First, some laugher: I just want to show you how Ukie nationalists (Shevchenko and Liashko) interact with each other. This needs no translation:
Precious, no?
Then, the possibly very bad new: Vzgliad is reporting that Igor Strelkov has resigned his position as Defense Minister. If confirmed – Vzgliad is usually well-informed – this is very bad news. Not that Novorussia lacks capable military leaders, but because Strelkov had managed to subordinate all the commanders of the Resistance – except Khodakovski – to is authority. As Strelkov mentioned it many times, it is very hard to turn several groups of volunteer guerrillas into a real army, and Strelkov pretty much succeeded in doing so. If his resignation is confirmed, I am very worried that infighting between the various rebel groups will resume and that the junta will use this political chaos to attack and beat back the Resistance.
As always, stay tuned. I will try to keep you posted.
Cheers,
The Saker
Saker Message:
Colonel Cassad has a post up that speculates the recent resignations have to do with some kind of deal with Akhmetov:
Про отставку Стрелкова (About the resignation Strelkova)
http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/1730800.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/colonelcassad.livejournal.com/1730800.html
вот так
What do these 3 resignations mean?
Let’s not speculate. Imho the 2 more news of import are:
A) The Guardian (UK) earlier today reported Russia’s humanitarian aid of 280 trucks were accompanied by journalists including their own. One journalists tweeted “we were told we could examine the contents in any of the trucks.” That paragraph is now deleted to match the western script. See link: Russian convoy stops close to Ukraine borderhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/russian-convoy-stops-close-to-ukraine-border
[ Yesterday I posted an FT.com report that Kiev was rushing to deliver aid to the east in advance of the Russian convoy. Oh so there is a need for aid in the east, not a made up PR by the Russians.]
B). FWIW In the last 4 hours the Guardian’s (UK) Shaun Walker at Ukraine’s border is reporting
Russian military vehicles enter Ukraine as aid convoy stops short of border
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/russian-military-vehicles-enter-ukraine-aid-convoy-stops-short-border
[.]Russian military vehicles enter Ukraine as aid convoy stops short of border
Column of 23 armoured personnel carriers and support vehicles cross border after dark, while 280 trucks come to halt separately.[.]
The trucks are unlikely to represent a full-scale official Russian invasion, and it was unclear how far they planned to travel inside Ukrainian territory and how long they would stay. But it was incontrovertible evidence of what Ukraine has long claimed – that Russian troops are active inside its borders.
C) Today UKie’s RADA passed legislation that includes sanctions against Russia gas transit. This is serious. Now southstream completion becomes critical.
More from Zerohedge here:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-14/ukraine-passes-russian-sanctions-law-gas-transit-halt-seems-imminent
https://twitter.com/BradCabana/status/500040771278368768
From retired Canadian officer Brad Cabana’s Twitter feed, another English-speaking ‘volunteer’ with the Azov Battalion. Accent of his instructor is Ukrainian but the shooter is speaking English and does not sound like the trained Swedish sniper Michael Skillt who communicates with other Azov Nazis in English. One of Azov’s Italian, Finnish or other ‘volunteers’?
Anyway all we know at this hour is that:
1) The Ukies are lying when they claim to have encircled Lugansk, and they’re probably lying about the nature of their units armored breakout from the Lugansk airport to Krasnodon where NAF says they’re being chewed up
2) The Ukies just apparently dropped white phosphorous on Donetsk — let them lie once more and insist via the Soros-owned Human Rights Watch this was just an ‘illumination’ round or that the footage is from Gaza or Fallujah, Iraq
3) Something big is going down or about to go down related to the humanitarian convoy, even if it’s only a small but significant escort of APCs ‘lend leased’ by Russia to the NAF to guard the convoy’s route to Lugansk from attack. I doubt the APC drivers are Russian army regulars, this was probably either a group of volunteer vets or a hand off to the NAF that Russia didn’t make much effort to keep covert.
Ever wonder what would happen to the US if a couple of nukes hit the Yellowstone volcano? Or performed some sort of a directed EMP towards it? Some say 1/3 of the country uninhabitable for 3-7 years… And some site have reported a significant increase in flyovers by Russian reconnaissance planes investigating that area’s characteristics in 3D…
Just released in the last edition television news ( oo.30 am. eve of national day ) 2nd channel Spanish public TV, the fight between Liashko and Shevchenko, along with the massive bombings of today in Donetsk and have even gone out pictures of civilian deaths and damage to homes.
They have also reported on new sanctions against Russia of the Ukrainian parliament, including possibility to cut gas supplies to Europe. We could hear Yats menacingly.
So far, we had not seen anything like it here on television since the conflict began.
May it be the start of a 180ºchange, secondary to sanctions, of course, of the position of the EU?
I hope so, we´ll see.
For some more laughter…
And over at laugh central (otherwise known as the British media) the Guardian and the Telegraph have breathlessly announced ‘proof’ that Russia is sending their military into the Ukraine.
Yes their ‘journalists’ have seen it with their own eyes, honest.
Guardian: Russian military vehicles enter Ukraine as aid convoy stops short of border.
UK Telegraph: Russian armoured vehicles and military trucks cross border into Ukraine (though the Tele does a little CYA statement further down the article).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11035401/Russian-armoured-vehicles-and-military-trucks-cross-border-into-Ukraine.html
Of course no one mentions trying a simple credibility check of “Russia sending military forces into Ukraine right in front of western journalists?. Yeh right….”. And I have this nice little bridge here in Melbourne that you can buy from me for a song, just send me your credit card details.
Expect this to be echo chambered all around the world and Obama announcing new sanctions……
Zero Hedge has picked it up too….sigh.
When all is dark and depressing, a little joy can spring your blues away.
Try this. Found the link on ZH. Youth + music = joy!
Flash Mob Moscow
Take this with a pinch of salt, Kiev urged (not told) to cut artillery bombardment of civilians!
They must want them moved to hit something else.
WASHINGTON, August 15 (RIA Novosti) – Washington urges Kiev authorities not to use heavy artillery in a military operation against eastern independence supporters to reduce casualties among the civilian population, US State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf said Thursday.
“We’ve called on them not to use weapons that could increase that,” Harf said during the daily briefing.
Washington is very supportive of Kiev authorities and their military operation in eastern regions of Ukraine, the spokesperson added.
Kiev has been conducting a military operation targeting Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government and chose to pursue independence.
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140815/192019892/US-Calls-on-Kiev-to-Refrain-Fr…
JohninMK
finally the Russians are coming … hope so …
“Russian military vehicles enter Ukraine as aid convoy stops short of border
Armoured personnel carriers and support vehicles cross the border, while the 280-truck convoy comes to a halt separately”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/russian-military-vehicles-enter-ukraine-aid-convoy-stops-short-border
“Russian armoured vehicles and military trucks cross border into Ukraine
Exclusive: Telegraph witnesses Russian armoured vehicles and military trucks cross the border from Russia into Ukraine”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11035401/Russian-armoured-vehicles-and-military-trucks-cross-border-into-Ukraine.html
For people interested in some of the missed nuances in regards to the Maidan sniper investigation and the audio analysis of the supposed Russian commanders talking about MH-17 I have a thread up at DU that catches the BBC outright in a major coverup. The moderators at that website tried to ban it but I highly recommend people who are searching for the truth click through and check it out as it hoists the BBC by their own petard.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017208433
The Walker and Oliphant tweets have not been substantiated with any pictures. They have not answered any requests for pics, or how they could see the border so well being kilometers away in Donetsk (Russia), so well that in the Guardian report it says the Russians went through a gap in a barbed wire fence supposed to be the border. How could they see that gap so well from so far in the dark. Amazing. Strange. They both witnessed this important event and none had a camera or phone at hand to take any pics. Mmmm.
According to the Guardian report based on Oliphant’s claim, this happeneed “after dark” so the picture of Gubarev (if it’s him) dos not match the time. The Guardian shows a picture of SOME vehicle, Somewhere, in daylight. Could be anything.
They just lie. The BBC takes a picture of a white truck (but clearly a different kind than the ones in the convoy) next to a military truck somewhere, and claim it’s the convoy..
https://twitter.com/BungeeWedgie/status/500030012771532801
Not that I’d be upset if Russia sends in stuff, of course not. But the Guardian and the BBC are just not reliable at all.
Fwd from Canuckistan:
CBC News (on-air and via scroll at bottom) have stated the Ukie and RF have announced they will be entering talks related to trade and specifically oil/gas. Nothing online thus far with the lone exception of the AP (Associated Propaganda) piece about the “suspicious” humanitarian aid convoy and the obligatory hit about the resignations. It also appears that the neocon trolls are seriously losing the battle in the comments section as more commenters are backing up their words with facts and links that the troll army cannot counter with simple word play…
This guy was arguing 3 months ago that Putin was just using the East Ukraine Russians, supporting them just enough that they’d be trouble to Kiev, but ultimately he would betray them:
http://pando.com/2014/05/30/war-nerd-whats-happening-in-eastern-ukraine-is-very-simple-rational-and-straightforward/
So far it looks rather right to me…
Saker,
Slightly off topic – following article gives an insight on how the Ukraine war is a US Pentagon experiment on how to conquer insurrections in large cities. In America the government’s goal is to protect itself from the people and ensure the people are afraid of their government.
Gaza, Ukraine and US Preparations for Urban Warfare
By Bill Van Auken
Global Research, August 14, 2014
http://www.globalresearch.ca/gaza-ukraine-and-us-preparations-for-urban-warfare/5395902
“In Donetsk and Luhansk, the Pentagon is overseeing something that it views with even greater interest—a full-scale siege of a modern city and a center of the industrial working class of over a million people.
Combat in large cities is central to the military doctrine that is being developed by the US armed forces. This is spelled out in a document entitled “Megacities and the United States Army: Preparing for a complex and uncertain future,” which was released in June by the Army’s Strategic Studies Group and endorsed by its chief of staff, Gen. Raymond Odierno.
Predicting that it is “highly likely that megacities [described as metropolitan areas with populations of more than 10 million] will be the strategic key terrain in any future crisis that requires U.S. military intervention,” the report reveals that the Pentagon has conducted “case studies” and “field work” in preparation for such interventions in: Dhaka, Bangladesh; Lagos, Nigeria; Bangkok, Thailand; Mexico City, Mexico, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil … and New York City.
Describing the conditions that it anticipates will require US military intervention, the report warns, “As inequality between rich and poor increases … Stagnation will coexist with unprecedented development, as slums and shanty towns rapidly expand alongside modern high-rises. This is the urban future.”
“Radical income disparity,” is further described as the foremost “driver of instability” in these far-flung urban areas.”
The missing graph in my post upthread:
Something Odd with the Guardian and Telegraph reporting that Russian armoured vehicles and military trucks had crossed the border into Ukraine.
Can anyone here clear up the geography/map of the area?
Both the Telegraph and Guardian reported the APCs military lorries crossing into Ukraine at an obscure border crossing near the Russian town of Donetsk
Is there a Russian town of Donetsk at the border?
Note: Telegraph has the story as an Exclusive but the Guardian reports it?
I’m beginning to understand the genius of the Russian media strategy – put out virtually no information at any time, wait for the west to go into hysterics. At the beginning of the conflict I was so angered by the western media, now it’s just a joke. Pretty funny.
@a_j_s_b (maybe a teenager somewhere?) puts out more valid news than pretty much all the British and American press combined.
Add the literate and enthusiastic coverage by @gbazov and you have everything you need.
Then check the statements and positions of Putin and Lavrov, which haven’t changed in months . . .
The neoliberal media is a pathetic charade. Another couple of years and The Guardian won’t be able to afford a website.
This is why the friend of the Saker site Gleb Bazov is saying: watch the battlefield, not the convoy drama.
Looks entirely possible at this hour that Kiev forgot about many of its units left on the border while enraged over the convoy. Result? Another Southern Cauldron-style encirclement, possibly using the new hardware that has come across the border. This time the NAF will have the arty and numbers to reduce this one worse than the Southern Cauldron if the Ukies don’t surrender. One of the surrounded units is the 24th brigade which already took losses trying to relieve the Southern Cauldron before it emptied out:
https://twitter.com/PetriKrohn/status/500048350352535552
https://twitter.com/MiddleEast_BRK/status/499937883130982400
Alleged photo of Pavel Gubarev in full Russian BDUs smiling at the border as trucks pass him,
IT’S a FAKE !
Notice what’s blurred and what’s sharp on this poorly made photo-montage by some IDIOT.
Strelkov has performed a very valuable job. After March when the cities in eastern Ukraine erupted in protest against the Kiev regime, the local insurrectionists were little more than a spontaneous mob. They would have been over run without any difficulty with by the UA.
What Strelkov represented is that the insurrection had to go on a full war setting. Very few people involved in those events in early April and May realized that the situation had just changed from civil politics to out right war. (Hey wasn’t it Clauswitz who said that war is just the extention of politics by other means). Whatever, Strelkov single-mindedly realized that politics had just moved on to another level and organized the militias accordingly. I am sure that there was nothing brilliant in his tactics or leadership skills other than realizing that the game had changed and that new rules, which he was trained in, would now apply.
I share saker’s apprehension about his leaving because he is now recognized as an important leader. That symbol is very important and his departure could lead to demoralization. I hope these stories are not correct but I am also confidant that there will many qualified military commanders that can replace him at least at the level of planning and executing military engagements.
IMHO:
The wholesale changes at the top of LND & DND political / military hierarchy have largely replaced Russians with vetted local talent. This can mean only one thing…
Rather than abandonment, Russia is preparing to recognize some form of Donbass legitimacy/independence. For Russia, there is no pain free solution to this crisis. It has to shoulder the burden, help the region rebuild and is placing trusted locals in charge to build the necessary political and social institutions.
The convoy is the 1st step in that rebuilding.
The upcoming negotiations with Moscow cannot have Russians on both sides of the table. Conversely, the negotiations between DND/LND and Kiev must have native Ukrainians on both sides of the table.
Strelkov:
Unless Russia shares them (doubtful), Strelkov’s political goal of a Novorossya stretching from Kiev to Odessa makes him counterproductive. Maybe later, not now.
He may go back to retirement, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in Sevastopol in an official capacity soon. “You can’t keep a good man down”.
Bad link on this video when I posted earlier.
I apologize.
(The road to hell is paved with good intentions, Sister Ambrose always told us.)
Flash Mob Moscow
elsi 23:13
The fact that they showed the bombing of Donetsk and some of the carnage is big news. These things don’t happen by chance. Maybe some important change for the better is coming in Ukraine. I feel something is up and I feel it’s positive.
I believe that the Russian people understand (see latest Colonel Cassad essay on ‘left Euromaidan’) that the de-Nazification of Ukraine can only be accomplished by a blood purge – and probably from the inside out. The entrance of Russian armed forces would not even save lives, because many more would die – and then, a temporary solution created which could not be enforced or afforded, and back to 0. Therefore I believe that the Russian people will support Novorussia until the job is finished – and that any support from the Russian state will be minimal. I would expect to see support from other countries first, perhaps in Latin America, around Eastern Europe, Asia. An exception to this theory would be if the Russian military intelligence analysts want to freeze the conflict at any given point, to provide an advantage at a later time when conditions would be more favorable, or for an external geopolitical reason. But ultimately, we are looking at resolving a conflict that has been going on for more than decades, and an existential issue that lasts forever for the Russian people.
So I believe we are at the very beginning of a conflict that will easily outlast the EU and continue past the second stage of the fall of the American empire. Assuming the pigs don’t drop the bomb first. The ultimate deNazification of Ukraine will coincide with the substantive degradation of the EU, NATO and the US.
It looks like @gbazov is quite optimistic about what’s happening on the ground: watch the battle, he says.
All I know for sure is that Strelkov is no longer Minister of Defense, a political position, but still commands his own military position.
I will wait and see what develops, instead of getting depressed already.
Maidan 2.0 in NYC and in the US
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-14/hundreds-peacefully-gather-ferguson-again-chanting-no-justice-no-peace-live-feed
NYPD threatens mass arrests at Ferguson solidarity rally
http://rt.com/usa/180472-ferguson-solidarity-rally-arrests/
lol
http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/8/14/700414.html
New Tax Threatens To Destroy Gas Production In Ukraine
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/14/2014 – 22:00
Independent gas producers in Ukraine are joining forces to pressure the government in Kiev to re-think its new gas tax before everyone makes a run for the border in search of new assets in a more stable environment. Private producers have compiled a draft letter to Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, criticizing the government’s doubling of taxes for gas producers, which was justified through the use of “wrong and misleading” data about private companies. They also warn that their time in Ukraine will be over if the tax is extended beyond the end of this year – and there will be no further foreign investment in the country’s beleaguered gas sector.
The gas tax introduced by the junta may be an effort by Washington to promote the development of fracking. US oligarchs could care less about small or medium private gas companies in Ukraine. By driving up the price of nat gas, fracking becomes more of a worthwile investment for the cynical reptiles and the fiat dollar system they control.
I just had a quick glance at GB’s twitter feed and he’s pretty convinced that Strelkov isn’t going anywhere, just changed positions. One comment suggested that as Def Minister he would have had a lot of political/bureaucratic responsibilities to handle – I agree. I’m wondering if the DNR or Novorossiya is forming a general staff and he’ll end up as chief of staff. That would be a very important step – they really need the coordination and would go a long way toward solving any command or personality issues among the various “warlords.”
It occurred to me the yesterday that perhaps the Russian are pre-positioning equipment via a humanitarian mission. It’s a lot easier to move trucks when planes aren’t trying to bomb them. Also, sleeping bags take up a lot of space as does food. Here’s my thinking: preposition all the stuff that takes up a lot of space for a soldier, load the empty trucks up with wounded and non-coms for the return trip (a mini-evacuation). Rinse repeat after the Uke’s realize that there are no weapons in the deliveries and agree to more. Then send in your peace keepers, with troops carrying lots of ammo and you don’t have to worry about supply lines for a while. Sort of a slow motion intervention, with the supplies proceeding the troops, instead of the other way around.
Could the changing of the guard be the result of secret negotiations between the EU and the Kremlin?
My impression is that the EU leaders are starting to realize the indirect costs of the sanctions, The hardships and extra austerity they will have to add will have them all voted out of office in 2 years. And the almost inevitable escalation, due to false flags and even more of US pressure.
They need some symbolic moves from Russia to have an excuse to the US not to increase their defense budget too much and back out of the sanctions.
To the Guardian/Telegraph employees and promoters here. The Guardian is Israel’s unofficial mouthpiece in the UK, like the NYT is in the USA, the Telegraph is just a “me too”. I posted this after the hyped sayanim tweets were first posted here:
https://twitter.com/MiddleEast_BRK/status/499937883130982400
“Alleged photo of Pavel Gubarev in full Russian BDUs smiling at the border as trucks pass him”
This is the video the screencap came from:
Павел Губарев. Пропускной пункт Мариновка 13.08.2014. (Paul Gubarev. Checkpoint Marinovka 13.08.2014.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kPVbd4VAM&
Happened yesterday, what it was about I don’t know. No English subtitles. But it’s hardly a “Russian invasion”, and the people walking about are obviously militia, not Russian soldiers.
The israeloscum are doing another one of their daily media false flags against Russia.
вот так
This observation may seem a bit OT but if ya follow along a bit, things may connect.
This pondering revolves around the MSM and those that actually control what is published as opposed to those that propagated the messages, as in the Neocon cabal within the political establishment, especially in Fortress North America.
We must take into consideration how the MSM has fed the lines continuously that have given NuttyYahoo and PetroPorky carte blanche in their homicidal quests.
We must also take into consideration that the primary cheerleaders, aka: endorsers of that check, are primarily Neocons that have also decided to self-identify themselves as Zionists.
We must also take into consideration that the IS Caliphate, when analysed with the map they propose, is very similar to NuttyYahoos vision of Greater Israel. Oddly, IS can roam free anywhere except the secret new country of Kurdistan that traverses through Turkey, Syria and Iraq, everything else is fair game. The response is the US, France and the rest of the gang, sending lot’s of weaponry to Kurdistan along with strategic air-strikes, humanitarian corridors, etc.
The message has, for the most part, been sold via the MSM very agressivly in such a way as to discount any counter facts. In other words the gullible have bought the MSM’s story, hook, line and sinker. The gullible are the majority, sadly, but they have given the MSM a new found “legitimacy” under the idea that they are a free press, that only reports facts.
This brings us to a rather strange point, Ferguson Missouri.
This poses a rather odd scenario brewing if we take into consideration that this “trusted” MSM has begun to cover an event that involves a black community vs a white police force that portrays the police as the perpetrators of the aggressive violence and crimes against the people.
Oddly enough, the coverage over the past 5 days has accelerated in portraying the just noticed Police State as being a threat to the citizenry. This is a first in our times, for the most part. The press has always portrayed protesters as the problem with the police being the ultimate solution.
Why the shift? Why the international coverage? Nobody cared before, the Police State used to have carte blanche, especially against minorities.
It almost seems as if someone is using their carte blanche to quickly destabilize the US, which in turn will only destabilize Canada and further destabilize Mexico.
If one were to venture to guess, it may seem as if NuttyYahoo may have used the Neocons to achieve his desires in more than one way and now will use them as cannon fodder to pay the costs of being duped. Surely the Neocons could never say a bad word about NuttyYahoo or else they would get crucified, maybe literally.
“By Way Of Deception, Thou Shalt Do War.”
I have been consistent in my opposition to violence. It has no justification.
The USA is attempting to force the EU and UKR to frack the gas reserves in spite of popular opposition. That’s what this is all about. Yes there is a side dish of denied Chinese agriculture leases in the Donbas in favour of Cargill and Monsanto, but the real objective is gas in central Europe. Their nuclear capacity is crippled and now the vultures descend.
An interview with Valery Fadeev (of relation to Max?) comparing Russian and western media (zio-media) and their respective audiences.
«Большая часть граждан на Западе оболванена» (“Most citizens in the West dumbed-down”)
http://www.vz.ru/politics/2014/8/14/700277.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/www.vz.ru/politics/2014/8/14/700277.html
“…Western journalism on the subject of Ukraine demonstrates the worst quality, we are seeing some tremendous, almost total control over all the Western media. Moreover, the power of the propaganda machine is that the vast majority of European citizens, not to mention the US, have an extremely distorted picture information of the Ukrainian events, especially in the East. At this degree of brainwashing the population of the most developed and rich countries of the world are now afraid to look, she even higher than in the late Soviet period.
The demonization of Russia, of course, is not conducive to making rational policy decisions. In fact, our journalistic work is primarily addressed to those people. We help them to get complete information. But, of course, such people are a minority. Most citizens in the West dumbed-down.
C. F.: Earlier times is the Internet – well, now you can read news from different sources, to see various analyses of events. But the situation is more reminiscent of Soviet anecdote: when a citizen turns on the TV, and there Brezhnev, switches the channel – there again Brezhnev, switches to the third – finally appears on the screen, not Brezhnev, and the security officer, who tells him: “I tell you paperclay!” And now the flow of information is so structured that the simple layman is very difficult to obtain alternative information. Only deep thinking and strive to understand people can do it.
I would not say that the social network is a powerful source of propaganda. It is rather a tool of provocation. Remember, the instructions Goebbels: the far more monstrous than the lie, the easier it is perceived by the public. And here, than far more monstrous than the lie, the more it will get links, retweets, and so forth.
By the way, their losses in the Iraq campaign – dead and wounded – Americans and their European allies have calculated very accurately. Everyone can get this information. In this case, loss of Iraqis during this “war of liberation” – “from 150 thousand to 1 million, apparently, at least half a million”. In fact, as submitted to this information (“who thought these Iraqis?”), read squeamish, racist attitude. And this is the true attitude of the West to the rest of the world too difficult to hide. You cannot use only information methods to strabout life…”
вот так
There are two basic attributes universally shared by neocons. Pathological greed/selfishness and a form of stunted emotional growth which prevents them maturing beyond adolescence. There is another defect most neocons also share, but if I mentioned it, this comment probably wouldn’t pass moderation here. ;D
Представитель Госдепа назвала Путина единственным туристом в Крыму (State Department spokesman called Putin the only tourist in the Crimea)
http://vz.ru/news/2014/8/15/700457.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/vz.ru/news/2014/8/15/700457.html
“…During a briefing at the state Department, one of the journalists asked Harf, does it have comments about Putin’s visit to the Crimea. “As far as I know, he (Putin) is the only tourist who went there this summer,” said Harf, words which are contained in the message published on the website of the state Department.
Then Harf said that the tourism industry in the Crimea on the decline after the “invasion” of Russia. “People don’t go there’, ” said Harf. She also said that the economy of the Crimea is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Then the reporter asked her if she knew that people were lining up to buy t-shirts with the image of Putin. Harf first asked: “is It real?”. And then said that it was “unbelievable and disgusting”…
Blimey, a neocon saying something is disgusting. That’s like one of the justthetalk.com footie fans calling someone else dull. ;)
вот так
The US regime is pretty much back to the same repressive state it was during the 1950’s, including threatening celebrities who break from the fascist “group think” message.
СМИ: Госдеп попросил голливудских звезд сдержаннее любить Россию (Media: the state Department asked Hollywood stars restrained to love Russia)
http://www.vz.ru/news/2014/8/15/700462.html (trans) http://translate.yandex.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/www.vz.ru/news/2014/8/15/700462.html
“After Mickey Rourke and Steven Seagal have expressed their sympathy to Russia and President Vladimir Putin, the U.S. state Department recommended that American actors to be more reserved in this respect.
This information Izvestia confirmed surrounded by actors. According to one of the assistants Rourke, after the state Department learned that the actor wore a t-shirt with the image of Putin, the agent actor called and demanded not publicly reveal his feelings towards Russia and its President. The U.S. Embassy declined to comment on the actions of Washington.
Experts note that the artificial isolation of Russia, striving for some figures in the West, has not produced the desired effect – many famous people have condemned the policy of sanctions.
So, from 7 to 9 August in Sevastopol has passed international bike show “the Return”, organized by the motorcycle club “Night wolves”, which was attended by the famous actor and musician Steven Seagal. There it during the concert tried on a t-shirt with the image of the Russian leader and told reporters that arrived in the Crimea, because “music brings people together”.
In March Segal said that the Western media it’s time to start telling the truth about Russia.
In addition, Segal has repeatedly met with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, in recent times, August 14 at the exhibition “Oboronexport-2014″ in the suburbs, where Seagal showed leading the development of the concern Ruselectronics”.
Mickey Rourke August 11, visited the Gum Department store, where he bought a t-shirt with a picture of Vladimir Putin. Later he said about Putin: “I like this guy”. Also, the actor said that “nobody has the right to him to decide what to buy.”
вот так
I think the new Chief of Staff is NIKOLAI Strelkov. No relation to Igor.
“PARTIAL TRANSLATION AND SUMMARY
Alexander Zakharchenko [yalensis: the Kremlin’s new “Golden Boy”] announced Strelkov’s resignation on Thursday. Strelkov will be given other assignments. He will be replaced as Commander-in-Chief by Vladimir Kononov (a native of Luhansk). In addition, the new Chief of Staff of Donetsk Peoples Republic will be NIKOLAI Strelkov (no relation to Igor).
Nikolai Strelkov (no relation to Igor) is a native of Krasny Luch, Ukraine, born in 1970. He has served in Russian army and risen to rank of Colonel.
Igor Strelkov’s resignation coincided with that of Valery Bolotov (Luhansk Peoples Republic). Bolotov himself claims that he was wounded and because of that, he can no longer fulfill his functions. Bolotov has been replaced by a man named Igor Plotnitsky.
The Russian political pundit Sergei Markov postulates, that the replacement of Russian citizens with local Donbass cadre signifies that Moscow is about to recognize the DPR and LPR as autonomous subjects, and as legitimate representatives of the people of Donbass. Having Russian citizens in the lead hampered this process of acquiring legitimacy.”
http://www.vzgliad.ru/society/2014/8/14/700425.html
Taken from the comment thread at
http://marknesop.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/the-high-cost-of-leaving-russia-and-the-eu-sign-divorce-papers/
@14 Anonymous,18:28 Rand Paul better get measured up for a casket ’cause the PTB don’t let any one into #1600 that they haven’t approved, even if the person had a 90% poll ratings. Of course with those sort of %ages you can’t fiddle the electronic vote counting machinery with, but he WOULD suffer from accidental lead poisoning.
I don’t believe Paul the Younger – who’s not a quarter of the man is father is – actually holds these positions, particularly the war one. Polls will be telling them that war is not popular, so to keep up the illusion that the sheeple actually have some say, there has to be SOMEONE to be anti war thing. I feel Pauls been picked mainly for “brand recognition”, using his fathers anti war,Constitutionalist, isolationist, Rule of Law stances
Strelkov – I really don’t know what to think or even what to believe. There has been a lot of “Resignations” lately, usually (although not always) following a visit to Moscow. The convoy’s imminent arrival (??) & a wish to distance the RF from overt involvement is a solid explanation. It may be as uncomplicated as him being sick of it – there appears to have been a lot of bickering, shady politics, unruly commanders, etc & he might be over it too. It may even be a ploy to get his own way on something – getting rid 0f certain commanders? – & he’s had to push the boat right out only time will tell.
The Guardians Moscow correspondent reported a few hours ago that 20 RF APC’s had crossed the border & that the convoy was parked up still on the Russian side.
The Guardian or not, it is probably true. The action is probably going to be justified as a protection measure for the white trucks aid convoi. Russia will probably at least take Lugansk and possibly Donetsk as well, on ‘humanitarian grounds’.
Meanwhile the Ferguson uprising is spreading. Wonderful concept, multiculturalism, isn’t it? It works wundergul in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Yugoslavia and now the US.
USA = next Yugoslavia.
Kind regards,
Dutch.
Typical gorilla/chimp interaction.
Where is Jane Goodall when we need her?
American Kulak: The ‘journalist’ was a little confused because he dd not know what a border zone looks like.
He did not understand that the border zone has depth on either side of the border and that it is normal for there to be military presence within that zone. Because he is accustomed to airports and maybe ferry terminals he did not understand that the distance from the first ‘fence’ to the border could be a kilometer or more.
Of course his readers are easily pleased because they too do not know about border zones.
Secondly, there are images of a claimed armoured column. Only problem is that a close look at the images reveals the vehicles and men to be Ukrainian with each vehicle carrying Ukrainian insignia and the men with Ukrainian arm patches.
Thirdly, the image of Paul Gubarev floating around supposedly in full BDU in front of a military convoy is yet another, very bad, fake.
It can be seen from the fullest versions of the image that the guy is more out of focus than both the vehicles in the background (possible but unlikely) and more out of focus than the guy whose head is visible in bottom left, closer to the camera than Gubarev. (again possible and more likely than the first case)
It is NOT possible to have the subject more out of focus than both the foreground and background, that’s physics – the sciency wiency stuff!
Why do the Ukrainians not even bother to get the easy stuff right. I am sure they have access to stock images of Russian military convoys approaching border crossings? They cold have cropped the image of Gubarev just slightly (or used a more plausible image in the first place).
Is what we are looking at mass insanity in Ukraine?
Friends, remember this.
Russia can win an economic war. It seems that this is what Putin is doing. Take a look.
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/straighttalk/archives/2014/08/20140814-115238.html
However, a NATO military war, protracted and drawn out, will sap the Russian economy and prevent it from weaning itself off the West.
Novorossiya can be allowed to fall. The damage to Russia will be less than the damage a Russian intervention would cause at this point. That would give the West the real war, the war they can win. The war with bombs. Then when the economy is in tatters it will be a simple matter to get rid of Putin. Oh they don’t have to harm Russia-proper. They don’t have to “win” the hot war. But any sufficiently lengthy military engagement will be costly and anathema to the economy (which is already teetering… at least according to RT).
What they can’t stop is Russia selling its oil in Roubles. What they can’t stop is more Sino-Russian, Indo-Russian, South American-Russian cooperation. What they can’t stop is the petrodollar collapse. It is imminent.
I’m not sure if this is what Putin wants, or is doing, but that is what I feel of the current situation. The bigger picture is the pillar of the empire, the US dollar.
I also feel that Igor Strelkov’s replacement may have to do with the need for an administrative state. A government. Not a military leader. I am sure military operations will continue to commence. Could it be that Novorossiya seeks a political solution to its fragmentary crisis? Strelkov could subordinate everyone, it is true. He led as a figurehead. Perhaps Novorossiya is seeking an institution instead.
Just some humble speculations.
Putin wants negotiation on His terms and federalization of Ukraine..He does not want Independent Novorussia-that will be politically very dangerous for his regime-a second “Russia” with popular leaders..Leaders who made themselves as such through Leadership of a popular uprising.(Geo)Politics my friends is the DIRTIEST game and to play it well one must be among the “DIRTIEST” And usually this includes the deaths and suffering of human beings..
And Putin is not a saint but a TOP (geo)politics player…
On Washington’s Blog today, Eric Zuess, award-winning American journalist announces he has quit the democratic party because Obama has installed a fascist regime in Ukraine:
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/08/quit-democratic-party-yesterday.html
Eric Zuesse
I draw the line at racist fascism, otherwise known as ‘nazism’ (lower-case ‘n,’ just as lower-case ‘f’ ‘fascism’ refers to any fascist party of any country, rather than to the Italian original, ‘Fascist Party’). (The German original nazi party was, of course the capital-’N’ ‘Nazi Party,’ the nazi party of Germany.) I left the Democratic Party yesterday, because I cannot support the first American President who ever installed anywhere in the world a nazi regime — it has never happened before, not even under a Republican President; and, until Obama, I had always assumed that if it ever would happen, it could come only under a Republican President, never under any Democratic one. But I was wrong — mortifyingly wrong — because Barack Obama did this in Ukraine (see here and here for the evidence); he is the first-ever U.S. President to install a nazi regime anywhere…
Nobody could call me biased against him, but he is the first-ever U.S. President to install a nazi government in any country, and he supports them in their vile ethnic-cleansing campaign to get rid of the ethnic Russians in the southeastern regions of Ukraine; and, so, he has crossed over a line into the ‘racist’ (actually ethnic-hating) far-right, nazism, that is so abhorrent to me so that I cannot remain a Democrat if no Democrat in the U.S. House introduces an impeachment resolution against Obama, a resolution that gives Democratic (not Republican) reasons for him to be removed from office…”
(this is quite long, please see original for remainder of text.)
Экстренный Телемост “отставка И.Стрелкова”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuSYUJ8I4ZI
“Emergency Teleconference Moscow-Donetsk dedicated to the resignation of the Minister of defence DND Igor strelkov. Paul Gubarev said resignation and tells some details.”
20 min interview so there has to be some new info, but no English subtitles.
вот так
http://deepresource.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/karel-van-wolferen-on-the-atlanticist-faith/
Landmark article about ‘the Atlanticist Faith’ of Europe’s elite by Dutch journalist Karel van Wolferen. Frontal attack agsinst neocons and stupidity of EU politician morons. Must read and endorsed by Paul Craig Roberts.
Kind regards,
Dutch
This is the theory that has me worried the most:
http://strategia-22.livejournal.com/40195.html
Saker, if you have a minute, could you comment? Many thanks in advance!
Also, on the subject of humour, this from Cassad is pretty hilarious (if you can read Russian :-)
http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/1732099.html
I’m wondering whether, sadly, Strelkov has been killed and this ‘retirement’ and relocation to other duties is a way of buying time and deferring the announcement of his death so as not to demoralise the anti-Kiev fighters.
As to Walker and Oliphant: here is a picture from yesterday afternoon. See the convoy in the background. Picture was shot by NYT’s Andrew Roth. The guy to the left is Walker, second from right is Oliphant. Courtney Weaver works for the Financial Times, and to the very right is BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, who came up yesterday with the lone white non-KAMAZ truck next to military vehicles “proving” that there’s something nefarious going on. That was a complete hoax and lie, of course. All four of them have been tweeting the whole afternoon and have their “gear” with them as seen in the photo. So the fact that they want us to rely on their word can only be answered with the old wisdom: Pics or it didn’t happen, Bros. ;o)
Re Nora said 14 August, 2014 19:00
Perhaps this will appear as stretching credulity.
Context: this blog is monitored by various intelligence, counter-intelligence and counter-counter intelligence services.
Most contributers to the blog live in the realms of the what – what to do or reacting to what is blogged.
To be in the what is to be in the opponents’ paradigm.
To be in the why is to start to control.
Disinformation is a form of information.
The nervous often fill the “silence” with chatter.
Silence is a useful mutiplier of doubt.
It wasn’t an accident that Graham Greene’s book was called
The Quiet American.
Perhaps this will help metamorphosise frusatration and its close friend impatience.
Anon Mongoose 00:33
Yes, there is a town called Donetsk in Russia close to the border. It is about 25 km west of the point where the aid convoy stopped and 50 km south east of Lugansk. It is about 160 km east of the besieged Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
nemchenk, why would the scenario described in that piece be a bad thing?
Bear in mind that Russia REALLY does not want Ukraine, does not want Donbass but does want a stable and prosperous neighbour.
The people in the region, on the whole, at least until recently, did not favour either independence or assimilation into the Russian Federation.
An end to the violence in the region is surely desired by almost all stakeholder groups.
Denazification of the current administration is surely to be welcomed.
The powers that be are a resource and should be used. Surely better for Rinat Akhmetov to be able to continue his business operations which provide the livelihood for most of the region.
This is not about perfection but rather it is about what is possible.
The Russians will continue to manage the decline of the dollar hegemony and that difficult and risky task is aided by a relatively stable Ukraine.
Of course I don’t know if I was reading some cellar dwelling teenager’s fantasy or whether what I was reading is what is going down and is intended to go down, but really, what would you, Nemchenk, or any other readers have against this scenario playing out?
Western spin and speculations: This may shed light on why the Russia aid convoy stopped 25Km? from the border.
BRICSPOST. August 14, 2014. (registered in England and Wales) all BRICS news
Red Cross to help Russian aid convoy into Ukraine
A day after Ukraine’s government said it would not permit the Russian humanitarian aid convoy to enter its territory, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it would hold talks in Kiev and Moscow to help Russian aid reach residents trapped by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, had said on Wednesday Ukraine would only accept humanitarian aid from the Red Cross.
A Reuters report quoted Anastasia Isyuk, an ICRC spokesperson on Thursday as saying a senior official will travel to Kiev and Moscow for talks.
Laurent Corbaz, head of ICRC Operations for Europe and Central Asia, who will leave Geneva today said “the delivery of aid should not be politicized”.
“The question of border crossing procedures and customs clearance (for the aid convoy) still have to be clarified between the two sides,” Isyuk said.
NOTE: the Reuters link in the article takes one to this headliner –
Under artillery fire, Ukraine rebels switch their leaders
(Reuters) – Two of the most senior rebels battling government troops in eastern Ukraine quit on Thursday, deepening the disarray in a pro-Moscow separatist movement that is being pushed back by an Ukrainian military offensive.
The resignations came on the same day that artillery shells landed for the first time since the conflict began in the centre of the eastern city of Donetsk, the separatists’ main stronghold.
The reverses suffered by the rebels could force a tactical rethink by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
[Yea, right! Putin is Dovish – he gave a conciliatory speech?]
There is nothing dovish in in this declaration
Putin Says The Petrodollar Must Die, “The Dollar Monopoly In Energy Trade Is Damaging Russia’s Economy”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-14/putin-says-petrodollar-must-die-dollar-monopoly-energy-trade-damaging-russias-econom
@ Yonatan 15 August, 2014 12:16
Thank you for the geo-position of Ru Donetsk. The Telegraph’s Oliphant is receiving a lot of 5 eyes – EU media sunshine. NATO and her puppets run with it. (who dominates NATO?)
Ignore the white phosphorous
@dusty – because the scenario described is basically what Strelkov’s move from Slavyansk to Donetsk prevented. I.e. a backroom deal amongst the Ukrainian (and Russian) oligarchs.
Like I said before – call me a hopeless romantic, but I had real hope for the -people’s- republics, and all the men and women who have sacrificed so much and achieved so much.
From a US/Russia geopolitical angle, it’s still ‘not a win’ for the US, ofc
Anonymous 11:55,
Your words are generally quite wise and they certainly were this time. I’m going to disagree with you mildly on one point, and then ask a question about another, bc I really would like to hear your response. First off, as regards trolls, hasbarat and the like: I swat them partly bc it’s so easy and kind of fun, but mostly to help newbies here understand what they’re doing and how slimily they’re doing it. Doesn’t take much time or effort: they think they’re slick and they’re oh-so-not; they just leak their own stuff all over the place.
But now for my question: I’m pretty sure I’ve got at least a rudimentary grasp of the why’s, and I’m not at all saying this facetiously, I swear it, even if it does come out at least semi-humorous, but what difference does it make if you simply spend your time trying to understand how things fit together and the likely motivation behind them, if that’s all you do? I *hate* feeling helpless but also deeply believe it’s my responsibility as a citizen, not just of my country but of the world, to try and right wrongs, set things straight, fight for my own self-determination and that of everyone else, etc. And understanding, obviously, is part of that, but doing is too. Maybe it’s no more than simply trying to be the world’s housekeeper (?), but it sure does need cleaning up right about now! ;~)
Carmel by the Sea,
Your comments yesterday were, all of them, Just. Simply. Superb. Wow, what wonderful reading! Thank you for each and every thing you quoted.
So, nemchenk, be sure what you want here!
YOU want people to die in their thousands, many in terrible ways.
YOU want the economy of the region to be destroyed such that it will not recover during our shared lifetimes.
YOU want the lives of MILLIONS of people to be destroyed such that they never regain their security and ability to live a normal life.
YOU want people to die of hunger and thirst, in pain and torment and worse yet to watch their families and friends suffer in the same way.
YOU want this civil war to continue indefinitely.
YOU don’t want a resolution to the conflict that recognises the stated interests of MOST of the participants.
And YOU want all those terrible things because YOU a person who has no connection with the issues or the people have a dream?
YOU my friend are a cruel, egotistic and heartless person.
The reality is that until the last few days the leadership of the rebellion has been exclusively Russian. The people dying have been almost exclusively Ukrainian and they fought for their own survival. How many of those Ukrainians would prefer to be right now with family and friends with a bonfire next to a lake or river doing some late summer fishing. But YOU prefer that they DIE!
@Charles Mondeley 08:48
Seems rather odd that you would cite the neocon’s pro-Harper disinfo parasite rag, aka: FoxNews North without qualifying their “subliminal” message. Maybe you have a valid point that was lost in your message or maybe it was/is something else altogether that is merely neohasbara spin. Let’s explore a bit, eh?
There are several “components” to this propaganda piece since it is contradictory to the long standing war vs the Sauds as well as the entire Middle East as well as OPEC as well as anyone that is not a rabid anti-Islam, Christian Zionist, Israeli Firster.
This organization is closely aligned with a group that calls themselves “Ethical Oil” that is a pro Tar Sands lobby group who’s stated intention is to wean the “West” off “conflict oil” in order to push Tar Sands bitumen, dilbit and Petcoke, which is the industrial waste from Tar Sands refinement. In addition to that Petcoke is being pushed into the energy stream as an alternative to coal. Not only is a way to capitalize of a waste by-product and unregulated, but it is rather inexpensive to convert coal fire plants to utilize it, once again without limitations or regulations. This is also intended to stifle coal producing regions in the US in order to further the illusion that fracking is a better alternative, which in turn requires “LNG” to at least triple on the consumer side to be economically viable.
These two organizations are really heavily funded by the Koch’s cabal as is the Harper Party itself. Their ultimate intent is to push for pipelines, especially the TransCanada Keystone XL that cuts directly through the US heartlands and the Enbridge Northern Gateway from the Tar Sands to Kitimat, British Columbia which would traverse Canada’s Boreal Forest.
In other words, they are only interested in exploring “fossil fuels” in order to keep the world reliant upon them. the obvious conclusion is that without the hegemony of the US Petro Dollar, they are no longer viable.
Below are just two of the key quotes in the article that is intended to get the neocon loyalists prepared for battle and on a war footing. This is an indication that their dear leader Harper has sent out his marching orders to his minions.
“Every hegemon in global history which has lost the preponderance of its currency has been doomed to inevitable decline and eventual collapse.”
“If Washington replies with timidity, America’s mantle of global leadership will diminish and Putin’s power will grow, this cannot be allowed to happen.”
It is very interesting to read some of the comments and what is more surprising that most of us we know well that these atrocities are organized by the very small group of scumbags.
Where are the rest of the 7 billion people? We can deal with these gangsters in no time, we just need to get a very good plan to execute this and cut the head of the main evil and everything will stop and we can start again to build a prosperous and peaceful world and stop the hatred to support these greedy bastards.
I know that there are some smart cookies who are already working on this and I’m very hopeful.
Peace and love to everyone
Nora said 15 August, 2014 15:33
Perhaps it is a form of mapping on your part, as well as a useful illustration.
Left with “silence” the uninitated tend to fill voids with their own expectations, prejudgements, prejudices etc.
The whys have many uses including designing/targetting/implementing the whats; the whats also including “silence” or perceived inaction.
If you take someone else’s vaccination they are not only not vaccinated against the first incursion, but infected by your incursion.
The uninitiated may prattle on the dangers of Bernays et al.
Or satisfy their ego at the expense of limiting opportunities of destroying their opponents.
Why do you assume I share the opinions of the piece I cited? I’m merely pointing out the fact that Putin has declared war on the dollar.
@dusty – and you, it would appear, want the same root causes that have plagued the Ukraine for 23 years to continue.
I am from Kiev. I was there when the Soviet Union collapsed. Do not presume to tell me that I am an armchair warrior with no stake here. I have school friends there, though sadly no family anymore.
Novorossia as Strelkov envisioned it was Ukraine’s best hope at a real future, at least in my opinion.
Nemchenk. YOU told us what YOU want. YOU told us that you had a ROMANTIC DREAM of people dying.
I commented upon YOUR words.
I have no idea who or what you are other than what you write here.
Go ask the people who have lost their homes what they want. People want to live a quiet life; they don’t want a fantasy dreamed of by somebody with no connection to them.
We don’t know whether you are a cellar dwelling teenager or a middle aged man with fond memories of times past. We all have dreams and aspirations, some more lofty than others.
Most people’s lives are completed by the addition of a spouse, kids and the ability to provide for them. Maybe not lofty enough for all – but that’s why we have people like Putin, Strelkov and even some of the rebel fighters. But the thing is that all those people are earnestly fighting for that which you’d deny most people in the Donbas!
dusty, go make your character assassinations somewhere else.
I’m done with you.
I find it funny that you Russian nationalists, no slouches when it comes to rank thuggery, speak openly of Novorussiya, the Russian Imperial name for much of Ukraine; and speak openly about Strelkov, who is not a Ukrainian, commanding the supposed “rebel” forces in Ukraine. You people are reactionary cheerleaders for empire and conquest, masquerading as anti-imperialists.