Re: #32 - Main news thread - conflicts, terrorism, crisis from around the globe

[KneelB4Zod!]

NDS SOF seized #Taliban weapons depot in #Uruzgan pic.twitter.com/CsPOqTyxtE

— Drexl Spivey (@RisboLensky) 9. září 2019

Video from #Uruzgan pic.twitter.com/aXCv01AeMd

— Drexl Spivey (@RisboLensky) 9. září 2019

[KneelB4Zod!]

H.K @Ibra_Joudeh · 1 min.
#Israeli claims that multiple rockets were fired at Israel territory from #Damascus area which is BS. They will use this to attack some targets in #Syria.

[KneelB4Zod!]

Guy Elster‏Ověřený účet @guyelster · 4 min.
#BREAKING #Iran has started to install advanced centrifuges: UN

[KneelB4Zod!]

Drexl Spivey‏ @RisboLensky · 13 min.
#Taliban claimed IED attack on #NATO APC in #Kandahar province #Afghanistan



Drexl Spivey‏ @RisboLensky · 2 hod.
MIED blast in #Kabul wounded 3 via @TOLOnews #Afghanistan



Drexl Spivey‏ @RisboLensky · 6 min.
Reports of another explosion in #Kabul This time possible PBIED (photo is from previous one today) #Afghanistan

[KneelB4Zod!]

Al-Masdar News‏@TheArabSource · 6 min.
Last night's strikes in eastern #Syria killed 18 Iraqi fighters: report https://aml.ink/mrtIS #Iraq

Y.N.M.S‏ @nm79797979 · 4 min.
An unknown drone targets the headquarters of the Imam Ali Popular Mobilization Regiment on the Iraqi-Syrian border south of Albukamal city...Related to last night's events


Within Syria‏ @WithinSyriaBlog · 10 min.
Over the last two years, opposition sources in Deir Ezzor reported dozens of fake airstrikes, especially around al-Bukamal. Non of their claims were ever confirmed by any satellite image. What happened yesterday remains unclear, with a high possibility of fake news.

[Slovák]

RUSSIAN, FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTRIES' POSITIONS BECOMING CLOSER, RUSSIA WILLING TO CONTINUE RAPPROCHEMENT - SHOIGU
President Macron to come to Moscow for 75th Victory anniversary - French foreign minister
Interfax

[KneelB4Zod!]

Enrico Ivanov ‏ @Russ_Warrior · 9 min.
Regional elections in #Russia:
United Russia (Putin) & associated lists won with a wide margin in all regions excluding Moscow where Communist party gained 13 seats, stripped UR of the absolute majority and Khabarovsk where LDPR candidate (far right) has become the new governor.

[KneelB4Zod!]

It seems #Hongkong protesters want to turn every metro station into dump. Escalator, camera, vending machines, railings, glass windows, all become the targets of protesters. #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/jfbPJYZHUS

— Liam Stone石立安 (@liamstone_19) 8. září 2019

[Zambeezi]

‘The Neoliberal Takeover of the Human Body’
September 8th, 2019
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-technology-that-should-finally-make-your-wallet-obsolete-2019-09-06

Biometric mobile wallets — payment technologies using our faces, fingerprints or retinas — already exist. Notable technology companies including Apple and Amazon await a day when a critical mass of consumers is sufficiently comfortable walking into a store and paying for goods without a card or device, according to Sinnreich, author of “The Essential Guide to Intellectual Property.”

Removing the last physical barrier — smartphones, watches, smart glasses and credit cards — between our bodies and corporate America is the final frontier in mobile payments. “The deeper the tie between the human body and the financial networks, the fewer intimate spaces will be left unconnected to those networks,” Sinnreich said.

Yeah, what could go wrong. Because there were never technical problems, like with nosediving airplanes and other things, like the grid and what else.

I don't want that shit, I even refuse credit cards.

Well, I do believe that universal biometric identification technology is an inevitable next step... But I also believe that all data storage and processing in this sphere should be under complete state monopoly. With very severe punishments for any kind of misusing such data - to the point when it's easier to either do it via governmental services or don't touch it at all.

Perhaps your government, but not ours! They are too corrupt, they will sell the citizens' data like they sold and sell public property the whole of the time. I can not trust them.

behold:
The unanimous election of a neo-Nazi politician in Germany as the head of a town council has sparked outrage among senior political figures and calls to have the decision reversed.
Outrage as neo-Nazi elected town council leader in Germany
http://archive.is/7R59U


Stefan Jagsch of the far right-wing extremist National Democratic Party (NDP) poses in Altenstadt-Waldsiedlung, on September 8, 2019; the election of a neo-Nazi politician in Germany as head of a town council has sparked outrage

   A political storm is brewing after Stefan Jagsch of the far right-wing extremist National Democratic Party (NDP) became council leader for the small town of Waldsiedlung, in the district of Altenstadt, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north-east of Frankfurt, on Thursday.
   Around 2,500 people live in Waldsiedlung.

   On his Facebook page, Jagsch said he will "support the interests of our district" to "work constructively with everyone and across parties," adding "from the people, for the people!".

   Local reports say he was appointed by seven council members including representatives from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), plus junior coalition member Social Democratic Party (SPD) and business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP).
   Jagsch was elected because there was no alternative candidate, "the NPD candidate filled the vacuum," Markus Brando, SPD chairman for Altenstadt admitted to local paper Merkur.
   Jagsch's main task will be to lead the council in all important matters concerning the local district.


   By Sunday, there were outraged calls from across Germany for the decision to be reversed.
 

 - 'Nazis! Never!' -
   "The SPD has a very clear position: we do not co-operate with Nazis! Never!" the party's general secretary Lars Klingbeil tweeted Saturday.
   "That applies to federal government, the state and municipalities.
   "The decision in Altenstadt is incomprehensible and cannot be justified.
   "It must be reversed immediately. #noNPD."
   The CDU's general secretary Paul Ziemiak also demanded the decision be overturned.
   "I'm shocked. The election of a member of a party which pursues anti-constitutional goals is a disgrace," Ziemiak told Monday's edition of Bild.
   "I expect this decision to be corrected."
   Peter Tauber, a CDU member of Germany's lower parliament for Hesse, the state in which Waldsiedlung is located, threatened action against those who elected Jagsch.
   "Whoever lacks the political and moral compass and, as a democrat, makes such an irresponsible election decision can not be accepted in the CDU," Tauber tweeted on Saturday.
   "The election of an NPD politician as local leader in Altenstadt with assistance from CDU" members "horrifies me," he added.

   The FDP's parliamentary chief Marco Buschmann described Jagsch's election as "doubly bad:
►firstly that democrats voted for someone like him
►and secondly, that no democratic candidate was ready to take on the task" of leader.
   Regional CDU and SPD leaders in Altenstadt also condemned the decision.


Merkel is the cause of this.
her policies enabled/created the 'need'

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

[Zambeezi]

The StemExpress CEO told a San Francisco courtroom on Sept. 5 that the company brokered beating fetal hearts and intact fetal heads to medical researchers.
StemExpress CEO Admits to Selling Beating Hearts, Intact Heads of Aborted Babies
https://www.theepochtimes.com/stemexpress-ceo-admits-to-selling-beating-hearts-intact-heads-of-aborted-babies_3072704.html


In a sane world these people would be burned alive. Fucking ghouls.

[KneelB4Zod!]

Y.N.M.S‏ @nm79797979 · 3 min.
Iraqi sources said in earlier media statements that the opening date of the crossing was delayed by up to 9 days

[KneelB4Zod!]

Y.N.M.S‏ @nm79797979 · 3 min.
Iraqi sources said in earlier media statements that the opening date of the crossing was delayed by up to 9 days

[Tamonten]

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

Well, I'm officially imperialist and etatist.
I'm advocating strong governmental authority over everything critical.
As I see it the very problems with migration and so on are because "statehood" is weakened while "society" and "egocentrism" are on the rise.
It caused statesmen (who look far ahead) to go virtually extinct and politicians (who want nothing but look good) to thrive.
My argument is that any kind of order is better than any kind of chaos. And the highest order of human society is the state.

[Zambeezi]

‘The Neoliberal Takeover of the Human Body’
September 8th, 2019
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-technology-that-should-finally-make-your-wallet-obsolete-2019-09-06

Biometric mobile wallets — payment technologies using our faces, fingerprints or retinas — already exist. Notable technology companies including Apple and Amazon await a day when a critical mass of consumers is sufficiently comfortable walking into a store and paying for goods without a card or device, according to Sinnreich, author of “The Essential Guide to Intellectual Property.”

Removing the last physical barrier — smartphones, watches, smart glasses and credit cards — between our bodies and corporate America is the final frontier in mobile payments. “The deeper the tie between the human body and the financial networks, the fewer intimate spaces will be left unconnected to those networks,” Sinnreich said.

Yeah, what could go wrong. Because there were never technical problems, like with nosediving airplanes and other things, like the grid and what else.

I don't want that shit, I even refuse credit cards.

Well, I do believe that universal biometric identification technology is an inevitable next step... But I also believe that all data storage and processing in this sphere should be under complete state monopoly. With very severe punishments for any kind of misusing such data - to the point when it's easier to either do it via governmental services or don't touch it at all.

Perhaps your government, but not ours! They are too corrupt, they will sell the citizens' data like they sold and sell public property the whole of the time. I can not trust them.

Yet, I believe that any government - even a bad one - is better at managing such sensitive data than some commercial structures. Moreover, structures that are usually not under any government's jurisdiction. At the very least, if some swindling of citizens' data is uncovered, there are political consequences for those involved - even if they evade legal prosecution. With "private" companies though...

I won't even touch a "smart" phone and stick to my PC. I detest social media but it seems if I don't use it, my family appear to have forgotten how to use a telephone and I won't hear from them.

My sister owns an "Alexa", and I say as little as possible when I'm anywhere near it.

I don't even like going to town, knowing there are cameras everywhere watching my every move. (I can recall a time when people were in uproar at the idea of cameras in the streets, how slowly is the frog boiled, eh?)
I refuse to register to vote and many people criticise me for this, but in my opinion our system is seriously flawed and populated with scumbags that deserve nothing less than public execution at the hands of the people, let alone being voted for.

If I'm still alive in 20 yrs (which is highly doubtful) I see myself subsistence farming to survive and armed to the teeth with illegal weaponry to defend my way of life, while Western society simultaneously disappears up it's own asshole and falls apart. Idiocracy is here already.

The UK is a country where government "men in black" turn up on your doorstep if you don't have a license to watch television! I don't have a tv, have never owned one, but here you are assumed guilty before being proved otherwise.

It seems that the majority of the police here are concentrated on pulling drivers to make money from them via fines, so I've never driven a car, either.  I cycle everywhere I need to go and steer clear of the roads.

So, as far as "biometrics" go. They can shove it just as far up their tan tracks as is physically possible. I will not comply, I will not bow to any so-called "authority". I am a citizen of the United States of Me, with my allies being my friends and family.

Ok, drunken rant over.

I love drunken rants.

[Zambeezi]

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

Well, I'm officially imperialist and etatist.
I'm advocating strong governmental authority over everything critical.
As I see it the very problems with migration and so on are because "statehood" is weakened while "society" and "egocentrism" are on the rise.
It caused statesmen (who look far ahead) to go virtually extinct and politicians (who want nothing but look good) to thrive.
My argument is that any kind of order is better than any kind of chaos. And the highest order of human society is the state.

Fine.
I understand how/why you arrived at this position and knew you'd respond.
You of course understand mine. I won't bother to go through the essential arguments. You know them.
I concede this:
'Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.'
--Charles Peguy

[Zambeezi]

Trump reportedly wanted to show off his negotiation skills by inviting the Taliban to Camp David: The meeting between Trump, leaders of the Taliban, and Afghanistan President Ghani at the presidential retreat was called off due to disagreements over political showmanship, a new report claims.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-reportedly-wanted-to-show-negotiation-skills-by-inviting-taliban-2019-9

absolutely. I believe it. It is exactly the same with Iran. It's all about 'Donald'. spit.

[Tamonten]

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

Well, I'm officially imperialist and etatist.
I'm advocating strong governmental authority over everything critical.
As I see it the very problems with migration and so on are because "statehood" is weakened while "society" and "egocentrism" are on the rise.
It caused statesmen (who look far ahead) to go virtually extinct and politicians (who want nothing but look good) to thrive.
My argument is that any kind of order is better than any kind of chaos. And the highest order of human society is the state.

Fine.
I understand how/why you arrived at this position and knew you'd respond.
You of course understand mine. I won't bother to go through the essential arguments. You know them.
I concede this:
'Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.'
--Charles Peguy

I've arrived to my position precisely because I know history. Because if "hyper-order" ("tyranny") can lead to the balanced normal state, "chaos" ("hyper-freedom") can only lead to greater chaos or tyranny. That's why I'll still give an explanation.
Firstly, what you'd call "tyranny" does not happen out of a blue. In overwhelming majority of cases it happens as a backlash of some period of excessive "freedom" - what I'd call "chaos". Be it Great Terror in Soviet Union - a backlash of revolutions, coups and civil war. Be it Nazis on Germany - a backlash of Weimar Republic's disaster. Be it (much much milder than above, but still) Roosevelt's America after Great Depression. Or, Putin's Russia after 90s what is too seen by some as some kind of tyranny, though it's laughable.
Secondary, "tyranny" is not a state, but a process. Because psychology. You can't just create some high constant pressure on people and let it be. People adapt to the pressure very fast, stop to be frightened and begin to create disturbances, so you'll be either forced to rise your pressure to a higher degree again and again or step back and lighten it. Either way it won't last too long and of done smartly can actually stabilize this pendulum on the point of lowest potential energy - when pressures from both "society" ("chaos") and authority ("order") are balanced one after each other.
What I mean is that "tyranny" happens not because "statehood" became to arrogant and started to pressure people. It starts when "statehood" is weakened and frightened by the "society" - to counter its pressure. So to not allow "tyranny" to happen you should not create situation when "statehood" is broken.

State should be controlled by the society - as much as society should be controlled by the state. But it should be reorganized into some real mechanism from current false "technical democratic" one. Because current system is the embodiment of chaos, and the very reason why next wave of "tyranny", or "hyper-statehood" is coming and, I believe, already inevitable.

[Zambeezi]

Russia Accuses Facebook And Google Of Illegal Election Interference
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/09/09/russia-slams-facebook-and-google-with-new-allegations-of-election-interference/

Good.. they are nothing more than hegemon proxies. expose them.

[Zambeezi]

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

Well, I'm officially imperialist and etatist.
I'm advocating strong governmental authority over everything critical.
As I see it the very problems with migration and so on are because "statehood" is weakened while "society" and "egocentrism" are on the rise.
It caused statesmen (who look far ahead) to go virtually extinct and politicians (who want nothing but look good) to thrive.
My argument is that any kind of order is better than any kind of chaos. And the highest order of human society is the state.

Fine.
I understand how/why you arrived at this position and knew you'd respond.
You of course understand mine. I won't bother to go through the essential arguments. You know them.
I concede this:
'Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.'
--Charles Peguy

I've arrived to my position precisely because I know history. Because if "hyper-order" ("tyranny") can lead to the balanced normal state, "chaos" ("hyper-freedom") can only lead to greater chaos or tyranny. That's why I'll still give an explanation.
Firstly, what you'd call "tyranny" does not happen out of a blue. In overwhelming majority of cases it happens as a backlash of some period of excessive "freedom" - what I'd call "chaos". Be it Great Terror in Soviet Union - a backlash of revolutions, coups and civil war. Be it Nazis on Germany - a backlash of Weimar Republic's disaster. Be it (much much milder than above, but still) Roosevelt's America after Great Depression. Or, Putin's Russia after 90s what is too seen by some as some kind of tyranny, though it's laughable.
Secondary, "tyranny" is not a state, but a process. Because psychology. You can't just create some high constant pressure on people and let it be. People adapt to the pressure very fast, stop to be frightened and begin to create disturbances, so you'll be either forced to rise your pressure to a higher degree again and again or step back and lighten it. Either way it won't last too long and of done smartly can actually stabilize this pendulum on the point of lowest potential energy - when pressures from both "society" ("chaos") and authority ("order") are balanced one after each other.
State should be controlled by the society - as much as society should be controlled by the state. But it should be reorganized into some real mechanism from current false "technical democratic" one. Because current system is the embodiment of chaos, and the very reason why next wave of "tyranny", or "hyper-statehood" is coming and, I believe, already inevitable.

ah. good. I understand/you understand the 'cure' for constipation is not diarrhea.
Balance and stasis between 'extremes' is the goal.
You believe/trust it to be a 'natural' process...
that an inevitable 'pushback' can/will occur when either 'society' or 'state' go 'too far'.
Really? With the drastic 'tools' available in this atomic/techno 'age'?




===========


It would be interesting to know (since besides History... you are achieving studies in comparative Religion) 2 things:
1. If you are an orthodox believer like your President.

I believe he sincerely is what he has publicly professed on many occasions now.
I believe his behavior/deeds have lined up/coincide with these beliefs as well.

2. Do you believe this about Putin as well?

You don't have to answer if you choose not to as this is a public forum. I get it.
Cheers.
G.

[KneelB4Zod!]

Guy Elster‏@guyelster · 9 min.
#BREAKING US is considering sanctions over #Turkey's S-400 purchase: Treasury Secretary

[KneelB4Zod!]

Muraselon News‏ @Muraselon · 24 sek.
Full report: Airstrikes hit Iraqi, Iranian-backed forces in eastern #Syria
https://wp.me/pa9J8V-mIG
#Iran #Iraq #Syria_News

[KneelB4Zod!]

The StemExpress CEO told a San Francisco courtroom on Sept. 5 that the company brokered beating fetal hearts and intact fetal heads to medical researchers.
StemExpress CEO Admits to Selling Beating Hearts, Intact Heads of Aborted Babies
https://www.theepochtimes.com/stemexpress-ceo-admits-to-selling-beating-hearts-intact-heads-of-aborted-babies_3072704.html


In a sane world these people would be burned alive. Fucking ghouls.

[Böhse Tante]

it will always be so as power and excesses swing left and right across time/decades
and abuses and excesses 'change' as the political 'winds' blow charismatic 'leaders' into/out of office.
ALL countries. ALL nations.
therefore...
ALL government(s) should be CHAINED DOWN as much as possible. EVERY. ONE.
(aka NONE (and no corporation) should nor can be 'trusted' with such power as bio-metric data on citizenry. ever.)

Well, I'm officially imperialist and etatist.
I'm advocating strong governmental authority over everything critical.
As I see it the very problems with migration and so on are because "statehood" is weakened while "society" and "egocentrism" are on the rise.
It caused statesmen (who look far ahead) to go virtually extinct and politicians (who want nothing but look good) to thrive.
My argument is that any kind of order is better than any kind of chaos. And the highest order of human society is the state.

Fine.
I understand how/why you arrived at this position and knew you'd respond.
You of course understand mine. I won't bother to go through the essential arguments. You know them.
I concede this:
'Tyranny is always better organized than freedom.'
--Charles Peguy

ATM we have the best organized tyranny of egoists. They tell us this is freedom. It's my freedom to buy a rope of my free choice to hang myself.

Here we have maily anarchy for big biz and freedom and rights depend on your wallet. Freedom and democracy is running away. I think, meanwhile there's much more of it in Russia than in Germany.

[Tamonten]

...

I've arrived to my position precisely because I know history. Because if "hyper-order" ("tyranny") can lead to the balanced normal state, "chaos" ("hyper-freedom") can only lead to greater chaos or tyranny. That's why I'll still give an explanation.
Firstly, what you'd call "tyranny" does not happen out of a blue. In overwhelming majority of cases it happens as a backlash of some period of excessive "freedom" - what I'd call "chaos". Be it Great Terror in Soviet Union - a backlash of revolutions, coups and civil war. Be it Nazis on Germany - a backlash of Weimar Republic's disaster. Be it (much much milder than above, but still) Roosevelt's America after Great Depression. Or, Putin's Russia after 90s what is too seen by some as some kind of tyranny, though it's laughable.
Secondary, "tyranny" is not a state, but a process. Because psychology. You can't just create some high constant pressure on people and let it be. People adapt to the pressure very fast, stop to be frightened and begin to create disturbances, so you'll be either forced to rise your pressure to a higher degree again and again or step back and lighten it. Either way it won't last too long and of done smartly can actually stabilize this pendulum on the point of lowest potential energy - when pressures from both "society" ("chaos") and authority ("order") are balanced one after each other.
State should be controlled by the society - as much as society should be controlled by the state. But it should be reorganized into some real mechanism from current false "technical democratic" one. Because current system is the embodiment of chaos, and the very reason why next wave of "tyranny", or "hyper-statehood" is coming and, I believe, already inevitable.

ah. good. I understand/you understand the 'cure' for constipation is not diarrhea.
Balance and stasis between 'extremes' is the goal.
You believe/trust it to be a 'natural' process...
that an inevitable 'pushback' can/will occur when either 'society' or 'state' go 'too far'.
Really? In the atomic/techno 'age'?

Yeah. Technology is not important. Human psychology is.
Just a little bit over a century ago - before World War I - people believed that major war is impossible because of invention of machine gun...
Then, in 20s many believed that after all the horrors of World War there'll be no other conflict, because everyone knows what war means...
Till 80s many believed that Europe - at the very least - learned its reason and won't go into conflict... until Yugoslavia.
People repeat same mistakes one time after another.

For example: Now, every move of ruling coalition in Germany strengthens AFD and other - much more radical - groups there. So, at the time there's four possible outcomes (not now - I'm talking historical perspective):
1. They do nothing and situation will deteriorate even further - "chaos"
2. Current authorities will persecute AFD (etc.) - most likely "tyranny"
3. Current authorities lose power and AFD (etc.) take power either after case 1 happens or via elections - most likely "tyranny"
4. Even more radical pro-migrant lobby takes power - "tyranny"
There are two very slight chances - that either current elites or new ones (2nd and 3rd) cases will be able to run the blade and don't tray too far from the balance, but I just don't see it happening.

[Tamonten]

It would be interesting to know (since besides History... you are achieving studies in comparative Religion) 2 things:
1. If you are an orthodox believer like your President.

I believe he sincerely is what he has publicly professed on many occasions now.
I believe his behavior/deeds have lined up/coincide with these beliefs as well.

2. Do you believe this about Putin as well?

You don't have to answer if you choose not to as this is a public forum. I get it.
Cheers.
G.

1. I'm not even Christian though. Best way to describe my religious outlook may be "pan-Pagan" with major Japanese (for obvious reasons) influence. Since Slavic Pagan tradition is even more dead than Egyptian or Greek ones...
It may be a weakness, because I'm somewhat distanced from the society, but it does not mean I don't have the same cultural code.

2. It's hard to determine ones beliefs. Especially for those in power. But from what is publicly known, it certainly looks this way. At the very least he demonstrates adherence to all major postulates of Orthodoxy. But in reality we have no way to know if this is his true emotion or verbatim following of what Machiavelli wrote in his "The Prince" at 15 and later chapters.

And I believe it's not really important, as long as he follows it to the letter. Much like for the state it's not important if someone does not break the law because he's inherently good or because he fears the punishment.

[Zambeezi]

US extracted top spy from inside Russia in 2017
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/09/politics/russia-us-spy-extracted/index.html

ha. read this. Trump's 'conversation' w/ Putin Lavrov disclosed 'sensitive' info (via Israel)
that ultimately put an intelligence asset (aka 'mole' inside Kremlin) at 'risk'
After CNN continued to 'highlight' the disclosure as a continuing partisan campaign to attack anything 'Trump'...
The fiasco ultimately ended with the US pulling out the spy. His/Her identity remains undisclosed.
the 'takeaway': Donald couldn't keep his mouth shut cuz he's a maga jenius. spit.
wat a moron.

[Zambeezi]

Not sure if he gonna reply but I would like to say "Hi" to Tamonten. Didn't expect you lurking here after such long time, my friend.

Hi!
Zambeezi managed to drag me in, duh.

Regarding the whole "Who is Mr. Putin" situation, there are several facts and many theories. But personally I believe that documentaries "Putin" (Part 1 and Part 2) and "President" (whole film) are pretty much accurate. Both in depicting what situation was in Russia there and what choices had to be done.
But I also believe that he was guided to the position by some group of highly educated and influential people. One of them may (or may not) be Primakov, who is famous for his U-turn over Atlantic ocean in 1999.

Also, regarding "he's dealing with some evil people"...
It's his work. Literally. He's not some religious leader to refuse meeting with people on the basis of anathema.
His work is to benefit Russia - as people and historical entity. Churchill despised communism, but still was dealing with Soviet Union when he had to. There's even a famous quote on the matter.

And finally - on Russia not helping [...someone...].
In the case Yugoslavia in general and Kosovo in particular Russia was just too weak. But still there was said U-turn and we managed to send paratrooper battalion to Pristina - even if it was mostly symbolic action. BTW, according to some sources, there were two signatures under the order: then-president Yeltsin and... Putin who was the secretary of defense council then. Figuratively, Putin woke Yeltsin in the middle of the night when all his pro-western councilors were asleep and convinced him to sign it.
Libyan matter is... well, a failure. But honest one. I believe that Putin genuinely tried to concentrate on internal affairs and left all international questions in the hands of then-president Medvedev. Not to mention that it was in the course of financial crisis.
Syria... well, I don't see any major failures there. The whole game about "moderate" and "not-so-moderate" militants is certainly annoying, but there's actually nothing new here, since Russia had to deal with similar situations with almost same actors two centuries ago during wars in Caucasus.
But generally... why should Russia actually save everyone? Or anyone? For self-satisfaction? Because there's too little gratitude for spent effort. Whether we look at 19th or 20th century. Or earlier. The best example here is Bulgaria, duh.

eeyup



Poland is tied for 2nd place w/ Ukraine

Don't forget Georgia.

And Britain.

And many others.

Lithuania and Poland should lead Western effort to help Russia democratise, Lithuanian MEP says
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1095836/lithuania-and-poland-should-lead-western-effort-to-help-russia-democratise-lithuanian-mep-says

Kubilius believes that although Russia can only change after President Vladimir Putin is out of power, Western countries should already start crafting a message to the Russian people about how their relations with Moscow could look like if the country transformed.

The Lithuanian MEP also believes that Lithuania and Poland should push for Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. A successful example in Ukraine could inspire expectations of Russians to see their country transformed, Kubilius says.

[Tamonten]

Lithuania and Poland should lead Western effort to help Russia democratise, Lithuanian MEP says
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1095836/lithuania-and-poland-should-lead-western-effort-to-help-russia-democratise-lithuanian-mep-says

Kubilius believes that although Russia can only change after President Vladimir Putin is out of power, Western countries should already start crafting a message to the Russian people about how their relations with Moscow could look like if the country transformed.

The Lithuanian MEP also believes that Lithuania and Poland should push for Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO. A successful example in Ukraine could inspire expectations of Russians to see their country transformed, Kubilius says.

Oh, did they resolve their Vilno-Vilnus matter already?
Well, the same Vilno which was taken from Poland given to the Lithuania by... Stalin?

[Zambeezi]

2 companies signed the deal that formally establishes the new joint venture during this week’s Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
Russia to Build 17 Icebreaking LNG Tankers as Melting Arctic Opens Route to China
https://russia-insider.com/en/economics/russia-build-17-icebreaking-lng-tankers-melting-arctic-opens-route-china/ri27578#.XXZGhXyQ5F4.twitter

Arctic LNG 2

It will be a completely new fleet of Arctic LNG tankers, built in Russia and sailing under Russian flag

the new vessels will be technically different from the tankers built for the Yamal LNG project. The hulls will have a different shape, which reportedly improves the ships’ operational capacities in the shallow waters of the Ob Bay and the thick ice of the Russian east Arctic.

The new 17 ships will be built at Zvezda, the grand new shipyard developed by Rosneft. The Russian oil company will cooperate closely with the South Koreans in the process.

They are to be delivered in the period 2023-2026.

Yamal LNG

The tankers that now serve the Yamal LNG project have been built by the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The Yamal fleet will by the end of 2019 total 15 vessels. They now shuttle between LNG terminal Sabetta and markets in Europe and Asia.

[KneelB4Zod!]

According to pro-government sources: the SAA carried out a large-scale combing operation west of al-Bukamal last night, a VBIED and several positions of ISIS were destroyed. Warplanes supported the operation. This could be the source of the explosions heard yesterday. pic.twitter.com/xXxKzdHdnF

— Within Syria (@WithinSyriaBlog) September 9, 2019