You can regard Don Surber’s substack today as, to some extent, counterpoint to Jesse Waters’ views that I discussed yesterday. Or, you could regard these two takes as complementary—they both stress the collusive, coordinated aspect of the new campaign to get Zhou out. Here’s the gist of what Surber is getting at:
I am reminded of the final scene in the original “Planet of the Apes” when Charleton Heston’s character comes upon what’s left of the Statue of Liberty and screams, “G**DAMN YOU! YOU FINALLY BLEW IT UP!” I cannot help but think that the people in charge right now are completely capable of precipitating such a scenario. Rational, dispassionate thinking is simply beyond their abilities.
As you have said many times Mark, we have a bunch of amateurs in charge who are in way over their heads.
Is old age the disease Biden promised to get in his Dec 2020 interview on CNN? "Like I told Barack, if I reach something where there's a fundamental disagreement we have based on a moral principle, I'll develop some disease and say I have to resign..." but I think along the way he (and his family) grew to like this role too much. Who has the goods on whom?
Something doesn't chime here. Turkey has refused to allow any foreign warships into the Black Sea, but will be the largest contingent in NATO naval exercises in the Black Sea? What game is Erdogan playing here?
Two sides against the middle? He probably is looking for some sort of concession from Russia in a seemingly unrelated matter--Armenia? In return he can screw up NATO's plans in the Black Sea. That would be typical for him. He's never anybody's friend, he's always looking for leverage to extract some advantage.
He has NATO backing him up--when he's on there side--and he has Turkey's stranglehold on the Dardenelles, but if the strategic situation changes a bit he'll have no friends and lots of enemies.
The same country that beat back Napoleon and Hitler, at enormous cost, will never give in to Joe Biden, or whatever cutout follows him...ever. As many have observed, this was, is and will always be existential for Russia. Russia will never be a vassal of the US or the EU or NATO. There is no Black Sea provocation/escalation or any other provocation/escalation, including a nuclear provocation/escalation, that will cause Russia to concede...or even cease fire. As Putin has said, the longer the West waits to sue for peace on Russia's terms, the higher the price for peace. Historians in the future may agree or disagree with Putin's decision to delay or dispense with the 'big arrow' but they will never be found writing, "Putin conceded".
Putin will keep eastern Ukraine up to the Dneiper. He will keep Crimea. He will never agree to a frozen conflict. I believe the odds are he takes Odessa. And Putin will never ever agree to NATO membership for what, if anything, is left of Ukraine.
I don’t see Russia allowing a ship to port in Odessa. Blockade or similar. Plus i envision Black Sea fleet performing a semi circle around its NATO escorts.
Could be. And that adds to Macgregor's point. The Russians did state clearly that they wouldn't allow any interference with their blockade. We shall see.
I finally finished the video.
Interesting they think the West sees Putin as soft since he has been restrained in Russia’s response.
My view is Putin has maneuvered the West through a bunch of small actions, into a very advantageous position for Russia.
- low Russian casualties
- high Ukraine casualties
- industrial war Russia has huge advantages in
- economic war Russia is winning and improving each day
- political war Russia is also winning with the Brics
- de-dollarization is spreading
Time is on Russias side.
Wagner group is now terrorists per uk?
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wagner-group-designated-terrorist-organization-uk-officials/story
I am reminded of the final scene in the original “Planet of the Apes” when Charleton Heston’s character comes upon what’s left of the Statue of Liberty and screams, “G**DAMN YOU! YOU FINALLY BLEW IT UP!” I cannot help but think that the people in charge right now are completely capable of precipitating such a scenario. Rational, dispassionate thinking is simply beyond their abilities.
As you have said many times Mark, we have a bunch of amateurs in charge who are in way over their heads.
Is old age the disease Biden promised to get in his Dec 2020 interview on CNN? "Like I told Barack, if I reach something where there's a fundamental disagreement we have based on a moral principle, I'll develop some disease and say I have to resign..." but I think along the way he (and his family) grew to like this role too much. Who has the goods on whom?
Something doesn't chime here. Turkey has refused to allow any foreign warships into the Black Sea, but will be the largest contingent in NATO naval exercises in the Black Sea? What game is Erdogan playing here?
Two sides against the middle? He probably is looking for some sort of concession from Russia in a seemingly unrelated matter--Armenia? In return he can screw up NATO's plans in the Black Sea. That would be typical for him. He's never anybody's friend, he's always looking for leverage to extract some advantage.
Turkey leverage areas:
- Libya
- grain deal
- Syria
-north south corridor
- Russia pipeline to Turkey
Once again, Erdogan is playing both sides to suit himself. He's being too clever by half and risks getting badly burnt.
Erdogan fancies himself as the new Calif of all Muslims. Or perhaps the 12th Mahdi.
He has NATO backing him up--when he's on there side--and he has Turkey's stranglehold on the Dardenelles, but if the strategic situation changes a bit he'll have no friends and lots of enemies.
Thank you for this excellent article and commentary
Oh, you're welcome!
The same country that beat back Napoleon and Hitler, at enormous cost, will never give in to Joe Biden, or whatever cutout follows him...ever. As many have observed, this was, is and will always be existential for Russia. Russia will never be a vassal of the US or the EU or NATO. There is no Black Sea provocation/escalation or any other provocation/escalation, including a nuclear provocation/escalation, that will cause Russia to concede...or even cease fire. As Putin has said, the longer the West waits to sue for peace on Russia's terms, the higher the price for peace. Historians in the future may agree or disagree with Putin's decision to delay or dispense with the 'big arrow' but they will never be found writing, "Putin conceded".
Putin will keep eastern Ukraine up to the Dneiper. He will keep Crimea. He will never agree to a frozen conflict. I believe the odds are he takes Odessa. And Putin will never ever agree to NATO membership for what, if anything, is left of Ukraine.
Take it to the bank.
"The same country that beat back Napoleon and Hitler, at enormous cost, will never give in to Joe Biden, or whatever cutout follows him...ever."
I thought Macgregor was particularly good on that score.
I can see nato escorting a ship into just outside Odessa.
The goal is to apply more pressure so Russia begs for peace.
I don’t see Russia allowing a ship to port in Odessa. Blockade or similar. Plus i envision Black Sea fleet performing a semi circle around its NATO escorts.
But then what happens when the ship pulls into Odessa?
I’m sure they see it as a replay of the Cuban missile crisis, that resulted in a negotiated solution.
With the roles swapped.
The Russians could simply take the ship out.
I’m sure the ship is some Ngo relief good toshoes type.
Could be. And that adds to Macgregor's point. The Russians did state clearly that they wouldn't allow any interference with their blockade. We shall see.
The neocons still haven't absorbed the key lesson here: this is existential for Russia and they will go all the way if needed.
Echo chamber of dc.
No dissenting opinions allowed.
do you have a link? thanks.
If someone blows up another Russian pipeline then I think things are going to get exponentially worse.