[FOREIGN REACTION-UKRAINE] In historic shift, Germany ramps up defense spending

By artappraiser on Sun, 02/27/2022 - 9:06pm |

Ongoing news of reaction of foreign countries to the Ukraine invasion, starting with

Read our story here: Olaf Scholz announced major boost to German military spending — the latest in a series of dramatic policy shifts by Berlin in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.https://t.co/MB7OHKc1DR
— Hans von der Burchard (@vonderburchard) February 27, 2022

URL:

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-to-ramp-up-defense-spending-in-response-to-russias-war-on-ukraine/

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More on Germany’s push to diversify gas sources away from Russia, by @LaurenzGehrke https://t.co/LqoodDXNlg
— Hans von der Burchard (@vonderburchard) February 27, 2022

by artappraiser on Sun, 02/27/2022 - 9:09pm

I hope it's not in bad taste to say but there'd be something historical irony if both they and Israel ended up arming Azov.

by Orion on Sun, 02/27/2022 - 10:34pm

Keep repeating this BS
"Despite accusations that the group is antisemitic, some members of the Jewish community in Ukraine support and serve in the Azov Battalion. One of its most prominent members is Nathan Khazin, leader of the "Jewish hundreds" during the 2013 Euromaidan protests in Kyiv.[100] In an interview, Andriy Biletsky explained that he regards Israel and Japan as role models for the development of Ukraine.[101]"

Azov has been accused of some (few?) ethnic related attacks - against Roma/gypsies, not against Jew - and 1 to break up a women's movement. As 1 article notes, the supremacist leader known for anti-semitic sentiment previously hasn't made any anti-semitic comments since joining the movement 2014 (looking to do bigger things post-Russian invasion?) but of course that just means he's hiding it and we can continue fretting over it as usual.

In short, people can dig down and amplify whatever they want, but it doesn't mean it's particularly relevant, but it sure makes for great propaganda and a backdrop of distracting meming - has served Putin well. So how about we get back to the actual war and any *real* atrocities? It's 2022 on the internet - we can do "fascist fascist fascist" all day long.

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 4:27am

It's 2022 on the internet - we can do "fascist fascist fascist" all day long.

Absolutely chilling. The whole article

Volodymyr Zelensky: Russian mercenaries ordered to kill Ukraine’s president | News | The Times https://t.co/TEsFQYWKG4
— Celia W (@CeliaResearch) February 28, 2022

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 7:05am

I was thinking of posting that! It's so hard to believe, you wouldn't believe it if it was la movie! 400 people, 400 salaries! For one man! Most people would think: but if you get that guy, there will be another. Putin really believes in 1) the power of charisma, if you get that charismatic guy, it will be all right 2) the control he gets from fear? I was thinking that as a former KGB guy, #2 is deep in his bones.

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 8:28am

I read a book about Eurasianism and found most notable that Putin was appointed and by Boris Yeltsin at that. He represents a system that maybe was simply reduced, as opposed to destroyed.

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 8:44am

Belarus may join Ukraine invasion! Reminds me of how Nazi Germany got little Romania on its side.

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 8:40am

Now that I think of it some more, I realize that "get rid of the charismatic guy" was always the KGB's main function. If not assassinate, off to the gulag in Siberia, or the whole mental institution thing was a newer invention. And the latest: infect with a deadly disease.

Might have something to do with "never forget Rasputin."

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:20am

The Soviet system didn't like charisma. It liked/likes boorish people that personify a broad system. This could explain why eventually their system would appeal more to Western conservatives than progressives. The Left always liked the charismatic socialists who never fit in the systems - Trotsky, Guevera, etc.

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:54am

Absurd, "Russian boat go fuck yourself" has already spread past Zelenskyj. Martyrs breeding martyrs. (ok, so the original crew isn't dead. Doesn't spoil the Schwarzenegger punchline. ("Consider this a divorce" or "I had to let him go" (off a cliff)

Russia told Ukraine to just disarm, or the resulting bloodshed (presumably Ukrainian) would be their fault. Ukraine's held Russia off 5 days, rather respectably, no obvious onslaught in sight. Last week Germany refused to give Ukraine any support, basically said they were gonna get their asses kicked anyway so it was futile. This week they had to eat crow and admit they were the backwards appeasers. (I'm sure Putin playing the nuclear card is the farthest from the "Atomkraft, nein danke" stance the Germans had wanted to take)

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:09am

I agree, Zelenskyy has broken the fear thing, that's part of why it's such a big deal. His persona of "ordinary guy attaining incredible feats in many careers" is a big part of it.

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:35am

But he also confirms to his audience "the power is you, you are all the President, don't put a picture of me on the wall, put your family, your kids who are the future". It makes him compelling but nicely expendable - the revolution doesn't depend on him. Hari Seldon in the Foundation Trilogy?

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:58am

An aside, some of the Alt Right people who surround Richard Spencer (remember him?) are ironically praising this move. A pan-European military is the kind of thing they always wanted, apparently, and they have made the epiphany, a thousand years too late, perhaps, but better late than never, that Russia looks east and not west.

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:51am

OH all "Woke" lefties definitely know that, hence all their crap about getting rid of NATO; their whole concept of the history of the world is that Europe and "the West" iand white people are racist, imperialist colonizers if not fascists. This view has infiltrated college Humanities Dept.'s around the world. Is why Nikole Hannah-Jones tweet the other day angered me. To them NATO = Richard Spencer = fascist overlords of the all the oppressed peoples. of the world, sometimes the white working class is included, sometimes they are a major part of the problem. That impedes progress and destroys new ways of thinking about policy!

Right now The Woke pumping things up into colonialist white continuing their oppression with students from Africa having problems trying to get out of Ukraine. Sure, some Polish people are surely racist and don't want to help black African students. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A WHOLE WORLDWIDE RACIST SYSTEM, THEY FUCKING GOT INVITED TO GO TO COLLEGE THERE for chrissakes. Part of the problem is some racist people, surely, but a bigger part of the problem is their own fucking home countries have a competency problem with visas and consulates and the like. And Polish people are happily accepting Ukrainian refugees because they know they will eventually go home, while some may think twice about someone from a faraway country with incompetent consulates...(as a New Yorker who knows a few stories about illegal immigrants, I know I would and it wouldn't be about race...)

Perfect example WHY WOKE-A-TUDE is so dangerous, is the enemy of moderate coalition making. Moderate liberal elites allover the world have become afraid of offending The Woke, and they then often turn off right of center people, find themselves having to agree with calling them fascists or some such. Woke theory feeds divisiveness and tribalism, but if they get some real power, they turn into totalitarian nightmares like the Red Guards in China.

This whole Putin/Ukraine thing has reinvigorated a pride in "The West" in their liberal Enlightenment values and what they have done for the world, which Putin hates and which The Woke consider evil. Time for The Woke to be asked: which side are you on, that's your choice, those are the countries we have in the world right now. There is no Wakanda. For me, Kenya at the U.N. had the correct answer, learned from hard experience, not from some "colonialist" overlord.

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 10:34am

I know some Africans who have said they were warned against going to school in Ukraine, were told "it's worse there than here."

by Orion on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 10:36am

And what made it "worse"? I mean, at the moment the big thing is maybe some black people weren't allowed on the bus, but chances are the Russians were coming to kill Ukrainians, not black Africans, so we're debating something else. Would Ukrainians "go home" from Poland? well, they're largely home already - Lithuania and Poland and Ukraine and Belarus have had their borders mangled beyond belief. So again we're mixing up shit because some people don't even understand history & geography so it's hard to discuss anything. People in Ukraine & Belarus and Russia and Slovakia can largely all understand each other - their languages are that close. The Slavic immigrants in New York sometimes speak "Slav-ish", a mix of available Slavic languages including Balkan ones.

by PeraclesPlease on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 11:07am

she says it all and she's the pro from Dover, she can't use the frigging moronic Woke messaging right now, she cut them off right then and there, she's doing tons of work trying to help get all foreigners out of Ukraine from Nigerians to Sikhs -

And let me be Southeast Texas real for a second, if you are not tweeting me with resources, but just to say there is racism in Ukraine/in the media coverage about Ukraine, leave me alone. I know. I lived there and work on race. Unclog my feed so I can help people. Replies off.
— Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon (@ksvarnon) February 27, 2022

Woke just really disgust me right now, it's like clueless elite, just clueless about real life. AND that's without getting into how some of the big ones in it are just basically grifters off of white guilt that they themselves create

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 12:50pm

How do you want your steak cooked?

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 2:09am

hah that scene actually hits on some good related memes - I noticed the first nurse they hassle is black but there is no racial reference thing at all. At the time - the popularity of MASH - you did not think about race, it wasn't the first fucking thing people thought about!

Now there is definitely the 1950's sexist thing at the end about "get me a steak and get a surgical nurse that knows how to keep her tits out the way" but this is not really about sexism - that's just an artifact of the era - it is the medical hierarchy where surgeons were kings precisely because they were seen as knowing the most in medicine. They know so much they get to rule the roost and go golfing after they are done, leaving the lower class others (at the time mostly female, but also any male "grunts" to clean up after them.)

The point is that to focus on the sexism here would be a way secondary message, again, it's just an artifact of the era. The main takeaway should be: knowledge is power. Not that white male = power. But that knowledge, education and skills = power. Here it even trumps the discipline and hierachy of a military system.

Most people at the time knew that was the message. I wonder if Woke types would even see that, they are so myopically focused on seeing everything through the lens of their racist, sexist, colonialist memes. That's so scary to me in a way, they are like brainwashed robots

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:55am

She was actually petite & cute looking like a WAC could/should, no heavy black accent, no real differing behavior - Army indoctrination through and through. I also remember The Man Who Fell to Earth, some black character goes home, has a white wife, mixed kids, swimming pool, no specific dialog or significance about home, just happened to be his family. Nowadays symbolism is worn high and heavy.
The dwarf actor Peter Dinklage is complaining about the remake of "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs", how they updated the beauty to be Hispanic, but still have worker dwarves in hard labor locker-room homestay - "hey, all you dwarfs get in there, & don't let me hear a peep out of you (except that "Hi Ho" song when I cue)."

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 8:27am

oh so Victimhood Olympics even reaches Snow White vs the Dwarves. A femme female gets to be the admired boss over males (or shall we say male-type gender choices?) for once but because she's white (VERY white!) and of normal stature, she's an oppressor!

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 9:09am

It could've been "Snow White & the Seven Dorks", or maybe the Dwarves could've had 7 superpowers rather than 7 types of cringeworthy. I mean, he kind of has a point - why make over 1 "you go, LatinX grrrl" role but leave the obvious not terribly PC shtick intact? There was some 30s movie with black mammy main role, and they updated it in the 50s to be much more normal (especially for New York) - not sure why dwarves can't expect similar treatment in 2022.

(Dinklage was in Eyes of Laura Mars, not sure what before - he's been carrying this on his shoulders a long long time. Oops, looks like he did an uncredited cameo in Laura Mars, 1978, first gig i guess.)

by PeraclesPlease on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 10:12am

AND Switzerland now breaking its long-held neutrality!!!

Unprecedented. https://t.co/HdQK6ln1OP
— Janet Sanderson (@janarl2tuc) February 28, 2022

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 5:25pm

(Reuters) - Monaco, an international hub often favoured by wealthy Russians, will also proceed with freezing assets and imposing sanctions on Russians in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said a statement by the Monaco Royal Palace.
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) February 28, 2022

by artappraiser on Mon, 02/28/2022 - 5:46pm

WSJ (with no paywall): Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Changed the World in Days; West returns to a policy of containing Moscow: Cold War 2.0

#WR: It is good that the West unites against #Putin.
Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine has forced the West to return to a policy of containing #Moscow: Cold War 2.0 https://t.co/uM1Ux8huo4 via @WSJ
— Domingo Trassens (@trassens) February 28, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 9:43am

Incredibly powerful moment at Boris Johnson’s press conference in Poland pic.twitter.com/QHgWfjjrHv
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) March 1, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 10:51am

Ursula von der Leyen quotes @KyivIndependent at the European Parliament: "Let me quote the editorial of one Ukrainian newspapers, the Kyiv Independent… 'This is not just about Ukraine, it's a clash of two worlds, two polar sets of values.' They are so right." pic.twitter.com/v54hevVFkN
— Anastasiia Lapatina (@lapatina_) March 1, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 11:01am

ah, seizing the day to try to moderate some Wokies and Tankies and their ilk:

An emboldened Keir Starmer is taking on the Labour left over Ukraine

With an eye on winning back England’s red wall and a “sniff of power” according to allies, the opposition leader is asserting himself defence

Latest @FinancialTimes column https://t.co/MozzQIjPRi
— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) March 1, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 11:16am

if ukraine is part of russia

then russia is making the classic military blunder of invading russia
— halvorz ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@halvorz) February 28, 2022

by Orion on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 1:25pm

Some of Putin’s staunchest allies in Latin America are distancing themselves from Russia.

By Anatoly Kurmanaev and Jack Nicas @ NYTimes.com live coverage, 41 minutes ago

Russia’s Latin American allies have distanced themselves from President Vladimir V. Putin’s war in Ukraine, underscoring how even his staunchest diplomatic supporters appear concerned about the consequences of the cataclysmic invasion of a neighbor.

The governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela have all blamed the United States and NATO for stoking tensions in Ukraine and disregarding Russia’s security interests. But none has yet voiced direct support for Russia’s incursion.

Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela, in official statements, have called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Bolivia’s former president, Evo Morales, who continues to play an important role in his country’s pro-Russian government, tweeted after the fighting began last Thursday, “War is never the solution.”

Similarly cautious diplomatic stances were taken by President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela and his Nicaraguan counterpart, Daniel Ortega, both of whom spoke to Mr. Putin by telephone in the days before the invasion.

Mr. Maduro and Mr. Ortega had both voiced strong support for Mr. Putin’s decision to recognize Ukraine’s Russian-backed breakaway republics on Feb. 21.

“Russia is simply defending itself,” Mr. Ortega said that day.

“All my support for President Vladimir Putin and his people,” Mr. Maduro said last Tuesday.

But both leaders have been silent since the invasion began.

The governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela have all relied on Russian support in their defiance of the United States, becoming some of Mr. Putin’s most ardent international allies. All three have touted Russian investment as an antidote to the economic pain inflicted on them by American sanctions.

Cuba has long relied on Russian tourism for foreign revenue, which is likely to fall dramatically following the collapse of Russia’s currency and international restrictions on Russian flights.

And Mr. Maduro has used Russia’s banking system to bypass American sanctions and continue exporting oil and importing basic goods to Venezuela, allowing him to stay in power. Russia’s dramatic exclusion from the international financial system will likely complicate this trade, wrote the Venezuelan economist Asdrúbal Oliveros.

Earlier this year, Mr. Putin sought to further expand Russia’s influence in Latin America, building ties in the region to countries like Brazil and Argentina that have traditionally been close to Washington.

President Jair Bolsonaro visited Moscow just days before the invasion, and said Brazil stood in “solidarity” with Russia, though he didn’t clarify what that meant.

But in a news conference on Sunday, Mr. Bolsonaro said Brazil must remain neutral in the conflict because of the potential economic fallout, including Brazil’s dependence on Russia for fertilizers.

“We want peace, but we cannot bring consequences here,” he said.

President Alberto Fernández of Argentina also visited Mr. Putin in Moscow last month, but after the invasion, his government denounced the attacks, issuing its “strongest rejection of the use of armed force.”

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 3:45pm

That is very significant as Latin America is Russian link to it's Soviet era allies and therefore some of the country's most reliable partners.

I think it was widely assumed that Vladimir Putin would be in charge of his country for the duration of his life, but that could easily not be the case. He was assigned his position by Boris Yeltsin and a system that was already in place. He could find himself in a similar situation, forced to hand over the reigns to someone else.

by Orion on Wed, 03/02/2022 - 4:36am

Extraordinary speech from Germany’s foreign minister — to whatever extent Putin’s actions here have been motivated by security concerns they have badly backfired and reducing Ukrainian cities to rubble won’t change that. pic.twitter.com/Ya1CjYMmMx
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) March 1, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 6:25pm

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE RESULTS!

The 5 countries who voted against condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine included Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, North Korea, and Syria. China and Pakistan were 2 of the 35 countries that abstained. pic.twitter.com/CODHtGnAm6
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 2, 2022

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/02/2022 - 1:07pm

Scottish medical supplies being sent to Ukraine https://t.co/0Ok0Uighck via @BBCNews
— J. W. (@wolfjon4) March 2, 2022

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/02/2022 - 2:04pm

BREAKING: The New York Times reports that Chinese officials asked Russia to delay invasion of Ukraine until the Winter Olympics were finished
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 2, 2022

China's propaganda machine is now cranking for Putin -- and blaming America for the invasion. https://t.co/VRt1mUJHQT
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) March 2, 2022

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/02/2022 - 2:26pm

whoa Germany's going gung ho, is like: what's the closest thing we can do to a no-fly zone?

#UPDATE Germany will increase its weapons deliveries to Ukraine following the Russian invasion by sending an 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles to the conflict zone, a government source tells @AFP.

Germany will deliver STRELA-type anti-aircraft missiles of Soviet manufacture pic.twitter.com/wTBpyYWk0a
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 4:12am

yeah old military weapons pro Steven Erlanger wrote a piece for the NYT, yesterday from Brussels, on the danger for NATO in the flood of weapons:

NATO Countries Pour Weapons Into Ukraine, Risking Conflict With Russia https://t.co/RofVg9FoDw
— Colin P. Clarke (@ColinPClarke) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 4:40am

Some really truly horrific stuff out of Ukraine. Looks like World War II in full color. Vile. :(

Every life is precious. I hope you all are doing well out there. Love to you all.

by Orion on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:05am

dig in Pootie, it's working out so well for you:

BREAKING: Moldova and Georgia file applications to join the European Union
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 1:58pm

New poll from Germany shows just how much Putin the master strategist has achieved. Germans now:
> Support €100bn for the Bundeswehr (65%)
> Support arms deliveries to Ukraine (61%)
> Believe Germany used to be too soft on Putin (68%)
> Support Ukraine's EU accession (63%) pic.twitter.com/dZpOBf3Ypd
— Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 4:15pm

Lefty Labour MP's (with the same anti-NATO stance as the Democratic Socialists of America, of which AOC, Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush are members) and fellow travelers such as a representative for USA's Code Pink -

Just before hostilities in Ukraine began the Stop the War Coalition organised a meeting with the participation of 3 MPs.

Rarely will you see analysis that aged so badly so quickly. These people vote on the laws we live by. Let's hear what they had to say pic.twitter.com/fdn9AbjFId
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Jeremy Corbyn claimed that "both sides have access to nuclear weapons" argues that Britain should engage with Russia through the nuclear non proliferation treaty. He appears to suggest UK respond to Russia by pledging to give up nukes. pic.twitter.com/h6NOCHVfOK
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Note here that he praises Truss for travelling to Moscow and berates Jonson for travelling to Ukraine; "he seems to think he's in some kind of historic moment"

"It is the US with the UK that is leading the way on this".

What about criticism of Putin? pic.twitter.com/dKkPzpepUX
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Labour MP Diane Abbott's statement has been reported on. Watch full the 90 second pre-recorded statement, note: "the claims that Russia is the aggressor should be treated sceptically the destabilization in the entire region comes from a continued Eastward expansion of NATO" pic.twitter.com/8aDBKfas5I
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Former Special advisor to the Leader of Labour Party Andrew Murray: "we see what's happening with NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe and the extraordinary rhetoric from the British gov as an attempt to maintain and even extend US hegemony across Europe" pic.twitter.com/pUayfLMBX5
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Also speaking was Medea Benjamin from Code Pink in the USA she says: "This is a time for us to educate people about the dangerous alliance that is NATO" pic.twitter.com/GbljTeSy1O
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell sent in a note read by Corbyn pic.twitter.com/cv9LBF7GCN
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

Prof Richard Sakwa, Uni of Kent: "I don't think there'll be an invasion that was never on the cards"

Also says there is "a peaceful way out of it but I'm afraid too many Western leaders simply are not willing to engage in the dialogue and diplomacy that is required" pic.twitter.com/hQUywDjoy0
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

If nothing else this is a cautionary tale as to where the UK could have been had these MPs attained power.

As things stand all three are still serving as our representatives in Parliament.
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 4:50pm

Bibi's all "nothing to see here, Iran Iran Iran" as well.
That schtick's so old already - where's his sketch of a bomb done with sharpie -
time for a reboot.

It's really so wonderful to see that a man who talked incessantly about the mortal danger to Jews around the world asks Israel to ignore the Jewish president and prime minister of Ukraine, lest one of his geopolitical patrons disapproves. https://t.co/mIOnTMMCEb
— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) March 3, 2022

by PeraclesPlease on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 6:28pm

dupe deleted, see below

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:42pm

I noticed that there IS some kind of diplomatic shit going down with the Iran; this is a clue, though probably not accurate (wish we had that Twitter emoji of guy throwing up his hands)

Biden Administration reportedly agreeing to a deal, negotiated by the Russians, to give Iran a pathway to a nuclear weapon & massive sanctions relief. This would be a grave mistake, empowering America’s adversaries, and weakening American security.
https://t.co/qNb25owQMq
— Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:41pm

BREAKING: UK calls emergency UN Security Council meeting over Ukraine developments
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 4, 2022

BREAKING: UK PM Boris Johnson says the 'reckless actions of President Putin could directly threaten the safety of all of Europe'
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 4, 2022

(the hit at the nuclear energy site?)

edit to add, link toTwitter news event page:

Ukraine officials say nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia power plant is 'secured' following Russian shelling, AFP reports

Officials said that Russian troops had begun shelling the facility, which is Europe’s largest nuclear power station. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ukraine's regulator said there has been no change reported in radiation levels at the station and "essential" equipment was not impacted. US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson both spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the situation.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:25am

yes - more:

“Only immediate action can stop the Russian troops. Do not let Europe die in the nuclear catastrophe,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video stating that Russia’s actions show “Europe needs to wake up.” https://t.co/eUsPCZObCY
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:27am

UH OH!!!

Ukraine says Russian forces seize Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant https://t.co/H7S7uyF3JB pic.twitter.com/OE0XCvLfa1
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 4, 2022

It's going to be quite the Security Council session.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 2:04am

What does everyone think? https://t.co/vkmHBR0fa6
— KT CounterIntelligence (@KremlinTrolls) March 4, 2022

he just tweeted that, should get some answers soon

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 2:13am

Biden admin.: stop using the "war crime" language about the nuclear plant fire

NEW: The State Department has asked its embassies in Europe to "un-retweet ASAP" @USEmbassyKyiv's tweet that attacking #Zaporizhzhia was a war crime. (h/t @kylieatwood)
— Joseph Haboush (@jhaboush) March 4, 2022

this is what they are saying now

"By the grace of God, the world narrowly averted a nuclear catastrophe last night," @USAmbUN says during an emergency UN Security Council meeting on #Ukraine.
— Joseph Haboush (@jhaboush) March 4, 2022

Russian forces are 20 miles away from #Ukraine's second largest nuclear facility: @USAmbUN
— Joseph Haboush (@jhaboush) March 4, 2022

Haboush is legit: Washington Correspondent, @AlArabiya_Eng || former @DailyStarLeb ||@MiddleEastInst ||@Telegraph

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:02pm

!!!

Saudi Crown Prince stresses importance of OPEC deal in call with Russia’s Putin https://t.co/2hcsuDQtSz
— AlexandruC4 (@AlexandruC4) March 3, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:52am

?!?

The UAE says its ties with Washington are going through a “stress test,” and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince says he doesn’t care what US President Joe Biden thinks of him.
— Joseph Haboush (@jhaboush) March 3, 2022

more info. needed!

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:03pm

some news in a more positive vein to counter the news of the nuclear reactor:

God bless these people, and God love them for the incredibly German way in which this is being organised. https://t.co/Rat3OVZkpM
— Joe Miller (@JoeMillerJr) March 3, 2022

Twitter translation:

What is happening here at Berlin Central Station is deeply moving. Hundreds of people offer free sleeping places to Ukrainian refugees. Helpers use megaphones to arrange overnight stays every minute.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 2:11am

NATO rejects Ukraine's demand for no-fly zones lot of coverage at Twitter events March 4

Allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said on Friday that they will increase support but will not grant Ukraine's request for the implementation of no-fly zones. "We are not part of this conflict, and we have a responsibility to ensure it does not escalate and spread beyond Ukraine," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference. On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted to create a “high-level investigation” into human rights violations committed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 12:49pm

BREAKING: Russia's Putin told Germany's Scholz that the 'alleged ongoing air strikes of Kyiv and other large cities are gross propaganda fakes'
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 1:39pm

Cheers erupt as Ukraine president addresses huge protest in Prague via video link – video https://t.co/L2jgHvtFc0
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 5:31pm

Thousands of people listen to Ukraine’s president in Prague.

He said: “If we win, and I’m sure we’ll win, this will be the victory of the whole democratic world, this will be the victory of our freedom, this will be the victory of light over darkness” #UkraineRussianWar https://t.co/ud0UhjEGxz
— Global News (@ConsumerSOS) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 5:47pm

and in Tbilisi, Georgia -

Zelenskyy gives live address to massive anti-war demonstration in Georgia (and several other European cities I believe). Have you ever seen anything like this? https://t.co/L41qoe6VaJ
— Richard Hall (@_RichardHall) March 4, 2022

What absolutely extraordinary scenes from Tbilisi, Georgia pic.twitter.com/pU1rZ82P2m
— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) March 4, 2022

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 7:03pm

^ does it need to be said? major yuck fou to Putin from former SSR's.

by artappraiser on Fri, 03/04/2022 - 7:06pm

FT Exclusive: The US is working with Warsaw on a deal to provide Ukraine with Polish fighter jets https://t.co/RNi3VpdRlO
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 6, 2022

by artappraiser on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 3:41am

long twitter thread reporting on Israeli Prime Minister's visit with Putin, and after, starts here

#BREAKING Israeli Prime Ministe Naftali Bennett is in Moscow, where he met with Putin for two and a half hours. Details to come.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 5, 2022

of special note from it - a great summary on what's going on with Iran talks and Russia

Bennett and Elkin observe Shabbat and broke it to go to Moscow to meet with Putin, indicating that it's an urgent national security matter.
Meanwhile, today, as an Iran deal looked inevitable, Russia is making new demands in the nuclear talks.
Could they be related?
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 5, 2022

Specifically, the demand is that the recent US and European sanctions on Russia carve out an exception so that they can trade with Iran. Which is not good for Israel if they get that guarantee, but if it prevents a deal from being signed, is good from Jerusalem's POV.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 5, 2022

by artappraiser on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 1:08pm

important news this morning:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: The United States gave a "green light" to NATO countries for the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine. https://t.co/OsmQcXR5bp
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) March 6, 2022

by artappraiser on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 1:11pm

Tribe & McFaul support a blitzkrieg idea - send ALL 70 of NATO's Mig fighter jets to Ukraine right NOW:

This! https://t.co/FImT72n52q
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) March 6, 2022

Basically WWIII done in the air? Fine for the chicken hawks, what do the pilots think?

(Peanuts' Ace Snoopy dreamed of this?)

by artappraiser on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 1:25pm

Denmark aims to become independent of Russian natural gas in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said, according to Reuters. Denmark will also significantly increase its defence budget in response to the conflict, Frederiksen said.....

by artappraiser on Sun, 03/06/2022 - 3:34pm

A "Putin as truth teller" Woke view in the U.S.:

We've got 8 years of evidence, including newspaper articles, media segments, photographs, and the Nazis themselves bragging about what they've done in Ukraine on video.

The Rebuttal "Zelenskyy is Jewish"

This is what some of us have to deal with
— Black in the Empire (@blackintheempir) March 7, 2022

He's no Russian troll, he's Anti Establishment Vet w/ commentary from experience inside the war machine and life in the civilian world as a Black man. #Reparations, on Twitter since 2017 and with 49,000+ followers and with a You Tube channel.

by artappraiser on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 12:23pm

^ It's the tribal argument, identity politics vs. liberal democracy. I.E. we're a minority but we're right and the majority is wrong: we're all down with send in a righteous entity to cleanse Ukraine of "Nazis" even though most of the rest of the world disagrees; we're all for forcing majority white taxpayers to fund reparations even though most of their ancestors were immigrants to the country after slavery was abolished, etc.

by artappraiser on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 12:32pm

Joe the Brit says:

i know all governments do propaganda but it's the way the russians don't even try to make theirs good https://t.co/wFk2sGhkyC
— joe (@mutablejoe) March 7, 2022

by artappraiser on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 1:40pm

Big if that s the case #ForeignLegion #Ukraine https://t.co/84QmOJEeuV
— Kacper Rekawek (@KacperRekawek) March 7, 2022

by artappraiser on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 2:12pm

This war will be a total failure, Russian whistleblower says

Spies in Russia’s infamous security apparatus were kept in the dark about President Putin’s plan to invade Ukraine, according to a whistleblower who described the war as a “total failure” that could be compared only to the collapse of Nazi Germany.

by Orion on Mon, 03/07/2022 - 6:52pm

YIKES!

“European wholesale gas prices hit €335 a megawatt hour, up from a price a year ago of about €16” https://t.co/K1UIAuM7jx
— Josh Spero (@joshspero) March 8, 2022

Start burning the furniture?

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 2:12am

It wasn't just students from Africa who had trouble fleeing Ukraine:

A difficult moment for the MFA, which presents its growing consular reach as a point of pride

“I don’t know why the embassy didn’t tell us the war was going to break out when other countries advised their citizens to leave days before”https://t.co/0Bler2NzYL @nivincent
— Peter Martin (@PeterMartin_PCM) March 8, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 3:39am

yay, African students not into being pitiful helpless victims, have agency to accomplish things, not sitting around waiting for someone to help them -

I spoke with African students in Ukraine who are leading their own rescue efforts, and have created a massive network to help Black people in the area find safety & refuge.

They've given clear ways to support Black students in Ukraine #AfricansinUkraine https://t.co/J87JWK7dPF
— CiCi Adams (@CiCiAdams_) March 7, 2022

maybe they learned that in college in Ukraine?

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/09/2022 - 2:20pm

Zelenskyy gave a speech to the House of Commons today, gave em what they wanted to hear

The House is full for @ZelenskyyUa pic.twitter.com/jTNhu16CyJ
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) March 8, 2022

After quoting Churchill’s “we will fight them on the beaches, and on the landing grounds…” speech, and again show what leadership means, @ZelenskyyUa received a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/U8ajZ6ryF4
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) March 8, 2022

It may seem cornball pandering to some of us, but keep in mind that Ukraine actually is going through the exact same thing as "The Blitz" and it's still about where the continent goes and what it becomes, not some far off continent.

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 12:58pm

interesting Yglesias Twitter discussion thread on the religious angle, starts here

New tensions around Russia give an opportunity to specifically test Huntington's forecast that divisions will track a "civilizational" divide between Orthodox Christians and Protestant/Catholic Europe.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) March 7, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 1:08pm

About 500 Canadian volunteers arrived to Kyiv to fight alongside Ukrainian soldiers and more are on the way. Ukraine command has decided to form a separate unit just for Canadians. #Canada #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar
— MilitaryLand.net (@Militarylandnet) March 8, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 5:19pm

They got a convoy in Ireland, too, just different:

#VIDEO Largest aid convoy to ever leave Ireland departs for Ukraine https://t.co/aDaHo75inH
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) March 8, 2022

by artappraiser on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 6:22pm

a couple other truck drivers in the E.U. had different approaches:

Meanwhile in Warsaw: Polish truck drivers leave a present in front of the Russian Embassy. pic.twitter.com/vS8luEElog
— Jelle Simons (@jelle_simons) March 8, 2022

A large truck has crashed through the gates of the Russian embassy in south Dublin. One man has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/35yLDfGhEd
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 7, 2022

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/09/2022 - 2:46pm

Excellent, calm and objective description in 2 1/2 minutes of how we got here, exactly how it's going to be recorded in history books (if they're good ones, not CRT colonialist ones, that is)

For anyone out there still going on about NATO’s “expansion” into Central Europe, and how this “provoked” Russia, via @TimothyDSnyder pic.twitter.com/9gJqktMPWH
— Piotr Zalewski (@p_zalewski) March 2, 2022

It must be a great experience being one of his students.

by artappraiser on Wed, 03/09/2022 - 2:38pm

Talks between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Turkey and the Russian Federation on ending Russian aggression against Ukraine have commenced in Antaliya. pic.twitter.com/LUDCClMNaQ
— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) March 10, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/10/2022 - 3:52am

This is manhood. Expressing anger, empathy, defiance and control in the face of adversity.

by Orion on Thu, 03/10/2022 - 4:10am

Warsaw central train station is now a refugee receiving center with the upper floor mostly families sleeping as they can, and the lower floor for ticketing and various services (including food).

Extraordinary scene, and I’m told it’s been this way for days on end. pic.twitter.com/u7qmXGy0Og
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) March 10, 2022

It feels chaotic, but also surprisingly warm and human. That’s a playground for the kids, who play as kids do, seemingly oblivious to the situation.

Lots of police, service workers, and volunteers. Very civil given the circumstances. pic.twitter.com/hB4swI6u3N
— Antonio García Martínez (agm.eth) (@antoniogm) March 10, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/10/2022 - 11:01am

macron after a call with putin on ukraine invasion pic.twitter.com/aFgAqHOxOf
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) March 10, 2022

by artappraiser on Thu, 03/10/2022 - 12:08pm

In the News

Russia plays weak hand in Palestine
Russia plays weak hand in Palestine

submitted by PeraclesPlease 8 months ago

The intra-Palestinian meeting in Moscow has precedent

Russia's hosted such meetings in the past, most recently Feb 2019

Russia has long lamented the US' "monopolization" of the peace process & tried to carve out a niche for itself: mediating among the disunited Palestinians/2
— Hanna Notte (@HannaNotte) February 29, 2024

Read the article at https://twitter.com/HannaNotte/status/1763116222256701787

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Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters
Mother Jones is Reaching out to Alternative Party Voters

submitted by HSG 9 months ago

Here's what I told them: https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

Read the article at https://halginsberg.com/vote-for-jill-stein-again/

2 comments

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Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes...
Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force

submitted by artappraiser 10 months ago

Controversial Brazil law curbing Indigenous rights comes into force https://t.co/pCoDg05irX
— Gareth Harris (@garethharr) December 28, 2023

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/brazil-law-indigenous-land-rights-claim-time-marker?CMP=share_btn_tw

1 comment

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Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (...
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti (December 25, 2023)

submitted by artappraiser 10 months ago

Location: U.S. Embassy and residential compounds

Events: Heavy gunfire is occuring around the area of the U.S. Embassy and residential compounds adjacent to the Trutier area of Tabarre. All Embassy personnel have been instructed to remain indoors and shelter-in-place until further notice. All others should avoid the area.

Actions to take:

Avoid the area;

Avoid demonstrations and any large gatherings of people;

Do not attempt to drive through roadblocks; and

If you encounter a roadblock, turn around and get to a safe area.

Read the article at https://ht.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-port-au-prince-haiti-december-25-2023/

3 comments

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Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis
Pakistan Is Creating the World’s Next Refugee Crisis

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

By The Editorial Board @ Bloomberg.com, December 8, 2023

A mass expulsion of Afghan migrants could destabilize the region and fuel radicalization. The West should pressure Islamabad to change course.

Read the article at https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-12-08/pakistan-s-expulsion-of-afghan-refugees-risks-another-crisis

6 comments

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Internet shut down in Chad
Internet shut down in Chad

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

All eyes on #Chad right now
Chad has two internet trunks coming into the country: One from the Red Sea via Sudan; the other from Cameroon. Not possible for the totality of the country's internet network to be shut unless done centrally. A lot of rumors swirling; few facts. https://t.co/N6bDJZ2ixO

Read the article at https://x.com/_hudsonc/status/1732891968709992511?s=20

2 comments

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[Economy] where Joe's success falls short
[Economy] where Joe's success falls short

submitted by PeraclesPlease 11 months ago

Read the article at

3 comments

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[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across...
[CRIME News] 3 loss-prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

BREAKING: Three loss prevention employees in Macy’s across the street from Philadelphia City Hall stabbed, one of them has died from stab wounds, @PhillyPolice sources tell me. Police converged on the store as the three workers were rushed to Jefferson Hospital. pic.twitter.com/4U1eKycL4W

Read the article at https://x.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1731713272942940365?s=20

38 comments

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Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As...
Former U.S. Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Former US Ambassador Arrested, Charged With Working As Secret Agent For Cuba https://t.co/LDwo4ZJI1K
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) December 4, 2023

Read the article at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/manuel-rocha-ambassador-arrested-cuba_n_656d1e2ae4b028b0f3d07478

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[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny
[War in Israel, Chapter II] UNRWA under scrutiny

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

[Chapter I news is HERE, Oct. 7 til today]

You don’t get it.
It’s not about an UNRWA teacher who held an Israeli kid hostage in his house.
It’s all about how for 75 years you have destroyed the future of generations of Palestinians, including my family.
My cousins in Arab countries are still not citizens - not even the… https://t.co/nv6anubGhc
— George Deek (@GeorgeDeek) December 2, 2023

Note 'Community Notes' attached to UNWRA's statement.

Read the article at https://x.com/GeorgeDeek/status/1731020551328579863?s=20

58 comments

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Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From...
Maduro, Under Pressure, Holds Vote to Annex Territory From a Neighbor

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

Imperialism for me but not for thee?

It's wild that Venezuela is now holding a vote on whether 2/3 of Guyana actually belongs to them! Analysts suggest that Modoru may want military action to pump up his sinking popularity.

Could we have a war in South America?!?

"The people who live in Essequibo are largely… pic.twitter.com/QvMEjkkgwy

Read the article at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/world/americas/maduro-vote-essequibo-guyana.html

6 comments

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[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House...
[Where is the GOP headed?] Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

The lack of a cohesive delegation has allowed attention-seeking lawmakers to act on their own.

McCarthy: “You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail…”

Gaetz: “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.”https://t.co/LctPuz6Pcf

Read the article at https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/29/divisions-leave-floridas-house-republicans-powerless-00129200

10 comments

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‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-...
‘She got so mad at me’: book on the ‘Squad’ details AOC-Pelosi clashes

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

By Martinn Pengelly in Washington DC for TheGuardian.com, Nov. 30

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells Ryan Grim life in Congress ‘completely transformed’ after Democratic leader stepped down

Read the article at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/30/squad-book-aoc-nancy-pelosi?CMP=share_btn_tw

15 comments

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US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source
US health insurers Humana, Cigna in talks to merge -source

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

@ Reuters, Nov. 29

Read the article at https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-health-insurers-humana-cigna-talks-merge-wsj-2023-11-29/

3 comments

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Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-...
Central Africa’s dinosaur regimes and the art of coup-proofing

submitted by artappraiser 11 months ago

"Both the AU and the intl community place more weight on whether elections are held than whether they are free and fair. Sanctions/expulsions occur when there is a coup but not necessarily when elections are rigged or if an “institutional coup” occurs." https://t.co/m9dNimJP0D
— Cameron Hudson (@_hudsonc) November 28, 2023

Read the article at https://africanarguments.org/2023/11/central-africas-dinosaur-regimes-and-the-art-of-coup-proofing/

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