Are you going to pretend that Finland and Sweden are part of the Rus too?
Or that nuclear brinksmanship is a joke?
—
Again, I’m no Kremlinologist. But I’m guessing the average Russian oligarch or FSB general would rather not die in a nuclear war over Ukraine. Ukraine! Way more fun to hang out with Ms. Chelyabinsk 2021.
And history suggests strongman regimes collapse very suddenly - especially when the collapse comes from the elites rather a popular uprising. One minute you’re giving orders, the next you’re on a one-way hall pass to Lubyanka, conveniently connected via underground tunnel to the Kremlin.
"To Putin apologists: At what point do you wake up?"
"Again, I’m no Kremlinologist. But I’m guessing the average..."
Read those two lines, Alex. That's your problem right there - name calling people who might know more than you about this subject in one breath, and then professing your ignorance in the next.
Although both are sneerily dismissive, the former makes more sense than the latter. Vaccines are a very mixed bag. There is only one Putin. He has clearly stated geo-political objectives and applies a consistent modus operandi in pursuit of them.
I am hoping that most of us subscribed to Alex for an independent voice, not just to find another echo chamber that was more amenable to our own points of view. I certainly did. We should welcome opposing viewpoints. Certainly, many would disagree with what has been written in Unreported Truths. Alex has been correct about much. He is often wrong as well. His point of view is independent, well-researched and well supported with citations. It is difficult to find these qualities in journalism on any other platform.
Well, this post is a glaring exception. Again, the point is not that his subscribers wish to avoid reading opposing points of view. It's that they wish to not be name-called and denigrated for no reason.
Typical anti-Russian bias seen in NYT journalists. Obviously Russia would say there will be consequences to joinng NATO, a military alliance whose entite purpose is to corner Russia... Meanwhile, every country up to and including Canada says there will be consequences to everything Putin does or does not do.
I’m sure Putin is shaking in his boots, at BlackFaceHitler’s hanky waving and lithping empty threats. There’s nothing like a hypocrite making accusations of others which they are guilty of themselves. Trudeau is a vacuous, hypocritical empty suited poseur.
Exactly, they warned NATO many many times that continual violation of the NATO not expanding close to them would have consequences, and now the same people acting shocked is just exposing them as liars
No one in the west cried when Turkey invaded Cyprus.
There were no mass sanction when USA invaded Iraq, for zero reason at all, and caused 600k+ deaths. Why this level of freak out?
It's not like this came out of nowhere, either. Maybe a Russian leader would have eventually invaded or politically absorbed the Ukraine for some other reason, but we didn't even try to address Russian concerns. Strong possibility this doesn't happen, or happens MUCH later, by letting Russia join NATO when Putin asked Clinton or Bush Jr. An open door for everyone but Russia!
I am not aware of any diplomatic efforts initiated by Russian side to draw attention to their concerns. Instead, they brutally attacked neighboring country, just as they did in Georgia, Chechenia and , recently, Kazakhstan. The problem is the psychotic leader of Russia and the oligarchy that has been supporting his imperialistic views.
Yup. That’s how it works. They blow it up and you pay them to rebuild. Cyprus is too small and unknown by Americans to get much sympathy to fund. It’s a grift. Contractors in Afghanistan were paid 6 trillion dollars.
Until a few days ago, I disliked Putin less than our own leaders. Now I'm getting well tired of his apologists - and that's exactly what they are - and I'm donating to Defend Ukraine on GiveSendGo, hoping the Ukrainians get a piece of his ass. There is no excuse for invading Ukraine and now threatening Sweden & Norway. Putin is a thug.
On the other hand, I hope folks here are reading Glenn Greenwald's articles from the last couple days. A tiny island of reason in a sea of insanity.
Russia reminded Sweden and Finland about their all-important neutrality. Finland should remember it well having lost two wars against The Soviet Union, one of them as an ally of Germany.
Nothing else. If Finland would be foolish enough to act like Ukraine in becoming NATO's tool, nothing good would come out of that for Finland! Neutrality is a common sense approach that works for peace.
The minute you realize that domestic politics and even geopolitics is akin to big-time TV ' 'rassling it all makes sense. One Big Club, roles and scripts assigned, they laugh backstage together at the people who eat it up. How else do Carville and Matlin coexist? Same w Kellyann and George.
FDR acknowledged it saying, "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
It's all about ushering in nwo using problem, reaction and predetermined solution. Hegellian dialectic.
Do you need to be a "kremlinologist" to have an opinion on Putin? As a "kremlinologist" do you believe "the average Russian oligarch or FSB general would be glad to die in a nuclear war over Ukraine?"
We're not apologists for anything, we just don't swallow every media narrative hook, line, and sinker.
We're not going to run around yelling "Putin man bad" without more data. We are very interested in how much money various U.S. politicians andtheir children have made in Ukraine. And we want to get our own damn house in order before we charge into a foreign war that doesn't affect us.
its all but certain biden intentially pushed putin to invade ukraine. putin didnt make the first move of war, nor the second move, nor the third move. he is reacting to actions from america and ukraine.
Did you happen to notice that Biden shut off the US pipelines and now the U.S. buys 800,000 barrels of oil a day at $100 filling up Putin’s coffers? How much for the Big Guy? 10% is standard for VP Biden but now that he is President Biden you can be assured that he is getting a lot more than 10%.
Russia, China and Energy producers have spent hundreds of millions funding the anti-West climate change hoax to make the US do exactly what’s happened - become weak and dependent upon its adversaries.
not sure how you can defend the american government in any way. millions murdered in the middle east by them. literally millions. the american government, in no uncertain terms, is worse than hitler.
america is attacking russia. russia is defending their people from a literal genocide by literal nazis. if you can't defend that, you're also a literal nazi.
dont kid yourself, america started this war. SAnCtiOnS is just another name for economic war.
putin is not a bad guy. bUt he JailEd POlItIcal diSsiDenTs? so does america. mike flynn ring a bell? non-violent jan 6 protestors ring a bell? the multiple attempted impeachments of trump and now ongoing criminal case against trump via his business ring a bell?
there was a recent study from one of the ivy league universities, and it found public opinion has ZERO impact on government law/policy. we dont live in a democracy. we are no better than russia.
Not sure that “apologist” or “Kremlinologist” could rightly be called name-calling in the same way that “lunatic” or “unhinged” or something like this would be
That's not really an insult, no, but "apologist" sure is. He might as well accuse us of "using Russian talking points," as if not wanting to bring on nuclear winter is a "talking point."
Ukraine is even more complex than that, because prior to 2014, it was a regime that was largely controlled by Russia, and was on the verge of signing an alliance with Russia. I agree a mistake was made trying to install a different regime, unfortunately the U.S. intelligence services still having large budgets means they tend to find enemies to justify their budgets.
This is not to say that Ukraine being part of Russia is good for America, with Putin in charge, it likely isn't overall good.
The biggest mistake we ever made was failing to become true friends with Russia after the cold war like we did with Germany and Japan after WW2.
"This is not to say that Ukraine being part of Russia is good for America, with Putin in charge, it likely isn't overall good."
It is not good for America. Bad foreign policy let this happen. We've also hit Russia with every retaliation up until war. There is no deterrence other than war to stop Russia because of our leaders incompetence, and anything that we won't go to war over is now fair game. NOT GOOD.
NAZIs in Ukraine have been funded and trained by the CIA and are the same and work with ANTIFA in the US. They don’t represent the typical Ukrainian. Just as ANTIFA doesn’t. Although I can hear progressive democrat communists applauding every time ANTIFA burns, maim, kills and riots just as democrats are now parroting their latest talking point that Biden warned the Ukrainians early enough that they had time to flee so it’s all their fault for staying in Ukraine.
Right. It seems the only take based on this article is Putin = Bad. End of "analysis", with that phrase being used quite likely given the simplicity of the take.
NATO pushing to Russia's border? Separatist groups, ASOP, and a number of other groups funded by all different sides? A regional history going back hundreds of years as proxies for larger powers to the West and East?
Nope. Putin = Bad. Or Putin = Good.
Its those sort of deep cuts that brings us coming back here or donating, surely.
Not a good idea to use terms like apologist, just sounds like the msm when they called people's scepticism of the wmd story Saddam apologists.
Nato troops on Russia border is always going to be seen as a threat to Russia. What do you think the US would do if Russia tried to get troops into Canada?
If you want a good historical analysis of how we got here, Lee Smith has an excellent article at Tablet on just that. It is linked from Revolver News and is titled Ukraine's Deadly Gamble. Very good and informative piece.
But Donna if we did that we might look at it rationally.
What does it say about the US Government and media (who are connected) when they don’t want anyone to look at the facts of the situation and the history leading up to it? Anyone who wants us to bypass rational analysis does not have our interests in mind.
I was a little worried when he maligned Malone for no good reason, but I accept differences of opinion. Plus he was still doing a good job of digging up the inconsistencies, hypocrisies and lies concerning the Covid fiasco. But he apparently personally dislikes Putin, and that is affecting his ability for unbiased investigation. I already know the mainstream media opinion on the situation by turning on CNN for 5 minutes any time of the day. I pay for unbiased, deep, investigative journalism. I don't need to pay for mainstream propaganda which is already free.
"But he apparently personally dislikes Putin"...I don't know what "personally" or personality has to do with this, but I think it's fair to say that the whole world dislikes Putin's behavior.
If we don't accept multiple opinions, and at least try to see the other side's point of view, then we will all be dead in WW III.
And yes I realize that there are psychopaths like Hitler who could not be reasoned with, but his motivations and goals were proudly expressed years in advance in his speeches and writings. If you read Putin's writings and listen to his speeches going back years, he is quite a different person.
Okay, please stop with the "Putin apologist." You're pulling the same crap as those who called people "granny killers" and "anti-vaxxers" did. Many things can be true at one. Putin is not a nice guy who shouldn't have invaded Ukraine. Ukraine, and Zelensky, have not exactly been on the up and up (go find Jimmy Dore's videos from Feb 24th and 26th entitled "The Truth About Ukraine" and "White Wash"). Our elite are up to their eyebrows in this sh-t and have caused it for their own interests and there is nobody, other than the elites in this country, that needs to suffer for that, not through high gas prices and higher taxes to build up our military, much less being sent overseas to die in a war. If we're going to feed anyone to the war machine, it should be the talking heads in the media and our politicians. So please just stop. COVID should have taught you at least one thing: you CANNOT trust anything that is filtered through our government or our media.
What no mention of the International Biden crime family? Come on Alex---Uncle Joe won't open up US oil fields to hurt Putin but instead continues to purchase Russian oil thus supporting the evil Vlad Putin.
Biden has the power to de-escalate the situation as you said by opening up the US oil fields. Germany could also keep their nuclear power plants in operation.
If being a *Putin apologist*---cough, cough, ahem, Alex---is a euphemism for being literate in Russian/Ukrainian/Baltic/East Asian global history and geo-politics, then I am proudly a Putin apologist.
I guess you are just a one-trick pony with Covid. You have squandered any credibility remaining, in your pattern of ad hominem flung toward those who disagree with your frankly uneducated tantrums.
And so you now understand the idiom---*journalists* ARE the enemy of the people.
Well, he does know for certain that human activity is "causing" climate change and that anyone who doesn't know that is, perhaps, not unlike all those "Putin apologists" out there in his subscriber list. These are just the rantings of an anti-vaxxer who was kicked off twitter though, so what do ya expect?
Under the circumstances, I don't think Putin is in any position to threaten the Finns. There's some serious history there. If the Ukrainians are a problem now, go ahead, Vlad. Poke the Finns.
Meanwhile I'm keeping a tally of Everything Joe Biden has Fucked Up in Less Than Two Years.
And TV Talking Heads are questioning if Putin has lost his marbles. I give you Joe "Brandon."
So we have a battle of wits between unarmed opponents.
I don't know the full history or their relationship but the red line for Russia is further eastward expansion of NATO, if Finland chooses to join NATO that's eastward expansion. They have been clear about that.
The US is the only country that gets to have its military in any country it wishes. And most of our citizens think that is just fine and dandy because we are the good guys. And most of those countries think it is just fine because it means we pay for their protection and our and their bureaucrats get to skim personal profits off the top. It doesn't matter whether Putin or any other leader or dictator is nice or a big meany, we need to get the hell out of all other countries and see what the international picture looks like when we aren't tipping the scales one way or the other. Our tax dollars should be spent on US!
I think CNN or the NYT have a spot for you. Your lack of awareness of the history of the region, of Russia, and of NATO's actions over decades, and your unwillingness to "do the science", i.e. your homework, before mindlessly spouting a shop-worn narrative is very surprising and disappointing. Time to step out of your narrative bubble.
Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out, as many geopolitical experts have pointed out, that this war would not have happened if the West had respected the agreements with Russia not to expand NATO eastward? Are you going to call me a Putin apologist for pointing out that the West now sending weapons to Ukraine is tantamount to murder, because the only thing it accomplishes is the killing of young innocent Russians and Ukranians? Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out there could be a political settlement TODAY, with many lives saved, if the West would acquiesce to sone reasonable demands of the Russians. Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out that making Putin the bogeyman is media mind control BULLSHIT. I could go on for the rest of time on, but since there seems to be no end to your hubris why bother.
Remember the lies of Trump Russian Collusion? Remember the two years of lies over covid? Remember the Garland DOJ targeting parents who stood up to school boards? Remember the corrupt FBI, CIA, DOJ, CDC, BigPharma, BigTech, remember Tony "Science" Fauci? Remember Bill Gates? The USA has been meddling in Ukraine for years. Remember Barisma? Hunter Biden sitting on a Ukrainian energy board? Remember Biden telling some Ukrainia official to fire the person investigating Hunter? AND WE'RE APOLOGISTS? Amazing. Basically ever national USA institution is corrupt, but suddenly PUTIN MAN BAD! Where have I heard all that before? But go ahead and keep doubling down, Alex.
Alex, as much as I appreciate all your COVID journalism, your knowledge of the Slavic world is simply non-existent to be voicing an opinion. Your ignorance of the topic makes you no better than a vaccine-pusher, or COVID hysteric. Understanding the Western World and its hostile actions towards Eastern Europe, I suggest reading Intermarium by Mackinder.
Ukraine, unfortunately was becoming a western puppet. The western media turned a blind eye to the genocide in Donbas. For the last 8 long years the people of Luhansk and Donetsk have had there homes, school, and hospitals shelled. Thousands of casualties, men, women, and children, have died under the nationalistic, and down right Nazi behavior of the current government.
Western media has ignored the cries of the Donbas region as to not shine any light on there legitimate plight; only because of the false belief that it furthers Russia's political interest, a laughable concept.
After 8 years of shelling, of murder innocent women and children, with no running water (which the Ukrainians turned off long ago), after no access to basic necessities to life; the fascist Nazi-like Ukrainian puppet government was planning take back those regions by any force necessary.
Nobody likes war Alex, but the western world will never ever admit that the Ukrainians aren't anything more than the victim here, of an unprovoked attack. You cannot possibly be that blind or ignorant of the facts to think that surely something else is array. Why not educate yourself on Ukraine, and Russian speakers within it. Why not educate yourself on why a fascist Nationalist government which was put in place after the US sponsored Maidan, would have been extremely damaging to the Russian speakers of Ukraine.
Or better yet? stop typing. The biggest problem in todays world is an opinion by those who simply have no qualification to issue one. If COVID has taught you anything; its easy to mass market an opinion from the Western World.
'Understanding the Western World and its hostile actions towards Eastern Europe"? Seems like for you "Eastern Europe" only consists of Russia (including East Ukraine) and Belorussia - and you DO realize that there are A LOT of Ukraines (just like in Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Baltics) that desperately want NATO (and other "Western hostilities"), a wish, again and again DENIED by NATO, obviously to half-heartedly - but don't act like it's only poor Pro-Russians in "East Europe" that are victims of "Western hostilities": they must be very masochistic then!
Eastern Europe, and I include all Slavic nations into the fold, absolutely. If you believe that the Western World, NATO, Western Europe care whatsoever about countries like Poland, Czech, or Hungary; than I urge you to hit the history books.
These nations are nothing more than purchased democracy. I'm sure a Ezra Pound quote on democracy in Europe would be best fitting here. Eastern Europe is nothing more than a slave colony for the west, baby producing factories to export into Germany and/or the UK. They plundered the populations, and who ever stayed was converted to live there life of debt bondage. Elected puppet governments will want NATO, but as history has proven, they will be abondond. Nobody will stand up for Poland if Russia invaded; why would they? Its a political pawn, a buffer zone inbetween Russia. Infact Maidan was funded by the current US controlled political party, the PiS.
A laughable concept to believe that the slavic world would ever be defended by the germanic one. Its called proxy warfare, and Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Baltics, are nothing more than pawns. The populations are easily manipulated into hating the Russian due to USSR and anti-communist sentiment; even though these states are still die-hard socialist. The West is, and always will be a hostile threat to the slavic world, as MacKinder put it, true global domination has to include Russia.
Actually, I think a lot of ppl in the west care about Eastern Europe (definitely no less then Eastern European care about Westerners!), though its political class might be as cynical as everywhere else!
Apart from that, "not caring" doesn't necessarily mean hostility: u might also just don't give a shit or just focus on egoistic advantages - which is, let me tell you a secret, just the way it is all over the world! It's just the same lame "reasoning" of any Anti-West hater: they allow the west to only altruisticly "care" about others like that's their only right to exist! So why argue with your hate since hate is irrational!? East Europe was a literal "slave colony" for the Ottomans and Muslim slave trade beyond - before the evil west abandoned slavery: equating the freedom and living standard in Poland, Czech, Hungary etc. to that horror seems like a bit of a stretch - but sure, Eastern migration to the west would be way less if Eastern Europe wouldn't have been westernized, but still remained horrific East block ... only with still some impenetrable borderwall including land mines and self-firing systems!
But definitely no need to argue when any pro-Western sentiment is only due to "manipulation" - and never some genuine notion or result of legitimate reasoning (that's exclusive privilege of Anti-West experts), but I guess their Russophobia doesn't need more "manipulation" according to their history (or current events like: THIS WAR) than today's "Naziphobia" of Russians that we all have to acknowledge when being lectured how sensible the Russians are against alleged Ukrainian "Neo-Nazis". I can be wrong, but to me it seems less of a "hostile threat" for a country to be abandoned by the west when "invaded by Russia" than: the invader!?
There is always “some” type of person somewhere, not sure why Alex decided to comment on something that is significant or even close to being significant.
1) When the USSR fell, the George H.W. Bush administration pledged to Gorbachev that NATO would not push further east in Europe as that would be recognized as a legitimate national security concern to Russia. Since that pledge in 1991, NATO has invited, among others, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovakia, and they have all joined NATO. The only two large countries left, both of which have long borders with Russia, are Belarus and Ukraine. U.S. foreign policymakers and experts, for years after the fall of the USSR, acknowledged that eastward expansion of NATO was, and had to be, a red line for Russia and that such a position was entirely rational. Putin has always insisted, again and again, that this push of NATO eastward was a provocation that would not have good outcomes. Here we are at those bad outcomes.
2) Yanukovych was elected president of Ukraine in 2010 in a democratically free and fair election. In time, he rejected the Ukrainian-European Association Agreement and decided to strengthen Ukraine’s ties to Russia.
3) The U.S. and the West took issue with this and in 2014 promoted and paid $6 billion for an uprising in Ukraine against the Yanukovych government. This was, simply put, another regime change operation. The orchestration of the coup by the U.S. was documented by the leaked phone call between Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state at that time and then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt. They discussed, among other things, who should replace Yanukovych once he was ousted.
4) The protests were fueled by the U.S. and the West, as protests were paid for, encouraged and egged on. Those Ukrainians who wanted Yanukovych gone were Ruossophobic ultra-nationalists and neo-Nazis. It is known but not widely reported by the MSM, then or now, that the snipers who ratcheted up the protests by shooting both protestors and policemen were not sent and instructed by Yanukovych but by others, most likely some fascistic anti-Russia element. This was what a violent, armed coup, an actual insurrection, looks like. Yanukovych and other officials had to flee the country with their families as armed militiamen stormed the halls of government.
5) Ultra-nationalist militia members began attacks on ethnic Russians, gay people, Jews, and others who are considered by the pro-Nazi extremists to be untermenschen, sub-humans. The pro-West, “democratic” authorities installed after the coup did nothing to stop the attacks or prosecute the extremists.
6) The militias were incorporated into the Ukrainian armed forces.
7) A 2017 Amnesty International report stated that Kiev had lost control of the radical groups. Some statements from militia members over the years since the coup have stated that eventually they might have to oust the existing government and install a more ultra-nationalist regime.
8) Attacks by Ukrainian forces and militias on the Donbas region where ethnic Russians live, including Donetsk and Luhansk (these two cities have asked Putin to recognize them as independent republics), have continued unabated for the years since the coup.
9) Putin is a realpolitik leader. He is not a new Hitler, nor a madman. The neocons hate him and Russia. The American people have been indoctrinated for a long time to despise him and Russians.
10) All of the above is overly simplified. Surely every point is more complex and far from black and white. But the mainstream narrative doesn't much care about these points.
It appears to me that that the U.S. has been playing a bait-the-bear game for a long time. Putting into effect the idea that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” the U.S. has enabled and fed the growth of fascism in Ukraine. Paying and propping up “rebels” in every country in which we have intervened and brought about regime change has resulted not in “democracy” and “freedom,” but in failed states, intensified ethnic rivalry and hatred, and social chaos.
Read Putin’s speech made on 2/24 (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24). It is nothing if not rational and sensible. That does not make him a “good” guy. We could even go down the rabbit hole and consider the possibility that he is a WEFer. The Democrats and Republicans put on good theater, causing confusion, division, and disillusionment rather than enlightening the public by telling truth and acting out of moral conviction. Most of the politicians on both sides act like outright foes while seeking power and privilege and profit from the same wellspring of corruption. Maybe this Ukraine crisis is also theater, but on the international stage. Who knows!
We each have some bits of truth-aligned understanding and each of us has multiple ego filters to keep us out of ideological discrepancy and cognitive dissonance. Bottom line for me, Salome, is that Alex Berenson has done a great service in keeping his readers up-to-date about the Covid racket. I'll leave it at that.
Great comment, the propaganda to ignore the victims of ukraine's coup and civil war oppressing russians is disgusting. They pretend those lives dont matter and putin is jsut some mad man..
It's like some of those in power are just playing a game. That's well-known. But some of their games are so dangerous, let alone inhumane, as you point out. Years of condemning Putin for some legitimate things but mostly for made-up things...leads to distrust all around which can very easily lead to political violence. Despite plans and plots, there's always that x-factor not taken into account that can precipitate a conflagration.
This comment is THE BEST one I've read (out of literally hundreds on this and other articles), and should have WAY MORE likes/hearts. BRAVO, Vidalia!!!
@Alex, sounds as if you actually (still) believe the Trump-Russia Collusion hoax, PROVEN to be a DEMOCRAT spying operation and psyop against Trump. Where are your "unreported truths?" Is this more of your NYT roots and anti-Trump/Populist resentment coming out? In comments, I've seen no "Putin apologists" as you allege. Rather, I see comments from logical people who question everything from media large and small. I wonder why so many people in one place would question their media, government, Intel. Hmm. Let me think about this and get back to you. Sheesh!
2 weeks ago Zelensky was considered a super corrupt puppet responsible for Ukraine's falling economy. The media has really done a number to make him appear "good". He's continuing to violate the Minsk agreement(ceasefire with rebel east ukrainians that dont want the nazi militia in power after they killed protestors burning them alive) and he openly said he refuses to negotiate. This is one of the reasons Putin attacked, the guy is no hero
He's an actor and all of the pictures of him in military gear are years old. Not sure what he is doing that is brave? Because he's staying in a city in which Russia is clearly trying to minimize casualties in? Sorry. This is the same bravery we saw from Saddam Hussein.
In a world where we are told Evil is Good, men can have babies, vaccines work, freedom truckers are terrorists, and Joe Biden is competent, is it possible that the messaging on this conflict is also upside-down?
When corrupt Western governments all pull for one side in a conflict, perhaps we should be skeptical? It is possible that this is a conflict of competing evil philosophies and one of them has to lose before the other can be defeated?
Either way, it won’t be Alex that shapes my opinion when he has trouble figuring out his own.
Alex , stick to vax issues where you have some credibility. Your cartoonish dabbling in foreign policy is strictly “blue check”. Pointing out the 30. years of State Department and “Intelligence Community" shenanigans in Ukraine is hardly "Putin apologetics" . If it is then your criticism of Big Pharma/Establishment Covid propaganda must also be anti-science hysteria . Grow up Alex, the world of realpolitik is more complicated than your fantasy bubble where Atticus Finch is a Deus ex machina waiting to slay the horrible Putin.
Seems to me that Putin is only trying to scare us with a little nuclear sabre rattling. And it will work. After all, we are the same West that spent the last two years terrorized by a virus with a kill rate of nearly zero.
Alex, at what point are you going to realize that NATO (which no longer has any legitimate reason to even exist after the collapse of the USSR) expanding closer & closer to Russia's borders has been a continuous, sustained act of aggression?
Putin has tried reasoning with Western powers for many years over this, but his peaceful attempts at cooperation & diplomacy were continually, disrespectfully ignored.
If an anti-U.S. military organization inducted Canada into its membership, and expressed interest in Mexico joining too, and intended to set up "defensive" weaponry that could strike the U.S. within minutes, how do you think U.S. leaders would respond?
Isn't NATO's purpose to provide defensive deterrent (buffer). Don't "strong fences make for good neighbors"? Maybe I'm just naive, but I can't see how defending yourself is an act of aggression.
NATO was meant as a buffer against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which collapsed at the end of 1991, just over 30 years ago. Since then, NATO didn't dissolve, but instead expanded, creeping closer & closer to Russia's doorstep. These NATO countries house weapons that can strike Russia, and from Ukraine it would only take minutes---Putin likened this to a knife being held to Russia's throat.
Go re-read my original post and consider how the U.S. would react if Canada joined an anti-U.S. military organization (which also wanted Mexico to join them).
"Nato didn't dissolve, but instead expanded, creeping closer & closer to Russia's doorstep". NATO has always been on Russia's doorstep, nothing new there. Expansion? It has more members (12 when it began, 30 now). NATO is basically a "defensive" mutual aid society, never an aggressor. "These NATO countries house weapons that can strike Russia..."). You seem to be implying that the former Warsaw Pact countries, that are now NATO members, have nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at Russia. This is not true. Three NATO members have nuclear weapons (France, UK and US), and they are not forward deployed to those eastern European nations. Canada/Mexico have every right to join any organization that would provide them security from an aggressive, nefarious neighbor.
"NATO has always been on Russia's doorstep..." No it hasn't. The Russian government has been stating clearly for over 15 years that Ukrainian accession into NATO is a bright red national security line for them that they wouldn't permit it to cross. Why the fuck are we trying to bring Ukraine into NATO? We have no strategic interests there. The best thing for Ukraine, Russia, the US and everyone else would be for it to be neutral and to trade freely with Russia and the rest of Europe. That's exactly what the Russian government has been asking for over and over again, and we've responded by flipping them the bird and telling them that we're going to do whatever we want and they can just suck it.
On another note, I'm heartened by the comments on this thread. Would the author of this Substack have drawn as solid a lesson from what he's written as they have.
Germany as de facto leader of EU? Germany as historical menace to its neighbours?Germany are lost, scared of both their past and future. The history is so deep and complex in Europe that no one can act in good conscience. Ukraine is a hotch-potch of Poles, Hungars, Germans, Bulgars, Slavs and Russians...It’s history littered with genocides, expulsions and bitter rivalries. No person alive can navigate this crisis gracefully. I pray Putin is tactically angling for a sensible diplomatic solution from a position of strength. If Germany has a role, it needs quietly explain to the hawkish that Geopolitics played out in this part of the world has the potential to rekindle ancient tribalism we thought lost to the sands of time. A deeper call to humanity might be sensible too.
Yes, Germany is the de facto leader of the EU. It was a menace to its neighbors, and paid a horrific price for its past actions, as it should have. But, we're now in the 21st century and Germany needs to act like a leader when problems happen in its backyard.
We have problems with China and our southern boarder. More than enough to keep Brandon busy before his daily pudding and nap.
Therein lies the problem. Distractions real or cultivated provide cover for the sleepy, greedy and aimless. I suspect most western leaders have got too comfortable in a rather false paradigm. Merkel has gone and for all her faults and errors had at least some gravitas. We have a paucity of leadership generally and it will cost us all.
Ukraine joining NATO is a security threat to RF. They’ve tried to settle the civil war in Ukraine using diplomacy for 8 years. With all due respect, you’re on the wrong side of history on this one.
Ukraine is a giant money laundering machine for the deep state. Putin doesn't want Ukraine to have threatening weapons near their border any more than we wanted Cuba to have them. The deep staters of the US have bioweapons labs set up in Ukraine probably to create more gain of function problems to help them in creating more chaos to further their global reset ambitions.
The whole country has been hijacked by the deep staters. Why are Pelosi's, Kerry's, and Biden's kids set up in high paying token positions in companies in Ukraine? They are probably helping to do the laundry. Putin may be helping himself out by preventing an adversary from setting up offensive or defensive weapons on his border while at the same time rooting out the corruption. of the deep state in Ukraine. That would surely explain why all the dirty democrats are screaming bloody murder about this country that we don't even have an agreement with. What they are possibly trying to prevent is the loss of their money making laundering machine.
"To Putin apologists: At what point do you wake up?"
"Again, I’m no Kremlinologist. But I’m guessing the average..."
Read those two lines, Alex. That's your problem right there - name calling people who might know more than you about this subject in one breath, and then professing your ignorance in the next.
Could see this headline at the new york times: "To anti-vaxxers: At what point do you wake up?"
How is Putin apologist any different from anti-vaxxer?
These two dark forces converge often. But I suspect Alex is more concerned about IVMFanataPutinPologists. Truly the darkest of the dark. Beware.
Maybe David Frum can tell us all more.
Although both are sneerily dismissive, the former makes more sense than the latter. Vaccines are a very mixed bag. There is only one Putin. He has clearly stated geo-political objectives and applies a consistent modus operandi in pursuit of them.
He's 100% ignorant, still feels the need to spout off. I suppose he thinks Sean Penn looks manly in his army gear. LOL.
Sean Penn has as much to do with The Ukraine as I do with CRISPER tech.
An arrogant mean crook politician was going down the stairs = A condescending con, descending.
I am hoping that most of us subscribed to Alex for an independent voice, not just to find another echo chamber that was more amenable to our own points of view. I certainly did. We should welcome opposing viewpoints. Certainly, many would disagree with what has been written in Unreported Truths. Alex has been correct about much. He is often wrong as well. His point of view is independent, well-researched and well supported with citations. It is difficult to find these qualities in journalism on any other platform.
Well, this post is a glaring exception. Again, the point is not that his subscribers wish to avoid reading opposing points of view. It's that they wish to not be name-called and denigrated for no reason.
Gosh, I guess I have thicker skin than all that. Results of years of finger wagging from my mom and two big sisters, I guess.
That'll do it.
Typical anti-Russian bias seen in NYT journalists. Obviously Russia would say there will be consequences to joinng NATO, a military alliance whose entite purpose is to corner Russia... Meanwhile, every country up to and including Canada says there will be consequences to everything Putin does or does not do.
I’m sure Putin is shaking in his boots, at BlackFaceHitler’s hanky waving and lithping empty threats. There’s nothing like a hypocrite making accusations of others which they are guilty of themselves. Trudeau is a vacuous, hypocritical empty suited poseur.
That’s being kind.
Tell us what you really think.
Exactly, they warned NATO many many times that continual violation of the NATO not expanding close to them would have consequences, and now the same people acting shocked is just exposing them as liars
They weren’t so anti-Stalin.
No one in the west cried when Turkey invaded Cyprus.
There were no mass sanction when USA invaded Iraq, for zero reason at all, and caused 600k+ deaths. Why this level of freak out?
It's not like this came out of nowhere, either. Maybe a Russian leader would have eventually invaded or politically absorbed the Ukraine for some other reason, but we didn't even try to address Russian concerns. Strong possibility this doesn't happen, or happens MUCH later, by letting Russia join NATO when Putin asked Clinton or Bush Jr. An open door for everyone but Russia!
I am not aware of any diplomatic efforts initiated by Russian side to draw attention to their concerns. Instead, they brutally attacked neighboring country, just as they did in Georgia, Chechenia and , recently, Kazakhstan. The problem is the psychotic leader of Russia and the oligarchy that has been supporting his imperialistic views.
Great analysis.
Yup. That’s how it works. They blow it up and you pay them to rebuild. Cyprus is too small and unknown by Americans to get much sympathy to fund. It’s a grift. Contractors in Afghanistan were paid 6 trillion dollars.
Alex, you failed by using the word "apologists". Its an embarrassing mistake.
Are you an anti-vax " apologist"? You label an undefined and diverse group of people by refusing to acknowledge real concerns. You failed.
He's certainly an "anti-early-treatment" apologist.
Until a few days ago, I disliked Putin less than our own leaders. Now I'm getting well tired of his apologists - and that's exactly what they are - and I'm donating to Defend Ukraine on GiveSendGo, hoping the Ukrainians get a piece of his ass. There is no excuse for invading Ukraine and now threatening Sweden & Norway. Putin is a thug.
On the other hand, I hope folks here are reading Glenn Greenwald's articles from the last couple days. A tiny island of reason in a sea of insanity.
https://greenwald.substack.com/p/war-propaganda-about-ukraine-becoming
https://systemupdate.substack.com/p/rumble-live-transcript-the-war-in
You got it, baby.
A guy reporting from Kiev:
What Russia Wants From Its Invasion of Ukraine—and Why Zelensky Is Evil -- Coach Red Pill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vdiEABLFoo
Russia reminded Sweden and Finland about their all-important neutrality. Finland should remember it well having lost two wars against The Soviet Union, one of them as an ally of Germany.
Russia lost four wars to Finland. This is why Finland remained independent country.
Yep. Wars of Russian aggression. It would be amusing if Ukraine managed to "Finlandize" Russia.
Or else?
Nothing else. If Finland would be foolish enough to act like Ukraine in becoming NATO's tool, nothing good would come out of that for Finland! Neutrality is a common sense approach that works for peace.
Translation: Or else.
The minute you realize that domestic politics and even geopolitics is akin to big-time TV ' 'rassling it all makes sense. One Big Club, roles and scripts assigned, they laugh backstage together at the people who eat it up. How else do Carville and Matlin coexist? Same w Kellyann and George.
FDR acknowledged it saying, "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
It's all about ushering in nwo using problem, reaction and predetermined solution. Hegellian dialectic.
Have to agree with you. Alex reveals his leftist proclivities
The problem is that Putin's apologists know $hit. By the way, Putine escaped from Russia and now hiding in Ural mountains. Bah-ha-ha!
same with calling names to Dr. Malone ... I was wrong about Alex, he's just a greedy egomaniac
this is on par with "look at how Iran threatens us by putting their country in the middle of all our military bases" LOL
Do you need to be a "kremlinologist" to have an opinion on Putin? As a "kremlinologist" do you believe "the average Russian oligarch or FSB general would be glad to die in a nuclear war over Ukraine?"
Time for me to unsubscribe
We're not apologists for anything, we just don't swallow every media narrative hook, line, and sinker.
We're not going to run around yelling "Putin man bad" without more data. We are very interested in how much money various U.S. politicians andtheir children have made in Ukraine. And we want to get our own damn house in order before we charge into a foreign war that doesn't affect us.
Has anyone, except a very few, mentioned that the US has 11 established bioweapon labs in Ukraine?
This seems like some kind of "Unreported Truth". Maybe someone could start a Substack to talk about it?
FYI: Wuhan is not in Ukraine. Dah!
http://dilyana.bg/the-pentagon-bio-weapons/
Putin's bull$hit.
https://www.naturalblaze.com/2018/01/bio-weapons-pentagon.html
also check out this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt3Zv-e4n1M
its all but certain biden intentially pushed putin to invade ukraine. putin didnt make the first move of war, nor the second move, nor the third move. he is reacting to actions from america and ukraine.
and this: https://twitter.com/asbmilitary/status/1497346015233560581 (predicted the war based on the direction of US foreign policy in 2015)
and this: https://twitter.com/Suzi3D/status/1497413458836353031
Biolabs are NOT the same as bio weapons labs.
then why are they all under NDAs? why are they all entirely funded by the pentagon?
That’s a lie - you made it up or are a Q-Anon dupe
No, he's correct. Maybe stop getting your 'news' from MSNBC and CNN.
Nah I have seen that lots of places
If that makes us apologists to Saint Berenson the Righteous, then he can eff right off.
It would also be nice to shut down all those biolabs we built and funded in Ukraine since Fauci still thinks he did nothing wrong.
Right. And if the oligarchs are going to take down Putin soon, what would be the point of getting involved??
Did you happen to notice that Biden shut off the US pipelines and now the U.S. buys 800,000 barrels of oil a day at $100 filling up Putin’s coffers? How much for the Big Guy? 10% is standard for VP Biden but now that he is President Biden you can be assured that he is getting a lot more than 10%.
Russia, China and Energy producers have spent hundreds of millions funding the anti-West climate change hoax to make the US do exactly what’s happened - become weak and dependent upon its adversaries.
Follow the money 💰💰💰
How about how much money the politicians, environmentalists and climate change hoaxers have made from Russia?
Putin man is bad. Not sure how you can defend him in any way.
not sure how you can defend the american government in any way. millions murdered in the middle east by them. literally millions. the american government, in no uncertain terms, is worse than hitler.
america is attacking russia. russia is defending their people from a literal genocide by literal nazis. if you can't defend that, you're also a literal nazi.
dont kid yourself, america started this war. SAnCtiOnS is just another name for economic war.
putin is not a bad guy. bUt he JailEd POlItIcal diSsiDenTs? so does america. mike flynn ring a bell? non-violent jan 6 protestors ring a bell? the multiple attempted impeachments of trump and now ongoing criminal case against trump via his business ring a bell?
there was a recent study from one of the ivy league universities, and it found public opinion has ZERO impact on government law/policy. we dont live in a democracy. we are no better than russia.
Abhijit can defend any dictator.
I love dictators and defending dictators! That's why none of my comments defend dictators! It all makes sense!
More ad hominem please! Substance is so boring, let's just put words in peoples' mouths and snark!
Victoria Nuland is the baddy in this!! She, probably more than any other human, is responsible for the calamity in Ukraine/Russia ! Just my opinion!
🤬 SWAMP CREATURE
Calling people you don't agree with names? Did you learn nothing from the Covid hysteria?
Not sure that “apologist” or “Kremlinologist” could rightly be called name-calling in the same way that “lunatic” or “unhinged” or something like this would be
It all comes from the same place, a desire to shut down discussion about something that desperately needs to be discussed.
Point taken however I viewed the use of the word Kremlinologist as someone who is an expert on Russian politics
I was thinking of the stupid "comrade" sarcasm as well. Both that and the "Putin apologist" line are clichés from people who just want to moralize.
That's not really an insult, no, but "apologist" sure is. He might as well accuse us of "using Russian talking points," as if not wanting to bring on nuclear winter is a "talking point."
don't confuse nuanced opinions with support for Putin
I think the tough thing for people to understand is disagreement with our foreign policy is not support for bad people.
Then again, we might just have different goals. Most people on 'team reality' when it comes to the Ukraine situation aren't Globalists.
Ukraine is even more complex than that, because prior to 2014, it was a regime that was largely controlled by Russia, and was on the verge of signing an alliance with Russia. I agree a mistake was made trying to install a different regime, unfortunately the U.S. intelligence services still having large budgets means they tend to find enemies to justify their budgets.
This is not to say that Ukraine being part of Russia is good for America, with Putin in charge, it likely isn't overall good.
The biggest mistake we ever made was failing to become true friends with Russia after the cold war like we did with Germany and Japan after WW2.
The Military Industrial Complex needs and will always want a "boogeyman" to fund its expansion. We were warned.
Ike was right.
"This is not to say that Ukraine being part of Russia is good for America, with Putin in charge, it likely isn't overall good."
It is not good for America. Bad foreign policy let this happen. We've also hit Russia with every retaliation up until war. There is no deterrence other than war to stop Russia because of our leaders incompetence, and anything that we won't go to war over is now fair game. NOT GOOD.
Well said !
NAZIs in Ukraine have been funded and trained by the CIA and are the same and work with ANTIFA in the US. They don’t represent the typical Ukrainian. Just as ANTIFA doesn’t. Although I can hear progressive democrat communists applauding every time ANTIFA burns, maim, kills and riots just as democrats are now parroting their latest talking point that Biden warned the Ukrainians early enough that they had time to flee so it’s all their fault for staying in Ukraine.
Right. It seems the only take based on this article is Putin = Bad. End of "analysis", with that phrase being used quite likely given the simplicity of the take.
NATO pushing to Russia's border? Separatist groups, ASOP, and a number of other groups funded by all different sides? A regional history going back hundreds of years as proxies for larger powers to the West and East?
Nope. Putin = Bad. Or Putin = Good.
Its those sort of deep cuts that brings us coming back here or donating, surely.
Exactly
Not a good idea to use terms like apologist, just sounds like the msm when they called people's scepticism of the wmd story Saddam apologists.
Nato troops on Russia border is always going to be seen as a threat to Russia. What do you think the US would do if Russia tried to get troops into Canada?
Exactly! There was this whole thing south of Miami that I think caused a bit of a stir.
Why have NATO? To isolate and threaten a superpower? Abolish nato - full of elitist snobs that hide behind America’s military strength
Haha. Agree, so true.
We saw that happen. Cuban missel crisis.
The Cuban missile crisis was resolved because the US agreed to remove missiles from Turkey. When will the West learn?
exactly
It is on purpose. They want a war. I realize u know this. Just pointing it out for others. I am outa here. I keep getting censored off.
Why don’t you dive into the history of what brought us to this point instead of sounding like the MSM. Maybe you do belong on Twitter.
Good points, I want an historic analysis of the geopolitical hostility pushed on Russia by nato and its countries
If you want a good historical analysis of how we got here, Lee Smith has an excellent article at Tablet on just that. It is linked from Revolver News and is titled Ukraine's Deadly Gamble. Very good and informative piece.
Yes I read that article it was a very good analysis.
Good summary https://powerglobal.us/2022/02/26/ukraines-deadly-gamble/
It was a very good read!
I was in revolver yesterday and read pat Buchanan’s piece https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/buchanan-did-we-provoke-putins-war-ukraine
I’ll check it out. Thanks
But Donna if we did that we might look at it rationally.
What does it say about the US Government and media (who are connected) when they don’t want anyone to look at the facts of the situation and the history leading up to it? Anyone who wants us to bypass rational analysis does not have our interests in mind.
You can take the journalist out of the mainstream, but you can't take the mainstream out of the journalist.
Stick with Covid. You are out of your league here.
But whatever would we do without his expert takes on global warming??
Really, +10
Covid is done, and Berenstein's takes on everything else are stone cold. Time to unsub tbh.
I was a little worried when he maligned Malone for no good reason, but I accept differences of opinion. Plus he was still doing a good job of digging up the inconsistencies, hypocrisies and lies concerning the Covid fiasco. But he apparently personally dislikes Putin, and that is affecting his ability for unbiased investigation. I already know the mainstream media opinion on the situation by turning on CNN for 5 minutes any time of the day. I pay for unbiased, deep, investigative journalism. I don't need to pay for mainstream propaganda which is already free.
"But he apparently personally dislikes Putin"...I don't know what "personally" or personality has to do with this, but I think it's fair to say that the whole world dislikes Putin's behavior.
This writer thinks Putin's behavior is entirely rational and expected, based on the region's history and recent provocations.
https://niccolo.substack.com/p/fuck-it-russias-final-break-with?utm_source=url
And this vlogger, who is in Kyiv, Ukraine, believes that Zelensky is more dangerous than Putin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vdiEABLFoo
If we don't accept multiple opinions, and at least try to see the other side's point of view, then we will all be dead in WW III.
And yes I realize that there are psychopaths like Hitler who could not be reasoned with, but his motivations and goals were proudly expressed years in advance in his speeches and writings. If you read Putin's writings and listen to his speeches going back years, he is quite a different person.
I won’t be renewing, he is not that informative anymore. His snark has worn thin
I agree with you on this. Not happy about it though. Just when you really like something. It freaking changes.
“IM LEAVING JUST WATCH ME LEAVE!!!!”
Calm down!!!!
“IM STILL LEAVING….HERE I GO EVERYONE!!!”
WE GOT It!!! 🤣
Covid's not done until we trash EVERY SINGLE MEASURE put in place to counteract it. It's gonna be awhile.
You're probably doing him a favor.
Most people aren’t apologist, they just don’t bother to choose sides between authoritarian regimes
I am trying to figure out who are the Putin apologist are that you speak of? Please explain who are these people?
Berenson's Trump derangement syndrome is showing---again.
Despite the fact that Trump just publicly stated he supports Ukraine.
I haven't dumped out my dusty bottle if Smirnoff yet. Do I count?
Only as a rookie for your vodka choices
I think its leftover from college....
Okay, please stop with the "Putin apologist." You're pulling the same crap as those who called people "granny killers" and "anti-vaxxers" did. Many things can be true at one. Putin is not a nice guy who shouldn't have invaded Ukraine. Ukraine, and Zelensky, have not exactly been on the up and up (go find Jimmy Dore's videos from Feb 24th and 26th entitled "The Truth About Ukraine" and "White Wash"). Our elite are up to their eyebrows in this sh-t and have caused it for their own interests and there is nobody, other than the elites in this country, that needs to suffer for that, not through high gas prices and higher taxes to build up our military, much less being sent overseas to die in a war. If we're going to feed anyone to the war machine, it should be the talking heads in the media and our politicians. So please just stop. COVID should have taught you at least one thing: you CANNOT trust anything that is filtered through our government or our media.
YUP. The only people who want war is the rich, criminal elites who will benefit.
Bravo!
This is a 🎯 take!
Glad to see Berenson got his payment from the WEF!
What no mention of the International Biden crime family? Come on Alex---Uncle Joe won't open up US oil fields to hurt Putin but instead continues to purchase Russian oil thus supporting the evil Vlad Putin.
Kind of sounds like Biden's a traitor, eh?
You think?
Biden has the power to de-escalate the situation as you said by opening up the US oil fields. Germany could also keep their nuclear power plants in operation.
🍻
The Hypocrisy is so THICK now, it might even burn well as an alternative fuel source.
Right on Twistertim
That’s right Tank Hough!
If being a *Putin apologist*---cough, cough, ahem, Alex---is a euphemism for being literate in Russian/Ukrainian/Baltic/East Asian global history and geo-politics, then I am proudly a Putin apologist.
I guess you are just a one-trick pony with Covid. You have squandered any credibility remaining, in your pattern of ad hominem flung toward those who disagree with your frankly uneducated tantrums.
And so you now understand the idiom---*journalists* ARE the enemy of the people.
“One trick pony” 🤣 true. Maybe he will start reporting on climate change hoax
Well, he does know for certain that human activity is "causing" climate change and that anyone who doesn't know that is, perhaps, not unlike all those "Putin apologists" out there in his subscriber list. These are just the rantings of an anti-vaxxer who was kicked off twitter though, so what do ya expect?
Well, strike that. I haven’t heard his take climate change
🙏🏻 for all innocent civilians…
Now…
Remind me again:
1) why I hate Russia & love Ukraine
2)why I should surrender my first born kid to protect a corrupt country
3)why US politicians use Ukraine as a slush fund/money laundering facility & I should defend this
4)why the Ukrainian opposition leader is under house arrest & opposition media been shut down…
5)why so much pro-Ukraine propaganda coming out of England & other Western nations?
6)WHY IS JOE BIDEN ON VACATION THIS WEEKEND?
I could go on…but why bother? This is Joe Biden’s fault. Call me names..whatever.
I have no skin in the game but now we have Sunday morning nuke threats & my gas is gonna be $7 a gallon.
81 million votes are pretty quiet.
Thanks Joe.
🎯
Under the circumstances, I don't think Putin is in any position to threaten the Finns. There's some serious history there. If the Ukrainians are a problem now, go ahead, Vlad. Poke the Finns.
Meanwhile I'm keeping a tally of Everything Joe Biden has Fucked Up in Less Than Two Years.
And TV Talking Heads are questioning if Putin has lost his marbles. I give you Joe "Brandon."
So we have a battle of wits between unarmed opponents.
Less than two years? How about 12 months? 😀
Never attack Finland in the winter….or any other time
Bravo!
I grew up in a small community of Finnish immigrants. I say this with respect and admiration: Finns are nuts.
In WW2 the Finns complained about the SS sent to Finland as being weaklings.
The SS was a foppish kind, as my Finnish father-in-law put it.
Later on they had to force them out of Finland.
Finland's border is like 200km from St Petersburg, NATO positioned there is also a problem.
So explain why Putin isn't going into Latvia, Estonia, & Lithuania?
I don't know the full history or their relationship but the red line for Russia is further eastward expansion of NATO, if Finland chooses to join NATO that's eastward expansion. They have been clear about that.
The US is the only country that gets to have its military in any country it wishes. And most of our citizens think that is just fine and dandy because we are the good guys. And most of those countries think it is just fine because it means we pay for their protection and our and their bureaucrats get to skim personal profits off the top. It doesn't matter whether Putin or any other leader or dictator is nice or a big meany, we need to get the hell out of all other countries and see what the international picture looks like when we aren't tipping the scales one way or the other. Our tax dollars should be spent on US!
I think CNN or the NYT have a spot for you. Your lack of awareness of the history of the region, of Russia, and of NATO's actions over decades, and your unwillingness to "do the science", i.e. your homework, before mindlessly spouting a shop-worn narrative is very surprising and disappointing. Time to step out of your narrative bubble.
We need a needle to burst it.
Not even the NYT wants him.
Dude, this is strike two.
He really misses those cocktail parties in DC it seems.
🤣
Alex looks more and more like controlled opposition and neocon.
Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out, as many geopolitical experts have pointed out, that this war would not have happened if the West had respected the agreements with Russia not to expand NATO eastward? Are you going to call me a Putin apologist for pointing out that the West now sending weapons to Ukraine is tantamount to murder, because the only thing it accomplishes is the killing of young innocent Russians and Ukranians? Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out there could be a political settlement TODAY, with many lives saved, if the West would acquiesce to sone reasonable demands of the Russians. Are you going to call me a Putin apologist when I point out that making Putin the bogeyman is media mind control BULLSHIT. I could go on for the rest of time on, but since there seems to be no end to your hubris why bother.
1) No. 2) Yes. 3) Maybe. 4) Yes.
You including the Baltic states in that?
Remember the lies of Trump Russian Collusion? Remember the two years of lies over covid? Remember the Garland DOJ targeting parents who stood up to school boards? Remember the corrupt FBI, CIA, DOJ, CDC, BigPharma, BigTech, remember Tony "Science" Fauci? Remember Bill Gates? The USA has been meddling in Ukraine for years. Remember Barisma? Hunter Biden sitting on a Ukrainian energy board? Remember Biden telling some Ukrainia official to fire the person investigating Hunter? AND WE'RE APOLOGISTS? Amazing. Basically ever national USA institution is corrupt, but suddenly PUTIN MAN BAD! Where have I heard all that before? But go ahead and keep doubling down, Alex.
Joshua some peeps have itsy bitsy memories
At what point does NATO stop moving east? When in Moscow?
Many people *do* want that. Many people are batshit crazy insane.
Alex, as much as I appreciate all your COVID journalism, your knowledge of the Slavic world is simply non-existent to be voicing an opinion. Your ignorance of the topic makes you no better than a vaccine-pusher, or COVID hysteric. Understanding the Western World and its hostile actions towards Eastern Europe, I suggest reading Intermarium by Mackinder.
Ukraine, unfortunately was becoming a western puppet. The western media turned a blind eye to the genocide in Donbas. For the last 8 long years the people of Luhansk and Donetsk have had there homes, school, and hospitals shelled. Thousands of casualties, men, women, and children, have died under the nationalistic, and down right Nazi behavior of the current government.
Western media has ignored the cries of the Donbas region as to not shine any light on there legitimate plight; only because of the false belief that it furthers Russia's political interest, a laughable concept.
After 8 years of shelling, of murder innocent women and children, with no running water (which the Ukrainians turned off long ago), after no access to basic necessities to life; the fascist Nazi-like Ukrainian puppet government was planning take back those regions by any force necessary.
Nobody likes war Alex, but the western world will never ever admit that the Ukrainians aren't anything more than the victim here, of an unprovoked attack. You cannot possibly be that blind or ignorant of the facts to think that surely something else is array. Why not educate yourself on Ukraine, and Russian speakers within it. Why not educate yourself on why a fascist Nationalist government which was put in place after the US sponsored Maidan, would have been extremely damaging to the Russian speakers of Ukraine.
Or better yet? stop typing. The biggest problem in todays world is an opinion by those who simply have no qualification to issue one. If COVID has taught you anything; its easy to mass market an opinion from the Western World.
'Understanding the Western World and its hostile actions towards Eastern Europe"? Seems like for you "Eastern Europe" only consists of Russia (including East Ukraine) and Belorussia - and you DO realize that there are A LOT of Ukraines (just like in Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Baltics) that desperately want NATO (and other "Western hostilities"), a wish, again and again DENIED by NATO, obviously to half-heartedly - but don't act like it's only poor Pro-Russians in "East Europe" that are victims of "Western hostilities": they must be very masochistic then!
Eastern Europe, and I include all Slavic nations into the fold, absolutely. If you believe that the Western World, NATO, Western Europe care whatsoever about countries like Poland, Czech, or Hungary; than I urge you to hit the history books.
These nations are nothing more than purchased democracy. I'm sure a Ezra Pound quote on democracy in Europe would be best fitting here. Eastern Europe is nothing more than a slave colony for the west, baby producing factories to export into Germany and/or the UK. They plundered the populations, and who ever stayed was converted to live there life of debt bondage. Elected puppet governments will want NATO, but as history has proven, they will be abondond. Nobody will stand up for Poland if Russia invaded; why would they? Its a political pawn, a buffer zone inbetween Russia. Infact Maidan was funded by the current US controlled political party, the PiS.
A laughable concept to believe that the slavic world would ever be defended by the germanic one. Its called proxy warfare, and Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia, Baltics, are nothing more than pawns. The populations are easily manipulated into hating the Russian due to USSR and anti-communist sentiment; even though these states are still die-hard socialist. The West is, and always will be a hostile threat to the slavic world, as MacKinder put it, true global domination has to include Russia.
Actually, I think a lot of ppl in the west care about Eastern Europe (definitely no less then Eastern European care about Westerners!), though its political class might be as cynical as everywhere else!
Apart from that, "not caring" doesn't necessarily mean hostility: u might also just don't give a shit or just focus on egoistic advantages - which is, let me tell you a secret, just the way it is all over the world! It's just the same lame "reasoning" of any Anti-West hater: they allow the west to only altruisticly "care" about others like that's their only right to exist! So why argue with your hate since hate is irrational!? East Europe was a literal "slave colony" for the Ottomans and Muslim slave trade beyond - before the evil west abandoned slavery: equating the freedom and living standard in Poland, Czech, Hungary etc. to that horror seems like a bit of a stretch - but sure, Eastern migration to the west would be way less if Eastern Europe wouldn't have been westernized, but still remained horrific East block ... only with still some impenetrable borderwall including land mines and self-firing systems!
But definitely no need to argue when any pro-Western sentiment is only due to "manipulation" - and never some genuine notion or result of legitimate reasoning (that's exclusive privilege of Anti-West experts), but I guess their Russophobia doesn't need more "manipulation" according to their history (or current events like: THIS WAR) than today's "Naziphobia" of Russians that we all have to acknowledge when being lectured how sensible the Russians are against alleged Ukrainian "Neo-Nazis". I can be wrong, but to me it seems less of a "hostile threat" for a country to be abandoned by the west when "invaded by Russia" than: the invader!?
LOL Alex thinking there are loads of Putin apologists out there.
Agreed, who are these people that Putin is referring to? I don't know of any? Not saying there aren't some out there, just don't know who they are?
Some are on this substack for sure
There is always “some” type of person somewhere, not sure why Alex decided to comment on something that is significant or even close to being significant.
Funny, Malone just did a post about the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect and lo and behold - exhibit A, Alex Berenson!
MSM has been pathologically lying for 2 years and all of a sudden they are beacons of truth on a war that is 4 days old ?
Putin is a lot of things, but a cartoon madman he is not.
Lex Putin.
Your snark fails here. How a bout doing some investigative journalism like you do with Covid?
1) When the USSR fell, the George H.W. Bush administration pledged to Gorbachev that NATO would not push further east in Europe as that would be recognized as a legitimate national security concern to Russia. Since that pledge in 1991, NATO has invited, among others, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovakia, and they have all joined NATO. The only two large countries left, both of which have long borders with Russia, are Belarus and Ukraine. U.S. foreign policymakers and experts, for years after the fall of the USSR, acknowledged that eastward expansion of NATO was, and had to be, a red line for Russia and that such a position was entirely rational. Putin has always insisted, again and again, that this push of NATO eastward was a provocation that would not have good outcomes. Here we are at those bad outcomes.
2) Yanukovych was elected president of Ukraine in 2010 in a democratically free and fair election. In time, he rejected the Ukrainian-European Association Agreement and decided to strengthen Ukraine’s ties to Russia.
3) The U.S. and the West took issue with this and in 2014 promoted and paid $6 billion for an uprising in Ukraine against the Yanukovych government. This was, simply put, another regime change operation. The orchestration of the coup by the U.S. was documented by the leaked phone call between Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state at that time and then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt. They discussed, among other things, who should replace Yanukovych once he was ousted.
4) The protests were fueled by the U.S. and the West, as protests were paid for, encouraged and egged on. Those Ukrainians who wanted Yanukovych gone were Ruossophobic ultra-nationalists and neo-Nazis. It is known but not widely reported by the MSM, then or now, that the snipers who ratcheted up the protests by shooting both protestors and policemen were not sent and instructed by Yanukovych but by others, most likely some fascistic anti-Russia element. This was what a violent, armed coup, an actual insurrection, looks like. Yanukovych and other officials had to flee the country with their families as armed militiamen stormed the halls of government.
5) Ultra-nationalist militia members began attacks on ethnic Russians, gay people, Jews, and others who are considered by the pro-Nazi extremists to be untermenschen, sub-humans. The pro-West, “democratic” authorities installed after the coup did nothing to stop the attacks or prosecute the extremists.
6) The militias were incorporated into the Ukrainian armed forces.
7) A 2017 Amnesty International report stated that Kiev had lost control of the radical groups. Some statements from militia members over the years since the coup have stated that eventually they might have to oust the existing government and install a more ultra-nationalist regime.
8) Attacks by Ukrainian forces and militias on the Donbas region where ethnic Russians live, including Donetsk and Luhansk (these two cities have asked Putin to recognize them as independent republics), have continued unabated for the years since the coup.
9) Putin is a realpolitik leader. He is not a new Hitler, nor a madman. The neocons hate him and Russia. The American people have been indoctrinated for a long time to despise him and Russians.
10) All of the above is overly simplified. Surely every point is more complex and far from black and white. But the mainstream narrative doesn't much care about these points.
It appears to me that that the U.S. has been playing a bait-the-bear game for a long time. Putting into effect the idea that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” the U.S. has enabled and fed the growth of fascism in Ukraine. Paying and propping up “rebels” in every country in which we have intervened and brought about regime change has resulted not in “democracy” and “freedom,” but in failed states, intensified ethnic rivalry and hatred, and social chaos.
Read Putin’s speech made on 2/24 (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-24/full-transcript-vladimir-putin-s-televised-address-to-russia-on-ukraine-feb-24). It is nothing if not rational and sensible. That does not make him a “good” guy. We could even go down the rabbit hole and consider the possibility that he is a WEFer. The Democrats and Republicans put on good theater, causing confusion, division, and disillusionment rather than enlightening the public by telling truth and acting out of moral conviction. Most of the politicians on both sides act like outright foes while seeking power and privilege and profit from the same wellspring of corruption. Maybe this Ukraine crisis is also theater, but on the international stage. Who knows!
No rabbit hole: he is a WEF graduate.
I should have known!
We each have some bits of truth-aligned understanding and each of us has multiple ego filters to keep us out of ideological discrepancy and cognitive dissonance. Bottom line for me, Salome, is that Alex Berenson has done a great service in keeping his readers up-to-date about the Covid racket. I'll leave it at that.
Great comment, the propaganda to ignore the victims of ukraine's coup and civil war oppressing russians is disgusting. They pretend those lives dont matter and putin is jsut some mad man..
It's like some of those in power are just playing a game. That's well-known. But some of their games are so dangerous, let alone inhumane, as you point out. Years of condemning Putin for some legitimate things but mostly for made-up things...leads to distrust all around which can very easily lead to political violence. Despite plans and plots, there's always that x-factor not taken into account that can precipitate a conflagration.
This comment is THE BEST one I've read (out of literally hundreds on this and other articles), and should have WAY MORE likes/hearts. BRAVO, Vidalia!!!
Thank you for your feedback TeeJae. I was just adding my two cents as we all struggle to find firm footing amidst the propaganda and war-mongering.
Alex: The MSM is not providing factual data with respect to COVID numbers and risks to people getting the vaxx.
Also Alex: The MSM and the representation of the war between Russia and Ukraine is spot on and Putin is a monster.
Discernment into the fact that there are MANY factors at play here would be wise.
I don't understand this either. It befuddles me. You want to scream, "Have you learned nothing?"
Gell-Mann Amnesia effect in action.
This is a good summary of how the US has been playing Ukraine like a fiddle
https://powerglobal.us/2022/02/26/ukraines-deadly-gamble/
@Alex, sounds as if you actually (still) believe the Trump-Russia Collusion hoax, PROVEN to be a DEMOCRAT spying operation and psyop against Trump. Where are your "unreported truths?" Is this more of your NYT roots and anti-Trump/Populist resentment coming out? In comments, I've seen no "Putin apologists" as you allege. Rather, I see comments from logical people who question everything from media large and small. I wonder why so many people in one place would question their media, government, Intel. Hmm. Let me think about this and get back to you. Sheesh!
The NYT Alex-apples don't fall far from the tree.
You really should do your homework before you spout off.
If the last two years taught anyone anything it is that propaganda is a two way street.
When commenting on these topics, being able to read in other languages helps. Putin places nuclear "deterrent" forces on alert. Lying by omission.
A lot of propaganda out there, for sure. Most of it is coming from the US Government, Repubs and Dems, alike, and the US Pravda.
Watch the TV 'narrative,' too.
Zelensky is Churchill? He's an admirable leader and I can't imagine any other head of state doing what he's doing now.
But Churchill? Seriously?
2 weeks ago Zelensky was considered a super corrupt puppet responsible for Ukraine's falling economy. The media has really done a number to make him appear "good". He's continuing to violate the Minsk agreement(ceasefire with rebel east ukrainians that dont want the nazi militia in power after they killed protestors burning them alive) and he openly said he refuses to negotiate. This is one of the reasons Putin attacked, the guy is no hero
He's an actor and all of the pictures of him in military gear are years old. Not sure what he is doing that is brave? Because he's staying in a city in which Russia is clearly trying to minimize casualties in? Sorry. This is the same bravery we saw from Saddam Hussein.
I heard that on Fox today - "Churchillian". Seriously? LOL!
Zelensky is the puppet of Kolomovsky
In what season of his tv series in which he was president then segued into real president is he Churchill 🤣
In a world where we are told Evil is Good, men can have babies, vaccines work, freedom truckers are terrorists, and Joe Biden is competent, is it possible that the messaging on this conflict is also upside-down?
When corrupt Western governments all pull for one side in a conflict, perhaps we should be skeptical? It is possible that this is a conflict of competing evil philosophies and one of them has to lose before the other can be defeated?
Either way, it won’t be Alex that shapes my opinion when he has trouble figuring out his own.
❤️
THIS!!! Best comment! So true!!!
Stick to the Rona. You're not doing this "branching out thing" very well.
To all the anti-vaxxers, I mean Putin apologists, no discussion other than the given narrative is allowed.
https://nakedemperor.substack.com/p/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-e05?utm_source=url
A tough old girl, that. And widely-travelled!
Alex , stick to vax issues where you have some credibility. Your cartoonish dabbling in foreign policy is strictly “blue check”. Pointing out the 30. years of State Department and “Intelligence Community" shenanigans in Ukraine is hardly "Putin apologetics" . If it is then your criticism of Big Pharma/Establishment Covid propaganda must also be anti-science hysteria . Grow up Alex, the world of realpolitik is more complicated than your fantasy bubble where Atticus Finch is a Deus ex machina waiting to slay the horrible Putin.
Seems to me that Putin is only trying to scare us with a little nuclear sabre rattling. And it will work. After all, we are the same West that spent the last two years terrorized by a virus with a kill rate of nearly zero.
Zing!
Alex truly thinks he is the smartest person in the room.
Alex, at what point are you going to realize that NATO (which no longer has any legitimate reason to even exist after the collapse of the USSR) expanding closer & closer to Russia's borders has been a continuous, sustained act of aggression?
Putin has tried reasoning with Western powers for many years over this, but his peaceful attempts at cooperation & diplomacy were continually, disrespectfully ignored.
If an anti-U.S. military organization inducted Canada into its membership, and expressed interest in Mexico joining too, and intended to set up "defensive" weaponry that could strike the U.S. within minutes, how do you think U.S. leaders would respond?
This is a good summary worth reading.
https://powerglobal.us/2022/02/26/ukraines-deadly-gamble/
Isn't NATO's purpose to provide defensive deterrent (buffer). Don't "strong fences make for good neighbors"? Maybe I'm just naive, but I can't see how defending yourself is an act of aggression.
NATO was meant as a buffer against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which collapsed at the end of 1991, just over 30 years ago. Since then, NATO didn't dissolve, but instead expanded, creeping closer & closer to Russia's doorstep. These NATO countries house weapons that can strike Russia, and from Ukraine it would only take minutes---Putin likened this to a knife being held to Russia's throat.
Go re-read my original post and consider how the U.S. would react if Canada joined an anti-U.S. military organization (which also wanted Mexico to join them).
"Nato didn't dissolve, but instead expanded, creeping closer & closer to Russia's doorstep". NATO has always been on Russia's doorstep, nothing new there. Expansion? It has more members (12 when it began, 30 now). NATO is basically a "defensive" mutual aid society, never an aggressor. "These NATO countries house weapons that can strike Russia..."). You seem to be implying that the former Warsaw Pact countries, that are now NATO members, have nuclear-tipped missiles aimed at Russia. This is not true. Three NATO members have nuclear weapons (France, UK and US), and they are not forward deployed to those eastern European nations. Canada/Mexico have every right to join any organization that would provide them security from an aggressive, nefarious neighbor.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said, "Maybe I'm just naive..."
"NATO has always been on Russia's doorstep..." No it hasn't. The Russian government has been stating clearly for over 15 years that Ukrainian accession into NATO is a bright red national security line for them that they wouldn't permit it to cross. Why the fuck are we trying to bring Ukraine into NATO? We have no strategic interests there. The best thing for Ukraine, Russia, the US and everyone else would be for it to be neutral and to trade freely with Russia and the rest of Europe. That's exactly what the Russian government has been asking for over and over again, and we've responded by flipping them the bird and telling them that we're going to do whatever we want and they can just suck it.
If you want measured analysis go to Glenn Greenwald on substack or his rumble videos. Glenn doesn’t insult his paying subscribers.
And this truly is his wheelhouse.
I'm not sure I've ever heard of a Putin apologist, not even on the shit hole called Twitter.
I think the arrival of this war is a fascinating coincidence - the COVID emergency was winding down, and now - we have a war emergency.
How did that go again? Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. And...
On another note, I'm heartened by the comments on this thread. Would the author of this Substack have drawn as solid a lesson from what he's written as they have.
Lots of people who appeared to be sane suddenly have "Putin Derangement Syndrome." It's remarkable.
Where does Germany stand on all this? After all, it is in their backyard. Meanwhile, our backyard, our southern boarder, is being invaded.
Germany as de facto leader of EU? Germany as historical menace to its neighbours?Germany are lost, scared of both their past and future. The history is so deep and complex in Europe that no one can act in good conscience. Ukraine is a hotch-potch of Poles, Hungars, Germans, Bulgars, Slavs and Russians...It’s history littered with genocides, expulsions and bitter rivalries. No person alive can navigate this crisis gracefully. I pray Putin is tactically angling for a sensible diplomatic solution from a position of strength. If Germany has a role, it needs quietly explain to the hawkish that Geopolitics played out in this part of the world has the potential to rekindle ancient tribalism we thought lost to the sands of time. A deeper call to humanity might be sensible too.
Yes, Germany is the de facto leader of the EU. It was a menace to its neighbors, and paid a horrific price for its past actions, as it should have. But, we're now in the 21st century and Germany needs to act like a leader when problems happen in its backyard.
We have problems with China and our southern boarder. More than enough to keep Brandon busy before his daily pudding and nap.
Therein lies the problem. Distractions real or cultivated provide cover for the sleepy, greedy and aimless. I suspect most western leaders have got too comfortable in a rather false paradigm. Merkel has gone and for all her faults and errors had at least some gravitas. We have a paucity of leadership generally and it will cost us all.
Ukraine joining NATO is a security threat to RF. They’ve tried to settle the civil war in Ukraine using diplomacy for 8 years. With all due respect, you’re on the wrong side of history on this one.
The people are surprisingly awake. They can see through both the neoliberal and neocon war propaganda.
Ukraine is a giant money laundering machine for the deep state. Putin doesn't want Ukraine to have threatening weapons near their border any more than we wanted Cuba to have them. The deep staters of the US have bioweapons labs set up in Ukraine probably to create more gain of function problems to help them in creating more chaos to further their global reset ambitions.
The whole country has been hijacked by the deep staters. Why are Pelosi's, Kerry's, and Biden's kids set up in high paying token positions in companies in Ukraine? They are probably helping to do the laundry. Putin may be helping himself out by preventing an adversary from setting up offensive or defensive weapons on his border while at the same time rooting out the corruption. of the deep state in Ukraine. That would surely explain why all the dirty democrats are screaming bloody murder about this country that we don't even have an agreement with. What they are possibly trying to prevent is the loss of their money making laundering machine.