Russian Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s troll farm and media outfit are looking for fresh ownership after his aborted rebellion and exile in Belarus, independent media reported Thursday.
— Read on www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/06/29/wagner-leaders-troll-factory-expects-takeover-reports-a81690
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Thursday 29 June 2023
Notes on the News
MSNBC Nicolle Wallace
- Nicolle Wallace (who has a female worship problem) is now trying to make Sue Gordon, Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence at DNI, the kind of hero she made Liz Cheney out to be.
- First, glorifying Liz Cheney ignores the fact that many people will vote for her (when she runs) for this last two years of integrity about Trump. They will not examine her policies and her voting record. She voted with Trump almost every time. She is not a person to be lionized. She was doing what every person with character would do. The problem is that we are woefully short on people with good character.
- As I said, she voted with Trump on almost every vote that came before the Congress. To lionize her is like saying I’ll vote for a person who states: “I hate Hitler, but I’ll gladly vote for building more concentration camps. Please Nicolle Wallace and friends stop this hero worship of Cheney.
- Alright, second people will hear these glorifying stories about Cheney’s character and courage, etc. and vote for her, totally ignoring the disastrous policies she represents. It’s not responsible.
- Then, there is Sue Gordon, who Wallace also is trying to make into a hero. But, Gordon explicitly took the position on Nicolle Wallace’s program that civil servants must just follow the rules, no matter what president is in office, they have to give them all the secret information they ask for and do whatever they say. According to Gordon, it’s not up to the individual civil servant to decide what information to give a President. It’s not up to the individual civil servant to decide which president can be trusted and which can’t.
- But, this is obviously bullshit and has, in part, gotten us where we are. This is a total abdication of responsibility. The civil servant is just supposed to say: I am just doing my job, if a tyrant, an authoritarian, a treasonous bastard is asking for the names of all the secret agents representing the country, I’ll just have to give it to him. I’ll give it to him in a bi-partisan way, whether it’s a Democrat or a Republican.
- Sue Gordon needs to grow up. The entire system cannot just hide behind the “doing my job in a non-partisan way” excuse.
- How does it work, Sue Gordon asks, if individual civil servants start asking themselves: How will this particular guy (president) deal with this sensitive information Her argument is that individual civil servants cannot start deciding for themselves which president to give information and which not ot.
- But, you know folks, individuals have to, in the end, stand up and decide which side they are on. If you have a treasonous maniac in the White House it is your responsibility to hide information from him to prevent him from bring about a disaster. You must stand up and do this no matter what the consequences, or how much it disrupts the normal rules for behavior.
- Sue Gordon also, said on Nicolle Wallace’s show that she is a “system girl,” i.e., she believes the system works. She believes that the trial will be fair and that 12 citizens can be trusted to come to the right decision. Really?
- The Republicans have been working for 40 years to make sure that the justice system doesn’t work for people who are rich and powerful. They have worked hard to dominate the entire justice system, and just repeating the mantra that the institutions are still working, or that you trust the jury system, is childish and myopic.
- The reason the Republican party has worked so hard to stack the Supreme Court and get unqualified political hacks onto lover courts, is that they want to destroy the institutions in this country. Pundits like Wallace and Gordon may believe that the “system works” but that belief will not make it so.
- We have already seen that a Trump appointed judge who made rulings that were slapped down by a superior court, is in charge of part of the Smith cases. She can set the timing of the trial (which will be crucial), delay deciding motions. She has much more power than lower court judges to choose jurors, and she had sentencing power. The people who keep repeating that she will rise to the occasion are like people repeating a mantra. They have to believe this to keep going. Well, I don’t have to believe it.
- The Republicans have been successfully infiltrating the court system for decades and like always, the Democrats refuse to acknowledge what they are doing.
- Nicolle Wallace remarked the other day: :For Trump, it will be different for Trump.” She is assuming that once inside a courtroom, facts, evidence, logical reasoning, and the law are the ruling paradigms. She may well be wrong. We have a judge appointed by Trump who evidently doesn’t give a hoot in hell about president, logical reasoning, legal reasoning or anything else except Trump.
- Corporate news anchors need to grow the fuck up. We are in a war, a war against Republicans and until we realize it, we are doomed to fail.
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Wednesday 28 June 2023
I had to go to a doctor an hour and a half away today. I couldn’t wait to get home and monitor the war against Ukraine.
Notes on the News
- It seems that Prigozhin is in Belarus, but I think the confirmation for this is an announcement by Lukashenko. I’m not sure he is a reliable source.
- It is also being reported that Prigozhin had to start this (whatever it was) coup attempt early because the Kremlin found out about it.
Prigozhin’s catering company poisons children (2019)
- In 2019 The Moscow Times reported that some 130 cases of food poisoning among children in part of Moscow lead parents to file a class-action lawsuit against Concord catering.
- Anti-corruption investigators tied the firm to “Kremlin-linked” catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin.
- Even though Prigozhin denied any connection with Concord, a press release from Concord said Prigozhin had paid $275,000 to 145 parents who had filed complaints after food poisoning.
- Another catering company called Shkolnik, reportedly part of Concord, was fined in the case.
- An anti-corruption activist said that the payout effectively confirmed Concord as a “serious offender.”
- She asked why, if the company was guilty of food poisoning, it still had contracts to feed Russian children.
- “Prigozhin-linked companies have signed nearly 5,400 state contracts worth $3.2 billion with the military, schools and hospitals since 2011, the U.S.-funded Current Time news channel reported in February of 2019.”
- Three Progozhin-linked companies have been indicted in the US, including Concord over an alleged criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper with the US presidential elections.
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Officials confirmed some 130 cases of food poisoning among kindergarteners in southeastern Moscow in December, leading parents to file a class-action lawsuit against the Concord catering firm. Anti-corruption investigators have tied the firm to Kremlin-linked catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin, 58. Concord has denied any links to Prigozhin.
— Read on www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2019/04/putins-chef-compensates-russian-children-catering-scandal-linked-us-elections/ -
27 June 2023
MSNBC and Glen Thrush (snake at the NYT) are promoting a narrative beneficial to Trump. They are portraying Trump as a silly old man who stole and refused to give back classified documents because he liked to save “souvenirs.”
Thrush compared classified documents, state secrets that could, if revealed, cost people lives, to a basketball player’s tennis shoe (Trump has in his New York office.)
This makes me furious.
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Vox Pop Interviews with People on the Street in Moscow (Saturday) The Moscow Times (6/27/23)
- “Oh, no.” Young woman walks away hurriedly and immediately.
- “I don’t know. I don’t have an opinion about it.” Young man.
- Middle aged man. “I’m not worried.” Reporter: Is everything under control? “of course. Everything’s great.”
- Older man. “We have a president. We’ll support him.” Reporter: Did you watch Putin’s address? “No.” Reporter: Putin said it was a stab in the back. “Well, fine. But it’s not the first time, is it?” Reporter: Not the first time? “Clearly not.”
- “I don’t really follow politics. So, I won’t say anything about it.” Young man.
- Two young men: “As you see there’s no fuss. Everyone is walking around calmly.” Reporter: Everyone is calm? “In essence, yes. What do we have to worry about?
- “I haven’t heard about anything. I don’t follow the news.” Young man.
- Two young men. “What to say? Welcolm..” Laughter
- Middle aged man. Reporter: What do you think about Prigozhin? “ Of course, he’s one of Russia’s field commanders who now decided to take power into his own hands. For God’s sake, it’s happened so many times (in history), but it always ends in failure.” Dismissive laugh.
- Middle Aged man: “It’s a big political mystery. Not even a day has passed. The situation is unclear.
- Young man. “It’s wrong to make any sort of assertion right now since there’s so much information – it’s coming quickly and changing quickly. Therefore, it’s impossible to make any sort of conclusion.
- Middle aged man. “I don’t think Progozhin will make it to Moscow. Countermeasures have already been taken based on what I last saw on Telegram. Kadyrov’s people are encircling him (Prigozhin) from two sides. And so too are others.
- “We are observing what’s happening. Reporter: Even if there’s fighting? Middle aged man. “I don’t think it will come to that. Yes, let’s hope it doesn’t reach that point.
- Reporter: Are you worried right now. Middle aged man. “About Moscow? I’m a bit worried about Rostov on Don.”
- “Emotions are fine, but the question is what to do with them?” Young woman. “What can I do right now? Leave Moscow?” Reporter: You won’t leave if Wagner enters Moscw? “Well it wouldn’t happen in an instant, it would happen gradually. I don’t know. I have a big family. I can’t just pack up and leave.
- Middle Aged Man. “They’ll be blown up on the road.”
- “I’m against all kinds of armed mutinies. But I also want to see justice at some point in my lifetime. Since I was born in 1985, there has been very little justice.” “We honestly need justice, guys. The people on the top are really greedy. Our country has lived within this system for many years. And life doesn’t get any better. Prices are rising, but prices aren’t even the problem. The problem is how the government treats people.
- Young man, looks like student. “It reminds me of 1917.” “Most Russians probably think Prigozhin is a good person a patriot and so on.” Reporter: So Russians are the problem? “No. It’s the government. It supported Prigozhin. It supported Prigozhin and gave him everything he has, and now the chickens have come home to roost.”
- Young woman. “ I don’t think I have much respect for Prigozhin after this revolt. I don’t think this should be happening. If he’s protecting Russia then why is he doing this?” Reporter: You don’t support his plan to march on Moscow? “No I don’t. For me, the situation is terrifying and it’s unclear what to expect.
- Two young men. Reporter: Why has Prigozhin come to Moscow? “To change the leadership in the Defense Ministry.” Reporter: Are you worried? “No, I’m not worried. I don’t think he’ll be able to reach Moscow.” Reporter: Do you like Prigozhin? “(sighs) He’s a controversial character as if everyone else in the government.”
- Three young men. “No comment.” Reporter: Why “I think it’s for the best given the current situation.” Reporter: Are you afraid of Prigozhin? “No, I’m not. Other young man. “They are saying he’s paused to think about. So there’s nothing more to think about. He’s negotiating some deal. Reporter: What kind of deal? “Beats me.” Nervous laughter.
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Prigozhin Monday 26 June 2023
CNN State Department News Conference (2:00 PM)
- We knew there were tensions there between Putin and Prigozhin.
- Americans should not travel to Russia, those there should depart.
John Kirby, Press Conference 2:20
- Upcoming NATO meeting.
- “We would like to see Russia remove all their troops.”
BBC Podcast (6/25/23)
What next for Russia’s Putin
- Prigozhin: “They wanted to disband the Wagner.” “Now the moment has come when the blood will be spilled. Russian blood will be spilled on one of the sides.”
- We don’t know where Prigozhin is now. (Note: I saw something earlier that said he was establishing camps for his men in Belarus, but we don’t know).
- What is he expected to do there? Retire? Farm? There are other parts of the Wagner group around the world.
- No sign of Prigozhin.
- What will happen to the mercenary troops? They have been told that they won’t be prosecuted. That is extraordinary. They will be incorporated into the Defense Ministry.
- They did not want to be forced to sign contracts with the defense ministry.
- What will happen if Wagner mercenaries (this includes convicts) join the regular Russian army? Will there be resentment?
- Perhaps 20,000 to 30,000 committed to the war in Ukraine from Wagner.
- Prigozhin is pretty popular among the families of fighters, he says things other people won’t way – like the military isn’t getting the support it needs. What do these military men and families think about Prigozhin.
- (Note: Somebody wrote that Prigozhin’s main audience was the military and people associated with the military.)
- Department of King’s College, London, Dr. J. McGlen
- Author of “Russia’s War.”
- Putin has been weakened but the extent depends on how the situation is resolved.
- What happens to the military top brass. If they do, there will be unhappy people. If Putin does take them away, it will weaken the system Putin depends on. Not good options.
- People will have spent days contemplating a Russia without Putin, and that is different. People are reassessing what the situation is. This is especially true for the elites.
- The U-Turn? There are reports that Putin was aware that this was going to happen, unconfirmed. Other countries were aware. Couldn’t have come as a huge shock due to escalating rhetoric.
- Prigozhin has been allowed to continue not just because Wagner is an effective fighting force. He is also an avenue or outlet for those who are angry with how the war is being conducted. This would explain why people in Rostov greeted Prigozhin so warmly.
- It’s not just about Prigozhin. He represents certain forces among the elite. It resolved the situation and Putin is very concerned with the civil war in 1917.
Russian Editor at BBC
- Looking at social media accounts believed to be associated with Wagner. They are not providing any insight into what’s going to happen. Whether rank and file will support this agreement.
- Prigozhin has been prolific on his social media accounts. But since the decision to go back, he has been silent.
- Wagner accounts on social media are expressing their disdain for the regular military. They are saying things like they should shoot themselves in the head. But, there are no clues as to what is going to happen.
- Z commentators who support the war but not necessarily Putin are saying that the official military is to blame for the situation.
- Where was the defense minister? Where is the Defense Minister?
- They are asking what the Russians will do if the Ukrainians try to invade Russia like Prigozhin did.
- BBC.com/news for updates
Defense Editor of the Economist
- 15,000 to 30,000 troops. Perhaps 5,000 participated in the insurrection.
- They get relatively high wages with Wagner.
- Significant friction between mercenaries and the regular army are likely.
- Prigozhin has riled up his forces against a “war waged by an oligarchic elite” (Prigozhin’s words). He said the war was unnecessary and didn’t need to be waged.
- Even before the revolt, Wagner troops thought the Russian military had conducted a missile strike against them.
- That’s what they believe, that’s what Prigozhin has told them. So, how will they feel about joining troops who had shot and killed Wagner troops?
- It will also cause the regular troops to question the reasons for pursuing the war. But, we don’t know what sort of media they are consuming. They may believe Putin that these Wagner people are committing treason. Then, they will wonder why this man who has committed treason is allowed to run off to Belarus.
- One of Prigozhin’s promises was that he would no longer allow Russian troops to be used as cannon fodder.
- Paints a picture of disarray and troops wondering why they are there.
- Will the dissolving of Wagner hurt the Russian military effort? Not immediately. When Wagner was removed from the front lines, it allowed Ukraine to make some successes in Bakhmut.
- Russia is short of reserve personnel and especially not trained personnel.
Belarus: Belarusian journalist, Atlantic Council (31:00)
- He has experienced mass protests of his own people. Putin helped him out.
- Lukashenko may have been just used by Putin. They were trying to save face.
- Was Putin going to kill Prigozhin?
- Lukashenko is a very loyal ally.
- But why would Prigozhin want to go to Belarus?
- Will he be safe there? Putin has said he was a traitor. Putin is not a forgiving person.
- Lukashenko is also under threat. Putin treats Belarus as a back yard. Lukashenko used doesn’t have any motivation to say no.
- He was currying favor with Putin. This is the way people gain favor with Putin.
- People in Belarus (who in the past tried to overthrow Lukashenko) will see that Putin has been weakened. This is a threat for Lukashenko.
Wagner, BBC Correspondent
- Wagner has an important presence in Africa. Until last year Wagner denied it existed.
- Mali, CAR, Lybia, Sudan, Mozambique, Quino Faso
- What are they doing? Brought in by governments that are unstable (Mali and CAR) to do training. The Russian government would have agreement with the country to uphold these regimes. In return, they get mineral rights.
- Wagner is so well funded because they have gotten extraction rights to diamonds and gold mines.
- This is not just a mercenary group, but one of the key parts of Russian foreign policy, turn on its master.
- Wagner is used by the Russian government to do things it doesn’t want to take responsibility for. The government can say, this is a private company, not part of the Russian government.
- Really significant for these places, Wagner.
- They established bot farms to interfere in the US elections. They are thought to have bot farms across Africa to interfere in elections. (Note: Read information about Cambridge Analytica, which experimented in influencing elections in Africa as a prelude for the US interference.)
- Wagner has been an incredibly useful tool for Russia and a lucrative one.
- African people, some of them, would be glad to see Wagner disbanded. They have a reputation (Human Rights Watch, UN) for violent treatment of people. In Mali there are reports that Wagner killed hundreds of people.
- In Mali, Wagner came in and replaced the French troops that were there. (Note: Why were French troops there?).
On the streets of Russia, comments:
- We have stability.
- What Prigozhin did was wrong. He stabbed us in the back (using Putin’s words).
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Images of tanks in streets of Moscow evoked the faltering Soviet Union’s final months in 1991, raising hopes of history repeating itself
— Read on www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/24/even-if-wagner-rebellion-fails-putins-presidency-has-never-looked-weaker -
There was no sign on Sunday of Prigozhin. It wasn’t immediately clear if he is in Belarus or somewhere else. It seems unlikely that he and Putin can co-exist for long, even if Prigozhin agrees to stay in Minsk.
— Read on www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/25/prigozhins-march-on-moscow-chronology-of-an-attempted-coup
