mcliu

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.

It’s unfortunate NATO keeps sending weapons to Ukraine knowing it’ll become a meat grinder as Russia reverts back to more traditional military doctrine, especially when a guarantee of Ukraine neutrality might have prevented war. The unintended consequence of sanctions might be high inflation driving Europe into a recession causing existing govts to fall in upcoming elections. Ironically, Putin might outlast the elected officials currently in charge of certain European/NATO countries.

It's not conclusive that if Putin is going, he'll be replaced by a pro-West democratic govt. Isn't there possibility that someone even worse comes along? This is the way.

This showed up on my YouTube. Not sure if this is fake news, but Ukraine uses actual neo-nazi units in their military? What the actual fuck?

The problem with following the war on Twitter is that you only get one side's perspective and end up with the impression that Ukrainian troops are ready to roll through Moscow. I think these sources/summaries provide a better but still murky picture of the situation: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-3 While Russian military has not been as effective as expected and has met some supply and strategic/intelligence issues. The overall picture shows that they're pushing effectively into Ukraine, especially along the southern axis. Ukrainian resistance has outperformed expectations using advanced NATO weapons & training, but keep in mind it's only been 7 days in a country of 40+ million with 1.5x size of Iraq. US+allied forces took over a month to conquer Iraq with a far superior force.

Thanks for sharing! Btw, does anyone know why WB didn't mention DaVita & Verisign as one of the top 15 holdings in his annual letter? Did they sell out?

Thanks. Are you saying the shortage is from US shifting trade to Taiwan from China? Btw, what do you think of China's plans to become self-reliant on semi? Any chance of success or is it just too difficult since you need global scale/equipment?