Sunday, March 27, 2022

Pope Evokes Specter of Ukraine War Sparking Global Conflict

"The threat of a global conflict spawned by Russia's invasion of Ukraine should convince
everyone that the time has come for humanity to abolish war before it abolishes humanity, Pope Francis said on Sunday.
"More than a month has passed since the invasion of Ukraine, since the start of this cruel and senseless war, which, like every war, is a defeat for everyone, for all of us," he said to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing.
"We must repudiate war, a place of death where fathers and mothers bury their children, where men kill their brothers without even seeing them, where the powerful decide and the poor die," he said.
The war in Ukraine was destroying the country's future, he said, citing a statistic that half of the country's children had to flee the country.
 
"That is the bestiality of war, something that is barbarous and sacrilegious," he said, urging his listeners not to consider war as inevitable or something to get used to.
"If we emerge from this (war) the same as we were before, we will all be in some way guilty. Faced with the danger of self-destruction, humanity must understand that the time has come to abolish war, to cancel it from the history of man before it cancels man from history," he said.
Since Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, Francis has several times spoken of a possible nuclear conflict.
"I beg every politician involved to reflect on this, to make a commitment, and, looking at martyred Ukraine, to understand that every day of war worsens the situation for everyone," he said.
"Enough! Stop! Let the weapons fall silent. Negotiate seriously for peace," he said." Newsmax

Another Russian General Reportedly Killed in Ukraine

 "A Russian general who bragged before the war began that it would be over in hours was
killed on the 29th day of combat in Ukraine, highlighting the increasing danger to Russian officers in the conflict.
 Lt. Gen. Yakov Rezantsev is reportedly the seventh Russian general to die amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine and the second general officer of his rank. It’s not clear why so many Russian generals are dying in combat. Some military analysts speculate that Russia’s conscript army is reluctant to move forward and engage the enemy, prompting some generals to take the initiative and lead their men into combat." PJM

Russian Defence Minister Reappears After 2-week Absence

"Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu reappeared on television images broadcast after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists.
The defence ministry published a video showing Shoigu, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, chairing a meeting on Russia's weapons budget....Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence." MT

German States Outlaw Display of Russia's 'Z' War Symbol

"Two German states on Saturday said they have outlawed public displays of the "Z" symbol
used by the Russian army in their invasion of Ukraine.
Anyone who brandishes the symbol at demonstrations or paints it on cars or buildings in a show of support for Vladimir Putin's war could risk up to three years in jail or a fine in Lower Saxony or Bavaria." MT

Chinese drone maker says can't stop Russia from using its tech in Ukraine

"Ukraine is calling on a big-name Chinese maker of drones to block what Ukrainian officials
say is the Russian military's use of its technology to coordinate missile attacks. However, the company, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. and placed on a blacklist, says it can't disable its drones and has limited options to heed Kyiv's appeals for help." JN

Biden’s Putin speech in Poland is a catastrophe

 "He came, he saw, he confused. This was at least the fourth time on the three-day trip that
something Biden said had to be walked back, cleaned up, clarified or refuted. 

Joe Biden’s call-to-arms speech in Poland was long on soaring rhetoric about the virtues of democracy but woefully short on what more the West will do to help Ukraine defeat the Russian invasion. But by the time he got to the finish, most of that was forgotten. 
What mattered most and what will be remembered for a long time was a single line the president of the United States said about the president of Russia: “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” 
In the context of the speech and the slaughter of Ukrainian civilians, it’s impossible to understand that line as anything other than a call for regime change, a move that would dramatically raise the stakes with Russia at a time when Biden has been at pains to lower them. 
It also raises the question of whether toppling Putin, a subject never before mentioned by the White House, is suddenly the new policy of the United States and NATO
Ah, no. 
Shortly after the speech, a Biden aide told pool reporters that “the president’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.” 
No, American troops in Poland are not headed to Ukraine, despite what Biden told them." NYP

Macron Warns Against 'Escalation' After Biden Brands Putin 'Butcher'

"France's President Emmanuel Macron warned Sunday against a verbal "escalation" of Russia's invasion in Ukraine, after US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power".
The Kremlin had reacted in fury over Biden's comments which it said narrows the window for bilateral relations, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine now into a second month.
Macron said he would speak to Putin in the next two days to organise the evacuation of civilians from the heavily bombarded port city of Mariupol." Newsmax

Japan’s PM Kishida See Increasing Chance of Russia Using Nuclear Weapons

"Japan’s PM Kishida See Increasing Chance of Russia Using Nuclear Weapons....." PP

Lugansk People's Republic May Hold Referendum on Joining Russia Soon

"The LPR militia previously reclaimed most of the territory of the republic, forcing out
Ukrainian troops and liberating settlements after an eight-year war waged by Kiev there.
The head of the Lugansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, stated on Sunday that a referendum on joining Russia may be held in the republic." Sputnik

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Ukrainian Buk Explodes in Flames After Russian Military Hits It With Iskander Missile

"The Russian Defence Ministry has published a video of the military destroying a Ukrainian
Buk air defence system with an Iskander short-range ballistic missile near Kiev. The clip shows the Buk explode in a massive blast, with fire and smoke engulfing the area while parts of the system scatter around." Sputnik

Ukraine claims that Russia is using white phosphorus

"Ukraine’s president has accused invading Russian forces of using white phosphorus, a
controversial chemical substance that can cause severe and indiscriminate harm to civilians.
This morning, by the way, there were phosphorus bombs. Phosphorus Russian bombs. Adults were killed again and children were killed again,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a virtual address to NATO leaders on Thursday, as the military alliance held an emergency summit on Russia’s war in Ukraine." MSN

Daily Mail Drops Hunter Biden Emails Linking Him To Ukraine Biolab Funding

"Emails from Hunter Biden's notorious laptop reveal that the first son helped secure millions of dollars for a DoD contractor - Metabiota - which specializes in researching pandemic-causing diseases that could be used as bioweapons, according to the Daily Mail, which obtained Hunter's emails.
 The commander of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, claimed there was a 'scheme of interaction between US government agencies and Ukrainian biological objects' and pointed to the 'financing of such activities by structures close to the current US leadership, in particular the investment fund Rosemont Seneca, which is headed by Hunter Biden.' -Daily Mail
 
Hunter also appears to have introduced Metabiota to Burisma for a "science project," ostensibly involving biosecurity labs in Ukraine.
On its face, Metabiota appears to be a simple medical data company - however a 2014 email from its Vice President to Hunter described how they could 'assert Ukraine's cultural and economic independence from Russia' - an odd goal for a biotech firm at the time Hunter's Dad was US point-man for Ukraine's 'reconstruction' involving the Obama administration.? ZH

White House Rushes to Clarify Joe Biden Call to Remove Vladimir Putin from Power

"The White House moved quickly to clarify President Joe Biden’s comment about removing
Russian President Vladimir Putin from power in a dramatic speech in Warsaw, Poland.
For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” Biden cried out as he finished his speech. “God bless you all and may God defend our freedom.
It was unclear whether or not Biden’s comment was part of his prepared text.
But the White House soon released a statement to reporters questioning Biden’s apparent call for regime change.
The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region,” a statement attributed to a senior White House official read. “He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.
This is the third time the White House has had to clarify Biden’s remarks during his trip to Europe." Breitbart

Friday, March 25, 2022

Aussie Commentator Calls For Solomon Islands to Be Invaded Over Security Deal With China

"An Australian commentator has called upon Canberra to “invade” the Solomon Islands
before the Pacific nation seals its security agreement with China. “There is no way that Australia can allow this deal to proceed,” David Llewellyn-Smith, founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness, wrote in a column published on Friday.
The bilateral “security cooperation” pact in question envisages Chinese vessels carrying out “logistical replenishments”, “stopovers” and “transition” in the Pacific nation, according to a leaked draft of the security agreement.
It also states that “relevant forces of China can be used to protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects” on the Solomon Islands." Sputnik
 

Biden AGAIN Admits Sanctions Don’t Work After Announcing More Sanctions

"Biden announced more sanctions against Russia before telling a reporter than he never said
sanctions would work.
Biden announced that Russian lawmakers and defence companies should “share the pain” of sanctions: Biden snapped at a reporter who stated “Sir, deterrence didn’t work,” and further asked “What makes you think Vladimir Putin will alter course based on the action you’ve taken today?”
Let’s get something straight. Do you remember, if you covered me from the very beginning, I did not say that, in fact, the sanctions would deter him,” Biden sniped back.
He added, “Sanctions never deter. You keep talking about that. Sanctions never deter. The maintenance of sanctions, the maintenance of sanctions, the increasing the pain, and the demonstration why I asked for this NATO meeting today is to be sure that after a month, we will sustain what we’re doing, not just next month, the following month, but for the remainder of this entire year. That’s what will stop him.
You believe the actions today will have an impact on making Russia change course in Ukraine?” the reporter further inquired.
That’s not what I said. You’re playing a game with me,” Biden blasted back “I know. The answer is no. I think what happens is we have to demonstrate — the purpose, the single most important thing is for us to stay unified, and the world continue to focus on what a brute this guy is.” SummitNews