Ukraine

[Serial_Apologist]

The latest contribution from Sir Lawrence which has just pinged into my inbox:

https://samf.substack.com/p/salami-s...m_medium=email

The argument about using salami tactics is good, except small incremental aggressive steps are more easily dealt with, and by the Ukrainians who are carrying the burden for the rest of us, than an all-in assault or invasion, one would think.

[HighlandDougie]

The latest contribution from Sir Lawrence which has just pinged into my inbox:

https://samf.substack.com/p/salami-slicing-boiled-frogs-and-russian?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[Historian]

Interesting article from Dr Jade McGlynn on today's drone attacks in Moscow.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/31/moscow-drone-attacks-vladimir-putin-war-conspiracy

Coincidentally(!), Dr McGlynn has a new book published tomorrow which looks right up my street and might be of interest to anyone following this thread.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memory-Make...ps%2C98&sr=8-1

Thank you for these links, very interesting.

Although it would be very hard to prove that the most recent drone attack on Moscow was a 'false flag' attempt to pin the blame elsewhere, Putin and Russia have form in this area. Other possibilities are anti-Putin elements in Russia or an actual Ukrainian operation. Not sure whether this would have the effects Ukraine might have wanted, as it may affect international support adversely to be seen attacking civilian areas of Moscow albeit in quite a small way. If, on the other hand, the aim was to target the top echelons of Moscow society in a relatively restricted manner (as mentioned in the article above) then it might have disproportionate effects.

The distortion of History in Russia is closely linked to the regime's narrative of Russia being under a permanent (and growing) external threat which justifies any and all measures Putin takes both within and outside Russia. Many Russians seem to have been happy enough to go along with this especially in the increasingly enforced absence of alternative points of view. The rehabilitation of Stalin is not a happy precedent for Russia's emergence as a liberal democracy. Dr. McGlynn's book does look interesting but where to find the time?

[Petrushka]

Interesting article from Dr Jade McGlynn on today's drone attacks in Moscow.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/31/moscow-drone-attacks-vladimir-putin-war-conspiracy

Coincidentally(!), Dr McGlynn has a new book published tomorrow which looks right up my street and might be of interest to anyone following this thread.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Memory-Makers-Politics-Putins-Russia/dp/1350280763/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38OY52QPCG80K&keywords=jade+mcglynn&qid=1685546709&sprefix=jade+mcglynn%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1

[french frank]

Will he, won't he this time?

'Ready to return' if the Russian army isn't coping? After what he's been saying about the Russian army? Kyiv is cautious anyway.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65705733