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August 6, 2016
Open Thread 2016-25
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Turkey. Details from part of the ground.
Erdogan has dismissed (fired, banned, arrested, .. ) about 70K state employees (not counting military. – 1.) About 43K of these are teachers, all levels, incl. U profs/Deans. Teachers, as usual, are hard hit as they play an important role and are automatically suspect. Many are considered Gulenist moles. — applies to the public sector only, private inst. are another story.
Erdogan has stated that back-to-school on 19 sept. will be unproblematic. A new law has been imposed/voted (?), which will allow the State to employ temp. ‘contractors’, i.e. these teachers will not have ‘state’ work conditions and can be fired anytime. Of particular worry is that these teachers cannot choose their geo. posting (like in France, you are sent wherever), the teacher Union(s) are quietly dismayed, but can do nothing.
Replacing the fired teachers looks easy – there are about 300K ppl ‘qualified’ as teachers but not employed as such (most are married women / mothers not working, teaching is a super respectable ‘never used’ F degree, others are working in other jobs or not at all), but the ‘posted anywhere without choice’ will be an obstacle.
In any case, all the new hires will be vetted – how exactly is not known -> to be deemed 100% supporters of the AKP / Erdogan. So the Educ. system is to pass from a so-called solid pluralist national etc. backbone to a shape unclear at present. It may become a two-tier empl. system. Imho, all this can be managed for the Educ system as in any case Educ systems always limp on, and their good or bad effects take about 10-15 years to be noticed, if ever.
The Judiciary system will be in much deeper trouble imho – the courts will be super clogged (already so…) The problem here is that there isn’t a pool of candidates available (Some pensioners can be enticed to return?) What will be done is promotions from lower levels to higher, and the bottom ranks will be filled with unqualified personnel: students turned into interns, work/study arrangements, etc. Teachers are more flex, specially in primary. France, for ex. at one point of dearth of teachers certified women with a U degree (any subject, BA) and having had three children (clear link to natalist policy) as substitute teachers (but with proper contracts etc.)
1. The total of state functionaries, wihout military but with police, is roughly (?) 3.5 million. About up to half a mil. are teachers (all levels.) Not sure of these numbers at all, from press etc.
Posted by: Noirette | Aug 6 2016 18:27 utc | 2
Anyone else notice that their apple iphone has turned into a raging anti-trump propaganda machine? I’m talking about the news headlines apple pushes to you when you slide your home screen all the way to the right.
I didn’t pay $700 for my iphone 6 to get a neocon propaganda machine.
Posted by: alaric | Aug 6 2016 18:41 utc | 3
quote i liked from alastair cooke “”Some powerful figures clearly want any winding down of this ‘new’ Cold War dead in its tracks. Trump’s questioning of the hostilities with Russia, of the purpose of NATO, and of the costs to the US of it being a global hegemon have turned them cold.
Does he (Trump) not understand, (these ‘ancien régime’ figures seem to say,) that rapprochement and entente with Putin now, could bring the whole structure tumbling down? It could collapse America’s entire foreign policy? Without a clear Russian ‘threat’ (the ‘threat’ being now a constant refrain in the US Beltway), what meaning has NATO? – and without NATO, why should Europe stay “on side, and [do] the right thing”. And if Damascus, Moscow and Tehran succeed in emerging with political credit and esteem from the Syria conflict, what price then, the US-led “rules-based” global order? Especially, if those who reject it, and who opt to stay out of the globalised order, find that they can so do – and emerge empowered and with their influence enhanced? If the political ‘rules-based order’ does erode, what then will be the future for the inter-connected, and presently shaky, US-led, global financial order and governance?”
Posted by: james | Aug 6 2016 19:28 utc | 4
@4
If the ‘ancien régime’ had any brains (instead of just ossified platitudes masquerading as policy) it would be re-thinking its positions and quickly trying to figure out how to make a deal with Russia/China. One can only sow discord and chaos for so long… before the mess consumes even the perpetrators. That is how it has always worked – not at all clear why these idiots think it’d be different this time. What goes around, comes around (just ask ancient Rome). What is in fact US foreign policy that some fear tumbling? It is just export of arms and wars; nothing productive. I bet R/C would let US keep its financial empire (at least for some time), if they agreed to stop the war destructions. The US would save a ton of resources… and could rebuild the country. At some basic level, even the Trump voters understand this. The trouble is … inertia. The US cannot stop – too much invested, too many careers, too much infiltration in the decision-making circles by certain foreign powers. Too much of the economy built on the military… dating back to the end of WWII. So we are doomed…
Posted by: GoraDiva | Aug 6 2016 20:00 utc | 5
I didn’t pay $700 for my iphone 6 to get a neocon propaganda machine.
Posted by: alaric | Aug 6, 2016 2:41:59 PM | 3
Sometimes you get something extra with no additional cost. For 700 bucks you should get hourly updates from the Lord of the Universe, so neocon urgent news are perhaps a step in this direction.
More seriously, this is the fault of the browser and evil business model. Some click is cheerfully interpreted as your request to get bombarded from some source, and sometimes it is clear how to undo it, sometimes not. Browsers should not have such features, but this is what makes them profitable. Coming in near future: discount versions of cars that are steered by a computer. Every few minutes the car stops and restarts only after you confirmed with clicks that you have seen another ad.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 6 2016 20:22 utc | 6
@4 james. ‘Some powerful figures clearly want any winding down of this ‘new’ Cold War dead in its tracks …’
Some not so powerful, as well, I think. The dependents. The whole tier of armaments workers, ‘security workers’, cops … not to mention the military themselves and ‘associates’ … plus those whose livelihood depends in any way on finance are all-aligned with ‘whatever it takes’ to keep the wars and the ponzi scheme going and their money rolling in. They ‘hate war’, but gosh, there’s ‘no choice’ what with ‘Russian aggression’ ramping up on top of now routine terrorism all the world over. The financial component lives on the debt all the warfare entails and the fed’s extraordinary/now-too-routine ‘fixing’ the economy. The ‘legacy’ of the Nobel Peace Prize Prez is a hollow economy predicated on never-ending war. The one constant is the non-stop lying to make it seem other than what it is. Seems like a pretty sharp class divide between those who benefit from the Death, Devastation & Destruction and Debt-covered-by-Deceit at home and abroad and – the rest of us, their victims.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 6 2016 20:22 utc | 7
@b – Dr Seyyed Mohammed Marandi of Tehran University – is (finally!!!) now on twitter@ @s_m_marandi
For those of you who dont know him – look him up on youtube – an fluent English speaking Iranian who was/is regularly interviewed on RT, AlJazeera and if they are brave enough on CNN and BBC. Watch where he takes down Fareed Zakaria!
Posted by: Irshad | Aug 6 2016 20:26 utc | 8
I’ve been waiting for an OPEN THREAD so I could make the Euro-Descendants on this blog wiggle a little:
http://www.unz.com/freed/the-maya-who-woulda-thunk-it/
Well, just because the Euro-Descendants (like Hillary and Trump, aka the Queen of Chaos and the Tangerine Blowhard) are supposedly so damned smart we are where we are.
As a descendant of original peoples, I’m proud of our neighbors to the south. I just wish the destruction of our culture hadn’t been so complete.
There may have been some real cool things we knew before we were decimated.
Posted by: rg the lg | Aug 6 2016 20:34 utc | 9
GoraDiva,
You don’t understand how the system functions. The basis of capitalism is the government bond market and that requires enormous amount of debt. The government doesn’t actually budget, which is to set priorities and spend accordingly. Rather it puts together these enormous bills, added enough goodies to get the votes and the president can only pass, or, on very rare occasions, veto it.
Think back to Volcker curing inflation with higher interest rates, which had the unfortunate effect of reducing activity and thus the need for money. It only came under control by about 82, by which time the deficit reached 200 billion, which was real money in those days. So what is the difference between the Fed selling bond it holds to reduce the money supply, or the Treasury issuing fresh bonds?
Money is a contract, in that every asset is backed by a debt, but we treat it as a commodity. So in order to store it, we have to manufacture the debt to back it. Which is why we have all the wars and fancy weapons, as ways to spend money and pretend it is saved as government bonds.
If you think its really about the bullet heads and their circle jerks, you miss what is really happening. The fact they haven’t actually won a war since WW2 should be a giveaway that they serve some other function.
We treat money as both medium of exchange and store of value. Consider that in the body, the medium is blood and store is fat and you might begin to understand why the system keeps having the equivalent of heart attacks.
Posted by: brodix | Aug 6 2016 20:34 utc | 10
Mr Khan forgot that his son died in a war that Hillary voted for against her own democratic party!
Khizr Khan and the Triumph of Democratic Militarism
Posted by: virgile | Aug 6 2016 20:48 utc | 11
@3,7
I’m not with the apple cult, I get my backdoors are smashed in by Bill Gates…but that sounds more like an inbuilt app than a browser.
From 23rd July – WikiLeaks Just Revealed Mainstream Media Works Directly With Hillary, DNC
http://theantimedia.org/wikileaks-media-dnc-hillary/
One of the most damning findings of the leak is the fact Clinton and the DNC have worked closely with, manipulated, and bullied media outlets.
No doubt the Anti-Trump sentiment is rampant in the MSM and now even a good deal of alternate media I pick up… but any cursory glance at Hilary vs Trump youtube viewing numbers would give anyone a fair idea of the state of play. Trumps any publicity is good publicity will eventually pay dividends.
Reuters had a poll out which seems more on the mark than most. And it’s the first time I’ve seen Nate Silver get slammed so hard – rightly so.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-08-06/peak-hillary-reuters-baffled-clintons-lead-over-trump-suddenly-evaporates
Reuters poll from Friday:
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10G2BQ
Posted by: MadMax2 | Aug 6 2016 20:50 utc | 12
“More seriously, this is the fault of the browser and evil business model. Some click is cheerfully interpreted as your request to get bombarded from some source”
I have never actually read the anti trump stories that apple feeds my iphone because i didn’t want to set up a preference for such things. I just see the headlines and they are quite negative. This is not the phone responding to my preference. It is content that is being deliberately pushed by Apple to my phone sans any info suggesting that i want it.
Posted by: alaric | Aug 6 2016 21:13 utc | 13
I expect huge announcements from the Putin-Erdogan meeting on Aug 9 in St. Petersburg.
It seems that recent moves in Ukraine by the Brutish Empire are aimed at suppressing the effect of that event at all costs: attempt on Plotnisky, and sudden deployment this week colonial troops from the 3rd Canadian Division’s 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group whose specialty is operating in war zones compromised by nuclear and/or chemical weapons, are just some signs of ominous things being in the making.
Supposedly also a fresh anti-Putin propaganda campaign was launched by the con men known as “Hill & Knowlton”, of the “Q8 envoy’s daughter Nariyah lying blatantly before the Congress about the Iraqi forces throwing babies from incubators” fame.
The games in Rio are perfect cover for the evil empire to start another genocidal operation, just as it did in Ukraine during the Sochi tournament in 2014.
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 6 2016 22:32 utc | 14
RobertMorrow is a boob-obsessed maniac troll on twitter, but he’s been after the Epstein lolita express story for a long time, and posts all his evidence of trump’s alleged abuses
http://robertmorrowpoliticalresearchblog.blogspot.com/
Posted by: bbbb | Aug 6 2016 22:35 utc | 15
@8 Irshad
I’m a fan already. His first tweet upon starting his account a few hours ago:
@s_m_marandi
American pundits seem to be rooting for the same terrorists that took down the Twin Towers. Insanity.
@10 brodix
Just a great, great post. Our beautiful debt backed economies. The blood/fat/heart attack analogy will travel with me. I guess we just wait, and watch, as the neolibs attempt to defibrillate global economies with…more debt…? One trick to rule them all.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Aug 6 2016 23:16 utc | 16
Trump is as anti Iran as Hilllary. But not as hostile to Russia. A deeply flawed candidate, but the lesser evil.
Posted by: Andoheb | Aug 6 2016 23:32 utc | 17
NYTimes now openly refers to US-Russia proxy war in headline on website:
Russia Has Upper Hand in Proxy War Against U.S. in Syria
“Russia has not only avoided a quagmire in Syria, its successes on the battlefield against C.I.A.-backed rebels have given it new leverage in the Middle East.”
The article highlights Putin/Russian ruthlessness:
Syrian and Russian jets have carried out an indiscriminate pounding of Aleppo, including attacks on six hospitals in and around the city over the past week, according to a statement by Physicians for Human Rights.
And finishes by discrediting Obama’s faux peacefulness :
It is the type of Cold War-era battle that Mr. Obama, in October, insisted he did not want to enter.
“We’re not going to make Syria into a proxy war between the United States and Russia,” he said. “This is not some superpower chessboard contest.”
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Foreshadowing of an October Surprise?
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 7 2016 0:23 utc | 18
@19 Jackrabbit
Russian airstrikes in Syria are “indiscriminate” despite one paragrapher earlier, according to some former DIA guy working for the Netanyahu Free Press aka WINEP, that their intelligence network has allowed them to call in “precision airstrikes.”
What happened in one paragraph’s time?
Posted by: Cresty | Aug 7 2016 1:01 utc | 19
Dear God, it sounds like the situation has flip-flopped completely in Aleppo, with the siege broken, or almost broken, by Al Nusra and government troops on the run.
Posted by: paul | Aug 7 2016 1:15 utc | 20
@20 “What happened in one paragraph’s time?”
The editor went out for coffee.
Posted by: dh | Aug 7 2016 1:22 utc | 21
See this extremely interesting Russian made documentary about Nazi bases in Antarctica and Argentina by end of WW-||. Interviews with Russian military and archival footage.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUpPwyyvLw
Only 45′ but packed with interesting material.
Posted by: Anon07Aug | Aug 7 2016 1:34 utc | 22
@21 paul – yes, and providence be praised. The historical inevitability comes to be, and we are privileged to see it happen. Even when the tides of history are in your favor, it takes time to do large things such as taking back your country. All friends of Syria have dreamed of this coming for a long time, and now it seems to be here.
All praise to the Syrian military – when did such a hard-pressed force deserve such glad news in recent times? All praise to Iran and Hezbollah, and to the true Iraq, struggling to emerge, and to Russia, the glorious game changer.
A commenter on another site said that if Aleppo is the turning point of Syria, and if Syria is the turning point of the multi-polar global world, then the battle for Aleppo is the turning point of civilization in this century.
Posted by: Grieved | Aug 7 2016 1:48 utc | 23
Sorry, I mis-read the comment @21. I took it for a celebration of the win happening at Aleppo.
The situation is critical but nothing is being lost. Aleppo is a win for the good guys, not for the bad guys, who are dying in massive numbers. The mercenaries are being slaughtered at Aleppo. This is the largest gathering of their forces that I’ve personally seen and the US seems to be joining in to support the mercenaries, almost to the defeat of their own propaganda, but so they are.
This is the latest I can find on the situation, from 5 am Sunday, Syria time – by Joaquin Flores: UPDATE: Critical Battle for Aleppo Rages: Tug o’ war for Key positions [+ video]
“Lets remind everyone again the number of terrorists and the intensity of the battles are greater than the attack that captured Idlib and Jisr al-Shughour; and yet they failed to secure any gain on the ground.”
[…]
1. Russia is preparing to step up the aerial component over the skies of Aleppo
2. Tiger Brigade earlier armed-up, prepared, and entered the fray with great success, perhaps having restored the (allegedly captured) artillery base.
3. In connection with 3, TB has been a part of securing locations which Western and Salafist disinfo outlets had prematurely reported as victories
4. Hezbollah has entered the fray in force”
One should step back and wait and watch, as the generals are doing. Here today or there tomorrow, either way the US is defeated and the mercenaries are destroyed.
Posted by: Grieved | Aug 7 2016 2:06 utc | 24
Grieved @ 25
It seems al Nusra has broken through at the moment. There has been no close air support throughout the battle, only high level bombing. I take it al Nusra were given stingers in those first weeks after the cease fire.
Posted by: Peter | Aug 7 2016 2:38 utc | 25
@Peter | Aug 6, 2016 10:38:39 PM | 26
Massive reinforcements arrive to drive back jihadists from southwest Aleppo
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/massive-reinforcements-arrive-drive-back-jihadists-southwest-aleppo/
After the jihadist forces of the Jaish Al-Fateh coalition managed to capture the Artillery Base and the Arming College, the Syrian Army grouping allocated to the base was able to et up a strong defense line at the Technical College repelling the assailants.
As of now, huge masses of reinforcements have arrived on the scene to repel the attack from the 1st, 4th, 17th Armored Divisons, the elite Tiger Forces, Army Engineers from the Assad Military Academy, the Arab National Guard, local security forces, …… jihadist offensive.
Intense firefights are ongoing as helicopters haunt Aleppo’s skies. Air strikes and explosions can be heard from all corners of Syria’s largest city…..
If the Syrian Army succeeds in repelling………….
Posted by: Jack Smith | Aug 7 2016 2:58 utc | 26
this makes it sound like what is going on is more a desperate last ditch assault by the terrorists than a sustainable effort – a battle of the bulge. Pray to God it is so – the Just must win in Aleppo.
Posted by: paul | Aug 7 2016 3:09 utc | 27
No mention anywhere; 70 years ago today the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 3:15 utc | 28
…
I didn’t pay $700 for my iphone 6 to get a neocon propaganda machine.
Posted by: alaric | Aug 6, 2016 2:41:59 PM | 3
Paying $700 for a $200 phone says unflattering things about i-Phone owners.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Aug 7 2016 3:26 utc | 29
Expect consequences!
Elijah J. Magnier @EjmAlrai 9h9 hours ago
#Russia sources n #Aleppo:”Jihadists (Ahrar) received tens of MANPADs, forcing RUAF to fly higher than 3.5km and excluding Helicopters”.
Elijah J. Magnier
@EjmAlrai
#Russia (in #Aleppo) believes (I quote) “Jihadists received MANPADs with the knowledge of the #USA, through countries of the region”.
Posted by: Cresty | Aug 7 2016 3:32 utc | 30
@19
What happened in one paragraph’s time?
Western media happened. Desperation. Russkies are crude and backward and such they should remain in US media bubble.
Posted by: SmoothieX12 | Aug 7 2016 3:46 utc | 31
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 6, 2016 11:15:07 PM | 29
CCTV mentioned Hiroshima (and Nanjing) in a “wasn’t once enough for you uppity little dingbats?” kind of way.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Aug 7 2016 3:48 utc | 32
Hoarsewhisperer | Aug 6, 2016 11:48:45 PM | 33
Yeah, I guess Nanjing gave us the right to make an example of those nasty Japs.
I’m of a mind the forgetting is purposeful; by forgetting we make it easier to use nukes in the very near future.
To quote Einstein;
I do not know with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 4:18 utc | 33
Here are a couple of links from China News showing response to US war drum beating.
Current air drills in South China sea
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2016-08/07/c_135570940.htm
The China/Russia South China sea naval drill is in September……wonder how close to G20 meeting? before/after?
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/28/c_135547357.htm
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 7 2016 5:34 utc | 34
The battle is still up in the air. Miladvisor and Syrper are giving good accounts of what’s going on. I firmly believe the ter’rists are done here. This is a battle for the Russians and Syrians to totally triumph in.
Posted by: Fernando Arauxo | Aug 7 2016 5:54 utc | 35
@5 goradiva and @ 7 jfl.. i agree with you both..
thanks many for the updates on aleppo siege dynamic..
Erdogan’s Son Will Get Arrested for Trying to Launder More than $1 Billion in Cash If He goes to EU
Posted by: james | Aug 7 2016 6:04 utc | 36
Re Trump v Hillary
America’s Oligarchs Support Clinton Almost Unanimously
https://off-guardian.org/2016/08/06/americas-oligarchs-support-clinton-almost-unanimously/
“Going forward it’s like a hundred-to-one advantage, Clinton over Trump…In the current US presidential race, there is no real contest at all in terms of support by the oligarchs – and their support tends to be decisive.”
But then there’s this:
Julian Assange Special: Do Wikileaks Have the Email That’ll Put Clinton in Prison?
https://youtu.be/h2FfrNGcO3g
Posted by: John Gilberts | Aug 7 2016 6:11 utc | 37
psychohistorian | Aug 7, 2016 1:34:28 AM | 35
Yep, it’s good Russia and China (PRC) are not allowing themselves to be bullied by the hegemon.
Very tense times these; hair trigger situation.
What would the hegemon do if it lost an aircraft carrier?
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 6:55 utc | 38
Perhaps I should clarify a bit: I’m not suggesting China fires the first shot, but rather responds to an attack on “its” forces.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 7:02 utc | 39
@ V. Arnold…..we hope the world leaders love their children more than the Gawd of Mammon
I shopped at an employee owned food store tonight and while checking out those in line were talking politics. One guy said he was going to write in Putin and I was a bit surprised by the supportive comments from others….mixed color/ethnicity.
I know that much of America is going to piss and moan about being taken down a couple of pegs but IF it can be done in a way to rid ourselves of private finance and the global plutocrats, then maybe it will be worth it. If only TPTB hadn’t killed all the leaders that spoke truth to power we might be hearing from folks about the real levers of control instead of the shock, awe and fear mongering of forever wars covering what the global plutocrats do currently.
I feel lucky to be 67 and except for being side-swiped by a truck 10 years ago have had a pretty good life compared to the rest of the world. I am glad to see things getting “worse” hopefully so that there is more impetus for structural change for the better.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Aug 7 2016 7:19 utc | 40
psychohistorian | Aug 7, 2016 3:19:23 AM | 41
At 71 yrs. old I can echo your comments; on being lucky and living a good (very good) life and would likewise hope the rulers love their children.
Alas, I think the rulers get caught up in the heat of the moment and forget their wives and children.
I cannot quite muster your apparent optimism.
We’ll see…
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 7:42 utc | 41
@V. Arnold | Aug 7, 2016 3:42:24 AM | 42
There is a strong suspicion that many Western leaders (and celebrities) ritually sacrifice their children, other family members, friends in order to get to the top (Bushes, Cameron, Polański, Kanye, Beyonce, …).
So I wouldn’t be too hopeful…
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 7 2016 8:00 utc | 42
ProPeace | Aug 7, 2016 4:00:59 AM | 43
There is a strong suspicion that many Western leaders…
Western “leaders”? Can you name one? I can’t think of one. Rulers yes, leaders no.
President Vladimir Putin is a leader and Sergey Lavrov is a top rank diplomat; unlike Kerry and the rest of that ilk.
My objection is not semantics but rather substantive, tangible reality.
And surely (if you read my comment) you could not have understood me to be hopeful.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 8:31 utc | 43
China openly offers Russia an alliance against NATO
“The world is on the verge of radical change. We see how the European Union is gradually collapsing, as is the US economy — it is all over for the new world order. So, it will never again be as it was before, in 10 years we will have a new world order in which the key will be the union of China and Russia.”
“We are now seeing the aggressive actions on the part of the United States, regarding both Russia and China. I believe that Russia and China could create an alliance toward which NATO will be powerless and which will put an end to the imperialist desires of the West.”
Chairman Xi Jinping is making Russia an offer that Russia can’t refuse?
Posted by: jfl | Aug 7 2016 8:36 utc | 44
jfl | Aug 7, 2016 4:36:20 AM | 45
Great link, thanks.
Given the real world politic, I don’t see that Russia has much choice. The lack of pressure by the PRC is an important note; Russia isn’t being coerced but rather romanced.
My fear has been, and remains, the bat shit crazy neo-cons and their inability to let go of the imperialist dream of world hegemon.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 9:07 utc | 45
US-developed weapon system may cause global warming: Government – The Economic Times
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 7 2016 9:17 utc | 46
@V.Arnold Sorry for the confusion, I meant psychohistorian’s post adjacent to yours.
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 7 2016 9:19 utc | 47
ProPeace | Aug 7, 2016 5:19:03 AM | 48
Mai me penha (no problem)
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 9:28 utc | 48
Russia scholar Stephen Cohen shuts down CNN shill host who tries to link Trump to Putin – YouTube Did he get it?Nope
Youtube:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mCMyHJJrdDw
Source:
https://twitter.com/shekunchik/status/762055101930475520
Posted by: MadMax2 | Aug 7 2016 11:02 utc | 49
brodix@10
While making a broad statement that I do not understand how the system works, you write a post that neither detracts from nor contradicts my assessment. At best, it runs parallel to what I said. You may be talking about means, I’m looking at the probable outcome. It should be quite clear to most that the system runs on debt – it itself that would not necessarily be destructive. The point is how the debt is used – investments in infrastructure, research, education, production facilities would likely lead to further development and growth, while investment in armaments can only have one outcome (sooner or later). To understand what I am trying to communicate, you may want to read Lofgren’s articles on deep state, research pentagon waste, and look at debates after WWII on hat should underpin the US economy.
Posted by: GoraDiva | Aug 7 2016 11:37 utc | 50
@50 mm2
Stephen Cohen got it. He got shut down. And the talking head at CNN made a note never to have this guy on again. CNN’s just had all the conversation – and then some – that they ever want to have with this guy. We’ll never see Stephen Cohen on TNC TV again.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 7 2016 11:43 utc | 51
V. Arnold | Aug 6, 2016 11:15:07 PM | 29
… 70 years ago today, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
No you moron; do the math, it’s 71 years ago.
Oops, big oops. But nobody cares, or corrected my posting fuck up.
Very telling; and it’s why no mention in MSM or even the so called alternative media.
As I said earlier, it doesn’t bode well for this seismic event to be forgotten so soon.
Nukes flying soon in a town near you…
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 11:49 utc | 52
@51
I agree that brodix did not contradict you. Just eager to get his point across, I guess. It’s not an either/or. It’s possible to have more than one perspective on the scene of the same crime, and more enlightening. Both/and. The comment patch is a scrappy place. More scrappy than it needs to be.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 7 2016 11:50 utc | 53
@46 va, ‘Russia isn’t being coerced but rather romanced.’
I’m sure Uncle Xi wants it to be seen that way …
Russia 144,192,450 souls 17,075,200 km2 8.4 souls/km2
China 1,339,724,852 souls 9,596,961 km2 145 souls/km2
… I don’t think the Russians ever forget that.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 7 2016 12:05 utc | 54
jfl | Aug 7, 2016 8:08:41 AM | 56
Yes, both. I’m well aware of the long and somewhat “bumpy” history going back decades (many) and see this as a mutual joust against a common enemy/hegemon. Russia is well aware of it’s vast area and consequent resources making it a prize like no other on the planet.
It’s Russia’s curse and wealth at the same time. It’s there’s to lose if they play badly.
I know a bit about Russian people and one thing I know is this; the U.S. is ignorant of their culture, values and intelligence; a gross miscalculation of an adversary.
Together they (PRC and Russia) are the perfect foil to the U.S. aggression.
The neo-cons are crazy (like rabid dogs) but not overtly suicidal, I think (not sure actually).
Posted by: V. Arnold | Aug 7 2016 12:51 utc | 56
9;Aren’t you half Jewish?Give it a rest with the European stuff,as Jews have European genes too,or they wouldn’t be any blonde or blue eyed Jews.
I’m part Cherokee myself,but very little,and the Amerindians were no more noble than any other humans.They murdered their enemies just like all the rest of us.Any ant hills near by?
Posted by: dahoit | Aug 7 2016 12:56 utc | 58
Internet rumors for the curious:
…
As Hillary Clinton’s Democratic Party’s “motion to dismiss” was nearing to be heard by the US Federal Court, this report notes, the main witness for JamPAC was attorney Lucas—but who, according to the Washington D.C. police report, was mysteriously discovered dead on 2 August: “R-1 reports she arrived home at 1913 hours and located her boyfriend Subject-1 laying unconscious on the bathroom floor. R-1 immediately called 911.DCFD Engine 9 responded and found no signs consistent with life. Subject-1 remained on scene”.
With attorney Lucas now being the latest victim of Hillary Clinton’s “killing spree”, this report says, the lawsuit against her Democratic Party will now be postponed because he is unable to testify, and it may be dismissed entirely because his testimony was so crucial as to if proper service was made or not—and that the Clinton cabal “obviously” knew about beforehand when filing their motion a fortnight before his death.
As to how Hillary Clinton’s cabal is able to accomplish their “Night of the Long Knives” murderous acts, this report continues, is due to the “assassin network” established by what the SVR labels as one of the most feared CIA operatives ever encountered by Russian intelligence—former CIA director, and deputy director, Mike Morell.
Director Morell, this report explains, joined the CIA in 1980 and became an important operative in “Operation Cyclone” that sought to destroy the government of Afghanistan that had been aligned with the then Soviet Union.
Morell’s main duties within the CIA during the early 1980’s, this report details, was in establishing a network whereby terrorists, assassins and weapons were able to flow freely between the United States, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan—and was aided by one of his top Pakistani operatives Khizr Khan—about whom the SVR previously reported on, and as we detailed in our report US Media Support Of Khizr Khan Who Enabled 9/11, Boston Marathon And San Bernardino Terror Attacks Stuns Russia.
So entrenched was Morell in the CIA’s “active terror network”, this report continues, he was not only present with President Bush during the 11 September 2001 (9/11) attacks, he was, also, present when President Obama ordered the killing of CIA operation Tim Osman—otherwise known as Osama bin Laden.
With Morell being a “diehard supporter” of Hillary Clinton, and responsible for the lies she told about the Benghazi terror attack, this report continues, in 2013 he left the CIA a month after Clinton resigned as Secretary of State and founded a mysterious private intelligence company called Beacon Global Strategies LLC (BGS) where he is listed as a “Senior Consular”.
Beacon Global Strategies, however, this report details, is far from a “normal” private intelligence company as the SVR categorizes it as an “assassination/propaganda” organization created expressly for the use and protection of top American elites and whose funding came from Claude Fontheim, a former Clinton adviser who now serves as a lobbyist to the US-China Exchange Foundation, a nonprofit reportedly used by Chinese government officials and Hong Kong tycoons to shape American policy toward China—and whose clients, including Hillary Clinton, include Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
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Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 7 2016 14:39 utc | 59
james @ 4. Digging a bit deeper we might want to characterize the fundamental nature of the US Empire or err ‘Pax Amerikana.’ This is actually, for me, very difficult to do, as compared, say to the British Empire. How to describe it fully?
Chatter about AFRICOM, a 1000 military bases, Wall Street, the destruction of Lybia, etc. isn’t explanatory enough.
Part of the problem is that much is hidden from sight (Deep State shadow dealings), and the ‘rule based’ aspect is (post WW2 structure, UN, EU, etc.) very strong, with the rules moot, applied selectively through arm-twisting, etc. Coupled with another aspect, i.e. the prevalent US-W ideology, which is a kind of end-of-history dictate: free-market capitalism of a kind, pro-“democracy”, ‘freedom’ from despots, dictators, God anointed/religious rule, very narrow personal ‘freedom’ (identity politics, sexual mores, social rising thru competition, etc.) This system easily manipulates ppl into an Orwellian space (more J. Huxley in fact.)
It also has many characteristics of Mafia-type arrangements, a criminal class dominating, aspect not much discussed. The upshot: the system is opaque, secretive and highly complex. In its multiple ramifications, intersections amongst them (military, Gvmt/politics, security, finance, corporate, media, int’l relations..) Power of whatever kind (military, media, whatever) is only effective when it can coordinate with others to effect control. (Imagine a mess of a systemic diagram with 100s of boxes, nodes, heavy and light arrows.) Not looking good for the US at present.
Trump is proposing (provided we read his confused comments, pronoucements, at face value, and interpret) a simplification of the system, which is the only thing to do with complex systems that get out of hand. (Turn off district 3, put all efforts into fixing pipelines in 1..)
Others in their own ways are doing the same. Le Pen with ‘New Nationalism’, even ISIS in way (long story, as supported by outsiders…) Sanders is a different case – he tried once again to exploit the ‘hopie changie’ with a ‘harking back to the past’ – a ‘new’ New Deal – while not adressing any vital issues in any way.
— not shilling for the Donald – attention should be put on non-est. candidates, music of the future.
Posted by: Noirette | Aug 7 2016 14:56 utc | 60
This is just sadistic, what kind of sick people!
Official: Russia’s Paralympians banned from competing in Rio
https://www.rt.com/sport/354949-russia-paralympians-banned-from-rio/
Posted by: Robbie | Aug 7 2016 15:37 utc | 61
@61 Noirette
One coup deserves another. You’re right about how the establishment is not able to correct it’s path without a radical shift, a guy like Sanders would have been absorbed and subverted – he offered merely band aid solutions. Ron Pauls platform may well have worked…his ‘End The Fed’ policy attacked a pillar, a thick root cause of how the establishment is able to baffle with bullshit.
In some way, The Don’s schizophrenic-stream-of-consciousness delivery is perfect for much the subliminally mindf*cked US electorate. He gives all the sound bites a host of large demographics need, let’s just throw a tonne of shit out there now, see what happens, and tighten up the message later on. Even if he contradicts what he says the very next moment he opens his mouth it doesn’t matter…his charisma can counter that most of the time.
Who knows if he’ll embrace better relations with Russia…? We don’t. You cant know. He’s all over the shop. We do know trigger-happy-hitlery’s objectives though. That I would probably vote for him if I were a US citizen doesn’t say anything about me, it speaks more about the state of decay the American political system is in – in dire need of a coup, a radical.
The Don’s security detail need to be very wary of any grassy knolls.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Aug 7 2016 15:43 utc | 62
@Irshad #8. Years ago I checked out Zakaria to see where the globalist establishment was taking us but quickly became sick of him, Velshi, and the agenda being pushed. I watched part of Zakaria vs Marandi on the Iranian elections. Considering the corruption of our own elections and justified allegations of vote process fraud/rigging on both sides, perhaps the US needs outside observers and has no place to point fingers.
Posted by: Curtis | Aug 7 2016 16:01 utc | 63
@61 noirette, ‘… attention should be put on non-est. candidates, music of the future.’
Well, that’s music to my ears. Thank you.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 7 2016 16:15 utc | 64
@61 noirette/63 madmax/65 jfl – noirette- i like the way you process all the myriad ways of considering the american empire… i do the same. it’s impossible to come up with a clear vision of how it works, which is one ongoing part of it – to remain a mystery.. it will always be a part of a process of change too.
whether some force/s have hi-jacked the usa for their own narrower agenda – it sure appears that way to me.. trump appears to offer a spontaneous response to ordinary americans place in a country spiraling out of the realm it was thought to be (out of control basically), not that any one view on a country remains static.. the idea of the simplicity of his message with regard to foreign policy is appealing.. what he would do in power is more of an unknown then what history tells us hillary clinton will do… i would be voting for trump if i was in the usa, partly the msm witch hunt on him which i think in my own way is more of those mysterious forces behind the scene guiding the usa into an ever widening ditch of it’s own making, leaving many more people to suffer or worse.. thanks for everyone’s comments..
Posted by: james | Aug 7 2016 16:39 utc | 65
Greenwald:
“To see the climate being created, read the comments on this pro-Clinton blog about Jill Stein going to Russia”
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/762327314046808064
Posted by: Robbie | Aug 7 2016 16:51 utc | 66
What Trump says about foreign policy (April 27, 2016 Foreign Policy Speech):
“Unfortunately, after the Cold War our foreign policy veered badly off course…. Logic was replaced with foolishness and arrogance, which led to one foreign policy disaster after another.
“We went from mistakes in Iraq to Egypt to Libya, to President Obama’s line in the sand in Syria. Each of these actions have helped to throw the region into chaos and gave ISIS the space it needs to grow and prosper…. It all began with a dangerous idea that we could make western democracies out of countries that had no experience or interests in becoming a western democracy. We tore up what institutions they had and then were surprised at what we unleashed. Civil war, religious fanaticism, thousands of Americans just killed [and] lives, lives, lives wasted…. The vacuum was created that ISIS would fill.
“[T]he legacy of the Obama-Clinton interventions will be weakness, confusion and disarray, a mess. We’ve made the Middle East more unstable and chaotic than ever before. We left Christians subject to intense persecution and even genocide…. Our actions in Iraq, Libya and Syria have helped unleash ISIS, and we’re in a war against radical Islam, but President Obama won’t even name the enemy, and unless you name the enemy, you will never ever solve the problem.
“After Secretary Clinton’s failed intervention in Libya, Islamic terrorists in Benghazi took down our consulate and killed our ambassador and three brave Americans. Then, instead of taking charge that night, Hillary Clinton decided to go home and sleep…. Clinton blames it all on a video, an excuse that was … proven to be absolutely a total lie. Our ambassador was murdered and our secretary of state misled the nation.
“We desire to live peacefully and in friendship with Russia and China.”
What Putin says about foreign policy (June 30, 2016 address to the eighth meeting of Russian Federation ambassadors and permanent envoys, held at the Russian Foreign Ministry):
“I therefore say again that cooperation, a common will, and willingness to seek compromises are the key to resolving the greatest and most complex problems, no matter where in the world they arise.
“However, we see how some of our partners continue stubborn attempts to retain their monopoly on geopolitical domination. They put to use centuries of experience in suppressing, weakening, and setting opponents against each other, and turn to their advantage enhanced political, economic, financial and now information levers as well.
“By this, I mean, for example, the practice of intervening in other countries’ internal affairs, provoking regional conflicts, exporting so-called ‘colour revolutions’ and so on. In pursuing this policy, they sometimes take on as accomplices terrorists, fundamentalists, ultra-right nationalists, and even outright neo-fascists. […]
“The military intervention in Iraq and Libya are the most vivid examples of this irresponsible and mistaken policy that has led to a rise in terrorism and extremism. It is clear to everyone today that this policy has contributed to the emergence of menacing organisations such as the Islamic State (DAISH). Terrorists have tried to turn to their advantage, and not without success, the breakdown in state systems and the results of, frankly speaking, clumsy experiments in exporting democracy to parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Every man and his dog talks about this now. It would be funny if it were not so sad, and if it were not the cause of so many tragedies.”
https://quemadoinstitute.org/2016/07/26/nuclear-war-vs-global-peace-trump-and-putin-poised-to-solve-crisis/
Posted by: Karl Pomeroy | Aug 7 2016 20:08 utc | 67