Wars & Rumours of Wars

nivek

As Above So Below
Putin will stage 'false flag' attack on his OWN troops as an excuse to invade Ukraine, US intelligence warns: Russia's 'sabotage plan' revealed as Moscow sends MORE troops to the border and Kiev is hit with massive cyber attack



The US has intelligence that Russia is planning a 'false-flag' operation on its own forces in eastern Ukraine to create a pretext for invasion. Officials on Friday also said they believed Russia was mounting a social media disinformation campaign to portray Ukraine as the aggressor. The update, making the prospect of military conflict more immediate, came as Ukrainian government websites were taken offline in a 'massive' cyberattack, talks between Washington and Moscow collapsed and Russia held a combat readiness inspection of their troops.

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pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
Putin will stage 'false flag' attack on his OWN troops as an excuse to invade Ukraine, US intelligence warns: Russia's 'sabotage plan' revealed as Moscow sends MORE troops to the border and Kiev is hit with massive cyber attack



The US has intelligence that Russia is planning a 'false-flag' operation on its own forces in eastern Ukraine to create a pretext for invasion. Officials on Friday also said they believed Russia was mounting a social media disinformation campaign to portray Ukraine as the aggressor. The update, making the prospect of military conflict more immediate, came as Ukrainian government websites were taken offline in a 'massive' cyberattack, talks between Washington and Moscow collapsed and Russia held a combat readiness inspection of their troops.

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Germany did that September 1 1939 to Poland
 

nivek

As Above So Below
Fears and fighting spirit of a nation in Kremlin crosshairs: IAN BIRRELL reports from inside Ukraine as experts warn Russian invasion is imminent



Like many families in Kiev, mother and entrepreneur Oksana Lanskaya has friends who lost everything when they fled their homes in 2014 as Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and stirred up separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. 'Should I just close my business now and sell everything while it's still not too late?' she asked. No-one outside the Kremlin can answer that question. But this fretful woman shows how the mood in Kiev is growing worried with a majority of Ukraine's 44million population believing an attack seems likely and citizen militias preparing for guerrilla warfare against invading forces. Oksana is a realist and frightened that history is set to repeat itself. 'Ukraine has little chance against Russia. Our soldiers will fight but they will be outnumbered. Also, the West will not go at war with Russia over Ukraine. We'll be left to face Russian tanks alone once again, like in 2014.' This time, however, Ukrainian forces are substantially stronger and better equipped - boosted by Britain's supply of short-range anti-tank missiles for self-defence and some troops to provide training. Military analyst Yuriy Butusov said support from the UK was significant, adding: 'Putin has to face the facts. London showed Moscow that in the event of full-scale hostilities, Ukraine will be provided with emergency assistance with weapons.'

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nivek

As Above So Below
Six Russian landing ships sail past Britain sparking speculation they are bound for impending 'full-scale invasion' of Ukraine as Kiev warns Putin has 'nearly completed' troop build-up



Russia's Baltic Fleet vessels the Korolev, Minsk (left) and Kaliningrad were today sailing south past the UK followed by Northern Fleet warships Olenegorsky Gornyak, Pyotr Morgunov, (bottom right) and Georgii Pobedonosets which passed the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark on Monday. The ships, which can each carry up to 25 armoured personnel carriers, were deployed three days ago but it remains unclear if they are heading for Ukraine. (top right) The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's latest intelligence assessment yesterday warned Russia had massed more than 127,000 troops along the border, together with a sea and component that marked a 'full strength' force. The assessment, seen by CNN , described the situation as 'difficult' and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'trying to split and weaken the European Union and NATO' while also 'limiting the capabilities of the United States... to ensure security on the European continent'. The stark warning comes after two rounds of last ditch talks between the West and Russia failed to de-escalate the conflict which has threatened to bubble over since late last year.

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AD1184

Celestial
Six Russian landing ships sail past Britain sparking speculation they are bound for impending 'full-scale invasion' of Ukraine as Kiev warns Putin has 'nearly completed' troop build-up



Russia's Baltic Fleet vessels the Korolev, Minsk (left) and Kaliningrad were today sailing south past the UK followed by Northern Fleet warships Olenegorsky Gornyak, Pyotr Morgunov, (bottom right) and Georgii Pobedonosets which passed the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark on Monday. The ships, which can each carry up to 25 armoured personnel carriers, were deployed three days ago but it remains unclear if they are heading for Ukraine. (top right) The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's latest intelligence assessment yesterday warned Russia had massed more than 127,000 troops along the border, together with a sea and component that marked a 'full strength' force. The assessment, seen by CNN , described the situation as 'difficult' and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'trying to split and weaken the European Union and NATO' while also 'limiting the capabilities of the United States... to ensure security on the European continent'. The stark warning comes after two rounds of last ditch talks between the West and Russia failed to de-escalate the conflict which has threatened to bubble over since late last year.

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This is a problem of the west's own making. I just hope that the British government has the good sense to stay out of it, as we have no interests to uphold in Ukraine.
 

nivek

As Above So Below
This is a problem of the west's own making. I just hope that the British government has the good sense to stay out of it, as we have no interests to uphold in Ukraine.

I really hope the American government doesn't get anymore involved than they are already but I doubt that will happen...Without knowing all of the particulars of what started all this, I think this is a EU & Russian problem, let them sort it out and keep our noses out of it...If there is to be a battle then the Germans and the French should send in their armies...

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nivek

As Above So Below

michael59

Celestial
I'm sure many have said this before, but compared to the Taliban, the Afghan forces never had impressive fighting spirit. Their nearly instantaneous collapse doesn't surprise me at all.

It's up to a people, any people, to fight to preserve their own independence and freedom, if it really matters to them.* Outsiders can be no more than a boost in the long run.


* I believe a large percentage of those who have ostensibly been on the Afghan government's side, are either pro-Taliban, or at least not firmly anti-Taliban.

Does that include the little girls being kidnapped and raped by Taliban? They don't stand a chance against men, let alone men with guns.
 

wwkirk

Divine
Does that include the little girls being kidnapped and raped by Taliban? They don't stand a chance against men, let alone men with guns.
In most cultures, men protect women and girls. I'm not sure how that works under Islam in general, or in Afghanistan in particular.

Although I wrote that a long time ago, I'm sure that was part of what I intended, along with the general premise that a people - primarily, though not exclusively, the men - have to fight to preserve their own freedom and integrity.

Apropos, an excerpt from a song I find very inspiring goes like this:

Blest Isle! With matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair.
 

michael59

Celestial

I think the entire world should get involved now and stop the Taliban dead in their tracks.

It's a matter of not letting history repeat itself. The Taliban have absolutely no intention of stopping once they have complete control of Afghanistan. They will just continue to encroach like Hitler did.

It is in the best interest of the entire world to stop them now.
 

michael59

Celestial
Instead of getting all of the American civilians out ahead of time for the sake of their safety, Biden is okay with leaving them there to fend for themselves if they cannot make it to that airport which they also have to do on their own without US military's help or support...This is getting worse and worse...

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You know the unfathomable truth is that Biden's order to remove Americans out of Afghanistan, with the intention being for the 20th anniversary of the twin towers, is costing triple the amount of danger to American lives in Afghanistan. This could ultimately mean that more lives are lost than were lost in the Towers. Biden must be aware of this fact. Surely someone has mentioned this fact to him.
 

pigfarmer

tall, thin, irritable
Six Russian landing ships sail past Britain sparking speculation they are bound for impending 'full-scale invasion' of Ukraine as Kiev warns Putin has 'nearly completed' troop build-up



Russia's Baltic Fleet vessels the Korolev, Minsk (left) and Kaliningrad were today sailing south past the UK followed by Northern Fleet warships Olenegorsky Gornyak, Pyotr Morgunov, (bottom right) and Georgii Pobedonosets which passed the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark on Monday. The ships, which can each carry up to 25 armoured personnel carriers, were deployed three days ago but it remains unclear if they are heading for Ukraine. (top right) The region has been on a knife-edge since the end of last year when Moscow moved as many as 100,000 troops, as well as tanks and missiles, close to the border. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's latest intelligence assessment yesterday warned Russia had massed more than 127,000 troops along the border, together with a sea and component that marked a 'full strength' force. The assessment, seen by CNN , described the situation as 'difficult' and warned Russian President Vladimir Putin was 'trying to split and weaken the European Union and NATO' while also 'limiting the capabilities of the United States... to ensure security on the European continent'. The stark warning comes after two rounds of last ditch talks between the West and Russia failed to de-escalate the conflict which has threatened to bubble over since late last year.

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Capable - yes. Some modernization but what most see as an impressive line of warships is really more like a classic car parade. Old Soviet stuff. It's expensive for them to deploy all that and keep it active, so whatever they are about to do it shouldn't be long.
 

michael59

Celestial
It's very distressing. I don't believe I can remember a similar self-induced crisis. For example, the Iranian hostage situation was forced upon us. And in Vietnam, my understanding has always been that the only Americans not evacuated were those in the hands of the communists.

You mean in the USA, right? Because there are dozens of examples throughout history of this type of crisis happening.

I want to apologize to you, Wwkirk because I am unfairly putting you on the spot for postings made that I should have responded to much sooner, to be fair. I'm only getting to this thread now and I am only on page 8 of 23.

Sorry. x24
 

michael59

Celestial


This looks so juicy. lol

I can hardly wait til I get my new computer and can finally update browser and watch all these other forms of media beside just relying on youtube. I've been stranded since just after Christmas with first the car freezing shut and then no battery.
 

michael59

Celestial
Terrorists celebrate fall of Afghanistan and Taliban's return

Supporters of al Qaeda and other extremist social media accounts posted triumphant messages this week after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, sparking renewed concerns that the country could function as a haven for terror groups following the impending U.S. withdrawal.

Pro-al Qaeda social media accounts posted an unsigned message on Monday after the Taliban entered the capital city of Kabul and prompted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country. The message congratulated "the brothers" – a reference to Taliban militants – following the takeover.

"Afghanistan is Conquered and Islam has Won," the message said, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a non-governmental organization that monitors jihadist social media accounts.

The Wall Street Journal was first to report on the messages.

Hamas issued a similar celebratory statement following the fall of Kabul, lauding the Taliban’s return as a "defeat of the American occupation on all Afghan lands." Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Somalia's al-Shabaab also released congratulatory messages, according to Reuters.


(More on the link)

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People get banned or demonetized daily for stupid things like swearing or showing graphic images like animals being abused or using trigger words like domestic violence....

But, hey if your a terrorist, welcome to social media, open your account today!
 

michael59

Celestial
The text of Trump's agreement with the Taliban is at this US State Department address:

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/up...or-Bringing-Peace-to-Afghanistan-02.29.20.pdf

Although it is not clear if this is the final version. The document file name contains the word "Draft". It mentions in the pre-amble that the agreement is in four parts, it also says "[f]ollowing is the text of the agreement for the implementation of parts one and two of the above." Confusingly, the following contains headings of Parts One to Three. It is quite short at only four pages.

The summaries of parts one and two mention enforcement mechanisms, but no enforcement mechanisms are described in the body text. No penalties are mentioned if either party fails to abide by the agreement.

The agreement puts an onus on the United States to withdraw all of its forces (and to somehow bring about the withdrawal of all allied and Coalition forces as well), within fifteen months of the signing of the agreement. The agreement was signed on the 29th of February, 2020. This commits the US and allies to have completely withdrawn their forces from Afghan soil by then end of May, 2021 (nearly three months ago). Arguably the US is already in violation of its responsibilities under this agreement.

It also mentions "The ... Taliban commits that its released prisoners will be committed to the responsibilities mentioned in this agreement so that they will not pose a threat to the security of the United States and its allies." Does the Taliban's immediate pressing of released prisoners into service in its forced takeover of the country fit within the terms of the agreement? Quite possibly it is not a violation.

In summarizing part four, it says: "A permanent and comprehensive ceasefire will be an item on the agenda of the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations. The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including joint implementation mechanisms, which will be announced along with the completion and agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan."

Further on in the text, it says "The United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United
States as a state and is known as the Taliban seek positive relations with each other and expect that the relations between the United States and the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations will be positive.

"The United States will seek economic cooperation for reconstruction with the new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan dialogue and negotiations, and will not intervene in its internal affairs."

Given that no new settlement between the Taliban and the Afghan government appears to have been sought, with the agreement implying a commitment on their part to seek such a settlement, and given that the Taliban have instead taken Afghanistan by force, can it not be argued that the Taliban are in violation of the agreement? A bilateral agreement such as this puts obligations on both parties, and not just one.

Although, for a master deal maker like Trump claims he is, this is a lousy agreement that puts few explicit obligations on the Taliban, apart from not allowing foreign terrorists who would threaten the United States to operate on Afghan soil. There are no clauses forbidding explicitly the Taliban actions we have seen recently, and nothing beyond the vague commitment to negotiate a settlement with the Afghan government.

There is a contemporaneous joint declaration that the US signed with the Afghan government:

https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/02.29.20-US-Afghanistan-Joint-Declaration.pdf

The signing of these agreements was in late February of last year, when my, and much of the rest of the world's, attention was focused on other events.

Quite a few people are wise after the fact, saying that the collapse we witnessed in Afghanistan was inevitable after the signing of Trump's agreement. I don't know about it being inevitable, exactly. I do not know if any of these people were predicting the collapse of the Afghan government, the complete takeover of the country by the Taliban, and the chaotic US and allied withdrawal this summer, before these events happened, were they?

I don't know how you do it but, you come up with some of the most thorough and intelligent posts that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. You're very good at this.

b0044 Thank you.
 

michael59

Celestial
There are 228 Christian missionaries who are sentence to death tomorrow in afghanistan. Taliban has already beheaded many Christians. Dont think anyone will be safe there who is not the talibans flavor of what ever muslim they are.

:shock:

Did this happen? Google says it was a hoax but that does not nessarily mean it was.
 
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