Cold war 2.0

[JAVO]

Not just cowardly...

The October 10 Russian attacks wasted some of Russia’s dwindling precision weapons against civilian targets, as opposed to militarily significant targets. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces successfully completed the mission of striking Ukrainian military command centers, signal infrastructure, and energy systems in Ukraine.[12] Social media shows that Russians instead hit a children’s playground, a park, a German consulate, and a business center among other non-military targets.[13] Ukrainian air defenses also shot down half of the Russian drones and cruise missiles. Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid will not likely break Ukraine’s will to fight, but Russia’s use of its limited supply of precision weapons in this role may deprive Putin of options to disrupt ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensives in Kherson and Luhansk Oblasts.

Institute for the Study of War

Russian forces conducted a massive missile strike attack against over 20 cities, including Kyiv, on October 10. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces launched over 84 cruise missiles and 24 drone attacks, 13 of which were carried out

www.understandingwar.org

 

[Kephalos]

AMLO: Mexico-Russia space agreement won’t be used for espionage. San Diego Tribune.

The agreement specifically provides for the installation of Russian GLONASS systems - Russia’s equivalent of the US Global Positioning System (GPS) - and an electronic optical system for the prevention of dangerous space situations in Mexico, the document says.

“Mexico has a policy of neutrality, and what we want is a peaceful solution to that (conflict), as is established in our constitution,” he (me: the Mexican President that is) said.

 

[Red Herring]

Attack on German Rail Network ‘Targeted, Professional,’ Police Say

Attack on German Rail Network ‘Targeted, Professional,’ Police Say​

• Cables were deliberately cut at two different locations
• No one has claimed the attack and no suspects indentified

The severing of cables that disrupted train travel in Germany on Saturday was highly “professional,” and illustrates how vulnerable the country’s infrastructure is to sabotage, the head of the country’s police union said, according to RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.

“This was a targeted and professional attack on the railroads,” Andreas Rosskopf, the chairman of the main police union, told RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.

Rail traffic in northern Germany was halted for several hours on Saturday after cables needed to operate trains safely were severed in what Transport Minister Volker Wissing called an act of sabotage. No one has claimed responsibility and no suspects have been identified.

This is not abstract intellectual interest in some far away war. The effects of this sabotage were actually seen and felt where I live.

When my parents grew up escalation of the cold war was always a possibility and it was clear to most Germans that in that case the first place to be bombed would be Germany (for being smack in the middle and having so much American and Russian military stationed there). "If the Americans and the Russians fight, we die" was the predominant sentiment.

I experienced the end of the cold war as a kid and "what to do when the Russians come" became a joke.

Now whenever the village siren goes off, either as a drill or because there is a fire somewhere in the neighborhood, part of me jerks for a second and considers grabbing the phone to check if there is a push notification from the desaster app or any other hint of something going down around here. Not a military first strike (highly unlikely but not totally impossible) but acts of sabotage on infrastructure.

It's also a little over 10 hours by car to the Ukranian border. Europe is small.

 

[Red Herring]

In that vein:

A few years back in my previous hometown the tab water suddenly turned blue all over town. People were told not to drink the water and not to even use it to wash their hands with it. The emergency was lifted after a day and it turned out to be caused by microcalcium in the water (what lead to the sudden high level of calcium nanoparticles is still unknown). I remember thinking that this would be an interesting scenario to observe for a hostile country. You know, to see the emergency procedures in place and how people react in these scenarios. Not saying it was fould play, just that it might have been informative.

 

[The Cat]

 

[JAVO]

The early signs, however, suggest that Putin has once again misread how the world would respond to his brutality. Macron, for instance, said the attacks would prompt France to increase military assistance to Kyiv. Traumatic footage of Ukrainian civilians live streaming Russian missiles roaring over their heads and explosions may serve to harden the opinion of Western publics facing their own pressure this winter because of Putin’s energy war. And if anything, the turning of fire on civilians hints at Russian – rather than Ukrainian – weakness, since it suggests Putin is unable to respond in the field to humiliating defeats for his forces.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/11/politics/putin-rage-against-civilians-analysis/index.html

 

[The Cat]

"Anybody who is trying to tell you that a bridge used to move troops and supplies is civilian infrastructure either knows nothing about war or is deliberately deliberately misleading you and misframing this..."​

 

[The Cat]

There's no such thing as a free hat...​

 

[typologyenthusiast]

Anti NATO Protest in Paris (go directly to min 03:00)

 

[Red Herring]

Anti NATO Protest in Paris (go directly to min 03:00)

There's a German saying: "Totgesagte leben länger" -> "Those pronounced dead live longer".

 

[typologyenthusiast]

Azov Batallion in an Academic Discourse.
Of all aspects of Ukraine Russia armed conflict, Azov Batallion, voluntary fighters group who fight alongside Ukraine in Russia Ukraine Conflict has drawn my attention. Since this thread has very little coverage about them, In this post, I hope all of us to see from academic standpoint expecting that we can have neutral opinion; not from adopting journalists' who apparently take side in Russia - Ukraine conflict. The original writing is in Indonesian language.
Here is the abstract
Abstract

Russian-Ukrainian Conflict created unfortunate war crime actions led by Ukrainian
voluntary battalion, one of them was Azov Battalion. The crimes included underage
military recruitment, planned civilian attacks, and also torturing war prisoners. This
research analyzed the war crimes of Azov Battalion using the perspective of Constructivist
theory of International Relations. The result of the research showed that Azov Battalion’s
war crimes occurred due to identity factor and culture of organization. Different identity
between pro-Ukrainian government in which Azov included inside and pro-Russian
separatist became the main reason for Azov Battalion to execute the crimes. Aside from
identity, culture of organization which interpreting separatist as opponent while Azov
Battalion in the other hand interpreted themselves as Ukrainian hero due to their
ultranationalist ideology. The ideology of “The Idea of the Nation” forming
ultranationalist scheme to support the crime and create offensive culture in ATO operation.
Keywords: Azov Battalion, war crimes, identity, culture of organization

source

2. KEJAHATAN PERANG AZOV BATTALION DALAM KONFLIK RUSIA-UKRAINA 2014: PERSPEKTIF KONSTRUKTIVIS | Fadhlurrakhman | Journal of International Relations Diponegoro

2. KEJAHATAN PERANG AZOV BATTALION DALAM KONFLIK RUSIA-UKRAINA 2014: PERSPEKTIF KONSTRUKTIVIS

ejournal3.undip.ac.id

English Translation

Introduction
The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict in 2014 arose after the events of his withdrawal
Viktor Yanukovych from the presidency with the rejection of the Uni . association agreement with
European Union and the Russian “invasion” of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. The incident
created the Ukrainian crisis and the emergence of tensions in the Ukrainian border region
namely Luhansk and Donetsk. The conflict in eastern Ukraine is usually seen as a war between
Ukrainian military, on the one hand, with Russian-backed separatists. On conflict
Ukraine is not only the official Ukrainian troops and separatist groups are
war, but there are groups of volunteers who share the goal with Ukraine to
crush the separatists. This volunteer group emerged to fight the separatists,
For example, right-wing volunteer nationalist movements emerged, one of which was Azov
Battalion. Volunteer militia groups fought against the separatists, similar
with the Ukrainian state military (Vox, 2015). The government enforces ATO (Anti
Terrorism Operation) to fight the separatists and the Russian army together with
volunteer militia.

The Azov Battalion is a volunteer army, not a government made. Azov
The Battalion was founded in March 2014 and takes its name from the coastal area of the city
Mariupol is the headquarters. Azov Battalion grew from Ukrayíny . patriots
(“Ukrainian Patriots”), a neo-Nazi paramilitary group that is a wing of the organization
right, Azov Battalion is also known as “Men in Black” or soldiers in uniform
all black in the Mariupol area. Organizationally the Azov Battalion is led by Andriy
Biletsky who was a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and became a troop commander
11
volunteer (Haines, 2015:11). Azov Battalion is recruiting members and has
reached 1,400 personnel (The Daily Signal, 2015).

In its development the Azov Battalion committed war crimes in the ATO
that is; (1) Azov Battalion attacks Mariupol during the Victory Day parade
organized by pro-Russian activists. This activity took place on May 9, 2014
(Strategic Culture Foundation, 2014), (2) Azov formed Azovets or season camps
heat formed by Azov in August 2015 (Global Research, 2015). Activity
in the form of training and militaristic doctrine for minors, (3) Azov Battalion
cooperate with the SBU to make arrests and patrols in the area
but both the civilians and prisoners of war who have been captured
tortured by the Azov Battalion (Grigoriev, 2016).
The state of Ukraine is bound by International Humanitarian Law, essentially a state
Ukraine is bound by international humanitarian law treaties, so it is strictly prohibited
for military forces to commit acts that violate Humanitarian Law
International. Ukraine ratifies International Humanitarian Law, namely Geneva
Conventions I to IV (ICRC, 2016). Conventions dealing with the protection of
victims of armed conflict. Azov Battalion war crimes injure; (1) Geneva
Convention III, relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Basically the government
shall prohibit all acts detrimental to prisoners of war and shall prevent
the occurrence of these activities, (2) Geneva Convention IV, relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War. Mariupol 1 attack that occurred on 9 May 2014,
where the Azov Battalion carried out an attack on the pro-Russian community did
Victory Day parade., (3) Additional Protocol I Geneva Conventions, 1977 which was
ratification on January 25, 1950. This Convention deals with the prohibition of
children taking part in an armed conflict and prohibition against the recruitment of children
under age. Basically the activities of the Azov Battalion violate the law.
Even though the Ukrainian government has regulated the recruitment of soldiers must be over the age of 15 years
and was adopted in the 1992 Ukraine Military Service Law.

This study aims to find the triggers or factors of the Azov Battalion
commit war crimes using the Constructivist theory of identity and
organizational culture concept. The concept of identity can be understood through two meanings.
There are two categories of identity (Rosyidin, 2015:46); (1) Attribute, Identity arises because
the involvement of other parties. The existence of intersubjectivity forms me/us and you.
Meaning the identity of something that is constructed in social interaction / with other parties.
(2) Characteristics, the identity of the actor is unique by distinguishing other actors, without any
differentiation process. Both are the same that the Identity of the attributes and characteristics of the actor that
exist in the actor is useful for defining other actors, thus forming InGroup and Out-Group in armed conflict. The concept of organizational culture is
entity that is invisible but becomes a reference for the group, such as an ideology that
bind actions, thoughts, and beliefs. A set of assumptions or values, norms,
beliefs, and knowledge that shape collective thinking. Each group will
have their own characteristics/unique with other groups (Kier, 1995:66-69)

If you look at history and geography you will find the fact that Ukraine
has a society with diverse ethnicities, cultures and loyalties formed by
historical events. In the past there were two very different regions of Ukraine
namely the deeply nationalist Lviv and the Donetsk region with a melting pot of values
nationalist. The fusion of nationalist values in the Donetsk region occurred due to proximity
territory with Russia and has embedded Russian cultural heritage. Until the area
Donetsk is more proud and accustomed to its Russian heritage and culture. On the side
other cities Lviv has high unitary and nationalist values. One factor
Lviv and Donetsk have different ethnic and historical backgrounds
which creates community loyalty in each region (Uzhva, 2015;
2). During the Slavic State civilization, the Lviv region was colonized from various sources
kingdom, thus creating a nationalist society, different from the territory
Donetsk receiving royal aid from Muscovy (Russia)

Colonialism in Ukraine created a different identity. Starting from time
colonial empires of Mongolia, Moscow, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary and Austria.
Creating a divided society due to colonial events. That territory
Ukraine has a distinct “civilization identity” based on the different imperial entities
lead. That's why the eastern region has a Soviet past and
fear of cooperation with the European Union, while the western region is more agreeable
European integration, based on anti-colonial views. (Pavlyuk in Uzhva, 2015:5)
Basically imperialism carried out by the kingdoms of Mongolia, Austria, Hungary,
Poland and Russia influenced the identity of the peoples of eastern and western Ukraine. Existence
identity differences based on history is one of the triggers of the group
nationalists to be active during the 2014 Ukrainian-Russian armed conflict.

There are differences in the ideas of eastern and western Ukrainian society based on
colonial history in the past creates a conception of their identity. Identity
embedded is how the people of eastern Ukraine uphold the values
nationalism by means of struggle. The values of nationalism adopted by society
Eastern Ukraine is a legacy of colonial history. On the other hand, people in the western region
Ukraine does not feel colonized by Russia so the degree of nationalism is different from
eastern Ukrainian society western Ukrainian society favors integration
with Europe, while the citizens of the east agreed on integration with Russia. Difference
Opinions between the two regions create different loyalties. Both sides,
both the citizens of eastern and western Ukraine with their respective loyalties created
different identities.

Another factor is how the Ukrainian nation is the foundation of a strong nation
delivered by Andriy Biletsky as chairman of the Azov Battalion. Sometimes Rightis obeys
to the values of love and compassion, believes that humans are divided into good people
(worthy) and bad (unworthy). The definitions of “good” and “bad” have broad dimensions.
Azov Battalionn's justification in armed conflict is about the racist concept that
According to Andriy Biletsky, race is the foundation on which the superstructure grows
in the form of national culture, which again stems from the racial nature of the people, not
language, religion, or economy. Handling our national bodies must start with
the cleansing of the nation's race (Media 122, 2016).

There is interaction between the Azov Battalion and pro-Russian and separatist communities
create identity. Azov Battalion identifies pro-Russian and separatist society
not part of his country and creates a breakdown of Ukraine's national integrity. Thing
This happened because of the formation of the Donetsk People Republic by the pro-Russian community and turned into a separatist with the aim of liberating the Donetsk region from
Ukrainian government.
In other words, both the separatists and the pro-Russian community are out-groups
from the Ukrainians, the reason is that they don't support the government to
integrate with the European Union and prefer Russia. The pro-Russian society is not
feel colonized by Russia, because from the time of the Russian empire to the state, society
the eastern region of Ukraine is getting help from Russia. Unlike the Azov Battalion.
Azov Battalion is a right-wing organization (Rightis) which means support
13
government. Azov Battalion defines themselves as an in-group. With action
Azov Battalion is like participating in defending the country in the ATO and supporting
Ukraine's integration with the European Union and demonstrations in Maidan against
Viktor Yanukovych. The fact in the population census that there are 17.3% ethnic Russians who
are on the territory of Ukraine (Radio Free Europe, 2016)

The third factor is the ideology embedded in the Azov Battalion. Azov ideology
Battalion is found in the symbol used, namely "Idea of the Nation". The symbol
the same used by the Rus and Cosaack knights in the past with the meaning, military that
acquire the right of the Ukrainian nation to build and live by doing
self-sacrifice. In its interpretation the letter "N" means to consider
national interest, while the letter "I" symbolizes the infinity of ideas for
creating idealism over matter (The Red Analysis Society, 2014). Azov ideology
Battalion creates offensive actions by forming child soldiers. Azov's reason
Battalion formed the Azovets to form a new era Ukraine, a patriot, who
ready to actively participate in building and defending Ukraine.










By providing training they want to create ready-made Ukrainian youth
to defend the country. The statement also shows that the training that
given by Azov Battalion is intended to instill its ideology in order to
prepare the volunteer army of the future. This is based on the assumption
that the Russo-Ukrainian conflict is an aggression against Ukraine by Russia
by supporting separatist groups. This assumption is reinforced by the leader's statement
Azov Battalion platoon must be strong to maintain the integrity of our homeland
(Ukraine) (Russia Today, 2015).
The fourth factor is the tradition of the Azov Battalion. From the results of the interview
with sources, Azov Battalion has Neo-Nazi traditions and feels themselves
as a follower of Hitler's Ukrainian SS subdivisions and pro-Hitler Ukrainian organizations
Nationalist "oun". these organizations are massively using torture
to the risk of the civilian population during World War II. Second, they feel support
of the President and Government of Ukraine to use methods against Donbass.
The use of torture in Ukraine is common. SBU, Ukrainian army, south-eastern police use it massively. This is a torture system that
perpetrated by the Ukrainian government as a method of terror against pro-Russian citizens
Ukraine (Grigoriev, 1/11/2016). From the results of the interview, it can be underlined that Azov
The Battalion is a group of Neo-Nazis who consider themselves followers
Nazi Germany by imitating the Schutzstaffel and OUN divisions in carrying out
torture. The reason the Azov Battalion carried out torture was the habit of imitating
schutzstaffel. This shows that Azov has an entity as both Neo-Nazi and
Nazis who committed atrocities in the second world war. The existence of torture by
Azov Battalion is a frequent activity and is the soldiers' method
volunteers and SBU (Security Service of Ukraine).

OUN or (Ukrainian Nationalist Organization) is a nationalist organization
Armed Ukrainians who strongly support self-determination for the people
Ukraine. OUN has a function as an illegal secret group fighting for
create Ukrainian freedom (Central Intelligence US, 2007:1). On the results of the interview
it was explained that the Azov Battalion was a pro-Hitler supporter just like the OUN.
The members of the OUN consist of the anti-Soviet Ukrainian community and have goals
large, they thought of themselves not as Berlin's subordinates, but as
Berlin allies. They hoped for an alliance with Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union
and eastern Poland by taking brutal action. On June 30, 1941,
Bandera expressed support for Hitler (Motyl, 2010:6). Their tactical alliance
with the Nazis led to the rejection of their ideology in the eastern and southern regions
Ukraine. Due to the rejection of the people of eastern and southern Ukraine, they
created the armed movement of the Ukrainian Rebel Army (UPA).


The formation of the Ukrainian Nationalist Organization (oun), in 1929, brought about war veterans, student fraternities and far-right groups as members to achieve group goals. OUN relies on terrorism, violence and assassination, to achieve its goal of a totalitarian and ethnically homogeneous nation-state Ukraine (Rudling in Wodak R. and Richardson, 2013:229). In other words that Azov Battalion has fascism values because it is part of the OUN. Existence values that are believed to shape the extreme action patterns of the battalion members. The Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion's values are embodied in the torture of citizens civilians and prisoners of war. Torture occurs in refugee camps and prisoners war in the Donetsk region. One of the prisoners of war is Yuriy Slusar at 4 November 2015. Azov Battalion beats with chainsaw and receives threats violence against his wife and daughter (Grigoriev, 2016: 10). Apart from prisoners of war, Azov Battalion carried out arrests, torture and threats against German Mandrikov is a civilian. The Ukrainian security service (SBU) accused German Mandrikov took part in armed conflict. Azov Battalion carried out torture physical and psychological means to German Mandrikov such as, electric shock, wrap the head with a plastic bag so there is no oxygen, beat the legs with an iron and pour cold water (Grigoriev, 2016: 11)

Similar torture occurred to Igor Ljamin, one of the victims of torture who
arrested on September 14, 2014, said, "Last time, I was hanged twenty
minutes, then brought me down, started pouring water on me and gave
I was electrocuted. Denis Gavrilin, victim captured by the Ukrainian national army
and was handed over to the Azov Battalion on 31 July 2014. Denis was banished to the
pit containing corpses (Grigoriev, 2016: 27).
The last factor is the Azov Battalion and ATO's interpretation of society
and separatists in eastern Ukraine. The interaction between the two parties between Azov
Battalions with separatists and pro-Russian society formed the identity of friends and
opponent. A group will define themselves not by characteristics
themselves but by comparison to other "strangers". First with
constructed entities during the colonial period. This social construction creates society
the nationalist region of western Ukraine while the less clingy eastern region
nationalist values. The Ukrainian government conducts an anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in the region
Donbas, to encourage Russian-backed separatists (International Business
Times, 2015). Ukraine's interior minister responded to those belonging to the ATO
those detained were suspected of "illegal activities related to separatism,
disruptive organizations, damage human health" and violate other laws (Al-Jazera, 2014). The illegal activities referred to in the ATO are
how the pro-Russian society carried out the aggression against the army and
disturb the peace of the army. According to the ATO that pro-Russian society and
separatists carry out illegal activities such as refusal in the form of demonstrations against
Poroshenko's pro-EU regime.

Apart from the rejection, the pro-Russian and separatist people who want to liberate
themselves from Ukraine are classified as carrying out activities that can be considered illegal. Existence
interpretation in the ATO operations carried out by the Ukrainian government, creating
pro-Russian society became the opponent in maintaining the integrity of the Ukrainian state. With
interpret pro-Russian society and Russian-backed separatist groups as
opponents for disturbing the peace and unity of the Ukrainian state. Therefore
pro-Russian and separatist societies will be seen as opponents. As is
identification of pro-Russian and separatist societies, creating an army movement
volunteer to participate in the fight against the pro-Russian and separatist society. Thing
this arose because of the identification of opponents, and influenced the actions of the pro-Ukrainian community to form a volunteer army in reaction


The view that the Ukrainian race is the foundation of the country is another factor that affect the war crimes Azov Battalion. They think that the group separatists are not supporters of the creation of a national Ukraine. This identity battle gave rise to the notion that the pro-Russian society was a threat. With the Azov Battalion's culture is influenced by the leader's perspective and ideology Ukrainian nationalist Idea of the Nation, member of the Azov Battalion has behavior offensive-aggressive. This behavior is driven by the spirit of defending the homeland by conducting military operations. This offensive-aggressive behavior was seen in event 9 May 2014 in the Mariupol region conducted by the Azov Battalion, Dnipr Battalion, National Guard and Ukrainian army. This incident was an attack at the time of implementation Victory Day parade celebrations in Crimea. Victory Day is a celebration to commemorate surrender by Nazi Germany and coincided with the arrival of the Russian president Vladmir Putin to Crimea for the first time after it was annexed (Independent, 2014).



The bloody events of Victory Day began with the Ukrainian army's gunfights and
Azov Battalion against pro-Russian separatists. At the Victory Day event, Azov
Battalion or “Men in Black” attack civilians by shooting activists in the legs
who staged a parade and injured 25 civilians (Strategic Culture
Foundation, 2014). Interior minister Arsen Avakov says 20 separatists were killed
and 4 have been arrested in the operation to free the police station from “terrorists”. According to
Mariupol civilians, the police and residents were attacked by Mariupol
a combined group of volunteer battalions and the national army (The Guardian, 2014).
The use of the word terrorist in reflecting that separatism is interpreted as
terrorists who carry out malicious activities. Separatists are described as a group of people who will disturb and terrorize the government and peace of Ukraine, this is
will affect the actions of the Azov Battalion volunteer troops who have
the spirit of The Idea of The Nation of the Cossack knights to put up a fight for the sake of
independence

As a result of the attack of the Azov Battalion and the Ukrainian national army,
the conflict escalated and gunfights continued at the Mariupol police station. Ukraine
only for Ukrainians. The Ukrainian state must maintain its ethnic integrity and culture
(Al-Jazera, 2014). Interviews conducted by Al-Jazera with members of Azov
The Battalion illustrates that Victory Day is not a cultural event
by society. Another reason Azov Battalion went on the offensive was the city
Mariupol is the headquarters of their troops (Vice News, 2014).
Azov Battalion did not commit total genocide, but rather brutal acts in
ATO operations in an offensive way/strategy. In the ATO operation, Azov Battalion in
against the separatists of the Donetsk region. Armed contact between Azov Battalion and
separatists called urban warfare are carried out in eastern Ukraine. urban
warfare or war in the area causes a negative impact, namely city facilities, places,
residences, important buildings and civilians become victims in armed contact
both parties. The interpretation of the Azov Battalion living in the separatist territory is
traitors. They are traitors, people who want to fight for Unity
Ukraine has been with us for some time now. Supporters only
terrorists and Moscow are still here, and they have no right to name themselves
they are Ukrainian. We (Azov Battalion) will exterminate everyone, I
asserts - everyone, including women, children and the elderly, who conspired
with the enemy and betray their home country (Global Research, 2015).

Conclusion
The Azov Battalion's identity as the right wing turned ordinary people into
military members. This is evidenced by the existence of a civilization identity formed from
experience/past of eastern and western regions of Ukraine. Azov Battalion Identity
developed with the thought of the original Ukrainian race (Ukrainians) as the foundation
country so that ethnic cleansing must be carried out by participating in the ATO with
help the government. The existence of the Azov Battalion's Ideology creates extreme Patriotism,
thus creating and preparing young soldiers to defend the country from
colonizers and unite Ukraine, this is related to the separatists who want to
liberated themselves from the Ukrainian government. The Azov Battalion's tradition of self-defeating
they are part of the OUN and followers of Nazi Germany have violent actions
to create terror to achieve ethnic homogeneity.
The existence of the Azov Battalion's definition of separatists creates friends (self)
and opponents (others). At the ATO operation, the Azov Battalion defined a society that
living in separatist territory is a traitor. Azov Battalion doesn't care about
civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. People who live below
separatist regions are deemed not entitled to call themselves Ukrainians.
Therefore, the Azov Battalion has an offensive organizational culture against
Donetsk region separatists. Organizational culture by taking offensive actions with
beat up prisoners of war and separatists held in the residences of the
refugees and prisoners of war.
References
Al-Jazera. (2014). “Ukraine raids pro-Russian separatists”. Tersedia dalam
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/04/ukraine-raids-terrorists-kharkiv20144843036887904.html, diakses pada 14 Agustus 2016.
Central Intelegence US. (2007). “Nazi War Crime Disclosure Act” Tersedia dalam

Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)

www.cia.gov

1_0009.pdf, diakses pada 14 November 2016
Global Research. (2015). “Military Training for Young Children at Ukraine’s “Neo-Nazi
Summer Camp”. Recruitment of Ukraine’s “Child Soldiers” Financed by US
“Nonlethal” Military Aid?”. Tersedia dalam http://www.globalresearch.ca/milita...financed-by-us-nonlethal-military-aid/5472801, diakses
pada 22 Juli 2016.
_____________. (2015). “Mariupol Attack is a War Crime: The Evidence points to Kiev”.
Tersedia dalam http://www.globalresearch.ca/mariupol-attack-is-a-war-crime-theevidence-points-to-kiev/5428194, diakses pada 24 Agustus 2016.
Grigoriev, M. (2016). War crimes of the armed forces and security forces of Ukraine:
torture and inhumane treatment Second report. Tersedia dalam
http://www.osce.org/pc/233896?download=true, diakses pada 11Oktober 2016.
ICRC, (2016). “State Parties to the Following International Humanitarian Law and Other
Related Treaties” https://ihldatabases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/xsp/.ibmmodres/domino/OpenAttachment/appli
c/ihl/ihl.nsf/5FE9C868227EDD1CC1257F330052D22D/%24File/IHL_and_other_
related_Treaties.pdf?Open, diakses pada 8 Desember 2016.

 

[JAVO]

This may be China working with Russia to intimidate Ukraine, or maybe not.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1581471970977546240

 

[The Cat]

"The US owns the sky and the night...."
When I was in Basic part of the chant was: "Air Power! Space Power!"
that was 20 years ago...before civvies were really talking about drones.​

 

[The Cat]

 

[JAVO]

Russian forces are also setting information conditions to conduct a false-flag attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). The Russian military may believe that breaching the dam could cover their retreat from the right bank of the Dnipro River and prevent or delay Ukrainian advances across the river. Surovikin claimed on October 18 that he has received information that Kyiv intends to strike the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), which he alleged would cause destructive flooding in Kherson Oblast.[3] Saldo echoed this claim and warned that Ukrainian forces intend to strike dams upstream of Kherson City.[4] Russian authorities likely intend these warnings about a purported Ukrainian strike on the Kakhovka HPP to set information conditions for Russian forces to damage the dam and blame Ukraine for the subsequent damage and loss of life, all while using the resulting floods to cover their own retreat further south into Kherson Oblast. The Kremlin could attempt to leverage such a false-flag attack to overshadow the news of a third humiliating retreat for Russian forces, this time from western Kherson. Such an attack would also further the false Russian information operation portraying Ukraine as a terrorist state that deliberately targets civilians.

Institute for the Study of War

Russian authorities are likely setting information conditions to justify planned Russian retreats and significant territorial losses in Kherson Oblast. Commander of Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine Army General Sergey Surovikin reported during an

www.understandingwar.org

 

[Falcarius]

Lol @ Liz Truss

 

[Red Herring]

Lol @ Liz Truss

Is that lettuce still eatable?

 

[ceecee]

Lol @ Liz Truss

She'll go down in the history books but not in the way she wanted, I imagine.

 

[Falcarius]

While British politics has been a train wreck for a good decade, even so, Liz Truss episode will go down as a bit strange. Most people interested in politics watching from the outside the party, probably just thought she was appealing to members when she spoke of tax cuts during the leadership campaign as she had two weaknesses: 1) The identity of the Conservatives see their purpose as "taking advantage of Brexit" and she voted to remain in the EU 2) Having her Conservative credentials questioned as she spent her university years in the Lib Dems.

Nobody outside of the party really expected her to try to press ahead with all the tax cuts. British politics is not really like American politics where no credible “left” wing, where both of the biggest parties just talk about how best to cut taxes and decrease the size of the state for the most part. Certainly, in the American Right there is an idea that government cannot legitimately do some things, be it providing universal health service or taking away gun rights, whereas the British Right think the government ought not to do something that would infringe too greatly on individual liberty but accept nothing is ever really beyond the power of parliament. Hence, during the last election, Boris didn't argue that Corbyn’s massive extension of government inherently violates our "natural rights" as citizens as 'big government is immoral" but rather that it wasn't a "prudent" thing to do. Another example of this is when Dave Cameron was party leader his logic for austerity wasn't to "shrink the size of the state out of principle" but to sort out the country's finances, so much so that before the financial crisis he promised to match Labour's spending and just target spending better for the most part. Sure there are exceptions like the 1980s and in the 1800s during the days of the Corn Laws, but the party is generally ruthless at winning elections by being pragmatic and accepting things like NHS, Minimum Wage, and so on.

It is not clear why she just believed that the public would just support supply-side economics blindly during a cost-of-living crisis. It is hard to see why she thought it would be politically popular to cut taxes which mostly benefited the rich. It seems stupid to make unfunded tax cuts to inject money into the economy when inflation is at a 40-year high and not expect it to spook the finance market. Not involving either Office of Budget Responsibility or the Bank of England is irresponsible. Why not just do the generous Energy Price Guarantee and let it be? It is almost as if she believed that there is an "Elective dictatorship" where the government can pass whatever laws it wants with its 70-seat majority (or whatever it is)- if that is what she thought then she obviously made a massive error of judgment.

Going forward there is no obvious answer. The Conservatives have run out of ideas after being in power for 12 years, and are bitterly split with soon-to-be three prime ministers in four months. The next PM needs to find a credible fiscal plan and solve the £80 billion funding black hole. Basically, the opposition can't win a no-confidence vote as the government has such a majority so there might be no election for a few years as PM doesn't have to constitutional have to call one until January 2025 if they don't want to call an election. There is no magic solution since whatever party has the majority will have to deal with the cost of living crisis in which inflation hit a 40-year high, the Ukraine war, the energy crisis, and the economic fallout from covid. Hence, political paralysis will continue to some degree.

 

[ceecee]

So Boris is coming back as PM 2.0? Of course as that is the funniest outcome of this entire thing but there isn't anyone else?