Dear friends,
This will be a somewhat chaotic post since I am going to mix international news, blog news and personal use. But first, I want to address something which deeply bothers me: the reaction of some to the recent prisoner exchange. Specifically, I want to address those who so vociferously opposed it and criticized the Kremlin for agreeing to it. So in my next paragraph I want to direct address those who were so upset by this.
First, a question: have you PERSONALLY experienced REAL/TOTAL despair in your own life?
Because if you have not, then you should disqualify yourself from any comments about this exchange since you have no idea about the nature of what is being discussed. Count your blessings and keep your self-righteous indignation to yourself and then maybe revisit it if/when you personally experience real despair for the first time.
And if you have ever personally felt like you are in the lowest pit of hell, then try to remember what it felt like and try to imagine what it is for Russian soldiers to be in the SBU dungeons subject not only to physical, but also mental torture. One of the first things most of these soldiers must have heard is this: “nobody knows you are here and we can do whatever we want to you” (as a former ICRC delegate, I know for a fact that this is one of the most horrible aspects of being “disappeared”). Yes, torture is horrible. But despair is even worse. So if Russia had not agreed to that exchange, what thought or hope could these Russian soldiers hold on to? Now if you are a typical “enlightened” modern positivist, please stop reading here and skip the next three paragraphs. But if you are religious, then please read on.
It is a fundamental tenet of Christianity that one soul is more precious than the universe. Remember the parable about the lost sheep? Did you notice that the pastor left his entire flock to go and find that ONE lost sheep. In other words, it was not a “rational” decision: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?“. Of course, the “enlightened” modern positivist would not go after 49 lost sheep if that meant leaving 51 of them alone. And, of course, exchanging X number of Nazis against Y number of Russian soldiers would not make sense to such a person.
May I also remind you, assuming you are religious, that the Bible says “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste“. Do you really believe that the Azov terrorist will escape from God’s justice? If so, then you don’t believe in God to begin with. And if you do believe in God, then ACT on this belief!
I wish that all those who signaled their “heroically principled” and “courageous tough” stance against this exchange had the possibility to speak with the Russian soldiers which were released and to their families to explain to them why it was wrong to exchange these soldiers for a gang of Nazi thugs.
One of you wrote “there is something very wrong here“. Yes, indeed there is. And that “something” is you. You are just too empty to realize it.
But we live in a society where concept of “good and evil” has been declared meaningless and very passé, so for the “enlightened” modern positivist, I want to offer another couple of arguments.
- Do you realize that the Nazis were much safer in Russian custody than freed (even while NATO fired their HIMARS at the detention facility they asked Russia to house the Azov thugs in!)? Yes, Russia did exchange them, but such exchanges also happened during the two Chechen wars. Do you know how many exchanged Chechens then went to enjoy a nice and cozy life? Zero. The Russians either killed or captured them all. Now, these Nazi thugs will live on the run and in fear for their lives for the rest of their sorry existence on earth.
- Do you realize that in Banderastan these Nazis who first recorded videos from Azovstal in Mariupol ridiculing those who chose captivity over freedom then chose captivity for themselves like the cowards that they all are? In other words, their reputation is roadkill and will not be fixed over time.
- Do you remember Nadezha Savchenko? That is the Nazi “hope of the Ukraine” who was taken prisoner by Russians for murdering two journalists. She was then released only to… …land in a Ukronazi jail accused of plotting a coup. What most of you do not realize what being in Russian captivity means for the Nazi thugs. It means they cannot ever be trusted again because nobody really knows what happened to them while in Russian captivity. Ask any intelligence professional and he/she will confirm that to you.
The bottom line is this: Putin did the *MORAL* thing in agreeing to this exchange and those who are now accusing him of all sort of evils (“he released Nazis to get Medvedchuk back!”) are not only amoral/immoral, they are also ignorant and fail to understand that Russia did NOT give these Nazis any type of acquittal. ALL these Nazis will now be on the Russian “kill or capture” list.
But those Russian soldiers who went through a hell I don’t wish on anybody will now be reunited with their families. No thanks to you. Thanks to Putin.
I was shocked and, frankly, disgusted by the comments denouncing that exchange, so I wanted to speak my mind and bluntly let you know how shameful I think these comments are. I said what I had to say and I won’t make any further efforts at convincing anybody.
***
Okay, next, a few blog news.
The blog is doing fantastically well. This is the top part of a alternative media chart created by Ron Unz: (source)
But it gets even crazier. This is the Saker blog’s current ranking according to https://hypestat.com/ (British communication company, not one suspected of being “covert Saker supporters” to put it mildly!
If we multiply 326.985*30.5 we get 9’973043 pages served each month. Just a hair under TEN MILLION!
Also notice that my categorical refusal to allow any ads on the blog “costs” me (opportunity costs really) over 1000 dollars PER DAY. This is the proof that, unlike so many others, I am not in it for the money, hence I only accept personal and 100% volunteer donations. I always laugh when I see others simply not understanding how the Saker blog could have survived for 17 years without EVER accepting a paid ad or article :-)
All that that in spite of all the angry predictions of COVID-dissidents and Putin-haters that this blog would lose all its readership due to my stance on these issues (if anything, it is THEIR blogs which are stuck in utter irrelevance, not even ranked anywhere!).
Guess what? Over time staying honest no matter what is much more effective than trying to capitalize on the doxa of the day. But those without integrity will never be able to understand that, hence their cascading failures.
All that in spite of the hit-pieces published against the blog and me personally by small, irrelevant blogs who try to gain some visibility by barking up the Saker blog.
But there is even more good news!
There are now OVER ONE THOUSAND commentators signed up to comment on the blog. And that is after our webmaster Herb purged the few trolls and spammers who tried to sign up. A huge “thank you!!!” to all of you for your patience and for taking the time to sign up!
Even better, the number of intercepted comments has fallen dramatically! Okay, truth be told, there are still a few tolls (AIs or simple idiots) who still try and sometimes succeed in posting some insipid idiocy, but that problem will also be solved in the near future (just be a little more patient please!).
I can just about imagine how frustrated and furious all those who wrote me angry narcissistic “letters of divorce” must feel now that they realize that their “indispensable selves” are missed by exactly *nobody* :-)
In other words, the blog is doing better than it ever did and better than anything I would ever have dared to even imagine. And all of that is thanks to you – the readers. Thank you so much!!!
Lastly,
After a relatively calm hurricane season, it looks like Florida will be hit by a truly extremely dangerous hurricane this week (for details please see here: https://youtu.be/0idXHMu-8N0 and here: https://youtu.be/04E7HD2cr-w). I am personally lucky since I leave in East-Central Florida a few miles off the Atlantic Coast (but still in the 5 day probability cone). For us the biggest risk is flash flooding (we had a very wet summer) from the rain, but we should not get any storm surge and our winds will probably be either tropical storm force or CAT1 hurricane. But the rest of the Florida Peninsula will be through into chaos with mass evacuations, power outages all over the state (Florida’s power infrastructure is totally Third World, it is beyond pathetic, really), communications down, including Internet, phone, etc. For me personally this means two things: I need make preparations for the storm and I might get disconnected.
I will do my best to work on the blog as much as I can and for as long as I can.
But if you don’t hear from me for a few days, I ask for your understanding: there is a lot I need to take care of right now. And I consider myself very lucky as the worst hit area will be the Saint-Pete-Tampa-Clearwater area where, in theory, they could get a CAT4 storm about 50 miles to their West, with a Ian slowing down its forward motion down to a crawl and pumping energy of the Gulf of Mexico and unleashing its fury against the coastline for many many hours! Please keep all the people in this area in your prayers, this is really an extremely bad situation for them!
Okay, that all from me right now. I will try to keep you posted about the events in the Ukraine and elsewhere as soon as I have a window of time to do so.
Hugs and cheers to all,
Andrei
Hi Andrei
Wish me luck, I live in Florida west coast (south of Sarasota)
I hope to be ok, also have done my preparations, like having a nice dual fuel generator ready (tested it today with a propane tank, started like a champ)
And thanks for taking time to write today!
Please be SUPER careful. Think of a 10 foot storm surge and 100+ mph winds.
I just came back from Seminole yesterday evening, and most gas stations northbound were empty.
We u-turned, found gas in a southbound station and then resumed our trip back north.
So please prepare for a total zoo, with no power, food and good shortages, etc. etc. etc.
And, frankly, unless you are sure you are safe, get out of Dodge as fast as you can.
Good luck and God bless!
Andrei
PS: an Mahavishnu is a great band indeed :-)
Wishing you and Larry C. Johnson (living in Tampa, Florida) the best with getting safely through the upcoming hurricane. During the present partial mobilisation the Russian army principally refrains from using the internet and resorts to using to do everything by means of paperwork. Perhaps you can send your messages from the Atlantic coast in a bottle…
Sabe Andrei, obtive informação sobre seu blog há pouco mais de uma ano e, digo, sem nenhum centímetro de dúvida, que maravilhosa descoberta. Tento ler todos os artigos postados e minha grande tristeza é que, algumas vezes, perco algum por absoluta falta de tempo. Outra coisa: lembro que quando li no blog sobre o Saker e também os valores, percebi sua indiscutível singularidade, já que, me parece, você, além de escrever com rara habilidade e, também, promover excelentes pessoas a postarem aqui, professa seus valores do coração, sem hipocrisias. Vou para por aqui com os elogios para não parecer um “fanático idólatra”.
Para finalizar, sou um cristão, não ortodoxo diria, mas, assíduo leitor da santa palavra de Deus e, com relação à primeira parte de seu posta de hoje, só tenho a dizer que suas palavras evidenciam a existência do amor de Deus em seu coração. Fraternas saudações.
——-
Machine translation:
You know Andrei, I got information about your blog a little over a year ago and, I say, without an inch of doubt, what a wonderful discovery. I try to read all the articles posted and my great sadness is that, sometimes, I lose some for absolute lack of time. Another thing: I remember that when I read on the blog about Saker and also the values, I noticed your indisputable uniqueness, since, it seems to me, you, in addition to writing with rare skill and also promoting excellent people to post here, profess your values from the heart, without hypocrisy. I’ll stop here with the compliments so I don’t look like an “idolatrous fanatic”.
To conclude, I am a Christian, not orthodox I would say, but I am an assiduous reader of the holy word of God and, regarding the first part of your post today, I can only say that your words show the existence of God’s love in your heart. . Fraternal greetings.
I like that comment…” staying honest ”.. and because you are in Florida under harm’s way of weather “stay dry” and God bless you and family.
Thanks for sharing your logic on the prisoner exchange. It makes great sense, and convinced me. I did not know about a post-SMO/war ‘Kill or capture’ list; makes sense.
And, congratulations on the great success of your blog!
Somehow living for 10 years in Florida we missed all the big storms. My brother is on the left coast now and I hope he’s ok but he stopped talking to me when I we moved to Russia.
So, here’s hoping the storm intensity is less than predicted and it passes by quickly.
I have been living in FL since 2002. We weathered all of the following: Charley(eyewall), Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma, Irma.
I have learned the hard way to take every hurricane very very VERY seriously each time.
And
did you know that during hurricanes which come over the peninsula’s land generated MANY tornadoes which cannot be seen on a Doppler radar.
yeah, scary stuff.
Mother nature can still kick our collective asses :-)
Got a cousin in New Port Richey in Gulf Harbors NW of Tampa. On the Gulf. She’s banded together with close by neighbors, all with generators, fuel and plenty of guns should anyone get stupid. Plus, we have very serious police in Pasco County. Oh. This is my winter home November through April. Sorry I missed this one.
Pasco County, home to Al Capone for a little while out by Land O Lakes. I lived around Florida for nearly a decade, over the course of three decades, and when younger would heartily recommend taking refuge in the nearest Ski-ball City or, if in Tampa, Skipper’s Smoke House. Good luck to your cousin in NPR and to all in Fl. Keep it between the ditches as the truckers say.
Yes, Florida cops are, on the whole, our blessing.
And the fact that the governor and the state FULLY back them is hard to overstate.
A New Orleans like situation is highly unlikely in FL, with the exception of some very localized areas.
Compared to the rest of the USA, Florida is truly a heaven of sanity :-)
Nah, Andrei, my cousin bailed out to Homasassa up north. She wanted off of the canal as they’re calling 15 foot surges, which will inundate the yard to the base of the house. Said she couldn’t bear to watch. Her having canceled the flood insurance this very term first time in 10 years I can’t say I blame her.
Hi Andrei,
I really appreciate your comments about the prisoner exchange. I realized that it was the right thing to do when you first mentioned them. It never occurred to me when I read about them that this was not a Russian acquittal and that their names will not be forgotten. Even if they are not caught and punished no one gets away with anything in the long run although some people like Hillary seem to.
Some of the Azov people may have been people who got caught up in the anti-Russian propaganda (not trying to make an excuse for them) and having been in Russian captivity have come to realize that the Russians are not the evil monsters that there were made out to be.
I really look forward to reading yours and the brilliant commentator’s posts. Please stay safe during the hurricane.
Best Regards,
Bill Osborne
We hold every confidence that President Putin has made the right decision with the exchanges.
Right now, it feels like the World is hanging by a thread and that “thread” is President Putin and his government.
Currently, the Western World (and Africa, Latin America, parts of the Middle East, ETC) is in turmoil, primarily thanks to the US Financial/TheFED/and the UK/EU central banks. People in Western Europe are receiving astronomical energy cost bills. Ditto in the UK.
The central instigator behind all this is the US FED/The Financial/Military Hegemon that is using Russia to destroy the UK/EU public institutions, industries and millions of small businesses. They’ve pretty much destroyed US society by forcing them into debt slavery: 15 Trillion $$s now. Currently they’re after the UK/EU making those societies “fair game” for the Financial profiteers in the US/UK/EU. If the US Financial Hegemon wins, you can kiss off thousands of years of Western Society.
And there stands President Putin, Lavrov/ Chinese Leaders and so many distinguished and very courageous leaders.
But right now, Andrei you and thousands of others need to find ways to survive the hurricane/tornadoes, and immense amounts of water. We pray mightily for your safety, as well as all the others who are in the same predicament whether they be Christians, Muslims or Atheists. God loves all of us, but he sometimes allows immensely trying times.
Best wishes to all of you.
Andrei, I found your analogy touching.
I (and my wife) sang a song for our children to put them to sleep, every night.
The song is about the lamb that gets lost but the shepherd goes to bring it back.
(In Dutch, “Een lammetje ging dwalen” ‘A little lamb went awandering …’ )
Even when they were teen-agers, they sometimes asked us to sing it when life dealt a blow.
” I always laugh when I see others simply not understanding how the Saker blog could have survived for 17 years without EVER accepting a paid ad or article :-) ”
I don’t remember when was the first time I came to this page, I’m sure it was less than 5 years ago.
Today it’s a must read for me, and it’s the first page I check when I start the move to the office.
And yes, I have some frustration when I don’t find something new.
Thanks Andrei, greetings from Mexico City
Curious how those complaining about the prisoner exchange have so quickly forgotten about the horrendous videos of Ukronazi thugs torturing and murdering Russian/Donbass militia prisoners and then boasting about their heroism. For sure those scumbag perpetrators will be on the ‘kill’ list where they belong.
And then one of the captured Brits who were exchanged has the nerve to whine about how they were treated ‘worse than dogs’. Well sir, at least you’ve still got both your legs. And your life. You should be down on your knees thanking messrs. Putin, Lavrov and Shoigu for their kindness and mercy.
Andrei,
This site has so much better improved me. And unexpectedly my favorite place to be encouraged in these easily discouraging times. The ninety nine were safe, but one was lost, so the shepherd leaves the ninety nine to rescue the lone lost one. It’s a great analogy priceless it is truly the manner of God and as it should be ours as well.
God bless and may you receive favor from both God and man.
Well Andrei I live in N.E, Florida and I will be praying for the people on the west coast, they are in for a bad time.
Vladimir Putin supports his troops through good times and bad.
That is more than I can say for successive US administrations.
As an aside, the price of crude oil is coming down.
https://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/RB_/
Vladimir Putin supports his troops through good times and bad.
YES!
and that is also true for his friends and collaborators.
and yes, sometimes he is way too lenient with guys who deserve hard jail time, but that also gives Putin the reputation of a loyal/friend/ally and even accomplice :-)
Compare that with Trump who back-stabbed Gen. Michael Flynn in one month and Steve Bannon later.
Personally, I have no use for either Flynn or Bannon, BUT these were the most loyal and capable allies and friends of Trump. He sold them out for… … nothing.
I much rather have a friend or ally like Putin than like Trump/Brandon
Russiagate forgotten? Flynn had clear policies that drove Britain insane.
Bannon revealed his true loyalties later – he occupies an Abby .
Dignitatis Humanae Institute, founded in 2011 by British subject Benjamin Harnwell.
http://www.dignitatishumanae.com/index.php/home/
Actually has an abbey at his disposal, Trisulti.
Talk about European Oligarchy!!!
Again Saker’ is a port in the Storm’ and clearly the best blog on all things Russian in the US {and I thought Florida only had old people and druggies :} }
my thot on the prisoner exchange matches the Saker’s , I would add I was depressed the foreign mercenarys were released {was hoping to see them hanged} we were promised mercenarys wouldnt have pow status protections , but would be tried as war criminals.
Congrats on the Stats …. Iv’e been a follower 10 yrs ,
Thanks for being Human and serving humanity {It is better to give ……………}
God is our guide, Amen. Prayers sent; May you continue to do the Great Work, I trust you and family will continue to be well. Deep Gratitude for this post.
The value of human life is expressed similarly in the Torah and Qur’an which should come as no surprise. Humans are after all created in God’s image. Killing one person is the same as destroying an entire world. Likewise the nature of events is not always easy to see. Things that may seem like the worst thing in the world at the time can turn out to be good. God is good, beneficent and merciful. Everything that happens is ultimately part of God’s plan and is for the good. These things can be very difficult for us finite humans to comprehend, but God is infinite.
I definitely hear you on the hurricane prep. I’m too exhausted from my own prep to find and post quotes from the Torah and Qur’an. I’ll be praying for you and your family.
As a long-time reader and sometimes commentator on this site, I thank you for cleaning up the comments section here. This means that not only the articles published but also the published comments are well worth reading.
If I may make a comparison, another of my favorite blogs is Moon of Alabama. There the host’s posts are still well worth reading, but due to his refusal/inability to control the comments, they (the comments) have deteriorated to the point that it is now difficult to read them without turning away.
One quick point about the prisoner exchange: Not only was this the humanitarian thing to do, but also extremely smart. Those who had been sentenced to death had been sentenced under the laws of the Donetsk Republic. As a lawyer and careful legalist, Putin knew that after this week the legal framework of the Donetsk Republic would no longer exist. So he got in first, something he has shown himself rather adept in doing.
Regarding the prisoner exchange, I must agree with Andrei — it was the right thing to do and needed to be done. But I would be dishonest if I said that there were no mixed feelings involved. It had been said that any of the Azov filth and their foreign mercenary accomplices who escaped liquidation in Mariupol would be facing war crimes tribunals, and that the best they could hope for was a very long prison sentence. Of course I feel anger and disappointment in now seeing those vermin being set free — but that anger and disappointment is not as large as the joy and relief I feel for the Russian and LDNR prisoners and their families who have been granted a miraculous escape from the pit of despair.
Complete victories of good over evil and choices that are 100 percent right or wrong are features of fairy tales and comic books, but real life is much more complicated and nuanced. Especially in the case of something as chaotic and brutal as war, absolute devotion to some kind of pure idealism is not possible, nor is it necessarily desirable. Few things in life can be gained without a corresponding sacrifice, loss, or compromise — almost everything is a tradeoff. There are always difficult choices that must be made in which you are forced to accept something unpalatable for the sake of something that advances the greater good. Sometimes it’s ugly and feels rotten, but such is reality.
One thing that I have consistently admired about Putin and his administration is how they think and act with strategic clarity. It appears that in any given situation, they make a very frank, dispassionate assessment of their position and do not confuse that which is desirable with that which is feasible. As a result, Russia tends not to overextend herself and take rash, ill-considered actions that end up undermining her own objectives (contrast that with the West and its “leadership”). I think that the recent prisoner exchange is but the latest example — in facing a difficult, imperfect situation, a cold, calculated decision was made to take the action resulting in what was judged to be the greatest net benefit. People are free to disagree with the strategic or even the ethical/moral correctness of the decision — but to rant hysterically about how it means that Putin is weak or a sellout or traitor, etc., is abject nonsense. And, as Andrei pointed out, if you put yourself in the shoes of the Russian/LDNR prisoners and their families, there would be no ambiguity about whether or not the correct decision was made.
Well put about the prisoner exchange.
Agree. Well said, short and simple. There are details involved that we can’t imagine. And Putin’s bottom line rested on the substance of the prisoner exchange. Not on the appearance. So, their fate is inevitable:
“They won’t get far…”
I also endorse the Saker’s position on the prisoner exchange. Every Russian combatant is a precious hero and his return to family and community will be a blessing.
“But we live in a society were concept of “good and evil” has been declared meaningless and very passé,”
So sad and so true.
What can we do? The west has really lost it’s soul.
Do people in the west believe in the soul? No.
Do people here believe in God? No
We are lost. So lost.
And then we have this other “thing”. The “pandemic”. The few of us that trusted in God and the holy creation seems to still be healthy without even a cold.
And people around me who believed in “science” are getting sick and are slowly dying with miserable lifes.
Strokes, cancers…
I see a comment which mention generators… Yes! I bought a generator years ago :).
Well said about the prisoner exchange. I initially wondered why Russia did it but very quickly came to the conclusion that the Ukrainian/Azov prisoners, having been shelled by their own side, would not see the Ukrainian government kindly and are therefore potentially useful for sowing dissent.
And, as was so well stated in the article, they would be seen as potentially ‘re-oriented’ towards Russia by the Ukrainians – so again – useful in sowing dissent.
Thank you for the commentator set-up – I see the comments section is much cleaner.
Regarding the prisoner exchange – it was an excellent decision! Regardless whether one is religious or not, it was a smart, even pragmatic decision because Russian soldiers will be more willing to fight for a government that has their backs. They will fight for their country knowing that their leader will do everything he can to protect them, and to fight for their release if captured.
Unlike U.S. soldiers who know that they will be forgotten after the war. They won’t be taken care of if sick and injured, with mental and financial problems; just look at the number of veteran suicides and the long long wait for medical care from the VA.
I don’t know about being a modern positivist but I do consider myself, and try to behave like, a decent human being. I have commented far less on the SMO articles because to put it quite simply I do not know what the Russian Security Council, advisors or General Staff’s plans are. I am here to read information and be informed rather than be heard myself. Along with the moral and Scripture based arguments offered by The Saker we also do not know the full details of any agreement that was reached.
My grandmother always told me, “In a subject of which you are not knowledgeable it is far more important to listen then consider before you speak and be considered yourself. As it is better to be considered patient and prudent than a raucous, impatient fool.” Words I have found to be one of the better gifts she has given me.
Thank you Saker for addressing this subject. It’s one that was seeing me eventually stopping to read comments where personal judgements were replacing informed and knowledgeable discussions. If I want talking points or an echo chamber I can get that on a range of other blogs or even MSM where I can up and down vote comments for that little positive neuro chemical flush.
Kind regards.
Some videos for today.
Donbass republics, Zhaporozhye and Kherson Regions enter 4th day of voting (the referendums have already reached the required minimum turnout of 50% in all four regions, despite the threat of Kiev regime shelling and SBU terrorist attacks):
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/vote_donbass_26:9
Tons of mobilized troops marching off for additional training (the clock is ticking down fast on Washington’s Kiev puppet dictatorship):
https://www.bitchute.com/video/q4boGcAL4Gbq/
Russian reservists get hero’s sendoff:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/3s9U9UFsNI1H/
Russian self-propelled artillery systems pound enemy positions:
https://rutube.ru/video/8883615939b8dd4a82eb546e4ad56424/
Russian VDV troops destroy Kiev regime column near Kherson:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/PuYeWPLJtYJs/
Tor missile system shields Russian troops from air attacks:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/TORm2:e
Russian choppers destroy Kiev regime military targets:
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/CHOPPERS:f
‘Open Nord Stream 2!’ Thousands rally in Germany amid energy crisis (opposition is growing in Germany to the West’s mindless, anti-Russia sanctions war, which is only succeeding in sinking Germany’s economy):
https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/LUBMIN-PROTEST_1:7
You have nailed it. If you have faced utter despair, either financially, emotionally, or physically, then that which keeps you going is “love.you” People matter, not things. One of the best books I have ever read is Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl. It’s a small book, about what he saw gave purpose to the lives of those in the Nazi death camps in WWII.
“The truth–that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire…In a position of utter desolation, when man cannot express himself in positive action, when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way–an honorable way–in such a position man can, through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved, achieve fulfillment.”
I think those words are appropo in this situation, for love offers hope for a better tomorrow for those who have yet to be exchanged.
Oops. That which keeps you going is love.
One should also keep in mind the value of a blog is not only about how many people read a blog, but also about who reads it. Considering the content, I’m sure there are quite a few “high level” people reading this blog here. I surmise the CIA, NSA, KGB, MOSAD, MI6 and every other spook organization have it under their radar. With such a readership, a blog like this is an even greater platform to get a message out. Everybody important is listening I’m sure.
Cheers, keep up the great work you’re doing. It is much appreciated.
Outstanding. Don’t get “bought and paid for”, and become a pawn.
If every reader sends you only $10/month, you got the same dough, and you get to keep the freedom.
You got to be ready to leave the area on short notice, man, that shit is serious.
As for nazis, well no argument, one Russian life is worth more than all nazis, past, present, and future.
Their miserable excuse of existence is headed one way only, Satan’s pits.
My stomach turns every day as I say a little prayer for Julian Assange, locked up in Belmarsh Prison, South-East London, and even though he’s been charged with nought, he’s being interrogated by the MI6 Nazis.
If someone could get him out in a prisoner swap, like say for 100 Nazis/Assorted NATO scum, then it would be one less thing eating away at me every day.
100 + Nazis are being killed every day and so the Allied forces can work overtime and kill 200.
The very thought of Russian/Allied POWs at the mercy of American trained Nazis given carte blanche, who operate outside so-called civilized conventions, who are proven war criminals, would be a jail sentence for many Russian families.
@Andrei
Interesting argument. Difficult to disagree about the morale side of the exchange. All is true … But what do you think about destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in this NATO war against Russia on the (still) Ukrainian territory as the means to save lives of the Russian soldiers & might be, even of the Ukrainian civilians by the total dead count in the end?
btw re. your criteria of the right of judge – I feel that my personal experience with where the limits of human decency in critical situations may or may not extend, does permit me to have no undue illusions – according to your stated criteria :)
Great article. Congrats on the web stats. God Bless.
Thanks for explaining the prisoner exchange. I came to the same conclusion: Ukraine already tried to kill them, so Ukrainian intentions about their careers is clear. Their testimonies have been recorded, they are no longer useful to Russia, and if Russia were to execute them, West would made them into martyrs. Russia washed her hands of dirty job, demons will be punished anyway and as bonus Russia got some valuable lives back.
Many Ukrainian non-Nazi POWs requested not to be returned, so Russians probably just asked who wants to go home and the hundred or so non-Azov soldiers must been volunteers. The soldiers who did not commit crimes have no value for Russian prosecution so the number of these does not matter and there is little chance any of them returning to battlefield/
Your comment on the prisoner exchange is spot on! Z was necessary and forced upon the Russians-they had no choice. There are only three good phrases associated with any war…. cease fire, prisoner exchange and cessation of hostilities. Peace to the Slavs.
Z
The negotiations for this prisoner exchange too 3-3.5 months.
That means that Russia tried all these months to get a better deal.
One can imagine what insulting demands the Ukros started with, if it took so long and difficult negotiation to even get this deal.
How many months more do the persons that criticize it think they should have kept on negotiating?
You hit the nail on the head with the word integrity, although using it as an antipode. It’s why I check to see what’s on this blog daily. I suppose there must be tremendous desire to proliferate a meaningless relativism as the base ingredient for psychological manipulation in order to prevent any opposition to the outrageous and degrading political circus we are subjected to in the US. A lack of integrity drives people mad, because it deprives us of any greater meaning in life beyond base desires, which in turn manifests the ruling elites low opinions of the public, in common actions of average people. Integrity is a very large missing piece from the current mode of dystopian American life. Thanks and stay safe in the upcoming weather.
Assalaamu alaykum w w. I am surprised that people object to the prisoner exchange. The quality of Russian soldiers are obviously higher so therefore the exchange rate. And you of course love you own soldiers more than you hate the enemies (if you are a good person).
People should have learned to trust the Russian president by now… (may God’s peace and blessings be upon him).
https://readovka.news/news/112770
“The ambassador of the LPR to Russia, Rodion Mirochnik, said that “our guys were torn out of hell, and this is the main thing.”
I was wondering about the expression, but it captures @Saker’s perfectly!
Spare a thought for the poor devils at NASA KSC – after 2 or 3 aborted launches of moon-shot Atemis SLS they had to roll back to that huge (hurricane-proof) building.
Now if NASA simply dropped its climate virtue-signaling it might not incur the wrath of Gd?
The rumors of public executions of convicted Azov terrorists are now settled – The RF does not allow the death penalty.
Good that this was delayed until the Donbass Referenda.
Sir, I hope that the next few days find you safe and that you can continue the fine work here.
I read alot of the articles here and find that this site has many intelligent commentators that have taught me to look for the answers in many different places. This site is my favorite. I used to read the items at Counterpunch but to me they have fallen down in substance.
I also find it interesting that Saudi Arabia is at the top of readership here. To me, that is surprising and I don’t know if anyone else feels that way. Please keep up the good work.
thank you
All 3 NordStream pipelines suffered simultaneously sharp pressure drops, even though they are filled with “technical gas”.
Spiegel goes so far to suspect sabotage with some kind of a sub on the sea-floor.
https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/druckabfall-in-beiden-leitungen-gemeldet-nord-stream-pipelines-moglicherweise-durch-anschlage-beschadigt-8687140.html
Does anyone know how Andrei is doing? Are all communications blocked because of Hurricane Ian?
Our European friend wrote about the massive break of North Steam 2:
“Breaking: Yesterday North Stream 2, the Russian gas pipeline still
working to funnel gas to Western Europe, has been sabotaged in Swedish
and Danish sea waters. There’s the US paw in there. This sabotage means
no more Russian gas arriving to Europe. Perhaps a total interruption of
Russian gas supplies is imminent. Gas flow pressure towards Germany is
in free fall. The leakage is fatal.
This is something big. The mainstream outside Germany ignores it, but
the pipeline might have been destroyed. If so, that’s an additional
major catastrophe for Germany and Europe. High chances are the US is
involved in it. The Germans now speak openly of sabotage. Given that
Putin can’t be the culprit – they will accuse him also of that crime,
but clearly, a gas seller can’t be so stupid as to destroy his own
infrastructures – who’s to blame for the attack?”
Keep on the excellent work.
The quality of your site is the main cause for its success.
Congratulations SAKER. MAy you continue to climb the roster and scare the BeJesus left wing rags like Mother Jones, and more importantly, pseudo-conservative pretenders like National Review and NewsMAx.
BE careful of that hurricane. I’m sure after the news media buried globalwarmingist predictions about a RECORD Hurricane season this past SUMMER, that they’ll maximize climate change as the reason for this one.
Did I see Greta Thunberg swiimming in the Baltic sea or is it just me?
.
@UnderSecStateP
Victoria Nuland: “If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.”
https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1486818088016355336