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robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Rob
@robtmackinnon.bsky.social
360 followers 960 following 1.2K posts
The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand

Toronto
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robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Just a reminder
1919: Russia attacks Ukraine 1920: Russia attacks Poland 1920: Russia attacks Azerbaijan 1921: Russia attacks Georgia 1939: Soviet Union attacks Poland 1939: Soviet Union attacks Finland 1940: Soviet Union attacks Baltic countries 1956: Soviet Union attacks Hungary 1968: Soviet Union attacks Czechoslovakia 1979: Soviet Union attacks Afghanistan 1992: Russia attacks Georgia 1992: Russia attacks Moldova 1994: Russia attacks Chechnya 1999: Russia attacks Chechnya 2008: Russia attacks Georgia 2014: Russia attacks Ukraine 2015: Russia attacks Syria 2022: Russia attacks Ukraine Trump: Zelenskyy should not have started the war
November 21, 2025 at 7:43 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Trump and Putin dictating Polish policy
Stuart Dowell - A shocking part of the Trump–Russia "peace plan" isn’t just what it does to Ukraine. It is what it quietly does to Poland. Buried in point 9 is a sentence that looks harmless: European fighters will be stationed in Poland. On paper, that sounds fine. In practice, though, it looks like Washington and Moscow have agreed over Poland’s head to limit the presence of foreign forces on Polish soil, including US forces, and to put a ceiling on NATO air power over the region. If “European fighters” are explicitly named, the obvious Russian reading is simple: no US jets in Poland. And if Russia is co-signing language that defines who and what can be stationed here, it is also a de facto say over NATO air policing in the Baltics and the rest of the eastern flank. That is not “Pax Americana.” That is the US accepting a Russian veto over the security posture of front-line allies. For Polish politics this hits a very specific nerve. For years, Jarosław Kaczyński and now President Karol Nawrocki have built their doctrine on one core idea: forget Brussels, forget Berlin, our security rests on a direct, privileged relationship with Washington. For a country that has spent a decade telling itself that American power is the only real guarantee, that should be a brutal wake-up call.
November 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
There's a message to be taken in here for Canadians too, from the former FM of Lithuania
Gabrielius Landsbergis - There is a glaringly obvious message for Europe in the 28 point plan: This is the end of the end. We have been told repeatedly and unambiguously that Ukraine’s security, and therefore Europe’s security, will be Europe’s responsibility. And now it is. Entirely. If you are a European leader asking your team to book you on the next flight to Washington to go talk to Daddy, please don’t. Not without a plan, not cap in hand, not humiliating us all in front of the cameras at the Oval office. Europe is our continent, our future is decided here, not there. We aren’t poor, we have options, we can finally decide to assist Ukraine to the full extent of our very extensive capabilities, restore European dignity and defend Europe. Or we can continue to wait for the miracle we now know is not coming.
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Looks like Russia just passed off the plan to Witkoff/Trump. Explains why there was no interagency process
The third point of the 28-point plan reads: "It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries and Nato will not expand further." "It is expected" is a clunky passive construction in English. The Russian version - ожидается or ozhidayetsya - makes more sense and is a familiar verb form. Other Russianisms that appear to have crept into the text include неоднозначности (ambiguities) and "закрепить" (to enshrine).
November 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
“Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," PM Donald Tusk
PM of Poland Donald Tusk: All the decisions concerning Poland will be taken by Poles. Nothing about us without us. When it comes to peace, all the negotiations should include Ukraine. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.
November 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
They don’t allow the monsters near the pups
Ghislaine Maxwell barred from service dog training at cushy prison camp “We do not allow anyone whose crime involves abuse towards minors or animals — including any crime of a sexual nature,” the CEO of Canine Companions said.
November 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Zelenskyy says the concept touted by Trump and others of "land swaps" in an eventual peace deal is a non-starter for him because the conversation so far is only about "swapping" Ukrainian land for Ukrainian land
Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking in Brussels
October 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
The note's an absolute banger
MFA Russia [tweet, see Community Note] @mfa_russia. Oct 5, 2023 ... President #Putin: The prosperity of the West has been achieved by robbing colonies for several centuries. Its level of development has been achieved by robbing the entire planet.... [Community Note] Currently rated helpful Oct 5, 2023 View details Shown on X ... From the 16th century onwards, Russia conquered, on average, territory the size of the Netherlands every year for 150 years. In Central Asia, Europe and overseas, the Russian conquest took place over several decades, between 1847 and 1900. Expansion continued with the Soviets https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_imperialism Is this note helpful? Yes Somewhat No
October 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Former NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg, 'as I had done in many other conversations, I referenced Norway’s experiences. “You know, Mr President, as former prime minister of Norway, I know that it’s possible to speak with the Russians.” Trump cast a questioning look. “Are you Norwegian?” (link below)
trump and euro nato leaders
October 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Benny Johnson is a shill for russia
October 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence.
And there’s the issue of masks. This Court has listened carefully to the reasons given by Öztürk’s captors for masking- up and has heard the same reasons advanced by the defendant Todd Lyons, Acting Director of ICE. It rejects this testimony as disingenuous, squalid and dishonorable. ICE goes masked for a single reason -- to terrorize Americans into quiescence. Small wonder ICE often seems to need our respected military to guard them as they go about implementing our immigration laws. It should be noted that our troops do not ordinarily wear masks. Can you imagine a masked marine? It is a matter of honor -- and honor still matters. To us, masks are associated with cowardly desperados and the despised Ku Klux Klan. In all our history we have never tolerated an armed masked secret police. Carrying on in this fashion, ICE brings indelible obloquy to this administration and everyone who works in it. “We can not escape history,” Lincoln righty said. “[It] will light us down in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.” Abraham Lincoln, Second Annual Message to Congress (Dec. 1, 1862).
September 30, 2025 at 6:39 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Italian defence minister strongly condemned the overnight drone attack on the Global Sumud flotilla, which is trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and has redirected an Italian navy ship towards the flotilla to offer assistance to Italian citizens on board - and Israel had been informed
Naval ship at sea
September 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Trump makes unproven link between autism and Tylenol
Trump makes unproven link between autism and Tylenol - CBC
September 22, 2025 at 9:02 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Does it though? Does it really try?
US tries to keep Russian airlines from getting their hands on sanctioned parts *** The issue arose after Washington lifted sanctions against Belavia, the main carrier of Russian ally Belarus.
September 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Glad Neil opened his Farm Aid set with Big Crime
No more great again No more great again Got big crime in DC at the White House Don't need no fascist rules Don't want no fascist schools Don't want soldiers walking on our streets Got big crime in DC at the White House There's big crime in DC at the White House Got to get the fascists out Got to clean the White House out Don't want no soldiers on our streets Got big crime in DC at the White House Got big crime in DC at the White House No more great again No more great again Got big crime in DC at the White House No more money to the fascists The billionaire fascists Time to blackout the system (No) no more great again No more great again Time to blackout the system Got big crime in DC at the White House Got big crime in DC at the White House ...
September 21, 2025 at 5:01 AM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
The insistence that something President Trump and his supporter call "transgender ideology" was behind the killing lays bare another core belief of theirs: They are obsessed with contamination and contagion, seeing it as the site of despicable difference. Again and again they deploy metaphors of disease and disfigurement.
September 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Rzeszów airport has been closed because of "unplanned military activity"
NOTAM Rzeszów airport has now been closed due to unplanned military activity
September 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Need a unified front pushing against Trump's transparent delay tactics
"If [Putin agreeing to a meeting] doesn't happen by Monday, the deadline set by President Trump, it means that once again President Putin played President Trump."
August 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Sumy State University.

15,000 books burned two days ago.

Another 45,000 books — the newest acquisitions from the past 5–6 years — were lost in the April 2025 strike.

It's not hard to see what Russia is doing
Books destroyed by russian bombing Library destroyed by russia Books burned by russian bombs
August 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Good background on Air Canada flight attendant strike
In 2003-2004, during Air Canada's bankruptcy crisis, our flight attendants answered the call to save our national carrier. Every one of us took a $10,000(CAD) annual pay cut and lost one full week of vacation. At that time, management gave solemn promises that, once the company's finances recovered, these sacrifices would be reversed. Yet here we are, more than twenty years later, and not a single day of vacation has been restored. The highest wage in our classification has increased by only $3 per hour in two decades -while the cost of living in Canada has risen by approximately 166% over that same period. Our sacrifices have been permanent; the company's promises, temporary.
August 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
UK assesses Russia would require approximately 4.4 more years to seize complete control of the four Ukrainian oblasts.

Such an effort would likely cost Moscow around 1.9 million Russian troops killed or wounded

No wonder they're trying spin trump into supporting such a ludicrous deal
Defence Intelligence UPDATE ON UKRAINE 15 August 2025 INTELLIGENCE UPDATE It has been reported that Russian President Putin has reiterated longstanding maximalist demands regarding Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including for the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the four internationally-recognised Ukrainian oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson. Based on the rate of Russia's incremental battlefield advances so far in 2025, it would take Russian forces approximately 4.4 more years to gain 100 per cent of the four Ukrainian oblasts' territory. Based on Russia's average daily casualty rate in 2025 so far, as reported by Ukrainian General Staff, 4.4 more years of war would lead to approximately 1,930,000 further Russian casualties (killed and wounded). This is in addition to the approximately 1,060,000 casualties Russia has already likely sustained since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including around 250,000 killed or missing (presumed dead). Russia announced the illegal and erroneous annexation of the four internationally-recognised Ukrainian oblasts, including those areas under Ukrainian control, in September 2022, contradicting Russia's own formal recognition of Ukraine's independence and sovereignty following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
August 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Starting on the choreographed tarmac -- like Helsinki 2.0
He looks like a dog doing that thing where when the owner comes home they stay in one place but can’t contain their excitement @keithedwards
August 16, 2025 at 12:07 AM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Canada didn't start a trade war
Timeline of tariffs and counter tariffs between US and Canada
August 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Putin can't contain his glee
A smiling Putin and Trump travel together in a US limo
August 15, 2025 at 7:22 PM
robtmackinnon.bsky.social
Good to see from Air Canada pilots/ALPA:

"We stand against government intervention and ask for the Air Canada Flight Attendants’ collective bargaining rights to be respected."
Air Canada Pilots stand against government intervention
August 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM