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Assad has returned with full force to the regional diplomatic scene. The earthquake, followed by the Iran-Saudi peace deal, has shook the Middle East.

Ever since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, Saudi Arabia has closed its embassy in Damascus, but now the two countries are discussing the restoration of diplomatic ties. Various Gulf States have been in talks with Syrian officials and have visited the country, such as Jordan's foreign minister. Assad has been to Oman to meet with their leader. And Assad has recently gone to Moscow to meet Putin, agreeing that Russia is fighting "old Nazis" and "neo-Nazis" in Ukraine (Syria is one of the few countries, alongside Belarus and the DPRK for example, that are unabashedly pro-Russian and always votes alongside them in the UN).

All of this poses a profound problem for America in the region, as they're slowly being squeezed out. Two roads lay before them - escalation, or retreat. While a dignified retreat might be the pertinent thing to do, the Biden administration seems desperate to cause and escalate conflicts everywhere they can. Their base in Syria was attacked on March 23rd, prompting retaliation strikes against Syria. And Russia looks like it's ready for America's next moves, as Russian aircraft frequently fly over the US military base at At Tanf.

Here is the map of the Ukraine conflict, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Here is the archive of important pieces of analysis from throughout the war that we've collected.

March 27th's update is here on the site and here in the comments.

March 28th's update is here on the site and here in the comments.

March 29th's update is here on the site and here in the comments.

March 31st's update is here on the site and here in the comments.

April 1st's update is here on the site and here in the comments.

Links and Stuff

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Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists

Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict

Add to the above list if you can, thank you.

Resources For Understanding The War Beyond The Bulletins

Defense Politics Asia's youtube channel and their map. I recommend their map more than the channel at this point, as an increasing subscriber count has greatly diminished their quality.

Moon of Alabama, which tends to have decent analysis. Avoid the comment section.

Understanding War and the Saker: neo-conservative sources but their reporting of the war (so far) seems to line up with reality better than most liberal sources. Beware of chuddery.

Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don't want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it's just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.

On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent journalist reporting in the warzone.

Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.

Telegram Channels

Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.

Pro-Russian

https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR's former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR's forces. Russian language.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist (but still quite reactionary in terms of gender and sexuality and race, so beware). If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.

https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.

https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster's telegram channel.

https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ Another big Russian commentator.

https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia's army.

https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.

https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.

https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a 'propaganda tax', if you don't believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.

https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.

Pro-Ukraine

Almost every Western media outlet.

https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.

https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.

Last week's discussion post.

  • Redcuban1959 [any]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Brazil and China intend to do business without using the US dollar :xigma-male:

    Brazil and China have taken another step to deepen their trade cooperation - and to exclude a possible American influence on business between the two countries.

    On Wednesday morning (29/3), the two countries announced the creation of a "Clearing House" (or Clearing House), a banking institution that allows the closing of deals and the granting of loans between the two countries without having to use the U.S. dollar to make the international transaction viable.

    The ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), is the bank that will operate the clearing house in Brazil to allow Brazilian and Chinese businessmen to make commercial transactions and loans in yuan, and not only in dollar, as it happens today between the two countries.

    As it is a large Chinese financial institution, the bank would be able to guarantee Brazilian businessmen the immediate conversion of their earnings into real, should they decide to do business in yuan.

    • Redcuban1959 [any]
      ·
      2 years ago

      According to Rosito, the mechanism adopted in Brazil is similar to the one already put in place by the Chinese in Chile and Argentina, both countries that make up the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a program of loans and financing in Beijing's infrastructure that has as a priority to ensure "unimpeded business" between China and its partners.

      China has insisted on Brazil joining the BRI, a deal that divides opinions within the Brazilian government, since it would be more of a political pleasing to China than a great opportunity for business expansion - Brazil is already the largest destination for Chinese investments in the world today.

      Brazil's entry into the BRI is seen with concern by the United States, with whom the Lula government has been trying to strengthen ties as well. Both China and Russia are trying to implement business mechanisms that exclude the dollar as a form of payment, in order to reduce American economic and political influence around the world and circumvent possible sanctions on Washington

      Originally, the forum on Wednesday (March 29) was going to be attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He ended up canceling his trip to China - which included a dinner with Chinese president Xi Jinping - at the last minute after being diagnosed with pneumonia caused by bacteria and the influenza A virus.

      Chinese leader Xi Jinping even sent a letter to the Brazilian wishing his "fast recovery" and assuring "understanding" for the withdrawal, but did not mention a possible new date for the engagement. Brazil told the Chinese diplomacy that it hopes to see the meeting rescheduled as soon as possible - perhaps even in the first half of April.