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September 11, 2019
Open Thread 2019-53
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Venezuela: In the second installment of his VA “Crisis & Critique” column, Ociel Lopez looks at how Washington’s embargo blocked a possible agreement between the government and the opposition.
Colombia: On the fourth day of Colombia’s trial of the century, the Supreme Court is scheduled to be hearing the sister-in law of former president Alvaro Uribe‘s lawyer and two businessmen.
El Salvador: At the August 6 press conference to announce the creation of the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (“CICIES” for its initials in Spanish), security guards prevented the entrance of journalists from two online periodicals, Revista Factum and El Faro. It struck many as no coincidence that just these two sets of journalists would be targeted by the Bukele administration. Both periodicals have published articles asking uncomfortable questions about the Bukele administration and officials within it:
Posted by: Maracatu | Sep 11 2019 17:36 utc | 1
Given that Washington continuously claims that Russians are responsible for the election of Donald Trump, here is an interesting look at what Vladimir Putin had to say about why Donald Trump was elected:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2019/09/vladimir-putin-on-americas-middle-class.html
While drawing links from economic class to voting patterns is difficult given that education impacts voting rates, it is pretty clear that Vladimir Putin’s observations about American society and the growing sense that middle class America is being left behind is accurate. It is becoming increasingly clear that globalization benefits the few at the top and leaves behind the vast majority of society who feel that their place in society is under threat.
Posted by: Sally Snyder | Sep 11 2019 17:43 utc | 3
As a long time MoA reader, I would like to sincerely and profoundly thank b for not only bothering to keep up with politics and world affairs like this, but also for taking the time to summarize and write up your findings for many many people across the entire globe to read. For what its worth, let me extend my deep gratitude and admiration to you for offering your well-written and refreshingly objective and neutral articles on a surprisingly clean, quiet and ad-free website. It feels stupid to say, but that’s become a real rarity in todays internet…
Posted by: A silent MoA reader | Sep 11 2019 17:43 utc | 4
Thanks all for links to the economist Michael Hudson, in this case speaking at length about ancient civilizations and their control of debt, and implications for our modern world.
You need a body of civil law with a strong democratic government acting to shape markets in society’s overall long-term interest, not that of the One Percent obtaining wealth by impoverishing the 99 Percent. You need civil law that protects the population from an oligarchy whose business plan is to accumulate wealth in ways that impoverish the economy at large. This requires a body of civil law that would cancel debts when they grow too large for the population to pay. That probably requires public banking and credit – in other words, deprivatization of banking that has become dysfunctional.
Here on the Moon we have a few treasured, rational voices.
Posted by: jonku | Sep 11 2019 18:08 utc | 7
A silent MoA reader | Sep 11 2019 17:43 utc | 4
I second that as well!
Keep going, b.
Posted by: Cemi | Sep 11 2019 18:26 utc | 9
An additional thanks for b’s efforts and excellent bullshit detector!
On this anniversary of the crime of the century I would like to note that more and more people are able to see through the official narrative (itself a theory about a conspiracy) and the omissions and deceptions surrounding it. I cannot recall the source but: The Truth exists, Lies are Created.
Posted by: Chevrus | Sep 11 2019 18:30 utc | 10
Completely off topic and “something entirely different” for anyone who could do with a small break. I found the following linked short video informative, interesting, and inspiring despite the challenge and misery the topic represents; Japan managed to eradicate this disease and China has made tremendous gains.
“Why Snails Kill 200 000 People Every Year” by “Facts in Motion” on YouTube.
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Sep 11 2019 18:30 utc | 11
Unz is now syndicating Whitney Webb: https://www.unz.com/author/whitney-webb/
Posted by: anon | Sep 11 2019 18:44 utc | 12
There seems to be a pretty strong effort to memory hole poor Assange by his “brother” journalists. But it occurred to me the other day–the USG is trying to multiply the charges against him and imply all sorts of bad intent and action on the part of Assange by now alleging that he actively worked with his source, cultivated his source, gave his source advice on being careful, etc., etc.
But doesn’t this even better describe the essence of an investigative journalist? It seems the harder the US tries to prove Assange should be entitled to no protections, the more they prove he should. And the more fear should be rising in the hearts of journalists everywhere at the precedent this is setting. You can love or hate the journalistic project that Assange headed, and you can have any opinion you want about him personally, but I continue to be astonished at the shameful silence of MSM. That they seem to feel immune either speaks to their severe lack of intellect or a testament to their actual role as mere propagandists.
Posted by: J Swift | Sep 11 2019 18:46 utc | 13
Agreed with everyone else. B is absolutely outstanding.
Onto a different topic;
Trump said mulling easing Iran sanctions to secure Rouhani meeting;
So according to ” https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-mulling-easing-iran-sanctions-to-secure-rouhani-meeting/ ”
“US President Donald Trump suggested easing sanctions on Iran to get a meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, prompting strong pushback by his then national security adviser John Bolton, according to a report Wednesday.”
I don’t think that’s going to sit to well with Bibi….You can almost smell an upcoming false flag by Israel being done to ensure that no such meeting(s) occur.
Posted by: AP Veteran | Sep 11 2019 18:47 utc | 14
Sally Snyder @ 3
First of all, please also accept my thanks, b, for this site, which is always a pleasure to visit. The word “civilised” is the one that springs to mind.
Sally Snyder: your reminder of VVP’s astounding interview with Lionel Barber of the FT, full of sound, polite common sense, and charity towards the world, qualities so rare in modern western politicians it seems, did jog my memory in a funny way.
I remembered Churchill’s chief of staff, General Alan Brooke, when he first met Stalin, didn’t care for him at all – he wrote in his diary of “his cold,crafty face”. But by the end of the war he wrote: “Stalin had a military brain of the very highest caliber…..never once in any of his statements, did he make any strategic error, nor did he ever fail to appreciate all the implications of a situation with a quick an unerring eye” He outshone Roosevelt and Churchill in this respect. (It was said of Stalin by his German opponents, full of admiration: “That man thinks in terms of centuries!”
Maybe the world will similarly appreciate his successor one day.
Posted by: Montreal | Sep 11 2019 19:08 utc | 15
MEPs damn ‘protecting European way of life’ job title
One of the signs a great empire/civilization is in inexorable decline is when its titles of nobility and their analogues start to get ever increasing propagandistic, ritualistic and elaborate names. This is usually inversely proportional to the real power those offices get.
–//–
Today’s clipping: the silent transition to multipolarity?
Venezuelan oil major PDVSA registers office in Moscow
US won’t ‘automatically’ play defender role for Europe anymore – Merkel
The problem here is that NATO exists and Merkel is on her way out. Also the AfD is the new main opposition party in Germany right now, after the self-destruction of the SPD. They are anti-NATO, but that’s negotiable once they take the Bundestag.
US Fed ‘boneheads’ should cut interest rates to zero or less – Trump
The “japanification” of America begins. I’ve stated in this blog more than once that, if the USA falls, it certainly won’t fall like the USSR. The USSR had a very peculiar economic system, where the PCSU was both the government and the economy: once Gorbachev destroyed his party, he destroyed the Soviet Union.
The USA, on the other side, is a capitalist economy, which means its “center of command” is a diffuse web of oligarchic capitalists who govern “in the shadows”. The government of a capitalist society is only one of the many institutions that, in a diffused fashion, preserves the “market anarchy” (domesticated chaos) that is indispensable for the existence of capitalism. America, therefore, is more lika an onion than a jenga tower: if you destroy (peel) one layer, you still have many more. Therefore, if the USA collapses, it will probably do so through a gradual descent into fragmentation and anarchy in a process that will take decades and maybe centuries, in an analogous form as the Roman Empire in the West.
‘US Needs Huawei More Than Huawei Needs US’, Tech Giant’s Top Official Warns Amid Washington’s Ban
According to Andy Purdy, chief security officer of Huawei Technologies USA:
About 30% of components for Huawei’s products are currently provided by the United States, according to Purdy, who stated that in 2018 the Chinese telecom giant spent around $11 billion on buying technologies from 130 US companies.
Such is the strength is capitalism’s international nature. Nationalism who?
–//–
Today, Sept. 11, is a date that marks two ends:
1) the end of any pretenstions left of a socialist wave in Latin America after the first one — Cuba, 1959 — was successful (so far, the first and only). The CIA masterfully learned from its mistakes in the island nation and successfully (and brutally) crushed Latin American socialism;
2) the beginning of the end of the “End of History” era. After the WTC fell, the USA would begin the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, in what would be the last time the USA acted as the “king of Nations”. What should’ve been — after a wonderful victory in Iraq — turned out to be a Pyrric endeavor, as Iran successfully resisted, the rest of the ME didn’t budge, and the whole thing turned into a trillionaire black hole that drained the American coffers, spiked its debt rates and culminated with the 2008 crisis.
What’s 14″ long and dangles between Donald Trump’s legs?
.
.
.
Justin Trudeau’s Tie
Posted by: ziogolem | Sep 11 2019 19:38 utc | 17
Forgot three more links to my “clipping” (one of which is actually from yesterday):
Chinese premier to visit Russia
JP Morgan makes it clear to staff that Taiwan & Hong Kong are part of China
Russia to ‘Actively Consider’ Issuing Yuan-Denominated Bonds on Moscow Exchange
Just had a business trip to a Canadian natural resources town, coming from the Left Coast city and all their crazy Panic_Fear_Hate of heads buried in i-Me. Landed in a small plane, small terminal, hi, how was your flight, your car is ready, hi, how was your trip, your room is ready, would you like to have dinner? Then relax in the lodge lobby reading hopeful news stories of ‘Local Boy/Girl Makes Good’.
The road to the client’s office was packed with logging trucks and lumber haulers, huge equipment in big yards carved into the forest on each side of the road. Everyone relaxed at the plant, just walk in, they point you down the hall, workers coming and going, plenty of T-I-M-E, know what I mean? Time to talk-story. Sep 10th.
Bolton’s termination? Hey, the Red-Blue UniParty Congress gave Pentagon+CIA a +16% budget increase for FY2020, after double-digits increase every year since 9/11. CIA Black Ships are ferrying coffins of cruise missiles to Diego, Navy ships in the yards at Pearl and Bremerton being outfitted and re-armed for deployment, the B-52s and B-2 are on the flight line at Andersen readied for action. Something is in the offing in US/UK+ISRL+KSA Landt, now that RussiaGate Night of the Long Knives failed to take Trump out. Sep 11th changed everything. They will launch a New False Flag.
May have to move to Canada, after Saint Gerta gives her Petrocene Holocaust Speech at the UN, lol. The Red-Blue UniParty Congress stood and clapped for Netanyahu nineteen times. Never forget that. Stood and clapped for Netanyahu until their fingernails bled.
Time for the ‘shared sacrifices’ speech.
Posted by: Jack Martin | Sep 11 2019 19:51 utc | 19
It seems Angela Merkel came back inspired from her visit to China:
Merkel warns of danger to EU of Singapore-style UK on its border
Cannot but laugh at Netanyahu’s plan to annex more arab land, because while he planned that he fooled the same arab states for peace talks past couple of years. Poor palestinians being sold out repeatedly. Only Iran is their friend and they arent not even arab!
Posted by: Zanon | Sep 11 2019 20:21 utc | 21
General Flynn said to have been exonerated in 2017 re Russia
prosecutor said to be hiding things, Justice unwilling to deliver memo..? very interesting..
Posted by: snake | Sep 11 2019 20:39 utc | 22
A good opportunity to say thank you to b for tireless, objective and insightful research and analysis. My hat is off to you, sir.
Posted by: Bruce | Sep 11 2019 20:52 utc | 23
As we offer up well deserved salutations to The Poet for his excellent work, I would like to add my praise, admiration, best wishes and best hopes to all the Truth Tellers out there. Just to name a few: Chelsea Manning; Edward Snowden; some from the old school: David Halberstam; Robert Parry; Seymour Hirsh; Gary Webb; Whitney Webb; and especially to the mighty Julian Assange. They can’t break his spirit so they are murdering him drop by drop. And thanks as well to the MoA commentators. I have learned a lot from you all. Forgive me if I go a bit mushy and say “Peace and Blessings”
Posted by: Miss Lacy | Sep 11 2019 20:59 utc | 24
I think that Caitlan has some of the final words, the middle finger adios to the sociopathic war monger John Bolton.
if trump had followed Bolton all the way down that cake-walk path, we would surely right now be bombing the shit out of Tabriz and Tehran, and the entire middle east would be in flames from poor Lebannon to the Pakistani border.
I often love her writing and wish she got more attention for it and the ideas. you go, girl.
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/09/11/democrats-somehow-frame-boltons-exit-as-a-bad-thing/
“…So we can’t be confident that Bolton’s replacement will be any better, but we can absolutely be confident that they won’t be any worse.
It is an indisputably positive thing that the former PNAC director who is so psychopathic that he once threatened to murder the children of an OPCW official for inconveniencing his attempts to engineer the Iraq invasion is no longer in the most powerful foreign policy advisory position on planet Earth…”
Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 11 2019 21:07 utc | 25
Looking through Trumps tweets,they consist mostly of navel gazing and giving the military and police a pat on the back. What passes as foreign affairs in the US, although Trump may outline the end goal, is mostly delegated to others to achieve. Venezuela and Iran are still standing, Bolton not achieving any results. Trump will appoint someone who he thinks can achieve those goals.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 11 2019 21:23 utc | 26
Chevrus | Sep 11 2019 18:30 utc | 10
“… truth exists; lies are created”…
The truth from forensic investigation: How could WTC bldg. 7 drop abt free-fall speed without use of explosives? If explosives were used, how could U S authorities [w or w/o foreign participants] acquire-wire-position them in the time between “pull it” and the free-fall?
They had to have been pre-positioned! by US authorities!
Thus explains the overwhelming likelihood that WTC1 and 2 were also pre-positioned for a pre-planned events.
That is why the WTC7 event is the
Posted by: chu teh | Sep 11 2019 21:59 utc | 27
[continued]
That is why the WTC7 event gives the lie to the “official” explanations.
Posted by: chu teh | Sep 11 2019 22:02 utc | 28
Another lurker making a first time post here today.
VK @18 The “End of History”…there’s a great relatively new song by that same title:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63o26RCEiHw
With the firing of the crazy dude with the stache the other day, it looks like the Iranians won their game of chicken with trump that b appears to have correctly predicted, trump might lift some of the sanctions in order to start talks
https://www.rt.com/usa/468605-trump-lift-iran-sanctions/
I love how the Iranians recently sold the oil on the Adrian D1 to a “private company” off shore..Haha
Thank you b for all the work you do on this site
Posted by: SRVitDWN | Sep 11 2019 22:19 utc | 29
chu teh
How much of 7 during collapse have you actually seen. going through videos,I can only see a very small portion of the building.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 11 2019 22:22 utc | 30
@ 35 – I don’t know if you’ve seen this video. It shows building 7 pretty clearly. I just saw it for the first time today.
30-Second Reel of Building 7 Collapse Footage I read The New Pearl Harbor by David Ray Griffins – wikipedia – New Pearl Harbor In the book he says that all the security on the buildings was disabled the weekend before 9-11-2001 to update the systems. If I remember correctly, the company responsible for that work belonged to the youngest brother of George W. Bush. I read it several years back, so forgive me if I am wrong.
Posted by: roza shanina | Sep 11 2019 22:40 utc | 31
The operation to keep the eyes of those with genuine grievances focused on the piles of smoking debris appeals to peoples emotions rather than rational thought.
The unanswered questions, unfollowed leads, and the redacted sections of the commission report (criminal investigation) is where the danger lays for the regime.
The operation has all the hallmarks of a color revolution, but rather than being designed to bring down a leadership, it is designed to keep a leadership or regime in power.
Disparate groups being pulled together into and umbrella organization with a name and propaganda designed to appeal to peoples emotions.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 11 2019 22:45 utc | 32
I forgot to add this video which you all are probably aware of where the BBC reporter says building 7 has collapsed when it is still standing. Humm.
BBC 911
Posted by: roza shanina | Sep 11 2019 22:46 utc | 33
Pepe Escobar in his latest piece notes that:
We are all hostages of 9/11
He mentions in his Facebook post that he cut the piece down to 2,000 words from 5,000, in case you find it too brief a treatment of that event.
Posted by: Grieved | Sep 11 2019 22:50 utc | 34
Peter AU 1 #31
Kissinger must be the man then :))
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 11 2019 23:15 utc | 35
Grieved
Thanks for the link to the Escobar piece. I am now more interested in the people aspect of 9 11 and Pepe confirmed a few things I had been guessing at and covered more issues in the people behind the attack I was wondering about.
His knowledge of where Bin laden was at, and what was happening in Afghanistan before the event is quite revealing.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 11 2019 23:21 utc | 36
Re Iranian negotiating position. It seems pretty clear that they will not accept anything less than total reset. Join JCPOA and lift all sanctions and make retribution for the loss over the past while. Perhaps off page they will insist that the yapping dog in occupied Palestine be muzzled.
I have this image of Trump kneeling before the ayatollah with a mouth full of crow and behind are the five eye lackeys chomping obediently in unison.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 11 2019 23:25 utc | 37
This might be of interest https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-09-11-how-the-uk-security-services-neutralised-the-countrys-leading-liberal-newspaper/
Boeing’s chief technical pilot on the 737 MAX project during development of the jet pleads the fifth:
Former Boeing official subpoenaed in 737 MAX probe won’t turn over documents, citing Fifth Amendment protection
RE the New York 9-11. It amazes me that after all these years, people still talk all the way around the issue. Steel melts
at about 2600 degrees F. Before it actually melts, it moves – bends, expands, what have you. Also, it heats unevenly. The side closest to heat will bend first. Kerosene, which is jet fuel, burns at about 1800 degrees F. So?????????????
Right.
As for the Pentagon and Pennsylvania – clearly physical impossibilities.
Posted by: Miss Lacy | Sep 11 2019 23:58 utc | 40
Interesting glimpse of the guts of American society:
Lack of ‘Economically Attractive’ Men to Blame for Decline in US Marriages – Study
The study is from Cornell, which is considered a serious university in the USA.
Grieved @39–
Escobar wrote a very powerful if truncated article that the entire world needs to digest! We also know a lot more about 7 December 1941 and 22 November 1963, and how they were done. 11 September 2001 joined their ranks as an Infamy inflicted by Americans on Americans–the only one having any plausible positive moral aspect being 7 December 1941, the other two being 100+% immoral–and worse: imagine the worst, most negative adjective possible and that’s what they are–not past tense because we live with their outcomes daily, hourly, every damn second. The whole world lives with them, and so shall the unborn everywhere until the Outlaw US Empire expires.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 0:53 utc | 42
On this 9/11 anniversary (it is the 12 down under) and who had a role in this disastrous event for humanity, i like to give you a free book copy HMTL by/for Ron Unz website a book about who killed John F Kennedy.
http://www.unz.com/book/michael_collins_piper__final-judgment/#default-judgment
From website
http://www.unz.com/
Chapters 16 and 17 gets right to the point.
Posted by: col from Oz | Sep 12 2019 1:21 utc | 43
The book final judgement is available in PDF too.
https://wikispooks.com/w/images/f/f6/Final_Judgment.pdf
Re the people who did the JFK assignation on this 9/11 anniversary.
Posted by: col from Oz | Sep 12 2019 1:56 utc | 44
It’s worth taking a look at Corbett’s 911 whistle blowers series that he just published.
In a realm swarming with disinfo and trolls, he does a nice clean job of presenting evidence.
The real heros are those who come forward knowing full well that they will get slammed, discredited and even murdered.
Posted by: Chevrus | Sep 12 2019 2:23 utc | 45
Thanks to all the MoA lurkers who wrote about their appreciation of b and his web site which I try and thank him for regularly. I do hope you contribute financially to his efforts as well….I send him an annual contribution that I can afford.
Thanks to Grieved # 39 with the Escobar link about 9/11. Fellow MoA commenter William Gruff on another thread used the excellent analogy of Plato’s Cave displays to describe how many in the West are brainwashed into believing black is white if the TV or MSM says so and it is sad to see that tool still so effective. To me this brainwashing is also an extension of the monotheistic faith meme in the world that has so many believing incredible lies because faith is held stronger than reason or logic.
Can the cult of global private finance pull off another Pearl Harbor or 9/11 to keep the “faithful” in line? I expect it is possible but less likely than in the past because regardless, China will continue marching along with the advancement of its civilization state in alliance with other nations and their numbers are growing…..and they and many of us are ready to call BS on any such attempt to control the global narrative again with horrific events such as have been “manufactured” in the past.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 12 2019 2:30 utc | 46
I 23,000 people work at the pentagon. Plus visitors adds up to a lot of potential loose lips.
In a forum where there is often rational thought and research, when it comes to 9 11, emotion often seems to replace rational thought.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 12 2019 2:58 utc | 48
So far Americans had two major karmas in this Century, 9/11 and Trumpchaos and STILL they just don’t get it. Amerikkka, youz iz fuckedup and worse; the shet you pull ruins everyone else. Rev. Wright put it right.
https://youtu.be/Ix-AMYos0Js
You’re still on the path of narcissistic decay. Damn you, Amerikkka!
Posted by: Circe | Sep 12 2019 3:15 utc | 49
@31 Peter AU 1
Haven’t you heard? Trump is intending for Pompeo to do double duty and take on😴 NSA as well. Kissinger held both posts in the Nixon administration.
To celebrate the occasion Kim will test a nuke. 😉
Posted by: Circe | Sep 12 2019 3:30 utc | 50
Dear B,
I have to say this time you brought a problem onto yourself, posting an Open Thread with an attached comments forum on 11 September 2019. What did you think MoA barflies were going to talk about on the forum?
🙂
At least someone had reason to celebrate the day as a happy one: who else can boast being serenaded “Happy Birthday” by an unprompted audience packing out an opera house?
Posted by: Jen | Sep 12 2019 3:34 utc | 51
If a meeting does take place between Rouhani and Trump, Trump will deliver the same hot air he delivered to Kim and then send in Pompeo to produce the full effect brain fart.
If I were Rouhani, I wouldn’t dignify either with my presence.
Posted by: Circe | Sep 12 2019 3:46 utc | 52
https://sputniknews.com/us/201909121076781195-white-house-considers-giving-boltons-job-to-mike-pompeo–report/
“White House Considers Giving Bolton’s Job to Mike Pompeo – Report.”
Whoever takes on Boltons job now have their work cut outfor them. Venezuela and Iran havebeen getting stronger by the day since Bolton was hired.
https://sputniknews.com/latam/201909121076781242-venezuela-to-provide-national-militia-with-over-500000-firearms-for-drills–maduro/
“MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that the national militia would be provided with more than 500,000 firearms for the drills near the border with Colombia.”
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 12 2019 3:53 utc | 53
To their everlasting shame; journalists world wide, are allowing Assange to be slowly killed in Bellmarch Prison. His own government has abandoned him.
He is the premier journalist in the world; yet the press across the globe mostly remain silent.
Only quick, direct action now, can save him…
Posted by: V | Sep 12 2019 4:08 utc | 54
Grieved @39
Pepe’s article includes some great material including questions a link to a film (“Zero”) that also raises questions.
Off-Guardian has a number of stories about 9-11. In Why 9/11 matters in 2019, Cate Black writes:
Eighteen years ago the idea of large scale false flags or government deceptions may have seemed absurd to most of us. But the unraveling of so many official narratives in recent years; the lies over WMDs, the lies over Ghouta, the lies over Libya and Ukraine, the repeat evidence for wholesale manipulation, if not fabrication, of events to promote war, means it ought to be impossible for any thinking person to simply take the events of 9/11 on trust any more.
How can any of us continue to question everything 9/11 has brought us, but not question 9/11 itself?
But she could’ve listed many more questionable narratives. Just off the top of my head, in no particular order and not meant to be a complete list: Russiagate and the Skripals; Obama Administration’s “willful decision” to allow ISIS to grow; promotion of White Helmets as a humanitarian group and “moderate rebels” as the core of a “civil war”; Epstein’s death/extraction; Integrity Initiative; MH-17.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Sep 12 2019 4:14 utc | 55
Looks like Bolton’s failures in Venezuela and the oil embargo on Iran’s shipments to Syria have cost the mustache laden psycho his job. There was probably a 3rd but it slips my memory. https://www.rt.com/usa/468605-trump-lift-iran-sanctions/
Mind you, I think it is part of Trump’s domestic dominance strategy to run these “B”team moral cretins through the ‘hire=>fire’ circus.
And, in remembrance, while the MSM “9/11” meme is all about reinforcing a dubious box-cutter scenario, that included magical ‘spooky at a distance’ demolition effects on an untouched building (all full of asbestos and recently re-insured for $zillions) — not to mention the unfortunate loss of many Pentagon auditors and their work on tracking down outright crime in the military through a low-flying missile-sized ‘plane’ — oh, and a rather small ‘oily smudge’ on a farmer’s field (compared to MH17 etc), I choose to reflect back on Allende’s fate on 9/11/1973 in Chile and wonder when that cancer on the human psyche called Kissinger will depart for his long overdue reward in the next world.
Posted by: imo | Sep 12 2019 4:25 utc | 56
Has anyone read or reviewed the old Son of Sam book “Ultimate Evil”? it is a quick read and there are some insane propositions and conspiracy theories set forth in that publication
the stanford murder case described in this book was solved last year. a quick internet search did not reveal whether or not the perpetrator may have had occult connections.
would be interested if any of the fine people here at MoA have any insight or perhaps even 1st hand accounts \ experiences from that era of NYC
Posted by: Xerxes | Sep 12 2019 4:33 utc | 57
Re, @59…
3rd fcuk-up was de-mesmerizing NK’s young Kim Jong-un at a critical juncture of geo-political seduction.
Posted by: imo | Sep 12 2019 4:38 utc | 58
Ruling classes are not “service” to society, and frankly have never been enough so to justify their existence. The purpose of ruling classes has always been the preservation of the false meme of nobility. It’s 2000 years past time to erase Plato’s Republic and every other republic from society and reject the self-exalting notion of philosopher-kings as the pathetic ramblings of a former slave turned bourgeois liberal playing a toddler’s game of pretend.
Posted by: Jonathan^-1 | Sep 12 2019 5:39 utc | 59
A silent MoA reader | Sep 11 2019 17:43 utc | 4
Well said.
This is what I think too.
Posted by: Die Niemandsfuchs | Sep 12 2019 6:45 utc | 60
One of the most common things pointed out on this site are the “analyses” that are sold to US news networks on areas which the general public has no bloody clue and will basically buy any story that looks to be backed up by “serious” research.
Posted by: ralphieboy | Sep 12 2019 9:07 utc | 61
Laughter is the best medicine I have heard. Some medicine.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49662134
“A French company has been found liable for the death of an employee who had a cardiac arrest while having sex with a stranger on a business trip.
A Paris court ruled that his death was an industrial accident and that the family was entitled to compensation.
The firm had argued the man was not carrying out professional duties when he joined a guest in her hotel room.
But under French law an employer is responsible for any accident occurring during a business trip, judges said.”
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Sep 12 2019 9:09 utc | 62
Jonathan^-1 @63: Yep, no more self-appointed “elites”, they are “fake elites” just like the “fake news”. Just take a good look at them. Trump is not exceptional, he is exemplary. Plato was a dick too, I quite agree, a product of a class system, just like say Boris Johnson, or Trump.
Posted by: Bemildred | Sep 12 2019 9:47 utc | 63
I was trying to read the Escobar article on 911, but for several months I’ve had a technical problem with the Asiatimes website. The page downloads (several megabites of java script crap), and displays for about 1 second, then disappears. Does anybody else have problems with Asiatimes?
Posted by: BM | Sep 12 2019 10:37 utc | 64
unfortunately, our intrepid Pepe falls into the same rut as pretty much everyone else in regard to 911(successful psyop), i.e. agonizing over who dunnit without knowing WTF happened in the first place.
Posted by: john | Sep 12 2019 11:07 utc | 65
In light of the Russia-gate focus among a lot of dems, it’s interesting to see this article pop up about Joe Biden meeting with Putin to try to get him on board for the Iraq war, with an offer of oil profits.
Joe Biden sought out Russian president Vladimir Putin before the 2003 invasion of Iraq to propose a deal in which Russia would be given the oil profits from the war if they entered alongside the United States.
Biden told of his attempt at “creative diplomacy” during a July 2004 event at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Biden, then the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined on stage by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for a discussion on foreign policy in the upcoming presidential election.
One of Biden’s main criticisms of former President George W. Bush during the event was his failure to unite “nations of the world in a common cause” after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Among the nations Biden had an engagement plan for was Putin’s Russia.
Biden said during the event that he, along with a Republican senator he chose not to name, asked for a meeting with Putin and proposed a deal where all proceeds from seized Iraqi oil would initially go to cash-strapped Russia. Biden viewed it as an offer Putin wouldn’t be able to refuse and was disappointed the Bush administration didn’t consider it.
According to a Kennedy library transcript of the event, Biden said he approached Putin and asked him the following question: “What if, in fact, President Bush would agree that the first proceeds coming from Iraqi oil would pay off the roughly $12 billion owed by direct hard currency that the Russians needed?”
Biden says Putin’s response to him was initially dismissive, but that they ended up getting into the details.
“[Putin] said, ‘Oh, that’s not how I base my policy, but let’s talk about that,'” Biden said. “Then we went into some detail.”
Biden says he called the White House to relay his conversation with Putin, but much to his dismay, none of the details ever reached the president.
Posted by: GlassofWater | Sep 12 2019 11:12 utc | 66
@68, https:see also youtube “On the Morning of 9/11 – The Truth In 5 Minutes – James Corbett”
…………
Here’s a report from Anoxia…
Round here there’s a fair number of… Well, you may know that the former East Germans tend to say that the old DDR was a better place to live than the Germany of today…they call this Ost (East) nostalgia. Similarly, we see the old guys with their 1950’s hot rods that they wish they had as kids…
So, round here we have people who want to live in another world – the “State of Jefferson”. They plastered the town with invitations to a town hall meeting… So, more as spy than enthusiast, I went.
Hoooboy! I was shocked by their delusional mythic beliefs. “Reactionary” is also a feature… They have begun a dialectical process, but their a-priori assumptions and willing suspensions of disbelief make it quite clear that all that can result is variations on failure, with, plausibly, the usual products of frustrated old ranchers. They are constrained by ideology that cannot adapt to objective reality. They scare me too, a little…they don’t see their own fascism. They even had a raffle for a gun. Interesting too that the building was a WPA project, and they loudly cursed the “left” and “the unions” in a prayer!
In the fullness of time – as, say, high tides overflow Compton Creek and things go on, there must naturally be political change – but Time is a one way function, and a glance at reality suggests the economic relations between Eurasia and the West Coast may well overpower whatever remaining sway the East Coast can keep… But without basic industries…in view of realities, the rustbelt and deindustrializations an’ all… well…
It does not take Daniel.
Reporting from Anoxia…
Posted by: Walter | Sep 12 2019 11:14 utc | 67
Great piece by Pepe Escobar, thanks for the link!
You do feel you are ageing when you realize you have been reading him in the Asia Times since… 2001.
One detail is often left unmentioned about the aftermaths of 9/11. Tourists had started flooding the Arab world, and the youth engaged in learning Arabic out of sympathy for the Palestinian cause all over Europe, the US and Asia. But after the Bush and Carlyle war, extremism was on the rise fed by conspiracy theories that were actually real, and the middle class of the Arab countries started to shrink to the extent that it is now nowhere to be seen (they usually put their last savings into paying for a passport or a lawyer and migrate).
This has certainly changed the landscape.
Posted by: Mina | Sep 12 2019 11:49 utc | 68
The Asia Times 9/11 article – Pepe Escobar is very good.
Posted by: somebody | Sep 12 2019 12:14 utc | 69
@ Walter | Sep 12 2019 11:14 utc | 70
Thank you.
Keep them coming.
Posted by: imo | Sep 12 2019 12:14 utc | 70
@ imo | Sep 12 2019 4:25 utc | 59
While I am pleased about the prominent release of Bolton (feel a parade is in order), I am also suspicious of the act. For some time Trump has shown patterning of talking one way and acting another. He blames it on others. He new what Bolton was/is.
I think he fears that picture of himself wearing yarmulke.
And his Israel linked son-in-law (he has faded from light).
The owners have also a long pattern of allowing themselves to be attacked so that their agent can win the support of the little people.
He is truly Manchurian candidate.
So while appearing to rail against the war mongers Trump will continue to undermine and pressure other countries in economic terms to weaken them to the point of collapse or in preparation for bombing or disruption from within.
Trump needs some positive buzz going into the election.
Pay attention to actions and accomplishments, not words.
Posted by: jared | Sep 12 2019 12:31 utc | 71
add to 72 – Imran Khan’s view from Pakistan – it was very unfair on Pakistan, US fighting the Jihadis they had formerly supported via Pakistan and the Jihadis turning on Pakistan because of that.
Posted by: Mina | Sep 12 2019 11:49 utc | 71
Seen from Europe there had been a “peace dividend” with the end of the Cold War, i.e. no more overspending on the military. This was ended with the “War on Terror”.
Posted by: somebody | Sep 12 2019 12:32 utc | 72
Venezuela is basket case.
To know what will happen in Venezuela, one only need look at history.
There are no rules in international affairs – it’s purely self-interest and survival of the fittest.
Posted by: jared | Sep 12 2019 12:36 utc | 73
It may be that the exit of Boltjob implies a major change in strategy. Mr Jack @ 24 seems to say that the assault weapons preparations continue…and he’s seems to expect these to, ah “find employment” in the proximate future.
When key people exit it generally means we’ll see something within a few months. For 911 it took 9 months…to get the project ready for the opening of their little dramma, the ritual murder of some 3000 mostly US citizens – clearly announcing their willingness to murder Americans, as well as, of course, everybody else. Working behind the chaotic Clown act it would probably take longer…they’ve had 2 years… tictictic…
Of course no rule says they can’t be creative – the building demos didn’t go so well, did they?
I keep thinking about the 6 gadgets that turned into 5 gadgets when the accidentally loaded B52 with nukes under the wing landed…
Well, what would the art call for in an encore? What would it look like after 911?
Right.
the swap runs like Epstein’s escape…http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/19/AR2007101901590_pf.html?noredirect=on
Posted by: Walter | Sep 12 2019 13:05 utc | 74
Posted by: Walter | Sep 12 2019 13:05 utc | 77
There is a huge difference to pre 9/11. Pre 9/11 US soldiers were stationed confronting the ex-Soviet Union in peaceful places like Europe.
Now they are stationed in places they could not pacify like Iraq or where their logistics are controlled by frenemies like Afghanistan.
The war in Afghanistan was legal by UN standards. Now, neither China nor Russia will consent to any UN security council resolution that goes against their interest. And coalitions of the willing are no longer feasible. Boris Johnson just lost Britain.
It is impossible to pacify Afghanistan from the outside. Afghans will have to do it themselves. A Chinese, Iranian, Russian, Pakistani alliance would certainly help.
The US will have to extract their soldiers, and they need an agreement with all these countries for that.
I interpret Bolton’s dismissal (and the possibly made up story of Israel spying on the Trump Whitehouse – which they might have done in hubris or not) as Trump cutting ties to Netanyahu. The interesting thing is to watch what will happen to Pompeo.
Posted by: somebody | Sep 12 2019 13:44 utc | 75
Yes, generally you and I agree, # 78
But why does the US need agreements for this, the extraction? The US abides with agreements like a stick-up man with a machine gun…
I entered “map us military bases” (google)
The resulting map shows North America filled with US military bases, as one might expect.
Any attempt by Trumper to escape the zionist network is liable to result in… (well, what happened last time…? Last time there was a big policy change?
Magic airplanes, right?
Well…
So let us hope your assessment is valid…though the assumption that there is the slightest possibility that Israeli spying on the White House (and Trumpie) might not exist, “might be just a story”, is frankly absurd and at odds with common sense and history… Abe Fortis was mossad, and that goes back to the last time the US connived to cover up zionist murders of Americans…and it implies a reason for Johnson’s willingness…mossad and the mafia and JFK…and Johnson’s role. On YT > “The Day Israel Attacked America | Special Series”
As fast as the US Mafia knows, Mossad knows, amigo.
Expect “encore”? Youbetcha! They always double.
Posted by: Walter | Sep 12 2019 14:27 utc | 76
Bolton may be gone but the Good Cop/Bad Cop negotiation ploy is still very much operational.
Today’s example of such is brought to you by two Reuters articles about interviews with the US Secretary of Treasury, Mnuchin
With regard to Iran, Mnuchin, via Reuters, is reported to say
”
Sanctions against Iran have been effective and could help pressure Iran and its leaders to negotiate with Trump, Mnuchin added.
“We have cut off their money, and that’s the reason why, if they do come back to the negotiation table, they’re coming back,” Mnuchin said, adding that the U.S. strategy toward Iran is similar to the one the Republican president is taking toward trade talks with China.
“If the president can get the right deal that he’s talked about, we’ll negotiate with Iran. If not, we’ll continue the maximum pressure campaign,” Mnuchin added.
”
With regard to China, Mnuchin, via Reuters, is reported to say
”
“The president is a negotiator. And he’s prepared to keep these tariffs in place. He’s prepared to raise tariffs if we need to raise tariffs,” Mnuchin said, adding he was “cautiously optimistic” about upcoming meetings.
Asked about media reports that China was seeking to narrow the scope of negotiations to trade and not national security matters, Mnuchin declined to discuss specifics. But, he added, the U.S. was still focused on intellectual property, forced joint ventures and other matters.
”
I would add that, IMO, those “other matters” not detailed above likely include an inroad to privatizing the currently public China banking system
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 12 2019 14:55 utc | 77
For anyone who wants to understand the background of Brexit, or a good part of it at least, this essay is a *must* read. (Taking up a previous discussion.)
Long, but pared down to the max as much of the supporting content is jammed into 129 lengthy, v. complete footnotes. From 2018.
Brexit was the result of a corporate campaign that backfired.
By Richard Hutton.
Much to comment on of course. The contemp history is well laid out.
https://richardhutton.wordpress.com/category/brexit-was-the-result-of-a-corporate-lobbying-campaign-which-backfired/
Posted by: Noirette | Sep 12 2019 15:00 utc | 78
So after all threats of war and warcrimes by Israel. Putin invites Netanyahu to Russia.
https://www.rt.com/news/468617-putin-netanyahu-russia-israel-sochi/
Posted by: Zanon | Sep 12 2019 15:08 utc | 79
@Zanon | Sep 12 2019 15:08 utc | 82
So after all threats of war and warcrimes by Israel. Putin invites Netanyahu to Russia.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?
Btw. thanks to b for the daily dose of truth.
Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 12 2019 15:24 utc | 80
Macron recently opened his mouth and spoke before an assembly of ambassadors using words seldom uttered by a Western leader. The Saker noted and translated what he felt was the important part of the text then wrote it up, although it oddly comes after a recap on Ukraine when it ought to stand on its own. As yet, there’s no English transcript, but Saker does link to the French and provides the following translation of what he considers the key section:
“The international order is being shaken in an unprecedented manner, above all with, if I may say so, by the great upheaval that is undoubtedly taking place for the first time in our history, in almost every field and with a profoundly historic magnitude. The first thing we observe is a major transformation, a geopolitical and strategic re-composition. We are undoubtedly experiencing the end of Western hegemony over the world. We were accustomed to an international order which, since the 18th century, rested on a Western hegemony, mostly French in the 18th century, by the inspiration of the Enlightenment; then mostly British in the 19th century thanks to the Industrial Revolution and, finally, mostly American in the 20th century thanks to the 2 great conflicts and the economic and political domination of this power. Things change. And they are now deeply shaken by the mistakes of Westerners in certain crises, by the choices that have been made by Americans for several years which did not start with this administration, but which lead to revisiting certain implications in conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, and to rethinking a deep, diplomatic and military strategy, and sometimes elements of solidarity that we thought were intangible for eternity, even if we had constituted together in geopolitical moments that have changed. And then there is the emergence of new powers whose impact we have probably underestimated for a long time. China is at the forefront, but also the Russian strategy, which has, it must be said, been pursued more successfully in recent years. I will come back to that. India that is emerging, these new economies that are also becoming powers not only economic but political and that think themselves, as some have written, as real ‘civilizational states’ which now come not only to shake up our international order but who also come to weigh in on the economic order and to rethink the political order and the political imagination that goes with it, with much dynamism and much more inspiration than we have. Look at India, Russia and China. They have a much stronger political inspiration than Europeans today. They think about our planet with a true logic, a true philosophy, an imagination that we’ve lost a little bit.” [Emphasis Original]
He then “unpacks” the bolded segments, but there’s clearly more said than what’s provided. I’m going to take the effort to machine translate the entire French transcript and provide whatever other nuggets it contains. Just reading what’s bolded tells you why his speech is being ignored by 5-Eyes BigLie Media.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 15:34 utc | 81
psychohistorian @80–
Thanks for letting us know that Mnuchin is as Global Times recently noted “hallucinating” about the real state of affairs all over the planet. Iran’s money is most certainly not “cut off,” and further raising of tariffs in Trump’s Trade War will only further damage the US economy and worsen his hopes to be renominated–if he indeed decides to run again.
In Saker’s unpacking point #5–“real ‘civilizational states’ which now come not only to shake up our international order”–he follows Macron’s listing of Russia, China, and India but both omit Iran whose civilization is arguably just as old as China and India and with its 1979 Revolution was the first to really “shake up our international order,” and continues to confound and defeat all attempts to alter its destiny. As he displays, Mnuchin is a victim of his exceptionalist ideology just as Trump, Pompeo and the rest are. Macron has done the unthinkable and said the West is no longer exceptional–a Truth that has always existed but as a Belief is now finally beginning to die as it should.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 16:06 utc | 82
@ karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 15:34 utc | 84
Politicians make speeches which rather than reflecting reality, reflect their desired outcome (desired reality).
Macron is politely saying that the U.S. is no longer a reliable as a leader, they need to make alternative plans.
In other words: “It’s not me, it’s you.”
Posted by: jared | Sep 12 2019 16:31 utc | 83
karlof1 @85
Macron’s ‘good cop’ lip service to Ambassadors. Every Western leader is a ‘good cop’. LOL.
Examples:
Iran
European ‘good cops’ SAY Trump is wrong to pull out of JCPOA but their actions aren’t consistent with their stated view.
NATO/Russia
Belligerence toward Russia continues despite ‘good cop’ lip service.
Syria
US-Israeli continued belligerence is not disputed. Economic sanctions/blockade to prevent reconstruction only slows the return of refugees.
Palestinians
No real teeth to calls for a fair resolution.
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Sep 12 2019 16:48 utc | 84
I had no idea Macron was capable of such good sense. Is he still reflecting the views of his Rothschild mentors?
Posted by: lysias | Sep 12 2019 16:52 utc | 85
@lysias | Sep 12 2019 16:52 utc | 88
I had no idea Macron was capable of such good sense. Is he still reflecting the views of his Rothschild mentors?
Macron wants to be king of Europe. Opportunists like him have an ability to pretend. He wants to reserve a place for himself in a lifeboat rather than go down with Titanic.
Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 12 2019 17:01 utc | 86
ON DOGS AND COMMON KNOWLWDGE
Craig Murray writes about Boris Johnson and Brexit:
The Dogs in the Street Know
There are some very obvious facts in British politics which nobody seems to be saying.
Joanna Cherry stated in her successful court case that “the dogs in the street know” that the real reason that Boris Johnson had prorogued parliament was to prevent parliament from having an effective say on the outcome of Brexit. The documents that the government was forced to produce to the Scottish Courts proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that was indeed Johnson’s motive.
So why are we expected to believe that what you knew and I knew, what Joanna Cherry knew, what the very dogs in the street knew, was not known to the Queen? Do we really believe that the Queen was “misled” and that she and her courtiers were the only people in the entire country who actually believed that Johnson just wanted the longest prorogation for 89 years to prepare a really good Queen’s speech? Are we really expected to believe that the Queen had not noticed that Brexit was at a crucial stage and the effect that prorogation would have on parliament’s say in the process?
Ben Hunt writes about game theory:
Harvey Weinstein and the Common Knowledge Game
The reason this dynamic — the transformation of private knowledge into common knowledge — is so important is that the social behavior of individuals does not change on the basis of private knowledge, no matter how pervasive it might be. Even if everyone in the world believes a certain piece of private information, no one will alter their behavior. Behavior changes ONLY when we believe that everyone else believes the information. THAT’S what changes behavior. And when that transition to common knowledge happens, behavior changes fast.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Sep 12 2019 17:06 utc | 87
So UK is leaving Europe (as in EU) – leaving Germany in charge.
And Germany (Merkel) is announcing it will need to rebuild it’s war machine as it can no longer rely on the U.S. (more like fears the U.S.).
Posted by: jared | Sep 12 2019 17:10 utc | 88
didn’t see this posted, apologies if repeat, been away.
Color revolutionaries of the world, unite! Hong Kong protest leader pictured with White Helmets boss.
https://www.rt.com/news/468518-joshua-wong-white-helmets/
Joshua Wong appears with Klitschko, the fantastic boxer, who was given the post of Mayor of Kiev beause Merkel who melted in front of him could not manage to impose him as Pres. of Ukraine, or PM, positions which went to Poroshenko and Yats, see Nuland … ‘Yats is our man and F the EU.’
Ahadi, afaik, is a minor figure (wiki has a brief page.) Raed Al Saleh is only one of the ‘movers’ of the White Helmets. Such organisations are paid by foreign funds, there are no ‘grass roots leaders’, no ideology exists, no political aims either, no allegiance to any group, tribe, cause or whatever, the arrangement is straight-out mercernary, proxy.
Posted by: Noirette | Sep 12 2019 17:11 utc | 89
israel just caught spying on US.fbi.the pm say no.hahaha.
Posted by: dahoit | Sep 12 2019 17:49 utc | 90
Petri Krohn | Sep 12 2019 17:06 utc | 90–
Murray writes more about the Queen, Tom Watson and Blairite strategy than Johnson. The essay’s very meaty with lots to chew on as this excerpt shows:
“Why then would Watson deliver it? And not just deliver it quietly as a think piece, but deliver it with all the media hullabaloo that could possibly be mustered? The answer is quite simple. At Blair’s behest, Watson did it quite simply to damage Corbyn. At a time when the government was in deep trouble, when Corbyn had just addressed the TUC conference to applause with a finally coherent Brexit position, Watson’s aim was simply to damage Corbyn.
“Watson sought to damage Corbyn in two ways. To damage him by staking out a more extreme Remainer position that might put a wedge between Corbyn and the new expanded Labour Party membership. And to damage Corbyn by giving headlines about Labour splits, taking the heat off the Tories and cutting at Labour’s standing in the polls just as it looked set to improve.”
Incomplete Vid of Corbyn’s TUC Speech. And Here Corbyn informs us:
“Boris Johnson is not above the law,” as Scotland’s highest court rules the Parliament suspension unlawful.
So, what happens next? What’s happening now? Labour’s vid about Yellowhammer papers is quite damning. But Corbyn mentions nothing about Watson or his plots.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 18:05 utc | 91
@Grieved #39
Escobar is entertaining, but it is important to consider his writing as entertainment more than anything else.
Among other things: attributing building expertise to Trump(!)
The notion that a 757 – that weighs up to 255,000 lbs at takeoff – flying at 200+ mph cannot penetrate a steel girder or girders of even 2 feet thickness (they’re much less than that), is ridiculous.
Equally, that Trump has any construction expertise is ridiculous.
Posted by: c1ue | Sep 12 2019 18:27 utc | 92
Proof Outlaw US Empire directly armed terrorists:
“Incredible work by @dgaytandzhieva: the details in this story leaves little doubt as to the scale and severity of this illegal operation which directly contravenes US, EU & int’l law.”
The truth’s being disseminated! Here’s RT’s vid report on the subject from 5 Sept. It needs 1000x more than 49K views. Lots of Lurkers came out at this thread’s beginning! Thanks very much! Please view and disseminate!
Here’s Dilyana’s initial tweet announcing her discovery and publication. She’s a very brave journalist aiming for the Empire’s jugular. But as so many on the comment thread asked, what can be done to discipline the Outlaw US Empire and its vassals so they cease their inhuman behavior. The only good answer I can provide is to echo Caitlin Johnstone’s about sharing and exposing these Truths and use them in ways to destroy the “public trust in pro-empire narratives”.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 18:31 utc | 93
At @6:40 in his TUC Speech linked above, Corbyn airs what’s planned for the General Election: The election plus “a public vote with a credible option to leave and the option to remain.” The remainder of his speech consists of Labour’s plans when it gains government control, which initially aims to rectify the wrongs unleashed by past Tory and Blairite policies.
If you have any interest in UK politics, you’ll want to watch Corbyn’s 20 minute Speech.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 19:10 utc | 94
Below is a link to a posting about murder in Brazil with the backing of Bolsonaro
Brazilian Official Who Fought to Protect the Amazon ‘Assassinated’ in Front of His Family
The take away quote
”
In new statements last week, Bolsonaro responded to questions about land demarcations for natives, saying “it is too much land for so few Indians.”
As reported by the New York Times, Bolsonaro claims to know exactly what the indigenous people want. According to Bolsonaro, they don’t actually want to continue their tradition of living in the rainforest as their ancestors did, but would rather have electricity, fast food, and a minimum wage job instead. In other cases, Bolsonaro has been more honest with his intentions, suggesting that the native people were a “problem” that needed to “decimated” in the same way that the native people of North America were.
“The North American cavalry were the competent ones because they decimated their Indigenous people in the past and today, they don’t have this problem in their country,” Bolsonaro said.
”
Bolsonaro is correct in that the cult of global private finance existed back in the days of America’s killing of Native American’s as it does now but hopefully that will come to an end before all the native tribes of Brazil are wiped out
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 12 2019 19:38 utc | 95
The annual BRICS Academic Forum began yesterday in Brazil and is chaired by Russia’s Duma’s Chairman of the Committee on Education and Science Viacheslav Nikonov. BRICS Reality was the title for his opening speech that was based on a lecture he gave two weeks ago in Moscow, of which Media has chosen to focus on the section about BRICS Values. Nikonov takes Putin’s demise of liberalism a step further:
“This is just the model of how modern humanity should be arranged, in contrast to the liberal world order. If you want to be part of the value system that I described, you can join, but in this case you should look at the others as equals, which is so difficult for Western political culture. They cannot look at others as equals – we see each other as equal partners, as friends, and this is a way to look at the rest of the world.”
The following are the components of that value system:
“First of all, independence. ‘This means that the USA no longer has the right to do whatever they want in the world. We are sovereign in terms of politics, our national interests, the search for allies, our way of thinking. BRICS helps strengthen sovereignty.'”
Second is “non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. ‘Meanwhile, the whole Western idea of the liberal world order just involves interference in foreign affairs, the purpose of which is to create an international liberal order.'”
Third, “the value of human life.”
The final not fully annumerated value is “dialogue.”
Various publications have focused on different aspects of Nikonov’s talk. This is one of my favorites:
“In fact, we are bound by much more than we can imagine, so the BRICS is not a design invented by the Goldman Sachs, it is a reality, a dialogue of powerful civilizations that has been going on for many centuries.”
The implication that Goldman Sachs designs fantasies was quite hilarious given that it survives on artificially created debt bubbles having no real foundation.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 20:46 utc | 96
Here’re the links to the 2-part series compiled by Dilyana Gaytandzhieva about what ought to be termed the Smoking Arms Gun Expose after the special Outlaw US Empire unit–Task Force Smoking Gun–charged with arming terrorists: part one and part two.
As you’ll read, the names of the individuals involved are known; so, the obvious questions are: When will they be arrested and who will do the arresting? The evidentiary paper trail looks ironclad. And this isn’t a domestic Outlaw US Empire problem; it’s a global problem as what’s being done is in total contravention of applicable UNSCRs making the perpetrators subject to arrest by any UN nation.
Had enough of the longstanding bullshit? Well, here’s something you can do at home to make a difference: Send an avalanche of correspondence of all types to your local and national law enforcement, prosecutors, legislators, and absolutely anyone in a position of power–even your local mayor–and most certainly every local member of every clergy. Yes, It will cost you some effort and money for resources and postage. But isn’t that a small price to push for justice to be done on this issue that affects everyone worldwide?!
Sure, the usual naysayers will show up and write it’s a waste of time as they always do. So, here’s your opportunity to be an activist! Let’s silence the Smoking Gun and put them all in jail!
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 21:19 utc | 97
Reportedly, last month President Trump beckoned representatives of the Taliban and the puppet Afghan government to Camp David for a nine-eleven announcement that peace in Afghanistan was at hand after eighteen years. But then the Taliban screwed it up. . .Or did they?
(CNN) President Donald Trump said Saturday that Taliban leaders were to travel to the US for secret peace talks this weekend but that the meeting has been canceled and he’s called off peace talks with the militant group entirely. Trump tweeted that he scrapped the meeting after the Taliban took credit for an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed a dozen people, including an American soldier. . .here, Sep 7
(Stripes) KABUL, Afghanistan — As U.S. and Taliban officials talked peace, the U.S. military was accelerating airstrikes in Afghanistan, with the biggest monthly tally of the year carried out in August as the negotiations were in their final stage, a new report shows. A coalition report released Tuesday showed that U.S. forces carried out 810 airstrikes in August, compared with 537 in July. . .here, Sep 12
Let’s say that, oh ten Afghans are killed per aerial bomb “airstrike” (but of course more are). That’s 8,000 dead Afghans in August, which of course vastly outnumbers a dozen killed by the Taliban. So there will be no peace in Afghanistan because the US clearly doesn’t want peace. It will continue to attack that poor country primarily by low-risk aerial bombing. Trump has previously compared his Afghan strategy to that against Mosul, an Iraq city destroyed by aerial bombing, along with many of its citizens.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 12 2019 21:47 utc | 98
An idea’s been floated that with Bolton’s firing, Iran would be willing to talk with Trump, a notion I see as incorrect and inane. Here’s what Zarif tweeted in response to Bolton’s axing:
“As the world—minus 3 or 2 panicked cohorts—was breathing a sigh of relief over ouster of #B_Team’s henchman in the White House, Pompeo & Mnuchin declared further escalation of #EconomicTerrorism against Iran.
“Thirst for war—maximum pressure—should go with the warmonger-in-chief.”
Rouhani yet again repeated the requirement for all sanctions to be annulled as a precondition for any talks with Outlaw US Empire. Given all the illegal sanctionings, it’s unknown who will give Iran’s UNGA speech later this September.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 21:53 utc | 99
Michael Tracy with more on the DNC’s poll manipulation keeping Gabbard out of next debate:
“Another poll conducted by a reputable university and published in a major newspaper puts Tulsi above the required threshold for the debates — and ahead of 5 candidates who have qualified — but you guessed it: doesn’t count.”
Tulsi continues to campaign despite much of her message being adopted by Sanders, particularly the End to Endless Wars slogan. Given the number of major gaffs Biden’s made, his 21% is unfathomable.
Meanwhile, Hudson says: “Break up the Dem Party” or more succinctly, “Why we need to abolish the Democratic National Committee, even if that means breaking up the Democratic Party,” and here’s why:
“But here’s the trick that the TV debates sweep under the rug: It is not the voters who are empowered to choose the Democratic Party’s candidate. That privilege belongs legally to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Since stacking the political deck [as] in 2016 to serve up Hillary Clinton as nominee, it has put in place rules that will enable its Donor Class members, super-delegates and other lobbyists for the One Percent to repeat the trickery once again in 2020.”
That “privilege” was recently deemed legal by a US court, but is now under appeal as I reported a week or so ago. Hudson’s essay is well worth reading as is usually the case. Although the word war isn’t associated with it, Class is definitely shown as the inhibitor of genuine democratic choice within the Outlaw US Empire; in this case, the Donor Class. Here’s his take on tonight’s program:
“So Thursday’s reality TV run-off is about ‘who’s the least evil?’ An honest reality show’s questions would focus on ‘What are you against?’ That would attract a real audience, because people are much clearer about what they’re against: the vested interests, Wall Street, the drug companies and other monopolies, the banks, landlords, corporate raiders and private-equity asset strippers. But none of this is to be permitted on the magic island of authorized candidates (not including Tulsi Gabbard, who was purged from further debates for having dared to mention the unmentionable).”
Well, he does try to be funny at times. Yes, he does make it clear that he’s for Sanders despite his faults. Hopefully, Biden will make yet another horrific gaff that sends him into single digits as he heads to the exit.
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 12 2019 22:29 utc | 100