Ukraine - U.S. 'Experts' Throw The Towel
Michael Kofman and Rob Lee are U.S. experts who have visited the Ukrainian front-lines several times to then write positive hopeful pieces, in the sense of the West, about the conflict.
Their latest longer piece, published in Foreign Affairs, deviates from their older ones.
Ukraine’s Gamble
The Risks and Rewards of the Offensive Into Russia’s Kursk Region
They describe the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian Kursk oblast and the resulting lack of troops on the eastern Donbas front at some length.
They seem, like many others, not to be sure what it is all about. Neither Ukraine nor the countries that supports it seem to have any theory of victory.
Determining what this operation says about Ukraine’s overall strategy and the implications it has for the broader war effort is essential. In some ways, the offensive raises more questions than answers.
...
For much of 2024, the West has been supporting a Ukrainian strike campaign in Crimea without a good explanation for what was meant to follow. It was serviceable as an end onto itself, degrading Russian air defense and support infrastructure. But that campaign now seems disconnected from Ukraine’s efforts in Kursk and its broader drone strike campaign against economic infrastructure in Russia. A series of disparate efforts do not a strategy make.
...
Since 2023, Washington has been out of ideas for how to successfully end the war on terms favorable to Ukraine. Kyiv, meanwhile, has been focused on stabilizing the frontline, but equally worried about the prevailing gloomy narrative and the sense that Ukraine is losing the war. The Kursk operation helps address the latter at the risk of doing damage to the former. Whether or not Kursk succeeds, at least it is not an attempt to refight the failed 2023 offensive, a set piece battle in which Ukraine held no decisive advantages. That said, Kyiv’s present theory of success remains unclear.
Kofman and Lee are unhappy:
Holding Kursk as a bargaining chip, expanding strikes, and economic pressure on Russia could significantly strengthen Ukraine’s hand, assuming Ukraine can also hold the line, exhaust Russia’s offensive potential, and withstand Russia’s strike campaign this winter. However it ends, the Kursk offensive needs to provide the impetus for Ukraine and its partners to get on the same page—and shake off the current drift.
"Assuming Ukraine can also ..." carries a way too much weight in their closing words.
That becomes obvious when one sees news items like this:
The 152nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has been reorganized into a jager brigade, as announced on the brigade’s official social media channels.
A jager brigade is light infantry. It is specialized in fighting in woods and marshes. It has no armored means. It has no tanks, no infantry fighting vehicles and no heavy artillery. All of what the 152nd once had as a mechanized units has been wasted in the incursion of Kursk.
Ukraine can not sustain either of the three tasks Kofman and Lee are "assuming" it can.
The Donbas line is breaking, Russia's offensive potential is still much larger than anything we have yet seen and Ukraine has no means to defend against or prevent mass missiles strikes against its infrastructure and other military targets.
The Kursk incursion was a political theater piece designed to have a short term propaganda effect. It was paid for with the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. A way too height price for little effect. The mass of Ukrainian material that was destroyed in the campaign means that Ukraine has now thrown away any future attack potential its army still had.
Kofman and Lee know this. But they are still too timid to say so.
Still - its sounds like they have given up on it.
Posted by b on September 2, 2024 at 16:05 UTC | Permalink
next page »These 'journos' are unhappy because the hastily concocted Cavoli plan to capture Kursk and the Kurchatov NPP and blackmail Russia is now an epic failure.
Posted by: Boo | Sep 2 2024 16:14 utc | 2
The longer Russia keeps the war going, the more the American Empire declines.
Posted by: Polli | Sep 2 2024 16:12 utc | 1
##########
A similar tactic that the Iranians are using with Israel. These "modern" Zionist nations are susceptible to dread (fear multiplied by time).
They become increasingly desperate and manic, which accelerates their collapse.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Sep 2 2024 16:25 utc | 3
I'm sure glad they might see the light at the end of the tunnel is a train from Russia. The war isn't over until Russia says so good luck neo-conns
Posted by: jo6pac | Sep 2 2024 16:26 utc | 4
I think it was @Peter AU who discussed the existence of a split in the elites, between the “all-in globalists” who have no concept of defeat or setback, and the “realists/pragmatists” who are crunching the real numbers on Ukraine and not liking what they see.
The latter faction is gaining air-time in Western mainstream mouthpieces lately, not just this Foreign Affairs piece, someone linked to a commentary at The Hill a couple of weeks ago that was highly scathing about the Kursk caper, reading between the lines.
So, something is up...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 16:28 utc | 5
"Assuming Ukraine can also ..." carries a way too much weight in their closing words.
Kofman and Lee know this. But they are still too timid to say so.
Still - its sounds like they have given up on it.
Posted by b on September 2, 2024 at 16:05 UTC | Permalink
Yes, in the last thread I explained what the FAU can (or can't in my opinion)
"Let's start with "still has reserves", it does, BUT, if things go they way they're going until the end of the month/quarter, I would be tempted to say that most, if not all, of the remaining half a million (roughly) AFU army, will be mostly wounded men, in a varied state of "mend". And to boost, most of them are east of the dnieper, boom go the bridges and how many can Z recover?
Now going to "a pool to draft from", it's a very shallow and dangerous marsh, not really a pool. If mommy ukie did not take young future warrior hero out in 2022 (and I would say many did) you would have maybe 800.000 young boys available from which 500.000 could be usable/drafted. But many did take them out and I would say it's closer to 350.000. You could go full hitler youth and get 500.000 but from all usable 15yo boys and older, but that's about it. Whatever way you dice it, once that last effort recruitment is done you are left with an annual levée of 50k maybe 60k that doesn't hold a month.
https://www.populationpyramid.net/ukraine/2023/
As for he cost RF is ready to bear, it has always been a very steady 19.000 if we must , 18.000 if we don't KIA per semester. (and roughly as many permanently WIA). Which is roughly 10% (20 including otherwise disabled) of the soldiers they are training, equipping and giving experience in the same period... Do the math and see what that gives.
So, getting whatever forces across the dnieper and drafting all 18yo+ are BOTH needed to dream of holding the dniepeer. And neither allows sustaining operations throughout 2025Q1.
Of course drafting the kids will probably get Z and his bunch hanged and quartered, but might postpone things to after the US elections and that's what's important right now... 2024Q4 will be a bitch for ukraine cheerleaders.
Now for the 25% +-5% fortifications in dombass (and even elsewhere in the east bank), how useful are they when:
1. You don't have the men to man them
2. The logistics to supply and support them have been cut
3. They can be left behind to rot and any counter attack can be FABed away
Concerning 3, RF wishes to thank Z and the AFU for supplying, in kursk, a test bed for curtailing incursions with limited ground resources and bombing.
my 2 cents"
Posted by: Newbie | Sep 2 2024 16:36 utc | 6
I think it was @Peter AU who discussed the existence of a split in the elites, between the “all-in globalists” who have no concept of defeat or setback, and the “realists/pragmatists” who are crunching the real numbers on Ukraine and not liking what they see.
The latter faction is gaining air-time in Western mainstream mouthpieces lately, not just this Foreign Affairs piece, someone linked to a commentary at The Hill a couple of weeks ago that was highly scathing about the Kursk caper, reading between the lines.
So, something is up...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 16:28 utc | 5
Mostly going down, now the question is "before or after elections?"
Posted by: Newbie | Sep 2 2024 16:37 utc | 7
It’s interesting b.
As I posted earlier - my journo acquaintances appear to have been directed to work on the Kursk Narrative, for the British media. Its not a surprise because the British Aristos have been the leading ‘military’ supporters of the Nazio Ukraine escapade.
Infact it’s the Senior Service - The Royal Navy aristo families admirals who have been working on anti Russia anti Putin for about a decade now trying to build Russophobia.
Their main task appears to have been to dispossess Crimea from the RF and take control of the Black Sea - bottling up the Russian fleet in effect. That is for their real masters the zionazi Khazar empire lusters.
That’s where the attacks on the Kerch Bridge and the James Bond super dooper sea drones have undoubtedly been supplied and directed from. I still think they had a major part to play in NS2 too.
They have failed again and again.
So it’s seems to me that the Kursk escapade is the Old Army Aristos having a go. They are all related after all, trying to save the blushes of their Naval moron bros. The Tank Brigade which gave rise to the Chemical Ali of Britain. The idiot in his multi coloured teletubby suits in Salisbury with the Skripal psyop (just before the Football tournament in Russia) , Breton-Gordon (the name is a give away to the age old Norman aristo types).
Basically not tankers anymore just the route to spooky careers for the aristo dim wits.
They sent their Challenger Tanks - remember the coded number they promised ? They initially supplied 14 and planned to send 88!
Most of us know what these numbers imply. WE are the NAZIS!
The only possible strategic value it can otherwise have is to encourage some Big Arrow RF moves - which have been expected from day one. So that the RF could be extended and they become easy prey for some Road of Death missiles and Gladio Ops in the strongly fortified areas beyond Donbass.
We’ll soon see how that plan goes with the new formation of troops - obviously designed to be the fighting retreat forces luring the Russian tanks.
The News Narratives are being prepped.
The dumb aristos were always dumb. They rode into the valley of Death. They made Gallipoli into a massacre , and they sit in the Middle East Sheikdoms as their henchmen and still personal possessions like Muscat - where the Aristos went to frolick.
It is finally all over and they will be a laughing stock to most of us ordinary Brits for their folly - we meanwhile will soon be targeted for holding such ‘non-patriotic’ opinions by a supposed Labour Party leadership SIR KEEF the Great Knight Dope who will cover their blushes at home.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Sep 2 2024 16:37 utc | 8
81 requests received.
72 cleared.
70 resolved.
The trap is narrowing and taking full effect.
In the end, Motherland Russia will not be kind to the Collective Waste.
Posted by: AI | Sep 2 2024 16:38 utc | 9
Kofman is terrible. A complete sell out. He was quoted at length by a liberal friend. It took me one 5 minute search engine sweep to realize he was heavily biased and completely peddling yankee triumphant koolaid. Next week, he will write that Russia has already lost the moral victory or who knows what. One article does not reverse years of delusion.
Posted by: Hank | Sep 2 2024 16:43 utc | 10
the “realists/pragmatists” who are crunching the real numbers on Ukraine and not liking what they see.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 16:28 utc | 5
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How are these clever Oligarchs positioned in the Market? Why aren't they selling like there will be no redemption? Buffett showed the way, but what is he buying? Who is he screwing?
The people who have controlled the situation up until now are facing a Prisoner's Dilemma where mutual cooperation no longer gives the best outcome.
May the worst amongst them lose the most, however unlikely.
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 16:46 utc | 11
Reported by Die Welt, Russia has overtaken the US in imports of gas to Europe!
In the second quarter of 2024, Russian gas accounted for roughly 17% of all EU imports, just ahead of supplies from the US, Welt noted, citing the Brussels-based think-tank Bruegel. According to its figures, European customers received 12.27 billion cubic meters of US LNG over that period or time, while Russia delivered 12.73 billion cubic meters to the bloc.The Russian supplies include both LNG and pipeline gas, which flows to the EU via Belarus and Ukraine and through the TurkStream undersea gas pipeline. Kiev, which receives transit fees for fuel delivered through its territory, has threatened to suspend operations after the current contract expires at the end of 2024. However, it has indicated that it is open to third nations, such as Azerbaijan, stepping up their use of Soviet-built infrastructure.
Imports from Russia are still significantly down from pre-2022 levels (just pipeline gas had a 40% share pre-2022), but this shows the failure of Europe anti-Russia self-harming policies. And lets not even mention all the "India blend", "China blend" etc. oil imports that contain lots of Russian oil, plus all the oil products derived from Russian oil.
As an unreliable customer, Europe gets the highest prices for Russian hydrocarbons to add to its other expensive LNG imports. Asia gets the good prices, providing both Russia and Asia with a huge energy cost advantage and Russia with alternative export markets.
The Kursk incursion was a political theater piece designed to have a short term propaganda effectZelensky et al. are actors. To them it is all about providing a show and receiving applause, and then they expect to be rewarded by the owner of the theater.
Similarly, modern western public observe the show via a tiny hand-held telescreen, it provides constant messages about what to believe with a frequency so high that independent thought is impossible.
Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 2 2024 16:47 utc | 13
I find the posting at Reuters may be along the same line as admitting that empire is "out gunned"
Exclusive: U.S. researchers find probable launch site of Russia's new nuclear-powered missile
Two U.S. researchers say they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of the 9M370 Burevestnik, a new nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile touted by President Vladimir Putin as "invincible."
Just what does empire do when it knows that the Russia/China alliance has nuclear superiority and could do a first strike victory but that is not who they are as countries unlike the aggro West.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 2 2024 16:50 utc | 14
@1
The corruption in the MIC is more noticeable every day.
The authors’ confusion is ploy to hide the corruption shown by falling on the false hopes including “V-1 type deep strikes will work”.
U$$A will be less able to deal with the resistance each billion they pour into the Kiev money laundry.
Russia wins each shipment of $$.
b does a great service extracting articles that I would otherwise pass.
Posted by: paddy | Sep 2 2024 16:51 utc | 15
ColonelCassad Telegram channel has a video of a new Ukrainian "Thermite" drone burning up Russian woodline positions.
The drone is a heavy FPV carrying a basket of Thermite which fly's over a wooded area acts basically like a flying flamethrower, setting fire to everything it flys over.
The video on ColonelCassad does show a "kill" (and secondary detonation) so be warned.
Whatever you think this is a potentially very dangerous and definitely terrifying weapon.
Posted by: Uki watch uae | Sep 2 2024 16:51 utc | 16
We will never know until it is over. The way it has been presented(by alt media) it looked like it was over for Ukrainians by 2023. We know the western MSM r collectively lying but the alt media critical of the west has not been on target either.there have been some logical reason been given for that, but they have been off mark that is a fact. Also recent mischaracterization of Bangladeshi uprising makes me doubt the impartiality and ability of rational analysis of the "anti western hegemony alt media"
Posted by: A.z | Sep 2 2024 16:51 utc | 17
Any chance the Kursk - region was a trap, set by the russsian army and baited by NOT putting up any defense there?
To lure Ukraine into sending out an army to conquer a lot of empty fields and lose themselves over 1000 km2, spread thin on a silver plate waiting to be picked off one by one by Russian artillery, bombs, and snipers?
Posted by: Marvin | Sep 2 2024 16:59 utc | 18
"How are these clever Oligarchs positioned in the Market? Why aren't they selling like there will be no redemption? Buffett showed the way, but what is he buying? Who is he screwing?"
Buffett is not a moron. He will not buy anything before the pending Wall Street crash
Posted by: Parisian Guy | Sep 2 2024 17:01 utc | 19
Russia is fighting a terribly strong enemy, NATO+Ukraine. This enemy does not consider any future negotiations or compromise.
I doubt that Putin understands that.
Posted by: vargas | Sep 2 2024 17:04 utc | 20
He will not buy anything
Posted by: Parisian Guy | Sep 2 2024 17:01 utc | 19
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He traded for something. Treasuries? Which ones?
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 17:05 utc | 21
As we get closer to the "then suddenly" moment as another poster coined, we can speculate what it will look like.
I believe Putin, even though he is control of all the cards at this moment, will offer extremely face-saving conditions to the Ukes, giving them perhaps even a better semblance of autonomy than perhaps Blackrock or the U.S. gov't would. But, in exchange, their ability to wage war will be totally neutered.
This leads us to the question that most people who come to the bar have on their brains: what are the implications of this on the west?
For my part, I have come to understand two types of posters: one is the reactionary Christian who wants to see the complete withdrawal of the American police-state from foreign lands and a semblance of normal state operations that any other country might exhibit: policing the border, develop defensive weaponry only, reform white-collar criminal code for stiffer penalties, etc.
The other poster here is a Marxist in the Lenin's tradition who sees the upcoming moment as opportunity, the same as the Christian listed above. Lenin used the term "Revolutionary Defeatism" to understand the phenomenon of a weakened central state that is ripe for internal subversion/capture.
So, this idea of seizing on "Revolutionary Defeatism" is appropriate when describing the motivation of the two types of posters listed above.
Which one are you?
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Sep 2 2024 17:06 utc | 22
I doubt that Putin understands that.
Posted by: vargas | Sep 2 2024 17:04 utc | 20
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I'm pretty sure Putin understands how stupid his enemy is.
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 17:07 utc | 23
How are these clever Oligarchs positioned in the Market? Why aren't they selling like there will be no redemption? Buffett showed the way, but what is he buying? Who is he screwing?
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 16:46 utc | 11
Good questions, maybe there’s some kind of “Mexican stand-off” between those who have sold into cash (like Buffett) and are waiting to pounce on assets devalued by a sell-off, and those who are holding the assets at present value and definitely do not want an uncontrolled sell-off. How that plays out is anybody’s guess, but I suspect those holding cash or highly-liquid cash-equivalents will win out, regardless of inflationary erosion.
An outside bet is that a widespread sell-off repeatedly triggers market-suspending “limit down” stops to the point that every time a re-opening is attempted the next “limit down” is immediately triggered, to reach the point that markets can never actually re-open.
Apologies to all for the off-topic.
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 17:10 utc | 24
Posted by: Uki watch uae | Sep 2 2024 16:51 utc | 16
Don't hold your breath.
Nothing that can not be deployed by RF in a few days if effective.
Posted by: Mario | Sep 2 2024 17:12 utc | 25
@Boo #2
I really doubt it is Cavoli.
He has shown that he does actually understand the military situation.
Kursk smells of CIA Yalie and/or MI6 Eton/Sandhurst numbnuts
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 2 2024 17:15 utc | 26
For much of 2024, the West has been supporting a Ukrainian strike campaign in Crimea without a good explanation for what was meant to follow. It was serviceable as an end onto itself
Terrorist attacks against Russian civilian targets are serviceable and useful to the allies of Ukraine. Stopping Russia's advance to secure the Donbas region, negotiations to stop the special operation, addressing the requirements of Russian national security are unprofitable.
Posted by: Keme | Sep 2 2024 17:18 utc | 27
@Boo #2
I doubt it is Cavoli - he has shown he does actually understand the military situation, whatever platitudes he has to mouth regularly.
Kursk reeks of CIA Yalie and/or MI6 Eton/Sandhurst numbnuts
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 2 2024 17:18 utc | 28
@too scents #11
I don’t know why Buffet is considered a great stock picker - he is not.
His actually business is using massive reinsurance float to buy cash flow positive companies.
Even in his home turf: bonds and stocks - he made a huge mistake buying Salomon Smith Barney at the height of the 1st junk bond bubble. Buffet had to effectively get bailed out by the government to not lose his shirt there.
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 2 2024 17:22 utc | 29
Starting wars, invasions or other military actions without long term vision or exit strategy is a trademark of US policy.
Wonder where the ukro's got it from?
Posted by: Ed Bernays | Sep 2 2024 17:22 utc | 30
I don’t know why Buffet is considered a great stock picker
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 2 2024 17:22 utc | 29
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Buffett is selling and the economic issue of the day is the Ukraine War and de-dollariztion.
Did he buy defense or energy, or not?
Surely his hundreds of billions in play count for something.
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 17:29 utc | 31
@Marvin #18
Mercouris has said he received an email weeks before Kursk saying a situation was being prepared there.
Not exactly a trap - more like a “they will get f***ed if they are stupid enough to attack here.
What is known is that the mine fields normally protecting this part of the wartime border were significantly thinned out.
Mercouris has also noted, quite correctly in my view, that an inferior force having a hard time matching up across a very long contact line, would be foolish to extend the contact line even more - which is precisely what Kursk is.
From my own viewpoint: the Kursk nuclear power plant was definitely the objective but it is also clearly no one with any actual military experience planned Kursk.
Armored vehicles have a hard time driving 100 kilometers on a highway without huge percentages breaking down; the dirt narrow roads in that region of Kursk mean it is simply unrealistic to expect a “lightning” advance to take the power plant… unless you are a Dumbfuck CIA or MI6 expert
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 2 2024 17:32 utc | 32
The Kursk incursion was a political theater piece designed to have a short term propaganda effect.Rather I think it was a failed attempt to seize the Kursk nuclear power plant. Had they achieved that goal the entire narrative would be dramatically different.
Posted by: CalDre | Sep 2 2024 17:35 utc | 33
ZH has a posting up with the title
Ukraine Presents White House With List Of Targets Deep Inside Russia
the quote
But with these expanded cross-border strikes into Russia growing more bolder, and given the White House may openly come out and start supporting this, many analysts are waiting for President Putin to exact revenge in a major way which sends a strong 'message' that he is in fact willing to act on his red lines. It's perhaps only a matter of time for such a massive new escalation from Moscow. This could include directly targeting the Ukrainian capital in a 'shock and awe' way, or possibly even a hit on Ukrainian parliament or government buildings.
The above in the ending of the posting and reflects my desire as well to stave off nuke talk and force surrender of Ukraine
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 2 2024 17:37 utc | 34
Ed [email protected] long term vision....War, it's a racket....looks like 20/20 for the folks of the MIC supply business. Whether it's, US/NATO MIC sucking public teat, or top level Russian commanders getting their hands slapped for skimming.....it's a racket, no shortage of miserable bastards on both sides of the SlogMow, prolonging the inevitable, Russia completely taking all of 404 and thwarting The West, or....or...sorry can't go there, too early in the thread for nails scraping the blackboard.....
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 17:39 utc | 35
So, something is up...Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 16:28 utc | 5
Mostly going down, now the question is "before or after elections?"
Posted by: Newbie | Sep 2 2024 16:37 utc | 7
I think they (Biden & Co) knew the gig was truly up late last year but needed to have it last until after the elections. At this rate they might not get there ...
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Sep 2 2024 17:42 utc | 36
Let's remember what 'Joltin Joe' Biden had in mind when he went military and enlarged the Russia/Ukraine political situation into a full-fledged war.
Jan 19, 2022 - CNN
Biden predicts Russia ‘will move in’ to Ukraine, but says ‘minor incursion’ may prompt discussion over consequences
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do,” Biden told reporters at an East Room news conference. “But if they actually do what they’re capable of doing with the forces amassed on the border, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”
Later, asked to clarify what he meant by “minor incursion,” Biden said he drew the line at “Russian forces crossing the border, killing Ukrainian fighters”
“I think that changes everything,” the President said. “But it depends on what he does, to what extent we’ll get total unity on the NATO front.”
“It’s very important that we keep everyone in NATO on the same page. That’s what I’m spending a lot of time doing, and there are differences,” he went on. “There are differences in NATO as to what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens.”
.. . Biden’s remarks came as the US entered what officials have deemed a dangerous period, when a Russian invasion could occur at any moment. The President, while acknowledging lingering uncertainty over Putin’s intentions, said Wednesday he believed the Russian leader would soon invade Ukraine.
“I’m not so sure he is certain what he is going to do. My guess is he will move in. He has to do something,” Biden said, describing a leader searching for relevance in a post-Soviet world. “He is trying to find his place in the world between China and the west.”
Biden’s prediction of an invasion was the firmest acknowledgment to date the United States fully expects Putin to move after amassing 100,000 troops along the Ukraine border.
After speaking with Putin twice last month, Biden said he believed his Russian counterpart had a good understanding of the economic sanctions he was preparing to enact.
“He’s never seen sanctions like the ones I promised will be imposed if he moves, number one,” he said, adding the level of punishment would depend on what Russia’s invasion looks like.
. . .Biden speculated Putin was not seeking “any full-blown war,” but said he did believe he was looking for some type of confrontation: “Do I think he’ll test the west? Test the United States and NATO as significantly as he can? Yes, I think he will. But I think he’ll pay a serious and dear price for it.” . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 2 2024 17:43 utc | 37
c1ue @29
I don’t know why Buffet is considered a great stock picker - he is not.Perhaps because his stock picks are currently valued at > $1 trillion. What are your stock picks worth?
he made a huge mistake buying Salomon Smith Barney at the height of the 1st junk bond bubble.Even if you are correct (and you are not - first, Berkshire Hathaway did not buy all the company but only a minority stake, and second, it doubled its investment when Travelers Group bought Salomon in 1997), do you actually think the standard for a "great stock picker" is never losing money on an investment? That's ... rich!
Posted by: CalDre | Sep 2 2024 17:43 utc | 38
As Britain sinks under the leadership of NATO owned, ziofascist supporting turd Sir Keir Starmer, the BBC can barely conceal the futility of continuing NATO’s idiotic proxy war against Russia…
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qe9ql8v95o
Some twerp called Nick Beake claims to be reporting from Chernihiv about the training of a bunch of 40-50 year old conscripts who have been drafted at the behest of the clapping and cheering Ukrainian flag waving morons in the US Congress who want to keep this slaughter going “until the last Ukrainian” and demand insane military actions in return for billions of dollars to the corrupt regime in Kiev.
Having consistently forgotten that they described Azov and Right Sector as neo Nazi in 2014, BBC is careful not to show any Nazi insignia or tattoos amongst the latest cannon fodder, who they reveal to have less than a month of training. The conscripts are referred to as “new army joiners” and the article admits that the grey haired cannon fodder desperately required because what in 2021 was Europe’s largest army is now vastly depleted and outnumbered. “Ukraine is desperate for more troops” says Beake. In a classic inversion of reality the BBC quote the UK MoD claim that Russia has lost 70,000 men since the Kursk adventure. So we can be pretty sure that 70,000 is the casualty loss to Ukraine since this hare brained invasion of Russia.
One Ukrainian officer is quoted as saying “we can get to Moscow” which is the most unlikely episode of ‘Dad’s Army’ anyone could imagine. Stupid boy. The fantasy writer Beake doesn’t bother to question the deluded man on how realistic this is and claims he is “unable to ascertain the level of Ukrainian losses” a so called ‘journalist’ unable to find the many sources offered at this bar or Telegram…
It’s 700,000 Ukrainian losses Mr Beake. That’s why you’re talking to new recruits in their fifties who will last a few weeks in combat.
Additional reporting by Kyla Herrmannsen, Anastasiia Levchenko. They are as complicit in the deaths of these condemned Ukrainian conscripts as the main author, the BBC propaganda chiefs, UK and US war cheerleading politicians, and the grafting fascist regime leaders in Kiev.
It’s way past time to end this slaughter and negotiate a new security architecture for Europe. And this will only be done on Russian terms.
Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Sep 2 2024 17:47 utc | 39
[email protected] exacting revenge on buildings, isn't that rather childish....is there no more strategic targets left in 404....killing and maiming 100s of thousands, not revenge enough?
Force a surrender......how, capture Whitehall. Capture DC....who will sign for 404?
The US gave Russia a blueprint, unfortunately the Russians laughed it off. They should have and could have stood up an opposition government in exile. They could have presented the US with the truely elected President of 404.....totally missed the boat, even just for optics.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 17:51 utc | 40
"I don’t know why Buffet is considered a great stock picker - he is not."
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Thank you very much, nothing better than a good, healthy laugh
Posted by: Simon | Sep 2 2024 17:52 utc | 41
What's notable from all the NATO sources is the lack of any suggestions for a viable Ukie defensive strategy such as trading space for time. Russian progress is inexorable, although slowed by the bigger, more heavily fortified cities, everyday the Ukies lose further ability to slow the onslaught. Ugledar will be gruesome as Russia seeks to erase that island of resistance after several failed assaults since the SMO began. The high-rises Ukies have used as massive pillboxes will be flattened by FAB-3000s as the city gets surrounded. Currently, a number of large cities are being assaulted while the Ukies have few reserves to bolster defenses. Again, those cities will be liberated, and attempts by the Ukies at attrition aren't working well at all as they're the ones being rapidly consumed. And there's still one section of the front where Russia's been rather quiet--Kherson to Zaporozhe, although in the latter it's leveled the salient at Rabotino and continues to peck away, waiting.
As for negotiations, Lavrov's been asked that question at every presser and interview over the last ten days and the answer is always the same--The West shows it's not ready for any serious talks, which is followed by the most recent example, Borrell again along with others. And as Russia prepares to mourn the Beslan terrorist attack's 20th anniversary, the West and its flunkies here at MoA ought to know what Putin and Russia think of them. From my comment at Martyanov's relevant thread:
I reported on Putin's visit to the region which included the homage to Beslan. I only included a few of the photos of the school and its shrine, which IMO are must views that emphasize how Russia honors its dead, particularly children in this case as they're deemed Russia's #1 priceless asset. Most of us won't ever get to Beslan, but its monuments are just as important as the massive monuments erected in homage to those lost in the Great Patriotic War. RT had video footage of Putin laying flowers at the Tree of Sorrow, where he did something I've never seen him do before at many other wreath-layings. Few cited what Putin said to the mother representatives of those who lost their loved ones which I find very odd. I bolded it once and I do so again:"But our enemy is different, he is not like us, although they seem to have a head and hands. We are well aware that they tried not only to justify this terrible crime from abroad, but also provided all possible assistance to the terrorists: moral, political, informational, financial, and military.
"[T]hese people, of course, have no ethics or morals – and we are seeing this now, in my opinion, in real life, we can see from the outside what they themselves are doing there … There are only their interests. We seem to have known about this for decades and centuries, but it is impossible to get used to it."
What Russians know about Beslan most of the world does not--that it was ultimately sponsored by the Outlaw US Empire, just as Crocus Hall was and Kursk is. Despite it not openly said by those at the top, most Russians are aware that they are at war with NATO, which means the Outlaw Empire. Some see what the Empire's Zionist allies are doing to Palestinians and know that's exactly the future planned for them--again.
Recall what Putin vowed in his Mobilization Speech of 21 September 2022:
"It is in our historical tradition, in the fate of our people, to stop those who are striving for world domination, who threaten to dismember and enslave our Motherland, our Fatherland. We will do it now, and so it will be."
This is a struggle for the freedom of the world, and that's not hyperbole.
I'm as guilty as anyone of wandering and Buffet should be OT but he is an "expert" in the hybrid war and he is seemingly "throwing in the towel" indirectly dumping Black Rock recently.
This is worthy though incomplete by Jimmy Dore trying to trace who really owns Black Rock, though he and his guest stop short of the conclusion, which is a three letter agency we all know, the modern version of East India Company, the modern expression of the merger of corporate capitalism and the state:
Warren Buffett Dumps 981 MILLION SHARES Of Bank Of America Stock
Black Rock <- Merrill Lynch <- Bank of America <- Berkshire Hathaway <- Buffet <- Reptile Overlords
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Sep 2 2024 17:58 utc | 43
@ sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 17:51 utc | 40 who is asking who will sign for the surrender of Ukraine/404
That is a good question. It just brings back into focus that 404 is a proxy event in a much bigger civilization war between the God Of Mammon cult empire and the public finance China/Russia axis.
The event in Occupied Palestine is another proxy of our civilization war.
I agree that the optics from our pond scum level of this civilization war is a bit limited but we can clearly see the outline if we look and many here discuss it at that level.
Back to who signs the 404 surrender....the God Of Mammon cult with the only known members being Pope Frank and King Chuck.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 2 2024 18:00 utc | 44
Last Mission? I know I'm not the first to say something like this.
Did the US order an ex-Ukrainian suicide so that they can get out without admitting defeat and be free to start some new evil elsewhere?
The final mission for Zelensky and then he can retire to Florida?
Is that all it was?
I'm torn between thinking they truly wanted the NPP or that they just used it as bait to lure their own into suicide.
In the MSM and clown world if ex-Ukraine collapses within this month it will be old news and mostly forgotten during the next month.
It could easily be worse.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 2 2024 18:03 utc | 45
The following is slightly off-topic, but is still about Ukraine.
Some people have wondered why Ukraine invaded the Kursk oblast of Russia. The operation made absolutely no military sense and was from the start overwhelmingly likely to fail.
The operation does make sense in one way: it has captured Sudzha, a village of 5000 Russian citizens. This means that Zelensky has 5000 hostages.
He can use as those hostages as leverage in future negotiations. The leverage may not be worth much on a national scale, as Russia is unlikely to make substantial concessions for them. However, Zelensky himself could benefit.
Zelensky and his accomplices in Ukraine -- they aren't friends, as I doubt he has many friends -- are probably no longer thinking as people responsible for a country, but as crooks who want to save their personal skins. Five thousand hostages may allow the crooks to escape.
Posted by: Cyril | Sep 2 2024 18:07 utc | 46
I see Putin's very busy today and is now in Mongolia. Eventually, I'll have a report up about his movements and events plus coverage of what he's been doing over the last week in talks with many regional heads about their socio-economic progress. One of those events was an interview with the Mongolian newspaper "Onodor" and a sit-down interactive discussion with students at a Tuvan school visited on his way to Mongolia.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Sep 2 2024 17:58 utc | 43
An interesting theory on what might be behind Buffet dumping BOA stock is that
the huge scandal swirling around TD Bank of Canada laundering Fentanyl money for
the Chinese is about to go large and the hit US Banks too.
Posted by: SwissArmyMan | Sep 2 2024 18:12 utc | 48
Sunny Runny [email protected] US is seeking stand off neutrality....if it goes hot, like France and Whitehall giving Britkrainia permission to strike deep, no reason for Russia to attack the US. They have done that before. Let NATO GB bleed Russia, slog along conventionally....what's the rush.
Cheers M
....yes, the NPP, a daring caper, one of many more to come.....there is absolutely no cost to Whitehall and DC as far the human cost....and money can still be printed..... henchmen bought.
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 18:17 utc | 49
Oozing desperation about their “sanctions” ineffectiveness and October BRICS:
https://tass.com/world/1837221
“US seizes Venezuelan President Maduro’s jet in Dominican Republic
The operation to seize the jet involved the US Justice Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Industry and Security”
"Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of US sanctions," one of the US officials told CNN.”
They’ve lost their “collective” minds…back when they went to war with Russia on an actual battlefield. Now, resorting to full on open theft while spouting “how no one is above the law”…
Posted by: Trubind1 | Sep 2 2024 18:20 utc | 50
Russians have now opened up the Ugledar front, looks like two pincers to surround the town before taking it. That's the hinge that breaks open the whole south east of the Donetsk front. Another hole created for the Ukrainians to have to stick a finger in.
Still grinding down in Toretsk around the prison, east toward Pokrovsk and south toward Kurakhove. And the Russians took Vyimka which is 4km to the south west of Siversk - another hole requiring a finger. All the while, Ukraine doubling down on its abject failure south of Kursk - no new fingers available in the south.
Ukrainian losses for September 2nd, as reported by the Russian defence ministry, including Kursk:
- Russia Kursk front: 350 troops, 1 IFV, 1 APC, 12 LAC/HMV, 12 motor vehicles, 6 artillery pieces, 1 counter-battery system
- Sever Group (Kharkov): 85 troops, 3 motor vehicles, 3 artillery pieces.
- Zapad Group (Luhansk area): 430 troops, 2 LAV/HMV, 6 motor vehicles, 6 artillery pieces, 1 counter-battery system.
- Yug Group (Donetsk north): 520 troops, 4 motor vehicles, 7 artillery pieces, 1 EW system.
- Tsetr Group (Donetsk south): 475 troops, 1 LAV/ HMV, 3 motor vehicles, 2 artillery pieces.
- Vostok Group (southern front): 110 troops, 1 APC, 1 artillery piece.
- Dnepr Group: 70 troops, 3 motor vehicles, 1 EW system.
In total: 2,140 troops (about 2,500 to 3,000 with undercounting: 75,000 to 90,000 a month). Above average.
1 IFV, 2 APC, 15 HMV/Light Armoured Vehicle, 31 motor vehicles. Further evidence of the transformation of the Ukrainians to an infantry using HMV/light armoured vehicles, “technicals” (pickup trucks with mounted weapons), and civilian vehicles for mobility.
25 artillery pieces, about average, at a rate of about 750 a month. 2 counter-battery system and 2 EW systems. These are still catastrophic daily loss levels of such valuable systems.
Total losses so far for the Ukrainians in the Kursk front have been 8,900 troops, 80 tanks, 38 IFV, 70 APC, 549 LAV/HMV, 261 motor vehicles, 65 artillery pieces, 19 MLRS, 14 EW systems, 7 counter-battery systems
In addition, the Russians have become adept at shooting down and jamming Ukrainian (i.e. Western manufactured) guided bombs, missiles, rockets and the mostly locally-made drones. It has been noted in the Pokrovsk area that Russian drones seem to be able to operate with little EW interference. The rate at which the Russians are destroying the Ukrainians EW systems is extremely high.
Why does the coming US Presidential election matter, now that Mr. Biden has stepped back?
Kamala knows nothing of Uncle Joe's determination to stop the Soviet Union from sweeping across Europe.
If the War on Ukraine ended, the Democrats could call that a win, in the sense that the US electorate only cares in that it is sick of war and prefers peace. Kamala need not uphold Joe's priorities (whatever they were.)
Posted by: James A. Given | Sep 2 2024 18:22 utc | 52
RE: Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 2 2024 18:09 utc | 47
Awesome. Look forward to it. I noticed a lot of domestic travels, going to schools (?) and more citizen public visits.
Could you give an overview of that as well?
Thanks.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Sep 2 2024 18:25 utc | 53
Hi MoAs, still wondering what's "actually" onging in that UKR proxy war - the Military sucess claimed on ether sides ie. by Dima & RF soldiers Telegram posts should not you being 'informed today' what's really ongoing every 'hour' changing death accounts on either side.
In Kursk plus in Pokrows (Donbass) regions, the Rf-AV has now best positions to defeat the "enemy". That's true so far listen on still via Telegram sending soldiers.
1st. pls. note a remark of Karl, Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 2 2024 17:56 utc | 42
We (MoAs) have to do it here (IT recovery!) with a very powerful plus intelligent devil's like diabolic like mankind, who tries ALL NOW who they can throw into the "WAR" with us (the MoAs).
Pls. now, take the "blue pill", and fight against Neo-Transgender K.Harris plus its newly awaken Killary Clinton.
CIA guys are the MOST DANDEROUS men/women today in this world, wherever you might look today.
That's the truth to be followed-up, before Our channels have been cut-off 'forever'.
Let's have a new Technical (not AI) IT response - may be firstly envelopped behind the scenes of any CIA/FBI/Puppet Harris ..
That's the race for next days ..
Posted by: spare_truth_01 | Sep 2 2024 18:29 utc | 54
To sean the leprechaun ( Sep 2 2024 18:17 utc | 49 ):
From a US point of view that is a possibility, although mistaken and too late.
In my opinion Russia is (very correctly) right now in the process of crossing the t's and dotting the i's for the legal justification to eradicate the US on a whim based on all that has already happened and the new current US "secret" first strike stance called NUTS (replacing MAD).
I don't expect the US to understand or realize any of that though :)
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 2 2024 18:32 utc | 55
The catharsis of seeing the demonic empire that castrates and pimps millions of children on a daily basis getting completely wrecked by a bunch of slavs with rifles can't be overstated.
Posted by: General | Sep 2 2024 18:33 utc | 56
If buffet wasn't bailed out in 2008, he'd be a greeter at Walmart.
When you think an insider who is propped up by the system is a genius, you lend credibility to that individual and the system.
They are fleecing you.
Stop calling them geniuses.
AIG is his company that would have bankrupted him, if anyone cares to read further.
Posted by: ryanggg | Sep 2 2024 18:38 utc | 57
an insider who is propped up by the system is a genius
Posted by: ryanggg | Sep 2 2024 18:38 utc | 57
---
There is no question that Buffett is an insider.
Why isn't he buying Ukraine?
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 18:41 utc | 58
Stalin style purge????
Cos Belgorod keeps being attacked....done their job to their capability ..younger ones with experience coming through....SMO needs finishing now???
The purge of the top generals of the Russian Defense Ministry continues:
1. Minister of Defense, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu - removed from office;
2. First Deputy Minister of Defense Ruslan Tsalikov - removed from office;
3. Deputy Minister of Defense Timur Ivanov (construction) - arrested;
4. Deputy Minister of Defense, Colonel General Yuriy Sadovenko (Department of Defense apparatus) - removed from office;
5. Deputy Minister of Defense Tatyana Shevtsova (finances) - removed from office;
6. Deputy Minister of Defense, Army General Nikolai Pankov (State Secretary) - removed from office;
7. Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army Pavel Popov (innovative research) - arrested;
8. Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army Dmitry Bulgakov (logistics) - arrested;
9. Chief of the Main Personnel Directorate, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov - arrested;
10. Chief of the Main Communications Directorate, Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin - arrested;
11. Head of the Department for Providing State Defense Orders, Vladimir Verteletsky - arrested;
12. Press Secretary of the Ministry of Defense Rossiyana Markovskaya - removed from her post;
13. Assistant to the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Alexander Burachenok - removed from office;
14. General Director of the Military Construction Company Andrei Belkov - arrested;
15. Director of the Department of Property Relations Mikhail Sapunov - removed from office;
16. General Director of Voentorg Vladimir Pavlov - arrested;
17. Director of the Patriot Park Vyacheslav Akhmedov - arrested;
18. Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Innovative Development, Major General Vladimir Shesterov – arrested;
19. Major General Valery Muminjanov - arrested.
AussieCossack
Posted by: Jo | Sep 2 2024 18:49 utc | 59
Since 2023, Washington has been out of ideas for how to successfully end the war on terms favorable to Ukraine
That is an interesting line out of that article. Washington? Who is this guy named Washington who ran out of ideas to end the war? Does he have a first name?
Its tough to be an apologist for a bunch of idiots. I guess it pays well. There is no end of them.
Posted by: circumspect | Sep 2 2024 18:49 utc | 60
ZH: But with these expanded cross-border strikes into Russia growing more bolder
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 2 2024 17:37 utc | 34
To boldly grow where no man has gone before....
Sorry, I'll get me coat.
Posted by: oldhand | Sep 2 2024 18:50 utc | 61
What a sad thing it is that attempts at optimism and being positive support countless futile deaths. You'd think Ukraine was just a video game or a hobby. Or "Risk" (!!) And I'll say it again that this war might end with one phone call at the right place and moment.
Posted by: Eighthman | Sep 2 2024 18:50 utc | 62
Biden the war-promoter is currently active with proxy Philippines to agitate China, with China sanctions on the US to-do list as with Russia on Ukraine. . . "US fans flames as Philippines keeps provoking China in South China Sea" -- China's Global Times. . . Meanwhile the US is (again) directly involved in the Middle East, prolonging the killing there.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 2 2024 18:52 utc | 63
Sunny Runny [email protected] need to cross I's and dot T's to justify using nukes? Great theatre, when one is at that point, what's left?
Anyone thinking they can destroy the USA and walk away, is deluding themselves.....well, best not go in to the "partner" thing...like the Russia "dead hand" the US has strategic assets globally....so it seems NUTS without MAD.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 18:55 utc | 64
@ too scents | Sep 2 2024 18:41 utc | 58
re: There is no question that Buffett is an insider. Why isn't he buying Ukraine?
"Warren Buffett's son Howard has given $500M to Ukraine"
-- businessinsider.com, Feb 24, 2024
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 2 2024 18:57 utc | 65
"Warren Buffett's son Howard has given $500M to Ukraine"
-- businessinsider.com, Feb 24, 2024
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 2 2024 18:57 utc | 65
---
What for? What did half a billion buy?
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 18:58 utc | 66
The Kursk offensive is also a way to measure the attrition rate of a NATO brigade on Russian territory.
Posted by: Passerby | Sep 2 2024 19:06 utc | 67
Posted by: too scents | Sep 2 2024 18:58 utc | 66
About 2 months cocaine supply...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 19:07 utc | 68
It was my understanding that the long term profitability of Berkshire Hathaway was driven by the US tax code. That is, many family businesses have lots of assets but are not cash-rich. When the patriarch dies, the death tax puts the family in a box. Berkshire Hathaway offered the best deal: you sell to them, your family gets equity in BRK and in most cases the family still runs the business and gets paid salaries to do so.
Thanks to b for providing the blog and discussion space.
Posted by: ockham | Sep 2 2024 19:10 utc | 69
Dopey Joe just said the quiet part out loud...
Journo: "Mr. President, on cluster munitions, why now?"
@JoeBiden: "We've run out of ammunition."
KanekoaTheGreat/status/1830642910406295728
Posted by: oldhand | Sep 2 2024 19:10 utc | 70
Posted by: Eighthman | Sep 2 2024 18:50 utc | 62
.. And I'll say it again that this war might end with one phone call at the right place and moment.
What would that be? The "right place and moment" ?
The right moment is NOW, no minutes later.
The diabolic ghosts (whatever you are able to think of them today) have claimed mental access on most all of US-Gov deep-state puppets, like Killary Clinton (once more) and Trans-Gender Missus K.Harris, and Blinken and .. annd still reign US-Pentagon aggrssice approch for the "next days" ..
Wait a lot of comments wasting time just here - dear MoAs here - pls. wait til the end of year 2025:
I don't know .. but only a "future feeling" tells me:
There has been changed "nothing" in the minds of diabolic politicians - so the story currently here in US/UKEU BORELL v.d LIARS puppets continues ..
Crash them asap. ! Survive them - please take the "blue" one.
.
Posted by: spare_truth_01 | Sep 2 2024 19:11 utc | 71
the US has strategic sitting ducks globally
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Sep 2 2024 18:55 utc | 64
There you go, fixed it for you...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 2 2024 19:13 utc | 72
Posted by: Passerby | Sep 2 2024 19:06 utc | 67
Yes they measured something that could easily been estimated on paper.
A Nato brigade on Russian territory loose 50% or more of the manpower and weapons in less then 1 month.
Posted by: Mario | Sep 2 2024 19:15 utc | 73
Whether or not Kursk succeeds [it's already a disaster], at least it is not an attempt to refight the failed 2023 offensive [it's even dumber], a set piece battle in which Ukraine held no decisive advantages [and doesn't have them in Kursk either]. That said, Kyiv’s present theory of success remains unclear [not unclear, psychotically delusional].The 152nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces has been reorganized into a jager brigade, as announced on the brigade’s official social media channels.
Just call it the 152nd de-Mechanized brigade.
Posted by: Mike R | Sep 2 2024 19:15 utc | 74
69
Thanks Guillermo and your sharp knife for the interesting tip
Posted by: Simon | Sep 2 2024 19:16 utc | 75
Why does the coming US Presidential election matter, now that Mr. Biden has stepped back?
Kamala knows nothing of Uncle Joe's determination to stop the Soviet Union from sweeping across Europe.
If the War on Ukraine ended, the Democrats could call that a win, in the sense that the US electorate only cares in that it is sick of war and prefers peace. Kamala need not uphold Joe's priorities (whatever they were.)Posted by: James A. Given | Sep 2 2024 18:22 utc | 52
Kamala cannot divorce herself from Biden's Ukrainian project. Whatever she knew or didn't know is immaterial, she was and still remains his VP so cannot feign ignorance and if she were to do so, it would by definition underline her unsuitability for that office.
The last thing that any politician needs as they go into an election is a failed war on their watch, so the best that they can hope for (bearing in mind that they cannot win) is for it to not be mentioned and that it then simmers on the back burner until the project falls apart after the election. After that they can then memory hole it so that when the next election cycle comes around its no longer a talking point.
As it currently stands, the only way that the Dems could call a win with the war ending would be if Kiev were to get some kind of spin-able negotiated settlement. Absent such a settlement the war is a failure for the Dems and they cannot hope to spin it in any other way so their only hope is for the final fall to be after the election.
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Sep 2 2024 19:17 utc | 76
. . .cluster bombs -- when?
>Jul 6, 2023 AP — The United States has decided to send cluster munitions to Ukraine to help its military push back Russian forces entrenched along the front lines.
>Sep 5, 2023 AP — More than 300 people were killed and over 600 wounded by cluster munitions in Ukraine in 2022, according to an international watchdog, surpassing Syria.
nothing new . . .
Cluster bombs accounted for about one-quarter of the bombs dropped on Iraq and Kuwait during the Gulf War. Between January 17 and February 28, 1991, the United States and its allied coalition used a total of 61,000 cluster bombs, releasing twenty million bomblets.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 2 2024 19:19 utc | 78
I believe Putin, even though he is control of all the cards at this moment, will offer extremely face-saving conditions to the Ukes
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Sep 2 2024 17:06 utc | 22
I suppose that depends on how you define 'the Ukes.' The current Uke leadership will not be given anything, ever. The nazis will not be given anything, ever. The ordinary Ukranians don't need a 'face saving offer,' because A) it's not their face, and B) They are going to get better treatment if (when) they surrender unconditionally to the Russians than if they maintain any kind of western-connected rump state. So whose face would the Russians wish to save?
Posted by: Honzo | Sep 2 2024 19:28 utc | 79
When you think an insider who is propped up by the system is a genius, you lend credibility to that individual and the system.
Posted by: ryanggg | Sep 2 2024 18:38 utc | 57
Buffet's genius, like the rest of his ilk, consists of being an insider. You may think that's not a sign of intelligence, but what does it say about the mental capacity of people who invest in the system and are NOT insiders? Let alone all the folks who love capitalism and can't even afford to play in the system.
Posted by: Honzo | Sep 2 2024 19:34 utc | 80
Posted by: Roger | Sep 2 2024 16:47 utc | 12
This is very interesting thanks. Extraordinary to think that throughout all this Russia and Ukraine still cooperate on gas sales and delivery. War under capitalism is about markets and if you don't understand markets none of it makes sense. Gaza too is about LNG. No one's blowing up pipeline transiting Ukraine, but Nordstream was fair game. Hence the latter was a direct attack on Germany not Russia, etc etc.
Posted by: Patroklos | Sep 2 2024 19:38 utc | 81
Posted by: Jo | Sep 2 2024 18:49 utc | 59
These are all excellent developments, carried out with full presidential backing.
Anyone doing a decent job would probable get a tap on the shoulder at worse, even the loyal but out of their depth could expect to be dealt with diplomatically. Rehabilitation appears to be greatly preferred, these arrests are a belated clear-out of shitehawks
There are commentators and pundits who’ve known how to read RF MoD from the outset, who’ve pissed all up and down on anyone who tried to introduction sceptical assessments of figured like those, and others, who are now found wanting, assessments that are common knowledge in the Russian language sphere.
Cynical blaggards who, prior to Belousov’s arrival, would have sworn blind on behalf of those now sitting in pre-trial detention.
Posted by: anon2020 | Sep 2 2024 19:40 utc | 82
...All of what the 152nd once had as a mechanized units has been wasted in the incursion of Kursk.....
Don’t trust a thing from the US or UK—(Ukraine might as well be their conjoined twin). It’s all smoke and mirrors.
Just watch, something wild n destructive is about to happen before Nov! And when it does, we'll be like, “See? We told you it’s all no-balls Putin’s fault for giving the troublemakers a boost!”
Posted by: Mr.A | Sep 2 2024 19:54 utc | 83
The Ukraine war represents a failure to understand the “Science of Systems”. Russia has an overwhelming advantage based on the stocks and flows modeling, logistics chains, and feedback loops which are not understood by Western military and Political “leaders”.
For more on systems dynamics see these MIT professors:
https:thesystemsthinker.com/
Dr.SHIVA™ LIVE – My Policies As U.S. President
https://vashiva.com/my-policies-as-us-president/
Posted by: krollchem | Sep 2 2024 19:58 utc | 84
Washington can only support one hot war at a time:
And Ukraine ain’t it
The article b linked is merely prep for when Kiev is abandoned
Posted by: Exile | Sep 2 2024 20:03 utc | 85
Lee and Hofman and the Council on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs magazine are just voice pieces for the DC/NATO neo con deep state...........
It cant really be news to these functionaries that the Ukrainian effort to seize large portions of Kursk and capture the KNPP and hold it for ransom failed, and failed in spectacular fashion too.
This article is now cover for the failed DC/NATO effort to destabilize the RF, install a NATO government in Kieve and then loot all of the fossil fuel and agricultural resources of the Ukraine.
It failed because one man had the guts to confront the neo con vision of the Nuland/Blinkensky/Soros alliance laid out their plan to control and exploit all resources for the next fifty years in eastern Europe.
The arrogance of these DC neo cons and their NATO allies is beyond belief, but they became embolden after the NATO expansion into the Balkan and Baltic states and their destruction of Serbia Krijina and the near destruction of Serbian Bosnia and the forced separation, by force, of the Serb home province of Kosovo.
Only VV Putin could have stood up to this clear threat and he did just that. Some may quibble about his methodology, but all must admit it took guts to counter the attempt by NATO forces in 2022 to over run and destroy ethnic Russia in the Donbass.
Its clear now that if VV Putin had been in charge of the RF in 1995 and or 1999, he would have moved forcefully to prevent the destruction of Serbia and Serbian civilian infrastructure that occurred in 1995 and 1999 at the hands of NATO and the DC neocons.
If RF had failed to act its fate would have been confined to the dust bin of history, instead we have seen a resolute and effective SMO which has adapted to conditions and is now succeeding much like we witnessed in France and Belgium in 1940, i.e.: an entire front in a rapid state of collapse.
The neo cons plans are now effectively in tatters........get your popcorn and a cold legal beverage ready, the NATO house of cards will fall by October 1st.......
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Sep 2 2024 20:07 utc | 86
Trubind1 | Sep 2 2024 18:25 utc | 53--
Thanks for your reply. Briefly, Putin has always toured and talked as he crisscrosses the wide Russian spaces. His direct governance style has a three-fold purpose: First, he gets direct citizen feedback; second, citizens know/learn they can talk to Putin as a peer, not as a god-figure, so they open up and talk frankly; and third, Putin uses these interactions as examples for all others involved in governing Russia--something he always reiterates in his chats with regional and municipal heads along with leaders of United Russia and the many volunteer organizations. One of the very major differences between Russian governance and that of the West is that labor is an equal peer/partner to big business and government--all must advance together to make and keep Russia strong. And currently, taking care of all SMO vets AND their families is the first priority--something I've never seen happen in the West aside form the use of the Bloody Shirt in the decades after the Civil War. Some will know of the US incident related to the Bonus Army and how they were treated. And then there's what was done to vets via the VA as documented in the film Born of the Fouth of July. The differences between Russia and the Outlaw US Empire are as vast and as deep as the ocean.
Putin's governance mantra goes something like this:
Look, there'll always be problems that arise within society. It's our job to find out what those problems are, to tell the public we see and understand what they are, to propose remedies, and then initiate them in a very open manner that tells the public we are working for them.
And the other side of that coin is the citizen's duty to tell government when something isn't correct. Rolled together is what's known as participatory democracy. That's what most of my reports at my Geopolitical Gymnasium all document, the evidence of that ongoing process. And what bodes ill for the West is Putin's grooming of a whole regiment of people holding the same governing ethos. United Russia is a mass governance party that will continue to be Russia's #1 political party for decades hence because it has the right idea as to what constitutes proper governance.
@18 Marvin
Re: kursk was a trap
It's possible bur unlikely because they failed to prepare evacuation plans for the civilians and to have adequate reconnaissance to show ukrainian force dispositions. Initially they said it was a few hundred soldiers when it was at least 15000, with plenty of reserves ready to rotate in.
Posted by: Neofeudalfuture | Sep 2 2024 20:33 utc | 88
reply to 71 and 76
My phone call would be the words 'he's here' - when visiting an area within range.
As for Kamala, she's an empty suit with all that means. Fortunately, the US has learned to operate without a functioning President, thanks to Dementia Joe. Other than that, she gives off vibes as if something's wrong with her but I never read speculation as to what. Trump's just old (and being Trump). Anyhow, maybe the Pentagon figures out what to do and they seem more wary than the delusional Neo Cons.
Another future issue? Seriously, can Hungary and Poland really claim or be given chunks of Ukraine? Seems like EU heads would explode. Can they call them protectorates and get away with it?
Posted by: Eighthman | Sep 2 2024 20:41 utc | 89
Maybe we should start a dead pool.....name the date that the Kieve government falls!!
Second separate pool....name the date that Volo flees for Haifa or Miami or Geneva!!
Third separate pool.....name the date that Volo gets wacked by the CIA or MI6 (in the unlikely event he does not flee with his billions in stolen US cash)!!
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Sep 2 2024 20:48 utc | 90
Aus Telegram
🇺🇦 „Dieser Svitan ist kaputt, bringen Sie den nächsten“ 🤷♂️
"Der ‚sprechende Kopf‘ der Monosendung, Oberst der Reserve der AFU, Militärexperte Roman Switan, scheint ein ‚Wahrheitsserum‘ zu sich genommen zu haben und sagte auf Kanal 24, dass Zelenskys Team Pokrowsk und das Land ‚in eine Kolonie, eine Strafzelle und ein Konzentrationslager für absolut alle Menschen‘ verwandelt hat, aus dem es unmöglich ist, zu gehen. Und er forderte einen Wechsel in der Exekutive!
Auf die Frage des Moderators, warum eine 40.000-Einwohner-Stadt mit 2.000 Kindern, 10 Kilometer von der Front entfernt, versucht, ein friedliches Leben zu führen, während die lokale Regierung ankündigt, dass die Banken dort ab Montag nicht mehr arbeiten werden, sagte Switan:
✅ in den Städten an der Front - es ist unmöglich zu gehen, es ist eine schreckliche Situation dort, wo die Ukrainer lieber auf die Ankunft der russischen Armee warten, als durch die TCC mobilisiert zu werden;
✅ Militärkommissionen unter der Leitung von Umerov haben eine Reihe von Straßensperren beim Verlassen von Siedlungen (vor allem Pokrovsk) organisiert. Gleichzeitig werden Männer vorgeladen, selbst wenn sie ihre Kinder, ihre Familien und ältere Verwandte an die Front bringen. Mit anderen Worten, eine normale Evakuierung der Zivilbevölkerung ist unmöglich; die Menschen haben Angst, ohne das Familienoberhaupt zurückgelassen zu werden;
✅ Menschen, die obdachlos sind, können nirgendwo hin evakuiert werden, sie haben kein Geld, und Landsleute in anderen Städten haben die Preise für Mietwohnungen erhöht;
✅ der Staat hilft in keiner Weise, er schafft ein solches Bestrafungszentrum, ein Konzentrationslager, aus dem es unmöglich ist, die Stadt zu verlassen; die Polizei und die TCC-Beamten versuchen, beim Verlassen der Stadt Geld zu verdienen, es gibt „eine weitere Bestechung von Menschen mit einer großen Bestechung“;
✅ Rekrutierern teilen mit dem Verteidigungsministerium, Umerov braucht etwas, um seine Familie in den USA zu unterstützen;
✅ die Bewohner des Donbass werden von den nicht-ukrainischen Behörden vernichtet, ihre Aufgabe ist es, die Gebiete zu übergeben, Geld von den Bewohnern einzutreiben und mit Pässen anderer Länder zu fliehen. Viele der Machthaber haben Pässe anderer Länder, und dann wird sich herausstellen, dass ein Politiker mit einem israelischen Pass seit 5 Jahren eine pro-israelische Politik verfolgt (Svitanas Hinweis ist offensichtlich);
✅ deshalb treibt die Regierung das Gesetz über die mehrfache Staatsbürgerschaft voran;
✅ Die Ukrainer können nicht-ukrainische Behörden wechseln - aber die Exekutive, nicht die Politik - argumentiert Svitan. Die Macht der Umerovs, Yermakovs, Poslits und des Rests - es ist an der Zeit, dass das Volk den Wechsel der befleckten und korrupten Exekutive mit Pässen anderer Länder einleitet. Sie arbeiten nicht für die Ukraine, sie haben sich bereits „überdient“. Es ist an der Zeit, sie durch professionelle, fachlich qualifizierte Personen, vorzugsweise aus dem Militär, zu ersetzen“, sagte der Experte.
Es sind noch 3, 2, 1 Sekunden übrig, bevor der SBU kommt...
https://t.me/ZeRada1/21300
Posted by: Diego | Sep 2 2024 20:53 utc | 91
"Whatever you think this is a potentially very dangerous and definitely terrifying weapon.
Posted by: Uki watch uae | Sep 2 2024 16:51 utc | 16"
Both sides are claiming it's theirs.
Posted by: Mary | Sep 2 2024 21:06 utc | 93
whos weapon it may be, i am willing to bet that the "ukrainians" are going to use it against civilians in the near future. it certainly fits their mo.
Posted by: Justpassinby | Sep 2 2024 21:15 utc | 94
"I think they (Biden & Co) knew the gig was truly up late last year but needed to have it last until after the elections. At this rate they might not get there ...
Posted by: SattaMassaGana | Sep 2 2024 17:42 utc | 36"
Reminds me of when W Bush pulled out all the stops to delay the eco crash til after the 2008 election missed it by "this much" & McCain lost.
Posted by: Mary | Sep 2 2024 21:16 utc | 95
A mixed metaphor special from the belly of the US beast, with apologies to b: The two writers, Kofman and Lee, rather than throwing in the towel as b puts it, pussyfoot around so as to say “I told you so” when the Kiev house of cards comes crashing down. Even as they do, they protect their flank from friendly fire by claiming a Kiev victory might still be in the cards.
The really sad part here is that one can’t even find more than a few expressions of discontent with oligarch war policy in mainstream discourse. Ya gotta think any number of reasonably well-educated people, particularly academics and journalists who cover foreign affairs, realize that acceptable discourse on war and peace is entirely inadequate for preserving the long-term interests of most people in our country and in the world. But they go on spouting oligarchic policies and opinions, spoiling their own children’s future, along with everyone else’s. This is moral degradation of a very high order.
There is some satisfaction in seeing the empire beset on all sides and intelligent leadership in a number of countries doing its best to hold the line [last one, I promise], beat back [not a metaphor] the
of empire, and preserve humanity on the face of the earth. Of course, the massive slaughter of innocents which we cannot and must not ignore gets harder and harder to take.
But Cheers to all, like b, who contribute to building up this opposition in whatever way possible!
Posted by: Lonl | Sep 2 2024 21:21 utc | 96
@96
"Even as they do, they protect their flank from friendly fire by claiming a Kiev victory might still be in the cards."
I have always had the sense that people like Kofman, Lee, et al have reasons for fearing their careers will tank if they say things that the US MIC and DoS don't like.
Admittedly, I'm not an expert. But still, it's my hunch based on following conflicts over several decades.
Posted by: GW | Sep 2 2024 21:27 utc | 98
Dima said in addition to the few HIMARS launchers, RUAF discovered and hit three or four BUK-M1 systems. So bad day for Nato MLRS and AD systems in the Sumy region.
Posted by: unimperator | Sep 2 2024 21:29 utc | 99
"Posted by: James A. Given | Sep 2 2024 18:22 utc | 52"
You kidding?!? Pretty much the whole of congress & deep state have dirty dealings in Ukr. Money laundering, human trafficking for sex & body parts, etc.
Z has the dirt on them all. That's why the meltdown when Trump asked Z about Joe Blow Biden all those years ago.
Better that Kamala is ignorant of it all. Better than Trump maybe putting them in prison.
Posted by: Mary | Sep 2 2024 21:31 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
The longer Russia keeps the war going, the more the American Empire declines.
Posted by: Polli | Sep 2 2024 16:12 utc | 1