@surpriseduck.bsky.social
Excellent essay to help shift the perspective common among many in the West. It is also another example of why the Kremlin narrative is imperialist propaganda and should not be taken seriously
On the 34th anniversary of the end of the USSR, I’m reposting my article from earlier this year, which argued that we should have understood the moment as liberation rather than only as collapse: www.eurozine.com/liberation-n...
Liberation, not collapse
The fall of the Berlin Wall, and not the human chain across the Baltics, is emblematic of 1989. But what if this show of unity had become iconic of communism’s disintegration? Could acknowledging East...
www.eurozine.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Excellent essay to help shift the perspective common among many in the West. It is also another example of why the Kremlin narrative is imperialist propaganda and should not be taken seriously
Reposted
I don't think attacking the Russian oil industry-the working engine of russia's war machine, is the same as burying 4-year-old girls under the rubble of their homes before Christmas, or plunging a city of a million people into cold and darkness in the dead of winter.
Q: Some are saying Russia's recent attacks show Putin isn't serious about peace
TRUMP: Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. I don't say that negatively. There have been explosions in various parts of Russia. I don't think it came from the Congo. I don't think it came from the USA.
TRUMP: Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. I don't say that negatively. There have been explosions in various parts of Russia. I don't think it came from the Congo. I don't think it came from the USA.
December 28, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I don't think attacking the Russian oil industry-the working engine of russia's war machine, is the same as burying 4-year-old girls under the rubble of their homes before Christmas, or plunging a city of a million people into cold and darkness in the dead of winter.
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Idiots are again arguing ‘Kyiv has so few civilian casualties, Russia must be intentionally avoiding them’
So let’s repeat: Kyiv probably has the most experienced AD of any city in the world right now, &
The civilians have nearly unrivaled experience with & access to bomb shelters
So let’s repeat: Kyiv probably has the most experienced AD of any city in the world right now, &
The civilians have nearly unrivaled experience with & access to bomb shelters
December 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Idiots are again arguing ‘Kyiv has so few civilian casualties, Russia must be intentionally avoiding them’
So let’s repeat: Kyiv probably has the most experienced AD of any city in the world right now, &
The civilians have nearly unrivaled experience with & access to bomb shelters
So let’s repeat: Kyiv probably has the most experienced AD of any city in the world right now, &
The civilians have nearly unrivaled experience with & access to bomb shelters
Reposted
Worse yet, Witkoff has been actively helping the Kremlin manipulate Trump: a leaked transcript of a phone call between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s most senior foreign policy adviser, shows Witkoff giving Ushakov advice on how to convince Trump against helping Ukraine.
16/20
16/20
December 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Worse yet, Witkoff has been actively helping the Kremlin manipulate Trump: a leaked transcript of a phone call between Witkoff and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s most senior foreign policy adviser, shows Witkoff giving Ushakov advice on how to convince Trump against helping Ukraine.
16/20
16/20
Reposted
Y’all might not appreciate it, but it took him 87 moves and 14 hours to get here
December 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Y’all might not appreciate it, but it took him 87 moves and 14 hours to get here
Reposted
I have said this before, I will say this again: arming the Ukrainians to defend themselves is the best bang-for-buck in defense spending in decades.
Give Ukraine munitions and they will reliably put those explosives on America's enemies.
Just not on Trump's enemies and thus the problem.
Give Ukraine munitions and they will reliably put those explosives on America's enemies.
Just not on Trump's enemies and thus the problem.
December 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I have said this before, I will say this again: arming the Ukrainians to defend themselves is the best bang-for-buck in defense spending in decades.
Give Ukraine munitions and they will reliably put those explosives on America's enemies.
Just not on Trump's enemies and thus the problem.
Give Ukraine munitions and they will reliably put those explosives on America's enemies.
Just not on Trump's enemies and thus the problem.
Reposted
So that's c. $6m worth of missiles fired at approximately nothing.
Or we could have spent that money on something like 2,000 basic, dumb-as-bricks 155mm shells (~$3k a piece) which the Ukrainians would have used to kill Russian invaders and preserve their freedom.
Or we could have spent that money on something like 2,000 basic, dumb-as-bricks 155mm shells (~$3k a piece) which the Ukrainians would have used to kill Russian invaders and preserve their freedom.
"tell me we didn't just fire a dozen $500,000 missiles at a $200 camel"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
December 26, 2025 at 7:40 PM
So that's c. $6m worth of missiles fired at approximately nothing.
Or we could have spent that money on something like 2,000 basic, dumb-as-bricks 155mm shells (~$3k a piece) which the Ukrainians would have used to kill Russian invaders and preserve their freedom.
Or we could have spent that money on something like 2,000 basic, dumb-as-bricks 155mm shells (~$3k a piece) which the Ukrainians would have used to kill Russian invaders and preserve their freedom.
Reposted
Yeah I mean who the fuck needed to compete with China and Russia in Africa anyways
December 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Yeah I mean who the fuck needed to compete with China and Russia in Africa anyways
Reposted
Russia is trying to frame Ukraine and the EU as "warmongers", but why is it always Putin who refuses any concessions and rejects all peace and ceasefire proposals?
In 2025, Russia has been framing the EU and Ukrainian leadership as "warmongers", who don't want to stop the war in Ukraine. This, of course, is an outright lie. In reality, it's the Kremlin who has rejected at least seven peace proposals in 2025 alone.
Don't be deceived.
Don't be deceived.
December 21, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Russia is trying to frame Ukraine and the EU as "warmongers", but why is it always Putin who refuses any concessions and rejects all peace and ceasefire proposals?
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Zelenskyy spoke at the meeting of the Council of Europe:
Dear friends! If we have all achieved so much, then how can the European Union break now?And how can Russia be the one to win?
Dear friends! If we have all achieved so much, then how can the European Union break now?And how can Russia be the one to win?
December 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Zelenskyy spoke at the meeting of the Council of Europe:
Dear friends! If we have all achieved so much, then how can the European Union break now?And how can Russia be the one to win?
Dear friends! If we have all achieved so much, then how can the European Union break now?And how can Russia be the one to win?
Reposted
Russia is an anti-Democratic dictatorship, oligarchy and kleptocracy currently engaging in a genocidal war against Ukraine in pursuit of the delusion of re-establishing the Russian Empire.
Yes, Imperialism is bad even when it's not the US doing it.
Yes, Imperialism is bad even when it's not the US doing it.
December 18, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Russia is an anti-Democratic dictatorship, oligarchy and kleptocracy currently engaging in a genocidal war against Ukraine in pursuit of the delusion of re-establishing the Russian Empire.
Yes, Imperialism is bad even when it's not the US doing it.
Yes, Imperialism is bad even when it's not the US doing it.
Reposted
This is coming extremely close to justifying those crimes
December 18, 2025 at 2:32 AM
This is coming extremely close to justifying those crimes
Reposted
Hundreds of underage girls married off and hundreds more children kidnapped as U.S. foreign aid cuts contribute to surge in violations against persecuted Rohingya children.
Trafficked, exploited, married off: Rohingya children’s lives crushed by foreign aid cuts
Severe foreign aid cuts imposed this year by U.S. President Donald Trump, along with funding reductions from other countries, shuttered thousands of schools and youth training centers in camps for Rohingya in Bangladesh and crippled child protection programs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Hundreds of underage girls married off and hundreds more children kidnapped as U.S. foreign aid cuts contribute to surge in violations against persecuted Rohingya children.
Reposted
it drives me crazy that the preferred solution for these guys to ostensibly avoid war is to return to the world order and social structures that gave us 100% of prior World Wars
December 16, 2025 at 1:04 AM
it drives me crazy that the preferred solution for these guys to ostensibly avoid war is to return to the world order and social structures that gave us 100% of prior World Wars
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If you’re interested in attending #TBHillDay 2026 (especially if you’re from WY, HI, AR, ID, KS, LA, ME, ND, OK, RI, or SD) you can learn more and apply here: tbfighters.org/hill-day/
Hill Day | TBFighters
tbfighters.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:26 PM
If you’re interested in attending #TBHillDay 2026 (especially if you’re from WY, HI, AR, ID, KS, LA, ME, ND, OK, RI, or SD) you can learn more and apply here: tbfighters.org/hill-day/
Reposted
twitter should be blocked in the E.U
The twitter ghoulishness actually gave me pause, from a Mexican celebrating the murder outright, to some red triangle cretan saying it was a false flag.
There is honestly no curse strong enough to describe these people.
There is honestly no curse strong enough to describe these people.
December 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
twitter should be blocked in the E.U
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A cynical part of my has long supposed that Ukraine in NATO was always a chip to be traded away, but the real issue is Ukraine in the EU, which is much more important to Ukraine's future.
The EU *also* has a mutual defense clause (Art. 42.7), though if I were Ukraine, I'd want tripwire in any case.
The EU *also* has a mutual defense clause (Art. 42.7), though if I were Ukraine, I'd want tripwire in any case.
There are reports Zelensky may say Ukr is dropping NATO aspirations. Given that the US is blocking Ukr for NATO and may abandon NATO, this is realism. But when Ru says "good, but we want XYZ also" it will confirm for the nteenth time that Ru doesn't care about NATO; it wants to subjugate Ukraine.
December 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
A cynical part of my has long supposed that Ukraine in NATO was always a chip to be traded away, but the real issue is Ukraine in the EU, which is much more important to Ukraine's future.
The EU *also* has a mutual defense clause (Art. 42.7), though if I were Ukraine, I'd want tripwire in any case.
The EU *also* has a mutual defense clause (Art. 42.7), though if I were Ukraine, I'd want tripwire in any case.
Reposted
Reposted
Doubtless, advocates of authoritarianism will in the future point to Trump as the reason why democracy cannot work, because the people elect insane fools.
But Russia's insane fool has been running it for 25 years.
It's less obvious because authoritarian regimes limit visibility, not insanity.
But Russia's insane fool has been running it for 25 years.
It's less obvious because authoritarian regimes limit visibility, not insanity.
December 9, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Doubtless, advocates of authoritarianism will in the future point to Trump as the reason why democracy cannot work, because the people elect insane fools.
But Russia's insane fool has been running it for 25 years.
It's less obvious because authoritarian regimes limit visibility, not insanity.
But Russia's insane fool has been running it for 25 years.
It's less obvious because authoritarian regimes limit visibility, not insanity.
Reposted
Ignore the bullshit propaganda coming out of the White House and the Kremlin (which are arguably the same institution these days).
The REALITY is, 62% of American voters believe the USA should give more support to Ukraine and want to see a Ukrainian victory.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
The REALITY is, 62% of American voters believe the USA should give more support to Ukraine and want to see a Ukrainian victory.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
December 8, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Ignore the bullshit propaganda coming out of the White House and the Kremlin (which are arguably the same institution these days).
The REALITY is, 62% of American voters believe the USA should give more support to Ukraine and want to see a Ukrainian victory.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
The REALITY is, 62% of American voters believe the USA should give more support to Ukraine and want to see a Ukrainian victory.
www.defenseone.com/policy/2025/...
Reposted
I note that this gadget 'go all AI' whatever silicon valley defense framing never engages with specific challenges or their requirements.
Because what you end up with thinking through those problems isn't super-advanced bespoke systems, but a large number of basic, robust systems.
Because what you end up with thinking through those problems isn't super-advanced bespoke systems, but a large number of basic, robust systems.
I see the gizmo cult has made its way into the NYT
December 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I note that this gadget 'go all AI' whatever silicon valley defense framing never engages with specific challenges or their requirements.
Because what you end up with thinking through those problems isn't super-advanced bespoke systems, but a large number of basic, robust systems.
Because what you end up with thinking through those problems isn't super-advanced bespoke systems, but a large number of basic, robust systems.
Reposted
Same here. There should be planning and feasibility studies about a Nordic or NB8 nuclear weapons project going on already.
Time is of the essence.
Time is of the essence.
Seriously if plans are not being worked on at this very moment I'm going to be very disappointed when I have to be in the trenches some time not to long in the future. We have a window, but we don't know how long it will last, and when it closes I think it will be closed forever.
December 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Same here. There should be planning and feasibility studies about a Nordic or NB8 nuclear weapons project going on already.
Time is of the essence.
Time is of the essence.
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Apparently Norway found a kill switch from Chinese electric buses.
Too bad the economics are making the victory of electric vehicles inevitable, and European firms dropped out of the race.
m.economictimes.com/news/interna...
Too bad the economics are making the victory of electric vehicles inevitable, and European firms dropped out of the race.
m.economictimes.com/news/interna...
Norway uncovers kill switch in Chinese buses that can be shut down remotely - Denmark scrambling for solutions
Norway's electric bus system has unearthed a troubling security issue involving Yutong buses manufactured in China, which may be hackable from afar. This unsettling news has raised eyebrows throughout...
m.economictimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Apparently Norway found a kill switch from Chinese electric buses.
Too bad the economics are making the victory of electric vehicles inevitable, and European firms dropped out of the race.
m.economictimes.com/news/interna...
Too bad the economics are making the victory of electric vehicles inevitable, and European firms dropped out of the race.
m.economictimes.com/news/interna...
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It's one of the first things the Ukrainians wanted (because of how long it would take) and Biden and co. rebuffed it because mwah escalation
December 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
It's one of the first things the Ukrainians wanted (because of how long it would take) and Biden and co. rebuffed it because mwah escalation