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November 17, 2021
Open Thread 2021-89
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As, in general, people in the US and US blogs, especially those who politicaly oppose Joe Biden and his administration claim that what the “build back better” and the “Great Reset”, plus the “pandemic measures” are about “socialism”, I would like to debunk such a claim by just giving a look at our protagonists…
Who is Alexander Schallenberg, recently affiliated with the Austrian People’s Party VOP, the new Austrian Chancellor who has taken the initiative in Europe to impose apartheid against the non-vaccinated, as an example to follow, after the slogan launched by Javier Solana from his Twitter account , and which our governments have been quick to imitate?
What interests us most about his biography listed on Wikipedia is that he is an alumni of the College of Europe, alma mater of European liberalism and its project of the Federal Europe of the United States of Europe, inspired by the founder of the College of Europe, Salvador de Madariaga (Javier Solana’s great uncle, also alumni ..) whose ideas, opposed to Keynesianism and the social state, shared with such as Milton Fridman (founder of the Chicago School and supporter of the application of economic shocks to subdue nations , as applied to the former USSR, if necessary through the implantation of totalitarian dictatorships, as in Chile, Argentina …), both members of the Monte Pelerin Society, on how society should be organized, are crystallized in the following pearls …
“… in Anarchy or hierarchy he proposed a concept called ‘unanimous organic democracy’, in which the state would not tolerate strikes or unions and would restrict the right to vote.”
“In 1935 he published Anarchy or hierarchy, an essay in which he proposed a society stratified in three levels: a lower class – without the right to active citizenship and characterized by its lack of individual responsibility -, the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. In it there would be a departure from democratic principles in pursuit of a “hierarchical organic democracy” ..
I fear this is the proyect/system we are seeing accelerated being impossed throughout the whole “pandemic”, one which Russia, by the condition of the current leadership may not dislike at all, hence their lack of opposition to these measures being impossed in spite of being in the, apparently, verge of war with the West…
Posted by: Black bread | Nov 20 2021 1:35 utc | 201
As illustration, here Soros´ heir ( in case you would have the hope that with the old man´s demise we will find any respit…)visiting our protagonists in Austria…just a week ago…A casuality, no doubt…
https://twitter.com/LOQUEDIGAELFMI/status/1461723573597478913
Posted by: Black bread | Nov 20 2021 1:54 utc | 202
phiw13 #171
What do you think of this article by Gary Brecher (aka John Dolan, aka the War Nerd)? The War Nerd: The Tigray-Ethiopia War. Quite long reading.
That link was a very good read to gain further understanding of the conflict. Thank you for the time.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 3:35 utc | 203
“In 1935 he published Anarchy or hierarchy, an essay in which he proposed a society stratified in three levels: a lower class – without the right to active citizenship and characterized by its lack of individual responsibility -, the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. In it there would be a departure from democratic principles in pursuit of a “hierarchical organic democracy” ..
—
Posted by: Black bread | Nov 20 2021 1:35 utc | 201
That sounds like Huxley’s “Brave New World”. And like Schwab’s Great Reset. I guess they all think alike.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 20 2021 3:37 utc | 204
A Philippine presidential candidate flying high on cocaine.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1160286
My bet on the snowman wanna be high flyer is Many Pacquiao who talks about helping poor people but does nothing for them himself, despite his considerable wealth [the choice of the US embassy for President]
Or could it be the more popular ‘bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
Posted by: Paul | Nov 20 2021 4:00 utc | 205
Paul @151
Yes I highly recommend Brand. He has been knocking it out of the park throughout this entire fiasco. I find him very measured and informative.
Glad you liked him.
Posted by: ld | Nov 20 2021 4:18 utc | 206
karlof1 and Bemildred and all
Fully with you and still smiling on Russia’s R2P/UN/Minsk resolution hat trick. I guess Putin could always rub salt into the Stoltenberg hysterics by thanking CIA visitor Burns for his helpful suggestions. Regardless of whatever was said it would be fun to watch the spittle on Stoltenberg’s chin. Imagination wrapped in ambiguity can be a tricky thing.
long live eastern Ukraine and all its good people and minerals and factories. I guess western Ukraine gets the Chernobyl national reserve as compensation, so that’s something.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 4:47 utc | 207
For those barflies that have not yet caught up with Daniel Lazare story that got him intimidated out of publishing on Strategic Culture, here are the closing paragraphs from the Weekly Worker UK:
The effect was to leave Trump twisting in the wind, vainly insisting that the dossier was untrue and reviled for spreading Russian dezinformatsiya for so much as trying. Democrats had a field day, as did the press. The New Yorker ran a 15,000-word article defending Steele as “very efficient, very professional and very credible”, while The Guardian’s Luke Harding went one better by claiming that the KGB had been cultivating Trump not since 2011, but since 1987 – the year Trump first visited Moscow.8 The BBC’s Paul Wood continued defending the dossier as late as August 2020.
Cold warriors endorsed Steele’s charges for one reason: they were gearing up for conflict with Moscow and therefore wanted them to be true. Clapper testified that Russians are “an existential threat to this country that is not interested in furthering our interests, certainly, or cooperating with us”. FBI attorney Lisa Page texted that the Russians “are probably the worst. Very little I finding redeeming about this. Even in history. Couple of good writers and artists, I guess.” To which, her boyfriend, Peter Strzok, the FBI’s chief of counterintelligence, replied: “fucking conniving, cheating savages. At statecraft, athletics – you name it. I’m glad I’m on Team USA.” Christopher Steele assured them that Russia was even worse than they imagined, and so they embraced his findings and used them to try to defenestrate a sitting president.
But now the entire conspiracy is disintegrating, as Durham proceeds with his work.
I can only wish Special Prosecutor Durham a long life and intrepid prosecuting as it would be a fine thing to see all these Democrat scumbags in the dock.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 5:42 utc | 208
Pepe Escobar writes a good report on Yemen. Posing the question:
String of pearls: Yemen could be the Arab hub of the Maritime Silk Road
With an Ansarallah takeover of Yemen, Asia’s trade and connectivity projects could expand into some of the world’s most strategic waterways.
Yes indeed it could but there would need to be some untwisting of arms and increased flexibility of thought among the arab players in the region.
The coalition – House of Saud, Qatar, UAE, US, UK – for all practical purposes, embarked on a final solution for Yemen.
Sovereignty and unity were never part of the deal. Yet soon the project stalled. Saudis and Emiratis were fighting each other for primacy in southern and eastern Yemen using mercenaries. In April 2017, Qatar clashed with both Saudis and Emiratis. The coalition started to unravel.
Now we reach a crucial inflexion point. Yemeni Armed Forces and allied fighters from Popular Committees, backed by a coalition of tribes, including the very powerful Murad, are on the verge of liberating strategic, oil and natural gas-rich Marib – the last stronghold of the House of Saud-backed mercenary army.
Tribal leaders are in the capital Sanaa talking to the quite popular Ansarallah movement to organize a peaceful takeover of Marib. So this process is in effect the result of a wide-ranging national interest deal between the Houthis and the Murad tribe.
I sincerely hope that peace comes to Yemen and soon.
I have no evidence of a solid connection but just across that Red Sea waterway from Yemen a vicious war rages in Ethiopia, right on the path of One Belt One Road corridor in east Africa. I could imagine a plot here but then some might think me paranoid.
Pepe writes a fine report here so put it on the list to read.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 5:58 utc | 209
Posted by: Maskal | Nov 20 2021 12:15 utc | 211
Patrick Armstrong weighs in on McKinder’s heartland theory:
Mackindergarten Lesson
I won’t comment other than I have always considered the the theory smacked too much of wishful thinking and projection. It doesn’t differ that much from the long standing British policy of keeping everybody else backward and divided to maintain their own control. The main problem with that approach is that it impedes social and technological development. Banana republics do not get to dominate the world.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 20 2021 19:16 utc | 212
uncle tungsten @209–
Thanks very much for the heads-up about Pepe’s latest at The Cradle. It is indeed an excellent article that puts yet another book to read on my list, Destroying Yemen. Here’s another excerpt from further along in Pepe’s narrative:
“So the whole Yemen story, once again, is essentially a tragic chapter of Empire attempting to plunder Third World/Global South wealth.
“The House of Saud played the role of vassals seeking rewards. They do need it, as the House of Saud is in desperate financial straits that include subsidizing the US economy via mega-contracts and purchasing US debt.
“The bottom line: the House of Saud won’t survive unless it dominates Yemen. The future of MBS is totally leveraged on winning his war, not least to pay his bills for western weapons and technical assistance already used. There are no definitive figures, but according to a western intel source close to the House of Saud, that bill amounted to at least $500 billion by 2017.
“The stark reality made plain by the alliance between Ansarallah and major tribes is that Yemen refuses to surrender its national wealth to subsidize the Empire’s desperate need of liquidity, collateral for new infusions of cash, and thirst for commodities. Stark reality has absolutely nothing to do with the imperial narrative of Yemen as ‘pre-modern tribal traditions’ averse to change, thus susceptible to violence and mired in endless ‘civil war.’”
And so we now know why MbS has yet to abandon his ill-fated war: He can’t. As the song goes, You gotta get in to get out.
201 & 204
What that sounds like is an unapologetic ancien regime aristocrat. Someone happy to roll back the French Revolution and any trace of modernity. When the last aristocrat is hung with the entrails of the last priest is when we are done with these dopes. Many have heard that slogan, few take it seriously. And so we are always plagued by the same small group of old families.
Posted by: Oldhippie | Nov 20 2021 19:28 utc | 214
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 5:58 utc | 209
Yes, than you for the Pepe. Fills in some blanks. It is all quite connected.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 20 2021 19:51 utc | 215
karlof@213, i’m assuming when you read the pepe you also checked out the news & i’m wondering if you judge the attacks on SA’s airport & oil facilities to make it clear he not only can withdraw but must?
Posted by: emersonreturn | Nov 20 2021 19:51 utc | 216
karlof1 #213
The bottom line: the House of Saud won’t survive unless it dominates Yemen. The future of MBS is totally leveraged on winning his war, not least to pay his bills for western weapons and technical assistance already used. There are no definitive figures, but according to a western intel source close to the House of Saud, that bill amounted to at least $500 billion by 2017.
Yes it is going to be a grand day when the house of Saud collapses. Perhaps its allies will not permit that and escalate interventions in Yemen. The first thought that came to mind when reading those paragraphs was “the west will do everything possible to prevent Bone Sawman from going under, but then there are many other Saudi puppets they could elevate on the understanding that the war is to continue?.
Not that any succession will give a victory over Yemen. It would take a holocaust war to achieve that and the west seems ok with that outcome.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 19:55 utc | 217
Not that any succession will give a victory over Yemen. It would take a holocaust war to achieve that and the west seems ok with that outcome.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 20 2021 19:55 utc | 217
Well, Biden said he wanted out of Yemen. It will be a real tell which way he goes at this point.
I’m not seeing anything about results of the Houthi attacks yet. Houthi media says what they attacked, is all.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 20 2021 20:01 utc | 218
Usual annual gathering of fascists, warmongers and collaborating media at the Halifax Security Forum Nov 19-21
No surprise to find that CBC propagandists and other are very busy…
http://www.halifaxtheforum.org
Canada Urged to Put More Weight Behind Ukraine NATO Bid as Russian Buildup Continues
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukraine-canada-nato-russia-1.6256718
ps – looks like Porky Poroshenko’s lost some weight.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 20 2021 21:38 utc | 219
More on Yemen. The author of Destroying Yemen, Isa Blumi, provides essential background in this The Nation interview from 3 years ago I’m certain you’ll all find fascinating.
As for those attending the Halifax Security Conference, they seem to be 100% ignorant of the futility of their efforts now that Putin has launched his R2P, which proves just how amazingly blind they are to the reality they created. The Western Imperialist’s sense of exceptional superiority has no basis in reality other than a momentarily decisive technological advantage (as expressed in Guns, Germs & Steel) which has now evaporated and in reality has turned against them.
Nato v Russia war become unavoidable re: Putin? a warning or a promise?
Posted by: snake | Nov 20 2021 23:14 utc | 221
Russia will not make 1st move.
US recognizes this and uses this assumption to allow it to use methods to provoke with impunity. If there were fear of direct repercussions for DC or London the situation would be very different. But there is no fear of that so it is not and will not be different.
Same as ww2.
Posted by: jared | Nov 20 2021 23:44 utc | 222
Posted by Bemildred @ 212
Who wrote ” Patrick Armstrong weighs in on McKinder’s heartland theory:”
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/11/20/mackindergarten-lesson/
Thanks for the link, a good read. Armstrong omits the other aspect of McKinder’s theory. It is not just about controlling the heartland, it is also about the ‘World Island’ which includes Africa. The pivot is Egypt.
Who controls the heartland controls the world island and who controls the world island controls the world.
Alfred W McCoy explained the theory in “In The Shadows of The American Century, The Rise and Decline of US Global Power.”
https://tomdispatch.com/alfred-mccoy-taking-down-america/
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21 2021 2:45 utc | 223
Karlof1 @ 220.. thanks for the very useful link.. and heads up regards to the Halifox Security Conference..
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 20 2021 20:01 utc | 218
I’m not seeing anything about results of the Houthi* attacks yet. Houthi media says what they attacked, is all.
I am told. ..most of the Sudia resistance is said to be abandoning and running So maybe there is little real fighting going on?
Posted by: snake | Nov 21 2021 2:56 utc | 224
Ticked off Vic is channeling Vlad or perhaps Xi in this 5 minute skit.
People living their own rules based order should not throw stones.
Prepare to laugh as you visualise Vlad laying down the lines.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 21 2021 3:04 utc | 225
What is the difference between drug cartel and your government?
The cartel does not force you to take their drugs.
Posted by: Antonym | Nov 21 2021 6:26 utc | 226
Posted by: Antonym @ 226
Who asked:
“What is the difference between drug cartel and your government?
The cartel does not force you to take their drugs.”
Good Question, we await the specific and definitive answer.
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21 2021 8:11 utc | 227
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21 2021 8:11 utc | 227
@antonym, etc.
There is actually little difference between a drug lord and any other politician, with a few exceptions here and there. And civil servants for the most part are just like other employees, nothing special there either. Any of them would be happy to do most anything when they need money, as long as they think they can get away with it.
Criminal gangs and warlords become the sober lords of government all the time. They were and are happy to force all kinds of thing on us for no reason but self-interest and career advancement. It’s all about the Benjamins.
The true test of morality is what you do when nobody is looking.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 21 2021 8:27 utc | 228
William Gruff #185
Thank you for you fearless and forthright advocacy for the innocent.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Nov 21 2021 8:38 utc | 229
West coast of Canada update – storm/atmospheric river heading towards port #2 in Prince Rupert.
https://twitter.com/EmergencyInfoBC/status/1462470552371798027?s=20
https://www.rupertport.com/
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 21 2021 18:27 utc | 230
I am told. ..most of the Sudia resistance is said to be abandoning and running So maybe there is little real fighting going on?
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 21 2021 18:41 utc | 231
More from BC’s North coast (N.B. It’s the end of November. The North Coast is very unlike the South Coast. Still, this is potentially above and beyond.)
BC’s Traffic Cams – take a live look at the highways to and around Prince Rupert
https://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/pub/html/www/134.html
The Guardian’s on top of it.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/21/western-canada-braces-for-new-atmospheric-river-as-three-more-bodies-recovered-from-mudslides
Transport Canada is spending a bunch of money — public, government money — on updating transportation infrastructure. Details at the link below but I’ll highlight a few tidbits.
https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/trade-transportation-corridors-initiative
Developing regulations, pilot projects around using UAV’s or drones along transportation corridors
$50 million for Canadian Centre on Transportation Data
Big emphasis on the North / Arctic
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 21 2021 19:11 utc | 232
So I decided to try and use the Internet to find out who’s out there in the North Pacific Ocean. This is not something I have any skill at — but there is a fishing vessel under a German flag, that departed Den Helder, Netherlands on Nov. 20th. Is this just a fishing vessel or what?? (And if it is please accept my apologies.)
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/ST27-JACOB-GRIETJE-IMO-9021502-MMSI-211411630
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 21 2021 19:47 utc | 233
Acting Chief of Defence Staff for Canada Gen. Eyre met with Admiral Rob Bauer today at the Halifax Security gathering. He’s from the Netherlands. Like Commander van de Sande who visited HMCS Fredericton off the coast of Norway. And that fishing vessel in the North Pacific Ocean. Ad. Bauer is also chair of the NATO military committee. (He works in Brussels.)
They talked about the Atlantic and Ukraine.
Watched a very macho video today for France’s Marine Nationale. (Ok here it is.
https://twitter.com/MarineNationale/status/1461396438588481541?s=20 )
I’m just not convinced all these European militaries are as lowly, pathetic and benign as some analysts I respect say they are. But what do they want?
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 22 2021 2:42 utc | 234
Ok, quiz time. Guess who said it… at the Halifax Forum
“Climate change poses a threat to all of us. When disaster strikes, people rely on the unique skills of the military.”
That would be CDS Onno Eichelsheim from…. the Netherlands!!
https://twitter.com/CDS_Defensie/status/1462178884154187777?s=20
Are we going to invoke Article 5 over climate change driven natural disasters now?
(I think Canada’s “Article 5” invokes Australia, Sweden and Norway maybe… not sure who else. Historically, as I understand it, warnings from the Kremlin have limited helpful military participation from other more traditional trans-Atlantic allies. Why would they expect to get away with that now??)
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 22 2021 11:11 utc | 235
Who controls the heartland controls the world island and who controls the world island controls the world.
Alfred W McCoy explained the theory in “In The Shadows of The American Century, The Rise and Decline of US Global Power.”
https://tomdispatch.com/alfred-mccoy-taking-down-america/
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21 2021 2:45 utc
Thanks for your comment. Agree, but then I never thought much of McKinder, neat theories are a dime a dozen.
Familiar with McCoy, but have not read him. Too many books to read.
I expect “the West” will try to hold as much as they can, step-by-step, as they retreat. Nothing if not greedy and needy. The Horn does appear to be the new pivot, but reality is moving faster than their plans, I think. Djibouti is about Ethiopia now, or will be, and the Horn, not Yemen. Yemen has Aden.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 22 2021 13:43 utc | 236
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 22 2021 11:11 utc | 235
Appreciate your updates on Canada.
Posted by: jared | Nov 20 2021 23:44 utc | 222
Agree, this is all about the bully trying to get his mark to hit first.
Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 22 2021 13:47 utc | 237
Thanks Bemildred and jared – I appreciate your comments too, as well as those of so many others!
That fishing vessel which I linked to above is now in the North Sea, headed to fishing grounds. Yesterday when I posted, it was in the Aleutian Islands along with 2 other fishing vessels, one from Alaska, another Seattle. The (supposed) German flagged vessel was closest to Russia. I didn’t think of that side of the Pacific yesterday, but after reading the Saker’s latest analysis, it came to mind when I read this statement: “Besides, the moment a single Pole crosses the Belarusian border, Russia will immediately intervene and give Belarus her full support by bringing the reality of war to downtown Warsaw.” Completely different geographic area, but one can speculate…
Adak Island in the Aleutians hopes for a deep water port. Or at least it did in 2017.
https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/tiny-aleutian-island-has-big-dreams-deepwater-port
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 22 2021 18:24 utc | 238
I just had an a-ha! moment. This — all the Canadian stuff I’ve reported on in this thread — wouldn’t have something to do with that rumour about Team Trump signing over the USA part of North America to the Head of State for Canada through the new free trade agreement USMCA… which is actually the Queen of England? And not whoever it is that runs the US President?
Check out the pinned tweet at the top of this Canadian(?) journalist’s twitter feed.
https://mobile.twitter.com/balkissoon
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Nov 24 2021 1:01 utc | 239