Kosh's Shadow 3/2/2022 6:13:04 AM

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Very interesting that there are people in the Russian FSB that are against the war and are tipping the Ukrainians off about assassination attempts. 

A team of elite Chechen commandos sent into Ukraine to hunt down and assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was "eliminated" by security forces, a top Kyiv defense official told national media.

"The special operation that was to be carried out directly by the Kadyrovites to eliminate our president is fully known to us today, and I can say that we received information from representatives of the FSB, who today have no desire to take part in this bloody war," he said. 

My emphasis

vxbush 3/2/2022 6:16:42 AM

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In yesterday's thread, #20, buzz asked: 

Meanwhile, can someone explain to me why so many commenters on other blogs---WZ, PJM, Insty---seem to be, if not exactly pro-Putin, oddly unsympathetic to the Ukrainians. 

Because they think that Biden caused this situation to draw attention away from his domestic decisions that have caused so much trouble. Because a lot of congress critters have been making money (supposedly--I don't see how) by routing funds to Ukraine and then skimming money by associating with companies/groups in Ukraine. Going in to rescue Ukraine seems very self-serving in that light. Because this war really started in 2014 when Obama basically let Russia have Crimea and no response was given then. Because these commenters believe--and no clue if they are right--that Biden might try to send American forces to Ukraine when there is little to no strategic value for the US. 

Rumors are going around on the right that rather than see this as Russia provoking this situation out of nothing, it's more accurate to see this as Biden dangling Ukraine in front of Putin and making all the moves to have Ukraine join NATO. Russians across that political spectrum see Ukraine joining NATO the way we saw Russian missiles in Cuba. Set aside whether that makes sense or is rational, but it's how Russians feel according to this article. 

lucius septimius 3/2/2022 6:40:41 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

I've been seeing a great deal of that analysis, though usually not so succinctly stated.

The problem is, it places the entire blame for the war on American politics and ignores Putin's actions over the past twenty years or more (Chechnia anyone?) and the internal situation in Russia.  From what I've seen, that's what's driving this.  As the WSJ noted today, Russia now is not the USSR of sixty years ago.  Economically speaking, it's hardly even Spain.  The country is on the brink of economic collapse.  If anyone is using war as a way to secure domestic power and distract the nation, it's Putin.  But thinking about that requires more research and more serious thought.

Kosh's Shadow 3/2/2022 6:52:01 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 2:

Re the Cuban missile crisis - something rarely mentioned is that was a response to intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe, and the Soviets removed the missiles from Cuba as the US removed the missiles from Europe. That's why an agreement could be reached. 

In the case of Ukraine, there was no buildup of US forces in any way. If Putin was just looking to stop NATO and leave Ukraine alone, a deal could have been reached where Ukraine stays out of NATO but Putin respects its independence. Putin was just looking for an excuse to attack, so that didn't work.

vxbush 3/2/2022 6:56:57 AM

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In #3 lucius septimius said: The problem is, it places the entire blame for the war on American politics and ignores Putin's actions over the past twenty years or more (Chechnia anyone?) and the internal situation in Russia. 

True. Claims are being made that Putin is trying to resurrect the USSR of old because it had superpower status, and Russia doesn't have that now.  I think a lot of what you're seeing is becoming knee-jerk reactions to say, "Democrats like this? Then I'm against it!" They don't like how Dems are saying assault rifles are terrible in the US but they're A-OK in Ukraine. (Memes are going around demonstrating exactly this from the person running the Occupy Democrats Twitter account.)

In #4 Kosh's Shadow said: In the case of Ukraine, there was no buildup of US forces in any way. If Putin was just looking to stop NATO and leave Ukraine alone, a deal could have been reached where Ukraine stays out of NATO but Putin respects its independence. Putin was just looking for an excuse to attack, so that didn't work.

Except to Russian eyes, having the Ukraine join NATO is *exactly* seen the same way as the Cuban missile crisis was by us. If you read the link I included above, the writer mentions a former State department guy who is fluent in Russian who has spoken to people across the political spectrum in Russia, and every single one said Ukraine in NATO is bad and dangerous for Russia. It isn't about US forces in Ukraine; it's about NATO itself. 

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 7:11:14 AM

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Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 7:26:32 AM

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In #3 lucius septimius said: (Chechnia anyone?)

Also, Georgia, anyone?

The rush to blame the US for all this - in precincts of the nominal 'right" - is astonishing.

JCM 3/2/2022 7:28:25 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 6:

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

lucius septimius 3/2/2022 7:30:47 AM

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Meanwhile, and I won't even post the link because the article is so mind-numbingly stupid, "scientists" say that the greatest mass extinction ever (Permian) was caused by massive release of greenhouse gasses that raised temperatures and led to ocean acidification just like what's happening right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The proof?  Computer models.  That's it.

Somewhere a climate commie is creaming xer jeans.

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 7:32:26 AM

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Reply to JCM in 8:

Gaffin' Joe gaffes, again.

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 7:32:26 AM

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Reply to JCM in 8:

Gaffin' Joe gaffes, again.

JCM 3/2/2022 7:35:47 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 7:

Yeah, it has me scratching my head, some of the comments at WZ are truly baffling.

vxbush 3/2/2022 7:41:23 AM

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In #7 Occasional Reader said: The rush to blame the US for all this - in precincts of the nominal 'right" - is astonishing.

Is it a simple matter of "Biden bad, so US support of Ukraine bad"? I don't know. But it certainly isn't productive. I will say this--I would take Zelenskyy over Biden any day.  He may have been a stand-up comic, but he is definitely trying to do right by his country. 

In #9 lucius septimius said: The proof?  Computer models.  That's it.

Ran across another good page that explains why a virtual sun is used in the models and that models are junk. It's obvious, but the nice thing about both these pages is that they are shorter than most write-ups. 

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 7:52:49 AM

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In #13 vxbush said: Is it a simple matter of "Biden bad, so US support of Ukraine bad"?

There certainly seems to be some of that; some comments that seem outright Russian bots; and some who are wayyyyy into the weeds on "deep state" "World Economic Forum" and... quoting here... "globohomo" or "globalhomo".  Apparently, Putin is trying to save us from these things.  Or something.

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 8:01:50 AM

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St. Javelin of Kyiv

JCM 3/2/2022 8:13:27 AM

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We're looking at two possible conflicts. And Uncle Joe wants to release more oil from the strategic reserve to lower prices.

Oy vey.

vxbush 3/2/2022 8:25:17 AM

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In #16 JCM said: We're looking at two possible conflicts. And Uncle Joe wants to release more oil from the strategic reserve to lower prices.

You lost me. Two conflicts? Russia over Ukraine and....I'm guessing China because of Taiwan? 

JCM 3/2/2022 8:40:26 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 17:

Yup, the ChiComs keeping getting friskier and friskier. Combat aircraft penetrating Taiwan airspace, more aggressive in the S. China Sea.

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 8:53:25 AM

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JCM 3/2/2022 8:53:41 AM

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Operator of Nord Stream 2 Fires All Employees After US Sanctions

“Following the recent geopolitical developments leading to the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, the company had to terminate contracts with employees. We very much regret this development,” Nord Stream 2 AG told Reuters in an emailed statement.

Switzerland’s economy minister Guy Parmelin told Swiss radio service RTS on Monday that all 140 Nord Stream employees who worked for the company in the Swiss city of Zug had their contracts terminated.

Two unnamed sources also told Reuters that Nord Stream 2 AG is considering filing for insolvency.

vxbush 3/2/2022 8:57:37 AM

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In #19 Occasional Reader said: If any of you were confused about the whole Ukraine thingy, fear not; the Vice Presidentish of the United States is here to explain. 

I saw that yesterday. One heartbeat away from the president's chair, ladies and gentlemen. 

JCM 3/2/2022 9:17:35 AM

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Reply to Occasional Reader in 19:

I was so confused until she cleared it up for me.

JCM 3/2/2022 9:38:20 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 21:

Tells us what she thinks of us as.... infants.

vxbush 3/2/2022 9:51:41 AM

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In #23 JCM said: Tells us what she thinks of us as.... infants.

That...and she doesn't' do her homework. 

Staffers who worked for Harris before she was vice president said one consistent problem was that Harris would refuse to wade into briefing materials prepared by staff members, then berate employees when she appeared unprepared.
“It’s clear that you’re not working with somebody who is willing to do the prep and the work,” one former staffer said. “With Kamala you have to put up with a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism and also her own lack of confidence. So you’re constantly sort of propping up a bully and it’s not really clear why.”

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 9:52:40 AM

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In #23 JCM said: Tells us what she thinks of us as.... infants.

"In fairness".... I think this is her level of understanding of the topic. 

JCM 3/2/2022 11:27:32 AM

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Reply to vxbush in 24:

How do people like that get ahead..... knee pads I know.

In my world if you don't know your shit, you get eaten. In the case of a boss he either knows, or defers to his expert on the subject, because he is smart enough to know what he doesn't know.

Occasional Reader 3/2/2022 1:52:07 PM

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In #26 JCM said: In my world if you don't know your shit, you get eaten.

In Kamala's world, she does know something about that "get eaten" part... 

buzzsawmonkey 3/2/2022 2:10:07 PM

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buzzsawmonkey 3/2/2022 2:21:17 PM

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Kosh's Shadow 3/2/2022 2:48:27 PM

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In #30 buzzsawmonkey said: Isn't the new capital of Ukraine called "Fukhov?"

++++

But more likely Putingrad