08-11-2016, 08:28 PM
*** 12-Aug-16 World View -- Fears grow that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Fears grow that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent
****
![[Image: ukraine.gif]](http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com/maps/ukraine.gif)
Russians have been talking for years about a possible attack on the port city of Mariupol, and then continuing on to Odessa.
As we reported earlier this week,
Russia has been massing troops, tanks and other military hardware in
Ukraine on northern border of the Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine, and
closing crossing points.
On Thursday, Russia's FSB (successor to the KGB) issued this
explanation:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"FSB Russia prevented the commission in the Republic
> of Crimea of terrorist attacks prepared by the Chief Directorate
> of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
>
> The Federal Security Service prevented the commission of terrorist
> attacks in the Republic of Crimea prepared by the General
> Directorate of the Ministry of Intelligence of Defense of Ukraine,
> the targets of which have been identified as critical
> infrastructure and livelihood of the peninsula.
>
> The purpose of the sabotage and terrorist attacks is to
> destabilize the social and political situation in the region
> during the preparation and conduct of elections of the federal and
> regional authorities.
>
> As a result of operational search activities on the night of the
> 6th of August 7th, 2016, in the region of the Autonomous Republic
> of Crimea discovered a group of saboteurs. During the arrest of
> the terrorists, a firefight occurred and a Russian FSB officer
> died. At the site of clashes, investigators found 20 improvised
> explosive devices with a total capacity of more than 40 kilograms
> of TNT, ammunition and special means of initiation, regular and
> anti-magnetic mines, as well as grenades and special weapons,
> consisting of armed special units of the Armed Forces of
> Ukraine."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
We've now had several years of statements by Putin and Russia's
government about Ukraine and Syria that turned out to be total lies,
so we can reasonably assume that most of the FSB statement is a total
lie. I'm not saying that everything that Ukraine's government says is
truth. All I'm saying is that, after several years of an unending
stream of total lies and hundreds of Russian internet trolls paid to
lie, we can be certain that anything that comes from Russia's
government is total BS, with no relation to the truth except by
accident.
Large quantities of Russian military hardware are being deployed in
Crimea, far more than would be justified by a single gunfight, or even
a single terrorist attack. Columns of armored personnel carriers,
military ambulances, fuel tankers, trucks, signals and engineering
vehicles have been video-recorded in the port town of Kerch, which
handles ferry arrivals from Russia. They have also been spotted in the
Crimean regional capital of Simferopol, and outside a military
training range near the southern town of Feodosia. Internet services
have been cut in northern Crimea, with no explanation.
Ukraine is denying Russia's accusations, but in reaction to Russia's
actions, Ukraine's army is reinforcing units in Kherson, the region
just across the Crimean border.
One possible target of a new Russian invasion would be an attack on
the port city of Mariupol. As you can see from the above map, Kerch
is separated from the Russian mainland by a narrow body of water that
links the Sea of Asov with the Black Sea. In 2014, Russia had
announced the intention to build a land bridge connecting Kerch with
the mainland, but that has never happened, and so people, supplies,
and military equipment have to depend on ferries to reach Crimea from
Russia.
From Russia's point of view, the best solution would be a new invasion
of Ukraine targeting Mariupol, and then to take control of the entire
land border with the Sea of Asov. That would allow Russia to deliver
people, supplies and military equipment overland in cars, trucks and
buses. From there, Russian forces could continue westward to Odesa
and then on to Transnistria, an enclave in eastern Moldova with a
heavy Russian population. ( "5-Nov-14 World View -- Russian troops approach Ukraine's border, threaten port city Mariupol"
)
It's always wise to remember that Russian troops are still occupying
eastern Ukraine, and Russian separatist leaders in 2014 repeatedly
threatened a complete secession of the region from Ukraine, so that
Russia can annex the entire region just as Crimea was annexed.
Nobody knows what Russia is planning, and not a word they say can be
believed, but there is something going on, and we'll have to wait and
see what it is. Daily Beast and VOA and Guardian (London)
****
**** US forces in Libya may declare victory over ISIS this week
****
The following analysis is from the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI):
U.S.-backed forces in Libya may declare victory over the so-called
Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh) in Sirte this week, but a
victory over ISIS in Sirte may lead to more conflict in the long term
and ultimately strengthen actors that pose a direct threat to
U.S. national security.
The fall of Sirte is imminent. Libyan militias allied with the
UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) seized ISIS’s primary
remaining stronghold on August 10, along with other key ISIS positions
in the city center. U.S. air support and Special Operations Forces
allowed the GNA-allied militias to overcome ISIS’s defenses. The
militias will continue to combat pockets of resistance in the city but
will likely declare total victory over ISIS in Sirte within the coming
week.
The fall of Sirte is not an existential threat to ISIS in Libya,
however. ISIS militants continue to operate openly in northern Libya,
including in Benghazi in the east and near Sabratha in the
northwest. Nor has ISIS lost the capabilities that it based in
Sirte. Approximately 350 ISIS fighters remain in the city, but the
majority of ISIS’s fighting force has withdrawn to southern Libya or
infiltrated civilian populations. ISIS may reconstitute in a safe
haven in southern Libya, from which it will resume attacks in northern
Libya and attack into neighboring Tunisia and Algeria. AEI Critical Threats
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Russia, FSB, Ukraine, Crimea, Mariupol, Kerch,
Kherson, Sea of Asov, Black Sea,
Libya, Sirte, Government of National Accord, GNA, Benghazi,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Fears grow that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent
- US forces in Libya may declare victory over ISIS this week
****
**** Fears grow that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent
****
Russians have been talking for years about a possible attack on the port city of Mariupol, and then continuing on to Odessa.
As we reported earlier this week,
Russia has been massing troops, tanks and other military hardware in
Ukraine on northern border of the Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine, and
closing crossing points.
On Thursday, Russia's FSB (successor to the KGB) issued this
explanation:
> [indent]<QUOTE>"FSB Russia prevented the commission in the Republic
> of Crimea of terrorist attacks prepared by the Chief Directorate
> of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
>
> The Federal Security Service prevented the commission of terrorist
> attacks in the Republic of Crimea prepared by the General
> Directorate of the Ministry of Intelligence of Defense of Ukraine,
> the targets of which have been identified as critical
> infrastructure and livelihood of the peninsula.
>
> The purpose of the sabotage and terrorist attacks is to
> destabilize the social and political situation in the region
> during the preparation and conduct of elections of the federal and
> regional authorities.
>
> As a result of operational search activities on the night of the
> 6th of August 7th, 2016, in the region of the Autonomous Republic
> of Crimea discovered a group of saboteurs. During the arrest of
> the terrorists, a firefight occurred and a Russian FSB officer
> died. At the site of clashes, investigators found 20 improvised
> explosive devices with a total capacity of more than 40 kilograms
> of TNT, ammunition and special means of initiation, regular and
> anti-magnetic mines, as well as grenades and special weapons,
> consisting of armed special units of the Armed Forces of
> Ukraine."<END QUOTE>[/indent]
We've now had several years of statements by Putin and Russia's
government about Ukraine and Syria that turned out to be total lies,
so we can reasonably assume that most of the FSB statement is a total
lie. I'm not saying that everything that Ukraine's government says is
truth. All I'm saying is that, after several years of an unending
stream of total lies and hundreds of Russian internet trolls paid to
lie, we can be certain that anything that comes from Russia's
government is total BS, with no relation to the truth except by
accident.
Large quantities of Russian military hardware are being deployed in
Crimea, far more than would be justified by a single gunfight, or even
a single terrorist attack. Columns of armored personnel carriers,
military ambulances, fuel tankers, trucks, signals and engineering
vehicles have been video-recorded in the port town of Kerch, which
handles ferry arrivals from Russia. They have also been spotted in the
Crimean regional capital of Simferopol, and outside a military
training range near the southern town of Feodosia. Internet services
have been cut in northern Crimea, with no explanation.
Ukraine is denying Russia's accusations, but in reaction to Russia's
actions, Ukraine's army is reinforcing units in Kherson, the region
just across the Crimean border.
One possible target of a new Russian invasion would be an attack on
the port city of Mariupol. As you can see from the above map, Kerch
is separated from the Russian mainland by a narrow body of water that
links the Sea of Asov with the Black Sea. In 2014, Russia had
announced the intention to build a land bridge connecting Kerch with
the mainland, but that has never happened, and so people, supplies,
and military equipment have to depend on ferries to reach Crimea from
Russia.
From Russia's point of view, the best solution would be a new invasion
of Ukraine targeting Mariupol, and then to take control of the entire
land border with the Sea of Asov. That would allow Russia to deliver
people, supplies and military equipment overland in cars, trucks and
buses. From there, Russian forces could continue westward to Odesa
and then on to Transnistria, an enclave in eastern Moldova with a
heavy Russian population. ( "5-Nov-14 World View -- Russian troops approach Ukraine's border, threaten port city Mariupol"
)
It's always wise to remember that Russian troops are still occupying
eastern Ukraine, and Russian separatist leaders in 2014 repeatedly
threatened a complete secession of the region from Ukraine, so that
Russia can annex the entire region just as Crimea was annexed.
Nobody knows what Russia is planning, and not a word they say can be
believed, but there is something going on, and we'll have to wait and
see what it is. Daily Beast and VOA and Guardian (London)
****
**** US forces in Libya may declare victory over ISIS this week
****
The following analysis is from the American Enterprise Institute
(AEI):
U.S.-backed forces in Libya may declare victory over the so-called
Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh) in Sirte this week, but a
victory over ISIS in Sirte may lead to more conflict in the long term
and ultimately strengthen actors that pose a direct threat to
U.S. national security.
The fall of Sirte is imminent. Libyan militias allied with the
UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) seized ISIS’s primary
remaining stronghold on August 10, along with other key ISIS positions
in the city center. U.S. air support and Special Operations Forces
allowed the GNA-allied militias to overcome ISIS’s defenses. The
militias will continue to combat pockets of resistance in the city but
will likely declare total victory over ISIS in Sirte within the coming
week.
The fall of Sirte is not an existential threat to ISIS in Libya,
however. ISIS militants continue to operate openly in northern Libya,
including in Benghazi in the east and near Sabratha in the
northwest. Nor has ISIS lost the capabilities that it based in
Sirte. Approximately 350 ISIS fighters remain in the city, but the
majority of ISIS’s fighting force has withdrawn to southern Libya or
infiltrated civilian populations. ISIS may reconstitute in a safe
haven in southern Libya, from which it will resume attacks in northern
Libya and attack into neighboring Tunisia and Algeria. AEI Critical Threats
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Russia, FSB, Ukraine, Crimea, Mariupol, Kerch,
Kherson, Sea of Asov, Black Sea,
Libya, Sirte, Government of National Accord, GNA, Benghazi,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
