Saturday, June 24, 2023

Wagner Group Coup Attempt? Republicans worry about Putin's well-being!

Update:

Was it all a ruse?  This "Insurrection" launched while Prigozhin was so far from Moscow?  I can only hope President Biden is receiving detailed and  timely information.  And I can't say I see the geo-political benefit to Putin.  Nor how the Attempted Coup solidifies Putin's power.  As his Lieutenants had to work it out without his imprimatur.  

Wisconsin disgrace Ron Johnson, who likes to spend his 4th of July, paying fealty to Vladimir Putin might be considering a resolution to send troops into Russia to help Putin put down the apparent Coup attempt launched by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the paramilitary Wagner group.

This began when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, issued a decree that all Paramilitary groups must sign a loyalty oath to the Ministry of Defense by July 1st.  Prigozhin, began this action, by claiming in a nod to Russian history that the Tsar has been deceived and it's up to him to remove the bad bureaucratic elements enriching themselves and betraying Russia!  Wagner group then claimed to have been fired upon by Russian military forces and Prigozhin turned his mercenaries backs towards Russia, seizing Rostov-on-Don and sending advance elements into Voronezh in an obvious attempt to make it to Moscow.  Putin has vowed to destroy this rebellion and thus far at least enough of his shattered military is responding instead of standing aside;

"All those who consciously stood on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, stood on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment, before the law and before our people,"Putin said in a five-minute speech.

Prigozhin seems to have bitten off more than he can Coup, because an attempt like this relies upon speed and not allowing heavy weaponry and military units interfere.  Wagner group has captured some equipment as well so their eventual inability to resupply is not yet a factor but, if they get bogged down or if Putin manages to deploy loyal troops to engage in a protracted skirmish to slow/stop the Wagner group advance it may signal the end of the Coup attempt.  

Also taking a wait and see approach are the rabid Putin loving Reactionaries who for 16 months have declared Ukraine's resistance and US/NATO support of said resistance a monstrous mistake and tantamount to a war crime.  Glenn Greenwald has yet to weigh in on this monumental situation and is silent down in Brazil because he doesn't know who will be signing his checks come tomorrow morning.

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