Threatening a naval blockade is idiotic. I wonder if Putin has any regrets helping put Trump in charge of the US military. Did he have any idea how dangerous that was? Putin can be slightly forgiven for displaying some ignorance. At least he had Russian interests in mind. Asange had no excuse. He recklessly endangered the world while catering to Putin.

Posted by: Craigsummers | Oct 2 2018 16:25 utc | 3

@craigsummers, you give too much credit to Putin. He has nothing to do with your broken democracy.

Posted by: Xfactor | Oct 2 2018 16:35 utc | 5

Speaking of WWIII…
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2018/10/02/us-switching-ukraine-location-start-world-war-iii-against-russia.html

Posted by: m | Oct 2 2018 17:33 utc | 7

We’ve been in WW3 for several years now. Bolton went “Full Monty” with his declaration that U.S. forces will stay in Syria until Iran vacates. The introduction of a Yemen War Powers Resolution in the House last week is a hopeful sign. A reason to root for a Blue Wave in November. Dem leadership, already on record backing the War Powers Resolution, would be obligated to block U.S. enabling genocide in Yemen.

Posted by: Mike Maloney | Oct 2 2018 17:55 utc | 9

m @9
I disagree with Eric Zusse’s belief that USA wants to start WWIII. I think
they want to contain/constrain discontent of allies and citizenry as they attempt to destroy the Russian and Chinese economies. War is only a last resort. But heightened military tensions mean that the major protagonists have to divert resources to their military, causing a drag on the economies.
Along these lines, the Trump Administration has informed Russia in April 2017 that the period of “strategic patience” is over (well, at least official ’cause being ‘patient’ didn’t seem to deter regime change and covert ops) . They now employ a policy of “maximum pressure” instead.
The big concern for me is that “maximum pressure” also means an elevated chance of mistakes and miscalculations that could inadvertently cause WWIII.
Also note: The Trump Administration has officially labeled Russia and China as enemies when they called them “recidivist” nations in the National Defense Authorization Act in late 2017. (Note: “recidivist” because Russia and China want to return to a world where there is not a hegemonic power, aka a “multi-polar” world).
PS IMO Trump election and the Kavanaugh and Gina Haspel nominations are key to the pursuit of global hegemony.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Oct 2 2018 18:25 utc | 11

Most warnings have centered on a financial meltdown, as this article reviews. As most know, IMO we’re already within an ongoing Hybrid Third World War, which is more readily apparent with Trump’s Trade War escalation. As noted in my link to Escobar’s latest, the EU has devised a retaliatory mechanism to shield itself and others from the next round of illegal sanctions Trump’s promised to impose after Mid-term elections. In an open thread post, I linked to Hudson’s latest audio-cast; here’s what he said on the 10th anniversary of the 2008 crash: “So this crash of 2008 was not a crash of the banks. The banks were bailed out. The economy was left with all the junk mortgages in place, all the fraudulent debts.” Another article I linked to in a comment to james averred the “real” US economy is only 5 Trillion, only 25% of what’s claimed as the total economy. Hudson again: “Contrary to the idea that bailing out the banks helps the economy, the fact is that the economy today cannot recover without a bank failure.” [My emphasis]
What’s clearly happening–and it’s been ongoing for quite awhile–for those with open eyes is the Class War between the 1% and 99%. The domestic battle within the Outlaw US Empire for Single Payer/Medicare For All healthcare is one theatre of the much larger ongoing war. As Hudson’s stated many times, the goal of the 1% is to reestablish Feudalism via debt-peonage. All the other happenings geopolitically serve to mask this Class War within the Outlaw US Empire. Clearly, the upcoming financial crisis must spark a massive political upheaval larger than any ever seen before to prevent institution of the 2008 “solution.” Many predict that this crisis will be timed to occur in 2020 constituting the biggest election meddling of all time. The crisis will likely be blamed on China without any evidence for hacking Wall Street and causing the subsequent crash–a Financial False Flag to serve the same purpose as 911.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 2 2018 19:02 utc | 13

@14 karlof1… don’t you think it makes sense for this financial shake down to coincide with a world war? i am curious about your thoughts on this, or if michael hudson has said anything on the nature of war and regime change games that have been in play for so long.. thanks.

Posted by: james | Oct 2 2018 19:07 utc | 15

The primary dynamic of history is war. This has caused immense suffering. It is now becoming exponentially worse. Critical graphs are going off their charts. The end is near.
If we think of humankind as a large complex living entity, then like all such entities it will expire at some point. So in the larger picture, what we are moving towards is natural, and to be expected.
Like individual humans, the human population as a whole can pursue activities that maintain it’s health, or it can indulge in activities that create disease and hasten it’s death. Humankind is deep in toxifying behaviors that signal it’s demise in the near future.

Posted by: mike k | Oct 2 2018 19:51 utc | 17

james @15–
Sorry, didn’t get to your 2nd question. Yes, Hudson lays it out in his Magnum Opus Super Imperialism, but also alludes to much in his more recent Killing the Host.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 2 2018 20:00 utc | 19

Brinksmanship in South China Sea as Chinese vessel blocks way of Outlaw US Empire’s trespassing warship. For those not watching, escalation vs China is advancing. Meanwhile, Press TV announces several nations have changed their policies vis a vis Syria, which amounts to a tiny de-escalation that will hopefully snowball.
Bart Hansen @20–
Baker’s economic commentary is good up to a point, but he’s nowhere close to having Hudson’s overall expertise and Wall Street work experiences, which are essentially unique. I found it odd Baker didn’t join Hudson to promote his Junk Economics. Could be political as Baker’s a D supporter while Hudson’s long been a None of the Above and has excoriated D policies.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 2 2018 20:52 utc | 21

Thirdeye@18
Its a myth that the Soviet Union fell due to bankruptcy. The party elites saw how their counterparts in the West were getting rich beyond belief due to neoliberal capitalism and when Gorbachev (who likely was turned by US intelligence) offered them a chance to get some of that they said yes , and went beyond what Gorbachev had in mind (something like Dengs Capitalism but with SU characteristics). They went whole hog with democratic neoliberalism which is basically anarchy for the privileged class and the looting began

Posted by: Pft | Oct 2 2018 21:47 utc | 23

Boleyn dave @24–
Although it appears the UK populace is more fearful of further Tory privatization and austerity that’s already done terrible damage and to which Labour has mounted a very well targeted campaign.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 2 2018 22:55 utc | 25

>> Here is a detailed look at what
>> the United States is getting for
>> its $700 billion defense budget
Given the article below, Catherine Austin Fitts’ research, and reasonable inferences, “700” is AT MOST HALF the budget.
http://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=1941
…
Hey Jackrabbit, on the AGW thread, thank you for your responses. Your conclusions seem quite possible if not probable.

Posted by: dumbass | Oct 3 2018 1:07 utc | 27

@16 karlof1.. thanks… apparently that order was repealed in 1974 fwiw.. “The limitation on gold ownership in the U.S. was repealed after President Gerald Ford signed a bill legalizing private ownership of gold coins, bars and certificates by an act of Congress codified in Pub.L. 93–373[1] which went into effect December 31, 1974.”
@18 thirdeye.. thanks for the alternative perspective..
@19 karlof1.. thank you.. have you read any of michael hudsons books?
@28 pyschohistorian.. fascinating post, especially towards the end.. i agree with your first line strongly too fwiw.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Oct 3 2018 2:22 utc | 29

james @29–
Yes: Super Imperialism, 1st Edition. Plus most of his essays and public talks. See his website.

Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 3 2018 3:46 utc | 31

Hmm with the diligence and aptitude shown by “us” (aka “the west”) since 1990 WWIII would start with the US declaring victory before nuking London and then being invaded and successfully occupied by Canada.
Fun 😀
By the way could they hurry up and do it before the end of next week? It would help me heaps, thanks in advance masters of the universe!

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Oct 3 2018 11:15 utc | 33

Express is a tabloid paper. They’ve been doing this for years. Avoid Express, Sun, and Metro as they’re all in the business of sensationalism.

Posted by: Les | Oct 3 2018 16:06 utc | 35

Here is another example of Word War 3
”
BEIJING, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) — China reiterated Wednesday that it is the United States that had proposed the postponement of the second round of their Diplomatic and Security Dialogue instead of the other way around.
Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, refuted recent U.S. media reports that a U.S. official claimed China had proposed putting off the dialogue.
“Such an argument completely distorts the fact with ulterior motives and is extremely irresponsible,” she said. “The Chinese side expresses strong dissatisfaction.”
The fact is the United States recently made a proposal to China that it hoped to postpone the dialogue, Hua said.
“We demand the parties concerned stop fabricating and spreading rumors,” she said.
On Tuesday, Hua said China and the United States had previously agreed in principle to hold the dialogue in mid-October, while the United States recently proposed putting it off.
”

Posted by: psychohistorian | Oct 4 2018 5:11 utc | 37

Bloomberg today megaphoned for Deep Purple Mil.Gov UniParty spooks and war profiteers:
“Department of Homeland Security issued its latest cybersecurity warning to American corporations that their Chinese motherboards contain a tiny backdoor chip installed by ‘China espionage’ in the manufacturing process, especially those of Apple and Amazon.”
Mike Pompeo got a raging hard-on at the news and had to leave work at the Pentagon early. VP Mike Pence left his office to place millions in FANG short-money with his Wall Street brokers in a special isolation phone booth at his home that cost US taxpayers $666,000. Nobody’s seen Nikki Halley today, and John Bolton passed out with the vapors, ha,ha,ha.
By November, the wagons will be circled, and the Deplorable Patriots will be doing wheelies down mainstreet with their dually’s, giant flaming red, white and blue banners and guns poking out of every orifice.
Bmobing will commence at 09:30 Tehran time, 5/11 and the internet will be shut down.

Posted by: Anton Worter | Oct 4 2018 22:06 utc | 39

I have not seen my US coworkers and friends worked into such a froth since the second Iraq war. They all hate Russia and they all know virtually nothing about Russia past and now. The company would not be wasting all this newsprint and ink for nothing to mold the minds of the bleating sheep.
Now Trump dropped the “China is hacking our election to keep me from winning” card at the UN. We have not spent much time drumming us the lets hate China card in the US. Maybe that will change soon. Every day, every week the tone gets worse and worse.
I am sorry, things just do not look good. Korea is the only hopeful sign on the horizon and I think China wants that more than the US. Eventual reunification gets the US out of that country. Korea and the Philippines are smart to get the hell out of the way of this train wreck.
My guess of the month. Trump goes back to talk to Kim and announces a peace treat. The October Surprise.

Posted by: dltravers | Oct 5 2018 4:36 utc | 41