Russia, EU and NATO SITREP January 11th, 2017 by Scott Humor
19790 Views January 11, 2017 45 Comments SITREPs Scott
In the first ten days of the new year we see the conflicts from 2016 getting worse.
Russian bloggers wish the Westerners a Happy New Year and… a happy Russophobia in 2017:
An interesting essay by Sergey Vasiliev reflects the general mood. The following is a boiled-down version.
An offer "Die!" is the only consistent offer that "civilized" Europe has ever formulated for its Eastern neighbor.
It was formed in the period of the Ecumenical councils of the Church and was consecrated by all the bishops of the Vatican, and then by their followers including Luther, Marx, Engels, Goebbels and Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis .
It has never been ideological, though. It's has always been about the Russia's wealth and territories. Throughout the centuries the wars on Russia had different names:
A crusade against the infidels
The struggle against tyranny of the "Gendarme of all Europe"
The fight against the threat of Pan-Slavism. F. Engels called for "the permanent destruction of the centre of their offensive force—Russia."
Fight against the Communist threat
Combating threats to democracies
The bigger the economic troubles in Europe, the more persistent the Western nations have become with their offer.
Europeans have no idea what a "bad" economic situation is, because they still have cheap Russian gas and oil, which they refine and sell back to Russia. This double trade is a one trick pony that still pulls Europe's economy. After Russia builds ten more refinery plants that are needed, there will be no raw gas and oil available to sell to Europe, only end products which are needed to rebuild the Middle East and for China's consumption.
In anticipation of this, the European Commission even came up with a new "security of gas supply regulation," that was published on 16 February 2016. It's main thesis, "we are all in this together," and for the first time ever the EU introduces a "solidarity principle according to which, as a last resort, neighbouring Member States will help ensure gas supplies to households and essential social services, such as healthcare and security services, in the case of a severe crisis."
It means that Norway and Denmark will have to share their natural gas with France and Germany. Bulgaria, Poland, Greece and Ukraine are out of luck.
In short period of time, after Russia completely turns away from Europe and will seize selling raw mineral resources to Europe, the EU economy will go into coma. They still will be able to buy LNG, if they build terminals, but that would price their manufacturing industries out of the market. With winters like the current one, Europeans might become more concerned with staying warm and alive, which is what we all wish for them.
Happy Russophobia, Europe!
The economic sanctions and military threats to Russia have been instruments in pushing the Eurasian integration process ahead. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) had approved a proposal to start talks on the creation of a free trade zone with Iran, Egypt, India and Singapore.
Russia has started intense negotiations to establish the Free Trade Zones with Iran, Egypt, India and Singapore, which will further the common for all these country effort to reduce the economic and trade dependency on the West. (In Russian) (In English)
The members of the Eurasian Union will include other outsider countries interested in joining and who would like to get away from the Western colonial way of selling their products.
Until now a country would have to take very expensive credits and agree to exclusive use of a particular product. It's this colonial way of trade that the Eurasian countries want to escape. India, Egypt, Iran and Singapore are included into 15 most developed countries in the world by many technological standards. The establishing this Free Trade Zone will allow for at least 15% increase in their production capabilities and work force. Since the Fall of 2016, a similar FTZ has been operational between the Eurasian Union and Vietnam.
Iran has emerged as the main bidder for a stake in the Caspian port of Makhachkala, aiming to expand shipping and trade links with Russia and other countries
FTA to Increase Russia, India Trade to $30 Billion: Trade Rep
First China-U.K. Freight Train to Europe via Russia
The first train departed Yiwu in the Eastern Zhejiang province on January 1 and will cover more than 12,000 kilometers (7,500 miles) in about 18 days before reaching London, China Railway Corp. said in a statement Monday. The service, carrying garments, bags and suitcases among other items, will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France.
While Russia trades, European nationals are getting ready for a war
Just recently, Robert W. Merry, a contributor for National Interest magazine, came up with a curious "red line" for war. He offers to consider the "traditionally orthodox Christian nations" as parts of the Russia's national interest, but to go to war for the "Western Christendom" lands, like the Baltic republics.
Stop Poking the bear
What Trump Gets Right About Putin
"… the president should assure Russia that the West has no designs on Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova or Belarus — or, for that matter, any other nations identified with the Orthodox Christian tradition. No NATO designs. But the West would go to war to prevent any Russian meddling in European lands traditionally identified with Western Christendom, most notably the Baltic states. They remain a crucial part of the Western sphere of influence."
Merry is a news editor for American Conservative, and the former editor of The National Interest and former CEO and executive editor of the Congressional Quarterly. He has been a Washington correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and National Review, among many other periodical.
The territories of the modern Baltic states were purchased by Peter I from Sweden for several million gold and silver rubles over three centuries ago. They were an addition to the territories that were already owned by Russia. In current prices, the amount that Peter paid for the Baltic territories is estimated to be about $300 trillion.
I am sorry that I have to give you Wikipedia links, everything else is in Russian.
In 1721 the Treaty of Nystad ended what became known as the Great Northern War. Russia acquired Ingria, Estonia, Livonia, and a substantial portion of Karelia. In turn, Russia paid two million Riksdaler and surrendered most of Finland. The Tsar retained some Finnish lands close to Saint Petersburg, which he had made his capital in 1712.
the Treaty of Nystad was the result of Russia's victory in the Northern War.
"It was the acquisition of Estonia in the year of 1561, which marked the first step to Sweden's emergence as a European great power, and it was when the Baltic provinces were lost to Russia in 1710 (1721), during the Northern War, that Sweden was transformed into a second-class power again."
The acquisition of Estonia and Livonia introduced a new class of Baltic German nobles to Russian courts. During the following centuries, Baltic Germans were to occupy important positions in the Russian Empire. In 1795, Early Modern Russia completed her Baltic expansion with the acquisition of Courland by a capitulation similar to the Estonian and Livonian ones, following the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Baltic provinces retained their special status within the Russian Empire.
These territories were developed with Russia's and the Soviet Union's investments for over three hundred years, and the EU received these territories for free. If the EU wants to keep these lands, it should pay this money back to Russia. Otherwise, the Baltic territories have to be returned back to Russia.
Traditionally for the Russian Empire, Russian government didn't impose Orthodox Christianity and always allowed local ethnicities to practice their own religions. So, the Baltics being the traditional Russian territories had some sort of Protestantism going on there.
Today, they are illegally occupied by NATO and the Russian population which is Orthodox Christian, is being pushed out.
According to Merry, a war with Russia will result in some minor problems for the US.
"It could mean war. That would be a disaster for America and the West. For America, it would pull attention and resources away from much more serious strategic threats, most notably the rise of ISIS in the Middle East and the rise of China in Asia. For Europe, it likely would threaten the eastern nations liberated in 1989 after some forty-five years of Soviet domination."
It's not professional for a journalist to never consult with the sources. If Robert W. Merry would read the New Defense Doctrine, he would learn that any war with Europe and the US would include the use of nuclear weapons against them.
For America, the war with Russia for any reason wouldn't just "pull attention and resources" away from the China. It would mean war with China. China is the strategic ally of Russia, with a mutual defense agreement between two countries:
In case of a war with the West, China will take arms and supply manufacturing, food production, and other such duties. Don't expect Russian soldiers in Europe. We need them home. Instead, imagine a million strong Chinese army entering Berlin and liberating Paris? Why do you think a high speed railroads is being built between China and the EU via Russia? Do you think it's for shipping lithium batteries and plastic European Union flags?
Shifting power dynamics in SE Asia as Chinese sub visits Malaysia for 1st time and Russian warships dock in Manila. Update: China's defense ministry says its sub stopped in Malaysia for rest and resupply on way back from Gulf of Aden anti-piracy patrols
Update: China's defense ministry says its sub stopped in Malaysia for rest and resupply on way back from Gulf of Aden anti-piracy patrols https://t.co/FJItd1L47f
— Jeremy Page 裴杰 (@JNBPage) January 7, 2017
Instead of realizing that it has been outnumbered, NATO keeps dreaming of winning in the past WWII.
NATO increases its occupation of the eastern European countries.
Who is inside American tanks?
"Zeichen der Stärke" – Erstes Video von der US-Panzerverladung in Bremerhaven
Download Video as MP4
On Jan 7, 2017 – the U.S. tanks were unloaded in Bremerhaven, northern Germany, Friday Jan. 6, 2017. Ships loaded with U.S. tanks, self-propelled howitzers and hundreds of other fighting vehicles have arrived in the northern German port en route to Eastern Europe to bolster NATO's deterrence to possible Russian aggression.
"According to US Army Europe, 4,000 troops and 2,000 tanks will arrive in three US transport ships to Germany next weekend. From Bremerhaven, US troops and huge amount of military material, will be transported to Poland and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe."
The arrival of equipment from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of Fort Carson, Colorado, marks the beginning of the continuous presence of an ABCT in Europe. Tanks, Trucks and Container will enter the Port of Bremerhaven on board the ships "Resolve", "Endurance" and "Freedom" in January 2017.
On January 6, 87 Abrams M1A1 tanks, 20 Paladin artillery vehicles and 136 Bradley fighting vehicles arrived in the German port of Bremerhaven. The United States also plans to deploy 50 Black Hawk, 10 CH-47 Chinook and 24 Apache helicopters, as well as 2,200 personnel. The newly-arrived military equipment will be distributed across Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania for training, exercises and maintenance.
Why the Russian government keeps its silence about the NATO's Military Buildup?
Dr. Martin McCauley, Senior Lecturer at the University of London, told Radio Sputnik, commenting on the Pentagon's latest deployment to the region, said that
"the Kremlin will have to respond to NATO's muscle flexing in Eastern Europe and the Baltics because Moscow sees it as a threat."
You have probably noticed also that all the usual witty personalities in the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry and even Duma, keep unusually silent. One might assume that they are still celebrating the New Year, but I don't think anyone missed the Kabalistic significance of the Washington bringing their war hardware to Germany on the Russian orthodox Christmas day.
This is what happens when the Western "experts" don't even read the speeches of the Russian President Putin.
During his joint press conference with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, Putin said that this is Russia's last warning to NATO. He said that there will be no further warnings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Joint press conference of with Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras
Putin gives grave warning to Romania and Poland against installing NATO's ABM missiles, "no one is listening" by Eric Zuesse
Putin LOSES IT, Warns Journalists of War: 'I Don't Know How to Get Through to You People' (Video) 'How do you not understand that the world is being pulled in an irreversible direction?'
More news in brief
17 European officials have written to Trump telling him that Putin "does not seek American greatness", while Europe does.
Mehmood Mandviwalla: "One reason why there hasn't been a coup in Pakistan [in recent years]: A fiercely independent judiciary."
China The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) patrols the East China Sea on 1/9/17 with six H6 bombers, an ELINT & EW aircraft. Japan SDF sent up fighters in response.
Taiwan scrambled jets and navy ships on Wednesday as a group of Chinese warships led by China's sole aircraft carrier sailed north through the Taiwan Strait, the latest sign of heightened tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled Taiwan.
January 9, 2017 – It's time to resuscitate the Asia-Pacific Quad, by Dhruva Jaishankar of the Brookings India Institute
This Australia-India-Japan-US initiative has hit the wall since the beginning of the century.Futile multiple attempts to break India away from Eurasia and to turn it against its neighbors.
Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky grounds all S-92 helicopters following accident
US charges former UN chief Ban's relatives in bribery case
FBI chief given dossier by John McCain alleging secret Trump-Russia contacts. Russian intelligence alleged to have compromising material on Trump. Unverified reports were drawn up by western ex-counter-intelligence official
One report, dated June 2016, claims that the Kremlin has been cultivating, supporting and assisting Trump for at least five years, with the aim of encouraging "splits and divisions in western alliance". The emergence of the documents is potentially explosive, 10 days before Trump's inauguration and on the eve of his first planned press conference since July last year.
Page, a vociferous supporter of the Kremlin line, was in Moscow in July to make a speech decrying western policy towards Russia. At the time he declined to say whether he had been in contact with Russian officials, but in September he rejected the reports as "garbage".
And there is this:
"The Guardian has learned that the FBI applied for a warrant from the foreign intelligence surveillance (Fisa) court over the summer in order to monitor four members of the Trump team suspected of irregular contacts with Russian officials. The Fisa court turned down the application asking FBI counter-intelligence investigators to narrow its focus. According to one report, the FBI was finally granted a warrant in October, but that has not been confirmed, and it is not clear whether any warrant led to a full investigation. "
FBI felt they had cause to seek a warrant, even under relatively low bar of the FISA.
Here's How To Understand The Bombshell New Report On Trump And Russia. The claims in newly released opposition research documents aren't verified.
How to read news this year: Wait at least for a day before reacting.
P.S. A featured image: An anticipation of a Civil War in the US
NATO encirclement of Russia
Russia SITREP
Singh on January 11, 2017 · at 7:59 pm EST/EDT
It's tiresome jackassery at this point।।
Fact is most people want to feed their families & whether India is the largest world economy like in 1850s or smallest 1950s it will stand up।।
Nothing at all to discuss or say past here।।
Hope the Slavs will reverse the crime of Prince Vladimir।।
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕਾਖਾਲਸਾ।।ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹਿ।।
Franz on January 11, 2017 · at 8:45 pm EST/EDT
Please enlighten us as to what you mean. Here is your chance to shine.
Vladimir II
Володимѣръ Мономахъ (Vladimir Monomakh)
1053 – 1125 20 April 1113 19 May 1125 Son of Vsevolod I and Anastasia of Byzantium
esten on January 11, 2017 · at 8:39 pm EST/EDT
I especially liked the part, where Peter the Great bought Baltic states from Norway. Do you have a reference for that fact? I cannot find it from any west sponsored history books:(
Eilev. on January 11, 2017 · at 10:03 pm EST/EDT
Not Norway. Sweden. Norway was a Danish colony at the time.
Scott on January 11, 2017 · at 10:30 pm EST/EDT
esten and Eilev.
I added the relevant information.
Thanks for your correction.
Laika von old Monkshusen on January 12, 2017 · at 2:25 am EST/EDT
Yes, but it wasn't 300 trillion in gold, that can't possibly be true.
Vinnyboy on January 12, 2017 · at 10:13 am EST/EDT
300 trillions is indeed an absurd exageration, all the world gold amounts around 10 trillion. Even adding all banknotes of every currency, every check and saving account would be less than 100 trillions. Even adding every companies listed on every stock exchange would "only" add about 70 trillions.
For comparison the US national debt is a bit less than 20 trillions.
Maybe the author meant Billions?
Hestroy on January 16, 2017 · at 11:07 am EST/EDT
Author wasn't talking about gold, but USD.
Aristides on January 11, 2017 · at 11:15 pm EST/EDT
It was actually Sweden who sold it to Russia as part of the Treaty of Nystad.
I don't agree with the opinion, that Russia heavily invested into Baltics without getting anything in return. First of all – as Estonia and Livonia were long before under the rule of Denmark and Sweden, those countries had made their own fair share of investments. For example, the University of Tartu was founded in 1632 by Gustaf II Adolf of Sweden (more than a century before the University of Moscow was founded). All the time, Estonia was under the Russian rule, it payed taxes like all the regions within the Russian Empire.
If you are talking about the Soviets, then actually bolchevics made a peace treaty in 1920 with Estonia, which was called the Treaty of Tartu, where they stated that: "Russia also agreed to absolve all debt from Tsarist times and to pay Estonia 15 million gold rubles, a proportional share from gold reserves of former Russian Empire." Everything changed of course with the WW2, where Estonia tried to stay neutral allowing Russian military bases in its territory – apparently staying neutral didn't work out for us:)
Concerning "some sort of protestantism", most of Estonians have been Lutherians. Second largest church is Russian Orthodox and I think that their share is actually increasing as Estonian people are getting more and more secular. Claiming that Orthodox Russians are pushed out is not true – net migration of Estonia is positive and there are in fact more Russians moving to Estonia compared to the leaving ones (https://www.stat.ee/news-release-2016-059). Russian Orthodox church is not opressed in Estonia in any way and they have a lot of churches in all larger towns. Actually new one in Tallinn was completed in 2013 (http://www.visitestonia.com/en/church-of-the-quick-to-hearken-icon-of-the-mother-of-god-in-tallinn). Feel free to come and visit.
As an interesting fact – Estonian composer Arvo Pärt is also Russian Orthodox and he makes really beautiful religious music. Please give it a try and hopefully you all can find some inner peace in your heart and you will stop worrying about the countries, which happen to be located in such unfortunate geopolitical position.
Tony_0pmoc on January 11, 2017 · at 8:48 pm EST/EDT
Fair doo's to you mate. You've probably taken quite a bit of stick re what you posted yesterday, but so far as I am aware – both you, The Saker and your moderators have allowed all sensibly constructed criticisms..
I used to lead a fairly normal life – totally (well almost) English conventional. O.K. I admit being a bit of a hippy in my youth – but I had to give almost all of it up in 1985, cos I wanted to get married, lead a normal life and have two nice kids (which I did)
What is going on now is completely insane, so its hardly surprising that people like you who are obviously incredibly intelligent – go on about your personal family history in Russia.
We have had to put up with them too
I won't bore you about both my Dad and Grandad in WW1 and WW11, I just think it is rather important, rather than taking tribal positions, to try and prevent a full blown WWIII.
And I think the only way we can all help to do this is by trying to tell the Truth as best we can, and have an open mind, and accept on the basis of new information, that our view may have been wrong.
That is the art and the heart of a scientist.
Just tell the truth as best you can despite the probable consequences.
The one man who stands up in the Audience and Challenges – what everyone believes – the people on the stage – and the people in the audience – is usually in my experience – the man who is telling the truth to the best of his ability.
It is O.K. being wrong – providing you are prepared to change you mind – on new very strong evidence. Dispute it – test it – but there is no future for the human race when nearly everything as it is today is based on lies.
We need to change, and I think we are doing Now.
Its about time people woke up, before its too late.
The ultimate test of 'truth-telling' is crucifixion.
Tomsen on January 12, 2017 · at 6:48 am EST/EDT
Thats why truth tellers some times keep quiet.
Galilei should have shut his mouth about the globe not being flat as the Pope and several Kings have declared.
Liars hate it ;-D.
Wikispooks on January 11, 2017 · at 9:18 pm EST/EDT
….It was formed in the period of the Ecumenical councils of the Church and was consecrated by all the bishops of the Vatican, and then by their followers including Luther, Marx, Engels, Goebbels and Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis."
Interesting you should put all of those in the same camp. Engels and Goebbels eh? I have a masses to say about that snort of linkage but not now. And Chabad-Lubavitch. Now there's an organisation to be reckoned with. Berl Lazar is a both a Lubavitcher and Chief Rabbi of Russia.If this anecdote of his from his presentation to the Oxford Chabad group is accurate, then he like as not he still has Putin's ear and I'd love to be fly on the wall when he uses it.
So, in view of this and other evidence of manifest Jewish power in Russia, the I find the following from your piece to be particularly telling:
"…but I don't think anyone missed the Kabalistic significance of the Washington bringing their war hardware to Germany on the Russian orthodox Christmas day."
Chilling stuff. In Russia, I hope they did take careful note; but among the western Gentile political classes? not a chance; stuff like that simply flies way over their heads. That is a measure of the danger we are in. They think they (Anglo-US-Nato) are the Goodies; they simply do not listen to Putin and those that do assume he can be easily dealt with if he pushes his luck too far, after all. he's a Baddie – Pig-ignorant in other words.
And there were you opining that 'there would be no nuclear world war' in your last post. Oh dear, I do not have your confidence.
Talks-to-Cats on January 12, 2017 · at 2:25 am EST/EDT
It was formed in the period of the Ecumenical councils of the Church and was consecrated by all the bishops of the Vatican, and then by their followers including Luther, Marx, Engels, Goebbels and Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis."
In the Suthasoma – a great Mahayana Buddhist epic poem composed in central Java at the time when Buddhism was merrily mixing up with Shivaist Hinduism – we find an outstanding verse: Bhineka tunggal ika – meaning "it is different but it is one". — Pepe Escobar
Yes, you're absolutely right about that sort of linkage by this 'Sergey Vasiliev', whoever that might be. It's very annoying. In my opinion that's nothing but (Jewish) hate propaganda.
The Jews & their propaganda totally control the West, especially since the 17th c. and 1913, indoctrinating to hate Russia, Muslims, and so forth.
But they also control Russia, especially since 1917 (under Stalin & Putin somewhat less so), indoctrinating Russians to hate the West (the 'Anglo-Saxons').
The Jews grabbed control over the (central) banks, starting with the Bank of Amsterdamn – 1609, with their loot from the trans-Atlantic slave trade/exploitation (sugar cane). That monstrous fraud is all there is to it. No need to accuse e,g. Martin Luther of being anti-Russian, it's totally absurd.
As for the Baltic-'German' nobles, what about Baltic-Yiddish? (Wikipedia won't mention that of course) It had belonged to Poland-Lithuania (Yiddish) for far too long to call them Germans.
_smr on January 12, 2017 · at 10:04 am EST/EDT
"Luther, Marx, Engels, Goebbels and Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis"
Luther, Marx, Engels were all Jewish/Industrialist financed agents. But what are the connections of Goebbels to this particular group of gentlemen?
WizOz on January 12, 2017 · at 11:30 am EST/EDT
@what are the connections of Goebbels to this particular group of gentlemen
It is like in the movies today. They must have a sex scene even if it is totally unrelated and irrelevant to the plot. Ditto with the 'nazi'. But what the Ecumenical Councils have to do with that?
Laika von old Monkshusen on January 12, 2017 · at 10:42 pm EST/EDT
On the contrary, Luther was the last who told the truth about the Jews. Calvin & his sect were Jewish agents, all right. And Goebbels was a Jewish financed (MI6/CIA) Trotskyite-Bolshevik/Nazi agent.
The vulgar lying rat was almost certainly evacuated to Argentina along with Hitler and other top Nazis(under protection of MI6/CIA & Co.).
S113 on January 13, 2017 · at 3:17 am EST/EDT
Further to your comment about Russia taking "careful note" of the war hardware arriving in Germany on Russian Orthodox Christmas Day:
Jan. 12th, President Putin meets with Murmansk Region Governor, Marina Kovtun.
The transcript of their meeting ends with Marina Kovtun extending an invitation to the President:
"Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to visit this unique facility. I think it's worthwhile, because, really, it's the work of an outstanding Russian-German team (it's not just an engineering team, but also a creative team), and, one must give credit where credit is due, this is a one-of-a-kind project, which resolves the issue of long-term nuclear waste storage, not only in northwestern Russia, but the entire Arctic as well."
Coincidence? Chess? Or judo maybe?
Perimetr on January 11, 2017 · at 9:33 pm EST/EDT
It is important to understand that the purpose of the above described military buildup is directed at Kaliningrad.
Battalion tactical groups have the infrastructure for rapid deployment. Personnel can be airlifted and equipment is already in stock. This will be the most capable team of the West in Europe, plus they will support the Polish army, which is quite an impressive effect – taking into account that the aircraft can be quickly deployed from Germany and even from the United States. As a result, the United States will be able to in two weeks to create the most powerful striking force on the borders of the Kaliningrad region.
On the Russian side, there are only three divisions, plus the Baltic Fleet. However, NATO members could delay Russian fleet forces by bringing additional naval groups in the Baltic, where, incidentally, there is also the German Navy, and Polish. In other words, the West is really able to quickly establish superiority of forces in the region of Kaliningrad. This means that if NATO decided to strike first, Russian troops will for the most part be destroyed.
See http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/01/obama-sends-hundreds-of-tanks-to_8.html Obama sends hundreds of tanks to Russian border
Consider that the recent US/NATO Anaconda war games were essentially a rehearsal for the invasion of Kaliningrad. Anaconda was NATO's largest field exercise in Europe east of the current German-Polish border since 1992; it included 31,000 soldiers from 24 countries exercising for 10 days with 14,000 American troops participating.
"The U.S. Army Europe map of Anaconda 2016 is very likely an act of information war that supports NATO political goals. Note phase three on the U.S. Army Europe exercise map. Phase three is scheduled for execution on June 10. Alliance troops and vehicles will cross the Vistula River and enter Lithuania. Come one, come all. Lithuania is a NATO member.
However, the maneuver explicitly cuts off Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. Kaliningrad was once the Prussian city of Konigsberg. Russia kept the city and its environs as a special Kremlin reward for winning World War II.
Anaconda 2016's conclusive fictional thrust isolates and surrounds Kaliningrad." [from http://observer.com/2016/06/the-political-message-behind-natos-war-game-in-poland/ ]
Russia may respond to these NATO actions and troop build-up by positioning two tank armies on the borders of Lithuania and Latvia. This response would be to ensure that Russia will not have to rely upon nuclear weapons to crush a NATO attack upon Kaliningrad. However, this build-up of forces is highly destabilizing and creates a situation where even an accident could lead to a direct military conflict between the US/NATO and Russia. Worse, the crazies in Washington or Poland could create a false flag event here designed to produce a US/NATO-Russian conflict.
Such a confrontation is being made even more likely by the military buildup going on in Poland. Consider US and Israeli sales of military equipment to Poland, see http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2017/01/08/poland-acquires-first-strike-capability-pose-threat-russia.html After the US presidential election, the US approved the sale of 70 AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff missiles with extended range) for Poland. This missile has a range of 575-620 miles and can carry a 992 lb penetrating warhead; an effective stealth weapon to knock out key stationary infrastructure sites located deep in Russia's territory.
Poland has been implementing the plans to form a 50,000 strong paramilitary territorial defense force, a planned military reserve component of the regular military, since 2015. Roughly, 20,000 guards will join the ranks of the new force in 2017. Warsaw plans to increase the size of the army by at least 50 percent in the coming years (from about 95,000 to 150,000), including the creation of three brigades for the territorial defense of the country on the eastern flank. According to NATO plans, Poland will host rapid response troops starting this year. Warsaw has demanded a full-scale permanent base of the alliance on its territory.
A NATO Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense site to be positioned in Poland in 2018 [a dual-use facility that can launch both interceptors and nuclear-armed cruise missiles] and the AGM-158B are two destabilizing factors that also undermine security in Europe and obstruct prospects for arms control.
Anonymous on January 11, 2017 · at 11:28 pm EST/EDT
and one press of a button leaves poland without the russian natural gas.
during these past 2 days, over 10 people froze to death in poland alone.
how many would die in case of additional war hostilities?
Anonymous on January 12, 2017 · at 5:19 am EST/EDT
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-11/russia-deploys-s-400-missile-regiment-near-moscow-combat-duty
Russia Deploys S-400 Missile Regiment Near Moscow On Combat Duty
[Combat alert is equivalent to a higher DEFCON level in the US. Has the US reciprocated? Russia has chosen to publicize this . . . they must be speaking to the US. What prompted this action?]
While the stated reason behind its deployment has not been disclosed, Russia has put on duty a surface-to-air missile regiment equipped with the brand-new S-400 air defense system, Russia's most advanced, in Moscow's suburbs on combat alert.
"The SAM combat squads of the Moscow Region aerospace forces have put the new S-400 Triumph air defense missile system into service, and have gone on combat duty for the air defense of Moscow and the central industrial region of Russia," the Defense Ministry's Department of Information and Mass Communication told Interfax. The new SAM battery arrived at its destination in the Moscow Region from Kapustin Yar in the south Russia last December, the Defense Ministry noted.
"The main task of the anti-aircraft missile troops of the Russian Aerospace Forces is air defense and protecting vital state, military, industry and energy facilities, as well as the Armed Forces troops and transport communications, from aerospace attacks," said the ministry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfT6My-vDAc
The Triumph system, which was developed by air-defense systems manufacturer Almaz Antei, is designed for high-efficiency protection against airstrikes utilizing strategic, cruise, tactical, and other kinds of ballistic missiles. The new system is capable of hitting moving targets in the air, including planes and cruise missiles, at a distance of 400 kilometers, as well as ballistic targets moving at speeds of up to 4.8 kilometers per second at altitudes ranging from several meters to several dozens of kilometers.
As RT adds, four more Triumph units are to come into service in 2017, citing the Russia's Defense Ministry said. S-400 Triumph air defense systems have been providing air cover for Russia's forces in Syria since November, when President Vladimir Putin order their deployment.
It was not clear however, why i) Russia is deploying one near the capital now and ii) why it is doing so publicly.
"With these complexes, we are able to destroy both sea and ground targets" at distances of 350 kilometers for sea targets and nearly 450 kilometers for ground targets, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the time. In October, President Putin and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement for the sale of S-400s to India. Deliveries could begin in 2020.
Anon21 on January 12, 2017 · at 6:04 pm EST/EDT
Comrade President P seems to make it pretty clear, seems to telegraph his plan, publicly. Every time. This is evidently part of his general method of conflict management (aka "fighting"). He never lies, either, not so far. So what has he said?
We know everything
WW3 will not be fought on Russian soil.
Responses will be asymmetrical.
I add that there's been an ultimatum – evidently on both sides. Ru wants reparations, by the way – I wonder if Alaska would settle the debt?
Intelligence "actions", like the Reichstag fire, always serve more than one goal – and there are proximate conditions for precisely another "action"…a big one. Ru gets blame…and off we goooo!
Seriously, my crystal ball says we'll be really lucky if they don't attack the Russians, like next week…
Seward on January 12, 2017 · at 4:34 pm EST/EDT
Re: "On the Russian side, there are only three divisions … "
There is actually much less, per English and Russian Wikipedia, under the 11th Corps:
2 Motorized Rifle (i.e, armored infantry) brigades, one recently upgraded from a regiment.
1 Naval Infantry (i.e., Marine) brigade, comparable equipped but professional (no conscripts).
Plus the following tac air:
1 Fighter regiment with SU-27's.
1 Naval Assault regiment with SU-24's.
(Air regiments are nominally 12 aircraft each).
IMHO the Kaliningrad area is woefully understrength agains any determined U.S./Polish/German(in Lithuania)/Lithuanian assault. NATO exercise Operation Anaconda deployed 31,000 troops circling around it. Russia would need to threaten/go-to tac nukes to avoid being overrun.
Oops: Error on tac air: It is an air squadron that is nominally 12 aircraft, not an air regiment, which nominally has 2 or 3 squadrons, so 24 to 36 aircraft. Only about 2/3 are available normally, except during a stand-down before an expected operation.
PS: A Russian Army Corps is now a brigade bucket, an HQ over several independent brigades (regiments with own planning staffs), not an HQ over several divisions as in the West. The 11th Corps at Kaliningrad also has attached Rocket-Artillery (Iskandr), air defense, engineering, and other support units.
sascha on January 11, 2017 · at 10:23 pm EST/EDT
The large Nordic war was a war led in north, central and Eastern Europe around the supremacy in the Baltic Sea area in the years 1700 to 1721.
In the Peace Treaty of Nystad (10. September 1721) SWEDEN surrendered (beside others) the areas Livland and Estonia to Russia. Russia, Peter the Great carried out SWEDEN reparations at a value of 2 million Reichsmark.
Tony_0pmoc on January 11, 2017 · at 11:00 pm EST/EDT
Little secret for Scott Humor when he invites Maria Zakharova and Friends back to his Home for Dinner…
.. who do not like sugar in their coffee, do not like caffeine in their coffee…No don't like milk…
Do you like bananas – "Yes – Love Bananas"
Oh you are in luck…
Serve them old bananas (when the skins are nearly black), laced with honey, chocolate, nuts, cinnamon ..cooked in the oven for tonight 30 mins – and then pour loads of Black Jamaican Rum over them – and stick them back in the Oven for 10 mins…
And serve it up to your guests as if you are
The Maître D'
with a towel over your arm (on your own kitchen table in your own home)
Would you like Ice Cream with that??
Where's Mine?
They ate the lot.
I don't mind being a Servant with My Family and Friends…
They reciprocate – and invite us…to their homes.
All it takes is the confidence to ask some people to your home for a party. They may say no and you are going to feel like shiit.
The reality is that they are so pleased to be asked – and we say – bring all your friends too.
Well that's what my wife and I did and do
We moved from Lancashire to London in 1982
We had left all our family and friends behind in Lancashire – over 200 miles away – totally different accent and culture..Manchester VS Liverpool was bad enough 30 miles away..
Absolutely No One has abused our Welcome and Hospitality.
If someone invites you into their home and offers you a cup of tea – its going to make you feel good…even if you don't understand all what they say…
My wife and I have experienced this as tourists all over the world…we never had any weapons – nor any defence – except each other – and no I don't look that – but Hopperty Skipperty does..a car ran over her 8 weeks ago – but its just her leg that got broke…
If the car had been going 5mph faster – the love of my life – my wife would be dead.
But today – she was nearly running on her crutches in the park.
I have nursed her back to health over the last 8 weeks with wonderful help from the NHS
My Wife will be Dancing Again Soon
She was on her way to a Dance Class 8 weeks ago and got run over by a car.
She Survived – and She Will Again be 100%
She is Nearly xx Years Old – She is Slim and Very Fit.
Its all the walking, hiking, swimming, yoga, dancing and..ermm meditation and rock music and cider and stuff – and doing the jug in the pub and really flirting as if she is still 25 and flirting with you to put some money in the jug for the band.
Maria Zakharova ain't in the same league unless she will dance to this…but I bet she can.
Saw 'em in 1976 in Manchester – Australians and Scottish Louder than The Welsh.
"AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMvE0yFnR0I
Apologies if this is lost in translation – I've been on the bananas and the rum.
James lake on January 11, 2017 · at 11:14 pm EST/EDT
Thanks for this update
What a start to 2017.
Just watched that Rex Tilerson, they have part of the video and article at the Duran
He just sounds like yet another a neo con. (He was recommended by Condeleeza Rice)
The words he used about Russia were disgusting
Anyone listening to that from the Russian side could not possibly think there is any difference in the US foreign policy . Depressed.,
Anonymous on January 12, 2017 · at 12:42 am EST/EDT
I will not wait a day and congratulate you for this excellent article today.
A small addition – the biggest and most dangerous enemies of Russia and Russian people are part of the Russians. About 10-14%, and it looks to me that they have always existed. The best Russian leaders cleaned and cleaned Russia from them and at those times Russia rose to power and prosperity, but then their numbers grows again.
WizOz on January 12, 2017 · at 4:13 am EST/EDT
@"… the president should assure Russia that the West has no designs on Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova or Belarus — or, for that matter, any other nations identified with the Orthodox Christian tradition. No NATO designs. But the West would go to war to prevent any Russian meddling in European lands traditionally identified with Western Christendom, most notably the Baltic states. They remain a crucial part of the Western sphere of influence."
What reveals the deception contained in these 'recommendations' is the absence of Romania.
Romania is a nation identified with the Orthodox Christian tradition: 81.04% of the country's stable population identified as Eastern Orthodox in the 2011 census. Logically it should fall in the Russian sphere.
But Romania is a member of NATO and EU therefore assimilated with 'Western Christendom' (despite the absolutely insignificant number of 'other denominations': Roman Catholicism (4.33%), Greek Catholicism (0.75%–3.3%), Calvinism (2.99%), Pentecostal denominations (1.80%) for which the 'West would go to war to prevent any Russian meddling'!
Don't try to find any logic in that, because there is none.
Scott, Estonian delegates asked the Swedish King for protection in the 16th century. The country was not taken by force. Sweden built a university in Tallin (Reval) and that changed everything.
I always thougth Estonia was taken by Russia in the war against Charles the twelfth. It is true Sweden lost its great power status under Charles. He never had the sense to accept a serious Russian peace proposal after Narva.
Scott on January 13, 2017 · at 2:07 am EST/EDT
Tartu University was founded by Sweden's king, Gustavus Adolphus II, but built in 1804—1809 by the Russian Empire. Architect – Johan Wilhelm Krause.
Historical images of Tartu – in 1030—1224 and in 1893—1918 it was a Russian town called Yurev.
http://infoseti.ee/kak-vyglyadel-estonskij-tartu-kogda-on-byl-russkim-yurevym/
In 1980s there were 7 institutions of higher learning in Estonia, How many of them are still opened, how many more were opened after 1991?
esten on January 13, 2017 · at 11:33 am EST/EDT
There are many new ones. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Estonia
Education in Estonia is doing fine – please check the latest PISA results.
And between 1804-1809 was constructed the main building of the Tartu University. This is just one out of many buildings scattered around the Town:)
Esten, this is perhaps interesting for you. Estonia was called the stone country in the distant past. Est, hest, häst (if the peculiar Scandininavian a is visible for Englishspeakers). Today it means horse, but in the past it meant stone and horse meant horse as in English. The stone country. Look at the coast. Then look at the name Estonia. Stones.
Scott, you are a Russian nationalist/patriot (hopefully the latter). Try to understand what I, a Swede , and what Esten has to say. I am a friend of Russia, but my perspektive is different.
Estonia was not taken by Sweden by force and that is very important. The King invested big money in the university, money he could have used differently, perhaps for war. All Swedish universities had to start from scratch and I think that was why they were successful. 25 percent of the periodic table was discovered by Swedes and their fellows in other Swedish countries. Perhaps you are aware of Linne, Swedenborg and several others. Celsius? He gave us the thermometer. Some of our great researchers were in Estonia, Finland, Stralsund and elsewhere. The Sovjetunion also started almost from scratch and became a great power. Never rely on old knowledge. Farm boys in US Iowa only needed a couple of years to outsmart British miners. They did not know what was impossible and did the impossible.
The Baltic nobility served in both Sweden and Russia. I grew up with some of them and see their names in both countries (Palme, for example, I met him). What a bunch, they pride themselves of their ancestors achievements. I have a similar lineages, but I make myself small before the Lord. What have I accomplished? This is perhaps something the Saker understands. Old lineage and own accomplichments.
Scott, when you post Russian links, please know that all of us do not speak Russian. I speak a little, but not as you do. I spell English like a crow, as we say in Swedish, but you understand me.
R on January 13, 2017 · at 2:08 am EST/EDT
I doubt very much the rail lines from China to Russia are being built to move troops as opposed to fake Pravda hand bags (whatever). Rail lines – far too easy to bomb and disrupt… like a pipeline… softest target ever. For this to work – you would have move the troops before hostilities started – Russia's enemies could not be be expected to be so accommodating.
JJ on January 13, 2017 · at 5:13 pm EST/EDT
more hysteria
"Denmark is under a serious and frightening threat from Russian hackers and missiles, according to the country's defence minister.
Claus Hjort Frederiksen has warned Danish hospitals and power grids are under threat from hackers and that weapons of mass destruction are being installed in Kalingrad which could reach Copenhagen.
He believes the two-pronged attack to be a major risk, and has called for action to be taken as Vladimir Putin's aggression appears to continue to be ramp up."
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4116946/Russian-hackers-targeting-hospitals-power-grids-Denmark-moved-missiles-strike-Copenhagen-warns-country-s-defence-minister.html#ixzz4Vf9OkHpZ
Kirov on January 14, 2017 · at 3:19 pm EST/EDT
Scott is great in identifying various people as being "jewish agents" that are driven by the wish to destroy Russia.
How do Marx and Engels fit in here (they were jewish, but did they work for or against Zionism?)?
Like Igor Strelkov or differently?
Or like commentators which have been declared persona non-grata to comment on this blog (there were a few, but the community forgot them all – treason)? Or differently?
Did Scott ever provide any proof for his wild and randomly glued together allegations?
How does Karl Marx's book "A World Without Jews" fir in?
I want to see evidence, am I the only one?
Otherwise it is cheap hate-driven propaganda, hardly better than Goebbels or the State Department.
Scott, before claiming (without any proof) that Marx and Engels were Zionists (rather than jewish but Anti-Zionists), why no critical word about Donald Trum's love for Israel as he demonstraed at his AIPAC speech in March 2016? We should care less if somebody is jewish or non-jewish (and Trump probably is jewish). But finally make the distinction jewish vs. zionist. And in fact most of the Zionists' foot soldiers to the elites are even non-jewish.
About Trump nobody knows if he was only a deception to keep us distracted and amuzed.
See this:
Is Trump perhaps as evil as Hitlery? AIPAC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHmINZRwiZU
Trump's strategy is to set Russia against China
http://www.pravdareport.com/world/americas/29-12-2016/136548-russia_china_usa-0/
Thousands Of US Troops Arrive In Europe In "One Of Largest Deployments Since The Cold War"
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-09/thousands-us-troops-begin-arriving-europe-one-largest-deployments-cold-war
Is This The Coup In America? "U.S. Troops On Russian Border" To Start War Before Inauguration
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-13/coup-america-us-troops-russian-border-start-war-inauguration
I personally do not know if Trump is only a deception, a myth,a lie or genuine about his constructive stand towards Russia. Yes, I do not know something and even admit that.
But before generalizing and without evidence putting Marx and Engels into the same bucket as Goebbels and (seriously) Luther, perhaps you could wait for facts on the ground to decide in which bucket to put your "Anti-Zionist friend" Trump?
Nussiminen on January 15, 2017 · at 3:26 pm EST/EDT
Kirov,
If this was a History guessing game and the question at hand read "What was it that united Marx, Engels, Goebbels, and Luther ideologically?", I strongly feel that the absolutely correct answer would be Euro-chauvinism in general; then there is a "split" within the group with Luther unconcerned with Russophobia. Classical Western Marxism as well as the squalor of 'Cultural Marxism' is vehemently anti-Russian and pro-imperialist.
So called "Cultural Marxism" is the opposite of Marxism.
You are wrong: Cultural Marxism is not only the enemy of Russia, but simultaneously the enemy of the USSR.
Contradiction to your and your predecessors (and the likes') claims.
It is very appropriate that the picture above is of the US Civil War in anticipation of a future second American Civil War.
The disUnited Snakes of America may face a series of seismic events that will literally tear the USA apart with a gigantic geophysical rupture running through the central states of the US.
The US May Soon Face an Apocalyptic Seismic Event
http://journal-neo.org/2016/11/04/the-us-may-soon-face-an-apocalyptic-seismic-event/http://journal-neo.org/2016/11/04/the-us-may-soon-face-an-apocalyptic-seismic-event/
Theopholus on January 18, 2017 · at 1:44 am EST/EDT
The global satanists bring us closer each minute to their wish of getting rid of Russia and the USA. THEN they can rule, 'cept for that Chinese army thing. That will be Armageddon. We're headed to Ezekiel 38 and 39 war at the moment.