War in Ukraine

Good article about what is going on with American Aid and Cyberspace Ops.

Arming Ukraine: 17,000 Anti-Tank Weapons in 6 Days and a Clandestine Cybercorps

 

Uh oh now the elite will REALLY be mad...from CNN live

"On Monday, Italian fashion group Prada and Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan became the latest businesses to pull out.

Prada has suspended operations in Russia, citing Russia's invasion in Ukraine. The Prada group also owns, Miu Miu, Car Shoe, Churches and Marchisi.

Prada's spokesperson Marta Monaco told CNN, "the Prada Group suspended its retail operations in Russia. Our primary concern is for all colleagues and their families affected by the tragedy in Ukraine, and we will continue to support them." The statement follows a pledge by Prada and other Italian fashion houses to donate aid to Ukraine. Companies giving support include Armani, Bottega Veneta and Dolce & Gabbana."

Add those 2 to the growing list of Western companies joining in pulling out/curtailing services in Russia.

 

Sadly, American fast food has shown no interest in pulling out. McDonald's just keeps humming along in Russia.

 

From CNN live:

"Mayor of a Russian-hit Ukraine suburb claims forces are targeting evacuation routes

"Russian forces are "100% targeting civilians" along evacuation routes in Ukraine, said Oleksandr Markushyn, the mayor of Irpin, a suburb that lies northwest of Kyiv, which was hit by a Russian military strike on Sunday.

"These are not an army, these are animals," the mayor told CNN. "They're killing civilians. They're shelling out our city, our residential buildings, and ambulances. They're firing on ambulances. This is just a monstrosity.""

Talks started a while ago, and the foreign ministers of Russia & Ukraine are meeting in Turkey (I think tomorrow), but all the video/photo evidence in the world isn't going to phase Russia/get them to stop. They don't care about it, nor sanctions.

Someone on CNN radio was commenting that Putin is actually making it WORSE than Stalinist Russia as far as media relations, cracking down, etc. That if he was looking to be a power he just gave that up to China.

 

Not a fan of mickey d's anyway, but eff the golden arches if they are Putin sympathizers. Pick a side....

 

Honestly. Whether McDonalds pulls out seems almost inconsequential as that would mostly only punish “poor” Russians. I’m surprised Russia hasn’t banned them and all western businesses anyway though. Seems like even if they don’t “pull out” how do you bring goods/supplies for franchises across that border at this point?

 

I’m just saying, if they have a collapsed economy, having a western brand like McD potentially “feeding the people” would almost seem like a way to win hearts and minds inside Russia. This is why I’m surprised Russia isn’t the one trying to expel them. If things get really bad there (economically) they are going to have to nationalize and distribute rations.

 

isnt McDonald franchise ?

 

McDonalds thinks it's no big deal - they're not serving fresh food anyway. China can give them bats to grind up into their burger patties.

 

Yeah not sure what McDonald’s can do unless the food supply chain is coming from outside Russia. And if it’s is it is likely already impacted by what’s happening.
But franchises are individually owned generally. Tell them they can’t use the name anymore? What are they going g to do, sue in a Russian court?

 

I'm sure the Chinese will be happy to flood the Russian market with cheap knockoffs on those Italian brands

 

Probably...but rich people are weird that way & I do find it satisfying that they'll have to settle for plebian knock-offs like what one might find at Wal-Mart or the like.

Then again those "rich" people's worth is either tied up in sanctions or worth as much as my son's V-bucks. He joked about buying a tank for himself- I said "you paying for shipping??"

 

Buys on defense stocks? From CNN live

"US considering supplying air defense systems to NATO allies amid growing worry over Russia's threats

From CNN's Barbara Starr

The US is considering supplying critical air defense systems to NATO allies in eastern Europe as anxiety mounts that the Russians could consider launching missiles or aircraft against the alliance’s eastern flank, according to a US official familiar with current administration thinking.
.....

There is no specific plan yet, but the idea centers around the concern that Russian missiles or aircraft might deliberately attack targets inside NATO territory at some point if Russian President Vladimir Putin decides those nations are a risk to his invasion because of their support for Ukraine. And because of close proximity of the airspace, there is also concern that air defense be available if there is inadvertent straying into NATO airspace. The establishment of a US Russia so-called deconfliction line was in part to address those worries. But there is a sense an umbrella of air defense is needed.

Because of the defensive nature of these systems, the US will emphasize that the Russians should have no concerns. The most likely systems that could be deployed by the US are likely to be the Patriot and the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system which have successfully been used in the Middle East to help shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. The US estimates that Russia has already fired some 600 missiles since the invasion began."

 

They’re looking into it and actively negotiating with Venezuela to replace the supply. The US stopping imports of Russian oil isn’t going to be felt by Russia unless we get other countries on board since the US only accounts for 4% of Russia’s exports. But Russia is the third largest oil producer. Can you imagine what would happen to the world economy if even half Russia’s exports were cut off?

 

Paywalled. Summary?

 

My natural father was born to a Jewish family in a small village in what is now the westernmost part of Ukraine. When he was born it was the Austria-Hungary Empire. If he had stayed his nationality would have changed multiple times. In 1918 his village was part of the newly declared Western Ukrainian National Republic. In 1920 the village became part of Czechoslovakia. In 1938 it became the short-lived Republic of Carpatho-Ukraine. In 1939 it was taken over by Hungary. In 1944 it again became part of Czechoslovakia. Finally, in 1945 it was made part of Ukraine. The Soviets took that area to have a foothold west of the Carpathian Mountains. Fortunately, my father landed in the USA with his mother and two younger sisters on the day WWI began.

I visited my father's village in 1991, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Ukraine had declared independence, but had not started printing their own currency. People were paid in coupons, but foreigners could not exchange for these coupons. The people I stayed with took me to the collective farm they ran so I could get a flat tire fixed. The maintenance men at the farm admired my 9-year-old Volkswagen van. They were amazed at the sliding door on the side, and repeatedly opened and shut it to see how it worked. Their vans had two doors that opened out like French doors. They were most astounded that my van could do 60 mph. Their vans could only get up to about 35 to 40 mph.

 

No idea if accurate...but wonder if franchise contracts play a role?

Coke and Pepsi would seem to be even bigger questions regarding pulling out of russia

 

I'm sure McDowell's would be happy to step in.