DAILY DOSE: February 7, 2022
Posted on 02/07/2022
1. ORGANIZED CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AS TRUCKERS REMAIN IN OTTAWA. The “Freedom Convoy” of Canadian truckers remains in Ottawa, as they are protesting the COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and government policy over how the Canadian government handled the pandemic. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson commented on the convoy to CTV: “It’s disturbing when you see the protest turning into what looks like some kind of a fun carnival, where they’ve got bouncy castles, and hot tubs, and saunas.”
Ottawa sent out police with riot gear and guns to patrol the situation. Ottawa police on Sunday started seizing fuel from the truckers.
The convoy is also on the border of Alberta and Montana as thousands gathered over the weekend. Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has refused to meet with the any of the protestors and remains in hiding.
2. UKRAINE AND U.S. ARGUE ON RUSSIA INVASION SCENARIO. A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be imminent, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned on Sunday. Ukraine’s foreign ministry downplayed a possible incursion by Russia on Sunday. The Ukraine government says they do not believe “apocalyptic predictions” after U.S. officials said Moscow had assembled 70% of the military force needed for a full-scale invasion.
“Do not believe the apocalyptic predictions. Different capitals have different scenarios, but Ukraine is ready for any development,” Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted in Ukrainian only.
“Today, Ukraine has a strong army, unprecedented international support, and Ukrainians’ faith in their country. The enemy should be afraid of us, not us of them.”
U.S. President Joe Biden last week ordered the deployment of 3,000 U.S. troops to Poland, Germany, and Romania. There are around 35 thousand U.S. service members and personnel deployed at installations around Germany. The U.S. has held a large force in Germany since World War II.
French President Emmanuel Macron has argued that Russia is not interested in invading Ukraine.
