Beijing’s official position on the Ukraine conflict is that it supports negotiations for peace, a senior Communist Party of China officer stated at the 2023 Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
Beijing has warned Washington against fueling the conflict in Ukraine, where Russia continues its special military operation.
Meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the 2023 Munich Security Conference on Saturday, head of the Communist Party of China's Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi stressed that "As a great power, the US should contribute to a political solution to the crisis, not add fuel to the fire and look for opportunities to benefit from it."
According to Wang, China has adhered to a constructive position in relation to the crisis in Ukraine and supported the negotiating process.
Wang also made it clear that Beijing "will never tolerate US instructions or even threats to put pressure on Russian-Chinese relations."
He earlier told the Munich Security Conference that China would draft and present a document, in which its position on the Ukraine crisis will be outlined by the end of February.
"On the Ukraine issue, China's stance boils down to supporting talks for peace. We will put forth a paper on China's position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and stay firm on the side of peace and dialogue," he underscored.
For its part, the US State Department said in a press release that during talks with Wang, Blinken "warned about the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion."
This came after a US media outlet quoted unnamed sources as saying that Washington believes that Beijing may be providing non-lethal military assistance to Moscow for use in Ukraine and that the Biden administration is concerned China considers sending lethal aid.
The outlet added that the sources declined to elaborate on the non-lethal military assistance, only claiming that it could include gear for the Russian military’s purported spring offensive, including uniforms or even body armor.
The US and its allies slapped a number of sanction packages against Russia shortly after it launched its special military operation in Ukraine following requests from the Donbass republics to protect them from Kiev's attacks. Apart from the sanctions, western countries ramped up their military assistance to the Zelensky regime in a move that Moscow warns will add to further prolonging the Ukraine conflict.
In his upcoming State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay attention to topics related to the special military operation, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"Our lives are now centered around the subject of the special military operation. The military operation affects our entire lives one way or another, as well as life on the continent. So, we should anticipate the president to pay particular attention to it," Peskov said.
Putin will deliver his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on February 21.
The Russian military destroyed a stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the LPR with two thermobaric rockets from the Solntsepek heavy flamethrower system
Kremlin does not consider the West being open to peace initiatives
The West is not yet showing any readiness for peaceful initiatives on the situation in Ukraine, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"So far there is no readiness or openness towards peaceful initiatives on the part of the collective West," he said.
The idea of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko on talks between Russian and US leaders Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden is unlikely to gain support in the West, Peskov added. "It is hardly possible to expect any type of reciprocity or response to such an endeavor from any member of the collective West," he said.
Earlier, Lukashenko invited Biden to Minsk, saying he was willing to arrange his meeting with Putin.
Peskov stressed that Biden "will not have any stops during his upcoming European trip, except in Poland." On February 20-22, Joe Biden is expected to visit Poland, where he will meet with his counterpart Andrzej Duda and the leaders of the "Bucharest Nine" countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Estonia).
Employees of the Russian Guard, together with the FSB, discovered a cache of ammunition and weapons in one of the liberated settlements of the LPR
Special operation, 18 February. Main:
▪️ The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Russian troops destroyed up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kherson direction in a day, about 180 servicemen in the Kupyansky and Krasnolimansky directions;
▪️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation liberated the village of Gryanikovka, Kharkiv region;
▪️The G7 Foreign Ministers at the first meeting under the chairmanship of Japan agreed to continue assistance to Ukraine, strengthen sanctions against Russia and call on third countries to stop assistance to the Russian Federation, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said;
▪️ ️UK Secretary of Defense Wallace said that Ukraine will receive modern fighters, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, only after the end of the NWO. However, according to him, Ukraine's allies are ready "to take this step at some point";
▪️ The Hungarian government does not share the opinion that Russia threatens the security of Hungary and all of Europe, said Prime Minister Orban;
▪️ Orban believes that the conflict in Ukraine can only end with negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States, this will inevitably happen, but the later, the higher the price will be;
▪️ China will prepare a document outlining its position on a political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the end of February, said Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee.
Kecelakaan Helikopter, Kapolda Jambi Irjen Rusdi Hartono Patah Tangan
Petugas gabungan melakukan evakuasi terhadap Rombongan Kapolda Jambi yang mendarat darurat di Kerinci.
Diduga cuaca buruk, helikopter yang ditumpangi rombongan Kapolda Jambi Irjen Pol Rusdi Hartono mengalamai masalah sehingga melakukan pendaratan darurat di Desa Tamia, Kabupaten Kerinci, Jambi, hari Minggu siang, 19/02/2023. Kecelakaan helikopter ini tidak ada korban jiwa.
Helikopter Polri jenis Super Bell 3001 itu turut mengangkut Direktur Reskrimum Polda Jambi Kombes Pol Andri Ananta Yudistira, Direktur Polairud Polda Jambi Kombes Michael Mumbunan, Koorspri Polda Jambi Kompol Ayani, serta sejumlah ajudan.
Akibat kecelakaan tersebut, Kapolda Jambi Irjen Pol Rusdi Hartono dilaporkan mengalami patah pada tangan kanan.
"Berangkat sekitar pukul 9.30 WIB menuju Kerinci dalam rangka meresmikan gedung SPKT," kata Kepala Bidang Humas Polda Jambi, Kombes Mulia Prianto, hari Minggu sore, 19/02/2022.
Helikopter itu berangkat dari Kota Jambi menuju Kota Sungai Penuh untuk melaksanakan kunjungan Kerja pada pukul 09.25 WIB.
Kapolda Jambi beserta rombongan terbang ke lokasi tersebut untuk meresmikan Kantor SPKT Polres Kerinci dan pengamanan Kunjungan Mantan Wapres Jusuf Kalla di Kerinci.
Helikopter jenis Bell 412 SP dengan nomor Registrasi P-3001 berangkat dari Bandara Sultan Thaha Jambi dengan tujuan Bandara Depati Parbo.
Untuk crew yang di dalam helikopter itu AKP Ali , AKP Amos F, Aipda Susilo, Kapolda Jambi Irjen Pol Rusdi Hartono, Dirreskrimum Kombes Pol Andri Ananta, Dirpolairud Polda Jambi, Kombes Pol Muchael Bumbunan, Korpspripim Polda Kompol A Yani Jambi dan seorang ADC Kapolda Jambi.
Pada pukul 11.02 WIB, Posko Polda Jambi mendapat laporan dari kru bahwa Heli Bell 412 SP Reg. P-3001 diperkirakan jatuh di titik Koordinat S20 9’ 3.53” E1010 42’ 12.63”, tepatnya di Desa Tamiai, Kecamatan Batang Merangin, Kabupaten Kerinci, dengan penyebab karena cuaca buruk.
Untuk seluruh penumpang dilaporkan dalam keadaan selamat dengan kondisi Kapolda Jambi yang mengalami patah tangan kanan, sedangkan untuk penumpang lain dalam keadaan selamat.
Tim penyelamat saat ini sedang menuju lokasi terdiri atas personil Batalyon B Sat Brimob Polda Jambi, Polres Kerinci dan Polres Merangin melalui jalur darat yang diperkirakan membutuhkan waktu 8 jam.
Berdasarkan video yang beredar terkait kecelakaan itu, helikopter tersebut jatuh di area hutan dan perbukitan.
Russia will respond to the Netherlands’ decision to cut the staff of Russian diplomatic missions in the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Saturday.
"Russia will give an appropriate response," the foreign ministry said.
Earlier on Saturday, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Netherlands had decided to reduce the number of Russian diplomats working in the country. The Netherlands Broadcasting Corporation reported that about ten diplomats would be expelled and that they would have to leave the country within two weeks. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said that the talks with Russia on the terms of diplomats’ placement had been unsuccessful to date.
After Russia had launched its special military operation in Ukraine, the Netherlands expelled 17 Russian diplomats. In response, Russia ordered 15 Dutch diplomats out of the country. After that, according to the Dutch foreign ministry, the two countries were in talks on the deployment of new diplomats.
The Netherlands decides to cut staff of Russian diplomatic missions — foreign ministry
The Netherlands has decided to reduce the number of Russian diplomats working in the country, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
"The cabinet has decided that the Russian embassy in The Hague may no longer have more diplomats than the Dutch embassy in Moscow," the statement said. "Some Russian diplomats will therefore have to leave the Netherlands." However, it was not said how many diplomats will be expelled.
The Netherlands Broadcasting Corporation reported that about ten diplomats would be expelled and that they would have to leave the country within two weeks.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry said that the talks with Russia on the terms of diplomats’ tenure had been unsuccessful to date.
The Dutch foreign ministry claims that "Russia keeps trying to secretly deploy intelligence officers in the Netherlands as diplomats." Simultaneously, Russia "refuses to issue visas for Dutch diplomats to work at the consulate general in St. Petersburg and the embassy in Moscow."
"The Dutch consulate general in St. Petersburg will have to close temporarily due to staff shortages," the statement said.
"The cabinet has also decided that the Russian trade office in Amsterdam must close," the Dutch foreign ministry added.
The Dutch consulate general in St. Petersburg will close on February 20. The Russian trade office in Amsterdam is ordered to close on February 21.
"This means that, among other things, assistance to Dutch citizens and organizations will no longer be provided from St. Petersburg. The Netherlands’ embassy in Moscow will remain open," the ministry clarified.
After Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, the Netherlands expelled 17 Russian diplomats. In response, Russia ordered 15 Dutch diplomats out of the country. After that, according to the Dutch foreign ministry, the two countries were in talks on the deployment of new diplomats.
Statements by US Under Secretary of State for political affairs Victoria Nuland once again emphasize Washington's role as the main source of international tensions, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 1 TV channel.
"Nuland is part of a broad group of the most ardent ‘hawks’ in American politics. We are very familiar with this point of view. It highlights the extent of our differences once more. It probably also stresses the role of the United States as the primary source of present international conflicts," he said.
Calling Crimea 'Legitimate Target' for Strikes Shows US as Instigator of Tensions, Kremlin Spokesman Says
The recent statement of US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland that labeled Crimea as a legitimate target of Ukrainian strikes underscores the depth of disagreement between the United States and Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
Earlier in the week, Nuland said that Ukraine will not be considered safe by the collective West unless Crimea is at least demilitarized and that the US supports Kiev massively hitting Russian military installations in Crimea as it considers them to be legitimate targets.
"This once again highlights the depth of our disagreement, demonstrates, I think, the role of the United States as the main instigator of the international tensions that we have," Peskov said in an interview for a Russian political show.
Peskov also pointed out that Nuland "belongs to a very broad camp of the most aggressive 'hawks' in American politics," adding that "this is a point of view that we know well."
US justifies exacerbating Ukrainian conflict by taking about Russia's crimes — ambassador
The United States administration is attempting to excuse its own activities in escalating the crisis in Ukraine with allegations of crimes against humanity attributed to Russia, according to Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov.
"We consider such insinuations as an attempt, unprecedented in terms of its cynicism, to demonize Russia in the course of a hybrid war, unleashed against us. There is no doubt that the purpose of such attacks is to justify Washington’s own actions to fuel the Ukrainian crisis. First of all, it concerns the rampant militarization of the Kiev regime," the ambassador said.
He noted, "At one point the Americans said, that they would supply the republic with only defensive weapons, but now ship heavy armored vehicles, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems with long-range munitions. The U.S. provides intelligence to Kiev Nazis, trains militants. By the will of the White House an egregious act is being committed - just like 80 years ago - tanks with crosses are attacking our country. How can we trust the West and try to come to any type of agreement after all these statements and actions? Basically, they told us one thing, but acted in the opposite direction."
At the same time, the diplomat stressed that the US "simply turns a blind eye to the atrocities of the Zelensky regime". "Washington prefers not to notice the horrific scenes of the shootings of unarmed captured Russian soldiers. It forgot about the bloodcurdling burning of people at the Trade Union Building in Odessa in 2014. The United States completely ignores the attacks that have been going on for many years on settlements in Donbass - kindergartens, schools, hospitals and residential buildings. Although it should be clear to any sober-minded person that no threats come from there," he said.
Beijing Says Washington Should 'Repair Damage' Caused Amid 'Spy Balloon' Craze
China's Central Foreign Affairs Office Director Wang Yi has called on Washington to change the direction of bilateral relations that have been affected by the scandal, raised in the US regarding the "balloon incident".
Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the margins of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.
"Wang Yi expressed China's firm and fair stance on the so-called balloon incident and urged the United States to change course, and soberly assess and repair the damage caused to Chinese-US relations by the excessive use of force," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a Sunday statement following the talks.
The response came after US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said following the meeting that Blinken had told Wang Yi that the "irresponsible act must never again occur" and that the "violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law" by the Chinese balloon was unacceptable.
Over the course of this month, the US military shot down four unidentified airborne objects, including one that Washington claimed to be a Chinese surveillance balloon. Beijing has repeatedly stressed that its civilian airship was engaged in scientific research and entered US airspace by accident.
Nearly half of Russians have successfully found domestic substitutes for foreign products made unavailable due to sanctions, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday, citing a poll by NielsenIQ research company.
According to the findings, over the past year, 47% of Russians “have completely switched to locally produced brands or began to buy products of local production more often.” About a third of respondents did not change their preferences and continued to buy the same brands they used to before 2022, and 17% switched to new brands, but also of foreign production.
Respondents offered several reasons for turning to local brands. Over half of them said they did it to support domestic producers, while 20% pointed to an inability to find foreign analogues at a reasonable price. Another 10% stated that they could not find foreign goods that match the quality and characteristics they value, but see them in Russian products.
After the start of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, many major Western brands announced their withdrawal from the Russian market and the suspension of investment and imports.
According to economists from Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen, more than 1,400 companies have decided to quit Russia over the past year, including electronics manufacturers, retailers, automakers, clothing and food brands, hotels, banks, and restaurant chains. Yet, despite concerns that the trend would damage the Russian economy, it spurred development in domestic industries.
Analysts say the current situation presents a good opportunity for growth for Russian producers. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the departure of Western brands has meant “our domestic manufacturers received unique opportunities for development and we must take advantage of them.” Putin added that the country’s producers have been given a chance to occupy niches, which until recently were closed to them due to competition from global players.
Industry experts warn that the only concern now is whether domestic manufacturers are ready to meet increased demand, and urge companies to invest in expanding their production capabilities.
“If production facilities cannot meet the growing demand, it is necessary to invest in development; saving money may lead to a desire to simplify the process, and this is fraught with the loss of quality,” Alexei Popovichev, head of the RusBrand association of manufacturers, told RIA.
One day, Instagram influencer @haylujan surprised her followers. It turned out that she was already serving in the US Army. The post, which has since been deleted, stood out from the rest on her profile, which boasts more than 133,000 followers. After her revelations, more and more military green began to appear on Lujan's profile.
Haylujan's Instagram* account used to show six posts typical of a teenage girl - lots of selfies, flowers, candy, and parties - for every one or two army-related posts.
But by November 2022, the profile was completely geared toward military content: videos showing army ration packs and the image of a "bad girl" in a military uniform. She also shared memories of partying with soldiers, poses with guns, and even does sh*tposting with a helmet on the sink next to cigarette packs. Many of the abovementioned posts, however, disappeared from her account by the time of publication.
On her TikTok account, the changes were even more noticeable. The videos show her wearing a uniform and performing combat actions, such as descending a rope, accompanied by the platform’s disclaimer saying they are performed by professionals.
Haylujan TikTok account caught the attention of the US media, which accused her of being part of a military propaganda strategy. The girl published a punchy and ironic video in response that quickly combined the logos of mainstream US media with photos of miniature military models, weapons, and selfies, ending with the powerful phrase: "No one escapes propaganda."
The US Department of Defense has acknowledged that it is facing a recruitment problem, as it has struggled in recent years to meet its goal of attracting new people to its armed forces.
In 2022 alone, the US Army planned to recruit 70,000 people. By June 2022, the Army had lowered its projections to 60,000, and by the end of the fiscal year in September, that number had fallen short, with only 45,000 enlisted.
In this regard, the Pentagon argues that the decline in recruits is due to the absence of recruiting offices in high schools during the pandemic. However, the downward trend has been steady for the past five years.
According to The Economist, 2022 saw the lowest enlistment figures since 1973, when military draft ended. The media mentions that political polarization is a factor affecting the image of military institutions.
Last January, US Congressman Adam Smith, former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, acknowledged that the US military was struggling to recruit young people.
“We definitely at this point have a recruitment problem, we've got a plan to deal with it, and I think one of the biggest things to remember the biggest reason we have a recruitment problem is because of two years of pandemic,” the Democratic lawmaker said.
“We can develop all of the most high-tech new weapons systems, like we are working on right now, but if we don’t have the kinds of talented motivated individuals to use those weapons systems, we won’t be able to do what we need to do,” Secretary of the US Army Christine Wormuth said at a convention hosted by CNBC in September.
One of the problems identified by Wormuth herself is the army's image in the mass media, which changes depending on the administration in power.
“I think where it’s maybe more of an issue is with parents, you know, who who may be watching the news and kind of seeing how the Army sometimes can be turned into a little bit of a political football. And I think the way that we navigate that is just to continue to stress to young Americans and to parents and other kinds of influencers, that the army is apolitical and when you join the army, you swear an oath to the Constitution,” Wormuth said.
As per recent estimates, 75% of Americans aged 16-28 are unaware of the history and work of the armed forces and only nine percent of young pepole are interested in joining the military.
In an interview with Sputnik, Jeremy Shepherd, a political scientist and creator of the Gringo Interventions podcast on YouTube, where he discusses US military operations around the world, said that he believes the chapters of history such as 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are issues that already seem distant to the youth, especially because of the lack of interest and the consequences [of these wars].
"People don't usually think about it [the military] that much because as the percentage of population in active duty has gone down, they probably don't know anyone who is doing it. We may know someone who served in the past, but it's less and less common these days," Shepherd believes.
The YouTuber points out that the concept of the "citizen-soldier" was invented during World War II to strengthen national unity, but in the absence of a specific war or enemy, the idea of supporting the army in this sense loses its meaning.
"It existed during World War II because it was necessary. 10% of the population was in some part of the armed forces, and the rest of the country gave away their old tires and extra copper.... That changed a lot, especially after Vietnam, when they decided they didn't want to send hundreds of thousands of soldiers anymore. Then they decided to do it on a few occasions, but the new doctrine is that of 'small wars'," the researcher explained.
Add to this the fact that in the last 20 years the United States has dealt well with some operations such as in Afghanistan. Although the image and respect for the institutionalism of the army is maintained in some parts of the US, Shepherd says the fact that many young people know how their relatives were treated when they served in the military is also a deterrent to new generations.
He recalls Mao Zedong's phrase that US imperialism seems very powerful, but in reality it is a paper tiger: something that seems dangerous, but is not.
"It looks very strong on the outside, but the people on the inside don't support it as much, they don't fight for the ideology. What we saw, especially in Vietnam, is that the American public can't stand it, the less they know the better. If you bring in a lot of coffins with flags on them, it looks very bad in the news," Shepherd said.
Similarly, the mental health issues reported by active-duty service members in recent years have not helped the army's image. According to the Department of Defense, suicide rates among active-duty service members increased by 40 percent from 2015 to 2020, which demotivates Generation Z (born between 1996 and 2010), who are characterized by prioritizing mental health.
Influencer Factor
This is where social media comes into play for the US Army.
Given the ineffectiveness of old recruiting methods such as phone calls and in-school centers, the most realistic option is the more direct and targeted marketing that digital platforms allow.
Michael Strobl, the assistant deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs for the Marine Corps, testified during a Senate panel last September that recruiting efforts have to be upgraded to the reality.
“Current recruitment efforts rely too much on an outdated, ‘telephone book-era’ method to recruit youth through high school directories rather than focusing on social media,” Strobl said.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy Stephanie Miller, for her part, agreed that in order to balance the army's media image, they need to work on personalized content: "What we really want to be able to do here is to be able to provide more personalized and tailored content."
"What we are really right now is a blunt force instrument and we want to be more strategic. We want to be able to kind of package our messaging so that it can resonate with greatest effect to a generation where we count seconds in terms of being able to capture their attention."
While the US government has not acknowledged that influencers like @haylujan are part of its propaganda strategy, the Department of Defense has faced controversy over its interference with platforms like Twitch, a popular social network for streaming mostly young people playing video games, with many so-called e-girls, female players who wear costumes, usually revealing, in their streams.
In 2018, the popular US Marine Corps livestreaming team on Twitch's Goats & Glory channel disappeared after some users threatened to sue them for deleting user comments against the military. Although the US government denies using the platform for recruitment, media outlets such as Vice have gained access to a manual that allegedly outlines strategies for military streamers to capture the attention of young gamers, many of whom are addicted to games that have been accused of military propaganda, such as Call of Duty.
In the wake of this revelation, the Goats & Glory channel was shut down, as well as a channel featuring National Guard troops.
“Twitch is just the modern incarnation of the shopping mall, as far as what they mean to a recruiter. These are shaping operations. It’s the same reason Coke places Coke bottles in movies. You aren’t literally going to buy a Coke because you just saw it in a movie, but it’s entering the consciousness. It’s a part of the recruiting process even if it’s not literally recruiting people,” former army recruiter Marty Skovlund Jr. told Wired.
This fine line that military green infiltrates the daily lives of young people creates confusion and uncertainty between what is real and what is not, as in the case of the influencer @haylujan, who introduces her subscribers to the daily life of the military through sh*tposting that can serve as propaganda.
“There is this wider doubt of reality, and a communal sense of chaos and unreality, so it follows that internet culture would play into that and discuss it, and perpetuate it. By making people doubt what is real – are these girls actually in the Army? Are the stunts real? Are their faces real? Is the war real? They just add to an overall confusion and disassociation and can lead to desensitization, ultimately,” Dr. Christiana Spens, author of The Fear and Shooting Hipsters, agreed.
Beyond the propaganda and the message that the military sends to young men, there is another problem that the United States faces: its own standards for the acceptance of recruits.
According to Christine Wormuth, only 23 percent of young people between the ages of 17 and 24 meet the physical requirements for enlistment in the armed forces.
In addition, the US military has another growing problem: the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Despite legalization in 21 states, the military continues to prohibit the use of marijuana and the recruiting of cosumers.
"It's still a conservative institution. We've seen the legalization of marijuana in the last few years, but if you're in the military, you smoke once and you get caught, boom, you can get kicked out, you can get your money taken away, you can get arrested.... People who want to join the Army aren't going to get in for one case or a thousand cases because you've been arrested once for smoking pot, for this or that thing," Shepherd said.
To Shepherd, the key factor is that despite the promise of good pay and benefits, the military is not attractive in a competitive job market where a military education is not a competitive skill upon leaving the military, even for skilled positions in engineering, mechanics, computers, and other fields.
"The army has already privatized many services... an independent contractor does it. If I used to work as a sergeant and make $40,000 a year, now he does that but makes $200,000 for the same job, but in the private sector," the political scientist explained.
Privatization can also be seen on the battlefield. According to an article by researcher Maria Julia Arango, published by the UN Association of the Argentine Republic, since 1990, when there was talk of "the end of history" with the end of the Cold War, the US and various powers become increasingly reliant on private military companies. This then reached the point where it is estimated that during the Gulf War, there was one private contractor for every 100 American soldiers, one for every 50 in Bosnia, and one for every 10 in Iraq. In fact, the authors of the article estimate that there were between 20,000 and 25,000 private military contractors in the Middle Eastern country.
This is a reality recognized by the Department of Defense. According to Christine Wormuth, the military faces a huge challenge: to make itself an attractive career option.
“We're competing for talent just like all of the folks in industry are, and the job market is hot right now.” “Wages have gone up a lot, and that’s great for Americans, but it’s making it harder for us in the Army to compete,” Wormuth admitted.
*Instagram is banned in Russia over extremist activities.
