Links — 18 Feb 2022 PM

CaitlinJohnstone.com
The US Has Zero Moral Authority: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix
Caitlin Johnstone
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/02/18/the-us-has-zero-moral-authority-notes-from-the-edge-of-the-narrative-matrix/
 
Reminiscence of the Future
Before Making Conclusions...
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/before-making-conclusions.html

Consortium News
Russia Begins Preparing for Refugees From Donbass

Joe Lauria

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/18/russia-begins-preparing-for-refugees-from-donbass/

Donetsk News Agency (DPR)
DPR plans to evacuate 700,000 people to Russia

https://dan-news.info/en/law-order/dpr-plans-to-evacuate-700000-people-to-russia/

Anti-Bellum

Pentagon, NATO, NATO Military Committee chiefs meet with Georgian DM
Rick Rozoff
https://antibellum679354512.wordpress.com/2022/02/18/pentagon-nato-nato-military-committee-chiefs-meet-with-georgian-dm/

Fighting Intensifies In East Ukraine, Donetsk Leader Orders Evacuation
Kyle Anzalone

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/18/fighting-intensifies-in-east-ukraine-donetsk-leader-orders-evacuation/

Ukraine DM: Low Probability of Major Escalation With Russia

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/18/ukraine-dm-low-probability-of-major-escalation-with-russia/

SouthFront (SouthFront is one the best places to keep up with the status of conflicts)
War In Ukraine Begins

https://southfront.org/war-in-ukraine-begins/

Ukrainian Army Continues Massive Shelling of Donetsk and Luhansk.

https://southfront.org/ukrainian-army-continues-massive-shelling-of-donetsk-and-luhansk/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)

Moscow May Deploy Forces to Latin American Bases if Security Talks With US Fail, Duma Lawmaker Says

https://sputniknews.com/20220218/moscow-may-deploy-forces-to-latin-american-bases-if-security-talks-with-us-fail-duma-lawmaker-says-1093157403.html

Lavrov: Russia ‘Alarmed’ by Escalation of Shelling, Use of Arms Banned by Minsk Accords in Donbass (notice "Minsk accords." This is Russia's mantra.)

https://sputniknews.com/20220218/russia-has-info-that-mercs-from-kosovo-albania-and-bosnia-being-sent-to-donbass-lavrov-says-1093138695.html

The Hill (US allies say to forget it)

White House: Kicking Russia out of SWIFT unlikely to be in initial sanctions package
Alex Gangitano

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/594961-white-house-kicking-russia-out-of-swift-unlikely-to-be-in-initial

Defend Democracy
Is the Confrontation Over Ukraine Joe Biden’s “Wag the Dog” Moment? (American exceptionalism)
Andrew J. Bacevich
Originally published at The Nation

Russian defense chief sends warning message to US, NATO with visit to Syria
http://www.defenddemocracy.press/russian-defense-chief-sends-warning-message-to-us-nato-with-visit-to-syria/

Russia to provide response to Ukraine should it attack or kill Russian citizens (condition on which Russia will respond. Otherwise, forget about it.)

http://www.defenddemocracy.press/russia-to-provide-response-to-ukraine-should-it-attack-or-kill-russian-citizens/

Any missile launch may be perceived as nuclear strike amid tensions — Deputy Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Mikhail Popov
http://www.defenddemocracy.press/any-missile-launch-may-be-perceived-as-nuclear-strike-amid-tensions/

Business Standard (India) (messaging)
Putin to oversee nuclear drills on Saturday during standoff over Ukraine

https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/putin-to-oversee-nuclear-drills-on-saturday-during-standoff-over-ukraine-122021800760_1.html

RT (US denies)
As an ex-US intelligence officer, I believe an American sub did violate Russian waters

Scott Ritter

https://www.rt.com/news/549914-us-submarine-russian-waters

POLITICO (monsters under the bed)
Ukraine and West see false flags flying as pro-Russian separatists urge civilian evacuation
David M. Herszenhorn

The Week (desperation?)
Russia has lists of prominent Ukrainian figures to arrest or kill should Moscow invade, U.S. officials say
BRIGID KENNEDY
https://theweek.com/russia/1010377/russia-has-lists-of-prominent-ukrainian-figures-to-arrest-or-kill-should-moscow

Independent (well-documented Ukie attacks are "false flags"? Really?)

Ukraine: ‘Bombing’ in separatist Donetsk fuels Western fears Russia triggering war with false flag attacks
Kim Sengupta

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donetsk-car-bomb-russia-ukraine-b2018567.html

Russian and Eurasian Politics
Washington’s Truly Feckless Operation ‘Boost Sagging Joe’s Ratings’ and the March to War
Gordon M. Hahn | Expert Analyst at Corr Analytics, 

http://www.canalyt.com and a Senior Researcher at the Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (CETIS), Akribis Group
https://gordonhahn.com/2022/02/18/washingtons-truly-feckless-operation-boost-sagging-joes-ratings-and-the-march-to-war/