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Ukraine crisis: BBC finds Russian aid trucks 'almost empty'
BBC News ^ | 08/15/2014

Posted on 08/15/2014 10:58:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

A convoy of Russian trucks carrying aid for eastern Ukraine has been opened up to journalists at the border.

The Ukrainian government had insisted that inspectors checked the trucks' cargo, amid fears that they could be carrying military supplies for the rebels - an accusation Russia has rejected.

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg noted that many of the trucks were "almost empty".

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: bbc; russia; ukraine
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To: Jim Noble

I suspect the Russians wanted the Ukrainians to fire on them, giving them the “Casus Belli” for the invasion.


21 posted on 08/15/2014 11:49:34 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Uncle Chip

The Russians/rebels need transport to operate their interior lines of defense.


22 posted on 08/15/2014 11:49:42 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: dfwgator

It sure appears that way, given the way Russian state-owned media was already expressing its “concern” that something would happen.


23 posted on 08/15/2014 11:51:47 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: dfwgator; Cap Huff

Yep..


24 posted on 08/15/2014 11:52:45 AM PDT by Dog (Founding member of the Osama Bin Laden was alive the whole time club..)
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To: Uncle Chip

Ever notice how the Russian agents don’t post in some threads like this one where propaganda would only make it look worse for their bosses in Russia?


25 posted on 08/15/2014 11:55:47 AM PDT by free_life (If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
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To: free_life; tcrlaf

But ... But ... But I was assured here by Russian agent tcrlaf that the Russians would not use their Trojan Horse named Humanitarian Aid to sneak military aid into Ukraine.


26 posted on 08/15/2014 11:58:58 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: Uncle Miltie

Yea grin. Except the Ukrainians are not falling for it.


27 posted on 08/15/2014 12:06:42 PM PDT by free_life (If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
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To: Uncle Chip

That is Comrade Asbestos Pants Tcrlaf.


28 posted on 08/15/2014 12:08:34 PM PDT by free_life (If you ask Jesus to forgive you and to save you, He will.)
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To: free_life
Here, let me help with a contribution:

RT tweeted that the trucks were nearly empty in order to save fuel.

29 posted on 08/15/2014 12:12:21 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1rudeboy

LOL


30 posted on 08/15/2014 12:18:56 PM PDT by Uncle Chip
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To: pepsionice

This was my view as well. No reason to smuggle stuff inside the “aid” trucks when they’re marching across the border shamelessly anyway. I think the plan is indeed to blow a few of them up to blame the Ukrainians. That this is all entirely a provocation in typical communist fashion is evidenced in the fact that they didn’t even bother to fill them up all the way. Why waste the money for something that’s just for show?


31 posted on 08/15/2014 12:25:52 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: SeeSharp

They’re at the border. Did they sneak into Ukraine and then drive back?


32 posted on 08/15/2014 12:26:43 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

Drudge has head line “Ukrainian forces destroy Russian convoy”. Dangerous.


33 posted on 08/15/2014 2:15:51 PM PDT by Broker (Any real cops left? Obama is cultural Sunni)
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To: 1rudeboy

Actually, that’s not so far-fetched. UNHCR does the same thing when delivering relief to a crisis area where the trucks can’t refuel at the destination, especially water trucks. Water is heavy. I’m not saying that’s the real reason, just that I’ve seen that done before.


34 posted on 08/15/2014 3:07:43 PM PDT by wonders
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To: wonders; 1rudeboy
From the Interpreter, the Russians have an "explanation":

Russia Tries To Explain Why The Aid Trucks Are Empty 21:54 (GMT) A number of Western journalists have reported that the white-painted KAMAZ trucks used in Russia's humanitarian aid convoy turn out to be empty. There's been a lot of speculation about what they were planning to fill them with, but now Russian transportation officials have come up with an explanation.

It seems the KAMAZ trucks were so new -- manufactured this year -- that they weren't broken in yet, and therefore couldn't be trusted to carry full loads under Russian regulations -- nor be forced to absorb so much wear when they were brand-new.

There were also only a limited number of persons accompanying the convoy. An official from the transportation agency that handled the make-up of the convoy had explanations for RIA-Novosti (translated by The Interpreter):

"The KAMAZes were not loaded fully so that there wouldn't be excessive wear on automobiles that were not yet broken in, many of which were of 2014 make. It would mean that in case of a breakdown of the mechanics and a stop on the highway, reloading the cargo by hand to other vehicles completely filled to capacity, would be quite difficult. Moreover, a fully-loaded truck does not go fast enough uphill, so in view of the large number of vehicles, this would have had a heavy impact on the speed of the convoy's movement. And the cargo must be delivered quickly in light of the difficult humanitarian situation in the east of Ukraine."

Where to start?

First of all, these trucks are not just carrying light loads, but as we pointed out earlier they are almost empty and are carrying a tiny tiny fraction of the weight they were designed to haul.In fact, Novaya Gazeta has a new gallery up, and the trucks are ridiculously empty.

Secondly, why would new vehicles be used instead of the many many trucks at Russia's disposal?On a related note, these are military trucks, as we've pointed out below, and so why weren't different military trucks used, ones that were newer?

Thirdly, we're supposed to believe that these trucks are new, but the trucks are military vehicles which were painted white just this week. One would assume that the Russian military would break their trucks in fairly quickly, or why would they have so many trucks?

Fourth, why does the Russian government care about the speed with which the aid is delivered, since these vehicles have been parked at the same spot for days now?

http://www.interpretermag.com/ukraine-liveblog-day-179-russian-build-up-continues-at-border-as-armour-enters-ukraine/

35 posted on 08/15/2014 3:51:50 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

If they were new, why repaint them?


36 posted on 08/15/2014 3:52:51 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans
It seems the KAMAZ trucks were so new -- manufactured this year -- that they weren't broken in yet, and therefore couldn't be trusted to carry full loads under Russian regulations -- nor be forced to absorb so much wear when they were brand-new.

Second questionable story by the British Press. Someone isn't trying to lie us into war are they?

37 posted on 08/15/2014 3:58:24 PM PDT by McGruff (You can lead a human to knowledge but you can't make him think)
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To: McGruff

Why bother? The Russians are doing a fine job of it.


38 posted on 08/15/2014 3:59:58 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: McGruff
Second questionable story by the British Press. Someone isn't trying to lie us into war are they?

You're quoting the Russkies, stupid.

39 posted on 08/15/2014 4:08:55 PM PDT by Greetings_Puny_Humans (I mostly come out at night... mostly.)
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

I quoted what you posted smarty.


40 posted on 08/15/2014 4:11:58 PM PDT by McGruff (You can lead a human to knowledge but you can't make him think)
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