Russia/Ukraine

[Nodack]

You also posted this 24 hours into the most recent invasion.

I saw some incredible and terrifying video of the airborne drops, the aircraft coming over the skies and the explosions of military assets in Ukraine.

Apparently, Results of the first four hours of the operation against Ukraine:

Air Defence destroyed
Air Force destroyed
Navy destroyed
There are no more Ukrainian drones.

Maybe take a breath or something before posting wildly difficult to prove stuff if you want people to change their opinion or take your advice seriously.

That's fair.

I can't prove those things happened. I haven’t seen any news on the Ukraine Navy or Air Force, nor have I seen anything about the drones or Air Defense. Have they been debunked? I haven't seen anything about that either, but we did have news about the Snake Island 13 & the Ghost of Kiev, so that's fair. Who really knows?

What's difficult to prove about fertilizer becoming very difficult to impossible for farmers to get, as most of it comes from Russia? Didn't Biden cancel imports from Russia? Don't our farmers get their fertilizer from Russian sources? Don't you think those things are needed for crops?

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just trying to help. Better safe than sorry.

From what I have read in the world’s fake propaganda against Russia is that Russia’s air force doesn’t own the skies over Ukraine as much as you think.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-uk ... -1.6377300
After the opening salvos, analysts expected the Russian military to try to immediately destroy Ukraine's air force and air defences.

"The failure of ... the fixed-wing portion of the Russian air force to establish air superiority over Ukraine is really striking," Bronk told CBC News Network.

"Ukraine has the ability to fire surface-to-air missiles to bring down Russian aircraft," Dorn said. "That means that Russia has to have a different pattern of flying, which is limited in its use."

Without air superiority, planes must fly lower to avoid surface-to-air missile systems, which gives them less situational awareness and also makes them vulnerable to portable missiles known as MANPADS (man-portable air-defence systems), which Western countries have been sending to Ukraine by the thousands.

[Nodack]

US officials say Russia has asked China for military help in Ukraine
https://www.ft.com/content/30850470-8c8 ... 497064a7b7

https://www.ft.com/content/30850470-8c8 ... 497064a7b7
The US was preparing to warn its allies, amid some indications that China may be preparing to help Russia. Other US officials have said there were signs that Russia was running out of some kinds of weaponry as the war in Ukraine extends into its third week.

Russia seeks military equipment from China after Ukraine invasion
https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-se ... 022-03-13/

Russia asked China for military equipment, U.S. official says
Such a request could indicate that Moscow fears its position after struggling to advance deeper into Ukraine more than two weeks into its invasion.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/1 ... t-00016893

[Mori Chu]

Hoo boy.

[Nodack]

And to think I liked her at first.


2019
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/18/politics ... index.html

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Thursday the Russians are currently “grooming” a Democrat running in the presidential primary to run as a third-party candidate and champion their interests.

The comment appears to be directed at Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has been accused of being cozy with Russia in the past.

“I’m not making any predictions, but I think they’ve got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate,” Clinton said, speaking on a podcast with former Obama adviser David Plouffe. “She’s the favorite of the Russians.”

Edit: More to story?

The Daily Beast yesterday published an article that immediately electrified liberal Twitter. The headline: “Accused Russian Agent Gave to One Politician: Tulsi Gabbard.”
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... i-gabbard/
This is what the Daily Beast reported: Federal prosecutors are accusing dual Russian-American national Elena Branson (aka Elena Chernykh) of lobbying on behalf of the Kremlin for over a decade without registering to do so. At one point while Gabbard was in Congress, Branson began a lobbying campaign to block a local proposal to change the name of a 19th century Russian fort in Hawaii. During this process, a Kauai County councilwoman emailed the staffer of an unnamed representative (implied, but not confirmed, to be Gabbard), offering to connect the representative with Branson. Nine days later, Branson made two political donations to Tulsi Gabbard. The total amount, mentioned five paragraphs into the article: $59.95.

Utah Sen Mitt Romney fiercely criticised former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii on Sunday and suggested that her remarks about the existence of so-called “US biolabs” in Ukraine would result in people being killed.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 34983.html

[Nodack]

I have been trying to get a handle on all of this propaganda going around.

If you are Magaputin, the US and Ukraine have been operating secret bio labs in the Ukraine for many years creating secret bio weapons and unleash it on the world.


The US and the Ukraine you say they are nuts.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/fac ... 937923001/
Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that there are U.S. biolabs in Ukraine funded by the U.S. government. The posts misrepresent a treaty between the United States and Ukraine aimed at preventing biological threats.

The labs are owned and funded by the Ukrainian government.The Security Service of Ukraine and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine have said the claim is false. Reports indicate the claim is tied to a years-long Russian disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the United States.


Russia is targeting U.S. biological weapons labs in Ukraine invasion.
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2 ... ary-socia/

A social media user tweeted that Russia was targeting U.S.-run biolabs in its invasion of Ukraine. That account was soon suspended by Twitter.

There are no U.S.-run biolabs in Ukraine. The country is one of many former Soviet Union republics, and other countries, partnering with the Defense Department as part of the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. It’s the latest claim in a series of disinformation efforts by the Russians, an expert told PolitiFact.

While the U.S. may provide funding to upgrade or build labs in other countries, the labs are run by the partnering nations and the program’s goal is to prevent biological threats, not create them. We rate this claim False.


How the right embraced Russian disinformation about ‘U.S. bioweapons labs’ in Ukraine
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... s-ukraine/

[Nodack]

US Department of Defense
Russian Military Efforts Stymied by Blunders, Stiff Ukrainian Resistance, Defense Official Says
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stori ... e-defense/
"Frankly, [the Ukrainians are] being very strategic about how they're defending and where they are putting their resources where they're most needed. They are doing it quickly. They are being adaptive and nimble," the official said, noting they are using hit-and-run tactics to great advantage.

Since the start of the war, the Russians have launched more than 800 missiles of all varieties and sizes into Ukraine, the official said.

The Russians are flying on average 200 sorties per day — not all into Ukrainian airspace since cruise missiles can be launched from those aircraft to hit targets in Ukraine from a great distance. "There's a general cautiousness on their part," the official said.

The Ukrainians have about 56 fighter jets available and are flying about five-to-10 sorties per day. The official noted that they don't really need to do more than that since the Russians have surface-to-air missiles that could knock those planes out of the sky. In addition, the Ukrainians have made great use of their drones, which can deliver munitions as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the official said.

[Mori Chu]

[Indy]

You also posted this 24 hours into the most recent invasion.

I saw some incredible and terrifying video of the airborne drops, the aircraft coming over the skies and the explosions of military assets in Ukraine.

Apparently, Results of the first four hours of the operation against Ukraine:

Air Defence destroyed
Air Force destroyed
Navy destroyed
There are no more Ukrainian drones.

Maybe take a breath or something before posting wildly difficult to prove stuff if you want people to change their opinion or take your advice seriously.

That's fair.

I can't prove those things happened. I haven’t seen any news on the Ukraine Navy or Air Force, nor have I seen anything about the drones or Air Defense. Have they been debunked? I haven't seen anything about that either, but we did have news about the Snake Island 13 & the Ghost of Kiev, so that's fair. Who really knows?

What's difficult to prove about fertilizer becoming very difficult to impossible for farmers to get, as most of it comes from Russia? Didn't Biden cancel imports from Russia? Don't our farmers get their fertilizer from Russian sources? Don't you think those things are needed for crops?

Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just trying to help. Better safe than sorry.

https://www.agriculture.com/news/busine ... r-industry

Russia accounts for 21% of the global potash market, according to Jason Troendle, director of market intelligence and research at The Fertilizer Institute. While the U.S. imports most of its potash from Canada, a country which produces 39% of potash globally, we also get 7.8% from Russia. Because it is such a major player in the global market, sanctions on Russia have a ripple effect on markets, says Troendle.

[In2ition]

https://www.agriculture.com/news/busine ... r-industry

Russia accounts for 21% of the global potash market, according to Jason Troendle, director of market intelligence and research at The Fertilizer Institute. While the U.S. imports most of its potash from Canada, a country which produces 39% of potash globally, we also get 7.8% from Russia. Because it is such a major player in the global market, sanctions on Russia have a ripple effect on markets, says Troendle.

You use potash on your farm, Indy? My family has been using anhydrous ammonia for as long I can remember, along with all the other farmers I've known and grown up around.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/ec ... 000099001/
Biden's new sanctions on Russia could hit grain, fertilizer, seafood and luxury goods
Maria Jimenez Moya
USA TODAY

"How much fertilizer does US import from Russia
The U.S. imports approximately 96% of the nation's potassium fertilizer from Russia, including 1 million short tons per year, according to Michigan Potash & Salt Company.

In 2019, the U.S. imported roughly $299.4 million in phosphate fertilizer from Russia, making it a total of 729,288 metric tons, according to Progressive Farmer.

In 2021, the U.S. imported $1.28 Billion of fertilizer from Russia, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. "

[Indy]

It is *really* important to read and check sources. The part you underlined says it comes from "Michigan Potash & Salt Company" and the article even gives you a link you can click to go read it. When you do, it even highlights the section it used as the source.

Here is what that actually says:

Article you posted and underlined says this:

The U.S. imports approximately 96% of the nation's potassium fertilizer from Russia, including 1 million short tons per year,

The actual source for the article says this:

Currently, the U.S. imports approximately 96 percent of the potash necessary for healthy crops – including 1 million short tons per year from Russia as per the Department of Interior.

To your quip about my farm, I am not a farmer. But I do have farmers in my close family that go back generations.

That is good news that you and your family use ammonia based fertilizers because Russia only supplies the world with 19% of that. And the US doesn't import any from Russia.

[In2ition]

It is *really* important to read and check sources. The part you underlined says it comes from "Michigan Potash & Salt Company" and the article even gives you a link you can click to go read it. When you do, it even highlights the section it used as the source.

Here is what that actually says:

Article you posted and underlined says this:

The U.S. imports approximately 96% of the nation's potassium fertilizer from Russia, including 1 million short tons per year,

The actual source for the article says this:

Currently, the U.S. imports approximately 96 percent of the potash necessary for healthy crops – including 1 million short tons per year from Russia as per the Department of Interior.

To your quip about my farm, I am not a farmer. But I do have farmers in my close family that go back generations.

That is good news that you and your family use ammonia based fertilizers because Russia only supplies the world with 19% of that. And the US doesn't import any from Russia.

It feels like your quip about what was in the article, is more helpful to point out to the article writer than to me, but thanks for pointing that out. I'll add USA Today as yet another untrusted news source with this error.

[Indy]

It isn't that the source is untrustworthy. Just do a little work--like literally seconds of work is all it takes.

[In2ition]

It isn't that the source is untrustworthy. Just do a little work--like literally seconds of work is all it takes.

So you're saying that I made the mistake, not Maria Jimenez Moya by changing the information? Perhaps I should have fact checked her, as I trusted what was written was true. Shame on me.
Here is her Twitter handle if you would like to correct and shame her. https://twitter.com/maferjm06

[Indy]

Nobody is trying to shame you. I am just pointing out for the umpteenth time that you should check your work before sharing it. It is like you are that crazy aunt/uncle on Facebook that clicks "Share" 3 dozen times a day without ever actually thinking about the thing they are sharing.

[In2ition]

That hurt. That cut deep.

[Mori Chu]

Oh boy. This lady with the sign is going to get dragged away and put in a dark room for a long time, isn't she? :-/

[Superbone]

Not to mention, poisoned.

[Mori Chu]

Not to mention, poisoned.

My money is on: disappear for 3 months, reappear looking disheveled, do an Instagram video about how she now loves the glorious nation of Russia and its glorious government, and how she was mistaken for not supporting their great war of liberation and justice. Then disappearing again.

[In2ition]

[Indy]

Good thread on how Qanon echo chambers started the “biolab” lies: