What a difference a couple of weeks make. Remember the meme that “Russia is losing” or even “Russia has already lost.?” Exactly one month ago the U.K.’s chief of defense staff said the following:
The head of the UK’s armed forces says Russia is losing in Ukraine, offering a blunt assessment of the state of the war as Moscow’s unprovoked invasion creeps toward its 10-month mark.
“Russia is losing” and the “free world is winning,” Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the United Kingdom’s chief of defense staff, said Wednesday during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London.
https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-is-losing-ukraine-will-continue-fail-uk-military-chief-2022-12?op=1
That was then. Now, in the wake of the fall of Soledar and intensifying pressure on Bakhmut, some journalists are starting to sing a slightly different tune. Leading Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman grudgingly admits Russia is not losing on the battlefield and may be on the verge of taking over Kiev and ousting the Zelinsky government:
“Don’t write off Russia” — that was the muttered warning of a European diplomat, with long experience in Moscow. It is a fair point. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has gone badly wrong. But Russia remains a huge country, with plentiful resources and a ruthless, brutal government. Ukraine’s intelligence services think that further conscription drives may allow Russia to deploy an army of 2mn for a renewed offensive later this year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently warned that Moscow might soon make a fresh attempt to capture Kyiv.
But even a battlefield breakthrough could not deliver Russia a lasting victory. Imagine that Putin’s forces achieved some kind of malign miracle, defeated Ukraine and overthrew the Zelenskyy government. What then? The reality is that a wounded and isolated Russia would then be stuck in a decades-long guerrilla war that would make Afghanistan look like a picnic. Occupying forces or a collaborationist government in Kyiv would be under constant attack. “Victory” would lock Russia into a long-term disaster.
https://www.ft.com/content/42367891-bde7-4770-95f4-460d0762215b?segmentId=b385c2ad-87ed-d8ff-aaec-0f8435cd42d9
Looks like Mr. Rachman has bought into a new fantasy. Ukraine is the new Afghanistan. Really? I guess he has not consulted a map. For starters, there are no huge mountains with endless valleys scattered throughout Ukraine. There are no regional tribes or ethnic clans with their own language or dialect. (There are “clans” but these are criminal organizations.) The ability of Ukrainians to sustain a guerrilla war ignores Russia’s experience in the Chechen region. Putin and Medvedev faced a formidable Islamic insurgent force and defeated it. You see, Russia knows the culture and the language. It is not like a Russian intelligence officer trying to infiltrate a Hazara or Baloch tribe. Very difficult to appear like a native. That is not the case in Ukraine. Ukrainians and Russians come from the same ethnic stock.
Gideon Rachman also makes the mistake of arrogance — he presumes that Russia’s lack of relationships with the United States and Europe means that Moscow is isolated and alone. Someone needs to remind Rachman that there are some other countries in the world not willing to ignore Russia, such as China, India, Malaysia, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey and Brazil, just to mention a few.
I think the Russians have discovered they can live without Starbucks and MacDonalds and their lives are not damaged. In fact, if Russia is deprived of Western junk food they just might have a healthier population.
The West is in desperation mode. They are throwing feces against the wall and hoping something sticks. Completely bereft of strategy. The decision to try to send U.K. and German tanks to Ukraine is the most recent indicator that London, Berlin and Washington are hitting the panic button. I encourage you to watch Brian Berletic’s excellent discussion of this descent into stupidity:
Russian military forces, with the Wagner Group leading the charge, has breached the Bakhmut, Soledar, Siversk line of defense. While Ukrainian troops continue to occupy Bakhmut and Siversk, the Russians are grinding on and appear to have effected a tactical encirclement of Bakhmut. Taking Bakhmut and clearing settlements to the south of Ukrainian forces is a critical step in forging genuine security for Donetsk. When Bakhmut falls expect an uptick in the wailing and gnashing of teeth in London and Washington. They will be tempted to launch more desperate gambits.
Well said. Kissinger’s latest attempt to threaten NATO, as in accepting Ukraine, unless Russia yields and goes back to European fold is laughable as the very same day Putin announces presenting 23 EU treaties to the Duma he wants nullified.
West getting desperate indeed.
They are NOT. “EU treaties” necessarily but Council of Europe which has ZERO to do with EU and was created long before EU or EEC.
However he is correct that the west is becoming desperate.
Terminating these treaties confirms the separation from the west/Europe is real, we are actively engaged in this. This is not western led actions but our own.
By the way some of the treaties are very important for human rights and countering terrorism.
Personally I feel I am witnessing history, one that was prophesied by my great grandfather. Who by the way always said it was a mistake to stop with Berlin.
Kind wishes to you and Mr Johnson 🙂
“I am witnessing history … prophesied by my great grandfather. Who by the way always said it was a mistake to stop with Berlin.”
I have to agree with him — though as a Westerner inundated with half-truths & lies the last 77 years about WW2, I’ve only started seeing it that way since 2014. My father thought he had fought to “defeat nazi-ism in Europe”, but clearly that hadn’t been the objective at all…
The Russians don’t have to occupy the rump state of Ukraine and engage in COIN whiley they hunker down in their own “Green Zones.” They merely fence if off and keep it in the dark and cold with periodic missile strikes, and start to interdict any and all shipments as they cross the borders with the West.
The question remains whether or not NATO will dare to escalate, or will they accept this as a “victory” in that they stopped Russia from rolling over Western Europe, while they use the lull to ramp up sorely needed military industrial production that is currently not really there.
“They merely fence if off and keep it in the dark and cold …”
The Russians certainly have the military capability to end their Ukrainian army problem in short order, but the real war is against the globalists who own and operate the transnational financial system that indirectly governs and exploits the West and a sizeable chunk of the rest of the world, and who won’t stop orchestrating attacks on Russia until they own it, too. Barring direct attack upon globalists (which I fully expect if the war sufficiently expands scope), it may be that the best strategy for the Russians is to undermine and eventually collapse globalist institutions like the EU and NATO that are being used against them. (destroying the weapon rather than the hand wielding it)
It’s in Russian strategic interest that the cobelligerents hiding behind Ukraine continue to fruitlessly expend resources. The more this continues the faster legitimacy and even ability to achieve ostensible institutional missions will erode inside globalist institutions. Globalist tools are short of men, material, energy, and morale. Freshly instantiated fiat currency can’t buy EVERYTHING just-in-time. Who knew?
There is no way to negotiate an end to hostilities with the globalists, and agreements with their nedogovorosposobny minions would be pointless. So, the Russians are hunkering down for an open-ended war and are presumably designing their military expansion to be sustainable. The rate-limiting factor constraining Russian effort is manpower, not mineral or energy shortage, nor the capability to process the latter into useful materials. The cavalier disregard of Russian lives exemplified by the “Soviet human wave attack” was an internationalist Bolshevik phenomenon, and was not intrinsically Russian.
Hence, Russian operations inside former Ukraine may continue to play defense, only making local attacks to liberate and secure the rest of what is now legally Russian Federation territory, thus serving the larger strategic objective of bankrupting the globalist-occupied West while minimizing the loss of the most precious resource they have in this war, their manpower. The Ukrainians, after a few years of cold dark winters, may decide to rid themselves of Elenskyyyy, his oligarch masters, and their US State Dept minions, and agree to demilitarize what is left of their country, preventing it from being used a springboard to attack their ethnic Russian neighbors. Unfortunately it is a cold, cruel world, and if one is stupid enough to allow predatory internationalists to use you like food animals, then they will. My people made the same mistake, and are much less likely to survive the death throes of globalism than the Ukrainians.
Horace – very cogent and morally accurate. Let’s hope he plays this dismantling properly and adjusts the tempo to avoid the suicidal use of nukes by the enemy.
It could be a game of geopolitical/psychological maneuvering for the history books, that the sane men involved all hope they get to read..
Well said, I like the term ‘predatory internationalists’ so accurate.
“The cavalier disregard of Russian lives exemplified by the “Soviet human wave attack” was an internationalist Bolshevik phenomenon, and was not intrinsically Russian.”
Critique:
The English and French also launched “human wave attacks” during world war I. The phenomenon was not “and internationalist Bolshevik phenomenon.” It was an antiquated way of fighting wars that had to disappear in view of the killing capacity of modern weapons. Towards the end of world War II even the Russian generals were fully aware that the “human wave attacks were useless.’
Actually Communist China successfully used human wave tactics in the Korean War. The US thought they were fighting against a N Korean style army with worse gear. The Chinese knowing the US had total air supremacy attacked at night as at that time the air force didn’t fly and in bad weather. At night the superior reach of the US weapons also was nullified. What the Chinese were superior to the US was in manpower. Thus the use of human wave tactics. The US barely survived on the Korean peninsular but fought back to a draw.
cold and dark DMZ is a good approach i think:
– will give the EU time to roll out sanctions packages 11-20
– will give NATO time to self-delete more weapons stockpiles. that is, everything MUST go to ukr.
– will give the money printing services dominated economies time for their chickens (foregin debt e.g. china for the US)to come home to roost.
– will give woke culture even more time to degrade western education and cohesion
only downside i can think of is that at some point even the elite players may realize is not going 110% well and begin to attempt to diversify above approach. that is begin to schmooze, infiltrate and orchestrate corruption of the BRICs.
Yess. While the printed money from the West is equivalent to effort and energy (it is if can trade one for the other), the strategy will be to effortlessly create currency and buy people/things with it. It will take a very long time to wear out the value of paper assets, and so this war of hypothecated resources vs. real resources will carry on. The only way to call the bluff is to push the west into needing physical assets it can’t buy at any price.
That’s certainly one potential upside to the drumbeat about Russia wanting to rebuild the Soviet Union. Once they put up a new border around the historically Russian part of Ukraine western leaders can claim we fought them off and back down.
Rolling over western Europe? Surely you jest.
Yeah but “Ukraine is a laboratory for western weapons” to be used when NATO inevitably steps in, even though they don’t have and can’t produce enough of them. Or NATO is gathering all this sigintel from awacs etc that will give it an eventual edge… As if anything can match the real world combined arms experience that Russia is getting.
I agree. I also think the US is incapable of taking the sigintel they will receive and turn it into lethal weaponry to defeat the Russians. R & D eats into profits and requires competent engineers, which US is lacking. The MIC is making a lot of money selling last decade(or older) technology of weaponry to the US military. No need to invent better weapons as long as the dollars keep flowing in. It would be like GM constantly selling huge numbers of the 2009 Buick Regal year after year and making fantastic profits. Who would change that?
I’m still driving a 2007 Buick Lucerne, and it’s a pretty serviceable car for the 5,000 miles per year I put on it. I have no plans to change it any time soon. While it lacks updated technology bells and whistles, that means fewer things to go wrong over the long haul. There’s something to be said that simpler is better because the headaches of complex systems unraveling are costly… FWIW.
if NATO step in openly there wont be any AWACS and other ISR planes operating freely like now , even the airfields will be attacked by missiles and with that the strength of NATO (air power) will be gone or neutralized
It is not the Ukraine that can become a Nazi guerrilla camp after a Russian victory, it is the West that after an invasion and victory over Russia will find a Russian guerrilla armed with all kinds of weapons. This will not be Afghanistan but hell. this is not the end. So Mr. Biden why don’t you try to invade Russia, give it a try.
The question really rests on the populace. Once there’s a critical mass reached of Russia supporters, while the rest migrate further west or dwindle to a minority, it shouldn’t be too difficult to uncover guerrillas. Maybe Larry can correct me but no insurgency can last long without the support of the locals, right?
I just hope in such a case that Russian doesn’t see fit to treat suspected collaborators like the Gestapo, excuse me – the Ukrainian SBU has treated theirs, torture, summary execution and the rest. No need to sink so low.
“They will be tempted to launch more desperate gambits.”
So True
“Blessed are the Peacemakers for they will be called the Children of God!”
Said the long haired rebel to the religious – political establishment of his day!!
So then who’s children are these warmongers?
Can some solve the puzzle?
Pat Say Jack
The verse you quoted points to the answer. Regardless of what the media says, or anyone else – almost everyone is losing in the Ukraine. The armies are losing human beings – weapons be damned. The media is losing credibility. By being seen and described as “agreement incapable”, the west has lost much influence in the world. Mr Putin lost in his bid to befriend nations that he now realizes he could not, and cannot trust. Every person in the world, as they become inured to the slaughter that’s going on loses more and more of their soul. Blessed are the peacemakers, although their job appears hopeless – they never lose in the grand scheme, for they shall be called the children of God.
Back in February last year, the Canadastani propagandist Gwynne Dyer (which among other things claims billionaires are the “best leaders for poor countries” because “they are already rich and so will not steal any more”) said that Russia would annex all of Ukraine in a couple of weeks after which it would be a prolonged guerrilla war. Nobody apparently told it that there won’t be any guerrilla war if there aren’t any nazis left alive to fight one.
This is a question I repeatedly asked the rainbow haired liberal freaks on Twitter which keep claiming Russia is “isolated”: why are they so racist and nazi as to pretend all of Africa, South America, and Asia (bar the colonies of South Koreastan, Japanistan, and Singaporestan) don’t exist?
USSR fought the guerrilla war in Ukraine throughout 1950s against MI6/CIA Banderites
It would seem that a lot of narratives are being exposed for the hoaxes they are these days. Yesterday I rode by a Quaker meeting house in a nearby town here in New England. To my astonishment, they were displaying a huge Ukie flag out front. I thought to myself “When and why did they go from being peaceniks to being warmongers? From marching ‘to end the war’ to goosestepping?”
They think they are ‘marching in Selma’.
traditions are all lost
This reminds very much of a resounding precedent : the launch of WWI in the European summer of 1914. All the socialist top leaders but one suddenly bought into the dominant narrative of an existential threat for each country, reneging on all the former resolutions on the socialist international level. The only one labour party leader who still stood in the way – he went on campaigning stubborn for general strike to prevent European war – was Jaures, he was expediently murdered on the last day of July 1914. Then on August 1 the war started with full support of the Social Democrats in France, Germany, Britain and others. Nihil novi sub sole and nothing unexpected here.
We forget how troubled those times were. Also 1830,1848,1870.
Next : a couple of world wars .
And then?
There were no “Social Democrats” in UK.
They still seem to be anti-war, anti-draft, and complaining about the Pentagon budget. Just naive about the government thinking that it could spend the money more wisely. They forgot that taxpayers could do better spending their own money.
https://www.fcnl.org/updates/2022-10/quaker-lobby-statement-war-ukraine-and-peace-testimony
Sanctions are working!
“Russia posts record current account surplus of $227 bln in 2022”
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-current-account-surplus-almost-doubled-2022-central-bank-2023-01-17/
That’s Reuters, not RT.
“Brazil” You should give consideration to how long Brazil is going to be influential in World events given the path Lulu is on regarding domestic political opposition. (Either Venezuala’s or Zelinky’s is not clear – yet).
Given that Bolsanaro’s party won a majority in both houses of Brazil’s Congress (and major positions in many states) – not really sure how you can say Lula is going Z on domestic opposition.
You don’t need much ; just a dozen of Congressman in prison or governors having “a stroke due to climate change” and the rest will understand and act accordingly.
See , easy.
Clue, did the judiciary go along with the voters? That being the same ones that said Lula could run to begin with.
The UK’s Daily Telegraph runs a “Ukraine War” live update section.
In the comments section, people are convinced the Russians are losing. They also call them orcs.
The reason I write this, is because I’d be interested in the everyone’s thoughts as to whether the comments are real people who have been brainwashed by the narrative or simply NATO Uki bots.
I hope they’re bots but ever since the flu it seems as if we are under one long psyop and the majority of the populous has fallen for it hook line and sinker.
I think most responses online… especially on mainstream platforms are bots…AI has taken over real time manipulation of information dissemination
I sometimes feel that they even managed to outsource the “botting.”
Bots are there, as are all kinds of intentional disinformation operations. However, the problem is ignorance. People don´t know squat. They act like gold fish waiting for the next piece of food to hit the water. Not enough desire to know the truth, do the observation and reflecting, do some research ( reading ) or any other sustained effort to understand the world is incredibly lacking. It is unbelievable. People want fast food type information and will absolutely refuse to perform due diligence to determine if the news they are encountering is real and/or of value.
Case in point: This actually happened to me and you don´t have to believe it because it is that outer space stupid. I was in the process of emigrating to Brasil from the US. I was returning back to where I lived in Southern New Jersey, from doing business at the Brasilian consulate in NYC. I was killing time during one the hour and a half part the bus ride back to Toms River with a couple of gentlemen. I talked about where I was moving to and what it was like, differences between Jersey and Santa Catarina. I was movong to a small coastal city but, it has a deep water ( about 14 meters ) with direct access to the ocean. It is a very important logistical hub for this area of South America.
Now please sit down for this part: I mentioned the fact that is very beautiful there. Among other things, we have Praia da Rosa, one of the top ten beaches in the world ( normally ranked around number 7 ) with many jungle covered hills and mountains. It is a paradise. The moment I mentioned jungle, a look of shock came over the faces of the guys with whom I was talking. With an absolutely straight face, one asked me if we had internet service, while the other one nodded their head in agreement that it was a good and interesting question.
How completely stupid can people be? Well there is your answer. People walk around all the time making judgements, buying or selling companies, writing articles, writing legislation, running campaigns for President ……….. and they don´t know a damn thing. They don´t have one single lick of common sense and they are making decisions that effect the future of humanity, like the ones who needed to fly a private jet 21 km to attend the Davos meeting this year. ….. really, climate change?
So, that is how it is man. I wish well to you Andy.
John
The use of the word “orcs” means it is Ukrainians, not natives, commenting. Either refugees or more likely, info war sections of the Ukrainian military.
They can use ‘orcs’ till their dying breath, an event soon to happen to many of them, but it will change not a thing on the battlefield. Col. Macgregor says the Kiev regime has 150,000 KIAs and the megalomaniac Zelenskyy seems determined to make it a quarter of a million before the battle for Donbass ends. It looks as though the ‘orcs’ are ORChestrating the end of the fake nation called Ukraine.
“The reason I write this, is because I’d be interested in the everyone’s thoughts as to whether the comments are real people who have been brainwashed by the narrative or simply NATO Uki bots.”
Both. People have been fed BS all the time, but they did not have Internet to verify it. Did you believe in Saddams chemical weapons? Or Assads chemical weapons? Did you know what was really happening in Yugoslavia, Lybia, or other countries chosen to be liberated from their resources?
Unfortunately we have a majority ( in my own opinion over 70 % of westerners are TOTAL IGNORAMUS) of citizens from all over the West that dont have a clue of what really happen world wide. May be in Europe we stil have more people that are more anchored in reality, but unfortunately the generations after 2000-2010 have lost touch with the real world, as well as the political class from all over NATO and the Anglosphere. all these leaders (elites who are in fact almost functionally illiterate) live in a parallel world and have lost any connection with the real world in their countries, they have completely different problems than 99% of the population of the countries they represent, as for the youth from today I can only express my deep pity and disapproval.. Western Society is woke and will Go Broke. Although the majority of NATOstan citizens consider themselves superior in terms of civilization and culture, in reality they are just IGNORANTS, brainwashed and misinformed, this is visible and is done specifically by the Political Class with the aim of being able to lead more easily, an idiotic and ignorant population is much easier to tame than a properly educated population
I suppose some of them are real people. Months-ago conversation with the choir director at my Orthodox church–a church with Russian roots, historically. I was pointing out that NATO has been after Russia since the Soviet Union was disbanded.
“NATO is a defensive organization!”
So I brought up the bombing of Serbia in the late 90’s.
“The Serbs were committing genocide!” And so on.
Someone else became testy when I tried to point out that there was a backstory to the SMO. But she identifies as “a Moldovan peasant” (from New Jersey), so no going there.
They weren’t bots but they might as well have been.
The dimwit Scholz still thinks UNMIKs offical count of 4000 dead of mixed sources qualified as genocide in Kosovo but thousands more civilians in the Donbass was much ado about nothing.
A pox on that imbecile.
They’re Ukrainian (ukrop) hasbarats and a few brainwashed western devotees. The air is thick with them.
(There are “clans” but these are criminal organizations.)
Never fear. Washington will be sending bagloads of money to these criminal ‘clans’, just like they did back in 2014 in Ukraine and 1953 in Iran. (to name a few).
The War Party sent billions to Criminal Clans during the War to Destroy Yugoslavia. Kosovo and the UCK is the poster child for funding ‘Junkyard Dogs’
Indeed. I should not have left that sore thumb out.
Yugoslavia was on a path to dissolution, no matter what but the US certainly thought it in its best interests to be as violent a dissolution as possible. “Blessed be the warmakers” so to speak.
Yugoslavia was the first victim of German Reunification.
Catholic Croatia was sponsored by CSU Party in Bavaria, part of Kohl’s Coalition in Berlin and Catholic CSU lobbied to get Germany to recognise independent Croatia.
UK would not play ball under John Major with Douglas Hurd as Foreign Secretary and ex-FCO mandarin. So Kohl was forced to support UK Opt-Out from Social Chapter in return for a nod from London.
UK wanted no involvement in Yugoslavia – it was too reminiscent of Conference of Berlin 1878 which averted war over Balkans until 1914.
Germany destroyed Yugoslavia just as it started in Ukraine with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and Merkel sponsoring Klitschko as presidential candidate.
Mitterand and Thatcher opposed German Reunification as it would unbalance Europe – they were right
Would Germany still had done it were it not for US/NATO troops and bases still on its soil?
They already did it once without US/NATO, in 1941. USSR was what was keeping Germany in check. Divided Germany was too weak, but once it reunited, WWII continuation was on. After another destruction of Yugoslavia, we have another invasion of Russia. Even German tanks are getting ready for Eastern Front, again.
I see. Well, all I know is, the division of Germany into two states in 1949 – setting the stage for 40 years of Cold War hostility – was a US-UK decision, not a Soviet one. Thatcher can go pound sand.
I have to disagree, to an extent. What set the stage for Cold War was the emergence of two great powers, aka. empires. What ended it, was the collapse of one. Germany was one of the border regions, that both empires conquered partially. Division of Germany was not US-UK decision, because they had no power over USSR occupied part. Similar split did not happen in Japan, because US took all of it before USSR could (except the Kuril Islands).
As far as Thatcher is concerned, all I can say is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ding-Dong!_The_Witch_Is_Dead
NATO support for Kyiv was the right decision!, but’s it’s high time the Western alliance to think about the consequences, by provoking Russia the more, sending more tanks to Ukraine won’t make any changes in the war, just as Russia said “Western tanks will burn in fire”
“NATO support for Kyiv was the right decision!” Really? Care to explain the deluded thought process behind this brain fart of yours?
How are you enjoying “How to win Friends and Influence People ” ?
Now you’ll never know.
Weren’t you Grrr and not Grr ?
“How are you enjoying “How to win Friends and Influence People ” ?
Now you’ll never know.
Weren’t you Grrr and not Grr ?”
No!! No!! I’m not even supporting Ukraine either, but this was what NATO were thinking at the very start from the war and their hope for them to weaken Russia, too bad their proxy war against Russia isn’t going well as planned, the consequences of the western alliance I’m talking about is Russia using nukes to escalate the war, because the western alliance think Russia is bluffing, The US and NATO knows they can’t win a nuclear war with Russia, Russia might surely use nukes 100% to wipe Ukraine out very soon, or might even strike at one of NATO member especially Poland to escalate the war.
Steve, Good effort in avoiding the question.
“NATO support for Kyiv was the right decision!”
Well? Explain, without std rudness please.
‘There are ‘friends and people” whose support is worthy of winning and then, there’s ‘the rest’.
‘There are ‘friends and people” whose support is worthy of winning and then, there’s ‘the west’.
No!! No!! I’m not even supporting Ukraine either, but this was what NATO were thinking at the very start from the war and their hope for them to weaken Russia, too bad their proxy war against Russia isn’t going well as planned, the consequences of the western alliance I’m talking about is Russia using nukes to escalate the war, because the western alliance think Russia is bluffing, The US and NATO knows they can’t win a nuclear war with Russia, Russia might surely use nukes 100% to wipe Ukraine out very soon, or might even strike at one of NATO member especially Poland to escalate the war.
NATO advocate for Ger-money to give it’s old Tornado to 404 , did you know what ordinance is this plane certified for ? The B61. Who’s going Nuclear again ?
I didn’t remotely need to talk about Westinghouse contract in 404 at this point, but why not ?
NATO is whining on the milk it spilled pretending Russia did it … NATO is an retarded kid. Don’t trust a retarded kid.
In what way was supporting Kiev the right decision for NATO?
That was a very big assertion without any explanation of why it is right.
Unless you are a believer in the myth that Zelensky and Company were innocent folks doing nothing wrong since 2014.
My friend met a Ukrainian military who’s recuperating now in the USA after he lost a limb and he told that the first time he came here for military training was in 2012 – pay attention – 2012! When Maidan was in 2014. They were preparing way in advance…
No!! No!! I’m not even supporting Ukraine either, but this was what NATO were thinking at the very start from the war and their hope for them to weaken Russia, too bad their proxy war against Russia isn’t going well as planned, the consequences of the western alliance I’m talking about is Russia using nukes to escalate the war, because the western alliance think Russia is bluffing, The US and NATO knows they can’t win a nuclear war with Russia, Russia might surely use nukes 100% to wipe Ukraine out very soon, or might even strike at one of NATO member especially Poland to escalate the war.
Godfrey – Biden was clear- “if not sanctions, then WWIII!” Now, the degenerates in power see their sanctions don’t work, so WWIII it is.
Check minute 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KutIWGd2fk8
From time to time I have thought ‘another steve’ was a bot.
Becoming more convinced with every post.
Nah. Bots make more sense.
This goes back even further. While doing some ad hoc projects for EU Commission around 2002, I got knowledge of a EU funded program for installing surveillance equipment for the Ukraine-Russia border. I recall the specs included video cameras and sound detection/recording equipment.
Isolating Ukraine from Russia was always the plan since the Berlin wall fell, and similar with other former Soviet republics. In 2012 the anti-Russian propaganda in EU was already heating up to mold public opinion for the emerging conflict.
There is little doubt in my mind that the escalation we saw last year would have happened in 2016 if dems would have won the US election. Everything was set and Russia was in much worse shape to fight a war.
They should have been minding their own shop so the US doesn’t end up with its own 1998-style collapse. This scared me so much when I found this during our 2008 financial crisis. We have incompetent, fearful, obsessive people running the US.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210901073222/https://irp.fas.org/congress/2000_rpt/russias-road.pdf
No!! No!! I’m not even supporting Ukraine either, but this was what NATO were thinking at the very start from the war and their hope for them to weaken Russia, too bad their proxy war against Russia isn’t going well as planned, the consequences of the western alliance I’m talking about is Russia using nukes to escalate the war, because the western alliance think Russia is bluffing, The US and NATO knows they can’t win a nuclear war with Russia, Russia might surely use nukes 100% to wipe Ukraine out very soon, or might even strike at one of NATO member especially Poland to escalate the war!!.
NATO wanted Crimea for itself and stopped (and still stops) at nothing to obtain it.
That was the crux of ‘NATO support for Kiev’. Screw ’em. Draw and quarter them like they have done and aspire to do to others. It’d be the only fair thing in a dog eat dog world.
The BBC has been touting the 12 (or maybe 14) Challenger tanks the Brits are promising to send. What happened to thousand or 3 thousand (sources differ) tanks Ukraine boasted one year ago? Those Challengers must be really special, if one can succeed where 80 others failed.
Some idiot or other tweeted that Leopards would allow Ukranazistan to drive on Moscow.
That is true, in a way. Kubinka Tank Museum is located near Moscow. Some of those Leopards will surely be driven there, and parked next to Tigers and Panthers.
At the Kubinka Tank Museum do they explain how the British invented it ?
The British ‘invented’ many things throughout history that have come back to smack them in the face.
My favorite is that Australian prison camp warden in the 1800’s that first witnessed the use of a boomerang and immediately filed a war patent on it.
Nonsense. Australians invented tanks in order to compensate for small penis size.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AC1_Sentinel_8030.jpg
To drive a Leopard 2 from Donbas to the Moscou Museum one would need a few spare serviced engines and a crane tank as well, or a large trailer. You might get stopped by some bridges that are not strong enough too.
Driving it all the way would be too much, but driving it on and off the train should be easy. It would still count as Leopard driving near Moscow. 🙂
Leopard 2 is still lighter than Tiger II, so it should not be much of a problem. Back in the day, they even managed to bring Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus all the way from Germany (180+ tons).
12 or 14 NATO tanks is just an extra morning’s worth of work for RF artillery and missile crews.
These Western prostiticians really are deluding themselves. Or not, maybe they know it won’t make a difference to the battle field but it will towards their bosses bank accounts.
Taxpayers’ money……….
Can be spent wildly as long as the taxpayers pay
The AFU will be lucky if they don’t blow themselves up in them using the wrong ammo.
What really broke Russia’s neck is when PornHub decided to shut its virtual doors. I don’t think Russia will ever recover…
So Ukraine has won and we can stop sending you money. Thanks for the news!
Was it the gay section?
Nah, that’s 100% subsidized by “Ozzies” named Steve.
I don’t get this. Is Stoltenberg actually stating here that Russia blew up Nord Stream? I find that a bit of a stretch even for this charlatan but what else could he be saying here, that they stand against the sabotage whoever was to blame? If either then, WOW. These people need serious help.
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_210614.htm
In a world of growing geopolitical competition, we will address new areas, such as emerging and disruptive technologies, space and the security impact of climate change. Resilience and the protection of critical infrastructure are a key part of our joint efforts, as we have seen both with President Putin’s weaponising of energy, and as you mentioned, Ursula, the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.
Yes, of course he is. God, I despise those two freaks.
chi ha votato Stolten boy? nessuno
chi ha votato v d la Yena? nessuno
ma qualcuno li autorizza a fare politica al di sopra delle Libere Nazioni e delle Costituzioni Nazionali.
se questa èDemocrazia e libertà…!!!
Nobody voted for those two. They were installed, like every other Washington puppet.
In 2011, Jens Stoltenberg, as Prime Minister of Norway, made an overnight decision to participate in the bombing of Libya. No consulting the parliament, no real discussion within the government. Norway dropped 600 bombs on Libya, accepting to attack targets other nations within the coalition considered dubious. Thus proving his loyalty to the american war machine he was rewarded with the job as Secretary General of NATO. I just can`t help think of him as other than the great NATO whore. He`ll kiss any american ass. As for his own you can see him squirming from the ventriloquist hand of Pentagon up his backside. Norway is such a small country and all our media is basking in the provincial joy of seeing someone from the “village” make such a mark on the world.
Panic
The Smiths
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
But honey pie, you’re not safe here
So you run down to the safety of the town
But there’s panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
Provincial towns you jog ’round
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ.
Then there is this dude. Skip to the 12:00 mark for the lol’s
https://youtu.be/54daqNraMxE
No LOL’s. The kraut’s regurgitating a year’s worth of western bull. I almost fell asleep I heard it so many times.
https://beyondhighbrow.com/2023/01/17/video-shows-ukrainians-executing-four-schoolteachers-in-kupyansk-for-collaborating-with-russia/
I have now learned that the execution video of Ukrainian civilians in Kupyansk after Russia left and the Ukrainians took over shows four female schoolteachers from the city being executed. I know that in Izyum 93 schoolteachers were hauled away on charges of collaboration. The Rada has passed bills mandating 15 years in prison for schoolteachers who “collaborate” with Russians by continuing to teach school after the Russians take over a city. The person being led up the hill is a woman. Look at the three bodies in the pit. They’re all females too.
The demonspawn ukie (nazis? cheka-type jews?) posted their torture and executions on line from Odessa in 2014- burned a union hall with people alive inside. One video showed a azov bayoneting a pregnant woman in the belly in a hotel bar. I hope the Russians execute them to the last man and send them to hell.
Horrifying and should be made known widely, because it provides a glimpse into the reality of Ukraine at the rear.
Thanks for posting.
It and much more have been known for 8 years for those who gave a damn.
The KLA/UCK in Kosovo was well known for killing any Albanian who taught school
Indeed. They were a lovely bunch. Taught the ukrops how to package and market fresh organs too, I hear.
Sickening. A link to that page should be sent to every legislator in the country.
https://beyondhighbrow.com/2023/01/17/video-shows-ukrainians-executing-four-schoolteachers-in-kupyansk-for-collaborating-with-russia/
Canada is already compromised. OUN-B Banderite Nazis have captured the Liberal Party of Canada. C.Freeland grand daughter of a Banderite Nazi War Criminal. Poland hunted for him for WW2 war crimes up to 1986. C.Freeland Is running Canada for gender bender pedo J.Trudeau .
I used to like Canadians, even enjoyed a jaunt to Montreal and Quebec City every so often but as a people they’ve been fried, dried and hung out to rot these past few decades. That’s what you get when you let a bunch of rabid ukranazis creep into your political lives.
Good luck, Canucks. You’ll need it.
AAP reports “Up to 70 Australian personnel will join partner nations in Britain to help boost the infantry tactics and military skills of Ukrainians.
Deputy Prime Minister and defence minister Richard Marles said Australia continues to stand with the embattled nation after Russia’s “clear violation of the rules-based order”.
“It is a really important deployment because the Ukrainian army now is very much a reservist army, it is a citizen army,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program on Wednesday.
“The skills that are going to be provided by these Australian trainers are going to help equip the Ukrainian army for the battlefield, it will make them safer, it’ll save lives and it will keep Ukraine in the fight.”
Australia has provided about $655 million in support for Ukraine, including $475 million in military assistance.It includes a total of 90 Bushmasters.””
Australians are completely unquestioning of the US capture of its press and political leadership; a B2 base (infrastructure paid for by Au), nuclear submarines (to be delivered by 2040), F35s and HIMARS, sabre rattling and alarms over China, and the delusion that 404 is winning.
Nothing like a war on the other side of the planet to keep the voters happy.
The Australian PM AlbaNAZI is kidding himself. Sending the unemployable dead-enders that couldn’t get real jobs. Australian soldiers have not been in a real war since Korea. There is nothing they can teach the NAZIs.
Believe me, the Ukranian soldiers’ combat skills were far superior to anything any NATO troops could put onto the open field, including the US and Britain. Immagine the military menace a unified Slavic federation of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus would have presented the NATO “boys”? They could have conventionally taken all of Europe in a week including all US troops stationed there. This is why we are seeing what is currently unfolding in the soon to be former Ukraine.
Ukraine’s ‘military’ is infused with a mental sickness not seen in Europe for 80 years. I wouldn’t wish them as allies on anyone.
The source of that sickness is Galicia and environs. The local fanatics are little more than a jumped up version of Hell’s Angels. Too much lead in the water there.
The only military skills besides watching old Mad Max flicks that the Australians have are centered around rounding up aborigines and making them disappear, pretty much on par with Canadian skills.
I was pretty good at hunting crocs in the jungles of ‘Nam. Are there any crocs in Ukraine? Besides the crocs of sh*t we’re
fed from there I mean.
Russia’s “clear violation of the rules-based order”. LOL
Aussies turn my stomach.
Aussies turn my stomach.
They make excellent bobbing head dolls in the rear windows of travelling Washington arms lobbyists.
Demilitarisation & Denazification of Ukraine is the Endgame of this SMO. Two ways to achieve this goal, militarily or diplomatically… both means equally challenging…. IMHO.
NATO is gearing up for a long hot war. My guess is NATO plans mostly holding actions until 2025. It will take that long to gear up the armaments industry,
The key question is will NATO citizens still be pro -war in 2025 ?
NATO may gear up for whatever takes their fancy but they don’t control the table in this casino.
The pit boss is Russian.
Wait for 007. British. Casino Royale. Aston Martin.
He will account for any hairy chested, small brained critter not yet toilet trained.
Ongoing deindustrialization of EU does not look like gearing up the armaments industry to me. I would say that they are just prolonging the war as much as possible, because the boss says so.
a good question Exile.So far they have tolerated conquest wars when they were on the other side of the world.This one is in their back yard .IMHO shit just got serious and memories of Rusian response to invasions of Mother Russia will creep back into their consciousness in spite of all the propaganda.The lies will be called out.
De-nazification of Ukraine is a tough goal for Russia to achieve in the foreseeable future.
I kind of remember that after WWII, that is in Soviet times, when the Ukraine was part of the USSR, the remaining Banderites did wage a long resistance war (aka terrorist tactics) for fifteen and more years, supported all along by the CIA. all In order to harm Russia, what else.
I do not see an easy end of this current conflict, I mean it not militarily but politically. I’m sure Russia can win this round on the battlefield, but it is unclear what would be the terms of a settlement and with whom. I see only a protracted stalemate at some point.
Western Europe is paralyzed and entangled in self-destructive policies, with no leadership to speak of. Regime change in Germany or France (or Britain) is very unlikely even if the conditions get worse. The people will be unhappy but stick together for lack of alternative prospect. I still hope something positive might arise out of this mess, but I don’t see it at this point. Many thanks for your work.
Fifteen years? Don’t spread misinformation. At first the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) hunted for Banderovites, then Marshal Zhukov was entrusted with this hunt in 1946. The following year, all of the partisans were annihilated.
Hi
I wish you have better information than I have about that.
Somehow those Bandera fanatics are like nettles : hard to pull out and then they keep resurfacing periodically, with malignant foreign support.
Sure, I wish they can be handled and get rid of appropriately. I even hoped the Poles might help in getting rid of them at some point but now I doubt that.
You mean, the ones who didn’t escape to the US and CA with high paying jobs in the intelligence community.
A stalemate requires external support. As Europe descends into economic impotency, that becomes infeasible. Note, Europe cut energy usage 20% – equivalent to the great depression – what happens when there is no fertilizer in the spring?
As Larry has said repeatedly; the lies and propaganda about the Ukraine war are unprecedented.
There are many ideas as to the whys and wherefores of this.
A benefit of the internet is that it allows you to look further afield and see what fools the likes of Rachman are. And to understand the best use of such publications is for wrapping fish and chips.
Does anyone know if the Pentagon ever war gamed this conflict or did the State Department simply expect Russia to fold with the economic sanctions?
NATO can not win this war. Russia would stop the US from shipping troops and weapons to Europe in sufficient quantities, there is no safe staging area like Britain in WW2.
What kind of a person is a Ukrainian citizen?
They have suffered a confirmed 125,000 KIA and 35,000 MIA in 11 months.
If that happened in a western nation the people would have already destroyed their government.
Great question especially as it’s 350, 000 not 35,000.
Very brave.
The West has suffered similar losses.
no, as confirmed by colonel douglas macgregor recently on “judging freedom”, it is indeed 35`000 MIA. you must be talking about the 300`000 or so seriously wounded that macgregor also mentions.
Hi donkey 7:59
Yes my mistake.
A brainwashed person. They don’t belive those numbers, but do believe that eveything will be fine & dandy once they win this war.
Your statement doesn’t make sense.
His error was an obvious typo.
On what do you place your suppositions ?
Sadomasochism at work.
Some folks are of the belief that Odesa should be offered to Ukraine in order to entice them to sit down at the bargaining table. Odesa is about as Russian as you can get and Odesa and its citizens should be returned to the Russian fold.
I do agree, however, that Odesa might be a negotiation point, in the hope of ending the conflict and finding a peaceful settlement. Why not offer Ukraine a treaty similar to the Lithuanian/Russian treaty that provides Russia access to the Kaliningrad enclave. Ukraine could be offered commercial access to the Black Sea through Russian Odesa. Ukraine will continue to have access to the sea and Odesa will be reunited with Russia. Russia will also gain access to Transnistria.
– JRC
The West is a non-agreeable cesspool, Uncle Sugar cannot honor any treaty. It would be better to mobilize more significant numbers of reservists, (starting with a million or so), take the entire Ukie Black Sea coastline, secure the four claimed oblasts, and bombard Kiev (without going in all-hog and house-to-house (takes too many soldiers and the aggregate rubble destroys the three-dimensionality of a city = Bad JUJU, see Berlin 1945). Furthermore, surround Kharkov, in order to freeze and starve the Ukies. Lastly, have around two corps to come down from Belarus to cut the Polack road and rail facilities used to supply the Ukie army with NATO war goodies. Then, and only then, take a breath and see what you got. As for the US, just say you won. That will work, I’m sure.
Didn’t Lithuania behave like a Chihuahua state and was banning Russia cargo? Putin just signed a decree nullifying 23 EU/Russia treaties – looks like Russia got enough of dancing on the glass for EU.
As long as ‘The West’ ist refusing any negotiation I believe it is fruitless to make suggestions on what could be negiotiated about.
If ‘Odesa’ is as Russian as you can get then I guess you should be calling it Odessa.
Yeah, a shift in media narrative happens when the reporters are freezing in a city with no power, like 80+% Kiev. From Liviv and Lovov, they’re dark tonight. And that’s damned near Poland. Watch CNN or MSNBC to see some of this. They were also talking about some apartment building that got hit by a missile, collapsing the building, killing 45 or some such. A Ukie general admitted it was a defensive missile that hit the building and they fired him outright (or shot him dead). Probably an S300 missile gone crazy like the ones that killed several in Poland. It’s nuts. But yeah, as the reporters go cold and hungry, the media narrative will change.
Meanwhile, the WEF and DAVOS folks are banging hookers of all genders like no one’s business tonight. There is no limit to THEIR depravity. And the Ukies they sent to their deaths are losing..
Watch CNN or MSNBC to see some of this.
I wish I could but if I watch CNN or MSNBC I’m afraid I might turn to stone and then who would walk the dog?
Excellent report by A Son of the New American Revolution, particularly explaining why Ukraine is not Afghanistan. The imbecilic chief of UK chief of defense staff can’t understand the difference, which is quite amazing considering he holds such a high position. We might also say that well over 80 percent of Ukrainians would somehow back Russia if it takes over the entire Ukraine. Ukrainians who are not brainwashed enough by virtual reality / video games will definitely form a national defense force backed by Russia which will arrest, imprison or kill every remaining NATO-backed Neonazis thugs, following their liberation.
imbecilic UK chief of defense staff can’t understand the difference, which is precisely why he holds such a high position
“Russia would then be stuck in a decades-long guerrilla war ” is why Russia will neuter all of the Ukraine and then withdraw to its new borders along the southeastern Ukraine, including Odessa
Where does this end ?
No doubt Russia will succeed militarily, but how to secure peace in the Ukraine and an end to hostilities with the USA /EU/NATO. Based on comments from Macron, Scholz and Merkel, the USA/EU/NATO used the Minsk agreements as cover for prepping the Ukrainian army. Russia connot trust the West again ( at least as long as the Neocons are in power). So it looks to me that Russia will have to do something to dismember NATO and neutralise the Neocons to secure a long term peace with the west – That’s not gonna happen !!!
For the forseable future, Russia will have to commit more resources and manpower to defense. I suspect that we are in for an extended period of high military tensions with Russia including a nuclear stand-off. I can see some form of military conscription being re-introduced in Europe and the States… Great….just as my Sons are entering their early adult years…. 🙁
Same problem here. I can just tell my sons: Become smart, never trust anyone, and if military wants you, behave as if you can not carry anything any more because of health problems. Avoid being a hero.
But anyway, I wonder whether Russia really profits from a long lasting war. It is difficult to observe your enemy for years. Believing that the enemy will fall by itself is a vague idea.
You’re right, Russia does not profit from hostilities with the West. A good portion of their hydrocarbn exports were sold to europe, this will need to be redirected towards Asia, Africa & S.America on a permanent basis. This is probably the case for their other commodity exports.
A long term confrontation with the west is a nightmare scenario because America will dictate the terms and duration of the confrontation and America is too powerful to overcome. The only solution is a change in political leadership in the States – ain’t gonna happen !!
Don’t you need to worry about your daughters too? I mean, in this woke age, where everyone is equal, and no discrimination on the basis of sex or gender is allowed ( and men can menstruate) – surely no woke western country could institute mandatory military service on the basis of sex or gender! They will have to draft women as well as men.
mr. johnson- another good article as usual. i am amazed of the shortsightedness of the military men of nato. They had to know after the fall of mariupol on may 20th,2022 the attrition of ukrainian manpower, armour, apcs, artillery and aa weaponry. they also should have known of the potential of lawnmowing drones for artillery spotting and attack.
——————————-
the below will probably get some laughs ; am posting this to show the basics of what is required to equip or reequip 12 brigades – 50,000 men of the ukraine army which would be the equivalent of a large 4 divison ww2 armoured corps in size.
this is small compared to the additional 300,000 fully equipped force we have been told the russians have brought in and the massive logistics nato cannot match in equipping and moving them into position.
the present nato bs proposal is for 3 brigades which is 1 ww2 division which will accomplish zip tweet in my opinion
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/01/17/the-ukrainian-army-could-form-three-new-heavy-brigades-with-all-these-tanks-and-fighting-vehicles-its-getting/?sh=487a3b4c3d6c
this is what i would have proposed if i was a neocon advisor last may to help hold off the russians during the winter campaign
for armour – the leopard 1 tank – would be better than nothing and preserve the reputation of the modern tanks nato has not being destroyed in battle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_1
Germany – 2,437 originally. They were replaced by the Leopard 2. The remaining Leopard 1 tanks are in long-term storage for resale.
UUkraine – In April 2022, Rheinmetall said it could supply 50 Leopard 1 tanks to Uukraine in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,[48] but the deal fell through due to a lack of available ammunition and the refusal of other NATO Leopard 1 operators to supply it.[49
they built almost 6600 of these. it may not be totally modern but weighs 42 tonnes- about the same as a russian t72 tank so it is compatable weight wise on the battlefield. you could upgrade the frontal armour and ammunition a bit . yu would send the tanks to poland with the crews and train them there. If the west could have come up 1000 of these obsolesent tanks – enough to equip 24 tank battlions which would be enough for 6 armour brigades and 6 mechanized brigades with a 33 percent reserve of vehicles.
—————————————————————————————————–
for the apcs – need 2250 of the below
they built 80,000 of these and 5000 are still in service with the us army.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier
it weighs 12 tons so 2 can be shipped for every bradley . if you increased the frontal armour it would have a chance headon against this gun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipunov_2A42
if nato could come up with 1500 of these for the infantry you could also use these to equip 24 infantry battlions which would be enough for 6 armour brigades and 6 mechanized brigades with a 25 percent reserve of vehicles.
on remaining 750 of these would put on
you could modify 250 to be modifed sp guns with 105 mm howitzers mounted on them so each of the 12 brigades could at least have a self propelled artillery battlion of 18 guns each with allot of cheap expendable drones . could be wrong but think 105 mm ammo is not in short supply.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M119_howitzer
the other 250 i would modify to carry aim 9 sidewinder aa missles or stinger aa missles to give each brigade a mobile aa battlion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/TWQ-1_Avenger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder
for at you could equip 250 with tow antitank missle systems to give a AntiTankAntiAPC battlion to each of the 12 brigades . this model exists and is still in service.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW
for antidrone use – need 1000 of the below- 30 caliber or .223 caliber. these would be placed on the tanks, apcs and humvees
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_30-cal_GAU17.php
example of the gun in action- movie predator jesse ventura- it is just a movie- probably impracticle use of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWq2QvvPw68
for the other wheeled support of these 12 brigades you would need to supply 4000 4 wheel drive humvees and or toyoda trucks
————————–
Hypocrisy at it finest if true
https://rumble.com/v2500uc-unvaccinated-pilots-like-josh-yoder-are-becoming-sought-after-commodity-for.html
not the wef or davos for above video
https://rumble.com/v25zft4-josh-yoder-not-the-wef-or-davos-but-rather-wealthy-businessmen-had-reached-.html
this is a good clownworld
https://republicbroadcasting.org/news/dark-side-of-davos-revealed-as-global-elite-bookings-for-sex-workers-soar/
regards,
ralph
One factor that seems to be overlooked in predictions of the final outcome is what happens to the several million Ukrainian refugees in various EU states that won’t be going back? How long before they, like the African boat people, become too much of a burden to tolerate? Let’s not forget that sprinkled among the innocent civilians will be some genuine psychopaths bearing serious grudges. These might even be recruited into some sort of Gladio type force to cause even more trouble, inside or outside of the contested lands.
Or think about the weaponized ukronazi when all Ukraine is destroyed and Russia is hunting them down, imagine what revenge they’d inflict on the treacherous EU who used them as fodder. EU is crazy to breed Nazis in the middle of Europe thinking it’s their “pet” – this pet is rabid!
– this pet is rabid!
It’s the wild fox pet under the tunic of the not so Spartan EU.
Adop -At least the Spartan boy was silent, EU would be whining like a rabid hyena.
Slavic people assimilate easily into the West. It takes just one generation.
Or think about the weaponized ukronazi when all Ukraine is destroyed and Russia is hunting them down, imagine what revenge they’d inflict on the treacherous EU who used them as fodder. EU is crazy to breed Nazis in the middle of Europe thinking it’s their “pet” – this pet is rabid!
In the West, they are not yet aware that because of their hatred of Russia, they have created a real monster in Ukraine. Until 2014, it was just a corrupt country, and today it is a monster that will soon threaten the whole of Europe. Corrupt, jaded, brutal, armed, exclusive in their thinking, prone to violence, lies and terrible war crimes, in short the Ukis think that everything is allowed to them because they are victims of “Russian aggression”. The best thing Putin can do is, after taking the Russian part of Ukraine, leave the rest of Ukraine to Europe, let Europe take care of this twilight zone.
“lasciare che l’€uropa si occupi di 404..” perchè l’€U ?? è tutto di black rock e biden family… ci pensino loro.
“In the West, they are not yet aware that because of their hatred of Russia, they have created a real monster in ( themselves)Ukraine” .
About all the news and fake-news one runs the danger to loose man’s inner colours by fascination by the historical actions.
The zodiac reminds us of the elements and actors, constantly moving fateful in our unconscious texts. To watch them sincerely
allowes man to retain the colorful landscape of developed human psyche – and it’s promise for the future.
From the zodiac, northern hemisphere, 3. Week 2023:
beginning this week
Venus
still in square with
Uranus
stock & levity
ending the week in the conjunction
Venus/Saturn
stock and balance
within
the border around one’s
psychophysical realm
collective
ending individually
by
Venus/Saturn
roots and images of right
and balancd
on the cosmic scale
of Anthropos
hence we all
http://astromundanediary.blogspot.com/2023/01/two-harvests-this-week-for-apperception.html
I would suggest that nowadays it is not possible to run successful insurgency in modern societies on many accounts. First, the population tends to be concentrated in cities and so running something large, like organised military in countryside with support of friendly rural population is not possible. It was possible in WW2 but not so much now. That implies city based resistance. Here, one uses phone and other types of communication which leaves a trace and so security services would quickly map connections between members. There is also the issue of video surveillance that can go a long way in revealing people’s movement and again, connections between members. Finally, most people would try to get on with their lives and would avoid getting involved.
I agree. I think all this talk of a massive organic insurgency is a pipe (as in crack) dream. A small cadre supported by NATO maybe, but majority supported ain’t gonna happen.
Smartest thing for the Russians would be to do exactly as they claimed at the beginning. Secure the Eastern oblasts, The parts that were Russian before Khrushchev gifted them to the Ukrainian Soviet in the ’50’s as pay back for supporting his succession to Stalin, including Odessa and most if not all of the Black Sea coast, and leave the rest to the EU to support/police. They walled off half of Europe for 50 years and held it. Should be much simpler closer to home with a largely ethnically sympathetic population, especially once said population becomes accustomed to governance the basis of which is not an unabashedly criminal enterprise. If they do that the U.S. is going to be plenty busy trying to herd their own cats (https://www.gulf-times.com/article/653516/business/saudi-arabia-signals-its-not-stuck-on-us-dollar-for-trade-agreements) to make more than mischief. Within a generation the E.U. will be sending its own army into Ukraine to clean out “that hive of scum and villainy”.
The collective West, through its blind arrogance and sinister self-righteousness, has fallen into a major trap woven by the likes of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, even India as well as a host of other smaller international players. Now, it finds itself stuck in a muddy mucky quagmire like an escaped pig from the pen which it can not get itself out of.
Don’t know if anyone noticed yesterday, but Saudi Arabia declared that it is willing to accept payments for oil in other currencies outside of the US dollar. Immagine the ramifications!!!! Do we need to be any more pessimistic for the US’s economic future? Super hyper inflation and total economic collapse will be right around the corner!!
Your stilted language shows you to be no more than a propaganda piece.
well Steve,What specifically did Peppe say that was propaganda,you are the one that is mirroring.
Ask yourself why the US elites had a mentally and morally decrepit 78 year old Depenz wearing creep show clown elected??? It’s a metaphor and the laughs on you there!!!!
LOL… look who’s talking.
I think there’s some substance to this argument. My understanding is the petro Dollar allows the US to print more dollars than it should, thereby exporting some of its inflation. Not sure however how significant this is. Time will tell.
The Saudi move is huge. I don’t think most people realize the breadth of the ramifications of OPEC selling oil in other currencies.
I do not see a trap of Russia, …!
In the last decades all atempts to switch payment for oil from US currency to any other form of payment was prevented. Last try was made by Ghadaffi in Lybia, who wanted to accept payment in EU currency. Look what it does to to Lybia.
Why is that so? It is because for worth of a currency it needs a demand for the use of the currency. So, when the demand for the US-dollar will decline the worth of the dollar will decline as well. What will follow is a devaluation of the US-dollar. I do not want to imagine what that means, let’s say it is bad, very bad.
What is the US-government going to do about it? Attack Saudi Arabia, like it did in Lybia? I do not know.
But it seems to me, that the world smells the weakness of the hegemonial USA. If they can not win this ‘thing’ in Ukraine, who will be afraid of the US-fist any more?
We are wittnessing that the world has noticed that the US is weakened so they are getting more and more brave in their attempts to get out of the ’embrace’ of the US dominated economic enforcement.
So hyper inflation and economic downfall are truely possible.
I hope for the best, never the less I suggest to prepare.
People forget that the Russians struggled in Afghanistan because of the terrain and tribalism, largely the same reasons we did too. But the biggest reason is that we were supplying the most extreme elements of their society with arms, training and lots and lots of cash. In return we had them morph into the Taliban and Al Q. Then we spent 20 years attempting and failing to put our own creation down. Compare photos of Kabuls streets in the 70s to present day!
Today we’re arming, training and funding the worst elements in Ukraine. The FBI back in 2018 were warning that those Nazis were spreading their ideology across Europe and the USA . The Christchurch mosque shooter and the Buffalo shooter were loosely affiliated with them. In 10 years time, or less if the Russians fail to wipe them out, they’ll be doing terror attacks all over the western world.
Our creation always come back to bite us.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/59nqmq/house-democrats-just-demanded-these-neo-nazi-groups-be-prosecuted-as-international-terrorists
The Soviet Union in the 1980s was heavily hobbled by the economic burden of Eastern Europe. It isn’t that surprising that Afghanistan was unsustainable (with Western meddling).
Russia of today is a far different economic entity, and so is the world. There was no China back then to economically offset Western sanctions and provide a market for Russian exports. The West back then was 2/3rds of global GDP vs. 1/3 today. There wasn’t a commodity supercycle either; oil prices were low in the 1980s after the Arab Oil embargo peaked.
The problem is that the dumbasses in US leadership don’t understand the above differences.
just came across this – from the moonofalabama.org website who is also asking for support.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/01/what-if-russia-won-the-ukraine-war-but-the-western-press-didnt-notice.html
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necessity is the mother of invention. in this roboto by the book techno world where people have lost their ability to think and improvise; this ability below has been lost by most people.
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/rhino-tank-strange-weapon-helped-win-battle-normandy-181437
This simple innovation highlighted how soldiers in the field were able to adapt, overcome and win the day.
The solution came not from Major-General Hobart but rather from American Sergeant Curtis G. Culin of the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Armored Division
i used to like these shows. these were tv shows and not reality; but the A team ( I luv it when a plan comes together ) and MacGyver (101 uses for a paperclip) showed how improvisation and using what is at hand can be used to win the day. They also promoted a spirit of never give up which is the opposite of the learnt helplessness the youth of today are taught in school and social media.
The A-Team Build A Monster Car | The A-Team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ceD5raFOR8
duster7469
11 months ago
Best example at using what’s at hand. Also the best build of the show.
9 months ago
Alongside Murdock, the armored véhicules were my favorite moments of the show
MacGyver – My Trusty Paperclip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09UlB17cgKw
MacGyver.
343
4 years ago
Legends say he could take on the entire Marvel and DC universe with nothing but a paperclip, a stick, and plastic red cup.
Specialization is for insects; not people. Never stop learning new skills.
regards,
ralph
I loved the shows too.
As I was actively organising events, like medieval markets or re-enacments, and the events had ended, as in deep in the night, I always put out some cigars and enjoyed them with my team citing Hannibal: “I luv it when a plan comes together”.
It was magical!
So thanks for the reminder.
And you are pretty right with the learning. I always say that a day I have not learned something is a lost day.
Stefan G – appreciate your kind comments and Mr. Johnson for allowing me to post on his website.
Great to know there are people like you still out there.
best regards,
ralph
You are welcome.
I feel the same about the likeminded people of whom there are a lot more out in the world, than we might think and that are ‘assembled’ here on this excellent page of mister Johnson.
And by the way, I still have a swiss army knife with me all the time. I do not know how often it has saved me, but it never failed.
I wish you well
” Ukraine is the new Afghanistan. Really?”
Yes really to some “strategists” appointed/annointed since “off-shoring” as a prevailing concept is held to be productive.
The copy book was by Mr. Brzezinsky and others greenhorns from the Kresy dancing because it is 1979, partly “informed”/undermined by The Russian Federation is “The Soviet Union” and Mr. Putin is being spoonfed kasha in The Kremlin like Mr. Brezhnev,
because “The United States of America” won the Cold War.
“I think the Russians have discovered they can live without Starbucks and MacDonalds and their lives are not damaged.”
They could but they’re not going to. A couple of young Russian vloggers take us on visit to the new Russian version of MacDonald’s (they also did a similar vid on the Starbucks clone). Nothing has changed, except the packaging.
“Replacement symbolism,” is what they call it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qTrqTJtIs
It fascinates me no end that more focus isn’t placed on vlogger communities when one wants to know the truth of what is happening in a beseiged nation, or for that matter, a nation that has yet to come under seige but is about to, like China.
For example, within a week it was clear that Russia was not going to have problem with inflation after the sanctions came crashing down on them, because the entire Russia vlogger community immediately went out and examined the price of things in Russian malls and grocery stores, and excepting the price on high end imported luxury goods, like Lay’s potato chips and Peter Pan peanut butter, the cost of everything was roughly the same.
And obviously, they will never have to deal with rising, soaring, or out of control gas prices over there, the core element of most hyperinflationary events in the modern era, because as we all know, Russia is a gas station, and has a shameful overbundance of the resource that makes the world go round.
Paricularly the neo-liberal world. “Wall Steet floats on a sea of oil,” said Mike Ruppert, and he was right.
That’s why we have to smash em up into little bits and pieces and steal what they got.
Russia!!! The greatest tank of all-time, is coming for you!
https://www.bitchute.com/video/LsAlnKHrxpDv/
And no, I’m not talking about the T-34 or the Tiger – which would be a distant second and third on the list.* Those are M1Abrams on that train, better known to our enemies as, “Whispering Death.”
*In no particular order. Don’t want to rile up the passions of the tank enthusiast crowd. Besides, I know they’re already depressed, as their weapon system of choice is obsolete.
Those tanks aren’t intended for Russia. They lack bridge layer. 🙂
P.S. You should not mix up tank enthusiasts with ‘muricans (worshipers of Abrams), wehraboos (Leopard 2), and Top Gear fans (Challenger 2).
another Afghanistan? It’s only a matter of time until ukrainians realize they had been thrown into the meat grinder by the empire of lies and start to develop a deep hatred for everything american.
It’ll take a year or so but it’ll eventually creep into the Ukrainian psyche that they could have implemented Minsk II and have been done with it but for the West using them like an old dishrag used to soak up buckets of their blood.
It’ll come home to roost. Just stay tuned.
Minsk II is essentially what US imposed on British Northern Ireland giving Republic of Ireland a say in Northern Ireland under so-called Belfast Agreement and Joint Council.
Now British Government is selling out N Ireland by Statutory Instrument under N I Protocol Johnson set up which meets Biden’s demands
Russia needs to recycle small arms from Ukraine
A change in narrative. Yes.
The continued supply of arms? Well, once the invitable defeat of UKr comes, the West can say, “We supplied what we could; pity the Ukrs didn’t use it properly.”
I live in the UK. Recently, it was revealed that about 350 Royal Marines were in Ukr. What? Who allowed decent soldiers to be used in this way without any discussion in Parliament? And what were / are they there for?
Clearly, we’re in there for this “proxy war”. And now we’re sending Challenger Tanks. A handful. Why? What purpose is served by this? To prompt other Europeans to provide some of theirs? Leopards. Well, there are quite a few, it appears, but most are not “battle ready”.
Given that it is likely that Ukr will crumble soon enough due to the attrition it has suffered, any panzers are likely to be too few and too late. the West has already burned through any stockpile of former Soviet weapons without achieving much. What does it expect to achieve with its own tanks? And will they, like the Royal Marines, be covertly operated by service personnel or “volunteers”?
None of this has been discussed in Parliament. It’s just happened initially under BoJo and more recently under Truss and Sunak.
Mr. Johnson- have insommia so did more research on comparing american and russian armoured weapon programs. think this is interesting.
this is the latest on usa armoured vehicle development. the only thing new besides the griffin light tank that looks like it will deploy in 2025 is the replacement for the M113 which is in production.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Generation_Combat_Vehicle
m113 repacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_Multi-Purpose_Vehicle
this is the latest tank for rapid deployment- in service in 2025. it is 34 tons, has a crew of 4, has only a 105 gun and costs 12 million each. i do not think they are getting their monies worth even if yu can put 2 of them on a c17 transport ready to go.
https://www.military-today.com/tanks/griffin_2.htm
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this is the russian plans.The new “Armata” tank platform is meant to replace the older Russian main battle tanks and APCs that are currently used by the Russian military.[11][1
Looks like they are trying to standardize on allot of parts to make the manufacture easier and maintenance easier also.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armata_Universal_Combat_Platform
this is the new tank. at 7 million is 5 million less than the griffin.
The Armata was designed over the course of five years, and features a number of innovative characteristics, including an unmanned turret. The crew of three is seated in an armoured capsule in the front of the hull,[51] which will also include a toilet for the crew.[52]
am not sure if this tank is in frontline service yet or not
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-14_Armata
am not sure if this is in front line service; looks like the most heavily armoured and survivable APC ever made. Is armoured as a main battle tank.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-15_Armata
if the T14 encounters a griffin in combat; i would not put my money on the griffin. Like a panther or tiger taking on a sherman tank in ww2 armed with this short barrel 75 mm contempary standards gun effective in 1942 but not 1944.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75_mm_gun_M2%E2%80%93M6#M3
if yu do not have a main gun on your tank that can take out other MBT`s; in my opinion you are wasting your time and the lives of the crew . If yu need a tank that is light enough for 2 of them to go in a c17; then make the tank into a self propelled turrentless gun or make it into a 3 man tank with an unmanned turrent with a 120 mm gun with lighter armour that can at least possibly penetrate the armour of a t14 or t15. making a tank for only an infantry support role is an outmoded ww2 concept.
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looks like this brit program is having its problems also. Perhaps people need to remember the kiss principle which i learnt in my profession ( keep it simple stupid)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_Ajax
In November 2020, trials were halted over excessive noise and vibration. In September 2021 Jeremy Quin, Minister for Defence Procurement, in a written response stated that dynamic testing and training on Ajax was suspended and that “it is not possible to determine a realistic timescale for the introduction of Ajax vehicles into operational service”.[8] Limited trials resumed in October 2022, with extended trials to last possibly until early 2025.
regards,
ralph
regards,
ralph
The Armata platform is not yet ready for prime time. It is intended to face next generation of western tanks, that is still in development, so they are not in a hurry.
Griffin 2, being a light vehicle with 105mm gun, is definitely not intended to face main battle tanks (or any serious opposition, for that matter). I guess they were expecting Afghanistan War to last a bit longer.
New AbramsX Technology Demonstrator was shown on promotional video recently. Who knows if it actually does what it says on the tin?
Brits have been “working” on upgrading main gun of Challenger 2 for decades. I guess they may speed it up a bit now.
thanks appreciate your feedback especially on the griffin tank
regards,
ralph
I am still waiting for the effort to drum up Western bodies to support Ukraine a la Freedom Brigades of WW1 and Spanish Civil War fame.
The problem is: there weren’t video channels back then nor were the opposition militarily superior.
Only the most stupid and/or rabid want to literally die for Ukraine – no self-respecting mercenary wants to, nor is there some meme like “fighting communism” to rally suckers behind. Calling Putin a criminal doesn’t work when the West’s leaders are visibly worse…
The biggest surprise of the war is still to come: that Zelenski is Kremlin’s man in Kiev.
Why? 1) He is still alive (why? RF could have taken him out at any point and still can), 2) he successfully bled USA/NATO/EU/UK dry of money and weapons/hardware, 3) he exposed the collective west as the biggest violator of law, bully and weakling in the military sense, 4) he de-populated Ukraine successfully by insisting every inch be defended at any cost and he lost Ukr territories irretrievably by refusing to negotiate.
Finally, his bust will be unveiled in US Congress as a permanent reminder of the American stupidity.
I am waiting for the day when Putin provides proof of this to the world on TV – which will cause the toppling of all western governments.
For the sake of the establishment here, I sincerely hope the intelligence guys thoroughly vetted “cocaine Ze”.
What a great point!
Surely it’s always the craziest stuff that is true!…..follow the money, what has he actually done? Whom and what has it hurt? Who benefits?
I wouldn’t miss this movie… of this moment of history for nothing.
You wrote: “Gideon Rachman also makes the mistake of arrogance — he presumes that Russia’s lack of relationships with the United States and Europe means that Moscow is isolated and alone.”
Surely that is the the most significant cognitive problem facing the elites of “the West”.
They somehow want to pretend that “the West” is a universal concept, whereas in reality it is actually an exclusive and discriminatory Country Club.
Don’t get me wrong: it may be a powerful Country Club. Whatever.
But it is not as powerful or as influential as those elites believe it to be. Not even close.
They will Party Like It’s 1999, little realizing that they run a real risk of suffering a burnout that may be just as fatal as that suffered by the Artist Formerly Known As Prince.
The fantasies of Mr. Rachman are based on events after the WWII in Galicia region (mountains included). That’s when the love affair between USA and Bandera & co. started. Soviet Union managed to snuff out armed resistance and the man himself, but not the flame between USA and his followers. That’s why the resurrection of movement was so easy.
What Mr. Rachman fails to understand is that Galicia will probably be annexed by Poland. Russians never wanted it, and Poles are willing to die for it (and alrady are). I wonder how long it would take for Banderites to start killing Poles for occupying them, and US troops stationed with them. Now that I think of it, it does sound like Afghanistan a bit, for the West.
I put this position out a few times and it’s growing tiny legs, Poland will do a backroom deal with RU to take control and control Western Ukraine, west Ukraine wins because it’s absorbed into EU, Poland wins because it gets it old lands back, RU wins because it does not have to look after west Ukraine with it’s hostile population. Ukraine proper around Kiev with no army is surrounded on all sides by non friends and will learn to live with it. Nato will do an Afghanistan again and pivot to China where it will lose as well.
As far as junk food goes, Russian McDonalds restaurans have continued operating under new name. Nothing has changed except the branding, and the money that no longer goes to USA for the McDonalds name itself. Putin should give medals to those that imposed sanctions.
Here’s a video of what it looks like (maybe some US citizens can compare it to what they have at home):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4Tf1Z9QnU
What’s up there, dudes? I saw a KFC off to the side.
I guess the story is similar with KFC. It seems that in Chechnya, Colonel Sanders was replaced with region-apropriate-looking guy. 🙂
https://youtu.be/ROXG13gy_rA?t=365
The West simply doesn’t understand Russian strategic thinking. One wonders whether the word means the same thing to the 2 parties.
Many (too many!) decades ago, I attended a course in cognitive psych and one of the things I learned stayed with me. It concerned a cognition test given to hi-level chess players in the ’50s (iirc). Chess Masters and Grand Masters were flashed a chessboard in various mid-game configurations for a second or so and were asked to reproduce what they saw.
Astonishingly, the Masters got it right, or close to right about 80% of the time, but what was interesting is that not one of the Grand Masters even came close. They uniformly reproduced a board that looked nothing like the original.
The researchers (or somebody else) followed up on this unexpected phenomena and interviewed some of the participants. What they found is that the Grand Masters didn’t concern themselves about memorizing what pieces were where. Their 1 second flash was spent calculating the strategic balance between white and black. From that, they went on to create a board that was the strategic equivalent. Though the pieces looked seemed unrelated to the original, they were the same to the eye of a Grand Master.
What’s perhaps even more indicative of the gulf between strategic and tactical thinking was that the researchers found that the best of the Masters thought 8, or even more moves ahead. Some (iirc) could process up to 12 moves ahead. Meanwhile, the Grand Masters rarely thought more than 3-4 moves ahead. They thought much more about what strategy their opponent was executing, how to counter it, and how to mask their own strategy from him.
With a few notable exceptions, the world’s Grand Masters of the time were Russian.
General Gerasimov is known as a master strategist, and a fundamental tenet of the eponymous Gerasimov Doctrine is that military force, properly deployed should comprise no more than about 1/5 of the total national effort in achieving its nation’s political goals. Military strategies are developed to complement and coordinate with economic, socio-political, and diplomatic strategies under a grand national strategy that encompasses them all. Teasing the Russians’ military strategy in Ukraine out of that is a fool’s errand.
The upshot is that we here in the cheap seats have little hope of doing more than generating idle speculations and wild-assed guesses about what the Russian General Staff think they’re doing and what they may do in the future.
Thank you HMS, profound insights
There is one thing I am missing. The grand master is not only playing one game in his mind. He is playing all the possible games (he is capable of thinking thrue) that are suggested by the positions of the pieces on the board. The Master playes his game, not all thinkable ones.
At least that is what I learned in my one year membership in a chess club as I was younger.
And I left, because a little later I found out that playing ‘risk’ with my friends is a lot more fun. And I definitively won more often.
Not sure what you’re missing, but that’s an interesting illustration of the difference between strategy and tactics and seems quite in line with what emerged from the test.
Thanks.
You are right it is already in your text, it is just that I missed it somehow because it was not clear to me.
And let me thank you for thinking of my words as an adequate addition.
The news in the West is addressed to a public that only believes in television business and similar websites; beyond that there is the rest of the world and real life.
I’m seriously considering a trip to Nicaragua.
My comments are not posting. No more coffee for you. At least Andre Martyanov let’s me post.
I don’t see much evidence of a grand strategy by anyone. It looks like a bunch of blind men swinging at each other with baseball bats. Russia is going to win simply because it can no more lose a war in the Ukraine than the US could lose in Northern Mexico or Canada. But it isn’t pretty.
Part of it is just Russia being Russia. Russia got its ass kicked in WW II all the way to Berlin. Even in WW I despite a series of disasters, it took a revolution at home to knock Russia out. True, today’s Russia isn’t Stalin’s Russia or even Czarist Russia, but Ukraine and the sweet aren’t the Heer or the Wehrmacht either.
Russia always looks sloppy and disorganized by western standards right up until the moment they are raising the flag over the Reichstag. But this isn’t some evidence of some grand strategy. Russia isn’t collapsing the west. Sure, the empire is collapsing but it was before this mess and will be after, even if it somehow “wins”.
What we see over there today is just a reflection of certain realities. Your dog doesn’t chase a car because he has plans to catch one and set up a rental agency. He’s is just a dog and that is what he does. Russia is winning because its Russia and its fighting Ukraine. The awest is losing because it picked the wrong horse and it no longer possesses the will or the resources to do what it is attempting. Everything else is distraction. There will be ups and downs. Somebody might get tired and stop before the inevitable conclusion is reached. But if they don’t, the end is already baked in the cake.
Surprising.
Most world Champions and top players are the best lightning players (5 minute games).
Grandmasters thinking much fewer moves ahead than masters is disputable.
Though Reti said you could be a Grandmaster looking only 1 move ahead. He was a gentleman.
And you should always know how much material is on the table; even if it doesn’t matter.
As you say most of the worlds top players were Russian except for World Champions Tal (latvia) and Petrosian (armenia). And if the world had been fair: Keres. (estonia). Then there was the teenage boy wonder RJ Fischer (usa).
From that era. Ruskies, yeah right.
“Most world Champions and top players are the best lightning players … ”
Yup. The current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, arguably the best player of all-time, is also the current world champion in both the rapid (15 min) and blitz (5 min and 3 min) formats, and thinks nothing of getting drunk on a Friday night and taking on the world’s best players in on-line 1 minute bullet games, and destroying them.
I’ve always found it fascinating trying pinpoint exactly where tactics and strategy mesh.
In chess, for instance, Magnus (and all top players) will think nothing of spending 40 minutes on one move in a classical game, such is the strategic crisis of the moment, and still end up losing to a tactical shot (cheap tricks they call such calculations), and in faster time formats, when almost inevitably the game dissolves into a time scramble phase, in which both players must make approximately one move per second, the winner will often say something along the lines of, “even though the material was equal throughout, my opponent was positionally busted after Rook to D2 on move 27, and from then on the result was never in doubt, it was simply a matter of putting the squeeze on and not making a blunder.”
American Grandmaster, blitz and bullet champion and super genius Hikaru Nakamura, the world’s most popular on-line chess streamer, often sounds like Rain Man when he’s playing (intentionally I believe). He’ll pick up a piece with his mouse and hesitancy in voice and say “I want to move this guy, I really do, I know it’s dumb but I want to move him, so I’m going to move him here, or … maybe here. Oh, but I shouldn’t, it doesn’t look right, both moves look bad, very, very bad, but who cares, I really want move him, so I’m going to.”
Then he’ll pick up another piece without any thought whatsoever and move it to a seemingly random square.
But a move or two later everything is clear to him in an instant, “Oh, that’s a blunder, my opponent has given up his C pawn.” Then he’ll draw 12 arrows in one second expaining why.
Know what you mean.
The deeper structures of the game are beyond me.
It would be like going to the tennis club for a game and there’s Roger Federer.
By the way, in the lucky country ,australia, there are no class distinctions about cricket or tennis.
Not entirely sure if your comment was intended as a reply to mine, but if it was I wasn’t trying to start a chess debate.
My intent was to offer an example that I hoped would illustrate the distinction between strategic vs tactical thinking, and the futility of determining the value and development of either by watching shadows on a cave wall.
It’s a truism that battles are won or lost on the tactical level, but wars are won or lost on the strategic and operational levels.
Recalling Clausewitz’s famous quote: “Tactics is the art of using troops in battle. Strategy is the art of using battles to win wars”. The US won almost every battle in Vietnam, but it lost the war. That holds true in Iraq and Afghanistan as well. One concludes that the US is better tactically than it is strategically.
Whatever NATO’s strategy was for this war, Russia shattered it in the war’s opening days. For months everyone wondered what NATO’s strategy might be. Now everyone’s wondering if it even has one. In fact, NATO is fighting the war tactically, (mis)using Ukrainian troops and materiel in battle, seemingly unaware that the war simply can’t be won on that level.
Maybe it doesn’t matter. They’re not winning any battles either.
What we also see is that Russia has made strategically important advances in all other spheres of national activity. I can’t judge whether Gerasimov’s 1:4 ratio holds, but one can’t help but notice that both Russia and the world have changed dramatically in the last year. That the lion’s share of the changes accrue to Russia’s benefit suggests it isn’t accidental.
Meanwhile, NATO staggers from pillar to post and back again. On all fronts, their position worsens with every move they make. I don’t think that it’s beyond the pale to suggest that Russian strategy has aided in putting them in that position.
Rather than adding my own comments, I will direct the interested to GErasimov’s 2019 speech as to why Russia’s cointel works (after Syria).
https://russiandefpolicy.com/2019/03/03/russias-strategy-of-limited-actions/
I am sure that site with big Ukrainian flag on every page is an execelent source of information on Russia (and everyting else, for that matter).
So what are any of you arm chair generals really doing about this? Are you speaking out to your western governments? Are you at least mailing your respective government political hack voicing your concerns? If not then what is the point of bitching about Zionist, WEF, yada yada yada. If you are over the age of 50 look in the mirror. I for one am sick and tired of those that constantly blame “others” for the state that they are currently in. If you are broke don’t blame others cause your main focus in life was to saddle yourself with debt so you could live the high life of out doing your neighbor. Quit blaming healthcare system that leaves you out cause you can’t bend over and touch your toes from a steady stream of soda and fries down you throat. Ever try sitting on a plane sharing a seat with some lard bellied hog that has a “thyroid problem” Always an excuse. Only in the west do we excuse bad behaviour with some new mental abracadabra ailment brought to you by so called “experts” called mental health professionals. Here is an idea. Crack open Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and see where these charlatans have stolen their ideas and repackaged them as some new age garbage. Try another ancient text if you want. There is nothing new under the sun people. Sorry for the rant. Actually not really. If this causes butt hurt so be it. We went from a society of prudent individual help your neighbor types to mammon loving whores on our watch. And now the check might actually come due. Oh but children and grandchildren? Did any of us consider that when the west went on adventures around the planet and bombed the ever loving shit out of other peoples kids? I’m guilty. Oh and please do not start with the China thing already. They have been making your stuff since Reagan started shipping manufacturing out of country and the finance industry took over and bastardized what economics is. Prove me wrong. As you stare at the 401k do you even know that history? Well that is it for my inner George Carlin. Tough when your a Gemini. One day up one day down. Thanks to the blog host for putting up this self prescribed C student wreaking havoc on the class room. The rest of you take your heads out of your ass and look in the mirror. Especially if over 50 unretired and still paying off that house you never could afford in the first place. Maybe living beyond your means was the problem. It wasn’t the WEF that caused you to own nothing and be happy. YOU did it to yourselves. Bring on the heat whiners. I got some shorts to attend too.
Dear Larry,
Russians are not living without Starbucks or McDonalds. The name of the brand has just changed (supply chains are the same)! 😂
Starbucks = Stars Coffee
McDonald = Tasty and Period
was something lost in translation?
Yeah, American profits.
Like everyone says: all is being exposed, everything is a lie, parasites are rampaging through all of humanity….almost no corner to hide in….then after watching and old 007 movie, I started to think that maybe Ian was telling a truth we took for fantasy and imposible.
Maybe there is an SPECTRE in this world.
Maybe there’s an organization behind the curtain, that even hides behind “the globalists”, “the banksters”, “the Illuminati/Bilderbergs/club of Rome/WEF/Rothchilds, etc”
Everything is out to either hurt you or make you mentally and bodily infertile…the food, the school system, the finance system, the political system, the health care industry, the NGOs.
The abortion conveyor belts to industry…Soylent Green anyone? …..the diet given by the Cancer and Heart foundations actually create the diseases….the food destroys your body and health….it just goes on and on……is this all by Osmosis? Is it like the Big Bang, a chance moment that created everything? In this case everything bad!
It sure seems like we were all marionettes until recently….and suddenly the curtain flew open….and now that the light has shown the craziness and evil of it all…..wow, great moment is surely coming….I hope I’m alive to see it.
Latest news on Ukraine…
2023 01 18
Is this true ? Whats going on ?
Why News papers ain’t saying nothing ?
“Ukraine’s Interior Minister Among 16 Killed In Worst Helicopter Disaster Since War’s Star…The government officials killed were Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis…”
Yes Francisco it is true.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukraines-interior-minister-among-16-killed-worst-helicopter-disaster-wars-start
am not sure if this was an accident or if there is more to this. Am sure that Mr. Johnson will comment on it once he knows more from his contacts.
these 2 larger than life figures also died in helicopter crashes .
»John Paul vann died in vietnam after his last greatest victory.
https://www.historynet.com/john-paul-vann-man-and-legend/
On June 9, 1972, John Paul Vann was killed when his helicopter, call sign “Rogues’ Gallery,” flying in darkness, slammed into a stand of trees and exploded. He was 47
more recently alexander lebed a prominent russian general died in a helicopter crash in 2002.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/29/helicopter-crash-kills-russian-ex-general/6da4d770-b193-4930-9244-cf5ba7559d05/
He has been variously described as Russia’s John Wayne, a character out of a Tolstoy novel and the last striking personality on Russia’s political scene.
regards,
ralph
Gideon Rachman and Tony Radakin are simply shills.
Radakin was put in place by Blowhard Johnson for his “positivity” and “boosterism” and he had set out to denude the Army and feed funds to the Navy for SSBNs, SSNs, carriers, F-35s – and sell of Army assets to Foreign Aid Budget for transfer to Ukraine like the 14 Challenger 2 tanks transported in July 2022 from Sennelager in Germany by Polish transports to Rszeszow.
Rachman is another journalist peddling his wares – so tedious. I am surprised you have not focused on that major nonentity Timothy Garton Ash who holds every view I can disagree with.
As for Radakin – he is a Barrister with Law degree paid for by Royal Navy. He has no combat experience because the Royal Navy is a joke and last fought in the Falklands 1982. It is now smaller than the Japanese navy and cannot even put out its flattops without USMC aircraft and NATO or EU escorts.
British Military leadership is pathetic. It is has-been and survives only to keep its top-heavy brass dining with US top-heavy brass
More sanctions against Russia. Deprive more European and American businesses of customers in Russia and other countries that have opted not to implement these sanctions. Ruin the economies of Europe and eventually America.
Meanwhile the neocons seem intent on provoking another war with China. The global one world agenda is not going well for the. Maybe they can reprogram and retool in Davos.
“start to develop a deep hatred for everything american.”
That started some time ago, some posit 1947, but some chose to not notice.
The “Ukrainian nationalists” chose to smile, but like crocodiles, to use the people who thought they were the controlling sponsors of “Ukrainian nationalists”, and when this usage reached an acceptable level to exercise their jaws.
After all “Ukrainian nationalists” are not “Americans” although once again some still choose not to notice.
I have to laugh at the comment that Russia has a ruthless and brutal government. Have they bothered to look at how weaponized and brutal the US government has become. Try being a J6 prisoner of the democrats in DC. Can’t be much worse than what any Russian patriot might be facing. The West has such blinders on they can’t see what a farce they have become.
The US expected Russia to drive to Kiev and topple the government, because that’s what the US would do. Had Russia done that, it would have had to go around the main Ukrainian army, leaving it in the field for the most part. And then Russia would have the potential for a serious insurgency.
Many US talking heads were open about it. Clinton said “give them an Afghanistan” even though Iraq would be a better comparison. While the lack of language barrier and similar considerations would be in Russia’s favor, the potential for a serious and troublesome insurgency in Ukraine was significant. NATO training and arms to that point and the first shipments after the Russian invasion were perfect for it.
But Russia didn’t do that. The US didn’t really have plan B. Everything since then on the part of the US/NATO has been reactive and is drawing them into the sort of costly and hopeless quagmire they tried to create for Russia. So no matter Russian mistakes, miscalculations or lack of full preparedness, the situation has developed as it has. Russia has been patient and iterative, accepting the current state and trying to maximize it.
Ukraine will lose. The question is what level of stupidity is the US willing to try in an attempt to prevent or delay it?