It is widely discussed why US would malign Russia on Ukraine.
And obvious why Russia would respond as it has.
I assume US is satified with results as it is holding course.
It is clear why the clown would support the US agenda, but hard to understand why the Ukraine would support this path.
So I think that Russia may be giving time for that reality to take hold. Wake up Ukraine, do you really want to be next Iraq or Syria – that is a long term no win scenario.

Posted by: jared | Jan 16 2022 15:48 utc | 4

Re: Opening Post and comment by Oscar Peterson | Jan 16 2022 15:10 utc | 2
These juicy tidbits are as obviously related as 2 + 2, unless you rely on Zionist, Neoconservative, Neoliberal, corporatist mathematics, of course, where the sums and products of all numbers is zero:
https://www.rt.com/russia/546143-us-train-ukraine-insurgents-reports/ and
https://www.rt.com/russia/546095-kremlin-false-flag-ukraine/
“…Earlier in the day, anonymous US officials echoed claims from Kiev that Russia had sent “operatives” into the disputed regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in eastern Ukraine, to prepare a “provocation” that could trigger an “invasion….The quotes from an anonymous US official apparently dovetailed with insinuations by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about Russia “laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating a pretext for an invasion,” brought up at Thursday’s White House press briefing. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby referred to these claims at his own briefing on Friday, but then added the US assessment is that Russia hasn’t yet decided whether
to invade…”
also notice two items above in Bernard’s post Other issues: Ukraine: are apparently about the same things.
The invasion by the Ukraine will probably be “justified” by a Windoze for MaleBovineManureJobsGroups 3.11 (which is running in Exceptionalist Mode) and / or Country General Protection Fault double false flag (false flagging a Russian false flag) or stated more simply, a provocation, which I think is the real (or most immediate agenda of) the training of potential future terrorist partisans.
Americastan accuses Russia of planning a false flag while doing WHAT??? RICH!!!

Posted by: William Haught | Jan 16 2022 16:23 utc | 6

Re: Kamala Harris
Fiddling while career burns. She has gotten this far by being a compliant finger puppet; unfortunately as someone with supposed influence and power, she now has to deliver.
The sad reality is that Kamala Harris has never been an actual politician even – negotiating with own and other party to accomplish some goal.
So she doesn’t know how to set goals, doesn’t know how to negotiate for them much less get anything done.
I have not been the least bit surprised at Kamala’s ongoing failures – what is amusing is why anyone thought it would be any different.
The article above notes she has an enormous press corps – great, lots of people to amplify what?
Voting rights: idiotic and doomed to failure. The federal government does not have the right to dictate every single state’s voting practices nor would even moderate uniformity result in anything like these morons think they would. As has been abundantly demonstrated – many red and purple states have more open practices than blue states. Furthermore, the federal attempt to take over this will directly disenfranchise the secretaries of state in every single state – voting being one of the primary functions of that position.
And the biggest joke is coming: she’s extremely likely going to be the 2024 Democrat primary candidate. At the end of the day, she can always just blame Brandon for everything and shrilly proclaim her prime woke figurehead status.

Posted by: c1ue | Jan 16 2022 16:25 utc | 8

Here’s a general comment on my Montenegro post above.
Montenegro is a tiny country to the south of Serbia. It has a coastline on the Adriatic, its territory having expanded westward in fairly recent history, but past history links it very closely with Serbia, much as Crimea is linked to Russia historically speaking. Just from a fairly shallow overview, I would suspect that expansion, being a source of profit tourism-wise, is also a source of tension since most coastal inhabitants have Albanian (further south) roots. This ethnic mix seems to be the source of present conflict as when Montenegro was landlocked it was more of a monasticly focussed state and had the last Yugoslavian ties with Serbia when other communities had left that union. Indeed it was thought of as the rugged segment of Serbia itself, and many monasteries were mostly founded in that time, with some state leaders being also leaders in the Orthodox community.
My calendar describes peaceful protests led by the leader of that Serbian church community, Metropolitan Amfilohije, against a government ruling that involved the confiscation of church properties, during which the leaders of the protest were ‘temporarily detained in police custody’. Elections for parliament were held in 1920, and the pro-western party headed by President Djukanovic was defeated. However Djukanovic is President until 2022, and his supporters now continue to protest the installment recently of a successor to Metropolitan Amfiloije,(who recently died from a pandemic related illness) – said protests involving flaming barricades and threats of violence. There is also the complication of a counter national church having arisen as in Ukraine, which is not recognized by Orthodoxy in general.
The last news article I read in Aljazeera described the new Metropolitan having to arrive to his church residence by helicopter due to the protests.
As I said, a tiny country, no more than a million inhabitants. But perhaps a microcosm of the kinds of pressures we currently discuss in larger detail. (I’m reminded to myself, that my presentation rather reverses Plato’s Republic but let it stand.)

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 16:44 utc | 10

There will be no war between the West and Russia/China.
The West is frozen like a ‘deer in the headlights’.
And that’s exactly where Russia/China want it; frozen, unable to act while it slowly disintegrates economically and politically.
Russia will do nothing to upset this situation, except perhaps give the collapse a nudge – for example, by continuing to undermine the U.S. Dollar.

Posted by: dh-mtl | Jan 16 2022 16:47 utc | 12

Also, elections held in 2020, not 1920, sorry again.(Senior moment).

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 16:49 utc | 14

Mainstream “news”, here in the U$A, is saying Russia is the problem, with little or no discussion about NATO’s expansion Eastward.
Just once, I’d love to hear ANYONE pose the question; What would be the U$ response be to a Russian base in Cuba? Which, in reality, is what happens when NATO expands Eastward, and becomes a de-facto U$ base.

Posted by: vetinLA | Jan 16 2022 16:59 utc | 16

You might find out later this year vetinLA.
A Russian government plane was touring the Caribbean a few days ago. My guess it was carrying a mixed Military/Diplomatic team and Cuba and Venezuala were two of the destinations.

Posted by: DaveGood | Jan 16 2022 17:09 utc | 18

I think I understand what Russia will do if she is forced to act on Ukraine (or NATOs ongoing encroachment:
Putin will formally recognise the Luhansk and Donetsk peoples republics ad perhaps extend to them membership in the CSTO and potentially the Russian Federation.
This avoids having to break any assurances Russia has made not to ‘invade Ukraine’ while still delivering a powerful and effective blow to demonstrate how serious Putin is.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 16 2022 17:33 utc | 20

Posted by: vetinLA | Jan 16 2022 16:59 utc | 17

What would be the U$ response be to a Russian base in Cuba?

Probably the destruction of Cuba.
While this would be a fair counter for Russia to take, it would draw far too much fire from the American Empire towards vulnerable states like Cuba and Venezuela.
(Iran perhaps, but then Putin would need to balance the relationship with Zionist israel, which he treasures far too much)

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jan 16 2022 17:37 utc | 22

Will there be nukes in the Caribbean?
Since Cuba and Venezuela are already ostracized from empire and since a multi polar world is in their best interest, they may be open to being used as a threat to empire hegemony. I assume that protection and some sort of economic support are part of the new axis forming deals.
We need to remember that while empire makes it look like they are attacking Russia and China separately, this is a civilization war by empire to keep its lock on the levers of global finance…..they know Russia/China are locked at the hip at this time but want the zombies to see them as two bad things instead of one.
===================
Hey b! I got a hoot out of your last link
The Dolphin Clitoris Is Full of Surprises, Scientists Discover – Sciencealert
As someone who got a patent for an alternative bicycle saddle and sold the patent after making/selling saddles myself for 14 years, I know a bit about that part of the human anatomy.
The article describes the clitoris on a woman as pea sized and then goes on to describe how big the female dolphin’s is. I don’t want to get into a lot of detail here but the woman’s clitoris is about 8 inches long from the crus tip of one leg of it to the other with the pea thing referred to in the article being in the middle.
If anything I would say that the Dolphin clitoris is only more exposed that that of the human female.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 16 2022 17:43 utc | 24

@ c1ue | Jan 16 2022 16:25 utc | 9
Yes, Harris looks to be the Democratic front-runner right now, assuming Biden retires. Current polling, however, shows even the somnolent and unpopular Biden outpolling Harris, who has all the charisma of a dead flounder. Assuming he survives that long, Biden will be 81 on election day 2024 and 82 at the end of his term in 2025. Thus, if he served a second term, he would be 82-86. This might not be quite impossible, but it does seem to be a long shot, and he might become even more unpopular by 2024. Still, it seems most likely to me that Harris will fizzle in the primaries like so many other MSM-promoted candidates. The MSM always try to build up a buzz behind their candidates, like they are doing right now with the loathsome warmonger Connor Lamb for the Senate in PA, and it’s gratifying to watch when their efforts are in vain.
Unfortunately, a great many of our fellow citizens remain easy to deceive. Right now, when they are beating the drums for war with Russia and recently with China, it hasn’t caught fire with the public, because, first of all, the public just don’t care about Ukraine and Taiwan at all.
What is needed, ideally, is someone to stand up, break through the media barrier, and ridicule the warmongers and denounce them as the traitors to the United States that they are, but I won’t hold my breath. For that to happen, it would probably have to be someone prominent in the elite turning against their own class, like the Gracchi in ancient Rome. It will probably happen eventually when distributional conflict becomes direr.

Posted by: Cabe | Jan 16 2022 17:47 utc | 26

@24 “Since Cuba and Venezuela are already ostracized from empire and since a multi polar world is in their best interest, they may be open to being used as a threat to empire hegemony. I assume that protection and some sort of economic support are part of the new axis forming deals.”
On the other hand they could be offered some sanctions relief if they stay out of it. An attractive proposal perhaps. It works both ways.

Posted by: dh | Jan 16 2022 17:54 utc | 28

With respect to my return to the previous thread, I would recommend the last page of it, some excellent links there, plus a thanks to Paul for first focus on the Djokovic ‘incident’ in Australia. That focus is huge down there, as you point out Paul, and the live hearing of the court deciding his fate would have been an electric moment for that sports crazy region.
There is and has been for a long time intense sports rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, especially in cricket as you point out, Paul – my several trips ‘home’ I was introduced into the intense World Cup scenario early ’90s, after having experienced the Hadley era during the ’80s when I only had a radio myself down there – got hooked on radio commentary as the advantage is you can carry on with housekeeping chores while listening; tv you can’t.
My one ‘live’ experience of the rivalry was grabbing a bus to Eden Park with my kids and their friends in the ’80s, getting a seat in the near empty stadium right next to Aussie players in the field, their faces ostentatiously daubed with white sunscreen, while a couple of Blackcaps in beige uniforms held the fort for an entire afternoon out on the pitch. Rather a relaxed situation it was; you had to be a fan.
These conflicts, I am sure, have been more important for the general public than politics or religion, that part of the world having been a backwater in past generations with little input on the international stage otherwise. These days it has caught up pretty much, as with any other off-notice region such as Montenegro.
But the Djokovic affair? Huge!
So, here we are.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 18:02 utc | 30

Thanks also to hopehely – my thought on uniqueness was that monastic emphasis for the small country, rather similar to Mount Athos for Greece with respect to Yugoslavia, though even that latter unification is a recent historical one.
And Paco, thanks for the amplification of the Ukraine problem schismatically – it hasn’t seemed to happen that way in Montenegro, with a uniform response to the Montenegran Orthodox vs. Serbian Orthodox by Orthodoxy at large. I’m not close to these shuffles, so others may have better info on the difference, but thanks for pointing that out. ‘Divide and conquer’ is my own amateur assessment.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 18:12 utc | 32

https://eukraine.substack.com/p/juggling-the-numbers-why-the-average
Juggling the numbers. Why the average salary in Ukraine is growing, while life is getting worse

by Alexey Kushch, January 11, 2022
The original article: https://focus.ua/opinions/502806-zhonglery-ciframi-pochemu-srednyaya-zarplata-v-ukraine-rastet-a-zhit-vse-huzhe
I chose to translate this article because the author does a great job at clearly explaining the socio-economic realities of Ukraine today. I also like his comparison of Ukraine with Albania, where similar processes of social stratification as a result of labor migration to EU nations are taking place. Finally, his conclusions regarding the small social basis of the post-2014 political regime are important. It brings to mind how, according to polls, only 22% of Ukrainians support a non-diplomatic (military) resolution of the conflict.

Posted by: too scents | Jan 16 2022 18:19 utc | 34

Hadlee, sorry, Richard Hadlee. He was beautiful to watch on my parents’ color tv. Hadlee, and Braithwaite. Inia te Waiata and Kiri te Kanawa for music. Golden era! Even the racing yachts for the America’s Cup were beautiful then…only the plane crash at the Antarctic mountain and the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior gave tragic links to world affairs for us sports enthusiasts.
That was then.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 18:27 utc | 36

Posted by: too scents | Jan 16 2022 18:19 utc | 33
Thanks for the link! The parallel to the US situation is immediate and indefensible. Words fail. Dustpan politics, writ small. The hammer sees every solution as a nail to be pounded, except in this case it is the larger nail doing the pounding.
The ghosts of the past are rattling their chains in horror.
Hold fast to the good, wherever you find it; have courage.

Posted by: juliania | Jan 16 2022 18:57 utc | 38

INDY
Posted by: George W Oprisko | Jan 16 2022 18:33 utc | 37
.
.
INDY ????

Posted by: tucenz | Jan 16 2022 19:23 utc | 40

Russia/Ukraine war potential as indicated by Russian troop deployments.
I’m partial to the analysis of Michael Kofman, the director of Russian studies at Stanford, who apparently specializes in analyzing Russian military operations/formations.
He has been arguing, since April of 2021, that the nature of Russian troop movements around Ukraine have largely consisted, up to this point, of deployments into staging areas.
He estimates is that there are now 60 battalion tactical groups within 250-350km from Ukraine (these are ground troops, and does not include potential aerospace or naval forces).
He emphasizes that the units sent so far are primarily involved in prepositioning equipment and not, as of yet, sending manned formations. He argues that if the Russian military begins to send actual personnel along with logistic support (medicine, fuel, munitions) to forward deployed locations something more ominous might be afoot–but for now the preposition of equipment makes any deployment more sustainable and less expensive and gives Moscow greater freedom to select the timing of operations while retaining the element of surprise.
He also argues that nobody really knows what might happen next, except for perhaps members of the Russian national security council, who are charged with evaluating and ultimately choosing political-military options.

Posted by: Gulag | Jan 16 2022 20:21 utc | 42

@ Stonebird | Jan 16 2022 20:22 utc | 43 with the “outing” of Facebook
Let me add to the outing from The Register
Google and Facebook’s top execs allegedly approved dividing ad market among themselves

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 16 2022 20:53 utc | 44

indy as i – i’m not dead yet, or as in independent? a lot of folks just skip over these abbreviations… they must be meaningless for a good number of people.. i had to look it up..
INDY ==== “Indiana Jones”…. the real one…. the world girdling oceanographer…. not the
fictitious archaeologist…
We both taught at IU… had adventures… ate monkey brains… worked in Asia… Africa… Oceania… Caribbean… the Americas…. the Med…
You???? Looks like you need a new dictionary…
INDY

Posted by: George W Oprisko | Jan 16 2022 20:53 utc | 46

I’m partial to the analysis of Michael Kofman, who apparently specializes in analyzing Russian military operations/formations.
He estimates is that there are now 60 battalion tactical groups, each containing 700-900 men, within 250-350km from Ukraine (these are combined arms battle ready formations, and do not yet include potential aerospace or naval forces).
He emphasizes that the units sent so far are primarily involved in pre-positioning equipment and not, as of yet, sending manned formations. He argues that if the Russian military begins to send actual personnel along with logistic support (medicine, fuel, munitions) to forward deployed locations something more ominous might be afoot–but for now the preposition of equipment makes any deployment more sustainable and less expensive and gives Moscow greater freedom to select the timing of operations while retaining the element of surprise.
He also argues that nobody really knows what might happen next, except for perhaps members of the Russian national security council, who are charged with evaluating and ultimately choosing political-military options.
Finally, a realistic assessment.
INDY

Posted by: George W Oprisko | Jan 16 2022 21:04 utc | 48

https://sputniknews.com/20220114/stoltenberg-natos-already-decided-to-make-ukraine-georgia-members-didnt-say-when-itll-occur-1092254284.html
Perhaps it is time, Cuba, Nicaragua, and God willing, for CSTO to decide to make them members and for Stanislav Vasilievich Zas to announce the obvious time of occurrence — the exact nanosecond of Georgia and Country General Protection Fault’s entries into NATO.

Posted by: William Haught | Jan 16 2022 21:17 utc | 50

What to do with a nation that ignores and breaks its own laws, the treaties it signs, kills millions of innocents, and abets massive financial crimes, while lying about all of it or simply telling its BigLie Media partners to bury it all and never let any of it see the light? Should such a nation be allowed to exist amongst the vast majority who are damaged in many ways by that one nation’s behavior? Shouldn’t that nation at the very minimum be ostracized and put into semi-permanent time-out until it vastly alters its ways, and its public begs the world to forgive them?
Given the ongoing nature of the biggest financial crime in world history, what might happen if Russia, China, and other nations cut themselves off from SWIFT and demanded the use of their national currencies in all transactions with that Outlaw Nation? What if Syria said it’s had more than enough of the Pirate Nation’s plundering of its national resources, attacks its forces to drive them from its land and reclaims its natural wealth?
When will the majority of the planet say it’s had more than enough crap from the Outlaw US Empire and work together to stop its illegalities and force it back within its borders?
When is enough finally enough?!?

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 16 2022 21:25 utc | 52

@jayc #49
Thank you for the link.
The National Interest article which Doctorow references, however and to me, doesn’t represent any form of American oligarchy thinking.
The person who wrote it (David Pyne) is more like Lt. Colonel Stuart Scheller than a real representative of the deep state, and will get the same treatment.

Posted by: c1ue | Jan 16 2022 21:34 utc | 54

I might exaggerate a bit, but I do no not lie. I was just trying to explain, how difficult it is to send 60 Euros, from England to a Student from Germany, who found my wife’s phone on Brighton Beach, such that She Gets 60 Euros, and she did get 60 Euros…Cos she texted me, when she got it…in a happy smiley ordinary Greeting Card.
The Post office took about 20 pence.
The Banks Got Nowt…
Why did you delete that?
I was trying to help and tell the truth, as my wife and I found it.
Yes, I am old too, but we went to a gig last night in London.
The place was rammed..the band were world class.
No one was wearng masks, and no one believes in Covid anyomore in England in 2022
COVID IS OVER in ENGLAND
We will not wear Masks, and We will not Take Our Booster Jabs.
We do Like You Germans, but please STOP JABBING
Tony

Posted by: Tony_0pmoc | Jan 16 2022 21:43 utc | 56

An illustration of who is getting sanctioned, and by whom. (From Valdai club, via Geroman. Twitter)
https://twitter.com/RealPepeEscobar/status/1482663145776758792/photo/1
*****
Tony_0pmoc | Jan 16 2022 21:43 utc | 56
It isn’t officially “over” in France as the Gov, has just voted in Vaxx “passes” (with nearly 300 senators absent, so there would not be any dissension). I envy you.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 16 2022 21:51 utc | 58

karlof1 | Jan 16 2022 21:51 utc | 57
I am starting to think that “war, War” is the next induced panic. Covid is waning (and is finished in many countries), Climate change is not immediate or even realistic as a panic mode, as it is “based” on too long a time line.
So what is left to hide the coming financial breakdown? The financial destruction of Europe as a unit (ie. End of Euro and possibly eurozone), and the scavenging of the remains by Blackrock and others. The Banks and multiple bankruptcies and asset seizing?
***
Blackrock is one of the “deep state” orifices. Ten trillion dollars in “assets” under it’s management. ie. an immortal “corporation”, the owners of which are never held accountable.

Posted by: Stonebird | Jan 16 2022 22:05 utc | 60

https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1482408918965915650

The reporter used to launder Trump-Russia conspiracy theories; Russian bounties in Afghanistan; and “Hunter Biden’s laptop is Russian disinformation” has some new “very credible” news about Russia:

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 16 2022 22:14 utc | 62

Posted by: juliania @ 30
Re Novak Djokovic, the point that stands out to me is that natural immunity was recognised by 27 nations in the European Union plus the UK when Australia granted the visa. Australia changed ‘the rules’ RETROSPECTIVELY after Novak Djokovic legally entered the country on what was a valid visa.
Now talking head commentators are spinning a whole new narrative while omitting the salient retrospective point.
Novak Djokovic behaved with dignity and composure under pressure.I don’t think I would have remained so calm. I would have wanted to smash some heads.
I am waiting to hear why unprecedented legal indemnity was given to the drug companies. If Novak Djokovic, for example, had the injection and suffered adverse reactions there would be no one to litigate against. Very fishy.

Posted by: Paul | Jan 16 2022 22:36 utc | 64

Ukraine-NATO “non-negotiable and no promises this time”?
No matter how much I rack my brains, I see no other ending than sanctions followed by cutting the ties, Putin’s word.
The new Russian weapons (as impressive as they are) won’t change that. Do you see the West giving in to anything with a gun to the head?
It would be cowardly kneeling in front of the dictatorial, intimidating, arbitrary poisonners with homophobic Novitchok and the russians know that we are no COWARDS!
As I already read it here, it will then be suicide for Europe, well done, but it will also be very painful for Russia and much less for the USA, so why to play it like that?
No better option or could Russia have simply decided to reduce its exposure to an implosion of the financial boilers of the free world?
Maybe I’m wrong and we’re all going to beg NATO to sign this f***g piece of paper, I would still prefer.

Posted by: Marjorie | Jan 16 2022 22:44 utc | 66

If we get through this without the four horsemen saddling up there’ll be questions.
one of them will be, since the British and Russian military budgets are almost identical.. how come Russia has almost 3,000 tanks to our 250, and they can deploy a full combat brigade in 13 hours while we have just one, fully manned, battalion?

Posted by: DaveGood | Jan 16 2022 22:59 utc | 68

@ Paul 64
Two aspects of the Djokovic saga were the most interesting:
1) how much ordinary Australians were for or against kicking Djokovic out of their country,
2) the legal basis of kicking him out once he arrived at the border with a valid visa.
I must state that I always expected Djokovic to be kicked out, the only two surprises were that the visa was issued and that he won the first court case. This is because Australia has gone to the extreme dark side (just review a few now infamous police violence videos from Australia, especially the one where a white-haired policeman literally strangles a small woman because she did not wear a mask). It is the same media and politicians who ruthlessly and incessantly lie about Covid who activated their tools of mass psychosis even before Djokovic boarded the plane, right after he twitted that he was coming to the Australian Open. There was absolutely no chance ever that he would win a challenge against the minister’s cancelation of his visa – the second highest Australian court was not going to rule against the government to which it is connected on the hip. This is why all three judges strongly sided with the government.
The media house Fairfax, publisher of the trashy Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne), and the NWO propaganda and Wokeness leader in Australia, published a well timed market research which showed that 71% of Australians were for deportation and only 14% were against. They also smeared the voters of a small new party called United Australia Party as the only group opposed to the deportation (how dare they). My personal estimate (probably more reliable than a paid market research) is that about 35% of Australians were for deportation, about 25% were against and 40% could not care less. I would also venture that the 35% for deportation were almost all from the group of the so called “scared” (scared by the media fear-porn).
Covid has turned Australia into a new Wahhabist Saudi Arabia – Covid is the unchallengeable state religion. It is interesting question – why so much more than the other Western countries. My thesis is that Australia is a young nation, inexperienced with ideology and propaganda, ripe for picking by the WEF NWO, with a disarmed population prone to nutty ideologies supported by the regime and the media. Simply put – the Australian population strongly lacks the European skepticism of Descartes et al.
Finally, about the legal basis of kicking Djokovic out – the Australian Government (the Minister of Immigration) claimed only one thing – that Djokovic is a “treat to the country by his anti-vaxx views”. The Australian law is explicit that it allows the minister to cancel someone’s visa at own discretion, but explicitly “only as a last resort and in extraordinary circumstances”. Djokovic’s lawyers have challenged those two points: Djokovic has never stated explicitly that he was anti-vaxx and especially not when in Australia. The Australian governments case relied on an old Anglo-journalistic smear by the “reliable” BBC, which enhanced, extended and amplified his statement that vaccination was a personal choice. Yet, all this did not matter – the three blind mice of the Australian Federal Court simply decided that “only as a last resort and in extraordinary circumstances” sub-clause does not exist in the Australian law and interpreted only the part of the immigration law which implies unlimited authority of the minister. They refused to adjudicate on the reasonableness of the Minister’s decision, and declared that the Minister’s decision was legal.
Yet, not even one screeching anti-Djokovic commenter in Australia comprehended the irony of declaring Djokovic, a foreigner, a problem for the health of Australia. Djokovic was kicked out because his completely personal and confidential vaccination choice became a symbol against the state religion. On one hand the vaxx crazies claimed that Australian Open is not one player (i.e. Djokovic), at the same time he was so important and a problem for the country that he had to be eliminated from the sport and the country. Naturally, the main point is – How come the vaccine mandates are so vulnerable to one man’s vaccination choice that the government must employ extreme measures to eliminate this one man?. What sick insecurity!!!
Naturally, this aligns perfectly with the main argument against vaccine mandates – If they are so good for you why do they have to be mandated? (they lost patience, you know …)

Posted by: Kiza | Jan 17 2022 0:00 utc | 70

This is too delicious.
Pepe Escobar
@RealPepeEscobar
·
2h
Lavrov:
“As we can see, the multi-page text was too difficult for our partners. The following demands for the USA will be issued in the form of comics.”

Posted by: D.G. | Jan 17 2022 0:38 utc | 72

Re: Dolphin bits
The cited article left out the most interesting quote: “In dolphins, the clitoris is positioned at the entrance of the vaginal opening and in direct contact with the penis during copulation, unlike the external position of the clitoris in humans,” said Orbach.

Posted by: Platero | Jan 17 2022 0:47 utc | 74

@73 Also of course any certificate Djokovic might have got in Serbia would be in Cyrillic script. That could cause major panic among immigration officials.

Posted by: dh | Jan 17 2022 1:13 utc | 76

Re Stoltenberg’s declaration.
When reading about Jens Stoltenberg’s assertive declaration, one would think of him as the ex-PM of a truly formidable military power.
He sounds like a Tibetan hound and yet his army is chihuahua sized. 28000 men in uniform, 40,000 reservists!!! What a joke!
Then, economy-wise, Norway is just a couple of offshore platforms easily decimated.
He looks like these dogs that will bark frenetically at some other dog while protected by a fence, yet will calm down instantly when thegate is opened.
But his belligerent tone is really to be examined seriously as he seems not to realize the seriousness of the circumstances. He is after all still the Secretary-General of NATO.
However, since help to fellow members is voluntary he could find himself exposed to monumental ridicule if Russia decides to annex Georgia and Ukraine and he cannot do anything about it.
However, seriously, he should be in an asylum as he does nothing to promote peace for his people.

Posted by: CarlD | Jan 17 2022 1:53 utc | 78

Posted by: Kiza | Jan 17 2022 0:43 utc | 73
I’m glad you know so much about Djokovic; is he a close personal acquaintance of yours?
Not being in Australia, I can’t speak on the allegations about empty store shelves, but you’ll see plenty of US (and UK tabloids) outlets pushing the same thing, along with the inflation stuff. Turns out our capitalist just-in-time supply chain breaks down much more easily than we’d been told all those years.
It seems much more likely to me that the distraction was intended to keep Australia’s troubles with containing COVID despite the vaccination rate out of the headlines and the tennis player provided a great coincidence. Should be noted how Rupert Murdoch’s outlets Down Under have been covering it too.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 17 2022 1:57 utc | 80

Paul @ 64, Tom Q Collins @ 67, Kiza @ 70:

… Yet, not even one screeching anti-Djokovic commenter in Australia comprehended the irony of declaring Djokovic, a foreigner, a problem for the health of Australia …

One irony must surely be that Novak Djokovic is the first major sports athlete to be banned from competing in an international sports tournament because he won’t take a drug that may cause problems in the short term for him as an athlete (because tennis is as much an endurance sport as it is a sport dependent on athleticism) and likely to have long-term consequences for people of his generation and younger who take it.
There is another issue at play as well. Since becoming Prime Minister in August 2018, Scott Morrison has mishandled one crisis after another (disasters such as bushfires in 2019 and floods in 2020 and 2021; most aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic: co-ordinating strategy with the state governments especially over interstate movements of people, obtaining supplies of vaccines in 2021; the AUKUS pact in which Australia failed to notify France that it was cancelling their submarine contract) and distinguished himself by his bullying behaviour towards various individuals of whom Djokovic is one example. Support for Morrison among the general public and even within his own party is low. I hear rumours of people leaving the Liberal Party in droves and joining the United Australia Party.
Morrison’s intervention in the saga surrounding Novak Djokovic is a cynical dog-whistle ploy exploiting current public disillusionment and resentment, and the media scapegoating of people reluctant to take the jabs, to claw back support. I’m sure his mentor John Howard will be proud that his pupil learned this lesson well.

Posted by: Jen | Jan 17 2022 2:01 utc | 82

@Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 17 2022 1:59 utc | 81
I’m sure a (netral search engine) search on Djokovic + RioTinto would reap some.
However, this one from 9 Dec 2021 is the one I saw.
https://tennistonic.com/tennis-news/382180/i-will-not-give-up-fighting-for-justice-and-truth-says-djokovic-after-opposing-rio-tintos-deal/
Also December 5, 2021…
https://firstsportz.com/tennis-novak-djokovic-backs-the-growing-protests-in-serbia-over-the-rio-tinto-mining/
I’ve forgotten the name of the US lawyer that took on a US resource company in South America and they have hounded him into bankruptcy and jail (for contempt of court etc). Had him in house arrest with ankle GPS irons on. (*) Same deal/risk for Djokovic if he is not careful, especially if he visits any 5-eyes neofeudal plantations. They (of any public note) have all been implicitely told to STFU or else face the ‘economic’ and legal hit men. aud$500k Australian Government court costs is just a small before dinner mint.
(*) — found it I think: Attorney Steven Donziger & Chevron. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/01/steven-donziger-lawyer-sentenced-contempt-chevron

Posted by: imo | Jan 17 2022 2:23 utc | 84

you aussies know how to have a good conversation.. i thank you all for that!
@ D.G. | Jan 17 2022 0:38 utc | 72.. great quote from lavrov.. thanks… here it is again –
“As we can see, the multi-page text was too difficult for our partners. The following demands for the USA will be issued in the form of comics.”

Posted by: james | Jan 17 2022 2:49 utc | 86

@Jen | Jan 17 2022 2:01 utc | 82
“Morrison’s intervention in the saga surrounding Novak Djokovic is a cynical dog-whistle ploy exploiting …”
Remember, this ankle-chain yank is a standard conservative pre-election “defend the borders” against refugee boat people tactic. Unfortunalty (for them), boy-Bush, Blair, Obama, etc are not producing the said “boat people” flooding in to sink the country. In fact, much of Asia is now actually a preferred escape destination for the local serfs (*) — but for some reason we can’t leave. It’s that “Hotel California” endless loop thing and a Russian (hence Putin) friendly Serbian tennis star will have to do for 2022.
—-
(*) Note, that most Joe-six pack tradies down here could work a well paying job for 6-months then go live in Asia as pampered kings (e.g., Bali is only 3 hours away from WA cap) for 6 months and get most of his tax back. Then he (perhaps she) flys back to the plantation gets treated as a serf again by the boss-class for a few months and then goes back to his Asian harem. It’s been going on for decades but the new economic realities needed changes and the covid-thing was a convenient opportunity to cry “emergency powers” and the rest is fear-porn history. Thanks WHO.

Posted by: imo | Jan 17 2022 2:55 utc | 88

Covid update from India
From January there has been an explosion of covid cases across the nation. The positivity rate is around 15-24% of tested cases. So much so some state are asking not to come to hospitals unless it is very severe and all asymptomtic or mild cases have to go in for self isolation. Even with such restrictions daily cases have surged to around 250000. Only good thing is severity is very less and hospitals are not overcrowded.
Govt still continues to jab at around 3.5 million jabs per day.

Posted by: R M Rao | Jan 17 2022 3:10 utc | 90

Hi Platero! I am sure you are aware that Franz Faron is from the beautiful island if Martinique. Macron is such a wretched human. I have heard my favorite authou, Michel Houellebecq has a new book coming out. I presume he will get to the bottom of it

Posted by: lex talionis | Jan 17 2022 3:19 utc | 92

Posted by: imo | Jan 17 2022 2:23 utc | 84
Thanks, I wasn’t even aware of what Rio Tinto was.
Yes, the treatment given to Steven Donziger by the “justice” system is deplorable and in-line with the treatment given to Julian Assange. There is no rule of law in the USUK west despite the constant refrain (thus hence the constant refrain).

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 17 2022 3:48 utc | 94

@ imo 79 and 88
Insightful about Australia and Australians, thank you.
“…most people are sheep without independent critical thinking capacity…”
“The admission of the Australian government that they cannot tolerate the social-influence/disturbance risk of one tennis player … shows just how brittle and close to breakdown the system is.”
“…it is quite rare these days to find a cop that does not look and sound like a tattoo’d nightclub bouncer doing a 2nd shift.”
“…much of Asia is now actually a preferred escape destination for the local serfs – but for some reason we can’t leave…”
The last time shellberight Australia had it excellent was when, thanks to China, Australia avoided the stock market crash and Great Recession of 2009. Since then the keen local US ass lickers have managed to turn China into a definite enemy, whilst US and Canadian companies picked up most of the commodity contracts that Australia lost. Therefore, these Australian Uniparty(*) shitbags are focusing their dumbed down population onto Covid and Djokovic whilst working for all kinds of foreign interests and printing money like there is no tomorrow. Turning the biggest customer into enemy, Australia will pay for all these “nukiller” submarines and tanks it is ordering from its “allies” only from the same printing machine that feeds the current Australian prosperity. All rats of the sinking Western economies are climbing on top of each other and Australia appears at the bottom of the pile. A basket case and a laugh of Asia – the Chinese are simply amused by Australia’s limitless stupidity.
Regarding Rio I am well aware of its desire to open a poisonous Lithium mine in Serbia, which Djokovic personally opposed. He was outspoken there, unlike regarding “vaccines”. But I subscribe to the old maxim – never underestimate Government’s stupidity over potential conspiracy. Only greed and bribability exceeds politicians’ stupidity.
(*) Australia is ruled by a Uniparty, consisting of Liberal/National/Labor/Green and a few “Independents”. There are two relatively new and small real opposition parties: One Nation and United Australia Party. The regime’s media is doing its utmost to demonize this real opposition at the expense of the pretend democracy of the Uniparty rule.

Posted by: Kiza | Jan 17 2022 4:24 utc | 96

@Kiza | Jan 17 2022 4:24 utc | 96
Thanks, … You got it!
Rio Tinto were not too popular in 2008 with the Norwegian Government Pension Fund market either for their dirty work in Indonesia. But that seems to have been smoothed over in the last couple of years.

Posted by: imo | Jan 17 2022 4:41 utc | 98

Patroklos @ 83, Psychohistorian @ 89:
Actions of rabid ethno-nationalist Novak Djokovic:
Novak wins Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award!

“… Novak Djokovic Foundation raised $1.4 million for early childhood education through its inaugural fundraising dinner in New York in September. Novak also collaborated with his clothing sponsor UNIQLO to develop and launch ‘Clothes for Smiles’. The program, which aims to give children of all ages a chance for a better future, has established a $10 million fund that helps nurture the dreams of children worldwide. Through the project website, http://www.uniqlo.com/smiles, UNIQLO welcomes ideas from around the world to bring smiles to kids. The ideas selected by a panel of judges will be supported and implemented. As a UNICEF Ambassador, Djokovic contributes to a better early childhood education in Serbia …”

Coronavirus: Tennis raises more than $6m to create player relief fund

“… World number one Novak Djokovic said last month he had spoken to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal about a relief fund that would see money distributed to lower-ranked players.
The ATP and WTA Tour seasons are suspended until at least July 13 due to COVID-19.
While Australian Open runner-up Dominic Thiem was opposed to the idea, the governing bodies of tennis came together to raise more than $6m, it was announced on Tuesday.
“The initiative has seen the ATP, WTA, the four grand slam tournaments – the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, The Championships, Wimbledon and the US Open – and the ITF, unite in a show of support to players who are facing unprecedented challenges due to the global impact of COVID-19. Professional tennis is currently suspended until July, 13 2020,” a statement read.
“In addition to contributions of their own, the ATP and WTA will administer the financial distributions of the player relief programme, which sees respective contributions from the four grand slam tournaments and ITF split equally between men and women …”

‘95% of players struggling, I consider myself responsible’: Novak Djokovic

“… “We have earned enough money to live comfortable lives. We are lucky and grateful as well to have the life that we have but 95% of tennis players are struggling,” Djokovic said in an interview with former player Gustavo Kuerten.
“Especially the ones that are lower-ranked. They don’t have the opportunity to compete, and earn money. For a lot of those players, it’s a kind of a survival problem in terms of continuing to play professional tennis or not,” he added …”

Novak Djokovic Overtakes Roger Federer In Terms Of Charitable Donations In 2020

“… Novak Djokovic’s recent donations towards the welfare of Serbia is not his first attempt to help in the fight against the ongoing global pandemic. On March 27, Djokovic and his wife Jelena took to Twitter and pledged to donate €1 million (US$1.1 million) to help the Serbian government to buy respirators. Additionally, he donated to his Spanish rival Rafael Nadal’s relief fund to fight the coronavirus crisis in Spain.
In April, Novak Djokovic also made a donation of an undisclosed amount to Italy. In addition to his monetary contribution, he asked the people of Italy to remain strong, courageous, confident, healthy and united during such testing times.
Before the coronavirus impacted worldwide sporting activities, Novak Djokovic played the Australian Open in January, i.e. around the same time when the Australian bushfires took place. For its relief efforts, Novak Djokovic donated US$500,000 with an additional US$65 for every ace he served. From his personal contribution, Djokovic pledged US$25,000 with an additional US$200 for every ace he served throughout the Australian summer …”

This comment might look like overkill to everyone else but I think you all get the general idea.

Posted by: Jen | Jan 17 2022 5:21 utc | 100