I have no background in military issues. My education in these issues has been in the last 3 years.
I marched against the Vietnam war in the 1960's in Berkeley but essentially dropped out of politics until the 2004 election when W Bush stole the election here in the state of Ohio.
What continues to strike me is the logical coherence of articles like the one here. A deep understanding of issues and development of institutions to carry out the plans, along with the engagement of the people. The cosmology of the West is way, way below that of Russia.
And I continue to be struck by the seemingly lack of understanding by the West of Russia. Our ideology is mind blowing (joke maybe: West has blown its own mind with propaganda) which continues every day.
Is it that the West continues with the ideology of "the other" and with our Modern world view we can subject them to our exalted will? Is it not just the USA as the exceptional nation, but all of the colonial powers which cannot overcome their belief that "the others" are inferior?
We deserve their resources. Is it because we are God's chosen? Did the religious wars in Europe never end?
Putin's summary of the SMO went over familiar territory. Well, familiar to those who have followed the story from places like MOA.
An excellent summary of the week in many areas is The Busker. It has expanded the areas of coverage and would be something that could be sent out to people who just want a snapshot of weekly activity.
Is Witkoff saying something new?
"Until recently, the dominant Russian narrative delivered in harmony by Western press and politicians alike is that Putin is an evil Dictator, several leagues above Adolph Hitler in terms of his ambitions for expansion and in terms of the cruelty he wishes to unleash on the poor unsuspecting Europeans. I am not sure how many Europeans actually believe this nonsense but it has been consistently peddled for years. But now enter Special Envoy Steve Witkoff who has collided with the old narrative in his recent revealing interview with Tucker Carlson:"
and then later in the article
"In spite of some kind words, I have zero trust in the Zionist Witkoff who recently blamed Hamas for breaking the ceasefire when quite clearly this was broken by Netanyahu who would not allow food, supplies, mobile homes and tents into Gaza - as Mohammad Marandi discusses here. Netanyahu was attempting to starve the Gazans into compliance.
Witkoff presents his role in the Middle East as that of an arbitrator yet he is firmly on the side of Israel and clearly the US is at war with all the pro-Palestinian forces in the ME, including the Houthis. In his role as Special Envoy, Witkoff never met with HAMAS - so why should anyone take him seriously. Colonel Larry Wilkinson has pointed out that Witkoff knows plenty about Real Estate but nothing about history, especially the history of the great Persian Empire."
And almost at the end of the piece, he recounts that he started this substack in 2023 and was struck with this posted on MOA
"The Tragedy that besets the West today consists, on the one hand, of the sheer impossibility for it to continue doing what it has been doing - yet matched only by its impossibility to do anything other."
That is a fascinating quotation. It seems that whatever feeble words I write, I am simply enunciating what is well known in some circles, but a terrible affront to almost everyone I know.
IMO Trump and his peace negotiation is BS. He is actually staving off a prosecution for crimes against humanity and a tacky session before the International Court of Justice. It wont happen until the current Chief Justice of ICJ scurries back to the temple for instructions after her term ends. So Trump has many months to execute humanity, justice and civility.
That's the first logical and internationally acceptable solution to creating a legitimate and independent government in Ukraine that isn't latched to the tits of America and its psychopaths.
Russia is like a land power, a huge territory, but it is no coincidence that since the time of Peter I, the traditions of shipbuilding and the Navy have been laid down.
He went to the Netherlands to learn ship's carpentry himself, along with a few others.
The Tsar Peter House in Zaandam (just north of Amsterdam) today is a museum in his honor. Well maintained.
Paraphrasing, Putin reiterates again and again about tackling the 'root causes' of the problem on Russia's border, antagonism towards Russia in general and the dysfunctional, nay, warped western leadership mindset.
If I was sitting opposite or across the table from someone who was making my life hell, I'd ask them straight up what their issue(s) with me were and this with a firm degree of conviction.
After listening to crickets or the unlikely admission of something nearer the truth, all your resources are ours, your surging geopolitical influence and economic decisions are seriously undermining our position as the world's leading power), whatever, we could move on having tackled the elephant in the room.
If those opposite are merely clueless errand-boy pen-pushers with zero comprehension of the bigger picture, the gravity, why go through the motions, chattering about 'bit & pieces' when the guy supposed to be in charge cannot or will not stamp out dissent among his Euro-peon satellites and Ukrainian vassal. You clean your own fracking house first, Putin has and they all sing from the same hymn sheet over and over and over and over again and again since the last 4/5 US dummy POTUS's.
The facts are Trump has a dozen spaghetti intel agencies at his disposal (much like former Federal Reserve head Alan Greenspan retorted, I have X hundred mathematic/economic PhD's at my disposal, yet none of them could forecast the subprime mortgage clusterfuck, paraphrasing again) and if they all sat down together couldn't place a meaningful state of affairs one-page report in front of him. Like DOGE, Musk should be given carte blanche to gut the rabble in these agencies who spent all their time on the Russia-Gate Golden-shower hoax.
Trump is unable to place his piss-poor hand on the table (hence the bluster/bravado which won't carry any muster with even lesser lights like Iran let alone a Superpower) as it would expose decades of financial exploitation, colour revolutions and genocidal practices that makes up America's DNA.
Therefore (thankfully), how can one tackle 'root-cause' when it's staring you in the face but you're afraid, too polite to simply ask?
Keep Pounding it's the only message the deaf, dumb and blind understand.
The problem tree has deep roots, some of which are hidden to the not as wary gardener. Why Russophobia"? Catholic Greed. Who were/are the Catholics? The Venetian moneychangers that took over the church about 850AD and later tried to bring all Christendom to heel under their boot using the Crusades as their cudgel. Those known as the ancien regime. It’s the Big Picture War known to some Russian historians.
Since I can’t ask Putin directly, all I can do is offer my educated guess. First, Putin would have the assessment from his intel people about the genuineness of the assassination attempts aimed at Trump, and it appears he deems them credible and genuine. And he would also be provided with info on who/what was behind the effort—conspiracy or lone wolf. Second, Trump must have shared something very secret with Putin during the first phone call that provided proof of Trump’s sincerity. Yes, that’s very slim, but that’s all I have to work with.
Putin continues to dig into the roots of the problem tree. He just succeeded in flushing out the now clearly biased UNSG Guterres who proclaimed the clearly illegitimate Ukrainian government legitimate. Putin further began pulling out the Nazi roots and exposed them to sunlight. As for evidence, Putin and other Russians have asked for that on many occasions, and since it’s not easily forthcoming makes people like yourself question Putin’s judgment.
Meanwhile, Russian military momentum escalates. while the Ukies place their troops into another Bear Cave to get mauled. No talks are scheduled for this weekend since the many nuances from the previous talks must still be worked out.
Upon signing a truce on attacks on energy infrastructure which has been violated at least twice by US-ZATO, I say US as one involved a HIMARS rocket, the theory on Trump's sincerity must be wearing mighty thin.
One would then have to question the point in any further negotiation. Even if Trumplethinskin is sincere he is unable even to control the poodles of Europe who undermine him or DNC at home.
If Trump were serious a no further arms shipments or intel threat would bring the EU-peons to heal.
If Putin picks up the phone and barks orders everything's done. Trump doesn't enjoy such power, what he does create (by default as such) is division in NATO ranks and thus a strategic victory for Russia.
I've heard but not confirmed a Russian multiple Iskander attack on NATO/SBU H/Q covering 5 cities.
Last, Sean Foo's latest 15 minute financial/economic segment discusses BLACKROCK's purchase of 43 Ports, probably aimed at fleecing China on docking fees. So they now have all the choice US farmland with Gates, Ukraine's farmland, the German chancellorship, these ports and God only knows what else.
Given what Putin said on the sub and the fact that there're no "nuance" ironing-out talks happening this weekend, and nothing scheduled to happen at a higher level, I'd say the Russian army's been given the green light. We'll soon see.
The less US interference the better of course, still the US aren't doing Russia any favours as such and more likely they've given up the ghost, seen the writing on the wall unlike the desperately sick men & women of Europe.
Russia should still be seeking reparations from the US, could come in the form of Odessa (thereby tying up the Transnistria corridor and outflanking any future EU nonsense from Moldova) otherwise its still a major future headache.
Trump is sincere in that he knows the US/NATO have lost the proxy war and he wants to get out of the present conflict and sincerely focus on Iran and China. Putin must surely know this cos Team Trump have been saying it over and over again.
That's not withstanding that Trump also explicitly wants to get the UK and EU to take more US contracts, such as the $38 million one with Anduril, to buy US arms and to expand NATO and national military spending to a) get the US out of a trading deficit and b) keep open the possibility of US/NATO/EU war against Russia at a later date when they're rearmed.
He may be sincere Jo, however, he has a grasshopper mind.
As I mentioned earlier Trump isn't the Boss, well OK he's the boss, the figurehead, who has many knives pointed at his back from a myriad of Crime Syndicates/Families who run America.
Just read Doctorow's analysis of Putin's visit to Murmansk and Russian media, which is quite good. I agree with Doctorow that Putin expects the negotiations to fail and has set the next scenario into motion. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/
Watched Johnson and Crooke on Friday. I left a comment at Johnson's website dealing with the hubris involved in the likely attempt Trump will make to attack Iran.
I have no background in military issues. My education in these issues has been in the last 3 years.
I marched against the Vietnam war in the 1960's in Berkeley but essentially dropped out of politics until the 2004 election when W Bush stole the election here in the state of Ohio.
What continues to strike me is the logical coherence of articles like the one here. A deep understanding of issues and development of institutions to carry out the plans, along with the engagement of the people. The cosmology of the West is way, way below that of Russia.
And I continue to be struck by the seemingly lack of understanding by the West of Russia. Our ideology is mind blowing (joke maybe: West has blown its own mind with propaganda) which continues every day.
Is it that the West continues with the ideology of "the other" and with our Modern world view we can subject them to our exalted will? Is it not just the USA as the exceptional nation, but all of the colonial powers which cannot overcome their belief that "the others" are inferior?
We deserve their resources. Is it because we are God's chosen? Did the religious wars in Europe never end?
Putin's summary of the SMO went over familiar territory. Well, familiar to those who have followed the story from places like MOA.
An excellent summary of the week in many areas is The Busker. It has expanded the areas of coverage and would be something that could be sent out to people who just want a snapshot of weekly activity.
Is Witkoff saying something new?
"Until recently, the dominant Russian narrative delivered in harmony by Western press and politicians alike is that Putin is an evil Dictator, several leagues above Adolph Hitler in terms of his ambitions for expansion and in terms of the cruelty he wishes to unleash on the poor unsuspecting Europeans. I am not sure how many Europeans actually believe this nonsense but it has been consistently peddled for years. But now enter Special Envoy Steve Witkoff who has collided with the old narrative in his recent revealing interview with Tucker Carlson:"
and then later in the article
"In spite of some kind words, I have zero trust in the Zionist Witkoff who recently blamed Hamas for breaking the ceasefire when quite clearly this was broken by Netanyahu who would not allow food, supplies, mobile homes and tents into Gaza - as Mohammad Marandi discusses here. Netanyahu was attempting to starve the Gazans into compliance.
Witkoff presents his role in the Middle East as that of an arbitrator yet he is firmly on the side of Israel and clearly the US is at war with all the pro-Palestinian forces in the ME, including the Houthis. In his role as Special Envoy, Witkoff never met with HAMAS - so why should anyone take him seriously. Colonel Larry Wilkinson has pointed out that Witkoff knows plenty about Real Estate but nothing about history, especially the history of the great Persian Empire."
And almost at the end of the piece, he recounts that he started this substack in 2023 and was struck with this posted on MOA
"The Tragedy that besets the West today consists, on the one hand, of the sheer impossibility for it to continue doing what it has been doing - yet matched only by its impossibility to do anything other."
That is a fascinating quotation. It seems that whatever feeble words I write, I am simply enunciating what is well known in some circles, but a terrible affront to almost everyone I know.
https://robcampbell.substack.com/p/ukraine-weekly-update-aa5
Some of us have eyes to see and the ability and courage to write.
Ambassador Chas Freeman is not inspired by Witkoff either see Dialogue Works:
https://youtu.be/hzgsUuMqXIM
IMO Trump and his peace negotiation is BS. He is actually staving off a prosecution for crimes against humanity and a tacky session before the International Court of Justice. It wont happen until the current Chief Justice of ICJ scurries back to the temple for instructions after her term ends. So Trump has many months to execute humanity, justice and civility.
That's the first logical and internationally acceptable solution to creating a legitimate and independent government in Ukraine that isn't latched to the tits of America and its psychopaths.
Russia is like a land power, a huge territory, but it is no coincidence that since the time of Peter I, the traditions of shipbuilding and the Navy have been laid down.
He went to the Netherlands to learn ship's carpentry himself, along with a few others.
The Tsar Peter House in Zaandam (just north of Amsterdam) today is a museum in his honor. Well maintained.
'External Management'. Ho ho. That's a new one. New Guinea and East Timor. Not referring to anything to do with Australia is he, I wonder?
What a wonder that would be. Russia and USA together declaring they'll 'externally manage' the place !! Bloodless coup.
Would it appeal to the people of Kiev Ukraine?
Brilliant move. Completely in accord with the times.. :)
The sanest man on the planet; V.V. Putin.
Paraphrasing, Putin reiterates again and again about tackling the 'root causes' of the problem on Russia's border, antagonism towards Russia in general and the dysfunctional, nay, warped western leadership mindset.
If I was sitting opposite or across the table from someone who was making my life hell, I'd ask them straight up what their issue(s) with me were and this with a firm degree of conviction.
After listening to crickets or the unlikely admission of something nearer the truth, all your resources are ours, your surging geopolitical influence and economic decisions are seriously undermining our position as the world's leading power), whatever, we could move on having tackled the elephant in the room.
If those opposite are merely clueless errand-boy pen-pushers with zero comprehension of the bigger picture, the gravity, why go through the motions, chattering about 'bit & pieces' when the guy supposed to be in charge cannot or will not stamp out dissent among his Euro-peon satellites and Ukrainian vassal. You clean your own fracking house first, Putin has and they all sing from the same hymn sheet over and over and over and over again and again since the last 4/5 US dummy POTUS's.
The facts are Trump has a dozen spaghetti intel agencies at his disposal (much like former Federal Reserve head Alan Greenspan retorted, I have X hundred mathematic/economic PhD's at my disposal, yet none of them could forecast the subprime mortgage clusterfuck, paraphrasing again) and if they all sat down together couldn't place a meaningful state of affairs one-page report in front of him. Like DOGE, Musk should be given carte blanche to gut the rabble in these agencies who spent all their time on the Russia-Gate Golden-shower hoax.
Trump is unable to place his piss-poor hand on the table (hence the bluster/bravado which won't carry any muster with even lesser lights like Iran let alone a Superpower) as it would expose decades of financial exploitation, colour revolutions and genocidal practices that makes up America's DNA.
Therefore (thankfully), how can one tackle 'root-cause' when it's staring you in the face but you're afraid, too polite to simply ask?
Keep Pounding it's the only message the deaf, dumb and blind understand.
The problem tree has deep roots, some of which are hidden to the not as wary gardener. Why Russophobia"? Catholic Greed. Who were/are the Catholics? The Venetian moneychangers that took over the church about 850AD and later tried to bring all Christendom to heel under their boot using the Crusades as their cudgel. Those known as the ancien regime. It’s the Big Picture War known to some Russian historians.
It's a complete charade talking to psychopaths.
If as Putin says he believes Trump to be sincere about ending NATO's war in Ukraine then let's see tangible EVIDENCE.
Why would Putin believe a War criminal?
Since I can’t ask Putin directly, all I can do is offer my educated guess. First, Putin would have the assessment from his intel people about the genuineness of the assassination attempts aimed at Trump, and it appears he deems them credible and genuine. And he would also be provided with info on who/what was behind the effort—conspiracy or lone wolf. Second, Trump must have shared something very secret with Putin during the first phone call that provided proof of Trump’s sincerity. Yes, that’s very slim, but that’s all I have to work with.
Putin continues to dig into the roots of the problem tree. He just succeeded in flushing out the now clearly biased UNSG Guterres who proclaimed the clearly illegitimate Ukrainian government legitimate. Putin further began pulling out the Nazi roots and exposed them to sunlight. As for evidence, Putin and other Russians have asked for that on many occasions, and since it’s not easily forthcoming makes people like yourself question Putin’s judgment.
Meanwhile, Russian military momentum escalates. while the Ukies place their troops into another Bear Cave to get mauled. No talks are scheduled for this weekend since the many nuances from the previous talks must still be worked out.
Thanks for those thoughts Karl.
Upon signing a truce on attacks on energy infrastructure which has been violated at least twice by US-ZATO, I say US as one involved a HIMARS rocket, the theory on Trump's sincerity must be wearing mighty thin.
One would then have to question the point in any further negotiation. Even if Trumplethinskin is sincere he is unable even to control the poodles of Europe who undermine him or DNC at home.
If Trump were serious a no further arms shipments or intel threat would bring the EU-peons to heal.
If Putin picks up the phone and barks orders everything's done. Trump doesn't enjoy such power, what he does create (by default as such) is division in NATO ranks and thus a strategic victory for Russia.
I've heard but not confirmed a Russian multiple Iskander attack on NATO/SBU H/Q covering 5 cities.
Last, Sean Foo's latest 15 minute financial/economic segment discusses BLACKROCK's purchase of 43 Ports, probably aimed at fleecing China on docking fees. So they now have all the choice US farmland with Gates, Ukraine's farmland, the German chancellorship, these ports and God only knows what else.
Given what Putin said on the sub and the fact that there're no "nuance" ironing-out talks happening this weekend, and nothing scheduled to happen at a higher level, I'd say the Russian army's been given the green light. We'll soon see.
Good theory Karl
The less US interference the better of course, still the US aren't doing Russia any favours as such and more likely they've given up the ghost, seen the writing on the wall unlike the desperately sick men & women of Europe.
Russia should still be seeking reparations from the US, could come in the form of Odessa (thereby tying up the Transnistria corridor and outflanking any future EU nonsense from Moldova) otherwise its still a major future headache.
To the VICTOR the Spoils, Karl.
I'll just quote from SCMP, "Beijing has signalled it will turn to its anti-monopoly law to review Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings’ controversial deal to sell its strategic Panama and other ports but legal academics told the Post it could be challenging for it to prove a “real risk” to competition." It's not quite a done deal yet. (https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3304384/how-will-beijings-anti-monopoly-probe-hutchison-blackrock-ports-deal-work)
Trump is sincere in that he knows the US/NATO have lost the proxy war and he wants to get out of the present conflict and sincerely focus on Iran and China. Putin must surely know this cos Team Trump have been saying it over and over again.
That's not withstanding that Trump also explicitly wants to get the UK and EU to take more US contracts, such as the $38 million one with Anduril, to buy US arms and to expand NATO and national military spending to a) get the US out of a trading deficit and b) keep open the possibility of US/NATO/EU war against Russia at a later date when they're rearmed.
He may be sincere Jo, however, he has a grasshopper mind.
As I mentioned earlier Trump isn't the Boss, well OK he's the boss, the figurehead, who has many knives pointed at his back from a myriad of Crime Syndicates/Families who run America.
Observations from the submarine tower...https://youtu.be/dQ2gyFWRVEY
Some deep insightful material here as they observe the vampire squid.
Just read Doctorow's analysis of Putin's visit to Murmansk and Russian media, which is quite good. I agree with Doctorow that Putin expects the negotiations to fail and has set the next scenario into motion. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/
Watched Johnson and Crooke on Friday. I left a comment at Johnson's website dealing with the hubris involved in the likely attempt Trump will make to attack Iran.