Update
Snowleopards
This is a test to further develop into English speaking posts and I intend to start off with a loud bang doing one post a week to begin with. I have unfortunately been forced to work in English speaking environments since early 2000s and managed to pick up a few words so will give it a try. Factory translations just erases all the nuances.
A summary from past weeks posts massaged into English. These posts read by great people such as Nelson Mandela and Sting are not yet known outside of the Kingdom of Sweden. Which also means the world is not yet familiar with the rather special way they are written β a bit like Marmite you love it or you donβt.
Back in 2022 I wanted to make the Ukraine-war interesting to raise awareness, correct medias reporting and of course heckle Putin the village id1ot. In Sweden interest for the war was luke-warm at best and more importantly β media got it all wrong, and still do.
(Putins subversive methods of controlling medias narrative are effective)
Analyses are my own. I gather the information from (mostly osint) sources we have learned to trust over time and then develop my own analysis that at least one time in three years has been correct π
On a slightly more serious note β over the years a number of the then bold predictions have turned out to be correct. I suspect it helps to not use the mainstream experts ready served analyses as a base to build on.
Much of the reporting is Ukrainewar (UA), just occasionally branching out a bit π
Translate that β βVΓ€rldsledande omvΓ€rldsanalys frΓ₯n Svensksund till den ryska brakfΓΆrlusten i Ukrainaβ. Swedes have a long history with Russia and we do not like them, hundreds of years of pillaging and raping that was only ok when we did it over in Russia.
This war is not won by USA although they have already started writing up the history where Biden saves a Ukraine that could barely stand on their own.
Also not won by an EU that squabbles over exactly everything and have put business and self-interests before stopping children as young as five being tortured, raped and murdered.
My view of west has been slightly altered during these years of conflict, and I do also understand how WW2 could gear up and take over. At some point no world leader can control the escalation β we are not there yet but not that far away.
This war is won by a couple of hundred thousand infantry in their trenches in eastern Ukraine. Their only ticket out of this is death or invalidity but they simply refuses to give in and fall behind mountains of empty cartridges.
Warriors of Light β
It is the highest honour in the world to fight the Russians in eastern Ukraine and as in every great sacrifice made to make the world a better place these soldiers will quickly forgotten and left to manage their PTSD with the bottle and those of their comrades that survived post-war. But we are not there yet.
I have been in my own violent battles with those claiming that the Ukrainian infantry is no good and a lousy bunch. My view is that they are the best in the world β what other country got this work experience and have taken all the job specific courses without missing a class?
During my compulsory military service in the Swedish armoured forces we practiced mechanized assaults (did not quite make it to general, stopped just shy of that after 2.5yrs as a master sergeant, FΓ€nrik?).
To carry out a mechanized assault on a fortified red nest we needed to have a 3:1 advantage β platoon storms group, company storms platoon and so on.
Our survival chances were minutes in intense battle and we did never factor in the mines β glorious battalion sized assaults over the flowery fields of southern Sweden. Although we always lost the battalion halfway through the exercise with blinking orange lights absolutely everywhere it was never to the mines. It is those mines that cripple every attempt to go forward in Ukraine together with the drones.
Apparently Russians takes 2/3 of their losses to drones β and west have no work experience at all in this warfare yet.
In the 90s we had no drones but we had βsmartβ ammunition for our grenade launchers β Strix, absolute little winged monsters.
Fast forward to 2025 – we have seen endless videos from the assault brigades group-sized assaults on an entrenched Russian barbaric platoon. They wipe the defenders clean out and have one or two wounded in their group. Yes, I get that we are shown the successful assaults but in our exercises we had our battalion constantly wiped out trying to storm a dug in company. Any company commander that had managed to defeat a battalion in those exercises would have gotten his picture up in the mess hall pronto and free vodka for life.
The wizard level of soldier capabilities, we see Ukraine constantly carrying out offensive operations with the lesser ratio, 1:3 or worse.
Recently UA launched a mechanized battalion assault in Kursk with a combined force from different brigades and cut through an area that on paper was defended by 3-4 Russian brigades from their elite formations (Russian elite that is!).
I boldly claim that the UA infantry is among the best in the world, and their SOF certainly is. A description of how they captured some north Koreans, as it was their top priority at the time, was more like herding tired and old goats than fighting a battle.
And their Mossad-style subversive force that is already dealing with the Russian war criminals abroad and other βstuffβ β more than one can play that game Mr Putin.
Us in west keep within the box but Ukraine does not need to do that, and they recently changed the law to take the war abroad. You have seen it on the news as tankers with faulty engines for example, or drone operators with less effective eyesight.
Highlights from the week β
Ukraine commenced offensive operations on the 5/6 February β i.e a window for offensive operations started and the various front commanders were expected to commence offensive operations when they got everything in place.
Those who follow Johan No.1 Bluesky knows that start of offensive operations was ordered on that Bluesky for the 5th or 6th February.
Weather is near perfect with freezing temperatures making it possible to drive over marshes and smaller watercourses that the useless Russians did not mine when the ground was not frozen.
RU is now forced to regroup into temporary positions and cannot warm themselves as heats sources attracts the drones. Recently it is also wet daytime and frozen nighttime which is the worst possible weather to be in the field in β I have only bad memory from exercises in such weather.
Thus far we have seen mechanized recon pushing forward and βpositioning battlesβ where UA attempts to seize dominant terrain, or terrain that serves as a staging ground for further offensive operations (I guess).
We can expect additional vectors of assault along the northern border into Russia, unrest in Belarus, assaults across Dnepr and along the eastern front if opportunity presents itself. And UA have a strategic reserve held back although not as big as they had hoped due to lack of material from the west.
UA have gone forward locally on all fronts and it has been relatively successful β it is more to come although established media has not covered this as of yet.
Actually β Russian sources are worrying about UA troop build ups at the moment π
The only showstopper is if the west (USA + EU) starts to dictate what Ukraine can and cannot do again but so far EU seem genuinely pissed off with Trumps peace negotiations and have doubled down on their support to Ukraine.
UA have been in Turkey and China recently
And EU and started doing their own thing entirely, Go EU β
In Germany the anti-russian party seem to be doing good so Scholz is on his way out, he never found his inner Visigoth and only did what Putin told him to, or his party?
Trumps absolute fiasco of a peace negotiation that Ukraine does not recognize as it is not even close to equal treatment is a real sh1t-show – you do not see something like this often.
Last time was Borat trying to meddle peace between Israel and Palestine in a movie I think.
-Ukraine must give up lost territories but have anyone heard seized territory in Kursk mentioned once π€¬
-Ukraine must have general election, but not Russia
-Ukraine must give away their wealth to USA, but Russia got lifted sanctions.
Until recently I really wanted to give Trump the benefit of the doubt and wait until Trump stated one of the two below β
-Trump is now pleased with that EU woke up and gives Ukraine enough to pulverize Russia entirely and give a thumbs up followed by a broad American smile.
-Trump starts to cry that EU wants war and is the aggressor β and starts to hamper EU efforts in any way he can.
At the end of the day β a USA aligned with EU supporting Ukraine would be the best right and if we go full hate unnecessarily it would only benefit Russia.
One side is (still) arguing that this is all part of Trumps plan to kick some action into EU and look at it now β EU has certainly risen as one.
The only thing missing is reaction No.1 from Trump π
It took me 1.5 years to decide on Biden so a bit quicker this time.
Fair enough – the actual result to date from these βpeace negotiationsβ has been interesting – EU have risen as one and wants to level Russia to the ground and turn it into a parking lot. Ukraine have no more any no-go zones or limitations at all and is carpet bombing a totally defenceless Russiaβs most valuable infrastructure into a smouldering pile of ash.
Fast forward – (not so) subtle signals suggests that Trump has completely crossed the line into the wrong corner as he really seems to be warming up to it now making an absolute ass of himself and USA.
JD Vance warns Zelensky to not attack Trump π
And Trump has called Zelensky a dictator π
Zelensky was not allowed a joint press conference with Kellogg π²
(no complaints please I am trying to transfer my list to Bluesky but it is not there yetβ¦)
According to Altola β a EU parliamentarian, USA have given EU an ultimatum
And Trump further talks down Zelensky in a presser
An the Economist is saying Trump is trying to get rid of Zelensky (an opinion piece!)
To be able to claim that it was all superior negotiation tactics Trump must pretty much TODAY correct this, or he has burnt USA on the world stage for decades to come. You donβt need to be a politician to understand this and those who do not understand it can read these posts and then understand it.
But it does not stop there, Putin is now out criticizing Trump for not being tough enough on EU
And Zelensky has sidelined Trump and is directing his attention to the US Congress.
And Canada is moving towards EU and closer to UA.
Bluesky is a veritable posting machine-gun with small alerts. On Substack you get a nudge whenever a new text is out which can be helpful so register there if you’re in for the weekly ones β and you have a chance to join paid subscription to support this voluntary work.
The blog/webpage has an awesome comment section what will blow your shorts of – lots of competent guys (and girls and all other identities!) that contributes there.
FYI β if you write replies in English in any of these channels all will understand. We may laugh and laugh but we will understand.
Got a series of posts regarding the Soviet submarine incursions coming at some point. I do keep a fulltime job, and have an awesome family, so time is the limiting factor here π¬
The long term intention is to develop a platform with a lively comment section, and a sufficiently ok historical record, so that we (together) post-war can write up the history as it happened one bit at-a-time. Not the US and EU history revisions that makes them into heroes and Ukraine into a needy something.
Donβt miss out on world-leading content that at least once in three years has been correct.
https://bsky.app/profile/johanno1.bsky.social
On Fridays we also hold something called βFredagsfyllaβ on johanno1.se. Early in the war we used to drunk-post on a Friday evening and had great fun so I try to keep this rather Swedish tradition alive.
It is a truly sad event with mostly me building up expectations the day before and then around 18:00 Swedish time I post a couple of fun videos that no one comments on, and the comment section is quieter than a train station bar on Christmas eve.
Donβt miss out on that one, it is at your own risk when this epic Fredagsfylla is all your work colleagues want to talk about Monday morning – and you got no idea what happened.
Don't forget to donate, Ukraine's cause is ours! Support Ukraine!
NOTE: Those of you who do NOT want to allow automatic translation of your comments, please go to your profile page and set it.
Hover over your name at the top right, select edit profile, and you will then find the setting under the language settings heading.
Russian losses
1280 KWIA
12 Tanks
18 APVs
52 Artillery systems
4 MLRS
2 Anti-Aircraft systems
135 UAVs
143 Vehicles & fuel tanks
1 Special equipment
https://bsky.app/profile/matsextrude.bsky.social/post/3lio373atbk2z
143 fordon och brΓ€nsletankar
Thanks, fixed it!
Verdun losses to say the least, so much death Russian ββπ₯π₯π₯
AFU:
“121 clashes took place yesterday.
The enemy launched three missile and 93 aviation strikes at the positions of Ukrainian units and settlements, used 17 missiles, and dropped 151 controlled air bombs. In addition, more than 5,500 shells were fired, 129 of them from jet systems of salvage fire, and 2,650 kamikaze drones were deployed for attacks.”
Allt fΓ€rre π§
Fewer and fewer π§
Increased battle intensity in the Kursk region, as reported in the morning report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFUπΊπ¦), with continued high levels of activity in #Pokrovsk. Also, #Novopavlivka has seen combat in the last 24 hours.
Update as of 08.00 on February 21, 2025, regarding the Russian invasion.
121 combat engagements occurred.
#Kharkiv 3
#Kupyansk 7
#Lyman 5
#Siverskyi 2
#Kramatorsk 4
#Toretsk 10π₯
#Pokrovsk 34π₯π₯
#Novopavlivka 12π₯
#Huliaipil 3
#Orikhiv 5
#Kursk 29π₯π₯βοΈ
In the #Kursk sector, the AFRFπ·πΊ conducted 29 assaults on AFUπΊπ¦ unit positions, launched 19 airstrikes, deployed 25 aerial combat vehicles, and fired 479 times at AFUπΊπ¦ unit positions and localities, including nine times from MLRS.
https://x.com/coxoxoffoxoffic/status/1892826092903211063?s=46
Ukrainian troops repelled thirty-four attacks in the #Pokrovsk sector yesterday. AFRFπ·πΊ forces are most active near the towns of Promin, Pokrovsk, Pishchane, Lysivka, Vodiane Druhe, Serhiivka, Nadiivka, Bohdanivka, Sribne, Andriivka, and Ulakly.
https://x.com/coxoxoffoxoffic/status/1892826074809041248?s=46
AFUπΊπ¦ continue to hold off AFRFπ·πΊ forces in the #Novopavlivka sector. In the areas of Kostyantynopol, Rozdolne, Novoocheretuvate, and Pryvilne, the invaders attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 12 times but were repelled.
https://x.com/coxoxoffoxoffic/status/1892826083491237972?s=46
Thank you 205 – the original language works great.
Less FAB in Kursk, right?
I wonder where in Kursk they are attacking.
Russia is attacking towards the main road leading to Skudne, as I understand it. It is a really serious situation because if Russia cuts off that supply line, Ukraine will have a tough time staying put. Skudne is Ukraine’s hub for almost everything. Unfortunately, Russia managed to get past a river and has continued to advance.
You mean guided aerial bombs? Checked quickly, clearly over 50 not long ago, but the translation from Ukrainian is a bit inconsistent so the data is quite messy if you want to make a more detailed compilation, but with some curation. Can’t promise anything but will check.
Something is happening in Hungary:
https://www.vlt.se/2025-02-18/tovader-i-orbans-ungern/
Interesting. Orban seems to be eroding himself in the end.
Interesting, indeed.
VΓ€lkommen/Welcome/Welcome
The writer is clearly Hungarian, so an interesting insight.
Orban is now wealthy through his family, rampant corruption.
If the EU speaks up, he will probably back down.
Looking at breitbart.com, the site is remarkably quiet about Donald Trump’s clumsiness in his attempts to meddle in peace in the war in Ukraine. Breitbart now seems more focused on US relations with China….
Unfortunately, the message hit home at Maga-base, I found out this morning when I checked in on FB with old pals from high school, where someone in the otherwise very blue state had posted a meme: “He’s not a dictator. He had to cancel the election because he said it wasn’t the right time.” Intended ironically.
I replied that he should look up the constitution if the USA were to hold an election during a war. And I had to partially eat my words, as the President of the USA cannot cancel an election, and it has never happened during civil wars or world wars. However, the USA has also never been invaded, and no state has been occupied. There have never been any significant obstacles for voters to cast their votes.
But as I said, apparently the constitution allows no exceptions. Yet it has also never been put to the test.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/canceled-election
The bass has been completely radicalized, it is indisputable.
There are Russian old KGB who have talked about this, 68 was the time, for example.
They just dusted off that playbook.
Thanks a lot no1! Nice to get international feelings/feedback/comments! Now the whole world can get all important info, world-class analyses to the world – without the need for translation. That’s no1!
Thanks for the kind words David, no translation needed for this earlybird that also presidents receive I have been told π
https://bsky.app/profile/auonsson.bsky.social/post/3lioeckqvlc2g
There is a new broken submarine cable close to Gotland, with Swedish Navy and Coast Guard en route, according to public service news.
Well well, almost with clockwork precision, our monthly message from Moscow. 17.11. Yi Peng 25.12. Eagle S 26.1. Vezhen 21.2. “Mystery artist”
What the heck π³
“The conqueror is always peace-loving (as Bonaparte also always claimed), he would quite like to peacefully enter our state; but so that he cannot do this, we must want war and therefore also prepare for it, i.e. in other words: it should be precisely the weak, those subjected to defense, who are always armed and not attacked; that is what the art of war demands.”
On War, Book 6:5 Character of Strategic Defense
Clausewitz?
Clausewitz understood the strategic game.
That one had to translate, but some words were quite tricky π
Apparently messed up when I posted the entry, IT told me π²
otherwise happy with the entry that took some time to put together.
Have given up on Trump now, 5D chess is definitely not played like this π
He does seem to be able to play poker.
No, one must make a great effort to find any logic in Trump’s actions. To put it politely. It will be fun to keep an eye on the clock at 18:00 Swedish time for the Friday drinks.
It will be epically violent like every Friday ββ
I actually doubt that it’s worth trying to understand or analyze the guy.
It’s just important to keep an eye on what he DOES, not just his statements.
If you’re not already reading Ledarsidorna.se, I want to recommend what Westerholm has written about this
https://ledarsidorna.se/illusionisten-trump-forskjuter-fokus-infor-det-tyska-valet/
Is it true that there are also strong economic interests in this, concerning among other things Bitcoin? Damn it.
To my ears, much more plausible than that RU would have kompromat on the guy.
THAT would be believing him about way too much.
THAT would imply that he had the ability to be ashamed of anything at all (had a conscience, moral compass, ever viewed himself critically, saw any of his own behaviors as blameworthy, etc).
Narcissists (ok, analysis…) may be easily offended, vindictive, and dangerous, but they do not feel shame, and guilt does not exist for them.
We constantly make the mistake of thinking that people are like us. The Ryzzen, the personality-disordered top layer of MAGA, the Islamists in the Middle East (and M-East) just to name a few.
Well, he has his “truth social” valued at billions of dollars and then his crypto which was a big scam. He has probably multiplied his fortune tenfold on this.
My thought on compromising material is that he has survived EVERYTHING in the USA so what could Putin threaten with?
Hello Merle,
Thank you for the link to the editorial pages, Johan Westerholm often has insights and an ability to see things from a different perspective.
The idea that Musk and Vance would flirt with AfD because they have a strong libertarian compass and not because they are xenophobic is an interesting perspective that is rarely brought up in the media.
AfD is unlikely to come to power, but their success will certainly influence other parties and their decisions. Parties’ policies have a tendency to be shaped by other parties, especially if they are successful.
It is not unlikely that Germany would remove some bureaucracy and regulations that may be necessary but often hinder development.
We can see how the difference in economic development has been between the USA and the EU, which has more bureaucracy and more regulations.
I find it very difficult to see how a reduction in bureaucracy in Germany would threaten the EU, as Westerholm claims but does not explain in any way.
Thank you!
No, I really don’t know either. (Cryptocurrencies are also FAR beyond my area of expertise.)
There SHOULD be some profit for this group (what else would one have power for?) other than nurturing T’s ego.
T is good at ONE thing – creating attention for himself, completely spinning up the media, and stealing all the oxygen in the room.
What does he exploit it for?
At the risk of sounding like a heavy consumer of tin foil, it would be smart to get the media to focus on the usual circus so that other important interests can be consolidated in peace.
His team may be personality-disordered, lacking in judgment, totally unaware of the boundaries of their own area of expertise (a**-kissers, opportunists, in some cases abusers, fill in the blanks…) but I believe them to be cunning.
Something should therefore fly under the radar here. This could be ONE component.
Do we really believe these guys prioritize ideological battles over their own (monetary) gain? I don’t. First comes the eating, and then comes nothing.
https://ledarsidorna.se/trumps-reformplan-okar-tempot/
https://ledarsidorna.se/sa-forandrar-trump-den-internationella-handeln/
For those who may wonder why this doesn’t appear on the Author’s Site (especially since Westerholm has also been a very vocal and well-informed critic of Nortvolt), he blocks all links to Ledarsidorna too. Speaking of ego. But he has other good sides.
“Took some time to put together…” All respect for the fact that online trawling, compilations, and analyses take time. Extra time for you to translate. Unfortunately, it also takes me, like, three times as long to translate back.
Your yellow walls were the main reason I started following C in September 2022. I like your compilations, world-class analyses – and humor. Now, some of this goes over my head. Not because I handle English worse than any average Swede. But because I am much more skilled in the Swedish language. I like to fool around in it. I read, pause, contemplate, formulate my own reaction or standpoint. I rarely publish it, that’s important to me. Now it got tough.
Not going to ask for two languages. You already have the same text in three places, which is unnecessary. Different comments on two of them. I don’t need the emails, I check here anyway. Would be satisfied with one page, something that is easy for you to work with. Comments gathered.
You will bring along a group of readers to English. You will lose some. You will gain new followers. And I get to choose which of the first two categories I want to belong to.
Yes.
Dropping by for the Friday revelry.
Good news YM – only on Friday it will be in English, the rest of the week it will be readable again π
Thank you for your kind words π
I tried to get Johan No.1 to understand that one should create a post and then translate it so that it is available in two languages.
How do you read the blog, is it on mobile or desktop and which browser do you use?
If you are on a desktop using Chrome or Edge, it’s easy to translate the page by right-clicking with the mouse and selecting “translate.”
On mobile, it’s just as convenient, but then you click on the three dots at the top left of the browser and choose translate from the list that appears.
I’m not sure how it works on an iPhone, but it seems strange if they wouldn’t have something similar.
Of course, the translations are not always accurate. (For example, “Air strikes” usually becomes “luftstrejker”).
It would, of course, be much easier for visitors if Johan No.1 could do as I tell him to…
π²
I take on the responsibility of being a living example of the thesis “assumption is the mother of all fuck-ups!” (How to translate… oh well.) But “only on Fridays” doesn’t create any problems, right?
Of course it would be better if JN1 followed instructions, but what king does that? It’s their thing, you know.
Using Firefox and Safari. I’ve never stumbled upon a translation function, but I’ve never looked for one either. Doesn’t really matter anymore.
Has anyone toasted in a while?
π
I believe it has been said that the English language is what you get when angry Vikings try to shout insults in French (and French, of course, is what you get when angry Gauls try to shout insults in Latin).
Now we have angry Scandinavians, angry French, and angry Germans, and all this because Trump has decided to actively work against Europe and in favor of the barbarians. I think that Japan, South Korea, and Australia are watching closely, and I don’t think they are comfortable at all. I also believe you are right about this regime of Trump; it will not last for the full four years, although I’m not convinced it will last only a short time or a year. I believe the US is turning inwards as we speak, and the constitution must hold; otherwise, the USA as we know it is fried, cooked, smoked.
Europe must brace itself and, together with Ukraine, defeat Moscovy.
I think China will continue to watch and see who comes out on top in Ukraine. They may very well support Ukraine if they believe that support of Ukraine will benefit them in the long run. But we don’t know yet. Exciting times we are living in, indeed exciting.
So, anyone want to bet on the chances of a US “Operation Valkyrie” and a modern-day von Stauffenberg?
I’d say they have a bloody moral obligation to do it. There’s no such thing as merely following orders.
As for China, apart from the fact that collaborating with them would mean defying MAGA, whether you try to ride the tiger or trade with it, there’s a substantial risk you end up as its lunch. It’s just the condiments that differ. Look at Africa – China is not exactly a partner there, but rather the worst kind of imperialist (lefties saying nothing), mining resources with little or no reciprocation. It has attempted to do the same thing elsewhere as well, Hungary and Serbia and various -stans on that list. Would even Ukraine be able to hold its own against China? It’d be risky.
VΓ₯ra vΓ€nner i Japan och Sydkorea tittar fΓΆrmodligen fΓΆrvΓ₯nat pΓ₯ men kommer fΓΆrmodligen inte att agera dΓ₯ deras relation med USA Γ€r viktigare Γ€n med EU.
Turkiets position Γ€r osΓ€ker i detta kaos. De ville vara fredsmedlare mellan Hamas och Israel men blev Γ₯sidosatta av USA och mΓ₯ste nu se pΓ₯ nΓ€r Trump omfamnar Γ€rkefienden Ryssland, det Γ€r inte bara Sverige som har Ryssland som Γ€rkefiende.
Erdogans ego, som Γ€r nΓ€stan lika stort som Trumps, mΓ₯ste ha fΓ₯tt sig en tΓΆrn. Erdogan har nyligen uttalat sitt stΓΆd fΓΆr Ukraina.
Γr Erdogan nu en av de goda? FΓΆr bara nΓ₯gra Γ₯r sedan hade varje svensk en trΓ€docka som representerade Erdogan och de sΓ₯ldes fΓΆr enorma summor pΓ₯ Ebay, nu Γ€r de vΓ€rda ingenting och kan inte ens slΓ€ngas i soporna, utan mΓ₯ste Γ₯tervinnas.
I believe Asia is watching and wondering if they can rely on the US or if the US will also try to cut a deal with China..?
Agree, but they will not make stupid remarks on X. They are most probably embarrassed that POTUS is loosing his face and behave like Rocketman.
Yes.
I have found my inner Viking ββ
Hysterically fun with the language in the first paragraph.
Occasionally, there is an expression of hope that China will be the adult in the room and take the lead regarding Russia. I don’t think that will happen. China has much more far-reaching plans. If Russia can destabilize Europe, maybe even attack NATO countries, China will calmly sit back and watch. Officially, they may express regret and talk about peace, but this benefits them, so they wait. China has already stated (I believe it was in 2023) that Ukraine’s sovereignty should be respected. Fine words. The reality is that this chaos only benefits China. They have time to wait. They are long-term players and plan for what is best for China in the long run. The fact that the domestic economy is doing poorly is of course a problem for China, but, just like Russia, they do not care about their population if they suffer due to a bad economy. The only thing that matters in the long run is that China gains influence over the world’s regions – in one way or another. This means that we must be extremely vigilant about what China does and says. EVERYTHING China does and says is to strengthen their own influence! Many seem to think that we can have “controlled” trade and exchange with China without benefiting their strategic goals. That is a dangerously false belief. Every foothold China gains – in industry, raw materials, infrastructure, media, politics, or technology – strengthens them and makes us more dependent on them. And that dependence means that in the future, we will not be able to act freely when we need to set boundaries. It is said that China needs trade with Europe. Yes, but perhaps not as much as Europe needs trade with China. There is a fairly large market in Asia for China to trade with and sell its products to, so they are not in urgent need to trade with Europe. And if reduced trade with Europe benefits China in the long run, China will play that card.
One gigantic mistake was to move all production to China when it became the latest trend.
They simply stole all the technology and have now reached a level where they can start producing their own researched technology, not just copying from the drawings they stole.
Their hacker attacks to steal technology are at a purely absurd level.
Now they are starting to offer contracts so fair that especially Chinese researchers are moving back home from the USA, but they also manage to attract other researchers.
In Sweden, we have had a LONG debate about how we are strangling basic research, and especially now one must research “soft issues” to get funding. The “real” researchers are drawn like a magnet if they get 10 times the salary and get to do what they like instead.
But we also have a reality to deal with, and if the USA wants to back down as they have done for the past three years, especially now with Trump, China will feel that they can move in this vacuum.
The alternatives then become two – coexistence after the playing field has been redrawn (because it is being redrawn now) or full-on war.
For my part, I want the country to arm itself for war if it wants peace and then clearly define who its friends are, and if they are attacked, then go to war even if there is a distance between them.
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines are to be considered allies at least?
And Taiwan, but good luck to China with that naval invasion provided that the West doesn’t completely sleep through drone development here.
Starting a war, who knows, and I can still feel that when the West brought down Japan in the 90s, it wasn’t very nice, or all the wars since the late 90s, with highlights like the democratization of Libya, which didn’t go so well.
Ask any older South American what they think of the USA.
So – we don’t need to welcome China with open arms in any way, but the map is now being redrawn entirely on its own by Putin and then the recent actions of the USA with Trump, which is what I’m trying to reason about a bit.
A bit early but hopefully everyone has started pre-drinking at work already as a pre-party for the legendary Friday binge ββ
Well, damn, it’s almost 3 in the afternoon.
Yes, you heard correctly, the clock has struck.
Welcome to the absolutely legendary Friday binge drinking that is the only thing your work colleagues want to talk about at Monday’s coffee break, so I just say don’t miss out at your own risk.
In the past, giants like Dengamle and Erik14 used to participate, but now that I’ve been abandoned, at least Nelson Mandela and Sting are still around causing havoc.
Budanov is probably lurking around and causing trouble sometimes, but he seems to have a lot else going on nowadays and, above all, hasn’t found his way to johanno1.se, which is like a good tiramisu with amaretto base.
(so it’s not me behind that damn Budanov account that bullies me on Cornu).
I was eyeing an Imperial rum yesterday at the grocery store but had to (some discussion preceded that decision…) settle for a significantly cheaper, and much smaller bottle, Barcelos – forgot the name.
Then my significantly better half goes and buys a more expensive OLIVE OIL than what Imperial cost, and flat out refused to shortcut back to the liquor aisle…
Life is a constant struggle π
Furthermore, there was a well-dressed significantly older American next to me who first considered a bottle of Imperial but then opted for a rum that was twice as expensive, at the very top in its own box with gold paper π
Life’s injustices really hit you in the face when at the same time next to him you’re tightly holding on to an Imperial, forced to reluctantly put back this Imperial, bend down to the bottom shelf and first grab a bottle that you also have to put back because it was “too expensive” by a few pesos, and then finally get a yes to the cheapest one – but not the larger one, but the smallest bottle…
Looking at it from the positive side, at least I have a drinkable very small bottle of rum and a few one-liter bottles of beer π
How’s your Friday going?
A half hour too early π²
A couple of Spendrups Premium and a small JΓ€ger will do. They say that JΓ€ger is an old man’s booze. I agree with that. Happy Friday!
Happy Friday Senhor, Buenas tardes we say from a sunny and very hot Caribbean.
Spendrups and JΓ€ger are elite series winners π
Still at work maybe a couple of hours, depending on what I have left (self-employed)
Yes, the purpose of Friday binge drinking is not to cause bankruptcies, so good π
Since I work with italinerare, I have discovered something exciting called “two-hour wine lunch” and it can be anytime during the week.
Well, one doesn’t become overly productive at work afterwards, but since colleagues are also slightly intoxicated, no one seems to care.
However, they never become loud or cheerful, they are the same gloomy types just with a little more wine in them.
Enjoying half a glass of top-quality boxed wine, even the tap is working, and now it’s pizza and a cheap beer, of course canned. Then we’re supposed to clean, she has decided, I’m thinking of pretending to be sick to get out of it. π·
ββ
Sneak peek
“This bill authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with the government of Denmark to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland. The bill also renames Greenland as Red, White, and Blueland.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1161
Edit: I hadn’t refreshed the page so I didn’t see Johan’s post above.
Yes, that will go just as well as the mineral deal with Ukraine ππ
Absolute incompetents.
Mette Fredriksson can add the member to her “to do” list. The USA has now become a real shitshow ππ.
Should we make a playlist for Friday drinking?
Vanka-Vstanka (warning for unfaithful thoughts if you have a wife): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL8ntC9IkdY&list=PLtHWVVtLVgYgD8nxumIT7oyHGll6Kup-A
Bayraktar (when we saw this video a couple of years ago, we knew in our hearts what the brain already knew – Ukraine cannot lose): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3FGWPMjl6M&list=PLtHWVVtLVgYgD8nxumIT7oyHGll6Kup-A&index=4
Push away the couch and make a dance floor now that a few drinks have landed in the stomach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJKm0Ga8J-g
Great playlist!
The first one you didn’t dare to watch with a mind-reading wife but Bayraktar is an absolute classic π
The last one was awesome π
This song comes with a story that may not be Ukraine, but when I was in the bathymetry boat, we were about six people.
Me and five grumpy local guys who were always more tired and hungover than me, and I had to stay grumpier than them to have any authority, otherwise you would probably end up in the shark-rich water just because they could.
And the radio was constantly on, and as soon as this song came on, they turned into cheerful little stars and sang along.
https://youtu.be/QL0KV5xMjvo?si=AI_fF4HnPrG30KSU
Apparently born in Ohio but polished his local dialect when he lived in Lagos, and today he owns several houses in the richest part of the city – Banana Island.
OT but speaking of Africa vibes, Bokassa is my new mental model for Trump π
“the ending starts today” came up as the first suggestion ββ
Mango Mussolini doesn’t have much time left, I believe – Europe and Ukraine will be what brings him down.
Friday party?? Playlist?
Ok. Here you have something to chew on!
Verka Serduchka – Gop Gop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXI_T_9uU6s
VERKA SERDUCHKA – Swedish Lullaby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EVqasSaBTE
Verka Serduchka – Π― Π½Π΅ ΠΏΠΎΠ½ΡΠ»Π°: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4hq8eiB27M
KOZAK SYSTEM – ΠΠ΅ΡΠΈ (Earth, Wind and Fire): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWT9l8uFFJs
KOZAK SYSTEM & TARAS CHUBAI – Homin (ΠΠΎΠΌΡΠ½): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtUz7GnLw6c
Okean Elzy – Might Have Been a Dream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b09yXfazMm8
ΠΠ½ΡΠΈΡΡΠ»Π° – ΠΡΠ½ΠΎ :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9gvM_-WYwo
ANTYTILA – Bakhmut Fortress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmqLVrUXsTQ —> turn on the subtitles…
Now it’s starting to pick up speed, almost past the pre-party.
NICE π If I had been in any other country in the world except Sweden (and I guess Norway), I would have gone out and bought a bottle of vodka now!
Awesome π!
Friday binge! more fun than Friday cozy… π
Well, it started a bit as a protest to that peace cozy thread, I must admit, but it does have its direct benefits as well π
haha, best picture with Preben, those were the days when he was on the beer cans π
Pericles …
Yes, that’s right! π
The idea was to kickstart the party mood with some hysterical movies, the feedback last week was that 40 movies are considered spam so I will really control myself today π
However, it seems like we have already passed the pre-party and the ice is broken after a few glasses of whatever is being drunk out in the barns and we are on playlists instead, but I find it difficult to break patterns and improvise so here come a couple of hysterically funny movies.
A bit on the edge of what is allowed to post but the British really take their football seriously π²
https://x.com/NoContextBrits/status/1892931119122661573
Hamsters are violent.
https://x.com/fasc1nate/status/1892271518681338292
Trash-pandas, like little humans π
https://x.com/_rob_29/status/1891980018483384333?s=46&t=Vah3JXV31B9lXwZOK5gF7w
Bark at your dog and get hysterically funny reactions back. Yes, if your dog were to start talking, guess how you would look.
https://x.com/Enezator/status/1891517975594721790
And a movie like this one that you think must have happened but never seen – a diver with a belly flop
https://x.com/enezator/status/1866211215086911900?s=46&t=Vah3JXV31B9lXwZOK5gF7w
And we end with a jump-scared monkey
https://x.com/amazlngnature/status/1865516750453842295?s=46&t=Vah3JXV31B9lXwZOK5gF7w
PARTY πͺ
A angry frog too
https://x.com/amazlngnature/status/1865184764329656700?s=46&t=Vah3JXV31B9lXwZOK5gF7w
WHITE FLAGS EVERYWHERE! Entire Russian Units LAY DOWN ARMS TO UKRAINIAN FORCES!
https://www.rfunews.com/articles/white-flags-everywhere-entire-russian-units-lay-down-arms-to-ukrainian-forces
They are not giving up everywhere, but in Pokrovsk it is 18 degrees below zero and running out of vodka, so morale is at rock bottom.
Obvious logic, they are going to declare a resounding victory on Monday π
Hmm…it seems obvious that the Russians are losing at Pokrovsk. Or at least not advancing.
Great news βπ
Interesting reading! A drone operator can take out up to 150 Russian soldiers.
Sounds like a promising recipe against meat wave attacks.
Like this when the blood alcohol level starts to approach salon intoxication: Just to mess with Mump, Trusk, or whatever we’re going to call the idiots of the century, can’t the EU make a deal with Cuba or Mexico? Can’t we sell European cars cheaply to Cuba so they can scrap all that 50s Yankee crap? Or ensure that Mexico becomes a world leader in everything that the USA will be short of due to the tariffs.
Yes, we are breaking into South America ππ
Canada in EU, already a neighbor (Greenland). Heavy tariffs by road to Alaska.
Good Lord, what a train wreck with Trump, hard to see him surviving politically until 2025.
This week he has opened the floodgates and it never ends π³
When will you admit that Biden was better for Ukraine than Trump?
When will you fix the scroll bar in the top right corner on the safqriversion ios 7 π§
EDIT: biden was a disaster and trump seems to surpass it by a few hundred meters.
Is the USA the underlying disease?
But Trump will be impeached before the year is over – guaranteed π
EDIT – damn what a great function the scroll bar is forgotten π€£
EDIT – yes evening here and found rhyme bottle
Nikki still right.
https://x.com/nikkihaleyhq/status/1892665843936350595?s=46
π
Nikki π
Good morning! How should we interpret this?
“Trump accepts Russia invaded Ukraine β but says Putin βcould have been talked out of thatβ”
And
“Later in the sitdown, Trump suggested he would talk to Putin about releasing thousands of Ukrainian children who have been kidnapped and taken to Russia during the fighting.”
https://nypost.com/2025/02/21/us-news/trump-reverses-course-says-russia-could-have-been-talked-out-of-invading-ukraine/
In the stomach and eyes of the ball, I hope our leaders have! Because both JD Vance and Hegseth had pro-European messages when they visited Europe (Munich and Brussels), even though some policies were criticized.
Many point out that one should not take Trump at his word but take him seriously, I agree with that, he can really trigger people (including me) and then continue and go too far, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.
However, Europe still needs to do our job, Trump has shown and will probably show again that if we want to have a say, we must acquire enough hard power so that we can be taken seriously in situations like the ones we find ourselves in now.
I hope that Trump is just playing a game. I have definitely been despondent in recent days, but it seems promising that they seem to be close to a mining deal:
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-deal-ukraine-us-access-rare-earth-minerals-pretty-close
I don’t think Zelensky is so foolish to sign the first draft? Hopefully part of the negotiation. The idea of a mining deal was probably Ukraine’s from the beginning, so there’s nothing to complain about?
However, I don’t like the negotiation tactics when T throws the opponent under the bus, “Zelensky has no cards to play,” etc. Even if it’s not true, it creates a false image. I assume that T still thinks he’s an actor, working in reality TV.