What the hell, Russia? Last night we were watching Wagner forces heading towards Moscow. This morning, they stopped for coffee.
This morning they were in the outskirts of Moscow. We left and went for a bike ride. By the time we got back, the Wagner forces were heading back out of Russia. Their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was said to be going to Belarus to stay there. No one knows where Putin is. This is what Prigozhin is said to have given as a reason for leaving.
Barry McCaffrey tweeted this: Prigozhin couldn’t get the Russian Army to come over as expected. He folded his hand. FSB will eventually detain him for investigation. Then he will be murdered in the coming 90 days. Putin immeasurably weakened. Makes him very desperate. Dangerous.
Angus had this to say on the subject. "The leaders of
Libya and Mali and Sudan and all those other African countries who are
kept in power by Prigozhins Wagner Group must be nervously following
events this morning." The Wagner group is a self-funded paramilitary organization that provides strong arm tactics for dictators who can pay. They're not nice people.
Last night made it clear how worthless "news" coverage has become. CNN spent about ten minutes talking to Adam Kinzinger about Russia, and then returned to their coverage about how the submersible is still on the ocean floor and the five people aboard are still dead. MSNBC talked to Richard Engel, who was in Taipei, about what he thought. No one has feet on the ground internationally anymore. Twitter used to be really good for real time analysis and reporting of what people were seeing, but the zone has been flooded by lunatics with their dime store blue check marks.
I feel like this is one more example of how the entire planet has gone off the rails.
That's it! This is all I've got.
37paddington: Excellent summary! I think you nailed every detail, made all the connections, clarified where the news obfuscated. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe got more in depth coverage of who is who and what is happening, here.
ReplyDeleteLook at anyone who deals with mercenaries and the results are not pretty on either side
It makes sense that the mercenaries stopped their advance if the Russian army refused to join forces with them. I had read that the leader was given asylum in Belarus - but I have to agree that he isn't likely long for this earth. He'll need to stay out of four story buildings and have someone else taste his food. I guess time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Twitter used to be a good source of information. I deleted my account when Musk let IQ45 back on the platform. I do wonder how media can report on something happening from thousands of miles away.
I suspect Prigozhin did this to show that he COULD turn on Moscow if he wanted to. He was trying to send a message to Putin, who is indeed weakened by this whole episode. (And presumably left without some fighters on the Ukrainian front.) But like McCaffrey, I also suspect Prigozhin might not live much longer!
ReplyDeleteOh, and in terms of press having feet on the ground, part of the problem with covering Russia is that correspondents face a real threat of baseless arrest -- like the Wall Street Journal guy. Being a Moscow correspondent is a dangerous job nowadays.
DeleteI'm with Steve on this one. "Being a Moscow correspondent is a dangerous job nowadays." Being a dissident's not much better.
DeleteMy observation is that it was never a Coup attempt. Russian send Wagner to do their dirty work then didn't supply them appropriately AND killed quite a few of them in inept 'Friendly Fire'... or intentionally... who knows. So, knowing they were always Cannon Fodder, they made a Statement, we don't Care if we Die in Ukraine or Moscow, you choose. Putin chose wisely even tho' it chinked his Armor, he knows he created a Beast in Wagner Mercenaries and who Leads them... controlling a Beast is never easy and you can't put that Genie back into a Bottle. I think he was running damage control by striking a Deal to make them back off. Wagner never had enuf manpower to overthrow the Russian Govt.... but, they were willing to Die for whatever Cause it came down to... so they had nothing to lose and Putin had everything to lose. They are now dissidents and even tho' a Deal has been struck, I wouldn't Trust that Putin will Honor it, that whole Militia will have to Sleep with One Eye Open and watching their Backs now in any place that grants them Asylum. The Leader IMO is a Dead Man Walking and he probably knows that, he's not stupid, just vicious and equally Egotistical to Save Face with his Posse he's rolling with.
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