"U.S. officials then leak the whole scheme to the WSJ to stop Netanyahoo from continuing the self-defeating campaign."

Hmm. That's odd. Why wouldn't they just blame Iran, and, if they wanted to stop Netanyahoo, work it out behind the scene?

Posted by: Mao Cheng Ji | Mar 12 2021 9:41 utc | 1

I think it must be pointed out that the alleged limpet mine attack linked to in the article has questionable veracity. It is certainly my understanding that limpet mines (for very obvious reasons) are usually attached below the waterline.

Posted by: MarkU | Mar 12 2021 9:44 utc | 2

Divers can attache limpet mines anywhere they want, MarkU: below the waterline if they want to cause serious flooding and leakage of contents; above the waterline and away from tankage if they just want to worry the ship-owners, but not pollute their own beaches with leakage. It's a matter of tactical choice.

Posted by: Rhisiart Gwilym | Mar 12 2021 10:07 utc | 3

Posted by: Mao Cheng Ji | Mar 12 2021 9:41 utc | 1

Pres. Biden is, like Trump, a vindictive man, and he does not like Nuttyahoo. Plus, merely as a matter of cosmetics, he needs to get him out of the way.

---

On another subject, I wonder why the Izzies were so anxious to keep it quiet? Back in the day they would exaggerate.

Posted by: Bemildred | Mar 12 2021 10:32 utc | 4

Surely one significant aspect of this story is that US govt officials, speaking as they always do "anonymously", informed none other than the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal. Does Rupert Murdoch no longer support Binyamin Netanyahu? Has Netanyahu's appeal dimmed somewhat since the death of US casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson whose newspaper "Israel Hayom" was a big Netanyahu supporter? Is the Biden-soon-to-be-Harris administration tiring of Netanyahu and keen to throw him and his wife Sara under a huge bus?

Take a gander at this news, MoA barflies!

Alleged contract with husband 'grants Sara Netanyahu veto over Mossad, IDF '

"... A former senior official from Israel’s Aerospace Industries claims to have first-hand knowledge of the 15-page long legal contract between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, writes The Times of Israel.

In a video interview, posted on the internet, David Arzi, former vice president of commercial and civil aviation at Israel Aerospace Industries, says he was allowed to read clauses of the contract in 1999, during Netanyahu’s first stint as prime minister, by the Prime Minister’s lawyer and cousin David Shimron ...

...The legal contract signed by the couple, he says, grants Sara Netanyahu (Sara Ben-Artzi prior to her marriage) far-reaching control over their life. Accordingly, she is reportedly allowed to sign off on appointments of the heads of Mossad intelligence agency, Shin Bet domestic security service, and the Israeli military.

In line with the contract, according to Arzi, the prime minister vows not to take any overnight trip without taking along his wife, by profession an educational and career psychologist, who is also allegedly permitted to take part in top-secret meetings ...

... “She authorises the following appointments, the head of the Mossad, the head of the Shin Bet and the IDF chief of staff. And that is in writing, she has to give the authorization in writing, if not, it is a violation of the contract,” continues the ex-Aerospace Industries’ official.

He adds in the video that violation of the contract would result in Benjamin Netanyahu “forfeiting all their property to her.”

Regarding finances, the alleged contract stipulates that Sara Netanyahu wields major control as well.

“There was a very detailed section that she would handle their finances… It was written that he would not have credit cards, only she would. And if he needed money she would give it to him,” says Arzi in Hebrew, as quoted by the outlet ..."

Well, talk about Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East when the place seems to be run by wannabe Queen Hatshepsut.

Posted by: Jen | Mar 12 2021 10:39 utc | 5

@Bemildred 4 "Pres. Biden is, like Trump, a vindictive man, and he does not like Nuttyahoo."

I don't think this has anything to do with anyone's (and especially Biden's, who probably doesn't remember who Netanyahu is) alleged personality traits. This is not how things are done. An official leak published by WSJ should have a better explanation, imo.

Posted by: Mao Cheng Ji | Mar 12 2021 10:50 utc | 6

I gather that Israel has made attacks on 12 Iranian tankers. Surprising that there have not been MORE than one "oil spill".

Posted by: Stonebird | Mar 12 2021 10:50 utc | 7

Shot themselves in the foot again, have they? The Zios are good at doing that. The day is coming when they will make one misstep too far and go over the edge.
! خلاص

Posted by: traducteur | Mar 12 2021 12:48 utc | 8

U.S. officials then leak the whole scheme to the WSJ to stop Netanyahoo from continuing the self-defeating campaign. USA officials don't release this kind of information without a purpose.

Jen @ 5 thinks maybe "Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal may no longer support Binyamin Netanyahu?

<== to jen I add the conspiracy theory that Maybe the official anonymous disclosure reflects wall streets concern that Netanyohoo is a husband victim of something like this which uses marriage contracts to cover for spouse side family control over appointments, to the head of the Mossad, to the head of the Shin Bet and to the IDF chief of staff. I can not imagine any other reason for documents exposed here today to have been written and their terms enforced.

Why where those documents written is my question? great work B.

Posted by: snake | Mar 12 2021 13:24 utc | 9

They fall into the pit they dig for others I knew something was up when both the Mossad and Defense Minister went out of their way to disavow the Israeli EPA minister's claim. MoA, I know that you are pining for, and holding a torch for Donald J. Trump, the Insurrector and Chief, but his Administration would NEVER leak this to the press.

Israel's lesson only attack Iranian tankers in the Red Sea. That will harm their new found friends, the Saudis, Egyptians, and Sudan but I don't think Netanyahu cares about them.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 12 2021 14:18 utc | 10

Bravo, B!
So many distortioners would have written that these oil spills ravaged "the coasts of Israël". You put tne matter straight through calling entire the stretch of coastline between Egypt and Lebanon "the coast of Palestine. Thank You!

Posted by: Tadlak Davidowitsch | Mar 12 2021 14:26 utc | 11

the US is unhappy because there is a deal after Iran retaliation for Soleimani:

Iran Russia and others to go along with the Covid thing so the west and others can reduce petroleum consumption in stages

(saudi wells are emptying and attempts to loot Russia/Iran has fizzled. Venezuela/Canada stuff too expensive)

A few naughty stunts are good optics for everyone but Israel will not be allowed to be a loose cannon.

Posted by: chola3 | Mar 12 2021 14:32 utc | 12

The U.S. might have done this because they want Gantz to win in the upcoming elections so there can finally be a war against Iran.

Posted by: Sarah Sponda | Mar 12 2021 14:32 utc | 13

my apologies for going OT, but i've been trying (and failing) to contact you by email. the address you have on your 'About this site' page isn't allowed by my MSN email. 'no spaces are permitted'.

i'd tried it without the space, and it boomeranged back to me.

best,
wd

Posted by: wendy davis | Mar 12 2021 14:33 utc | 14

Why would Israel pollute their own shores by attacking an Iranian ship in the Mediterranean?

Please do not say 'false flag'. The most simple explanation is that the Izzies figured that the Iranians (or ship owner) would direct the tanker to the nearest port for repairs, there are several in Egypt. Victimized tankers likely did that before, but in this case, the Capt decided to make a run for Syria.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 12 2021 14:37 utc | 15

I think Biden remembers Netanyahu, and from a bad side at that. I was joking about Biden being reanimated, but judging from campaign videos etc. he has troubles with longer answers to questions, looses track and temper and prattles, and he react badly to some trigger words. That said, like Trump, he cannot be an attentive boss, so whoever made that leak, clearance from the top was not necessary.

The situation is that Israel has excellent leverage in Washington, but at the end of the day, if push comes to shove it is USA left with a mess to clean and the military does not want things to go out of hand. I would also note that the fuel supplies to Syria are more regular than I have thought, and the Israeli attacks seem to be more like petty harassment, most of the time at least, so the retaliation was carefully calibrated.

Lastly, there was some dispute about a limpet mine. Clearly, mines with that concept can be built with various sizes and parameters, and the designs calibrated for war and aimed to destroy the target would not be used in a limited conflict with exchange to harassing actions. OTOH, the missile version postulates a miniature easy to hide submarine and a small missile. Such boats could attempt a blockade of Israel or a painful increase in the shipping costs.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 12 2021 14:41 utc | 16

Not so OT
https://couragefound.org/2021/03/statement-of-concern-the-opcw-investigation-of-alleged-chemical-weapons-use-in-douma-syria/
The statement was signed by almost 30 public figures, including author Noam Chomsky, Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, and musician and activist Roger Waters. The list also includes multiple scientists, including four former OPCW inspectors, as well as the organization’s founding director, Jose Bustani.

Posted by: Mina | Mar 12 2021 14:50 utc | 17

I’m with Mao Cheng Ji on this. I can’t see Biden, or any top government official, orchestrating a media leak in order to embarrass the leader of an allied country. The elite are not in the habit of conducting their feuds out in the open. That’s what back channels are for.

Posted by: Eric Arthur Blair | Mar 12 2021 15:19 utc | 18

the oil is obviously anti-semitic. just look at all the time it spends hanging out with saudis and texans!

Posted by: the pair | Mar 12 2021 15:52 utc | 19

US Intelligence Reveals Israel Has Bombed "Dozens" Of Iranian Oil Tankers

... a new bombshell report in The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reveals Israeli intelligence has been waging its own tanker sabotage campaign against the Iranians over the past two years ...

It also appears part of the Israeli and US campaign to essentially starve the Assad government and bring it to its knees, further amidst near weekly Israeli airstrikes inside the war-torn country. The new report clearly suggests US intelligence officials knew about the covert tanker sabotage campaign in real time, and may have even assisted in some level of the planning or operations ...

Why didn't they tell us about the continuing tanker war when they announced that the Israeli ship was "struck" by an explosion?

One must wonder if they are revealing this now because Israel's story about the tanker being attacked lacks credibility. They desperately want us to believe that the damage to the ship was NOT a false flag (Israeli sabotage of their own vessel).

But it gets even better. They also implicitly excuse (depict sympathetically) Israel's attacks on Iranian tankers ... because they oppose Assad and Biden's Iran initiative. Where is the condemnation for such behavior?

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Mar 12 2021 15:52 utc | 20

Yes, interesting as to the motives. One hopes this is part of a plan of strategery to 'de-escalate' the wag-the-dog mentality that runs the 'Middle East' foreign policy of the US. War with Iran is insane. Those who foment war with Iran are insane. It is good to walk it all back. Is this what is happening? We'll soon know.

Posted by: gottlieb | Mar 12 2021 16:28 utc | 21

Is Israel expecting some cuts in its US and EU funding?
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/12/Israel-relations-UAE-announces-10-billion-investment-fund-for-Israel-across-multiple-sectors

Posted by: Mina | Mar 12 2021 17:07 utc | 22

Hmmm... What might this have to do with the jousting over JCPOA?

Note there's no mention of the sanctions's illegality or the fact that attacks on Iranian shipping are either acts of piracy or war.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 12 2021 17:29 utc | 23

The same argument I used on the USA is valid for Israel: it is losing its military supremacy in the Levant, therefore it has to more and more resort to "pesky tactics" to keep projecting power on the region.

The Israel of the Yom Kipur and the Six-Day wars is over. The Zionist project ended in absolute failure. Israel is degenerating like any other normal capitalist nation-state.

Posted by: vk | Mar 12 2021 17:35 utc | 24

...
Well, talk about Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East when the place seems to be run by wannabe Queen Hatshepsut.
Posted by: Jen | Mar 12 2021 10:39 utc | 5

If you're curious you could try nipping over to Niqnaq and ask RB about Mrs Bibi. I don't want to put words in RB's mouth but I'm 99% certain that he said She Who Must Be Obeyed is definitely The Boss of the household. And that was ~10 years ago. I'm also fairly certain that RB said that Sara is from one of the 8+ families who rule "Israel" which sort of makes sense when one contemplate the REASON so much power resides in a single individual. i.e. The Power behind the Throne.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 12 2021 17:48 utc | 25

Oops!
A single un-elected individual - just like ALL of the other judeo-Christian Fake Democracies on the planet...

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 12 2021 18:07 utc | 26

more corona virus bullshit blind samples of – goat, motor oil, papaya, quail and jackfruit tested for Corona 19 virus found positive

Posted by: snake | Mar 12 2021 18:29 utc | 27

· Assume the WSJ is lying on purpose (obfuscation will suffice).
· None of the stories so far have to be true.
· With gag orders it often means that:
1. Too many already know what the truth is and need to be publicly discouraged.
2. The facts are relatively easy to validate once known.
3. The facts make a mockery of the censuring parts' interests and any stories they've made up etc.

It could be as simple as an Israeli ship being the culprit for entirely ordinary and uncomplicated reasons and then someone thought it would be a good idea to make it a bigger mess with poor propaganda efforts before the US/CIA/WSJ decided that there still wasn't enough of a mess to make people go away. Layers of bullshit wears outsiders down.

It could also be as simple yet complicated as proving and drawing unwelcome attention to Israel not being in control of their waters (ha-ha :P).

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 12 2021 19:11 utc | 28

Not even close to on-topic, but can I get this example of egregious media behaviour off my chest?

Let's say there are roughly 100 Million households in the US (for easy arithmetic).
$1400 per household is $14 Billion.
The US government is spending $1.9Trillion, that's $1,900 Billion.
So they're spending $14B on people and $1886B on something else.
"Can we have $2000 cheques?" ask the people.
"No way, that would mean taking 6 from 1886 - no way we can afford that. Are you crazy?" say the masters.

I know people get bored with maths easily but this kind of analysis is easy to do. Has anyone seen any journalist anywhere do this calculation? The people get less than 1% directly.

And it was the same in the last administration so please don't begin the Trump-v-Biden distraction. This is a bipartisan plutocratic oligarchy.

Thanks! I feel better now :-) back to oil spills...

Posted by: Deltaeus | Mar 12 2021 19:53 utc | 29

@snake | Mar 12 2021 18:29 utc | 27

Thank you for that link!

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 12 2021 20:10 utc | 30

On Occupied Palestine, Lawrence Davidson lays out the basics:

"First, the Zionists are deceitful because they purposely conflate Zionism which is an ethnocentric political ideology adhered to by a subset of Jews, with Judaism, a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural religion. Then they insist that Israel’s allies — particularly the United States — adhere to this same propagandistic conflation.

"Second, this deliberately instigated error is an attempt to stave off criticism of the Israeli state and its policies toward Palestinians. Those policies are harsh and include segregation, ethnic cleansing and other apartheid-style acts of discrimination. By insisting that (1) the political ideology that promotes and rationalizes this behavior is an expression of religion of Judaism and therefore (2) criticism of these policies is the equivalent of anti-Semitism, the Zionists insist that Israeli state behavior is sanctified by the religion. This is a direct attack on the ethical standards of Judaism, hence the moral degradation. The tactic also undermines the gravity of the charge of anti-Semitism due to chronic misapplication by the Zionists."

In light of recent media jibes aimed at Occupied Palestine's racism and Zionist responses, Davidson offers an excellent if lengthy rebuttal to those saying such jibes were Anti-Semitic. The reality is Zionists are the world's #1 Anti-Semites as proven by their slow-motion genocide of Palestinians and attacks aimed at other Semitic peoples.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 12 2021 20:18 utc | 31

Dogs bark, the caravan moves on.

Thanks to Russia's persistent, painstaking, patient diplomacy, the mood is changing in the Middle East.

There is agreement to move on.

The 2 Muslim brotherhood countries are lifting their eyes up and re-aligning foreign policy.

"I join in the words of gratitude addressed to our Qatari friends for their ...initiative to hold this meeting.

We noted our common understanding of the fact that there is no alternative solution to the political process based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the outcome of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, which was convened by the Astana Troika.

We share the understanding that, in all our actions, we and other international players must respect, without reservations, Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We emphasised the importance of urgently providing the Syrians with humanitarian aid, including in fighting the coronavirus infection, as well as assistance in rebuilding civilian infrastructure destroyed during the war.

These pressing tasks cannot be acted on in full because of the illegitimate unilateral sanctions imposed by the West on Syria’s legitimate government and, by and large, on the Syrian people.

Russia, Turkey and Qatar’s common goals are included in the Joint Statement which reiterates their determination to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and to oppose the implementation of the separatist plans that undermine Syria’s territorial integrity and threaten the national security of neighbouring countries."

etc

The Israelis & US Governments will do odious & illegal things, but in the long run will find nothing is forgotten. No one has cancelled International Law.

https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/4616426

Posted by: powerandpeople | Mar 12 2021 20:27 utc | 32

Deltaeus - I've been doing that math and I get the same #. Funny how that 2+2 still works. I've also been doing the math on recoveries from virus illness, and I get about 97.4% recovered, as a median # with a high of close to 99%. Yes, I will say the usual - we all regret the loss of any one's loved one, but... The survival rate is way higher than for example those with cholera in yemen .... colour me confused, but clear on one thing: the 1% need more shekels - hense the 1.886 trillion. Cheers

Posted by: Miss Lacy | Mar 12 2021 20:33 utc | 33

"They also implicitly excuse (depict sympathetically) Israel's attacks on Iranian tankers" - Jackrabbit

I found this tone infuriating. Whenever the U.S. Zionists talk about an action they can associate with Iran they emphasize the victim, 'civilian oil tankers and infrastructure are being attacked by Iranian proxies'.

When Israel attacks civilian commerce they do not mention the deprivation of the Syrians and the impact on them or the non-military nature of the cargo, instead they quote the monster, Mark Dubowitz from the FDD saying that Israel is stepping up to the plate to go beyond sanctions. The WSJ emphasizes how Iran will get money and what they will do with it (sheer speculation and irrelevant) and make Iran sound unlawful. 'Iran is getting around U.S. sanctions (as if they were legitimate) and delivering oil to Syria in defiance of International sanctions (wow!)'

The EU has no more right to deprive Syria of oil than the U.S. does.
The spin on these stories is sickening.

Posted by: Christian J. Chuba | Mar 12 2021 20:34 utc | 34

Posted by: Mina | Mar 12 2021 17:07 utc | 22

Interesting that Jordan postponed overflight rights for Netanyahu to go to the Emirates. Israel is cold in Jordan, the Palestinians object. in not long, the same will happen in Dubai. The Israelis will have their embassy in the Emirates, isolated and alone, with a little investment in order to satisfy the Americans.

In the Gulf you have to be careful. You have to tie it down. One day a prince may promise you lots of money, but tomorrow he may change his mind, and be interested in funding another project.

Posted by: Laguerre | Mar 12 2021 20:38 utc | 35

@ powerandpeople | Mar 12 2021 20:27 utc | 32 who ended with
"
The Israelis & US Governments will do odious & illegal things, but in the long run will find nothing is forgotten. No one has cancelled International Law.
"

International Law versus Rules Based Order is almost like socialism versus barbarism, isn't it?

The barbarians behind Western empire are doing everything in their lie/cheat/steal methods to extend the Rules Based Order which I refer to as global private finance levers behind the curtain....and they are failing so all the stops are pulled out...

Dogs bark, the caravan moves on and the shit show continues until it doesn't.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 12 2021 20:41 utc | 36

thanks b... interesting and makes sense.. jen thanks for the overview on sara netanyahu...

link">https://www.moonofalabama.org/2021/03/open-thread-2021-020/comments/page/3/#comments/">link for where to post ot comments for the gnats with short attention spans..

Posted by: james | Mar 12 2021 20:41 utc | 37

@Deltaeus #29
As far as I understand it - the stimulus is supposed to be per individual.
Supposedly 85% of Americans will get them.
So 320M *.85*1400 = $380B
The rest is child tax credit, state budget assistance, small company PPP style benefits and of course, pork.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 12 2021 20:48 utc | 38

Oops I need to get a @c1ue (Thanks)
Of course would have been 140B, not 14B. So per individual 380B, or 20% of the total.
And $2000 cheques would mean a 28% share instead. Still we can't have any of that! :-)

Posted by: Deltaeus | Mar 12 2021 21:20 utc | 39

When will the American people ever wake up, and realize that a hefty part the unrest and rogue behavior in the world is caused by the U$A's vaunted allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia?

By confronting the abhorrent behavior of these two nations, we could make the world a better place for many people. But hell, what's that compared to more profits for the undeserving?

Posted by: vetinLA | Mar 12 2021 22:08 utc | 40

karlof1@31. thank you for the link. gilad atzmon on unz has a very interesting article posted on 'israel, the new guinea pig' , dealing with the striking stats resulting from their vaccine push. if you haven't read it, or watched the interview, i think you will find it bookends this link very nicely. wishing you & your family a great weekend.

Posted by: emersonreturn | Mar 12 2021 23:10 utc | 41

@Deltaeus

Your math is off by a factor of ten, plus its a check per person (means tested) - a family of four could get four $1400 checks. So $1400 times maybe 300 million people (those eligible) = 300 million * 10 * 10 * 14 = $520 billion (0.52 trillion). Plus there is the unemployment extension, other direst benefits etc. Plus aid to local governments, $350 billion, that cannot run. deficit so they done have to fire 100,000s (at least) of people.

Roger

Posted by: Roger | Mar 12 2021 23:36 utc | 42

Thanks B. for good analysis.
Also it is good to pay attention to another event which happened the day before.
Netanyahoo's trip to UAE was cancelled. Why? Jordan did open her sky for his flight? Is it true? Anyway, Netanyahoo plan was to use UAE trip for his election propaganda.
Earlier Natanyahoo's election rivals, Gantz has traveled to Jordan and met and discussed with Jordan King. Gabi Ashkenazi traveled to Jordan and discussed with Jordanian counterpart Al-Safadi.
It was said all of these are related to upcoming election, to prevent Netanyahoo to reach to last rescue rope, the 4ht election vs prison cell.

Posted by: arata | Mar 13 2021 0:17 utc | 43

b, again my apologies for the OT, but as i'd indicated at #14, i'm unable to email you at the address on your 'About the site' address.

i'd hoped to gain your kind permission to republish your brilliant satire on March 1 at my own wee site, and the place i cross-post. neither are for-profit, host ads, and so on.

i've included the addresses of both sites in the bar under my email address. thanks for your consideration; it should be read far and wide to brighten folks' days a bit!

check that: an error message doesn't like both site urls. i'll remove the c99% one.

Posted by: wendy davis | Mar 13 2021 0:41 utc | 44

Mr. Arata

Israel has been treating Jordan with the contempt that she deserves.

There are 10 million souls in Jordan, 2 million, I think, are Syrians.

Denying over flights, and cancelling the trip of the Crown Prince are one of the few ways which that country's government can show its displeasure.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 0:47 utc | 45

@ wendy davis | Mar 13 2021 0:41 utc | 44 with the problem figuring out b's email address

May I suggest you take the spaces out of the email address provided in the "About this site" page and it will form a working email address for b who I expect will respond to your request.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 13 2021 0:50 utc | 46

Mr. Laguerre

The mercurial oriental potentate, so accurate.

And Americans want to restore a dictatorial monarchy in Iran.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 0:50 utc | 47

Mr. VetinLA

The American people are quite awake, at least the WASPs variety. They like war and hate Iran.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 0:52 utc | 48

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 12 2021 20:18 utc | 31

Davidson is correct on facts (as far as I can tell) but I have misgiving about his framework.

Israel and Zionists do this and that, but why? There is media dominating narrative of an adorable nation that survived Holocaust, form an adorable state that bestowed numerous benefits upon all humanity (when I followed the topic, I read about cherry tomatoes, computer chips, and about once a month, an amazing cure of cancer) that is beset with EXISTENTIAL THREAT and has to defend itself. There is an Arabo-Leftist narrative about a bunch of mean cruel lying bastards led by an even less appealing bunch of billionaires that make mockery of us (North America, Europe) and brutalize the natives of the Middle East, especially Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrian and Iranians. A-L narrative is stronger on facts, but there are true points in the media-dominant narrative too: cherry tomatoes were developed in Israel etc.]

IMHO, it helps to have a wider perspective. One perspective is to observe the motivations of superpowers, great powers and small states.

A great power has to deal with balance of powers, reactions to actions etc., in other words, with objective limits on the behavior. A superpower has fewer limits, hence more activities for the heck of it, but it still has some limits (however bitterly it laments about them, shouldn't Russia and China be a bit smaller?).

A perspective of a small state is different. First, get as much for yourselves as you can -- if you are Tuvalu of Lithuania it is not much, but worth to try. Second, you must latch yourself to a proper patron -- superpower if possible, or another if there is no better choice. Finally, you nudge, cajole, bribe, whatever you can to get whatever you can. Yea, due to many circumstances, like aforementioned bunch of billionaires, Israel can get more than most -- to put it mildly -- but a small state will never feel that it got too much. My image is of a nestling with a widely opened beak.

Israel does not feel at fault for mama-USA putting stuff into that beak.

------

In this perspective, we may apply moral judgement to Israel or not, but it is necessary to understand that whatever you hear from Israel and those who parrot those emanations is hopelessly one-sided, even if heartfelt. They just try to get as much as they can, justify it in any way they can.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 13 2021 0:52 utc | 49

Ms. Jen

I am afraid that many in the United States will sacrifice US for Israel out of religious conviction. The epitaph of the United States would be: "Here perished the Shining Republic by hands of Judeo-Christians."

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 0:57 utc | 50

Mr. karlof1

In fact, Israelis know very well that Palestinians and Arabs are not anti-semetic.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 1:00 utc | 51

The world has become very insecure and environmental pollution will be very irreparable. It is regrettable
Web Design

Posted by: Web Design | Mar 13 2021 2:00 utc | 52

don't bother with the above ad pollution @52... the idiot above is happy to pollute here, there and everywhere..

Posted by: james | Mar 13 2021 2:22 utc | 53

Hint:
The US has not attacked Iran.
The Pentagon even explained this to the Fat Boy (Trump).
Why?
In 15 minutes, SA would no longer have an oil industry.

Posted by: Duncan Idaho | Mar 13 2021 2:25 utc | 54

@Fyi | Mar 13 2021 0:47 utc | 45

"Denying over flights, and cancelling the trip of the Crown Prince"

Some news said Jordan did not open sky for Netanyahoo's flight to travel to UAE. Nothing related to Crown Prince in this news.

Then, we do not need to reduce everything to a binary black and white logic pattern, but we need to see minute cracks in black and black camp.

Posted by: arata | Mar 13 2021 3:17 utc | 55

It’s funny how all these folks who see that Old Joe is barely functional now suddenly think he’s the new mastermind of the the US Israel minstrel show. Much more likely that Vice President Mata Hari and her Jewish consort have a similar deal as Benny and Sarah. Vice President Mata Hari likes thrill-rides, money and power most of all.

Posted by: Ed | Mar 13 2021 4:38 utc | 56

Mr. Piotr Berman

You are ascribing Rationality to those humans who made decisions for great powers.

Please consider the European World at 1909 and then also at 2019.

I think it is fairly certain that the decisions of the European leaders in the Summer of 1914, ushering in the Second Thirty-Year War, were bereft of Reason and Rationality.

For the Americans, they could have worked with the late President Arbenz, the late Prime Minister Mossadeq, the late Chairman Ho Chi Minh, the late President Dr. Allende had they chosen to be Rational and Reasonable. The late Dr. Mossadeq wanted a USD 45-million loan. Instead, Americans overthrew his government. I do not see any rationality in all of this.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 4:42 utc | 57

@Ed | Mar 13 2021 4:38 utc | 56

It’s funny how all these folks who see that Old Joe is barely functional now suddenly think he’s the new mastermind of the the US Israel minstrel show. Much more likely that Vice President Mata Hari and her Jewish consort have a similar deal as Benny and Sarah. Vice President Mata Hari likes thrill-rides, money and power most of all.

One guess about this whole situation is that in an assumed 3 stage plan, Biden and Harris was to be installed in stage 1. In stage 2, a compromised Harris was to be removed using some pre-planned scandal that probably has been waiting in store for that purpose. Concluding stage 2, Hillary would be the "competent" and "experienced" replacement VP coming to the rescue. In stage 3, Bidens deteriorating mental capacity and inability to function leads to his removal. This way "Madame President" becomes a reality. Mission Accomplished.

What appears to have gone wrong is that Biden got much worse much sooner than the plan allowed for, there is no real opportunity to remove Harris first at this stage. "Madame President" has a problem. The US has a much bigger problem.

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 13 2021 7:30 utc | 58

It isn't just Biden, the entire dem command & control system wants nuttyahoo gone, not for any particular domestic or defense policy, he's doing pretty much what the amerikan elite demand of their zionist puppets, dividing the leadership of many of the other ME nations, but as the amerikans know finding a zionist happy to do that rather than the smart thing og trying to get on with their neighbours' citizens is a piece of the proverbial.

No, nuttyahoo's chief friction with the Dims is that he did the unthinkable - he got too close to Orangeutan and worse conspired with him so that both of them made a huge wad of cash from sub-dividing stolen Palestinian land into zionist settlements.

The issue with that isn't about the breach of the UN security council vote which Obama connived through whilst amerika abstained, a motion that pointed out the illegality of stealing chunks of Palestine land & filling that land up with Russians & amerikans at all. That was oblamblam's payback for nutty's despicable treatment of oblamblam personally. We all recognise that zionism is founded on racism but many do not readily comprehend that this racism is not confined to claims of superiority over all indigenous ME people (generally all crowded into the 'Arabs' definition - even for those semitic non-jews who don't speak arabic) but indigenous Africans, even jewish Africans such as Ethiopian jews and African refugees imported into occupied Palestine to do the menial work previously performed by the people of Gaza. Eventually should the opportunity ever present itself, all gentiles (non-jews) such as all amerikans who are not jews.

The issue is that the nutty one gave orangeutan credibility with a swathe of dem voters (zionists) plus worst of all poured hundreds of millions of shekels into bagman Jared Kushner's always roomy pocket.

That will not only sustain agent orange thu his 'downtime' until the next campaign, which combined with the billion dollar fat wedge which the Trumps grabbed outta the PPE scam, that was when all the protective equipment (masks, capes, gowns, visors & gloves) that were imported into amerika last year went through a Kushner controlled NGO at 250% mark-up before they went to a couple of intermediary corporations who acted as distributors, they chucked on another 150% making hospitals pay four times the previous going rate. That will give the orange one a sufficiently large war chest to get his numbers into the territory where rethug potential sponsors must give him consideration - no matter what negatives the dims push out between now & 2024.

If nuttyahoo is still in power 2023-24 he is going to come out hard on selling the trumpet to all zionists. Biden is no less greedy but the orange one plus kushner have much better real estate construction & banking connections for nutty to profit off.
Therefore nuttyahoo must go lest he aids the orange scum.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Mar 13 2021 8:08 utc | 59

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/405903/World/Region/US-resumes-aid-to-Yemens-rebel-north-as-famine-thr.aspx
Better late than never

Posted by: Mina | Mar 13 2021 9:40 utc | 60

Debsisdead@59
I think you are very close to a bullseye on your take of N...yahoo, Obama, Trump/Kushner and the current tensions playing out in the Middle East. I would add that Biden has been the dimmest bulb on that political tree-- very dim now, obviously.He is presenting a challenge to his handlers: his gaffs-- somewhat different than Trump as Biden really wants to please his bosses in intelligence, military, wall st., silicon valley but he can't keep his mouth shut. All his life he has consistently blurted out surprising stories of his macho type heroic confrontations with Corn Pop, tin horn dictators, oligarchs (Poroschenko) and dead people who can't rebut his stories. He exposes imperial evil: the biggest one was his "outing" of the Obama administration's awareness and tacit support of ISIS.
https://thenewamerican.com/obama-s-anti-isis-coalition-built-isis-biden-admits/
That was in 2014. 7 long years ago when he had a mediocre, almost average I.Q. Now, he still has a long list of scores to settle, one of them being with Net-yahoo, another with MBS, and on and on. His decline will exacerbate his life long compulsion to grab a microphone and take down an enemy while he pumps himself up. He will be squelched,handled, medicated and controlled more and more tightly until he is "retired". Soon. Months, IMO. Meanwhile, Israel's deep state and U.S's deep state are trying to firm up a working, operational process while the citizens of the mid east are hurting them with thousands of small attacks. Same is happening on the home front as the deplorables grow their gangs and talk amongst themselves within their networks throughout the military, police forces, local VFWs, proud boys. Bottom line, the oil spill is real. The attacks on Israel and U.S imperial assets are real.Wheels are falling off on both home fronts. Biden, Netyahoo and Trump are living in their unique fantasy lands. Each of them is loony. The deep state in Israel and in the U.S. know that and they are worried because they don't know what to do. They don't know what will happen. They are not in control anymore. No one is.

Posted by: migueljose | Mar 13 2021 10:51 utc | 61

I fail to see how the purported source of this leak could hope to harm Netanyahoo but somehow spare Israel itself. This affair involves blatant acts of aggression, crimes against the environment and wilful strangulation of an entire population. The last thing any party actively supporting Israel should do is draw international attention. Certainly there are better ways to reach the current prime minister.

In any case, this serves illustrate once more just how far behind Iran and Syria are on the narrative battlefront. I can't understand why we are reading this in the WSJ but for some reason the aggrieved party isn't out there raising hell. There is so much to gain to do so and yet they appear to prefer sitting on their hands and biting their lips. Why is that?

Posted by: robin | Mar 13 2021 11:49 utc | 62

Fun Fact:
Joe Biden has set a new POTUS record, and far exceeded the old one, for the longest delay between Inauguration and 1st Press Conference.
The longer the delay, the more 'stage-managed' it's going to appear.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 13 2021 12:42 utc | 63

Debsisdead @Mar13 8:08 #59

It isn't just Biden, the entire dem command & control system wants nuttyahoo gone ...

You know when they want someone gone. New York Governor Cuomo is a prime example where seven women have suddenly made flimsy accusations.

Therefore nuttyahoo must go lest he aids the orange scum.

No one becomes President that hasn't been approved/selected by the Deep State Empire Managers. Despite appearances to the contrary, you can bet that the "orange scum" is a full-fledged member of Team Deep State - just like the previous scummy faux populist President (Obama).

<> <> <> <> <>

I wrote about Cuomo's take-down in the Week in Review (comment #6). IMO TPTB do not want an examination of the failed policy of sending people home to "self-isolate" - the same policy that killed thousands of nursing home residents in New York State. There are several reasons to believe that USA did not want to fight the virus effectively (like some other countries did).

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Mar 13 2021 14:38 utc | 64

fyi 48;this wasp doesn't like war or any this bs.

Posted by: dahoit | Mar 13 2021 17:37 utc | 65

Mr. Dahoit

Then who is responsible for all these wars of choice since the shameful Mexican War? Martians?

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 17:56 utc | 66

Mr. arata

I see Mordor forces engaged against Iran and the Shia.

Let us see if the Wise Lord, the Lord of Light, wills himself to fight alongside his defenders.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 18:01 utc | 67

All over the word in "normal" countries [ take note vk ] the accepted distance of territorial waters is 12 nautical miles. The exception is, you guessed it, the bandit state. They enforce at least 15 to 18 nm and do not accept the right of innocent passage in either 'territorial OR international waters. This from the bible, or should I say, young in cheek, Talmud of international cruising mariners Noonsite. Almost every country is listed.

https://www.noonsite.com/report/warnings-if-coastal-sailing-israel-to-egypt-2/

They also enforce apartheid regarding the composition of crew and passengers. Read, Goyim not really welcome. Note the electronic warfare conducted against navigation systems and the Furuno radar system at sea. Be prepared to be shadowed by a navy boat with constantly manned machine guns. Remember the USS Liberty flying an oversize US flag in international waters. I recommend the USS Liberty blog produced by some very lucky survivors.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 13 2021 18:02 utc | 68

Iran history revisited

When Iran gives up it's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction
Iran will get the Libya-treatment c/o the US of A.

MAY 17, 2006

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: The only complication is Iran's continued support for terrorism and its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. When Iran is prepared to give that up it can have a different relationship with us as the government of Libya has proven, and as we have proven reciprocally just in the past few days.

https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/io/rls/rm/66417.htm

The above context was a gloating Amb. Bolton at a presser following the passage of UN Resolution 1680.
According to Daniel Pipes 1680 gave the US permission to attack Iran militarily should Hezbollah
create a casus belli. Two months later Israel had a multi-pronged security failure and stand-down (spelled False-Flag)
at a tiny section of it's border with Lebanon.

Two months prior, March 2006, Olmert had met with his generals to review the status of available plans for invading Lebanon.
In April 2006 Bush met with the Prime Minister Fouad Siniora of Lebanon at the White House.
https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/04/images/20060418-2_p041806pm-0322jpg-515h.html
Immediately after the meeting Bush sent a US Major General to Lebanon, the highest ranking US general to visit Lebanon
in over a decade, to meet with his counterparts in the Lebanese Army. His mission was to upgrade the Lebanese Army.
After the war Olmert told the Israeli Winograd Commission that Sec of State Condoleezza Rice had asked Olmert to shape
his attack upon Lebanon so as to not unseat Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Also in May 2006 Hezbollah found a weak point in the border and attempted to exploit it, they failed. The IDF then knew
where they could assist Hezbollah the next time. The IDF was initially all over that section of the border, like bees
on a beehive-invading bear. Then suddenly the IDF stood down. The IDF later claimed that the intelligence officer in charge
of that sector had been replaced, mid beehive storm, and his replacement didn't understand the significance of the intelligence
he was reviewing. The general in charge of that sector would later state that if he himself had seen 10% of the intelligence
reports he never would have had his forces stand down. The general had also asked for professional soldiers to
begin patrolling that sector of the border after the stand down, he claimed his requests were denied by headquarters. Weekend warriors
doing part time duty were put on that sector. A security camera was supposed to be put in place to remove a blind spot on the
border, installation met with delays.

The weekend warriors were at the end of their assignment the night they encountered Hezbollah, triggering the 2006 invasion of
Lebanon. They were going to ride up and down the border and then head home. They had packed their personal luggage into their
vehicles. No one had briefed them as they set out that night that alarms were being triggered up and down the border by Hezbollah.
They had packed their personal luggage into their vehicles. They had not been briefed. The weekend warriors had packed
their personal luggage into their vehicles. Alarms were being triggered up and down the border by Hezbollah.

Egoz an elite IDF unit (similar to our Navy Seals) that specializes in guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare, including assassination
by demolition, and search-and-destroy missions into Lebanon, had been at that section of the border also, but their commander had testified that they had stood down when the other IDF forces had stood down.
But did they *all* stand down?
Had they all stood down? After the weekend warriors were taken by Hezbollah it took over two hours for the IDF to give pursuit.
After going less than two hundred yards across the border a pursuing tank was totally demolished. Totally. That killed the pursuit.
The newspapers claimed it was a Merkava 2 tank, a general would later reveal it had been the latest and greatest - a Merkava 5.
The general believed only a demolition charge could have obliterated a Merkava 5 in that manner.

Later, in what might remind you of Seal Team 6, Egoz suffered two surprising, separate but similar incidents of multiple deaths by
hand grenades.

History relates heroism.

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Klein and his unit took part in the Battle of Bint Jbeil. During a Hezbollah ambush, a hand grenade was thrown
over the wall that was between Hezbollah militants and Klein and his unit. Klein jumped on the live grenade and muffled the explosion with his body.
The soldiers reported that Klein recited the Jewish prayer, Shema Yisrael, as he jumped on the grenade. After the grenade exploded and
critically wounded him, he reported his own death, yelling "Klein's dead, Klein's dead" over the radio. In the following minutes, as he lay dying,
he ordered soldiers who came to administer first aid and evacuate him to focus on Lieutenant Amichai Merhavia, another soldier who had been hit
(and later died also) instead. He then handed over his encoded radio to another officer, who took command of the force, and died.
According to The Telegraph he yelled "Long live Israel", although this was probably a misinterpretation of "Shema Yisrael".

Posted by: librul | Mar 13 2021 18:21 utc | 69

@ Piotr Berman @49
I follow your reasoning and agree to large extent. However, the idea that small states have the initiative in getting under the tutelage of a large state is a bit skewed. I see it more as the large states which corrupt some ruling circles in the small states, (with promises and/or outright bribes) and the small states are the playball for the large ones. And the old maxim of "divide et impera" is the rule.

Posted by: bystander04 | Mar 13 2021 19:08 utc | 70

Mr. Librul

"Shema Israel" means "Listen/Hear O Jewish People".

It is the start of a prayer.

For myself, I would say:

" Shema Israel
That I lived to witness your expulsion from Lebanon in Shame and in Defeat in 2000.

Shema Israel
That I lived to witness your strategic Defeat in 2006 in Lebanon

Shema Israel
Many more defeats are in store for ye"

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 19:11 utc | 71

Here's a country with a pragmatic and non belligerent maritime policy, Viet Nam:

https://johnmenadue.com/why-wouldnt-vietnam-want-us-warships-in-their-waters/

The Philippines and others need to take note.

Posted by: Paul | Mar 13 2021 19:43 utc | 72

Deltaeus | Mar 12 2021 19:53 utc | 29

Let's say there are roughly 100 Million households in the US (for easy arithmetic).
$1400 per household is $14 Billion.

Not so. 100million 10^8 so it adds 8 noughts to the $1,400
$140,000,000,000, i.e. $140 billion.

This does not damage your argument much, but I do hate to see obvious inaccuracies!

Posted by: foolisholdman | Mar 13 2021 21:41 utc | 73

@Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 19:11 utc | 71

That is interesting, Fyi.

For brevity @69 above I left out a lot of material regarding Israel's and the US' false-flag
and subsequent invasion against Lebanon (2006). Definitely should not have left out one item
from the timeline, the MOU with Hezbollah. (One minor edit too. The Merkava 5 tank had been directed
to run over a small tin shack on the Lebanese side of the border. The shack was about
only 75 yards across the border not the 200 yards I had said above. The shack contained the demolition
charges. Who selected the shack and gave the orders?)

Timeline update:

In February 2006 the leader of the largest block of Christians in Lebanon, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)
had signed a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Hezbollah. This was General Michel Aoun who
had previously been honored and wooed by Washington and even the Neocons just three months before.
The signing of the MOU was seen as a huge betrayal by General Aoun, from Washington's point of view.
General Aoun says that he was targeted for assassination by Israeli jets during the invasion.

Part of the MOU says that Hezbollah can continue to be armed.

https://www.voltairenet.org/article163916.html

Posted by: librul | Mar 13 2021 21:46 utc | 74

So was this Syrian oil in a Turkish vessel?

Oil has specific chemical signature and it would be easy to determine its origin. From the pictures it looks like crude or perhaps rudimentary refined crude.

PS I appreciated the tale of the clown hero diving on the hand grenade. Trespassers will be terminated as the sign says.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 13 2021 22:09 utc | 75

Timeline in the new tanker war the first suspected (it was) Iranian attack on the UAE was on 5/13/19 and the WSJ reports Israeli attacks in the Gulf as early as 2019. So who drew first blood?

Could it be that the Israeli sabotage came first the Iranian attacks were a response? That would certainly change the narrative because we were told that scratching the hulls of tankers represented a threat to international shipping.

Posted by: Christian Chuba | Mar 13 2021 22:19 utc | 76

Norwegian #58

What appears to have gone wrong is that Biden got much worse much sooner than the plan allowed for, there is no real opportunity to remove Harris first at this stage. "Madame President" has a problem. The US has a much bigger problem.

Thank you leading me into speculate zone of horrors. Never Hillary now that she is satisfactorily vanquished, never Karma as she will remain right where she is.

This is USAstan and they will find a genteel General to lead the way. They have invaded the capitol and ring fenced it in more ways than one and they know what is 'good' for murica and can 'get things done' ;)

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 13 2021 22:19 utc | 77

Mr. Librul

These and other such incidents are consistent with the hypothesis that I have proffered on this forum, viz the religious war between Judeo-Christians and Muslims for the control of Palestine.

Both on the Iberian Penninsula, when Al Andulus was a going concern, and in Palestine, when the Kingdom of Jerusalem was a going concern, there were many ephermal and temporary alliances across religious boundaries.

The wars ended when Christians expelled Muslims from the Iberian peninsula and, in Palestine, when the Muslims expelled Christians, in turn.

More recently, the persumably Secular Turkish Republic, led by such a purported staunch secularist as the late Mustafa Kemal Pasha, expelled Orthodox Chritians from their ancestral lands along the Black Sea, Lebanese citizens murdered each other by tens of thousands based on religion, Israeli Jews expelled Christian and Muslim Arabs and escalated to a religious war, and lastly ISIS and other Jihadists waged a self-declared religious war againt everyone save people such as themselves.

We must accept the religious emtions manifest in the current situation and proceed towards not a Secularist Utopia but to a Religious Cease-Fire.

I think that there is a minority of Israelis that grasp the strategic necessity of a cease-fire with Iran, a country of 100 million souls as wellas with the wider Shia World.

Unfortunately, I do not believe that Judeo-Christians are interested in a religious cease-fire, they still think that they can prevail.

In the meantime, all such skirmishes will continue to take place and people will continue to die.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 22:20 utc | 78

Mr. Christian Chuba

The first blood was drawn when the late Mr. Truman put all the political might of the United States Government to complete the task set by the Balfour Declaration to establish the State of Israel for the so-called Judeo-Christians.

The late General Marshall, the man who was never wrong, advised him against it, warning him that it would lead to instability. But US, then as well as now, was full of Hubris and the rest, is what we are living today: USA fighting Islam.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 22:27 utc | 79

@Posted by: Fyi | Mar 13 2021 22:20 utc | 78

I somewhat agree about your hypothesis of "religious war" being the cause of the conflicts in the Mideast,
especially if you consider that money, vanity and power are true religions for many people.

I would say that it is a stew of causes with economics being a major ingredient.

---

Since it "is my nickel" again, I will add one more item to what I posted @69 and @74.

The Hannibal Directive.

If Israel did indeed plan a false-flag at the border there was one major draw back for them.
The capture of live Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah would give Hezbollah great leverage over Israel.
Israel's Hannibal Directive (supposedly now shelved) states “a dead soldier is better than a captive soldier”.

The IDF knew that Hezbollah had discovered a blind spot on the border, one that Hezbollah would exploit again.
If Israel planned a false-flag and allowed Hezbollah to capture IDF soldiers, they could have stationed special forces
at that blind spot to "Hannibal" any captured IDF soldiers.

No live soldiers were captured by Hezbollah that day.

Posted by: librul | Mar 14 2021 0:20 utc | 80

re Jackrabbit @ #64
I see that despite all your lame and well wide of the mark disproven predictions you still cling to the ridiculous notion of an omnipotent & omniscient DC cabal like a drowning man clings to flimsy driftwood eh. Nothing to do about that as that is your delusion and only you can get rid of it. Tell me this cabal you call the deep state, does it appear to you as a devil, or more likely a god?
The DNC getting rid of Cuomo is a doddle compared to them ridding oneself a puppet foreign leader especially one who has to be ditched without upsetting all the other hard core zionists who consider themselves Dims, yet like to see a cruel fascist running Occupied Palestine, Nuttyahoo has made life so much more relaxed when they vacation in Occupied Palestine so they like him and turn a blind eye to his corruption and cruelty.
Senior dems know nutty has to go for his Trumpism because of the reasons I already spelled out plus as a message to some of the other amerikan puppet foreign leaders that playing footsie with someone as non-U as Trump is a breach of their conditions of service, esp since MbS proved too hard to get got.

Of course there are shadowy 'powers behind the throne/s' of DC. The error you always make is considering them to be united, in agreement as to targets, outcomes and sharing the spoils; when such types are inevitably greedy, sociopathically selfish and not half as smart as they & you imagine.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Mar 14 2021 0:40 utc | 81

Mr. Librul

Very good then.

In the Middle East, the Christian and Muslim Calvinists are fighting to destroy the political power of the Catholic Muslims.

The Shia, per their religious traditions, stand in support of the Legitimate Religious and Political Authority.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 0:54 utc | 82

Hoarsewhisperer # 63

Fun Fact:
Joe Biden has set a new POTUS record, and far exceeded the old one, for the longest delay between Inauguration and 1st Press Conference. The longer the delay, the more 'stage-managed' it's going to appear.

Thank you for that fun fact but imo they don't care how stage managed it looks because so much has been stage managed for so long that USAstan doesn't see it anymore, or simply doesn't care. Why don't they care? because they are sick of the whole shit show and are tired of being endlessly insulted by elites, betrayed by hucksters and taken for a ride by sweet talking traitors.

Xerxes Biden will do a presser when the Ukraine govt starts firing crackers and throwing spears at russian speaking baddies. Even then he will just walk up to microphone, blah, blah, blah and walk off leaving his blinken idiot to fence the previously cleared organised questions from the stenographers. Or perhaps he will do a really dopey address from that ridiculous white house table he sits at.

I want to see how long it will take after Benny Gentz is elected for him to turn up at the white house. Out with the old mafia and in with the one before that.

By the way regional elections on in Germany this weekend and should indicate the great unravelling going on there.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 14 2021 2:11 utc | 83

Mr. Dahoit

My apologies, Sir, I misunderstood you.

I should think men such as yourself are a minority among WASPs.

We would not be here otherwise.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 4:06 utc | 84

If the ptb, or deep state, were actually intelligent, they would probably be enlightened somehow. As this is not exhibited by any f them, so far as I can tell, actual intelligence is not an attribute.

Posted by: Geoff | Mar 14 2021 7:14 utc | 85

Aren't Sunnism and Shiism the result of internal strife within the Quraysh tribe? Both are pro-Quraysh in the end, so how does that function in a universal religion system?

Posted by: Mina | Mar 14 2021 8:40 utc | 86

- It looks like the Biden administration is sending Israel a strong message: DO NOT escalate the situation with Iran !! Do not do things that will increase the tensions in the Middle East !! And that's a change with the Trump administration who seemed to don't care what Israel is doing in the Middle East.
- Remember: Obama sent the chief of staff (Mike Mullen) to Israel in order to convey a message called "DO NOT attack Iran on your own accord. And if you do attack Iran then the US won't support you in any way. then you are on your own".
- No, I DO see this as a clear and resounding message: "Don't increase tensions with Iran".
- It seems the "adults are again back in charge in Washington DC" when it come to the policies regarding Iran. And Netanjahu has to change his tune when it comes to foreign policy.

Posted by: Willy2 | Mar 14 2021 13:01 utc | 87

Ms Mina

Quraysh were irrelevant to the historical evolution of this schism. All the 4 early Khalifs as well as Ma'awiyah belonged to the various clans of the Quraysh Tribal Confederation.

The issue was the determination of the Legitimate Religious and Political Authority after Prophet's death. Many Arabs wanted a clan-based rotating Khaliphate and rejected the wishes of the Prophet in this regard.

The Shia'aton Ali, the Party of Ali, was formed to press for his ruler-ship. From then until now.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 16:07 utc | 88

Ms. Mina

To answer your question, Islam is a universalist religion since anyone can become a Muslim. It requires no priestly interventions, it has no sacraments, it has no clergy, and it has no central authority for its definition and articulation (save among the Shia who have conferred the task of defining Islam to their academic scholars in their prominent religious universities).

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 16:12 utc | 89

UT @75

"PS I appreciated the tale of the clown hero diving on the hand grenade. Trespassers will be terminated as the sign says."

Would you have the balls to do the same for your comrades?

Posted by: Stumpy | Mar 14 2021 16:58 utc | 90

@Fyi | Mar 14 2021 16:12 utc | 89

Islam is a universalist religion since anyone can become a Muslim.

The issue of unbecoming a muslim and its generally (except maybe with ahmadiyyas, but certainly including all shia sects) lethal consequences paints a not so flowery picture of islam. In that context, totalitarian might be a more appropriate term than universalist.

People not brought up and steeped in muslim traditions find this generally atrocious. Many who were brought up in muslim traditions think so too, but wisely choose not to speak about it.

Posted by: Lurk | Mar 14 2021 17:21 utc | 91

Willy2 @ 87

By "adults" are we referring to the Carter administration bumpkins who advance their agendas when the presidency is weak?

One must always consider the source.

https://www.thejewishstar.com/stories/thank-jimmy-carter-for-iran-mess,17881

Within today's context, I look to connect the dots, MBS taken down a notch with intelligence report accusing him of the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, black marketplaces for stolen oil transfers being bombed from the air, the oil spilled in the subject of this post, B52 overflights, increased attack rates of US positions in Iraq, usw. Not so much Iranian dynamics but rather Russian. Are we afraid of Russian dominance in the ME, and if so, are we masquerading the flailing US foreign policy as a veil to avoid naked fire-jumping into open conflict in Ukraine and Syria?

S-400s in Riyadh?

Posted by: Stumpy | Mar 14 2021 17:47 utc | 92

Mr. Lurk

What, in Heaven's name, are you talking about?

If some one does not wish to practice Islam, he can. There is no inquisition in Islam.

If some one wants to publicly state that he is no longer a Muslim, he might face anger and hostility of others. Especially in those countries that are friends of the West.

The actual situation of Ahmadis in Pakistan began when the stupid policy was enacted to define who is a Muslim. In effect, a Sunni Inquisition. You need to initiate that discussion with Sunnis of Deobandis and Hanafis and not with Shia.

In regards to Islam as a "Totalitarian" religion, I will say a few words. First, the formulation itself is a political and cultural attack on Islam, largely initiated by Judeo-Christians of the United States. For what this asperation against Islam insinuates, could equally well be applied to Hinduism, Judaism, and the Sikh Religion and Culture.

Islam is both a religion and a civilization. It has a monist outlook which causes it to deal with life in a seamless manner. I leave it to Judeo-Christians such as yourself to live a broken and fragmented life and to call it full.

Outside of Iran, ask any Muslim what they would be without Islam and they will tell you that they are nothing. Islam is coterminus with Morals, Culture, and Urbanity.

I do feel sorry for these lost souls that are bereft of Islam, as they claim, who also have not found home in another religion. What are they then, pseudo Judeo-Christians?

Substantively, the attack itself reveals the conceptual falsehood of the intellectual World that these attackers inhabit, viz. that the Western Civilization is not built itself around the Revelations of Christ Jesus, the Prophet of God. Granted that Western Christians of Northern Europe and North America are living in a post-Christian society, open to all sorts of Neo-pagan ideas and influences. But that is not the future of mankind, ever.

There is, in my opinion, only a single valid and pertinent observation about Islamic Tradition, that its thinkers never developed a theory of freedom within Islam, in contra-distinction to the Catholic Thinkers. By Freedom I mean absence of fear.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 18:27 utc | 93

@Fyi | Mar 14 2021 18:27 utc | 93

What, in Heaven's name, are you talking about?

If you reread my words, you will notice that clearly I was only talking about islamic scripture, most islamic societies and the majority of muslims (both mundane and clerical) considering it wholly appropriate and scripturally justified to kill those who do not want to be a muslim anymore.

It does not matter if that person had been islamized as a young child, ie. had never converted to islam as an informed and consenting adult. This practice - which is deeply embedded within the core of living islam - can in no way be considered an expression of universalism, rather it is a clearly an expression of reactionary totalitarianism.

Your reformulation of said practice to "might face anger and hostility of others" would be laughable if it weren't such a blatant dismissal of inhumane practices. Your contributions to this forum suggest to me that you value being appreciated as a reasonable and considerate person. By your reaction to this issue you are creating quite the opposite impression. Also, societies where this practice is prevalent are not typified by being friendly to the west, they are typified by being islamic societies, regardless of geopolitical affiliation.

Even though other religions are not saintly either and and all display great lust for blood at times, islam is quite exemplary in its explicit codification of murderous imperatives towards those who harbor second thoughts about its tenets.

For the rest of the points that you bring up in your response:

1. I did not write about the persecution of Ahmadiyya muslims in Pakistan. Nor will I suggest that their persecution typically relates to islam. As far as I can tell, all religions tend to form sects and these sects are more hostile and aggressive towards each other than they are towards different religions altogether. It is not even limited to religions, one only needs to consider the historical strife among different communist sects.

What I did write about Ahmadiyya muslims is that they are tolerant of apostacy. Their belief that heaven has to judge these issues, not man, undoubtably has been causing them to "face anger and hostility of others".

2. For your information, I do not identify with any of the various cults worshipping the undead hippy on a stick, nor do I identify with the tribal cult of the vengeful murderous psychopath in the sky, or any blends of the aforementioned. The same for the often more exuberant forms of superstition as are practiced in other parts of the world.

In fact I hope to not identify with any system of fairy tales and holy books, because I have come to consider all of those to not just be plain false, both at the form of their arguments and at the core of their ideations, but more importantly they are to me obvious expressions of a derailment of the human spirit. I have come to the conclusion that all religions a collection of (often trans-generational) cosymptoms of traumatic infantile development disorder, and would belong to the realm of psychiatry, if only that discipline actually were a real science that made sense. Sadly, in practice much of western "science" has all the hallmarks of bad religion too.

Does that make me a desolate, despirited and soulless materialist? Perhaps it does, perhaps not.

What if my notions of spirit, devine or whatnot (these terms are all polluted and unable to impart real meaning) are incomprehensible from the point of view of all the literal-minded pie-in-the-sky fairy tale adherents. If I try to express these essentially inexpressible notions to people who would wholly misinterpret them, I might additionally risk to "face anger and hostility of others". Little chance of gain for either side, a sizable risk for me.

Let me summarize my position that if there is a divine, then any and all religion can only get in the way of that and you. Do you really believe that if there is a god or allah or whatever name you call it, that it needs a name, a book and a bunch of dudes in dresses and funny hats to talk with you?

Religious thinking in all of its forms is the bane of humanity. It has infested our minds, rots our hearts and chains our souls.

Even if you see yourself as a muslim, I do not. I see you as a fellow (human) being.

Every moment is an unique act of divine creation.

Posted by: Lurk | Mar 14 2021 20:36 utc | 94

Mr. Lurk

Your first paragraph sums up the Muslim Civilizations. So you are addressing yourself two the totality of 2 Civilizations.

(And again, there are no clergy in Islam. None. Nada. Nicht. Nyet.)

There are judicial opinions in Islamic Tradition to dealing with heretics. That is true. In as much as Leviticus condones the selling of one's daughter into slavery and killing homosexual men. Now we come to the practice, i.e. putting those judicial opinions into practice. Could you please cite historical examples of that?

I ask because almost all the historical examples that I am aware of were Sunni Muslims declaring Shia to be Heretics and murdering them; sort of what Christians were doing to one another for centuries.

The closest historical analogue to your scenario was the Babi Movement in Iran, but, to my knowledge, Bab's followers never stated that they were leaving Islam.

Ahmadhis are considered to be non-Muslims in Pakistan because a subset of them has elevated their founder to Prophethood. Islam holds that the Prophet of Islam was Seal of the Prophets.

So, again, please supply historical examples of this practice, as you call it.

To answer your question, I can state with metaphysical certainty that God exists. This has been known since the time of the Greek Rationalist philosophers what is not clear metaphysically or empirically is whether God cares about mankind or not. Here we need to have Faith, if we can, that our lives are endowed with meaning as was revealed to Zarathustra the Pure and those who followed him in his prophetic mission.

However, you are clearly an enemy of Islam. You have tried to hide that by making generalized statements about all religions but your enmity is foremost and primarily against Islam, its message, and its civilization. Nary a word from you about the every day caste violence of Hindus, the forcible temple prostitution of Dalit girls, or the wars of Judeo-Christians against Islam and Muslims.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 14 2021 21:15 utc | 95

First some practical points:

- Imams and ayatollahs to me count as clerics. Who writes those fatwahs anyway?

- I do not need to iterate historical instances of apostacy related murders, when islamic scripture and popular muslim consensus are so abundantly clear on the matter. I probably could find plenty of cases, but what is the gain and why do I have to put in the effort when the point is already obviously made clear by undeniable islamic doctrine?

This discussion started when I objected to your specific claim of islamic universalism by pointing out the way that islam approaches apostacy, which I think is a counterargument to your claim.

Had you frivolously extolled the presumed virtues of some christian cult, there would have been a good chance that I would have similarly posed some objections, likely by pointing out some of the many hypocricies and inconsistencies that run rampant in all forms of christianity. The same for judaism, hinduism, buddhism etc.

Generally I agree with the examples that you already gave, although I would say that in the name of christianity much worse atrocities were commited than the ones you claim against muslims. In fact, the current aggression against islam, if it really is aimed agains islam per se at all, is not actually waged by christianity at all. Apart from some backwater rednecks in the USA, christianity has been more or less dead in the west for at least half a century.

I am quite sure that I have in the past made vitriolic arguments on this forum against american christianity in particular, even without being provoked by some american christian spewing nonsense. So I could justifiably claim to be more biased against christianity than against islam. But I won't. As I stated before, the religions are in my opinion in essence equally bad.

Of course, if you look at the details, some are in some ways clearly worse than others. Judaism, as you rightly point out, is a true grabbag of codified insane atrocities, there is no competition to that, although traditional tibetan lamaist buddhism is a close contender. But jews rarely come forward claiming that their atrociously bloodlusty scriptures are the apex of devine wisdom.

So I am puzzled why some muslims insist on making nonsensical superiority claims about their flavor of superstitious fairy tales? In Europe, we call the time when we did that "the dark ages". We stopped doing that long ago. When will muslim societies catch up?

But this discussion should not be one of diversionary whataboutisms, it is about islam's way of dealing with apostacy standing in sharp contrast with any claims of universality. By continuing to attempt to distract from that, you are implicitly admitting to my point.

Finally, you can state with metaphysical certainty all you want, because what is "metaphysical certainty" anyway? It is utterly meaningless. The same with your "existing God". What "god"? Whose "god"? Can you even try to attempt to define these terms for yourself at all? Let alone convey these concepts in a precise and unambiguous manner to others?

Mind you, I am not attempting to bamboozle you with word games. I am sincerely asking you to question your own concepts and consider if they hold beyond the realms of your own cozy "faith". I hope that you are able to question these things for yourself. It is asking these questions that made the classical greek philosophers great. They weren't be bothered at all by godly superstitions, be it poly- or monotheistic.

Posted by: Lurk | Mar 14 2021 23:03 utc | 96

Fyi, you are proud of a Persian contribution to religion = Zarathustra. What about Bahaism?

I once heard Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) try to defend the death sentence Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie FRSL received from Iranian "non-clergy" (because Islam "has no clergy"). I decided he (YI) is a moron. When the issue was hot there was a joke going around - "Salman Rushdie's next book will be called "Buddha, You Fat Prick"!

Posted by: tucenz | Mar 14 2021 23:21 utc | 97

Mr. Tucenz

I do not know much about Babis or Bahais. Or Druze or Bektashis.

The fatwa of the late Ayatollah Khomeini was a jurist's opinion. It was never contested by an Muslim authority, religious or political, Shia or Sunni or Ebadi or Sufi.

The single man who tried to chart a more conciliatory course was Ayatollah - then Hojat al Islam - Khamenei, who, as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had earlier conferred "The Best Translation" prize on the book Shame by Mr. Rushdi.

You are bringing up the absence of Freedom in Islam, a valid observation and criticism, in my opinion.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 15 2021 0:36 utc | 98

Mr. Lurk

You state that there should be a discussion about how Islam deals with apostacy? Why? Muslims do not have to address this or that supposed shortcoming of Islam to non-Muslims, specially poorly educated, irreligious, and lazy intellects emanating from Europe.

You do not need to interact with Muslims or Muslim states, close your embassies and come home.

Posted by: Fyi | Mar 15 2021 0:44 utc | 99

It's crazy that Israel has full immunity and capable of doing whatever they want.

Posted by: Smith | Mar 15 2021 1:21 utc | 100