Of course the Russians knew there were western troops in the Ukraine.. Common sense, in that the sophistication of Western weapons systems made it necessary to do so. And remember back in May of 2022 when the US was saying they were going to have over 150 US Special Forces Troops Guard the embassy instead of Marines? Yeh, guards, sure. The Russians have signal intercept and EW assets as well as spys. They for sure knew the foreign soldiers were there. The only people in the dark were the citizens of the NATO countries. Here is a great example: Remember Syria? The US Government first said, "There are no US soldiers in Syria". Then, there are only 50 US soldiers in Syria. , Then it became 200, then 500 , then over a thousand. These Governments lie through their teeth. No French in Ukraine? Maybe not, maybe they are all French Foreign Legionnaires? The French, when they want to, really do not count the Legionnaires as their own and no one cares if they die. The key is look at what they say and how they say it. The idea is the concept of plausible deniability. Oh, we did not blow up the pipeline...and that is true....but what is not stated is, yes they did not actually do it, but they financed it and help coordinate the plan. That is how they work the narrative, with the hidden lie.
Thank you!! I concur. If it was me, Kiev would have been carpet bombed a long time ago. I am still shocked that the Ukrainian government is still functioning, Zelinski is allowed to speak and travel,.. and international dignitaries come to Kiev to visit.
This is a lot different than what I am used to as a former US Army officer. Look at what we did in Baghdad.
His restraint is remarkable. Stoltenberg is still insisting that Ukraine will join NATO. That alone would push many Russian leaders to press the button.
And he continues doing that despite ever increasing demand from Russian public to strike back, starting from the western surveillance drones. There are negotiated frames, I guess.
So the warmed over gruel about “it’s all the Republicans fault, but the valiant and tenacious CIA carried heroically on to the last possible minute”, is supposed to save their worthless asses from being publicly ridiculed and vilified? Maybe in some parallel universe.
This gigantic mess just gets worse with each passing day.
Meanwhile back here on planet earth, Glenn Beck referenced a new poll, didn’t catch the source-sorry, that said that the top concern for those polled was 1) the border, 2) the government and 3) the economy. Perhaps more people are starting to realize exactly where that vile stench is coming from.
John Mearsheimer noted Dec 2014 when Ukraine went from neutral to anti-Russia (No thank you, CIA). And while we live in Reality today (per the Col), the US (and NATO) appear to have abandoned reality, reasoning it apropos to walk a Nuclear conflict fine-line. The Biden statement(s) that US is the 'Strongest Country in History, good God!' and somehow he justifies the very real prospective reality of destroying Civilization. Makes for a good reminder to constantly keep you and your family close to our Lord in Prayer and first in your lives. [Sigh] WrH
Agreed. There isn't much we can do to influence events except keep ourselves and our families strong. The level of magical thinking among the neocons is seriously alarming.
Thanks (and How ya doin' S'21?!) Like much evidenced in this 21st century Western Culture, consequences from idolatry can be grave. Consequences of 2 centuries since 'the enlightenment' -that is all things "Anything But God"- is well on the way to eliminating 2+ Millennia of positive human development. The hole in humanity's Heart where God should reside is being sought filled with that that is mankind's demise. While many of us of Faith seek Eternal Values and Virtues, the Naturalist/Humanist seeks solace in self-appeasement. With no God, there can be no peace. (Wow, it's not even Sunday and I've preached a Sermon here, just trying to say hello! Sorry for any distractions Steg.) Blessings my European- ensconced friend! (WrH)
If memory serves. The Russians sold an aircraft carrier to the Chinese after the Cold War. The question is would the Chinese even want the Prince of Wales? Another question: in the age of hypersonics and Houthis are aircraft carriers just another white elephant/whale? Who to gift the Prince of Whales to?
"The goal of the Entous/Schwirtz article is simple — portray the CIA as a great organization who did magnificent work in Ukraine but were not able to complete the mission of destroying Russia because the Republican Congress failed to provide funding and the Ukrainian intelligence service was uncontrollable."
I'm sure Larry is correct on this but I think that message falls flat with the US public. I don't think anyone but the neocons had "destroying Russia" on their to-do list. I believe most Americans (at least those paying attention) see the Ukraine debacle as a huge waste of money that would have been better spent domestically. Not to mention that we've destroyed a country and many of its people in the process.
Maybe NOT living with the neocons in positions of power SHOULD be on our to-do list?
I do share your sense of foreboding - especially living here in Europe with a cornucopia of dunces as leaders who, instead of trading, as you say, with their great Eurasian neighbor, seem intent on taking things to the ultimate breaking point. The US homeland will be spared, but Europe? Not so sure…
Yes, your lack of confidence is confirmed by Mercouris whom I’m just now watching - he refers to the “panic” setting in among the Europeans and the “gathering madness” - recriminations, criticisms, blame along with the publication of the conversation by two German generals about attacking the Kerch bridge…
I read that. I don't think Ukraine can get there. Mobilizing is one thing, but those are totally untrained people. Right now Ukraine is losing as many as 1000 a day. I think they'll reach a breaking point well before the election, and before they can train and equip 500k. Meanwhile Russia picks the time and place to attack, how much to commit, when to shift, and bombs the shit out of the rear areas and logistics.
A total mobilisation could backfire, I’m sure there are segments of the Ukrainian population with a score to settle with Azov thugs.
A total mobilisation is pointless anyway because it would take months to train the recruits to the level required.
Of course the Russians knew there were western troops in the Ukraine.. Common sense, in that the sophistication of Western weapons systems made it necessary to do so. And remember back in May of 2022 when the US was saying they were going to have over 150 US Special Forces Troops Guard the embassy instead of Marines? Yeh, guards, sure. The Russians have signal intercept and EW assets as well as spys. They for sure knew the foreign soldiers were there. The only people in the dark were the citizens of the NATO countries. Here is a great example: Remember Syria? The US Government first said, "There are no US soldiers in Syria". Then, there are only 50 US soldiers in Syria. , Then it became 200, then 500 , then over a thousand. These Governments lie through their teeth. No French in Ukraine? Maybe not, maybe they are all French Foreign Legionnaires? The French, when they want to, really do not count the Legionnaires as their own and no one cares if they die. The key is look at what they say and how they say it. The idea is the concept of plausible deniability. Oh, we did not blow up the pipeline...and that is true....but what is not stated is, yes they did not actually do it, but they financed it and help coordinate the plan. That is how they work the narrative, with the hidden lie.
The higher the restraint.. the higher the negotiating conditions.
Thank you!! I concur. If it was me, Kiev would have been carpet bombed a long time ago. I am still shocked that the Ukrainian government is still functioning, Zelinski is allowed to speak and travel,.. and international dignitaries come to Kiev to visit.
This is a lot different than what I am used to as a former US Army officer. Look at what we did in Baghdad.
His restraint is remarkable. Stoltenberg is still insisting that Ukraine will join NATO. That alone would push many Russian leaders to press the button.
And he continues doing that despite ever increasing demand from Russian public to strike back, starting from the western surveillance drones. There are negotiated frames, I guess.
In order to build back better, what exists must first be eradicated. I cannot believe how quickly the globalists are destroying everything.
That's Bolshevism for you.
Ukrainian collapse by summer? How about spring?
So the warmed over gruel about “it’s all the Republicans fault, but the valiant and tenacious CIA carried heroically on to the last possible minute”, is supposed to save their worthless asses from being publicly ridiculed and vilified? Maybe in some parallel universe.
This gigantic mess just gets worse with each passing day.
Meanwhile back here on planet earth, Glenn Beck referenced a new poll, didn’t catch the source-sorry, that said that the top concern for those polled was 1) the border, 2) the government and 3) the economy. Perhaps more people are starting to realize exactly where that vile stench is coming from.
John Mearsheimer noted Dec 2014 when Ukraine went from neutral to anti-Russia (No thank you, CIA). And while we live in Reality today (per the Col), the US (and NATO) appear to have abandoned reality, reasoning it apropos to walk a Nuclear conflict fine-line. The Biden statement(s) that US is the 'Strongest Country in History, good God!' and somehow he justifies the very real prospective reality of destroying Civilization. Makes for a good reminder to constantly keep you and your family close to our Lord in Prayer and first in your lives. [Sigh] WrH
Agreed. There isn't much we can do to influence events except keep ourselves and our families strong. The level of magical thinking among the neocons is seriously alarming.
Thanks (and How ya doin' S'21?!) Like much evidenced in this 21st century Western Culture, consequences from idolatry can be grave. Consequences of 2 centuries since 'the enlightenment' -that is all things "Anything But God"- is well on the way to eliminating 2+ Millennia of positive human development. The hole in humanity's Heart where God should reside is being sought filled with that that is mankind's demise. While many of us of Faith seek Eternal Values and Virtues, the Naturalist/Humanist seeks solace in self-appeasement. With no God, there can be no peace. (Wow, it's not even Sunday and I've preached a Sermon here, just trying to say hello! Sorry for any distractions Steg.) Blessings my European- ensconced friend! (WrH)
If memory serves. The Russians sold an aircraft carrier to the Chinese after the Cold War. The question is would the Chinese even want the Prince of Wales? Another question: in the age of hypersonics and Houthis are aircraft carriers just another white elephant/whale? Who to gift the Prince of Whales to?
If the UK was honest, they should have named it the HMS Prince of White Whales, in honor of Britain's attitude toward Russia.
Maybe the Chinese could use it for target practice.
If things go horribly wrong they will use it for hypersonic testing before or after the sale is complete.
Probably India is the target customer.
Re the NYT article about CIA and MI6 activity in Ukraine over the years/decades, Larry Johnson's article is well worth reading:
https://sonar21.com/ny-times-plays-cia-messenger-turn-off-the-lights-the-party-is-over/
Here's the long and short of it:
"The goal of the Entous/Schwirtz article is simple — portray the CIA as a great organization who did magnificent work in Ukraine but were not able to complete the mission of destroying Russia because the Republican Congress failed to provide funding and the Ukrainian intelligence service was uncontrollable."
IOW CIA CYA
I'm sure Larry is correct on this but I think that message falls flat with the US public. I don't think anyone but the neocons had "destroying Russia" on their to-do list. I believe most Americans (at least those paying attention) see the Ukraine debacle as a huge waste of money that would have been better spent domestically. Not to mention that we've destroyed a country and many of its people in the process.
Maybe NOT living with the neocons in positions of power SHOULD be on our to-do list?
Just heard Larry Wilkerson saying that he hears NATO personnel are being withdrawn as the collapse is appearing to start.
And before Russia starts seriously targeting them.
It's definitely CYA time.
Where have we seen this movie before?
Hey, wait a minute, how can you withdraw somebody who wasn’t there in the first place? I can’t make the math work, somebody help me out here. :-0
Maffs is rayciss, dude!
I do share your sense of foreboding - especially living here in Europe with a cornucopia of dunces as leaders who, instead of trading, as you say, with their great Eurasian neighbor, seem intent on taking things to the ultimate breaking point. The US homeland will be spared, but Europe? Not so sure…
Yes, your lack of confidence is confirmed by Mercouris whom I’m just now watching - he refers to the “panic” setting in among the Europeans and the “gathering madness” - recriminations, criticisms, blame along with the publication of the conversation by two German generals about attacking the Kerch bridge…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmNlX_B2CI8&list=UUwGpHa6rMLjSSCBlckm5khw&index=1
About 24 minute mark, but the whole presentation is riveting.
How can Ukraine double down? With what? At most, they and their Western Svengalis can plant a few bombs in Russia and lob a few missiles. It's over.
I read that. I don't think Ukraine can get there. Mobilizing is one thing, but those are totally untrained people. Right now Ukraine is losing as many as 1000 a day. I think they'll reach a breaking point well before the election, and before they can train and equip 500k. Meanwhile Russia picks the time and place to attack, how much to commit, when to shift, and bombs the shit out of the rear areas and logistics.
Irrational madness, they name is neocon.
Gee Cass, I kinda thought that we were already there, just a question of degree at this point.