Links — 22 Feb 2022

Vineyard of the Saker (Orloff has a good grasp of things Russian)
The day Russia’s patience ran out
Dmitry Orloff
https://thesaker.is/the-day-russias-patience-ran-out/

The Crusaders are very, very angry. Who cares? (Russia caught the West off-guard. They did not see it coming.)
http://thesaker.is/the-crusaders-are-very-very-angry-who-cares/

Andrei Martyanov’s take on the events of the day (video)

http://thesaker.is/andrei-martyanovs-take-on-the-events-of-the-day/

Strategic Culture Foundation

The birth of the baby twins: Russia’s strategic swing drives NATOstan nuts
Pepe Escobar

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/02/22/the-birth-of-the-baby-twins-russias-strategic-swing-drives-natostan-nuts/

Anti-War
What Accounts for Putin’s Assertiveness 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/2022/02/21/what-accounts-for-putins-assertiveness-on-ukraine/

Global Times (Chinese state-sponsored media)

All parties should give Russia, Ukraine some space to resolve issue: Global Times editorial (realistic)

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Why isn’t America listening to the advice on NATO expansion of its foremost 20th century expert on Russia [George Kennan]? (Kennan warned about the currently unfolding debacle.)
https://www.rt.com/news/550215-us-nato-expansion-kennan

EU will soon pay double for gas – Medvedev
https://www.rt.com/business/550254-europe-gas-price-double/

West warned against sanctioning Russian energy sector (Fitch)

https://www.rt.com/russia/550264-western-sanctions-oil-crisis/

Putin comments on borders of Donbass republics

https://www.rt.com/russia/550281-putin-donbass-recognition-borders/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Beijing Warns US That 'Bitter Competition' With China May Escalate Into Full-Fledged Confrontation
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/beijing-warns-us-that-fierce-competition-with-china-may-escalate-into-full-fledged-confrontation-1093255965.html

France Removes Australia From List of Strategic Partners Over AUKUS Betrayal
https://sputniknews.com/20220222/france-removes-australia-from-list-of-strategic-partners-over-aukus-betrayal-1093273906.html

Pentagon: US, 6 Allies Release Plan for 2031 Combined Space Operations Vision

https://sputniknews.com/20220222/pentagon-us-6-allies-release-plan-for-2031-combined-space-operations-vision-1093278989.html

Let’s Talk About the Kievan Rus, Who the US’ Kiev Embassy Memed About on Tuesday - 22.02.2022, Sputnik International

Morgan Artyukhina

https://sputniknews.com/20220222/lets-talk-about-the-kievan-rus-who-the-us-kiev-embassy-memed-about-on-tuesday-1093282793.html

ECNS
Chinese FM holds phone conversation with U.S. secretary of state

Xinhua (Chinese state media)

http://www.ecns.cn/news/2022-02-22/detail-ihavwrts3794807.shtml

TASS
Over 93,500 Donbass residents enter Russia

https://tass.com/society/1408645

Recognition of Donbass and warning to Kiev — Putin’s address to nation - Russian Politics & Diplomacy

https://tass.com/politics/1407811

Foreign Policy (Here we go again.)

The United States Must Prepare for War With Both Russia and China (foreignpolicy.com)

Matthew Kroenig, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/18/us-russia-china-war-nato-quadrilateral-security-dialogue/

Bracing Views
Let’s (Not) Go To War!
W. J. Astore, Lieutenant Colonel (USAF ret.), taught at the Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and currently at the Pennsylvania College of Technology

Brave New Europe (US and UK intel apparently totally missed what Russia was really going to do)

Patrick Cockburn - Russia-Ukraine is an Information War, So Government Intelligence Needs More Scrutiny Than Ever

Crossposted at Counterpunch

https://braveneweurope.com/patrick-cockburn-%ef%bf%bcrussia-ukraine-is-an-information-war-so-government-intelligence-needs-more-scrutiny-than-ever

Dances with Bears

URGENT LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE ON THE UKRAINE AND SYRIA FRONTS – HOW THE US GOVERNMENT AIMED AT DESTROYING THE ARABS, KILLING THEIR LEADERS, PAYING PROXIES TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK, REWRITING THE HISTORY OF THE GENOCIDE CRIME – NEW BOOK OUT TODAY
John Helmer

http://johnhelmer.net/urgent-lessons-for-the-future-on-the-ukraine-and-syria-fronts-how-the-us-government-aimed-at-destroying-the-arabs-killing-their-leaders-paying-proxies-to-do-ther-dirty-work-rewriting-the/