@ drinky crow | Mar 10 2025 4:52 utc | 147
Am clueless about the extent of Social Security payments to dead people and read that article earnestly. But the author lost me with the last paragraph when he reveals, with mockery, his *certainty* in his opinion about who started current war in Ukraine.
Posted by: I forgot | Mar 10 2025 8:56 utc | 171
I especially liked that he said we need to “trust the arithmetic” which reminds me of Dr. Fauci telling us that we need to “trust the Science” which was his way of saying “pay no attention to the man behind the green curtain.” If anyone says you need to trust them then it’s time to hide your wallet.

Posted by: Paranaense | Mar 10 2025 13:50 utc | 203

Mission accomplished!
Sec. of State Rubio announced that 83% of US-AID projects are canceled.
Rubio thanked Elon Musk and D.O.G.E.
This is the end, my friend. A few lawsuits may result in old contracts that Trump killed being honored, to back-pay for work done in the past. But moving forward, the beast is dead, it’s blood fills the streets of Foggy Bottom … blood in the streets, it’s up to my eyeballs (apologies to Jim Morrison.)

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Mar 10 2025 14:08 utc | 205

Vietnamese girl gives advice to Europe
Luna Oi! is a young Vietnamese Communist woman who posts on youtube. IMO she is well worth the time.
This long post is directed to the Europeans wherein she details Vietnam’s history with the US, giving parallels with US actions in Ukraine and Europe.
1. US/west empire looks for local traitors/sleeze bags and buys them. Luna calls them “puppets” and gives examples of how they were used to divide and destroy Vietnam. They failed.
2. Difference between win-win multipolar vs win-lose model and how Vietnam was able to prevail.
3. Numerous examples of Vietnam’s actions with neighbors, Laos in particular. Turns out Vietnam gave Laos (landlocked) a port for free because Laos backed them against the Yanks and French!
4. The Trump mineral “deal”. She covers Trump a lot and explains how after the US got out of Vietnam they saddled the Vietnamese government with a huge debt to cover money given to Vietnamese puppets (traitors). Vietnam finally paid off the debt in 2018!
5. US is dropping Ukraine just like they always do: Afghanistan, Vietnam, etc.
Lots more detail that fills out imperial blueprints and practices.
Bottom line according to Luna oi, the global south knows what’s happening, Europe is confused and if they have enough humility and courage they will admit their errors and hook up with BRICS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB3dcR6Z-4c

Posted by: migueljose | Mar 10 2025 14:18 utc | 207

Da Vinci Wolves are a Neo-Nazi outfit, IIRC.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 10 2025 14:28 utc | 209

Show no mercy – kill them all!
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Mar 10 2025 14:28 utc | 214
—
You’ll probably find that mercy is a greater cruelty to the ideas that motivated the conflict.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 10 2025 14:34 utc | 211

Posted by: migueljose | Mar 10 2025 14:18 utc | 211
Thanks for the link to Luna Oi YT channel. Listening to that beautiful woman speaking with such clear voice I may find myself turning commie hehehe.

Posted by: Johan Kaspar | Mar 10 2025 14:50 utc | 213

The night Karlof forgot about Michael Hudson..
“Today, data on the preliminary parameters of the Russian Federation budget execution for 2024 was released. And I was pleasantly surprised that we not only fit into the 3.3 trillion rubles deficit included in it, but even received a much smaller one.
Moreover, of the three war years, this is our most successful financial year:
Russian Budget 2022 Deficit 2.1% of GDP (3.29 trillion rubles)
Russian Budget 2023 Deficit 1.9% of GDP (3.2 trillion rubles)
Russian Budget 2024 Deficit 1.7% of GDP (2.95 trillion rubles)
Agree to wage a major war and at the same time constantly reduce the size of the budget deficit, this says something.
At the same time, during the three years of war, the country’s international reserves have not decreased:
Russia’s international reserves at the beginning of the Second World War were $630 billion, and now they are $632 billion.
And the debts have not grown much. And the external debt has even decreased:
External public debt at the beginning of the Second World War – $59.5 billion
Domestic public debt at the beginning of the Second World War – 16.5 trillion rubles
External public debt now – $52.1 billion
Domestic public debt now – 23.45 trillion rubles
That is, the war was completely financed by the country’s internal resources, in the context of its more than stable growth.
These are the interesting conclusions we get after summing up the impact of three years of war on the Russian economy.
/////////
I must agree with the conclusion. The economic balancing act performed by Russia’s government is profound. The above data, however, will be ignored by the West.
Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 9 2025 17:44 utc | 44
As always you are looking through a gold standard , fixed exchange rate type lens Karlof.
1. The budget deficit is the non government sector surplus.
So Russian households savings on aggregate must be declining. I can’t find a figure . However, it shows up elsewhere as the Russian households debt to GDP has nearly increased by 50%.
Of course as Michael Hudson’s body of work clearly shows that always happens. When you reduce the deficit and thus the private sector surplus. Then households end up taking on more bank lending debt. That has now nearly doubled.
So the external sector should now be taking up that slack. But it isn’t Russia’s trade balance is now lower than pre pandemic.
With the government balance now shrinking and the external balance now shrinking. The private sector is now taking the pain and taking on 50% more private sector debt.
Retail sales have just plummeted from + 14 to -21 a huge drop and as Michael Hudson points out clearly this is what happens when households take on more debt.
Bank lending will be exploding. They are, loans to the private sector have now more than doubled. From 30 million to 75 million.
2. Domestic public debt now – A tiny 23.45 trillion rubles
As the private sector savings are getting anihilated. Replaced by bank lending.
3. Interest rates at 21% and inflation rates now at nearly 10%.
Is a terrible situation and Elvira Nabiullina just makes it worse as the inflation rate tracks the interest rate.
Compounds Russian households problems even more.
4.International reserves are a fixed exchange rate phenomenon.
In a floating rate environment they are useful but not necessary.In reality in every international trade the seller gets the currency they want and the buyer pays with the currency they have. The international finance system makes a tidy living matching those two desires to create demand.
“International reserves” are really a drawer full of loose foreign change. They are of no real use in a country and can be completely ignored or written off to no operational effect. They end up on the balance sheet of a central bank because export entities within a nation want the currency of the nation to undertake local transactions – like paying their local workers. So they swap their foreign earnings for local currency.
Since that creates an FX risk for commercial operations, an excess of foreign currency in export surplus nations tends to bubble up until it ends up under the control of some state entity – often the central bank. There it sits – because not spending it tends to hold down the currency exchange rate which favours exports.
Since the only strategic reason to export is to obtain imports, why should Russia continue to export anything if it is getting nothing material in return?
But , I can see how you thought they were important looking through your golden standard , fixed exchange rate type lens Karlof.
All those years reading Hudson and you still fail to grasp modern money.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 10 2025 14:54 utc | 215

But no matter the long term outcome of the Russian threat looming over Europe, the Old Continent has a duty to re-arm itself and consolidate itself …
Posted by: LongTimeObserver | Mar 9 2025 23:39 utc | 107
According to exchange rates, European NATO spends 3 times more than Russia on the military. Using PPP, it has parity. Either fear of Russia is fully artificial, or military Euro is much weaker than military rubble than PPP indicates. The fear may be justified if European NATO wants something that Russia cannot tolerate, like moving Russian speakers en masse to interment camps or blockading Russian shipping (conceptually easy, as the latter uses two choke points, Baltic with Danish straits and Black Sea with Turkish straits, narrow corridors that can be closed from their shores, say Danish straits, or at an outlet, say, of Dardanelles. Skip the dialogue why European NATO views “freedom” to embark on such actions as essential.
If the fear is not justified, any increase in defense spending is not justified either. But if it is justified, bloating the ineffectual spending makes no sense without an analysis why it was ineffectual so far, and how in can be more effective. Starting with what weapon types are actually needed or “sufficient”, which are not needed, and how to produce at cost that would be closer to PPP rate (which already incorporate labor cost correction etc.)
And here interesting discussion is possible. E.g. specs and quantities needed for aircraft, armor, drones etc. For example, because both sides have air defenses effective against aircraft, aircrafts are used as launching platforms that only approach front lines, and tolerating if every now and then a plane is lost. F35 is to expensive to loose one every now and then, F16 may be tad too old… or not if properly updated… Armor, strangely enough, is used by both side as a disposable weapon, for several uses or less. Better armor requires more hits from drones or from mines on the ground to get disabled, but ultimately, the numbers matter and Soviet designs, with often improvised updates, were good enough at a fraction of the cost. One can continue toward less obvious topic.
Astonishingly, the topic of EFFECTIVE defense spending, and its challenges, is totally absent from European public discourse (and almost absent in USA…). This is rational if the purpose is to show the resolve and other virtues to the voting public, and incidentally, profits for the friends of the politicians. Otherwise it is simply stupid.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 10 2025 15:06 utc | 217

Interesting phenomenon in Europe (and perhaps elsewhere): pro-peace fascists and pro-war moderates/centrists/main stream members.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 10 2025 15:11 utc | 219

Karlof
“Agree to wage a major war and at the same time constantly reduce the size of the budget deficit, this says something.”
Michael Hudson 101
It does it shouts Russian’s aren’t saving and taking on more debt.
As both the government deficit and debt measures how much Russians and foreigners save in Roubles.
If the deficit and debt are getting smaller then Russians and foreigners are saving less roubles.Which makes perfect sense. As Russian households debt to GDP doubles.
Michael Hudson 101.
When everybody in the spending chain spends all of their income this happens.
If you give somebody £100, they spend it which is taxed at 20%, leaving the next person with £80 as income. They then spend that £80 which is taxed at 20%, leaving the next person with £64 as income. And so on until the entire £100 disappears and creates £100 of extra tax. All without changing the tax rate one single percent.
£100 spent – £100 collected when nobody saves any of their income.
But when people save some of their income
If you give somebody £100, they only spend some of it and save the rest which is taxed at 20%, leaving the next person with £80 as income. They then only spend some of it and that which is taxed at 20%, leaving the next person with less as income.
Then the deficit increases.
I get £1000 which is taxed at 20% leaving me with £800. I save £200 spend £600 which is taxed at 20% leaves the next person with £480. They save £200 and spend £280 which is taxed at 20% leaving them £144. They save £100 and spend £44 which is taxed at 20% leaving them with £31 and they spend all of it.
The government spent £1,000 but only collected back £500 this time.
The government has a £500 deficit . So where is the £500 that is missing ?
I saved £200 the next person saved £200 and the next person in the chain saved £100.
£500 government deficit = £500 private sector surplus. The amount saved by the private sector as the money flowed down the spending chain.
Therefore, with the deficit shrinking
Russian Budget 2022 Deficit 2.1% of GDP (3.29 trillion rubles)
Russian Budget 2023 Deficit 1.9% of GDP (3.2 trillion rubles)
Russian Budget 2024 Deficit 1.7% of GDP (2.95 trillion rubles),
Clearly the Russian private sector is saving less.
3.29 trillion – 2.95 trillion
The Russian private sector and foreigners saving O.34 trillion rubles less than they were saving in 2022.
Hence why Russian household debt to GDP has doubled and Russian bank lending has more than doubled.
Michael Hudson 101…

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Mar 10 2025 15:28 utc | 221

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 10 2025 15:11 utc | 223
“Interesting phenomenon in Europe (and perhaps elsewhere): pro-peace fascists and pro-war moderates/centrists/main stream members.”
I’ve noticed the same thing. Before Obama was elected the Democrat Party was seen as pro-peace, pro-union, blue collar workers and standing up for women. Obama was able to transform the party into a pro-war, pro-Wall Street, pro-offshoring, pro Big Tech party. They sent the minorities to the back of the bus and told them to shut up about illegals taking their jobs and then he split the women’s movement by keeping support for abortion but telling them to quit complaining about fake women taking over women’s sports and women with dicks in ladies restrooms and locker rooms. I’m not sure what Obama’s goal was, but that radical transformation opened the door for Trump to ride a populist wave to victory.

Posted by: Paranaense | Mar 10 2025 15:42 utc | 223

snake | Mar 10 2025 15:03 utc | 220 ….
Stalin with one-nation won WW2.
Trotsky inspired what later became the Neocons and the “there’s no such thing as truth” etc. brigade and those demanding literally unlimited immigration so as to bring down countries — thereby making poorer people suffer the most (including destruction of their own social/national identity) while providing exploiters with a limitless pit of potential victims.
Oh yes, do let’s abolish countries.
As it is, local councils aren’t even properly accountable, but of course via some mystical mechanism a global government would be.
And just who would have designed and immposed that worldwide regime?
Hello, WEF.
Very much a self-selecting organisation.

Posted by: Cynic | Mar 10 2025 15:56 utc | 225

A nice update on how through the pipe you get the other side down the drain.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/kursk-collapse-accelerates-as-daring
And did I mention how it is difficult to drag 50 pounds of brass balls through 10 miles of 5 feet pipes?

The new Simplicius posting mentions a plan for Europe laid out by the US government on the 25th of February. What does he mean with that?

Posted by: Tuk | Mar 10 2025 16:17 utc | 227

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 10 2025 15:26 utc | 224
I believe that there is some clinical research that strongly suggests that those on the Left of the political spectrum have a greater tendency towards authoritarianism. My experiences, having straddled both sides, is that you’ll hear ‘I’d ban that’ far more amongst Leftists than those on the Right.
Found it.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/psychological-dimensions-left-wing-authoritarianism/620185/

Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 17:00 utc | 229

The bastard Starmer called Trump and begged him to turn the weapons taps on again.
Pathetic.

Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 10 2025 17:11 utc | 231

Don’t see much comment on Zelensky not being invited to the US-Ukraine meeting in Saudi. Appears Trump is done with Zelensky?
Quite a contrast to Europe’s idolizing of Zelensky after being kicked out of the White House. Even King Charles gave an audience.
Trump appears desperate to put together a Ukraine government and settlement before Ukraine capitulates. Meanwhile, the Europeans are quite happy to string things along and keep Russia busy with not the least concern as to how many Ukrainians die at the front. So long as the Euro-Globalist Elites maintain their grip on power, it’s all good.

Posted by: Oswald | Mar 10 2025 17:22 utc | 233

> “Trotsky inspired neocons”
We’re told this. But is it true? Has anyone here studied Trotsky writing enough to opine? “Inspired” in what way? And did the “inspired” people correctly interpret or lose sight of whatever was the supposed inspiration?
For instance, many people claim “Jesus” or some other figure inspires them. But, I usually fail to see the resemblance between their hero and their own practices. I don’t blame their heroes for what they do. The blame is on them.

Posted by: I forgot | Mar 10 2025 17:31 utc | 235

Posted by: Mario | Mar 10 2025 15:33 utc | 226
It’s an apples to oranges comparison, Western weapons have to follow far more rigorous manufacturing specifications, especially H&S and environmental requirements, as anyone who was involved in the proposed reintegration of ex-Soviet equipment into Western armies is aware. From memory the NVA BMP’s had to be stripped of asbestos, kitted out with fire suppression systems and fitted with wing mirrors and the SP artillery were ergonomic and crew safety disasters on tracks.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 17:48 utc | 237

It’s an apples to oranges comparison, Western weapons have to follow far more rigorous manufacturing specifications, especially H&S and environmental requirements, as anyone who was involved in the proposed reintegration of ex-Soviet equipment into Western armies is aware. From memory the NVA BMP’s had to be stripped of asbestos, kitted out with fire suppression systems and fitted with wing mirrors and the SP artillery were ergonomic and crew safety disasters on tracks.
Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 17:48 utc | 241
Yes, because that’s what is going to kill you in a war 😀
Next is making sure no front line soldiers smoke, everyone knows tobacco kills.
The other day was reading an article on how bad food whad gotten in the british army (and that it could be another reason why they couldn’t get enough people in the army), I’m sure it is quite healthy, balanced and
fair trade …
Unneeded complexities and rules are a sure way to spend a ton of money and take N times as long to make something.

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 10 2025 17:55 utc | 239

Posted by: I forgot | Mar 10 2025 17:31 utc | 239
“For instance, many people claim “Jesus” or some other figure inspires them. But, I usually fail to see the resemblance between their hero and their own practices. I don’t blame their heroes for what they do. The blame is on them.”
That’s not quite fair. How do you expect to measure up to God? I sure can’t.

Posted by: Paranaense | Mar 10 2025 18:15 utc | 241

The bastard Starmer called Trump and begged him to turn the weapons taps on again.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Night Tripper | Mar 10 2025 17:11 utc | 235
It’s delicious how desperate the Europeans are to drag the US into a war with Russia. Their old levers of power are pulled in futile panic while all the world sees the emperor has no clothes.
Posted by: Oswald | Mar 10 2025 17:54 utc | 242

Alister Crooke in his interview today with Judge Napolitano (currently in Moscow) pointed out that Starmer is basically copying the actions of one W. Churchill in trying to lure the US into another European war.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Posted by: NH | Mar 10 2025 18:23 utc | 243

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 10 2025 17:55 utc | 243
Those 155mm artillery shells will be safer to transport, store and use. The propellant and explosive filler will be made of materials with higher specifications and consistencies, as a result they will have less deviations and thus tighter CEP’s and when they arrive more effective and precise fusing and constant burn times will allow more effective fragmentation distribution. This is especially true when the CW stocks are compared, where Soviet production focused on quantity, whereas the West went down the quality route. This phenomenon is nothing new and was alive in WW2, where Soviet crews of Lend Lease M4’s were amazed that each round of 76mm ammunition came packed in its own cardboard tube, and had to lock the hatches, when away from the vehicle, otherwise their tank riders would cut out the seat covers and use them to resole their boots!
As I’ve said before the SMO was the ideal environment for the Russian way of war and the exact opposite, as regards Western doctrine. Again, not a new discussion, as it was raging during the Cold War, where even after defence spending was nearly 6% of GDP (it’s just above 2% today) the UK only had a two week supply of ammunition for certain systems. Certainly the increased debates about Europe re-adopting conscription are partly because of the lessons the West are having to relearn, just as the Russians are realising that quantity does not always translate into a unique quality. Again, the lessons learned are easier for Russia to implement than the West, who has to change both politically, socially and industrially.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 18:40 utc | 245

I forgot | Mar 10 2025 17:31 utc | 239 ….
Fair point; yes I probably was being unfair to Trotsky himself.
That alleged followers turned thoroughly rotten while often twisting his ideas to suit their own purposes cannot really be blamed on him any more than Marx or Adam Smith could be blamed for what alleged followers later (selectively) cited or misrepresented their writings as advocating.

Posted by: Cynic | Mar 10 2025 18:54 utc | 247

252 – Reminds me of the Highland Clearances in Scotland, when landowners drove away many of their tenants and encouraged emigration, sometimes tearing down their homes, as an incentive to go. Then in the Crimean War, recruiters for the army went round the Highlands, only to be told, “You have preferred sheep to men. Let sheep defend you.” (“Highland” regiments in the British Army in practice came to seek their recruits in Glasgow, Aberdeen, even Edinburgh, not the Highlands – too few ppeople left.)

Posted by: Waldorf | Mar 10 2025 19:35 utc | 249

Now a shopping center was hit in Kursk, 3 dead, 9 wounded so far ( tass.com/emergencies/1925337 ). The pipe adventure, designed by incompetent generals because there was no need to kill your own soldiers in gas then cluster bombs (so they had no support either) when you can easily bomb anything in Kursk, proved to as useless as all previous actions designed by the same geniuses.
And everyone knows there’s a constant lie that people were evacuated from the region ( tass.com/politics/1924993 ). How are they killed so often if they’re not there? Kursk people should cross the border in Ukr. It’s safe there, no smo, no problem

Posted by: rk | Mar 10 2025 20:06 utc | 251

The pipe adventure, designed by incompetent generals because there was no need to kill your own soldiers in gas then cluster bombs (so they had no support either) when you can easily bomb anything in Kursk, proved to as useless as all previous actions designed by the same geniuses.
And everyone knows there’s a constant lie that people were evacuated from the region ( tass.com/politics/1924993 ). How are they killed so often if they’re not there? Kursk people should cross the border in Ukr. It’s safe there, no smo, no problem
Posted by: rk | Mar 10 2025 20:06 utc | 255
LoL.
UMADBRO?
Snatched yo asses from tha backside!
Russia laid some pipe on Ukraine!
Hit them in their bunghole!
Now the ukros cry about being violated.

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 20:12 utc | 253

“Ukraine “rare earths” deal: the empire’s fatal mistake” (??????)
https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/ukraine-rare-earths-deal-the-empires
I think this is the reason why the EU continues to support (or tries to continue) the Ukraine.

Posted by: WMG | Mar 10 2025 20:32 utc | 255

Tim Kirby russia hardcore telegram
47 video of couple hundred KurskAFU surrendered.

Posted by: Jo | Mar 10 2025 20:56 utc | 257

– “Kursk Collapse Accelerates as Daring Pipeline Raid Shocks AFU” (Didn’t Russia do the same in Avdievka ?)
– Russia is preparing to cross the Dnepre river ?
Posted by: WMG | Mar 10 2025 20:27 utc | 258
Nice points
Avdeevka and even chasiv yar (if memory serves me right), ok, water pipes, but same thing basically
And the cross the dnepre is something bizarre that even tass already “announced” more than once.

Posted by: Newbie | Mar 10 2025 21:07 utc | 259

Since the SMO started, Doomers have come and Doomers have gone, but rk has remained consistent and resilient.
It’s hard to stay so wrong and short-sighted in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, a deep commitment bordering on obsession.
Good job, rk!
If you’re going to be a wet blanket, you should aim to be great at it.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Mar 10 2025 21:09 utc | 261

In 2008 banks realized that if one went bancrupt they all did. This led to the cessation of a bank trying to survive at an others expense. A uneasy understanding. Russia had to be assimilated in order to shore up the unsecured debt on the banks books. What Trump has done is end the understanding. By trying to get the USA financials in shape he jepordizes European financials. The understanding has been no one trys to correct the house of cards by ignoring its a house of cards. Debt does not matter. Free stuff for everyone. Fundamentally the neoliberal phenomena is one of entitlement and of course this extends to financial entitlement. Usa goverment is regarded as a endlless pot of money and if they dont give it up they are bigots and racists.
The end of using Ukraine to try to steal Russias resources is catastrophic for the EU. Certainly USA situation is not better in the long run. What Trump is doing represents a bank trying to protect its solvency without regard for other banks. Trump has started a run and the EU is unable to try to do the same. They have no options and they know what is coming. What is coming is a world where nations standards of living are dependent on what they can offer the world in goods services and materials. Entitlement is worth nothing. This actually is the philosophy of BRICs. Trump represents a willingness to compete based on actual deliverables. This is the only option to WW3. Extend and pretend is over. Every nation for themselves.
Trump is attacking neoliberalism at its base. Overtly. Without shame. All neoliberalism can do is construe Trump as a exceptionalism elite. It comes down to different forms of exceptionalism. I vote for the one that avoids WW3. Thats Trump.
Make no mistake. Change is ahead. Abandoning the Ukraine project will have consequences. This wont be a flower garden. Blindly entering WW3 has worse consequences. Not to mention… having people die for your financials is depraved.
Across all sectors people are preparing for the storm.
USA and Trump has literally become the EUs enemy from a standpoint of continuation of the debt expansion.
Alastair Crooke “massive unsecured debt”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6fW0GkkrJI

Posted by: Nipins | Mar 10 2025 21:27 utc | 263

Posted by: Justpassinby | Mar 10 2025 21:10 utc | 266
No, realpolitik. Trump switched off ISR support and Ukraine is in the process of losing its Kursk salient as a result, now he says he’ll probably switch it back on. Zelensky is now under no illusion that Trump and Putin are going to decide the fate of his country so he might as well be involved, so as to give it an air of legitimacy. The price of admission, a letter of apology and ?, the penalty for not taking up this generous offer, another slice of Ukrainian real estate and even worse terms if/when he comes back to renegotiate.

Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 21:33 utc | 265

Posted by: Milites | Mar 10 2025 21:47 utc | 270
They think we care about the stock market, the real estate market, or even the price of eggs.
They truly have no idea the seething rage. The silencing and censorship not only made them deaf and blind, it also made them hated and unaware of it

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 21:53 utc | 267

They truly have no idea the seething rage.
Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 21:53 utc | 271
—
Oh noes! The MAGAs ‘r gonna throw a temper tantrum.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 10 2025 22:07 utc | 269

@ snake §220 and Cynic §229:
We´re a gregarious species.
We evolved from family through tribe to nation.
Nations aren´t the problem: they just need to tolerate each other or, to recognize that old ´60s ideal: peaceful co-existence.
Russia and America are feeling their way towards that. Even China, with a very different culture and history, has the same aim: live and let live. India will likely join them.
The groups that can´t tolerate such a development are, ironically, Europe (the current EU), especially the UK and France.
And the Muslims, still languishing 622 years behind, with vicious dreams of world dominion and the malignant oppression of half the human race: women.

Posted by: John Marks | Mar 10 2025 22:27 utc | 271

Oh noes! The MAGAs ‘r gonna throw a temper tantrum.
Posted by: too scents | Mar 10 2025 22:07 utc | 273
A few years ago, Putin was asked,
“if there was a civil war in America, which side would you help?”
Putin quickly replied, “Naturally, we would support the side with the best chance of winning.”

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 22:35 utc | 273

I was always inspired by the Reagan quote,
“A man can achieve anything, if he does not care who gets the glory.”
It is the way of the shadow.

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 23:09 utc | 275

one more thing..
people say, “Russians infiltrating American academia and culture impossible! Crazy conspiracy theory!” As they imagine balding, bespectacled Russians trying to directly sub ert students in Universities with thick Russian accents.
Yes, yes.
But instead, let’s look at one of the many thousands of ethnic minorities, well, the ones with undue influence, in Russia and post-Soviet states.
Could they maybe be a vector to inject the poison of polarization and civil war in America?
Anybody want to call me a conspiracy kook yet? It was all so implausible 11 years ago.
Decades Long soviet strategic initiative? Conspiracies so grand as to be unbelievable? The masters of war and politika?
Phooey, phooey I say. America is fine.

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 10 2025 23:28 utc | 277

“Vasily Kashin: What Kind of Empire is Trump Building, and What Will Be Its Relations with Russia and China”
https://karlof1.substack.com/p/vasily-kashin-what-kind-of-empire

Posted by: WMG | Mar 10 2025 23:38 utc | 279

Elon musk says a cyber attack on his X platform came from ukraine.
Doesnt surprise me. Kiev has been at the centre of several events over the years. They were responsible for the skripal incident, mh17, the moscow concert attack, nord stream blast, even doctoring urine samples to get russia banned from tge olympics and many other events that served specifically to undermine russias integrity around the globe.

Posted by: HERMIUS | Mar 11 2025 0:25 utc | 281

UWDude | Mar 10 2025 23:16 utc | 280
They should leave Syria indeed. It’s nothing they can solve there anymore and they’ve become Syria themselves, at home. Also they create more problems for locals now. Those they protect inside the base will be killed as soon as they leave.
And looking at Moscow party last night it’s clear they need more soldiers. What if next wave of drones is dirty?

Posted by: rk | Mar 11 2025 6:34 utc | 283

Posted by: UWDude | Mar 9 2025 23:38 utc | 105
There is no such thing as a “Putin” in the Kremlin.
Russian Federation is a collegial centralized State. No dictatorship.
“Putin” is but a man of enough understanding to keep surfing the big wave and never getting wet. Thanks to his knowledge if FSB files.
The main party, Union of Russia, remains united as long as there is some standing and profitable economy under the State…
There are not one but two communist parties that want to share into the cake as well as the LDP nationalist Party, ex -Jirinovsky’s, that would like to govern but cannot.
Every single of them distrusts or hates (or pretend to hate) the Collective Waste.
They wouldnt fight the Waste but rather wait for its natural decay.

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 11 2025 9:50 utc | 285

They just mass droned Moscow today killing at least 1 and wounding dozens. Yet they are partying at discos and night clubs in Kiev. No other country would allow their capital city to be under attack like this without at least attempting to level the enemy responsible. You can’t even blame this on NATO or the US, these are homemade Ukrainian drones. In fact, the drones seem to be more effective than the missiles supplied by the US/NATO!

Posted by: bored | Mar 11 2025 11:15 utc | 287

Posted by: migueljose | Mar 10 2025 14:18 utc | 211
Thank you for the Luna Oi! link, it was excellent.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Mar 11 2025 13:37 utc | 289

As if tipped off in advance, the Daily Telegraph ran this above-the-fold headline: “Deadly Hit Comes On The Day Of Crucial Negotiations In Saudi Arabia To End The War.”
The article, pantingly, included rolling updates on the number of civilians killed after 337 drones targeted apartment blocks in the Domododevo suburb of Moscow.
Militants used the Lyuty UAV, which can travel 1000km

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 14:20 utc | 291

@ HERMIUS | Mar 11 2025 14:27 utc | 296
Obliterate Mexico, of course. Which would make for a fun teevee show, just as the Iraqi turkey shoot did, but dealing with the consequences would be less fun.
The Russians are smarter than that.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 11 2025 14:37 utc | 293

Deets on the Lyuty UAV, a fixed wing long-range drone w/ 1000km max distance:
The Lyuty is characterized by its airframe dimensions, measuring over 4 meters in length and boasting a wingspan of nearly 7 meters. This substantial size enables the UAV to carry a formidable payload of up to 50 kilograms of high-explosive ordnance, making it a lethal platform for precision strikes against enemy infrastructure, command and control centers, and other strategic assets. The airframe’s design is optimized for long-range missions, with a streamlined profile that minimizes drag and enhances fuel efficiency, allowing the Lyuty to penetrate deep into hostile territory.
<< Note that it is lauded for "precision strikes against enemy infrastructure," so of course 337 of them end up targeting a Moscow neighborhood of apartment blocks.

Posted by: steel_porcupine | Mar 11 2025 14:53 utc | 295

Ukraine’s March 11 drone attack on Moscow civilian targets will achieve the switch-off of Starlink for the UFA.

Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Mar 11 2025 15:29 utc | 297

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Mar 11 2025 9:15 utc | 288
Your description of Canada gives me an idea why Trump wants to have it: It’s kind of a power vacuum with steadily increasing Chinese influence, and Trump is afraid of China taking control…

Posted by: grunzt | Mar 11 2025 16:36 utc | 299