Weekend Open Thread: Craziness in Bidenland and Elsewhere
[guest post by JVW]
Dana remains on special assignment for Patterico’s Pontifications working on convincing the [REDACTED] people of [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] the evil [REDACTED] leadership and [REDACTED] the [REDACTED] parts of the [REDACTED] region by providing them with [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and [REDACTED]. Let’s all wish her great success. And now, yet another installment of Junior Varsity Writing.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOLLIES
Item One:
Our President and his team of reliable Washington hands, the adults back in charge, spent the better part of the week vacillating on whether or not we would permit a deal in which Poland was to transfer MiG fighters to Ukraine for use in its heroic defense, only to pull away the football Lucy Van Pelt style at the last possible second:
On Saturday, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke via Zoom to 280 members of Congress and begged them to help him, either by creating and enforcing a no-fly zone above Ukrainian airspace, or by transferring jets to what’s left of the Ukrainian air force. Because the Ukrainian pilots are trained on Russian-designed MiGs, it would not be a good idea to send or lend them American jets such as F-15s or F-22s — there simply isn’t time to train them on a new kind of warplane. But NATO members Poland, Slovakia, and Bulgaria fly MiG-29s and could sell or lend theirs to Ukraine.
Most of Congress seemed persuaded.
[. . .]
As of Sunday, the position of the U.S. government, at least as articulated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was that we wanted the planes to get transferred and would do our part to ensure that the planes got there.
[. . .]
On Monday, the Pentagon seemed open to the plan.
[. . .]
Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Polish government announced they had a deal.
[. . .]
Then a little later on Tuesday afternoon, the Pentagon suddenly effectively canceled the deal.
[. . .]
What the heck changed between Monday and Tuesday afternoon?
One possibility is that the Biden administration is just utterly erratic, disorganized, and doesn’t really know what it wants to do — a scenario that is difficult to rule out after what we witnessed in Afghanistan.
But another possibility is that the Russians, through one channel or another, indicated that they would treat those planes as legitimate targets to destroy — even if they were sitting parked at Ramstein Air Base getting checked and ready to deploy. After all, even if they were sitting on a U.S. base in German territory, they’d be about to become Ukrainian Air Force jets.
Russian jets or missiles attacking Ramstein Air Base sounds like a really easy way to start World War III.
But this also means that the Russian government can tell NATO not to do something, and NATO will obey. Moscow deterred a U.S. government decision, and then turned around and bombed a children’s hospital. Vladimir Putin effectively demonstrated a veto over our actions.
Sounds like a job for the guy who stood up to Corn Pop all those summers ago. Elsewhere, Jim Geraghty suggests that the President is developing a particular habit of overruling his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken. Just in case you’re wondering who the first cabinet member to bail on the administration might be.
Item Two:
Well color me shocked! The Biden HHS under the execrable Xavier Becerra, thinks pronouns are important enough to justify an internal policy memo to his department. Recalling a Senate Finance Committee hearing last year on the 2022 budget at which Sec. Becerra testified, we have this:
Toward the end of the hearing, Oklahoma GOP senator James Lankford confronted Becerra on an odd shift in the White House budget proposal’s language. “I noticed you changed a term in your budget work,” Lankford said. “You shifted, in places, from using the term ‘mother’ to ‘birthing people.’ Can you help me get a good definition of ‘birthing people’?”
Becerra demurred. “Well, I’ll check on the language there, but I think if we’re talking about those who give birth, I think we’re talking about, uh . . . I don’t know how else to explain it to you.” The removal of the term “mother,” the HHS secretary maintained, “simply reflects the work that’s being done.”
Becerra neglected to discuss the specific nature of that work. But internal documents obtained by National Review confirm that the administration’s gender-neutral language coincides with a coordinated effort at HHS to implement a new set of rules and standards regarding “equity” and “gender-inclusive correspondence.” The guidance, issued last year, does not specifically cover “birthing people” but does prescribe the use of a number of other gender-neutral terms, often valuing pronoun sensitivity over clarity in official correspondence.
If this whole HHS thing doesn’t work out, Sec. Becerra would likely make a fine administrator at Duke Law School.
Item Three:
Vice-President Kamala Harris is, quite regrettably, a special kind of vacuously annoying. For some reason the brain trust of the administration in which she serves saw fit to send her to Poland just as the MiG deal was collapsing. Our VP quite naturally embarrassed herself and our country by displaying her singular combination of dingbattary and frivolity. One week after being ridiculed for giving a child-like explanation of the situation in Ukraine when asked for a “layman’s” explanation, she kicked off her remarks with a typically puzzling stream-of-consciousness word salad, when asked about Russian war crimes. The official White House transcript endeavors to clean it up, but here is the video and here is a rough transcript by me:
We all watched (pause) the television coverage (pause) of just yesterday. That’s on top of everything else that we know and don’t know yet based upon just what we’ve been able to see and because we’ve seen it or not doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened. But just limited to what we have seen. (pause) Pregnant women going for healthcare (pause) being injured by — I don’t know — a missile? A bomb? In an unprovoked, unjustified war? (pause) Where a powerful country is trying to take over (pause) another country violated sovereignty its territorial integrity for the sake of, what?, nothing that is justified or provoked?
And then she follows that up by responding to a earnest question about the status of refugees feeling Ukraine with one of her jarring and loony fits of crazed giggling:
Kamala Harris Had Another Laughing Incident in Poland pic.twitter.com/5kvpg62uRG
— Ionic Minerals (@spirit2012) March 10, 2022
Yeah, I understand that the first chuckle, in which she was joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, was due to the awkwardness of determining who among the two should be first to respond. But, as is her wont, the VP dialed up the discomfort level through her crazy cackling, like she were confronting a ruby red-shooed girl from Kansas and her little dog too. Her team of advisors likely drink very heavily.
MISCELLANY
Item Four:
Lookout Illinois, Connecticut, California, and other high pension states with scant or even negative population growth in recent years: Here comes New Jersey to vie for the title of most fiscally irresponsible state with a looming train wreck:
New Jersey’s public-pension plans need fixing. As a report authored by one of us for the Garden State Initiative describes, increased benefits, subpar investment performance, and the state government’s failure to fund the plans fully have resulted in a system in worse shape than previously thought. Twenty years of mismanagement and changing demographics have fueled a problem so severe that the legislature can no longer afford to ignore it.
State lawmakers clearly have their work cut out for them. Restoring the pension plans to sound financial health will first require an acknowledgement that they can no longer invest their way out of the state’s fiscal hole. Indeed, much of the funding deficit is the result of actual investment returns falling far short of the plans’ projections. The state’s three main retirement programs—the New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), the New Jersey Teachers and Annuity Fund, and the New Jersey Police and Firemen’s Retirement System—assumed in 2001 an annual return of 8.75 percent for the coming years. In the 19 years since, those plans generated annual returns of just 5.4 percent. Roughly speaking, a one-percentage-point drop in investment returns reduces the funded ratio for a public plan by about 20 percentage points.
The first state which declares bankruptcy is going to be screwed (unless of course we are in one of those situations where Democrats control the White House and Congress and agree to full bail-outs with almost no conditions attached), but then hopefully the rest of them will get religion and set aside all of these stupid rules which prevent public pensions from ever being negotiated downward. Otherwise, there are going to be a lot of retirees who learn that they were sold a bill of goods by their unions and the politicians that they own.
Item Five:
Dan McLaughlin wonders if Mike Pence might not be preparing a kamikaze Presidential campaign in 2024 with no objective other than to wreck the possibility of the restoration of the House of Trump:
Biden, of course, still has one big card to play: The thing that unified his party between 2017 and 2021, and drew independents to his banner, was opposition to Donald Trump. Even today, Trump is nearly as unpopular as Biden. If Trump is not the Republican candidate, 2024 will be primarily about the Democrats’ record in power and, if Biden is running again, Biden’s capacity to do the job into his mid-80s. But if Trump is the nominee, the campaign will be mainly about Trump, because Trump is always the main character of any story he enters.
[. . .]
Of all the disgruntled senior members of the Trump administration who have fallen out with Trump — which is nearly the lot of them at this point — Pence is the most senior and the most credible. He’s the man who ran twice on a ticket with Trump and was there through the whole thing. He’s also the man who originally helped get skittish social conservatives on board with Trump in the 2016 general-election campaign. Until January 6, Pence had never, in four years, broken publicly with Trump, not even when staying on the team required him to talk as if he lived in an alternate reality where none of Trump’s antics were happening. The true Trump diehards will never forgive Pence for standing on principle and refusing to take unconstitutional action against certifying Biden’s Electoral College victory, but Trump needs more than a core of fanatics to win the nomination; he needs to maintain broad support within the party.
There is more interesting conjecture on Pence, Trump, traditional conservatives, and the MAGA crowd over at McLaughlin’s piece. Do read it all.
Item Six:
Disney, which was slow to extricate itself from business operations in Russia even after the invasion of Ukraine and still to this very day happily does business in China, even to the degree of self-censoring so as not to offend the Chinese Communist Party, is very — very, I tells ya! — concerned about Florida’s new Parental Rights in Education bill, uncritically adopting the left-wing narrative that it is reflexively anti-gay though in reality it merely places strict limits on classroom discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity for children younger than fourth grade. Disney CEO Bob Chapek called Sunshine State Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday to express his concern and later claimed that the governor had agreed to a follow-up conversation, though DeSantis has assured supporters that he won’t alter his beliefs based upon “the musings of woke corporations.”
I hope that Gov. DeSantis and Mr. Chapek do meet. As Mr. Chapek airs his concerns and those of his apparently hyper-woke workforce, perhaps the governor might remind the CEO of Disney’s entanglements with repressive dictatorships, and — speaking of repressive dictatorships — ask if company shareholders would prefer Disney to move more of its operations to California, a state which capriciously shut-down Disney’s theme parks for over a year during the height of the pandemic while Disney’s Florida theme park were mostly back up and running nine months earlier. It’s understandable that Disney would be sympathetic to the LBGTQ agenda — other than girls aged 3-12 there’s probably no more loyal market demographic for their product than gay men — but Mr. Chapek needs to understand that there are going to be definite limits to the efficacy of his company’s obnoxious virtue signaling.
Item Seven:
Noted populist, Ted Cruz (Princeton ’92, Harvard Law ’95), has joined the smaller-budget U.S. remake of last month’s Canadian “Freedom Convoy” which served as a protest to the high-handed regulatory regime of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This appropriation of a powerful protest by a smaller English-speaking cousin of ours is probably intended to be successful in the same way that the U.S. version of The Office proved to be in comparison to its U.K. antecedent, but it might instead end up being more akin to a Rush tribute band which plays in beer gardens at street festivals. In any case, Senator Cruz, a very intelligent and capable guy, would do well to dial-down the grandstanding and turn his attention more towards mastery of legislation and Senate procedure. Cocaine Mitch McConnell, our generation’s Henry Clay, could probably use the help.
OK, that’s all I have the stomach for this week. As always, please feel free to suggest your own topics. Enjoy the onset of spring.
– JVW
Again, props to Dana for doing this compilation every single week. She is way better at it than I am.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/11/2022 @ 3:11 pmI am pleased that you both put forth the effort, JVW. Look forward to it every week. Thank You.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/11/2022 @ 3:34 pmKamala still acts like the hot girl who can get away with saying anything because the guys are drooling, not listening. She needs to grow up.
norcal (a4a1aa) — 3/11/2022 @ 3:50 pmI have never been so attracted and so repelled by the same person.
norcal (a4a1aa) — 3/11/2022 @ 3:51 pmRussian jets or missiles attacking Ramstein Air Base sounds like a really easy way to start World War III.
“Look what you make me do” says every drunk wife-beater everywhere. You cannot play this game, or you won’t be able to take a crap for fear it will set off WW3. “Walking on eggshells” is no way to live.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:00 pmKamala still acts like the hot girl who can get away with saying anything because the guys are drooling, not listening. She needs to grow up.
I don’t think that’s it. I think she’s in way over her head (maybe 40 IQ points) and thinks that everyone else is BSing, so that’s what she does.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:02 pmPresident is developing a particular habit of overruling his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.
Well, Biden is a well-known foreign policy expert. Just ask Barack Obama. “Gravitas.”
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:03 pmPro-tip from (Russian Foreign Secretary) Lavrov: “We didn’t invade Ukraine”
The good news: Russia’s foreign minister assured the world that Vladimir Putin has no desire to follow up his war in Ukraine by invading other countries. The bad news: Sergei Lavrov flatly denied that Russia attacked Ukraine, too:
……..
……..
If Russia didn’t invade Ukraine, then why are there all those Russian tanks, artillery, and soldiers in Ukraine at the moment? And for that matter, what was Lavrov doing in Anatolia in the first place? ……. Lavrov came to the Anatolia talks without any authority to negotiate even a cease-fire, as it turns out:
In other words, the talks were all but useless. Lavrov bluntly stated that Russia wouldn’t agree to a cease-fire under any conditions, except total surrender by Ukraine. He also tried some projection about nuclear war that should have gotten a follow-up:
Say what? Putin himself broached the threat of a nuclear response at the beginning of the invasion that Lavrov now insists never happened. …….
Even Lavrov appeared uncomfortable with the pretense, …… The normally oily and unflappable Lavrov looked unhappy and nervous while meeting with reporters, forced to answer tough questions that wouldn’t get asked in Russia:
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:05 pm………
………Lavrov might be thinking about the need to come up with a defense at a war-crimes trial. Either that, or he may be wondering whether he’ll survive long enough to worry about it. Putin will have to blame someone for the massive miscalculation made about the Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and who better than the man in charge of diplomatic relations? Either way, Lavrov’s days are numbered, and Lavrov might be slowly realizing it.
#########
That cackle probably also related to a “question” with many moving parts. I would have a hard time with it, too, since it was so convoluted that it was not clear where in that speech the question actually was.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:10 pmRegarding Biden and the MiGs, Romney gave the perfect answer and the perfect attitude toward Putin.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:11 pmRip, it wasn’t an invasion, it was a special military action. They were just protecting the Russian-speaking areas from the Nazi death camp people.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:12 pmAffirmative Action allowed the valley girl to cackle in Poland.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:14 pmPaul,
In a conventional set-piece war, a Russia that cannot get over on the nearly unarmed Ukrainians is going to get its clock cleaned by NATO.
I have to wonder what’s going on in Russia. I’m pretty sure that a US President who kept going to the “we’re gonna blow up the world if you look at us crooked” thing, would be removed from office forthwith.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:16 pmI’m all in on sending mittens and his family to Russia.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:16 pmmg,
She’s no Valley Girl. You owe Valley Girls an apology.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:17 pmRussia-Ukraine Talks Hit Impasse in Turkey
……..
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Russia would halt its offensive if Ukraine enshrined neutrality in its constitution, acknowledged that Crimea—which Moscow seized in 2014—was Russian territory and recognized the independence of two Russian-backed breakaway regions.
………
“Regime change became impossible, and so Russia is placing a bet on diplomacy,” said Dmitry Suslov, an international-relations specialist at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. “I don’t see changes in the goals that Russia wants to achieve in Ukraine. But I see a certain change in instruments.”
Others warned that diplomacy for Mr. Putin doesn’t mean compromise. “Putin is expecting victory. His whole legacy depends on this,” said Alexander Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center. “He’s very reactive, but he’s not flexible.”
……….
That shift has been gleaned through changing rhetoric by lower-level officials. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Russia’s military goals don’t include “either the occupation of Ukraine, or the destruction of its statehood, or the overthrow of the current government.”
………
Russian foreign-policy analysts concede that such signals don’t reveal the Kremlin’s true intentions.
“The decisions are held in the hands of one person: the president,” said Mr. Suslov. “The foreign ministry does not play a role in making decisions.”
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:21 pm……….
The lamb and the bear deciding what’s for dinner.
I don’t know what this has to do with Biden and his dithering on the MiGs, Kevin. We don’t need a president who will so readily capitulate to Putin’s unreasoning demands, and standing up to his threats doesn’t mean we’re sparking WW3.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:27 pmPutin shocked, shocked to find that Russia is using conscripts in Ukraine
………
Two days ago, Putin assured worried Russian mothers *on camera* that young conscripts weren’t fighting across the border:
………
Did he believe it? Was he deceived by his generals, who may have feared telling him that his grande armée had no chance of taking Ukraine without the manpower supplied by poorly trained grunts?
“He lied” is almost always the right answer with Putin but I can’t understand why he’d stake his personal credibility on assuring the public that conscripts weren’t being used if he knew the truth would come out — soon. And now it has:
Godspeed to the officials who’ll be scapegoated for Putin’s and/or the military leadership’s lies.
Presumably it was the Ukrainian information war that forced Russia to make this embarrassing announcement. They’ve been circulating photos and videos of captured Russian POWs in violation of the Geneva Conventions; the Kremlin probably assumed it was a matter of time before some captured conscript was recognized back home and word spread that Putin had lied to the public about who was fighting in Ukraine. So they got ahead of it by acknowledging it and vowing that the error will be corrected immediately.
……,,
Question, though: Now that Putin has pledged twice that conscripts won’t be sent to Ukraine, what happens when he discovers that he needs more troops to pacify the country? Russia is desperate for manpower to mount an occupation. Where is that coming from if the grunts are off-limits?
The most significant angle to today’s announcement, I think, is that the Kremlin is already worried about domestic opinion if it’s scrambling to make promises about sparing certain troops from the fight.……..
…………
God will have nothing to do with them. .
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:33 pmA thought about Kamala’s giggling. DO you suppose she smokes a lot of [medicinal] herb to get through the day?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:39 pmThe first state that sees BK coming will do what Democrats always do: jack up taxes to fix it (then spend the money on something else)
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:41 pmUnder the heading “Loose Lips Shoot Down MiGs”, had the plan been executed quietly, like a classified operation during wartime, it might have gone forward, but no:
Once it became public it was doomed.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:43 pmI think that, at this point in time, the administration is looking at what their
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:43 pmwarsanctions goals are. I don’t think any satisfactory resolution is possible with Putin stillalivein charge in Russia.Once it became public it was doomed.
Just like Trump’s plan to paint F-15s with “We’re from China” on the side.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:45 pmAmerican astronaut may get stranded in space station over Russia tensions
https://nypost.com/2022/03/11/american-astronaut-mark-vande-hei-may-get-stranded-in-space-station-over-russia-tensions/
And who will the Russian space agency turn to, to partner with in space? An eager and welcoming China.
Attaboy, Joe.
‘C’mon, man… gimmie a break…’ – Squinty McStumblebum
IDIOT.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 5:06 pmThe Chinese and Russians announced their ‘New World Order’ alignment plans a while ago. Ukraine is the opening act of the road show.
Never forget:
“Because Putin knows if I am President of the United States, his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the United States and those in Eastern Europe are over. I’m going to stand up to him. He’s a bully…” – Joe Biden.
And today: “I’m not going to speak about intelligence– [certainly not from life experience, eh, plagiarist?]– but Russia would pay a severe price if they used chemical weapons.” -Joe Biden
… and Corn-Pop smiled.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 5:14 pmPutin is trying to reestablish the old boundaries of the Soviet Union, and bring more and more nations under his control. It’s unacceptable. The only way to get Putin to act in a way that may be able to save the lives of Ukrainians is if he fears us more than we fear him.
Pfft.
Confucius say man on top of Hill not on level:
A Romney Travels to Russia, but on Strictly Friendly Terms
Nov. 1, 2012
WASHINGTON — Matt Romney, a son of the Republican presidential nominee, traveled to Moscow this week seeking Russian investors for his California-based real estate firm just days before his father is to wrap up a campaign in which he has vowed to take a tougher stance with the Kremlin.
Mr. Romney, the second-oldest son of Mitt Romney, met with Russians whom he hoped to convince to invest in his company, Excel Trust, which owns shopping centers across the United States, the firm said. Although the company’s focus has been solely domestic, it said it has begun exploring international opportunities to raise funds.
Mr. Romney’s trip a week before the presidential election underscored the complex relationship between his family’s business and the political campaign. Mitt Romney has criticized President Obama for being too soft on Russia, calling it “our No. 1 geopolitical foe” and promising to confront President Vladimir V. Putin’s government with “more backbone” if elected on Tuesday.
Mr. Romney has criticized Mr. Putin’s crackdown on domestic dissent and opposition to stronger international measures against Syria and Iran. He has assailed Mr. Obama for not doing more to defend human rights in Russia and for signing a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Moscow. – source-
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 5:34 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/politics/matt-romney-goes-to-russia-for-business.html
Be proud, America! https://instapundit.com/508919/
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/11/2022 @ 5:50 pmITEM ONE: Aviators call that a ‘touch and go’ OTOH, the fella who wears the aviators will tell you it’s the only way to greet young ladies in the Oval… 😉
‘Touch and go: a maneuver in which an aircraft touches the ground as in landing and immediately takes off again.’
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 5:55 pmThey are issuing chem suits to russian troops, who have moved out of some areas.
This Putin a-hole needs to be dead.
Dustin (47bccc) — 3/11/2022 @ 6:08 pmHow to Entice Russian Soldiers Out of Ukraine
………
Reports of low Russian military morale—bodies left on the battlefield, soldiers looting for food and other necessaries—suggest a tactic worth considering. NATO should announce that any Russian troops who defect will be granted temporary refuge in the West. A soldier could surrender to a Ukrainian military unit or government office or at a NATO country’s border crossing. He would be permitted to stay until Mr. Putin’s regime is overthrown, at which point he would have to return to Russia. In selected cases—perhaps when a defecting soldier can prove he would be persecuted by a post-Putin regime—he might apply for formal protection under the 1953 Refugee Convention, which usually leads to permanent residency. Human-rights violators and serious criminals would not qualify.
Such a scheme is likely to be effective because even a few initial defections can have a cascading effect, especially if other troops fear that the offer may be time-limited. The scheme would entail no risk to NATO forces (quite the contrary) and cost the NATO countries essentially nothing, particularly if the defectors are spread among them. In the U.S., the idea should have bipartisan political support; it both exploits the “soft power” that liberals claim America has forfeited and advances U.S. foreign-policy interests.
…….. The Refugee Act of 1980 already incorporates geopolitical considerations, not only humanitarian ones. The president may exceed the statutory refugee quota if he determines that it is “in the national interest.” The quota is determined after annual consultation between the president and Congress and must analyze, among other factors, how refugee admissions will affect U.S. foreign-policy interests.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 6:42 pm………
Using the relative attractiveness of life in the NATO states to weaken Mr. Putin’s ability to wage war would create a propaganda coup and a battlefield advantage.
……..
30. Putin already has a division of such “defectors” waiting to accept such an offer. They will have their own Novichok, Po-210, plastique, and detonators, too, so no worries. Was this also a Polish idea?
nk (1d9030) — 3/11/2022 @ 6:51 pmIf some people did not see Biden and Harris as our real enemies, instead of Putin and Russia, they would see how Rube Goldberg the public Polish plan was. If the Poles really wanted the job done, they would have very secretly proposed to bring the planes as close as possible to the Polish-Ukrainian border, and then sneak in Ukrainian transport pilots to fly them to Ukrainian air bases.
I don’t know enough about fighter airplane ID broadcast codes that keep them from getting shot down by friendly SAMs, but I’m sure this brilliantly-informed kommentariat could tell me how the MiGs’ could be hacked so that they’re not now used as homing beacons for S-400 missiles. (Unless, of course, you’re saving it for that sci-fi or military thriller you’re writing.)
nk (1d9030) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:02 pmThe MIG idea was and is dumber than a bucket of rocks unless the intent was a big middle finger to Putin, damn the consequences. However, then we get to argue about whether the intent was dumb and the consequences beyong our expectations
steveg (e81d76) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:11 pmThey are issuing chem suits to russian troops, who have moved out of some areas.
No masks 😉 :
Why American Mask Makers Are Going Out of Business
Efforts to make the supply chain more resilient after pandemic shortages are no match for low-price foreign products, the companies say.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/05/business/dealbook/american-mask-makers.html
______
China locks down city of 9 million amid new spike in cases
BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday ordered a lockdown of the 9 million residents of the northeastern city of Changchun amid a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the area attributed to the highly contagious omicron variant.
Residents are required to remain at home, with one family member permitted to venture out to buy food and other necessities every two days. All residents must undergo three rounds of mass testing, while non-essential businesses have been closed and transport links suspended.
The latest lockdowns, which also include Yucheng with 500,000 people in the eastern province of Shandong, show China is sticking to the draconian approach to the pandemic it has enforced for most of the past two years, despite some earlier indications that authorities would be implementing more targeted measures. -AP.com
Maybe Putin just got tired of Fauci hogging all the press and wanted to knock him off the front pages. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:20 pmThe MIG idea was and is dumber than a bucket of rocks unless the intent was a big middle finger to Putin, damn the consequences. Tell that to lead-from-behind-Pierre Delecto
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:21 pmhttps://issuesinsights.com/2022/02/28/ii-tipp-poll-americans-want-merit-not-woke-politics-to-decide-college-admissions/
No one supports the racist policies of the left. But their shameful agenda rules by calling others racist.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:21 pm…see how Rube Goldberg the public Polish plan was.
Aren’t they all? 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:22 pmhttps://freebeacon.com/politics/how-dems-helped-spike-gas-prices/
Trying to destroy the nation to increase their power.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:22 pmhttps://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/chris-queen/2022/03/06/food-prices-up-20-over-the-past-year-n1564213
While people prefer to talk about politics a world away, this is actually destroying lives at home.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:23 pmhttps://obituaries.sharonherald.com/obituary/matthew-perna-1084525405
Stalked by his government, the media and hateful leftists till he gave up on life.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:25 pmThey are issuing chem suits to russian troops, who have moved out of some areas.
Ukrainian propaganda?
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:25 pmhttps://thefederalist.com/2022/03/01/breaking-special-counsel-finds-mark-zuckerbergs-election-money-violated-wisconsin-bribery-laws/
Bribes to steal elections.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:26 pmA reasonable question ( I suspect you don’t really think so, but I don’t care, because it is ).
You can verify much of the situation if you’re skeptical and think critically. We needed to wait to know that that ‘G F yourself’ story was a lie, and the ghost of kiev as a lie. We know that Russia isn’t indiscriminately killing fleeing civilians just as we know that they have been indeed killed civilians deliberately at times and recklessly at many times. Some stories, like that mayor who was killed then planted with explosives, the jury is out about.
But they are issuing chem suits and they have pulled back from some positions. Unfortunately, by treating good information as the same as propaganda, some of the more fashionable bandwagoners probably play right into Russia’s hands.
I think the problem is Ukraine can’t really use all the fighters it has now. But I’m OK with an intent of giving a big middle finger to Putin right now. He’s showing us he won’t attack NATO. We need to avoid escalating the conflict as even the most limited nuclear war will kill tens of millions through famine alone, but I guess I do think Biden’s ineffectiveness on this war is partly because he’s a wimp. Wish I could articulate that better, but there’s no nuance from a lot of folks here.
Dustin (47bccc) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:45 pmRep. Madison Cawthorn calls Zelensky a ‘thug,’ says Ukrainian government is ‘incredibly evil’
……..
“Remember that Zelensky is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt, and it is incredibly evil, and it has been pushing woke ideologies,” Cawthorn told supporters at a recent event in North Carolina, according to video published Thursday by Raleigh-based TV station WRAL.
……….
In a statement, Cawthorn spokesman Luke Ball said the lawmaker was referring to pro-Ukraine misinformation.
“The Congressman was expressing his displeasure at how foreign leaders, including Zelensky, had recently used false propaganda to entice America into becoming involved in an overseas conflict,” Ball said. “He supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian President’s efforts to defend their country against Russian aggression, but does not want America drawn into another conflict through emotional manipulation.”
………
“The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America,” Cawthorn said in a tweet. “I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation.”
……..
Cawthorn was also one of 15 House Republicans who voted this week against banning oil imports from Russia.
……
Sound familiar?
Cawthorn is also a recidivist:
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 7:47 pmWe need to avoid escalating the conflict as even the most limited nuclear war will kill tens of millions through famine……
Not necessarily. Russian military doctrine calls for the use of tactical nuclear weapons to “escalate to deescalate” when the Russians face an unfavorable military situation.
See also here.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 8:15 pmWhich is better way to to stop comrades play Russian Roulette? To load five chambers of revolver or pull out automatic?
nk (1d9030) — 3/11/2022 @ 8:21 pmRussian military’s corruption quagmire
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…….. (T)here is another factor that might have contributed to Russia’s incorrect pre-war assessments and poor performance on the ground — systemic corruption in the country’s defense and security sectors.
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Early on in the invasion, there were accounts indicating that some Russian soldiers received rations that had expired in 2015. Most companies responsible for providing food to the Russian military are connected to Yevgeny Prigozhin — the patron of PMC Wagner, the mercenary organization, and sponsor of the Internet Research Agency, which has been accused of meddling in the United States elections. Several years ago, Prigozhin’s companies were accused by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny of forming a cartel and gaming the state’s bidding system for defense orders, receiving contracts for several hundred million dollars. The quality of food and housing in the Russian military is reportedly worse than in its prisons, with unreasonably small meals and some carrying harmful Escherichia coli bacteria.
There are also reports that Russian advances in Ukraine were slowed by lack of fuel — and this in a country rich with oil and gas. But ineffective control over fuel consumption in the Russian military actually long preceded the war in Ukraine and had historically created opportunities for embezzlement — that is why fuel is often called the Russian military’s “second currency.” It is plausible that the long-standing tradition of corruption in fuel supply decreased the pace of Russian advancement in Ukraine.
………. (M)any technological innovations, including those that could increase the precision of Russian strikes, have never materialized due to graft, embezzlement and fraud.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 8:35 pm………
For example, in 2012, a Russian arms company received about $26 million to develop an aircraft system for the interception of nonstrategic missiles, according to local press reports. But the research never took off, as the firm signed fraudulent contracts with shell companies, some of which were registered to the addresses of public toilets in Russia’s Samara region. In a separate case from 2016, another company which was responsible for the supply of radio navigation equipment and control systems for high-precision ammunition, was embroiled in an embezzlement scandal in which its leadership imitated research and development activities to steal money through fraudulent contracts.
……….
Maintaining a luxurious lifestyle disincentivizes top security officials from giving expert advice that might disappoint the autocrat and cost them access to corruption networks. In the case of Ukraine, this would have meant the risk of reporting to Putin that the country he wanted to invade would put up a fight, that civilians were not looking forward to joining the “Russian world” and would likely greet troops with Molotov cocktails rather than bread and salt, as per local tradition. In this way, the corrupt loyalty of Putin’s top officials might have backfired and contributed to intelligence failures and erroneous risk assessments in Ukraine.
……….
Rumor of the day: Putin places top FSB official under house arrest over Ukraine debacle; Update: FSB HQ raided?
There are three rumors competing for “rumor of the day” this morning, actually, but the one about the FSB official is the newsiest.
…….
I shouldn’t call Beseda a “scapegoat” since that term implies placing blame on someone who’s done nothing to deserve it. There clearly was a catastrophic intelligence breakdown that led the Kremlin to believe Ukrainians wouldn’t resist or, if they did, that they’d be pushovers. Russia being Russia, the likeliest explanation for that breakdown is that the money earmarked for intel operations went into buying mansions for Beseda and his deputies instead. A former British intel official told one UK paper that Putin would naturally fault the FSB “for seeding him the advice that led to the poor decision-making in Ukraine.”
So maybe the purges have begun. Stay tuned.
The second rumor that’s percolating involves another major battlefield loss for Russia:
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 8:53 pm………
The third rumor is a doozy if true.
……..
This whole thing reminds me of the end of the movie seventh seal where the grim reeper is leading the survivors dancing to the grave yard hand in hand. Or maybe fail safe.
asset (143fda) — 3/11/2022 @ 9:36 pmAmerican astronaut may get stranded in space station over Russia tensions
Elon Musk will go pick them up, personally.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 11:35 pmThey are issuing chem suits to russian troops, who have moved out of some areas.
Chemical warfare will get NATO involved, with or without the US.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 11:36 pmThe MIG idea was and is dumber than a bucket of rocks unless the intent was a big middle finger to Putin, damn the consequences.
I think the real reason i was, um, shot down was because there was some fear the Ukrainians would chose targets in Russia.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 11:39 pmWe need to avoid escalating the conflict as even the most limited nuclear war will kill tens of millions
1) There is no such thing as a “limited nuclear war.”
2) For that reason,m no one has exploded a nuclear weapon in anger for 76+ years, even when they have had good reasons. The Soviets did not nuke Waziristan (and neither did we). We didn’t use nukes at Chosin, nor did we use them against North Vietnam. We took our losses. So did the Soviets.
3) Both sides talked about using them during the Cold War, and refused to say they wouldn’t, but even a madman like Stalin did not. Nor, later did Mao.
One of the things that we do that is stupid is that we bargain with ourselves, to the point of reeling from a threat never made, rather than looking the other guy in the eye and saying “This sh1t is unacceptable and if you don’t want war, STOP!”
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 11:49 pmI’m hoping to hear about tanks on the streets of Moscow.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/11/2022 @ 11:54 pmI’m hoping to hear about tanks on the streets of Moscow.
Every May Day, Kevin.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:21 amI need my tank filled.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:43 amNJRob – Thanks for the great posts. We have issues and d.c. doesn’t care.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:45 amobama gave us the t-party and President Trump
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:55 amwhat will LGB give us?
Wasn’t this supposed to be the Pant Suit Darlings war? She must be po.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:59 amhttps://redstate.com/alexparker/2022/03/11/report-u-s-army-mandates-training-to-help-soldiers-shake-off-their-sex-assigned-at-birth-n534959
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:24 amOur Military is a prostitute for wokeyism.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:24 am
You’re in the Army now!
felipe (484255) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:10 amYou better get up for chow.
We’re going for broke,
by getting all woke.
you’re in the Army now!
“I’m hoping to hear about tanks on the streets of Moscow.”
Yes… people killing people is where it’s at.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:39 amGot Mensa!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:43 amA sobering analysis of what a limited and an all-out nuclear war would likely bring to humanity.
https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2022/03/what-the-science-says-could-humans-survive-a-nuclear-war-between-nato-and-russia/
My hope is that back channels exist between our people and Russian leaders who can pull the plug on nuclear escalation. No ambition is worth it. Right now the entire invasion seems like a colossal cluster, shifting from we-will-be-greeted-as-liberators to this-will-be-quick to indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian populations. It’s not clear what the Russians might eventually win with a decimated country and a native population that will never forgive and will rage on with an insurgency making Ukraine ungovernable.
In the free world, the images are unmistakeable….leading to the Swiss even picking a side and Germans pledging to re-arm. If the goal was to weaken and fragment NATO, it looks like the opposite might happen as Finland looks to join and other member nations look to discourage further Russian aggression. Some genius. And the Russian people are even further isolated, with their economy exponentially shrinking and more and more questioning the wisdom of their strutting leadership.
This isn’t about MRGA, Making Russia Great Again, but the ambitions of a tyrant to write his history and desperately fend off encroaching democracy’s irresistible pull. Most peoples want freedom and to choose their leaders. Russia might be clamping down on the dissemination of the truth, but Russian-speakers world wide can see Putin’s madness. Hopefully backroom plots are being hatched. The Russian people deserve better.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:52 amI hope you appreciate this, mg. Finding a Lenin-Trotsky golf joke only happens by accident:
P. G. Wodehouse, The Clicking of Cuthbert
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:00 amIt is not smart to assume that nukes are off the table because nukes are very bad.
I think the potential for this war to escalate in unacceptable ways is obvious. Ukraine actually isn’t worth it, and the constant push from Ukraine’s (provably dishonest) government to make that happen is my main reason for continued skepticism. On the other hand, I can’t deny that Russia’s being terrible, or that they are prepared to be worse.
There is a vacuum of world leadership, and a loss of American prestige and pride. Who did we send to Poland? Kamala, a selfish bureacrat who doesn’t care enough to do the homework, not that different from the 20 year old who rolls their eyes at a drug test on their first day working at Starbucks. Biden’s lack of character to talk to us about the consequences of his spending, honestly, as we pass a new huge budget, or his refusal to change course on domestic energy, give him no credibility to talk to America about something like war. Biden is no George W Bush or Ronald Reagan. He’s not even a Bill Clinton (a smart man I was never impressed with).
We need leadership that can credibly deter Putin, Xi, and the lesser bad guys. I think our press, our educators, and our people have stopped valuing that. Even the lamest leaders from 40-80 years ago were giants compared to what we have now.
Dustin (47bccc) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:17 amhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/washington-secrets/election-integrity-turns-white-hot-all-minorities-favor-voter-id
Only people who want to steal elections are against voter ID.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:21 amMg,
it’s all about the Bread and Circuses while destroying our way of life.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:23 amGood one, Felipe.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:58 amHope all is well.
Good find, nk.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:00 amDustin, Ukraine is just a proxy in the great struggle between East/West values. This is Putin’s continued play to re-set the world order and challenge the strength and commitment of the West. If the authoritarian bully gets his way here, what exactly will stop him from making the next grab? Which international agreement has Putin EVER honored? When has Putin ever respected human dignity or rights? We have two authoritarian regimes, China included, controlled by two men obsessed with their personal legacies, not the interests of their citizens or world stability. Is there any doubt that Xi, Kim, and Khamenei are looking to how far they too can test the limits of democratic nations.
I agree that escalation is no joke. A cornered predator can take desperate measures. But allowing an imperfect-democratic nation to be ravaged and decimated because the bully make threats, just invites more of those threats in the future. Putin will just say “tactical nuke” and Dustin will buckle to more aggression. Next it will be Latvia and Estonia….neither any less corrupt…..that won’t be worth threatened nuclear Armageddon.
You tear down authoritarians by making their subordinates not want to die for lies and hubris. This is certainly chess and not checkers….and there can be rash decisions that harden allegiances. U.S. forces rolling into Ukraine would likely operate against the desired brewing internal Russian coup. Is anyone realistically calling for that? But watching people get slaughtered and a humanitarian nightmare expanding is not something a good people should sit back and watch….and make equivocations about. A good people acts.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:08 amcuz only ukrainian borders matter
ICE announces massive drops in arrests, deportations
The Biden administration slashed interior immigration arrests by about half compared to the Trump years, according to an overdue report released Friday that details the massive changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE said it made 74,082 arrests in fiscal year 2021, down from more than 103,000 the previous year and more than 143,000 in 2019.
Actual deportations also plummeted to 59,011. Under former President Barack Obama, those numbers topped 400,000 in some years, and under former President Donald Trump, they topped 300,000 in some years. Deportations of gang members dipped by more than 50% compared to the middle of the Trump years.
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:11 amDana remains on special assignment for Patterico’s Pontifications
Yeah, right! IRS Tax Code – Section 179 deduction from SuperyachtNews.com:
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:41 amUnder New Scrutiny: China’s Nuclear Pledge to Ukraine
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In its 2013 guarantees, Beijing praised Ukraine’s 1994 agreement to give up thousands of nuclear weapons from its time as a Soviet republic in exchange for security assurances from the U.S., U.K. and Russia. “China pledges unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against nonnuclear Ukraine, and under the conditions of Ukraine suffering an invasion using nuclear weapons or suffering the threat of such kind of invasion, to provide Ukraine with corresponding security guarantees,” the statement said.
Initially, some government-run media in China, including the official Xinhua News Agency, stirred anxiety by dubbing Beijing’s agreement with Ukraine a “nuclear umbrella,” the term Washington uses to describe its vows to protect allies like South Korea. Several experts say umbrella is a vast exaggeration of the scope of Beijing’s pledge, and many of the original Chinese news reports have since disappeared from the internet.
“Umbrella is not accurate. If it were true, that would be a very consequential matter,” said Gerald C. Brown, a Washington defense analyst who specializes in China and nuclear weapons. He said nuclear umbrella is a uniquely American concept.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:40 am………
When the U.S. offered its nuclear security pledges to Ukraine several years before China did, according to one of the U.S. negotiators, Steven Pifer, it deliberately used the more vague word “assurance” instead of the more ironclad “guarantee.”
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A reading of the Ukraine agreement now may also make it appear more adversarial to Moscow than it initially did. Ukraine’s signatory, then-President Viktor Yanukovych, enjoyed Kremlin backing and had weeks earlier balked at a partnership with the European Union—factors that propelled massive pro-Western demonstrations that forced him from power within two months of his Beijing visit.
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But Beijing signaled its deal was with Ukraine, not Mr. Yanukovych, when China’s legislature ratified the pledge in 2015.
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Asked about the 2013 Ukraine pact at a regularly scheduled news conference on March 3, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, sidestepped the question by referring to a United Nations resolution on the security of nonnuclear states like Ukraine. ……..
…………
We need leadership that can credibly deter Putin, Xi, and the lesser bad guys. ……..
Only a credible willingness to use force will deter aggressive governments from invading their neighbors.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:43 amYeah, right! IRS Tax Code – Section 179 deduction from SuperyachtNews.com:
Uh, Patterico and Dana: nk is on to us.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:49 amBolton: Russia Didn’t Invade Ukraine Earlier Because Trump Was Doing Putin’s ‘Work‘
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(Julie Mason, host of “Julie Mason Mornings” on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel) said, “NATO is all the rage again. Everyone wants to sign up. Where would we be now ambassador if the U.S. had followed through with former President Trump’s idea of withdrawing from NATO?”
Bolton said, “I think we’d be in a lot worse shape, that’s for sure. I think one of the reasons Putin did not move during Trump’s term in office was he saw the president’s hostility in NATO. It was widely reported in American media, and to Putin’s mind, it’s a binary proposition, a weaker NATO is a stronger Russia. So I think Putin saw Trump doing a lot of his work for him and thought maybe in a second term, Trump would make good on his desire to get out of NATO, and then it would just ease Putin’s path just that much more.”
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:51 am#########<
I’m still setting my goals at 10,000 per day, but 6,000 to 8,000 is good enough for my age group, at least that’s what the science says:
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/12/2022 @ 9:32 amRussian oligarchs are escaping sanctions by taking their private jets and yachts to places like Dubai and the Maldives
https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-oligarchs-try-to-escape-sanctions-take-jets-yachts-dubai-2022-3
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:04 amThe world’s leaders are disappointing. In part, I blame Trump and Hillary for setting horrible examples and showing the world that stupid, narcissistic people can be leaders, too.
DRJ (03cb91) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:06 amThis is certainly chess and not checkers…
Nyet. It’s poker. Which is why the fellas with a mere pair of deuces keep beating the ‘folks’ w/a deck full of jokers.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:08 amHope the 6 West Point Cadets recover from the fentanyl laced cocaine they were doing.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:15 amBest and Brightest………………………………………………………………………………………………
Here’s a question for those who know more about automobile design and manufacturing than I do: It seems to me that, eventually, the transition to all-electric cars should make possible cars that are less expensive and more reliable.
Consider, for example, a Toyota Prius (or any other hybrid). It has two systems of propulsion, electric motors and an internal combustion engine. If you are increase the size of the first, and eliminate the second, you reduce the number of parts, which should cut costs and increase reliability. And, I would think, make it possible to automate even more of the production lines.
Making an all-electric car cheaper would, as I understand it, require a reduction in battery prices, but I don’t see any reason that can’t happen, within the next 5 or 10 years.
Note please, that I said, “make possible”. There will always be some people attracted to certain automobiles because they are expensive, but I think there are still many people who are looking for reliable bargain transportation, people who would be attracted to a simple, all-electric car, because it was less expensive.
So, am I missing anything in this very simple analysis?
(Cross posted at Political Betting, where there are already a number of informative answers, including this one:
GM gets around, don’t they?
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:15 amIt’s Russian Roulette. And when Comrade Commissar load five out of six chambers of revolver (from one out of six) you put automatic on table and say “You go first, Comrade Commissar”.
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:16 amOn February 28, President Joe Biden said that Americans do not need to be worried about a nuclear war. On March 11, as the U.S. prepares a $13 billion arms and aid package for Ukraine, President Biden said that the U.S. and NATO allies would not fight Russia in Ukraine, describing such a scenario as “World War III.” If he says it won’t rain; take along your umbrella.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:20 am@23. Russian soldiers dressed in Ukraine military uniforms attempt to enter Kyiv in captured vehicles
Russian soldiers dressed in Ukrainian military uniform led a convoy towards Kyiv in captured army vehicles, Kyiv’s deputy defense minister said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-soldiers-disguised-ukraine-kyiv-b2023087.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:28 amThank God Trump Isn’t President Right Now
Joe Biden is not a very good president. His communication skills are subpar, e.g. when he found himself praising the “Iranian” instead of the Ukrainian people in his State of the Union speech. His political judgments are sometimes poor, e.g. devoting most of his first year to assuaging the demands of the progressive wing of his party. His stubbornness can be destructive, e.g. his decision to withdraw precipitously from Afghanistan. And his priorities are often wrong, e.g. focusing on voting rights legislation that addressed small problems like the number of days of early voting and dropboxes at the expense of the urgent need to reform the Electoral Count Act.
And yet, I thank God every day that Biden is president. The Russian offensive against Ukraine is the first crisis of his presidency (other than COVID, which was ongoing when he assumed office) and in this emergency he has redeemed the hopes of those who voted for competence. The administration’s warnings to Moscow were unambiguous without being hysterical. Our revelations of intelligence unmasking Russian disinformation and false flag narratives were on the nose. Biden’s coordination with European allies was neither bullying nor “leading from behind,” but a skillful presentation of unity (special kudos to Secretary of State Antony Blinken). Biden’s muscular reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to NATO was crucial not just for Europe but for the world. China is taking notes on how the globe is responding to Putin and perhaps thinking twice about trying to conquer Taiwan.
………
Biden is a normal man with normal flaws. He made some errors, but he sees clearly what sort of menace Vladimir Putin is. Only the most obtuse or twisted soul could fail to see it. . . which brings us to the president’s predecessor.
The Ukraine crisis reminds us that Trump is no run-of-the-mill fool, but a unique combination of stupidity and venality. A quick refresher on his relations with Putin and Ukraine leaves little doubt that far from deterring Putin, he was Putin’s most reliable “useful idiot.” Trump’s most durable legacy is the Putinesque level of deceit he introduced into the American bloodstream, but he was also a mark.
Trump wasn’t the first president to go soft on Putin, of course. Barack “Tell Vladimir I’ll have more flexibility after the election” Obama plowed that ground very well. ……..
But at least Obama knew what he was doing. He chose diffidence and called it wisdom. Trump was a dupe and a dope, a walking refutation of the adage “you can’t kid a kidder.” An inveterate liar himself, he could never discern when he was being played, at least by the strongmen he admired like Putin, Kim, and Xi.
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Throughout his presidency, Trump hinted and blustered about withdrawing from NATO, which would fulfill Putin’s dearest wish. When his aides objected that this might be harmful politically, Trump conceded the point, as Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker report, saying “Yeah, the second term. We’ll do it in the second term.”
As for Ukraine, Putin, like the KGB officer he had once been, had filled Trump’s mind with calumnies playing upon his particular obsessions. Trump got the idea that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that had interfered in the 2016 election, and that the meddling was against Trump, not for him. As New York Magazine reported, “Trump repeatedly told one senior official that the Russian president said Ukraine sought to undermine him.” Trump further believed in a mysterious “missing server” that was hidden in Ukraine containing the missing emails. In his infamous 2019 shake-down call with Volodomyr Zelensky, Trump alluded to it: “I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say CrowdStrike. . . I guess you have one of your wealthy people. . . The server, they say Ukraine has it.”
And because Trump swallowed Putin’s lies, congressional Republicans echoed them. In her testimony before the House intelligence committee, Fiona Hill attempted to debunk it:
Yes, and by their willing mouthpiece, the then-president of the United States.
In 2016, Trump suggested that Russian ownership of Crimea be recognized, and again repeated a factoid that seems likely to have come directly from Putin. “The people of Crimea, from what I’ve heard, would rather be with Russia than where they were,” he told ABC News. The GOP platform was changed to omit endorsing arms for Ukraine. Asked about his view of Putin’s intentions, he huffed, “He’s not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He’s not gonna go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want.”
It was more than ignorance, it was hero worship. Trump is a disturbed human being who is constantly revealing his attraction to violence and “strength.” ………
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:38 am…………
Nikki Haley’s Hypocrisy and Faux Outrage Over Ukraine
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Since the invasion began, Haley has been a regular on Fox News, talking tough and accusing President Biden of failing to take Vladimir Putin seriously. She pretends to have known all along that Putin would attack. “When an evil dictator thug says they’re going to do something, we need to believe them,” she told Dave Rubin in an interview posted on Monday. “Putin said he was going to take Ukraine, and he is.”
Haley is whitewashing her record. She didn’t think Putin would go through with the invasion. “Putin knows it’s costly, and he knows he can’t do it. This is him leveraging to see what he can get,” she told Brian Kilmeade on Jan. 26. “He doesn’t want to expand,” she went on, adding, “I don’t think Russia wants to go to war.” On Feb. 8, she told Bret Baier that Putin’s real plan was to cut a deal: “What Russia’s really trying to do is get us to not allow Ukraine into NATO.”
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Haley also blamed Biden for tempting Putin. On Feb. 7, as Putin was considering his options, she tweeted that the Russian president was correct to view Biden as soft. “The world’s worst dictators realize just how weak Joe Biden is. It’s why Russia is eyeing Ukraine,” she wrote. Her words didn’t just deflect responsibility from Putin. They also signaled that he need not fear American retaliation. On Feb. 23, just before the invasion, she accused Biden of “teasing” Putin with weakness—the kind of language that’s sometimes grotesquely applied to survivors of sex crimes. The next day, as the attack was underway, she again blamed Biden, claiming that he had given Putin “the green light.” “I don’t think Putin initially thought he wanted to go to war,” she asserted.
As America’s allies rallied to Ukraine’s defense, Haley insulted them. …….
………
Haley’s most preposterous complaint is that Biden shouldn’t have asked China to help dissuade Putin from attacking Ukraine. “I was mortified that Biden went so far as asking China for help with Russia,” she sputtered on Meet the Press. “You never ask an enemy for help with another enemy.”
That’s a shockingly illiterate statement. It contradicts the entire history of crisis diplomacy, most notably the U.S./U.K.-Soviet alliance against Hitler.……..
Haley’s professed outrage about the overture to Beijing is completely fake. As she has acknowledged in moments of candor, the Chinese government had leverage over Russia’s decision and doesn’t like the way Russia has conducted the war. So she knows the bid for China’s assistance was the right move. Furthermore, she continues to boast that “when I was at the U.N., we passed three sets of massive sanctions against North Korea.” Haley obtained those sanctions by collaborating with Chinese and Russian diplomats—yet she now calls Biden’s use of the same tactic “naïve,” “weak,” and “humiliating.” …….
She also has no courage. It’s easy for American politicians to talk trash about Putin. What’s hard is to stand up for democracy and the rule of law when those principles are threatened by a man who can derail your career. In Haley’s case, that man is Trump, not Putin. And when Haley is asked about Trump’s sabotage of NATO, his praise for Putin, and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, her response is thoroughly craven. “I’m not a fan of Republicans going against Republicans,” she pleads.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:58 am……….
None of what Haley is saying about Ukraine is sincere. She knows that Trump, who directly betrayed her to delay sanctions against Russia, is a stooge for Putin. She knows we can stand up for Ukraine’s borders without surrendering our own. She knows it’s wise to seek one enemy’s help against another. She knows deterrence depends on holding penalties in reserve.
………..
Those who support Darlin’ Nikki just because she looks good in a skirt and has a great tan are playing the same identity politics as the Democrats.
Time and a half on Saturdays, Rip?
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/12/2022 @ 11:07 amKamala Harris fields this question: “How long should Americans expect — how long should we be bracing for — this historic inflation and some unprecedented gas prices?”
She first looks over to the Romanian President to see if he wants to take the question. Naturally, he defers because:
A. The question was addressed to VP Harris
B. The question is about inflation and gas prices in – America – for goodness sake
Then VP Harris begins to speak and the real fun begins. The depth the VP brings to the table is palpable….
““In terms of the discussions that President Iohannis and I had, they ranged in subject including the issue of the Black Sea and I’ll let him explain in more detail as he would like. Uh, but, we are, again, fully aware and apprised because we are in constant communication with the president with his administration here, about the concerns that they have about the entire region and frankly about the vulnerability. All you have to do is look at the map.”
Biden, Harris and Pelosi are all incoherent. Biden and Pelosi can be explained by age and decline, Harris probably too many cannabinoid edibles for breakfast
https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1502301540962476032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1502332453914132483%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fdougp-3137%2F2022%2F03%2F11%2Fheres-kamala-harris-explaining-how-long-we-should-expect-to-endure-high-inflation-and-gas-prices%2F
steveg (e81d76) — 3/12/2022 @ 11:10 amNikki Haley represented US interests well at the UN.
A more charitable way to look at Haley is to say she served her country well, she did so with a chaotic boss and she refused to down talk the President of the USA in front of the world at the UN.
Comparing China of today to the Soviets in 1941 is a stretch
steveg (e81d76) — 3/12/2022 @ 11:32 amBiden approached China with classified information and the Chinese played him for a fool and sent the classified information onto Putin, but sure, lets give everyone involved a participation trophy for trying. The family of Russian source that got burned can have his trophy sent posthumously and/or when the torture ends or the bullet hits the bone.
The only info the Chinese would not already have would be Human Intelligence.
steveg (e81d76) — 3/12/2022 @ 11:37 am88. I was going to say something snide about Saletan but I remembered the proverb “Return not snideness with snideness lest you sound like a nasty little b!tch too”.
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:03 pm@87. Shorter: Thank God Mona Charen is irrelevant.
FIFY.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:17 pmThose who support Darlin’ Nikki just because she looks good in a skirt and has a great tan are playing the same identity politics as the Democrats.
Pfft. Reaganoptics, child:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYeNuISN4Dc
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:22 pmThere’s no equivocation.
Putin invaded a peaceful neighbor and is slaughtering children, civilians, hospitals, and knows the world fears he may use nuclear weapons. He’s holding hundreds of millions hostage, and we can see it’s the only thing stopping the world from crushing him like an ant.
Doesn’t mean I trust Russia’s enemies very much. For one, they are truly desperate. A little patience when considering their claims is all I really advocate.
A good people acts. A wise people thinks first.
Dustin (47bccc) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:28 pmLet’s suppose that Russia attacks an arms shipment while it is still in Poland, killing 10 Americans. What should the US do?
1. Stop arms shipments.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:54 pm2. Ignore it and be more stealthy.
3. A measured response.
4. ???
But watching people get slaughtered and a humanitarian nightmare expanding is not something a good people should sit back and watch….and make equivocations about. A good people acts.
Or changes the channel. Don’t watch. Or did you choose to miss these wars since 2003 – a startling number BTW- because they weren’t beamed into your hand gadgets and living rooms looped, 24/7:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present
An old colleague at CBS liked to remind staff that television is a very promising medium which can bring the world [and now the Universe] into your home– and some day we’ll get right; but always remember the camera magnifies what it sees as the electronic eye pans, zooms and observes what it is pointed at– through a straw.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:59 pm“Biden approached China with classified information and the Chinese played him for a fool and sent the classified information onto Putin, but sure, lets give everyone involved a participation trophy for trying.”
This is a bizarre meme with not much supporting information on the internet, except for the outraged claims of former Trumper Pentagon Chief of Staff, Kash Patel. The implication is that something REALLY important was revealed and that Biden….presumably alone but maybe his entire national security apparatus too….was too naive to understand that an autocratic ruler like Xi might not be our friend. Shocker. First, most objective observers would say that the war has not gone well for Putin and that the Russians underestimated the Ukraine defenses, have logistically struggled, and have had to move on to more of a civilian terror campaign. If the “leak” was so devastating and evidence of incompetence, why did it generate so little tactical advantage and virtually no media coverage? Second, doesn’t team Biden get some kudos for exhausting all diplomatic options for averting war….even if this was a long shot with Xi? Didn’t it also semi-publicly get Xi on the record as green-lighting Putin? Perhaps not an immense and consequential tell, but maybe an oblique aside that the U.S. knows more than what China thinks we know. Of all the things to lasso Biden with, this one seems like an odd nothin-burger. But it has legs at Patterico…..
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:01 pmMy hope is that back channels exist between our people and Russian leaders who can pull the plug on nuclear escalation. No ambition is worth it.
D’oh. And everyone knows that, which is why they haven’t been used in 76+ years. The Soviet Union FELL without using nukes. They were not used in the Cuban Missile Crisis (although Castro was up for it). They were not used against al-queda on September 12th, for several reasons unrelated to the fear of retaliation.
This is a bogeyman, used by people who want to justify inaction.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:02 pmUkraine actually isn’t worth it
And this is how we fail. Very little is worth that risk, if you elevate the risk to something likely, or even possible. It is called “unthinkable” for a reason.
If not Ukraine, what about Estonia? Or, having balked there, what about Poland? The fallacy of the Beard, where you look at each hair individually rather than at the whole beard, will lead you to moving the goal posts clear to Des Moines.
This is the “They’ll eat us last” strategy, and does not reflect well on those making it.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:07 pmBTW, Ukraine is larger — and more populous — than California. I doubt that we would use nukes to defend California, but we would defend it as best we could otherwise.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:09 pm@97. Well, that’s NATO aso in that hypothetical, Article 5 kicks in. But analysis of the circumstances dictates the measure of response. Review what JFK did in October, 1962 when Anderson’s U-2 was ordered shot down by Russian Lieutenant General Stepan Grechko:
How the Death of a U.S. Air Force Pilot Prevented a Nuclear War</
On October 27, 1962, U-2 pilot Rudolf Anderson Jr. was shot down during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His death may have saved the lives of millions.
https://www.history.com/news/the-cuban-missile-crisis-pilot-whose-death-may-have-saved-millions
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:10 pmWe need leadership that can credibly deter Putin, Xi, and the lesser bad guys. I think our press, our educators, and our people have stopped valuing that. Even the lamest leaders from 40-80 years ago were giants compared to what we have now.
This I utterly agree with. Say what you will about LBJ, he would have had Putin’s head on a platter by now. Even Bill Clinton stands head and shoulders over Joe “Gravitas” Biden.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:16 pmHow the Death of a U.S. Air Force Pilot Prevented a Nuclear War
Nonsense.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:17 pm“Thank God Mona Charen is irrelevant.”
Eventually the GOP will pull up its pants, collectively shave, release its death grip on the Colt 45 tall boy, and try to conserve more than just nonsense. When that joyous day returns, well-reasoned ideas like those from Mona Charen will be broadly welcomed back. For now, the GOP appears to be competing with the WWE and the morning soaps for intellectual content. But war and economic stress may be the electro-shock treatment that shifts our interest from reality stars to…gasp….actual leaders.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:18 pmOr changes the channel. Don’t watch
The Kitty Genovese solution.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:19 pmWhen you stand in the middle of the road you get run over. Biden is a senile old fool who is afraid that the ukraine will not fall quickly so he can go back to fighting the war on global warming. The 2022 elections are less then 8 months away and primary season is here now.
asset (58d220) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:24 pmHmm. I’m gonna have to pay some attention to Mona Cheren. She sounds interesting. Anyone who goes to CPAC during the Trump Interregnum and calls out the mysoginists and incels that support him is good in my book. Getting booed by that mob is a badge of courage.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:25 pmWhen that joyous day returns, well-reasoned ideas like those from Mona Charen will be broadly welcomed back.
…in 2064. Now, welcome to 1964.
But war and economic stress may be the electro-shock treatment that shifts our interest from reality stars to…gasp….actual leaders.
1979 redux. Your Reagan-in-waiting: Donald Trump.
Now there’s a spoon to gag on. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:27 pmGetting booed by that mob is a badge of courage.
Is it? … and Putin smiled. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:28 pmWhen you stand in the middle of the road you get run over.
Not necessarily, but it does take some wit to avoid the cars. Bill Clinton was a master of the middle of the road. So was Richard Nixon. Both of them hijacked the other side’s notions and melded them into their own party’s ideas, pissing off both Left and Right. It’s no accident that both found themselves up against impeachment, never mind the reasons found.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:28 pm@111
Why even post that silliness? What does it even mean?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:29 pmYour Reagan-in-waiting: Donald Trump.
“Trump” would have had Reagan disavow the Big Tent.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:30 pm@105. LOLOL As a retort, yes it is. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:31 pm@111. If you gotta ask, it’s over your ahead– unless you believe global booing via global sanctions, Javilins and Stingers has the Kremlin cheering.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:34 pmWe need leadership that can credibly deter Putin, Xi, and the lesser bad guys.
That initiative has been lost in this ’round’ as the Russia/China ‘New World Order’ dawns. The West has been reactive, not proactive- even telegraphing what won’t be done– and highly predictable; easy tells to a Kremlin poker player who has studied the players for years. This depth and breadth of the confluence of incompetence in government is rare. Hell, something as simple as yacht and plane confiscating has been botched as many sailed or flew away.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 1:43 pmKevin,
Reagan knew you don’t negotiate with communists. Try thinking about what’s going on on this side of the water’s edge.
NJRob (4c49aa) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:25 pmU.S. to Send Arms to Ukraine, as Russia Intensifies Campaign of Destruction
LVIV, Ukraine — Russian forces stepped up their campaign of bombardments aimed at devastating Ukraine’s cities and towns on Saturday, as the White House announced it was sending an additional $200 million in arms and equipment to help Ukraine, defying Moscow.– NYT.com
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:27 pmRussia … warns U.S. weapons sent to Ukraine are ‘legitimate targets’
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:38 pmTry thinking about what’s going on on this side of the water’s edge.
Too painful
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 2:39 pmLet’s suppose that Russia attacks an arms shipment while it is still in Poland, killing 10 Americans. What should the US do?
1. Stop arms shipments.
2. Ignore it and be more stealthy.
3. A measured response.
4. ???
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 12:54 pm
An attack on Poland, whatever the target or reason, would automatically start NATO implementing Article 5, so I don’t think the Russians do will that. But then again, it sounds like the Russians are preparing to conduct systematic chemical warfare in Europe for the first time since 1918, so anything is possible. If Putin is willing to do that, why shouldn’t he also use his tactical nuclear weapons? He has nothing to lose by doing so.
As far as the US response, Biden has painted himself in a corner by continually declaring that the US will not have “boots on the ground” in Ukraine. Of course, that provides wiggle room to use B-1s, B-2s and B-52s to launch missiles from outside Ukraine. But public opinion may shift toward intervention if there are thousands of civilian deaths due to the chemical or nuclear attacks. Then anything goes.
By the way, this wouldn’t be firs time two nuclear powers went to war against each other. India and Pakistan have been doing it for years.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:06 pmI think that’s so unlikely it’s practically fantasy. Given how far Russia is steering away from striking NATO, let alone the USA, and how much they pay to lobby us, they aren’t going to directly attack us.
Our goal here in reality should be to kill Putin.
Dustin (47bccc) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:09 pmOh , ffs, DCSCA is back to Putin’s a poker playing genius again. Dude. He lost his bluff. And his people pay the price.
Appalled (69bf59) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:15 pmIndia/Pakistan
Indeed. And despite the rampant and long-standing ill-feeling they have not once been tempted to use nukes, even though India might survive a war that would kill Pakistan — only the Indians have thermonuclear weapons. But there is really no winner there either, just some that are not immediate losers.
I’m pretty sure that there is no scenario that has Russia or the US winning a full-on nuclear war. At best one side would be less fully destroyed, not that it would matter when the secondary effects hit.
That is the real question: Would the reaction to battlefield nukes be containable? Most think not. We were prepared to deal with chemical weapons in Europe without resorting to nukes. I suppose we still are.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:18 pmHe lost his bluff. And his people pay the price.
Indeed. The over/under on Putin’s survival is “end of March.”
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:19 pmI think that’s so unlikely it’s practically fantasy.
Except that the Russians threatened exactly that today. See 120
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:20 pm“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” — Napoleon
it sucks for ukraine, and the human toll is disgusting, but we should not be supplying arms and thereby give putin a basis to escalate
the fears that he will march further west are ridiculous, not because he won’t but because his military is so obviously incompetent and by now even he realizes this
we should completely stand aside and let him carry out his blunder, but just as obama said never underestimate demented joe’s ability to eff things up
and chicken hawks should please just STFU
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:25 pmThe Trumpies should apologize for their incredibly poor choice of candidate and retire from politics forever.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:28 pmand chicken hawks should please just STFU
GFY
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:29 pmThe problem is that the US/NATO only have two hundred tactical nuclear weapons (the B61 gravity bomb) and half of those are in the US, while Russia has ten times that number as bombs and missile warheads, and a plan to use them in a conventional war.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:31 pmstruck a nerve
FUJA
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:31 pmThank you INF Treaty for tying our hands.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:32 pmas the world gets engulfed in a thermonuclear holocaust the same knuckleheads will be crowing that at least trump isn’t president
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:34 pmNo, you just are an asshat just like your cult leader.
Isolationism was a bad idea 100 years ago and it’s not gotten any better. I hear that Trump would have left NATO had he been re-elected and that Putin was fine with that. Effing crazy man and traitor. Who you support.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:43 pmRip, I would not argue for usings battlefield nukes in response. I’d just nuke Minsk and see if they got the clue.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:44 pmIt looks like the negotiations between Iran and the US have officially ended, and it’s a terrorist attack because the target was civilian (American Consulate).
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:49 pmBiden needs to cause some pain on the Mullahs.
Let’s suppose that Russia attacks a NATO country. Will Congress declare war?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:49 pmPaul, The Revolutionary Guard doesn’t want an agreement, they want their nukes to attack Tel Aviv. Never mind what happens after that.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:52 pm@135 hey einstein, don’t believe everything you see on teevee
“this mess should’ve happened on trump’s watch” is a bandwagon you’ll cling to for sure
all the smart knuckleheads are already on
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:55 pm@134 One concern does not preclude the other.
norcal (a4a1aa) — 3/12/2022 @ 3:58 pmYou don’t go to war with the Commander in Cheat you wish you had, you go to war with the Commander in Chief you have.
Yeah, Trump probably would have called Putin “liddle’ borscht man” and threatened to primary him, and that would have made Putin resign his seat and retire from politics, but what’s the point in wishing?
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:09 pmWhen has he ever criticized Putin? Hannity tried very hard to get him agree that Putin’s barbaric attack on Ukraine is a evil, but Trump wouldn’t take the cue. Instead, he talked about how Putin is in a tough spot.
Radegunda (7f439c) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:14 pmPretty sure that was sarcasm by nk.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:21 pmdon’t believe everything you see on teevee
Why not? Trump does. I doubt he’s read a book this century, not even one about him.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:22 pmThe thing about Trump is that there are so many things wrong with him that we lose sight that there is nothing right with him. We look that he’s a corrupt criminal traitor and we don’t see that he is a complete and utter incompetent who cannot even flush a toilet. Seriously, is anybody here who wanted to flush official documents who would not know to tear them up in small pieces first? And that’s only one of thousands of things he can’t do starting with not being able to find his ass with both hands in broad daylight.
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:29 pmSchooled by Kevin again. I picked up one level of sarcasm but it was probably more comprehensive. (I’m actually working, and just popping in to browse lightly.)
Radegunda (7f439c) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:44 pmStill, Trump went from ridiculing Kim as “Rocket Man” to gushing about the love letters they exchanged. China is America’s most dangerous foe, he told us, but he boasts that he got along great with Xi. He can swing wildly between insult and adulation, so it’s theoretically possible that he would do the same with Putin — but it’s a curious fact that he’s so resistant to speaking ill of Putin, even when he gets the cue cards put up right in front of him.
#145 Kevin – Some years ago, I read about an athlete (Philadelphia?) who was asked about a book he supposedly had co-written, and he said something like: “I don’t know, I haven’t read that part yet.)
I have suspected for some time that something similar is true of Trump, that he hasn’t read all of the books he supposedly helped write.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/12/2022 @ 4:46 pmJF: “it sucks for ukraine, and the human toll is disgusting, but we should not be supplying arms and thereby give putin a basis to escalate. the fears that he will march further west are ridiculous, not because he won’t but because his military is so obviously incompetent and by now even he realizes this. we should completely stand aside and let him carry out his blunder”
So we shouldn’t even provide weapons and intelligence to the Ukrainians? Just let Putin finish the job of decimating the country and installing his puppet? And if Putin starts using chemical weapons, I guess we just wring our hands about the human toll because we just can’t upset the bully. Seems like a recipe for future aggression. Putin’s army may be performing badly….especially logistically….but it still carries the bigger stick and is wearing down a Ukraine that is running out of munitions and weapons.
Will Putin continue into Latvia or Estonia? JF assures us “no” because ostensibly Putin is rational….and despite near world unanimity at punishing Russia economically, that it still somehow seems in Putin’s character to allow internal pressures to grow and not introduce the next distraction…the next grab for empire. Personally I think Putin sees the end and won’t go out without a fight, especially now that the NATO response is to build up defenses in the Baltic states and, heck, even Germany is looking to spend more on defense. Some might say that now is the time to test NATO’s resolve.
If it’s being a “chickenhawk” to even give munitions and weapons to an underdog struggling to exist, then sign me up. History has given us too many examples of bullies laughing at pieces of paper promising peace in our time. Evil wins when good men choose to do nothing but cower behind their empty rhetoric about freedom and liberty. If you want to appease evil, that’s fine…there are men and women with the resolve to confront it. Just stay comfortable….oh, and out of the way….
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:40 pmFirst thing NATO would do is construct “The Third Bathroom”.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:43 pmThe U.S.A. should be paid for the munitions deployed. I have no problem with that. Free bombs is pure B.S.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:53 pm@124/@126. The over/under on Putin’s survival is “end of March.”
Kevin M — 3/12/2022 @ 3:19 pm
Lest you forget: ‘I expect the no-fly zone over Ukraine to start by St Paddy’s Day.’
Kevin M — 3/4/2022 @ 4:07 pm
Keep in mind: ‘Hitler had expected a million Germans to die in conquering France; instead, his goal was accomplished in just six weeks with only 27,000 Germans killed, 18,400 missing and 111,000 wounded, little more than a third of the German casualties in the Battle of Verdun during World War I. The unexpectedly swift victory resulted in a wave of euphoria among the German population and a strong upsurge in war-fever. Hitler’s popularity reached its peak with the celebration of the French capitulation on July 6, 1940.’ – source, wikiBattleofFrance. And Germany was blitzkrieg-battling across France fighting not only the French Army and French guerrilla-fighting civilians, but ‘low country’ allied forces as well- particularly the British Expeditionary Force- which was driven into the sea at Dunkirk- and the Royal Air Force- which lost, from May 10 to 22 June, 1940, 931 aircraft and 1,526 RAF casualties alone. A television and interweb-gadgeted generation use to ‘instant everything’ at their fingertips expects this to end in a defeat or victory way too quickly– Putin’s invasion in the real world is just 16 days old.
‘Course for those impetuous youngsters who crave a quick-over-and-done-with, there is the ultimate alternative 😉 —
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrbv40ENU_o
“…I’ll look for you when the war is over; an hour and a half from now!” – Tom Lehrer
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:56 pmSo we shouldn’t even provide weapons and intelligence to the Ukrainians?
So when does Joe put the Ukrainian War Relief Bonds on sale? Hit it, Bugs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUPUbvO0eU
Oh, right: charge it all to Uncle Sam’s credit card financed by borrowed bucks from China. So much for the faux, bogus cries of ‘fiscal responsibility’ from comfy chair conservative ideologues fat with defense contractor portfolios.
… and the MIC smiled.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:17 pmI’m bullish on selling arms, just not having our soldiers lose them.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:29 pmMr. popularity:
If there is anything that demonstrates Putin’s competence, it’s his ability to win hearts and minds.
(I would like to think that 4 percent were just confused by the questions.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:31 pmThat’s appeasement, JF, capitulating to a dictator’s unreasoning demands.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/12/2022 @ 6:56 pmWhen the Soviets occupied Afghanistan, didn’t stop us from getting surface-to-air missiles to the mujahideen, where Reagan did what Biden is too afraid to do with the MiGs.
@156. But they are Poland’s MIGs to give, Paul, not the United States. All the Poles did was toss the hot potato- very publicly- to the U.S. to juggle. Because they’re afraid of Rooskie reprisals.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:00 pmIf you want to appease evil, that’s fine…there are men and women with the resolve to confront it. Just stay comfortable….oh, and out of the way….
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 5:40 pm
oh my, well good thing you’re certainly not staying comfortable and out of the way
tell me, which recruiting office are you making a bee line to?
yes, there are certainly brave men and women with resolve, they’re just not you — except in the sense that you have resolve to put them in harm’s way for a country that isn’t even part of nato
but it’s just supplying arms, no boots on the ground, and if that results in an increased chance of escalation to actual boots on the ground and nukes well that’s just the price those with resolve have to pay for your virtue signaling
good thing “we” stood up to evil in vietnam, iraq, nicaragua, grenada, etc else all that evil and wmd would’ve reached our shores by now, and we’d all be in body bags instead of just those with resolve
good lord, tell me you’re being satirical
JF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:02 pmBREAKING- Iran fires missiles at U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Iraq.
What flavor ice cream tonight, Joe?
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:03 pmEvil is on the march and DCCCP wants to stop and open a lemonaid stand….will he do the same for Taiwan or does only Putin bring out his fiscal conservatism? Yeah, yeah we know…pay yourself.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:09 pmIf the French — the French! — could supply Washington with guns in 1776, we can supply the Ukrainians now.
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:22 pmAs for the money, I want it to come out of the foreign aid we give to Israel. Kind of an object lesson. For not siding with the family. Let them ask Putin for it.
nk (1d9030) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:36 pm@160. Pfft. Prattle; typical fat cat armchair ideological conservative vaping avoiding their own argument for demanding FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY on government expenditures. Wanna help’em? Fine: PAY FOR IT.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:18 pmWar Bonds
The last time the United States issued war bonds was during World War II, when full employment collided with rationing, and war bonds were seen as a way to remove money from circulation as well as reduce inflation.
https://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1682.html
‘During WWII the United States issued war bonds that were labeled Defense Bonds. They were later relabeled war bonds, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The war bonds sold in the US helped the government raise about $185 billion. Bonds were bought by over 84 million Americans. There was a nationwide effort to advertise the bonds, ranging from sports events to radio show promotions. The purchase of the bonds was largely linked to patriotism and to people’s feeling of “doing their part” in the war. Let’s say you have a $500 Series E bond from May 1941. Using the calculator, that bond would be worth $1,811.80 today (January 2021), having earned $1,436.80 in interest.
Modern-Day War Bonds
One of the mechanisms that governments use nowadays to finance increases in military spending is printing more money. The caveat of printing more money is that this increase in the money supply leads to inflationary pressure. To mitigate the effects of inflation, the government issues bonds, which then reduces the money supply and reduces inflationary pressure. This improves the speed that the government has capital readily available for military spending.’
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 8:49 pm“but it’s just supplying arms, no boots on the ground, and if that results in an increased chance of escalation to actual boots on the ground and nukes well that’s just the price those with resolve have to pay for your virtue signaling”
I won’t dignify your personal attacks, though I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t make them to my face. But it is par for the course with you and makes it seem like you’re serially compensating for something….for your sake, hopefully you’re less obnoxious away from the internet.
I’ll kindly stand behind every retired admiral and general that I’ve read or heard speak on logistically supporting Ukraine, not one believes that the U.S. should leave Ukraine to the Russians or that opposing Putin here is too risky. Not one. Guys like Mattis, Petraeus, Clark and McRaven understand tactical risk and also the risk of giving autocrats free rein….and what message we send to China and even the thug in North Korea. I’m sure you’ll have some snide reason why you are also smarter and more thoughtful than men with a lifetime of service and study. How the Viet Nam experience means we can never oppose naked aggression by a superpower out of fear. Sorry, but this is a sell out to evil….one that I hope remains a minority position of the American voter.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 9:31 pm“typical fat cat armchair…”
DCCCP, what’s the point of enagaging? Isn’t it a waste of both our times?
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 9:33 pm@166. Pffft. Called on to put your money where your mouth is ‘Bugs’ you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUPUbvO0eU
Such a hypocrite.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:28 pmI’ll kindly stand behind every retired admiral and general that I’ve read or heard speak on logistically supporting Ukraine, not one believes that the U.S. should leave Ukraine to the Russians or that opposing Putin here is too risky. Not one. Guys like Mattis, Petraeus, Clark and McRaven understand tactical risk and also the risk of giving autocrats free rein….and what message we send to China and even the thug in North Korea.
Pfft. The same mind set that leaves $80+billion in equipment– charged to Uncle Sam’s Credit Card– to the Taliban after 20 years. Fools stood behind Westmorland, too.
“War is too important to be left to the generals.” – Georges Clemenceau
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/12/2022 @ 10:40 pmI was hoping for enlightenment here. Thats what I get for hoping. Volunteers according to faux news are now reaching the ukraine. Abraham lincoln brigade? AVG Flying tigers? In the spanish civil war people from all over the world fought franco in spain including anti nazi germans and anti fascist italians. Maybe anti putin russians soon?
asset (8fcfe8) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:30 amwe don’t see that he is a complete and utter incompetent who cannot even flush a toilet.
He has probably never had to.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:41 amIf you want to appease evil, that’s fine…there are men and women with the resolve to confront it. Just stay comfortable….oh, and out of the way….
I don’t think JF wants to appease evil.
I think he either just doesn’t want to consider anything outside the US of A as having any real meaning, or he just likes what Putin is doing and doesn’t think it evil. Pretty much the dichotomy the German-American Bund members felt in 1941.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:46 amThe U.S.A. should be paid for the munitions deployed. I have no problem with that.
mg — I agree with this. And I suspect that, should they win, the Ukrainians will be only too happy to pay, although they might like some payment terms. I’d bill the Russians too, should they win, and take it out of their stranded assets.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:48 amJF (e1156d) — 3/12/2022 @ 7:02 pm
I’m trying not to see this post as active cowardice. If you really think that there is some danger of nuclear war, WTF does a recruiting office have to do with anything?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:52 amWin or lose, the Russians should be on the hook for reparations.
lurker (59504c) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:54 amI just don’t understand the confidence in the U.S. Military. We just had our bottoms handed to us by cave dwellers. But you people want more Americans to give up life for somebody else’s issues. How giving you are with other peoples lives. LGB. FJB.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:33 amHow can we observe “Women’s History Month” if there are no such thing as “women” any more—only “birthing persons”?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:44 amhttps://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/03/awash_in_a_sea_of_stupid.html
Read the homework.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:52 amGood article from the Thinker.
Thanks mg.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:17 am#168 – DCSCA/DCCCP should correct that “$80+billion in equipment” error, which has been refuted by Glenn Kessler, in a column that was linked here.
If DCCCP does not make the necessary correction, we can draw the obvious inference about its respect for truth.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/13/2022 @ 6:46 amThe Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Russians killed an American journalist, and injured another journalist.
As I understand it, the two were filming refugees.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:14 amBiden killed the deal.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:33 amI won’t dignify your personal attacks
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/12/2022 @ 9:31 pm
but you’ll certainly make them yourself, and take faux umbrage when someone responds in kind
I’ll kindly stand behind every retired admiral and general
do you stand behind every one of them who sold the tactical risk of wmd?
you don’t have anything other than appeals to authority, but ok that doesn’t matter cuz you’re against evil(!!) and anyone else is either with you or against you
JF (e1156d) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:47 amThe bad news for the world on COVID is summarized in this extensive and somewhat technical Lancet article with an estimate for excess world deaths of about 20 million.
The good news for the United States is that COVID deaths fell again, week on week, by about 15 percent. And there is more good news for us: The United States is starting a test-and-treat program, with cooperating pharmacies, where people can come in, get tested, and get an anti-viral medicine in one place.
(In contrast, there is much bad news on COVID out of Hong Kong, and, probably, much of China.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:58 am@171 i see we’re already at the point where if you don’t want to put all our country’s chips on the table for the sake of one non-nato member with virtually no strategic interests, you’re some kind of nazi
if sure someone here can come up with an even dumber take
JF (e1156d) — 3/13/2022 @ 8:02 am“Called on to put your money where your mouth is ‘Bugs’ you:”
No what bugs me is your complete lack of common sense (and common decency). If a man is drowning, you generally don’t first ask him to produce his credit card for payment, you provide assistance. The same when flooding happens in New Orleans or a deadly tsunami strikes Thailand. You don’t stop to have a bake sale or, here, sell war bonds. Especially since…you know… we’re not at war.
Just be honest for once and simply admit….you don’t give a f*ck about Ukraine…..and probably want to see Russia win because then you can go on and on about how Putin is a genius and Biden is a dunce who lost another embassy. We get your tired Trump-like schtick.
Borrowing 100x the money for Covid payments didn’t get a burp or tittle from you…in fact you excoriated Biden for not doing it faster and bigger. There was no hand wringing about borrowing from the Chinese and stimulating inflation or raising anyone’s taxes, you wanted free money….and quick. It’s rich for you to now level the hypocrite charge, as if no one is supposed to remember. Your trolling and propaganda for Putin is tedious and telling. You don’t want to help Ukraine without tax increases, fine, noted. Fortunately that’s not the sentiment of Congress, the people, and much of the world. And save the pffft and prattle response for someone who wants to play in your sandbox, I’m out.
AJ_Liberty (3cb02f) — 3/13/2022 @ 8:21 amC’mon, ladies…
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/13/2022 @ 8:32 amBiden is a fool on his own. Trump had nothing to do with his 50 years of bad policies.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 8:54 amGranted, this is from Mother Jones, but I assume the Russian document is accurate, that Putin wants Russian media to give more media exposure to Tucker Carlson, a shiddy American:
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 9:00 amI just don’t understand the confidence in the U.S. Military. We just had our bottoms handed to us by cave dwellers. But you people want more Americans to give up life for somebody else’s issues. How giving you are with other peoples lives. LGB. FJB.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:33 am
Those are two completely different scenarios. Beating up the Taliban in Afghanistan was never the problem in the 20 years we were there. The problem was the strategic fantasy of propping up a corrupt regime that didn’t have any influence outside of Kabul, out of a utopian dream that western-style government and left-liberal ideology could flourish there, and became a money pit that enriched a lot of defense contractors more than it served the Afghans or the American people.
Ukraine is empirically a corrupt country, but that is par for the course in a lot of ex-Soviet republics and it’s not like we don’t have a history of working with leaders who aren’t “good guys,” when they serve as nominal friends against our primary adversaries. The issue at hand is whether Putin is going to continue carving off pieces of the former Soviet Union for Russia’s own strategic purposes, and how far he’s willing to push in the face of determined resistance. It could very well be that Russia’s simply been throwing their worst troops in first and holding back their top units for a final push. It wouldn’t be the first time. But for all the corporatism within the brass at The Building, the fighting capabilities of the front-line troops and the superiority of our equipment in particular, compared to Russia, is beyond dispute. China’s actually a greater threat to us in conventional warfare than Russia is, for both military and economic reasons.
If Russia and the US ever did get in a conventional war, Russia’s military would get emulsified.
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 3/13/2022 @ 10:49 am@mg@175 Because we didn’t have our bottoms handed to us in a war. We won the war in Afghanistan 2 decades ago. What we failed at was rebuilding Afghanistan in a way that the country would look west instead of past and we didn’t feel like fighting the war again only to spend another 20 years again failing to make the Afghanis into children of the Enlightenment.
Nic (896fdf) — 3/13/2022 @ 10:53 amNo what bugs me is your complete lack of common sense (and common decency).
Piffle, rubbish and balderdash. You’ve been tagged and bagged by your own ideological conservative hypocrisy. Did you choose to miss weeping over these ‘evil on the march’ wars since 2003 – a startling number BTW- because they weren’t beamed into your hand gadgets and living rooms looped, 24/7:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars:_2003%E2%80%93present
Your own dismissive whine about ‘opening up a lemonade stand’ says it all; you wanna help, fine: PAY FOR IT. Joe fancies himself another FDR- well, FDR’s ‘lemonade stand’ peddling war bonds raised billions of dollars and was an effective tool toward curbing inflation. And BTW, there’s nothing wrong with helping American citizens, taxpayers – the very people who pay the freight- w/Covid stipends– you know, common sense and common decency: ‘pay yourself first.’ And in case you forgot ‘piffle’ is a term you introduced some threads ago. Hoisted by your own petard. Bugs called it: buy bonds, kid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUPUbvO0eU
“Stop thinking with your glands.” – James Kirk [William Shatner] ‘The Man Trap’ Star Trek 9/9/66, NBC TV
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 10:58 amI just don’t understand the confidence in the U.S. Military. We just had our bottoms handed to us by cave dwellers.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:04 amThe American military has been designed to fight a land war in Europe, generally not intervene in civil wars.
The U.S.A. should be paid for the munitions deployed. I have no problem with that.
The costs, whether Ukraine wins or loses, can be recouped from seized Russian assets.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:07 amI think mg is just trying to draw a reaction. The U.S. military regularly beat back the Taliban and drove it into the countryside. They knew not to go toe-to-toe for too long. The issue was always the tribal nature of Afghan society and a cultural backwardness clung to by enough of the population. Women going to school and coming out from burkas threatened too much. It’s just a shame that so many Afghanis that bought into the allure of modernity had to have it snatched back and that the region will remain ripe for radicalization. Our military is the best in the world, bar none. Urban and jungle guerilla warfare is always tough but besmirching the training and commitment of our soldiers is just ignorant.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:14 amFor anyone who wants to see their favorite Russian city nuked, go here.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:16 am@181. Paul,
‘Biden personally killed Ukraine jet transfer that Blinken green-lit and Poland wanted’… because Senator Joe and the ‘folks’ around him are incompetent- the breadth and depth of which remain gob smacking. The whole MIG ‘negotiation’ could have been handled out of the public eye.
Flashback: ‘to circumnavigate the US neutrality act, Britain took delivery of aircraft at the U.S. Canadian border and pulled them into Canada by horses or trucks. It was the peak of World War II, and Britain was in a desperate situation needing help from the USA. The USA converted the farm into a temporary airfield, but horses or trucks pulled aircraft into the Canadian border. Why was the aircraft not flown to Canada directly? It’s a complex web of international politics… Due to the neutrality clause, the USA refused to directly deliver the armaments to Britain… The U.S. obliged but informed Britain that it was not possible to fly the flights directly to Canada. USA will deliver the aircraft to the US Canada border and drain fuel from the plane. Horses or trucks were used to pull the aircraft over the Canadian border.’ That’s the difference between the brain of Senator Biden and the mind of President Roosevelt.
https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/why-britain-pulled-aircraft-with-horses-and-trucks-ddd2dbd2aaa4
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:24 amThe U.S. military regularly beat back the Taliban and drove it into the countryside.
Pfft. Vietnam: winning battles, losing war; Westmorland 101.
… and the MIC smiled.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:27 amQuinnipiac University National Poll: Vast Majority Of Americans Say Ban Russian Oil; Nearly 8 In 10 Support U.S. Military Response If Putin Attacks A NATO Country
At nearly the end of week two of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the U.S. and its allies consider ratcheting up sanctions against Russia, Americans say 71 – 22 percent that they would support a ban on Russian oil even if it meant higher gasoline prices in the United States, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll of adults released (March 7th). Democrats (82 – 12 percent), independents (70 – 22 percent), and Republicans (66 – 30 percent) all support banning Russian oil.
As for the steps that the Biden administration has taken so far to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, 56 percent say they are not tough enough, while 30 percent say they are about right, and 3 percent say they are too tough. This is largely unchanged from a Quinnipiac University Poll released a week ago.
………
There is broad support (79 – 14 percent) for a U.S. military response if Russian President Vladimir Putin goes beyond Ukraine and attacks a NATO country.
Americans think 60 – 28 percent that Putin is willing to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries.
……..
Americans are divided on Joe Biden’s handling of the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with 42 percent approving, 45 percent disapproving, and 13 percent not offering an opinion. This compares to a week ago when 39 percent approved, and 47 percent disapproved.
For his overall job approval, Americans give Biden a negative 38 – 51 percent job approval rating with 11 percent not offering an opinion. ……..
In today’s poll, registered voters give Biden a negative 40 – 51 percent job approval rating with 9 percent not offering an opinion. …….
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 percent) have a favorable opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with 29 percent saying they haven’t heard enough about him, and 6 percent having an unfavorable opinion.
Americans support 78 – 15 percent accepting Ukrainian refugees into the United States.
…….. In today’s poll, 60 percent think (Putin is) mentally unstable, while 21 percent think he’s mentally stable……..
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:47 am……….
Clearly Tucker Carlson (and some on this forum) have their work cut out for them to change public opinion.
We did not win in Afghanistan. They did, took us for lives, limbs and millions in equipment.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:51 amYou smoking Afghani Temple Balls?
For some comrades, and they know who they are, Ukraine is merely a MacGuffin. What they want is for Trump to look good. Since that is impossible on his own merits, they do their best to make everyone and everything else look bad.
nk (1d9030) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:55 amWe should have leveled Afghanistan on 9/12. Truman Style.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:55 amWe did not win in Afghanistan.
Let’s just say that the opium smugglers, Pakistan, and the military-industrial complex did not let our crisis (9/11) go to waste.
nk (1d9030) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:58 amChasing Bin Laden was a dick show. Couldn’t get him until the Kenyan showed up. Priceless.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:59 amAs well as China, nk, where the opium is made into junk.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:01 pm…and based on post #188 by one Rip Murdoch, Tucker Carlson should have only 2 options for tomorrow nights show: the Apollo Theatre jester with cane or Howard Beale’s grand finale.
urbanleftbehind (c6f17b) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:01 pmI prefer the Howard Beale ending.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:08 pmAfghanistan (and Vietnam for that matter) were civil wars where we picked the unpopular side. Completely different from fighting an invading nation-state. The US Army (and its weapon systems) are not designed for jungle or high mountain warfare.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:14 pmHow can we observe “Women’s History Month” if there are no such thing as “women” any more—only “birthing persons”?
Not all women can be birthing persons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgp9MPLEAqA
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:22 pmif sure someone here can come up with an even dumber take
Sure. If you don’t want to go to war over Hitler invading Czechoslovakia you’re some kind of Nazi. But frankly, all the head-in-the-sand wishful thinking is on your part.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:26 pmBut you people want more Americans to give up life for somebody else’s issues. How giving you are with other peoples lives.
So, people who voluntarily join the military have some kind of right not to be put in harm’s way if that’s in the national interest? Please explain.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:29 pmBiden is a fool on his own. Trump had nothing to do with his 50 years of bad policies.
That’s true. So is the vice-versa.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:30 pmUkraine is empirically a corrupt country
Convince me that it is more corrupt than Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Illinois, California or New York City.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:33 pmWe should have leveled Afghanistan on 9/12. Truman Style.
We signed a treaty with nearly every nation on earth that we will not use nuclear weapons against a nation that pledged, in that treaty, to never obtain nuclear weapons. So, unless we wanted to destroy a treaty that is one-sided in OUR favor, we could not do that.
Note that this leaves NK and Iran in a difficult spot as they signed, then reneged on that treaty, leaving them as examples to be made.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:38 pmUrkraine is more corrupt than all of the above, but they’re less corrupt than Russia and 57 other nations (link).
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:47 pmFor anyone who wants to see their favorite Russian city nuked, go here.
Good news! A 500kT airburst at the local target (the ABQ airport/AFB) leaves my house 2 miles outside the 1 psi overpressure zone.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:48 pmThis means I can safely be a chicken hawk!
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:50 pmOur military is the best in the world, bar none.
Understand that we went halfway around the world and stomped the regional power into the dirt in a week or two. Twice. What eventually happened in Iraq was not a military defeat but a decision to abandon a victory.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:53 pmUrkraine is more corrupt than all of the above, but they’re less corrupt than Russia and 57 other nations (link).
More corrupt than Cuba? I question the methodology.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:01 pmGood news! A 500kT airburst at the local target (the ABQ airport/AFB) leaves my house 2 miles outside the 1 psi overpressure zone.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:48 pm
Simulation results not guaranteed.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:01 pmIf Zelensky was as corrupt as suggested, he would have arrived a month ago in Geneva with a billion dollars from Putin.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:04 pmU.S. Warns ‘Full Force’ of NATO Would Respond if Russia Hits Poland
‘WASHINGTON—U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned of a full-fledged NATO response if a Russian strike were to hit member-state Poland, after an attack on a Ukrainian military base roughly 10 miles from the border.’
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/russia-ukraine-latest-news-2022-03-11/card/u-s-warns-full-force-of-nato-would-respond-if-russia-hits-poland-zEmQR8bzJCRx5QiKilww
OFGS: SOMEBODY give that idiot kid his daily wedgie and shut him up.
______
OT- Former President Obama tests positive for Covid.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:21 pmRussian tabloid media is all over it, claiming Zelenskyy has $1 billion offshore and a $35 million Miami mansion.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:22 pmGood SNL commercial: “This a damn trap!”
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:23 pmIf you don’t want to go to war over Hitler invading Czechoslovakia you’re some kind of Nazi
who knew roosevelt was also a nazi?
tell us more
JF (e1156d) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:26 pmU.S. claims Russia has asked China for military help in invasion of Ukraine
White House fears move is sign of increasingly close ties between Beijing and Moscow.
https://www.ft.com/content/30850470-8c8c-4b53-aa39-01497064a7b7
“Everything is Jake.” – Johnny Hooker [Robert Redford] ‘The Sting’ 1973
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:31 pmKevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:26 pm
your search for nazis is not unlike putin’s
great minds think alike
JF (e1156d) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:31 pm223, I felt the same way about this Latin music fest up in the Wisconsin Dells area that started in 2017, which now moves to San Murderino after 3 years of shows and 2 on hiatus.
urbanleftbehind (c6f17b) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:35 pmhttps://www.foxnews.com/transcript/fox-news-sunday-on-march-13-2022
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:43 pmHow Might the War in Ukraine End? Five Factors Will Shape the Outcome
………
Although predictions are next to impossible, military strategists are focusing on several factors to provide clues, including the performance of the armies on the ground and the impact of sanctions.
One thing becoming clear is that the performance of Russia’s military thus far is delivering Mr. Putin a reality check and potentially scrambling the range of outcomes. “Every day the Ukrainians don’t lose, they win politically,” said Michael Clarke, former director of the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank. “And the political cost for him is going up on a daily basis.”
Lawrence Freedman, a professor emeritus of war studies at King’s College, London, doesn’t think the Russians will succeed in installing a puppet government in Ukraine. “They can’t occupy the whole country,” he said. “A puppet government in Kyiv not backed by Russian arms wouldn’t have any legitimacy and wouldn’t survive.”
……….
Here are five variables military analysts say could determine the course of the war:
Invading forces
……….
…….Russia hasn’t undertaken a military operation combining different branches of the military since the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, and that wasn’t as complex.
“We’ve all been astonished that this new Russian army looks like the old Red Army—not very well trained, not very well commanded, with really quite poor logistics—which implies either a big failure of planning or…a big underestimation of the enemy,” said (Michael) Clarke, the former director of the Royal United Services Institute.
……….
“It’s going to cause Putin to lash out, to get really vicious, to use indiscriminate fire and mass artillery in urban areas and flatten Ukrainian cities, and the consequence will be a terrible cost in human casualties,” predicted Gen. (Richard Shirreff. a British former deputy military commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
Defending forces
…….
The longer Ukraine’s formal military can hold out, the more it increases Mr. Putin’s troubles, military analysts said.
Most analysts think the Ukrainian military will sooner or later crack. It is fighting with all it has all the time, with no respite. Russia can keep reinforcing its front lines with fresh troops.
The question is: What then? The common assumption is that Moscow will seek to install an obedient government in Kyiv, leaving it to run the west of the country, while annexing a large part of the country east of the Dnipro River.
One possibility is that Ukraine’s formal military will melt away and an insurrection will start. ……..
……. Expert estimates for how many troops would be needed to control and occupy a rebellious Ukraine number upward of 500,000. “Putin doesn’t have that, and he will run out people, and it will turn into a Soviet-Afghanistan redux,” said Gen. Shirreff.
……..
Western response
…….
Any ambiguous peace imposed on Ukraine by Moscow might leave the West debating how to calibrate any lifting of sanctions. Some could be lifted quickly, but others, such as those against the Russian leadership, might be trickier in the event of potential war-crimes trials.
Analysts said one country that could be more influential on Russia is China, whose leaders are likely concerned about the prospect of military escalation.
Russian reaction
This is a big unknown. …….
…….
…….(A)ny long campaign against an insurgency in Ukraine would cost the lives of many Russian soldiers, a factor that in the past has stirred even conservative elements of the population that would normally support Mr. Putin.
“Putin doesn’t have indefinite time to sort this out,” says Mr. Freedman of King’s College. “The economic hardship is just now starting to be felt. He can’t let this drag on for weeks and months, which is how long sieges, let alone insurgencies, can go on. So time’s a real problem for him.”
Peace talks
…….
Any peace agreement with Mr. Zelensky might involve a loss of face for Mr. Putin because he has branded the Ukrainian administration, falsely, as a group of neo-Nazis. But an agreement with any government the Russians install would have no legitimacy inside or outside Ukraine.
……..
It is possible that Russia will try to “break Ukraine into parts and leave Western Ukraine alone,” said Angela Stent, a specialist in Russia affairs at Georgetown University. But because that would leave a West-leaning government in Kyiv that Mr. Putin has previously depicted as illegitimate, she said, “I find it hard to imagine that.”
……..
Mr. Clarke said one model of Ukrainian neutrality that might appeal to Russia is that of Austria in 1955. The Soviets pulled out of Austria in return for a constitutional guarantee of neutrality that exists today.
Rather than persuade Ukrainians that neutrality is an attractive option, the invasion is likely to harden opinion in the opposite direction.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:44 pm………….
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/henry-kissinger-to-settle-the-ukraine-crisis-start-at-the-end/2014/03/05/46dad868-a496-11e3-8466-d34c451760b9_story.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:48 pm115. U.S. claims Russia has asked China for military help in invasion of Ukraine
“WE were always at war with Eastasia” department
China is on record (2013-2015) as agreeing to defend Ukraine, at least against nuclear weapons. This was made with the old Ukrainian government but China ratified it in 2015. Now a lot of that has been removed from the Internet.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/under-new-scrutiny-chinas-nuclear-pledge-to-ukraine-11647007200
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:52 pmRip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:44 pm
That is what caused a lot of nations to form NATO on 1949. Neutrality didn’t help Belgium in 1940. Nor in 1914, It did help the Netherlands in 1914 but not in 1940. In 1914 Germany had more limited ambitions, although it wasn’t above trying to encourage Mexico to go to war with thw United States to recover lost territories. (I don’t think Mexico was interested, even with the help of Japan – I don’t think Japan was consulted anyway. Japan was on the side of the Allies in that war./)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 1:58 pm………….
Good SNL commercial: “This a damn trap!”
A wonderful example of how blacks and whites view racial equality. Unconscious privilege for one group that isn’t at all unconscious for the other.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:03 pmJoe Biden got involved. I think everybody else in the U.S. and in NATO governments was for it.
Nobody is leaking any Russia threat, and many Russia threats are ignored.
There did exist an excuse – they wouldn’t be of too much use (if the Russian military was working better – the Pentagon, or its usual military experts, actually are quite puzzled by what’s going on) and they wouldn’t be easy or quick to backfill Poland with other jets.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:06 pmThe Russian army’s problems could relate to Putin viewing political reliability as a major factor in promotions and retention of officers. The Soviets did this too, although sometimes just with political officers “minding” the line officers.
I wish that I could say that US presidents don’t do similar, but the services have some ability to resist that.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:10 pmWhat the heck changed between Monday and Tuesday afternoon?
Again, I think the worry was that Ukraine might retaliate against targets outside Ukraine.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:11 pmasset (8fcfe8) — 3/13/2022 @ 12:30 am
It’s called the Georgian Legion because it started with people from the country of Georgia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Legion_(Ukraine)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:12 pmm
Again, I think the worry was that
UkraineRussia might retaliate against targets outside Ukraine.I’m sure that’s what you meant. 😏
Also, how many military airfields remain under Ukrainian control? MiG-29s need at least 2500 feet.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:23 pmWhat the heck changed between Monday and Tuesday afternoon?
Joe Biden got involved. I think everybody else in the U.S. and in NATO governments was for it.
Hardly Biden’s fault:
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:29 pm235. Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:10 pm
Well, yes, but I think it could be the sanctions. Nobody is truly loyal to the mad Czar.
(as he was called by Alexei Navalny on his Instagram account which is somehow continuing despite his being in prison)
https://nypost.com/2022/03/12/alexei-navalny-bashes-insane-tsar-putin-from-behind-bars
Control of Russiais slipping out of Putin’s grip, but not openly. They are not in a position or too fearful to overthrow Putin but the same is not the case for ignoring his orders, to the extent possible, or avoiding doing a good job. I mean, who wants these sanctions?
Someone said on the Kremlin controlled channel Rossiya 1 that the most important thing is to “stop our military action” and not try to get rid of the sanctions first. I am not sure who he is talking to,
https://nypost.com/2022/03/11/russian-tv-pundits-are-asking-putin-to-end-invasion-of-ukraine
And walso ho wants to risk a nuclear war? Or get charged with war crimes?
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:29 pmThe WHO says 24 medical facilities have been targeted in all.
But maybe not very effectively in many cases.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:31 pmThe timing of Navalny’s video release and arrest is no coincidence. The Putin palace is over 190,000 square feet in size, thanks to his oligarchs and the labors of the Russian people.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:33 pmAJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:14 am
They drove them into Pakistan, and let them survive there.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:36 pmIn some cases, it is in the state constitution.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:39 pmPortman, Klobuchar, Wicker & Blumenthal Travel to Poland on Bipartisan CODEL
‘WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced that they are traveling to Poland to meet with Polish officials and visit refugee sites to reaffirm the U.S.’ commitment to Poland, Ukraine and other allies in response to President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.’
https://www.portman.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/portman-klobuchar-wicker-blumenthal-travel-poland-bipartisan-codel
DoD contracts awarded by state from 2000 to 2020:
Blumenthal’s Connecticut: 3,542 DoD contractors; total from 2000-2020: $238,493,456,197
Portman’s Ohio: 8,624 DoD contractors; total from 2000-2020: $111,985,244,721
Klobuchar’s Minnesota: 4,318 DoD contractors; total from 2000-2020: $50,791,617,603
Wicker’s Mississippi: 3,450 DoD contractors; total from 2000-2020: $72,079,730,074
Look up your own state. Example… California: 32,597 DoD contractors; total from 2000-2020: $708,583,731,995
Great site:
https://www.governmentcontractswon.com/search.asp?type=dt
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:45 pm8. Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:05 pm
I think there’s some people in the Russian military more worried about that,
They’re worried about that, but not sure how much they should be,’
ANd ifthey avoid both consequences, what about the sanctions?
Meanwhile Russia is insisting they won;t agree with the deal they negotiated in Vienna with Iran (Russia, China and Iran in a room, with the U.S. getting second hand reports) unless they are allowed to trade with Iran. After they all went home, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired missiles at the site of the new consulate being built in Erbil, Iraq, although they were careful not to get anybody killed because no one was there. The U.S. government is evaluating whether that was really the target.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:49 pmAt least he was honest about that.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:51 pmHow Fact-Finding Fauci Led To My Cancellation At Forbes
https://openthebooks.substack.com/p/factfindingfaucicanceledforbes?s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Obudman (2d52ed) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:07 pmRIP actor William Hurt (71).
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:13 pmBody Heat. Big Chill. Broadcast News. Altered States. even Lost In Space; stellar.
RIP William Hurt… fade to black.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:27 pmR.I.P. William Hurt
Icy (6abb50) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:30 pmAltered States was a fundamentally silly film, but Hurt was great in it.
Icy (6abb50) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:31 pm@253. Agree. Entertaining, but sort of goofy- same w/LIS. But H delivered. His personal life was a tabloid trainwreck, but on screen, excellent. Broadcast News was pitch-perfect.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 3:38 pmThe terrible thing is that prostate cancer is largely curable and in many cases not even life-threatening. Nearly every man who lives into their 70s will have some level of cancer in their prostate, but many will never have to do more than take a pill.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:04 pmLet’s not forget his Marvel films as General “Thunderbolt” Ross.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:05 pmas he was called by Alexei Navalny on his Instagram account which is somehow continuing despite his being in prison
There are prisons, and there are “prisons.” A billionaire may find some way to get special treatment in a corrupt system like Russia. Then again, he risks disappearing in the night.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:08 pmI’m sure that’s what you meant.
Not at all. I think that Ukraine hitting a Russian target with a plane that came from Poland would be certain to get Russia to attack Poland, and their excuse might cause a rupture in NATO.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:10 pmIn some cases, it is in the state constitution.
I think that’s a judicial claim, based on it being a contract, not an actual written thing in the state constitution. At least it’s that way in California.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:13 pmMy long-standing proposal for fixing state pensions: A graduated tax on “windfall” pension payments.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:14 pmPutin? Is that you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF23buZH4WU
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:37 pmFauci did not kill himself… but where did the gnome go?
steveg (e81d76) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:45 pmGonna watch Body Heat on VHS (yes, I am THAT old) tonight.
Icy (6abb50) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:13 pmI’m not as care free with soldiers lives, Kevin M.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:13 pmThey deserved better leadership from Boooosh, Dick Head, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld.
Putin? Is that you?
No– this is… and it’s how a KGB agent sucker-baited fawning westerners in the audience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbkGkr0iceI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBkThqbJPj4
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:32 pm
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:45 pmRetired: Tom Brady.He just can’t stop licking Putin’s boots:
(He has a weird idea of love, doesn’t he? And an ignorance of basic history so deep that his military school probably wants to claim he never attended there.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:45 pmThey deserved better leadership from Boooosh, Dick Head, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld.
But you liked Obama tossing away the victory?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:46 pmHe has a weird idea of love
see 261.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:47 pmAn ex-leader meeting with Putin:
A compromised ex-leader:
Putin and Schröder are long-time friends, though perhaps co-conspirators might be a better description of their relationship.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:52 pmHe just can’t stop licking Putin’s boots
“Boots” being a euphemism.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 5:58 pmMy long-standing proposal for fixing state pensions: A graduated tax on “windfall” pension payments.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 4:14 pm
I’d also be down with penalties for people who leave the state for cheaper climes like, say, 25% off of what you’d normally get paid to stay in the state. Colorado is going to be joining California and New York soon as a source of state refugees the way things are going, and PERA is an absolute mess.
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:08 pmRussian spy chiefs ‘under house arrest’ as Putin turns on his security chiefs over invasion setback
‘A Russian spy chief and his deputy have been placed under house arrest by Vladmir Putin as the president blames his security services for the resistance met in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has been claimed. According to a leading expert on the Russian security services, Sergey Beseda, head of the FSB’s foreign intelligence branch, was arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh.
Andrei Soldatov, who is co-founder and editor of Agentura- a watchdog of the Russian secret services’ activities – revealed that sources inside the FSB have confirmed the detention of both men. The arrests were further corroborated by Vladimir Osechkin, an exiled Russian human rights activist who also added that the FSB officers had carried out searches at over 20 addresses in Moscow of colleagues suspected to be speaking with journalists. Mr Osechkin told The Times that while the formal grounds of the arrests were made on accusations of embezzlement of funds, he said the “real reason is unreliable, incomplete and partially false information about the political situation in Ukraine” A western official was aware of the arrests of both men but could not confirm them, but said that if the claims of arrest are true, it would signal Putin’s concern about the FSB’s role in the military campaign and may lead to major changes at senior level in the FSB.
Mr Soldatov told The Times that the final reports produced by the FSB in the lead-up to the invasion of Ukraine and their assessment of how much resistance was expected were “terribly miscalculated”. The author and editor added that the intelligence may have gathered good intelligence, but the problem lies in the difficulty faced by Russian superiors to “tell Putin what he doesn’t want to hear” so they “tailor their information”. It comes as Putin’s military operation enters its third week and despite significant civilian casualties, Ukraine continues to hold its own against Russia’s forces. As of March 9, Ukraine’s Armed Forces estimate that approximately 12, 000 Russian troops have been killed while three Russian generals were assassinated within a week.
Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, chief of staff of the 41st Army, Maj Gen Andrei Sukhovetsky, commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division and a deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army, and Maj Gen Andrei Kolesnikov, the commander of the Eastern Military District were all killed in the invasion. The death of Maj Gen Kolesnikov means as many Russian Major Generals have been killed in two weeks than during the entire Syrian civil war, in which Putin helped prop up Bashar al-Assad’s regime.’ – https://news.yahoo.com/russian-spy-chiefs-under-house-163301889.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:13 pmI wish that I could say that US presidents don’t do similar, but the services have some ability to resist that.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 2:10 pm
Officer promotion is ridiculously political. The best officer I ever served under never made it past O-6, and it sure wasn’t because he was incompetent. He had multiple deployments in both combat and humanitarian missions, and specialized in turning around bad units. But he focused more on the people under his command than networking with the brass, so he never got to pin on a star.
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:16 pmAn officer who can’t work well with superiors or his counterparts within the group at hand is going to have some folks unhappy with him.
Yes, that’s “politics” of a sort, but it’s a military sort. I’m more concerned about the big boss rating people on whether they are “woke” (or “MAGA”) as that’s not really a good way to rate military officers.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 7:45 pmGonna watch Body Heat on VHS (yes, I am THAT old) tonight.
I find myself amazed that you still have a VHS player that works.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/13/2022 @ 9:31 pmHardly Biden’s fault:
I find it pretty much impossible to believe that a “leak” from an EU official about the transfer of fighter jets from Poland to Ukraine could have caused the Biden Administration to veto the deal, considering the fact that the Biden Administration apparently shared a great deal of our intelligence on pre-invasion Russian military maneuvers with China. And it’s not as if there aren’t scores if not hundreds of Biden Administration figures who happily leak information to their favorite news outlets for reasons both strategic and personal.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/13/2022 @ 9:37 pmI find myself amazed that you still have a VHS player that works.
You can still buy new ones.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 9:59 pmIt’s an interesting medium; videotape holds a lot of ‘information’ as do digital DVDs. Believe it or not, in terms of archiving, analog videotape is a better long term repository than DVDs. Aside from how they hold data, that is, analog vs. digital, a DVD is essentially a ‘plastic sandwich’ and over time [projections range about 20-25 years- depending on how they were manufactured and are stored] can begin to separate, pit, etc., and digital data is lost, similar to degradation of CDs over time. Videotape – just like audio magnetic tape- if properly stored in a controlled temperature and humidity environment -and rotated on spools periodically– can hold data and last for decades- as evidenced by the network libraries [Carson’s shows are al stored underground on tape in a temp/humidity controlled vault.] The weak point w/t tape is the physical contact where the tape meets the video drumheads– and the brittleness and flaking of the tape emulsion over time- hence the need for temperature/humidity control. [Keeping videotapes in a hot attic is not a wise move.] The trick is finding and maintaining the machines themselves- the older belt-drive VCRs are a mess to deal with due to belts liquifying or breaking over time; the video heads go, too. Internal mechanical systems present the least problems. Made a point a decade or so ago to purchase and store away several VHS VCRs – even keep a pair of Betamax recorders in working condition as well. ‘Course the aspect ratio of television has changed – and most movies on tape from the 80s and early 90s were pan and scaned for the old 3:4 TV screen- not the newer wide screen ‘letterbox’ TV formats. The best aspects of DVD- aside from the crispness and image clarity- freeze frame etc., and its use in multiple platforms- from computers to home players and such- – is the very, very low degradation of audio and imagery in transfer from video and from DVD to DVD. But videotape is still a solid medium to use to archive.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 10:10 pm@278. Manufacturers don’t make the VHS tapes anymore though; no market now. Still, vinyl found a thriving renaissance after 30 years.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/13/2022 @ 10:12 pmYou can still get new old stock.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/13/2022 @ 11:51 pmBoosh lost the war, dude.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:08 amHis policies were death for our best and brightest.
The booosh family is a traitorous bunch.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/1503063077918498816
Issues that matter to the American public. Funny how what matters isn’t what is being discussed by the media.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:39 amWhose side is Wall Street on?
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:05 amOk, this is funny.
Where is he calling from?
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:09 amHappy Pi Day to all of you, especially Dana, Patterico, and JVW!
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:29 am@285
While I think this is a great idea, I’m disappointed that it’s Trump is wanting to push this as there’s going to be far too many willing to oppose this because it’s Trump.
This goes back to whether or not we believe in the Unitary Executive or not.
whembly (36ab5f) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:21 amThe point is that if the West was planning to do this DON’T TALK ABOUT IT (there’s a war on, you know). The whole plan was doomed once it became public. If Poland wanted to transfer the planes, just do it, but don’t talk about it (granted it was an EU official, not the Polish government. that disclosed it). Poland was setting up the US/Germans to take the rap by announcing the planes would be transferred to Ramstein Air Base.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:55 am#287 When local postmasters were changed from patronage jobs to civil service, the president at the time (or an ex-president?) remarked that he was happy with the change, since, when he named a postmaster, he made nine enemies and one ingrate.
So, if anyone hoping for a patronage job was pleased by Trump’s foolishness, they should know that the odds area against them. (And by now, everyone should know that working for Trump in a government job is often bad for one’s health, wealth, and sometimes even freedom — despite all those pardons he issued.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:07 amThis goes back to whether or not we believe in the Unitary Executive or not.
Actually, it goes back to whether you believe in Civil Service or not. In the bad old days, a change in administration resulted in widespread firings and replacement with loyal supporters of the new guys. The “spoils system.” Then Civil Service Reform happened, which was intended to get politics out of the bureaucracy.
But that failed and instead resulted in one party being embedded in the bureaucracy, due to that party being philosophically aligned with Big Government, and the other not.
Newt Gingrich used to go on about this well before Trump came on the scene.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:12 amI don’t believe in the Civil Service, at all.
The problem is this: The Civil Service isn’t beholden to the voters in any meaningful way.
whembly (36ab5f) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:19 amNext question: Should they be?
To be sure, yes, when the party flips after a Presidential election, there will inevitably be certain level of chaos as previous positions are fired and the President’s “peeps” are installed.
But, at least voters get what they deserve depending who’s the President, and it mitigates unelected bureaucrat from acting as a ‘Praetorian Guard’, gumming up the desires of a Presidential agenda.
whembly (36ab5f) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:23 amTo be sure, yes, when the party flips after a Presidential election, there will inevitably be certain level of chaos as previous positions are fired and the President’s “peeps” are installed.
But, at least voters get what they deserve depending who’s the President, and it mitigates unelected bureaucrat from acting as a ‘Praetorian Guard’, gumming up the desires of a Presidential agenda.
whembly (36ab5f) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:23 amIs Russia going to lose?
One way to answer the question in the headline is “It already has.” Even to a rank amateur like me, it was clear by *day three* that Putin was facing a strategic debacle. He misjudged Ukraine’s desire and ability to resist, he misjudged the strength of his military, and he misjudged the west’s willingness to paralyze Russia’s economy with sanctions. “No Russian leader since Tsar Nicholas II has done his country so much harm, so fast, as Vladimir Putin,” David Frum tweeted a few days ago, marveling at how diminished Russian power has been by Putin’s folly in the span of a few weeks.
……..
……..The “real” fight for Ukraine would come after that when Russia’s occupying forces and Ukraine’s insurgency would wage a war of attrition. Eventually Moscow would run out of patience and withdraw, but “eventually” could take months. Years. Decades, conceivably.
……..
Realistically, there are three ways in which the Russian army might lose:
1. Putin is toppled in a palace coup and his successor withdraws from Ukraine. That’s unlikely, but stay tuned.
2. Putin himself withdraws voluntarily, seeing no prospect for victory. ……
3. Underequipped, taking heavy losses, and plagued by low morale, the Russian military just sort of … quits. Francis Fukuyama dares today to think the unthinkable, predicting a battlefield rout of the Russian bear:
Putin will be ousted in the aftermath of his failure, Fukuyama further speculates, and China will rethink its designs on Taiwan having seen what sort of trouble an invader can run into when its air force isn’t prepared for complex operations.
Is that too good to be true? Probably. …..
……..
There are no skilled reinforcements waiting back in Russia to relieve the front-line troops, which is why Putin has gone sniffing around for help from Syria and Belarus. And the sheer amount of men and equipment lost already to Ukrainian attacks means that Russian units left in the field aren’t functioning at optimal levels. At some point, as losses mount and resupply grows even more difficult, the military will become ineffective…….
You can see, then, why Zelensky is reluctant to make any deals with Russia despite the terrible suffering in cities like Mariupol and the pressure being put on him by allies. It’s an open question whether Russia can sustain this offensive for much longer, which means time is on Ukraine’s side and he knows it. ……
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:27 am………
My guess is that the Russian infantry massing around Kiev isn’t even going to enter the city. They know what sort of losses they’d take in urban combat; there’s no reason to think they could outfight the Ukrainians on their own streets. More likely is that they’re going to lay siege to the capital a la Mariupol and wait for a surrender. ……..
……….
https://thepostmillennial.com/laid-off-keystone-xl-pipeline-workers-blast-biden
Obviously true so no other news site will cover it.
NJRob (476af9) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:34 amThe problem with oil prices is that they behave like prices of other non-perishable, finite quantity, goods — expectations of future prices are key.
Example: You own 100 shares of XYZ. XYZ’s stock has been rising all year. Do you sell? The price is rather more than you paid for it, but you fully expect that the price will be even higher next month, so you don’t. It isn’t until you see the price coming down that you think it’s time to take your profits.
This is, of course, a situation that is self-reinforcing. The price rises until enough potential sellers decide — usually for external reasons — that they should sell and the price stops going up.
Now, add to this a government (yes, this is an imperfect analogy) that intervenes and removes some XYZ stock from the market. What does that do to expectations of future value for the holders of XYZ stock?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:50 amGreedy Democrats think government is the answer. So do greedy Ttump and his fans. Here is one Democrat who sounds a little like a conservative.
DRJ (03cb91) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:05 amRobert Reich:
DRJ (03cb91) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:06 amTop 6 midterm elections issues:
1) Inflation – 88% concerned. 62% very concerned.
2) Violent Crime – 88% concerned. 61% very concerned.
3) Election Integrity – 83% important. 62% very important.
4) School Issues – 76% concerned. 58% very concerned.
5) Illegal Immigration – 73% important. 52% very important.
6) COVID-19 – 68% concerned. 39% very concerned.
NJRob (476af9) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:11 amWhat poll? A GOP push poll or something with non-GOP concerns listed?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:26 amhttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/a-uniquely-perilous-moment/627040
https://www.commentary.org/articles/eli-lake/american-international-relations-russia-china
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:33 am288. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:55 am
Somebody was trying to organize it, and initially several countries agreed – or Ukraine leaked it to scare the Russian generals because it seem that only Poland both had the planes and was willing to transfer them.
The Ukrainian air defenses are quite good – of the 30 missiles fired yesterday morning, only 8 were not knocked out of the sky or whatever.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:37 amGreedy Democrats think government is the answer.
Example: Here in New Mexico, the state assesses a separation tax on each barrel of oil. At current production levels this amounts to a marginal income to the state of $30 million for each dollar the price of oil changes.
The state’s current (balanced) budget ($8.5 billion) is based on a $64/bbl assumption. The current price is $50-60/bbl above that, suggesting a windfall income in 2022 of an additional $1.8 billion. That is about $900 for each person in the state, or if you prefer, the amount collected by the state from the gross receipts (aka sales) tax.
What to do with this extra money?
☐ tax cuts or rebates
☐ new ongoing government programs
Hint: the post-Trump legislature is heavily not Republican.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:43 amThis sounds like somebody wanted the war to take place. Not sure “telling Putin what he wanted ti hear” could explain that.
There was a commando operation with paratroops to take Kiev. The paratroopers all got surrounded and captured.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:44 amThe comparison to the American war f independence is a natural one, but talk of “love” can only come from the musical “Hamilton”
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:45 am237, SFL It’s called the Georgian Legio
I see there’s now something called the “International Legion” It was based in that airfield that got bombed.
I think the word legion is probably derived from the French Foreign Legion
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:49 amWhile I think this is a great idea, I’m disappointed that it’s Trump is wanting to push this as there’s going to be far too many willing to oppose this because it’s Trump.
Regardless of what I think of the idea, what’s risible is that it’s coming from Trump. He ain’t the boy to do it. He’s just a loser running his mouth. Nothing more than that. We might as well have heard it from the guy we gave spare change to at the light.
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 10:56 amhttps://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1501763583117389827
Pne tweet in this multi-tweet post from about March 4: (English translation, March 9)
Also:
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:03 ambut talk of “love” can only come from the musical “Hamilton”
Again, see 261
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:07 amhttp://www.igorsushko.com contains alleged inside information.
Communicating openly would be a sign of desperation.
One thing is for sure; There must have been a plan, probably for a puppet regime, and none of that ever happened; it wasn’t even tried.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:19 amAnyhow, wasn’t he supposed to have this done already five years ago?
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:19 ambut talk of “love” can only come from the musical “Hamilton”
Kevin M #309
I know. That;s where I saw it My point is, that’s not what the real George III said. Nor I think was it said by anyone else. Donald Trump had to get that from the musical “Hamilton.” It can only come from there.
Pkay, so it looks like Putin was being manipulated by somebody. Somebody who probably knew better, you would think. I don’t think anybody has made a good guess yet.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:27 amBiden warns: Russia will pay a “severe price” if it uses chemical weapons
I recall a similar threat being made some years ago, at another moment when Joe Biden had an office in the White House. We know how that turned out.
……..
……..How much more “severe” a price could Russia pay than it’s already paying right now short of NATO entering the fray?.
……..
Maybe “severe price” means cyberwarfare plus ramping up shipments of weapons to Ukraine, including certain high-tech materiel we might be holding back at the moment. For instance, those MiGs will certainly be transferred if Ukrainians end up being gassed. And the U.S. might boost its intelligence cooperation with the Ukrainians in the aftermath of a chemical attack. Reportedly we haven’t been giving them enough information about Russian troop positions to allow for “real-time targeting.” That could change.
Still, it seems unwise for the president to essentially dare Putin to use WMD, particularly when Obama’s bluff was successfully called by a Putin client 10 years ago. Why is he addressing the subject at all?
The answer, I think, is that U.S. intelligence is genuinely nervous that some sort of Russian false flag is coming. Marco Rubio, who’s on the Senate Intel Committee, has been warning about it all week. …….
……..
The Kremlin is obviously laying the rhetorical groundwork for something, either a false-flag chemical or biological attack it can blame on the enemy or a pretext to wage total war against the Ukrainians as their campaign for a quick conquest falters (“we must destroy the Ukrainian WMD program!”), or both. …….
……….
Putin’s interest in a WMD attack might follow the logic of “escalate to deescalate,” the same strategy that reportedly guides Russia’s use of tactical nuclear weapons. Under E2D, if Russia’s conventional military finds itself losing, it might use a small nuclear weapon to force the enemy to back off and sue for peace for fear that if the conflict continues it will spiral into all-out nuclear war. But the taboo against nuclear weapons is such that even Putin might feel reluctant to use them; the taboo against chemical weapons, which have been used in Syria and cause far less destruction, is far weaker. If Russia concludes that there’s no hope of achieving its objectives in Ukraine, it could resort to chemical weapons to try to maximize its negotiating leverage over the eventual peace deal.
The Kremlin would dutifully blame any chemical attack on the Ukrainians, of course, but all parties involved would know who was responsible and how things might escalate if a deal wasn’t immediately reached. Think of it as an eastern European version of the U.S. using atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II. The enemy has the choice to surrender, sparing both sides from terrible losses, or to fight on and take the consequences of truly nightmarish weapons. It worked for us. Putin may be calculating that a chemical version in Ukraine would work for him.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:32 am……….
If the chemical or tactical nuclear weapons produce enough gruesome casualties that are televised in the West, that might change public opinion enough to encourage the Biden Administration and NATO to implement a no fly zone or conduct an air-only campaign against Russian targets.
From the FSB insider:
I don’t think you say this means anything in particular.
More: (but note, even if this source is trying to be honest, he may have no idea what’s really going on) – it may be a genuine source because people in the FSB have been arrested, unless that is not true.
I think this guy is all lost.
He now has it that the United States tried to prevent an invasion of Taiwan by, creating a safer bad example for Xi to pay attention to, thanks to an (imaginary) deep penetration of the Russian government. It may work out that way in practice, but nobody could conceive this in advance. Nor could this actually happen very easily. And this plot would be both evil and crazy.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:50 amRussian Forces Kill Civilians, Loot for Supplies in Occupied Ukraine, Residents Say
……..
People arriving here from Russian-held areas over the weekend described hungry and undisciplined Russian troops shooting unarmed villagers, breaking into supermarkets and shops, and raiding homes in search of food and valuables as their own supply lines have failed.
“They just brazenly come in, without any shame, and take whatever they want,” said Valentyna Khodus, 64, who came to Zaporizhzhia from the small village of Myrne after days hiding in the cellar with her daughter and grandson as Russian troops went door to door ransacking houses.
…….
Russia says it isn’t planning an occupation of Ukraine and that its forces are liberating Ukrainians. It says it has only hit military targets and that any civilian casualties are the fault of what it calls Ukrainian nationalists and extremists.
……..
In Melitopol, part of the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia on Saturday named municipal council member Galina Danilchenko to run the city and surrounding district after Russian soldiers detained the elected mayor, Ivan Fedorov, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decried as an abduction.
“Our main task is to create new mechanisms adapted to the new reality, so that we will live in a new way as soon as possible,” Ms. Danilchenko said on local TV. She warned that there were “still people in the city trying to destabilize the situation, trying to cause extremist acts.”
………
Recruiting collaborators among local Ukrainian officials is particularly important for Russian forces as they seek legitimacy. Ms. Danilchenko said she was forming a new body that would run the city, and called on councilors to join.
……..
Demonstrators in Melitopol said Russians were surprised at the level of popular discontent. “They can’t believe that people come out to protest without being paid and that we do not have a single leader,” said Tatiana Kumok, a 40-year-old designer of wedding dresses.
……..
Russian soldiers in Myrne, she said, “had the gall to come and ask: Do you like us, do you appreciate that we have come to liberate you?”
“Not so much,” Ms. Khodus said fellow villagers replied. “We had no need for you.”
………
“When the Russians come into the villages, they maraud in every way they can, rob and shoot people,” said Oleksandr Sitnikov, who, alongside three small children, spent nearly two weeks hiding in a village cellar without water or electricity. “It’s extremely difficult out there.”
………
At the Russian checkpoint on the road to Zaporizhzhia, soldiers weren’t letting people cross before collecting a toll, Ms. Prystupa said.
“Every time they see Ukrainians in a car, they demand to be given food and cigarettes, and then they let you through,” she said. “Our people can’t refuse because the Russian soldiers point guns at them. Our people have no guns.”
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:50 am#########
Too late to say “Let the raping and looting begin.” As JF said in post 128, “it sucks to be Ukraine…….we should completely stand aside…..”.
SAM missiles.
But I get the feeling that Biden is overstating the threat – or maybe he does mean trying out things tat haven’t been tried before.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:54 amIn the 1930s, Stalin took all the harvests, leaving the Ukrainians to starve. If thy tried to hide their grain they were shot for “hoarding.”
Not much has changed since.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:57 amBut I get the feeling that Biden is overstating the threat……
We’ll see…..Putin has already used nerve toxin and nuclear material to assassinate opponents.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:03 pmA Fox News reporter has been hospitalized after being injured outside of Kyiv, Ukraine
‘Fox News journalist Benjamin Hall has been injured outside of Kyiv, the network announced Monday. Fox News host John Roberts announced that Hall was injured while newsgathering in the area. Hall, a British journalist working for Fox News, has been hospitalized following the injury, Roberts said.’ – source, https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-reporters-injured-outside-of-kyiv-ukraine-2022-3
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:05 pmhttps://www.newser.com/story/318052/zelensky-addresses-congress-this-week.html
He’s telephoning lots of people. The communication links have not been cut. Maybe Ukraine has got supporters in the Russian military – or at least those who think losing is the least bad option for them.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:20 pmI think this guy is all lost.
I just think that he is a Russian. Byzantine and paranoid like all the rest of them.
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:25 pm318.
While the UK counts that sort of thing as a violation of the chemical weapons treaty, really it’s a different thing. Syria did use chemical weapons (some of which it may have obtained from Saddam Hussein before the 2003 war) after Obama said it would cross a red line, and Putin helped Obama avoid following through on his threat after his bluff was called..
https://www.france24.com/en/20180414-syria-chemical-weapons-red-line-obama-macron-assad-russia-usa-france-idlib
https://tcf.org/content/report/red-line-redux-putin-tore-obamas-2013-syria-deal/
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:26 pm310. Losing with Zelensky in charge, as he may be their only hope of ending the majority of the sanctions. Nobody will listen to any other Ukrainian who calls for lifting the sanctions.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:28 pmNobody will listen to any other Ukrainian who calls for lifting the sanctions.
It’s not Ukraine’s call.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:36 pm311. nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:25 pm
This theory has XI wanting to invade Taiwan, not because he wants to, but because he supposedly needs it to be re-elected, which I think has already been guaranteed. This person says there’s a colossal internal fight between the elites in China, which may be true, but in this theory, invading Taiwan will help him!
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:36 pmPutin Signs Law to Seize Foreign Aircraft, Redeploy for Domestic Use
…….
Taking ownership of foreign aircraft will only have limited effect, though. Sanctions forbid maintenance, updates, support or the supply of spare parts for planes. Modern passenger jets require high levels of maintenance and flying them could pose risks to passengers.
###########
How is that different than any other flight on a Russian passenger aircraft?
Russia will become like Cuba, where the seizure of foreign assets is the major stumbling block to normal relations. Sanctions shouldn’t end until all assets returned to their legal owners (good luck with that).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:42 pm324. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:36 pm
Zelensky could do it — if he was not seen to be doing this under duress. But pretty much only Zelensky. Anybody in Russia who wants to get rid of the sanctions, which is almost everyone in any kind of position high up, has to see that.
There will be no appetite for relieving the sanctions without a reasonable peace agreement, and that doesn’t mean these ideas being tossed around like allowing Russia to annex more of Ukraine. And abpeace agreement can only be acceptable to the west if negotiated by Ukraine’s legitimate government – and also not any kind of a surrender.
I should say Zelensky’s consent is a necessary condition for sanctions relief – it isn’t actually sufficient. But it is necessary.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:46 pmOtherwise Russia will become like Cuba – only the United States won’t be alone with the sanctions
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:47 pmCeo of goldman sachs say it is not wall street’s job to not do business with russia. His job is to make money. Money makes the world go round! How can we make a profit on dead ukrainian children?
asset (ee4bf1) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:47 pmSome Russians are leaving Russia – particularly for Turkey (which has no visa requirements and whose planes are still flying into Russia)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/world/europe/russia-exiles-putin-ukraine-war.html
They are thinking of the exodus in 1920.
It’s only in the tens of thousands.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:51 pmPeole in California not connecting to the electric grid:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/13/business/energy-environment/california-off-grid.html
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:54 pmCeo of goldman sachs say it is not wall street’s job to not do business with russia. His job is to make money. Money makes the world go round! How can we make a profit on dead ukrainian children?
asset (ee4bf1) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:47 pm
Uh huh. And your source is what?
Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are winding down in Russia-3/10/22
Goldman Sachs on Thursday became the first big American bank to say it would exit Russia after Western governments imposed a raft of sanctions intended to cripple its economy. Hours later, JPMorgan Chase, the biggest bank in the United States, said it was winding down there, too.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 12:59 pm……..
“Goldman Sachs is winding down its business in Russia in compliance with regulatory and licensing requirements,” Andrea Williams, a spokeswoman for the bank, said in an email. “We are focused on supporting our clients across the globe in managing or closing out pre-existing obligations in the market and ensuring the well-being of our people.”
…….
At the end of 2021, Goldman Sachs had more than $700 million in exposure to Russia, linked to loans and financial products like stocks and bonds, according to a recent regulatory filing. That’s just a small slice of the $1.5 trillion bank’s global operations.
……..
“None of us can fail to see this for what it is: the invasion of a sovereign state,” David M. Solomon, Goldman’s chief executive, said in a memo to employees on Thursday. “Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes, Ukrainian cities have suffered massive destruction and already there has been tragic loss of life. I know that this remains an extremely daunting and difficult time for many of our people.”
……
Uh huh. And your source is what?
I see your source-you should have linked to it. But his statements have been overcome by events.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 1:01 pmNJRob @299. Why are some of these “concerned” or not and some of these “important” or not?
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 1:27 pmI find myself amazed that you still have a VHS player that works.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/13/2022 @ 9:31 pm
— I have one of those VHS/DVD combo players from around 2001. It hums right along!👌
Icy (6abb50) — 3/14/2022 @ 1:51 pmSammy,
Take it up with Rasmussen Reports. I linked it earlier and no one obviously read it so I decided to show the data. Click the link then redirect to their methodology.
Kevin ,
Interesting that you’d use a left wing attack to dismiss data not favorable to your opinion. Why is that?
NJRob (476af9) — 3/14/2022 @ 1:53 pmSammy,
The real problem with off-grid is that batteries charged and discharged daily (as one would do to have lights at night) eventually crap out. At that point you have a large expense replacing them, and possibly a large expense disposing of the old one (which is highly toxic).
A better model is one with a utility hookup (where possible), with an auto-disconnect if the utility power drops out. You MUST disconnect a solar system from the utility if you want power when the utility is dark. If you don’t. you will be powering the neighborhood from you solar and giving any utility workers a big surprise.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:03 pmInteresting that you’d use a left wing attack to dismiss data not favorable to your opinion. Why is that?
Why it a left-wing attack to ask for the source of a poll? It doesn’t fly that it is from something you linked in an earlier post — you left out the source and should expe3ct someone to ask, or even be a bit suspicious.
I get those puush-polls all the time in the mail from candidates who want to have some “data” they can later quote (and hopefully a donation). They always include the red-meat issues but never include anything outside the GOP bubble.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:06 pmAlso, Rasmussen hides its poll and data behind a paywall, so all we see is a topline excerpt on Twitter, or a report on a webzine, linking to a paywalled article. Wonder what #7 was.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:19 pmWhembly; once you remove the civil service protections you need another solution to the spoils system that they were intended to stop. I’m not saying the current system is perfect, but it’s an obvious problem that needs a solution if you all the president to fire all federal employees that aren’t personally loyal to them.
Time123 (9f42ee) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:27 pmTime,
The real problem is that one party favors a bigger bureaucracy with more power and the other one (sometimes) opposes that. Bureaucracies are photophillic and turn towards the light. Even if one has total control over the bosses, the rank-and-file know who really feeds them.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:40 pmhttps://thehill.com/opinion/international/597943-putin-and-xi-look-to-beijing-for-the-real-reason-behind-the-ukraine
I don’t think this article comes up with a reason.
The only thing he says is that China needs to to buy and import commodities and then to make and sell mass-produced goods, which it exports to the world. “to import every commodity traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and manufacture every good sold at every retail store in the Mall of America.”
So it needs freedom of movement for cargo traveling through the Strait of Malacca, which connects the South China Sea and, by extension, the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean.
At this point the throry breaks down.
He wantys to create aland bridge.
For this thery to work – to mak even half sense China would have to have confidence Putin would win.
With Putin being more a mob boss – just collect money
A theory ion which China goaded Russia into this as a test case would make more sense.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:41 pmBrent Renaud was the American journalist killed. He used an old NYT press card tp help him get around.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:44 pmCurrently, it is almost impossible to fire a Civil Service employee. There’s a classic case where an employee did not show up, ever, for work (and in fact was working a different job) and it took months just to schedule a hearing to consider if this was grounds for dismissal (which her hired counsel fought).
I don’t favor a straight spoils system, where the HHS secretarial pool is fired every election, but the President (or his political appointees) should be able to terminate any employee for cause, such as not following (or actively thwarting) department policy, or distributing internal documents to outsiders.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:46 pmA spoil system is bad just from a workability standpoint, let alone the corruption inherent in so many plums to hand out. But a partisan bureaucracy is bad, too.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:48 pmI am so tired of the Deep Thought “Taiwan test case” stuff. That’s not why Putin did this, and if Xi wanted to test out the Taiwan thing he’d have troops on Kinmen Island (aka Quemoy) yesterday. It is so effing obviously Chinese territory that there’s not a thing anyone would do, not even Taiwan.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:50 pmKevin, I Don’t agree with what you’ve laid out but I haven’t seen any effort by either party at civil service reform. The close set is Trumps “I’ll fire the all” rhetoric. Which to me reads more like a expression of resentment then anything else.
Time123 (9f42ee) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:55 pmGabbard/2024
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 3:29 pmCongress to hold private meeting with Zelenskyy to celebrate the allocation of taxes and to decide how to divvy up the 13 billion amongst Z and the congressional families.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:03 pmMan, I despise these people.
Happy Pi Day to all of you, especially Dana, Patterico, and JVW!
Thanks, Jim Miller. But Pi Day is just a contrived holiday created by Big Math to sell more geometry to the gullible American consumer.
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:06 pm— I have one of those VHS/DVD combo players from around 2001. It hums right along!👌
A tip from Panasonic engineers back in the day; those ‘combo- electronics’ set ups w/multiple components in one unit – popular w/U.S. consumers– are a bit of a marketing gimmick, so they said; as when one component goes bad it requires the consumer to bring the whole unit in for repair– or, as the marketing folks hoped- just toss it and get a new unit. Separate components was always the e’s recommendation.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:06 pmIs The Z Man Trudeau with army boots?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:09 pm#350 JVW – And pies, since that has become a traditional way to celebrate the day. I guess Big Bakery is in on it, too.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:25 pmPutin’s invasion of Ukraine will knock 30 years of progress off the Russian economy
……..
Practically overnight, the country’s 40-year effort to build a prosperous market-based economy that began under former leader Mikhail Gorbachev has failed — one more casualty in President Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
Landmark economic and social reforms originating in the 1980s gave the Soviet Union its first taste of American products. But decades of work to integrate the economy into Europe ended in the past few weeks, as blue chip companies quit the Russian market and the United States and European Union moved to wind down trade and tourism with Russia.
Two sanctions in particular have wreaked considerable havoc. The first one expelled Russia’s largest banks from the global payments network known as SWIFT, making it very difficult for them to process overseas transactions.
The second measure froze hundreds of billions of euros held in reserve by Russia’s central bank. Without reserve funds to shore up the ruble, there is very little the Kremlin can do to prevent its value from collapsing.
……..
Taken together, the plummeting ruble and the looming defaults make the economy look very risky to lenders.
“Russia destroyed any credibility that it has as a borrower for the foreseeable future,” said (Maximillian Hess, a Central Asia fellow in the Eurasia program at the nonprofit Foreign Policy Research Institute and an expert on sovereign debt). “It’s never again going to be able to borrow at the rates that it was able to borrow at in recent years.”
……….
“Not next year, not five years from now. It’s going to be a long time before investors go back to Russia,” said (Christopher Smart, chief global strategist and head of the Barings Investment Institute).
……..
When (Putin) was first elected president in 2000, he took the helm of a country where 38% of the population lived on less than $5.50 per day, according to World Bank data using 2011 price values. By 2018, that figure had fallen by more than 90%, to just 3.7% of the population.
……..
“The deal was that [Putin] would end the chaos of the 1990s and allow people to be domestically and financially successful,” said Barry Ickes, head of the economics department at Penn State University. “In exchange, the people would agree not to challenge Putin’s political power. And that’s been his deal ever since.”
………
If Putin cannot provide “stability and a good level of economic support” to average Russians, said Ickes, then he risks looking as though he’s not honoring the social contract.
……..
“Until you have a new leader in Russia, one who apologizes for invading Ukraine and who writes a check for reparations, these sanctions are going to remain in place,” said Smart, of Barings. “And I don’t see any of the three things I just described happening.”
……..
……..(T)he best way to understand the Western effort to isolate the Kremlin is to view it as a long-term strategic move, within a 10- to 20-year window.
……..
What a shame. Sad!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:31 pm68% of Americans say the country is heading on the WRONG TRACK under Biden with rampant inflation and gas prices soaring, new dire poll for the White House shows
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10612433/68-Americans-say-country-wrong-track-Biden.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:32 pmDid our politicians cash in on stocks prior to Russian invasion?
https://www.foxnews.com/media/did-our-politicians-cash-in-on-stocks-prior-to-russian-invasion
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/14/2022 @ 4:51 pmRussian GRU intelligence officer is killed in Ukraine – the latest of 12 senior figures to have now lost their lives during Russian invasion
……..
Captain Alexey Glushchak, 31, from Tyumen in Siberia, is the latest major casualty after he was killed in the carnage in Mariupol, but the Russians have given no details of how he was killed.
Russia said in a statement following Glushchak’s death: ‘Due to the strict secrecy of the military operation, the circumstances of the death of the Tyumen hero are not disclosed.’
Pictures emerged of the father-of-one’s funeral in Russia, where he was buried with full military honours and a guard of honour, despite Russia hiding ‘thousands’ of deaths from those back at home.
……….
Accurate numbers of Russian troops killed in fighting are hard to come by. Ukraine claims 12,000 have been killed, but has not updated that figure for several days.
European and American estimates are lower – between 2,000 and 6,000 – while Russia has only acknowledged around 500 deaths.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:19 pm……….
Russia is taking two weeks or more to transport their bodies back to relatives, many of whom live in the Russian Far East thousands of miles from the bloody war zone.
……….
Not sad!
An Airlift Could Save Ukraine
Russian forces are encircling Kyiv, and U.S. intelligence says the Ukrainian capital could run out of food and water in days. Having refused to establish a no-fly zone, President Biden needs more options to deal with enormous and urgent humanitarian needs. We propose an international airlift, organized and supported by the U.S.
The goal would be to provide food, medicine and other nonmilitary supplies for days, weeks and maybe longer. Countries viewed as not hostile to Russia—perhaps Brazil, Egypt, India and the United Arab Emirates—could take the lead in flying planes into Ukraine.
Such an effort would put international pressure on Russia, which claims (however disingenuously) to support humanitarian land corridors for Ukrainian refugees. Vladimir Putin would either consent and facilitate distribution of supplies or provoke more denunciations of Russia for its inhumanity. Even if criticism doesn’t move him, his top lieutenants may worry about their image and their vulnerability to war-crimes trials. This proposal may aggravate whatever divisions exist within Mr. Putin’s team and trigger further antiwar sentiment among ordinary Russians.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:25 pm………
A humanitarian airlift would be an acceptable alternative to a no-fly zone. A no-fly zone would create huge risks of escalation and has been widely rejected by U.S. and European leaders. An airlift has much better chances of receiving bipartisan support and broad international backing. Instead of threatening to shoot down Russian planes, a humanitarian airlift would force Russia either to consent or threaten to shoot down planes from nonthreatening countries full of humanitarian goods.
………
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/03/14/russias-armed-forces-are-suffering-substantial-losses-in-ukraine
Using these numbers… not because I’m confident they are accurate, but because they are conservative.
Russia is estimated to have lost/destroyed:
200 Trucks
75 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
75 Tanks
40 Armored Fighting Vehicles
15 Surface to Air Systems
20 Helicopters and other aircraft
Maybe 1,200 dead?
Add in deaths in battles that resulted in captured/abandoned equipment
Maybe another 1,200
Infantry deaths. ?
Certainly higher than 500, but 12,000 seems optimistic
steveg (e81d76) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:42 pmSend NATO Troops to Western Ukraine
The West’s response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has been resolute, unified and consequential. But it is inadequate to the task of deterring and containing Vladimir Putin’s designs on Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s frontline states. Sanctions alone are insufficient to deter Mr. Putin, who, like countless European tyrants before him, recognizes only strength. If Western leaders want Mr. Putin to sue for peace, they need to increase troop levels on NATO’s eastern flank and introduce a robust defensive military presence in western Ukraine and the Black Sea.
……..A decisive show of force inside Ukraine would signal to Mr. Putin that the West won’t tolerate Russian attempts to redraw borders by force. It will also stanch the worst bloodletting in Europe since 1945 and forestall future Russian aggression in Europe.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:47 pm……..
There are no international treaties or laws preventing a military deployment now that Mr. Putin has invaded Ukraine. The democratically elected government of Volodymyr Zelensky would welcome such a troop presence. Mr. Putin believes he is dictating events, and so far Western nations are going along. That dynamic should be reversed.
……..
This plan requires hard-nosed leadership, but it doesn’t mean automatic war with Russia, let alone a nuclear conflict. Mr. Putin is fond of saber-rattling, not least because it has worked as deterrence thus far. The Russian leader, whose forces are being stymied by an outgunned but determined Ukrainian military, is unlikely to risk skirmishes with better-equipped Western divisions on the other side of Ukraine who aren’t shooting at him. Mr. Putin may be a zealot and a gambler, but he and his generals remain rational. They aren’t looking to trigger a nuclear armageddon.
……..
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/03/speaking-of-out-of-control-crime.php
Any of our Seattle residents who have minimizes the criminal behavior of Antifa, and other leftist crime waves care to comment?
NJRob (e6e822) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:51 pmAmericans Rate Canada, Britain, France, Japan Most Favorably
Canada (rated at 87%), Great Britain (86%), France (84%) and Japan (82%) are rated favorably by more than eight in 10 Americans this year in Gallup’s annual World Affairs poll. The survey, which was conducted before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, finds five countries at the other end of the spectrum with favorable ratings under 20%: North Korea (10%), Afghanistan (12%), Iran (13%), Russia (15%) and Iraq (16%).
Ten of the 19 countries and territories asked about in the Feb. 1-17 survey receive majority-level favorable ratings from the U.S. public. In addition to the four countries (above), Germany (78%), India (77%), Israel (71%), Egypt (64%), Mexico (63%) and Ukraine (62%) are viewed favorably by majorities.
Meanwhile, along with the five countries at the bottom of the list that have favorable ratings under 20%, four others are rated favorably by less than half — China (20%), the Palestinian Authority (27%), Saudi Arabia (33%) and Cuba (40%).
………
Partisans hold similar views of eight countries: India, Afghanistan, North Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Great Britain and Russia.
………
……..Just one country — Israel — has a higher favorable rating from Republicans than Democrats. Both groups view it positively, but Republicans’ rating is 15 points higher, at 80%.
……..
Canada partisan favorable gap:
Dem 93%
Rep 80%
Gap 13%
Poll was conducted while the trucker protests were on going but before they ended, so the partisan gap may be larger at this time. Still 80% of identified Republicans had favorable views of Canada.
Complete question responses and trends (PDF download).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 6:10 pmCorrection to #362:
Canada partisan favorable gap:
Dem 95%
Rep 80%
Gap 15%
Still 80% of identified Republicans have favorable views of Canada, eh.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/14/2022 @ 6:13 pm#359 steveg – I’ve been wondering whether that 12,000 refers to casualties, not deaths.
What I am hoping for, of course, is a big increase in the number of Russian soldiers captured, or surrendering on their own — and I haven’t seen any reliable figures on Russian prisoners.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/14/2022 @ 6:31 pmNJRob – My cousin lives in Tenino, Wa. South of Olympia, told me a couple weeks ago he hasn’t been to a major city in over a year. Says he doesn’t recognize the major cities in the state he has lived in for 35 years .A retired electrician. He Hunts and fishes and flys an old canvas plane. Definitely a deplorable!!
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 6:53 pmhttps://theaspenbeat.com
mg (8cbc69) — 3/14/2022 @ 6:56 pmDowntown is getting what it deserves, and it’s why their HQ is slowly contracting and why their HQ2 is quietly locating to Bellevue, speaking as an area resident who has urged the city to enforce the law for both criminals and the homeless.
Paul Montagu (5de684) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:02 pmCanada partisan favorable gap:
Dem 95%
Rep 80%
Gap 15%
Exact same favorability gap that we see with China:
Republicans – 11%
Democrats – 26%
And an even larger one for Cuba:
JVW (ee64e4) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:03 pmRepublicans – 28% (including 2% “very favorable”)
Democrats – 47% (including 10% “very favorable”)
NJRob (e6e822) — 3/14/2022 @ 5:51 pm
I don’t live in Seattle, but that’s been in the making for a few years now, specifically because Amazon was targeted by Sawant specifically and the city council in general for massive tax increases. Bezos saw the writing on the wall before the Summer of Love ever kicked off.
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:07 pmAnd an even larger one for Cuba……
Yeah, but Canada is now the new Cuba, don’t cha know.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:12 pmRip and JVW at 362, 363 and 368. I would be more impressed with those percentages if I thought for a minute that 96% of those responding could find those countries on a map. And I include Canada.
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:14 pmJake Sullivan met in %ome for seven hours with Yang Jiechi, an important Chinese official who is semi-retired (born 1950)
He told him not to help Russia evade sanctions or sell it military equipment (drones are high on the list of what not to sell bit there are some other significant things)
Russia now denies being interested in buying.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:18 pmI remember the Seattle employee head tax.
nk (1d9030) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:18 pmGasoline was here $3.259 a gallon on January 17; $3.739 a gallon on February 4; and $4.299 a gallon yesterday, on March 13.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:26 pmGasoline was here $3.259 a gallon on January 17; $3.739 a gallon on February 4; and $4.299 a gallon yesterday, on March 13.
Meh. Same here… in 2016. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/14/2022 @ 7:43 pmBut Pi Day is just a contrived holiday
It made more sense in 2016.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:18 pmPractically overnight, the country’s 40-year effort to build a prosperous market-based economy that began under former leader Mikhail Gorbachev has failed — one more casualty in President Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.
I dunno. After Putin’s demise and the Russian pullback from all of Ukraine, we’ll probably fall all over ourselves helping them recover. The last thing we need is Weimar Russia.
Of course, their recovery will be very US-centric, with Coke and McDonald’s and Walmart leading the way.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:21 pm68% of Americans say the country is heading on the WRONG TRACK
The RCP average Feb-March is 63-29, and it’s just as bad in Feb as March. If you asked people who own stock (i.e. the people who fund campaigns), I think it would be terribler.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:25 pmEmployee bursts onto live Russian state TV to denounce war: ‘They are lying to you here’
A woman burst onto the set of Russian state TV’s flagship evening news program Monday, chanting “stop the war” and denouncing government “propaganda” — a striking moment of public protest as the Kremlin cracks down on any criticism of its invasion in Ukraine.
OVD-Info, a human rights group that tracks protest activity and detentions in Russia, identified the woman as Marina Ovsyannikova, an editor and producer with the broadcaster, and said she has been detained. Before storming the set of Channel One, Ovsyannikova recorded a video message in which she said, “What is going on in Ukraine is a crime.”
“Unfortunately, I have been working at Channel One during recent years, working on Kremlin propaganda,” Ovsyannikova said. “And now I am very ashamed. I am ashamed that I’ve allowed the lies to be said on the TV screens. I am ashamed that I let the Russian people be zombified.”
She ended with a call to action, alluding to the high price of dissent in Russia: “It is only in our power to stop this madness. Take to the streets. Do not be afraid. They can’t jail us all.”
……..
A recording of Monday evening’s interrupted live broadcast was unavailable on Channel One’s website, which says it was taken down “at the request of the copyright holder.”…….
…….
The protester had jumped into frame as a longtime Channel One host, Ekaterina Andreeva, read an item about Russian efforts to mitigate the effect of sanctions over its actions in Ukraine.
Standing behind Andreeva, the protester held up a poster with a mix of English and Russian spelling a forbidden message: “No war. Stop the war. Don’t believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.” The woman remained on the screen for several seconds before the program apparently cut away.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:27 pm………
A lot of Americans have ‘zombified’ by Russian propaganda. “They can’t jail us all”-yes they can, the entire country can be a prison as it was during the decades of the Soviet Union. A brave woman.
A humanitarian airlift would be an acceptable alternative to a no-fly zone.
Remember, Russia is attempting a siege. Bringing in food water and medicine is exactly what they don’t want. I’d expect the first plane to be shot down, or perhaps forced to land elsewhere, and that would be that.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:27 pmSanctions alone are insufficient to deter Mr. Putin, who, like countless European tyrants before him, recognizes only strength.
Nice assertion. Show your work. By the end of March there will be social upheaval in Russia. Imagine having your money worthless and the TV telling you obvious lies. The wheels will come off soon, and no amount of Putin-splaining will fix it.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:31 pmA brave woman.
Indeed. This can’t go on. And things that can’t go on, don’t.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 8:37 pmIt is so effing obviously Chinese territory that there’s not a thing anyone would do, not even Taiwan.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 2:50 pm
It is Chinese territory. The Republic of China.
norcal (a4a1aa) — 3/14/2022 @ 9:40 pmIt is Chinese territory. The Republic of China.
It’s sitting in sight of the Chinese mainland at the entrance to a bay, and no where near Taiwan.
It’s like Quebec was claiming Long Island.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/14/2022 @ 11:08 pm@379 Worthy successor of the white rose. Hopefully she won’t meet the same fate.
asset (6e6767) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:25 amMaria Ovsyannikova: If not me who? If not now when? Trader tucker carlson for her.
asset (6e6767) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:02 amRip Murdock (b274da) — 3/11/2022 @ 4:21 pm
The goals are a mystery, or a secret, and Vladimir Putin intends to keep it that way.
The announced goals, to the extent they can be divined, are probably that something that is not happening, or planned, should be stopped or prevented. Putin has his own facts.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:19 am………
346.
Certainly, not why Putin did it, but that he was lied to and influenced to try this could be a viable theory – if something was found to back it up. He was isolated enough for that to be possible, bu there are any number of motives for some party to steer him into this, by, among other things, making it look less risky, or by manufacturing an argument that there was a danger to his rule from th continuation of an independent Ukraine.
For that reason, it’s not a good test case.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:28 amThe number of refugees leaving Ukraine has reached 2.7 million, 3.8 million, approaching 3 million. Someone Swiss estimated it could reach 15 million. But that would leave over 25 million Ukrainians behind. (15 million isa good estimate, as rarely would more than 1/3 of the population leave.)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:30 am388. Just like Donesk and Luhansk was not a good test case for the remainder of Ukraine.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:35 amIs finger to Mother Russia, yes, no, what, maybe?
Travel to Kyiv!
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:11 amLeftist Nebraska Senator:
This is what they think. Give them power at your peril.
NJRob (35bfa8) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:29 amhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/one-year-later-why-bidens-american-rescue-failed
How much of this graft do you think ended up back in leftist politicians pockets?
NJRob (f307fd) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:50 amand Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is spending nearly $17 million to build a golf course with a two-story clubhouse and driving range.
No practice green?
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:04 amBy the end of March there will be social upheaval in Russia.
I’ll take that bet. Maybe March 2023, but not in two weeks.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:57 amProducer who crashed Russian TV broadcast with antiwar message can’t be found, lawyers say
A day after she burst onto a live news broadcast on Russian state television holding a sign denouncing the war in Ukraine, lawyers with human rights groups told The Washington Post they are unable to locate producer Marina Ovsyannikova, more than 12 hours after she was detained.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:03 am………
A spokeswoman for the United Nations’ human rights office, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters in Geneva that Russian authorities should ensure that Ovsyannikova, “does not face any reprisals for exercising her right to freedom of expression.”
………
What would you expect from a revanchist Russian government? Remember her name, because that will be all that is left of her.
Update: Russian News Editor Appears in Court Amid Fears She Went Missing After Anti-War Protest Live on Russian TV
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:06 amPoll: Americans warm to Biden’s approach on Russia and Ukraine
………
The survey of 1,623 U.S. adults, which was conducted from March 10 to 14, found that as the invasion wears on — with almost hourly reports of new Russian atrocities and Ukrainian casualties — Americans are becoming increasingly appalled by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions and increasingly aligned with the Biden administration’s response.
……..
Overall, more Americans now believe that Biden’s response to Russia has either been “about right” (31%) or “too tough” (6%) than believe it has “not [been] tough enough” (34%), with the share saying the latter falling by 5 points over the last two weeks. That decline was similar among Republicans (down 6 points, from 58% to 52%), independents (down 6 points, from 44% to 38%) and Democrats (down 4 points, from 25% to 21%).
……..Republicans, for example, are loath to name Biden as a better leader than anyone — Putin included. …….
……..For the past week, hawkish figures in the U.S. — including some Republican members of Congress — have pushed the administration to block Russian jets from entering Ukrainian airspace. When Yahoo News and YouGov asked half of respondents whether they support or oppose “U.S. troops enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine” — with no added context — supporters (40%) outnumbered opponents (25%), reflecting this impulse.
But those numbers changed dramatically when the other half of respondents were told a no-fly zone means “the U.S. military would shoot down Russian military planes flying over Ukraine, possibly triggering a war between the U.S. and Russia.” In that case, support plummeted by nearly half (to 23%) while opposition nearly doubled (to 43%) — and the biggest shift came among Republicans, who went from supporting a no-fly zone by a 22-point margin (48% to 26%), to opposing it by a 38-point margin (55% to 17%).
In other words, the public largely agrees with the Biden administration, which has consistently opposed a no-fly zone for this very reason, once the reasoning is made clear.
………
Nearly 6 in 10 Americans (59%) now agree with Biden’s vow not to “send U.S. troops into Ukraine,” up from 56% two weeks ago. Instead, very large majorities support various steps the U.S. has already taken or is actively considering: “imposing severe sanctions on Russia” (65%), “sending weapons for Ukraine to use in its own defense” (61%) and “expelling Russia from the World Trade Organization” (58%). Narrower majorities also favor “helping Ukraine obtain more fighter jets” (54%), which the U.S. has attempted to do, and “imposing new taxes on Russian products sold in the U.S.” (53%), which the U.S. did last week. Only a small minority of Americans — between 14% and 19% — oppose any of these measures.
……..
…….[T]he percentage of Americans who feel strongly unfavorable toward Putin jumped 6 points over the last two weeks (from 59% to 65%), with similar increases among both Democrats (from 75% to 79%) and Republicans (from 53% to 57%). A full 80% of Americans now attribute either “some” or “a great deal” of blame to Russia for the situation in Ukraine, up from 77%. Support for Ukraine has also increased, with 61% of Americans now saying the U.S. should take Ukraine’s side over Russia, up from 57% two weeks ago. Just 3% say the opposite; 23% say neither.
….[M]ost Americans now favor “a full Russian defeat” (55%) rather than “Russian control of separatist areas but an otherwise independent Ukraine” (17%) or “full Russian control of Ukraine” (4%). ……
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:18 am……….
The dividing line between what will start or not start World War III exists mostly in the United States government’s imagination. It’s mirror imaging. It’s not anything Putin or Russia has said, because Putin has heard of this fear, and he’s trying to use it, saying, for instance that economic sanctions, or maybe sending weapons could cause an escalation, and the response of the Administration is to ignore him, whereupon he drops that gambit.
Please! Shooting down a couple of Russian airplanes, or even destroying missile sites inside Belarus or Russia is ,b> NOT going to start World War III. And if Putin were so crazy to give the order to attack anything in NATO territory, it would probably be disobeyed (odds at least 60 to 1) and could lead to a coup.
We have to get rid of this mirror imaging kind of thinking. It’s based on nothing.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:30 amFrom Sammy’s lips to Putin’s ears.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:40 amthe prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have announced that they will travel to Kyiv on Tuesday to meet with the leaders of Ukraine.
White House considering Biden trip to Europe
……
The trip, which would focus on the war in Ukraine and aim to reassure America’s allies in the region, has yet to be finalized, the sources said. A U.S. official said Brussels, home to NATO and the European Union, is under consideration as a location.
NATO is discussing holding a meeting with heads of state next week in Brussels, according to U.S. and foreign officials who said a meeting of leaders from members of the military alliance could serve as a venue for a Biden trip. But they noted that a NATO gathering has not been finalized.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 9:45 am……..
Nice set of targets you got there……
Poll: Americans warm to Biden’s approach on Russia and Ukraine
I think that the Administration’s approach to this is quite good. Certainly far better than I expected after the Afghanistan debacle, and likely far better than Putin thought it would be. It has been sane, determined, and measured with a surprising unanimity among our NATO partners.
I also like the approach to China, perhaps suggesting to them that this could always turn into a shooting war and they would probably want to be neutral in that.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:00 amShooting down a couple of Russian airplanes, or even destroying missile sites inside Belarus or Russia is ,b> NOT going to start World War III.
Uh-huh. Attacking Motherland Russia would be sufficient to provoke a nuclear response, per Russian military doctrine (footnotes omitted).
Sammy can’t guarantee (with 100% certainty) that attacking Mother Russia won’t provoke a nuclear (either strategic or tactical) response. How does he know what Putin’s reaction will be if Russian aircraft (it would be far more than a “couple”) are shot down by NATO forces? Unlike previous no-fly zones against far weaker opponents, the Russians have first-rate aircraft. It would not be cakewalk.
And since one of Putin’s demands is the rollback of NATO, excluding the former Soviet republics as well as former Warsaw Pact nations, there is the possibility of attacks on NATO territory. And Sammy can’t guarantee that either.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:02 amQuestion: Russia is firing missiles into Ukraine from batteries inside Russia. Would a Ukrainian air attack on those missile sites be legitimate? Would that widen the war?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:04 amRip beat me to it
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:04 amRip, attacking New York City did not cause a nuclear response, although it well might have. Why didn’t it? Maybe because the ramifications of such a response were far worse than the 9/11 attack.
Similarly for Russia. Using nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state is a clear abrogation of several treaties that they signed (the NNPT and the denuclearization treaty with Ukraine), not to mention invoking the Chinese treaty with Ukraine that has China defending Ukraine from any nuclear attack.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:09 amRip, attacking New York City did not cause a nuclear response, although it well might have. Why didn’t it? Maybe because the ramifications of such a response were far worse than the 9/11 attack.
NYC was attacked by a transnational terrorist organization with links to a country that already looked like it had suffered a nuclear attack. Not the same thing.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:11 amIt could also respond with nuclear weapons following an “attack by adversary against critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation, disruption of which would undermine nuclear forces response actions” and “aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.”
Has Ukraine put the existence of the Russian state in jeopardy, or attacked strategic nuclear sites?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:11 amAny Ukrainian counter-attack, of any kind, against any Geneva Convention approved target inside Russia would be legitimate. (And I think co-belligerent Belarus too.) And it would widen the war. But it might be the better strategy to use those military forces to drive back the invaders and take back occupied Ukrainian territory. And for sure the better public relations.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:12 amNot the same thing.
Rip, we had a treaty obligation not to use nuclear weapons in that situation, and that treaty was VERY important to us and still is. The only countries we are allowed to use those weapons against are 1) other nuclear powers, 2) non-signatories of the NNPT, or 3) NNPT signatories that have reneged (Iran and NK).
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:14 amBut it might be the better strategy to use those military forces to drive back the invaders
Sanctuaries for belligerent forces are always a problem. That Russia itself claims the right to attack weapons convoys in NATO countries is indicative of this.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:17 amIf Putin were to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, it would be a singularity — there is really no way of knowing what would happen on the other side of that event. Anything could happen, from Putin being taken out and shot, to a full-on nuclear exchange. It’s really useless speculating and for that reason I find it highly unlikely that Russia will go there.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:24 amUsing nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state is a clear abrogation of several treaties that they signed (the NNPT and the denuclearization treaty with Ukraine), not to mention invoking the Chinese treaty with Ukraine that has China defending Ukraine from any nuclear attack.
As if treaty commitments would stop Russia-they haven’t in Ukraine. Russia is currently in violation of the Geneva conventions regarding a aggressive war and other war crimes.
The Budapest Memorandum is not a treaty. There is no enforcement mechanism, and really obligates the signatory countries to do nothing. For example, the US did not provide Ukraine a security “guarantee”. only “assurances”.
See post 74 for an article on China’s “treaty” with Ukraine, it is ambiguous at best.
Russia is not going to let pieces of paper prevent it from using nuclear weapons if it feels that it is necessary. Treaties require persons of good will to support them, and Putin certainly is not that.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:31 amHas Ukraine put the existence of the Russian state in jeopardy, or attacked strategic nuclear sites?
My response was to Sammy advocating “Shooting down a couple of Russian airplanes, or even destroying missile sites inside Belarus or Russia…..”
In fact Russian military doctrine doesn’t require a threat to the Motherland, tactical nuclear weapons can be used to “escalate to deescalate” to change an unfavorable battlefield situation.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:37 amRip, we had a treaty obligation not to use nuclear weapons in that situation, and that treaty was VERY important to us and still is. The only countries we are allowed to use those weapons against are 1) other nuclear powers, 2) non-signatories of the NNPT, or 3) NNPT signatories that have reneged (Iran and NK).
That is the United States. Other countries are not so much.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:41 amI wonder how many European capitals would still be sitting on the sidelines if Putin had left Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, alone.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:46 am“Russia is not going to let pieces of paper prevent it from using nuclear weapons”
The risk becomes small…because even the use of a tactical nuke will compel an in-kind response…and who wants their own army or homeland glowing from radiation? There’s no winning. There’s nothing compelling such a response from Putin. No one is invading his country and Ukraine is guilty of no atrocity or crime that might justify such a apocalyptic response. At this point, it would only be because he wanted to do it and was himself suicidal. Nothing suggests that at this point…..and the people around him would be the ones that would need to pull that trigger….just as we would if our President was acting irrational
AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:48 am396 397 It;s a god thing that they found something to charge her with. Somebody decided to come up with the least serious charge that they could use to legally detain her and that they had a chance of winning.
I mean they didn’t charge her with spreading fake news – and that’s significant too.
Unless that’s maybe the same law. Here’s a report about the law:
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/4/22961472/russia-fake-news-law-military-ukraine-invasion-casualties-jail-time
She’d be in real trouble if they had nothing to charge her with.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:53 am399. 400. Putin has already had to promise (about a week ago) that no new draftees would be sent to Ukraine, nor any reserves.
But that only deals with reinforcements, not worry that an attempt on his part to make the war more serious, and more dangerous for Russia, could lead to a coup.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:57 amThe other thing has reach the ears of members of Congress, about realizing how much of this deterrence theory that stops the Migs and stops the No Fly zone and steps some other things resides on;y in out imaginationnd then Biden et al.
It would be also helpful if Putin decided to greatly shrink or to stop this war before Biden got a chance to make a decision.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:02 amAs if treaty commitments would stop Russia
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is so manifestly one-sided in favor of the nuclear weapons states (US, Russia, UK, China and France) that abrogation of that is unthinkable. And it is signed by almost every country on earth, in part because it gives a security guarantee to those who do not seek such weapons.
(India, Pakistan and Israel never signed it, but every other country other than (?) Sudan did)
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:07 amThat got a bit garbled. But Putin could act to wind this down before Biden got a chance to make a decision which would really demolish the Russian armed forces. It’s obvious the whole thing about potentially causing World War III is a bluff because Putin has played that card too many times and his bluff has been called.
The idea that certain steps would lead to World War III reside mostly in U.S. officials’ imaginations – and there is no intrinsic logic that distinguishes what supposedly could do it and what could not.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:09 amThat is the United States. Other countries are not so much.
Nearly very country signed it. The chance of a full-on nuclear exchange is a function of the number of weapons states. More than N, less than N^2. Call it N log N. Avoiding a nuclear exchange is in everyone’s interest.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:10 amAJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 3/15/2022 @ 10:48 am
I almost agree, except that there is really no telling what our response would be. The act of using a nuclear weapon in a non-existential situation is so singular that what happens afterwards is beyond knowing.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:13 amg “Shooting down a couple of Russian airplanes, or even destroying missile sites inside Belarus or Russia…..”
Pure;y defensively, to stop the bombing and missile strikes inside Ukraine. Putin would know what the limits are. The United States and NATO can be trusted. Russia can’t, not even about the little things.
Trust but verify is obsolete now. It has to be: Verify, but don’t trust.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:15 amhttps://lidblog.com/catastrophic-inflation/
15% inflation right now. Hope it was worth it.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:16 ameven the use of a tactical nuke will compel an in-kind response
From whom? Ukraine does not have nuclear weapons. The US/NATO only have two hundred B61 nuclear bombs, but Russia has an estimated 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons (TNW). The US would probably not use any of its nuclear weapons if Russia used tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, for the same reasons we have not directly intervened (not a NATO member) imposed a no-fly zone (WW III). Russia really has free rein to use any weapon it wants.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:24 amNearly very country signed it.
Again, so what? Treaties are only effective when countries believe it is to their advantage to comply. Russia has determined the that Geneva Conventions are no longer to their advantage. And if Putin determines that the treaties are too restrictive, then he will trample them like the Russian Army has trampled Ukraine.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:27 amPure;y defensively, to stop the bombing and missile strikes inside Ukraine.
Yeah, that’ll work. I’m sure Putin will accept casualties on the Russian motherland because it’s part of the game. I am not as trusting of Putin’s thought processes as you, Sammy. What if Putin decides to up the ante after such an attack, and launches a tactical nuclear weapon on Kyiv or another major city as punishment?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:32 amhave two hundred B61 nuclear bombs
“Only.” That is enough, set to their 400kT yield point, to destroy every metro area in Russia west of the Urals. But I take it that you’re one of those people who think tactical nukes are a separate threshold. If used, I hope you’re right but I really don’t think so.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:35 amTreaties are only effective when countries believe it is to their advantage to comply
Why didn’t Russia use tactical nukes in Afghanistan?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:36 amThe Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is so manifestly one-sided in favor of the nuclear weapons states (US, Russia, UK, China and France) that abrogation of that is unthinkable.
Wanna bet? Putin will do whatever it takes to end his war on his terms, even if it means launching a nuclear attack on Ukraine. Apparently he is considering chemical warfare, another treaty violation.
Fiona Hill:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:37 am“Only.” That is enough, set to their 400kT yield point, to destroy every metro area in Russia west of the Urals. But I take it that you’re one of those people who think tactical nukes are a separate threshold. If used, I hope you’re right but I really don’t think so.
The weapons are gravity bombs, deployable only on aircraft, so it’s unlikely that we could hit all of those targets. And half of them are located in Europe and the other half in the US, so it would take some time (weeks) to prepare and launch them. They are not on a hair trigger alert like the strategic missiles.
From Russia’s perspective, they are just another weapon.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:41 amWell, Rip, I cannot argue with your assertions, but I’ll point out that I have 75 years of history on my side. Both Russia and the US have accepted significant losses without resorting to even tactical nukes. Putin may be crazy, but his people aren’t, and the same considerations that mattered before matter now. The ONLY Russian threatened by a failure in Ukraine is Putin and it is not in his interest to make everyone else choose.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:42 amWhy didn’t Russia use tactical nukes in Afghanistan?
I have no idea, but the weapons were really designed for NATO-USSR war.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:42 amI’ll point out that I have 75 years of history on my side.
Historically a very short time frame. It took over 100 years for a new war in Europe, with (probably) chemical weapons, so anything can happen.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:44 amThe US response to a tactical* nuke on a civilian target in Ukraine would be a submarine missile aimed at something like Minsk. Maybe the French would beat us to it. The message would be “This is a very dangerous path you are on.”
—————
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:45 am* no such thing, despite what the label says
It took over 100 years for a new war in Europe
Which 100 years was that?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:46 amIt took over 100 years for a new war in Europe
Which 100 years was that?
World War I 1914-1918.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 12:37 pmBased on this logic, Putin should be able to attack weapon transit sites in Poland, without fear of retaliation, because Russia would simply be defending themselves. And if a no-fly zone is implemented, then Russia should be able to attack European air bases, without retaliation, again because Russia would be defending themselves.
Russia will not sit idly by while NATO attacks missile sites in Belarus or Russia or shoots down Russian aircraft.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 12:54 pmWorld War I 1914-1918.
If you mean between the Napoleonic Wars and WWI, there was the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71, and the Crimean War in the 1850s. The latter involved four major powers.
If you mean between WWI and now, there was something 1939-45.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:19 pmBased on this logic, Putin should be able to attack weapon transit sites in Poland, without fear of retaliation, because Russia would simply be defending themselves
And Putin has claimed that right.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:19 pmAnd if a no-fly zone is implemented, then Russia should be able to attack European air bases, without retaliation, again because Russia would be defending themselves.
And again, that’s why we aren’t doing it.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:20 pmRussia will not sit idly by while NATO attacks missile sites in Belarus or Russia or shoots down Russian aircraft
Nor would they sit idly by if Ukraine hit those targets that are raining death upon Ukraine. Oh, but wait, they are already at war with Ukraine.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:21 pmPutin isn’t going to sit idly by while the US and NATO embarrass the hell out of his army on a national stage.
This will be remembered and Putin will try to avenge.
If Ukraine begins to mount moderate very successful counter attacks next week will Russia fold or double down?
If Ukraine successfully repels an attack on, lets say Odessa, will Putin lose whatever is left of his restraint?
If Putin is a crazy narcissist he may take his beloved Russia down with him.
China should follow any Putin meltdown by annexing everything west of the Urals
steveg (e81d76) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:21 pm…East of the Urals, Steve? I think I’d rather have India get a column to the Arctic beforehand.
urbanleftbehind (c6f17b) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:24 pmNancy Pelosi sums it up well
https://twitter.com/i/status/1503556754168242186
steveg (e81d76) — 3/15/2022 @ 1:36 pmWorse than Biden: The Old Bag talks with her hands.
The WH Press Secretary summed it up best:
“President Biden is a junior.” – Jen Psaki
No. Frigging. Kidding.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:05 pm2 members of the Fox News team in Ukraine were killed in an attack
A veteran video journalist for Fox News, Pierre Zakrzewski, was killed outside Kyiv after the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by incoming fire on Monday, the network has announced. Oleksandra Kuvshinova, also known as Sasha, who was working with the Fox News team, was also killed in the attack, senior field producer Yonat Friling said in a tweet. She was 24.
Zakrzewski had repeatedly covered conflict in the field for Fox News — including in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. He was 55 years old. In a memo to staff, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott hailed what she called Zakrzewski’s unmatched talent and passion.
“His talents were vast and there wasn’t a role that he didn’t jump in to help with in the field — from photographer to engineer to editor to producer — and he did it all under immense pressure with tremendous skill,” she said. Scott praised him for his work behind the scenes to help Fox’s Afghan freelancers get safely out of Afghanistan after U.S. forces withdrew from that country.
Friling said that Kuvshinova “worked with our team for the past month and did a brilliant job.” She added that “she loved music and she was funny and kind.” Micheál Martin, the prime minister of Ireland, said in a tweet that he was saddened by the two deaths.
“Deeply disturbed and saddened by the killing of Irish citizen and journalist Pierre Zakrzewski and one of his colleagues today,” Martin said. “My thoughts are with their families, friends and fellow journalists. We condemn this indiscriminate and immoral war by Russia on #Ukraine.”
The Fox News reporter accompanying them, correspondent Benjamin Hall, remains hospitalized in Ukraine. Hall’s condition has not been disclosed. On the air, Hall rejected claims by Fox host Greg Gutfeld that Western media outlets were exaggerating conditions in Ukraine to generate an emotional reaction against Russia’s invasion. Hall called it “an absolute catastrophe.”
On Sunday a U.S. journalist, documentary filmmaker Brent Renaud, was killed in fighting in Irpin, a suburb of Kyiv. Juan Arredondo, a journalist who was with Renaud at the time, was wounded in the incident. -npr.com
Died doing their job, Joe.
Do yours.
Look at your watch lately?
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:10 pmFinish your carrots, Joe… then you can have an ice cream dessert…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjlettF-02M
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:19 pmAttack On Europe: Documenting Equipment Losses During The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
A detailed list of the destroyed and captured vehicles and equipment of both sides can be seen below. This list is constantly updated as additional footage becomes available.
This list only includes destroyed vehicles and equipment of which photo or videographic evidence is available. Therefore, the amount of equipment destroyed is significantly higher than recorded here. Small arms, munitions, civilian vehicles, trailers and derelict equipment (including aircraft) are not included in this list. All possible effort has gone into discerning the status of equipment between captured or abandoned. Many of the entries listed as ‘abandoned’ will likely end up captured or destroyed. Similarly, some of the captured equipment might be destroyed if it can’t be recovered. ATGMs and MANPADS are included in the list but not included in the ultimate count. The Soviet flag is used when the equipment in question was produced prior to 1991.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:31 pm……..
Russian Losses:
Tanks- (1308, of which: destroyed: 554, damaged: 19, abandoned: 207, captured: 528)
………
Armoured Fighting Vehicles (138, of which destroyed: 49, abandoned: 30, captured: 57)
…….
Infantry Fighting Vehicles (197, of which destroyed: 89, damaged: 1, abandoned: 28, captured: 76)
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Armoured Personnel Carriers (67, of which destroyed: 21, abandoned: 13, captured: 33)
……..
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles (9, of which destroyed: 3, abandoned: 1, captured: 5)
……..
Infantry Mobility Vehicles (40, of which destroyed: 21, damaged: 1, abandoned: 2, captured: 14)
…….
Communications Stations (9, of which destroyed: 2, abandoned: 4, captured: 3)
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Engineering Vehicles (41, of which destroyed: 12, abandoned: 8, captured: 21)
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Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (61, of which abandoned: 24, captured: 37)
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Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (24, of which captured: 24)
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Heavy Mortars (5, of which captured: 5)
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Towed Artillery (31, of which destroyed: 4, damaged: 2 abandoned: 4, captured: 21)
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Self-Propelled Artillery (31, of which destroyed: 8, abandoned: 11, captured: 12)
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Multiple Rocket Launchers (25, of which destroyed: 9, abandoned: 4, captured: 12)
……….
Anti-Aircraft Guns (2, of which captured: 2)
……….
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns (9, of which destroyed: 5, abandoned: 3, captured: 1)
……….
Surface-To-Air Missile Systems (32, of which destroyed: 14, damaged: 1, abandoned: 7, captured: 10)
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Radars (1, of which destroyed: 1)
……….
Jammers And Deception Systems (2, of which damaged: 2)
………
Aircraft (13, of which destroyed: 12, damaged: 1)
……….
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (8, of which destroyed: 4, captured: 4)
………
Helicopters (15, of which destroyed: 12, damaged: 1, abandoned: 2)
………
Logistics Trains (2, of which destroyed: 2)
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Trucks, Vehicles and Jeeps (415, of which destroyed: 209, damaged: 9, abandoned: 55, captured: 141)
……..
Vehicles and weapon systems captured by the Ukrainians seem to exceed certain categories of Ukrainian losses. Thanks, Vlad!
If you mean between WWI and now, there was something 1939-45.
Chemical weapons were not used in WW II.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:32 pmKevin M 442-444:
That’s my point. But Sammy’s logic that Putin would not retaliate after an attack on the motherland is the same logic that would allow Putin to attack Poland and Germany without retaliation.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:35 pm1. If Ukraine begins to mount moderate very successful counter attacks next week will Russia fold or double down?
Double down. He can’t afford to have the Ukraine to be victorious. Look forward to chemical and/or tactical nukes.
2. If Ukraine successfully repels an attack on, lets say Odessa, will Putin lose whatever is left of his restraint?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:38 pmSee number 1.
IntelBrief: What Could Happen If Ukraine Devolves into an Insurgency?
…….
…….[M]ost analysts believe that unless a ceasefire and subsequent peace deal are reached soon, the conflict will devolve into a long and bloody insurgency. Given the ferocity with which the Ukrainians have been fighting, it is clear that the population will not accept a puppet government installed by the Kremlin.
If the conflict does reach a stalemate and transition to an insurgency, Ukraine is well-positioned to fight, given its knowledge of the home terrain, outpouring of popular support, and pipeline of assistance from Western and NATO countries delivering sophisticated anti-tank and other weapons. It is crucial that Western nations continue to flood weaponry into Ukraine, including surface-to-air missile systems, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and electronic warfare (EW) and cyber defense systems, as well as artillery, small arms, ammunition, and any other materiel the Ukrainians need to counter their adversaries. Historically, the provision of tangible support, including weapons, logistics, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), have been major advantages to insurgents. In the Ukraine conflict, this support would be world class, supplied by some of the most advanced militaries globally. However, statements by the West stressing the intention to defend NATO territories but not engage in combat in Ukraine must be accompanied by clearer statements of consequences for Russia’s commission of war crimes and in the event of the use of chemical weapons.
……..Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary units and elements of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) can be force multipliers to the Ukrainian insurgency without ever having to step foot on Ukrainian soil, instead operating out of Poland or other NATO countries in Eastern Europe. ……..The Russian military has already suffered significant casualties according to most credible estimates, with conservative estimates suggesting 6,000 troops. Morale is incredibly low, as most soldiers were not even informed that they would be going to war but seem to have been told they were deploying for military exercises. Ukrainians have ambushed Russian tank columns with Javelins, while Bayraktar TB2 Turkish-made drones have stalked Russian convoys from the sky.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 2:49 pm……..
……..Although unlikely, it is not impossible to think that anti-Russian jihadists from the Middle East, Caucasus, or Central Asia could see this as an opportunity to kill Russian soldiers. There are also concerns that, should a full-blown insurgency develop and drag on, Russia could deploy covert operatives to commit terrorist attacks on European soil, bringing the fight directly into the heart of NATO. ………
############
426.
This has cause and effect reversed.
It was raising interest rates to a prime rate of 20% that intensified inflation.
Interest is a cost. The effect is much faster than their theory held.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:17 pmThose who “fight inflation” by raiaing interest rates always think they started just a little bit too late.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:21 pmThey were on exercises.
It morphed into a war.
I read they had dress uniforms for the parade the military expected in Kiev.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:24 pmdouble digit inflation
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:25 pmdouble digit intrest rates
double digit unemployment
I miss Billy Carter
“The President’s approach has been right on target.” – Chuck Schumer 3/15/22
Sorta like Russian artillery and cruise missiles, eh Chuckie?!
Idiot.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:26 pmGood ole Billy beer
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:26 pm@459. You have Hunter- sans the ‘Billy Beer.’
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:27 pmHunter is a giver
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:34 pmi read where the morons in d.c. have agreed on eliminating daylight savings time.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:45 pmRome is on fire and 81 million voted for a clock change.
Mittens wants 2 year olds in masks for two more years. What a pathetic neanderthal.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:58 pmWhite House under pressure from Congress and Zelensky to find ways to deliver Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine
……..
Specifically, both Congress and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have pressured Biden officials to help broker the transfer of heavier Soviet-made weaponry to Ukraine, including MiG fighter jets and S-300 surface-to-air missile systems. It’s a message that Zelensky could echo on Wednesday when he addresses Congress.
……..
The State Department has been working to identify which countries currently have the Soviet-made S-300 air defense systems and is examining how they could be transferred to Ukraine, sources said. But it remains unclear how the US would backfill those countries’ supplies of surface-to-air missiles, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
A similar problem arose last week, when Poland indicated it would be willing to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, with the US telling Poland it would be unable to backfill the jets quickly.
……..
One lawmaker said the public attention in Congress pushing for the Polish MiG-29 jets has been misplaced, arguing that Ukraine already has planes it isn’t flying, it doesn’t have enough pilots to fly more planes and the country’s runways have been damaged by Russian attacks.
“The controversy over the MiGs is a classic case of Congress focusing on the shiny object instead of what will actually matter,” the lawmaker said. “The things that will really matter are the S-300s, SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) and drones. DoD is looking at ways to get them from allies, since we don’t have any we can give directly.”
…….
…….Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, said the plan to provide Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets “would not be effective.”
“They already have approximately 30 aircraft. They have problems with maintaining and flying those aircraft,” Reed said. “The real advantage would be to move in air defense missiles, which I hope they will do, because particularly some of the older ones, Soviet-era, they understand how to use them, since they’ve trained on them.”
…….
The source familiar with the intelligence also told CNN that providing MiG fighter jets does not make a lot of operational sense. The aircraft present a big target and they are hard to move, which creates a myriad of logistical, operational and security problems.
…….
A classic case of good cop (Congress, public opinion) and the bad cop (the Administration). If Russia does use weapons of mass destruction, public opinion may force the administration’s hand to provide heavier weaponry, though I am sure that it won’t take too much pressure for the administration to do so. They just need the political backing to become more deeply involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are US Special Forces and CIA paramilitary specialists in western Ukraine right now.
Any transferred MiGs would almost certainly be shot down by Russians as soon as they crossed the border with Poland. The MiG gambit was lost once it became public.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:02 pmFox News confirms second employee killed in Ukraine
Don’t the Russians know that Fox News is on their side?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:05 pmBrandon and the 81 million sure appear inept.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:07 pmBrandon and the 81 million sure appear inept.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:07 pm
I’m afraid to ask, but what do you want to see done? Nothing?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:21 pmAnd Putin is wasting his time and resources to change the government in Ukraine instead of on restoring Mr. Trump to his rightful position that was stolen from him. Very sad.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:23 pmNot that it’s all Putin’s fault. Why Mr. Trump did not give visas to 250,000 Russian election observers in the Fall of 2020 is beyond me.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:25 pmOr maybe he did but Deep State stymied him. Deep State is very tricky that way.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:27 pmQuit spending money and lives on wars we won’t win, Rip Murdock. And have these turds in d.c. operate under a reasonable mf budget.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:40 pmCant wait for the uni-party to engage in regime change in Belarus.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:42 pmFox’s Brian Kilmeade Shuts Down Co-Host for Saying U.S. ‘Provoked’ Russia
…….
With Fox News drawing recent backlash for some of its stars pushing Kremlin-friendly commentary and pro-Putin talking points, (co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy, ex-star of MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco) took it upon herself Tuesday morning to suggest that Russia is somehow not the actual aggressor in its full-scale invasion of its sovereign neighbor.
……..
“If you look at that map and the areas that have say could end up in a peace agreement, that’s true,” she declared. “That’s why we should have never provoked them. They made very clear there was a red line. The red line was a neutrality for Ukraine. That they could not enter NATO.”
Moments later, she once again placed the blame on the U.S. and Ukraine for Russia launching a bloody and violent war on its independent neighbor. But this time, a visibly exasperated Kilmeade could not hold his tongue.
……..
While Kilmeade said the main problem is “Vladimir Putin,” Campos-Duffy continued to point the finger at the Biden administration.
“Actually, the main problem is still China,” she proclaimed. “Now we have created a bigger block, China and Russia together. This is why our policymakers aren’t thinking long-term. Provoking this war has brought our two enemies closer together.”
“We did not provoke the war,” an irritated Kilmeade shot back. “They provoked war.”
The former reality TV star-turned-pundit repeated that Russia “had a red line,” prompting her Fox News colleague to retort: “They can’t make a red line in other countries, Rachel! It’s not up to them to make a red line in other countries!”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:50 pm………
“Why should a democracy give up because Vladimir Putin is a lunatic?” Kilmeade huffed in conclusion.
………
Bravo Kilmeade! However, arguing with “the ex-star of MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco” is like arguing with an airhead (but I repeat myself; you can probably hear the wind blowing between her ears). Fox News is scrapping the bottom of the barrel with Campos-Duffy.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:40 pm
I was right, doing nothing.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:51 pmCant wait for the uni-party to engage in regime change in Belarus.
We would all be better off if that happened.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 4:51 pmBombs away. Our last 2 efforts in regime change were great for the fact tranny bathrooms are now mainstream in the wokey dokey military.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 5:09 pmPetrodollar Cracks- Saudi Arabia considers accepting Yuan for Chinese oil sales.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 5:22 pmWhat are we doing?
BTW, mg, you read the Daylight Savings Time thing wrong. The Senate Bill is not to abolish DST. It’s to make it permanent. I approve. I want the extra hour of daylight in the evening instead of in the morning.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 5:35 pmYes
steveg (e81d76) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:07 pmI meant East… Yikes.
Lots of natural resources that China is hungry for
#465 No, no, no. Mitt Romney, like almost everyone of European descent is only a little bit Neanderthal, in the 1-4 percent range. Again, like almost everyone of European descent, he is mostly descended from the Cro-Magnons, so you could call him (and me) “late Cro-Magnons”.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:11 pmI was thinking in terms of a successful Ukrainian counter attack on Russian forces within Ukraine.
steveg (e81d76) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:14 pmAttacking Russia proper would probably turn Putin into a human roman candle.
I think Putin is being embarrassed and he should be, but worry about what his ego will tell him to do
The Ukrainian negotiating position is shifting towards “Your soldiers can walk home and leave all their equipment” and “We will be sending a bill for the damages. Due upon receipt”
steveg (e81d76) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:20 pmHopefully Putin will implode before anyone says that out loud
The gallant Hood of Texas lost 20,000 men, Atlanta, and possibly the war (that’s what the Georgians say, anyway), by valiant but fruitless assaults against Sherman from his fortified position. Defense is the strong position with the negative objective; attack is the weak position with the positive objective. At some point the Russians will need to be driven out of Ukraine but not at the cost they, themselves, are paying right now.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:26 pmI wonder what kind of history they teach in Russia. High prestige targets with little strategic value, like Moscow and Stalingrad, eviscerated Hitler’s armies. What makes taking Kyiv worthwhile other than bragging rights? They really did think that the government would flee and they could just walk in, I betcha.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:34 pmWhat happens if the petrodollar collapses?
‘If the petrodollar collapses there would be a significant economic fallout as this would mean the dollar’s value as the world’s reserve currency may not hold, impacting the dollar balances of a variety of nations. However, if the petrodollar was phased out gradually and replaced with another currency, such as the yuan, markets may remain stable but the dollar would lose significant power. Many countries favor the de-dollarization.’ -source, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/petrodollars
This… is so bad.
Attaboy, Joe!
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 6:41 pmi read where the morons in d.c. have agreed on eliminating daylight savings time.
Rome is on fire and 81 million voted for a clock change.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:45 pm
That sucks…as a yoot on football Sundays, used to love seeing 1.00p kickoff December games at Foxboro being pitch dark (at least on TV) by the 2 minute warning.
urbanleftbehind (c6f17b) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:09 pmObviously, he doesn’t care to offer any independent opinion.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:19 pmSigh! What we have in the winter with “fall back” is Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is what we got last Sunday with “spring forward”. I mean, like if people don’t even know which is which … and what, you like the government making you change your clocks twice a year?
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:21 pmUkraine Strikes Back: Barrage Leaves Russian-Occupied Kherson Airbase In Flames
A satellite image The War Zone has obtained from Planet Labs confirms that Ukrainian forces have damaged and destroyed a number of Russian helicopters, and caused other damage, in an attack on Kherson Airbase in the southern part of the country today. This is the second major Ukrainian attack in as many weeks on this base. Russian forces first claimed to have taken control of Kherson, which occupies a strategic location on the northern shore of the Dnieper River, some two weeks ago.
The image, portions of which are seen below, was taken at 11:35 AM UTC, or 1:35 PM local time on March 15th, 2022. Multiple large fire sources, including a number of burning helicopters, can be clearly seen on one of the base’s main ramps. Thick black smoke emanating from various points could well be obscuring additional damage beyond what is readily visible. There do appear to be other fires burning under the smoke plume, indicating core infrastructure at the base was also damaged or destroyed. A number of other small fires burn around the base — which is just covered with vehicles following Russia’s seizure of it — as well.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:24 pm……….
Reports that Ukrainian forces had used unspecified weapons to strike Kherson Airbase, which is collocated with the Kherson International Airport, began to emerge on social media earlier today. Pictures and videos showing a large plume of black smoke rising from the facility have also been circulating online. Heat mapping data typically used to track forest fires had already indicated that there were a number of significant fires at the airfield.
………
…….. . Previous satellite imagery had indicated that Russian forces had moved dozens of helicopters to Kherson Airbase after taking control of the city. In addition, an absolutely massive number of vehicles are now there, which were not present in a prior image taken on February 28th.
…….
Though the full of extent of the damage caused by both attacks remains unclear, there seems to be little doubt that Russian forces have sustained significant losses in both instances and that their Ukrainian opponents continue to have the ability to hold the base at risk.
……..
Sad!
Russian News Presenter Praised by Putin Resigns, Flees Country
Yeah, that’s what I hoped, too, but it’s not Tucker Carlson.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:25 pmnk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:25 pm-
Excellent!
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:30 pmHillary Clinton Thanks Russia for ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ After Country Issues Sanction Against Her –
‘The former U.S. Secretary of State was included on a list of 13 officials, including President Joe Biden, who were banned from entering Russia on Tuesday, according to CNN.’ – CNN.com/People.com
Yes, Miss Fireplug of 1969, it’s all about you.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:30 pmThird Russian general ‘killed’ in Ukraine in eight days: Commander of armoured unit is the latest senior officer to be claimed dead by Ukrainian forces
………
Major General Andrei Kolesnikov of the 29th Combined Arms Army became the latest high profile casualty of the war today, Ukraine’s government announced.
………
There are believed to be 20 Russian generals taking part in the faltering invasion, which has also seen the loss of 173 tanks, 12 aircraft and 345 troop carriers.
Western officials said the multiple general casualties suggest they are having to move to the front because Russia’s troops are either unable to make their own decisions or are fearful of moving forward.
………
Kolesnikov’s death comes four days after the killing of Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, 45, the first deputy commander of Russia’s 41st army.
The general took part in the second Chechen war, the Russian military operation in Syria, and the annexation of Crimea, winning medals from those campaigns.
According to reports, Gerasimov was the son of Valery Gerasimov – the Chief of General Staff of Russia’s armed forces.
And last week, Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District, was killed.
Sukhovetsky died during a special operation in Ukraine, his comrade-in-arms Sergey Chipilev wrote on social media.
He was shot and killed by a sniper near Mariupol, which has been under a brutal siege by Russian forces for days.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:49 pm……..
Reportedly a total of four Russian generals were killed over a ten-year period in Afghanistan. Sad!
Update:
Ukraine says 4th Russian general killed
……..
Maj. Gen. Oleg Mityaev died Tuesday during the storming of Mariupol, said Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko, who published a photo on Telegram of what he said was the dead officer.
………
Mityaev, 46, commanded the 150th motorized rifle division and had fought in Syria, Gerashchenko said.
There was no confirmation of the death from Russia.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:54 pm########
Sad!
Pure;y defensively, to stop the bombing and missile strikes inside Ukraine.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/15/2022 @ 11:32 am
I am not saying he will accept it – I am saying that the dividing in between in what circumstances Putin will, and in what circumstances he will not escalate to either a general attack on NATO territory or the use if nuclear weapons exists mostly in Joe Biden and other’s imagination, and there is no solid basis for it.
It is also not based on anything Putin has hinted, because he has hinted in the past that certain actions could cause it, and he has been ignored (because the Biden Administration is stuck on its list of tits and tats, which have nothing to do with reality.
The tits and the tats are entirely the product of an American imagination and there is no logic or evidence for any of them. That is clear.
Putin may possibly have some tits and tats, but we don’t know what they are. But one thing we do know is that he has been lying about them and his bluff has been called several times.
If there is anything could cause him to escalate, it is simply failing, no matter how he fails.
He never said, or so much as hinted, that giving Ukraine MIG-23 jets, or declaring or enforcing a no fly zone or bombing sites in Russia would risk tripping any wire.
He has said intensified sanctions could do it, and he’s been ignored.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 7:58 pmPurely speculative on your part, Sammy.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:02 pmYou have no idea what Putin may or may not do. The US needs to game what he might do, because you could be wrong.
Rip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:04 pmPutin has said that he will hit convoys from other countries supplying Ukraine. It does not need to mean outside of Ukraine’s borders. We are technically non-combatants even inside Ukraine’s borders, but such “neutrality” will not be recognized.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:07 pmBiden Administration’s Tik Tok Influencer: Blame Putin For High Gas Prices, Inflation
Nice rack; no brains: Joe’s next Ambassador to Oz.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/03/14/wh_tik_tok_influencer_putin_is_the_obvious_reason_for_high_gas_prices.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:08 pmI don;t know if Marina Ovsyannikova has been released after being fined the ruble equivalent of $280 at current exchange rates for disrupting a TV show, but might be charged with an offense that could give her 10 years, or is it 15 years, in prison, or if she is being held incommunicado, or if she is going to be released to France, or all three.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:14 pmZelinsky address the Canadian Parliament today, and will address the U.S. Congress tomorrow for about 15 minutes and had a visit in Kyiv from top officials from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and Kyiv is being bombed relentlessly and a day and a half curfew declared there except for people heading to a bomb shelter.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:17 pmRip Murdock (b274da) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:04 pm
I have ideas, and I may be wrong, but I can speak about the probability that any of the game theorizing the U.S. is using is correct. Very close to zero, It is almost entirely made up.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:23 pmThere are people thinking about this 24/7 and not only while stepping outside to have a cigarette. Speaking personally.
Legally, Ukraine is still Ukraine and Ukrainian airspace is still Ukrainian airspace and only Ukraine has the right to say who will travel in it and fly over it. So Zelensky has a perfect right to request aid convoys and a no-fly zone. And then what do we do when Putin strafes the convoys and shoots down the NATO planes? Take him to court?
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:34 pmIf you think about it, Putin has already declared war on the world.
nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:36 pm488 – aluminum seating at its finest…..
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:48 amnk – Chesterfields, Pal Mal or do you twist them yourself?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:51 am482 – not surprised you missed the point.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:55 amThe masking of 2 year olds is nucking futz.
entitled punk is what mitty is.
The once greatest city on earth is now full of maggots, don’t bite the big apple.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:08 amNext on mittens to do list is to strap those masked 2 year olds on top of his car and drive to an Epstein residence.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:12 amhttps://redstate.com/jimthompson/2022/03/16/wednesday-cartoon-cheney-and-kinzinger-we-have-each-other-n536188
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:18 amRip Taylor rules!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/16/2022 @ 5:12 amnk strikes me as a Lucky Strike type. Just kidding, that was more my speed. But seriously, I’ll guess nk is a Camel unfiltered, man. LSMFT, LSMFT!
felipe (484255) — 3/16/2022 @ 5:33 amKamianets-Podilskyi factory Belomorkanal brand papirosa, what else, comrades?
nk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 6:59 amRemember Pearl Harbor?
Remember 9/11?
Remember Zelenskyy:
We don’t have a Titanic here’: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky downplays the U.S. assessment of imminent Russian invasion as Gen. Mark Milley warns a full attack would be ‘horrific’ and bring ‘significant amount of casualties’ 1/28/22
– source, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10452249/Ukrainian-President-Volodymyr-Zelensky-told-Biden-tone-messaging-invasion.html
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 7:34 amHa, ha, ha! And Putin really caught the Ukrainians, Biden, NATO, and the EU unprepared and with their pants down, and just waltzed in with his troops packing parade uniforms instead of extra rations, didn’t he?
Poker! Ha, ha, ha! Try Bunker Hill: “Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes!” Zelensky knew that weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth wasn’t going to keep the Russians massed at the border from attacking. But he could fool them about what they’d be walking into.
nk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:09 am“A short victorious war” — just what Putin needed to unite his people behind him.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:28 amThose generals seem to be dropping like flies. No word on other officers. Do you suppose that fragging has come to Russia?
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:29 amDo you suppose that fragging has come to Russia?
The NKVD, I suspect. (15 second video from The Enemy At The Gates.) Which, BTW, was responsible for most of the casualties of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain, too, asset. They call it the FSB now.
nk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:52 amThose generals seem to be dropping like flies. No word on other officers. Do you suppose that fragging has come to Russia?
More likely front line combat or snipers. Sad!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 9:38 amAs Russia Digs In, What’s the Risk of Nuclear War? ‘It’s Not Zero.’
……….
As Russia and NATO escalate their standoff over Ukraine, nuclear strategists and former U.S. officials warn that there is a remote but growing risk of an unintended slide into direct conflict — even, in some scenarios, a nuclear exchange.
…….
Leaders on both sides emphasize that they consider such a war unthinkable, even as they make preparations and issue declarations for how they might carry it out. But the fear, experts stress, is not a deliberate escalation to war, but a misunderstanding or a provocation gone too far that, as each side scrambles to respond, spirals out of control.
…….
The Kremlin has turned to nuclear saber-rattling that may not be entirely empty of threat. Russian war planners, obsessed with fears of NATO invasion, have implied in recent policy documents and war games that they may believe that Russia could turn back such a force through a single nuclear strike — a gambit that Soviet-era leaders rejected as unthinkable.
The outcome of such a strike would be impossible to predict. A recent Princeton University simulation, projecting out each side’s war plans and other indicators, estimated that it would be likely to trigger a tit-for-tat exchange that, in escalating to strategic weapons like intercontinental missiles, could kill 34 million people within a few hours.
……..
……..Vladimir V. Putin, Russia’s president, said (in 2018) that Russia could use nuclear warheads “within seconds” of an attack onto Russian territory — raising fears that a border skirmish or other incident could, if mistaken as something more, set off a nuclear strike.
A 2020 Russian government paper seemed to expand these conditions further, mentioning the use of drones and other equipment as potentially triggering Russia’s nuclear red lines.
These policies are designed to address a problem that Soviet leaders never faced: a belief that, unlike during the Cold War, NATO would quickly and decisively win a conventional war against Russia.
The result is a reluctant but seemingly real embrace of limited nuclear conflict as manageable, even winnable. Russia is thought to have stockpiled at least 1,000 small, “nonstrategic” warheads in preparation, as well as hypersonic missiles that would zip them across Europe before the West could respond.
………
Russian strategic doctrine is designed in part around a fear that the West will foment economic and political unrest within Russia as prelude to an invasion.
With Mr. Putin now facing economic devastation and rising protests, “A lot of the pieces of their nightmare are already coming together,” said Samuel Charap, who studies Russian foreign policy at the RAND Corporation.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 9:51 am…….
Mr. Putin has already said that direct Western intervention in the Ukraine war might trigger Russian nuclear retaliation. Now, each uptick in Western support for Ukrainian forces tests those limits.
……..
……..Should Russia use chemical weapons or commit some other transgression, American leaders could face overwhelming pressure to retaliate beyond what Moscow anticipates.
……..
Christopher S. Chivvis, a former U.S. intelligence official for Europe, recently wrote that “scores of war games carried out by the United States and its allies” all projected that Mr. Putin would launch a single nuclear strike if he faced limited fighting with NATO or major setbacks in Ukraine that he blamed on the West.
……..
Ukrainian forces launch counterattacks outside Kyiv and Kherson.
The Ukrainian armed forces have launched counterattacks against Russian troops outside the capital, Kyiv, and in the Russian-occupied city of Kherson, according to a senior Ukrainian military official.
The goal of the operation, which began on Tuesday night and was continuing on Wednesday, was to inflict mass casualties on the Russian military, rather than to win back territory, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to reveal sensitive military information.
The operation involved attacks by Ukrainian artillery, fighter jets and tanks, the official said. Details of the offensive could not be fully confirmed independently. ……
……..
Ukrainian air defenses shot down a Russian missile over central Kyiv at midday Wednesday. The explosion rattled windows downtown and left a circle of white smoke drifting in the air. The sound of artillery fire was noticeably heavier and louder throughout the night and early morning in outlying suburbs.
“In the task of inflicting maximum losses, we’ve done excellently,” the official said.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:01 am##############
Excellent!
After Zelensky’s plea to Congress, Putin says the West is trying to ‘cancel’ Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that his country’s attack on Ukraine is going according to plan and that the West is trying to “cancel Russia.”
“The special operation is developing successfully, in strict accordance with preapproved plans,” he said in a lengthy video address to government officials.
He claimed that Russian soldiers “do everything that depends on them to avoid losses among the civilian population of Ukrainian cities.”……
……..
The Russian leader also took the opportunity to directly address citizens of Western countries to tell them that their “ruling elites” are to blame for the economic ripples that the invasion of Ukraine has sent across markets.
“Now they are trying to convince you that all your difficulties are the result of some hostile actions by Russia and that from your wallet you need to pay for the fight against the mythical Russian threat,” Putin said. “All this is a lie!”
He also claimed that the West is trying to “cancel Russia” and doubled down on eyebrow-raising rhetoric likening international pressure on Russia to “antisemitic pogroms that the Nazis staged in Germany” before and during World War II.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:15 am#############
How delusional can someone be. None of his statements pass the laugh test, though I am sure Putin wing of the Republican party will parrot his comments.
How delusional can someone be. None of his statements pass the laugh test…
Joe would know.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:18 am@517. Pfft. The pumps kept the Titanic afloat for 2 1/2 hours.
Until they didn’t.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:20 amhttps://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?msclkid=c8fac8c0a54d11ec9cc2c6cd79e54e7f
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:28 amOil prices fall below $100 a barrel as China’s Covid-19 outbreak threatens demand
Oil prices dropped on Tuesday, falling below $100 a barrel, as China, the world’s largest oil importer, imposed new lockdowns to combat an outbreak of the coronavirus, moves that could threaten demand.
The swing in oil prices, which approached $130 a barrel last week, reverberated through the stock market: Airlines stocks rallied, and shares of oil producers slid.
Brent crude, the global benchmark, dropped 7.4 percent to $99.91 a barrel, its lowest price since late February. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, fell 6.4 percent at $96.44 a barrel.
Over the past week, crude prices have plunged more than 20 percent, reversing much of the surge after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added turmoil to an already-tight energy market. …..
……..
Oil producers tumbled. Chevron and Exxon Mobil both fell more than 5 percent, and Valero Energy was down 6.8 percent, making them among the worst performers in the S&P 500.
Gas prices, which have been rising for weeks amid the conflict in Ukraine, also fell slightly on Tuesday. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $4.316, down from a high of $4.325 the day before, according to data from AAA.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:06 am………
505. nk (1d9030) — 3/15/2022 @ 8:34 pm
So far Russian planes have mostly stayed out of western Ukraine, maybe because they don’t have complete control of Ukrainian air space, and maybe because, and maybe because they have a limited ability to target accurately, and maybe convoys they are better protected.
Ot sounded to me from what CBS News Pentagon correspondent David Martin said this afternoon after Biden spoke, that what people in the Pentagon are most concerned about is that Putin could target the staging areas in Romania and Poland. (because that’s where they could get a lot of them, and maybe halt operations)
So far two Russian drones have crashed – one in Croatia (ot ptobably went astray and had a bomb) and one in Romania.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/croatia-criticizes-nato-crash-russian-made-drone-83405534
https://balkaninsight.com/2022/03/15/russian-made-drone-crashes-in-romania-near-ukraine-border
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:06 amOt (sic) sounded to me from what CBS News Pentagon correspondent David Martin said this afternoon after Biden spoke, that what people in the Pentagon are most concerned about is that Putin could target the staging areas in Romania and Poland. (because that’s where they could get a lot of them, and maybe halt operations)
In which case Article 5 is implemented and all bets are off.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:11 amnk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:52 am
Except the Belarus version, which is still the KGB.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:11 am530. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:11 am
He said that, or raher he said (only) the part about being at war. It wasn’t entirely clear to me about where the bombing the Pentagon was thinking about could take place, but it makes more sense, given he said war, that it is Article 5 territory.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:15 am@530. Depends on locale; if in transit into Ukraine, they’re surely to be targeted.
Wolf Packs torpedoed supply shipments on the high seas long before the U.S., entered WW2:
‘It was unbelievably dull and uncomfortable duty, often interspersed with moments of sheer terror and the possibility of sudden and violent death. This was the Murmansk Run, the convoy duty on the North Atlantic. Thousands of cargo ships, manned by tens of thousands of brave British, Canadian, and American civilian merchant mariners, along with Navy and Coast Guard personnel, made the hazardous voyages carrying invaluable supplies to America’s chief Allies—Great Britain and the Soviet Union—months before, [and years after,] the United States was propelled into the war on December 7, 1941.
The voyages across the North Atlantic and from Iceland to the Russian ports of Murmansk, Archangel, and Kola Inlet involved more hazards than in any other kind of naval duty. Severe weather was commonplace. Ice fields could be encountered at any time of year. Floating mines were a constant menace. German submarines, surface craft, and warplanes could strike at will from nearby bases in German-occupied Norway. And, prior to the spring of 1943, when an effective Allied antisubmarine offensive got underway, ships and men making the so-called “Murmansk Run” had about one chance in three of returning.‘ source-
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/2017/04/03/the-murmansk-run-running-the-gauntlet-of-wwiis-arctic-convoys/?msclkid=5d156790a55511ecb4261845a2d92f26
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:22 amGas prices, which have been rising for weeks amid the conflict in Ukraine, also fell slightly on Tuesday. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $4.316, down from a high of $4.325 the day before, according to data from AAA.
The WH purposely misleads; fuel loads purchased from distributors – say in the past 10 to 20 days-when prices were higher will have that higher expense passed on to consumers. The futures markets dictates what the costs will be; any drop in oil prices won’t be reflected at retail for a while.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:26 amWas this the inspiration for George Lucas’ “Kessel Run?”
felipe (484255) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:29 amZelensky spoke for about 20 minutes to Congress, and apparently mostly made the case for his cause, although he also asked for some specific things he isn’t getting – maybe now one thing is down to a humanitarian no fly zone. He also played a short video in the middle. I think most effective would have been a counterargument to the tit and tat list the administration has, but he apparently didn;t realize that that’s the point he needs to make.
After that (I think after that) President Biden asked to speak, and he spoke just after 1 pm Eastern Daylight Time, after being at T minus 5 miniutes and holding for an extended period of time.
Presiden Biden started off by going into how meritorious the cause of Ukraine was and how we all sympathized He went on to describe how much he wasd doing — and had done for a year. He gave a whole laundry list of items that are being sent, and talked about the sanctions pn Russia, ad the money (including cash value of equipment) we were sending to Ukraine. $200 millionn was sent and now there’s going to be an extra $800 million. He said he wanted to make sure Russia didn’t win. He said he was giving help to Ukraine so they could “continue” to control the skies. I think he said Ukraine wastrolled the skies. It would sound like he’s doing everything imaginable he could. He made no reference to anything Zelensky had asked for except, in vague language that he was working on getting something for Ukraine (Those are the S-300 Russian made surface to air missiles – apparently not the S-400 though, .Biden referred to them as something more long range)
One goal he mentioned (in passing) of aid to Ukraine was to STRENGTHEN THEIR HAND AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE!?
well, a ceasefire is probably the best immediate outcome, and its terms do need to be negotiated.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:34 am517. . nk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:09 am
I don’t think Zelensky tried to fool the. He wanted to avoid a war He, and the United States, tried to convince them. Even to the point of telling the Russians we could could intercept and overhear their communications to their troops. Even to the point of telling the Chinese some of what we knew, and asking them to argue the Russians out of it.
But Putin didn’t believe it. (that it wouldn’t be easy)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:45 am#526 — True that. I keep seeing the Russians have 10 days to win this thing or they lose the ability to hold their conquered territory.
By the way, I would recommend a book called Bloodlands to you. It might help why Putin, in believing Ukraine would embrace the Russians, was such a load of mistaken beliefs.
Appalled (1a17de) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:47 amBaghdad Bob meet Volgograd Vlad. You cannot be subtle with the proletariat. It will go over their heads. You have to lie to them blatantly, loudly, and repeat yourself several times. And then have the secret police quiz them. With a truncheon. That guy with the white coat and electric shocks to teach Newspeak — the NKVD liquidated most of those fantasists early on. Orwell was one who escaped in Spain.
nk (1d9030) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:52 amThey think that Putin may have lied to the Chinese about what would happen and when. A good reason for thinking this would be that Putin is known to have lied to Erdogan, and China, like Turkey, did not close its embassy in Kyiv before the war. They must have been assuming the war would not affect Kyiv.
(They also didn’t close their embassy in Kabul, along with Russia) but there that would be because they had good relations with the Taliban.)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:53 amAppalled (1a17de) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:47 am
New draftees start entering the army on April 1, and old draftee soldiers are let go at the same time.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/explainer-russian-conscription-reserve-and-mobilization
How many fewer people are going to show up at bases?
Now Putin has promised no new draftees will be sent to Ukraine. They wouldn’t be anyway, as they need to undergo a period of training.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:00 pmThe subvariant of Omicron, for which they are using the pre-Greek alphabet name and calling it BA.2, is one third again as infectious as plain old Omicron, but is not much more serious, if at all. It’s rapidly rising as a percentage of Covid cases
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-cases-ba2-omicron-sub-variant-cdc
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:21 pmPrayers for friend of the show, Lee Stranahan 🙏
Icy (6abb50) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:27 pm@538. Will look into it. He’s been fixated on Ukraine, given it’s history as part of and with the USSR, for decades. The clock is ticking for both sides. It doesn’t do Ukraine nor Zelanskyy much good to keep doing his Tim-Allen-Jason-Nesmith-Galaxy-Quest-‘Never Give Up-Never Surrender!’- impression’ for the cameras in defiance as his cities and citizens get pummeled into rubble around him nor is Vlad winning any friends or influencing people by doing it; he doesn’t give a damn about them -nor much about his own soldiers as well. Russians have roll tanks over the bodies of their own frozen dead in warts past. He just wants that May Day Ukraine victory parade. But as long as the West keeps “pumping in” free goodies -which hopefully end up being used and a high percentage not diverted to the black market given the corruption there- this will go on. There should be a U.S. War Bond drive for aid to pay for this aid; ol’Joe would generate millions from individuals and corporations. As it stands now- only the MIC is winning. Unless Vlad escalates w/an errant strike at the flow. But the partition plan- that is, the E. Ukraine/W. Ukraine scenario- as projected by Dr. Kissinger, is already surfacing in open discussions as a solution. Vlad has to have an immediate ‘win’ even though it’s a long term loss– and Z gets the fighting halted and some semblance of a Ukraine left.
“Where’s the happy ending, Jason? “Never give up, never surrender?”‘- Alxander Dane [Alan Rickman] Galaxy Quest’ 1999
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:41 pmWhy is Europe still buying Russian oil and gas?
https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-01/why-is-europe-still-buying-russian-oil-and-gas?msclkid=b0d339b9a56111eca88c044acb583b00
Europe is still sucking down Russian energy resources in some way,shape or form. Vlad could easily shut off the flow in response to munitions shipments from Joe and make up the cash flow difference w/sales to energy hungry China.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:48 pm515 – nk
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:54 pmNo Vamma Del Sol?
They are tasty.
Russians bomb Mariupol theater where hundreds had taken refuge, officials say
Killed in cold blood: Putin’s troops slay ten Ukrainians queuing for bread as drone video shows civilian ‘shot dead by Russian soldiers after holding up his hands in surrender’
“The special military operation is going to plan”-Vladimir Putin
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 12:59 pm@547. “It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.” ― William Tecumseh Sherman
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:20 pmU.S. warns Moscow against using chemical or biological weapons.
……….
The explicit warning to Nikolai P. Patrushev, President Vladimir V. Putin’s main national security adviser, reflected escalating concerns in Washington that the Russians, stymied in their hopes of a quick takeover of the country, could resort to weapons of mass destruction.
Officials said there was no direct mention of the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, although two officials said the administration sent a separate warning on that issue through other channels in the opening days of the war, when Mr. Putin announced he was placing Russian nuclear forces on alert.
……….
Russia’s Security Council, Mr. Putin’s main advisory body on national security matters, said on its website that Mr. Patrushev had called on the United States to stop “supporting neo-Nazis and terrorists in Ukraine” and to stop facilitating the inflow of “mercenaries” and weapons to the country.
……..
……..[U]se of chemical or biological weapons would present Mr. Biden with a problem similar to the one that confronted President Barack Obama in 2012 and 2013, after Mr. Obama declared during the conflict in Syria that “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized.” Mr. Obama said that would “change the calculus,” but then pulled back from a plan to take military action after President Bashar al-Assad of Syria used chemical weapons in April 2013.
In this case, the calculus is different: Unlike Syria, Russia is a nuclear-armed state, and the concerns about escalation of a conflict permeate the White House and the Pentagon.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:27 pm……..
The only way Putin can win in a short amount of time is to use nuclear, biological, or chemical (NBC) weapons. Conversely, using NBC weapons could move American public opinion toward greater intervention, such as a no-fly zone, at which point the political calculus will change forcing the administration’s hand. The difference between the use of poison gas in Syria is that the public didn’t care about the Syrian rebels, and the media coverage of the Syrian Civil War was much less than the current Ukrainian coverage.
Pentagon sending new $800M package of weapons to Ukraine
President Biden today announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine, which includes a host of U.S. weapons transfers to help that nation continue to fend off an ongoing Russian invasion.
The $800 million package includes: 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems; 2,000 Javelin anti-armor systems, 1,000 light anti-armor weapons, and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems; 100 tactical unmanned aerial systems; 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, and 400 shotguns; over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds; 25,000 sets of body armor; and 25,000 helmets.
The Pentagon said the latest package is in addition to $1 billion of assistance provided in the past week.
Previous assistance committed to Ukraine includes: Over 600 Stinger anti-aircraft systems; approximately 2,600 Javelin anti-armor systems; five Mi-17 helicopters; three patrol boats; four counter-artillery and counter-unmanned aerial system tracking radars; four counter-mortar radar systems; 200 grenades; 200 shotguns and 200 machine guns; nearly 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition and over one million grenade, mortar, and artillery rounds; 70 humvees and other vehicles; secure communications, electronic warfare detection systems, body armor, helmets, and other tactical gear; military medical equipment to support treatment and combat evacuation; explosive ordnance disposal and demining equipment; and satellite imagery and analysis capability.
Additionally, the Pentagon said the United States is also helping Ukraine acquire additional, “longer-range” systems to defend the country.
The latest aid package is the first tranche in $3.5 billion of assistance recently approved by Congress. It was announced shortly after a congressional address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We need you right now [to] remember Pearl Harbor, the terrible morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when your sky was black from the planes attacking you,” he said. “Just remember, remember September the 11th, a terrible day in 2001, when evil tried to turn your cities, independent territories, into battlefields, when innocent people were attacked. Just like no one else expected it, you could not stop it. Our country experiences the same every day right now.”
https://insidedefense.com/insider/pentagon-sending-new-800m-package-weapons-ukraine?msclkid=fa751029a56611ec9e6dc95de0ad3083
… and the MIC smiled.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:29 pm550. Oh yes. President Biden finished his speech by saying he was moving over to a desk , also on stage, where he would sign a bill into law, giving Ukraine an additional $800 million, making it atotal of $1 billion, all in one week.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:37 pmAt least the Russians found an alternative to bombing and destroying a hospital.
In Mariupol, Ukraine they seized control of the entrances and exits and are not allowing anyone to leave – or enter. (the second part people are somewhat overlooking)
This is more humanitarian than destroying the hospital but still denies their enemy the use of the hospital. Nobody (Russia wants that to make their lethal fire more effective. The people already in the hospital can remain alive but are neutralized.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/world/europe/mariupol-death-toll-ukraine.html
The part in bold has been overlooked, or maybe they don’t realize that the goal of the Russian military is to deny Ukraine the use of the hospital, and interfere with care of the wounded.
Of course this is in complete violation of the most basic rules of combat since the Crimean War.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:52 pm. Nobody can go to the hospital for treatment, and those already treated are effectively killed. I worry about the journalist in a hospital.
That’s a target.
Doesn’t everybody realize that?
Now maybe they still plan to control it on the ground.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 1:55 pmFox correspondent Benjamin Hall has left Ukraine after suffering injuries from deadly attack
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:21 pmThe Russian troops in the south of Ukraine seem different than the Russian troops in the north.
Different commanding officers, maybe different conscripts.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:23 pmFrom Biden’s speech:
At the end, when reporters tried to question him:
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:40 pmThe drone that crashed in Croatia might have been launched by a Ukrainian force/
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:42 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/15/world/europe/ukraine-mykolaiv-russia-war.html
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:44 pmPew: Public Expresses Mixed Views of U.S. Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
Three weeks into Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, nearly half of Americans (47%) approve of the Biden administration’s handling of the Russian invasion, while about four-in-ten (39%) disapprove; 13% say they are not sure.
Roughly a third of Americans (32%) say that the United States is providing about the right amount of support to Ukraine as it fights to hold off the Russian invasion. A larger share – 42% – say the U.S. should be providing more support to Ukraine, while just 7% say it is providing too much support. About one-in-five (19%) say they are not sure.
……..
…….[V]irtually identical shares in both parties – 51% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents and 50% of Democrats and Democratic leaners – regard the Russian invasion as a “major threat” to U.S. interests.
………
Americans also are largely united in their support for strict economic sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of the public (85%) – including similar shares of Republicans (85%) and Democrats (88%) – favors maintaining strict economic sanctions. About six-in-ten Americans (63%) strongly favor strict sanctions.
………
However, most Americans (62%) say they would oppose the U.S. “taking military action even if it risks a nuclear conflict with Russia.” About a third (35%) of Americans say they would favor military action in this scenario. Comparable shares in both parties (36% of Republicans, 35% of Democrats) say they would favor military action even if it risks nuclear conflict with Russia.
………
Democrats and Democratic leaners largely approve of the administration’s response to the Russian invasion (69% approve), while Republicans and Republican leaners mostly disapprove (67% disapprove).
……..
About a third of Americans overall say the U.S. is providing about the right amount of support for Ukraine, while a larger share (42%) say it is not providing enough support; just 7% say it is providing too much support, while 19% are not sure.
…….
…….Nearly half of Republicans (49%) say the U.S. is providing too little support; 23% say it is providing about the right amount and 9% think the U.S. is giving Ukraine too much support.
Among Democrats, comparable shares say the U.S. is providing Ukraine about the right amount of support (39%) and too little backing (38%). Just 5% of Democrats say the U.S. is giving Ukraine too much support – roughly half the share of Republicans who say the same.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 2:50 pm……..
Half of Americans say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a major threat to U.S. interests, while another 28% say it is a minor threat; just 6% say the invasion is not a threat to U.S. interests, while 16% are not sure…….
……..
This was an attempt to mislead:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/03/16/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-assistance-the-united-states-is-providing-to-ukraine
“can cointinue to.”
Zelensky’s whole point was that they weren’t being completely successful in stopping the planes and the helicopters that have been attacking their people.
And then there are the missiles. They said they stopped 22 out of the 30 that were aimed the other day at that base near the UkrINIn-Polish border that was formerly used to train Ukrainians where the Florida National Guard was pullled out of. But the 8 remaining killed some people/
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:27 pmMigs Romney is happy with the new give away. Guarantee he has a kickback coming.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:35 pmWho does Hunter cheer for Russia or Ukraine? He has made a living off both.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:39 pmJoe Biden Says Every American Knows Someone Blackmailed by Intimate, Naked and Sexually Explicit Pictures.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:50 pmMust be a paid friend, eh Joe.
Wonder when the people will realize this administration had a tumor in Afghanistan. But yet we must have them perform this surgery.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:54 pmStocks Finish Sharply Higher
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:56 pm……..
The S&P 500 finished the day with strength to rise 2.2% as of 4 p.m. ET. The tech-focused Nasdaq Composite advanced 3.8%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 519 points, or 1.55%. The indexes initially pared their gains in the wake of the Fed’s announcement before rebounding during Chairman Jerome Powell’s news conference.
……..
Spain seizes another Russian yacht believed to belong to an oligarch
Spain, which has pledged to seize the suspected superyachts of Russian oligarchs targeted for sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, on Wednesday impounded the third such vessel, one of the world’s biggest superyachts, in Spanish territorial waters this week.
The ship was impounded in the Spanish port of Tarragona, pending an inspection to establish its exact ownership, Spain’s transport ministry said in a statement. The ship, called the Crescent, was registered in the Cayman Islands.
The Spanish authorities have taken similar measures against two other yachts, the Valerie, which was in a maintenance yard in Barcelona, and Lady Anastasia, a yacht that was moored in Port Adriano, on the Spanish island of Majorca.
………
The Valerie is suspected of being indirectly owned by Sergei Chemezov, the head of Rostec, a Russian industrial conglomerate that also makes military technology and equipment. The vessel was one of four Russian-owned superyachts that had recently been undergoing work at MB92, a shipyard that has helped establish Barcelona as one of the main hubs for the extravagant yachts owned by the super wealthy.
The Crescent, valued by the SuperYachtFan website at $600 million, appears to be the sister ship of the slightly larger, slightly more expensive Scheherazade, a 459-foot superyacht that U.S. officials said could be associated with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:59 pm……..
The Lady Anastasia, which was impounded on the island of Mallorca, is believed to be owned by Alexander Mikheev, a Russian arms dealer. In late February, the police on Majorca detained a Ukrainian member of the yacht’s crew because he had been planning to sink the vessel, in retaliation for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was released on bail, pending an investigation.
……….
Sad!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10621397/Court-orders-Jussie-Smollett-RELEASED-jail-appeal-just-six-days-prison.html?ito=social-twitter_mailonline
Separate system of justice foe the politically connected left and the rest of us.
NJRob (26934c) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:07 pmPence: ‘I Believe the Time Has Come for a 21st Century Berlin Airlift’ for Ukraine
……..
………I mean, there is one person to blame for this invasion, it’s — it’s Vladimir Putin. And Putin must be — must pay for the violence that he is visiting upon the people of Ukraine. I think it’s time that we transferred the MiGs, that we gave them the antiaircraft systems.”
……..I believe the time has come for a 21st century Berlin airlift,” he added. “When I was on the border of Ukraine just last week, I heard over and over again the practical needs that people are facing, food, water, medicine, and I think it’s time for the free world to step up and work together to make sure that the people of Ukraine have the wherewithal to defend themselves and also to take care of themselves and their families admits this violence. They’ve shown incredible courage. You saw President Zelenskyy demonstrate that courage in words today as well. And I think the time has come for us to do more to give them more of the ability to defend themselves and to give them the support that they need in this hour of need.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:11 pm#############
MAGAWorld ™ not amused:
where are you suggesting they air lift these people? Delaware?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:15 pmwhere are you suggesting they air lift these people? Delaware?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:15 pm
The Berlin Airlift did not airlift people out of Berlin-it airlifted food and supplies into Berlin. Pence is suggesting we do the same into Western Ukraine.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:38 pmStanding by for WW3
mg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:44 pmmg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:39 pm
He made a living from a corrupt Ukrainian company that was probably friendly with Russia, (his biggest job was to help a person who claimed not to own it maintain control of the company)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:01 pmmg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 4:15 pm
He was suggesting that they airlift supplies TO Kyiv, not people FROM Kyiv. He compared it to the Berlin airlift of 1948-1949. But Stalin was merely blockading the route and the entrances ad exits to (what did he blockade>) to West Berlin. All peaceful. No shooting. That’s not the case here, This proposal is based on the idea Russia could be deterred from interfering.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/16/2022 @ 8:10 pmmg (8cbc69) — 3/16/2022 @ 3:35 pm
That 7%
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:50 pmThis proposal is based on the idea Russia could be deterred from interfering
Nothing up to this point suggests that we are going to deter them from anything outside of NATO borders. I do think there are lines they cannot cross, but shooting down a supply plane isn’t one of them.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/16/2022 @ 10:53 pmFreddie Freeman a Dodger.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/16/2022 @ 11:08 pm19%
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:32 amBiden going to cover his crimes with a law for his family and all the pervers all over the world. Watch who votes for this GARBAGE… THEY are the perverts
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:45 amCongress just gave itself a 21% pay raise as we pound sand. What are we doing?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:54 amI do think there are lines they cannot cross, but shooting down a supply plane isn’t one of them.
Yeah, that’s the reality. Inter armes, silent leges. When guns talk, the laws shut up. Legally, Ukraine is a sovereign nation and only they decide what they will allow into their country. But tell it to a S-400! And then how do we respond?
nk (1d9030) — 3/17/2022 @ 6:37 amIn the game of thrones, your best friend is your insurance agent:
nk (1d9030) — 3/17/2022 @ 6:52 amApparently Russia has lost 7,000 troops in 3 weeks.
Everyone who bought the story about how tough and Manly the Russian army was is looking pretty stupid right now. Russia may win this based on just being a lot bigger then UKR but it’s pretty clear their abilities were over stated.
Hopefully this pushes blood and soil nationalism and all the culture war nonessense that went with it back into the dustbin.
Time123 (9f42ee) — 3/17/2022 @ 7:17 am396. 502.
Actually for staging an illegal protest.
The latest update (yesterday) is that she gave an interview, so she must be free, for now. She was held incommunicado for 14 hours, I think.
President Macron of France intervened on her behalf. I wonder of he offered to pay money to ransom her.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/17/2022 @ 9:08 amCongress just gave itself a 21% pay raise as we pound sand. What are we doing?
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:54 am
Untrue.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/17/2022 @ 9:11 amSource for post 584 (as if it mattered).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/17/2022 @ 9:13 amAs Russian Troop Deaths Climb, Morale Becomes an Issue, Officials Say
………
Pentagon officials say that a high, and rising, number of war dead can destroy the will to continue fighting. The result, they say, has shown up in intelligence reports that senior officials in the Biden administration read every day: One recent report focused on low morale among Russian troops and described soldiers just parking their vehicles and walking off into the woods.
The American officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, caution that their numbers of Russian troop deaths are inexact, compiled through analysis of the news media, Ukrainian figures (which tend to be high, with the latest at 13,500), Russian figures (which tend to be low, with the latest at 498), satellite imagery and careful perusal of video images of Russian tanks and troops that come under fire.
American military and intelligence officials know, for instance, how many troops are usually in a tank, and can extrapolate from that the number of casualties when an armored vehicle is hit by, say, a Javelin anti-tank missile.
……..
The news of the generals’ deaths is trickling out, first from Ukrainians, then confirmed by NATO officials, with one death acknowledged by Mr. Putin in a speech. They have been identified as Maj. Gen. Andrei Kolesnikov, a commander from Russia’s eastern military district; Maj. Gen. Vitaly Gerasimov, first deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army; and Maj. Gen. Andrei Sukhovetsky, deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army.
……..
On Wednesday, Ukrainian officials reported that a fourth general, Maj. Gen. Oleg Mityaev, the commander of the 150th motorized rifle division, had been killed in fighting.
Two American military officials said that many Russian generals are talking on unsecured phones and radios. In at least one instance, they said, the Ukrainians intercepted a general’s call, geolocated it, and attacked his location, killing him and his staff.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/17/2022 @ 9:29 am………
Can you hear me now? BOOM!
Professor Joyner says that we are right to get rid of the daylight saving time changes, but wrong, according to sleep experts, to choose permanent daylight saving time, rather than permanent standard time.
(He’s usually right, when he cites evidence.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/17/2022 @ 10:29 amPresident Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion bill that funds the federal government and provides assistance to Ukraine. Social media posts misrepresent the bill by implying Congress members gave themselves a 21% pay raise. The bill increases House office budgets by 21%, which likely will result in pay raises for staffers — but not for members of Congress.
https://www.factcheck.org/2022/03/spending-bill-includes-pay-raise-for-staffers-not-members-of-congress/?msclkid=3b0f1e98a61811eca0941d494f298de4
Why? Inflation too hard on them?
Storm the castle.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 3/17/2022 @ 10:35 amThere is an argunent against permanent daylight time, and an argument against permanent standard time, and arguments during parts of the year both for standard time and for daylight savings time.
This op-ed guves arguments for permanent standard and permanent daylight time
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/11/well/live/daylight-saving-time-standard-time-debate.html
There’s an arguement for the status quo: Light later in the day is good, except when, as a result, it would be too dark and too cold too late in the am hours.
I suppose you could move the time zones or move the time zone in certain places during part of the year.
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/17/2022 @ 10:51 amI consider sleep experts to be one of the indicia of a society’s decadence. Somewhere between non-celiac gluten sensitivity and pierced navels.
nk (1d9030) — 3/17/2022 @ 11:18 amI noticed this interesting historical parallel, mentioned almost in passing, without comment:
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/zelensky-defines-courage-in-our-time-ukraine-congress-speech-russia-putin-democracy-11647461885
This sounds almost exactly like what President Trump did in 2019, although for different reasons.
And you can add that both probably were manipulated into doing it by Vladimir Putin. (in different ways)
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/17/2022 @ 12:26 pm#589 Sammy – And then there is this populist solution.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 3/17/2022 @ 2:13 pmI see Fraudchi has another plandemic coming.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:05 pmcram it doc
Questioning our involvement in Russia and the Ukraine makes me a Putin apologist says the war mongering one eyed Liz Cheney.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:12 pmhttps://www.jamesgmartin.center/2022/03/the-very-model-of-a-modern-university-president/
mg (8cbc69) — 3/17/2022 @ 3:17 pmA good man.
I favor flipping Daylight and Standard times. That way there is more light in the morning. Who’s with me.
Then there’s this plan which lets everyone decide: https://xkcd.com/2594/
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/17/2022 @ 4:44 pmI would prefer that there is no DST.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/17/2022 @ 4:58 pmi read where the morons in d.c. have agreed on eliminating daylight savings time.
Rome is on fire and 81 million voted for a clock change.
mg (8cbc69) — 3/15/2022 @ 3:45 pm
Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls Daylight-Saving Time a Conspiracy to Control Clocks
One day after the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would make daylight-saving time permanent, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene alleged that D.S.T. is a “conspiracy to control clocks.”
“My message to the American people is very simple: be afraid, be very afraid,” Greene said. “He who controls clocks controls time itself.”
Claiming that the movement to make D.S.T. permanent has been spearheaded by a “cabal of international élites,” Greene said, “When we lose an hour, who gets that hour? The Rothschilds, that’s who.”
Greene said that she would not “stand idly by while a foreign banking family hoards our precious hours in their offshore time vaults.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/17/2022 @ 5:03 pm……..
“First, they came for our clocks,” she warned.
#############
Not me. I want as late a nightfall as possible.
The problem is that we’re trying to tweak a system that was based on when the rooster crowed and the hens came home to roost, created in some tiny island in the North Atlantic and brought to a strip of land in the West Atlantic, and is now being imposed in 48 states across 2,800 miles. It’s … time we found something better for a 21st century world and 21st century way of life.
nk (1d9030) — 3/17/2022 @ 5:11 pm@598 — It’s official. Satire is dead.
Kevin M (38e250) — 3/17/2022 @ 5:28 pmWhat satire? I’m just surprised that the Rothschilds let MTG spill the beans like that. They’re either very confident in the success of their counter-kompromat campaign, or the Ukraine war has thrown some kind of wrench in their operations.
nk (1d9030) — 3/17/2022 @ 6:03 pmKevin M @600 The Borowitz Report is satire. Maybe not too good satire.
he only bit that might be good is:
Sammy Finkelman (46ec7d) — 3/18/2022 @ 9:33 amThe New York Post says that the New York Times now admits the laptop files are real:
https://nypost.com/2022/03/17/the-times-finally-admits-hunter-bidens-laptop-is-real
They actually did say something in 2020″
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/politics/hunter-biden-laptop.html
Although they had this:
They were claming that maybe it was seeded with extra false files.
No such thing happened, althogh Steve Bannon provided Giuliani with some bad, improbable interpretations
The text message by Hunter Biden to his daughter in which he says that unlike his father he wont’t demand half her salary was in the context of her asking him for money. Probably Joe Biden had demanded he pay it back/ And the family he had supported for 30 years was probably his nuclear family.
Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 3/18/2022 @ 2:44 pm