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World War Three

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Dutch Josh View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 3:18am

Good background info from India The Plint [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-18BGebymmc[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-18BGebymmc on the geo-strategic importance of the Black Sea and the Montreux-1936 Convention. Turkey stopped German/Italian ships entering the Black Sea during World War Two...

Alexander Mercouris on China now increasing high speed trade with Russia. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5w6it5B4Z4[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5w6it5B4Z4 and "the West" [url]https://southfront.org/098jkgu/[/url] or https://southfront.org/098jkgu/ still also pushing more sanctions against China. 

Written by Dr. Leon Tressell

The attempt by the United States to confront, contain and undermine the economies of both Russia and China continues unabated. Having instituted an economic war against Russia through its sanctions the US is also seeking to step up its offensive against China’s economy.

Over a year into his presidency Biden has not rolled back any of the punitive tariffs that Trump imposed on China’s economy which have contributed to rising prices for American consumers. Instead, the Biden regime is seeking to step its efforts to undermine China’s economic challenge to American hegemony over the global economy.

This comes a time when the United States trade deficit with China continues to reach all-time highs. In 2021 the US trade deficit with China surged from $124 billion in 2020 to $151 billion in 2021. This illustrates the continuing decline of the American economy.

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday 1 March Biden stated that he will seek to reduce inflation facing ordinary Americans:

“We will ‘buy American’ to make sure everything from the deck of an aircraft carrier to the steel on highway guardrails are made in America. But to compete for the best jobs of the future, we need to level the playing field with China and other competitors.”

Of course, he could help American consumers by eliminating the trade tariffs imposed on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods by President Trump. Instead, Biden is seeking to implement a raft of punitive measures that will seek to undermine Chinese trade and manufacturing. The outcome of these measures is probably going to intensify geo-political rivalries with China. This is at a time when the US is pushing relations with Russia to dangerous levels of hostility reminiscent of the Cuban missile crisis.

DJ [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/will-venezuela-exploit-russias-isolation-revive-its-oil-industry[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/will-venezuela-exploit-russias-isolation-revive-its-oil-industry and [url]https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Maduro-Venezuela-Ready-to-Provide-Oil-Stability-to-World-20220304-0005.html[/url] or https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Maduro-Venezuela-Ready-to-Provide-Oil-Stability-to-World-20220304-0005.html 

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/07/678121/Tehran%E2%80%99s-interactions-during-Vienna-talks-solely-driven-by-Iranian-nation%E2%80%99s-interests--Shamkhani[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/07/678121/Tehran%E2%80%99s-interactions-during-Vienna-talks-solely-driven-by-Iranian-nation%E2%80%99s-interests--Shamkhani 

To replace Russian oil and gas the US is now expecting Venezuela, Iran to "be willing to make any kind of deals" with the US ????

[url]https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/china/china-fumes-at-growing-us-taiwan-ties-claims-us-trying-to-build-nato-in-indo-pacific-articleshow.html[/url] or https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/china/china-fumes-at-growing-us-taiwan-ties-claims-us-trying-to-build-nato-in-indo-pacific-articleshow.html 

[url]https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-08/Chinese-FM-holds-phone-conversation-with-top-EU-diplomat-18dzxkaYp8I/index.html[/url] or https://newsaf.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-08/Chinese-FM-holds-phone-conversation-with-top-EU-diplomat-18dzxkaYp8I/index.html 

China is not in a position to mediate; It agrees with Russia that NATO expansion is the main reason for the Ukraine crisis...

DJ-Plans to include Sweden, Finland, Georgia into "defensive" NATO "like NApoleon and NAzi's moving east" further worsens the crisis....The US still further sanctioning China...Australia in favor for sanctions on Chine because China does not want sanctions on Russia also not helping...

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/08/678181/US-behind-siege-Yemen-no-humanity-seen-West[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/08/678181/US-behind-siege-Yemen-no-humanity-seen-West The western led genocide in Yemen now out of the news...

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 3:31am

The costs of China's 'no limits' support for Putin. Did Beijing get played with the Ukraine invasion?

Chinese President Xi Jinping may not be enjoying his support for Russia as much these days

There is Western unity also in the unexpected severity of its economic sanctions on Moscow; sanctions which have forced some big Chinese banks to stop doing business with Russia and brought instability to world markets and the trade that China relies on. 

And Moscow's been mostly isolated at the United Nations in New York, where China finds itself one of the very few voices defending Russia, in the company of international pariahs like North Korea, Belarus and Syria.

"China is starting to look a lot more uncomfortable" in this role, said UN observer Richard Gowan, with the NGO Crisis Group.

Like Russia, Beijing has refused to call the war in Ukraine an invasion, instead sticking to Putin's narrative that he's executing a "special military operation" that "will not conduct missile, air or artillery strikes on cities." That's been repeated at official briefings, and any public criticism on Chinese internet has been targeted by censors.  

China tones down support

Still, Gowan said Beijing has realized this is a "bad look" at the UN, and has toned down its support for Russia. It was initially expected to join Russia in vetoing the Security Council's condemnation of Moscow, but the position turned into an abstention after negotiations with the United States over wording.

It abstained once again in a similar General Assembly vote a few days later.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 4:17am

ISTANBUL — 

Turkey says it has locked Russian warships out of the Black Sea ahead of an expected assault on Ukrainian cities. At the same time Ukraine says it is getting more Turkish drones, despite warnings from Moscow. Turkish-Russian ties are facing a critical test.

Ankara claims four Russian warships have withdrawn their request to enter the Black Sea through Turkish waterways. The announcement follows Turkey's curtailing of Russian naval vessels' use of Istanbul's Bosporus waterway, the only access to the Black Sea.

Under the 1936 Montreux Convention, Ankara can stop Russian naval ships from using the waterway after it declared on Sunday that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a "war."

Mesut Casin, an advisor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, says Turkey intends to strictly enforce naval access to the Black Sea under the convention.

“We will very clearly, very sensitively, and objectively apply the Montreux regime. Russians should be thinking about this. Why? We showed this position in World War II; we stopped the German ships, the Italian ships even the Soviet-armed ships,” he said.

Ankara's strict enforcement of the convention appears to have denied any wiggle room for Moscow to access its waiting destroyers and a frigate. Among them is one of Russia's most advanced and modern warships that carries cruise missiles.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 4:34am

ksc, thanks for keeping this/our disagreement polite. 

Maybe we both demonstrate one can totally disagree with another without going into insults...

For that matter our-far from perfect-democracies DO work !

DJ-I have a certain freedom to totally disagree with my government and most NL political parties. Only extreme right wing parties here in NL support Russia for now...I did expect left wing parties to be more critical on NATO expansion, increasing money-for-the-military (industrial complex). (I see myself as left wing...would never vote for the right-wing parties here in NL now more or less agreeing with Russian war in Ukraine). 

[url]https://nltimes.nl/2022/03/08/hotels-approached-help-receive-ukrainian-refugees[/url] or https://nltimes.nl/2022/03/08/hotels-approached-help-receive-ukrainian-refugees 

Refugees are humans-with basic human rights...most of them seeking safety...I would love it when they could find safety and a future in their home country...

[url]https://nltimes.nl/2022/03/08/growing-concern-pro-russia-fvd-politicians-accessing-classified-information[/url] or https://nltimes.nl/2022/03/08/growing-concern-pro-russia-fvd-politicians-accessing-classified-information 

(I may agree with Tulsi Gabbard 🌺@TulsiGabbard·1h

The price of gas is going through the roof, food prices are going to skyrocket even higher than they are already, and we’re facing the very real possibility of war with Russia—a nuclear holocaust. And for what? We still haven’t yet received an answer to this question. @FoxNation

in this matter-how I will be able to pay for power, food ?)

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 4:37am

Russian invasion of Ukraine will be ‘total failure’ and could spark global conflict, says FSB whistleblower

The Russian invasion of Ukraine will be a “total failure” and could result in “real international conflict” in the coming months, according to a whistleblower from Russia’s security service.

An anonymous report thought to be written by an analyst in the FSB said the security agency was not forewarned of the invasion of Ukraine and was unprepared to deal with the effects of crippling sanctions.

“I don’t know who came up with the ‘Ukrainian Blitzkrieg,’” they said. “‘Denazification’ and ‘demilitarisation’ are not analytical categories, because they do not have clearly defined parameters by which one can determine the level of accomplishment or non-completion of the task.”

The whistleblower said “it is simply impossible” for Russia “to complete the task now”, adding: “Russia has no way out. There are no options for a possible victory, only defeat.”

The suspected FSB agent said that even if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were killed, Russia would have little chance of occupying Ukraine.

“Even with minimum resistance from the Ukrainians we’d need over 500,000 people, not including supply and logistics workers,” they said. “And now even those who were loyal to us are against [the invasion]. Because it was planned from above, because we were told that there would be no such option, unless we were attacked.”

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 12:00pm

DJ, No problem I always like to hear both sides. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 12:01pm

Poland ready to place all its MiG-29 jets at the disposal of the US

Patrick Wintour 

Poland is ready to immediately transfer all its MiG-29 planes free of charge to the US government as part of a move to give the planes for use by the Ukrainian air force to repel the Russia invasion, the Polish government has announced.

Poland also said it was asking the US to provide it with used aircraft with similar operational capabilities. Poland is ready to immediately agree on the terms of purchase of these machines.

The Polish government also asks other Nato country owners of MiG-29 planes to act in a similar way.

The move follows weeks of backstage negotiations and discussions in London between the Polish prime minister and Boris Johnson.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2022 at 8:38pm

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/saudis-uae-refuse-speak-biden-over-ukraine-situation[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/saudis-uae-refuse-speak-biden-over-ukraine-situation ; First, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declined to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Then, India followed suit - as the Modi government attempted to balance its historic ties with Moscow and its strategic partnership with Washington.

Now, Saudi and UAE leaders are refusing to take Biden's calls as the US president tries to contain surging oil prices, according to the Wall Street Journal, which adds that the Persian Gulf monarchies have signaled "they won’t help ease surging oil prices unless Washington supports them in Yemen, elsewhere."

DJ; Lots of non-western countries see the conflict(s) escalating to a level that is destroying the global economy.  They do not consider themselves as party in the conflict still will have to pay a high price.

Their main goal is to keep their economies going, feed their population...

One you end up in a conflict you have to know what your position is. Acting without thinking makes you lose the conflict from the start. 

-The US may be able to stop energy coming from Russia (Canada may be the most realistic nearby provider for the US). However Europe is in a much more dependent position. The outcome of Russia stopping energy export to Europe may wreck the European economy.

-There are more then enough buyers for Russian export. Most of those buyers are land-linked other Asian countries (India, China, Pakistan, Arab world). "The West" will be unable to stop Russian exports...Limits may be in pipeline capacity, transport capacity...Stopping trade with Russia may hurt the West much more then it most likely will hurt Russia. (Visa/Masterd-card boycot ending up Russia now going for their own and a Chinese payment system - as an example). 

-Lots of countries rather trade in their own currencies then use US$ or Euro. That trend was allready there before the Ukraine-crisis...this crisis is speeding up the proces. For the US it could mean devaluation of the US$...

-Higher energy prices may result in energy exporters maybe exporting less oil, gas, coal but with higher prices...Also domestic use of their own energysources puts them in a much better position then countries having to import (much more expensive) energy.

DJ-So even if you would go for the "bad Russia story" (I go for the bad NATO story...) reacting based on emotions without thinking may hurt you more then it would hurt Russia...

Geo-strategic the end result for now is Russia working even more close with China, Iran...to a certain level lots of Asian countries. The West could end up with much more damage...

And again for what ? Including Ukraine into NATO ??? Was that worth blowing up mostly western economies ? Does that help Ukraine ? Would a neutral Ukraine without a war not be much better for Ukraine ??? Since most western countries even did not want the Ukraine-with its conflicts-in NATO on the short term could we not have talked with Russia ? Told Russia NATO-at least for now-will not move further east ? 

[url]https://vrede.be/nl/nieuws/de-oorlog-oekraine-reflecties-van-een-vredesactivist[/url] or https://vrede.be/nl/nieuws/de-oorlog-oekraine-reflecties-van-een-vredesactivist A Belgian view (in Dutch) of the peace movement...

DJ-Sending in MORE weapons into a war zone only increases suffering, worsens the crisis...(Polish-OLD !!!-Mig 29's is an empty gesture...not helping anyone...not realistic (Polish Mig-29 have a lot of NATO modernizations...Ukraine can not use it, Russia should not get it...)

Again !!!

-This crisis was avoidable

-It is getting totally out of control

-Allready there are no winners

-The "World" wants de-escalation

STOP THIS WAR - STOP IT NOW !

If NATO would say we-at least for the coming ten years-will not include Ukraine, Georgia then there is a basis for Russia to stop the war...

[url]https://thesaker.is/russian-judo-tears-the-west-apart/[/url] or https://thesaker.is/russian-judo-tears-the-west-apart/

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 12:20pm

DJ; Two different visions on the present Ukraine-crisis;

[url]https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/the-sanction-backlash-will-push-the-west-to-accept-russias-demands.html[/url] or https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/the-sanction-backlash-will-push-the-west-to-accept-russias-demands.html ; In this view the West would accept Ukraine being neutral. Also sanctions (allmost) would hurt the West more then Russia...

[url]https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/u-s-ambassador-leave-russia-now[/url] or https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/u-s-ambassador-leave-russia-now has a more darker view...nuclear war would be around the corner...

Both-as I-do have the view this war could and should have been prevented....

DJ-Maybe a parallel with this pandemic; positive tests/cases going up-again-but so far severity may be limited ? Whill it stay that way ? 

My view;

The West did simply not think or plan...believed it could include Ukraine in western "defense/agressian plans". Bio-labs-US, UK investments in a new Ukraine Navy port...Ukraine was not-yet-included as a NATO member, however in many ways it was allready integrated...

So Russia (after stopping NApoleon, NAzi's now) is stopping NAto....getting to close to the Russian borders..."Defensive NATO" did ignore 1990 agreements NOT to move east...Russia-in their view-had to put a red line not to be crossed...NATO ignored it...

After LenIN, StalIN, now PutIN has to stop a "western invasion" is the Russian view (wich I do understand...I do NOT get why NATO had to move east, or why even there is a NATO...the Warsaw-Pact ended 30 years ago...)

Russia did see the crisis growing...a total lack of respect or understanding by NAto had to result in this crisis...lots of western experts warned against NAto moving east...still-most the US, UK-the warnings were ignored...

Nuclear risks;

-Russia may "go nuclear" in case of "full scale war" with the West...DJ-Not that likely...as the MoA article underlines...it is the West that is isolated (and unable to see that...). China, India, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea -in further western escalarion (Georgia in NATO, western puppet regime for Ukraine fighting from Poland)-they have "the power" to make clear enough is enough...

-however, "the West" could go nuclear if they find out sanctions against Russia are damaging the West more the Russia...even further cause Asian integration...

(Hal Turner comes with the idea "western sanctions would hit Russia very hard". The picture I (DJ) get is that Asian countries and prices going up undo a lot of the damage western sanctions could do to Russia...For that matter "the West"..without a clear strategy...it could fall back to nuclear weapons...maybe also against China, Iran...)

There are lots of "wild cards"; Israel did (cyber)attack Iran nuclear facilities several times...North Korea may decide it is time Japan has to pay for its war crimes in world war two...Ukraine itself has nuclear and (US) bio-weapon facilities...(Ukraine may go for a dirty bomb...).

The propaganda and financial, economic war is allready at an extreme level (I can only get RT.com  etc in an indirect way...like Press.TV ...Iran-Russia will find its ways (via India ?) around western censorship....

DJ-Since in essence this war is about the US staying #1...(only possible if the US could break up Russia-Iran-China cooperation-de facto RIC is allready in power...) there are very major global risks...

Like the pandemic I/we can only hope "damage remains limited"....but this is a very major crisis...worse then 1962 Cuba crisis...

Stay safe and sane, DJ

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 3:36pm

Russia’s ‘warning’ of Ukraine’s biological weapons sounds just like Syria

Analysis: Putin used the same false justification for brutal bombings in Syria, in the glare of western media

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/09/russias-warning-of-ukraines-biological-weapons-sounds-just-like-syria

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 3:38pm

Russian strike on maternity hospital is 'ultimate evidence of genocide' – Zelenskiy

Speaking in Russian, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy decried the bombing of a children’s hospital and maternity ward in Mariupol.

In an apparent appeal to Russians, Zelenskiy said:

A children’s hospital, a maternity ward. How did they threaten the Russian Federation? What is this country, the Russian Federation, that is afraid of hospitals, maternity wards and is destroying them? Were there little Banderovites? Were pregnant women going to shoot on Rostov? Did anyone in the maternity ward humiliate Russian speakers? Or was it de-Nazification of a hospital?

Switching back to Ukrainian, Zelenskiy called the bombing “beyond atrocity”, in an address posted on Telegram.

“Europeans, Ukrainians, Mariupol residents, we have to stand united in condemning Russia for this crime that reflects all evil that the invaders have brought on us, on all destroyed cities: Volnovakha, Izyum, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Okhtyrka, Borodyanka, Hostomel, Zhytomyr and tens of our Ukrainian cities that never posed any threat to Russia,” he said. ‘Hospitals and schools are destroyed. Churches and ordinary buildings are destroyed. People are killed. Children are killed. Air bombing on a children’s hospital is the ultimate evidence that genocide of Ukrainians is happening.”

The United Nations Population Fund condemned the strike on the hospital. Footage of the attack shared online by Zelenskiy shows the hospital’s windows being blown out, and parts of the structure collapsing.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 3:41pm

West has 'serious concern' Putin could use chemical weapons in Kyiv

Western officials have warned of their “serious concern” that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons on Kyiv.

In an assessment, they say an “utterly horrific” attack on the Ukrainian capital could be unleashed as Russian forces attempt to overcome the logistical issues that have apparently plagued troops headed towards Kyiv.

One western official said:

I think we’ve got good reason to be concerned about possible use of non-conventional weapons, partly because of what we’ve seen has happened in other theatres.

As I’ve mentioned before, for example, what we’ve seen in Syria, partly because we’ve seen a bit of setting the scene for that in the false flag claims that are coming out, and other indications as well.

So it’s a serious concern for us.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 3:43pm

White House warns Russia may use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine

Published: March 9, 2022 at 6:27 p.m. ET

Psaki says Russia may be laying groundwork for ‘false flag operation’

 

The Biden administration publicly warned Wednesday that Russia might seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as the White House rejected Russian claims of illegal chemical weapons development in the country it has invaded.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova this week, without evidence, accused Ukraine of running chemical and biological weapons labs in its territory, supported by the U.S. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Russia’s claim “preposterous” and said it could be part of an attempt by Russia to lay the groundwork for itself using such weapons of mass destruction against Ukraine.

“This is all an obvious ploy by Russia to try to justify its further premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine,” Psaki tweeted Wednesday. “Now that Russia has made these false claims, and China has seemingly endorsed this propaganda, we should all be on the lookout for Russia to possibly use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, or to create a false flag operation using them.”

 

 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 09 2022 at 10:50pm

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/09/678269/China-NATO-Russia-Ukraine-breaking-point[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/09/678269/China-NATO-Russia-Ukraine-breaking-point (DJ-this source of news is from Iran...the US is now blocking rt.com etc. They also blocked press.tv but Iran found a way around it...If you allow your government or provider to censor you what are you allowing them to do ?) ; 

China says NATO’s conduct has pushed the current tension between Russia and Ukraine to a “breaking point.”

During a daily news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian called on the United States to take China’s concerns seriously and avoid undermining its interests in handling the Ukraine issue and ties with Russia.

At a virtual meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping opposed economic sanctions against Russia, saying they would affect the stability of global finance, energy supplies, transportation, and supply chains and “dampen the global economy,” which has already been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

Xi said the three countries should jointly support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, as he urged Moscow and Kiev to “keep the momentum of negotiations” and “bring about peaceful outcomes.”

DJ The US and EU are in different positions. The US can-most likely-replace Russian oil with oil from other sources. The undersea oil field north of Venezuela stretches more to the east...Guyana, Suriname now also could provide oil...need investments...The EU will now (have to) increase renewable energy sources. (Nuclear powerplants take up to 10 years to build, a lot of uranium also comes from Russia...In Ukraine again nuclear plants show to be a risk.)

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/08/678196/Global-economic-fallout-from-the-Ukraine-conflict[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/08/678196/Global-economic-fallout-from-the-Ukraine-conflict  DJ-Due to US agression; 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir

www.presstv.co.uk

Why is it accepted the US can block internet access to other countries news websites ? Of course they may spread "propaganda" but I more or less stopped watching "western news" because that is almost 100% propaganda....

[url]https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alexander+mercouris[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alexander+mercouris , [url]https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/the-sanction-backlash-will-push-the-west-to-accept-russias-demands.html[/url] or https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/the-sanction-backlash-will-push-the-west-to-accept-russias-demands.html  may give a more reliable view...but it is hard to get a more realistic view if access is denied to (a.o.) Russian sources giving their side of the story...[url]https://southfront.org/[/url] or https://southfront.org/ now also blocked ????

Are we living in a totalitarian state ? Maybe time to drop "google" ? 

[url]https://thesaker.is/the-opinion-of-a-professional-about-the-special-operation-in-ukraine-must-read/[/url] or https://thesaker.is/the-opinion-of-a-professional-about-the-special-operation-in-ukraine-must-read/ is not yet blocked...may be of use for a "balanced view"...

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/political/large-scale-false-flag-cyber-attack-now-imminent[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/political/large-scale-false-flag-cyber-attack-now-imminent 

Maybe to show some realism; "The World united against Russia" in fact means "NATO at war with Russia-Iran-China"....With NATO serving the US goal of staying "the only exceptional state", "the #1"...while in fact it is neither....and the chosen path is only speeding up the fall of the US. 

-Zelensky has given up hope on the west (maybe Turkey, Iran, China can play a role), Ukraine will go for "neutrality"...

-US will come up with an Ukraine "government in exile" (like they did in Venezuela, Belarus, Syria etc.) 

-Due to economic pressure (big companies) the EU may have to accept Ukraine neutrality....

This conflict is NOT about Ukraine but about stopping EurAsian integration...saving the US-petro-$...at the costs of many wars....

Not yet blocked [url]https://www.eurasiareview.com/24022021-bidens-foreign-policies-are-trumps-foreign-policies-oped/[/url] or https://www.eurasiareview.com/24022021-bidens-foreign-policies-are-trumps-foreign-policies-oped/ ; ( Eric Zuesse is an American writer and investigative historian) 

Biden’s foreign policies are putting Democratic Party lipstick onto the Republican Party’s pig. That’s his ‘change’, on U.S. foreign policies.

Though U.S. President Joe Biden is publicly critical of Donald Trump’s foreign policies, he’s continuing almost all of them and is changing only minor ones. The changes are almost entirely in rhetoric, not in policies, as will be documented here.

DJ Also not yet blocked [url]https://mobile.twitter.com/realpepeescobar[/url] or https://mobile.twitter.com/realpepeescobar (Brazil journalist) [url]https://mobile.twitter.com/ejmalrai[/url] or https://mobile.twitter.com/ejmalrai  Elijah JMagnier is a Brussels-based veteran war correspondent and a senior political risk analyst with over 37 years experience covering West Asia. or [url]https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard[/url] or https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard (US 2020 presidential candidate, war veteran...) or [url]https://twitter.com/realscottritter[/url] or https://twitter.com/realscottritter

Sweden’s PM has ruled out applying to join Nato, saying that membership would destabilise northern Europe

So "western democrazies" defending "freedom" still have to block a lot of sites [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/political/greenwald-slays-fact-checkers-after-nulands-ukraine-biolab-bombshell[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/political/greenwald-slays-fact-checkers-after-nulands-ukraine-biolab-bombshell 

Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺@ejmalrai · Mar 6A question:


I was listening to Tchaikovsky Swan Lake by Rozhdestvensky. Am I violating the law or no such law has been yet introduced?

If not, I share it with you, and all amateurs can collectively share a prison cell.

https://youtu.be/JG5tXNhyczc

Insanity as a new normal ! We NEED new leaders, new politics...in the west !

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cobber Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 4:47am

Anyone else enjoying the fake war?

Went to webcams in areas with supposed chaos and got crickets. 

Sure Russia is blowing some things up, but its very controlled. Apparently when the Russians roll in the Ukrainians are dropping their weapons. Very little fighting is actually going on. 

Good old lame stream media likes to beat up a story. Sounds a bit like Covid which strangely seems to have disappeared..


Essentially this war gives Biden's cronies the ability to make out like bandits.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cobber Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 6:05am

Kamala Harris just spoke in Poland and she committed the US to giving Ukraine another $50 BILLION IN AID!

There it is.!

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 10:53am

China’s president Xi Jinping is “unsettled” by the Russian invasion of Ukraine because “his own intelligence doesn’t appear to have told him what was going to happen”, according to the CIA director, Bill Burns.

Speaking to the US Senate intelligence committee today, Burns said Xi was concerned about the “reputational damage” that China could suffer by association with the “ugliness” of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

President Xi is probably a little bit unsettled as he watches the way in which President Putin has driven Americans and Europeans more closely together and strengthened the transatlantic alliance in ways that would have been a little bit hard to imagine before the invasion began.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 10:54am
Julian BorgerImage Caption

 

 

The CIA director, William Burns, was asked by the Senate intelligence committee about the possibility of Russian use of chemical weapons, possibly in a false-flag attack, Julian Borger writes.

This is something, as all of you know very well, that is very much a part of Russia’s playbook.

They’ve used those weapons against their own citizens. They’ve at least encouraged the use in Syria and elsewhere.

So it’s something we take very seriously.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 11:25pm

DJ-Insanity is the new normal....

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/jim-rogers-none-should-be-happening-its-absolute-madness[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/jim-rogers-none-should-be-happening-its-absolute-madness

"None of this should be happening, it's absolute madness," a shocked Jim Rogers told me in his first video appearance since Russia's invasion into Ukraine.

Rogers argues that the current geopolitical crisis stems from 2014, when the U.S. State Department instigated a coup in Kiev. U.S. elected leaders are seeing their actions be paid for gravely, "now we're all paying a gigantic price for it," he says.

Rogers details his argument to me on why the increasing prospects of Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO aggravated Russia... and how the threshold of tolerance was breached from Russia's point of view years later.

Rogers emphasizes a critical stance against economic sanctions, and how financial warfare directed from the U.S. will crush the dollar sooner than expected.

Frantically, other sovereign nations are trying to, "come up with something to compete with the U.S. dollar," the legendary investor told me. "We're [the U.S.] shooting ourselves in the foot every day," he says.

This comes off the heels of the Biden administration's pause on all Russian oil imports as sanctions and financial warfare continue to ramp up as a deterrent of war.

Rogers parallels a turning point in monetary history to the current state of the United States and the dollar saying, "it certainly was not good for Britain which used to be the world's international currency... when they lost that status, they lost a lot of things."

"No currency has lasted forever, and no #1 currency has lasted forever," Rogers told me.

Rogers says that governments are already working on their own digital currencies, but holds firm when detailing that he, "cannot see the world having 100% computer money Rogers predicts that sovereign nations will explain to citizens how government-issued digital coins will be secure and safe for the good of the people, and most will believe it.


DJ-A good summery of where we are....In my view a transition from a US/US$ dominated world to a "multi-polar" one...The Euro/€ could have replaced the US$ -may even still do so-without the European Central Bank having much of a say...Asia taking over...for their goals. 

[url]https://southfront.org/germany-based-webhosting-censored-southfront/[/url] or https://southfront.org/germany-based-webhosting-censored-southfront/ ;

DJ Censorship also a "new normal" ? RT.com still being blocked....


We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 10 2022 at 11:33pm

DJ-Tried to correct to Zero Hedge post...clear form did not work....did take some extra work...

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/who-told-ukraine-destroy-high-threat-pathogens-prevent-disease-spread[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/who-told-ukraine-destroy-high-threat-pathogens-prevent-disease-spread

The report comes after a tense back-and-forth between US and Russian officials over "dangerous" biolabs in the country - with Russia, and then China, accusing the US military of involvement in Ukraine's biolabs.

On Wednesday, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova repeated a longstanding claim that the United States operates a biowarfare lab in Ukraine, an accusation that has been repeatedly denied by Washington and Kyiv.

Zakharova said that documents unearthed by Russian forces in Ukraine showed "an emergency attempt to erase evidence of military biological programmes" by destroying lab samples. -Reuters

The US has denied the allegations - issuing (among other things) a Thursday statement that "The United States does not have chemical or biological weapons labs in Ukraine," adding that America "does not develop or possess chemical and biological weapons anywhere."

DJ; The US "outsourced" risky "gain of function" studies a.o. to Wuhan-China....If only for defensive use any major country will have (to have) bio-labs....To evade strict rules in their own country a lot of higher risk studies go to countries wilth less restrictions....

So-YES the US most likely had bio-labs in Ukraine (looks like even close to the Russian border...)...YES the US would like to keep it a secret what bio-hazards they fear most....

On Tuesday, US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland acknowledged that Ukraine "has biological research facilities, which, in fact, we are now quite concerned Russian troops, Russian forces may be seeking to gain control of. So we are working with the Ukrainians on how they can prevent any of those research materials from falling into the hands of Russian forces should they approach."

Nuland's answer made clear that whatever is inside Ukraine's biolabs is a serious concern, however it should be noted that there's no public evidence of bioweapons, nor did the WHO statement make reference to biowarfare - which is a separate issue from whether the laboratories contained, or contain, dangerous pathogens which could be used in a bioweapon

DJ; There is a thin line between "bio-defense" and "bio-weapons".....

[url]https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/disarming-ukraine-day-15-a-curious-hospital-bombing-and-no-fly-zone-pressure.html[/url] or https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/disarming-ukraine-day-15-a-curious-hospital-bombing-and-no-fly-zone-pressure.html all indications are "groups" were using the hospital as a defense position...so making it a military target...

"Media" again following Ukraine propaganda are NOT informing but misleading the public ! Over and over again...

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jmEMacRaBk[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jmEMacRaBk Alexander Mercouris; Russia Says West Has Defaulted on Financial Obligations by Seizing Central Bank Reserves, EU's Borrell Admits Sanctions Are Maxed, Russia Prepares to Quit Council of Europe News Topic 434

DJ a comment;I can see Europe becoming poorer and Russia becoming richer. With the transfer of wealth comes a transfer of technology. The EU is diligently working to destroy itself and succeeding admirably.

may be realistic..."F.ck the EU"- part two...with EU leaders to stupid to realize what is happening....[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-considers-temporary-ban-agricultural-products-countries-outside-eurasia[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-considers-temporary-ban-agricultural-products-countries-outside-eurasia 

DJ-Lots of post worth reading...but in essence; Russia will do bussiness with Asia, Africa, South America....The US may be able to buy some specific sorts of oil from Venezuela, Iran (etc) at a much higher price...and dropping all kind of sanctions, freezing bank accounts of Iran, Venezuela...with that money-like many other countries-now going high speed to countries that do not take "money hostage" for political goals....

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/enforcing-sanctions-russia-swift-may-commit-suicide[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/enforcing-sanctions-russia-swift-may-commit-suicide Asia, South America, Africa now switching to a (Chinese) alternative for SWIFT....

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russias-invasion-ukraine-will-benefit-china[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russias-invasion-ukraine-will-benefit-china DJ-I do not agree with all the idea's of Alexander Mercouris. He is thinking there will be a sort of "Iron trade wall" between Russia and the west/Europe...

A few remarks; Europe NEEDS Russian energy, materials...so most likely the gap between the US/UK and the EU on sanctions will widen...Also elections in Europe, US may "force" changes...

China, TIP (Turkey, Iran, Pakistan) and even Russia itself would like to have "good relations" a Berlin-Moscow-Bejing link...with France maybe as an extra for the role it may play in Africa...China is able to replace Europe...but it may believe it is wiser to "use/work with" Europe...Break up US-EU "block"...

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/why-readers-should-question-wests-madman-narrative-russia-invades-ukraine[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/why-readers-should-question-wests-madman-narrative-russia-invades-ukraine NATO was involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria..."not very succesfull" to say the least...Ukraine may be "a bridge to far" for NATO...may bring the end of NATO....(in fact a main goal of NATO for the US was selling US expensive weapons to the EU...maybe now US LNG would have to replace Russian energy...but LNG is that much more expensive Russia can lift its energy prices and still outcompete US-LNG...so can Arab countries, Iran, Venezuela...). 

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gaJR4QTDoQ[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gaJR4QTDoQ The Plint (India) on how drones change the wars...

DJ-My conclusion; The West did do itself major damage with sanctioning Russia. International crossing Russia's red lines (NATO expansion) is seen as the reason for this crisis...it is the West that is getting more and more isolated (but still may be to blind/stupid to realize it...). The World has changed for good...

PS. There was a discussion on China; some western sources claim "Xi did know" Russian plans to invade Ukraine...often the same western media come up also with; "Xi was shocked by Russian invasion"....clueless bla-bla...

Is the war in Ukraine over ? NATO seems to want it to go on...even when it is pointless....In my view Russia-China did win this battle...the "West" may soon split up...EU does need trade with Asia...US may go in self isolation...( not uncommon for most of US history...) UK-one way or the other-will join the EU...(maybe reunification of Ireland, Scotland first joining the EU...then England may find out no other options left...Wales...joining Ireland, Scotland in a "United Republic"???)

Nuclear war ? Who will use nukes for what ? Russia looks like it will be able to enforce its red lines...Sweden, Finland will NOT join NATO (Finland gets almost all of its energy from Russia...). The US may have to accept to take a few steps back...."endless war strategy" did show to be very expensive and not bringing results....

Maybe NATO will redefine its role...with worsening climate collapse, pandemics, lots of other crises, a "military style" organization can be of good use...who knows-maybe even Russia could join such an organization...(There has been some discussion on Russia joining NATO after the end of the Soviet Union....if NATO had been "another kind of club" it maybe even could have worked...Gorbachov (as far as I understand)  did not close that door...the West did....

Just my opinion...may be wrong...not an expert...( "Happy in Holland" -even when I rather use the Netherlands...)

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 9:07am

Ukraine’s state centre for strategic communications said Belarus may launch an invasion of Ukraine today after a meeting in Moscow between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

In a statement, the centre said:

According to preliminary data, Belarusian troops may be drawn into an invasion on March 11 at 21:00 (1900 GMT).


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 9:15am

Putin obviously not thinking clearly. Early onset dementia?

The Russian ambassador to UN, Vasily Nebenzya, has been presenting the Kremlin’s allegations that Ukraine and the US had a plot to spread biological weapons with migratory birds, bats and insects.

Nebenzya issued a chilling warning to Eastern Europe that biological agents:

We call upon you to think about a very real biological danger to the people in European countries, which can result from an uncontrolled spread of bio agents from Ukraine. And if there is a such a scenario then all Europe will be covered.

The risk of this is very real given the interests of the radical nationalist groups in Ukraine are showing towards the work with dangerous pathogens conducted together with the ministry of defence of the United States.

After Nebenzya spoke, Albania, the US and France have voiced alarm that the allegations may be an advance cover story for Russian plans to unleash chemical or biological weapons.

US ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said:

The intent behind these lies seem clear and it is deeply troubling. We believe Russia could use chemical or biological agents for assassinations as part of a false flag incident or to support tactical military operations.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 9:46am

US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, says Russia has a well-documented history of using chemical weapons.

Speaking at the UN security council meeting convened at Russia’s request, Thomas-Greenfield said:

Ukraine does not have a biological weapons programme.

There are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories supported by the United States. Not near Russia’s border or anywhere.

It was Russia, instead, that could use chemical or biological agents in Ukraine, she said. Although she did not immediately provide evidence of an imminent threat during the meeting, she said:

Russia has a track record of falsely accusing other countries of the very violations that Russia itself is perpetrating.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 12:06pm

DJ-Another "good" Zero Hedge article, in the sense of describing what is happening...[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/god-help-us-death-knell-dollar-here-metals-markets-are-breaking[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/god-help-us-death-knell-dollar-here-metals-markets-are-breaking

A: The demand for physical metal over the last two years has been extraordinary, but nothing like the craziness that we have experienced since the Ukraine invasion. For two years, I have publicly talked about the supply constraints, rising premiums and dwindling inventories becoming a serious concern. It is all happening in real-time now.

Getting product used to be the least of my concern and now is the industry's greatest challenge. The market is almost 100% void of any secondary product, nobody sells into this environment. The higher the price goes and the crazier the world gets, only strengthens peoples’ resolve and concern for holding metals to begin with.

Q: I wrote a couple days ago that I thought Russia and China could be looking to form a new economic system backed by gold. I know you read that article - what are your thoughts on that thesis? Real possibility or conspiracy theory?

This is not a conspiracy theory. It is more of a speculation. It makes perfect sense.  

The United States has militarized the dollar by restricting its use by countries the administration wishes to punish, such as Iran and Russia. A reserve currency is supposed to be available to everyone, not just the nations we choose. 

This is the death knell to the dollar. Countries around the globe are coming to realize that the U.S. cannot be trusted and that anyone can be locked out of the swift system at a whim. China and Russia hold the most gold in the world, after the U.S., but that is if you believe that we still actually have the 8,000+ tonnes at Fort Knox and that our gold is not incumbered – pledged to other countries - and that is a big “if.”  

We are now facing World War III, but this time the odds are it will be an economic war, not a shooting war. The phrase, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is taking place before our eyes. We have driven Russia into China’s arms and we are their common enemy. If they released a gold-backed Ruble/Yuan, it would spell the end of the dollar as the world’s singular reserve currency.  

Q: Do you think there’s a chance Russia just stops taking payment anything other than rubles or gold?

Yes, it is possible, but for now, unlikely. The exception is the Chinese Yuan. Russia and China recently signed a trade agreement that is decades long, where Russia will provide China with gas and oil and the trade will be settled in yuan (and/or product from China). The two countries could use gold as a settlement for their trade, but it is not likely. One thing seems certain; Russia will stop accepting the euro and the dollar.

Who do you think has all the leverage in this Russia Ukraine situation? What do you see the eventual outcome being – and when?

Russia has all the leverage.  The war should come to a conclusion in a matter of weeks, or months at the outside. Russia’s goals were to prevent the Ukraine from joining NATO, and they will get their wish. They also want to set up a new government, one favorable to Russia, and they will accomplish that as well. There may well be prolonged guerilla warfare in the Ukraine and a small Russian occupation force, but the end game has always been a win for the Russians.


DJ...another point is (also) simple and basic...Asia has a population of over 4 billion....I expect Europe, Africa, Latin America, Australia soon will restart trade-even with Russia in some ways...due to lack of alternatives....

The US$ was (mis)used as a weapon-in the hands of the US. The Euro may be not under ECB control...Russia, Iran, India, China could use it for their goals...

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/biden-nato-russia-conflict-would-unleash-world-war-3-warns-russia-severe-price-if[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/biden-nato-russia-conflict-would-unleash-world-war-3-warns-russia-severe-price-if both Russia and China claim US bio-labs found in Ukraine...[url]https://thesaker.is/cutting-through-the-fog-masking-a-new-page-in-the-art-of-war/[/url] or https://thesaker.is/cutting-through-the-fog-masking-a-new-page-in-the-art-of-war/

By now what we may call a Triple Threat has been established as the catalyst anticipating the launch of Operation Z.

  1. Ukraine developing nuclear weapons. Zelensky himself hinted at it in the Munich Security Conference.
  2. U.S. bioweapons labs in Ukraine. Confirmed, tersely, by none other than the Sinister Cookie Distributor neocon wife in the uber-neocon Kaganate of Nulands, who described them as “biological research facilities”. ”
  3. An imminent attack on Donbass with massive civilian deaths. It could have been in March, according to documents seized by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Or even in late February, according to SVR intelligence, which was monitoring the line of contact on a minute-by-minute basis. This is what eventually prompted Operation Z as a Russian version of R2P (“Responsibility to Protect”).

DJ A 4th reason for Russia starting a war is to make clear crossing a Russian red line means war.....

All aboard the Eurasian train

On the economic front, the dogs of hybrid war bark while the Eurasia integration caravan marches on – with the Empire irretrievably being pushed outside of the Eurasian landmass.

In a phone call prior to the Lavrov-Kuleba meeting in Antalya, President Erdogan suggested to Putin setting up a trading mechanism in gold and also rubles, yuan and Turkish lira to beat the Western sanction hysteria. The source is Abdulkadir Selvi, very close to Erdogan. No Russia-China official comment yet.

The key fact is that Russia, China, and for that matter the entire Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – responsible for at least 30% of global GDP and the bulk of the Eurasian market – don’t need the West at all.

DJ [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation#Membership[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation#Membership Besides Russia, China, also India, Pakistan, Iran are SCO members, Turkey (and a.o. Nepal) are waiting to join the SCO. 

Future economic growth will be in (Eur)Asia....

Other fronts;

[url]https://southfront.org/houthis-claim-responsibility-for-large-scale-attack-on-saudi-oil-facilities/[/url] or https://southfront.org/houthis-claim-responsibility-for-large-scale-attack-on-saudi-oil-facilities/ 

[url]https://southfront.org/syrian-authorities-uncover-weapons-cache-in-former-militant-stronghold-in-hama-photos/[/url] or https://southfront.org/syrian-authorities-uncover-weapons-cache-in-former-militant-stronghold-in-hama-photos/ 

DJ-Both in Syria and Yemen solution of the conflict may see Russian-Turkish initiatives...They are in a position to talk to all sides (the US/EU is not...). 

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71PR0YQi7Jk[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71PR0YQi7Jk Alexander Mercouris ;Russia Captures Key Ukrainian Town, Moves Towards Gold Backed Rouble, EU Rejects Sanctions on Russian Oil & Gas News Topic 435

The capture of the town of Volnovakha by the Russians is indeed a significant development. I hope it was achieved with minimum casualties on both sides. We don't know the circumstances of the victory at this time, but one must hope that significant numbers of Ukrainians surrendered rather than be destroyed. That hope is for their sake, and for the lives of their comrades elsewhere in the Donbas who are likewise surrounded with Russian forces closing in. Hopefully other Ukrainian units in the region will surrender rather than fight to the end, sparing the lives of soldiers and civilians alike.  Not far away the Russians are tightening their grip with steady, measured advances in the city of Mariupol. The area controlled by the ultra-nationalist militias has been reduced to an area of about ten square kilometres.

Also [url]https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/11-march-turkey-is-moving-its-embassy-in-kyiv-to-the-city[/url] or https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/11-march-turkey-is-moving-its-embassy-in-kyiv-to-the-city 

of Chernivtsi amid reports of a planned Russian assault on the Ukrainian capital, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tanju Bilgic was quoted as saying by state media on Friday

DJ I think Russia has had enough of "empty words"...another (final ?) offensive will start soon ? [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-missiles-hit-targets-near-polish-border-likely-message-nato[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-missiles-hit-targets-near-polish-border-likely-message-nato

"The military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk were put out of action," the Russian Defense Ministry statement continued.

According to CNN, based on local Ukrainian government authorities:

There was substantial damage to the airport at Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine, which is only about 70 miles from the Polish border. The governor of the Volyn region said four missiles had been fired from a Russian bomber and two people were killed. Plumes of smoke also rose from the military airfield at Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, which was struck by missiles.


Russia will stop further NATO intervention...(there is risk for further escalation...From both Poland and Romania still some military goods enter Ukraine...but may not reach the frontlines...)


We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ME163 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 6:26pm

Hi guys, 


It's ME163 here,  I am pretty scared of what I see here. We need to remember that WW3 would mean  the end of everything. I am not worried for myself but for the kids.  Becky's little ones are 8, 5 and 3 years old respectively.  I  can't bear the thought of them dying in a nuclear war.  All of the parties need to come to their senses.   We have moved everything to our underground location.  We are all living in our basement bomb shelter now.  steel and concrete shelter with a propane powered generator.  We try to have a normal as possible life and we still go out to take the kids to the park and to walk the dogs.  We have at least 6 months of food for 9 people to live.  WE have an  underground spring we can tap into and have enough water to last us quite a number of months.    I hope you are preparing for the end of our world and are doing well. 


Love to all, 


ME163, Vicki, Jill and Becky. 


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KiwiMum Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 8:40pm

I was listening to a commentator on the BBC today saying that over 70% of UK people are in favour of a no fly zone over the Ukraine, and he was saying that he felt those people really didn't understand that to enforce a no fly zone would make the UK and Nato officially at war with Russia and that may well lead to a nuclear solution. Nuclear war really will be the end of the world as we know it. 

As Einstein said "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." And that will be the outcome if this becomes nuclear. A very scary scenario.

Those who got it wrong, for whatever reason, may feel defensive and retrench into a position that doesn’t accord with the facts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 11 2022 at 10:43pm

DJ, My thoughts;

-Ukraine is "just" one battlefield in a much larger conflict

-I think/hope ALL "leaders" want/hope to avoid this conflict to go nuclear

-At least FOUR nuclear powers involved; On the "west"; US & UK. on the "east" Russia and China

-Problem could be in even other nuclear weapon states; India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel

-France also a nuclear power but "more neutral"...

-The present conflict is between NATO, Japan, Australia and Russia

-Most of the world want to see this war over a.s.a.p.

DJ-NATO may even be rethinking sending weapons to Ukraine (most of it so far by truck from Poland, Romania) - again most of the world wants de-escalation. A "no-fly zone" by NATO may be "just a bad idea" just like sending Polish Mig-29's to the Ukraine...One major problem with sending (more) weapons is that you do not know in wich hands it may end up...both IS and neo-nazi's, other extreme right wing groups fighting on the Ukraine-Kiev side...NATO may not like it when weapons "for Ukraine" were used against Muslims, Jews, "left wingers" or other groups in a western country...(I think Israel also may be warning for that...Ukraine has a serious corruption problem. Enough groups want to buy weapons...So NATO sending in weapons has to serve a goal...). 

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/wall-street-stunned-zoltan-pozsars-latest-prediction-what-comes-next[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/wall-street-stunned-zoltan-pozsars-latest-prediction-what-comes-next ;"We are witnessing the birth of Bretton Woods III – a new world order centered around commodity currencies in the East that will weaken the Eurodollar system... After this war is over “money” will never be the same again."

DJ, most of it behind a paywall, and [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ccp-seeks-new-global-order-expense-all-others-us-admiral[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ccp-seeks-new-global-order-expense-all-others-us-admiral ;

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is engaged in a whole-of-society effort to undermine the rules-based international order and to promote its own brand of authoritarianism, according to U.S. military and political leaders.

The People’s Republic of China is the most consequential strategic competitor that the United States has faced,” said Admiral John Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

DJ The US has a problem as well with China....and with Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba....The outcome of this conflict is all of these countries working more close together. Looking also at the position of India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey we are moving away from a "western global trading system" .....[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS ;

BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs.[1] Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS states have met annually at formal summits. India hosted the most recent 13th BRICS summit on 9 September 2021 virtually.

The change in global balance is not new, has been going on for decades...

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolationism#United_States[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolationism#United_States One can discuss wether the US had "isolationism" or "non-intervention" as a basic for its foreign policy most of US history...DJ-Will the US and Russia in some ways "switch positions"? US exporting energy and grain, Russia more at the center of EurAsian (China/India-EU) trade ? 

"Re-positioning" to avoid (losing) a major conflict. (One of the interesting things in US history-I think-is the Dutch role in it...The UK overtook "New Netherlands" in the 17th century-called the Dutch "Yankees"...The Dutch colony in America did not get support from NL...got isolated-easy target/gain...In the 18th century "Yankees" kicked out the UK...(with French help, NL-then a republic- first to recognize the US republic independence)...

-Of course the Ukraine war is not yet over. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych[/url] or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Yanukovych was seen in Belarus...may be involved in the Russia-Ukraine talks. 

Only in western propaganda Ukraine had a chance against Russia...most of the fighting in the east of Ukraine-and maybe most of it allready over...Ukraine had no chance to win this war. 

Some points;

-Zelinsky-government did stay in Kiev, even when the US asked them to move to West Ukraine-Lviv

-Russia has "limited goals" ; Ukraine neutral, safety for Russians, recognition for Crimea & Donbas

-In the talks there is "room"...Russia may even accept Zelinsky, let Ukraine stay intact-most of it (Crimea, Donbas are gone...) if the (present) Kiev government is willing to cooperate..

-If the Kiev government "needs to much time" Russia will overtake most of Ukraine (including the Black Sea coast) and replace Zelinsky with Yanukovich...

-Most likely China, Turkey, even Iran may be willing to invest in Ukraine "under certain conditions"....

-The "West" only seem to offer a never ending conflict....Both EU and NATO membership not realistic 9only promisses)

-This war-allthough not yet "full blown" allready did see thousends of deaths...can get much more ugly (Russia does NOT need bio/chemical warfare...it could start bombing/shelling...so far that only was "used" against airfields, military targets). 

-"The West", even NATO -in fact-is not united at all; 

Turkey wants to see the Turkish Lira-currency somehow get linked with Russian, Chinese currencies...Turk-stream = Russian energy, most of tourism in Turkey is from Russia (China, Iran may also be of interest). 

EU needs Russian energy...will keep buying it-Russia needs Euro's, Dollars, Yens, Pounds...so they will keep selling it...

US can do without Russia...(the Atlantic Ocean in many ways a gap)

UK, Brexit needs to bring alternatives for the EU...

The European UNION, UNITED Kingdom/States are very divided....with most likely the EU feeling frustration on "F.ck the EU"-part 2...by v.nuland....Somehow the EU-leaders were hoping for a plan, a strategy from "the west" on Ukraine...but there is non....(Reminding me of "Iraq 2003" you may win a war but not win peace...You need a plan, scenario...).

So-to end this "making up my mind"...most of the world want this war to be over as soon as possible...are willing to do bussiness with whoever they can do bussiness with...The West may-still be in a (dangerous) tunnelvision...time to wake up !

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2022 at 2:32am

China curtails alliance with Russia fearing sanctions

Beijing: China claimed to share a robust alliance with Russia even after the Ukraine conflict began. However, this alliance appears to have shaken. China has grown afraid of the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other countries. Consequently, China has refused to provide aircraft parts to Russian companies. Besides, the press has claimed that Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has indicated changing China’s policies given the ‘Ukraine War’.

The rift between the two nations may increase in future, claimed Director Burns.

Even though China appears concerned about the Ukrainians due to Russian atrocities in Director Burns‘ claims, it truly is worried about its economic interests in Russia. Hence, China, which claims to share a robust alliance with Russia, has denied providing it with aircraft parts. Moreover, China has also initiated steps to save itself from the brunt it may receive due to sanctions on Russia by the West. This can affect the alliance between the two nations. Thus, this is another indicator for Russia that China cannot be trusted.

 

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A former Nato official said she is “sceptical” Russian forces will gain “much success” in an assault on Kyiv.

A massive convoy of Russian forces massed outside the Ukrainian capital is believed to have dispersed, in preparation for an advance. This morning, the UK’s ministry of defence said “the bulk of Russian ground forces” were around 25km from the centre of Kyiv.

But Rose Gottemoeller, a former deputy secretary general of Nato, told the BBC today that this could be taken as a sign of weakness.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Gottemoeller said:

I’m wondering if they have the ability to regroup at this point, because their logistics are in such bad shape, they don’t really have the fuel supplies they need for a push on to Kyiv.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2022 at 6:03am

Russia warns that Moscow now considers arms shipments to Ukraine as 'legitimate targets' for military

A senior Russian diplomat has warned that from now on Moscow will consider arms shipments to Ukraine as “legitimate targets”.

The comments by the deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, reported by Sky News and BuzzFeed News, are likely to raise fears over a potential escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.

Ryabkov said that Russia had made its position clear to the US.

He said that Russia “warned the US that pumping weapons from a number of countries it orchestrates isn’t just a dangerous move, it’s an action that makes those convoys legitimate targets”.

Denouncing US sanctions against Moscow, he said they were an “unprecedented attempt to deal a serious blow to various sectors of the Russian economy”.

But he insisted that Russia did not intend to expel western media and businesses, adding: “We aren’t going to escalate the situation.”


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote A-I Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2022 at 7:57am

World War 3 huh LOL. 

I guess everyone forgot the war in Donbas and the annexation of Crimea (you know part of the Ukraine) by Russia in 2014. That was going to ignite WW3 and nuclear war then too the media cried, but it didn't happen, just like this event won't make it happen. LOL.

Shouldn't everyone be more worried about Covid than this? LOL

BTW just got back from two weeks in Cancun and Playa del Carmen Mexico. Didn't even know read anything about this till I got back to the states, too busy having fun and living life. Mexico was listed as a level 4 do not travel due to high covid transmission levels by the CDC( does anyone listen to those CDC clowns anymore anyway?) when I left to go down there. Crowded restaurants, bars, clubs and streets with people from all over the world with no masks, no social distancing during the pandemic with the most contagious variant and neither myself nor anyone I was with tested positive prior to flying back home. Either it's not that contagious or maybe I should buy a lottery ticket, because if I was going to be exposed that was the place without a doubt. All I can say is it was a hell of a great vacation to celebrate the end of the pandemic and the return to normalcy. Life goes on, don't live it in fear.

"Facts don't care about your feelings" I'M A UNVAXXED DEVIL so kiss my rebel ass.
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"Facts don't care about your feelings" I'M A UNVAXXED DEVIL so kiss my rebel ass.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 12 2022 at 9:27pm

Diplomatic war; [url]https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-701041[/url] or https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-701041

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he recommends Ukraine take the offer made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war - which includes many Ukrainian sacrifices - in a phone call on Tuesday, according to an official in Ukraine's government.


According to the official, Zelensky did not take Bennett's advice.


The source claimed that the phone call was initiated by Bennett. "If I were you, I would think about the lives of my people and take the offer," Bennett reportedly said. 


Zelensky's response was short: "I hear you," he said.


According to the report, the Ukrainian president and his people did not like the advice.


"Bennett told us to surrender," said the official. "We have no intention of doing so. We know Putin's offer is only the beginning."


DJ [url]https://www.jpost.com/international/article-700683[/url] or https://www.jpost.com/international/article-700683

With ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Zelensky's Servant of the People Party has proposed a new security agreement as an alternative to the country joining NATO. The party believes that in such an agreement, the guarantors may be the United States, Turkey, and neighboring countries – even including Russia. 


By signing such an agreement, Russia will allegedly have legal obligations to recognize Ukrainian statehood and refrain from threatening the Ukrainian people and government.


The party acknowledges that such an agreement may seem absurd given the current situation, but insists that the new treaty will set out specific steps taken by other guarantor states against the violating party.

Can that work ? Ukraine realizing it can not be a member of NATO or EU in the nearby future at least showing some realism. From a military point of view Ukraine can not win this war-but it is pushing up the price. Sad reality most of the price will be paid by those that did not want this war...

Economic war; [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fiat-currencies-are-going-fail-spectacularly-lawrence-lepard[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fiat-currencies-are-going-fail-spectacularly-lawrence-lepard

Russia Invading Ukraine Has Caused A ‘Monetary Earthquake’

What just happened in the last two weeks is enormously important and misunderstood by many investors.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the corresponding Western sanctions and seizure of Russian FX reserves are nothing short of a monetary earthquake. The last comparable event was Nixon's abandonment of the gold standard in 1971. 

Russia, with the backing and support of China, just told the world that it is no longer going to sell its oil, gas and wheat for Western currencies which are programmed to debase. 

The West in its response just said to all countries around the world: “If you have foreign exchange reserves, held in our system, they are no longer safe if we disagree with your politics.”

-

 If governments can weaponize their money when they do not like what you are doing, what is the natural defense?

Gold Will Rip Higher Because Of What Russia Is Doing

The US Dollar has been the reserve currency of the world since WW II and the Bretton Woods agreement. This has given the US an enormous advantage and subsidy from the rest of the world because everyone else needs to produce goods and services to obtain dollars and the US can simply produce dollars at no cost by printing them.   

Putin is now cast in the role of Charles de Gaulle who complained about the "exorbitant privilege" of the US with its dollar hegemony. As we all know, de Gaulle demanded gold in exchange for France's US dollar FX surpluses and this outflow forced Nixon to close the gold window.  

 

Recall that post this event, gold went from $35 per ounce to $800 per ounce (23x).  Russia's move will lead to a similar move in favor of gold. Putin could see that the US fiscal and monetary situation was becoming untenable and he decided to use this to create an existential threat to the US and the world financial system. 

He undoubtedly knows that the West has artificially suppressed the price of gold and that is why he has been building his gold reserves steadily for the past 20 years.

Putin just shot "King Dollar" in the head.

Russia is long commodities, long gold and doesn't need fiat currency. His debt to GDP ratio is low and taxes are low. If the world financial markets collapse on a relative basis, the position of Russia will be improved significantly. This is what I believe he is playing for. If investors do not recognize this they will be caught wrong footed as I believe many are today.

The implications for investors are quite clear. None of us own enough gold, real assets or commodities. Fiat currencies are going to fail spectacularly, and soon, in my opinion.

and [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/india-mulling-rupee-ruble-payments-system-trade-russia[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/india-mulling-rupee-ruble-payments-system-trade-russia

Two developments this summer caused India to question the reliability and integrity of the U.S. as an ally.

The first was the manner of the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, which had External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar wondering about the value of U.S. security guarantees. Washington’s Ukraine policy is only increasing those misgivings. The United States was willing to push Ukraine to take actions that many – including Henry Kissinger, George Kennan, and Noam Chomsky – warned Russia couldn’t abide. But then when the shooting started, the United States wasn’t willing to get in line of fire.

And in the second, in September, the U.S. stunned many when it announced a new Australia/United Kingdom/United States security grouping (AUKUS), as part of which Australia would receive American nuclear submarines. Prior to the new arrangement, the Quad –comprised of the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan – was the principal counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific (see this Council on Foreign Relations summary, The Quad in the Indo-Pacific: What to Know).

This AUKUS announcement caused consternation both in France and India.

-

Since the early 1970s, India has purchased much of its armaments from Russia. Although as part of its tilt towards Washington, India has in recent yearsdecreased its reliance on Russian arms, “Today, 60% of India’s military hardware inventory is from Russia or the former Soviet Union and the bulk of India’s license-based defense manufacturing comes from Russia,” according to Defense News, India braces for sanctions on Russia to delay weapons programs, deliveries. This makes India dependent on Russia for the supply of spare parts. Shunning Russia would mean India must find new sources of armaments.

The realization of the shakiness of U.S security guarantees means that India is rethinking the state of its relations with China. Although the two countries have gone to war since Independence, their bilateral relationship has not always been hostile. Now that the value of U.S. security guarantees is being more openly questioned, one option for India is to try and ensure that its bilateral relations with China don’t deteriorate to the point of outright hostility again. That the two countries are becoming more closely bound is true, at least on the economic level, with the latest bilateral trade figures showing imports from China increasing by 30% over 2019 (to $97.5 billion) and exports climbing by 30% over 2019 (to 28.1billion). according to The Hindu, India-China trade crossed $125 bn in 2021.

China (1.4 billion) and India (1.38 billion) together account  for more than a quarter of the world’s 7.9 billion people, so anything that dials down bilateral tensions is to be encouraged.

-

The war has caused oil prices to skyrocket and the rupee has hit a record low. Note that India still has a number of state-owned banks that could be used to implement any arrangements that might be devised. A private bank might be vulnerable to sanctions

Military war; [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-consulate-iraq-hit-multiple-missiles-iran-launch-suspected[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-consulate-iraq-hit-multiple-missiles-iran-launch-suspected

Update (2130ET): Initial reports that missiles 'struck' the US Embassy in Erbil, Iraq have been downgraded.

A dozen ballistic missiles launched from outside the country did hit the northern Kurdish regional capital on Sunday - however there were no casualties, and no parties have claimed responsibility.

According to Reuters, a US State Department spokesperson called it an "outrageous attack," however no Americans were hurt - nor was there any damage to US government facilities in Erbil.

and [url]https://southfront.org/phoergiuhlf84356/[/url] or https://southfront.org/phoergiuhlf84356/ ;On March 11, the Kremlin approved the involvement of foreign militants in military operations in Ukraine along with the joint Russian, DPR and LPR military. The decision was made in response to the massive recruitment of foreign fighters by the Kiev military officials.A unit of the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic has released a video saying that they are ready to fight with Russia against Ukrainian nationalists:

The involvement of the foreign servicemen, including from Syria, in military activities in Ukraine may fasten the mopping-up operations in the currently blockaded cities, as they have the necessary experience after years of fighting against terrorists of all kinds in Syria.

DJ; Many countries want this war to be over as soon as possible...what they do mean is sanctions are hindering trade; they have to find ways around sanctions to get the goods they need from Russia on a price they can pay.

The economic war may "crash" both the € and $....both "backed" by trade not gold...Russia and China did prepare for conflict. 

Some people do not get that you can not stop trading with a major country just like that. Energy, food, weapons are long term trade deals...the globe is not "just a sort of shoppingmall", countries are not "different kind of supermarkets"...

For raw materials and food, weapons most countries "shop" in Russia...builiding pipelines for oil/gas...building Russian nuclear plants (France and India may be long term partners) with Russia doing also maintenance...just like with more complicated weapons...

The US may be in a very "priviliged" position-easy for the US to stop import Wodka, caviar, and limited oil...they did not do that much trade with Russia...The UAE is the main investor in Russia, China, EU, India main trading partners...you can not stop trade with the press of a button without getting into serious problems...

In West Asia (Syria, Iraq, Yemen) "military activity" is increasing-no doubt linked to a new Iran-deal in its final stages...The US now wants to buy oil from Iran, Venezuela...go for sanctions against Russia...realy believe countries may be willing to make any serious deal with the US...

Both Iran and Venezuela want their frozen/stolen money back from western countries, end of sanctions, may welcome some US$ untill hyperinflation has destroyed it...

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 12:38am

[url]https://southfront.org/ballistic-missiles-hit-us-targets-in-erbil-iran-said-to-be-responsible-videos/[/url] or https://southfront.org/ballistic-missiles-hit-us-targets-in-erbil-iran-said-to-be-responsible-videos/Iranian activists shared footage claiming to show the launch of a number of Fateh-110 tactical short-range ballistic missiles from a base in the western Iranian province of Kermanshah just a few minutes before the explosions were heard in Erbil. The footage is yet to be verified.

DJ [url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/13/678455/Iraq-Kurdistan-base-American-forces-attack-Erbil[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/13/678455/Iraq-Kurdistan-base-American-forces-attack-Erbil no official Iran confirmation yet...

[url]https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/iran-fires-precision-guided-missiles-into-iraq[/url] or https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/iran-fires-precision-guided-missiles-into-iraq

Upwards of TEN precision guided missiles were fired from inside Iran into Iraq Saturday evening, landing at or near the US Consulate in the Iraq city of Erbil.  Iran reports that this is revenge for the elimination of two Iranian officers in Syria by Israeli Air Force forces, and that the Erbil strike hit the headquarters of the Israeli Mossad."

Some 12 missiles were fired from Iranian territory and fell near the US consulate in Erbil in northwestern Iraq on Saturday night.

The Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service announced that 12 ballistic missiles were fired from "outside the borders of Iraq and the Kurdistan region, specifically from the east," according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Independent open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts shared videos reportedly shared by Iranian civilians showing missiles being fired from Iran at the time of the attack, with at least one of the videos being geolocated to a site in Khasabad in the East Azerbaijan province of Iran.

IRGC-linked FarsNews is linking tonight's missile strikes on Erbil to General Qassem Soleimani's killing. Fars: Missiles hit the "Israeli-American" bases at 01:20 local time; "that's not a coincidence". IRGC-QF chief Soleimani was killed in #Iraq on 7Jan20—01:20 Iraq time. Iran 

MORE:

Hearing a theory circulating that maybe this was an attack on the site of the new US consulate under construction in Erbil.

The Fateh-110 has an apparent CEP of ~3-4 meters. This means that the missile WILL strike within 3 to 4 meters of whatever target it was aimed at.  The missile carries a 1,000 pound conventional warhead.

IMHO, if you wanted to make a statement without a lot of collateral, this would be one way of doing it.

This week's incident was not the first time that a US installation in the region was attacked. In September, an explosive drone attack took place near Erbil International Airport – where US troops were stationed. A few months earlier, in July, another drone attack took place at the airport and appeared to target US troops.

DJ, For me the Hal Turner story makes some sense...

[url]https://www.jpost.com/international/article-701121[/url] or https://www.jpost.com/international/article-701121 ;

Qatar's foreign minister will travel to Moscow on Sunday for discussions on the Iran nuclear talks and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a source familiar with the visit said.

The source said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose gas producing country is a US ally, would meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Eleven month-old talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal face the prospect of collapse after a last-minute Russian demand forced world powers to pause negotiations despite having a largely completed text.

Russia wants guarantees that its trade with Iran will not be affected by sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine - a demand Western powers say is unacceptable and Washington has insisted it will not agree to.


The US wants oil from Iran, Venezuela....Iran would send uranium to Russia as part of the original idea...If the US wants to sanction that there will be NO new Iran deal...

[url]https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Regrets-Turning-Colombia-Into-a-Space-for-NATO-20220312-0009.html[/url] or https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Regrets-Turning-Colombia-Into-a-Space-for-NATO-20220312-0009.html NATO expanding into Latin America may not be welcome for most countries....

[url]https://southfront.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/12march2022_Syria_war_map-scaled.jpg[/url] or https://southfront.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/12march2022_Syria_war_map-scaled.jpg 

DJ-The US now would like to "make a deal with Iran"...Iran, Iraq, Syria,Turkey, Russia, China want the US out of Syria and Iraq.....Israel may not be in a position to "do much"...

- 18 million people in Afghanistan need aid. - 13 million in Yemen are severely hungry. - 15 million in Central Sahel are in need. - 4 million in Somalia are drought-affected. Human suffering is at unprecedented levels across the world, Ukraine is the latest in a long list.

DJ...We all know who started the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya,Yemen, Syria..."the West"killing more then a million civilians in endless wars...now blaming Russia for stopping NATO moving east...

Day 18 of the #US #Russia war on #Ukraine soil: In its first direct message to the west and #NATO, Russia hit the NATO-US-Ukraine joint training centre at Yavoriv, around 25 km from borders with #Poland.

DJ [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-threatens-attack-nato-weapons-shipments-ukraine-legitimate-targets[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-threatens-attack-nato-weapons-shipments-ukraine-legitimate-targets ....

Delivering those amounts of MANPADs into one of the largest conflicts in #Europe since World War II carries with it risks that some could fall into the wrong hands – a possibility the #US has NOT considered.

will some/most of those weapons by sold to a highest bidder ? To be used against NATO ?

DJ, Do we have to expect new frontlines in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Yemen) and Latin America ? For "some countries" the "west" (mainly they could mean the US)  sees as being weak...

Pulling out of Afghanistan, now in fact giving up Ukraine...in the defensive in the Middle East...begging for oil from Venezuela...Maybe the missiles at US positions in North Iraq are the Iran answer to US now "trying to make a deal with Iran"....

I will try to keep following these stories...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 4:13am

DJ-Iraq front ; [url]https://www.debka.com/mivzak/iranian-missiles-target-secret-israeli-base-in-iraq/[/url] or https://www.debka.com/mivzak/iranian-missiles-target-secret-israeli-base-in-iraq/ ;

At least 12 missiles were aimed from Iran early Sunday at Irbil, capital of the Kurdish region of N. Iraq. Iranian sources claimed their targets were secret Israel military bases in the region. Those and Lebanese sources maintained that the attack was Tehran’s reprisal for the killing of two Revolutionary Guards officers in an Israeli attack on the Damascus region last week. This was later denied by Iranian sources.

From Iran [url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/13/678473/Iran-IRGC-Missile-Attack-Israel-Erbil[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/13/678473/Iran-IRGC-Missile-Attack-Israel-Erbil

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning to Israel following a retaliatory missile strike on the "strategic center of Zionist conspiracy and evil" in the northern Iraqi Kurdistan city of Erbil.

In a statement issued Sunday, the IRGC indicated that the operation was in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital of Damascus last Monday, in which two IRGC officers were killed.

"Following the recent crimes of the fake Zionist regime and the previous announcement that the crimes and evils of this infamous regime will not go unanswered, the strategic center for conspiracy and evil of the Zionists was targeted by powerful and pinpoint missiles of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps," it said. 

Scores of ballistic missiles hit secret Mossad bases in Erbil, reportedly leaving several Israeli operatives dead.

DJ So Iran tried to damage Israel in Iraq...unclear if the attack did do much...








For those suggesting the US is too busy/preoccupied to respond, that's absurd. Believe me, the WH, NSC and DOD all can walk and chew gum at the same time. Further, there should be zero expectation that the US will instantaneously respond. Thinking takes place before acting.

However if US did suffer damage there could be some US/Israel reaction ? 

DJ-Again...both Syria and Iraq want US military out ! The US has NO legal status in those countries...Russia, Turkey, Iran, Syria may all have an interest in "increasing pressure" on the US in that region...

Will Iranian targets/bases (inside Iran) be attacked ? A sort of "ping-pong war" ? 

[url]https://iraq.liveuamap.com/[/url] or https://iraq.liveuamap.com/ 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 5:09am
Dan Sabbagh 

Western intelligence believes that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s personality has changed dramatically over the past five years, with the 69 year old Russian leader displaying increasing and obvious paranoia about his health.

But while the shift in character is marked, intelligence sources say, there is an underlying mystery about what could be the cause – with explanations ranging from cancer, Parkinson’s disease, the onset of dementia or the use of steroids for treatment of another condition.

“The big tell that Putin is concerned about his health is that he is so obviously worried about coronavirus,” an intelligence source said, citing his insistence on sitting at a distance from foreign leaders like French president Emmanual Macron, or some of his own key figures, such as defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

He only met China’s President Xi Jinping last month after elaborate coronavirus precautions were taken on both sides.

“Coverage of Russia is pretty good from both a human and signals intelligence perspective,” a Western source added. “But there is a grey spot when it comes to Putin’s personal health. What we know is that there has been an identifiable change in his decision making in the past five years”.

Speculation about Putin’s long-term health is widespread amongst Russia experts in the West’s intelligence agencies.

Similar claims were reported in the Mail on Sunday over the weekend, but ultimately there is no firm evidence to back up any of the theories circulating. Putin is believed to have had three Covid vaccine treatments. One Western source said he had taken the Pfizer vaccine, although the president himself said in June last year that he had received Russian Sputnik jabs.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 5:10am

The Pope has said Ukrainians are being massacred and called for the invasion to stop, in his Sunday address at the Vatican.

Pope Francis told crowds gathered at St Peter’s Square: “In the name of God, let the cry of the suffering people be heard, and let the bombings and attacks stop.

“In the name of God, I ask you, stop this massacre.”

The 85-year-old added that bombings of children’s hospitals and civilian targets are “barbaric” and have “no valid strategic reason”.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 12:41pm

Possible Outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and China’s Choice

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KiwiMum Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 12:58pm

Originally posted by ksc ksc wrote:

Possible Outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and China’s Choice

Good article.

Those who got it wrong, for whatever reason, may feel defensive and retrench into a position that doesn’t accord with the facts.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ksc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 6:24pm
Last exit from Moscow: the ordinary Russians desperate to escape Putin’s grasp
“There’s no future for people like me here” Millions of educated, international Russians face a stark choice – adapt to a dark, repressive world of economic collapse at home, or try to leave the country for an uncertain future abroad

The plight of millions of Ukrainians fleeing for their lives from bombardment is infinitely more acute. The stakes, for them, are life and death. ➡️But, in some ways, Anna 47, a museum curator envies her Kyiv friends,“They have hope. The world is on their side. Europe is welcoming them.”  “When the war is over, they’ll go back to a free, European country. But Russians? Everyone hates Russians. Even most Russians hate people like us, who are against the regime” 

Every day brings more news of Russia’s isolation.  One by one, the trappings of a modern, European lifestyle that many Muscovites had taken for granted fell away 

Already by the first week of the war, the ruble had nearly halved in value, and bank transfers out of the country had been banned.  Ikea was the first major Western store to shut down, triggering a rush of shoppers desperate to spend their dwindling cash

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ME163 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 7:02pm

Hello again, 


I have a few russia contacts who I deal with as modelers.  I mainly deal with them because the old FROG company model moulds are in russia.   I talked to one of them before the web got shut down.  Yuri and I go back about 10 years so we talked in honest terms about what was going on and how it was getting bad.   First, he told me about his young cousin who was a conscript in the army.  Yuri told me that the russians are not even sending enough doctors to treat the wounded.  This is going to be a real disaster for all sides.  Russians are leaving like rats jumping from a sinking ship.  The brain drain is real.  Yuri is leaving russia for turkey and after a month in turkey he's going to Brazil or Argentina.  Almost every professional is trying to leave Russia.  It is going to be terrible.  Those left behind are going to suffer horrible lives.   Yuri tells me that everything is going down.  

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2022 at 10:51pm

DJ, 

I am trying to get a "balanced view" of "events"...I am also NOT neutral, objective, expert etc....My opinion is NATO needs to stop expanding. The INF, Iran-deal, etc..stopped under trump should have been restarted...I think Biden did fail there...my opinion...

Also most of western EU countries warned against Ukraine, Georgia joining NATO since 2008...it would bring war...Why did they not do much more to prevent this crisis ? They have their own responsibilities...can not hide or blame Biden...Europe should have prevented this crisis but did not....

Maybe a 3rd point; US foreign policy seems to be based on sanctions...Pushing the US$ as "global currency for trade" and blocking it when countries do not follow "exceptional US orders"....That kind of foreign policy-with maybe half the globe now dealing with US sanctions-has to end...

NL companies working on North Stream-2, Crimea-bridge; sanctions ! Turkey buying (some) weapons in Russia; sanctions ! Germany depending (to much) on Russian energy; sanctions ! These are all NATO members being sanctioned by the US...A US with a law that would allow them to invade NL if a US military would end up for the UN-International Criminal Court in NL...

I DO think we have to review international safety and cooperation...

Both the US and EU are STILL buying Russian oil and gas...Gazprom-bank is one of the Russian banks excluded from sanctions on SWIFT...These sanctions only did make a Chinese alternative for SWIFT-international banking-grow high speed...The "Asian" alternative for SWIFT soon will be more widespread...only the "West" seems to be in a sort of tunnelvision, denial....

DJ, That denial I also notice in how "the west" is dealing with climate change, this pandemic...stop testing/reporting and "the pandemic is over" ...defund [url]https://covid.joinzoe.com/[/url] or https://covid.joinzoe.com/ because they say-in the UK- the pandemic is far from over...A sort of political arrogance...the political reality has to be the reality...even if it is not...

-Iran, Venezuela, both testing how far the US is willing to go to get their oil...End of sanctions will NOT be enough...they want trade with Russia, China...partners they could trust...But also both countries want to see less US, NATO influence in their regions...US "limiting its role" in Colombia...(no NATO expansion in Latin America...there were some ideas of Brazil, Colombia a.o. getting a sort of membership in NATO...).

-Most "non-western" countries now going for "a new balance"....Erdogan now even visiting Greece...no doubt Turk-stream gas-pipeline usage for the SE of Europe (providing Russian gas) will be part of the talks...Israel realizing Russia is providing (some) security against Iran...

-NATO leaving Afghanistan, now being stopped in Ukraine is giving "the world" an idea of "the West" we may not like...But the Philippines, Pakistan a.o. former western allies should have been a warning...The "West" should look in the mirror...evaluate its actions since the end of the Soviet Union just over 30 years back...

-From breaking up Yugoslavia (Serbia wanted Yugoslavia to align with Russia, Belarus...the "west" stopped it a.o. by introducing radical islamists...also used in Afghanistan after the 1979 Soviet invasion...) to Afghanista, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen...lots of wars in Africa...We-the "West"-did make a mess of things...The US WAS the only "super power" left but had no idea of what to do with it....going for confrontations...a total lack of respect...

DJ-The Zelenski-Ukraine/Kiev government is "talking with two mouths"; One for the "West" , we are winning, give us a NATO no-fly-zone...the other for Russia; We will accept neutrality...

[url]http://thesaker.is/amateurs-think-strategy-generals-think-logistics-or-why-ukraine-is-doomed/[/url] or http://thesaker.is/amateurs-think-strategy-generals-think-logistics-or-why-ukraine-is-doomed/ DJ-Many wars have to do with logistics...can you replace losses..Russia can, Ukraine can not...

Maybe some other "sources" on Russia; 

[url]https://www.debka.com/mivzak/western-intel-sources-putin-is-purging-military-and-intelligence-services/[/url] or https://www.debka.com/mivzak/western-intel-sources-putin-is-purging-military-and-intelligence-services/ ;President Vladimir Putin was reported on Saturday to have sacked and replaced at least eight generals “due to their failure in Ukraine,” and detained officers of the FSB 5th Service officers which was responsible for political information gathering in Ukraine. They include the 5th service’s director Col. Gen. Sergei Beseda and his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh.

DJ-Very likely...maybe "purge" may not be the right word...but "less succesfull" top may be replaced...

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/14/678509/US--China-will-face-consequences-if-it-helps-Russia-evade-sanctions[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/14/678509/US--China-will-face-consequences-if-it-helps-Russia-evade-sanctions and [url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-urging-chinas-military-help-ukraine-biden-admin-says-sunday-afternoon-media[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-urging-chinas-military-help-ukraine-biden-admin-says-sunday-afternoon-media 

DJ-Russia does the "military job" China does the "investments"...but most likely China will have "military observers" maybe even on the Russian AND Ukraine side...Russia-Iran-China (RIC) do see EurAsian integration as an alternative for US domination... All three "RIC" countries are in the same boat...facing US/western military "activities and conflict"....

Brings me to [url]https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/russian-tv-sets-stage-for-further-invasions-poland-baltics[/url] or https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/russian-tv-sets-stage-for-further-invasions-poland-baltics ....After Ukraine most likely all three RIC countries want a "new balance" and "security guarantees"...The "West" will have to pay a price for its very high energy consumption....

Wich brings me back to where I began...the "West" has to use energy much wiser...Also scarce raw materials can be found in technology we now dump as garbage in poor countries...smart phones, lab tops, etc. may be worth "mining ", recycling....so we do not need to import them from Russia...

Peace...

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2022 at 9:09am

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2_EFJLWA6o[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2_EFJLWA6o ;Vladimir Putin has an interesting and controversial past, having served for 15 years as a spy in the infamous KGB. But how much to do you actually know of his activities as a field agent during the Cold War? Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood


[url]https://innovationorigins.com/en/stop-financing-putins-war-by-buying-his-oil/[/url] or https://innovationorigins.com/en/stop-financing-putins-war-by-buying-his-oil/ ;And that Europe should therefore stop funding his war (660 million euros – per day!) by buying his fuel.

A link for US recieving Russian oil...was on twitter...several tankers on their way...[url]https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2-tankers-fill-up-with-russian-oil-after-45-day-us-countdown-begins[/url] or https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2-tankers-fill-up-with-russian-oil-after-45-day-us-countdown-begins 

A flotilla of 12 tankers is carrying Russian oil and scheduled to arrive at US ports

After oil companies were given a 45-day window by the Biden administration on Tuesday to phase out existing contracts for Russian oil, at least two tankers were loaded with Russian oil and departed for U.S. destinations, according to information obtained by American Shipper.

MarineTraffic data shows the two tankers as the Vinjerac, which departed Thursday and is headed for the Port of New York & New Jersey for a March 25 arrival, and the Gazpromneft NORD, which loaded on Friday. Its anticipated arrival in the U.S. (port unidentified) is May 16, which is after the window closes and thus could not legally discharge its oil.

MarineTraffic identified 12 tankers in total as part of the “flotilla” traveling with Russian oil to the U.S. 

DJ-There is/was hope that talks would end the Ukraine war...maybe Putin-Zelensky meeting in Jerusalem ? [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn32jMLL_NQ[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn32jMLL_NQ ; Alexander Mercouris ; Russia Strikes Base in Western Ukraine As Negotiations Gather Pace, China US To Meet News Topic 436 Tensions Between Ukraine & Israel After Zelensky Reportedly Told "Surrender" https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitica... Ukraine, Russian Negotiators Say "Significant Progress" Made In Ceasefire Talks, Expect Signed Deal In "Next Few Days" https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitica... https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-sto... In Ukraine crisis, US finds itself in a position of permanent overreach: Martin Jacques https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/20220...

DJ "others" fear "false flags" claiming Russia would use chemical/WMD...

TURKISH DEFENCE MINISTRY SAYS  NATO TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY DEFENCE MINISTERS MEETING ON UKRAINE ON MARCH 16

DJ, NATO meeting meant to increase pressure on Russia ? I think also "growing pressure" on Ukraine to accept "some sort of deal"...because risks of further escalation may be growing...

[url]https://southfront.org/breaking-main-nationalist-forces-in-mariupol-destroyed-mass-evacuation-of-civilians-began/[/url] or https://southfront.org/breaking-main-nationalist-forces-in-mariupol-destroyed-mass-evacuation-of-civilians-began/ 

unclear picture...but it could be "make or break"...Either in 24-48 hours an end to this war or a further serious escalation...

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2022 at 10:08pm

DJ, 

I see the Ukraine war as part of a much larger-global-change.  Some headlines...

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/bojo-begs-saudis-ramp-oil-production-despite-latest-round-beheadings[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/bojo-begs-saudis-ramp-oil-production-despite-latest-round-beheadings ;

According to WSJ, the Kingdom has invited Xi Xinping for a meeting amid shifting geopolitics in the Middle East, as the US looks to focus more attention and resources on Asia while China and Russia expand their influence in the region. Amid doubts about Washington’s staying power, especially after the rushed U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, many of its regional partners are seeking out new security and economic ties.

Thanks to the invasion of Ukraine, China is the world's No. 1 importer of oil and the biggest trading partner for Saudi Arabia, which is the largest oil exporter globally.

[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/here-are-all-latest-news-and-developments-ukraine-war-march-14[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/here-are-all-latest-news-and-developments-ukraine-war-march-14 DJ-US will sanction China (further) if it would sell drones etc. to Russia....

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/04/677931/India,-Pakistan%E2%80%99s-Russia-Tilt[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/04/677931/India,-Pakistan%E2%80%99s-Russia-Tilt DJ-Some claims US trying regime change (again) in Pakistan

[url]https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/14/678530/Iran-Vienna-talks-Shamkhani-JCPOA-revival-strong-agreement-P4-1-demands[/url] or https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/03/14/678530/Iran-Vienna-talks-Shamkhani-JCPOA-revival-strong-agreement-P4-1-demands  and [url]https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/russia-announces-nuclear-weapons-deploying-to-iran[/url] or https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/russia-announces-nuclear-weapons-deploying-to-iran  DJ Iran did say over and over nuclear weapons and Islam do not mix-in their view. 

The general pattern is Asia reuniting for trade-Russia, China, India, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia main motors...There are still major differences. KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) mass murder on Shiïtes does not improve relations with Iran...(they did start talking to each other recently...). 

On Ukraine itself; [url]https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/ukraine-officials-announce-false-flag-attack.html[/url] or https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/ukraine-officials-announce-false-flag-attack.html US preparing another false flag ? Russia would use chemical weapons in Ukraine while winning the war ? A repeat of Syria...Assad beating back "western backed moderate terrorists" and all of a sudden would escalate with gas...most likely introduced in Syria from Libya via Turkey/CIA...

Zelensky/Kiev government is "getting the point" that neither NATO or EU is ready for them...I would understand Ukraine nationalists getting "very angry" at-most-US/UK for being pushed into a war they could not win...for a US agenda of stopping EurAsian integration...

With the US unable to get some products from other countries (Venezuela, Iran first want the US to make "major steps"...much more then lifting sanctions...) and Russia NOT isolated, the West has a problem...

DJ-How the US will deal with that problem ? 

-Since the EU-in words-follow the hard line, while in deeds have no alternative for much of the trade with Russia it may be the US has only "limited/no" allies in further escalation...

-Further escalation would have to be in the coming days...US may be using reserves after that...simply not in a position to "fight a major war for long"...

-Most of the world want both the war and sanctions over as soon as possible...

-The New Silk Road from China to (at the end) Europe has enough alternative routes...

So if the US goal still is-I think it is-to stop EurAsian integration not only "further escalation" in Ukraine is needed, but also a crisis between the "West" and China would be needed...

Maybe the US also would like to create chaos in south Asia...Iran-Pakistan-India-China...further supporting a "New Turkish Empire"...only Erdogan may no longer be willing to work with the US...

DJ-My opinion; The West is isolated much more then Russia is...NATO expansion is seen as the main reason for the Ukraine-crisis worldwide.

The West has to go for realistic diplomacy, end confrontation...but the MIC+B (Military Industrial Complex and Banks, motor behind both nazi's and nato) would like more war and destruction for profit...

We live in interesting times...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dutch Josh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2022 at 10:14pm

DJ, Trying to get a realistic view on global events;

NL-news did start calling Putin "Satan, monster" in just the first two minutes...still see themselves as "neutral and objective"...I do not make such claims...However self delusion in "the West" is a very major problem...

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVxXk5AgN9Q[/url] or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVxXk5AgN9Q Alexander Mercouris a.o. about OPEC+ (with Russia being the +) ...Qatar FM (Foreign Minister) visiting Lavrov in Moscow...[url]https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/petrodollar-cracks-saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-chinese-oil-sales[/url] or https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/petrodollar-cracks-saudi-arabia-considers-accepting-yuan-chinese-oil-sales ...India-Russia oil trade paid by India in Rupees (India currency)  that Russia will spend in India on consumer goods...

China telling the US "to mind their own bussiness" when the US still thinks it can "sanction China" for (weapon)deals with (a.o.) Russia...

-In Ukraine [url]https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/15-march-substantial-russian-navy-force-including-landing[/url] or https://liveuamap.com/en/2022/15-march-substantial-russian-navy-force-including-landing 

ships, advancing on Odessa area today. Seen 09:47 UTC in satellite imagery

and [url]https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/reports-amphibious-landing-in-progress-near-odessa-ukraine[/url] or https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/reports-amphibious-landing-in-progress-near-odessa-ukraine ...limited further news..."fog of war" but very likely....

DJ A lot of the fighting in Ukraine is in east/south of Ukraine and there there are lots of ethnic Russians...The picture I do get is that Russia expected them to "welcome" the "Russian police action" but not all ethnic Russians see themselves as Russian any longer..a lot of them accepted Ukraine...

Western media going for "Ukraine can win this war" non sense keep this war, the killing going...DJ; Israel PM Bennet was right when he advised Zelensky to start realistic talks with Russia...further war only brings more suffering...Another concern for "Kiev" should be that the area's now under Russian control could stay under Russian control...Time is NOT on the side of Kiev...or for that matter on the side of "the West"....

[url]https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/gonzalo-lira-a-false-flag-is-coming.html[/url] or https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/03/gonzalo-lira-a-false-flag-is-coming.html DJ, The US would like to escalate this war further...DJ-LET ME BE VERY CLEAR !!! THE US/UK created this chaos !!! The EU should have prevented it by making clear Ukraine would not join NATO/EU in the coming ten years...simply not ready for it....

The US goal of "pushing Ukraine in NATO" make Zelensky talk of Ukraine getting nuclear weapons was to stop EurAsian integration....

For now the US/UK may think they succeded...only even the US itself still NEEDS Russian oil...Both Iran, Venezuela will not do any deals with the US without a high price for the US...OPEC+ does not mind high prices...they see an end to fossil fuels...so make the best of it now...The EU is in an even worse position for energy...Europe keeps spending 660 million $ per day on buying Russian energy...but maybe the price went up...

However the real pain will be for the US$....(from Zerohedge link on Petrodollar);

One of the core staples of the past 40 years, and an anchor propping up the dollar's reserve status, was a global financial system based on the petrodollar - this was a world in which oil producers would sell their product to the US (and the rest of the world) for dollars, which they would then recycle the proceeds in dollar-denominated assets and while investing in dollar-denominated markets, explicitly prop up the USD as the world reserve currency, and in the process backstop the standing of the US as the world's undisputed financial superpower.

DJ, Some "media" do pick up the financial/economic aspect of this conflict...the END !!!! of the US$ as a "global currency for international trade"....

We-here in Europe-will end up with higher prices for energy...It will "hurt" but also speed up looking for "green alternatives" now profitable much sooner...But also Europe itself has still lots of oil, gas (and a.o. coal-can be turned into gas, wood/bio-fuel). The Euro was the "second largest" global currency...I think still may have an-even global-role to play...(The EU is NOT one country, the Euro is much harder to use as an economic weapon...and if so Russia, China, India could use it AGAINST the EU !)...

The US$  however will suffer much more...and the US no longer in a position to stop it. (The US invaded Iraq, Libya when they wanted to dump the US-energy-$...OPEC+ now is under Russian, Chinese protection...). The US did increase-a.o. by fracking-its oil/gas/energy production...may be the #1 global producer...but is also a major consumer of energy...and not all types of oil/gas can be found inside the US...so;

YES The US is "stopping import of Russian oil" with a 45 days from the start of this sanction...So the US may not get Russian oil...However Venezuela can and will not replace it...Do to sanctions part of their oil-industry is in a "very bad shape"...The better part now in hands of China...Was it in 2020 a Russian bomber flew over the Atlantic visiting Venezuela...? Venezuela and Iran now working together...

Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia a.o. de facto allies of Russia in Latin America...(Cuba and Iran worked jointly on CoViD-vaccines...). It will be a matter of time before "RIC" may increase military presence...Russia allready could have port-facilities...Iran and China show interest...

The US would now like to "speed up" an Iran-deal...But part of that deal has Iran sending uranium to Russia...and the US also has to think of that....Besides that Iran not only is a "partner" of both Russia and China but also of India...Also the center of TIP...Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cooperation....

DJ "The World" did change, the "West" did not pay attention...and by now it is that arrogant West that is isolated...

It may be difficult to see how the "changes" work out for the US$...It may retain 20-30% of its value...but US arrogance could also see the US$ ending up in hyperinflation...

-So what next ?

Poland thinking of a "NATO peacekeeping force in Ukraine"...DJ, Russia may even consider that for the NW part (maybe only remaining part) of Ukraine...that part is more Catholic, historical ties with Poland/the Polish...Maybe Russia would even think of Poland taking over that part....

The West now denying neo-nazi's as a major factor in Ukraine...While it could-partly-explain why Israel is not choosing sides...There are neo-nazi's in Ukraine loving to kill-again-Jews...DJ-I would not be surprised if Israel and Russia 'intel" worked together killing those neo-nazi's....Also Zelensky (Jewish himself...allthough I would not mention it if others would not claim Zelensky being Jewish as proof that there are no neo-nazi's in Ukraine...) may be welcoming "the end" of extremists...

(DJ-There are neo-nazi's, often from western Europe/US...but you also have Ukraine extreme nationalists...they are different groups...may end up fighting eachother...neo-nazi's see Ukrainians as "Slaves/Slavic" (and therefor as "sub-human). In the past also IS/jihadi fighters ended up in the south of Ukraine via Turkey...They were there for the "high risk jobs' and "may not exist any longer"...A fourth group may be "western volunteers", some with military background-often getting paid-to fight for Ukraine...DJ. What I read about them is; a lot of them (20,000?) may still be in Poland...The more military experienced "do think twice" because of the very high risks, "better" alternatives in other regions... (protecting oil/gas in North Africa/Middle East "NAME" may give better pay and lower risk...easier "getting in/out"...Ukraine may be a "dead end street"...). 

DJ-Lots of countries want the Ukraine war + sanctions to be over as soon as possible...May reward Kiev for ending it soon...(Zelensky and others may try to get "the best deals" if not for Ukraine then for themselves...). 

Even "the West" may go for a lot of "words"...but simply NEED to limit sanctions...And again; EU, UK, US in different positions...(with the "strenght" of the EU in NOT being a country...Greece, Italy willing to buy oil/gas from Turkey...with Turkish companies selling oil/gas from Russia, Iran, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Kazahkstan etc...). 

So if the US/UK (post-Brexit) goal was to "stop EurAsian integration" they may only have slowed it down to see Asian integration now even going faster...

Another US goal was "saving the US$"....It may be in the interests of "others" not to "dump the US$" high speed...But I think the US lost control over the $....Asia can decide on US (hyper)inflation...

NATO again did get weaker...After Afghanistan "evacuation" it was unable to mean much for Ukraine..only "pushing Ukraine for the bus"...It may take some time before the EU "gets what happened" (the total level of stupidity in "the West" is shocking !!!) ...IF (and a big "IF"!!!) the US would sink into economic chaos Europa may decide for "reforms"...Turkey allready going its own way-under NATO protection...(using the NATO membership to get away with its own actions in Iraq, Syria...sometimes going against US choices (Kurds)...)

In general 'Western leaders" may be seen by "the world" as good in talking, not in thinking....

I do think India was shocked when they did see the US realy believed India would give up its good ties since 1947 with Russia to join a US-Australia-Japan group against China...The AUKUS-deal -Australia canceling French submarines-to buy US ones-in a "new" Australia-UK-US alliance did push France to start talking with Russia on nuclear power...You do not "break up" that kind of contracts, outcomes of years of talks...just for a "short term goal"...

DJ-A lot of "western leaders" show they mix a lack of knowledge of history with a lack of knowledge of the world...Asia has 4 billion in population...even in "western terms" China, India now global economy #2 and #3 (with Japan, South Korea also major...Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangla Desh "upcoming").

De-colonization now is showing its effects, but 'the West" simply is unable to see it...

[url]http://thesaker.is/say-hello-to-russian-gold-and-chinese-petroyuan/[/url] or http://thesaker.is/say-hello-to-russian-gold-and-chinese-petroyuan/ (May have also been on zero-Hedge)


We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
~Albert Einstein
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