Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
Nick Schifrin
@nickschifrin
NEW: The US believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to invade Ukraine, and has communicated that decision to the Russian military, three Western and defense officials tell me.
The US expects the invasion to begin next week, six US and Western officials tell me, as Secretary of State Antony @SecBlinken said last night.
US officials anticipate a horrific, bloody campaign that begins with two days or aerial bombardment and electronic warfare, followed by an invasion, with the possible goal of regime change.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk at 56,000 feet. She's been up best part of 24hrs now listening to Ivan! We have the technology.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
19.49 GMT 14/2 (CNN)The United States is closing the US Embassy in Kyiv and "temporarily relocating" the small number of remaining diplomatic personnel in the country to Lviv, a city in western Ukraine, "due to the dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
The good news is that Putin, like vampires. can be kept at bay by garlic.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
“Wherever there's injustice, oppression, and suffering, America will show up six months late and bomb the country next to where it's happening.”
Farewell then P J O'Rourke.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
'Joe Biden has said he is "convinced" Russian President Vladimir Putin has already decided to invade Ukraine.
Speaking at the White House, the US president told reporters that Washington has "reason to believe" Russian forces intend to attack in the coming days and will target the capital, Kyiv.
Previously, Mr Biden had said the US was unsure whether Mr Putin had made a final decision, but on Friday he said that the US's "significant intelligence capability" had resulted in a change'.
Under starter's orders?
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
..... and we're off!
BREAKING: In an address to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that he will formally recognise the independence of the DNR and LNR, the separatist-held regions of Ukraine.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
1. Putin orders "peacekeeping operation" in eastern #Ukraine's two breakaway regions.
2. Putin's agreement with 'Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics' assumes joint defence.
3. Biden issues executive order "that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in" the two Ukrainian regions under the control of Russian-backed separatists, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Only five minutes into game and already the Ruskies have scored.
Putin 1 - Sleepy Joe 0
(In passing does anyone else find it disgustingly racist for Putin to refer to Russians and 'their Slavic brothers'? Surely he realises that 'race' is a social construct.
)
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
Things are turning serious now:-
UEFA are reportedly considering stripping Russia of hosting this season's Champions League final amid the threat of war between Russia and Ukraine.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
For Heaven's sake turn off your mobile Ivan! everyone is listening in.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
Brandenburg Gate tonight.
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
'We kicked Russia's backside before... we can do it again' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Bloody idiot. Channeling his inner Kenny Everett.
'Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us; for thou givest not alway the battle to the strong, but canst save by many or by few. O let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance; but hear us thy poor servants begging mercy, and imploring thy help, and that thou wouldest be a defence unto us against the face of the enemy. Make it appear that thou art our Saviour and mighty Deliverer; through Jesus Christ our Lord'. Ross Miller likes this
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
At least nobody has suggested we all stand on our doorsteps clapping for Ukraine - yet. ☹️
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 2,979
I believe the Markles may be organising something.
'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
1. Ukraine has banned men aged 18-60 from leaving the country for at least 30 days, as the armed forces ramp up conscription orders in response to Russian military invasion.
2. Heartbreaking images of men saying goodbye to their families as they put them on buses to flee Kiev.
Birkenhead Drill.
(How unlike the so-called refugees from the rest of the planet pitching up on the Kent coast who mostly seem to be young males of fighting age. Just saying.)
https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2022/02/25/1838627343327905336/640x360_MP4_1838627343327905336.mp4"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
Captain Haddock wrote:1. Ukraine has banned men aged 18-60 from leaving the country for at least 30 days, as the armed forces ramp up conscription orders in response to Russian military invasion.
2. Heartbreaking images of men saying goodbye to their families as they put them on buses to flee Kiev.
Birkenhead Drill.
(How unlike the so-called refugees from the rest of the planet pitching up on the Kent coast who mostly seem to be young males of fighting age. Just saying.)
https://videos.dailymail.co.uk/video/mol/2022/02/25/1838627343327905336/640x360_MP4_1838627343327905336.mp4
Are you really that uncomprehending that you think that Eritrea, Sudan, Syria or Yemen are comparable with Ukraine? Maybe if we hadn't spent so much effort supporting a kleptocrat like Putin, we might be better placed in distributing a small portion of our national wealth where it is genuinely needed.
Keep on reading the Mail. It suits you well.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,848
Also read the Telegraph correspondents. News from your darling EU:-
Brussels Correspondent, @Telegraph
joe.barnes@telegraph.co.uk
Italian prime minister Mario Draghi successfully secured a carve out for Italian luxury goods from the EU's package of economic sanctions against Russia, EU dip tells me. 'Apparently selling Gucci loafers to oligarchs is more of a priority than hitting back at Putin,' source adds.
Belgium's diamond industry is also not included in the package of sanctions, but wider point is Mario Draghi lobbied to ensure luxury goods were kept out, and is still lobbying to make sure they're not included in future package of sanctions.
Diamonds are an oligarch's best friend?
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
ray hutstone- Registered: 1 Apr 2018
- Posts: 2,158
No more than the dirty Russian money that has been ploughed into Tory governments from Cameron to Laughing Boy. Two wrongs don't make a right, or didn't you ever bother to learn that when you were young?
The money laundered through the City of London makes that pale into insignificance. Oh - and what about the £2m coughed up by the lovely Lubov? Anyone for tennis, Cap'n? She makes Arcuri seem like a cheapskate
