I saw a tweet referring to the first story early this morning, but lost track of it. Zerohedge has picked up on it. I’ve seen other stories that play into this as well. For example, yesterday it was reported that Russia had used a Kinzhal missile to destroy an important command and control center near the Donbas. Two things are important about that fact:
The use of the Kinzhal is a clear sign that the target was deeply fortified against ordinary attacks.
The nature of the target suggests that this center was receiving NATO intelligence and then forwarding instructions to frontline units—or possibly controlling drone strikes. Drones are fine for pounding technically unsophisticated enemies, but the Russians can track the controllers and target them.
With that in mind:
Russia Steps Up Efforts To Jam US-Provided GPS In Ukraine: Pentagon
The Pentagon now says Russia is in the midst of a major jamming operation attempt of Ukraine's access to GPS signals, which if successful would have a huge impact on Ukraine's ability to navigate the battlefield and operate advanced aerial systems such as drones.
What's further is that these latest efforts, which follow widespread reports that Russia jammed GPS in Ukraine just ahead of the Feb. 24 invasion, appear aimed at disrupting new US-supplied equipment, in particular small advanced drones.
In a Monday NBC interview, Gen. David Thompson of the US Space Force described that Russia is taking direct aim at communications infrastructure provided by the US: "Russia is interfering with the US-provided GPS signals in Ukraine," he said.
NBC show narrator, Pentagon correspondent Tom Costello explained, "While Russia and China have their own GPS satellites, most of the world relies on the GPS provided by the US for free."
The report further said, "Russia has also reportedly jammed the GPS systems used by civilian aircraft along its borders with Finland."
Space Force's Gen. Thompson described that the Russians are making a "clear statement to us about their intention to threaten our capabilities" - including the scenario that eventually the Kremlin could take direct action against US GPS satellites in space.
How far do the Neocons want to escalate this? Is anyone in Congress asking any questions about the implications of US direction of the Ukraine war effort?
The second story suggests—to me, anyway—that the Pentagon may be pushing back against Neocon and UK Deep State efforts to escalate the proxy war to a direct war:
Pentagon Treats Azov Claims Of Russian Chemical Attack With Caution After UK Amplified Them
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday addressed Monday allegations out of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol that Russian forces had used chemical weapons there. Reuters describes of his words that "the United States is not in a position to confirm anything when it comes to reports of the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine." He added however that "We're in direct conversation with partners to try to determine what actually has happened. So this is a real concern," he said to reporters.
Crucially, he added that the US has "credible information" that Russia might use 'chemical agents' in Ukraine, it's being reported further. But he seemed to suggest it was more related to riot control gear and not necessarily major battlefield deployments: "We had credible information that Russian forces may use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas, mixed with chemical agents that would cause stronger symptoms...This is a real concern..." he said. "We shared that information with Ukraine, as well as with other partners."
His ambiguous words came less than 12 hours after Pentagon spokesman John Kirby the evening before appeared to downplay the claims coming out of Azov militants in Mariupol, which were also treated with skepticism by many journalists and analysts.
"We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine," Kirby had said Monday. "We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely."
"These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia’s potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine," Kirby added.
But it was the British government which had earlier on Monday served to amplify Azov's completely unverified claims - alarming given that UK state media itself had long before the Ukraine invasion labeled Azov battalion as a neo-Nazi organization.
The UK had actually stated that if chem warfare had occurred no possible response would be “off the table”—which sounded very much like a threat of nuclear escalation based on “completely unverified claims.” The Pentagon, seemingly, has no desire to go where US Neocons and the UK Deep State want to go.
Based on the tenor of comments on this thread, I'd like to recommend two videos, each a little over an hour long.
1. John Mearshimer: "The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrE_RPNogG4
This video is more wide ranging than the title suggests. Although M. proclaims himself a good liberal (Dems and GOPers are all liberals in this philosophical sense) he also provides a trenchant critique of liberalism/libertarianism--that it's fundamentally hegemonistic and intolerant. Be patient, but the lecture moves right along. He's not totally consistent, and his philosophy only goes so far, but it will get you thinking about both grand strategy as well as the philosophical foundations of a good human society. Lecture lasts 52 minutes before questions.
2. Scott Ritter and The Battle of the Donbas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5RKNoIhE40&ab_channel=GonzaloLira
I found the portion from about 33:00 on to be especially good, because there he's beyond the current situation and talking about broader issues for the future of Europe and Russia. He has provocative things to say about a number of topics. Things to think about if you're interested in grand strategy.
Been reading post over at the Saker since Mark mentioned it a while back. It certainly has a spin that you want to be aware of, but they seem to have some interesting nuggets from time to time. Example: the insinuation that the RF is using chem weapons seems to get amplified as there are claims of not only Azov hiding in underground tunnels below a factory in Mariupol, but there seems to be some believable information that there are other non-UFA forces there with them as well. Will be interesting to see what pans out.
https://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-8/
"Also this information is unconfirmed but this is the rumor going around:
“The Nazi drowning operation is said to begin today in Mariupol..
At least ten fire engines to be either on the road or already at the factory to start pumping water from the river or sea and pumping water to above-ground ventilation shafts that carry fresh air to the cavernous network of tunnels below the Azovstal metallurgical complex..
If Azov close the ventilation shafts, they will drown within a few days. If they do not close the ventilation shafts, they will drown in a few days. In any case, the siege of the factory will be terminated in such a way that the factory itself can remain intact..”
Also, I've been watching Patrick Lancaster's reporting from Mariupol. He's on YT and does a lot of interviews of the locals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eim2BIliwmA
So, I'm not saying everything is believable, but it certainly has more credibility compared with the obvious propaganda the fake news is feeding us.