What a joke!
According to RT, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has just announced that:
“Alliance officials would put “the entire range of NATO-Russia cooperation under review.” He stated that NATO has decided to “take a number of immediate steps” because “Russia continues to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its own international commitments.” “We have also decided that no staff-level civilian or military meetings with Russia will take place for now,” Rasmussen added. Russia and NATO had been discussing a possible joint mission to protect a US ship that will destroy Syria’s deadliest chemical weapons. However, that plan has been suspended as one of the “immediate steps.” “We have suspended the planning for our first NATO-Russia joint mission. The maritime escort for the US ship Cape Ray, which will neutralize Syria’s chemical weapons. Let me stress, this will not affect the destruction of chemical weapons, but Russia will not be involved in the escort of the US vessel,” Rasmussen said. Nevertheless, NATO is willing to “keep the door open for political dialogue. So we are ready to maintain meetings of ambassadors in the NATO-Russia Council, as we have done today,” Rasmussen said.
In contrast, he declared that:
“NATO has decided to “intensify our partnership” and “strengthen our cooperation” with Ukraine in order to “support democratic reforms.” “We will step up our engagement with the Ukrainian civilian and military leadership. We will strengthen our efforts to build the capacity of the Ukrainian military, including with more joint training and exercises. And we will do more to include Ukraine in our multinational projects to develop capabilities,” Rasmussen clarified. The way NATO sees it, cooperation between the alliance and Ukraine will “complement the international efforts to support the people of Ukraine” while they are forming their future. “Tomorrow, I will meet the prime minister of Ukraine to make clear NATO’s support,” he stressed”.
This begs two basic question:
a) Does Rasmussen really think that Russia will care about any of that?
b) Does Rasmussen know that there is no Ukrainian military to speak of?
The reply to question one is yes, Russia will care about that. But not in the way Mr Rasmussen seems to think. Russia couldn’t care less about the canceled activities any more than Putin cares about the G8, but the message this does send Russia is “We are NATO, we hate you, and we will use each and every opportunity to side against you even if that means giving our support to Satan himself!“. And if anybody might be tempted to say that I am exaggerating, let me remind you that NATO countries did support the Chechen Wahabis in Chechnia and that they are still supporting the liver-eating reptiles in Syria. I don’t know if the rumor that NATO and the Ukies are negotiating a deal to deploy NATO anti-missile missiles in the Ukraine is true, I doubt it, but I suspect that NATO is dumb enough to deploy some kind of forces in the rump Ukraine just to further provoke Moscow. Basically, NATO is doing everything conceivable to provoke, anger and threaten Russia. The question is why does everybody in Europe accept that in peaceful silence?
As for question number two, I am sure that Rasmussen must know the real state of affairs of the Ukrainian military: antiquated rusted hardware (only 4 aircraft at the Belbek military airbase were in condition to take off). And that is assuming that somebody had the needed fuel and a sufficient number of flight-hours to even get to fly them. The Ukie navy? Their subs are held by chains on the pier to prevent them from sinking. As for the ground forces, one expert estimated that roughly 500 men – all in the Airmobile forces – had received a decent basic training. That’s it. The rest of the Ukrainian military is basically a huge labor camp which is phenomenally corrupt and does everything but train for war. And it’s not even their fault – there are plenty of good officers and soldiers in the Ukrainian army. It’s 20 years of total neglect which will do that to any military. So what is Rasmussen talking about when he speaks of engaging and training with the Ukie military? Building it up from scratch? Ok, he can do that. NATO has already done that in the past. In Latvia. See for yourself:
The following is a hilarious video made by some Russian in Latvia who report about a military parade in Latvia. The speaker uses language similar to what one can hear during the yearly Victory Parade in Moscow. It is fantastically funny, but even if you don’t understand – just look what the NATO-created “invincible Latvian military” looks like today:
Honestly, and no offense to the Latvian people, seen from Russia this kind of parade looks like a kindergarten graduation ceremony, especially with the participation of a few “NATO allies”.
I also remember similar parades in Georgia, when Saakashvili was spending an obscene amount of money on NATO gear and uniforms to create his equally “invincible army”. And we all remember what happened in 08.08.08…
NATO has, shall we say, a less than stellar record in building up the military of their “partners” or even full members. Frankly, NATO itself is pretty much a “one mission organization”: the mission to provide the US military with a tiny figleaf with the words “our allies” and “our European allies” or even “the international community” written on it.
So how does Mr Rasmussen come across to the folks in the Kremlin? I will tell you, as a harmless but nasty jerk who makes empty threats but hates Russia nonetheless. The Russians will be disgusted, but otherwise unimpressed.
But nobody will ever tell Mr Rasmussen, alas.
The Saker
Interesting the fact the soldier was not saluted by the leader.
Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaidachny carries NATO’s intelligence equipment — source
World
March 05, 18:45
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/722267
Likely right sector types will make up the coup regime’s military and police. With the Ukraine nazis, the west has a ready pool of “enforcers” with the “correct” sought after attitudes. It’s the way they do things in Latin America, death squads in the zionazi/western colonies there are military/police special services, and have consistently done in the colonies in the past. In fact, the military special services in NATO countries (SAS, SEALS, etc.) are essentially “high end” death squads.
The right sector types wont present much of a military challenge to any real military, but that wont be their purpose as Ukraine’s military establishment. They are to keep the local population subdued. In other words, the usual local colonial auxiliaries run by a few of the “master’s” own military and backed up by the same. These forces fold quickly when confronted by real militaries, as the Americans did in the Philippines and the British did in Malasia during WW2. And more recently when the Israeli-American run Georgian forces literally collapsed within hours of being faced with Russian forces.
вот так
I don’t know where to post this but I thought it was important:
Jewish MP in Ukraine Caught with Sniper Rifle in Trunk
First videoproof of Maidan snipers killing their own people
See also:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/ukraine-snipers-kiev-hotel-makeshift-morgue
Borisy, 22, a rightwing nationalist activist, also claimed there were snipers in the area of the hotel. Three middle-aged Svoboda party officials armed with pistols prowled the stairs and the upper floors of the hotel looking for police snipers. Borisy said his colleagues had found five empty crates of Kalashnikov bullets, 870 in each one. He offered a lid from one of the boxes as evidence.
http://www.ibtimes.com/euromaidan-kievs-hotel-ukraine-becomes-makeshift-morgue-hospital-video-photos-1556971
Photos from the lobby of the Hotel Ukraine show dead bodies being carried out of the hotel and some of the dead lined up with sheets covering them. In others, medical staff and volunteers tend to the injured who were rushed into the hotel. Some journalists reported protesters were carrying guns and checking their rooms to see if there were government snipers. There were also reports that journalists’ hotel rooms were hit by bullets.
This confirms what can be seen in the video, that the snipers were in the hotel, where the guy making the video was as well. People were looking in the hotel for the snipers, which was in fact controlled by the opposition.
It’s possible that the middle-aged Svoboda party officials walking around with guns in the hotel may have actually been responsible and merely claimed to be looking for police snipers as an alibi.
What are the chances we wake up tomorrow and the whole of the Ukraine is secured under Russian arms? At every step, Putin has not only called the Washington regime’s bets, he has raised as well. These threats of NATO hardware and “military advisers” seem a pretty big bet on NATO’s part, is there a chance Putin could respond in such a robustly asymmetrical manner as to literally preempt the possibility of NATO carrying out its threat or would that be political, if not military, suicide for Putin?
Wasn’t the Hetman Sahaidachny the flagship that went over to be with Russia?
This is a very good 44 minute video. I have included notes but video should be listened to directly.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/imperial-conquest-americas-long-war-against-humanity-2/5372011
Imperial Conquest: America’s Long War against Humanity
Rosa Luxemburg Conference, Berlin, January 11, 2014
By Canadian Professor Michel Chossudovsky
0:44-4:08 – on global warfare, a project of US since WWI, strategy to encourage allies & enemies to fight to weaken both, concept of the Long War, war crimes by US to target civilians, massive casualty producing events
4:09-8:47 – on Syria, terrorist organizations controlled & financed by CIA, help from Saudi Arabia & Qatar, foot soldiers for western military, kill civilians and blame Assad government, Syria, Iraq & Libya death squads are constructs of western intelligence, since 2001 even the anti-war movement against war but supports war on terrorism because of responsibility to protect, disinformation from progressives & NGOs, manufacturing dissent but supporting NATO’s “humanitarian mandate”
8:48-9:16 – “Let us understand that the global war on terrorism is a fabrication. It is not a global war on terrorism. It is terrorism – state terrorism, using terrorists as foot soldiers to kill civilians”.
9:17-11:44 – on anti-war and neo-liberalism hypocrisy
11:45-14:57 – “The objective is not necessarily to win a war. The objective is to destroy countries and transform those countries into territories”, example of Vietnam, Cambodia, Libya, two sectors of global economy are military spending and luxury economy used to co-opt and corrupt puppet states, Project for the New American Century, nature of warfare changed from conventional to non-conventional covert operations
14:58-17:18 – on Syrian war and death squads…”The ultimate architects of those (chemical weapons) killings of civilians in Syria was NATO and the United States and their allies”…terrorists are John McCain’s “freedom fighters”
17:19-21:56 – about Sept 11, war on Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, heroin
21:57-23:53 – on broader military agenda post 9/11, privatization of war, nuclear agenda, – “US has most manipulative financial system and it is serving the oil companies, the bio-tech conglomerates, the Wall street financial conglomerates and so on…and all of these major actors are behind the war agenda”.
23:54-28:42 – on middle east, had 4 distinct war theaters (Afghanistan/Pakistan, Iraq, Palestine, Libya) now merging together, using same death squads, creating strife between the terrorist rebels and governments, also used in Syria, macro region from east Mediterranean to border with China and to the south (about 60% of world’s oil & gas) is area of military intervention, ultimate targets are Iran, Russia & China
28:43-31:54 – on Asian pivot, threats to China, nuclear weapons against Iran, progressive consensus, war agenda centralized at US strategic command headquarters in Nebraska, NATO, Israel partner, France, African war theater
31:55 – 3 elements of propaganda:
32:19-34:33 – 1st – “internal, within organizations”, i.e. NATO, government, financial establishments, spread so they believe their own lies, demonize peoples like Muslims, – objectives are battle for oil, conquest, destroying national governments, impoverishing people through warfare or intervention of IMF
34:34-35:25 – 2nd – “media propaganda”, within MSM, conveys consensus of war on terror, responsibility to protect, invades people’s minds to build consensus
35:26-38:25 – 3rd – “within progressive organizations”, is most insidious, many are funded directly by Rockefeller Foundation, Open Society Foundation and others, OTPOR & CANVAS in the revolution business, create conflicts, dictate regime change, part of complex intelligence operative, need to educate our grass roots and pinpoint the liars
Jan
If you want truth in Russia, then maybe you and your friends should complete the translation of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s book “200 Years Together (with the Jews).”
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/200_Years_Together
There is a PDF copy of volume two (in Russian) at
http://solargeneral.com/library/200-years-together-alexander-solzhenitsyn.pdf
Only chapter 15: “Among Bolsheviks,” from volume two has not been translated. So starting there would be sensible.
Is it possible for someone to commit to providing the translation of a chapter or so?
No one seems too keen.
> So how does Mr Rasmussen come across to the folks in the Kremlin?
Re: the “Secretary General of NATO”. He is always an European, and let me give you the exhaustive list of his powers:
* to brief media about decisions made by the “Supreme Allied Commander Europe”, or: SACEUR
Now, the SACEUR is always a bit camera-shy – or have you ever heard the name “Philip M. Breedlove” before? And sacre – the SACEUR is in fact the guy “in command”, hence the “Commander” in his title.
And hence the “Secretary” in Rasmussen’s title – he’s a clerk and press secretary. But boy does he get to drink tasty cocktails almost daily. I’m somewhat jealous.
So, it’s to make Europeans feel good: Hey, you know what, we are running the show at NATO. This is why I am in total support of Saker’s judgement:
> to provide the US military with a tiny figleaf with the words “our allies”
Honk
If you want truth in Russia, then maybe you and your friends should complete the translation of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s book “200 Years Together (with the Jews).”
https://wikispooks.com/wiki/200_Years_Together
There is a PDF copy of volume two (in Russian) at
http://solargeneral.com/library/200-years-together-alexander-solzhenitsyn.pdf
Only chapter 15: “Among Bolsheviks,” from volume two has not been translated. So starting there would be sensible.
Is it possible for someone to commit to providing the translation of a chapter or two?
No one seems too keen.
“Nora said…
Wasn’t the Hetman Sahaidachny the flagship that went over to be with Russia?”
That is what was being claimed 4 days ago on RT. Others picked it up, as well. Doesn’t look like the ship switched to the ARC now, though. Naughty Russians…
вот так
‘Ukrainian Military’, ‘Joint Military Exercises’ HAHAHAHA. NATO has a vivid imagination.
@вот так:Hetman Sahaidachny
You think the Russkies made up the entire story? Could be, of course, but I am not sure whether they are the ones who started it to begin with. One possibility is that the Hetman Sahaidachny pretended to join Crimean forces just to get through to Odessa with no problems. Either that, or over the past couple of days, somebody paid somebody top dollar to get the Hetman Sahaidachny’s skipper to change sides once again. Or maybe it was just stupid Russian making up stories, I don’t know, but if it is, it will be funny and interesting how they spin that latest change. Weird…
The Saker
@Honk:And hence the “Secretary” in Rasmussen’s title – he’s a clerk and press secretary.
Exactly.
SACEUR
Yes, but on top of that, he wears two hats. One of SACEUR and the other of General in the US military in charge of the Euro Command, and in that latter capacity is basically tells everybody else what to do. NATO is really a fiction, like the tirailleurs senegalais (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegalese_Tirailleurs) for the French. And it is 100% clear who is boss, of course.
What a fantastically hypocritical setup – it’s completely colonial :-)
Cheers,
The Saker
I have a question for Saker,
First a statement. I think Crimea is pretty much gone; it will be solidified after March 30, and that is why the west cannot stomach this fact.
The question is about the current turmoil in east and south Ukraine. The current efforts by many people in seeking regional autonomy or federalization of the regions. The oligarchs were placed there as a deterrent to the growing movement. Each region appears to have different levels of intensity. How do you envision the short and long trend and possible outcome in the regions themselves and the overall picture in the country? It seems to be a wild card right now.
RT’s response to both Wahl and Martin.
RT reacts to Liz Wahl’s resignation
http://rt.com/usa/rt-reacts-liz-wahl-042/
“Ms. Wahl’s resignation comes on the heels of her colleague Abby Martin’s recent comments in which she voiced her disagreement with certain policies of the Russian government and asserted her editorial independence. The difference is, Ms. Martin spoke in the context of her own talk show, to the viewers who have been tuning in for years to hear her opinions on current events – the opinions that most media did not care about until two days ago. For years, Ms. Martin has been speaking out against US military intervention, only to be ignored by the mainstream news outlets – but with that one comment, branded as an act of defiance, she became an overnight sensation. It is a tempting example to follow…”
Both of the grrrrls remind of people like Hitchens and Horowitz. IE: part of a history of leashed moles who switch sides at very opportune times. And usually see their income rise soon after.
вот так
Saker:
I’m sure you heard that Hillary Clinton compared Putin’s actions to those of Hitler.
My initial reaction was two fold: first: what bollocks! and second, what a remarkably inflammatory statement to make.
it has become commonplace for American politicians to drop the “H-bomb” (i.e., referring to Noriega, or Saddam, or Milosovic, or Karadzic, or Saddam again, as Hitler), but it seems that it would be uniquely inflammatory against a Russian.
Maybe 1 in 100 Americans could tell you when VE Day is, but every Russian (in my experience) knows what the 9th of May is.
I grew up a child of the Cold War, and find it ludicrous that we are on the verge of/threatening a shooting war with Russia today, over Crimea and Ukraine.
Saker
If the Russians made it up it was probably as part of Psy-ops to influence the Ukraine militart people on the Crimea and aboard the Ukraine ships at Sevastopol? It was about the time those ships decided to leave? The Hetman Sahaidachny passed through the Bosporus yesterday, with 2 Russian amphibious ships immediately preceding her:
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2014/03/russian-warships-cross-bosphorus-enter-black-sea-2911624.html
I doubt the Russians would have messed with the Ukrainian ship since that would cause an international incident of the sort they have been careful to avoid so far. The news that Hetman Sahaidachny was carrying NATO intelligence equipment adds an intriguing twist to the story.
вот так
More on “Hetman Sahaydachny”
Ukrainian Navy Flagship Diverted Away from Crimea
20:34 05/03/2014
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140305/188122428/Ukrainian-Navy-Flagship-Diverted-on-Mutiny-Fears.html
Glen Ford has written an excellent article which looks at the recent events in Ukraine from a somewhat different angle …
“Hillary Clinton is a walking profanity – and, thereby, a prime candidate to be the next president of the United States. The fiend who played Julius Caesar when U.S.-employed jihadists butchered Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi (“We came, we saw, he died”) now likens Russia’s response to the U.S.-backed fascist putsch in the Ukraine to Hitler’s quest for a Greater Germany. It is like spitting on the graves of the 25 million Russians and other Soviet nationalities slaughtered in Hitler’s racist jihad – the people who actually defeated the Nazis while the U.S. and Britain loitered off Europe’s shores. At war’s end, the United States imported thousands of Nazis to construct the nuclear/chemical/biological military juggernaut that would usher in an “American Century” – while confiscating Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Dubois’ passports.”
… if you’re interested you can read the rest here:
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/hillary-and-other-assorted-barbarians-russia’s-gate
Russia has ways to stop corrupt, aggressive NATO/EU.
Someone clever once said:
“Madness is not the loss of reason. It is the loss of everything but reason”.
This rather long article from way back in 2007 is in 3 parts, 13 pages total. It lays out the Empire’s forward plan of co-opting the EU (especially Germany) in its drive to subordinate Russia and China. Written by Axel Brot, the pen name for a German defense analyst and former intelligence officer.
Part 1: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/IH08Aa01.html
Part 2: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/IH09Aa01.html
Part 3: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/IH10Aa01.html
“…the US will permit neither a stable Russia nor a non-cataclysmic accommodation of China’s rise. …increasing confrontation, deadline diplomacy, and grandstanding on principles (will) carry the load of broken credibility.”
It is the successful co-option of the EU (along with destruction of the M.E.) that allows the Empire to Pivot to Asia. If Europe stays on board, only a determined “conspiracy” between Russia and China can conceivably stop the juggernaut.
Separately, they will face ongoing contrived instability and provocation until each succumbs. One hopes that the events in the Ukraine (and perhaps Kunming) opens whatever eyes still need to be opened as to the real program.
Oceania has gone mad, perhaps it has been so since Orwell. Let’s hope Eurasia and Eastasia know what that means, and react before they succumb.
Erebus
While the zio-media has been full of headlines saying “Putin is like Hitler” and “Russian invasion of the Ukraine is a declaration of war” and the like, an American carrier task force docked in Greece. The carrier Bush plus 17 smaller and 3 subs, supposedly.
«Утки» плывут в Черное море http://www.km.ru/world/2014/03/05/protivostoyanie-na-ukraine-2013-14/733952-utki-plyvut-v-chernoe-more
The legalities against this force entering the Black Sea are many, though they could conduct air strikes from the eastern Med. But what about Syria. This puts a large task force quite close to the Syrian coast. While everybody is focused on Ukraine, moving such a force next to Syria under such cover may be part of preparations to attack Syria and/or Lebanon. The Israelis have recently been more active, and Netanyahu is in the USA right now.
These zionazis usually stage their atrocities using some kind distraction elsewhere as cover.
вот так
Rassmussen is a nato/bilderberg/cfr douchebag. Nato is just another tentacle on the the vampire squid that includes the IMF, the World Bank, BIS, UN etc. Swiss troops are stationed in Kosovo as part of the Nato occupation there.
Recently at coffee break a young geek who serves in the swiss army in a Piranha told me that his battallion has orders from Nato to be executed if there is a crisis there. How big a stretch would it be to believe that Nato could try to suck the Swiss army into a conflict in eastern Europe?
I think the reason Putin has acted so firmly is that this NWO attack is really against Russia, not Ukraine. This is why I am rooting for Putin and Russia to continue eating Nato’s lunch.
However I say to the many contributors to this blog that Putin IS a fascist. Russia can certainly not be labeled either socialistic or capitalistic. It is a crony capitalist and very nationalistic state, actually very similar to the US, which is also fascist. Yes, Obama and Putin are both fascists.
Finally, I would be interested in anyone here’s opinions concerning:
How the Empire might strike back:
Here a couple of snippets:
…
2. Are you a heavy hitter 0.1%’er New Russian supporting Vladimir Putin? Your entire financial and personal history could soon appear on internet social media, too. In Russian.
US and British agencies have collected many millions of dirty selfies almost by accident. Imagine what they’ve collected on purpose against major intelligence targets. For instance, every member of the Russian Duma, the cabinet and all their top staffers.
3. Precision guided financial and visa sanctions applied throughout the entire western world. This is not the USSR in 1979 anymore. The entire upper strata of Russia’s elite, including all of Putin’s United Russia Party, are now extremely international. They and their extended families travel frequently to all the world class watering holes to sun, dine and shop. They have offshore bank accounts and credit cards (as witnessed in Cyprus). They own vacation homes in Spain, Miami, Italy, the Greek Aegean Islands et al. Their children by the tens of thousands attend western universities on student visas. They have massive investments in stock and real estate throughout the entire ‘west’.
As a result, they are personally vulnerable to sanctions pressure in a way the Soviet nomenklatura never was. This Ukrainian adventure could carry uniquely painful and personal high price tags.
The media would not be alerted; the targets will simply start getting messages like this:
“Your passport and visa are invalid for entry. Please follow this officer…”
“I’m sorry ma’am, your credit card was declined.”
“Invalid PIN number.”
“User ID & Password are invalid. Please reenter correct user ID and password”.
Saker, your thoughts on this website?
http://www.stopfake.org/en/
I always suspect European countries lost their Independence since joining NATO. And my suspicion is due to the way that US act in the international arena since 1945. How could it be possible for such na imperialistic power share decisions making with others?
It is not american exceptionalism, it is common to all predominant power. just like, v.g., ex-URSS in Warsaw Pact or Athens in Delian League.
Unfortunately, few of us knowing it, worse, the majority knows it but pretend not to. Isnt it?
DeGaulle was a truth european of the old fibre, pity so few compreended his heroic resistance in the 50 and 60s
CNN
If Russia swallows Ukraine, the European system is finished
Why does not RIA Novosti use the same method?
They could write freely:
If NATO/EU swallows Ukraine, the Russia is finished.
I think RIA Novosti works for NATO/EU and is financed by Russian tax payers.
Saker,
You are doing a fantastic assistance to many people digging for truth. As regards the sniper story, it is now out broadly. Yesterday I did a Google search on “Umas Payet Maidan” and got two hits. 15 hours later it is 170 000 hits. Are we on a breaking point, or will they succeed in burying it again?
Kantor
My favourite part (from video) was “We are having three tanks too but didn’t take place in parade because they would damage asphalt. One of them was lent to Estonians I think”. LOL
My favourite part (from video) was “We are having three tanks too but didn’t take place in parade because they would damage asphalt. One of them was lent to Estonians I think”. LOL
I’ve heard on TV that sea around Sevastopol is full of mines in 25 km radius and in the bay itself. And that Ukrainian military might posses activation codes.
Why There Will Be War in Ukraine
By Sergei Markov
Mar. 06 2014 00:00
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/why-there-will-be-war-in-ukraine/495740.html
Now that the Crimean Parliament voted to join Russia – still dependent on the outcome of a referendum in 10 days – Obama says he will impose visa bans and other sanctions.
I want to ask Obama, borrowing a phrase from the great but late Carlin:
What, are fuckin’ stupid?
Putin has been really nice to them. If they now officially and publicly call him “the new Hitler”, Putin will deliver weapon systems to Syria and Iran FOR EARNEST. Maybe leasing his latest and greatest technology (S-400 I think), in combo with Russian personnel, so as to have control over the bleeding edge stuff, but letting US&Israel know that they’ll bleed if they attack Iran.
But Syria is first, and Russia can definitely do more there, especially since the Saudis and Obama have been stepping things up lately.
Honk
You’re unfair to the Latvian army. They are well equipped. I counted at least 16 pickup trucks and a jeep.
Those mines and activation codes are pretty scary — the entire fleet at Sevastopol might be blocked???
This url (h/t Propeace at MoA) may also help answer the question: “Why now?”
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Ukraine-Unexpected-Oil-Find-Major-Gas-Interest.html
And I will take this quote directly from Propeace’s last paragraph:
I think Nudelman’s talk about 5B$ spent on “assistance” for Ukraine was at an Chevron conference… Exxon Mobil shares board members with JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and Prudential. Chevron Texaco has interlocks with Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase. S/he then links to this for confirmation of those interlocking directorates: http://investmentwatchblog.com/when-you’re-being-robbed-it’s-always-a-good-idea-to-be-able-to-identify-the-perp-now-if-only-we-could-get-the-cops-to-bring-em’-in…/
Henry Kissinger speaks sense (!) http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/henry-kissinger-to-settle-the-ukraine-crisis-start-at-the-end/2014/03/05/46dad868-a496-11e3-8466-d34c451760b9_story.html
/Hagen
Crimea’s Parliament Decides to Secede to Russia
A popular vote to approve the decision or restore the 1992 Crimean Constitution, whereby the peninsula would remain an autonomous republic within Ukraine, is scheduled for March 16, the statement said.
http://en.ria.ru/world/20140306/188146402/Crimeas-Parliament-Decides-to-Secede-to-Russia.html
Crimean parliament votes to join Russia, hold referendum in 10 days on ratifying
Published time: March 06, 2014 09:29
http://rt.com/news/crimea-referendum-status-ukraine-154/
вот так:
“Likely right sector types will make up the coup regime’s military and police. With the Ukraine nazis, the west has a ready pool of “enforcers” with the “correct” sought after attitudes”
Well, that happens to be exactly right. You see, just today three members of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense were fired by Yatsenyuk for speaking out against assigning the status of regular army troops to the “Right Sector” paramilitaries.
http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=1351871
I suppose that’s who Rassmussen is intending to “cooperate” with…?
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry has added some spice to the diplomatic discourse between the U.S. and the RF:
http://mid.ru/brp_4.nsf/newsline/C48637A3360452D044257C9300518BDD
The Russians are not willing to de-escalate, even though Kerry made a move to do just that yesterday after meeting with Lavrov.
All links are in Russian, but a good web translator should take care of that right quick.
Cheers to all,
BOPOH.
For gosh sakes, look what happened earlier in November, according to http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/business/international/chevron-and-ukraine-sign-deal-on-shale-gas.html?_r=0
“On Tuesday, Chevron signed a 50-year agreement with the Ukrainian government to develop oil and gas in western Ukraine. The government said that Chevron would spend $350 million on the exploratory phase of the project and that the total investment could reach $10 billion.”
“I am ‘extremely’ impressed by Moscow’s geostrategic foresight, military professionalism, political cunning and diplomatic acumen. Moscow has been operating like a finely tuned machine. They are escalating as they are deescalating, they are not talking as they are talking, they are speaking the truth and misleading at the same time. They have every angle covered. They are going toe-to-toe against the West’s most powerful weapon, its propaganda outlets such as CNN, BBC, Aljazeera. They are meticulously creating a whole new reality as the world watches and they are shattering the myth of Western invincibility – without having fired a single shot in anger. They are playing a brilliant round of chess.
It’s like the Kremlin is constantly several steps ahead of the West on the chessboard. Crimea was their lightening fast check – and they have several other moves ready for the checkmate, just in case. It’s all very fluid yet very-very well planned and managed. This outstanding performance goes way-way beyond President Putin’s persona. In my opinion, this is all a reflection of Russian society and just how well oiled the state apparatus in Russia has become in recent years, naturally thanks to Putin’s leadership.
As good as Moscow’s reaction was in the summer of 2008, it was still rough around the edges, especially with regards to the military factor. This one is much more sophisticated and impressive to behold, especially considering the fact that this one is much more geopolitically sensitive as it’s taking place in Europe and at the very doorstep of NATO.
I have been longing to see “statecraft” such as this for many years. Pay close attention to these developments as they are historic and will shape the future world.”
Arevordi at:
http://theriseofrussia.blogspot.se/2014/02/the-battle-for-ukraine-ii-february-2014.html#comment-form
I propose that the southern and eastern Ukrainian part secede from the west and call themselves the Federated Ukrainian States. F US for short….. :)
Saker, what does this really mean?
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2014
Statement by the Press Secretary on Ukraine
As President Obama has made clear, the United States is pursuing and reviewing a wide range of options in response to Russia’s ongoing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – actions that constitute a threat to peace and security and a breach of international law, including Russia’s obligations under the UN Charter and of its 1997 military basing agreement with Ukraine, and that are inconsistent with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the Helsinki Final Act.
Pursuant to the President’s guidance, today the State Department is putting in place visa restrictions on a number of officials and individuals, reflecting a policy decision to deny visas to those responsible for or complicit in threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This new step stands in addition to the policy already implemented to deny visas to those involved in human rights abuses related to political oppression in Ukraine.
In addition, the President has signed an Executive Order that authorizes sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for activities undermining democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine; threatening the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine; contributing to the misappropriation of state assets of Ukraine; or purporting to assert governmental authority over any part of Ukraine without authorization from the Ukrainian government in Kyiv. This E.O. is a flexible tool that will allow us to sanction those who are most directly involved in destabilizing Ukraine, including the military intervention in Crimea, and does not preclude further steps should the situation deteriorate.
These actions build upon the previous actions the United States has taken, including suspending bilateral discussions with Russia on trade and investment; suspending other bilateral meetings on a case-by-case basis; putting on hold U.S.-Russia military-to-military engagement, including exercises, bilateral meetings, port visits, and planning conferences; and our agreement with G-7 nations to suspend for the time being our participation in activities associated with the preparation of the scheduled G-8 Summit in Sochi in June. Depending on how the situation develops, the United States is prepared to consider additional steps and sanctions as necessary.
At the same time, as the President has said, we seek to work with all parties to achieve a diplomatic solution that de-escalates the situation and restores Ukraine’s sovereignty. We call on Russia to take the opportunity before it to resolve this crisis through direct and immediate dialogue with the Government of Ukraine, the immediate pull-back of Russia’s military forces to their bases, the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and support for the urgent deployment of international observers and human rights monitors who can assure that the rights of all Ukrainians are protected, including ethnic Russians, and who can support the Ukrainian government’s efforts to hold a free and fair election on May 25.
As we follow developments in Ukraine closely, the United States reaffirms its unwavering commitment to our collective defense commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty. We will continue to pursue measures that reinforce those commitments, to include the provision of additional support to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission and our aviation detachment in Poland.
Gorbachev claims that when the “Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany” was signed in 1990 there was an understanding that NATO would not expand eastward. This has been denied by the US, France and the UK, but it seems likely such a private understanding was included to get Soviet acquiescence. A year later the USSR collapsed and NATO rapidly expanded into the former Warsaw Pact region.
It would be interesting to see if Putin raises this issue and demands that the added NATO pact countries (which include Poland) be removed from NATO.
@Pushkin: How do you envision the short and long trend and possible outcome in the regions themselves and the overall picture in the country? It seems to be a wild card right now.
You said it best: Each region appears to have different levels of intensity.
Crimea: gone from the Ukraine for sure, nothing anybody can do about it.
Odessa? Dniepropetrovsk? Kharkov? Donetsk? Lugansk? Nikolaev? Kherson? These are all very different situations and I do not at all have a sense that the future of any of those cities and regions can be predicted now. My gut feeling is that the central power of the insurgents controls very little, but the events Donetsk show that the insurgent still have enough authority/money/supporters to control the cops in this city. I suppose that in the end Kharkov and Lugansk will also separate from the rest and join Russia, but that is nothing but a wild guess. First we have to see how and how fast the insurgent controlled rump Ukraine collapses and then the situation will become clearer, at least to me.
Cheers,
The Saker
@ Anonymous
“CNN
If Russia swallows Ukraine, the European system is finished
Why does not RIA Novosti use the same method?
They could write freely:
If NATO/EU swallows Ukraine, the Russia is finished.
I think RIA Novosti works for NATO/EU and is financed by Russian tax payers.”
Because the opposite of a lie is not the truth. Wholesale fabrication, spin and outright lies, are what has come to characterize the diarrhea coming out of the MSM in the heart of NATO concerning recent developments in The Ukraine.
Frankly, it is making the US government appear at best like drunken cretins, utterly divorced from reality. Making us wonder how the hell we got into this situation, with creatures who demonstrate not even the basic instinct proper to all natural creatures, of survival.
But maybe the forces now dominating the ship that is the USSA, think that their underground and undersea bases will be their salvation, and we will just have to suffer the consequences of their criminal stupidity. Time will tell…
@Desperado.
I wouldn’t describe Putin’s Russia as fascist but yes in many ways it’s not a nice state. Massive corruption, pervasive mafia prescence, strong nationalism, the courts aren’t independent and so on. Still there is freedom of speech on the Russian internet, much of the press attacks Putin, there are functioning opposition parties etc. I’d call it an authoritarian Second World emerging democracy with a human rights record comparable to Brazil or Turkey rather than fascist.
Russia up till now has been a defender of international law, not out of principle but because Moscow sees adherence to international law as being in Russia’s interest. Of course Russan intevention in Crimea is arguably not legal, but then given the record of the West in Kosovo, Iraq and elsewhere the West doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Bottom line is that the chief menace to the world comes from Oceania right now whether its neoliberal economics imposed via the Western banking system or neocon militarism backed up by NATO. That doesn’t mean either Eurasia (Russia) or Eastasia (China) don’t have many faults of their own.
ah,so thrilling…luv that desert
camo(maybe deploying to afghan
soon ya think?)as to four-deuce
mortars in pick-ups:ours were monted in M124 tracks,and those
suspensions took a beating when
we live-fired. but PICK-UP’s?!?
OUCH!!!
@Desperado. I’ve no doubt but that the Empire may well sanction the New Russians in the way you describe. However Russia could respond by lifting sanctions on Iran and supplying them with state of the art military technology. The US wouldn’t suffer economically by sanctioning Russia but the EU would and I doubt the EU will unite in a common front against Russia. Provided the Russians aren’t inconvenienced by passports and credit cards in Germany France and Italy they might be able to live with inconvenience in Londongrad or the US.
Also this might simply drive Russia further into the arms of the Chinese. Russia can’t crash the dollar but the Chinese could. If the BRICs broke with the dollar and adopted an alternate monetary system for their trade inviting the rest of the world to join that might cause the Anglosphere serious problems. So if Washington verplays its hand there might be costs and consequences for the Empire.
Putin might prefer that the New Russians keep their money at home rather than investing it in hostile Western states.
I personally loathe credit cards and electronic money. It’s one of Big Brother’s chief weapons.
Erebus @1:17 I’m pretty sure Oceania has always been mad; certainly, despite our wonderful words, always nasty. Just ask any (surviving) Native American.
NATO should have been disbanded a generation ago. Not in the least for foisting that total POS Baretta M9 on the Navy to replace the venerable .45.
This is a great friggin blog. Even the douchebags that flame you are at least an order of magnitude more intelligent than your typical Bush-bot.
Buona sera –
The Pugliese Squid