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The Russian intervention in Ukraine

What experience and history teach is this — that nations and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it. (Hegel, Lectures on the Philosophy of History (1832)

Since the 24th of February the world has been riveted on events in Ukraine. Since no one wanted to listen to Lavrov and Russia’s security concerns, the Ukrainian military is dealing with Shoigu now. The suffering in Ukraine is great as a result of the Russian military operation taking place there. But few people in the West, for instance, have been made aware of or care about the fratricidal civil war between the western and far eastern parts of Ukraine that has raged since 2014, where there has been commensurate suffering, and at the hands of other Ukrainians. That was one of the primary causes for the present conflict. This current military action by the Russians is not at all as it is being portrayed in the Western media. For more, read on… Continue reading “The Russian intervention in Ukraine”

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Ukraine and the propaganda war

Along with the military conflict in Ukraine, there is also an intensive propaganda war going on at the same time. It has been said many times that the first casualty of war is the truth. Western nations are being particularly targeted by the propaganda war. In looking at foreign news and independent media since the start of the Russian special operation, comment on events, causes, responses and reactions is far more nuanced. To the West, this conflict is cast more as a black-and-white issue. We will examine the propaganda war in this post, continuing on from the military side in the previous post. Continue reading “Ukraine and the propaganda war”

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The Donbas republics

Those Russians have done it again. Amidst the best-laid plans of Kiev to bring the rebellious regions of the Donbas back into the Ukrainian fold, the Russians have instead recognized the independence of the two republics – Donetsk and Lugansk. They now fall under the umbrella of Russian protection. The Western media, especially the American and British media, are heaping scorn on the decision, as well as many Europeans, with all the usual talk about international law, abandonment of the Minsk II accords, Russia ready to invade Ukraine and sanctimony about sanctions, with Biden already having signed an executive order slapping sanctions on the miscreant republics. But as always, the story is not cut and dried when it comes to international affairs and there is always more than one side of any story – especially when it comes to the US and Russia. We will have a look at the two new republics here and the how and why of what has brought us to this state of affairs. Continue reading “The Donbas republics”

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What color is Kazakhstan?

Kazakhstan in recent days has been in the midst of the biggest protests and violence it has seen since its independence in 1991, leading a few comments to call what has happened, ‘Black January’. The present violence and protests allegedly began as a result of sharp increases in fuel prices. But as things progressed there it became clear that the protests began almost simultaneously across the country, strongly suggesting central organization, and Kazakh social media is awash with demands from the protesters, some of which also suggest foreign interference. This is a situation in development. We will begin to have a look at it here, to be updated as time goes on. Continue reading “What color is Kazakhstan?”

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The lack of Truss in UK politics

In the latter part of 2021, as a Hail Mary to 2021 and as much to shunt her away from his problems, Boris Johnson appointed one Liz Truss to the cabinet position of Foreign Secretary during a cabinet reshuffle. The Russians may have raised an eyebrow at the new tank commander. Her appointment may come to be a move Johnson will regret – or maybe not. Since her appointment and since BoJo’s continuing gaffes and poor performance as PM, the rumour mill has been rife with talk of Liz Truss replacing Johnson as PM. As well as his Hail Mary move, the UK experienced its first exact solar arc square of Pluto to its Meridian axis, bringing in the New Year, in what is a clear and growing contest between the people and the government. For more, read on… Continue reading “The lack of Truss in UK politics”

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The Black Tiger: a prequel

The 2nd of January marks the start of the lunations for 2022, this one being the new moon of Capricorn. It also marks something else, that being the start of the Month of the Iron Ox, or ‘The Ox on the Road’. If that sounds familiar, it should – the lunar year drawing to a close has the same name, and that means we have a situation for the lunar month call fu yin in Chinese astrology. That can be either fortunate or auger difficult times, depending. But there is more. Continue reading “The Black Tiger: a prequel”

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Planetary indicators for 2022

As we leave 2021 and remember the year that was, it was a mixed affair. From the post for the planetary indicators for last year, if we had a feelin’ ’21 was gonna be a good year, it was in some respects, in that the pandemic began to lose force, despite what we are seeing with omicron at the moment. Western nations remained open for the better part of the year. Shops here in Italy, for instance, began to reopen, with new ones taking the place of the ones gone into memory. But as the year progressed, fear of the pandemic began to give way to the realization that all is not on the up-and-up with our governments and that moneyed interests are able to pull too many strings in the halls of power in distinction to the public getting what we really need. In the coming year a Black Tiger lies in wait in the sea of public opinion. Will it pounce on our elites, like the bronteroc in Don’t Look Up, or will it scare us all into submission? Probably we will see elements of both, but ultimately, we will decide. Continue reading “Planetary indicators for 2022”

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The Capricorn ingress for 2021

Merry Christmas, All! As 2021 winds down and we face a new year, we turn once again to the ingress of the Sun into Capricorn, which actually sets the tone for the coming year, as well as wrapping up the present one. Capricorn displays the best and the worst aspects of humanity. As 2021 passes into the twilight, we take a brief look back and then forward, from a year that will be gladly relegated to memory, to one that promises real change. And the world’s elites are being put on notice. Continue reading “The Capricorn ingress for 2021”

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Valentine’s Day in Ukraine

That evil Vlad is up to his old tricks again, weaponizing the Western media to stir up hopes for a Russian invasion of Ukraine. See how he does it? Uncle Joe is having a little chat with him about it today. But Vlad was a little careless this time. He left the detailed battle plans he had so meticulously worked on for the invasion in his desk drawer – unlocked – while he was out for a dinner. The Kremlin cleaning staff (a.k.a. spies), noticing the unlocked drawer, found the plans and promptly turned them over to the German news outlet, Bild. Truth is stranger than fiction. Fantasy aside, there is one fiction that is stranger than truth in this case – a pending Russian invasion of Ukraine. Alas, it is not to be, and the factions in the West and EU itching for such a war will find coal in their boxes of chocolate for Valentine’s Day instead of a massacre in the Donbass. For more, read on. Continue reading “Valentine’s Day in Ukraine”