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The Current State of Affairs

Latest events, commiserations and despair about the war

Well, we have arrived on the dark side of the moon, all of us. They’ve let them all out of the asylum. Dictators and cowards rule, the pulpit is Facebook, Xwitter, Instagram. Lies are now common currency, and the soundbite must never contain anything of substance. Much of the west needs to be torn, kicking and screaming, from whatever screen has their attention most of the time. Social media is so full of bots, one wonders if anyone is interacting with a real person. The amount of computer-generated lapdog-type of comments every time Trump, Orbàn or Medvedev posts makes me wonder what the whole point of social media is.

“Could’ve been a mistake.” Repeated, by the US president, 2X, on Truth Social.

The Commander-in Chief of the US miliary hath spoken. Must I go through the rigmarole of why? he would suggest something like that, about the already infamous Ruscist drone attack on Poland? I say no! But I still have that moment of pause, when I think about it. That is what a US president said, about the Russian aggression. An American president.

He’s been busy, has Trump, even writing a letter to Putin’s ally Lukashenko, who is really bad news. A year before the war in Ukraine he was locking up protesters to his regime at the rate of hundreds a night, after illegally maintaining his position of president upon losing already fixed elections. Yeah, a real character. He’s the guy who diverted a Ryannair jet to land in Minsk, so he could kidnap and jail a Belarus blogger critical of him, and his grilfriend.

Being jailed in Belarus is a little different than in many countries. Expect severe beatings for a start. Belarus is a country that is all but part of Russia now, something organised over the years by a certain Adolf Putin, woops, mispelt his first name.

Here’s Trump’s letter to Lukashenko.

Dear Mr. Lukashenko! Melania joins me in sending our best wishes on your birthday. We are particularly pleased to celebrate the outstanding success of Belarusian tennis player Arina Sobolenko at the US Open in New York. Her victory has been a source of pride for her countrymen, and we know that you must be proud of her achievements. With hope for the coming year, we pray for your health and well-being, as well as for further progress in achieving our common goals on behalf of the people of the United States and Belarus.‌‌

The United States has lifted sanctions on the Belarusian company Belavia and plans to return its embassy to Minsk. On Poland’s art. 4 NATO request, US remains silent.

Great timing. Belarus as new best pals…did not see that coming. But many bits and pieces are taking me by surprise. After advocating for more military men and women to be allowed to the media, I am not overjoyed by this by Geneneral Grykewich, at all. I am all for a voice of reason, but this is nonsense. On a scale from Patton, Schwarzkopf and Hodges at a 100 to Noddy at 0, I am putting Grykewich at the latter. Firmly.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe Grynkewich said, “I don’t know if the incursions were intentional,” and has ‘low confidence’ in reports on number of drones involved. “We do not yet know if this was an intentional act or an unintentional act” from Russia.”

Every single reader here knows.

Grynkewich was asked whether Nato’s response would be the same if it faced a “swarm” of drones to which he replied “There’s no doubt in my mind, if we experience a drone swarm of hundreds, that is not an accident, that is not an incursion, that would be an attack against Alliance territory.”

I am all for commanders sounding a note of reason, or caution, but if you refuse to call it an attack, for reasons that demoralise all allies, then choose another word. That was not an incursion, and words matter. But let’s get real. At least 5 of the Russian drones shot down over Poland were were headed for Poland’s Rzeszow Airport, a key aid hub for Ukraine. It was an attack.

As for Orbàn has gone all out, claiming on Hungarian news sires the drones were controlled by Ukraine, as his foreign minister, in Belarus no less, lashed out at Ukraine’s EU aspirations, stating Hungary would be blocking this. Good timing.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also said on Facebook that the vote of no confidence from the “Patriots for Europe” was a response to Ursula von der Leyen’s “political speech, openly geared towards war,” on September 10 in the European Parliament.

“She [Ursula von der Leyen] threatened everyone: those who do not join the ‘Brussels herd’ will have all EU funds taken away,” Orbán wrote. He added that the word “Ukraine” was mentioned 35 times in Ursula’s speech and that she “must go.”

Go where, Orbàn? She has as many limitations as the next, but warmonger is not exactly a moniker I’d ascribe to her. Considering her focus is on the return of the thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped by the Russians, I wonder what the real agenda is here, except seeding chaos.

His latest posts in English blame Poland for the Ruscist drone attacks, stating they are “up to their necks in war.”

A member of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrey Kolesnik, that has been quoted on these pages recently, has made a further declaration, against Finland again. Russia perceives the promises to “block the Kaliningrad region” by Finland and the Baltic countries as an escalation,* he says.

Ruscist media have started publishing articles with headlines on how Russia can punish Finland for Russophobia, while Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the recent Polish decision to close their checkpoint with Russia “destructive” and warned Poland of “serious damage.”

European countries must find that line of taking each threat seriously, while pouring scorn on the ridiculous threats coming from the Ruscists. I agree, its a difficult line to take, but the right one. However, currently Europeans are scrambling for Ukrainian anti-drone systems following the violation of Polish airspace by the Ruscist drones on Sept. 10. About time. The state of the defence of Poland was — deplorable. Sounds like hubris, but from European politicians who were warning of Russia’s belligerance these last years, months, weeks and days, to have then done nothing about properly defenind their territory is deporable.

Ukraine will train Polish soldiers to shoot down drones. They were due to arrive in Ukraine to learn methods of destroying UAVs, but cowardice again won the day and the training will take place in Poland. The training in Ukraine would have been an ideal opportunity, and there ought to be a far greater number of Europran countries submitting troops to be trained in drone jamming and and shooting down techniques by Ukrainians — in Ukraine.

Europe needs a war council, desperately, and ready to take over upon total disengagement from Washington. A grouping focused on the war. Everything is so ad-hoc all the time. Yeah, I know, committees and all that, but the current formula, of diffetent heads of government coming to microphones and issues condemnations then disappearing back into the shadows serves no purpose.

Only one head of government should sit on the council. Currently it is clear that is must be Petr Pavel, president of Czechia. Others should be defence ministers or similar, one from Nordic countries, one from Baltics, Central Europe, Southern, Western, etc. The modus operandi cannot be cowardice.

As for me, might put the place I hung around at in 2022 up for sale after all, is not used much anymore — most of the tennents have moved out, or been shot, burnt or blown up. At least the rats have no more bones to gnaw.

AI image following memory described by writer

Three years ago it might have been described as bustling but now I’d say quietly secluded. just right for the clowns and the deluded. One option might be a russian neighbour — careful, they’re no fun, and like to torture

When I stayed there my best friend was a fox there are things you learn during a war the usual, keep your head down spirits up, ammunition full or somewhat so, and always, but always have a furry four-legged friend except for mice, who trust me, are not so nice.

Three years ago. Seems like a century, but three years ago I was already to old to be running around in trenches, and even with my (limited, admittedly) military experience, I never imagined I would be. The last time I wore a uniform was in the Middle East, and there was not much digging there — too much sand.

I still miss them. Those who arrived in the months after the invasion. Most are now fallen. The first was a big Dutchman, nearly as old as me, HEineken for breakfast. He stepped on a mine, kept his composure to the end. THen there was the Brazilian — who went back 5 times, 5, to pull wounded comrades out of danger. The 5th time was one too many. Bravery like tht deserves only respect, and admiration.

The Ukrainian was hit by a sniper. Blonde, bubbly, lovely golden locks. She’d come all the way back from Austria to defend Ukraine, and indeed had an Austrian passport, permanent smile. I’d say grin, but she was much too charming for that.

Another BRazilian joined her, who I have written about at length. Today I’m not mentioning names, because some cannot be mentioned, but she was special, and had fought in Kurdistan, for the Kurds previously. Under fire on a rescue mission she dove into a bunker which the Ruscists set alight. She did not make it. Nor did the other Brazilian who tried to get her out.

Everytime I remember those days, things get a little tough. Things like breathing, just staying as composed as they did.

There was the Scot hit clearing a trench, the English guy killed in the car coming to the front. Others, too mayn, hit while rescuing civilians; hit deliberately of course.

The young Lithuanian, young French man, young English guy, all in their early 20s bless ’em. All volunteers.

Then too many Colombians, those crazy Colombians. I liked them, immensely. The Georgians were a bit more distant, but the Azerbaijani guys I knew killed in action were soft-spoken gentlemen, to a man.

And so the show goes on. Ukrainian drones are reportedly targeting Kaliningrad for the first time — home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet HQ, S-400s & Iskander missiles. Good.

A ship of the Black Sea Fleet was damaged near Novorossiysk as a result of an operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the department said. The special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate tracked down and attacked the vessel, which conducted electronic reconnaissance and patrolled the approaches to the bay. We are talking about an emergency rescue ship with a capacity of 4 MW with a reinforced ice class worth $ 60 million, put into operation in 2015.

The Main Intelligence Directorate clarified that a Ukrainian-made drone was used for the strike, which hit the navigation bridge, where navigation and communication equipment was located. As a result, electronic reconnaissance equipment was destroyed, and the vessel itself “failed and now needs expensive repairs.” The Ruscist Ministry of Deceit and War Crimes didn’t comment, but Z-milblogger confirmed the attack, although claimed the damage is “insignificant.” Of course.

The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov has to constantly wear an urinary bag and has moved away from the direct control of the republic, stated Novaya Gazeta.

Kadyrov was diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis six years ago and repeatedly ignored doctors’ prescriptions, engaging in self-medication, which several times brought him to crisis situations. In February, there was another crisis, after which he was prescribed a nephrostomy. People live with a nephrostomy, a drainage system that helps drain urine from the kidneys, for years, but the procedure is uncomfortable. Doctors recommend that patients avoid physical exertion and sudden movements, as this can lead to catheter displacement. In addition, patients normally wear loose clothing.

Kadyrov fully delegated the routine duties of the head of the region to the chairman of the republican government, Magomed Daudov, and has dramatically changed his style of clothing, preferring baggy pants and long, mid-thigh, loose sports jackets or shirts. Chechnya is what Scotland would be if it retained the clan system, called teyep in Chechniya. If other clans sense the Kadyrov clan is weakening, an effort for a free Chechnya is on the cards again. Putin is in no position to fight against Chechnya.

Latest strikes on Ukraine — 40 drones, 33 brought down by air defence

Kellog, the Angel of Kyiv, according to the residents, as every time he arrives bombing in Kyiv stops, is back, meeting Zelenskiy, who has just met Stubb, of Finland, Cooper, the new defence, or foreign secretary of Britain, cannot remember which, over for a photo op, and a Polish delegation, too. Nobody works harder than Zelenskiy, who without fail informs his populace on TV what is happening in the war — every evening.

Took me a while to warm to Kellog, whose daughter sounds lovely — seeing as she took to Xwitter to get her dad to see sense on Ukraine, and he is a rare member of the US administraton who seems genuine about Ukraine, and therefore about democracy and independence.

Too many around the world are lazy and carry their own heavy chips on their shoulders, demanding the war stop, and ‘peace,’ like it can be conjured up in the air.

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