Doctor Who and the Eve of the Daleks - Overnight ratings

 A bit of light relief from the Ukraine and Iran - Biden Era:

The Doctor Who News: Reports " Doctor Who - Eve of the Daleks has an audience of 3.21 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.  "

Lets Get Real:

This was a great stand alone episode, a great show for New Year's Day.  The Doctor and the Tardis fam were caught in a time loop, it all started with the Doctor trying to fix the TARDIS, that meant a reboot, that caused the Tardis to land in Manchester, Dan was not happy, a he is from Liverpool, some friendly rivalry, Liverpool FC  of course being the best Football team in the World.  The Tardis was tracked by the Daleks, they were not happy, the Daleks are never happy but they were not happy that the Doctor had destroyed the Dalek Fleet, the Doctor tried to blame our favourite potato heads villains but that did not work.  The the Doctor had to deal with two civilians, Sarah (Aisling Bea) and Nick (Adjani Salmon) who had to die a few times before they admitted they had feelings for each other, the time loops got shorter by a minute, so there were endless plans that did not work and deaths of all of them.  It was nice to see Dan tell the Doctor that Yaz had feeling for her, someone should really tell her about Rose and River Sung, one had a human Doctor, the other is stuck in a massive Library, the Doctor saved her there.  This is a big shout for Aisling Bea to be considered for the NEXT Doctor, she connects on screen and is a great dramatic and comedy actress.  If you have a choice of either watching the Flux series, or this episode, then  watch this episode, it was kick butt time and the Daleks had a proper and meaty role.  I liked the actress from Father Ted popping up on the mobile, offering tea ( not sure I am merging the two shows ), that was funny. 

Russia TURNS UP THE HEAT on the WEST - Ukraine Crisis - Biden Era

Guardian: Reports " Russian foreign minister warns west over ‘aggressive line’ in Ukraine crisis....Sergei Lavrov says Moscow may be forced to ‘eliminate unacceptable threats to our security’ following Biden-Putin call  "

Lets Get Real:

There is a difference between making THREATS and carrying them out, the Russians want something as a way to dial back the crisis,  they have developed this crisis, NOW under Western THREAT of economic sanctions they want to back off, the question is HOW.  The Biden Oval cannot agree to any of the Russian demands, if he did Biden would kiss his re-election goodbye, after Afghanistan Biden and the Democrats cannot afford another major foreign policy failure.  Thus what can the West give to Putin that does not cost anything, could Ukraine agree not to formally apply for NATO membership for ten years, by then either the Ukraine joins or Putin does not make an issue of it.   What Biden cannot do is another Munich 1938, he cannot sell out the Ukraine State, they cannot be the new Czech and Biden does not want to be the new Neville Chamberlain.  One does wonder if Putin has lot the plot, is he really serious with these threats?

Putin WARS Biden over Ukraine Sanctions - Biden Era

BBC News: Reports " Ukraine tensions: Putin tells Biden new sanctions could rupture ties "

Lets Get Real:

It can be postulated that Russia has blinked, why wait for the January talks to fail, if your going to invade, it takes a lot of money to keep troops on the border, also they will want to be HOME for the Russian Christmas and New Year.  One can also postulated that Putin under the threat of heavy sanctions and the US and NATO supplying the Ukraine with military kit does not fancy the odds if the US is supporting Kiev Government, what would take for the US to become part of the War, a missile going wrong and hitting a NATO Country, the Russian troops after to much vodka crossing the borders of the Baltic States, small thing could lead to ALL OUT WAR, and no wants that, one hopes Putin is on the same page as the rest of the World on that. If this blog is right that Putin has blinked, what spin will he give the Russian people, and will they believe it, that is open to question. 

US Position on the Ukraine and Russian Tensions - Biden Era

White House: Presser by Senior Administration Official, view on US actions on Russian reactions to the Ukraine, " President Biden laid out two paths, two aspects of the U.S. approach that will really depend on Russia’s actions in the period ahead.  One is a path of diplomacy leading toward a de-escalation of the situation, and the other is a path that’s more focused on deterrence, including serious costs and consequences should Russia choose to proceed with a further invasion of Ukraine.  And those costs include economic costs, include adjustments and augmentations of NATO force posture in Allied countries, and include additional assistance to Ukraine to enable it to further defend itself and its territory, as we’ve laid out previously.  "

Lets Get Real:

It can be postulated that Russia has blinked, the Russians asked for the CALL, they might feel uneasy with the FACT that the West can bring the Russian economy to its knees and that the Russian people might not want more Western sanctions, however much PR that Putin creates for himself.  There are always ways to get information in this modern age, its not the OLD USSR, were people had only access to the TV and Radio.  It might be that Biden has made it CLEAR that the US will supply the Ukraine with ALL it needs defend itself, that means ARMS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT, AIR TO AIR MISSILES, GROUND DEFENCES, also the US could give the latest Satellites information to the Kiev Government.   On the other hand Putin could be waiting for the JANUARY talks to fail and then go in to the Ukraine, he would be showing that he tried everything before invading.  Interesting MONTH ahead. 

What the US will do if Russia INVADES the UKRAINE - Biden Era

White House: A Presser with a Senior Administration Official, the Official stated what the US would do should Russia invade the Ukraine, " We have coordinated with our allies to impose severe sanctions on the Russian economy and financial system, far beyond what was implemented in 2014.. We have made plans to reinforce NATO’s force posture in Allied states in the event of a further invasion, which would destabilize the security situation in Europe and demand adjustments to NATO forces and capabilities, especially on the eastern flank...And we are prepared to provide Ukraine with further assistance to defend its territory and respond to a potential Russian occupation should a further invasion proceed in the coming weeks.  "

Lets Get Real:

Its the last bit that is interesting, the US has stated for some time that a great economic cost would befall Russia if it invaded the Ukraine, the statement that the US would supply the Ukraine is interesting, that would mean military kit, missiles, satellite information on Russian movements in the Ukraine, even supporting   Insurgence operations against the Russian, that was the policy of the Reagan Administration in the 1980s, this forced the Russians out of Afghanistan in 1989.  IF Putin invades and he fails, this could mean the end of his oppressive regime in Russia.  There would be thousands of DEATHS, the people of the Ukraine would suffer and Putin would face having to deal with thousands of Russian body bags, does Putin really want to make the same mistake as the USSR did when it invaded Afghanistan in 1979, that was one of the factors that lead to the fall of the USSR in 1991.  As stated it will be interesting to hear the US readout of the call and also the Russian one, let's see if they match up and who blinked. 

New Call between President Biden and President Putin of Russia - Biden Era

White House: Statement by the NSC Spokesperson on the call between Presidents Biden and Putin, " President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will hold a phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Thursday, December 30, 2021 to discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia....The Biden Administration continues to engage in extensive diplomacy with our European Allies and partners, consulting and coordinating on a common approach in response to Russia’s military build-up on the border with Ukraine. President Biden has spoken with leaders across Europe, and Biden Administration officials have engaged multilaterally with NATO, the EU, and the OSCE. Officials have also held numerous consultations with their counterparts, including those from eastern flank countries bilaterally and in the B9 format as well as Ukraine.  "

Lets Get Real:

This could be Putin wanting a diplomatic face saving way to get off the ramp he has created and his officials have talked about a new Cuban Missile Crisis, or it could be Putin wanting to place more pressure on the Biden Oval.  The Putin DEMANDS cannot be met, he wants a LEGAL TREATY that prevents the Ukraine becoming part of NATO in the future, also that Eastern States in NATO have no NATO troops or equipment on their soil.  These demands have to get a firm NO or the security structure of Western Europe falls apart and gives Russia back its influence over the Baltic States and Poland and other Eastern States.  It will be interesting to hear the readout of the talks, Biden cannot afford to be seen to appease Putin in anyway, or he will become the new Neville Chamberlain, and it will be compared to Munich 1938.  One does wonder how far Putin is willing to push this, does he really want to risk WW3 over the Ukraine, as the US would be forced to support and supply the Ukraine.  What is the pay off or Putin, has he gone MAD, or is he trying to buy popularity with the Russian people, any invasion of the Ukraine would be bloody and it would cost Russia and the West.

No Russian INVASION of the Ukraine before 10 January 2021 - Biden Era

Guardian: Reports " US and Russia to hold talks amid Ukraine tensions...Deal reached for talks on 10 January that are likely to be followed by discussions with Nato  "

Lets Get Real:

Is the off ramp that Putin will use as to why he has not invaded the Ukraine, the Biden Oval cannot give Russia a VETO of who joins NATO and where NATO forces are placed.  Thus Putin will come away empty handed, this will not look and should hit his poll ratings, not that Putin cares about the polls, the whole Russian system is now SET UP for the protection of Putin and his friends.  There is a fake Democracy, Putin and his Party always wins.  The reason that Biden cannot appease, even if he wants too is the fact that he also faces a problem with Iran and its nuclear ambition, after Afghanistan the Biden Oval needs to look strong, for the poll numbers of Biden and to face rogue nations like IRAN.  Of course all this TALK about diplomacy could be a faint by the Kremlin, Russia might invade in the New Year, before the talks, if that happens the US will cancel the talks, thus for the Kremlin's point view it would be better to invade after the 10th and blame the West and Biden.