It seriously looks like Russia should take over the world and upgrade it.
I've been watching videos from Mariupol for some time, and it's phenomenal to see what the Russians have achieved in rebuilding that city in only 18 months.
These previously Ukrainian cities have been neglected for decades by the Ukrainian government, and videos from Mariupol has a few videos showing how run down these cities were, before the Russian SMO started in Feb 2022.
Similar development and economic growth is also taking place in Crimea under Russia, while the Ukraine neglected Crimea.
The Facts make it Obvious as to why the people in Crimea, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson want to be under Russian rule.
These Facts put all Western and Ukrainian Bullshit to bed.
I've also watched Mariupol vids, and it's remarkable, but they have a long way to go. As with Luhansk, which I was pleased to see for the first time, the population is reduced. Russians will jump at the chance for warmer climates once the war is over, so hopefully they rescue abandoned and decaying suburbs. The downside is that, like Americans, Russian billionaires are going to snap up the best real estate at the cheapest prices. In the long term, I hope inflation doesn't hurt the locals. Development would be a factor to vote for Russia but, at the time, no one would have been thinking of that. They, and half the country, were being persecuted for speaking an 'evil' language. Xenophobia sucks.
Agreed, they a have a long way to go, but just looking at the progress they have made in 18 months of rebuilding, is absolutely astounding.
Remember that the rebuilding will drive Russia's economic growth for at least a decade, while they will have the minerals and oil in the region to fund it, both of which Russia has experienced no difficultly selling into various world markets.
I have been able to gather that the Russian government has been very careful to ensure that former Russian speaking Ukrainians who lost their homes in the fighting, have been given free, new homes and even the opportunity to choose a selection of furniture.
The Oligarchs will most certainly enter the property fray, however after compensating the citizens who lost their homes with free new homes, I don't believe that there will be a massive demand for property that will drive exorbitant prices for private property sales, especially since many people will not return to the cities in the short term.
That's really scary about the chemical weapons, and that the international agency responsible for monitoring them is captured by the USA. I wonder if BRICS will develop a similar institution that can be trusted more than the current one.
It was an interesting press release by the Russian Defence Ministry. Just a click and paste from my side... after Google warnings that it was dangerous to continue.
I both support and am skeptical of BRICS. The upside is that the history of mankind is that there has to be a balance of forces so that one side doesn't take too much i.e. the USA/UK. The downside is that it's a competition for power, for control of the same institutions I despise. And I know my corrupt country well.
I'm not. Putin chose a war of economic and soldier attrition over a war against civilians. Additionally, whatever mess you make in an area you will one day occupy is self-defeating because you want the people on your side, and you want to limit rebuilding costs.
Unfortunately virtually every village, town or city that Russia has captured so far, has been left in total ruin.
It was interesting to see some of these towns, and how in many cases the Orthodox Churches remained virtually unscathed depite the town being flattened.
It is only now that the Ukrainian front is collapsing in the Donbass that the Russians are walking into towns and villages and capturing them with either little to no damage.
I personally do however believe that the Russians will Not be rebuilding most of the single street villages, but rather seek to consolidate the inhabitants into developing more planned towns, which can more economically be rebuilt and managed moving forward.
Parts of cities and towns remain, but villages are erased, and may remain so. Of course, it's practical to first install infrastructure in built-up areas. I hope that within a few years after the war, Ukrainians and ex-Ukrainians will be given a choice which side they wish to belong to.
It's already happened to an extent. Those who wished to temain Ukrainians fled to Western Ukraine when the war started, while those who wanted to become Russians either stayed in the region, many of whom are fighting on the Russian side, in units like DPR forces, while others fled into Russia, many of them are working in the arms and munitions factories in Russia.
This I believe will result more or less in the final distribution of people when the war is over.
Exactly, Russia didn't retaliate, strikes of this magnitude are planned in advance for months. That is further backed by Peskov who promised an actual retaliation while first missiles had already impacted. This is just a planned curb operation in preparation for winter.
Not an analysis or article, just share of press release, and they did have 3 weeks to prepare since Kursk incursion... but you may be right, because this doesn't punish the leadership (which I think Putin would want to do)... and I shudder to be Ukrainian in imaging worse before the cold sets in.
No way Putin will ever authorise a strike against Zelensky. To what end? His motto has always been "Let's keep these or else they might send someone competent". Besides, the real leadership is overseas, and every day that dollar-based financial system moves towards a cliff is a day he strikes them deeper.
Mark, thanks again for your thorough reporting. I’m trying to make sense of the overall picture. I’ve read reports US accusing Russia of using chemical weapons. It’s the first report I’ve read of US and Ukraine activities involved in the collection of biomaterials and Ukraine’s import of chemical weapons.
I wonder what the end goal of collecting biomaterials is. It’s not too comforting if what’s reported is accurate; pharmaceutical companies conducting questionable trials. Sounds sinister.
Mike, but I can be Mark. Sounds better than Dick :)
My previous two posts were articles, this is just me sharing the Russia Defence Ministry's press release because the OPCW isn't doing its job (and should not be a political tool).
That's old news. But there are new facts here, and I haven't researched them. I've already done two articles I never meant to do, and wasn't up to a third because I've something else for Sunday. Always contrary?
I meant Orestes, it's hard to believe that this report is the first one from which he glimpsed at the bioweapon problem at all. Talk about infobubbles. Well, better late than never, I guess.
I mean... it was huge. Not only the part where US military conducted experiments with pathogens one grade above the lab's security level, it was downright creepy. Genetic sampling, experiments on Ukraine soldiers, collecting data on local migrating birds, repurposed drones with sprayers, possible ties to similar lab in Georgia that is apparently responsible for ASWF strains that decimated Russian swineries. Huge. With demands at UN to make a disclosure and all. The Chinese picked it up and fanned the flames for more than a year through their own media and politicians because they're in a similar situation, it's apparently a whole network of US facilities in other countries doing shady stuff. So, very big, very loud.
And you learn about it... only now. On Substack. I'm somewhat baffled, is all. Welcome to reality, Neo, what else can I say.
I lurked for a couple of hours on your Substack in search for additional information re the biolabs issue. I confess Andy prompted my curiosity.
You’re such a prolific writer, and commend you for such thorough and hard work. However, skimming your Substack I failed to find additional information. I probably missed them as I got distracted with unrelated topics.
Your series of who controls South Africa piqued my interest, and delved into it. Believing it would be a black and white issue I expected a straightforward conclusion, boy was I wrong.
The series is pretty dense, the characters represent a cross sectional set of ideologies, interests, and values. Americans, Jews, Russians, corporations, NGOs all seem to have carved their niche in the country’s politics. I perceive all have some degree of control, depending on the issue.
Probably it’s a rushed assessment, and should re-read the series carefully, not an easy task on a smartphone. What’s glaring is the omission of a unifying figure, an upcoming Mandela.
Since I failed in my attempt to figure out who controls SA, my question to you is who controls SA? In the US it’s pretty straightforward forward corporations, AIPAC , and the military industrial complex.
BTW, I searched internet platforms re the biolabs, information is scant. The sources use a similar outline. “According to Russian sources Ukraine and US are developing biological weapons “ concluding “no evidence exists to back these claims “.
Regardless, I learned South Africa is a challenging country. Learning its dynamics is quite a challenge.
I haven't written about the labs. In fact, I started this page to cut through the propaganda about Ukraine, but got seriously sidetracked with my country's elections and Palestine, and my mind bouncing at other angles. There's a long list of Russia/Ukraine/NATO not yet done. What is done is at https://www.mikehampton.co.uk/p/ukraine under the first header. That series will get more intense and educational as I developed. Hopefully one day I add the biolabs, also delayed because I wanted more info. I make the point that this is not widely known. It was out of the news as quickly as it was in, probably the fastest media suppression of the war.
I can't remember which podcast was most relevant without relistening but let me choose Whitney Webb because she's one of the most important writers you should know (regarding many topics, so subscibe). However, this is her with other folks on 'Ukraine & The Specter of Bioterror with Robbie Martin And Gumby'. Note the date - THE START OF THE WAR. There's a download link at the bottom - https://unlimitedhangout.com/2022/03/podcasts/ukraine-the-specter-of-bioterror-with-robbie-martin-and-gumby-2/
Who controls South Africa? I'm not at a final answer, but vaguely the USA, local billionaires, and Germany via fake NGOs, fake think tanks, and Media bias they sponsor.
Mandela was before the events in my "Who Controls South Africa?" series. But it would take a lot of gullibility for me to believe that a prisoner suddenly became President without having been selected by the folks who had power before and after 1994. Consider that a question to yourself. That's a starting point to a longer story.
Interesting, btw reading your articles, I can’t help myself conjuring assumptions. The quality of your work tells me you probably worked as an investigative journalist for an outlet. Good job.
Nope, just a citizen who encountered corruption in a small town, went to the politicians for help, revealed that it went to the top, uncovered lots more of their crime, and, after 10 years of hell they crushed me.
Thanks for your prompt response. For many years, I took what The New York Times published as gospel. As I relocated to different countries, my skepticism slowly crept in. I still subscribe to it, but the opinion page is so predictable. I’m pretty sure tomorrow’s coverage is a continuation of their Kamalafest. Paul Krugman’s all is good in the economic front. Thomas Friedman’s latest conversation with a taxi driver. So it comes as no surprise the biolabs is not widely known, media suppression is troubling.
Andy’s take is different. I respect his opinion, not his condescending attitude. In the end, had the decency to write back to this Neo.
Thanks for the links, I’ll take a look at them.
I’m glad that my conclusion is similar to yours. SA politics are not for the faint of heart. Hope the brownouts are improving.
I used to love New York Times, and The Washington Post, and they have great biopics about them, but I was partly brainwashed, and reporters were more free then.
It seriously looks like Russia should take over the world and upgrade it.
I've been watching videos from Mariupol for some time, and it's phenomenal to see what the Russians have achieved in rebuilding that city in only 18 months.
These previously Ukrainian cities have been neglected for decades by the Ukrainian government, and videos from Mariupol has a few videos showing how run down these cities were, before the Russian SMO started in Feb 2022.
Similar development and economic growth is also taking place in Crimea under Russia, while the Ukraine neglected Crimea.
The Facts make it Obvious as to why the people in Crimea, Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson want to be under Russian rule.
These Facts put all Western and Ukrainian Bullshit to bed.
I've also watched Mariupol vids, and it's remarkable, but they have a long way to go. As with Luhansk, which I was pleased to see for the first time, the population is reduced. Russians will jump at the chance for warmer climates once the war is over, so hopefully they rescue abandoned and decaying suburbs. The downside is that, like Americans, Russian billionaires are going to snap up the best real estate at the cheapest prices. In the long term, I hope inflation doesn't hurt the locals. Development would be a factor to vote for Russia but, at the time, no one would have been thinking of that. They, and half the country, were being persecuted for speaking an 'evil' language. Xenophobia sucks.
Agreed, they a have a long way to go, but just looking at the progress they have made in 18 months of rebuilding, is absolutely astounding.
Remember that the rebuilding will drive Russia's economic growth for at least a decade, while they will have the minerals and oil in the region to fund it, both of which Russia has experienced no difficultly selling into various world markets.
I have been able to gather that the Russian government has been very careful to ensure that former Russian speaking Ukrainians who lost their homes in the fighting, have been given free, new homes and even the opportunity to choose a selection of furniture.
The Oligarchs will most certainly enter the property fray, however after compensating the citizens who lost their homes with free new homes, I don't believe that there will be a massive demand for property that will drive exorbitant prices for private property sales, especially since many people will not return to the cities in the short term.
Yes, it'll need the development to compensate for when the war machine boom fades.
Oligarchs always win. Call me Pessimist.
Thanks for this important information, Mike.
That's really scary about the chemical weapons, and that the international agency responsible for monitoring them is captured by the USA. I wonder if BRICS will develop a similar institution that can be trusted more than the current one.
It was an interesting press release by the Russian Defence Ministry. Just a click and paste from my side... after Google warnings that it was dangerous to continue.
I both support and am skeptical of BRICS. The upside is that the history of mankind is that there has to be a balance of forces so that one side doesn't take too much i.e. the USA/UK. The downside is that it's a competition for power, for control of the same institutions I despise. And I know my corrupt country well.
IIRC, Russia has said that this was not yet retaliation for Kursk and had been planned.
That revenge is yet to be seen.
Considering how effective the missile attack was, that is frightening.
I'm very surprised that they hadn't taken out the entire power grid before now, but Russia has been playing nicely so far.
At some point that will change.
I'm not. Putin chose a war of economic and soldier attrition over a war against civilians. Additionally, whatever mess you make in an area you will one day occupy is self-defeating because you want the people on your side, and you want to limit rebuilding costs.
Unfortunately virtually every village, town or city that Russia has captured so far, has been left in total ruin.
It was interesting to see some of these towns, and how in many cases the Orthodox Churches remained virtually unscathed depite the town being flattened.
It is only now that the Ukrainian front is collapsing in the Donbass that the Russians are walking into towns and villages and capturing them with either little to no damage.
I personally do however believe that the Russians will Not be rebuilding most of the single street villages, but rather seek to consolidate the inhabitants into developing more planned towns, which can more economically be rebuilt and managed moving forward.
Parts of cities and towns remain, but villages are erased, and may remain so. Of course, it's practical to first install infrastructure in built-up areas. I hope that within a few years after the war, Ukrainians and ex-Ukrainians will be given a choice which side they wish to belong to.
It's already happened to an extent. Those who wished to temain Ukrainians fled to Western Ukraine when the war started, while those who wanted to become Russians either stayed in the region, many of whom are fighting on the Russian side, in units like DPR forces, while others fled into Russia, many of them are working in the arms and munitions factories in Russia.
This I believe will result more or less in the final distribution of people when the war is over.
Exactly, Russia didn't retaliate, strikes of this magnitude are planned in advance for months. That is further backed by Peskov who promised an actual retaliation while first missiles had already impacted. This is just a planned curb operation in preparation for winter.
Not an analysis or article, just share of press release, and they did have 3 weeks to prepare since Kursk incursion... but you may be right, because this doesn't punish the leadership (which I think Putin would want to do)... and I shudder to be Ukrainian in imaging worse before the cold sets in.
No way Putin will ever authorise a strike against Zelensky. To what end? His motto has always been "Let's keep these or else they might send someone competent". Besides, the real leadership is overseas, and every day that dollar-based financial system moves towards a cliff is a day he strikes them deeper.
I never said a strike against Zelensky, I said "punishment" of the "leadership". Zelensky is far too convenient a figure to lay blame on locally.
Of that we can be sure.
"Hold accountable" would have been a better use of words than "lay blame".
Mark, thanks again for your thorough reporting. I’m trying to make sense of the overall picture. I’ve read reports US accusing Russia of using chemical weapons. It’s the first report I’ve read of US and Ukraine activities involved in the collection of biomaterials and Ukraine’s import of chemical weapons.
I wonder what the end goal of collecting biomaterials is. It’s not too comforting if what’s reported is accurate; pharmaceutical companies conducting questionable trials. Sounds sinister.
Mike, but I can be Mark. Sounds better than Dick :)
My previous two posts were articles, this is just me sharing the Russia Defence Ministry's press release because the OPCW isn't doing its job (and should not be a political tool).
Holy shit, so the whole biolabs story went past you?
That's old news. But there are new facts here, and I haven't researched them. I've already done two articles I never meant to do, and wasn't up to a third because I've something else for Sunday. Always contrary?
I meant Orestes, it's hard to believe that this report is the first one from which he glimpsed at the bioweapon problem at all. Talk about infobubbles. Well, better late than never, I guess.
All education is good. I'm not going to regret my childhood wishing to be CIA cause I read to many fiction books :)
Boy, I wish Clancy lived a little longer to witness everything. Still, surely he got the gist of things before the end.
What, no ways he's dead! He's got a book coming out every year... forever. He's a lot like the USA's reanimated elections.
Yes, why?
I'm lost in thread, so unsure which part you're responding to.
Andy’s comment, not you. You’ve been respectful.
Ta for clarification.
I mean... it was huge. Not only the part where US military conducted experiments with pathogens one grade above the lab's security level, it was downright creepy. Genetic sampling, experiments on Ukraine soldiers, collecting data on local migrating birds, repurposed drones with sprayers, possible ties to similar lab in Georgia that is apparently responsible for ASWF strains that decimated Russian swineries. Huge. With demands at UN to make a disclosure and all. The Chinese picked it up and fanned the flames for more than a year through their own media and politicians because they're in a similar situation, it's apparently a whole network of US facilities in other countries doing shady stuff. So, very big, very loud.
And you learn about it... only now. On Substack. I'm somewhat baffled, is all. Welcome to reality, Neo, what else can I say.
Well, it was. I was clueless, my bad. As you would about topics that I closely follow. But thanks for taking the time to respond. Best, Neo
Agreed. For example, I've been staring at substack so long I've forgotten what women look like :)
Haha, the timing, I just finished commenting on your Substack. I forgot it’s dinner time.
Best,
Andy, being educational is nice, not parading it.
Sorry if that's too much, I just got truly, deeply baffled. The thickness of the information cocoon they're keeping around people.
ok.
Ouch! Apologies Mike. Thanks again.
No sweat. Information is important, not personalities.
Mike,
I lurked for a couple of hours on your Substack in search for additional information re the biolabs issue. I confess Andy prompted my curiosity.
You’re such a prolific writer, and commend you for such thorough and hard work. However, skimming your Substack I failed to find additional information. I probably missed them as I got distracted with unrelated topics.
Your series of who controls South Africa piqued my interest, and delved into it. Believing it would be a black and white issue I expected a straightforward conclusion, boy was I wrong.
The series is pretty dense, the characters represent a cross sectional set of ideologies, interests, and values. Americans, Jews, Russians, corporations, NGOs all seem to have carved their niche in the country’s politics. I perceive all have some degree of control, depending on the issue.
Probably it’s a rushed assessment, and should re-read the series carefully, not an easy task on a smartphone. What’s glaring is the omission of a unifying figure, an upcoming Mandela.
Since I failed in my attempt to figure out who controls SA, my question to you is who controls SA? In the US it’s pretty straightforward forward corporations, AIPAC , and the military industrial complex.
BTW, I searched internet platforms re the biolabs, information is scant. The sources use a similar outline. “According to Russian sources Ukraine and US are developing biological weapons “ concluding “no evidence exists to back these claims “.
Regardless, I learned South Africa is a challenging country. Learning its dynamics is quite a challenge.
Best,
Orestes
Thanks. You're my preferred type of stalker!
I haven't written about the labs. In fact, I started this page to cut through the propaganda about Ukraine, but got seriously sidetracked with my country's elections and Palestine, and my mind bouncing at other angles. There's a long list of Russia/Ukraine/NATO not yet done. What is done is at https://www.mikehampton.co.uk/p/ukraine under the first header. That series will get more intense and educational as I developed. Hopefully one day I add the biolabs, also delayed because I wanted more info. I make the point that this is not widely known. It was out of the news as quickly as it was in, probably the fastest media suppression of the war.
A simple start on the CIA is by ex-CIA at https://consortiumnews.com/2022/12/27/john-kiriakou-cia-should-get-out-of-the-laboratory/
I can't remember which podcast was most relevant without relistening but let me choose Whitney Webb because she's one of the most important writers you should know (regarding many topics, so subscibe). However, this is her with other folks on 'Ukraine & The Specter of Bioterror with Robbie Martin And Gumby'. Note the date - THE START OF THE WAR. There's a download link at the bottom - https://unlimitedhangout.com/2022/03/podcasts/ukraine-the-specter-of-bioterror-with-robbie-martin-and-gumby-2/
Who controls South Africa? I'm not at a final answer, but vaguely the USA, local billionaires, and Germany via fake NGOs, fake think tanks, and Media bias they sponsor.
Mandela was before the events in my "Who Controls South Africa?" series. But it would take a lot of gullibility for me to believe that a prisoner suddenly became President without having been selected by the folks who had power before and after 1994. Consider that a question to yourself. That's a starting point to a longer story.
Interesting, he was portrayed as virtuous statesman.
He was better than many.
Here's an example of my encounter with one of the controlled outfits operating here - https://www.mikehampton.co.uk/p/godzille-4-da-zille-protected-by-anc-ramaphosa
Thanks. Knowledge is power.
Interesting, btw reading your articles, I can’t help myself conjuring assumptions. The quality of your work tells me you probably worked as an investigative journalist for an outlet. Good job.
Nope, just a citizen who encountered corruption in a small town, went to the politicians for help, revealed that it went to the top, uncovered lots more of their crime, and, after 10 years of hell they crushed me.
Thanks for your prompt response. For many years, I took what The New York Times published as gospel. As I relocated to different countries, my skepticism slowly crept in. I still subscribe to it, but the opinion page is so predictable. I’m pretty sure tomorrow’s coverage is a continuation of their Kamalafest. Paul Krugman’s all is good in the economic front. Thomas Friedman’s latest conversation with a taxi driver. So it comes as no surprise the biolabs is not widely known, media suppression is troubling.
Andy’s take is different. I respect his opinion, not his condescending attitude. In the end, had the decency to write back to this Neo.
Thanks for the links, I’ll take a look at them.
I’m glad that my conclusion is similar to yours. SA politics are not for the faint of heart. Hope the brownouts are improving.
Loadshedding hasn’t happened for months now.
I used to love New York Times, and The Washington Post, and they have great biopics about them, but I was partly brainwashed, and reporters were more free then.
Thanks for clarifying the source of the report. Beat