Expect a New Wave of Supply Chain Headaches with Ukraine Crisis, Bevy of Other Issues — Christopher S. Tang

Making things worse, Ukraine is a critical supplier of neon and argon used in chipmaking. Ukraine produces 70% of the world’s supply of neon. Neon is used in lithography, which is a crucial step in the chip production process. Argon is used in etching, which is needed for producing semiconductors. Besides Ukraine, Russia supplies 35% of the U.S.’s palladium, a rare metal that is used for semiconductor production.

The Russia invasion of Ukraine will disrupt semiconductor production in the United States and beyond. Finding alternative supplies of neon gas and palladium will also take time. Some suppliers are developing ways to recycle neon and other materials as a stopgap solution.

Ultimately, these material supply disruptions will prolong the shortages of many products, creating a perfect storm for escalating inflation worldwide....

Industry Week
Expect a New Wave of Supply Chain Headaches with Ukraine Crisis, Bevy of Other Issues
Christopher S. Tang | University Distinguished Professor and Edward W. Carter chair in business administration at the UCLA Anderson School of Management

https://www.industryweek.com/supply-chain/article/21234730/expect-a-new-wave-of-supply-chain-headaches-with-ukraine-crisis-bevy-of-other-issues

Links — 28 Feb 2022 Part 3

AntiWar (so there you have it)
White House Official Says US Can Focus on Two Theaters as It Did in WWII

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/28/white-house-official-says-us-can-focus-on-two-theaters-as-it-did-in-wwii/

Eurasia Review
Battle For Ukraine: Why India Refuses To Join Morality Parade – OpEd
Lim Teck Ghee
https://www.eurasiareview.com/28022022-battle-for-ukraine-why-india-refuses-to-join-morality-parade-oped/

MSN ("We are not going to have a military war with Russia with US troops.")
Psaki rules out 'no-fly zone' over Ukraine because it could lead to war between the US and Russia

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/psaki-rules-out-no-fly-zone-over-ukraine-because-it-could-lead-to-war-between-the-us-and-russia/ar-AAUqy60

AntiWar
White House Rules Out Imposing a ‘No-Fly Zone’ Over Ukraine

Dave DeCamp

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/28/white-house-rules-out-imposing-a-no-fly-zone-over-ukraine/

TASS (Russian state media)
Russia had information Kiev prepared operation against Donbass - Russian UN envoy

https://tass.com/politics/1413635

AntiWar
Many Viral TikTok Videos of Ukraine War Are Fake

Eric Garris

https://www.antiwar.com/blog/2022/02/27/many-viral-tiktok-videos-of-ukraine-war-are-fake/

Asia Times
SWIFT sanctions on Russia are largely symbolic

Alistair Mine

https://asiatimes.com/2022/03/swift-sanctions-on-russia-are-largely-symbolic/

Z Inflation Problem — Stephanie Kelton

Causes of inflation in the US.

The Lens
Z Inflation Problem
Stephanie Kelton | Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stony Brook University, formerly Democrats' chief economist on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and an economic adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders

Dividing the World Economy = Economic Decline — Martin Armstrong

While disagreeing with Martin Armstrong on many matters, he is often spot on with respect to geopolitics, like some others on the right. 

Armstrong Economics
Dividing the World Economy = Economic Decline
Martin Armstrong

Branko Milanović – The beginning of a new globalisation

Globalisation, as we knew it — until the pandemic — was asymmetric. Capital was able to move almost seamlessly, while workers were generally corralled in the countries where they lived.

This increased mobility of capital, compared with the post-war decades before this phase of globalisation, was made possible by improvements in banking technology and much more flexible rules (‘open capital accounts’) on transferring capital abroad. But perhaps most important was the expectation that one could invest in far-away destinations without significant risk that the assets would be expropriated or nationalised.

The new globalisation taking shape looks asymmetric too, but exactly the reverse of the old. Labour will become increasingly global, while movements of capital will be fragmented. How did this come about?...

Brave New Europe
Branko Milanović – The beginning of a new globalisation

Branko Milanovic | Visiting Presidential Professor at City University of New York Graduate Center and senior scholar at the Stone Center on Socio-economic Inequality, senior scholar at the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS), and formerly lead economist in the World Bank's research department and senior associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Zero Hedge — Jamie Dimon Warns SWIFT Sanctions May Bring Unintended Consequences, Can Be Circumvented

Unintended consequences — in the first place, as a result of not thinking things through, and secondly, owing to the impossibility of thinking things entirely through since the financial system is not only complicated but also complex, that is, financial instruments like derivatives are synergistic, and there are knock-on effects.

Zero Hedge
Jamie Dimon Warns SWIFT Sanctions May Bring Unintended Consequences, Can Be Circumvented
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/jamie-dimon-warns-swift-sanctions-may-bring-unintended-consequences-can-be-circumvented

Related at ZH

The 'Adults In Charge' Have Bumbled Us Into A New Cold War (this is the most complete succinct analysis of the ramification of driving Russia and China together, resulting in a "geostrategic blunder of historic proportions."

Jim Daws via American Thinker 

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/adults-charge-have-bumbled-us-new-cold-war

Links — 28 Feb 2022 Part 2

India Punchline
Ukraine makes strange bedfellows
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service

https://www.indianpunchline.com/ukraine-makes-strange-bedfellows/

The Vineyard of the Saker
Open letter to TV watching western armchair generals
The Saker

http://thesaker.is/open-letter-to-tv-watching-western-armchair-generals/

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Bulgarian defense minister fired over Ukraine comments
https://www.rt.com/news/550891-bulgaria-fires-defense-chief/

No plans to occupy Ukraine, Russia tells UN

https://www.rt.com/russia/550889-nebenzia-unga-ukraine-occupation/

Zero Hedge
"They Actually Want Russia To Invade" - Beijing Slams Biden For Allegedly Provoking Putin
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/they-actually-want-russia-invade-ccp-spox-slams-biden-provoking-putin

People's Dispatch
Political economy of the conflict in Ukraine
C Saratchand

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/02/28/political-economy-of-the-conflict-in-ukraine/

The Hill (got that? Nothing to see here, keep on moving.)
Biden: Public shouldn't worry about nuclear war with Russia

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/596160-biden-public-shouldnt-worry-about-nuclear-war-with-russia

Middle East Eye ("Putler")
Jonathan Cook: Russia-Ukraine war: A different invasion, the West’s same ‘madman’ script
https://braveneweurope.com/jonathan-cook-russia-ukraine-war-a-different-invasion-the-wests-same-madman-script

TASS (Russian state media)
EU structures involved in arms supplies to Ukraine to be responsible for consequences

https://tass.com/politics/1413609

Quartz
The world’s biggest cargo planes are reliant on spare parts from Ukraine
Nicolás Rivero

https://qz.com/2135090/war-in-ukraine-could-ground-the-worlds-biggest-cargo-jets/

Dissident Voice
RAND Corporation Urged Creation of the Horrors You’re Seeing in Ukraine
David Swanson

https://dissidentvoice.org/2022/02/rand-corporation-urged-creation-of-the-horrors-youre-seeing-in-ukraine/

Info BRICS
The Emergence of the China-Russia Consensus in the Middle East
Tom O’Connor
http://infobrics.org/post/35237/

Ukraine escalates fake news in attempt to maintain morale

http://infobrics.org/post/35242/

Vox (meanwhile)
The world is already hitting its limits of adapting to climate change
Umair Irfan

https://www.vox.com/22951182/climate-change-report-ipcc-un-adaptation-warming

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Sanctions on Russia — NeilW

Nothing is more depressing to somebody who understands Modern Monetary Theory than watching supposedly intelligent people make catastrophic decisions based entirely upon a misunderstanding of how banks work and international trade is conducted.

Let me try to explain why sanctions on Russia are unlikely to have the desired effect and are, once again, performative theatre for domestic consumption. Talking tough, rather than acting tough.

Russia doesn’t need our money

Russia has its own currency - the ruble. That means when Vlad needs to buy a tank he orders the Russian Central Bank to debit the Russian Treasury account at the central bank and transfer that to the supplier of the tank. That’s all he needs to do - forever and for as much as he wants to do that.

New Wayland

The Unreasonable Ineffectiveness of Sanctions on Russia

NeilW

https://new-wayland.com/blog/the-unreasonable-ineffectiveness-of-sanctions-on-russia/

Links — 28 Feb 2022 Part 1

Consortium News (not an idle threat but a signal of what is coming if NATO encroaches)
Putin’s Nuclear Threat

Scott Ritter, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, serving in the Soviet Union as an inspector implementing the INF Treaty, on General Schwarzkopf’s staff during the Gulf War, and from 1991-1998 as a UN weapons inspector

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/27/putins-nuclear-threat/

Reminiscence of the Future (see the comments, too. There is a machine translation of Col. Trukhan there.)
Read Real Experts.
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/read-real-experts.html

Something Seemingly Irrelevant, But...

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/something-seemingly-irrelevant-but.html

Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

Dances with Bears (Glazyev is probably closest to MMT in the Russian economic policy establishment but he is not there yet. His star is rising now.)
BLACK BOX DEFENCE FOR THE RUSSIAN ECONOMY – DOLLAR DEBT REPAYMENTS BLOCKED; GAS AND OIL DELIVERIES TO GERMANY STOPPED; OLIGARCH ASSETS NATIONALIZED
Sergei Glazyev, translated and introduced by John Helmer, Moscow

The Vineyard of the Saker (Russia and China seriously need to up their information game to compete with the US in information space)

Day 4 of the Russian offensive in the Ukraine

http://thesaker.is/day-4-of-the-russian-offensive-in-the-ukraine/

Russian MFA: Vassily Nebenzia’s explanation of vote
The Saker
http://thesaker.is/russian-mfa-vassily-nebenzias-explanation-of-vote/

A chance for Poland to regain its long lost territories?
Batko Milacic for the Saker Blog
http://thesaker.is/a-chance-for-poland-to-regain-its-long-lost-territories/

Politics of the Ukraine – Past and future possibilities

Straight Bat

http://thesaker.is/politics-of-the-ukraine-past-and-future-possibilities/

TASS (Russian state media)
DPR forces completing encircling Mariupol — Russian defense ministry
https://tass.com/politics/1413295

Referendum in Belarus held without violations, observers deem vote valid
https://tass.com/world/1413291

Kremlin says Russia systematically prepared to possible sanctions, including tightest ones

https://tass.com/economy/1413241

Middle East Eye
'Ukrainian girl confronting a Russian soldier' is actually Palestine's Ahed Tamimi
Nur Ayoubi
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/russia-ukraine-war-girl-confronting-ahed-tamimi-palestine

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Indian Minister Calls Out Western Media for Pervasive Racial Coverage of Russia-NATO Row
Rishikesh Kumar
https://sputniknews.com/20220228/indian-minister-calls-out-western-media-for-pervasive-racial-coverage-of-russia-nato-row-1093444780.html

Russian Nuclear Triad Takes Up Standby Alert Duty With Reinforced Staff, Shoigu Tells Putin

https://sputniknews.com/20220228/russian-nuclear-triad-begins-combat-duty-with-reinforced-staff-shoigu-tells-putin-1093446860.html

Zero Hedge (Taiwan on the edge of the abyss now?)

Biden Dispatches Former Top Defense Officials To Taiwan After China Said "It's Not Ukraine"
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/biden-dispatches-former-top-defense-officials-taiwan-after-china-said-its-not-ukraine

The Independent (UK)
Trump claims there would be low gas prices and no Russia war in Ukraine if not for ‘rigged’ election
Oliver O'Connell

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-russia-ukraine-energy-b2024992.html

RT (Russian state-sponsored media)
Russia blames UK FM for elevated nuclear alert
https://www.rt.com/russia/550868-liz-truss-nuclear-alert

London takes back 'Putin regime change' claim (staring at being nuked?)

https://www.rt.com/russia/550879-uk-sanctions-regime-change

Sanders-linked US group blasts NATO’s ‘imperialist expansion’ – The Democratic Socialists of America claimed the US and NATO “set the stage for this conflict
https://www.rt.com/news/550837-democratic-socialists-nato-expansion-ukraine/

China comments on Western sanctions against Russia

https://www.rt.com/news/550841-china-comments-russia-western-sanctions

North Korea tests satellite surveillance system

https://www.rt.com/news/550812-north-korea-satellite-test/

Asia Times
Russia’s strangulation plan taking hold in Ukraine

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/russias-strangulation-plan-taking-hold-in-ukraine/

Zero Hedge — Goldman Says Gold Is The Currency Of Last Resort; Trumps Treasuries As Haven-Of-Choice

On net, Goldman expects gold to maintain the cleanest positive correlation to the current geopolitical tensions, and serve as the most efficient hedge of last resort against them.

It's baack! 😀

Zero Hedge
Goldman Says Gold Is The Currency Of Last Resort; Trumps Treasuries As Haven-Of-Choice
Tyler Durden

America Defeats Germany for the Third Time in a Century: The MIC, BARE and OGAM Conquer NATO — Michael Hudson

Michael Hudson has been explaining what is going on with respect to Ukraine, Germany, and Europe for a long time.  He got it pretty much right all along.

Naked Capitalism
America Defeats Germany for the Third Time in a Century: The MIC, BARE and OGAM Conquer NATO
Michael Hudson | President of The Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends (ISLET), a Wall Street Financial Analyst, Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and Guest Professor at Peking University
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/02/america-defeats-germany-for-the-third-time-in-a-century-the-mic-bare-and-ogam-conquer-nato.html

Comments On "MMT And Policy Assignment..." — Brian Romanchuk

Arslan Razmi has released a working paper “MMT and Policy Assignment in an Open Economy Context: Simplicity is Useful, Oversimplifcation Not So Much.” It is a 27 page paper running through stability analysis of post-Keynesian models that allegedly tell us something about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). In addition to having a condescending tone (as seen in the title of the paper), the analysis within the paper is not particularly impressive. In my view, Razmi has set up a straw man argument and then thrashes it vigorously. I have seen similar post-Keynesian articles in the past, so I did not spend much time digging into the details.Arslan Razmi has released a working paper “MMT and Policy Assignment in an Open Economy Context: Simplicity is Useful, Oversimplifcation Not So Much.” It is a 27 page paper running through stability analysis of post-Keynesian models that allegedly tell us something about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). In addition to having a condescending tone (as seen in the title of the paper), the analysis within the paper is not particularly impressive. In my view, Razmi has set up a straw man argument and then thrashes it vigorously. I have seen similar post-Keynesian articles in the past, so I did not spend much time digging into the details....

Bond Economics
Comments On "MMT And Policy Assignment..."
Brian Romanchuk

BBC - NATO’S Expansion Since 1997

 

Bill Mitchell — External border closures in Australia reduced the unemployment rate by around 2.7 points

The debate continues as to whether the population growth slowdown instigated by the Covid border restrictions imposed by the Federal government has been responsible for the rapid decline in the unemployment rate in Australia. The mainstream view is that migration is good for the economy and adds more in net terms to overall spending (and labour demand) than the extra workers add to labour supply, meaning that it does not put upward pressure on the unemployment rate. I have always contested that view – as a general statement. The reality is that depending on the stage of the cycle and the strength of labour demand, the rate at which new entrants enter the labour force, and the size of the unemployment pool at any point in time, immigration can undermine the employment prospects of local workers. Based on some reasonable estimates, if the external border had not been closed, the unemployment rate would be around 6.9 per cent now, rather than the official rate of 4.2 per cent. The rapidity of the recovery in the unemployment rate is due to the border closures and that should condition appropriate visa policies....

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
External border closures in Australia reduced the unemployment rate by around 2.7 points
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Links — 27 Feb 2022 Part 4

Asia Times
Russia’s strategy to destroy Ukraine army going to plan
David P Goldman

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/russias-strategy-to-destroy-ukraine-army-going-to-plan/
 
ECNS (Chinese state-sponsored media)
Explanation of Vote by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the UN Security Council on the Resolution on Ukraine

CGTN

http://www.ecns.cn/news/politics/2022-02-28/detail-ihawawkt8343580.shtml

Yahoo Finance
Bank of Russia Resumes Gold Buying After Two Years on Sidelines

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-russia-resumes-gold-buying-190114643.html

Al Jazeera (Qatari)
Belarus holds referendum to renounce non-nuclear status

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/27/belarus-holds-referendum-to-renounce-non-nuclear-status

TASS (Russian state-sponsored media)
Russian Investigative Committee opens cases into civilian deaths in Donbass

https://tass.com/russia/1412019

Sputnik International
Moscow: Strasbourg Ignored Killing of Civilians by Ukrainian Death Squads in Donbass for 8 Years
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/moscow-strasbourg-ignored-killing-of-civilians-by-ukrainian-death-squads-in-donbass-for-8-years-1093397755.html

Tulsi Gabbard Rips Into 'Power Elite', the 'Biden-Clinton-Neocon-Neolib Foreign Policy' at CPAC
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/tulsi-gabbard-rips-into-power-elite-the-biden-clinton-neocon-neolib-foreign-policy-at-cpac-1093393495.html

Over 65% of Belarusian Citizens Vote in Favor of Constitutional Amendments

https://sputniknews.com/20220228/over-65-of-belarusian-citizens-vote-in-favor-of-constitutional-amendments-1093433920.html

Chechen Leader Mocks EU With Mirror Sanctions, Including One Acknowledging There Is 'No English Tea'

https://sputniknews.com/20220228/chechen-leader-mocks-eu-with-mirror-sanctions-including-one-acknowledging-there-is-no-english-tea-1093433356.html

SouthFront

2022 UN Collapse

https://southfront.org/2022-un-collapse/

Zero Hedge (not the Onion 😄)
FEMA: In Case Of Nuclear Explosion, Maintain Social Distancing And Wear A Mask
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/fema-case-nuclear-explosion-maintain-social-distancing-and-wear-mask

Business Standard (India)
India skips resolution to call for UN General Assembly session on Ukraine

https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/india-skips-resolution-to-call-for-un-general-assembly-session-on-ukraine-122022800072_1.html

Links — 27 Feb 2022 Part 3

Global Times (Chinese state-funded media)
China clarifies neutral stance as Russia, Ukraine poised for talks

Yang Sheng and Xu Yelu

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253364.shtml

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)

Chinese embassy points to ‘real threat to the world’

https://www.rt.com/news/550736-chinese-embassy-points-real-threat/

Zero Hedge
Pozsar Warns Of Another "Lehman Weekend" As Russia Sanctions May Trigger Central Bank Liquidity Flood
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/pozsar-warns-another-lehman-weekend-russia-sanctions-may-trigger-central-bank-liquidity

Russia Central Bank Bans Selling Of Russian Securities By Foreigners

Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/russia-central-bank-bans-selling-russian-securities-foreigners

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Russia Placed Its Reserves in Countries Where EU Can't Block Them, Borrell Says

https://sputniknews.com/20220227/russia-placed-its-reserves-in-countries-where-eu-cant-block-them-borrell-says-1093430361.html

Armstrong Economics

The Foolishness of Sanctions

Martin Armstrong

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/russia/the-foolishness-of-sanctions/

'Question All Of It' - The Current Western Propaganda For Ukraine Is Epic In Scale
'Sundance' via TheConservativeTreeHouse.com

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/question-all-it-current-western-propaganda-ukraine-epic-scale

Glenn Greenwald

War Propaganda About Ukraine Becoming More Militaristic, Authoritarian, and Reckless

https://greenwald.substack.com/p/war-propaganda-about-ukraine-becoming

Defend Democracy Press

Russia-Ukraine war: These videos of the invasion are actually from the Middle East

Rayhan Uddin

http://www.defenddemocracy.press/russia-ukraine-war-these-videos-of-the-invasion-are-actually-from-the-middle-east/

The Hill
World Bank president warns of global financial consequences from Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Joseph Choi

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/596039-world-bank-president-warns-of-global-financial-consequences-from-russias

Politico (they are just realizing this?)
Opinion | Why the West's China Challenge Just Got a Lot Harder
Jeremy Shapiro

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/02/27/us-biden-china-russia-00012029

MR Online
The U.S. is preparing war with China and Russia at the same time
Deborah Veneziale

https://mronline.org/2022/02/27/the-u-s-is-preparing-war-with-china-and-russia-at-the-same-time/

The Guardian (The West wakes up. The bomb is baack!)
Putin’s nuclear posturing requires west to tread extremely carefully
Julian Borger in Washington
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/27/putin-nuclear-warning-requires-west-to-tread-extremely-carefully

US condemns Putin nuclear deterrence order but cautiously welcomes talks report
Oliver Laughland

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/27/ukraine-russia-us-biden-putin-zelenskiy-nuclear-deterrenceorder-talks

Independent
Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threat a distraction, says Boris Johnson
Joe Middleton

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-nuclear-threat-boris-johnson-b2024564.html

1945
Atomic Bluff? Why Putin Placed Russia’s Nuclear Forces On High Alert

John Bolton (Yes, that John Bolton)

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/02/atomic-bluff-why-putin-placed-russias-nuclear-forces-on-high-alert/

TASS
Kiev regime’s leaders to be inevitably punished - Russian Defense Ministry
https://tass.com/defense/1412703

Putin orders "special duty regime" in Russia’s deterrence forces

https://tass.com/politics/1412697

Strategic Culture Foundation
Russia-Ukraine Coverage Update: What Western Mass Media Downplays (Nazism in Ukraine)

Michael Averko

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/27/russia-ukraine-coverage-update-what-western-mass-media-downplays/

AntiWar

Diplomacy Is a Four Letter Word (February 18, 2014 — 8 years ago) 

Posted onFebruary 18, 2014

Philip Giraldi, former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer, now Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest and founding member of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

https://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2014/02/17/diplomacy-is-a-four-letter-word/

Occidental Observer

Neocons, Ukraine, Russia, and the Western Struggle for Global Hegemony

Kevin MacDonald

https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2022/02/27/philip-giraldi-on-the-neocons-ukraine-russia-and-the-oligarchs/

Orinoco Tribune

Fake News Warfare In Ukraine Conflict (+Zelensky On The Frontlines?)

https://orinocotribune.com/fake-news-warfare-in-ukraine-conflict-zelensky-on-the-frontlines/

Popular Resistance
NATO’s Atlantic Council Promoted Ukraine’s Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion

https://popularresistance.org/natos-atlantic-council-promoted-ukraines-neo-nazi-azov-battalion/

Benjamin Norton

Axios

U.S. protests Israel’s refusal to back UN resolution condemning Russia

Barak Ravid

https://www.axios.com/us-protests-israel-refusal-condemn-russia-un-db20c1ce-16d2-4782-9ab8-461105a6cce5.html

Prof John Mearsheimer - US Foreign Policy under President Biden

I quite like some of  John Mearsheimer POV. 

In his address to the IIEA, Professor Mearsheimer discusses the foreign policy agenda of the President Biden administration. He shares his insights on the likely continuities as well as differences between the Biden administration’s policies and the policies pursued by President Trump over the past four years.

https://youtu.be/KaTGGdsomf4 

Links — 27 Feb 2022 Part 2

The Vineyard of the Saker
The Situation in the Ukraine: Predictions vs. Reality
Dmitry Orlov and posted with the author’s permission
http://thesaker.is/the-situation-in-the-ukraine-predictions-vs-reality/

Quick interlude with a few quick comments

The Saker

CaitlinJohnstone.com
‘Russian Propaganda’ Is The Latest Excuse To Expand Censorship
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/02/27/russian-propaganda-is-the-latest-excuse-to-expand-censorship/

 

Armstrong Economics (disagree with Martin Armstrong's political and economic philosophy, but mostly agree with his fact-based analysis)

World War III Beginning Stages Now

Martin Armstrong

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/war/world-war-iii-beginning-stages-now/

ECB (you knew this was coming at some point. Here is the excuse.)
ECB's Lagarde Urges Immediate Crypto Regulation To Stop Putin Evading Sanctions

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ecbs-lagarde-urges-immediate-crypto-regulation-stop-putin-evading-sanctions

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
How Russia's SWIFT Ban Could Backfire on West & Pave Way for Alternative Payment Systems
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/how-russias-swift-ban-could-backfire-on-west--pave-way-for-alternative-payment-systems-1093424581.html

Independent (UK)
US says it can’t rule out Putin using chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine: ‘Nothing is off the table with this guy’ (read "US" here for "Putin"? That's how disinformation works.)
Andrew Feinberg

Al Jazeera — Opinion (Qatari government-funded)
The world is united on Ukraine, divided on America

Marwan Bishara

Eurasia Review
Ukraine: The Propaganda Wars – OpEd
Daniel McAdams
https://www.eurasiareview.com/27022022-ukraine-the-propaganda-wars-oped%ef%bf%bc/

AntiWar
Putin Orders Nuclear Forces on High Alert, Cites Western Sanctions (sanctions "an act of war"-Putting to Biden. Missiles now targeted.)

Dave DeCamp

AlterNet

This is what would happen to Earth if a nuclear war broke out between the West and Russia: experts

 Matthew Rozsa and Salon

https://www.alternet.org/2022/02/nuclear/

RT
Lukashenko describes conditions for nuclear deployment

https://www.rt.com/russia/550762-belarus-west-nuclear-russia

Politico
Pentagon wants Moscow back channels to prevent nuclear escalation
Bryan Bender

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/27/pentagon-moscow-backchannel-escalation-00012107

 

Vox (would be tantamount to a declaration of war on Russia)

A “no-fly zone” in Ukraine is a catastrophically bad idea
Zack Beauchamp

Ranier's Newletter (narrative control and information warfare)

Destabilizing Russia is the U.S. empire’s only hope for regaining what it’s just lost

Rainer Shea, Marxist-Leninist

https://rainershea.substack.com/p/destabilizing-russia-is-the-us-empires

One World (narrative and counter-narrative)
Politico Is Wrong: It’s The US-Led West, Not President Putin, Who Miscalculated
http://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2532

The Discredited Snake Island Psy-Op Exposes Ukraine’s “Hero” Propaganda (It's not discredited in the West since the counter story has not been reported)

Andrew Korybko

Turcopolier (Russia only hitting military targets, sparing civilians)
A Look Back–How Long Did it Take the Nazis to Capture Ukraine?

Larry Johnson

Strategic Culture Foundation
Why Russia Wanted Security Guarantees From the West

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/27/why-russia-wanted-security-guarantees-from-west/

The Cradle
UN sanctions on Iraq lifted after payment of final reparation for Kuwait invasion

https://thecradle.co/Article/news/7290

 

Links — 27 Feb 2022 Part 1

Reminiscence of the Future
About SWIFT and Russia's Central Bank.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/about-swift-and-russias-central-bank.html

India Punchline
German military on the rebound
https://www.indianpunchline.com/german-military-on-the-rebound/

India shouldn’t miss world war pointer

https://www.indianpunchline.com/india-shouldnt-miss-world-war-pointer/

M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service

Strategic Culture Foundation (US-alleged Russian intel sponsored media)
The ‘Constructive Destruction’ of Russia’s Model of Relations with the West
Alastair Crooke | founder and director of the Conflicts Forum, and former British diplomat and senior figure in British intelligence and in European Union diplomacy

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/27/constructive-destruction-of-russia-model-of-relations-with-west/

Moon of Alabama
Disarming Ukraine - Day 4
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/disarming-ukraine-day-4.html

The MoA Week In Review - OT 2022-018 (NOT Ukraine)

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/the-moa-week-in-review-ot-2022-018-not-ukraine.html

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
How Western Press Has Kept Silent For Years on War in Donbass & Neo-Nazism in Ukraine (Control of the information space. The Western public knows nothing about this. The little that gets through is dismissed as conspiracy theory)

Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Deterrence Forces on High Alert Over Aggressive Statements by NATO
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/putin-slams-western-permissiveness-of-aggressive-speeches-in-russias-direction-by-nato-officials-1093422175.html

UK's Truss Claims Unless Russian Op in Ukraine is Stopped, It May Result in Conflict With NATO

https://sputniknews.com/20220227/uks-truss-claims-unless-russian-op-in-ukraine-is-stopped-it-may-result-in-conflict-with-nato-1093416235.html

Scholz: Germany to Build 2 LNG Terminals to Reduce Dependency on Some Energy Producers
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/scholz-germany-to-build-2-lng-terminals-to-reduce-dependency-on-some-energy-producers-1093421725.html

Putin Assures Israel's Bennett Russia Ready to Talk to Ukraine, Says Kiev Showing 'Inconsistency'
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/putin-assures-israels-bennett-russia-ready-to-talk-to-ukraine-says-kiev-showing-inconsistency-1093419609.html

Russia-Europe Gas Transit Through Ukraine to Remain at Near Maximum Capacity, Operator Says
https://sputniknews.com/20220227/russias-gazprom-continues-transit-of-gas-via-ukraine-in-regular-mode-1093418875.html

As West Slaps Another Package of Sanctions on Russia, Analyst [Dr. Raz Zimmt] Mulls Over Their Effectiveness (Iran)

Elizabeth Blade

https://sputniknews.com/20220227/as-west-slaps-another-package-of-sanctions-on-russia-analyst-mulls-over-their-effectiveness-1093412045.html

TASS (Russian state media)
China speaks out against sanctions over Ukraine

https://www.rt.com/news/550748-china-sanctions-dont-work

Western policy of sanctions leads to "third world war" - Lukashenko
https://tass.com/world/1412509

Belarus will agree to host nuclear arms, if Poland or Lithuania do so - Lukashenko
https://tass.com/world/1412493

Bank of Russia has resources to maintain stability, ensure operation of financial system
https://tass.com/economy/1412469

Financial messaging system to ensure transfer of financial messages in Russia

https://tass.com/economy/1412459

Zero Hedge
Standing Up To Putin Means Ditching Net-Zero
Rupert Darwall via RealClearEnergy.org,
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/standing-putin-means-ditching-net-zero

In "Unacceptable Escalation", Putin Orders "Nuclear Deterrence" Forces On Alert ("Brinksmanship" returns)
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-orders-nuclear-deterrence-high-alert-nato-warns-unacceptable-escalation

Putin meets with Russian defense minister and chief of general staff (The Stavka is calling teh shots now)

https://tass.com/politics/1412577

Geopolitika.ru
Russia "Weakening Project" by RAND Corporation
Pavel Kiselev

https://www.geopolitica.ru/en/article/overextending-and-unbalancing-russia-rand-corporation 

 

Links — 26 Feb 2022 PM

TASS (Russian state media)
West to sanction Russian Central Bank to block its support for ruble - US official

https://tass.com/economy/1412219

European Commission
Joint Statement on further restrictive economic measures

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_22_1423

The Vineyard of the Saker

Playing the mighty Wurlitzer vs Reality

Chris Faure for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/playing-the-mighty-wurlitzer-vs-reality/

Global Times (Chinese state media)
US’ real strategic color of selfishness, hypocrisy revealed in Ukraine crisis

Global Times editorial

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1253228.shtml

NEO (China is on to it)
US Tries to Fragment and Destroy China
Valery Kulikov

https://journal-neo.org/2022/02/27/us-tries-to-fragment-and-destroy-china/

Putin tells Biden imposing sanctions will be seen as an 'act of war'

Has WWIII started already?

Putin tells Biden imposing sanctions will be seen as an 'act of war'
Curtin University Political analyst Joe Siracusa

Links — 26 Feb 2022 AM

Sputnik International (Would the US launch WWIII to preserve hegemony?)
Biden Says Alternative to Massive Sanctions Against Russia Over Ukraine is 'Third World War'

https://sputniknews.com/20220226/biden-says-alternative-to-massive-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-is-third-world-war-1093402284.html

Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs

The Russian Way of War

Gilbert Doctorow

https://www.antiwar.com/blog/2022/02/26/gilbert-doctorow-the-russian-way-of-war/

CaitlinJohnstone.com (Ukraine is yet another US proxy war)
Civilized Nations Kill With Sanctions And Proxy Armies: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix

Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/02/26/civilized-nations-kill-with-sanctions-and-proxy-armies-notes-from-the-edge-of-the-narrative-matrix/

AntiWar
Scott Ritter & I Talk Ukraine on Today’s The Critical Hour
Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch

https://raymcgovern.com/2022/02/25/scott-ritter-i-talk-ukraine-on-todays-the-critical-hour/

The Vineyard of the Saker
Day 3 of the Russian operation in the Ukraine – OPEN THREAD
The Saker

http://thesaker.is/day-3-of-the-russian-operation-in-the-ukraine-open-thread/

Moon of Alabama
Disarming Ukraine - Day 3
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/disarming-ukraine-day-3.html

RT (Medvedev announces the collapse of the liberal faction in Russian politics AKA "the fifth column," that advances the idea that Russia belong with the West. It's over. The ghosts of Yeltsin, Chubias and fellow runners have been exorcized.)
‘Final review’ of Russia’s relations with West now possible – former president

https://www.rt.com/russia/550698-medvedev-russia-sanctions-opinion

Dances with Bears
GORILLA VERSUS GALICIA (PLUS NO-MONKEY FOOTNOTE)
John Helmer

http://johnhelmer.net/gorilla-versus-galicia-plus-no-monkey-footnote/

Turcopolier (correcting the narrative)
Putin is an Authoritarian Nationalist but Not a Communist

Larry Johnson

https://turcopolier.com/putin-is-an-authoritarian-nationalist-but-not-a-communist/

Sputnik International
Donetsk Rights Envoy to Inform Int'l Organisations of Ukraine Violating Geneva Convention

https://sputniknews.com/20220226/donetsk-rights-envoy-to-inform-intl-organisations-of-ukraine-violating-geneva-convention-1093401093.html

Guido Franzinetti — It’s the Politics, Stupid!

 While not agreeing with all the finer points of the article, its overall point of realism over idealism in geopolitics is correct. Look at deeds, not words. 

Words very often are "rational" justification as a veneer over the actual interests driving policy. 

The relentless expansion of the Anglo-American Empire based on "spreading freedom, democracy, and human rights" when it is actually about global domination is a case in point. This is just what empires do. Always have, ever will.

It is a matter of distinguishing the stated agenda and hidden agenda, although the hidden agenda is often obvious to anyone who has the succumbed to the propaganda that creates the justification based on idealism, whether it is spreading Christianity or one's notion of Christianity, Islam or one's notion of Islam, or Western liberalism as the 18th century way of replacing religion with a non-sectarian absolutism. Then, there are the fascist empires that are the extension of national interest, often based on some version of exceptionalism.

Brave New Europe
Guido Franzinetti – It’s the Politics, Stupid!

Guido Franzinetti | Lecturer in History of European Territories, Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Eastern Piedmont

https://braveneweurope.com/guido-franzinetti-its-the-politics-stupid

30 Days

 

They’ve given them 30 days which is not generally being reported…

“The U.S. Treasury Department said U.S. banks must sever their correspondent banking ties - which allow banks to make payments between one another and move money around the globe - with Russia's largest lender, Sberbank (http://SBER.MM), and 25 of its subsidiaries within 30 days.”

U.S. hits major Russian banks with sanctions over invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/WRf5pilgLc pic.twitter.com/ZTOP76ilz0

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 25, 2022

“About one month”…

PETER DOOCY: "[Biden] says the sanctions are gonna take...about a month. Do you guys think the people in Ukraine have about a month?"

PSAKI, condescendingly: "Peter, let me just take a step back and explain to everyone how diplomacy works." pic.twitter.com/nf1jPsHonT

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 25, 2022

India Exploring Rupee Payment Mechanism For Trade With Russia — Tyler Durden

 De-dollarization accelerates. Now India.

Zero Hedge
India Exploring Rupee Payment Mechanism For Trade With Russia
Tyler Durden

Oil Prices And Sanctions Strategy: The Apparent Contradiction — John Kemp

If the U.S. government’s view is correct, spot prices and the backwardation should both fall as oil and gas continues to flow, easing some of the fear about a recessionary spike in prices.

If traders are correct, the disruption of oil and gas supplies (actual or threatened), possibly as a result of a miscalculation about the escalation ladder, will worsen inflation and increase the risk of a recession.

But given the contradiction between where prices are trading and the U.S. government’s strategy, someone must be wrong.

Zero Hedge
Oil Prices And Sanctions Strategy: The Apparent Contradiction
John Kemp, senior market analyst at Reuters

Day Two of the Russian ‘Military Operation’ in Ukraine — Gilbert Doctorow

Excerpts from Putin and analysis in terms of conditions on the ground.

Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs
Day Two of the Russian ‘Military Operation’ in Ukraine
Gilbert Doctorow

https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/02/25/day-two-of-the-russian-military-operation-in-ukraine/

Links — 25 February 2022

Russia Observer
RUSSIA UKRAINE 1
Patrick Armstrong, retired analyst and diplomat (2008) serving in the Canadian Department of National Defence specializing in the USSR/Russia from 1984 and a Counsellor in the Canadian Embassy in Moscow in 1993-1996.
https://patrickarmstrong.ca/2022/02/25/russia-ukraine-1/

Anti-War

Biden: NO COMMENT re China on Ukraine

Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch

https://original.antiwar.com/mcgovern/2022/02/24/biden-no-comment-re-china-on-ukraine/

India Punchline (Putin and Zelensky negotiations. This is the obvious way forward.)
Ukraine’s hybrid war is mutating
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service

https://www.indianpunchline.com/ukraines-hybrid-war-is-mutating/

Patrick J. Buchanan – Official Website (Pat is one spot on here.)

Did We Provoke Putin’s War in Ukraine?

Patrick J. Buchanan

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Experts Warned For Years That NATO Expansion Would Lead To This
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/02/25/experts-warned-for-years-that-nato-expansion-would-lead-to-this/
 

The Vineyard of the Saker ("a bear sleeping peacefully in its den was smoked out of there by being poked with a stick, and now they are wondering why it is chasing those who did that.")
Russian bear wants justice
Batko Milacic for the Saker Blog
http://thesaker.is/russian-bear-wants-justice/

Putin Suggests Ukrainian Military Seize Power From ‘Gang of Junkies, Neo-Nazis in Kiev’

Speech by Vladimir Putin

http://thesaker.is/putin-suggests-ukrainian-military-seize-power-from-gang-of-junkies-neo-nazis-in-kiev/

Moon of Alabama
Disarming Ukraine - Day 2

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/disarming-ukraine-day-2.html
Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
What Did Putin Mean by 'Denazification' of Ukraine and Why is It so Important?
https://sputniknews.com/20220225/what-did-putin-mean-by-denazification-of-ukraine-and-why-is-it-so-important-1093375330.html

The Intercept
Russia’s Ukraine War Heightens Urgency Around Biden’s Nuclear Weapons Strategy
Sara Sirota

https://theintercept.com/2022/02/25/ukraine-russia-nuclear-weapons-biden/ 

Understanding Ukrainian Nazism — Lucas Leiroz

 Reporting on neo-Nazism in Ukraine has been suppressed from the outset, namely, the Maidan massacre. As result, most people exposed chiefly to the conventional narrative are unaware of fundamental issues and causality or reject it as "conspiracy theory."

Info BRICS
Understanding Ukrainian Nazism
Lucas Leiroz, researcher in Social Sciences at the Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; geopolitical consultant
http://infobrics.org/post/35232/

Propaganda against Putin

The liberals hate racism, but they terribly zonophobic. Cent Uyghur says that Putin is a racist.

Ukraine 

Putin had a massive mount of troops on the Ukraine border, which could, if left in place for a very long time, bankrupt Russia.

Also, the West kept pouring more arms into the Ukraine, which would make a successful invasion much harder.

So, Putin started running out of time.

People think that because Russia is a huge country, that once commanded the Soviet Union, it is still a superpower, but it is not. It's economy is about the size of Italy.  So, keeping a massive army on the huge Russian/ Ukraine border long-term would have bankrupted Russia

Russia "has an economy the size of Italy."  

Mostly True

Politifact 

https://t.co/wjkEEqCUpa

The MSM is full of propaganda about Putin laundering money

The Evening Standard 2016. Putin is not laundering money, says this Alexander Lebedev.

Alexander Lebedev: Vladimir Putin is not the villain; it’s the West’s banks laundering money

 https://t.co/CnMULk6ZBY

Russia is not autocratic 

Nobody loves Russia: how western media have perpetuated the myth of Putin’s ‘neo-Soviet autocracy’

Nobody loves Russia: how western media have perpetuated the myth of Putin’s ‘neo-Soviet autocracy’

EU Sanctions on Russia Equal ‘Suicide by Cop’ — Tom Luongo

Again, out of paradigm with MMT, but interesting from the geopolitical POV, which is also way out of paradigm with MMT. But that is what everyone believes, and this determines how they behave.

Gold, Goats 'Guns
EU Sanctions on Russia Equal ‘Suicide by Cop’
Tom Luongo

https://tomluongo.me/2022/02/25/eu-sanctions-suicide-by-cop/

Sanctions Or Not, Russian Crude Is Getting Hit — Julianne Geiger

Unintended consequences, at least for the West?

“The key word today is obviously hold off and do not do anything that could backfire in the future,” WSJ cited Hugo De Stoop, chief executive of tanker company Euronav, as saying. “At the moment, we're not touching any cargo that’s linked to Russia.”

At the same time, Indian refiners have scooped up 6 million barrels of discounted Russian Urals crude, traders told Bloomberg.

Maybe Russia should tell the Western buyers to settle in physical gold delivered in Russia — you know, like international trade used to be settled, although then the transfers were through the agency of central banks rather than physical delivery.

Will this force the US to conclude a deal with the Iranians lifting sanctions as Iran demands in order to relieve the pressure, even a deal it doesn't like?

Oilprice
Sanctions Or Not, Russian Crude Is Getting Hit
Julianne Geiger

See also

Tanker Rates On Russian Crude Routes Triple
Tsvetana Paraskova
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Tanker-Rates-On-Russian-Crude-Routes-Triple.html

China Moves To Restrict Financing For Russian Commodities (dollar-denominated letters of credit)

Julianne Geiger

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/China-Moves-To-Restrict-Financing-For-Russian-Commodities.html

Zero Hedge
"Nothing Compares To The Chaos We're Seeing Now": Tanker Rates On Russian Crude Routes Soar Sixfold In One Day Amid War Fears

Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/tanker-rates-russian-crude-routes-soar-sixfold-one-day-amid-war-fears

How Ukraine Fits Into The Global Jigsaw — Alasdair Macleod

Yes, I know. Alasdair Macleod is a goldbug that is out of paradigm with MMT.  But goldbugs pay attention to international developments, especially those that are like to affect the price of metals. This is a good analysis overall and he is right "financially" in the sense that most financial actors act on the frame of reference. 

He is also correct that gold is becoming significant again, especially sine the entry of China and India on the world scene as major players. Their cultures have valued gold hightly for millennia and the people are traditional gold holders. But the turn to gold has also increased on the governmental level since the dollars was "weaponized" and de-dollarization became a priority. As a result, China and Russia have significantly increased their gold reserves. I have said previously that I would not be surprised if there is a reprise of gold in international settlement in the not-so-distant future. So I would not discount Macleod's analysis here.

Macleod emphasizes the importance of Halford Mackinder's concept of the world island, and rightly so. While noting that Mackinder wrote over a century ago — "The Geographical Pivot of History" was published in 1904, Macleod leaves it at that, although he does correctly note that Mackinder's work established the foundation for  geopolitics (international relations, foreign policy, and military policy) since. He is also not sure that the major players know of this theory. The reality is that a lot has been built on Mackinder since then and this is the core of geopolitical thinking now. Zbig's The Grand Chessboard is an updating and popularization this thinking, which still drives US foreign and military policy.

Gold Money
How Ukraine Fits Into The Global Jigsaw

Alasdair Macleod

Putin Pulls a Kosovo — Gary Leupp

Kosovo. noun: a part of a sovereign state where a separatist movement is supported by a superpower and pronounced a sovereign state itself.

To pull a Kosovo: the action of a superpower to recognize a separatist region as a sovereign state.

Putin just pulled a Kosovo....

Counterpunch
Putin Pulls a Kosovo
Gary Leupp |  Professor of History at Tufts University with a secondary appointment in the Department of Religion

Chris Hedges — Russia, Ukraine and the Chronicle of a War Foretold

Another historical account undermining the conventional narrative with facts and previous expert analysis. Why did this happen? Cui bono?

After the fall of the Soviet Union, there was a near-universal understanding among political leaders that NATO expansion would be a foolish provocation against Russia. How naive we were to think the military-industrial complex would allow such sanity to prevail.

Another instance of "disaster capitalism," seizing an opportunity to profit.

Countpunch
Chris Hedges: Russia, Ukraine and the Chronicle of a War Foretold
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/02/25/chronicle-of-war-foretold/

Biden’s CIA Director Doesn’t Believe Biden’s Story about Ukraine — Peter Beinart

Revealing. Essentially the same analysis as George Kennan.

The Beinart Report
Biden’s CIA Director Doesn’t Believe Biden’s Story about Ukraine
Peter Beinart | Professor, Newmark School of Journalism

https://peterbeinart.substack.com/p/bidens-cia-director-doesnt-believe

Rabobank: Russia Is Showing Us A New Kind Of War In Two Ways — Michael Every

Smell of rubber hitting road.

Zero Hedge
Rabobank: Russia Is Showing Us A New Kind Of War In Two Ways
Michael Every of Rabobank
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/rabobank-russia-showing-us-new-kind-war-two-ways

How modern bombings look: The bombing of Belgrade in 1999 — Branko Milanovic

 While NATO expansion under Bill Clinton can be identified as the initial causal factor in a constellation of causes that has led to the present situation, the US attack on Belgrade and subsequent partition of the former state of Yugoslavia, also ordered by Bill Clinton, was a key turning point in the causal chain. It woke up the bear and alerted Russia and Russians to the danger of the US empire and the extent to which the US and their NATO allies go to impose their will using the pretext of "freedom, democracy and human rights as cover for imperial ambitions of global domination.

Economist Branko Milanovic, a Serbian and resident of Belgrade (although he was not present for the bombing) relates his own experience watching the bombing on television while it was underway.

Global Inequality
How modern bombings look: The bombing of Belgrade in 1999
Branko Milanovic | Visiting Presidential Professor at City University of New York Graduate Center and senior scholar at the Stone Center on Socio-economic Inequality, senior scholar at the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS), and formerly lead economist in the World Bank's research department and senior associate at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

http://glineq.blogspot.com/2022/02/how-modern-bombings-look-bombing-of.html

See also

Magpie's Asymmetric Warfare
Operation Iraqui Freedom version 2.
Magpie

http://aussiemagpie.blogspot.com/2022/02/operation-iraqui-freedom-version-2.html

(Regular readers of this blog will recognize Branko Milanovic from previous links and also Magpie as an occasional commentor.)

China’s SWIFT alternative may undercut US sanctions — David P. Goldman

China’s Cross-Border International Payments System could give Russia a lifeline and accelerate de-dollarization…

We can assume that Russia has gamed all this out already and is confident it can weather Western economic and cyber warfare. This post doesn't say anything new, but adds an influential voice saying it.

Asia Times

China’s SWIFT alternative may undercut US sanctions

David P. Goldman

Economists Stephanie Kelton and Rohan Grey take Jon Stewart down a Modern Monetary Theory rabbit hole

YouTube

The Problem With Jon Stewart

363K subscribers

Listen to the full episode:

https://theproblem.link/KeltonGrey

Economists Stephanie Kelton and Rohan Grey take Jon down a Modern Monetary Theory rabbit hole, where they learn that the Fed could actually do a lot more than it is.

The Problem With Jon Stewart is now streaming on Apple TV+ https://theproblem.link/AppleTV

Listen to The Problem With Jon Stewart podcast on Apple Podcasts, where available. 

https://theproblem.link/ApplePodcast

Subscribe to The Problem with Jon Stewart’s YouTube channel: 

https://theproblem.link/YouTube

Links — 24 Feb 2022

President of the Russian Federation (a detailed indictment of the US)

Address by the President of the Russian Federation – February 24, 2022

http://thesaker.is/address-by-the-president-of-the-russian-federation-february-24-2022/

Moon of Alabama (sitrep)
Disarming Ukraine - Day 1
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/disarming-ukraine-day-1.html

The Vineyard of the Saker
From the Black Sea to the East Med, do not poke The Russian Bear
Pepe Escobar
http://thesaker.is/from-the-black-sea-to-the-east-med-do-not-poke-the-russian-bear/


A few disjointed thoughts about the current military situation
The Saker
http://thesaker.is/a-few-disjointed-thoughts-about-the-current-military-situation/

The collapse of Banderastan: tomorrow will be a crucial day

http://thesaker.is/the-collapse-of-banderastan-tomorrow-will-be-a-crucial-day/

Russian and Eurasian Politics (Good backgrounder on facts. The analysis is questionable.)
Coercive Diplomacy Phase 2: War and Iron Curtain Descended
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

Asia Times (US slammed. The gloves not only off, brass knuckles are on.)
Russia and Ukraine: The view from China

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/russia-and-ukraine-the-view-from-china/

Al Jazeera
Russia and the West are moving towards full out economic war

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/2/24/russia-and-the-west-are-moving-towards-full-out-economic-war

Middle East Eye
Russia slams occupation of Golan Heights after Israel expresses support for Ukraine

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/ukraine-russia-slams-israel-occupation-syria-golan-heights

Fortune (advocates government control of crypto flows to enforce sanctions)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spotlights the urgent need for crypto policy
Jacob Carpenter

https://fortune.com/2022/02/24/russia-ukraine-invasion-war-crypto-digital-currency/

The American Conservative (interesting proposal but the US could have made if had wanted to. Never happen. What is happening is according to plan.)

A Mexican Standoff In Eastern Ukraine
Douglas MacGregor, Col. (ret.), senior fellow with The American Conservative

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/a-mexican-standoff-in-eastern-ukraine/

Zero Hedge
Massive Roundtrips Across Global Markets As Russia Sanctions Fears Abate ("sanctions from hell." NOT)
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/massive-roundtrips-across-global-markets-russia-sanctions-fears-abate

These Are The Companies Most Exposed To Russia And Ukraine
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/these-are-companies-most-exposed-russia-and-ukraine

Only A Quarter Of Americans Want Major Involvement In Ukraine/Russia War

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/only-quarter-americans-want-major-involvement-ukrainerussia-war

FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right
Americans Currently Support Sanctioning Russia For Invading Ukraine But Are Reluctant To Deploy Troops
Geoffrey Skelley

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americans-currently-support-sanctioning-russia-for-invading-ukraine-but-are-reluctant-to-deploy-troops/

Consortium News

Caitlin Johnstone: 12 Thoughts on Ukraine

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/24/caitlin-johnstone-12-thoughts-on-ukraine/

What Putin Says Are the Causes & Aims of Russia’s Military

Joe Lauria

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/02/24/what-putin-says-are-the-causes-aims-of-russias-military-action/

Reminiscence of the Future
Update From Russ [Bentley aka "Texas"] (video report from Donbass - 5' 24")
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/update-from-russ.html

SouthFront

Russian Advance In Ukraine And Its Brief Analysis By Igor Strelkov [Col. Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin]

https://southfront.org/russian-advance-in-ukraine-and-its-brief-analysis-by-igor-strelkov/

Gold Goats ''N Guns (don't think much of his economics, which is way out of paradigm with MMT, but he is decent geopolitical analyst)
Putin Ushers in the New Geopolitical Game Board

Tom Luongo

https://tomluongo.me/2022/02/25/putin-ushers-in-the-new-geopolitical-game-board/

Zero Hedge — Biden Presented With 'Menu' Of Options For 'Massive Cyberattacks Against Russia'

Of course, "Anything we can do to them, they can do to us," said one anon official, who says that decisionmakers anticipate that Russia will retaliate - 'likely with Colonial Pipeline-style attacks that seek to hurt American consumers' ….

Zero Hedge

Biden Presented With 'Menu' Of Options For 'Massive Cyberattacks Against Russia'

Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/biden-presented-menu-options-massive-cyberattacks-against-russia

See also

Maybe, but since such cyberattacks are supposed to be sub rosa, of course the US would deny it. Could be true, or it could be disinformation preparing plausible deniability.

The Hill
White House knocks report on Biden being presented cyberattack options on Russia
Monique Beals

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/595708-white-house-knocks-report-on-biden-being-presented-cyberattack

War In Europe — Brian Romanchuk

Speculation on economic consequences.

Bond Economics
War In Europe
Brian Romanchuk

PROFESSOR JOHN MEARSHEIMER: THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE | KING'S POLITICS

Professor John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. He graduated from West Point in 1970 and then served five years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has published six immensely influential books on international relations theory. In 2020, he won the James Madison Award, which is given once every three years by the American Political Science Association to “an American political scientist who has made a distinguished scholarly contribution to political science.”

https://youtu.be/Nbj1AR_aAcE

It Started. Breaking News. — Andrei Martyanov

Open thread if you are following developments. 

Seems to be going pretty much as Andrei Martyanov and Andrei Raevsky (The Saker) foresaw. Russia appears to be taking down the Ukrainian military at the outset, but difficult to tell much through the fog of war at this point. US and NATO bloviating.

Reminiscence of the Future
It Started. Breaking News.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/02/it-started-breaking-news.html

Russian MOD confirms.

Sputnik International
Russian MoD: Precision Weapons Used to Neutralise Military Infrastructure and Air Forces of Ukraine

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/russian-mod-precision-weapons-used-to-neutralise-military-infrastructure-and-air-forces-of-ukraine-1093321077.html

Putin’s nuclear option — Beatrice Fihn

What happens when you don't listen.

Politico
Putin’s nuclear option
Beatrice Fihn

Biden throws Putin into Xi’s briar patch — David P. Goldman

But the West has pushed Putin into an alliance with China. It is perhaps the dumbest thing the Western powers have ever done. It could be the last.

The rest of the article explains why. ( David P. Goldman doesn't even go into the nitty gritty like Chinese ability to mass produce Russian advanced weaponry.)

Asia Times
Biden throws Putin into Xi’s briar patch*
David P. Goldman

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/biden-throws-putin-into-xis-briar-patch/

*briar patch reference

Zero Hedge — Global Markets Unravel As Putin Launches "Military Operation"

As Russian President Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine and warns of "consequences" for foreign interference, global markets are turmoiling....

Zero Hedge
Global Markets Unravel As Putin Launches "Military Operation"
Tyler Durden

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2761684730989137546/6728711296994593921#

Related

Putin remarked that the NATO-allied war machine supporting 'Neo-Nazis' in Ukraine is moving and closely approaching Russia's borders.

"Nazi" has a different meaning in Russia from just about everywhere else in the world excepting Israel.

 

Sputnik International
Putin Authorizes Special Operation in Donbass

https://sputniknews.com/20220224/putin-authorizes-special-operation-in-donbass-1093318890.html

Bill Mitchell — Australia–workers endure on-going real wage cuts as corporate profits soar

Yesterday (February 23, 2022), the ABS released the latest – Wage Price Index, Australia – for the December-quarter 2021. The WPI data shows that nominal wages growth remained modest to say the least. The data shows that the significant cuts to workers’ purchasing power continue, and, in my view, constitute a national emergency. While the conservatives are railing about inflation now and looking to target workers’ wages (further cuts), the evidence is that the wages side is not driving any inflationary pressures – the opposite is the case. The business sector, as a whole, thinks it is clever to always oppose wages growth and the banks love that because they can foist more debt onto households to maintain their consumption expenditure. But the reality is clear – there can be no sustained recovery for the economy post Covid without significant increases in the current rate of wages growth....

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
Australia – workers endure on-going real wage cuts as corporate profits soar
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Sputnik — New US Sanctions to Affect Europe, Ukraine More Than Russia - [US] Expert

The new US sanctions against Russia, imposed in response to Moscow’s recognition of the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics (DPR and LPR), will affect Ukraine and Europe more than Russia itself, US-based Eurasia Center Executive Vice President Earl Rasmussen told Sputnik.…

“Energy costs will skyrocket even more. European industry will be slowed and likely not recover for a while,” Rasmussen said, adding that that outcome may well be one of the US objectives to achieve....

“US companies may feel the impact. China will likely meet areas vacated by United States and Europe. Tech companies will likely be displaced by China or Russian technology,” he said....

Sputnik International
New US Sanctions to Affect Europe, Ukraine More Than Russia - [US] Expert
https://sputniknews.com/20220224/new-us-sanctions-to-affect-europe-ukraine-more-than-russia---expert-1093317872.html

MAGA view on Ukraine situation

 

Bannon and guest Erik Prince break it down….