Generational Dynamics World View News

[guest]

Monthly pay in the Russian army is now $5

Just checked Google, which gave 195,000 rubles or $2,535 a month. Not sure if this is before or after the boost.

The poster's joke went over your head.

Of note, the regular Russian army is marking a lot of dead Russian troops as Missing in Action--not Killed in Action--in order to avoid or delay (and eventually avoid) paying the death bonus promised in the contracts. Also, monthly pay is also being delayed or docked in many cases.

The Wagner Group seems to be better at paying out death benefits and honoring contracts than the regular Russian army. Wagner Group veterans, even the disabled and badly mangled Wagner Group veterans, are deeply loyal to the Wagner PMC leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, which is interesting.

Yevgeny Prigozhin has built up a huge following in Russia. When a Russian (anti-Putin/ Anti-war) You Tuber asked Russians on the street what they thought of Wagner, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Prigozhin's rants on Telegram (which I have watched) are extremely effective. Prigozhin speaks the language of the common Russian man in the streets. Putin does not. Prigozhin knows how to work a crowd. If Putin doesn't kill him soon, Prigozhin WILL challenge Putin for power.

You called it.

[Navigator]

Yes, this was very insightful. Much more so than what the "news" organizations report.

I have told many others of this insight, and like many who have posted here, believe that it was indicative of major changes coming due to Russian military impotence.

There is a chance that Putin could stay in power, and yet give in to Prigozhin. He could sacrifice Shoigu and Gerasimov, AND put the country on the actual war footing that I have repeatedly stated that they need in order to have a shot at rectifying their situation.

Or Prigozhin could take power and do this all himself.

Even if Putin puts down the rebellion, it could still result in the changes Russia needs (replace incompetents, go to full war footing) to be more successful.

[John]

OR -- there's a chance that Putin will arrange for Prigozhin to be shot dead.

[Navigator]

Of course. And the whole Wagner group sent back to prison. We will shortly see.

[John]

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukrai ... a4116058d1

Wagner chief says he ordered his Russian mercenaries to halt march on Moscow

By The Associated Press June 24, 2023 GMT

The head of the Wagner force said Saturday he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood.

The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to defuse a growing crisis. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander. And President Vladimir Putin had vowed he would face harsh consequences.

...

[John]

Of course. And the whole Wagner group sent back to prison. We will shortly see.

How's your wife, Navi?

[John]

[John]

** 24-Jun-2023 World View: Putin - Prigozhin deal analysis

Jen Psaki offers the following analysis
on MS-NBC:

Yevgeny Prigozhin is not particularly
trustworthy, and is a master of
disinformation, having run the Internet
Reseearch Agency, the St. Petersburg
troll farm, which "meddled" in America's
2016 election.

Vladimir Putin is also not particularly
trustworthy, and is also a master of
disinformation,

So this deal may not last long.

(Of course, let's not forget that Jen
Psaki is also a master of
disinformation.)

[John]

** 24-Jun-2023 World View: Was the whole thing a stage play?

Rebekah Koffler, born in Russia, and
author of "Putin's Playbook", says on
Fox News that the entire episode, from
beginning to end, was staged by Putin
and Prigozhin so that Putin can increase
in power by claiming that he was under
attack. She says that this play could
also give Putin an excuse to get rid of
Shoigu, whom he hates.

[Navigator]

The whole idea of this being "staged" is certainly highly probable. I would never have imagined that someone who attempted a coup against Putin would be allowed to live.

Getting rid of Shoigu is a long time coming for Russia. I still cannot see why Russia has not gone to a full on war footing a-la Stalin. Other than the Chinese calling the shots and not wanting USA/NATO to take further pre-war preparatory steps.