An analysis of Russian political leadership from the Carnegie Endowment published in 2020 dispells two prevailing myths in the West concerning the interplay of power in Russian politics. It's unsurprising that they are the two most parroted by neocon think tanks and pundits in order to demonize the Russian President, Vladimir Putin:
"...Two further common misconceptions refuse to die. One is that Putin makes all high-profile decisions by himself and that nothing important gets resolved without him. Another is that Putin’s omnipotent friends routinely put pressure on him and orchestrate many important decisions. Neither of these is close to the truth—but, given how opaque and unpredictable Russian elite politics is, it’s easy to understand how these misconceptions take root. Informal power—for example, the influence that the head of a large state-owned corporation has over a government minister—plays a huge role in the system that is hard to quantify. This problem is especially acute in times of crisis, such as the present."
The issue I take with this statement isn't in the content, it's how disingenuous it is to call these myths "misconceptions." They are misinformation delivered with intent, to harm the reputation of the Russian Federation and to call into question the legitimacy of its government.
The name of the white paper, The Putin Regime Cracks, should make this apparent before even a cursory glance. The intent here wasn't to dispel myths. This paper is a deliberate contravention of the stated purpose of the non-governmental organization which conducted it. The intention here isn't establishment of international peace but manipulation of the political framework of the Russian Federation.
So, should it surprise anyone that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was placed on the list of foreign agents in April of 2023? Should we be shaken by the clearly undemocratic supression of such a principled organization's ability to promote cross-culltural peace and understanding? The author
While this white paper offers a framework for understanding, it does with ulterior motives. Reading for content is encouraged; forming opinions based on provided context is not.
Sources:
Carnegie Endownment for International Peace - The Putin Regime Cracks (archived)
Meduza - Russia declares Carnegie Endowment and publication Agentstvo ‘foreign agents’ (archived)
@Slavyangrad | Nagasaki Nightmare👋
"...Two further common misconceptions refuse to die. One is that Putin makes all high-profile decisions by himself and that nothing important gets resolved without him. Another is that Putin’s omnipotent friends routinely put pressure on him and orchestrate many important decisions. Neither of these is close to the truth—but, given how opaque and unpredictable Russian elite politics is, it’s easy to understand how these misconceptions take root. Informal power—for example, the influence that the head of a large state-owned corporation has over a government minister—plays a huge role in the system that is hard to quantify. This problem is especially acute in times of crisis, such as the present."
The issue I take with this statement isn't in the content, it's how disingenuous it is to call these myths "misconceptions." They are misinformation delivered with intent, to harm the reputation of the Russian Federation and to call into question the legitimacy of its government.
The name of the white paper, The Putin Regime Cracks, should make this apparent before even a cursory glance. The intent here wasn't to dispel myths. This paper is a deliberate contravention of the stated purpose of the non-governmental organization which conducted it. The intention here isn't establishment of international peace but manipulation of the political framework of the Russian Federation.
So, should it surprise anyone that the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was placed on the list of foreign agents in April of 2023? Should we be shaken by the clearly undemocratic supression of such a principled organization's ability to promote cross-culltural peace and understanding? The author
While this white paper offers a framework for understanding, it does with ulterior motives. Reading for content is encouraged; forming opinions based on provided context is not.
Sources:
Carnegie Endownment for International Peace - The Putin Regime Cracks (archived)
Meduza - Russia declares Carnegie Endowment and publication Agentstvo ‘foreign agents’ (archived)
@Slavyangrad | Nagasaki Nightmare
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Forwarded from The Islander
🇮🇱⚔🇵🇸Israel-Gaza Conflict: February 21-22 (Recap)
1️⃣ “Gaza has become a death zone”: World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says “inhumane” health and humanitarian situation worsens.
2️⃣ Palestine Red Crescent Society warns of dire situation at al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis as Israeli siege continues for 30th day.
3️⃣ Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) “outraged” by Israeli attack on MSF shelter in al-Mawasi that killed two family members of staff and injured six.
4️⃣ Residents of northern Gaza Strip have only animal feed to eat for past three weeks, says Ismail al-Thawabteh, head of Gaza’s government media office
5️⃣ US Central Command (CENTCOM) says that it conducted four “self-defence strikes” against seven mobile Houthi antiship cruise missiles and one mobile antiship ballistic missile launcher in Yemen on Wednesday.
6️⃣ The United States has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it should not order the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories without security guarantees.
7️⃣ Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesperson, has said that Yemen’s Houthis are “behaving like a terrorist organisation”, adding that their attacks on shipping vessels are “endangering an already fragile humanitarian situation” and “do nothing to help the Palestinians”.
At least 29,313 people including more than 12,300 children, have been killed and over 69,333 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll from the October 7 attack in Israel stands at 1,139.
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1️⃣ “Gaza has become a death zone”: World Health Organization Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says “inhumane” health and humanitarian situation worsens.
2️⃣ Palestine Red Crescent Society warns of dire situation at al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis as Israeli siege continues for 30th day.
3️⃣ Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) “outraged” by Israeli attack on MSF shelter in al-Mawasi that killed two family members of staff and injured six.
4️⃣ Residents of northern Gaza Strip have only animal feed to eat for past three weeks, says Ismail al-Thawabteh, head of Gaza’s government media office
5️⃣ US Central Command (CENTCOM) says that it conducted four “self-defence strikes” against seven mobile Houthi antiship cruise missiles and one mobile antiship ballistic missile launcher in Yemen on Wednesday.
6️⃣ The United States has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it should not order the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories without security guarantees.
7️⃣ Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesperson, has said that Yemen’s Houthis are “behaving like a terrorist organisation”, adding that their attacks on shipping vessels are “endangering an already fragile humanitarian situation” and “do nothing to help the Palestinians”.
At least 29,313 people including more than 12,300 children, have been killed and over 69,333 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll from the October 7 attack in Israel stands at 1,139.
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Maxuel “Panavo” Gomes Ribeiro, a Brazilian mercenary, was sent to Bandera yesterday according to local media.
Maxuel was a policeman until 2019, when he was expelled and arrested for killing his own brother. After he was released on bail awaiting trial, he ran away to Ukraine where he became a tiktok soldier with 120000 followers.
We thank Russia for making sure scum like this won't be in our streets.
(Luis, of course)
@Slavyangrad
Maxuel was a policeman until 2019, when he was expelled and arrested for killing his own brother. After he was released on bail awaiting trial, he ran away to Ukraine where he became a tiktok soldier with 120000 followers.
We thank Russia for making sure scum like this won't be in our streets.
(Luis, of course)
@Slavyangrad
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Clean-up of Avdeevka: enemy corpses on the streets
The bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants with blue ribbons who did not have time to escape are everywhere around Avdeevka.
@Slavyangrad | Inna👋
The bodies of Ukrainian Armed Forces militants with blue ribbons who did not have time to escape are everywhere around Avdeevka.
@Slavyangrad | Inna
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🇷🇺❌🇷🇺💀 Dmitry Medvedev shared his thoughts on Russian traitor Maxim Kuzminov’s death.
🔻Dima’s way with words has no equal.
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“A dog’s death is a dog’s death”.
🔻Dima’s way with words has no equal.
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The Inspector General of the US Department of Defense said that the Pentagon failed to prepare adequate plans in advance to support the weapons transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine - Bloomberg
We are talking about M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicles transferred to Ukraine, various variants of Stryker armored personnel carriers, M1A1SA Abrams tanks, and MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems.
As an example, it is stated that the Pentagon provided only basic training courses in the operation and maintenance of the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system, as well as initial parts and materials, but subsequently did not organize advanced training for Ukrainians using the equipment and their further provision of spare parts.
@Slavyangrad
We are talking about M2A2 Bradley ODS-SA infantry fighting vehicles transferred to Ukraine, various variants of Stryker armored personnel carriers, M1A1SA Abrams tanks, and MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems.
“The Department of Defense provided Ukraine with armored vehicles and air defense systems without a plan to ensure their long-term usefulness. While the Department of Defense is currently working to develop such a plan, the lack of foresight on this issue is troubling and must be addressed immediately,” the Inspector General said.
As an example, it is stated that the Pentagon provided only basic training courses in the operation and maintenance of the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system, as well as initial parts and materials, but subsequently did not organize advanced training for Ukrainians using the equipment and their further provision of spare parts.
Without planned material support, including spare parts, ammunition, and maintenance, “the Ukrainians would not be able to maintain these weapons systems,” the inspector general concluded.
@Slavyangrad
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Over the past 6 days, Ukraine has posted 2552 obituaries... with the TAG Avdeevka 881... Much or little... Mostly Westerners are coming now... Russian-speaking people have gotten wiser...
@Slavyangrad
@Slavyangrad
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Forwarded from SITREP - Independent OSINT Channel
Telegram
WarGonzo
⚡️🇷🇺🇺🇦⚔️ Frontline #Summary for the Morning of 22 February 2024; pub. 08:00⚡️
🔹In the #Zaporozhye Direction, to the south and west of the #Rabotino village, the fighting has ⚠️taken on a fierce counterattack character. At the moment, the AFU have sufficient ammunition and personnel there. The dominant heights and well-fortified positions of the RF Armed Forces occupied during the summer offensive are an additional advantage for them. The village itself is densely processed by Russian artillery.
💥 The AFU is also under attack in Malye Shcherbaky, #Novoandreyevka, #Malaya Tokmachka, #Zheleznodorozhnoye and #Gulyaypole.
💥 The RF Armed Forces, in #Kopani, #Novoprokopovka and #Verbovoye. (Fig. 1).
🔹On the #Donetsk Front, Russian forces were assaulting #Novomikhaylovka. ⚠️Without success. The RF Armed Forces ⚠️gained a foothold in #Pobeda and ⚠️advanced towards #Georgiyevka.
📌 The first of the above-mentioned settlements (#Pobeda) is important both logistically (there is a paved motorway) and in terms of the further Russian offensive along it with an approach to the rear of the Ukrainian garrison in #Ugledar.
💥 Ukrainian positions in #Yekaterinovka, #Yelizavetovka, K#urakhovo, #Krasnogorovka town, #Nevelskoye, #Pervomayskoye, #Netaylovo, #Karlovka, #Tonenkoye, #Lastochkino, #Orlovka, #Novobakhmutovka (the village of the same name to the east is behind the RF Armed Forces), #Ocheretino, #Aleksandropol (a village to the north of #Donetsk) and Nyu-York (#Novgorodskoye) are under fire.
💥 Russian, in #Maryinka, #Donetsk and the village of #Krasnogorovka. (Fig. 2)
🔹In the #Bakhmut Direction, the RF Armed Forces attacked near #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye) after shelling. They also tried to break through the AFU defence in #Bogdanovka. ⚠️Without advancement.
💥 Ukrainian positions in Belaya Gora, #Konstantinovka (not to be confused with the settlement of the same name southwest of Donetsk), Chasov Yar, #Verolyubovka and #Vasyukovka are under attack.
💥 The Russian, in #Bakhmut and #Khromovo. (Fig. 3)
🔹In the #Lugansk Direction, attacks by the RF Armed Forces near #Yampolovka and #Terny. The frontline ⚠️did not change significantly.
💥 The AFU is under fire in #Glushkovka, #Peschanoye, #Kucherovka, #Petropavlovka and #Sinkovka. (Fig. 4)
t.iss.one/sitreports /@wargonzo/#smo/
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🔹In the #Zaporozhye Direction, to the south and west of the #Rabotino village, the fighting has ⚠️taken on a fierce counterattack character. At the moment, the AFU have sufficient ammunition and personnel there. The dominant heights and well-fortified positions of the RF Armed Forces occupied during the summer offensive are an additional advantage for them. The village itself is densely processed by Russian artillery.
💥 The AFU is also under attack in Malye Shcherbaky, #Novoandreyevka, #Malaya Tokmachka, #Zheleznodorozhnoye and #Gulyaypole.
💥 The RF Armed Forces, in #Kopani, #Novoprokopovka and #Verbovoye. (Fig. 1).
🔹On the #Donetsk Front, Russian forces were assaulting #Novomikhaylovka. ⚠️Without success. The RF Armed Forces ⚠️gained a foothold in #Pobeda and ⚠️advanced towards #Georgiyevka.
📌 The first of the above-mentioned settlements (#Pobeda) is important both logistically (there is a paved motorway) and in terms of the further Russian offensive along it with an approach to the rear of the Ukrainian garrison in #Ugledar.
💥 Ukrainian positions in #Yekaterinovka, #Yelizavetovka, K#urakhovo, #Krasnogorovka town, #Nevelskoye, #Pervomayskoye, #Netaylovo, #Karlovka, #Tonenkoye, #Lastochkino, #Orlovka, #Novobakhmutovka (the village of the same name to the east is behind the RF Armed Forces), #Ocheretino, #Aleksandropol (a village to the north of #Donetsk) and Nyu-York (#Novgorodskoye) are under fire.
💥 Russian, in #Maryinka, #Donetsk and the village of #Krasnogorovka. (Fig. 2)
🔹In the #Bakhmut Direction, the RF Armed Forces attacked near #Ivanovskoye (#Krasnoye) after shelling. They also tried to break through the AFU defence in #Bogdanovka. ⚠️Without advancement.
💥 Ukrainian positions in Belaya Gora, #Konstantinovka (not to be confused with the settlement of the same name southwest of Donetsk), Chasov Yar, #Verolyubovka and #Vasyukovka are under attack.
💥 The Russian, in #Bakhmut and #Khromovo. (Fig. 3)
🔹In the #Lugansk Direction, attacks by the RF Armed Forces near #Yampolovka and #Terny. The frontline ⚠️did not change significantly.
💥 The AFU is under fire in #Glushkovka, #Peschanoye, #Kucherovka, #Petropavlovka and #Sinkovka. (Fig. 4)
t.iss.one/sitreports /@wargonzo/#smo/
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The Ukrainian conflict is turning in Putin's favor, writes Bloomberg.
Zelensky’s troops, according to the publication, are running out of weapons and ammunition, and due to political strife in the capitals of Western countries, supplies are being delayed. Russia is again gaining momentum and moving forward in eastern Ukraine.
- journalists report.
@Slavyangrad
Zelensky’s troops, according to the publication, are running out of weapons and ammunition, and due to political strife in the capitals of Western countries, supplies are being delayed. Russia is again gaining momentum and moving forward in eastern Ukraine.
The mood in Kiev is now noticeably gloomier. And this is against the backdrop of Zelensky’s change of military leadership and battle strategy. Russia regained the initiative and put the Ukrainian president at a dead end,
- journalists report.
@Slavyangrad
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A must read.
Join Slavyangrad chat. Your opinion matters.
https://t.iss.one/+U_EDAcaO-HFjNzEx
@Slavyangrad | Andrei👋
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@Slavyangrad | Andrei
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Stoltenberg on giving money to Ukraine and defeating Russia in memory of Navalny.
- Could Russia's first notable military successes in recent months, as well as Navalny's death, somehow contribute to or accelerate congressional approval of a military aid package for Ukraine?
- At the very least, these two events suggest that there is an urgent need to support Ukraine. Partly so that Russia does not make new gains and Ukraine can liberate more territory. And I firmly believe that the best way to honor Alexei Navalny is to make sure that President Putin does not win on the battlefield, but Ukraine does.
Source
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@Slavyangrad | Andrei👋
- Could Russia's first notable military successes in recent months, as well as Navalny's death, somehow contribute to or accelerate congressional approval of a military aid package for Ukraine?
- At the very least, these two events suggest that there is an urgent need to support Ukraine. Partly so that Russia does not make new gains and Ukraine can liberate more territory. And I firmly believe that the best way to honor Alexei Navalny is to make sure that President Putin does not win on the battlefield, but Ukraine does.
Source
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https://t.iss.one/+U_EDAcaO-HFjNzEx
@Slavyangrad | Andrei
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