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  • Ukraine War discussion - Threat to Public Health

    I am going to move some posts off the news area of the forum and post them to this thread. This is our long standing practice.

  • #2

    Unfortunately we are going to open a new forum that will carry the Ukraine War events. I never anticipated a new war in Europe - so brazen and aggressive.

    War is a preventable public health crisis.

    Clearly Russia invading Ukraine is a violation of human rights. As NATO forces start to move into allied countries we are all reminded of World War II. My father participated in that war and he was changed forever.

    Thank you to the soldiers who are defending Europe.






    FluTrackers will continue to provide any information that might be helpful. Yesterday we updated our radiation forum that primarily provides US CDC data. link

    Our most profound sympathies to everyone who is being affected.







    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: link

    "Article 3

    Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

    Article 28

    Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized."

    Comment


    • Mary Wilson
      Mary Wilson commented
      Editing a comment
      Russian health ministry documents show how Russia is preparing for casualties

      Friday 25 February 2022, 5:54pm

      Emma Burrows

      I have been given a copy of document issued today by the Russian Ministry of Health which shows it is anticipating a major medical event in which doctors have to be drafted from across the country.

      It indicates Russia is anticipating a massive medical emergency and has ordered health organisations to immediately identify medical staff ready to relocate and work.The document from the Russian Ministry of Health is signed by the deputy health minister and dated today - February 25.

      It asks medical organisations to be ready "to be promptly involved in activities aimed at saving lives and preserving the health of people in Russia". ...

      ... The letter shows the Russian Ministry of Health is clearly anticipating a major medical event in which doctors have to be drafted from across the country. The letter is signed by Deputy Health Minister Plutnitsky. This order from the Russian Ministry of Health has been issued as Russian forces reportedly advance on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine.

      I understand doctors were gathered together yesterday and told to ‘get ready.’ Today, the document from the Russian Health Ministry arrived.

      I am told this is highly unusual and almost unprecedented. ...

      The document indicates Russia is anticipating a massive medical emergency and has ordered health organisations to identify medical staff ready to relocate. | ITV National News





    • Mary Wilson
      Mary Wilson commented
      Editing a comment
      Doctors Without Borders - MSF assesses response as Ukraine conflict escalates

      25 February 2022

      MSF teams remain in Ukraine, and we are currently seeking ways to adapt our response as the conflict situation evolves.

      Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams in Ukraine are deeply worried about the consequences of the conflict for Ukrainian people and communities. We see on the roads that tens of thousands of people are frightened and on the move.

      The drastic change in context means we have had to take the painful decision to halt our activities in the country. These included care for people living with HIV in Severodonetsk; care for patients with tuberculosis in Zhytomyr; and improving access to healthcare access in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, where we have been providing much-needed healthcare, including for mental health, to conflict-affected communities.

      Although these programmes have now mostly stopped, we did all we could to ensure some continuity of care for our patients. The needs were already high, as people had been living through more than eight years of conflict. We are worried about the impact prolonged fighting could have on patients, many of whom are elderly and suffer from chronic diseases.

      Immediately before the escalation of tensions, we were in contact with several hospitals in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (provinces) to provide training in emergency medicine and surgical preparedness. Yesterday, our team provided one mass casualty kit to a hospital in Mariupol. As hostilities continue, assuring people’s access to healthcare and medicines will be critical.

      MSF teams are looking into how they can adapt our activities to respond. ...

      The escalation of conflict in Ukraine has led MSF teams to take the painful decision to suspend most activities; but teams remains and are assessing our response.


    • sharon sanders
      sharon sanders commented
      Editing a comment
      bump this

  • #3
    Originally posted by Mary Wilson View Post
    Russian health ministry documents show how Russia is preparing for casualties

    Friday 25 February 2022, 5:54pm

    Emma Burrows

    I have been given a copy of document issued today by the Russian Ministry of Health which shows it is anticipating a major medical event in which doctors have to be drafted from across the country.

    It indicates Russia is anticipating a massive medical emergency and has ordered health organisations to immediately identify medical staff ready to relocate and work.The document from the Russian Ministry of Health is signed by the deputy health minister and dated today - February 25.

    It asks medical organisations to be ready "to be promptly involved in activities aimed at saving lives and preserving the health of people in Russia". ...

    ... The letter shows the Russian Ministry of Health is clearly anticipating a major medical event in which doctors have to be drafted from across the country. The letter is signed by Deputy Health Minister Plutnitsky. This order from the Russian Ministry of Health has been issued as Russian forces reportedly advance on Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine.

    I understand doctors were gathered together yesterday and told to ‘get ready.’ Today, the document from the Russian Health Ministry arrived.

    I am told this is highly unusual and almost unprecedented. ...

    The document indicates Russia is anticipating a massive medical emergency and has ordered health organisations to identify medical staff ready to relocate. | ITV National News





    Emma Burrows

    @EJ_Burrows
    EXCLUSIVE: I have been given a copy of document issued today by Russian Ministry of Health. It indicates Russia is anticipating a massive medical emergency & has ordered health organisations to immediately identify medical staff ready to relocate & work.



    11:48 AM · Feb 25, 2022·Twitter for iPhone

    Comment


    • #4
      Re. "Thank you to the soldiers who are defending Europe."
      N.B. These are two European countries and this war has been going on for 8 years it has just gone up in intensity. It is also now getting a lot of press in the west but it is not the only active long war Syria and Yemen are both suffering much higher casualty rates and far more suffering to the civilian populations. In both cases they have been invaded by military forces of outside powers. In Syria's case two NATO countries who have annexed and occupied part of their territory, Turkey in the North and West and the US in South and East.

      Comment


      • #5
        Originally posted by JJackson View Post
        Re. "Thank you to the soldiers who are defending Europe."
        N.B. These are two European countries and this war has been going on for 8 years it has just gone up in intensity. It is also now getting a lot of press in the west but it is not the only active long war Syria and Yemen are both suffering much higher casualty rates and far more suffering to the civilian populations. In both cases they have been invaded by military forces of outside powers. In Syria's case two NATO countries who have annexed and occupied part of their territory, Turkey in the North and West and the US in South and East.
        Clearly there are a lot of horrendous human rights violations ongoing all over the world. Syria is now a collection of fiefdoms - with Russia being one of them. They have the most valuable real estate - the Syrian West which is the Mediterrean. For Yemen - there are no words. Tragic. And there are more....several situations in Africa...all terrible abuses.

        Hopefully this Ukraine situation is resolved soon without any more loss of life but if it spreads the U.K. itself is at risk. I guess you wouldn't object to U.S. help then.

        You are welcome in advance.

        Comment


        • JJackson
          JJackson commented
          Editing a comment
          My point, and objection to your quoted comment, is we should be careful to stick to the human rights and not take sides as if what Russia is doing is somehow different to actions taken by your country and mine. The western press has covered this invasion as if it is in someway unique. It is not. The civilian residents of the Donbas region have be dying in much larger numbers since the 2014 coup due to shelling and sabotage actions of the Ukrainian regime. There is blood on the hands of both sides in this dispute.

        • sharon sanders
          sharon sanders commented
          Editing a comment
          AFAIK the US has not militarily invaded either Mexico or Canada lately.

        • GardenSpider
          GardenSpider commented
          Editing a comment
          Here is Putin taking about hypersonic weapons the US wants to put in Ukraine directed at Russia.
          Re reminds of western military actions breaking international law in Yugoslavia and Iraq.
          He asks to resolve this issue with legal guarantees the Ukraine will not be used as a proxy to fight a war with Russia.

          I post this as a perspective and to underscore how complex this situation is.

          Here in France, people are well aware of the missteps on both sides of this conflict. Many here tend to blame both the US, the EU, and NATO for this conflict, and Russia for taking the bait. According to Putin, he had no choice. No where to retreat to. Listen to his speech from January 2022.

          Someone here explained it to me this way:
          Imagine Texas breaks away from the US and gains Russian support who then sends troops to the border between the US and Texas. Russia decides to use Texas for its military installations against US aggression and asks Texas to join an alliance with other eastern nations that will defend it against any US intervention. Russia then moves to make Texas part of this military alliance. They intend to set up more military bases and deploy missiles aimed at the US. To head off the military buildup, the US sends troops to the border with Texan and later invades to recapture Texas, many of whom identify as American, in attempt to protect the US from the threat of Russian attack.

          PUTIN'S SPEECH ON ULTIMATUM TO AMERICA ON UKRAINE 25 JANUARY 2022

          or

      • #6
        No way for us to tell if the alleged document from "Russian Ministry of Health" is real. Since there is no link to a stored document, I can't run it through a translator. If it is really from the source it is alleged to be from and is translated accurately, then I'd guess that Putin is building a case for first strike with his tactical nukes.

        Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed a policy on Tuesday that would allow the country to use nuclear weapons in response to a non-nuclear attack on

        Department of Defense News
        Russia can now use nukes if attacked with non-nuclear weapons

        June 06, 2020 Kyle Perisic
        ...

        Additionally, Russia could use its nuclear arsenals if it gets “reliable information” that it or an ally is the target of a ballistic missile attack. The policy also allows Russia to use nuclear weapons in the case of “enemy impact on critically important government or military facilities of the Russian Federation, the incapacitation of which could result in the failure of retaliatory action of nuclear forces.”

        December 2, 2021 Topic: Russian Nuclear Weapons Region: Eurasia Blog Brand: The Reboot Tags: RussiaRussian MilitaryNATONuclear WeaponsTactical Nuclear WeaponsNonproliferation
        Russia’s Tactical Nuclear Weapon Stockpile Is Jaw-Droppingly Large
        At around 3,000 to 6,000 units, the Russian Federation possesses the largest tactical nuclear weapons stockpile in the world.
        by Mark Episkopos

        Here’s What You Need to Remember: The underlying purpose of Russia’s tactical nuclear arsenal is rather more mundane but no less impactful. The Kremlin, with its relatively limited resources, is unlikely to win in a prolonged, conventional, continental war with NATO. Thus, Russian military doctrine sees tactical nuclear warheads as a hedge against NATO.
        _____________________________________________

        Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

        i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

        "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

        (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
        Never forget Excalibur.

        Comment


        • sharon sanders
          sharon sanders commented
          Editing a comment
          @EJ_Burrows speaks Russian and works for CNN - a legacy media who sometimes tries to be accurate.

      • #7
        Some history - may as well know the full story.


        Russia's Road to Corruption: How the Clinton Administration Exported Government Instead of Free Enterprise and Failed the Russian People, Speaker's Advisory Group on Russia, September 2000.

        https://nationalinterest.org/print/f...-allies-198953
        January 8, 2022
        NATO Security Dependents Are Not Useful Allies
        Many of America’s so-called allies are major liabilities rather than assets to U.S. foreign policy. Indeed, they are potential snares, ones that can entangle America in unnecessary military confrontations.
        by Ted Galen Carpenter
        https://fas.org/pir-pubs/thinking-cl...-nuclear-risk/
        Thinking More Clearly About Nuclear Weapons: The Ukrainian Crisis’ Overlooked Nuclear Risk

        By Federation of American Scientists • November 7, 2014

        by Dr. Martin E. Hellman
        The destructive potential of nuclear weapons is so great that decisions impacting them should be made in a fully conscious, objective manner. Unfortunately, there is significant evidence that this is not the case. One of my Stanford course handouts[ref] Available at http://www-ee.stanford.edu/~hellman/.../handout03.pdf[/ref] lists almost two dozen assumptions which underlie our nuclear posture, but warrant critical re-examination. This column applies that same kind of analysis to the current Ukrainian crisis.
        It is surprising and worrisome that almost none of the mainstream media’s coverage of the Ukrainian crisis has mentioned its nuclear risk. With the West feeling that Russia is solely to blame, and Russia having the mirror image perspective, neither side is likely to back down if one of their red lines is crossed. Add in America’s overwhelming conventional military superiority and Russia’s 8,000 nuclear weapons, and there is the potential for nuclear threats. And, where there is the potential for nuclear threats, there is also some potential for nuclear use.
        I’m not saying a repeat of the Cuban Missile Crisis is likely, but given the potential consequences, even a small risk of the Ukrainian crisis escalating to nuclear threats would seem too high.

        The frequency with which we find ourselves in such confrontations is also a factor. A low probability nuclear risk that occurs once per century is ten times less likely to explode in our faces than one that occurs once per decade. And the latter hypothesis (confrontations occurring approximately once per decade, instead of once per century) is supported by the empirical evidence, as the Georgian War occurred just six years ago.

        While both Russia and the West are wrong that the current crisis is solely the other side’s fault, this article focuses on our mistakes since those are the ones we have the power to correct.

        ...

        Further evidence that the New York Times and President Obama might be wrong can be found in an intercepted and leaked phone conversation[ref]Martin Hellman, “Transcript of Estonian FM Bombshell Revelation,” Defusing the Nuclear Threat, June 19, 2014. http://nuclearrisk.wordpress.com/201...ll-revelation/[/ref] in which Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Urmas Paet – clearly no friend of Russia’s – stated that the sniper fire on February 20, which killed dozens of Maidan protesters and led to calls for Yanukovych’s head, appeared to have been a false flag operation perpetrated by the most violent elements within the protesters – for example, the ultra-nationalist Right Sektor, which is seen as neo-Nazi in some quarters.

        Here is the exact wording of Paet’s key allegation in that phone call: “There is now stronger and stronger understanding that behind [the] snipers … it was not Yanukovych, but it was somebody from the new coalition.” That “new coalition” is now the Ukrainian government.

        While this allegation has received little attention in the American mainstream media, German public television sent an investigative reporting team which reached the same conclusion[ref]Martin Hellman, “Is the Ukrainian Crisis Spiraling Out of Control?” Defusing the Nuclear Threat, April 14, 2014. http://nuclearrisk.wordpress.com/201...ut-of-control/[/ref]: “The Kiev Prosecutor General’s Office [of the interim government] is confident in their assessment [that Yanukovych’s people are to blame for the sniper fire, but] we are not.”

        This is not to say that Paet and the German investigators are correct in their conclusions – just that it is dangerously sloppy thinking about nuclear matters not to take those allegations more seriously than we have.

        While Putin has exaggerated the risk to ethnic Russians living in Ukraine for his own purposes, the West has overlooked those same risks. For example, on May 2 in Odessa, dozens of pro-Russian demonstrators were burned alive when an anti-Russian mob prevented them from fleeing the burning building into which they had been chased. According to the New York Times[ref]Andrew Kramer, “Ukraine’s Reins Weaken as Chaos Spreads,” New York Times, May 4, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/wo...s-spreads.html[/ref]: “The pro-Russians, outnumbered by the Ukrainians, fell back … [and] sought refuge in the trade union building. Yanus Milteynus, a 42-year-old construction worker and pro-Russian activist, said he watched from the roof as the pro-Ukrainian crowd threw firebombs into the building’s lower windows, while those inside feared being beaten to death by the crowd if they tried to flee. … As the building burned, Ukrainian activists sang the Ukrainian national anthem, witnesses on both sides said. They also hurled a new taunt: “Colorado” for the Colorado potato beetle, striped red and black like the pro-Russian ribbons. Those outside chanted “burn Colorado, burn,” witnesses said. Swastikalike symbols were spray painted on the building, along with graffiti reading “Galician SS,” though it was unclear when it had appeared, or who had painted it.”

        Adding to the risk, on August 29, Ukraine took steps to move from non-aligned status to seeking NATO membership, and NATO’s Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he would “fully respect if the Ukrainian parliament decides to change that policy [of non-alignment].” Somewhat paradoxically, it is extremely dangerous – especially for Ukraine – for Rasmussen to encourage its hopes of joining NATO since Russia would likely respond aggressively to prevent that from occurring.

        Also adding to the danger is an escalatory spiral that appears to be in process, with NATO taking actions that are seen as threatening by Russia and Russia responding in kind, with Putin reminding the world[ref]Greg Bothelho and Laura Smith-Spark, “Putin: You Better Not Come After a Nuclear-Armed Russia,” CNN.com, August 30, 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/29/world/...html?hpt=hp_t1[/ref] that, “Russia is one of the most powerful nuclear nations. This is a reality, not just words.”

        We also need to question whether it is in our national security interests to ally ourselves with the Kiev government when, on September 1, its Defense Minister declared that, “A great war has arrived at our doorstep – the likes of which Europe has not seen since World War Two.”[ref]“Ukraine crisis: Government setbacks in Luhansk and Donetsk,” BBC News Europe, September 1, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29019032[/ref]

        Also on September 1, a group of former CIA intelligence analysts warned[ref]“Warning Merkel on Russian ‘Invasion’ Intel,” Consortiumnews.com, September 1, 2014. http://consortiumnews.com/2014/09/01...nvasion-intel/[/ref]that: “Accusations of a major Russian invasion of Ukraine appear not to be supported by reliable intelligence. Rather, the intelligence seems to be of the same dubious, politically fixed kind used 12 years ago to justify the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.” (The group also warned about faulty intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq War.)

        These former intelligence analysts are not saying that our government’s accusation is wrong. But they are reminding us that there is historical evidence indicating that we should be more cautious in assuming that it is correct

        In a September 4 article in Foreign Policy, “Putin’s Nuclear Option,” [ref]Jeffrey Taylor, “Putin’s Nuclear Option,” Foreign Policy, September 4, 2014. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/article...russia_weapons[/ref] Jeffrey Taylor argues that: “Putin would never actually use nuclear weapons, would he? The scientist and longtime Putin critic Andrei Piontkovsky, a former executive director of the Strategic Studies Center in Moscow and a political commentator for the BBC World Service, believes he might. In August, Piontkovsky published a troubling account of what he believes Putin might do to win the current standoff with the West – and, in one blow, destroy NATO as an organization and finish off what’s left of America’s credibility as the world’s guardian of peace.”

        I strongly encourage readers to read the full article. Again, Piotkovsky’s scenario is not likely, but given the consequences, even a small risk could be intolerable.

        Defusing the Ukrainian crisis will require a more mature approach on the part of all parties. Focusing on what we need to do, we need to stop seeing Ukraine as a football game that will be won by the West or by Russia, and start being concerned with the safety of all its residents, of all ethnicities. If we do that, we will also reduce the risk that we find ourselves repeating the mistakes of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when neither side wanted to stare into the nuclear abyss, but both found themselves doing so.

        As noted earlier, our mishandling of the Ukrainian crisis is unfortunately just one instance of a larger problem – dangerously sloppy thinking about nuclear weapons. Given that the survival of our homeland is at stake, our government needs to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the assumptions which underlie our current nuclear posture and correct any that are found to be wanting.
        _____________________________________________

        Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

        i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

        "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

        (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
        Never forget Excalibur.

        Comment


        • #8
          War isn't comedy. Zelensky is not dancing or cracking jokes right now. I stand by the people, including soldiers, of Russia, Ukraine and the rest of this world who do not want this war. I don't support military aid to either side. There are good actors and bad actors on both sides.


          Allegations of Canadian troops training neo-Nazis and war criminals sparks military review

          A review into how Canada approves the foreign military personnel it trains should be ready by early next year but parts of the study will need to remain secret.

          Author of the article:
          David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
          Publishing date:
          Nov 08, 2021 • November 8, 2021
          ...
          The review follows concerns raised by Jewish groups of the alleged involvement of Canadian troops in training neo-Nazis in Ukraine as well as warnings by soldiers last year that some Iraqis who have received instruction from Canada were involved in torture and rape.

          The destructive potential of nuclear weapons is so great that decisions impacting them should be made in a fully conscious, objective manner. Unfortunately, there is significant evidence that this is not the case. One of my Stanford course handouts1 lists almost two dozen assumptions which underlie our nuclear posture, but warrant critical re-examination. This column applies […]

          Thinking More Clearly About Nuclear Weapons: The Ukrainian Crisis’ Overlooked Nuclear Risk

          By Federation of American Scientists • November 7, 2014

          by Dr. Martin E. Hellman
          ...
          While Putin has exaggerated the risk to ethnic Russians living in Ukraine for his own purposes, the West has overlooked those same risks. For example, on May 2 in Odessa, dozens of pro-Russian demonstrators were burned alive when an anti-Russian mob prevented them from fleeing the burning building into which they had been chased. According to the New York Times[ref]Andrew Kramer, “Ukraine’s Reins Weaken as Chaos Spreads,” New York Times, May 4, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/wo...s-spreads.html[/ref]: “The pro-Russians, outnumbered by the Ukrainians, fell back … [and] sought refuge in the trade union building. Yanus Milteynus, a 42-year-old construction worker and pro-Russian activist, said he watched from the roof as the pro-Ukrainian crowd threw firebombs into the building’s lower windows, while those inside feared being beaten to death by the crowd if they tried to flee. … As the building burned, Ukrainian activists sang the Ukrainian national anthem, witnesses on both sides said. They also hurled a new taunt: “Colorado” for the Colorado potato beetle, striped red and black like the pro-Russian ribbons. Those outside chanted “burn Colorado, burn,” witnesses said. Swastikalike symbols were spray painted on the building, along with graffiti reading “Galician SS,” though it was unclear when it had appeared, or who had painted it.”

          _____________________________________________

          Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

          i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

          "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

          (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
          Never forget Excalibur.

          Comment


          • #9
            FluTrackers.com
            @FluTrackers
            ·
            4s
            We were following the deaths numbers for the Ukraine War but the disparity of what is being reported now is not credible. Pick a number.

            As usual, use at least two sources for your news.

            Peace for Public Health

            Comment


            • #10
              Some bolding/color added - E

              https://twitter.com/MichaelPSenger/s...42486598959104


              Michael P Senger
              @MichaelPSenger

              Thread – What the Heck is Actually Going on in Ukraine? I don’t have all the answers, but here’s a quick thread applying my propaganda and information warfare experience to help shed light on what’s really going on in Ukraine. 1/
              .
              .
              .

              Now for the mixed bag. Part of the western response has been to unleash the weight of the west’s information machinery against Russia. This is why you’re seeing so much pro-Ukraine propaganda across all channels. 4/



              washingtonpost.com
              In Japan and across Asia, an outpouring of support for Ukraine
              In Japan and throughout Asia, people have come out in support for Ukrainians in rallying against the Russian invasion, through protests and donations.
              5:40 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App


              One aspect of the western media operation is to promote and exempt Ukraine’s own propaganda from fact-checking—which is why we’ve suddenly seen so many of these funny Soviet-style propaganda stories: Snake Island, the Ghost of Kyiv, the Ukrainian Reaper, etc. 5/

              5:41 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              Obviously, the cult of personality around Zelensky is another aspect of this Soviet-style propaganda operation. 6/



              cnn.com
              Zelensky refuses US offer to evacuate, saying 'I need ammunition, not a ride'
              Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down an offer from the United States of evacuation from the capital city Kyiv, the Ukraine embassy in Britain said Saturday on Twitter.
              5:42 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              Naturally, Ukraine has been somewhat exaggerating the extent of the fighting and their own military exploits, both to encourage their own citizens and to garner more material support from the west. 7/


              5:44 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App


              Russia appears to have anticipated this, which is why they’ve put such lackluster effort into the information front. 8/

              The fairly explicit goal of the western information operation is to convince ordinary Ukrainians to take up arms against the Russians. This goal has been stated by leading foreign policy think tanks. This goal is morally murky so I’ll have no part in it. 9/



              5:45 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              As usual, Xi is loving every minute of this. 10/




              5:46 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App


              China’s role is a wildcard. They abstained from the security council vote. It remains to be seen how they’ve been using their clandestine influence network and propaganda army. But I’m sure they’re putting it to good use. 11/





              pcmag.com
              Pro-China Propaganda Act Used Fake Followers Made With AI-Generated Images
              A pro-China propaganda campaign on social media has been creating fake followers with the help of AI-generated images of seemingly real, but fictitious people.

              5:48 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              As western think tanks have stated, what they really want to is pull China away from Russia to preserve trade ties between the west and China. In typical think tank fashion, they’ll never let an opportunity to kiss Xi’s arse go to waste. 12/




              5:49 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              This is part of the reason western elites are giving so much support to Ukraine and want ordinary Ukrainians to fight back so badly, weakening Russia so that they can continue to trade with China. 13/




              5:50 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App


              Also, the war is obviously a useful distraction from growing popular anger over the indefensible response to COVID. 14/







              5:52 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App

              Some questions remain. 1. It’s obviously in Ukraine’s interest to exaggerate the conflict and their military exploits, both to encourage their people and garner western support. How much are they really committed to the fight against Russia? 15/

              Question 2. Is Putin even trying to win this war? He’s stated that it’s simply a “special military operation” against western interests and officials. A purge of this kind is no less evil and barbaric, but there might be a kernel of truth to what Moscow is saying. 16/


              5:53 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App


              3. Given Russia’s lackluster military and information efforts, has Putin struck a deal with China and/or Ukraine that we don’t yet know about? That would be expected and understandable for a buffer state in Ukraine’s position. 17/

              5:56 PM · Feb 28, 2022·Twitter Web App
              Last edited by sharon sanders; November 15, 2023, 07:49 PM. Reason: removed images due to copyright
              _____________________________________________

              Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

              i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

              "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

              (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
              Never forget Excalibur.

              Comment


              • #11
                bump this

                Comment


                • #12

                  Diplomats walk out of Russian Foreign Minister's UN speech




                  Comment


                  • #13
                    bump this

                    Comment


                    • #14

                      Ukrainians block roads to Russian advance of 'Europe's biggest nuclear plant'


                      Comment


                      • #15

                        Full text: Putin’s declaration of war on Ukraine
                        24 February 2022, 9:36am
                        Dear citizens of Russia! Dear friends! Today, I again consider it necessary to return to the tragic events taking place in the Donbass and the key issues of ensuring the security of Russia itself. Let me start with what I said in my address of 21 February this year. We are talking about what causes


                        VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPEECH ON NATO 24 UKRAINE AND US FOREIGN POLICY - FEBRUARY 28TH 2022 (with subtitles)
                        THIS IS THE WHOLE SPEECH - February 28th, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin's speech JUST BEFORE Putin launched the Special Military Operation in Ukraine TO SAVE THE INNOCENT PEOPLE of the newly independent breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lug…

                        Comment

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