Jul 152022
 
 July 15, 2022  Posted by at 6:21 pm Finance Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,


Edward Hopper Chair Car 1965

 

 

The situation in Ukraine is terribly, painfully simple. Russia has been winning since February 24, and Ukraine has zero chance of turning the odds around. But Zelensky is willing to sacrifice the lives of ever more of his citizens -this now includes people up to 60 years old, and women (men can’t even leave their cities)-. Zelensky’s western backers, meanwhile, keep on promising to send him lethal weapons (remember their words 5 months ago?) and talk about defeating Putin. Zero chance. But a high chance of meatballs.

The only way out of this kerfuffle is the negotiating table. But Zelensky doesn’t like his present position on that table, and NATO doesn’t either. Z wants more BIG guns, to “improve” that position. Zero chance. But a high chance of meatballs. Meanwhile, who’s going to rebuild the country when all the promising young people are gone?

As kind of an aside, I am very much in favor of more women in politics. Less testosterone can’t hurt, one would think. But all the girls we see on the international stage act like they have more testosterone than their male counterparts. I don’t know where they found EU head Ursula von der Leyen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was in some secret experimental Fauci-sponsored multinational chain that the Wuhan lab is also part of.

And then there’s this specimen: “German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on July 14 that lifting sanctions will not guarantee the gas supply from Russia but will make Germany even more vulnerable to blackmail by Moscow.” The lab leak theory is all mine in this case. And how about Justin Blackface’s right hand?

 

G20: Canada Claims Russian Delegation Are Personally Responsible For ‘War Crimes’ In Ukraine

Canada’s finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, has told Russian officials at a meeting of G20 finance ministers that she held them personally responsible for “war crimes” committed during Russia’s war in Ukraine, a western official said. Freeland directly addressed the Russian delegation taking part in the meeting of the Group of 20 major economies, telling them on Friday: “It is not only generals who commit war crimes, it is the economic technocrats who allow the war to happen and to continue,” the official said.


Freeland, whose maternal grandparents were born in Ukraine, told the opening G20 session that the war was the “single biggest threat to the global economy right now”, the official said. A day before the meeting, the US Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, set the tone, calling Russia’s war in Ukraine the “greatest challenge” to the global economy and saying members of Putin’s government “have no place” at the talks.

That’s a finance forum! Not some negotiating table! And if it’s “technocrats who allow the war to happen and to continue”, I could swear she means herself. What do you call a woman with a testosterone imbalance? Britain is having a very exciting (NOT!) competition for the next Tory PM, all of the candidates are running jokes, and one of the frontrunners is Liz Truss, who a few months ago was dismissed by Russian PM Lavrov in no uncertain terms.

Guess she didn’t like that. Then again, maybe all that testosterone spewing out her ears made her miss his comments entirely. Anyway, she’s back for the occasion. Jesus H. C., Lavrov’s spokeswoman is 10x as competent as Truss.

 

Moscow Responds To London’s Threats

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has blasted “Russophobic” remarks by British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who promised to “continue to lead the free world” against Moscow and ensure Ukraine’s victory. Truss made the remarks during a campaign event for Tory leadership on Thursday. The aspiring PM candidate, who scored third in Thursday’s ballot, bragged about her ability to “deliver” and make “tough” decisions, listing her staunch support for Kiev as an example of her decision-making abilities.

I stood up to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin by targeting Russia with the toughest sanctions his regime has ever seen. And I would continue to lead the free world in opposing Putin and making sure that Ukraine prevails,” Truss stated. The remark was not taken lightly in Moscow, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova blasting her words as “Russophobic”and “invariably steeped in painful aggression and nationalism.”

Amid the ongoing Tory leadership campaign, Truss “has begun spewing threats towards our country and its leadership and wants to achieve a ‘Ukrainian victory’ over Russia,” in an effort to “fulfill her compulsive ambitions,” according to Zakharova.

“[Truss’] ambition alone to ‘lead the free world’, in an effort to resist Russia, speaks volumes. She looks like a second-rate politician afflicted by megalomania. And she is doing all of this instead of addressing the issues at home, which are plenty,” she said in a statement. The proclaimed efforts to somehow “defeat” Russia are likely an attempt to “distract voters”from the real problems the UK has been experiencing, Zakharova said.

“Our response to belligerent outbursts by the British Foreign Secretary, who prefers riding tanks over engaging in serious diplomacy, and her determination to ‘defeat’ Russia, is straightforward – go ahead and try. Many have tried in the centuries-old history of our country. As everyone knows, intelligent people learn from other people’s mistakes. Liz Truss could learn from her own mistakes,” Zakharova concluded.

Yeah, “the toughest sanctions his regime has ever seen”… And that’s why Russia is getting richer faster than ever.

 

 

Mikhail Khodarenok provides an overview of what all that western military help would entail. When reading through it, there’s only one possible thought. Yeah, a high chance of meatballs, you’re right.

“Mikhail Khodarenok is a military commentator for RT.com. He is a retired colonel. He served as an officer at the main operational directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.”

But he’s wrong. There is no amount of help that could achieve a Ukraine victory. Only death would win. Once again: for Russia this is an existential issue. For US/NATO, it’s a chance to sell more meatballs weapons. And try to wear down Russia. But you don’t back down from an existential issue just because you’re tired.

Russia could have decided the issue within days, max a few weeks, if they thought like NATO. Thing is, Russia likes Ukraine; but not its politics and nazis and the flirt with NATO. But keep on pumping those weapons into the country and Russia will obliterate them with potentially ever stronger attacks.

 

Only With Massive Additional Military Help Will Kiev Be Able To Advance

In order to gain air supremacy, or at least fight on equal footing with the Russian Aerospace Forces, the Ukrainian Air Force would require at least 124 multifunctional fighters (i.e. three fighter regiments of 42 aircraft each), 36 combat planes (three squadrons of 12 aircraft) and six training fighters (dual control aircraft). It is quite possible that these units will be organized like those of the United States and other NATO countries – squadrons of 24 fighters, with three squadrons combined into a wing.

Among the possible contenders to become Ukraine’s main combat aircraft, the most likely candidate is America’s F-16C /D, which is currently being withdrawn from service in the US Air Force and replaced by the F-35. However, it is not that a concrete decision has yet to be made on this issue – these problems have not even been discussed.

[..] The American F-16s are not integrated in the automated command and control systems of Ukraine’s current fighter aircraft in any way, shape, or form. And, in order to solve this problem, the United States might well have to supply the Ukrainian Air Force with planes like the Hawkeye E-2C/D – a tactical early warning aircraft equipped with long-range radar.

Without such means, it will be simply impossible to effectively control planes during air battles and strikes against ground targets. Now what remains is to calculate when these three fighter aviation regiments will reach ‘initial operational readiness’, as they say in the US. According to the most optimistic forecasts, this won’t happen before the winter.

[..] We see approximately the same picture (but certainly less complicated) with the formation of armored divisions. To give the AFU offensive potential, they will need at least four to five tank brigades (each numbering 120-140 main battle tanks) equipped with M1 Abrams (in this case, there are possible options – the Leopard-2 or Leclerc). Again, Ukrainian tank crews will have to go through all the necessary stages in this case – retraining, obtaining new weapons and equipment, and live-fire exercises. So, it will not be possible to resolve these issues very quickly.

[..] With ground artillery and multiple rocket launchers, things will be easier. The AFU will be able to master them quickly enough. But even here, the processes of obtaining and mastering this hardware will not be simultaneous in any way. It will take many months to form 7-8 artillery brigades with 72 guns each (the APU requires no less) and bring them to the level of combat readiness. But, during this time, the political environment and strategic situation on the front may change significantly, and there is no reason at all to assume that this will be in Ukraine’s favor.

And then when everything fails, you get the predicted role of Hungary and Poland in the conflict. Who want to protect their respective populations inside Ukraine. Southwest: Hungary, northwest: Poland. Yeah, and southeast: Russia. But Hungary and Poland now want to do this under the NATO/US/EU umbrella?! Good luck with that.

 

Hungary Has ‘Military Plans’ For Ukraine – Minister

Budapest needs to protect ethnic Hungarians living in the western part of the bordering country, FM Peter Szijjarto has said Hungary has military plans on how to protect ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has revealed. Budapest is ready to act in defense of 150,000 people it considers its own, he revealed in an interview on Friday.

“Our country has prepared emergency war scenarios,” the minister told Index news website. He said the Hungarian government wanted to avoid using them, which is why it sought a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine armed conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, rejected the idea of offering concessions to Russia to secure a ceasefire, and claims his country can defeat Russia with the help of Western backers.


The Hungarian foreign minister commented on the two countries’ objectives, saying his country has different interests than Ukraine. “And what is the Ukrainian interest? To involve as many countries as possible in this conflict, at least through arms shipments. Our interest on the other hand is to stay out of this conflict and minimize the risk of getting dragged into a war,”Szijjarto said.

Look, listen, hear. 5 European governments have fallen so far- if you include Micron having his balls cut off. And there will be many more. Sri Lanka, eat your heart out! Europe will have the Dutch farmers time 100 once people can’t afford to pay their bills anymore, and figure out it’s just because their “leaders” decided not to talk to Russia. Don’t underestimate that.

Solution? Negotiating table. Zelensky and NATO will come in with “everything back to pre-Feb 24”, but that ship sailed on exactly that date. The Donbass is Russian now, whether as official part of the country or independent territory. Zelensky and NATO must negotiate for peace. They have lost. Russia has not, and it won’t in the near future.

Neocons and Kiev can go for “wear Russia down”, but the only thing they can achieve is mayhem in Europe, economic, food, energy, fertilizer, cold, hunger etc. They’re well on their way. Chuckmate, as Elon Musk would phrase it. Russia will be fine. They saw this coming way before US/NATO/EU.

“We” lost. And you will lose your plush goverment seats if you take this into winter. Why not try another lockdown or vaccine mandate? You, know, so people are properly vaxxed when they peruse the empty shelves and can’t feed -or warm- their kids? Sounds like a winner!

 

 

Note: I never saw the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, just thought it was a “funny” concept with regards to this conflict.

 

 

 

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Home Forums A High Chance of Meatballs

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #111601

    Edward Hopper Chair Car 1965     The situation in Ukraine is terribly, painfully simple. Russia has been winning since February 24, and Ukra
    [See the full post at: A High Chance of Meatballs]

    #111602
    Dr. D
    Participant

    “America’s F-16C /D, [c. 1976] which is currently being withdrawn from service in the US Air Force and replaced by the F-35”

    Great, that would leave us defenseless as the F35 can’t fly, can’t shoot, and can’t land.

    “four to five tank brigades (each numbering 120-140 main battle tanks) equipped with M1 Abrams” …and all the supporting equipment, APCs, tank bridges, repair shops, tank towers, and all the parts. And also 2 years’ training on all the F16’s and Abrams.

    That’s probably more tanks than we own here.

    And Ukraine would sell them all to Russia for half off.

    And the movie is great, charming, and worthwhile.

    #111606
    Figmund Sreud
    Participant

    @ Raúl – Zelensky is willing to sacrifice the lives of ever more of his citizens -this now includes people up to 60 years old, and women (men can’t even leave their cities)
    ——————————

    Hmmn, … yet, yet CBC – almost daily – airs interviews, on its main national TV network, with Ukrainian families that just arrived from Ukraine in Canada, that include men aged between 17 and 60.

    Volunteers taking charge as Ukrainians arrive in the thousands
    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/volunteers-ukrainians-arrive-ottawa-numbers-services-support-1.6480458

    Anyway, there is also a “welcome wagon” vid for newly arriving Ukrainians from the federal government:

    Information for Ukrainians coming to Canada
    https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/settlement/welcome-canada.html

    … fwiw,

    F.S.

    #111615
    Veracious Poet
    Participant

    Great, that would leave us defenseless as the F35 can’t fly, can’t shoot, and can’t land.

    #111617
    V. Arnold
    Participant

    Guess she didn’t like that. Then again, maybe all that testosterone spewing out her ears made her miss his comments entirely. Anyway, she’s back for the occasion. Jesus H. C., Lavrov’s spokeswoman is 10x as competent as Truss.

    Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…

    #111620
    VietnamVet
    Participant

    The war propaganda on both sides will never admit that Russia and NATO are quite similar – both are oligarchies ruled by the wealthy who exploit other humans and the earth to get richer. Both Empires are fighting an industrial war of attrition but without full mobilizations, except for Ukraine. Like WWI, if the proxy world war lasts 3 to 4 years, it will end the same as a little over a century ago with worker revolutions and forced armistices imposed on the losing nations. That is if human beings avoid extinction in a nuclear war and also address climate change. Already there are historic heat domes in place over Europe and Texas. Next winter without natural gas and with electrical blackouts, the poor will die hungry in unheated dank rooms or outside if homeless.

    The world is off-kilter just like Edward Hopper’s painting of the Chair Car 1965 with an impossible high square ceiling for a railroad car. The fraying apart is clear in my tiny sliver of suburbia; the bank temporary losing cleared withdrawals online, hyper aggressive drivers, packages undelivered, or mail not picked up.

    #111621
    Neal
    Participant

    Yes, first thing I thought when seeing that picture was how high can a ceiling be.
    As for Zelinskys citizens; last I heard was that many are taking out Russian citizenship.
    As for Britain being a free country; I’m old enough to remember a tv series with Edward Woodward about Britain being a police state. At the time I thought the premise was silly. Guess I was silly as Britain is a police state with people imprisoned for posting “hurtful” memes, locked up for daring to not wear a mask and a Brazilian was executed on a train, police apologised as they meant to execute a different guy, but hey all foreigners look alike.
    Back then I would have fought against Godless evil Russia, today I would fight for that God fearing country against the West.

    #111622
    Kimo
    Participant

    “Back then I would have fought against Godless evil Russia, today I would fight for that God fearing country against the West.”
    As I look amongst my unenlightened friends, I wonder how did we arrive here? [rhetorical|
    Thank you for your thoughts, Neal.

    #111623
    V. Arnold
    Participant

    The Great Re-set seems largely among personal relationships; the accurately informed and the majority ill/mis-informed…

    #111636
    Noirette
    Participant

    It is a proxy war, Russia against the US (+ the poodle ‘collective’ West), being fought on Ukr. ground.

    Neither the US or any, to hark back to outdated expressions, ‘coalition of the willing’ can face off against Russia.

    So arms, money, more mega sums, ‘training’ (useless, taking place in GB for ex.) are poured into the Ukr. pit to bolster attacks on Russia, not of course reaching into R itself, that would be suicidal, but against its troops outside the country, following the poking-the-bear move, to draw Russia out of its territory.

    Much of the money goes to W Mega Corps, the MIC, etc. Bonanza for Big Corps, it is not used for ‘winning a war.’

    Zelensky is not free to negotiate, he tried once (Istanbul process) but was quickly brought to order, by BoJo in first place, afaik.

    Britannia ruling the waves no more, nor any desert or fertile ground, can JUST manage to attempt to influence one member of a corrupt puppet government, Z, via bribes, assurances, whatever.

    Nobody cares about Ukr. and everyone knows it will be split into pieces, the only question is, who gets what?

    #111649
    citizenx
    Participant

    The war propaganda on both sides will never admit that Russia and NATO are quite similar – both are oligarchies ruled by the wealthy who exploit other humans and the earth to get richer. Both Empires are fighting an industrial war of attrition

    The bulk of propaganda I see comes from the very same folks that sent you to Nam, and lied about everything to you, and you continue their lies. Russia is a Nation, NATO is not. The US is an Empire in radical decline using NATO as its bitch. Russia is not an Empire.

    Lawmakers want to increase the annual US military budget to $840 billion
    Record US defense spending approved

    The US House of Representatives has authorized $840 billion in defense spending in 2023, boosting President Joe Biden’s proposed record military budget by $37 billion.

    Tell me more about Oligarchs and Empires.

    The fraying apart is clear in my tiny sliver of suburbia

    Why did a bunch of gooks, er I mean AZOV Nazis, just jump the fence into your backyard throwing stones at your house, threatening you, killing your pets? All supported by Russians?

    I don’t think you have a clear head about the real situation in Ukraine, about US and NATO instigating violence and chaos since 2013 and beyond. Care to comment about Syria and how RF saved Syria from destruction by the US Empire and its proxy head choppers? The US Empire/NATO used proxy head choppers in Syria just like it uses Nazi Ukes.

    Nobody cares about Ukr. and everyone knows it will be split into pieces, the only question is, who gets what?

    RF cares about UKR, cares about its Nazi problem, its corruption, its US funded bio weapon labs and its people. How’s Macron working out for you? Get your vax shots so you can go grocery shopping via Uber?

    #111653
    aspnaz
    Participant

    Liz Truss the megalomaniac puppet front whore who always makes the decision to support the WEF agenda, everytime? That Liz Truss the decision maker?

    How could such stupid mental defectives ever get into positions of power without the assistance of the WEF oligarchs. They must scour government wannabes looking for politically involved over-driven, over-ambitious, over-inferior, over-unscrupulous people who will do anything to be in the limelight and feel important.

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