|
9Local politics, the county, and the world, as viewed by Tammy Maygra Tammy’s views are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bill Eagle, his pastor, Tammy’s neighbors, Wayne Mayo, Betsy Johnson, Brad Witt, Former President Trump, Henry Heimuller, Joe Biden, Pat Robertson, Ted Cruz, Joe Biden’s dogs, or Claudia Eagle’s Cats. This Tammy’s Take (with the exception of this disclaimer) is not paid for or written by, or even reviewed by anyone but Tammy and she refuses to be bullied by anyone. See Bill’s Standard Disclaimer
|
|
The famous words of Ukraine soldiers On Snake Island, they are now prisoners of war. But resonates much of the worlds and Ukraine Feelings.
RUSSIAN WAR CRIMES
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine called for an international tribunal to investigate Russia for war crimes. And delegations from Kyiv and Moscow failed to make progress in Belarus on an agreement to stop the war. Russia will not agree to anything. The Russian military said Tuesday it will carry out strikes against facilities in Kyiv, warning civilians living near the areas to leave. Meanwhile, a Russian convoy more than 40 miles long is closing in on Ukraine's capital. Putin’s war is not going well, meeting strong opposition. Putin is starting to unravel. The world is afraid that Putin will launch a nuc strike. Putin has increased the bombing of the country. He may also take some Americans hostage that are businessmen in Russia trying to use them as leverage. The US and its allies have agreed to a release of 60 million barrels from their reserves, according to two sources familiar with the decision. Half of it 30 million will come from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the other half will come from allies in Europe and Asia. Biden is doing this to lessen the high cost of gas in America. Frankly I don’t mind paying the high price if that’s what it takes to stop Putin and Russia. Sometimes people have to make sacrifices for the common good. Ukraine has not done anything to deserve this war. So screw Russia, we need to do what it takes to stop Russia. Allies include Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and other major European countries, as well as Japan and South Korea. US officials have spent the last few weeks on calls and in meetings with their equivalents in key energy-supplying countries in an effort to secure commitments to supplement any market disruptions. The effort included an in-person visit to Saudi Arabia from two senior administration officials to discuss the need to address the impact on oil markets. The Paris-based International Energy Agency is holding a last-minute meeting Tuesday on oil supply with the goal of “stabilizing markets. Tapping the SPR ,the stockpile of 600 million barrels of crude oil stored in underground salt caverns in Louisiana and Texas generally has only a limited effect on gas prices because of how much oil can be released at a time, but would act as a political sign that Biden is confronting the problem. The oil companies can do what’s right and not increase prices, but their greed wont allow that. nearly $1 trillion worth of Russian assets have been frozen by western sanctions as the European Union and its allies launch an economic and financial war against Russia. The finance minister told Amanpour that the sanctions had been effective in significantly damaging Russia’s economy and sending a message to the Kremlin. Unfortunately all this effecting the Russian people as well. There has been a devaluation of the ruble. There has been runs on banks, no money in the ATM’s. The Russian stock market closed. The billionaires in Russia are losing billions. Maybe with their economy in the toilet it will be a wake up call to stop the invasion. The Russian power has been surprised by the total determination of the European countries, Russia did nit thnk the allies would stick together like they have. Even the Swedes and the Swiss has taken action against Russia. US oil prices jumped 7% on Tuesday and climbed above $102 a barrel for the first time in more than seven years amid growing worries about the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Even as energy officials around the world near a deal to release emergency oil stockpiles, oil prices are rising sharply.US crude climbed 6% and briefly topped $102 a barrel for the first time since July 2014. Brent crude rose about 7% to $104.37 a barrel, closing in on the intraday high set last week of nearly $106 a barrel. Brent, the world benchmark, finished above $100 a barrel on Monday for the first time since 2014.While a coordinated release of oil reserves could be imminent, the market also received fresh signals that OPEC and its allies are not coming to the rescue. Despite pressure to ramp up production, Saudi Arabia’s cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to the OPEC+ agreement – a pact that calls for just a modest increase in output, according to a statement from the Saudi state news agency on Tuesday. The Saudi’s are no friends of the allies, they see a way to make more money and that’s what they are going to do. They could careless about anything other than money. People are fleeing for safety, Around 660,000 refugees have now fled Ukraine to neighboring countries in the past six days, according to the latest data, the United Nations' refugee agency said in a statement. People are getting sick waiting in line in freezing temperatures, some people have no moved over 100 ft. in 24 hours. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday that British troops will not fight Russian forces in Ukraine, adding that recent military reinforcements are nothing more than defensive measures. Citing NATO that which has been the essence of NATO for more than 70 years. Putting troops on NATO nations borders. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called out Russia on Tuesday for killing civilians in Ukraine, telling the United Nations Human Rights Council that Russian strikes are hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings. They are destroying critical infrastructure, which provides millions of people across Ukraine with drinking water, gas to keep them from freezing to death, and electricity. Civilian buses, cars, and even ambulances have been shelled. Russia is doing this every day across Ukraine. Earlier Russia was only hitting military targets, now they are launching missiles at any and everything. As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Russia’s human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law as it carries out its assault on Ukraine, he floated the idea of kicking Russia off of the UN Human Rights Council during a speech before the council on Tuesday morning. One can reasonably ask whether a UN member state that tries to take over another UN member state – while committing horrific human rights abuses and causing massive humanitarian suffering – should be allowed to remain on this council,” Blinken said. There are 47 member states on the council, which are elected by the UN general assembly, with Russia being one of them. Blinken also criticized countries such as China who have not clearly stated that Russia is the sole perpetrator of this crisis. Council members should stop using language implying that all sides bear equal responsibility for the unprovoked attack of one side. This isn’t evenhanded – it’s wrong – and fails to place accountability where it belongs. The same goes for members who argue, falsely, that denouncing human rights abuses is politicizing the situation. It is failing to speak up about human rights abuses that politicizes the situation. Blinken challenged the UNHRC to come together to try and prevent an even more deadly war. These are the human rights abuses this council was created to stop. If we cannot come together now, when will we come together? The US has seen more than 400 missiles fired by Russia in the invasion of Ukraine as of this morning, March 1, 2022 according to a senior defense official. The Ukrainians still have air missile defense systems that remain viable and intact and engaged according to the official. We need to hurry up and get firepower to the Ukraine people. Russia is about where it was yesterday in Kyiv, The Russians are not only facing “fuel and sustainment” problems, but are showing signs that they are running out of food. Maybe they will starve out. The Ukraine’s are putting up a good fight. But on the flip side Putin is firing heavier artillery. But that only substantiates Russia’s problem with their forces. A certain risk averse behavior by the Russian military, You’ve seen it on the ground, where units are surrendering, sometimes without a fight. And they’ve got, a lot of these soldiers are conscripts, never been in combat before, some of whom is believed weren’t even told they were going to be in combat. So we’re just seeing evidence of a bit of risk loathing toward Putin. We need to do all we can to help the Ukraine people, we cant repeat what the world allowed Hitler to do. As he marched through and took Poland. We need to do an emergency session to bring Ukraine into NATO, so we can help defend them as one of our allies. Russia should not be allowed to invade another country unprovoked.
Tammy
|