Open Thread 2017-30
News & views ...
Posted by b on July 25, 2017 at 18:21 UTC | Permalink
next page »#UNRIG, the campaign to educate the public about how to achieve electoral reform, and the need to have an Election Integrity Act passed, is off to a decent start, having raised about $100,000. #UNRIG was started by ex-CIA government reformer and open engineering advocate, Robert David Steele, and Cynthia McKinney, former Green Party Presidential candidate. (Steele also ran for President, during primaries, for a while, as the rep of the Reform Party.) #UNRIG is transpartisan, and this is reflected in McKinney being alt-left, and Steele alt-right.
#UNRIG also has a secondary purpose of educating against AIPAC. In particular, #UNRIG wants citizens to at least be aware of whether or not their representative has taken an AIPAC pledge. According to Steele, the recent introduction of truly draconian (and unconstitutional) legislation to criminalize publicly advocating BDS is "a gift from heaven". (http://phibetaiota.net/2017/07/mongoose-congress-seeks-to-criminalize-any-criticism-of-israel-we-do-not-make-this-crap-up/) The geniuses in Congress (including 44 Senate co-sponsors) would like to throw American citizens in jail for up to 20 years, together with fines of $250,000 to $1,000,000.
I kid you not!
#UNRIG needs about another $150,000+ to complete their proposed summer RV tour. (This includes circulating around the White House for a couple of days.) You can donate at https://www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/unrig-summer-of-peace.
Pepe Escobar chimes in on the dispute between China and India, admonishes Modi for being just another pawn of the Outlaw US Empire, http://www.atimes.com/article/china-india-torn-silk-roads-cocked-guns/
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 25 2017 21:33 utc | 4
MoA needs to look into this:
http://thehill.com/homenews/media/343430-newsweek-settles-with-sputnik-writer?amp
One wonders how musch Newsweek/Eichenwald paid in order to keep their dishonesty hidden from plain sight. And, will it simply disappear as a postcript to the Fake News file.
Posted by: etienne marais | Jul 25 2017 21:42 utc | 5
McCain get up from his death bed, flies to dc in private jet and votes to kill more Amerikans.
Posted by: jo6pac | Jul 25 2017 21:59 utc | 6
It is still a mystery to me what really happened to the US ambassador in Libya. He was moving weapons around - timber sycamore is an operational name . To who (whom?) exactly and which weapons? There were numerous Congressional investigations that were focused on blaming Hillary that didn't amount to anything substantial. There are the revelations of the Blumenthal emails. There was the fake news of the insulting video. There are various conspiracy theories of a fakey op gone wrong. What was Petraus' involvement (if any) and was that why he was fired? There was surely some kind of CIA involvement. surely somewhere in Libya or the Mediterranean there were US military that could have helped him. It is odd there was no support. I come across an interview with James and Joanne Moriaty - http://instigatornews.com/chris-stevens-was-assassinated-couple-exposes-truth-of-what-happened-in-libya/ It tracks for me.
Posted by: gepay | Jul 25 2017 22:04 utc | 7
Julian Assange @JulianAssange 4h4 hours ago
Sad to see "progressives" so debased that they're more concerned about Trump revealing a murderous CIA program than the program itself.
Posted by: brian | Jul 25 2017 22:05 utc | 8
The sanctions escalated. If Putin will not retaliate I will loose any remaining respect for him.
Bully cannot be stopped by reasoning or good will but by a swift punch in the nose, If Putin does not understand this, instead of a punch in the nose he will have to destroy life on earth or become a slave.
Vlad, it will never ever stop, these are delusional psychotics suffering from brain tumor, stop it now, retaliate harshly make EU to choose now between life liberated from stench of decaying US corpse and death under mushroom cloud.
I hope otherwise sane b stop telling us that Putin can do no wrong, because he sets himself as a unwilling contributor to human extinction.
Posted by: Kalen | Jul 25 2017 22:43 utc | 9
gepay @7, What really happened to US ambassador in Libya? Here's one version: http://www.globalresearch.ca/libyas-green-resistance-did-it-
If you're seriously interested, go to globalresearch.ca and search "killing of Libyan ambassador" & you'll pull up about 10 articles.
Almost anything you're researching can benefit from looking at Globalresearch.ca archives. Not that I always agree w them, but they use pretty good journalistic standards.
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 25 2017 22:46 utc | 10
@2 nmb... i read the hurriyet almost daily... 2 articles today for anyone else interested - Main opposition CHP leader says ‘no press freedom in Turkey’ and Trial of Turkish daily Cumhuriyet journalists, executives continues on second day
@5 etienne marais.. interesting.. i suspect it happens more often then we care to know..
@7 gepay.. i liked your post @2 on the previous thread.. this one looks good too.. good questions.. what does the article conclude? stevens looks like he was just an pansy for hillary clintons agenda, which was funneling weapons into the ''''moderate''''' opposition..
@8 brian.. so true... but the trump was in bed with russia witch hunt must continue!
@ kalen.. a number of us here see it differently..
Posted by: james | Jul 25 2017 22:54 utc | 11
In all the talk about medical care there is powerful little about WHY medical care is so expensive. I'm not informed on the issue, but would like to hazard a guess anyway: Probably the inflated cost of homes, college & medicine is from a common cause/
Michael Hudson notes that the price of a home is what a bank will loan towards its purchase, and the mortgage payment that a family can afford is increased by making those payments tax-deductible-- thus subsidizing, ultimately, the FIRE sector (finance, insurance & real estate).
College education was vastly less expensive till it was automatically subsidized by huge loans which made the raising of tuition & other expenses possible. At least some colleges are investing in incredible real estate holdings, while profs are doing less teaching,etc. And we know who's benefitting from all these noncancellable loans.
Medical care: I think it must be something similar, no? And so many doctors are no longer independent practitioners, but have to follow the dogma of an institution or group practice that they belong to.
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 25 2017 23:02 utc | 12
Smoke is finally clearing, isn't it?
对新老板问好:
Head of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde says the organization may move its headquarters from Washington DC to Beijing in a decade if the growth trend in China and other major emerging markets continues.
https://www.rt.com/business/397424-imf-move-beijing-decade-lagarde/
ليس وظيفة داخلية ولكن وظيفة من الداخل.
The documentary will be shown at 20.00 GMT (12am UAE time), and will address the reported relationship between Qatar and the mastermind of the 11th September, 2001, attacks on the United States, US, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad (KSM), and Qatar's long-term support for him, including protection and financial assistance, to achieve his terrorist goals and plans.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/media/qatar-s-links-with-9-11-mastermind-revealed-in-sky-news-arabia-documentary-1.2063799
"Who run barter town"
R vs R.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1771.Sun_Tzu
Posted by: nobody | Jul 25 2017 23:07 utc | 13
A little more about medicine. I notice years ago that if you want to read higher quality history you need to seek out books published in the 20s or even earlier. The more currently written the more of the truth is left out or distorted to advance the NWO.
The same thing seems to be true of medicine. So much that doctors knew and used in their practices of the 20s thru the 50s has vanished from the curriculum. For example, Wm Jeffries who did the pioneer work on adrenal hormones, noting the circumstances under which people are benefitted from low-dose cortisol. Today doctors take thje ludicrous position that either your adrenal glands are absolutely normal or you have full-fledged Cushings disease; a relative decrease of the hormone no longer exists.
From the time that thyroid hormone was discovered until the mid-60s doctors successfully treated patients with natural (pig) thyroid. They assessed dosage by the patient's response and symptoms, also by axial temperature and BMR (basal metabolic rate). They gave much larger doses than are today permitted and got excellent results. But this has all been wiped from the medical slate. The dogma today is that the doctor must follow the patient's TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone out the window, ignoring the patient's symptoms no matter how blatant.
If you are interested the book is by Mark Starr, MD. Hypothyroidism Type 2. He's a personal hero of mine, and I think a very brave man. The information in his book gives you a shocking summary of what is being done to us-- w/o a hint of conspiracy. The last two prominent integrative (independent) doctors whom I was following ended up killed. They were becoming too influential, publishing books, etc.
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 25 2017 23:26 utc | 14
Penelope @12--
If you're as interested in the subject of health care as you seem, I suggest going to the Monthly Review website, type health care into the search box at the top right of the main page, then browse through the numerous articles they've published on the subject. I assure you'll be enlightened, https://monthlyreview.org/
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 25 2017 23:31 utc | 15
S.722 has overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate. The bill, to my mind anyway, clearly is in violation of the Constitutional separation of the powers of Congress and the Executive. On that basis can Trump refuse to even consider it? Given the level of support the bill received can he even veto it (successfully)? Thanks in advance for any insight into this latest horror.
Posted by: frances | Jul 26 2017 1:35 utc | 16
nmb @ 2: Thanks for the link. An excerpt that describes for me, the game afoot in the world today..
"We are now witnessing a fierce battle in all levels globally, where big corporations are trying to build greater monopolies, eliminate competitors, establish the oncoming Feudalism 2.0 against labor and ordinary citizens."
"It's just business, get over it."
Posted by: ben | Jul 26 2017 1:37 utc | 17
P @ 12: Obviously, you live where healthcare isn't run by insurance companies. Canada?
Please, take karlof1's advice..
Posted by: ben | Jul 26 2017 1:42 utc | 18
@ Ben #18 In case she doesn't see it . . .if memory serves, I think she's a New Zealander . . . (or maybe I'm thinking about "Debs is Dead", another MoA poster)
Our health care is govt run, free to all . . .but there's a catch It's become woefully underfunded since 1984,when the Labour govt discovered/had forced on them/whatever, the wonders of freemarket neoliberalism. This has led to a drastically reduced services & so one can wait for literally years for simple operations. There is a 6 month revolving door for what's termed "elective" surgery. To get on the list for said surgery one has to accumulate enough points, gained by measuring how debilitating it is, how much pain, blah, blah, blah. If one doesn't recieve the surgery within the 6 months, as is often the case, one goes "off" the waiting list & has to restart the process all over again !! . . makes the Govt look wonderful though . . "we have very short waiting lists for surgery" goes the answer to questions asked of the Health Minister in Parliament.
So there has been a rise in private medical insurers who's rates seem to go up up faster than any inflation %'s would suggest is fair & equitable. And we now have a growing population of poor & working poor - myself included - relying on a busted freemarket model of healthcare . . which doesn't include dental.
50 years ago, it was a wonderful health service. I remember as a child going to hospital to have my tonsils out (& feasting on jelly & ice-cream). y 4 year old grandson who has had constant bouts of tonsillitis & trips to the doctor can't get his done unless he has 5 visits to the doctor in a calender year & even then there's no guarantee he'll get the op !! First time mothers used to get a week to ten days in hospital with nurses & midwives showing them the ropes. Now you're lucky if you get to stay overnight & for the second baby (as long as there's no complications - "we aren't barbarians")you're out 6 hours later.
But we could be living in a third world war zone so - small mercies.
Posted by: KiwiCris | Jul 26 2017 2:22 utc | 19
public health + private big pharma = big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. big pharma in cahoots with gov't = the problem..
Posted by: james | Jul 26 2017 2:41 utc | 20
KC @ 19: "Bankruptcies resulting from unpaid medical bills will affect nearly 2 million people this year—making health care the No. 1 cause of such filings, and outpacing bankruptcies due to credit-card bills or unpaid mortgages, according to new data. And even having health insurance doesn't buffer consumers against financial hardship."
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100840148
Can't find the stats for New Zealand, but I'll bet their less than the U$A.
Here's another stat that I'll bet beats New Zealand..
"New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage"
Posted by: ben | Jul 26 2017 3:12 utc | 21
usa daily press briefing from today
" QUESTION: -- on Israel.
MS NAUERT: Yeah.
QUESTION: And this has to do with – I don’t know if you’re aware of this, I’ve pointed it out earlier, but the – a small group of pro-Palestinian activists were prevented from getting on a flight to Israel in – at Dulles because they said that they were – the airline said that they had a letter from the Israeli Government saying that they would not be admitted to the country. This is under their new law, the Israelis’ new law, which allows them to bar supporters of the BDS – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement – from entering. These people were American citizens. Do you guys have any issue with them being denied the plane ride?
MS NAUERT: We’re certainly familiar with that report. We’re aware of that. We have a strong opposition to the boycotts and sanctions against Israel. I think we’ve made that position very well known. As a matter of general principle, as many of us know as Americans – I know not everybody here in this room is an American – but we value freedom of expression, and that’s something that is very important to us, even in cases where we don’t agree with the political views of others. But for more information on that, I’d ask you to talk to the Israeli Government about that decision.
QUESTION: Well, but is this something that you would raise with the Israeli Government as a – to say, hey, look, we have a problem with this or we don’t have a problem with this?
MS NAUERT: I’m not aware of whether or not we will bring that up with the Israelis. I think our focus right now will be on de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. If this does come up and if it’s something that I can discuss with you, I certainly will.
Posted by: james | Jul 26 2017 3:25 utc | 22
here is a direct link to the above info @22..
and over at mondoweiss i see this....) Bill making it a federal crime to support BDS sends shockwaves through progressive community... wow, the usa has some real losers who introduce these type bills...
Posted by: james | Jul 26 2017 3:30 utc | 23
I must let folks here in on my "latest" epiphany about who rules the "Western World". I have finally discerned that it's the "CIA". Of course they used to call it the "Office of Strategic Services" ("OSS") and, of course, other things going back to at least the Roman Empire. The name can always be changed, just in the fashion "ISIL" became "ISIS" became "IS" became Daesh, and on and on. And they don't really work for the president or the DHS, or anyone else, except on paper.
Some people think the Bilderberg group, or the Rothschild family, or the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), etc. are the real rulers, and certainly they are plugged in. Nonetheless, I see now that the real power grows out of the barrel of a gun, but not out of just any gun: Only the hidden gun.
Of course there are certain "special groups" who do a Hollywood-worthy job of posing as the real string pullers. But these must only be Potemkin power brokers, since if they were really running things we would never see them for what they truly are at all.
Would we?
Posted by: blues | Jul 26 2017 3:36 utc | 24
@13 "Head of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde says the organization may move its headquarters from Washington DC to Beijing in a decade if the growth trend in China and other major emerging markets continues."
Not to be overly-dramatic, but I imagine that if Lagarde intends to repeat that comment then he would be very wise to up his life-insurance policy.
For his wife and kiddies. Because, you know, sudden and unexpected fatal accident or previously-undiagnosed heart condition.
Posted by: Yeah, Right | Jul 26 2017 3:38 utc | 25
That's William McK Jeffries - The Safe Uses of Cortison. I own a copy of this important work. Go to Stop the Thyroid Madness
Posted by: Robert McMaster | Jul 26 2017 3:38 utc | 26
Apologies for repetition. This was posted on another thread but this thread is obviously more suited to my speculation.
Partially OT
What I find is totally missing from the analysis of the recent history of the Middle East is one possible covert reason the West ventured into Iraq.
In the laundry list of reasons as to why we should invade Iraq, one had to do with bringing democracy.
If we take that excuse at face value however and considering that the West has traditionally been allied with the Sunni regimes of the region during the second half of this century, that would mean nobody stopped to do the math.
I find that highly unlikely.
Iraq has always had a Shia'a majority.
Upon invading the country, not only did we promptly dismantle the entire security and administrative apparatus but we also removed all administrative documents which, if memory serves, were taken to Washington DC
In my opinion, this was a deliberate attempt at allowing the majority to take over violently.
If indeed that was a deliberate move, it follows that the West knew that all surrounding Sunni regimes would not simply sit idly by as new neighbors make their way in what they consider as their own backyard.
From where I am standing, I can only presume that at some point in the past 15 years there has been a deliberate attempt at giving Iran, and therefore the Shia'a variety of belief, the upper hand in the region.
Any thoughts?
Posted by: guidoamm | Jul 26 2017 3:39 utc | 27
Jared Kushner's Testimonial To Stupidity and Unfitness - American and Russian
John Helmer's latest must-read on Russiagate
Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 26 2017 3:47 utc | 28
@1 Fisk is always a good, entertaining read even if you don't agree with him.
Some comments about the first article:
If I have read it correctly then there is only 1 (one) Russian officer in that deconfliction centre. That doesn't sound right, so unless there are a bunch of Russkies hiding around the back of the building that Fisk didn't spot then I wouldn't think there is much importance to be placed in this.
The Kurd let slip something interesting: "We talk everyday and we already have another centre at Afrin to coordinate the campaign. We have to make one force that fights together."
Huh? What R+6 campaign is taking place around Afrin?
I was under the distinct impression that following the Turkish announcement that it was unacceptable for the Kurds to link up Kobani with the enclave in Afrin then the Kurds inside Afrin took the sensible option to lie low and avoid being noticed.
Apparently not....
Posted by: Yeah, Right | Jul 26 2017 4:00 utc | 29
@ blues who thinks the CIA is the center of Empire power and control.
While I agree that the CIA is an active agent for those that control empire I would posit that the real power you say comes out of the barrel of a gun comes instead out of the utility of global finance brought to you privately, and owned privately by a cabal of global "families"....IMO, the hidden gun of your comment.
@ others writing about health care
I agree that profit should be removed from the cost equation of health care, which is also the major impediment to medical advances, like nurofeedback which i hope to report on in an Open Thread soon...93 sessions and mooooooving......
What society needs to consider with the provision of health care on a larger scale is how to have an insurance system (maybe similar to the intent of the original Social Security Insurance). In my thoughts the question about who runs the insurance system gets back to the collective definition of government. In my mind, any government is by definition, a form of socialism. How far that socialism extends into society is what I think is important to discuss, design, implement and manage. Profit should not be part of any government provide service.
I say those things within a bigger concept in my mind of a world where society has redefined responsibility to and support from government... beyond the scope of an Open Thread discussion, perhaps.....would that we could get to have open discussions globally about such stuff in forums other than the comment sections of independent journalists.....not to take anything away from the graciousness and excellence of b.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 26 2017 4:06 utc | 30
blues @24--
You're oh so very close, IMO. How about those who designed the CIA to work for their interests, which means looking deeply into the National Security Act of 1947 and all the actors who made it possible, along the lines of what Beard did in his investigation regarding the 1787 coup and resulting Constitution. When you look, you'll see many who were those behind the 1933 attempted coup to overthrow FDR, the Neocons of their day.
From the day of its settlement, except for a few memorable moments, North America's been ruled by an Oligarchy--that the governments are democracies is one of the Biggest of all time Big Lies.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 26 2017 4:15 utc | 31
Re the Healthcare crisis in the West... it's due entirely to Neolib Middleman-itis. Doctors are subordinate to the (profit) whims of Insurance Companies. Similarly, the privatisation of utilities (gas, electricity, phone etc) merely inserted a (private) invoice-issuing entity between customers and utility service-providers and sold (privatised) the govt-owned service provider for a once-off cash windfall.
But it's everywhere.
A friend's daughter is a qualified teacher and took a few years off teaching to care full-time for a young family. When she was ready to return to teaching (in the Final Term of the school year) there was no shortage of qualified teachers and she door-knocked schools in the area to register with each as an Emergency Teacher.
Next year she had an established reputation with enough local schools to receive (her desired) sufficient teaching work (3 or 4 days per week). A few weeks into the year she received a letter, from a new, Centralised Authority, advising her that she would henceforth be notified of temp vacancies by the C.A. and direct communication between schools and Emergency Teachers is now Strictly Verboten.
That little stunt cost her 10% of each and every paycheck, delayed her paychecks, sometimes caused assignment stuff-ups due to red tape.
It was pure, totally unnecessary, inefficient, money-for-nothing, Mr 10%, Middleman-itis.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 26 2017 4:25 utc | 32
guidoamm | Jul 25, 2017 11:39:20 PM | 27
A few bits and pieces from some gathering at Aspen has be quoted around the blogs in the last week or so. Former and I think current head honcho's of US intelligence - seem to believe their own propaganda. This runs through to the political leadership of the US military and of course is prevalent in US politics.
You are witnessing the breakdown of empire. If shooting themselves in the foot doesn't hurt enough, they then take aim at their balls - re the sanctions aimed at Germany and Nord Stream.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 26 2017 4:47 utc | 33
As somebody else has used the 'Peter AU' username a couple of times in the last week or so, I will now post as Peter AU 1.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 26 2017 4:49 utc | 34
Ah yes, back to Russiagate. Mercouris has looked into the VIPS paper and arrived at some interesting connected dots, http://theduran.com/russiagate-begin-clinton-campaign-conspiracy-new-forensic-research-may-suggest/
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 26 2017 4:50 utc | 35
@31 karlof1 -
I think I agree with your concluding sentence. But I live by the advice of Heinlein's fictional Lazarus Long, who said: "Of course the game is rigged. But don't let that stop you playing. If you don't play, you can't win."
Sometimes, if we play, we win. Because having control of a system doesn't mean the system always does what you want it to do. That would be a closed system, but instead, we're in a big universe.
@32 Hoarsewhisperer -
When all that moves is production, then what you want, and all you need, is work. But when all that moves is money itself, then all you can find to do is take a piece of the money. Middleman replaces producer. I agree with your implication that it's not the people who change the economy, it's the economy that changes the decisions available to people. Neoliberal, as you say. The theft of real energy using discounted coupons for that real energy.
@30 psychohistorian -
Every time I read a comment by you the same question rings in my mind: "HOW?" I agree with everything you say about money, but the task of fighting the rulers of the world seems impossible - who has power greater than theirs? Not that this means to give up, simply that the effort called for is purely to persist, to continue - precisely to continue, and never to give up until we find a way to organize ourselves, we humans, without individual greed being able to dominate the common table through artifice.
If open threads are all we have, then keep talking. If these are the tablecloths of the cafes for us, sooner or later someone will scribble out a manifesto that is heard round the world.
Posted by: Grieved | Jul 26 2017 4:53 utc | 36
Grieved @36--
Thanks for your well considered replies and closing sentiment.
It appears the Oligarchy's in disarray thanks to the huge gap between their interests and those of the 99%; meanwhile globally, the Russians and Chinese seem to have found a formula to bind those interests together. Those saying there're no ideological differences between the Unipolar bloc and its Multipolar bloc opponents are greatly mistaken. It's almost along the very same lines as the Anti-Communist Crusade--The threat of a better example. Yet, it still boils down to the classic Hobbesian dilemma--How much individual freedom ought to be ceded to the state to ensure order and prosperity. Needless to say, corporations and ilk must be rendered politically powerless for a modicum of political equality to finally be born. Key industries controlled by the nation seems to be the most efficient way to produce their needed goods and services. IMO, Nature will force such organization eventually.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 26 2017 5:44 utc | 37
@ Grieved who mentions the commonly held belief that assailing the rulers of our world seems impossible.
I come from the position that many/most do not understand/are ignorant of the structure of the tenets of our form of social organization.....the "hidden gun" of blues comment.
Part of the brainwashing is the TINA aspect of private finance only they have made it more secret that many of the religions totally reliant on faith. I think people need to understand both that these folk are and have been in control for a long time and more importantly that they have been responsible for most of the human suffering over the past few centuries via their rule of empires.
The manifesto you write of will evolve from the breakdown we are witnessing of God of Mammon based society. It will, IMO, reflect a respect the differences attitude that is missing from the current competition based concepts and an end to an inherited elite ruling class. Maybe if "we" stop killing natural leaders our society will evolve to be led by talented negotiators and intermediaries between the various cultural nation/states that survive.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 26 2017 5:53 utc | 38
Let me add another argument for attacking that unassailable problem.
I strongly believe that we will be extinct soon if we don't deal with our parasitic form (private finance/inheritance) of social organization. i don't have any kids to explain that belief to and still have a fondness for our species continuing or at least representing ourselves better in the cosmos.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 26 2017 6:07 utc | 39
=>> karlof1 | Jul 26, 2017 12:15:06 AM | 31
Well of course I was giving only a very brief and rough outline in my above comment. It's actually not quite so simple as "it's the CIA that runs things". I guess my point was that the center of control currently resides in a particular "branch" of the CIA. Which organization is of course highly "compartmentalized". There are "intelligence collection" branches and distinct "paramilitary operations" branches. I suspect that one of the "paramilitary operations" branches harbors the center of the real ruling cabal, although presumably not the entire whole of it.
These individuals comprise a death-dealing "ultra-mafia" seigniory that intersects with clandestine agencies, high finance, the dominant imperial media, etc. And it is this Western Imperial Seigniory that secretly rules the Western Empire. Our unworkable democracy shares no power with these monsters.
Also, I do not think that these individuals are neurotypical. But I do not think they are sociopathic, although they cultivate sociopaths to do their "wet-work". And this is because sociopaths are in some respects disabled, lacking in self control. However, the Imperial Seigniory are also far from neurotypical: I would call them "arrogapathic", and they are just as abnormal as their sociopaths.
Posted by: blues | Jul 26 2017 6:24 utc | 40
Color me surprised that Trump went on record attacking Assad and with other bullying retribution statements.
It was noted in the reporting:
"
Trump's comments on Assad came days after reports that he had decided to halt the CIA's covert program to equip and train certain rebel groups fighting Assad's forces.
"
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 26 2017 6:29 utc | 41
@gepay Jul 25, 2017 6:04 This may help The appearance of a new alliance in the Greater Middle East, by Thierry Meyssan
The lying insinuations of the Washington Post were adopted by the whole of the Western Press. Perhaps this is due to the gregarious spirit of Western journalists, but perhaps - more probably – it demonstrates that the major medias are owned by the partisans of war in the Middle East and against Russia.The Bulgarian revelations about the existence of a vast arms trafic set up by General David Petraeus when he was still Director of the CIA, in 2012, and continued by him from his offices at the financial investment fund KKR, leave one stunned at the power of these war-makers.
At least 17 states participated in operation « Timber Sycamore », in which Azerbaïdjan took care of the transport of 28,000 tonnes of weapons and Israël supplied false documents concerning their final destination. In all likelihood, David Petraeus and KKR were helped by the Assistant Secretary General of the UNO, Jeffrey Feltman. Of course, this gigantic traffic, without precedent in History in terms of its volume, will lead to no legal action, neither in the states concerned, nor on the international stage.
Clearly, for the last four years, the People of the Levant have been fighting not only against states, but above all against a consortium of private multinational companies, including the international media and mid-range state powers who give their orders to small states charged with doing the dirty work.
In any case, the difficulties encountered by Donald Trump in imposing his will on the CIA and the Pentagon, as well as the existence of this parallel half-public, half-private network, enable us to note the complexity of his task in a world order subverted by private interests.
So far, the offensive by the Iraqi and Syrian armies aimed at re-opening the Silk Road have not been stopped by the US forces, despite various incidents.
@frances | Jul 25, 2017 9:35:03 Some internet gossip says Russia considers 722 as a declaration of war.
@all Isn't the Obama-care a Trojan horse imposed on the US people by the Deep State through then-puppet Obama (no longer after Nov 6 2012) in order to give enormous profits to insurance companies under the pretense of helping the poor (mind you AXA is a crucial member of the Bilbererg, many other world largest insurers, e.g. LLoyds, are part of the deep state too).
I believe that health care fake "reform" was one of the main reasons Obama was allowed to become president, or pushed forward, by the Borg, fooling the populace with "Hope and Change"...
Who's reaped the most profits from that operation?
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 26 2017 7:01 utc | 42
I've read some time ago that the Israelis dominate the production and distribution of ecstasy.
Interesting story: Rabbi: Japan’s Disasters Due to Prosecution of Hasidic Drug Smugglers
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 26 2017 7:21 utc | 43
@Kalen 9
Ah, i dunno. Things in Russia are turning decidedly in one direction as far as I can tell. For the first time in history the Prosecutor General has just ruled against the Russian Central Bank in it's decision to place Russian Bank Yugra into administration. More to come from this i am very certain. According to many Russian ecmomists, the Central Bank has been responsible in - unfairly - stripping mamy small and medium sized banks of their licences, causing bankruptcies in many small businesses. The Central Bank has, so far, been independent of governance in it's duty as regulator, but it appears to me that the damage of the 90's is starting to be addressed properly.
Posted by: MadMax2 | Jul 26 2017 7:47 utc | 44
psychohistorian | Jul 26, 2017 2:07:47 AM | 39
I strongly believe that we will be extinct soon if we don't deal with our parasitic form (private finance/inheritance) of social organization. i don't have any kids to explain that belief to and still have a fondness for our species continuing or at least representing ourselves better in the cosmos.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ditto everything, and I agree.
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psychohistorian | Jul 26, 2017 2:29:15 AM | 41
Trump is so inexperienced (ignorant), that he has to be told what he believes.
Everytime he ad libs he gets yanked back to the "correct" position. Certainly there will be no consistency of policy until a re-education is complete; or he's impeached or killed.
At 72 yo, I can honestly say these are indeed the scariest of times to be alive.
Trumps marionette strings have been rendered invisible; much like the emperor's new clothes.
Posted by: V. Arnold | Jul 26 2017 8:57 utc | 45
16 Frances
The Senate still has to agree. And as I understand Trump can veto, he just has to sell it politically.
It will probably pass defanged for US business. It will cut the link to European sanctions as Europe relies on cheap Russian gas and wants to do business with Iran.
I don't understand US interests behind this bill. There seems to be a plan to create a new US allied Polish-Baltic-Ukrainian entity out of Europe which Trump has subscribed to.
US energy companies are invested in cooperative projects with Russia, so ...
It is economic war.
Posted by: somebody | Jul 26 2017 8:57 utc | 46
Reply to self 70 top-paid US health industry CEOs raked in $9.8B since Obamacare passed
--------------
OT: UK Is Sending Its Police to Train in Israel: Here’s Why It Should Bother You
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 26 2017 9:30 utc | 47
@Temporarily Sane | 1
Commented on this on the Syrian thread, thanks for linking.
My only criticism of the 'Russian' article is that it doesn't investigate enough the cooperatikn between Russia and YPG (by association Syria and YPG).
Posted by: AtaBrit | Jul 26 2017 9:38 utc | 48
@nmb | 2
Have to say this is a very confused article. The premise seems to be that global business loves brutal oppression of workers.
Nothing new there.
But the problem comes when taking the example of Turkey to illustrate the point.The argument simply does not hold together because
a) the vast majority of the workers were state employees so nothing other than symbolic relevance to globalists' interests;
b) their positions have not been removed nor has the accompanying salary been reduced. In fact state employees earn very handsomely when all benefits are taken into account.
c) the action was only possible because of extreme nationalistic sentiment with a harsh underlying anti-globalist current, the latter which is now defining the new enemies, 'the internationalists' as Erdogan has just called them.
d) lastly, the Turkish economy is tailored against globalists' interests whever possible ensuring the best possible domestic market for domestic products irrespective of
consumers' wants, promoting copying and plagarism without penalty, again meaning that global brands and consumers are the losers.
Posted by: AtaBrit | Jul 26 2017 10:20 utc | 49
Guidoamm @ 27:
Need to read a bit of history as to why and how most people in Iraq became Shi'ite.
Mesopotamia (the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) was much contested territory between the Ottomans (1453 - 1918) in Turkey and the Safavids (1501 - 1730s) in Iran. The Safavids declared Shi'ism the official religion of Iran and overnight every Muslim in Iran was presumed to be Shi'ite. This was to differentiate the Safavid ruling state from its Ottoman enemy. A large part of Mesopotamia down to the Persian Gulf used to be Safavid real estate. So in many parts of Iraq, Shi'ite belief is historic.
Shi'ism seems to attract poor people, maybe because of its greater emphasis on imams as spiritual and community leaders, on martyrdom (you don't have to be anyone special or talented to be a martyr and to be remembered and revered) and on pilgrimages to shrines and tombs of martyrs and saints.
End of history lesson.
Posted by: Jen | Jul 26 2017 11:25 utc | 50
re Jen's history lesson. No, Iraq was mostly Shi'a before the Safavids turned that way. It started with the Arab tribes in the 9th and 10th centuries in the Syrian desert, and then Shi'ism became very popular among the Turcoman tribes after the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, often associated with Sufism. It was from there that the Safavids got their Shi'ism (their main support was from the Turcoman tribes in Iran); the conversion to Shi'ism wasn't simply a political act. It was a long drawn-out process.
Posted by: Laguerre | Jul 26 2017 12:53 utc | 51
Obama’s CIA Director says if Mueller is fired, then coup against Trump must be initiated (Video)
http://theduran.com/obamas-cia-director-says-if-mueller-be-fired-then-coup-against-trump-must-be-initiated-video/
Posted by: Anon | Jul 26 2017 12:55 utc | 52
LOL @ EU whine when Papa US sanction Russia suddenly because some billionare EU companies might get hurt... What a pack of pathetic people!
Posted by: Anon | Jul 26 2017 12:58 utc | 53
re 48 Atabrit
Fisk's mention of the YPG is only bringing back to light what we've always known, and has been discussed here on MoA from time to time, but been hidden by the loud imposition of the Americans on the Kurds. That is, that the Kurds have always been ready to deal with Asad, because they're aware of the future. Just because the Yanks have claimed the obedience of the Rojavan Kurds to current US policy, doesn't mean that the Kurds have abandoned their previous policy - indeed they would be foolish to do so - and Fisk's article is just a demonstration that relations are continuing by back-channel.
Posted by: Laguerre | Jul 26 2017 13:02 utc | 54
@Laguerre | 54
Thanks for the reply. I have never doubted Russian - Kurdish cooperation. And have stated here on several occasions. What I mentioned in my previous post referred to above is that in recent months many bloggers have completely omitted any mention of Russia when 'analysing' the Kurdish issue in Syria. If, quite reasonably, you put this down to the 'loud imposition of the Americans' then that is only acceptable an excuse for msm, surely. Anyway Fisk doing so in relation to both Raqqa and Afrin is welcome and I enjoy his articles. but, I would like to see some deeper analysis of the situation between Russia and Kurds or Russia and US in relation to Kurds, currently. That was / is my point in this post. (Especially in relation to Afrin.)
Posted by: AtaBrit | Jul 26 2017 13:36 utc | 55
US Sanctions on Russia.
Should Russia respond? YES - OF COURSE.
The time to respond forcefully has finally arrived with European whinging and whining about the Sanctions.
Now is the time for Russia to actually strike back and strike back hard.
How should Russia respond?
Forcefully I'd suggest. Very forcefully. Targeted strongly against the US.
The first measures that come to mind.
Ban all US overflights of any Russian territory.
And yes, that obviously includes banning any flights to Russia by any American airlines and also banning any flights to Russia that originate in the US (by other airlines perhaps via a 3rd stopover destination).
Not sure how many US overflights of Russia there are - but I'd suggest the most likely place would be for US flights to China, South Korea & Japan.
Expelling a high number of US diplomats
Not sure how many that would be. But definitely more than the US has expelled. Perhaps 50 or 100.? Anyone know how many there are?
Confiscating US Diplomatic Property
An obvious one given the actions of the US. Go back twice as hard on this.
Expelling US NGOs
Are there any in Russia? Expel any US NGOs.
Banning imports of various US goods or slapping very punitive tariffs on these goods - 1000%?
What goods do Russia import from the US?
Maybe banning imports of Cars (if there are any, Teslas? GM-owned cars? For instance from factories in Europe/ Asia that may be owned by US companies - Ford, GM etc.),
Confiscating Oil & Gas assets
What Oil & Gas assets do the US own in Russia? There should be some confiscation here.
You know what - Russia could also target UK in this action with the same measures.
Lump the US/UK together with the hit and by doing that it ties the UK to the hip of the US and separates the EU and Europeans out.
Whatever measures Russia takes, they should take care not to target European businesses, and in particular European OWNED businesses.
It may be unfortunate, but targeting US owned car companies that may operate in Europe and export European made cars to Russia may be something worth doing to make the point to the Europeans.
If Trump signs up to these sanctions, or even if Trump is over-ridden on his veto (if he makes it), it doesn't actually matter.
If Trump is so powerless as to prove himself unable to enforce his will on the Congress then he is effectively useless - so why worry about hurting his feelings?
Definitely Russia must respond forcefully and with careful targeting against those driving these sanctions - who in particular reside in the US & UK (As we saw at the G7 meeting earlier this year).
It's time Putin. It's time.
@ Julian | 56
Can't fault your enthusiasm. :-)
But where do you think such a response would leave Germany, and certain other European countries?
Russia needs them as they need Russia.
Posted by: AtaBrit | Jul 26 2017 13:58 utc | 57
Re: Posted by: AtaBrit | Jul 26, 2017 9:58:17 AM | 57
I did say targeted - which I'm sure they will do.
They need the Germans/EU to actually start a serious pushback - and a pushback now in the midst of a German (& Austrian & Italian I might add) election campaigns can't hurt can it.
They are just off the top of my head without a moment's thought.
I'd expect those doing the counter-sanctions to have put a lot more thought in than I have and to properly target these sanctions.
Hitting the UK is something they may not have considered so closely. But they should.
An added bonus would be having the off-side Brits whinging to the EU during their Brexit negotiations about this and having the Brits telling the EU how to deal with Russia would surely drive the EU further away from the US/UK position would it not?
It also allows extreme targeting of BP does it not? Not sure if that's relevant currently, but it might be for instance.
@4 "Pepe Escobar chimes in on the dispute between China and India, admonishes Modi for being just another pawn of the Outlaw US Empire"
I'll admit, this one is a bit worrisome to me. It's one thing for Russia to agree to sell S400's to unpredictable Turkey, as I suspect there may be a software override which can ensure those missiles would always "miss" Russian aircraft. But Russia is getting in awfully deep with cutting-edge technology sharing with India (hypersonic cruise missiles, 5th Gen fighter, etc., etc.). I know Russia isn't stupid, and surely has some sort of controls in place, but I am still very troubled by the potential for India providing the US with everything they learn in exchange for being treated as the favorite child of Asia (India seems to have a bit of a complex in that regard).
As for all the sanctions action, much like all pretense of "free, open and honest" was dropped in the last US election cycle, this latest batch of proposed sanctions drops all pretense of being anything other than anti-EU as well as anti-Russia, and overtly international market manipulation. Query whether it may finally be a bridge too far, such that the bribed/blackmailed European leadership can no longer prevent their nations from walking away from this silly game. For some reason, the EU never seemed to realize that the sanctions regime was ALWAYS aimed as much at weakening the political and especially economic strength of the EU as it was messing with Russia. Reminded me of my crazy uncle walking into bars and picking fights between two other patrons, then enjoying the show. Well, it's clear now, and there may be some very real repercussions coming not just from Russia, but from the EU. Just like the US meddling has hastened Russia's embrace of China and its reforms toward self-sufficiency and currency reforms, this may actually be the best thing ever for Russia/EU rapproachment.
Normally one might advise Trump to avoid the embarrassment of vetoing only to be overridden, but in this case the blowback is so foreseeable perhaps he should do so just so he can sing "I told you so" when it goes to hell in the most embarrassing ways.
Posted by: J Swift | Jul 26 2017 15:22 utc | 59
CNN - Coddles McCain The Lion (MSM wonders why it is a laughing-stock).
Washington (CNN)In a Washington moment for the ages, Sen. John McCain claimed the role of an aging lion to try to save the Senate, composing a moving political aria for the chamber and the country that he loves.
With a deep-red scar etched from his eyebrow to his temple, the legacy of brain surgery less than two weeks ago, McCain beseeched his colleagues to forsake political tribalism and restore the chamber to a spirit of compromise that had helped forge national greatness.
Posted by: fastfreddy | Jul 26 2017 16:19 utc | 60
Re: Posted by: fastfreddy | Jul 26, 2017 12:19:48 PM | 60
McCain (R-AZ) and (Snow)Flake (R-AZ) out in 2018.
I was thinking the other day - what should Trump do if he actually is forced out of office?
I'd suggest if it happens Trump should run for the Senate in Arizona and force (Snow)Flake out - there's no doubt Trump would destroy Flake.
Then, once in the Senate - Trump would start his own political party and invite certain Congress Critters to join him - I can think of only a handful - Rand Paul, Tulsi Gabbard, Justin Amash, Tom Massie, John Duncan, Jim Jordan, Trey Gowdy, Kid Rock, maybe a couple of others. Sure, they're not all perfect, but if he can find 20 or 30 he finds acceptable, he could get a third party really going and competitive in 2020 to reclaim the Presidency.
Anyway, it's a thought, and if for some reason (like being impeached), Trump might be ineligible to run, I'm almost certain drafting Ivanka in to run would make heads explode all over the place.
Anyone want to comment on the strategic implications of this development?
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960431000665
Native Iranian mass production of 120 km range S-200 air defense missiles.
Posted by: Nuff Sed | Jul 26 2017 17:18 utc | 62
Alexey Pushkov wrote on Twitter: “The exceptional nation wants to block Russian gas supplies to Europe and to sell expensive shale gas from the U.S. to its European servants. That’s the entire ‘morality’ of Congress.”
Posted by: fastfreddy | Jul 26 2017 17:32 utc | 63
How pathetic to see the 'serious' posters here using the phrase "conspiracy theory" as a form of dismissal.
Russia continues to play weird games. An article at Sputnik suggests that Russia is getting ready to turn on Iran in favor of Putin's best friend, Netanyahu. Putin has some really weird friendships - eg. Erdogan. For sure one has to be capable of handling contradictions to engage in realpolitik at all, but a sense of decency should still be operable.
Posted by: paul | Jul 26 2017 17:41 utc | 64
Penolope,
yeah, so much disinfo about Libya that I hadn't been following it very closely. Had not seen any articles about the Green resistance - what a surprise. Most of the interview I referenced seemed to track but they seemed curiously naive - the world is hardly that black and white. Makes much more sense to me that there would be a serious resistance to the NATO preferred new ruling wannabees. Makes much more sense that the "Green Resistance" assassinated Chris Stevens than Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. Assisi is fine for the US and Israel. Hard to know how bad Morsi and the Egytian Muslim was or wasn't. I often read Global Research - not as rigorous as say Robert Parry - a few articles slip by editorial rigor but most of the articles are factual - but then again Global Reseach isn't afraid to go places where any reporter interested in general acceptance would avoid.
Posted by: gepay | Jul 26 2017 17:49 utc | 65
DNC Used Barricades To Keep Out Nina Turner From Delivering Petition
On July 25, Our Revolution President and popular Bernie Sanders surrogate, former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, went to DNC headquarters in Washington DC to deliver a petition compiled by Our Revolution with over 115,000 signatures in support of a people's platform.
Full story from TRNN:
Posted by: ben | Jul 26 2017 18:28 utc | 66
there is powerful little about WHY medical care is so expensive. Penelope at 12.
In an uncontrolled financial and medical landscape (US), costs rise astronomically, as ppl will sell their homes, their grannies and even their spouses, children (in the sense that prostitution is not a rare last ditch income for ppl with onerous medical costs) and go terminally into debt to keep a loved one alive, a child not screaming in agony, or to provide someone with ‘comfort’, or ‘what they need as recommended by professionals’, etc.
The med/pharma/care/hosp/insurance industry poisonously blooms in the US, getting close to 20% of GDP! (stats are underestimated imho) as it is easy to rip ppl off. MSM ex.:
http://time.com/money/4247675/healthcare-jobs-increase/
Because of the very nature of this ‘industry’, the easy money, it attracts not only snake-oil purveyors - aka Big Pharma in cahoots with the likes of AMA and APA - American Psych. Association who invents new pathologies - but middle men who *can be certain of keeping their hands clean*, i.e., insurance companies (who rip off both patients and docs, the middlemen from hell), providers of medical matériel (a huge industry, e.g. MRI machines see link), med. facilities, advocates (lawyers), politicians and paid Gvmt. personnel (who pretend to represent and fight for one or another ‘solution’, ‘control’), and a whole host of bottom, marginal and sideways feeders in this hallucinatingly lucrative ‘industry.’
The gleeful and sadistic profiteering impacts and weakens society as a whole, one major reason that the US Pax Americana, the US empire will collapse. Exploiting, killing off, and terminally impoverishing a large chunk of one’s citizens, thru the med/etc. industry, the law/prison circuit, higher education (another rip-off), (other left off), leaves in place ppl who are parasites on a system, like the Mafia. In the US, a group like the DNC are at the same time the Mafia parasites, and an integral part of the shaky control system itself; systemically speaking, that can't hold, the beast ends up by eating itself.
http://www.qmed.com/mpmn/gallery/5-most-expensive-medical-devices
Posted by: Noirette | Jul 26 2017 18:33 utc | 67
On the New Sanctions Bill, RT has several articles, this one focuses on EU reaction, https://www.rt.com/news/397566-europe-oppose-us-russia-sanctions/ Excerpt:
"Some experts, however, doubted the EU's readiness to go against its transatlantic ally. “I’m not sure if the European Union has courage to take actions against this,” Dan Kovalik, an American labor rights lawyer, told RT. “I’m worried that the US is able to impose the sanctions notwithstanding the EU opposition to it.”
""I’m sure this is not about protecting democracy, either the US democracy or someone else’s. This is more about the US wanting more of a share of markets in Europe for its natural gas,” Kovalik added. “These sanctions, which would be made permanent … are really tantamount to a declaration of war against these countries, particularly Russia.”"
Reaction from German Business Lobby, https://www.rt.com/business/397560-germany-eu-us-sanctions-russia/
Finnian Cunningham says bring on the sanctions; they only serve as further proof of the Rogue State nature of the Outlaw US Empire, https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201707261055902033-us-russia-sanctions-absurd/
Of course, the driving force continues to be the 100% unproven allegations of Russian interference in the past US election, which are clearly bipartisan as the House bill garnered only 3 no votes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 26 2017 18:39 utc | 68
Without the manufactured scandal - allegations of Russian hacking/election tampering (believed to be factual by patriotic Americans everywhere) it would be difficult to increase sanctions.
Another cover story would be needed. It cannot be stated that they simply wish to impede Russia's progress on gas pipelines to Europe.
Posted by: fastfreddy | Jul 26 2017 19:06 utc | 69
Some interesting headlines:
CIA Director admits to working with Mexico and Colombia to overthrow Maduro government in Venezuela
Paul Craig Roberts On "The Conspiracy To Remove Trump From The Presidency"
Migrant crisis: Migrant men pose for photos with underage 'girlfriends' in Finland
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 26 2017 19:27 utc | 70
And an interesting read, over the weekend if you have some spare time:
The Devil’s Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of the American Secret Government
Exactly 70 years ago today, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the Joint Chiefs of Staff — and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).Sixteen years later — just one month after the Kennedy assassination — Truman published a bombshell in The Washington Post: “I have never had any thought that when I set up the CIA that it would be injected into peacetime cloak-and-dagger operations… It has become an operational and at times a policy-making arm of Government… so removed from its intended role that it is being interpreted as a symbol of sinister and mysterious foreign intrigue.”
When it comes to behind-the-scenes intrigue, no one could out-sinister Allen Dulles, director of the CIA from 1953 to 1961. Dulles’s job, simply put, was to hijack the US government — for the benefit of the wealthy.
What he did, and how he did it, has never been more relevant, given the state of the nation in 2017. That’s why we are excerpting some revelatory chapters from David Talbot’s recent Dulles biography, “The Devil’s Chessboard.”
The focus here is on Dulles’s deeply troubling behavior around the time that John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Although Kennedy had fired him in 1961, Dulles basically kept, de facto, running the CIA anyway. And, even more ominously, after Kennedy was killed in Dallas on Friday, November 22, 1963, Dulles moved into The Farm, a secret CIA facility in Virginia, where he remained for the weekend — during which time the “suspect,” Lee Harvey Oswald, was shot to death in a Dallas police station, and a vast machinery was set in motion to create the “lone gunman” myth that has dominated our history books to the present.
By no coincidence, that same machinery worked to bury evidence that Oswald himself had deep connections into US intelligence.
Throughout all this, one thing is clear: Dulles was no rogue operative. He was serving the interests of America’s corporate and war-making elites. And he went all out.
The “former” CIA director was so determined to control the JFK death-story spin, as Talbot chronicles below, that he even tried to strong-arm former president Truman, when the plain-spoken Missourian dropped hints that an out-of-control CIA might have been involved in Kennedy’s murder.
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 26 2017 20:08 utc | 71
Say Goodbye to Regime Change in Syria
Trump's decision to stop sending arms to rebels alters everything.
By Scott Ritter • July 24, 2017
Posted by: virgile | Jul 26 2017 22:19 utc | 73
Nuff Sed@62 Re: "Native Iranian mass production of 120 km range S-200 air defense missiles"
The four S-300 systems Russia delivered last year gave Iran modern air defense capability. Not impenetrable by U.S./Israel aircraft/cruise missiles, but difficult. You can't just flip a switch in the cockpit for 'Jammer' anymore and hope to make it through. The S-300 is very capable, but expensive - Iran only has so many cans of them to throw at an attack. They would prefer to use them to protect military facilities in central Iran instead of just stringing them along the border.
Iran's production of a modern missile for their existing S-200 systems gives them more options for how they arrange and layer their air defenses and far more iron to throw at anyone attacking. The Saayad-2 missile in 2012 was kind of the initial rushed replacement for the old S-200 SA-5 Gammon SAM after Russia cancelled delivery of the S-300s back in 2010. The Saayad-3 is thought to be substantially better (bugs fixed, etc.) and fairly capable. It may not match the performance of their S-300s, but Iran can churn out thousands of Saayad-3s to augment their whole air defense network. Most worrisome (for the U.S. and Israel) is that they don't know the exact specs, are not sure of the actual capabilities and may not have effective counter-measures.
This probably kills any U.S./Israeli schemes for a quick hit-and-run on the supposed nuclear facilities. Unfortunately, it will do little for preserving Iran's military capability when they are provoked into a NATO/GCC war. 'We' have more cruise missiles than they have SAMs. Iran will eventually run out. That doesn't mean they will be defeated, but they may not be able to protect their airspace. That just complicates everything else in a military sense.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jul 26 2017 22:34 utc | 74
Karlof1@15, Thanks for referring me to https://monthlyreview.org/ . Looks very interesting. Next computer session I'll try to evaluate how much of the truth it tells re: a few medical topics like vaccinations and hormones. When we read the older medical literature one is struck by the independent thought and research of so many practitioners. Today dogmas are set by organizations like the AMA (founded by the Rockefellers). All over "the Western democracies" doctors are FORCED to follow the TSH test and to use Synthroid rather than natural thyroid. In some countries they lose their licenses if they don't. In the US insurance typically doesn't pay for effective treatment outside "the standard of care."
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 26 2017 23:22 utc | 75
Robert McMaster @ 26 "That's William McK Jeffries - The Safe Uses of Cortison. I own a copy of this important work. Go to Stop the Thyroid Madness"
Thanks. Mark Starr's Hypothyroidism Type 2 is much broader than Stop the Thyroid Madness. He did his internship under a very great man-- Broda Barnes. Doctor Barnes backed up his work with many, many autopsy records, dating from WWII in Austria. These findings overturn the saturated fat lipid hypothesis about cardiovascular health. It's an absolutely thrilling read, and I regard this ONE book by Dr. Starr, wherein he cites Jeffries & Barnes, as the most revealing medical book I've come across. It allows you to see the political context in which doctors practice.
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 26 2017 23:23 utc | 76
Last night PBS Newshour had a segment on the starving children of Yemen complete with warning of graphic content. Cholera is getting bad. But the causes and guilty parties were not named.
According to my quick search, they must have had that on an earlier program (or it's only on the internet). At least the Saudis get an accusatory finger.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/yemen-complete-meltdown-civilians-paying-price/
Posted by: Curtis | Jul 26 2017 23:24 utc | 77
WHEE!!!!!!!!!
Canthama reports: "Confirmed, the 5th Corp entering al Sukhanah right now, it seems ISIS could not defend the town without the control NW hills."
"Huge CAS at and around al Sukhanah at the moment, multiple bombers all over the area, ISIS is being annihilated in such as short time in the area, ISIS was caught completely by surprise with the NW-SW-South attack by the 5th Corps, Hizballah, RGs, Liwa al Quds etc…
"The highway SE of al Sukhanah is under severe attack at the moment, any remaining ISIS convoy retreating from the area is under attack. Impressive coordination between RuAF, SAAF, ground forces and watchers. It seems the SAA and allies are also attempting to control the Najib gas filed, NE of al Sukhanah as a defensive perimeter, that is followed by the NW al Sukhanah gas field liberated earlier today. Al Sukhanah will be announced fully liberated in few hours."
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 26 2017 23:36 utc | 79
nmb & Ben: "We are now witnessing a fierce battle in all levels globally, where big corporations are trying to build greater monopolies, eliminate competitors, establish the oncoming Feudalism 2.0 against labor and ordinary citizens."
Yes, that's it, but so far I see no one on our side. Neither China nor Russia are in any way nations that empower individuals. I've the greatest respect for the Chinese and Russian people, but their oligarchs appear to be entirely in league w ours. Opposition by either of their govts wd include the presentation of an alternate future for mankind and a degree of democracy at home.
So far as I can determine we continue on-track for a global govt w regional administration. Asia to be headed up by China and eastern Europe by Russia.
The best way to control an outcome is usually to control the opposition, and I think the "opposition" we see is merely theater. I wish w all my heart that it were not so.
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 26 2017 23:36 utc | 80
psychohistorian @30: " In my mind, any government is by definition, a form of socialism. How far that socialism extends into society is what I think is important to discuss, design, implement and manage. "
Yes, if we knew in detail what we want; if we could only project an alternate vision to the one being manufactured all around us.
The Right says: "We need freedom from govt and bureaucracy"-- and frees all those outlaw oligarchs and their megacorporations to continue their crimes & expanding power.
The Left says: "Govt will save us if it makes us equal and the bureaucracy will be our champion." But we know from the oligarchs' plans and the Soviet experience that Socialism merely adds our economic un-freedom to our political un-freedom. So that an even bigger knot of power is handed to the oligarchs.
The Right position & the Left position were both manufactured in the oligarchs' think tanks. I don't know the third (correct) position. But I know that power must be decentralized all the way back to the county level, and sometimes even to the individual. Only in this way can it be made safe.
---
btw, I'm in Central Coast California
Posted by: Penelope | Jul 26 2017 23:50 utc | 81
@PavewayIV 73
Thanks excellent insight on Iran's defenses capabilities. BTW only China has Russian's S400 and soon India too, that's where the next hot spot.
Himalayan Border Dispute: Doklam Plateau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IXlLdtKIxQ
AMERICAN MEDIA ON INDIA-CHINA BORDER TENSION CGTN (1 of 3 parts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udADHfiDR80
Posted by: OJS | Jul 27 2017 0:02 utc | 82
@Penelope 80
btw, I'm in Central Coast California
Hi fellow Californian, I'm from CA Central Valley, soon to be the first sanctuary state and guess what? We (Californians) will have to bear the cost of FREE Healthcare for all illegal and undocumented. While we the legal residents and citizens will die like flies. My previous next door neighbor were evicted and both single parents (between them 11 kids) don’t work but depends on food-stamps, free healthcare and etc.
Posted by: OJS | Jul 27 2017 0:23 utc | 83
@80 Penelope
I always gathered that the principal distinction between the right/left thing was ownership of capital - whether it's privately or socially owned. Sometimes I see the rise of revolutions as ways to nationalize property into government ownership, with an eventual privatization to new or existing oligarchs - and this in the same kind of rhythm that we see the stock market take, transferring wealth into the hands of those who control the boom and its necessary crash that marks the signature pulse of the capitalist system.
It's the system of ownership itself that gives rise to the mechanics of theft. And in parallel, as rich men have said (can't remember who), ownership is unimportant compared with control, because with control one can always change ownership but ownership without control is not long for this world. Look at currency creation for examples of this - the ownership of the principal really doesn't matter to those who take the interest as income. The principal need never be repaid, and in fact nowadays doesn't even exist.
If there is a third way, the example of the Commons is probably closest to it. In this, ownership remains vested in the people, and government exists to guarantee that ownership. The ownership of the Commons is I think the only form we know of a total ownership that is at the same time no ownership, both together with no contradiction. The guarantee of this kind of ownership - trusteeship and stewardship are better words perhaps - is what also safeguards the control of the Commons by its participants in mutual negotiation and agreement. And despite the complete lies of the "tragedy", the simple fact is that the Commons runs incredibly well to manage resources and livelihoods inside the limits of the carrying capacity of the environment.
There's good work done on the Commons, but it gets little press. No surprise. I used to be pretty wired into this but seem not to have any bookmarks or even books anymore. To study more, one might start here: The Wealth of the Commons - A world beyond market & state
Posted by: Grieved | Jul 27 2017 0:45 utc | 84
@PavewayIV | Jul 26, 2017 6:34 "We' have more cruise missiles than they have SAMs. Iran will eventually run out."
Well, not if the ships carrying those tomahawks are hit by Yakhonts first...
----
@karlof1 | Jul 26, 2017 7:36 Thanks for great news. Unfortunately the cabal is trying to reverse that progress desperately as we speak by attempting a coup against Trump. I hope his team has already gamed in such scenario...
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 27 2017 1:48 utc | 85
And the Russians have also electronic countermeasures that caused that two US missiles fired from the Western Med area towards Damascus to fall into the sea back in 2013, I believe. No problem to protect Iran in the same way...
Posted by: ProPeace | Jul 27 2017 1:51 utc | 86
ProPeace @84&85--
Sputnik has published an interesting but quite short article pumping Iran as key pivot-point for China's OBOR citing Outlaw US Empire-based stink tanks, https://sputniknews.com/world/201707271055912647-iran-anchor-china-obor-ambitions/
I think it represents a public bird flippin' to the Empire's Congress, whose sanctions are all based on Big Lies.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 27 2017 2:46 utc | 87
Paul @ 64
An excellent point re conspiracy theory.
A marriage is a conspiracy. Forming any kind of partnership is a conspiracy. Uniting into any corporate entity is a conspiracy.
Conspiracy is a normal part of being human. The attempt to dissuade people from that idea is ridiculous. If I were a squillionaire I'd be mortified not to be invited to Davos by my peers to organise the world. The pejorative use of conspiracy theory needs to be tackled head on.
Posted by: Cortes | Jul 27 2017 3:06 utc | 88
what a bunch of sexist and homophobic nonsense over at Sic Semper Tyrannis today
from old militarists like Lang and Publius Tacitus, et. al., you might expect such drivel
"If you disagree with Trump then, in my view, you are an extremist and in denial by human biology...... His lesson (a marine colonel) to me? "The troops will do anything for pussy." Whether you like it or not that remains a reality today. The vast majority of soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines are not focused on embracing or protecting transgender folks."
“Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” ― Samuel Johnson
Posted by: michaelj72 | Jul 27 2017 3:15 utc | 89
karlof1 | Jul 26, 2017 10:46:47 PM | 86
I think it's important to remember Russia is using Iranian airbases for action in Syria.
China is also a big player.
Still, I do find it very concerning the U.S. crazies are beating the war drums towards Iran.
I can't see a limited conflict between Russia and the U.S.; I think it would go full tilt crazy...
Posted by: V. Arnold | Jul 27 2017 3:16 utc | 90
Well, michaelj72 @88,
Dr Johnson's jibe was very specific: against Bute.
Moreover the Trump decision brought to mind a proper response to the exquisite Dorian Gay (no, really) and the plan to render all war impossible by ensuring that senior officers were camptastic:
See John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces."
Posted by: Cortes | Jul 27 2017 3:32 utc | 91
ProPeace@84 - "Well, not if the ships carrying those tomahawks are hit by Yakhonts first"
I agree, but you're assuming a US Navy ship in the Persian Gulf would be launching the Tomahawks. Block IV TLAMs have a range of between 1300 and 1800 km depending on the model. They could be launched at Iran from the Mediterranean, Red Sea or Arabian Sea - well outside the 300 km range of an anti-ship Yakhont, Onyx or BrahMos. I'm guessing the US Navy would take that into consideration when they attack Iran.
"...And the Russians have also electronic countermeasures that caused that two US missiles fired from the Western Med area towards Damascus to fall into the sea back in 2013, I believe. No problem to protect Iran in the same way..."
Russia will be angry, but it will not start WW III with the US over Iran. They won't have to. An attack on Iran will push China over the edge and THEY will be perfectly willing to start WW III with the US in retaliation. Nobody talks much about that, but Iran is China's red line. They will jump in as soon as we attack Iran, guaranteed. They know they're very close to the top of the US Imaginary Enemies list and they'll be next.
Russia will voice its objections to the US/Israeli/GCC/NATO actions and indicate support for Iran and China, but won't jump in at the start. They will just say that they are perfectly willing to do so. The US will back down because we can't win either a conventional or nuclear war with China and Russia at the same time. NATO will fold because their capitals are maybe six minutes from Russia's RS-26 ICBMs. The Germans and French will not die for US hegemony schemes if it comes to that. The Brits might because they're kind of nuts about Russia - toss up, I guess.
Sadly, despite the consequences, the US will invent an excuse to attack Iran and do so. This short interview in June with James Mattis, our Defense Secretary, illustrates why. The interview was conducted in response to a request from a student (Teddy) at some random high school newspaper in Washington state. Mattis responded on a whim and talked with them for a while, taking questions. The interesting thing about this interview (to me) was that Mattis actually sounds like a pretty rational person in the first half of the interview, especially in regards to Russia. Then Iran and Syria comes up and he just goes off the rails. Poor Teddy...
Full transcript: Defense Secretary James Mattis’ interview with The Islander
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jul 27 2017 5:26 utc | 92
PavewayIV | Jul 27, 2017 1:26:55 AM | 91
Close in defences at target sites seem the best defence against cruise missile attack - Pantsir type of thing. Short range missiles and cannon. Any idea what Iran has in the way of short range defence systems? Iran seems good on the electronics side of things which is what modern war is all about.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 27 2017 5:48 utc | 93
Posted by: PavewayIV | Jul 27, 2017 1:26:55 AM | 91
Thanks for that interview, Mattis is quite clear: they will keep trying regime change, nothing else. Russia is a competitor not an enemy and they are 'deconflicting',
His optimism that the American Way is the solution is quite funny.
Posted by: somebody | Jul 27 2017 6:12 utc | 94
@Penelope #12
another contributing factor is the Federal Emergency Care Act, which means that no patient can be turned away from a hospital or clinic with a life-threatening condition.
It does not mean that care is free of charge, but in many cases, the people (who cannot afford insurance to begin with) are unable to pay, and default on the treatment. The costs then have to be passed on to those who can (still) afford insurance.
And in areas with large numbers of insured, we often see a lot of emergency operations: ones that could have been avoided through basic preventive care that would have cost a lot less...
Posted by: ralphieboy | Jul 27 2017 8:29 utc | 95
OJS 81
WOW I dont know you're an Indian apologist,
So 'India protecting tiny BHutan against China the
bully' eh ?
gimme a break,
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/07/world/india-based-groups-seek-to-disrupt-bhutan.html
Posted by: denk | Jul 27 2017 9:10 utc | 96
#91 PW4
I can't believe that someone as astute as you are is now spilling this defeatist garbage.
Tomahawks are retard-missiles, flown in straight lines at low altitudes and at low speeds too.
S-200 of any vintage is an utter overkill for the Tomahawks.
Pantsirs, Buks and Tors are borderline overkill.
All that's really needed is a good Igla or Two and well alert crew.
The Serbs were murdering Toms like flies back in 1999 using the Vietnam-War era vintage SA-7s.
Or a good old Shilka and the radar turned on.
Posted by: Quadriad | Jul 27 2017 9:38 utc | 97
straight lines - near straight lines, they do turn when they need to dodge a mountain or similar. Otherwise, not as much.
Or kill the GPS satellite and all the Tomahawks become as useless as c*** flavor lollipops. These worthless Raytheon pieces of shite probably don't even have an inertial mode.
Posted by: Quadriad | Jul 27 2017 9:40 utc | 98
Thank you Paveway and others for your responses on the Iran military capabilities issue.
I disagree that Iran is either China’s or Russia's red line. Logically she should be, but she isn't. What I think has kept Uncle Scam from attacking Iran is Iran's own military strength. That is not to say that Iran is in the same league; but because the US and world economy is so vulnerable to a sustained spike in the price of oil, the US cannot afford to mess with a country that has the power to wreck havoc on the price of this strategic commodity. A single Sunburn or Nour missile direct hit at Saudi Arabia's only deep water port at Ra's Tanura is enough to put all Saudi oil exports out of commission for several months. Given the derivatives volume, the margin calls on these might well push the Dow and S&P over the precipice and precipitate a major crash.
And then there is this:
http://www.rense.com/general59/thesunburniransawesome.htm
During Bush the Younger's tenure, Cheney, Rummy and Wolfowitz were dying to attack Iran, but cooler minds among the military brass prevailed and didn't let the children play at their war games. But that was then. It seems with the Neocon purges at the Pentagon and State since then, the Kool-aid has made it all the way to the top, so that reason is no longer the decisive factor in the decision making process.
And finally, methinks the implications of the mass production of the indiginized S-200 is that it will not be too long (5 to 10 years?) before Ben Gurion Airport is de facto declared a no fly zone, precipitating a significant wave of reverse migration back to New York and Florida and Europe from occupid Palestine.
Nuff Sed.
Posted by: Nuff Sed | Jul 27 2017 10:55 utc | 99
@denk 95
Nope! I'm not an Indian nor China apologist but primarily to show a new war brewing between India and China and both with Russian S-400. Russia just recently signed agreement to sell S-400 to India. You should watch this vid first (three parts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udADHfiDR80
Here another viewpoints from Pepe Escobar
China and India torn between silk roads and cocked guns (OpEdNews Op Eds 7/26/2017 at 19:32:31 )
Posted by: OJS | Jul 27 2017 11:02 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Two good articles from Robert Fisk who is on the ground in Syria. (I posted the first link in the 'Saudi LOL' thread yesterday but this is a better home for it.)
Secret Russian-Kurdish-Syrian military cooperation is happening in Syria’s eastern desert
Syrians aren't just rebuilding an ancient mosque in Aleppo - they are rebuilding their community
Posted by: Temporarily Sane | Jul 25 2017 19:24 utc | 1