How Trump 'Appeased' Russia
Two years ago we wrote about Trump's relation with Russia:
Putin Asks And Trump Delivers - A List Of All The Good Things Trump Did For Russia
Trump obviously wants better diplomatic relations with Russia. He is reluctant to counter its military might. He is doing his best to make it richer. Just consider the headlines below. With all those good things Trump did for Putin, intense suspicions of Russian influence over him is surely justified.
There followed 34 headlines and links to stories about Trump actions, from closing Russian consulates to U.S. attacks on Russian troops, that were hostile to Russia.
In fact no other U.S. administration since the cold war has been more aggressive towards Russia than Trump's.
But some U.S. media continue to claim that Trump's behavior towards Russia has not been hostile at all. Consider this line in Politico about anti-Russian hawks in the incoming Biden administration:
Nuland and Sherman, who entered academia and the think tank world after leaving the Obama administration, have been outspoken critics of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy — particularly his appeasement of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Where please has Trump 'appeased' Vladimir Putin?
Here are a number of headlines which appeared in U.S. media since we published our first list two years ago. Which of the described actions were designed to 'appease' Putin or Russia?
U.S. to withdraw from nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, raising fears of a new arms race - Washington Post, Feb 1 2019
Putin says U.S.-Russia relations are getting 'worse and worse' - Reuters, Jun 13 2019
Green Berets train Polish, Latvian resistance units in West Virginia - Army Times, Jul 8 2019
Trump Adds to Sanctions on Russia Over Skripals - NYT, Aug 1 2019
INF nuclear treaty: US pulls out of Cold War-era pact with Russia - BBC, Aug 2 2019
US Slaps New Sanctions on Russia for 2018 Nerve Agent Attack - Daily Signal, Aug 2 2019
1000 U.S.Troops Are Headed to Poland - National Interest, Sep 29 2019
U.S. sanctions Russians over attempted interference in 2018 elections - CBS News, Sep 30 2019
US formally withdraws from Open Skies Treaty that bolstered European security - CNN, Nov 22 2020
Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline - BBC, Dec 21 2019
Trump sanctions Rosneft, Russia's largest oil company, for aiding Maduro in Venezuela - MSN, Feb 19 2020
Russia Says New U.S. Weapon Threatens Nuclear War - Newsweek, Mar 7 2020
Trump Continues to Be Exceedingly Tough on Russia - Townhall, Jul 25 2020
U.S.-Russia Military Tensions Intensify in the Air and on the Ground Worldwide - NYT, Sep 1 2020
White House rejects Putin’s proposal to extend last U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty - LA Times, Oct 16 2020
U.S., Russian Navies Involved In Brief Confrontation At Sea - NPR, Nov 24 2020
US sanctions NATO ally Turkey over Russian missile defense - AP, Dec 14 2020
Pompeo accuses Russia of sowing 'chaos' in the Mediterranean - Rawstory, Dec 15 2020
Exclusive: U.S. preparing new sanctions to impede Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline - Reuters, Dec 23 2020
As we have written before:
When one adds up all those actions one can only find that Trump cares more about Russia, than about the U.S. and its NATO allies. Only with Trump being under Putin's influence, knowingly or unwittingly, could he end up doing Russia so many favors.Not.
Posted by b on January 6, 2021 at 18:01 UTC | Permalink
next page »On one of the comments that I read yesterday some Russian told another one who is sanctioned by the US that that is a badge of honour.
Posted by: arby | Jan 6 2021 18:24 utc | 2
Point on! Trump was never 'the Russians' bitch'. He was the whore of the russian emigrée mafia that had relocatet to the US in south Quens in New York City. A maijor difference!
Posted by: Tollef Ås/秋涛乐 | Jan 6 2021 18:43 utc | 3
Well, the logic is to destroy or ad least severely weaken Russia. Yet damn Russia is getting stronger and stronger, hence what ever happened under Trump's watch must have been a favor to Russia.
Competent government would look itself in the mirror and admit it is their own fault and stupidity, but that ship sailed long time ago for US.
Posted by: Abe | Jan 6 2021 18:51 utc | 4
Wouldn't it be time, B, to address the rising threat of war in the Persian Gulf. It is not yet clear that I was wrong in predicting that Tronald would launch a war to stay in office. I was thinking of a date before the elections, but of course it goes on until 20 Jan.
Posted by: pnyx | Jan 6 2021 18:54 utc | 5
arby @2--
That was in the Peskov interview--no more Red Lines--TASS reported about that I linked and Paco provided that additional bit of background. TASS and other Russian Media are in holiday mode as today is Christmas as determined by the Orthodox Church. But at least TASS was able to make the Assange bail decision its top news item.
///
On sanctions, Putin has remarked several times that they were actually a blessing that forced many in Russia to face what for some was a grim reality about Russia's relations with the West. Peskov's remarks, along with those made previously by Lavrov and Putin, show that Russia has reached the end of its rope. It's unknown if those words had any impact on the recent moves by EU nations to defy the Outlaw US Empire and get Nord Stream 2 finished and online. If Biden agrees to extend the New START Treaty, a softening might be in the cards, although his proposed Cabinet nominees don't provoke much hope. Nevertheless as I've reported, Putin is gung-ho on his development plans that take advantage of the sanctions regime. IMO, by @2030--about 40 years after the USSR's demise--the West will be confronted with a bloc that's far more powerful and extensive than the USSR was previously; and that unlike with the Warsaw Pact, Russia will not need to supply it with material or political support. Integrated Eurasia will be the blowback the Outlaw US Empire will have to face thanks to its Imperialism and resulting sanctions regime.
IMO, the POV of current Outlaw US Empire policy is lagging well behind reality. No longer can Russia and China be treated as separate entities as they're symbiotically fused, a condition that will only become more manifest as time moves forward. And the entire Eurasian bloc will also begin to fuse together in a similar manner, brought ever closer thanks to their Collectivist cultural basis. The outlier is India; how long it will refuse to join completely is unknown but will become ever more difficult as its neighbors grow and prosper via their membership. Japan is too pragmatic to remain aloof much longer; same with the Koreas--the longer they put off reunification the more difficult it will become. Somehow, Kim and Moon must shove the Empire's considerations out of the way and present it with a fait accompli; and given the Empire's massive domestic problems, it must withdrawal from the Western Pacific anyway.
So, the escalation of anti-Russian relations began by Obama/Biden and continued by Trump have only served to aid Russia in a manner quite unforeseen by those planning policy in one of the best examples of Blowback to-date. IMO, Biden and his people are so myopic they'll likely continue to aid Russia through continuance of their failed policies--Neoliberal Dogma demands it.
Russia as an ally of Syria and as a neighbour of Iran is an obstacle to the implantation of the Oded Yinon Plan: A Strategy for Israel in the 1980's:
https://www.voltairenet.org/IMG/pdf/A_strategy_for_Israel_in_the_Nineteen_Eighties.pdf
Therefore Russia, by extension, becomes not just an obstacle but an enemy of Israels #1 Captive Nation the USA.
Posted by: Paul | Jan 6 2021 19:35 utc | 9
b - the usa is breaking down as we speak.....
one has to follow actions, not words.... the media is a master of twisting words and making shit up... the actions are what one has to pay attention to...
Posted by: james | Jan 6 2021 19:35 utc | 10
I see that "cookie monster" Nuland is supposed to become Deputy secretary of State under Biden. As a new of version of Pompeo she will obviously be sending tins of fresh home baking to Putin.
Maybe she will use her Maidan experience and let Joe sniff a bit first.
Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 6 2021 19:36 utc | 11
Trump led domestic terrorists storm the capital !
Civil war ?
https://mobile.twitter.com/phil_lewis_
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 19:37 utc | 12
0t - jackrabbit and i were correct re murrays rosy view- assange denied bail... uk is in the gutter just like the usa... both of them keep digging the ditch deeper..
Posted by: james | Jan 6 2021 19:42 utc | 13
v @6
Are the protests "Fiery but Peaceful"? Like those Soros funded fascist ones?
I didn't see enough fire in those protests for them to be serious. Trump supporters really need to get more fired up!
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 19:50 utc | 14
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 19:50 utc | 14
Allegedly shots fired into the chamber
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 19:54 utc | 15
v @15
Until the Capitol building is a smoldering ruin the protest isn't "Fiery but Peaceful" enough.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 19:59 utc | 16
Of course the whole point of US and Western MSM obsession with demonising Russia and China, and castigating those like Trump (for not going far enough to oppose either one or the other nation, or both), is to divert public attention away from govt failings at home and to push the public into supporting regime change against both Russia and China.
B's post should be read as a companion piece to his previous post on China as an existential threat to the US, as an example of a nation that achieved stability, peace and enough prosperity for most of its people by pursuing an alternate political and economic ideology in the space of 40 years. An ideology that moreover challenges the ideology that the West has followed for the past 500 years, and the assumptions on which that ideology is based. Despite Western attempts to destabilise, break up and impoverish Russia in the 1990s, in order to steal its energy and mineral resources, that nation managed to bounce back to some level of stability and economic security. In addition Russia and China signed a friendship treaty in 2001 and are committing to a closer political ans economic relationship.
All this serves to marginalise the Anglosphere nations and to deny the US, the UK and their elites the opportunity to plunder these nations and their allies for their natural resources.
Posted by: Jen | Jan 6 2021 20:01 utc | 17
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 19:59 utc | 16
Ok ok.
But this pic of a trapper inside the House Chamber should cheer you up in the meantime
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 20:14 utc | 18
Where are the armed security police ?
These terrorists are on the Senate floor.
Trump just staged a coup !!!
Arrest him.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 20:24 utc | 20
Tollef Ås/秋涛乐 #3
Point on! Trump was never 'the Russians' bitch'. He was the whore of the russian emigrée mafia that had relocatet to the US in south Quens in New York City. A maijor difference!
Exactly that, thank you. The mafia that manages the D party are of Mediterranean roots and are totally pi$$ed of with the Russians.
Enough of this polite avoidance of the reality of the USAi gangland - it is a mafia state. The D 'reformist' squad just blew their best chance to start the reformation. They will be neutered well before another chance arises.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 6 2021 20:25 utc | 21
@b Can we have an open thread for what's going on in DC right now?
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 20:26 utc | 22
Trump appeased . . . NOT is only half the story.
AFAICT Russiagate's neo-McCarthyism and Trump's supposed friendliness toward Putin was a set up prior to Trump negotiations with Putin at Helsinki.
"I'm your only friend ... and your last best hope ..." is a powerful pitch - especially when it is accompanied by generous offers of aid and support. And perhaps it would've worked if it had come years before.
So now we have a new Cold War - with both Russia and China.
!!
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 6 2021 20:28 utc | 23
I think I saw Victoria nuland passing cookies outside the capitol today
Posted by: george haddad | Jan 6 2021 20:30 utc | 24
v @18
That buffalo hat really completes the outfit!
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 20:30 utc | 25
You called it b. A color revolution. Maidan Square right outside the Capitol. Brilliant analysis. Ooops! Didn't you say Trump was going to win and the Dems/Deep State boys were going to pull a coup. Maybe NYC will secede like Crimea.
Posted by: Tio Marko | Jan 6 2021 20:44 utc | 27
Unconfirmed reports of Vicky "Fuck the EU!" Nudelman handing out cookies in front to the Capitol Building.
Posted by: William Gruff | Jan 6 2021 20:53 utc | 28
I heard that the FraudSquad were handing out hash cookies to all and sundry.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 6 2021 21:02 utc | 30
Quite frightening what paroles they are screaming (e.g. "let's get China" etc).
Certainly the dumbest people I've ever witnessed.
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 21:05 utc | 31
You see this is what happens when you give fascist scum like trump and Gruff here a platform !
They plead free speech then distroy democracy and lock up journalists.
Take my advice b de-platform these parasites on your blog before they distroy it.
————
I’m Just waiting now for the internet to go down.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 21:06 utc | 32
Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland 8th District, just now on C-SPAN: “Violent attacks on the U.S. government are absolutely unacceptable.” Sure, sure. But when the same thing started happening in the Ukraine in 2013–2014, that was “awesome”, right?
Posted by: S | Jan 6 2021 21:08 utc | 33
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 21:06 utc | 32 You see this is what happens when you give fascist scum like trump and Gruff here a platform !
Trump was here??
Gruff a fascist? Ridiculous. He just wants the Empire to burn. Can't blame him.
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 21:11 utc | 34
Clashes reported inside the U.S. Capitol building
https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1346902451950071817
Maidan has come to Washington
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2021 21:11 utc | 35
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am sorry to inform you but there has been a delay in the new US shit show circus ringleader inauguration process. It seems the loser of the latest US (s)election process is rallying his troops around potential fraud in the election....is the Pope, Catholic?
It seems there has been an invasion of the US Capitol in DC by supporters of Trump and they have shut down the registering of the electoral college votes by Congress.
But fear not! The Shit Show will Continue!!!!
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 6 2021 21:11 utc | 36
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 6 2021 21:11 utc | 36
Some MAGA nutter has just announced that the Kansas State Capitol has been taken over.
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 21:18 utc | 37
That list of headlines b showing how "weak" Trump was in standing up to Putin is astounding. I suspect the Bidet administration will need to "correct" Trumps weakness with a show of force. One only needs to look at all the lovely folks he has surrounded himself with to see where this is headed. I have seen headlines saying Bidet will end the war in Yemen. I think the MIC will have something to say about that. The only way that war will end is with the Houthi occupying Riyad or the US dollar collapses. The MIC sell an enormous amount of military kit to the KSA. Yemen is a "safe" way to use it. If the war ends, who will it be used against? Not Iran, and not Qatar and not likely Syria. Maybe some support to the headchoppers, but not direct war like in Yemen.
There are plenty of opportunities for the US to kill Russians as Michael Morell has stated. Nordstream 2 could suffer an unexpected "disruption in service" episode. More provocations from Ukraine is likely. Nuland should have quite a few cookies baked after four years in the wilderness. Moldova, Transnistria, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk will be in the cross hairs and NATO satraps will be required to buy more gear. A win win for the MIC.
Posted by: Tom | Jan 6 2021 21:19 utc | 38
Please, let’s just stop for a second talking about China, and Russia. Let’s talk about the US, and shit-show going on. Needs a new thread.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 6 2021 21:29 utc | 40
I don't give a damn about Russian influence or not. It is Trump himself who hurt this country. Today he showed he is truly a traitor. Still claiming he won in a landslide while calling for protestors to be peaceful and go home.
Posted by: Maureen O | Jan 6 2021 21:29 utc | 41
karlof1@7---thank you, K, brilliant summation. thank you also for all your superb links, i don't thank you after every post b/c i'm afraid of clogging the thread, but your scope & thoroughness is greatly appreciated.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Jan 6 2021 21:32 utc | 44
@ v | Jan 6 2021 21:18 utc | 37 who wrote
"
Some MAGA nutter has just announced that the Kansas State Capitol has been taken over.
"
The interesting thing to me has always been that if you get the nutters on both sides of the mythological left/right to say how they feel about the private bankers, you know, the top/bottom reality we live in, they both agree that private banking is bad. But we can't have that coming to the fore especially in the face of the China example of public banking.
So its MAGA, USA, MAGA, USA, MAGA, USA forever, or until another narrative gripping opportunity comes along or is manufactured.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 6 2021 21:35 utc | 45
@Mark2 #20:
Where are the armed security police ?
These terrorists are on the Senate floor.
Terrorists? These are peaceful protesters who are occupying a government building in a non-violent way to express their grievances and demand positive change.
The Q Shaman should be awarded the 2021 Sakharov Prize and tour Europe meeting heads of government and other dignitaries. He should then form the Coordination Council and discuss a peaceful transition of power with Joe Biden.
Posted by: S | Jan 6 2021 21:47 utc | 46
What the RINOs and "All In' Iraq War supporting/cheerleading pandemocrats (pelosi biden clinton etc) seem to forget are:
Ronald McDumsfeld's *most immortal and legendary quote*, in mid 2003, in the midst of massive wholesale looting Iraq's museum treasures:
"Democracy is Messy"
[But you will need to dig deep into the Google MINITRUTH search pages to find the quote's proper attribution]
Posted by: gm | Jan 6 2021 21:59 utc | 47
S @ 46
Ha ha ‘Fasicist life’s matter’
The national guard are on the way. Whose side will they be on ?
The Capitol security police let this scum in.
By the time they get drunk and the cops give them guns you paid for, they’l be raping your daughters. No matter what coulor you are or who you voted for.
Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 21:59 utc | 48
LOL
I just googled "Ronald McDumsfeld" [hint: Donald Rumsfeld]
and this is what I got.
Posted by: gm | Jan 6 2021 22:11 utc | 49
US senate
https://twitter.com/stevennelson10/status/1346909952410062848/photo/1
Actually not much more crazy than the masked Pelosi a few minutes earlier
Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 6 2021 22:12 utc | 50
emersonreturn @44--
Thanks for your reply and positive reinforcement! I knew this thread would degenerate as it has and any chance at objective discussion of what I wrote would become impossible. So, I'm working on an article about the emerging Eurasian Bloc for my VK space instead.
The problem as psychohistorian points out is the riot's happening in the wrong city for the wrong reasons. Wall Street ought to be going up in flames for it's the Neoliberal Parasites there who are at the root of the many serious contradictions and problems faced by the nation and effectively vetoed any attempt at MAGA. But the brain addled masses don't seem capable of figuring that stuff out for themselves and prefer to listen to their Messiah instead.
Fuck the EU! The Coup Brigade is back. So much bloody humanitarianism right around the corner.
It all began with a US-led coup in Ukraine during the Russian hosting of the Olympics. Russia kept Crimea, the prize of Ukraine, the US doubled-down on Cold War 2.0 and the rest is history.
That 'commie' Biden, and the entire Democratic Party machine, as the GOP, is a wholly owned subsidiary of bottomless debt Forever War Inc. Putin is a Bond Villain for the Perpetual Enemy Machine to fundraise off.
Posted by: gottlieb | Jan 6 2021 22:15 utc | 52
@Tom #38:
Nordstream 2 could suffer an unexpected "disruption in service" episode.
Whereupon the U.S.–Europe submarine communications cables could suffer an unexpected “disruption in service” episode. Entirely coincidentally, of course.
Posted by: S | Jan 6 2021 22:20 utc | 53
and Donald Rumsfeld was one of the "Gang of 10":
All 10 living former defense secretaries: Involving the military in election disputes would cross into dangerous territory
Posted by: gm | Jan 6 2021 22:37 utc | 54
This is what’s really going on.
Get ready for civil war now.
https://mobile.twitter.com/antifaintl
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 22:48 utc | 55
Livestreaming in DC:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_N2ezvK-Ng%2F
Posted by: gm | Jan 6 2021 22:50 utc | 56
In fact no other U.S. administration since the cold war has been more aggressive towards Russia than Trump's.
Exactly and i said the same thing many times.
Posted by: Passer by | Jan 6 2021 22:54 utc | 57
@57 - yes passer by, but people believe the words from the msm, not the actions on the ground.. it is a funny thing human nature..
Posted by: james | Jan 6 2021 23:16 utc | 58
Sooooo any of you muppets going to apologise to ——-
CIRCE
How about you james ? She was right about trump wasn’t she. If I were you I’d hide behind a tree in shame. Or grow a pear.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 23:25 utc | 59
Since the thread's now about the riot in DC, here's an excellent article correctly saying the Outlaw US Empire is getting a taste of its own Colors:
"A crowd of protesters stormed Congress protesting a presidential election they claimed had been fraudulent. When this happened in Serbia in 2000, the US called it democracy. When it happened in Washington, DC – not so much....
"Now the same mainstream media that slavishly followed the State Department line in denouncing elections elsewhere as “rigged” and color revolutions as spontaneous democracy are clutching their pearls when Americans who believe their election was stolen take to the streets and storm their Capitol.
"Ah, but this election wasn’t stolen, they’d say – it was pure as driven snow, 'most secure ever,' all the experts who told us for four years the previous one was 'hacked by Russia' tell us so! And Joe Biden won the most votes in history while hardly leaving his basement. Whether you believe this official narrative about the US election or not doesn’t really matter, however. Partisan myopia simply won’t let people understand the magnitude of what is on display here: utter moral bankruptcy of the entire US political and media establishment." [My Emphasis]
At least one protester was shot and killed apparently by another protester. The farcical calls from the EU that democracy be respected are just that. The writer's conclusion is excellent, but you'll need to read it for yourselves.
Russia/Putin is to the USA/Western Europe what the Jews were to the German Nazis. They were both
of the same psychological, religious, and political needs. I find many similar if not identical
memes between the two. The German Nazis had the cult of the Jew. And now the West has the cult of
Putin/Russians. Therein lies the danger. The German Nazis ended up starting an explicitly genocidal war against Jews and the Slavic East.
Posted by: Erelis | Jan 6 2021 23:37 utc | 61
Posted by: v | Jan 6 2021 21:05 utc | 31
>>Quite frightening what paroles they are screaming (e.g. "let's get China" etc).
Certainly the dumbest people I've ever witnessed.
This is a prime example of the negative influence of Trump on western rightoids, he managed to corrupt many of them from isolationism into imperialism and China hatred, Iran hatred, etc. Kissing the behind of the Empire won’t save them though, liberals are determined to wipe out US rightoids on pure ideological grounds.
Posted by: Passer by | Jan 6 2021 23:38 utc | 62
@7 Karlof1
Ditto what emersonreturn said.
B sets the table here for good discussion, but without great guests such as yourself, MoA wouldn't be my go to for geopolitical analysis. Well, it would probably still be my first choice, for lack of better options...but you get the point.
I agree with your take on Korea and Japan, more or less. I'd add that both are occupied nations without full sovereignty. Both countries have a powerful western backed deep-state that is dangerous and brutal to those that buck the Empire's Dictate. The military is compromised, too. Yes, both countries are pragmatic in nature, and the general population and rank and file in the military would love to see the occupation end, but pushing the colonizer's out is easier said than done. I believe in the case of South Korea, it will take lots of support from China, and possibly the use of Chinese force.
Posted by: Jason | Jan 6 2021 23:40 utc | 63
As half of the D Party are "New Democrats" (aka Republicans) including Biden and Fweedom.
There won't be much liberalism going on.
Posted by: Bill | Jan 6 2021 23:46 utc | 64
Here’s a bit more real journalism,
Time to face the truth and reality.
https://mobile.twitter.com/b9ace
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 23:59 utc | 65
Posted by: Tollef Ås/秋涛乐 | Jan 6 2021 18:43 utc | 3
Trump was never 'the Russians' bitch'. He was the whore of the russian emigrée mafia that had relocatet to the US in south Quens in New York City.
As a rule, this so-called Russian émigré mafia has a second citizenship - the State of Israel.
A maijor difference!
Indeed, this is an important difference.
Posted by: SSS | Jan 7 2021 0:02 utc | 66
Jason @63--
Thanks for your reply and note of support!
IMO, the Empire can't continue to hold its empire of bases much longer because of the domestic turmoil. We'll soon see, but today's event doesn't bode well for its continuance. In the past, there were fears an event like today's would occur, but none ever took place--aside from police riots, demonstrations were peaceful. No more. IMO, the big difference is the realization that within the USA human lives are deemed cheap, commonfolk unworthy yet armed. For too many people, The Hunger Games are a reality, and the optimism that existed during the Great Depression is nowhere to be seen. Trump promised MAGA, but not one MAGA-related project was ever launched aside from escalating Obama's immigration control and the Wall build. And when the pandemic hit, the Rs refused to throw their masses any bones. Astounding!
What's happening in DC is pure spectacle. I'm sure many of the protestors feel that the election was illegitimate, and perhaps some of them even think they're part of a movement that has a chance at overthrowing the results. But the media coverage of the event, and the DC police allowing some of them to 'break into' the capitol magnifies their importance to a ludicrous degree.
There is no remote possibility of a coup. It is not in the interests of the ruling class, and there is certainly no other entity in the US today that could carry out a coup. Casting doubt on the integrity of the election serves the interests of some elements of the ruling class. After all, claims of election fraud have served the Republicans extremely well in the past few decades, as part of a larger strategy of demonizing immigrants. But no elements of the US ruling class, in the present moment, would support a coup against Joe Biden in favor of Donald Trump. Regardless of partisan disagreements on strategy, it's obvious that Joe Biden will represent and try to advance the interests of the ruling class much more effectively than some coup government could.
So how are the interests of the ruling class advanced by this spectacle? I have a few ideas. The first should be obvious to any reader of MoA. Russia, China, or Iran will be blamed for the 'attempted coup.' Intelligence agencies will find proof that they somehow stoked the protests. This also provides a neat way to continue demonizing russia even with Trump out of the way. I'm sure it won't be hard to find some facebook posts that prove that Russia, China or Iran spread disinformation about the election and that they are therefore to blame. Check out what the 10 former Defense secretaries said:
"Transitions, which all of us have experienced, are a crucial part of the successful transfer of power. They often occur at times of international uncertainty about U.S. national security policy and posture. They can be a moment when the nation is vulnerable to actions by adversaries seeking to take advantage of the situation."
The second benefit is that by magnifying the threat to American democracy, the ruling class can reasonably expect people to rally behind biden. When Biden, with a Democratic majority in house and senate, still fails to improve people's lives and it is clear that he does not care about the welfare of the great majority of the people, some will still defend him because his presidency will symbolize the victory of democracy over authoritarianism, racism, etc.
The third benefit is that every perceived 'threat to America' provides cover for enhancing the powers of state repression.
A fourth possible benefit, and this is very speculative, is that this present spectacle might be an effort to crush Trumpism as a movement. I do not imagine that Trump ever cared much about the interests of the American people, and he certainly never did much to advance those interests, but I think the political movement that brought him to power came as a surprise to the ruling class and that his presidency often damaged the interests of the ruling class at home and abroad. If Trump is to be done away with, the movement that identifies with him must be done away with as well. Allowing the mob to 'Storm the US capitol,' as CBS is reporting presently, gives the US Government an excellent justification for repressing an anti-government right. This would dovetail nicely with the FBI's recent noise about white supremacy (which is certainly a fundamental problem in the United States, but it is not one the FBI would ever be interested in solving).
If there is a crackdown on right wing militia groups over the next few months, there would be a further benefit to the ruling class, which is that they would most likely go underground and serve as a pool of highly infiltrated disposable assets. This would be helpful for maintaining a strategy of tension domestically.
These are my thoughts on present events in DC. There is no coup. There is no overturning the election. There is only the question of who benefits and how.
Posted by: peltast | Jan 7 2021 0:09 utc | 68
TLDR, there is no possibility of a coup, there never was, and the threat is being overblown to serve the interests of the ruling class.
Posted by: peltast | Jan 7 2021 0:11 utc | 69
Regarding Weak 'lily-liver' VP Pense: Trump should tell him "You're Fired" immediately, and select a VP replacement; someone with the courage and intelligence to be able withstand,
and stand up against the deepstate forces of darkness going forward and into 2024.
Who might be the best VP choice?
Posted by: gm | Jan 7 2021 0:16 utc | 70
Which MSM news outlet will be first to report events today "instigated by Russia"? a)CNN b)MSNBC c)NPR d)one of about twenty others
Which MSM "journalist" will be first to report it? a)Jim Acosta b)Ken Dilanian c)Rachel Maddow d)one of about 200 others
Posted by: Kabobyak | Jan 7 2021 0:17 utc | 71
Because it's accepted by everyone that Russia is trying to destroy our Democracy, Right?
Posted by: Kabobyak | Jan 7 2021 0:26 utc | 72
Just finished 2021: The Rise of the Eurasian Bloc which I referenced @7 above. Too bad this thread got hijacked by an event b should've anticipated.
Sooooo any of you muppets going to apologise to ——-
CIRCE
How about you james ? She was right about trump wasn’t she. If I were you I’d hide behind a tree in shame. Or grow a pear.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 2
You two sound like 5 foot four punks in tee shirts with fists up saying--
"You guys want a fight, huh?" Cumon, You wanna fight".
Posted by: arby | Jan 7 2021 0:47 utc | 74
@Mao Cheng Ji, #1
People feel attacked, unite, rally around the flag. Internal problems are blamed on the external enemy. The sanctions, the sort the West likes to impose, help develop domestic industries. Etc. Yeah, favors.
So, according to your logic, a hostile or unfriendly policy [towards Russia] will be when the United States abolishes its discriminatory measures (they call them sanctions), withdraws its troops from Europe, agree to North Stream-2, apologize for the coup in Ukraine etc.?
And then Russians will not be able "to justify" their problems with some kind of external enemy?
I did not hear any more absurdity.
Btw, I am from Russia and I don’t know of internal problems that the authorities would try to “justify” by some external enemy/threat. In Russia, there are fires, there are cases of corruption of officials, somewhere there is a break in power lines (ice on the wires), in some places there are no necessary medicines in pharmacies, floods occur in summer... - a lot of problems, like in any other country. All these are internal problems. And there has never been such a thing that the Russian authorities said "this is all because of the American sanctions!".
@69 peltast
Yes, you have to hand it to the estab and their news outlets. They are on the ball when it comes to demonizing any kind of grass roots effort to throw a wrench into things.
Those gun-toting, diry, backwards-racist, nationalist scumbags. "Insurrectionists!" Seems more like a joyride which ended up in the house chamber. Hilarious, actually.
But, come, come. We must have order. Respect Pelosi please. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can go back to being ordered, civilized, and mechanically efficient when it comes to approving the war budget to bomb more brown people.
Let us be united again. And Civil!
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 7 2021 1:06 utc | 76
@Mark2 #48:
By the time they get drunk and the cops give them guns you paid for, they’l be raping your daughters. No matter what coulor you are or who you voted for.
Be careful what you wish for.
I’m sorry, what? What “wish” did I express in this thread that could possibly lead to such a horrible thing? Also, how can you possibly know whether I have daughters or not, and what makes you so sure I have paid for the guns that, according to you, will be given to Trump supporters by the U.S. police?
I’m sure you can provide credible answers to these questions. After all, it’s not like you’re a blabbering idiot with zero reading comprehension skills who constantly posts hysterical non sequiturs, right?
Posted by: S | Jan 7 2021 1:06 utc | 77
alaff @75--
Yes, as Putin has said, Russia remains a developing nation, and such nations have such problems and need to resolve them as best they can. In many respects, Russia is still recovering from the destruction of WW2 and then the rapine it was subjected to from 1990-2000. Putin and his team know there's much to do. IMO, the new Eurasian Bloc will become far more powerful and vastly improved over the USSR and its Warsaw Pact Bloc. But improvements don't happen instantly, so people need to remain patient. Thanks much for your input!
Arby @ 74
Nah just providing a balanced view point on right wing blog.
Shocking when the left fight back is’nt it.
Deathly silence all these months on here when the trump supporters were bullying.
Looks like there having an early night ! Bless
——————-
Here’s a good site for the academics here.https://mobile.twitter.com/professor_stas
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 7 2021 1:16 utc | 79
karlof1@73, thank you & well done...i look forward to reading it. as i mentioned before i agree with the events unfolding as you foresee. your work documenting these times is crucial & i believe will result in a great book & testament. please, do not give way to doubt or thoughts of whether you are reaching an audience. your audience is time, & the future.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Jan 7 2021 1:16 utc | 80
Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 7 2021 0:41 utc | 73
Thanks for the link. Excellent paper.
Posted by: dh-mtl | Jan 7 2021 1:20 utc | 81
@S
He is a blabbering idiot with zero reading comprehension skills who constantly posts hysterical non sequiturs...but wouldn't that be his mission? When one posts a steady stream of juvenile retardation, I think it is safe to assume the point is to distract (troll). What does a distraction want more than anything? Well, to be distracting...being a distraction requires other posters to take that bait, though.
Posted by: Haassaan | Jan 7 2021 1:21 utc | 82
Well, let's be serious 5 seconds, even if it's hard after the much needed laugh we just got. It only took 6 years into the year after the very last year of US Dominance for it to be turned into your random regime-changeable banana republic, with idiots taking over the parliament. These pictures will be milked for all they're worth by China, Iran, Venezuela, Russia and anyone the US has had in its crosshairs. This is going to make wonders for the West's soft power, just like the abysmal reaction to the pandemic has done for the last 8 months.
The US rule and influence over the world is truly over. It only has its lapdogs' governments and part of their people left. It was a slow build, but the pace of the collapse is currently higher than I expected at this stage.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Jan 7 2021 1:21 utc | 83
Yeah, I know. But, Russia has, for a long time, had relations with the likes of Kissinger and associated creatures, right?
Well, guess what,
So has Washington, for far too long.
What are those dudes, in their hundres?
Damn dude.
The Q Shaman who entered the U.S. Senate today to cleanse it of evil spirits (cf. the cleansing of the Temple) has been honing his skills at least since September:
Italien Feeld @julianfeeld - 9:15 UTC · Sep 10, 2020My personal video of the year: the Q shaman attempts to cleanse the Arrowhead Mall in Glendale, Arizona of satanic child traffickers.
(video)
Posted by: S | Jan 7 2021 1:33 utc | 85
Sorry I'm late guys. Didn't want to get my mouse and keyboard dirty with the oil and salt of all the popcorn.
Just wanted to leave two highlights from Twitter (America's news agency):
Far-rights from Cuba, Venezuela and China; Isrealis, South Vietnamese and Iranian monarchists all present. The whole CIA postmodern bestiary was there.
Talk about blowback.
--
This answer to the tweet was hilarious:
Vladimir Putin was 68 years old when he finally brought down the United States. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s too late to start following your dreams.
Who said America isn't the land of opportunity anymore?
S@ 77 & Haassaan @ 82
If you don’t like my comments just fuck off !
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 7 2021 1:35 utc | 87
"@ Mark2 | Jan 6 2021 2
You two sound like 5 foot four punks in tee shirts with fists up saying--
"You guys want a fight, huh?" Cumon, You wanna fight".
Posted by: arby | Jan 7 2021 0:47 utc | 74"
His idiotic trollish chimp-like posturing is very reminiscent of that Child-raping "Shoot me nigga!" 5 foot 4 buffoon who was promptly granted his wish by Kenosha Kid Kyle Rittenhouse several months ago
Posted by: Triden | Jan 7 2021 1:47 utc | 89
Mark2 is an liberal idiot who can't read into nuance and ironic shitposting. He is the reason why the political landscape of the US turned into such a hellhole these day: everything has to be read literally. Not so much different from the evangelist that he supposed to hate huh.
Posted by: Hangar | Jan 7 2021 1:48 utc | 90
Posted by: S | Jan 6 2021 22:20 utc | 53 posted
Whereupon the U.S.–Europe submarine communications cables could suffer an unexpected “disruption in service” episode. Entirely coincidentally, of course.
Yes I think you are right. From the statements from Lavrov and Putin they wont stand down at the next provocation. If it is Syria, more than a few US SOF will be vaporized. Any serious attack in eastern Ukraine will be dealt with harshly. Perhaps a hacking of US systems that expose a shit load of dirt.
Posted by: Tom | Jan 7 2021 1:52 utc | 91
Triden @ 89
Oh here’s another fascist pig turned up.
Haaa ha ha you lost the election and now trump and his supporters throw their dolly out the pram.
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 7 2021 1:56 utc | 92
@ karlof1 | Jan 7 2021 0:41 utc | 73.. karl - i liked what you wrote... thanks for sharing...
@ Clueless Joe | Jan 7 2021 1:21 utc | 83.. if it is any consolation, the covid numbers of death in the usa, and numbers of infected is the highest yet since keeping track.. it must be all quite sobering for those in the usa paying attention..
Posted by: james | Jan 7 2021 1:57 utc | 93
At least one protester was shot and killed apparently by another protester. The farcical calls from the EU that democracy be respected are just that. The writer's conclusion is excellent, but you'll need to read it for yourselves.
Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 6 2021 23:35 utc | 60
From the little I know (visiting Capitol building ca. 25 years ago), this is absurd: to enter, you must pass a gate with metal detectors, which would preclude firearms. It is a reasonable bet that the weapon matching the killing bullet will not be found.
Still, Nuland with her Maidan experience will be sorely needed by the new crew. If the push comes to shove, Dems lack their own sniper squads. Will there be learning camps for Democratic activists in Poland? Who and where will teach them the art of discrete defenestration?
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 7 2021 1:58 utc | 94
Triden @ 89
......[chimp sounds ,........... More chimp sounds.......even moar chimp sounds].....
Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 7 2021 1:56 utc | 92
--------
Lol, whatever
Posted by: Triden | Jan 7 2021 2:04 utc | 95
The Onion is having a hard time today keeping ahead of reality.
https://www.theonion.com/serbia-deploys-peacekeeping-forces-to-u-s-1819565829
World leader condemn violence in DC today. Well I suspect it is only Washington's poodles that are alarmed. Everyone else has the popcorn maker on overdrive and are enjoying the shits and giggles show. Too bad they didn't have the same concerns with Syria Venezuela etc. The US has been spreading democracy around the world so much they didn't have any left for the home front.
Posted by: Tom | Jan 7 2021 2:11 utc | 97
Thank you, karlof1 @ 60 - at first I had a number of objections to this post, and specifically because the number of protesters assaulting the houses of Congress seemed to me to be small with many of them remaining outside, well away from the steps. So,it was a small band of demonstrators and even smaller band of activists (among whom was the woman who was shot in a confrontation upstairs). What this rather reminded me of was the Pussy Riot group entering the Russian church and overwhelming the clerics to shock rather than terrify the participants in the about to begin honored ritual. It was a charade, though sadly somebody died because of it.
I even watched part of the PBS Newshour later, something I rarely do, and the part I watched showed that now, after the curfew, there were crowds in the streets near the Capitol. So, this was now something more thana Pussy Riot. What more was it? Judy Woodruff was speaking to a woman (whose name I unfortunately did not catch) whose explanation I found credible and important. She spoke respectfully to the reasons so many people were now surging into the protest, that they had supported Trump because he spoke to their issues, their needs, and those needs weren't being met by government. As far as I know, those folk are still out there, and I suspect, as I watch what is happening inside the Capitol now, their numbers will grow.
Because listening or reading (I can't listen) the ongoing speeches -- what are they doing? Schumer started by saying this was another 'day of infamy'. Like Pearl Harbor. Poppycock!! And now Nancy is describing "these sacred halls". Do they know what they are doing? No, they are oligarchs, they only know they can point fingers at the disreputable who dare to...dare to what?? Let them eat icecream! Get off my lawn!
This will not end well. Or, hopefully it will. It is Christmas Eve, after all.
Posted by: juliania | Jan 7 2021 2:11 utc | 98
@ Piotr Berman "Dems lack their own sniper squads."
Hardly! Think Brennan, Clapper, Morrel... and even the Nuland gang..etc. They have more than
enough Imperial Guard Mercenaries to pile up their own, home grown body barricades whenever it might suit them.
Posted by: time2wakeupnow | Jan 7 2021 2:13 utc | 99
Clueless Joe #83
It only took 6 years into the year after the very last year of US Dominance for it to be turned into your random regime-changeable banana republic, with idiots taking over the parliament. ...... It was a slow build, but the pace of the collapse is currently higher than I expected at this stage.
Thank you. Idiots have been in charge of the parliament for quite some time as far as I can tell. Recently more duplicitous idiots have arrive having convinced people that they were good intentioned idiots. But - they turned out to be the same scabrous traitors as the last lot of the idiots. Useful idiots abound it seems.
I am not convinced that collapse is the term to describe the circumstance. The development of the Weimar republic saw the left progressively appropriated by pseudo lefties and counter revolutionary forces and then, one day, Adolf was installed. It is a method that has traction today in the USAi. There are multiple conflicting/confounding dialogues in play that are constantly used to divide and conquer and the pseudo left in the USAi is busy spinning and spinning. There is a political naivety in the readings and listenings I explore and I am astounded at the poor level of comprehension of matters political in the USAi. I am not saying stupid, rather an education that denies critical dialogue, critical analysis.
I see transformation rather than collapse but I can't see any good transformation there yet and I doubt that a good transformation would be permitted. The private finance global elite cartel have the place by the short and curleys IMO.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 7 2021 2:14 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Why, you certainly could view most (if not all) of those actions as favors.
People feel attacked, unite, rally around the flag. Internal problems are blamed on the external enemy. The sanctions, the sort the West likes to impose, help develop domestic industries. Etc. Yeah, favors.
Posted by: Mao Cheng Ji | Jan 6 2021 18:18 utc | 1