Tuesday, February 14, 2023

PRESIDENTS' DAYS: Biden will visit Poland from Feb. 20 through Feb. 22...Putin in Moscow for Annual Address to Federation Assembly

✓ First  


 

The President of the United States of America flies into Poland this month. Not to Germany or France or even the UK. There is great symbolism in this gesture, which goes further than Washington merely showing solidarity to the front-line states in Russia’s war against Ukraine. It is emblematic of a trend which has seen Europe’s... read full story
 
www.spectator.co.uk

Europe’s centre of gravity is shifting towards Poland

John Keiger
6 - 7 minutes

"The President of the United States of America flies into Poland this month. Not to Germany or France or even the UK. There is great symbolism in this gesture, which goes further than Washington merely showing solidarity to the front-line states in Russia’s war against Ukraine. It is emblematic of a trend which has seen Europe’s geopolitical fulcrum shift eastwards.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has exposed the impotence of the western-European establishment

Once upon a time Europe’s centre of gravity was west of the Elbe. This was underlined by the reality of the Cold War, by economic might, by western Europe’s military ascendancy reinforced by the United States’ physical presence, and by the western focus on European integration.

This remained so in the early post-Cold War era with central and eastern European states flocking to join the European communities. The asymmetry was reinforced culturally as an increasingly hegemonic western-led European Union spread its integrationist and progressive values across central and eastern Europe with little regard for national traditions, cultures and, more importantly, local peoples’ wishes. The result has been a stand-off in recent years between the cultural and political alliance of Visegrad states (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia) and western member states intent on maintaining a vision of post-nationalism that arguably disguises western dominance.

Poland has emerged as the spokesman of the Visegrad states. It has the EU’s fifth largest population (38 million); its sixth biggest economy; and has a dynamic pro-Nato, pro-US foreign and defence policy. This contrasts with the incessant and fruitless French-led wishful thinking about a common European foreign and security policy, and its desire for a European army. Poland has been increasingly forceful in contesting and counterbalancing the EU’s western domination. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and Poland’s robust support of Kiev contrasts with Macron’s ambivalence and Scholz’s evasiveness. . ."

On Sunday

news.russia.postsen.com


Duda: Russia can win in Ukraine without urgent help from the West

Ethel
3 - 4 minutes

Russia can win the conflict with Ukraine if the countries supporting Kyiv do not urgently send weapons to it, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with Le Figaro newspaper.


✓ Then, there's this report two days ago: Ukraine will lose without "urgent help" from the West, Polish President Andrzej Duda says

www.rt.com

Polish leader warns of Russian victory 

RT
3 - 4 minutes 
Image credit:
A Russian T-80 tank fires a shot in the course of Russia's military operation in Ukraine. ©  Sputnik / Alexander Galperin

Russia may win the conflict in Ukraine if the Kiev government isn’t supplied with Western weapons in the coming weeks, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said.

During an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro on Saturday, Duda was asked if he thought the Russians could achieve victory in Ukraine.

"Yes, they can, if Ukraine doesn’t receive help very urgently," the Polish leader replied.

The Kiev authorities "don't have modern military infrastructure, but they have people," he explained.

"If we do not send military equipment to Ukraine in the coming weeks, [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin may win. He can win and we don’t know where he’ll stop," Duda warned.

His comments didn’t go unnoticed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who took to Telegram on Saturday to point out that even if Western weapons are supplied to Ukraine hurriedly – they won’t be able to change the outcome of the conflict.

The Kiev government and its foreign backers are "condemned" to defeat, she insisted, adding that the arms deliveries "won’t help you. They’ll only make things worse."

"Repentance for what they have done is the only way out for the West," Zakharova wrote.

✓ Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that NATO members, who in January promised to send dozens of main battle tanks to Ukraine, have developed "sudden misgivings" about fulfilling the pledge due, apparently, to not having enough armor to spare.

Germany said that 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks will arrive in Ukraine in late March. Berlin also announced that it was buying up almost 190 decommissioned Leopard 1s to be refurbished and sent to the front.

Poland, which has been one of the biggest backers of Ukraine among EU states, vowed to provide its neighbor with 14 Leopard 2s and 60 of its modified Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

However, such countries as the Netherlands and Denmark, which had been pressuring Germany to send its armor to Ukraine, are now claiming that they themselves can’t part with any of their Leopard 2s. Finland said it may only supply "a few" tanks, but most likely only after it joins NATO.

Western countries have also ruled out delivering F-16 fighter jets, a new demand made by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

On Thursday, the deputy head of Zelensky’s office, Igor Zhovkva, complained to Bloomberg that the Kiev forces had "like almost zero ammunition" left due to the high intensity of fighting with the Russians in the Donbass area."

 RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

10 Feb, 2023 11:15
HomeRussia & FSU

Date for Putin’s annual Federal Assembly address announced

President will deliver his message to legislators later this month, commenting on key issues such as the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin said

"Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver his annual message to the Federal Assembly, the country’s main legislative body, on February 21, the Kremlin announced on Friday, noting that the address will be devoted to a wide range of current issues.


Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the president intends to touch on a number of topics such as the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, as well as economic and social issues.


The Federal Assembly is Russia’s parliament, which consists of the lower house, the State Duma, as well as the Federation Council, the upper house. Under Russian law, the president is obliged to deliver an annual address to parliament, outlining the state and welfare of the federation and establishing guidelines for its domestic and foreign policies.

READ MORE: Putin sets mission for Russian military

Peskov noted that it has yet to be determined if the Kremlin will accredit foreign journalists for the presidential address, adding that a decision would be announced at a later date.

Putin’s last address to the Federal Assembly took place in April 2021, while the 2022 event was skipped. As explained by the president himself, the 2022 address was dropped due to the unpredictable and dynamic nature of events during the period when Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine."

AMERICAN PRESIDENT 

 

Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on President Biden’s Travel to Poland

From February 20th – 22nd, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will travel to Poland. He will meet with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to discuss our bilateral cooperation as well as our collective efforts to support Ukraine and bolster NATO’s deterrence. 

✓ He will also meet with the leaders of the Bucharest Nine (B9), a group of our eastern flank NATO Allies, to reaffirm the United States’ unwavering support for the security of the Alliance

✓ In addition, President Biden will deliver remarks ahead of the one year anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, addressing how the United States has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy, and how we will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on President Biden's Travel to Poland

www.whitehouse.gov › 2023/02/10 › stat...
4 days ago · From February 20th – 22nd, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will travel to Poland. He will meet with President Andrzej Duda of Poland to ... 


www.bloomberg.com

Biden to Visit Poland as Russia-Ukraine War Reaches One-Year Mark

Jordan Fabian
1 minute

  • Trip intended to highlight Ukraine’s resilience during the war

  • Poland has urged an aggressive response to Russia’s invasion

Joe Biden, right, with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Poland on March 26, 2022.

Joe Biden, right, with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Poland on March 26, 2022.

Photographer: Omar Marques/Getty Images

"President Joe Biden will travel to Poland this month to mark the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the White House announced. 

Biden will visit Poland from Feb. 20 through Feb. 22 where he will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda “to discuss our bilateral cooperation, as well as our collective efforts to support Ukraine and bolster NATO’s deterrence,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday."

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State of The Union 2023. . .State of The GOP (from The ToonoSphere)

 


 

Cartoon Carousel

The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics

Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.

By POLITICO STAFF

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Kirby's Kinetic Hand-Jive - Coordinator for Strategic Communications

 


 

Reporter Asks John Kirby Point Blank: Why Is US Now Shooting Down UFOs? - YouTube

m.youtube.com › watch
18 hours ago · Adm. John F. Kirby is asked about the UFOs shot down by the US

WATCH LIVE: White House holds briefing with NSC spokesman John Kirby after 3 more objects shot down - YouTube

www.youtube.com › watch
Video for john kirby
Duration: 50:16
Posted: 19 hours ago 




www.rt.com

Snowden calls UFO craze a distraction 

RT
4 - 5 minutes

Talk of aliens intends to misdirect from real scandals, the NSA whistleblower says

"The media frenzy over “spy balloons” and unidentified flying objects over North America is sadly not about first contact with extraterrestrials, but an engineered panic for political misdirection, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden said on Monday.

“It’s not aliens. I wish it were aliens. But it’s not aliens. It’s just the ol’ engineered panic, an attractive nuisance ensuring [national security] reporters get assigned to investigate balloon bulls**t rather than budgets or bombings” such as the Nord Stream, Snowden tweeted.

The media frenzy over “spy balloons” and unidentified flying objects over North America is sadly not about first contact with extraterrestrials, but an engineered panic for political misdirection, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden said on Monday.

“It’s not aliens. I wish it were aliens. But it’s not aliens. It’s just the ol’ engineered panic, an attractive nuisance ensuring [national security] reporters get assigned to investigate balloon bulls**t rather than budgets or bombings” such as the Nord Stream, Snowden tweeted.

✓>Award-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a story last week describing how the US and Norway blew up the pipelines transporting Russian natural gas to Germany last September. The US government denounced it as false.

✓ Over the next several days, the US military began shooting down “objects” in the sky over North America. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that the US government still doesn’t know who owns the three objects brought down over the weekend. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said there was “no indication of aliens or extraterrestrial activity,” however.

Nord Stream blast story was ‘not hard to find’ – author  READ MORE: Nord Stream blast story was ‘not hard to find’ – author 

Kirby had announced the downing of a “high-altitude object” off the coast of Alaska on Friday. US fighter jets brought down an “unidentified, unmanned object” over the Yukon in northwest Canada on Saturday. The third object was shot down on Sunday afternoon over Lake Huron as it approached Michigan.

“While authorities don’t yet know what the objects are, they are not a threat,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Monday. “They do not present a military threat to anyone on the ground. They do however present a risk to civil aviation and potentially an intelligence collection threat. And we’ll get to the bottom of it,” he added.

Austin also said the three objects were different from the Chinese ‘spy balloon’ the US shot down over South Carolina last week. The aerostat, which Beijing described as a weather balloon blown off-course by the winds, had passed over most of the continental US before it was destroyed by a F-22 fighter jet.

Snowden comments on Nord Stream revelations READ MORE: Snowden comments on Nord Stream revelations

The Pentagon’s reluctance to describe the ‘objects’ or show any debris that may have been recovered has fueled speculation about their potential extraterrestrial origin. Space magnate Elon Musk joked about “friends of mine” stopping by. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have expressed frustration at the lack of official explanations by the White House.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, demanded the Pentagon and the president “tell us what they know – and what they don’t – immediately.”

✓ “What in the world is going on?” wondered fellow Kentuckian and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor. “The administration has still not been able to divulge any meaningful information about what was shot down,” he said, asking if the radar sensitivity may have been turned up after the Chinese balloon incident.

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John Kirby Recent Appearances 

  • White House Daily Briefing

    White House Daily Briefing

    The White House defended President Biden’s orders to take down two additional flying objects over the weekend, bringing the total number…

News about White House

WATCH: White House defends decision to shoot down three unidentified objects

PBS · 21 hours ago

Unidentified Objects Were Not Sending Communications but Posed ‘Very Real’ Threat to Aircraft

The New York Times · 20 hours ago

US defends decision to shoot down 3 unidentified objects

AP News · 13 hours ago

White House defends shooting down three aerial objects, despite not knowing who launched them or why

CNBC · 18 hours ago

White House 'transparent as we can be' as Biden says little about shootdowns

ABC News · 17 hours ago

US reveals more details on flying ‘objects’ as questions swirl

Al Jazeera · 17 hours ago

US Defends Decision to Shoot Down Three Unidentified Objects

Military.com · 16 hours ago

US Military: Origin of 3 Downed Objects Unknown

VOA · 22 hours ago

‘No Indication of Aliens,’ White House Insists of Downed UFOs

Rolling Stone · 18 hours ago


www.rollingstone.com

White House Says 'No Indication' Downed UFOs Are Alien

Ryan Bort
6 - 8 minutes
Skip to main content

‘No Indication of Aliens,’ White House Insists of Downed UFOs

Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby threw cold water on the idea that the slew of high-altitu node objects are extra-terrestrial
National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily press briefing in the James S Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2023. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks during the daily press briefing in the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2023. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
"The United States has been shooting down a lot of unidentified flying objects lately, also known as UFOs. The government hasn’t provided much information about what exactly is happening, which has led to plenty of speculation about whether said UFOs were launched from the Earth or … somewhere else.

The White House indicated on Monday that it’s the former. “There is no — again, no — indication of aliens or extra-terrestrial activity with these recent takedowns,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, illiciting laughter from the press corp.

John Kirby of the National Security Council reassured Americans they aren’t in danger, as well. “I don’t think the American people need to worry about aliens,” he said later, adding, however, that they “have not yet been able to definitively assess what these most recent objects are.”

But just because Jean-Pierre says there’s no indication the objects are alien doesn’t necess"arily mean they aren’t alien, nor does Kirby saying the American people shouldn’t be worried.

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