The scent of flowers. That is what I remember about my first moments in Hawaii. I remember the beautiful sunny days where a passing shower cleared up almost as soon as it showed up. I remember standing under that famous Banyan tree in Lahaina taking pictures. There was history around every corner. As a vacation destination it truly was paradise.
This fellow has a nice video on the Maui I knew.
That was then, this is now.
Lahaina will not be the last casualty of climate change.
It is a very sad day. But I know that the spirit of the people of Hawaii will not be broken.
73 comments:
From the last comments section:
I don't recall hearing of wildfires running rampant on Maui before now, burning clear down to the waterline, takin' out beach front towns and such as that.
No, I don't recall that either. I think this is new.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured the heights over Bakhmut
and are successfully encircling Russian troops in the city, a
defence minister in Kyiv has said.
Ukraine has also advanced in Urozhayne and Robotyne.
The forces that crossed the river at Kozachi Laheri are still there. The Russians sent some reinforcements, or tried to, to Kozachi Laheri but it appears they were ambushed along the way. The special ops forces that Ukraine sent were trained by the UK.
Russia claims to have 'shot down' two Ukrainian missiles near the Kerch Straight Bridge. It is apparently mere coincidence that traffic across the bridge has been suspended.
More detailed information on the bridge attacks.
"…information on the bridge attacks."
The clip mentioned the theory that the drone attacks on Crimea coming in from the west were mostly intended to divert defensive capabilities away from the Kerch Bridge and other higher value targets.
That parallels a theory I've come to hold, i.e. that the recent widespread, often solitary, drone runs against Russian cities, including Moscow, are mostly intended to keep Russian air defenses tied down back in Russia, and keep them away from the front lines in Ukraine.
Kind of a divide and conquer tactic? Yes, very possible so.
It also may be true that the Ukrainians want to show Russians that they are not as safe as they would appear to be. Although it does sound like they are shooting for legitimate targets. It is just that some of the drones are being sent off course by the Russian jamming.
The Russian commander from Kozachi Laheri was taken captive. The Ukrainians put him in front of a camera calling for the withdrawal of Russians forces and also showing the Ukrainians where Russian positions were. None of that would do him any service if he was exchanged in a prisoner swap.
Meanwhile back at the ranch it would appear that Georgia has some hard evidence that the Trump team was behind a voting machine breach. It is looking like Trump will be indicted for a fourth time.
"It also may be true that the Ukrainians want to show
Russians…"
A serendipitous side effect, not lost on the Ukrainians. They have been posting threats, brags, and taunts on their government websites designed to piss off Putin and his henchmen and ensure they continue to pay proper attention to keeping Moscow (et al.) safe from attack.
________________________________
"The Ukrainians put him in front of a camera…"
That's a presumptive violation of the Geneva Conventions; not supposed to do that with captive soldiers. Although, I don't believe it qualifies as a war crime (unless they tortured him to get him say things they wanted him to say; the torture would be a war crime irrespective of why they did it).
Of course, it'd probably be a valid defense if he were to claim that he went on camera of his own accord, without coercion. But, it'll be the end of the war before we know what the commander really thinks.
________________________________
"Trump"
Yep, fourth indictment pending in Georgia.
From CNN's website:
Faced with thousands of Russian landmines in a grueling counteroffensive, Ukrainian armed forces are using the experimental technique of thermal imagery to locate the threat that has claimed many lives.
CNN has seen Ukrainian frontline troops deploy a thermal camera on a commercially available drone at dusk. The camera floats above Russian minefields and detects dozens of heat signatures. Some are craters, but many are landmines, barely hidden under the surface. The heat they gather from the glaring summer sun during the daytime is retained as the sun sets, causing them to show up more clearly on the thermal camera.
Drones with thermal cameras are frequently available to Ukraine’s frontline troops and are relatively cheap at around $5,000 each. But the scale of the task is formidable, with often up to five landmines per square meter across more than 180,000 square kilometers of mine-affected land, according to official Ukrainian estimates.
Troops with the 15th National Guard, near the heavily contested village of Robotine, told CNN the tactic was an effective means of locating some mines. Footage provided to CNN showed the mines being hit by specialised Ukrainian charges, detonating the devices and clearing at least some of the threat.
It is another example of relatively low-tech ingenuity being deployed along with the extraordinary input of NATO supplied armor and weaponry over the past months to try and assist the counteroffensive.
Paul McCann, a spokesman for the UK-based HALO Trust demining charity, told CNN its demining experts had used the technique in Angola where it had shown some promise. He said the heat signatures of the mines were more acutely visible at dawn and dusk when they contrasted more with the external temperature.
A drone team at a frontline position near the southern village of Robotine told CNN how intensely mined the areas around them were.
“When we entered one treeline, we found up to 53 booby traps," said Oleksandr from the 15th National Guard. "These are not made of one grenade — we call it a 'bouquet,' grenades on top of other grenades.”
Another guardsman, Anton, described the emotional challenges at the front.
“There have been many scary moments. Every time you go to work you step over your fear. Because who else will do it? Nobody. And if they send someone else and something happens to him, you can’t forgive yourself.”
That's a presumptive violation of the Geneva Conventions; not supposed to do that with captive soldiers.
Yes, it is. But it seems they have been doing this for some time and aren't likely to stop. It was also, perhaps, counterproductive to the war effort in that he has little real influence over what Russian forces do. It would be different if Putin said everybody withdraw. Which, of course, won't happen.
After what I consider to be an unreasonable delay, Ukrainian pilots are finally getting trained on advanced Western fighter planes. The much called for F16s are now carrying Ukrainian trainees, and the Swedish Gripon is under serious discussion.
It sounds like the Ukrainians were pushed out of Kozachi Laheri. The Russians sent reinforcements. So if drawing away Russians troops from other areas was the goal it worked. If snatching some Russian prisoners for Intel was a goal that seemed to have worked. The Ukrainians are still on that side of the river, establishing a bridgehead further down the bank.
They seem to have moved farther forward in Robotine. But they have suffered some high losses.
Hmmm...it seems that someone raised the Ukrainian flag outside of FSB headquarters in Novgorod, Russia.
"…someone raised the Ukrainian flag outside of FSB
headquarters…"
I read about that.
But, it didn't stay up long after they spotted it at sunrise. I believe they called the local fire department to come take it down.
________________________________
Despite all the hand-wringing in Western capitals over the slower pace and higher casualties incurred for this summer's Ukrainian counter offensive, the Ukrainian troops in the field think they're winning this fight. NYT (Not too long.)
... the Ukrainian troops in the field think they're winning this fight.
I suspect they are doing better than the mainstream press realize. It is hard and there are horrible losses, but...
Perhaps the press thought this would be a walkover because of the past counter offensives Ukraine did. This time is different because the Russians had time to dig in.
Time will tell...
Good article. It's good to hear that the Ukrainian morale is so high.
Btw, the attack on the airfield by Novgorod seems to have been by drones launched from inside Russia. The interesting question is...were they Ukrainian sabotage groups, or Russian?
They are also pragmatic about their situation.
"‛It doesn't matter how long it is,’ Kherson said. ‛It would be
great if it ends in a week. If it is longer — we don’t have a
choice.’"
________________________________
And now the Swedes have changed their minds about the Gripens.
"Sweden has no plans to provide fighter jets to Ukraine, the
country’s prime minister said. Ulf Kristersson told Swedish
broadcaster TV4 on Monday that Sweden needs its Saab JAS
39 Gripen planes for its own defense and must balance this
reality against Ukraine’s demands for the aircraft. ‛We will do
everything we can to support them also with aircraft. But right
now there are no new commitments to provide Swedish
aircraft to Ukraine,’ Kristersson told TV4. Zelensky visited
Sweden last week and asked for Gripen planes. Sweden
previously agreed to let Ukrainian pilots test the Gripens."
WaPo
"The United States is urging Americans in Belarus to leave the
country 'immediately,’ citing spillover risks from the war in
Ukraine, including a buildup of Russian troops in Belarus.
"The U.S. Embassy in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, said in an
advisory on Monday that Americans should avoid traveling to
Belarus because of the country’s 'continued facilitation of
Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, the buildup of Russian
military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local
laws’ and the risk of detention and civil unrest."
WaPo
...we don’t have a
choice.’"
Sadly, it is fight or cease to exist.
Sweden has no plans to provide fighter jets to Ukraine...
Disappointing, but hopefully not critical to the war effort. I think there are a lot of F-16's laying around.
The United States is urging Americans in Belarus to leave the
country 'immediately,’ citing spillover risks from the war in
Ukraine, including a buildup of Russian troops in Belarus.
It doesn't surprise me. Belarus is Putin's ally. As an American I would not feel safe there.
Was he, or wasn't he? A plane has crashed in Russia that may have belonged to the Wagner Group and may have been carrying Prigozhin at the time. So that brings my question, was he or wasn't he? On board that is. It could have been a hit carried out by Putin or it could have been a faked death by Prigozhin.
Apparently they couldn't get him close enough to a high window.
It sounds like it was a clean sweep too. The whole leadership of Wagner was on that plane apparently.
First word I've heard from folks who study on airplane failures is that the sudden plunge (flat spiral, straight down) indicates a probable bomb on board or shoot-down, one of the two.
Gotta be amazed at the overweening arrogance that apparently led Prigozhin to believe Putin would let him live.
"flat spin", not 'flat spiral'
That's why the thought that Prigozhin might have tried to fake his own death crossed my mind. How could he have thought for a moment that Putin would not have him killed?
I guess I read too many thrillers. The most obvious answer is probably the correct one.
I've now seen the video of Prigozhin's plane coming down. It was in a dead spin, but it wasn't quite a ‛flat’ spin. It looked like it was missing a wing, and some of the tail was missing as well (later found some distance away from the burning fuselage).
So, I'm currently going with the 'shot down' theory. I think Putin had that plane shot down, probably a missile strike.
He may try to blame it on the Ukrainians. I don't think the boys in Wagner Group will buy that one. But, what can they do 'bout it?
________________________________
"JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The BRICS group of
nations has decided to invite six countries - Argentina, Egypt,
Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - to
become new members of the bloc…."
Ain't enough they got India and China trying to be members of the same 'bloc'. Now they gotta add Saudi Arabia and Iran to that mix.
I notice there are still imaginative people promoting the notion that Prigozhin lives on. I suppose this helped along by the Russian statement that eight (8) bodies have been found.
(Personally, I suspect that when they get the genetic tests completed they'll find they have pieces of all ten.)
So, I'm currently going with the 'shot down' theory.
Witnesses did hear some kind of explosion before the plane came down.
He may try to blame it on the Ukrainians.
They have already denied involvement. But I suspect they aren't too saddened by the news.
Now they gotta add Saudi Arabia and Iran to that mix.
That's turning out to be an odd mix.
I notice there are still imaginative people promoting the notion that Prigozhin lives on.
Maybe not a bad idea to encourage Putin's paranoia.
There are some people in Russia who genuinely mourn Prigozhin's death. Perhaps that too should be something Putin should consider.
It seems that a Russian helicopter pilot has defected to Ukraine with his helicopter, and two other crew members, who were not aware of the defection until the helicopter landed in Ukraine.
The two crew members tried to escape, but were eliminated by the Ukrainian forces.
The pilots family had already left Russia.
I think Putin had that plane shot down, probably a missile strike.
If it was, that should be something we could see, I would think.
There is word that the Russians are saying the Prigozhin plane shut off its transponder and the Russian air defense shot it down thinking it was a drone. Wagner sources are saying it was a planned assassination and they will retaliate.
"If it was, that should be something we could see, I would
think."
I have no reason to suppose we had eyes on that plane (satellite), as opposed to just tracking its transponder output. Some people at the scene report seeing what they claim was a missile impact on the plane (in addition to those who report hearing explosions). Some claim the missile's contrail was captured on video in a shot of the burning plane spinning down, but I don't know of anyone credible who's claimed to have seen that video. We may never know for sure.
Or, we may have routine surveillance radar yet to isolate and review that'll indicate that a missile rose to meet the plane. I don't think we'll have any radar dedicated to tracking possible air-to-air capabilities.
________________________________
"…the Russians are saying the Prigozhin plane shut off its
transponder and…"
They seem to be trying out various explanations, trying to find one that strikes a chord with Putin's supporters, something the faithful can claim to believe and keep a straight face while making the claim. (I ain't buyin' this one though; surely they can do better.) Although the plane had quit transmitting its global position it continued to transmit data on such things as "altitude, speed, vertical rate, and autopilot settings". FlightRadar24.com (Although the article doesn't specifically mention the call numbers for the plane, I deduce these continued to be transmitted as well, right up to the moment of impact.) The transponder was not in fact "shut off"; Prigozhin's plane merely turned off the global positioning squawk while the transponder continued to transmit an identifying signal.
________________________________
The Ukrainians have been making wholly unnecessary noises about a 'special operation' of their own in Crimea. They don't seem to want to discuss specifics, but they do want to publicly taunt Putin and his henchmen. Maybe we'll figure out what that was all about before too long. (May have just been an Independence Day display of bravado, just for the Hell of it, which will also piss Putin off.)
________________________________
Headline: Russian military helicopter flies to Ukraine – and entire crew surrenders
(An alternate version of the Russian helicopter defection story; although it appears the 'crew got shot' telling is by far the most popular version of this tale.)
Ukraine has been conducting small attacks on Crimea including landing some special ops forces there(they didn't stay long). There has also been talk among Ukrainian vloggers about a "surprise" in Crimea.
I don't know if that was about what had been done already or if it is still to come. The Ukrainians did just eliminate a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft system in Crimea with one of those attacks.
They seem to be trying out various explanations, trying to find one that strikes a chord with Putin's supporters, something the faithful can claim to believe...
Prigozhin apparently left instructions with Wagner on what to do in the case of his death. This may not be over yet.
We have unnamed "U.S. officials" suggesting the Biden administration is leaning towards the theory that there was a bomb on Prigozhin's plane. WaPo
I had heard that. It seems the experts are saying that there had to have been some kind of onboard explosion to cause the debris pattern. And planes don't just lose their wings for no reason. It wasn't normal mechanical failure or pilot error.
At least one Russian vlogger is putting the blame on Putin. I am sure there are more.
Lost in yesterday's overwhelming reporting that Prigozhin died on Wednesday (this is news?), there's actual news out that Putin has legally reformed the Wagner Group into a sort of Russian imperial guard. He has signed a decree that the individual members of the group must now pledge allegiance to the Russian Federation, which he heads. This is a back door absorption of the Wagner Group into the Russian Federation military system, consolidating it under Putin's control. This is the threat that led Prigozhin to launch his abortive march to Moscow in late June. Now Prigozhin's dead and now the deed is done.
Even so, it's not real clear how long Putin's new empire will last.
Hitler's thousand year reich lasted a scant twelve years. I wouldn't put money on Putin's new imperial ambitions making it even that long, but ya never know. The last Russian empire (Soviet) lasted seventy.
Even so, it's not real clear how long Putin's new empire will last.
Probably until the Russian standard of living declines enough for the elites to notice.
It looks like Trump's trial is set to start one day before Super Tuesday.
"Trump's trial is set to start one day before Super Tuesday."
So scheduled, currently; probably not set.
This is the point in a legal proceeding where Trump customarily launches his big stall. And he's a master at the technique, experienced and shameless. Mighty slim chance that trial date will hold.
Yeah, I heard he was shooting for a trial in 2026!
There was a drone attack on the Pskov airfield tonight. It sounds like 4 Russian transport planes were damaged, as well as the fuel and ammunition depots.
It may be just me. Maybe I'm seeing what I want to see. Or maybe it's just recent spin by war correspondents' and foreign policy pundits who're seeing what they want to see. But it looks to me like Putin's government is getting increasingly shrill of late in their assertions of battlefield victories.
I don't think it is just you. I am hearing of some further advancement by Ukraine in an area of the battlefield that may prove to be a weak link.
Time will tell.
A rather eerie video by Prigozhin taken just days before the plane crash asserting that he is alive and well has been released.
Russia has started to move air defenses from the Kuril Islands to areas of Russia closer to Ukraine. Good luck finding and shooting down those cardboard drones.
Okay, one more for tonight.
Russian News
This one is short. It looks like my thought that eventually China would grab some of Russia wasn't far off.
By the way…
The Russian War Against Ukraine has not changed my mind about the idea of an American withdrawal from NATO. I still think we ought to give that serious consideration.
For one thing, Ukraine has proven that Europe could if they wanted to, handle Russia on their own, without American forces doing most all their fighting for them.
And the unpleasant reminder that Russia is an imperial wannabe has shown us that they do fear that specter sufficiently to prepare against it, but only if obliged to do so.
The war against Ukraine has also shown us that Free Europe will continue to happily coast on American defense expenditures even in the face of Russian aggression in Europe, if we allow them to do so.
And as has been the case in the past, we can rely on the fact that they will continue to resent us for supplying the military defense they want but refuse to provide for themselves.
We really oughta give some serious thought to an American withdrawal from NATO. Let them start thinking about defending themselves. They'd make a better ally in the coming world where Russia and China continue their decline and might continue to make military aggression their primary response to that decline.
The important point is the proof supplied by Ukraine. Europe no longer needs us to handle Russia for them; they can handle Russia themselves if they'd only give it a fairly minimal effort.
I still disagree. The United States was instrumental in Ukraine's ability to respond to the Russian invasion. We also played an important role in uniting Europe in response through NATO. I think this whole situation would have played out differently of NATO did not exist as is.
"The United States was instrumental in Ukraine's ability to
respond to the Russian invasion."
The United States expected Ukraine to collapse within a few days and played zero part in Ukraine's first response to the invasion.
It wasn't until Ukraine had already responded, after they had turned back the Russian columns, that we became involved at all. Then we were offering to pull Zelenskyy out of there to set up a government in exile. He responded otherwise; we had no part in that, but rather were every bit as amazed as were the Russians.
"I think this whole situation would have played out
differently of NATO did not exist as is."
I agree. I think NATO would be much more robust, and would have been so in February of 2022, if they did not routinely fall back in reliance on the idea that the United States would, in case of hostilities, provide the bulk of their defense for them.
But, I'm not going to convince you of that and I'm not going to try. The major point I was making here was that a European NATO can indeed beat back Russia without us doing that job for them. Ukraine has proven that.
I do not question Europe's capability in a military sense. I question their ability to come to an agreement to act. There seemed to be some countries that were dragging their feet.
As for our role, I never said we were with Ukraine from the beginning. Ukraine proved that they could stand against Russia and earned on their own our help. I do agree that they amazed us as well as the Russians. They are a resilient, resourceful people. But they still required help from outside to have a real chance of removing Russian occupiers.
It should be noted that Australia is not a member of NATO but has also made some major contributions. Not least of which were the paper drones. Ukraine has said that the drones used to target Pskov airfield were sent from inside Russia. Word is that the drones were paper, either Australian or Ukrainian adaptations.
"I question their ability to come to an agreement to act."
Necessity can spur ability. We make it unnecessary for them to actually deal with their own problems in this regard.
________________________________
"But they [Ukraine] still required help from outside…"
I fully agree. But we didn't put the fight in 'em; they brought that themselves (necessity again). I remember Zelenskyy's (perhaps apocryphal) rebuff to our State Department's offer to get him out of there, "I need ammunition, not a ride".
"Russia has in recent months been trying to recruit
citizens of neighboring countries to fight in Ukraine,
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Sunday. Online advertisements
in Armenia and Kazakhstan are offering 495,000 rubles
($5,140) in initial payments, the ministry said, adding that
‛exploiting foreign nationals allows the Kremlin to acquire
additional personnel for its war effort in the face of mounting
casualties.’"
WaPo
"I question their ability to come to an agreement to act."
That may be a result of our presence in NATO. (Lack of necessity once again.) In any case they often can't agree now. Not being able to agree later, if they are indeed unable to fix that problem will merely be a continuation of their current problem. Won't be a new problem. Also won't be our problem anymore.
Necessity can spur ability.
Perhaps I am less trusting than you. I question whether or not some would see the necessity. Or I am just getting more cynical.
Also won't be our problem anymore.
It is the problems that could arise from inaction that I worry about.
"I need ammunition, not a ride".
It is to Zelenskyy's credit that this was his response to that offer. It also puts to rest that accusation that it is the United States who is fighting to the last Ukrainian. It was always the people of Ukraine's choice to fight or not. It is also to the credit of the many people in the world who are standing by them.
Russia has in recent months been trying to recruit
citizens of neighboring countries to fight in Ukraine...
Just goes to show that perhaps that "shrillness" in Putin's assertion of battlefield victories is a sign of desperation.
Huh! If I hurry I just might have time to make some salsa. Gotta use those tomatoes I picked yesterday.
"It is the problems that could arise from inaction that I
worry about."
We're facing that problem now, in spite of (perhaps because of) our membership in NATO. If the problem persists without us in NATO it'll be no change on that front.
If our membership managed to solve their problems of inaction it'd be different, but clearly doesn't.
Post Script: By the way, the Prime Minister of Germany announced a few days ago the reversal of a recent German commitment to NATO. It turns out the Germans will not be spending the agreed upon 2% of German GDP on military defense. (They agreed to it a couple of years ago with much publicity and fanfare, and have now quietly disavowed that commitment.)
Russian Army General Sergei Surovikin is alive. He's been seen and filmed walking around (in civilian clothing) with his wife near his home in Moscow.
Supposedly he still holds his rank of "Army General" (equivalent to a 4 star general in the American ranking system). But he seems to be on 'extended leave'; he has no command, and apparently no current duties nor posting. NYT
I think he was one of the "dismissed". The ever growing group of Russian military who have managed to avoid a high sky dive.
It seems that Russia has found a new way to prevent damage to its airplanes from those pesky Ukrainian drones. They have started to place tires on top of them. Will it work? Perhaps the Ukrainians will test the theory...
I wonder if the Russians tried to test it. (The answer to that question will prompt more questions.)
In the meantime… Tires burn, and they burn hot, hot enough to burn right through the aluminum skins on those bombers. The Russians are placing an aggressive (and sticky) fuel source on top of their very expensive bombers. The wisdom of this is not clear to me.
Lol! I don't think anyone has mentioned that to them. Perhaps in the hope that they won't notice until it is too late?
It seems that Cuba is rather upset with someone who has been trafficking Cubans to fight in the war in Ukraine for Russia. They are trying to crack down on the practice.
There is word that it is not safe in Russia for veterans of the Ukrainian war. They seem to be targets for other Russians. Some have been killed.
Neither Putin nor Chinese President Xi will attend this year's G20 meeting in New Delhi (they will send lower-level representatives).
Be there or be talked about...
Nevertheless: India, with support from various nations considered part of 'the Global South', successfully held off an effort by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (plus some others) to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Headline: US likely to send long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for the first time:
(subheading) "'They are coming,' one U.S. official told ABC News."
ABCNews:
"The Biden administration is likely to send Ukraine long-range
Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, to help in its fight
to repel the Russian invasion of its territory, according to U.S.
officials.
"'They are coming,' said one official who had access to
security assistance plans. The official noted that, as always,
such plans are subject to change until officially announced.
"A second official said the missiles are 'on the table' and likely
to be included in an upcoming security assistance package,
adding that a final decision has not been made. It could be
months before Ukraine receives the missiles, according to the
official.
"But pressed on the matter by ABC News, White House
spokesman John Kirby said a decision hasn't been made"
The Biden administration is apparently leaking this, so I s'pect it has been decided, and they're just prepping the press so it won't get played up when it happens. (They want it to be 'old news' by the time it actually happens.)
These'll arrive none too soon in my opinion.
Nevertheless: India, with support from various nations considered part of 'the Global South', successfully held off an effort by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (plus some others) to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Actions speak louder than words and your second post about ATACMS as well as the earlier decision on F-16's and the Abrams tanks tell a truer picture of how we feel. While condemnation of the Russian invasion by the entire world would be nice for Ukraine, my guess is they really need equipment more.
If you're hinting at a connection between India's success in holding off a condemnation of Russia and the Biden administration's subsequent public decision to send the MGM-140s (a/k/a "ATACMS") to Ukraine… Well, I immediately suspected that exact same connection.
The G20 don't wanna condemn Russian atrocities in Ukraine--well, we just made our own statement. Take that then.
A moment of silence for those killed on 9/11.
The G20 don't wanna condemn Russian atrocities in Ukraine--well, we just made our own statement.
Yes, indeed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has been quietly moving ever forward in the south. Steadily forcing the Russians back.
I found one thing rather interesting in Biden's remarks at the G20 press conference. Most of the questions given to him were about China. In one the reporter asked about his thoughts on Xi's absence. Basically Biden said that he thought Xi might have issues at home that needed dealing with. Economic issues. I wonder if he knows something we don't? He did mention real estate problems, which we know about. But is there something else?
The "real estate problems" are spreading credit defaults across the broader Chinese economy. Whether that's 'something else' in your view is a matter of how ya define the thing.
And, of course, they've still got the problem of too many old people and not enough young people to support them. (It's one thing to be old and rich--like the United States. It's quite another to be old and comparatively poor--like China.)
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