Hudson: Later than we're told

[don]

[Adeptus]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

re: Media blackout on what's really going on in Ukraine... I was wondering why there was 40 days straight of full prime time news coverage of flight 370 on every major news network in North America. I mean my sympathies to the families and all, but as far as news coverage goes, it was beyond ridiculous!

[Thailandnotes]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

re: Media blackout on what's really going on in Ukraine... I was wondering why there was 40 days straight of full prime time news coverage of flight 370 on every major news network in North America. I mean my sympathies to the families and all, but as far as news coverage goes, it was beyond ridiculous!

I was in Hanoi for 5 days. CNN only covered the Korean ferry accident, the Pistorius murder trial, the missing 370 flight, and the Ukraine (badly). Most hotels in Asia no longer offer BBC. If there is something besides CNN, it’s FOX. It was obvious the Vietnamese channels were doing in-depth reporting superior to what I was watching in English. There's a huge blackout overseas, but I don't think it can last much longer. I actually think the news business is about to be radically altered.

[Forrest]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

I was in Hanoi for 5 days. CNN only covered the Korean ferry accident, the Pistorius murder trial, the missing 370 flight, and the Ukraine (badly). Most hotels in Asia no longer offer BBC. If there is something besides CNN, it’s FOX. It was obvious the Vietnamese channels were doing in-depth reporting superior to what I was watching in English. There's a huge blackout overseas, but I don't think it can last much longer. I actually think the news business is about to be radically altered.

How, why, and by whom?

[gugion]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

I highly respect Hudson as an anti-FIRE economist, but his views here are "anti-US" that come off as "pro-Russia". If what he is saying is true, that the West is responsible for the crisis in the Ukraine and leading the way while Russia is just reacting, why was the Russian takeover of Crimea seemingly so well-planned in advance and so soon after the Winter olympics? EJ thinks the crisis in the Ukraine is Putin's attempt rebuild a form of a "strong russia" (ie Soviet Union).

[flintlock]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

I highly respect Hudson as an anti-FIRE economist, but his views here are "anti-US" that come off as "pro-Russia". If what he is saying is true, that the West is responsible for the crisis in the Ukraine and leading the way while Russia is just reacting, why was the Russian takeover of Crimea seemingly so well-planned in advance and so soon after the Winter olympics? EJ thinks the crisis in the Ukraine is Putin's attempt rebuild a form of a "strong russia" (ie Soviet Union).

Agree with EJ on this one.

[ProdigyofZen]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

Just because someone speaks out against the US's actions does not make it pro-Russian or pro-anything....

We are too quick to label someone X because they put out a certain point of view that is diametrically opposed from the government, majority or country-centric view.

If you speak out against what the Jewish state does to the Palestinians you are labeled anti-semitic etc etc and the list goes on forever. This stifles true debate.

In this scenario maybe he is Pro-Russia but in other scenarios he may be "anti-russia" and pro-US.

I think what Russia is doing here is the right course of action because I know it is a financial oligarchy grab by the West and US for Ukrainian public assets but I believe what Russia does in Dagestan is the wrong course of action because the Spetsnaz's/Dagestani police kidnap Dagestani's and torture them for little to no reason.

[gwynedd1]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

I highly respect Hudson as an anti-FIRE economist, but his views here are "anti-US" that come off as "pro-Russia". If what he is saying is true, that the West is responsible for the crisis in the Ukraine and leading the way while Russia is just reacting, why was the Russian takeover of Crimea seemingly so well-planned in advance and so soon after the Winter olympics? EJ thinks the crisis in the Ukraine is Putin's attempt rebuild a form of a "strong russia" (ie Soviet Union).

It certainly is well staged if the Russian friendly government , having accepted the rather obvious better deal the Russians were offering while rejecting the EU offer, then was deposed in a revolt by Western friendly protesters. How did he pull that off? How did he get the Western friendly nationalists to revolt merely by accepting gas subsidies?

Taking over Crimea was not much of a Chess game. They already had a military presence, are Russian speaking, and he merely countered the US mercenary approach a reserve currency allows for with troops without national insignia, merely using the resources they have.

How does any of this benefit Russia? I can see how it benefit Cargill etc....

[don]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

At present, the Obama administration is pushing for another round of sanctions on Russia, but members in the EU are dragging their feet.

According to RT:

“At the moment there is no consensus among the EU members on which economic measures against Russia would be acceptable, or even if they are needed at all,” a European diplomatic source told Itar-Tass.

The diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said only an open military invasion of Ukraine or irrefutable proof of Russian clandestine military presence in Ukraine would tip EU’s stance toward economic sanctions. So far every piece of evidence that Kiev and Washington made public of alleged involvement of Russian agents in Ukraine was either inconclusive or simply false.” (“US failing to push economic sanctions against Russia through EU allies”, RT)

Once again, it appears that Washington needs to draw Russian troops into the conflict to achieve its objectives.

On Sunday, RIA Novosti published satellite images showing a large buildup of troops outside the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk.

According to a report in Russia Today:

“160 tanks, 230 APCs and BMDs, and at least 150 artillery and rocket systems, including “Grad” and “Smerch” multiple rocket launchers, have been deployed to the area. A total of 15,000 troops are positioned near Slavyansk, he said….

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the large buildup of Ukraine troops, as well as war games and additional deployments of armed forces to the NATO states in the region have “forced” Russia to respond with military drills of its own…..If Kiev choses to escalate the crackdown on the protesters by using heavy arms against them Russia says it reserves the right to use its own military to stop bloodshed.” (“Tanks, APCs, 15,000 troops’: Satellite images show Kiev forces build-up near Slavyansk”, RT)

Putin has stated repeatedly that he will respond if ethnic Russians are killed in Ukraine. That’s the red line. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated the same message in an interview last week with RT’s Sophie Shevardnadze. The usually soft-spoken Lavrov, condemned Yatsenyuk’s attack on Ukrainian civilians as “criminal” and warned that “an attack on Russian citizens is an attack on the Russian Federation.”

The statement was followed by ominous reports of Russian troop movements near Ukraine’s border indicating that Moscow may be preparing to intervene to stem the violence against civilians. According to Russian Russia’s Itar Tass “Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, “As of today exercises of battalion tactical groups has begun in the border areas with Ukraine.” Also aviation will conduct flights to simulate the actions near the state border.”

So there you have it: It looks like Obama’s provocations WILL draw Putin into the fray after all. But will things turn out the way that Obama thinks they will? Will Putin follow Washington’s script and leave his troops in the east where they’ll be picked off by US-funded paramilitary guerillas and neo Nazis or does he have something else up his sleeve, like a quick blitz to Kiev to remove the junta government, call for international peacekeepers to quell the violence, and slip back over the border to safety?

Whatever the strategy may be, we won’t have to wait long to see it implemented. If Yatsenyuk’s army attacks Slavyansk, then Putin’s going to send in the tanks and it’ll be a whole new ballgame.

MIKE WHITNEY lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press).

[vt]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

This article is nothing more than Russian propaganda (RT) to support Putin's viewpoint. Of course we have U.S. propaganda also to support the Obama administration's viewpoint.

I have closely studied Russian history for a few decades and fully understand their insecurity because of invasions going back centuries. At the same time the misery and mass murders of the Soviet leadership from 1917 onward leads one to doubt any credibility they have currently.

There an old adage I remember which stated: "When looking at a divorce between a man and a women, there are three sides to the issue: her side, his side, and the truth"

Disputes between nations or regions are no different.

[don]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

Things seem to be moving along at a pace not appreciated here.

One oddity of all this. The historical record, in many cases, illustrates the global bond of the world's elites, including 'total war' waged between them. When the smoke clears, brotherhood is resumed. What to make of the personal financial retributions of the US? A sign of its weakness in the present balance of military power in the Ukraine? Warfare of a new type in the age of FIRE? Interesting times . . . .

[don]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

Graphic Update:

The Washington Post is publishing a new map that shows, using information from the Royal United Services Institute, recent troop movements in the region. The graphic illustrates how military exercises conducted by Russia have left a big build-up of troops on Ukraine's border. It also shows Ukraine's own military moves to its borders with Russia and Moldova's Russian-dominated enclave, Transnistria.

[vt]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...t-9321412.html

[photon555]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

It looks like Russia is planning to use a pincers movement aimed at Kharkiv and moving west and then north to encircle Kiev and the Ukraine's only armored brigade in the north of the country. The other forces would pin the remaining Ukrainian forces to prevent them from aiding the besieged capitol. That would produce a quick victory if it worked.

[mastergardener]

Re: Hudson: Later than we're told

Why send in Russian troops when you can arm and pay the "volunteers" to go in dressed as civilians. This gives Russia a tremendous advantage given the common language and cultural sympathies present.

Also, the KGB apparatus must still be overwhelmingly informed as to events on the ground as it relates to Ukrainian political alliances and military movements.

This is a classic example of US foreign policy picking a fight for the wrong reasons. From what I've read, the Europeans are not very happy about this little escapade by our neo-con ambassadors.