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February 19, 2023
The MoA Week In Review – (Not Ukraine) OT 2023-40

Last week's post on Moon of Alabama:

> Near space is liminal space, a stratospheric netherworld where no international law applies and no military force holds dominance, where hypersonic missiles and space planes fly and surveillance balloons drift without being picked up by radars. <

—
Other issues:

Nord Stream:

Use as open (not Ukraine related) thread …

Posted by b on February 19, 2023 at 13:20 UTC | Permalink
Comments

And a catastrophic chemical spill/fire in Ohio and barely a mention.

Posted by: jpc | Feb 19 2023 13:23 utc | 1

No comments on the newly elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania being hospitalized for depression and “lightheaded ness.” How the people of PA could ever have voted for this person is beyond me. They’re not even two months into the Senator’s first term and he has missed numerous committee votes, etc.
Meanwhile, more daily mass shootings nationwide, coast-to-coast, day and night.
But what about all those weather balloons?

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Feb 19 2023 13:41 utc | 2

Pepe Escobar on Iranian President Raisi’s visit to Beijing:
https://globalsouth.co/2023/02/18/raisi-in-beijing/

Posted by: West of England Andy | Feb 19 2023 13:53 utc | 3

The Guardian reports that Blinken and Yi had a sidelines talk.

China may be on brink of supplying arms to Russia, says Blinken
US secretary of state meets with top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, and warns of ‘serious problem for us’ if Beijing supplies weaponry to Vladimir Putin

Blinken is still leaning into the serious problem.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 19 2023 13:58 utc | 4

The Simplicius sitrep contains references to interesting claims that there are new RF drone types flying much deeper into Ukraine.

There are claims that in the past couple of weeks, Russian jets have already been doing this, as well as “new types of drones.” Not only have a few interesting videos turned up—one of them showing a Russian Su-24M flying over Kherson at an altitude high enough to suggest it had zero fear of AD (i.e. 3000-5000ft rather than the usual 100-300ft), but also a few days ago the AFU complained that some sort of new ‘long range’ and ‘high altitude’ set of drones were flying deep over their territory in the following route ….
They said they flew at upwards of 18,000 – 20,000ft which is extremely high for most of the types of drones in this conflict. This coincided with a large Russian loitering drone strike only days later which was carried out by some “new type” of drone with a notably different sonic pattern than the famous Shahed/Geran/Dorito ‘lawnmower’ noise. These drones had a much ‘deeper’ motor sound suggestive of perhaps a larger or more powerful drone. ….

The discussion of a possible switch to RF flying manned aircraft higher and deeper into Ukraine is worth reviewing but, regardless of how degraded Ukraine’s AD capacity appears, it will always be in NATO’s interest to keep a full launcher or two of AD missiles hidden in places like Kiev, for the sole purpose of engaging RF manned aircraft.
AD systems can stay silent and rely on NATO cross-border surveillance to identify aircraft targets, then switch on only for the duration of the fire-engagement. No realistic way RF can be sure to exclude these hidden systems so I would suggest that the risk to RF manned aircraft around places like Kiev is likely to be very high, not just the price of doing business.

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 19 2023 14:08 utc | 5

“by: anon2020 | Feb 19 2023 14:08 utc | 5”
Interesting information, but: Which two countries did you name in your first sentence? Which “open thread” would fit?

Posted by: Dalit | Feb 19 2023 14:20 utc | 6

Must be nice to be a Lockheed stockholder right now. The more we lose the fight for mom and freedom, the richer we get.

Posted by: Rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 14:32 utc | 7

The removal of the Israeli ‘delegates’ at the Africa Union meeting is telling.
They are after all not Africa are they? The nasty bombing of Syria whilst still in earthquake trauma may have something to do with that.
Along with Manny Macaroon having to flip flop, and other such clowns like Bozo claiming the ‘war’ as ‘ours’ not the bs unidimensional Ukrainians, whose clown sieg hailing elensky, has declared as being the the ‘David’ against the Russian Goliath! All whilst full Tonto Wallace blathers that Russia is 90% committed in the few new provinces…
Like untied shoelaces the Narratives of the Circus Clowns keep tripping themselves over – it is funny, slapstick, vaudevillian even ! Whilst the Circus Master gets his head chomped off by the rising mighty beasts of the Jungle they thought they controlled.
Gramsci’s words daily more prophetic as we watch the dead empire walk it’s final troupe of infamy – to disappear forever and free humanity from our racist , fascist, elitist, money worshipers.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 19 2023 14:54 utc | 8

Peru
This is a long, detailed account of what’s going on in Peru, including some history and a bit of insight into Castillo’s administration. Most of the focus, however, is on the mass mobilization. Here are a few of the points made by Clau O’Brien, a Peru-American, interviewed by Jesus Rodriguez, editor of Venezuela’s Orinoco Tribune and a veteran Chavista.
*75% of Peruvians are against the coup regime.
*The resistance is massive and not showing signs of backing down. White rich who control the country are surprised: they thought people were dis-satisfied with Castillo and would allow the coup to take hold. People were unhappy with Castillo’s pandering to the right but their issues are much deeper and structural.
*Repression is bad. O’Brien says she was beat up, soldiers are aiming for the head and upper body, shooting to kill, especially in the south where the peons live and resistance is paralyzing commerce.
*Countries that have shown most support and condemnation of the coup: Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia. Lula has not stepped up as much. Boric is not trusted. Colombia wasn’t mentioned but I think they are good– Petro has surprised many with his actions and courageous positions.
*Lots of retired cops contracting as agent provocoteurs, trying to infiltrate marches, starting fires. They are usually identified quickly but infiltration into organizing groups is big and a problem.
*Total U.S. involvement, ambassador (CIA) Lisa Kenna is running around like crazy, Centcom general Laura Richardson is lusting after the lithium, she wants it bad. (I think she’s lusting after the wrong thing.)
Bottom line, Peru is deadlocked. Peons are standing up and say they will prevail over time. I think they will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13mt0JrUGM

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 19 2023 14:58 utc | 9

“Dont fly your balloons OR your planes OR your missiles beyond the range of The US Disney Star Wars MCU defensive systems.” Latest warning from USDOS.
Maybe stick to what you know, missile command? Like, tracking Santa Claus?

Posted by: Rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 15:07 utc | 10

@anon2020 | Feb 19 2023 14:08 utc | 5
some sort of new ‘long range’ and ‘high altitude’ set of drones were flying deep over their territory in the following route ….
Finally, finally finally they’re getting away from manned aircraft which makes the fly-boys unhappy but so what.
from the files:
The first functioning unmanned aerial vehicle was developed in 1918 as a secret project supervised by Orville Wright and Charles F. Kettering. Kettering was an electrical engineer and founder of the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, known as Delco, which pioneered electric ignition systems for automobiles and was soon bought out by General Motors. At GM, Kettering continued to invent and develop improvements to the automobile, as well as portable lighting systems, refrigeration coolants, and he even experimented with harnessing solar energy. When the U.S. entered World War I, his engineering prowess was applied to the war effort and, under Kettering’s direction, the government developed the world’s first “self-flying aerial torpedo,” which eventually came to be known as the “Kettering Bug”. . .here
news article Aug 7, 1946
The historic flight of two unmanned B-17 drones from Hilo, Hawaii to Muroc air base, Calif. today was termed the forerunner of accurate long range guided missiles with atomic warheads. . . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 19 2023 15:21 utc | 11

Thanks for another Week in Review – appreciate your prolific output of late! The first section of three articles on the buildup to war in Ukraine really contains some noteworthy bits, in my opinion.
Who’s “we”? And who is “our”?
From Hersh: “ “It was suicidal to think you can win that war, that Ukraine can win the war [against Russia]. There’s just too much corruption. That was a very, very bad decision. We should have been pushing for peace, we should have made an agreement,” the former Pulitzer Prize winner insisted.”
From FP: “The mobilization of additional troops may have been shambolic by our standards, but Russia has been able to keep large forces in the field despite enormous losses and without jeopardizing Putin’s hold on power. That could change, of course, but so far, he’s been proved right on this issue, too.”
Also from FP – using think-tank reasoning to explain away facts on the ground (Canada-Sweden et al)
[Putin] “He has an advantage not because Western leaders are weak, pusillanimous, or craven, but because the political alignment of a large country right next door to Russia was always bound to matter more to Moscow than it was going to matter to people farther away, and especially to individuals living in a wealthy and secure country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.”
And finally, the report from RT – no solidarity between UK, Germany and France! They each have a unique stance on Ukraine. What kind of a united front is that? How does Europe go to full-continental war like that?? Not to mention China insisting on being part of the discussions.

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Feb 19 2023 15:35 utc | 12

Posted by: thecelticwithinme | Feb 19 2023 13:41 utc | 2
I was exposed to Fetermann ads, he was marketed as “one of us”, “normal person”, I did not pay too much attention. However, to many normal people, participation in activities like committee hearings in Washington D.C. would be a mental torture. Hours of listening to lies, nonsense, posturing, with scant possibilities to inject some reason, especially if you are new there. Not allowed to sleep or walk out when exposed to repetitive nonsense. Nevertheless, candidate selection should take it into account.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 19 2023 15:48 utc | 13

@too scents | Feb 19 2023 13:58 utc | 4
US secretary of state meets with top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, and warns of ‘serious problem for us’. . .and. . .blah blah
Giving orders to China is so. . .yesterday. . .As if China is still burdened with the “Century of humiliation” — a term used in China to describe the period of intervention and subjugation of the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China by Western powers and Japan from 1839 to 1949.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 19 2023 15:59 utc | 14

I have listened to and/or read all of the interviews with Hersh. He does not want to discuss the article itself, or to contextualize it whatsoever. He is evasive and refuses to stay on topic. John Helmer things Hersh is caught up in a operation to force Biden out prior to the next election.

Posted by: BD | Feb 19 2023 16:38 utc | 15

Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 19 2023 15:21 utc | 10
Cool references!

Posted by: anon2020 | Feb 19 2023 16:47 utc | 16

Giving orders to China is so. . .yesterday. . .
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 19 2023 15:59 utc | 13
—
Unfortunately for the United States attacking China is institutionalized. They have been been doing it continuously since the Kuomintang lost the Chinese Civil War.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formosa_Resolution_of_1955

Posted by: too scents | Feb 19 2023 16:55 utc | 17

Vladimir Putin became objectionable to the corrupt oligarchic clans of USA and EU because, due to the internal economic situation, he was forced to break production sharing agreements at the beginning of 2000. According to which, American and European oligarchic clans received trillions of dollars from the predatory exploitation of Russia’s natural resources without paying a penny of taxes to the budget of Russia.
Therefore, all of talks about Russia on the part of ‹ progressive humanity › ended with a statement of the fact that the true mercantile motives that Western elites are guided by have nothing to do with publicly declared interests, just like this was last time. The motive is still the same : Returning Russia to the role of a raw material appendage on external control with an economically enslaved population used in unskilled, low-paid harmful industries and as cannon fodder for the war against Beijing.

Posted by: Maleficent Quail | Feb 19 2023 17:21 utc | 18

@too scents | Feb 19 2023 13:58 utc | 4
US secretary of state meets with top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, and warns of ‘serious problem for us’. . .and. . .blah blah
Giving orders to China is so. . .yesterday. . .As if China is still burdened with the “Century of humiliation” — a term used in China to describe the period of intervention and subjugation of the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China by Western powers and Japan from 1839 to 1949.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 19 2023 15:59 utc | 13
I’d imagine that “century of humiliation” observation informs much of Chinese foreign policy.
And Blinken you have to wonder is he aware that his approach is a red flag to the dragon?
The rules of the game are a changing Blinky, but it seems that you want to ignore that.
That’s hubris for you!

Posted by: jpc | Feb 19 2023 17:29 utc | 19

Vladimir Putin is a gnome with too many complexes, a man who referred his daughters as « those women » while speaking of family values, who said « IT DROWNED » with grin about the submarine disaster in 2000, who was peacefully having a rest on a vacation during the apartment bombings. He’s a chief of corrupt oligarchical government, who would be afraid even to say the name of Alexei Navalny. On the sly, he made so many amendments in laws – So, Russia got extremely centralized and its cities got poor – Except for Moscow, of course. He did nothing good to people – Only talks of LGBT, spiritual values, NATO, American hegemony, neo-nazis in Ukraine. He’s a blackmailer, a lair, an idiot, who fucked all of the relations with other civilized world off and left Russia with North Korea and Zimbabwe as allies, who got Russia from the progressive, respectable, rich state to an aggressive gas station. He’s a sick bunker old man, a lunatic, who got too far from the reality with his folders and started stupid, bloody war for Russkiy Mir. All of good things that were in Russia were not through but in spite of him. He got Russia to an endless mess.

Posted by: Sarreduenum | Feb 19 2023 17:40 utc | 20

It just struck me that Taiwan is completely and utterly a creation of the United States of America.
It’s existence results solely from the intervention of the US in the Chinese Civil War.
Without this intervention, Taiwan would simply not exist today.
Therefore arguments about it’s “right to exist” are meaningless, since it’s sole purpose is to serve as a proxy against the Chinese Government for the United States.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 19 2023 18:08 utc | 21

I posted this on the old Ukraine thread… my apologies
Peru
This is a long, detailed account of what’s going on in Peru, including some history and a bit of insight into Castillo’s administration. Most of the focus, however, is on the mass mobilization. Here are a few of the points made by Clau O’Brien, a Peru-American, interviewed by Jesus Rodriguez, editor of Venezuela’s Orinoco Tribune and a veteran Chavista.
*75% of Peruvians are against the coup regime.
*The resistance is massive and not showing signs of backing down. White rich who control the country are surprised: they thought people were dis-satisfied with Castillo and would allow the coup to take hold. People were unhappy with Castillo’s pandering to the right but their issues are much deeper and structural.
*Repression is bad. O’Brien says she was beat up, soldiers are aiming for the head and upper body, shooting to kill, especially in the south where the peons live and resistance is paralyzing commerce.
*Countries that have shown most support and condemnation of the coup: Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia. Lula has not stepped up as much. Boric is not trusted. Colombia wasn’t mentioned but I think they are good– Petro has surprised many with his actions and courageous positions.
*Lots of retired cops contracting as agent provocoteurs, trying to infiltrate marches, starting fires. They are usually identified quickly but infiltration into organizing groups is big and a problem.
*Total U.S. involvement, ambassador (CIA) Lisa Kenna is running around like crazy, Centcom general Laura Richardson is lusting after the lithium, she wants it bad. (I think she’s lusting after the wrong thing.)
Bottom line, Peru is deadlocked. Peons are standing up and say they will prevail over time. I think they will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13mt0JrUGM

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 19 2023 18:09 utc | 22

“War is needed because the enemy is not an ally. If not defeated, they will target the entire world. No tribe will be safe. Anyone who is anti-war is by definition not an ally, they are poisonous people out to make you feel unsafe, out to harm you. Support your local pro-war politician and corporate leader/ally/hero.
The new version of the “progressive left” has been cultivated over a number of years by the careful doling out of money and positions in the NGO and corporate world. How was the transformation from being political progressives into identity progressives achieved? The leading activist organizations of the traditional left who were focused on worker’s rights, anti-war activism, and human rights in general — were seeing what and who was being funded by the big donors and foundations — and so were coerced to learn the new language and agendas of the identity based “progressive” activism.” From The New Progressive World Order

Posted by: kana | Feb 19 2023 18:11 utc | 23

Posted by: Sarreduenum | Feb 19 2023 17:40 utc | 19

Vladimir Putin is a gnome with too many complexes, a man who referred his daughters as « those women » while speaking of family value

Well, at least he didn’t shower with them or spend much time sniffing little girl’s hair in public like some other world leaders we know …

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 19 2023 18:12 utc | 24

@too scents #4;
@Don Bacon #13:
Blinken didn’t write that line. It’s the MSM. Target audience is the western masses. This is the kind of spins the MSM has been using for decades that brainwashed the western masses. It projects the west in the desired “Me Tarzan” image. The masses love this kind of talk.
I suspect the script has been read by Blinken or his subordinates for approval before publications though. The western press/media is worse than what Xinhua/Pravda used to be back in the 60’s.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 19 2023 18:30 utc | 25

thanks b… i would also like to thank you for the ‘buildup to war in ukraine’ articles as @ Bruised Northerner | Feb 19 2023 15:35 utc | 11 has…. thanks bn for those quotes and etc. too..
@ Arch Bungle | Feb 19 2023 18:08 utc | 20
i kind of see it the same way arch… i was wondering what would happen if i started the political vip (p for party) here on vancouver island and asked for special recognition from the usa, lol… in so far as it served the usa’s agenda, they would be totally on side with it! screw the mainland bunch headquartered in ottawa – freeland and trudeau especially… no more pc bullshit for those in the vip.. that will be my platform.. it needs work, lol..
@ Rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 14:32 utc | 7 // 9 – thanks for the humour which is mixed in well with the truth..

Posted by: james | Feb 19 2023 18:30 utc | 26

Vladimir Putin was extremely lucky : A simple nobody who was oftenly in the right place in the right time and, thus, managed to climb. Especially as the economical problems of post-cold war decade finally ended and the rising oil prices in the aughts brought money to the country. ‘Well-fed aughts’ are often attributed to Vladimir Putin by shallow people but any other leader in these circumstances would’ve done as well and, likely, even better. He got lucky with Crimea, too. Now, this looks like his luck is ending.
Vladimir Putin could’ve become the best leader ever if only he used the incredible opportunities he had to improve and develop Russia. Instead, he used those for himself and his friends, building a dictatorship to protect himself.

Posted by: Rumbleblowing | Feb 19 2023 19:21 utc | 27

Google has been ordering me to celebrate Black History Month by watching videos on youtube.
so here’s “war ina babylon” by lee scratch perry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePe3ZRlWyiI
who’s taking the children away? hundreds of thousands missing in the US, we cannot know how many because Texas and co don’t count them. oh, and b/c of all the lying bullshit about the coronavirus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL_DBNkkcSE

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 19:35 utc | 28

if people don’t know who the enemy is, they are already dead.
from today’s Seattle Times, just one excerpt that says it all,

“Missing” students received crisis-level attention in 2020 after the pandemic closed schools nationwide. In the years since, they have become largely a budgeting problem. School leaders and some state officials worried aloud about the fiscal challenges their districts faced if these students didn’t come back. Each student represents money from the city, state and federal governments.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 19:41 utc | 29

The US, which is occupying 30% of Syria and stealing their oil and wheat, refuses to lift sanctions on Syria, even after the earthquake.
They are also blocking private citizens from donating through PayPal or GoFundMe.
They are pure evil.
Kevork Almassian is interviewed on Redacted. He has come up with a way to circumvent the blockade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uFDDoFS9Dc&t=904s

Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 19 2023 19:44 utc | 30

walt should stick to “israel” issues. that article is dumbfuckery from the first sentence. maybe he didn’t get the memo on the “10,000 dead russians in a week” hoax (that i didn’t even hear about until chappelle mentioned it and clowned himself.)
as for #26: vp is running a country that’s successfully digging its way out of a deep, dark hole the west threw it in for a decade or so. i’m not a fan of the guy for many actual reasons but an internet rando calling him a “lucky nobody” is laughable. of course i’ll be glad to retract that statement should future historians bless us with the collected wisdom of such luminaries as blinken and trudeau and “rumbleblowing”.

Posted by: the pair | Feb 19 2023 19:47 utc | 31

respect your elders, kids! without such order, there is nothing but the universal wolf.
ULYSSES
Troy, yet upon his basis, had been down,
And the great Hector’s sword had lack’d a master,
But for these instances.
The specialty of rule hath been neglected:
And, look, how many Grecian tents do stand
Hollow upon this plain, so many hollow factions.
When that the general is not like the hive
To whom the foragers shall all repair,
What honey is expected? Degree being vizarded,
The unworthiest shows as fairly in the mask.
The heavens themselves, the planets and this centre
Observe degree, priority and place,
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
Office and custom, in all line of order;
And therefore is the glorious planet Sol
In noble eminence enthroned and sphered
Amidst the other; whose medicinable eye
Corrects the ill aspects of planets evil,
And posts, like the commandment of a king,
Sans cheque to good and bad: but when the planets
In evil mixture to disorder wander,
What plagues and what portents! what mutiny!
What raging of the sea! shaking of earth!
Commotion in the winds! frights, changes, horrors,
Divert and crack, rend and deracinate
The unity and married calm of states
Quite from their fixure! O, when degree is shaked,
Which is the ladder to all high designs,
Then enterprise is sick! How could communities,
Degrees in schools and brotherhoods in cities,
Peaceful commerce from dividable shores,
The primogenitive and due of birth,
Prerogative of age, crowns, sceptres, laurels,
But by degree, stand in authentic place?
Take but degree away, untune that string,
And, hark, what discord follows! each thing meets
In mere oppugnancy: the bounded waters
Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores
And make a sop of all this solid globe:
Strength should be lord of imbecility,
And the rude son should strike his father dead:
Force should be right; or rather, right and wrong,
Between whose endless jar justice resides,
Should lose their names, and so should justice too.
Then every thing includes itself in power,
Power into will, will into appetite;
And appetite, an universal wolf,
So doubly seconded with will and power,
Must make perforce an universal prey,
And last eat up himself. Great Agamemnon,
This chaos, when degree is suffocate,
Follows the choking.
And this neglection of degree it is
That by a pace goes backward, with a purpose
It hath to climb. The general’s disdain’d
By him one step below, he by the next,
That next by him beneath; so every step,
Exampled by the first pace that is sick
Of his superior, grows to an envious fever
Of pale and bloodless emulation:
And ’tis this fever that keeps Troy on foot,
Not her own sinews. To end a tale of length,
Troy in our weakness stands, not in her strength.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 19 2023 19:57 utc | 32

IN-DEPTH: Chinese-Russian History with Mark Sleboda & Carl Zha (152 minutes)
https://youtu.be/watch?v=hpNzv4zwzes

Historian and podcaster Carl Zha and international relations and security expert Mark Sleboda join the New Atlas again, this time to talk about Russian-Chinese history and whether or not there is any historical basis for the West’s current desire to see a new “Sino-Soviet” split.

Posted by: Browser | Feb 19 2023 20:04 utc | 33

Vladimir Putin is no more regarded as a president like Joe Biden or Emmanuel Macron – He became a symbol of the era, a culture hero, meme and all. That’s why opinions are either highly supportive or strongly negative. This couldn’t be otherwise, given that he has been ruling Russia since 1999. The question is what is the real ratio of supporters and haters ?

Posted by: Ankhu | Feb 19 2023 20:06 utc | 34

Readouts from the meeting between Blinken and Yi that took place on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
China:
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/202302/t20230219_11027199.html

At the request of the US side, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi had an informal conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
Wang Yi set forth China’s strong position on the so-called “balloon incident” and pointed out that what the US side has done was apparently an abuse of the use of force and violation of customary international practice and the International Civil Aviation Covenant. China deplores it and strongly protests it. It is the US who is in fact the number one country in terms of surveillance, whose high-altitude balloons illegally flew over China multiple times. The US is in no position to smear China. What the US needs to do is demonstrate sincerity, and acknowledge and resolve the damage its abuse of force has done to China-US relations. If the US side continues to fuss over, dramatize and escalate the unintended and isolated incident, it should not expect the Chinese side to flinch. The US side should be prepared to bear all consequence arising from an escalation.
Wang Yi stressed that on the Ukraine issue, China stands by principles. China is committed to promoting peace talks and has played a constructive role. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is built on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third countries, which is within the sovereign right of any two independent states. We do not accept the US’s finger-pointing or even coercion targeting China-Russia relations. The US, as a major country, has every reason to work for a political settlement of the crisis instead of fanning the flames or profiting from it.
Wang Yi pointed out that to preserve stability across the Taiwan Strait, one must firmly oppose “Taiwan independence” and uphold the one-China principle. On the Taiwan question, the US side should respect historical facts, honor its political commitments and follow through on its statement of “not supporting Taiwan independence”.

USA:
https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-meeting-with-peoples-republic-of-china-prc-director-of-the-ccp-central-foreign-affairs-office-wang-yi/

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and PRC State Councilor and Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference on February 18, 2023.
The Secretary directly spoke to the unacceptable violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law by the PRC high-altitude surveillance balloon in U.S. territorial airspace, underscoring that this irresponsible act must never again occur. The Secretary made clear the United States will not stand for any violation of our sovereignty, and that the PRC’s high altitude surveillance balloon program — which has intruded into the air space of over 40 countries across 5 continents —has been exposed to the world.
On Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, the Secretary warned about the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion. The Secretary condemned today’s ICBM test by the DPRK as the latest destabilizing act carried out by Pyongyang, and emphasized the need for responsible powers to respond to such significant international challenges. The Secretary reaffirmed there had been no change to the longstanding U.S. one China policy, and he underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The Secretary reiterated President Biden’s statements that the United States will compete and will unapologetically stand up for our values and interests, but that we do not want conflict with the PRC and are not looking for a new Cold War. The Secretary underscored the importance of maintaining diplomatic dialogue and open lines of communication at all times.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 19 2023 20:30 utc | 35

Wang Yi characterized the balloon lunacy of the USA in three narratives: Abuse of military might; hysterical overreaction; clumsy hypes and propaganda. I think he summed it up very concisely. It also hints that China does not consider the matter settled. The Empire needs to do more before China would look past this shenanigan.
Meanwhile he is in Moskow for a formal visit. Some policy level details will likely be discussed and formalized going forward with respect to the SMO.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Feb 19 2023 20:43 utc | 36

Grasshopper: Master, what is the meaning of life?
Master: Give away ALL of your worldly possessions and you shall have your answer in short order.
Marwa Osman is livid!

Posted by: john | Feb 19 2023 20:51 utc | 37

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 19 2023 18:09 utc | 21
Lula is becoming Biden smh

Posted by: Colin | Feb 19 2023 21:02 utc | 38

Posted by: Rumbleblowing | Feb 19 2023 19:21 utc | 26
His problem is that he is too protective of foreign and native oligarchs, rather than being too authoritarian and excluding them, as many in the media imply.
Russia still seriously lacks serious mobilization of its economy, and a WWII-level mobilization would sweep across Ukraine.

Posted by: Colin | Feb 19 2023 21:05 utc | 39

It might look a bit like the foam on top of your coffee, but I think it’s the Greatest Show on Earth: 2023’s Arctic sea-ice maximum (the past three weeks awesomely animated by Alfred Wegener Institute):
https://forum.arctic-sea-ice.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3863.0;attach=365368;image
Spots of interest:
The Arctic’s only two exporters of sea-ice, on either side of Greenland, the narrow Nares (sometimes called the “Garlic Press”) and the big fat Fram. Looka the ice shoot outta there!
The “megacrack” sometimes opening up north of Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Scarce “fast ice” holds fast to northern coasts anymore.
Jiggling turbulence all over the shattered Beaufort Sea icepack (north of Alaska, left of the screen), immense cracks propagating eastward out of a developing anticyclone.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Feb 19 2023 21:24 utc | 40

Colin @37–
Lula is in a very precarious position sitting atop the pointy tips of the picket fence he’s perched upon. He hasn’t been in office two months yet, but people are already drawing conclusions–er unsubstantiated opinions like the one published recently comparing him with Montezuma.
Oriental Voice @35–
There are many unsettled matters between China and the Outlaw US Empire that won’t be solved until the Empire ceases seeing China as an existential threat, which is unfortunately how its doctrine treats all nations.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 19 2023 21:49 utc | 41

hey it is ”pick up putin” day with the usual troll like changing name circus at work, lol.. detach from reality much??

Posted by: james | Feb 19 2023 21:53 utc | 42

this quote from seymour hersh in the link b provided ‘how to blow up a pipeline’ sums up more of the circus…
“And more recently we’ve heard that he’s on steroids, that he has leprosy, that he has various kinds of cancer. You know, just crazy stuff.” keep it up… you too can get a gig at a leading western msm outlet!!

Posted by: james | Feb 19 2023 22:02 utc | 43

The Grayzone – LINCOLN MEMORIAL – Live:
Rage Against The War Machine

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Feb 19 2023 22:04 utc | 44

What happened with Germany? Bach, Abel, Telemann, Barnack’s Leica, Daimler Benz, the list could be endless, they almost took the whole world if not for the Soviets, and now we have a school girl that just confirms the absolute decadence of the west and its main feature, failing upwards. The girl wants to become the next Kanzlerin, and she might make it¡¡ We need to change, a turn of 360º.

Posted by: Paco | Feb 19 2023 22:12 utc | 45

@too scents #4
Chinese surnames go first. So it’s Wang instead of Yi.

Posted by: cindy6 | Feb 19 2023 22:23 utc | 46

karlof1@40
The point that you make about Lula is important. Colin might not remember but the same thing is invariably said of people in his position- taking political power in countries in which the vested interests, including the imperialists, control a real deep state, including both military and police forces, the media and the judiciary.
Castillo’s fate (migueljose@21) is a constant reminder of the dangers facing men like Lula. Bolivia’s brief coup rule an indication off how the power of the military and the imperialists is negligible when compared with that of the People United.
What is currently being said about Lula was said of AMLO in Mexico for years- it took him considerable time to consolidate his position to the point that he can now act as a refuge and a resource for Latin Americans generally. He might have acted precipitately- as urged by many- and have entered the ranks of the martyred dead, alongside Salvador Allende and Che Guevara, years ago.
Imperialists have been suppressing popular movements in America for half a millennium. Since Cortez their instruments have included native Americans enrolled as police or soldiers.
If all that Lula manages is to improve the living standards of the poor, exert control over the planet killers at work in the Amazon and replace retiring military officers with honest soldiers loyal to their own country, he will have changed everything in the largest country in South America.
It hardly needs to be said but nothing is of greater political benefit either to the CIA or the fascists in Brazil than for the masses to be demoralised by rumours that Lula is a traitor or a puppet of Biden. Those who say that he is are, consciously or not, both themselves.

Posted by: bevin | Feb 19 2023 23:03 utc | 47

jpc @1: I’ve heard FEMA has been denying requests for assistance, apparently because the contamination is “within an acceptable ppm range,” or some other brazen bs. Yet another Palestine getting shafted.
I’ve been an admirer of Seymour Hersch for many years now, and I was wondering at the recent time when/if he’d look at the NS bombing; he had seemed to be keeping a low profile following the minor dust up over something he was supposed to have said about the Seth Rich affair. I was excited and gratified when he finally put something out. As usual, no domestic publishers would touch it and even (I guess) his usual foreign publishers wouldn’t take it.
There’s been some mild criticism of SH for “leaving stuff out” and for failing to hold the degenerates in the CIA to account; essentially relegating them to a “we’re just following orders” role. Though, as barflies have already noted, Hersch has said “we’re only on first base,” as far as what else he may turn up goes.
My own take is, he was probably given one of the final scenarios discussed, but not the exact one that was ultimately put into action; some one detail alone could have revealed the source, despite Hersch taking precautions of their identity. And as for going light on the CIA, I think he’s doing what any good reporter would do; keep access to a proven good source. At the same time, I’m sure Hersch is perfectly aware of the kind of crowd he’s dealing with; he may off-handedly refer to some as “friends,” but friendship can be abruptly changeable in that business and Hersch probably knows that. And let’s not forget Chuck Schumer’s one genuinely selfless act of public service when he reminded everyone that “…they have 10 ways to Sunday of getting back at you.”
Thanks for what you’re doing, b.

Posted by: robjira | Feb 19 2023 23:40 utc | 48

bevin @46–
Thanks for your reply with which I completely agree. I see RT has reported that the Empire has declared that any nation “provid[ing] lethal support to the Russians” will have crossed a Red Line:

Any nation providing lethal support to Moscow in its ongoing conflict with Kiev would cross Washington’s “red line,” the US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told CNN on Sunday. Earlier the same day, US State Secretary Antony Blinken directly warned a top Chinese diplomat, Wang Yi, against considering such an option….
“I made clear that that would have serious consequences in our relationship [with China],” the state secretary added.

China of course would have none of that crap:

On Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on the meeting between Blinken and Wang Yi. There, China called on the US to work toward a political settlement of the conflict in Ukraine instead of “fanning the flames” of this military standoff between Moscow and Kiev and “profiteering from the situation.”
China itself is “committed to promoting peace talks,” the statement said, adding that a strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing is a “sovereign right of … two independent states.” China would “not accept the US finger-pointing or even coercion targeting China-Russia relations,” the ministry warned.

Reminds me of Cold War brinksmanship. Crooke’s column today points to what’s generating such garbage, “Cognitive Misanalysis: Heightened risks for the Region”, for the Levant and beyond.
IMO, the threat to China is actually a threat to Iran which has provided lethal aid. IMO, some form of rebuttal will be made by Putin in his address on the 21st, which could take any number of forms.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 19 2023 23:54 utc | 49

Some good news: Occupied Palestine was denied access to the African Summit, “Israeli delegation removed from African summit”:

Israel was granted observer status at the African Union in 2021, although the decision was bitterly opposed by some members of the 55-country bloc, including South Africa and Algeria. The union responded by setting up a committee to re-evaluate Israel’s status, which is due to give its recommendations at this year’s summit.
A spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denied any responsibility, while an African Union spokesperson Ebba Kalondo told Reuters that the union was expecting Israel’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Aleli Admasu, instead of Bar-li.
Regardless, South Africa backed the decision to expel the diplomat. “It’s not about South Africa or Algeria, it’s an issue of principle,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson told Reuters. “Until the AU takes a decision on whether to grant Israel observer status, you cannot have the country sitting and observing.”

The delegation was fortunate they weren’t arrested for being accomplices in the bombing of the Damascus Airport.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 19 2023 23:59 utc | 50

Posted by: bevin | Feb 19 2023 23:03 utc | 46 & Karlof
totally agree.
Re: Lula… is he selling out? Putin was accused of the same in the oughts, giving in to the oligarchs, dancing with the predatory devils, blah blah blah. Same with AMLO. Every time he receives Biden, Kamala and other sociopaths and treats them with respect the Left says he’s compromised. These guys live in very dangerous neighborhoods and they know that you cannot confront the predators every day all the time or you will simply be taken out. Same thing in west side Chicago. Some are playing the long game and are emerging with a power base that is changing the world. Putin. definitely. Evo also. AMLO impresses me: Mexico has been a mess for a long time and the local narcos would make Capone back down. I know less about Lula but he has done time because Obama and Biden said so and has the scars to keep him from forgetting. Evo, same thing.
I think we need to consider that some leaders– AMLO, Lula, Correa, Evo, Petro, Xiomara Castro, might be trying to plot a course similar to Putin’s manuevers as they build their base and form their networks.
The other huge factor is “the street”… the people. Mexico– in spite of AMLO– is not as mobilized as Bolivia. Peru is getting there, surprising me with their commitment, courage and trajectory. Guatemala is showing signs. Honduras and Colombia are both surging. Bolivia is consolidating power. Meanwhile, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua are being recognized more for their decades of front line fighting against the Empire. They are emerging as role models as the Empire lays exposed, week, naked and ugly in Latin America.

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 20 2023 0:00 utc | 51

migueljose @50–
Thanks for your addition. IMO, people are understanding that to get where they want to go they must walk there together, and that in many nations the leaders will walk with them. Cuba, China, even Venezuela are models because they promote and practice People Centered Developemnt. They also see the ongoing resistance of Iran, Syria, Palestine, and Russia to the Empire, while many recall Russia as a friend. Another overlooked example is ASEAN in overcoming both Colonialism and the genocide waged by the Outlaw US Empire, and APEC is becoming a vehicle. Mexico had a big movement in the 1960s that culminated in 1968 prior to the Olympics. That was followed by the Zapatistas who are still in business. Further, there’s a sort of “coconut wireless” communication system that informs the masses. The Fascist legacy South of the Border is slowly being overcome, but still has much work to do. Brazil will be the hardest to bring fundamental change to and will require help from its fellows. Beginning a bancor type relationship with Argentina is just one small step that needs to be expanded to their neighbors as getting out from under the dollar boot is a fundamental requirement to gaining sovereignty. One thing is certain: The agitation cannot cease.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 20 2023 0:34 utc | 52

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/02/asking-the-oppressed-to-be-nonviolent-is-an-impossible-standard-that-ignores-history.html

Posted by: liveload | Feb 20 2023 0:54 utc | 53

Posted by: james | Feb 19 2023 22:02 utc | 42
sorry, i’ll try to remember to lick Putin’s balls more often.
there are profound multi-generational problems this world has. the constant fellating of Putin and Xi by some of the regulars around here is nothing but childish wish fulfillment and sheerest fantasy.

Posted by: rjb1.5 | Feb 20 2023 1:53 utc | 54

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 20 2023 0:00 utc | 50
There are two overlapping trends in criticizing leaders (and their movements) like Lula, AMLO etc. One is genuine longing for fast decisive change. The other is splinterism, concerted program to render the left powerless by splitting it into pieces, with many energies channeled into internal strife, with some pieces being outright NED creatures, tamed into Western narrative and useful in destroying alternatives to the rule of rapacious and selfish elites. Recent history of Ecuador, Peru and Brazil is a good example.
The remaining left inside The West is permeated by splinterism, with short lived successes against this trend. This is what West does on the home ground, and exports with some success.
In non-utopian and non-dictatorial countries, political parties are a necessity, and in Brazil they seem splintered. The political challenge to Lula is to put together (a) government today, with basis for reforms not degenerated by compromises and corrupt inputs (b) counterforce for the newly consolidated Right.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 20 2023 1:53 utc | 55

Alistair Crooke is good:
These Élite factions fear that a decisive Russian win in Ukraine might trigger financial market collapse​ — ​and worse​,​ risk US and NATO reputational collapse in the lead up to the expected ‘war with China’.
So suddenly, divide and conquer strategy brilliantly conquering Eurasia shows one fracture after another. Low cost and yet momentous victory over Russia would frighten China to docility, and embolden and cement wide anti-Chinese coalition with nice pieces like Philippines and a huge piece that is India. I am not sure if elites fear “financial market collapse”. Fear mongers are surely out there, and in USA, some strife between “Russia first” and “China first” trends — it is not like Russophobes have a soft spot for China and vice versa, but somewhat defeatist consensus emerged that you cannot squash both at the same time.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 20 2023 2:13 utc | 56

@28 rjb
In an ocean of bad news, rare tidbits of hopeful information like yours here can always be found. Take heart! The tide is turning.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 20 2023 2:28 utc | 57

rjb1.5@ 53
Your sex life is of no interest to anyone here.
It may not have occurred to you but one of the reasons that both Putin and Xi receive sympathetic treatment here is that in 99.9% of the media available to anglophones and europeans both are depicted as monsters with irrational and sinister ambitions.
My guess is that none of us is affected by your rather silly slanders, not least because we understand that-if either Putin or Xi had any power in the place where you live and work you would be currying favour from them.

Posted by: bevin | Feb 20 2023 2:28 utc | 58

@ rjb1.5 | Feb 20 2023 1:53 utc | 53
i wasn’t addressing you when i said that.. oh well… and ditto @ 57 bevins comment to you…

Posted by: james | Feb 20 2023 3:05 utc | 59

So, is this accurate:
https://www.sott.net/article/477465-Israel-bombs-Syria-while-Syrians-are-recovering-from-earthquake-tragedy
While Syria is making efforts to recover from an earthquake, and Turkey obviously suffered mostly, but nonetheless, while Syria is trying to recover from that, Israel decides so predictably, that now is a good time to attack again?
One must wonder and contemplate – is that place really the “Holy Land”?
Evidence suggest otherwise.

Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 20 2023 3:31 utc | 60

is that place really the “Holy Land”?
Evidence suggest otherwise.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 20 2023 3:31 utc | 59
The land may be “Holy”, the people, not so much.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 20 2023 3:55 utc | 61

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 20 2023 3:55 utc | 60
I’m just so sad sort of cause I’m tired of false flags and history repeating pathetically.
I think it is the “Holy Land” and I agree….a Holy Land should be a place treated with respect, but if those who reside there don’t understand that simple concept, then begs the question – why do they occupy a place they don’t belong evidently by virtue of how they treat others who reside there as well?
~
That is a serious question and a student of history is fair to wonder how this has become the case. Sadly, I suspect the flawed ideology of some is the root cause of this, but once an ideology is recognized as flawed in all ways, harmful and based upon deception and trickery, regardless as to the banking system, does it not suggest that it is time for new and better ideas not so harmful?
~
It does to me, but I’m just an effing peasant, so please ignore me, but I know what I think. I think the zionist ideology is a shame upon humanity and I want it to end. Again, please just ignore my peasant ass….but if you come to the Carolina Hills be prepared for defense stout.

Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 20 2023 4:04 utc | 62

# 61 the holy land resides inside your spirit. You are the holy land, if you believe it

Posted by: Dingo | Feb 20 2023 7:08 utc | 63

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 19 2023 21:49 utc | 40
His current base includes a large right-wing establishment (his running mate is Geraldo Alckmin, like Biden-Romney 2020 smh) and he constantly displays such typical Biden behavior on these key issues.
It’s like we could see what Biden would do before the reign even began.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/01/23/exum-j23.html
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/01/21/teha-j21.html
And
https://www.as-coa.org/articles/what-know-about-lulas-presidential-transition

He selected a moderate, business-friendly running mate in Geraldo Alckmin, and he has critiqued previous PT policies, such as fuel price controls. In interviews in both the domestic and international press, Lula promised he would practice fiscal discipline
What might legislators be looking for in exchange for concessions with Lula? One item could be the continuation of the “secret budget,” a measure that allows Congress to transfer funds to lawmakers for discretionary usage in their district.

The establishment left in Britain, Germany and Australia is also becoming Biden, i.e. alliance with the pro-business wing to fight the progressive economic agenda. Also, France has done that. Just see Macron.

Posted by: Colin | Feb 20 2023 7:26 utc | 64

@ cindy6 | Feb 19 2023 22:23 utc | 45
—
Thanks for the clarification.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 20 2023 7:47 utc | 65

New leader of Michigan Republican Party, a grassroots candidate, beat Trump-endorsed candidate DePerno who also had Trump campaign lawyer, Christina Bobb, working w. him on the convention floor–and he still lost. Ms. Karamo won 58-42% despite opponent DePerno having “nabbed the big name endorsements” such as Trump and My Pillow Exec. Mike Lindell.“ (per NY Times). Both of Michigan’s major parties (R, D) are now led by Black women. In 2022 GOP experienced historic losses in Michigan. For first time in 40 yrs both state houses are Dem. controlled. Democrats “flipped the state House and Senate, won three out of four contested congressional races, won all statewide education posts and retained their majority on the state Supreme Court.”
2/18/23, “Karamo to lead Michigan Republican Party, beating Trump-endorsed DePerno,” Detroit News…2/18/23, “Michigan G.O.P. Installs Kristina Karamo, an Election Denier, as Leader,“ NY Times, Neil Vigdor, Lansing…2/18/23, “Karamo beats DePerno in Michigan GOP chair race, moving the party further right,” MichiganAdvance.com…(PS. Trump will never be pres. again. He won in 2016 because he won Michigan, Pennsylvania, & Wisconsin. He’ll never win those states again. GOP has never liked those states because they have too many white people. In 2022 Trump’s selection for Pa.’s US Senator was so bad that voters instead chose Fetterman, currently in hospital for “depression.”)

Posted by: susan mullen | Feb 20 2023 9:28 utc | 66

# more catastrophic than the Ohio environmental disaster.

Posted by: Dingo | Feb 20 2023 9:51 utc | 67

Regarding migueljose on Feb 19 & 20 @ 21 & 50
Thank you for your contributions here Miguel. They are welcome and appreciated. Please continue when you have more.

Posted by: Quid Me Vexare | Feb 20 2023 12:57 utc | 68

It just struck me that Taiwan is completely and utterly a creation of the United States of America.
It’s existence results solely from the intervention of the US in the Chinese Civil War.
Without this intervention, Taiwan would simply not exist today.
Therefore arguments about it’s “right to exist” are meaningless, since it’s sole purpose is to serve as a proxy against the Chinese Government for the United States.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 19 2023 18:08 utc | 21
——————————————————————-
Spot on!
Take a look at the “Formosa Resolution of 1955” (link provided by too scents@17), UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and three Joint Communiques of Sino-USA on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations(中美建交公报), you’ll know the so-called “Taiwan issue” is 100% a creation by U$A and for U$A, a non-agreement capable perfidy.

Posted by: lulu | Feb 20 2023 14:25 utc | 69

migueljose @9
Thank you for sharing the information on the ground in Peru and South America! These days you just don’t get any true information from MSM at all.

Posted by: lulu | Feb 20 2023 14:31 utc | 70

b, you forgot to link Pepe Escobars follow up on the Hersh piece in the Nord Stream list. Doesn’t suit your narrative I guess. Sad…
https://strategic-culture.org/news/2023/02/14/nord-stream-terror-attack-the-plot-thickens/

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Feb 20 2023 15:16 utc | 71

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 19 2023 18:09 utc | 22 / 0:00 utc | 51
Thanks migueljose. I see you generated a few comments with your posts.
That’s hard to do in the Ukraine dominated threads but I think it’s good of
you to keep putting things out re Latin America. I’m sure many more than
me or others who commented are appreciative too. So yes, please keep on.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Feb 20 2023 15:33 utc | 72

@Jörgen Hassler 71
Wasn´t there since an Escobar item where he had sort of confirmed Hersh´s article?
Someone had mentioned it here a few days ago. It did not seem to bring up substantially new intel. Only a nod to SH.
I believe..

Posted by: AG | Feb 20 2023 15:35 utc | 73

@ lulu | Feb 20 2023 14:25 utc | 70
—
To really have your mind blown on the Taiwan issue read the ~650 page RAND report The 1958 Taiwan Crisis: A Documented History.

pg. 498
U.S. military officials on Taiwan took advantage of
the ceasefire to explore the supply situation on Quemoy
and to try to re-evaluate the situation while stabilizing
it. On October 6 a long-awaited Nike-Hercules missile
unit with nuclear warheads arrived on Taiwan. An
American military official was quoted as stating that
atomic warheads accompanied the missiles, …

https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_memoranda/2006/RM4900.pdf
Seventy years on and nothing has changed in US American thinking.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 20 2023 15:43 utc | 74

On the face of it, the stirrings in Hashemite Amman seem like a typical tale of palace rivalries a la Saudi Riyadh combined with `spontaneous’ annoyance by their subjects. But we all know which c-c-c-country is never one to let go to waste another good opportunity for “bringing Amerikkkan demokkkracy to the blighted A rabs [sic]” [sick].
Jackbooted USA involvement at Jordan’s northern reach has been and continues to be a festering sore for Damascus.Jordan has always struck me as a particularly juicy fruit for the USA mission of cultural wreckage, poised as it is between Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria, bordering Golan and with its major port city of Aqaba.

Posted by: petra | Feb 20 2023 15:46 utc | 75

Posted by: AG | Feb 20 2023 15:35 utc | 73
Well, yes. I mentioned it. It was slightly critical of Hersh, but I said not enough so. This is a new piece, a lot more critical. So I tip my hat to Escobar in respect.
And “did not seem to bring up substantially new intel” I think is a good description of the pieces b did link. But since he is an official member of the “Hersh our lord and savior”-cult (it´s the only time i´ve been slammed by b him self in the comments, and that for bringing up factual inconsistencies in some body elses writing). I´m not surprised by his collection. It´s called persception management. But it´s still sad.

Posted by: Jörgen Hassler | Feb 20 2023 16:05 utc | 76

From ZH

“We did notify the Russians that President Biden would be traveling to Kyiv. We did so some hours before his departure for deconfliction purposes,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told a press briefing.
Sullivan didn’t disclose what the immediate Moscow response was to the notification, but Sullivan stressed it was for security reasons. Of course, if during the time Biden was on the ground missiles had pummeled the capital, which though rare has happened on multiple occasions over the course of the one-year long war, this would have marked an act of war against the US from Washington’s perspective.
“This was a historic visit, unprecedented in modern times, to have the president United States visit the capital of the country of war, where the United States military does not control the critical infrastructure,” Sullivan said.

We are all Hollywood now

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 20 2023 16:14 utc | 77

https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/19/patrick-lawrence-munich-as-propaganda-fest/

I am reminded of that moment last year when Blinken, after formal talks in Moscow, pulled Sergei Lavrov into a private room at the Kremlin and asked Russia’s foreign minister if it was true Moscow’s plan was to reconstruct the Russian Empire. Lavrov stared, turned, and left the room—no reply, no handshake, no farewell, just an abrupt exit, a leaving behind.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Feb 20 2023 16:32 utc | 78

President Joe Biden is welcomed to Kyiv by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit on Monday morning. Biden announced a fresh $500 million in aid for Ukraine
Only 500 million?
Inside the meticulous planning of Biden’s trip into a warzone

Posted by: circumspect | Feb 20 2023 16:45 utc | 79

As expected and as I predicted, the ratcheting up of domestic pressure on those who will not come along with the elites’ centralizing agenda is taking shape.
This comes as Russia is about to lay the hammer down, presumably, and tip the scales in its favor. So, in lieu of having a full-spectrum dominance in the funny-money game which Russia will deny them through its commodity-based exchange, this leaves the elites in the west no other choice but to bet the house on Bolshevik-style centralization that will be anti-liberty, pro-racialist, climatist, and anti-Logos (anti-Christian).
Mike Whitney has an article about how they are doing this and it is no surprise that it will be through the youth, the midwit, technocratic urbanites, and its cherished, minority groups.
Word to the aging leftists here who think what passes for the left these days can be redirected to your old-style leftism: you better get with your gun-toting, conservative friends and fast. Otherwise, like those forlorn Slavs in Ukraine, you may find yourself in a trench soon with the BIPOC Rainbow Coalition, the Climatists for Indigenous Justice (CIJ), and Trans-Abortion Rights Advocates. IOW, you don’t wanna still be useful idiots for TPTB do you?

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 20 2023 18:13 utc | 80

Another big terramoto/earthquake in Turkey/Syria.

Posted by: Bemildred | Feb 20 2023 19:59 utc | 81

Word to the aging leftists here who think what passes for the left these days can be redirected to your old-style leftism: you better get with your gun-toting, conservative friends and fast.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 20 2023 18:13 utc | 80
Some logistic problems: from my “liberal oasis” I would need to bike ca. 30 minutes or more, and then… how to start a conversation?

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 20 2023 22:07 utc | 82

@NemesisCalling Watching these new AI bots emerge, it seems like they promise to make a lot of the mid and lower professional class, which leans mostly left, suddenly very downward mobile. Keep wondering how these mid-wits that always felt superior to their fellow countrymen who get their hands dirty will feel when they have to learn to produce something of physical value rather than get paid for their attitudes or their woke journalism.
Only question is, how they handle it. A lot of them, by their College revolutionary indoctrination, might just join antifa or create some new rage filled political movement. If millions of woke workers get displaced over 5 years, will they go quietly into that good night? I doubt it. Those poor blue collar workers displaced by automation over the last 40 years would complain, no one would listen, and they’d just go get drunk. Never torched cities, though.
This AI revolution in its early stages has huge political implications.

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 20 2023 22:33 utc | 83

@ Mark Lytle
Yes, it is imteresting. The MIC is the enforcing branch of the funny-money, central-Fed system. But there is also the academic industrial complex that is equally insidious in its promise of upward mobility ad infinitum so long as degrees are achieved. There is going to be both a huge uptick in lost jobs in the future to coincide with the let-down of having to enter into labor trades where their soft hands will have to become calloused in fire.
I am partially impressed with AI but also still view it as garbage-in, garbage-out.
Similarly to Diderot’s Encyclopedia, AI is nothing more than the total digitalization of information and given rendering codes.
I will say I am impressed that some software can shoot out oil-paintings that conjure The Lord of the Rings with ancient Chinese characters as Legolas, Aragorn, etc.. It is very fascinating. But what made Tolkien amazing was that he was first. AI by its nature can not be first. It can only parse existing databases. It is a technological feat, but it does not further or ground human beings in time the way real art does.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 20 2023 23:04 utc | 84

I highly suggest this excellent essay, by the “Director of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Drobinin, ‘The image of a multipolar world. The Civilizational Factor and Russia’s Place in the Emerging World Order,'” originally published in the Russia in Global Affairs Magazine on February 20, 2023. I’ve translated the text and made it available here. It opens thusly:

The ideological crisis in relations between Russia and the West, which moved into a hot phase with the beginning of a special military operation in February 2022, returned to the headlines of news and political science discussions the question of the future of the world order and the principles of international relations. Let’s try to look at this topic through the prism of foreign policy planning. First, here are a few introductory quotes.
Reflecting on the prospects for the development of international relations, in October 2022, at a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that a common future for all would require a dialogue between the West and “new centers of a multipolar world order”[1]. He specified that the basis of world civilization is “the traditional societies of the East, Latin America, Africa and Eurasia”[2]. Such a statement of the question provides a conceptual framework for the analysis of modern global processes.
What are we talking about? In fact, the head of state clearly outlined the civilizational aspect as a methodological basis for understanding, describing and constructing multipolarity. It should be added that the President has repeatedly addressed this approach, characterizing the current historical moment, the essence of which, according to him, is “the disappearance of the creative potential of the West itself and the desire to restrain, block the free development of other civilizations”[3].
Russian political scientists are also paying attention to the main trend outlined by President of Russia Vladimir Putin. Let’s listen, for example, to this opinion: “The global meaning of the struggle in Ukraine is the return to the non-West, and we propose to call it differently – the World Majority, which used to be suppressed and robbed, culturally humiliated – freedom, dignity and independence. And, of course, a fair share in the world’s wealth.”[4] Once again: the return to the non-Western world (“other civilizations” in the president’s logic) of a fair share in world wealth. In addition to the far-reaching anti-neocolonial agenda embedded in this phrase, we see an analytical opposition along the Line of the West and the World Majority.

And yes, the footnotes are live at both versions.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 20 2023 23:29 utc | 85

@NemesisCalling The first iterations of AI seem to be the most disrupting where accurate answers don’t matter much, as in art or poetry, or other subjective activities. But it is already a useful guide in programming, makes mistakes but also helps correct code or translate code from one computer language to another. The upshot is, sometimes it is easier and faster to correct a piece of mostly working code than to do it all from scratch. Many programmers are finding it speeds up code development, though it won’t replace coders directly. This still means you might need fewer programmers. Likewise, some in the legal field note that these bots argue very effectively and logically, not to say tenaciously, and that is striking. Educators are panicking because in many classes, they can be replaced with custom instruction from a bot. Seeing some of the blue haired high school teachers out there, I think they could be replaced pretty easily. You can go down the list of ‘equity’ hires, and in many cases, I don’t think their performance makes them immune from replacement. Although, I think above average abilities in your field keeps you fairly safe for now.
The use curve for ChatGPT is VERY fast. Current stats are that “ChatGPT site “received an average of 13 million unique visitors each day in January 2023, with traffic growing by roughly 3.4% per day.”
Once the novelty wears off, which might take a few months, the stat to watch is how much retention of traffic it shows, meaning people finding it useful rather than just a fad. My guess from what I’m seeing on Social media is that these are things that will be everywhere in a few years. People are, for now, intrigued with them once they’ve used them.

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 20 2023 23:34 utc | 86

Lots of activity for a Monday. China’s Foreign Ministry has published this paper in English, “US Hegemony and Its Perils”. Here’s its Introduction:

Since becoming the world’s most powerful country after the two world wars and the Cold War, the United States has acted more boldly to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, pursue, maintain and abuse hegemony, advance subversion and infiltration, and willfully wage wars, bringing harm to the international community.
The United States has developed a hegemonic playbook to stage “color revolutions,” instigate regional disputes, and even directly launch wars under the guise of promoting democracy, freedom and human rights. Clinging to the Cold War mentality, the United States has ramped up bloc politics and stoked conflict and confrontation. It has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export controls and forced unilateral sanctions upon others. It has taken a selective approach to international law and rules, utilizing or discarding them as it sees fit, and has sought to impose rules that serve its own interests in the name of upholding a “rules-based international order.”
This report, by presenting the relevant facts, seeks to expose the U.S. abuse of hegemony in the political, military, economic, financial, technological and cultural fields, and to draw greater international attention to the perils of the U.S. practices to world peace and stability and the well-being of all peoples.

I’m curious to see how this paper fares versus the one rumored to propose a Ukraine/Russia peace plan when the war is actually between the Outlaw US Empire and Russia.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 21 2023 0:20 utc | 87

@84 NemesisCalling | Feb 20 2023 23:04 utc – “AI by its nature can not be first.”
This is an excellent and crucial observation.
I’ve been using ChatGPT this month as an experiment to write some articles. On balance, I found it more work than it’s worth. Easier to assign a writer to write the article, then edit to suit, as always, rather than take what the little robot provides and try to expand it into something authentic.
ChatGPT, I find, is sometimes inaccurate, suspiciously reminiscent of other writings already published (i.e. plagiarist), and incomplete. It has to be fact-checked, in order to be reliable. That said, the caveat is that this little robot IS a Microsoft product. Other brands may do better. Meanwhile, it is a useful way to find out what the current, officially approved narrative is on any thing, at least in the Bing universe.
~~
If a thing has been previously published, and crawled into its database, the robot can spit it out. And it does write coherently, which is very useful. But in a brief string of queries, I found that it made outdated claims about things that have recently changed. I didn’t correct it – let it find out the hard way, same as the rest of us.
So I’m scooping the AI this month. And I suppose eventually it’ll catch up to what I published, and be up to date with what will then be in the past. And, rather like Russia’s hypersonics, by then we humans will have moved forward again.
~~
For the record, I’m not dismissing AI. I think that today it stands for Algorithmic Involvement rather than anything even close to intelligence. But all thinking has to start somewhere. When I see a robot blessed with a gift of wisdom, I’ll call it intelligent.
Also for the record, I’m not saying that can’t happen. I’m saying it’s not intelligent until it does happen. And then it can be first in something.

Posted by: Grieved | Feb 21 2023 1:47 utc | 88

how could anyone read an article that starts like this??
“A year ago, as Vladimir Putin launched his so-called “special military operation” to seize the Ukrainian capital, kill Volodymyr Zelenskyy and wipe much of the latter’s country from the map of Europe, who’d have imagined that the third week of February 2023 would begin with Joe Biden strolling around the streets of Kyiv in sunglasses? For that matter, who would have predicted that Mr Zelenskyy, only recently returned from his own trip to London, would be at his side — still the president of a free country, and still very much alive?”
that is as far as i got, lol… unherd.com…….. do they get direct funding from the usa/uk ngos, or what? the level of ignorance is off the charts..
for another laugh – their mission statement
“Mission Statement
As you may have guessed from our strange spelling, UnHerd aims to do two things: to push back against the herd mentality with new and bold thinking, and to provide a platform for otherwise unheard ideas, people and places.”

Posted by: james | Feb 21 2023 1:54 utc | 89

unherd.com – british bullshit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UnHerd
In July 2022, UnHerd reported that a Ukrainian government body set up to counter misinformation had compiled a list of politicians and intellectuals in multiple countries who they believed were promoting Russian propaganda, sparking coverage in publications including Newsweek and The Indian Express.[18][19] The list included senator Rand Paul, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, military and geopolitical analyst Edward Luttwak, realist political scientist John Mearsheimer, and journalist Glenn Greenwald, as well as the former chair of the Indian National Security Advisory Board.[20][21] The UnHerd report included responses from Luttwak, Mearsheimer, and Greenwald.[18][22]
trash site……….

Posted by: james | Feb 21 2023 1:59 utc | 90

@Grieved
Looks like Buzzfeed is using ChatGPT:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/buzzfeed-chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-personality-quiz/
I’m assuming they spent a little time beta testing before they took the leap.
————————————————————————————————————-
Peretti also said AI will assist workers to enhance their content. “To be clear, we see the breakthroughs in AI opening up a new era of creativity that will allow humans to harness creativity in new ways with endless opportunities and applications for good,” he said.
He noted that AI-created content will move from an “R&D stage to part of our core business” this year. It will be used to build quizzes, help staffers brainstorm and personalize content for BuzzFeed’s audience.
BuzzFeed also hopes the technology will energize its business. The media company has struggled to boost growth, with its stock down nearly 40% over the last year, even with Thursday’s large gain. In its latest quarter, BuzzFeed reported a net loss of $27 million on revenue of $104 million, although sales rose 15 from the year-ago period.

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 21 2023 2:28 utc | 91

@Grieved
Also this link: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/chatgpt-hollywood-screenwriters-film-tv-1235296724/
Excerpts:
Launched by the AI research company OpenAI, ChatGPT in its publicly available iteration can produce polished, if rote, pitches and loglines for films and television shows as well as generic outlines and scripts within seconds. The current version, trained on large quantities of text and code all predating the fourth quarter of 2021, also occasionally produces some falsehoods when answering factual queries: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that this version is “incredibly limited, but good enough at some things to create a misleading impression of greatness.” He added, “It’s a mistake to be relying on it for anything important right now. It’s a preview of progress.”
Still, several writers say the incipient technology shows promise as an ancillary creative tool. ChatGPT could help with time-consuming rote work for writers, like generating potential scene locations or character names; August suggests that non-native English speakers might use it to produce more fluid writing in the language. It can also offer plot or character ideas. Savage Grace writer and former WGA West president Howard A. Rodman compares the chatbot to “Oblique Strategies” cards that aim to re-inspire artists with prompts: He says he could use the bot “to suggest something I would never think of myself, maybe something smarter, maybe something stupider or more obvious.”
There is cause for concern, for some, about future refinements to this kind of technology. Rodman calls ChatGPT’s clear ability to improve its responses the more prompts it receives “a little chilling,” but adds, “Writers should not blind themselves to the ways in which AI technology can be useful in many ways. They should also be aware of the opportunities that it offers employers to do the thing they love best: put downward pressure on fixed costs.”
Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of screenplay platform The Black List, doesn’t worry about ChatGPT replacing writers, but he believes it has the potential to upend the labor market and says it’s “necessary that the communities that are likely to be most affected by it, in particular writers, are the ones who are defining the guardrails around how it can be used in the context of this business.” Although he’s not privy to potential conversations, Franklin hopes that the Writers Guild is discussing this technology, as he believes the long-term financial health of the industry is “incredibly closely tied” to that of writers. (The Writers Guild of America West said in a statement, “We’re monitoring the development of ChatGPT and similar technologies in the event they require additional protections for writers.”)

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 21 2023 2:35 utc | 92

@ Grieved | Feb 21 2023 1:47 utc | 89 about Chat GPT and AI
I like your test of wisdom for future AI measuring and your current Algorithmic Involvement definition.
Computers only do what you program them to do and analyze data within the algorithms given. There is a local robotics professor whom I have met that describes her “I make robots with personality” smack as part of a college engineering ad during sports events…..it makes me cringe.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 21 2023 2:41 utc | 93

@waynorinorway, Quid Me Vexare and others
Thank you for the words of appreciation along with your own insight. MoA has been quite a find for me as b’s work is amplified and added onto by so many from around the world, helps keep me connected and informed while I continue mostly alone out here in the woods at my sawmill and mushroom operation. Appreciate you all.

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 21 2023 2:44 utc | 94

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 20 2023 23:29 utc | 85
Again, thank you Karlof for your tireless and focused efforts in transcribing and posting speeches from key people, your work is truly putting down historical records that reveal vivid pictures of what is really going on so we can make sense out of so much confusion and lies.
You do a great service.

Posted by: migueljose | Feb 21 2023 2:52 utc | 95

@psychohistorian
The thing that makes me question that the statement that AI ‘can’t be first’ and that sums everything up, is the rather big advances in physics and biology coming out of AI. I admit these aren’t chatbots, it’s a different strain of Machine Learning. But the Protein Folding problem was solved a couple of years ago over a holiday weekend when hundreds of analyses were performed where one analysis would formerly take weeks or months.
I would amend @Grieved maximum to read ‘AI can’t be first, but AI plus humans can be.’
The mid 20th century and before was often the domain of the lone brilliant thinker, later complexity in many fields required teams of great minds, and now as the low-hanging fruit of creativity has been largely picked, it is teams of clever people plus AI. That’s where it’s going.
Note the rise of the AI physicist:
Max Tegmark on Steps toward building an AI physicist
https://youtu.be/9atnfAHBfSI
Also, increasingly, AI is being used to optimize AI, in an iterative process.

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 21 2023 3:12 utc | 96

@ Mark Lytle | Feb 21 2023 3:12 utc | 97 with the follow on comment about AI
I agree that tools like ChatGPT can be very useful in deep data situations like helping doctors diagnose, lawyers do legal research and argument formulation, etc.
And combinatorial problems will be easier to challenge but the key intuitive part of the equation is still the human being (not just brain which is a limited component)
Ask ChatGPT why everything below the molecular level is asymmetrical and everything above the molecular level is symmetrical….grin

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 21 2023 4:02 utc | 97

Two articles at the WSWS well worth reading.
Both focus on the current wave of authoritarian legislation as the ‘west’ proclaims its commitment to democracy as it does the opposite.
The first is from Germany where the fear of dissent is growing
“A bill introduced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (Social Democratic Party, SPD) is intended to make it easier in the future to “remove” civil servants for “extremist misconduct.” To this end, their democratic rights in disciplinary proceedings will be massively restricted. This is intended to arm the state apparatus for political and social conflicts.”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/02/21/juva-f21.html
The second deals with the recent whitewash of Canada’s invocation of Emergency Powers legislation to deal with last year’s Ottawa protests.
“Canadian government secretly arrogated new powers to invoke the anti-democratic Emergencies Act”
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/02/18/yokp-f18.html

Posted by: bevin | Feb 21 2023 4:19 utc | 98

@psychohistorian
Machine learning seems to do something like induction, functionally. I’m sure it’s not the same way humans do it. When it fully curve fits some phenomena to the point it can make predictions, from being fed thousands of frames of, say, a complex physical system, it ends up discovering both the variables and the relationship between them, i.e. the equations that make it happen. Until recently, that ‘black box’ assimilation of the dynamics of a problem was frustrating because we had no transparency into what it had ‘discovered’. The link I supplied from Max Tegmark is about the next step in the development of these models, where we try to extract the equations from that matrix of coefficients in the trained system, so that we both actually understand it, and can run it later more efficiently on much smaller hardware as a more conventional engineering model.
I think Humans are supplying the reason or use case for the ‘why’ of doing things more than the ‘how’. We usually go to the machine learning route lately because human intuition has partially or fully reached its limits. Not to say that in a process that requires many attempts and many model iterations, that human intuition doesn’t add to the process, I’m sure it does, but the big iron of supercomputers is taking us to new places. I’m not familiar with the dichotomy in physics you’re referring too, but I’m sure that will get addressed. I think most processes below the molecular level tend toward quantum processes, which are sort of oscillations in fields, with a lot of hairy and computationally difficult math to do simulations with.

Posted by: Mark Lytle | Feb 21 2023 4:29 utc | 99

I should add to the articles noted @99 Mike Whitney’s latest at Unz Review:
https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/bidens-power-grab-executive-order-installs-equity-commissars-to-rule-the-bureaucracy-and-centralize-power/
Whitney sees this as an attempt by the cabal surrounding Biden to institute a system of political commissars into the Civil Service.
Knowing Biden and his supporters I suspect that it is just another attempt to create patronage positions to reward their friends.
Thanks to Nemesiscalling for the link.

Posted by: bevin | Feb 21 2023 4:36 utc | 100

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