Clown College as the Ukrainian military effort “sputters”

Here is a video of the 6 APCs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGW_wXRdDMY. I’m not sure that “then commandeered by heavily armed men wearing military-style uniforms” is an accurate assessment what happened. Also, “mob” isn’t how I would describe the civilians. But then I guess Kiev is going to try to put as good a face on the situation as it can.

This Comment is from MOON OF ALABAMA and is important & consistent with my observation.

MOON OF ALABAMA – Posted by: VietnamVet | Apr 16, 2014 7:45:01 PM | 72

“In all my years, and I remember from Korea War on, I have never have seen the propaganda so obvious and so completely divorced from reality. Comments here and in response to The New York Times editorials on their web site are clear that I am not the only one.

The manipulations of Victorian Nuland and Pierre Omidyar are senseless. The destabilization of nuclear armed Russia and China is playing dice with Armageddon.

In my last years of work, the guy in the cubical next to mine belonged to the Ukraine Orthodox Church. He was loud, friendly, and very quick to anger. I hope all Ukrainians wear the Ribbon of Saint George celebrating their victory in World War II and united tell the Western Barbarians to go home.”

Posted by: VietnamVet | Apr 16, 2014 7:45:01 PM | 72

Don’t know, but apparently, whatever they are paid, it’s hard to get them to murder fellow citizens at the behest of foreign powers…perhaps they need to think more “globally” and get past their “xenophobia”.

US media coverage is becoming increasingly buffoonish. Holly Williams asked one of the “masked men” who he was (he said he was “a person”) and why he was wearing a mask (which he said was “a stupid question”). I was surprised they aired that part. I think Ms. Williams was under the impression that the exchange reflected poorly on him rather than on her, not realizing that he was correct. Scott Pelley said something in passing about events “since Putin snatched Crimea.”

They aired an interview with Obama, who accused Putin of “active support of armed militias in a sovreign nation in violation of international law.” A map of Syria on the wall in the background would have made that scene perfect, since we not only do that in Syria, we actually brag about doing it.

Hmm….. an armed rabble evicting the representatives of the national government from property of that national government. I’m confused: is the “Praetorian Guard” in Nevada officially part of the Russian military or not?

I just clicked past CNN and had to pause for awhile, Geoffrey Pyatt (the US ambassador to Ukraine and erstwhile Victoria Nuland compatriot) is pushing the pamphlet being spread by “pro-Russian forces” very hard and from other news blurbs it looks like John Kerry is at least temporarily pushing this new “pro-Russians as anti-Semites” as well.

Maybe Obama’s minions, Pyatt, Nuland and Kerry could set up a death camp and paint USSR over the entrance and then invite the press to see truly Russians are? Heck, they have experienced NAZI’s in their US led coup cabal…it should be a snap.

I am sure it will go over better than their sarin gas attack did in Syria. Trying to start another bombing campaign with a leaflet might be harder for our Potomac pols, but at least it’s less of a war crime….which makes it the “lesser of two evils” and that’s what keeps Obama supporters cheering for their man.

The contrived Ukraine crisis has been most instructive and has validated completely a thesis I’ve been developing via observations and research for several years now. Both the hard “Left” and the hard “Right” in their hatred of all things American (what America is today) have embraced other brands of Authoritarianism around the globe (to include the CPC, Putin’s Russia and the Council of Guardians in Iran) utilizing the principle “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

I consider the partiality in leveling criticism treasonous and traitorous. Carrying water for Putin and hiding behind his prodigious apron strings is cowardice. If you can’t stand up to ‘Empire” without hiding behind another form of Tyrannical Authoritarianism, you are a traitor to any effort to free us all.

Now we know who the traitors are, once and for all. I, for one, will not lend a hand when you’re gathered up. You’ve dug your grave and turned your back on freedom.

I’m not talking about Ian here. I see him as an equal opportunity critic who hasn’t necessarily embraced tyranny in his case against tyranny, but the majority of those who comment here are absolute treasonous traitors and by virtue of this latest crisis are naked in their Authoritarianism for all to see.

My next blog post will be Dmitry Orzo–Go Home, And Take The Rest of The Traitors With You

Anyway, if this crisis were real, the West could easily bring Putin to heel, but it would cost them. Follow the Money.

Call The Bluff

Some good stuff over at the Vinyard:

Vlad addresses US attempts to punish Russia’s moves that countered Obama’s coup of a democratically elected government…a government that had elections schedule within the year.

Q: “If the West refuses to purchase gas from Russia, how will that affect people’s well-being, especially that of pensioners?” – Lyudmila Budarina, Tambov Region.

A: VLADIMIR PUTIN: I have to say that oil and gas revenues make up a large part of the Russian budget revenue. This is a serious component for us in addressing economic development, budget funding for our development programmes and, of course, and meeting of our social commitments to our citizens.

I’ll tell you what. I am not sure that I’ll get the figures right, but, if my memory serves me correctly, the bulk of oil and gas revenue comes not from gas but from oil. In terms of the dollar equivalent, our oil revenues last year amounted to $191-194 billion and gas revenues to about $28 billion. See the difference? 191 from oil and 28 from gas.

Oil is sold on world markets. Is there any way to do us harm? One may try. But what would be the result for those who would attempt to do it? First of all, how would this be done? Of all the countries in the world, only Saudi Arabia has the real potential to increase production and thus bring down world prices. Saudi Arabia’s budget assumes a price of $85-$90 per thousand cubic metres.

Q: KIRILL KLEYMENOV: President Obama has already visited them.

A: VLADIMIR PUTIN: I’m sorry, I meant oil, not gas. The budget assumes a price of $85-$90 per barrel, and our budget, I think, $90. So, if one goes below $85, Saudi Arabia will be on the losing end and have problems. For us a drop from $90 to $85 is not critical. That is first.

Second, we are on very good terms with Saudi Arabia. We may, for example, differ in terms of our views on Syria, but we practically have identical positions on the development of the situation in Egypt. There are many other things where we see eye-to-eye.

I have great respect for the custodian of the two Muslim shrines, the King of Saudi Arabia. He is a very clever and balanced man. I don’t think that our Saudi friends would make any abrupt changes to harm themselves and the Russian economy.

Furthermore, they are members of OPEC, where we have many supporters. It is not that they have sympathy for us, but that they have their own economic interests and sharply reducing production – which can only be done in a manner agreed upon within OPEC – is a fairly complicated business.

Finally, in the United States, which is developing shale gas and shale oil production, production costs are very high. These are expensive projects. If world prices tumble, these projects may turn out to be unprofitable, loss-making and the nascent industry may simply die.
And one last point. Oil is priced and traded in the world in dollars. If prices fall, demand for dollars will plummet and the dollar will start losing its significance as a world currency. There are very many factors involved. The wish to bite us is there, but the opportunities are limited. That said, some damage can be caused.

Now about gas. We sell gas by pipeline (most of our sales are by pipeline) mainly to the European countries that depend on Russian supplies to cover about 30-35, 34 percent of their needs. Can they stop buying Russian gas altogether? I don’t think that this is possible.

Some of our neighbours, very good neighbours with which we have very sound relations, such as, for example, Finland…Finland gets 90 percent of its gas from Russia. Some countries that used to be called People’s Democracies in Eastern Europe depend on Russian gas if not for 90 percent, then for 60, 50 or 70 percent of their needs.

Can supplies be stopped altogether? I think that this is totally unrealistic. But one can do this at one’s own cost, by hurting oneself. However, I cannot imagine such a situation. Therefore, of course, everyone is keen on diversifying their sources of supplies. Europe is talking about greater independence from Russia as a supplier, and similarly we are beginning to talk and act to become less dependent on our consumers.

However, so far, there is a measure of balance between consumers and suppliers. The only problem is transit countries. And the most dangerous part, of course, is transit via Ukraine with which we have tremendous difficulties in agreeing on energy problems. But I hope that we will be able to bring things back to normal, considering the contracts that have been signed and are functioning.”

Proof ‘n Pudding comment has bad link, try again:

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user3303/imageroot/2014/04/20140411_costs.png

I gotta give Holefield credit for one thing.

“The Prodigious Apron Strings” would be a great name for a rock band.