Is Putin shaking in his jackboots yet?
Gidday everyone. This is the start of the first Tuesday of the month, in fact the first day of the month of March 2022.
"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell."
https://www.npr.org/2022/02/24/1082806285/ukraine-ambassador-russia-security-council
Today is March 1, and this is the Quote of the Year.
"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell."
Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations, straight in the face of the Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya.
Russian army continues to perform just like it did in Afghanistan.
Is Putin shaking in his jackboots yet?
International Criminal Court ICC prosecutor might investigate possible war crimes in Ukraine.
(But there's so much paperwork to do, first.)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/28/ukraine-russia-belarus-war-crimes-investigation-the-hague
The Russian State Ballet has canceled all performances until... well... you know.
Still waiting for Justin...
Canadian author Margaret Atwood condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/28/margaret-atwood-joins-writers-condemning-russian-invasion-of-ukraine
The forecast for Songkran
The Thai New Year is exactly 45 days away, but the outlook is bleak!
No lockdowns but... well, yeah more lockdowns, starting today.
Covid-19 daily caseloads could top 100,000 by the Songkran festival in the middle of next month in the worst-case scenario, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
Whether the level of infections will drop or intensify in the weeks ahead depends on how strictly Covid-19 precautions are adopted, said the DDC.
The precautions include refraining from group activities, working from home more, delaying non-essential travel, maintaining a high vaccination rate and practising the VUCA (Vaccine, Universal Prevention, Covid-19 Free Setting and ATK) measures.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2271551/daily-cases-may-hit-100k-by-songkran
After three days of claiming it was profitable, Thai Airways International (THAI) came clean.
It lost 19.7 bill baht in 2021
The airline said last year's operating loss was down 44% from the previous year but revenue from operations fell by 51% from 2020 to 23.75 billion baht.
Income from passengers and cargo decreased by 59.9% to 24.60 billion baht.
PHOTO: The stews are nice but there are no bums on the seats.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2271591/
The Mounties get one of their men...
Phuket killer arrested
Canadian police in Edmonton, Alberta province, have arrested Matthew Dupre, and charged him with the ambush-killing of gangster Jimi "Slice" Sandhu, last month in Phuket
Thai and Canadian authorities believe the second killer involved in the murder is still on the run.
Dupre will be detained in Canada until Thai authorities can arrange his extradition. Paperwork on that began on Monday.
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has identified Sandhu's killers as The suspects were named in multiple media reports as Gene Karl Lahrkamp and Matthew Leandre Ovide Dupre, both 37 and both Canadian citizens..
PHOTO: A security camera photo shows two men, one of them believed to be Matthew Dupre, after emerging from bushes and beginning their approach to Jimi Sandhu on February 4.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2271351/
The disease that won't quit
The Chinese Covid-19 coronavirus infected another 20,420 people in Thailand on Monday. And killed 43.
This compared with the 42 coronavirus-related fatalities and 22,311 new cases on Sunday.
Since the pandemic started in early 2020, there have been 2,912,347 Covid-19 cases, including 688,912 cases this year, with 2,673,646 complete recoveries to date.
The accumulated death toll stood at 22,976 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 1,278 so far this year.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2271875/
China considers yet another coronavirus lockdown for Hong Kong.
Two years of strict zero-Covid policies kept the coronavirus largely at bay but a breakthrough of the highly transmissible Omicron variant exposed how little authorities had done to prepare for a mass outbreak.
Hong Kong 'leader' Carrie "Silence of the" Lam previously ruled out a citywide lockdown and instead has ordered all 7.4 million residents to be tested in March.
But in a U-turn, Health Secretary Sophia Chan confirmed on Monday that it was still an option.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2271399/
"From a public health perspective, to bring out the best effect of compulsory universal testing, we need to reduce people's movements to some extent."
Carrie "Silence of the" Lam, Hong Kong 'leader' on whether the city needs another lockdown, which it does.
U.S.A. BIDEN CORONAVIRUS
Trust your government! Follow the sciencec!
The totally, completely trustworthy science-following, science-leading President Joe Biden bragged in January 2021 he had 500 MILLION-with-an-M Chinese Covid-19 test kits to donate, give away, hand out, let go, for TOTALLY COMPLETELY FREE.
When you can't even give away medical stuff...
Nearly half of President Joe Biden's 500 million free COVID tests are still unclaimed.
Anticipating President Biden's desperate search for State of the Union bragging material, four U.S. states, New York City and the United States Congress announced Monday, "Nah, you don't need no masks!"
It has absolutely totally nothing to do with U.S.A. politics. Shame on you!
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/california-oregon-washington-end-school-mask-mandates-83162388
But if you're still thinking of that spring vacation...
Japan to lift state of emergency in all regions at end of March.
... Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he discussed easing measures with relevant ministers on Monday, and would seek the views of a government panel of advisers on Tuesday.
"We will make a final decision on the matter based on the advice and discussions we have with the government expert panel on Tuesday."
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-lift-state-emergency-all-regions-month-end-nhk-2021-09-27/
Singapore Airlines has SIA 'suspended' all flights to Moscow
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/sia-suspends-flights-singapore-moscow-2525316
South Korea on Monday partially lifted its requirement for "fully vaccinated" at many popular industries.
Effective immediately, the country dropped its requirement for "vaccine passes" for children 12-to-18 years old.
This was even though South Korea has reported average daily per-capita infection rates that have exceeded some of the peaks in hard-hit countries such as the United States and Britain.
https://bityl.co/B7IG
Russians wrecks world's largest airplane
The Antonov-225 cargo plane was queen of Ukraine's commercial fleet and had been in heavy demand since the start of the Chinese Covid-19 pandemic.
The plane was nicknamed "Mriya", or "Dream" in Ukrainian.
The unique aircraft was 84 metres long, and could carry 250 tonnes of cargo (or people) at a speed of up to 850 kph.
Ukraine' Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted:
"Russia may have destroyed our 'Mriya'. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail!",
PHOTO: File photo shows the Mriya strategic airlift cargo aircraft landing at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/worlds-largest-plane-destroyed-russian-strikes-ukraine-2524351
Kavi Chongkittavorn, one of the smartest and keenest columnists and analysists, wrote this:
ASEAN responds to invasion of Ukraine
Well, I guess that depends on your definition of "responds".
Apparently it means "strongly worded statement". Okay then.
==
Kudos must go to the Asean chair, Cambodia, which initiated the issuing of a joint Asean statement once Russia had openly invaded Ukraine, an independent and democratic nation in Europe. Within 36 hours, the draft of the 130-word statement had been finalised by all 10 members.
A month earlier, on Jan 24, the chair unsuccessfully tried to issue a joint Asean statement on the escalation of tensions at the Russia-Ukraine border due to the lack of consensus.
After three days, it was clear that some of the members wanted to wait and see how the situation would unfold.
On Saturday, Asean was ready and issued a strongly worded statement towards one of its strategic partners saying that they are "deeply concerned" over the evolving situation and hostilities in Ukraine.
The statement was released after Russian troops began military assaults on key Ukrainian cities. Russia is one of the grouping's nine strategic partners that also comprise China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, the US and the EU.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2271723/
Related?
Zelenskiy calls on EU to grant Ukraine EU membership immediately:
The newest (26-month) Ukrainian President, professional comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said in a social media video that ... "Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I'm sure that's fair. I am sure we deserve it," he said in a video speech shared on social media.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-eu-membership-zelenskiy/31728332.html
Related? One of my favourite military writers notes of the Zelenskiy speech:
He did something rare among elected leaders today: he led from the front.
Related
The Ukraine invasion is the first social media war - and Volodymyr Zelenskiy is its star.
https://spectatorworld.com/topic/ukraine-invasion-first-social-media-war-volodmyr-zelensky/
Atiya "Ann" Achakulwisut is a Bangkok Post veteran - reporter, section editor, news writer and analyst.
Her Tuesday column is focused on Thai politics. And the worst of the worst of the empty-headed participants.
Ultra-royalist pro-Puttin stance a worrying sign
... After Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine, some prominent ultra-royalists here stirred up a controversy with their social media posts extending moral support for Putin's leadership, decisiveness and display of patriotism in "protecting his territory".
That Ukraine is a sovereign country did not seem to cross their minds.
To them, it seems that as Russia said Ukraine's attempt to return to membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was a threat to its security and it has the power to crush the neighbouring country, the war is justifiable.
Another reason why some of the ultra-royalists took the side of President Putin appears to be their unsubstantiated belief that the Russian leader has displayed extraordinary respect to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.
PHOTO: These self-styled royalists heart Putin, and present a serious problem for the Thai junta and ASEAN,
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2271723/
Saudi to Suvarnabhumi
People emerge (top photo) from the arrival hall at Suvarnabhumi airport after disembarking from a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight, SV846, from Jeddah via Riyadh on Monday evening.
It was the first direct commercial flight from Saudi Arabia in 32 years, following the recent normalisation of diplomatic ties.
The higher the number, the worse the smog
If you are visiting or living in Thailand...
Air quality in central Thailand is classed as unhealthy today. You will need an N95 smog mask if you are spending time outside. Indoors, turn on your air purifiers
Live updates: https://www.iqair.com/th-en/thailand/bangkok
The Royal Thai 'Government' has not (yet) ordered riot police or the army to stop the demonstrations in order to protect the reputations of Vladmir Putin, the Chinese Communist Party and President-for-Life Xi Jinping.
The key word is "yet".
Putin's Russia has the methods and means to 1) motivate and then immediately 2) provoke China into invading Taiwan.
... While China is unlikely to invade anytime soon, Russia's success — or failure — could ultimately influence what Beijing does next.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 13 Chinese warplanes have entered the Taiwanese defence zone.
PHOTO: Taiwanese soldiers practice anti-tank manoeuvres with a Javelin missile.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a39209668/russia-ukraine-impact-on-taiwan-china/
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4456789
Xi has a Vegas-worthy balancing act going on.
Beijing will continue blaming Washington and its allies for provoking Russia while simultaneously calling for a diplomatic resolution.
But not everything is going well for Beijing.
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2022/02/25/beijings_ukraine_balancing_act_reveals_exploitable_fissures_in_the_sino-russian_partnership_818651.html
Speaking of Asia and secret agents...
Russian army performing just like they did in Afghanistan.
And a key point: Russia is urging China to "hurry the hell up" and perform against Taiwan the same way the PLA performed against Vietnam* - 43 years ago!
*Which was to get their ass kicked and retreat in disorder.
Just out, on Monday...
Important answers to questions by U.S.A. scientists (the ones guiding the U.S.A. response to the Chinese coronavirus):
How can our own farts smell tolerable when other people's smell awful?
When U.S.A. scientists have completed their work on this problem, they will return to advising the country on the Chinese Covid-19 coronavirus.
https://www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg25333751-800-how-can-our-own-farts-smell-tolerable-when-other-peoples-smell-awful/
I'm starting to detect a pattern from Big Tech.
● Patreon deleted the Ukrainian Army accounts, suspends donation of $250,000 giving to nonprofit for body armor to Ukrainian army.
https://techstartups.com/2022/02/25/patreon-deleted-ukrainian-army-accounts-suspends-donation-250000-nonprofit-giving-body-armor-ukrainian-army/
You know what you don't see today? Private American companies shutting off their services in Russia, in protest.
The U.S.A. War Department (aka 'Pentagon') said Monday that Russia has used up two-thirds of the combat troops that it started with at the Ukraine border.
Major General (just retired!) Mick Ryan @WarintheFuture
Just wonderin'...
Is it possible that history will remember Vlad Putin as "that poor dumb son of a bitch"?
Yes. Yes it is! Any other questions?
Or, as this headline put it, more succinctly:
Ukraine War Took Vladimir Putin From Steely-Eyed KGB Man to Military Bumbler.
I'm sure it has nothing to do with the decision by President Biden and all White House advisers to side with Putin.
PHOTO: Russian tank in Ukraine, photographed on Monday after a terrible road accident, Well, you know, the Russian army was never great at urban warfare, you know?
There's a middling piece of irony involved. Ukrainians are 615% better and 728% more accurate than Russians, how about that?
AT THIS POINT they kind of have to, since they're losing
Russia is taking off the gloves in Kharkiv.
Floundering Putin's only hope now is to hold a piece of Ukraine long enough to demand negotiations. Which is also a lose-lose tactic. He might have been a mighty KGB chief but today, he doesn't have enough troops to occupy the Ukraine against resistance.
https://hotair.com/allahpundit/2022/02/28/russia-is-taking-off-the-gloves-in-kharkiv-n451747
Leftists will be pleased that the Bezos WaPo is on the case:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/27/ukraine-russia-invasion-tactics/
https://hotair.com/allahpundit/2022/02/28/russia-is-taking-off-the-gloves-in-kharkiv-n451747
And this...
Putin is fighting Ukraine with restraint so far, aware that a bloodbath could turn Russian public opinion against him decisively.
One third of the Russian troops stationed at the Ukrainian border have yet to advance.
A U.S. defence official told Bloomberg that Russia has used only 50 percent of its available firepower so far.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/putin-races-against-clock-as-fast-military-advance-frustrated-1.1729549