User-Supported News Commentary Hosted by Craig Crawford
NATO Must Stop Putin
Won’t be pretty but if this maniac is appeased it’ll be much uglier.
Winston Churchill: “The flying peril is not a peril from which one can fly. It is necessary to face it where we stand.”
Author: craigcrawford
Trail Mix Host. Lapsed journalist, author & retired pundit happily promoting nothing but the truth for Social Security checks.
View all posts by craigcrawford
UNITED NATIONS — Russian President Vladimir Putin received no support from members of the U.N. Security Council at an emergency meeting Monday night for his actions to bring separatists in eastern Ukraine under Moscow’s control.
The U.S. called his moves a pretext for a further invasion, many members condemned his violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and even close ally China urged diplomacy and a peaceful solution.
Ukraine called for the rare evening session along with the U.S., five European countries and Mexico to condemn Putin’s actions earlier Monday to recognize the independence of the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, scenes of an eight-year war, and order his military to “maintain peace” there.
Russia happens to hold the Security Council’s rotating presidency this month and wanted the meeting to be closed, but diplomats said they agreed to an open session under intense pressure from Western and other members.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed “as nonsense” Putin’s announcement that Russian troops would be in the separatist area known as Donbas as peacekeepers, saying their presence is “clearly the basis for Russia’s attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.” She said he gave the world a choice, and it “must not look away” because “history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path.”
Putin is testing to see “how far he can push us all,” and all countries must stand up for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and all countries, Thomas-Greenfield said,
[continues]
“The Secretary-General urges all relevant actors to focus their efforts on ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any action and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine, and prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues peacefully,” Stéphane Dujarric said.
Although Putin appears to have ordered his troops to enter Ukraine, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. told “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan that the world owes his country a “thank you.” In sporting news, Stephen has a point to make about the country that took home the most medals at the Winter Olympics. #Colbert#Comedy#Monologue
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he would not concede his country’s land despite escalating tensions with Russia amid the possibility of an invasion.
“We are committed to the peaceful and diplomatic path, we will follow it and only it,” Zelensky said, according toReuters. “But we are on our own land, we are not afraid of anything and anybody, we owe nothing to no one, and we will give nothing to no one.”
The president also accused Moscow of violating Ukraine’s sovereign territory and called for an emergency meeting of the leaders from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France as well as support from Ukraine’s allies, Reuters reported.
“We expect clear and effective steps of support from our partners,” Zelensky said. “It is very important to see who is our real friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words.”
The United States and its allies are gearing up to impose a fresh set of sanctions on Russia after Moscow formally recognized two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine and sent forces it described as peacekeeping troops there Monday, in a move that the West fears could presage a wider invasion of Ukraine.
European leaders said Tuesday morning that Kremlin forces had arrived in the self-proclaimed republics. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that “Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil” but that it was not a “fully fledged invasion.” Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that he would halt authorization of Nord Stream 2, the controversial gas pipeline between Germany and Russia, for the time being.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “we will give up nothing to no one” and that Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders “will stay that way, despite any statements or actions taken by the Russian Federation.”
Russia’s maneuvers appeared to be increasingly out of step with world opinion and were sharply rebuked by several nations at a hastily convened meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday night. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of wanting the world to “travel back in time to a time before the United Nations — to a time when empires ruled the world” and said he was testing the international rules-based system.
This is the way the postwar world ends, and the post-Cold War world, too: not yet with a bang, and not with anything close to a whimper, but with a rant. In an extraordinary soliloquy viewed live around the world Monday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia attacked and delegitimized not just independent Ukraine and its government but all facets of the security architecture in Europe, declaring both to be creatures of a corrupt West — headed by the United States — that are unremittingly hostile toward Russia.
By the time he was done speaking, Mr. Putin had not only broadcast his intent to disrupt institutions that have kept the peace in Europe, mostly, after 1945 but also laid out the ideological basis for launching a war — even if he did not quite declare it. ….
[…]
Mr. Putin’s aggressive words and deeds followed a plea Sunday from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to assembled world leaders in Munich, in which he chided the United States and Europe for their failure to counter Mr. Putin sooner. In that city where Britain and France cut a foolish and short-lived deal with Nazi Germany in 1938, Mr. Zelensky used the historically freighted word “appeasement.” We would respectfully disagree, to the extent that after years of Western temporizing about Russia, President Biden has so far effectively rallied NATO to condemn and oppose Mr. Putin’s aggression in recent weeks.
After Monday, it is unfortunately clear that Mr. Putin has not been deterred, war is likely, and there is no longer any reason to wait in imposing sanctions — even extending them beyond the breakaway regions, which the White House immediately targeted. That would be the first step in decisively responding to this geopolitical crisis, but it can hardly be the last.
while we’re at it, how ’bout a black sea blockade to give putie a taste of his own intimidation style medicine? at least shut down access to and from the black sea by his buyers/suppliers.
Has the Ukraine crisis provided the rationale to change this opportunity? Or is it too late as some of NATO’s thirty members may not wish to provoke Russia any further, especially if the region is as important to Moscow as is argued?
Three questions frame the answers.
Firstly, how strategically important is the Black Sea region to Russia, especially in light of Ukraine, and hence to NATO? In terms of priorities, is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective of imposing a strategic framework in Europe based on pre-1997 conditions more important?
Secondly, if the region is of such importance to Russia, will any more evidence be needed to change minds in NATO to adjust strategic priorities so that the Black Sea is of equivalent importance to other regions? Or would resolution of the current crisis lead NATO to lowering its presence and engagement in the Black Sea region as part of an agreement?
Thirdly, given these answers, what are the overall aims and objectives of a possible NATO Black Sea Region Strategy and what tactical, operational, strategic, and political actions should follow in light of the situation around Ukraine to implement this plan?
The Black Sea region had been of lower priority to NATO for clear and understandable reasons. Surprisingly, unlike the Cold War and the prominence of the inner-German border with the USSR and Warsaw Pact, today only four of thirty NATO member states border directly on Russia (the list includes two more members if Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave in the Baltic, is included). These NATO members are Estonia and Latvia in the Baltic, Norway in the high north, and the United States in Alaskan waters. Canada is close. Geographic proximity has traditionally produced a certain sensitivity and vulnerability to potential Russian aggression.
[…]
Unlike northern Europe with its mature and plentiful bases, Black Sea access is more difficult. The Bosphorus and Dardanelles are the only sea passages from the Mediterranean. The Montreux Convention limits the presence of warships in terms of armaments, tonnage, numbers, and duration as well as preventing access to submarines from non-Black Sea nations. Meanwhile, the Russian Northern Fleet is far more powerful than the Black Sea Fleet and serves as the home port for Russian ballistic missile nuclear submarines.
[…]
Russia maintains what was a modest Black Sea Fleet stationed in Sevastopol in Crimea along with more formidable land, air, and defense forces in the region that assumed greater significance following Russia’s 2008 occupation of Georgia’s South Ossetia, the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and deployment of its forces in the Donbas and eastern Ukraine where conflict still persists. In response, NATO gradually increased its presence and freedom of navigation missions in the Black Sea.
Russia has now massed well over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders and sent 30,000 troops on exercises in Belarus that are set to end on February 20. Six Russian Navy landing ships and one Kilo class diesel submarine have reinforced the Black Sea Fleet. The landing ships could carry up to 2000 troops and about sixty tracked vehicles.
[continues]
Putin crapped on the Chinese as well.
Eon Bremmer pointed this out on CBS this morning.
They wanted him to stick to the Minsk Agreement, and not invade .They have said nothing about this latest twist .
I’m waiting to see what additional sanctions are announced by Biden today. I would support an economic blockade of Russia, freeze assets held in our or other NATO countries, although I understand that most Russian financial assets are in cash or currency and gold and held in Russia. Declare a trade and investment ban with Russia, blockade their trade ports and start gearing up in the NATO countries to the west of Ukraine. The fact that Germany has said at least for now the Nord 2 is blocked should get Vlad’s attention. Some combination of the above should plunge Russia into a pretty bad economic place relatively quickly.
So over the weekend while my sis and I were moving my uncle’s stuff out of his independent living apartment we met with his last wife’s son who came over to retrieve family photos and such that were left in the apt. after she died a couple of years ago. I had not met him before. He told me “we” appreciated what Joe Manchin was doing to hold the line against what Biden was trying to do. I told him that as lifelong Democrat and supporter of Biden’s attempts to energize the economy and provide support for those who were hurt the most by the pandemic I didn’t share his opinion of Joe M. I told him I’ve known him at a distance since he was WV Sec. of State in the 90s and that I’ve seen in those 25 or so years that he’s a political shape shifter who is beholden to big money interests in WV and to his own self interest. It was a pleasant enough conversation – and since it was a “first foot” and “last foot” conversation with him, I’m sure he left with a great opinion of me.
It’s a 2 day, fer sure. For people who believe in that sort of thing, in numerology it’s sort of women’s day.
The Numerology number 2 is known to numerologists as a supremely feminine force, one that represents both grace and power. It is cooperative, always aiming to bring peace and balance back to a relationship or situation. This Numerology number is also very sensitive — of all the numbers, it has the strongest intuition. It is able to sense currents and feelings instinctively, then use these clues to connect with others empathically.
At its very core the 2 in Numerology represents partnerships — the coming together or balancing of two individual people, concepts, or things. While it holds great power over any situation, it wields it with such diplomacy and tact that the result is not control and authority, but harmony and teamwork. It is a mediator, able to see two sides of a situation in an unbiased way and guide others down the middle road.
To me it’s very easy to remember the date and it’s 60 and raining.
Our high today is 55, we have already seen it back about midnight. Right now I just let the dog out and noticed a skim of ice on the birdbath. Life on the edge of the great plains gotta love it.
So, it is a double, double duce day. Two bottles of cheap beer. btw double duce is street vernacular for a 22oz bottle of beer or malt liquor. Appropriate given the news,
Jack
Gazprom is the sole shareholder in Nord Stream 2 but 50% of the finance was provided by five European energy companies, including Wintershall and Uniper of Germany. The other financial backers are Britain’s Shell (RDSA), Engie(EGIEY)of France and OMV(OMVJF)of Austria.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday brought a formal end to former President Donald Trump’s request to block the release of White House records sought by the Democratic-led congressional panel investigating last year’s deadly attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters.
The court’s decision to formally reject Trump’s appeal follows its Jan. 19 order that led to the documents being handed over to the House of Representatives investigative committee by the federal agency that stores government and historical records.
Florida Republicans unhappy over Everglades restoration
The Biden administration included $1.1 billion in its recently approved infrastructure bill. It was the largest single allocation of federal funding ever for Everglades restoration, but not a single Republican from Florida voted for the bill. At a news conference, Congressman Brian Mast had this to say.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
BRIAN MAST: That’s the Biden administration sending a middle finger over to Florida, unfortunately, and this is what we see over and over again.
Webb Space Telescope Might Be Able To Detect Other Civilizations by Their Air Pollution
One tantalizing capability that JWST offers that Hubble could not is the opportunity to directly image planets orbiting distant stars, and maybe, just maybe, detect signs of life.
The possibility of remotely detecting biosignatures has been a hot topic in recent years. In our own solar system, the recent discovery of phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere sparked speculation that the chemical might be created by a microbial lifeform. Similarly, remote sensing experts have proposed that plant life – which uses photosynthesis for energy – could be detected in infrared wavelengths, as chlorophyll absorbs visible light, but shows up brightly in infrared, and would give planets covered in foliage a distinct ‘red edge‘. A single-pixel photo of a distant planet just might contain enough information to tell us if biological life is there, based on the information stored in the wavelengths of light that reach the telescope lens.
‘Really tight water year’: Drought, low snowpack may foretell Idaho’s climate future
The Nature study, published in November, synthesized climate models from other peer-reviewed studies to come up with a set of projections for what the future holds, and the potentials are stark: By 2100, Western mountains could see declines of between around 40% and 65% in snowfall. Between 2050 and 2100, 78%-94% of years could see little to no snowpack, according to the analysis.
Russia is still a member of OPEC and they maybe relishing the sky high prices. Have to wonder if there is any chance of their turning on Russia and going after Putin’s markets.
Good point Jamie.
$ 100 dollar oil is pretty much in the cards this week , Biden’s address today spent a lot of time on that problem.
It’s not 1974 anymore , there are things like Tesla, and Vestus around now .
Putin is just driving more investment in renewables.
I saw a good example of this a week or so ago.
Covering irrigation canals with solar panels.
The thing Trump and Putin fail to understand is that the world has rolled over , and it rolled over men like them.
Former guy has to be hopping mad over his legal fortunes over the past few weeks, culminating with SCOTUS’ rejection today of his 1/6 document loss appeal noted by Bob, upthread. That along with the decision that the civil trials against him for defrauding state and federal tax authorities, banks and insurance companies, and the 1/6 conspiracy matter against him (but not Trudee) can proceed without an ability for him to dodge this stuff by claiming executive privilege has to go down as one of the worst weeks any one person ever had in multiple courts and cases. And there’s Weisselberg being required to sit for his deposition in the fraud case and in separate, but related matter, Mazars saying they produced 10 years of worthless financial statement (GIGO) and by the way they are breaking their ties to him and his organization, thank you very much. I’m sure I’m missing something.
The number 1 represents the drive to initiate and impel things forward. It represents the sun and the intellect and is considered masculine. Number 1s are the leaders, bosses, pioneers, and visionaries. They are ahead of their time. From the negative side, number 1s can come across as bossy, dominant, or aggressive, or may seem to be poor listeners.
We prolly coulda guessed that, but without all the details..
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad, Iraq, with the signing of an agreement in September 1960 by five countries namely Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They were to become the Founder Members of the Organization.
These countries were later joined by Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018).
They’d meet the criteria for membership, but at least on the website they don’t appear to be a member at present.
Forget the price of oil and gas , it’s the price of water to keep an eye on …………
Portugal’s drought worsens, rainfall down to 7% of average
Portugal’s winter drought is getting worse
The Portuguese government is already restricting the use of reservoirs for hydroelectric power production, in order to save water for public consumption, and farmers are asking for financial aid because of a lack of grass for their livestock.
They are having some real issues in Miami Beach . They want to raise the roads by two feet , and take hundreds of parking spaces to do it. It’s dawning on the the businesses that they are all about to be “down hill” from the roads.
The price tag for all this is around $500 Million.
I love it . Florida’s iconic beach town is pissin’ all this money away to pump water “up hill” into an ocean that is only growing taller.
I had one more cheery thought about this world wide water issue.
Mar-A-Lago was built by Post Toasties money in the 1920’s , like a rocket test pad block house . IE concrete two feet thick .
Guess what , all that rebar ain’t protected against salt water intrusion.
Pogo –
Someone needs to compile a list of all the times he, or his flaming bag of legal rats have lost in court, since election day 2020.
As for Mr. Weisselberg , he got his legal balls removed by a bunch of accountants , telling the world his paper work sucked for nearly 10 years. Up till now he was still loyal , he’ll roll like a doughnut to save his love one’s . All that off the books free rent , and free private school stuff .
I am thinking of the scene in “All the Presidents Men” where Holbrook tells Redford and Hoffman about attacking a king.
Hard to believe that Rudy followed the same playbook taking down the old Mob 35 years ago ,
Gotti had more class than the Hump , and he dressed better too.
I am still impressed by the news that Hump threw papers he didn’t like into the toilet of the Oval Office .
Think about his rant on “low flow toilets” .
For him “Paper” was all the same , he never understood that all paper is not the same. That toilet paper is not 20 bond typing paper, or cardboard for that matter.
It’s a real spot light into the whole sweeping the leaves in a national forest , or injecting bleach .
His need to tell the world he’s a “stable genius”.
That old line famous people tell about how one day the world would see that their success was all a fraud, that’s Hump in spades.
I think there’s a good chance his head will explode this year.
He ain’t winning any battles that count, just grifting money from his army of flaming rats.
Still no word from China tonight .
Craig brought up the idea that the tiger could bite the bear in the ass . Anyway you slice it Brent crude closed at $96.77 today , and that is not good for the Tiger, any more than us.
In 1974 the Chinese rode bicycles to work .
I have to believe that we are on the phone with them.
Did a double check. Russia disconnected from OPEC in 2020
OPEC called on Russia and other non-OPEC members of OPEC+ to abide by the OPEC decision. On 6 March 2020, Russia rejected the demand, marking the end of the unofficial partnership, with oil prices falling 10% after the announcement.
Ginni Thomas co-signed a letterin December calling for House Republicans to expel Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger from their conference for joining the Jan. 6 committee. Thomas and her co-authors said the investigation “brings disrespect to our country’s rule of law” and “legal harassment to private citizens who have done nothing wrong,” adding that they would begin “a nationwide movement to add citizens’ voices to this effort.”
how ’bout the UN too?
Putin gets no support from UN Security Council over Ukraine – ABC News (go.com)
NPR:
Appeasement will only serve to embolden him and others like him.
If he’s so concerned about the lives of pro-Russian separatists, he should invite them to go live in Russia.
Hands off of Ukraine.
Although Putin appears to have ordered his troops to enter Ukraine, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. told “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan that the world owes his country a “thank you.” In sporting news, Stephen has a point to make about the country that took home the most medals at the Winter Olympics. #Colbert #Comedy #Monologue
the hill:
the hill:
President Biden quickly issued an executive order that bars investment, trade and financial transactions with the two regions.
FACT SHEET: Executive Order to Impose Costs for President Putin’s Action to Recognize So-Called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics | The White House
20220221_eo_ukraine.pdf (treasury.gov)
Russia-Ukraine live updates and latest news – The Washington Post
editorial board
Opinion | Vladimir Putin’s recognition of Ukrainian separatists could mark end of postwar world – The Washington Post
while we’re at it, how ’bout a black sea blockade to give putie a taste of his own intimidation style medicine? at least shut down access to and from the black sea by his buyers/suppliers.
NATO must seize the current strategic opportunity in the Black Sea – Atlantic Council
Three countries bordering Ukraine are already in NATO. Since Putin has violated Ukraine borders maybe it is time to bring in Ukraine.
Putin crapped on the Chinese as well.
Eon Bremmer pointed this out on CBS this morning.
They wanted him to stick to the Minsk Agreement, and not invade .They have said nothing about this latest twist .
I’m waiting to see what additional sanctions are announced by Biden today. I would support an economic blockade of Russia, freeze assets held in our or other NATO countries, although I understand that most Russian financial assets are in cash or currency and gold and held in Russia. Declare a trade and investment ban with Russia, blockade their trade ports and start gearing up in the NATO countries to the west of Ukraine. The fact that Germany has said at least for now the Nord 2 is blocked should get Vlad’s attention. Some combination of the above should plunge Russia into a pretty bad economic place relatively quickly.
Surprising cracks, if small ones, appear in Kremlin support for Putin on Ukraine
And in case anyone forgot… today is 2/22/22.
So over the weekend while my sis and I were moving my uncle’s stuff out of his independent living apartment we met with his last wife’s son who came over to retrieve family photos and such that were left in the apt. after she died a couple of years ago. I had not met him before. He told me “we” appreciated what Joe Manchin was doing to hold the line against what Biden was trying to do. I told him that as lifelong Democrat and supporter of Biden’s attempts to energize the economy and provide support for those who were hurt the most by the pandemic I didn’t share his opinion of Joe M. I told him I’ve known him at a distance since he was WV Sec. of State in the 90s and that I’ve seen in those 25 or so years that he’s a political shape shifter who is beholden to big money interests in WV and to his own self interest. It was a pleasant enough conversation – and since it was a “first foot” and “last foot” conversation with him, I’m sure he left with a great opinion of me.
It’s a 2 day, fer sure. For people who believe in that sort of thing, in numerology it’s sort of women’s day.
To me it’s very easy to remember the date and it’s 60 and raining.
Our high today is 55, we have already seen it back about midnight. Right now I just let the dog out and noticed a skim of ice on the birdbath. Life on the edge of the great plains gotta love it.
So, it is a double, double duce day. Two bottles of cheap beer. btw double duce is street vernacular for a 22oz bottle of beer or malt liquor. Appropriate given the news,
Jack
CNN’s report on the pipeline –
https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/22/business/nord-stream-2-germany-russia/index.html
Good to see the German’s bite the bullet on this item.
So far the Europeans are hanging tough.
Drat! Gary Brooker of Procol Harem has passed away at 76. RIP
He wrote the one song it is impossible for me to stop even when the car has.
https://news.yahoo.com/u-supreme-court-formally-ends-145516807.html
The Biden administration included $1.1 billion in its recently approved infrastructure bill. It was the largest single allocation of federal funding ever for Everglades restoration, but not a single Republican from Florida voted for the bill. At a news conference, Congressman Brian Mast had this to say.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRESS CONFERENCE)
BRIAN MAST: That’s the Biden administration sending a middle finger over to Florida, unfortunately, and this is what we see over and over again.
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1082172509/florida-republicans-unhappy-over-everglades-restoration
Right there with you Jamie.
Thanks for the link to it.
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/22/1082331901/neil-cavuto-covid-vaccine
Webb Space Telescope Might Be Able To Detect Other Civilizations by Their Air Pollution
https://scitechdaily.com/webb-space-telescope-might-be-able-to-detect-other-civilizations-by-their-air-pollution/
The Nature study, published in November, synthesized climate models from other peer-reviewed studies to come up with a set of projections for what the future holds, and the potentials are stark: By 2100, Western mountains could see declines of between around 40% and 65% in snowfall. Between 2050 and 2100, 78%-94% of years could see little to no snowpack, according to the analysis.
Read more at: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article258556723.html#storylink=cpy
You can take the boy out of KC…
pogo,
how too too that is.
so from that description, what’s their masculine number, one ?
Numerology is fake , everyone knows that reading the entrails of racoons is the only true way of understanding the Universe.
Russia is still a member of OPEC and they maybe relishing the sky high prices. Have to wonder if there is any chance of their turning on Russia and going after Putin’s markets.
Good point Jamie.
$ 100 dollar oil is pretty much in the cards this week , Biden’s address today spent a lot of time on that problem.
It’s not 1974 anymore , there are things like Tesla, and Vestus around now .
Putin is just driving more investment in renewables.
I saw a good example of this a week or so ago.
Covering irrigation canals with solar panels.
The thing Trump and Putin fail to understand is that the world has rolled over , and it rolled over men like them.
Former guy has to be hopping mad over his legal fortunes over the past few weeks, culminating with SCOTUS’ rejection today of his 1/6 document loss appeal noted by Bob, upthread. That along with the decision that the civil trials against him for defrauding state and federal tax authorities, banks and insurance companies, and the 1/6 conspiracy matter against him (but not Trudee) can proceed without an ability for him to dodge this stuff by claiming executive privilege has to go down as one of the worst weeks any one person ever had in multiple courts and cases. And there’s Weisselberg being required to sit for his deposition in the fraud case and in separate, but related matter, Mazars saying they produced 10 years of worthless financial statement (GIGO) and by the way they are breaking their ties to him and his organization, thank you very much. I’m sure I’m missing something.
patd,
We prolly coulda guessed that, but without all the details..
Jamie,
OPEC doesn’t list Russia as a member on its site.
They’d meet the criteria for membership, but at least on the website they don’t appear to be a member at present.
Forget the price of oil and gas , it’s the price of water to keep an eye on …………
The Portuguese government is already restricting the use of reservoirs for hydroelectric power production, in order to save water for public consumption, and farmers are asking for financial aid because of a lack of grass for their livestock.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/portugals-drought-worsens-rainfall-average-83024372
Either there will be too little or too much –
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/02/21/controversy-arising-in-miami-beach-over-raising-roads-to-combat-flooding/
They are having some real issues in Miami Beach . They want to raise the roads by two feet , and take hundreds of parking spaces to do it. It’s dawning on the the businesses that they are all about to be “down hill” from the roads.
The price tag for all this is around $500 Million.
I love it . Florida’s iconic beach town is pissin’ all this money away to pump water “up hill” into an ocean that is only growing taller.
I had one more cheery thought about this world wide water issue.
Mar-A-Lago was built by Post Toasties money in the 1920’s , like a rocket test pad block house . IE concrete two feet thick .
Guess what , all that rebar ain’t protected against salt water intrusion.
Pogo –
Someone needs to compile a list of all the times he, or his flaming bag of legal rats have lost in court, since election day 2020.
As for Mr. Weisselberg , he got his legal balls removed by a bunch of accountants , telling the world his paper work sucked for nearly 10 years. Up till now he was still loyal , he’ll roll like a doughnut to save his love one’s . All that off the books free rent , and free private school stuff .
I am thinking of the scene in “All the Presidents Men” where Holbrook tells Redford and Hoffman about attacking a king.
Hard to believe that Rudy followed the same playbook taking down the old Mob 35 years ago ,
Gotti had more class than the Hump , and he dressed better too.
I am still impressed by the news that Hump threw papers he didn’t like into the toilet of the Oval Office .
Think about his rant on “low flow toilets” .
For him “Paper” was all the same , he never understood that all paper is not the same. That toilet paper is not 20 bond typing paper, or cardboard for that matter.
It’s a real spot light into the whole sweeping the leaves in a national forest , or injecting bleach .
His need to tell the world he’s a “stable genius”.
That old line famous people tell about how one day the world would see that their success was all a fraud, that’s Hump in spades.
I think there’s a good chance his head will explode this year.
He ain’t winning any battles that count, just grifting money from his army of flaming rats.
Still no word from China tonight .
Craig brought up the idea that the tiger could bite the bear in the ass . Anyway you slice it Brent crude closed at $96.77 today , and that is not good for the Tiger, any more than us.
In 1974 the Chinese rode bicycles to work .
I have to believe that we are on the phone with them.
Pogo
Did a double check. Russia disconnected from OPEC in 2020
And remember the Chinese have never been buddies with the Russians.
Party On Garth –
This is why Clarence Thomas should retire.
The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas
And new book title from the future –
“I Had No Idea He Was A Con Man”
( And I want my money back )
I saw Linsey Gram tonight , his hair is nearly white . I saw Amy Walter last night her hair is going that way.
Fast times , really fast times. I listened to Biden , he was on his game.
Nite all
Will GOP side with Mexico when they declare CA, AZ, NM and TX their sovereign territory? Of course they could go even earlier.
NEW THREAD