Aeneas said:
Thanks Thorbiorn for the postings. I think we should make a sott post about the children. It needs telling. What do you think or is somebody already on to it?
I saw this article that says that the Ukrainian are pulling out the old artillery pieces from the late 40'ies and restoring them. They obviously have lost a lot of equipment, but even restoring old antic artillery pieces is unlikely to change much, especially if military strategy and command remain the same.
The story about the children, yes it should be told, definitely. And I'm happy that you ask, since I have been so engrossed in finding material that I have not posted anything on SOTT, or even translated.
About the old weapons, well if they get used, they don't have to be stored any longer. And they may be easier to operate, so the soldiers will not die from mishandling them. With correct handling they may be less precise, but the UAF appears to be satisfied with hitting civilian targets.
Below are some finding from today:
Helga Green on https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205153320006872&set=a.2064395203755.2115978.1061008012&type=1 said:
Ukraine will be buying arms from the UAE
Ukrainian government has approved a draft agreement with the government of the United Arab Emirates on military-technical cooperation, the Ukrainian political weekly Novoe Vremya has reported.
Counselor of Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko wrote on his Facebook page:
“Arabs, unlike Europeans and Americans, do not fear Putin’s threats of launching the Third World War in case Ukraine is supplied with arms and military equipment. They must owe Russia a grudge over almost double oil price drop and the global instability, hindering long-time development of the UAE. Thus, this will be small revenge on their part”.
On February 23 Russian President Vladimir Putin in his interview told the journalist of the federal TV that war in Ukraine should not be expected. “In my opinion such an Apocalyptic scenario is hardly possible”, — said he.
EU countries refused to supply armaments to Ukraine, and American government is still considering this issue. On February 21 US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that President of the USA Barack Obama will make a decision in regard to provision of aid to Ukraine in the form of armaments in the nearest future. On February 17 Kiev was reported to have sent a list of the military equipment in needed to Washington.
In the comments, people say that UAE does not have its own weapon production, but can only sell what they get from other countries. They also say that UAE can further weapons provided by the US. Is this true? I tried to investigate what weapons they have. To give you an idea:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_Army said:
MBT
France Leclerc - 388 (delivered between 1995-2001)
France AMX-30S - 45 (ordered 1977)
Italy OF-40 Mk.2 - 36
Light Tank
United Kingdom FV101 Scorpion - 76
Tracked APCs
France AMX-10P - 18
France AMX-VCI - 11
Turkey ACV-300 - 133
Russia BMP-3 - 598 (first delivered 1992)
135 to be upgraded to BMP-3M[1]
Wheeled APCs
Brazil EE-11 Urutu - 120
France Panhard AML - 50
France Panhard M3 - 370
Germany Fuchs NBC Recce
South Africa RG 31 Mk5 MRAP
United Kingdom Ferret armoured car - 30
United Kingdom Alvis Saracen - 30
United Kingdom Alvis Saladin - 90
Ukraine BTR-3 - 90 (Marines)
United Arab Emirates Nimr
United States M1114
United States M-ATV - 750, 44 on order[2]
United States Navistar MaxxPro - 3,375 on order[2]
United States BAE Caiman - 1,150 on order[2]
Artillery
South Africa G6 SPG - 72
United States M109 A3 SPG - 87
France AMX-13 Mk F3 SPG - 18
Russia BM-21 Grad MLRS - 48
Russia BM-30 MLRS - 6
United Kingdom L118 105mm Light Gun - 55
China Norinco Type 59-1 FG
Turkey/United Arab Emirates Jobaria Defense Systems Multiple Cradle Launcher
Turkey TR-122 Sakarya[3]
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Sweden Bofors 40 mm gun
United Kingdom Rapier towed SPAAM
France Panhard M3-VDA w/ Dual 20mm Cannon - 42
United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense - On order
In short they have plenty of military hardware. If you go on the website, there are live links to the different tanks etc, and it is definitely better than the old stuff they have from the 1950ies.
Regarding the relation of the UAE with the US there is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Dhafra_Air_Base and and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebel_Ali but it may be all summarized in this article:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/UAE-Admits-to-Secret-US-Military-Base-20141110-0032.html said:
Published 10 November 2014
The key military base is central to the Obama administration's strategy against the Islamic State group.
The United States is using a secret air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch airstrikes over Syria and Iraq, the Washington Post revealed Monday.
Until now, the existence of the base has never been identified in U.S. Air Force public materials, and the UAE government preferred not to disclose its existence due to fears of generating anti-U.S. sentiments.
But UAE officials revealed the existence to the Post, after they felt their efforts in the fight against the Islamic State group are being underestimated.
“We're different from our neighbors (…) We're your best friends in this part of the world,” said Yousef Al-Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to Washington, while stressing that his country has participated in every U.S. led operation since the Persian Gulf in 1991.
The airbase located in Dahfra hosts around 3,500 U.S. military personnel and is the only foreign base with F-22s. It also hosts Global Hawk drones and advanced offensive hardware.
In the past six weeks, U.S. jets have launched flights into Syria and Iraq. On many occasions they are accompanied by UAE jets.
Out of the total air raids against the Islamic State group, the UAE ranks second after the United States.
Furthermore, the UAE also hosts a U.S. base in Jebel Ali, a deep-water harbor near Dubai. It is also the U.S. Navy's busiest overseas port.
[...]
One wonders who brokered the deal between Ukraine and the UAE, any guesses?
It seems that if money is enough, and they can be provided by IMF and the US and allies, weapons will be available. Weapons are good for Kiev, but they still need to stifle the irritating news coming through the internet, non-aligned journalist, protesting Merkels and Hollandes and Russian news. This problem they are going to solve by forming volunteer battalion of internet trolls.
https://meduza.io/en/news/2015/02/23/ukraine-is-now-recruiting-an-iarmy said:
Ukraine is now recruiting an ‘iArmy’
17:37, 23 February 2015 i-army.org
Ukraine’s Ministry of Information Policy announced today that it is now recruiting an “information-army.” Anyone wishing to serve is invited to register on a special website, which then sends them weekly assignments by email.
In the past year, we’ve managed to create a powerful army that courageously defends us in the Donbas. And now it’s time to fight back the Russian occupiers on the information front
In late January, Ukraine’s Minister of Information Policy, Yuriy Stets, promised to create an “information-army” to fight Russian propaganda. “We need to bring people together who are influential in social media and have large audiences who listen to them. We need them to work together, creating a coordinating center between them,” Stets said.
In February, Stets announced the creation of a state television channel called Ukraine Tomorrow, which will broadcast to foreign audiences. “Within a month, we’ll begin broadcasting in foreign countries under the name Ukraine Tomorrow, in contrast to Russia Today. All they have is today, but we have the future,” Stets explained.
Created with the formation of the Second Yatsenyuk Government, after Ukraine’s October 2014 parliamentary elections, one of the chief goals of the Information Policy Ministry is to counteract “Russian information aggression” amidst the ongoing conflict with separatists in Donetsk and Lugansk.
Ukraine’s independent press has labeled the new agency the “Ministry of Truth.” OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has also criticized Kiev’s decision to create the new ministry.
[...]
Well tbe above is not surprising, considering that the US, UK, Israel and others have similar outfits. Now, considering that Sott. net is on the top of South Front youtubes about the situation in Ukraine, I would be surprised if someone would not be assigned to follow SOTT. (With a bit of luck the person(s) may find him or herself "Snowedin" with information). Although, sadly enough and it is painlful to write it, but I can imagiine, these volunteers might also get tasked with identifying people who oppose the system.
On top of the UAE, things just changed while writing this post!!!. Some days ago the British said they would reserve the right to help the UA out irrespective of what other NATO countries did. Then there was this:
http://rt.com/uk/234699-former-chief-arm-ukraine/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome said:
Britain should consider arming Ukraine – former Chief of Defence Staff
Published time: February 23, 2015 14:44
and now this:
http://rt.com/uk/235183-cameron-aid-ukraine-pledge/ said:
Cameron commits troops & ‘non-lethal aid’ to Ukraine
Published time: February 24, 2015 16:48 Edited time: February 24, 2015 17:39
Prime Minister David Cameron has said Britain will not supply Ukraine with lethal weaponry in the fight against rebels in the East of the country, but UK troops will support Ukrainians with tactical intelligence, training and logistics.
Speaking to the Liaison Select Committee, David Cameron said UK support would be given “well away from the area of conflict,” adding that the purpose of aid would be to improve Ukraine’s tactical advantage.
[...]
It seems Poroshenko has gained enough support from his allies to remain in power for some more time, and maybe much more than I had expected a few days back.
As one can imagine not everyone thinks that the British are in their right mind to give support to Kiev:
https://larouchepac.com/20150223/british-hysteria-against-russia-drives-world-war said:
British Hysteria Against Russia Drives Threat of World War
It should not be surprising that the hysteria against Moscow for its alleged transgressions in Ukraine is really coming from London. It began last week, when British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon claimed that the Baltic countries were Russia's next target. He was followed by General Sir Adrian Bradshaw a day later, who warned that Russian irregular warfare could undermine NATO decision making. Then, yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in London to meet with British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond. With Hammond by his side, Kerry threatened further sanctions against Russia. Former Defense Secretary Liam Fox, in a Feb. 21 op-ed in the Daily Telegraph, called for providing weapons to the Kiev regime—"the capabilities they most require in order to defend themselves against the military superiority of the pro-Russian separatists and their Kremlin allies."
[...]
And no matter what the British are doing Forbes published an opinion calling on the US to regain its senses:
Doug Bandow on http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougbandow/2015/02/21/washingtons-foolish-foreign-policy-american-people-must-say-no-to-more-wars/ said:
2/21/2015 @ 9:44AM
Washington's Foolish Foreign Policy: American People Must Say No To More Wars
Finally, it is apparent that at least some countries in Eastern Europe have become aware they are first in the firing line:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IOUCO/permalink/716787345100989/ said:
In the center of Sofia under the motto "Bulgaria-zone of peace" was solidarity with Russia and Donbass mass action. The demonstrators, including representatives of various political parties and ordinary citizens-participated in a march through the city streets. It ended with a rally in the square opposite the residence of the head of state.
Many were the flags of the separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Call to stop the war in Ukraine and calls to close the NATO base on the territory of Bulgaria and to stop the policy of sanctions against Russia.
DETAIL http://www.1tv.ru/news/world/278355
[...]
[Comment from Tina] It is an anti-NATO protest and for the non-involvement of Bulgaria in the war in Donbass. It is the third Sunday in a row that it is happening, and not only in Sofia, but also in other cities. The troubling news is that SUDDENLY many Bulgarian men, who are of the age to be army reservists have received invitations (for the lack of a better word) to the local army offices. They are currently recalled only to be informed where to go, in case there are military hostilities, says the government. The troubling news is that a very high number of men has received these recalls... Bulgaria no longer has obligatory military service and our army is very tiny. These men are the only military man-power that can be mobilized... NOBODY in Bulgaria likes this!
[Comment from Tina]Just saw the post of a friend of mine - more people have received these 'invitations' even today... This is so NOT good...
NOT good, although it is great they have the guts to protest. Why does this not happen elsewhere? Okay they tried in Lithuania, but that was knocked down in fascist style.