Interviewing a militiaman nicknamed "Siberia" whose parents are originally from Galicia (Western Ukraine). He gives his thoughts on the civil war, the relationship between Russians and Ukrainians, and the situation as a whole.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Faces and voices of the Novorussian resistance: Siberia and Kedr
Interviewing a militiaman nicknamed "Siberia" whose parents are originally from Galicia (Western Ukraine). He gives his thoughts on the civil war, the relationship between Russians and Ukrainians, and the situation as a whole.
Jehovah’s Witness Wife Dies After Refusing Blood Transfusion
A husband has told of his grief for his Jehovah’s Witness wife who reportedly died after refusing a blood transfusion. Adeline Keh, 40, suffered a fatal infection after giving birth by Caesarean section to her son at Homerton Hospital in east London, her distraught husband Kwaku said.
She was transferred to the Papworth heart and lung hospital in Cambridge, where she is said to have refused a blood transfusion and died a month after the birth.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Ukraine SITREP November 9th, 22:25 UTC/Zulu: A creeping conflict
There is an interesting word in Russian: вялотекущий. It can be translated as "creeping" or "sluggish". It is composed of the word вяло which means "lethargically", or "torpidly" or "apathetic" and текущий which means to flow, to progress. This word comes to my mind when looking at the war in the Ukraine, it is progressing towards some kind of worsening, but it does so in a slouching, slowly creeping way.
Novorussian side
On the Novorussian side the recent elections did not solve the constant infighting between the various commanders. To my great regret, this nonsense is still going on. Bezler was removed from his command, Mozgovoi was told that his brigade had to be incorporated into the Novorussian Armed Forces (NAF), which he gladly accepted, and that this would be done by breaking up his brigade into various units of the NAF, which he categorically rejected. Then there was the news that Zakharchenko had decorated Strelkov and Borodai as with the Medal of "Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic". Strelkov denied that adding that he would not take that medal from Zakharchenko anyway.
The news was then "corrected" to say that this decision had been made about Bezler and Borodai. The blog of Colonel Cassad (http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/ - the most honest Russian-language blog on Novorussia IMHO) goes into exquisite details about all this nonsense and the English version of this site apparently has resumed translating his blog. You can find the English version here: http://cassad-eng.livejournal.com/.
 |
| Voentorg in action |
The good news is that while the Novorussians are fighting, the Russians are sending them huge amounts of weapons. The main difference with what Russia did in the past is that this time around the Voentrog is not done covertly at all and that these huge columns of trucks have been seen driving around the center of Donetsk, clearly in the hope that somebody would film or photograph them. The message to the Junta is clear - we are ready and we will support Novorussia. It appears that so far this new "semi-overt" style of support has deterred the Junta Repression Forces (JRF) from any major attacks.
Question for everybody: I have heard reports that columns of T-80 tanks has been spotted in Novorussia. Can somebody confirm whether this is true or not? So far, all the "T-80s" have turned out to be modification of the Ukrainian T-72, but the appearence of Russian T-80s could be significant because while not modern by Russian standards, most Russian T-80s have been retrofitted with modern electronics and fire systems. In other words, a modernized Russian T-80 would have a huge advantage over a Ukrainian T-72, specially an unmodified one.
I personally do not really care who of the Novorussian leaders is in command as long as it is one person. All of them have shown that they are competent military commanders so the question is a political one. Zakharchenko is by far the most legitimate political leader since he won the election, and he seems to most willing to do what the Kremlin wants which I consider a good thing. But this is also the reason why a lot of the other field commanders don't like him, especially Strelkov. But then again, Strelkov himself is far from being unanimously endorsed either and, besides, he is now out of the Novorussian political game since he now lives in Russia. The fact is that Novorussia cannot exist without Russian support, so my totally politically incorrect preference for the command of the NAF would be for a Russian general to be put in charge, but that ain't happening. Next best, somebody who will listen to a Russian general. But for the political command of Novorussia was is needed is a good administrator, a local Novorussian and a civilian capable of effectively interfacing with the military commanders. I personally liked Borodoi, but any guy close to the security services would do.
Why the security services? Because no real "democracy" is possible in a combat zone. So the next best thing is a pretend democracy where the democratically elected leader has some personal legitimacy, but is willing and capable of working closely with the military commanders and with the Kremlin. Sort of Borodai v2 I suppose. Alas, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Ukieland aka Banderastan
The total chaos in continuing the the Nazi-occupied Ukraine. While the junta did succeed in bringing a lot of military power (man and gear) to the line of contact, no real attack has materialized. Besides the already well-know terror shelling of civilians in Donetsk, the new and rewamped JRF has not shown itself capable of anything yet. Could they do more?
Yes, definitely, they now have three things which they lacked before the Minsk agreement:
1) More firepower
2) More armor
3) Well defended sectors
These are good ingredients for a determined attack. The problem for them is, of course, that the NAF now also has more of these three categories. Finally, the NAF retains a very significant advantage in moral, tactical proficiency, local population support, knowledge of the terrain and reconnaissance. This, along with the repoening of the Voentorg spigot, might well explain the current Ukie lack of attack.
[Sidebar: I have seen a lot of nonsense about Uncle Frost, General Winter, Jack Frost, etc. This is utter nonsense. Both the Russians and the Ukrainians (as if they were different) have fought wars in the winter for over 1000 years and they can very much do that again. Even in the Arctic (in the case of Russians). The Russians train in Siberia, on permafrost, in the Caucasus and, of course, in Central Russia's brutal winters and while extreme weather conditions of the Winter or Spring (the thaw) make that harder, they don't make that impossible at all. A Winter offensive is definitely possible, is less likely]On the political side, on the Ukie side the elections has also not settled anything and all the bigshots are busy fighting each other. Most of the "action" seems to take place around Kolomoiski, but there is plenty of hatred to go around for everybody.
Russia
 |
| the leaders of the free world |
The big news for Russia is clearly the drop in the prices of oil and the drop in the value of the Ruble. Are the two linked? Yes, of course. While the general economic downturn worldwide did probably negatively impact the price of oil, there is little doubt that the AngloZionist Empire is using its influence to prevent the OPEC countries from cutting down on production. Is this strategy effective? Yes, definitely, but it also is very pricey, especially for the US shale gas industry. Cheap oil is also very good for China, so while Russia is hurting, China is getting a much needed boost. Worse for the AngloZionists, Russia and China are signing even more multi-billion dollar contracts but instead of dollars, they make them in Rouble-Renminbi.
Still, the worst problems for Russia are, beyond any doubt, self-inflicted. There is a reason why Russia has been so dependent for years on gas and oil exports: it is because the Russian economy has not been able to provide alternative sources of revenue and the reason for that is that the entire economic system adopted by Russia after 1991 has been designed to lock Russia into an "African" style of economy: Russia was allowed to export her raw materials and was told to import all the rest. How was that achieved? By telling the Russians to keep interest rates high, their savings invested in US T Bonds and keeping their main corporations incorporated abroad. Of course, none of that would have been possible without a faithful local comprador class imposing that system by its power of corruption on the rest of the country. The bottom line is that these sanctions primarily hurt Russia there were Russia is weak anyway, so in a sense you could say that these sanctions are acting like cattle-prods forcing the Russian state to very reluctantly go to its own salvation.
This is now a race against time. Who, of the USA or Russia, will have to cave in first and who will have the staying power to hold on to its objectives. Can you guess on whom I am betting? :-)
Conclusion
The situation in Novorussia is bad but not catastrophic. Russia will help Novorussia through the winter months and, hopefully, the infighting amongst the field commanders will eventually stop.
The situation in Ukieland is terrible and only getting worse. The Ukraine is now somewhere between the 4th and 5th Orlov Stages of Collapse. The recent gas deal with the EU and Russia changes nothing to that fact. We can begin to think of rump-Ukraine aka Banderastan aka Ukieland as something like a 'frozen Libya': a very dangerous, poor, violent wasteland run by thugs.
The situation for Russia is difficult, especially in the short term. The good news is that Russia is immensely wealthy with huge reserves of gold, currencies, natural resources and human capital and that Russia is politically extremely stable. The deep strategic alliance between Russia and China is, for both countries, the "ticket" out of the dependence upon the dollar and the way to true decolonization from the Empire.
As long as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jiping hold the course - and I believe they will - the Empire will continue to slowly erode.
The Saker
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The European Central Bank – ECB – invented yet another tool to hold Europe hostage vis-à-vis Russia
by Peter Koenig
The ECB has just launched – effective 4 November 2014 – a new watchdog to control and regulate the European banking system. It is called the Single Supervisory Mechanism – SSM. It is supposed to monitor and reign in European banks that do not ‘behave’ in terms of overstretching their investment and risk lending as compared to their capital base.
In fact, the SSM is one pillar of the three pillar ‘security’ system put in place by the ECB and the European Commission – EC.
The ECB has just launched – effective 4 November 2014 – a new watchdog to control and regulate the European banking system. It is called the Single Supervisory Mechanism – SSM. It is supposed to monitor and reign in European banks that do not ‘behave’ in terms of overstretching their investment and risk lending as compared to their capital base.
In fact, the SSM is one pillar of the three pillar ‘security’ system put in place by the ECB and the European Commission – EC.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Bad times for Putin bashers
I don't know if you have noticed this, but the usual crowd of Putin bashers is being uncharacteristically quiet these days, especially the ones I call the "hurray patriots". Some of their blogs have simply been closed, others are apparently frozen, and those still minimally active are getting very few visitors (nope, I shall not name them here, both on principle and in order not to direct any traffic towards these cesspools). They are all apparently getting tired of chanting their favorite mantras ("Putin has sold out!", "Putin has betrayed Novorussia!", "Putin is a puppet of the oligarchs!", etc.). The reason for that sudden drop in energy is simple: the Putin bashers have just suffered a series of painful political defeats. Let's look at them one by one:
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Russian President Vladimir named the world's most powerful person by Forbes for the 2nd Year running !
- The Russian leader was also been named Person of the Year by Time magazine in 2007, and was named The Times International Person of the Year in 2013. © RIA Novosti. Michael Klimentyev
Russian President Vladimir Putin was named the world's most powerful person by Forbes for the 2nd year running, while US President Barack Obama took second place.
"For the next year running, our votes went with the Russian president since the world's most powerful person, followed closely by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping," the content accompanying the list published Wednesday said.
Ebola Scare: Nigerian man banned from work in the UK after visiting Nigeria
John Ogunnoiki, who works as a protection guard at Strong Safety Ltd headquartered in Cornwall, UK, has been informed perhaps not to go to work over doubts he might have Ebola after visiting Nigeria.
The 46 year old English citizen, faces a three-week quarantine from his employers who informed him he wants to have the all-clear from the English physician before he is able to return to work. Bellow is the letter(in full) his supervisor delivered to him
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Tambuwal: God Bless The Police
The news on the defection of the outgoing speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) has become a matter of national discuss in the past few days, with analysts and commentators jumping in to share a piece of their thoughts. The polity went upscale when the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) withdrew the security details attached to Hon. Tambuwal.
First, it is important that every patriotic Nigerian give kudos to Hon. Tambuwal for repositioning the House of Representatives as a stakeholder in the Nigeria project. He deserves resounding applause for his dogged and relentless efforts in taking the legislative arm away from the stranglehold of the executive and repositioning it as a symbol of authority as against the coalition of yes-men.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Fidelity Private Banking Wins Financial Times “Best Private Bank Award 2014”
Continue..
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Sanctions Against Russia for Recognizing Elections in Donbas Foolish: Venetian Politician
Friday, October 31, 2014
This is why the Russians want to tightly regulate foreign NGOs
How is that for a "watch" of human right?
The fact is that western human rights organizations are below contempt. Some are political tools in the hands of the Empire (Human Rights Watch), some are full of western intelligence agents (Medecins Sans Frontieres, OSCE monitors), some are lead by cynical bureaucrats who use idealistic young delegates as cannon fodder (ICRC), some are used by big business as a tool (Greenpeace) while others are quasi-official CIA tools (NED, Freedom House, Open Society Foundation, etc.).
The funny thing in this case is that the photo is not taken in Russia, but in the Ukraine, and the riot cops shown here have Ukrainian unit badges. But then, who cares anyway? It's not like "truth" is a topic that matters to HRW...
The Saker
Is ISIS allied to or influencing African Jihadi Groups? – By Hassan M. Abukar
In August 2014, Africa’s spy chiefs met in Nairobi as part of the African Union’s Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA). They expressed deep concern about the growing threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the likelihood that the radical outfit might influence the continent’s own jihadi groups. Areas of concern for the chiefs included an “alliance being built by terror groups worldwide, sophisticated sources of funding, and [Africa’s] porous borders.”
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Scotland Powerless to Veto UK’s Possible Secession From EU: Expert
Mark Hirst – Scotland has no right under existing constitutional law to veto a UK referendum on the country's secession from the European Union planned for 2017, Nick Barber, Associate Professor in Law at Trinity College, Oxford told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"As a matter of existing constitutional law the position is clear; it is the UK Parliament that would decide whether we should leave the EU," Barber said.
Barber, who represents the United Kingdom Constitutional Law Association, added that Scotland's constitutional "right to leave the Union" did not extend to a right to veto other constitutional issues related to the whole of the UK.
Brazil Aims for Stronger Economic Cooperation With BRICS Partners, EU: Finance Ministry
Brazil wants to diversify its trading beyond traditional partners in Latin America, and to further cooperate with its partners from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries and Europe, Marden Barboza, Deputy Secretary of International Issues at Brazil's Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
"Brazilian government feels that it needs to start developing other directions, including economic and trade spheres," Barboza said during the video conference Moscow-Brasilia held at the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.
"We are currently in talks with the European Union with regards to signing free trade agreement," Barboza said.
UN Secretary General Calls to Cancel Planned Elections in Eastern Ukraine
– UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for the cancellation of planned elections in southeastern Ukraine, his press service said.
"The Secretary-General deplores the planned holding by armed rebel groups in eastern Ukraine of their own 'elections' on 2 November, in breach of the constitution and national law," the statement said.
"These 'elections' will seriously undermine the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, which need to be urgently implemented in full," the statement added.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
“Ebola is a Big Lie”
Note: I am submitting the following article to your attention "for your information". While I personally do not have the knowledge to have an opinion about this topic, I think that leaving the MSM a monopoly of information on Ebloa is dangerous. As always, your comments are invited.
The Saker
-------
“Ebola is a Big Lie” --- “Nana Kwame” from Ghana speaks out – and a new False Flag of horror dimensions in the making
by Peter Koenig
"Ebola is a big lie" - according to a man called “Nana Kwame” – most likely a pseudonym – living in Ghana, Ebola was brought to West Africa, to 4 countries for 4 specific reasons by - no one less than The Red Cross. This article is rocketing the internet for the last couple of days, for example in “Spirit Science and Metaphysics” http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/ebo-lie-man-living-in-ghana-confirms-ebola-is-a-hoax/ - and was translated into Spanish and published by the Peruvian newspaper LaPrimera, a paper that regularly seeks to dissect the truth from the flood of lies emitted by the Peruvian MSM.
Monday, October 27, 2014
My advice to President Jonathan – Comrade Abdulbaqi
Culled from Omo Oodua Community
Jonathan has achieved a lot in his five years now. He was successfully able to privatized the power sector. The Almajiri project in Northern Nigeria. Among other things is improvement in power sector. As his name carries Good luck Jonathan, a person from a working class family in the remote part of southern Nigeria, walked his way into reaching the highest office of the land, the office of the President and Commander in Chief if the armed forces Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Continue..
Sunday, October 26, 2014
What could the next Junta offensive against Novorussia look like?
By Saker
On July 1st of this year - just before an imminent Ukie attack - I made a short post entitled Novorussia - Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and settle for anything in the middle in which I was trying to prepare my readers for the possible consequences of a massive Ukrainian assault.
Разбор полетов - "after action report"
Putin's speech at the Valdai Club - full transcript
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, friends, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the XI meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
It was mentioned already that the club has new co-organisers this year. They include Russian non-governmental organisations, expert groups and leading universities. The idea was also raised of broadening the discussions to include not just issues related to Russia itself but also global politics and the economy.
US Visa Ban Punishes Hungary for Relations With Russia: Expert
Hungarian policy toward Western sanctions against Russia is one of the reasons why the United States has cancelled visas for several Hungarian officials, the head foreign policy editor of Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, Gabor Stier, said Wednesday.
"I am inclined to think that it is a punishment for the fact that we talk to Russia," Stier said at the Valdai International Discussion Club, referring to the recent US visa bans.
"Hungary's behavior in relation to the sanctions [against Russia] has been reserved. [Hungary] builds pragmatic relations with Russia," Stier said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)