Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:
- Apr 27 – To Finally Kill The Nuclear Deal With Iran The U.S. Will Try To Rejoin It
Related:
Trump’s Latest Iran Gambit is a Risky Contradiction – War On The Rocks
Briefing With Special Representative for Iran and Senior Advisor to the Secretary Brian Hook – State Department:
"[O]ur right as a participant is something which exists independently of the JCPOA. There is no qualification in 2231 where “participant” is defined in a way to require participation in the JCPOA; .."
- Apr 28 – Turkey's Economic Troubles Give Putin Another Chance To Squeeze Erdogan
Related:
Three days after this post the Lira broke the magic 7 Lira to 1 U.S. dollar mark. The Central Bank of Turkey has asked the U.S. Fed for a multi-billion US$ swap line. That would in practice be a loan that the Fed is unlikely to give to a Central Bank that is not independent but controlled by the Turkish government.
Turkey burning through reserves much faster than in 2019 -bankers – Reuters
Turkish regulator details exceptions to bank asset-ratio rule – Reuters
Turkish central bank chief defends crisis-era drop in reserves – Reuters
Turkish lira weakens to 7.02 against dollar in holiday trade – Reuters
- Apr 29 – Some Covid-19 Links
- May 2 – Some Covid-19 Science
Important reminder:
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic could have been prevented – Virology blog
- May 1 – Blaming China Will Not Restore U.S. Standing
The deeper roots of Chinese demonization – Pepe Escobar / Asia Times
Donald Trump is igniting a cold war with China to win the election – Patrick Cockburn / Independent
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Other issues:
Meta:
Since this blog did not join other sites in explaining the Coronavirus pandemic as a manufactured crisis it has been inundated with trollish comments. While some came from the usual subjects (donkeytale/disabuser, information agent/troothsayer) most were by first time commentators who posted scientifically false claims about the virus or insulted regular commentators and me.
During the last weeks I had to block 39 accounts for spreading 'corona nonsense', 57 for 'insults' and 20 for nonsensical 'one-liner' comments. Additional comments were deleted for posting links to bullshit from Veterans Today, Zero Hedge or Youtube quacks who peddled nonsense.
That may well be seen as 'censorship' but I see it as a matter of hygiene. The comments are supposed to be a place for discussing reality and not for peddling fringe therapies that may well kill people or for screaming at each other.
North Korea:
The country is famous for resurrecting its dead people. Kim Yong Un is just the latest of a long list of folks that 'western media' declared dead based on CIA rumors only to then reappeared.
Syria/Iraq:
April 27 – US occupation transport another patch of Daesh terrorists from Hasaka to Iraq – SANA
May 2 – Isis mounts deadly assault on Iraqi militia members near Samarra – Guardian
May 3 – Iranian proxies in Iraq blame US for ISIS attacks – Jerusalem Post
Venezuela:
The CIA wants you to know that it had absolutely nothing to do with the Venezuelan version of the Bay of Pigs disaster.
Ex-Green Beret led failed attempt to oust Venezuela’s Maduro – AP
Election:
FBI documents hint Israeli collusion with Trump 2016 campaign – Israel-Palestine-News
Culture:
Virtual visits to Russian museums, concerts, ballets etc.
Best (Russian) cultural experiences without leaving the house
Use as open thread …
