Medium Ukraine (Politics)

[Mick Harper]

Did I say capitalist countries? I meant totalitarian fascist ones. Germany under Goebbels 1943-5 is our template.

[Mick Harper]

The IOC has allowed the Russian National Committee back into the fold (though various other restrictions are still lurking around). The reason, according to the IOC, is that the RNC agreed not to select athletes from the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

This is, as both sides recognise, something of a sop since precious view actual individual sportspersons are affected by this but politically it is seismic because the Russian constitution states these areas are part of Russia. Technically the RNC is committing treason.

Now of course they did it with Putin's consent--possibly even at his urging--but it does open up further avenues. For example, the IOC could let it be known in Kremlin circles that they would be obliged if official Russian mouthpieces would not bang on about the IOC being a NATO catspaw and stuff like that.

As the 2028 Los Angeles Games near--and full Russian involvement would be regarded as heaven-sent by Trump and the TV networks as well as Russia--the IOC might politely ask Putin to make it clear to his people just why they have been excluded from international sport since 2022.

I doubt he could get those words past his lips but we can expect some unusual developments from that direction. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the ending of the war might somehow get into the mix.

[Mick Harper]

A Nation Denied: Ukraine's Battle for History (PBS)

This two-part blockbuster is a must-see for both history- and Ukraine-nerds. It is remarkably detailed and will fill in gaps even for fairly clued-up people such as myself.

As the title implies, you won't get much about the Russian perspective. In fact nothing at all, but there are other lacunae and errors. For instance I wouldn't say the Russians 'liberated' Berlin in 1945. Nor would I say Ukrainian is 'very similar' to Polish, not in the context where later the programme-makers refer to Ukrainian as 'a dialect of Russian'.

More seriously, the Donbas is not mentioned at all, save as being where Khrushchev came from. This is important because it was Khrushchev who added the Donbas (as well as Crimea) to the Ukraine SSR in 1954. The program claimed this was done because it was the bicentennial of the 1754 treaty that bound Ukraine and Russia together, and Ukraine needed to be rewarded for being such a faithful 'little brother'. If you believe that you'll believe anything.

There was one amusing moment in an overall grim story. When the Ukrainian people voted 90% for independence (a surprisingly large figure) in 1991 and the Ukrainian parliament had formally ratified it, the Ukrainian national anthem was solemnly played. On loudspeakers since it was obvious none of the MPs knew the words.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Wild Berries is probably going to go bankrupt, as another warehouse attacked last night.

The hope (without state intervention) is that Wild Berries bank and partner VTB will bail them out with cheaper credit. This will create risks. VTB is to offer cheaper credit to Wildberries, who will then offer cheap credit, to current and future /sellers/distributors, including those who have lost out. (rather than compensate Ivans who have lost stock in full)

The problem is that Wild Berries might prove unable to reinvent themselves away from a big warehouse model, whilst still delivering, to current buyers and so keeping the business of current sellers who hold, or held stock with them.

At the present time some sellers are saying they are not even being paid by Wildberries for goods already sold and delivered.

The danger with unrealistically cheap credit (during a war!) is that it is that can lead to financial contagion. A domino effect that could in the worst case scenario take the bank down, rather than save Wild Berries. Russians are already withdrwaing their savings from thier banks. VSB is already laying off staff.

Cheap credit, would be a good answer but only if the war was over.......

Wild Berries accounts for over 5% of total retail trade in Russia.

[Mick Harper]

Highly informative. The trouble is that Russia is so used to fighting wars with a ramshackle economy, not even the worst falling-dominoes scenario will deflect Putin from his purpose.

Which is itself becoming more and more ramshackle. "We must defend Sevastopol as we did against the Germans, the British and the French" will no doubt be winging its way over Russia-1 any time soon.

[Wile E. Coyote]

After 8 years at war with the hated Iran, Saddam in 1988, gave up on all claims to the Shatt al-Arab waterway and accepted the pre-war 1975 borders that he had previously started the war to overturn.

This gives up hope.

Though on reflection, Saddam might have done this as he already was planning to profitably invade Kuwait, (1990).

He simply didnt want to be be fighting on two fronts.......

[Mick Harper]

The Shatt-al-Arab itself has always been Iraqi. As the 'country of the two rivers' it can hardly be denied the mouth of the Tigris/Euphrates. Apart from it being Iraq's only outlet to the sea.

Iran under the Shah was able to filch a good slice of it when Iran was strong and western-backed, while Iraq was weak. To be fair to Saddam, he was only trying to get back what was rightfully Iraq's while they were strong and Iran (he assumed) weak after the Shah's overthrow, and the consequent loss of all allies.

Iraqis have always felt that way about Kuwait too. The Lost Province ripped untimely from their bosom by the British.

[Mick Harper]

You're taking your regular delivery of Chinese Botox to the local Wildberries distribution centre. Your customers can't get enough of the stuff, you're in relative clover. But as you get closer you can't help noticing your local Wildberries distribution centre is merrily burning courtesy, you presume, of a Ukrainian drone strike. You're immediately on your mobile.

Wildberries?
Yes.
You're on fire.
Don't I knw it, I'm standing outside watching it, aren't I?
What should I do with this week's Botox consignment?
You have to deliver it just the same.
But it'll all get destroyed.
Makes no difference, you've got a contract.
So you'll pay compensation?
No, we're not paying compensation for Ukrainian war damage.
And you still think I'm going to deliver it?
Not me, darlin', the government. You'll get prosecuted under wartime regulations if you don't.

All this was attested to when the woman in question posted up her experience on Max, from her car with the smoking plant over her shoulder. Could be Ukrainian fake news but I don't think so.

[Mick Harper]

In the interests of fair play, a dependable Al-Jazeera correspondent in Moscow said that 97,000 Wild Berries suppliers have received compensation.

[Wile E. Coyote]

[Mick Harper]