“Look who is the anti-communist here… You do understand US prints basically unlimited money, right? You must think all nato countries are so “satisfied” they’re expanding into Asia because it’s pure bliss, they want to help the pagans!”
Posted by: rk | Mar 4 2024 9:14 utc | 183
The US can no longer print its money without being punished; to keep the value of the dollar up they have had to increase the Fed discount rate up 2,000% (.25% to 5.25%)in the last 18 months.
The US ‘magic money tree’ no longer blossoms…

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 12:58 utc | 204

Is Macron that crazy?
Posted by: Mike R | Mar 3 2024 22:02 utc | 109
Yes. And stupid. Even the people who made him began to understand it, Minc & Attali.
Posted by: Naive | Mar 3 2024 23:49 utc | 134
Stupid and dangerous. Despite the powers of the presidency, he doesn’t understand the constitution of the 5th republic. He has prompted some to call for medical tests and drug exams. But frankly he is a flimflam man; he promised everything under the sun and wound up the stooge of the EU. A “banker” he seems the be folölowing the secret agenda as penned by Tom Luongo: after the disaster of the EU SURE bonds which were conceived to finance the COVID mess and resulted in GIGANTIC losses for those dumb enough to put their money into those securities (I like that word) the huffing and puffing is about Eurobonds and more precisely warbonds. But Luongo sees through the mischief. According to Luongo, the money raised will be used to beef up military expenditure alright but the target is NOT Russia. It is everybody who lives in the totalitarian EU. I had long suspected that this war was about money and the obvious fact that a country like France admoits to a debt to GDP ratio of about 112%.

Posted by: Stierlitz | Mar 4 2024 13:04 utc | 206

Peter AU1@156…Peter, that is an English fixation, the International Oligarchy want Russia federated and free access to pillage Russia’s vast resources.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 4 2024 13:17 utc | 208

“The US can no longer print its money without being punished; to keep the value of the dollar up they have had to increase the Fed discount rate up 2,000% (.25% to 5.25%)in the last 18 months.
The US ‘magic money tree’ no longer blossoms…
Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 12:58 utc | 204
How can you prove that?
They were able to print endlessly in the past.
What is different now?”
Posted by: vargas | Mar 4 2024 13:02 utc | 205
The difference that from 2008 on the US has had negative interest rates-ie inflation was higher than the .25% discount rate.
You are right for 75 years the US could print and that did not effect the value of the dollar as it was the reserve currency.
However, with sanctions, high inflation, de dollarization (1), $34 trillion plus debt (today servicing the National Debt is more than the trillion dollars the US spends on its defense), a dormant economy, the US can no longer print money with a low interest rates. If it does the value of the dollar will plummet so they had to raise the Fed discount rate by 2,000% .
Quintessentially, the Fed is trapped: if they drop the discount rate they will save the US economy but kill the dollar; if they keep the interest rates high or even raise them higher they save the dollar but destroy the economy.
1. “The U.S. dollar is the world’s primary reserve currency, and it is also the most widely used currency for trade and other international transactions. However, its hegemony is in question, especially in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. “The risk of de-dollarization, which is a periodically recurrent theme throughout post-war history, has returned into focus due to geopolitical and geostrategic shifts,” said Alexander Wise, who covers Strategic Research at J.P. Morgan.
In particular, the U.S. sanctions on Russia have made some countries wary about being too dependent on the greenback. In addition, against a backdrop of rising interest rates, a strong U.S. dollar is becoming more expensive for emerging nations, leading some to trade in other currencies. In July 2023, Bolivia became the latest South American country — after Brazil and Argentina — to pay for imports and exports using the Chinese renminbi.”(2) With de-dollarization many US dollars will come back to US shores thereby inflation would rise necessitating higher interest rates.
2.https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/currencies/de-dollarization

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 13:25 utc | 210

MARCH 4, 2024 BY M. K. BHADRAKUMAR Putin’s nuclear warning is direct and explicit

Quintessentially, the thrust of Putin’s remarks lies in his refusal to accept a fate for Russia in existential terms arranged by the West. The thinking behind it is not hard to comprehend. Simply put, Russia will not allow any attempt by the US and its allies to reshape the ground situation by impacting the front lines with NATO military personnel backed by advanced weaponry and satellite capabilities.
Putin has put the ball firmly in the Western court to decide whether the NATO will risk a nuclear confrontation, which of course is not Russia’s choice.

Posted by: António Ferrão | Mar 4 2024 13:34 utc | 212

I would like to propose a third possibility: this may have been leaked by a US three-letter agency. The leak exposes the German military, and makes it harder to give Ukraine advanced German missiles. This is a cost. But the advantage is that the leak strengthens Russians in their belief that Germany cannot be trusted, makes the gap between Germany and Russia bigger, and makes it more difficult for Germany to have a normal trade relationship with Russia after the war.”
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 4 2024 11:02 utc | 194

That’s of course also an interesting idea.
There’s however another possibility. One of the officers (Frank Gräfe) was in a hotel room in Singapur. As one commenter on YouTube pointed out, he’s the one who can be heard in the best audio quality and also the first person who can be heared. In addition one can hear him typing on his keyboard.
This could imply that his hotel room was bugged and he had the audio on his laptop speakers. It’s certainly possible that his room was e.g. bugged by the Chinese, which gave it to the Russians.
I have to say – after listening to it this morning – I felt intense “Fremdscham” (second-hand or external shame) for the extensive use of “Denglisch”, i.e. a lot of anglicisms in that conversation. Especially that Gräfe sounds so incredibly cheesy a lot of the time, that I really wonder how such a dork could become a General.

Posted by: Helmuth von Moltke | Mar 4 2024 13:46 utc | 214

US can no longer print money with a low interest rates.

Apparently they still can. I see no mathematical limit to that.
What is the opposing force to that process of printing the money?
It is not inflation, as it is not to high.

Posted by: Vargas | Mar 4 2024 13:58 utc | 216

Posted by: Vargas | Mar 4 2024 13:58 utc | 216
You’re not posing the right question.
THE right question is why, until now, us has been able to print unlimited while most if not all the other countries can not?
Do you really think that US is the god choose nation?

Posted by: Mario | Mar 4 2024 14:03 utc | 218

“US can no longer print money with a low interest rates.
Apparently they still can. I see no mathematical limit to that.
What is the opposing force to that process of printing the money?
It is not inflation, as it is not to high.”
Posted by: Vargas | Mar 4 2024 13:58 utc | 216
In the ‘fiat currency’ world math really has no relevance; the value of the different currencies is based mostly on tradition and psychology.
Once a currency loses confidence its over .
Anyways, time till tell whom is right- yourself or me.

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 14:08 utc | 220

Einar Koch, head of Bild’s parliamentary editorial team in Bonn and Berlin in 1992–2003, the paper’s political director and most recently its chief political correspondent:
“Taurus” recordings: secret plan against Germany! (Deutschland Kurier, Einar Koch, March 3, 2024 — in German)

On September 12, 1990, the Federal Republic of Germany, the GDR, the U.S., the UK, France and the Soviet Union signed an agreement that brought unity to Germany—the historic Two Plus Four Treaty. Immediately in Article 2, the governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic assure, in accordance with Article 26 of the Basic Law: “The governments of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic confirm their declarations that only peace will emanate from German soil.”
We do not want to delve further into how often the German federal government has already violated its own contractual assurances and the spirit of the constitution by crossing various “red lines” in the Ukraine conflict. But it is quite obvious that the “traffic light” wants to cross the next red line and thereby risks the Third World War—a world war that would then, once again, begin in Berlin. There is no other way to interpret the irresponsible chatter of crazy German Air Force generals that has now leaked about the use of Taurus cruise missiles to destroy Russian supply lines such as the Crimean Bridge.
Whether the long-range precision bullets are targeted by German soldiers in the Ukraine, at a German air base or—highly unlikely—by the Ukrainian army is completely irrelevant and ultimately amounts to purely semantic tricks to deceive the German public.
What is clearly evident is that the German generals, including the Inspector of the Air Force, who have been intercepted by Russian specialists, are proactively discussing ways in which the Taurus cruise missiles could be used WITHOUT sending German soldiers directly into the combat zone. This would require a resolution from the German Bundestag, which would be tantamount to Germany declaring war on Russia.
Secondly, it is obvious that the quartet of officers arranged their chat conference in order to prepare a “presentation” for the German Defense Minister in a casino-chatty tone—at least with the approval of Boris Pistorius (SPD), but, as we would like to assume for the time being, without the Chancellor’s knowledge. Or is it all just a set-up game in the end?
Third, Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) promise that he would guarantee “as Chancellor” that Germany would not fuel the Ukraine conflict with Taurus cruise missiles has been reduced to a mere laughing stock by the generals’ irresponsible chatter. It is quite possible that the Chancellor, who is known to suffer from forgetfulness, will no longer be able to remember his words tomorrow.
The really frightening thing about this monstrous event is something else: where are the spontaneous mass demonstrations on German streets and squares against the warmongering of German generals on behalf of the “traffic lights”? Where is the indignation of the public broadcasters—and not about the fact that the Russians “dared” to disrespectfully listen in on the German generals, who thought they were safe, but about what these four commission heads discussed here with German thoroughness?
It is, to put it in Correctiv’s jargon, nothing more and nothing less than actually a “secret plan against Germany”!

Posted by: S | Mar 4 2024 14:22 utc | 222

You are wrong. There are plenty of Russian military factories west of the Urals, including west of the Volga.
Posted by: S | Mar 4 2024 14:08 utc | 221

The name Tula should be sufficient.
But it is a lot worse than that — east of Volga or even east of the Urals isn’t the safe haven it used to be.
Today there was a sabotage in Samara.
And Russia’s border today isn’t at the Kopet Dag and the Hindukush, so what used to be the deep rear — i.e. all those southern Ural and southern Siberian cities — is very close to an external border now. Lots of vital strategic facilities are within easy drone strike range.
An eventual Kazakhstan SMO will be perhaps easier militarily (the West has no means of supplying weapons), but much more difficult subsequently — when the territory of modern Kazakhstan was originally taken over, it was inhabited by scattered tribes. Then when the USSR broke up, Russians were in fact a majority there. And Kazakhstan didn’t want to leave the union — to the point that it was the last SSR to remain in it. But three decades later it is a very different situation — there has been a demographic boom there, most people living in Kazakhstan were not born in the USSR but in Kazakhstan, and nationalism is rising. To this day most living Ukrainians were born in the USSR and, they mostly speak Russian and are in fact Russians, even if many have been successfully brainwashed. The Kazakhs are not. So it is fertile soil for the CIA to do its dirty business, which it is indeed actively working on.

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Mar 4 2024 14:40 utc | 224

So I assume people have seen Medvedev’s presentation today:
https://twitter.com/aussiecossack/status/1764606269250474224
With the infamous map.
And this is totally baffling. Seriously, WTF?
It’s great to hear “Ukraine is Russia” stated firmly and openly in such a way.
But this map?
What are the options here?
1) He didn’t have another one and was too lazy to have his staff draw him a new one so he went with this? How well does that speak about the attention to detail and the level of preparation of the Russian state for anything?
2) He is trolling and playing mind games?
3) This is the actual plan?
But how can it be the actual plan? Romania takes Vinnytsia? Poland takes everything all the way to and including Zhytomyr? Rump Ukraine consisting only of Kiev?
Vinnytsia has never ever been Romanian, and Poland with that much gains? And that moves NATO to Kiev, and surround Belarus entirely which is still completely unacceptable strategically, plus the proxy remains present to launch strikes against Russia…

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Mar 4 2024 14:48 utc | 226

225 – NATO troops already have been, I suspect, but unacknowledged on both sides as a way of limiting the conflict. So they’re officially volunteers, mercenaries, aid workers, whatever.
When the Chinese got into the Korean War they were officially Chinese People’s Volunteers, and usually avoided wearing insignia, obvious rank badges etc. In reality they were units of the regular PLA but Mao wanted to avoid formal declarations of war. We have seen more of this since.

Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 4 2024 14:53 utc | 228

@222 S: Thanks for that post.
I couldn’t find any English-language explanation of the role, political slant, credibility or circulation of Deutschland Kurier in order to evaluate the impact of this article on German politics.
If possible, would you provide some background on the Kurier, and maybe your assessment of how widespread this emergent sentiment is within the German public?
Thanks.
=== Separately:
Can anyone provide credible evidence of just who “intercepted” the dialog re: Taurus among the German general officers? I understand it was first publicized in Russia, but who obtained it? At this time, I still think the material was leaked from within Germany, and I’d like to hear of any convincing evidence to the contrary.

Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Mar 4 2024 14:58 utc | 230

Posted by: William Gruff | Mar 4 2024 14:59 utc | 231
They won’t understand because it doesn’t fit their propaganda.
I will add to your excellent metaphor that RF football technique is to kill, brake all the opponents.
When you have no more opponents or very few of them you will move the ball wherever you want.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 4 2024 15:09 utc | 232

Posted by: William Gruff | Mar 4 2024 14:59 utc | 231
Sorry, in my post at 232 I didn’t notice you already have stated the same.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 4 2024 15:12 utc | 234

@231,
I am by no means a NAFO bot, my friend. I find it healthy to be objective though, no matter which side we are talking about. We should be critical about the stupid stuff that various officials from Ukraine are spitting daily but it’s also wrong to not point to the same statements when some other officials from Russia are doing it.
And in this case, the only one that actually talks like that is Medvedev. Again, I understand that the guy is usually trolling but you also need to understand that the message that he sends will not make ukrainian meat shields fight less (but harder) because it doesn’t leave any choice. And while it seems that you believe that slaughter is something of a doctrine for Russia, it’s not something that is either fast or is war winning (Vietnam, Iraq, Afganistan and so on).
I have not seen the entire video of the conference (only that video pointed above) so maybe Medvedev actually added some relevant comments outside of the ones mentioned in the video to justify the map.
I am also sorry to point the obvious but of course territory still matters, otherwise Ru would not have supported the people of Donbas, Crimea, attacking Avdivka (from where the shelling mostly was coming) and so on.

Posted by: JamesBond | Mar 4 2024 15:15 utc | 236

It looks like Israel now wants to go against Russia by sending iron domes .
Posted by: Innuendo | Mar 4 2024 15:17 utc | 237
_______
Oooooohhhh, another wunderwaffle!
Given Iron Dome’s poor performance, Russia could make short order of it, assuming the Ukrops actually manage to get it installed before it’s destroyed) — and this would be a most excellent development for Hamas and Hezbollah.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 4 2024 15:22 utc | 238

Posted by: Innuendo | Mar 4 2024 15:17 utc | 237
Israel probably has cr#p tons of Iron Dooms to spare to Ukraine because they work so well already above their own cities. Israel is also a massive manufacturing giant.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 4 2024 15:24 utc | 240

Latest Ukrainian losses reported by the Russian military:
– Kupyansk: 160 losses, 3 motor vehicles, 1 howitzer
– Donetsk: 360 losses, 2 APC, 2 motor vehicles, 3 artillery (incl. 1 GRAD MLRS)
– Avdeyevka: 490 losses, 1 Abrams tank, 7 IFV/AFV (incl. 3 Bradley), 12 motor vehicles
– South Donetsk: 320 losses, 7 motor vehicles
– Kherson: 85 losses, 3 motor vehicles, 4 artillery (incl. 2 HIMARS)
Total: 1,415 troop losses, 1 tank (Abrams), 7 IFV/AFV (incl. 3 Bradleys), 2 APC, 27 motor vehicles, 8 artillery (incl. 2 HIMARS)
We can see that the best equipment (and from reports the best soldiers) are being thrown at the Russians advancing west of Avdeyevka in an utterly wasteful manner (perhaps because the next line of defence was not prepared as it was supposed to be). The result is that the elite units plus the remaining US tanks and IFVs are being rapidly attrited.
With so little artillery left, the Ukrainians may also be taking more risks with their remaining pieces including the high end ones. This includes 2 HIMARS and 1 GRAD MLRS launcher. Also, we see the continuing greater use of motor vehicles instead of APC and IFV/AFV due to shortages of the latter.
These are the actions of a desperate and very short-sighted military burning off their remaining best men and material in a pointless exercise of “no retreat”. While at the same time the Russians go from strength to strength. As Dima puts it “they are not counting their losses” (Syrsky living up to his reputation) Mediazona reports 1200 Russian casualties in the past two weeks, less than the Ukrainian losses in a single day.
Also Ivanivske and Novomykhailivka look ready to fall, the Ukrainians increasingly look like a child attempting to plug the holes in a dam, but he only has two hands and two feet and they are increasingly getting colder and the water is working around them and new holes are starting to appear.

Posted by: Roger | Mar 4 2024 15:25 utc | 242

Replying to anon2020 | Mar 4 2024 13:38 utc | 213
“The leak occurred the day after Olaf Scholz publicly stated that the British and French were involved in “target control” of their own cruise missiles. Correlation might not be sufficient but it’s certainly necessary.”
————
We know that one officer was in Singapore and the air show went down a week ago, there. So, it sort of all lines up as very recent. Also, they were discussing doing upwards briefings. So presumably Scholz was briefed, after this call. And the content (about support in general, which was a key concern) and that France/England were doing direct support was mentioned to him, and the issues with hiding or fig-leafing support. Not sure if Scholz’s remarks about direct support from others was on purpose, or a slip. But it kind of shows either way that he was pressing back against the very obvious pressure (read the UK media) for Germany to send Taurus. That’s a bridge too far for GER right now.
P.s. I very much doubt that the US leaked the conversation. It doesn’t serve US interests to do so. That’s double reverse 5D chess to think it. Plus on top of that, the blowback for circulating a 38 minute call like that. (Even if it did serve interests, they would have used a different mechanism.) And a lot of confidential info on the system itself shared. Throwing GER, and UK and FRA under the bus, too.

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 4 2024 15:31 utc | 244

My favorite mapper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6o04zO94g
Today’s content:
UFA holding the line at Berd/Sem/Orl/Ton. Strong reinforcements and counterattacks. Marginal push back of RFA in parts of some of the villages. He thinks both sides are fighting hard there…and that UFA is sending best forces (e.g. Abrams) to hold the line. He thinks it is still a time-buying move, while they construct fortresses further back.
[Of course, if UFA holds the line there forever, it’s academic. But in any case, RFA are not rolling right now. Are hung at that line of villages for last few days.]
[It is interesting to me that the hardest fighting is going on at Berdiche. Not sure if that is because UFA (and RFA) see it as the “hinge” to the whole little line…or some other reason. It is interesting how long Stepove (just next to Berdiche) held (even after Avdiivka feel, despite it always being closer to the lines, than Avdiivka.)
RFA continuing to grind further into Ivaniske (more to the east/south…not on the Chasiv Yar side that is more threatened by hills and UFA artillery/spotting.)
Some other area in Donetsk (south of Avd) where RFA making small gains. I lose track of the names.

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 4 2024 15:40 utc | 246

canuck@243…..but it is not football, or soccer, or cricket….it’s killing, death, body bits, lots of blood, MMA, not even close……pick any sport and replace the puck, shuttle or ball with a live hand grenade, pin pulled, now you’re in the game…..of Life and Death.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 4 2024 16:02 utc | 248

Every surviving soldier, combatant or not, will be haunted for the rest of their lives after the SMO just from what they have seen, never mind had to do.
I watched a short vid of a US Col maybe General planting the Stars and Stripes somewhere in Avdeevka right beside the Russian flag. He and his men helped liberate the City. He spoke to the carnage that they were seeing as being off the charts.
Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Mar 4 2024 16:19 utc | 250

To all you people that foolishly think the USA can print unlimited money. El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele sums up things well. America’s slow motion hard crash landing is in full progress.
Nayib Bukele: Not even those high taxes, higher than a lot of places in the world, not even those taxes are really funding the government. So, who’s financing the government? Government is financed by Treasury Bonds, paper. And who buys the treasury bonds? Mostly the Fed. And how does the Fed buy them? By printing money. But what backing does the Fed have for that money being printed? The treasury bonds themselves. So basically, you finance the government by printing money out of thin air. Paper backed with paper. A bubble that will inevitably burst. The situation is even worse than it seems because if most Americans and the rest of the world were to become aware of this farce, confidence in your currency would be lost.

Posted by: golddigger | Mar 4 2024 16:24 utc | 252

Posted by: Anonymous | Mar 4 2024 15:31 utc | 244
Fair enough, that does seem to account for the leak to a much better degree.

Posted by: anon2020 | Mar 4 2024 16:42 utc | 254

@Posted by: unimperator | Mar 4 2024 15:58 utc | 247
Yup, it will just accelerate the Ukrainian military collapse. Playing straight into the Russians hands. It seems that the only thing that the Ukies still have going for them is the ability of drones to interdict new Russian units coming up to the front. But no matter how many drones they have, an army relying on its feet and everyday motor vehicles, with no air cover, no tanks/IFVs/AFVs/APCs, and hardly any artillery, means that attacks/counter attacks are simply “meat assaults” no matter how elite the units. Now that the Russians have regrouped I can’t see the desperate defences in Berdychi etc. lasting very long. The Russians will advance over a sea of dead bodies.
@Posted by: john brewster | Mar 4 2024 15:25 utc | 241
The Peterloo massacre of 1819, where 18 died and 400-700 were injured by a cavalry charge into a protesting crowd of up to 60,000, is the last time the British state used such a high level of violence in mainland UK. After that they learnt to give the working class a few crumbs and the appearance of real democracy while keeping a tight hold on the reigns of power. Not just banishment to the colonies helped, but also lots of roles for the working class in the colonial wars and administrations.

Posted by: Roger | Mar 4 2024 16:51 utc | 256

Those that think that the Russians will have a difficult time managing the Ukrainian territories do not understand the basic power of political economy, history and reeducation. Firstly of course the majority of the population East of the Dniepr, together with the south, is ethnic Russian / Russian speaking. In addition, the majority of the Ukie nationalists will have fled West, apart from those that could not (elderly, infirm, mothers and children etc.) and those that have been predominantly sacrificed to the Russian army. The Russia-friendly population that fled to Russia will return, forming a strong base of Russian support.
The Ukrainian authorities have spent now 10 years attempting to completely brainwash the population with utter lies about their history, that of Russia, and battlefield “successes”. Within the Russian taken territory the population will go through the equivalent of the Soviet Glasnost so well described in the book “Lenin’s Tomb” and the youth will have an utterly different school curriculum designed to integrate them into Russian society.
But just as importantly, the population will see very serious improvements in their environment and standards of living versus the whole 30 plus years of the independent Ukraine gutted and ruined by its corrupt elites. The youtube channel “Video from Mariupol” shows the transformation of Mariupol not just compared to its war destroyed status, but also when compared to its pre-war reality. Here is the latest showing new apartments and their happy new owners:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfbeBi4utoc
Then we have the fact that Russian pensions and social security payments etc. are very substantially higher than in pre-war Ukraine, let alone their current intermittently paid levels. Wages will also tend to rise toward the much higher Russian level. Pre-war Ukrainian GDP per capita at PPP was only US$12,700 (and a lot of that was stolen by the oligarchs) while that of Russia was about US$35,000, there is a very long way for Ukraine to normalize toward Russian levels – especially if the East once again becomes an industrial powerhouse with Russia and Odessa is reconnected to its Russian heartland.
So Ukrainian-Russians end up with a better built environment and infrastructure, higher wages and higher benefits while their children are taught to love Mother Russia and the media goes out of its way to expose all of the crimes, embezzlement and lies of the previous regime.
The same process could be done with respect to North West Ukraine, but it does seem that the West is going to try to make sure that another mass wave of refugees cannot get out of Ukraine. How will that play with the North West Ukrainians themselves and their love of everything European? I personally think that Russia should allow Hungary (the Carpathians) and Poland (Lviv) to take their chunks, but it should still take the rest West of the Dniepr. That way probably the vast majority of the Ukie nationalists/West lovers will make it into Europe/Carpathia/Lviv region to be someone else’s problem, and the Russians get a manageable problem that can be dealt with within a decade at most.

Posted by: Roger | Mar 4 2024 17:21 utc | 258

Does it make sense for Israel to provoke a broader ME war against enemies armed with thousands of missiles which have already been show to be able to penetrate Iron Dome, and to send Iron Dome systems to Ukraine at the same time? At least one of these narratives is complete bullshit, and probably both.

Posted by: Honzo | Mar 4 2024 17:31 utc | 260

Feral Finster | Mar 4 2024 17:22 utc | 259
“there is no higher priority for the Biden Administration or the Uniparty than Ukraine right now”
That’s only because Israel can look after itself (albeit in a very evil way, and aided by vast amounts of US cash and weaponry). Were Israel ever to be in danger the Uniparty in the US and Europe would forget Ukraine in a heartbeat.

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Mar 4 2024 17:47 utc | 262

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Mar 4 2024 17:49 utc | 263
—————
Sorry, but your most desired word is “nuke(s)”. Make a review of your last 500 posts.
—————————————————————-
Regarding your other commentary:
Even armchair experts should know, after 2 years of conflict, what everyone’s roles are.
One of the tiny functions that Medvedeev carries out is, simply, trolling the news headlines, in order to touch the tiny balls of the tiny leaders of Europe.
For each of the arrogant declarations of the European vassals, Medvedeev contrasts what the logical consequence would be: if someone, in Europe, is willing to do “this”, the consequences will be “this other thing.”
The implementation of “this” and “that” corresponds to the strategic systems of each nation-state.
The military strategic “plan” of the Russian Federation in Ukraine is unknown, except for nuances, even by North American or Chinese strategists, because it is a part of a global strategic plan in which social variables will be preponderant.
Faced with the subjection of the populations, vassals, to the greed of the former colonizers, the Russian Federation offers cultural, political and, above all, social, community respect.
We all know the purpose: to make this world worthy of being lived by human beings.
The strategy, the ways of carrying it out, has changed because Russia has realized that, to achieve an end, not everything goes.
The means are as important as the ends because a beautiful and wonderful end ends up being distorted by a corrupt process. Not everything goes, if to achieve something noble, I must leave nobility behind.
Txe.

Posted by: Txe | Mar 4 2024 17:59 utc | 264

@William Gruff #231:

Considering that the front hasn’t moved significantly in any direction for quite some time now.”
This retardation is in every single Ukraine thread, and is answered multiple times in each thread!
Two possibilities:

1. Posters are troll paid to spread FUD
2. Posters really are too stupid to comprehend a war that isn’t fought over territory

Third possibility: a poster has made a simple statement of fact, and you’re a hysterical person throwing a hissy fit over this simple statement of fact because it’s causing a severe cognitive dissonance in your head.
@JamesBond #236:

I am by no means a NAFO bot, my friend.

He’s not your friend. He’s a mirror image of the very NAFO trolls he is constantly accusing everyone of being: aggressive, intolerant, not interested in the least in having a rational discussion, only here to spew bile and feel good about himself for doing “the right thing.”
On August 23, I dared to state the simple fact that, as of that date, there have been daily drone attacks on Moscow for six days straight. Gruff’s reaction? He wrote that it’s “100% guaranteed” that I am a “presstitute whore for the Empire of Lies & Delusions,” a “faggot presstitute for Empire” and a “whore for empire.” In reality, I am a Russian living in Moscow, I support my country, and I support Putin’s decision to start the SMO. But Gruff, a math teacher from the U.S., knows best! He feels that I am a “whore for empire” (despite the six years of my anti-empire comments here), therefore, it must be true! No evidence, no logic is needed. It’s all about Gruff’s feefies.

Posted by: S | Mar 4 2024 18:18 utc | 266

In case this has not been posted here is the monthly report by Al Mayadeen`s Ukraine correspondent
Dmitri Kovalevich, it begins with a good summary of the background over the past decade.
https://socialistincanada.ca/two-years-of-the-russian-military-operation-in-ukraine-and-ten-years-since-the-coup-in-kiev-that-started-it-all/

Posted by: bevin | Mar 4 2024 18:31 utc | 268

by S | Mar 4 2024 18:18 utc | 266
Ah, S do not bother. In any case, that WG post was indeed aggressive, based on a wrong assumptions and overly reactive.
I am sure you can put up a good argument and make a peace.
Some American folks, although well spirited, can be overzealous too. In our Euro-Russian eyes, it is nice to know that they are there, but still childish tantrums we read, are revolutionary for them, not us.

Posted by: whirlX | Mar 4 2024 18:48 utc | 270

FYI for anyone intrigued by American football as a metaphor for warfare, I totally recommend the early effort by Don DeLilo, End Zone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_Zone
The story rolls across the pages, dreamlike and surreal.
Spoilers below.

The novel is divided into three sections. In the first, Gary Harkness, the narrator, meets Taft Robinson, Logos College’s first Black football player as well as Major Staley, the teacher of his modern warfare class. This class sparks Gary’s developing obsession with nuclear warfare. Gary begins dating Myrna Corbett and an assistant coach commits suicide just as the crowning game of the season approaches.
The second section is solely a play-by-play retelling of the Big Game itself, where the main thematic content of the novel exists. DeLillo’s disconnected, detached prose focuses the text on certain isolated images and dialogue throughout the game.
The third section surrounds the aftermath of the game as well as the impact of the plane-crash death which kills Logos College’s founder. Gary, filled with ennui after these events, plays a complex war game with Major Staley; the novel’s metaphor of football as warfare is challenged in the line “warfare is warfare.” Taft Robinson admits that he has a morbid interest in the Holocaust which mirror’s Gary’s obsession. The novel ends with Gary being hospitalized for a mental breakdown, his future uncertain.

Posted by: Babel-17 | Mar 4 2024 18:59 utc | 272

“Stupid and dangerous. Despite the powers of the presidency, he doesn’t understand the constitution of the 5th republic.
Posted by: Stierlitz | Mar 4 2024 13:04 utc | 206
He understands very well the constitution, the problem is that he does not care, he does not respect it at all.
Separation of powers does not exist.
The people are not sovereign.
France is a monarchy where the king is elected.

Posted by: Naive | Mar 4 2024 19:07 utc | 274

for German-speakers:
Jacques Baud 45 min. conversation (not extraordinary but still worth the time)
https://overton-magazin.de/dialog/die-deutsche-regierung-besteht-heute-aus-fanatikern/

Posted by: AG | Mar 4 2024 19:55 utc | 276

EU is fearful and desperate. EU is completely OVER INVESTED in Ukraine, which is crumbling, and they are in panic mode. Ukraine and Gaza are bringing down existing political power structures in Europe and the west.
What Macron in fact was thinking when he said to put Nato troops in Ukraine was the idea of trip-wire. That will not work.
https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/analysis/europe-is-fearful-and-desperate

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 4 2024 20:14 utc | 278

⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Front #Summary for 4 Mar 2024 by 19:25⚡️
🔻#Kherson Direction:
🟡In the #Kherson Sector, our aviation is hitting the “dachas” area near #Antonovsky Bridge. Two AFU UAV control points in the #Antonovka area were hit.
🟡In the #Tyaginka Sector, they also hit positions in #Krynki and Cossack Camps.
📌 The AFU activity on the right bank has increased. They are again trying to deliver reserves to the springboards.
🔻#Zaporozhye Direction:
🟡In the #Orekhov Section, at #Rabotino, our army is attacking the AFU positions with the support of armored vehicles. One important stronghold was hit by tank crews. The AFU are actively snapping back. There are swarms of drones in the sky, and they have a lot of reserves. According to field reports, the enemy manages to hold back the advance of our army.
🔻#SouthDonetsk Direction:
🟡In the #Maryinka Sector, our forces advanced into the centre of #Novomikhaylovka from the southern outskirts. Our pressure continues from the eastern and northeastern sides. The operation to liberate #Krasnogorovka is also ongoing. The AFU counterattacks locally, but unsuccessfully. Our aviation and heavy artillery are actively working.
📌 #Novomikhaylovka is of strategic importance for the AFU, its loss puts the AFU Ugledar Group at serious risk. Therefore, the enemy clings to every house, but ours are still conducting a systematic offensive.
🔻#Avdeyevka Direction:
🟡In the #Orlovka Sector, the enemy continues to restrain our offensive on the #Berdychi – #Orlovka – #Tonenkoye line. The AFU use all reserves for this, while trying to prepare new lines of defence.
📌 Numerical superiority decides a lot. If our army manages to restore it, and at several points at once, the AFU will, firstly, not have time to dig in thoroughly west of #Avdeyevka, and secondly, they will not have reserves to dispose, the forces will be needed everywhere and at once.
🔻#Bakhmut Direction:
🟡In the #ChasovYar Sector, our attacks continue in #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye), but so far the frontline has not changed. In #Bogdanovka, Ukrainian troops are resisting very stubbornly.
🔻#Svatovo Direction:
🟡In the #Seversk Sector, our army advanced to the eastern outskirts of #Belogorovka. So far, without serious success, but with the preservation of the initiative.
🟡In the #Liman Sector, there are oncoming battles at #Terny and #Yampolovka.
🟡In the #Kupyansk Sector, at #Tabayevka and #Sinkovka.
☠️ In the Samara region, in the morning, a support for a railway bridge was blown up, and two undetonated improvised explosive devices were found there. Fortunately, there were no casualties or serious damage. Ukrainian intelligence took responsibility for the sabotage.

https://t.me/sitreports/23997

Posted by: Down South | Mar 4 2024 20:21 utc | 280

Our sources in the OP said that the Office of the President set the task for officials/deputies/security forces to achieve the closure of opposition telegram channels that influence the country’s information space.
For Bankova, the main problem is two channels where all information from government offices is constantly being leaked, which is why it is so important to block Legitimate and Resident.

https://t.me/rezident_ua/21898

Posted by: Down South | Mar 4 2024 20:26 utc | 282

Why there are 10+ RAF Typhoons up in the air above North England and why is British Government plane Airbus KC2 Voyager cycling above the North Sea 50 km East of Edinburgh?

Posted by: whirlX | Mar 4 2024 20:26 utc | 284

Isn’t behavior of German Air Force generals and the subsequent reaction of German government a nice example of the western irrationality. These people are obviously far from reality.
For them, starting a nuclear war would be nothing.
So, III world war is a matter of “when” not “if”.

Posted by: vargas | Mar 4 2024 20:47 utc | 286

Posted by: whirlX | Mar 4 2024 20:26 utc | 284
Packman effect.
They will translated in kamchakta and they will nuke something.
The, using Packman effect in reverse, they will return where they started.
Plausible denialiby on steroids. 😉

Posted by: Mario | Mar 4 2024 21:11 utc | 288

Posted by: Vargas | Mar 4 2024 13:58 utc | 216
It’s really simple Vargas.when the rest of the world quits believing in the myth of U.S.A. dollar and military supremacy, then no one will trade the goods they produced for a wad of worthless paper.
Forget all the financial PHD talk, it’s all pile it high and deep. Keep it simple.
We don’t want your worthless money and weapons. So get the f_ck out of our country and don’t let the screen door hit your ass on the way out.
Posted by: Morongobill | Mar 4 2024 15:23 utc | 239
Your answer was much more eloquent than mine.

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 21:13 utc | 290

Why there are 10+ RAF Typhoons up in the air above North England and why is British Government plane Airbus KC2 Voyager cycling above the North Sea 50 km East of Edinburgh?
Posted by: whirlX | Mar 4 2024 20:26 utc | 284
Almost certainly part of the ‘largest exercises since the Cold War’ now underway or about to start all over the north and east of NATO.

Posted by: JohninMK | Mar 4 2024 21:23 utc | 292

Posted by: shаdοwbanned | Mar 4 2024 16:16 utc | 249

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War
A small thing. They merely executed the king and drove out the royalist nobility. 🙂 Still, it is ancient history.
Posted by: john brewster | Mar 4 2024 15:25 utc | 241
That was an intra-elite fight.

—
There was a lot more than inter-elite going on. You had Levelers who were a significant fraction of the New Model Army, and evenutally had to be put down by Cromwell by force of arms.

The Levellers were a political movement active during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its populism, as shown by its emphasis on equal natural rights, and their practice of reaching the public through pamphlets, petitions and vocal appeals to the crowd.
“>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levellers

As usual with revolutionary movements, there were schisms which greatly weakened the cause.

The Diggers were a group of religious and political dissidents in England, associated with agrarian socialism.Gerrard Winstanley and William Everard, amongst many others, were known as True Levellers in 1649, in reference to their split from the Levellers, and later became known as Diggers because of their attempts to farm on common land.
The Diggers tried (by “levelling” land) to reform the existing social order with an agrarian lifestyle based on their ideas for the creation of small, egalitarian rural communities. They were one of a number of nonconformist dissenting groups that emerged around this time.
“>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers

So, while the broader fight was between nobles, there was a lot of peasant, agrarian unrest which had to be dealt with mby force.
IMHO, the English Civil War had some characteristics of peasant revolts, even if the rebels were talky instead of shooty.

Posted by: john brewster | Mar 4 2024 21:40 utc | 294

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 15:09 utc | 233
While I agree that the British population has been engineered to be supine – by shipping all the criminals and “troublemakers” to the colonies (especially Austrailia; there is one dustup later than 1605. The civil war betweem 1642 and 1651.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War
A small thing. They merely executed the king and drove out the royalist nobility. 🙂 Still, it is ancient history.
Posted by: john brewster | Mar 4 2024 15:25 utc | 241
Correct.
I was a moron for not recognizing that fact.
I do have a blind spot for Crowell as he murdered many of my Irish countrymen in the 1650’s so perhaps ‘repression’ clouded my mind.

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 21:52 utc | 296

No, sean, military affairs are a game as well and played as such; perhaps that is tragic and immoral but that’s reality
Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 21:54 utc | 297
Critical for survival. As Putin says, emotions must be put aside when making decisions.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Mar 4 2024 22:00 utc | 298

Posted by: canuck | Mar 4 2024 21:24 utc | 293
You are wrong.
War does indeed end at the first, and unique touchdown.
If you have multiple touchdown war did not end.
Anyway, if and when the opponent loose most of not all of the players, you can score all the touchdowns you want.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 4 2024 22:04 utc | 300