Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
May 26, 2019
The MoA Week In Review – OT 2019-29

Last week’s posts at Moon of Alabama:


Other issues:

British media try to whitewash al-Qaeda in Syria, which controls Idleb governorate, into “moderate rebels”.

  • BBC: Syria group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda legacy

    HTS says: Democracy is blasphemy. Shia and Christians should be slaughtered. Jihad is a holy duty.
    al-Qaeda says: Democracy is blasphemy. Shia and Christians should be slaughtered. Jihad is a holy duty.
    BBC says: See, HTS is moderate and not at all like al-Qaeda.

  • Sky: Sky News crew deliberately targeted and fired at by Syrian regime forces

    The Sky crew collaborated with the U.S. Jihadi Bilal Abdul Kareem, who is allegedly on a drone kill list. BAK led them to the front line where HTS/al-Qaeda, a designated terrorist organization, at that time attacked the Syrian army. They film an al-Qaeda armored fighting vehicle that just got hit and is still burning. A shell comes down near them. They claim that they were “deliberately targeted”. No shit! Here is a good thread that details the lunacy of such reporting.

On May 13 we covered the leaked OPCW engineering assessment which proves that the alleged gas attack in Douma in April 2018 was a false flag incident created by the Jihadis and their White Helmets propaganda arm. The mainstream media ignore the report the OPCW management tried to suppress. Only a few independent writers have since covered it. All make good points:

The Ukraine elected a new president. Now the NATO mouthpieces tell him to stay in line with their program – or else … :

Mark Ames @MarkAmesExiled – 14:57 utc – 24 May 2019

This list of demands by western-funded Ukraine NGOs—threatening to overthrow Zelenskiy if he doesn’t follow their demands—perfect example of Arundhati Roy’s critique of “civil society” as an elite construct designed to subvert & control popular democracy:
Joint statement by civil society representatives on the first political steps of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky

Sure enough one of the signatories is “NGO ‘CentreUA'”—same NGO, funded by Omidyar, Soros, USAID, that organized Maidan revolution. That’s like a gun pointed at Zelensky’s head. Outrageous.
Pierre Omidyar co-funded Ukraine revolution groups with US government, documents show

Zelensky was elected by 75% of Ukrainians. Who the fuck elected Pierre Omidyar, George Soros, USAID, National Endowment for Democracy — and their “civil society” satraps — to supersede Ukraine’s democracy?

Fear not. There are stronger powers involved:

max seddon @maxseddon – 7:53 utc – 26 May 2019

Ukraine’s western backers are worried notorious oligarch Igor Kolomoisky’s influence on new president Zelensky could torpedo its IMF support. Now Kolomoisky says Ukraine should just tell the IMF to screw itself and default. Our @FT interview: on.ft.com/2HUWraw [paywalled]

Kolomoisky said the idea he owns Zelensky is so common it’s awkward. “People come to see me in Israel and say, ‘Congrats! Well done!’ I say, ‘for what? My birthday’s in February.’ They say, ‘Who needs a birthday when you’ve got a whole president!'”

Use as open thread …

Comments

Now, here’s my take on the EU elections:
The victor was the Party of Phobos and Deimos: the Greens (Phobos) took the portion of the people who are afraid of some kind of ecoapocalypse where everybody would die and want a volutary return to the Stone Age; the Far-Right (Deimos) took the portion of the people who want to kill and expel everybody they don’t like. Together, they are the reflection of Terror and Fear that is hovering over decrescent Europe.
Now, that’s just the appearance: what’s really going on the that the true winner of the EU elections was the Party of Imbecility: in face of economic stagnation and decline, the European working classes refuse to see the truth and, instead, are creating fantastic and bombastic narratives within their heads, and are coming with easy solutions to complex problems.

Posted by: vk | May 27 2019 19:18 utc | 101

Tannenhouser

@84 since when did the lunatic ramblings of some terrorist become ‘scientific argument? Neither Zannon or myself have mentioned muslims race or any of the other things you and and others seem to suggest we have. All i said was unregulated / unopposed immigration is a bad idea. Could care less about where or who they are or what color they are or god they bow too. It matters not.

Indeed. It is a Strawman argument by these people. Somehow our views is put in the same views as the Christchurch attacker while no one of us have even said anything resembling what he said.
But this is the argument MSM and the pro-immigration parties have been saying before the election, if you dont vote for us – you are a nazi or right-wing extremist. It really show they have no argument.

Posted by: Zanon | May 27 2019 19:32 utc | 102

Frontline documentary banned by NPR:
https://www.unz.com/article/view-the-frontline-documentary-on-gaza-that-pbs-pulled/
It boils your blood. But you can tell that the Palestinians will someday be the victors. When 14 yo girls are not afraid of dying and stand freely to take a bullet in the head, the most immoral army in the world won’t stand a chance.
This experiment called Israel, is a failure and needs to end. And, the so called Israelis need to go back to their original homelands.

Posted by: Uncle Jon | May 27 2019 19:37 utc | 103

@vk. None of what you posted has relavance to what I said. I get the feeling you are trying to insinuate that my oppinion makes me an brutish irrational anti intellectual. If so go fish. If not please explain how my opinion that unregulated immigration is a bad idea has any similarity to the nonsense spewed by a terrorist about birth rates. As to articulation of my oppinion if you cant understand what I have said in the last few posts. Then so be it.

Posted by: Tannenhouser | May 27 2019 19:38 utc | 104

Kiriakou spent two years in prison. Would the Deep State do that to someone it still considered an asset?

Posted by: lysias | May 27 2019 19:52 utc | 105

VK @ 101
All you say is true ! Thanks
In reality the right wing mob having become confused, lash out at someone weaker and more vonrable than them selves, there to cowardly to stand up to those who truly are oppressing them. And mistakenly beleave they’v picked the winning side. In fact their puppet masters will throw them under the bus !
What we are witnessing in Europe is the same destabilising tactic being used by the western elite where ever you see conflict.
I asked earlier ‘ what is the consequences of the European swing to the right in these elections ?’ They could’nt answer becouse that question took them of script from there brainwashing (fascinating)
I see the consequence ! It’s obviously going to be civil war.
Lastly the rest of the world is fed up with giving aid to US and Europe!

Posted by: Mark2 | May 27 2019 20:01 utc | 106

@ Posted by: Tannenhouser | May 27, 2019 3:38:25 PM | 105
The central question is this: the “pro-controlled immigration” faction can and/or will be able to keep the mad dog of the far-right under its firm control? History shows it won’t.
The solution would be to take the problem through its root: people immigrate not because they want to, but because they have too. Inequality and wars (and geography) is what is driving the horde of Arabs to Western Europe, not birthrates. Arabs are emmigrating because they are dying, not because they are living. An anti-imperialist, socialist agenda would be much more productive to the “civilized immigration” troupe.

Posted by: vk | May 27 2019 20:12 utc | 107

vk

The central question is this: the “pro-controlled immigration” faction can and/or will be able to keep the mad dog of the far-right under its firm control? History shows it won’t.

You are using straw man all the time, everything is nazism for you. Why would being against flow of immigration lead to a Holocaust? You are confusing legitimate views with that of the views and practice of “far-right”, Adolf Hitler and Christchurch killer. That is not the views people have.
Also you need to differ between people that want to immigrate and nations accepting or not accepting that people coming here.
That is, just because there is millions of people that want o come to europe, doesnt necessiarly mean they can or would be accepted.

Posted by: Zanon | May 27 2019 20:32 utc | 108

@108 So controlled immigration has never let the crazy dog out? That’s a fish tale.
Yes not creating the refugee demographic would be the place to start.

Posted by: Tannenhouser | May 27 2019 20:59 utc | 109

What foreign Govt. buys D and R “s with lobby’s, has 100 million or more building (AIPAC) built in D.C.? BDS . Stop Funding Israel whose snipers Mame and kill protester’s.

Posted by: ChuckNoBomb | May 27 2019 21:11 utc | 110

Some cultures actually welcome newcomers:
“There is a phrase, ‘Welcome to the valleys and the hillsides of Wales,’ because that is how we’ve always been — a nation that welcomes people.”
Dear Leaders could lead by example and encourage this sort of welcoming attitude, if they decided it was in their interest. Overall I don’t think much of Merkel, but I respect her efforts on behalf of Syrian refugees a few years ago. Didn’t she pay a high political price for that?

Posted by: Trailer Trash | May 27 2019 21:16 utc | 111

@ lysias | May 27, 2019 3:52:48 PM | 106
Kiriakou spent two years in prison. Would the Deep State do that to someone it still considered an asset?
__________________________________________
I haven’t followed the discussion that preceded this comment, but the answer to this question is “certainly”.
The state-security apparatus operates exactly like its organized crime affiliates (or subdivision) in the private sector. Made men “take one for the team” all the time!

Posted by: Ort | May 27 2019 21:27 utc | 112

Many “made men” – mafiosos aligned with the CIA via the Vatican’s secret sovereign bank (used to launder money for black ops) found themselves imprisoned from time to time to lesser and greater extents. Of course, many were also knocked off as it were.

Posted by: fast freddy | May 27 2019 21:46 utc | 113

@57 john and others about cia taking up positions in the democrat party… thanks for the link and overview on all this..
here is johns link again for anyone interested…

Posted by: james | May 27 2019 21:56 utc | 114

I am at the bottom of the food-chain economically speaking here in the Pacific Northwest, USA. We have an out of control homeless problem from San Diego to Seattle. The problem is complex, but excessive immigration at the lowest economic rungs leads to over-competition for scarce resources. Wages go down, housing prices go up, and government assistance gets spread thin. Racism is largely a symptom caused by competition for scarce resources amongst similar social classes.
The folks who think open immigration is a good idea are probably benefitting from good returns on their mutual funds fueled by low labor costs. They aren’t the ones working 40+ hours a week and living under interstate overpasses.

Posted by: Hassaan | May 27 2019 22:00 utc | 115

Zanon @ 61 & various other following comments:
There is nothing wrong with sovereign states having and articulating population policies in which they state what level of population they aim for, based on current and past demographic data (birthrates, mortality rates, life expectancies, age-group pyramids), the level of carrying capacity in their own economies (such as but not limited to, available agricultural land, the perceived need to be self-sufficient in certain foodstuffs like rice or wheat, the present state of infrastructure and the level needed to support a growing population) and the desired level of population needed to achieve certain national goals.
Unfortunately as we know, the member states of the EU gave up their sovereignty when they joined (or were beaten with repeated referendums into joining).
Some socialists (but not all) support open borders and so do capitalists, but they do so for very different reasons. Open borders can allow workers from different countries to work together to improve working conditions and lift up wages everywhere; but that would be possible only if socialism were to spread to all countries around the world. Capitalists like open borders because they can move or push populations around (by deliberately forcing some countries into poverty through war or overthrowing their governments) and persuade desperate people into moving and accepting low-wage poverty-level work in rich countries to break trade unions and drive down wages and laws regulating workplace safety.
The EU’s agenda is driven by corporations and their puppets in governments that profit from war and the trafficking in people that war generates. At the same time, birth rates in parts of Europe (especially the more conservative Catholic areas like Italy and Spain) are either static or falling, and populations themselves are projected to fall in the future. This phenomenon might lead to future labour shortages in those countries and actually encourage wages to rise (as did happen after the Black Death in parts of Europe in the mid-14th century). Importing labour from other nations with no regard for how peoples of different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, with very different histories (and sometimes conflicting histories, as when immigrants from former colonies are herded into the former colonial power, and they are expected to learn the biased account of their history), should cope together in crowded conditions with limited resources under austerity economics, means nothing to Brussels and the corporations that decide what EU legislation should be.
Also if the majority of refugees and migrants coming into Europe appear to be single men who have paid huge amounts of money to people smugglers, what might that be telling us about the nature of the migration? It sounds to me like a giant trafficking scheme in labourers, bringing them to Europe with the intent of busting unions with scab labour, dragging down people’s living standards and bankrupting social welfare programs, and depriving countries like Iraq and Syria of the manpower needed to rebuild their infrastructure.

Posted by: Jen | May 27 2019 22:32 utc | 116

@jen117. Thank you.

Posted by: Tannenhouser | May 27 2019 22:57 utc | 117

lysias @106 asked “Would the Deep State do that to someone it still considered an asset?”
The “deep state” will do a great deal more than dump one of their assets in prison if the urge strikes them. They will kill those assets if they are more use to the CIA’s plans dead than alive. Who do you really think was behind the murder of Boris Nemtsov? Who do you really think is very likely to snuff the Venezuelan random Guaido?
You are sadly mistaken if you think the establishment deals honorably and respectfully with its tools. It would be nice if more people realized that before signing the blood pact with them.

Posted by: William Gruff | May 27 2019 23:28 utc | 118

@116 Hassaan.. i agree with you… and, the band of homelessness extends right up into canada – vancouver and on vancouver island where i live… everyone from points east, come out here, as it is more conducive for living on the streets / outdoors.. what you say in your post is something i resonate with strongly..

Posted by: james | May 27 2019 23:48 utc | 119

@117 Trouble is Jen expressions like ‘sovereign state’ and ‘national goals’ have become taboo in Western society. They are regarded as exclusive and racist if not downright fascist. Borders, we’re told, are artificial barriers to a one world Utopia.

Posted by: dh | May 28 2019 0:12 utc | 120

I posted Crooke’s article on Iran to the Iran thread, but there’s something else that needs discussing which is why I linked to it here as well. I’ve been reading Crooke’s essays for over a year now and Pepe Escobar’s since the last century. Crooke almost constantly and Pepe only occasionally now mentions what I’m going to term the 5th Column within the Outlaw US Empire–Evangelicals–and reading Crooke’s current and many previous essays will tell you why. IMO, it’s very clear that West Asian policies combine Zionists with Evangelicals under TrumpCo and previously under BushCo, with a major faction representing both existing within the Current Oligarchy. Combined, they pose the major danger to global peace. Don’t think so? Read Crooke’s depiction of the Metaphysical goal of both and think what would need to occur to make it reality!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 0:12 utc | 121

@ karlof1 #122 with the inclusion of evangelicals as acolytes of empire.
I posit they always have been behind and part of empire. This is the same group that in 1054 refused to acknowledge in history the crab nebulae supernovae that was visible in the day and night sky for 20 some days….it is in written history all over the rest of the world.
And yes, they know that the jig is up, as witness the extended bloviating by the faces of empire. They just don’t have anything better to offer and the implosion will be dramatic and severe as the cognitive dissonance hits the brainwashed masses waking up from the nightmare.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 28 2019 0:38 utc | 122

@122 karlof1
I’m not fully convinced about this Rapture thing. I truly, and without any disdain for the so-called Evangelicals, suspect it’s only a Sunday-morning observance. My heart just doesn’t resonate with this as I go about my life in the US.
People in their secret minds are batshit-crazy – color me that too – but in the cold light of day, with the kids in the SUV on their way to dance class, and dinner to put on the table, I think a different mind view comes into play. Many different mind views. Which mind view we go with depends largely on our peers and our circumstances.
Netanyahu, sure – his batshit crazy is front and center. He lives in a tough neighborhood. He made it tough. But back home here in the suburbs, I suspect it remains “the economy, stupid”.
I have more to say but I’ll do another comment. This was just to say I’ve read the Crooke pieces, and taken his view very seriously. But I’m having a lot of trouble losing sleep over this.
~~
ps..maybe I die in my sleep as the Rapture comes?

Posted by: Grieved | May 28 2019 2:32 utc | 123

I have praised the RT show, “Renegade, Inc” several times for its dense and lucid information-transfer on matters economic. Here comes anther one, as Ross Ashcroft takes his masterful interviewing technique to New York to talk with Professor Stephanie Kelton, currently the advisor to Bernie Sanders and the policy program that he is advancing across the US.
Is the US ready for socialism? Hell yes, as long as it gets explained correctly: “It’s the economy, comrade”.
This interview cuts deeply into the heart of the matter, touching on Modern Monetary Theory – but only in passing, as a way to recognize and remember the power of fiscal initiatives from the government – and proclaiming a new era that recognizes the “train wreck” of the neoliberal school of folly since Reagan:
MMT – Letters from America
I must say, from watching this 30-minute interview, that if this is the intellectual legacy that the Millennials are inheriting, then there is hope. They will have to fix this bad situation they have woken into, and it’s going to take real money and real work to do it.
There is hope.

Posted by: Grieved | May 28 2019 2:50 utc | 124

@ Posted by: Hassaan | May 27, 2019 6:00:42 PM | 116
In other words, the capitalist system is working as intended. This is why I don’t understand: why are people anti-immigration but pro-capitalist at the same time? Sure, you can buy some time with hard border controls, but you can’t curb supply-demand forever: cheap labor power (refugees) will go where capital (money) is. Money is in the First World countries, while cheap labor is the Third World countries. Capitalism is a system that operates through reverse osmosis: wealth concentrates, so does labor power. It is a bombastic, high-octane system by definition: that’s why it achieve in 150 years much more than what humanity achived in the 2 million years before.
@ Posted by: Jen | May 27, 2019 6:32:50 PM | 117
As you said: if there’s “nothing wrong”, then why doesn’t it happen? Because cheap labor is good, not bad, for capitalism. Poverty is good, not bad, for capitalism. Besides, it’s a myth poverty is only generated in capitalism through immigration from poor countries to rich countries: when immigration wasn’t a problem, there was a spike in poverty levels during the neoliberal ascension (1980-2008). If you exclude China — which is a socialist, not a capitalist, country — poverty grew overall in the world since then. You have automation, outsourcing, labor law reforms, regressive tax law reforms, privatization of universal services, dismantling of the welfare state etc. etc.
The capitalist class, as the dominant class in the capitalist system, has many tools to f*ck the working classes in the ass. They don’t necessarily need brown people to do that.

Posted by: vk | May 28 2019 3:36 utc | 125

@ Grieved with the MMT link…thanks, I watched it
I liked her budget outcomes versus social outcomes bit at the end but am still nonplussed by the private/public finance gorilla in the room none discuss.
The focus on budget outcomes is directly related to global private finance running the world. The problem with MMT, that has been there from the beginning, is that the theory is great and probably being used by China but is useless without including a discussion about how to get there from here….change from private to public finance….if you don’t you will never get rid of budget outcomes being ahead of social outcomes

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 28 2019 3:39 utc | 126

@ Posted by: vk
Yes, the capitalist system is working as intended, that is why I am a socialist. At a deeper level, I realize capitalistic globalization must be realized planet-wide before a socialist revolution can take place, as per Marx.
In the meantime, watching so many hard-working and well-meaning folks ground up by capitalism is emotionally trying. As an animal lover it is especially difficult. The level of displaced cats and dogs has reached such a proportion that local animal control facilities are building gas chambers because they can’t euthanize fast enough using traditional methods.
I can’t see how anyone would view humanities achievements in the last 150 years as anything other than destructive materialistic sociopathy.

Posted by: Hassaan | May 28 2019 3:57 utc | 127

@127 psychohistorian
No one talks about the change from public to private finance because everyone is holding their breath as the intermediate changes take place. Don’t stop pushing your narrative – it’s important to keep the true horizon in focus. But forgive us for glorying in the steps along the way.
We will get there. You are the preacher. We are the sinners reforming. But everything is already so much better than not good.
~~
ps..how can you see these good things happening and not secretly laugh out loud? — 😛
~~
pps..but keep a strain on it.

Posted by: Grieved | May 28 2019 4:00 utc | 128

@127 psychohistorian
I went back to the Mao lectures that you and I are both so taken by – linked previously by the commenter Chinese American and available here – and as it happened Mao had already answered your query, back in 1937.
Allow me this quote, to answer your question about “When?”

32. Although our efforts in persevering in the War of Resistance and the united front have somewhat changed the enemy’s strength and superiority as against our weakness and inferiority, there has as yet been no basic change. Hence during a certain stage of the war, to a certain degree the enemy will be victorious and we shall suffer defeat. But why is it that in this stage the enemy’s victories and our defeats are definitely restricted in degree and cannot be transcended by complete victory or complete defeat?
The reason is that, first, from the very beginning the enemy’s strength and our weakness have been relative and not absolute, and that, second, our efforts in persevering in the War of Resistance and in the united front have further accentuated this relativeness. In comparison with the original situation, the enemy is still strong, but unfavourable factors have reduced his strength, although not yet to a degree sufficient to destroy his superiority, and similarly we are still weak, but favourable factors have compensated for our weakness, although not yet to a degree sufficient to transform our inferiority.
Thus it turns out that the enemy is relatively strong and we are relatively weak, that the enemy is in a relatively superior and we are in a relatively inferior position. On both sides, strength and weakness, superiority and inferiority, have never been absolute, and besides, our efforts in persevering in resistance to Japan and in the united front during the war have brought about further changes in the original balance of forces between us and the enemy. Therefore, in this stage the enemy’s victory and our defeat are definitely restricted in degree, and hence the war becomes protracted.

And so, to your question, “How long?” one can only answer as Martin Luther King did: “Not long.”
~~
We are Maoists now, it seems to me. And this seems to be what gets things done in this world. So, good.

Posted by: Grieved | May 28 2019 4:44 utc | 129

@ Grieved who wrote

ps..how can you see these good things happening and not secretly laugh out loud? — 😛

On the one hand I am with the commenter Hassaan that speaks to the suffering caused by the ongoing “destructive materialistic sociopathy” and so can’t laugh out loud.
That said, and not liking the preacher role much, I am encouraged that the existential question between public and private finance as part of the social contract is being worked in spite of public ignorance.
The futurist part of me that didn’t make kids 40 years ago because I didn’t want to explain why the public/private finance crazy exists, still wants to return to the public future planning like I worked with in the early 70’s and was shut down because of the finance questions asked. The nations of the world currently under the jackboot of global private finance deserve to plan their future like the citizens of China have been doing formally for 70+ years…..and that makes me smile.
I have been ruminating on the Xi 66 page presentation that karlof1 linked to. China is quite consciously creating a “religion” of social governance that is bottom up led and focused while the West is living an outdated religion of social governance (God of Mammon) that is top down led and focused.
Will humanity evolve or perish? Given the combative core of the current West, the change will happen if the elite love their children enough to let go of “their way or the highway” control…..and the follow on question is if the public can move on to reclaim control over their lives without seeking revenge….I hope so.
Frankly, the answer to lots of the worlds mental health problems could be FIXED by advancing and embracing the neuromodulation techniques and underlying metaphor that I have spent the past 3+ years using to almost (99+% but the last is a bitch) heal my traumatic brain injury and associated infancy trauma. The dysregulation of neural networks is the new mental health meme and I am a worst case test of the emerging technologies as my 226+ sessions when the norm is 20-40 show.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 28 2019 5:08 utc | 130

psychohistorian
Socialism with Chinese characteristics. I have read a few western commentaries on what these characteristics are. Most being anti China say it is all to do with China’s current position in the world, but I suspected before reading Xi’s presentation ‘Chinese characteristics’ means culture. High on morality in the leadership – working in the peoples interests and so forth. In reading some of the presentation, on leadership and the people, it was very close to confucius philosophy.
China retrieved confucianism in the late seventies or early eighties after it had been thrown out during the cultural revolution, as it is a philosophy rather than a religion.

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | May 28 2019 5:31 utc | 131

Open Borders for Europe, but never for Israel
Europe is far too White. It belongs to everyone: every immigrant affected by the endless wars for Israel, as well as every traveling merchant have just as much right as you do to your ancient homelands, maybe more.
A lot more immigration is necessary to save the economy and permanently solve the problem of an “aging population” (Middle Eastern and North African immigrants don’t age). This “multi-kulti” is both a wonderful and enriching gift and your just punishment for Nazi Germany. Make endless war for Israel and then bring in the third world: there will never be a day of reckoning.
In France another detonation just occurred. Must be evil White Nationalist Yellow Vests. It’s time to remove all your rights. Time to get in the grave
article: At least seven people were wounded Friday by a suspected package bomb blast on a pedestrian street in the heart of Lyon, southeast France, which President Emmanuel Macron described as an “attack.”
comment: Vichy France is attacked by the conquering kaliphate. Just another part of life in the big city. The jihad explosions are no different than bad weather or traffic jams. It’s bad, but you’ll learn to live with it. Unless you got blown to pieces by the “attack,” I guess.
article: The area where the explosion occurred, on the narrow strip of land between the Saone and Rhone rivers in the historic city centre, has been evacuated, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
Comment: The demoralized indigenous population flees the war brought to their doorstep by the chosen ones. Everything is fine! Alcohol, pornography and drugs are still readily available. Perhaps the billionaire (((Sackler Family))) will even bring Oxycontin to create an opioid crisis for profit, er, I mean to relieve your pain for noble, humanitarian reasons, so don’t you worry!
We’ll have to evacuate, the immigrant refugee from the endless wars for Israel, attacked its cowardly benefactors. Again.
article: According to reports in the French press a man was seen arriving in the area on a bike before leaving some kind of package or suitcase at the scene. The man has not been arrested and is the subject of a police manhunt. 
Comment: Fortunately we have this excellent description. It’s a man. Must be some of that toxic masculinity we’re always hearing about. Get some Gillette products for Omar, that will solve everything.
article: A police source told AFP the package contained “screws or bolts” and had been placed in front of a bakery on the corner of the two popular streets.
Comment: The dying native population gets screwed, first by the traveling merchant and then by the Kalergi Plan biological weapons.
Article: Police said eight people had been injured but that none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. 
Comment: You’ll be fine, go walk it off. Islam is peace. The traveling merchant is g*d’s chosen. Speech is violence. Europe needs a lot fewer Whites.
“It’s not for me to give a toll but it appears there are no casualties. There have been injuries, so obviously I’m thinking of these injured and their families,” Macron said.
Comment from Macron: My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of [the Lyon bombing]. This is a horrible tragedy, an attack on the diversity that is our greatest strength. If we learn any lessons from this we dishonor their memory. We must continue as if nothing happened. [Nail bombs] are a part of life in the city and something we have to get used to. My biggest fear is a backlash from “racists” against the many innocent [men]. I trust you all have your candles lit. Let’s have a song. “Wrist icicle, ride dick bicycle.”
Full story:
https://www.thelocal.fr/20190524/
seven-hurt-in-suspected-package-bomb-blast-in-frances-lyon

Posted by: MH | May 28 2019 5:50 utc | 132

Vk @ 126:
Neoliberal capitalist elites certainly do have many tools to fuck working class folks in the EU and other First World nations and the trafficking of refugees and migrants is one such tool. Plus there is money to be made out of human trafficking.
I forgot to mention also that the more people who are shifted out of the Middle East / Western Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, so that only the very poor and the very vulnerable (who cannot afford the money to pay people smugglers) remain, the easier it becomes for First World governments and corporations to seize vacant real estate sitting atop oil, natural gas and valuable minerals without having to worry about the “human rights” of those left behind who cannot fight back.

Posted by: Jen | May 28 2019 5:58 utc | 133

@ Peter AU 1 with the correct reference to China philosophy rather than religion…thanks
I put “religion” in quotes but that was a mischaracterization I will attribute to my Western Catholic inculcation….sorry.
To the extent that the philosophy is actualized it becomes a pattern/set-of rules/etc and while religious dogma may not exist, my posting of some of the precepts and such from the Xi speech speak to actualizing philosophy into social rules I believe.
The Western public, I posit, does not exhibit philosophy as much as faith. The religious faith that there are others who know better and they should make the rules covers for the underlying philosophy that an elite owned private finance led world is good for humanity.

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 28 2019 6:00 utc | 134

jen

Also if the majority of refugees and migrants coming into Europe appear to be single men who have paid huge amounts of money to people smugglers, what might that be telling us about the nature of the migration? It sounds to me like a giant trafficking scheme in labourers, bringing them to Europe with the intent of busting unions with scab labour, dragging down people’s living standards and bankrupting social welfare programs, and depriving countries like Iraq and Syria of the manpower needed to rebuild their infrastructure.

Very true what you write. In the end its not the elite that is negatively affected by this policy but as you touch upon, the working man at the bottom of our society. Destroying the trade union is one of the goals. The elite, especially the EU MEPs have a salary that in large cases be that of over 10 times what a regular worker have in the west today! So these people could care less about the common people today.
Also the “benefits” of EU only go towards certain workers in the EU. While a Polish worker could gain a better living in lets say Germany, there is no gain for a worker in Germany to go working in Poland, hes stuck in Germany with the threat of dumping of his salary.
Also. Rather than encouraging people to come to europe, there should instead be a help directed towards these nations where the refugees are coming from. As you touch upon, who should build up Syria, Iraq in the end?

Posted by: Zanon | May 28 2019 8:15 utc | 135

Zanon @ 136
Well put !
I just don’t want to see the elite do to Europe what their doing to Venezuela, Yemen, Iran ect ect.
Will we really fall for that same trap that we’v all been watching elsewhere?
Elite making profit out of kaos, broken politics. There useing Farage like their using Guildo in Venezuela.

Posted by: Mark2 | May 28 2019 10:03 utc | 136

“What a Let-down” department.
Famous French Public pseudo-Intellectual, Bernard-Henri Levy, was scheduled to appear as a panelist on ABC.net.au’s Q & A program on Monday, May 27 at 9-30 pm. Q & A is forum-type program with a host/ moderator and a panel of 4 or 5 ‘experts’ drawn from politics, media, academia and special interest groups. The panel changes each week and usually contains 1 member dubbed the Peoples Panelist.
Q & A examines contentious social issues. The format is that audience members pose pre-approved questions to the Panel and each panel member has a minute or two to express a relevant opinion or perspective. Questioners are NOT invited to express an opinion. The Moderator/ Host keeps panel-members On Topic and maintains order. Q & A is broadcast live and there is a live Twitter feed which is filtered for offensive language but not (apparently) for bias.
Not knowing a lot about about BHL, it seemed like a good opportunity to experience his philosophy first-hand. Alas, the Host began the program by announcing that BHL “has had to return to France.”
Given the pre-approved question element of the Q & A format, and the freedom of expression extended to questioners and panelists alike, it’s tempting to conclude that BHL decided to watch a typical episode of Q & A before the show started, took one look at the Questions he was going to be asked, and decided that There’s No Place Like Home…

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | May 28 2019 10:03 utc | 137

psychohistorian @135–
The Western public, I posit, does not exhibit philosophy as much as faith. The religious faith that there are others who know better and they should make the rules covers for the underlying philosophy that an elite owned private finance led world is good for humanity.
Cogito ergo sum is something the majority of those relying on “religious faith” for providing direction and answers do not practice–they are indoctrinated and incapable of completely thinking for themselves. Such is the mindset of the Evangelical. A question for Grieved: If Evangelicals don’t think about their Evangelism, then what explains the seemingly out-of-the-blue rise in the Televangelists and their Billion dollar empire of churches? How many expressed Jerry Falwell can do no wrong even when shown that he was an immoral grifter? To add a historical perspective: What explains the fanaticism of John Brown and his followers? Then we have the example of fanatical Islam, which really isn’t Islam at all, and the idea of Evangelical Zionism. Do followers of those dual fanaticisms actually think for themselves; and if not, then are they a Cartesian human being? Recall Descartes wasn’t an atheist. Talk about Bernays and Big Lies!
Metaphysics, the longest-standing debate between humans that supposedly can think for themselves is a Western concept. To my knowledge, there is no similar Eastern concept–their philosophies have remained philosophies with a few noteworthy exceptions. Recall what’s known as the Age of Discovery was also the Age of spreading the Cross with the Sword. Were people allowed to think for themselves? No! It was: Think this way or die! Only the exalted were allowed to debate the existence of god. Comparatively, I always thought Animism was more sensible and its truths readily apparent–sacred books and priests were never needed–and people were allowed to think for themselves. Within the Outlaw US Empire, one of the longstanding battles within the contrived Culture War is what’s described as “the debate” over abortion and the supposed division of society into Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion camps. The former camp is indoctrinated; the latter camp is free-thinking. The former camp says: You must do as we say; the latter camp says: I have my own freedom of thought you have no right to control. And as proven over and over, the Pro-Life camp isn’t really Pro-Life at all. But millions of people are unable to see and think for themselves and thus are effectively blinded to reality. And this is just one aspect of the socio-cultural blindness existing within the West as a whole, with the Outlaw US Empire containing the worst such examples.
The self- and enforced-delusions must be nullified if humanity is to further evolve and overcome its self-inflicted crises. Fanatical and illogical isms must be purged as they endanger humanity and are thus lethal, which are the grounds for their proscription. The more we learn about the nature of Nature, the less we need any sort of god to explain what remains unexplainable. In that regard, I leave you to consider the Prion and contemplate what else is possible within Nature.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 16:19 utc | 138

Hopefully, b will write an item that incorporates this excellent op/ed by Glenn Greenwald that was initially published by The Washington Post. His argument seems ironclad to me and proves yet again that TrumpCo’s engaging in very unconstitutional–impeachable–behavior. For the life of me, I can’t think of anything more subversive than trying to criminalize journalism, yet that’s precisely what TurmpCo’s doing, and Obama tried very hard to do the same; so, the likes of him, Biden, Clinton, and the rest of both parties’s Neoliberalcons are all subversives as proven by their behavior if not their deeds.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 18:05 utc | 139

More on the debate about what constitutes a journalist and just who does the 1st Amendment protect. Jimmy Dore vid excerpt and resulting thread is entertaining, informative and thought provoking. (I had never seen Chuck Todd or knew of his position within NBC before.)
Meanwhile on a related topic, Caitlin Johnstone again provides those thinking otherwise with an uncomfortable truth that ought to be self-evident:
“Stop Hoping That The Swamp Will Drain The Swamp
“‘Swamp creature Bill ‘Iran-Contra coverup’ Barr isn’t going to be draining the swamp any more than swamp creature Robert ‘Saddam has WMDs’ Mueller. The swamp cannot be used to drain itself.'”
As the day moves along, it becomes clear that Cartesian Humans are rarer than once thought.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 21:34 utc | 140

This YouTube vid from 2016 shows a key part of the Lauer/Clinton interview that caused Clinton to allegedly go ballistic and declare “If that fucking bastard wins, we all hang from nooses!” I’d read about the meltdown, but never the supposed reason or the cited quote. As the presenter notes, no video of that stage of the meltdown is available, only witness testimony, which is quite damning. Like the presenter, I’m very curious about the “nooses” remark and reasons for it beyond her server issue. IMO, she feared a full-blown investigation that would uncover other bigtime felonies worthy of the death sentence–otherwise, why nooses. I think a fair question to Biden would be his reaction to Clinton’s meltdown so the entire issue can resurface as it ought.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 22:16 utc | 141

reuters article on U.S. boycotts U.N. arms forum as Venezuela takes chair.. typical rogue usa behaviour…
from the daily propaganda press briefing of may 28th – this is the first one since april 11th!!! clearly they are not daily anymore!
“Additionally, as many of you saw earlier today, the U.S. delegation walked out of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva during the first plenary presided over by illegitimate Maduro officials from Venezuela. We will boycott the conference for the remainder of the four-week Venezuelan presidency, because to participate in this conference under this presidency would lend credibility to this illegitimate, profoundly corrupt, and inhumane regime.”
read further for large doses of additional bullshit, lies and fabrications…
https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-may-28-2019/

Posted by: james | May 28 2019 23:17 utc | 142

Red Pill Wisdom from Caitlin’s essay I linked @141:
“All political analysis which favors either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party is inherently worthless, because both parties are made of swamp and exist in service of the swamp. If you can’t see that the entire system is one unified block of corruption and that ordinary people need to come together and unite against it, then you really don’t understand what you’re looking at.”

Posted by: karlof1 | May 28 2019 23:35 utc | 143

I just read a posting on ZH about both China and Russia boycotting the recently announced meeting to be chaired by Jared Kushner about Israel/Palestine
The meeting is suppose to happen in mid June and without China/Russia present it is dead before it starts. That is unless the Liberace grifter can dance on the graves of his victims and bring the monotheistic spirits forth.
Next?

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 28 2019 23:37 utc | 144

Stumbled across a publication by Michael Hudson from 1993, THE LOST TRADITION OF BIBLICAL DEBT CANCELLATIONS, that appears to be the first fruit of his combined research with the Peabody Museum. Available here in PDF; just 87 pages. Enjoy!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 29 2019 1:26 utc | 145

karlof1 140: Greenwald Op-Ed
Some quibbles:
1. Who is a spy may be as relevant as who is a journalist.

US Government cites specific reasons why Assange is not a journalist – which Greenwald (who is a lawyer) does not address. Those reasons are: conspiracy to steal government secrets and irresponsible publishing.
But that doesn’t necessarily make Assange a spy. Greenwald fails to note that Wikileaks has published sensitive material from many sources (not just US government).
This is important as it highlights the political nature of the charges and thus argues for denial of extradition.

2) I wish Greenwald had mentioned the war on whistle-blowers.

Government secrecy spurs abuse of power and corruption. But instead of welcoming whistle-blowers, Western governments have conducted a war on whistle-blowers. They say they support whistle-blowers but actually act to stifle whistle-blowers.

3) Why does Greenwald reinforce government propaganda?

Greenwald writes that: “Assange has few allies left in the United States…[because he] harmed Hillary Clinton’s campaign.”
Most analysts agree that Hillary was responsible for her defeat, not Wikileaks or Russia. That media assets of the Deep State want to portray Assange as evil and unpopular is not surprising. But independent journalists shouldn’t further this narrative. Instead, they should be talking up the value of whistle-blowers.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | May 29 2019 4:49 utc | 146

ISIS cannon fodder believe they are doing gods work. Exceptional US cannon fodder also believe they are doing gods work.
“During his homily this priest looked out at the congregation, overwhelmingly populated with combat men and their families. He said that he wanted the people of God to remember their brothers asleep in the Lord’s embrace. He wanted them to remember how each man died alone, alone in fear, alone in misery, usually with no one to comfort him, often in the dark, with his life running out through mutilations that left little doubt of the outcome. He asked them to pray for their brothers, for the brothers who had died for us all as Jesus died for us all. The congregation sang. “In the beauty of the lilies/ Christ was born across the sea,/ with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me./ As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free./ His truth is marching on.””
https://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2019/05/httpswwwamericamagazineorgfaith20060529dear-hearts-across-seas-memorial-day-prayer.html

Posted by: Peter AU 1 | May 29 2019 6:43 utc | 147

This is weird. Robert Mueller making first appearance after report been released, blasting Russia once again.
Deep state isnt stopping…
LIVE: Robert Mueller speaks publicly for the 1st time since report on alleged Russian interference
https://www.rt.com/usa/460556-live-robert-mueller-speaks-report/

Posted by: Zanon | May 29 2019 15:05 utc | 148

The Notre Dame thread is closed so I’ll post this update here.
On Monday, May 27, ABC.net.au broadcast a doco about the fire and the timeline. Video of the broadcast is at…
https://www.abc.net.au/4corners
There were SNAFU-ish aspects.
The timeline which emerges in the doco is as follows:
6-20 pm First alarm sounds. Evacuation begins in response to the alarm although no-one is sure of the nature of the emergency.
– Someone checks the alarm console which indicates a fire in the rooftop.
– There are no signs of a fire and the hope that it’s a false alarm persists.
– Alarm stops sounding. There’s no electricity in the cathedral.
– Father X decides to continue the evening service.
6-43 pm Second alarm sounds. Even though there’s still no sign of fire almost everyone decides it’s not a false alarm.
6-50 pm A bystander films the first smoke rising from the base of the spire. Someone calls the fire brigade.
Conclusion: Shambolic response, and absence of a S.O.P. in response to an alarm event, cost Paris 80% of a famous landmark.
Interesting post-catastrophe dilemna: Most of vaulted ceiling remains intact BUT most of the debris from the fire is sitting on top of it.
P.S. The first 10 minutes of the 45 minute 4C video covers the dithering phase, up to the fire becoming visible and out of control.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | May 29 2019 15:27 utc | 149

Caitlin Johnstone agrees with me that there may be a D-notice related to Assange:

Whether this media blackout is self-imposed or perhaps the result of the malicious use of a D-notice, we have to use everything in our power to get this information into the mainstream, and get people asking questions of the press and their local members about what the Dickens is going on in Belmarsh prison right now. Assange’s life may depend on it.

<> <> <> <> <> <> <>
I wrote on May 19:

Is there a D-notice on ‘temporary surrender’?
IMO, the answer is likely to be YES.
The UK should reject extradition of Assange to Sweden as the charges are politically motivated and are likely a ruse for getting Assange to USA with few conditions on his prosecution.
The UK should also reject extradition of Assange to USA because the US computer crime charges are also politically motivated and there are human rights issues that take precedence including: his confinement is likely to be torturous, press freedom must be upheld.
The establishment does not want the above to happen. It seems clear that there is a determined push to extradite Assange to Sweden. And squashing discussion of the ‘temporary surrender’ mechanism which drove Assange to seek Asylum seven years ago is the primary way that they are clearing the way for Assange’s extradition to Sweden. Because only public protest will stop a miscarriage of justice.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | May 29 2019 16:44 utc | 150

Mueller addresses the nation on 5/29/19. To paraphrase;
I really don’t give a s***, you all figure it out. I’m f###ing outta’ here..

Posted by: ben | May 29 2019 18:02 utc | 151

Re the US-led Huawei ban.
China has pulled its Big Rare Earth Stick out of the bag and threatened to knee cap US hi-tech industries with it. The shares of an Oz mining co which services ~10% of the market rose 50% after China’s announcement. One presumes that the same stick will bruise spineless US lap dogs as well.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | May 30 2019 16:03 utc | 152