Please note that you can leave a comment on any of our posts at our Facebook page.  Subscribers can also comment at length at our Angel's Corner Forum.

I appeared on Silvio Canto Jr's talk show from Dallas.  It's here.

FEBRUARY 22,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

A NEW PROTEST – FROM BREITBART:  “Let Freedom Roll” is the slogan of “The People’s Convoy” set to roll Wednesday morning from Adelanto, California, on its way to Washington, DC, to protest federal coronavirus mandates and call for an end to President Joe Biden’s emergency declaration.  Convoy organizers Marcus Sommers and Maureen Steele spoke to Breitbart News about their “peaceful” transcontinental movement to “defend our freedom” at a time when “our freedom is on the line and tyranny closing in.”  “The freedom to choose is what our country is founded on, what our military has fought for, and died for, and bled for, and sacrificed everything,” Sommers, who has been a trucker for 34 years, told Breitbart News. “We must stand up, this is our duty. … I feel this is also a way, for myself personally, that I can fight for my country and its people.”  Democracy in action.  I hope people on both sides behave themselves.

February 22, 2022       Permalink

THE BOTTOM LINE – OVERNIGHT:  So much talking and speculating about the situation in the Ukraine.  Air time must be filled.  Newspapers must be stuffed.  War is in the air.

And yet, there is a sense that, this time, the war speculation may be accurate.  Putin is the chief officer of a major opponent.  We are not talking Korea or Vietnam or Iraq.  We have not confronted a major opponent since the war against Hitler, World War II.   We are watching day by day, aware that President Biden's pledge not to send troops into Ukraine could disappear in a second.  Developments from Fox: 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that there is every indication that Russia is planning a "full-scale attack" on Ukraine and urged Moscow to reverse course immediately.

"We urge Russia in the strongest possible terms to choose the path of diplomacy. This is the most dangerous moment in European security for a generation," Stoltenberg told reporters from Brussels. 

"Every indication is that Russia continues to plan for a full-scale attack on Ukraine," he warned.

The secretary-general’s comments come just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin first announced his decision to recognize the independence of two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, and then ordered "peacekeeping" troops into the Donbas region. 

Stoltenberg confirmed that NATO had "evidence" that Russian forces have already invaded Ukraine following Putin’s order. 

Over 150,000 troops have amassed along Ukraine’s border in Russia, Belarus as well as in occupied Crimea and Donbas. 

"Moscow has now moved from covert attempts to destabilize Ukraine to overt military action," the NATO chief said. "Many units are forward-deployed in combat formations. They are out of their camps in the field and ready to strike."

Stoltenberg applauded immediate moves by nations like Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. to target financial institutions tied to the Kremlin and said NATO will continue to help defend Ukraine by providing military equipment and "sustained financial support."

The U.S. and NATO have said they will not deploy forces to Kyiv to engage with Russia militarily as Ukraine is not a NATO member.

Member nations surrounding Ukraine like Romania and Poland have received military support as thousands of troops have been deployed from the U.S., U.K. and Baltic states to protect against any possible Russian aggression.

In answer to a reporter’s questions on mounting concerns that there will be a "full-on war" in Europe, Stoltenberg warned, "There is a real risk."

COMMENT:  It is easy for Washington to say that America will not put troops into Ukraine.  What happens if Russia attacks, and successfully destroys the Ukrainian army?  Will this country simply go home?  Or will we, the Americans, fight to save whatever is left of Ukraine?   That is the inescapable question.

February 22, 2022       Permalink

FEBRUARY 21,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

I LOVE IT – OVERNIGHT:  FROM BREITBART:   Apple Store employees around the United States are reportedly attempting to unionize as hourly workers grow frustrated with wages and working conditions. According to the Washington Post, Apple employees are using Android smartphones to discuss unionization to avoid potential snooping efforts by their employer.  The Washington Post reports that employees at Apple Stores across the U.S. are working to unionize as many complain of low wages and poor working conditions. Groups at two retail stores are reportedly backed by major national unions are planning to file paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in the future. At least half a dozen locations are at less-advanced states in the unionization process.  Come on, Apple.  Pay a living wage.  It's been known for some time that the Apple Store employees are badly treated.  Apple should show a little gratitude toward the people who serve the company's customers.

February 21, 2022       Permalink

A BIG UKRAINE DAY – AS YOU KNOW – OVERNIGHT:  It's getting hotter over there, but remember from last night's edition – nobody knows anything.  The Russkies have apparently ordered "peacekeeping" troops into two pro-Russian areas of Ukraine, and are accusing Ukraine of cooking up a crisis.  Question:  How long will the Western powers wait until imposing massive sanctions on Moscow?  From CNN:

Kyiv and Lviv, Ukraine (CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine in what the Kremlin called a "peacekeeping" mission, just hours after he signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Moscow-backed regions.

It is unclear if Russian troop movements marked the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine that Western leaders have warned about for weeks. But multiple US and Western officials cautioned Monday's move could serve as the opening salvo of a larger military operation targeting the country.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council Monday evening that Putin's recognition of the pro-Moscow regions was an "attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion."

She said his claim that Russian forces are entering those regions as "peacekeepers" is "nonsense."

"We know what they really are," Thomas-Greenfield said.

In a fiery speech earlier Monday, Putin blasted Kyiv's growing security ties with the West, and in lengthy remarks about the history of the USSR and the formation of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, appeared to cast doubt on Ukraine's right to self-determination.

“Ukraine has never had traditions of its own statehood," he said, calling the eastern part of the country "ancient Russian lands."

The decrees signed by Putin conveyed Moscow's official recognition over two breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine -- the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR). The decrees recognized them as independent states and guaranteed their security with Russian troops. The decrees said that Russian so-called peacekeeping forces would be deployed in the regions.

COMMENT:  There are stories circulating that the United States will impose severe sanctions on Russia on Tuesday.  No confirmation yet.  Thus far our response to Russia has been pretty soft. 

Biden is getting some flack from Republicans in Congress, who wonder why the sanctions haven't already been imposed.  The idea is to smoke out Putin, give him and the Russian people a good scare, in an attempt to prevent further Russian incursions.  We may know more about Biden's strategy, if he actually has one, within 24 hours.

Putin is a true strategist, and I wouldn't be shocked if he did nothing for a time.  Divert the world's attention, get that world interested in other things, then strike anew, asking only for a bit more of Ukraine.  The Israelis call that "salami tactics," advancing one slice at a time.

We note again that that the Iran nuclear negotiations in Vienna are reaching their conclusion.  We don't know yet whether any pact will be signed, but, if there is an agreement, Biden and his foreign-policy staff will have their hands full dealing with the expected dissent from Congress.  Putin might well use the distraction to advance further. 

February 21, 2022       Permalink