mcliu

A more cynical view, maybe the West wants Ukraine to be Russia's Vietnam. Ukraine is a proxy war and the US/NATO will fight the Russians until the last Ukrainian. Ukraine gets totally destroyed, but the West will have a big win over Russia. Isn't that called Terrorism?

BBC also reported this: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60522454. Ukraine has honoured 13 soldiers who were killed defending a tiny island after reportedly swearing at a Russian ship that ordered them to surrender. In unverified audio clips, the borders guards defending Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea are told to "lay down your weapons" or "be bombed". "Russian warship, go to hell," they respond. Ukraine says they were then killed by air and sea strikes. Russia denies the account, saying they all surrendered. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded each of the guards the posthumous title of "Hero of Ukraine". "On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically," Mr Zelensky said. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/europe/snake-island-ukraine-russia-survivors-alive-intl/index.html

Yeah exactly, it should be obvious to anyone alive today that Hitler did some evil shit. Which is why I think it’s a mistake that media outlets like CNN and PBS allowed neo-Nazis on their shows just because they’re on our side fighting Russians now.

Exactly, politicians & countries are all the same. There's no morality in geopolitics, only interests. And the winner writes the history.

If you agree that the West does propaganda as well, if not better, than Russia, China then maybe it's possible that the mainstream Western narrative of Ukraine getting attacked unprovoked might be a product of Western propaganda? Maybe the truth lies somewhere between the Russian narrative and the Western narrative? Maybe Mearsheimer is not completely wrong? https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Why-the-Ukraine-Crisis-Is.pdf And maybe the West is not sending weapons to Ukraine because of its benevolence and love for Ukrainian people (as the media portrays) but maybe it's an attempt to engage in a proxy war using Ukrainians to bleed Russians. Maybe the USA govt doesn't care if Ukraine gets destroyed and thousands of Ukrainians die as long as it weakens Russia? I don't think anyone is under the impression that Russian/Chinese media isn't hypocritical. But I think many Westerners think Western media is the arbiter of truth with all the "fact-checking". Everyone else, like the Russians & Chinese are brainwashed because they view the world differently. Just like the liberals think conservatives are brainwashed, vice-versa.

Which current NATO country has Neo-nazi mayors, a Neo-nazi battalion within their armed forces and Neo-nazi govt officials? Please name some. I'm not saying Ukraine is the third reich, but is there really no nazi problem? https://forward.com/opinion/416751/why-does-no-one-care-that-neo-nazis-are-gaining-power-in-ukraine/ I am not here to justify Russia's invasion. War is horrible and civilians suffer. Elites are fine. My point is Western hypocrisy: NATO elites & Ukrainian govt played equal role in escalation with Russia. MSM hypocrisy, fake news, narrative creation: Proud Boys bad, Azov good. Russia bad, Ukraine good.

Like this guy right? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepan_Bandera Another Hero of Ukraine. Sorry, my bad. Let me follow your logic. Ukraine good. Russia bad. Ukraine good. Russia bad. Ukraine good. Russia bad.

Russians believe in Russian propaganda. Americans believe in American propaganda.

This conflict is a highlight of western hypocrisy War crime: Russia bombing Mariupol Not a war crime: US flattening Mosul Not a war crime: NATO forces bombing Chinese embassy Afghanistan withdrawal: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/u-s-says-2-isis-k-planners-killed-in-drone-strike-in-afghanistan-1.5563494 Oh shit, turns out it was 10 civilians, including 7 children. Not a war crime. No punishment. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/13/us/politics/afghanistan-drone-strike.html No U.S. Troops Will Be Punished for Deadly Kabul Strike, Pentagon Chief Decides The military initially defended the strike, which killed 10 civilians including seven children, but ultimately called it a tragic mistake.

Azov commander & hero of Ukraine has made it on CNN! Btw, he's also a neo-nazi, but who cares as long as he's killing Russians right? https://multipolarista.com/2022/03/21/cnn-nazi-ukraine-azov/

@bizaro86 Thanks for the interesting insight! It certainly corroborates with CNQ's operating & financial results. What do you think they're doing differently? CNQ has been smart capital allocators too, using their size/balance sheet to acquire during downturns. Btw, do you have any thoughts on the teams at CVE/SU? Thanks!

https://newrepublic.com/amp/article/165658/windfall-tax-whitehouse-khanna-common-wealth Any chance something like this passes?

Thanks. I have seen articles from years ago but haven't seen any mentions since the Russian invasion. That's what I meant by downplaying. But I could be wrong. Have you guys seen any reporting on Azov's nazi connection on mainstream media (CNN/NYT) over the past 3 weeks? I obviously don't think Ukrainians are all nazis, but I think compared to most Western countries, Ukraine seems to have a significant # of prominent right-wing organizations & members in positions of power. The reason I'm point this out is that I feel like most Westerners don't realize this connection (at least I didn't) and would be pretty shocked to see themselves indirectly supporting neo-Nazi battalions running youth camps.

That's my initial assessment as well. But after some research (I really recommend everyone to do their own due diligence on this rather than take the media at its word), it seems like nazi ideology is much more prevalent than I expected. Going beyond the current conflict. For example, the Azov unit has been incorporated since 2014. The Ukrainian govt has been funding far-right groups for many years. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/07/16/ukrainian-far-right-extremists-receive-state-funds-to-teach-patriotism/ https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/canada-marking-125-years-of-ukrainian-settlement/ Here is the previous Ukrainian Parliament Chairman meeting Justin Trudeau in Canada. Turns out he founded the Socialist-Nationalist party in 1991. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Parubiy Western media seem to be downplaying this, but I fear that a Ukrainian victory will only embolden nazi ideology in the country. Here is an Azov youth training camp: Notice the background picture on their shirts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sun_(symbol) Short documentary: https://www.jakehanrahan.com/azov-youth

Some more background on the Azov regiment fighting in Ukraine. Seems like the West has no problem supporting these guys. https://time.com/5926750/azov-far-right-movement-facebook/ Within days of his release, Biletsky set out to assemble a far-right militia. “That was our rise to the surface after a long period underground,” Biletsky told TIME in an interview that winter in Ukraine. The insignia he chose for the militia combined two symbols—the “black sun” and the “wolf’s hook”—both of which were used by the German Nazis during World War II. Among the militias that formed to resist the Russian forces, Biletsky’s followers turned out to be among the most disciplined and battle-ready. “They held the line even after everybody left,” says Serhiy Taruta, a metals magnate and former governor of the frontline region of Donetsk who helped finance and equip Azov in the early months of the war. For their bravery on the battlefield, Biletsky and other Azov commanders were lauded as national heroes. “These are our best warriors,” then President Petro Poroshenko said at an award ceremony in 2014. “Our best volunteers.” From across Europe and the U.S., dozens of fighters came to join Azov that year, many of them bearing tattoos and rap sheets earned in the neo-Nazi underground back home. The Ukrainian authorities welcomed many of them, and in some cases granted them citizenship. Within the war’s first year, Biletsky’s militia was officially absorbed into the National Guard, becoming a regiment within Ukraine’s armed forces. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/1/who-are-the-azov-regiment In January 2018, Azov rolled out its street patrol unit called National Druzhyna to “restore” order in the capital, Kyiv. Instead, the unit carried out pogroms against the Roma community and attacked members of the LGBTQ community. “Ukraine is the world’s only nation to have a neo-Nazi formation in its armed forces,” a correspondent for the US-based magazine, the Nation, wrote in 2019. In June 2015, both Canada and the United States announced that their own forces will not support or train the Azov regiment, citing its neo-Nazi connections. The following year, however, the US lifted the ban under pressure from the Pentagon. In October 2019, 40 members of the US Congress led by Representative Max Rose signed a letter unsuccessfully calling for the US State Department to designate Azov as a “foreign terrorist organisation” (FTO). Last April, Representative Elissa Slotkin repeated the request – which included other white supremacist groups – to the Biden administration.

NATO instructors training Ukrainian neo-nazi Azov battalion on NLAW. Seems like the West isn't concerned about far-right ideology anymore?

Thanks, yes the 40 includes the BRK preferred.

It's like how Westerners think Russians only sees one side of the story. Except it's also the same in the West. The difference is in the West, you're allowed to see the other side, just that no one really cares to. This is made worse now by cancel culture.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/07/impossible-bolshoi-music-director-tugan-sokhiev-quits-over-calls-to-denounce-ukraine-invasion I suspect this cancel/anti-Russia movement across the West is backfiring and making even moderate/West-leaning Russians become more anti-West and stand firmer behind Putin. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-700677 Putin's offer, Zelensky's dilemma: What is going on in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine? According to sources privy to details about Bennett's trip to Russia, the negotiations are much more serious than what the West has been saying – and Zelensky faces a tough decision.

Don't higher energy prices benefit Republican states and harms Democrat states? US politics is interesting. I did some back-of-envelope on FCF for the O&G stocks on my list. If you've done this also, would love to compare #s incase mine are way off. Thanks!

It sounds like the media narrative is starting to change. I wonder how long before the a 10x rise energy prices dips Europe into a recession. Politicians must be doing their math, maybe pushing Ukraine for a deal, especially given the uncertain political situation in many EU countries. I guess US is a beneficiary as manufacturing becomes more competitive vs Europe given the far lower energy prices. Not surprisingly Europe is getting cold feet on more Russian sanctions while US pushes on. LOL that timing

Russian demands: https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-says-russian-military-action-will-stop-moment-if-ukraine-meets-2022-03-07/ 1) Neutrality 2) Crimea 3) Donetsk & Luhansk Will Ukraine take the deal?

Why is that? I thought the 2015 crash was due to US production growth?

Can someone please explain the logic of cancelling Keystone but trying to increase Venezuela & Iran production?

I think it's way too early to know the end game. Many ways this can play out, probably in ways we can't even imagine.