A pivot from Putin to Xi Jinping?

Posted by: Maracatu | May 30 2015 19:38 utc | 4

What is your take on the “Neutron bomb dropped by IAF plane with Saudi markings…” story in Yemen? Would this be an Israeli/US field test? Comparing it to the Zionazi experiment on Sephardi children (50ies) or the US government sanctioned sarin gassing of desters in Laos (70ies), it wouldn’t be the first time an attrocious act of such magnitude doesn’t get any traction in the media. So is this today’s reality, still unclear or fake?
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/05/21/358343/
http://www.sott.net/article/201207-The-Ringworm-Children-Zionist-genocidal-experiments-on-Jews
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/1998/07/cnn2-j24.html

Posted by: sasquash | May 30 2015 19:51 utc | 6

My favo(u)rite twitterer https://twitter.com/RedKahina
Updated frequently for your viewing pleasure.

Posted by: ruralito | May 30 2015 19:56 utc | 8

to dh & mercatu at 4 & 7 —
I happened to read this in hard copy over lunch earlier, and was going to comment. Going bat-shit crazy over two possible artillery pieces doesn’t sound like the restrained reaction of a peaceful state.
China Deployed Artillery on Disputed Island, U.S. Says.

The United States, he [Ashton Carter] added, is “deeply concerned about the pace and scope” of China’s island building and the possibility of increased militarization, which risks the kind of miscalculations that could lead to conflict….
Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the Armed Services Committee, criticized China’s deployment of artillery on the island as “a disturbing development and escalatory development.”
“Their actions are in violation of international law, and their actions are going to be condemned by everyone in the world,” Mr. McCain was quoted by Reuters as saying….. “We are not going to have a conflict with China,” he said, “but we can take certain measures which will be a disincentive to China to continue these kinds of activities.”… [sounds like the sort of threat that could produce miscalculation; it’s really our sums that have not added up of late — rm]
“Such constructions are within China’s sovereignty and are fair, reasonable, lawful and do not affect nor target any country, and are beyond reproach,” Hua Chunying, the spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry, told reporters in April.
The United States disagrees, and American officials have stressed in recent days that the American-dominated security order in the region should be respected because it has brought calm and prosperity, a theme Mr. Carter will develop in his remarks on Saturday in Singapore….
The implication is that China is threatening to upend that system, though Mr. Carter and other American officials have hesitated to say so directly, preferring to talk in generalities about the need for diplomatic solutions and inclusive security arrangements.

This is all pretty rich, coming from an open serial violator of international law that possesses history’s largest net of foreign bases, all of which are designed to aid the projection of military power and resource control. We have acted for “peace and stability” only after the failure of our attempt to dominate East Asia militarily failed in the Mekong Delta.
Whitney conveniently explains why we’re running these risks.

They’ve tried containment and it hasn’t worked. China’s growing like crazy and its regional influence threatens to leave the US on the outside looking in. Carter even admitted as much in a recent speech he gave at the McCain Institute at Arizona State University…. “We already see countries in the region trying to carve up these markets…. We must all decide if we are going to let that happen….”
See? It’s all about markets. It’s all about money….
This is why the Obama administration is making a general nuisance of itself in the South China Sea. It’s so the big US mega-corporations will have new customers for their IPADs and toaster ovens.
For that, they are willing to risk a nuclear war.

Slow roasted to a delicate crunch? Or quick-fried to a crackly crunch? I guess the market will decide….
to Fran @ 5 —
Fort Russ has a bit on the ties as well; it says Odessans are noted for their unique sense of humor. It also has this report on Saakashvili’s appointment. Translator J. Hawk with his usual sharpness sums up the bottom line:

The one thing that comes to mind is that, like most of the other “foreigners”, Saakashvili is there to act as the hatchetman who fires and purges and then, once the dirty work is done, he is replaced by “a mediocrity like Goncharenko” who would not be up to the task of uprooting Kolomoysky’s people embedded throughout Odessa. Because that’s who the target is, no doubt.

Tyrants, imperialists, and authoritarian regimes like to police the locals with out-of-towners. The locals might be too sympathetic to their neighbors to do a thorough job.

Posted by: rufus magister | May 30 2015 20:50 utc | 10

Trevor and Albertde at 1 & 2 —
I am with you AlDe on this one. The liberating power of the Internet and its “Information Revolution” is the chief conceit of our age.
We should not mistake quantity and ease of access for quality and utility. “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on,” said Winston Churchill. The internet has not lessened this speed advantage, Faux New may well have multiplied it.
You will find that the socialists, other anti-war movements, and even some establishment figures were crystal clear on what was happening. The German Social-Democrats had to be manipulated into voting war credits (the story of Lenin’s utter disbelief of this news is well known) and it took the assassination of the French internationalist Jaures to neutralize the Socialist Party.
With the emasculation of the labor movement following the destruction of the Soviet Union, the level of class consciousness is piteously poor. We have more and poorer information, and less time and energy to sort it out, even those of us psychologically capable of doing so.
The invention of moveable type marked the real beginning of the Information Revolution. The nascent capitalist economy required a more literate working population, and servicing it now became cheaper. The invention of the steam rotary press, ca. 1850, and the introduction of the telegraph made the acquisition and distribution of mass quantities of news and other information quite cost-effective.
Elites began to reconsider their earlier position on mass communication. Political and other news once thought “above their station” now began to be provided, in heavy propaganda syrup, to manipulate the masses. Democracy had given them the vote, their labor power was vital to the industrial economy and the modern “nation in arms.” More carrots, material and ideological, began to accompany the traditional sticks.

Posted by: rufus magister | May 30 2015 21:16 utc | 12

One imagines container loads of ipads and toaster ovens strafed by F-35s and washed up on the Spratleys to the delight of poor Filipino fishermen.

Posted by: dh | May 30 2015 21:36 utc | 14

dh @ 14 — Every cloud has a silver lining. Even if the goods are water-damaged, the shipping containers make for good housing and raw materials. Don’t forget the ships themselves, too.
Ipads are a high-value, low-cube/weight cargo, I’d expect them to go air-freight (I worked shore-side in int’l. shipping in the 80’s). Higher freight costs, but shorter transit times, better climate control, better security (and lower insurance costs, too, I think). But airliner debris makes good salvage as well.

Posted by: rufus magister | May 30 2015 21:54 utc | 16

The odds are long that toaster ovens will still keep working during a Nuclear Winter. Once democracy contracts the “sickness unto death” it’s all downhill from there. Things fall apart, and all events that include hubris and pivots toward assured destruction, begins to look like foreshadowing in Greek Tragedy.
Seriously, we have a Secretary of War named Ash Carter?

He said: “We already see countries in the region trying to carve up these markets…forging many separate trade agreements in recent years, some based on pressure and special arrangements…. Agreements that…..leave us on the sidelines. That risks America’s access to these growing markets. We must all decide if we are going to let that happen. If we’re going to help boost our exports and our economy…and cement our influence and leadership in the fastest-growing region in the world; or if, instead, we’re going to take ourselves out of the game.”
See? It’s all about markets. It’s all about money. Here’s more from Carter’s speech: (The) ” Asia-Pacific…is the defining region for our nation’s future”… “Half of humanity will live there by 2050″ and that “more than half of the global middle class and its accompanying consumption will come from that region.”….”There are already more than 525 million middle class consumers in Asia, and we expect there to be 3.2 billion in the region by 2030…President Obama and I want to ensure that… businesses can successfully compete for all these potential customers. ….Over the next century, no region will matter more… for American prosperity.”

We survivors would all have to be inmates of a prison industrial complex to export to Asia, on such a scale of commerce.

Posted by: Copeland | May 30 2015 23:12 utc | 18

I spent some time at the Left Forum in NYC today. There was a panel on the Ukraine, hosted by this organization, which I think you’ll find has pretty good collection of Ukraine news: US Friends of the Soviet People.
The talk itself was extremely informative with a full history of the area now called the Ukraine, and the emergence of virulent Ukrainian nationalism following the First World War.
It was recorded, I believe. I’ll post the talk when it appears online.

Posted by: guest77 | May 31 2015 1:02 utc | 20

Copeland at 17 —
I checked your webite earlier, I think as a devotee of Athena (goddess of war and wisdom), the Renaissance’s most profound commentator on the politics of antiquity is right up your alley.
Machiavelli’s Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livy discusses, in Book I, Chapters 16-17, whether corrupted peoples can obtain, preserve, or regain their liberty.
In the first, he notes that simple means preserved the liberty of Rome after the expulsion of the kings. But by c. 50 BC, the “corruption which had been spread amongst the people by the faction of Marius, at the head of which was Caesar, who had so blinded the people that they did not perceive the yoke they were imposing upon themselves…. [S]uch corruption and incapacity to maintain free institutions results from a great inequality that exists in such a state; and to reduce the inhabitants to equality requires the application of extraordinary measures….”
In the second, he discusses what means might be possible to restore liberty in such circumstances. The constitution much be changed (in the ancient sense, of the ensemble of laws, customs, and institutions essential to the state and social structure) either slowly, as the degeneration occurs, or rapidly, by rigorous means. In the first, the wise leader capable of doing this cannot arise, so typically, minor changes are made that in fact promote corruption. In second, it is unlikely that a good man will “be found willing to employ wicked means” to a good end, or that a bad one will become good in power.
“From these combined causes arises the difficulty or impossibility of maintaining liberty in a republic that has become corrupt, or to establish it there anew.”
I often worry that our own Republic has gotten to that tipping point. Certainly our leadership is corrupt, in Machiavelli’s sense. The people, I believe, not so much. Outrage of Baltimore and Cleveland, Occupy, et al. leave me hopeful, if still concerned.

Posted by: rufus magister | May 31 2015 1:33 utc | 22

The Guardian is still getting worked up about FIFA. In today’s edition Blatter is being compared to Putin: “Increasingly, the stances of Blatter and Vladimir Putin appear indivisible.”
Interesting that the voting for FIFA President roughly followed the fault lines of current geopolitics: the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia on one side and Latin America, Africa, some of the Middle East, Asia and Russia all pro-Blatter.

Posted by: Lochearn | May 31 2015 2:32 utc | 24

nmb @ 22: From your link:
“Greece is preparing and will probably submit a request to participate in the new development bank for BRICS countries and has secured Russia’s support on the issue, Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis told ANA-MPA news agency on Friday evening.”
Hopefully, the above will happen. Push-back is needed, or the world’s working classes are doomed.

Posted by: ben | May 31 2015 3:53 utc | 26

Saudi Arabia sentencing the saudi shiite cleric Nimr-al Nimr to death
http://www.eurasiareview.com/14052015-saudi-arabia-shia-cleric-to-be-hanged-amid-large-protests/
didn’t go down too well.
ISIS is trying to increase tensions between the saudi shiites & wahabis. This means that the saudi government has a problem. Saudi Arabia has supported ISIS and it seems ISIS has a different agenda than their saudi sponsors.
http://www.juancole.com/2015/05/arabia-seeking-sectarian.html
http://www.juancole.com/2015/05/shiites-threaten-economy.html
Remember, the ultimate goal of one Osama Bin Laden was to overthrow the saudi “government”.

Posted by: Willy2 | May 31 2015 7:31 utc | 28

“Hawks think the US alone can Still Garrison the Planet: How’s that Working Out?”
http://www.juancole.com/2015/05/garrison-planet-working.html

Posted by: Willy2 | May 31 2015 7:58 utc | 30

12
‘The Internet is the opiate of the masses.’
Now Ruby on Rails with Python on Django is
going to make the Internet their drug den.
Silk Road creator is sentenced to life for
cutting out mafia cartels, the banksters,
Ebay & PayPal, and OBummers Dark Minions.
Though shalt not create a Trade Republic!
‘Oh, the coding!’

Posted by: Chipnik | May 31 2015 8:42 utc | 32

today i went to a venue and on the way saw these poor suffering aboriginal people huddled together under a bridge….absolutely tragic.i went to a hotel nearby and bought them a bottle of red wine to warm them up.one guy said his ancestors were from the wurrandjerri tribe and this was there land
there was no bathroom facilities and the smell of shit hung in the air
i said i must be on my way and he said i was a good white fella
why is it that the indigenous people always get the short end of the stick.

Posted by: mcohen | May 31 2015 9:57 utc | 34

why is it that the indigenous people always get the short end of the stick.

It’s because Israelis are brutal racists. The native people of Palestine are not even considered ‘untermensch’, they are no longer called human, by people in government.

Posted by: Laguerre | May 31 2015 10:17 utc | 36

Did Israel Buy Its Way Out of FIFA Suspension?

Posted by: erichwwk | May 31 2015 13:09 utc | 38

32;The 60’s were awesome!The music will live forever,unlike today’s garbage.As a 51er,I am glad to have lived through an era of hope,unlike today’s incredible descent into endless war and BS.Our kids are all infected with nihilism,as the monsters above have no honor,and celebrate hate death and war.Sad world.The Airplane were my favorite San Fran band,and Jorma my favorite acid guitar man,Bless their(our) pointed little heads!Turn out the lights!Saw them at the Fillmore East in 69,with the Youngbloods,the late show,they played till 3?They used to put old films on during band breaks,and this one had WC Fields in the Bank Dick,where he’s driving the bank robber!

Posted by: dahoit | May 31 2015 15:27 utc | 40

Hungry for the kill
But this hunger it isn’t you.
It isn’t you.

Posted by: fairleft | May 31 2015 15:39 utc | 42

Posted by: Maracatu | May 30, 2015 3:38:36 PM | 4
Thanks for the Mike Whitney CounterPunch link.
Farther down the page I found this from Pepe:
Patrolling the ‘hood From (China) Sea to Shining Sea
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/05/29/patrolling-the-hood-from-china-sea-to-shining-sea/
Snip..
Beijing’s response, via the Global Times, couldn’t be other than There Will be War; “If the United States’ bottom line is that China has to halt its activities, then a U.S.-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea … The intensity of the conflict will be higher than what people usually think of as ‘friction’.”
Under the heading, All About the Maritime Silk Road, there’s a link to the new Military White Paper outlining in detail a new defensive strategy.
At the end of the White Paper is a link to China’s May 2015 Military Strategy Parts I to VII which makes interesting reading.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | May 31 2015 16:51 utc | 44

I have come to the conclusion that what has been going on today in the Internet age with the Ukraine, Syria, etc. was always happening somewhere pre-Internet only we, the great unwashed, the masses, weren’t told and so didn’t know about it. Albertde at 1.
This has some truth in it somewhere. However, even way back when it was possible to obtain solid info. One of my ancient relatives friend was a Kremlinologist (and he himself was a news hound) and what they knew…was a lot. Yet, that kind of knowledge and discussion took: education in languages, dedication, and some time / money (a good radio, visiting libraries, etc.) and phone or physical presence for discussion, or .. letters!
This type of ‘deeper’ or ‘different’ knowledge was limited to ppl who were known as dissidents (outside of the elites I mean), or belonged to some ‘radical’ or in today’s words potentially ‘terrorist’ group, known to be a danger, and so quite easily dealt with. Quite a few were limited-hang-out types: they wrote books (etc.) that threw things into a new light and made a living off it, that still exists today. Many were invisible, of no account, not a threat.
Forward jump from 1960 t0 1990, the internet gets a grip. At first, it only amplified existing circuits, no surprise. But bit by bit info. an opinion trickled out and was taken up, mostly to shore up or amplify pre-existing knowledge, intuitions, group belonging. (Think for ex. US, of anti-vaxxers, PETA types, bridezillas, etc.)
The elites dismissed it for a long time, after all the telephone, photocopy, fax, were no threat. Also, the intertubes were – still in a large measure are – a middle class thing, the elites couldn’t be bothered with it, except for email as a replacement for post / fax, handled by minions, just as they scoffed at television except for propaganda purposes and ‘visibility’. The poor didn’t have equipment/time. As we know, that gradually changed.
To the last 15 years. The internet spurred the elites to extend previous moves: repression of known dissidents, refusniks, no change. Mass surveillance (using new technology – snitches are ppl), official authoritarian measures (from the trivial shoes-off at airports to arbitrary detention, secret courts, etc.), torture (its acceptance etc.), false flags to frighten, deliberate moves towards police states, repression and control of information (muzzling the internet, media control, etc.) As if, suddenly, large chunks of ppl internally are the ‘enemy’.. which they potentially are. The Orwellian society was born or did its coming out. Complete with its war on EastAsia and so on. (Another topic..)
For the moment, the ‘West,’ USA in first place with the EU and others copying blithely with some twists and turns, is attempting to hold the narrative from the Pols, the Elites (Corporations..not Finance which is pretty much a parasite), echoed slavishly in the steadfast MSM. ‘Conspiracy theorists’, fringe political figures, even mild, naive refusniks (such as 10-year-old children in France who refused to do the minute of silence for Charlie Hebdo), those who go a little beyond the accepted, are loonies to be laughed at -if one is cool, unconcerned-, not hired, not invited, shunned, avoided, denouced, snitched on -if one is more conscientious- or repressed, punished in some ways -if one is braver and more patriotic and more desirous of getting a foot hold into the looting of the Elite.. Remember, they and the hangers-on represent 25% of the pop *W*, as installed at the top, not counting aspirants.
Leap to 2020. USA. By now, crime prediction algos work efficiently. Crime and terrorism, add infectious disease and extreme weather to the list, as dangers to all have become predictable (false flags will help) and the ppl take it for granted the authorities have the power to ‘lockdown’, ‘control’, ‘imprison’, move ppl about, create mass rallies for whatever cause, line up to be ‘saved’, or to join and commit to some ‘cause’, — self-censor while also fighting amongst themselves..
Black, pessimistic, not original vision that only takes into account one angle, information. Simplified.

Posted by: Noirette | May 31 2015 18:23 utc | 46

“Moon of Alabama” is called a “obscure” blog.
http://www.peterbcollins.com/newscomment/pbc-news-comment-fox-news-confirms-our-reports-on-is-and-benghazi-gun-running/

Posted by: Willy2 | May 31 2015 20:13 utc | 48

#Syria #Chlorine
Even taking the claims of rebels in Idlib at face value, the question remains what military purpose single barrel bombs – allegedly filled with chlorine – are supposed to achieve. Does the Syrian army get a military edge, a clear battlefield advantage, by dropping a couple of such bombs on isolated targets? The chlorine attacks – if they really occured – have killed very few people and among those even fewer rebel fighters, so why should the Syrian army use a weapon which is media-politically a great own goal and military totally useless?
http://radioyaran.com/2015/05/31/clear-indications-that-syria-is-not-using-chlorine-as-a-weapon/

Posted by: KerKaraje | May 31 2015 21:00 utc | 50

: Laguerre #35
well in the usa at least the indigenous peoples have there own land and many reservations have casino,s to earn revenue
maybe i could ask someone in israel if there could be a casino in gaza with a seaport and a airport for international players
in israel many pharmacists are arab but enven these poor indigenous workers are suffering
http://www.haaretz.com/business/israeli-arabs-seeking-options-beyond-pharmaceuticals-1.454596
chip #50 one must not give up hope,small change is possible

Posted by: mcohen | May 31 2015 21:18 utc | 52

ralphieboy@36 – you’re a scumbag. There’s nothing unreasonable in Trevor’s statement @2. What’s the “conspiracy theory” you’ve found there, you twit? That Austrialia is too close to America! How far out can you get?! That the MSM is manipulative and full of untruths?! How crazy right?!
Go suck on a tailpipe, ralphiebot. You’re best playing in the intellectual gutters of the Huff Post comments section or something.

Posted by: guest77 | May 31 2015 23:09 utc | 54

I’m not sure how they could go about this or if they’d even want to, but it would be interesting if Iraq, Syria, Russia, China, and Iran could set a precedent for the sovereign, democratic, request for an intervention inside of Iraq and Syria. The Iraqi and Syrian governments could set up a four-month campaign on a treaty laying the outlines for the intervention, leading to a referendum, and once the votes are counted the intervention force made up of SCO members + Iran can arrive and move into Mosul and obliterate ISIL. Can you imagine the pants pissing that would go on in the West if these governments actually put together a precedent for totally legitimate, democratically approved intervention of this sort.
How else can this disease be eradicated?
—-
Galloway discusses on Sputnik (2nd half) the prospect of a Sunni buffer state set up between Syria/Lebanon and Iran/Iraq. Sputnik – I’m glad to say that many of us here at MOA have been suggesting this for about a year now.

Posted by: guest77 | Jun 1 2015 0:30 utc | 56

g77 at 55 — Our respect for precedent is exceeded only by our respect for international law. I doubt that DC will allow such a precedent to be set, just to be on the safe side though. Plenty of Depends and helpful staff on hand in any case.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jun 1 2015 3:18 utc | 58

An interview with an eyewitness to the shootdown of MH17
“I testify that I saw with my own eyes how a SU fighter jet attacked Boeing. There were 3 claps. I saw everything from the beginning to the end.”
http://7mei.nl/2015/05/30/lev/
sometimes the site will ask for a password, it is STUCKWITHBUK

Posted by: Terje | Jun 1 2015 3:38 utc | 60

Willy2 | May 31, 2015 4:13:42 PM | 47
of course MoA is an obscure blog. Why else are we here. Are you seeking notoriety?

Posted by: ToivoS | Jun 1 2015 5:03 utc | 62

Qatar sneaks into French politics
It launches a case again F. Philippot, one of the highest personalities in the extreme-right “Front National”, for diffamation, after Philippot has repeatedly stated on radios that Qatar is financing terrorism.
Will that help medias to exerce some self-censorship? Why not going after a newspaper such as Le Canard Enchaîné, who has written the same about the role of Qatar in Syria and in Mali as well?
Would it be because Putin has been directly helping the Front National with a bit of cash, as was discovered lately?
http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2015/06/01/le-qatar-porte-plainte-pour-diffamation-contre-florian-philippot_4644564_823448.html

Posted by: Mina | Jun 1 2015 8:35 utc | 64

re 63

Would it be because Putin has been directly helping the Front National with a bit of cash, as was discovered lately?

I thought it was that a Russian bank lent money to the Front National. A commercial transaction. Or do you have additional information?

Posted by: Laguerre | Jun 1 2015 9:38 utc | 66

51
Today’s darshan is the knowledge that Hope is Chains, that you might hope to eat a ghost pepper and have a marvelous high, or you may snort fresh cinnamon and have a cosmic experience, but you will likely end up in the ICU, under police surveillance, lose your job, your friends, contract a malignant necrotic skin disease …and thus break free of the relentless Chain of Hope.
Breaking the Chain of Hope, you then break free of the Wheel of Will, the belief you are a metaphysical being who can command say, some moon of Saturn to bear Life, so you can go explore it burning up resources that might sustain 250,000,000 campesanos.
I Hope Therefore I Go Where No Man Has …oh…wait.
It’s an illusion, a chimera, to Hope for Change Le Plus. By accepting everything indifferently, just letting go, tremendous creativity is unleashed to be fully present in the Moment, at the edge of twilight, at the juncture between the Two Worlds.
Share Your Bananas. That’s the only Rule.
Remember how ‘The BRIC Miracle’ was going to replace the PetroDollar? BRIC lost -$350B this week. Greece will default.
Ukraine will default. Argentina will default. Like dominoes.
Hope is Chains.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iwsPvsN7jVA

Posted by: Chipnik | Jun 1 2015 10:34 utc | 68

Erdogan
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/131659/World/Region/Turkeys-Erdogan-vows-to-punish-journalist-behind-S.aspx

Posted by: Mina | Jun 1 2015 12:28 utc | 70

Hoarsewhisperer at 58 wrote: Identity Politics and Populism both play a huge part, imo.
I’d say more than before, and largely due to the internet. Marshall McLuhan’s big village.
To make it a tad caricatural, my ancient relatives generation was concerned with nation-building, political alternatives, war, fair economics, and so on. Today, I read about the tweets of Marion Maréchal-le Pen (Marine le Pen’s niece, who is in the Gvmt. A pretty young blondine.) She advertises herself by presenting a profile of an ‘identity’ that a certain section of the population can relate to, admire, would like to be friends with (using the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, which began to emerge some time after WW2), the details are tiresome: she loves nature, goes on pilgrimages (one imagines just for an afternoon and a photo shoot), is wary of the muslim immigrant hordes, quotes snippets from long-dead nationalists (not de Gaulle), buys X brand of shoes, and so on. There are no politics here, only a feeble popularity contest. (At the same time, the pop and previously pol-neutral Eurovision contest has turned ‘political’ with the Russian entrant being booed …) Anyway France has sunk to the pits, this is just another sign. Sidebar: The National Front in France serves to gather the discontented (mostly poor / working class or whatever is left of it, in ‘regions’ that are disaffected) under an umbrella that the other two parties can bash to their heart’s content, that is another tale…
rufus at 60, I do appreciate your remarks, and agree with some, we are coming at this from different angles, picking up different aspects.

Posted by: Noirette | Jun 1 2015 16:25 utc | 72

On Philippot: he is gay (rumored, plenty of scurrilous press about the boyfriend, has not come out publically) and is an admirer of de Gaulle. Note the FN in France did not enter – ever, publically – the sexual identity, gay marriage, (LGTB etc.) debates. (With some minor exceptions, and setting aside J.M. Le Pen in the past.)
FN supporters are more gay-friendly than the UMP (or now the Republicans care of Sarkozy..) the FN voters, adherents, sympathisers opinion on gay marriage is exactly the national average. The FN concentrates on nationalism, anti-exterior forces (EU, USA, etc.) and immigration bashing, refusing other ‘identity’ debates.
See for ex. Philippot here, vid. of MSM tv, in F. Gist of the message: The FN is not gay friendly, it is French friendly. Private lives are not to be bruited about.
http://tinyurl.com/ow65tge
The FN in the mouth of Phillipot has also refused to enter the abortion debate. He supports Simone Weil (right to abortion) and concentrates on “helping families as they are (alive..) today.” in F:
http://www.frontnational.com/videos/florian-philippot-sur-bfm-tv-56/
Both the Socialists and the UMP have milked the gay marriage issue to the bone (with some 70, 75% or more on each side pro (Socialists) / contra (UMP), pathetic really, and totally contrary to traditional roots and demographic composition), the FN has cleverly avoided it.

Posted by: Noirette | Jun 1 2015 17:38 utc | 74

Bhagavan Chipnik at 68
How is “True” Enlightenment a different object of desire than the Space Elevator?
Isn’t Quietism (like concern over AGW) a luxury only well-to-do everywhere can really afford? Why change when you’re on the top of the heap? And you will have even less disturbance of one’s Nirvana if you get those potentially rebellious peons to accept their dukkha.
Post-modernism seems the preferred version of the academic intelligentsia. It’s a Zen koan in and of itself, says it wants change, but can’t prioritize any means; “Take the inter-subjectivity from my hand, Grasshopper.” We’ll save that for another time, though.
Buddhism seems to predominate amongst the artistic branch, though well-heeled techies often go in for it too. More traditional elements prefer canonically approved Christian variants. The real movers and shakers mostly work through these issues by just buying stuff.
Buddhist Quietism really did a bang-up job of change management in the Orient, why not transplant it here? The novelty helps disguise it, and you can pantomime (or kung-fu shadow-box) multi-cultural solidarity with the Eastern Colonies. No hope for change means no plan for change means no ability to take opportunities to change.
Wikipedia notes the similarities between Stoicism and Eastern philosophy. Stoics acknowledged evils in the world, but held the cure worst than the disease. The New Statesman had this to say on Stoicism. “The Logos determines every event, and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s like the fascist police – we can either go along quietly, or kicking or screaming. Either way, we’re going with them.” The author toys with Buddhism, but settles on an unorthodox Stoicism as more in tune with his cultural heritage.
Forward to a Universal, Multi-cultural, All-Weather Neo-Stoicism! Resistance is useless! Don’t worry, be happy!
BTW, we in the West still fight over land, resources, women, etc. In our complex social structures, these occur at a higher level of abstraction. No longer the duels of the warriors, the raid on the neighboring village, or the ritualistic abductions of pre-modern societies, but in the board room, the lecture hall, and the singles bar. Concern over the environment is a signifier for many of a compatible mate. I’d cite your earlier post on this, but I can’t immediately find it.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jun 2 2015 0:43 utc | 76

Jordan does feel the impact of the wars in neighbouring countries.
One way the rebels are financing the syrian war is to produce a drug that’s sold in Jordan.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/shoot-out-jordanian-border-reveals-link-between-syria-war-and-drugs-trade-392617814

Posted by: Willy2 | Jun 2 2015 1:55 utc | 78

Turkey’s prime minister Erdogan and his AKP party could face defeat in the next election next sunday.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkeys-erdogan-dares-opposition-find-my-golden-toilet-434860905

Posted by: Willy2 | Jun 2 2015 2:01 utc | 80

Reading reports that Russia is “abandoning” Syria. Depressing if true.

Posted by: ruralito | Jun 2 2015 2:46 utc | 82

Wow, Russia abandoning Syria would be a major coup for the Obama admin

Posted by: DamascusFalling | Jun 2 2015 3:59 utc | 84

@84, premature. Ynetnews in full gloat mode is quoting Asharg Al-awsat who carry Saudi water.

Posted by: ruralito | Jun 2 2015 6:09 utc | 86

Bye, bye Sepp Blatter … he’s a goner!

Posted by: Oui | Jun 2 2015 16:54 utc | 88

Blatter’s resignation also covered by RT
He was threatened with prosecution by US authorities. It’s just what one would expect from a security surveillance state, hegemonic bully. Democracy deterred. The pipsqueak states need not bother voting.

Posted by: Copeland | Jun 3 2015 5:03 utc | 90

Obama gave an interview to “The Atlantic”. It seems the White House is aware that Iraq (as we knew it in the last say 95 years) is definitely “dead & gone”.
And I presume that ISIS conquering Ramadi was the proverbial “last straw that broke the camel’s back”.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/05/obama-interview-iran-isis-israel/393782/

Posted by: Willy2 | Jun 3 2015 6:25 utc | 92

mina at 85, you are right, M M-le Pen, a member of parliament, i used the word Gvmt too loosely. I propose not to argue about who is more gay-friendly or not..
MH 17 shot down by jet(s), as I said right from the start. Sure this ‘evidence’ is only something on the internets..
http://7mei.nl/2015/05/30/lev/
http://rt.com/news/264545-mh17-investigators-key-witness/
Interestingly, part of this matches up with what Kolomoisky said, that they shot the wrong plane, I always thought he was sincere when he said that, but also thought he might be mistaken (was told it in any case.) eng subs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrfKZUttEwE

Posted by: Noirette | Jun 3 2015 15:05 utc | 94

“Wow, Russia abandoning Syria would be a major coup for the Obama admin”
The Obama Admin is limited to successful coups only in small, poor Honduras. Everyplace else, they turn into civil wars or other permutations of “outright disaster”.
It isn’t going to happen. Russia won’t abandon Syria. China won’t give up in the South China Sea. Vietnam is not going to suddenly decide to let the country that murdered 4 million of its people well within living memory park the USS Ronald Reagan in Cam Rahn Bay.
Keep on dreaming, but keep it to yourself. Perhaps you deserve points for eternal optimism but you sure don’t for being able to analyze reality.

Posted by: guest77 | Jun 3 2015 23:50 utc | 96

Further to 97 — “Anticipation” gave useful background, this piece by Aleksandr Zhuchkovskiy on Maryinka (originally posted on Strelkov’s Facebook) provides current details. It reports heavy losses on the Banderist side.
Translator J. Hawk presents three scenarios — retreat by the NAF, opposed by frontline troops; a battle of attrition leading to a general escalation along the line; and what seems to be suggested as most likely, a withdrawal by the UAF. Though opposed by its frontline soldiers and an embarrassment for the junta, “Poroshenko has what he needs already, namely another example of Russian aggression…. Moreover, it’s not as if Ukraine can afford another round of large-scale fighting.”

Posted by: rufus magister | Jun 4 2015 2:34 utc | 98

The Kyiv Post kindly provides a a link to the transcript of the 3 June State Dept. briefing. A few highlights on the Ukraine. Let’s take it straight from the horse, shall we? Pull up your wellies, mates, it gets deep.

MS. HARF: Russia bears direct responsibility for preventing these attacks and implementing a ceasefire. Any attempts to seize additional Ukrainian territory will be met with increased costs….
QUESTION: This terminology, “combined Russian-separatist forces,” I think was introduced here a few weeks ago —
MS HARF: Mm-hmm, it was.
QUESTION: — in a statement. Could you explain that a little more? It seems to me that what you’re referring to are – they’re Russian conventional military forces with separatist forces, but actual Russian troops? Or what do you mean by “combined Russian-separatist forces”? Are they under Russian command and control? Are they regular Russian army troops?Do you have any numbers as to —
MS HARF: As to how many?
QUESTION: — how many personnel are involved in this —
MS HARF: Numbers are —
QUESTION: — what sort of asset – weapons systems they have?
MS HARF: Yeah. Numbers are a little hard to come by on this…. [Harf then launches into a convoluted set of assertions about joint training operations, command and control centers, and anti-aircraft systems in Eastern Ukraine, and alleges the Federation is taking steps “to mask what they’re doing….” We of course operate with complete transparency and always in full accord with international laws and norms.]
QUESTION: Just two quick clarifications.
MS HARF: Mm-hmm.
QUESTION: Are they under Russian command and control? That seems to be what you’re asserting.
MS HARF: Well, no, I said the Russian-separatist forces are jointly operating command and control equipment together in eastern Ukraine.
QUESTION: And these are Russian army troops?
MS HARF: I don’t know if it’s army. I’m happy to check on specifics. But we’ve said Russian troops, yes.
QUESTION: Yes, thank you. Ukraine. Last week, your colleague here at the briefing said that Ukraine’s rebel forces are responsible for, quote, “the overwhelming number of violations of the Minsk agreements.” I’m looking at the OSCE daily reports for the last two months – daily reports of violations – and here’s what they show: Ceasefire violations – in nine of their reports, it appears that Donetsk and Lugansk forces were – have violated the ceasefire. In eight of their reports, it appears that the Ukrainian Government has violated the ceasefire. In nine of the reports, it was not clear who violated that ceasefire. Now, withdrawal of heavy weapons: rebel forces, 33 reports of violations; government forces, 35 reports of violations. This is hardly a vast majority behind —
MS HARF: I haven’t seen —
QUESTION: A question.
MS HARF: Go ahead.
QUESTION: Where do you – and I mean the State Department – get the information that the rebel forces are responsible for the vast majority of violations?
MS HARF: From a variety of sources, including the OSCE. So I’m happy to take a look at what you’ve quoted specifically and look at the numbers underlying that….
QUESTION: The daily reports – their daily reports do not show an overwhelming majority.
MS HARF: I think our experts who look at them say something different, so let me go back to our team. But everything we’re getting from the OSCE and other sources of information indicates that a vast majority, as my colleague said, are from the Russian separatist combined forces. So we can go through the numbers, and I’m happy to do that, but again – I would also mention that the Russian separatist forces are preventing OSCE access in many places and they’re not letting them in to see what’s actually going on.
QUESTION: A simple question: Do you acknowledge that the Ukrainian Government too is violating the Minsk agreements?
MS HARF: Well, I think by saying a vast majority are the Russian separatist forces, that would then indicate —
QUESTION: But —
MS HARF: — that a small, a very small minority are on the other side. But let’s also remember here —
QUESTION: That is not clear from the OSCE daily report.
MS HARF: I just told you I would look at them, and we can get into a numbers game here and see what numbers you’re using and what other experts, including our team, says….
QUESTION: But that was not my question. Can I – it’s a simple yes or no question.
MS HARF: I think I just answered your question.
QUESTION: Do you acknowledge that the Ukrainian Government too is violating the Minsk agreements? Yes or no.
MS HARF: I think I just – I think I – we don’t do yes or no’s here…. I’m going to answer the question in the way I think is appropriate, and I just did. And I’m going to move on now.
QUESTION: Which is not answering….
QUESTION: Just one question about Ukraine – short question. Are you aware of any shellings of Donetsk today or yesterday?
MS HARF: Well, I don’t know if you were here right at the top when I said that the Russian separatist forces launched coordinated attacks overnight against Ukrainian positions near Donetsk city and a couple other cities very close by.
QUESTION: Yes, but I’m talking about shelling by Ukrainian forces.
MS HARF: I’m not aware. I’m happy to check with our team.

Like a picture, an non-answer answer can speak a thousand words. Kyiv is touting American support. Washington seems totally cool with Poroshenko’s renewed war, as long as it point the blame at Moscow but not provide any real evidence for it’s accusations. “Our experts” are creating an alternate reality, based on denying some very simple realities. Same as it ever was….
So I’m thinking Kerry’s performance at Sochi was a load of cow patties. We keep at our proxy war in the Ukraine, will double down in Iraq (again), keep at in Syria in concert with our “moderate jihadis,” and add gunboat diplomacy in the So. China Sea.
Say what you will about Oceania, Big Brother stopped the war with Eurasia before attacking East Asia. War is Peace. Ignorance is Strength. Feelin’ stronger every day….

Posted by: rufus magister | Jun 4 2015 5:11 utc | 100