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December 23, 2021
Open Thread 2021-100
Comments
Are there any political parties in Germany or France that speak in favor of good relations with Russia?
Posted by: Robert Macaire | Dec 23 2021 17:37 utc | 1
On 20 December, the Russian FM Lavrov met the foreign ministers of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In an press conference on DEc. 21 he noted the 100 agreements across many spheres signed with both these countries.
He noted the facts these countries are allies of Russia.
Both these countries arose from NATO trying to strong arm Georgia into joining NATO.
Indicatively, in discussing relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he slid off into a seemingl unrelated statement, saying “…Our position on NATO’s expansion is well known. If the alliance continues moving closer to the borders of the Russian Federation, it will be crossing a red line.”
People on this board assume it means military action. In extremis, it might. But no, it means, as I long ago noted, that Donesk and Lugansk will declare themselves republics – as Abkhazia and South Ossetia did – and Russia will sign treaties of alliance with the, including a defense component.
Here we have it, as I said.
Either implement the Minsk agreement, in full, unamended,or face 2 new republics, both allies of Russia, with Russian bases.
Of course it could remain a frozen conflict.
Posted by: powerandpeople | Dec 23 2021 17:52 utc | 2
Mercopress: Opposition parties in Colombia have raised their voices Wednesday against the Security bill passed Tuesday by the Senate because while it claims to guarantee citizen security, it violates the Constitution, criminalizes social protest, and hands out licenses to kill. The bill is now up to President Iván Duque for enactment.
Colombia Reports: Almost 15 million people were affected by corruption in cases that came to light between 2016 and 2020, according to Transparency for Colombia. The anti-corruption NGO analyzed 967 corruption scandals that were unveiled by news media and in some cases investigated by the authorities. More than $3.4 billion (COP13.67 trillion) were stolen in the cases that came to light in the studied period.
Brasilwire: In an exclusive interview with Sara Vivacqua from DCM, Kiriakou gave his overview of Lava Jato judge turned presidential candidate Sergio Moro’s US government connections, and what he sees as “an operation to essentially destroy Lula and take over the Brazilian government”.
Venezuelanalysis: Venezuela has steadily grown its oil production to end the year while strengthening alliances with Iran looking ahead to 2022.
Interview with Bolivian President Luis Arce (English translation).
Posted by: Maracatu | Dec 23 2021 17:53 utc | 3
Unedited field notes from Covid-1984, just a start:
Two Years Behind The Mask ©
https://fivegunswest.blogspot.com/2021/12/honest-shot-from-hip-like-rnr-couple.html
Posted by: FiveGunsWest | Dec 23 2021 17:53 utc | 4
And by the way, in a world of subtle ‘diplomatic signals’, the meeting with the FMs of these 2 NATO – born Republics is hardy subtle.
It is ‘NATO sonvince your installed puppet to implement the Minsk Agreement or face 2 newly minted Russia-allied republics on your eastern border”
And the warning is written in 10 foot high flaming letters. This is in your face, assholes.
Posted by: powerandpeople | Dec 23 2021 17:57 utc | 5
“While awake you may have no more artistic ability than average — but in your dreams the reality is so artistically perfect that it seems like real life. And on top of that, in dreams you are being subjected to a reality that imposes itself on you as the subject of various dramas as if it was a movie set you found yourself in all of a sudden. Whatever is controlling our memory, our thoughts, our dreams — HAS to be vastly superior in intellect and ability than us since we have no clue how it is being done. Many physicists have come to the conclusion that our world is an illusion. According to them the nature of our world is very similar to a computer controlled virtual reality world. So much so that for many years there have been debates in the physics community on whether or not we can tell if we exist in a virtual world.” The Illusion of Control
Posted by: El | Dec 23 2021 18:23 utc | 6
Public banking discussed here – Bank of North Dakota. ICYMI, a partial re-post of item at end of last MoA WiR:
Ellen Brown: The Real Antidote to Inflation
Posted by: spudski | Dec 23 2021 18:41 utc | 7
The ECB is facing a crisis – rising inflation and risk of Member State insolvency – how to make a problem
The Eurozone continues to stumble on, held together by the vast bond-buying program of the ECB, which has saved several Member States from insolvency over the last several years. While all the talk at present has been about what to do about the punitive and unworkable fiscal rules in a post-pandemic (when will that be?) period, when the emergency waivers of the Excessive Deficit Mechanism procedures are withdrawn, the reality is that under the current architecture, the only thing that keeps the currency union intact is the ECB acting outside of the legal structures set down by the treaties.
(extensive explanation follows)
Posted by: c | Dec 23 2021 19:21 utc | 8
The head of the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, said that Russia and Syria have created a working group to localize the production of Russian vaccines against coronavirus in Syrian territory.
Call me cynical but!
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/us-sends-fleet-lng-ships-fuel-starved-europe
Posted by: JPC | Dec 23 2021 20:07 utc | 10
Pepe Escobar has a new offering, “Exit Nord Stream 2, Enter Power of Siberia 2”:
“The gas for Power of Siberia 2 will come from the same fields currently supplying the EU market. Whatever demented concoctions the European Commission – and the new German government – may apply on stalling the operation of Nord Stream 2, Gazprom’s main focus will be China.
“It doesn’t matter for Gazprom that China as a customer in the near future will not fully replace the whole EU market. What matters is the steady business flow and the absence of infantile politicking. For China what matters is an extra, guaranteed overland supply rote boosting its strategy of “escaping from Malacca”: the possibility, in case Cold War 2.0 turns hot, that the U.S. Navy would eventually block maritime shipping of energy sources via Southeast Asia to China.”
Europeans whose purses are being pilfered by EU/NATO ineptness and acting the bully for the Outlaw US Empire need to direct their ire at Stoltenberg, EU and NATO officialdom, along with the new German government–if Merkel had remained until March, NS2 would be operational–actually, it is operational although not officially allowed to operate. And there’s lots of friction and a fiscal crisis ahead for the EU that will hobble it perhaps permanently.
“Omicron is thought to be milder due to a combination of our immunity and changes to the virus itself.
The variant is mostly infecting people who have been infected with other variants before or who have been vaccinated. Both give the immune system a head start.”
From: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59769969
How does that interpret in the all4vaxx perspective?
Posted by: Julie | Dec 23 2021 21:04 utc | 12
Bookmark this page…
https://rumble.com/user/KanekoaTheGreat
Posted by: john | Dec 23 2021 21:30 utc | 13
@ Posted by: powerandpeople | Dec 23 2021 17:52 utc | 2
Per your quote from Lavrov –
“…Our position on NATO’s expansion is well known. If the alliance continues moving closer to the borders of the Russian Federation, it will be crossing a red line.”
So they are not claiming that US has crossed “redline(s)”.
Already they are backing down, portraying weakness and lack of resolve. It is that lack of clarity that leads to war and the result that all wars are net loss.
Posted by: jared | Dec 23 2021 21:47 utc | 14
@JPC 10
Does anyone have any notion of how much gas Europe buys in the winter months from Russia? And how much could be replaced by the vessels steaming across the Atlantic, attracted, presumably, by the amazing prices Europe is paying for its energy?
Excuse me while I go and turn the heating down.
Posted by: Montreal | Dec 23 2021 21:54 utc | 15
Acting is all they can do. And what exactly constitutes an “invasion” in the current geopolitical context?
US is prepared to act if Russia invades Ukraine
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 23 2021 21:58 utc | 16
https://johnmenadue.com/in-too-deep-us-credibility-at-risk-in-south-china-sea/
It wouldn’t cost too many pesos [PhP] to turn a Philippine Navy Capitan rogue to start another war. Only crazed Neocons lust for another Gulf of Tonkin.
Interesting trivia: Jim Morrison’s father was CO at the Gulf of Tonkin ‘incident.’
It had to happen, now wait for China to turn the screws with rare earth. Perhaps now is not the time for another ‘Freedom of Navigation Exercise’ a few miles off the Chinese coast and thousands of miles from home. To make the point China might like to exercise its ‘freedom’ the same way off the coast of the five walking pincushion Captive Nations/”democracies”.
https://stockhead.com.au/resources/monsters-of-rock-is-chinas-stranglehold-on-rare-earths-about-to-get-stronger/
Posted by: Paul | Dec 23 2021 22:09 utc | 17
I don’t think the USA will get its own troops involved if Russia has to attack and ultimately defeat Ukraine, no I think the USA will then call for severe sanctions against Russia, and try to weaken it economically, but can Europe afford to do without Russian gas, and as Scott Ritters states over on Consortium News, the Russian economy can survive without access to SWIFT.
I don’t see the USA backing down in a literal sense, but I think they’ll stand back in a physical sense, but logistically back Ukraine in what is fast becoming an inevitable conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 23 2021 22:14 utc | 18
Walter Hixson asks for a rapprochement of Cold War era militant imperialism.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/12/23/americas-foreign-policy-death-spiral/
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 23 2021 22:16 utc | 19
I think it’s a better idea to think that at some point, another great war is going to happen. Rather then debate all the logical reasons why it won’t.
It will not be rational, events will spiral, are spiralling, out of control. Circumstances will arise that there are completely unpredictable, or that can be anticipated. Out of the blue. Something will always be about to happen.
The USA is pushing for conflict, for material survival. It is met with resistance. To preserve status quo.s People in positions of power, believe that conflict will leave them, and their fortunes, their families, their lives, their futures, their notion of reality, unaffected. This probably won’t be as it will be.
It’s better to count back from this conflict counterintuitively, then wishful thinking that it won’t. It will not be how anyone is able to predict. Not the saker, not anyone. It will not be “binary.” If a then b or what if c.
It’s probably also not judicious or prudent, to entertain the thought that conflict will create clarity, or victory. Whether some kind of Truth comes out or not.
I personally have experienced that “victory,” or feeling vindicated by an outcome, does not occur, like conflict itself, in an expected or anticipated fashion, or as one may long for, but is at best subdued, balanced, and different than any imaginings. There will be a lot to suffer. Humbling. Life is short. Eternity will rumble on.
I think when it comes, it will come, and be what it may. It will seem as if it has always been, it will make sense in retrospect, it will be so obvious, we should have seen it coming. But we won’t or can’t .
In some way, it may seem just, but it will be beyond any human comprehension at this moment, just how so.
Posted by: Geoff | Dec 23 2021 23:13 utc | 20
powerandpeople #2
Either implement the Minsk agreement, in full, unamended,or face 2 new republics, both allies of Russia, with Russian bases.
Of course it could remain a frozen conflict.
Thank you and I agree that the first circumstance is highly likely. I seriously doubt the Russian side is keen on a hot conflict. I think the latter option of frozen conflict is unlikely as Russia is best served by a success here for the Russian speaking folk and people that identify as Russian allegiance.
IMO that won’t be the end of it and given the ‘freedom of navigation’ mania of the FUKUSA, I suspect the odd spotting of a surfacing Russian or Chinese submarine in cheeky circumstances could be expected. Perhaps a crystal clear HD image of Pearl Harbour close up (with a Huawei camera stamp) would generate hysteria in itself.
The Syrian winter will ease in a month or two and the FUKUSA invaders and their proxies might get the shove all the way back into Iraq in the north east leaving the two Kurd factions to get along well inside Iraq. I am not sure about the Idlib squatters and feel that they might have to wait a little longer for their exit papers. As Turkey economy crashes that entire zone is a bit murky to forecast (even at the best of times). At least the price to keep Erdogan on side might be declining.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 23 2021 23:42 utc | 21
I don’t see the USA backing down in a literal sense, but I think they’ll stand back in a physical sense, but logistically back Ukraine in what is fast becoming an inevitable conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Dec 23 2021 22:14 utc | 18
Is it a backhanded complement to USA for back scratching Ukraine while treating the whole situation like a backgammon game?
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Dec 23 2021 23:51 utc | 22
Here’s the new German health secretary at work, giving a press conference: Karl Lauterbach. Das blühende Leben!
—
The German Lufthansa airline has cancelled a lot of flights for the coming days and weeks. One reason for this is of course that many destinations are closed anyway, or have quarantine requirements in place. Demand has gone back as a result, and on top of this a sizable part of the population everywhere cannot fly anymore even if they wanted to. They’re banned from flying because they’ve “refused” to be a player in the vaccine game. All of this is one reason for the massive cancellations. The other is a severe shortage of pilots. An unusually large number of them have called in sick. See for example this bit from the German state broadcaster:
In addition, Lufthansa is struggling with a high number of sickness reports from its pilots. The airline had to cancel intercontinental flights over the Christmas holidays. From December 23 to 26, the main focus will be on connections across the North Atlantic, for example to Boston, Houston and Washington, as a spokesman said. A total of six long-haul connections to the USA would have to be canceled by Sunday. It is in this traffic area that passengers can most easily be rebooked. A return flight to Japan was also canceled. “We planned with a very large buffer. But that is not enough for the extremely high sickness rate,” said the spokesman.
(machine translation)
Note: they’re not just cancelling single flights, but whole connections. And the sickness rate is called “extremely high”.
Hope you’re all where you want to be!
Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Dec 23 2021 23:56 utc | 23
Hat tip to Martyanov for this, “Joint statement by industrial energy consumers on unbearably high energy prices”:
“Brussels, 22 December – The energy-intensive industries call upon EU leaders to swiftly address the exponential increase in energy prices. Today’s period of unbearably high energy prices in Europe is already undermining the structural measures designed to secure affordable low-carbon energy, which is required to meet the objectives of the EU Green Deal.
“The energy price crisis has hit most of the European countries. In recent months the energy prices have increased 4 to 5 times, reaching even higher levels over the last days. In parallel, carbon prices have tripled since the beginning of the year. The main reasons for this situation are the financial market speculation from financial players including hedge funds and commodity trading houses, the imbalances in the gas market, seasonally decreased renewable energy production, reduced nuclear energy production, coal mine closures and increased carbon costs passed on in electricity prices. It has consequently forced numerous industrial energy consumers to curtail and/or temporarily close plants.” [My Emphasis]
The Enronization of the EU is underway and so far is a smashing success for those manipulative forces bolded in the above paragraph. AND look what the choice to delay NS2 is doing to the EU’s Green plans!! It’s one massive Clusterfuck, SNAFU and FUBAR, all at one time–impressive to be sure. Putin’s rant about the gas issue during the presser was something to read. He gave it to the Europeans over the Yamal pipeline situation:
“You just mentioned the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. I see these accusations against Russia and Gazprom that Gazprom for the second or third day in a row did not book traffic for gas supplies to Europe via this route, Yamal – Europe. How disgusting, how to say it… Okay. It just crosses all boundaries. After all, he did not book this traffic, because those of his counterparties and companies, and these are primarily German and French, who buy gas along this route, did not put up orders for purchase. What to transit if they don’t have purchase requisitions? And what did they start doing? In reverse mode, they turned on this route from Germany to Poland and for several days they are pumping from Germany to Poland.
“I think everyone should be interested in this. Why? Yes, because we supply gas to Germany under long-term contracts, and the price is three, four, six, seven times cheaper than at spot. Even by reselling one billion cubic meters of gas, you can earn almost a billion dollars, 900 something. It’s a business. That’s the first thing.
“Having gained a certain volume, having received 5.6 billion more from us than provided for in long-term contracts, they are now selling it. But that is not all. After all, they pump gas in reverse mode, how can you feed in the obverse mode? The gas cannot move simultaneously through the same pipe in both directions. They: (a) did not order; b) in the reverse turned on.
“But this is only part of the information.
“There is a connection, there is a pipe that connects the Polish pipeline system with the Ukrainian one. The volume is about three million cubic meters per day. That is how much from Germany is served in Poland. I have every reason to believe that this gas will eventually go to Ukraine. Both consumers in Europe and Germany should know what is really happening, and, perhaps, apply to certain authorities with a request to clarify this position.
“And instead of applying to Poland and then to Ukraine, trying to “support the pants” there to someone, it would be better to carry out further supplies to Europe, to the same Federal Republic, and influence the price on the spot, because the larger the volume of the product on the market, the lower the price will be. No, they started pumping there, in the opposite direction. That’s the problem. What does Gazprom have to do with this?
“So let them take care of their questions and react to them in time and do not think that they are so smart and that the god fell asleep on them. The problems they have created for themselves must be solved by them, and we are ready to help. That’s what we do. I think I’ve shown that convincingly now.” [My Emphasis]
It’s well past time for Europeans to get mad–you’re being gouged, laid-off and having your freedoms smashed by a bunch of mostly unelected shits.
Tass article: Russia, China jointly develop high-tech weapons — Putin
Posted by: Perimetr | Dec 24 2021 0:41 utc | 25
Posted by: powerandpeople | Dec 23 2021 17:52 utc | 2
On 20 December, the Russian FM Lavrov met the foreign ministers of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
In an press conference on DEc. 21 he noted the 100 agreements across many spheres signed with both these countries.
He noted the facts these countries are allies of Russia.
Both these countries arose from NATO trying to strong arm Georgia into joining NATO.
No, these countries arose from a civil war in the early 90-ties, that started as a revolt against Georgian nationalist government led by Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Nothing to do with NATO.
Posted by: hopehely | Dec 24 2021 1:03 utc | 26
One thing seems clear. The creatures of the West believe the propaganda told to them via their governments and media. They then ask questions based on lies and distortions and are in turn smacked upside the head with the truth of the situation, which they find impossible to accept since they were told by sources they trust but are ultimately 100% untrustworthy. Reality becomes dangerous when deprived of it for so long. What’s worse is the puppets and their handlers also believe the fantasies thus rendering them delusional.
“Western” leaders who remain serial apologists for ethnic cleansing and the ongoing genocide are unfit to govern on ethical and legal grounds They are complicit accomplices for allowing the thief to keep the stolen property. Turf them all out to the garbage bin of history until the system is no longer rigged.
“Haaretz’s investigative report – ‘Classified Docs Reveal Massacres of Palestinians in ’48 – and What Israeli Leaders Knew’ – is a must-read. It should be particularly read by any person who considers himself a ‘Zionist’ and also by people who, for whatever reason, support Israel, anywhere in the world.
“In the village of Al-Dawayima (…), troops of the 8th Brigade massacred about 100 people,” Haaretz reported, though the number of the Palestinian victims later grew to 120. One of the soldiers who witnessed that horrific event testified before a government committee in November 1948: “There was no battle and no resistance. The first conquerors killed 80 to 100 Arab men, women and children. The children were killed by smashing their skulls with sticks. There wasn’t a house without people killed in it…”
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/previously-unknown-massacres-why-is-israel-allowed-to-own-palestinian-history/
Posted by: Paul | Dec 24 2021 1:51 utc | 28
powerandpeople | Dec 23 2021 17:52 utc | 2
Maybe you haven’t looked the map?
Avoiding close range attack to Moscow, these republics are not that important.
Ukrainian border left open and closest to Moscow, is after closing Luhans-Donetsk yet 500km long ( via air), also only some 500km from Moscow.
When Russia wants to create the protective zone in Ukraine, this gap must be closed.
Posted by: k | Dec 24 2021 2:01 utc | 29
Checkmate. Putin has the West cornered (CNN, Michael Bociurkiw, December 22, 2021 — emphasis mine)
What are the tools left in the West’s diplomatic toolbox? Depressingly few. But some options remain: banning Russians from travel, blocking those multimillion dollar property deals which have transformed London and Miami into playgrounds for wealthy Russians — even ordering the immediate expulsion of Russian nationals from Western countries. In other words, whatever it takes short of direct military conflict.
Michael’s father, Bohdan Bociurkiw, was born in Buchach, Tarnopol Voivodeship, Republic of Poland (modern-day Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine) on September 2, 1925. In 1943–1944, at a rather young age, he was the editor of Yunak (Youngster) magazine in Lviv (then part of Nazi Germany). In 1945 he was the editor of Nash shlyakh (Our path) newspaper in western Germany. In 1947 he emigrated to Canada, where he became a historian and political scientist specializing in the Ukraine, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He was part of a group of Ukrainian nationalists who gained significant influence over how Ukrainian and Russian history was taught in the U.S. and Canada (he even advised the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Congress). Needless to say, their version of history was quite distorted. It is still being taught to this day, by the way. I’m sure this was not an accident, but a deliberate project of the CIA and the Gehlen Organization. Someone should find an archive of Yunak magazine issues and read them. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was another pro-Nazi propaganda outlet, like Krakivs’ki Visti newspaper edited by Mykhailo Khomiak, Chrystia Freeland’s grandfather.
Posted by: S | Dec 24 2021 2:03 utc | 30
The best we can all hope for in these chaotic times, IMO, is for the new century leadership, (China, Russia) to exercise common sense, and usher in a new round of talks centered on what the world needs to ensure the survival of humanity.
Sure as hell won’t come from the U$A, we’re mired in a state of disinformation and unbridled greed.
Wishing all, health and happiness……
Posted by: vetinLA | Dec 24 2021 2:13 utc | 31
Paul | Dec 23 2021 22:09 utc | 17:
It’s only a matter of time that a Sino-Russian fleet will conduct their own FoN operations and an occasional drone strike on these terrorists. Lady Karma will make her grand entrance.
———
Enough of the depressing news, I hope everyone here enjoy the Holidays as best they can. Step away from the Internet for the next week or so. I look forward in reading more insightful articles and comments in the new year.
Posted by: Ian2 | Dec 24 2021 2:51 utc | 32
James Webb telescope might launch successfully tomorrow.
That is a good thing. Then it might arrive at its correct orbital destination and unfold and assemble successfully over a week or two. That will be a mighty good thing. Let us hope the process works well.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 24 2021 3:41 utc | 33
What did Scholz call Putin for? I see no information on that anywhere. Can anyone here give any clue?
Posted by: bystander 04 | Dec 24 2021 4:36 utc | 34
A Christmas message from Edward Snowden:
“Everything Going Great, Bad Faith, Worse News and Julian Assange.
Gospel, a word from Old English, is a compound that means “good news.” And it’s gospel that’s been in short-supply as we head into the Christmas season. Whenever this fact gets me down, I remember that finding evil, malfeasance, and even suffering in the headlines is just a sign that the press is doing its job. I don’t think any of us wants to wake up in the morning and read “Everything Going Great!” over our egg-nog-spiked chai — though even if we do, we know a headline like that is just an indication of all that’s unreported.
Coming into this Christmas season, I find myself beset by odd religious yearnings—I say odd, because I’m not much of a believer, not in God, not in governments, not in institutions generally. I try to save my faith for people and principles, but that can lead to some lean years in the slaking of spiritual thirst. I can find a way to attribute my stirrings to the ritualism of Covid — the ablutions of sanitizing and masking, the penitent isolation, the what-does-it-all-mean? that comes from confronting powerlessness and the caprice of illness — but a more convincing source might be the novelty of parenthood: religion being a stand-in for tradition in general, I ask myself, what am I going to leave my child? What intellectual and emotional inheritance?…….”
https://edwardsnowden.substack.com/p/assange01
Merry Christmas b, and Merry Christmas Barflies thanks all for your contributions.
Posted by: Paul | Dec 24 2021 4:42 utc | 35
Interesting trivia: Jim Morrison’s father was CO at the Gulf of Tonkin ‘incident.’
Posted by: Paul | Dec 23 2021 22:09 utc | 17
Wonder how that father/son relationship was!
Maybe that ‘incident’ was the root of Jim’s lyrics here:
Riders On the Storm
(Play it softly, in the dark, alone or with just UR sweetie close 2U.)
And a nice follow up:
Ray Manzarek
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 4:59 utc | 36
Great post @ 35; We must cheer up Paul. The new 4th Reich is coming, with the savior DJT as it’s head.:)
Posted by: vetinLA | Dec 24 2021 5:00 utc | 37
I love living in the US.
But, I’d rather have Putin running the show in the states,
than any puppet POS we’ve had recently
.
Putin is one of the best, if not THE BEST, geopolitical leaders of our time.
There, I said it.
Posted by: Cadence Calls | Dec 24 2021 5:06 utc | 38
@30 S – Thank you very much for that information. Definitely another Chrystia Freeland situation. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the roots.
Here’s a Slade song for the Christmas time.
Much love to b and the MoA community.
Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody
Posted by: lex talionis | Dec 24 2021 5:06 utc | 39
@38 – cc – I fully agree. President Putin is a man to be respected and admired. A Russian Bismarck. On some sober day, Boris Yeltsin must have realized what had happened to his country under his watch. He must have known that Vladimir Putin was the man who needed to be in charge to save the country from the neoliberal jackals.
And I would be glad to vote for Putin in the next US election if he were a candidate.
Posted by: lex talionis | Dec 24 2021 5:20 utc | 40
the ‘zerohedge.com/commodities/us-sends-fleet-lng-ships-fuel-starved-europe’
article seems devoid of some facts, before equating LNG saved Europe, its only temp, and for quite good reason…
as stated by Reuters.
European spot gas prices hit another all-time high this week after the Yamal pipeline that normally brings Russian gas to heat homes and power electricity generation in Germany reversed direction and started to flow into Poland. read more
Prices fell on Thursday as expectations of the arrival of several LNG gas tankers helped offset low exports from Russia. L1N2T80JS
“At the moment milder weather and good stock levels in Asia are allowing some cargoes to be freed up for Europe, albeit at a high price. This may continue next week, but it can’t be guaranteed throughout the winter as a whole,” said Alex Froley, LNG analyst at data intelligence firm ICIS.
“If east Asia turns colder in January or February competition for flexible volumes would soon re-ignite,” he added
Posted by: mm | Dec 24 2021 6:42 utc | 41
Posted by: vetinLA | Dec 24 2021 5:00 utc | 37
Well, your comment certainly did provide me with a much needed laugh, thanks.
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 4:59 utc | 36
“Wonder how that father/son relationship was!”
There is a photo on Wikipedia of a young Jim Morrison on the bridge of the USS Bonhomme Richard with is captain dad. It does make you wonder, incredible family US naval history. My guess is Jim Jr discovered psychedelics.
Posted by: Paul | Dec 24 2021 7:03 utc | 42
US chip-maker Intel has said, in a letter to its suppliers, that it has been “required to ensure that its supply chain does not use any labour or source goods or services from the Xinjiang region”. (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-23/intel-apologises-in-china-over-xinjiang-supplier-statement/100723468)
They have somewhat stepped back from this, and have apologised “for the trouble caused to our respected Chinese customers, partners and the public”, but nobody seems to have asked the question “required by whom? and on what compulsion?
Posted by: Hope | Dec 24 2021 7:24 utc | 43
Also of interest:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-24/solomon-islands-accepts-chinese-offer-for-riot-police-help/100724296
This is a very interesting first (?) move by China into a part of the Pacific hitherto felt to be firmly in the US-Australia-New Zealand sphere of influence. A squad armed and equipped for trouble, if not precisely part of the armed forces.
Posted by: Hope | Dec 24 2021 7:38 utc | 44
@karlof1 | Dec 24 2021 0:26 utc | 24
It’s well past time for Europeans to get mad–you’re being gouged, laid-off and having your freedoms smashed by a bunch of mostly unelected shits.
Yes. The unelected ones should look to history and see what eventually happened to people like them.
Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 7:41 utc | 45
@Robert Macaire | 1
In France, you have Mélenchon on the left who would quite likely have a ‘De Gaulle-like’ anti-NATO stance, not a Putin friend but in favour of good relationships with Russia & China.
On the right, Asselineau shows a clever geopolitical viewpoint too, but doesn’t weight enough in the political game.
I know less about the far-right Le Pen & Zemmour but I assume they would be less likely hostile to Russia than the Macron the bankster puppet or the traditional right Pécresse.
Posted by: Francil | Dec 24 2021 7:54 utc | 46
@waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 4:59 utc | 36
Interesting trivia: Jim Morrison’s father was CO at the Gulf of Tonkin ‘incident.’
Posted by: Paul | Dec 23 2021 22:09 utc | 17
Wonder how that father/son relationship was!
I don’t think that is any great mystery.
The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
“Father?” “Yes, son?” “I want to kill you”
“Mother? I want to…”
The End
Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 7:56 utc | 47
I was travelling a couple of weeks ago and indeed, there is a very contagious cold moving around. People on the plane were sneezing and coughing, although they had had to show a negative PCR to board. I myself had had a full week sore throat and runny nose. So why not the pilots? Same in the UK, the NHS has 54 percent absentees apparently. Just a very contagious cold, but some people test positive with it while others don’t.
Posted by: Anonymous | Dec 24 2021 8:28 utc | 48
The US foreign policy death Spiral explained, in part:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/12/23/americas-foreign-policy-death-spiral/
Posted by: Paul | Dec 24 2021 9:52 utc | 49
Paul @ 17 & 42
I agree Paul, it was prolly the psychedelics – and alcohol – that did JM in. But what a great band, eh?
Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 7:56 utc | 47
>>I don’t think that is any great mystery.<<
…”Father?” “Yes, son?” “I want to kill you”…
Man, that’s colder and darker than it is here in the Arctic. (-10C and sun gone for 5 weeks)
Hadn’t made the connection before that and Paul’s trivia.
Thanks, og god jul til deg, Tollef Ås, Per/Norway og andre nordmenn her på MoA.
And best holiday wishes for all you foreigners too, here on this great blog.
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 10:25 utc | 50
Afghanistan – Request for information (Karlof1 and others pl)
After the US exited Afghanistan, there was a lot written and hoped for in many quarters, not least this blog. In a nutshell, the theory was that Russia and China would stabilise the country and help it to develop vis BRI and EEAU.
However, the USA and its vassals continue to illegally hold Afghan gift assets, the people are facing a crisis near starvation, winter already on and there is no action (at that I have noticed) from Russia and China [with the notable exception of the aprox 35mio given by China at the beginning].
Can anyone help me to understand what is going on?
Thanks in advance
DB
Posted by: DB | Dec 24 2021 12:44 utc | 51
On why, is spite of the opposition party on every country labelling those who are against vaccine mandates as far righters or fascists, here the proof on that this of the mass vacciantion and mandates is a bipartisan issue, and thus if we want to end this we have not but to finish these accomodated political class who take turns at the heloms of our countries.
“The Greens”, obviously, and the “international new left” like that who won in Chile, are not the solution, but simply siubasidiaires of the two major parties everywhere or US think tanks….
‘You’re Protected’: Trump Touts Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Death, Hospitalization
Let´s talk clearly here, the vaccines are the source of money for the US financial bubble, thus Trunmp will not save you from mandates, as soon as he takes over again, will force you the 8th dose, as it already is expressed in the “Covid Pass” where there are palce for 8 doese to fullfill..
How do they know that an ammount of 8 doses will be necessary?
How is that every European country has bought thousands of millions of vaccine to unendingly vaccinate its population?
How is that Gates has stated the Covid pandemic will probably end this coming year but that that is not to say new pandemics will not come?
Posted by: Black bread | Dec 24 2021 12:58 utc | 52
Call me cynical but!
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/us-sends-fleet-lng-ships-fuel-starved-europe
Posted by: JPC | Dec 23 2021 20:07 utc | 10
There are ca. 500 LNG carriers plying the oceans. The main cargo loading locations are in USA, Gulf of Mexico, Qatar and Russia — Yamal and Baltic.
Although I did not see the numbers, scattered phrases, sentences and deduction support this scenario: when the prices of NG jumped in summer, Asians of all kinds responded by entering long term contracts for LNG supply, lest they jump even more. This is risky, because normally a contract uses a price formula tied to crude oil benchmarks, and the NG price jump change the proportion between NG and oil. A long term contract can tie you to a price formula that will be unfavorable in the subsequent years. Of course, there is a symmetric risk on the seller side. But the risks limited, while the risk from relying on spot market is not limited. Notably, for the seller, having a contract may enable bank loans necessary for investments, and downside risk can wipe out the company — and banks experienced many such cases in 2020.
Europeans for some reasons did not secure many contracts. Thus they rely on the leftovers on LNG market which do exist. After all, production problems appear and disappear, so it is prudent to lock only as much of production in long term contracts that you can securely deliver. While they exist, the leftovers are not particularly plentiful.
What excited the spot market were the news that several LNG carriers changed the course from Asian destinations, China and India, to Europe. Which could be a harbinger of larger supplies in Europe… or not. We are talking about changing the course of 2% of global LNG fleet that in itself was not changing supply/demand balance in Europe. The hopes based on observations of fleet movements were fleeting…
That said, predicting the future by analyzing the movements has the most noble origin. Wikipedia: An augur was a priest and official in the classical Roman world. His main role was the practice of augury: Interpreting the will of the gods by studying the flight of birds – whether they were flying in groups or alone, what noises they made as they flew, direction of flight, and what kind of birds they were. This was known as “taking the auspices“.
The augural ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman society – public or private – including matters of war, commerce, and religion. Augurs sought the divine will regarding any proposed course of action which might affect Rome’s pax, fortuna, and salus (peace, good fortune, and well-being).
Nowadays, rather than observing bird flight from below (this is the etymology of auspices), we use satellites to watch the movements of ships from above, planes, tanks to divine matters or war and commerce.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Dec 24 2021 13:06 utc | 53
https://newcoldwar.org/why-the-uygur-tribunal-is-another-sham-that-seeks-to-ignite-atrocity/
Why the Uygur Tribunal is another sham that seeks to ignite atrocity
December 22, 2021
In my previous article, using the examples of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, I outlined a system where Western elites can …
ALSO
https://metallicman.com/laoban4site/a-report-on-the-xinjiang-and-uyghur-re-education-camps-in-china/
https://newcoldwar.org/the-two-michaels-canadas-kovrig-and-spavor-caught-red-handed-spying-against-china-and-north-korea/
The Two Michaels, Canada’s Kovrig and Spavor, Caught Red-Handed Spying Against China and North Korea
December 22, 2021
Western Politicians and Media, However, Made It Seem Like They Were Innocent Victims of China’s Authoritarianism By Jeff J. Brown Published …
https://newcoldwar.org/as-un-recognizes-maduro-canada-increasingly-isolated-on-world-stage/
As UN recognizes Maduro, Canada increasingly isolated on world stage
December 22, 2021
Only eight percent of states recognize the legitimacy of the ‘government’ of self-declared president Juan Guaidó By Owen Schalk Published …
https://astutenews.com/2021/12/debunking-the-wests-top-ten-lies-about-chinese-african-relations/
The present analysis will identify and subsequently debunk the West’s top lies about Chinese-African relations. What comes next is a list of lies followed by the motive behind each
Posted by: MaxD. | Dec 24 2021 13:07 utc | 54
@waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 10:25 utc | 51
Thanks, og god jul til deg, Tollef Ås, Per/Norway og andre nordmenn her på MoA.
God Jul til deg og alle nordmenn! Her på østlandet er det -7C og solskinn.
In south-east Norway we have -7C mid day and sunshine, snow on the trees. This will be a white Christmas Eve likely -10C to -15C. In this country it is Christmas Eve that matters.
Merry Christmas to b and all barflies!
Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 13:22 utc | 55
The German Lufthansa airline has cancelled a lot of flights for the coming days and weeks. One reason for this is of course that many destinations are closed anyway, or have quarantine requirements in place. Demand has gone back as a result, and on top of this a sizable part of the population everywhere cannot fly anymore even if they wanted to. They’re banned from flying because they’ve “refused” to be a player in the vaccine game. All of this is one reason for the massive cancellations. The other is a severe shortage of pilots. An unusually large number of them have called in sick. See for example this bit from the German state broadcaster:
In addition, Lufthansa is struggling with a high number of sickness reports from its pilots. The airline had to cancel intercontinental flights over the Christmas holidays. From December 23 to 26, the main focus will be on connections across the North Atlantic, for example to Boston, Houston and Washington, as a spokesman said. A total of six long-haul connections to the USA would have to be canceled by Sunday. It is in this traffic area that passengers can most easily be rebooked. A return flight to Japan was also canceled. “We planned with a very large buffer. But that is not enough for the extremely high sickness rate,” said the spokesman.
(machine translation)
Note: they’re not just cancelling single flights, but whole connections. And the sickness rate is called “extremely high”.
Brussels, 22 December – The energy-intensive industries call upon EU leaders to swiftly address the exponential increase in energy prices. Today’s period of unbearably high energy prices in Europe is already undermining the structural measures designed to secure affordable low-carbon energy, which is required to meet the objectives of the EU Green Deal.
Would someone please explain to me how the EU is going to fight a war anywhere, anytime, with anyone….. given it is in the process of imploding as we speak…..
AND………
Why should EurAsia be in a rush to war…. given the US is going down the tubes as well….??
INDY
Posted by: Dr. George W Oprisko | Dec 24 2021 13:26 utc | 56
S#30,
Regarding Michael Bociurkiw,wasn’t he the first OCDE responsable visiting the crash-scene of MH-17?If so,he was the one talking about a smell of formol,victims in winter clothing with asiatic faces,thus giving cause to suspect the downed airplane to be MH-370,or at least its passengers.
Posted by: jonas | Dec 24 2021 13:45 utc | 57
@Posted by: Piotr Berman | Dec 24 2021 13:06 utc | 54
Yeah..we are copy pasting the fall of the Roman Empire, of which we, “The West” are heirs, verbatim…
Even in its propaganda efforts, magical thinking, bread and circus ( this time not even bread, being substituted by not nurturing, nor able to heat, “Covid Pass”…)and more than likely final military coup and decapitating of any rational mind out there ( i.e. Cicero…)
How much time the masses will last becoming aware of that you can not eat nor heat your home with a salvoconduct, nor can work with your health destroyed, even when allowed to do it, by your fulfillement of vaccince requirements, one wonders, one guesses that they have all planned and that by that time we will be already under martial law…
Posted by: Black bread | Dec 24 2021 14:01 utc | 58
@geoff #20
I see zero preparation of the public in the United States for an industrial war a la WW1 or WW2. More importantly: even were an industrial war to magically break out – the US does not have the industry to prosecute it any more. The bulk of that industry is in China, and China has made its views known.
The Russia “problem” is entirely restricted to the chattering PMC class. The impetus is entirely MIC and certain groups in the US government.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 24 2021 14:09 utc | 59
Another foray into COVID-dom – report on the street in SF.
1) Testing locations in SF, at least 3 of them, have long lines. The free ones are doing PCR and antigen tests but PCR is 5 to 7 day turnaround time – useless for travel.
2) There are exactly 2 places with <72 hour PCR turnaround tests available: $449 and $275 respectively. The latter is the airport - sad when anything offered at an airport is cheaper than the outside, showing just what a clusterfuck the US health care system is.
3) The wife probably has omicron. She got a positive antigen test and has the symptoms of the flu: sore throat and coughing. She got it while partying with the outer edge Burning Man crowd, so likely omicron is spread far and wide in that community given the number of Xmas parties they were having. It has been 10 days - no severe symptoms of any kind nor was she vaccinated (she is far more anti-COVID jab than I am). Doesn't look like she going to be able to take her winter trip to Russia.
4) One of the guys I hired off Craigslist lives in a far suburb of SF: Richmond. He is vaccinated due to work but is now having 2nd thoughts after reading more stuff (he got the 2 jabs on faith). His kids are not vaccinated and are being tested every week in school. Interestingly he also noted that he was negatively surprised by what his kids were being taught - the COVID lockdowns/shutdowns opened his eyes. He is African American. Lots of interesting conversation as we were driving back and forth.
5) I don't appear to have it despite living in the same small temporary place for 10 days and moving heavy furniture in the rain for 6 hours yesterday, but we'll see in a few more days.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 24 2021 14:20 utc | 60
Francil @ 46, thanks for your report!
Norwegian @ 56, Merry snowy Christmas! Here, we have some needed rain — the other SF, c1ue, my closest metropolis – hopefully dry for their farolito walk tonight, paper bags being not the best cover for candles in the rain. So far the rain is gentle and doesn’t promise to be heavy. Which is good for me as I am tardy decorating my gate, don’t fancy doing that in a downpour!
Francil, I am re-reading the first chapters of “Les Miserables” (my trusty Modern Library copy picked up at a thrift store back in the day.) Very enjoyable. A snatch:
“…One day, when the emperor had come to visit his uncle, the worthy cure’, who was waiting in the ante-room, happened to be on the way of bis Majesty. Napoleon noticing that the old man looked at him with some curiousness, turned around and said brusquely:
“Who is this goodman who looks at me?”
“Sire,” said M.Myriel, “you behold a good man, and I a great man. Each of us may profit by it.”
That evening the emperor asked the cardinal the name of the cure’, and some time afterwards M.Myriel was overwhelmed with surprise on learning that he had been appointed Bishop of D____…”
Not to be a spoiler, I will just say the Bishop in his new domain reminds me more of Putin than of Napoleon.
I saw there is some controversy over the renovation of Notre Dame, but at least they are going to reconstruct the decorative rafters. Though, losing some mighty ancient trees might be painful for some?
Posted by: juliania | Dec 24 2021 15:37 utc | 61
c1qe @ 61,
Keep digging. Here’s a source getting closer and closer to the truth being withheld. https://www.bitchute.com/video/p1eXzL5wNu0H/
This has nothing to do with a “pathogen being released,”…but about a pathogen stimulating computer sequence…,” contaminated, poison-making sequence, injected worldwide. “Safe and effective,” but wholly indemnified from damages, just in case the whole scam backfires. Woke up, good humans. Merry Christmas.
Posted by: steve kelly | Dec 24 2021 15:59 utc | 62
Posted by: Black bread | Dec 24 2021 14:01 utc | 59
One can argue that adoption of Christianity and rejecting augurs, auguries and other sound approaches and method precipitated the fall of the Empire. Monotheism seemed like a good idea…
More seriously, societies and their elites are rooted in history and take the templates from the past. Witch hunts, MacCarthyism, and currently, China Initiative that Biden Administration continues while Trump Administration started.
“Dr. Lieber’s conviction is a victory for the China Initiative, an effort launched in 2018, under the Trump administration, to root out scientists suspected of sharing sensitive information with China.” The top American bio-nanotechnology scientist was rooted out, good news that followed Summit for Democracies.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Dec 24 2021 16:07 utc | 63
YT would post: ‘Twas the night before Reset
…
Those horsemen, those four,
Their arrival so stealth.
It’s a war for the world,
And the hour nears twelfth.
…
In 2002 Congress, in a joint resolution, would use their bloody signatures and authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.
Here is the resolution being introduced:
AUTHORIZATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AGAINST IRAQ — (Senate – October 08, 2002)
[Page: S10063]
Senator Warner when it was his turn to speak
had the temerity to invoke a Lord.
I have been privileged to be a Member of this body nearly a quarter of a century now, and if the good Lord returns me in January, it will mark the 25th year. I cannot recall any moment when I have stood on the floor with a greater sense of humility and pride to be associated with three more courageous individuals than Senator Lieberman, Senator McCain, and Senator Bayh, as we, the four horsemen, work to direct and guide a resolution which the four of us put together with the assistance of the President, through his surrogates, and the leadership of the Senate on both sides of the aisle. It is our best effort to provide leadership to this body which we do so, the four of us, with a great sense of humility.
Should give you the chills.
Posted by: librul | Dec 24 2021 16:43 utc | 64
I see b has a Christmas greeting above, but meanwhile this probably should stay here, for those who don’t celebrate…not looking at anyone in particular, just enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hj3U18FHgQ
Posted by: juliania | Dec 24 2021 17:14 utc | 65
Senator Warner when it was his turn to speak
had the temerity to invoke a Lord.
I have been privileged to be a Member of this body nearly a quarter of a century now, and if the good Lord returns me in January, it will mark the 25th year. I cannot recall any moment when I have stood on the floor with a greater sense of humility and pride to be associated with three more courageous individuals than Senator Lieberman, Senator McCain, and Senator Bayh, as we, the four horsemen, work to direct and guide a resolution which the four of us put together with the assistance of the President, through his surrogates, and the leadership of the Senate on both sides of the aisle. It is our best effort to provide leadership to this body which we do so, the four of us, with a great sense of humility.
Should give you the chills.
Posted by: librul | Dec 24 2021 16:43 utc | 65
Mainly it arouses an impulse to ridicule them, but I suppress it.
Posted by: Bemildred | Dec 24 2021 17:16 utc | 66
There’s been an extreme surge in Covid cases in South Korea and the government
even enacted a 20 day cap on ICU stays for COVID-19 patients:
“Infections surged after South Korea significantly relaxed its pandemic restrictions
in early November as part of its efforts to restore pre-pandemic normalcy.”
Live updates: S Korea has new daily high for COVID-19 deaths → AP News
Doctors protest 20-day cap on ICU stay of COVID-19 patients → The Korea Herald
Posted by: Laura Roslin | Dec 24 2021 18:55 utc | 67
@steve kelly #63
Not at all clear what there is to dig – since my wife is not in the highly vulnerable age or health categories.
The illness has been going on for nearly 2 weeks now, which would be very unusually long for a regular flu/cold.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 24 2021 18:55 utc | 68
@ Robert Macaire | # 1
In France one is for or against good relations with Russia depending on whether one is a sovereignist or not. This is why the only really important political party, the Rassemblement National (formerly the Front National), which is very opposed to NATO, is not influenced by anti-Russian rhetoric. It is about counterbalancing the Anglo-Saxon influence, as De Gaulle did. So it is not a right/left opposition, but a sovereignist/globalist one. Mélanchon (left) and Le Pen (right) are sovereignists.
However, people with conservative views are a bit less hostile to Russia. Most of my friends are left-wing and believe everything the MSM says about China and Russia. There is therefore a fairly broad anti-Russian consensus in France: “73% of French people have a bad opinion of Vladimir Putin and half (53%) believe that he sought to influence the presidential election in France” (!!!).
https://www.ouest-france.fr/europe/russie/vladimir-poutine/sondage-73-des-francais-ont-une-mauvaise-opinion-de-poutine-5002991
Posted by: Leuk | Dec 24 2021 19:09 utc | 69
@Robert Macaire | Dec 23 2021 17:37 utc | 1
In Germany in all open and hidden senses it is the SPD. Right, the ruling party in the actual coalition. They never have been russian haters, only competitors while communism was going on. Politicians of SPD, especially w. Brandt, did always necessary first steps to get a balanced relationship. Also booth North Streams are the product of G. Schröder, chancellor in the begin of century, now head of board of Rosneft. Also on lower political level of the Bundesländer you find easily SPD prime ministers in favor of good connections with Russia. M. Schweswig PM in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern just recently win elections with that position. I could find you examples en mass like that. a special tip is the period in the 70ies, when westgermany was building together with the east an oil pipeline from sibiria. Simular pressure like NS2. Finally Germany paid as barter with truck engines for the delivery, because all ways with actual money got blocked by US. That you don’t hear about that good working connection, just have to do in general with the spirit of Sozialdemokratie. They are never courage enough to stay for the right thing. They feel very well in the always hanging in between possibly important imagination. if you look into the history of that party you will be very entertained and disgusted. It is a bureaucracy feeding their members with power as long they play along.
Also there is some pro russia tendencies in AFD, but only for power reasons, like the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This is the modern version of Bismarks Zentrumspartei.
As well you can find a ever lowering amount pro russia at the Linke. Mostly for folklorist reasons. The core of this party is the rest of the old communist parties in east and west. This is also extremely under pressure, because the political designer want to reshape this party as woke.
Posted by: rico rose | Dec 24 2021 19:09 utc | 70
in reply to Karlof 1
Andrew Neil twitter
US cavalry to Europe’s rescue – at least 15 tankers filled with natural gas heading across Atlantic to replenish depleted European supplies, sending gas prices tumbling. Another 11 LNG tankers with US gas also thought to be on their way. Thank you, America.
perhaps that was the plan” that Germany made ….as Putin pointed out their duplicity in reverse flow selling to Poland which could profit them 900 m????
Posted by: Jo | Dec 24 2021 19:40 utc | 71
Jo #72
What makes you believe gas prices will tumble?
This seems like good old economic opportunism engineered through delaying the licensing of NS2 and the yankees emptying the pockets of the EU consumers. The USA is a predator just doing what predators do. The working class will pay the bill.
Germany and Poland are crappy little vassals bowing and kissing the boot of the overlord. Nothing more complex than that.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Dec 24 2021 20:41 utc | 72
@ Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 13:22 utc | 56.. thanks norwegian! merry christmas to you pernorway and everyone else here at moa!
Posted by: james | Dec 24 2021 20:50 utc | 73
@james | Dec 24 2021 20:50 utc | 74
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too, James.
Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2021 21:05 utc | 74
I think it’s time to introduce the topic of hydrogen (says the Canadian) into the conversation about Germany and it’s energy woes.
https://www.globalcompliancenews.com/2021/10/18/germany-the-german-national-hydrogen-strategy-and-international-hydrogen-partnerships-06102021/
“As a key building block of this collaboration strategy, the foundation H2Global was established in June 2021 with headquarters in Hamburg. So far, 16 companies have participated, while up to 70 companies are expected to join in the future. The founding members are, among others, Siemens Energy, ThyssenKrupp, Deutsche Bank, Linde and Uniper. Through this foundation, green hydrogen and other green power-to-X (PtX) products will be purchased abroad under long-term contracts and resold to the industry in Germany via annual auctions. The long-term purchase contracts are intended to create planning and investment security for the industry. The German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)) will support this instrument with EUR 900 million, and will compensate for the difference between supply and demand to enable a rapid and sustainable market ramp-up of the hydrogen products. The delivery of the hydrogen products is expected to start in 2024. Experts assume that primarily green ammonia, green kerosene and green methanol will be supplied via the H2Global foundation.”
Big wins for the hydrogen lobby in Washington
https://www.eenews.net/articles/lobbying-blitz-scores-big-wins-for-hydrogen/
“One of the new lobbying efforts to promote hydrogen is the Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition, launched in March.” … “The coalition is backed by companies including Chevron Corp., BP PLC, Williams Cos. Inc., Southern Co., Nikola Corp. and the American Gas Association.”
“Another new player in hydrogen lobbying is the Zero Carbon Hydrogen Coalition.” … “It lists members including Williams Cos.; NW Natural; two natural gas concerns; and Emera Inc., a Canadian electric and natural gas holding company.”
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Dec 24 2021 21:13 utc | 75
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 24 2021 4:59 utc | 36
And wasn’t Jim’s father responsible for adding the Greek phrase to his gravestone at Père Lachaise? Jim’s father read Greek well and closely studied the text of the NT. The phrase is κατὰ τὸν δαίμονα ἑαυτοῦ (lit.:’according to his own spirit’). I’m not sure if its provenance is NT (where δαίμων means ‘evil spirit’), but it has good classicising attestation of usage in a modified syntax in Greek of the Roman Empire (e.g. Dio Chrysostom 23.7). I suspect his father’s knowledge of Greek points to a learned borrowing of the latter: ‘he was driven by his own daimon’, perhaps echoing Socrates’ own ‘daimonion’ as the source of his special knowledge. I’d like to think that while Admiral Morrison didn’t understand or get on with his son he admired and respected his will and talent, and lamented the tragedy of losing him in a way that made sense to him.
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 24 2021 21:17 utc | 76
This might have come up in PM Trudeau’s recent convo with Chancellor Scholz.
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cerro-de-pasco-resources-announces-green-hydrogen-start-up-859650804.html
“MONTRÉAL, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. (CSE: CDPR) (Frankfurt: N8HP) (“CDPR,” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that CDPR and Prof Dr Bernhard Dold have incorporated a German company, H2-SPHERE GmbH (“H2-SPHERE”), to develop large-scale conversion of mineral waste to green hydrogen and other valuable components, beyond metals. Under the terms of incorporation, CDPR owns 80% of share capital and commits to fund future development led by Prof Dr Dold.”
Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Dec 24 2021 21:24 utc | 77
c1ue @ 69
Maybe a contagion isn’t the source of the ill health? What if some toxic
poison is being activated by vaccines, boosters, or the psychological
stress brought on by 24/7 fear-mongering? Detox is inexpensive and relatively non-intrusive. The “white-coats” sure don’t have a very good track record. Not long ago, the third leading cause of death was medical error, usually originating in and around hospitals. I haven’t checked lately.
Posted by: steve kelly | Dec 24 2021 21:52 utc | 78
@steve kelly #79
There is zero evidence of what you are attempting to insinuate.
My disagreements lie with the social decisions on vaccination – not on the reality of COVID.
The bar for the existence some magical toxin or whatever which spans the literal entire globe, which affects 1st world people down to the poorest Africans, which is apparently undetectable – is set very high.
The United States had 2.9 million people flying in/out of airports every single day. Significant numbers of these were from pretty much all of the other countries in the world.
Many of these were connecting in one or more US cities.
Add to this the numerous people driving, taking trains, boats whatever.
It is in no way suspicious that a highly transmissive virus can span the globe in a very short.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 24 2021 23:39 utc | 79
I have a totally off the wall speculation about the Russian ultimatum that occurred to me today that I would like to bounce off my fellow barflies. Could Joe Biden be set up as the fall guy for the climax of the Outlaw Empire?
Consider, he has already signed up to be fall guy for the withdrawal from Afghanistan – the one action I respect him for. So he has shown a willingness to stand up against the MIC if he feels it is the right thing to do.
He hasn’t finished his first year yet and he is wildly unpopular, and his VP even more so. His own party has made him a lame duck. Barring a backlash if the Supreme Court kills Roe v. Wade I don’t see how the Dems carry 2022 election. So why not say screw it and do the right thing?
I cannot imagine Putin’s Russia issuing and ultimatum without a clear vision of what the U.S. response would be and the highest probability final resolution. A Biden capitulation could have been negotiated in secret before the public actions. Biden would be vilified by both sides, the Dems would lose congress in 2022 and he will not see a second term. But is that a changed outcome from current path?
If this came to pass, history in a decade or so could cast him in a much better light than today’s exceptional Americans.
Posted by: Weekender823 | Dec 24 2021 23:44 utc | 80
@uncle tungsten #73
tumble is relative.
This article says:
The price eased on Friday, but it was still up more than 400 percent.
So from 10x price to 4x price – still not the least bit affordable, particularly given how expensive LNG is vs. base price.
What is notably missing from the article was just how much LNG is in these tankers, and how many were “business as usual”. I note, for example, that at least 1 was definitely not a “special shipment” – the ship going to Malta. The same is likely true for the one going to Gibraltar.
The reason why capacity is important is that I’ve looked at this before: the entire US LNG export capacity could not replace the Russian natural gas supply, even if zero US LNG went to Japan/Asia. So just how much LNG is in these 15 vs the winter quarterly EU consumption of triple digit BCM? (not bcf, not gallon of natural gas)
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 24 2021 23:57 utc | 81
Chile
an upbeat, hopeful conversation about Boric and Chile from the editor of a progressive newspaper in Chile.
“The election of Boric is the guarantee that the constituent convention will be able to work and operate for the rest of the seven months they have left before they have to present the new constitution, which will then go to a referendum. If Kast had been elected, his first act would have been to find the mechanism through which to shut down that constituent process. ”
The new constitution is a big deal, IMO. It will be guided by very strong leftists and native Mapuches who appear to be allied with the leftists.
https://kawsachunnews.com/interview-what-can-we-expect-from-boric
Posted by: migueljose | Dec 25 2021 0:03 utc | 82
S @ 30
From the article you refer to.
“At home, Putin has been brandishing the state’s power through fear and cohesion — chiefly by banning civil society groups, jailing high profile opponents and threatening Russian nationals who work for foreign embassies.”
Fear and cohesion. The incompetence is astounding.
Posted by: Luke | Dec 25 2021 0:21 utc | 83
JO @72–
Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, in genuine history, when he cavalry arrived a massacre usually ensued. Enron did the same to Californians–when the price got high enough, the juice was turned back on, then stopped again when the price fell. Rinse and repeat.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/turkish-lira-caps-historic-week-with-big-lift-erdogan-government-2021-12-24/
That is an impressive bounce back l! Didn’t get chance to buy cheap lira.
Posted by: D.G. | Dec 25 2021 1:10 utc | 85
Breaking News: Lawyers Committee For 9/11 Inquiry achieve a court victory re document discovery. It is hard for federal agencies to obfuscate and hide now. Let the discoveries and interrogatories begin.
The story so far, 2 planes destroyed 3 buildings and the intact passport of one of the hijackers dropped to the road below from the burning wreckage, wow.
LEGAL VICTORY REGARDING AGENCIES’ NONDISCLOSURE OF 9/11 RECORDS
“A six-year legal battle against the National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] and the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] to get access to data they used in preparing FEMA’s Building Performance Study of the collapse of World Trade Center [WTC] buildings on 9/11 has culminated in a court decision granting discovery to 9/11 researcher David Cole. Cole, the plaintiff, is represented by Lawyers’ Committee attorney Mick Harrison. The Lawyers’ Committee has supported this litigation from the start. NIST and FEMA fought to dismiss Cole’s Freedom of Information Act case but on December 21, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia denied their motion for summary judgment and granted Cole discovery. Discovery will allow Cole to inquire via depositions, document requests, and interrogatories into why FEMA and NIST failed to disclose key records known to exist regarding the collapse of WTC buildings on 9/11…..”
https://www.lawyerscommitteefor9-11inquiry.org
Posted by: Paul | Dec 25 2021 4:04 utc | 86
Piracy by rogue state thousands of miles from their own home stopping citizens of a country defending themselves from attack by nato mercenaries and slaver invaders.
https://www.rt.com/news/544279-yemen-weapons-ship-seized/
Posted by: D.G. | Dec 25 2021 8:50 utc | 87
Some Christmas Day presents for the bar:
‘Build it and he shall come’ or a version of it.
1. I pointed to the ‘sensible’ Swiss approach to Covid freedom a few days ago.
Hasn’t lasted long had it? Lol. Banning Covid parties for these seeking natural immunity by infection.
They’ll need a BIGGER referendum to jump that shark.
2. Meanwhile Liz ‘fucking’ Truss the mistress of domination and liar continues her path to glory as the next tory leader by yet again overriding her pretend anti BrexShit stance with further daily Little Englander BrexShit worship with
‘ The pint-sized bottle of bubbly is being explored as part of a review into so called ‘hangover’ EU laws being chaired by Foreign Secretary Liz Truss
“Now we’ve left the EU, we can rid ourselves of rules like this. Work is underway in government to make this change happen,” the source said.’
So let’s get this straight L’F’T has gone from being a Remainer to Full brexiteer but wants to drink foreign much Champagne from France but in 560 ml PINT bottles instead of tge 75 cl bottles and hat they traditionally come in?
3. They are totally whacko – I am really looking forward to the humiliating retreat from Iraq followed by Syria and having to eat shit in Ukraine and itv their 40k ‘consultants’ – let’s see how the PMC’s like it as they get ‘lit up’ by the over the horizon hypersonics – I bet most of them will carry on obeying orders as good drongos of the U.K. armed forces – pretending to be military consultants.
They will soon realise they aren’t safe from instant counter attack and reprisals even as they hide b hi d the Banderists in their suicide trenches.
Ah well time for lovely Xmas breakfast and get down for lunchtime pub session befor a happy day of excess. Today the propagandists leave it to the old dear to fart some platitudes into the living rooms our ears with whatever she’s been programmed to say. Drum up some gung-ho crap no doubt.
‘
Posted by: D.G. | Dec 25 2021 9:12 utc | 88
Sometimes, no matter how much time and money you have invested, it’s obvious that some things are useless and just don’t work…
CDC withdraws support for PCR tests
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will no longer recognize PCR tests as valid methods of diagnosing COVID-19 by the end of this year. The CDC announced in a lab alert on its website that it will be withdrawing its standing request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant emergency use authorization for PCR tests to be used to detect SARS-CoV-2. The request, which was issued in February 2020, will be withdrawn on December 31, 2021, a move which signals that the CDC no longer approves of the use of PCR tests as valid diagnostic methods for COVID-19.”
…probably, a number of you will want to keep on sticking swabs up your nose to tickle your brain for the next 10 years, but, as long as you know it’s pointless, go ahead!
Posted by: ADKC | Dec 25 2021 12:56 utc | 89
South Africa has seen the light. Quarantine has been completely abolished, and contact tracing also except for cases in certain confined communities such as prisons and old peoples’ homes.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES IMMEDIATE HALT TO COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING
According to the article people who test positive are still required to self-isolate at home for 10 days, on the completion of which no further testing is needed. @ Down South, do you understand that the self-isolation will be monitored by the authorities, or do you think it is – in effect – an “advisory”?
This is evidently in response to the mild nature of Omicron, in combination with vast numbers of infections most of which are asymptomatic (see also my next comment).
Posted by: BM | Dec 25 2021 15:49 utc | 90
Prof Pietro Vernazza of the St Gallen Hospital Department of Infectology in Switzerland has a very revealing new article on Omicron with some very interesting graphics supplied by a reader (in German):
The graphics are here:
Omikron – schnell aber milde?
The article is here:
Weihnachtsgeschenk eines Lesers
The upshot in brief: Data from UK, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Spain shows Omicron infection rates shoot up very quickly, but then quickly die down and are mostly harmless; and also that it seems to provide further evidence that prior infection gives far better protection from variants than vaccination.
Both links recommended read.
Posted by: BM | Dec 25 2021 16:04 utc | 91
Merry Christmas
Here is a classic from here, “”Oh Happy Day”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tSyzTIJ82g
Written by Philip Doddridge
Arranged by Edwin Hawkins
Edwin Hawkins was a pianist at Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California when he came up with the popular Latin/Soul version of the song “Oh Happy Day” in 1968…Buddah Records signed Hawkins to a record deal, rechristening the Northern California State Youth Choir “The Edwin Hawkins Singers” for their reissue of the album, which became a huge hit.
This song was recorded for the Gospel market, and its secular success didn’t go over well with everyone at the church: local officials of the denomination circulated a petition asking secular radio stations to stop airing the song. Hawkins had a different take. He told The Chronicle: “I think they thought they were doing the right thing. What confused me about it was they were teaching us all our lives that we were to take the message everywhere.”. .
Posted by: suzan | Dec 25 2021 16:30 utc | 92
China hoarding over half of world’s grains
This is interesting, but not clear if it is normal Chinese stampede investing (they did the same to garlic, copper etc at various times) or an actual geopolitical/strategic practice.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 25 2021 16:38 utc | 93
@Patroklos | Dec 24 2021 21:17 utc | 77
And wasn’t Jim’s father responsible for adding the Greek phrase to his gravestone at Père Lachaise? (…)The phrase is κατὰ τὸν δαίμονα ἑαυτοῦ (lit.:’according to his own spirit’). (…) I suspect his father’s knowledge of Greek points to a learned borrowing of the latter: ‘he was driven by his own daimon’ (…)
For sure Πάτροκλος :
In 1990, Morrison’s father, George Stephen Morrison, after a consultation with E. Nicholas Genovese, Professor of Classics and Humanities, San Diego State University, placed a flat stone on the grave. The bronze plaque thereon bears the Greek inscription: ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΑ ΕΑΥΤΟΥ, usually translated as “true to his own spirit” or “according to his own daemon”.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Morrison
Posted by: Leuk | Dec 25 2021 16:45 utc | 94
This is an interesting speech by an American general concerning American failures in conflict:
The Inverse Midas Touch
I find it interesting because the kafka-esque bumbling about is exactly what I would expect to see with an unaccountable, fractured, poorly managed and self serving bureaucracy.
It is also consistent with the public rhetoric in the US and top level departmental rhetoric in the various US agencies (military, State department, intel agencies etc) vs. the obvious failure(s).
Note that MIC type fiscal misappropriation is not at all inconsistent with the types of behavior which Christopher Kolenda (the now retired general) speaks of.
Posted by: c1ue | Dec 25 2021 16:54 utc | 95
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 24 2021 21:17 utc | 77
Thanks for that. Good to see you back. Maybe you, W. Gruff and others can help support
the POV that was lost when VK was dumped.
As for JM I’d say it was a classic case of an ambitious father not ‘being there’ for his kid.
You don’t get to be an Admiral in your spare time.
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 25 2021 18:53 utc | 96
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/ny-shortens-isolation-window-for-essential-workers-as-covid-hospitalizations-hit-march-highs/3466908/
This means that sick workers will HAVE TO go to work, no matter if they spread viruses around them in public transport.
The same will be implemented in the EU, no doubt about it.
Posted by: Julie | Dec 25 2021 19:05 utc | 97
Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 25 2021 18:53 utc | 97
Yes, good point. It feels as though his father discovered what sort of son he had too late. As a teenager I saw JM as the apotheosis of 60s cool… “whom the gods love dies young”. Break on through still amazes me.
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 25 2021 21:42 utc | 98
“ My guess is Jim Jr discovered psychedelics.”
@ by: Paul | Dec 24 2021 7:03 utc | 42
My guess is he discovered the USS Laurel Canyon.
But went rogue and ended up dead at a magic age.
Posted by: D.G. | Dec 25 2021 21:45 utc | 99
Posted by: Leuk | Dec 25 2021 16:45 utc | 95
Thanks for this. Of course, I should have checked wikipedia first! (it never occurred to me that those details would be there…). I checked on TLG (proximity searches for strings of Greek text) and it doesn’t seem to be an NT expression, but the phrase is attested in second sophistic Greek to describe the unique inner spirit of each human being. One thing seems pretty clear: it post-Classical usage. Genovese eh? I’ll check him out, cheers.
Posted by: Patroklos | Dec 25 2021 21:48 utc | 100