Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Early Morning Open Thread: Snippets

by Anne Laurie| August 20, 20244:46 am| 76 Comments

This post is in: Elections 2024, Kamala Harris for President, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

(Walt Handelsman via GoComics.com)

Maxine Waters said she was 22 when she saw Fannie Lou Hamer at the 1964 Democratic National Convention: "You know I've seen a lot in my lifetime" pic.twitter.com/5UcguzN7HM

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 19, 2024

VP Kamala Harris takes the DNC stage: “This is going to be a great week.” Harris thanks President Biden. “This November we will come together and declare in one voice as one people, we are moving forward with optimism, hope and faith.” pic.twitter.com/oCXjan05L2

— Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) August 20, 2024

Kamala Harris surprises the crowd at the now pretty full United Center. Democrats going nutso in here. pic.twitter.com/2ES8jMlCx6

— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) August 20, 2024

VP: And I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you. pic.twitter.com/GIZuxoCaCg

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 20, 2024

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Early Morning Open Thread: SnippetsPost + Comments (76)

Late Night Open Thread: It’s About Madam Time

by TaMara| August 20, 202412:43 am| 68 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Well, that was at least a half box of tissues speech. Looks like we could use a new thread before I head off. I missed this, but I LOVE it! One of the signs at the DNC

Chat on about all the good things we are feeling now. We’ve got a few more days to bask and then it’s time to get down to work (well, except for you post card writing heroes!)

Open thread

Late Night Open Thread: It’s About Madam TimePost + Comments (68)

War for Ukraine Day 908: “Stuck Within the System”

by Adam L Silverman| August 19, 20247:31 pm| 41 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Israel, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

A quick housekeeping note. Rosie had her fourth treatment of round three today. Which is the last treatment of round three. In two weeks she’ll start round four. Right now she’s up on the couch resting. Thank you all for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations.

As air raid alerts go up and down all over Ukraine, as is the case every night around midnight local time in Ukraine, we find out that Britain asked the US – that’s Britain not Ukraine – for permission a month ago to allow Ukraine to use storm shadow missiles against legitimate military targets in Russia. And over a month later they are still waiting on an answer from the Biden administration because the request is “stuck within the system.”

❗️🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦 The UK has formally asked the Biden Admin to stop prohibiting Ukraine from using Storm Shadow to strike Russian territory!

Over a month later, they are still waiting for a response.

Absolutely disgraceful.

Reporting via The Times. Link in alt text. pic.twitter.com/66Dsattajn

— Colby Badhwar 🇨🇦🇬🇧 (@ColbyBadhwar) August 19, 2024

From The Times: (emphasis mine)

Washington is in effect blocking Britain from allowing Kyiv to fire Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia, amid fears in the Biden administration of an escalation in the Ukraine war.

As pressure grows on the West to relax its rules around the use of long range weapons, Britain is waiting for US approval before it gives the Ukrainians the green light. However, the request went into the system more than a month ago and officials are still waiting, a UK government source said.

They said their understanding was that the topic was effectively “stuck in their system”. A second UK government source confirmed that “discussions were still ongoing around Storm Shadow with allies” and a third defence source described it as “routine US process”.

It is understood that although the UK wants to give Ukraine the freedom to do what they want with the long-range weapon, it requires consensus from allies, including the US, France and a third undisclosed Nato country. A government source stressed that the UK was not blaming the US for any delay, adding that such policy changes took time.

Storm Shadows can fire at targets more than 155 miles away and could be used to hit military bases deeper inside Russia that have been crucial for Moscow’s war effort inside Ukraine.

Sabrina Singh, the deputy spokeswoman for the US department of defence admitted in a briefing on Thursday that the US was “worried about escalation” when it came to Ukraine’s use of long range strikes.

She also suggested long range weapons were not needed to help Ukraine liberate its territory.

I’m going to break in here to explain that Ms. Singh is a professional campaign communications advisor who has worked for Mike Bloomberg and Hillary Clinton’s campaigns and has no actual military experience whatsoever.

Matthew Palmer, chargé d’affaires of the US to the UK, in a Times Radio interview to be broadcast on Sunday, distanced himself from the notion that the US had any say in the matter, saying that the terms under which UK weapons could be used were a matter for London and Kyiv. “I’m not going to insert myself into that conversation,” he told Theo Usherwood.

Me again: Ambassador Palmer is a very bad liar.

One theory inside the UK military is that the US may be waiting to assess the impact or the consequences of the Ukrainian operation into Russia before making a decision, although they said they expected the matter to be quickly resolved.

A member of Ukraine’s defence committee told The Times that Ukraine had been forced to undertake its cross-border operation into Kursk due to the West’s refusal to allow Kyiv to use long-range cruise missiles on targets in Russia.

President Zelensky has repeatedly requested permission to use American-donated ATACMS and British Storm Shadows to strike targets deep within Russia, but each time has been rebuffed over fears that it could lead to an escalation in the conflict.

Solomiia Bobrovska, a Ukrainian MP, said that Russian gains made on the eastern front since the start of this year could have been stopped had Ukraine been able to use these weapons to destroy military and logistics targets deep behind the frontlines.

The assault on the Russian region of Kursk, now entering its 12th day, she said, was a defensive action necessitated by Russia’s incremental but steady progress, and the continual aerial attacks on its civilians who live in cities close to the border, such as Sumy and Kharkiv.

Bobrovska last week returned from Washington where she was representing the Ukrainian parliament’s defence and security committee to press American senators and congressmen to allow for the use of ATACMS.

“If we had been allowed to use these long-range missiles in Russia, we would have been able to prevent a lot of their attacks and offensive operations,” she said. “And I truly believe that the map now would be like it was in 2023, or even better.”

She said that Britain and the US’s refusal to grant permission amounted to a “betrayal” of the security guarantees that Ukraine was given as part of the Budapest memorandum in 1994 in return for destroying the nuclear weapons left in the country following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“The West promised to protect us, and yet now every day we find ourselves having to prove why we need these long-range weapons in order to protect ourselves,” she said.

President Zelensky suggested to The Guardian in May that in reality Downing Street was waiting on the Americans to give their approval.

A final decision by the UK and other partners depended on “consensus”, with the position in Washington being crucial, he suggested. “You know how it works,” he added.

Colby Badhwar, an independent military analyst, told The Times: “The Biden administration continues to maintain their policy that Ukraine is not permitted to use long range fires to strike deep into Russia; a prohibition that applies not just to the American ATACMS, but the British Storm Shadow as well.”

More at the link.

For want of a nail!!!!

I mean lets be honest here, Secretary Blinken cooked the NSM-20 report to Congress so that the Biden administration could still sell and transfer weapons to Israel. Bibi recklessly escalates solely to protect his political position and to keep his tuchas out of prison, while continuously ratfucking the ceasefire for hostage release negotiations making it easy for Hamas to reject every proposal, and our response is to put two carrier strike groups and an entire USAF air wing into the region to protect the Israelis from their mad self declared king and his messianically delusional extremist ministers who are in the process of setting fire to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Harem al Sharif/Temple Mount and the Israeli-Jordanian peace agreement as a result. The Ukrainians beg us to let them use long range weapons to strike legitimate military targets in Russia that are attacking civilian targets – people, homes, the energy generation and transmission grid, Ukrainian granaries, schools, supermarkets, parks – and it’s whoa there buckaroo, cool your jets, let’s not be doing anything hasty.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today at the meeting of the Heads of Ukraine’s Foreign Diplomatic Missions “Wartime Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory” conference. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

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Our Collective Efforts Determine What Weapons Are in the Hands of Our Warriors – Speech by the President at the Meeting of Heads of Ukraine’s Foreign Diplomatic Missions “Wartime Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory”

19 August 2024 – 20:00

Dear Mr. Prime Minister, esteemed Ministers, honored attendees, fellow Diplomats!

Our meeting today is taking place at a time for which all of us, Ukrainians, have been working. It is the time when the world is shedding its last and very naive illusions about Russia. Illusions that have significantly hindered the defense of Ukraine.

Now we have most convincingly confirmed with our actions what we should have done earlier, what we have been speaking about for a long time.

Ukrainian warriors continue the defensive operation in the designated areas of the Kursk region. As of today, our forces control over 1,250 square kilometers of the enemy’s territory and 92 settlements. The strengthening of our positions, the stabilization of designated areas, and the replenishment of the exchange fund for Ukraine are ongoing. In general, this operation has become our largest investment in the process of liberating Ukrainians from Russian captivity – we have already captured the largest number of Russian prisoners in a single operation, and this is a significant result, this is one of our goals, and our actions continue.

And of course, we cannot yet speak publicly about the units involved in the designated areas of the Kursk region. But I am grateful to every unit. I would like to thank our heroes on behalf of all of us. At present, the Russian border area opposite our Sumy region has been mostly cleared of Russian military presence. And this is also one of our operation’s goals, tactical goals.

Just a few months ago, many people around the world, if they had heard that we were planning such an operation like the one in the Kursk region, would have said that it was impossible and that it would cross the strictest of all the red lines that Russia has. That is why, actually, no one knew about our preparations. And now our warriors’ real success speaks for itself – our active defensive actions across border as well as Putin’s inability to defend his territory from such defensive actions of ours are very telling. Our proactive, preventive defense is the most effective counter to Russian terror, causing significant difficulties for the aggressor state. And secondly, we are now witnessing a significant ideological shift, namely, the whole naive, illusory concept of so-called red lines regarding Russia, which dominated the assessment of the war by some partners, has crumbled these days somewhere near Sudzha. When our Ukrainian defenders of life act just like this, strongly, bravely and when an operation is really well-prepared, Putin has no options left. And now the world sees that it is true, that it really works – not only in the temporarily occupied territory of our state, but also in the territory of Russia itself. The world sees that everything in this war depends solely on courage – ours and our partners’. On courageous decisions for Ukraine, on courage in supporting Ukraine, and on courageous steps – and not only our steps. It is important that our partners are in sync with us in their determination, and then Russia will have no choice but to make a just peace. We must force Russia, with all our might and together with our partners, to make peace.

Dear Ukrainian Diplomats!

Your primary task is to promote courage. I expect you to continue convincing our partners to support Ukraine – to the maximum. Support in such a way that there is no shortage of this kind of bravery in anything. Such shortages of bravery are why Putin still seeks ways to prolong the war instead of peace. And this is not a question of years or decades – when reliable peace can be restored for our entire land and all our people. It is only a matter of decisions, ours and those made together with our partners, that is, the current political generation of the world – leaders who are now working in those countries that truly wish to live without wars and in accordance with international law must make these decisions.

So, first – Long-range capabilities.

If our partners lifted all the current restrictions on the use of weapons on Russian territory, we would not need to physically enter particularly the Kursk region to protect our Ukrainian citizens in the border communities and eliminate Russia’s potential for aggression. But for now, we cannot use all the weapons at our disposal and eliminate Russian terrorists where they are. Russian military bases, and Russian military airfields, Russian logistics and other military facilities, whose existence allows Putin to evade the search for peace, are legitimate targets for our Defense Forces. And everyone should understand that this is important in terms of all areas of combat operations and protection against all forms of Russian terrorist activity. We need sufficient range to defend Ukraine from Russian missiles and guided aerial bombs, to prevent the transfer of Russian troops, and to counter the occupier’s pressure on key frontlines. Now, between this hall and Pokrovsk and Toretsk, where the fiercest Russian assaults are ongoing, there are about 200 kilometers. Here, the roar of artillery or the approach of enemy drones cannot be heard. But you should feel both: here and in the capitals where you work, that Ukraine is separated from halting the advance of the Russian army on the front by only one decision we await from our partners: the decision on long-range capabilities. Now, this is a key defense decision that should support our warriors. And it primarily concerns the work of our Diplomats, you, and other Ukrainian representatives in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and in those countries that can either make the decision themselves or influence partners to resolve the issue of long-range capabilities. I emphasize that the format of Putin’s response to the operation in the Kursk region demonstrates that there is no single rational reason to deny us true power, true long-range capabilities. And the situation on the Donetsk front is such that any further delay by our partners in terms of long-range capabilities is becoming de facto, perhaps, the most effective support for Russia’s offensive potential.

Second – Sanctions.

I want to thank every country, every leader, and every political force in partner states that defends the necessity of truly strong sanctions against Russia for this war. But just as buffer zones in ground battles are dynamic structures that ensure the clearing of enemy military presence in designated areas, and when the area is clear, the targets are shifted, the sanctions shield must be capable of responding to present threats, responding here and now, and to their updates. The sanctions already imposed by the world have indeed significantly restricted the economy and capabilities of Putin’s regime. Thanks to this, time is working to limit the aggression. However, the shadow tanker fleet of Russia has become a new challenge. Russia’s relations with certain regimes, such as those in Pyongyang and Tehran, create new sources of threats, and not only for us in Ukraine. Russia’s nuclear industry is still being used by Moscow to maintain its spheres of influence in the world. The Russian banking sector still maintains connections with the global system. These and other factors require the expansion of the sanctions shield – extending sanctions to new areas that enable Russia to sustain its military activities. And your task is to be advocates for sanctions decisions.

Third – Long-term agreements with partners.

I want to thank everyone on our state team working with partners on long-term support programs for Ukraine. This includes military support – regular formation and delivery of defense packages – as well as financial, political support, and support for our joint productions, particularly in the defense-industrial complex. You all know that we can produce significantly more drones than we currently have the means to fund. We are also continuously ramping up our production of Ukrainian artillery. We are working on ammunition production. And these are the topics you have to discuss with our partners – you have to secure investments. And this is a key task. Now the budgetary processes will be underway in the countries where you work, and your task is to convince our partners of the need for further investment in our common security. And it is important that you maintain focus on timely logistics, so that announced support packages for Ukraine are felt promptly enough on the front lines and in the formation of our army reserves. Unfortunately, logistics currently face delays, this is a fact, and particularly regarding agreements with our leading partners, starting with the United States. Additionally, we have a set of bilateral security agreements with our partners, and each of them must be fully realized, especially regarding annual financial commitments. I expect that the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be an effective executor of state policy in all these areas. Another task you have is to involve the Governments, international organizations, and regional leaders of the countries where you work, as well as their companies, in Ukraine’s reconstruction. This is one of the key criteria for determining the effectiveness of each Ambassador. Ukraine needs specific projects from each country where you work.

Fourth – The Global Ukrainian Community.

This is a rather painful issue today. Just as every state has a geographic center, the Ukrainian state must be the real center for our now global Ukrainian nation. Our people are present in every part of the world, in most countries. These are diasporas of different times, various waves of migration. In some parts of the world, there are more Ukrainians, in others, there are fewer, but we must recognize our nation as a global one because this is the reality. Therefore, we need to modernize our state institutions, so they align with the current task of uniting all Ukrainians around Ukraine, around the defense of Ukraine, and around strengthening our position in the world. I believe that to achieve this, we must enhance our institutional presence in partner countries. This will be done in two ways. First, we have already decided to open new consulates of Ukraine abroad, including in Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and France. Some of them are additional, some of them are the first in history, but this is very important – wherever there are Ukrainians, wherever Ukrainian communities need more attention. Along with this, and along with the usual work through the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, we have discussed this with the Prime Minister, we are preparing to launch a new institution that will ensure sufficient strength of global Ukrainian unity. Millions of our people in other countries, their ties and relations with Ukraine, the protection of our shared interests as a nation – all this will be the responsibility of the new institution. Basically, it should be the Ministry of Ukrainian Unity and Countering Russian Influence on Ukrainians. First of all, abroad. We all see Russia using a massive propaganda resource abroad, especially targeting Ukrainians. We see how many aspects of the spiritual independence of our people are not settled and how Russia is using its own church structures for agent work and spreading discord. We also recognize that the educational, cultural, and informational needs of Ukrainians in other countries require greater activity from our state. And this is a fundamentally new task for Ukraine – we have never before had such a large part of our nation abroad. I believe that the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine cannot handle this task alone. Because we are talking about millions of our Ukrainians. It also would be wrong to simply expect various ministries and departments to carry out their respective tasks on their own. We need an institution that will lead other state institutions towards these defined goals. We will present all the details in the near future.

And the fifth task, which is important to mention right now in the run-up to the fall, is the Peace Summit.

The inaugural Summit was, in my opinion, an extraordinary success for Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who worked to make our Summit happen. Now we are preparing for the second Peace Summit, and we must work to ensure that it takes place this year. We must do everything for this. We need to continue expanding the circle of support for the Communiqué of the inaugural first Summit. Every Ambassador of Ukraine whose host country has not yet joined the Communiqué should draw the appropriate conclusions. We also require the most energetic work with our partners in the groups on the points of the Peace Formula, and this is not just something purely political. We need to work more actively with the media to ensure that the Peace Formula has consistent and sufficient support. We need to work with analytical centers in different countries, in the countries where you work, so that our vision of a just peace is understood. We need to be able to work with all kinds of important political forces, societies and leaders of these societies in different countries, and not only in our partner countries. The blue and yellow colors of our Ukrainian statehood and Ukrainian courage are a desirable symbol for many people in the world. The symbol that people want to stand close to. I expect that your work will add meaningful content to the power of our national colors.

And a few more specific tasks.

Euro-Atlantic – every representative of Ukraine should work to strengthen the understanding that NATO will be complete only with Ukraine as a member.

European Union – the negotiation process must be as dynamic as Ukraine needs it to be.

Black Sea Region – we must work with all our partners to ensure this region is free from the Russian military threat. Initiatives such as Grain from Ukraine, the Crimea Platform, and bilateral cooperation in the region must be strengthened.

Africa – we need strong partnerships with those who respect international law. Ukraine needs economic interaction with Africa, security interaction, as well as direct diplomatic work, particularly through the format of the Ukraine-Africa Forum, which must take place. And I look forward to it.

Latin America – there are some very good results in our work with countries like Chile and Argentina, with the Caribbean states. We must increase our cooperation, and it is the task of the respective Ambassadors and the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to realize our initiative of holding a Ukraine-Latin America Summit.

Japan – we have achieved a true strategic partnership, and we must make this model of relations exemplary.

The entire Asian and Pacific region is now one of the centers of events that will determine the shape of the next decades. Ukraine has its own view on global development, and it should be exclusively peaceful development within the framework of the rules-based world order. Ukraine is ready to contribute to the relevant processes as a security donor and a defender of the international order. We will strengthen our diplomatic presence in the Asian region.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Dear Ukrainian Diplomats!

I am grateful to all of you who are truly working, with all your might, for our state and people. And we must all maintain our energy – fighting for victories for Ukraine and defending the interests of Ukrainians. Our collective efforts determine what weapons are in the hands of our warriors, what ambitions Ukraine can achieve, and what future awaits our state and Ukrainians. Every day defines what Ukraine will be tomorrow. Please, do not waste a single day. Everything for the sake of Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

🕯 На війні за Україну загинув 26-річний доброволець з Фінляндії Вілле Мюккянен
⬇️https://t.co/gUOOeuOnq4 pic.twitter.com/0Vl10GNVQL

— Новинарня (@Novynarnia) August 19, 2024

🕯 A 26-year-old volunteer from Finland, Wille Mükkiänen, died in the war for Ukraine
⬇️
https://novynarnia.com/2024/08/19/na-vijni-za-ukrayinu-zagynuv-26-richnyj-dobrovolecz-z-finlyandiyi-ville-myukkyanen/

Ville Mykkänen from Finland died defending Ukraine. He was a volunteer who joined the Ukrainian Army in late autumn of 2023.

“He had a strong will to defend a free nation. In the end, under the fighting name “Flurry,” he made the greatest sacrifice anyone could ever make, losing… pic.twitter.com/BO8kTXyxi5

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 19, 2024

Ville Mykkänen from Finland died defending Ukraine. He was a volunteer who joined the Ukrainian Army in late autumn of 2023.

“He had a strong will to defend a free nation. In the end, under the fighting name “Flurry,” he made the greatest sacrifice anyone could ever make, losing his life for freedom. Dying in the merciless battles on the front line is a testament to the values he cherished until the last moment: courage, bravery and justice,” the family statement said.

Deepest condolences to the Hero’s family. Eternal memory.

Source: https://yle.fi/a/74-20105643

The reason:

Nataliia, call sign “Cobra,” has been a medic in the National Guard of Ukraine for 28 years. As a member of the 17th Brigade, she has regularly helped Defenders in the most difficult conditions on the front line.

Her experience and dedication continue to save the lives of… pic.twitter.com/DySKJ1IzJ4

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 19, 2024

Nataliia, call sign “Cobra,” has been a medic in the National Guard of Ukraine for 28 years. As a member of the 17th Brigade, she has regularly helped Defenders in the most difficult conditions on the front line.

Her experience and dedication continue to save the lives of Ukrainian Warriors. She remains at the front lines working in the medical service, fulfilling her mission with unwavering confidence and determination.

📹: 17th Brigade

Denmark:

Denmark announced DKK 783 million ($116 million) of military support for Ukraine.

This is Denmark’s 20th military donation package, and it will provide Ukraine with much-needed military equipment.

This package allocates DKK 112 million to finance equipment donations through the… pic.twitter.com/joG5SRrNHN

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 19, 2024

Denmark announced DKK 783 million ($116 million) of military support for Ukraine.

This is Denmark’s 20th military donation package, and it will provide Ukraine with much-needed military equipment.

This package allocates DKK 112 million to finance equipment donations through the Ukrainian defense industry.

We are grateful to our Danish friends for their unwavering support!

Together, we are stronger!
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇰

Germany:

Germany provided a new military aid package for Ukraine. We are grateful to our German friends for their unwavering support in our fight against russian invaders.
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇪

The package includes:
◾️1 IRIS-T SLS air defense system
◾️14,000 rounds 155mm ammunition
◾️10 unmanned… pic.twitter.com/r861M2VbrB

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 19, 2024

Germany provided a new military aid package for Ukraine. We are grateful to our German friends for their unwavering support in our fight against russian invaders.
🇺🇦🤝🇩🇪

The package includes:
◾️1 IRIS-T SLS air defense system
◾️14,000 rounds 155mm ammunition
◾️10 unmanned surface vessels
◾️26 Vector reconnaissance drones
◾️6 High Mobility Engineer Excavators
◾️1 Bergepanzer 2 armored recovery vehicle with spare parts
◾️55,000 first aid kits
◾️70 MK 556 assault rifles
◾️10 HLR 338 precision rifles
◾️50 CR 308 rifles
◾️Material for explosive ordnance disposal

Vielen Dank!
@BMVg_Bundeswehr

The Kursk counteroffensive:

“My dear boys, let me hug you.”

A resident of the Kursk region of Russia met Ukrainian soldiers who brought food for her and her neighbors. pic.twitter.com/iawDjlFxwp

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 19, 2024

Fighters of the 33rd Assault Battalion, mortar company, who were one of the first to enter Sudzha. pic.twitter.com/QLUlL5bNy1

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) August 19, 2024

Ukrainian air strike with 2хJDAM-ER on Russian positions in Tetkino, Kursk region. (51.2700502, 34.2856281)https://t.co/QdeTH4dOmB pic.twitter.com/iDZrNXNRMe

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 19, 2024

A fundamental difference between the two belligerents. Ukraine’s government has openly said it isn’t interested in long-term occupation in Kursk. Russia’s government, in Ukraine, is renaming towns, changing school syllabi, abducting children & annexing territory. https://t.co/ytG9lkLOsL

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) August 19, 2024

From Luke Harding’s reporting at The Guardian:

Ukraine has destroyed a third bridge over the Seym River in the Kursk region, as part of an apparent attempt to expand what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has described as a military “buffer zone” inside Russia.

According to Russian officials, the bridge in the village of Karyzh was damaged overnight by targeted Ukrainian “shelling”. It was the last major crossing on this part of the front, following the destruction on Friday and Saturday of two bridges further east over the same river.

Ukraine’s armed forces are now poised to push forward from their existing bridgehead around the Russian town of Sudzha, captured two weeks ago during a surprise offensive. They are seeking to encircle Russian troops – some of them conscripts – who are stuck south of the river in the Korenevsky district.

If the operation succeeds, Ukraine will gain another 700 sq km (270 sq miles) of Russian land. Russia has built pontoon bridges across the river in order to supply its forces, but these are vulnerable to close-range Ukrainian strikes from US-supplied Himars systems, truck-mounted mobile rocket launchers.

On Monday Kyiv captured two more Russian villages, Snagost and Apanasovka. The pace of its advance into Kursk oblast has slowed in recent days, however. The Kremlin has scrambled reserves to try to stop Ukrainian combat units from advancing further.

“The situation is messy there,” a senior Ukrainian official told the Guardian. “The Russians have pulled in extra troops. Some are capable, some are not. The Russians have found it extremely difficult to recapture lost territory.”

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, was waging a “high-speed” campaign, with his troops constantly on the move, the official said. Syrskyi wanted to avoid a dug-in “positional war”, similar to the one taking place in eastern Ukraine, the person said, adding: “It’s risky. But the narrative of the war has changed. Everything is possible.”

While Ukrainian forces have made quick progress around Sudzha, Russian troops have been steadily making gains in the east of Ukraine. On Monday they captured the town of Niu-York, raising the Russian flag and renaming the town Novgorodske, Kremlin military bloggers reported.

For months, Russian forces have also been edging closer to the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, gobbling up surrounding villages. Ukrainian defenders have retreated in the face of airstrikes on their positions, followed by round-the-clock infantry assaults.

On Monday Pokrovsk’s military administrator, Serhii Dobryak, said fighting was likely to engulf the city in less than two weeks. He urged residents to pack up and leave. About 60% had already gone, he said. He added that families with children would soon be forced to evacuate under emergency rules.

In neighbouring Myrnohrad – now just a few kilometres from the frontline – fewer than 16,000 people remained. Banks, pharmacies, shops and markets were closing, together with all organisations and institutions. The city hospital was shutting down as well, with the exception of a few doctors who would treat the wounded.

The imminent Russian attack on Pokrovsk will complicate Ukraine’s attempts to defend its Donbas region, where war has raged since 2014. The Russians are close to capturing a highway that links Pokrovsk to a string of major cities to the north, including the garrison settlements of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

The Kursk raid was conceived in part as a way to relieve pressure on Pokrovsk and the city of Toretsk, also under intense Russian fire. So far, though, the Kremlin has transferred irregular forces from the rear, as well as units based in the occupied south of Ukraine. If anything, it has thrown more resources into the battle for Pokrovsk.

Speaking on Sunday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia was carried out to create a permanent buffer zone. It would prevent further attacks by Moscow across the border, he suggested, after a Russian offensive in May against the Ukrainian city of Vovchansk. Fighting there continues.

Previously Zelenskiy said the incursion would protect communities in Ukraine’s bordering Sumy region from constant shelling. “It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions. This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory – our operation in the Kursk region,” he declared.

Monday Evening Open Thread: Welcome to Chicago!

by Anne Laurie| August 19, 20246:53 pm| 230 Comments

This post is in: Elections 2024, Kamala Harris for President, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Thank you, DougJ…

Opinion | Democrats, it's technically not too late to make Liz Cheney your nominee. But soon it will be.

— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) August 19, 2024

Chicago native:

I forgot about how the Presidential ambulance looks like a supervillain’s mobile HQ

— Peter Wolf (@peterawolf) August 19, 2024

“Welcome weary travelers. You have arrived in the Serene IL-Khanate of Twice-Anointed Great Khan of Springfield.” pic.twitter.com/ffWxfSgqFM

— Nomadic Warriors for Pritzker⚔️ (@Nomads4Pritzker) August 19, 2024

It’s Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention, and no one is more excited than our small businesses, who are ready to welcome our new visitors to Chicago and show how Democrats have been delivering across the state.

Let’s get this thing started! pic.twitter.com/tl8Vo69ftH

— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) August 19, 2024

Gov. JB Pritzker was Biden's man in the Midwest. Where's that leave him with VP Harris? https://t.co/YU4oT8L5Ze

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 17, 2024

… He’d attended his first Democratic National Convention in San Francisco in the summer of 1984, at age 19, as a volunteer for Walter Mondale’s campaign. Pritzker was a bit of a junkie when it came to party conventions.

“I called JB and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got a crazy idea. What do you think of this?’” recalled Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a co-chair of Biden’s –and now Harris’ – campaign. “He said, ‘Absolutely.’”

Chicago had hosted Democratic conventions nearly a dozen times before, most recently in 1996, when former President Bill Clinton was up for reelection, and in 1968, when activists protesting the Vietnam War were involved in televised skirmishes with the police. This time would be different, party officials insisted.

Yet, there were hurdles from the start. The bid required the city to put forward an irrevocable letter of credit of $30 million, in case the host committee fell short of its nearly $85 million obligation – a record-breaking sum – and convince party officials to recommend Chicago over Atlanta, Houston and New York.

The heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune and a prolific Democratic fundraiser, Pritzker knew the consequences all too well. He had given $1.2 million of his own money to support Hillary Clinton’s nominating convention in 2016, making him the Philadelphia gathering’s single largest contributor…

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Monday Evening Open Thread: Welcome to Chicago!Post + Comments (230)

Yes, Virginia, There Are Statemen in the Republican Party, or at least there are one or two

by WaterGirl| August 19, 20243:27 pm| 220 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics

Exclusive/CNN–Judge Michael Luttig, widely respected conservative jurist, endorses Kamala Harris–his FIRST Democratic vote. Issues a remarkable statement to explain why. https://t.co/o7Z5PWa7dR

— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) August 19, 2024

“In voting for Vice President Harris, I assume that her public policy views are vastly different from my own,” Luttig writes, “but I am indifferent in this election as to her policy views on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.”

Michael Luttig, advisor to former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and a former U.S. federal judge, testifies during the third of eight planned public hearings of the U.S. House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger

(CNN)

Retired federal appeals court Judge J. Michael Luttig, a prominent conservative legal scholar put on the bench by President George H.W. Bush, is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump, whose candidacy he describes as an existential threat to American democracy.

It will be the first time Luttig, a veteran of two Republican administrations, has voted for a Democrat.

“In the presidential election of 2024 there is only one political party and one candidate for the presidency that can claim the mantle of defender and protector of America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law,” Luttig wrote in a statement obtained exclusively by CNN. “As a result, I will unhesitatingly vote for the Democratic Party’s candidate for the Presidency of the United States, Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.”

Luttig played a now famous role in persuading then-Vice President Mike Pence to defy Trump and certify the 2020 presidential election. In a series of tweets drafted at the request of Pence’s attorney, Luttig spelled out in stark terms the legal rationale for Pence to reject the former president’s attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s victory.

Since then, Luttig has emerged as a preeminent constitutional critic of Trump. In endorsing Harris, Luttig argues that partisan distinctions must, in this election, be set aside in order to prevent the “singularly unfit” Trump from returning to the White House.

“In voting for Vice President Harris, I assume that her public policy views are vastly different from my own,” Luttig writes, “but I am indifferent in this election as to her policy views on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.”

In this fight, will take all the statesmen we can get, regardless of party. I had never heard of him before J. Michael Luttig testified at the Jan 6 hearings. To paraphrase Luttig in the linked article:

I assume that her LUTTIG’s policy views are vastly different from my own, but I am indifferent in this election as to HIS policy views on any issues other than America’s Democracy, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law, as I believe all Americans should be.” ~WG

It would really be encouraging if James Mattis, John Kelly, H.R. McMaster, Rex Tillerson, Mark Milley, Mark Esper, and John Bolton were to put the country first and do the same.

— John Dori (@JohnTDori) August 19, 2024

Ha! Not one of the people listed above is a statesman. Okay, maybe Mark Milley is the exception. The rest are spineless hypocrytes who chose not to defend the rule of law when they had power during the Trump Administration.

Open thread.

Yes, Virginia, There Are Statemen in the Republican Party, or at least there are one or twoPost + Comments (220)

This Might Be Fun to Watch

by @heymistermix.com| August 19, 20242:41 pm| 117 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Donald Trump shares AI-generated images of Taylor Swift and her fans, falsely implying her endorsement. pic.twitter.com/OkaCuQtULb

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 19, 2024

I saw this go by in my feeds a couple of hours ago, and it’s interesting that none of the mainstream media outlets (People, CNN, etc.) reporting it would reprint the AI-generated image of Taylor Swift, because they’re not fucking idiots like Trump.

I assume her lawyers will get a quick takedown, and she won’t even mention it. He’s clearly trying to get in a fight with any prominent woman that he can, as part of his new “we’re the incels’ #1 choice” campaign strategy.

She endorsed biden in 2020 and I assume she’ll endorse Harris when she decides that the time is right.

Edit: This just popped up on Bluesky. The gross incompetence of this campaign, Jesus. Disorb!
This Might Be Fun to Watch

This Might Be Fun to WatchPost + Comments (117)

Open Thread (and don’t forget to RSVP) and rescheduling the zoom

by WaterGirl| August 19, 202412:25 pm| 128 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

If you are interested in attending tomorrow’s zoom with the Civics Center, please let us know in the comments and send an email to WaterGirl.

Never mind. We will reschedule the zoom for after the convention.

The zoom is at 7:30 pm Eastern time. There are only a small handful of RSVPs at this point, and I’m not sure whether that indicates lack of interest (but who wouldn’t want to come and talk with someone who clerked for RBG?) or focused on the Democratic Convention (so you’re distracted) or if you plan to attend the zoom but just haven’t RSVP’d yet.

~~I would be surprised if it’s lack of interest because so many of you have written to say how excited you are about this group. So I am perplexed!~~

Speaking of The Civics Center, PatrickG’s $2,500 Angel match from yesterday is complete, and he added that to the thermometer this morning.

Donate

Open Thread (<s>and don’t forget to RSVP)</s> and rescheduling the zoomPost + Comments (128)

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

Republicans do not pay their debts.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Fucking consultants! (of the political variety)

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

We will not go back.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Early Morning Open Thread: Snippets

Late Night Open Thread: It’s About Madam Time

War for Ukraine Day 908: “Stuck Within the System”

Our Collective Efforts Determine What Weapons Are in the Hands of Our Warriors – Speech by the President at the Meeting of Heads of Ukraine’s Foreign Diplomatic Missions “Wartime Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory”

Monday Evening Open Thread: Welcome to Chicago!

Yes, Virginia, There Are Statemen in the Republican Party, or at least there are one or two

This Might Be Fun to Watch

Open Thread (and don’t forget to RSVP) and rescheduling the zoom