Now that’s what I call ‘manicured parade uniforms’ … it’s ok when we do it, correct, Mr Wallace?

 

 

Having opened the relevant website for a quick look at today’s print MSM headlines (link) I find that my prediction from last week was correct. The two ‘conservative’ (hah!) broadsheets have indeed switched their places. The DT rather than the Times is the war propaganda mouthpiece for this week. The obligatory propaganda piece quoting Mr ‘e has also found a place in the headlines. After all, today is the day on which Russia celebrates VE day so raining on Russia’s – not Mr Putin’s, but Russia’s! – parade is a must. More on that below. There’s also news about ‘Beergate’, with threats from some Labour people that Starmer must go if he gets fined, and that Dennis Waterman of ‘Minder’ fame has died. 

In a remarkable show of historical pettiness the G7 announced yesterday, on VE Day, that there’ll be more sanctions imposed on Russia, including the ‘phasing out’ of ‘hydrocarbon imports’ – that’s oil and gas for us and for our industries. The Times reports:

“The G7 “committed itself to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil” yesterday in a further turn of the screw against President Putin before Victory Day events in Russia today. The rich nation club, including the US, Japan, Germany and Britain, also used the anniversary of the Second World War’s end in Europe to deepen sanctions intended to cripple Russia’s economy and war machine.” (link, paywalled)

I found it interesting that Mr ‘e was a participant, via video link. Is he driving the ‘rich nations’ to do their worst – or is he the convenient fig leaf for the G7 ‘leaders’ to justify inflation and hardships for the G7 nations? Are they, are their handlers even aware of what these sanctions mean for the G7 economies in the near future? See this:

“Britain has announced fresh sanctions on Russia and Belarus to target £1.7 billion of trade by raising tariffs on products including platinum and palladium. […] Both metals are used in jewellery and extensively in catalytic converters. The government said it continued to “encourage all importers that use Russian imports to source alternative supplies”. South Africa is the only other major producer of palladium.” (link, paywalled)

Who of us plebs could even dream of buying jewellery made with platinum when we already struggle to heat and eat, as the Grauniad warns in this report. So why worry about extra tariffs on platinum … There’s also the little fact that “we” are handing over our stock of weapons to the Ukraine where it’s being destroyed by Russia. Allegedly our wonderful modern weapons are turning out to be duds, according to several little reports by Ukrainian POWs in Russian social media.

How we’re going to replace these weapons when vital raw materials are ‘sanctioned’ – well, don’t worry: we’ll just pay more for them on the western ‘global’ market. It’s only coming out of our wallets, so no worries … And right on schedule we’re presented with an assessment which comes under ‘projection’. The Times writes:

“The failure of Russian weapons on the battlefield could be a boost for the UK’s arms industry, according to a key adviser to the Ministry of Defence. Dr Rob Johnson, who is in charge of a new MoD Office for Net Assessment and Challenge that will scrutinise government strategy, said the poor performance of Russian equipment would prompt countries to re-reassess their defence contracts. This would give Britain an opportunity to pitch weapons and equipment to countries that relied on Soviet-era armoury, he said. (link, paywalled)

As if those countries were utterly ignorant of reports on the performance of those Russian weapons! After all, they’re not cut off from Russian news sites like we are. And surely Sunak will be only too happy to subsidise the sale of those armaments which will be far more expensive than Russian ones: it’s only our money … There’s more:

“Johnson, director of the Changing Character of War Centre at Oxford University, said Russian factories producing armoured vehicles would start running out of key components in the next few months unless they started buying parts from countries that used the same ones. He said Britain could put diplomatic pressure on those countries to persuade them against selling to Russia.” (link, paywalled)

That wet dream of ‘us’ putting political pressure on those countries – it worked so well in regard to India, right, Miz Truss? – just shows how delusional those MoD ‘experts’ are. Furthermore – how come the Ukraine is in such dire straits that they have to clamour for more and more weapons when Russia’s weapons are so ‘poor’? Something doesn’t add up here.

And so to the latest piece of shameful posturing by Mr Wallace, Defence Secretary. I wonder if the speech he will make today was penned by Mr ‘e’s propaganda ministry in Kiev. After all, Mr ‘e was gracing the western MSM with a video statement:

 “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin of forgetting history shortly before the celebrations for the end of World War II in Moscow. “Russia forgot everything that was important to the winners of World War II,” he said in a video message on Sunday evening. Decades after the Second World War, the “evil is back, in a different uniform, but with the same goal.” (paywalled link, in German)

That video ‘speech’ was broadcast yesterday evening. Now see what Mr Wallace will say. The DT writes:

“In a major speech, the Defence Secretary will accuse Putin of “hijacking history” and insulting the memory of fallen Soviet forces in the annual Victory Day parade that marks the defeat of Adolf Hitler’s army. “Through their invasion of Ukraine, Putin, his inner circle and generals are now mirroring the fascism and tyranny of 70 years ago, repeating the errors of last century’s totalitarian regimes,” […]” (paywalled link)

I don’t know if Mr Wallace sent his speech to Mr ‘e so he could copy it – or if Mr ‘e sent his video to Mr Wallace, to give him ‘some ideas’. They’re so obviously singing from the same hymn sheet that words simply fail me. Mr Wallace’ next statement however simply takes the proverbial:

“Speaking at the National Army Museum, the Defence Secretary will also accuse senior officers in the army of such incompetence they should be court-martialled. “Let’s call out the absurdity of Russian generals – resplendent in their manicured parade uniforms and weighed down by their many medals – for being utterly complicit in Putin’s hijacking of their forebears’ proud history of defending against a ruthless invasion; of repelling fascism; of sacrificing themselves for a higher purpose,” […]” (paywalled link)

Gawdalmighty. Is he calling for a military coup by the colonels? Is he, are his speech writers, truly so ignorant of both the political structures in Russia and of history in general? He and his minions seem to believe that all would be well if only Putin were ‘made to go’ by some military ‘leaders’ who’re jealous of not having those ‘manicured parade uniforms’ with those medals on their chests. Seriously? Gawdalmighty … As for court-martialling Russian generals for ‘incompetence’ … how about court-martialling some of our top brass for incompetence? That would be ok because the Defence Secretary said so, correct? 

Regarding ‘manicured parade uniforms’: perhaps Mr W ought to watch videos of ‘Trooping of the Colour’. I suggest that our generals, never mind the soldiers in their bearskins, parade around in uniforms far more ‘manicured’ than those of Russian generals! Clearly those who ‘lead’ our Armed Forces, be it Mr W, be it his speech writers and the MoD civil serpents, are historically illiterate to a degree which shames us all. 

I leave you with a text which explains to Americans why this day today matters so much to Russia. Our own lot, the MSM and Mr W included, regrettably are as ignorant as the Americans and need reminding as well. Do read the whole thing.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email