Young Master Smeet
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Russia stands up for freedom of speech
Not.
“MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. Russia demands that Finland bring to justice people who burned the Russian flag in Helsinki on December 6 and take measures to prevent such extremist actions from happening again, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.”
Is this a step in Finlandising Finland (again)?
And only trust reliable sources, so:
“As for the results of the special military operation, some of them may manifest themselves only after a long while. New territories have appeared. This is a significant result for Russia. These are serious questions. Take the Sea of Azov, which has become Russia’s inland sea. That’s very serious,” he said.
So, Russia has gained territory and citizens, and that is a good result: I don’t recall that being in the publicised war aims when the SMO started, couldn’t such material gain be seen as a little grubby to, I dunno, anyone with a moral compass?
The citizens joining Russia is “This is the most important result.” according to our reliable sources.
But, the reliable sources, again, tell us more: here Russia demands talks with the US, as equals: but still no mention of Nazis or anti-fascism, just security concerns and a desire for recognition.
Also, that times article also uses the other attack line: publicising the salaries of RMT officials. It’s a current attack line on twitter (despite the RMT twitter feed pointing out they do publish it, and Lynch will be donating part of his salary on strike days to the hardship fund). But most of it is a very weak tarry brush…
Zaporizhzhians have a feeling that they will get through the winter just as they have got through the war so far. For the times when the city faces problems with heat and power, there are 14 refuge posts organised by the local authorities, where people can get electricity and warmth.
And Russia has been Looting museums in Kherson apparently their propaganda said Russia would be in Kherson forever: well. It seems there was some civil resistance to occupation, I wonder what scale that would reach is the occupation were more prolonged.
And just for a little balance, from one of the same journalists: Ukraine prosecutes citizens forcibly conscripted by the Russians: apparently they have been saying they would offer amnesty to anyone not guilty of actual war crimes, but that hasty courts are just imprisoning any Ukrainian citizens caught in Russian uniform…
The UK is a group of nations, peoples and places and which have come together
in a shared Parliament at Westminster to provide together what can be better
provided together than separately:
• The UK as a union aims to provide security and safety for all its citizens
through a shared foreign affairs and defence policy.
• The UK also ensures the rule of law and the provision of domestic security and
order, and common civil and political rights irrespective of race, sex, gender or
religion.
• The UK seeks to provide economic opportunity and security for the whole
country through a shared economic system with a common currency and
macroeconomic framework and an efficient single domestic market for goods,
services and capital, as well as a common UK labour market which provides
opportunities for workers while protecting their rights.
• The UK is also a social union, recognising its obligation to guarantee Social
Security and pensions, universal education, universal health care free at the
point of need and other social support to all, irrespective of whether they live
in more or less prosperous parts of the country and with a view to ensuring
that no child, no family and no elderly citizen need live in poverty.Great, they are going to enshrine management bullshit into law. We’re getting a UK mission statement., be still my beating heart.
Health: Every person entitled to healthcare in the UK, will receive it free at the point of
need, wherever they are in any part of the UK; no person shall be denied emergency
treatment.
Education: every child shall be entitled to free primary and secondary education, wherever
they are in any part of the UK
Poverty: So that no child, family or elderly citizen need live in poverty, every person
legitimately present in the UK shall be entitled to social assistance in relation to periods of
unemployment, disability or old age, in accordance with the relevant laws.[bold] No person shall
be left destitute.[/bold]
Housing: every person shall be entitled to decent accommodation, in accordance with the
relevant law relating to housing and homelessnessand of course, rights, heavily caveated.
We therefore recommend a new, statutory, forum to oversee intergovernmental
relations and promote joint working between every level of government: a Council of
the Nation and Regions.
This should be a statutory body, explicitly linked to the requirement for cooperation in
the solidarity clause, with an independent secretariat which has the power to call
meetings and set agendas.This will create a power centre to rival Westminster, and seems to be taking the UK down a model to resemble the EU…
The Council of the Nations and Regions in its fullest form would bring together
the devolved nations but also representatives of the different parts of England,
Scotland, Wales and NI, with a focus on coordinating economic development
• A Council of the UK, to manage relations between the Scottish, Welsh, Northern
Irish and UK Governments each of which is responsible to its own legislature
• A Council of England to bring together English local government and metro
mayors with central governmentSo that’s a clever wheeze, and maybe finally solves the West Lothian question.
There is too much foreign money in British politics. Quite simply, there should be
none. No British political party should accept donations from foreign citizens, foreign
businesses or from institutions registered in tax havens outside the United Kingdom,
and they should be obliged to make sure that they do not do so. This is already a
criminal offence, yet it is concerning that no prosecution has ever been made, despite
evidence of inappropriate overseas donations taking place.Blithering nationalist bollocks.
Unsurprisingly, therefore, a substantial majority of the public do not regard the
House of Lords as a democratic institution in which they have confidenceThis may be because it is not a democratic institution.
But the House of Lords does nevertheless discharge an important constitutional
function. Its scrutiny of legislation can be more thorough and effective than the
Commons, leading to changes of approach or amendments, sometimes against the
will of the government. The work of its committees is often of a very high quality,
largely because of the experience and expertise of their members (for example the
work of the Constitution Committee, established after the recommendations of the
Wakeham Report of 2001). This is because many Peers demonstrate a highly
commendable and often lifelong commitment to public serviceNo, no it doesn’t: ‘revisiing’ could be done by ad hoc expert committees if so desired, there is no case for peers who have a universal voting competence.
Simply abolishing the House of Lords would therefore leave a significant gap in our
constitution.No, no it wouldn’t.
The Pope has been making comments:
According to RT (huge propaganda flag) Ukraine is questioning the loyalty of Orthodox church, so it looks like religion is a wing in this war (I wouldn’t doubt that Moscow would send agents through religious orgs_)….
Ah, and Tass too (easier to access)
Kyiv pressuring Orthodox church
The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is one of Russia’s first monasteries and is the oldest monastery in modern-day Ukraine. It was founded in the 11th century. Currently, the monastery’s territory covers over 20 hectares. Recently, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies conducted a series of raids against UOC churches, including at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims that “pro-Russian literature and millions in cash,” as well as materials denying the existence of Ukraine” were found.
A feature of Roger’s commentary, that seems to have some corroboration, is that Ukraine is burning through artillery ammunition faster than allies can replace (quite what that means for the rate of Russia burning ammo is anyone’s guess).
Paul Rogers (Professor of Peace Studies) makes some interesting points.
That the Russian forces have very little to show for their efforts and burgeoning losses has not deterred them. Why they continue is unclear, with the Institute for the Study of War writing: “Russian efforts around Bakhmut indicate that Russian forces have fundamentally failed to learn from previous high-casualty campaigns concentrated on objectives of limited operational or strategic significance. One explanation is that there are internal rivalries within the Russian military, with a powerful faction determined to take Bakhmut come what may, probably under heavy pressure from Putin and his people to get results. This may explain the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group – a Russian private military company – to this area, given that the group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is believed to have leadership ambitions.”
and
Internal opposition and regime change in Moscow is still possible. In any case, NATO – under US influence – may move to adopt a two-track policy, with increased civil aid for Ukraine and heavy support for its defensive capabilities. This would be aimed at maximising Russian casualties on the ground and further damaging the Russian economy, without Ukraine being able to take the war to Russia itself. All the killing would be in Ukraine. It might be a brutal but effective strategy for hobbling Russia as a long-term threat, but the price paid by Ukraine and its people would be huge.
I agree that regime change in Moscow would be an optimal solution (to all but Putin fans), but the idea of a long attritional war in Ukraine seems more likely, at the moment. Even if Moscow defeats Kyiv’s conventional forces, a long guerilla war awaits.
Ukrainian nurses not being paid
as Russia’s war hits Ukrainian state finances, this ‘money follows the patient’ system has left at least a dozen hospitals and clinics facing budget problems, unable to pay employees’ wages, or preparing to have their facilities closed, healthcare workers across Ukraine told openDemocracy.
This is a pre-war marketisation reform, but it seems to be biting, and the health ministry is pushing the line that it’s now down to local directors to sort the problem out, washing their hands.
Unpaid wages are a long-term problem in Ukraine. Between January and October 2022, the total wages owed to workers reached one billion hryvnia (£22.3m), according to the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine – though 402.8m hryvnia (£9m) was eventually paid out.
It just shows that the attack on Ukraine’s workers doesn’t just come from foreign powers. Notably, as the article says, these reforms were intended to close down hospitals.
MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. Industrial facilities are operating at their full capacity during Russia’s special military operation, which will give a unique boost to industries, President Vladimir Putin said at an event marking the Rostec corporation’s 15th anniversary.
OK, so typical politician boosterism, and propaganda, but given the wartime state measures introduced, perhaps not unsurprising: the question is who is being robbed to pay for this, someone will have to.
“Hyperbole much? It’s not a catastrophe for you or me. We’ll be just fine. Still warm, housed, still fed.”
Solidarity? Destruction of wealth on this scale makes us all poorer. Trauma on this scale makes the world a more dangerous place. Psychologically, it is catastrophic for anyone with an ounce of human sympathy for the amount of fear and suffering being caused. Politically, a catastrophe that the working class internationally is not in a position to stop a war between capitalist states.
Tass are reporting Kyiv is largely without electricity or water
The Russophiles at Moon of Alabama are cock-a-hoop at this destruction of the civilian populations capacity to survive, and the prospects of more evacuations: including the possible collapse of the Ukrainian economy.
What we are witnessing is monstrous, and could be even more so if their claims that Russia has secured aerial supremacy and may consider bringing in the big slow bombers to really get to work.
As the Washington Post says
After just six weeks of intense bombing of energy infrastructure, Russia has battered Ukraine to the brink of a humanitarian disaster this winter as millions of people potentially face life-threatening conditions without electricity, heat or running water.
They’ve also gone after heating
The targeting of the gas supply was a critical development, said Victoria Voytsitska, a former member of parliament now working with civil society groups on getting Ukraine the equipment it needs. If Moscow takes out the gas system, she said, cities and villages across the country could become “uninhabitable.”
Let’s be clear, in intent and consequence, this is barbaric. This is a catastrophe not just for workers in Ukraine, but everywhere.
Well, Sturgeon says the SNP are committed to legal democratic routes, so I suspect not from the SNP, looks like they’ve got their Parti Quebecois moment: they’ll reign in Scotland forever, grousing about not being alowed to be independent…
Prof Paul Rodgers of Bradford Peace studies dept has some sage analysis. he repeats the 100K Russian soldiers killed or wounded, but looks at the likelihood of an ongoing stalemate: “This does not mean that Ukraine’s army can readily make further progress, given that the Russian defensive positions will be difficult to overcome in winter and attacking them would inevitably be costly in lives. So despite Kyiv’s Kherson success, a continuing violent stalemate until early March looks all too likely.”
I think he’s quite good on the tensions within the Russian regime, and with potential successors to Putin.
