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May 15, 2024
Ukraine Open Thread 2024-140
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Robert Fico has been shot and his injuries life-threatening.
I recall Ukrainian officials threatening europe if they didn’t get what they wanted. That is one possible scenario. I can imagine others, but all of them are just speculation.
Posted by: Feral Finster | May 15 2024 14:47 utc | 1
Robert Fico has been shot and his injuries life-threatening.
I recall Ukrainian officials threatening europe if they didn’t get what they wanted. That is one possible scenario. I can imagine others, but all of them are just speculation.
Posted by: Feral Finster | May 15 2024 14:47 utc | 1
Fico was probably already in the “kill list” because of not supporting the ukranian debacle (Orban might have to juice up his security)
It is not OT when it’s all about it…
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 15:03 utc | 2
Newbie @ 2
Orban might have to juice up his security
Two birds with one stone, trying to scare Orban, and everyone else into compliance.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 15 2024 15:13 utc | 3
ZH has a posting up with the projecting title
Russia Is About To Overrun Ukraine’s Defenses – Why Are There No Peace Negotiations?
It will be interesting to see the folks coming out of the woodworks now pressuring Russia to negotiate when it is time for Ukraine/NATO to surrender…or escalate.
end game
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 15 2024 15:13 utc | 4
I looked up Fico and I got this result. It’s interesting to see the news progression.
Fico
Posted by: lex talionis | May 15 2024 15:20 utc | 5
Posted by: lex talionis | May 15 2024 15:20 utc | 5
Just like the media I checked, if not the headline the subhead carries the unavoidable label, populist, pro Russian. Populist rhymes with communist, terrorist, anarchist. Long live freedom of the press.
Posted by: Paco | May 15 2024 15:28 utc | 7
We live in the times od madness. The sight of Blinken pkaying guitar in Kyev cafe tells a lot.
But how is it possible that “all good men” in US/EU are now silent?
There is no discomtentcand only a small percent see the total lunacy.
Posted by: vargas | May 15 2024 15:32 utc | 8
How likely is it that Fico was not an inside job but a “crazy guy” (I am just askin´ since those things too happen. Its not always the puppet masters.)
On the one hand it is likely that Fico was an operation.
On the other hand what does that tell you about his personal security apparatus?
I mean he knew that he is in danger.
Posted by: AG | May 15 2024 15:38 utc | 9
1) We’ve seen the reshuffling of Putin’s cabinet seems to be centered on making the economy able to sustain this and any following military events.
2) Also that house-cleaning continues and corruption taken care of.
3) Now, many of his top aides are little younger that him. Could Aleksey Dyumin be the new caeser/successor?
4) Taking under consideration 2 and 3, just hope his brother’s grocery’s wholesale business has no contracts with the army.
5) For something completely different, S has mentioned that the Seredina-Buda staging for Sumy is so to the west as to be almost easier to go to kiev. Let us say that Kiev is as close as Kahrkiv and a penetration to Sumy would be has logistically feasible as going to Romny or Chernigov. Indeed maybe that entry point might have no final destination yet. That would confuse even further the AFU on WHERE to place reserves.
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 15:40 utc | 10
Well, that’s it, all over now, Russia is doomed, doomed I tell ye!
Ukraine and Luxembourg start negotiations on security guarantees
Ukraine and Luxembourg have started bilateral negotiations on concluding an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support.
This is stated in the message of the Office of the President.
As reported, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden agreed on the start of work on the document during a telephone conversation the day before.
It is noted that the Ukrainian negotiating delegation is headed by the head of the Office of the President Andrii Yermak. However, today’s [May 14] round of negotiations was conducted by the deputy head of the Office of the President, Ihor Zhovkva.
“We are grateful to Luxembourg for its constant support and demonstration of leadership, in particular in such matters as co-chairing the IT coalition, military aid, support for Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO. I am sure that all this will be reflected in our security agreement,” Ihor Zhovkva emphasized.
During the negotiations, the parties thoroughly worked out the text of the draft agreement, discussed the content of individual provisions and agreed on further steps. Based on the results of the first round, the parties noted significant progress on the way to signing the document.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, EU ambassadors agreed on a draft bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the European Union as a continuation of the G7 declaration on “security guarantees”, it is planned to be finalized by the beginning of July at the latest.
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1006240-ukraine-and-luxembourg-start-negotiations-on-security-guarantees
Wonder if there’ll be joint naval exercises???
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 15:41 utc | 11
Posted by: jpc | May 15 2024 15:44 utc | 12
On the one hand it is likely that Fico was an operation.
On the other hand what does that tell you about his personal security apparatus?
I mean he knew that he is in danger.
Posted by: AG | May 15 2024 15:38 utc | 9
When you find a 72yo (probably sick) who doesn’t care for getting caught or killed (or any other willing patsy), there is very little you can do if you lead a “normal” life with “normal” security
Now, that cuts both ways, most western leaders and fortune 500 CEOs are equally vulnerable if the joke is played too many times by the same side.
Now that reminds me of a previous post where someone mentioned that the french and the english might have been called and shown where their submarines were.
Should the worst come to happen, a discrete signaling that RF might use, and the targeted country would not have to own unless they were hell-bound on escalating, would be the tragic loss of a strategic nuclear sub of a very limited fleet…
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 15:49 utc | 13
Wonder if there’ll be joint naval exercises???
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 15:41 utc | 11
Guarantees were certainly provided that ukranian funds that happened to end in Luxembourg are safe and will remain so, regardless.
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 15:51 utc | 14
A video of the incident has appeared (looks genuine).
The shooter pulls a gun, aims (presumably) at Fico and shoots five times. But security immediately reacts, interrupts him (I guess the last two or three shots must have been inaccurate) and overwhelm him.
An assassination in broad daylight, without any chance to escape. Who would do that?
Posted by: mk | May 15 2024 15:56 utc | 15
hopefully fico pulls thru..
is this an archbishop ferdinand moment? it seems like the reverse…
Posted by: james | May 15 2024 16:02 utc | 17
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 15:49 utc | 13
FPV drones are going to change the game soon. Just a matter of time until western politicians and oligarchs are targeted. No need for somebody to do a suicide run at them in the future.
Posted by: badjoke | May 15 2024 16:10 utc | 18
Drones needs an operator near them. AI piloted drone on the other hand …
Posted by: Savonarole | May 15 2024 16:15 utc | 19
Rather a shame Slovakia is so small. It would warm the cockles of my heart to see the Ukronazis fighting a two-front war.
Posted by: malenkov | May 15 2024 16:16 utc | 20
FPV drones are going to change the game soon. Just a matter of time until western politicians and oligarchs are targeted. No need for somebody to do a suicide run at them in the future.
Posted by: badjoke | May 15 2024 16:10 utc | 18
Not even that, how far would you trust your new all computerized car to be hack-free, or your fully integrated and optimized hospital?
And with the drive to push cost lower, hiring and firing to find the lowest cost, how difficult to place an asset where he can put something in the car or even in a house or clothes?
The sheer amount of things that can be planned and acted upon should frighten anybody. The worst thing is that it is magnitudes easier for your own government to do that. Why is this not OT? Because as mentioned before in another thread, someone mentioned the ukranian government is using telegram channels and sites as honeypots to catch dissent. How soon before all mobile operators push some updates to help the recruitment effort or some specific targeting of troublemakers?
People have no idea how vulnerable this modern world is.
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 16:23 utc | 21
EU to ban Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Izvestia, RIA Novosti and Czech portal Voice of Europe
Posted by: rk | May 15 2024 16:25 utc | 22
Photos of abandoned concrete barriers – the so-called “dragon’s teeth” – appeared on the Internet, which were supposed to be used to build fortifications near Liptsy in the Kharkov region. This territory, along with the materials, has already been captured by the Russian army.
“These photographs show the Liptsy neighborhood and a gift from Ukrainian taxpayers for the enemy. According to the fighters, these barriers have been idle since the summer of 2023,” writes the military public page Deep State.
Previously, the Ukrainian military stated that no serious fortifications were built on the border between Ukraine and Russia in the Kharkov region.
As we can see, the Kharkov region is a blatant example of theft and corruption in the construction of defensive structures. After the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces, it became clear how much the military defense commanders and private contractors “saved” on the preparation of fortifications.
https://t.me/rezident_ua/22831
Posted by: Down South | May 15 2024 16:27 utc | 23
Putin’s primary motivation, excuse, for the SMO (Slog) is both hypocritical and logically flawed. Russia invaded primarily because of Ukraine’s constant attacks on Donbass. As we know, Donbass broke away from Ukraine.
Now let’s look at the Chechen War. Chechnya tried to break away from Russia. What was Russia’s response?
Russia bombed the hell out of Grozny, leveling it, even using fuel air explosives to suffocate, incinerate, everyone in their basements. Russian forces went into THEIR breakaway republic and kicked ass.
Yet Putin now insists Ukraine should just wave goodbye to the Eastern Oblasts and not bomb the population centers to rubble … as Russia did to keep their territory.
Name me a region of Russia, comparable in size and resources, that Putin would simply let breakaway from Russia, based on popular sentiment … if you can, I have a bridge to sell you.
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
What is happening with the advance of the Northern group in the Kharkov region at the moment
The tactical position of the Russian army continues to improve, but it appears that there is still a long way to go before the offensive is completed.
Where have the troops advanced?
From the original five directions, the number of areas where the troops of the “North” group were able to quickly advance and liberate territories previously occupied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased to seven. The greatest progress was achieved along the line Glubokoye – Liptsy, Lukyantsy – Vesyoloye, Ogurtsovo – Staritsa and in the Volchansk area, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces left to avoid encirclement. The straightening of the front line, which followed a series of tactical successes, made it possible to identify two main directions of attack: Liptsy – Kharkov and Volchansk – Belyi Kolodez. In the direction of Kharkov, supply routes for the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison in the city are gradually being taken under fire control, which indirectly indicates preparation for the implementation of the Artyomov scenario with cutting off logistics and isolating the combat area. The actual assault on the city will probably not take place at all.
Are the Northerners slowing down or not?
On May 15, some Western sources reported an alleged slowdown in the pace of the offensive. In fact, the pace of the offensive is regulated only by the “northern” plan and fits into the general logic of the operation. In addition, the pace and features of the operation, such as the speed of advance, concern only the advanced battalion-tactical groups of the “North” group and say practically nothing about when and where the main forces of the Russian army will be deployed in the Kharkov direction.
What does rapid advance to Kharkov give to the “northerns”?
The main direction posing a threat to the Ukrainian Armed Forces remains Kharkov. It is less than 20 km from Liptsy, which makes it possible to hit targets along the entire length of the city using rocket and cannon artillery without the use of aircraft. Another problematic area remains the south-eastern highway beyond Volchansky. From the important junction station Bely Kolodez, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces may lose after Volchansk, the Kupyansk section of the front is only 70 km. It is not yet known whether the “northern” plan involves an attack from the opposite side of the front, however, if such a decision is made, the Kupyansk group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of at least five brigades and several battalions will receive another direction of attack, to which they will have to react and divert resources, which so it’s no longer enough.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/98190
Posted by: Down South | May 15 2024 16:30 utc | 25
i am sorry for posting this to the ukraine thread but it is in response to:
Posted by: S | Apr 21 2024 2:56 utc | 273
which was posted to the ukraine thread and subsequent posts by others supporting the user S.
in the process of working on another project i found several problems with the information provided in the post by S.
1) the google search returns results with no post by S but posts by “s” and “S Brennan”. S does not mention the fact that false positives will be returned.
2) S gives multiple hits for a thread but does not mention that google only returns the thread page and not one entry for each post on the page. S had to search the page to find multiple results. this is important information for anyone trying to make use of the search procedure.
3) the third result S shows gives three hits for posts 88, 134, 160. google only return ONE entry for the first page of the thread (post 88). it turns out that google is only indexing the first page of a thread. interestingly the post 273 that is being responded to in this post is not in the google search results. so to get the hits for 134, 160 S had to click “next page” and search it for posts. S gives the impression that google returned all three results which is false. the url for the first page of a thread ends in “.html” while urls for subsequent threads do not. it appears that google only indexes pages that end in html. other url may reference things like binary data (only html pages can realistically be indexed by google). so the procedure specifed by S is woefully inadequate for searching MoA.
hopefully this post helps others to interpret google search results correctly and not be mislead by S. again i am sorry for the wrong thread.
Posted by: frkorz | May 15 2024 16:37 utc | 26
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
How convenient of you to overlook the populations of both Lugansk and Donetsk declaring themselves as independent republics following years of genocidal repression by the Kiev/Nuland regime. Russia acted quickly to recognise these republics then set about exercising its responsibility to protect (remember where that phrase came from?).
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 16:43 utc | 27
More like Olof Fico Palme-Kennedy.
An assassination in broad daylight, without any chance to escape. Who would do that?
mk | May 15 2024 15:56 utc | 15
There’s two types of political murders:
The discrete “tragic accident” type, and the broad-daylight “whole world is watching” type.
The latter is aimed not so much at the actual victim, but others who’re given a clear message of “you might be next”.
Orban might have to juice up his security
Newbie | May 15 2024 15:03 utc | 2
Not so much Orban (who’s certainly done that long ago), but any EUropean leader who might appear inclined to seek compromise with Moscow. I allow myself to re-post what I wrote yesterday (May 15 2024 0:19 utc | 215):
Western countries try to appear ‘united’ on Ukraine/Russia, but their strategic goals & positions are completely opposed. Some say that the real strategic ‘war’ isn’t NATO vs. Russia, but UK/US vs. EU.
The threat of something, in this case terrorist attacks, is often more powerful than the act itself. There’s certainly a Damocles’ Sword hanging over EUrope’s head, which may explain its policies (at least partly).
Once Ukraine has capitulated, there’s little point in carrying out attacks. More probably (imo), they’d be used to put pressure on EU leaders when they appear to compromise with Moscow (“appeasement!”).
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 16:48 utc | 28
…then, all at once.
Simplicius
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-51424-putin-cleans-house-as?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1351274&post_id=144564655&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=gjqol&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Posted by: KMRIA | May 15 2024 16:48 utc | 29
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
Chechen “separatist” were doing some bomb attack in Moscow’s metros and theaters …
Donestk became separatists AFTER an AFU BMP charged the “march for the immortals” may 9th 2014.
Luhansk became separatist after a SU24 drop two full loads of rockets on an open air concert in the city center on june 24 2014.
The only common point here is Russia treatment of terrorist threat upon Russians.
Did I forgot the Union’s house massacre in Odessa on may 1st 2014 ? 9 Years of ATO and 14k deads ? Azov raid in Marioupol, Kraken raids in Sloviansk/Kramatorsk, why do Minsk agreement were hastily signed (look about Deblastevo battle) …
I said it before and i’ll say it again, this conflict is like Star Wars , most will see episode 1,2,3 long after episode 4,5,6 …
Posted by: Savonarole | May 15 2024 16:52 utc | 30
Not so much Orban (who’s certainly done that long ago), but any EUropean leader who might appear inclined to seek compromise with Moscow. I allow myself to re-post what I wrote yesterday (May 15 2024 0:19 utc | 215):
Western countries try to appear ‘united’ on Ukraine/Russia, but their strategic goals & positions are completely opposed. Some say that the real strategic ‘war’ isn’t NATO vs. Russia, but UK/US vs. EU.
The threat of something, in this case terrorist attacks, is often more powerful than the act itself. There’s certainly a Damocles’ Sword hanging over EUrope’s head, which may explain its policies (at least partly).
Once Ukraine has capitulated, there’s little point in carrying out attacks. More probably (imo), they’d be used to put pressure on EU leaders when they appear to compromise with Moscow (“appeasement!”).
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 16:48 utc | 28
Agreed on most of your points, if not certain, at least likely.
As I have often said, EU should have made a security and energy pact by accepting RF back in the 90’s or at least when Putin put the house in order.
But that would not suit US/UK axis that wanted to pillage RF and neuter the EU.
Now there is one doubt that I have, do they want to bring the EU down to its knees or just assure that a unified vassal can be created in the next 15 years to go head on against the RF…
That is also a very important thing for how much of ucraine they can afford to lose, if the later, not too much.
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 16:55 utc | 31
badjoke@19….best non battle field use of a drone so far, that I have seen, was in Dublin. Some lads are using drones to drop bags over police cameras.
Cheers M
…protesters take note…..
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 15 2024 17:04 utc | 32
Name me a region of Russia, comparable in size and resources, that Putin would simply let breakaway from Russia, based on popular sentiment … if you can, I have a bridge to sell you.
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
Alaska.”>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/04/17/putin-says-hes-not-planning-on-taking-over-alaska/”>Alaska.
Posted by: Passerby | May 15 2024 17:07 utc | 33
Quelqu’un peut il m indiquer le nom d un site accessible et qui donne une carte réelle des opérations militaires. Deepstate serait aux mains des trolls de Kiev. Merci.
Posted by: Dubourg | May 15 2024 17:14 utc | 34
Napoleon@24
Chechnya is not an analogue for the conflict in Ukraine. In 2014 the eastern oblasts sought a degree of autonomy, a federalization of gocernance to protect their language and social order. Only after Kiev refused to negotiate did they declare independence (against the advice of Russia), and when they were declared terrorists open conflict began.
Russia was unwilling to a hostile, NATO armed state strategically located on its former territory incorporating the Russophilic regions, with a several thousand km common border that would forever threaten its security.
Russia attempted to resolve this situation through negotiations for 8 years and only resorted to the military option when it became clear that a negotiated settlement was impossible. In the Russian view a NATO incorporated Ukraine was an existential threat to their security. Thus the SMO. Their objective is to permanently resolve the security issue through territorial acquisition as long as an acceptable diplomatic solution remains impossible. So far the only large city with extensive damage is Mariupol and Ukraine drove that solution. Russia would have preferred a surrender once the city was surrounded. Likely they will attempt to surround Kharkiv and force a surrender if possible.
Russia is not using the punitive tactics they chose in Chechnya.
Posted by: the pessimist | May 15 2024 17:16 utc | 35
Posted by: Dubourg | May 15 2024 17:14 utc | 34
Souvent en retard mais quelqu’un l’a posté un jour et je le trouve utile.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=180u1IkUjtjpdJWnIC0AxTKSiqK4G6Pez&hl=en_US&ll=48.145503593474565%2C37.55475389784157&z=12
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 17:23 utc | 36
With all the reshuffling accompanying President Putin’s new term, and General Surovikin unexpectedly recalled to Moscow – presumably to be offered a new post in the SMO – can’t help wondering whether General Gerasimov will be ‘kicked upstairs’ and Surovokin offered his job?
Who knows what lurks in the undercurrents of The Kremlin power plays?
Posted by: Gerry Bell | May 15 2024 17:26 utc | 37
Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 16:43 utc | 27
Russia acted very slowly, exhausting every alternative and leaving the Peoples Republics to defend themselves, before finally recognising their independence.
No doubt this was justifiable politically and diplomatically- Russia did not want to fight but, by jingo, it has the men, it has the guns and it has the money too.
Posted by: bevin | May 15 2024 17:27 utc | 38
protesters take note…..
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 15 2024 17:04 utc | 32
That was a couple of weeks ago.
Hasn’t been a whisper about it since.
Wonder why?
Posted by: jpc | May 15 2024 17:31 utc | 39
Now, that cuts both ways, most western leaders and fortune 500 CEOs are equally vulnerable if the joke is played too many times by the same side.
Newbie | May 15 2024 15:49 utc | 13
A key feature (and strength) of western capitalism/ imperialism is that ‘leaders’ are interchangeable. Take one out, the next will take his place – the aggressive expansionism is rooted in the system itself. Compare this to movements & governments centred on individual ‘strongmen’, where succession tends to be a big problem.
—
Russia acted quickly to recognise these republics then set about exercising its responsibility to protect (remember where that phrase came from?).
Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 16:43 utc | 27
If ever there was a case where ‘R2P’ was applicable…
That said, I think this abomination of international law should remain in the dustbin of history, its rightful place. But of course it’s tempting to troll western “humanitarian interventionists” with it. 😉
The main reason for the SMO, however, was the threat to strategic stability posed by a possible integration of Ukraine into NATO (even if formal membership was impossible). By not ruling this out, NATO broke all treaties and guarantees ever given to Russia. Moscow had to counteract the emerging threat on its border, given that 8 years of negotiations led to nothing.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 17:32 utc | 40
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | May 15 2024 15:13 utc | 3
They shot the wrong man.
Posted by: KingCobra | May 15 2024 17:32 utc | 41
“Units of Battlegroup Dnepr have completely liberated the settlement of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region and defeated the personnel and equipment of the 65th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the 121st Territorial Defense Brigade, and Ukraine’s 23rd National Guard Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporozhye region, Nikopol in the Dnepropetrovsk region, and Zolotaya Balka in the Kherson region,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240515/russian-forces-completely-liberate-rabotino-village-in-zaporozhye-region-1118444826.html
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 17:37 utc | 42
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
Now let’s look at the Chechen War. Chechnya tried to break away from Russia. What was Russia’s response?
It was some chechens’ protests no doubt but mostly the usual covert operation CIA style. Kadirov senior(later killed in a bomb attack) noticed his fighters becoming more and more arab mercenaries and decided to switch back to Russia to avoid giving his country to foreigners. His son, the present Kadirov is very much Russian Federation.
Posted by: magicmirror | May 15 2024 17:44 utc | 43
jpc@…seeds take a while to sprout…but the potential for future use is out in the open….I see it as inspiration and ingenuity.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 44
But how is it possible that “all good men” in US/EU are now silent?
There is no discomtentcand only a small percent see the total lunacy.
Posted by: vargas | May 15 2024 15:32 utc | 8
Note the continued hopeless gloom and misanthropy of dirty Vargas.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 45
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
While you are slicing and dicing History to reach your targeted conclusions, please be careful to keep your fingers and junk well back from the table.
Posted by: kupkee | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 46
Robert Fico has been shot and his injuries life-threatening.
I recall Ukrainian officials threatening europe if they didn’t get what they wanted. That is one possible scenario. I can imagine others, but all of them are just speculation.
Posted by: Feral Finster | May 15 2024 14:47 utc | 1
Definitely the work of US imperialism probably using Ukie or other proxies in the area.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 15 2024 17:47 utc | 47
EU to ban Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Izvestia, RIA Novosti and Czech portal Voice of Europe
Posted by: rk | May 15 2024 16:25 utc | 22
nothing new on eu territory. goebbels did similar. the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 15 2024 17:55 utc | 48
Newbie | May 15 2024 16:55 utc | 31
As I have often said, EU should have made a security and energy pact by accepting RF back in the 90’s or at least when Putin put the house in order.
Isn’t that pretty much what was in place, until the US began rolling back the security arrangement by cancelling the ABM treaty in 2002, then installing pro-western governments in Ukraine and Georgia?
Energy & other trade was flourishing, and there was a host of security & arms reduction treaties.
But that would not suit US/UK axis that wanted to pillage RF and neuter the EU.
Now there is one doubt that I have, do they want to bring the EU down to its knees or just assure that a unified vassal can be created in the next 15 years to go head on against the RF…
Good question. I don’t pretend to know “the” answer, but methinks that UK and US pursue somewhat different strategies. London’s main goal is to secure European market access for its financial sector – the only ‘economy’ it has left. As in the 19th century, it would probably prefer a disunited continent. For its part, the US needs a strong EUropean economy to support its escalating conflict with China.
“Go head on against the RF” – hmm, why exactly? As long as EU – Russia ties are severed, no further escalation is needed imo.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 18:09 utc | 49
But that would not suit US/UK axis that wanted to pillage RF and neuter the EU.
Sorry, that was also part of the @Newbie quote.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 18:15 utc | 50
Note the continued hopeless gloom and misanthropy of dirty Vargas.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 45
I have a very bad opinion about European civilisation. Also about Homo Sapiens in general.
I have no hope that we are on the road to self destruction.
All true.
But why “dirty”….?
Posted by: vargas | May 15 2024 18:30 utc | 51
Some Westerns consider large-scale military conflict possible — intelligence service
“MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Some Western politicians consider unleashing of a large-scale military conflict possible, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) together with its partners is closely monitoring the situation, Sergey Naryshkin, a candidate for the post of SVR Director, said.
“According to the information available to the service, a part of European and American politicians actually considers it possible to unleash a large-scale military conflict in order to preserve their hegemony,” he said at a plenary session of the Federation Council, where consultations on his reappointment to the post are being finalized. According to him, “this could happen if the so-called Western bloc considers it, firstly, profitable for itself and, secondly, sufficiently safe.”
Naryshkin pointed out that “the Russian Foreign Intelligence, together with partner intelligence services, intelligence agencies, is very closely monitoring the development of the situation in this area.”
TASS
Posted by: Nopir Pir | May 15 2024 18:48 utc | 52
EU to ban Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Izvestia, RIA Novosti and Czech portal Voice of Europe
Posted by: rk | May 15 2024 16:25 utc | 22
nothing new on eu territory. goebbels did similar. the apple does not fall far from the tree.
Posted by: Justpassinby | May 15 2024 17:55 utc | 48
And I always thought the West had the better arguments because it only spread the whole truth. Apparently he no longer believes in his own credibility. Signs of decline.
Posted by: Oliver Krug | May 15 2024 18:58 utc | 53
Nopir Pir | May 15 2024 18:48 utc | 52
We will know all that after Putin-Xi meet up.
Is this Yalta 2.0 minus the West or not?
Naryshkin made a public mistake in judging the Ukrainian mood at the night of the start of the liberation, in ’22, saying its fine. It was not. I saw his performance live on TV and he was not the most honest. He knew that Ukrainians backed with NATO troops will shoot back, but didn’t say it loud. MOD boss said: ‘Make mistakes, but do not lie’ as mantra will put Russia in a perfect order.
Even Lavrov once said: ‘Russia is not squeaky clean, but the West is very dirty.’
And he also offered a peace formula: ‘ If the West wants to settle this on a battlefield, so be it.’
Who will blink first?
Posted by: whirlX | May 15 2024 19:02 utc | 54
Conflicting reports about Robert Fico’s condition. Conscious after successful operation, or in a medically induced coma, condition critical.
Posted by: the pessimist | May 15 2024 19:27 utc | 55
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 15:41 utc | 11
With the Swiss navy.
Posted by: horseguards | May 15 2024 19:27 utc | 56
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 44
Well!
There’s the constant innovation outside the joy.
Kicking a ball over the wall.
Catapulting the drugs over the wall.
Then the nets went up.
Then the drones came along.
Innovation!and reaction.
Posted by: jpc | May 15 2024 19:28 utc | 57
KMRIA | May 15 2024 16:48 utc | 29
Re; Simplicius article.
Amazingly extensive “behind the scenes” cleaning up. Putin must have listened to Prigozin, so he moved Surovkin temporarily out to Africa, while the enquiries discretely started.
Doesn’t do to double cross Putin – he doesn’t like traitors.
For its part, the US needs a strong EUropean economy to support its escalating conflict with China.
“Go head on against the RF” – hmm, why exactly? As long as EU – Russia ties are severed, no further escalation is needed imo.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 18:09 utc | 49
The US conflict with China is going nowhere- there’s nowhere for it to go. The whole point of Maidan, rejecting Iran nuke deal, Oct 7 and subsequent impotent ‘fighting’ with Yemen, and even the ‘refusal to call it a coup’ in Niger has been, and continues to be, to isolate Europe from Russia/China/Iran, so that the US can plunder the EU and use its resources to build Fortress America in the western hemisphere. No matter what happens to the overall strength of the EU economies, for the near to medium term, all the US really wants is to maintain EU isolation so it can fill the space with overpriced energy and manufacturing that is already in the process of being transferred from Germany to the US mainland.
Any ‘harm’ done to Russia or anyone else in this project is gravy, the point is to completely enslave Europe, prevent it ever being a competitor or an an indpendent power, and to extract as much as the US can from it.
Posted by: Honzo | May 15 2024 19:38 utc | 59
My; Stonebird | May 15 2024 19:33 utc | 58
It is the defense procurement forces and finances that have been subject to a certain “ethically based shrinking process”, not Suvrokin. Who may even be the one behind the newest advances in the North. He is an original thinker, and is capable of taking the hard decisions to win in the long term.
Chechnya tried to break away from Russia. What was Russia’s response?
Posted by: Napoleon | May 15 2024 16:28 utc | 24
And the South tried to break away from the North?
What was the US’s reponse? A farewell party and handkerchief waving?
Posted by: Drapetomaniac | May 15 2024 19:47 utc | 61
Putin
“I want to thank Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu for what he has done over the past years to build the Armed Forces, to give them a new look. I think that no one has any doubt that this the image is being consistently created, including in relation to the requirements of today, to the requirements of modern methods of warfare.
Yes, we all understand that much still needs to be done, many things were not clear before the start of hostilities, either to us or to all those who were involved. One way or another, the world is dealing with the construction of its armed forces, this is obvious. But how quickly we respond to the demands of the time gives us confidence that we will certainly solve all problems of this kind.
Sergei Kuzhugetovich is moving to another job, you know about this. He will be the Secretary of the Security Council, this is a constitutional body that is formed by the President. His task is to assist the head of state in the leadership of the entire power component of the state.
Andrey Removich Belousov has been appointed the new Minister of Defense. This is not least due to the fact that spending on the military component is growing.”
…………..
The sentence I put the italics on – since the reshuffle, and even before, many seem to have equated this with corruption.
Most of what we have seen with the SMO is a very large military moving from a very large peacetime army to a battle hardened army. Issues that don’t show up in peace time do under combat. This is also the first war where modern ISR is used by both sides, US/Nato initially at least having the upper hand in ISR.
Apart from cost, a tiny amount of corruption in that huge organisation I doubt has had much detrimental affects on its fighting ability. Its main issues there simply being the time it takes for such a huge entity to adapt to SMO actual combat conditions. In this, Russia has proved far more adept than the west.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 19:55 utc | 62
Chechens were kidnapping and killing, including decapitating, the non-Chechens. They were even cutting off the fingers of hostages, and sending them to relatives to extract money.
The Russians were freeing several people a day from cellars and makeshift prisons when they started taking land back.
Chechnya was originally 1/3 of what it is now – it was just the mountainous part. But the communists added a lot of land the Russians and Georgians developed and added it to Chechnya. The Chechens were terrorizing and ethnically cleansing these people.
The communists giving away Russian land is a big part of the problems today – just as Stalin and others took Russian land and added it to Ukraine. There was never any vote of the peoples who lived there, so those decision should have been reversed.
Posted by: MiniMO | May 15 2024 19:57 utc | 63
MiniMO | May 15 2024 19:57 utc | 63
The CIA Islamic State grouping of terrorists in Chechnya consisted of half Arabs and half Chechens converted to wahhabism.
The vast majority of Chechen’s ended up siding with the Russian Federation against the CIA wahhabi’s.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 20:03 utc | 64
“We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours,” Putin was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.
Posted by: vargas | May 15 2024 20:07 utc | 65
@ Napoleon, §24:
The Chechen republic declared independence in 1992 despite Russian opposition: the first Chechen war.
Peace was declared in 1996, with Chechenya independent.
That wasn´t good enough for the USA. The CIA recruited Muslim fanatics and, with money and jihadis from Sadist Barbaria, kicked off the second Chechen war – with a fanaticism that spooked the Russians and, this time, the Russians put down Chechen independence for good. America, of course, walked away, washing its hands and denying everything.
The Ukraine operation is Chechenya 2.0 and, like Chechnya, the Ukraine will get ground to pieces between Russian defence and American opportunism.
Posted by: John Marks | May 15 2024 20:25 utc | 66
Blinken went to a Pizza restaurant in Kiev that has walls littered with Nazi symbols and also actual images of the Odessa massacre in 2014. But they didn’t show it to him.
why did they remove the picture of the Odessa massacre for Blinken?
https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/110600
Posted by: Norwegian | May 15 2024 20:26 utc | 67
Posted by: Stonebird | May 15 2024 19:40 utc | 60
In looking back, the entire SMO since the beginning of phase two has been somewhat a battle of Kursk. Russia defeating Nato land power from a relatively fixed defense line.
With Bakmut, Prigozin lost about 35;000 men. Ukraine 70,000. 2-1. Prigozin was all about offensive warfare and taking territory. He wanted the artillery and so forth that I assume was being stockpiled in preparation for Nato’s southern offensive towards Crimea.
When Nato’s vaunted southern offensive came, the regular Russian military defeated it with and attrition ratio that would of had to have been 10-1 or better.
Prigozin’s march on Moscow. He shot down a number of helicopters that were keeping an eye on his convoy. Who gave the orders not to destroy them? That could only have been Putin, the Commander in Chief.
Suvrokin likely is more the aggressive attack type similar to Prigozin rather than long term defence type commander. His qualities would likely come into their own in scenarios different to what we have seen in the SMO to date.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 20:31 utc | 68
Note the continued hopeless gloom and misanthropy of dirty Vargas.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 15 2024 17:45 utc | 45
I have a very bad opinion about European civilisation. Also about Homo Sapiens in general.
I have no hope that we are on the road to self destruction.
All true.
But why “dirty”….?
Posted by: vargas | May 15 2024 18:30 utc | 51
Well, it’s nice you know it. To me that kind of hopelessness and self hatred is exactly what the western ruling class wants us to think and hence, dirty.
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 15 2024 20:34 utc | 69
The offensive from the north hasn’t developed into anything much. At the moment it looks to have been a move simply to drawn in, pin, and destroy, more Ukie reserves. Russia again awaiting the next Nato move. Blinky orders Kinky not to leave Ukraine and plays guitar in Kiev…
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 20:51 utc | 70
@ 8
Blinken was performing Neil Young’s Keep on Rockin in the Free World. An anti-war song and anti-American song from before Neil lost his mind. The band of course sucked and Blinken can’t really play the guitar, they do all seem to know the song.
Only in clown world does the American Secretary of State sing an anti-American song. Or an anti-war song from a war zone. A war that he is busy fomenting.
Posted by: oldhippie | May 15 2024 20:52 utc | 71
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 16:43 utc | 27
That stupid nazi agent merits only one reply: fuck off agent provocateur! He is so stupid that he forgot to name one region which wants to be independant. Obviously he cannot.
His pseudo was well chosen: everyone knows what happened to him in 1812 (fleeing like a rat) and everyone knows how he finished his life.
Posted by: Naive | May 15 2024 20:55 utc | 72
Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 20:31 utc | 68
No, Peter, Prighozyn went into the Bakhmut head on and spoiled some plans of the General Command there. He also sucked up ammo and many other resources unplanned. Some thought it was cool, many think it was an idiotic move. He had enemies within. I seriously doubt in any of the stories Russian press came with, the only plausible was the most stupid way to die on the plane playing with the hand grenade. I do not believe that he was on that plane. A really good way to disappear btw. There were two of the same planes in the air at the time of the crash.
Surovikin is a hero and very faithful to Putin and his admin. He was sent to Libya and Algiers to rebuild AA and airforce there. Morocco is more NATO inclined at the moment, but he has good contacts there as well. I think he will be promoted soon.
I think that now or in a couple of weeks we will see Russia being changed as a pretty aggressive and innovative with an enormous supply to the front lines. At least that is expected from the new war minister. Maybe Xi has a better idea on how to continue – in sync or async, what hurts more, how fast can West shift power to or from, can they? Etc.
Posted by: whirlX | May 15 2024 21:05 utc | 73
whirlX | May 15 2024 21:05 utc | 73
As a PMC, who was paying Prighozyn for the SMO operation? This is something I have never seen. By all accounts, his men were very well equipped compared to the bulk of the Russian army.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 21:18 utc | 74
Video of escavators building the defensive lines being hit by lancets.
https://www.bitchute.com/video/JcWqvR8URQFG/
Yes there are a few machines working there was some money, other videos shows piles of dragon teeth dumped but never laid out, the front has moved too close to be building lines as troops retreat to try to use the unbuilt structures.
Ukraine’s complain Russians just walked to kharkov there were no mine fields nothing beyond the existing front that has now been defeated.
Posted by: Hankster | May 15 2024 21:32 utc | 75
Honzo | May 15 2024 19:38 utc | 59
No contradiction whatsoever.
‘Conflict’ is a broad term – the US certainly won’t wage war against China, but decoupling towards (economic) bloc confrontation is ongoing. The divide is between those who still accept $ and Sterling, and those who don’t.
Germany is so keen on exporting, it doesn’t matter to whom or what. In the 2000s, German machinery exports ‘made’ the Chinese economic miracle. Now it’s US industry and infrastructure that are being rebuilt. Which is probably a good thing, even if the buyer cannot offer anything in return.
(It doesn’t even matter whether LNG imports are ‘overpriced’ or not, imo. What’s important is that they’re shipped to EUrope – via sea lanes controlled by US/UK. So EU has to keep accepting USTs. This point may also explain why US/UK seemed so keen on closing Suez, forcing Arab oil exports to EUrope on an Atlantic route.)
—
Suvorokin. Who may even be the one behind the newest advances in the North.
Stonebird | May 15 2024 19:40 utc | 60
While I’m highly curious if, or in what capacity Surovikin will return, such a ‘secret comeback’ doesn’t seem very ‘typically Russian’. Everything has its due protocol in Moscow.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 21:41 utc | 76
Only in clown world does the American Secretary of State sing an anti-American song. Or an anti-war song from a war zone. A war that he is busy fomenting.
Posted by: oldhippie | May 15 2024 20:52 utc | 71
Is it possible that this is totally Clueless crass stupidity.
It had to be.
Same as Regan campaign I think using Born in the USA.
People who haven’t bothered to listen to anything except what they want to hear
That’sprobablythecase.
StupidcynicalClueless creeps.
Posted by: jpc | May 15 2024 21:49 utc | 77
Simplicius: SITREP 5/14/24: Putin Cleans House as Volchansk Comes to the Brink
As well as the update on Gov Changes..
… v. useful videos on poor state of AFU
… and the video on ‘To the last Ukrainian’, which “b” noted recently, is a must see.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/sitrep-51424-putin-cleans-house-as
Posted by: Don Firineach | May 15 2024 21:49 utc | 78
Posted by: oldhippie | May 15 2024 20:52 utc | 71
It is stultifying how an Administration as intellectually stunted and vapid as Blinken/Biden got placed into power by the dirty hands that run the United States.
I guess that Blinken opted out of playing Land of Dixie or Deutschland Uber Alles.
Posted by: kupkee | May 15 2024 21:49 utc | 79
Ukrainian telegram channels going crazy. Supposedly massive Ukrainian attack on Crimea and other Russian assets and a good number of the missiles got through. So much for Ukraine running short on ammo and missiles.
Posted by: bored | May 15 2024 21:52 utc | 80
bored | May 15 2024 21:52 utc | 80
Crimea hit again. Well, make mistakes, but do not lie.
I doubt that Russia will collapse because of that. They might get even more of those losses, but there is a plenty more of equipment replacing those.
I am disappointed that Russia is not taking the Western ISR flights serious enough, as it is a service without which, Ukraine would be blind and helpless, regardless of GPS and Google maps pinpointing.
Well, see what happens to the North, after shelling Russian territory for sometime?
The same will happen to the Odessa region.
Posted by: whirlX | May 15 2024 22:09 utc | 81
“Only in clown world does the American Secretary of State sing an anti-American song. Or an anti-war song from a war zone. A war that he is busy fomenting.”
—
The delusional lie that is the West, just like the singer Cohen was charming his audience and the next day he was laughing with the troglodyte and fascist Ariel Sharon.
Posted by: Simon | May 15 2024 22:09 utc | 82
Posted by: bored | May 15 2024 21:52 utc | 80
Ghost of Kiev is back, and this time… He:s angry!
Posted by: UWDude | May 15 2024 22:12 utc | 83
Go back and look at all deputy ministers of MoD removed for gross incompetence or corruption and you will see the link to Prigozhin’s money making schemes, catering for the SMO, construction of bases,etc.
The traitor Prigozhin panicked and attack Shoigu and Geranimov publicly when the noose was closing in. Putin’s warning about no criminal charges for coup attempt but criminal cases for corruption being pursued should clue you in.
Surovikin’s visit to the Kremlin most likely would be an update on his progress and meeting his new direct report, probably one of the 2 president’s aide and receiving fresh orders.
While Surovikin was not implicated in the corruption or coup attempt, he was some way involved on the wrong side.
Gerasimov and several other like Col. Gen Lapin, now chief Leningrad Military District and leading the N group might be made the new Marshals of the Russian Federation after the SMO.
Posted by: Suresh | May 15 2024 22:29 utc | 84
FICO LATEST….
Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba on Wednesday night said that Fico “is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”
“Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well and I guess in the end he will survive,” Taraba said.
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 15 2024 22:31 utc | 85
Ukrainian telegram channels going crazy. Supposedly massive Ukrainian attack on Crimea and other Russian assets and a good number of the missiles got through. So much for Ukraine running short on ammo and missiles.
Posted by: bored | May 15 2024 21:52 utc | 80
So, where is this “ammo and missiles” in the kharkov region then?
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 15 2024 22:37 utc | 86
Mr. Putin on the Special Military Operation today:
“Work is being carried out according to the plan approved and drawn up by the command of the battlegroup, by the General Staff. All the assigned tasks are being accomplished,” Mr. Putin said.
“Not only last year were all enemy counterattacks were repelled, but also starting this year, our troops are constantly, daily, improving their position in every area,” said Mr. Putin.
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 15 2024 22:53 utc | 88
Ukrainian telegram channels going crazy. Supposedly massive Ukrainian attack on Crimea and other Russian assets and a good number of the missiles got through. So much for Ukraine running short on ammo and missiles.
Posted by: bored | May 15 2024 21:52 utc | 80
So, where is this “ammo and missiles” in the kharkov region then?
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 15 2024 22:37 utc | 86
Haha. Good point. They send it to south to fire a few “PR” shots at crimea lol lol
Posted by: Ted from Liverpool | May 15 2024 22:56 utc | 89
‘Vladimir Putin held a meeting with senior military leadership, the main statements:
…
“We see what the neo-Nazi regime is doing in the border zone. This is what they have done for all the years since 2014,”
PLICIUS Ѱ
@simpatico771
1h
…
Lol ‘the border zone’!
The Garden defined the Abyss.
As the Jungle
The Abyss saying ‘Hello?’
“What is that, in our back yard?
Pass me the shovel”
‘Border zone’ 😂
Posted by: DunGroanin | May 15 2024 23:06 utc | 90
Haha. Good point. They send it to south to fire a few “PR” shots at crimea lol lol
Posted by: Ted from Liverpool | May 15 2024 22:56 utc | 89
If, and that’s a big if and why I didn’t answer to the first comments on this, there is a modicum of truth (and maybe there is as yesterday there was something as well), the big questions are three:
1. is why juicy targets would be within easy reach, could it be a staging ground for some action in the southwest?
2. Are these the known and usual missiles by the same planes or are we about to ear that Taurus or F-16 have started?
3. Where exactly are they being sent from…
Posted by: Newbie | May 15 2024 23:10 utc | 91
Re: Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 16:43 utc | 27
How convenient of you to overlook the populations of both Lugansk and Donetsk declaring themselves as independent republics following years of genocidal repression by the Kiev/Nuland regime. Russia acted quickly to recognise these republics then set about exercising its responsibility to protect (remember where that phrase came from?).
Quickly?!? lol.
These places declared their independence in 2014 and Russia recognised them in 2022 – 8 years later!
Your belief that waiting 8 years is “quickly” might explain a few things.
Posted by: Julian | May 15 2024 23:12 utc | 92
Hypocrisy at the highest today with the ppp and some others condemning the attack on Fico.
Posted by: Naive | May 15 2024 23:15 utc | 93
No contradiction whatsoever.
‘Conflict’ is a broad term – the US certainly won’t wage war against China, but decoupling towards (economic) bloc confrontation is ongoing. The divide is between those who still accept $ and Sterling, and those who don’t.
Germany is so keen on exporting, it doesn’t matter to whom or what. In the 2000s, German machinery exports ‘made’ the Chinese economic miracle. Now it’s US industry and infrastructure that are being rebuilt. Which is probably a good thing, even if the buyer cannot offer anything in return.
(It doesn’t even matter whether LNG imports are ‘overpriced’ or not, imo. What’s important is that they’re shipped to EUrope – via sea lanes controlled by US/UK. So EU has to keep accepting USTs. This point may also explain why US/UK seemed so keen on closing Suez, forcing Arab oil exports to EUrope on an Atlantic route.)
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 21:41 utc | 76
For its part, the US needs a strong EUropean economy to support its escalating conflict with China.
“Go head on against the RF” – hmm, why exactly? As long as EU – Russia ties are severed, no further escalation is needed imo.
Posted by: smuks | May 15 2024 18:09 utc | 49
I was misled by your use of terms like ‘go head to head with China’ into thinking you attributed some actual military intent behind the pervasive military posturing. It might just be me, but it wouldn’t occur to me describe a rebuilding of the American industrial economy by plundering, dismantling and rebuilding German industry in the US as ‘German exports.’ And all this probably does matter to those Europeons who are not high up in the hierarchy.
We agree that there will be no war with China, and that ‘decoupling is underway,’ but I think it’s critical to understand that stage one decoupling is really only for Europe vis a vis Russia/China/RoW. The US doesn’t even abide by its own sanctions, and is nowhere near prepared to decouple from Chinese manufacturing. Americans, for all their many failings, are not enthusiastic about waging war so they can have cheap cell phones and big-screen tvs, and I don’t believe they can be made to be so without the kind of mass ideological activation that the PTB cannot control, and thus fears above all things. So, ‘going head to head with China’ is a rhetorical flourish, and the reality will be, assuming all goes well for Fortress America (which is unlikely), a decoupling that attempts to mimic the build up the Chinese economy, a piece at a time, while keeping the domestic economy in some kind of tolerable zone for the mass of Americans. One day, RCA will be back in the TV business, another day, you’ll see an American-made table saw at Home Depot for less than the imports, etc.
Of course, if things don’t go according to plan, all sort of chaos will erupt in the US itself and I wouldn’t attempt to predict exactly what the consequences might be for foreign policy, war, or domestic policy. And, as I said, I doubt everything will go according to plan.
Posted by: Honzo | May 15 2024 23:36 utc | 95
Posted by: Julian | May 15 2024 23:12 utc | 92
What it proves, though, is Russia’s reluctance to invade Ukraine. It took 8 years for them to decide this course of action. However, the growing threat to the ethnic russian folk of Donbas, from the nazi build up of 200,000 troops on the borders of Lugansk and Donetsk, pushed the Kremlin into a pre-emptive attack. As Putin said at the time. “We are ending a war, not starting one.”
Its worth remembering the Falklands war. The british went to war with Argentina, 3,000 miles away, to protect the 1,000 “British people” who inhabited those Argentine islands. Oh! And they held a referendum as well. 99% of the 1000 people voted to “remain british”.
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 15 2024 23:36 utc | 96
Napoleon mentioned the instance of Chechnya.
While I suspect most folks here will remember, not everyone will, so I offer this little refresher. Remember when the neocons set up the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Committee_for_Peace_in_Chechnya
Posted by: Hunsdon | May 15 2024 23:51 utc | 97
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | May 15 2024 15:41 utc | 11
A profound post and observation Sir.
After picking myself up off the floor in much laughter induced pain, I remembered an old film (but forget the casting details) called THE MOUSE THAT ROARED. think that Luxemburg was the Mouse.
Anyhow, regards, and get yourself a double at the bar on my tab.
Posted by: Barrel Brown | May 16 2024 0:02 utc | 98
Blinkered says “Ukraine cant hold elections for president until all Ukrainians are able to vote”
Yet, Poroshenko was elected during the civil war when the Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea regions had declared their independence. What’s the difference, Mr Blinkered?
Posted by: HERMIUS | May 16 2024 0:08 utc | 99
As a PMC, who was paying Prighozyn for the SMO operation?
Peter AU1 | May 15 2024 21:18 utc | 74
From what I have read, the governments of the African countries paid for Wagner assistance. That they were able to do this speaks to the efficacy of Wagner efforts in creating a protective environment where mining and other resource extraction activities could be resumed.
It is worth speculating why Wagner could succeed when French efforts had seemingly failed.
Posted by: Raumati | May 16 2024 0:09 utc | 100