Russia

The Poles have put the ball in America's court, i.e. called Blicken's bluff.  As I said yesterday, the Poles and others understand very well that the Americans are quite willing to fight until the last Pole, Slovak, Hungarian, (fill in the blank.)  They are, clearly,  tired of the dishonest and stupid way the USA is handling this crisis. The American government's dishonesty, stupidity and recklessness is putting the world at risk.  

Take our jets, please   

By the way, blockbuster info is coming out that the US has been financing and possibly working in biolabs in the UKraine.  (More gifts from Anthony Fauci) This was, just as good as, confirmed by Victoria Nuland today in a congressional hearing.  

At the risk of repeating myself, I can't wait for the Russians to get hold of Ukrainian documents on the Bidens, Clintons and other criminals of the American ruling class. 

Reality seems to be setting in. Had Zelensky not fallen for NATO/American lies regarding the possibility of the Ukraine joining NATO, had the US not lied about this for 15 years, (at least) had the USA not goaded Russia for over thirty years, then Zelensky would not be watching as the Russians take over his country. 

Americans need to remember that the permanent bureaucracy and uniparty/neocons are not the same as the American people. One can despise those and love America. In fact, I believe that if one does love America one is almost bound to despise and mistrust the bureaucracy and uniparty/neocon clique'.  They rarely do anything for the good of "the People." They are all about lining their own pockets and increasing their own power. 

Zelensky is seeing the light

Financial markets are averse to threats of chaos and death

Kunstler has it half right. As I have mentioned before at this site and perhaps at ST, businesses, in general, are averse to chaos. Death not so much. If they could regularly count on 100 people being lined up against a wall every morning and shot, believe me, business could adjust to it. This would particularly be the case if those being shot were not other businessmen and/or middle-class consumers. 

The main request businesses would have of the executioners, besides "Please point that rifle in another direction," would be, "Kindly let us know if the number of people, to be shot in the near future, is to change significantly. Thanks and regards."

This is true

I asked my son this afternoon if he had heard of this and apparently the Saudis are very pissed at Biden for cozying up to the mulahs in Iran. And then having the chutzpah to ask the Saudis to release more oil on the market. Proves what Gates said of Biden, "been on the wrong side of every policy for 50 years"

This war presents a very difficult position for the State of Israel. Under normal conditions Israel would condemn aggression and the active steps to support any country invaded by its neighbors. The Russian Invasion of Ukraine has stimulated humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but Israel cannot send military aid (iron dome) unless NATO  gets involved, possibly not then. My son relates that Russia has been extremely cooperative with Israel in Syria when Iranian installations, and convoys are targeted by Israeli F35s. 

Israeli and Russian intelligence, and military work closely to avoid conflict in an ares that could explode almost any minute. Of course it is these very same Russians that are selling advanced tech to Iran that Israel later destroys  in the deserts of Syria and Iraq. This is also part of the reason the Saudis refused to condemn the Russian invasion. Bennet recently met with Putin to try and negotiate a cease fire, but to no success. 

My guess is that Putin has about 10 days to achieve has ground goals before his army runs out of steam, if they haven't already. Both sides are involved in a propaganda war. However, I give the edge to Ukraine by about 60/40. The most important point will be when Kiev falls. Russian arms can destroy the city I wonder if Putin is willing to pay the cost in blood, treasure, and public opinion at home?

I suspect that if some sort of major progress is not made in negotiations during this week, that Putin will "let slip the dogs of war" in a bigger way than he has so far. I understand that about half of the Ukrainian army is now encircled in the East and soldiers will have the choice of surrendering or being destroyed.  Of course, in such situations, the bitter enders will likely threaten to kill or kill anyone who wishes to give up. The NKVD was very good at that. I am pretty sure the Azov Brigade and similar types will function in a like manner. 

Here is a piece from a respected Indian journalist who was previously in the diplomatic service. He confirms what I have heard/read from other non-USA/non-U.K. sources as to the actual situation in the Ukraine. 

The Ukraine is negotiating for a stop to the war

It is interesting how Rod Dreher has gained new insight into how the world works, since he moved to Budapest.

I suspect that Dreher's escape from the American-news-echo-chamber has helped him re-discover (or discover)  Kung's 1st Dictum:

"Life is complicated." 


Skepticism is healthy

Here was Rod's lame response to my post of:



"A mind is a terrible thing to lose, Brad."

I replied to him basically saying that an insult wasn't a response to any of my broad points. And that basically calling someone crazy because they disagree with you doesn't put you on the side of the angels.

I've not a lot of respect left for this guy.