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It's bizarre, isn't it? US commentators act as if none of it is true, complete denial that battles even occur. There are plenty of people that don't want to see or refuse to believe anything but for them there is nothing that would convince.
The pictures of the battles are coming in real time from both sides and there is little disagreement about what is happening, whether in papers, state media or social media. Certain facts are highlighted or denied but the basics aren't really in controversy anymore. Both sides rush to put up the videos of children dead, soldiers slaughtered, residential buildings bombed, enemy weapons engaged and being transported, both sides claim the others leaders are deranged. The territories in contest aren't disputed. It all is presented by interested parties, but the sheer volume of media coming in from all over, it would require a hoax so elaborate, and production facilities so vast, even Chomsky couldn't spin a credible conspiracy and have it believable. I think the days of taking the philosophical approach of "what is reality?", "what can a person really know in this world" and denying that a war is taking place and what is happening on battlefields have been narrowed down to the margins and there isn't too much there anymore that is in dispute by reasonable people. I'm with Kerry on this one.
The US ambassador to NATO now says that Russian forces in Ukraine are limited to a "command role" and "specialists" who "operate advanced military equipment"
What happened to the 9,000 troops Poroshenko was screaming about at Davos?
BTW, I read the operational reports from the front that are available in English and there is no mention — zero — of Russian troops, commanders, technical advisors or special forces operating in Ukraine. There are some Russian "volunteers" but they don't seem to have any command roll.
In fact the Russian right, or party of war, represented by Igor Strelkov, for example, is railing against Putin and the party of peace for not sending the Russian military into Ukraine.
gor Strelkov: I believe that militia of DPR and LPR alone are not capable of withstanding all the combined forces of the Ukrainian Army, all its resources, which are being topped up by the West either with arms, instructors and money. Without the support from Russia LPR and DPR will not be able to hold on if the Ukraine Army launches a massive attack.
Anchor: What should this support be like?
Igor Strelkov: I actually think that Russia should defend the Novorossia’s population to the maximum.
Anchor: Bring in Troops?
Igor Strelkov: Yes if it’s needed. For one simple reason. This war has to be stopped. The war will stop only when the Kiev junta is demolished. I have always called it a junta. They are war orientated and my deepest belief is that one side wants to wage a war. It does not matter how many peaceful propositions are made—it will be just casting pearls to swines.
Exactly, Tom. None of this is really disputed anymore. It seems everyone is pretty much in agreement with who the troops are, where they are coming from, who is supplying weapons on both sides and where the fighters are coming from and where the battles are being fought.
I'm not sure what victory looks like. Kiev falls to Europe or Russia? Independence in the East? I haven't a clue.
What Putin wants to see is a federated Ukraine that makes space for the Russians in the East and that is non-aligned.
Putin is willing for Russia to partner with the West in funding the recovery. This seems to be the optimal solution under the circumstances, since neither Russia nor the West wants to take on a basket case on its own, Ukraine is deeply divided ethnically and historically, and Russia wants a buffer state to its West.
The neoliberal grab for Ukraine was crazy to begin with, and virtually none of the Europeans are willing either to go to war for it, or even to fund it now that it is in play. And the US is not stepping up, either.
6 comments:
It's bizarre, isn't it? US commentators act as if none of it is true, complete denial that battles even occur.
There are plenty of people that don't want to see or refuse to believe anything but for them there is nothing that would convince.
The pictures of the battles are coming in real time from both sides and there is little disagreement about what is happening, whether in papers, state media or social media. Certain facts are highlighted or denied but the basics aren't really in controversy anymore. Both sides rush to put up the videos of children dead, soldiers slaughtered, residential buildings bombed, enemy weapons engaged and being transported, both sides claim the others leaders are deranged. The territories in contest aren't disputed. It all is presented by interested parties, but the sheer volume of media coming in from all over, it would require a hoax so elaborate, and production facilities so vast, even Chomsky couldn't spin a credible conspiracy and have it believable. I think the days of taking the philosophical approach of "what is reality?", "what can a person really know in this world" and denying that a war is taking place and what is happening on battlefields have been narrowed down to the margins and there isn't too much there anymore that is in dispute by reasonable people. I'm with Kerry on this one.
Disappointment for Ukraine: Army chief says Ukrainian army is not fighting the Russian army in Donbas
NATO Now Admits There Is No Large-Scale Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The US ambassador to NATO now says that Russian forces in Ukraine are limited to a "command role" and "specialists" who "operate advanced military equipment"
What happened to the 9,000 troops Poroshenko was screaming about at Davos?
BTW, I read the operational reports from the front that are available in English and there is no mention — zero — of Russian troops, commanders, technical advisors or special forces operating in Ukraine. There are some Russian "volunteers" but they don't seem to have any command roll.
In fact the Russian right, or party of war, represented by Igor Strelkov, for example, is railing against Putin and the party of peace for not sending the Russian military into Ukraine.
gor Strelkov: I believe that militia of DPR and LPR alone are not capable of withstanding all the combined forces of the Ukrainian Army, all its resources, which are being topped up by the West either with arms, instructors and money. Without the support from Russia LPR and DPR will not be able to hold on if the Ukraine Army launches a massive attack.
Anchor: What should this support be like?
Igor Strelkov: I actually think that Russia should defend the Novorossia’s population to the maximum.
Anchor: Bring in Troops?
Igor Strelkov: Yes if it’s needed. For one simple reason. This war has to be stopped. The war will stop only when the Kiev junta is demolished. I have always called it a junta. They are war orientated and my deepest belief is that one side wants to wage a war. It does not matter how many peaceful propositions are made—it will be just casting pearls to swines.
Video interview with Igor Strelkov—22 January, 2015
Exactly, Tom. None of this is really disputed anymore. It seems everyone is pretty much in agreement with who the troops are, where they are coming from, who is supplying weapons on both sides and where the fighters are coming from and where the battles are being fought.
I'm not sure what victory looks like. Kiev falls to Europe or Russia? Independence in the East? I haven't a clue.
What Putin wants to see is a federated Ukraine that makes space for the Russians in the East and that is non-aligned.
Putin is willing for Russia to partner with the West in funding the recovery. This seems to be the optimal solution under the circumstances, since neither Russia nor the West wants to take on a basket case on its own, Ukraine is deeply divided ethnically and historically, and Russia wants a buffer state to its West.
The neoliberal grab for Ukraine was crazy to begin with, and virtually none of the Europeans are willing either to go to war for it, or even to fund it now that it is in play. And the US is not stepping up, either.
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