Progozhin headlines are running the gamut. He’s being lionized, which is quite a change from the usual. We’ve got conspiracy theories galore from the main stream media who are the biggest promoters of conspiracy theories on the planet!

Let’s consider these points of interest while thinking about what ever really happened.

• BRICS meeting in South Africa
• Today, August 24, is Ukraine’s Independence Day. This plane crash sure gives Ukraine something to feel good about.
• Wagner’s involvement in Africa, including with Niger- Which parties, globally, were unenthusiastic about their presence? Russia? No. France? Yes. The US? Yes.
• Claims of the Kremlin taking over Wagner AFTER Prigozhin’s death- From former CIA director Leon Panetta- are rubbish. This “taking over” process was already under way and had been for months.
  I’m sure of that because that information is covered here- Which means Prigozhin did not have the same power he’d been enjoying prior to this arrangement with Russian MoD

Refresh your memories

Sergei Shoigu announced that “Russian volunteer personnel must sign contracts directly with the Russian MoD by July 1.” The same report indicates that the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces complied with the Defense Ministry’s decree and that the new contracts “will grant Akhmat forces the same legal status, rights, and benefits” as official defense personnel. If that is correct, and assuming the same status would be afforded to members of the Wagner Group, it suggests that upon signing the contracts, Wagner fighters would be integrated into Russia’s armed forces.

We’re nearly at the end of August now- and the contract signing had been going well as of my previous report, dated June 24/23.

The death is still unconfirmed. The cause of the crash also unconfirmed

It’s important to not jump to conclusions

The UK Government is closely watching the situation but schools minister Nick Gibb said it must avoid making assumptions about the crash.

He told Sky News: “We only heard about this… it only happened a few hours ago.

“We are monitoring the position. It’s important not to jump to conclusions“

President Joe Biden was less circumspect, saying: “I don’t know for a fact what happened but I’m not surprised.

“There’s not much that happens in Russia that Putin’s not behind.”

Joe Biden, what a maroon. Is Putin behind Navalny gropin’Joe? Sheesh!

No matter the cause of the plane crash, everyone will see this as an act of retaliation and retribution, and the Kremlin won’t particularly counteract this view. From Putin’s perspective, as well as many among the security and military officials, Prigozhin’s death should serve as a lesson to any potential successors.

I agree with the above statement- no matter the cause of the crash, everyone is seeing this as an act of retaliation. It’s a point of view that won’t be challenged. Why would it be? It serves the state well. The rest of her points are up for debate.

There is heavy speculation, but no evidence, that the crash may not have been an accident.

-It could have been an accident
-It could have been a malfunction of some sorts
-If it was intentional it could have been an internal matter. Internal to Wagner itself
-If it was state sponsored it could have been a NATO state. It could have been Ukraine.
-At this point in time, it seems Putin is least likely to have perped a plane crash. Because, frankly had he wanted Prigozhni dead, he had months already to do it. And didn’t need a plane crash to end his life

Yesterday, there were reports of another plane with Prigozhni’s name on the flight manifest. It landed successfully

Faked death, second plane?

Russia aviation authorities have said Yevgeny Prigozhin was on board an aircraft that crashed on Wednesday night killing all on board, but the Wagner leader’s death may not be as clear-cut as details emerge of a second jet also linked to the mercenary group boss.

However, neither the Kremlin nor the Russian defence ministry have confirmed if Prigozhin was among the dead and mystery surrounds a second private jet which was initially reported to be travelling with the plane which crashed.

Early reports of the crash claimed there may have been two jets, both linked to Prigozhin, making the same journey from Moscow to St Petersburg.

Soon after the plane crashed, flight tracking data seemed to revealed the second private jet looping back to Moscow.

Did you know Prigozhin had “ died” in the Congo in 2019, only to reappear alive three days later

Independent.co.UK

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Kyiv journalist John Sweeney said: “Priogozhin has got previous for this. In 2019 he was supposed to be on a plane in the Congo. It crashed and it turned out he wasn’t on the plane, so you have to worry a little about this. He’s kind of like a vampire. Are we really sure he’s dead?”

Well, I’m not. He’s a very wealthy individual and could easily fake his death and move on in life. And if he is, I’m definitely not sure how he came to be killed. Accidentally or intentionally? But as of now, Putin is one among many potential suspects.

Delegates from the Economic Community of West African States arrived in Niger Saturday to begin talks with the military leaders now in control of the landlocked country of more than 25 million people.

The ruling military junta’s leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani agreed to meet the delegation

Earlier in the week, ECOWAS confirmed it was finalizing plans to send its Standby Force to the country.

Saturday’s arrival of a political delegation is seen by many as a last ditch effort for a peaceful resolution to the situation in that country.

The present government has closed the airspace above Niger, obviously in anticipation of some foreign intervention via the skies above. Clearly, an attempt to thwart this intervention.

The US has had direct contact with the present day government and have asked they step aside

US says had 'direct contact' with coup leaders in Niger to urge them to 'step aside' https://t.co/JBWKicldld pic.twitter.com/RkHYZMBO0m

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) August 7, 2023

After Niger’s coup, the drums of war are growing louder

So is opposition to restoring the government by force

The Economist

ASSIROU MAHAMADOU, a vegetable seller perched on a stool in Niamey, the capital of Niger, does not look like a fighter. Yet at the mention of threats by Niger’s neighbours to use force to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum, the president who was ousted in a coup on July 26th, he swells with anger. “If they come here, we [civilians] are going to war alongside the army.” He is outraged that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc, is considering sending troops to battle the junta, even as it has done little to fight the jihadists that he says are the bigger threat. “ECOWAS has weapons to attack Niger but not to kill the terrorists,” he says. “It’s a disgrace.”

Weapons to attack Niger, but, not to kill terrorists… That’s curious isn’t it?

What’s also curious are the reports that Al Qaeda has circled Wagner fighters trying to enter Niger.

I’ve been looking for more information to confirm these claims.. However, these types of claims are believable based on the fact that Niger has a “terrorist”problem. And Al Qaeda is every where the US needs it to be! Always. That said it appears some Wagner fighters/mercenaries did get into Niger or were already present.

Georgia Meloni has taken some serious swipes at Macron- Italy and Africa have an extensive history- For bad and for good. Also interesting. Her speeches have the benefit of playing to the domestic Italian audience at this time, which is being over run with refugees.. that’s a problem for the nation and her people. France doesn’t care because historically they’ve treated Italy as the poor cousins in Europe- Which is a shame because Italy has an extensive ancient history- It’s people are survivors. And the country is beautiful beyond words .

My ancestors are from Italy, what else could you expect me to say

It read more like this.. Ukraine counter offensive two months in and no real gains

In the 18 months since Russia invaded, the Ukrainians have mostly been on the defensive, preventing Moscow’s forces from seizing more territory.

But this summer, Ukraine – with the help of billions of pounds of Western military equipment – has gone on the attack, attempting to expel the Russians from land they previously captured in the east and south of the country.

Two months into this counter-offensive, and with time of the essence before the onset of winter, are Ukrainian troops making any real progress?

Billions of pounds of western weapons and nothing to show for it.

One look at a large-scale map of eastern and southern Ukraine shows that not much has changed in the two months since the counter-offensive began.

Russia still occupies nearly one-fifth of Ukraine – including the cities of Donetsk, in the east, and Mariupol, which it captured after months of siege – and its forces are well dug in.

Billions of pounds, nearly 40,000 dead. Unknown number of maimed men. The total casualty count has to be edging ever closer to 400,000 dead Ukrainian men and boys-

Why is Ukraine’s progress so slow?

In two months Ukrainian troops have advanced, at most, about 10 miles (16km) in two areas along the region’s 100-mile (160km) front, according to independent analysis.

Progress is being made, but it is slower than Ukraine and its Western allies had hoped.

Explain to me how this can be considered progress at all?!

Billions in weapons. Tens of thousands dead in just two months. No real gain on the ground and this is being sold as progress? Only in the always spinning western media!

Tonight Russia has sent up 15 Tu-95’s

First it was reported that 11 had been sent, but, the latest has the number sits at either 14 or 15.

It looks as if Ukraine is going to be hit hard

check, also

Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy

Meanwhile the Armenia/ Azerbaijan situation is heating up

And we have the coup in Niger- I hope to have more up on that soon.