Posted on 01/03/2023 9:40:46 AM PST by Kazan
Have you ever played poker with a novice? I am talking about the person who does not understand the concept of a poker face. The rookie is dealt a hand of five card stud and breaks into a wide grin accompanied by a face flushed red as he or she gazes on at a full house. Only one teeny problem — the poker master on the other side of the table is holding four aces.
That is what happened today as Ukraine and the West reacted to news, confirmed by Russia’s own Ministry of Defense, that a U.S. Himars hit an improvised barracks of Russian soldiers and killed at least 63. Why the big deal? We have been told repeatedly over the last 8 months that Russia is suffering catastrophic casualties. What makes this so special and deserving of so much attention?
The answer is simple — this is the first time since the war started in February 2022 that Russia has suffered more than 50 casualties in one engagement in one day. How do I know? Because the Russian telegram channels lit up immediately when this happened. This is the first time I have seen that kind of reaction from the Russian side in the last 10 months.
The reaction to this missile attack highlights the stark contrast between Russia and Ukraine. The spokesman for the Russian MOD freely and frankly admitted to the “success” of the Ukrainian strike while the Ukrainian military — which is losing at least 200 men every day — covers up their losses and insists they are beating the hell out of Russia. The Ukrainians have told so many lies over the course of the last 10 months — e.g. the Ghost of Kiev, capturing a Russian border outpost, shooting down all Russian cruise missiles, driving the Russians out of Kherson, etc. — that this successful missile strike finally gave them something real they could celebrate.
But this attack is a lie. It was not carried out by highly trained Ukrainian troops sitting on an ample supply of Himars. This was done with Western supplied intelligence that identified the troop concentration and provided the coordinates for launching a precision strike. Moreover, it is highly likely that NATO troops were helping operate the Himar system. This attack actually is a sign of Ukrainian and Western desperation. It changes nothing in terms of the strategic picture.
The Saker beat me to it in making the correct observation that there is more to this Himars attack than the destruction of a company of Russian troops:
Still, NATO does not act just to show that it can act. There is a real, military, purpose behind these strikes. And it is not “just” to provoke Russia into some kind of response (not with tens and even hundreds of Russian missile strikes every day already taking place). . . .
Why would NATO want the Russian offensive sooner rather than later? In all its other actions, the AngloZionists have tried to draw out this war for as long as possible, so why would they want to make the Russians attack sooner rather than later?
Because the Russian General Staff is waiting for all the “ducks to be lined” up before attacking. Thus by trying to force the Russians into a premature attack date, NATO is, very logically, trying to prevent all the said “ducks” to be “lined up”. In other words, NATO is trying to force the hand of the Russian General Staff by increasing the pressure on the Kremlin to “finally take action”.
I make a point of watching how the media played this story today. I watched Sky News, Fox News and Al-Jazeera. All portrayed this as another major setback for the Russians and one more piece of evidence that the Ukrainian counter-offensive is achieving great success. It is mass delusion.
That said, it looks like the Brits are having a tougher time hanging on to that delusion. The top story on Sky News during the day was the escalating crisis of the U.K.’s National Health Service. Strikes by ambulance drivers and nurses are killing people and the grieving relatives are furious. Their focus is on the failure of the Tory Government to keep their loved ones alive. I did not see Brits clamoring to send more aid to Ukraine.
I think that January will be a turning point in the war in terms of Western support for Ukraine if there is harsh winter weather and worsening economic conditions, which will increase domestic political pressure on the NATO countries to take care of business at home.
It’s really just amusing and incredibly immature how often you russophobes have nothing to say of any intelligence but accuse those who agree with Tucker Carlson, of being in Russia.
Makes me wonder about your age and level of education.
So how are you enjoying Kiev? Or is it Poland?
Just how much do you think this adds to a discussion?
Or is that beyond your skillset?
Tulsi Gabbard, Oliver Stone, and Steven Seagal support Putin.Do you think they are all in Russia too?
Vietnam. Gunboats 68-69.
Before accusing someone of ignorance it might be helpful to actually do some research on the topic. Every ethnographic study for at least the past 150 years has shown these provinces to be ethnic Ukrainian, not Russian.
Published in 1879:
https://euromaidanpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1879_nation_europe1.jpg
Published in 1914:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0f/09/3d/0f093d9ed319ed61b678a225cb86a69e.jpg
Published in 1949:
https://euromaidanpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/wMWjtUSAXoQ1.jpg
Published in 2001:
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hL85-21M0a4/VyigQss_JpI/AAAAAAAACTc/iZwo8Q8ZCIYyG8j-kdr8Hul2BTNPP0M8wCLcB/s1600/781f6031609e52f92003a7098d5fd73a.jpg
The Banderites can't seem to understand plain Russian, and keep filling the conveyor belts into the artillery zones with press-ganged cannon fodder.
May you reap what you sow...
not true
none of what you is true.
Ukraine has been a country longer than russia has
you are projecting! It is you who needs to read history.
Alex thought the attack might prompt Russia to go after NATO command.
That seems to be quite since this war began.
Ukraine’s defense is failing to keep its electric grid viable.
American history is being taught very well in America.
You mean gaining “full sovereignty” over “historical Russia”, right?
They're still not listening.
We’ll add obtuseness to the list of your many virtues, Nicky.
You spelled discernment wrong. 😉
Discernment is not on the list, and is unlikely to ever make it there.
Russia demanding a privileged “sphere of influence” over a Ukraine that wanted no part of it is what got us to where we are today.
The Ukraine ignoring the Minsk Agreements with the blessing of the Germans and the French is what got us to where we are today.
Herr Merkel and Madame Hollande both admit they duped the Russians.
Perhaps pointed commentary?
Xi Jinping is expected to make a state visit Moscow in the Spring of 2023.
“This will demonstrate to the whole world the strength of Russian-Chinese ties on key issues,” Putin said.
He also announced that Moscow and Beijing will continue cooperation in the military and technology sphere, speaking ahead of the meeting via video link with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday.
“Of course, military and military-technical cooperation occupy a special place in the whole range of Russian-Chinese cooperation, which helps to ensure the security of our countries and maintain stability in key regions,” Putin said, stressing that the goal is to “strengthen the interaction between the Russian and Chinese Armed Forces.”
🥭@mangopress
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