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It’s an hour of long words which comes down to
1: there was, as expected, some stealing and fraud going on in most of the humanitarian appeals
2: they have joined the existing main ones under one umbrella, to avoid duplication and better target where the aid is going (unspoken: to keep an eye on each other too)
3: despite these aims, it is not even a registered organisation, so nobody is actually in charge or responsible
4: anyone may join without being subject to any rules or even identifying himself, as they can join via the internet
Itar-Tass shows leaked satelite fotos of Kiev jet in the act of shooting down MH17. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/11/15/386130/us-withheld-sat-image-of-mh17/
thanks for posting this
# comes down to … This *is* a registered organisation called Global Initiatives fund, http://novorossia.pro/fond.html the same as Cassad, http://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/1768918.html
Strelkov is hereby announcing himself in charge. (Anything wrong?)
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/759835
Another link re satellite photo of jet shooting down MH17
Kiev is truly the home of Kleptocrats. Prodan, Minister of Energy is being investigated after 250K tons of coal arrived from S Africa but no payment was available. The contract for a total of 1 million tons has been cancelled accordingly.
Of the $3.2 B first tranch from the IMF in May, Dances With Bears says $3.1 was already in offshore accounts by August. http://johnhelmer.net/?p=11289
Amusingly, Christine laGarde, head of IMF is also being investigated for corruption.
Obviously the IMF funds received by Ukraine weren’t spent on their army, since they had no uniforms, very little food, and even had to buy their own ammunition. Presummably all that shelling, etc was donated by oligarchs of the Ukrainian or US variety.
Yats was so desperate for funds that he began printing money. Elsewhere on the net there was circulating a letter from Christine LaGarde warning Yats to cease the “extra money” or his next tranche w/b reduced.
If you want more financial minutiae http://michael-hudson.com/2014/09/losing-credibility-the-imfs-new-cold-war-loan-to-ukraine
I think many of us question Putin’s abilities, not his allegiance.
We see him being insulted, humiliated even, by the empire time and again and we wonder, “What the is he not doing anything.”
Some, including me, had high hopes, but we now believe Russia has been incredibly weakened. And it goes beyond Russia by the way. We question the resolve of the BRICS. Why aren’t they showing more solidarity? Why aren’t they denouncing Kiev bombing its own population?
Another exemple: we now know Putin actually isn’t leaving early, but I think he should. And what I would love to see is the BRICS leaving along with him, saying, “If you are going to treat the elected leader of a great nation like Russia, well, we are out oh here.”
But none of this is happening. Quite the opposite actually.
I just watched the interview Putin just did with German TV and I’m sorry to say that he just exudes weakness. He sounds like a guy who got caught flat footed and did not have a contingency plan.
It’s sad really.
Putin is really a sad show.
russia has been shownto the world as an impotant entuty which can not bomb even non entity like aystralia, canada or england which threaten the president of Russia openly. Brics is a bogus impotant entity especially india which is a slave nation still of anglos.
what a mess putin did by showing his weKness in not attacking ukraine of which he is acvused anyway.
Wish I knew what the deal is with Strelkov lately. All he seems to be doing is antagonising more and more people. Is there anyone in Novorossia or out who has not pissed him off in some way yet? Surkov, Zakharchenko and Co., Bezler, the Cossacks, voentorg, Givi, Borodai, apparently even Petrovsky, random people whose opinions he does not like… The only person he has anything good to say about is Mozgovoi – let’s see how long that lasts. And all of this has to be done publicly, he just cannot express his concerns privately to any of these people for some reason. I don’t know what the hell he is trying to achieve, but the impression it is making is just plain bad.
Penelope I think you’ll enjoy watching Ukrainian political activist Margarita Montyan talking about how the oligarchs all took the West’s inducements for warfare as a chance to rip off money allocated for it. It was never about winning or even fighting, just about sending patriots to be killed by NAF, and pocketing the money. She’s such an insider, and speaks with such matter-of-fact knowledge, that this seems entirely credible to me. It’s the top video of the two on this page:
Margarita Montyan – The Oligarchs should have killed Yanukovich, and they destroyed Ukraine
Grieved: She’s a wonderful woman and a joy to watch, but she’s hardly an insider. She’s a member of a teeny weeny dissident party that rarely makes it onto the ballot and never into the Rada.
When I first saw her I had to copy her name in Russian and Ukrainian to get a hit on a search.
And regarding the latest story about the dead/wounded from Givi’s battalion. You have an officer who screwed up – smack him upside the head, replace him (which is what is going to happen anyway as I understand, and not only to Givi) but do it without first posting “Givi sucks” on a mega-popular internet resource. “Givi sucks” is now everywhere, but what the problem actually is and what is going to be done about it you have to find deep in the comments section somewhere. This is not me defending Givi, by the way, I just hate the way the whole thing is done.
Re: the Givi story – it seems that Givi is being made an example of. A number of other commanders are far too enamoured with the camera, which is a tragic incident waiting to happen, there will be investigations and disciplinary action. Now, if someone wrote that instead of what actually got written, life would be so much better. Sigh.
This interview answered many of my uncertainties about what Strelkov is up to. I’m impressed and relieved to see his position revealed finally as extremely coherent and effective.
By creating this organization, he is working to combine many separate and smaller flows of aid into one larger, more cost efficient and theft-resistant flow – also one that pushes the supplies all the way to the places they’re intended for.
Beyond outright thievery, there’s also the natural tendency in war for supplies to stick around HQ and not get to the front. He wants to make sure it gets to the front, to the soldiers who need it. This seems to be working.
He’s not starting from scratch. As he says, there have been all along many separate flows of aid. By making his organization completely non-political he allows groups of differing ideologies to enter into the combined effort. It’s clear there are plenty of people already involved, groups he’s been talking to and groups coming onboard. I think he’s using his reputation to very good effect here. It takes an honest broker at the top to pull this off.
I thought in the video he was pretty complimentary to all the commanders. He said that the more charismatic ones who are getting good publicity are also getting most aid, and this is well done by those commanders to provide for their soldiers, but not all battalions are so fortunate. He wants to remedy this, and get supplies everywhere they’re needed.
Transparency is everything with this kind of operation of course. I haven’t studied their reports yet but it seems they’re detailed. The movement’s website is novorossia.pro and here’s Yandex, simply enter that website address into the box and you can read the site: https://translate.yandex.com/translate
It’s clear to me now that Strelkov is still trying to provide for the whole army of Novorossia, as well as provide for civilians and victims. He says the level of aid is not enough, and for the first time ever with his minimalist pronouncements I believe him on this one. To the extent he keeps the operation scandal-free, I think he can offer immeasurable assistance to Donbass, and increase the level of aid.
Well done and godspeed, Quartermaster Strelkov!
re: public movement to aid Nvorossia: it is called a United Front and to function it MUST include all factions on the steering committee with the essence of the united Front’s purpose stated in a simple all encompassing formula which is on the letterhead, on the badges and is the public face of the organization. The government COULD encourage this by matching any funds raised by private means—this gives people incentive to cooperate. It is good to have open accounting…as much as possible. A list of salaried employees and their wages should be published even if they are office workers and forklift drivers. Also transportation expenses: gas, layover, food for truckers—the supplies don’t fly over with their own wings sprouted.
Perhaps it is my cynicism but have never seen a Stalinist or one trained in that tendency to understand how a United Front works so??? good luck Strelkov and others in global initiative…Maybe a slogan “for NovoRuss, for Russ for the World-yes we can!!!” or something more culturally normative for the situation there.
When FDR set up the government bureaucracy for WWII he set up a War Profit Board basically telling the capitalists that they could make profits from the war but their books would be checked ( and quality of product assured) so that they were making profits–not more than 20%. Deal? he said. Deal they agreed. The problem of our times is greed and hubris ( lack of humility).
Saker, in this lull/before/storm interval, it might just be useful to go back and examine some of the original premises of the blog, to see if they have held up under unfolding events.
By which I mean, the idea that the battle for Novorossiya is one between Ukrainian and Russian ‘nationalities.’Or, between the forces to which you consistently call ‘defenders of liberty’ – aka Russia, and the fascistic proxies ‘anglo-zionists’. Keep in mind that I’m not quibbling with those characterizations; that topic should not sidetrack what I am about to say about this ‘clash of nationalities’ thesis.
Several posters have provided background snippets as to the distinct origins of the populations of western and eastern Ukraine. The upshot of which encapsulates the contrasting societies – west as long-standing feudal zone whose serf majority was ruled over by successions of Polish/Lithuanian/Austro-German-Hungarian elites …
versus the RELATIVELY newer, and more ‘open’ society of the East – colonized in the majority by those seeking relief from that serf system. A demographic shift driven by individual choice – rather by specific nationalistic ambitions. The result of this contrast in origins has shown up repeatedly in the different reactions to resource extractive exploitation schemes – like todays! The western part, in other words, has a record of strong resistance to these efforts – Poles from the north, the Bolshies from the east, Tatars from the south, the Germans from the west.
In light of this historical record my view of the present is heretical to BOTH yours and the anglo-zionist version – to whit: the incipient ‘State’ of Novorossiya will sooner or later need be recognized as fulfillment of the localised aspirations of a society not so much “Russian” in identity as“Autarkic!” I realize this notion will hardly find favour here, at a time when Ukie savages are openly targeting “Moskals” for elimination as’subhumans’ – that however, I consider convenient smokescreen by which those running this show can hide the real purpose of the INTERNATIONAL campaign to eliminate all pockets of resistance to their corporate predatory planning. No use to view the situation in Ukraine in isolation to the events which are taking place with similar intent all over the globe!
The one thing you can be sure of with these Zio-nazis – they have long(intergenerational) memories! That which you describe as Novorossiya, I think of as “Makhnovschina” –The Free Territory – (see http://blogs.rediff.com/peakdeceit/2014/06/15/makhnovia-the-free-territory-is-history-repeating-in-ukraine/ ) an overlay of the maps of both will show a startling degree of correspondence. Here, the direct ancestors of those who are currently in rebellion against another “Hetman” regime resisted the forces of both ‘red’ and ‘white’ terror,via an incredible self-reliance and ingenuity of their genetic disposition – which fostered an ability to militarily DEFEAT their external enemies. For a time.
The inheritors of the Bolshie Zio-nazi terrorists posing as ‘neo-cons’ have never for a minute forgotten that small blot on their record of successful exterminations of resistance! Here, as in other parts of the globe, they are intent on punishing/exterminating all those who might find inspiration in the example.
I urge your consideration of this ‘alternative’ narrative of the situation which you so ably document on these pages – not because I expect you to drop allegiance to your own narrative, but because I respect your proven willingness to check your own assumptions and consider all sides of a debate! Those who wish to are welcome to critique my premise – as long as it is acknowledged that it is written in solidarity with your slogan -“Stop the Empire’s war on Russia” – full disclosure of a hidden truth behind the resistance movement might actually aid that effort!
by leaving the g-20 meeting early putin has shown another stupidity in international standing of Russia- so that her enemies will make fun that he fled .
putin has done so much damage to Russian prestige in last 6 months all because many people in Russia went on supporting his stupid pandering to anglos west despite anglos declaring war on russia.
did Putin really have to go to g-20?
if yes then he should have been more aggressive rather than justifying to no bodies like austrlaia, Canada and english PMs.
Please stop these blaming, it’s the easiest thing for everyone to point at failures in front of your PC at home with having none responsibility for the biggest country on the planet. What’s your point? I don’t think Putin reads these articles, rather send a letter to Moscov addressed to him with your clarifications. I’m afraid no single person of his team will be interested in reading your blames.
Kiev decided to halt all social payments to Donbass and introduce inner-Ukrainian border controls. This means de facto independence for Donbasss and longterm merger with Russia and the end of Novorossian aspirations:
https://deepresource.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/kiev-halts-payments-to-eastern-ukraine/
Smart move by Kiev.
From a European perspective peace and de-escalation would be a welcome development.
Kind regards,
Dutch
There is one BIG annoying weakness in the response system and that is the numerous posters posting as Anonymous. As a European (Dutch) I have a simple question. Don’t want top use your real name make one up but stick to it so we get to know you. If not I, for one, am not interested in reading responses anymore. We’re not children.
Thatos fine that its not registered…why legalize good will ?
Anonymous…I find you to have alot of gall…you don’t even identify yourself, yet you presume to know more than the leader of Russia.
Its ironic.
“I just watched watched the interview Putin just did with German TV and I’m sorry to say that he just exudes weakness. He sounds like a guy who got caught flat footed and did not have a contingency plan.”
This is the quote that I’m talking about from Anonymous #2 in this thread
Grieved said…
“This interview answered many of my uncertainties about what Strelkov is up to. I’m impressed and relieved to see his position revealed finally as extremely coherent and effective.”
I totally agree with you Grieved…my understanding, limited though it be, is that Strelkov was taken off the battle field and in a talk with Putin was told that he should make himself useful some other way for now…
And this is his idea about what that could be…brilliant !!! I hoep he succeeds, to his own level of perfection…
By the way, he looks like he’s gained weight….that’s funny…
So this is a movement that we all can join…I guess in a way, as Saker is publishing this video, we are “friendly” to this movement. .
Saker, this was a great video. Thanks for posting it!! I looked for the website Novorossia.pro but could not find it.
Thw world is a better place with Strelkov in it !!
Good grief ! Is Strelkov accusing the St. Basil the Great Foundation of turpitude?
http://www.pravmir.com/st-basil-great-foundation-organized-transfer-ukrainian-refugees-vladimir/
They have been the main supplier of aid to south-east Ukraine since Prime Minister Borodai signed a contract with them in the spring of ’14.
This was part of the oligarch Konstantin Malofeev’s role in the Malofeev-Borodai-Girkin (Rozhin?) conspiracy when Borodai and Girkin seized power in Donetsk.
When Strelkov was definitively deposed and declared persona non grata, he said “Well, at least I have control of aid. I have left that much power.”
This has always niggled at me in the back of my mind. What did he mean? What aid did he control and how?
Hitler may have thought the pinnacle of great propaganda was the Big Lie, but I have always held it was the Great Silence. The blogosphere on this war is notable for what doesn’t get published, doesn’t get translated, doesn’t get subtitled. This never includes the scripted announcements of Strelkov, but does include Borodai’s recent interviews on Strelkov and Khodakovsky’s speech.
Who can fill in the names without furrowed brow? On July 4th, there was an hours-long screaming fight between the Prime Minister of the DNR, the Commander in Chief of the DNR armed forces, and the DNR Minister of Defense.
The Commander in Chief had planned an offensive. The Ukrainian Army consisted of only 5,000 men, including those who were from the Donbass and awaiting the first opportunity to point their BMDs homeward and defect. The tank factories were ramping up production, a mobilization being readied, the volunteer battalions were on the horizon although few were trained yet. The Commander had routed the UAF several times with ease and thought it was a golden moment. He believed he had won the race for battle-readiness of the forces, and if he threw everything he had into a surprise attack, he would prevail.
The Defense Minister begged to differ. An all-out assault would mean he had no reserves. (Not my blankie!) He hid arms and ammo in small caches all over town. Defense Minister trumps Commander in Chief.
It seemed like a long shot, because the Prime Minister was practically joined at the hip to the Defense Minister and was probably his best real friend (as opposed to on-line), but since he was the only person who could over-rule the Defense Minister, the Commander in Chief appealed to him. And won. The Prime Minister had gone over to Surkov. (Bet you can guess whose theory that is!) So the Minister of Defense went rogue and ran like a hare.
When Strelkov jumped in the car yelling “Go! Go! Go!” he wasn’t “breaking out” or retreating. He was deserting.
Just to nail it down: Strelkov was the self-declared Commander in Chief of AFDPR for about 10 days. On May 16th, a meeting of the Supreme Council published the Constitution of the Republic and made the following appointments, some affirming the situation, clarifying the (non-) status of Gubarev who had just come back in a prisoner exchange, and reeling in Strelkov.
Borodai: Prime Minister
Purgin: First Deputy
Pushilin: Speaker
Strelkov: Minister of Defense
Zakharchenko: Military Commander of the AFDNR
We watched in dismay that summer as the Ukrs seemed to get their act together, as AVZ feared and had tried to preempt, and the NAF, reeling from hundreds of casualties in the panic at Slavyansk, especially those who caught up with Strelkov, kept falling back, giving up territory and villages nearly every day. Zakh, now under the tutelage of Borodai, probably did a lot of political work. And undid some, dismantling the network of Political Commissars in each unit instructing the secular Donbass lefties in Monarchism.
When he was ready, he sure proved his point, didn’t he? But think if he’d done it when he wanted to, when the UAF was laughable, when Russia was unintimidated, as opposed to “refusing to be intimidated.”
I can envision someone doing an MA thesis in 2030 “When did Strelkov lose the war?”
Was it when he accepted the invitation of people’s mayor Ponomarev to settle in Slavyansk? Ponomarev was a horror show and was finally disappeared after bragging to the press that they had achieved a highly disciplined force by executing soldiers until the survivors got the message. But Ponomarev wasn’t the real problem. When the wind is right in Slavyansk, you can hear the drilling in the shale fields. No other place in Ukraine could have goosed the US and EU into more and prompter action.
Was it when he kidnapped eight OSCE observers?
It may not have cost us the information war; we’re not going to see an unbiased OSCE to compare. But if there was half-way decent reporting coming from the OSCE every day, journalists would have had a place to fact check Kiev. The OSCE, by prior arrangement, scrupulously places quote marks around “Prime Minister” “DPR” “mayor,” but calls the DPR forces the enemy without quotes. They are briefed going in that the greatest danger they face is being captured by NAF. They avoid NAF civic administrations, checkpoints, HQs, and deliver a steady stream of info gathered from Kiev loyalists, with whom they feel safe.
Finally the facts on the ground are getting through and it’s easing off. They reported that the last prisoner exchange, as usual, contained combatants being exchanged by the DPR and “wayfaring strangers” being exchanged by Kiev. Kiev produced 45 combatants and 177 bewildered “just folks” to be exchanged.
A great Nationalist. All European Nationalist liberation movements admire him.