War in Ukraine

We need a puke emoji

 

a recall election would be better

 

With better candidates on both sides.

 

4 whirlybirds down. week or so old but don't recall the good news

Putin’s $88 million helicopters destroyed in strike ahead of Russia ceasefire talks

Ukraine struck deep behind enemy lines to wipe out four high-tech Russian helicopters on the eve of crucial ceasefire talks. Missile strikes exploded four military helicopters worth $88 million (£68 million) in the Belgorod region. The attack comes as U.S. and Russian negotiators meet in Saudi Arabia to try to agree on terms for a ceasefire in Ukraine (Picture: Reuters / East2West)

These talks follow U.S.-Ukrainian negotiations on Sunday, with discussions focusing on a partial ceasefire to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Kyiv’s military intelligence agency GUR said two Mi-8 helicopters and a pair of Ka-52s were destroyed overnight. The four helicopters were sitting behind enemy lines when they were hit (Picture: Armed Forces of Ukraine/ east2west)

 

The four helicopters (including two Ka-52's and two Mi-8's) were apparently hit by HIMARS missiles.

Ukraine's special operators say they scored a HIMARS hit on Russia's helicopters, including its fearsome Ka-52 attack helos

 

Time magazine has crapped on Putin, publishing a picture of Zelenskyy's favorite painting, with Zelenskyy standing in front of it. The painting, which is kept in Zelenskyy's office, depicts the Kremlin on fire. This seems to have offended Moscow. The barbarians don't like it one bit.

Moscow outraged at Time image of Zelensky in front of burning Kremlin

 

A nice article on the benefits of defeating your enemy and re-building afterwards. A.K.A., the Marshall Plan. Obviously, this time around, European countries would be expected to participate in funding the reconstruction of Ukraine, if not lead the way. Weak and ignorant leadership from the U.S. might preclude the U.S. participating in the effort. The U.S. reaped the benefits of re-building Europe after WWII, and we created conditions that have led to long-lasting peace in the region while accepting a position as the world's leading nation, with the global influence that goes with that. No doubt, the U.S. has made back the money invested in Europe many times over.

Ukraine will need major rebuilding when war ends − here’s why the US isn’t likely to invest in its recovery with a new Marshall Plan

 

I'm not sure which is more tragic: the fact that Trump is too stupid to see the importance of having Russia (a marauding nation of barbarians) defeated, or the fact that Trump is too stupid to see the value in helping to re-build Ukraine without fleecing and gouging them at every turn. Trump's legacy as a president hinges on his ability to understand these two concepts and overcome his innate greed and short-sightedness. History will likely judge him an ignorant and dangerous fool if he fails.

 

Russia has been using a plot to discredit Ukraine in Austria, to reduce support for Ukraine in the war. Russian intelligence hired a Bulgarian to manage a disinformation campaign within Austria. The campaign included on-line propaganda as well as stickers and graffiti meant to look like extremist Ukrainians were defacing Austria.

Austria says it has uncovered a Russian-steered campaign to spread disinformation about Ukraine

 

Trump only understands I win you lose. A win win is a concept that he is incapable of perceiving.