Scrutable

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:33 pm

A vial of nerve agent might be more Putin's style.

Speaking of people Putin's used Novichok on, I see Navalny is back in court. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60387695

Well, not so much "in court" as still in maximum security prison but back on trial there for some new charge.

That we get to see pictures of this process makes me think Putin feels it's time for a reminder of what happens to anyone who f.cks around with his right to rule, as if Russia was some kind of democracy or something. Following the train of thought, I am a bit anxious about whatever circumstances lead Putin to think the warning is needed. And of course ruefully noting that it sucks to be Navalny.

Actually, having slept on it, perhaps the above is good news. If Putin now expects to draw back without invasion, that itself might be enough of a reason to get a bit of show trial publicity out, just to give pause to anyone at home being rash enough to remark that not invading makes him look weak.

I don't think he cares about the views of the commuter on the Moscow subway. The views of the generals however will probably bother him a good deal.

According to the Guardian

In Russia, coverage of this buildup is less focused on the movement of tanks and Iskander missiles than on the information battle, where the main aggressors are seen as western officials and media reporting breathless predictions of all-out war or false-flag attacks.

Russia's talk of de-escalating could well have been a ploy to buy time whilst continuing to build up. How are the markets now lpm?

I have this image of Putin quietly humming the hokey-cokey to himself....

There has been increased cross border shelling from the Russian backed separatist areas and Russia is expelling the US Deputy Ambassador from Moscow.

Its not really looking like a de-escalation.

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:18 pm

There has been increased cross border shelling from the Russian backed separatist areas and Russia is expelling the US Deputy Ambassador from Moscow.

Its not really looking like a de-escalation.

No it's not. But saying you're doing one thing while you do the opposite is a very Putiny thing to do.

Nope - it's looking like a pretext to an invasion... which is exactly what Putin wants it to look like.

A friend of mine has posted this rather depressing piece, I’m really not sure what to think about it
https://medium.com/@ed_80681/causes-of- ... a6f1ebc791

monkey wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 3:18 pm

But saying you're doing one thing while you do the opposite is a very Putiny thing to do.

It's very annoying. I blame Surkov.

Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to this blog post but he'd want more than that.

Brightonian wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm

Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to this blog post but he'd want more than that.

https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/

Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.

science_fox wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:32 pm

Brightonian wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm

Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to this blog post but he'd want more than that.

https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/

Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.

Thanks for that.

science_fox wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:32 pm

Brightonian wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm

Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to this blog post but he'd want more than that.

https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/

Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.

The stuff I do for Al Jazeera is the main way I keep up to date in foreign affairs. The English language side of it is in the Shard and they don’t get a lot of editorial interference from the owners. My experience is the journalists there aren’t particularly pro-Russia, but they aren’t particularly pro anyone else either.

Brightonian wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm

Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to this blog post but he'd want more than that.

As well as Al Jazeera, some non-western English language sources are:

The South China Morning Post, it's based in Hongkong and has more editorial independence than mainland Chinese media, but isn't as independent as it used to be.

The Times of India and The Hindu.

The Mail and Guardian from South Africa.

I understand that Russia Today is reporting that the newly completed military pontoon bridge across the Pripyat River - near the Belarus-Ukraine border - has been built because a lot of Belarusian farmers need to get foxes, chickens and sacks of corn across a river. But there's only one rowing boat available in the area.

Starting tonight I guess.

For anyone wondering, I think lpm is referring to an explosion at a government building in Donestk - clicky. Not much detail on it so far.

lpm wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:15 pm

Starting tonight I guess.

Maybe, but if they want to make it look slightly realistic they've got to arrest the "suspect" and get a "confession" out of them first, so maybe a bit longer. Mind you, after the "I went to Sailsbury to see the cathedral" bit, I'm not sure how much the Russians care about things looking realistic.

lpm wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:15 pm

Starting tonight I guess.

Or at least over the weekend.

For those that like links, it looks like a pretext is being fabricated: https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/14 ... L61SdIEndQ

- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address

lpm wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:02 pm

- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address

Ongoing Russian exercise involving strategic nuclear forces.

US estimates 169-190 000 Russian troops near the border: https://osce.usmission.gov/u-s-statemen ... meeting-2/

Woodchopper wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:21 pm

lpm wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:02 pm

- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address

Ongoing Russian exercise involving strategic nuclear forces.

Putin claims that there is a genocide going on in the Donbas.
https://twitter.com/olliecarroll/status ... 71916?s=21

Videos announcing evacuations, due to the outbreak of fighting that began on 17 Feb, were pre-recorded on 16 Feb...

https://twitter.com/AricToler/status/14 ... 1483353092