So I suppose the Eurasian alliance between China, Russia, North Korea (!) and (perhaps) India is official now. It´s interesting to note that Putin claims that technology can make us immortal, while Xi says that humans can live until they are 150 years old?!
In other words, our new overlords are just as crazy (or crazier still) than the old ones. Maybe just as well. Historically, hubris always precedes fall...
Några inlägg på vår ofrivilliga grannblogg. Medan Sydkorea försöker fjäska för trumpedunsen, har Nordkorea erkänt vad alla redan visste: de stred mycket riktigt på Rysslands sida i Kursk-regionen. A tale of two nations?
Sydkoreas nye president besöker Trump
Nordkorea erkänner officiellt att de stridit på Rysslands sida
Senator Lindsey Graham was probably one of the people who "turned" Trump on Ukraine (back to the pro-Ukrainian fold), so it will be interesting to see if he is right about this. I assume he is well-informed?
The Hamas Nazis can end the conflict (and impending famine) at any time by simply surrendering and release the hostages, but are clearly unable or unwilling to do so. So rather than continuing the never-ending cycle of negotiations, withdrawals and renewed offensives, maybe its time for Israel to finally recapture the Gaza strip and behead Hamas once and for all.
Note that Graham explicitly says that "the Arabs" should control the West Bank and Gaza. Which can mean whatever, but perhaps it opens a small window to a two-state solution, in which Fatah and allied forces control the Palestinian territories? That would also be in keeping with the Abraham accords.
Of course, none of this shit would have happened if that great hero of the Palestinian resistance, Yasser Arafat, had accepted Bill Clinton´s offer of a two-state solution circa 30 years ago, but apparently you can´t say that, cuz "pro-Zionism" or something...
This headline sounds like a joke. Like the rest of the article. Why the fuck would *Russians* want to tourist in *North Korea*? The whole thing is probably a political thing.
After all, as Russia is holding back its best troops for the impending blixtkrieg conquest of Europe (sure to happen any time now), it needs to fill the gaps in Novorossiya with North Korean soldiers, who are there strictly in the role of temporary cannon fodder. Or as anti-drone consultants. Or something.
Yeah, that must be it.
Russia opens direct commercial flights between Moscow and Pyongyang
So Donald Trump is going to send more arms to Ukraine. Which is exactly what the European NATO partners and the EU member-states wants. Most of them, anyway.
But...Trump also threatens to sanction any nation still doing business with Russia. That presumably would include India, Brazil and similar nations. He also continues threatening the EU with steep tariffs, thereby setting the stage for a trade "war". And the only way the EU could escape such a situation would be to trade with...yes, exactly, you guessed it...Brazil, India, and so on. Exactly the nations Trump might sanction.
So it seems the economic chaos will continue. And that´s that, I suppose.
It seems the new strategy is the same as the old one. You know, support Ukraine and sanction the Russian Federation until Putin gets tired of it all. So I suppose the United States will no longer vote with North Korea in the UN General Assembly, then?
Finally, a genuine mystery! Yes, it´s the Hessdalen lights. The video has the click-baity title "Norway´s Skinwalker Ranch" but is otherwise serious (but hey, wazza up with that accent?). Hessdalen is a valley in Norway where strange lights have appeared on a semi-regular basis for over 100 years or more. In more recent times, these UFO-like phenomena became widely reported during the 1980´s.
It´s interesting to note that both scientists and the Norwegian military has carried out research in the valley and confirmed that the Hessdalen lights are indeed real. But what are they? It seems nobody really knows. Which is fascinating in itself. Michael Persinger´s speculations about earth lights created by tectonic stress immidiately comes to mind.
Here is ChatGPT´s summary of the phenomenon, which seems roughly correct as far as I can tell.
The Hessdalen lights are a long-running and still-unexplained phenomenon occurring in the Hessdalen Valley in central Norway. Witnesses have reported strange floating lights of various colors—white, yellow, red, or blue—appearing in the sky or just above the ground, often hovering, moving slowly, or zipping around erratically. These events have occurred regularly since at least the early 1980s, though sightings go back earlier anecdotally.
Spheres of light hovering in the air for seconds to minutes
Lights that move fast, stop suddenly, or zigzag
Sometimes visible to the naked eye, sometimes only on cameras or radar
Often seen at night, but also reported during daylight
Colors range from white and yellow to red and blue
Sometimes multiple lights appear at once
Launched in the 1980s by Norwegian and international researchers, this project set up scientific monitoring stations in the valley. Equipment included:
Cameras
Radar
Magnetometers
Spectrographs
The project confirmed that anomalous light phenomena were real and not due to optical illusions or simple misidentifications.
Installed in the valley to gather long-term data; it continues to monitor the lights.
While the lights are still not definitively explained, several plausible hypotheses have emerged:
Some researchers suggest the lights are ball lightning or plasma formations caused by tectonic stress.
The valley may be geologically active with minerals like quartz that could produce piezoelectric effects, emitting energy under stress.
Combined with atmospheric conditions, this could create visible light phenomena.
Another theory involves ionization of air or dust particles from natural gases released from the ground.
This would create light through cold plasma or combustion-like processes.
Some instruments have recorded magnetic field anomalies during sightings.
This suggests an electromagnetic component, possibly linked to solar activity or underground electric currents.
As with many unexplained phenomena, some propose extraterrestrial or interdimensional explanations, often citing:
The intelligent movement of the lights
Sudden accelerations
The lack of a clear physical source
However, no solid evidence supports this, and most researchers focus on natural explanations.
The lights are real and have been scientifically observed and documented.
The phenomenon is not fully understood, but most hypotheses fall within the realm of natural physics.
Hessdalen is one of the few UFO-like phenomena studied in a sustained scientific way.
Frequent sightings in a small geographic area
A relatively remote valley with low light pollution, aiding visibility
Ongoing scientific interest and monitoring
The Hessdalen lights are a mysterious but documented light phenomenon seen in rural Norway. While no single explanation has been confirmed, theories include geophysical plasma, electromagnetic effects, or gas ionization. Despite speculative claims, the lights remain one of the most intriguing unexplained natural phenomena under active scientific observation.
Some truly vexatious stuff in these ones. OK, maybe not, but I think it´s fairly obvious what actually happened here.
The British military fucked up some secret military drill in Wales (the year was 2016) and therefore had to classify the matter even further. Apparently, there are still some Freedom of Information requests pending. Meanwhile, well-meaning eyewitnesses and various Schwärmers have turned the event into another installment in the apparently never ending UFO saga.
In other words: the conspiracy is the conspiracy. What perhaps makes this case unusual is that *something* out of the ordinary obviously happened in the area around Pentyrch. But was it really the RAF and the USAF attacking perfectly peaceful aliens from another solar system?
Somehow, I doubt it. But then, you already knew that was my position. So there´s that.
The increasingly bizarre Socialist Workers Party (US) attempts to support Israel ´s attack on the Iranian regime while opposing the United States when it did exactly the same thing a week later (to back its ally, obviously). That, and a few other contradictions.
The above is the classical confrontation between the Donald and Jeb back in 2015. Now, read the link below...
Michael Tracey on the supposed "split" or "downfall" of MAGA after Trump´s "betrayal" when bombing Iran.
>>>Time to retire the myth that there’s an enormous “split” within MAGA about Trump bombing Iran, when there could hardly be more overwhelming support among MAGA for Trump bombing Iran. If the “split” is just between outlier podcasters and X influencers, it’s basically irrelevant
>>>As expected, 94% of self-described “MAGA Republicans” approve of Trump bombing Iran. But remember, he “betrayed his base”, LOL.
Michael Tracey has read some opinion polls...
>>>84% of voters who "strongly approve" of Trump supported bombing Iran, according to a Rasmussen poll taken in May. Which was obviously before Trump bombed Iran. Anyone still trying to claim that Trump has acted contrary to the wishes of his "base" is living in La La Land.
>>>According to a new Rasmussen poll, 68% of Republicans support the US "using its Air Force to support Israel in the war against Iran." The poll was taken before Trump bombed Iran, so expect those numbers to surge even higher.
From X.
Trump just adressed the world concerning the US attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities. Does this mean that John Bolton and Mike Pompeo are rehabilitated? And what about Ukraine...
The United States has attacked Iran. Specifically, three nuclear sites. Trump officially announced the strikes on Truth Social about two hours ago.
The United States has moved a number of B-2 Stealth bombers to Guam. But already in March, they apparently moved Stealth planes to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to intimidate Iran and the Houthis. Not clear if those bombers are still there?
It can´t be long now. Hope they target North Korea next...
The United States has a Director of National Intelligence who is parrroting Russian talking points. Surreal. I mean, it´s surreal even if it´s just red meat for the "base". And who are the "base" anyway? The last remaining faithful of the Communist Party USA?
Note also the bizarre timing of Gabbard´s video. You know, Israel and Iran cough cough...
It seems the X-Files have been officially closed. Time to move on, agent Mulder.
However, I don´t think official "Skeptics" have much to brag about here. Note that the only way to debunk the UFO conspiracy theories is by confirming...another conspiracy theory!
Check mate.
ChatGPT on the current state of the Russian military, etc.
Can you comment the following claim: Russia hasn´t deployed its best troops in Ukraine, but are purposefully holding them back for a future confrontation with NATO. This explains why the casaulties on the Russian side is mostly untrained conscript troops ("cannon fodder") and various mercenary companies. Thus, Russia can both defeat Ukraine and threaten NATO at a later point.
This claim — that Russia is deliberately holding back its best troops for a future confrontation with NATO, using mostly low-quality forces in Ukraine — is an assertion that deserves careful scrutiny. Let's break it down and comment on its plausibility based on available evidence and strategic logic.
Reality:
Yes, many of them. At the beginning of the invasion in February 2022, Russia did commit elite units, such as airborne (VDV), Spetsnaz, and tank divisions. Many of these units suffered significant losses in the early months of the war, particularly in battles near Kyiv, Kharkiv, and the Donbas.
VDV and other elite forces have been heavily degraded — multiple analysts and Western intelligence sources confirm that these units were not only deployed, but also took disproportionate casualties. Some had to be rebuilt or replenished with less experienced troops.
Partially true, but misleading.
Russia has increasingly relied on mobilized reservists, volunteer contract soldiers, prisoner recruits (Wagner Group), and regional militias — many of whom are poorly trained and equipped.
However, by late 2023 and into 2024, Russia began reconstituting better-trained brigades, incorporating battle-hardened veterans, and professionalizing units as part of a longer war effort. So it’s not purely “cannon fodder” anymore.
Wagner, for instance, was a key offensive force, especially in battles like Bakhmut. But after the 2023 Wagner mutiny and the death of Prigozhin, their role changed.
Highly speculative and strategically questionable.
Russia’s ability to fight NATO directly is currently limited. The war in Ukraine has severely strained its conventional forces — equipment losses, manpower attrition, and sanctions-induced limitations on replenishment are all significant.
If Russia were seriously preparing for war with NATO, it would be rebuilding high-readiness reserves, modernizing command and control, and deploying more troops to borders with NATO countries — but open-source data does not strongly support this narrative.
Moreover, Russia’s doctrine assumes nuclear deterrence as its primary check against NATO, not conventional parity.
Unlikely under current conditions.
The Ukrainian military, heavily supported by Western intelligence, weapons, and logistics, has proven resilient. Even if Russia gains ground, it will be costly and slow, not a quick conquest.
If Russia could “defeat” Ukraine easily with second-rate troops, it would already have done so. The fact that the war has dragged on for more than two years indicates that Russia has been forced to use more of its conventional capacity than it might have liked.
The claim overstates Russia’s strategic flexibility and underestimates the toll the Ukraine war has taken on its military.
Russia did use many elite troops and suffered for it.
Its current force structure is a mix, but not mostly cannon fodder.
The idea of “saving” elite forces for a NATO fight assumes a level of foresight and capability that doesn’t match how Russia has been forced to fight.
So, while there might be some element of strategic reserve in play (every major power does this to some extent), the core of the claim — that Russia has held back its best troops and is playing a long game for a NATO conflict — lacks solid support and appears more like strategic speculation or propaganda than a robust military analysis.
Exactly — that line of reasoning is crucial.
Putin's original plan in February 2022 seems to have been a rapid decapitation of the Ukrainian government — a quick advance to Kyiv, the installation of a pro-Russian regime, and minimal resistance.
A fast win would have minimized sanctions, preserved Russia’s conventional forces, and demonstrated power to both NATO and internal audiences.
Instead, the failure to take Kyiv quickly turned the war into a prolonged, grinding campaign — something Russia almost certainly didn’t want or plan for initially.
Blitzkrieg works best with surprise, speed, and overwhelming force. Russia attempted this in 2022, but:
Poor intelligence underestimated Ukrainian resistance.
Logistical weaknesses undermined Russian armored thrusts.
Coordination failures between air, armor, and infantry created bottlenecks.
Elite units were committed and badly mauled, especially airborne and Spetsnaz troops in Hostomel and elsewhere.
So the war shifted to attrition not by choice, but by necessity.
After the initial failure, Russia had to fall back on a deep reserves model, using mass mobilization and long-range fires (artillery, missiles, drones) to wear Ukraine down.
This is not a high-efficiency strategy — it’s costly, slow, and politically risky (mobilizations stir dissent).
But it’s what Russia has left. The alternative — rotating in unused elite troops — would only make sense if such troops existed in sufficient quantity and readiness, which seems doubtful.
If Russia had held back elite units in meaningful numbers, NATO intelligence would likely detect this via satellite and electronic surveillance. Western planners have not indicated the presence of a large, unused elite strike force.
What has been observed is efforts to rebuild units degraded in Ukraine, not whole elite armies waiting in the wings.
Russia tried and failed to win quickly. It did not voluntarily choose a war of attrition — it was forced into it by Ukrainian resistance and its own operational failures. The idea that Russia is holding back its “real army” for NATO is far more likely to be:
Propaganda to intimidate,
Wishful thinking by some analysts or commentators,
Or a misreading of Russia’s actual force-generation capabilities.
If a blitzkrieg had been feasible, it would have been the logical and preferred path. The fact that we’ve seen the opposite speaks volumes.
North Korea has deployed a substantial military contingent to Russia's Kursk region, primarily consisting of elite special operations forces from the 11th Army Corps, also known as the "Storm Corps." This unit includes specialized brigades such as the 16th Sniper Brigade and the 43rd Mountain Infantry Sniper Brigade .thesun.co.uk+4longwarjournal.org+4reddit.com+4en.wikipedia.org
Initial deployments began in late 2024, with approximately 12,000 troops sent to support Russian operations in Kursk . These forces were integrated into Russian units, often wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian military identification . Their roles included front-line infantry assaults, often accompanying Russian paratrooper companies .forbes.comlongwarjournal.org+1apnews.com+1kyivindependent.com
In early 2025, North Korea dispatched an additional 1,000 to 3,000 specialist troops to bolster their presence. These reinforcements included motorized infantry, sappers, and electronic intelligence units, aiming to enhance operational effectiveness in modern warfare environments .kyivpost.com
Initially, North Korean forces employed large-scale, company-sized assaults, which resulted in significant casualties due to vulnerability to Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes . Recognizing these losses, tactics shifted to smaller, platoon-sized units to reduce detectability and improve maneuverability on the battlefield .
The deployment has come at a high cost. Reports indicate that approximately one-third of the initial 12,000 troops have been killed or wounded . Despite these losses, North Korean forces have contributed to Russian efforts in contested areas of Kursk, though their overall impact on the broader conflict remains limited.theguardian.com+16theguardian.com+16reddit.com+16kyivindependent.com+4kyivpost.com+4forbes.com+4
The involvement of North Korean troops marks a significant development in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, highlighting the deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.thesun.co.uk
Yes, the deployment of North Korean troops—especially elite special forces from units like the 11th Army Corps—strongly suggests that Russia is facing a shortage of elite, high-readiness troops and is compensating by drawing on foreign manpower.
Here’s why that conclusion is plausible:
For a nuclear-armed state with one of the world’s largest militaries, relying on North Korean special forces in an active combat zone is highly irregular.
Major powers typically prefer to retain control over their operations and avoid political entanglements from foreign boots on the ground.
If Russia had a large surplus of ready, elite forces, it would be illogical to bring in North Korean troops, especially given the coordination, logistical, and language barriers.
Many of Russia’s top-tier units (e.g. VDV, Spetsnaz GRU, Naval Infantry) suffered heavy casualties in the first two years of the war.
Western intelligence and independent analysis confirm that these units had to be reconstituted using conscripts or minimally trained personnel.
Even by late 2024, Russia was rotating wounded or depleted brigades out of front-line roles, indicating a need for reinforcement.
Reports indicate that North Korean forces were deployed into active combat zones in Kursk, sometimes integrated into Russian formations, and even wearing Russian uniforms.
This level of integration implies they are filling operational gaps, not just playing a symbolic or training support role.
Pyongyang would not lightly risk sending its best troops abroad unless the strategic or economic benefits were high — or unless Russia desperately needed competent manpower in key sectors.
If Russia still had a large pool of reliable, elite soldiers, it would likely prefer to:
Reinforce overstretched sectors with its own vetted units.
Avoid political complications from foreign troop presence.
Retain tight control over operational security and command structure.
That they’re not doing this suggests either:
Severe depletion of high-quality Russian forces, or
An effort to preserve what remains of their elite units for higher-priority threats or future contingencies.
The North Korean deployments are a strong signal of Russian force strain, particularly at the elite level.
It suggests:
Russia’s best units are degraded, recovering, or being conserved.
Moscow is increasingly relying on unconventional partnerships to maintain pressure along multiple fronts.
The strategic situation for Russia is likely more brittle than public messaging suggests — at least in terms of manpower quality.
It’s a sign not of strength, but of strategic necessity.
