Article

2022-05-25 Government Corruption

Pete Buttigieg, in Europe, Says U.S. Backs ‘Marshall Plan' to Rebuild Ukraine

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Posted by Frank G 2022-05-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11127 views ] Top

#1 Ukraine's Economics Minister yesterday said he needs $1 trillion to rebuild Ukraine. Which means the actual cost will be closer to $3 trillion.

Posted by Jean-Paul 2022-05-25 00:15|| 2022-05-25 00:15|| Front Page Top

#2 Let the EU rebuild.

Posted by The Walking Unvaxed 2022-05-25 00:29|| 2022-05-25 00:29|| Front Page Top

#3 Stay out of it.

Posted by Besoeker 2022-05-25 00:54|| 2022-05-25 00:54|| Front Page Top

#4 If it was important, the EU would be all over it. It's not, so they're not.

This has zippo to do with EU and everything to do with the Biden crime family getting their beaks wet in the rampant corruption of Ukraine. Hell why do you think they couldn't pass $48 billion in aid for us, while $40 billion in aid sailed through for Ukraine? Corruption corruption corruption. They're all gonna get rich! For years! And we get to pay for it! War is great!

Posted by Bertie Lumumba1577 2022-05-25 02:15|| 2022-05-25 02:15|| Front Page Top

#5 We. Can't. Afford. It.

Posted by magpie 2022-05-25 02:36|| 2022-05-25 02:36|| Front Page Top

#6 While at the same time Ukraine's Zelensky is saying Russia will be made to pay for rebuilding Ukraine...

Posted by Crons Tholush7614 2022-05-25 03:33|| 2022-05-25 03:33|| Front Page Top

#7 Socialist can be identified as the ones who are generous with other people's money.

Posted by Procopius2k 2022-05-25 07:14|| 2022-05-25 07:14|| Front Page Top

#8 ^ In most cases, if you have your own money, you stay far, far away from politics.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 07:19|| 2022-05-25 07:19|| Front Page Top

#9 and why is Mayor Pete in Europe? Davos much?

Posted by Frank G 2022-05-25 07:36|| 2022-05-25 07:36|| Front Page Top

#10 Perhaps they swapped their dollars for roubles in March at 140 USD:RUB. Now the rouble's at 56 to the dollar!

By the time Russia's finished pulverizing Ukraine, the rouble will have gained 400 percent vs the dollar and 500 percent vs the euro and sterling.

Posted by Jean-Paul 2022-05-25 07:42|| 2022-05-25 07:42|| Front Page Top

#11 The Ukrainian defence minister is warning that Severodonetsk us encurcked and will be the next Mariupol. The Luhansk region is lost. Donetsk will fall next.

Ukraine says ‘fate of the country’ could be decided in Donbas battles
Vladimir Putin’s troops close to encircling cities of Severodonetsk and Lyschansk, and seize three towns in Donetsk region

Posted by Palmerston 2022-05-25 08:16|| 2022-05-25 08:16|| Front Page Top

#12 The above text should read "...warns that Severodonetsk is encircled"

Posted by Palmerston 2022-05-25 08:18|| 2022-05-25 08:18|| Front Page Top

#13 It's become clear why all the talk now from the Europeans, the NY Times and Kissinger is of trading land for peace. Ukrainian forces in the Donbas are falling apart. Russia will control the entire Donbas by the end of June at the latest.

"The Centre for Defence Strategies, a Ukraine-based think tank, said Russian troops were advancing across the Donbas at high speed and were within a mile of the supply line to Severodonetsk....

Rochan Consulting, a military analyst, said Ukrainian defensive lines “had crumbled near Popasna, Lyman and Severodonetsk” in recent days. "Attacks near Severodonetsk have gathered pace since Sunday. Russian forces are on the verge of entering the city,” it said on Tuesday.

Franz-Stefan Gady, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said ending Kyiv’s control of the road would “massively complicate” Ukrainian attempts to resupply forces in the Donbas.

“Russian forces are slowly but methodically advancing and are systematically trying to cut off Ukrainian forces from their supply lines,” he said.

“The situation for Ukrainian forces is increasingly becoming critical as there is mounting anecdotal evidence that they are running low on ammunition, fuel and other supplies in the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk area.”

Posted by Palmerston 2022-05-25 08:24|| 2022-05-25 08:24|| Front Page Top

#14 The Ukrainian defence minister is warning that Severodonetsk us encurcked and will be the next Mariupol. The Luhansk region is lost. Donetsk will fall next.

Ukraine says ‘fate of the country’ could be decided in Donbas battles
Vladimir Putin’s troops close to encircling cities of Severodonetsk and Lyschansk, and seize three towns in Donetsk region

Maybe, but the capture of Bakhmut/Artemovsk is the real prize here.

Posted by badanov 2022-05-25 09:08|| 2022-05-25 09:08|| Front Page Top

#15 Russia will control the entire Donbas by the end of June at the latest.

They were suppose to be in Kiev back in March.

Posted by Procopius2k 2022-05-25 09:08|| 2022-05-25 09:08|| Front Page Top

#16 encurcked

Is that anything like cucked?

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 09:28|| 2022-05-25 09:28|| Front Page Top

#17 ^ = encircled + fucked

Zelensky told Ukrainians today that even though things are collapsing for them, they "should be proud" of what they've managed to accomplish. This is the kind of speech a coach gives to his players after they've lost: "no reason to hang your heads," "you ought to be very proud" and so on. He's not even talking about "victory" anymore.

Posted by Billy Budd 2022-05-25 09:44|| 2022-05-25 09:44|| Front Page Top

#18 Sooo, What's going to happen to the $40B?

Posted by Vespasian Ebboting9735 2022-05-25 10:05|| 2022-05-25 10:05|| Front Page Top

#19 Glad ol' Buttgig got a kitchen pass to hit the rave scene. Bet he comes back with a pallet of formula in his 'diplomatic pouch'.

Posted by swksvolFF 2022-05-25 10:14|| 2022-05-25 10:14|| Front Page Top

#20 Interesting: a new proposal in Ukraine's legislature (Verkhovna Rada) aims to remove a sentence in existing law stipulating that commanders may not cause death to servicemen when attempting to stop insubordination or desertion.

Evidently there's now a great deal of mutiny and desertion in the Ukrainian ranks -- understandable, given that they're press-ganging the halt lame & elderly into their depleted ranks and sending them off to be slaughtered in Mariupol or Severodonetsk. Link to the proposed legislation:
https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billInfo/Bills/pubFile/1288783

Posted by Palmerston 2022-05-25 10:45|| 2022-05-25 10:45|| Front Page Top

#21 In one of today’s translated liveblogs — Korrespondent or News Front Info — it is reported that at Davos one of the EU VIPs spoke about using confiscated Russian assets to pay for rebuilding Ukraine. An interesting trial balloon, if that’s what it is, but it’s always pleasanter to pay with other people’s money than one’s own.

Posted by trailing wife 2022-05-25 11:09|| 2022-05-25 11:09|| Front Page Top

#22 I like what Milton Freidman said:

1) You can spend your own money on yourself.
If you spend your own money on yourself, you’re very careful on what you spend it on. You make sure you get the most for your dollar.

2) You can spend your own money on someone else.
When you spend your own money on someone else, you’re careful on not spending too much. You don’t worry as much about the gifts you buy for other people as the things you buy for yourself.

3) You can spend somebody else’s money on yourself.
You’re careful to get good things for the money. But you’re not very worried about getting the best bang for your buck. You’re happier to spend more of somebody else’s money within reason.

4) You can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else.
You become a “distributor of welfare funds.” You’re interested in making your own life as good as you can. But you’re not going to be anywhere near as careful as spending this money on other people.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 11:13|| 2022-05-25 11:13|| Front Page Top

#23 Since it seems Russia may exact a Phyrric victory in the end, they get to pay for rebuilding Ukraine.

Posted by KBK 2022-05-25 11:21|| 2022-05-25 11:21|| Front Page Top

#24 ^ Of course Freidman didn't add, taxpayers' money, half stolen, 10% off the top for the Big Guy.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 11:24|| 2022-05-25 11:24|| Front Page Top

#25 Dunno what encurcked means but it doesn't sound good.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-05-25 11:59|| 2022-05-25 11:59|| Front Page Top

#26 The Russian assets (about $200 billion) stolen by the Biden Administration won't even begin to pay for Biden's and the EU's multi-trillion dollar rebuilding boondoggle. They will spend at least 10 times that amount. Iraq cost over a trillion and Ujraine will cost much more than Iraq.

Posted by Oye Como Va 2022-05-25 12:02|| 2022-05-25 12:02|| Front Page Top

#27 ...Iraq cost over a trillion...

And we know that Joe's brother James got his share of that.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-05-25 12:32|| 2022-05-25 12:32|| Front Page Top

#28 Don't forget Beau on the Mayor Pete Express Train.

Posted by swksvolFF 2022-05-25 13:27|| 2022-05-25 13:27|| Front Page Top

#29 Glad ol' Buttgig got a kitchen pass to hit the rave scene. Bet he comes back with a pallet of formula in his 'diplomatic pouch'.

And monkeypox...

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 13:31|| 2022-05-25 13:31|| Front Page Top

#30 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba in Davos today:
“I don't want anyone to get the feeling that the war is more or less OK. The situation in Donbass is extremely bad."

= SEND MORE MONEY into our money pit

Posted by Oye Como Va 2022-05-25 14:44|| 2022-05-25 14:44|| Front Page Top

#31 Same people upset about shooting in Uvalde want more shooting in Ukraine. Hey. If they can say that about being pro 2A and anti-abortion, we can too.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-05-25 14:51|| 2022-05-25 14:51|| Front Page Top

#32 The situation in Donbas is really bad

aka well and truly *encurcked
*encircled and fucked

Posted by Billy Budd 2022-05-25 15:18|| 2022-05-25 15:18|| Front Page Top

#33 Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar:

The Western narrative that Russia is facing defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian military is falling apart. The contrived narrative that Ukraine was “winning” made Kiev delusional which in turn created conditions for Washington and London to extend the war and incrementally enter into it laterally and turn it into a war of attrition against Russia.

In reality the Russian forces are now close to establishing full control of the Luhansk region of Donbass. The Ukrainian governor of the eastern region admitted on Tuesday that “The Russians are advancing in all directions at the same time; they brought over an insane number of fighters and equipment.” The situation is looking increasingly precarious for the Ukrainian forces. (Listen to the podcast The Battlefields of the Donbass and Beyond, War on the Rocks)

The key signposts are Popasnaya and Severodonetsk in Donbass and the city of Izyum just to the north in the Kharkiv region. Popasnaya and Izyum are under Russian control already while Russian troops entered Severodonetsk yesterday. ...

Posted by Slineling Chusong5031 2022-05-25 16:48|| 2022-05-25 16:48|| Front Page Top

#34 ...The next big target in the Russian sights is Slovyansk. Controlling it would enable Russian forces to drive west and link up with the forces pushing south-east of Izyum. The objective is to control the supply lines by road and block Ukrainian access to rail routes from the west. Ten Ukrainian brigades were deployed in the east when the war began in February, which were regarded as the best-equipped and best-trained soldiers that Kiev has.

Indeed, the fall of Mariupol to the Russian military represents a turning point. Russia now has a land corridor to Crimea and has ended Crimea’s water and power blockade. The freshwater canal connecting the Dnieper River to the arid Crimean Peninsula is now in Russia’s hands. So is a nuclear power station to the north of the peninsula, not to mention the power grid in southeastern Ukraine which can be now connected to Russia. These are strategic gains for Russia.

Beyond Donbass and Crimea, Russia might have other objectives too in the southern region. There have been demands — at the local level so far — for merger of the southern regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv with Crimea (Russia), which have large Russian population. Some degree of integration of this region with Russia seems to have begun.

In Kherson region, Russian currency ruble has been introduced; Russian, along with Ukrainian, will become a state language and will become the main language for office work, communication and all issues of national importance; teaching in schools and universities will be conducted in Russian. The authorities of the Kherson Region have voiced the demand for establishment of a Russian military base in the region.

Posted by Slineling Chusong5031 2022-05-25 16:50|| 2022-05-25 16:50|| Front Page Top

#35 In reality the Russian forces are now close to establishing full control of the Luhansk region of Donbass.

A surprise attack by Ukrainians 24th mechanized brigade against Russian targets of the Luhansk region via a massive rocket barrage “killed the enemy in the Luhansk area“ per Operation Command West of the Ukrainian ground forces.

Posted by Cletle Shinese1880 2022-05-25 20:56|| 2022-05-25 20:56|| Front Page Top

#36 ^ ^ ^

Ukrainian troops fire a flurry of rockets at Russian targets from a mobile launcher.

Operational Command West (OC West), a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, said the attack was carried out by members of the 24th Mechanized Brigade, named after King Daniel.

The King Daniel unit, a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, successfully destroyed their targets in the easternmost Ukrainian region of Luhansk Oblast, according to OC West.

The Ukrainian military said on 24th May: “Rocket artillerymen of the 24th Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel destroyed the enemy in the region of Luhansk.”

Posted by Cletle Shinese1880 2022-05-25 21:25|| 2022-05-25 21:25|| Front Page Top

#37 The Ukrainian military said on 24th May: “Rocket artillerymen of the 24th Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel destroyed the enemy in the region of Luhansk.”

King Daniel being an honorific.

Posted by badanov 2022-05-25 21:47|| 2022-05-25 21:47|| Front Page Top

22:32 Silentbrick
21:47 badanov
21:25 Cletle Shinese1880
21:08 trailing wife
20:56 Cletle Shinese1880
20:55 Procopius2k
20:44 SteveS
20:24 Frank G
20:22 Cletle Shinese1880
20:19 DooDahMan
19:58 SteveS
19:48 DooDahMan
19:46 DooDahMan
18:05 swksvolFF
17:55 swksvolFF
17:45 swksvolFF
17:41 M. Murcek
17:38 swksvolFF
17:26 M. Murcek
17:21 Jean-Paul
17:15 M. Murcek
17:09 Rex Mundi
17:08 Rex Mundi
17:04 M. Murcek