The Latest from Batchelor and Cohen

chrtoo
Aug 27, 2014 - 8:42am

Thanks Turd

For continuing to keep us informed on this topic. Now for a priority listen.

CHR.

... and a 'First"!

TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 8:51am

Another "technical glitch" OR...

...another probing cyber attack? Turd reports, you decide.

JUST IN: Time Warner Cable has suffered a nationwide outage, many users unable to connect to Internet and cable https://t.co/GE8DSBcaVy
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 27, 2014

@carwinb @TWC is a pretty large network to go down. Not a simple router issue or even DDoS. Something major happened. pic.twitter.com/tMLn6b2BUB
— Kyle K (@veritasincubo) August 27, 2014

CPE
Aug 27, 2014 - 8:55am

After all of this

I'm still shocked that my country is dumb enough to do this. I shouldn't be shocked, but I still am. Awful.

Silver Monkey
Aug 27, 2014 - 9:00am

Bachelor seems like a very intelligent guy, but his Domestic policy stuff is very difficult to listen to because he is still deeply entrenched in the right wing /left wing paradigm. Also, what the heck was he talking about last night when he said something along the lines of "NATO & The US don't have the money to make good on the billions of dollars in aide that was promised to Ukraine." Oh Johnny boy, really? Printing press sir!!!

J
Aug 27, 2014 - 9:44am

In the last few days, the

In the last few days, the Ukrainian Army has gotten their arses kicked in the south part of Novorussia. NAF are closing in on Mariupol and control virtually the entire southern front. Things are going extremely poor for the Ukrainian forces right now.

J
Aug 27, 2014 - 10:12am

Situation Map

This is already old. My how things have changed...and FAST! Remember all the foot-stomping I did about Kharkiv and Odessa? Expect to hear about the former very soon. Also expect the NATO-involvement rhetoric to get very loud.

DeaconBenjamin
Aug 27, 2014 - 10:30am

Minsk summit produces no breakthrough for Ukraine

MINSK, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Although all sides at the Minsk summit have agreed to a peace plan for Ukraine, the first meeting between Russian and Ukraine leaders did not produce a breakthrough in efforts to end the months-long unrest.

While describing the talks as "positive," Russian President Vladimir Putin said the details of truce terms are the internal matter for Kiev.

"Russia can't substantively discuss conditions of a ceasefire...That is not our business, it's up to Ukraine itself," Putin told reporters in Minsk, Belarus early on Wednesday.

"We can only contribute to creating a situation of trust for a possible, and in my view, extremely necessary, negotiation process," he added.

The peace plan, prepared in June by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, was presented at the summit of the Customs Union (CU), which groups Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Leaders of the three CU states and Ukraine as well as representatives from the European Union (EU) met here Tuesday to discuss the Ukraine crisis and economic cooperation.

The five-month-old conflict between government troops and pro-independence militia has killed more than 2,000 people in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, with hundreds of thousands of others displaced.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The disagreement between Russia and Ukraine over the settlement of the crisis lies in their competition of power in the region which has fundamental interests for both countries.

For Ukraine, the largely Russian-speaking region is where the country's economic foundation lies.

Rich in deposits of coal and iron ore, the eastern part of Ukraine holds almost the entire industry of Ukraine, making the cession of this region unacceptable for Kiev.

Kiev now urgently wants the rebels to hand back the territory they have captured in eastern Ukraine and demands a halt to what it says "arms shipments" from Russia to the fighters, a charge that the Kremlin denies.

Meanwhile Russia also wants to retain some sort of leverage over the region so Ukraine does not join NATO or the European Union.

Moscow has frequently called upon Ukraine to become a loose federation with greater regional autonomy, an idea that Kiev repeatedly rejected.

The issue as whether or not to federalize Ukraine has become the key disagreement between Kiev and Moscow over the Ukraine crisis. But such conflicts that involve fundamental interests of both countries could hardly get concessions from either side.

CONTINUED FIGHTING

Just hours before the Putin-Poroshenko meeting in Minsk, Ukraine said it had captured 10 "Russian soldiers" in the eastern Donetsk region

On Monday, the Ukrainian State Security Service claimed to have seized servicemen from Russia's regular army and published a video footage on its Facebook page, showing people dressed in military camouflage.

Moscow has not commented on the case, while Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited a source in the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that those captured servicemen were involved in patrolling the Russian-Ukrainian border area and "most likely crossed border by accident."

In addition, Ukrainian authorities said Russian helicopters attacked a border post in Lugansk region in eastern Ukraine on Monday, killing four border guards.

"Two combat helicopters Mi-24 of Russian Armed Forces fired unguided rockets against Ukrainian border guards. The attack left four border guards dead and three wounded," Andrei Lysenko, spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, told reporters.

After the attack, fierce fighting erupted on the Ukrainian-Russian border, Lysenko said, adding that government forces have managed to prevent "saboteurs" from crossing into Ukraine from Russia.

Ukraine has recently accused the separatists and Russia of trying to expand the conflict to a new front. Heavy artillery attacks have been reported in Novoazovsk, which previously saw little fighting.

https://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-08/27/c_133590606.htm

J
Aug 27, 2014 - 10:45am

Map Context

Ukraine started with ~55,000-60,000 troops. They've lost ~10,000-13,000 KIA/WIA. Those blue circles? They represent about 20,000 trapped troops. Do the math....

TF J
Aug 27, 2014 - 11:33am

WOW, SS! Thank you!

If that map is accurate, then things are about to get significantly HOTTER again...very soon.

Just more support for gold at $1280.

eremita TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 11:50am

Mariupol etc.

It’s worth following the source too, and follow @gbazov on twitter

https://slavyangrad.org/2014/08/27/the-southern-front-catastrophe-august...

Sergey Lavrov’s live Q&A with the kids at the Seliger-2014 camp was terrific. I watched it live and I guess the whole thing will be put up on YouTube before long.

Strongsidejedi TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 11:50am

Conjecture on Time Warner

TF,

That TimeWarner outage is significant.

Most of Southern California is on Time Warner, including all of city of Los Angeles.

Time Warner and Comcast are in the midst of merger politics, literally.

Since Sonoma County and Napa are on Comcast and since Southern California is on Time Warner, there is going to be a significant control issue between the two major networks with one of the two political "hubs" controlling all of the California digital network.

Therefore, I am not surprised that the networks are being probed or that some significant down time is occuring.

_________________

also see:

https://downdetector.com/status/time-warner-cable

DeaconBenjamin
Aug 27, 2014 - 12:43pm

If that map is accurate

The humanitarian aid appears to have had a decisive strategic impact.

tonyw
Aug 27, 2014 - 1:47pm

Will the US succeed in breaking Russia?

Clive Maund has a good explanation, Will the US succeed in breaking Russia to maintain dollar hegemony?...

https://www.clivemaund.com/article.php?art_id=3278

TF tonyw
Aug 27, 2014 - 1:49pm

Ole Clive flips and flops and

Ole Clive flips and flops and changes his short-term price sentiment seemingly with the wind. In this instance, however, he is 100% spot-on and deserves credit for an excellent post.

TF J
Aug 27, 2014 - 1:56pm

Additional context for SS's map

KomsPravda corro moving with rebels tweets selfie from key Saur Mogila height which army claims to still control pic.twitter.com/KW4rX1ulso
— Maria Antonova (@mashant) August 27, 2014

ancientmoney
Aug 27, 2014 - 2:17pm

Germany turning on U.S. in Ukraine?

"First Russia and China, then UAE, Egypt, and Turkey... and now it appears Germany (following a phone call with Putin) is pulling the rug out from under US hegemony - just as Obama's warmongery ramps up...

*MERKEL SAYS U.S. CAN'T SOLVE ALL THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS ANYMORE

Which is odd because just yesterday, President Obama (who never lies) stated "The United States is and will remain the one indispensable nation in the world..." adding that "no other nation can do what we do." Perhaps he is wrong?

“Even a superpower can’t solve all of the problems alone anymore,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel says."

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-27/merkel-slams-us-hegemony-ameri...

ancientmoney
Aug 27, 2014 - 2:37pm

Will NATO now step up the action in Ukraine?

"Still confused? Then read "90% Of Gazprom Clients Have "De-Dollarized", Will Transact In Euro & Renminbi" for just how Gazprom set the stage for the day it finally would push the button to skip the dollar entirely. Which it just did.

In conclusion we will merely say what we have said previously, and it touches on what will be the most remarkable aspect of Obama's legacy, because while the hypocrite "progressive" president who even his own people have accused of being a "brown-faced Clinton" after selling out to Wall Street and totally wrecking US foreign policy abroad, is already the worst president in a century of US history according to public polls, the fitting epitaph will come when the president's policies put an end to dollar hegemony and end the reserve currency status of the dollar once and for all, thereby starting the rapid, and uncontrolled, collapse of the US empire. To wit:

In retrospect it will be very fitting that the crowning legacy of Obama's disastrous reign, both domestically and certainly internationally, will be to force the world's key ascendent superpowers (we certainly don't envision broke, insolvent Europe among them) to drop the Petrodollar and end the reserve status of the US currency."

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-27/gazprom-begins-accepting-payment-oil-ruble-yuan

legerde
Aug 27, 2014 - 2:48pm

Ukraines Debt..

The interesting point for me was the following:

Ukraine owes Russia for natural gas already delivered. Ukraine claims they don't have the money. Russia says "Yes you do! NATO/UN just gave you money, hand it over..."

This is fascinating to me. NATO/UN doesn't want to give money to Russia. This is financial war as well as kinetic war. Russia has the advantage on all fronts as we go into the Winter.

How wonderful it would be if Ukraine hands Russia the money in order to get the gas flowing, and Russia pours the money into obtaining metals.

Galearis
Aug 27, 2014 - 2:50pm

Following the crisis?

Very few Canadians and I would guess even fewer (percentage wise) Americans. Batchelor and Cohen are likely the best commentary on the planet and both are very likely on a list in the NSA for future attention. I feel sorry for Americans who are following these events with understanding. Those same folks also know what is happening in their own country and how perverted it has become... I was never fond of the phrase: "My country right or wrong". I wonder if the small group who know what is happening have ever said that, or would ever say it again? But Canada is not far behind...I lump it all as the inevitable consequences of the collapse of the West. FWIW, G.

Galearis
Aug 27, 2014 - 3:26pm

Qualifications for Presidents and advisors seems to be stupidity

Ukraine's effort to engage Russia directly in war to draw in NATO/USA is almost as far sighted as that coming out of the US State Department for the past fifteen years.

In simplest terms what are the consequences if Poroshenko is successful?

If Ukraine becomes a battleground with NATO and the US involved = no energy from Russia.

No negotiated peace with the "rebels" = no energy from Russia.

And no trade with Europe. This is a country that is committing suicide where ALL of the Ukraine gets "cleansed".

And, of course, no energy for Europe from Russia.

FWIW,

G.

TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 3:27pm

And don't forget...NEVER FORGET...

The "civil war" in Ukraine only began in earnest AFTER the IMF demanded it in exchange for the cash:

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-01/imf-warns-ukraine-fight-east-o...

IF UKRAINE GOVERNMENT LOSES EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER EAST OF COUNTRY, $17 BLN IMF BAILOUT WOULD NEED TO BE REDESIGNED

TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 3:37pm

Take this fwiw

Carl Bildt is the Foreign Minister of Sweden:

We are now evidently seeing fighting between regular Russian and regular Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine. There is a word for this.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) August 27, 2014

Safety Dan
Aug 27, 2014 - 3:52pm

Re: And don't forget...NEVER FORGET...

All Wars are bankers wars....

Whitecastle123 TF
Aug 27, 2014 - 3:55pm

The doom machine

Is approaching at warp speed. Mind boggling.

How about another contest for a little diversion from the gloom ?

September ends gold and silver prices.

Year end prices.

Janet Yellins cup size and weight ?

DeaconBenjamin
Aug 27, 2014 - 4:02pm

Russia’s Gazprom Neft to Sell Oil for Rubles, Yuan

MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian oil company Gazprom Neft has agreed to export 80,000 tons of oil from Novoportovskoye field in the Arctic; it will accept payment in rubles, and will also deliver oil via the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline (ESPO), accepting payment in Chinese yuan for the transfers, the Russian business daily Kommersant reported Wednesday.

The Russian government and several of the country’s largest exporters have widely discussed the possibility of accepting payments in rubles for oil exports.

Last week, Russia began to ship oil from the Novoportovskoye field to Europe by sea. Two oil tankers are expected to arrive in Europe in September. According to Kommersant, the payment for these shipments will be received in rubles.

Gazprom Neft will not only accept payments in rubles; subsequent transfers via the ESPO may be paid for in yuan, the newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, the change in currency was made because of the Western sanctions against Russia.

In March, in response to Crimea’s reunification with Russia, the United States and the European Union introduced a number of targeted sanctions against Russia.

As the Ukrainian crisis escalated, the United States introduced several new rounds of sanctions targeting Russia’s defense, energy and banking sectors, and persuaded its allies to blacklist several Russian citizens and companies.

As a protective measure, Russia decided to avoid making its payments in US dollars, which can be tracked and controlled by the United States government, Kommersant reported.

Gazprom Neft gained control over the Novoportovskoye field in 2012. The field’s recoverable reserves exceed 230 million tons of oil and 270 billion cubic meters of gas. It is located in the Arctic and is part of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.

https://en.ria.ru/business/20140827/192383783/Russias-Gazprom-Neft-to-Se...

DeaconBenjamin
Aug 27, 2014 - 4:11pm

NATO Canada Has A Message For Russian Soldiers

NATO Canada tweeted: "Geography can be tough. Here’s a guide for Russian soldiers who keep getting lost & 'accidentally' entering Ukraine"

Source: @CanadaNATO

Evidently Canada (or CanadaNATO) believes that Kaliningrad is not Russia.

mfields111
Aug 27, 2014 - 4:37pm

The shift in alliance of Germany Begins

The fulcrum of the balance of power in the world has been Germany. Merkel is clearly siding with Putin in Ukraine and is denouncing the US as not being able to solve the world's problems anymore. She went to Kiev and talkied to Poroshenko 1:1 and told him the war in Ukraine cannot be won. That Steven Cohen said last night and had been reporting before this that she was going to say that to him. I think this is reliable information. \ The next move is Germany joining Russia's Asian Trade Zone along with the Ukraine doing it just as Jim Willie has been saying. Its in the cards. Russia is openly selling oil and gas outside the dollar and the US cannot do anything about it. They are too busy with the Arab situation. That situation is also a revolt against the US openly calling for the death of Obama. If I were to call it, I would say every effot made by the US to get control of the world and maintain dollar hegemony at this point is resulting in a push back by the world causing the dollar to lose more than gain. The slide downhill is reaching escape velocity just as Jim Willie has been saying of late.

TreeTop Dweller
Aug 27, 2014 - 4:40pm

Desperation - Thick in the Air

Desperation - You Can Feel Everywhere

FBI Said to Examine Whether Russia Tied to JPMorgan Hacking

Russian hackers attacked the U.S. financial system in mid-August, infiltrating and stealing data from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and at least one other bank, an incident the FBI is investigating as a possible retaliation for government-sponsored sanctions, according to two people familiar with the probe.

The attack resulted in the loss of gigabytes of sensitive data and authorities are investigating whether recent infiltrations of major European banks using a similar vulnerability are also linked to the attack, one of the people said.

In one case, the hackers used a zero-day vulnerability in one of the banks’ websites, then plowed through layers of elaborate security to steal the data, a feat several security experts said appeared far beyond the capability of ordinary criminal hackers. The incidents occurred at a low point in relations between Russia and the West, as Russian troops continue to mass on the Ukrainian border and the West tightens sanctions aimed at crippling Russian companies, including some of the country’s most important banks.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-27/fbi-said-to-be-probing-whether-russia-tied-to-jpmorgan-hacking.html

DeaconBenjamin
Aug 27, 2014 - 6:36pm

Someone can't handle the truth

Russia accuses EU commissioner of 'treacherous sacrilege'

The Russian foreign ministry Tuesday accused interim EU justice commissioner Reicherts of "treacherous sacrilege that blurs the lines between good and evil" and of "playing on Russophobia" after she noted at a remembrance day last week that Hitler and Stalin started WWII by signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact to partition Poland.

https://euobserver.com/tickers/125365

Marcus
Aug 27, 2014 - 6:55pm

Thanks, Turd

I very much look forward to these podcasts from Batchelor and Cohen, and listen attentively to each one. Thank you for posting them.

By the way and as an aside, don't pay your critics much mind. What they say about you speaks more about their character than it does yours.

Thanks again.

The Latest from Batchelor and Cohen

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