Jim Rogers: "None Of This Should Be Happening, It's Absolute Madness"

 "Rogers argues that the current geopolitical crisis stems from 2014, when the U.S. State
Department instigated a coup in Kiev. U.S. elected leaders are seeing their actions be paid for gravely, "now we're all paying a gigantic price for it," he says.

Rogers details his argument to me on why the increasing prospects of Georgia and Ukraine joining NATO aggravated Russia... and how the threshold of tolerance was breached from Russia's point of view years later.

 Frantically, other sovereign nations are trying to, "come up with something to compete with the U.S. dollar," the legendary investor told me. "We're [the U.S.] shooting ourselves in the foot every day," he says." 

DanielaCambone

The 7 Humanitarian Corridors

"Ukraine is opening seven humanitarian corridors to help civilians leave cities besieged by  Russian forces, including Mariupol, says the country's deputy PM." BBC

Mariupol Suffering

"Mariupol is said to be experiencing the worst humanitarian conditions in Ukraine, according
to Ukrainian officials. Residents have been trapped for days in freezing temperatures without electricity or water." BBC

We need to check people's motivations for coming to UK - Johnson

"Back to the issue of visas for Ukrainians wanting to flee to the UK, and Boris Johnson has
been explaining why he is insisting on checks on people entering the country.

Some of those coming to the UK may still be armed, he said, and "perhaps not all of their identities are completely clear, their motivations completely clear."

He said more than 1,000 visas had been issued, and the number would climb "very steeply".

Johnson also warned that British military personnel going AWOL to fight in Ukraine would face a court martial.

He said many in the armed forces would sympathise with the "clear distinction" between "good and evil" in the situation in Ukraine, but there were clear laws in the UK." BBC

Mariupol shelling resumes after hospital attack

"Ukrainians in Mariupol say Russian forces have resumed their bombardment of the city a day
after a maternity hospital was hit by an air strike." BBC

Russian tank column is repelled and 'ANOTHER top commander killed' in devastating ambush as Putin's forces move 'within a few miles' of capital

"The battle for Kyiv has begun, analysts say, after Russia launched two attacks to the west and
east of the Ukrainian capital in an attempt to push into the outskirts - both of which failed. Five Russian battle groups attempted to push in through the city of Irpin, to the west of Kyiv, late Monday - but after a 'difficult night' had stalled with a Ukrainian counter-attack now underway, the interior ministry said. Video also revealed a column of Russian tanks and armored vehicles which attempted to push in from the east, via Brovary, getting ambushed by artillery and missile strikes - suffering 'heavy' casualties as radio chatter suggested a commander had been killed. Ukrainian troops guarding the capital were warning residents not to stray from the city limits because Russian forces were 'just a few kilometers away' raising fears that terrifying bombing campaigns being waged against the likes of Mariupol and Kharkiv could soon be repeated here. A Russian airstrike in Mariupol yesterday struck a maternity hospital." DailyMail

Harris says US and Poland are united, despite fighter jets episode

"Vice President Kamala Harris sought to reinforce cooperative ties between the United States
and Poland as she met with the Polish President in the wake of an apparent disconnect between the two countries over providing Ukraine with fighter jets.

“I want to be very clear. The United States and Poland are united in what we have done and are prepared to help Ukraine and the people of Ukraine, full stop,” Harris said alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda during a joint news conference." CNN

Russia confirms use of thermobaric 'vacuum bombs' in Ukraine

"Russia has confirmed its use of a thermobaric weapon system, or "vacuum" bombs, during
Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. 

Vacuum bombs disperse explosive material over a large area that uses surrounding oxygen as fuel when it detonates, creating a blast wave that lasts far longer than conventional explosives. Thermobaric bombs are capable of sucking the air out of person's lungs, causing them to fill with liquid, or causing a person's lungs to rupture or explode. 

"The impact of the [TOS-1A] is devastating," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a video. "It can destroy infrastructure and cause significant damage to internal organs and flash burns, resulting in death to those exposed."  FOX

'Hydraulic Warfare'

"Photographs from Planet Labs PBC, an American firm, and other researchers appear to show
a large expanse of flooded land north of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. In a pair of before and after images, taken on Feb. 22 and Feb. 28, the swath of territory becomes significantly more sodden.

The Washington Post was not able to confirm that the flooding was intentional, but Planet Labs said it consulted analysts who believe it was deliberate. If so, it would be the latest example of a centuries-old practice." Telegraph

As Anti-War Russians Flee, Ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan Prepares for Emigre Influx

"When Kirill Shamiev’s friends started talking about martial law, he realized it was time to leave Russia.

A week into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Shamiev — a 29-year-old Ph.D. student from St. Petersburg — began to worry he himself might be mobilized, or simply be trapped in Russia.

With air tickets to Turkey, Armenia and the Persian Gulf selling out fast, Shamiev was left with a convoluted route out of Russia: a flight to the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, then a connection to Bishkek, the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan’s capital.

“It’s cheap here, and people are friendly to Russians,” said Shamiev, who has since left for a European Union country.

Thousands of anti-war Russians have fled their homeland as authorities rammed through draconian new laws against anti-war dissent and domestic repression ramped up. But with European countries’ airspace now closed to Russian flights, most of Russia’s new emigres are heading for the countries of the former Soviet space." MoscowTimes

Trump Was Right About Dependence on Russian Oil

"In 2018, then-President Trump spoke to the United Nations, warning European nations like Germany
about the risks of being dependent on Russia for oil.

“Reliance on a single foreign supplier can leave a nation vulnerable to extortion and intimidation. That’s why we congratulate European states such as Poland for leading the construction of a Baltic pipeline so that nations are not dependent on Russia to meet their energy needs. Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course,” Trump said." PJMedia

Futures Slide On Inflation Fears As Ukraine Ceasefire Hopes Crumble

"After yesterday's furious short covering/technical driven surge in risk assets, futures and global markets are sliding this morning after Ukraine and Russia failed to make progress in halting the war and bridging the vast differences between them at the first high-level talks between their foreign ministers since the Russian invasion began. The ECB is set to decide how it can shield the continent’s economy from the consequences of the war in Ukraine while navigating an unprecedented inflation shock that shows no signs of abating" ZeroHedge

US-Funded Bio Labs in Ukraine Conducted Research Into Bat Coronavirus

"The American authorities previously admitted that Ukraine hosts “biological research
facilities”, expressing concerns they could come under the control of Russian forces.The Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday announced that the US-funded biological labs located in Ukraine were conducting experiments with bat coronavirus samples.

“According to the documents, the American side planned to conduct work on pathogens of birds, bats, and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022, with a further transition to studying the possibility of carrying African swine fever and anthrax”, chief spokesman for the Ministry of Defence Major General Igor Konashenkov said.

In addition, the facilities were studying the possible spread of pathogens via wild birds, migrating between Russia, Ukraine, and other countries in the region.

“The purpose of this – and other Pentagon-funded biological research in Ukraine, was to create a mechanism for the covert spread of deadly pathogens”, he added." NW

Poll: Majority Of Americans Blame Joe Biden For Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine

"A HarrisX poll has revealed that most Americans see Joe Biden as a primary reason Russia decided to invade Ukraine.

The survey found that 58% of Americans believe Biden’s toothlessness has prompted Vladimir Putin to push ahead with the conflict.

A further 62% of Americans said they believe Putin would not have dared to take military action if President Trump had been reelected.

Respondents were asked if “Russia’s attack on Ukraine makes you more or less likely to vote for one party or another in the 2022 mid-term elections,” with 36 percent saying they’re more likely now to vote Republican and 24 percent say they’re more likely to vote Democrat. A further 31 percent said it will not impact their vote. 

Perhaps the most significant finding came among independents, with 31 percent saying they are more likely to vote Republican in the midterms because of Biden’s handling of Ukraine, while just 13 percent said they are more likely vote Democrat now." NW