thank you b. Just read the Doctorow piece speculating that Russia will use surgical strikes. He has lots of credibility, IMO. Plenty of people guessing and predicting. a good time to read some history.

Posted by: migueljose | Jan 1 2022 15:08 utc | 1

The surgical strike idea wasn’t Doctorow’s, it came from a show in Russia which he wrote about in the previous post.

In US war games, any war with Russia escalates to nuclear then to total destruction. Russia seems to be saying accept these demands or we’ll have a crisis the equivalent of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I feel concerned that both sides, esp the US do not understand how rapidly a conflict could go nuclear or how unwinnable and destructive that war would be. Even though Biden and Putin recently acknowledged such a war would be unwinnable, the US actions do not show show they really believe that.

Posted by: Hickory | Jan 2 2022 13:54 utc | 2

Mr Unsweatable's lawyers fail to has the case overturned.

"A US federal judge has blocked two attempts by Prince Andrew to derail the sex assault lawsuit that Virginia Giuffre has brought against him."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/prince-andrew-suffers-double-setback-from-us-judge-in-epstein-abuse-case/ar-AASlim3?ocid=msedgntp

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 2 2022 14:57 utc | 3

A few days ago I read the Doctorow article on how the Russian media were discussing the Russian ultimatum, and was decidedly disappointed - what a strange cross-section of media selected in the discussion, hardly likely to be very representative, surely???

Conversely I read the Doctorow article on the Biden-Putin chat just now and was impressed - and immediately went to his front page to get the link to his "Russian elites talk" article, and there found several other compelling articles. Masterful - that is the most appropriate term. Reminiscent of Bernhard's articles at his peak a few years ago, before his dilly-dallying in what one might term "wokist-covidism".

I strongly recommend going to Doctorow's site and reading all the articles that are as of today on his front page - it is a real feast, most apt for the time of year. He's on a roll, as they say.

Posted by: BM | Jan 2 2022 16:07 utc | 4

Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction facing possible life in jail sentence... and also some cover ups reagarding INTELLIGENCE involvement.

However... the whole 'sexual accusations' thing is such a tainted affairs of political hypocrisy, mendacity and double standards of the highest order on both sides regardless which party you look into. From J.F.K to sexual predator Bill Clinton's victims (including Killary going after them) to G.W.Bush Jr alleged connections to underaged streetkids/rentboys pimp circles to Trump accusers and lately Tara Reade accusing braindead Joe Biden sticking his fingers into her vagina.... Yet in all those very sordid cases there were - never ever - any meeting with any trial or so called JUSTCE. And DEMs also were far more busy whitewashing Bill, Hil & Co. and now creepy Joe, hand in hand with JUSTICE-FOR-ALL-WOMEN--ME.TOO political tool of being utterly biased and dishonest aka against REPs scream as loud as possible. Use all the mud - real or fake - while bury all the REST!! And Randy Andy (Somebody told me that's his nickname among Brits.) or Prince BlahBlah is going exactly down that same path: embarrassing exposure whatsoever but legally nothing will ever happen to him while still being able to enjoy those patronage cash fillings.

Meanwhile
Assange's rotting behind bars
WHILE
WarCriminal Tony Blair gets the royal knighthood !!

Posted by: MaxD | Jan 2 2022 16:18 utc | 5

@8 Black Bread - That is disheartening information. I find this to be heartening information.

Winter Oak

God, please give us the strength to help ourselves out of this insanity.

Much love everyone. We shall overcome.

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 16:22 utc | 6

@Black bread | Jan 2 2022 16:07 utc | 8

There are precedents in Italy on how this works...

Posted by: Norwegian | Jan 2 2022 16:24 utc | 7

thanks b. I enjoyed the politico piece on hoenig. it let me
put into perspective a lot of what i had previously associated with capitalism or late stage financialized capitalism, and see the Fed's central role in precipitating it.

Posted by: mastameta | Jan 2 2022 16:28 utc | 8

I expect the Russians to be dissatisfied by January talks with US/NATO.
I expect them to expect it already, because the phrasing of their proposals being devised with such an aim, leaves no room to an agreement with the West.
Internal struggle for power in (united) Russia will probably result in stiffening of VVP government external policies to seek Kommunističeskaja Partiïa and Liberalno-demokratitcheskaïa partiïa Rossii support.
I expect them in consequence to deploy precision weaponry in space.

Happy New Year anyway...

Posted by: Greg Galloway | Jan 2 2022 17:04 utc | 9

Re: China’s Soft-Power Advantage in Africa, Beijing Isn’t Just Building Roads—It’s Making Friends

That is the essence of soft power. The only thing hard power is good for is making enemies.

Which succinctly explains the end of the American Empire.

Posted by: Black Cloud | Jan 2 2022 17:08 utc | 10

In an article published in the Journal du Dimanche, Dr André Grimaldi, Professor Emeritus of Diabetology at the Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital in Paris, states that in his opinion, unvaccinated people should inform health care services beforehand that they do not intend to die:

(...) the average length of stay in intensive care for non-Covid patients is four to five days, whereas the average length of stay for Covid patients is two to three weeks.

These long resuscitations are life-threatening for the patients and, to avoid the daily observation of resuscitators "receiving every day patients arriving in a state of distress bitterly regretting their unconscious decision not to be vaccinated", it would be good to systematically advise any adult person refusing to be vaccinated to write advance directives to say whether or not he or she wishes to be resuscitated in the event of a serious form of Covid. Shouldn't a person who claims a free choice not to be vaccinated be consistent in assuming their free choice not to be resuscitated?"

https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/Sante/tribune-et-si-les-non-vaccines-assumaient-aussi-leur-libre-choix-de-ne-pas-etre-reanimes-4085300

As the newspaper Le Figaro notes:

An article signed by some fifteen doctors and published at the end of December in the newspaper Le Monde already raised the question of taking into account the vaccination status in the prioritisation of patients in intensive care.

I recently reread short stories by Philip K. Dick and Robert Sheckley, and I had a feeling of déjà vu...

They would probably have imagined a twist, with population control militias knocking on Dr Grimaldi's door to ask for a certificate of refusal of assisted suicide. Don't you have one? Too late, please follow us.

Posted by: Leuk | Jan 2 2022 17:24 utc | 11

@ mastameta | Jan 2 2022 16:28 utc | 13 with the note about the Politico piece on the ex US Fed Hoenig and inflation...thanks for inciting me to read the piece

Below is, for me, the take away quote from the article

"
Between 2008 and 2014, the Federal Reserve printed more than $3.5 trillion in new bills. To put that in perspective, it’s roughly triple the amount of money that the Fed created in its first 95 years of existence. Three centuries’ worth of growth in the money supply was crammed into a few short years. The money poured through the veins of the financial system and stoked demand for assets like stocks, corporate debt and commercial real estate bonds, driving up prices across markets.
"

What is not made clear in the article is that the US Fed, like most other government cesspools in the West, is owned/controlled by the global elite that own the levers of private finance.

These are the folks that make the Hand, The Invisible decisions in our world and yet, in this article, the curtain remained in place......

We need to put allocation of resources and risk management in public hands and end the class based social structure that private finance has foisted on our species.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 2 2022 17:28 utc | 12

The "Sovietization of American Capitalism" tries so hard to make the completely irrelevant metaphor work, desperately working at staying away from the words "rentier capitalism" and "oligarchs". The author is a professor of business at Tufts University, so makes sense that he wouldn't have a clue what he is talking about and/or wouldn't write about it if he did. Who needs this idiot when we have Michael Hudson?

The article about Hoenig is extremely disingenuous. The FED knows exactly what it is doing, enriching the already rich. When the shit hits the fan, after the bout of inflation which will further enrich the rich who will run into hard assets and watch the debt reduced in real terms, a Hoenig will come along to punish the working class for the enrichment of the rich. Rinse and repeat. With a bit of uncontrolled overshoot some crumbs will need to be given to the working class a la Roosevelt, but only while they are needed. The main problem will be that the rich have gutted the underpinnings of society in the interim, leading to the long-term decline of the US.

The "indebted trap" is usually fixed by inflation and negative real interest rates, the big problem is that global wage arbitrage will keep US wages stable in nominal terms - so the inflation will kill real earnings leading to stagflation and less disposable income with which to pay off debts, even at negative real interest rates.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 18:01 utc | 13

thanks b.. and thanks @ 21 roger for your personal overview on that wish i trust! i am going to skip reading that... is there any good news in the air for 2022?

Posted by: james | Jan 2 2022 18:28 utc | 14

I do not see any chance that Putin orders strikes on NATO bases until NATO bases or ships are used to launch attacks on Russian forces (not separatists). Note that bases on Ukrainian territory are of course not NATO bases, and if a few British special forces happened to be there. . . that would be an "unfortunate" incident.

Putin has not been a big risk taker and only makes notable wagers when the odds of success are great and minimal resources are required (eg, deployment of forces in Syria, attack on Turkish forces in February, 2020, calling Georgia's bluff, etc.). I read "technical" means as cyber attacks. Shooting down TB-2 drones is also possible.

My perception is that the security guarantees are for domestic consumption, to be invoked if Russia needs to intervene in the Donbass based on Ukrainian provocations that rise to the level that a response is required. Putin will use them to remind the Russian people that Russia tried for a peaceful solution, but no avail.

Posted by: schmoe | Jan 2 2022 18:46 utc | 15

@all - 9 of 26 comments before this one here were by 'Black bread' who was spreading Covid conspiracy nonsense.

I have deleted those and banned the poster.

- b

Posted by: b | Jan 2 2022 19:16 utc | 16

In general, if they're anti-war/anti-capitalist/anti-zionist/anti-fascist protesters, I support them.

If they're pandemic deniers, fuck em. I hope they get run over by a tank. But, alas, in the real world, the right and neo-nazis are always in bed with the cops.

Posted by: Cesare | Jan 2 2022 19:29 utc | 17

I have deleted those and banned the poster.
Posted by: b | Jan 2 2022 19:16 utc | 18

Well b, at least you made D.G. happy.
Thanks for letting us know once again that we can't think for ourselves.
After all, it is your blog.

Oh, and note to Robert Malone: Don't even bother showing up here.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 2 2022 19:40 utc | 18

Black bread | Jan 2 2022 17:54 utc | 20

My, my, how they have calmed down. In earlier times (like in the 70's in PNG highlands), there was no such thing as an "accidental" death. If one memeber of a tribe was killed then ANY other member of the same tribe as the person responsible could have been killed as "payback".

They used to put pigs or surplus kids on the road to get run over, because there was a system where a heavy financial/pig tribute could also be used to pay off the tort. Any "whitey" who killed a kid was put on the first plane leaving, and the tort/price arranged after he left. (Otherwise life became difficult for other "whitey" tribespeople).
*
We should reintroduce the system, in which case Pfizer or other pharma companies would be held directly responsible for deaths caused by their products. Either whole companies would disappear through attrition, or they would be extremely careful there were no mortal side effects.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 19:41 utc | 19

Glenn Greenwald has something to say:

As American liberals (including their journalists) yet again celebrate and express gratitude to tech giants for silencing their political enemies -- even elected officials -- compare their mindset to how the rest of the democratic world thinks to see how authoritarian they are. pic.twitter.com/PrPFctMWhr
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 2, 2022

Even as their Party and leaders are overwhelmingly funded by large corporations, Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Democrats and liberals still like to posture as opponents of corporate power, yet they crave having unelected tech executives control and police political discourse.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 2, 2022

But the more important point is this: Parler took up this challenge from liberals. They started their own platform to offer greater free speech.

Soon as they became the nation's most-downloaded app, Dems demanded its destruction & tech monopolies obeyed:https://t.co/qD9OdwlPbV
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 2, 2022

One last point: this censorship is not the sole decision of tech companies. Dems are using their majoritarian in DC power to threaten that they will pay unless they censor more. That's a union of state and corporate power and implicates the 1st Amendment:https://t.co/KBMZpFiSzL
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 2, 2022

Unfortunately, MoA (b) has joined the ranks. And many commenters piled on and castigated those deletions.

---
Let us wonder whether b has temporarily and quietly transferred the policing of MoA to an unknown third party.
And when b is well enough he returns and we have MoA back.
But still, the stain of those MoA commenters that piled on will remain.

Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 19:42 utc | 20

Under the COVID bad news part, b shared a link about a new variant in southern France. That page was from 3 days ago and the same site has a newer article from 12 hours ago:

"The number of cases in Provence-Alpes-Côte region Azure and also in surrounding areas have swelled to 952 cases as of the 1st Of January 2022. (Last update on 13th of Dec by French health authorities was 323 cases.)"

"Further to this, preliminary genomic surveillance data is also showing that the B.1.640.2 variant has already spread to Monaco and the United Kingdom. In the UK it is now believed that at least 17 individuals already have the B.1.640.2 variant but we are unavailable to get any details from UK health officials at the moment."

Posted by: Canadian Cents | Jan 2 2022 19:49 utc | 21

@Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 19:42 utc | 22

Clearing up an ambiguity:

castigated those deletions

better:
castigated those that had their posts deleted

Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 19:49 utc | 22

@librul - If you don't stop pissing on the floor of my bar you will be banned too.

You have been warned.

Posted by: b | Jan 2 2022 19:59 utc | 23

Piss is in the eye of the beholder.

"of the barflies, by the barflies, for the barflies"

;-)

Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 20:10 utc | 24

Would be good irony if South Africa and other African countries ban flights from France, UK, and Monaco.

Would the US, Canada, and other Western countries? Weren't the case counts somewhat similar when we banned flights from those African countries ...

Posted by: Canadian Cents | Jan 2 2022 20:11 utc | 25

Back to Putin

It is clear from his statements that this has been "gamed out" before his presentation. What he will try to do is introduce some new factor, while pointing the finger of blame on NATO and the US. Either "soft" or "hard" power.

The "hard" power would require a nuclear powered drone submarine with missiles permanently patrolling off the coast of the US. I doubt that they have one handy, so the alternative will probably be a change in the financial affairs of the world.

My bet is that a new Russian "system" of financial transactions will be introduced as a starter. Cover the back end, and open up the possibility of excaping US and EU sanctions to many countries at the same time. This would be a slightly longer-term vector, as the US is coming to the crunch with it's economy. The Fed might still try to keep the whole balloon afloat, but it is only one part of the BIS in Switzerland. (Nearly all central Banks are linked to the Rothschilds BIS). Even Russia has it's central Bank linked to it.

Could the Russians delink or is this a non starter? Or even, is this the starter for the general financial deflagration that the Reset has been waiting for?
****

I am surprised that generally, police and Governments in the "west" have become so fascist, and use as much violence as the Fascists were reputed to use. Leaving aside the roots (Bandera and other visible thuggery), the question remains why there is not a joint effort to eliminate what was once the worst thing on the planet. I have come to the conclusion that it is because of - twitter and "falseflaggers", censorship and all the other means of suppressing dissent. The elimination of gatherings of "like minded people" to organise and do something. Even via internet.

Most people seem to want to be "part of the group" (in the majority) but if the majority is silent - then they will be too. The German people in 1938-9 remained silent except for a vociferous, ferocious minority. It is they that led the dance and were the main "participants" in WWII. In similar fashion, the US and UK warmongers successfully organised their side of the affair, while assuming a mantle of "innocence". In both cases, one by direct and the other by indirect control, peer pressure was brought to bear on the "silent" majority.

Nowadays is somehow different?

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 20:15 utc | 26

@ librul - Dude, have a little respect. Just chill out and avoid MoA 'til you come down!
Seriously, I think we're all like collectively losing it due the information we are learning.
At least I know that is what is going on in my case. I want all of our MoA community to stay
safe and healthy so we can pick through the entrails of 2022 and sort out what the powers that be
have tried to do to us. And I hope everything is in the past tense.

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 20:19 utc | 27

@Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 20:19 utc | 29

Appreciate your post, though one persons east is another person's west.
Think I will chill though. Lots of football to watch and was
gifted with a particularly interesting (non-political) new book.

By the way, I visited WayBack Machine today and it is overloaded,
overworked. Has someone found a new way to make it less accessible
to folks like us by giving it too many things to archive?

Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 20:25 utc | 28

Re: the debt trap, Michael Hudson has been talking about this for more than a decade. The economy simply will not be able to move forward and grow without SOME debt forgiveness.

https://theanalysis.news/why-biden-wont-cancel-student-debt-michael-hudson/

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 2 2022 20:26 utc | 29

Posted by: librul | Jan 2 2022 19:42 utc | 22

Greenwald leaves out what should but probably isn't obvious. Namely that the GOP has for far longer been run by corporations and banks. Even now, despite some sectors preferring democrats (a reaction to Trumpism), the GOP still usually leads the democrats by a large margin in campaign donations from the oligarchy.

As a self-professed libertarian, Greenwald should know that the laws were written and are enforced according to "conservative" principles wherein companies have long been given the right to refuse service to anyone they want, so long as it's not a clear violation of civil rights.

Marjorie Taylor Greene is a psycho and too many Americans have lost the ability to discern or deduce that. "Pizza", WWG1WGA, etc.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 2 2022 20:32 utc | 30

@30 - librul yo' I don't want you get banned. Here's some advice from EPMD!

EPMD - You gots to chill

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 20:32 utc | 31

Canadian Cents | Jan 2 2022 19:49 utc | 23

France;
I needed to find out about the newest reguations from the Macronnerie (Gov Web site). These are; the booster should come three months after the first two injections. The "rapid test" or PCR gives you 24 hours from the time at which the test as made. In my case, as I wanted to eat a Christmas dinner with my wife, this gave me three hours effective time in which to eat. (Sub note; no more than two invites at a time and not more than two tables set for Christmas dinners, spread over several days for a few to participate).

If there is a new variant then there will be new restrictions. The Maconnerie is like that - but it is difficult to see how they can make life more difficult.

****
All this is to introduce vaxx "Passes", which give total control over individuals and their lives. Plus obligatory vaxx every three months to use up the five year stock that the french Government has "invested" in.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 20:35 utc | 32

Posted by: MaxD | Jan 2 2022 16:18 utc | 6

In what should be news to nobody, but probably is: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/jeffrey-epstein-may-have-had-links-to-israeli-leaders-the-rolling-stone-674244

Epstein and by extension Maxwell were running a honey trap and blackmail racket most likely orchestrated and financed by Israeli intelligence.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 2 2022 20:36 utc | 33

@b25 That's too bad as conspiracy theories are batting .470 unlike ALL other "news" in regard to the weaponized flu called covid

Posted by: Tannenhouser | Jan 2 2022 20:36 utc | 34

Stonebird 28

The trouble with any new Swift alternative is that very few institutions of any international stature can function without access to the $ financial system, even if certain transactions can be executed via a Swift alternative. European countries set up Instinex, a Swift alternative, to work around Iran sanctions. I believe the $ volume for its first two years was $2M. I understand that those entities that could have used Instinex were European domiciles and the Swift alternative will be Chinese and Russian domiciles, but I still think that this becoming a viable alternative to Swift is very much a long-shot.

Also Russia's oil and gas E&P industry and certain LNG processes (Novatek's) are heavily dependent on Western technology and would be severely impacted by sanctions, but said sanctions would cause a short term increase in prices until US fracking could try to fill the gap. Another mitigating factor is US fracked oil needs to be mixed with either Venezuelan or Russian oil for most applications.

Posted by: schmoe | Jan 2 2022 20:43 utc | 35

All good in the world of mandatory vaccinations?

Melbourne man sets himself on fire

Probably best if we don't talk about here.

Posted by: ted001 | Jan 2 2022 20:44 utc | 36

please ban all the covid deniers and anti-vaxxers.

they have no reply to the info in the article linked in the missouri independent except to scream like little children how their cotton candy is being taken away from them.

of course covid denial makes vaccines passports necessary, unlike the scientific strategy of elimination. nobody in china will have a vaccine passport.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 2 2022 21:08 utc | 37

# stonebird:

They do have one Poseidon carrier handy. The submarine Belgorod especially equipped for these missions slipped into the sea just before Christmas ....

Posted by: mikhas | Jan 2 2022 21:15 utc | 38

schmoe | Jan 2 2022 20:43 utc | 37

It is clear that the odds are against a new system. However, I think you may be underestimating the quantity of institutions that have already been "contacted" or incorporated in either the Chinese or Russian systems. There is no reason that they can't use both or all of them for particular transactions, (Rouble=>renmibi=>etc.) or avoid the dollar altogether.

What I suppose the Russians would like to see is an end to the US "mass" printing of money with little value for others, and the introduction of a bit of realism in financial circuits. (OK, OK, I know that is way out dreaming!). One way to inflict damage on the overreach of "black" money systems could be by targeting tax havens. Although Delaware and London City are THE centers, they do need newly washed dirty money as a regular income, (from drugs etc) or from National "elites" placing their money outside their own countries reach, plus other assorted Mafiosi types of revenue.

I have little idea how any one who is not an insider would go about interrupting such networks. But I can see that as the circulation of derivatives, etc is comparitively unregulated that a small "misalignement" could have drastic consequences. Since we are talking about International financial warfare (sanctions are the equivalent to a siege or a blockade) then a bit of electronic sabotage might easily fit the bill. Crude but effective if it only happens to the "other" side. (Aaah, there lies the rub(le) - as hamlet might have said).

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 21:19 utc | 39

b,

Thanks for linking the article 'Indebted Demand'.

Using the concept of 'Indebted Demand' the authors explore how economies can fall into a 'debt trap' that leads to systemic economic decline that conventional fiscal and monetary policies are unable to deal with.

The authors identify that the initiators of the process of an economy falling into a 'debt trap' are 'secular economic shifts that raise debt levels (e.g. income inequality or financial deregulation)'. The process of 'Indebted Demand' then becomes self-perpetuating, leading the economy to fall into a 'debt trap' and gradual economic strangulation. The authors posit that the only way to reverse the process is to pursue policies that mitigate and reverse the 'structural sources of inequality'.

Both the U.S. and Europe are now clearly fully ensconced in debt traps. For the U.S. the 'secular economic shifts' that increased income inequality can be traced back to 1980 when the 'Globalist' financial elites managed to install their puppet president, Ronald Reagan, into the White-house and embarked on the program of 'Trickle-Down Economics'. The second leg was the off-shoring of U.S. industry with 'Globalization' that took off at the end of the 1980s, while the financial deregulation happened in the latter half of the 1990s. By 2008 the U.S. was already fully enmeshed in the 'debt trap' and has been sinking deeper into it ever since, as evidenced by the increasing levels of money printing accompanied by ever lower interest rates. As for Europe, the key 'secular economic shift' was the creation of the Euro.

It is in the above context that one must analyze the current state of affairs. As the authors of the article state, the solution to the debt trap that Western Economies find themselves in must be to pursue policies that mitigate and reverse the 'structural sources of inequality'. However, for the 'Globalist Elites' who currently hold the reigns of power in the West and who were the ones who instigated the precise policies that led to the debt trap in the first place, such a solution is unthinkable. Not only would it reduce their wealth and privilege, it would also weaken their hold on power.

Rather, what they propose is a 'Great Reset', whereby they would consolidate their grip on power by
wiping out the wealth of everyone but themselves, and at the same time transfer governance to 'Global Institutions' under their control and finally rid themselves of that troublesome institution called 'Democracy'. At the same time they must ensure that 'There Is No Alternative' by
destroying any competitive systems (such as a Russia/China led Multi-polar World).

2022 looks to be the year that will provide the climax to a 40 year process of economic and societal destruction at the hands of the 'Globalist Elites'. Either they will be destroyed, or humanity can look forward to a regime of never-ending serfdom under their 'benevolent' dictatorship.

Posted by: dh-mtl | Jan 2 2022 21:22 utc | 40

mikhas | Jan 2 2022 21:15 utc | 40

An interesting start and I think the Belgorod has at least six on board. However, if they were autonomous it means they could swim about permanently. Maybe they are already independent?

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 21:23 utc | 41

rjb1.5 | Jan 2 2022 21:08 utc | 39

Think again. Vaxx "passes" will contain links to ALL your personal information from health to wealth, going through your "Social Acceptance Grade ( SAG. ie obedience and credit allowance - reset from Schwab). Plus links to your buying habits, dirty habits (for blackmail) and current bood pressure.

RFID's (APE chips) can be read from a distant helicopter or street "lamp" observation bulb, if suitably equiped. They are "passive" and use an external source to react. They can be made very small (ie. injectable in the hand or forehead).

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 21:35 utc | 42

Nina L. Khrushcheva's "What the US Misunderstands About Russia" is a parroting of the West's propaganda in disguise. She falsifies fact and history by saying that Russia illegally annexed Crimea. People of Crimea exercised their legal right to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia. That's the fact!

Posted by: Steve | Jan 2 2022 21:39 utc | 43

rjb1.5 is troll or fake, don’t feed

and if you think ‘the general public’ will be given a chance to work out wtf is going on in 2022, just wait a month or two...

Posted by: Rae | Jan 2 2022 21:48 utc | 44

As England's queen prepares to knight the war criminal Tony Blair, this video sprung to mind of the brave soul who called our Blair at the Leveson Inquiry, he was promptly frog marched from the building, whilst the chair of inquiry had the audacity to apologise to Blair for the outburst.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR9AGdKOLb4

There's a petition to have Blair's knighthood rescinded, it stands at around 311,000 signatures so far.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 2 2022 21:48 utc | 45

European solidarity is threatened by a back stab. The black sheep to be are the Irish.

Irish Times
Taoiseach [prime minister] says Sinn Féin is in ‘destructive opposition mode’
Micheál Martin says he will not rule out working with any party after next election

The Taoiseach has said he would not rule out working with any party after the next election but accused Sinn Féin of being in “destructive opposition mode”.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also said he found it extraordinary that Sinn Féin had been “absolutely silent” on the Russian build-up of troops on the Ukrainian border, accusing it of being “anti-European Union”.

Explanation: Sinn Féin, a leftist and nationalist party, historically linked with IRA, is poised to get the largest share of votes in the elections that will be held in a near future, so forming a government excluding them can be difficult. Seems that the support of "silence" on the Russian threat has considerable popularity in Ireland. BTW, how the silence issue looks in New Zealand and Australia? New Zealand is a bit further, but Ireland is not exactly in the proximity to Black Sea, Baltic or Barents Sea.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 2 2022 21:58 utc | 46

@Posted by: schmoe | Jan 2 2022 20:43 utc | 37

"The trouble with any new Swift alternative is that very few institutions of any international stature can function without access to the $ financial system, even if certain transactions can be executed via a Swift alternative. European countries set up Instinex, a Swift alternative, to work around Iran sanctions. I believe the $ volume for its first two years was $2M. I understand that those entities that could have used Instinex were European domiciles and the Swift alternative will be Chinese and Russian domiciles, but I still think that this becoming a viable alternative to Swift is very much a long-shot.

Also Russia's oil and gas E&P industry and certain LNG processes (Novatek's) are heavily dependent on Western technology and would be severely impacted by sanctions, but said sanctions would cause a short term increase in prices until US fracking could try to fill the gap. Another mitigating factor is US fracked oil needs to be mixed with either Venezuelan or Russian oil for most applications."

SWIFT is just a messaging system that tells banks to transfer money (US$'s) from one bank to another, it can be bypassed using local currencies with no usage of the US$ as an interim conversion process (e.g. local currency to US$ to local currency). The EU could simply pay for everything in Euros or Roubles or Yuan, with SWIFT cut off the liquidity of these currency pairs would greatly increase. A major retaliation would be for China, the biggest oil and gas importer in the world, to start paying only in Yuan. This would significantly remove demand for US$ and start to remove the US seignorage benefit - why the US will not cut Russia off from SWIFT. In extremis China could buy every barrel of Russian oil exports, plus all of Iran's and still have some imports from other countries - all in local currencies.

The Russian oil sector has already been under oil and gas technology sanctions for quite a while and I am sure that the Russians understand the long-term threats and have taken measures to combat them, as with the other import substitution measures. Putin's obvious confidence stems from such measures being in place, and the ability to cut Europe off from hydrocarbons in retaliation to any EU sanctions. Russia is also benefitting from higher oil prices, any reduction in current production may be more than made up for in a tight global oil market by price gains.

The US has overplayed the sanctions card and Iran and Russia have found that they can live with them, and retaliate effectively (the EU is taking Russia to the WTO for their newly competitive agricultural sector!). Putin understands this, he is now in the position of strength, not the US and EU. The US elites seem not to understand that every action creates a counteraction which itself changes the balance of power. The US also needs Chinese imports to keep functioning and politically stable, especially with the immiserated working class needing Walmart and the dollar store to stay supplied.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 21:59 utc | 47

@ 45 Steve - indeed.

crimea

Nina Khushcheva. Is she the daughter of Sergie Khrushchev? Barflies, please inform me if I am incorrect that Nikita was up to his elbows in blood in his homeland of Ukraine. Please correct me if I am wrong. I used to respect the guy. Right is left. Up is down. But ....

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 22:01 utc | 48

@Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 2 2022 21:58 utc | 48

Here's hoping that Sinn Fein win a majority of seats and tell the enemies of the people to get lost. NZ is most definitely not Australia, for a start they are not being part of all the anti-China crap. Australia has been a vassal of the US ever since the coup against Whitlam in the 1970s.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 22:03 utc | 49

@Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 22:01 utc | 50

Its called "wikipedia", a program called "google" or "duckgogo" can get you to the right entry:

Khrushcheva was born in Moscow, RSFSR, and is the great-granddaughter (and adoptive granddaughter) of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. When Khrushchev's son Leonid died in World War II, Nikita adopted Leonid's two-year-old daughter Julia, Nina's mother. Khrushcheva's father, Lev Petrov, died in 1970, aged 47.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 22:06 utc | 50

Roger | Jan 2 2022 21:59 utc | 49

Swift has another advantage for the US, that is;- deals that were supposed to be "secret" (OPA's etc) were "leaked" to US Corporations and Banks to profit from. It is not "secret", but selectively "blind". If the Chinese and Russian want their own financial dealings to remain discrete, then sooner or later they MUST quit Swift.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 2 2022 22:06 utc | 51

@52 Thank you! I am such a failure with all this teknologi stuff.

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 2 2022 22:17 utc | 52

An older story in Irish Times

Shawn Pogatchnik
August 20 2020 02:30 AM
Profits at the Russian-owned Aughinish alumina refinery in Co Limerick rose 28pc to €43.6m last year as the plant switched from oil to gas and found a cheaper supply for its core material, bauxite.

The refinery supplies about a third of Europe's aluminium oxide, which is used to produce aluminium parts and products. Its Russian owner was removed from a US Treasury sanctions list in January 2019.

The newly published 2019 accounts for Limerick Alumina Refining Ltd state that "all banking and supply chains" at the Askeaton-based firm that had been "impacted by the imposition of the sanctions returned to normal activity following the lifting of sanctions."

------

The episode alluded in the story was Trumpian sanctions on Russia that affected Rusal, Russian aluminum conglomerate. Those sanctions cause severe trouble for European producers of aluminum as they knocked out 1/3 of their supplies of the main raw material, and American automobile making companies were hit as well, because of increases in aluminum price, as contemporary cars have many aluminum parts. As industrial moguls still have some influence (MIC, medical-industrial and finance are not everything yet), the sanctions on Rusal were short-lived. This episode gives a glimpse why "super punishing sanctions on Russia" are a form of Mutually Assured Economic Destruction".

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 2 2022 22:17 utc | 53

Tim Kirby writes drivel for Strategic Culture and they print it.
Read at your own risk.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 2 2022 22:32 utc | 54

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 21:59 utc | 49

The issue if SWIFT and Instinex is quite convoluted. First, SWIFT is not American, but to my understanding, it is hijacked by USA. First, it is hard to operate a financial institution in the West without making some financial operation in USA, so USA can forbid certain transactions, like with Iran or Yemen, and then use the exposure to American financial markets to penalize ANY entity that breaks those unilateral sanctions. But the question is: would American sanction lords know whom to sanction?

And surprise: American can see ALL transactions on SWIFT. And then they can figure out who makes transactions with Instinex, and perhaps even transactions performed with letters of credit or whatever. Then they can sanctions all entities that transact with Iran or Instinex or whoever is on the ever growing sanction list. In short, any way you form a payment system, if you run an open economy you are subjected to American wrath, unless your government, alone or as a part of, say, EU, retaliates. Euro-trash refused to retaliate, and now they are morose that Russia views them as vassals (or nobodies) so negotiating with them is a loss of time, hence they open a direct channel to USA. In short, Euro-trash behave like a bunch of chihuahuas (or miniature poodles), but they want to be humored with a more dignified treatment.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Jan 2 2022 22:38 utc | 55

If you ain’t already seen it

https://thegrayzone.com/2021/12/24/leaked-files-syria-psyops-astroturfing-breadtube-covid/

It’s a deep dive into the propaganda machine and the operators of war. Probably based on further Anonymous Hacker leaks last year abou the integrity initiative mobsters. And their cohorts across the 5+1 eyed , collapsing Empire in its last desperate days - almost at their Das Fall in the Bunker phase.

Posted by: D.G. | Jan 2 2022 22:43 utc | 56

Stonebird @41

This is where I am concerned: "There is no reason that they can't use both or all of them for particular transactions, (Rouble=>renmibi=>etc.) or avoid the dollar altogether."
- I strongly suspect that if any Swift alternative catches on, institutions using it as well as customers/clients using it will face US sanctions or the threat of US sanctions, essentially forcing them out of the traditional worldwide financial system unless they agree to only use Swift. That is an incredible burden on any management team as the "wrong" choice could lead a company to financial oblivion.

Roger

"The Russian oil sector has already been under oil and gas technology sanctions for quite a while . . ." Not necessarily, since: a) Linde (German Co.) was able to supply essential equipment to Novatek's LNG1 after Russian-made equipment could not perform adequately, and an LNG2 is under construction and likely dependent on Linde; b) Novatek and I believe Gazprom have been allowed to buy Korean manufactured LNG tankers; c) I archived a link which noted that Russia has had some luck with import substitution for E&P, but ~ 40% of equipment is still imported, unfortunately the link now leads to a 404 error.
Re: Linde Link

Posted by: schmoe | Jan 2 2022 22:43 utc | 57

Some of todays MSM Russia headlines...

Biden reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine in call with Zelenskyy amid Russia fears.
Russia ‘very likely’ to invade Ukraine without ‘enormous sanctions’ – Schiff.
Biden will speak with Ukrainian president TODAY after warning Putin that Russia 'cannot invade'.
Biden to speak with Ukraine leader after warning Russia not to invade.
Biden told Ukraine leader US will ‘respond decisively’ if Russia invades: White house.
US Will "Respond Decisively" If Russia Invades: Joe Biden To Ukraine President.
Biden says U.S. will ‘respond decisively’ if Russia further invades Ukraine – White House.
Rep. Adam Schiff says it appears to be 'very likely' that Russia will invade Ukraine.
...........

I have not seen anything like that before. Russian invasion is normally scattered amongst other Russia headlines in a bing search. That is the first results in the order they appeared.
Makes me think a major provocation is imminent which the Americans believe Russia will have to respond to.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 2 2022 22:48 utc | 58

I see some have become enlightened by the seemingly new concept of "indebted demand" which has been around since Hudson wrote his first edition of Super Imperialism in 1972. One of its main effects is to mask economic decline as economic growth since debt growth is an item that ought to be treated as a negative to GDP instead of the positive it is at present. That's the massive negative that I point to as masking the reality of GDP decline that even Shadowstats adjusted GDP fails to correct for--take an average of -4% and tack it to the blue line on the chart and you'll see that real GDP growth is negative for every year since the Reagan era Savings&Loan Crime that marks the great acceleration in Neoliberal theft and destruction of viable corporations which is why the Outlaw US Empire is mired in a very deep domestic tar pit.

Related to the above is the destruction of Traditional Conservatism upon which the USA was initially constructed--politicos like Pat Buchanan know very well that you don't destroy the very institutions that made you great if you want to continue being great: You continue to strive for a More Perfect Union. Yes, Traditional Conservatives were once the bastion of Enlightened Liberalism, people like Henry Wallace and Charles Beard--even Theodore Roosevelt. Democrats of a similar nature were very few, FDR and some of the New Dealers are the main examples. Truman was not, nor was Wilson before him. The forces that formed the core of the present Duopoly surged into being between 1876 and 1896 and generated the massive Populist Reaction that almost swept them from power. Traditional Conservatism would have remained in command if it weren't for Roosevelt and Taft splitting the Republican ticket in 1912 that allowed the radical Democrat insurgent Wilson to win and award his backers by creating the Federal Reserve and privatizing the nation's banking system. That allowed for the purchase of the War Bonds issued by European nations involved in their own power struggle which the duplicitous Wilson later used as the reason why the USA had to enter the war in 1917 when in his 1916 POTUS campaign his slogan was "He Kept Us Out of War." (WW1 Home front politics is treated very thinly in most US History texts for several very important reasons--The reasons for Wilson's duplicity and the founding and very intensive utilization of the National Propaganda System.) For a look at what D Party politics were like, look at the Big City Political Machines--which were dictatorial--and GOB (Good Old Boy) politics of Jim Crow South--which were Feudalistic. Do note that neither were liberal or democratic and so it remains today. JFK was essentially a Traditional Conservative like his father, both of whom were outliers within the D-Party. Many Ds & Rs during the 1930s became American Fascists, and it was they who created the Outlaw US Empire--FDR's Internationalism and resulting UN Charter is their antithesis.

Thus, the Imperial and Domestic are intertwined into one just as the Ds & Rs have combined into a Fascist Duopoly, while Congress remains as a democratic façade. The great mass of the population hasn't had a real voice within government able to accomplish anything for them since LBJ's attempted Great Society. That's why last Jan 6 happened; not because of Trump, but because the people know they're being robbed. They well know the vast disparity displayed by this chart because they've been living it for well over a generation. The Darel Paul essay that Crooke cites in his deals with the current outcome of the above historical sketch as does Gerson's op/ed Crooke cites earlier along with Jimmy Carter's so-called "Malaise Speech". All combined point to the multitude of reasons why the US citizenry must repeat the January 6 protest and continue to bang the drums monthly until the Neoliberal Temple collapses from the vibrations of 300+ million voices protesting the status quo of the last 50 years, and gross outlawry since 1945.

It isn't the great mass of people that are busily dividing themselves from their peers. Rather, it's the institutions of power and those at their helm who continue to utilize Divide and Rule methodology on the body politic so they can remain in power--that's why the Jan 6, 2021 protest was so powerfully targeted as unamerican when in reality it was very much in line with Americanism.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 2 2022 23:05 utc | 59

@rjb1.5

"nobody in china will have a vaccine passport"

China’s health code system shows the cost of controlling coronavirus

Posted by: ahji | Jan 2 2022 23:20 utc | 60

Quite a conciliatory statement from the Whitehouse IMO....Adam Schiff was probably hoping for something tougher.

"President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. The leaders expressed support for diplomatic efforts, starting next week with the bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue, at NATO through the NATO-Russia Council, and at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. President Biden underscored the commitment of the United States and its allies and partners to the principle of “nothing about you without you.” He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also expressed support for confidence-building measures to de-escalate tensions in Donbas and active diplomacy to advance the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, in support of the Normandy Format."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/01/02/statement-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-on-president-bidens-call-with-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-of-ukraine/

Posted by: dh | Jan 2 2022 23:22 utc | 61

Let's pretend it's not happening.

Melbourne women sets herself on fire

Woman sets herself on fire - Vaccine mandates are killing us

Posted by: ted001 | Jan 2 2022 23:29 utc | 62

ahji | Jan 2 2022 23:20 utc | 62
everything comes at a cost. especially everything China does.

this troll will state once again that another day dawns in China without another Covid death. I don't need anyone to feed me. you ignore the policy of China, now entering its 3rd year, because you don't have an answer for it. and it has nothing to do with vaccines. China's achievements began long before the roll out of sinovac.

your idiocy feeds into the tyranny you claim to fear.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 2 2022 23:32 utc | 63

We shall soon see if the new German government joins with Lithuania in performing "Microphone Diplomacy" in support of Taiwan while charging "economic coercion" against China. It will be curious to see how the situation develops as the new German government hasn't started its term very well relative to its two biggest trading partners.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 2 2022 23:40 utc | 64

@Posted by: schmoe | Jan 2 2022 22:43 utc | 59

If the EU is cut off from Russian gas the social, political and economic impact will be huge - hence the threat from Putin if the EU increases sanctions against Russia. That is why NS2 continues in the face of extreme US opposition. There is a limit at which the EU, especially Germany, will not act against its own interests. The US has pushed that as far as it can without forcing a political rupture. Even hegemons need some level of consent from their captured "allies", many a sovereign has suddenly found themselves in trouble when they pushed the nobles too far.

China, India, Pakistan, ASEAN, Iran and Central Asia will happily pay in local currencies with Russia (many are already doing this) and the US cannot cut off this much of the world economy - they will be reverse sanctioning themselves. China will also never let Russia fall, as an ally Russia protects their northern border, helps control Central Asia, provides a safe source of fossil fuels, and provides military, diplomatic and geographical benefits. Its already too late for the US, they just can't accept the fact.

Also, how is Iran exploiting its oil and gas resources having been under US sanctions for so long? I think that the combination of Iran, China (with its own extensive fossil fuel resource exploitation) and Russia can replace US/Western technologies if needed. As with the Russian pipe laying vessel used to defeat US sanctions against NS2. Those three countries output of STEM graduates who are their own citizens (as against the US where 50% of STEM if foreigners, including Chinese and Iranian) dwarfs that of the US, that is the basis of future technological power.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 23:42 utc | 65

a variation on the "China does something, but at what cost?" theme in the NYT's "China moves to overhaul protections for women's rights, sort of". It should go without saying that business doesn't like things like menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and childcare, so yes Chinese businesses try to get around gender discrimination prohibitions, as businesses do everywhere on the planet without exception.

but the NYT could say anything about women in China to its know-nothing readership and you'd never learn that, quite unlike the west, wage discrimination is illegal. and no one in China says shit like, "women are too stupid for math" (Larry Summers).

does the West reject China's covid policy because of racism?

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 2 2022 23:47 utc | 66

@Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 2 2022 23:40 utc | 66

All bark and no bite, China has Germany by the balls of VW, Mercedes, BMW, Audi etc. with between 30 and 50% of their sales in China. Plus all the heavy machinery etc. sold to China. Follow the Benjamins, or perhaps the Bismarcks?

"Equally clear is that Germany’s economic entanglement with China has become so extensive that reversing it is no longer a realistic option."

https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-china-economy-business-technology-industry-trade-security/

German car manufacturers in China.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-01-10/China-remains-Mercedes-Benz-s-main-sales-driver-in-2020-WVJjuYOVzO/index.html
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202107/13/WS60ed4b10a310efa1bd6618f8.html

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 23:51 utc | 67

people reject China's covid policy because they are racist.

Chinese don't know how to do science, do they? that "yellow science" is a big pile of commie bull.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 2 2022 23:53 utc | 68

@Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 2 2022 23:05 utc | 61

A very thorough assessment! I would add the separation of the US elites from any national moorings (in their own heads at least) as they sit atop Global Value Chains that spread across the globe with little connection to the mass of the US lumpen proletariat/precariat. They may find that physical materialist reality intrudes on their simulcrum when things start to fall apart, or of course the US will move to a more obvious fascism when the elites get scared of the masses barring their corporate jets from taking off.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 2 2022 23:56 utc | 69

There's a petition to have Blair's knighthood rescinded, it stands at around 311,000 signatures so far.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 2 2022 21:48 utc | 47

That's interesting RoS.

Apparently the "other woman" is another one in her graces...

Queen Elizabeth Appoints Camilla to the Order of the Garter
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/queen-elizabeth-appoints-camilla-order-014200939.html

I thought I'd remind everyone of what this order actually is. So I went to Wikipedia to get the usual quotes about her personal sovereignty. And I note some "interesting" changes. Or at least I don't remember them.

But one point first. It is absolutely unprecedented for these appointments to take place at this time of year.

Unprecedented.

Things are going on behind the curtain.

Members[edit]

Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the Monarch, the Prince of Wales, not more than 24 companion members, and various supernumerary members. The monarch alone can grant membership.[19] Monarchs are known as the Sovereign of the Garter, and the Prince of Wales is known as a Royal Knight Companion of the Garter.[20]

Male members of the Order are titled "Knights Companion" and female members are called "Ladies Companion". Formerly, the Sovereign filled vacancies upon the nomination of the members. Each member would nominate nine candidates, of whom three had to have the rank of earl or higher, three the rank of baron or higher, and three the rank of knight or higher. The Sovereign would choose as many nominees as were necessary to fill any vacancies in the Order. They were not obliged to choose those who received the most nominations. Candidates were last nominated in 1860, and appointments have since been made by the Sovereign acting alone, with no prior nominations. The statutes proscribing the former procedure were not amended, however, until 1953.[21]: 198 

From the 18th century, the Sovereign made their choices on the advice of the Government. In 1946, with the agreement of Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Leader of the Opposition Winston Churchill, membership of the United Kingdom's highest ranking orders of chivalry (the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle and the dormant Order of St Patrick) became a personal gift of the Sovereign once again.[17] Thus, the Sovereign personally selects Knights and Ladies Companion of the Garter, and need not act on or solicit the advice of the Government.[22]

Appointments are typically announced on Saint George's Day (23 April).[17]

supernumerary members

These are the royal houses of Europe.

The Queen of Denmark, LG 1979 81
The King of Sweden, KG 1983 75

King Emeritus Juan Carlos I of Spain, KG 1988 83

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, LG, GCVO 1989 83

Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan, KG, GCVO 1998 88
The King of Norway, KG, GCVO 2001 84
The King of Spain, KG, GCVO 2017 53
The King of the Netherlands, KG 2018 54

All have sworn an oath to the sovereign of this order.

Monarchs are known as the Sovereign of the Garter

St Patrick) became a personal gift of the Sovereign once again

They plan to get Ireland back.
This cult thinks in centuries.

I'll come back to the second paragraph in a minute.

and need not act on or solicit the advice of the Government

This body is completely beyond democratic control.

By law.

Back to para 2. Just look at it.

Does it confuse or not? What sort of idiot writes guff like that?
Remove para 2 completely, and you have a fairly comprehensible accounting.
But leave it in there and readers won't know whether they are coming or going. See what I mean?
I'm sure it's no accident.

Appointments are typically announced on Saint George's Day (23 April)

Like I say, it's a big rush. And believe me, this order is a big cheese, whose motto means quite literally

If you don't like it you can go fuck yourself

Posted by: John Cleary | Jan 3 2022 0:00 utc | 70

Looks like Americans are VERY, VERY scared by fast approaching liberation of Ukraine. The threats of "unprecedented sanctions" are coming fast and furious, every day and from every mainstream media outlet. This is comical as it only betrays rising western desperation and helplessness. Blinken even called the Finns and begged them to come out with some silly NATO propaganda. Kremlin must be pleased with such a pathetic display. The ease with which Russian military juggernaut will roll over rickety Ukrainian regiments will shock western capitals. It'll be over in no more than a week. Most likely way sooner. Any talk about guerilla resistance is an empty one. All of the potential rebels will be crossing into Poland as fast as they can.
At this point, I believe, Putin is making last diplomatic overtures to simply establish a historical record of peacemaking before Russian guns start talking. Then he'll be able to say "we offered them a deal ten times, and ten times they laughed in our faces. It's all their fault". And he will be absolutely right.

Posted by: Venom | Jan 3 2022 0:00 utc | 71

federalism didn't save us from the plantation, but this time it will save us from being big pharma slaves with the 666 mark of the beast injected into us. I knew the US constitution was as inspired as God's own KJV! "behold, i set a rock of stumbling in DC and a stone of offense to the pharma lobbyists...states' rights." why didn't Satan think of the unenumerated powers that belong to the states when plotting the Great Reset and NWO with Bill Gates, Fauci and Soros??? I don't know, but glory hallelujah! not sure how it is that the antichrist Biden is enacting the divine will, but it's a mystery...

something tells me the new flower power won't be born of people burning their vaccine passports...or masks...

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 3 2022 0:13 utc | 72

I am surprised that generally, police and Governments in the "west" have become so fascist, and use as much violence as the Fascists were reputed to use. Leaving aside the roots (Bandera and other visible thuggery), the question remains why there is not a joint effort to eliminate what was once the worst thing on the planet. I have come to the conclusion that it is because of - twitter and "falseflaggers", censorship and all the other means of suppressing dissent. The elimination of gatherings of "like minded people" to organise and do something. Even via internet.

I listened to the entirety of Joe Rogan interviewing Dr. Malone.

Some important points:

1. Dr. Malone contracted COVID-19 --- Wuhan Strain in Mar 21. He had a serious case, took weeks to recover and developed "long COVID".

2. Dr. Malone was vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine to allow him to travel, and to recover from his Long COVID. He developed serious Hypertension as a consequence, and nearly died.

3. Dr. Malone reminded Joe Rogan that the BBC developed and instigated a program to censor dissident views for the purpose of quashing Russian influence in NATO countries, and it was this program that is being used to silence those whose expressed opinions differ from the established narrative.

4. Dr. Malone is of the opinion the "vaccine mandates" are illegal, and fly in the face of established practice.

INDY

Posted by: George W Oprisko | Jan 3 2022 0:21 utc | 73

Also, how is Iran exploiting its oil and gas resources having been under US sanctions for so long? I think that the combination of Iran, China (with its own extensive fossil fuel resource exploitation) and Russia can replace US/Western technologies if needed. As with the Russian pipe laying vessel used to defeat US sanctions against NS2. Those three countries output of STEM graduates who are their own citizens (as against the US where 50% of STEM if foreigners, including Chinese and Iranian) dwarfs that of the US, that is the basis of future technological power.

Thank you for bringing up a very important point.... Iran using native STEM talent, developed it's own Oil extraction and processing industries, it's own Satellite Launch Vehicles ( finally operational and reliable as shown by last week's launch)
and it's own Metallurgical Industries too.

Russia indigenized all components of the MC-21, including avionics, engines, and composite structural components such as the wing.

China....
Chinese Accomplishments during the past year....

2021 was the best year in modern Chinese history. Here’s what they accomplished:

Eliminated extreme poverty.

Reached 98% home ownership.

Kept Covid death rate at 0.6% of America’s.

Grew the economy $2 trillion PPP, the fastest growth ever.

Became the richest country on earth.

Became the world’s biggest overseas investor.

Became the world’s largest movie market.

Produced one new billionaire and 300 millionaires every workday.

Completed new train lines in seven countries, including Laos’ first.

Ran 15,000 cargo trains to and from Europe, up 30% YoY.

Joined RCEP trade pact, with 30% of global GDP and of the world’s population.

Sold $140 billion retail online in 24 hours (Amazon’s record is $5 billion).

Launched the first central bank digital currency.

Dominated scientific research and issued the most patents of any country.

Built three exascale computers to win the Gordon Bell prize.

Built a programmable quantum computer 10,000x faster than Google’s Sycamore.

Operated the first integrated, 3,000-mile, commercial, quantum communications network.

Brought online two gas-cooled Pebble Bed nuclear power plants.

Fired up two thorium-fueled reactors, eliminating uranium from power generation.

Released a Covid treatment that reduces hospitalizations and deaths 78%.

Made 55% of global energy savings.

Generated 1 terawatt of renewable energy.

Installed one-million 5G base stations, giving Tibet better 5G service than New York.

Communicated between satellites via lasers, 1,000x faster than radio waves.

Operated the world’s most powerful solid rocket engine, with 500 tonnes thrust.

Flew three hypersonic missiles around the planet.

Released a fractional orbital bombardment missile from another missile at 17,000 mph.

Simultaneously commissioned three warships, becoming the world’s biggest navy.

Quite a list, don't you think???

INDY

Posted by: George W Oprisko | Jan 3 2022 0:31 utc | 74

dh-mtl @ 42 Good post.

“2022 looks to be the year that will provide the climax to a 40 year process of economic and societal destruction at the hands of the 'Globalist Elites'. Either they will be destroyed, or humanity can look forward to a regime of never-ending serfdom under their 'benevolent' dictatorship. “
———————

Their expansion opportunities do seem to be extremely limited which would be a death knell for capitalism and favor a more sharing approach to resources. (The term “socialism or barbarism“ refers to a quote by Rosa Luxemburg)

Posted by: financial matters | Jan 3 2022 0:36 utc | 75

Posted by: Steve | Jan 2 2022 21:39 utc | 45

Nina L. Khrushcheva's "What the US Misunderstands About Russia" is a parroting of the West's propaganda in disguise. She falsifies fact and history by saying that Russia illegally annexed Crimea. People of Crimea exercised their legal right to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia. That's the fact!

Posted by: hopehely | Jan 3 2022 0:38 utc | 76

Posted by: james | Jan 2 2022 18:28 utc | 16:

is there any good news in the air for 2022?

This could be:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202112/10/WS61b28d76a310cdd39bc7a734.html

If COVID cases can be effectively treated, then it becomes just another flu. Then vaccination becomes voluntary and elective, while travel/social/vocational restrictions become moot. I would consider this good news, and it's in the brewery already :-)

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jan 3 2022 0:38 utc | 77

Stonebird@28
The 'silence' of the German people under the Nazis was brought about by systematic and ruthless repression. The majority of the German electorate never did vote for the Nazis and their right wing allies until the concentration camps were set up, filled with socialists and Trade Union militants, and the parties the working class banned. It was after these preparations that the Nazis 'won' election.
It is a gross libel not only on the German working class but on humanity in general to blame Hitler's victims for his crimes.

Posted by: bevin | Jan 3 2022 0:41 utc | 78

Roger @71--

Thanks for your reply. My comment forms the basis for a much longer essay I'll likely publish tomorrow at my VK Space dealing with the relevance of last January 6, mixed in with Crooke's essay, all those he cites and more, including what this poll suggests, "Third of Americans ready to justify violence against government", and this just published Glenn Diesen op/ed, "It’s time to prepare for the post-American age: Washington’s role in the world is diminishing. What comes next?".

With the Holiday Week ending, I'll be returning to writing and commenting.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 3 2022 0:44 utc | 79

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jan 3 2022 0:38 utc | 79

If COVID cases can be effectively treated, then it becomes just another flu.

Posted by: hopehely | Jan 3 2022 0:52 utc | 80

Interesting article from The National Interest:

(https://nationalinterest.org/feature/negotiate-peace-russia-prevent-war-over-ukraine-198738?page=0%2C1)

The author is basically saying that to conclude an agreement along the lines of what is proposed by Russia would be in the best interests of the U.S.

I have commented several times on this site that I thought that there was a split between the Atlanticist elites and the more nationalist elites in the Biden Administration. The author is evidently not an Atlanticist.

Posted by: dh-mtl | Jan 3 2022 1:07 utc | 81

"your idiocy feeds into the tyranny you claim to fear." That did genuinely make me LOL

Posted by: Ahji | Jan 3 2022 1:08 utc | 82

Ahji | Jan 3 2022 1:08 utc | 84
i please to aim.

curious how a populace that can't get off the couch enough even to visit its 2 nearest neighbors is all gun fired up about "vaccine passports".

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 3 2022 1:15 utc | 83

@hopehely, #82:

Google 'remedy for cold/flu', you'll get a long list. Sorry, I don't have a link for you.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jan 3 2022 1:16 utc | 84

rjb1.5 | Jan 3 2022 1:15 utc | 85
for what % of America would a FEMA camp be a step up in their housing situation? asking for a friend...

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Jan 3 2022 1:23 utc | 85

@Venom 73

Unfortunately I see this as a correct analysis for the situation between Nato and Russia. The MSM propaganda has steadily ramped up, it's getting pretty vicious and atrocious levels now (observation from a N Europe country).
This looks at least as bad as the nationalist propaganda during WW1 and WW2. Transatlantic NGOs are working around the clock with their propaganda to push it.

On the ground, however, the EU economy looks to be falling apart. I wouldn't rule out the chance of EU inflation going over Russian inflation within 1.5 years. Once things like that happens, you know the game is over for the "west" and Nato. EU is doing everything in their power to obliterate the economy and drive living costs to a low atmosphere, and they did destroy self-sufficiency in many economic sectors, resources, food and energy.

Definately the Amerikanskis are cooking something BIG up in Ukraine. They are investing most of their chips there. I fear they might actually succeed. Definitely Russians should start reducing the illegal American bases in Syria right about now. This is the theater of least escalation risk as it is low value for USA.

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 3 2022 1:32 utc | 86

@Posted by: dh-mtl | Jan 3 2022 1:07 utc | 83

Thanks for the article, but I had to wade through so much US ideological bullshit in the first few paragraphs it was painful - what US writers have to do to genuflect to the media powers that be I suppose before saying what they really want to. The guy is also dreaming if he thinks Russia will lead the SCO, and the US elites will allow the US to leave NATO.

He is a classic defensive realist, the kind that US strategists always ignore because it would remove the basis of the support for US elite profit making around the world. They don't care about the raison d'état, only the raison d'elite and raison de international rentiers.

Posted by: Roger | Jan 3 2022 1:33 utc | 87

America is cooking up another false-flag chemical weapons attack that will be blamed on Russia after Russia steps in to defend The Donbass from the NAZIS.

Won't really matter though as Russia will go in to The Ukraine knowing relations with the west are over until the USA collapses.

Posted by: ArthurDent | Jan 3 2022 1:45 utc | 88

dh-mtl @42 opined;

"2022 looks to be the year that will provide the climax to a 40 year process of economic and societal destruction at the hands of the 'Globalist Elites'. Either they will be destroyed, or humanity can look forward to a regime of never-ending serfdom under their 'benevolent' dictatorship."

Yep, more like a 50yr. process, but none the less, looks like a reality. I've watched it these past years gain momentum, with absolutely 0 accountability for the "rich and famous", culminating with the Jan 6th fiasco in DC, a real "banana republic" event.

Posted by: vetinLA | Jan 3 2022 2:00 utc | 89

There are a few references to an article by Doctorow early in the comments here, Could I get a link to this as I have been unable to find it. Thanks.

I’ve been following MoA for a few years now and I really appreciate it and all b’s work and many of the excellent comments. Thanks all !

Posted by: John Sanguinetti | Jan 3 2022 2:19 utc | 90

@18 b - re the banning of Black bread

Since you deleted his comments before I could read them, I have no way to determine what he said and how fair was your reaction.

Are you amenable to publishing at least a short, representative sample of the things he said that caused his ban?

I would like to be able to make up my own mind what to think about this, based on my own reading.

~~

I know his passion caused him to walk on an edge - this was clear. But he was the uncut diamond, with some brilliance and much earthy substance inside his fiery presentations.

I cannot describe how sad I am that you deleted his comments.

I already miss those nuggets he supplied, and his insight, that was actually often unparalleled, and with far-reaching theories about what's happening in the world (or overreaching theories, if you will, and I can see that some would).

His voice compelled consideration, whether to explore further or to disregard.

~~

By all means ban him. Ban me - truly, I'm okay with that. It's your prerogative.

But to remove the evidence by which he stood accused? Even the wicked US doesn't - constitutionally - do that.

What did he say that was so bad? Would you please give us a hint, more substantial than "conspiracy nonsense"?

Posted by: Grieved | Jan 3 2022 2:19 utc | 91

On Gilbert Doctorow, than you b for your link to his site. I found a few minutes to scrounge about on the www and found this interesting eighteen minute utoob discussion re Belarus of 5 weeks ago.

"Gilbert Doctorow: The US containment policy toward Russia and China is a desire of political establishment to maintain global hegemony that serves their financial interests. Belarus has become a battlefield in this confrontation."

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 3 2022 2:31 utc | 92

I'm really getting the sense that b doesn't understand how immune systems work. The issue was never T-cell memory. It will eventually kick in and call up reinforcements. But that isn't much use against covid, since covid works too fast. The key to the immune response to covid is having active antibodies already deployed, which is the entire logic behind the 'boosters' (they aren't boosting or enhancing anything, they're just retriggering the immediate immune response).

It's completely unknown what the long term effects of these mRNA vaccines will be in general, and in particular if it's a good idea to be 'refreshing' the immune system like this every few months. We're all part of one giant third stage trial in this regard.

Wear masks, people. Stay outdoors or at least in well ventilated places. Do what you can to avoid getting infected in the first place.

Posted by: Ben | Jan 3 2022 2:34 utc | 93

John Sanguinetti #92

The first link is in b's opening post.
Go there and at Doctorow's site you will find the second report by Doctorow per this:
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2021/12/31/russian-elites-talk-will-the-negotiations-in-geneva-on-january-10-bring-about-a-roll-back-of-nato/

Doctorow's site seems scant on navigation 9for this newcomer there) but once you goto 'home' then scroll down you will find plenty.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 3 2022 2:36 utc | 94

hopehely #82

Flu can be effectively treated? Since when?

Darwin Award :))

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 3 2022 2:40 utc | 95

George W Oprisko #76

Well said comrade. Happy new year and long health to you.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 3 2022 2:43 utc | 96

Ben #95

Can I add: free all those medications that have shown benefit and get the totalitarian medicos out of my GP practitioners clinic. End the lockdown on medical practice that allows only one dimension.

We the people and our medical science/practice arrived here because we let a thousand flowers bloom.

Enough of the straighteners and rigids.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Jan 3 2022 2:49 utc | 97

@ Ben | Jan 3 2022 2:34 utc | 95

Mary Shelley wrote about a doctor trying to create an improved human being. I guess we are too smart to think like people 2 centuries go. Let's improve everyone's immune system! Good Luck with that.

Posted by: EoinW | Jan 3 2022 2:53 utc | 98

Unlike western leaders continually shooting their mouth off, when men like Nasrallah or Putin make a threat you can be certain they mean it. I would not be surprised to see the Russians take out Ukrainian military targets, including NATO advisors. I don't expect a single Russian soldier on Ukrainian soil, unless the decision is made to create a land bridge to Crimea. A minimal military respond, so as not make a retaliation inevitable. Yet a response which will change the politics for good.

What will the West do? What they're going to do anyway - sanctions. If the Russians bomb command centres and target Ukraine's political/Nazi leadership the message will be perfectly clear that no military or political leader will be safe in Europe if NATO respond militarily.

Keep in mind what a corrupt racket western militaries have become. These decision makers are never going to risk their lives for any cause. Certainly not Ukraine!

Remember the Brighton bombing? Maggie Thatcher was the Iron Lady when standing up to starving hunger strikers. The moment the IRA actually targeted the Conservative government, she immediately betrayed the Unionist cause and signed up for the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

More recently, we saw Iran attack a US military base and the American response was to lie that no soldiers were injured. That's what will happen to any NATO advisors killed in Ukraine - the government/media will pretend it never happened.

Posted by: EoinW | Jan 3 2022 3:13 utc | 99

The intention of the Warren Commission - the presidentially appointed official investigation into the circumstances of John Kennedy’s violent death - was to buttress the rapid finding by the FBI that a “lone nut” killed JFK, but also to classify and remove from public scrutiny the investigatory materials for a period of 75 years. This was done specifically to ensure that few persons alive when JFK was killed would still be around when the materials entered the public record, effectively ensuring the released materials (originally scheduled for release in 2039) would promote little more than historic interest. Oliver Stone’s “JFK” film released in 1991 successfully changed that metric, as public reaction to the film pressured Congress to move up the declassification of much of the material by over 40 years ( to the late 1990s).

Stone has now directed a new documentary which reviews the current state of the case - the “new JFK fact pattern” - developed from the reams of material available since the late 90s. Former Washington Post reporter Jeff Morley has posted a piece on CounterPunch which reviews the declassification process, the new “fact patterns”, and the continuing establishment dissembling directed at Stone’s work on this case. It is a useful summary for anyone seeking details on this continuing to develop story, which could yet invoke a political reaction or consequence as a fair number of persons alive in 1963 are still around.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/12/31/jfk-revisited-oliver-stone-and-the-new-jfk-fact-pattern/

Posted by: jayc | Jan 3 2022 3:21 utc | 100