A Tale Of Two Missile Strikes
Overnight—depending on your time zone—there were two significant missile strikes. These strikes may point to a shifting strategic balance in regions surrounding Russia.
The first strike was launched by Iran, targeting facilities in Erbil, Iraq. Erbil is in the Kurdish sector of Iraq, and the US has a consulate there. Initial reports stated that the US consulate had been targeted, but that has been officially denied by the DoS. Now, this appears to tell the story:
Is it or is it not coincidence that Russia has supplied Iran with its top shelf S-400 air defense system? That’s the same system that Russia has deployed in Syria, and which has forced air forces operating in that area to exercise a greater degree of circumspection. The S-400 is reputed to be extremely capable, although non-Russian air forces have been loath to test its capabilities. Russia also operates its Caspian Sea Flotilla, which fields cruise missiles that can cover much of the Middle East (targets in Syria have been hit by Kalibr cruise missiles launched from ships of the CSP). Another factor that may be significant in the total picture is the fact that in January—a fact which was perhaps obscured by Russia’s military drills along the Ukraine border—Russia, China, and … Iran held joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean.
The geopolitical tectonic plates are shifting and Zhou and Kama Sutra (who, mat her last outing, appeared to state that Ukraine belongs to NATO) are on the job. Sort of. However, in complete fairness, this has all been developing for quite a few years and our Deep State was supposed to be preparing for it. Instead they’ve been preparing the military to transition to a pronoun centric force. The geopolitical dynamics here are quite complicated. Turkey—and Erdogan’s ambitions for a Greater Turkestan embracing most of Central Asia—is very much at the center of it all. Turkey, of course, is a NATO member. The big question these days is, Exactly what does that mean in terms of a US commitment?
For more on the Deep State, Bluto Barr’s memoirs from the Trump administration are out.
Also overnight, Russia launched something like 8 missiles at the Yavoriv military base in western Ukraine—just 12 miles or so from the Polish border. Early reports that casualties amount to at least 35 dead and 130 wounded, although the US denies that any Americans were present. Russian claims are higher:
We were warned:
Before:
After:
This is obviously a signal to all NATO nations trans shipping military equipment to Ukraine through Poland. The message to Poland would appear to be acutely serious: refusing to provide MiG 29s to Ukraine is all fine and good, but there are other issues that could land Poland in Russia’s dog house—a bad place to be, right now. Poland is the choke point, since airports will also be off limits. Tugging on Vladimir Vladimirovich’s cape could turn out badly.
The US will respond with a PR salvo:
On the ground, note in the reporting that there’s a clear reference to the missile attack on Yavoriv:
Writing from the Kiev front is Nolan Peterson:
From an American volunteer on the front lines outside of Kyiv:
"Sitting close to the frontline, the last safe mode of transportation leaves for greener pastures. A core group of about 30 foreign fighters remains out of around 200 people who were here just minutes ago..." 1/"The base we came from was struck by rockets in the early morning hours. People we lived with for a couple days are confirmed dead. It is only a matter of time before our location is targeted. We are about to be cut off by a Russian tank column any day now..." 2/
"Food, water, and ammunition dwindle slowly. The mood is somber, people are sending their last messages to friends and family." 3/
"Where is NATO? Where is the supposed good of western civilization?" end
An important note: this American is a special ops veteran who completed combat deployments to Afghanistan. He came to Ukraine before Russia's full-scale war on Feb. 24. He is an experienced, well-trained soldier who gave up his lucrative career in the US in order to help Ukraine
• • •
The reference to “the last safe mode of transportation” is somewhat ironic, in view of repeated reports that Ukrainian soldiers have been shooting at people at people attempting to flee the war zone—trying to force them to remain as human shields. That appears to be confirmed by this American:
Zerohedge re Yavoriv: "Meanwhile, this is certainly not a time - at a moment the world is alarmed over a possible WW3 scenario erupting from this conflict - for America's number two leader to be confused about where NATO territory is and isn't..."
Good info Mark. Thanks for summarizing. Important we hear the truth.