In the midst of all the news stories that have taken the headlines, the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol has continued its work. Today, in a lawsuit, it told a judge that the committee “has a good-faith basis for concluding that the President and members of his Campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.”
Trump's mendacity and treachery has occurred on such a grand scale and is so unprecedented that we lack the words to describe it or the means to respond to it. And Putin's brazen attack at last forces us to become aware how deliberate he has been in trying to sabotage democracy and how effective he has been. Heather- your gift is to be able to show clearly what has been happening- and let the reader draw their own conclusions. Showing rather than telling- so much more effective.
Today, my daughter showed me a video of Russian police literally arresting a woman who looked like she was well into 90’s. She was about 4’10” and was carrying signs in protest. It was hard to watch but I must say the officers were very gentle with her. Nonetheless, it’s ludicrous and I really pray the people in Russia continue to fight back in spite of martial law being introduced to them.
The Jan 6th committee never stops working and boy, am I happy about that! Now we have to see if Garland and his DOJ staff shine the flashlights on TFG and his cronies for good.
Some brilliant women's minds are at work here connecting the dots of a global operation to expand wealth and power to the detriment of democracy, particularly since 2014. Following the money will bring all this more and more into focus, identifying how to curb the exploitations as much as we can. Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, ironically taken more seriously in Russian than the U.S., here is a beginning list of these great minds:
Heather Cox Richardson, as with tonight's "Letters from an American" (3/02/2022)
Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman, "Now & Then Backstage" of 3/01/2022 (only available to paid subscribers; fascinating chat that's even pithier than the podcast in regard to connecting the dots, ostensibly as HCR described in her "paradigm shift" LFAA)
Rebecca Solnit: "It’s time to confront the Trump-Putin network" (cited in HCR's notes)
Since OctobervAmerican military intelligence has highlighted the massive Russian build up of troops and armor along the Ukrainian border. As Russian invasion of Ukraine became imminent, Kyiv and the government of President Zelensky seemed the top priority targets. US and UK military experts agreed that there could be a ‘swift and decisive’ thrust.
President Zelensky, on February 24th spoke heroically of staying in Kyiv as he awaited Russian seizure of his capital city in 24-48 hours. A week later there are reports of ‘40 miles’ of tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks positioned a considerable distance from central Kyiv and that Russia had not achieved ‘air superiority.’
WHAT HAPPENED?
Battle reports from the Kyiv area indicate that the Russians had employed elite units together with units including numerous conscripts against determined Ukrainian resistance. The Russians. Have experienced heavy casualties and have not achieved their anticipated ‘swift and decisive’ objectives.
At first glance, this would seem a David and Goliath battle—the Russians, with a massive, modern military establishment against a hastily-assembled, modestly-trained-and-equipped Ukrainian opponent. Instead we hear of courageous Ukrainian fighting that has consistently turned back Russian attacks with major enemy casualties. Western military experts have pointed out surprising Russian tactical blunders during the early days of this multi-front offensive.
1) Did Putin, on his presumption that Ukrainians would submit supinely, instruct his generals that a swift capture of Kyiv was a sure thing and that he didn’t want massive destruction prior to occupying Ukraine’s capital city?
2) Did the Russian military, faced with launching offensives in multiple areas throughout the Ukraine, fail to have an overwhelming initial force outside Kyiv and elsewhere?
3) Did the Russian military, with months to deploy, un impeded, its forces and to organize its logistics, muck up these preparations?
4) Was the Russian military, upon commencing its military offensive against Kyiv, shocked by the stout defense of the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and the attendant Russian casualties?
Military analysts with spent months, even years, seeking answers to these questions.
Meanwhile:
1) Kyiv, a week after the Russian invasion, is still held by President Zelensky and his Ukrainian compatriots;
2) The American, Western, and worldwide response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has made him a global pariah and is economically crippling Putin, his oligarchs, and the Russian people.
It appears that Putin belatedly is endeavoring to push his sluggish military machine into high, massive-destruction gear. The Russian military has the capacity to destroy and seize Kyiv and other major Ukrainian urban areas. A sustained occupation of a large country with a 40+ million population is an entirely different and even more vexing challenge.
Longer term, Ukraine will re-merge as a proud sovereign state and Putin will be a dead man crawling.
Anybody who didn’t watch Fox and wasn’t in a coma knew most of this stuff. It is so wonderful to know that I wasn’t crazy, that the alternative reality pushed by the republicans was total bull Schitt. It is way past time for reality to rear it’s head again.
'...the Trump-Putin network.” Is that a cliffhanger or not? Did Putin ever have a more pliant puppet? Trump was the shrimp in that arrangement. Have we thought about this before? Oh, no, not sinking the two of them together -- but they were made for each other. This would be much bigger than the sinking of the Titanic. Stay tuned.
PUTIN$$$$$EXODUS/FLEEtoSAFETY and the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IS OPENED FOR BUSINESS
Putin not only unleashed a war on Ukraine he unleashed an economic war on Russia.
Associated Press
‘Putin on Tuesday signed a decree that prohibits taking more than $10,000 worth of foreign currency in cash and “monetary instruments” out of Russia.’
‘The move comes in response to the sanctions the U.S. and allies have imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which this week tanked the ruble and sent Russians flocking to banks and ATMs’
‘Other measures Putin ordered this week included obligating Russian exporters to sell 80% of their revenues in foreign currency, prohibiting Russian residents from providing nonresidents with foreign currency under loan agreements and from depositing foreign currency into foreign bank accounts.’ (MarketWatch) See link below.
‘No country has ever faced this kind of global freeze-out. The implications are hard to predict, but several consequences are already apparent in the form of bank runs and long ATM lines. On Monday, the London stock listings of several Russian banks fell by more than 50 percent. The ruble is trading like a junk cryptocurrency, collapsing more than 30 percent on Monday, and as it weakens, the price of certain imports will rise sharply.'
'Unemployment will soar unless the central bank steps in to print money in order to keep companies afloat, but this will almost certainly cause even worse inflation. To throttle the worst inflationary effects, the Russian central bank doubled its key interest rate to 20 percent; for perspective, that’s higher than the U.S. federal-funds rate has ever been. Businesses are nervous that SWIFT sanctions will shut down international credit-card accounts. In normal times, the worst effects of most depressions aren’t felt for months. This has all happened in the past 72 hours.
Russia’s economic crisis could spark a brain drain. More young Russians are reportedly trying to emigrate. Today’s problems could set the stage for a long-term decline in Russia’s prosperity, as people with the means and motivation to get out move west. Migrants will, however, face a mobility problem: The European Union has closed its airspace to Russian planes and private jets. The country is sealed off—from Western trade, Western travel, and (apart from energy exports) most Western business.’ (Atlantic) See link below
'Some Russians are getting out, but most don’t have that freedom.'
‘High-speed trains departing Russia for Finland are packed.’
'Until this weekend, the daily high-speed trains from St. Petersburg to Helsinki would typically transport far fewer than the several hundred passengers each could accommodate. But on Saturday, a wave of travelers looking to leave Russia started packing trains destined for Finland.'
“We’ve had full trains from St. Petersburg from Sunday onward,” Topi Simola, the senior vice president of passenger services at Finnish Railways, said in a telephone interview.'
“They are leaving for good,” he said. “You can see that from the luggage they carry.”
‘A Russian who stepped off the train in Helsinki on Tuesday evening told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that many people back home, including friends, were having a difficult time leaving the country because so many Russians do not have passports.’
…and Ukraine, ‘Russian troops seized the port city of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said, a significant moment in the battle for the south.’
Near the end of excerpts from this article, you will have the opportunity to select among several organizations attending to the needs of the Ukrainian people. If you can, subscribers, the Ukrainians need a lot of help.
‘As the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine intensified on Wednesday, reports of civilian casualties escalated. It was not immediately possible for The New York Times to provide an independent estimate, and, as is often the case in war zones, reports diverged.’
‘Shelling from heavy artillery, multilaunch rocket systems and airstrikes were responsible for most of the casualties, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office, which is leading the U.N.’s count.’
‘Nearly a million people have left Ukraine, foreshadowing a massive humanitarian crisis’
‘Nearly 1 million refugees have left Ukraine, according to data from UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency. The exodus is set to become Europe’s worst humanitarian crisis in a century, already on par with the number of refugees who were displaced from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in 2015.’
‘If fighting continues, as many as 4 million — roughly 10 percent of the Ukrainian population — could be displaced in the coming weeks, Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said Monday.’
‘On Sunday, Ylva Johansson, the European Union’s home affairs commissioner, said member nations need to be prepared to support “millions” of Ukrainians in the coming months.’
‘Ukrainians can stay, visa-free, for 90 days in E.U. nations, and under new rules expected to be adopted Thursday, Ukrainian nationals will be eligible for “temporary protection” within the 27-nation bloc for up to three years, depending partly on conditions in Ukraine.’
‘More than 500,000 people had crossed into Poland as of Wednesday. In total, the country is expected to receive up to 1.5 million refugees.’
As the flow of refugees out of Ukraine intensifies, some will stay in Eastern Europe, but others will continue westward to countries like Germany. A train arrived in Berlin on Wednesday, carrying refugees from the Ukrainian-Polish border. There, they found Germans offering water and holding signs offering places to stay.'
'Anna Svitlyk, who arrived in Berlin with her five children after leaving Ukraine over the weekend, said she planned to sleep in a hotel next to the train station that is offering free accommodation for a few days, then make her way to Sweden to wait out the war.'
“Every European country gave us free food, free shelter. We owe them so much and are so grateful,” she told The Washington Post. “But we want to go home.”
How Americans can donate to help people in Ukraine
‘The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opened an investigation on Wednesday into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed in Ukraine since 2013 and during Russia’s current invasion of the country. The prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously said that he planned to seek approval from the court’s presidency to launch the investigation, but he said 39 nations had referred allegations to the court, enabling his office to move forward immediately.’ (NYTimes)
I am so glad to hear what you have to say tonight in the face of the atrocities in Ukraine. We can hope this is the beginning of a hosing of all of the conspirators and enablers. It would be extraordinary if the Oligarchical purge in Russia came all the way to our side of the world as well.
Putin's wars on Ukrainian soil and the US democrat/psyche! Both have been lethal: one in the destruction of lives and well-being, the other in the annihilation of peace of mind and fair process.
That all this is emerging with such clarity now lends a sense of validation to those of us who "knew" how deceptive the Putin-Trump alliance was and continues to be.
The Guardian piece is riveting and affirming. All we need now is the satisfaction of seeing all the players behind bars, whether in the US or through the ICC.
"Additionally, Russian intelligence targeted voter rolls in all 50 states, which is not thought to have had consequences, but demonstrated the reach and ambition of online interference. This weekend, British investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr said on Twitter, 'We failed to acknowledge Russia had staged a military attack on the West. We called it "meddling." We used words like "interference." It wasn’t. It was warfare. We’ve been under military attack for eight years now.'" (Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian)
My deepest thanks, dear Heather, for your focus on these truths!
From your keyboard, Professor HCR, to the lawyers at the Department of Justice … lawsuits will be filed based on the preponderance of evidence, and soon, one hopes!
So is the 1/6 Committee just looking at Campaign Staff ? What about perhaps members of Congress, TFG’s Cabinet all them “ Acting People “ ? I saw with my own 2 eyes A Capital Cop/ Guard (?) hold the door open for the Rioters, smiling as he is ushering them in . Everyone involved needs to be held accountable .
HCR has tied up some ends very nicely as usual and I thank her, but traitor45idjt’s treason is no surprise to anyone paying attention. “Globalism will not win” he said as he embarrassed us at NATO and the UN. The surprise is how the Republican Party fell in line so quickly and thoroughly. Money talks.
It is possible, and I think probable, that AG Garland is receiving actionable information from the 6 January investigation for indicting Trump on charges of attempting to conspire to use seditious means to prevent the orderly transfer of presidential power as stipulated in the Constitution. A new House after the 2022 mid-term election can dissolve today's investigation, but that in no way inhibits AG Garland from a Justice Department investigation. The Justice Department is no friend to Donald Trump since he acted to pervert it as an institution and manipulate its operations. What Trump did to prevent Biden from taking office is fixed in the record and can be acted upon anytime. It makes sense to let the House investigation continue as long as it can and allow information to dribble out, giving the press hundreds of opportunities to keep the events of January 6 alive and present, forcibly if necessary, before the American people. It is also wise perhaps to not give domestic terrorists any pretext to rise up to 'save their monarch.' Once the case against Trump moves to the Department of Justice, it will be out of reach of Congress, and insurrection politics. After the case moves to the Justice Department, Trump will have strong reasons to keep his supporters calm and to work full time on the campaign circuit to not provide more information likely to hang him.
The "Trump/Putin network" that has been obvious to anyone who simply watched Trumps behavior at the Helsinki meeting. It was as if he were joining up with a beloved cousin. But what should have sent shivers up the spine of every person in the "free world" was the secret meeting with Putin - the translator's notes were grabbed by Trump. What kind of "deal" did they make? How did it help make Russia great again? I do not believe that Trump is a willing traitor. I think he has been a useful idiot who has betrayed his country because he thought he could manage his adversary by making deals. The "Art of their Deal" is that Putin is infinitely smarter, actually has decades of real international relations experience. Trump thought it was like re-negotiating a loan on a casino. He was naive and frankly, stupid. On the other hand, Putin could have so much kompromat on Trump that he has become his string puppet. Consider Trump's behavior in America...and then think about how arrogant rich men behave away from home. Read enough about the "Steele Dossier" and you will get the picture.
What will Trumps over-riding long term legacy will be? That of a fool? Idiot? Traitor? Monster responsible for the destruction the post WWII world order?
“Today, United States ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that Russia has used cluster munitions and vacuum bombs, which are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions establishing limits to deadly weapons, in Ukraine.”
Some balance to that statement.:
Pot? Kettle?
“Does the United States use cluster bombs?
A convention banning the use of cluster bombs has been joined by more than 120 countries who agreed not to use, produce, transfer or stockpile the weapons and to clear them after they've been used. Russia and Ukraine have not joined that convention. Neither has the United States.“
From the Human Rights Watch.
“The Biden administration should recognize that cluster munitions have no role in a modern military, revise its current ill-considered policy, and join the treaty that bans their use.”
My most recent NYT post, related to an article describing the declining business at Trump-brand hotels:
“I believe that there is a business opportunity for Trump to franchise a series of ‘Trump Tunnel of Horrors.’ Advertising could include his most horrific statements.
Attendance is robust at ‘creationist’ museums, which suggests a substantial evangelical market for TToH.”
Trump's mendacity and treachery has occurred on such a grand scale and is so unprecedented that we lack the words to describe it or the means to respond to it. And Putin's brazen attack at last forces us to become aware how deliberate he has been in trying to sabotage democracy and how effective he has been. Heather- your gift is to be able to show clearly what has been happening- and let the reader draw their own conclusions. Showing rather than telling- so much more effective.
Today, my daughter showed me a video of Russian police literally arresting a woman who looked like she was well into 90’s. She was about 4’10” and was carrying signs in protest. It was hard to watch but I must say the officers were very gentle with her. Nonetheless, it’s ludicrous and I really pray the people in Russia continue to fight back in spite of martial law being introduced to them.
The Jan 6th committee never stops working and boy, am I happy about that! Now we have to see if Garland and his DOJ staff shine the flashlights on TFG and his cronies for good.
.
Some brilliant women's minds are at work here connecting the dots of a global operation to expand wealth and power to the detriment of democracy, particularly since 2014. Following the money will bring all this more and more into focus, identifying how to curb the exploitations as much as we can. Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, ironically taken more seriously in Russian than the U.S., here is a beginning list of these great minds:
Heather Cox Richardson, as with tonight's "Letters from an American" (3/02/2022)
Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman, "Now & Then Backstage" of 3/01/2022 (only available to paid subscribers; fascinating chat that's even pithier than the podcast in regard to connecting the dots, ostensibly as HCR described in her "paradigm shift" LFAA)
Rebecca Solnit: "It’s time to confront the Trump-Putin network" (cited in HCR's notes)
https://twitter.com/anelsona/status/1499182472080371713?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA
Anne Nelson: Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right
https://twitter.com/anelsona/status/1152595429839822848?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA
Carole Cadwalladr: "The great British Brexit robbery: how our democracy was hijacked" (and cited in HCR's notes)
https://twitter.com/gaisfordsurf/status/1497270746514665479?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA
Fiona Hill: https://youtu.be/hZhSEtgtfs4
Jane Mayer: Dark Money
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1024741930/jane-mayer-dark-money-challenge-to-the-election-results
THE KYIV MILITARY MYSTERY
Since OctobervAmerican military intelligence has highlighted the massive Russian build up of troops and armor along the Ukrainian border. As Russian invasion of Ukraine became imminent, Kyiv and the government of President Zelensky seemed the top priority targets. US and UK military experts agreed that there could be a ‘swift and decisive’ thrust.
President Zelensky, on February 24th spoke heroically of staying in Kyiv as he awaited Russian seizure of his capital city in 24-48 hours. A week later there are reports of ‘40 miles’ of tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks positioned a considerable distance from central Kyiv and that Russia had not achieved ‘air superiority.’
WHAT HAPPENED?
Battle reports from the Kyiv area indicate that the Russians had employed elite units together with units including numerous conscripts against determined Ukrainian resistance. The Russians. Have experienced heavy casualties and have not achieved their anticipated ‘swift and decisive’ objectives.
At first glance, this would seem a David and Goliath battle—the Russians, with a massive, modern military establishment against a hastily-assembled, modestly-trained-and-equipped Ukrainian opponent. Instead we hear of courageous Ukrainian fighting that has consistently turned back Russian attacks with major enemy casualties. Western military experts have pointed out surprising Russian tactical blunders during the early days of this multi-front offensive.
1) Did Putin, on his presumption that Ukrainians would submit supinely, instruct his generals that a swift capture of Kyiv was a sure thing and that he didn’t want massive destruction prior to occupying Ukraine’s capital city?
2) Did the Russian military, faced with launching offensives in multiple areas throughout the Ukraine, fail to have an overwhelming initial force outside Kyiv and elsewhere?
3) Did the Russian military, with months to deploy, un impeded, its forces and to organize its logistics, muck up these preparations?
4) Was the Russian military, upon commencing its military offensive against Kyiv, shocked by the stout defense of the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and the attendant Russian casualties?
Military analysts with spent months, even years, seeking answers to these questions.
Meanwhile:
1) Kyiv, a week after the Russian invasion, is still held by President Zelensky and his Ukrainian compatriots;
2) The American, Western, and worldwide response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has made him a global pariah and is economically crippling Putin, his oligarchs, and the Russian people.
It appears that Putin belatedly is endeavoring to push his sluggish military machine into high, massive-destruction gear. The Russian military has the capacity to destroy and seize Kyiv and other major Ukrainian urban areas. A sustained occupation of a large country with a 40+ million population is an entirely different and even more vexing challenge.
Longer term, Ukraine will re-merge as a proud sovereign state and Putin will be a dead man crawling.
Anybody who didn’t watch Fox and wasn’t in a coma knew most of this stuff. It is so wonderful to know that I wasn’t crazy, that the alternative reality pushed by the republicans was total bull Schitt. It is way past time for reality to rear it’s head again.
'...the Trump-Putin network.” Is that a cliffhanger or not? Did Putin ever have a more pliant puppet? Trump was the shrimp in that arrangement. Have we thought about this before? Oh, no, not sinking the two of them together -- but they were made for each other. This would be much bigger than the sinking of the Titanic. Stay tuned.
PUTIN$$$$$EXODUS/FLEEtoSAFETY and the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IS OPENED FOR BUSINESS
Putin not only unleashed a war on Ukraine he unleashed an economic war on Russia.
Associated Press
‘Putin on Tuesday signed a decree that prohibits taking more than $10,000 worth of foreign currency in cash and “monetary instruments” out of Russia.’
‘The move comes in response to the sanctions the U.S. and allies have imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which this week tanked the ruble and sent Russians flocking to banks and ATMs’
‘Other measures Putin ordered this week included obligating Russian exporters to sell 80% of their revenues in foreign currency, prohibiting Russian residents from providing nonresidents with foreign currency under loan agreements and from depositing foreign currency into foreign bank accounts.’ (MarketWatch) See link below.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/putin-signs-decree-to-prohibit-leaving-russia-with-more-than-10-000-in-foreign-currency-01646176225
‘No country has ever faced this kind of global freeze-out. The implications are hard to predict, but several consequences are already apparent in the form of bank runs and long ATM lines. On Monday, the London stock listings of several Russian banks fell by more than 50 percent. The ruble is trading like a junk cryptocurrency, collapsing more than 30 percent on Monday, and as it weakens, the price of certain imports will rise sharply.'
'Unemployment will soar unless the central bank steps in to print money in order to keep companies afloat, but this will almost certainly cause even worse inflation. To throttle the worst inflationary effects, the Russian central bank doubled its key interest rate to 20 percent; for perspective, that’s higher than the U.S. federal-funds rate has ever been. Businesses are nervous that SWIFT sanctions will shut down international credit-card accounts. In normal times, the worst effects of most depressions aren’t felt for months. This has all happened in the past 72 hours.
Russia’s economic crisis could spark a brain drain. More young Russians are reportedly trying to emigrate. Today’s problems could set the stage for a long-term decline in Russia’s prosperity, as people with the means and motivation to get out move west. Migrants will, however, face a mobility problem: The European Union has closed its airspace to Russian planes and private jets. The country is sealed off—from Western trade, Western travel, and (apart from energy exports) most Western business.’ (Atlantic) See link below
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/03/vladimir-putin-economy-sanctions-swift-fallout/623330/
'Some Russians are getting out, but most don’t have that freedom.'
‘High-speed trains departing Russia for Finland are packed.’
'Until this weekend, the daily high-speed trains from St. Petersburg to Helsinki would typically transport far fewer than the several hundred passengers each could accommodate. But on Saturday, a wave of travelers looking to leave Russia started packing trains destined for Finland.'
“We’ve had full trains from St. Petersburg from Sunday onward,” Topi Simola, the senior vice president of passenger services at Finnish Railways, said in a telephone interview.'
“They are leaving for good,” he said. “You can see that from the luggage they carry.”
‘A Russian who stepped off the train in Helsinki on Tuesday evening told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that many people back home, including friends, were having a difficult time leaving the country because so many Russians do not have passports.’
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/world/europe/trains-russia-finland.html?searchResultPosition=1
…and Ukraine, ‘Russian troops seized the port city of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said, a significant moment in the battle for the south.’
Near the end of excerpts from this article, you will have the opportunity to select among several organizations attending to the needs of the Ukrainian people. If you can, subscribers, the Ukrainians need a lot of help.
‘As the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine intensified on Wednesday, reports of civilian casualties escalated. It was not immediately possible for The New York Times to provide an independent estimate, and, as is often the case in war zones, reports diverged.’
‘Shelling from heavy artillery, multilaunch rocket systems and airstrikes were responsible for most of the casualties, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office, which is leading the U.N.’s count.’
‘Nearly a million people have left Ukraine, foreshadowing a massive humanitarian crisis’
‘Nearly 1 million refugees have left Ukraine, according to data from UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency. The exodus is set to become Europe’s worst humanitarian crisis in a century, already on par with the number of refugees who were displaced from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in 2015.’
‘If fighting continues, as many as 4 million — roughly 10 percent of the Ukrainian population — could be displaced in the coming weeks, Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said Monday.’
‘On Sunday, Ylva Johansson, the European Union’s home affairs commissioner, said member nations need to be prepared to support “millions” of Ukrainians in the coming months.’
‘Ukrainians can stay, visa-free, for 90 days in E.U. nations, and under new rules expected to be adopted Thursday, Ukrainian nationals will be eligible for “temporary protection” within the 27-nation bloc for up to three years, depending partly on conditions in Ukraine.’
‘More than 500,000 people had crossed into Poland as of Wednesday. In total, the country is expected to receive up to 1.5 million refugees.’
As the flow of refugees out of Ukraine intensifies, some will stay in Eastern Europe, but others will continue westward to countries like Germany. A train arrived in Berlin on Wednesday, carrying refugees from the Ukrainian-Polish border. There, they found Germans offering water and holding signs offering places to stay.'
'Anna Svitlyk, who arrived in Berlin with her five children after leaving Ukraine over the weekend, said she planned to sleep in a hotel next to the train station that is offering free accommodation for a few days, then make her way to Sweden to wait out the war.'
“Every European country gave us free food, free shelter. We owe them so much and are so grateful,” she told The Washington Post. “But we want to go home.”
How Americans can donate to help people in Ukraine
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/27/ukraine-refugees-photos-videos/s
‘The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opened an investigation on Wednesday into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed in Ukraine since 2013 and during Russia’s current invasion of the country. The prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously said that he planned to seek approval from the court’s presidency to launch the investigation, but he said 39 nations had referred allegations to the court, enabling his office to move forward immediately.’ (NYTimes)
I am so glad to hear what you have to say tonight in the face of the atrocities in Ukraine. We can hope this is the beginning of a hosing of all of the conspirators and enablers. It would be extraordinary if the Oligarchical purge in Russia came all the way to our side of the world as well.
Putin's wars on Ukrainian soil and the US democrat/psyche! Both have been lethal: one in the destruction of lives and well-being, the other in the annihilation of peace of mind and fair process.
That all this is emerging with such clarity now lends a sense of validation to those of us who "knew" how deceptive the Putin-Trump alliance was and continues to be.
The Guardian piece is riveting and affirming. All we need now is the satisfaction of seeing all the players behind bars, whether in the US or through the ICC.
"Additionally, Russian intelligence targeted voter rolls in all 50 states, which is not thought to have had consequences, but demonstrated the reach and ambition of online interference. This weekend, British investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr said on Twitter, 'We failed to acknowledge Russia had staged a military attack on the West. We called it "meddling." We used words like "interference." It wasn’t. It was warfare. We’ve been under military attack for eight years now.'" (Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian)
My deepest thanks, dear Heather, for your focus on these truths!
Vive l'Ukraine! 💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙
From your keyboard, Professor HCR, to the lawyers at the Department of Justice … lawsuits will be filed based on the preponderance of evidence, and soon, one hopes!
The last link in "The Notes"for Rebecca Solnit is required reading and it will be on the test.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/02/time-to-confront-trump-putin-network
So is the 1/6 Committee just looking at Campaign Staff ? What about perhaps members of Congress, TFG’s Cabinet all them “ Acting People “ ? I saw with my own 2 eyes A Capital Cop/ Guard (?) hold the door open for the Rioters, smiling as he is ushering them in . Everyone involved needs to be held accountable .
HCR has tied up some ends very nicely as usual and I thank her, but traitor45idjt’s treason is no surprise to anyone paying attention. “Globalism will not win” he said as he embarrassed us at NATO and the UN. The surprise is how the Republican Party fell in line so quickly and thoroughly. Money talks.
It is possible, and I think probable, that AG Garland is receiving actionable information from the 6 January investigation for indicting Trump on charges of attempting to conspire to use seditious means to prevent the orderly transfer of presidential power as stipulated in the Constitution. A new House after the 2022 mid-term election can dissolve today's investigation, but that in no way inhibits AG Garland from a Justice Department investigation. The Justice Department is no friend to Donald Trump since he acted to pervert it as an institution and manipulate its operations. What Trump did to prevent Biden from taking office is fixed in the record and can be acted upon anytime. It makes sense to let the House investigation continue as long as it can and allow information to dribble out, giving the press hundreds of opportunities to keep the events of January 6 alive and present, forcibly if necessary, before the American people. It is also wise perhaps to not give domestic terrorists any pretext to rise up to 'save their monarch.' Once the case against Trump moves to the Department of Justice, it will be out of reach of Congress, and insurrection politics. After the case moves to the Justice Department, Trump will have strong reasons to keep his supporters calm and to work full time on the campaign circuit to not provide more information likely to hang him.
The "Trump/Putin network" that has been obvious to anyone who simply watched Trumps behavior at the Helsinki meeting. It was as if he were joining up with a beloved cousin. But what should have sent shivers up the spine of every person in the "free world" was the secret meeting with Putin - the translator's notes were grabbed by Trump. What kind of "deal" did they make? How did it help make Russia great again? I do not believe that Trump is a willing traitor. I think he has been a useful idiot who has betrayed his country because he thought he could manage his adversary by making deals. The "Art of their Deal" is that Putin is infinitely smarter, actually has decades of real international relations experience. Trump thought it was like re-negotiating a loan on a casino. He was naive and frankly, stupid. On the other hand, Putin could have so much kompromat on Trump that he has become his string puppet. Consider Trump's behavior in America...and then think about how arrogant rich men behave away from home. Read enough about the "Steele Dossier" and you will get the picture.
What will Trumps over-riding long term legacy will be? That of a fool? Idiot? Traitor? Monster responsible for the destruction the post WWII world order?
“Today, United States ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that Russia has used cluster munitions and vacuum bombs, which are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions establishing limits to deadly weapons, in Ukraine.”
Some balance to that statement.:
Pot? Kettle?
“Does the United States use cluster bombs?
A convention banning the use of cluster bombs has been joined by more than 120 countries who agreed not to use, produce, transfer or stockpile the weapons and to clear them after they've been used. Russia and Ukraine have not joined that convention. Neither has the United States.“
From the Human Rights Watch.
“The Biden administration should recognize that cluster munitions have no role in a modern military, revise its current ill-considered policy, and join the treaty that bans their use.”
My most recent NYT post, related to an article describing the declining business at Trump-brand hotels:
“I believe that there is a business opportunity for Trump to franchise a series of ‘Trump Tunnel of Horrors.’ Advertising could include his most horrific statements.
Attendance is robust at ‘creationist’ museums, which suggests a substantial evangelical market for TToH.”