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January 21, 2017
Open Thread 2017-03
Comments
re 101.
Personally believed all the supposed ‘pushing’ talk coming from US sources, was largely wishful thinking,
There wasn’t any ‘pushing’ talk. It is a fact that the Kurds attacked the Syrian garrison positions, an event which was contrary to their interests, and the long-term cohabitation of Kurds and Syrian army in Qamishli.
Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 22 2017 13:54 utc | 101
Posted by: pantaraxia | Jan 22, 2017 8:18:02 AM | 96
Yep, Stalin as the butcher of Russian elites.
Stalinism was not just Ukraine’s problem but Ukraine as national entity owed much to Lenin – and Stalin
I agree that Ukrainian nationalists’ choice in the Second World War between Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia was same as no choice but that does not make the choice for Nazi Germany a good choice. And I am polite here, forgetting about unnecessary evil as the participation in massacres against Jewish and Polish people.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 22 2017 13:56 utc | 102
If the world order is broken, that’s immense good news.
The end of US-“globalism”.
Or in the (better) words of Trump:
We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world — but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.
Posted by: From The Hague | Jan 22 2017 13:59 utc | 103
@ Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 22, 2017 8:48:53 AM | 104
Yes, just speed read the link. Don’t pay much attention to Guardian pieces anymore, they have turned to stenographed rubbish re geopolitical issues since about 3-4 years ago, might as well read Murdoch’s rubbish quite often find. Always a slant, omissions, and lacking context.
Have always considered the Kurdish enclave in Northern Iraq a rats nest of compromised faux Kurdish Leaders/Mafiosi-like crooks, mixed up with far too many Israeli/US/foreign covert ops/negative influences, other unsavory activities, organized and sponsored theft of the Iraqi nations oil resources beyond actual entitlement, or existing Law, as long as the bags of cash flow 🙁
And the average Kurd just trying to survive/live as best they can amongst all the snakes living it up above them.
It reminds of what the Israeli’s did with the supposed ‘Free Lebanon’ of the Israeli proxy/border force, the South Lebanese Army (SLA) … and that didn’t end very well …
Strikes me as intended to be a ‘frozen’ conflict scenario since the 2003 invasion, intended as an enabler/justification of the breakup/balkanization of the Iraq State proper. Same with all the instigated Shia on Sunni provocations and induced cleansing of mixed ‘identities’ as result, which had not been the case prior to 2003, even under Saddam’s majority Sunni Ba’ath, IIRC.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 22 2017 14:13 utc | 104
From The Hague says:
If the world order is broken, that’s immense good news.
The end of US-“globalism”.
Or in the (better) words of Trump:
“This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”
Or in the even better words of Paul Craig Roberts:
“If he is another fake like Obama, we will know soon enough.”
Posted by: john | Jan 22 2017 14:21 utc | 105
Shapeshifter Trump. “The Art of The Deal” or “How to screw your mark and make him like it”.
Who am I? I am a front man for someone or some organization. I can say one thing and contradict myself in a minute. Obama did it. Why can’t I?
Posted by: fast freddy | Jan 22 2017 14:26 utc | 106
He says one thing to a big crowd in september 2016 and he says the same thing in the same words to the CIA on the 21th of january 2017.
Posted by: From The Hague | Jan 22 2017 14:31 utc | 107
@ Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 22, 2017 8:54:49 AM | 107
Yes, and they were burnt badly. Maybe pushing, would be better said as, unrealistic declarations/announcements/propaganda by the US Command that the Kurds and supposed ‘major‘ force, the Arab Brigade(?), as part of the SDF (being predominantly YPG), would be taking the city of Raqqah, repeatedly, but the brigade and YPG had a falling out, IIRC, over who would ultimately take/control Raqqah, Arabs, by right, or Kurds, not entitled, and would be seen as ‘occupiers(?)’.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 22 2017 14:40 utc | 108
The thing that the US policy elite took away from WW2 was how effective the Nazis combined corporate power with state power – in about 20 years from a bankrupt Germany to what could have been a victorious Germany in WW2. Hence Kennan’s anonymous article n Foreign Affairs, in which he argued for “containment of Soviet Union” using military Keynesianism. The arms race ensued, Cold War that lasted 40+ years.
The Nazi model has been effectively installed in US for over 50 years now, but it expanded to include Agriculture, Finance, Dollar Hegemony, Big Pharma, other corporate interests, with an ever growing MIC. After US failure in Vietnam, there may have been a turning point when Madeline Albright made that famous comment “What use is a big military if you don’t use it”. Or not. Nonetheless, Clinton did use it with the bombing campaign in Serbia, and each president since has used “it” to destroy, so far, 4 countries and counting.
Posted by: okie farmer | Jan 22 2017 14:45 utc | 109
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/22/israel-reveals-plans-for-nearly-600-settlement-homes-in-east-jerusalem
Israel has announced plans to build almost 600 new settlement homes in occupied east Jerusalem, just two days after Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president, with officials stating the “rules of the game have changed”.
The announcement by the Jerusalem municipality came as Israeli officials appeared emboldened by the new Trump administration, which has made clear its policies will be far more pro-Israel and settlements than Barack Obama’s.
Senior Palestinian officials immediately condemned the plans. They fear a Trump presidency could signal the death knell for their hopes of their own state as well as the end of the Oslo peace process.
The announcement came as Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would hold his first conversation with Trump as president by telephone on Sunday.
Posted by: okie farmer | Jan 22 2017 14:53 utc | 110
@ Posted by: okie farmer | Jan 22, 2017 9:45:17 AM | 115
Reflected on this many times. The Nazi’s did not have the manpower, nor the industrial might nor critical resources such as Oil/Wolfsram/etc to actually support/achieve their war goals. And their industry wasn’t put on a true war footing til late 43 early ’44 when it was far, far too late strategically. Only tactical/operational/planning superiority allowed them to make the early gains they did, largely against out of date doctrines and decrepit ‘last war’ militaries … until economic/manpower/resources undermined even that advantage.
The aborted fascist coup trying to suborn Marine General Smedley Butler in 1933, was the start of it, IMV. All very opaque but banks/Financiers appeared to be behind it.
Or even when MacArthur, Cavalry & Tanks were used to violently breakup the 1 Million man unemployed veterans ‘Bonus Army’ demanding their promised dues re WWI service, during the depression ’33(?)… By mid ’40’s it was well under way, IMHO. So up to ~70+, maybe even ~83 years … ?
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 22 2017 14:58 utc | 111
The U.S. corporate elite also took away from WW2, Okie, the knowledge that it was the Soviet people who crippled the Wehrmacht not GI Joe. U.S. global hegemony is constructed on the myth that it won the “good war.” But it didn’t. Stalin’s Russia did. The repression of this truth is why the “West,” synonymous now with U.S. full-spectrum dominance, must always reboot with McCarthyism. Seen in this light 9/11 and GWOT are just a temporary ruse to keep the war machine active and lubed for conflict with Russia.
Posted by: Mike Maloney | Jan 22 2017 15:02 utc | 112
@ Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 22, 2017 8:54:49 AM | 107
Ah, one sees, where we’ve diverged, have been talking at cross purposes now, you were referring to Qamlishi, which I missed, while I was referring to the ‘push’ on Raqqa, which I’d referred to/referenced … Not still Qamlishi. Hence wouldn’t make any sense in that context. My apologies for the confusion.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 22 2017 15:10 utc | 113
@ Posted by: Mike Maloney | Jan 22, 2017 10:02:09 AM | 118
Profoundly true. For every Wehrmacht soldier on the ‘Western front’, seven were fighting in the East. Same with casualty rates and resource/materiel allocations. Almost all units on the ‘Western Front’ were second and third line units, many even comprised of conscripted east european POWs in ‘Static’ scratch divisions, excluding a few stiffening divisions. And even then the Allies struggled, even with total air superiority!
The Russkies defeated the Nazi’s. The North African, Italian(soft underbelly ?), Southern France & Western Europe/D-Day campaigns were all largely a side show, given the critical conflict that mattered, the ‘knife fight’, to the death of the State, against Russia.
The Russkies took ~1 million casualties alone IIRC in taking Berlin, whilst the ‘Allies’ sat pat, on their ‘butts’ and ‘observed’, doing effectively, nada.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 22 2017 15:20 utc | 114
Jack Ma, of Alibaba fame, China, blasts the US as the Davos meeting.
(Nothing startling in what he said, the point is he did it facing Int’l audience.)
18 Jan: https://youtu.be/SGbZ8WdrNF8
Ma has already met with Trump.
meeting… with DT in New York on Monday, Mr. Ma discussed efforts to add a million U.S. businesses to Alibaba’s online-shopping platforms. He praised Mr. Trump as “very smart, very open-minded” and said he wanted to improve trade and relations between the U.S. and China. Mr. Trump said the two men had a “great meeting” and that “Jack and I are going to do great things.” Etc.
— further.. :
In December, the U.S. Trade Representative put Alibaba’s largest shopping platform back on a list of marketplaces linked to “significant infringement of American businesses’ intellectual property rights,” saying that tens of millions of U.S. jobs and several trillion dollars of economic growth depend on this intellectual property.
WSJ, Jan. 10
— To illustrate Trump’s contradictory, probably irreconciable long-term, stances, thru one ex. “Free trade” (it is never free at all) and stabs at protectionism don’t mix too well….
One might squeeze out a positive from all this, I wouldn’t exclude it bang off. But don’t expect it.
Posted by: Noirette | Jan 22 2017 17:29 utc | 115
first off – peter au.. thanks for the ongoing updates on deir ezzor..
regarding freeland.. sorry for the delay in responding – have been busy..
@6 jayc.. you’re welcome. it doesn’t really make sense to me trudeau putting her in that position. i think she has intentionally hidden her family background and that is the real reason for all her hostility towards russia.. this canuck ukraine community seems more whacked out crazy then i thought..
@9 laguerre.. it is not so much about the basket case/country ukraine, as it is about these crazy liars representatives like freeland who want to carry on with the hostility towards russia..
@17 mischi.. both stories sound correct..
@19 anonymous quote “Is it correct that Freeland grandparents were involved with nazis in Ukraine?” looks like it if you accept helmers research into this with supported links and etc as valid..
@52 jen.. thanks for responding to @19 with all that.
@64 peter quote “I don’t care much for Freeland and I don’t care if her grandparents were Nazis.” it is about the fact she is hiding this and has lied about her past… having a person like this in power is a big mistake.. that is the problem many including myself have with her here..
@72 anonymous. i don’t think the msm know about it yet! lets see how they respond when they find out, if they do..
@81 kenny.. it is the hypocrisy that gets me… here you have family connections supporting the nazis, you lie about this and you want to castigate russia 24/7 from a political position of power in canada? sorry.. she needs to be thrown out on her ass – hard..
@82 somebody.. i agree with your conclusion.
Posted by: james | Jan 22 2017 17:46 utc | 116
68
Trump 1st official meeting with foreign leader is Khazar mob in Tel Aviv over a WH remote-presence video link (like Oculus-IMAX), to get USA foreign policy orders from the head Motzah Ball in Chief Benhamin Netanyahu.
“I can’t tell you where all the money went!!”
Mendacity Abets Global Aristocracy
MAGA!
#TRD
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Jan 22 2017 18:45 utc | 117
@2
China is pro-free trade because it has the most competitive industry and thus benefits the most, yes. But it’s not ‘neoliberal’ in any way since important sectors are state-controlled and the financial sector is tightly regulated (at least the crucial bits). Beijing knows very well which key elements of its economy it should *not* leave to market rule, e.g. currency exchange or the big banks.
@Piotr Berman | Jan 21, 2017 5:32:07 PM | 27
-> Good one, I agree 1,683 percent!
Posted by: smuks | Jan 22 2017 18:47 utc | 118
Question:
Anything new about Egypt and Russia lately?
Egypt has no money and no food, however it has a huge population and army. I know of a place in the Middle East where its soldiers might be desperately needed…
Posted by: smuks | Jan 22 2017 18:49 utc | 119
Great rant about diversity in the press and why it is required from a comment at Zero Hedge:
Before corporate interests starting buying up the media about 75 years ago, people understood what an impossible notion “Objectivity” in media really was, and how useless and indeed counterproductive it is, except for the peddling of propaganda. Corporate owners of media invented and promoted the idea of “objectivity” in media to give cover for their creation of local monopolies of the media, and to try not to alienate any potential advertisers on ideological grounds. So of course, since objectivity is not a common human trait, the corporate mainstream media has become the voice of corporate interests. If you want to know what the local corporate insiders want you to think about, read the local paper. If you want to know what the nationally prominent corporate insiders want you to think about, read the more-national “newspapers of record,” and watch the national cable news channels.
What we need is absolutely not reporting that pretends not to have an opinion. We need reporting that states its viewpoint and opinion out in the open. We need the fascist paper, the commie paper, the religious freak paper, the racist paper, the kumbayah snowflake paper, the corporate paper, and every flavor in between. Only by reading stories on the same topic in all these papers, or watching on all the different clearly-identified channels, can anyone consider themselves to be well-informed.
Allowing anyone to pretend they’re being objective is volunteering to be duped. If you’re not reading, on a daily basis, Breitbart, WND, Counterpunch, Naked Capitalism, ZH, WSWS, and then also CNN, NYT, WaPo, you’re starving yourself intellectually. If you read articles on the same topic in all those sources, you’ll see the differences and the distinctions that give you the nuances to understand what’s happening. It’s not only the text you need to understand, you need to observe and evaluate the white space on the page too. When a liar lies to you, how he lies to you, and what he doesn’t say, is perhaps more important to your interests than what he does say
Posted by: mischi | Jan 22 2017 18:54 utc | 120
@119
Egypt is not going to play a role in Syria’s conflict that clashes with Israel’s because Al-Sisi is a Zionist puppet collaborator who gets millions in U.S. funding to remain as such.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 22 2017 18:55 utc | 121
There are some good books covering the extensive relations between Nazi Germany and certain American interests from the 1930s onwards, through World War II, and into the Cold War:
Trading With The Enemy (1983), Charles Higham
American Swastika (1985), Charles Higham
Hell’s Cartel (2008), Diarmuid Jeffreys
The Nazi Hydra in America (2008), Glen Yeadon
Operation Paperclip (2014), Annie Jacobsen
There are many others, most fairly recent. The topic was taboo for decades; much of it was covered up at the post WWII Nuremberg trials (which is why IG Farben executives got such light sentences; many American executives – such as Ford, Teagle, etc. – could easily have been sent to trial as well).
One of the first exposes of this history was published in 1976 by Antony Sutton.
Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler, online text,
but Sutton was a Cold War creature in many ways (his other claims, that the Bolshevik revolution and FDR’s New Deal were also engineered by Wall Street don’t make much sense).
The support for the Nazis in the United States was based on many agendas; alliances with Nazi German cartels were very lucrative, and others (often the same actors, such as Henry Ford) were consumed with racial and religious hatreds and ideological fervors that led them to worship Hitler and hate FDR. Such interests were key to Germany’s rearmament in the 1930s, as well as to many of their operations (for example, the invasion of Poland relied critically on key airplane fuel additives, i.e. tetraethyl lead, supplied by Standard Oil).
FDR’s team did play an important role in supplying the Soviet Union with food, fuel and equipment beginning in 1941 through FDR’s Lend-Lease Act, which many pro-Nazi Congressmembers voted against. Lend-Lease however was nowhere near as important as the Soviet’s successful effort to relocate their domestic industrial production east of the Urals, out of range of Nazi bombers. Cold War propaganda efforts on all sides covered up much of this history for decades, with Soviets reluctant to acknowledge any support, however minor.
Nazi ideology survived in the U.S. after World War II; the McCarthite HUAC was very focused on going after antifascist Americans who had opposed Hitler, and many prominent Nazis found refuge in the United States and South America via various routes, such as Operation Paperclip. Many Nazi industrialists were also given pardons and released from prison in the 1950s, by John McCloy – who was also the prime architect of the Japanese internment camps in the United States. Such pro-Nazi ideological bullshit persists to this day.
Posted by: nonsense factory | Jan 22 2017 18:56 utc | 122
It seems the sh*t could be hitting the fan as early as Monday.
Donald Trump ‘to announce US embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Monday’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/donald-trump-us-embassy-israel-tel-aviv-jerusalem-reports-israeli-media-a7540476.html
The White House will on Monday announce that the US embassy in Israel is to move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to an unconfirmed report by an Israeli news outlet.
Channel 2 cited an anonymous source as saying a member of the Trump administration would announce the highly controversial move on the President’s first full working day in office.
The news channel said it had received no confirmation of the claim and there has been no public statement on the move since Friday’s inauguration of the new US President.
So – no confirmation.
This is sure to quell the various crises in the middle east. (/sarc)
As the Jordanian gov’t recently stated:
“An embassy move would be a “red line” for Jordan, would “inflame the Islamic and Arab streets” and serve as a “gift to extremists,”
For Jordan, a staunch US ally, to state publicly that it considers the move a red line underscores the gravity of the situation.
Posted by: pantaraxia | Jan 22 2017 19:25 utc | 123
@ Circe.
You made good points regarding Trump/Israel in your earlier reply.
Egypt, Syria, ISIS, ect
Israel is Pro ISIS, Pro AQ to be used to destroy the countries around them.
Trump is anti ISIS, anti AQ and anti regime change, and will unleash the US forces in the area to help destroy them.
Egypt is anti ISIS anti AQ/Muslim brotherhood ect and may well help out in Syria.
Trump placating Israel while destroying their headchoppers?
A lot of complicated horse trading happening balancing various interests. Life is never simple.
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 22 2017 19:29 utc | 124
@okie farmer | Jan 22, 2017 9:45:17 AM | 109
@outraged
This economic model existed well before the Nazis in several countries.
What was indeed new in 30s Germany was its combination with a rabidly fascist ideology, which distracted the masses from the extreme class divide, to the delight of both German and foreign capital fearing another socialist revolution (or election victory).
Also, the Nazi ideology (which roughly half the population followed more or less enthusiastically) and its focus on imagined ‘enemies’/ scapegoats motivated Germans to work harder in all fields towards the ‘grand national destiny’, thus boosting efficiency and productivity: If people believe in an ulterior goal, there is less need to force and control them; control is internalized.
One of the best movie lines ever:
“What is steel compared to the hand that wields it?”
(Thulsa Doom, ‘Conan the Barbarian’)
The power of ideology is stronger than the power of industrial or military capacities.
Interestingly, while in the early years of Nazi reign ‘the Jews’ were mostly associated with Wall Street banks, capital and big business, over time this shifted towards socialism and the Soviet Union. Thus, popular anger over capitalism and the social divide was transformed and diverted, while using ‘the Jews’ as a tool or catalyst, to be filled with any desired meaning/ connotation.
And if I may correct you:
The first ‘big US war’ after Vietnam was the second Gulf War in 1991 under GHW Bush – with the fall of the Soviet Union, Washington & London quickly realized their ‘window of opportunity’ during which they would be able to change regional power balances at will. They didn’t waste time since they knew the ‘window’ would close after 10-20 years, which it did in 2007 (Putin’s Munich speech). Not enough time for Libya and Iran…
Posted by: smuks | Jan 22 2017 19:30 utc | 125
Tommorow Trump will meet UK’s PM May, it will be telling what they will tell to the press after:
Will he say something like:
Trump: ‘US will always stand behind UK, EU and a Nato’?
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 22 2017 19:30 utc | 126
pantaxraxia
Nothing will happen, and Jordan? The supporter of Israeli politics for the past decades?
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 22 2017 19:31 utc | 127
76
No, instead the Orange Jesuit shows the dual ‘cauldron’ symbol of Deep State, the ‘pursed net’ hand gesture, the ‘trap door shut’ dual-alliance between Jesuits and Khazars, now in full power.
Nixon’s Viet Nam apocalypse was the Churchillian V-for-Victory hand gesture; Bush Jr’s OEF apocalypse the Luciferian Horns-for-Great Shaytan’s Shekhinah; and now Trump the Khazarim Codex Magica gesture, the Satanic Hot-Pocket Ding-Dong hand signal, …and that’s what USA citizens will be reduced to.
Motzah-Archangel Gabriel Administration
MAGA!
#TRD
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Jan 22 2017 19:36 utc | 128
@103 Hague
This is a beautiful quote and it struck me the most during his speech. Not just supremely timely, it’s simplicity is beguiling that some here might not be able to unpack it’s full understanding.
As I married a Catholic, I thought that might entail proselytizing ad infinitum, but I have never felt pressure/pulling at mass like one might feel at a dollarstore evangelical big box. What I’m getting at is a hope that the US can dial back as the imperial police force and instead lead by example. Another poster asked if Trump had mentioned closing bases. Hasn’t he mentioned interrogating the question of Nato in the world today? I guess that poster missed what that questioning would look like…because, taken in context of the quote above, it seem that indeed, the president has spoken of closing outposts around the world. He could start with Okinawa.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 22 2017 19:45 utc | 129
@122
I’m not sure about the Bolshevik Revolution but Sutton’s claim that US financiers and technology “effectively built the Soviet Union” is supported by Richard Pipes and Brzienski.
Pipes – “Sutton comes to conclusions that are uncomfortable for many businessmen and economists. For this reason his work tends to be either dismissed out of hand as ‘extreme’ or, more often, simply ignored”
It wouldn’t make a lot of sense for such rabid anti-communists to admit as such.
Posted by: Bob | Jan 22 2017 19:56 utc | 130
mischi @ 120: Very true, it can become a full time job, but worth the investment, and, keep one busy in retirement.
Re Mr. Trump kissing ass to the CIA.. He damn well better, cause’ folks who buck the system
sometimes encounter problems. ( MLK JFK RFK Malcolm X) etc.
Posted by: ben | Jan 22 2017 20:07 utc | 131
@124
Yeah, that’s one way to spin it; but it doesn’t make it all truthful and realistic.
Trump is not merely placating Israel; he’s thumbing his nose at International Law and legitimizing a crime because he’s totally committed to Zionism; with Kushner and Friedman on his right and Adelson on his left and $125 million other reasons.
Already Netanyahu is talking about giving the Palestinians a state-minus. F…ck him! He can take his THEFT and stick it where the sun don’t shine! With a con artist like Trump; they’re going to try to pull the swindle of the Century.
It’s not all the fairy tale you just described; not even close.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 22 2017 20:17 utc | 132
@125
What happened between 2001 and 2007 that led Putin to that speech and a focus on denunciations of US policy?
He happily supported the invasion of Afghanistan. This was happening up until at least December last year. Interestingly the State Dept page covering this has been removed now, but you can still access it through an archive. Not surprised they purged it with this corker of a quote that flies in the face of their rhetoric,
Our two countries have developed excellent cooperation that supports Afghan efforts to make Afghanistan a peaceful, stable, and economically self-sustaining country, free of terrorism and illegal narcotics. We recognize that significant further international support will be needed to achieve this goal.
He also said that he had evidence Saddam was planning terrorist acts on US soil. Officially he still opposed the war but he was happy enough to support Bush and Cheney’s narrative. He even went fishing on Bush’s yacht.
I’d love to know what the catalyst was for the change of stance.
Posted by: Bob | Jan 22 2017 20:18 utc | 133
@105 Trump is the republican version of Obama..
Prepare for an outright disaster and hope to be proven wrong
Posted by: aaaa | Jan 22 2017 20:38 utc | 134
smuks, how can Ford have been key to German rearmament when the Germans were and still are the Weltmeisters of mechanical engineering and manufacturing?
Posted by: mischi | Jan 22 2017 20:41 utc | 135
On use of force against Nazis like Spencer. Recall that these people are not democrats. If they get power, either state power or paramilitary power as they got in Ukraine during Maiden, then democratic liberties are down the drain. Look to Ukraine to see where you are heading if people like Spencer gain influence or media credibility in the USA. He is already calling for the formation of armed vigilantes in the USA on the Ukrainian model.
Posted by: Paul C | Jan 22 2017 20:45 utc | 136
Paul c
Everyone has the right to say its view in a democracy including “nazis”.
Posted by: Anonmymous | Jan 22 2017 20:53 utc | 137
@132 – the breakdown was due to American-supported oligarch Khodorkovsky attempting to overthrow the Putin government in the same manner that oilgarchs in the 1990s backed the Boris Yeltsin government. From a Stratfor report, July 15, 2003
Washington and some U.S. business elites are taking the side of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia’s richest oligarch, in his power struggle with President Vladimir Putin. The Bush Administration is advancing Khodorkovsky as a pro-U.S. alternative to Putin . .
. . . most of the oligarch’s most powerful defenders are likely in the United States. According to a source within the Russian foreign intelligence service, these allies might include U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and several CEOs and chairmen of the largest U.S. energy corporations. Some of these figures have been described as Khodorkovsky’s staunch supporters by Russian media as well.
That’s when the new Cold War agenda began to take off, the various “color” revolutions began to be promoted by the Bush administration (Georgia, for example), and have continued under the Obama administration (Ukraine, for example).
Posted by: nonsense factory | Jan 22 2017 21:31 utc | 138
Circe 131 “Yeah, that’s one way to spin it;”
There will be pros and cons with Trump. Although I have come to regard your long rants as scroll over territory others put up intelligent argument on Trump’s cons which I do read.
In some actions so far, we have seen a few of Trump’s pros. 1) The TPP is dead, which as an Australian was a concern for me. 2) Russian air force is now using Qamishli Military Airport. 3) the US joystick jockeys have been let loose on the headchoppers in Mosul.
It is the actions that count not the words. There will be cons to Trumps presidency, but we have to wait to see the results of the actions to finally weigh up the pros and cons.
You have an incredibly simplistic one eyed view of the world Circe, similar to any religious or ideological extremist. I will continue regarding your posts as scroll over territory.
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 22 2017 21:41 utc | 139
Weirdness at Tabqa Dam. Reservoir (Lake Assad) as suppose to be very low, but people are reporting flooding downstream as far as Deir Ezzor because ISIS has started releasing water. Current winter rains should have had little effect – the dam took years to fill and Turkey cut flow a decade ago. It can’t possibly be filling up more than an inch or two from previous levels.
‘Activist’ twitter account Sound and Picture @soundandpic said the U.S. was bombing Tabqa city and other sites around the dam. Speculates that ISIS is releasing water to take pressure off of dam structures due to cracking. Unless the U.S. is directly hitting the dam, it isn’t going to crack it in any noticable way.
Some mention of mudslides or damage on the back side. If so, than that’s very significant. That is how you slowly blow a huge earth-fill dam. You don’t blow it quickly and not from the front side (unless you have a nuke to do the job).
https://twitter.com/soundandpic/status/823258258458771456
Contrary to other tweets by @soundandpic, the dam is not operated by ISIS under Qatari administration. The dam and hydro plant engineers are the same Syrian government employees that have always run it. They have some kind of odd agreement with ISIS, like they get to run the dam and keep their heads if they keep sending power to head-chopper land.
Is the U.S. (or our fake ISIS intel assets) getting ready to blow the Tabqa Dam? Fits in with destruction of Syrian infrastructure – neocon ‘sore looser’ scorched-earth strategy. They want the dam blown to cripple Syria further, but don’t want the bad PR from obvious genocide by flooding. Maybe reservoir IS still low, but they’re trying to lower further – prevent catastrophic flood when they (U.S. or proxy head-choppers) actually blow it.
Blowing dam will cut all power to the region (Tabqa Dam hydro plant), ruin winter crops/spring planting, deprive Aleppo of water source (almost below intakes now) and eliminate all irrigation originating from Lake Assad. It will take years to rebuild the dam – the can’t just patch up the current earth-fill version.
I know the Euphrates at Deir EzZor has been extremely low for a long time due to the drought and Turkish dams. Looks more like mud flats and small streams. If it looks ‘flooded’ now, then they must be dumping millions of cubic meters a day from Tabqa.
If that dam goes, then the U.S. either did it, made it happen on purpose or let it happen on purpose. Either way – war crime and genocide.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 22 2017 21:41 utc | 140
Curious side-note: the SDF ‘Wrath of the Euphrates’ campaign – at least the first phase – has SDF remaining on the high land north of Ar Raqqa. Land that will probably not be flooded if someone did something crazy like blow the Tabqa Dam. A quick alliance with the Arab tribes on the east bank and suddenly you have SDF moving all the way down to Al Bukamal, crating their U.S.-pushed federation, i.e., partition. So it becomes SDF-istan, which is much more palatable to the sheeple. This would coincide with Trump and Warmonger Inc.’s plans to arm the piss out of the SDF and build dozens of more bases on Syrian soil.
I guess there would have been a good reason for the U.S. to blow damn near every single bridge on Euphrates the last year or two: protect U.S. SDF-istan.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 22 2017 21:51 utc | 141
@138
Good I don’t care for what you write either. So don’t engage or bait me if you consider me scroll over territory. I consider you same. You basically believe Trump is god and the master swindle against Palestinians and war on Iran be damned! If you think these issues won’t produce major consequences; you’re the simplistic one and you’re condescension I could certainly do without, thanks!
Posted by: Circe | Jan 22 2017 21:52 utc | 142
Paveway 139
I ran onto a twitter post earlier that said the engineers had opened the sluice gates at the turbines. Will be something to keep and eye on.
Regarding the engineers – I believe the staff at all major infrastructure in ISIS land, power stations and so forth, are still government employees. Some sort of agreement there as ISIS held power stations had been supplying electricity to government areas…. until the US destroys them…
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 22 2017 21:55 utc | 143
100 Anonymous
Steinmeier in German is quoted as Welt des 20. Jahrhunderts endgültig vorüber
Welche Ordnungsvorstellungen sich im 21. Jahrhundert durchsetzen werden, wie die Welt von morgen aussehen wird, ist nicht ausgemacht, ist völlig offen.
Which means translated: The world of the 20th century has finally passed/is finally gone. What concepts of order will rule the 21th century, what the world tomorrow will look like, is completely open.
Sure, he continues with “unruly times, doubts, insecurities, question marks and times of global unorder when a lot is at stake”.
I would call this realism not fearmongering.
Steinmeier did call Trump “a preacher of hate” before US election results came in. As he will be the future German president which is a mainly ceremonial post, his relation with Trump will be interesting. But Angela Merkel is not in a better position asking Trump for keeping international rules and respect.
It seems all and everybody in Germany including the populist right will come out with “Europe first” to counter Trump (and Britain).
Germany is an exporting country. They need globalism.
Posted by: somebody | Jan 22 2017 22:00 utc | 144
Some reports now of U.S. Special Forces/SDF raid in Tabqa (Hawarin) City saying they used barges to cross Euphrates. IS/Raqqa leadership supposedly lives in Tabqa – provides convenient point to scurry to the dam if they come under attack. Logic being that U.S. wouldn’t attack ISIS or dam (which is probably intensely flawed logic).
Possible scenario is that someone did cross Euphrates by boat to get to Tabqa City, and ISIS opened the flood gates to destroy their boats/landing areas. That means a sizable force might be stuck on the wrong side of the Euphrates and will need to be evacuated some other way (or be slaughtered by ISIS). Attacking Tabqa City is pretty much attacking regional ISIS leadership, so they may do something drastic.
All speculation for now – it’s always a horrible mistake to watch twitter for details about anything and attempt to approximate reality from that.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 22 2017 22:09 utc | 145
Its scaremongering since he totally unfounded claim that the order is broken and that that is something scary and negative
Again. Steinmeier dont know what way US will take.
And as you say its not the first time steinmeier scare with Trump (preacher quote)
Besides trade with the US/Germany wont die, so again hes just scaremongering.
But thats just my view and my last comment on that.
Posted by: Anonmymous | Jan 22 2017 22:09 utc | 146
Those whom are interested in events in the MENA should remember Wesley Clark and the discussion re: destruction of seven countries (Syria is one) in five years.
I’d say the days are numbered for that dam. Too much hanky panky going on in the immediate vicinity. They’ll simply blame ISIS.
Posted by: fast freddy | Jan 22 2017 22:42 utc | 147
With Trump, decisions seem made by asking “Does this benefit me? If it doesn’t benefit me, why should I do it?” Making decisions because of abstract values – human rights, or free trade – just became as old-fashioned as flying dinosaurs.
Posted by: Passerby | Jan 22 2017 22:47 utc | 148
Trump seems to crave the approval of the average American citizen. He won’t get approval if he turns loose those assholes he appointed.
DeVos will take a wrecking ball to public ed and divert public funds to private looters. If Big Ears Sessions goes after pot, that will go over like a lead balloon. The nutball general is a character out of Dr. Strangelove.
The average American has been brainwashed into believing that Israel is not the aggressor, but is itself a victim. He is uninformed and he doesn’t care about anything happening in the MENA. As long as he hasn’t any skin in the game.
The embassy move is another bare-faced land grab. But Joe Blow doesn’t care.
Posted by: fast freddy | Jan 22 2017 23:21 utc | 149
DeirEzzor24 a German operation?
http://en.deirezzor24.net/deirezzor-24-staff-attend-an-official-festival-in-germany-as-guests-of-honor/
“In addition, DeirEzzor24 did a presentation during the festival. It was also followed by the displaying of more than 35 pictures depicting the situation in the province of Deir Ezzoor since the year 2011, bringing into light the staggering amount of atrocities committed against the locals by Assad’s forces, Russia and Daesh.”
“In 2016, DeirEzzor24 has held several presentations in Germany. It was also hosted by more than five universities for explaining the situation in the province. The network held a photographic exhibition on Deir Ezzor in several German cities as well.”
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 22 2017 23:38 utc | 150
147
Immediately after Trump’s inauguration speech, Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and family friend of Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner, Special Envoy to Netanyahu, gave the blessing and benediction, …followed by a Jesuit, a Methodist, then Billy Graham’s kid, Frank, a Southern Baptist, at hind tit. No Muslim Imam’s or Hindu Sadhu’s or Buddhist Monk’s were allowed to give blessings.
What kind of supposedly ‘Christian’ nation has a rabbi giving the religious benediction at the inauguration?
What kind of supposedly ‘Christian’ president’s first act in office is throwing 10,000,000 Christian wretches to the Khazar healthcare-for-profit lions?
What kind of supposedly ‘Christian’ president’s first order of business, ON A SUNDAY HOLY DAY, is meeting with Bibi Netanyahu, King of the Motzah Balls, to announce a Grand Ziggurat to the Shibbolethim of Jerusalem, to be built with monies clawed back by throwing 10,000,000 Christians to the lions!?
Maybe he can pry out some gold filings in the bargain to double-gild Mar-a-Lago?
Mayhem And Greed Anonymous
MAGA!
#TRD
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Jan 22 2017 23:40 utc | 151
OJS gave us the first and fine Trump quote today culminating his interview with the CIA which should give energy to any enquiry about the mental acuity of Donal Trump; for which I would like to congratulate him in picking up and which I would like to repeat again :
“In Speech to a the CIA, Trump Offers to Build Them a Room Without Columns: ‘Do You Understand That?’At the end of Trump’s speech to a room filled with 400 employees of the CIA, Trump said, rather cryptically, that maybe he’d build them a bigger room ‘by someone who knows how to build and we won’t have columns, do you understand that?’
For those of you who are fucking retards and haven’t the slightest clue what that could mean, I suggest you read up on the fifth column theories — which are essentially the existence of a shadow government.Posted by: OJS | Jan 22, 2017”
Posted by: Jocelyn Braddell | Jan 22 2017 23:51 utc | 152
paveway @139, 140, 144.. thanks.
peter au @ 149.. that’s interesting as well.. sounds like some type of front from the german version of the white helmets..
Posted by: james | Jan 23 2017 0:10 utc | 153
@Bob | Jan 22, 2017 3:18:12 PM | 132
I don’t see this as a change of stance. In 2001 Russia was just beginning to recover, it simply wasn’t strong enough to stand up to NATO. Of course Putin happily supported the Afghanistan invasion – he knew this would prove a quagmire and keep NATO and the US busy for some years, giving Russia (and China) time to strengthen their military and alliances. Same with Iraq: Both Iran and Russia were more than pleased that ‘victory’ proved so much harder to achieve than the Neocons had thought.
That’s my interpretation at least. (That said, Moscow certainly had/s very little sympathy for the various jihadi militias.)
“He also said that he had evidence Saddam was planning terrorist acts on US soil.”
This is new to me. Doesn’t make the slightest sense obviously, but if the aim was to avoid unnecessary tensions and appease the Neocons, maybe it was a useful ruse.
Whatever Trump or anyone may say momentarily: Russia, not China, is the strategic rival. Russia was and still is much weaker than the US, but Putin is highly intelligent and patient. He plays a ‘long game’, building a counter-hegemonic bloc while isolating Washington. What use is a huge army, if you can’t use it because it would make you the pariah country of the world?
@mischi | Jan 22, 2017 3:41:09 PM | 134
I don’t see Ford as having been ‘key’ to anything there. Yes, US (right-wing) industrialists did play a certain role, esp. given the limited resources Germany had – but most of the rearmament was from German factories. Don’t ask me to quantify, I can’t – the key point is that (most of) the ‘elite’ both inside and outside Germany wanted the Nazis to contain or destroy the Soviet Union.
Posted by: smuks | Jan 23 2017 0:22 utc | 154
@Peter AU | Jan 22, 2017 2:29:08 PM | 124
Trump doesn’t care whether he’s pro- or anti-ISIS, he’ll do what suits the usual Neocon and MIC suspects best. Yes, he’ll probably drop lots of explosives on the jihadis – but attached to parachutes, which makes them easier to reuse. Obama and Kerry at least tried to restrain the warmongers, Trump will unleash them.
Egypt is anti-ISIS, which puts it at odds with Washington and Riyadh. Hence the cancellation of the island & bridge building deal in the Red Sea. So who’ll pay Cairo’s budget deficit, and what will he demand in return?
re Israel – I find it bewildering that some people see Washington as being under the influence of Tel Aviv. Most dogs I’ve seen wag their tails, not the other way round…
Posted by: smuks | Jan 23 2017 0:34 utc | 155
From RT on the deep state & DT..
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/chris_hedges_the_deep_state_will_influence_the_trump_presidency_20170117
Posted by: ben | Jan 23 2017 0:39 utc | 156
@150
Please go dump your anti-jewish garbage somewhere else. No answer needed.
Posted by: smuks | Jan 23 2017 0:45 utc | 157
smucks 154
Obama always led from behind. A very dangerous snake in the grass. He was installed because Americans no longer wanted to go off to war. Libya, Syria, Yemen. All destroyed in the same way by Obama with very few US boots in bodybags. Obama the good cop who was a moderating influence on his warlike appointees….?? That’s my take on it.
Looking up APIAC, it also includes a number of sing along TV evangalist types. Their followers make up a good sized voting block who think Israel is gods chosen people from the old testament and can do no wrong.
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 23 2017 0:58 utc | 158
@151
Okay, so if he was sending a coded message with the columns bit; what is your translation for I love you. I respect you. There’s nobody I respect more.? [referring to CIA intelligence services]
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 1:02 utc | 159
The rebels who have alliances with the Nusra or the IS group will have to detach themselves from such links, to have a role in the future solution to the country, and that’s what is happening now.
The Turkey-backed Ahrar al-Sham has already engaged in battles against Nusra and the allied Jund al-Aqsa group in the northwestern province of Idlib, a key bastion for Nusra.
…..
“Now the rebels who are part of the Astana talks will find themselves, willingly, or unwillingly, in the same trench with the Syrian army in the face of IS and Nusra as there is no other way around, as those who will not comply, will be counted with either one of the terrorist groups,” Ahmad al-Ashqar, a political analyst, told Xinhua.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2017-01/23/content_40158846.htm
Posted by: virgile | Jan 23 2017 1:21 utc | 161
@OJS, 151, 158 on the Trump comment on the “columns” – as this video clip from C-SPAN shows (from an Obama speech 5 years ago), the room in question is full of large columns which block the view from the podium. Hanging on Trump’s every word looking for subtle secret meanings, that’s a waste of time.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?299624-3/presidential-remarks-cia-headquarters
Posted by: nonsense factory | Jan 23 2017 1:29 utc | 162
Along with the smoldering ruins of Ukraine, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Syria…
We should not forget the wingnut coups under Droney Obama’s nose by Hillary and friends in Egypt, Honduras, Brazil and Venezuela.
These smiling SOB’s were the most deadly in history.
Posted by: fast freddy | Jan 23 2017 1:30 utc | 163
@154
– I find it bewildering that some people see Washington as being under the influence of Tel Aviv.
I find it really disingenuous when someone uses the dog/tail analogy in regards to Zionist power controlling Washington.
Here’s a 2008 video that was secretly filmed at AIPAC the ISRAELI hence FOREIGN LOBBY that has used dual-nationality spies against the U.S. and that proves that the majority of Congress is under Zionist control. If you watch it in its entirety you start to understand just how Zionist-suborned Congress is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wJhCxQRUJk
Some of what you write is interesting; but this comment of yours puts your credibility in serious doubt.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 1:43 utc | 164
@Peter AU | Jan 22, 2017 7:58:30 PM | 157
Less direct intervention for sure, but were those wars orchestrated by Obama/ Kerry or by the Pentagon & Neocons/ Saudis? Was Obama even able to control them, did he try? Or was it just good cop – bad cop?
Hard to say in the end, but esp. in recent years he wasn’t very hawkish imo, more willing to compromise.
Israel is an crucial tool to control the MENA, neither more nor less. Since it’s a condition of interdependence, there are institutions in place like AIPAC to perpetuate the alliance, so it doesn’t depend on the whims of a new administration. In this sense, they are (short-term) influential.
Posted by: smuks | Jan 23 2017 1:44 utc | 165
smuks 164
I think Obama’s personal vindictiveness towards Putin and others in his presidential speeches/announcements show what he is like behind the facade.
Posted by: Peter AU | Jan 23 2017 1:56 utc | 166
James @ #3
Sorry my comment is a tad late in the piece, but good direction on your part to John Helmers “Dancing With Bears” site & the story about “The Maggot Bitch”
Johns’ site doesn’t get updated every day like M.o.A. usually is, but he is well worth checking in with once a week/once a fortnight. It’s a rare article of his that doesn’t exhibit good old fashioned IN DEPTH reporting – the time honoured methods of hitting the pavements, knockin’ on doors & actually talking to people to find out who’s fuckin’ who & who’s not paying.
I don’t know how many comment on his stories as they don’t seem appear on his site – ( perhaps that’s a problem with my settings blocking them??) – but he often replies via email when one does comment.
As to Deir Ezzor I notice we’re seeing virtually zero mention of it in MSM. Was sure we’d see the pre Nobel Prize winning White Helmets rescuing besieged city folk on ABCNNBCBSBBC. Oh that’s right – they won’t be IN the city will they. If they are anywhere they’ll be lurking behind the ISIS front lines sans white helmets no doubt. If it falls & I hope to God it does not will we hear of the atrocities that we know ISIS will commit ???
Those of you familiar with Eva Bartlett & her reporting of the truth in Syria – she’s has had her Farcebook account suspended for 3 days for breaching farcebooks “community standards”. Obviously reporting what is actually going on there & showing up the MSM as the BS artists they are, is frowned upon. You’d even think they (MSM) might start re-evaluating their approach to news reporting in the wake of the disastrous (for the MSM’s credibility) election cycle in the US & the collapse of readership & viewer-ship numbers. But no!! On the back of the badly misfiring “Fake News” meme, meant to drive people away from alternate news sites & back to the corporate media, instead blowing up in their faces, they have decided to “double down” thus compounding their problems.
Cheers
Chris in Ch-Ch
Posted by: KiwiCris | Jan 23 2017 2:03 utc | 167
@161 — I tend to agree in this case.
Trump is obviously a good communicator but even if he managed a hint at more ‘esoteric’ domains of meaning here it is somewhat dubious to assume the center of gravity of his talk and message was on the ‘hidden’ meanings that might, or might not, be possible to construe. One is reminded of Freud: sometimes a column is just a column.
“In 1954 the saying appeared in the journal “Law and Contemporary Problems” in an article about antitrust law. The main subject of the piece was unrelated to psychoanalytic theory, but the authors invoked the perspicacity of Freud in a footnote [SFLP]:
This search for significant meanings where none are to be found recalls the reply made by Sigmund Freud to overzealous disciples who felt that there must be a significant meaning behind his cigar smoking. “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar,” the Father of Psychoanalysis reminded them.”
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/08/12/just-a-cigar/
If anything, Trump was probably talking about the new CIA Fort (sorry, I mean Embassy) planned for Jerusalem in Occupied Palestine. It will no doubt conform to certain architectural principles and form part of the next Temple Complex come the Rapture.
Posted by: x | Jan 23 2017 2:07 utc | 168
@ Posted by: KiwiCris | Jan 22, 2017 9:03:14 PM | 166
The consequences for the suborned MSM Mega-Media-Corporations extended & sustained over-reach and pseudo-active censorship by Twitter/Facebook/Google is likely to continue given, yet again & again, the recent ‘doubling-down’, and therefore only increase in severity.
‘Tis obvious their hubris prevents them from even beginning to acknowledge or consider the profound consequences of such, and the bought & paid for ‘yes’ men executives/advisers/consultants, would not be Speaking Truth To Power, not at all.
Their financial stability depends on ‘faith & trust’, and they are burning that currency up at a prodigious rate of knots.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2017 2:15 utc | 169
@ Posted by: x | Jan 22, 2017 9:07:43 PM | 167
What most everyone seems to overlook, is why his very first official visit was to CIA, of all places ? As opposed to the Federal Reserve, Treasury, etc.
At least elements, if not the majority of Clandestine Services have been actively participating in the de-legitimization & fabrications/forgeries & slanders, as well as actively speaking out publicly to support & proffer faux credence to all the former, above their authority, positions and pay grade.
He was there to send a ‘Message’ re any continued attempt to oppose his Administration & Presidency. No question.
Message, Brennan is gone, and THIS Prez rules the roost through my appointments. Trumpster was addressing the Administrative & Analyst and other ‘staff’, not Clandestine Services.
Trump underlying message. “And, oh yeah, your deputy Director’s and other management appointments will be flushed too, down the line, ‘unsaid’.”
He presented as ‘livid’, having difficulty speaking solicitously and repeatedly baring and grinding his teeth. IMV.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2017 2:29 utc | 170
@164
Israel is an crucial tool to control the MENA, neither more nor less. In this sense, they are (short-term) influential.
Short term my ass! AIPAC is not the only Zionist Lobby in America; there are countless others Zionists of America that endorsed Trump is just another.
This is a 2011 video that demonstrates how these lobbies suborn Washington politicians, how corrupt they are and how much control they have.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO3CxYj0mP4
Even Rand Paul is surrendering his soul to Zionism and the other not as visible Foreign Israeli Lobby ZOA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr3GTXPIrxc
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 2:39 utc | 171
@166 KiwiCris.. thanks. i like john helmers articles for the most part, and these ones on freeland especially for how provocative and shocking they are.. listening to cbc radio coming back home a moment ago, i note the inner circle of trudeau’s gov’t are meeting in calgary over the next 2 days, to discuss the visit and etc that trudeau is going to have with trump.. trump is talking about making NAFTA more friendly to the usa.. i recall back to the conservative asshole mulroney who pushed NAFTA thru, in spite of the majority of canucks who didn’t want it.. now the msm make like it is some big deal that it continues.. the global economy is killing everyone.. that is how i see it. screw NAFTA.. i hope trump rips it up.
sorry for that rant, lol.. as for comments on helmers site – there never are any.. he takes them in and if you want to say something to him – you can their.. he might e mail you back.. i have had some good exchanges with him privately via e mail. (obviously) i like the guy and think he does good work..
i agree with outraged @168.. twitter, flakebook and google – all of them suck.. i do everything i can to boycott them.. when all the fish are going one way, i am going to go the opposite way or entertain the idea anyway..i am sorry about eva bartlett not having an outlet.. surely there is another way to communicate to people.. spinning around in the twitter/fb/google cesspool doesn’t strike me as sound..
the msm will not be mentioning anything about deir ezzor.. it will remain off the radar, unless the west can pin some atrocity or horror on assad.. then it will be news 24/7… shows you how much i don’t respect the msm!
thanks for your comments..
Posted by: james | Jan 23 2017 2:41 utc | 172
The words of wisdom in the following video are, as relevant today as when they were when first spoken by their author. Especially now, this man’s words echo from the other side warning us of Trump (the filthy rich) and his handlers taking over government.
I’m in awe of this timeless reality check; the man was a genius who should have been awarded the Pulitzer or Nobel Prize, however, since they gave the latter to criminals like Shimon Peres and Obama; he’s better off without it. Timeless wisdom you should all listen to instead of the crap Trump and co. are feeding us.
Words that should inspire a f…cking revolution now!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dY4WlxO6i0
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 2:53 utc | 173
@ Posted by: james | Jan 22, 2017 9:41:34 PM | 171
However, as Mischi mentioned IIRC, even if distasteful, one should now and then the enter the sewer(all sides) and listen/observe/read what they report, no matter how confronting/distasteful, to see the line they take, the narrative/position … the omissions!
When done periodically, objectivity is easier to maintain, and is even more starkly revealing, as opposed to constant relentless exposure … ’tis a form of electronic/digital valium for the ‘sheeple’. IMV
When the constant regular ‘dosage’ is not taken, one is much more ‘alert’ and ‘aware’. 😉
Hence the incremental and ever more egregious attempts at silencing by any means fair or foul, any form of non-conforming ‘fact-based’ reporting/communication & ‘reality’. Ie the ProPornOT list of ~200(recommended sites (?)), and so on.
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2017 3:01 utc | 174
@ Posted by: Circe | Jan 22, 2017 9:53:29 PM | 172
Have you perhaps, carefully considered, whether aggressive, relentless, tautological, proselytizing is actually a worthwhile or in any way effective means to present, your, *ahem*, particular ‘views’/’viewpoint’ ?
Such, typically results in unwelcome responses and likely only results in your ‘output’ being ignored, ie scrolled on by ?
As opposed to, considered, ‘toned down’, reasoned ‘engagement’ ?
Posted by: Outraged | Jan 23 2017 3:09 utc | 175
ha ha
Ukrainians want Jews who are now living in Canada probed on war crimes committed while they were members of the Soviet Secret Police.
http://forward.com/articles/3451/ukrainians-want-jews-probed-on-war-crimes/
Posted by: mischi | Jan 23 2017 3:14 utc | 176
I said “Shame on America”, because so many voted on that evil woman.
b deleted that.
Posted by: From The Hague | Jan 23 2017 3:17 utc | 177
Posted by: godit | Jan 23 2017 3:24 utc | 178
@ Outraged | Jan 22, 2017 9:29:40 PM | 169
As indicated previously, I largely agree.
My comment was in relation to reading too much into “columns” etc.
One may equally imply that anyone ‘not following new orders’ will add to the ‘stars’ on the wall behind him.
With the Pentagon Generals at his side (they don’t retire), and the recent undermining Syrian subversive debacles yet to be forgotten in high places, this Brennan-polluted agency is likely to be ‘juiced’ in the near future.
Here, he’s talking to the chosen-400 Pretorian guard who are likely to be the leadership of the ‘new’ reformed agency. Expect the DoD to have a significant input into new structures, organisation and function.
Certain interests stalled his nominated chief appointment for day-1, and so he went down personally into the belly of the whale. Friends close, and enemies even closer etc — 101 really.
Posted by: x | Jan 23 2017 3:25 utc | 179
Spoiler alert to all the empty heads marching against a “Trump tyranny”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_EwFdLSEN0
Posted by: From The Hague | Jan 23 2017 3:30 utc | 180
175
That precedent was already established by Rabbi Marvin Hier at the Simon Weisenthal Center. No longer are witnesses or proofs required of crimes against the Chosen, only documents or newspaper clippings, scraps to hang you with.
Now think about all the documents you freely put on the Net for all of Time, and how the winds may change, to making it a crime to even speak against that Matzo Mafia, as has now already been made law in EU and US!
Then watch this: all their sickening crimes that it is now a Thought Crime to discuss in public that Netanyahu just approved 666 more condo units in Jerusalem, 22/01/2017, on the Holy Sabbath and Trump will build a Ziggurat. Tell me there isn’t a hell on Earth, and the Orange Jesuit isn’t a Luciferian, like Bush Jr, and the Rodham Hag-Witch.
Molek And Golum Adonis
MAGA!
#TRD
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Jan 23 2017 3:33 utc | 181
Okay, hopefully you all watched the video I posted 172, especially @ 5:29 to 5:37. So let’s see if those words fit today:
The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice; nobody seems to care. Good honest hard working people: white collar, blue collar, doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on, good honest hard working people continue (these are people of honest means) continue to elect these rich c…ck s…ckers who don’t give a f…ck about them; they don’t give a f…ck about you. THEY DON’T GIVE A F…K ABOUT YOU… THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUUUU… at all… at all…AT ALLLLL!
Alas! you went and did it again. You don’t believe Carlin? How about Albert Einstein? He said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. THAT’S YOU! Look at you. The Real Donald Trump he’s one of those rich c…k s…kers. He doesn’t give a f…ck about you? He doesn’t give a f ck about you! He doesn’t care about YOU…at all…at all…at alllll!!
Thankfully this is the last time you screw this up; because Trump will unwittingly trigger the revolution. Take that to the bank.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 3:47 utc | 182
@178
You do realize that Pompeo dithered on the question of whether waterboarding should be brought back? You do realize that, right?
Only a REAL bastard would hesitate to answer NO.
Posted by: Circe | Jan 23 2017 4:00 utc | 183
Today MOA looks like the World War II documentary, World at War. All Nazis, all the time.
Posted by: euclidcreek | Jan 23 2017 4:12 utc | 184
@TheRealDonald | Jan 22, 2017 2:36:16
It may be true, but it’s different when you make the OK sign while speaking (many people do it obviously not for nefarious purposes, including myself sometimes) as opposed to greeting the crowds – Trump have not been using the V sign on such occasions, but rather closed fist. I found it remarkable during the inauguration.
Posted by: ProPeace | Jan 23 2017 5:08 utc | 185
@Paul & David – violence by masked people: Antifa, ISIS, drug cartels = same masters
Protester taunts Trump supporters with ISIS flag and beheading video
Posted by: ProPeace | Jan 23 2017 5:13 utc | 186
{Quote} At the end of Trump’s speech to a room filled with 400 employees of the CIA, Trump said, rather cryptically, that maybe he’d build them a bigger room ‘by someone who knows how to build and we won’t have columns, do you understand that?’ {End quote}
{Quote} The [WTC] towers were designed as framed tube structures, which provided tenants with open floor plans, uninterrupted by columns or walls. {End quote} — Construction of the World Trade Center — Wikipedia — The dictionary certain people can edit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_of_the_World_Trade_Center
Posted by: blues | Jan 23 2017 6:27 utc | 187
British leader to meet with Trump today (monday) to discuss trade, NATO
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/uks-may-discuss-trade-nato-white-house-trump
Documentary: Counter Intelligence – ‘The Company’
http://21stcenturywire.com/2017/01/22/sunday-screening-counter-intelligence-the-company/
““Shining a Light on Black Operations: This 5-part documentary is a great expose on the national surveillance state that has arisen over the last 50-100 years. Manipulating elections, overthrowing foreign governments, and secret assassinations are just a few of the heinous acts committed in the name of national security. Now that Edward Snowden has blown the lid off of the NSA’s Prism snooping program, this film series is even more important and relevant.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 23 2017 6:44 utc | 188
Perhaps this helps explain Trump as strategist …
Adams’ (Nov) didn’t get the ‘landslide’ quite right (unless a majority in all three arms qualifies), but nonetheless, in another recent interview [January 17, 2017 on his blog around 19:00] he makes the point that Trump had 12 months to work on ‘statistical persuasion’ of the 5% of the public he could shift.
“Dilbert Creator Scott Adams on Predicting Trump Winning in a Landslide
Published on Nov 7, 2016
Dilbert Creator Scott Adams on Predicting Trump Winning in a Landslide”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-sBO6OppAc
Posted by: x | Jan 23 2017 7:07 utc | 189
From Taha Asharq Al Awsat by Abdul Wahed:
ISIS Mass Exodus from Raqqa to Deir Ezzor
From their about page:
Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper
Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.
Haven’t heard of them before. Anyone?
If the article is accurate, it would be entirely worrisome. I can’t see how Raqqa can be defended now with the SDF Kurds and thousands of arab militia (and probably tons of U.S.-paid Kurd and arab mercs) just outside the city. You know all the big-shot head-choppers have fled al Bab by now, and I would expect the same thing to be happening in Ar Raqqa (despite the veracity of this particular article). So the current ISIS campaign in Deir EzZor isn’t just an opportunistic attack – they fully well intend to fight to the death for that city – there’s nowhere left for them to flee. Deir EzZor may get much, much worse unless someone steps up to help them.
The fact that ISIS may have suffered high casualties so far in Deir EzZor is inconsequential – they will send as many martyrs into the meat-grinder as necessary. They know that the U.S. wants them out of Ar Raqqa and will not attack them as they flee to Deir EzZor or fight for the city. Typical ‘Free Pass’ the U.S./GCC usually gives the head-choppers when they’re herding them to one place or another.
I have little doubt about the SAA and allies will and tenacity for holding Deir EzZor, but it only takes a few well-placed (or lucky) VBIEDs to turn the tide of any of the smaller battles. The Syrian Army still has the disadvantage of having lost the high ground west of the current thrust that split Syrian defenses. Choppers are not nearly enough to keep the SAA supplied. If they don’t open a road to Tadmor soon, then they are in serious trouble.
Then there’s the 100K or starving civilians, whose plight is being made worse by the U.S. – the wellheads and stills CENTCOM is bombing are the ones ISIS are using and selling to everyone in Deir EzZor. The hospital and bakery run on diesel generators. Fresh water is only pumped to the city once a week or so by a diesel-powered pumping station. The U.S.’s bungling attempts to deprive ISIS of oil revenue is compounding the already horrible humanitarian situation for the civilians in Deir EzZor. And I have to say, it’s a damn peculiar time to shut down mini-stills when the U.S. ignored caravans of oil trucks heading to Turkey for the last two years. The civilians in Deir EzZor have no other way to get any diesel except from ISIS, and the SAA is going to preserve what it has for its remaining armor. Is the U.S. really that f’king stupid or are they intentionally making the civilians there suffer as much as humanly possible?
The fact that absolutely no mention of this has been made in western MSM means the Pentagram and CENTCOM know perfectly well this is happening, and don’t want the public to know. It would bring up far too many uncomfortable questions about aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. Not to mention the cowardly act of turning a blind eye to these migrating head-chopper leaders while they’re on the road, exposed to air attack. The U.S. is watching all of this real-time from drones and doing nothing – on purpose.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 23 2017 7:30 utc | 190
Note to the ‘Great White Hoax’,
YOu wanna make murkka ‘great’ ?
Man up and clean up your own house instead of
blaming others for the shits piling up at
your doorsteps !
http://tinyurl.com/gwhdsdw
http://tinyurl.com/h2vbj34
While you’r at it, why not send in your DHS goons
to round up some of those morons commenting in the
Zh threads,
exhibit 1
*Jack needs to take misshapen head back to Beijing,
STHU.*
exhibit 2
*So the fuck what? That’s our business, not yours.
Keep your fucking mouth shut until we figure out
what to do about you. With any luck,
we’ll redo the railroads and find something there
for you.
Otherwise, shut up. We put you in business and we
can put you out of business just as fast. So chop,
chop and STFU.*
exhibit 3
*Fuck you Ma! Go live in a ghost city with concrete
made of gypsum.*
………..
that’d raise the murkkan IQ points by at least 10% !
p.s.
I cant comment on Zh anymore, cant loggin,
ditto the saker, posts never appear ! 🙁
hhhhhh
Posted by: denk | Jan 23 2017 7:38 utc | 191
And another pertinent article from Caroline Akoum in Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper just out:
Deir Ezzor … ISIS’ Alternative Capital
Nothing new but far more detail than anything I’ve seen in western MSM.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 23 2017 7:43 utc | 192
Not to mention the cowardly act of turning a blind eye to these migrating head-chopper leaders while they’re on the road, exposed to air attack.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 23, 2017 2:30:13 AM | 189
Very serious problems for Deir EzZor.
But from your link I understand the Russians are bombing the terorists while they’re on the road.
At least in Syria (why not in Iraq?)
Meanwhile, Russia deployed six long-range supersonic Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers from Russian territory to strike ISIS targets in the Syrian governorate of Deir Ezzor, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday, according to Russia Today.
The bombers hit militant base camps, weapon stockpiles, and armored vehicles, the report said.
Posted by: From The Hague | Jan 23 2017 7:55 utc | 193
Maram Susli (aka @Partisangirl) in NEO:
Western Media Whitewashes Rebel Destruction of Damascus Water Supply
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 23 2017 8:12 utc | 194
From The Hague@192 – I suppose it’s possible, but the Tupolevs are far better suited for stationary, fixed-position targets like camps, fortified positions or massed troop/armor formations around Deir EzZor (if there even are any). Any effective RuAF strike on a convoy is going to use low and slow – Mi-28 helicopters or ground-attack configured aircraft like the latest Su-25s.
‘Convoy’ probably isn’t accurate – the head-choppers know they are targets. They are not going to travel in an obvious bunch, but what will look like refugees or stragglers spread over dozens of kilometers. They are crossing what is supposedly ISIS-held territory, so no need for a typical convoy. They will likely bunch up at certain points, and this would all be obvious to image analysts looking at drone footage or imagery from surveillance aircraft. I would guess 1) the U.S. knows when and where any ISIS migration takes place, and 2) the Russians do not. There’s technical differences between U.S. and Russian drones, and the U.S. probably has many more tasked with Syria than Russia does. The long-loiter Russian drones are going to be busy directly at battle sites – they don’t have enough to cover large swaths of Syrian countryside looking for suspicious pickup trucks (as far as I know).
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jan 23 2017 8:28 utc | 195
re 189
Haven’t heard of them before. Anyone?
Really? It’s by far the best known Arab newspaper in the West, edited in London. Saudi-owned. From which last fact you can derive your take on this story. “ISIS running away” is a bit of a meme these days, isn’t it? That’s what they said about Mosul. Only it turned out not to be true. Evidently “they” want to convince us that Raqqa is about to fall. Presumably that is the US. I have to say that the SDF offensive against Raqqa has been going pretty slowly, and it’s been even more unsuccessful than the attack on Mosul. Obviously someone wants us to believe that decisive victory is imminent.
Posted by: Laguerre | Jan 23 2017 9:03 utc | 196
@PavewayIV | Jan 23, 2017 3:12:43 AM | 193
Maram Susli is The Syrian Girl an Aussie. She use to hate Dr. Assad but since change realizing that her fathers’ business flop wasn’t Dr. Assad fault. She is a good debater. We need more people like her in Aussie (beside John Pilger and Julian Assange) and in Canada where too many clueless stills believe its Putin fault and Dr. Assad is a “dictator” or “regime”
OJS -> The Original Jack Smith
Posted by: OJS | Jan 23 2017 9:09 utc | 197
11 million dollars for Jammeh’s holidays in Guinea
The Gambia ‘missing millions’ after Jammeh flies into exile
Posted by: Mina | Jan 23 2017 9:51 utc | 198
al sharq al awsat is one of the major global Arab newspapers, Saudi funded, with a staff mainly based in KSA (unlike al Hayat, other major global Saudi funded paper but with a big staff in London)
Posted by: Mina | Jan 23 2017 10:00 utc | 199
sorry Laguerre is right, based in London
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asharq_Al-Awsat
but compared to al Hayat it was supposedly more openly pro gov than al Hayat in the old times
Posted by: Mina | Jan 23 2017 10:02 utc | 200