anyone with a pulse and a brain on the Russian side to give the relevant order?
Maybe they are relying on that not being the case? Not completely unreasonable, it hasn’t been the case for so many things so far, but still…

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jan 12 2024 21:34 utc | 56

Posted by: Micron | Jan 12 2024 21:00 utc | 51

I’m struck by how myopic you would have to be to post such nonsense. Deliberately blind? Or simply only capable of seeing what you want?
Just like the Western sponsors of this bloody debacle. The preening desk jockey ‘officers’ of NATO have revealed themselves knowledgeable about the square root of fuck all when it comes to war. Good at terrorism though. Wonder why.
I’m sorry if your attention span is so short but the Russian strategy of isolating and slow boiling the economy of Maerica is working. Note this compares to the terrorist tactics used by the other side, desperate to show their masters they are doing something. I’m sure wrecking the windows of another dozen cars in Belgorad will get your regime change.
Who lasts longer, autarkic Russia or 23 trillion in debt Maerica? I don’t expect honest answers because you’re an ideologue not an analyst.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 12 2024 21:38 utc | 58

Which is ironic given that he talked many times about how it’s a hoax, and that is a popular view among the crowd that gravitated around him.
Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Jan 12 2024 21:35 utc | 59
I had given you the benefit of doubt so far.
Gone…

Posted by: Newbie | Jan 12 2024 21:47 utc | 60

DunGroanin | Jan 12 2024 21:55 utc | 63
All whistle blowers rotting in dungeons, he huge number of reporters killed in a last decades culminating in the zionist mas killing of journalists in Gaza, and now trolls exposing themselves to denigrate Lira’s reporting from Ukraine. Most likely part of the same or similar larper crew Lira exposed.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 12 2024 22:01 utc | 62

It is slightly off-topic: For those of you who are using uBlock Origin (the adblocker)
You can add lines like this to your customer filter list. It filters all postings from SpamMonster
http://www.moonofalabama.org##div%5Bclass=“comments-body”] > p[class=”posted”]:has-text(Posted by: SpamMonster)
You need a line for each SpamMonster.
Enjoy you NATO-Free Moon Of Alabama

Posted by: Tuk | Jan 12 2024 22:13 utc | 64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVgqxebcVYQ
Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 12 2024 18:21 utc | 165
(From previous open thread)
……………….
Most useful video. It’s difficult to listen to but is well worth the effort. What the soldier says all hangs together and is in line with what is known of the SMO.
Not sure about his dismissal of the NATO advice and help given to the Ukrainians. From his point of view that NATO advice and help looks amateurish and too hopeful by half. But it’s likely that the NATO professionals giving that advice were merely working to different imperatives.
I believe those NATO professionals knew exactly what they were doing. They never expected the Ukrainians to succeed in that “counter-offensive”. A combined arms operation but missing some of the arms to be combined was never going to be possible. They pushed the Kiev forces on into that “counter-offensive” mainly for PR purposes.
Also in the belief that it was a cheap way of killing Russians. I can’t believe, and could not at the time, that those NATO professionals ever expected to get any military success out of it.

Posted by: English Outsider | Jan 12 2024 22:19 utc | 66

Telegram is saying gonzalo is dead in prison. Is there more info on this ? Is it officially announced?

Posted by: Hankster | Jan 12 2024 22:24 utc | 68

English Outsider | Jan 12 2024 22:19 utc | 68
Nato professionals… It has become evident that in the last decades, promotion above a certain rank is entirely dependent upon being a political hack rather than military professionalism.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 12 2024 22:24 utc | 70

Posted by: b | Jan 12 2024 17:49 utc | 1
I just heard. My condolences and blessings to Gozalo’s family.
He was a good man doing important work. Martyred by fascist psychopaths. He will be remembered.

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 12 2024 22:29 utc | 72

Posted by: Hankster | Jan 12 2024 22:24 utc | 70
If this is not the case, it will be a great hoax because all the MSMs, by the family reports, are reporting that he passed out.
.

Posted by: Dado | Jan 12 2024 22:35 utc | 74

Gonzalo Lira should have gone to Russia while he still had the chance. He would would be safer in Belgorad than in Ukraine.

Posted by: MiniMO | Jan 12 2024 22:41 utc | 76

Fake James @ 16 is the kind of scum that only grows on sewer ponds. “It” is a gutless wonder that can only present himself in short drive by comments, because pond scum has nothing intelligent to say. Yes, Fake James, I am tossing ad hominins at you, perhaps you should complain to b.

Posted by: Ed | Jan 12 2024 22:44 utc | 78

Hopefully now that he has provided us with the State Department narrative about Lira, we can all see the shadowspammer for what it truly is. Wait for the Nazi kanuk to post attempts at salvaging that troll persona that had many fooled. We’ll probably even get the brony twink and the Magic Money Tree trolls chiming in to save the shadowspammer and denigrate Gonzalo. Probably even the guy who correctly calls himself a dick in Latin will take a turn at Gonzalo now that he is dead.
Just so everyone knows, Gonzalo was a regular reader of our host’s articles and the ensuing discussions. He was a better Man than all, as in every single one, of his detractors.
Shame on every one of you trolls trying to shill the State Department line on Gonzalo Lira.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 12 2024 22:50 utc | 80

The North American citizen, Gonzalo Lira, has died in Ukraine, in a prison, according to his relatives.
According to the information available from the Secretary of State, the cause of death was: “natural death.”
After the autopsy (which will not be performed), the conclusion is that he had arteriosclerosis and was a smoker. The lacerations on the skin and bruises on internal organs have been a consequence of carrying the corpse from one place to another…
Relatives are waiting for…

Posted by: Dado | Jan 12 2024 23:00 utc | 82

Posted by: james | Jan 12 2024 21:04 utc | 52
————————
That’s ok James, others can say it for you.

Posted by: Ed | Jan 12 2024 23:06 utc | 84

Gonzalo is dead.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/zelensky-critic-gonzalo-lira-reportedly-dead-at-55-1116136403.html

Posted by: Surferket | Jan 12 2024 23:13 utc | 86

@ 51
Hey, keep using your new favourite word, at every chance (even when not applicable). I’m not sure we read it the first time.
Suffice to say in 1864 the US Civil War was a “stalemate” by your standards, when Grant was slowly taking apart the AoNV. Through “positional fighting”.

Posted by: Urban Fox | Jan 12 2024 23:25 utc | 88

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 12 2024 20:28 utc | 41
Real Peter AU got here before the fake one! Hi Peter. Not so with James eh. (hi). Where’s Fake Arch?
This bar needs a bouncer. Just ignore the riffraff in the meantime.
Here’s to Gonzalo! 🍻 To his courage in the face of imminent danger. 💪
We have lost many brave reporters this year. I fear we will lose many more.

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 12 2024 23:37 utc | 90

In this obscene blackmail, the family, the relatives, have been putting in the extranational accounts circa of 200,000 $ to a bunch of commissariats who are running out their so called “country”: all the money that the Lira Family was trying to did paid, was for nothing. The US Department did nothing.
Extortion.
Result to the relatives: pain.
Result to the US Department of State: PR.
To be clear: if the USA wanted to save him, no money at all.

Posted by: Dado | Jan 12 2024 23:50 utc | 92

“With regard to Gonzalo, who’s fate I hope will lead to some deep thinking on the part of those who, early on, ‘identified’ him as an asset of the CIA and mistook his courage for evidence that he was ‘protected’ by the State.
Sometimes an honest man is just that, are they so rare that we have to question their simple veracity and natural sincerity?”
Posted by: bevin | Jan 12 2024 20:29 utc | 43
Hi baby you are referring to Scott Ritter here. I don’t think that’s exactly his position at the time.
In any situation where someone is in prison by such extremists the likelihood of your release is limited.
I don’t just mean Mr Lira here, if any of us were to be in prison and suddenly released you just have to assume the person is compromised. It would be dangerous to assume otherwise.
What was very suspicious was that he had been allowed to continue broadcasting all that time when others weren’t. It’s nothing personal. Although in Scott’s case he had said he didn’t really trust them based on all that. I don’t know.
It reminds me very much of the situation in the US. Anyone who might be dealing with could be under a serious gag order where they cannot disclose they are under observation and so on.
If Gonzalo was having to make deals to get himself to safety I would have no judgment on that. I would trust him to disclose that when he had the opportunity.
Having said all that, there was no evidence of any compromise ever occurring on the part of Gonzalo. He was true to the end.

Posted by: David G Horsman | Jan 12 2024 23:52 utc | 94

I’m not accusing Ritter of anything, but I am immovably skeptical of ‘former’ Intelligence agents. It’s not so much that they may be running psyops, collecting data or passing falsehoods, but that they didn’t get their jobs by accident. If you join the Marines, you have a certain world view, and no matter what mind-shattering events put you into opposition, you’re mostly working from the same paradigm. This is evident with Ritter, Larry Johnson, and Douglass MacGregor. I suspect that two out of three of those are sincere. Their views still tend to skew the narrative in unfortunate ways.
Posted by: Honzo | Jan 12 2024 23:09 utc | 87
—————————————————————–
Honzo, I understand your concern about people who get radicalized while working for intelligence agency. Still, while just an enlisted man with no desire for a military career, I did get radicalized while in the military: radicalized, not educated. That (as humble as it was) came later. So, everyone is different. B was, I think, a tank commander in the German military.
On the other hand, there was a time when the CPUSA had more spies and intelligence infiltrators than actual members. This was under the leadership of Earl Browder who tried to rename the CPUSA the Communist Political Association (CPA), as a homage to President Roosevelt and the liberal New Deal (also called the popular front): He was ousted and the party’s name was restored.

Posted by: Ed | Jan 12 2024 23:54 utc | 96