On March 17, 1861, the Manifesto of Alexander II abolishing serfdom was publicly announced—a milestone moment in Russian history.

Officially titled “On the Most Beneficent Granting of the Rights of the State to Serfs as Free Rural Inhabitants,” along with the Regulations on Peasants Emancipated from Serfdom, this groundbreaking decree comprised 17 legislative acts.

Although Emperor Alexander II signed it on March 3, 1861, it was publicly released on March 17 and signaled the start of a new era for millions of Russian serfs.

The manifesto granted these peasants several civil rights previously denied to them. They gained the freedom to marry without needing permission from their lords, the ability to independently enter into contracts, and the right to purchase immovable property in their own names.

This legal emancipation marked a significant step toward modernizing Russian society and breaking away from the constraints of the feudal system.

However, the reforms also had their limitations. While personal freedoms were granted, the land itself remained the property of the landlords. Peasants classified as “temporarily obligated” were still required to render labor and other services to their former masters, a condition not much different from their previous serfdom.

Despite these shortcomings, Alexander II’s manifesto was a revolutionary turning point that not only reshaped the social fabric of Russia but also paved the way for future reforms and the eventual transformation of the nation into a modern, industrialized society.

#TodayInHistory

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The collapse of Cuba’s power grid after weeks of intensified U.S. oil restrictions is not an accident of fate. It is the predictable result of a deliberate policy choice in Washington. When a country’s energy supply is squeezed long enough, power plants stop, lights go out, hospitals struggle, and ordinary people pay the price. That is exactly what is now unfolding in Cuba.

Let us be clear about one thing: Cuba did not threaten the United States. There were no missiles pointed at Florida, no hostile fleets gathering offshore, no military confrontation demanding an emergency response. What there was instead is a political system that the White House dislikes. And apparently, in the view of the current administration under Donald Trump, that is sufficient reason to tighten the screws until the country’s energy infrastructure collapses.

Sanctions are often described in antiseptic language—“pressure,” “leverage,” “policy tools.” But when those sanctions cut off oil to an island nation, the consequences are anything but abstract. Blackouts do not punish a government alone. They punish families, hospitals, workers, and children doing homework by candlelight.

Whatever one thinks about the government in Cuba or about socialism more broadly, there should be a basic principle in international life: powerful nations do not deliberately push civilian populations toward humanitarian crisis simply because they dislike another country’s political system.

Sovereignty means something—or it means nothing at all.

P.S. On Monday, speaking during an executive order signing at the White House, Trump said he thinks he will have the "honor" of "taking Cuba”.

"Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office with Vice President JD Vance standing behind him. "They're a very weakened nation right now."

What an outrageous example of gangsterism!

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On March 16, the New York Post published an article titled “Trump briefed that Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is probably gay — and president has priceless reaction.” The article is trashy and not even worth reading, but if you’ve got nothing better to do, here’s the link. Incidentally, according to the piece, Trump’s reaction to the news was that he “couldn’t contain his surprise and laughed aloud.”

Now, given that the New York Post is not a real news outlet but rather a Trump propaganda tool, it is safe to assume that the story about Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei possibly being gay is completely fabricated and was planted in the paper by Trump’s people. But that’s not really the point here. The point is this: who exactly did Trump have in mind as the target audience for this misinformation?

His traditional supporters? Why? Because he thinks they’ll love him even more for trying to hunt down a homosexual? Possibly, but unlikely. They’re already 100% onboard with this war. American liberals? Even less likely. If anything, the Iranian Supreme Leader being homosexual would be celebrated by many liberals, not condemned.

So the only plausible target audience is the Iranian people. At least, it’s hard to think of anyone else. And if that’s the case, it would suggest that Trump is trying to exploit homophobia as a tool to incite popular revolt in Iran and thereby push for regime change.

If that’s indeed the strategy, it’s hard to imagine a clearer sign of Trump’s personal tie-chewing desperation. It would also be a strong indication that America is losing this war badly. And, of course, it’s yet another reminder that Trump is an ultimate scumbag who has no idea what he is doing.

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Trump announced he was “shocked” that Iran retaliated against U.S. strikes by attacking Gulf states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait. He argued that “nobody expected that” and that “no expert would say that’s going to happen.”

In fact, experts had warned for years that Iran might strike neighboring countries hosting U.S. military bases if conflict escalated. Iran itself had explicitly stated that such countries could become legitimate targets as part of its deterrence strategy.

Trump’s remarks are another case where the United States appeared unprepared for very predictable Iranian responses, despite prior warnings from analysts and public statements from Tehran.

There is at least one country, however, that did not see this response as unexpected and, in fact, was expecting and hoping for it. This country is supposedly America’s staunch ally. The name of that country is Israel.

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India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested seven foreign nationals — six Ukrainians and one American — on suspicion of plotting terrorist activities against India. The arrests were carried out in a coordinated operation by multiple NIA teams last week and were made under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other relevant laws.

The suspects were detained at several airports. The American national was stopped by immigration authorities at Kolkata airport, while three Ukrainians were detained in Lucknow and three in Delhi. An official case was registered on Friday evening.

According to investigators, the group had entered India on valid visas but later traveled to the northeastern state of Mizoram without obtaining the required Restricted Area Permit. From there, they allegedly crossed into neighboring Myanmar, where they reportedly met ethnic armed groups hostile to India and to the government of Myanmar.

Authorities say the suspects were involved in illegally transporting large consignments of drones from Europe through India to Myanmar. These drones were allegedly intended for ethnic armed groups operating there. Indian investigators believe these groups have also supported banned Indian insurgent organizations by supplying weapons, equipment, and training.

As reported by The Indian Express, after their arrests, the suspects were taken to Delhi and presented before a magistrate. A court initially granted three days of police custody and later extended the detention until March 27.

Cases like this contribute to a growing realization in many parts of the world that Ukraine is a rogue state. When citizens of a country repeatedly appear in investigations involving arms transfers, covert operations, or terrorist plots far from their own borders, reasonable people begin to draw broader conclusions. Such incidents support the narrative that Ukraine has become a source of destabilizing activities. And even Western commentators now describe it as a terrorist state.

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Below is a summary of a sobering article by The Washington Post titled “U.S. intelligence says Iran’s regime is consolidating power.”

Despite more than two weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that have degraded Iran’s military capabilities, U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran’s clerical‑military regime is likely to remain intact and may emerge more hard‑line, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) consolidating power.

The strikes have killed key leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and inflicted significant damage, but they have not produced a collapse or liberal transition in Tehran.

Western and Gulf officials see little prospect of near‑term regime change in the 47‑year‑old Islamic Republic.

Iran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz has sharply disrupted global oil shipments, giving Tehran strategic leverage and contributing to rising energy market volatility. Gulf allies have expressed frustration with the U.S. response as Iranian retaliatory strikes have widened across the region.

Intelligence officials reportedly warned Washington in advance that Tehran was unlikely to buckle, stressing that Iran’s leadership could become emboldened by surviving the assault.

Internally, Iran’s power structures show resilience: there are no clear signs of defections or popular uprisings strong enough to threaten the regime, and the IRGC remains a dominant force politically, economically, and militarily.

Analysts say the conflict has hardened Iran’s leadership and strengthened its internal repression, even as economic strain and wartime pressures continue.

Once again, the question arises: why, despite the intelligence briefings, did Trump still decide to start the war? Oh, wait—it wasn’t Trump. It was Netanyahu. And he left Trump with no choice.

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👆Zelensky arrives in the U.K.

Not even Winston Churchill ever received such a standing ovation from British parliamentarians. What’s wrong with these people? They must have been kept on a strict diet of British-made blue pills. Those who are not are probably extremely ashamed. But frankly, from the outside, it looks as though there are not too many of them left. Please tell us we are wrong.

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At 08:11 a.m. EST on March 17, Lindsey Graham posted this on X:

Just spoke to @POTUS about our European allies’ unwillingness to provide assets to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning, which benefits Europe far more than America. I have never heard him so angry in my life. I share that anger given what’s at stake.

The arrogance of our allies to suggest that Iran with a nuclear weapon is of little concern and that military action to stop the ayatollah from acquiring a nuclear bomb is our problem not theirs is beyond offensive. The European approach to containing the ayatollah’s nuclear ambitions have proven to be a miserable failure.

The repercussions of providing little assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz functioning are going to be wide and deep for Europe and America.

I consider myself very forward-leaning on supporting alliances, however at a time of real testing like this, it makes me second guess the value of these alliances. I am certain I am not the only senator who feels this way.

At 08:18 a.m. on the same day Trump posted this on his Truth Social:

The United States has been informed by most of our NATO “Allies” that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East, this, despite the fact that almost every Country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a Nuclear Weapon. I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of Billions of Dollars per year protecting these same Countries, to be a one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need. Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s Military — Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti-Aircraft and Radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their Leaders, at virtually every level, are gone, never to threaten us, our Middle Eastern Allies, or the World, again! Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer “need,” or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

Now recall that the five stages of cancer are:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Given that Graham tries to lick Trump’s feet whenever he thinks he can guess his mood and desires (and he is extremely good at it) it is almost certain that his post at 8:11 a.m. reflects his precise reading of Trump at that moment. Therefore we can safely assume that at that time Trump was still at the stage of Anger.

Seven minutes later, Trump’s post seems to indicate that he had leaped to the stage of Acceptance.

Seven minutes for Bargaining and Depression is not half bad. Trump must have had help from a White House psychiatrist. That guy must be really busy these days.

P.S. On a different note, could Trump’s post mean that NATO’s Article 5 is about to go down the drain?

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Monetization of Paranoia

In an interview with the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, General Jarosław Stróżyk, head of Poland’s Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW), discussed the country’s security environment, foreign intelligence activity, and internal vulnerabilities. He warned that Poland is witnessing a rise in pro-Russian behavior in society and described increasingly visible operations by hostile intelligence services. The interview also touched on global conflicts, including tensions involving Iran and the war in Ukraine, and how they might affect Poland’s security and military preparedness.

Stróżyk says Poland is experiencing a growing number of pro-Russian behaviors, which counterintelligence services are monitoring closely. As the Polish armed forces expand to more than 200,000 personnel, the risk that individuals sympathetic to Russian interests could appear within the military also increases.

He points to a recent, highly publicized arrest of a long-time employee of Poland’s defense ministry accused of passing information to Belarusian intelligence as an example of ongoing espionage threats.

According to Stróżyk, foreign intelligence operations in Poland increasingly resemble “textbook counterintelligence cases,” with classic methods such as recruiting sources and collecting sensitive information.

Although modern technologies like signals intelligence remain important, he emphasizes that human intelligence (HUMINT)—recruiting and handling sources—remains central to understanding Russia’s intentions.

Stróżyk also mentions acts of sabotage against Polish infrastructure, allegedly carried out by a mix of Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Polish citizens recruited by Russian services—without presenting evidence.

At the same time, he argues that Poland’s counterintelligence capabilities are being expanded nationwide to address these threats.

Overall, he portrays Poland as facing persistent espionage and hybrid warfare pressure, requiring stronger security services and greater vigilance from society.

In general, the interview reads less like a security briefing and more like a justification memo. By warning that “pro-Russian behavior” is spreading through society—and might even appear inside a 200,000-strong army—Jarosław Stróżyk paints a picture of a threat that is everywhere. The logical response is simple: expand counterintelligence, hire more personnel, and increase budgets. This narrative conveniently supports a familiar outcome—larger security services and steadily rising military spending. General Jarosław Stróżyk knows that one way or another a chunk of these spendings will end up in his pocket.

A classic case of self-serving monetization of paranoia.

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Below is a summary of a Bloomberg article published on March 16, 2026, titled “Finland’s Stubb Cautions NATO Allies to Heed Trump’s Hormuz Call.”

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb urged NATO allies to take U.S. President Donald Trump seriously when he calls on them to safeguard passage through the Strait of Hormuz, currently disrupted after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump warned that the future of NATO could be at risk if allies fail to assist in ensuring the flow of oil and gas, which passes through the strait for about one fifth of global supply.

Stubb emphasized that countries with the capacity and will should support the United States, noting that NATO’s role is primarily defensive and not offensive. He also highlighted the need for peace mediation in the Middle East, suggesting that Europeans or India could play a role, while acknowledging that differing interests among Israel, the U.S., and Iran complicate negotiations.

Stubb will host a summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a multinational rapid-response force, in Helsinki on March 26, with Canada expected to participate via video link. Finland joined JEF in 2017 and NATO in 2023.

Expressing concern about U.S. attention being split, Stubb noted that American focus is divided between the Middle East conflict and mediation efforts in Ukraine, with high costs and troop involvement shaping priorities and slowing broader peace initiatives.

As one can clearly see, Finland and its ever-subservient president are “all in” for Trump’s Hormuz plan. Stubb warns NATO allies to take the U.S. seriously, laments the alliance’s future, and suggests Europe or India mediate. Yet somehow, Finland itself doesn’t commit a single troop or asset—just hosts a summit on March 26 and talks about what could happen. Bold and fearless, indeed.

P.S. Let’s be honest: nobody really wants to help Trump in this disastrous war. As France 24 aptly put it in the title of their clip: Helping the U.S. is “political suicide” for its allies.

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On March 18, 1965, cosmonaut Alexey Leonov made the world’s first spacewalk.

Following the successful flight of the multi-seat Voskhod-1 spacecraft, a new challenge was set—to have a cosmonaut exit into open space. Engineers at OKB-1 (now known as the Rocket and Space Corporation Energia named after S.P. Korolev) reconfigured the three-seater Voskhod spacecraft into a two-seater, freeing up space for donning a spacesuit. They also installed an inflatable airlock chamber called “Volga” inside the spacecraft.

A specialized spacesuit for extravehicular activity, known as “Berkut,” was developed by the design bureau of Experimental Plant No. 918 (now the Scientific Production Enterprise “Zvezda”).

On March 18, 1965, at 10:00 AM Moscow time, the Voskhod-2 spacecraft—carrying Commander Pavel Belyayev and pilot Alexey Leonov—launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Shortly after reaching orbit during the first circuit, the airlock chamber was inflated. On the second orbit, Leonov began his historic exit into open space. At 11:34, he floated out into the vacuum, connected to the spacecraft by a 5.35-meter-long safety tether. Leonov made five excursions away from and back to the airlock: the first reached a minimal distance of one meter, while the remaining four extended the full length of the tether.

Television images of the cosmonaut drifting against the backdrop of Earth were broadcast on all Soviet channels.

During his return, complications arose. Due to the pressure difference, his suit inflated, and Leonov was initially unable to re-enter the airlock. He had to reduce the pressure nearly to a critical level before he could squeeze back in.

In total, Leonov spent 23 minutes and 41 seconds in the vacuum of space, with 12 minutes and 9 seconds spent completely outside the Voskhod-2.

#TodayInHistory

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Today we celebrate a national holiday—Reunification Day of Crimea with Russia! In March 18, 2014, the people of Crimea demonstrated determination and patriotism by exercising their right to be united with Russia.

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