Why does the Biden admin suddenly care so much about borders? Not America’s borders, but the one between Russia and Ukraine. Answer? Because they do when it hurts the United States, and only when it hurts the United States.
Category Archives: Russia
Important message from the Polish Prime Minister
https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1462516127150575632?s=20
Ukraine-Russia
(I started to put this post together on the 18th thanks to a lot of great links from our readers. Im sure they are just as relevant today though)
1. 15 warships sent in to area by Russia
2. Macron calls for red-lines on Russia in terms of Ukraine and hostilities.
3. War fears surge as Ukraine threatens to shoot and sink Russian boats after ‘provocation’
4. Ukraine Russia war: Putin warned of ‘painful’ consequences after Biden U-turn on warships
Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, USA: Jingoism and escalation
First video is about Germany warned Russia on its massing of military assets on the Ukrainian border. The video is already out of date however, as the US has submitted to Russian requests to remove ‘War ships” out of the region. No idea if these are carrier groups or destroyers or whatever they may be, but the US called them off.
Third video: Russia appears to have upwards of 80,000 troops on the Ukrainian borders.
This one deals with Russian response to Turkish drones being supplied to Ukraine:
FOX News link: Biden declares Russia threat ‘national emergency,’ lobs sanctions; 10 diplomats booted over election meddling
President Biden on Thursday signed an executive order declaring a “national emergency” over the threat from Russia, as his administration slapped new sanctions on the country.
The U.S. Department of State said it is expelling 10 officials from Russia’s bilateral mission.
“Today, we announced actions to hold the Russian Government to account for the SolarWinds intrusion, reports of bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, and attempts to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Thanks to Richard, M., and all who contributed to this post.
Major military escalations from Russia, USA, China, Philippines
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1377284381954412553?s=20
CBS: U.S. watching “escalation of armed confrontation” near Ukraine’s border with Russia
The U.S. military believes a buildup of Russian forces near the border with Ukraine, seen as “concerning” on Tuesday, is likely a training exercise. But the gathering of troops comes amid heightened tension in the region, and Ukraine’s Commander-In-Chief Ruslan Khomchack told his country’s parliament this week that Russian forces from different regions had been assembling near the border.
Russia’s president has acknowledged an “escalation of armed confrontation” in the region.
Training exercises were always a possible explanation for the buildup, but a U.S. defense official told CBS News that the locations and types of units seen on the ground didn’t line up with what the Russian Ministry of Defense had announced last month.
China vs. Philippines | Dangerous Dispute in South China Sea
Both the Russian AND Dutch governments ALL just resigned today!
1. RUSSIA’s entire government has resigned as Vladimir Putin plans a massive constitutional shake-up.
***UPDATE: RUSSIA STORY IS FROM JAN 15 2020!***
The shock move is seen as part of Putin’s efforts to carve out a new position of power for himself to stay at the helm after his current term as president ends in 2024.
It was announced today by the president’s right-hand man, PM Dmitry Medvedev, who said it would give Putin room to carry out the changes he wants to make to the constitution.
The unexpected revelation came shortly after Putin proposed a nationwide vote on sweeping changes that he said would shift power from the presidency to parliament.
**Please read the comments under this post for potential corrections. Its quite possible the UK Sun got this wrong and the Russian government did not resign.
2. Dutch government quits over ‘colossal stain’ of tax subsidy scandal
THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s government resigned on Friday, accepting responsibility for wrongful accusations of fraud by the tax authorities that drove thousands of families to financial ruin, often on the basis of ethnicity.
The cabinet would remain in place for now in a caretaker capacity to manage the coronavirus crisis, Rutte said. He then rode his bike to King Willem-Alexander’s 17th century baroque Huis Ten Bosch palace in The Hague to discuss his resignation.
Both given reasons seem perfectly reasonable. But it still seems mighty weird.
UPDATE: There is something going on:
The NYT confirms Merkel…
Brad Johnson on the curious Russian response to the US election
Brad Johnson: Walter Reed hospital a target of ongoing Russian intel operations
Armenia – Azerbaijan war events today
Thanks to X and C:
URGENT: Azerbaijani military bombs civilian passenger bus in Armenian town of Vardenis
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029388.html
Armenia tells bitter enemy Azerbaijan to brace for ‘HARSH RESPONSE’ as civilian bus hit & set on fire in new cross-border strikes
https://www.rt.com/russia/501997-armenia-bus-azerbaijan-shelling/
I’ve seen the claim in dutch media that this bus wasn’t civilian, but was transporting volunteers to the front. No confirmation yet.
Solid evidence shows Azerbaijani attack on Artsakh was thoroughly planned
https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/09/29/Azerbaijani-attack-Artsakh/2370305
Azerbaijan attacks residential area in Artsakh capital with BM-21 Grad
https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/09/29/Azerbaijan-attack-residential-area/2370205
Videos from the frontlines in Nagorno Karabach.
Helmet cam footage of an Armenian soldier, being shelled by Azerbaijan forces:
Also, cyberwarfare:
“Monte Melkonian Cyber Army” leaked data from Azerbaijani governmental emails
https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2020/09/29/Monte-Melkonian-Cyber-Army/2370362
Erdogan: Armenia biggest threat to peace in region
Turkey pledged support for Azerbaijan as it has a military base in the country
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200928-erdogan-armenia-biggest-threat-to-peace-in-region/
Armenia’s defence ministry says warplane shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter jet
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-turkey-jet-idUSKBN26K2KK
Turkey and Azerbaijan Deny Turkish F-16 Fighter Shot Down Armenian Su-25 Attack Jet
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36799/turkey-and-azerbaijan-deny-turkish-f-16-fighter-shot-down-armenian-su-25-attack-jet
Israel defence company sells ‘suicide drone’ to Azerbaijan
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190111-israel-defence-company-sells-suicide-drone-to-azerbaijan/
Israeli Company Allegedly Flew A Suicide Drone On A Real Combat Mission In Azerbaijan
Israel’s Justice Ministry says what the firm described as a “demonstration” was actually a strike that injured two ethnic Armenian fighters.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/23270/israeli-company-allegedly-flew-a-suicide-drone-on-a-real-combat-mission-in-azerbaijan
Azerbaijani attacking forces suffer more losses – 12 more tanks destroyed by Artsakh
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1029471.html
Brad Johnson: Armenian Azerbaijan war means Turkey and Russia are directly at war
Brad Johnson: China makes territorial claims on one of the largest cities in the Russian Federation
Brad Johnson: Large joint naval exercise with Russia and Syria, a threat to Turkey?
Brad Johnson discusses the relationship between Russia and Belarus, and the US and Iran (over nukes)
US Iranian tensions increasing over nuclear weapons issue
Brewing kinetic wars revolving around Turkey, Russia, and their proxies and allies
That interview was done around July 15, so about 5 days ago. The following links might be well interpreted through the lens of this interview.
Erdogan: ‘Egypt’s movements in Libya illegal, UAE conducts piracy activities’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of taking “illegal and unacceptable” steps in Libya.
Erdogan stated that Turkey “will continue to assume the responsibility it undertook in Libya” and “will not let the Libyans face military aggression alone.”
The Turkish president strongly criticised Egypt and the UAE’s support for the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar, stating: “The steps taken by Egypt and its support for Haftar are illegal. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi is committing piracy crimes by sending money and weapons to Haftar illegally and this is unacceptable… while we are standing with a legitimate government fighting coupists.”
Egypt’s parliament to mandate Sisi to intervene militarily in Libya
Informed sources told Ahram Online that the Egyptian parliament – the House of Representatives – is expected to hold a plenary meeting this week to discuss the political and military situation in neighbouring Libya.
The sources said the discussion is to be followed by a vote to mandate President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to intervene militarily in Libya to help defend the western neighbour against Turkish aggression.
In a 16 July meeting between leaders of Libyan tribes and El-Sisi, they asked him to authorise the Egyptian Armed Forces “to intervene to protect the national security of Libya and Egypt, if they see an imminent danger to both countries. President El-Sisi said he would do so after obtaining the approval of the Egyptian parliament.
In a resolution passed on 13 July, the Libyan parliament also asked the Egyptian and Libyan armed forces to work together to guarantee the occupier’s defeat and preserve shared national security in the face of the dangers posed by the Turkish occupation.
Armenians have been protesting all over the world. A few days ago even at Parliament Hill in Ottawa there was a protest of Armenians, who have an understanding with Russia, who are defending themselves against Azerbaijan, who are backed by the Turks, and have threatened to attack Armenian nuclear power plants.
The main sign needs to be read carefully. It is a quote of the Azerbaijan leader and not meant to be read as if in the first person. But its not super clear unless you look closely at it.
And Planes secretly deliver cargo to Haftar’s military bases in Libya, investigation finds
Cargo planes have been found to be dropping off unidentified material at airbases controlled by rogue Libyan general Khalifa Haftar, an investigation by Al-Jazeera Arabic TV has found.
An investigation by the channel, using satellite images and flight information, found that two Russian-made Ilyushin 76 planes registered to Reem Travel, an Emirati-Kazakh company made a number of trips from the Emirates, Israel and Jordan to the Haftar-controlled military bases in Libya in early April.
This was when Haftar was attempting to capture the Libyan capital Tripoli, which is controlled by the internationally-recognised government of Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj.
Yesterday: Egypt’s parliament to mandate Sisi to intervene militarily in Libya
Also yesterday: Egypt condemns Turkey’s political and military interference in Arab affairs
Egypt has a pretty large military.
Also yesterday, Erdogan claims Egypt’s movements in Libya illegal.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday accused Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of taking “illegal and unacceptable” steps in Libya.
Erdogan stated that Turkey “will continue to assume the responsibility it undertook in Libya” and “will not let the Libyans face military aggression alone.”
The Turkish president strongly criticised Egypt and the UAE’s support for the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar, stating: “The steps taken by Egypt and its support for Haftar are illegal. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi is committing piracy crimes by sending money and weapons to Haftar illegally and this is unacceptable… while we are standing with a legitimate government fighting coupists.”
Yes Erdogan is very familiar with using the idea of a coup to wrest political power with a military. Much like Marxists use a reformatted history of Africans in the West to do the same.
Brad Johnson on other regional conflicts involving Russian and Turkish allies. We did post this video below before, but it belongs here.
There is a great deal more news articles in the Reader’s Links post comments over the last several days. Anyone very interested in what appears to be brewing over there may want to take a deeper dive and see what they can pull.