I had not wanted to mention him. He is so right on just about everything. Including the corruption here. He contends this is not America's war. I of course disagree, but his is a defensible position.
Most of the commentators about the war usually consider the Russian perspective and ignore the others. I notice for example that everybody goes on and on about NATO pushing Russia, but they forget that if Russia wasn't a dangerous neighbor none of the countries that joined NATO would have joined. In fact, this war proves that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania were right to fear the Russians that their decision to join NATO was about self-preservation. It seems so obvious, but most people don't get it.
Until the Ukrainian people began to assert themselves and sought freedom from Russian oppression, there was no trouble with Russia, but as soon as the Ukrainian nation elected Victor Yushenko, they started having trouble with Putin. That's when Gasprom cut off the supplies of natural gas to Ukraine in the middle of winter, ponying up some excuse. Those in Germany who signed contracts with Gasprom to build the Nordstream pipelines must have known that Putin would use Germany's dependence on natural gas to his advantage. I was only surprised that Putin did if before Nordstrea 2 was operationaly. I assumed that he would get the Germans fully addicted to his gas drugs before he pulled the plug. And anybody who knows anything about Putin and his thugs should know that Gasprom had a contract to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan years ago, but when the price fell the Russians blew up the gas pipelines so they wouldn't have to buy gas at a loss and blamed it on terrorism. Of course, they repaired the pipeline after the price rose again and it became profitable to buy Turkmen gas again.
The one thing that always troubles me in the "Great Game" that politicians play is that they never consider the Ukrainian people. It's always about Russia this and Russia that. They make fantastic assumptions about the Ukrainians being supportive of Russia in the east, but none of them have ever been to Ukraine other than as tourists and they don't know anything about the people on the ground. Mostly, the pundits buy the Russian point-of-view without even considering the Ukrainian perspective. In fact, Ukrainians want to be free to be Ukrainians. They are sick of 300 years of Russian repression, at its worst under the Soviet Union. They forget that the UPA (Ukrainian Partisan Army) fought against the Soviet Union inside Ukraine for nearly six years following world war 2. A partisan army does not last a week without support from the civilian population which helps them in secret.
Ukrainians are Ukrainians; they are not Russians. They don't want to be Russians. They don't want to live under Putin's repression. These are facts. They cannot be disputed. Every day on the battle field, Ukrainians are proving this point. Ukraine wants to be free and independent.
Yes. I read something a day or so about how Russian studies courses in American universities had generally been staffed by people of the same mindset, trained in Russia. They did not, do not, recognize Ukraine as an independent people. I'll post links if I find them.
Me too. It is said that they are a carryover from Soviet days. But I don't believe it. The best I think we can do is to extrapolate from what we learn about DARPA labs elsewhere as the Covid story unravels.
Roberts, Lira, and MacGregor are relative non-entities, but Glenn Greenwald is not, and he keeps referring to the war as a "proxy war" - and he needs a bit of education as to that. I'd like to do that but doubt I'd ever get the chance.
I've been complaining here and there for some time that I cannot get authentic information and also opining there's something wrong with the Russian military machine.
I'm getting both concerns attended to. Real information and confirmation there really is something stupid about the Russian machine.
This is a bit of a wildcard but I'll throw it in - news (?) from China: I have a Chinese friend who talks ceaselessly on smartphone to China and she reports to me that (I don't know where) in China they're reporting that from Putin's bedroom ( I think they said ) come the sounds of tears and groans etc..
I could well believe it. Though it's probably just a joke.
It gets more and more interesting to us but not a whit less bloody to the participants and what they stand to get out of it, any of them, is essentially nothing. I wish they'd stop.
and a few more that don't spring to mind right now - including your Denis.
And the impression I get and have had for a long long time is that Kiev Ukraine's forces ( I try to always refer to them as 'Kiev Ukraine' rather than the popular 'Ukraine' because the truth is it is still essentially on the ground Ukrainian v Ukrainian which is the screaming tragedy of it all ) - are suffering and growing weaker.
That's what I still believe.
However: I totally agree (did you say it?) that it's almost impossible to get any detailed truthful accounts of the realities on the ground in almost any respect at all. The military are doing an excellent job of keeping it all dark.
The nearest I come is browsing those Telegram feeds looking for posts from disgruntled soldiers or exuberant soldiers - they often let out truths.
I really do not know what is going on. But I do not believe the Kiev narrative and neither do I believe the 'allied supporters' narrative. But I do, as I say, think that on balance the Allies are well ahead.
If anyone can provide better links where we/I might pick up authoritative reliable information such that I might finally get to know what's really doing I'd love to see them.
You have a pretty good catalog. So far as I recognize them, mostly on the pro-Russia side. We recognize Patrick Lancaster and Scott Ritter, who have been blogging since long before February. Readers here should certainly take a look.
It goes both ways. Here's Edward Slavsquat, who always has a different take on things. He reported from Moscow until a couple of months ago when he was refused a visa renewal.
I have seen you go into detail about how this newsletter is produced at least one time since I started following your newsletter last February, so I apologize if you've answered my following question before.
Q: Do you have a process, system or formula that you try to adhere to when writing your book reviews?
I have read at least 10,000 book reviews on Amazon, and yours (amongst others I have found) are incredibly helpful compared to most reviewers. Every one of yours shows a commanding grasp of the literature being presented and a wonderfully concise summation that I find to be on another level.
I had not wanted to mention him. He is so right on just about everything. Including the corruption here. He contends this is not America's war. I of course disagree, but his is a defensible position.
Most of the commentators about the war usually consider the Russian perspective and ignore the others. I notice for example that everybody goes on and on about NATO pushing Russia, but they forget that if Russia wasn't a dangerous neighbor none of the countries that joined NATO would have joined. In fact, this war proves that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania were right to fear the Russians that their decision to join NATO was about self-preservation. It seems so obvious, but most people don't get it.
Until the Ukrainian people began to assert themselves and sought freedom from Russian oppression, there was no trouble with Russia, but as soon as the Ukrainian nation elected Victor Yushenko, they started having trouble with Putin. That's when Gasprom cut off the supplies of natural gas to Ukraine in the middle of winter, ponying up some excuse. Those in Germany who signed contracts with Gasprom to build the Nordstream pipelines must have known that Putin would use Germany's dependence on natural gas to his advantage. I was only surprised that Putin did if before Nordstrea 2 was operationaly. I assumed that he would get the Germans fully addicted to his gas drugs before he pulled the plug. And anybody who knows anything about Putin and his thugs should know that Gasprom had a contract to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan years ago, but when the price fell the Russians blew up the gas pipelines so they wouldn't have to buy gas at a loss and blamed it on terrorism. Of course, they repaired the pipeline after the price rose again and it became profitable to buy Turkmen gas again.
The one thing that always troubles me in the "Great Game" that politicians play is that they never consider the Ukrainian people. It's always about Russia this and Russia that. They make fantastic assumptions about the Ukrainians being supportive of Russia in the east, but none of them have ever been to Ukraine other than as tourists and they don't know anything about the people on the ground. Mostly, the pundits buy the Russian point-of-view without even considering the Ukrainian perspective. In fact, Ukrainians want to be free to be Ukrainians. They are sick of 300 years of Russian repression, at its worst under the Soviet Union. They forget that the UPA (Ukrainian Partisan Army) fought against the Soviet Union inside Ukraine for nearly six years following world war 2. A partisan army does not last a week without support from the civilian population which helps them in secret.
Ukrainians are Ukrainians; they are not Russians. They don't want to be Russians. They don't want to live under Putin's repression. These are facts. They cannot be disputed. Every day on the battle field, Ukrainians are proving this point. Ukraine wants to be free and independent.
Yes. I read something a day or so about how Russian studies courses in American universities had generally been staffed by people of the same mindset, trained in Russia. They did not, do not, recognize Ukraine as an independent people. I'll post links if I find them.
I attempt to tell the reader what the book is about, rather than focus on whether or not I liked it. Often I use the table of contents as an outline.
I still want to know about the dozens of alleged DARPA bioweapon labs in Ukraine.
Me too. It is said that they are a carryover from Soviet days. But I don't believe it. The best I think we can do is to extrapolate from what we learn about DARPA labs elsewhere as the Covid story unravels.
Roberts, Lira, and MacGregor are relative non-entities, but Glenn Greenwald is not, and he keeps referring to the war as a "proxy war" - and he needs a bit of education as to that. I'd like to do that but doubt I'd ever get the chance.
Thank you for that.
I coincidentally got a slavsquat link in my email. It was this one but I suppose you've seen it, however:
https://edwardslavsquat.substack.com/p/russias-completely-avoidable-shell?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=520963&post_id=95082900&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
I've been complaining here and there for some time that I cannot get authentic information and also opining there's something wrong with the Russian military machine.
I'm getting both concerns attended to. Real information and confirmation there really is something stupid about the Russian machine.
This is a bit of a wildcard but I'll throw it in - news (?) from China: I have a Chinese friend who talks ceaselessly on smartphone to China and she reports to me that (I don't know where) in China they're reporting that from Putin's bedroom ( I think they said ) come the sounds of tears and groans etc..
I could well believe it. Though it's probably just a joke.
It gets more and more interesting to us but not a whit less bloody to the participants and what they stand to get out of it, any of them, is essentially nothing. I wish they'd stop.
My sources are:
military summary on YT
Defense Politics Asia on YT
Scott Ritter
Moonofalabama
iearlgrey
new world econ
the new atlas
ria novosti
ukrinform
steel city scribblings
dances with bears
patrick lancaster
doug macgregor
the duran & alexander mercouris alone
Telegram Slavyangrad
Telegram Intel Slava Z
Telegram Intel Republic
Telegram Donbass Devushka
Telegram Ukainska Pravda
and a few more that don't spring to mind right now - including your Denis.
And the impression I get and have had for a long long time is that Kiev Ukraine's forces ( I try to always refer to them as 'Kiev Ukraine' rather than the popular 'Ukraine' because the truth is it is still essentially on the ground Ukrainian v Ukrainian which is the screaming tragedy of it all ) - are suffering and growing weaker.
That's what I still believe.
However: I totally agree (did you say it?) that it's almost impossible to get any detailed truthful accounts of the realities on the ground in almost any respect at all. The military are doing an excellent job of keeping it all dark.
The nearest I come is browsing those Telegram feeds looking for posts from disgruntled soldiers or exuberant soldiers - they often let out truths.
I really do not know what is going on. But I do not believe the Kiev narrative and neither do I believe the 'allied supporters' narrative. But I do, as I say, think that on balance the Allies are well ahead.
If anyone can provide better links where we/I might pick up authoritative reliable information such that I might finally get to know what's really doing I'd love to see them.
You have a pretty good catalog. So far as I recognize them, mostly on the pro-Russia side. We recognize Patrick Lancaster and Scott Ritter, who have been blogging since long before February. Readers here should certainly take a look.
Yep. Thanks. It's the best I can muster thus far.
I feel a strong need for something more.
:)
ps. I just added a new one: "vpk news"
On the strength of this which I find very interesting but it still doesn't tell we what's going on. However it tells me something:
https://vpk.name/en/671700_grandson-of-de-gaulle-about-russia-except-for-jews-under-hitler-no-one-was-robbed-like-that.html
Oops. Another.
https://samf.substack.com/p/makiiva-and-bakhmut-the-impact-of?publication_id=631422&post_id=95139099&isFreemail=true
It goes both ways. Here's Edward Slavsquat, who always has a different take on things. He reported from Moscow until a couple of months ago when he was refused a visa renewal.
https://mail.ukr.net/desktop#readmsg/16730873600271197928/funread
I have seen you go into detail about how this newsletter is produced at least one time since I started following your newsletter last February, so I apologize if you've answered my following question before.
Q: Do you have a process, system or formula that you try to adhere to when writing your book reviews?
I have read at least 10,000 book reviews on Amazon, and yours (amongst others I have found) are incredibly helpful compared to most reviewers. Every one of yours shows a commanding grasp of the literature being presented and a wonderfully concise summation that I find to be on another level.