Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
September 17, 2021

How Jake Sullivan Screwed Up U.S. Relations With France

After reporters in a news room have written up a story it goes to editors who check it, provide a headline and often also rewrite the opening paragraph(s). The piece then  gets published.

That process at times leads to headlines and/or opening paragraphs which contradict the rest of the story. This can happen because the editor is in a rush and has not had the time to really digest a story. At other times it happens because the editor lets his personal political leaning, or a special preference for an involved person, shine through.

This seems to be the case with a New York Times story about the U.S. induced Australian cancelling of a deal to buy French submarines.

The United States says it gave France only a few hours’ notice of defense deal that Paris called a ‘knife in the back.’
By Michael D. Shear and Roger Cohen

The United States acknowledged on Thursday that it only gave France a few hours’ notice of its deal to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, a move that French officials have denounced as a major betrayal by one of its closest allies.

After the headline and the first paragraph any reader will assume that the U.S. indeed informed France a few hours before the deal became public.

That however is an outright lie as paragraph 11 and 12 of the very same piece provide:

Philippe Étienne, the French ambassador to the United States and the host of the party, said on Thursday that he learned about the deal from news reports, followed by a call from Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to Mr. Biden.

A senior American official said that the Biden administration had made efforts to inform the French government about the president’s announcement earlier Wednesday morning, but had been unable to schedule the discussions with their French counterparts before the news reports appeared online.

The U.S. did not say "it gave France only a few hours’ notice". The U.S. did not acknowledge "on Thursday that it only gave France a few hours’ notice of its deal".

The U.S. did the opposite of what the headline and opening graph of the NYT story claim.

"A senior American official" acknowledged that the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan screwed up and informed France only after Politico published the first report on the deal on Wednesday September 15 at 8:55 am.

Sullivan in fact cowardly avoided to tell France about the deal as a separate NYT piece by Roger Cohen provides:

France said it had not been consulted on the deal. “We heard about it yesterday,” Ms. Parly told RFI radio.

The Biden administration said it had not told French leaders beforehand, because it was clear that they would be unhappy with the deal.

The administration decided that it was up to Australia to choose whether to tell Paris, said a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to address the matter publicly.

Jake Sullivan screwed up. He was too coward to tell the French about the truck that would soon hit them. It was in fact likely he who 'leaked' the news to Politico before it was made official.

Lets remember that Sullivan's most recent big task - the coordination of the State and Defense Departments during the retreat from Afghanistan - also turned into a gigantic screw up.

France is deeply disappointed, not only about the deal itself, but about how it was handled. It will seek revenge for that betrayal.

Sullivan's involvement in the Australia deal has an interesting side note.

The Lowy Institute is ...

... at the centre of Australia’s foreign policy and national security debates. Every prime minister and foreign minister since 2003, when the Institute was founded, has spoken at the Lowy Institute. Our annual poll of Australian public opinion is cited around the world, our experts are sought out by the Australian media for commentary on breaking events, and our research – including our flagship Lowy Institute Papers, published by Penguin – helps set the national agenda.

As one of its 'experts' the Lowy Institute lists one Jake Sullivan as its "2017 Telstra Distinguished International Fellow".


bigger

Sullivan has only held one speech for the institute and wrote one lazy article for its website. One wonders how much he was paid for that 'fellow' gig. Whatever that was it made sure that some Australian insiders  have his number on speed dial.

The speech, held in June 2017, is to a large part about Trump's Asia policies. But it has significant bits about Sullivan's view on China and Australia:

Amidst this discussion of the U.S.-China relationship, let’s not forget that where China is headed at home remains a very real question mark.
...
And let’s also not forget the role of the rest of the region in responding to China’s rise. Do they essentially accommodate, or do they seek to work together, drawing in the United States to provide a durable counterweight?
...
I expect over time that our friends and partners in the region will become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a 19th-century-style sphere of influence in Asia, in which China slowly nudges the United States out and consolidates its power and influence in a way that will ultimately force regional countries to supplicate.
...
The erosion of our alliances would strike a brutal blow against American leadership in Asia. We should be doubling down on our alliances, making them more dynamic to face the threats and challenges of the 21st century.
...
Now, I should emphasize that this question of the future of a values-based community in Asia, doesn’t turn on U.S. policy alone. It also turns on whether our allies — our partners who share values of openness, democracy, and human rights — countries like Australia and Japan and Korea — step up and lead in defence of these values. I hope we will see more of that in the period ahead.
...
America has a remarkable capacity for reinvention and self-correction. There is still a strong foundation of support, in both political parties, for an active, engaged, dynamic role in the Asia-Pacific. And, I believe, there is still a strong demand signal in the region.

We’ve been in tight spots before. And we’ve come out the other side stronger and more dynamic. I believe that we will do so again.

And when we do, I know that we can continue to count on a vibrant alliance with Australia, working with confidence and common purpose toward a shared future.

The now announced increased deployments of U.S. military assets to Australia fits right into Sullivan's plans.

Australia will pay for the 'privilege' of thereby becoming a Chinese missile target by buying overpriced U.S. weapons.

That is how the world, from the view of U.S. empire minions like Sullivan, is supposed to be.

Posted by b on September 17, 2021 at 18:04 UTC | Permalink

Comments
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“Competition is a code word for confrontation”
– Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor

Here comes Empire’s media with their stories to maintain complacency and distraction. At a time when civilization is accelerating toward disaster, MSM instead of explaining reality of Australia’s vassal status, Empire’s wrong direction, monetary imperialism,... uses its favorite trick of mistiming for a freak show. Instead of sleepwalking us toward disaster, the U$A media need to remember their Paul Revere responsibilities — to awaken, inform, and rouse the people to action. Do Americans know where they’re going?

The Financial Empire is at WAR with China and Russia. It wants to maintain its hegemonic control over the world. It isn’t going to give up its dream of a global empire for which it has worked over centuries. When will China & Russia’s media acknowledge reality about vassal status, monetary imperialism, empire’s plans openly?

Without the US$ as the reserve currency the U$A is toast and the Financial Empire nears death.

As long as, China is conducting its international trade in the US$, it is a VASSAL of the Dollar Empire. What % of China’s international trade is in the US$? Why is China letting Empire’s financial firms enter the Chinese market? When will China’s majority of international trade happen in Non-$ currencies?

U.S. Seeking Basing in Australia After Submarine Deal
We’re in a dynamic era, a “world in transition.” Let’s see how China addresses the threat from Australia. It can pass a national security law ending commercial contracts with Australia, keeping only essentials. China can demand payments in Renminbi for Chinese products. What will be China’s moves towards Australia?

Will China-Australia trade be normal?

Posted by: Max | Sep 17 2021 18:55 utc | 1

America has a remarkable capacity for reinvention and self-correction.

America has a remarkable capacity for reinventionfantasy and self-correctionself-destruction.

There, fixed it for you, Mr Sullivan.

Posted by: BM | Sep 17 2021 19:03 utc | 2

The French should react with maturity (like Americans). For obvious reasons, they cannot change the name of French fries, perhaps they can rename cafe americano as cafe' esclave or something like that? Or hamburger into merdebourgeois?

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Sep 17 2021 19:05 utc | 3

I'm a bit puzzled. I confess to being unaware of the protocols but isn't Australia the buyer in this instance, the one who had a relationship with the French which they reneged on? So doesn't that make them the ones not fronting up in this situation?

Of course, the NYT piece sounds as though it is all the US doing a deal, and not Australia deciding to switch, so maybe they don't want it to sound other than it does, greater vs. lesser as far as who's really making the decisions. And in that case, it serves the US MAGA theme to get tangled up in who's on first. That new alliance is gonna be tricky to sort out.

Posted by: juliania | Sep 17 2021 19:12 utc | 4

Yes, the utter incompetence of Western elites is breathtaking in it scope, but the USA has no rival in the failure of its 'leadership.'

But isn't this just formality of Obama's 'pivot' to Asia? I mean they tried all through the Obama and Trump years to defeat Russia's 'aggression'. But it was always a lost cause. The USA has lost Europe to Russia. So the USUKA turns to lurch toward China and protect the rest of Asia from the Red Menace.

Which takes us back to the top. The ability for "American" elites to strategize, and execute policy based upon nothing more than their reflection in the wicked-stepmother's mirror is nil.

Guess we'll all have to brush up on our Mandarin.

Posted by: gottlieb | Sep 17 2021 19:13 utc | 5

Looks like Stoltenberg will be unemployed soon?

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 17 2021 19:14 utc | 6

>>France is deeply disappointed, not only about the deal itself but about how it was handled. It will seek revenge for that betrayal.

That happened before (Mistral ship sales to Russia, Total projects in Iran). Nothing is going to happen.

See that statement: "The American choice to push aside an ally and European partner like France from a structuring partnership with Australia, at a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges in the Indo-Pacific region ... shows a lack of consistency France can only note and regret."

Who is causing those "challenges" to "us"?

France is part of the anti-China direction but it does not like that it lost some money. That's it.

Posted by: Passer by | Sep 17 2021 19:24 utc | 7

@ Piotr Berman (#3), Is France sovereign? French got courage?

France was captured by the Financial Empire during the French Revolution and the Bank of France (central bank) established in 1800. France is a VASSAL of the Financial Empire. Who controls ECB?

The Financial Empire never cared about France and used it in WWI and WWII. Did the French learn? What did Victoria Nuland say about the EU? France is being played by the Empire now too. Anyone that thinks Australia, France or the EU are sovereign, is DELUSIONAL. Name a democracy that isn’t a suzerainty.

“The world is ruled by Global Ruling Clans and secretive government agencies and propaganda has enslaved public consciousness to ensure our compliance with their agendas. The Global Financial Empire will grow ever more abusive until it is dispensed with.

Your freedom was illusory.”

Posted by: Max | Sep 17 2021 19:27 utc | 8

It is easy to mock, but isn't a bit like tactfully telling the husband that you will drive away with his wife to avoid hard feelings?
-----
Hello Jean-Luc! Do you have a lot to prepare for the Australian submarine deal?
Why do you ...
I just want to tell you not to worry about the details there. You see...
-----
Other people carp about hypothetical bad effects like shorter duration of the Empire. Are you sure that there is a connection? What if the end is inevitable and the main focus is to stash the loot in your survival bunker? Or opposite...
-----
There may be reasons for honor among the thieves, but here we talk about arms merchants. A totally different level, not for petit bourgeois to understand.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Sep 17 2021 19:32 utc | 9

Canada's Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole apparently would join this "AUKUS" military pact immediately upon election.

Not only that:

"If elected, O'Toole has vowed to immediately ban Huawei gear from the country's 5G infrastructure, withdraw Canada from the the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and seek to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partnership, which is made up of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S."

He also wants "to pursue a Canada-Australia-New Zealand-U.K. partnership, which he's dubbed 'CANZUK'".

So if he becomes PM and adds Canada to "AUKUS" will they call it "CAUKUS"?

He's essentialy vowing to deliver billions of Canadian taxpayer money as yet more protection money to the US.

No thanks.

Would love to see Freeland-Trudeau booted out of office next week, but O'Toole does not sound better on this front. Both establishment parties are lackeys to the UKUSA transnational organized crime syndicate and its lucrative protection racket.

Posted by: Canadian Cents | Sep 17 2021 19:37 utc | 10

Looks like Stoltenberg will be unemployed soon?

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 17 2021 19:14 utc | 6

Some people plan ahead: "In August 2013, Stoltenberg said on his Facebook page that he had spent an afternoon working incognito as a taxi driver in Oslo." Since then, Jens could spend many afternoons preparing for a carrier switch.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Sep 17 2021 19:42 utc | 11

France is deeply disappointed, not only about the deal itself but about how it was handled. It will seek revenge for that betrayal.

Biden hid the deal from American Citizens that enough for me..

Posted by: snake | Sep 17 2021 19:43 utc | 12

Canadian Cents, as a fellow Canadian, UGH. At the election vote, I guess I’ll just write in « Vladimir Putin ».

...Unless there’s anyone actually worth voting for ? I imagine Canadian « democracy » is probably just as fake as in the US.

Posted by: Featherless | Sep 17 2021 19:45 utc | 13

@ Canadian Cents (#10), Canada is already on board with the Financial Empire in going after China, Russia, Venezuela,... Didn’t they go with the Empire in Afghanistan, Iraq,... No surprise here. Who are Canada’s plutocrats controlled by the Empire? Understand reality.

The Financial Empire is a global debt based financial system administered by the City of London and Wall Street, and enabled by NATO & Six Eyes.

The Financial Empire's hierarchical structure looks like the following:
Crown / Core: SIX Eyes - English Union, huge debt generators, negative trade balance (U$A, UK)
Conquered: EU/Germany/France,.., Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea – Debt distributors, positive trade balance (supporting the US$)
Capture: Russia, China, Brazil, Bolivia, Africa, Iran, ME, LATAM... – (Resource/Asset rich)
Chokepoints: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Sues Canal, Malacca Strait, Panama Canal...
Circumference:Rest of the world - India, Poland, Malaysia...

Reality trumps delusions!

Posted by: Max | Sep 17 2021 19:51 utc | 14

O'Tool "seek to join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue partnership..." so it will become a Quinquelateral (?) dialogue? Di- in dialogue stands for two, does it mean that someone (an invited guest?) and USA will be talking, while Australia, Canada, India and Japan will listen?

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Sep 17 2021 19:53 utc | 15

Feels like a rushed article, with grammar mistakes.

Posted by: Passerby | Sep 17 2021 20:05 utc | 16

In French, French fries are pommes frites, not pommes frites francaises.

Posted by: Lysias | Sep 17 2021 20:12 utc | 17

juliania 4 "That new alliance is gonna be tricky to sort out."

Any full blown military alliance with the US puts that countries military under the command of the US military.
We still have the same circle of people that took power with Abbott. At the time of the forty thousand refugees trapped on a mountain in Syria, Abbott was running around Obama's feet like an excited puppy wanting to go hunting. The current crew is no different.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 17 2021 20:13 utc | 18

The Lowy Institute, eh.
I question everything that comes out of that cherry picked talk shop, given that its billionaire founder, Frank Lowy, was a member of the terrorist gang Hagana and later joined the Golani Brigade, another murderous outfit in Palestine, before migrating to Australia and claiming to be a 'refugee.'

No surprises that Lowy counts 'Lucky' Larry Silverstein and Nuttyahoo as friends, strange bedfellows. Curiously, Lowy wasn't inspecting his real estate on 9/11.

https://middleeastrealitycheck.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-airbrushing-of-frank-lowy.html

Given that the Hagana conducted a brutal terrorist war against the British army, I wonder how the Queen was persuaded to give Lowy a knighthood. Australia abolished imperial honours many decades ago but Lowy elbowed his way in somehow.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 17 2021 20:20 utc | 19

Max 1

I think China will continue selling us manufactured goods for as long as we will buy them, which is likely to continue long after they stop buying our raw materials. China has already set about 'diversifying' it raw material imports. A few years for building of large scale infrastructure in various parts of the world then its game over for oz exports.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 17 2021 20:22 utc | 20

We all know that the French will do nothing significant. A Charles de Gaulle would have quit NATO and expelled US troops from France, a more restrained option would be for France to veto an extension of the sanctions on Russia or fast track a trade deal with China. But we all know the truth, the French will sulk and snark and dream of spiting in the US soup before meekly falling in line. Not that I really care, the French deserve to suffer for their little trick on Russia with the Mistrals ships, oh the delicious irony how the worm has turned!

Posted by: Kadath | Sep 17 2021 20:22 utc | 21

Featherless @13 and Max @14, thanks, have to agree that our "democracy", "news media", etc. are pretty much all captured, rigged, and controlled - in other words, a sham and illusion like pretty much everything in the UKUSA-led order .. It's a plutocracy and kleptocracy that acts like a transnational organized crime organization and quacks like a transnational organized crime organization.

Piotr Berman @15, maybe "Indo-Pacific Pentagon"? ;) Canada's participation as a tribute-paying subservient role in a "Quad"-turned-"Pentagon" alliance would, in O'Toole's mind, somehow mean Canada was "relevant" in the world ...

Posted by: Canadian Cents | Sep 17 2021 20:23 utc | 22

More on Frank Lowy:

https://crimesofzion.blogspot.com/2007/05/frank-lowy-zionism-and-911.html

Posted by: Paul | Sep 17 2021 20:23 utc | 23

The Governor General who dismissed Whitlam was SIR John Kerr.

Posted by: Lysias | Sep 17 2021 20:25 utc | 24

A good article by Tom Fowdy on China's surprise application to join that trans- Pacific free- trade bloc set up by the US, which it then left.

Includes Australia, NZ, Canada plus other Pacific states.

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/535112-china-boxes-america-growing-military/

Posted by: Gordog | Sep 17 2021 20:28 utc | 25

Looks like the French did at least go as far as to recall their ambassadors to both AU and US, but will that be the extent of their reaction?

Posted by: JD | Sep 17 2021 20:28 utc | 26

Tempest in a teapot?

Why is it up to USA to inform France? Australia had contracted with France and hasn't yet contracted with USA. It's up to Australia to tell France and end their contract with France.

<> <> <> <> <> <>

Is AUKUS just a hastily-arranged distraction from the discrediting of Gen. Milley?

Re-posting from my comment @Sep17 16:56 #172 on the Open-Thread:


Who ratted out Gen. Miley and why?

Is it because Gen. Miley opposed war with Iran?

“You’re Gonna Have a Fucking War”: Mark Milley’s Fight to Stop Trump from Striking Iran

A running concern for Milley was the prospect of Trump pushing the nation into a military conflict with Iran. He saw this as a real threat, in part because of a meeting with the President in the early months of 2020, at which one of Trump’s advisers raised the prospect of taking military action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons if Trump were to lose the election. At another meeting, at which Trump was not present, some of the President’s foreign-policy advisers again pushed military action against Iran. Milley later said that, when he asked why they were so intent on attacking Iran, Vice-President Mike Pence replied, “Because they are evil.”

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Sep 17 2021 20:31 utc | 27

@Piotr Berman | Sep 17 2021 19:42 utc | 11

France Recalls Ambassadors To US & Australia, Outraged Over Submarine Deal

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 17 2021 20:36 utc | 28

@Kadath | Sep 17 2021 20:22 utc | 21

We all know that the French will do nothing significant.

See #28

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 17 2021 20:37 utc | 29

Murdoch is listed as one of the prestigious speakers to have addressed the institute. I looked into it a number of years ago and at the time I had the impression Murdoch was very much part of it. Not a lot turning up in that area now though.
I see the clowns give out awards for 'excellence' in journalism.

The winners of the 2020 Media Award were Sophie McNeill, Echo Hui and Jeanavive McGregor for their ABC Four Corners episodes ‘Rebellion’ and ‘Tell the World’, about Hong Kong’s fight for democracy and China’s treatment of its Uyghur population.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 17 2021 20:39 utc | 30

Re: 29 Norwegian,

Yes, as I said, "nothing significant" and the "French will sulk and snark and dream of spiting in the US soup before meekly falling in line", recalling an ambassador means nothing unless there is a actual policy change of France towards the US. The best way to punish the US would be to veto an extension of the EU sanctions on Russia, since France's agricultural sector has taken a beating over Russian counter sanctions and the Germans have already shown that by sticking to their guns they got Nordstream 2 and cheap Russian gas to power their economy. If France wants to punish the US, grow its' own economy and force the US to take its' position into consideration in the future its what the French have to do. Everything else is just empty words and hallow gestures and those sort of actions deserve nothing but contempt and mockery.

Posted by: Kadath | Sep 17 2021 20:54 utc | 31

Jackrabbit "Is AUKUS just a hastily-arranged distraction from the discrediting of Gen. Milley?"

Or part of a planned trend - concentrate all forces on China to bring it down at any cost. US pullout from Afghanistan - retreat or repositioning? The anglosphere does not know and does not do defeat.

This is very much the anglo outlook - "We’ve been in tight spots before. And we’ve come out the other side stronger and more dynamic. I believe that we will do so again."

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 17 2021 20:58 utc | 32

Max | 1

"As long as, China is conducting its international trade in the US$, it is a VASSAL of the Dollar Empire. What % of China’s international trade is in the US$? Why is China letting Empire’s financial firms enter the Chinese market?"

I think China's dollar relationship to the US is a double-edged sword. The mountain of dollars that China uses and holds, it also gives them leverage over the issuer of those dollars, doesn't it?

--

Passer by | 7

"That happened before (Mistral ship sales to Russia, Total projects in Iran). Nothing is going to happen."

I agree. Macron? Schwab's shoeshine boy?

--

Nothing says "Hi, I'm a certified creep, and an inept one at that" like Jake Sullivan's mug shot there.

Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Sep 17 2021 21:07 utc | 33

Justified reactions from France: "Trust has been betrayed" / "I don't see how we can trust our Australian partners" / ""unacceptable behavior"

It would seem that "non-agreement-capable" is an inherited trait in the spawn of Perfidious Albion, aka Forked Tongue. No wonder they have these names and reputations.

(h/t Peter AU1 who had a similar thought about trait inheritance in this Infamous Five Eyes Family in other thread)

And this was with an ally ...

Posted by: Canadian Cents | Sep 17 2021 21:16 utc | 34

Scotch Bingeington: 'Nothing says "Hi, I'm a certified creep, and an inept one at that" like Jake Sullivan's mug shot there.'

Quote of the day! 😹

Posted by: Gordog | Sep 17 2021 21:29 utc | 35

re: Canadian Cents #35, as a fellow Canadian, We've come to expect the Americans to betray any agreement they sign, with friend or foe, before the ink is dry

Posted by: Kadath | Sep 17 2021 21:29 utc | 36

French submarines for sale!
Cheap!
Only dropped once!

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Sep 17 2021 21:33 utc | 37

“Feels like a rushed article, with grammar mistakes.”

This is how you know 100% that b wrote it, and not someone else.

Posted by: Cadence calls | Sep 17 2021 21:36 utc | 38

"France is deeply disappointed, not only about the deal itself but about how it was handled. It will seek revenge for that betrayal."

Here's a suggestion: France could withdraw from NATO and submit an application to join the SCO, which just offered membership to Iran.

Also, demand that the United States return the Statue of Liberty back to France.

If nothing else, it would be amusing watching the response of the Americans and see if they rerun their retarded "Freedom Fries" campaign.

Posted by: ak74 | Sep 17 2021 22:03 utc | 39

Aghanistan had run it's course. There is more money to be made in a regional arms race with China.

Posted by: ian | Sep 17 2021 22:05 utc | 40

Say, regarding the Mistrals deal with Russia, didn't France cancel it out of pressure from the USA and not under its own volition?

Posted by: joey_n | Sep 17 2021 22:11 utc | 41

@ Peter AU1 (#20), China needs to demand payments from Australia for its manufactured good in Renminbi. This way it has leverage over Australia. Also, China needs to reduce tourism and diversify from Australia. It will be interesting to watch China’s next moves.

@ Canadian Cents (#22), thanks for your candidness. We good people of North America need to unite to Expose, Neutralize and Defeat (END) the transnational organized crime organization. There is unity among thieves, the good people need to shine light on thieves and reality. It is time for a change!

@ Scotch Bingeington (#34), emphatic towards China’s position. They don’t have much leverage. However, things are getting worse for them and they’re being reactionary. The circumference of their encirclement keeps increasing. "The best defense is a good offense.”

Posted by: Max | Sep 17 2021 22:21 utc | 42

The Tom Fowdy RT op/ed initially linked by Gordog @25 discusses China's preferred Judo-like response to the Aussie sub folly and is highly suggested. The following ought to prove convincing:

"Although many expected Beijing to find some means of sanctioning Australia and escalating tensions, China is instead bidding to further strengthen economic ties with it. Given that Chinese-Australian trade relations have been severely strained recently, what’s going on here? Why is China doing this?

"It has been a long-term art of China's diplomacy to indirectly dilute the power of the United States against it by hastening its economic integration with other countries, a process which more deeply ingrains China into the global economy, protects the thresholds of its development, and reduces the capacity for ‘decoupling’ against it, isolating America and forcing them to act unilaterally. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is one successful example of how China has pulled this off, the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) is another.

"Much of the coverage of relations between China and the US is described through the mantra of ‘military tensions’ and the cliche of so-called ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’. But one should never overlook that Beijing’s primary route of response has been to utilize diplomacy and trade in order to try and weather the storm and potential coalitions against it, avoiding any head on confrontation with America itself. It attempts to play on the differences between Washington and its allies, which are often greater than they appear (as politicians in Paris may this week testify).

"As it happens, economics is a considerable part of those differences, especially because US politics, now dominated by protectionism and an anti-free trade mantra, has limited capacity or political space to compete with China in this sphere or offer any alternative.

"The US’ allies have not committed to decoupling from China economically in the way Washington has. Britain is a particularly significant example of this trend; while London has committed to a military pushback against China, it has not sought an undoing of trade or economic ties. Let us just remind ourselves again that Beijing is, after all, applying to join a bloc which Washington created and then quit, illustrating aptly how the US is on the back foot in this domain." [My Emphasis]

I see Fowdy's a very quick learner as he's picked up some very key points, most of which are emphasized, but there're more in the article. With the SCO and BRI's expansion, the reality is it's in no nation's national interest to enter into conflict with China--not even the Outlaw US Empire's. Contriving conflict with China serves the interests of only one special interest--the Merchants of Death; not even the group known as FIRE except for the minority aligned with the Merchants of Death.

So, China's response is wise and wily, and completely back-foots its opponents. IMO, something else must have occurred at the SCO to bolster China's confidence that helped arrive at its reaction. And that would be a verifiable change in India's attitude.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 17 2021 22:30 utc | 43

juliania@4 "the NYT piece sounds as though it is all the US doing a deal, and not Australia deciding to switch"

one of the keypoints of B's last two posts is precisely that Australia does not possess sovereignty to make its own independent decisions.

I would add that in the Asia Pacific that is true for Japan and Taiwan as well, and to a lesser extent south Korea. in contrast to Vietnam, Thailand, tho Thailand is in midst of a US color revolution operation like Myanmar. the Philippines charts its own way too, tho it's a delicate dance straddling both china the US.

if there is one key concept that the MICIMATT and presstitutes like NYTimes never use, it's 'sovereignty'. the vassals and rest of the world must not be allowed to think or talk about it. the "rules based world order" has no room for sovereignty except that of the hegemon.

Posted by: mastameta | Sep 17 2021 22:37 utc | 44

in contrast, the Chinese govt is always talking about sovereignty, including digital sovereignty, in its stated goals and in bow it talks about diplomacy and foreign relations. meanwhile in English media, that is pactically a foreign word

Posted by: mastameta | Sep 17 2021 22:43 utc | 45

Perhaps I will vote for the Communist Party of Canada
I wish everyone would... just to rattle their cages.
We have no one anyway.

Posted by: ld | Sep 17 2021 22:44 utc | 46

as regards fowdy piece on china wanting to join trade bloc with Australia and Canada, I would add it's not just about the trade and diplomacy approach, or if you wish, using economic clout for leverage. it's about being in the game so you can set the standards, such as for 5G and other new technologies such as fintech, and perhaps high speed rail as well.

with RCEP a done deal, it's not as if china needs the new pact for trade volume. it's about setting standards, which is the highest point in the "food chain" and the hardest thing for developing countries to achieve.

Posted by: mastameta | Sep 17 2021 22:57 utc | 47

Iran becomes full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/465134/Iran-becomes-full-member-of-Shanghai-Cooperation-Organizatio

"Hegemony and unilateralism are declining. The international system is changing towards the polarization and redistribution of power in favor of independent states," he said.

In another part of his speech, he said that the countries of the region must create the conditions for the people of Afghanistan to overcome their problems and draw a path to a secure future.

Posted by: mastameta | Sep 17 2021 23:05 utc | 48

This is big news in the picturesque Australian town of Betoota, particularly in the French Quarter:

https://www.betootaadvocate.com/world-news/liberals-wait-a-good-3-weeks-before-joining-america-in-another-war-we-will-also-likely-lose/
see related links.

Meanwhile, my sources have been unable to confirm if AUSUK diplomats have succeeded in twisting New Zealand's arm to cancel the biennial Akaora French Festival, 15 October to 17 October.

How dare the French set up a colony in New Zealand before it was subdued by the British.
All those French street names in Akaroa would have to go too.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 17 2021 23:23 utc | 49

Serious question: has Jack Sullivan ever held down a real job in his life?

Or has it been a history of made-up sinecures to park his sorry arse while he waits for "his" side to win back the White House?

The latter, I suspect, but I can't be bothered to look it up.

Anyone know?

Posted by: Yeah, Right | Sep 17 2021 23:23 utc | 50

mastameta @48--

Thanks for your comments! Standard setting's been mentioned before in China related articles, particularly those related to its space program, 6G and quantum computing. Considering many tech efforts are now jointly performed by Russia and China and the recent emphasis on governmental cooperation on all levels promoted by the SCO, we may see something emerge in the future where new tech standards are adopted by a multinational consensus combined with an effort to eliminate patents as part of the effort for humanity as a whole to equally share prosperity.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 17 2021 23:31 utc | 51

@27 Jackrabbit "Why is it up to USA to inform France?"

Probably because the USA was listed as the host of that tripartite pantomime reality-tv show, and its centerpiece was the announcement that the AUKUS "pact" was being set up to allow nuclear sub technology to be shared with Australia.

So protocol probably says that the USA is the party that is obliged to give fore-warning to any injured 3rd party.

The series lead. Not the plucky little side-kick, nor the dopey comic-relief.


Posted by: Yeah, Right | Sep 17 2021 23:33 utc | 52

Strategic formation in Eurasia and Asia Pacific are forming fast here are a few formation that are happening simultaneously and in concert. Observe them and form your opinion

1- US defeated and left Afghanistan in hurry?
2-Iran was admitted to SCO after 20 years waiting, obstacles were suddenly removed?
IMO this is the most significant of all other strategic positioning in recent announcements. Since now China and Russia have a security strategic partner to secure Hormuz and Bab-al-Mandeb if become necessary,that should be compared to Suez and Bosphorus which are in control of combined western alliance. After Rouhani’s adminstration, this a true decoupling of Iran’s FP from west and an announced membership to regional economic military strategic alliance with Eurasian countries and BRI. Significantly Western alliances have no strategic landing port in northern Indian Ocean. Or an access to a north south route (I have written about this many times before here) to central Asia or Northern Europe from Indian Ocean ( what they called back in WWII the bridge of victory). Mackinder’s heartland is now totally lost and Eurasia is almost integrated similar to a post 1453 which is not as bad since in modern time there are trains and can run all seasons avoiding Turkey if she wish to do her NATO position.

3-US and allies were not able to secure western Indian Ocean /Red Sea by defeating Yemen.
4-US was not able top fully secure cement her position in IRAQ/Syria in Western Asia
5-US apparently can’t be sure and rely on India to secure the eastern and southern Indian Ocean she truly as before trust the Anglo alliance and forms AUKUS which is nothing new just new subs for Australia which can’t and will not change the balance of power in SCS. IMO France who has claim historic rule in Sout Eastern Asia is more angry of not being part of AUKUS than selling subs to Australia. France was not trusted like India to be capable of standing up to China regardless what US policy is. US did not wish confronting China to become a matter of being questioned by allies.

Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 17 2021 23:34 utc | 53

I strongly approve of the Amerikastani Empire equipping itself with gibbering incompetents like Bidet and Sullivan. The more it alienates its stooges the better.


That said, for France to take revenge, the gerontophiliac Macronist Rothschild regime would have to give way to a significantly more populist one first. Macron is too invested in trying to displace post Merkel Germany to the position of EU dictator for revenge on the Amerikastani Empire.

Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Sep 17 2021 23:36 utc | 54

I really should have said EU was not trusted (not questioning) to fully implement US policy against China that is the reason for AUKUS and Canada is really a worthless ally she like NZ could be more of a burden. Australia has access to Pacific , and Indian Ocean and can be a good base, but she already was so what is changed just a few new Subs couldn’t US / UK run their already subs from Australian ports? Oh they already do

Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 17 2021 23:43 utc | 55

Zarif cites big proliferation double-standard in sub deal. Zarif tweeted:

"'US, UK, Australia & France - all self-proclaimed champions of non-proliferation - are racing to enable HEU [highly enriched uranium] proliferation,' he wrote. 'The anger and rift today is over competition for a submarine deal with SERIOUS PROLIFERATION THREAT.'"

This issue was noted by barflies but little else was said about it since it's clear the West doesn't want to admit it's breaking the NPT. It seems Biden isn't the only one afflicted with dementia in his administration. I'm glad to see Zarif is staying involved with events. He must be very pleased with Iran's SCO membership, which is something he worked hard to establish.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 17 2021 23:48 utc | 56

Well, the US did the same thing under Trump and screwed the German company Siemens. There were about to win a huge energy contract with Iraq and then Trump stepped in and forced Iraqis to give contract to Ge (probably ensuring it would never get done).

Siemens is said to have lost out on a $15bn contract to supply 11GW of power-generation equipment to Iraq after an intervention from the Trump administration on behalf of General Electric (GE).

Siemens is said to have lost out on a $15bn contract to supply 11GW of power-generation equipment to Iraq after an intervention from the Trump administration on behalf of General Electric (GE).

Although it appeared that Siemens would bag the major deal, the contract was announced in favour of GE due to pressure from the Trump administration on the Iraqi Government, according to sources familiar with the matter. Now GE is set to take the significant share of the deal.

News of losing the contract could be seen as a blow for Siemens, as it is understood to have been working on the deal for months.

Posted by: Erelis | Sep 17 2021 23:53 utc | 57

Kooshy 56

For the anglosphere, this is a two front war of survival. Canada is locked into the Russian front. Chockers full of ukraine nazi's.
In oz, the greatest fear has always been the yellow hordes swarming down from the north.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 17 2021 23:57 utc | 58

Kooshy @54--

Do take a look at this graphic, and read these two excerpts from Putin's speech:

"There is also a robust portfolio of applications from other countries seeking to cooperate with our Organisation in one way or another, and it definitely deserves our close attention."

"There is one more thing I wanted to say. I would like to highlight the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed today between the SCO Secretariat and the Eurasian Economic Commission. It is clearly designed to further Russia’s idea of establishing a greater Eurasian partnership covering the SCO, the EAEU, ASEAN and China’s Belt and Road initiative."

Looking good, don't you agree?

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 17 2021 23:59 utc | 59

@ Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 17 2021 23:43 utc | 56

Yes, Australia is essential for the USA. You cannot claim yourself to be a world empire without having Australia, as it gives you a springboard to wage a total war and subjugate the entire Oceania and SE and East Asia.

Australians shouldn't feed themselves the illusion they will ever get out of the American grip. It would require a gruesome civil war in order for that to happen.

Posted by: vk | Sep 18 2021 0:04 utc | 60

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 17 2021 23:59 utc | 60

Thanks i sure agree, I forgot to mention EAEU and collective security were also present in Dushanbe. And I also forgot to mention on Afghanistan there was a new quad of foreign minsters on Afghanistan, what was called meeting of immediate Nighbor’s of Afghanistan ( Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan) Notice Russia not a border nighbour of Afghanistan was there but India was not invited?
One Must read Pepe’s coming report he knows this well.

Posted by: Kooshy Afshar | Sep 18 2021 0:09 utc | 61

Peter AU1 @Sep17 20:58 #33: Or part of a planned trend ...

Yeah, I wrote about that on the previous thread (link to "This is Cold War containment").

But as more is made of the US betrayal of France, the more I think that THAT PART of AUKUS is just a smokescreen.

Yeah, Right @Sep17 23:33 #53 because the USA was listed as the host of that tripartite pantomime reality-tv show

First, we have to believe that the AUKUS members really didn't tell a major ally like France.

Then we have to believe that this announcement has any substance (beyond the usual Aussi prostration) which would require weeks (or months) of discussion beforehand.

THEN, and only then, do we get to the question of who should've told the French. And also why the French didn't figure it out for themselves.

Seems like a hastily-arrange dog and pony show with a sure-fire controversy that points us away from other things: Milley? Admission of killing innocents in Kabul? CDC recommending against Covid-19 booster shots for the general population? Something else?

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Sep 18 2021 0:14 utc | 62

It's time, to coin a phrase, for Pastor Morrison to go for a swim at Cronulla beach. Sylvania Waters, closer to his home, would be too shallow for the Chinese submarine to sneak in unobserved.

http://harold-holt.net/chinese.htm

Posted by: Paul | Sep 18 2021 0:15 utc | 63

Also worth noting: Saudia, Qatar and Egypt have been formally admitted as Dialog Partner status in SCO!

Not much said about Afghanistan at this point, which I will take as a good sign...ie steady as she goes.

Posted by: Gordog | Sep 18 2021 0:27 utc | 64

GT's scathing editorial compares/contrasts SCO and NATO:

"There is no Western country in the SCO member states. Turkey, a dialogue partner of the SCO, is the only member of NATO related to the SCO. In the 20 years since the SCO's establishment, the West has been constantly badmouthing and questioning it. Proud Westerners believe that the SCO will not last long, but the SCO has walked a path far beyond their expectation. Today, the SCO has become the most extensive and populous comprehensive regional cooperation organization worldwide. It is full of vitality. On the contrary, NATO, the largest political and military organization led by the West, is regarded as experiencing a 'brain death' [Macron] by itself.

"Why? Fundamentally, it is because the SCO is practicing real multilateralism which is in the common interest of everyone. The original intention of the SCO was to seek consensus and win-win situation. It aims at resolving problems, not to unite to deal with anyone, nor is it a geopolitical tool dominated by a major power. When the SCO was established, the founding member states profoundly summarized their successful cooperation experience and creatively proposed the Shanghai Spirit - mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development. When facing problems, SCO members would negotiate to reach a consensus and there is an equal vote for every country, whether big or small....

"The SCO's positive role and NATO once again constitute a sharp contrast regarding the Afghan issue. NATO is indeed an expert in causing havoc. The US and the West ran away leaving a mess in Afghanistan. Now the SCO, out of a high sense of responsibility, comes to help Afghanistan. It's clear which one is good."

There's more, but that last sentence is a truth NATO will never be able to undo no matter how much it lies.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 18 2021 1:11 utc | 65

Slightly OT, but US military now admits Kabul drone strike was a 'mistake'. No ISIS-K killed, just 10 civilians.

No disciplinary measures! They 'stand by' their so-called 'intel.'

https://www.rt.com/news/535163-kabul-drone-strike-killed-civilians/

Posted by: Gordog | Sep 18 2021 1:22 utc | 66

@63 Jackrabbit "Seems like a hastily-arrange dog and pony show with a sure-fire controversy that points us away from other things:"

You are thinking too big, when what we are dealing with here (Morrison, Biden, Boris) are very small-minded politicians.

You have to understand that Morrison is in deep trouble in the opinion polls, and a Federal Election is due mid-2022.

So the dog and pony show could have been arranged for no other purpose than to help his re-election.

Think about it:
1) Morrison gets to trash the existing (uber-expensive) French contract without anyone - except for the French, and f**k you, Frenchie - even talking about it, much less paying attention to the implications of trashing a binding contract.

2) Morrison can now run on a "Yellow Peril" re-election campaign, and nobody - except the Chinese, and f**k you, Xi - can hope to call him out on the cynicism of such a campaign.

3) Morrison isn't even obligated to come up with a replacement submarine program even though he gets to run on a platform that "nuclear subs" are A Done Deal. Which they are not, because there is still that "18 month consultative process".

4) Morrison has arranged things so that the crunch time - the feasibility study that emerges from that "consultative process" - doesn't actually report until six months *after* that Federal election has occurred.

So he is sitting pretty: he has canned an existing project, gets to big-note a much-bigger "replacement project", and then he is able to can that after his re-election.

Except for one small problem: the Americans are on a whole different level of nasty to the French. A re-elected Morrison might start back-tracking on this, only to have a tap on the shoulder and hear Washington growl "Wadda think yur doing, buddy? Nice country, hate to see it broken....."


Posted by: Yeah, Right | Sep 18 2021 1:23 utc | 67

@ mastameta (#45), very good point about the ‘SOVEREIGNTY.’

“if there is one key concept that the MICIMATT and presstitutes like NYTimes never use, it's 'sovereignty'. the vassals and rest of the world must not be allowed to think or talk about it. the "rules based world order" has no room for sovereignty except that of the hegemon.”

The vassals of the Empire don’t want to expose their reality. It is good that China and Russia are talking about it, as they work towards achieving it! Vladimir Putin has discussed the topic of ‘sovereignty’ in his articles. It will be great if China’s & Russian media would expose this reality about these vassals. How should we refer to vassal countries?

When discussing about any nation, the first thing to do is explore its sovereignty. If it is a suzerainty, then who are the Rulers. Please, keep in mind a simple truth: the ownership of a flag and an emblem per se counts for nothing. Never be surprised if a country acts against its own interests. The simple fact is that this country does not have a real autonomy.

Please name nations that have absolute national sovereignty.

Posted by: Max | Sep 18 2021 1:28 utc | 68

Posted by Jackrabbit @ 27

Who wrote:
"Why is it up to USA to inform France? Australia had contracted with France and hasn't yet contracted with USA. It's up to Australia to tell France and end their contract with France."

The French want to hear it from the organ grinder, not the monkey.

Posted by: Paul | Sep 18 2021 1:51 utc | 69

The USA empire is run by a bunch of suckers looking for a excuse to everything it does to itself. Urban Moving Systems and its holding company, Classic International Movers are alive and well and still doing business under their skin.

Just like a scabies infection.

Now Australia picks up the rash.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 1:59 utc | 70

@ Paul | Sep 18 2021 1:51 utc | 70 who wrote

"
The French want to hear it from the organ grinder, not the monkey.
"

Maybe it should be worded

The French want to hear it from the organ grinder, not a fellow monkey.

And yes, the French see themselves as more than part of the "Commonwealth"

It remains to be seen if the French wagon will circle with the others "properly"......

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 18 2021 2:03 utc | 71

Yeah, Right #68

the Americans are on a whole different level of nasty to the French. A re-elected Morrison might start back-tracking on this, only to have a tap on the shoulder and hear Washington growl "Wadda think yur doing, buddy? Nice country, hate to see it broken....."


Exactly that. They have done that before and they will do it again. Close the USA embassy and send their crappy little bases back home. Show respect for your neighbours, build trade with nations that have demonstrated respect for human lives and their communities.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 2:06 utc | 72

I do find it interesting and perhaps indicative of something that the minions around "Biden", although slightly more presentable, are just as incompetent as those around Trump.

Posted by: Bemildred | Sep 18 2021 2:14 utc | 73

Kooshy #54


IMO France who has claim historic rule in Sout Eastern Asia is more angry of not being part of AUKUS than selling subs to Australia. France was not trusted like India to be capable of standing up to China regardless what US policy is. US did not wish confronting China to become a matter of being questioned by allies.

France, like the USA has been kicked out of many of 'its' properties in SE Asia. Like the USA it sits on other people's land like New Caledonia and Hawaii respectively. They are both ridiculous failed old empires.

France at least believes it has cache in Syria and Libya and the USA still self deludes that it 'has' Israel and Jordan.

Society malefactors with delusions of grandeur are never comfortable at the same table. Best they attend brief ceremonies and otherwise keep apart. This Micron is truly representative a long line of French pretenders and his Biden counterpart clearly descends from an imperial virus so totally deranged that it cannot defeat any of the poorest nations on earth. At least they both share that ignominious trait.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 2:26 utc | 74

karlof1 #60

"Looking good, don't you agree?"

I like that, its a play on the old domino theory espoused by the Dulles brothers.

The jigsaw theory - I expect we will hear more about it :)

It is quite normal and sane for neighbour countries to do these things but I suggest there will be idiot paranoids in FUKUSAOZi winding up the wurlitzer of race hate and invasion terror.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 2:34 utc | 75

This is brilliant and concise

Australia will pay for the 'privilege' of thereby becoming a Chinese missile target by buying overpriced U.S. weapons.

Posted by: Anunnaki | Sep 18 2021 3:01 utc | 76

A piece in Tass.
https://tass.com/world/1339135

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will actively combat the development of bacteriological and toxin weapons and counter terrorism, the Organization said in its anniversary Dushanbe declaration published Friday.

"The member states especially underscore the importance of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction as one of the pillars of the global security architecture," the document says.

All these weapons systems and a few little bugs can bypass the lot, unless of course China and Russia attribute blame and sterilize the world troublemaker.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 18 2021 3:03 utc | 77

This Decimate Empire has an end game. It is to RETAIN and Extend control over its core.

The implacable Masters who created and raised nations and owned these nation states rulers, of course don’t give a toss for the actual Peoples of the world who are just slaves and ‘resources’ in their eyes - that is why they have never Raised the Poorest - to keep their hierarchies in place.

How do these Gods of Humans actually behave towards these that it’s proxy Nazis can't deliver?

They hedge! They aim to have a piece of the action even if they can’t own it. They play the ‘if you can’t beat them - join them’ card In the hope of eventually inveigling their proxies into Power. In the time honoured way of corrupting and owning the future rulers. They can wait. They always have. And believe they always will as they have done for centuries.

France is being prepped for its next election - they know they are threatened and their man , the latest iteration of the Sun King has failed to destroy the EU when he was supposed to. He had been put into power by the control of he MSM and self destruction of the political ‘rivals’. He failed because They failed to dislodge Merkel even as they succeeded in installing their BrexShit poodles in the U.K. where they currently work against the Independence of Scotland. They know that the true ‘patriots’ the grassroots Peoples are their greatest threat. These who would throw off the shackles of the artificial Nation States they create along with the ‘National Banks’ which are actually Owned byThem.

The EU believers are setting to dislodge the Fake King.
Barnier is grabbing that petty Banker emperors clothes and they need to protect the EM brand so he can do what had failed to happen so far a never closer Union that inevitably leads to a EU /EAEU (SCO) security allegiance as pathfinder by the various Streams’ Nord and South that physically links into a robust energy grid throughout the EuraAsia land mass and all its Peoples raising the Poorest as The Prime Ibjective of Humanity in the C21st.

How better than to manoeuvre the patriot Manny as standing up against the US (Anglos) ?

That is obvious.

As is the reason why Canada and its Boy King is sitting out this dance until he has been re-elected or a suitable ‘Fake Opposition’ is installed - the Canuks will join.

As is the most insidious, worm tongue, the angelic Jacinda! The Hobbit Queen - the Blairite babe who actually made it!
Whom the dumb dumb kiwis bought into, with her saintly Mary act! Just like the UJ was sold bambi Yo Blair.mass murderer and stealer of Peoples Wealth for his Masters.

Both of these will be directed to join in with OZ and its Sheeples, as they are all joined at the same 5+1 eyed hip like the monstrous Gollum’ that was planned and made centuries ago

Equally so amongst many a proxy leader, in the many artificial Nations- Modi and Khan, having been long installed to be the fronts who are supposed to be the last great geographic stops on these fronts, who may yet be persuaded to further destroy their Peoples well being for the Ancient Slave Owners.

But it is futile because the Empire is dead dead dead

Long live the modern multilateral Empire of the Peoples of Earth!

Posted by: D.G. | Sep 18 2021 3:17 utc | 78

Now it is clear that France will stop opposing (as it usually does - behind the courtain) the final German approval of Nord Stream 2. The German government has 4 months time to pass the approval - as stated by Lavrov (seen on youtube)

Posted by: bystander 04 | Sep 18 2021 3:19 utc | 79

more usa empire falling apart... great writing b.. thank you...

@ 70 paul response to jackrabbit... - "The French want to hear it from the organ grinder, not the monkey." well said, lol...

Posted by: james | Sep 18 2021 4:03 utc | 80

Yeah, Right @Sep18 1:23 #68

Looks like I was right that AUSUK announcement "point us away from other things".

Australia says more US troops to come, eyes missile work

Outlining further measures on a visit to Washington, Defense Minister Peter Dutton said Australia will be "significantly enhancing" cooperation including working together on the development of missiles and explosive ordnance.

I'd guess that "working together the development of missiles" is more likely to mean development of missile sites than development of a new class of missile.

Australians think it's all about future submarines when its actually about basing arrangements NOW.

!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Sep 18 2021 4:20 utc | 81

PR China has now 6 Jin-class nuclear subs armed with nuclear tipped ballistic missiles: now that is deterrent. In 20 years how many more?
IF Australia has 1 or 2 nuclear subs with conventional tomahawks after 20 years it with give the CCP only a chuckle.
Maybe the whole intention of this Aussie PM was just to warn off the CCP? France was not big enough as back up.

Posted by: Antonym | Sep 18 2021 4:29 utc | 82

Jackrabbit

Time line of bases will be the only limiting factor. One that is done, boxes with subs, Australian stickers and also new Australians can be sent out in flatpacks. But yeah lots of other shit has been on the cards for over a year with lots of new bases being built for the yanks. This military alliance agreement that is kept hidden behind the subs formalizes it and locks us into US control no matter who happens to be the elected clown.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 18 2021 4:45 utc | 83


Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 2:26 utc | 75

IMO, ever since Obama’s presidency US deep state has been focused on efforts to maintain her hegemony on world affairs rather than expanding. This has been quite obvious even in reports and analysis put out by related think thanks or even policies announced by the US ruling governments and surprisingly in these three administrations policy trajectory has not changed , even the tactics are just superficially re dressed. All this said, one can come to believe unlike before (cold war 1) US doesn’t have much money to realistically spend and maintain he hegemony not much foreign aids (bribes) not much serious military protection etc. Very much o this reminds me of a dirty common Persian proverb which is, ( Wanting to have sex with someone else’s dick”) in this case Australia's. The truth is US doesn’t have the money and resources to fight China and Russia simultaneously and the EU allies can see this and they don’t have the resources and or the luxury to enter in a war that is either on European soil or in far away south east Asia. All this noise sounds a total childish BS coming from US no the other two blind eyes. In my opinion this a lot of empty talks coming from empty suits or a naked emperor.

Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 18 2021 5:09 utc | 84

I can only hope that such an insult jerks the EU elite away from the Anglo'$ tit.
A really internationally independent EU is needed and can be: combined French, German etc tech can do it. The problem is more in the minds of the EU top: busy with non-issues like CO2, NO2, foreign subsidy seekers, while the World shifts to a multi polar constellation. The EU has a plenty in common with other in between powers like India, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Indonesia etc. but they don't work on good relations with them due to uncle $(c)am.

Posted by: Antonym | Sep 18 2021 5:23 utc | 85

That Peter Dutton is a dangerous fellow. China is not a weakling that will tolerate sand being kicked in its face - it will if necessary pound Dutton and the land he stands on into an invisible speck of bulldust. What on earth are these Aussies thinking?

Australia is so badly mismanaged by its current coalition government, that even former Treasurer Paul Keating came out swinging: https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/defence-and-foreign-affairs/former-pm-paul-keating-slams-aukus-partnership-questions-what-chance-the-us-would-have-in-a-full-blown-war-against-china/news-story/06903b747643826d13d3923d4daf66f7

Thank goodness NZ was smart enough to not have a bar of this.

Posted by: Anon | Sep 18 2021 5:41 utc | 86

This comment is not article related, but to b.

Your Cloudflare "protection" has recently changed its configuration so that connections over Tor are no longer possible. It amounts to a constant connection loop with no final connection. The behaviour started on September 17. Previously, it would take a while, but a connection would be established.

FYI,

Avid reader

Posted by: YesXorNo | Sep 18 2021 9:20 utc | 87

"“Competition is a code word for confrontation”
– Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor

The gentleman is correct, but may have failed to extend the "enlightenment" to "capitalism is based on competition and hence capitalism facilitates constant confrontation whilst inhibiting co-operation.

"A senior American official" acknowledged that the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan screwed up and informed France only after Politico published the first report on the deal on Wednesday September 15 at 8:55 am."

"A senior American official" apparently acknowledged that the National Security Advisor's "screwing up" was restricted to not informing those screwed up in advance, not by engaging in practices of screwing others which is accepted as the norm.

However this practice was/is not limited to "A senior American official" and the National Security Advisor but was/is endemic in the coercive social relations self-designated as "The United States of America" which include but are not limited to "Australia" and "The United Kingdom", and why these coercive relations require to be transcended.

Posted by: MagdaTam | Sep 18 2021 9:40 utc | 88

Back in the 1930's the Australian Emus defeated the ozzie military even though armed with sophisticate weapons. The USA has been fleeced again and is likely already defeated by the poorest guerrilla army on earth. What's more this army is all volunteer birds. Watch out they don't crap all over Pine Gap.

Meredith knew what his problem was. The emu was simply too fast for his stationary Lewis gunners. So, he did the only sensible thing available to him and mounted his Lewis gun onto a truck in a proto-”Mad Max”-ian attempt to subdue the emu. The plan was sure to succeed. No bird could outrun both a truck and bullet. The brilliant tactic was short-lived. The emus could maintain their distance from the encumbered truck, and the uneven terrain made aiming the gun nearly impossible.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Sep 18 2021 9:46 utc | 89

"Furious EU complains that it was 'not consulted' on AUKUS submarine deal
[]
Josep Borrell said union was only made aware of new alliance through the media"

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9998659/Furious-EU-complains-not-consulted-AUKUS-submarine-deal.html

It is in such details that you can spot the true intentions of this deal.

If the real intentions were to strengthen security and military policies, the US-UK-A troika must have consulted their most important European allies, in order to optimize resources and avoid domestic quarrels.

Such "omission" proves that the real intentions were to fool the French and grab the defence money pot.


"Morrison said he expected the first of nuclear subs, which are to be constructed in the Australian city of Adelaide, would be built by 2040."

https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/australia-dumps-french-submarine-deal-for-us-nuclear-fleet/

I'm not a military expert, but common sense tells me that for such a long term it very doubtful to call this move strategic and game-changing. What if Chinese and Russian develop antisubmarine technology much earlier than 2040? What if the next financial crisis, which may be 10 times bigger than that of 2008, appears before 2040 and forces to halt the program?

Or better: What if upcoming, new "rules-based order" forces NATO allies and members to build all the submarines in Newport News or such? Anithing goes to save the MIC racket.

Posted by: Andres | Sep 18 2021 11:21 utc | 90

We are probably lucky that an asteriod wiped out the Dinosaurs. Otherwise today we could be chased by gatling gun wielding emus.

There is a bird even more dangerous than the Emu. The Cassowary, which is a relative, it has three "toes", the middle one is longer and sharper than the others. The technique they use is similar to than used by the Deononychus, which is to leap up, and with one downward slice cut open the adversary from top to bottom.

https://cdn.britannica.com/59/8059-050-F215A0A4/John-Ostrum-dinosaur-Deinonychus-creature-paleontology-field.jpg

https://imgur.com/a/STeQJuK

Posted by: Stonebird | Sep 18 2021 11:31 utc | 91

Does anybody know why France did recall it's ambassadors from Australia and the US but not from the UK?

Posted by: m | Sep 18 2021 11:42 utc | 92

RE: Posted by: Andres | Sep 18 2021 11:21 utc | 91

“Education” is one of the preparations for thinking within frames of “perceived plausibility”, which restricts hypotheses to perceive and test.

The hypotheses you pose include:

“I'm not a military expert, but common sense tells me that for such a long term it very doubtful to call this move strategic and game-changing. “

“Or better: What if upcoming, new "rules-based order" forces NATO allies and members to build all the submarines in Newport News or such? Anithing goes to save the MIC racket. “

Restricted by the hypotheses you pose are the questions:

“Why was the association restricted to “Australia”, “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irealand” and “The United States of America”?

“Why were the “Chinese” and “French” so annoyed ?”

which those enmazed in frames of “perceived plausibility” tend not to perceive, or if they do perceive, deem the questions to be of minor significance and hence inherently implausable – a reliance on belief not testing..

Posted by: MagdaTam | Sep 18 2021 11:55 utc | 93

Posted by: m | Sep 18 2021 11:42 utc | 93

I heard because Washington was the real culprit behind all of this.

Posted by: Passer by | Sep 18 2021 12:17 utc | 94

Passer by | Sep 17 2021 19:24 utc | 7

"Nothing is going to happen."

You may be right, but the examples you point to are old, and times they are a'changin'. Europe is fed up with the US, and the US no longer has much to offer.

I say this is another major f-up by the Biden regime. France still needs US support for its Africa wars, so it's not final. But it is pretty bad.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Sep 18 2021 13:15 utc | 95

Canadian Cents @10:

No, it would be called AUUSUCK, pronounced 'oh, you suck!'. It has the advantage of begin both an acronym and a scientific description.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Sep 18 2021 13:19 utc | 96

Posted by: m | Sep 18 2021 11:42 utc | 93

IMO, French ambassador was pulled because France was not told of new security arrangement (more likely a protest not to include France ) and the ambassador in Ausi since the sub deal was canceled. Both moves are meaning less, US correctly thinks France doesn’t have the power and means to be a useful reliable partner on this alliance. Her security council vote is not effective since China can veto any decision she don’t like. So what help France can offer to confront China in South China Sea, beside being a burden if she doesn’t fully fallow or questions US decisions that makes the alliance weaker. IMO that is also the thinking behind the quad. In the coming phases of containing China US can’t have a weak wobbly alliance with too many cooks.

Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 18 2021 13:30 utc | 97

@Françoise | Sep 18 2021 13:32 utc | 102
Based on this, do you still think the reaction from France will be "Nothing significant"?

Posted by: Norwegian | Sep 18 2021 13:36 utc | 98

But at the end of the day, the political whore France has always been and is she fully deserved to be shoved in the ass by her best ally. I am glad, a very good for the multipolar world , French need to start leaking more of American butts, or move on and try the chines ones.

Posted by: Kooshy | Sep 18 2021 13:39 utc | 99

This is a very important hint:

Pentagon Warns Europe of Russia Posing Bigger Security Threat Than China

The message is very clear: the role of the European Peninsula is to fight Russia, not China. Therefore, it's not France's place to make deals with Australia except where David Ricardo's and his neoliberal successors' "global productive chains" apply (i.e. in products unique to France which Australia needs, e.g. French wine).

It will be interesting to see how things develop in NATO geopolitics for the next three or four decades, because there are clearly two different worldviews in place:

1) of the main Peninsular powers (France, Germany), who consider the American Empire the "Western Civilization", therefore the field where the purest form of liberalism can exist and thrive, which means they can freely compete in capitalist terms worldwide between themselves (free trade); and

2) of the USA, who considers the American Empire a single entity, a unit, a single empire, therefore one that should be centrally commanded, which means each province should be coordinated from the center (i.e. the USA proper, "Washington, D.C.") in a well-orchestrated geopolitical plan and operations.

Posted by: vk | Sep 18 2021 13:55 utc | 100

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