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February 6, 2022
The MoA Week In Review – OT 2022-011

> Considering these warnings, perpetual denials by Russia about any aggression and the latest statement by Russian President Putin that the US is drawing Russia into some kind of armed conflict, it appears that sanctions on Nord Stream 2 and Russian gas supply are not a consequence of the Ukraine crisis, but Ukraine crisis is planned to hit Russian gas and energy trade with Europe. The situation gives the US, which is currently the biggest gas producer in the world, a needed pretext to suspend Russian gas supplies to Europe. If it happens, it will be a win for the United States in its trade war with Russia and a move that will checkmate the Nord Stream 2 project. <

Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski – 18:46 UTC · Feb 5, 2022

Orwellian: Western #media reports simply omit that this march in #Kharkiv was organized by neo-Nazi party that was involved in Odessa massacre and numerous other cases of violence in #Ukraine and is civilian branch of Azov Regiment.

Euronews: Kharkiv residents march amid Russia tensions

—
Other issues:

I had predicted that the Ukraine would use the start of the Olympics to attack the Donbas rebels. That was in hindsight wrong but it is quite curious that Bloomberg 'inadvertently' published the canned headline 'Russia Invades Ukraine' on February 4, 4 p.m. ET. It was also on Feb 4 that Youtube closed down the separatist accounts.

'Full-Self Driving' back to the dealer:

Tom Feeley runs Information Clearinghouse. He needs some help:

Use as open thread …

Posted by b on February 6, 2022 at 13:56 UTC | Permalink
Comments

Tom Q Collins @ 82:
Your comment is a thought experiment falling within the definition of fallacy of composition: inferring that a fact about a part of something is true of the whole thing.
That politicians representing particular electorates in Canada support the current government in Ukraine and its actions against the people in Donetsk and Lugansk regions does not mean that the electorates who sent those politicians to Ottawa also support Kiev and its actions, and the Nazi battalions that have infiltrated the Ukrainian government and security agencies.
Incidentally I came across this article in an online Indian newspaper:
Sikhs, who represent major share of truckers, protest against Canada’s vaccine mandates as Trudeau and his family leave their Ottawa home
Buried in the article is this piece of information about Canadian truck drivers:

“… Sikhs represent a major share of truckers in US and Canada, with estimates of 150,000 and 200,000 personnel commanding as much as 40 per cent of the enterprise. Lots of them are part of the US-Canada provide chain and they’re mentioned to be resentful of the vaccine mandates and different Covid protocols …”

I’m not sure that we can so blithely dismiss Canadian truckers – or working class people generally – the way you and Sam B @ 43 do.

Posted by: Jen | Feb 6 2022 23:22 utc | 101

james | 68
“pretty anti-climatic with me making it this wordy..”
Thank you, not to me anyway.
—
Apparantly, there’s now a State of Emergency in Ottawa.
Ottawa mayor calls emergency due to ongoing anti-Covid mandate protests:
“The move comes after Watson lamented earlier on Sunday that police have been outnumbered by the demonstrators (!), and indicated he wants the federal government to help squash the protest.”
“Referring to the demonstration as a ‘siege,’ he (Police Chief Peter Sloly) insisted it was ‘something that is different (!) in our democracy than something (!) I’ve ever experienced in my life.'”
The explanations are beyond silly. Are these real adult men talking here? The mayor of a capital and his police chief?

Posted by: Scotch Bingeington | Feb 6 2022 23:33 utc | 102

I discovered this great song by Redgum, an Australian artist, with whom I was unfamiliar. I was only 19. The video has some amazing archival footage of Australian soldiers in Vietnam. One would think that Australians would learn what a waste it is to follow the USA into their military adventures.
Redgum – I Was Only 19
Just thought I would share. I found it to be quite moving.

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 6 2022 23:37 utc | 103

The anti-China is strong with regular American libtards.
I’m not trippin about so called Uighur camps.
It looks suspicious, but the layers of propaganda are not trustworthy.
Point being:
There is a liberal perception in America that China is forcing a minority into camps.
Which fits precisely into the victomology of the American left.
It’s all over the media, and climaxing with the Olympics.
This media push coincides with Russia is about to invade.
And the American (and I assume all the west) Left is being spoon fed this narrative.
It’s disgusting.
I’m no China fan, but the breeze is carrying an unmistakable stench of FUKUS
crapping on the rest of the world, again.

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 6 2022 23:38 utc | 104

Addendum:
It’s not just the liberal press.
That’s more recent, imo.
The conservative western press is against China, consistently.
So, it’s both aisles now. Left and right are being pushed to anti-China stances by the msm in the west.
That’s my main point.
Cheers.

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 6 2022 23:45 utc | 105

Lyme Disease.
Tom_Q_Collins | 83
Seems the discussion in this thread has “circled back”.
At some point I have read a (to me) convincing account that Lyme disease is a laboratory escapee.
Of course I’ll be asked for a link. But I did so much reading in early 2020 on bio weapons and human experimentation, I’m not sure.
Might have been Whitney Webb, who has researched and. written extensively on DARPA and bio weapons from the 1940s onwards.
I have known since shortly after 9/11 that nothing is what it seems, and nothing is what we’ve been told. But I encounter time and again my preset default “programming”, and the cognitive dissonance that it prompts.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2022 23:54 utc | 106

Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2022 21:20 utc | 82
What a leap… equating truckers and Farmers with Nazis… these are just rural folks that want their freedoms back… and if the “leader in hiding” would have shown them some respect and set up some sort of forum to talk about their issues most probably would have gone home by now.

Posted by: dp | Feb 7 2022 0:05 utc | 107

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 6 2022 15:27 utc | 12
https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/confession-from-the-profession-presstitutes-in-the-service-of-the-cia/
Review of a recent book by Udo Ulfkotte on the nexus of the western intelligence agencies with the mainstream press, and the causes of its rabid Russophobia. By a journalistic insider said to be a former editor for the popular German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. A few hundred to a few thousand U.S. dollars for every story planted in a major outlet, plus other inducements.

Posted by: kral | Feb 7 2022 0:06 utc | 108

In reviewing the several threads published since February third, I see no mention of Putin’s letter to China, or “Article by Vladimir Putin ‘Russia and China: A Future-Oriented Strategic Partnership,’ for the Chinese News Agency Xinhua,” as it’s called by the Kremlin. While you read Putin’s letter, do recall that the current excellent Era in Relations were begun at Putin’s initiative–The Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation–in 2001 with Jiang Zemin at China’s helm. I wrote about the 20th anniversary of that partnership back in July as much that was discussed then served as a precursor to Putin’s letter and the updated reiteration of that treaty from 20 years ago. While it’s amusing so see the trolls tearing their hair out while trying to undo what the Outlaw US Empire fated, it’s unsettling at the utter ineptitude of those at the Empire’s helm–the very thing those running the Empire since 1945 have feared most was generated by them, but they are blind to that fundamental Truth. Here’s what they did:
“We highly appreciate that Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, entering a new era, have reached an unprecedented level and have become a model of efficiency, responsibility, and aspiration for the future.”
No, neither Russia or China are perfect, nor will they ever reach perfection, for they are led by imperfect humans. However, what those humans have is a much different vision of how society ought to be ordered and the goals it ought to seek. And those aren’t at all new–One for All and All for One–is its essence. Such values are ancient and rest at the bedrock of human social organization well before the appearance of Homo Sapians. Putin continues:
“The basic principles and guidelines for joint work were defined by our countries in the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, the twentieth anniversary of which we celebrated last year. These are, first and foremost, equality, consideration of one another’s interests, freedom from political and ideological circumstances, as well as from the vestiges of the past. These are the principles we are consistently building on year after year in the spirit of continuity to deepen our political dialogue.”
And here’s the basic aim that ought to capture the world’s imagination:
“By working together, we can achieve stable economic growth and improve the well-being of our citizens, strengthen our competitiveness, and stand together against today’s risks and challenges.” [All above emphasis mine]
As I’ve been at pains to note on numerous occasions, it’s that bolded goal of lifting up everyone that sets apart what Russia, China, and other like-minded nations from the Neoliberal world (and feudal world that came before) where only the 1%, the smallest of social-sets, are allowed to prosper.
Someone on these threads commented that neither Putin or Xi are Che which is correct, but also misleading. Che’s aim was motivating individuals whereas both Xi and Putin’s aim are nations & their people.
It’s very clear that the nations and leaders of Russia and China aim to provide the energy for all nations to finally overcome the world of Unilateral Imperialism and its decidedly undemocratic ways without resorting to the Imperialist’s method–War. This naturally threatens Undemocratic nations of which there are many that aren’t obviously undemocratic, like the UK, Canada, USA, and too many others whose Neoliberal leaders hide behind a democratic facade. Fortunately, cracks are appearing in that facade as nations are now faced with admitting their lies or changing their ways to accommodate the Truths they pledged to uphold. The next weeks will prove very interesting.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 0:17 utc | 109

Yeah I’m not buying the nazi Canadian trucker shit.
You’re gonna find a nazi anywhere on the right, if you look long and hard enough.
I saw ONE picture of a swastika.
ONE picture of a separatist confederate flag,
In all the pics I looked at of Ottawa.
And is searched for it.
Nobody likes a nazi.
Nobody likes “the nazi sky is falling” chicken littles, either.
Just because people are organizing, from the right, to oppose govt over reach, does NOT mean
there is a nazi behind it.
Just as there isn’t a commie under your bed.

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 7 2022 0:21 utc | 110

Red neck and white trash are the equivalent of nigger, dune coon, chink, etc imo.
Please don’t use those terms here.
We can agree to disagree on numerous things,
But Im Not having this racial epitaph bullshit.

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 7 2022 0:31 utc | 111

@ librul | Feb 6 2022 23:02 utc | 97
The header may be an oversimplification.
It is ambiguous as to what is actually meant and I did read other DK newspapers.
Apparently they are referring only to PCR tests, not lateral flow antigen tests which in the USA have given false omicron negatives due to in part tricky timing of test, , so perhaps many asymptomatics in DK were not even tested — but the news items do not say this specifically other than that header byline intro, or they were tested (some) and were false negatives.
If we project the incidence in relation to positive PCR tests in general, we estimate that 32% of the healthy adult population between the ages of 18 and 72 have been infected between 1 November last year and 28 January this year. The incidence in the Capital Region is higher than in the rest of the country and is estimated to be 42%, ”says Christian Erikstrup.
“The results indicate that the dark figure – that is, the proportion of infected people who have not tested positive – makes up between a third and a half of all infections,” adds Henrik Ullum.
Must be taken with reservation
The testing of blood donors will continue in the coming time to follow the incidence of past infections and the development of dark numbers and population immunity.

Posted by: suzan | Feb 7 2022 0:50 utc | 112

@ Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 6 2022 21:20 utc | 82.. hi tom.. i think you are reading all that wrong my friend.. the canuck support for the ukraine maiden event and etc has primarily been the canadian gov’t, and perhaps some of the ukrainian community here in canada.. ordinarly canucks are kept in the dark about the neo-nazi involvement in maiden and etc. too… so, in fact one could say the gov’t has been has the ones responsible for supporting the coup in ukraine and trying to smear the truckers as the bad guys here… on both counts it is the gov’t of canada that is the problem!
@ Scotch Bingeington | Feb 6 2022 23:33 utc | 101.. it is quite surprising how ottawa police and public are so not okay with these truckers protesting… apparently protesters are supposed to go away immediately even if their glorious leader trudeau is nowhere to be seen… i continue to support the truckers and find trudeaus non show an embarrassment to the people of canada and trudeau of course..

Posted by: james | Feb 7 2022 0:50 utc | 113

Also overlooked was the short Q&A Lavrov had with Russian media on the 4th in Beijing. Apparently, Lavrov was in a very light mood that showed in his answers. On one important aspect of international relations:
“We agreed to closely coordinate our actions in the international arena, including countering the attempts to erode the UN (the foundation of universal international law) and to establish hobby clubs that will only create more dividing lines in international affairs. We are consistently opposing this and are upholding the system of international relations sealed in the goals and principles of the UN Charter.”
That was followed by this short exchange:
“Question: The whole world is closely following these talks. Should we expect any surprises regarding agreements between Russia and China? Will they be followed by something that will perplex the West?
“Sergey Lavrov: It is not for me to guess what might perplex our Western colleagues in current conditions… They do things for a reason or for no reason (mostly for no reason) or for reasons that they themselves invent. I read statements on the internet by the US Department of State to the effect that Russia is preparing fake videos allegedly depicting an attack against Donbass by the Ukrainian military. The lunacy of such allegations (and there are more and more of them every day) is obvious to any more or less experienced political scientist. [All above emphasis mine]
It’s not Lavrov’s usual manner to belittle the West so much, but IMO it certainly deserves it. I suppose the only way to stop such idiocy is to ridicule it to the nth degree. And while Lavrov enjoys the Olympics, his collegues are very busy in Africa, particularly Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 0:54 utc | 114

Honduras
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 6 2022 16:27 utc | 19
Thanks Don, you are probably more accurate than I am in your cautionary advice on Honduras. I read the link you posted and it looks like Xiomara Castro is doing a 180 on China, as your link details that Honduras will continue to recognize Taiwan and not China. My mistake. I didn’t read that. However…. there is a lot of upheaval, almost like a coup happened. Peru and Honduras have similar conditions: both are fed up with the rot of the ruling class and the Empire is struggling to seduce enough wannabe rich people because the system just won’t support many parasites anymore. Look at Pedro Castillo’s administration: lots of resignations, plots to impeach, lots of threats, smears. He appears boxed in but in my opinion the Empire simply has no positive offer. Xiomara Castro and her husband have lived through and survived a mafia-like nightmare. Both are considered “center left”. They have personal wealth– unlike Peru’s Castillo, Bolivia’s president and the Chavistas in Venezuela. I’m betting that they will stay with the people. However, Honduras is number 2 behind Colombia for U.S. Centcom dominance via their military bases and terror training and support.
BRI is coming to Latin America. The shift has already begun. Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela will lead. Then Bolivia. Argentina and Mexico are talking to and visiting China and Russia.
I have hope for Honduras.

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 7 2022 0:58 utc | 115

james @112–
Seems Canada is experiencing its own version of Maidan, although it’s far more civil. I do hope the momentum is continued and Canada’s pseudo-democracy can be altered.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 1:02 utc | 116

In the eye of the beholder?
The Brownstone Institute strongly supports the truckers convoy with news coverage, opinion pieces, etc. The institute was founded in 2021 by Austrian School economics writer and anarcho-capitalism advocate Jeffrey Tucker, who also helped organize the Great Barrington Declaration.
It appears that the mandate is a non brainer anyway now since the virus has evolved beyond control short of a China style public health approach which won’t happen here.
If there was a pandemic with a death rate much higher, which killed beyond the old and unhealthy, would the libertarian think tankers still advocate for no mandated public heath measures?
===
Jeffrey Albert Tucker (/ˈtʌkər/; born December 19, 1963) is an American economics writer of the Austrian School, an advocate of anarcho-capitalism and Bitcoin, a publisher of libertarian books, a conference speaker, and an internet entrepreneur…
From 1997 to 2011 Tucker worked for the Mises Institute, of which Rockwell was a co-founder, as editorial vice president and editor for the institute’s website, Mises.org. From 1999 to 2011 he also contributed to LewRockwell.com…
Tucker blogged in opposition to social distancing measures and face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, framing them as subservience to “arbitrary and ignorant authority”.[21]
In 2021 he founded the nonprofit Brownstone Institute for Social and Economic Research, a think tank that has published articles opposing various measures against COVID-19. Senior roles were given to Martin Kulldorff and Jay Bhattacharya, two of the co-authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, which Tucker also helped to organize. Writers of Brownstone articles have included Sunetra Gupta, the third co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, Paul E. Alexander, a former Trump administration health official, and George Gilder, a senior resident fellow at AIER.[22][23]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Tucker

Posted by: suzan | Feb 7 2022 1:04 utc | 117

Posted by: librul | Feb 6 2022 19:10 utc | 52
Thanks for the covid update Librul. very informative. I look forward to more.

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 7 2022 1:05 utc | 118

Cadence Calls @ 1-03 opined: “Point being:
“There is a liberal perception in America that China is forcing a minority into camps.
Which fits precisely into the victomology of the American left.”
Purely a figment of your imagination. Any REAL “libtard”, as you put it, is aware of the push by our captured MSM to stoke fears of China, and Russia in, rank and file Americans, because it increases revenues in the MIC (military industrial complex).
“victomology” is, by the way, IMO, reserved for conservatives only.
REAL liberals, are for constructive dialog, not stoking fear by unhinged accusations against other nations for profit..
Any demonstrations that are well-funded, should be suspect..

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 7 2022 1:24 utc | 119

@ cadence calls;
How about a few examples of that mythical “liberal press” you refer to..

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 7 2022 1:28 utc | 120

It sure as hell looks like China is two-timing Russia.
Just after China’s Xi tongue kissed Putin a couple of days ago, he tongue kissed Duda, the President of Russophobe NATO stooge Poland, with diplomatic “happy words” words similar to those he used with Putin.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202202/1251507.shtml
With regard to China being a reliable ally of Russia’s, wake me up when China officially recognizes Crimea as Russian and signs a bi-lateral military alliance with Russia deploying Chinese troops in Syria and along Russia’s NATO border. Until real tangible actions such as these happen, in my opinion China’s diplomatic words and vague non-binding scribbles on a letter don’t mean jack sheeeit.

Posted by: Boogity | Feb 7 2022 1:31 utc | 121

Redneck is considered a compliment amongst some of my friends and family. It means you work for a living. One of the ironies I see when DNC fascists poke at the working class is that it is the DNC fascists who are dumb, brainwashed and largely politically illiterate, everything they project upon “the other”.
The problem with rednecks is that they are also wedded to crony capitalism, although that is changing…and wedded to Trump, who is just the flip-side of the Obama coin.
I am just as likely to get a good game of chess out of my redneck friends as I am my progressive friends with PhD and whatnot. I also get the same quality of geopolitical conversation, generally low quality, but I can usually find something from both sides to agree with.
In reality both sides are wrong, which is why USA is collapsing, there really are no good guys.

Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 7 2022 1:33 utc | 122

Watcher 92

As with all illnesses emotions and mental factors play a big role in how people cope, but that does not mean the disease does not exist.

This is exactly my view, but seems to have drawn fire from Peterau1
What does malingering look like.
Well for many of us in a 30-odd work team some many decades ago. One women’s endometriosis seemed suspiciously correlated to shirking certain rostered chores.
In communal spaces…offices/ families there are tasks that a group may decide should not fall solely on one or a few. A roster is devised to “share the load”. One episode of poor health that necessitates removal from the schedule might be seen as “unfortunate”, ….repeated episodes ….not so much.
Peter, as you are a keen observer of people, patterns and events, I would venture that you would be among those who would note the cute correlation between this woman’s poor health and the roster. Maybe not.
Many decades later, through absolutely no effort on my part, I had the good fortune to acquire the most delightful young step-niece. Who has severe and extremely debilitating endo.
But her episodes seem (as much/ little as I know) correlate closely with her cycle. Rather than just being indisposed when there are “shit jobs” on the horizon, she has missed some very anticipated fun family activities that she was genuinely distraught to have forgone.
I experience migraine. There are times I have dearly wanted to “have a migraine” to avoid something or other. But I have never resorted to this.
Decades later I still remember one of my most painful migraines.
Not the headache, but the execrable timing. The workplace social club had reserved tickets to the Billy Joel + Elton John Sydney concert. I’d put my name on the list, but when it came time to pay the cost for a pair of tickets was now x3 or nudging x4 what was originally suggested (this was before the internet as we now know it- now of course the up front cost would have been better disclosed).
I baulked, but the treat was now “locked in”, so with some juggling of the budget I went ahead. The tickets involved access to some sort of VIP area and a few other “added extras” that had pumped up the cost of straight seating.
A few hours out, and the aura hits, then the tomahawk to the front lobes. Then the nausea and vertigo.
No medication, no “mind over matter” could thwart the diarrhoea, vomiting and vertigo.
A “friend” was MORE than happy to swoop in for the “free” ticket.
At work Monday, the still present euphoria of those who had thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle was grating.
That’s my personal litmus test… does the ailment strike indiscriminately, impacting activities both pleasant and unpleasant. Or, in the case of the endo woman, curiously strike more in alignment with the shit job roster than her cycle? (Presuming they couldn’t ALWAYS be in synch).
Peter, I am sorry you struggle with poor health. My comment was in no way direct at you.
When reading old hippy’s recommended yahoo “long covid” article, with its long list of ill-defined ailments, it brought to mind my acquaintance with that Guillain-Barre Syndrome. runner. She who could punch out a 20km run one day, and then claim to be so debilitated from her extreme chronic fatigue she absolutely couldn’t help with any of the club chores. And no amount of explaining that anyone who wasnt Robert de Castella would be fatigued after a 20km run. And that perhaps she should try finding some balance between the times she felt strong enough to run 20kms, and the times she couldn’t get out of bed.
And I was thinking very much the endo woman, who was taken to task in no uncertain terms several time by a few of the other office women.
Peter, I guess pain and discomfort sour your disposition. But the type of toxic thoughts you directed at me, a nobody on the internet, can’t be good for your health. Yes. I do enjoy good health. And I wish the same for you.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 1:34 utc | 123

This is quite a howler:
“However, [GoFundMe’s] move was criticized by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who tweeted on Saturday that he and state Attorney General Ashley Moody will ‘investigate these deceptive practices.’ The Republican governor called it a ‘fraud’ for GoFundMe to ‘commandeer $9 [million] in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing,’ adding that donors should be refunded.”
What about the billions the Outlaw US Empire stole from Afghnaistan and a host of other nations; UK and Venezuelan Gold; illegal sanctions; and a host of other FRAUD? Gold Medal in Hypocrisy, IMO.
Heard one by Gil Scott-Heron last night during a special featuring his powerful music–“Whitey on the Moon”–highlighting the billions for that while inner-cites rot.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 1:40 utc | 124

Norwegian also posted another short video clip at the end of the last Week in Review – rather than say “Thank you” over there I’ll repost it here:
Freedom Convoy – Liberty Coalition Canada on Ottawa Police tyranny announced by Chief Peter Sloly [3 min]
Highlights:

  • Ottawa police chief Sloly tells his officers he will investigate and prosecute them if they provide water and food to protesters.
  • The protesters are lawfully assembled.
  • There is indeed an equivalent in Canada to the US Bill of Rights, and it’s called the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (which I believe was enacted in the 1970’s).
  • So there is a strong Canadian Constitutional protection for what’s happening with the Convoy and the convening in Ottawa.

Furthermore, the speaker here cites the latest mainstream polls in Canada that show more than half the country is in favor of dropping all mandates and restrictions. The country agrees with the demands of the truckers.
It seems logical that this sympathy of principles will only increase as reactionaries like the Ottawa police chief, along with the Premier-in-Hiding, call for fascist responses and the flouting of not only Canada’s constitutional laws but also the values of decent Canadians in their majority.
~~
What a gift Canada has given to the world. Prayers for success as the people of that nation bend their efforts to the restoration of the rule of law.

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 7 2022 1:45 utc | 125

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 1:02 utc | 115
It’s only like the Maidan because it has all the elements of a Colour Revolution, but fortunately without any of the violence (so far). It appears that their misguided and unrealistic goals are to continue to intimidate, irritate, and assault their way into forcing residents to force the federal government to force the provincial government and to force US government into removing their COVID-19 restrictions, which of course is not going to happen just because they want it. Other than that, all they do is complain about Trudeau, talk about the impending Great Reset, promote Bitcoin and make lots of noise.

Posted by: Victor | Feb 7 2022 1:52 utc | 126

Also, really? To conflate ‘white trash’ with ‘nigger’? Really? Not even close. imo.

Posted by: gottlieb | Feb 7 2022 1:55 utc | 127

Brazil
Brian Miers, Chicago expat and 30 year resident of Brazil, offers a good intro to the Brazil election coming October 2 of this year, framing the candidates as either nationalist or foreign sellouts (“entreguistas” Spanish/Portuguese for “sell-out” to foreigners in this context).
“Nationalists defend Brazil’s sovereignty over foreign interests and multi-polar over bilateral relations with predatory imperialist nations such as the US, Canada and Germany. Entreguistas are people who, often using the smokescreen of liberal economic orthodoxy and frequently acting out of personal opportunism, promote ever increasing foreign access to Brazil’s resources. Entreguistas favor bilateral relations with predatory nations in the imperialist north over multilateralism.”
Miers proposes to ditch the right/left label and instead to evaluate candidates on their record of defending sovereignty. He argues that Bolsonaro is a sellout while Lula is a nationalist. Brazil is an original BRICS country. Even Bolsonaro appears to be hedging a bit on his imperial benefactors as his visit to Putin (along with Poland and Hungary) demonstrates. The Guardian hyperventilates again…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/28/outrage-as-bolsonaro-confirms-russia-trip-despite-ukraine-crisis
Miers will be covering the election this year and will likely frame his stories based on his “sovereignty” metrics, which is a very deep sentiment throughout Latin America.
https://www.brasilwire.com/elections-2022-and-theyre-off/

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 7 2022 1:58 utc | 128

kral@107,
Ulfkotte was not an editor in the FAZ, but was on staff there. One of the 5 editors there, Steltzner, resigned in the last few years. He was not “on the same wavelength” – it seems to me, and was either pushed out, or resigned on his own (possibly in disgust).

Posted by: bystander 04 | Feb 7 2022 1:59 utc | 129

@ karlof1 | Feb 7 2022 1:02 utc | 115.. i am not hopeful karlof1…
“Earlier in the afternoon, Ottawa police announced they would ramp up enforcement on protesters in the city’s downtown core, handing out tickets and announcing that anyone looking to bring “material aid,” such as fuel, to protesters could be arrested.
“Enforcement is underway,” the Ottawa Police Service tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
Shortly after announcing that Ottawa Police would be cracking down on the protesters’ fuel supply, one of the protest organizers said they would find a way around the police action.”
from this article at canada’s public broadcasting – cbc – Ottawa declares state of emergency as police boost enforcement, target protest’s fuel supply
canuck gov’t, and police and 5 eyes are all determined to solve this thru criminalizing everything around the protest… i suppose occupy wall st was a similar exercise in police state behaviour… canada is no different and i wouldn’t expect it to be… pension plans to look after and keeping the stock markets happy and the real estate bubble growing – all these kinds of things are much too important to have them jeopardizing what has become the canadian way of doing things.. support neo nazis in ukraine is just a small part of the bigger picture..
@ 123 karlof1 Whitey on the moon Gill Scott Heron

Posted by: james | Feb 7 2022 2:00 utc | 130

@ Grieved | Feb 7 2022 1:45 utc | 124 who wrote
”
What a gift Canada has given to the world. Prayers for success as the people of that nation bend their efforts to the restoration of the rule of law.
”
Nice sentiment but a bit premature. While the responses look fascist and chicken shit to us, to some of the zombie public they represent Law-And-Order and the fear increased by the hiding of the premier…..just what needed to justify more.
These are the folks that shut down Occupy in a week and if they can conflate the protest to more than mask/vaccines mandates, the public will be manipulated to think of the protesters as fringe. If they can stay on message with mask/vaccine mandates then I think they may stand a chance but only if it spreads to other countries and parts of Canada.
Thanks for your thoughts…we are all just throwing textual white noise at the wall to see what sticks

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 2:02 utc | 131

@ psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 2:02 utc | 130… canucks have already been manipulated to think the protesters as fringe… cbc is working like a charm at the moment for this specific purpose… i am surprised indias media wasn’t as successful in doing the same with the indian farmers protest in the past 2 years..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%932021_Indian_farmers%27_protest

Posted by: james | Feb 7 2022 2:10 utc | 132

its a peaceful rally and it is absolutely legal… see how the politicians subvert it with assistance from the police..

Posted by: james | Feb 7 2022 2:12 utc | 133

@migueljose | Feb 7 2022 0:58 utc | 114
While the Xi/Putin meeting took center stage at Beijing Olympics 2022 opening day, Argentina signed onto the BRI.
https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/xwzx/bwdt/219946.htm

Posted by: Jun | Feb 7 2022 2:14 utc | 134

I just got an email from what projects itself as the US Social Security Administration. The quote from that email below is what caught my attention
”
Now that you can access your Statement instantly and from any device, we will not automatically send one by mail.
”
I am 73 and have been a techie since 1969 so this is not going to be an issue for me, if true, but I know it will be for many of other US Boomers that don’t have or struggle with “devices”…..a feature, not a bug of the new normal.
Just to be clear, I am in favor of reducing life footprint and that includes specious printed material but financial records just might qualify for a yearly exception in my mind.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 2:26 utc | 135

I remember back in the 70’s before deregulation the truckers had awesome power through their being proud members of the Teamsters union. Jimmy Hoffa had the power in his hands to shutdown the country with the Master Freight Agreement and I do believe that having that power and the balls to use it if need be was part and parcel to his demise.
Back in those days our working class truck drivers were in unions run mostly by mobsters. Most union members loved their mobster union officials from what I have seen in my life. They are proud of them. I still hear about those old glory days of the past to this day. It makes me want to puke.
Unfortunately most of the unions today in the US are what I call “business unions”. I am in one now that would cross another unions picket line in a second and blackball you if you complain. I have been ordered to and I refuse but most will cross if ordered.
Such is the state of this country and unions today.

Posted by: circumspect | Feb 7 2022 2:43 utc | 136

Meanwhile US military truckers in Iraq are meeting with continuous resistance.

“More than ten US military convoys have been attacked since the beginning of 2022.
The attacks spiked during the first week of January 2022. The escalation coinciding with the second anniversary of the US assassination of Iranian Quds force Commander, Qassem Soleimani, and the Deputy Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
The killing of the two senior military commanders who played a decisive role in the defeat of ISIS caused an uproar across the region and increased demands for the expulsion of all US troops from West Asia.
The resistance groups have declared that the attacks on US soldiers will continue until they fully exit the region. They say the US occupation of Iraq and Syria is not only an infringement on the sovereignty of the two countries but also creates a conducive environmental for the existence of armed groups that are destabilizing the region.
In early 2021, the US government agreed to withdraw all its troops from Iraq before the end of the year. However, 2500 American soldiers remain in the country, allegedly to provide advisory and training services to the Iraqi army.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 2:48 utc | 137

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 6 2022 23:37 utc | 102
“…One would think that Australians would learn what a waste it is to follow the USA into their military adventures…”
Thanks for the Redgum clip lex. From memory the Redgum lead singer almost unseated a Liberal Party member in South Australia by a very narrow margin. I quite agree about following the USA into foreign misadventures or any more foreign policy blunders.
Here is the other classic Vietnam War song Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inKlN0ScObA
Bravo Jimmy Barnes.

Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 2:49 utc | 138

By military and technical means will NATO and running dogs be expelled or neutered in the middle east.
Russia opens doors for Iran’s Eurasian integration
This is a very interesting read and gives a strategic overview of Belt and Road ambitions from Russia via Iran through Iraq and Syria to the Mediterranean.
Here is just a snippet:

Iran’s accession to the nine-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should be viewed from this perspective. Moreover, with Tehran joining the EAEU, neighboring and friendly countries, such as Iraq and Syria may follow.
Russia would then have a direct railway and highway connection via Iran to its Syrian coastal military base in Tartous. This would serve its military goals on a logistic and operational level in case a crisis occurs in the Black Sea and Russia’s navy faces challenges.
On 27 December 2021, Iran and Iraq agreed to build a railway connecting both countries. The 30km railway would be strategically important for Iran, linking the country to the Mediterranean Sea via Iraq and Syria’s railways.
This would be a win-win situation for both China and Russia; one where China through its Belt and Road Initiative, and Russia through its International North-South Transport Corridor, would have direct railway access to the Mediterranean Sea.
This route also would compete with India’s Arab-Mediterranean Corridor connecting India to the Israeli port of Haifa through the various railways of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 2:55 utc | 139

More BRI news…The Mutong Steel Plant is a key BRI project in the industrialization of Bolivia. Work was suspended in January 2020 after the US-sponsored coup so it is especially heartwarming to see the latest delivery of heavy equipment signaling the end is in sight (by 2023).
https://www.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/xwzx/hwxw/219703.htm

Posted by: Jun | Feb 7 2022 3:03 utc | 140

121; The term “redneck” , in working class vernacular, has always meant “willfully ignorant”, “rural”, and “stupid”, unable to process anything politically complicated.
It’s a very uncomplimentary word.

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 7 2022 3:04 utc | 141

karlof1 #113

It’s not Lavrov’s usual manner to belittle the West so much, but IMO it certainly deserves it. I suppose the only way to stop such idiocy is to ridicule it to the nth degree. And while Lavrov enjoys the Olympics, his collegues are very busy in Africa, particularly Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

African states are also doing their part in this belittling business: Arab states welcome African Union decision to withdraw Israel’s observer status.

The vote took place at the 35th African Union summit, which began on 5 February and was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The African Union, under its former chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, made a decision on 22 July to name Israel as an observer to the union, which had been postponed the previous month.
The decision to bump Israel received a unanimous vote at the African Union summit on 5 February.
This came on the heels of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh calling on the African Union to withdraw its July decision, stating that Israel “should never be rewarded for its violation and for the apartheid regime it imposes on the Palestinian people.”
“The decision to freeze Israel’s membership in the African Union is a corrective step, and is in line with the African Union’s historical positions in support of the Palestinian cause,” an Arab League statement said.
“This wise decision had to be taken on the basis of not rewarding Israel for its illegal practices against the Palestinian people,” the statement continued.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 3:09 utc | 142

Below is a quote from a ZH posting about the protest in Canada that shows it has “broad” support.
”
Daniel Bulford, a former RCMP officer who quit the force because of its vaccine mandate and is now helping the protest organizers, said his children don’t want to play hockey anymore because of the position his family has taken on vaccine issues, as they feel “isolated and alienated.”
“The people dealing with the honking, they’re not the only ones that are dealing with the impact of all these mandates,” Bulford said at the press conference.
”
I have written here before that Covid is an issue that could change global society because, while the virus is real, the pack of lies and responses to it are crimes against humanity.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 3:11 utc | 143

@migueljose 114
My mistake. I didn’t read that.
Hey, no problem, we all can’t catch everything. That’s why blogs exist, amigo.
BRI is coming to Latin America. The shift has already begun.
Let’s take a trip through Central America:
Guatemala – faithful to Taiwan
Honduras – ditto
El Salvador – deals for U.S.$500 million worth of development financing for everything from a new sports stadium to a national library and his cherished plan to turn part of El Salvador’s Pacific coast into ‘Surf City’. . .agreement for China to build a new deep-water port in the Gulf of Fonseca
Nicaragua – A month after Nicaragua switched its recognition of the Chinese government from Taipei to Beijing, the two countries have signed several key agreements underpinning their new political relationship, including Managua’s support of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Costa Rica – benefit from higher trade flows with China, increased Chinese investment and a new national sports stadium, among other infrastructure and development projects.
Panama – Panamanian government opened negotiations on a free-trade agreement and became the first in the region to sign up to the Belt and Road Initiative. Two-way trade accordingly multiplied by a factor of 22. Panama’s exports to China rose to U.S.$33 million by 2019, its imports from China mushroomed to 27 times that figure.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 3:14 utc | 144

Former Australian news presenter Mary Kostakidis and Sister Susan Connelly speak about the courage of imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and prosecuted Australian lawyer Bernard Collaery.
From Consortium news and further good material in the same report, just scroll down.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 3:15 utc | 145

@ uncle tungsten 141
Palestinian Authority: Israel “should never be rewarded for its violation and for the apartheid regime it imposes on the Palestinian people.”
. . .a refresher….from Juan Cole…

( Middle East Monitor ) – Amnesty International became the latest human rights group to label Israel an apartheid state. In a damning report titled “Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians“ the rights group concludes that the occupation state has imposed a “cruel system of domination” and is committing “crimes against humanity.”
Needless to say, Amnesty will not be the last human rights organisation to label Israel an apartheid state and one can safely assume that there will be a flurry of many other groups who will join the likes of Amnesty to make this designation. The rights group can now count itself amongst Human Rights Watch, and two Israeli groups B’Tselem and Yesh Din that have exposed in detail Israel’s practice of apartheid. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 3:33 utc | 146

@ vet 119
Not my imagination.
It’s my thought process.
It’s how I see it, currently.
I’m not going to attempt to link and explain,
As the last time I tried to link something I jacked up the thread.
So, I’m just gonna post my thoughts on things, without links, and we can disagree.
Though I am very open to changing my mind.
Cheers.

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 7 2022 3:48 utc | 147

@137 Paul – Thanks! I have never heard Cold Chisel. Nor had I heard of Redgum before I discovered them today! Iwill look into the singer’s political career. Lots of stuff went down “Down under.” Nugan Hand. That was back when I was a kid listening to Mae Brussell on the radio and ordering cassettes, subscribing to Covert Action.
It saddens me what is going on. I mostly feel for the kids. I could really give a f if they blew the whole thing up right now. But maybe that is their purpose.
I think redneck used endearingly amongst people who would be considered “rednecks” is fine. Like how Black people use the n word to disempower it. But some people use redneck and especially white trash as a pejorative which angers me. I am hispanic latino whatever, but words have power as we all know here.

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 3:50 utc | 148

21; The term “redneck” , in working class vernacular, has always meant “willfully ignorant”, “rural”, and “stupid”, unable to process anything politically complicated.
It’s a very uncomplimentary word.
Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 7 2022 3:04 utc | 140
Or, as some say; “Trump supporters”

Posted by: vetinLA | Feb 7 2022 3:59 utc | 149

I think the term “white trash”is an offensive term, both in terms of race but also it has class associations. In Australia we do not use the term, but “Housies” is a very new term that describes the same thing. Bogan is a little similar but many have proudly adopted the name so that it is no longer really a term of offence.
Red neck (which I do use) is different in that it describes a political approach, more than any race or class. While typically “rednecks” are country people the term is not really about class and in fact most rednecks would not be workers in the real sense, being rather small farmers, business owners and of course truck owners. The term in Australia is associated with gun ownership, anti -environmentalism, pro mining, hostile to gays etc and generally conservative or right wing voters. Without slandering to many these people tend to be our racists, hostile to benefits for the indigenous population and most immigrants. Politically in Australia they are associated with the One Nation Party founded in response to overt racism by its founder Pauline Hanson. The guy who shot up the mosque in NZ came from classic redneck territory. Indeed once when driving through nearby areas I stopped at a petrol station where there were explicitly NAZI items for sale.
The diametrically opposing term for largely Green voting people is latte sippers referring to inner city dwellerts sipping Latte coffees, although the terms for the trendies changes- one PM famously called them “Balmain Basket weavers. These days because espresso coffee is so common, most categoraisations of Green trendies now refer to avocado on toast or soy lattes.

Posted by: watcher | Feb 7 2022 4:16 utc | 150

Ned Price, State Spox:
We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Our allies and partners have spoken and call on Russia to de-escalate immediately
..slide show of US European puppets kowtowing to the US here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 4:19 utc | 151

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 3:50 utc | 147
You should also get The Green fields of France (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL2U6QX49DQ) and Waltzing Matilda, Both by Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle is now a very long term Australian.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2DcZjG7fw)

Posted by: watcher | Feb 7 2022 4:28 utc | 152

@148 vet
Why the derogatory smarm and insults?
No need, dude.
I come here to have a beer, read, comment, learn.
Not looking for a fight.
But you seem to have a chip on your shoulder.
I’m ready to change my mind,
But your style of mind changing falls flat, imo.
Insults and smarm make you look worse than me, imo.
Again, I’m here to have a beer and read, learn, comment.
You seem to not appreciate me for doing that.
Shame on you bro.
But I do appreciate your other comments.
You seem intelligent.
Cheers

Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 7 2022 4:31 utc | 153

Regarding labels on people, it (unfortunately) is natural in a country based upon individualism, and not upon benefiting our fellow citizens, as karlof often reminds us. So when a recipient of such a slander hears it, he/she knows from whom it comes and the differing status it proclaims. These are people who understandably don’t like being talked down to, and it is this context that labels are offensive (not the labels themselves, which they may use in a different context).

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 4:31 utc | 154

Covid update from India
There has not much change at the ground level regarding infections. Omicron is sweeping and the govt for once has changed the strategy and asked for 7 days home isolation and come to hospitals only if there are severe symptoms. About 90% of hospital beds are vacant and the detected cases are a very tiny fraction of real cases on the ground. But still the government is bent upon jabbing the Children above 12 years by scaring the parents. The reason why the children are getting covid is due to lockdowns and subsequent weakening of immunity due to vitD deficiency and no schooling for nearly two years.
At present daily detected cases are around 150000 with Kerala State leading with daily cases of around 40000.

Posted by: R M Rao | Feb 7 2022 4:37 utc | 155

@ R M Rao 154
India has some serious people discrimination problems that don’t lend themselves to a healthy communal population.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 4:53 utc | 156

@everyone
So I can’t help myself – I have to chime in again on the Canadian Trucker protests.
Some of you fellas are “hitchin yer wagon to the wrong convoy”.
Maybe “redneck” is the wrong term. How would you classify protestors (yes, it is some, but not all) that advocate the following:
-white supremacy (confederate flags, open islamophobia, etc.)
-anti-science (don’t believe in the scientific consensus regarding climate change and covid-19)
-overthrow of our democratically elected government (sounds a bit like Maiden doesn’t it)
-western separation (dismantling of my/your country, without using the ballot box)
-threatening the execution and/or the sodomizing of our elected prime minister
Like I say, maybe “redneck” is the wrong term. But “democracy loving freedom fighters” is a tad rich.
And maybe some posters here are sincerely in favour of all the above, and are a little uncomfortable with that reddish sunburn on their neck. After all, it is a whiskey bar, and there are no limits on “drinkin an shootin”….
For expediency, I will provide links in a separate post. Some may be paywalled.

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 7 2022 5:01 utc | 157

From all the videos reports, testimonies and analyses I’ve reviewed on the Freedom Convoy in Canada, nothing speaks more perfectly of the falsity of the media/governance narrative, and the warmth of humanity of the people, than this comment on Twitter:
Tracy Wilson on Twitter

“As an Ottawa resident, it’s so bizarre watching this thing unfold. Local news, city council are all “end of days, chaos and call in the army” but my Mom’s groups on Facebook are baking muffins, making sandwiches, sharing videos of singing protestors and doing trucker crafts.”

I confess I feel embarrassed to think that perhaps in the US we might not be quite so friggin’…nice…if we gather in assembly to redress grievance – but this is Canada, eh?

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 7 2022 5:06 utc | 158

@ retiredmecheng 156
How would you classify protestors
There’s no need to classify people, and generally they don’t like it. Like, I’m me, I’m not some title that somebody dreamed up. Don’t put me in that box. I’d venture to say that that feeling is general.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 7 2022 5:06 utc | 159

@156
You’re definitely entitled to your opinion and space here.
You’ll get that from me. I’m always listening and learning
However, I don’t like or use redneck, hick, etc in company.
Unless I’m making a point. About the use of those kinds of terms.
I fully believe that racial, societal, terms are poor form.
However, I do use the term libtard.
And I will stop using it, because I think it’s unfair to have rules for thee but not for me.
See, I’m listening and learning.

Posted by: Cadence Calls | Feb 7 2022 5:18 utc | 160

In Covid news, as I’m sure someone has already linked, Denmark has followed the science and lifted ALL restrictions. Their science was never politicized, and their leadership sees that Omicron cannot be stopped, so it has to run through the population.
The government is watching carefully to catch the vulnerable if they fall, and to let the less vulnerable and the young have a life. It’s a beautifully crafted response, and John Campbell has a very nice review of what’s going on there:
Denmark ends pandemic
This is actually what the Great Barrington Declaration called for as a response from the beginning, and the Johns Hopkins meta-analysis of multiple studies, showing that the lockdowns did far more harm than good, seal the fate of that misbegotten policy as history will record it.
Omicron has overturned entire paradigms, and set the stage for good epidemiology to prevail, by default.
But as we foresaw, the fascist-minded are not prepared to break out of their mindset yet. You have to drive a truck convoy through it to achieve that.

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 7 2022 5:20 utc | 161

Here’s a laugh:
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/jeff-bezos-superyacht-dutch-residents-throw-rotten-eggs-bridge-dismantling-2022-2

Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 5:25 utc | 162

@ Grieved | Feb 7 2022 5:20 utc | 160 with the Covid update…thanks
I have been having similar thoughts about how strange it is to have this battle going on in Canada while in Britain, the head of the Commonwealth, they have eliminated mask mandates and vaccine mandates in some cases. I read somewhere a list of 5 or so countries that are lifting mandates and yet here is Canada, doubling down on the Covid control gambit.
Maybe Justin should talk to Boris….digging down while hiding out is not inspiring leadership.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 5:33 utc | 163

And before those Canadians here who DON’T get what’s happening in their own country pile in with their downer views – let me just add that I feel sorry for that half of Canada that is missing the human love and shared community of this event. It’s an amazing party.
And maybe they can step outside and join the party, and learn from it.
Because this has to have been the mildest, most Sesame Street kind of protest ever. And when I speak of the gift that Canada is giving to the world, this is the gift – the fact that you can join together to put your bodies against the lever that changes the world, and still do it all without animus, without harm, with love and respect, and overcome with the sheer joy of being together.
And the lever is very easy. As one comment out of multiple lovely threads says “Ottawa lift restrictions = Go Home.”
It’s really simple.

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 7 2022 5:34 utc | 164

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 3:50 utc | 147
Nugan Hand Bank, now you are talking about CIA/Air America/ Australian/US organised crime and big money.
I have several reference books on Australian/US organised crime. A barfly recently mentioned, “Supermob” by Gus Russo. I could add, “The Outfit” by Gus Russo on the US angle.
“Can of Worms”by Evan Whitton covers Nugan Hand. Alfred W McCoy covers Nugan Hand in ‘The Politics of Heroin in South East Asia” and his [hard to find] “Drug Traffic, Narcotics and Organised Crime in Australia. No wonder the CIA tried to suppress McCoy’s ‘the politics of heroin…’
Essentially, say you were a high roller in Australia, you could deposit cash at the Sydney branch of Nugan Hand and borrow the same cash back from the Hong Kong branch of Nugan Hand the next day. Then you could ‘pay it back’ to get more money out of the country, legally, sort of.

Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 5:51 utc | 165

@Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 5:33 utc | 162
@Posted by: Grieved | Feb 7 2022 5:34 utc | 163
When the left disappears as a real force for the working class, as pretty much all “left” parties have as they have moved right (economically neoliberal and socially progressive), while the working class continues to be driven into penury (e.g. trucker pay halving from 1980 to today), the way is left open for the populist right.
Unfortunately, this misleads the working class as fake populists come into office and yet again slash taxes for the rich, destroy regulations that limit capitalist exploitation, and cut govt programs used by the working class (Trump, Ford in Ontario). The Canadian liberals are the party of the oligarchs, the conservative party is the Populist brute “petit bourgoisie”, the Green Party a bunch of mostly middle class progressives and wokeists, and the NDP supposedly a left party but lost in progressivism and wokeism.
The people in the “trucker” protest are being fed false consciousness by the right-wing to vote conservative against their own interests. Just like the voters who voted for Harper at the Federal level and Ford at the Ontario level, they will rue the day. Its a great act, keeping the people bamboozled into thinking they have a real choice when they vote.
P.S. so many other peaceful demonstrations have had the shit beaten out of them by the police, but then they weren’t white and right wing and their occupation didn’t help the oligarchs. Trudeau / Freeland and quite probably the NDP will be happily counting the voters coming to them as they think of how much they can sell themselves for. Just like Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

Posted by: Roger | Feb 7 2022 5:51 utc | 166

lex talionis | 102

One would think that Australians would learn what a waste it is to follow the USA into their military adventures.

Indeed, in the late 1970s, during the 1980s, there was strong anti-US war-mongering fervour in Australia.
Fuelled by a combination soup of post Vietnam malaise; winning the America’s Cup; the nationalism of the 1988 bicentennial; a tax funded and resurgent Australian movie, television and arts culture scene – each feeding, influencing and strengthening the other. The “scene” was relatively small, a Sydney-Melbourne nexus with branch lines to Adelaide, Brisbane and “the rural rest”.
Along with Redgum there were a collective “bunch” of musicians with self-composed anti-war message songs, and the live music (pub rock) scene was especially vibrant.
What happened.?
IMHO The ubiquitous Aussie “cultural cringe”. Once the tax-funded movie industry became strong and vibrant, with skilled technicians, and recognised accomplished actors, Aussies being Aussies, had to rush off to “prove themselves” internationally.
Which by the 80s /90s was no longer as much London (as it had been in the 50s/60s/70s) but Hollywood.
Confronted with this sizeable surge of competent, enthusiastic Aussies, with money backing them, Hollywood cleverly co-oped them.
We then saw the “return wave” of Americans, especially production studios, setting up shop to insert snouts into the trough of the Aussie tax break millions. We basically paid Hollywood to come make movies here. All those local jobs!!!!, we were told, made the big payouts to big studios “worth it”.
With our best, brightest and most talented desperate to prostrate themselves for Hollywood glam, it became harder to produce genuine local material, and especially the anti American anti war “vibe” had to be quickly softened and later excised.
Movies:
Gallipoli was an early Aussie homegrown effort, and strongly influential in fostering an anti-war anti-imperialism mindset
(Note a young, unknown Mel Gibson in his breakthrough role).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/
Breaker Morant created a narrative that Australians had been wrongly executed during the Boar War.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/
Music Midnight Oil were huge activists
Here’s them with a guerrilla protest in front of Exxon in NYC
“King of the mountain”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuC_k51NUqU&list=PLcJCgBCJFkUcHP5TeTBtsd1m-8TxQxk7r&index=4
Why and how they did it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1HWripf6zE
And my favourite, Oils on the Water, concert of 1984.
Rob Hirst drummer, explosive “Kosciuszko”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92WQWp15sAU
Check the whole concert for
>When The Generals Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNL3xhxGpK8
>US Forces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w29r322jqlY

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 6:07 utc | 167

Folks – Some links (fingers crossed that they work) to provide background to my previous post – retiredmecheng | Feb 7 2022 5:01 utc | 156
Firstly, some links regarding the “beloved” BJ Dichter (allegedly the chief convoy honcho) have already been dug up by James. See MOA Week in Review 2022-009, posts 740 and 741. Without a lot of effort I have also dug up:
Link to Info on BJ Dichter
Lots of evidence, for those that dig, that Mr Dichter is associated with white supremacy, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Lots of juicy pics of confederate flags, and reference to many swastikas. The associated “maverick” party that he belongs to is known to support western independence and, of course, does not believe in the scientific consensus regarding either climate change or covid-19. They also are not fans of any type of gun control (surprise, surprise).
Also, I have seen with my own little eyes protests in my neighbourhood where signs were plentiful that advocated fzcking Trudeau, hanging Trudeau, imprisoning Trudeau, etc.
Link to Governor General Office being overrun by phone calls from the protestors requesting dissolution of parliament (this is essentially requesting an unconstitutional insurrection against a democratically elected government).
Link to Insurrection Request

Posted by: retiredmecheng | Feb 7 2022 6:08 utc | 168

Cadence calls | 109

I saw ONE picture of a swastika. ONE picture of a separatist confederate flag,…

Internet sleuths found Justin’s personal photographer lurking in that vignette. It was noted the nazi flag was brand new with crease marks, and the little huddle was well off to the rear and side of the main protest, but where a depth of field shot could give the impression they were embedded in throng.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 6:18 utc | 169

@ Roger | Feb 7 2022 5:51 utc | 165 who wrote about how the populist right is “being fed false consciousness by the right-wing to vote conservative against their own interests.”
I agree and continue to preach the top/bottom reality versus the left/right “myth”
I continue to hope the Covid lies continue to unravel and the Trump Derangement Syndrome “left” wakes up to the nasty hook in the back of their throat. Extracting that hook needs to react strongly enough to stem the “right” trend supported by the wrongness of the “left” Covid” position…..depending on the timing of the Covid lie outing in relation to coming elections, I think Covid will be a major issue that the “right” will bury the “left” with.
I want to end global private finance and now my hopes are tied to China/Russia that are challenging the top of our top/bottom reality. How long that pressure takes to impact the social organization of the West is pure speculation ranging from never to next month. That said, as someone who has been watching the Western shit show for over 50 years, this is as close to changing the way the top/bottom world works as I have seen.
I don’t want to be demeaning to any but want to challenge all barflies to read Plato’s cave allegory in relation to the MSM that they consume on a regular basis…was it Gruff that introduced the term, Plato’s cave displays…..read/study about Bernays propaganda and the power of Hollywood media…please and thank you!

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 6:23 utc | 170

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 6 2022 23:37 utc | 102
Re: Redgum – I was only 19.
Thanks for posting that. My mum had a copy of the album that was on, and the song still gives me goosebumps now, as it did then (40 years ago). It was one of those songs that really affected my entire world-view. Likewise with another song: “And the band played Waltzing Matilda”, which is worth a listen.
An album from that era that I can truly recommend, is Midnight Oil’s album: 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Australia was unique at the time, with what was basically a political punk album at number 1 on the charts for more than a year.
Additional thanks for the “Reasons to be cheerful” post the other day. That took me back.
Cheers.

Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Feb 7 2022 6:33 utc | 171

@170 jon in au – Thank you! Music helps me deal with life and all the harsh stuff b so skillfully explains. Then the comment board takes over and pokes through the entrails. MoA is endlessly fascinating.
I was only 19 is a very haunting song. Thank you for sharing that story about your mother.
I don’t know as much I would like about Australian music. My favorites are The Birthday Party, Laughing Clowns, and of course AC/DC. There must be some great digeridoo electronica trance trap stuff the kids are doing now. I am a child of the mk ultra late 70s 80s out here in California.
Reasons to be cheerful! You guys got great surf too! Someday I will visit Kirra…perhaps.
cheers from LA!

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 6:57 utc | 172

Plato’s Republic is a great read thru and thru, the cave allegory is great, but there is a lot of good stuff throughout.
The overall theme of the book is the nature of justice. It asks what is justice and does it exist.
Socrates and his student are basically kidnapped by a powerful warlord family and forced to philosophize with the clan patriarch and his sons debating the nature of justice.
The warlord family argues the only justice in this world is “might makes right”…that justice is simply the “will of the stronger”.
Socrates argues real justice exists and it is of a communal nature. In the end the warlords come around to Socrates point of view and let he and his student go. The twist being that despite Socrates winning the debate, it was still the warlords decision as to whether Socrates and his student would be allowed to live, showing to some extent that might does make right.
In current geopolitics this can be transposed onto Russia/China/Iran. While they do embody justice in their current social/government configurations, ultimately for that justice to continue and spread, they will need the “might” to bring this justice about.

Posted by: Haassaan | Feb 7 2022 6:57 utc | 173

@Grieved | Feb 7 2022 1:45 utc | 124

What a gift Canada has given to the world. Prayers for success as the people of that nation bend their efforts to the restoration of the rule of law.

Thank you for reposting. I agree that Canada has provided the world with a great gift. The people of Canada is showing the world how to peacefully resist tyranny and demanding their freedom back.
My impression of Canada the last few years has been poor. But it is clear now that this is due to the political class that don’t represent the people, they are the fringe minority. These recent events have demonstrated very clearly that the people of Canada show an impressive amount of solidarity and peaceful determination that inspires the rest of the world.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 7 2022 6:59 utc | 174

Paul 164

Nugan Hand Bank, now you are talking about CIA/Air America/ Australian/US organised crime and big money.

Just before, but close in time to my 9/11 epiphany, I saw an abc.net.au online report of a strange, mysterious small plane that had curiously landed unannounced on an oval in Wollongong.
It must have been a slow news day, because very quickly the item got picked up and spread nationally. There was even an early afternoon “breaking news” snippet on tv of the plane.
And then, as if a light switch had been flicked, all news went dark, the promised evening news item was never shown, and the online piece disappeared.
Around that time, devouring everything I could on 9/11 (and still struggling to absorb what I was discovering about, well *everything*,) I became aware of Daniel Hopsicker’s work on Mena airport Arkansas, Bush, Central America and the CIA drug planes.
https://www.madcowprod.com > “Barry and the Boys”.
The mystery of the Wollongong small plane, was to me, a lot, lol, lot, less mysterious….
And of course, a passing mention should be made that former PM Malcolm Turnbull had a … connection … to Nugan Hand.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 7:04 utc | 175

@retiredmecheng | Feb 7 2022 5:01 utc | 156
There is no such thing as “scientific consensus”. Scientific hypotheses are not decided by counting raised hands. Your argument is purely political.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 7 2022 7:17 utc | 176

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 7 2022 6:23 utc | 169 & @ Roger | Feb 7 2022 5:51 utc | 165
Thanks. Caitlin J. is on fire today too:
“Making your whole thing about opposing a rival political party is what people do when they lack the integrity to oppose the murderous empire that’s fully backed by both parties.
***
That saying “They got you fighting a culture war to stop you fighting a class war” is something you’ve got to take seriously. You can’t just dismiss it. Because if it’s at all true, even somewhat, then discourse on today’s left is completely fucked and ultimately power-serving.
***
Whenever your anger is focused on any figure besides the western empire and its facilitators, the propagandists have succeeded in doing their job.
***
If you want to have integrity you want your personal psychology to line up with your political ideals. … It’s just a matter of patiently doing the inner work necessary for your mind to match your ideals, your speech to match your mind, and your actions to match your speech.”

Posted by: waynorinorway | Feb 7 2022 7:22 utc | 177

ex talionis | 171
> Music helps me deal with life……
That’d be true for just about all us, I’d guess. Which why there is such a variety of music, for everyone and every mood.
I hope you’ll check out (and enjoy) the Midnight Oil links I posted for you ^^^
That Oils on the Water mid 80s concert from Goat Island Sydney Harbour.
If I ever had a Groundhog Day, I’d ask to be trapped there, living it again and again and again….
Shame I missed it. Coulda gone too, if I’d exerted myself. Kinda as tragic as missing Woodstock.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 7:27 utc | 178

@164 paul and 166 melaleuka – Thanks for all that information! Yeah. The Nugan Hand thing seems like it was great racket. Thanks for the book, music and film tips. I realy like Breaker Morant. I really like Romper Stomper.
Thanks

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 7:32 utc | 179

@Cadence Calls | Feb 7 2022 0:21 utc | 109

Yeah I’m not buying the nazi Canadian trucker shit.
You’re gonna find a nazi anywhere on the right, if you look long and hard enough.

And if you look hard enough you will find Canadian trucker supporters with rainbow coloured flags, here for example
https://postimg.cc/sQbz6TFg

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 7 2022 7:52 utc | 180

Scotch Bingeington @101
And Mayor Watson was on the news today saying something about the SoE giving him more “tools” – to do what or how, he didn’t say. I think he has enough tools advising him.

Posted by: spudski | Feb 7 2022 8:00 utc | 181

Don Bacon #145
Amnesty International condemns the apartheid state of Israel.
Thank you, good to see they maintain the rage.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 8:09 utc | 182

karlof1 @115
There was a comment to that effect on a moderately left wing Canadian website recently :
“Looks a bit like Ukraine in 2013.” – Sunny Sands, comment on rabble, 04 February, 2020

Posted by: spudski | Feb 7 2022 8:11 utc | 183

First off, I’d like to say hello to all here. I’ve lurked for years, but have only recently decided to actually participate in discussions. Hopefully I make a meaningful contribution to conversation here.
Re: Unsavory ideas being allegedly held by some truckers and/or supporters.
Some jackass flew a Nazi flag. A different one had a Confederate flag hanging from their truck. So what? Does it not occur to some just how easy it is to get a small group of people together and posture as part of a group that you might wish to attract negative attention towards? Even if they were sincere demonstrations of those people’s beliefs, why should the protest organizers dignify the jackasses or those who are seizing the opportunity to engage in misdirection by demanding the organizers go off-message to issue pubic denouncements until such a point as total ideological purity is satisfactorily demonstrated? As if they could ever meet such demands. . .
The truckers aren’t there to protest racist views held by some in the working class (but I’m sure the overwhelming majority are more than willing to personally and directly confront such views when faced with their advocates). They’re there to protest elements of COVID policy. Ultimately, engaging in vain political squabbles undermines and contradicts the trucker’s entire expressed purpose behind the protests, as being bogged down in using public repudiation whenever demanded diminishes the attention the message receives and allows the movement to be led around by the nose by its detractors.
Let’s also be honest about the situation in North America: any broad movement coming from the people is going to include some number of people with reactionary ideas. The way these people are to be challenged is to be decided by the movement and the particular circumstances in which the movement arises and exists, and not by the movement’s opponents or detractors.
A position Marx detailed in the Manifesto has stood out in my mind over the course of the COVID division rhetoric of the past years, and the trucker protests in particular.

“[T]he Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things.
In all these movements, they bring to the front, as the leading question in each, the property question, no matter what its degree of development at the time.”

I think that quote is just as relevant today as when it was written; arguably moreso. It seems as though several Marxist political organizations in Canada have taken this to heart and are committing cadres to engaging the truckers. Anyone who sees themselves as being on the side of the people should be taking note of this position (whether they see themselves as “Marxists” or not).

Posted by: screwsinabell | Feb 7 2022 8:15 utc | 184

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 6:57 utc | 171
Thanks lex, I posted before scrolling and now see both Paul Melaleuca had jumped in with some similar thoughts on music. Music is the medicine that helps me cope too.
From being a big fan of Devo and Midnight Oil as a youngster, I was lucky enough to have mates in high school who introduced me to punk and hardcore.
I got to see Laughing Clowns (along with The Saints, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) at All Tomorrow’s Parties gig on Cockatoo Island. Was one of the best days of my 49 years to date.
Many US bands are high up my list of favourites. Dead Kennedys, Alice Donut, Victims Family, Steel Pole Bathtub, Black Flag, Misfits, just to name a few.
Celibate Rifles are another AU favourite of mine.
Take care man. Back to reading and learning.
Cheers.

Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Feb 7 2022 9:01 utc | 185

waynorinorway #176

“If you want to have integrity you want your personal psychology to line up with your political ideals. … It’s just a matter of patiently doing the inner work necessary for your mind to match your ideals, your speech to match your mind, and your actions to match your speech.”

Thank you for sharing Caitlin’s fine words. She is a legend and a fine thinker. I am with the truckers and their supporters, sure there are some nasties and opportunists in there, but it is the movement right now.
Occupy the streets. End the oppression.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 9:04 utc | 186

screwsinabell #184

A position Marx detailed in the Manifesto has stood out in my mind over the course of the COVID division rhetoric of the past years, and the trucker protests in particular.
“[T]he Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things.
In all these movements, they bring to the front, as the leading question in each, the property question, no matter what its degree of development at the time.”
I think that quote is just as relevant today as when it was written; arguably moreso. It seems as though several Marxist political organizations in Canada have taken this to heart and are committing cadres to engaging the truckers. Anyone who sees themselves as being on the side of the people should be taking note of this position (whether they see themselves as “Marxists” or not).

Exactly that. Thank you and you have reminded me of some old Vietnamese war pamphlets as Ho Chi Minh and team organised the villages and built the revolution. I remember reading them in one of the museum buildings on a visit two decades ago. Finding troves of these items was the peak of my journey there. Marx was a brilliant thinker and we owe him a huge debt for the work that he and Engels did for us.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2022 9:18 utc | 187

Australian Bands: The Saints, the Go-Betweens, Radio Birdman. Go-Betweens are best.
Nugan Hand Bank: Jonathan Kwitny, The Crimes of Patriots: A True Story of Dope, Dirty Money, and the CIA.
PDF available from Wiki.

Posted by: Cherrycoke | Feb 7 2022 9:36 utc | 188

The German economy in silent struggle against its own government, its own parliament and its own media –
because the US wants to sell their LNG.
I didn’t think that was possible, and I don’t bet on its outcome.

Posted by: njet | Feb 7 2022 9:46 utc | 189

Posted by: lex talionis | Feb 7 2022 6:57 utc | 171
“I was only 19 is a very haunting song”
So true. I was 19 too when they sent me my draft notice.
Lyrics from that tune:
“And Frankie kicked a land mine the day that mankind kicked the moon
…And I can still see Frankie drinking tinnies at the Grand Hotel
On a thirty-six hour rec. leave in Vung Tau”
– I was in the avionics shop at Ton Son Nhut, Saigon, repairing long range airborne radio sets that day listening to the broadcast of the moon landing from Eielson AFB in Alaska. (They didn’t mention Frankie of course) I drank ‘tinnies’ at the Grand Hotel with Aussies and Kiwis and spent a leave in Vung Tau. Never wounded, just injured as anyone who ever gets close to war – or ‘police actions’ or ‘mistakes’ is. But thank god once I got home and grew up a bit the experience set my mind right for the rest of my life. It’s true ‘they’ only take kids to war. The bastards!
Here’s a link to my favorite version of that other great anti-war song linked by watcher | Feb 7 2022 4:28 utc | 152
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda with the beautiful voice of Priscilla Herdman. The song is definitely the anthem for ANZAC day!
And the sobering lyrics
“And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving old dreams of past glory
And the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, “What are they marching for?”
And I ask myself the same question.”
lex, james, Paul, Melaleuca, watcher, Jon_in_AU, and even karlof1 and prolly others, music IS medicine, so thanks.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Feb 7 2022 10:23 utc | 190

Thank you for the recollection of your experiences in Vietnam and the link to the Priscilla Herdman take on “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. I also love the version by the Pogues.

Posted by: Cherrycoke | Feb 7 2022 10:46 utc | 191

So after reading all the thoughtful commentary on the truckers in Canada, it comes down to all this so that Norway can’t invest in the Caribbean. Or did I miss something?
For comic relief, from The Beaverton (not a real media outlet):
“Ottawa declares state of emergency pending approval of lawless mob”
https://thebeaverton.com/2022/02/ottawa-declares-state-of-emergency-pending-approval-of-lawless-mob/
AP reporting on move to create two-state solution between Israel and Palestine
https://apnews.com/hub/middle-east
Reuters reports on Credit Suisse facing money laundering charges in trial of Bulgarian cocaine traffickers
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/credit-suisse-faces-money-laundering-charges-trial-bulgarian-cocaine-traffickers-2022-02-07/
Lots of coverage on Macron’s upcoming meeting with Putin (which the Kremlin says can’t be expected to produce much but the media coverage sure suggests otherwise). TASS is reporting on Chancellor Scholz’s interview in today’s Washington Post. He sounds very tough in that piece I thought. I also thought tough-talking was not permitted by a German leader?

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 7 2022 11:00 utc | 192

Congratulations to Kiwis, today is Waitangi Day:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/smale-jakara-anthony/100809298

Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 11:19 utc | 193

Posted by: screwsinabell | Feb 7 2022 8:15 utc | 184
“[T]he Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things.
In all these movements, they bring to the front, as the leading question in each, the property question, no matter what its degree of development at the time.”
I don’t want to dismiss the truckers out of hand. However, the problem with your reference to Marx is that Marx was explicitly refering to revolutionary momenta that tackle the existing (capitalist) order of property relations.
Now I don’t see that the majority of the truckers are concerned about property relation or existing socio-economic injustices. The slogan “Freedom Convoy” makes it almost clear that their main concern is some crude negative/positive conception of freedom.
Much of the aesthetic and the PR behind stems from circles close to Mises Institute which is part of – what Mirowski terms – Neoliberal Thought Collective (offshoots of Mont Pelerin Society) although it positions itself on a more libertarian spectrum.
That doesn’t mean Marxist political organisation should not engage with the truckers as you rightly point out in your last paragraph.

Posted by: v | Feb 7 2022 11:26 utc | 194

Posted by: v | Feb 7 2022 11:26 utc | 194
You sound familiar. Have we met before at this bar?

Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 11:35 utc | 195

@Bruised Northerner | Feb 7 2022 11:00 utc | 192

So after reading all the thoughtful commentary on the truckers in Canada, it comes down to all this so that Norway can’t invest in the Caribbean. Or did I miss something?

What??

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 7 2022 11:42 utc | 196

@spudski | Feb 7 2022 8:11 utc | 183

“Looks a bit like Ukraine in 2013.”

Ukraine 2013 was a coup instigated by a foreign power, it was led from the US embassy. This current situation has aspects of Romania 1989, minus the violence.

Posted by: Norwegian | Feb 7 2022 12:00 utc | 197

(From the Beaverton: “Asked whether they will grant the city’s polite request to declare a state of emergency, the assembled throng of protestors answered “BLAAAARRRGGGHHHH!”)
Norwegian @ 196 – Sorry, my attempt to suggest that behind this is the fall of the Monroe Doctrine? Spheres of influence in the multipolar world? I found this article from Norway news in English that I thought expressed it well. Posted in an earlier comment, will repost here:
“Eide all but scoffed at Stoltenberg’s claim in December that the time for the superpowers’ spheres of influence is over. Eide points out that all the superpowers still want such spheres of influence, not least the Americans.”
https://www.newsinenglish.no/2022/01/19/broken-promises-fuel-russian-tension/

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 7 2022 12:14 utc | 198

One of my favourite internet pastimes is a clickby https://twitter.com/jimmybarnes
Jimmy is now in his 70s and a many times grandfather.
His wild angry out of control rockstar days are in the past.
But he is still performing. His voice is not what it was 40+ years ago.
Who cares. He’s very much loved by his fans.
His cookbook and his children’s book both made it to the top 10 listing for 2021.
Twitter has made it possible to call by Jimmy’s house, spend a few minutes with him as he gardens, cooks, rehearses with the family.
It’s delightful. And very much balm for the soul.
The number of times he genuinely marvels “how lucky am I “.
Gratitude. He’s now a living example of its power.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 7 2022 12:37 utc | 199

Posted by: v | Feb 7 2022 11:26 utc | 194
You sound familiar. Have we met before at this bar?
Posted by: Paul | Feb 7 2022 11:35 utc | 195
Paul, are you playing ‘Wheel of Fortune’? As in ‘I’d like a k please’ 🙂

Posted by: waynorinorway | Feb 7 2022 12:40 utc | 200

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