Written about 1 week before the war

THE CRISIS IN #UKRAINE IS NOT ABOUT UKRAINE. IT’S ABOUT #GERMANY


Written by Mike Whitney. 

“The primordial interest of the United States, over which for centuries we have fought wars– the First, the Second and Cold Wars– has been the relationship between Germany and #Russia, because united there, they’re the only force that could threaten us. And to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”
George Friedman, #STRATFOR CEO at The Chicago Council on Foreign Affairs

The Ukrainian crisis has nothing to do with Ukraine. It’s about Germany and, in particular, a pipeline that connects Germany to Russia called #NordStream 2. Washington sees the pipeline as a threat to its primacy in #Europe and has tried to sabotage the project at every turn. Even so, Nord Stream has pushed ahead and is now fully-operational and ready-to-go.

Once German regulators provide the final certification, the #gas deliveries will begin.

German homeowners and businesses will have a reliable source of clean and inexpensive energy while Russia will see a significant boost to their gas revenues.

It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

The #US #Foreign #Policy establishment is not happy about these developments.

They don’t want Germany to become more dependent on Russian #gas because commerce builds trust and trust leads to the expansion of trade.

As relations grow warmer, more #trade barriers are lifted, regulations are eased, #travel and #tourism increase, and a new security architecture evolves. 

In a world where Germany and Russia are friends and trading partners, there is no need for US #military bases, no need for expensive US-made #weapons and #missile systems, and no need for #NATO.....


https://southfront.org/the-crisis-in-ukraine-is-not-about-ukraine-its-about-germany/

Discussion of an #abortion legislative bill being put before the US State of #Virginia legislature. (from at least a year ago)

#Democratic Party #Woman forced to concede that according to her proposed bill, a child could be aborted in the last week of a 40 week #pregnancy, just as it is about to be born.

These people are simply sick.

This is simply #murder being disguised as a mere #medical #procedure

She didn't want to say the words because she's aware of how hideous it all sounds.

This is James #Vasquez an alleged #US #mercenary fighting in #Ukraine on the Govt side

It is my opinion that James Vasquez role is to function as an #actor

His video releases always show him in immaculate attire, with no dust or dirt visible.

This video opens with the sound of imcoming artillery fire. It is my opinion this is a mere sound effect added in postproduction.

in the video we see none of the associated after-effects of artillery fire such as smoke, shrapnel and other flying debris.

Vasquez mentions "We're getting shelled pretty good here" but other than that initial shell sound no other artillery sounds or signs are evident in the video.

The man is a fraud, a propaganda prop, for the consumption of working class westerners Americans in particular.

He's not unique, there are several like him : the "#Moustachioed midget Belorussian idiot" and "the Nazi #Shieldmaiden" who seem to travel with video production teams in tow.

you can search this channel using hashtags to see more examples.

Russian air force tears apart Azov nationalist positions at the Azov Steel industrial complex in Mariupol. The gloves seem to have come off entirely

40% OF THE #METALS USED IN MODERN #CAR #PRODUCTION ARE EXPORTED FROM #RUSSIA.

Western sanctions on Russia have a detrimental effect on all auto production supply chains

Additionally #China now controls most of the materials that make new cars.

An informative 10 minute video on the realities of modern auto-production #supply #chains by Car and DIY enthusiast #Scotty #Kilmer

"Why Russia and #China are Making Cars More Expensive in America"

No One is Telling You the Truth About the Car #Shortage, So I Have to

Will Chinese cars replace American cars in the future?

Why electric cars use so many #RareEarth Metals.

The main event of military operations in Ukraine over the past day has been the massive #artillery shelling and #missile attacks on military and strategically important #railway #infrastructure facilities in #Ukraine.

Here is #SouthFront's video summarizing the most notable events of May 3rd and 4th 2022

https://southfront.org/russian-missiles-pound-ukrainian-railway-substations/

UKRAINIAN SOLDIER IS OUTRAGED THAT HE MUST DIE FOR AMERICANS

AFU serviceman: "I, Vishnyak Michael Aleksandrovich, 22.08.97, was born in Lugansk, I want to tell to my former colleagues and others whom I know from military men of Ukraine: STOP IT!

Stop, this * damn war *! I apologize for the obscene words of course.

To * more…well, how to say, Russia, Ukraine…well, it’s *, we all, how should I say it… we didn’t start this war, but *… America… well, okay.”

Correspondent: “Tell it like it is.”

AFU serviceman: “America everything, yes, because * even America is at war… oops, Ukraine with Russia, let it fight, even Ukraine with Russia, let it fight, why * * what * * is this America interfering!

Who are you *?

Ok Russia and Ukraine *, at least they are * Slavic brothers, the same blood you can say, but Americans, who are they?

Who asked them to come here?

I do not understand this *! Not at all."

Irish journalist Bryan MacDonald on UK sanctions list over role in Russian media

#Irish #journalist #Bryan #MacDonald has been named in a new package of #UK #sanctions over his role with Russian #media.

As Head of the Russian and Former Soviet Union Desk for #Russia #Today (#RT), he is accused of being “a member of, or associated with, a person involved in destabilising Ukraine or obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia" by the UK Office of #Financial #Sanctions #Implementation

Mr MacDonald has been made a designated person by the UK government.

Others on that list include Herman Gref, the chief executive of Russia’s largest lender #Sberbank and former Economy Minister, billionaire oil tycoon Eugene #Shvidler and Polina #Kovaleva, Foreign Minister Sergey #Lavrov’s socialite step-daughter.

UK citizens must now freeze any accounts, funds, or other economic resources, and refrain from dealing with Mr MacDonald.

Failure to comply or attempting to circumvent the sanctions is deemed a criminal offence.

Mr MacDonald said in a statement to the Irish Independent last night: “I just think it’s really sad. And it reflects badly on the British government, which claims to have respect for press freedom.”

He added: “What makes this ruling even more ridiculous is that I ran the (online) desk to the highest professional standards. We did not engage in any disinformation.

"Our output was balanced and rigorously fact checked. Under no metric could it have been considered ‘propaganda’. In fact, this seemed to upset some people as they wanted RT to fit a particular narrative"

RT News
#Supply #Chain Crisis: Global #Container #Ship Bottleneck Warning

An estimated 20% of all container ships worldwide are stuck awaiting port entry, according to a Royal Bank of Canada study, citing Beijing’s draconian Covid lockdowns and the conflict in Ukraine as key factors.

At the Port of Shanghai alone there are 344 ships awaiting berth, a 34% increase in the last month, with warehouse-to-warehouse shipping taking 74 days longer than usual between China and the US.

Aggregate times of turnaround at Europe’s 3 largest ports, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, have risen 8%, 30% and 21% respectively - with RBC analysts warning “things are getting worse”.