NATO Sec.-Gen. On Ukraine Accession

March 15, 2025

Took him a while …

NATO chief Mark Rutte says Ukraine's membership path is 'irreversible' – UPI / Yahoo, Oct 3 2024

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before," he said. "And will continue on this path until you become a member of our Alliance. I very much look forward to that day."

Ukraine's accession to NATO is no longer under consideration, Rutte confirmed – news-pravda, Mar 14, 2025

Ukraine's accession to NATO is no longer under consideration, Rutte confirmed

When asked whether Trump was really removing the issue of Kyiv joining the alliance from the negotiating table, the NATO Secretary General answered “yes.”

Posted by b on March 15, 2025 at 14:52 UTC | Permalink

Comments

RE: What has Israel got against Russia?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 15 2025 19:34 utc | 92
—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekulakization
Posted by: too scents | Mar 15 2025 19:39 utc | 97
Yup. The cold blooded killing of the Tzars by the Jew Bolshevik crap holes who were gonna take over Russia meet an even fiercer foe that stomped them and halted the complete take over, dispersing ethnicities in pockets.
Been Kolomoski & Zelensky’s via UK/Zio-Nazis to attempt again a beach head in Odessa & drag EU into their new Motherland…
Global Nazi-Zionism been on the new WEF memo for the global order since USSR collapse, and figure their moment is here…

Posted by: Trubind1 | Mar 15 2025 19:46 utc | 101

Time for an oul’ song at the bar … the futility of stupid wars …
In memory of PeterAU1 – Liam Clancy – Band Played Waltzing Matilda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFCekeoSTwg

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 19:50 utc | 102

🤡🇫🇷🏴‍☠️👉🇷🇺 Macron said in an interview with Le Parisien that European countries could send their troops to Ukraine without Russia’s consent.
The Franco-British plan, which is currently being finalized, is already of interest to “several countries” (in Europe and beyond)? “The goal is not to have a mass (of soldiers),” he points out, recalling that today “the largest European army is the Ukrainian army (one million soldiers).” It will therefore be a question of “placing a few thousand people in each country in key locations to conduct training programs” and “demonstrating our long-term support.”
The publication writes that the military scenarios mentioned such centers as Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv.
One thing is certain: the Europeans will do without Putin’s consent: “Ukraine is sovereign; if it asks to deploy allied troops on its territory, it is not Russia’s business to accept it or not,” Macron insists.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 15 2025 19:51 utc | 103

Posted by: Jo | Mar 15 2025 19:51 utc | 103
But is Putin business to get rid of them. 🤣

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 19:58 utc | 104

@ Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 17:36 utc | 55
The EU refuses to cease its promotion of the Obama/Biden BigLie that Russia started this conflict in an unprovoked manner in 2022. All forms of EU-wide media continue to aggressively push that Big Lie.
…
That reality has yet to enter into the negotiation’s universe, but it will when security structures become the topic as they must.

Yes, and that reality will never be spoken out loud. Just as the US continues to blame WW1 on German aggression, WW2 on Japanese aggression, the Korean War on North Korean aggression, and the Vietnam War on Ho Chi Minh. The US will never admit that it set up a proxy war in Ukraine to overextend and break Russia, even though prominent senators have said it out loud (e.g., Lindsay Graham) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said as much (“At a news conference in Poland…Mr Austin told reporters the US wants to see ‘Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine’ “. (BBC News, 25 April 2022)).
The US will declare victory as usual, and then shove the whole affair down into a memory cave.

Posted by: Clever Dog | Mar 15 2025 19:59 utc | 105

Dose england realy realy think it can war with Russia and get away with it intact ?
They deffinatly are’nt sane.
And here’s why.
I live in the land of the eng’s.
And we have no air raid shelters, ther is no present frenzed cival works in progress to build some.
Where are the anti missile defence’s, zero.
Starmer and the eng’s are in for a very rude awakeing. A reality check. Thats the crack.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:00 utc | 106

What is the porpoise of all this whistling and clicking, splashing, and flipper flopping if not to signal in the most clownishly circuitous way possible that Ukraine will never be a part of NATO because it’s an iceberg meant to crash into the Russian Federation, sink it, and then break up and melt away in the process. Maybe an icecube called Galicia will eventually join NATO, a la Slovakia or the Baltic statelets.

Posted by: Ludovic | Mar 15 2025 20:03 utc | 107

Here comes The Mother Of All Mission Creeps.
Given the huge size of the UKR army and all the merc and crypto EU forces already there I’m really not sure what a few thousand more troops will make, so, obviously they are full of shit regarding numbers. It’s about crossing red lines, which the EU hasn’t done for while, and then the mission creep, which in my guess will be a rush more than a creep. Russia understands this, and they’ve talked big about NATO troops entering the SMO, so now we’ll see.

UK PM Starmer announced that the plan of deploying a “peacekeeping force” to Ukraine is moving to the “operational phase” – Independent reports
https://t.me/CyberspecNews/77095
Macron said in an interview with Le Parisien (https://www.leparisien.fr/politique/troupes-en-ukraine-rearmement-europeen-service-militaire-ce-que-veut-emmanuel-macron-15-03-2025-5CCF3JKTNBF67AWOV22CBLN4EA.php) that European countries could send their troops to Ukraine without Russia’s consent.
The Franco-British plan, which is currently being finalized, is already of interest to “several countries” (in Europe and beyond)? “The goal is not to have a mass (of soldiers),” he points out, recalling that today “the largest European army is the Ukrainian army (one million soldiers).” It will therefore be a question of “placing a few thousand people in each country in key locations to conduct training programs” and “demonstrating our long-term support.”
The publication writes that the military scenarios mentioned such centers as Kyiv, Odessa, Lviv.
One thing is certain: the Europeans will do without Putin’s consent: “Ukraine is sovereign; if it asks to deploy allied troops on its territory, it is not Russia’s business to accept it or not,” Macron insists.
“>https://t.me/ZandVchannel/146651

There’s also this, the Russians in some way scared the eyepatch off Scholz, maybe bluntly told him the Taurus plant would get an Oreshnik dropped on it, but he definitely believed the threat, so now we’ll see if the Russians deliver on it. Luckily the F16 as a platform isn’t worth much.
But, here comes the intend Trump escalation, as I stated before, removing the USA military and its nukes from the conflict increases the possibility of escalation not diminishes it.

The future German Chancellor is preparing to announce the transfer of Taurus missiles to Kyiv – Der Spiegel.
The winner of the early elections in Germany, Friedrich Merz, is ready to surpass his predecessor Olaf Scholz in terms of the level of sponsorship of Ukraine. As reported by Der Spegel, the future Chancellor is already preparing to announce the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv.
As reported by the publication, PSU specialists have already begun work on the integration of German missiles into Su-24 attack aircraft and F-16 fighters.
“>https://t.me/CyberspecNews/77035

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 20:03 utc | 108

Just keep in mind.
None of these mediocrity are agreement capable!
Listening to that soulless functionary Starmer puff on about bringing Russia to the negotiations table with the coalition of the willing.
There’s no reason to negotiate with them.

Posted by: jpc | Mar 15 2025 20:04 utc | 109

Cleaver Dog @ 105 👀
Vance said it out loud in Munich.
Very very publicly.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:05 utc | 110

Me? I’m waiting for direct flights from LAX along with credit cards turned back on. I forsee a St Pete/Moscow visit hopefully this summer. You know we Americans love us a road trip!
Posted by: MarkW | Mar 15 2025 16:30 utc | 37
Love that plan, I’d be right behind you.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 20:09 utc | 111

The new game is waiting for 2029 when Trump is gone and a presumably rabid anti-Russian POTUS is back in charge.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 17:09 utc | 50
that is the EU Hope. And that’s why Trump doesn’t need a war. If the war in the Ukraine continues or even gets worse, Trump will be the failed president with no chance in the next election. The USA urgently needs peace and money.

Posted by: smartfox | Mar 15 2025 20:09 utc | 112

The new game is waiting for 2029 when Trump is gone and a presumably rabid anti-Russian POTUS is back in charge. So, EU/NATO’s job is to be ready by then to relaunch the war.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 17:09 utc | 50
Ukraine, EU & NATO won’t exist by 2029.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 20:11 utc | 113

lmao
https://x.com/blackintheempir/status/1872425177176572149
Black in the Empire @blackintheempir
Ukraine, the US and the West are continuing their months long strategy of trying to put themselves in a better bargaining position by losing more land to Russia every day

Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 15 2025 20:12 utc | 114

Posted by: smartfox | Mar 15 2025 20:09 utc | 112
As a matter of fact Trump is already on his second term so will not be eligible again.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 20:14 utc | 115

Smartfox @ 112
Other than the mid term election, trump cant run for another election.
But Vance could, and this is what will come to pass.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:15 utc | 116

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 15 2025 18:55 utc | 77
That’s just a tiny part of the big picture.
Brian Berletic two days ago laid out the big picture for you
Here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HLg9iFg7icA

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 20:16 utc | 117

Hum…
RT
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the demand.
“Britain and its minister can shove their idea back up the sh*thole it came from, diplomatically speaking,” Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X.
Russia has condemned the increasingly hostile statements coming from European leaders about boosting their militarization, as the tide on the battlefield turns increasingly in favor of Moscow.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Mar 15 2025 20:21 utc | 118

There were always NATO members who opposed adding Ukraine so it was unprofessional for the NATO heads to state it will become a member.
Why doesn’t anyone mention that last year Biden said the USA had once placed missiles in Ukraine with nuclear warheads? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAx7fksSp7w

Posted by: Carlton Meyer | Mar 15 2025 20:22 utc | 119

Can anyone at the bar point out where Brian Berletic is lying in this 43 minute analysis ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HLg9iFg7icA
Anybody ?
Go on point out Brian’s lies. You can’t can you ?
But Vance could, and this is what will come to pass.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:15 utc | 116
Vance is as weak as a wind sock will blow anyway he is told. Vance will turn into team Biden at the snap of a finger.
What’s Trump actually doing ?
Go on point out any of Brian’s lies. Trump is no different to Biden, Obama, Bush, Clinton etc when it comes to US hegemony.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 20:26 utc | 120

What has Israel got against Russia?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 15 2025 19:34 utc | 92
—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dekulakization
Posted by: too scents | Mar 15 2025 19:39 utc | 97
Thank you. That’s a chapter of History of which I was unaware.
(And thanks also to Trubind1 at #101)

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 15 2025 20:27 utc | 121

NemesisCalling | Mar 15 2025 19:42 utc | 100–
Thanks for your indirect reply. My wife focuses on the Class War here at home while I look into the geopolitics and their connection to that Class War. As many have noted, there’s a distinct connection between domestic and foreign policy. So, how does reconciliation with Russia contribute to the escalation of the Class War and the perceived need to mount a trade war with China? IMO, all three benefit the top 10%. The extractive industries drool over the prospect of contracts within Russia as does their Neoliberal Parasite backers who want more rents. The Class War is all about the escalation of rent seeking at the public’s expense. The Trade War with China is another mode of wealth transfer from the 90% to the 10% via the Federal government as tariff revenues are directed into tax cuts for the 10%. As with all mobsters, the EU mob wants a piece of the action but is currently being shut out, and it doesn’t like that. So, it rebels against Trump’s policy in hopes of disrupting it while preparing for the post-Trump Era–I predict EU will work very hard to smear Vance in the US-Public’s eyes.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:30 utc | 122

Son of alabama @ 120
Who will be your candidate oc choice ?
Crickets ?
I switched youtube of a long time ago.
Security.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:34 utc | 123

@103
Macron should know that the Ukrainian president asked to send Russian forces and not NATO:
“I appeal to the President of Russia Vladimir V. Putin to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation to re-establish the rule of law, peace, order, stability and to protect the people of Ukraine.”
reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-un/russia-yanukovich-asked-putin-to-use-force-to-save-ukraine-idUSBREA2224720140304

Posted by: p3t3r | Mar 15 2025 20:37 utc | 124

“Ukraine is sovereign; if it asks to deploy allied troops on its territory, it is not Russia’s business to accept it or not,” Macron insists.
Posted by: Jo | Mar 15 2025 19:51 utc | 103

“sovereign”, another hiding-behind-other-nations-nazi, this time of the french variety, using words that have a different meaning. anyways, at this point i wish that the stupid french and their idiotic brothers in mind, the brits, do so as they always loudmouth around. do it, but dont cry about the consequences later.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 15 2025 20:38 utc | 125

But Vance could, and this is what will come to pass.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:15 utc | 116
Vance stood in Europe and said free speech is dead in Europe because far right wing political movements can’t breech the ceiling.
Meanwhile free speech in America is dead as Vance jailed Mahmoud Khalil.
Trumpian Phoneyfart saying free speech is back is all bullshit like everything else he says. It shows you in a 1000 ft mirror the true Vance. What MAGA represents.
In short – Trump supporters are stupid. Keep falling for this grifters 3 card monte. Stupid enough to believe anything he says.
That are no better than the Republicans or Democrats. Even though they told MAGA voters they were different. By selling them snake oil.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 20:43 utc | 126

EU double standards and forked tongues … 20 mins
IRISH MP REVELAED VON DER LAYEN’S DIRTY SECRET WITH JUST ONE PHRASE! BRAVO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN17iGvX5d4

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 20:43 utc | 127

@ Stonebird | Mar 15 2025 18:55 utc | 77
thanks for that.. i see it much the same… it is the new democratic form of authoritarian rule, lol.. ursala von leyen is the new queen!
@ Jo | Mar 15 2025 19:51 utc | 103
macron reminds me of zelensky.. neither of them with any public support to speak of, but happily offering to send their soldiers to slaughter..

Posted by: james | Mar 15 2025 20:49 utc | 128

Unless Russia captures and incorporates Kharkov and Odessa into a separate and distinct country, nation or entity, and completely encircles Kyiv, which will essentially land lock Ukraine and, thus, force the political and economical collapse of Ukraine, Russia will have, at best, achieved a Pyrrhic victory.
Moreover, without such a military and political result, the Special Military Operation (S.M.O.) will not and cannot end.
“War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.”
― Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides,
460 B.C.E. – 400 B.C.E.
“Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
― Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
Socrates, 470 B.C.E. – 399 B.C.E.
dennis hanna
[ I first posted this within 30 days of the start of Russia’s Special Military Operation. I suggest it is truer today. Why? For reasons including, but not limited to, Nazis or so-called “Neo Nazis in Ukraine” the C.I.A., what agreements did, do or will the United States follow, for how long, for how many “U.S. Presidents” (U.S. agreements with the so-called “Indians”), et cetera. ]

Posted by: Dennis Hanna | Mar 15 2025 20:49 utc | 129

https://www.rt.com/russia/614276-everybody-believe-ukraine-won-zelensky/
I know Zelensky is protected in person but I marvel at the EU’s servile toleration of his obnoxious and evidently ever more delusional personality. So, Kursk isn’t surrounded ? God, when does this end? If Rutte said Ukraine isn’t coming into NATO, I guess that’s a hopeful sign.

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 15 2025 20:51 utc | 130

🇺🇦 Zelensky approved the composition of the delegation for negotiations to resolve the conflict in the country. The delegation will be led by the head of the presidential office, Andrey Yermak. It also includes:
– Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrey Sibiga
– Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov
– Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Pavel Palisa
@ukraine_watch

Posted by: Jo | Mar 15 2025 20:51 utc | 131

As with all mobsters, the EU mob wants a piece of the action but is currently being shut out, and it doesn’t like that. So, it rebels against Trump’s policy in hopes of disrupting it while preparing for the post-Trump Era–I predict EU will work very hard to smear Vance in the US-Public’s eyes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:30 UTC | 122
Again, EU won’t last that long. Ukraine falls this year, then NATO next year, then EU after that.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 20:52 utc | 132

Who will be your candidate oc choice ?
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:34 utc | 123
Nobody. I’m not stupid enough to give any of these gangsters my vote. They don’t deserve it.
Never voted for anybody for nearly 40 years.
Then I don’t have to make up complete bullshit to try and defend them after giving them my vote. Which is what many people are currently doing rather than admitting they were completely fooled and brainwashed by a sociopathic grifter.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 20:52 utc | 133

EU double standards and forked tongues … 20 mins
IRISH MP REVELAED VON DER LAYEN’S DIRTY SECRET WITH JUST ONE PHRASE! BRAVO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN17iGvX5d4
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 20:43 utc | 127
Rich boy Barrett did something useful at last.

Posted by: jpc | Mar 15 2025 20:55 utc | 134

TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 20:11 utc | 113–
Thanks for your and other’s related replies. I’ve predicted that possibility, even eventuality, and will applaud when it occurs–the key word/unknown being when. As with Empire, there’s a certain amount of inertia that’s hard to stop completely. And that inertia is being given a transfusion via BigLie Media. The reports I hear about Europe say there’s no real countervailing force to combat BigLie Media which is similar to the lack of any real strong political opposition, with the exception of France and the very few quasi-independent EU nations, like Hungary. If the EU Mob can be eliminated along with NATO and BigLie Media is finally countered, the European dynamic can begin to change, but it will take great efforts to mend the fence with Russia.
I’d like to see as part of the May 9 parade a display of the national flags of those that sided with Hitler and were defeated by Russia. There should be a ceremonial where they are marched in, thrown onto a heap that’s topped with Nazi flags, set afire and allowed to burn while Russia’s national anthem is played and are extinguished when it concludes. IMO, that’s a feature that ought to be included on every future ten-year anniversary until Nazism is finally declared extinct.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:55 utc | 135

Sun of Alabama @ 126
I agree with most of what you say.
But i fight one battle at a time, ukraine is priority at the momment, peace is achievable. On Russias terms.
Mmm you forgot to say who your prefered candidate for US election would be.
If trump Vance jumps the wrong way, i will drop them in a hart beat. (Like i did labour after Corbyn)
I’m battle hardend and battle scared. Antfascist and the truth is my candidate.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:58 utc | 136

what is the purpose of all the European leaders meeting today?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 15 2025 15:23 utc | 8
The European leaders refuse to accept that they are the losing side.
Instead, European leaders want to get a profit, or at least an advantage of some knd, out of the war with Russia.

Posted by: Passerby | Mar 15 2025 21:01 utc | 137

As with Empire, there’s a certain amount of inertia that’s hard to stop completely.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:55 UTC | 135
Granted, but there’s always the “Hemingway Rule” in play… slowly, then all at once. Ukraine, NATO & EU will appear to be perpetual right up until their collapse, but collapse they will.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 21:04 utc | 138

I think I figured it out, it’s about not seeing separate pieces but putting them together, the entire month long Trump 30 day cease fire media blitz was simply to create the narrative in the EU public’s mind that there is an actual cease fire – that needs EU troops to enforce it. The whole thing was a con, it wasn’t a poisoned chalice, it wasn’t ever directed at the Russians or Putin, the entire show in Jeddah, the shuttle diplomacy, was directed at the EU sheeple.
The cease fire puzzle piece fits perfectly with the relentless Starmer-Macron talk of sending of troops piece, all on the same time line and intertwined, and as the Trump show waned the Starmer-Macron show waxes in perfect choreography. The problem all along was how to sneak such a dangerous escalation past a hesitant, disinterested public, the trick was to label them as peacekeepers, but you need the background, which is what Trump provided. That’s all of it, the Trump 30 Day Cease Fire show was to allow the EU to create the fiction of peacekeepers for the next most risky red line to be crossed and escalation.
I’m certain of it, from talking to out of touch friends, they think there is an actual cease fire in effect or on the cusp, they got the month long blitz but only a momentary passing phrase, if anything at all, about Putin turning it down on it.
All theater to help the Brits and French create the needed narrative and soon the fait accompli. In a few days it’ll be “5000 EU troops/advisors, the coalition of the willing, the Ukrainian White Helmets, going to Ukraine to enforce the cease fire – hurrah!” The sheeple won’t even notice that the SMO has ended and Europe and Russia are at war.
Note: not NATO and Russia at war, Europe and Russia are at war – that’s what the coalition of the willing is about, NATO entering to back stop the endangered coalition of the willing, that will be the next red line and escalation.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 21:07 utc | 139

USA&Zelensky are apparently bitching (for the benefit of forums and internet dwellers) but in reality they are more coordinated and in synch than in Biden times.
UKR is slowly but surely dismantling russia’s oil infrastructure (with ISR help from the west) while the USA keeps piling sanctions on russian oil export. It is a slow strangulation, as Borrel said some time ago, ‘sanctions are a slow but deadly poison’

Posted by: Louis | Mar 15 2025 21:10 utc | 140

So, it rebels against Trump’s policy in hopes of disrupting it while preparing for the post-Trump Era–I predict EU will work very hard to smear Vance in the US-Public’s eyes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:30 utc | 122
What’s Trumps policy ??
It’s here
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HLg9iFg7icA
They ain’t disrupting anything they are in full agreement and following Hegseths proposal to the letter. This supposed rift you think is happening is all complete bullshit Karlof.
Please feel free to point out any myths in the link I have provided.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 21:11 utc | 141

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 21:04 utc | 138
Empires will eventually fall but it will take decades if not hundred of years.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 21:12 utc | 142

Jo | Mar 15 2025 19:51 utc | 103
Ukraine is sovereign; if it asks to deploy allied troops …
—
I’m convinced it’s not intellect, but rather personality disorders that aflict certain people who simply cannot see the end game.
Do you not recognize the clause? I’m sure you can see what’s going to happen (to team Z), so are you being obtuse because you’re bored?
Please, we move in approx 2-3 year news/event cycles. Muh Russia! Morphed in covid which then transitioned to Ukraine.
We’re now beginning the Euro Trumpian revolution (see Vance’s speech), the Artic mad rush for oil & gas, and the emerging 3 sphere era.
Complain away if you must, but understand it’s your own fault if you miss out on what’s going down.

Posted by: MarkW | Mar 15 2025 21:16 utc | 143

There wont be a world with out Russia !
Let the full implications of that sink in.
And
This was never about ukraine.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 21:17 utc | 144

Posted by: Louis | Mar 15 2025 21:10 utc | 140
The wermacht didn’t succeed in destroying Russia with a much powerful army than ukraine/Nato has now.
A dozen or so of oil tanks hit are just pinpricks.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 21:18 utc | 145

look, louis de funes is back from the grave. he always did some good slapstick humour.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 15 2025 21:18 utc | 146

Oh heck
Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed Ukraine has successfully combat tested its new domestically-produced Long Neptune missile with a range of 621 miles.
This puts Russian capital Moscow within its range with Zelensky saying that Kyiv has had ‘significant results’ on its missile programme aimed at providing its own security against the threat of Vladimir Putin.
‘Long Neptune has been tested and successfully used in combat,’ he said.
‘A new Ukrainian missile, an accurate strike. The range is a thousand kilometres [621 miles].
‘Thank you to our Ukrainian developers, manufacturers and military. We continue to work to guarantee Ukrainian security.’
Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ suggested that Friday’s dramatic strike at Tuapse Oil refinery may have been by the new Neptune, which is a development of the earlier version of the weapon which sank Putin’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, Moskva in 2022.
‘There is an assumption that it was [the new] Neptune,’ said the channel.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 15 2025 21:19 utc | 147

Empires will eventually fall but it will take decades if not hundred of years.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 21:12 UTC | 142
The U.S. is an empire. Ukraine, NATO & the EU are definitely not.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 21:20 utc | 148

This Chinese professor offers a very good explanation on what the US is up to with Europe:
Famous Chinese Economist: Trump is sacrificing its allies to save the US dollar!
warning: if anyone likes baby goats stop the vid @ 25.5min. I ain’t kidding.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 21:21 utc | 149

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 21:07 utc | 139
+1 Honzo, who says for some reason that he can no longer post here, has been holding forth at Sonar with exactly your observation.
It’s all kayfabe to avoid allowing the DS to establish any kind of “walking away from an ally” ant-Trump narrative to gain traction.
Putin obviously understands this ‘nuanced’ complexity and is sympathetic to Trump’s position in that he has to help orchestrate the determined outcome.

Posted by: MarkW | Mar 15 2025 21:24 utc | 150

Its clearly a 3 way mexican stand of between Russia, Europe and America. (Forget ukraine)
And it looks like europe will fire first.
From then on all bets are off.
Its been nice knowing you all. ☺

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 21:41 utc | 151

@139 LYFH
That is quite possible.
The show of US dismissing Lewinski, what happened ? EU puts on a hysteria, signs itself 150bn/500bn and then hey presto US is back onside but as third party. Fast work for half a T, and still saying US abandoned .
The ceasefire was agreed. I read it, you read it. Trump and Lewinski agreed. Right now Russia is having trouble keeping to the agreement, wants an extended agreement, might renegue, is making half concessions if troops surrender…is looking to profit from it. Lewinski said so in person, Russia wants to pause to rearm, cannot be trusted, and that requires more support.
If you are right, then being a ‘peacekeeper’ is not a good idea, because they will be sent to known targets and get killed, at which point direct confrontation with Russia will be headlines.

Posted by: Ornot | Mar 15 2025 21:45 utc | 152

Its clearly a 3 way Mexican stand of between Russia, Europe and America. (Forget Ukraine)
And it looks like Europe will fire first.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 9:41 pm UTC | 151
Europe’s firing blanks.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 21:45 utc | 153

TjandTheBear @ 153
Never trust a nutter.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 21:54 utc | 154

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 21:41 utc | 151
Europe can fire a fart from Macron or Starmers ass or both, maybe Tusk could add a burp.
Nothing more than that.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 21:56 utc | 155

You guys are over looking the jews control europian leaders lock stock and barrel.
And we all know what they are capable of. Gaza !
To them were all goyam.

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 22:01 utc | 156

Posted by: MarkW @ 150
I was wondering what happened to Honzo. I never check Sonar21, I should but just not enough hours in the day.
My take is that there is no good in Trump, just another or rather the top gangster at the table, I don’t see a Mexican standoff, I’m agree with Berletic, on hegemony the west is a united front, across space and time, the difference with Trump, besides the personal vendetta, is that he thinks the woke, globalist DNC neocons and the EU nincompoops were on the fast track to losing WW3, they perfectly managed to drive Russia and China together.
Pink haired rainbow trans transfixed wussies following their effete leaders are going to get slaughtered by Russia and China in the first days, Trump is going to fight WW3 the old fashioned way, God, Family, and Patriotism win wars, that’s how he will mobilize MAGA. It’ll take a while, even longer as first the woke shit has to be undone. Trump has to reset the Great Reset.
If you despise USA hegemony or any hegemony then Trump isn’t your man.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 22:02 utc | 157

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed the demand.
“Britain and its minister can shove their idea back up the sh*thole it came from, diplomatically speaking,” Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, wrote on X.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Mar 15 2025 20:21 utc | 118
___________
And this is the kind of diplomatic language those with the sh*thole ideas can comprehend.
Take note Germany and Brussels.

Posted by: osi not ossi | Mar 15 2025 22:11 utc | 158

Comments from 148 on…
Canada is a “grenade” in the US pocket? Or in europes? Or both??

Posted by: E | Mar 15 2025 22:19 utc | 159

@ Sun Of Alabama | Mar 15 2025 20:26 utc | 120
The sage heads in the Kremlin are well aware of what Berletic outlines here in his more than plausible interpretation. So are the sage heads in Beijing. The circles of ‘fiery states encircling both is more than obvious. Unfortunately the great unwashed mass of European Citizenry have no clue – inundated as it is with 24/7 propaganda on the great Shaitan over in Moscow – and unaware that they are now simply the hegemon’s ‘prey’ – which will bleed them dry and then toss them away on the dung-heap of history.
That said, I welcome the removal of ‘NATO’ entry (for now; and for whatever strategic reasons of the hegemon) of Ukraine as it reduces the possibility of nukes entering the fray – no matter how stupidly the servile European vassals of the hegemon act in the now and the near future. They are driving me to despair – destroying their citizens prosperity to satisfy the whims of their master in Washington and setting Western Europe as a future battlefield which the hegemon will gladly see destroyed if ‘it weakens Russia’ etc. etc.
As for PRC, it is in PRC’s national security interest to keep RF as prosperous and stable as possible. The hegemon is now facing a tag-team – which regularly practices ‘not dropping the ball’ as the attrition against the dollar proceeds ….
I’m waiting for The Mule – I hear he might visit tonight in the company of Karaganov – should make for some very interesting conversation …

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 22:26 utc | 160

Merz said that Germany is back and will deliver Taurus missiles to the ukronazis. It means German boots on the ground fighting against Russia.
Yes, nazism is back in Germany. They want a revenge.
Fuck the nazis!

Posted by: Naive | Mar 15 2025 22:27 utc | 161

That said, I welcome the removal of ‘NATO’ entry
Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 22:26 utc | 160
Never believe one word from those congenital western liars. It would be foolish. And against all past experiences. They can say the reverse tomorrow, next month, next year or in 4 years or…

Posted by: Naive | Mar 15 2025 22:31 utc | 162

Can it really be that they think there is some prospect of success?
Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 15 2025 15:57 utc | 20
What is it like with religions? Political ideologies that have become entrenched are the same. Reason is never an argument, what is believed has been internalized as THE TRUTH.
Posted by: smartfox | Mar 15 2025 19:35 utc | 94
Yes, but surely they are able to calculate their interests? These are bourgeois politicians, not religious figures. Its difficult to believe they can’t assess at least their own interest.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 15 2025 22:32 utc | 163

One of my fellow Yanks has repeatedly said that the USA has undergone a revolution. It would be wise of those who follow global events to head this observation.
Me? I’m waiting for direct flights from LAX along with credit cards turned back on. I forsee a St Pete/Moscow visit hopefully this summer. You know we Americans love us a road trip!
Posted by: MarkW | Mar 15 2025 16:30 utc | 37
Ok Mark, but really “a revolution”? Give me a break.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Mar 15 2025 22:38 utc | 164

Naive @ 161

Merz said that Germany is back

“Mein Führer…! I can walk!!”

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 22:43 utc | 165

NATO or no NATO is no longer worth discussing.
Regardless of whether Putin’s tactics were right or wrong Russia has demonstrated to the world that it has been able to fend off or defeat all that the combined West has been able to throw at it.
A “coalition of the willing” is the default fallback when using force via structures such as NATO or the UN (as in Libya) have failed, as they now have.
Assuming that the EU really intends to carry on their assault on Russia, their only course is to try to stave off the imminent failure of the Uke military and launch their own version of Putin’s grinding war of attrition using massive fleets of drones of all sorts which is something they can certainly produce in sufficient quantity and try to evolve rapidly enough to thwart Russian countermeasure development.

Posted by: Saul Goode | Mar 15 2025 22:43 utc | 166

Interesting activity going on in the Zaporozhye direction (Kamyanske-Orikhiv axis). RUAF is making moves, forcing AFU to redeploy forces from either Sumy or Pokrovsk direction. Considering the Ukrainian mobilization process may not be going well, this may cause additional problems.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 15 2025 22:44 utc | 167

In Russia, you don’t smoke cigarettes,
the cigarettes smoke you.
<< In Russia, you don't take Viagra, the Viagra takes you. >>
In Russia, you don’t Minsk Putin,
The Putin Minsks you.
<<

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 15 2025 22:55 utc | 168

The AFU offensive in Sevchenko and Pischane (Pokrovsk direction) were defeated, RUAF has taken back control of a vast majority of these villages. Now RUAF drone operators are again working in the southern parts of Pokrovsk.

Posted by: unimperator | Mar 15 2025 23:03 utc | 169

An innertubes search for “Operation Potok” reveals very few non-Russian sources have heard of it, for some strange reason. But there do be a few, like this:

In the end, the Great Gas Pipeline Caper may be remembered not just as a tactical victory, but as a turning point in a conflict that has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe.

Fair enough. The next couple of weeks (or days, perhaps) will tell for sure, but retaking Sudzha feels like an ominous “turning point” for Russia — as portentous as was the fall of Syria for USrael. We enjoy the dubious privilege of experiencing weeks when decades happen.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Mar 15 2025 23:07 utc | 170

You think Trump wouldnt like to tell half the truth about Biden/Nulands creation of the Maidan blaming the whole thing on Biden and walking away? No more arms intel or funding. I think hewould love to do that. It would be the best solution to a rather nagging problem. WW3is a bit of a nagger.
I dont think he can do that. It might be admitting too much. After all when in doubt lie. I think its more than that. It wasnt to long ago that four years werespent accusing Trump being a Putin Toay. Lets face it they came close to taking Trumps head and it was complete make believe. What if he actually goes yea Biden started the whole thing and Russia has won? The media would go nuts! Imagine the conspiracy theorist claims then!
Trumps reality TV experience is very appropriate because he is in a game of survivor. He cant be completly honest he has to plat the game IE “I gave them tank busters”. Instead he has created a nice little narrative “hey guys we all want peace so lets both compromise and get this war over with. Were all responsible adults now act like it or there will be spankings”. He may have hoped Putin would go along to help him save face. Now its reality time. Russia is going to achieve all there goals. Putin enjoys the show because he has won. Every bit of flowery language that comes out his mouth is cherished because Russia is not stopping until this security threat is neutralized.
Trump can continue funding and arming and threataning and Ukraine can be his complete quagmire or he can find some way to exit that doesnt result in his head on a pike. He will be lucky to avoid that with the limited in scope intelligence agency reforms he is instituting which are largly just making sure no openly hostile individuals who want his head on a pike for philosophical reasons are removed. Hes got his story. “i gave them tank busteras: Never should have happened”. He wont or cant ancome out and tell the truth that Biden as vice president overthrew the Yanokovich administration elected in free and fair elections installed Nulands picks and started the war.
Trump is caught in between two painful paths. Do the appropriate thing and renter the arena of Russian toady gladiatr conflict or keep getting kicked in the nuts as he pretends he has any cards and Russia proceeds to demonstrate he does not. He is not stupid enough to really pick a fight with Russia because he knows the truth just as he told z he has no cards. His only out ids Putins consumate diplomatic language.
I believe Trump / Vance realize what ultimatly is art stake is a nuclear war and unlike Biden they are actually human enough to not want that. Providing the new improved launched bombs was a huge mistake as was resuming intel. Trump could have learned from Putin. Talked crap about russia but showed with actions that he wanted no part of a real conflict with Russia. His lets play nice and be friends is not going to work and now he chooses his path of pain. This is across the board Russia Iran China. They all detest not just him but all USA politicians. No one is going to play patticake with Trump. Russia is Trumps best bet for a new relationship and Putin who also does not want WW3 will hold his nose and do the right thing and interact but not if the USA continues to support Z and the banderites. The time for Trump to decide is now. If only there was some group of lightly armed rebels he could destroy with a death star to save face.
If Trump truly was what he says he would fess up about what happened in 2014 JFK and Epstein Take daley plaza if that is his destiny but he doesnt have the huevos. His strength is a the type demonstrated on the survivor reality show where the worst most coniving person “wins” and that is portrayed as strength. I guess I cant truly blame him. Go home to the first lady and golf every day or spend the rest of your life locked up as a Russian toady or your brains on the trunk. RIP JFK MLK. “lets play nice” is a nice try.

Posted by: antcafe | Mar 15 2025 23:08 utc | 171

@LightYearsFromHome | Mar 15 2025 21:21 utc | 149
Thanks for that piece on Prof Lu.
At 25.25 into the vid observe a perfect illustration of what I noted for Europe in my reply to Sun of Alabama at #160 above.
@Naive | Mar 15 2025 22:31 utc | 162
Did you read the ‘qualifier’ … ?

Posted by: Don Firineach | Mar 15 2025 23:11 utc | 172

Posted by: Saul Goode | Mar 15 2025 22:43 utc | 166
No, we European, nor USA, cannot match the production level of RF.
The reason is simply capitalism.
In RF a drone will cost X, the same or equivalent in the West will cost X+, easily 2X because MIC companies must extract the maximum profit.

Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 23:11 utc | 173

Where are the anti missile defence’s, zero.
Starmer and the eng’s are in for a very rude awakeing. A reality check. Thats the crack.
Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:00 utc | 106
Exactly – before anything else we need to have a powerful missile defence system to protect densely populated areas. Russia has air raid shelters everywhere but can’t see any UK government being bothered doing that. Starmer knows this is all bluster.
But Starmer be careful! What happens if a UK organised op carried out in Russia results in high deaths? Would Putin be justified in sending a few non-nuclear hypersonic missiles to targets in London?

Posted by: Ray | Mar 15 2025 23:18 utc | 174

No, we European, nor USA, cannot match the production level of RF.
Posted by: Mario | Mar 15 2025 23:11 UTC | 173
Yep, beat me to it. Anyone thinking that the West can outproduce Russia on any weapons and/or munitions is abusing some serious drugs.
And if Ukraine has in fact created a new long-range missile they’re simply accelerating their own demise.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Mar 15 2025 23:21 utc | 175

@ antcafe | Mar 15 2025 23:08 utc | 171
There’s some gripping psychohistorical analysis from you, imho. It hadn’t occurred to me (it honestly hadn’t) to consider Trump’s actions as emerging from a human consciousness — albeit a brutally warped consciousness, along the lines of reality-TV survival of the wickedest. Makes hela sense, thanks!

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Mar 15 2025 23:25 utc | 176

US administration flip-flopping explained in simple terms…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWkZhpsnasQ
Historical facts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcepz2GBk-s
@ 35 ! ! !

Posted by: Alex Vadim | Mar 15 2025 23:33 utc | 177

@122 karlof1
Thx. Certainly more nuanced than my “all is theater” take and generally more hopeful re: Trump, although maybe not if push comes to shove in the S. China Sea.
The reason I think it won’t is that decoupling BTW the U.S. and China is a pipedream at this point. If the shooting were to start, all Chinese product purchasing for U.S. consumers would be verboten.
Decoupling that quickly would have enormous effects on the U.S. consumer and we can’t have that.
I think there is a contingent of Chinese and U.S. businessmen that generally like the existing arrangement. But we both know it can not last indefinitely. For the U.S. to become a country again, it must produce things. And the Chinese Gov’t obviously seeks a better trade position with the U.S. as it gets stronger and stronger.
IMO, a peaceful separation is inevitable down the road. The Chicoms just don’t have the stuff for a good enemy.
The Ruskies on the other hand. The narrative of the barbarians at the gates always springs eternal.
…
Sidebar for us NW’ers including Psychohistorian.
The story reminds me of the S. Korean film Parasite. So much of western domestic reality is awash in posing as caring for the poor/working classes. When the butter meets the bread and where the rubber meets the road, it’s “We love you, we just don’t want to smell or see you.”
Ah, America! Let’s get a real country going, eh?

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Mar 15 2025 23:42 utc | 178

Yes it was hard to believe when Mark Rutte said the opposite of what he and his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg have been saying for years. Suddenly Ukraine will never be part of NATO? From the head of NATO? What??????
Are we not supposed to notice these cognitively dissonant utterly contradictory statements anymore from our leaders? And also from Trump’s team that people like Simplicius now consider an administration suffering a form of schizophrenia? Trying to invoke peace with Russia while sending more US weapons to Ukraine as well as more long range missiles to strike inside Russia as well.
While I welcome the view that Ukraine should never be part of NATO which is exactly what Russia wanted from day one, are we supposed to sit there and gaslight ourselves into believing our minds think it is the day when it is really the night? – at the whim of some straight-faced leader?

Posted by: George | Mar 15 2025 23:45 utc | 179

After today’s Committee of the Whining and Starmzy blustering afterwards trying to sell an empty bag, i couldn’t help thinking of this jewel of satire:

Baldrick: The thing is: The way I see it, these days there’s a war on, right? and, ages ago, there wasn’t a war on, right? So, there must have been a moment when there not being a war on went away, right? and there being a war on came along. So, what I want to know is: How did we get from the one case of affairs to the other case of affairs?
Edmund: Do you mean “Why did the war start?”
Baldrick: Yeah.
George: The war started because of the vile Hun and his villainous empire-building.
Edmund: George, the British Empire at present covers a quarter of the globe, while the German Empire consists of a small sausage factory in Tanganyika. I hardly think that we can be entirely absolved of blame on the imperialistic front.
George: Oh, no, sir, absolutely not. [aside, to Baldick] Mad as a bicycle!
Baldrick: I heard that it started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich ’cause he was hungry.
Edmund: I think you mean it started when the Archduke of Austro-Hungary got shot.
Baldrick: Nah, there was definitely an ostrich involved, sir.
Edmund: Well, possibly. But the real reason for the whole thing was that it was too much effort not to have a war.
George: By Golly, this is interesting; I always loved history…
Edmund: You see, Baldrick, in order to prevent war in Europe, two superblocs developed: us, the French and the Russians on one side, and the Germans and Austro-Hungary on the other. The idea was to have two vast opposing armies, each acting as the other’s deterrent. That way there could never be a war.
Baldrick: But this is a sort of a war, isn’t it, sir?
Edmund: Yes, that’s right. You see, there was a tiny flaw in the plan.
George: What was that, sir?
Edmund: It was bollocks.
Baldrick: So the poor old ostrich died for nothing.

Someone needs to tap Starmzy on the shoulder and remind him that we no longer have an empire, nor do we have much of a military for that matter. Also, the Gammons are not much minded to fight for Broken Britain or the King right now, no matter how much he cosplays Churchill.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Mar 15 2025 23:51 utc | 180

This is an important item, “The Army Is Losing Nearly One-Quarter of Soldiers in the First 2 Years of Enlistment”, which is crucial as the economic draft begins to unfold yet again:

The Army is grappling with a staggering attrition rate among newly enlisted troops, even as recent recruiting figures suggest the service is clawing its way out of a yearslong enlistment crisis.
Nearly one-quarter of soldiers recruited since 2022 have failed to complete their initial contracts, according to internal Army data reviewed by Military.com. While the Army’s recruiting totals look solid on paper, a high dropout rate raises serious doubts about whether those numbers are an accurate portrayal of how well the service is manned.
It remains unclear why the Army is losing so many soldiers, but one explanation could be the declining quality of its recruiting pool. One-quarter of all enlistees last year had to go through at least one of the Future Soldier Preparatory Courses, which were set up as a sort of silver bullet for recruiting woes — getting applicants up to snuff with academic or body fat enlistment standards before they ship out to basic training.
The military’s recruiting challenges have largely centered around finding young Americans eligible to serve, a pool that the Pentagon has estimated at only about 23% of 17- to 24-year-olds. One senior Army official with direct knowledge of the service’s recruiting efforts said only about 8% are eligible for a so-called “clean enlistment,” meaning the recruit didn’t need any waivers or have to attend a prep course.
“If this is the new normal, we’re taking in a whole quarter of the Army that isn’t hitting the standard,” Gil Barndollar, a senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Statesmanship, said in an interview with Military.com. “The bigger question, though, is a human capital problem. If we have a crisis and we need a lot of people, what is the state of the nation? We’re looking at a country which by a lot of metrics — physical ability, cognitive ability — all those numbers are going in the wrong direction.” [My Emphasis]

Those who’ve been reading my substack consistently know that Russia’s devoting a lot of effort to increase the physical and mental abilities of its people. My understanding of other NATO members is they’re having similar problems within their populations, obesity specifically. The ADD and ADHD issues within the USA are also very severe thanks to the massive amounts of industrial pollution and lack of response to medical and social professionals that pointed to the problem’s severity 30+ years ago.
The Economic Draft will increase the numbers of people trying to escape that pain, but far too many won’t be able to finish their enlistment, and then what? I don’t know what the category is today, but when I served from 1979-1985, dropping out led to a less than honorable discharge which doesn’t help when looking for a job amidst stiff competition. What this issue also reveals is the dysfunction caused by Neoliberalism to those institutions that are now vital to providing national defense, education being foremost.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 23:55 utc | 181

Posted by: Saul Goode | Mar 15 2025 22:43 utc | 166
“NATO or no NATO is no longer worth discussing.
Regardless of whether Putin’s tactics were right or wrong Russia has demonstrated to the world that it has been able to fend off or defeat all that the combined West has been able to throw at it.”
<< Since NATO existed to counter Russian aggression and since it was unable to counter Russian *aggression* in this instance, albeit while hiding behind a weakly prepped proxy and not actually committing boots on the ground themselves---in other words, *not* declaring full-throated war against Russia---then it is fairly safe to say that NATO, according to its primary purpose, has bit the dust. Don't get me wrong--NATO will indeed still have its offices in Brussels, and it will have both its flag and its very own anthem. But it will be a relic, a husk. << VVP and Russia were indeed able to fend off & defeat all that the combined West threw at them. The RoW will take note.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 15 2025 23:56 utc | 182

Meanwhile the first “Pro-EU” rally on the continent that I remember takes place
“Organizers said Saturday that the pro-Europe rally, which filled Rome’s central Piazza del Popolo with at least 30,000 people, reunited…” msm

Posted by: Ornot | Mar 16 2025 0:03 utc | 183

Since our resident banderite map fetishist is being so frustrated lately, why don’t they start counting square meters AFU advances their graveyards across the entire country? It must satisfy their “big number” erogenous zone plenty.

Posted by: boneless | Mar 16 2025 0:06 utc | 184

NemesisCalling | Mar 15 2025 23:42 utc | 178–
Thanks for your reply and the link you provided. The judge’s logic is the same as public access to the ocean. But it appears there’s a very large HOA (Home Owners Association) that owns the lake if I read the article correctly. IMO, Lake Oswego ought to be made into a gated municipality and be provided with no support from the rest of the state’s residents if the community is indeed one giant HOA. Oh, and that would open a very large can of worms regrading public/private domain.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 16 2025 0:11 utc | 185

steel_porcupine | Mar 15 2025 23:56 utc | 182–
Please do cite all instances of Soviet/Russian aggression prior to and during NATO’s existence.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 16 2025 0:13 utc | 186

remember all those cartoons and illustrations and “conspiracies” that depicted the nato emblem as a folded swastika etc? as usual, you just have to wait for a while and a conspiracy becomes reality.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 16 2025 0:15 utc | 187

Maslow’s Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows that when core survival is threatened nothing else is worth or able to be given consideration.
That is exactly the state of the EU and UK governments with their restive populations and economic nightmare.
Germany as an example has *needed* to push aside historic fiscal restraint and raise huge new debt to provide stimulus to halt the flow of industry shutdowns and offshoring.
The huge VW plants being closed which can no longer compete with China are an example of exactly where drones from hand-held size capable of terrorism inside Russia and up, could be produced in their hundreds of thousands. VW has the right mix of battery EV, software dev teams and hardware production capability, I thought highly enough of them to be the owner of a Golf Blue Motion.
It doesn’t matter a hoot whether it’s cheaper for Russia to compete on price or numbers, so long as EU drones are damaging Russia infrastructure and costing Russia cost of production then Russia is being attritted.
So, staying in power on ‘war footing’ with stimulus to control their economy and populations is their obvious decision and that is exactly what is being played out now.

Posted by: Saul Goode | Mar 16 2025 0:17 utc | 188

@ NemesisCalling | Mar 15 2025 23:42 utc | 178 with the Lake Oswego story….thx
Lake Oswego is the most expensive city for property prices in Oregon and Corvallis, where I now live, is number two….sigh. That shows itself as more services for homeless population, making it larger and more harmful to the Mary’s and Willamette rivers they are allowed to live along…
Sorry for OT
What will the ghost of NATO future do?
And how does it relate to the oligarch civil war in the West led by Trump on one side and ???? Pope Frank/King Chuck on the other????

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 16 2025 0:17 utc | 189

Ornot | Mar 16 2025 0:03 utc | 183
*** Meanwhile the first “Pro-EU” rally on the continent that I remember takes place
“Organizers said Saturday that the pro-Europe rally, which filled Rome’s central Piazza del Popolo with at least 30,000 people, reunited…” msm ***
Hardly impressive, considering the number of EU-related bureaucrats and NGO staffers at their disposal.

Posted by: Cynic | Mar 16 2025 0:19 utc | 190

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 23:55 utc | 181
:What this issue also reveals is the dysfunction caused by Neoliberalism to those institutions that are now vital to providing national defense, education being foremost.”
<< DJT represents an anti-neoliberal mind-set, Populism if you will, what he would call commonsense, which is not radical in & of itself---but which is vilified among neoliberal elites to such an extent that they dishonored themselves by condemning it in an all-encompassing public buffoonery. This tactic played well in 2017, but not in 2025--and not ever again. As such, they--the neoliberals--cannot hope to gain a prayer of a toehold among an electorate that has felt oppressed under neoliberalism, lied to & lectured-to. Neoliberals fell predictably on the skeevy side of dominant events, whether Russiagate or the pandemic or the legitimacy of the 2020 election or J6 or even the plight of s scrappy little fledgling democracy that found itself surprisingly invaded in 2022 by a "full-scale unprovoked act of brutal Russian aggression." Neoliberals and their cares have discredited themselves. << The question: how fast does a society recover from such gaslighting--? It will take, at minimum, a generation. Because this has been a whole-of-society pervasive gaslighting, it is not possible merely to tinker with a little bit over here, or a little bit over there. This caliber of gaslighting has destroyed institutions, whether educational, financial, cultural, journalistic or governmental. In that the current neoliberal figures in the U.S. cannot even *admit* to such damage, it is obvious they cannot be part of the remedy. Thus the long-term nature of this projected rebound.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 0:28 utc | 191

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 16 2025 0:13 utc | 186
“Please do cite all instances of Soviet/Russian aggression prior to and during NATO’s existence.”
<< NATO's *perceptions* of Soviet/Russia aggression are fantasies, as we see now: EU NATO nations commandeering large sectors of the public & banking sphere to prepare for Russia's next--fantasized--aggression. The existence of the Soviet Union *signaled* aggression to NATO, beginning in 1947--but this was an amped up fabrication. The existence of the Russian Federation today still signals aggression to EU NATO--and it continues to be an amped up fabrication. I mean, they are unable to share a *continent* w/ Russia. Show me who's delusional--? << As the saying goes: NATO exists to solve a problem caused by its existence. >>
Rutte said today, in response to a reporter’s question whether NATO can work with Russia, “Russia is not going away.”
Only EU elites (and Collective Biden zero-sum-gamers) were & are clueless.
Can any of these people look at a map-?

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 0:39 utc | 192

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 23:55 utc | 181
The physical poor health and reduced cognitive abilities, both features of neo-liberal population suppression imo, are just the tip of the iceberg.
There is also a major demographic problem in the ‘western’, neo-liberal nations where the cost of household formation and the ongoing immiseration of the working and middle classes means that birth rates are both delayed and reduced. The demographic profile is not as bad as pre-war Ukraine, but many countries are well below replacement rate and some are quietly going extinct (Japan, South Korea, Baltic states for example).
Finally there is a philosophical aspect – when national politicians get up on their hind legs and ask their countrymen to “go and fight”, many will look around them at the crumbling infrastructure, shrinking public services, crappy, precarious and poorly paid service sector jobs and rapidly rising living costs. indifferent and increasingly authoritarian governments and ask themselves “fight for what, exactly?”.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Mar 16 2025 0:50 utc | 193

DJT *truthed* today on Truth Social that Gen Keith “stalking horse” Kellogg has been appointed as Special Envoy to Ukraine: “He knows the Ukrainians well, and they have a very good working relationship.”
Recall that Gen Kellogg’s daughter has run for many years an NGO in Ukraine, tasked w/ seeing to the medical needs of wounded foreign mercenaries who sign on to fight against Russians in Donbass. Her organization, funded by Open Society and other USAID outlets, helps w/ the transfer of wounded mercenaries from the front lines to international hospitals.
Gen Kellogg was the paid-for recipient of a trip to Ukraine in 2023 on the dime of his daughter’s NGO, so it is obvious that he has had a persistent & enduring bond w/ Ukraine during the SMO, perhaps even a lucrative one.
It sounds like DJT knows that Kiev is where Gen Kellogg can do his most singular work.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 0:54 utc | 194

antcafe @ 171: “Putin enjoys the show because he has won. Every bit of flowery language that comes out his mouth is cherished because Russia is not stopping until this security threat is neutralized.”
Russia is fighting Zelensky’s Ukraine at the moment, but the real threat to Russia lies in the extreme aggressiveness demonstrated by the Euros. Just look at what Starmer & Macron are saying and doing.
Russia can win militarily in the Ukraine — but that will not neutralize the security threat coming from the tidal wave of hatred from the Euros. President Putin recognizes this, which may be part of the reason for the slow motion grind in the Donbas — too strong a military action there will only drive those Euros even further over the edge. Arguably, Russia’s best shot is to get the US out of active participation in NATO, and then hope that the Euros get frightened enough to back off their hatred & aggression. That gives the US and President Trump some negotiating power with Russia — but it has to be done carefully, because Congress, media, legal system are full of warmongers.

Posted by: Gavin Longmuir | Mar 16 2025 1:00 utc | 195

This war between the U.S.-led NATO and Russia, planned and provoked by the U.S. and NATO over many decades, as laid out by the Rand Corporation, is a relic of the Cold War’s *containment* mind-set, a groupthink better suited to the 20th Century, yet manifesting itself now peculiarly here in the 21st Century-—as if through a time travel portal—-where it is a poor fit. This mode of thought—-centering on *containment*—-is especially prominent among Euro-elites, who make it their particular hill to die on.
As long as Russophobia is their guiding principle and their North Star, they will discredit themselves as unrepentant ethnic racists.
There is no ‘up’ side to ensnaring two—count ’em two—Great Power nations in a ceaseless battle over Project Ukraine, no matter Collective Biden’s target-fixation in 2022 on doing so. The UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy says, “Our support for Ukraine, and that of other partners, remains ironclad,” and of course that is fine if he is speaking only for the UK and the UK’s unnamed “other partners.” But there is no reason to hold the RoW hostage to this fetish.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 1:17 utc | 196

Seymour Hersh called a 2nd DJT admin “a circuit breaker.” He means that it is a *paradigm starter.* DJT’s brand of MAGA politics may not be the final variant, but it is the novel progenitor of what’s to come—a burgeoning forth of populism and a renewed pride in cultural nationalism, not just in the U.S. but elsewhere.
The AfD’s strong showing in Germany’s snap elections was indicative of a robust movement building on the continent. That GenZers in particular are drawn to such politics is all the more encouraging. Even w/ all the restrictions on such developments, like Germany’s firewall repressions, an energy toward populism and away from globalism has powerfully taken hold.
Where this leaves a war-mongering relic like NATO is anyone’s guess. Clearly, a future devoted only to militarizing against an imagined “Russian aggression” is not inspirational among the populace. Euro-elites who insist on racking up humongous public debt on account of their imagined fears will soon feel the wrath of an electorate who feels taken for a ride.
Maybe disenfranchised young Europeans will soon emigrate to a free Greenland, once that proud population throws off the yoke of Danish oppression and severs ties with a monarchy that has bled them dry.
Such developments will manifest in the “circuit breaking” sphere at which Seymour Hersh hinted.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 1:31 utc | 197

I predict EU will work very hard to smear Vance in the US-Public’s eyes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 15 2025 20:30 utc | 122
###############
Something the Brits never learned about Trump will continue to thwart them.
Americans will rally around anyone who is attacked from the outside. All of the lawfare and Russiagate only made Trump a bigger hero to Americans.
Sending Zelensky and Labor staffers to help Kamala hurt 100s of times more than if they had not.
Americans tend to get very touchy when people who are not Americans talk about American politics.
It’s like, the family can criticize the drunk uncle but no one else can.
Credibility is one of the most powerful things that any leader can have. Being attacked by the bad guys (Euros, degenerates, corporations, party leadership, etc) conveys a lot of credibility.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 16 2025 1:38 utc | 198

In that NATO exists to counter an imagined *Russian threat* is it any wonder that its ultimate ‘hot war’ manifestation in Project Ukraine has not only relied heavily on media falsehoods and suppressions but also on fairy tales like the Ghost of Kiev and Snake Island and babushkas with AK-47s and the massacre at Bucha and the bombing of the Mariupol maternity hospital and the counteroffensive in Kharkov & Kherson and the Russian missile breaching Poland’s airspace, etc.
Imagine the Greatest Hits playlist of all the fantasies associated w/ Project Ukraine. After this, NATO will be nothing but a cover-band for its own golden oldies.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 16 2025 1:43 utc | 199

Posted by: Mark2 | Mar 15 2025 20:15 utc | 116
But Vance could, and this is what will come to pass.
I think that has been the GOP long term strategy from the start of rump’s present term in office. It will be of much interest to see how all this develops.

Posted by: Barrel Brown | Mar 16 2025 1:47 utc | 200

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