As you know, Comedy Central now broadcasts from the White House. Your host: Donald Trump.
Don’t take anything too seriously. The joke is on America –especially on all those who waste money to subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Washington Post, and the like. Oh, let’s not forget UnTruth Social.
So, Iran isn’t paying its soldiers? There is no information about othat – other than what comes from the anti-Tehran diaspora. As for killing protestors who don’t protest. Wait a second, how do you know they are protestors if they don’t protest?. Ah, mind reading….
So the US Navy removed all the mines? How?
Navy ships have not penetrated the Gulf of Hormuz, although the Navy claims the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the strait and removed mines using helicopters and UUV submersibles.
Iran claims to have driven these two ships back. A mine clearing operation carried out with large Aegis destroyers like these two requires them to slow down. They are sitting ducks – and usually takes a couple of weeks. Iran’s newer mines have countermeasures to detect and destroy the Knifefish. Remember Iran—the place to go to drones?
UUVs the US Navy uses. So, no, it didn’t happen. And CENTCOM is lying – once again.
I guess you call this “black comedy”.
In all comedies, you need a straight man—a character who remains serious, logical, and composed while their partner behaves eccentrically, wildly, or foolishly
That’s John Ratcliffe, CIA Director who has just made a special trip to Moscow.
Straight man? Deer in the headlights? Or roadkill?
That has resulted in a lot of gossip and speculation, especially on Substack.
Did he demand Russia stop blockading Ukrainian ports or stop missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure? Is he worried about the rumor started in Kiev and now circulating Europe, that Russia is going for full mobilization? Is he afraid Putin will attack the UK or France for supplying Ukraine with missiles? Does he want Russia to stop aiding Iran? Does he want Putin to return Americans in Russian prisons for such naughty political crimes as theft, assault, and child abuse? Is it “all of the above”?
Nobody knows much.
Except the WSJ, which as you know has “sources” and points out that the last time a CIA Director visited Russia was in 2021 when Putin was enunciating his “red lines”. The US didn’t listen then and probably won’t this time either. The WSJ seems to think that Ratcliffe was issuing “warnings” , as I guess his predecessor did. But he met neither Putin nor Lavrov.
Like I said, a straight man.
Lavrov, however, has made clear that Russian no longer believes that the US can contribute to any kind of peace agreement – nor that compromise is an option with Ukrainian terrorism and increased political chaos in Kiev, with different extremist factions vying for power. The time for diplomacy is over.
In addition, Russia now has fast, high-payload long-range, precision drones to interrupt Kiev’s logistics on Ukraine’s Western borders.
Also: Poseidon enters service at the end of this year.
And the Burevestnik long-range missile will enter service next year using Iskandar launchers. With unlimited range, these weapons put the US’s global network of bases at extreme risk. .
Of course, Trump would like something to use for election propaganda, especially now that Canada has retaliated against the US, with border states, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Alaska affected—shall we say “disaffected” by tariffs—and sure to vote Democrat.
The Russians are now very close to Slavyansk and making progress towards Kharkiv and in the Zaporizhzhie area. Sumy is in their sights, as well. Odessa is blockaded and the ports on the Danube. So a strike from the North might be in order to threaten Kiev from the East.
As in 2021, Putin has announced redlines, which the NATO countries like Germany, the UK, and France are ignoring, while the EU threatens war after a military buildup, culminating in 2030. Putin has said that Russia doesn’t want war but it will defend itself.
Putin has said he will not “completely” close the door on negotiations but will refuse any proposal that ignores Russian territorial gains, which will soon include the East Bank of the Dniepr and the Black Sea.
Any diplomatic resolution must reflect the “realities on the ground,” meaning Ukraine must concede regions currently occupied or claimed by Russian forces.
He rejects any form of ceasefire.
On the other hand, he rejects general mobilization. Russia has more than enough volunteers.
Ratcliffe’s visit cannot be regarded as important or meaningful. Of course, Trump would like something to use for election propaganda, especially now that Canada has retaliated against the US, with border states, affected by tariffs, sure to vote Democrat. But Trump has also called Radcliffe’s visit “semi-routine” indicating that nothing meaningful happened.
Things will continue. The bottom line is that NATO and Europe cannot fight a war against Russia. And getting consensus from the now much-expanded NATO countries, each with separate military-industrial interests, is going to be difficult. 2030? Think 2040. Or never.
For example, the French elections is scheduled for 2027. Macron may manage to get Le Pen declared ineligible . But that will result in a massive protest vote in favor of her National Rally Party leader, Jordan Bordella. Le Pen is not a fan of NATO and is favorably disposed to Russia. And she will also see being disqualified to run as a European plot since European leaders like Merz and van der Leyen loathe her.
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