Open Thread 2018-67
News & views ...Posted by b on December 11, 2018 at 18:43 UTC | Permalink
next page »US diplomat lies on camera when asked what he is working at in a secret military biolab in #Georgia. This practce is often used by the CIA to provide cover for its agents. The full documentary here https://t.co/Dzbc2oklfH
https://twitter.com/dgaytandzhieva/status/1043542239736147968
Posted by: Zanon | Dec 11 2018 19:12 utc | 2
here we go...
Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig detained in China
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kovrig-detained-china-tuesday-1.4940725
and from the folks and country that knew saddam had weapons of mass destruction enough to murder off countless iraqi people -
'Absolutely false': U.S. ambassador denies political motive behind Huawei exec's arrest
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/kelly-craft-meng-wanzhou-huawei-1.4941219
Posted by: james | Dec 11 2018 19:27 utc | 3
The arrest of the Huawei executive will prove to be an act of monumental stupidity, not least on account of its flimsy pretext. The mainstream media has largely avoided addressing the details of the charges, even as the original 2013 Reuters article which outlines the essential information and the arrest affidavit which presents that information in terms of a prosecutor’s brief are readily available online. Instead the focus is on alleged spyware and alleged IP theft, all meant to make the Huawei brand toxic. Which is likely the overriding intention by US authority.
The redivision of the planet on mid-20th century terms seems truly the ultimate destination. Still some reason to hope an actual shooting war can be avoided.
Posted by: jayc | Dec 11 2018 19:41 utc | 4
@ 4 jayc... agreed... this is totally political... it needs to be thrown out asap on this basis..
Posted by: james | Dec 11 2018 19:47 utc | 5
Canada Goose getting plucked. Will Tim Hortons be next?
old model iphone sales banned....
https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/10/tech/china-iphone-ban/index.html
Posted by: dh | Dec 11 2018 20:05 utc | 6
#5 james , I've noticed that you are Canadian. look up the north com agreements signed by john manley under prime minister paul martan in 2006 with the americans to replace norad.
Posted by: darkhorse241 | Dec 11 2018 20:07 utc | 7
I provided this Meng-focused essay on the previous thread that deals with the political-morality-ideology of what's now clearly in play:
"A world that is made more interconnected through Belt and Road will be a world where common destinies of peace through prosperity replace the animal tendencies of those who perversely thrive in a spirit of violent competition that ought to have died in 1918. The moral message of Belt and Road is that it is possible to maintain one’s national dignity, uphold human rights and become more materially wealthy without having to travel down the dark paths of violence, provocation or war.
"These messages have always been an implicit part of the Belt and Road mentality, but now that the US has so clearly chosen another path, the rest of the world must choose peace over the tyranny of hegemony and this means looking with optimism at Belt and Road."
What happens in the game of Monopoly when no one wants to play anymore, when there's no longer anyone remaining to bankrupt and gain their property; yet, the remaining player doesn't want to play any other game or change Monopoly's rules? The obvious result is the remaining player can only masturbate, although it might entertain trying to force others to return to the game board. And to make matters worse, the remaining player discovers it has erectile dysfunction and is unable to masturbate. IMO, we haven't reached that last nadir, but what might happen when we do, and we surely will.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 20:34 utc | 8
Dr John Rengen Virapen, Whistleblower of the Psychopathic Pharmaceutical Industry, Speaks Out
Dr John Rengen Virapen is a former scientist who after 35 years of work in the pharmaceutical industry (Eli Lilly) has left it to warn the public of the nefarious dealings and motives of the pharmaceutical industry.
Whistleblower and mega rich ... with blood on his hands, but hey.....\
Posted by: Uncle $cam | Dec 11 2018 20:37 utc | 9
Some here are old enough to recall A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the Forum. It seems Pompeo has become Zero Mostel's character as "Pompeo blasted for hypocrisy on Twitter after saying Russia ‘squandering’ public funds on military." And this man--Air Head--was Director of Central Intelligence! No wonder Trump likes him so much! There are truly some gems amongst the tweets provided and undoubtedly there're many more on the thread, that is if Pompeo hasn't deleted it.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 20:45 utc | 10
If you think the Chinese are angry now, just wait till Meng is handed over to US custody and is strip-searched as is now common practice. The full decoupling of US and China will begin at that point, and the real pain suffered by the Chinese economy and its 2025 plan will be wiillingly absorbed by its people.
Posted by: jayc | Dec 11 2018 20:45 utc | 11
As I recall history has a sad record of the consequences for anyone stupid enough to kidnap a Chinese princess. Deep, deep is the memory and wounding of such a dumb act. I guess the yankees have done it again. So much lead in the drinking water and such a thirst.
On the bright side the gillet jaune in France have shown some serious and durable metal in their soul. But it is a cowardly crime that twitter terminated the Benoite Abedoux site. It was really good satire. If any comrades here are aware of its resurrection do let us know.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 11 2018 21:10 utc | 12
jaye 4
The development of contiguous trade , resources ,production near to populations for efficient commodity distribution will make the Eurasian hub - exactly that .
The Atlantacist's know that will be difficult to compete with .
The near thirty years of wars instigated by the U S have to an extent put breaks on these developments as well as exacerbating them in some ways .
Looked at from this perspective perhaps the next few months will be significant .
Posted by: ashley albanese | Dec 11 2018 21:39 utc | 13
UT @12--
The numerous parody/satirical sites get resurrected almost as quickly as they get taken down as I've discovered as I go through my Twitter links. My favorites are the numerous belling_dogs/dawgs/snakes/kittens and such! The slap-back in the face of BigLie Media is stark and widespread--global, in fact. Here's Benoite Abedoux's Twitter, up and running @1330 Pacific.
Here's the vid attacking May currently at top of Corbyn's Twitter, with the thread providing the answer to why it's too early to demand a No Confidence Vote.
Seems most reactionary regimes are in a crisis of some sort. Couldn't be their policies now could it?
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 21:39 utc | 14
@jayc #4
"The redivision of the planet on mid-20th century terms seems truly the ultimate destination."
There's actually never been a redivision on those terms. Those terms have never left. Those terms are, first and foremost, the US dollar as the world reserve currency, followed by overall US economic hegemony.
Those terms were established by the Bretton Woods agreement at the end of World War II. The Soviet Union balked at those terms, much to the chagrin of the supposed "powers that be". They then launched a campaign to keep as many countries as possible plugged into the US-dollar matrix. That campaign continues to this day.
What we're seeing now is not a second "Cold War". The original "Cold War" never actually stopped. Understood properly, the ongoing "Cold War" is ultimately not about ideology, but about money. Countries that do not fully buy into (ahem) the aforementioned terms are considered adversaries by those that do, and especially the US itself. Such countries currently include Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
Thus it's no coincidence at all that the division of the planet today resembles that of the mid-20th century.
Posted by: Cynica | Dec 11 2018 22:10 utc | 15
350 diplomatic flights carry weapons for terrorists
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/897433/azerbaijani-silk-way-airlines-carries-out-350-diplomatic-flights-transporting-weapons-for-terrorists.html
Posted by: Zanon | Dec 11 2018 22:13 utc | 16
@6 dh, Tim Horton's is not Canadian owned anymore but a brand of US/Brazilian 3G Capital..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G_Capital
Bellindogs twitter is hilarious..
Posted by: Lozion | Dec 11 2018 22:13 utc | 17
Peter Lee is Chinahand in Twitterland and an excellent source on not just things China. As anticipated, the situation's escalating. Although this Global Times editorial tries to dampen ardors, it also published these remarks:
"China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that the nation will not ignore any bullying that violates the legitimate rights of overseas Chinese citizens, following the arrest of Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou.
"'We care about the safety and well-being of each overseas Chinese compatriot and China will not sit idly by and allow any bullying against Chinese citizens and violations of their legal rights.'"
Meng's bail hearing was continued, which isn't helping the situation. The editorial also outlines how Meng's arrest increases the personal risk for management of international corporations and ought to be closely read by all players.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 22:15 utc | 18
Emergency briefing of the head of Donetsk People’s Republic Militia Basurin on the situation on 10.12.2018 http://thesaker.is/emergency-briefing-of-the-head-of-donetsk-peoples-republic-militia-basurin-on-the-situation-on-10-12-2018/
Posted by: Bruce | Dec 11 2018 22:35 utc | 19
If you want to see what out of touch MSM looks like, this is a textbook example:
http://time.com/person-of-the-year-2018-the-guardians/
On the worrying side, we might just have hit Peak Inbreeding when it comes to "journalism".
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Dec 11 2018 22:39 utc | 20
Karlofi @ 14
Yes things are getting exciting here in the U.K. ! karma has kicked in big time. Having shown no sympathy for enyone (psychopathic symptom) the Tory’s have turned on themselves like a vicious dog fight ( i’m loving it ) Jeremy Corbyn (next future Pm) need do nothing but wait for the tory’s to distroy themselves ! His policy’s are perfect!!! He’s a strong surviver two steps ahead of eny other polition. all the rest you may have heard is pure media/ political properganda, 50% of the public sadly have been brainwashed by the elite! As we all know! Trust me he’s the best.
And the public here in the U.K. are waking up, like France and for the same reasons.
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 11 2018 22:48 utc | 21
The person running Hidden History finds some gems! This Tweet links to a large pdf, "Counterintelligence: A Documentary Look at America's Secret Police", produced by the National Lawyers Guild, I'm certain many will find it useful as it proves beyond doubt the many efforts by the forces of reaction within the Outlaw US Empire to destroy any attempts to reform or modify its actions.
Another juicy tidbit's been released and can be read/downloaded here: NATO's Original Purpose: Double Containment of the Soviet Union and "Resurgent" Germany.
Yes, it's hard to keep up and find time to write, never mind eating and marital relations. Thank goodness the human brain's big enough to hold it all!
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 22:54 utc | 22
Quelle surprise!
Just as M. Micron is in a tailspin...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46530265
Posted by: Cortes | Dec 11 2018 23:03 utc | 23
Uncle $cam 9
I read his book Side Affects, Death and the book Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher (by Gwen Olsen). Both were pretty damning of the industry. I agree with you that some of these whistleblowers have two sides. At least those who paid attention learned a bit about the inside corruption ... that kills so many. But don't look to action from media or govt that have been captured by the industry (among others).
Posted by: Curtis | Dec 11 2018 23:07 utc | 24
Canada tried to use Huawie for 5G cause it was cheaper and better. The US said no no no. Now we pay;
This was after the spectacular fail of the widows and orphans stock Nortel.
Posted by: steve | Dec 11 2018 23:12 utc | 25
meng wanzhou is been allowed to be free on bail... a sigh of relief for that much.. next is the extradition process which will be challenged as well..
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/huawei-meng-wanzhou-bail-hearing-vancouver-1.4940849
@7 darkhorse.. will take a look.. thanks..
@17 lozion... yes, and many canucks don't even know that... burger king owns thortons last i heard... i never support the place.. just another lousy american corp, or oligarch, lol..
Posted by: james | Dec 11 2018 23:18 utc | 26
Zanon @ 16 & generally
I need to say you’v been comming up with some good stuff, you don’t get enough praise on here I feel !
So I will thank you for what you do , and the links you provide, there’s been some real gems recently !!!
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 11 2018 23:22 utc | 27
james @26--
Yeah for $10 million+. Nor is she truly free according to the terms:
"The judge set Meng's bail at $10 million, CBC Vancouver reporter Jason Proctor reported from the courthouse. The judge agreed to conditions for bail proposed by Meng's defense team. Those rules require that Meng be subject to electronic monitoring, stay at her home in Canada between the hours of 11p.m. and 6a.m., and be accompanied by a security team when she leaves the residence, which she is required to foot the bill for."
Yeah, better than a jail cell, but freedom it ain't.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 11 2018 23:26 utc | 28
@17 Thanks. I didn't know Tim Horton's had been sold. I guess it could still be a target for Chinese anger.
Posted by: dh | Dec 11 2018 23:30 utc | 29
@28 karlof1... if this had happened in the usa, she would be sitting in solitary confinement in some usa gulag indefinitely until her trail happened.. see maria butina for an example about how the usa regime handles these types of political agendas.. her dad is sitting on many billions.. 10 mil is a drop in the bucket... onto the extradition trail which will be interesting..
Posted by: james | Dec 11 2018 23:38 utc | 30
Meng arrest a huge provocation to China
Jeffrey D Sachs By Jeffrey D Sachs December 11
http://www.atimes.com/meng-wanzhou-arrest-a-stunning-provocation-to-china/
Posted by: mauisurfer | Dec 11 2018 23:47 utc | 31
@30 Freeing Meng on bail is a compromise solution. Probably the best thing Trudeau could have come up with. Some Vancouver lawyers will be happy but Trump won't like it at all.
Posted by: dh | Dec 11 2018 23:50 utc | 32
@32 dh... next step it a challenge to the extradition process.. meng wanzhou can and will claim it is politically motivated.. the treaty says you can't be extradited if it is politically motivated..
@ 7 darkhorse.. - i can't find anything on it..
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 0:05 utc | 33
Events are happening thick and fast now ! I sense a step chainge ! For both good and bad ! Here’s yet another development ! Well two actually —
Israeli trickery and media supression !!!
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/twitter-enforcing-israeli-military-censorship
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 12 2018 0:07 utc | 34
@33 The more I think about it the more granting her bail looks like a smart move. Extradition hearings could drag on for years and it gets Canada of the hook with China to some extent.They will know who to blame.
Posted by: dh | Dec 12 2018 0:20 utc | 35
Curtis@24
According to wikipedia , which only seems to exist in German , he died in 2015 at a relatively young age. Cant read German and googling his death pulls up nothing. His book is out of print according to amazon, and the kindle version no longer available. A free version is floating around though . Despite blowing his whistle almost 10 years ago nothing has been done and he is being sanitized. Most people dont have time or patience to watch you tube
The walking dead seem oblivious in anycase so most whistle blowers just wasting their time,
Posted by: Pft | Dec 12 2018 0:21 utc | 36
@35 dh.. yes! fortunately the judiciary does act independent of the political leadership here in canada still.. i hope that doesn't change.. we haven't reached banana republic status just yet...
today usa daily propaganda press briefing quote..
"We also have other interests in Syria, which I think you heard from Ambassador Jeffrey. We want to see a resolution to the Syrian civil war through the UN Security Council resolution process. And we also want to see the removal of foreign forces from Syria, particularly the Iranian-commanded and proxy forces from Syria."
he forgot to mention the usa is a foreign force in syria and that he would like to see himself gone, lol.. have to follow israels orders!
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2018/12/288024.htm
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 0:36 utc | 37
matt lee asks some more pointed questions in todays usa press briefing on the topic of meng wanzhou and the tit for tat that happened earlier today..
"QUESTION: Okay. Can I ask you one briefly on one other subject? And that is: Do you have – you are aware, I presume, that the Canadian Government has now confirmed that one of their former diplomats has been detained in China in what a lot of people see as a retaliatory move for the arrest by the Canadians of this executive from a Chinese company. Do you have any comment on --
MR PALLADINO: The United States is concerned by these reports that a Canadian citizen has been detained in China. We urge China to end all forms of arbitrary detention and to respect the protections and freedoms of all individuals under China’s international human rights and consular commitments.
QUESTION: And would you urge the Canadian Government to do the same thing or is this – or is the arrest there, the detention there something that you support?
MR PALLADINO: I’m not – I don’t understand the question, Matt. Please repeat the – what’s the question?
QUESTION: Well, you seem to be saying – and correct me if I’m wrong; I don’t want to have a misperception of this – but you seem to be saying that the Chinese have acted incorrectly here in detaining this former Canadian diplomat. And by saying that, without any reference to what happened in Canada to the Chinese executive, you seem to be suggesting that that’s – you’re okay with that, but not with the Chinese detaining – and I understand that there are many reasons why that would be the case, but I just want to make sure you don’t have any issue, since it is your arrest – your request to the Canadians, you have no issue with the way the Canadians have handled the detention of the Chinese citizen in Canada?
MR PALLADINO: The charges against Meng pertain to alleged lies to United States financial institutions about the business that Huawei was conducting in Iran. And it’s clear from the filings that were unsealed in Canada Meng and others are alleged to have put financial institutions at risk of criminal and civil liability in the United States by deceiving those institutions as to the nature and extent of Huawei’s business in Iran. Rather than disclosing what Skycom actually was, which was Huawei’s Iranian affiliate, Meng and others allegedly falsely stated that it was an unaffiliated business partner.
QUESTION: Okay, but so – I get that. But you don’t think that the Chinese had any reason, valid reason, to detain this former Canadian diplomat?
MR PALLADINO: We – I mean, I would refer you to the Canadian and Chinese governments for the reasons behind the arrest and restate what I said already. Thanks.
Lesley, please."
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 0:45 utc | 38
@37 Well I have a hard time believing Trudeau or Freeland didn't have a little chat with the judge but that's just my suspicious mind. I'm sure Canada is above such monkey business.
Posted by: dh | Dec 12 2018 0:51 utc | 39
the attack in Strasbourg happened in my old neighbourhood just beside the cathedral. I used to haunt the bistros and cafes in the area and I see them in the photos in the articles. What a juxtaposition - to see the restaurant where I celebrated birthdays and promotions with the events of today. The Muslim community is small and pretty much segregated in the banlieues in Strasbourg where people have been known to throw their babies' used diapers out the window, and the heroin problem was endemic a decade ago.
Posted by: Mischi | Dec 12 2018 1:01 utc | 40
james @30--
Agreed, it would be much worse--War if she were subjected to such conditions. Corrupt US business officials better avoid China--Death Penalty there. Did I mention War?
As the fledgling Outlaw US Empire gained its strength after its Civil War, it was deemed "cool" to Twist/Pull the Lion's Tail. One bully beat up the other bully who now seems intent on beating himself.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 12 2018 1:12 utc | 41
james #38, I just googled it northcom agreements ,it worked okay.
Posted by: darkhorse241 | Dec 12 2018 1:25 utc | 42
@39 dh.. very unlikely as i see it..we have to believe there is separation of political power from judicial power, unlike in turkey for example where erdogan recently made it all under his control...
@40 mischi... that is unsettling.. thanks for sharing.. has the dynamic changed much in the past 10 years for the worse?
@41 karlof1.. i don't understand how the usa thinks it can get away with this type of action with regard maria butina...
@42 darkhorse... i was using yandex, lol... i will make an exception this time and try with google... i get these type links.
http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=the-canada-u-s-defence-relationship/hob7hd8s
http://www.northcom.mil/About-USNORTHCOM/
what do you have to say about all that? i see how canada is working with the usa in some other additional agreement to norad.. have we agreed with the patriot act too? i know under harper we basically laid down and let the usa walk all over us... that was his style.. what has changed since this was implemented?
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 1:51 utc | 43
my response is being withheld.. check back.. i have posted too many times today on moa!
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 1:52 utc | 44
For me this whole thing is ridiculous from the get-go.
Sanctions on Iran... for what? Lol. They've done nothing worse than the kind of thing the United States does. Far less, I'd imagine (without looking up anything).
Then arrest people from foreign countries whose companies are trading with Iran... on the basis that they've "deceived" some financial institutions into investing in their foreign products or some shit?
You gotta be kidding me.
And that's if the claim they've "deceived" people holds any merit at all. It might not even hold up.
Ridiculous all the way through.
Posted by: flayer | Dec 12 2018 2:15 utc | 45
Karlof1 @ 28, James @ 30:
Imagine if the security for Meng when she leaves the house any time between 6 am and 11 pm each day is paid for by Huawei who then pass the amount paid to Beijing, who then pass that on to Ottawa ... with interest.
And if Canada does not pay, or at least make the interest payments, the Chinese could look at extracting the money some other way. What investments might China have in Canadian mining, agriculture or some other industry through its joint ventures and state companies?
Posted by: Jen | Dec 12 2018 2:32 utc | 46
@45 jen.. every time i go to a chinese restaurant, i am going to be paying more for my chow mien!!! the chinese own a lot of canada at this point in the neo liberal cycle...
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 2:37 utc | 47
@19 Bruce
That's an interesting link. There hasn't been a lot of coverage on Ukraine over the last few days, so an event like descried by Basurin could certainly be used as a "shock" impact to sell the war to the public.
"The enemy offensive strike group has been already formed in total of more than 12 thousand people". That sounds quite massive.
Posted by: radiator | Dec 12 2018 2:39 utc | 48
@45 Apart from the fact that Canada arrested Meng, following a US request, I don't think China needs to get into a tit for tat with Canada. They might even see Canada as a fellow victim of you know who.
Posted by: dh | Dec 12 2018 2:55 utc | 49
From RT: "US President Trump said he might intervene on behalf of Huawei CFO if it benefits US trade interests with China. ...
If I think it’s good for what will certainly be the largest trade deal ever made – which is a very important thing – what’s good for national security – I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary,” Trump told Reuters."
Now this is curious: Trump could be interpreted as implying something along the lines of: We've asked the Canadians to kidnap a high profile much esteemed Chinese woman so as to give us more leverage in the trade talks with China and if they throw me some juicy crumbs I'll call the dogs off Meng.
Or, alternatively, maybe he really didn't know and is trying to put out the flames by asking the Chinese to throw the US some crumbs and he will pardon Meng and get out of hot water at the same time.
Also implied is, well, the law she may have broken is really not that big a deal, and we can settle this fiasco pretty easily. Wave my presidential executive order/pardon wand. Poof.
If only Canadian officials would begin to feel a bit embarrassed at some point, and thus constrained, at dancing like marionettes to whatever lousy demented tune the British or Americans play....
Posted by: Robert Snefjella | Dec 12 2018 3:00 utc | 50
@49 Or....Trump was hoping for a speedy extradition. Meng getting bail has upset the plan. Now he knows it can drag on for a long time he is forced to be a little conciliatory.
Posted by: dh | Dec 12 2018 3:09 utc | 51
karlof1 @14...
Thank you for that karlof1. For a few hours I kept getting suspended statements etc from twitter and figured the 'league of decency' had deemed Benoite unfit for consumption. Jeremy Corbin is just doggedly on his path and that was a good video.
Micron will not survive the onslaught or the laughter.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 12 2018 3:11 utc | 52
miscarriage of justice is the trade mark of fukus..
In case you forget, the persecution Lee wen Ho.
*What manner of evil is it that allowed then-Attorney General Janet Reno to ignore a report on her desk that provided crucial evidence exonerating a man who was rotting in jail?
..............
I have friends who know and have worked with Reno and speak of her in admiring terms, but what she did in the Lee case is unconscionable and, by the standards we apply to others around the world, borders on the criminal. *
https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/WEN-HO-LEE-You-Call-This-Justice-Presumed-2883532.php
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 3:12 utc | 53
@52 denk
Thanks for that link. I wasn't aware.
And of course the China card again. NYT had already made the headline allegation that China had advanced its nuclear weaponry using secrets stolen from a US lab. Now came the secret Bellows report to show that actually there was no indication that anything was stolen, and it was likely that China simply made the advance through its own effort.
The report discounted racism against Lee (which had been alleged by two ranking officials in the affair), but did find that he had been unfairly targeted. So, if not for his ethnicity then for the nationality associated with it. He had to be the guy who helped China catch up because no way could China have done it from its own prowess - the US wasn't about to let that story out.
The scenario seems very familiar.
Posted by: Grieved | Dec 12 2018 3:45 utc | 54
The antidote to civilisational collapse
An interview with the documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis
very long, but excellent
starts with discussion about Curtis' new film “HyperNormalisation”
I found a free download of the film online.
Curtis is a big fan of South Park, and recommends the 3 part series "Imagination" from a few years ago.
https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/12/06/the-antidote-to-civilisational-collapse
Posted by: mauisurfer | Dec 12 2018 3:51 utc | 55
I wonder if Macron caused this terror attack to occur in some way to rein in the gilets jaunes?
Posted by: Mischi | Dec 12 2018 4:04 utc | 56
Grieved 53
I see, Trump will ask his Canuck attack dog to release the hostage...if China pay up the ransom.
I highlighted several times here,
Trump's threat to raise hell in TW strait, unless
China cave in on trade issues. [1]
I guess with China's DF21 aircraft carrier busters already deployed, the racketeers decide its safer to kidnap a defenceless lady than provoking the PLN in TW strait.
Jeeze, Al Capone would blush at such brazeness.
[1]
US President-elect Donald Trump upped the ante yesterday in his war of words with China. He declared that he did not feel bound by the “One China” policy, which has been the foundation of diplomacy between the two countries for more than 40 years.
.........
Trump made clear he would abide by the One China policy, which recognises Beijing as the sole legitimate government of all China, only if the Chinese government caves in on other issues. “I don’t know why we have to be bound by a One China policy,” he declared, “unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/12/12/taiw-d12.html
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 4:16 utc | 57
mauisurfer | Dec 11, 2018 10:51:16 PM | 54
Thanks. Very interesting.
IMO "hypernormalization" hasn't yet happened in USA. Though more and more people have "woken up" or are so disgruntled that they are questioning the BS, USA political elites have generally been able to keep most people trapped in false narratives.
Take today's Oval office theatrics with Trump, Pence, Pelosi, and Schumer. For most people, the bickering on display "proves" that democracy is working. Yet those who are more savvy know that the duopoly works together to on issues important to the establishment like tax policy, Empire/MIC, and keeping people divided over social issues (divide and rule!).
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Dec 12 2018 4:44 utc | 58
Is BRICS really the moral authority the world is looking for?
Several members of the bloc have authoritarian regimes with a questionable record regarding freedom and rights.
Russia under Putin and Xi are engaged in inter-imperialist rivalries, in conflict with the US in certain military theatres such as the Middle East and East Asia. They are also pushing a strong neoliberal agenda and are very dependent on extractive industries (especially China). Brazil has recently joined the neoliberal party.
India and China suffer border tensions in several sites, with the Belt and Road Initiative aiming to traverse the Kashmir area of Pakistan. India maintains a brutal occupation of part of Kashmir, refusing to establish the potential for a new state.
Nearby, the US continues its drone bombing of Pakistani and Afghan terrain. Tensions are high between US and Pakistan which threaten the Pakistan corridor of BRICS
South Africa and Brazil are smaller players , and are not in direct competition with the US. But along with the other BRICS, their companies are major players in Africa, heavily investing in industries related to mining and agriculture, driving massive land grabs.
Africa is their economic playground, but there are also prospects for military competition
The increased investment in Africa in extractivist industries comes at massive environmental and social costs to the region
Meanwhile China has engaged Eric Prince and FSG for security on BRICS. The same Prince that seeks to privatize the war in Afghanistan
Prince, has been active as a private military contractor in Africa for more than a decade, and helped set up an “anti-piracy “ force in Somalia.
After Blackwater Prince set up Reflex Responses, a company tasked with recruiting and training the elite Emirati Presidential Guard. The Guard effectively acts as Abu Dhabi’s foreign legion, employing veteran military officers from South Africa, Australia, Colombia, France, and the UK, among others, to fight the kingdom’s wars. The Presidential Guard has been fighting in Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia.
According to its own promotional literature, Prince and FSG aims to provide security and logistics services throughout Africa in support of Chinese investments.
And as of April 2018, FSG also has a navy with half a dozen warships, drones, and high-tech surveillance radar, originally purchased by the Mozambican taxpayer.
Prince is implicated in the loans saga that saw Mozambique forced to sell off its control of what amounts to a private navy. Mozambique President recently was quoted as hoping to deepen cooperation with the BRICS. Some of Africa’s largest offshore gas fields are situated off Mozambique.
Prince acquired the fleet after the Mozambican government defaulted on billions of dollars of loans that the Mozambican public and were misled into believing would revitalize the Mozambican national tuna fishing fleet. One of the banks making these loans was VTB Bank of Russia. VTB Bank , is also known as Putins Piggy Bank, was also reported to have been in negotiations with Donald Trump to finance the construction of a Trump Tower in Moscow. Its a small world.
I cant judge BRICS yet, but they are partnering with some questionable folks like Prince. Just because they seem opposed to the Empire doesn’t make them better. Just more of the same , but with an Eastern (Chinese) touch.
Interesting take here from an African perspective
Posted by: Pft | Dec 12 2018 4:53 utc | 59
Jackrabbit @57
“Take today's Oval office theatrics with Trump, Pence, Pelosi, and Schumer. For most people, the bickering on display "proves" that democracy is working”
Perfect example of the fake wrestling strategy. Only reason for that scripted performance to go public. Ms Nancy Bipartisan Pelosi will ensure the continuation of the defacto one party state on issues of importance to the elite.
Posted by: Pft | Dec 12 2018 5:00 utc | 60
pft 58
I dont have the time to address your post now,
outta loop soon.
Just one question,
I havent seen you taken a stand on this
blatant kidnapping by fukus.
I notice every time there's an assault on China form fukus, you never comment on the legitimacy of the attack itself but keep posting snark remarks on what you perceive as China's short comings.
I can only surmise that you seem to be justifying fukus attack, cuz in your eyes,
China isnt worth our support ?
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 5:14 utc | 61
I don't trust Vice but the fact that this story even got published is noteworthy:
It is pretty rich on detail.
Re Huawei, probably a good time to buy shares. For faultline fall out, keep an eye on Taiwan. Opium Wars 2.0 . Obama always fancied himself as a Singapore style autocrat imo. It is also interesting to consider how this all would have played out if TPP got through....would it have all been done under the radar, as an ISDS plaything?
Posted by: slit | Dec 12 2018 5:41 utc | 62
Grieved 53
Two thoughts came to me reading your post. 1) Putin saying it was the scientists working on the Manhattan Project that sent info on the atomic bomb to the soviet union, 2) China leading the world in a number of cutting edge scientific and military projects. It could go either way.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Dec 12 2018 6:45 utc | 63
http://www.voltairenet.org/article204276.html --- Microns' backers; not who you might think.
Posted by: Red | Dec 12 2018 8:58 utc | 64
@58
Say Pft, given your belief that global climate change isn't the huge, existential threat that most of the world's climate scientists seem to think it is, do you believe it's a good or a bad thing that the governments of the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are apparently trying to weaken international efforts to do something about climate change?
"Halfway through the Katowice conference, signs of increasing dysfunction have already emerged. On Saturday, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait scuttled plans to “welcome” a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on the impacts of a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The report warned that time has nearly run out to put the world on a path to avoid disastrous climate impacts.
The group of nations objected to the word “welcome,” which would implicitly endorse the findings. They proposed instead to merely “note” the report."
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/12/12/clim-d12.html
Does it please you to know that leaders like Crown Prince MBS, Trump and Putin are apparently working to make sure the IPCC report doesn't result in any dramatic changes?
Posted by: Glenn Brown | Dec 12 2018 8:58 utc | 65
Ha you heard it here first!! Teresa dis-may lost the dog fight ! Her own people have turned on her ! A vote of no confidence will take place this evening. This is the moment the the Tory party will implode ! They can’t now hold it together half being Brixit and half being remain. There will be an election and labour will win.
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 12 2018 9:07 utc | 66
Yes i’m elated by this mornings new’s. And optamistic.
But the Q is — will the u k now swing to the left (I hope so ) or further to the right ( is that even possible)
Jeremy Corbyn is anti war and against the massive needless milatary spending. That would solve the refugee problem and the home poverty/austerity!
He’s against curuption . That alone would stop the elite 1% feathering there nest.
Both in the U.K. and world wide!
The new battle front will now be the media (all of it) well i’m ready.
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 12 2018 9:58 utc | 67
@ Mark2
Assuming Corbyn's the real deal (i.e. not a con artist like Syriza, or Sanders and the "DSA"), still is he even capable of fighting? After all, here's a guy who can't even purge his own party of open mortal enemies, and hasn't even seemed to try.
(Actually, in that way he's oddly like Trump, who also seems too weak to purge open enemies from his own administration, and seems never even to try.)
@uncle tungsten | Dec 11, 2018 4:10:21 PM | 12
"Deep, deep is the memory and wounding of such a dumb act. I guess the yankees have done it again."
Another reading of "D" word is "desperate". I suspect they (in control of the agenda) know exactly what they are doing. A strategic MKUltra "Schismogenesis" style event? If this is the case, then it appears quite smart on some levels. Twist the links between Central Communist Party and emerging corporate power and see what happens. A cigarette paper's thin dynamic that has no problem in the US context as business follows foreign policy. However, China's emerging global reputation and image is perhaps a little more brittle and complex at this stage.
They (US etc) are desperate to provoke a reaction (any reaction) to justify the military-security complex based economy buildup and provide mass media distraction. The stresses won't just be at the upper levels -- Chinese 'face' will be at stake. Social pressure may not be at 'yellow vest' levels but nonetheless another straw on the camel's back.
Posted by: imo | Dec 12 2018 11:23 utc | 69
Very good questions Russ @ 67
• He most certainly is the real deal and not a con artist, I’l stake my life on that. He’s a man of massive entegrity tried and tested over 35 year’s this man will not budge from his anti war and anti curuption principals. As a test look at how scared of him ‘they’ are ! Why ? Becouse he’s human and humain ! Not greedy or brutalist .
• yes he is more than capable! Since his selection as leader of labour, the massive power of the elite has been atacking him the Tory’s there media mi5 mi6 the Israel lobby groups (we know them) the army’s against him! I could go on! Yet there he stands! Strong like Putin.
Bare in mind what ever the MSM say the exact opposite is true! Have you maybe fallen for there lies, there would be know blame if you had. Indeed how could one not.
• Corybn attack from within the Labour Party (a very democratic) system, came from - the globalist Blairites(Iraqi) multi millionaires, The Israel lobby(very powerful) and Tory infiltrators !! And yet And yet he’s still there!
This guy is the tuffest polatition we will see.
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 12 2018 11:59 utc | 70
Glenn Brown says:
The report warned that time has nearly run out to put the world on a path to avoid disastrous climate impacts
time has nearly run out, has it? and then what happens? does all the time go away?
man, i'd love to know how these asshats quantify these declarations, wouldn't you? let's see...maybe if we shut down every internal combustion engine by say, 9:00 tomorrow morning, followed by every coal burning plant, and then big agro by noon…
we are completely enslaved by our technologies...and there is nothing we can do about it. got it? suck it up.
Posted by: john | Dec 12 2018 12:10 utc | 71
Much of the media is stating that Macron upped the minimum wage, the SMIC, by 100 euros. This is not correct. Either Macron lied, or he deliberately spoke in an ambiguous fashion.
What is being augmented is the “Prime d’activité” - an activité bonus or stipend for ‘poor’ or very modest independent and salaried workers. The sums come from the ‘allocations’ - social aid - the same source as for ex. child allowance. This ‘bonus’ was already set to increase in 2019 by 30 Euros, and more thereafter, as well as by indexation, the additons together totalling about 100 Euros after about three years. Macron has merely made what was already planned immediate.
In French, describes the prime d’activité.
Its function is to top up the salaries of those who do NOT earn the minimum wage. E.g. A worker who earns .25 of the SMIC receives 177.- per month, with a sliding scale to 1.25 SMIC - 46.- euros.
The distinction is very important, because very many jobs are pegged to the SMIC (e.g. 120% SMIC, or SMIC + special payments for x, y) and when the SMIC goes up, so do all these other wages. What Macron offers is rather like Wallmart employees getting food stamps - the employer pays nothing.
Posted by: Noirette | Dec 12 2018 12:25 utc | 72
Mark2 @ 70
I've been inclined to think he's sincere but not a fighter. Yes, he's still standing after taking horrendous punishment, yet every opponent including all those within his own party not only keep punching, but he hasn't even thrown a punch back that I know of. (Granted, I'm not an expert and don't follow the Corbyn saga closely, but every time I do check in it looks the same - Corbyn under attack, no counter-attack in sight.)
His (non-)performance on Brexit also seems quite telling. (I.e. part of the general leftist dereliction and abdication, running home to globalist mama; but I thought leftists were supposed to be anti-globalists. At least I've been pleasantly surprised at seeing only support for the raw roar of the people in France. I was expecting lots of sniffy pseudo-left disdain. Maybe they're starting to learn. Has Corbyn made a statement on the Yellow Jackets?)
I guess my impression is that he was excellent as a lone maverick speaking truth, not so good as a party leader. But I'd love to turn out to be wrong.
As for the MSM, since I automatically assume every word they say is a lie, it's impossible for me to believe their lies.
Thats right, calling a spade a spade.
Robber barons kidnap Chinese princess for ransom
Succinctly put, what is unfolding is plain gangsterism of the kind that calls to mind the great robber barons of American history — John Jacob Astor (real estate, fur), Andrew Carnegie (steel), William A. Clark (copper), Charles Crocker (railroads), Daniel Drew (finance) –- who demonstrated the protean nature of American capitalism.
https://indianpunchline.com/robber-barons-kidnap-chinese-princess-for-ransom/
Another day of shame for murikkans.
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 15:39 utc | 74
denk, she's hardly a princess, and as for robber barons, look to China for those as well, including your princess.
Posted by: Mischi | Dec 12 2018 15:51 utc | 75
whether she is a 'princes' is moot,
murikka is a gangster country should be very clear., innit ?
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 15:55 utc | 76
mischi
Have you forgotten ?
fukus was born that way...
General Smedley BUtler/,,,
During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 16:11 utc | 77
Russ watch this space he’s got what it takes . Corbyn’s top priority is to be PM to show his hand to early would have been a mistake!
Brixit was a Tory com from day one ! A distraction while they robbed us.
My view is in or out it’s irelevent. Curuption is the problem in or out both U.K. &EU . Never choose your own master. Be the master
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 12 2018 16:13 utc | 78
“We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie, they know we know they lie, they don’t care. We say we care, but we do nothing. And nothing ever changes. It’s normal. Welcome to the post-truth world.”
Adam Curtis’s Essential Counterhistories
By Brandon Harris
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/adam-curtiss-essential-counterhistories
Posted by: mauisurfer | Dec 12 2018 16:29 utc | 79
The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.
H. L. Mencken
Hmm'
Mencken knew his country men all too well,
no wonder he was also detested.
Posted by: denk | Dec 12 2018 16:32 utc | 80
The devil is in the details..To continue showing that Macron’s proposals are falsely presented (see previous post) mean, totally ridiculous, really hateful. Another measure is de-fiscalising overtime hours. It was Sarkozy who introduced this measure, employers would not pay the social charges on overtime hours (a % of what they pay the employee..) This was to encourage them to award some, the slogan was “Work more to earn more.” It was withdrawn in 2012 by Hollande, who claimed it lead to the ‘loss’ of 100K jobs. Now it is to be re-installed; employers don’t pay social charges, and the employees won’t pay social charges (e.g. for pension, maternity leave) or income tax on overtime pay. Overtime is decided on by the bosses, who may prefer to engage part-timers.. This measure (or close..) was also annouced long ago, in fact it was a Macron campaign promise, and one version has already been voted in. So it is fiddling around with a perpetual saga traditional in French Labor Law.
Total blindness and stupidity. (Or, his bosses wouldn't concede more and they wil get rid of him if push comes to shove..)
Posted by: Noirette | Dec 12 2018 16:56 utc | 81
denk @80--
Mencken was detested as a holier-than-thou liberal who did nothing to fight against the Big Money Establishment; and as with Lippman, was adopted and became a member.
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 12 2018 17:39 utc | 82
Highlighting the ongoing crimes of Israel (Ziofascism according to Noam Chomsky) https://www.palestinechronicle.com/echoing-prominent-israeli-chomsky-warns-of-the-rise-of-judeo-nazi-tendencies-in-israel/
Israel to deploy teargas drones in Europe against refugees
https://www.tni.org/en/article/will-europe-use-israeli-drones-against-refugees
Israel harvesting organs of Palestinians
https://www.aftonbladet.se/kultur/a/Rx1n5A/our-sons-are-plundered-of-their-organs
Israel deploys Monsanto for eco apartheid against Palestinians
https://theantimedia.com/corporate-giants-helping-israel-massacre-gaza-protesters/
Israel murders PFLP and leftist leaders
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2001/08/isra-a28.html
Posted by: Blooming Barricade | Dec 12 2018 18:45 utc | 83
On Integrity Initiative again....
This story has blown up all over the media with the Mirror, the Mail, and the Morning Star all reporting. Sadly they are making it seem like the anti-Corbyn and anti-democratic initiatives were limited to a few tweets and as a result the Blairites and People's Vote crowd have defended the organisation and claimed that anyone against it is a Russian troll. In reality, the clusters and the ways they are delployed outlined in the documents show that major journalists at Guardian, Times, etc are actively working as propaganda agents themselves to destroy dissenting views on foreign policy and socialism. This should be seen as equal if not greater than the Congress for Cultural Freedom - how long has this been going on? Many of these are "Euston Manifesto"/Henry Jackson society types, would bet big money that Michael Weiss is part of something similar in the UK. I mean, it's literally been exposed that journalists across the country and the world are colluding with each other to pump intelligence agency narratives through the MSM. This was always suspected, but now, like with the Panama Papers and WikiLeaks, we have proof.
Posted by: Blooming Barricade | Dec 12 2018 18:52 utc | 84
Alter-globalist anarchists attack WTO with paint- "Yellow Vests" energy spreads to wealthy Switzerland and in opposition to multinational corporate rule
“We attacked the International Headquarters of the WTO in Geneva, the World Criminal Organization, symbol of agreements between the powerful, of frantic free trade, destructive production, sly imperialism, anti-social capitalism,” the authors of the attack wrote on their blog.
At the WTO “food, oil, metals and human beings are just pieces of an equation whose sole purpose is the accumulation of capital. The pen-pushers from multinationals, states and financial markets decide the value of the world, who will live and who will die,” they added.
The graffiti protest came as neighboring France grapples with “yellow vest” protests against the policies of President Emmanuel Macron.
There has been no such movement in Switzerland, but the WTO headquarters in Geneva, the most prosperous city in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, is just 15 minutes’ drive from the border.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-wto-graffiti-idUSKBN1OA1VK
Posted by: Blooming Barricade | Dec 12 2018 18:56 utc | 85
@ pft... i am curious if you can give @65 glenn brown a response...
@71 john... suck it up... you mean like suck up all the carbon monoxide that is becoming a regular feature of urban civilization?
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 19:01 utc | 86
james says:
you mean like suck up all the carbon monoxide that is becoming a regular feature of urban civilization
urbanites don't have much choice in that regard
Posted by: john | Dec 12 2018 19:29 utc | 87
The no confidence vote by May's party is a trick to keep the party in power for as long as possible, and replace her so they don't lose the next election and squash Corbyn's chances of winning an election. May was a vile shrew in her response to Corbyn. She showed her ugly fangs. Corbyn was great!!! BRAVO for taking on and exposing that witch!
If May falls on this vote Zionist minions will be busy amassing finances for her replacement. If she falls on the Brexit deal Corbyn's chances improve.
Posted by: Circe | Dec 12 2018 19:46 utc | 88
The end of The Age of Prosperity!
OECD - EU political systems, pols, plus Finance, Banks, large corps, others who have high control, have shown us that these structures / power loci cannot deal with flat growth, de-growth, downsizing, or difficulties that go beyond the minor-local-obviously temporary, contained, mini-collapses. The instituted structures leave no room for fundamental change. Therefore, various bodies thrash about within the confines of the pol. system.
Caricature: The Americans elected a blustering ‘leader’, a sleazy business-media type person, to promote MAGA. The Brits decided to withdraw, split up, and live on an island in the fog muttering about past glories. The French philosophised (‘Nuit Debout’) for ages and then blasted out on the streets to create havoc. :)
The main cause, the gradual but nevertheless alarming loss of readily available, potent fossil fuel energy, ‘cheap’ (in terms of refinery, transport needs, EROI, the machines already built to transform the energy into work or useful substances (fertilizer, plastics..), etc..) is grasped by imho almost all those in power, such as Trump and Corbyn.
Acrid competition for remaining ressources has set in with ill-defined and jagged camps, groups, defending pieces of ‘owned’ pie, control positions, dominant fiefs, entering into alliances, etc. and so ‘Politics’ in the trad. sense of the term — Wilsonian Nation State with stable Gvmt, pol parties, representation, etc. — become the basis for BS shibboleths touted on the blue screen to somehow keep ppl nodding, adhering to the ‘Old Order.’ The Gilets Jaunes are not permitted the badge of ‘popular uprising’ but are vilified as evil of some stripe, to be put down, at all costs.
‘No holds barred’ aggression increases, Int’l law (such as it was!..), and bi - multiple treaties / agreements are ignored, derided, shredded, in favor of actions in a no-holds barred globalist-gangsterism landscape.
I quite like The Age of Uncertainty, for us peons who have no power and are impotent dismayed spectators. The Age of Chaos maybe? Doesn’t sound specific..
Posted by: Noirette | Dec 12 2018 20:01 utc | 89
Freeland just confirmed that a second Canadian has been detained in China.
Posted by: spudski | Dec 12 2018 22:13 utc | 90
French ministers calling for the cessation of yellow jacket demonstrations because of the terror attack in Strasbourg!
Posted by: Mischi | Dec 12 2018 22:14 utc | 91
@90 spudski... what is shocking is canada thinking it might be any different...
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 22:18 utc | 92
@87 john.. true! the air quality where i live is quite good fortunately... i am going to do what dmitry orlov says, and ride the collapse out..
Posted by: james | Dec 12 2018 22:20 utc | 93
"Mencken was detested as a holier-than-thou liberal who did nothing to fight against the Big Money Establishment..."
Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 12, 2018 12:39:06 PM | 82
He's also been detested more recently as the racist who said, e.g., "it is impossible to talk anything resembling discretion or judgment to a colored woman. They are all essentially child-like, and even hard experience does not teach them anything." Then there's the Jew-bashing and pro-Nazi rants among other disgorgements from his diary, which remained sealed for 25 years after his death. When it became available to researchers in '81 no one was permitted to quote from it, even indirectly. Finally in '89 a Baltimore paper, one of his former employers, published some extracts. There are many blots on HLM's escutcheon.
Posted by: drj | Dec 12 2018 23:10 utc | 94
As far as I'm concerned, under the circumstances, all things considered, not including good and evil, Cohen got off light. I'm sure he saved Trump, helped himself a lot more and now serves the equivalent of a Mormon Missionary hitch (sans bicycle) for punishment.
He'll be yuge when he gets out...in 2022.
Posted by: donkeytale | Dec 12 2018 23:53 utc | 95
So the Tory dog fight continues a bit longer then. They have no insight, they don’t stop to consider what they must look like to the sane world. They have no foresight, blatantly admiting they have no idea where we’ll be next week next month or year.
And yet there in power. Removed and detached from the consequences of there actions . Psychopathic symtems.
And there’ victems ie the puplic confused refusing to admit there fatal mistake like the plot of a hammer horror film. Whilst in the audience I look with my hand over my eyes.
But wait! what’s that sound i here in the distance! Could it be the sound of tumbrils and the clatter of pitch forks, will Paris last week be London next week ? Welcome to mays dismal land!!!
Posted by: Mark2 | Dec 13 2018 0:39 utc | 96
karlof 82
I understand many murikkans also deride
Andre Vltchek as 'self hating whites' .
Anyway, all these shouldnt detract from Mencken's astute observations of murikkan
traits, which are plainly displayed in various forums like this one.
*The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.*
These days they call it bogeyman,
the yellow peril has been their all time favorite.
http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jul/21/local/me-58074
Sounds familiar ?
there's a chicom under your bed ?
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/donald-trump-china-spies
Posted by: denk | Dec 13 2018 2:28 utc | 97
Glenn Brown@65/james@86
They are just supporting the meme that only Big Oil and Oil Producing countries are climate deniers. These 4 countries represent 7% of the global population. Their public opposition, if you can call it that, simply reinforces the meme to the other 93% and more. The meme is false since any objective person with enough education and time to study the science will find enough reason to be skeptical without any interest in oil and gas beyond staying warm, cooking and transportation
So thats a win for the Climate Change Industry IMO, just more Fake Wrestling with a predetermined outcome. This is a long game they are playing, they realize they need another generation of brainwashing before they can roll out the large scale changes they have planned. This is big business, essentially a new global reserve currency /tax snd religion all in one to replace US face of global hegemony with the green fuzzy face of Gaia. Those operating the New New World Order are the same global elites that run the old one. Its all marketing baby, and that means lies and deceptions.
As part of the game Trump continues the Bush regime practice of turning the rest of the world against the US empire and Democracy, including many Americans, conditioning them to embrace the Change that integrates East and West into one Government with one religion and currency. Thats going to take awhile yet, but the elite have been at this for well over a century. Each of them with a role to play, Face or Heel.
Posted by: Pft | Dec 13 2018 4:32 utc | 98
Denk@61
Not justifying anything the US does. At the same time there is a tendency here to give too much credit to Russia and China so I try to balance it out
I have commented on the “kidnapping”. Its basically an attack on Huawei and China for various reasons. There is possibly some legal justification since I am sure the CFO of any large company is guilty of something or another. Its interesting that of 20 or so western banks fined for violating sanctions no executive was arrested. US tends to take a hands off approach to key executives with Big corporations and resort to fines paid by the shareholders and ultimately the consumer
So Clearly she is being targetted for the purpose of using her as leverage in the trade negotiations, as I said from the beginning. If trade negotiations dont go well the next step will be sanctions against Huawei. As I mentioned before there may be issues of cooperation with NSA and intel agencies involved in the attacks on Huawei. In other words a multifactorial agenda.
I look at the world as a pyramid with the seeing eye at the top representing the global elites which are based in both the East and West but have loyalty to no nation. So my perspective is not along the FUKUS vs BRICS line but more rather a global elite vs bottom 90% in every country. Political leadership in each country is controlled by tbe influence of the global elite. In China that of course is entirely within the party elite , of which some take a more globalist view having significant interests and assets outside China. Certainly the globalists are divided on certain issues and their are different factions, so some conflicts are real while others are Fake Wrestling. Not always easy to say which is which .
Posted by: Pft | Dec 13 2018 5:06 utc | 99
@98 Pft
Pft, I don't quite understand how you think this global conspiracy thing works. When I read your reply to me, it sounded like you thought there was this united century old conspiracy to establish a global government. But then in your reply to Denk, just below it, suddenly the conspiracy breaks down into enemy factions that are at each other's throats. So if it was really true that any "objective person with enough education and time to study the science will find enough reason to be skeptical", then why isn't Donald Trump using the evidence any "objective person" could find to attack his enemies in China? Trump has already publically stated that climate change is a hoax and a Chinese conspiracy. Why doesn't Trump threaten Xi with the release of clear proof that climate change is a hoax?
And why do you think these hypothetical puppet masters want to persuade everybody that burning hydrocarbons is a bad idea? Maybe you think they want to impoverish everybody by unnecessarily shrinking the global economy? But then, neoliberal economics seems to do an adequate job of that. If they just wanted to restrict the use of hydrocarbons, why didn't they just not invent fracking? Or ban it on the grounds that it's too polluting? Without fracking, the world would be faced with a peak oil situation, where we would all have to cut back on the use of oil because less oil would be available for use.
Posted by: Glenn Brown | Dec 13 2018 7:23 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
With Google's CEO proclaiming that he leads "without political bias" to Congress, here is an interesting look at how Google tried to influence the 2016 election in Hillary Clinton's favour:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2018/09/googles-connection-to-hillary-clinton.html
The United States political narrative is now in the hands of the technology tyrants.
Posted by: Sally Snyder | Dec 11 2018 19:05 utc | 1