Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:
- February 8 – U.S., Taiwan Manipulate Chip Supplies To Press For War With China
Related:
Open To All: Taiwan’s Silicon Shield Collides with its Silicon Lance – Peter Lee's China Threat Report
Yves Smith at her well regarded Naked Capitalism blog also had a piece on the chip issue: The Chip Shortage: Brought to You By American Neoliberalism. However, she makes no mention of Taiwan's extensive political maneuvering which is behind the current shortage. I commented to that but that comment was not published.
- February 9 – Claims Of Chinese 'Debt Trap Diplomacy' Are Propaganda – (Told You So)
Related:
This book about China is by Godfree Roberts who at times comments here. I have not yet read it but I am sure it is worthwhile:
Why China Leads the World: Talent at the Top, Data in the Middle, Democracy at the Bottom – Amazon
2020 letter – Dan Wang – This is a long read. The first parts give excellent (but not objective) insight into the political machinery of the Chinese Communist Party and how it works on China's problems. The last part is about China's very active industrial policies which enable it to counter U.S. anti-China strategies.
Conclusion:
> US elites have abandoned the idea that China would liberalize nicely. They should put another idea to bed: that this authoritarian system, riddled with weaknesses, is on the brink of collapse. The country’s strengths are real and improving while the government becomes more nasty towards its critics and the rest of the world. <
- February 10 – Something Is Iffy In Myanmar – Only Ten Days After The Coup There Is Already A U.S-Style Color Revolution Countering It
Related:
Understanding the complicated politics and geopolitics of the coup in Myanmar – Vijay Prashad – Peoples Dispatch
Note the typical color-rev promotion in U.S. media:
Kiddie pools, gowns and dinosaurs: Demonstrations against military rule in Myanmar get creative – Washington Post
Myanmar May Target Free Speech in Effort to Stifle Protests – New York Times
- February 11 – Afghanistan – Bounties – Silly Talk
Related:
After 20 Years, the Establishment is Still in Denial About Afghanistan – American Conservative
Govt, Taliban make exaggerated claims of territory they control – Pajhwok
> The Taliban control 52 percent of Afghanistan’s territory — at the time of the survey. The government has control on 46 percent territory, where 59 percent of population of the country have been living. Nearly three percent is controlled by no side. <
- February 12 – EU – Russia Conflict Deepens
Related:
German FM Heiko Maas peeing his pants: Germany disconcerted by Russian readiness to cut EU ties if hit with sanctions – Reuters
Navalny – EU MP Clare Daly breaks it down for you. (vid)
RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 11 FEBRUARY 2021 – Patrick Armstrong
Lavrov's interview with the Rossiya channel is now available as English language transcript.
I love Lavrov's dry humor. Consider this banter with the journalist. Could anything like that happen on a U.S. channel?
Sergey Lavrov: I have heard debates on this issue on the Rossiya channel.
Vladimir Solovyov: Thanks for watching us.
Sergey Lavrov: I can’t go to sleep otherwise.
Vladimir Solovyov: So much for the secret of ratings: dropping off with your TV set on.
- February 13 – Caught In The Act – New York Times "Selectively Misquotes" Scientists To Fit Its "Prescribed Narrative"
Related:
Corporate Media’s Leaked Chinese Documents Confirm China Didn’t Hide Covid-19 – FAIR
How You Make an Adenovirus Vaccine – Science
Other issues:
Media:
- The Bombhole Era – An excerpt from the new edition of “Hate Inc.” – Matt Taibbi
- Bombholed – Video 7:36 min – Matt Taibbi
- Cuomo And The Lincoln Project Are Media-Created Monsters – Daily Poster
- The Real World And The Narrative World – Caitlin Johnstone
Conspiracies:
- Lace the air with LSD – LRB
A review of Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control by Stephen Kinzer. - Why Conspiracy Theories Are So Alluring – New York Review
- Conspiracy Theories Are Caused By Government Secrecy – Caitlin Johnstone
Use as open thread …