Open (Not Ukraine) Thread 2023-57
News & views (not related to the war in Ukraine) ...
Posted by b on March 9, 2023 at 15:29 UTC | Permalink
next page »I thought that the string of the articles by Jorge Vilches will be of interest to Europeans, re destroying their industry and warming their homes.
Here it is:
https://thesaker.is/tag/jorge-vilches/
Posted by: stranger | Mar 9 2023 15:36 utc | 3
New
Russia backed Wagner group claims they have taken Bakhmat and claim "Now the whole world will shake by what's coming"
https://twitter.com/AbrahamStein8/status/1633855525442953216?s=20
Posted by: Dave Oneil | Mar 9 2023 15:44 utc | 4
I see that after US pressure the Parliament of Georgia has withdrawn a Bill requiring the registration of all foreign agents. Large protests (many signs in English) to push Russia out of South Ossetia have also erupted.
Here in Canada, in response to allegations of Chinese interference in our federal elections, a similar registry of foreign lobbyists is now being proposed. I wonder if the US will object to that ;-)
Posted by: Sanctions R US | Mar 9 2023 15:56 utc | 5
«Large protests (many signs in English) to push Russia out of South Ossetia have also erupted.»
Actually the georgian fascists want to push the south-ossetians out of South Ossetia, because they claim it belongs to the georgians, not to the south ossetians who have been merely squatting there for just a few hundred years.
Same for the fascist ukrainians and Crimea and the Donbas (and eventually Rostov and Voronezh) and those illicit squatters who have been there only for 100-300 years.
«Here in Canada, in response to allegations of Chinese interference in our federal elections, a similar registry of foreign lobbyists is now being proposed. I wonder if the US will object to that ;-)»
The USA and the UK governments already have very hard "foreign agent" registration laws. But we all know there is a huge distinction between "freedom fighters" (USA-funded entities in the RF) and "terrorists" (RF and PRC funded entities in the USA, UK, Georgia, etc.)
Posted by: Blissex | Mar 9 2023 16:20 utc | 6
canadian politicians adament no foreign interference will occur. ignore klaus video bragging he owns canadian politicians for the WEF.
Posted by: hankster | Mar 9 2023 16:20 utc | 7
Posted by: Blissex | 6
"The USA and the UK governments already have very hard "foreign agent" registration laws. But we all know there is a huge distinction between "freedom fighters" (USA-funded entities in the RF) and "terrorists" (RF and PRC funded entities in the USA, UK, Georgia, etc.)"
This would be all-very-well --- Were it not for the fact that both UK major political parties have been bought-and-paid-for with US and Israeli wonga for a very long time.
Starmer - Leader of the UK Labour Party is a member of the Trilateral Commission.
He received a £50 grand bung towards his leadership election campaign from Sir Trevor Chinn - A leading flag-waver for Zionist Israel and a member of the Jewish Leadership Council.
This is the same Trevor Chinn who has filled the pockets of so many rising stars of the UK Labour Party.
Should be be surprised that Starmer is a front-line supporter of Apartheid Israel and NATO's war in Ukraine.
Posted by: Engineer-John | Mar 9 2023 17:13 utc | 8
Today Putin received a very interesting report from the Director of the Federal Service for Financial Resources Yuri Chikhanchin about the campaign against financial fraud and terrorist activities within the financial realm that were negated, along with related information dealing with the numbers of criminal cases launched and monies recovered. I found it rather fascinating, particularly attacks by fraudsters at any budget related support system where they create fake people and/or businesses and apply for state grants. Also the work involved in aiding Russian businesses whose assets are illegally tagged by sanctions is discussed. Yes, the transcript's in Russian as usual, but most now know who to get it translated into their native language.
Posted by: Blissex | Mar 9 2023 16:20 utc | 6
"Palestine belongs to the European Jewish converts, not to the Palestinians who have been merely squatting there for just a few thousand years! No, they are not Arabized locals!!1!1 They are only localized big bad evil Arabian colonizers although I have only myths and claims as evidence but your cultural evidence, historic papers and genetic researchs quoted by Israeli newspaper are only Eugenics!!1!1" - neoconservative Zionist irl
Posted by: Colin | Mar 9 2023 17:26 utc | 10
@ Engineer-John | Mar 9 2023 17:13 utc | 8
Start your journey with 'The Lobby Part 1' 2017 (Four parts) ...
The Lobby Part 1: Young Friends of Israel - Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com › program › investigations
10 Jan 2017 — Al Jazeera Investigations exposes how the Israel lobby penetrates the many different levels of British democracy.The Lobby Part 2: The Training Session - Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com › program › investigations
11 Jan 2017 — In part two, our undercover reporter joins a delegation from the Israeli embassy at last year's Labour Party conference....
The Labour Files: The Purge I Al Jazeera Investigations
https://www.youtube.com › 1:13:35
An investigation based on the largest leak of documents in British political history. The Labour Files examines thousands of internal ...
YouTube · Al Jazeera English · 23 Sept 2022Unprecedented leak exposes inner workings of UK Labour Party
https://www.aljazeera.com › news › unprecedented-lea...
23 Sept 2022 — The leaked documents, obtained by Al Jazeera, reveal how party officials smear and intimidate rivals.What really happened during Labour's 'anti-Semitism crisis'
https://www.aljazeera.com › news › what-really-happe...
25 Sept 2022 — Unprecedented leak exposes inner workings of UK Labour Party. The leaked documents, obtained by Al Jazeera, reveal how party officials smear and ...Documents reveal discrimination and racism in UK Labour Party
https://www.aljazeera.com › news › documents-reveal-...
29 Sept 2022 — Al Jazeera reveals how Labour created a hierarchy of racism that discriminated against Black, Asian and Muslim members.
Canada’s “foreign agent” (aka Chinese) imbroglio is a 5 Eyes production, having played out previously in USA, UK, and Australia. Anonymous intelligence agents leak to friendly media and whipping up an opaque storm in which concepts such as “interference” are not defined, and neither actual material wrongdoing ever described. It boils down to vague “intentions” on behalf of nefarious evil-doers against whom the public and election processes must be protected. And if it can create a stampede which removes an elected government in favour of its right-wing opposition - so much the better. Either way, the “interference” concept is cemented in the public.
Posted by: jayc | Mar 9 2023 17:44 utc | 12
ADJUSTED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX :
United States : 0.819.
Russia : 0.751.
China : 0.651.GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT PURCHASING POWER PARITY PER CAPITA :
United States : 75.180.
Russia : 31.967.
China : 21.291.POVERTY HEADCOUNT RATIO :
United States : 1.50.
Russia : 3.27.
China : 15.80.PERCENTAGE IN GLOBAL ECONOMY :
China : 18.6.
United States : 15.5.
Russia : 2.8.TOTAL FERTILITY RATE :
United States : 1.8.
Russia : 1.8.
China : 1.7.UNDER-FIVE MORTALITY RATE :
Russia : 5.4.
United States : 6.3.
China : 7.3.EDUCATION LEVEL OF ADULT POPULATION :
Russia : 0.96.
United States : 0.88.
China : 0.52.
Despite sanctions, Russia is more developed with wealthier, as well as more educated and fertile, population than China.
Washington and its vassals could increasingly impose harsh sanctions on Beijing - This would considerably slow China's development down and considering its development growth was already slower than countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan and Georgia...
Posted by: Rasie | Mar 9 2023 17:56 utc | 13
Today Lavrov met with his Saudi counterpart and held a presser after their talks. IMO, this article needs to be read along with the statement made by Lavrov about the Syrian situation. I've thought about the following formulation for several years now, using Lavrov's words to describe it:
"We are in favour of intensifying efforts to resolve the Palestinian problem." [My Emphasis]
IMO, the problem isn't with Palestinians who are the rightful, very longtime inhabitants of the region; rather, the problem is with the Jewish/Zionist settlers/invaders who have waged a genocide against the Palestinian people since they arrived in large numbers after WW1. So, the issue needs to be called something else that more accurately reflects the situation like The Genocide Within Occupied Palestine or Ongoing Palestinian Genocide. Other suggestions are welcomed.
During the presser, further evidence was provided by Lavrov that UNSG Guterres isn't at all neutral as he's supposed to be but rather an agent of the West within the context of extending the failed "Grain Deal":
We constantly remind Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he has put forward a package. You asked a question about our attitude to the extension of the transaction. The deal is a package deal. Only what is already being performed can be extended. If the "package" is half met, the issue of extension becomes complex.We have noticed that during his third consecutive visit to Kyiv, in addition to participating in the award ceremony of the Ukrainian military on the occasion of International Women's Day, A. Guterres made several statements about the deal on grain and fertilizers. The Secretary-General expressed his conviction that it should be extended and that he would seek to remove obstacles to Russian fertilizers and Russian grain. For some reason, he linked this topic with the need for additional agreements on prisoners of war and the "demilitarization" of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. No one except Ukraine itself has ever talked about any "demilitarization". The issue of ZNEC is dealt with by the IAEA.
Director General of the Agency R. Grossi has been promoting an agreement on declaring the Zaporizhzhya NPP a nuclear safety zone for several months. There was never any talk of "demilitarization." We actively cooperated with the Director General of the IAEA. An agreement was close. We were ready to support her. But it was blocked by Kiev, which puts forward preconditions for prisoners of war and the "demilitarization" of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
It is a pity that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, while in Kiev, "signed" the unilateral Ukrainian demands, although according to the UN Charter, as an international official, the main administrative person of the UN, he should take a neutral position in accordance with the Charter. Once again, he failed to do so.
I must further promote The Cradle, the source for the article linked above, as it's becoming an important source of information for West Asia and the Arab world, which includes much of Africa.
Rasie @13--
Genuine GDP for the Outlaw US Empire is about 40% less than announced which drastically affects all related figures. I've provided the reasons why that's so many times here, which are related to incorrect accounting of economic overhead costs that are treated as income not expenses/costs.
Looks like animal abuse has become part of the Outlaw US Empire's Diplomatic War against China as this Global Times editorial explores, "We are not willing to believe that anyone would abuse giant pandas: Global Times editorial":
If this had not happened during a period when Washington is intensifying its containment and suppression of China, this matter would not have caused such a stir. Whether it's a corn-milling plant, a crane, or an unidentified flying object, anything with a "China" tag could be seen as a "threat" by the US. As China's national treasure and a "friendly messenger" symbolizing friendship of the Chinese people, could giant pandas become victims of the "hysterical neo-McCarthyism?" Such associations and concerns are not unwarranted, and some Chinese people's vehement emotions can also be understood.If coincidences happen frequently, they no longer are coincidences. During the period when concerns were gradually raised over the poor conditions of Ya Ya and Le Le, The New York Times published an article in February of last year questioning the value of China-US "panda diplomacy," calling giant pandas a propaganda "window dressing" for China's diplomacy with the US "softening the country's authoritarian image and drawing attention away from its record of human rights abuses." A congressman even proposed a bill on the matter.
However, we are still not willing to believe that the Memphis Zoo would intentionally abuse giant pandas. We believe in the basic goodness and rationality of the American people. Even though perverts who are so fiercely anti-China and would harm these lovable creatures do exist in the US, they should be the exception rather than the norm.
We have noticed that the Memphis Zoo made a lot of efforts to take care of the giant pandas. The proposed bill that targets Panda diplomacy by the lawmaker was criticized in the US and ended with nothing. As for whether the Memphis Zoo and local institutions are negligent in the care of Ya Ya and Le Le, a joint investigation by both China and the US is necessary to draw conclusions. [My Emphasis]
Yes, there are a great many perverts like the one described within the Outlaw US Empire that are deranged to the point of mass shootings of Chinese/Asians and they are reflected within Congress as noted. Similar derangement exists within official government documents like the just released so-called "Threat Assessment" where truth and reality are grossly perverted. But given the Empire's Genocidal actions now and in the past, willful animal abuse cannot be ruled out, and Chinese are completely right to be concerned and angry.
I wouldn't believe Washington would want to balkanize Russia because that would be a disaster to deal with. Western officials would want a puppet government who would integrate with Western hegemony in ways which favor Washington and irritate Beijing. In many ways, Beijing would actually stand a lot more to gain from a weakened or balkanized one than Washington would, which would be a big reason that its support of Moscow had been laughably lukewarm after decades of empty promises to build a multipolar world.
Posted by: Kamace | Mar 9 2023 19:01 utc | 17
G-SIB Timber called in bankland.
Question of the hour: Will Credit Suisse (CS) survive and/or can it be bailed-in/bailed-out? Largest investor dumped its 10% shareholding. One month ago, Feb. 10, 202, CS had lost over 90% of its value. Hedge Funds guys and gals are exiting.
G-SIBs - Global Systemically Important Banks are all interconnected.
March 09, 2023
@ Marketwatch: https://www.tipranks.com/news/credit-suisse-slips-after-delaying-annual-report?mod=mw_quote_news
More details @
ZH:
It has become almost predictable: every few weeks, we receive news that causes Credit Suisse stock to plunge.On Thursday, the beleaguered Swiss investment bank's shares slumped 6% in Zurich trading -- closing in on the lowest level on record -- following the announcement that it would postpone the release of its annual report at the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission. [.]
It's the latest in a long list of challenges for Credit Suisse. The bank has endured several scandals in the last few years, such as the downfall of major clients Archegos Capital and Greensill Capital. Shares have slipped to near record low levels as the news get worse for the bank amid broad restructuring efforts.
"We have generally not focused on cash flow statements; the amounts are relatively small and the restatement was previously disclosed.
"However, questions with respect to accounting, especially from the SEC, are negative," analysts, including Anke Reingen at the Royal Bank of Canada, wrote in a note.
Earlier this week, one of Credit Suisse's largest shareholders, US investment manager Harris Associates, dumped its entire position in the bank over the last few months as confidence in the bank wanes.
Another concern is whether the bank can survive, given the substantial outflows from its wealth management division.
Mammoth Outflows
Credit Suisse sees historic levels of clients pulling out their money
[.]
Who is your banker? The financial collapse has been ongoing since September 2019; trillions printed to shore up the dyke with a band-aid and we are being distracted by Ukies.
What's that saying? "when the financials fail they take us to war."
Posted by: Likklemore | Mar 9 2023 19:04 utc | 18
Why isn’t anyone discussing the stunning new relegations revealed this week regarding the 1/6 ( sucessful ) coup in Washington ?
The new videos pretty much establish conclusively that 1/6 was a deliberate set-up
Thoughts ?
Posted by: Exile | Mar 9 2023 19:08 utc | 19
Washington and its vassals could increasingly impose harsh sanctions on Beijing - This would considerably slow China's development down and considering its development growth was already slower than countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan and Georgia...
Posted by: Rasie | Mar 9 2023 17:56 utc | 13
That assumes that China will just sit there and take it. China has a multitude of ways of hitting back at the US. Of course there are costs involved, but China a) is unwilling to be humiliated again as she was in the early 20th C, and b) is looking forward to the demise of thew US empire, and will do all she can to aid this process.
Posted by: Jams O'Donnell | Mar 9 2023 19:14 utc | 20
According to OECD, 18% of China's 'adult' population had completed tertiary education... That's between 50% and 57% for United States and Russia.
Posted by: Trinity | Mar 9 2023 19:36 utc | 21
Exile @19--
Read several reports about the vids Carlson aired and the many more promised. Trump called for the House Jan 6 Committee members to be tried for Treason and for those jailed to be released. The spillover affect is present, an example being the fight on a Southwest flight on the ground in Texas by a man "defending his family." IMO, this has then potential to generate a Critical Mass within the populace IF they watch the vids. I don't read or watch BigLie media, so I don't know how much of what Trump bellows is aired. Then there's the continuing immiseration and useless Fed policy, and basic lack of any legislation being passed to aid the human condition while many billions go to the MIC for Buden's wars. I commented above about the Anti-China hysteria that's now moved to targeting Oscar presenters by the same pukes who tried to destabilize Hong Kong, meaning they're financed by the Empire. Meanwhile, "US President Joe Biden's 2024 budget proposal includes some $6.9 trillion in spending, with a $1.8 trillion deficit," while "US House Speaker McCarthy Says Biden's Budget Proposal 'Completely Unserious.'" However, McCarthy has it wrong as the Empire has both a spending AND revenue problem, which is why the deficit's so gargantuan.
People were laughing at Sergey Lavrov.
https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1631686564953616388
Posted by: Dosare | Mar 9 2023 19:38 utc | 23
China's geoeconomic connectivity is such that any attempt to disconnect as Trump tried will fail and cause great damage to the nation(s) following that sort of policy. Idiot commentators ignore the vast significance of China's domestic market and its friendly trade partners to drive its economy--China's domestic market is greater than the USA and EU combined.
It's clear the trolls have a new mission that's the same as the old mission except that the targeted nation has changed from Russia to China. Clearly, nothings been learned from either previous experience as yet another double-down is being employed that will fail just like all previous attempts.
PRC is hopelessly behind in critical technologies and is deficient in military, diplomatic and economic capabilities to seriously compete with USA. CPC constantly lied and dressed its dire position up with meaningless theories and numbers. In reality, its authoritarian system frustrated innovation and prevented from working effectively to resolve many crises that beset the country. Despite what CPC would like everyone to believe about its power, this is a complete paper tiger and hardly a credible threat that Washington would need to worry much about. CPC had always been a backward party that oppressed its own people and still is.
Posted by: Erisagi | Mar 9 2023 19:50 utc | 26
How about some weekend podcast entertainment? Check out a true story of family, fraud and power in the American West. A $244 million theft from Tyson Foods. You'll enjoy. Six episodes, around 22 minutes each. It's good.
Posted by: PI | Mar 9 2023 20:05 utc | 27
@ Erisagi | Mar 9 2023 19:50 utc | 26 with the delusional and humorous comment
LOL! How come the US is banning TikTok if the Chinese people are so oppressed and behind in critical technologies?
How many trains in the US have derailment problems this week?
How much is the God Of Mammon paying you for this rubbish?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 9 2023 20:15 utc | 28
Brian Berletic's Newatlas Channel -
When a bill meant to curb foreign meddling is withdrawn specifically because foreign-sponsored forces threaten to destroy the country otherwise, it is a captured state.
Next stop for Georgia if not careful is following Ukraine over the cliff of US subordination...
Posted by: MiniMo | Mar 9 2023 20:24 utc | 29
@karlof1 | Mar 9 2023 19:47 utc | 25
Yes, a new cadre of trolls has arrived, the last cadre having failed so spectacularly.Reinforcements are sent into the MoA cauldron, but cannot keep up with the casualties.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 9 2023 20:25 utc | 30
“You will see changes never seen for centuries before.” - Xi Jinping
https://twitter.com/jacksonhinklle/status/1633907573756932097
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 9 2023 20:33 utc | 31
Seems like Russian media are slowly but surely spreading 'sinophobic' propaganda : During some debate on Russia-1, one of hosts described Beijing as 'unreliable partner'.
Sergey Naryshkin or Sergey Lavrov might have warned Vladimir Putin about this. Yury Trutnev should take measures to reduce Beijing's soft power in the far eastern region.
Posted by: Chocolatine | Mar 9 2023 20:50 utc | 32
The US is now officially a self-declared Kleptocracy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Task_Force_KleptoCapture
Task Force KleptoCapture is a United States Department of Justice unit established in March 2022 with the goal of enforcing sanctions on Russian oligarchs in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 9 2023 21:23 utc | 33
Wise Karlof1 is back, but where is equally wise bevin?
Posted by: Northern Eve | Mar 9 2023 21:24 utc | 34
Posted by: Rasie | Mar 9 2023 17:56 utc | 13
Do you actually look at other info on China?
Just an example of "context", China has a population of 1.41 billion people so 15% of the population with uni degree would be 210,000,000!
Development across China is spotty due yo geographic differences. East China is very advanced conoared to hinterland in the cenyer snd western parts.
So advance that the cities make the west as living in the 1990s. Even Japan looks primitive.
Just look at China's high speed train network which the Chinese use to criss cross the whole china at 300km/hr. It's affordable and very comfortable. Space stations? Electro rail catapults on aircraft carrier? US gave that up because they can't make it work. Quantum satellites? Super computers. They hsve more ofthose than any other country.
Have you been to China at all or thinks you will know China just by reading wedtern biased reports? If UN can be taken over by US what's a little "economic report".
Here's a Chinese report of how US polls are rigged to ptoduce a desired outcome.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1286995.shtml
Btw, I'm a foreigner living in China for past 10 years. I haven't touched cash in years and I'm livibg in a tier 4 Chinese city. Do look what that means as a classification of Chinese cities.
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 9 2023 21:35 utc | 35
“by: Exile | Mar 9 2023 19:08 utc | 19”
“The new videos pretty much establish conclusively that 1/6 was a deliberate set-up
Thoughts ?”
I think the “new videos” like the “old videos” prove that anyone can cherry-pick what they like out of 40000 hours of security videos and make it “show” almost anything they want it to show. The facts are that Trump said the words he said, how he said them, resulting in a large number of people entering DC not as “sightseers” (get real) but with the intent to stop the certification of an election (which still has seen no credible evidence for the claims of fraud), resulting in both death and property damage. I’m undecided whether that was Trump’s intent, but it’s obvious that without his speech the actions of the crowd would not have happened. I’m no fan of the senile warmongering asshole who won, but I’m not going to support a violent overthrow of the US government, which is what was attempted.
Posted by: Dalit | Mar 9 2023 21:37 utc | 36
Personal Peeve
I donated €100 to the Syrian Arab red cross for the earthquake, in Aleppo. The original Red Cross group that treats people in Syria itself (Not Idlib as would have happened for donations through Turkey).
It goes like this. I sent a donation to the details I found on the Web, by using my Bank's App. Next I received a note from the Bank (CIC, French) That they could not or would not do this. I insisted. They demanded a "full justification on my honour" with all the details. really all. (Who to, reason, All addresses of Bank etc. etc.) Which they got. The SARC was established in 1946 as part of the Red Cross "network" in Geneva. (Plus their history and zone of activities). The Bank was in Lebanon, as the US sanctions do not allow direct payments to Syria. Plus the ethics of sending to Syrians rather than Headchoppers in Iblib (I didn't phrase it quite like that). Later they said they had sent it. ("Allowed" it)
So this month I received confirmation via my monthly "releve" of March, that they had sent it on the 14th Feb. Later than intended. BUT, hidden a bit further on was the "transaction fee". at €17.50 (for a €100 gift!)
In my naivety I had presumed that it would have been around the 3.05% usual for transfers, to a neighbouring country. the Percentage taken/added may even be larger as the recipient Bank would possibly have taken a similar sum, as it was a "shared costs" transaction. (ie out of the original 100. My costs were added to the 100, theirs would have been subtracted).
About 35% in charges, or
one third more as Bank "charges" for a humanitarian gift.
***
Profits are sacrosanct and come before anything else.! Humanitarian aid be screwed.
***
Peeve over.
*****
Thanks Karlof1 for the multiple updates.
I get the impression that the newest troll-line will be to try to pass the CPC as still wearing those round hats and working in Rice Paddies. ie. That they "need" superior wisdom from the ex-exceptional people to be imposed on them. It helps to cut down the fact of the extraordinary advances the Chinese have made and the effficiency and speed of their implementation. They will concentrate on the "stuff" made for the US and EU market, rather than the Trains and massive naval buiding going on.
*
I notice one has mentioned "paper tigers" from a long time ago. Should he be hit over the head with the massive tome the "little red book" has become?
*
The problem of denigrating the Chinese, is that it is self defeating as this will lead to an under-estimation of their capabilities. Look what happened when they did the same to Russian capabilities and advances. Seems they don't learn.
Western price cap scheme on Russian oil is collapsing
https://t.me/Slavyangrad/36516
🇺🇸US officials urged oil traders to resume the transportation of Russian oil.The US has privately urged some of the world’s largest commodity traders to shed concerns over shipping price-capped Russian oil, in a bid to keep supplies stable and regain some oversight of Moscow’s exports. US Department of Treasury officials met executives and traders at Trafigura and Gunvor among others, according to five people familiar with the talks, and offered reassurances over expanding their role in Russian crude and fuel trade without breaching western restrictions. While Washington has never opposed trading of Russian oil within G7-agreed price curbs, the largest independent oil traders have been wary of the market. “We’ve been actively encouraged by the Americans . . . to re-engage on moving the oil,” said one trader who spoke with the Treasury.
The US reassurances, delivered in meetings with leading independent oil traders in recent weeks, come as Russia has threatened to cut oil supplies this month after western powers ratcheted up support for Ukraine. The Biden administration led the G7 push for a price cap to squeeze Vladimir Putin’s energy revenues. But it also sought to keep Russian oil flowing to international markets, fearing fallout from a collapse in supplies from one of the world’s top energy exporters.
"The Americans really do want it to move,” said one trader, referring to Russia’s oil.
The World cannot survive without Russian oil. 🤭
Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 9 2023 22:05 utc | 38
Stonebird @37--
Thanks for your reply. "Seems they don't learn." And that's not just the trolls, but the entire fabric of government--you'd think it was the 1870s all over again with Congress scrambling to vote on the Chinese Exclusion Act. I'm close to rooting for those Congressional fools to enact something Trump would love--a 100% embargo on Made in China products, for that would kill the Empire's economy very quickly.
The similarities between 1/6 and the Reichstag Fire are striking.
Posted by: Lysias | Mar 9 2023 22:18 utc | 40
Shipping arms to Russia sounds like carrying water to the sea.
Yet the US insists China is at the brink of supplying arms to Russia. Why?
My guess is the US mindset has problems accepting someone outperforms them. It is hard to accept Russia has the factories to outperform all 30 NATO countries together. It's much easier to convince yourself the arms have to come from somewhere else - China.
Posted by: Passerby | Mar 9 2023 22:28 utc | 41
First time posting here. Reader for a while.
For all those claiming that PRC is just a paper tiger and is technologically behind, take a look at this report from ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute) on critical technology race. It compares China against Quad Countries and finds China leading in 37 of the 44 categories - https://www.aspi.org.au/report/critical-technology-tracker. The report leads off with "Western democracies are losing the global technological competition..."
Posted by: rext | Mar 9 2023 22:35 utc | 42
Norwegian @39
The World cannot survive without Russian oil.
To quote VVP, "What good is a world without Russia?"
And to quote Scott Ritter, "If you love peace and want to see a peaceful world, pray for a Russian victory."
Posted by: robjira | Mar 9 2023 22:38 utc | 43
Norwegian @39--
Thanks for your earlier reply and the content of your comment above. The above info begs the question Why? IMO, it's because Western financial markets & banks are on the edge of solvency and any strong disruption would cause a crisis. The reality on Russia's financial situation regarding its hydrocarbon sales is that it can afford to cut its exports. This past week has seen most of the major OPEC+ members visit Moscow for talks, the Saudi FM being the latest following right behind Qatar's. The group is working on several issues currently that all have a bearing on the other, some of which can be gleaned from the presser I linked to above. Under the radar is Russia's announcement of a new works for its the Bovanenkovo and Kharasavey fields, with 5 and 2 trillion cubic meters of proven reserves, respectively, pushing Russia's proven reserves total beyond 30 trillion cubic meters for its major gas fields alone. And recall that Gazprom is only one of Russia's gas companies with Rosneft being another busily discovering new fields in the Far East and Kara Sea. IMO, far more than what's contained in North America remains to be discovered in Russia's Arctic AND it has the facilities in place to perform that prospecting.
Most of China wouldn't even be as developed as Chechnya, Surferket...
Posted by: Kar Lyta | Mar 9 2023 23:32 utc | 45
And now we’ve seen the PRC diplomatic game play out. First the proposed peace framework, rejected out of hand by the US. And then we get the statement that China will supply arms to Russia in proportion to US supplies to Taiwan. I wonder how they’ll calculate it? By dollar equivalent would be funny. I’ll bet Russia can get a lot of 152mm artillery shells at Chinese internal procurement costs for the amount of military aid the US gives Taiwan.
Posted by: Lex | Mar 9 2023 23:37 utc | 46
@ Northern Eve | Mar 9 2023 21:24 utc
Bevin is IIRC a Canadian. I hope he wasn’t threatened into silence like Patrick Armstrong was.
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 10 2023 0:01 utc | 47
Rasie @ 13:
Where do these statistics come from? Without any links, how do we know how current they are? We do not know which years they are current for.
The statistics quoted in your comment look like cherry-picking. Some are so general as to be meaningless. To pick an example, the stats quoted for education levels of adults are meaningless unless they are broken down by age groups. This is to allow for the fact that it has only been within the last 40 years that China has been able to reach levels of economic and social development almost comparable to those of developed nations in the West. If the stats were broken down by population, we would probably find that the proportion of Chinese people under 30 years of age who have college or undergraduate university qualifications would be similar to the proportions of Russians and Americans in the same age cohort who have similar qualifications.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Mar 10 2023 0:19 utc | 48
Posted by: Lex | Mar 9 2023 23:37 utc | 47
Why don't you read official Chinese nedia where they categorically stated they never, and have no intentions of sending weapons to Russia as China prefers not to fan the flames of war, as US is deliberately doing.
Everything about that is being created as US bullshit.
This is the exact passage the Chinese FM used as reference to US arms to DieOne. What was repeated elsewhere was taken totally out of context.
"Why does the US ask China not to supply arms to Russia, while it keeps selling arms to Taiwan in violation of the China-US joint communique in 1982? Why does the US only offer lip service in regard to maintaining regional peace and stability while secretly making plans to "destroy Taiwan?"
Btw, Russia is diing very well on their own. They actually prefer self security and not rely on third parties. Already tricked and burned by the west for decades.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1286791.shtml
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:22 utc | 49
Posted by: Kar Lyta | Mar 9 2023 23:32 utc | 46
Perhaps you do some basic research first.
Size and population of Chechnya
17,300km2 1,510,824 population.
Size and population of China
9,596,961km2 1,411,750,000
Both from Wikipedia.
Further, one is a country, the other is a province.
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:28 utc | 50
Re the US bullshit that China is sending arms to Russia, just remember that earlier US bullshitted about North Korea munitions to Russia, then Iranian drones to Russia.
Note that US NEVER provided any real proof of either accusations despite the fact that many Russian dromes have been sbot down already!
Now rhe bullshit that China is sending arms to Russia.
This is just smoke to apply sanctions onto China as we now see US sanctioning Chinese companies for "helping" Iran build their drones.
Factually, China is the global supplier for low cost electronic circuit boards and components that even US arms manufacturers source from to built US war toys.
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:35 utc | 51
Anya Parampil explores how the USA establishment pays for Nick Fuentes and his savages to destroy a conservative NON establishment candidate.
Indeed, between a targeted online harassment offensive and physical protests of Kent’s campaign events, the Groyper leader’s subversion effort knew no boundaries. His behavior played directly into the hands of Kent’s political rivals, including liberal media outlets like the New York Times. In one particularly freakish incident, a Fuentes loyalist with a documented criminal past stalked Kent as he campaigned in rural Washington State in order to record a short interview with the candidate. The brief encounter would later serve as the crux of a CNN report that sought to link Kent to “white nationalists,” despite his documented rebuke of such ideology.Was Fuentes’ obsession with Kent purely personal reprisal for a bruised ego? Fuentes claims the campaign was an attempt to demonstrate that his vision for “Christian nationalism” represents the future of America First politics.Yet while the livestreamer’s benefactors remain unknown, his war on Kent directly coincided with a multi-million dollar dark money effort designed to sink the MAGA-aligned candidate’s run for office. Super PACs affiliated with the anti-Trump wing of the Republican Party dumped at least $4 million into defeating Kent throughout his primary battle – precisely the time that Fuentes inserted himself into the race.
Fuentes’ strategy was two-pronged: after tarnishing the candidate’s reputation in the eyes of liberal and even center-right voters by branding Kent with his toxic endorsement, he worked to depress MAGA turnout for the Trump-endorsed politician by smearing him as a CIA-controlled Trojan Horse.
Despite endorsements from Trump and former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, as well a cast of political heavy-hitters in between, Kent ultimately lost to his Democratic opponent by fewer than just 3,000 votes. The demise of Kent’s campaign in such a pivotal swing district to a previously unknown challenger also spelled the failure of the widely expected populist “red wave,” a development broadly celebrated in establishment media.
Above all, it meant that one of the most credible and passionate opponents of the escalating Ukraine proxy war would be absent from upcoming congressional debates on U.S. military support for the conflict.
The USA is in a state of permanent revolution - a colour revolution without end.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 0:39 utc | 52
It is obvious that amerika and its satraps are becoming increasingly desperate, hence today's sockpuppetry by a rather lame troll to try and drive a wedge between opponents of the proxy war by lying to create some type of dichotomy between the aims of China & those of Russia.
So foolish and in its own way xenophobic as most of the readers here understand perfectly that on many issues no two nations are ever completely in sync as responsible governments are duty bound to advance the interests of their people - in the case of China & Russia all of them, unlike amerika whose 'national interests' have always remained focused on the wants & needs of their elites.
Anyway hopefully most will ignore this single troll who is attempting to do as Blinken indicated last week when he blathered on about the two nations Russia & China being traditional enemies; they share a comon border as do england & scotland or france & germany except for Russia & China there have been much longer periods of peace between the two than either of the other pairs who have caused vast amounts of bloodshed, one pair in particular in the very recent past.
b. will sort out the sockpuppet when he has the opportunity, so really just blanking out the tosh in yer own mind is far better than falling into the pit of letting some nincompoop divert us from our usual discussions.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Mar 10 2023 0:40 utc | 53
Posted by: Debsisdead | Mar 10 2023 0:40 utc | 54
True. Simple net search would find that China has settled all border conflicts with her neighbours, except for India which refuses to even negotiate but insist that China does what India demands, up to surrendering Tibet and parts of Sichuan provinces to India.
The issues in SCS is actually at status quo except for US persistence in flaming and inflaming some of their paid puppets in Philippines to stir up the flames of "evil China".
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:47 utc | 54
And here's an article on why US is hyping the bullshit tbat China is sending weapons to Russia.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202303/1286748.shtml
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 1:02 utc | 55
@ malenkov | Mar 10 2023 0:01 utc | 48
Bevin remarked recently that he was going on holiday soon, so he’s probably on holiday.
Posted by: suzan | Mar 10 2023 1:02 utc | 56
NASA will replace Roscosmos in one of ESA's projects.
https://tass.com/world/1586753
Vladimir Putin tried to extend Moscow's hard and soft power over the world for two decades and screwed all up within some months - Now, Russia will become Beijing's vassal.
Posted by: Coquette | Mar 10 2023 1:06 utc | 57
Finding examples of the synergy existing between Russia's science, research, and industry are hard to find, but I do come across them on occasion. From 30 Jan 2023, "First Russian LNG Tanker Design":
A conference was held to discuss the development of the Design 10070 LNG carrier, the first to be designed in Russia. According to Atomenergomash, the project envisages implementing a radically new technology of storage and transportation of liquified natural gas using insert tanks made from polymer composite materials of Russian make.The project is part of the Northern Sea Route development plan 2035 and is supported by the interdepartmental commission of the Security Council for maintaining national in interests in the Arctic.
Atomenergomash and its partners are developing a radically new technology of cargo containing systems that envisages using B Type insert tanks made of polymer composite materials with cryogenic polyurethane foam insulation. The insert tanks made by UMATEX, part of Rosatom, proved lighter and stronger than traditionally used aluminum tanks.
Besides, the technology provides for manufacturing the hull and the tanks simultaneously to be integrated at later stages of construction, thus reducing the construction period.
Atomenergomash in cooperation with the Krylov State Research Center continue studying options to use membrane tanks based on the Krylov Center’s know how.
‘Until now, cargo containing systems for gas carriers manufacturing is monopolized. Russia’s know how is aimed not only to destroy this monopoly but also to offer domestic LNG producers a reliable transportation solution that will help our country to strengthen its technology sovereignty in the LNG sector and continue to play an important role in the global gas market,’ Vladimir Aptekarev, Director, Shipbuilding, Atomenergomash, said.
The gas to make the polymers is Russian processed at a Russian petrochemical plant and so forth--100% vertical integration of the entire process to build the ship and all its components. The company, Atomenergomash, is a subsidiary of Rosatom, which is owned by the Russian people. Such ownership arrangements are seldom allowed in Neoliberal captured nations.
Posted by: Coquette | Mar 10 2023 1:06 utc | 58
I'm sure dedsisdead is referring to you.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Mar 10 2023 0:40 utc | 54
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 1:11 utc | 59
Another new barfly couldn't handle its booze and puked on the floor, which makes several now on this thread alone. It needs to go off to a troll rehab center to get its brain rearranged.
For those pushing the bullshit that communist Soviet Union cannot do anything right should remember that the SU was responsible for world's first satellite, and first man in space.
Don't come back with US as "first man on the moon" when they can't even build a heavy lift rocket without Russian engines today. Nobody destroys vital scientific papers totally. Absolute bullshit from the Empire of Lies.
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 1:18 utc | 61
@ suzan | Mar 10 2023 1:02 utc | 57
Much obliged for that information. While I’d never begrudge anyone of good will his holiday, I look forward to bevin’s return, and soon.
Posted by: malenkov | Mar 10 2023 1:22 utc | 62
@ Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:35 utc | 52
Alexander Mercouris suggests that China is being set up by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to be blamed for the RF’s victory in Ukraine. First they assert Russia is running out of weaponry and ammunition. Then they accuse China of supplying munitions etc to the RF, enabling its victory, painting, tarring, China as main enemy to be sanctioned, contained and so on, the usual belligerent idiotic lies which fuels the empire’s miccimatt merry-go-ground, causing grievous harm at home and abroad. My apologies to Alexander as I wandered way past his more restrained remarks on his program today.
Posted by: suzan | Mar 10 2023 1:29 utc | 63
@ Norwegian | Mar 9 2023 20:25 utc | 30
lol
@ rext | Mar 9 2023 22:35 utc | 43
Indeed. Great first post. Welcome to the bar, what's yer poison ? Cheers.
@ Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:35 utc | 52
Indeed. Especially so your last. Great posts, on a roll. Cheers & prost!
@ Dosare | Mar 9 2023 19:38 utc | 23
Manipulative misrepresentation entirely out of context. Troll.
@ Erisagi | Mar 9 2023 19:50 utc | 26
Troll. Forgot to mention ChiComs ? Sad.
@ Kar Lyta | Mar 9 2023 23:32 utc | 46
@ Coquette | Mar 10 2023 1:06 utc | 58
$1 discard bin Trolls.
@ Refinnejenna | Mar 10 2023 0:19 utc | 49
Yawn ...
Minor troll infestation, wheres the bug spray ?
Everything is perfectly fine, A-OK ...
Europe Loses Another Smelter as Energy Crisis Leaves Deep Scars - Bloomberg, Mar9'23, archive.ph
Another European aluminum smelter is closing, in a fresh sign of the damage wrought by an energy crisis that’s hammered the region’s industrial economy and crimped supplies of critical raw materials.While power prices have retreated sharply from last year’s peaks, Speira Gmbh will shut its Rheinwork plant in Germany this year due to challenges in the energy market, the company said Thursday. That follows a 50% cut in aluminum production announced in September as soaring power and gas prices plunged Europe’s energy-intensive metals industry into an existential crisis.
Some smelters have been ramping back up in recent weeks, but the Speira shutdown is the latest sign of the obstacles politicians face as they seek to prevent a further wave of deindustrialization. They are also looking to shore up local supplies of critical industrial raw materials as global supply chains become more fragile.
...
Tucker Carlson and Jimmy Dore on the Congressional Committee hearings and whitewash of the January 6 'ransacking' of the US capitol.
The entire committee was just a uniparty brainless propaganda tool covering for the US deep state. Anyway enjoy the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4cB5DVOc-c
and here is Chris Hedges lynching the deplorables
https://scheerpost.com/2023/03/05/chris-hedges-lynching-the-deplorables/
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 2:19 utc | 66
Pattern: keep oil power in Anglo hands at relatively high prices (and in dollar$). See Aramco, two Gulf wars, Libyan destruction, sanctions on Iran, Syria and Russia. Also (international) laws to protect "the environment" in any areas of possible new oil finds, both Poles, Many coastal and ocean beds, many land areas, so no new finds can flood the monopoly market.
Oil addiction is worse than crack cocaine, as it is actually necessary: a dealer$ Heaven. Enforcers needed and provided: the US MIL Rambo with NATO fig leaf.
Posted by: Antonym | Mar 10 2023 2:19 utc | 67
Georgia, Ukraine
Posted by: MiniMo | Mar 9 2023 20:24 utc | 29
MiniMo cited Brian Berletic's excellent breakdown of the current Georgia crisis (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csSeU30VpgQ) in which Berletic gives a link to an old 2004 article by the Guardian reporter Ian Traynor (died in 2016); describing in detail how the U.S. fixes elections and/or coups.
"Funded and organised by the US government, deploying US consultancies, pollsters, diplomats, the two big American parties and US non-government organisations, the campaign was first used in Europe in Belgrade in 2000 to beat Slobodan Milosevic at the ballot box.
Richard Miles, the US ambassador in Belgrade, played a key role. And by last year, as US ambassador in Tbilisi, he repeated the trick in Georgia, coaching Mikhail Saakashvili in how to bring down Eduard Shevardnadze."
His piece is a quick seminar in how the Empire picks and installs their puppets, same thing today in Peru.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/26/ukraine.usa
Posted by: migueljose | Mar 10 2023 2:27 utc | 68
26 this isnt SKY NEWS where your comment will be thumbs up from other ignorants like yourself.
ask your self what isa hypersonic generator, what does it do and who invented it. then ask yourself why you never knew about it until just now.
Posted by: hankster | Mar 10 2023 2:38 utc | 69
Lethal R-37/R-37M Vympel hypersonic AA(~400Km) missile operable ... game changer for Iran ... multi generation/capability leap ...
Iranian official says purchase of Russian fighter jets (SU-35S) complete - Semafor, Mar9'23
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations confirmed to Semafor that it has finalized a deal with Moscow to purchase advanced Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets — the first official confirmation of a high-stakes transaction with implications from the front lines in Ukraine to the delicate balance of power in the Middle East....
Iran’s spokesman in New York, Mojtaba Babaei, ... But he provided details on the fighter-jet sale, though not their delivery date or numbers.
“Following the end of the imposed [Iran-Iraq] war (1988), Iran asked a bunch of countries to buy fighter jets, and Russia said it was open to selling,” Babaei wrote. “The SU-35 fighter jets were technically acceptable to Iran, so after October 2020 and the end of Iran's restrictions on conventional weapons purchases (UN Resolution 2231), Iran finalized the deal to buy them.”
...
Mexico ("...Poor Mexico! So far from God-- so close to the United States!" Porfirio Diaz, 1910)... Even thugs come up with good one-liners sometimes.
AMLO is getting lots of heat & hate from his neighbor for pushing policies that will protect elections. It's personal: he ran for president in 2006 and 2012, kept out because they cheated. Norton explains how and also explains why the U.S. and U.K. hate him. He supports Cuba, calls out imperial role in Peru's coup, is heading into BRICS. And he is popular.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbx5iLjSGsI
Posted by: migueljose | Mar 10 2023 2:41 utc | 71
Do the trolls not understand the laws of diminishing returns?....lol
Anyway, below is the posting title from ZH that has a great report on the Wag The Dog focus of America on the Twitter story of state corruption, but only on one side....grin
Dems Blast "Threat" Of "So-Called Journalists" As Taibbi, Shellenberger Expose "State-Sponsored Thought-Policing"
Do read the story as it is quite the show keeping Americans not thinking about Ukraine anymore....grin
The shit show continues until it doesn't....any day now, IMO
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 2:56 utc | 73
Matt Taibbi:
At around 10 a.m. EST this morning, Michael Shellenberger and I will be testifying at the “Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on the Twitter Files” for the House Judiciary Committee, in the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Just before, around 9:00 a.m., we’ll also be releasing a TwitterFiles “Statement to Congress” thread, which will be submitted to the record. It contains some surprises.
Here: https://scheerpost.com/2023/03/09/matt-taibbi-my-statement-to-congress/
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:02 utc | 74
The comment below is meant to be educational and I apologize to "two centes" for making them an example. Since we are being challenged more by childish behavior, folks need to learn how to detect a troll using someone else's moniker information
In response to
"
psychohistorian | Mar 9 2023 19:40 utc | 290
So, your account was hacked then? Is that why you are in favor of registration?
Posted by: two centes | Mar 9 2023 19:53 utc | 291
"
The URL portion of each person's moniker is open to any valid URL, even mine if someone wants to look like me.
I am sorry but you don't understand the internet in this regard. I never posted the message about registration...do you get that now?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 3:06 utc | 75
Thus spake Chris Hedges at the rage against the war machine:
https://scheerpost.com/2023/02/19/chris-hedges-rage-against-the-war-machine-speech/
We are here today to denounce the unelected, unaccountable high priests of Empire, who funnel the bodies of millions of victims, along with trillions of our national wealth, into the bowels of our own version of the Canaanite idol, Moloch.The political class, the media, the entertainment industry, the financiers and even religious institutions bay like wolves for the blood of Muslims or Russians or Chinese, or whoever the idol has demonized as unworthy of life. There were no rational objectives in the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Somalia. There are none in Ukraine. Permanent war and industrial slaughter are their own justification. Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Boeing and Northrop Grumman earn billions of dollars in profits. The vast expenditures demanded by the Pentagon are sacrosanct. The cabal of warmongering pundits, diplomats and technocrats, who smugly dodge responsibility for the array of military disasters they orchestrate, are protean, shifting adroitly with the political tides, moving from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and then back again, mutating from cold warriors to neocons to liberal interventionists. Julien Benda called these courtiers to power “the self-made barbarians of the intelligentsia.”
read on...
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:21 utc | 76
psychohistorian #74
I just spotted that post and laughed at the serendipity.... Like sitting at the bar sometimes one can have two themes in mind to consider.
There is so much to read today and so few hours. Stay well.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:27 utc | 77
@ Outraged | Mar 10 2023 2:47 utc | 73
Impostor. 'Twas NOT moi. Tiresome.
&
US arms firms sued for 'aiding and abetting' war crimes in Yemen, Presstv.ir, 08 March 2023
American arms manufacturers face lawsuit for “aiding and abetting” war crimes in Yemen which is suffering a full-blown humanitarian crisis as a result of the 8 year Saudi led war of aggression.US defense contractors Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and, General Dynamics, have been sued by a group of seven Yemeni nationals for aiding and abetting war crimes and extrajudicial killings by selling weapons to be used in waging war on Yemen.
The lawsuit, filed in the District Court of Washington DC, also names the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman al Saud, and the United Arab Emirates’ leader, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and Pentagon Chief, Lloyd Austin, as defendants.
...
Iran has the US Department of the Treasury spinning in circles trying to enact sanctions on a vast network of ghost front companies. Iran has almost fifty years of doing it, so it knows how.
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 39 entities constituting a significant “shadow banking” network, one of several multi-jurisdictional illicit finance systems which grant sanctioned Iranian entities, such as Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co. (PGPICC) and Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Triliance), access to the international financial system and obfuscate their trade with foreign customers. Iranian exchange houses create front companies abroad to enable trade on behalf of their Iranian clients, with foreign currency transactions maintained via internal ledgers. PGPICC is the marketing arm of sanctioned Iranian petrochemical conglomerate Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC), which generates the equivalent of tens of billions of dollars annually for the Iranian regime.
“Iran cultivates complex sanctions evasion networks where foreign buyers, exchange houses, and dozens of front companies cooperatively help sanctioned Iranian companies to continue to trade,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “Today’s action demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enforcing our sanctions and our ability to disrupt Iran’s foreign financial networks, which it uses to launder funds.” . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 10 2023 3:42 utc | 79
@ uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:27 utc | 78 with the Twitter serendipity....LOL
I saw that also....I think our comments complimented each other....grin...best to you as well
Like I was telling the trolls here about the law of diminishing returns, the Hollywood show in Congress is just adding fuel to the fire of losing control of the global and local narratives by folks that have no more to lose.
Blaming US corruption on Russia or China is going to be harder than trying to start a war with them and look at how that is turning out.
The US/EU economies are crashing and the weeping and gnashing of teeth will start in earnest in the US when the markets reflect capitulation. Will people believe the MSM telling them why things are bad?.....I don't think so in the same way as before and maybe we will have a societal awakening about human morals and governments
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 3:47 utc | 80
Posted by: rext | Mar 9 2023 22:35 utc | 43 re ASPI
Interesting link but giving a 404.
Posted by: Walt | Mar 10 2023 3:49 utc | 81
psychohistorian #81
I feel the same way. I can smell you on my skin.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:52 utc | 82
Huge budget deficit is building up in Russia's economy.
https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry-and-energy/2023/03/huge-budget-deficit-building-russias-economy
Posted by: Morene | Mar 10 2023 3:58 utc | 83
It's a four-fer if China can grab an island from the Philippines which once belonged to Taiwan while the US looks on despite its treaty with the Philippines, and despite Vietnam's claiming the island.
>The Philippine Coast Guard has reported that several Chinese vessels — a Navy and Coast Guard ships with 40 "Chinese militia vessels" — have anchored in the past several days 8 to 15 kilometers off our Pag-asa Island, which it said "was well within that island's territorial waters."
>Pag-Asa Island was originally held by Taiwan, but the garrison withdrew in 1971 to avoid a typhoon, and the island was then taken by the Philippines military in its absence.
> China, Taiwan and Vietnam do not recognise Philippine sovereignty over Pag-Asa with Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry stating in 2021 that all activities violating Vietnam’s legal and historic sovereignty over the Spratly Islands were illegal in response to Philippine plans to upgrade the facilities on the island.
>The Philippine president recently said the main mission of his country’s military has changed to ensure the protection of its territory. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the urgency of shifting the military’s focus to external defence in a speech before troops on February 28.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Mar 10 2023 4:02 utc | 84
outraged@79 thank you for the link to presstv. it's been an incredible day: lavrov calling israel occupied palestine, china check mating empire on weapons sent to taiwan. it seems the Rest of Humanity has begun to act in unison.
Posted by: emersonreturn | Mar 10 2023 4:31 utc | 85
excellent discussion/lecture about underwater demolition with explosives
between Prof.Dr. Christian Rieck and Thorsten Porschmann; in German, with English subtitles (not very good translation)
Pipeline Sprengung. Bilddaten analysiert.
Wehrtechnik-Experte Thorsten Pörschmann
on Oct.23,2022
He talks about that huge explosion to destroy the pipelines. It might have been used to be seen as demonstration of the abilities of the perpetrator. Interesting technical aspects of the sabotage act, which could not have been done by amateurs, without large technical backup, possibly submarine use, and the fact that the pipelines will not be able to be repaired, from technical and economics standpoints. The economic effect on the price of natural gas was at that time (October 2022) very minimal according to his assessment.
I am not sure, if this expert was mentioned in MoA before; no damage done if I mention it now again.
Posted by: fanto | Mar 10 2023 4:42 utc | 86
Sorry, here the link to the video
https://odysee.com/@MaxWende:f/Wehrtechnik-Experte-analysiert-Drohnen-Bilder-der-Pipeline--Sprengung---Prof.-Dr.-Christian-Rieck-im-Gespraech-mit-Thorsten-Poerschmann---Oktober-2022:9
Posted by: fanto | Mar 10 2023 4:49 utc | 87
The Infographics Show uploaded a video about how a civil war in Russia could be like.
Posted by: Fraise | Mar 10 2023 5:06 utc | 88
Michael Shellenberger and Matt Taibbi testified this morning before the USG House Judiciary Committee Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government at their Hearing on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on the Twitter Files.
Shellenberger coined the term Censorship Industrial Complex to describe their findings, an incestuous web of government agencies, social media platforms, corporate media and a panoply of gov funded NFOs collaborating to shape, control and punish free speech.
Who’s in the Censorship-Industrial Complex? Twitter in 2020 helpfully compiled a list for a working group set up in 2020.The National Endowment for Democracy, the Atlantic Council’s DFRLab, and Hamilton 68’s creator, the Alliance for Securing Democracy, are key...
Color revolutioned.
Posted by: suzan | Mar 10 2023 5:35 utc | 89
In further puerile troll news...
The email address available at the web site linked to in my moniker is now getting me signed up to various web sites that I have never been to.
Isn't that precious.......such poor losers we have in our world. They will find the merit based world of China/Russia and that axis will not be kind to them or others like them.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 5:36 utc | 90
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 3:47 utc | 81
I just had a thought, psychohistorian, that even as we scroll past them, those that try to take on others persona here might be exposing themselves to more than just a duplicitous act. They must, in fact, be reading what one is posting, and it's always possible some of that reading penetrates, however unconsciously.
At any rate, it is always a solidifying moment when this occurs. I hope some of that rubs off on those who would make such attempts.
A new world is being born, inch by inch. Just as you always say.
In your own words, of course ;)
Posted by: juliania | Mar 10 2023 5:42 utc | 91
India bought Russian oil at hefty discount, along with China. With the drop in oil prices and especially urals crude, Russia would make almost no profit on this when expenses, including shipping, insurance and so, are added. EU's very lucrative market, previous its biggest buyer, is gone for good.
How is Moscow winning ?
Posted by: Jaguar | Mar 10 2023 5:47 utc | 92
Posted by: Surferket | Mar 10 2023 0:35 utc | 52
The Chinese haven't been providing any arms to Russia, but they will most likely start doing that now in the SAME volume as US is providing Taiwan with arms. That was what their foreign ministry claimedly stated.
They have however been providing other assistance, first of all field munition rations, and technical assistance and machines at factories. Of course they buy and re-distribute oil and other resources too.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 10 2023 5:48 utc | 93
Within two years, Russia will be irrelevant - No army, no economy, no ally.
Posted by: Jevo Twit | Mar 10 2023 5:50 utc | 94
Below is the posting title of a ZH piece exposing more US corruption
Why Are They Afraid? Is The Release Of Suppressed J6 Footage Really A "Threat To Our Democracy"?
The quote
Numerous Democrat leaders and some NeoCon politicians, without taking time to acknowledge the implications of the surveillance being presented by Tucker Carlson, have immediately denounced the footage as “lies” and “sleight of hand.” Senator Chuck Schumer was quick to go on the attack, calling Carlson's recent segment on J6 a “perversion” of the truth. Not only that, but Schumer openly called for Rupert Murdoch to stop Carlson and remove him.Why? Because “our democracy depends on” the censorship of such materials.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 5:51 utc | 95
Posted by: Jaguar | Mar 10 2023 5:47 utc | 92
"Russian companies got far more money from selling the country’s oil than previously thought in the weeks that followed the imposition of a price cap on the nation’s exports, a group of academics said.
The research weakens the idea that the price limits are crushing Moscow’s revenue to fund the war in Ukraine.
Russia’s crude fetched an average of about $74 a barrel in the four weeks that followed the cap, according to calculations by experts including from the Institute of International Finance, Columbia University and University of California. That’s about a quarter above the threshold — $60 a barrel — that the Group of Seven set from Dec. 5."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-24/researchers-say-russia-is-selling-oil-far-above-the-price-cap
What's going on here? India and China buy the oil well above price cap, and resell it at even higher price to Europe. India even refines the oil to fuels.
Why is this? Because if Europe shut itself completely from Russian oil, they would be paying $150 for US and Saudi oil alone, and Russia would be paying $40 for Russian oil. But this clearly isn't happening, the market tends to balance itself out, oil being a universal and global commodity. Price cap is for public consumption to dumbed downed Wasterners.
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 10 2023 5:56 utc | 96
"Russia would be paying $40 for Russian oil." meant "China would be paying $40 for Russian oil"
Posted by: unimperator | Mar 10 2023 5:57 utc | 97
uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 3:52 utc | 83
FAKE.... not me
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Mar 10 2023 6:06 utc | 98
Having a bit of spare time this afternoon I thought I would analyse the timestamps on the proliferation of unwelcome troll posts. All utc.
17.56 an isolated example.
Then five posts between 19.36 and 20.50. All different handles but suggestive of a single idiot posting perhaps from Europe or the Americas.
An isolated post at 03.58 relating to that world renowned publication, the Barents Observer, That would be about 5am in Norway so maybe not from the editor but from his sole readership somewhere in the Americas.
Then a spasm of three between 5.06 and 5.50. Looks like our previous prolific clown had a good night’s sleep and is now treating us to his/her worldly wisdom again. Ukraine looks likely, stopping at 22.50 and restarting at 7.06 local time. Having breakfast just now.
I haven't included the fakes. Pity they've strayed from the Ukraine thread, their usual hangout, it's normally very civilised in here.
Posted by: Walt | Mar 10 2023 6:28 utc | 99
Tonight from Reuters
SINGAPORE, March 10 (Reuters) - Falling bank stocks drove Asian markets lower on Friday, while bonds rallied and expectations for U.S. interest rate rises were reduced after a surprise capital raising at a Silicon Valley startup lender unleashed fears of broader banking-system stress.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 10 2023 6:36 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
You most likely have heard proclaimed in the MSM_of_Lies the latest high-tech Russian weaponry deployed, that the Empire has claimed allowed RF forces to drive AFU troops before them, if not in stark raving horrified terror, in Bahkmut, Avdiivka & elsewhere recently.
Behold, the genesis & evolutionary development over more than a century of the Russian military equipment designations, MPL-50 v.1869, 1917 & 1939, CS92SF & SIS-50 (The high-tech Chinese analogue is WJQ-308):
Intro - History - Combat - Everyday Use - Outro.
Note: Common additional secondary uses include: Lethal close-quarter combat, short-ranged thrown projectile, cooking & traditional serving of pancakes.
Posted by: Outraged | Mar 9 2023 15:32 utc | 1