Veteran War Correspondent Marat Khairullen’s insights have been shared here before. I read this at his Telegram yesterday morning and knew it was a scoop but that the other events demanded to be covered first and were. Now a very interesting thing occurred between yesterday and today—yesterday I had no issues with my inbuilt translation software doing its work, and I kept the tab with it open continually in the event I’d have time to make it into an article before I retired; however, today that one section of his Telegram would not automatically translate although everything else did: Why is a very good question. Now, his report was also aired in an audio format on the 13th at
Dear Karl – a long comment, with apologies – but Africa is ignored and there’s rarely a chance to comment
Marat K is late to the party – the RF has been paying a great deal more attention to Africa than he has, on every front obviously, whereas he sticks closely to the military
RF’s point man is Yevkurov, untiring endless frequent visits
The railway plans Marat K maps are constantly renewed fantasies – anything remotely comparable will be a long time in the making
MK attributes excessive numbers and importance to the more or less independent role of the Sahel Alliance armies
Whereas Libya is the seat of the high level second front of structural significance created by RF diplomacy backed by small scale (1,800 troops) military intervention
I commented on this on Simplicius’ substack May 12 – in much more detail, with a lot of links – I can send you this by email if you are interested
Indian Punchline had a recent article about RF China ‘collaboration’ rather parallel plans moving in the same direction in Niger – China has invested $5B in Niger’s pipeline to the sea in Bénin, plus a recent ‘lifeline’ loan of $400M
Le Monde (and other serious mainstream French news outlets) as well the various anti RF NGO’s (looks like Ukrainian based) have been reporting about RF steady diplomacy in Libya advancing to the point whereby they are, it is said, in a position to create some sort of cease fire between feuding blood relatives (sounds familiar)
Haftar, despite being CIA born and bred, is no longer interested in talking to the US, according to US sources, and has let RF start a submarine capable port at Tobruk, for high level surveillance of EU in prospect, control of energy flows to EU from the Haftar zone, in collaboration with Algeria, control of migrant flows to the EU, use of Haftar airports in the south – all the RF have to do is persuade the Turks, the main military supporters of Tripoli, to play both sides – and given the Turks like nothing better than to play both sides with the Russians.....
Nobody has been paying attention – despite Macron’s complaints about the RF in the Sahel he has concentrated on trying to game EU politics with the Ukraine, rather than countering RF’s advances up to his southern Mediterranean shores
Ditto The Italians have been lazy; only very recently has Meloni talked about a rehash en miniature of Sarkozy’s Med far reaching and inclusive investment plans c. 2007, which included Israel!!, promptly rejected by the Germans, already obsessed with their fiefs in Eastern Europe and with the Ukraine
Ditto the clumsy handed US, also more interested in strutting the stage in Ukraine
« Russian vessels have been unloading thousands of tons of military equipment in the eastern Libyan port of Tobruk this month after repeated visits by Russia’s deputy defense minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the strongman running eastern Libya. »
“Eastern Libya is becoming a significant way station into Africa for Russia, and it comes after the U.S. seriously misplayed Haftar,” said Ben Fishman, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. »
Plus - The third in a row UN mediator has just resigned – exhausted, got nowhere
Lavrov has often spoken of and to President Sassou’s role as President of the African Union High Level Committee on Libya, most recently in Oyo early June 2024
Africans have not will not forget nor forgive the assassination of Gadaffi and the destruction of Libya – the RF have been the only who have looked, listened, and seen the golden opportunity
Next up – The Congo – one should expect to see the same process applied here
- a very large and key to Africa country, with millions of square kilometers of clickbait metals for chips n’ phones, as well as everything else, where the US has only managed to steal raw materials by fomenting ethnic militias via their CIA born and bred Rwandan proxies – in short the everyday and Ukraine playbook – which leaves plenty of room for the RF/China tandem to sweep the pot
Yes, lots to write about regarding Africa. Eradicating the West's terrorists is a must to provide security for any sort of logistics infrastructure construction. Russia and China's position--Africans solving Africa's problems--is spot-on and just needs their help instead of the decades of hindrance bestowed by the West.
Apart from the tiny islands, and the brit tourist resort of Gambia, that leaves very few indeed
Kenya is a newly inducted member of the Empire - they are required to send 1,000 policemen to Haiti - rather like those Ukrainian pilots being 'trained' they are going to have to learn creole first - even tho' the Kenya's High Court ruled the decision un constitutional
There's always some cause related to a reaction, not just in physics. Since the "Communist Threat" no longer exists, it's very difficult for the West to explain its military presence in Africa. 911 allowed Terrorism to somewhat replace it, but as with 911 itself, that terrorism needed to be manufactured just as was done in Latin America in the late 1940s if not earlier--1840-50s in the case of Nicaragua, Cuba and elsewhere. Of course, that all began with the terror aimed at Native Americans. That's why one definition of the USA is a Settler State, like Israel.
Yes, I am thinking the same. Despite the founding fathers’ rhetoric — it was a settler state from the beginning. But (oh that famous but), I would also say that by the end of 1980s, both projects were in crisis — socialism AND neoliberalism. We should not forget about it. Hence the invention of causes that will ‘justify’ the spending for the military complex and waging wars everywhere to prop up the failing of neoliberalism further, pretending to be strong. Thank you Karl for your replies. It is really good to clarify one’s thinking when you have interlocutor. 😎
Well, yes and no. Many qualifications for that appellation. To understand it all, one must really look deeply into the English Civil War and the two centuries of Enclosure and combat with Spain and Catholicism that preceded it. What motivated Bacon to write his "Advertisement for Genocide" for example along with the terror of Feudalism that prompted Hobbes' social theory. What's behind the millennia-long motivation to become rich and powerful? What if that drive never existed and harmony prevailed?
Hej Karl, now you're treading into interesting territory I don't know. I think I'm a reasonably well-informed someone historically, but, if I recall correctly, I think you were a history teacher, so if I may be bold: may I suggest that you write us an article to explain the above more thoroughly?
Anyway as ever, thanks for this. Overall, I think it provides some very thought-provoking stuff, a little window, if you will, into the other layers of the ongoing onion-like war between Russia (representing humanity) and the west / NATO and its belligerent attempts to preserve its neo-colonial hegemony.
Here's a doorway into that part of the past. It doesn't cover everything, but it covers enough and provides direction to those other areas it didn't emphasize, "The Many Headed Hydra," https://archive.org/details/manyheadedhydras00line
And since the West's losing, it says nothing aside from Macron squealing like a stuck pig. Recall my short note about the power of Russia's economy; kit has the ability to finance such endeavors and provide the arms. The Sahel nations need to build their militaries to deal with NATO's Terrorist Foreign Legion and protect the infrastructure that begs to be built.
Kalof1, I follow you since Moon Of Alabama, and was very pleased to have so many original information from this substack.
So, I am very sorry to tell you that this story from "Marat Khairullen" is all fictional.
I am from Burkina Faso, I lived there for the 30 last years, and I can tell you those "batallions" does not exist anywhere. The maximum number of new recruitment in the army is 3.000 a year, mostly because we don't have the people and the training centers to take more.
This is why the country had to take civilians as "volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland" (VDP in french). They called for 50.000 but never reached that number. Those "VDP" has less than a month of training.
The number of russians soldiers in the country is less than 300, so they are not able to fight the terrorists, nor to train the army. They are mostly involved in teaching the use of the newly bought arms and the security of the young "coup" leader acting president.
It seems obvious to me that. Russia is very busy in Ukraine and securing it borders from OTAN's putative madness and therefore have no "batallions" to send to us to fight our war.
Most of the described actions never took place. The "Sahel army" exist only in writings. Every country operate his soldiers alone, and sometimes, joint action is taken at the borders.
There was a group of 5.000 fighters coming from the three countries plus Tchad and some staff from Mauritania, the so-called "G5 Sahel force", but the new military powers abandoned it because of the french involvement. I don't know where Mister Marat took all those "batallions".
They are no plane able to cary "Kab250" and no terrorist base to shell, they are everywhere and nowhere. Our bigger "plane" is the Bayraktar "Akinci" drone.
The involvement of Libyan or Algerian forces is pure fiction. Algeria as a rule written in the country constitution never operate outside his borders. And the Libyans are very busy fighting theirs factions.
The text also refer to regions of "Nigeria" confusing it to "Niger". The Nigeria is also fighting his own terrorists, called "Boko Haram" that often strike in neighboring Cameroon or Tchad. There no direct relationship with the ones in Burkina, Niger and Mali.
It seems no one takes the time to explain to mister Marat that we don't want to be "controlled" neither by France nor by Russia. And this man knows nothing about what a "market" is.
It's very disappointing to see that Russians bloggers are using the same big disinformation lies that we use to see in the west. I'm really chocked...
But apart from what's going on the ground, this piece of the "veteran war correspondent" is toxic for Russia and it's image worldwide.
What Marat Khairullen shortly say it that the african project of Russia is first of all colonial, meaning to control other countries for their wealth and/or for the captive market they represent. So, basically to replace France and UK.
I don't think it's the best way to "make friends" abroad, not talking about how the western propagandists can "ride this horse" to smear Russia.
And as no russian died so far in our countries, talking about "ched blood" means actually that Russia is ready to "ched the blood" of the africans to reach this colonial goal.
I don't know Marat Khairullen apart from the fact he's a famous russian war correspondent. And I am surely not interested in a "credibility contest" with him, I am no one.
But what he has written is not what is on the ground where I am, and more, he's not helping Russia because any african reading his piece can see his "russophilia" nosedive.
On another topic, I can explain you, as an "insider", why is "justification" of is vision of african integration and economic growth is irrelevant. If you're interested, of course...
Total respect for your outstanding work that helps us, so far from you and Russia, and who are not talking russian, to understand so much things in that "empire of lies". Thanks !
Ahhh, that explains why Macron is so upset. Thanks for posting, Karl.
"it can be assumed that the task has been set to prepare about two hundred full-fledged combat battalions in the medium term."
Wow. The end of the rape of Africa.
Dear Karl – a long comment, with apologies – but Africa is ignored and there’s rarely a chance to comment
Marat K is late to the party – the RF has been paying a great deal more attention to Africa than he has, on every front obviously, whereas he sticks closely to the military
RF’s point man is Yevkurov, untiring endless frequent visits
The railway plans Marat K maps are constantly renewed fantasies – anything remotely comparable will be a long time in the making
MK attributes excessive numbers and importance to the more or less independent role of the Sahel Alliance armies
Whereas Libya is the seat of the high level second front of structural significance created by RF diplomacy backed by small scale (1,800 troops) military intervention
I commented on this on Simplicius’ substack May 12 – in much more detail, with a lot of links – I can send you this by email if you are interested
Indian Punchline had a recent article about RF China ‘collaboration’ rather parallel plans moving in the same direction in Niger – China has invested $5B in Niger’s pipeline to the sea in Bénin, plus a recent ‘lifeline’ loan of $400M
https://www.indianpunchline.com/us-russia-lock-horns-in-niger/
Le Monde (and other serious mainstream French news outlets) as well the various anti RF NGO’s (looks like Ukrainian based) have been reporting about RF steady diplomacy in Libya advancing to the point whereby they are, it is said, in a position to create some sort of cease fire between feuding blood relatives (sounds familiar)
https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/05/10/la-russie-accroit-sa-presence-en-libye-au-grand-desarroi-des-occidentaux_6232547_3212.html
Haftar, despite being CIA born and bred, is no longer interested in talking to the US, according to US sources, and has let RF start a submarine capable port at Tobruk, for high level surveillance of EU in prospect, control of energy flows to EU from the Haftar zone, in collaboration with Algeria, control of migrant flows to the EU, use of Haftar airports in the south – all the RF have to do is persuade the Turks, the main military supporters of Tripoli, to play both sides – and given the Turks like nothing better than to play both sides with the Russians.....
Nobody has been paying attention – despite Macron’s complaints about the RF in the Sahel he has concentrated on trying to game EU politics with the Ukraine, rather than countering RF’s advances up to his southern Mediterranean shores
Ditto The Italians have been lazy; only very recently has Meloni talked about a rehash en miniature of Sarkozy’s Med far reaching and inclusive investment plans c. 2007, which included Israel!!, promptly rejected by the Germans, already obsessed with their fiefs in Eastern Europe and with the Ukraine
Ditto the clumsy handed US, also more interested in strutting the stage in Ukraine
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/04/19/russia-funneling-weapons-through-libyan-port-eying-gateway-to-africa/
« Russian vessels have been unloading thousands of tons of military equipment in the eastern Libyan port of Tobruk this month after repeated visits by Russia’s deputy defense minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to Gen. Khalifa Haftar, the strongman running eastern Libya. »
“Eastern Libya is becoming a significant way station into Africa for Russia, and it comes after the U.S. seriously misplayed Haftar,” said Ben Fishman, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. »
Plus - The third in a row UN mediator has just resigned – exhausted, got nowhere
Lavrov has often spoken of and to President Sassou’s role as President of the African Union High Level Committee on Libya, most recently in Oyo early June 2024
https://www.africanews.com/2024/06/05/russian-fm-in-congo-libya-war-in-ukraine-and-cooperation-top-agenda//
Africans have not will not forget nor forgive the assassination of Gadaffi and the destruction of Libya – the RF have been the only who have looked, listened, and seen the golden opportunity
Next up – The Congo – one should expect to see the same process applied here
- a very large and key to Africa country, with millions of square kilometers of clickbait metals for chips n’ phones, as well as everything else, where the US has only managed to steal raw materials by fomenting ethnic militias via their CIA born and bred Rwandan proxies – in short the everyday and Ukraine playbook – which leaves plenty of room for the RF/China tandem to sweep the pot
Yes, lots to write about regarding Africa. Eradicating the West's terrorists is a must to provide security for any sort of logistics infrastructure construction. Russia and China's position--Africans solving Africa's problems--is spot-on and just needs their help instead of the decades of hindrance bestowed by the West.
A measure of how little support the US and the Ukraine have in Africa is shown by the list of those who signed the Swiss peace deal - very few
Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, Sao Thomé, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Cabo Verde, Comoros
Apart from the tiny islands, and the brit tourist resort of Gambia, that leaves very few indeed
Kenya is a newly inducted member of the Empire - they are required to send 1,000 policemen to Haiti - rather like those Ukrainian pilots being 'trained' they are going to have to learn creole first - even tho' the Kenya's High Court ruled the decision un constitutional
Another example of the US trying to avoid the UN
I'll be writing about these tomorrow along with other things that surface, https://strategic-culture.su/news/2024/06/14/european-mutiny-at-the-illiberal-order/
And https://thecradle.co/articles/the-brics-weigh-in-on-palestine
Thank you, I look forward to this
This was really interesting. Thank you, Karl.
There's always some cause related to a reaction, not just in physics. Since the "Communist Threat" no longer exists, it's very difficult for the West to explain its military presence in Africa. 911 allowed Terrorism to somewhat replace it, but as with 911 itself, that terrorism needed to be manufactured just as was done in Latin America in the late 1940s if not earlier--1840-50s in the case of Nicaragua, Cuba and elsewhere. Of course, that all began with the terror aimed at Native Americans. That's why one definition of the USA is a Settler State, like Israel.
Yes, I am thinking the same. Despite the founding fathers’ rhetoric — it was a settler state from the beginning. But (oh that famous but), I would also say that by the end of 1980s, both projects were in crisis — socialism AND neoliberalism. We should not forget about it. Hence the invention of causes that will ‘justify’ the spending for the military complex and waging wars everywhere to prop up the failing of neoliberalism further, pretending to be strong. Thank you Karl for your replies. It is really good to clarify one’s thinking when you have interlocutor. 😎
Another definition would be a Killer State.
Well, yes and no. Many qualifications for that appellation. To understand it all, one must really look deeply into the English Civil War and the two centuries of Enclosure and combat with Spain and Catholicism that preceded it. What motivated Bacon to write his "Advertisement for Genocide" for example along with the terror of Feudalism that prompted Hobbes' social theory. What's behind the millennia-long motivation to become rich and powerful? What if that drive never existed and harmony prevailed?
Hej Karl, now you're treading into interesting territory I don't know. I think I'm a reasonably well-informed someone historically, but, if I recall correctly, I think you were a history teacher, so if I may be bold: may I suggest that you write us an article to explain the above more thoroughly?
Anyway as ever, thanks for this. Overall, I think it provides some very thought-provoking stuff, a little window, if you will, into the other layers of the ongoing onion-like war between Russia (representing humanity) and the west / NATO and its belligerent attempts to preserve its neo-colonial hegemony.
Super interesting stuff!
Here's a doorway into that part of the past. It doesn't cover everything, but it covers enough and provides direction to those other areas it didn't emphasize, "The Many Headed Hydra," https://archive.org/details/manyheadedhydras00line
Rogue State.
https://williamblum.org/books/rogue-state/
Along with not "wasting resources", I guess keeping Africa in dire poverty also provides "legitimate" cover for NGO / CIA ops.
Thank you for this. It provides much needed context.
fascinating karl! this explains a lot, if indeed much of it is sound... thanks..
And since the West's losing, it says nothing aside from Macron squealing like a stuck pig. Recall my short note about the power of Russia's economy; kit has the ability to finance such endeavors and provide the arms. The Sahel nations need to build their militaries to deal with NATO's Terrorist Foreign Legion and protect the infrastructure that begs to be built.
i have always thought macron was the voice of the banking cartel - whether rothchild related or not..
dear Dr. Karl. fascinating share, thank you.
Kalof1, I follow you since Moon Of Alabama, and was very pleased to have so many original information from this substack.
So, I am very sorry to tell you that this story from "Marat Khairullen" is all fictional.
I am from Burkina Faso, I lived there for the 30 last years, and I can tell you those "batallions" does not exist anywhere. The maximum number of new recruitment in the army is 3.000 a year, mostly because we don't have the people and the training centers to take more.
This is why the country had to take civilians as "volunteers for the Defense of the Fatherland" (VDP in french). They called for 50.000 but never reached that number. Those "VDP" has less than a month of training.
The number of russians soldiers in the country is less than 300, so they are not able to fight the terrorists, nor to train the army. They are mostly involved in teaching the use of the newly bought arms and the security of the young "coup" leader acting president.
It seems obvious to me that. Russia is very busy in Ukraine and securing it borders from OTAN's putative madness and therefore have no "batallions" to send to us to fight our war.
Most of the described actions never took place. The "Sahel army" exist only in writings. Every country operate his soldiers alone, and sometimes, joint action is taken at the borders.
There was a group of 5.000 fighters coming from the three countries plus Tchad and some staff from Mauritania, the so-called "G5 Sahel force", but the new military powers abandoned it because of the french involvement. I don't know where Mister Marat took all those "batallions".
They are no plane able to cary "Kab250" and no terrorist base to shell, they are everywhere and nowhere. Our bigger "plane" is the Bayraktar "Akinci" drone.
The involvement of Libyan or Algerian forces is pure fiction. Algeria as a rule written in the country constitution never operate outside his borders. And the Libyans are very busy fighting theirs factions.
The text also refer to regions of "Nigeria" confusing it to "Niger". The Nigeria is also fighting his own terrorists, called "Boko Haram" that often strike in neighboring Cameroon or Tchad. There no direct relationship with the ones in Burkina, Niger and Mali.
It seems no one takes the time to explain to mister Marat that we don't want to be "controlled" neither by France nor by Russia. And this man knows nothing about what a "market" is.
It's very disappointing to see that Russians bloggers are using the same big disinformation lies that we use to see in the west. I'm really chocked...
Thanks for replying. We’ll see soon enough who has the credibility here
Yes, you are right, time will tell...
But apart from what's going on the ground, this piece of the "veteran war correspondent" is toxic for Russia and it's image worldwide.
What Marat Khairullen shortly say it that the african project of Russia is first of all colonial, meaning to control other countries for their wealth and/or for the captive market they represent. So, basically to replace France and UK.
I don't think it's the best way to "make friends" abroad, not talking about how the western propagandists can "ride this horse" to smear Russia.
And as no russian died so far in our countries, talking about "ched blood" means actually that Russia is ready to "ched the blood" of the africans to reach this colonial goal.
I don't know Marat Khairullen apart from the fact he's a famous russian war correspondent. And I am surely not interested in a "credibility contest" with him, I am no one.
But what he has written is not what is on the ground where I am, and more, he's not helping Russia because any african reading his piece can see his "russophilia" nosedive.
On another topic, I can explain you, as an "insider", why is "justification" of is vision of african integration and economic growth is irrelevant. If you're interested, of course...
Total respect for your outstanding work that helps us, so far from you and Russia, and who are not talking russian, to understand so much things in that "empire of lies". Thanks !
Your opinion stands; I will not delete it as there's no such need. The test of time as I said will prove all.
You're not helping Sebgo, why is that?
Isnt lying by officials punishable by maw in the US?
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/6/14/unpacking-blinkens-lies-on-the-gaza-ceasefire-negotiations
No... it is SOP