President Biden has more of a conscience in his little finger than ever demonstrated by Vladimir Putin. This has gotten to be ridiculous.
Monday, February 28, 2022
This is what paranoia looks like.
The USA cannot even begin to remove it's nuclear tirad or reduce it's inventories because of Russia and it's willingness to use them.
Global Nuclear Inventories 2022 (click here)
Russia must immediately lock down it's nukes and end the occupation of Chernobyl.
Chernobyl must be returned to the custody of the IAEA. Immediately.
February 28, 2022
Russia (click here) also calls for 'the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state'
Russia's President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday that the demilitarization of Ukraine and Western recognition of Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula were prerequisites to ending fighting in Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
"Vladimir Putin stressed that a settlement is possible only if Russia's legitimate security interests are unconditionally taken into account,” a Kremlin readout of the call said.
These interests include “the recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea,” in addition to “the demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state and ensuring its neutral status," the Kremlin continued....
Putin is acting as though he has a legitmate grievance with the world in general. It is ridiculous. He is emboldened and that is a clear indication his estimation of the circumstances is completely wrong.
February 28, 2022By Jay Cannon,Celina Tebor, David Jackson, Caren Bohan, Katie Wadington, Matthew Brown, and Rick Rouan
Countries tightened the vise around Russia's economy on Monday, (click here) announcing new sanctions on its central bank and individuals, with even Switzerland breaking its neutral stance to join the EU in its actions.
The moves came as Ukrainian and Russian delegations met at the Belarusian border for their first direct talks since Russia's invasion began on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office said it would demand an immediate cease-fire.
In response to Russia's invasion, the U.N. was meeting in two separate forums: The General Assembly gathered for only its 11th emergency meeting, and the 15-member Security Council came together again to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.
Also Monday, the U.S. announced it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats stationed at U. headquarters in New York. for engaging in “espionage activities” that undermine U.S. national security....
The people in Crimea are Ukraineans, not Russians. If Vladimir Putin is paranoid about Russia's national security, it is his problem, not the world's!
Chonhar Crossing, Ukraine — Oleg dragged his suitcase (click here) down a long cement road, crossing from a territory Russia invaded eight years ago to a territory Russia may be preparing to invade, to go visit his mother-in-law.
He had set off from his home in Crimea, passing a Russian military convoy along the way. Nearing the boundary, he walked past an abandoned hotel from the days before the hostilities, when Crimea's Black Sea resorts were a top vacation destination. Then he showed his papers to the armed Ukrainian guard on the other side, and waited for a lift next to little stray dogs and a row of dried fish dangling from the open trunk of a merchant's car....
This is the result of propaganda. The people do not accept the fact that Russia has borders and expansionism is an international violation. That is Soviet Speak and not that of an independent Russia.
February 23, 2022
As the world waits (click here) to see if Russia will invade Ukraine, an exclusive new poll of both countries for CNN finds that twice as many Russians believe it would be right for Moscow to use military force to prevent Kyiv from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as say it would be wrong.
One out of every two Russians (50%) says it would be right, while only a quarter (25%) say it would be wrong. The other quarter (25%) are unsure, according to the survey.
But the poll also found that more Russians think it would be wrong than right to use military force “to reunite Russia and Ukraine” – two countries with a long and complicated history of being intertwined....
Why does NATO exist? Putin needs to answer that question. We, in The West, know why NATO exists and Putin is clearly demonstrating with Ukraine why NATO exists. Putin has no right to reach outside Russia's borders to define where Russia's national security interest begins and ends. NO RIGHT! Putin is why out of line and it needs to end.
The communists have these ideas that are part of their political dialogue all the time that The West is interested in destroying them. WRONG! Just because Putin is paranoid about Russia's national security he needs to PROVE concretely that his ideology is actually backed by facts. It is not!
Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine did not invade Russia. Russia invaded and is occupying the Chernobyl nuclear power plant without any agreement with any other international authority regarding the state of the facility or the right to occupy the land. Putin's plans have caused a spike in radiation and now Ukraine is starting to look like Russia, poisoned and exporting poison to it's neighbors.
Putin is reckless and dangerous.
I would think he would welcome peace talks in Geneva, it would allow him to breath fresh air and know what it actually feels like.
Sunday, February 27, 2022
There is too much going on today.
I have the information lined up to put on the blog about the organized crime that is making a mess of our Seniors and their future, but, there is just too much today that occurred. The world needs to get caught up on events that have the ability to change the world in 30 minutes.
This is just crazy. A straight jacket comes to mind.
The EU shutdown their air space to Russian planes of any kind. I think all of NATO needs to do the same thing. Putin likes Russians at home, so they should go there.
I think a boycott on Russian vodka is in order, too.
The sanctions on the SWIFT financial network makes sense (click here). The SWIFT network is how wire transfers occur. It is conducted through major banks, like the Bank of Mellon in New York. There are SWIFT network banks all around the world. During war time it only makes sense to end the ability of the enemy to transfer money around Earth.
An alternative to SWIFT, albeit more expensive, is crytocurrency. It would be wise if the crytocurrency system was limited to free countries. Putin is known to favor crytocurrency. Right now the crypto networks charge as much as 15 percent or more per transaction. Civilized countries will want to limit the overseas ability of their domestic networks, including ATMs. The draw back to that is that it may be a vehicle for fleeing families and a bit of a lifeline, but, there needs to be some degree of inhibition to that network as it is favored by Russia instead of it's own currency.
Currently, Russian oligarches are told they may not abandon the Russian Central Bank. It is easy to have it operate within Russia so long as it's Russian Ruble (currently valued in exchange for USA dollar at $0.012) is used among the people. If foreign currency is perferred that may be a problem. That is why it is important crytocurrency is brought under sanctions as well.
Russian imports will become very expensive within Russia, so limiting imports might be a good idea. There needs to be an understanding, also, of the role China might be playing to bolster Russia's economy, including imports, expecially of raw materials with a military purpose. Wall Street will want to move away from companies doing business exclusively with Russia and/or China. Western citizens in Russia or China may want to plot a path home. There are lots of jobs here.
Good night for now.
If President Zelenskyy is going to participate directly in peace talks with Russia perhaps Geneva.
by Nicolas Camut and Benjamin Vuillemot
The city of Geneva (click here) has been the scene of numerous negotiations and agreements since the end of the Second World War. Its humanitarian tradition, strategic location in a neutral country and political stability make it an obvious choice to host a variety of diplomatic meetings. Ahead of the Biden-Putin summit on Wednesday, we look back at a timeline of historic top-level meetings held in Geneva....
US Senator Mitt Romney is a very moral and important man.
In an interview (click here) with former presidential candidate and now US Senator, Mitt Romney refers to Russia as a "...(emboldened) committed adversary." I think that is an excellent word to describe Putin's Russia.
February 27, 2022
By Connor Perrett
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (click here) on Sunday implied that members of his own party were "morons" after they attended a Florida event associated with white nationalists.
"Look, there's no place in either political party for this white nationalism or racism. It's simply wrong," the Republican lawmaker told CNN's Dana Bash during a Sunday appearance on "State of the Union."
GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona attended the third-annual America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, which was held Friday and organized by the far-right figure Nick Fuentes....
US Senator Mitt Romney brings a strong moral view of the world to his party. They should appreciate him more.
Romney: Well, I think you’re seeing a fringe of our party that still admires Putin. But the larger group that was celebrating his audacity has, from what I can tell, changed their pleadings and are suddenly coming to the support of Ukraine. And perhaps that will continue. I imagine that this isolationism and this hero worship of an authoritarian like Putin is coming face to face with the new world of media, where everybody has a cellphone, and people are seeing real human beings suffer. And they recognize, this is not a war. It’s not a battle between two militaries. This is a brutal invasion of a free democratic people by an authoritarian thug, and there’s no justification for it. And its brutality and vile nature is able to be seen by people all over the world.
The interview with US Senator Romney also makes clear that someone in a seat of power as he is must be able to have very clear vision to understand the circumstances and the players for who they are. He is very clear minded about this invasion.
President Biden receives designer political ridicule for his style of speaking and speaking his mind. It is age discrimination and a very deep disrespect for his clear view of the world. I think it is time for the media to apologize to President Biden. Knowing that isn't going to happen, it is time they show him respect for his knowledge and resolve.
February 27, 2022By Connor Perrett
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (click here) on Sunday implied that members of his own party were "morons" after they attended a Florida event associated with white nationalists.
"Look, there's no place in either political party for this white nationalism or racism. It's simply wrong," the Republican lawmaker told CNN's Dana Bash during a Sunday appearance on "State of the Union."
GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Paul Gosar of Arizona attended the third-annual America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, which was held Friday and organized by the far-right figure Nick Fuentes....
No country will remain neutral if they face a growing threat from Putin.
Musk states his satellites are active in Ukraine.
By Caren Bohan, David Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Joey Garrison, Michael Collins, Jordan Culver and Tom Vandenbrook
As Russia's assault on Ukraine (click here) reached into its second largest city, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was putting nuclear forces on high alert, the EU announced unprecedented new actions against Moscow.
Putin's order to make his nuclear weapons more ready for launch – made Sunday in response to “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers and economic sanctions by the West – represent an unnecessary and dangerous move, according to the Pentagon.
A senior Defense Deparment official said Russia is under no threat from the United States and its NATO allies. The Pentagon is confident it can protect the United States and its allies, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
Meanwhile, the European Union plans to close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund a weapons purchase to assist Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets in its latest response to Russia’s invasion, European Commission officials said Sunday. It marks the first time the block would finance military equipment for a country under attack....
The undeclared war with Russia started years ago.
You could say Germany has been buying peace with Russia for quite some time. France nearly ended it's nuclear weapons program. But, Russia's war against The West had begun with it's influence in elections and in the case of Trump it reaped plenty of rewards.
We may be at war with Russia, but, not necessarily the Russian people. The only Russians that endorse Putin's madness are those that profit from his ideology.
Americans should remember that. There are many, many Russians that may not know Putin invaded Ukraine. The families of the soldiers know they are deployed, but, may not know it is into war. Just another nuclear accident in Russia's north or a tragic accident in military games when the body bags arrive at their doorstep. But, many Russians when they learn of his barbarous antics will not approve and will demand he end them.
So, The West has friends in Russia, they simply are not in power.
CPAC is where you find the American communists.
Trump is selling memberships.
From the moment the stage crew (click here) began to set up Donald Trump's lectern on the stage at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), there was a change in the atmosphere.
Part of it was the lectern itself. Heavy enough to require handing by several workers and equipped with its own hardshell travel cover, the design of the stand Mr Trump has used during recent public appearances evokes – perhaps deliberately – the “Blue Goose” the famous lectern used by whoever the sitting president of the United States might be on any given day.
Whether use of the ersatz presidential speaking stand – devoid of the seal which now travels with the man who defeated Mr Trump in November 2020 – was Mr Trump’s deliberate choice meant to keep a presidential aura around him or a selection made by the security detail charged with keeping the ex-president alive because the lectern is (like its more famous doppelganger) bulletproof, Mr Trump’s representatives would not say in response to queries from The Independent (though one agent stationed in the CPAC press area said the agency “doesn't get involved in his lectern decisions, but we couldn’t tell you if we did anyway”)....
Part of it was the lectern itself. Heavy enough to require handing by several workers and equipped with its own hardshell travel cover, the design of the stand Mr Trump has used during recent public appearances evokes – perhaps deliberately – the “Blue Goose” the famous lectern used by whoever the sitting president of the United States might be on any given day.
Whether use of the ersatz presidential speaking stand – devoid of the seal which now travels with the man who defeated Mr Trump in November 2020 – was Mr Trump’s deliberate choice meant to keep a presidential aura around him or a selection made by the security detail charged with keeping the ex-president alive because the lectern is (like its more famous doppelganger) bulletproof, Mr Trump’s representatives would not say in response to queries from The Independent (though one agent stationed in the CPAC press area said the agency “doesn't get involved in his lectern decisions, but we couldn’t tell you if we did anyway”)....
It looks like Turkey is still a NATO member.
Turkey's membership was a little questionable considering Erdogan's friendship with Putin and it's dependence on Russia for tourism. Erodgan should be on the phone to Putin to try to talk some sense to the guy.
Febraury 27, 2022
Istanbul - Turkey called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “war” on Sunday (click here) in a rhetorical shift that could pave the way for the NATO member nation to enact an international pact limiting Russian naval passage to the Black Sea.
Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black seas and can limit the passage of warships during wartime or if threatened.
Balancing its Western commitments and close ties to Moscow, Ankara has said the Russian attack is unacceptable but until Sunday had not described the situation as a war....
Febraury 27, 2022
Istanbul - Turkey called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “war” on Sunday (click here) in a rhetorical shift that could pave the way for the NATO member nation to enact an international pact limiting Russian naval passage to the Black Sea.
Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control over the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black seas and can limit the passage of warships during wartime or if threatened.
Balancing its Western commitments and close ties to Moscow, Ankara has said the Russian attack is unacceptable but until Sunday had not described the situation as a war....
Germany has refused delivery on USA LNG.
The US Congress passed the law that would allow exportation of natural gas some time ago. Along with it was monies for LNG export piers in Alaska and one on the east coast of the USA. The primary reason this bill was passed was to allow any country in Europe dependent on Russian natural gas to receive shipments from the USA.
In all honesty, Germany was correct to refuse USA LNG. It is a bit of a hare-brained scheme, especially in wartime when ships would have to cross the Atlantic and they would be targets. There would have to be warships escorting them over the Atlantic.
But, it was an alternative proposed by primarily Republicans and passed by primarily Republicans. The point is there is an LNG shipping facility in the works somewhere on the USA east coast and I want to say Virginia. These facilities take some time to build because it is natural gas and things can explode and a port would have to be built over and over. So, I don't know how far along the port is or the infrastructure to supply it.
Germany may change it's mind under a new Chancellor.
By Scott Disavino
The United States (click here) is set to become the world's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2022, surpassing Qatar and Australia, and may hold that title for years to come.
In a year when China and other large economies in Europe and Asia scrambled to source enough supply for heating and power generation, the United States was sitting on a bevy of supply - one that will grow in coming years.
Global LNG demand has hit record highs each year since 2015, due mostly to surging demand in China and the rest of Asia. Much of that global appetite has been met by steadily rising U.S. LNG exports, which have reached new records every year since 2016 and is poised to continue in 2022....
In a year when China and other large economies in Europe and Asia scrambled to source enough supply for heating and power generation, the United States was sitting on a bevy of supply - one that will grow in coming years.
Global LNG demand has hit record highs each year since 2015, due mostly to surging demand in China and the rest of Asia. Much of that global appetite has been met by steadily rising U.S. LNG exports, which have reached new records every year since 2016 and is poised to continue in 2022....
Febuary 25, 2022
"We are a small country. We are ready to do whatever is needed to defend ourselves. We are not afraid to die for that. But we might be overwhelmed, so this is very much why we welcome you here," Pabriks told the troops in Adazi military base on Friday.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land sea and air on Thursday after massing more than 150,000 troops around the country's borders including in Latvia's neighbour Belarus....
Adazi Military Base, Latvia, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The presence of U.S. and other NATO troops (click here) in Latvia sends a message to Vladimir Putin that Russia should stay away, Latvian Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said on Friday as he greeted a small deployment of U.S. soldiers.
The group of some forty U.S. service members arrived from Italy early on Thursday - before hostilities in Ukraine began. The deployment is expected to grow to more than 300 soldiers.
Russia invaded Ukraine by land sea and air on Thursday after massing more than 150,000 troops around the country's borders including in Latvia's neighbour Belarus....
Ukraine has always been a country to contend with, even as a SU (Soviet Union) State
You can dress as a ballerina, but, unless you can perform there are no applause.
Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, writing by Anna Pruchnicka, editing by Andrew Cawthorne
Russian forces (click here) have lost about 4,300 servicemen during their invasion of Ukraine, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Sunday, adding however that the number was being clarified.
She also said on her Facebook page that Russian troops lost about 146 tanks, 27 aircraft and 26 helicopters....
About Chernoyl, there has been a radiation spike detected. Russia is now a profound danger to the world, but, I think they are making dirty bombs.
I hate to say this and escalate things but the process the Russian soldiers are in needs to stop at any cost. The sarcophagus is most likely open. That level of widespread contamination needs to a priority to all neighboring countries, including NATO. That uranium can also be exported by tanks and trucks. But, more than likely the Russians have a missile launcher of sorts. It is probably being conducted by a squad that committed themselves to a certain death. They will not stop by contamination lone if that is the case and there are enough to continue the process. They successfully have entered the sarcophagus. They knew they would be exposed. And we thought al Qaeda's suicide bombers were a nightmare.
Russia has to be stopped in Ukraine. There is really no alternative. Whatever they are doing at Chernobyl it isn't good. Now, Putin has his nuclear forces on high alert. He is a madman with ill placed values. This has to end now.
No Rules
The ultimate war erases all the rules of engagement, including treaties.
The West is civilized and relies on civilized instruments to maintain life and peace. Civilized instruments like treaties and trade agreements.
If your enemy is dead at the end of the war, there are no more rules, so why not fight to kill the enemy beyond any return to power?
If the enemy is still alive and viable at the end of the war and civilized instruments have survived to bring about justice, then what difference does it make? The civilized people will leverage justice and death will come anyway.
Putin will be ruthless without being hemmed in by civilization.
Civlized soldiers will think differently than their ruthless leader which creates the question, why did the Russians primarily strike residential areas and buildings? They are in violation of international law. Or. Are they warning everyone as to what was supposed to be coming?
Saturday, February 26, 2022
My logical side is nagging at me so I really need to address this conflict a bit differently.
Vladimir Putin is 69 years old. He has been at Russian leadership for a ridiculously long time. That bothers me as does his departure from his decrees. The departure from decrees was planned and not an accident. The interior of Russia is getting very different message than the rest of the world. They are being fed the idea this is to protect "Russian people" in the two decree regions and not the more extended war to kill those Putin hates.
That said, under normal circumstances, a man at the age or 70 is looking at his life and measuring his success versus his failures as he would measure himself. I think the aging Putin has issues with the idea of being a failure with the fall of the Soviet Union. He was KGB and he probably has asked himself many times if he was good enough to protect the country versus the Soviet Union falling of it's own mass and lack of economy.
Taking that sort of measure, no matter how that might be playing out with Putin, applying it to a man that is basically in power for the rest of his life is a problem in that there is no end of his terms in office. In the USA, when there is a term limit there is an increase of influence by a president by eight years in a job where learning on the job has it's place. In the beginning of any new presidency in the USA there is somewhat of a stumble after about six months and then he (no she yet) gets his legs under him and the way forward begins to find a clear path. That so called six month stumble doesn't exist in Russia. It not only doesn't exist in Russia, but, Putin has a very long view of his power and vision of Russia.
I should preface this by stating I am very grateful for President Biden at this point in USA history.
Let's just say as granted Donald John Trump was backed by Russia and was instilled into the USA presidency for Putin's purpose in 2016. Donald John Trump gave Russia a great deal of classifed information from the USA, hence, NATO, etc. I am sure a portion of that was passed on to China. I don't really believe Putin cares about Trump and the fact that he is gone doesn't matter since he served Putin's purpose to the extent Putin wanted. Putin may want to put Trump back into power in a post apocalyptic USA, hence, Trump playing to that end by favoring Pro-Russian Orban (click here). I do believe that vision is real to some degree between the haters of democracy.
Initially, I didn't expect a full invasion into Ukraine although President Zelenskyy stated it was coming. I thought Putin would simply take land and the people on it and be satiated for awhile. The fact Putin invaded the entire country with the forces he put into place beginning well over a year ago somewhat tells his intentions for the future. I have stated this before and I believe it more and more, but, Putin is measuring the information he received from Trump and realizing it will all be changed under President Biden as soon as military contracts can be signed for new and better defenses. Include in all this China as an ally to Russia.
Vladimir Putin has hypersonic jets. Corretion, at least one. I believe those jets on occassion made it into the USA and viewed by the public as a UFO. I also believe that is part of his nuclear triad. Whether Europe and the USA can defend from those hypersonic jets and/or missiles is a good question. Considering Putin has a nuclear triad, some sites in reach of Europe from the land, and China assiting along with North Korea; that can cause enormous death and damage not even considering The West's exchange upon first strike.
Given the surprise by Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine in it's entirety I think he has a much larger goal, whether it is realistic or not. I believe the elite of Russia has goals to carry out a post apocalyptic world. It would make sense with Russia laughing at sanctions as a deterent to war and a much larger war. To those that bought into Putin's pain over the Soviet Union they would banter his accomplishments of hypersonic jets and the idea Putin has played a genius game in placing Trump into the presidency and it is now time to carry out the ultimate game and attack all those that cause Vladimir's pain, past and present.
It is a bit eccentric, but, possible. It is the possibility I address and not a known plan. I would expect the length to world war to be short considering that sanctions are such a bother to Russia's elite.
If his well being is threatened, President Zelenskyy should evacuate with his staff of advisors.
He and his wonderful corrption free administration that is in place with him still need to reconsider their stand on staying to the end of life. That is not profound leadership. The people trust him and his advisors. He should consider remaining safe no matter the place.
If this aggression by Putin continues and the ambitions are far beyond the borders of Ukraine, his intelligence will be needed in order to win the war against Russia.
President Zelenskyy has a very young administration and the people of Ukraine love him. He cannot sacrifice his life in the face of danger. He is important beyond this unjustified war by Russia.
The future is not set.
President Zelenskyy is correct.
There is evidence of random strikes by low flying aircraft of residential buildings. There is no formation, but, simply a jet firing a single missile. There is online evidence to those attacks. These are people that have no military capacity. If they did have shoulder held missile launchers they could take on the jet before firing. These jets are flying at tree top level. No formation, just a single jet taking target practice.
There was one and only one photo of legitimate military strike of what appears to be a missile hit of a munitions building (click here). The photo looks as though the land has been disturbed. If one looks closely in the before and after photo the only hit was one building. The smoke is dark and dense of which could be burning oil or perhaps munitions, but, more likely oil because the smoke sustains and the distrubance of the land is minimal. The loss of white color on the ground is simply due to lack of snow in the space of time of the two separate pictures.
But, any other pictures of bombing is primarily residential housing and some are rural without many people living in the buildings. These are not upscale housing. It is like the pilot decided he had to prove he used his bombs and chose a building that appears to be abandoned. People are living there and the strike caused the cameraperson to fall initally and then run into a basement
It could very well be that Putin's military is not as strongly loyal to their purpose as his bluster (click here). These people know each other and they could be carrying out battles that they do not believe in. There could be brother against brother feelings in Putin's ambitions. Russia practices consciption and are pressed into service. These soldiers may disagree with their orders. Soldiers may be more interested in a date than death.
I never believed the Russian military was a strong and well disciplined military. I think we are seeing some of that in this stupid attack on Ukraine. This is Putin's politics.
The multi-story building in Kyiv that was struck is not safe. I know there are workers, according to a CNN report, placing scaffording to stabilize the upper floors, but, that entire building received vibration and in time will prove to be unsafe. The people in that building should be evacuated and sent to shelters to re-establish their residence somewhere else in the city. There is a good chance the surrounding buildings were adversely vibrated as well. The entire area around that building needs to assessed for stability, especially other multi-story buildings.
My understanding is that many people are in the subway tunnels of Kyiv. It is reasonable to believe there were a few injuries with that missile strike as people heeded the early sirens and went underground.
If this disruption continues the people of Ukraine's cities will need food and medicine drops. Immediately they probably have supplies, but, a longer attack will result in shortages and suffering. There are reports of significant traffic heading west from Kyiv. So the city is being emptied to some extent.
The rebels in eastern Ukraine need to be contended with and Crimea returned to the governance of Ukraine.
Friday, February 25, 2022
February 25, 2022
By Ron Fonger
February 23, 2022
By Ron Fonger
By Ron Fonger
Flint - U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, (click here) will be among the panelists during a discussion on crime in the Black community at Cathedral of Faith Church.
The program, part of the church’s Crucial Conversations Series for Black History Month, is set to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.
Cathedral of Faith Church is located at 6031 DuPont St.
A news release for the program says the panel will discuss issues including how voting rights contribute to laws and disproportionate sentencing....
The program, part of the church’s Crucial Conversations Series for Black History Month, is set to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.
Cathedral of Faith Church is located at 6031 DuPont St.
A news release for the program says the panel will discuss issues including how voting rights contribute to laws and disproportionate sentencing....
By Ron Fonger
U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy (click here)
Attorney fees will be capped at 25% after other expenses are subtracted from a historic $626-million settlement of lawsuits tied to the Flint water crisis.
A jury has been seated to hear the first civil lawsuits related to the Flint water crisis. (click here)
The 10 jurors -- seven women and three men -- were sworn in before U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and opening statements from attorneys representing four Flint children and two engineering companies are scheduled to start on Monday, Feb. 28.
Attorneys for the children sued the engineering companies -- Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam -- for alleged negligence, claiming they have responsibility for damages they suffered as a result of lead in Flint water during the city’s water crisis....
Attorney fees will be capped at 25% after other expenses are subtracted from a historic $626-million settlement of lawsuits tied to the Flint water crisis.
A jury has been seated to hear the first civil lawsuits related to the Flint water crisis. (click here)
The 10 jurors -- seven women and three men -- were sworn in before U.S. District Court Judge Judith Levy on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and opening statements from attorneys representing four Flint children and two engineering companies are scheduled to start on Monday, Feb. 28.
Attorneys for the children sued the engineering companies -- Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam -- for alleged negligence, claiming they have responsibility for damages they suffered as a result of lead in Flint water during the city’s water crisis....
The problem is not Ukraine, the problem is Russia.
I have 100 percent confidence Ukraine is asking for ceasefires and a return to diplomacy. I don't believe at this point anything will work short of defeating Russian militarily. Minsk I and II failed because the Rebels and Putin didn't care about it. A commercial airliner was shot down by the Russian separatists. We know that for a fact, yet, where are the trials and extradiction to Europe of the murderers?
By Pavel Polityuk
Ukraine wants peace (click here) and is ready for talks with Russia, including on neutral status regarding NATO, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters on Friday.
"If talks are possible, they should be held. If in Moscow they say they want to hold talks, including on neutral status, we are not afraid of this," he said via a text message. "We can talk about that as well."
"Our readiness for dialogue is part of our persistent pursuit of peace."...
"If talks are possible, they should be held. If in Moscow they say they want to hold talks, including on neutral status, we are not afraid of this," he said via a text message. "We can talk about that as well."
"Our readiness for dialogue is part of our persistent pursuit of peace."...
Vladimir Putin is full of hate for anyone not a Russian citizen and there are some Russian citizens he hates equally or more. This is not about Ukaine, the Ukrainian people or their magnificent government that fights corruption at every turn. This is about the hate that has welled up in Putin's gut since the fall of the Soviet Union.
There was a fatal flaw in The West's presciption for Ukraine to maintain it's borders and solidify it's sovereignty, it didn't strike Russia first. When Crimea and eastern Ukraine fell to Russia, NATO should have moved to end the occupation and claimed Ukraine as it's own. There was perfect justification for that at the time. Even today, those reasons still live. Would they have confronted Russia? Yes. But, all these years later they will confront Russia anyway.
People with dual citizenship are in Ukraine. NATO cannot turn it's back on them.
February 25, 2022
By Deena Yellin
Rabbi Mendel Moskovitz, (click here) a Brooklyn native transplanted to Ukraine, sounded surprisingly upbeat when reached by phone Thursday afternoon.
“That’s why we’re here,” the rabbi of the Kharkiv Choral Synagogue in northeastern Ukraine told a reporter. “To keep up everyone’s spirits.”
Moskovitz was a baby when his parents took him to the country 32 years ago, as part of an effort to help reinvigorate Jewish communities just beginning to emerge from the Soviet Union's shadow. On Thursday morning, he and his community of some 20,000 Jews awoke to explosions and ran down to their basements for cover, he said.
His job as a Chabad rabbi is to help people, he explained. With Russian troops attacking Ukraine, that job seemed more vital than ever....
By Matt Fagan
For many Ukrainians in North Jersey, (click here) a sleepless Wednesday night stretched well into Thursday afternoon as Russia's invasion of their homeland unfolded, the largest invasion in Europe since World War II.
The seven-hour time difference meant that when Russian bombs and missiles began raining down on the former Soviet republic, cellphones and social media's klaxons began ringing out after 10 p.m.
Roksolana Leshchuk, a physician at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, received a call from her terrified niece shortly after midnight.
As bombs were falling, she was alone with two small children because her husband, a Ukrainian police officer, had been called in to work.
"She didn't know whether to stay home or go to her mother's," Leshchuk said. The streets could be dangerous, but it is frightening to be alone....
The seven-hour time difference meant that when Russian bombs and missiles began raining down on the former Soviet republic, cellphones and social media's klaxons began ringing out after 10 p.m.
Roksolana Leshchuk, a physician at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, received a call from her terrified niece shortly after midnight.
As bombs were falling, she was alone with two small children because her husband, a Ukrainian police officer, had been called in to work.
"She didn't know whether to stay home or go to her mother's," Leshchuk said. The streets could be dangerous, but it is frightening to be alone....
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Who would replace them?
This is too sophisticated an attack to be accomplished by any other entity than a sovereign country. I am not saying a country carried out the attacks, but, I am saying it was obtained somewhere. I am not making accusations, but, these attacks changed history for the USA and the people involved.
The USA military has sound emitting technology. I am not saying the USA military carried out these attacks for any particular reason, but, if someone wanted to FORCE displacement of employees for their own purposes recent history has told us there are people in the military not loyal to the best outcomes of the USA.
One of the people attacked was Vice President Pence's intelligence assist. Follow? Who would or did replace her?
The entire Cuban mission was shutdown and President Obama and Secretary Kerry made to look at the very least naive about making friendly gestures to Cuba. Who did this? Who within the power structure that had other plans for USA power did this?
Who in their political jargon refer to high ranking officials in government as "naive" or "unable" or "lacking insight?" There were political pressures that came out of some of these attacks.
I believe the people involved, along with their families, were supposed to be displaced by another person regarded a loyalist to an anti-democracy movement within the USA. We know today these attacks were not carried out in or by a particular country. We also know Michael Flynn was at a table with Putin and a loyalist to Trump and at the January 6th insurrection. I think that would be a good place to start.
This can be solved. There is a pattern somewhere and the FBI and/or CIA can find it if they put the pieces together. Who was to replace these loyal employees and in any instance WHO DID replace employees too sick to continue their work for the USA. I strongly suspect this was domestic terrorism potentially carried out by satellite which would explain the agility of the attacks no matter where a USA employee was found. I believe the attacks on children are to force an employee to leave their post for a replacement of another.
This can be solved.
I am confident all the people suffering from this ACQUIRED disorder has received pet scans, MRI and cat scans and no apparatus was found anywhere on their bodies, like a homing device. How did the entity know where to find people asleep in their beds and with employees that conduct missions abroad the entity found them even away from home performing their responsibility to the country. The entity knew where the children slept by GPS or something more sophisticated.
The sounds heard around the heads of children is a very small radius or circumference, but, I believe this is a "radius" involved as it hits the side of the head and not the entire head. There is technology somewhere that performs to those standards. Find it and find the perpetrator and hopefully the logs of operation.
There is aerial bombardment of cities. This is ethnic cleansing. He is killing innocent people for no reason .
Children are dying. This is human carnage. Putin is a madman. The cities don't have anti-aircraft guns. They don't have a chance.
If he is not stopped in Ukraine, he will come for Europe. This is worse than 1968. It is evident he hates strongly to carry out this level of carnage against innocent people. This has nothing to do with the decrees. He is moving against The West.
Putin is willing to destroy Russia economically to satisfy his hatred.
- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promises "swift and severe consequences to the Kremlin"
- Footage of gunfire, missiles, explosions, shelling, as well as people fleeing Kyiv, posted to Twitter
- President Joe Biden issues statement condemning the Russian attacks on Ukraine and saying the world will hold Russia accountable.
- Ukraine parliament approves state of emergency
- Germany puts the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would have transported natural gas from Russia to Europe, on hold
People are trapped in Ukraine because of the war. The airports are closed.
With Ukraine (click here) closing its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that teams are being sent to Ukraine's land borders in Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Romania to assist with the evacuation of Indian nationals.
From Gizmodo. I guess it is for the folks back home in Russia. Prearranged propaganda. The Beirut Blast is known by anyone who watches the news.
Russian attack helicopters seen flying over the outskirts of Kyiv
There is heavy smoke, the people are being bombed. They need anti-aircraft guns.
I applaud President Biden for being so very correct in all his estimations regarding Russia's intentions for Ukraine.
I think the USA needs to assess any Russian investments in this country, including, McConnell's Russian Oligarch. They have ill intentions for the USA. There isn't any room for them here. They should go home to Mother Russia. I am sure there are plenty of American investors that could take over the Russian businesses in the USA.
I really don't want to hear how the sanctions should have been a surprise to shock Russia into retreat. It has been weeks that the media has been badgering President Biden to announce the sanctions ahead of the invasion to stop Putin. So, enough criticism already, it is very telling when media tries to change their emphasis to serve political harassment of a president.
I think the aspect the media needs to contend with more realistically is the statement that President Biden made when asked, "Will Putin stop at Ukraine?" The answer was, "No." Americans need to understand the depth of concern for Europe at this point by not just NATO, but, as one of the most important partners this country has. I am sure there are plenty of tensions in the Pacific as well, today.
There is significant danger ahead. It would be good if it could be limited and reversed. There is absolutly no reason for Putin to have conducted an invasion into a neutral country.
It would have been to Russia's advantage if it did just the opposite and became a benevolent neighbor in ecnomic trade. Russia didn't do that and for no real reason except Putin's politics.
By Kevin Liptak
Washington - President Joe Biden (click here) on Thursday unveiled harsh new sanctions on Russia meant to punish the country for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggression even as he acknowledged it would take time for the new measures to alter Putin's behavior.
"Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said, laying out a set of measures that will "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."
The new sanctions include export blocks on technology, a centerpiece of Biden's approach that he said would severely limit Russia's ability to advance its military and aerospace sector.
He also applied sanctions on four Russian banks and "corrupt billionaires" and their families who are close to the Kremlin....
Chernobyl nuclear plant could be used in Putin's propaganda to justify invasion.
It might make an interesting POW camp.
Chernobyl is just down the waterway from Kyiv.
By Alexander Nazaryan
“Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Thursday. He described the move as “a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.”
When the reactor melted down in April 1986 during a test gone awry, a radioactive cloud covered much of the continent. Ukraine was then part of the Soviet Union....
There is no reason for Russia to use Chernobyl as a leverage point with the Russian people to invade Ukraine. The IAEA has been overseeing the site since it occurred. I doubt the Russian military asked for clearance from the IAEA. International employees could be in the area.
The world is in trouble with this invasion. This is not a minor invasion, it is an enormous invasion with intentions to take control of major cities. Ukrainians weren't packing to leave in many instances. They were purchasing guns and munition to protect themselves and their homes from zealot Russian troops.
Putin is using ethnicity to divide the people. That means average people can be taken prisoner, tried and executed for no other reason but their ethnic heritage. They will be characterized as sympathizers to those Russia currently hate for whatever reason Czar Putin has decided to hate.
I remind, Putin has been closing off Russian society from the outside world including cyber. It is no wonder to realize why other countries are under cyber attack. It is to have them deal with chaos within their borders rather than reaching out to Russians. I remind, the FBI had absolutely no trouble walking right into Russia's intelligence cyber network and finding all the evidence it wanted during the 2016 election investigation with Former Director of the FBI, Robert Mueller. So, for Russian agencies to be on the attack is their form of support for Putin's propaganda.
Russian isolation is a strong image to realize that a portion of American society is still isolated by the Trump network intrusions into American life. Trump was mentored. There is no doubt about it. The Trump administration chronically compromised USA security as often as it could and to the greatest extent it could. Why? Trump's personal wealth and power is why.
Is Benczkowski still at DOJ? He is a national security compromise.
By Giffin Connolly
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., broke ranks with Democrats to move forward with the confirmation of Brian Benczkowski to lead the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
In late winter 2017, Brian Benczkowski, who now awaits Trump’s signature to become the newest assistant attorney general at the DOJ, briefly represented Alfa Bank, a Russian bank with close ties to Russian government officials that media outlets previously reported was a subject of the FBI’s probe of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.
No one at Alfa has been charged with wrongdoing, and it is unclear if the bank is still part of any probe.
Leading Democrats in the chamber wrote a letter to the president last week arguing Benczkowski cannot “credibly oversee” the DOJ Criminal Division’s involvement in Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation and the criminal investigation of Michael Cohen, the president’s former personal lawyer....
The United Nations has never been more important.
The global community can now see what Russia is all about, expansionism and an alternate reality to facilitate the loyalty of it's military. The United Nations needs to resolve to end such tensions, especially among countries with powerful and dangerous and deadly military capacity.
February 24, 2022By Courtney Subramanian,Michael Collins and Rebecca Morin
International condemnation (click here) of Russian President Vladimir Putin's pre-dawn attack against Ukraine mounted Thursday, as U.S. and Western allies prepared to impose punishing sanctions against Moscow for a stunning full-scale invasion that global leaders had been warning about for weeks.
Ukraine's defense ministry said it was fighting Russia in both the country's north and south.
The attack threatened to create global upheaval and escalate into the largest military conflict on European soil since the end of World War II.
"This is a brutal act of war," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.
Here's what to know about Russia's attack on Ukraine:...
The world as witnessed with the spread of COVID-19 and it's variants is a smaller and smaller place with more and more people living on planet Earth. We cannot afford wars such as Putin carries out because of his politics. Make no mistake this war into Ukraine is due to Putin's politics and promises. His made up reality has to be satisfied to allow the people of Russia to contiue to believe they are oppressed by the entire world outside of Russia and a highly valued president that can carry out enormous movements of troops and killing machines. As far as Putin is concerned he is the only one capable of this aggression and returning the Soviet Union to it's former granduer as well as expansionism.
Here's what to know about Russia's attack on Ukraine:...
The world as witnessed with the spread of COVID-19 and it's variants is a smaller and smaller place with more and more people living on planet Earth. We cannot afford wars such as Putin carries out because of his politics. Make no mistake this war into Ukraine is due to Putin's politics and promises. His made up reality has to be satisfied to allow the people of Russia to contiue to believe they are oppressed by the entire world outside of Russia and a highly valued president that can carry out enormous movements of troops and killing machines. As far as Putin is concerned he is the only one capable of this aggression and returning the Soviet Union to it's former granduer as well as expansionism.
Today, Vladimir Putin is using the power of the Russian people's military to carry out atrocities of war. He is doing it because he wants to end the Nazis of Ukraine. Today it is Navis and tomorrow has yet for him to define his egotistical reasons for killing.
Trump's best friend, Vladimir Putin, has no loyalty to Trump's White Supremacists/Nationalists/Neonazies. Trump is a fool without a clue.
The family probably can't talk about Bob Saget because there are lawyers involved.
Just a word about Bob Saget. I am not a forensic person on the case, but, their assessment sounds reasonable. He fell in the shower and struggled to the bed and died there. It is very unfortunate.
These types of accidents happen. Shower floors and bathrooms can be a dangerous place if people are not careful. The STONE of bathrooms, be it porcelin or otherwise, always seemed to me a contradictory combination. There needs to be a synthetic answer to bathrooms that are more forgiving when people slip and fall.
This could be an accident of a slip in the shower or tub, but, he was 65 years old and while a very vital 65 year old he could have had a heart incident that also dropped him to the floor. He doesn't have to have a heart condition to have such an incident. The older adult sometimes will drop their blood pressure under warm water used to bath. The forensic experts could speak more to that, but, I think their assessment is correct in that it was an accident.
I am sorry to hear violence against Ukraine has begun.
I think the world is with Ukraine, at least the civilized world. (click here) Putin in justifying his violence against Ukraine as ending the Nazis' war. This is typical ethnic hatred to divide people and demonize an enemy scapegoat.
President Biden is correct, this violence by Russia is completely unprovoked. Shelling can be heard in Kyiv. Sirens to awaken the people in the capital went off to bring awareness to the danger that may approach as time goes on. Ukrainians have a right to decide to leave and seek refuge.
It is so hard to realize this is 2022 and Russia is still acting as if it is 1968.
On August 20, 1968, (click here) the Soviet Union led Warsaw Pact troops in an invasion of Czechoslovakia to crack down on reformist trends in Prague. Although the Soviet Union's action successfully halted the pace of reform in Czechoslovakia, it had unintended consequences for the unity of the communist bloc.
When will the Cold War finally end with anti-democracy narratives in communist countries? It is so ridiculous. NO ONE IS COVETING VIOLENCE AGAINST COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, ONLY COMMUNISTS COVETING VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PEOPLE THAT EMBRACE DEMOCRACY. More than fifty years has passed and not a thing has changed.
Ukraine is on the minds and in the hearts of people all over the world tonight.
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
A few Sunday evenings ago I posted entries about the exploitation of women for money by con artists.
There was also concerned for the children or the image of the children involved with this fraud in that it could be pedophilias that are carrying out this form of financial support for themselves. I have some additional comments.
I am somewhat convinced using the image of eight or nine year old girls is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for these free lancers. These are men (haven't heard of any women yet) that use tactics against women to romance them and weaken their resolve to protect their finances. I still firmly believe this results in Stockholm Syndrome.
One of the methods at the very beginning is to ask what dress size she is so he can purchase the perfect dress for their meeting sometime in the future. That dress can be purchased from recycle outlets like Poshmark and mailed to the woman as an expression of love and devotion and promise.
But, other than the "girl image" there are issues of naked compromise in harassing the victims. In other words at one point and it doesn't matter the weight or figure of the woman, they are asked for naked pictures to keep their man interested. These pictures can lead to intimidation to continue the pressure to reliquish monies through any means of which the woman can obtain them.
Naked women.
I think it is time for a cultural shift in the USA from highly conservative ideology of women's bodies to one of fitness. I think every woman at some point, especially business women, should invest in photos of themselves naked or partically naked as in a small square inch bathing suit. Those pictures should be kept as a reminder of the strange power such images could have over the future of a woman's life.
If I can recall the actress Jennifer Lawrence and her fight to protect images she shared with the man she loved. The images were of her fashioably disrobed and they were digital. Her protected site was hacked and the pictures exposed to the world. Every woman needs to follow her example in maintaining their body image as their own, but, never are they ashamed of that image.
I have noticed with many singers - actresses their clothing choices are very sexy and seductive at times. It is that level of pride in one's body that should be owned by every woman alive today. At no point in time should revealing pictures of a woman lead to her embarassment or demise in her profession. The power of revealing naked or compromised pictures has to end. The USA has passed laws called "Revenge Laws" (click here) by which men that reveal women without their expressed permission are considered to be criminals in their intent and purpose.
I also have more information about the methods these men are using. Oddly enough ambassadors and their staff are already cued to these episodes existing online and are absolutely correct in stating "Stop the contact." These men are connected voluntarily to an "organization." I haven't be able to ascertain the complete identity of the organization, but, it is organized crime with methods developed to induce women to give up money at any cost to them.
I am told the organization is very dangerous and people need to avoid this level of interaction. The practioners of this organization are free lancers allowed to raise money for their own purposes. There are no noble causes.
I will write more about another method and it is highly sophisticated. It is easy to see this is organized crime.
Until later.
I don't know a great deal about hockey, but, is that goalie uniform regulation?
It seems to me the coaches made a wall out of his uniform to block the goal net. That just seems over the top.
But, here again is that Russian mindset that everyone hates Russians. He is so put out by receiving silver that he has to feel as though there was UNFAIRNESS in the game. This is the way they are. In the case of the Olympics, they violate rules, scoff at punitive measures and then complain the rest of the world hates Russians. THEY ARE CHEATERS in every definition of the word.
February 21, 2022
By Ivan Fedotov and Mikhail Grigorenko
The Russian goaltender (click here) held his medal in his hand instead of putting it around his neck after the ROC's 2-1 loss to Finland in the men's ice hockey final on Sunday.
Due to Covid-19 protocols at the Beijing Games, athletes are tasked with picking up their medals from a platter rather than having them placed around their necks.
When Fedotov received his medal he simply couldn't bring himself to put it around his neck.
By the end of the ceremony he was the only player from both sides not wearing a medal.
“It's hard to accept that it isn't gold,” Fedotov said afterwards.
“I'm an all-or-nothing person, and it's hard to accept a defeat.
"I'll definitely put it on and enjoy that but later on.”...
By Ivan Fedotov and Mikhail Grigorenko
The Russian goaltender (click here) held his medal in his hand instead of putting it around his neck after the ROC's 2-1 loss to Finland in the men's ice hockey final on Sunday.
Due to Covid-19 protocols at the Beijing Games, athletes are tasked with picking up their medals from a platter rather than having them placed around their necks.
When Fedotov received his medal he simply couldn't bring himself to put it around his neck.
By the end of the ceremony he was the only player from both sides not wearing a medal.
“It's hard to accept that it isn't gold,” Fedotov said afterwards.
“I'm an all-or-nothing person, and it's hard to accept a defeat.
"I'll definitely put it on and enjoy that but later on.”...
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Let me just say this. The issues the Biden Administration has faced since taking office after an incompetent populous president is daughting. I firmly believe President Biden is the right president for this time in American history.
Media find him easy to pick on, because, he is less a politican and more a president. He is very different from previous presidents. I find his frank method of speaking refreshing. He and Secretary Blinken are not mincing words. I think they are great and brave, but, most of all sincerely concerned for our allies across the pond. That is not readily seen in past administrations.
To be a fly on the wall.
February 21, 2022
Vice President Kamala Harris (click here) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet during the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday.
Munich - Acknowledging "the real possibility of war," (click here) Vice President Kamala Harris wrapped up a weekend of outreach to European allies with a push to bolster the West's resolve in confronting Moscow with crippling sanctions as increasingly dire signs suggest Russia's Vladimir Putin plans to order an invasion of Ukraine.
In a burst of diplomacy at the annual Munich Security Conference, Harris tried to make the case to American allies rapidly escalating tensions on the Ukraine-Russian border meant European security was under "direct threat" and there should be unified support for economic penalties if the Kremlin invades its neighbor....
Of course, only Putin alone could do it.
By Bryan Metzger and John Haltiwanger
Left, Helsinki.
Former President Donald Trump (click here) praised Vladimir Putin in a podcast interview on Tuesday, describing the Russian president's justification for invading Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius."
In an appearance on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," Trump said Putin's recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk — two-thirds of which are controlled by Ukraine and are not recognized by most other nations but backed by Russia — was a smart move.
Former President Donald Trump (click here) praised Vladimir Putin in a podcast interview on Tuesday, describing the Russian president's justification for invading Ukraine as "savvy" and "genius."
In an appearance on the "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," Trump said Putin's recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk — two-thirds of which are controlled by Ukraine and are not recognized by most other nations but backed by Russia — was a smart move.
"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful," Trump said when asked about the news. "I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."...
By Carrie Johnson
Attorney General Merrick Garland (click here) said the Justice Department is aware that classified material has been found on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property but didn't explicitly confirm a federal probe on the matter is underway.
"[T]he National Archives has informed the Justice Department of this and communicated with it," Garland said at a news conference Tuesday. "And we will do what we always do under these circumstances: look at the facts and the law and take it from there."
Archivist David Ferriero notified members of Congress Friday that some of the contents in 15 boxes of presidential records at the Florida resort were "marked as classified national security information." Ferriero said the National Archives had asked Trump's representatives to continue searching for more materials....
This is from an article in "The Economist." It shows the extensive military build up that has occurred. This is far more power than is needed even for two areas of Ukraine. It is why President Biden states it is at least a military incursion and more aggression is suspected.
The map to the right clearly shows the two territories of Ukraine on the eastern border of the country. Yet, for as small a footprint of these two regions Russia is actively amassing armed forces around the entire border of Ukraine. Putin justifies all his actions by stating the post Soviet states are not sincerely sovereign countries because they were created by Russia.
...Ukraine is essentially ringed on three sides, (click here) because of a large Russian build-up in Belarus. “Allied Resolve”, a hastily-announced Russia-Belarus exercise—more likely cover for troop movements—began on February 10th and is due to end on February 20th. As many as 30,000 Russian troops may be involved, according to nato. Some are alarmingly close to Ukrainian soil. Zyabrovka, around 25km from the border, is another disused airfield which has become a swarm of activity....
A march into Kyiv from Belarus is not difficult.
Today, some Ukrainians are sorry the country disarmed from it's nuclear capacity after the Soviet Union imploded. Ukraine wanted to be a neutral power that Russia would never find as a threat. There is some regret the nukes are gone. That is why Putin cowers from Ukraine. He knows the scientific genius that lives there and knows all to well the technology for nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. This regret comes at a time when Russia has lost a lot of it's brain trust in the nuclear sciences because of repeated accidents and the deaths of scientists. Putin is afraid of Ukraine. The decrees Putin issues certainly doesn't appear to make a real assurtion of what he covets.
The nuclear scientists of Ukraine will not be safe. If Putin overtakes Ukraine he will press them into service to Russia. If they don't want to go to Russia, they should seek asylum with their families somewhere in The West.
October 28, 2017
Ukraine's military industrial complex (click here) resulted in an unsubstantiated claim that a leak occurred that benefitted North Korea's missile program. There are many unsubstantiated claims between communists and The West. Ukraine's capacity is no joke.
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