Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
Back to Main

July 15, 2018
The MoA Week In Review – Open Thread 2018-35

Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama:

Airbus is pissed. It was asked by May to give a dire warning about Brexit which it dutifully did. The next day May handed a big no-bid contract to Boeing.

Trump today added to turmoil he caused in Europe:

In an interview with "CBS Evening News" anchor Jeff Glor in Scotland on Saturday, President Trump named the European Union — comprising some of America's oldest allies — when asked to identify his "biggest foe globally right now."

"Well, I think we have a lot of foes. I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade. Now, you wouldn't think of the European Union, but they're a foe. …"

Bashing allies is an essential component of the Trump doctrine:

The second-best self-description of the Trump Doctrine I heard was this, from a senior national-security official: “Permanent destabilization creates American advantage.” The official who described this to me said Trump believes that keeping allies and adversaries alike perpetually off-balance necessarily benefits the United States, which is still the most powerful country on Earth.
…
The best distillation of the Trump Doctrine I heard, though, came from a senior White House official with direct access to the president and his thinking. I was talking to this person several weeks ago, and I said, by way of introduction, that I thought it might perhaps be too early to discern a definitive Trump Doctrine. “No,” the official said. “There’s definitely a Trump Doctrine.” “What is it?” I asked. Here is the answer I received: “The Trump Doctrine is ‘We’re America, Bitch.’ That’s the Trump Doctrine.”

Adam Carter at Disobedient Media finds contradictions between the indictment and publicly known evidence.

M.K. Bhadrakumar mulls on the indictment timing and previews the Helsinki summit.

The U.S. foreign policy establishment, here the president of the Council of Foreign Relations, is losing it:

Richard N. Haass @RichardHaass – 21:26 UTC – 14 Jul 2018
International order for 4 centuries has been based on non-interference in the internal affairs of others and respect for sovereignty. Russia has violated this norm by seizing Crimea and by interfering in the 2016 US election. We must deal w Putin’s Russia as the rogue state it is.

Shorter: "Westphalianism for us, intervention for everyone else."

Use as open thread …

Posted by b on July 15, 2018 at 15:16 UTC | Permalink
Comments

In that Vivid Helsinki press conference, Trump didn’t make the United States look all that bad…
Dig this new reality-tv look: with Donald tossing out comments about peter strocz and the awans.

Posted by: Guerrero | Jul 16 2018 16:05 utc | 101

Some of those reporters who asked major-media questions to the two Presidents sounded rather petulant.

Posted by: Guerrero | Jul 16 2018 16:07 utc | 102

One can only imagine how utterly boring this would have been if the President were Hillary.

Posted by: Guerrero | Jul 16 2018 16:09 utc | 103

Putin – Trump had “frank and business-like” talks . . .
. . . and agreed on nothing.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jul 16 2018 16:12 utc | 104

JustSecurity.org via Antiwar.com: Exclusive: Russia Hawk Axed From National Security Council
https://www.justsecurity.org/59452/russia-hawk-axed-national-security-council/
Shortly before Donald Trump detonated a NATO summit, shanked the beleaguered British prime minister and prepped for a face-to-face love session with Vladimir Putin, his White House quietly divested itself of a senior official hawkish on Russia and bullish on the transatlantic military alliance…
…But two government officials said it wasn’t Hooker’s policy views that got him into trouble. Hooker ended his tour on the National Security Council early after he discussed information pertinent to Russia with foreign officials without proper authorization, according to two government officials.
####
More at the link.
It’s Bolton’s choice, so who will he be replaced with?

Posted by: et Al | Jul 16 2018 16:30 utc | 105

Jackrabbit @103–
Well, Lavrov said the talks were “super.” Think I’ll wait to read the joint press conference transcript before making further comment.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 16:30 utc | 106

the question remains – is the usa, as it presently stands – capable of giving russia a type of respect as an independent sovereign country that treats it in some equal manner? or, is the only way the usa can relate to russia is as top dog that has to keep russia down? my sense is the later, although i wish they were capable of the former.. i really think this is the crux of the matter and that until the usa is able to see itself differently, it will be unwilling to see other countries – russia and china in particular – as threats to their own image of unipolar top dog status… this is the change that is required… i don’t know that trump is capable of giving that to russia, while at the same time catering to the us public.. i think it is impossible actually..

Posted by: james | Jul 16 2018 16:39 utc | 107

as – anything other then… “threats….” missed a few words in their..

Posted by: james | Jul 16 2018 16:42 utc | 108

Tannenhouser @89–
I’ll agree with dan that newspapers will be rare commodities in 80 years. As a historian, I shy away more and more from using such media as primary source material and prefer using actual documents and proper transcripts of discussions, press conferences, and the like. Frankly, Big Lie Media cannot be trusted whatsoever, so the vetting process we historians must utilize has become more complex and time consuming–that is if objective truth is one’s aim in relating historical events. Regarding the impetus of the question–the events at end of WW1–many important events were censored as George Seldes famously pointed out in You can’t print that! The truth behind the news, 1918-1928.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 16:55 utc | 109

james @106–
The politicos ensconced in Congress seem incapable of changing their deeply entrenched–false–perspective about Russia, and much is the same regarding Big Lie Media. Until the pursuit of Full Spectrum Dominance is finally slain along with American Exceptionalism, those supplying the rhetorical lead will not treat others as equals–the Zero-sum spirit seems very deeply entrenched and any form of Win-Win Socialism will remain anathema for awhile until the Outlaw US Empire truly becomes second-rate.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 17:02 utc | 110

@109 karlof1… well said! i agree.. i just don’t think much comes of the putin-trump match up.. it would be more fun to watch a wrestling match with the 2 of them.. putin would no doubt win..

Posted by: james | Jul 16 2018 17:05 utc | 111

Trump made a very good speech after the talks with Putin. Anyone else saw that?

Posted by: Zanon | Jul 16 2018 17:09 utc | 112

@103 “Putin – Trump had “frank and business-like” talks . . .
. . . and agreed on nothing.”
Looks like they agreed on how to shut the media down. The poor ‘journalists’ were looking to get some nice juicy quotes. Didn’t happen.

Posted by: dh | Jul 16 2018 17:15 utc | 113

I am providing a Reuters link below that I find quite telling
China overloading poor nations with debt, top U.S. official says
The top US official is the head of a private investment organization My take away is that private investment folks feel threatened by the China Silk Road project enough to be looking at ways to get the good infrastructure projects that China is now getting.
This says two things to me
1. China is forcing private finance to fund projects that make countries more self reliant rather than locked into the Western narrative/debt
2. The world is awash in debt that the private finance folk use for control. China is now forcing private finance to expand that debt balloon even further meaning that with debt inflation, IMO, the chance of getting payback goes down geometrically….GRIN
The remaining problem is that when the music stops and the elite come to the table with their “legal” derivative and such proof of ownership of everything, they must have their tools of private finance replaced by all public utility tools for society and be told that inheritance laws are being questioned in the evolution of society as well….

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 16 2018 17:18 utc | 114

They can talk the talk ! Can they walk the walk ?
Round here we say ‘ fine words butter no parsnips’ !
How soon will we see a tangible change on the ground or air over Syria? I’m not holding my breath!

Posted by: Mark2 | Jul 16 2018 17:50 utc | 115

Transcript courtesy of very Russophobic Time Magazine. I see in Trump’s remarks his first lie of the presser: “I also made clear that the United States will not allow Iran to benefit from our successful campaign against ISIS. We have just about eradicated ISIS in the area.” As we know all too well here at MoA, the Outlaw US Empire has done no such thing as “eradicated ISIS;” Indeed, Trump almost sounds as if he’d like to see ISIS invade Iran–Iran “not … to benefit…”
I could write further about Trump’s words as they twist reality quite often, particularly this sentence at the end of his remarks: “Our expectations are grounded in realism, but our hopes are grounded in America’s desire for friendship, cooperation and peace.”
Now on to the Q&A section to see what I can glean there.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 17:58 utc | 116

There can be no better proof that the Outlaw US Empire’s Deep State is 100% against the bolded phrase in Trump’s sentence I cited as reflected by the provocatively negative statements made by various Deep State connected actors in reaction to the Summit, Trump’s remarks and PC answers, which are far more than just the two profiled in the linked article.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 18:56 utc | 117

Looking at te transcript of Trump’s speech, it seems Bolton wasn’t speaking out of line.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807161066395610-us-troops-syria-iranian-menace/
Speaking to ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday, US National Security Adviser John Bolton stated that Washington would maintain its military presence in Syria as long as Iran continues to be a threat to the region.
“But I think the president has made it clear that we are there until the ISIS* [Daesh] territorial caliphate is removed and as long as the Iranian menace continues throughout the Middle East,” he said.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16 2018 19:01 utc | 118

I hope Putin keeps detente in mind. The only reason US ever needs detente with Soviet Union or Russia, is to give the US breathing space to pull off some dirty scheme.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16 2018 19:06 utc | 119

@Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16, 2018 3:06:46 PM | 119
Indeed, as happened every time they ( well, their “moderate rebels” ) were in trouble ( i.e encircled )in Syria….
But lets´s see, if all the IS/Al Nusra operation was a CIA thing ( as some former DIA operatives out there try all day to make us believe, obviating that what IS/Al Nusra receive are weapons and military advisory/intellience… ), Pompeo was in charge of CIA till now, and then, now, it is his second in charge, Gina Haspel, what could probably change?
During the previous days before “The Summit” there have been numerous deadly attacks in both, Pakistan and Afghanistan…

Posted by: Sasha | Jul 16 2018 19:19 utc | 120

According to the Time transcript, Trump ended with this scathing accusation:
“And if anybody watched Peter Strzok testify over the last couple of days — and I was in Brussels watching it — it was a disgrace to the FBI, it was a disgrace to our country, and you would say that was a total witch hunt.”
Quite honestly, those calling the attending of a summit and following press conference an act of Treason do not belong in any nation’s political system–they are extremists beyond extreme–Zealot is the proper term. And such zealots exist at the top of Trump’s administration in Pompeo, Bolton, Haley, and a host of others. Putin stressed acting on facts, but Neocons and most Neoliberals don’t act on facts–which is one massive reason many US citizens mistrust the federal government–it lies constantly.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 19:29 utc | 121

Peter AU 1 @118–
Ah, but who determines when the “Iranian menace” no longer exists? With Neocons like Bolton, Zionists like Trump, and for the AIPAC-bought Congress, such a “menace” will end only when a compliant Iranian regime exists, which we know will most likely never occur.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 19:42 utc | 122

karlof1

Quite honestly, those calling the attending of a summit and following press conference an act of Treason do not belong in any nation’s political system–they are extremists beyond extreme–Zealot is the proper term.

This is getting insane and I fear someone will kill Trump sooner or later because of this hatred going on right now by the media. This needs to stop.

Posted by: Zanon | Jul 16 2018 19:48 utc | 123

“Ah, but who determines when the “Iranian menace” no longer exists”
When Iran no longer exists as a state or is so destroyed it can no longer be seen as a credible threat to Israel for the foreseeable future. With the NPR, the required military doctrine for fire and fury against non nuclear states was put in place in January of this year.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16 2018 19:50 utc | 124

I felt let down by the summit/confab, even though I had very low expectations (buoyed by the alarmed of anti-Trump fanatics who SAID (outloud) that they expected him to give away the store … Syria, Crimea and maybe Afghanistan all ripe for “cooperation”. I was vastly overwhelmed except Trump comported himself better than expected (though he looked both terrible, health-wise, and miserable having to stand there like a prop).
CNN and “the usual outlets” and congress critters are hysterical about this treasonous traitor … they may be losing both the midterms and the next elections the disconnect from what many saw in the news conference and early coverage and the resumption of ever more strident “talking points” that are “chicken-little” (sky is falling!!!) in their alarm. Surprise to me, CNN makes MSNBC seem almost “more reasonable”
I have found Trump’s alarmist tendencies about all the other mean and bad countries disturbingly dissonant to his “Make America Great Again” — according to him, the USA has been the world’s victim and door mat for tooo long.
The Anti-Trumpists oddly also seem to see “incoming” behind every shadow …
18 years after 09/11, we have never been so “imperiled” by outside forces — give me a break … I doubt Bin Laden would be laughing. I think/suspect Putin would rather play “hero” rather than giving us a nudge into collapse ….

Posted by: Susan Sunflower | Jul 16 2018 20:08 utc | 125

Zanon @123–
Problem is it’s not just Big Lie Media (BLM); it’s current and former high government officials that provide the fuel for BLM to publish.
If you read the transcript I linked, it’s clear Trump’s not 100% grounded in reality, that a degree of BLM distortions are seen as true by him; then, there’s his rhetoric towards Iran. Loom at that phrase I bolded once again and ask yourself if Trump and the Outlaw US Empire are actually pursuing/want such a world–what do their actions convey? Remember, it’s Trump saying those words, not BLM.
Elsewhere in press conference, Putin asks BLM reporter if US is a democracy. We all know what the actual answer to that is–there are two, which Putin surely knows–theoretically, its a democratic-republic while in practice it’s an Oligarchy.
Sanders in contrast to Trump shows he’d be no better than HRC regarding Russia, although he might be bold enough to conduct a summit–but we’ll never know.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 20:25 utc | 126

And they married and played football and lived happily ever after…
https://www.rt.com/sport/433414-putin-trump-summit-football-helsinki/

Posted by: Mina | Jul 16 2018 20:27 utc | 127

Ex-CIA Chief, US Officials Slam Trump-Putin Presser as ‘Treason,’ ‘Weakness’
https://sptnkne.ws/jbWe
Either Trump will be killed or he will be charged with made up impeachment charges.

Posted by: Zanon | Jul 16 2018 20:28 utc | 128

There seem to be some major protests in Iraq. US have been making a propaganda push against the Iraqi Shia militias as they are most likely to use insurgency tactics against US occupation.
Iran, the propaganda line US is pushing for domestic Iran consumption is that the religious leadership is spending billions on foreign adventures while people are without work and starving. Looks to be major protests there as well.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16 2018 20:46 utc | 129

So, The Trump Doctrine is ‘We’re America, Bitch.
And the rest of the world should reply: Then, F…k U – America! It’s time to tear down Imperial hubris.
Now on the media charade over the Helsinki encounter.
Most here know I can’t stand the sight of Trump. He totally embodies the ugly American.
That being said. I’m ROTFLMAO at the media today up in arms that the naked emperor didn’t take down Putin accusing him of meddling in U.S. politics.
Well ain’t that rich. The media is bitching all day about foreign meddling when no country on the entire planet meddles more in U.S. politics than ISRAEL. Trump himself was bought by some of the richest Zionist financiers with dual American/Israeli citizenship. U.S. foreign policy is continuously steered by the foreign entity AIPAC some of whose members were investigated for spying and even imprisoned. Zionists have a network of lobbies that spew all kinds of propaganda to brainwash the dumb U.S. mass. U.S. taxpayers fork out billions of dollars for Israel. Trump, in his stupid speech at Helsinki mentioned Israel this and Israel that in relation to Syria.
Republicans and Democrats fight over who loves Israel more just to get Zionist millions in their pocket. No other party can ever be successful in America when Zionist collusion and influence peddling is happening at this level in every election.
So never mind Russia. The U.S. tries to meddle in Russia’s politics all the time. The U.S. and Israel are the most notorious meddlers on the planet.
The hypocrisy on this meddling issue is staggering.

Posted by: Circe | Jul 16 2018 21:24 utc | 130

Anybody here have another angle or less-“alleged” details on this story?
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/16/reporter-from-the-nation-forcibly-removed-from-trump-putin-presser.html

Posted by: John Anthony La Pietra | Jul 16 2018 21:29 utc | 131

Zanon @ 123
Fair point there Zanon ! But right now i’v got compassion fatigue. Consisting of 70 million displaced people, there’s one hell of a lot of people we should cry for before trump . Yes ?

Posted by: Mark2 | Jul 16 2018 21:30 utc | 132

131
He was removed by US secret service helped by Finn security. The article you link is pure fiction.
Video of the man being removed here
https://sputniknews.com/world/201807161066402979-putin-trump-press-conference-man-removed/

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 16 2018 21:34 utc | 133

@131 His name is Sam Husseini. He has a list of grievances. He was sent by the National to cover the presser. Apparently it’s OK to be a journalist and an activist.
https://twitter.com/samhusseini?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Posted by: dh | Jul 16 2018 21:47 utc | 134

Zanon@123
Reminds me of the JFK years when he got slammed for being soft on the Soviet Union and was moving to thaw relations, and a bit of Nixon for doing the same with the Soviets and Maos China. Neither finished their term.
Of course JFK made an enemy of Israel and Trump is Bibis buddy, so I would not be surpised if impeachment is in the cards and he survives. Dems must do well in the upcoming elections for impeachment to be an option
Perhaps this is the issue they feel can give them an advantage. The left/center really seems to have fallen for this so may be motivated to turn out. I really cant say.
They probably need a lot more than this. Maybe a stock market crash . They seem to like to do such crashes in the fall and if this is not just theater and there is Deep State angst they have the power to do it.
Hollywood probably has scripted this all out for them so we just have to watch and see. Reality TV

Posted by: Pft | Jul 16 2018 22:11 utc | 135

Palestine and Golan Heights
I think there is momentum for these issues finally.
E.J. Magnier
“”Netanyahu may be relying on the Helsinki meeting between Trump and Putin who both agreed on the respect of the 1974 treaty and line bordering the occupied Golan Heights. However, the Syrian government’s position doesn’t support such an agreement and its message is very clear: no Iranian withdrawal from Syria unless Israel pulls out from the occupied Golan heights.
This equation means the conflict between the “axis of the resistance” and Israel is entering a new phase. This may be just the beginning.””

Posted by: financial matters | Jul 16 2018 22:55 utc | 136

Hard not to agree with this Twitter user’s opinion about Trump and Summit, unless you’re a Trump Swooner.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 23:36 utc | 137

This one too! Wish I’d seen it earlier so I could’ve combined it with 137. Together, they’re an excellent tandem.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 23:39 utc | 138

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Khamenei, has been busy with his Twitter regarding the Hajj and Rouhani’s recent trip to Europe. This posted video about Iran and Hijab is one that must be seen as it conveys a bit of history unknown to most outside of Iran.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 16 2018 23:57 utc | 139

Dan@96..history has definitely been hijacked. The human species historical bookkeeping has gone digital which makes it even more suspect in the future than archives with printed hard copy.
My thoughts are that old newspapers saying one thing while the received historical info does not mention it may be suspect. Eighty years from now when the world is again a multipolar one awash in the rewards granted of the effort China, Russia among other nations in the early 21st century to unite the globe in commerce as partners rather than competitors…… could not the TDS articles being printed about Russian meddling and such today be used in the future to present an alternative narrative? Also…..at some point in the timeline of research/discovery belief will become an issue No?
Karlof1@109 Thanks for the reply. I will look into the book you mention. I have no doubt there is an alternative narrative. Dorian’s (I think) comments gave me pause for thought. And it occurred to me that it’s possible some of it may be just as untrue as some of the things about Trump have proven to be. Objective truth is preferable… personal beliefs can get in the way occasionally. Your work and ways here are muchappreciated
Thanks.

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Jul 17 2018 0:58 utc | 140

Looking at the transcript of both Putin and Trumps speeches to the press, Putin went into a number of subjects they had discussed.
Trump on the other hand apart from the obligitory “Russian interferance” limited his speech to three subjects but those three subjects are one. Nuclear proliferation, Islamic terrorism, Iran. Trump associates nuclear proliferation and Islamic terrorism with Iran
The rest of Trumps speech was vague working together type filler.
That he only spoke about this at the presser makes it seem Trump had only one thing, Iran, on his mind in meeting with Putin.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 17 2018 2:06 utc | 141

This is an interesting reply by Trump to a reporter
“But I really do want to see the server. But I have confidence in both parties. I really believe that this will probably go on for a while, but I don’t think it can go on without finding out what happened to the server. What happened to the servers of the Pakistani gentleman that worked on the DNC. Where are the servers? They’re missing. Where are they? What happened to Hillary Clinton’s emails? 33,000 emails gone, just gone. I think in Russia, they would not have been gone so easily. I think it is a disgrace that we can’t get Hillary Clinton’s 33,000 emails.”
30,000 emails going to an unauthorized source that was a foreign entity unrelated to Russia?
Pat lang is saying China, but here Trump specifically asks about the Pakistani gentleman’s servers.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 17 2018 2:28 utc | 142

…but here Trump specifically asks about the Pakistani gentleman’s servers

The reference is to Imran Awan.

Posted by: Guerrero | Jul 17 2018 3:00 utc | 143

To my mind, every day Trump stays alive and remains President, he grows stronger. Similarly, just by showing up to meet Putin, he shows that he can, and he will.
It seems clear that he’s out-waiting the domestic fake scandal, and outlasting it. I think that’s all anyone needs to take from this meeting. It wasn’t the presidents who called it a summit or who looked for anything more than a first real meeting of state – something that in ordinary times would have happened a year ago.
What Trump has shown by making this move is, first, that he had to wait this long before his power was greater than the contrived allegations against him, and second, that now that his power allows him to make this move, he just damn well will make it. In this sense, while the phony scandal from the Democrats and the establishment is truly severing the country into two belief systems, his action was really a unifying one. Long way to go with that unity, but I would guess the conservatives of the US would see it this way.
These meta messages I think are vastly more important and far reaching than any details or deals. Deals are a long ways off yet, I would guess. But if Trump calculates correctly that all this demonstration of independent statesmanship resonates with his base – and I would guess that it does – then he’s moved his party closer to greater wins this November. As pointed out in this thread, and before, Trump needs the Republicans to foil a Democrat win, to stay safe from impeachment.

Posted by: Grieved | Jul 17 2018 3:20 utc | 144

@144 “Long way to go with that unity, but I would guess the conservatives of the US would see it this way.”
I’m wondering how his base sees it. I don’t see the average American as particularly Russophobic. The backlash is coming from the usual suspects. Already there are cries of disgrace, shame, etc. which is water off his back…..and of course the media are milking it because it’s the most controversial thing they can glean from the presser.

Posted by: dh | Jul 17 2018 3:38 utc | 145

The venom spewing from the treasonous leadership class of the U.S. towards the Putin – Trump meeting, is disgraceful. I’m ashamed to be an American. Probably worse than the McCarthy era…

Posted by: V | Jul 17 2018 3:53 utc | 146

dh @145–
My perusal of Twitter after the presser found lots of push-back aimed at debunking the many Big Lies associated with the 2016 scandal, Syria, Iraq, and numerous other aspects of what’s transpired over the past 5 years. The two I provided sum most up. Let’s see how FOX news handles this episode to see what Trump’s base might think. The howls of Treason serve to discredit many deserving of being marginalized excepting their associated zealots.
How this meeting plays out in the real world remains to be seen as several points of friction clearly present themselves, most obviously Iran, where Trump and Putin are diametrically opposed. Please view the link I provided to Khamenei’s Twitter as it provides insight into the escalating problem related to the Hajj thanks to Saudi hatred of Iranian Shia.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 17 2018 4:02 utc | 147

V @146–
You need to go back to the original Red Scare to find similar rhetoric.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 17 2018 4:05 utc | 148

You know there is psyops at play when both sides off the aisle come out with the same spin in short notice.
That was about as innocuous a press conference as I have ever seen. Yet somehow the words Treason and Coup are flying from all sides neocons, Dems, Deep State.
I certainly am no fan of Trump and suspect he is just an an actor in this play, and maybe even Putin himself.
End game? Perhaps to Trigger a civil war if he is impeached or has an accident? A coup that has popular support among the fearful/gullible so as to redo the constitution like they tried to do after forcing Nixin out? I can only speculate. Hope I am wrong

Posted by: Pft | Jul 17 2018 4:12 utc | 149

@ Grieved with his perspective about Trump
What came to me as this situation with Russia has played out over the past month is that we really are witnessing a war within the elite for control.
I am going to label the factions old money and new money for lack of better data.
I think Trump represents old money that is/was fed up with the “liberal” oligarchy (new money) and sees clearly the threat the China and Russia, et al now represent to the existential existence of private finance.
So I see trumps role as two pronged. One to establish a “beachhead of dominance” for private finance to cling to in the new order and second is to wrest control further away from the new money control of governments.
As I have written before I see this Trump presidency as a version of the Shock Doctrine focused on the US/EU/UK Trump is softening the world up for a US debt default as soon as all the private finance folks are strategically positioned…….

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 17 2018 4:19 utc | 150

karlof1 @148
Yep. Good call, and I remember those days (born 1945).
But, this is worse because the U.S. is no longer a nation of laws or constitutional rule.
Good god, the U.S. still defends, and keeps Gitmo open for business!

Posted by: V | Jul 17 2018 4:27 utc | 151

And then there is this from ZH
Putin Claims U.S. Intelligence Agents Funneled $400 Million To Clinton Campaign
The long knives of elite infighting are coming out. It would be nice to see Hillary and Trump go down together but Hillary’s “We came, we saw, he died.” quip condemns her to the lowest circles of hell, IMO

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 17 2018 5:28 utc | 152

This is a follow on on to my comment #114 about the Reuters posting claiming China is putting 3rd world countries in horrible debt situations.
The link below is again from ZH and this time from a guy selling his “wisdom” about global debt which many should find interesting
Mauldin Warns “This Debt Train Will Crash”
Let me repeat the last part from my 114 comment that applies here
”
The remaining problem is that when the music stops and the elite come to the table with their “legal” derivative and such proof of ownership of everything, they must have their tools of private finance replaced by all public utility tools for society and be told that inheritance laws are being questioned in the evolution of society as well….
”

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 17 2018 5:44 utc | 153

No follow-on meeting scheduled.
Seems unusual to me.
There was a lot of talk at the presser about dialog and cooperation so it seems that this meeting is meant to be part of an ongoing effort for improved relations. Yet no invitation for Putin to visit USA? or meet closer to USA (like Montreal, or Reykjavík)?
Hey, it’s good that they are talking, even if it just means better understanding each other’s positions. But they couldn’t find anything to agree on?!? (as I noted @104) How concerned should we be given that Syria wants to reclaim all territory (and USA refuses to leave) and Trump is demanding an embargo on Iran starting Nov. 4th?

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jul 17 2018 5:53 utc | 154

I have to wonder if what Trump was really doing in Helsinki is trying to wrest one-sided concessions from Putin.
I imagine Trump explaining that any help that Putin could provide (via concessions) would allow Trump to prevail over anti-Russia sentiment and improve Republican chances in the November elections (theoretically creating a better environment for Trump to work with Russia).

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jul 17 2018 6:20 utc | 155

Xi wouldn’t help Trump with North Korean nukes.
Putin wouldn’t help Trump with Syria (by forcing Iran to leave).
In each case, Trump likely held out the possibility that cooperation would result in benefits in the not-too-distant future (improved trade, lifting of sanctions, etc.).

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jul 17 2018 6:29 utc | 156

Trudeau’s pipeline plans are about to go south…
‘It’s Going To Be A Hot Indian Summer’: Secwepemc Women Warriors Call Land Defenders To BC
http://aptnnews.ca/2018/07/15/its-going-to-be-a-hot-indian-summer-secwepemc-women-warriors-call-land-defenders-to-b-c/
“…She also issued a call to warriors across Turtle Island. ‘I want to let the warriors know that we need their help right now and to make their way to BC. It’s going to be a hot Indian Summer.
In a recent interview with APTN, DT Cochrane, an economist and researcher with the Indigenous Network in Economies and Trade, said Canada’s purchase of the pipeline and its hopes of selling to private investors are ‘untenable’ due to the outstanding issue of Aboriginal title on unceded Secwepemc and First Nations’ lands.
Cochrane said that local Indigenous resistance to the pipeline, which is led by grassroots people and Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies in BC and across Canada, makes the project’s ‘unquantifiable risk’ the ‘death for any potential asset.’ ‘If you cannot assess the risk of an asset, you cannot price an asset – so how could investors possibly back that asset? Cochrane said.
At a May 2 press conference among the Chiefs of Ontario, who report 133 First Nations in that province were joining the Treaty Alliance, Squamish Nation councillor Khelsilem predicted the Indigenous-led resistance to Trans Mountain would be big. ‘I think we’re seeing the beginning of what will become the largest civil disobedience in Canadian history,’ he said.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr has indicated that the Trudeau government will not rule out using police or military force to quash resistance to the pipeline…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 17 2018 6:44 utc | 157

Jackrabbit
Trump has a problem in attacking Iran. Putin.
From back in March..
“Any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies, be it small-scale, medium-scale or any other scale, will be treated as a nuclear attack on our country. The response will be instant and with all the relevant consequences,” he pointed out.
In Syria, Iran is Russia’s ally.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 17 2018 6:48 utc | 158

@158
So why when asked by Trump is Putin joining in increasing oil production with Saudi Arabia, so that the oil market can make up the difference and prices don’t continue to rise after Trump implements new sanctions against Iran choking off its oil exports. Already India halted imports from Iran. Isn’t Putin already betraying Iran by collaborating with Trump to scroo Iran, especially when Putin believes the Iran deal was a good deal???
On another topic: I want to correct every time I wrote Obama was Bush-lite. In fact, Obama was Bush II, because of what he did in Libya and Syria to lite the fuse and support KSA. Of course Hillary as SoS had a lot to do with this policy as well, but the buck stopped with Obama.

Posted by: Circe | Jul 18 2018 14:55 utc | 159

Trump is trying to choke Iran’s economy and stick it to China as well and Russia is helping him do it by increasing their oil production to make up the difference.
Reuters Sanctions bite
Russia participating and Trump even willing to go as far as tapping into Strategic Oil Reserves to stick it to Iran and in consequence, China.
Bloomberg
Trump is a global menace and a thug.

Posted by: Circe | Jul 18 2018 15:11 utc | 160

Trump is trying to choke Iran’s economy and stick it to China as well and Russia is helping him do it by increasing their oil production to make up the difference.
Reuters Sanctions bite
Russia participating and Trump even willing to go as far as tapping into Strategic Oil Reserves to stick it to Iran and in consequence, China.
Bloomberg
Trump is a global menace and a thug.

Posted by: Circe | Jul 18 2018 15:11 utc | 161

Why did Putin spend human and financial treasure in Syria only to cave to Trump on Iran that stood shoulder to shoulder with Russians on the battlefield?

Posted by: Circe | Jul 18 2018 17:21 utc | 162

Helmer’s latest…
Warfighting Strategy After Helsinki – Tit for Tat, Shit for Shat
http://johnhelmer.net/warfighting-strategy-after-helsinki-tit-for-tat-shit-for-shat/
The Peskov problem…

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jul 19 2018 8:20 utc | 163

Merkel gov. keep whining,
German FM Scolds Trump for Backing Off on Denial of Russian Meddling
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201807191066502747-trump-germany-russia-meddling/

Posted by: Zanon | Jul 19 2018 12:22 utc | 164

Protests in Iraq
https://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/middleeast/2018/07/electricity-iran-iraq-protests-180721140946629.html
“The protests in the south, which kicked off in Basra almost two weeks ago, were sparked when Iran stopped supplying electricity to that region after it said it was owed $1.5bn in unpaid bills.
The protesters didn’t blame Iran but pointed to what they called an inept and corrupt Iraqi government. However, in recent days Al Jazeera has been told, off the record, that the US put pressure on Iraq not to pay the Iranians.”

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 20:22 utc | 165

@ 165 peter.. clearly it is a different kind of colour revolution that the usa is working on here, hopefully to piss off iran and iraq in the hope people will remain ignorant of their central role in it all.. typical…

Posted by: james | Jul 21 2018 20:29 utc | 166

james as far as I can make out the US/Israeli moves in Iraq are to pre-emp an insurgency against the US occupation by Shia militia forces that would ally with Iran
http://thehill.com/policy/international/366721-us-israel-reach-cooperation-agreement-on-iran-report
“U.S. and Israeli officials reached a closed-door cooperation agreement on how to deal with Iran, according to Israel’s Channel 10 News.
The agreement, which was reportedly signed on Dec. 12 at the White House, aims to counter Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.”

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 20:44 utc | 167

Some of the Syria maps on twitter are starting to show Syrian control right up to the demarcation line with Israel, with only the ISIS zone left.
The recent news about getting “white helmets” out was most likely an evacuation of the hardcore proxies which will be needed for the coming moves on Iran.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 21:11 utc | 168

https://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idINKBN1KB0EI
(Reuters) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday backed President Hassan Rouhani’s suggestion that Iran may block Gulf oil exports if its own exports are stopped and said negotiations with the United States would be an “obvious mistake”.
Blocking Persian Gulf oil is what US wants. It gives an excuse to attack Iran, and at the same time higher prices will boost US domestic production.
Khamenei has been in touch with Putin through an envoy. Are they setting a trap for the US by appearing to play into its hands?

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 21:25 utc | 169

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran/u-s-launches-campaign-to-erode-support-for-irans
The Trump administration has launched an offensive of speeches and online communications meant to foment unrest and help pressure Iran to end its nuclear program and its support of militant groups, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said.
……..
The moves against Iran are ramping up very quickly. Any US military attack would most likely be at a time when internal unrest in Iran is at its peak. It also divert attention from the domestic political situation in the US as a good many of the Russia haters also hate Iran. I am guessing an attack is planned for sometime before the mid term elections of Nov 6th

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 21:59 utc | 170

@peter.. thanks for the additional comments and insights.. i think you are on track with all that too.. clearly the move towards a war – even if covert – with iran – is clearly on… it has been on for some time, but the fact trump backed out of the agreement with iran on nuclear power, is a clear single trump is representing israel/zionism, more then he is the usa.. that much is very clear to my mind.. so maybe in that regard trump is an insider looking after freaks like sheldon adelson more then anything.. could be.. clearly he is supporting israels continued craze towards iran… if any country needs to be checkmated, it is israel, not iran..

Posted by: james | Jul 21 2018 22:30 utc | 171

According to Bild, Israel evacuated 800 proxy jihadists and their families from south west Syria.
https://twitter.com/jreichelt/status/1020781171167248385
https://twitter.com/BILD/status/1020788779097808896

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Jul 21 2018 22:30 utc | 172

Back to Main