Hronek is 25 and has shown the ability to improve. I don't think this is the fleecing people think it is. I love Stevie. It makes sense as the Wings can easily replace him. But Hronek isn't a terrible player. He is a young guy with upside.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-bakhmut-drone-attacks-c0e33e89b027c3604f585166a349c457

Looks like Bakhmut is finally going to fall.

China meeting with Belarus. That is an interesting development.

3 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

At first glance, I would say NO!

I don't see anything exceptional in this group of QB's that says "must trade up to get him". And other "QB-loaded" drafts have come and gone with teams still finding their guy at picks 7 to 14-ish or so (going on fawlty memory...). 

So maybe nothing happens.

The only hope, IMO, is team desperation that overrides common sense and plops a trade-down plus extra picks into our laps.

Can we count on 1 of the Raiders, Falcons, or Panthers for that...? (it only takes one).

Hoping someone falls in love with Richardson.

https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/ukraine

Ukraine is corrupt as hell. But people get shouted down if you mention this.

Zelensky and his cronies are trying to cover up a major corruption scandal in Ukraine – what role is the US playing?

Quote

Last month’s shockwave of resignations among top Ukrainian officials, caused by numerous corruption scandals, ended as quickly as it began. At the start of February, it seemed that Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov would become the ultimate victim of the purge. His imminent departure was openly discussed in the Ukrainian parliament and hints were even dropped by the President's office.

His possible resignation was also discussed in leading international media. However, just two weeks later, the threat hanging over Reznikov disappeared when the politician met with Western leaders and plainly stated that he had no intention of leaving office. 

How did Reznikov avoid being culled, what role did the visit of US inspectors to Kiev play in the process, and what was the big corruption scandal in the Defense Ministry of Ukraine all about?

An internal conflict 

Various sources began speculating about the possible resignation of Reznikov on February 5. They claimed that the current Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, major general Kirill Budanov, would become Reznikov’s successor. The reports appeared against the background of a large corruption scandal at the ministry linked to food procurement for front-line troops.

At the time, the chairman of President Vladimir Zelensky’s Servant of the People political party, David Arakhamiya, said that Reznikov would be offered the position of Minister for Strategic Industries in order to “strengthen military-industrial cooperation” and would handle Western supplies of military equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

In the following days, the possible resignation was discussed not just in Ukrainian and Russian media, but in foreign publications such as The Guardian and Politico. Discussions simultaneously proceeded in Kiev’s Verkhovna Rada where Dmitry Razumkov, a former ally of Zelensky, promised that if the Defense Minister were to resign over a corruption scandal, parliament would not support his appointment to a new position. However, discussions in parliament quickly dissipated and Arakhamiya, who previously pushed for Reznikov's resignation, announced that no forthcoming personnel changes are expected in the government in the near future.

Failed resignation

On February 15, Reznikov himself clarified the situation. Asked by Reuters whether he planned to remain in office for the next few months, he replied: “Yes, it was my president’s decision.”

At the same time, the official suggested that criticism of him could be attributed to a desire for personal revenge by anti-corruption activist Vitaly Shabunin, over his transfer from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry back to units of the Territorial Defense Force. “There are people, who, in the midst of a political anti-corruption career, wake up and fall asleep with my surname,” the minister said.

owever, there are various theories as to why the resignation did not take place. According to one, an upcoming meeting with Western backers at Ramstein Air Base at that time played a role. Replacing Reznikov would have created an unfavorable impression and could have affected the negotiating process.

Additionally, there is another unofficial version, according to which the head of the presidential administration, Andrey Yermak, defended the minister. Yermak is considered to be a patron of Reznikov, and he allegedly tried to block the replacement. Yermak has been involved in a lengthy, bitter conflict with Arakhamiya, and this has intensified amid the speculation around the defense minister. 

Despite the minister’s various versions and statements, there is still talk on the sidelines of a scenario in which Reznikov will be replaced by Budanov. After all, the corruption scandal has proved to be too high-profile – not only for Ukrainian society but also for Kiev’s foreign partners.

g cash

It began when Ukrainian publication Zerkalo Nedeli disclosed the details of a 13 billion hryvnia ($353 million) contract between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Aktiv Company LLC for the purchase of food supplies at extremely inflated prices.

The deal didn’t involve the purchase of any special equipment, but rather basic food supplies such as potatoes, onions, and eggs. Secondly, the document was signed with a company whose authorized capital amounted to just 1,000 hryvnia ($27). The outrageous prices constituted the third and central reason for the scandal. The “wholesale” cost stated by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry was several times higher than the retail cost of the same products in a premium-class supermarket.

A few days later, Reznikov accused the journalists of “manipulation” and of “informational attacks” which could negatively impact Ukraine’s military-aid negotiations with the West. Later, the politician admitted his “communicative failure” and attempted to write it off as a “technical error,” explaining that eggs and other products were priced per kilogram, not per unit.

“This is a common technical error made by the supplier. Eggs are the only category from the catalog that is calculated in pieces in the appendix to the transaction. The supplier mistakenly indicated the price not per piece, but by weight when he transferred data from one table, where everything was measured by weight, to another,” Reznikov assured the press, claiming that taking this correction into account, the cost “fully corresponds to the market price.”

Nevertheless, a cloud of suspicion descended over several ministry officials. On January 24, Deputy Minister of Defense Vyacheslav Shapovalov resigned, and, on February 3, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained two businessmen for selling food at inflated prices. Two other high-ranking officials also came under suspicion – Bogdan Khmelnitsky, former Deputy Head of the Department of Public Procurement and Supply of Material Resources, and Vladimir Tereshchenko, Deputy Head of the Department for the Coordination of Foreign Economic Activity. Interestingly, they were charged with offenses unrelated to the procurement of military food supplies.

Charges against Reznikov have not yet been brought, although he has admitted he is responsible for the actions of his subordinates stating, “No official remains in office forever. Not a single one. The ruling regarding my position as the Minister of Defense will be made by a single person – the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, in accordance with the constitution. My own decisions will be based solely on the decision made by the President of Ukraine.”

Footprint of US

The corruption scandals in Ukraine are being actively publicized by the media and are linked not only to the government’s political opponents, but also to Ukraine's partners, primarily the United States. For example, Bihus.Info published an investigation into Yermak's ties with former deputies from the now banned Opposition Platform – For Life party. This was Ukraine’s second largest political faction, until it was prohibited by Zelensky, as part of his crackdown on political opponents. 

Many experts have viewed the saga as an attempt by the American government to solve its own pressing issue of Republican demands that the White House establish control over US aid to Ukraine. Having gained a majority in the the House of Representatives, the Republican Party wants stricter controls over the expenditure of multibillion-dollar tranches allocated to Kiev. In Ukraine, the political consequences may also be significant. 

On January 29, several inspectors arrived in Kiev from the US. The commission included Inspectors General Diana Shaw, Robert Storch, and Nicole Angarella from the US Department of State, the Pentagon, and the Agency for International Development (USAID), respectively. According to the US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, the purpose of their visit was “to advance independent oversight of US assistance to Ukraine”. 

The offices of all three inspectors have established an interdepartmental working group that includes similar services in other departments and several government auditing services – 17 in total. The group will be responsible for holding meetings with “key American and Ukrainian officials, colleagues in various government agencies and non-governmental organizations implementing programs funded by the United States.” The inspectors are clearly trying to work with the civilian population, bypassing the Ukrainian authorities.

Among the inspectors, Robert Storch is closely familiar with Ukraine’s internal affairs. From 2007 to 2009, he worked in Ukraine as a consultant on anti-corruption issues, and in 2014, he returned to Kiev to help develop anti-corruption legislation. He also advised the authorities on the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

https://www.rt.com/news/572291-german-army-cannot-defend-minister/

4 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

but the payoff is bigger in terms of pulling the teeth of an adversary that traditionally generates a lot of the rest of the  defense budget.

Why does Russia have to be an adversary? The US would be better served interweaving Russia and Europe to create economic dependence on each other. But that failed miserably.

29 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I am hoping digitalpigsmuggler is more old school Republican and less MAGA.  If so, he or she could add some balance to the forum.  

Why does it matter.

Maybe I am an AOC type. I do like big booty latinas.

GO TIGERS

Way to much for Larkin if true.

I'd like to see the lions trade down at 6. A lot of depth at CB. All are pretty close after Witherspoon.

https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/7515337/harry-meghan-evicted-frogmore-cottage-king-charles/

Hahaha Evicted!

Would Like to see Tork turn it on. He has to show something to avoid AAA.

1 minute ago, 1984Echoes said:

I believe the Ukrainians just obliterated 130 Russian tanks and APC's in a Russian attack on Vuhledar (I didn't see the exact date/ time of attack... I'm assuming the last few hours or so...). That's been one of the latest key battlegrounds, outside of Bakhmut.

Russians are making the exact same mistakes they did against Kiev. Walking right into the teeth of ambushes, single file, and getting picked off left & right...

 

 

 

Evidence? no doubting you. But Ukraine throws out some lofty numbers of KIA Russians. Most analyst think they are inflated. It is also hard to tell, fog of war and all that.

At least it is meaningful hockey in March for a change!

Wonder if Packers have interest in a QB. If they move on from Rodgers, they seem to be going all in on Love. 

Lightfoot was terrible. Joke of a mayor.

9 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

We're going around in circles right now so I'm getting out.

You believe what you believe, and I believe otherwise.

We'll see what Holmes does/ decides. That will settle it for me.

Don't trust Goof long term. Not event a little. He has played half a season well in 4 years. That is it.

Go Tigers! Ready for some baseball.