Fifty one years ago (February 12, 1972) U.S. President Richard M. Nixon landed in Beijing on a cold, blustery day, shook hands with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai, and started a thaw in U.S./China relations that launched China on a path that has made it a world power. During that visit, Zhou declared that “the gate to friendly contact” had been opened. That gate is now slammed shut and China is preparing for an eventual war with the United States in part because of the bellicose policies and actions of the Biden Administration.
Blame for the rupture in the formerly friendly relationship is not the fault of Biden and his bumbling National Security team. U.S. politicians in both parties now routinely refer to China as an “enemy”, the General in charge of Air Mobility Command wrote a letter stating he believed that American would be at war with China by 2025 and public opinion polls show a growing number of Americans also believe that China is the main threat.
China has initiated a number of actions to prepare for the possibility of going to war with the United States. The Wall Street Journal reported today that China has begun revoking the patents of U.S. companies in important industries for Beijing, including technology, pharmaceuticals and the use of rare earth minerals.
Officials in the U.S. and European Union accuse China of using its courts and patent panels to undermine foreign intellectual-property rights and help Chinese businesses. They say China is focusing such efforts on industries it deems important, including technology, pharmaceuticals and rare-earth minerals.
A U.S. manufacturer of X-ray equipment had a decade-old patent invalidated by a Chinese legal panel. A Spanish mobile-antenna designer lost a similar fight in a Shanghai court. Another Chinese court ruled that a Japanese conglomerate broke antitrust law by refusing to license its technology to a Chinese rival.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-china-technology-disputes-intellectual-property-europe-e749a72e
China also is buying gold and selling its sizeable position in U.S. Treasury bills. Beijing took notice of the West’s attempt to destroy Russia’s economy with sanctions and the seizure of Russian assets overseas and has embarked on a program to cut its risk. China now realizes that if it acts to protect its claim on Taiwan it would face the same sort of retaliation that the West deployed against Russia for its war to prevent Ukraine from becoming part of NATO.
The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Moscow this week was not a coincidence. It had at least three goals — to demonstrate China’s support for Russia on the anniversary of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, to further progress on the creation of an alternative international financial system not beholden to Washington and, I believe, to kick off the negotiations for a mutual defense pact. In addition to meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, Wang Yi met with Patrushev, the head of Russia’s Security Council.
In the world of international diplomacy, the Foreign Minister has the task of working out details and producing the documents that would codify a defense relationship. It also is not a coincidence that Putin announced at the end of the “productive” meeting with Wan Yi that Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China, would visit Russia in the near future, possibly in March. Xi Jinping is not going to Russia to sight see or swig vodka.
As Wang Yi met with Putin’s senior government officis, the boneheads in Washington chose that moment to verbally bully the Chinese.
“There will certainly be consequences for China should they deepen their relationship with Russia,” Singh said. “We haven’t seen them give lethal aid to Russia at this time for the war, but they also haven’t taken that off the table.”
Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the U.S. threat by declaring that China would not tolerate pressure and threats in relation to Russian-Chinese relations. If the United States can send military aid to Ukraine, China has the full right as a sovereign nation, to send military aid to any country it chooses to support.
The arrogance and hypocrisy of the United States towards both Russia and China is solidifying the bond between the Russians and the Chinese. Dmitry Medvedev’s comment on Putin’s and Biden’s speeches should be a wake up call to America (but I fear it is falling on deaf ears):
Yesterday we had an address by the President of Russia to the Federal Assembly, in which, among other things, he announced the suspension of our participation in START III. A long overdue decision, the inevitability of which I noted last year. A decision prompted by the war the United States and other NATO countries have declared on our country. A decision that will have a huge resonance in the world in general and in the United States in particular. The reasoning of the American establishment so far has been this: we will shit all over you, we will supply huge volumes of weapons to the Kiev regime, we will work to defeat Russia, we will limit and destroy you, but strategic security is a separate issue. It is not related to the overall context of the U.S.-Russia relationship. It is almost a sacred cow.
This conclusion is worse than a crime-it’s a grave mistake by Americans. A mistake born of their mania grandiosa. Their sense of superiority and impunity. After all, it is obvious to all reasonable forces that if the U.S. wants to defeat Russia, then we are on the brink of a world conflict. If the U.S. wants to defeat Russia, we have the right to defend ourselves with any weapon, including nuclear weapons. As Putin rightly said: “It is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield. This is precisely why we have suspended (for now) START III. Let the elites in the U.S., who have lost touch with reality, think about what they have achieved. Let us also watch the reactions of the other NATO nuclear powers: France and Britain. Their Strategic nuclear forces were not usually included in the balance of nuclear warheads and carriers in the preparation of agreements between the US and the USSR (Russia), and it is high time to do so.
The Nixon era of peace with China is dead. The new era of a military and economic alliance between Russia and China is beginning and America labors under the delusion that it can stop this with threats of military action. A very dangerous time for the world.
Looks like the Ukrainian spring offensive is about to get underway…
Noticed a report this morning about a large UAF convoy approaching Transnistria. Now SouthFront is reporting:
…Ukrainian troops are amassing on the border between the Odessa region and Transnistria. Mass movements of the Ukrainian military in the immediate vicinity of the border are also confirmed by resources in Tiraspol, capital of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).
Large forces are accumulated along the Kirovograd highway a few kilometers from the Platonovo checkpoint. The number of military personnel has been increased at all checkpoints in the region. Some special operations forces from the Bakhmut and Donetsk frontlines were reportedly transferred there.
It is expected that Ukrainian forces will strike at the territory of Transnistria in the near future, probably on the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. — SouthFront
https://southfront.org/a-new-front-in-the-smo/
Resisted the urge to speculate earlier today that Russia might be using the Transnistria ammo dump as a shiny object to attract the attention of the US/Ukraine. Earlier reporting indicated that Russian troops in Transnistria have been quietly reinforced since the beginning of the SMO, with a current force estimate of 3500 to 5000 men.
So, will a Ukrainian attack force the Russian-Belorussian concentration into a big arrow rescue?
*Repost
And, in answer to your headline question: Yes.
it is the only place that ukraine can attack- plus they would have the support of the usa 82nd airborne division in romania if necessary if the us decided to intervene. the rest of the front line is suicidal for them to make an offensive against. this would be done to secure odessa i would think and to trump up another big victory for the west especially right after bidens visit.
i looked at stormfronts comment section – what a mess- name calling- looks like it is not being moderated at all like this site is.
regards,
ralph
US 82nd Airborne will be eviscerated
How?
very very slowly, Ash; a pace resembling a geographic time frame of glacier movements, because that’s how Russian fight. Therein lies the tactic by which the 82 AB be destroyed. The 82 AB will all die of old age – and the Russians will emerge triumphant – because the transcendent Russians don’t care about time (or territory). They inhabit an entirely different dimension!
The 82nd Airborn will beat the Russian with a single phrase: What are your pronouns? Upon hearing this, the Russians will flee as if they had seen the devil incarnate leaving behind all of their AKs and artillery.
There are large ammo stores in Transistria that Ukraine would like to seize.
The Ukrainian military appears to be nothing like destroyed, not on the verge of collapse (any day now we have been told since June). There are a lot of men under arms remaining. They are determined to fight for every square meter of Ukraine. They are capable of moving about the front as needed. They are defending Odessa and they can group for attacks on Ukraine’s western borders..
Meanwhile, Wagner, the guys doing the bulk of the fighting, is publicly and vociferously complaining that it can’t get enough ammo to continue the slow grind approach to war. There has been an assumption, that I have questioned for a while and I now question deeply, that Russia is producing sufficient ammo to keep their massive barrages going 24/7/365. The first crack in that narrative was the story about Russia buying ammo from North Korea, but reason should have raised the question of how the Russian could continue to shoot so much. Where did the assumption that Russian production could keep up with demand come from? Evidence?
Just b/c Ukrainians have been dying disproportionately to Russians doesn’t mean they are finished. They appear to have a force at least as large as what Russia has fielded and they appear to be able, with NATO’s help, to train-up new recruits. Yes, their attacks result in heavy casualties, but in defense in depth scenarios, they are pretty effective. They don’t seem to mind the casualties and the attacks make Russia fire a lot of precious ammo.
I do not think China will make any commitments until Russia proves that it really is a force to be reckoned with, which is becoming more doubtful each day. Maybe eventually there is some agreement, but if Russia fail in Ukraine, the agreement will be far less favorable to them.
Btw, this is not trolling or deep state infiltration of the blog. This is me going with the facts as they are, not as we’d like them to be.
Stories, indeed.
Your “facts” are as questionable as your conclusions.
How dare you question the Dogmas of Dima.
So we are back to the “Ukraine is kicking ass and Russia is out of ammo and missiles ” story?
No. I didn’t say that. More like a statement that could break either way. Wagner is saying that Russia isn’t able to supply ammo. It’s on video. Big move for Wagner to come out and talk publicly. Their leader appears very pissed-off. Deal with it.
It appears that Ukraine has lots of forces that it has not committed to the fight as they are defending the big cities. NATO is training more. Again, deal with or face a rude awaking at some point.
Your own comments refute your suppositions – “There are large ammo stores in Transistria ” Indeed – a Soviet era artillery shell storage that is siad to hold up to 8,000,000 rounds. Yet that is only one of many such Soviet era sites, as the Soviets would build in large redundant capacity (over-capacity).
So if you assume at least 6 Soviet era ammo dumps, there were likely more than that, but even at 5 Mil shells each, that is 30M shells. Yes, they are old, but the Soviets sealed them in wax and hoped to store them for 20 year or more, I would think many of these old shells are still functional. The Ukrainians seem to think so, or why is it that “Ukraine would like to seize.” them , again?
Russian sources stated a while back they had fired 10 million rounds of artillery in Ukraine up till then, probably 11 or 12 million by now – where did those shells come from Eric? Did they magically appear?
A Russian General stated more than 2 years ago that Russia had enough artillery shells on hand to last a 2 year war with NATO. Was he lying, or stating a simple fact?
Then we turn to current production, where some months ago it was stated Russia was producing 30,000 artillery shells per day (exact number is a secret, no one knows exactly except the Kremlin – the quote was “producing them like pancakes” or something like that), and production was planned to increase from that level, and then double this year again (2023) – to a level of who knows, 50,000 to 60,000 per day, or more. OTOH we have the USA, where in 3 years time, maybe, they will be producing 70,000 shells per month – in 3 years what will Russian production levels be? Probably north of 70,000 per day.
And what guns will NATO use to fire artillery shells, having sent so many to Ukraine already? Many NATO nations noiw have 0 artillery, which means they will fire 0 shells in combat.
It’s simple math Eric. The kind that adds up to NATO defeat, which is why you see the sheer panic on their faces now.
And obviously you missed all the RAND studies, the Polish Army study, and the French Army study, among others, that showed in a WWIII scenario, with many months of preparation and assuming all new weapons systems fully deployed to the frontline in large numbers, inlcuding all NATO airforces etc – that Russia smashed NATO rapidly. Of course you know better than them, right?
I would say the Russian military industries are massively out-building the West now, in every category, and as the West attempts to ramp up, they will too, maintaining that lead. And then, as they said in the RUSI study last June which clearly stated the above, to paraphrase “And after all that, behind Russia stands China Game over man, game over!”
“This is me going with the facts as they are”
No. This is just your perception, viewing NATO through rose-colored glasses. “evidence?” you provide none, just wishful thinking.
Ran out of memes now, and had to cirlcle back to “Russia is running out of ammo” ?
“A Russian General stated more than 2 years ago that Russia had enough artillery shells on hand to last a 2 year war with NATO. Was he lying, or stating a simple fact?”
I don’t know. Generals say all kinds of things that aren’t true, for various reasons. Why believe this one General on that particular utterance? Because you like it?
“And obviously you missed all the RAND studies, the Polish Army study, and the French Army study, among others, that showed in a WWIII scenario, with many months of preparation and assuming all new weapons systems fully deployed to the frontline in large numbers, including all NATO airforces etc – that Russia smashed NATO rapidly”
Rand? The same guys who suggest Russia could be bled dry in Ukraine and then Russia broken into pieces? Same problem – you select out statements that make you feel warm and fuzzy and ignore those that make you upset.
As for Russia smashing NATO, etc. – maybe/maybe not. I deal in observable facts. So far Russia has been unable to smash Ukraine. It’s been a year and the lines have pretty much remained static. A little pimple of town, like Bakhmut, presents a huge hurtle for Russian forces. The guys doing the attacking are publicly complaining about a lack of ammo to accomplish the mission. Indeed, the mission is not accomplished. That fact lends some credence to that General’s statements.
“Then we turn to current production, where some months ago it was stated Russia was producing 30,000 artillery shells per day (exact number is a secret, no one knows exactly except the Kremlin….”
Yep. No one knows (though I’m pretty sure NATO does based on imagery). The narrative that Russia is producing more ammo than they are firing is an article of faith among the Russophiles here. So why isn’t the Wagner getting the supply they need? Why are the Russians reaching out to NoKo for ammo? These are questions that must looked at objectively, not to shied away from.
What would it take in terms of raw material, factory capacity, etc to produce 30,000 artillery shells a day? Is it even feasible given Russian production assets? Where is the evidence? What is the evidence?
NATO is already running out of munitions. Plus, at heavy utilization the artillery barrels wear out fast as compared to Russian stuff. Kind of like the space shuttle versus the Russian rocket – which are still in use? The F-35 has a sketchy reliability too. The new UK aircraft carrier is a piece of junk. The tanks are a maintenance nightmare.
NATO may have more soldiers, but they need weapons that are reliable and munitions in abundant supply. They have neither. Russia has all of it. Germany has less than a week’s worth of munitions. If Russia wanted they could steamroll NATO this spring forcing peace negotiations on its own terms. If NATO goes nuke, Russia wins there too.
We need to be careful not to project based on our perspectives and world view formed by our experience with our own culture and especially the MIC. I doubt any country outside the developed west tolerates the level of corruption and inefficiency we have, let alone the poor quality and bang for the buck we put up with. Russia’s space budget is way less than ours too, and how’s that working out for us? Elon Musk puts more up in space than the US government, and he’s South African. NASA, like the US military has a big budget, but not much for results on a dollar weighted basis.
On EN’s comments a bit further down, Clausewitz focuses on destroying capability, not taking real estate, reading through the points.
There are large ammo stores in Transistria that Ukraine would like to seize.
Sure, and they’re all rigged to explode sky high, should the Ukrainians ever breach the perimeter.
Know what’s going on.
“Dying disproportionately” is how the enemy becomes “disarmed” in a Clausawitzian sense and an invasion turns into road trips in BMPs mopping up pockets of disorganized resistance. Our obsession with territory might be football related. Russia going back to horse archer days understands the goal is to destroy the enemy forces.
Right, yep, sure…. back in Clausewitz’s day, there were just randomly roving bands of horsemen killing anyone who had the misfortune of crossing of their path. So fighting was all done in the countryside where there was grass for horses. No cities were taken at all; ever. Nor was country side really controlled for any longer than it took to kill the people found there. When the horsemen ran out of people to kill in an area, they simply moved on to more populated (i.e. target rich) countryside.
Sheesh. If you’re going to refer to Clausewitz, you at least should know what he actually said, which had a lot to do with seizing territory. Thanks for playing – where’s the gong (reference to an American tv show that us old guys understand)
Once again, Clausewitz stated that taking territory was critical to victory. He even insisted that taking the enemies capital was the best thing to do. Here he is in his own words:
General Principles
I. Warfare has three main objects:
(a) To conquer and destroy the armed power of the enemy;
(b) To take possession of his material and other sources of strength, and
(c) To gain public opinion.
2. To accomplish the first purpose, we should always direct our principal operation against the main body of the enemy army or at least against an important portion of his forces. For only after defeating these can we pursue the other two objects successfully.
3. In order to seize the enemy’s material forces we should direct our operations against the places where most of these resources are concentrated: principal cities, storehouses, and large fortresses. On the way to these objectives we shall encounter the enemy’s main force or at least a considerable part of it.
4. Public opinion is won through great victories and the occupation of the enemy’s capital.
5. The first and most important rule to observe in order to accomplish these purposes, is to use our entire forces with the utmost energy. Any moderation shown would leave us short of our aim. Even with everything in our favor, we should be unwise not to make the greatest effort in order to make the result perfectly certain. For such effort can never produce negative results. Suppose the country suffers greatly from this, no lasting disadvantage will arise; for the greater the effort, the sooner the suffering will cease.
The moral impression created by these actions is of infinite importance. They make everyone confident of success, which is the best means for suddenly raising the nation’s morale.
6. The second rule is to concentrate our power as much as possible against that section where the chief blows are to be delivered and to incur disadvantages elsewhere, so that our chances of success may increase at the decisive point. This will compensate for all other disadvantages.
7. The third rule is never to waste time. Unless important advantages are to be gained from hesitation, it is necessary to set to work at once. By this speed a hundred enemy measures are nipped in the bud, and public opinion is won most rapidly.
Surprise plays a much greater role in strategy than in tactics. It is the most important element of victory. Napoleon, Frederick II, Gustavus Adolphus, Caesar, Hannibal, and Alexander owe the brightest rays of their fame to their swiftness.
8. Finally, the fourth rule is to follow up our successes with the utmost energy. Only pursuit of the beaten enemy gives the fruits of victory.
9. The first of these rules serves as a basis for the other three. If we have observed it, we can be as daring as possible with the last three, and yet not risk our all. For it provides us with the means of constantly creating new forces in our rear, and with fresh forces any misfortune can be remedied.
Therein lies the caution which deserves to be called wise, and not in taking each step forward with timidity.
10. Small states cannot wage wars of conquest in our times. But in defensive warfare even the means of small states are infinitely great. I am, therefore, firmly convinced that if we spare no effort to reappear again and again with new masses of troops, if we use all possible means of preparation and keep our forces concentrated at the main point, and if we, thus prepared, pursue a great aim with determination and energy, we have done all that can be done on a large scale for the strategic direction of the war. And unless we are very unfortunate in battle we are bound to be victorious to the same extent that our opponent lags behind in effort and energy.
11. In observing these principles little depends on the form in which the operations are carried out. I shall try, nevertheless, to make clear in a few words the most important aspects of this question.
In tactics we always seek to envelop that part of the enemy against which we direct our main attack. We do this partly because our forces are more effective in a concentric than in a parallel attack, and further because we can only thus cut off the enemy from his line of retreat.
So those vast reserves recruited from the ranks of teenage boys and middle aged men will make the difference when no planes on the way, some tanks down the road , and running very low on 155 mil. artillery shells for the UAF as it runs out of NATO stockpiles and NATO inventories will take time to replenish but Russia is running out of missiles. The tired and tedious false narrative of the corporate servile MSM borders on propaganda and not news. In a war of attrition the UAF loses as it’s offense waste lives and recruiting becomes more desperate while Zelensky’s beggar cup gets only meager supplies that cannot match demand.
There are over 1000 dead poles in polish graveyards killed by Russia in Ukraine. There are several battalions of Poles in Ukraine and increasing NATO troops in Ukie uniform. The entire command structure in some areas is America and British.
Yes ukies are calling up teens but NATO is increasing on the ground presence and this looks like getting uglier.
A well trained teen can do a lot of damage to the enemy. The Ukro recruits/teens are being trained in NATOstan. Never underestimate your enemy. Never assume that your side is simply destined to win.
NATO troops are being integrated into the Ukro command structure and are fighting on the line, as Ash says. I believe more are on the way; lots more.
What I’d like to know if we’ll ever see a mea culpa moment when the situation finally sorts itself out. I’m guessing we’ll never see a post from “Eric Newhill” again …
Radio Free Europe reporting Prigozhin reporting ammo is back on track. https://www.rferl.org/amp/prigozhin-wagner-mercenaries-ammunition-supplies-army/32284809.html
And back t some previous comments in this string – Wagner wasn’t getting the ammo they wanted, and that’s not the same as saying Russia doesn’t have it or is running low. Given all the talk about a major move on a broad front one could surmise that allocations are being determined and Wagner may have to wait until that gets sorted out.
And it looks to be getting sorted out.
Don’t dismiss the possibility that this was a psy-op.
The Wagner situation is odd.
They did better under surovikin as sole command. Since they changed that it’s not looked the same and time is running.
Yup the ukies seem to have endless bodies to throw at this. The Odessa troops are likely polish and American.
Wagner is also losing hundreds of men every day, per their own statement. Things are not going well for Russia. They really don’t know how to fight this war. Sorry. Not so sure that ammo is back on track. At any rate, Wagner feels it is being short changes – even betrayed – in many aspects, not just ammo.
Prigozhin has said: “As for the supply of ammunition to the Wagner PMC, – Akhmat, some other units have shared what they could. Generals who are around the leadership of the Russian military grouping sign documents for which afterwards they can be put in a jail cell by the Military Prosecutor’s Office, just to provide us [PMC Wagner] with ammunition, which we get directly from the wheels. At the same time, the Chief of General Staff and the Minister of Defense are giving orders to not only stop providing PMC Wagner with ammunition, but not even help us with air transport. Now I received information that they had even cancelled distribution of sapper shovel, so the guys could entrench themselves up. There is simply a direct opposition, which is called nothing else but an attempt to eliminate the Wagner PMC. This can be considered equal to treason against the Motherland. This comes at a time when the Wagner PMC is fighting for Bakhmut, losing hundreds of its fighters every day.”
Your skepticism isn’t unwarranted. I also have my doubts about actual Russian capabilities.
However, it does make sense for Russia to fight an attrition war against Ukraine in places like Bakhmut, were they have relatively short supply lines, and force Ukraine to defend at the very edge of their supply lines. If Ukraine appears fanatical about its resistance even better, it turns the battle into a true meat grinder.
Why do the Ukrainians still have functioning supply lines? Why haven’t the Russians interdicted those with all of their allegedly superior weapons systems? The roads and rail lines to the Bakhmut region must cross some very flat open land. Seriously, this is a mystery to me and it, like other observable facts, violates the way militaries fight wars. I do not think it is so the troops and weapons can be destroyed when they reach the front line. They could be more easily and more inexpensively destroyed en route – and that would also make it easier to destroy the enemy that is already on the front line. This is a real clue that suggests Russia is not nearly as in control of the situation as some would like to think.
China will sit back and watch and hedge.
hello Eric- I WANT TO BE WRONG ABOUT THE BELOW; there are times that i am beginning to think that this war like the so called pandemic before it is one big scripted play puppet show with us as the audience to distract us from the reality of our nations being destroyed from within . It is beginning to feel choreographed. we each select our tribe and cheer for them while the noose where we live is being slowly tightened around our necks. if the ukrainians are allowed to take Transistria and get all that stored ammo; then i will really begin to think that this is another designed worldwide banker military industrial complex forever war. When the russians pulled out of kherson city leaving Transistria wide open for attack later i kind of shook my head as i did not think unless someone used a tactical nuke or MOAB; that the dam upstream of it would ever blow. Perhaps you are right also that the capabilities of the russian army have been overestimated and the ukrainian army underestimated. Afterall with only sticks and stones left after 8 months they are still holding out at bakhmut against the wagners. The russian soldiers are not supermen; they are probably well trained for the most part ; but still put their pants on 1 leg at a time like anybody else .
regards,
ralph
Btw, this is not trolling or deep state infiltration of the blog. — Eric Newhill
Don’t sell yourself short, Eric. At the very least, you’re a Mockingbird.
Eric, your little trolling mission has the alacrity of an ant climbing the leg of the elephant, with the intention of rape.
Consider this: Russia ordered all ammo dumps rigged for demolition in case their defense becomes impossible !! Hahaha. Checkmate mate!!!
The Ukrainians are running out of shells, they have lost the bulk of their engineering equipment (trench diggers. etc), they have no air force, they are losing strategic territory – Soledar, Bakhmut. The Russians are have not integrated all of their newly mobilized forces – training is just being completed. There is a large contingent of forces coming from Mariupol to Melitipol – potential offensive forces to strike Zaporozhye region – mostly Wagnerites. Ukrainian air defenses are scarce and spotty – Russian’s have deployed high altitude bombers using gravity munitions – time is running out for Ukraine and the West knows this.
There are reportedly 20,000 tonnes of Soviet era ammo stored in Transistria. If stored properly such munition should have a 20-30 year shelf life. The USSR collapsed in 1991 or 31 years ago…
“Eric Newhill says
23 February 2023 at 11:30
No. I didn’t say that. More like a statement that could break either way. Wagner is saying that Russia isn’t able to supply ammo. It’s on video. Big move for Wagner to come out and talk publicly. Their leader appears very pissed-off. Deal with it.”
No, the leader of Wagner did not say that Russia isn’t able to supply ammo. He stated that Russia had plenty of ammo and was refusing to supply Wagner with ammo. In other words the Russian DOD withheld ammo to Wagner for political reasons. That dispute apparently is now resolved.
“Yes, their attacks result in heavy casualties, but in defense in depth scenarios, they are pretty effective. They don’t seem to mind the casualties and the attacks make Russia fire a lot of precious ammo”.
Correct. They are willing to trade human lives to reduce Russian ammo stockpiles. How admirable!
Sir, I believe you are very much viewing this conflict in an American style war.
This is not a war, it’s a SMO , granted the Russians are not supermen without a doubt, but they are far more suited to this type of meat grinder warfare than we are and LIKELY ever will be.
Ref 62 cities burnt to the ground and two nuclear weapons because we were so hesitant to invade mainland japan shaking in our boots of women, children and old men after our marines were faced with the realities of an opponent even starving slaughtered us. Whilst the red army obliterated over a million well feed and provisioned army on the Asian continent in 3-5 days.
We are a grandiose narcissistic insufferable arrogant delusional people chasing validation from other cultures all emotion (we are feminine basically)
Without a doubt geniuses in innovation (we are great farmers when it comes to inventions and theories but we excel in innovation ie bringing others inventions together and commercialising) and we were the kings of logistics..
my point… at no point in history can we compare as warfighters to the Russians or Germans or even Brits irrespective of our ancestry.. we are soft.. we are products of being handed on a silver platter the reigns to the British empire without having earned it.
And for our collective faults, and our betrayal of God we must suffer.. and we are with far worse to come…
Take a look at civilian casualties vs military and you SHOULD then be able to understand why the pace is slow and methodical. These folks are basically fighting a civil war and unlike us are fighting an equal IQ wise, an equal in intestinal fortitude for a war 99% of Americans would run screaming from. The average soviet let alone Russian 9 year old has vastly superior math skills than our MIT, Harvard,Yale freshman could claim…. their education is and was in soviet times VASTLY superior.. (hence CIA assessment in 1990’s of Russia being a future peer competitor despite population difference, I wonder if one Mr Larry Johnson had any part of that report?)
These people are NEVER going to be in a position were a shortage of ammunition could allow their people to be at the mercy of others after their centuries of suffering at others hands.
Maybe allow nobody is infallible and we all have biases that shape our warped perceptions (I know I’m no exception and my comments are only my opinion biased and flawed as I am)
and your opinion on their military progress might well also we wrong?
Anyways rant over hopefully I did not indulge in any personal insults.
The west especially Anglo are entering into civilisational collapse, we have to self reflect more on our own faults failures and sins if we have any hope of not tearing ourselves to shreds. And cease tearing others down projecting our moral decay onto others.
Good luck and God bless one and all and my God save us for he can is the only one that can.
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff17c4601-cb58-4f56-9cc7-2325a7d478ac_604x185.jpeg
You must have a death wish, If the 82 Airborne gets involved it will be
World war III, So do the World a favor ,find a very tall building and take a dive
“
This area will likely be the first place Russia uses tactical nuclear weapons. The recent words of Putin and the Russian government clearly indicated they are now willing to use nuclear weapons. The Russians also now state that U.S. forces are “fair game”. Transnistria is viewed by Ukie military dunderheads as a way to bifurcate Russian forces and stretch them thin. It seems to me this is where Russia will simply decimate AFU with tactical nukes and scare the bejesus out of everyone there.
What is clear is that Russia now clearly feels threatened and have stated so. The situation is that it is not the Bear that is treed but the rest of the West that is treed, with the Bear at the base of the tree.
…it is not the Bear that is treed but the rest of the West that is treed, with the Bear at the base of the tree. — Lou Brooks
I disagree that Russia will use nuclear weapons in defense of either Transnistria or the ammo dumps. And, by your own logic, why should they?
As far as I know, Russian doctrine on nuclear weapon first use has not changed. If attacked with nuclear weapons, they will respond, but I don’t think Putin will court the end of the world over a Cold War ammo dump.
On the other hand, Ukraine, and by extension the US/NATO, must be getting a little desperate if those old Cold War stocks are all that remain in Europe… Those stocks could, it’s rumored, supply the UAF for up to a year.
Putin might do a lot of things, but wouldn’t the look on Biden and Zelensky’s faces be priceless if he ordered his troops to blow the stockpiles and surrender to the Moldovians before the shooting started?
The rhetoric from Medvedev is clear that Russia now sees it OK to use nuclear weapons. The Russian stance on has gone from a second use only in defense to a first use to protect Russia and Russian speaking peoples. His statements are red flags to the West, a warning of what the West is facing.
Russia is unlikely to use high tonnage weapons but they also are not willing to see the Russian body count climb during a slug fest with the West. Another side of the coin is that nations friendly to Russia may not look favorably on the use of tactical nukes. Whatever Russia does, it will be shock and awe and the West will pull back, they could even do an underwater payback off the coast of the U.S.
If you read Putins speech to the Duma, that is exactly whst he said and one of the reeasons why Russia suspeneded START III
Russia do however have a nuclear doctrine that forvid them to fire the first shot, unless the motherland is existentally threatened.
Putin also said after the hot war started that “If a fight is unavoidable, be sure to be the first to strike”
On top of that. Since gis speech to the Duma, the 21st Feb, Russia have upped the rhetoric, so it’s clearly that Russian patience is wearing thin.
I don’t think we’re too far away from Kinzhals flying to London and Langley(MI6 & CIA) as a warning
Russians will destroy the dumps before the Ukrainians get their hands on them.
Will Russian tactical nuclear weapons spare Russians in Transnistra ? Are they genetically vexed against radiation and blast by the new ethnic weapons systems ?
Maybe tactical nuclear weapons could be issued to local police forces if they are so efficacious ?
tactical nuke use is a blatant admission that the Russian military has failed, as I have been warning could happen. The slow grind is not 5D chess. It is an approach utilized by a weak force that cannot do war the right way. It pains me to admit it – truly – but the Biden admin + neocons may have assessed this mess correctly all along
The slow grind is not 5D chess. It is an approach utilized by a weak force that cannot do war the right way. — Eric Newhill
Please, enlighten those of us less experienced: Exactly what is “the right way” to wage war?
Does a 10:1 kill ratio matter?
Not if you aren’t breaking the enemy’s will to fight and are failing to take and hold his territory
Just let the Russians denazify all of them, eh?
Spoken like a true imperialist.
The “slow grind” is utilized by a force trying to avoid prohibitive losses for itself, whilst maximizing enemy losses.
Doing war the “right way” means pissing away large numbers of troops & then having to press gang latter-day volksturm to preserve some more capable forces. As Ukraine is doing.
A Ukrainian attack on a tiny isolated enclave, wouldn’t be a show of strength but a wasteful display of impotance. Showing that Ukraine cant effect an outcome where it matters.
Like John Bell Hood trying to invade Tennessee whilst Sherman burned Atlanta then marched to the sea.
Your pain threshold seems low, it’s a good thing you couldn’t keep track of the “slow grind” of the Chechen Wars. I’d fear for your health…
LMAO you had me going there for a second.
Good one.
Biden’s Bunch couldn’t wipe their own asses with two hands and a map to guide them.
Biden’s Bunch have an unbroken record of failures unless you count chaos and mass death as the measure of success.
No one even their closest allies believes their denial on the Nordstream terrorism. The entire knew world figured it all out before the bubbles dissipated.
Maybe they can thump their chests and shoot down more $12 weather balloons with million dollar missiles. I’m sure we will all be renewed awe at their military and strategic prowess.
I say ship neocons over to Bhakmut so they can advise the Ukrainians directly.
The right way? Russia has made mistakes, some of them costly. But there is no “right way” to fight a war. The right way to fight a war is to meet the objectives of that war. Has any Russian in a position of leadership said they want to take Kiev and depose Zelensky?
You want Russia to fight the war the way the US would fight the war, but the US hasn’t won a war since 1945 while fighting them almost constantly since then. I’m not even saying Russia will win this war, but come on. For one, even Ukrainian sources are saying 500 KIA per day in Bakhmut these days while nobody serious puts Russian KIAs at above 20k total. If we take Patton as a military genius then it seems russia is fighting the right way by making more of the other side die for their country.
The US defeated Iraq decisively in 2003.
Then the US blew the peace.
The US also rolled over the Taliban and Al Qaeda very decisively in 2001 – 2002.
The US military drove the Iraqi military out of Kuwait and then crushed them in 1991, in a few days.
The US military won just about every major engagement again the Vietnamese communists.
The problem is that the US suffers from mission creep imposed by idiot politicians and greedy leach contractors; mission creep like nation building, but the US military is quite effective at destroying the enemy and seizing his territory.
Just because you hate America, you shouldn’t dismiss the might of the US military.
Bullshit Eric. Total bullshit. Victory means the winner imposes a political order that takes control of the country. Remember post war Germany and Japan? It does not matter what the U.S. did in Afghanistan in 2002. What matters is what happened in August 2021! We ran away with our tail between our legs. Don’t give me that “mission creep” crap. The truth is the Pentagon lied for years about so-called progress in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The might of the US military is grossly exaggerated. We believe our own propaganda.
The Russians, according to folks around these parts, are fighting exactly like the Americans did in Vietnam. Territory does matter. All that matters is body counts. The communists had the Ho Chi Min trail and Ukrainians have NATO supply lines from Poland and elsewhere. The VN commies were supplied by Russia and China and the Ukrainians are supplied by NATO. The US thought it would kill commies until there were no more and Russians think they kill Ukrainians until there are no more.
If Americans are stupid losers, then Russia is imitating a stupid loser strategy
Understanding the Principles Of War might aid you in better understanding the Russian approach.
Disagree Larry. The US Military walked all over its opponents. August 2021? We – US military -should have been long gone before that. Why were we still there? Politicians and their nation building. It is no longer the military’s mission to create a stable peace after the smoke clears. The military just blows stuff up and kills the enemy. Your peers/buddies in the CIA/state dept are supposed to hep accomplish a peace and stability after the blowing up and killing. I have no problem accepting that your peers suck at their job – that they might well be insane on top of incompetent. The military was much better at it; i.e Marshall. Should have kept that job with the military. Military are practical people.
Your ignorance on these matters is enormous. You are living in a dream world about our military capabilities. We’ll learn some very hard lessons if we continue on this road to fighting the Russians and the Chinese.
like what?
They would kill Russians if they did.
Russia has thermobaric bombs that have similar impact so why use nukes. Let troops concentrate and roll it out. Juicy fat target.
Don’t need to use nukes on the ammo dumps as a number Kinzhal’s would do the job with their high accuracy, large warhead and very high kinetic energy.
Russia will not use nukes first- ever.
Simply will not happen.
Only in response to a nuke launched against it.
They do not need to. They are defeating AmeriNATO as it is.
Russia has a good future with its central role in the new alternative to the western financial system.
Using a nuke would undermine Russia in so many ways. No way.
Russia is going to grind to the western border of Ukraine, create a DMZ and strong defensive line to monitor the European border, and then turn to its future with the rest of the world.
F the EU & US
At some point Americans will get a dose of reality but I am certain the government and media will try to minimize it. I could imagine demonizing grieving spouses because nothing gets disclosed on deaths.”They are probably election deniers too. There is nothing too wrong for Biden, Clintons, Obamas in the cause
Is the Biden Administration Just Completely Brain-Dead? Martin A.
Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons on all its ships. The US arrogantly told China not to support Russia or that they would impose sanctions on China as they have done with Russia. That is like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Once you make such a public demand on China, they now MUST act against it or their leadership will lose face.
I have dealt with governments for some 40 years +. Warnings of this nature have ALWAYS been communicated privately – NEVER publicly for that is confrontational and will necessitate the opposite side to vote against your demand. I cannot imagine that even I know far more about diplomacy than anyone in the Biden Administration. That suggests to me that this is deliberate. They just cannot be this stupid. They seem to be deliberately moving Russia and China together against the arrogant West in the very same manner that resulted in the Peloponnesian War with Sparta taking down Athens for its arrogance.
As the world teeters on the edge of World War III between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran against the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Europe, diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful settlement are seriously lacking. Europeans should be storming their own parliaments demanding the end to supporting Ukraine and honoring the Minsk Agreement to forestall a potential conflict the likes of which Europe has not seen since the end of the second World War and will certainly not survive.
The Biden Administration appears to be taking the advice of Adolf Hitler given the complete lack of any diplomacy whatsoever. China has offered a peace settlement but the Biden Administration wants war. China had no choice but to respond to Biden:
‘The US is in no position to tell China what to do’
The United Nations has become a joke. The Security Council can take action to maintain or restore international peace and security under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Sanctions measures, under Article 41, encompass a broad range of enforcement options that do not involve the use of armed force. The UN has refused to remain unbiased and should have imposed sanctions on Germany, France, the UK, and the United States for their bad faith in negotiating the Minsk Agreement and for their unwarranted sanction of Russia that even began before the 2022 invasion. The UN no longer represents an independent body of nations but has been usurped with lofty ideals of becoming the one world government thanks to Schwab’s World Economic Forum and the pressure from the American Neocons directing US foreign policy.
The United Nations took its marching order from the United States and suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council on April 7th, 2022. They have courted world war with the vision of emerging as the new one-world government. They self-proclaim: “Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law.” Sanctioning private individuals claiming that will put pressure on Putin was a blatant violation of international war. Under this theory, then the Republicans could confiscate all the personal assets of Democrats until the Democrats agree to their terms. This is absurd.
The United Nations has REFUSED to be impartial and to prevent World War III. They are a total failure and a disgrace to humanity. Here is the simple pattern they should have investigated if they really cared about preserving world peace.
(1) In 2014 US installs an interim government in Ukraine which is unelected and immediately sends troops to attack the Donbas for wanting to separate from Ukraine after its own revolution
(2) West engages in the Minsk Agreement whereby Merkel has come out and acknowledged it was in bad faith and intended only to allow Ukraine to build its army while making a fool out of Putin for trusting the West
(3) Zelensky is elected promising to end corruption and the civil war with Russia
(4) VP Kamila Harris at Munich Security Conference tells Ukraine they should join NATO
(5) On February 23rd, 2022, Zelensky announces that Ukraine should rearm itself with nuclear weapons
February 24th, 2022, Putin intervenes to support the Donbas when the West ignores their human rights. If the United States even exists after World War III which they are promoting, then we would no doubt have a similar investigation into the deliberate policies that have rejected any possible peaceful negotiations and promoted war for the total destruction of Russia.
When not just diplomacy fails we get war, but when the United Nations acts in its own self-interest against all the member states that fund it and ignores the very foundation upon which it claims any authority. That seems to be in line with the World Health Organization to dictate its policies to the world.
“ UN has refused to remain unbiased and should have imposed sanctions on Germany, France, the UK, and the United States for their bad faith in negotiating the Minsk Agreement and for their unwarranted sanction of Russia that even began before the 2022 invasion”
UNSC construction does not allow such thing. Five veto wielding powers do not allow.
We are living in pre-history era yet. We are deceiving ourself with reason, wisdom, logic, crafts.
The only negotiation left is the date the surrender on Russian terms will be signed.
I do not understand, it is not that they are going to attack 5k Russians stationed there, Transnistria would mobilize and put many thousands of reserves into arms, Ukraine would have to move a lot of people there, I see this only as a show
Maybe Ukraine believes in the concept of time and would overwhelm Transnistria quickly, before they have time to call up reserves, etc. Maybe US/NATO troops would be assisting with that operation.
Thanks a lot Larry for your great work! Regular reader here, for once I have extra first hand info on a current subject:
I visited Transnistria (or “Pridnestrovie”) in 2008 as part of an international journalists delegation and wrote 2 articles (only in French):
https://www.voltairenet.org/article149653.html
https://www.voltairenet.org/article149849.html
As an anecdote, part of the visit was the Spetsnaz HQ there, where I asked why they had a whole little zoo in there (pythons, all kind of big birds, etc). The answer was: “If one can take care of wild animal properly, one can tame his own inside wild animal”. I found that neat, also only time I saw a real WW2 Ppsh “Papasha” machine gun.
The volume of ammo and weapons stored there might be overrated I think. Indeed, following the 1992 conflict and the collapse of USSR, a lot of it was sold, feeding the Yugoslavian conflicts in particular. It remains to be established how much of those stockpiles were re-supplied since. Anyway I would guess that before Feb. 2022 the Kremlin secured those one way or another because that is a very isolated and small territory.
I’ll bet you that the Russians would have rigged the whole ammo dump to blow up in the face of UAF/NATO if its defense becomes impossible. They’ll never allow it to fall in Ukrainian hands.
As for the mentioned WSJ article, for those who wants to read the source.
https://sharetext.me/wcgwjkrofw
via https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome
I get a sense that citizens have to step up and break past the silly narratives and ideology.
The plumber in America has no gripes with the electrician in Russia and the Carpenter in China. We can work on practical things.
If we don’t like each other, we can walk away. No need to threaten or undermine each other.
Its only one planet we’ve got, really.
Wonder if there’s anything the man on the street can start doing to stop us crashing into each other.
Peace.
….Wonder if there’s anything the man on the street can start doing….
Vote harder
/s
Tender blank ballots.
Why do you think it is your country ?
There are people living in Palestine who thought it was their country – but decisions for them are made in Washington and Tel Aviv………..
Now people in East Palestine are learning they are irrelevant – what are they going to do about it ? What did those people in Florida do ?
I mean – what do you expect to happen in a Corporate State run by the Anointed ?
They’re people, not gods. We start putting them in the ground.
And we know whom they are!
Excellent solution Mr. !
Its only theirs because we let them take it.
There aren’t that many of them.
It’s a mystery of human nature that people will follow orders of “authorities ” even if it makes no sense and not in their best interests.
I do know one think, there is no voting our way out of this.
Who is the “Anointed” (one) …?
Joshua …? Saul …? David …? Emmanuel …? Serapis …? The Christ …?
People in both Palestine and East Palestine are NOT irrelevant:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7zmf0Zf_bOA
P.S. Sorry, Mr. Johnson, if inappropriate please do not publish.
Well, no. Sadly, it is not possible. Maybe it was already not possible even in 2016 even if everyone would try to help Trump.
Check USA trade balance. It is very skewed.
This disparity is based upon two pillars.
1) liquidity, the hope that value invested in USD can be pulled out. Maybe USA won’t pay back, but someone else (some other nation) would (by selling their goods or services for USD).
2) fear. Look at Gaddafi, the guy wanted to trade beyond USD and thought his UN Human Rights award would protect him. He does no more.
Standing on those pillars USA was “exporting inflation” enjoying “exorbitant privilege”.
Now imagine those pillars got chopped. What would come next?
USD would loose any extra value. USD would only cost as much as there are “made in USA” goods other nations are willing (and not coerced to) to buy.
And so again look at USA trade balance.
Trump wanted to zero it “from inside”, by controlling USA production and consumption. Many thought that is was not possible, that USA 2016 was past no return point EVEN would all the nation stick around him. Anyway, he was sabotaged. And his attempts to squeeze China economically only backfired and made the balance yet worse.
So, the trade balance would be zeroed from outside.
It is a VERY rough estimation, a zeroth approach, but just take the data, what USA sold (exported) and what USA purchased (imported) in 2022.
Then imagine USA can only import as much as it exports and not a penny over that.
Take the list of imports and cut out everything above that limit. You won’t have it. At all. For any price in USD, for 10x price, 100x price, 1000x price – no difference. Those goods just won’t exist, they won’t be imported in USA. Try to imagine it.
There was a reason USSR prohibited citizens to have foreign currencies and purchase abroad. Violation could lead to death sentence. Those were draconian measures but there was reason they were.
Just play with USA imports list one or another way and try to sustain living in USA with import cost exactly as big as export cost.
Then it would get worst.
USA theft of Libian, Syrian, now Russian assets does not induce will to protect US non-material export. Movies, music, programs – if they can be pirated for free, why not doing it? Medvedev, BTW, spoke about it recently.
If USA weaponises trade – then protecting American interests in the trade becomes protecting your robber, why would do it?
You can answer – out of fear. The problem is, recently Iran threw rockets at American bases to avenge Soleimani – and USA accepted it. North Korea did not blink when US Navy threw two CBGs at it back then. USA fled from Afghanistan with her trial between her legs.
And on top of it, Russia is day by day demonstrating: yes, you can. Yes you can show finger to USA and there is nothing USA can do.
The idea that Russia can export “security and regional stabilization service” was discussed in RuNet for some years. I am not very fond of “world policeman” idea, absolute power corrupts absolutely. But if it can be structured as honest pay for honest work – then why not.
This also might touch the question why Russia is attriting Ukraine rather than those fantasies of “Kiev in 3 days”. Many reasons there are, but one possible is “shaping new normal” and this takes time to form new inertia.
Would Russia score a quick victory everyone could say it was a lucky sucker punch and USA just did not have time to react. No more. “Russia as a cat” just demonstratively took American favorite mouse and demonstratively is choking it. For the whole year, day by day. America has it all to react – she know who, she knows where, she knows how bad Russia abducts her flunkey. It is not because America was outmaneuvred or ambushed, it is because America is powerless. That idea is sinking door by drop into everyone’s subconscious day by day.
You have some bad neighbor which was American client and you want to punish him? But dare not because America? America is nothing, look at Ukraine!
This idea is sinking in around the world, fear is going away.
So, the hope, the liquidity – but KSA now does what Gaddafi did, trading beyond USD, and NATO dares not to bomb them. China, Russia trade out of dollars. Iran, Venezuela do. It would be snowballing.
As there would be less and less demand for USD outside – the more and more Americans inflation would stay inside, unexported. And inflation would be killing liquidity hope and make nations go away from USD.
The whole financial reconquista idea was based that USA can trigger inflation in every other currency more severe than in USD, making dollar go up. This did not happen. The positive feedback loop goes the opposite direction.
Now as Trump’s attempt of controlled and slow enforcing zero trade balance failed – it would happen chaotically, in unpredictable moment but overnight.
At some point some “critical mass” of dollar-deniers would get reached and nations would fear to trade in USD like they feared to trade in rouble in 1990s.
They would see USD for a hot potato to get rid of. A trap. Something that is decimated by inflation yet you can not buy anything of value and is stuck.
This above sounds absurd heresy today, but hey, 10 years ago the idea of USA fleeing away from Taliban while Iran throes missiles at her Iraq garrisons sounded equally absurd. Yet it happenned.
So that is a problem.
USA does not have self-sufficient economy.
USA globalized economy is pathetically inefficient, as measured by costs of imports and exports. In layman terms, USA wants to by form everyone but few want to buy from USA.
When everyone had fear of USArmy and trust in USD – it was colonial tax, blackmail.
But sans those it is inefficiency.
And it would surface in unpredictable moment and all at once.
Look at material (Hollywood and Microsoft would be canceled) import and export streams and imagine large part of US required import disappeared overnight.
The limbo post-USSR citizens went through would be scout’s picnic in comparison.
And so USA keeps devouring EU. Not because it would save her in the long run, but it is delaying the agony.
That also is why USA can have no peace and is doomed to desperately attack everyone.
There a video on Discovery about a young starving polar bear. On a walrus shore. It was dying. It had no force to attack adult walruses, and they were shielding the youth. The bear tried to attack with desperation, but every next attack was weaker than prior. TV narrator said, this bear is done for. It can not kill a walrus, and walruses are aware and would guard their youth. This bear, so desperately aggressive now, would fall dead in few days.
A very accurate analysis. Thank you!
Great explanation, much appritiate.
I would add that the so-called ‘supply chain crisis’ was/is actually about what we do NOT produce. Agreed, we must produce again! We must rebuild and thereby remoralize our citizenry. We have the “Ukraine fatigue” resolution introduced into the House, by a group of feisty young congressmen; the WSJ is hysterical that Trump is taking an evermore “populist” stance against escalating war in Ukraine. Many more examples can be given, including an increasingly outspoken citizenry opposing “woke” insanity and virtue signaling. Look at East Palestine, Ohio and the lessons being learned! So I think there is good reason for optimism. Of course, that puts us on the hook, rather than letting us ‘off the hook.’ Appreciated.
Sadly, voting will not change anything. Donald Trumps presidency proved that. The Deep State and the neocons are for real and they control it all. Government, media, big business, and the military. The only thing that will stop these lunatics is the end of the dollar hegemony. As long as they have that, they can print as much money as they want, bribe foreign officials, wreck other countries economies, hire and supply mercenaries, and generally stir up shit all over the globe at will. Once the dollar collapses and the money printer is gone, it will bring about peace in the world, that is, what’s left of it.
I’m pretty sure the end of the global dollar won’t stop them. The end of their lives, along with a hundred million or so of their serfs, will probably due the trick.
Unless of course the serfs finally rise up against their oppressors. But I’m not holding my breath. They will (and do) kill us just as easily and thoughlessly as they have killed 10’s of millions across the globe.
They will (and do) kill us just as easily and thoughlessly as they have killed 10’s of millions across the globe. — Black Cloud
Well Chief, you’d know about that, first hand.
It’s your land as long as
The wind blows
Grass grows
And the sky is blue.
Correct Chief, and Spanky. How do our maniacs in charge continue to convince so many of us that they treat people fairly or that they operate with some modicum of integrity? Maybe there are still some who trust what we call the news media. This old vet don’t trust them. They’re crazy. A few thoughts on :
folkpotpourri.com/ghost-of-empire-to-haunt-the-world/
Dear Saka, I don’t believe there is. This whole drama has been orchestrated from on high by a very powerful Deep State apparatus that controls the West. Maybe they want to fulfill Orwell’s prediction that everyone on all sides actually wants perpetual war to control its citizens? (I mean chattel).
I have the sneaking suspicion this is all one big operation to institute the One World Government that this Deep State has been aiming at for a hundred years. These people are multi-generational and very patient. We probably need to step back, and then step back again, in order to be able to see the Big Picture better.
We are a long way from conditions that helped the sino soviet 30yr split (’59-’89). RAND report authors and the oldest at foggy bottom must be ripped at the “progressive” Biden admins war drums.
The conflict between the Outlaw US Empire and China was inevitable as soon as the Full Spectrum Dominance policy was adopted in 1996 by the Clintonite Neoliberalcon faction and continued as policy since, amped by Obama/Biden then Trump and now Biden and his neocon team. That said, IMO a formal military alliance between Russia and China won’t happen because of GSI–it works only if no hegemony is present within the bloc adopting it, and alliances are always directed at some entity. A better solution is the formation of two blocs–most of the world within the GSI bloc and the remainder residing within the Empire’s bloc. Eventually, the Empire bloc will shrink due to desertions forced by geoeconomics, neoliberal finance, and other contradictions. The elites don’t want to risk the uncertainty of nuclear war as they really want to enjoy their lives despite their behavior, so they will retreat as there’s still plenty of wealth to wring from the USA and its vassals.
I understand there are elite factions that disagree with the Biden Administration’s tactics — even though their long term goals are identical.
But the Biden neocons have the reins of power, here and now, and elite consensus put them there. I thought it possible AF1 would go down returning from Ukraine, suspiciously of course, such that Russia would be implicated, but officially a tragic accident.
Such would be the (burnt) peace offering.
So now the question is, from your point of view: Can dissident elite factions remove the Bidenistas from power, or forestall our frog-march to war, before the damn fools get us all blown to hell?
I wonder what the percentage of the collective West buy into the Russia/China bad versus the complete realization that we are the bad guys and everything that we have been taught is a lie.
Not one in a hundred believe that they ate Imperial Stormtroopers. All 99% of them are convinced that they are Luke Skywalker.
The other 1% believe they are Hans Solo.
Speaking of Luke Skywalker:
Luke Skywalker: I’m Zelenskyy’s ‘good soldier’
https://www.politico.eu/article/luke-skywalker-uklraine-war-mark-hamill-volodomyr-zelenskyy-good-soldier/
It is probably more like one in a million who are completely free of cultural delusions. I’m sure you suffer from your own, you’re just unaware. Just saying…
Speaking of Han(s) Solo, here is something posted today on NATO Twitter acount:
We are Harry Potter and William Wallace, the Na’vi and Han Solo. We’re escaping from Shawshank and blowing up the Death Star. We are fighting with the Harkonnens and challenging Thanos.
https://twitter.com/NATO/status/1628687961477750790
It’s all just a big Hollywood movie, with real blood.
Probably not much less the % of people that believed the lies and accepted the DARPA bio weapon clot shot.
Once gullible, twice gullible….
Thrice dead….
It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. Even Russian tanks in Berlin could not do the job.
https://www.dw.com/en/soviet-era-tanks-in-berlin-arouse-controversy/a-63186594
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY
Hi Larry. read this latest piece from Simplicius The Thinker and ask yourself how in their wildest imaginings could anyone in the US power structures see themselves defeating Russia, let alone a combination of Russia and China: https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/in-the-spirit-of-russian-total-war
It’s gone far past reality denial; it’s now in the realms of certifiable insanity. And one of the symptoms of insanity is the inability to stop. No brakes, no reverse gear. I think the event in East Palestine, Ohio, was a potent symbol of something that’s to come.
Economic Collapse is inevitable in the US, only a question of when.
Vote with your feet if you can.
If you won’t emigrate , then start slowly & gradually preparing for hard times. Find a church community and fully participate. plant fruit trees. Eliminate fixed costs.
Is this piece any revelation to you though?
I think it is discussing pretty basic things.
I think I touched it in Disqus flame wars on Russian Insider back in 2015-11-13 but there is no link any more.
That their article they reprinted in 2018, and then again in 2022, seems they have to do it every 3-4 wears now 🙂
“EPIC FAIL: Why Most US Weapons Systems Are Worse than Russia’s
Jacob Dreizin”
But it seems they removed the comments. Disqus gives me a link, but there are no comments there at all.
Here is on comment by me the search of Disqus history pulls out:
====
2018-04-29 on russiainsider
It all is not military education, that is needed to maintain and use weapon in the real battle field.
When you take few millions civilians in the wake of invasion, put them through 1-2 weeks express drills and send to the frontlines – how much military educated you expect them to be?
You also have to think about education lecels immediately after WW2, not today, as those were times that set the framework for weapons qualities prioritization.
====
There was more but I don’t know if the whole discussion can ko be pulled out as RI removed the frame from their site 🙂
RI dwellers took it as one grave offense the very idea Russians soldier could be – in regular peaceful life – trained worse than western ones. The flamewar was brief but intense 🙂
So yeah, overall this is so obvious and basic that even laymen like me know it 🙂
The distinction between professional pirate/rader/expeditionary and unprofessional dweller/peasant/whatever-you-name and how it shapes everything else.
It is pretty obvious, you just never gave it a thought 🙂
Well thank you for putting me in my place Arioch. I will endeavour to do better in future.
I though it a brilliant piece and I thank you for it. The tour of the Stalingrad memorial park, The Motherland Calls, in the provided link, was haunting, and I loved the comparison between the loading processes for the Russian Grad versus the American HIMARS. The first required a 12 second gif and the latter a 7 minute video.
Which system would you rather “shoot and scoot” with. Too funny.
As is Simplicius. I’ve come to enjoy his witty – and oft times – bitingly sarcastic titles on his Bitchute channel. They’re not for everyone, and they certaintly were not my cup of tea in the beginning, but they’ve grown on me to such an extent, his channel is usually my first stop of the day.
And I also find Simplicius an excellent writer. Anyone wordsmith that can capture my interest, and hold it, when presenting the detailed minutiae of modern warfare, before they seemlessly tie it into the bigger picture, is for me, a master of the craft.
Sun Tzu’s most insightful wisom, in my opinion, was summed in one of his least quoted axions:
Tactics are to strategy as the noise before defeat.
So true. However, Sun Tzu was not imply that tactics aren’t important. As another a great strategist, American football coach Brian Belichick, reminds his players constantly when they are training:
It’s in the details gentlemen, it’s in the g+ddamn details. Now run that play again.
i read the substack article. he was only talking about tigers and panther tanks in ww2. They were never available in large numbers. for example during normandy and kursk the germans only had 135 tiger tanks available for each operation.
Sturmgeschütz III was the greatest killer of russian tanks in ww2 .this relatively simple machine had 30 k kills on the russian front. the secret were the very good telescopic opics which made it very accurate at 1000 meters and being camoflaged in a good defensive position which the german army found itself fighting during the last 2 yrs of the war. he who shoots 1st and hits 1st usually wins every tank on tank engagement.
They were operated by the artillery mainly and were operated in battlions; later called brigades of 31 to 45 machines at full strength.
like the t34 tank- best overall of all time in my opinion the best weapons are the least sophisticated that are very reliable that anybody can be trained to operate in a short period of time. (ie ak47 vs m16) – for an amateur like me i would take the ak anytime.
just found this on youtube
How the Sturmgeschütz Became Germany’s Most Effective AFV in WWII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opHYL4tXJ44
this was a part of a series i watched on the history channel; before it became the reality tv ice road trucker channel . The historians they brought in to discuss this i think really know or knew their stuff.
Tanks! 05 – Sturmgeschutze
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-xhvTTcrw
regards,
ralph
That was a very interesting video. Thank you.
I have seen a few Sturmgeschutz’s in various museums over the years but never knew that much about them.
👍👍👍
I think the Nazi general staff was much like the Pentagon. I am surprised they even agreed to deploy not so sexy as a Tiger.
Fast, light cheap, plentiful and reliable are anthema to US generals bvut the concept embraced by the Russians show the advantage of these concepts.
I remember when Belenko defected with his MIG-25. The west initially laughed at it, calling it primitive and crude. After a closer examination, they weren’t laughing. The jaws hot the desks when they figured out the thing was EMP hardened before the west realized fully EMP was even a thing.
Plus analysis showed the Soviets truly did more with less.
It is insane to even contemplate a war between the US and Russia or with Russia and China. Both sides would lose. That’s what make the US policy so very bad and self destructive. How did these people ever get this close to power? If this is the leaders it produces, our “Precious Democracy” is deeply flawed.
“Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance” Menchen
Democracy fails when the people wake up they can use it for political promises to enrich certain interest voter blocks, and/or as is the case in the US when corporations can buy representatives. Neocons would of course be funded by the MIC, their goal is perpetual war, however even they would see no advantage to nuclear armageddon.
Europe plus vassals Canada and Australia are now heavy buying MIC customers for decades, would expect them to push the Russia/China “danger” a bit more yet then will find a way out. Remember Peace with Honor?
“A very dangerous time for the world” – it really sums up the time we live in right now! Thank you, Larry, for your commentary. I have just listened to the broadcast with you. It is really good! https://youtu.be/VF7BAy93P0E
No defense pact.
This runs counter to the whole spirit & philosophy of multilateralism.
More cooperation, yes. Perhaps very intensive, even on military technology & weapons.
But no forming of power blocks.
Multilateralism seeks a more democratic international community with parties engaging to reconcile & balance conflicting interests, not forming alliances to force others to abide in the dictates of leveraged power. Power blocks is what they want to get away from.
Well said WEB.Signing mutual defense pacts is actually giving up a portion of your sovereignty.That would be counter productive to any form of multilateral sovereign security.It in a way perpetuate a Rules Based Order.
Exactly! The West and “The East” have different operating principles.
Short answer, no. But both are reading from the same tea leaves.
China released “The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper”.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202302/1285900.shtml
Actually, since January 1st, 2023, he is not the Minister of Foreign Affairs anymore. He has been promoted to “Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)”. He is also a member of the CCP Politburo now.
As such, and considering his personal relationship with S. Lavrov, his visit to Moscow is much more significant.
What happens when an unstoppable force (a multipolar world) meets an immovable object (The United States of “Full Spectrum Dominance” America)?
I don’t think either side wants to commit suicide in an all-out nuclear war; indeed, the U.S. is counting on it. However, given the fact that we are ruled by mass-murdering psychopaths, I can see them attacking any non-nuclear countries that might be tempted to stray from the fold. Whether it be financially, technically, or with weapons of mass destruction, the crackpot neocons and their allies, the neoliberal technocratic globalists, are so drunk on their own Kool-Aid that they will do anything – and I mean anything – to prevent any other power or combination of powers from moving in on “our” territory, aka the universe.
There is nothing that I can think of that will even approach the evil these fanatics are capable of. For decades, they’ve spent untold trillions of dollars on God knows what secret deadly technologies. If they have to kill anyone, anywhere, anytime, they’ll do it. They don’t care about anything except absolute power over humanity. We are all nothing but cattle to them, to be herded about and slaughtered if needed.
May God help us all.
The “love” of money is the root of all evil… the Bible
Oh, how America is head over heels with money. How our “patriotic” US corporations have sold the earth from under our feet to China for the almighty greens. And… look at it now, the US and its people are in a huge fix of its own creation. How is it that these “geniuses” couldn’t see that we were walking into a trap?
Remember how JB fooled his electorate, by stating that China posed no threat to the US… c’mon man? He knew full well it was a threat… oh, but he and neocons had a plan, after the theft of the century… to destroy Russia, then go after China… but, oops!
You write “a growing number of Americans also believe that China is the main threat.” Who are these “growing number of Americans?” Do they have a profile?
A growing share of Americans view China as an enemy of the U.S.
Do you consider the following country to be an ally or an enemy of the United States? China (% of U.S. adult citizens)
https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2023/02/16/growing-share-americans-view-china-enemy-us
Unfortunately, de facto, China is now our enemy. The US government certainly believes so. Fervently to the point they’ve made it so.
Neither China nor Russia wish Americans, as people, harm. But they understand the US government is their enemy and that unless the American people act to end their government’s international reign of terror, they must.
The US government is forcing Russia and China to stand back-to-back and defend each other.
Yes, CNN{et al] watching zombies who have lost all ability for critical thinking, and have their opinions downloaded to them daily on Facebook
How many people know that Russia and China are implementing the economic frame work put forward by the last statesman America had, Lyndon LaRouche. Russia and China are building physical economies through the work of Sergei Glazyez.
The first punch in the face to western parasites was Russia’s SMO into Ukraine. The 2nd knock out punch will be Russia and China tying the price of gold to oil.
The war against Russia represents the G7 countries and the central bankers behind them discharging their debt. That is what this is all about as parasitical predatory finance capitalism comes to an end in the west.
It appears the Russians are laying it all on the line sacrificing their soldiers.
There’s a Russian proverb: “War writes everything off.” – The end of western parasitical predatory finance capitalism as Russia and China build physical economies:
https://abeldanger.blogspot.com/2023/02/theres-russian-proverb-war-writes.html
Tim … all very astute points and I agree entirely with you. Most simply do not understand the intricate financial forces that are at play. For the past two years I have attempted to educate my neighbors and friends, those that would listen, how the U.S. has a debt economy and not a prosperity economy. Some understand it and some do not. Lyndon LaRouche was correct about many, many things.
I have observed Russia and China buying gold for years now, Russia even discharging its U.S. debt bonds, getting completely out of the U.S. financial system. Same for China though it was holding a large amount of U.S. debt. When the dust settles Russia and China will be the financial power houses, China and India the manufacturers of the world and the U.S. licking it wounds.
The only positive for the U.S. is that all personal and corporate debt will likely be forgiven at that time. The days of the IMF, World Bank and Fed austerity programs that created nothing but debt for a nation and its people are coming to an end.
Exactly why would the debts be forgiven? That was a practice (jubilee) that went out with the late roman empire , played a major role in its destruction (Michael Hudson has some books and youtube talks on this), and followed into the European societies as it is 100% in the interests of bankers and no one else’s interests.
I have zero interests in religious jubilees. The chances are good the FED and its cohorts are going to fail. They are the ones that debt is paid to, hence our debt driven economy. No FED and no one to pay a debt too. As the U.S. dollar collapses and is then once again backed by gold, the FED will be no more. Of course, the trillions of U.S. debt will be gone as well. It is all make believe money anyway…backed by nothing tangible.
typically, when a bank goes insolvent, its debts are bought by another entity at pennies on the dollar that then goes and collects. The US cannot technically go insolvent as it prints its own dollars, they just will be worth nothing, and those with fixed debt (my mortgage) will be, yes, in a good position if they have a job that pays or gold/silver. Those with a variable rate debt will be truly screwed. When Argentina went bankrupt, debts were not forgiven. the banks (Blackrock, Goldman Sachs, Citibank) just end up owning everything.
It’s not as if the US has much gold to back its umpteen trillion-dollar economy…Fort Knox is reputed to hold just 143 million ounces. So that shrinks the US economy by a factor of a thousand. And since the US makes little worth exporting, imports require the export of gold – it would all be gone in a few months to cover imports.
Unless you are envisioning a breakup of the US into many new nations with new currencies. Then I agree you are right, but pray you are wrong.
This is not a proverb, rather a warning or an implied accusation.
Just like “the ends justifies any means” after Jesuits.
The Shanghai Co-operation Organization can already serve as a forum for discussing joint Defense dilemmas without the need for creating a Eurasian NATO or giving NATO any new justification for its continued existence which might happen anyway with false flag cyber and bio weapons attacks on NATO in 2023.
I expect Taiwan will throw its pro USA WEF proxy leaders out of office and vote to rejoin China for a Hong Kong ´´two systems one country vision´´ in the near future because the vast majority of the population in Taiwan has no beef only common ground shared Confucian values with the Chinese the other side of the Strait. Taiwan can see the results of what USA money and propaganda has done to Ukraine to decide it is safer and more prosperous under the Chinese Defense Shield as opposed to becoming the next proxy army and battleground for USA. Most effective way for USA to save face is to retire Brandon asap and bring in a real Statesman like Obummer to clean up the mess and slow collapse of the petro $
OBummer a statesman? LOL.
He’s a smooth talker, but is still a murderous psychopath.
Agreed but Obummer is probably the sole US political figure who can sell backing down to Russia as a victory that both the rest of NATO, Dems and Republicans will accept just as he did with Syria avoiding Brandon’s back to the ropes doubling down attempting nuke or bio weapons strikes
Seriously doubt a military defence pact between Russia and China. Both countries have a long tradition of avoiding such agreements due to the obligations carried with them, possibly committing the country to a war against their national interests.
That said, however, there is no reason that there could not be significantly increased military cooperation between the two countries.
As previously stated:
I would venture the claim that a Sino-Russian mutual defense alliance has already been sealed – and that such an alliance has in fact already been in existence for many years.
If even a casual political observer such as myself can grasp the imperative of such an alliance, then I trust that responsible parties in Moscow and Peking will have realised as much many years ago. The establishment of such a military alliance will have gone hand-in-hand with the economic integration of the two countries in the 2014-2022 time period.
In short, Russia and China would have to be fools if such an alliance were not already a long-established fact.
China will needs tools to end the Taiwan problem with “hypersonic” speed, as soon as it starts.
There is no such thing as a “Taiwan problem” , everybody know very well the root cause of this mess : US DoS meddling in foreign countries politics. China already have an “autonomous province” status that address all the issues on such case in a very sensible form. War is an option. No more , no less.
But things can be done to expose the Swamp constants double standards.
What would Biden say if , I don’t know, China was rooting on public scenes and military and financially supporting Puerto Rico independence ? Or Guam , or the Mariannas …
CIA have no exclusive on chaos seeds 🙂
China needs the Russia’s Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic missiles to stop the problem that the US is about to create in Taiwan.
Many people here don’t want to fight with China and we have economic tight to China. The problem is US gov and current regime here ruin it. The opposition had went to China for discussion. The problem can only be solved if neocon and warmongering politicians in DC completely wiped out.
China and Russia should formerly adopt the NATO concept of Article Five. An attack on either Russia or China by the US or its proxys will mean a world war the US cannot win against the combined forces of the PLA and the Russian Armed Forces
As opposed to a “Mutual Defence Pact”, what about a “Defence Cooperation Agreement”?
The former, I suspect, is too open ended. What I mean by the latter is the possibility that Russia and China might agree in advance very specific shared responses to particular scenarios, taking advantage of the particular strengths and weaknesses of each partner to build greater synergy in dealing with particular high-risk scenarios.
For example, in the case of a US attack on China, Russia might commit to specific assistance in tracking and eliminating US submarines, which I understand is believed to be a Chinese weakness.
An example of a Chinese contribution might be large scale missile attacks against US assets in the Pacific theatre under specifically agreed scenarios.
China is working on a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. I don’t see a declaration of some kind of defense pact coming up before this has been presented. Quite to the contrary I see China’s peace deal as an attempt to take more international responsibility. If China should manage to broker a peace deal (I’m not overly optimistic about this) it would put it in good standing/good position when the US starts preparing for war with it.
Being a peace broker is gives leverage. Israel, France, Austria and in particular Turkey have all tried to negotiate between the warring parts. If China could do it, it would not only be a huge PR victory, it would be a game changer in the international politics. And I think China prefers “peace alliances” to defense alliances.
Agreed. Good post.
However, I suspect China is already helping Russia out behind the scenes, and may ramp that up.
The folks at The Gaggle reported that China sent a huge trainload of 50 machines for making missile casings (or some such thing) at the start of January this year. I haven’t seen it verified anywhere else though.
They are engaged in military exercises together, so it would be easy to do some swaps.
China should say that they are not part of the conflict 😉
By going to Moscow during Biden visit to 404/Poland – Chinese sent a message to the world – they chose Russia.
To the global south – the message is that the whole of global south should align with Russia as well. China and Russia are widely respected in the global south, China even more so due to their economic involvement and development initiatives.
To the west – the message is that China and Russia have chosen each other firmly.
They do not need formal defense pacts – this visit and upcoming Xi visit to Putin is enough to demonstrate these choices. Literally the message to the whole world is that China is picking Russia as the winner of this global conflict and that the world should unite behind the two.
As I have said before, the sanctions, the asset seizures of private individuals (“oligarchs”), the currency seizures, the terrorist attacks on pipelines, the ridiculous shooting down of balloons, the unwillingness to acknowledge that Kosovo, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Palestine etc. are all results of American/British arrogance – while denying Russia the right to defend her interests – all this is not going unnoticed outside of the propaganda-dominated west. If you were the president/prime minister/wealthy businessman of any country outside of the West – you KNOW what is going on in 404 and you KNOW that Biden and his ilk have lost control and that they are dangerous. China is visible because it is China but I wonder what other global south/middle east countries are doing with their foreign reserves right now and what their “oligarchs” are doing with their bank accounts/real-estate/investments in USA/UK/EU. I wonder if we will find out 6 months from now that there was a mass exodus of foreign capital from western banks and a massive divestiture of financial resources and their repatriation to other, non-western countries and re-investment into China, Russia, gold, silver etc.
The collective west is finished. The self-inflicted reputational damage has been done – most of the world outside of USA/UK/EU can see the panic and are probably looking to side with BRICS asap in hope of avoiding an unhinged/desperate American response.
What does this mean for America? Two choices are possible: 1) North Korea style “1984”-like democracy driven by experienced propagandist/marketing machinery or 2) civil war that will make Bosnia or Rwanda look like a Sunday walk down the Piccadilly (why? ‘Cause Americans are armed to their teeth, half of them are not interested in working and would rather loot and rob and well, they do everything in a big way). Either way, it will (and is already becoming) a shit show. I have said it before, on the scale of 1-5 of measuring collapse, we are about 3.5 (at the start of the SMO) and now going onto 4.
At the start of this SMO my prediction was that USA would become a violence ridden poverty stricken shithole within 5-10 years. Since all the desperate moves we have seen – I have “upgraded” my prediction to 2-3 years before poverty is widespread and we start seeing wide-spread violence, crime, looting etc. This is the time frame everyone has (that can) to get out and vote with their feet. Either that or find a community you can band with for mutual self-defense, food security etc.
Well Oddo, that about sums it up…
Excellent summary, Oddo!
Completely agree with every word.
I personally am working on establishing a new “base” for my family outside of this shithole of a country and evacuate my family either by the end of this year or next year at the latest…
I won’t be waiting for when the civil order breaks down (most likely within 2-3 years) and neighbors will be murdering neighbors for a loaf of bread.
Given how centralized supply chains are in the US at this point, the path from the supply chain break down (and resulting food shortages in your local Walmart) to neighbors slitting each others throats for food will be 2-3 weeks MAX. Not enough time to escape, so, I won’t be waiting…
All of this is so predictable, that even someone living in the ancient Greece could have seen it coming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thucydides_Trap
Chinese MFA issues a paper on US crimes. It’s a long read, but illuminating to see Peking’s perspective
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/202302/t20230220_11027664.html
Conclusion – Peking isn’t playing softball anymore.
It’s Beijing, you toxic white colonialist.
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/202302/t20230220_11027664.html
Wake the fuck up guys , if you don’t solve your governance problems now, others will do it for you.
“Jinping is not going to Russia to sight see or swig vodka.” You never know! I bet Jinping can play a mean game of poker and even plied with vodka, I bet we could not read his face. LOL
The Russians and the Chinese, in fact probably all Asian cultures play the long game. The West with its greedy nature have always been impatient. It were years ago that I realized how dangerous sanctions would be to the U.S. and its cohorts, I simply did not know how long it would take. Nixon’s visit to China was a first step in globalism and a bolstering of the petro dollar, however, the globalist did not think China would turn out like it has. Nor did they factor in that Russians might actually want self-determination one day.
Due to the past and current words, and the actions of our corrupt and inept American Statesmen we now have a clear understanding that Russia and China are both working together to destroy the hegemony of the West. It is also clear that we in the United States will feel the heat of their weapons. The next world war will include the soil of the United States. Because our military no longer honors its oath to the Constitution, we as citizens have little hope of changing the direction of our country…short of a civil war or popular uprising of the population against the government. Even then, I expect our corrupt military will still support the DC, London and Belgium power brokers and not their oath. Between a corrupt U.S. military and citizens too emotionally weak and mentally weak to understand what is going on…the U.S. is likely a lost cause. We can only hope the Constitution remains standing.
None of this had to be! It was all precipitated by stupidity and arrogance. It used to be the business of the US was business, now it’s war.
In keeping with Larry’s music accompaniment
https://youtu.be/OHmmjnEdtx8
So there are consequences for China if it provides lethal aid to Russia, but there are no consequences for the United States to provide lethal aid to Ukraine? Did any reporter ask Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina SIngh that question?
They allow reporters into the Pentagon press room? Sounds like a National Security™ risk to me.
China outlines their case for war:
US Hegemony and its Perils –
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/202302/t20230220_11027664.html
Introduction
Since becoming the world’s most powerful country after the two world wars and the Cold War, the United States has acted more boldly to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, pursue, maintain and abuse hegemony, advance subversion and infiltration, and willfully wage wars, bringing harm to the international community.
The United States has developed a hegemonic playbook to stage “color revolutions,” instigate regional disputes, and even directly launch wars under the guise of promoting democracy, freedom and human rights. Clinging to the Cold War mentality, the United States has ramped up bloc politics and stoked conflict and confrontation. It has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export controls and forced unilateral sanctions upon others. It has taken a selective approach to international law and rules, utilizing or discarding them as it sees fit, and has sought to impose rules that serve its own interests in the name of upholding a “rules-based international order.”
This report, by presenting the relevant facts, seeks to expose the U.S. abuse of hegemony in the political, military, economic, financial, technological and cultural fields, and to draw greater international attention to the perils of the U.S. practices to world peace and stability and the well-being of all peoples.
There is no love lost between China and Russia. The USA’s clinical insanity forces them together. As it does Iran. And North Korea. China would love to see Russia and the USA grind themselves both down to exhaustion. But they cannot allow the US to destroy Russia. We have incredibly dumb people on all sides playing a game of exquisite small detail. How exactly far can I push before the other side snaps? And if any of these nitwits misjudges the entire world burns.
And that is just the war. There is another war on the financial front. Which may have just as lethal of consequences for many. The Russian food and oil sanctions have never really cut in yet. Food is still flowing. To Europe anyway. Africa starves. But, oh well. China is starting to buy oil. Whether to stockpile or open up, it does not matter. Speaking of small detail? Inflation is somewhat down due to lower fuel prices. But recession and economic despair is coming. With that will be lower fuel demand which may drive prices down. Which would lower inflation. But you are living on the knife edge of recession or complete depression.
Whether it be possible nuclear war, or supply chain destruction, or economic destruction? Knife edges everywhere. And outside of Putin, no adults in charge.
One last point because I personally hate long expositions. When the Dust Bowl hit Oklahoma where I live? Grapes of Wrath? People still hunted. Had chickens. Were not dependent on drugs to get thru the day. Survivors. Hard, skinny men and women with zero expectations of someone helping them. The current generation of the USA? They will riot, loot, or just sit and die in quiet despair.
The End of Plenty and Safety is here. New World Order indeed.
Overall, agree completely with your points ” just sit and die in quiet despair” this would start lowering the US age expectancy…. For my family, we have our own chickens and a large garden.
I don’t think China would love to see Russia ground down – they are depending on an economically strong Russia to buy Chinese goods in exchange for critically needed raw materials (absent willingness to print $$ like mad – aka, the US, trade needs to balance). China also counts on Russia to bog down half (or more) of the US military (and vice versa). Scott Ritter had a good point that the US military larder is scraping bottom, because the Pacific command can’t transfer needed weapons to the European front.
It is highly advantageous for China and Russia to continue to strengthen ties, trade, economic, and military support.
Well said: arrogance and impunity. It is absolutely absurd the behavior of US and their puppies with Russia and China. What kind of “experts” the West created. This is insane.
Worst is that I can not see a better political scenario in the short and middle terms. The West is digging deeper and deeper its own grave.
From the end of WWII to 2011, the US National Defense Strategy was premised on the ends, ways and means to prosecute war in the Atlantic (European) and Pacific (Asian) theaters simultaneously–identical to WWII US combat operations.
In 2011, the great national defense strategist (sarcasm) Barrack Obama ordered his National Security Team to abandon the two-theater strategy and replace it with what has become commonly referred to as the “Pacific Pivot”. Here is a link for an assessment of the “Pivot”: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1039909.pdf
Plainly stated, Obama’s Pivot strategy to contain China in the Pacific (and other parts of the globe) has on its face failed like so many other of his ill-conceived “rules based international order” hegemonic dictates. The Biden administration (whoever is in control) is merely a continuation of those failed policies. Oh the folly!
Over the 30+ years of my military service I was privileged to have some pretty damn good philosophical (sometimes drunken) discussions with officers and sometimes embassy staff from numerous other countries. A common theme often emerged and it surprised me…it went something like this: The world was never safer than when we had two known super powers keeping each other in check (e.g. the US and Soviet Union). Perhaps it would be safer if a Russia-China alliance occurred…one thing is for damn sure…the US will fight fiercely and irrationally to protect it’s hegemony–the rest of the world be damned.
The real danger to world peace and security is the US Hegemon–it has amply proven that.
China should sell of their U.S. properties and businesses because that will be the first thing we seize.
I have to laugh at the Laura Ingraham’s (and others) who are ‘sounding the alarm’ over Chinese buying some farmland in the U.S. as if they could ship it back to China. We took CITGO away from Venezuela, we took all of Venezuela’s bank holdings in the U.S. This is our Modus Operandi. I have no idea why anyone invests in the U.S.
Absolutely…China should sell off any asset that could be seized or sanctioned…we know the US will sanction China even if it is not in US’ best interests to do so.
That might even be what all the bellicose noise is all about (beyond an opportunity for the politicians bribed by China to look tough on China) – the beginning of an excuse to seize their assets. Piracy seems to be a permanent feature of US SOP these days
these two great powers may hope to stop the deranged u.s.ians nuclear winter by joining. i hope so and wish india would, too. and of course, iran. and whoever.
imagine all kinds of countries saying, “i’m with you.” we would have to stop with the nuclear threats and the trying to spread the word the “tactical” nukes are ok.
thanks, as always, larry.
Maybe this blog should focus on how to survive nuclear fallout…rather than the nuances of geo-politics. Larry could go into the potassium iodide business. (sarcasm) Seriously….I am so cynical of the future. I wonder what world my grandchildren are going to inherent? This is like watching Mafia Dons trying to control your neighborhood while bodies pile up in the street and we argue at the coffee shop about which Don is more virtuous.
Thanks, that’s very humorous. Sadly, it’s true too.
Forty seven years ago (February 22, 1976), the President of the United States of America, Mr. Richard M. Nixon, returned to China:
https://pastdaily.com/2017/02/22/february-22-1976-nixon-returns-china/
Meanwhile …
I don’t trust China…I believe COVID was a PSYOP initiated by China and the Globalists to destroy Trump and the separatist movement in Hong Kong. Without the pictures of Wuhan population dropping dead in the streets…( Wuhan population was previously rioting ) WHO …who is heavily influenced by China changing the definition of Pandemic then declared a pandemic…and RNA supplied by China to calibrate PCR test equipment .. there would be no rebranded flu global pandemic. The Globalists wanted a economic collapse to initiate a great Reset and China wanted the trade war over. In my opinion….but I’ve always been of the opinion that Odessa is key and NATO intervention will come about when Russia makes a move on it. Any tactical nukes will false flag event to justify NATO actions….but I do suspect that the writing is on the wall and if Russia is pushed to atomic munitions it will be a large strategic strike…..all out on U.S military and command and control while leaving most of Europe alone.
“COVID was a PSYOP initiated by China and the Globalists to destroy Trump …”?
What …?
“China wanted the trade war over …”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLAdfO9UlWg
Believing something doesn’t make it factual. DARPA and pentagon funding was used for Sars Cov2. patents and other documents prove this. The clot shots too are bio weapons paid for by by US entities.
even if the ammo in Transnistria is still in working order? Hasn’t most of the Soviet era weaponry already been turned into scrap?
…and the US doubles down on military occupation in Taiwan
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11785265/U-S-QUADRUPLE-troops-deployed-Taiwan.html
The lust for war.
On ammo dumps in Transnistria
Ammo dumps+Hypersonic missiles=0 ammo dumps. I don’t believe for a moment the Russians are worried about ammo falling into Ukrainian hands. Of more concern is their people falling into the hands of torturers and murderers.
On China/Russia mutual defence pact
Highly likely. The world is now a very dangerous place for any country that doesn’t swear fealty to the West/Nato. I suspect that when that pact is sealed it will quickly include other countries who feel equally threatened and we will likely see the start of a new Eastern Nato style organisation.
Where is the leadership in DC to speak out against this lunacy and rally the public toward a return to sanity? Why is the Pentagon silent? How many soldiers, sailors, and airmen must die before they wake up and reign in the Neocons that are pulling Biden’s string? Where are the checks & balances that the Constitution affords for situations just like this (a dementia patient in the Whitehouse and rouge foreign agents running Congress)? Can anything stop this runaway train before disaster strikes?
What about US nuclear weapons in Germany? Other places?
Breaking news. Ukraine about to attack Tranistria, Moldova.
https://rumble.com/v2ansis-ukraine.-military-summary-and-analysis-2023.02.23-part-2.html
same from southfront
https://southfront.org/a-new-front-in-the-smo/
about the same situation as Dombass…. break away Russian speaking region. RU has troops and supplies there…. Cuts off the Black Sea from UKR and NATO. Black Sea will be RU waters…. as it traditionally always was.
As long as the General Staff of NATO are hesitant to put bullets through the heads of the neocon “Crazys in the Basement” they will NOT back down. Those idiots are outright psychopaths and Moscow is just beginning to understand that.
Russias nuclear doctrine allows for use is Russia is under a existential threat.
The Chinese know they are also on the menu. They are not going to allow that to happen.
“This means they plan to finish us once and for all. In other words, they plan to grow a local conflict into a global confrontation. This is how we understand it and we will respond accordingly, because this represents an existential threat to our country.”
–Vladimir Putin
https://www.algora.com/Algora_blog/2023/01/14/suicide-biden-secret-documentshttps:
//www.globalresearch.ca/no-survivors-after-plane-heading-ohio-plant-fire-crashes-arkansas/5809691
These appear to be warnings rather than retaliation. The targeted individuals in professional proximity get the message.
Once upon a time in US foreign policy it was understood that the primary goal must always be to keep Russia and China from uniting. The Dulles brothers were willing to sacrifice Taiwan for it but the Korean War ruined that plan. (Some have argued that Stalin provoked Korea for just that reason.) That’s why Nixon went to China and drove a wedge into problematic soviet-Chinese relations.
The issue became that with the collapse of the USSR the US decided history was over. And it decided to go the route of finance capitalism, selling off its strong industrial capitalist base for a quick buck while China played the long game. It used the sell off to develop itself and managed to not fall into a colonial economic trap (completely). Russia got ignored as a gas station with nukes.
The US decided there were no more rules, full spectrum dominance was predetermined and all that matters are stock market numbers. But China and Russia have been planning for a long time, quietly and apparently competently for the day that would always come. The day when the internal contradictions of the US empire would begin to damage and undermine it. The goal of the sino-Russian alliance, and it is one whether it will be stated openly or not, is to facilitate the soviet collapse scenario in the US. Not with a bang but a whimper.
For 20 years the US has played into this, hollowing out its real economy to maintain a facade. Now, primarily by US choice (and Biden ran for president for the purpose of completing the Ukraine project and fighting Russia), the time is right. I don’t think we’ll see a formal alliance but we will see China choosing sides. It will do so by its formal attempt at a peace process being rejected by the west. Like Russia’s Ukraine invasion with kid gloves, the point is to show the rest of the world they tried to behave like rational adults. The US refuses, so what else is left.
Trump was right to try and fix the China trade problem but he did it wrong. What the US needs is massive public investment to restart industrial capitalism, not tariffs. The tariffs are to protect domestic industry, otherwise they’re just higher prices for consumers. Finance capitalism will not allow that investment and has put the US in a hole that would make it a difficult investment.
The US is a dying empire. Russia and China are trying to manage the death so that the world doesn’t get nuked in a fit of rage by an old man sitting on the throne in DC.
Good comment, Lex. Btw: talking about an old man sitting on the throne:
Here’s a clip from a SkyNews program about how an Australian host was brought to tears of merriment by the cognitive decline of the Commander-in-Chief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXepkdJHko
Thanks.
Wang Yi is no longer Chinese Foreign Minister. He has been promoted to the Politburo with responsibility for Foreign Affairs.
China will send not only weapons but troops is Russia falters – not like it’s a big secret they are next on hit list – USA think tanks and Naval Officers say it out loud.
They won’t have to though. Only chance West has vs Russia is a first strike and that’s where I think this goes. Unless you think Western Elites will accept a multipolar world after 500 years of domination.
I dont
Isn’t the intention to strategically stretch Russia? The plodding methodical grinding Russia has taken in its approach to fighting in the Ukraine could be considered an acknowledgement and wariness of the danger of becoming over extended.
A cagey combatant knowing his opponents desires might turn the overextension ploy around and capture his opponent in his own trap.
Yes. That’s exactly what the plodding Russian approach is all about – and why there is not going to be a massive winter offensive, per Macgregor. Those Russian troops that Macgregor thinks are poised to attack are going to remain sitting in reserve.
The plodding approach is a losing approach. Russia should have never invaded if they knew that’s how they have to prosecute the war. IMO, they gambled that Ukraine would quickly cave in and negotiate. Russia bet wrong; wrong as wrong can be. Ukraine has plenty of troops left and NATO is training more every day. It doesn’t matter that there is a 10 to 1 kill ratio in Russia’s favor as long as Ukraine and NATO are willing to keep going. The slow grind works both ways. Russians are still dying at a stead rate and they are still expending huge amounts of ammo and losing weapons. It is an article of faith among Russophiles that Russia can continue accepting casualties and losing weapons and using up ammo indefinitely. Someone at NATO has calculated otherwise. They would know via imagery and HUMINT, if Russia can go on indefinitely or not. Another article of faith is that NATO is running out of ammo and can’t replace it. BS. NATO is saving that ammo for itself – and for a push on Crimea this Summer. Should the Ukrainian military ever collapse as an organized force – and I don’t that happening any time in the next couple of years – NATO + remaining Ukrainian elements would initiate a guerrilla war that would bleed the Russians worse than what the Afghans did to them. I initially thought Russia was going to accomplish this mission, but it is time now to admit that they are failing miserably.
This is playing out exactly as the neocons imagined it would. Russia is bogged down in a war it cannot conclude decisively or quickly. Sorry. I’m not going to tell the children their favorite happy bed time story. If the children don’t like that, tough. Ignore me. NATO is going to keep this going for as long as it takes. They are willing to risk nuclear war b/c the are gambling – probably correctly – that Russia, at least under Putin, ain’t gonna do diddly squat about “red lines” and will not go nuclear or even hypersonic. I do not appreciate NATO gambling with civilization and millions of lives like that, but, again, they’ll probably get away with it.
Will China want to get involved in this tar baby? No way. China truly is a 5D chess playing nation (unlike Russia, which appears impulsive, emotionally driven and somewhat incompetent as a result). What does China have to gain? It gets what it wants by bribing US politicians and by exercising leverage over the US economy. It has nothing to fear from the US. There is no way the US Navy can sail over there and launch an invasion. The US Navy would be destroyed and everyone knows that. China knows that bellicose statements by US politicians are nonsense for domestic consumption. China knows these people too well. I despise the Chinese, but militarily and economically they have the upper hand here by quite a large margin.
LOL, you are seriously deluded.
Or a paid troll, a clever one successfully disguised as a trailer park residing ignoramus.
How come? Based on what?
“The plodding approach is a losing approach. Russia should have never invaded if they knew that’s how they have to prosecute the war.”
“Ukraine has plenty of troops left …”
“…NATO is running out of ammo and can’t replace it. BS. NATO is saving that ammo for itself …”
“… it is time now to admit that they are failing miserably.”
“that Russia, at least under Putin, ain’t gonna do diddly squat about “red lines” and will not go nuclear or even hypersonic.”
“Russia is bogged down in a war it cannot conclude decisively or quickly.”
“..Russia, which appears impulsive, emotionally driven and somewhat incompetent”
All that from on post.
And then there is your self confessed deep seated racism “I despise the Chinese”
There is no dill like an old/newdill.
If Ukrainian attacks Transnistria, shows team Biden plan is underway to disintegrate Ukraine. That means Poland and Romania will be lured to the crucible pot, each will claim part of land.
May be Biden reckless plan is to keep dead brain NATO alive by this action. Now, I understand why Zelensky was so nervous in Biden visit. This will be more dangerous than Nordstrom explosion.
I watched the Duran yesterday and Alex mentioned transnistria was talked about about a year ago and how this will play a part. Now it’s pretty evident the UAF are planning an attack (in my view it’s just to distract the Russian big push) is it conceivable this arms depot and the talk of a dirty bomb could merge together. Destroying it and letting of a dirty bomb blaming Russia etc etc. I know it’s close to the vicinity of Romania but any excuse to blame Russia even more. Anyone’s guess
Regarding intellectual property, one could argue that the West has to back pay China for using its paper, gunpowder, magnetic compasses and other inventions, or else accept that intellectual property be limited in time and space. It’s not that dumb a legal argument, is it? I believe Western established authorities are splitting hairs in four and looking for stones to cast at China for overtaking and beating them at their own profiteering games. The reality of the whole affair is that they cannot accept that China is doing things better than they can in most areas of innovation and commerce. They are using these legal tricks to attempt to stifle the economic development of the collective South/East of which China is a big part.
I believe that China and Russia will be the locomotive that will pull the rest of the poor world, i.e. the collective South, forward towards prosperity, a job that rested morally on the West’s shoulders. Instead, they did all they could to stifle that goal by maintaining them in a permanent post-colonial status of subjugation and backwardness with the help of military coups, fomenting “color revolutions”, financial blackmail by IMF/World band means, sanctions and a whole range of coercive tools.
That is why the world is facing a major multifaceted crisis today, a malaise magnified by the war in Ukraine. The post WW 2 US-dominated world order is no longer suitable for mankind and it has to disappear quickly or it’ll be the end of us all.
PS/ That Sandra Singh is unbelievable: I’m not Chinese and I’m offended reading her statement akin to a master scolding its servant!! These people are suffering from a rare form of autism and they’re leading the US to its demise, something no sane body wants to witness because the world needs the US to ensure that the axis China/Russia doesn’t turn to a new hegemonic alliance!! We need a Geopolitical multiparty system in which every country big and small have a fair and equal chance.
It is amazing how many people here seem to have never been in or around a war, and how many take what they read and hear on the internet and in the newspapers as real information. In every war rule the law of state secrecy and the techniques of disinformation, in which, by the way, the Russians are experts (Russians are masters of deception). The serious mistake here has been made by the Moldovans: has anyone noticed that a couple of days ago Putin revoked the recognition of Moldova as an independent state? The whole territory of Moldova is now open to become a theater of war. Has anyone noticed how close Odessa is to Transnistria? I will say no more, because the next tactical and strategic step is obvious. As in chess, the opponent thinks he has devised an original and effective move, but he does not know that in reality he has opened the way to a devastating counterattack that makes possible what was previously more difficult to do.
Such a useful table…
https://t.me/rogers_kitchen/8477
@Eric Newhill on Clausewitz
You quote extensively from Clausewitz saying he emphasized seizing territory. But your quote itself shows you have read Clausewitz wrong. The very first para quotes says:
. Warfare has three main objects:
(a) To conquer and destroy the armed power of the enemy;
….
2. To accomplish the first purpose, we should always direct our principal operation against the main body of the enemy army or at least against an important portion of his forces. For only after defeating these can we pursue the other two objects successfully.
…..
You conveniently skipped over the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT objective identified by Clausewitz though you copy-pasted them correctly – to destroy the armed power of the enemy. i.e. destroy the enemy army. ALL other objectives are a corollary to this first objective.
The Russians understand Clausewitz better than you, for sure.