Links — 16 Feb 2022 PM

Strategic Culture Foundation
War Inc. Throws an Invasion Party and No One Shows Up
Pepe Escobar
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/16/war-inc-throws-an-invasion-party-and-no-one-shows-up/

Why Is the U.S. Peddling Dangerous Lies About a ‘Russian Invasion’ of Ukraine? (The US tried to look strong and ended up looking foolish?)

Robert Bridge

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/17/why-is-us-peddling-dangerous-lies-about-russian-invasion-ukraine/

Irrussianality (deservedly)
MOCKING THE MEDIA
Paul Robinson | Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa

Asia Times (no responsibility, no accountability)
US foreign policy elites playing blame game over Ukraine
James Carden

https://asiatimes.com/2022/02/us-foreign-policy-elites-playing-blame-game-over-ukraine/

One World (outplayed?)
Why’d The West Blink?
Andrew Korybko
http://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2490

Independent (UK)
Russian Defence Ministry shares video of military equipment and forces leaving Crimea

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/russia-crimea-ukraine-troops-b2016193.html

Axios (not giving up, are they? Hope springs eternal.)

U.S. says Russia's claims of troop withdrawal were "false"
Zachary Basu

https://www.axios.com/russia-troop-withdrawal-ukraine-invasion-false-fc67845a-3e03-471e-a86b-b600b8420ad6.html

The Hill (still pushing the imminent invasion narrative. They are persistent anyway.)
As Feb. 16 passes by, Biden administration pressed on Russian invasion intel
Mychael Schnell
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/594636-as-feb-16-passes-by-biden-administration-pressed-on-russian-invasion

Zero Hedge
Kremlin Teases 'Alternatives' To SWIFT If Sanctioned, Including Crypto, In "Fortress Russia" Strategy
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/kremlin-teases-alternatives-swift-if-sanctioned-including-crypto-fortress-russia-strategy

bne IntelliNews (given tight supply, the options are limited)

Central Europe still remains tied to Russia's gas pipeline network

https://www.bne.eu/central-europe-still-remains-tied-to-russia-s-gas-pipeline-network-235199/

TruthOut (throwing money at the "problem")

Biden Is Reportedly Requesting Over $770 Billion for Defense for 2023 (truthout.org)

Sharon Zhang

https://truthout.org/articles/biden-is-reportedly-requesting-over-770-billion-for-defense-for-2023/

Common Dreams
Biden's $770B Pentagon Budget Proposal Denounced as 'Absurd'
Julia Conley

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/02/16/bidens-770b-pentagon-budget-proposal-denounced-absurd

News From Antiwar.com (prepping for WWIII)
NATO Commanders to Draw Up Plans for New Battlegroups in Eastern Europe
Dave DeCamp

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/02/16/nato-commanders-to-draw-up-plans-for-new-battlegroups-in-eastern-europe/

Ian Welsh (reform the selection process)
How To Keep Enforcers Like Police, Military And Spies Under Control

https://www.ianwelsh.net/how-to-keep-enforcers-like-police-military-and-spies-under-control/

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/02/16/bidens-770b-pentagon-budget-proposal-denounced-absurd

Oilprice (it's the economy, stupid)
China Looks To Run Coal-Fired Power Plants At Full Capacity
Charles Kennedy
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/China-Looks-To-Run-Coal-Fired-Power-Plants-At-Full-Capacity.html

Gasoline Prices Just Hit An All-Time High In California
Julianne Geiger
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Gasoline-Prices-Just-Hit-An-All-Time-High-In-California.html

Why Isn’t U.S. Shale Production Soaring?
Irina Slav
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Isnt-US-Shale-Production-Soaring.html