My own bird’s eye view, this Spring, is from the SF Bay Area. All of California had pretty much the same weather: just one momentarily drenching “atmospheric river” in December, then the driest January and February on record. March was our last chance, and we only got fractions of an inch. So the drought monitor (for California or even USA as a whole) is well into hazardous heights, way too early in 2022. Californians are reminded of a Nat King Cole song:
I was walking along, minding my business, when out of an orange colored sky: flash! bam! allakazam! Wonderful you walked by…

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Mar 30 2022 17:12 utc | 4

Wonder if Bernd will permit this post as I’m banned under my blog name … The humorless little putz
Aleph @ 4
It rained here two days ending yesterday.

Posted by: Berndt Braincell | Mar 30 2022 17:43 utc | 6

“If the truce lasts, then the Outlaw US Empire will have lost another proxy war.”
karlof1@3
And then, as I wrote yesterday, there is the possibility that Afghanistan, used to further divide India and Pakistan by the US, could be bringing rapprochement there too. With China’s influence for peace and development as opposed to the Empire’s offering of war, famine and refugee camps, playing a key role.

Posted by: bevin | Mar 30 2022 18:09 utc | 8

bevin @8–
Yes, the worm is turning and we get to watch and comment on this momentous event. The only problem I see, and it’s potentially huge, is those running the Outlaw US Empire not accepting the results of the world’s rendering them unexceptional and making them conform to the world’s norms and laws, resulting is yet more chaos, death and destruction.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 30 2022 18:36 utc | 10

South Ossetia likely to join Russia soon
https://t.me/intelslava/24005
The referendum on the accession of South Ossetia to Russia will be held after the presidential elections, which are scheduled for April 10

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 30 2022 18:44 utc | 12

fyi
the first time I’ve come across anything like this.
I had read a report somewhere, if my memory serves correct, that so far only Bulgaria and Moldova had agreed/said they were going to buy Russian gas/oil with rubles
https://t.me/intelslava/23943
Intel Slava Z
🇻🇦🇷🇺 The Vatican Bank transferred 10 million euros to buy rubles from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in payment for gas supplied by Russia, media report
Everything was done according to the scheme established by the government of the Russian Federation.
119.8K views Mar 30 at 04:00

Posted by: michaelj72 | Mar 30 2022 19:29 utc | 14

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 30 2022 18:37 utc | 11
Thanks that’s interesting information. Do you know of any examples of such requests via spoofed or hacked emails that’ve succeeded in receiving subpoena/warrant information? What is the goal of these things, anyway? For non-LEA people to bypass the review process in obtaining already existing subpoenas and any personal information they contain for later use in ID theft?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 30 2022 19:34 utc | 16

https://dnyuz.com/2022/03/29/what-if-putin-didnt-miscalculate/
Someone ban this person ! He’s doubting the accepted narrative !

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 30 2022 19:37 utc | 18

@Tom_Q_Collins #16
The article specifically speaks to a criminal group called LAPSUS$ which succeeded in part due to EDR usage.
Note that we are not talking about spoofed emails- we are talking about hacked emails from a hacked account in one of the 18000 law enforcement groups in the US (and more worldwide). The article lists a specific ad about access from Argentina.
But it doesn’t require much effort to see how these are useful.
If targeting a specific email or social media account for takeover/hijacking, for example, an EDR request to provide all information to said email including recovery methods would reveal recovery phone numbers associated with the target email – at which point a quick telco query uncovers the provider, and off to sim swapping you go.
Sim swap into the number identified, trigger password recovery and you’re in…
I personally can attest to the telco queries – it costs me far less than a dollar to get a telco report on any US phone number via a service used to cleanse contact number lists of spam.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 30 2022 20:04 utc | 20

I think Putin’s strategy is ‘slice the salami’. Get the EU into the rubles for gas idea, along with other commodities. Eventually, push them over the line.
As for saving face ( of the EU), this can be good diplomacy. For contrast, take note of how the US arrogantly ignores this nicety in speaking to China ( and the angry results).

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 30 2022 20:21 utc | 22

@ karlof1 3
The Saudis agree on truce with Houthis
–no agreement, unfortunately
…from USNews…
The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels holding Yemen’s capital planned a unilateral cease-fire to begin early Wednesday ahead of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The Houthis rejected the proposal as “meaningless” without the coalition fully reopening the country’s ports. . .here
Ramadan will be (roughly) the month of April. History indicates that Arabs have done some of their fiercest fighting during Ramadan, while fasting all day I suppose.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 30 2022 20:48 utc | 24

@ 25
Putin (reportedly): “Just continue doing it the old way.”

Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 30 2022 21:10 utc | 26

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 30 2022 15:36 utc | 1
“I will just note that a reported “Wave of Terror” has hit Occupied Palestine as 11 people have been killed in the past week….not including perpetrators.
The shit show continues until it doesn’t and its all tied to some pigs in the trough thinking they are better than the rest of us meatsacks…what a species we have evolved into/NOT!”
psychohistorian @1,
here is a typical day in Occupied Palestine, this tyranny and violence is unreported in the ‘western’ MSM, only legitimate resistance to it is ‘newsworthy’, complete with cringeworthy adjectives.
It is worth subscribing to this free newsletter, reproduced in full:
“While the Occupation is business as usual for Israel,
there should be no business with Israel
In Occupied Palestine
Zionism in practice
Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land
(Compiled by Leslie Bravery, Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Auckland, New Zealand)
27 March 2022 {Main source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group (PMG):
https://www.nad.ps/en/violations-reports/daily-report NB:The period covered by this newsletter is taken from the PMG’s 24-hour sitrep ending 8am the day after the above date.}
We shall always do our best to verify the accuracy of all items in these IOP newsletters/reports wherever possible [e.g. we often suspect that names of people and places that we see in the PMG sitreps could be typos; also frequently the translation into English seems rather odd ~ but since we, sadly, do not speak Arabic, we have no alternative but to copy and paste these names from the PMG sitreps!]– please forgive us for any errors or omissions – Leslie and Marian.
Israeli Navy opens fire on
Palestinian fishing boats
Israeli Army position opens fire
on Gaza farmland
Occupation settler violence –
Israeli Army complicity
Settler violence – injury and
hospitalisation
Occupation settler arson attack
Night peace disruption and/or
home invasions in 16 towns and villages
2 attacks – 2 Israeli ceasefire violations
23 raids – 3 beaten – 3 injured
3 acts of agricultural/economic sabotage
1 taken prisoner
Peace disruption raids: 15:55, Beitunya – 17:10, Sinjil – 19:00, Beitunya – 22:50, Turmusaya – 22:50, Sinjil – 22:50, al-Mughayir – 23:40-01:15, al-Bireh – 01:00-02:45, Shuqba – 01:15-02:25, Aboud Umm Safa – 01:15-02:25, Qarawat Bani Zaid – 01:15-02:25, Deir Nizam -01:15-02:25, Deir Abu Masha’al – 01:15-02:45, Shabtin – 12:00, Faqua village – 16:40, Arbouna – 02:05-05:35, Jenin – 03:15-05:35, al-Yamoun – 10:30, Izbit Shufa – 11:00, Beit Dajan – 20:00-02:35, Iraq Burin – 22:05-01:10, Bizzariya – 02:50-05:00, Urif – 03:20-06:45, Jalloud.
Palestinian missile attacks: none.
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Army attack – agricultural sabotage: Northern Gaza – 00:30, an Israeli Army position, behind the Green Line, opened fire towards agricultural land east of Beit Hanoun.
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – economic sabotage: Rafah – 08:30, the Israeli Navy opened fire on, and pursued, Palestinian fishing boats off Rafah.
Israeli police and settlers’ mosque violation: Jerusalem – 08:00, settler militants, escorted by Israeli police, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and molested worshippers.
Israeli Occupation population-control: Jerusalem – 21:00, the Israeli Occupation issued an order, banning a Jerusalem resident, Musa Khalaf, from entering the Bab Al-Khalil area for a period of 15 days.
Israeli Army stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Ramallah – 15:50, al-Janiya: stun grenades and tear gas canisters.
Israeli Army – beatings – 2 injured: Nablus – 14:45, Israeli troops assaulted two refugees, Yazan Al-Asi and Mustafa Al-Riyahi, near the entrance to the village of Burqa.
Israeli Army stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Nablus – 13:45, entrance to Burqa village: stun grenades and tear gas canisters.
Israeli Army agricultural sabotage: Salfit – Israeli forces laid waste to land in the Smoukh area of Kafr al-Dik.
Israeli Army – plunder: Bethlehem – 15:10, the Israeli Army seized possession of a bulldozer, in the village of al-Walaja.
Occupation settlement development: Nablus – Israelis, from the Majdolim Occupation settlement, set up four mobile homes on more Palestinian land, in order to enlarge the colony.
Occupation settler violence: Jerusalem – 10:00, a gang of Israeli settlers, with the support of Israeli Occupation forces, invaded the Petra Hotel, seizing and holding captive for a time five people: Medhat Diba, Musa Khalaf, Abdul Rahman Saeed, Firas Al-Atrash,and Omar Bashir Maarouf Qarash.
Occupation settler raid: Ramallah – 23:15, Israeli settlers invaded an area, near the entrance to Sinjil.
Occupation settler violence: Tulkarem – 22:55, Israeli Occupation settlers prevented vehicles from passing through the Shufa checkpoint.
Occupation settler stoning: Tulkarem – 23:20, Israeli settler militants stoned vehicles passing through the Einav checkpoint.
Occupation settler violence: Qalqiliya – 00:25, Israeli Occupation settlers obstructed the movement of people near the Kafr Laqif village road junction.
Occupation settler violence – Israeli Army complicity: Nablus – 13:45, Israeli settlers, supported by Occupation troops firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters, stoned businesses and vehicles, near the entrance to the village of Burqa, causing much damage.
Occupation settler stoning: Nablus – 21:30, stone-throwing settlers damaged a vehicle that was near the Deir Sharaf village road junction.
Occupation settler violence – injury and hospitalisation: Nablus – 23:55, stone-throwing settlers injured and hospitalised one person, near the Yitzhar Occupation settlement.
Occupation settler arson attack: Nablus – 00:35, Israeli militants, from the Adi Ad Occupation settlement, invaded the village of Jalloud and set fire to four vehicles.
Occupation settler stoning: Hebron – 23:00, Israelis, from the Kiryat Arba settlement, stoned nearby passing vehicles.
Raid: Ramallah – 15:55, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Beitunya.
Raid: Ramallah – 17:10, Israeli forces raided Sinjil and searched a vehicle maintenance garage.
Raid: Ramallah – 19:00, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Beitunya.
Raids: Ramallah – 22:50, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Turmusaya, Sinjil and al-Mughayir.
Raid: Ramallah – 23:40-01:15, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled al-Bireh.
Raid: Ramallah – 01:00-02:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Shuqba.
Raids: Ramallah – 01:15-02:25, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Aboud as well as the villages of Umm Safa, Qarawat Bani Zaid, Deir Nizam and Deir Abu Masha’al.
Raid: Ramallah – 01:15-02:45, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Shabtin.
Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Jenin – 12:00, Israeli troops raided Faqua village, taking prisoner one person.
Raid: Jenin – 16:40, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled Arbouna.
Raid: Jenin – 02:05-05:35, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled Jenin.
Raid: Jenin – 03:15-05:35, Israeli forces raided and patrolled al-Yamoun.
Raid: Tulkarem – 10:30, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Izbit Shufa.
Raid: Nablus – 11:00, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Beit Dajan.
Raid: Nablus – 20:00-02:35, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled Iraq Burin.
Raid: Nablus – 22:05-01:10, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of Bizzariya.
Raid: Nablus – 02:50-05:00, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the village of Urif.
Raid: Nablus – 03:20-06:45, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Jalloud.
Restrictions of movement (19): 17:00, entrance to the village of al-Mughayir – 20:05, entrance to Deir Abu Masha’al village – 22:30, entrance to Silwad – 22:00-02:15, entrance to the village of Ras Karkar closed – 13:20, tightened procedures at the Tayasir checkpoint – 21:50, tightened procedures at Beit Furik – 23:45, tightened procedures at Huwara checkpoint – 18:05-19:25, western entrance to Deir Istiya – 19:10-20:35, entrance to Deir Ballut – 10:55-11:55, eastern entrance to Beit Sahour – 13:00-15:30, northern entrance to Tekoa – 13:00-15:30, entrance to the village of Shawarwa – 16:40, entrance to the village of Wadi Fukin – 16:40, entrance to Husan village – Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing closed – al-Mantar-Karni crossing closed – al-Shujaiyeh crossing (Nahal Oz) closed – Sufa crossing closed – al-Awda Port closed.
[NB: Times indicated in Bold Type contribute to the sleep deprivation suffered by Palestinian children]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If any of our subscribers should like to completely reproduce, in full and unedited, these In Occupied Palestine daily newsletters (especially considering we don’t have our own website) that would be very welcome!”
If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let us know and if you have friends or family who would like to receive them ask them to contact us at sumud1@outlook.com

Posted by: Paul | Mar 30 2022 22:28 utc | 28

@Tom_Q_Collins #29
sim swapping the hard way: saunter into the appropriate cell telco store and brazen your way into the account. You’ll generally need things like social security numbers.
The pro criminal way: bribe a cell telco manager $500-$1000 or more. These managers aren’t well paid and churn very frequently, as you might expect for such service jobs.
The overly complex way (or national security way): don’t even bother hacking, steal the incoming text via SS7 attacks or some such.
The process itself is simple: you lost your phone and need a new sim issued for your phone number.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 30 2022 22:53 utc | 30

Reply to 25
I think there’s no easy way to establish ruble use but Putin’s made a start.
The problem is that somebody in Russia gets stuck with dollars or euros – because that’s where rubles come from. Can the US or EU vassals freeze their currencies held in Russian banks? I’m not sure.
The goal is to get commodities/oil priced in rubles. Eurasia will evolve that way. I think they also need a barter exchange or use gold since that eliminates the frozen accounts problem completely.
https://mishtalk.com/economics/the-ruble-regains-100-of-its-loss-after-russia-invaded-ukraine-why
This thread is rather positive.

Posted by: Eighthman | Mar 30 2022 23:59 utc | 32

Canada to buy 19 billion dollars worth of F-35s.
Canada population : 38 million.
So that’s 500$ of taxpayer money from every man, woman and child.
For the “vaunted” F-35.
How embarrassing, and maddening.

Posted by: Featherless | Mar 31 2022 1:06 utc | 34

Eighthman @32–
Actually, I doubt many dollars/euros will accumulate as you fear. The reason is the dynamics of Eurasian trade which is using national currencies to a large degree while the yuan replaces the yen as the dominant Asian currency. As I reported earlier on the other thread, Medvedev gave the game away–the new currency regime will be those backed by “national resources” having tangible value and thus render the currency “hard,” while worthless fiat currencies are shunned and eventually die. I expect Shanghai to be the site of the Eurasian Currency Exchange since it already hosts an oil and gold exchange plus its stock markets. Nations and their corporations will also set up currency swaps like India has done for decades with its rupee and Russia’s ruble. The point of the exercise is to eliminate the dollar as a useful global currency since it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on, nor is the word of the printer to be trusted.
The current arrangement is for Germany to take its euros to Gazprom bank, exchange them for rubles and then use those rubles to pay for the gas it contracts for delivery. Those euros in turn will be exchanged for rubles with Russia’s Central Bank, while some are used to pay for Gazprom’s expenses in EU like the salaries of its bank employees. Russia’s Central Bank would then provide Russian companies with euro denominated debts to purchase them with the company’s rubles. And as with the dollar, the euro is fiat and will eventually be replaced by national currencies and coin that existed prior to the establishment of the euro zone. All this blowing up of the old and replacing it with the new is a central aspect of the Putin Doctrine. As Hudson points out, the Outlaw US Empire vastly accelerated the process of dedollarization with its own actions that first began in 1979 with the seizure of Iran’s foreign reserves, the recent theft of Venezuela’s gold and US-based assets, the freezing/theft of Afghanistan’s gold and reserves, and now with the theft of Russia’s foreign reserves. The newly minted international financial system will be fair, but fairness isn’t what the Empire prefers which means the new will be unfair to it and especially for those whose wealth is denominated in dollars.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 31 2022 1:18 utc | 36

@36 karlof1 | Mar 31 2022 1:18 utc
The Biden account made a recent tweet that said the Ruble had turned to rubble.
One wonders when someone will tweet that the Dollar has turned to dolor.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 31 2022 1:34 utc | 38

Did interested readers note the ad video by the UK Heart Foundation that was attempting to normalize collapse of athletes on the playing field, implying this as a normal syndrome that “Science” works to cure? Here it is:
This Is Science [50-second clip, YouTube]
When one considers the deification of Science by Fauci and the like, the irony and lack of self-awareness encapsulated here is almost beyond belief. Extraordinarily crude propaganda, it was shown in UK absolute prime time to a massive audience, and it contains very shocking memory imprints.
Here’s one of many news stories about the advertisement where viewers recoiled in anger:
British Heart Foundation face backlash after new advert shows footballer collapsing
Not just a footballer, let the record show, but a young, amateur teen with mother cheering on. The kind of person who has never collapsed dead on the football field, in all of time – except in the last year.

Posted by: Grieved | Mar 31 2022 2:03 utc | 40

Grieved | Mar 31 2022 2:03 utc | 40
Very much appreciate your posts…
…but the beat goes on (MSM) without interruption and regardless of the facts…

Posted by: V | Mar 31 2022 2:33 utc | 42

From Zero Hedge —
~// Powerful geomagnetic storms are set to hit Earth’s magnetic field Wednesday night into early Thursday [3/30/22} after the sun ejected nearly 20 solar flares from an Earth-facing single sunspot in recent days. //~
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/x1-flare-r3-strong-radio-blackout-30-march-2022

Posted by: blues | Mar 31 2022 3:10 utc | 44

Posted by: Patroklos | Mar 30 2022 20:12 utc | 21
Not seeing the story at your link, Patroklos, but thank you. Same goes for the NZ Herald as far as negative news. There will be cracks in that veneer, have to be!
As far as the US, with a populace facing no support from party politics it will be very interesting come voting time, if not sooner.

Posted by: juliania | Mar 31 2022 3:36 utc | 46

Had a conversation with my brother-in-law while driving his car. It went along the lines of:
bil: you should change to third at blah.
me: oh ok.
bil: you should change to fourth at bleh.
me: oh ok.
me: you know, it kind of feels like i should change to fourth a bluh.
bil: the manual says you should change to fourth at bleh.
me: yeah, it’s a fine recommendation, but it sounds like the revs are too low.
bil: the manual says.
me: yeah, i know, but you know how you can feel it through the pedals when the engine is struggling?
bil: the manual says.
I was cheerful, positive, and careful to not sounding patronizing. He is a nice guy, good to my sister and their kids, etc. But you can’t fuck with belief. He believes in Volvo – more than his own senses.
It makes me think about all the stuff regarding false idols in the Old Testament.

Posted by: Rae | Mar 31 2022 5:43 utc | 48

blues | Mar 31 2022 3:10 utc | 44
Not likely a big deal.
X Class Solar Flare & CME
March 30, 2022
1:09 min

Posted by: pogohere | Mar 31 2022 6:46 utc | 50

Does anyone have any thoughts on what will happen to the price of gold in the next few weeks?
Thanks.

Posted by: Steve | Mar 31 2022 10:22 utc | 52

Dear Psycho @47. The statement of course is itself a lie. As if the U.S. would not put Israeli interests first? There is no chance for a new JCPOA. It will never make it through this U.S. Congress, or any Congress for that matter. Where is our friend Richard Steven? They have been announcing an end to these negotiations for months now. In fact, Mr. Haven’t Got-A-Clue Blinking, just yesterday asked the Israeli PM what their solution to the Iran nuclear situation would be. Can you imagine that? Israel, without so much as ever having allowed any international inspectors to set foot in any of their research reactors, now has a say in this matter. That weak POS is going to get us all killed.
Ukraine has been a great distraction, hasn’t it?

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Mar 31 2022 11:48 utc | 54

@55 Bruised Northerner
If our leaders had any integrity, they wouldn’t buy those garbage F-35s, and would find another buyer – there should be plenty – for our fertilizer. Isn’t there a worldwide shortage now ? FFS.
Like I said, it’s embarrassing and maddening, how our govt kowtows to the US.

Posted by: Featherless | Mar 31 2022 12:39 utc | 56

I have been looking at the US trade deficit. This deficit is another of the manifestations of the “exorbitant privilege” of the Washington Consensus/USD trade reserve/petrodollar/IMF+World Bank.
As you might remember, the US hit a $1 trillion goods trade deficit in 2021 for the first time ever. This is pretty amazing considering US GDP is only $21 trillion or so.
And note that this is just the goods deficit; the actual amount of trade going in/out is far larger.
But what I wondered was: what exactly is this trade consisting of? Here is the data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
I’ve taken the top few listings in each of the major BEA categories so everyone interested can get an idea of just what this $1 trillion trade goods deficit involves.
Exports in 2021, in millions of dollars (Total $1,761,967)

Foods, feeds, and beverages 165,244
Corn 19,895
Meat, poultry, etc. 25,127
Soybeans 28,552
Other foods 17,595
Animal feeds, n.e.c. 11,002
Industrial supplies and materials 635,558
Crude oil 69,317
Petroleum products, other 63,861
Plastic materials 43,719
Gas-natural 39,755
Chemicals-other 39,196
Chemicals-organic 33,904
Fuel oil 32,115
Nonmonetary gold 30,870
Capital goods, except automotive 519,606
Industrial machines, other 68,440
Semiconductors 66,098
Electric apparatus 42,837
Medical equipment 39,846
Telecommunications equipment 32,573
Computer accessories 29,087
Civilian aircraft 24,247
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines 143,603
Passenger cars, new and used 53,664
Trucks, buses, and special purpose vehicles 20,880
Other parts and accessories of vehicles 47,411
Engines and engine parts 18,554
Consumer goods 222,082
Pharmaceutical preparations 83,339
Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c. 30,184
Gem diamonds 16,676
Toiletries and cosmetics 13,237
Toys, games, and sporting goods 10,879
Other goods 68,485

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 31 2022 14:52 utc | 58

Oh and nonmonetary gold: $30.87B exports vs. $14.47B imports.
Happy to answer similar questions on categories – I still have the data up.

Posted by: c1ue | Mar 31 2022 15:06 utc | 60

A note to b
You might want to consider making spacing between lines bigger – if your site allows that. Each line is relatively long/wide, and lines spacing is relatively small. I always find myself focused to track the next line when reading.
There are loads of information about common practice for best reader experience, if you find my comment important.

Posted by: Man | Apr 1 2022 1:04 utc | 62

@psychohistorian #64
You are conflating 2 things: the pre-maturity trading value of Treasuries vs. what foreign CBs use them for.
With the Fed rate hikes, it should surprise no one that the trading value of Treasuries is falling. However, regardless of the trading value, every Treasury is always going to return the X% interest stipulated in the bond issuance certificate.
In contrast: Foreign CBs hold Treasuries in order to enable liquidity for trade involving these foreign currencies. The Treasuries hopefully offset inflation via purchasing power devaluation, but that PP losses are just the price of doing business.
In this context: it is highly unlikely that the PBoC is going to significantly reduce its US Treasury stash given the $355 billion extra US dollars China received in trade surplus vs. the US in 2021.
For the Saudis, it is a different equation. I have repeatedly asserted that the petrodollar standard exists as part of a deal for protection vs Iran/suppression of Iran exchange. With JCPOA, this exchange looks far less reliable – and if there is no petrodollar standard, there is far less reason for the Saudis to hold a lot of dollars.

Posted by: c1ue | Apr 1 2022 11:37 utc | 64

I read somewhere recently that both China and Saudi Arabia are talking together about reducing their mass of Treasuries……Its Show Time!
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 1 2022 5:40 utc | 64
I want to say that it seems very unlikely to me that the distribution of returns on treasuries follows a normal distribution.
My one acquaintance with treasuries was a bond fund, which was much more volatile that I was lead to believe.
—
However, yes, I agree, it is finally showtime. What is it, about 50 years since Vietnam? Fuckers just do not learn.
Anyway, I think we can all (those of us who wish to) congratulate ourselves for living long enough to witness this.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 1 2022 12:29 utc | 66

Below is a quote from a Xinhuanet posting about Xi’s talk with the EU folks that goes beyond the politically correct words coming from Xi

Some major countries, however, in pursuit of hegemony and their own interests, have
stirred up troubles in the world, only to complicate security issues, which, due to the interwoven past and reality, ideologies and interests, are already intricate and hard to address.
They smear other countries, hype up groundless fear, forge cliques, and politicize economic and technological issues … in every effort to poison the atmosphere of international relations, deteriorate tensions and conflicts, hazard the global development.
They weaponize globalization and wage proxy conflicts and wars in the name of seeking “absolute security,” subjecting civilians in small countries to the cost of geopolitical confrontations, while standing by and making a fortune in war … in order to incite separation and confrontations, which has undermined world peace.
In many countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba, people have been accusing the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization of ruining their work and normal life and violating their human rights and freedom, which showcases how evil hegemony falls to be.
One cannot live in the 21st century with the outdated thinking of Cold War and zero-sum games, Xi said on May 21, 2014, when delivering a keynote speech at the fourth summit of the CICA in Shanghai.
Through adhering to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, as well as dialogue and negotiations based on equality and respect, crises and disputes can be resolved step by step.

I wonder if we will get to see what might happen if empire pushes China/Taiwan like it is pushing Russia/Ukraine/NATO?
Just like don’t poke the bear we may be writing about don’t wake the dragon….I hope not and see the China/Russia strategy as Good Cop/Bad Cop working well for now.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 2 2022 6:13 utc | 68

Interesting article. The name barkley rosser is familiar : the homonymous father of the author was director of the army research center in madison

Posted by: Platero | Apr 2 2022 13:01 utc | 70

Canadian journalist who reports on military issues, David Pugliese retweeted this really funny TikTok video
https://twitter.com/peggy_blair/status/1510044773469536260
Not to take this out of context. But you don’t suppose.

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Apr 3 2022 8:13 utc | 72