The MoA Week In Review – (Not Ukraine) OT 2023-85

As far as the allegedly leaked amerikan documents go, they don’t take much study to determine that they are to use le Carre’s preferred nouns: eyewash diluted with chickenfeed.
Some dingbat from one of the alphabet branches of the deep state has concocted a lot of tossage insinuating that they have inside information from up and down Russia’s command chain, mixed it with a load of chickenfeed i.e. assorted pieces of sigint which Russia probably guesses amerika has scraped anyway, put it on a discord server of all places then phoned up those two well known critics of amerikan intelligence /s the new york times and the washington post and told them where to find it, along with a strong suggestion that they post what they find.
The entire purpose of this antique 20th century ‘op’ is to convince Russia that their command chain is unreliable, when it is anything but. You will notice all the alleged leaks from Russian officers are historic i.e. they only predict things which have already occured, there is nothing there about future plans quite simply because amerikan intelligence doesn’t know now and has never known what Russia plans to do next.
My, my, the seppos are getting desperate.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Apr 9 2023 13:32 utc | 1

Gethsemane || Jesus Christ Superstar
John Farnham – Gethsemane (1992 Australian cast – Sydney final night)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5woMZtClhI

Posted by: Melaleuca | Apr 9 2023 13:41 utc | 2

Has anybody here seen the whole package of the „leaked“ docs? Or just those 5 or 6 Ukraine-related ones?

Posted by: Zet | Apr 9 2023 14:31 utc | 3

thank you b!
i check some of these links out…
@ debs…. i agree with you… i doubt the ruskies will fall for any of these bullshit either…

Posted by: james | Apr 9 2023 14:34 utc | 4

happy easter everyone!
i checked out the ‘human destiny in ukraine’ article.. it is quite depressing…
richard steven hack has a substack post up for anyone interested…
UPDATE ON THE UKRAINE CONFLICT

Posted by: james | Apr 9 2023 14:49 utc | 5

Assessment of recent Macron & von der Leyen to Beijing

🇷🇺 Alexey Pushkov, Senator of the Russian Federation, on Macron’s and von der Leyen’s visit to China:
It is clear that Macron’s and von der Leyen’s visit to Beijing was not a success. Not only were the dignitaries seated in uncomfortably low office chairs on wheels (so much so that their legs could not be stretched out – they rested against the desk; a well-known politician in France called this “Chinese torture”), and not only did they send von der Leyen back as an ordinary air passenger, but they did not meet any of the visitors’ political wishes.
They suggested that Xi should change his approach to Russia – and failed. They asked him to have a phone conversation with Zelensky. Again, a failure: Xi declined the request, saying that the conversation would take place at the right time (or it would not, as could have been understood).
Von der Leyen tried to threaten China with consequences if it helped Russia with arms. Beijing clearly did not appreciate her behavior. In the end – von der Leyen left for good.
And Macron left with a broad joint statement that says Beijing has no intention of quarrelling with Europe, which is important commercially and economically for China. But Beijing will not allow the EU to dictate the rules of China’s geopolitical game.
This is, to put it mildly, an unfortunate outcome for the West in terms of its stated objectives.

https://t.me/ukraine_watch/932

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 9 2023 14:55 utc | 6

No matter which side wins, they all lose.
– “We are dying.” State Duma deputy explains the low unemployment rate in Russia –
” The low level of unemployment in Russia is associated with the extinction of the population and partial mobilization, Mikhail Delyagin, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, said on the air of the Govorit Moskva radio station. So there is no reason to be proud of this indicator, the deputy believes.
“Where will you get strength if you destroy yourself? If we have a natural population decline in the year before last for a million people, the extinction of people, and no one is punished for this, ”complained Delyagin.
According to the deputy, in 2022 the natural population decline amounted to about 600 thousand people. About 100,000 more left (if you count those who returned later). “But still minus 700 thousand people,” the deputy summed up. ”
https://www.banki.ru/news/lenta/?id=10982317

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 15:04 utc | 7

my brother turned me onto this site.. the lady seems very bright and sharp.. others might be interested…
https://wrenchinthegears.com/

Posted by: james | Apr 9 2023 15:17 utc | 8

that Declassified UK article is good.. it shows why the media is the cesspool it is today.. totally one sided bullshit thanks gov’ts throwing money in this direction… may as well call it gov’t money for propaganda.. that is what it is..

Posted by: james | Apr 9 2023 15:38 utc | 9

The airlines are going to be doing a lot of business in Israel next week.
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the “Islamic world should be united against Israel’s attacks in Palestine” during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, according to Turkish media.
“The Turkish and Iranian presidents discussed the current situation at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in a phone call on 7 April, the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications said.
“In addition, the Turkish president placed importance on preserving the status of the holy sites and emphasized “reasonable thinking” in regard to the current escalations.
“The Jerusalem Post also reported that Erdogan condemned recent Israeli police actions and said that the acts crossed a “red line.”
“I condemn the vile acts against the first qiblah of Muslims in the name of my country and people, and I call for the attacks to be halted as soon as possible,” he said.
“On Friday, the Israeli army launched limited air strikes against targets in Gaza and southern Lebanon, excluding any Hezbollah positions to avoid an expansion of the current conflict…
“…Thursday’s resistance attack was set off by Israel’s brutal assault on Palestinian worshippers observing Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on 5 April….”
https://thecradle.co/article-view/23464/erdogan-demands-muslims-unite-against-israel

Posted by: bevin | Apr 9 2023 15:40 utc | 10

The thought of the head of the CIA going to Saudi Arabia all butt hurt about peace breaking out without any US involvement and complaining to MBS kind of made my weekend. Hopefully such butt hurt continues to happen on a regular basis.
My next part of the US chapter US: From the New Deal to the Age of Diminishing Expectations (1933 to 1979)

Posted by: Roger | Apr 9 2023 15:42 utc | 11

This should help lower the temperature: Israel is arming fanatics and urging them to kill, kill, kill…
“The Israeli government approved earlier this month the plan to establish a “national guard” under the direct command of far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben Gvir.
“Palestinians say the force, which will focus on working against “riots” or “crime” in Palestinian areas within Israel, will be used to target them.
“The force, which has been opposed by senior Israeli security figures, will have a one billion shekels budget (around $277m) and employ around 2,000 guards who will have the same authority as police officers.
“Ben Gvir has already started mulling candidates to command the force to ensure its agenda aligns with his.
“According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, one of the leading candidates is Avinoam Emunah, a retired colonel known for encouraging his soldiers to enjoy killing Palestinians, refusing to work with a woman, and for his strict religious views…
“…Emunah punished his soldiers who did not use enough violence in the Gaza Strip.
“A video filmed during the 2014 war on Gaza showed him telling his soldiers that it’s going to “much less pleasant” to be an Arab.
“Much of the time, you’ll be seeing them fleeing… Kill them as they flee,” he is heard telling his soldiers in the video.
“Smile, guys. You should enjoy it. Try to enjoy it.”

Posted by: bevin | Apr 9 2023 15:48 utc | 12

From: https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2023/04/06/the-fallacy-of-a-us-withdrawal-from-the-middle-east/
“While Saudi Arabia and Iran may have had good reason to opt for China as the sponsor of their improved relations, it is not clear why the kingdom would need Moscow to restore its relations with Syria.
If Saudi Arabia and Syria reestablish relations and involve Russia, it would likely be a gesture at a time when the country is sanctioned by the United States, Europe, and some of their Asian allies rather than because Moscow actually had a substantial contribution to make. It’s doubtful that the two Arab states need Russian approval; nor would Russia object as it serves a Russian interest in sustaining its putative status as a regional player.”
Never mind how he misses the OPEC+ and BRICS+ agenda entirely, or Russia’s superbly skilled diplomats needed to implement such a challenging undertaking, the author is ignoring the most important factor that underscores Russia’s role. I would have thought it was also the most obvious:
Russia is needed as the ultimate security guarantor.
Since 2015, after intervening directly in Syria and opposing the US right on what up until then they considered ‘their’ battlefield, Russia has shown both a willingness and an ability to oppose the US militarily, It is the only country with that ability and, depending on how Ukraine turns out, will be the only country to not just survive but actually prevail in a war against the US/Nato, both militarily and economically.
The author also ignores how just like the US controls 1/3 of Syria with a trip wire force of about 1-2000 men, so does Russia to control the other 2/3. It is already doing similar small force ‘protection’ in Moldova and Armenia, so who’s to say it won’t do it for someone else in the Middle East? The author still doesn’t understand Russia doesn’t need all the legacy air fields and aircraft carriers the US has there, when it has missiles that can knock them all out in minutes from the Black and Caspian Seas that project ultimate hypersonic conventional power, no nukes even needed.
Without Russia by its side, or at least the threat of siding more strongly with it, Saudi Arabia would not dare stand up to the US, simply because they would end up like the other former US ally, Iraq: invaded and destroyed.

Posted by: Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 15:52 utc | 13

@Posted by: bevin | Apr 9 2023 15:48 utc | 12
The “national guard” would be one more step of the Israeli government to copy the Nazi’s and fascists generally, their own version of “brown shirts” or the SA. It does seem that they have stepped back from this after the Israeli demonstrations.

Posted by: Roger | Apr 9 2023 15:59 utc | 14

Happy Easter to all barflies!
Peace on Earth!

Posted by: lulu | Apr 9 2023 16:14 utc | 15

@Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 15:52 utc | 13
How about the existing US Military Bases in Saudi Arabia? It seems ‘inconvenient’ with US bases and Russia as as the ultimate security guarantor at the same time.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 9 2023 16:17 utc | 16

I am of the opinion that it is too early to tell about the recent leaked documents but then you have the Reuters posting below that makes you go Hmmmmmmmmm?
SEOUL, April 9 (Reuters) – South Korea is aware of news reports about a leak of several classified U.S. military documents and it plans to discuss “issues raised” as a result of the leak with the United States, a South Korean presidential official said on Sunday.
Any barflies got some details on what this is about?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 9 2023 16:24 utc | 17

NYT: U.S. Sends Attack Submarine to Middle East as Tensions Rise Between Iran and Israel
Officials said the move was meant as a deterrent against Iran and to maintain the stability of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
USA is threatening a war to defend the right of Israel to kill Iranians (and Syrians) in Syria. The classic question “what can go wrong” does not apply perhaps, things are already in the wrong. But the question “what can go worse” can be pondered.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 9 2023 16:25 utc | 18

I have nothing deep and involved to contribute (plus it is probably more appropriate for the other ‘Ukraine’ thread). Nevertheless, I find the neat compartmentalization of the world – not in the psychological sense, but in the sense that Alistair Crooke seems headed towards in his ‘Strategic Culture’ piece – as too facile. Perhaps one example will do enough to debunk it: How “woke” do you think those Azov and Banderista adherents are? How readily would they accept a transsexual or drag queen into their ranks?

Posted by: Maracatu | Apr 9 2023 16:41 utc | 19

It should perhaps be noted that Col. Lang of the Turcopolier blog passed away this past week. There was a convergence of views between blogs during the height of the Syrian conflict, and it was interesting to note the sharp disagreements directed against “the blob” within factions of the US military community. Pressures related to Trump and Covid created fractures over the past few years, and clear-thinking became less prevalent or reliable as the Ukraine commentary began to rely on press releases from Kiev and London. Still, RIP Mr Lang.

Posted by: jayc | Apr 9 2023 17:02 utc | 20

@ Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 9 2023 16:17 utc | 16
I don’t know at what point those US bases in KSA would become legitimate targets, but even Iran has proven they are sitting ducks for a state actor with an axe to grind and an arsenal of missiles.
Perhaps the point i forgot to make was, that for all the billions invested in US weapons, protection and infrastructure, the Saudi’s golden goose, its oil fields, and even its airport in the capital, were left vulnerable to be blown up by lowly Yemen’s cheap drones. You tell me if that seems like a good investment, and whether that really makes the Saudis feel secure looking forward. Furthermore, once the regional threat, Iran, has been eliminated with a peace deal, the next threat KSA will need protecting from will be the US.
So if US planes can be shot down, US air fields, ships and army men can be bombed by missiles, and Saudi assets can’t be defended by US supplied AA, it makes perfect sense to look at the provider of the world’s best air defence systems and the only one to have operational hypersonic missiles, and likely to be for the foreseeable future.
To answer your question as to how that deal would be negotiated and explained to the Americans, or what form it would take, i will gladly leave it for the Saudis to work out. Presumably there are strategic moves discussed in parallel with BRICS, SCO et al. to deny the US Gov’t the option of printing US petrodollars ad infinitum to pay for all its foreign military bases. What was once an asset could quickly become a liability, particularly when a few of them start to go boom and bills at home are not being paid.
That is how the US pulled out of Lebanon in 1983, back in a time when it knew its place in the world, realised it was not invincible, because it wasn’t the sole superpower. We are heading back to those days, the only factor is the extent and manner in which the US will adjust to the new reality. So far, not so well. It took it 20 years to leave Afghanistan, but it did eventually leave. An optimist may see it simply as this: if the US were in KSA to protect the petrodollar, and the petrodollar is gone one day, what reason will they still have to be there?
Anyway, my previous comment was mainly aimed at the author’s failure to recognise how this issue of security goes to the heart of both why the Syrian and Yemen (ie Iran v KSA) wars are ending, and why Russia is a key part of that conversation.

Posted by: Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 17:11 utc | 21

@ jayc | Apr 9 2023 17:02 utc | 20
thanks jayc… has ttg started up his own blog? i know larry johnson has been very successful in this… i recall him posting at pats site long ago.. b did as well, until pat grew tired of him.. pat grew tired of many who didn’t see eye to eye with him.. i enjoyed him for a time..

Posted by: james | Apr 9 2023 17:26 utc | 22

Maracatu @19: “How readily would they accept a transsexual or drag queen into their ranks?”
Seems the Ukrainian Nazis are a little more “inclusive” than their ideological forebears, at least where twinks are concerned: Semen(imgbox).

Posted by: William Gruff | Apr 9 2023 17:32 utc | 23

I h ave just watched the eminently sensible Larry Johnson discussion with Judge Neapolitano. Larry makes an excellent point which I believe, highlights the arrogance and stupidity of the Collective West MSM and the USA Govt. He said that, at a time when the US$ is at genuine and ever growing risk of disappearing as the reserve currency and as a viable international trade currency, that the RoW is moving now very rapidly towards BRICS and doing business with other currencies in their own currency, of the fact that antagonism towards Ukraine amongst the peoples of Europe is reaching serious proportions in terms of anti Government Demonstrations, of the fact that African Nations are now acting towards the USA in an antagonistic manner and the fact that the USA economy is practically dead as a Dodo and bankruptcy looms and that China and Russia have now taken centre stage as the proponents of Peace, Fair Trading and Multipolarism, the Collective West and the USA Govt are glorifying the fact that Finland has now joined NATO. Larry Johnson is completely dismissive of this. It isn’t important right now in the scheme of things in the World Order yet the collective West are trumpeting this achievement as wunderbar as they have nothing else to gloat about.
I think Larry is right. Is Finland joining NATO such a big deal? No. Who will it affect most? Finland of course. Larry’s comments very clearly clarified my focus on what are serious priorities in the world at the moment and Finland joining NATO (to their detriment) is not one of them.

Posted by: Jo Dominich | Apr 9 2023 18:03 utc | 24

Did anyone catch this interesting tidbit from RT as it provides great insight into whats really going on ? In a nut shell, Russia is practically giving away oil, while India an d China make a profit. and the EU pays ” competitive ” prices. Its a comedy after all !
” Discounted crude from Russia allowed Asian processing plants to boost production and sell oil products to the EU at a competitive price. ”
https://www.rt.com/business/574246-india-eu-diesel-exports-soar/

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 18:10 utc | 25

@Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 17:11 utc | 21
Thanks for the response, quite a few good points! I remember the Lebanon 1983 adventure, I don’t think the Saudi bases will last very long of the petrodollar is no more.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 9 2023 18:26 utc | 26

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 18:10 utc | 25
Not a single mention is made of price, production levels in Russia. The article merely says “discounted crude from Russia…” which any fool should be able to understand could mean a discount of 2% or less under market price. That small discount would allow India, which has a high capacity for refining, to turn a huge profit over what they would normally get from other (OPEC) countries. Do you really think the Russians are stupid? You must because everything you ever write on this topic makes the implicit assumption that Russia is losing money rather than making slightly less than they would have without the sanctions. Show us some data on how much it costs Russia to extract a barrell of oil from the ground and some exact pricing offered to countries like India and maybe we can have a discussion. Otherwise you’re just concern trolling as usual, and if I learned anything here, it’s why nobody else has responded to you yet.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 19:32 utc | 27

Posted by: William Gruff | Apr 9 2023 17:32 utc | 23
Jesus Christ, Mr. Gruff. I’ll never be able to unsee that!

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 19:33 utc | 28

Posted by: jayc | Apr 9 2023 17:02 utc | 20
(RIP Pat Lang)
Thanks for the heads-up.
I used to enjoy lurking at turcopolier until his patience and manners declined.
I’m pretty sure he never fully recovered from a nasty collision with COVID.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 9 2023 19:38 utc | 29

From Politico (please hold the rotten fruit), Europe must resist pressure to become ‘America’s followers,’ says Macron. Interesting, but one might well question the sincerity of Macron’s comments.

Posted by: David Levin | Apr 9 2023 19:45 utc | 30

Yes, as I’ve continually reported, Russia’s demographic problem IS a problem and was recently discussed by Putin in his Meeting with Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko that occurred last Friday. Here’s their opening exchange:

Vladimir Putin: Mikhail Albertovich, let’s start with the most important thing and probably the most difficult issue is demographics. Did you want just to start with this topic.
M.Murashko: Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!
First of all, I wanted to say that as of today, we have a decline in COVID cases the medical and demographic situation is improving – this is an additional increase life expectancy.
And in terms of indicators in general infant mortality we also see that the lowest rates are again for the entire history of the Russian Federation.
Speaking of the adult population, Oncology indicators showed themselves well, I will touch on this a little later. 4.5 per cent in the last two years had a rate of decline in mortality.
For cardiovascular diseases – COVID, unfortunately, has given an increase, because the infection itself gave, among other things, complications of a thrombophilic nature, thrombosis Caused. COVID has declined, we, first of all, have learned how to treat it. and prevention, and the situation today compared to with 2019 – ten percent lower figure mortality from cardiovascular diseases. But here is the complex Events.
I would like to note that if we are talking about oncology, then early diagnosis [plays a role]. Though during the period of high rise in the incidence of [COVID-19], we had to limit preventive measures, examinations and medical examinations because there was a risk of infection, but as soon as the rise ended, we immediately resumed the flexible schedule. And plus a large number of course, X-ray studies were carried out in a timely manner diagnose lung diseases.
Today, oncology is actually available all types of therapy. Chemotherapy – only in the last three years the number of chemotherapy courses had increased by almost 50 per cent; almost by 40 percent of the number of schemes used in modern chemotherapy, increased. Photon therapy became available: equipment, which used to be not represented in all centres – today this is already done by regional cancer centers. For the first time we have proton therapy appeared in the arsenal of oncological treatment diseases – four thousand patients in the last two with a little over a year passed [treatment].

Overall, the situation’s improving and having large families is deemed patriotic and comes with additional state support. Plus, living conditions continue to rapidly improve nationally along with pay as more people get lifted out of poverty–all of which are national priorities. IMO, the picture isn’t as gloomy as was painted above. The crucial assessment date is 2030 for all current national strategic projects, while each is reviewed annually.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 9 2023 19:47 utc | 31

Posted by: David Levin | Apr 9 2023 19:45 utc | 30
Xi probably told Macron what’s the actual deal here. Either gain strategic sovereignty for France (and EU) or get lost in the annals of history. Macron, for the Boy-King he is, probably received and processed at least some of the message.
But as you say, anything like this coming from Macron must be really doubted for sincerity.

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 9 2023 20:00 utc | 32

Let’s see if the ‘peaceful China’ can pull this off.
from The Hill:
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday that China could take over Taiwan in the next election “without a shot fired” in response to a question about if the people there wanted a military confrontation.
“Now there’s a political debate here, the two different parties. One party wants to talk to China. President Tsai’s party does not want to be a part of China,” he told NBC News’ Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.” . . .here
The 16th President and Vice President election of the Republic of China is scheduled to be held in Taiwan on 13 January 2024. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who was reelected in 2020, is ineligible to seek a third term. The winner of the 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be inaugurated on 20 May 2024.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 9 2023 20:08 utc | 33

” Not a single mention is made of price, production levels in Russia. The article merely says “discounted crude from Russia…” which any fool should be able to understand could mean a discount of 2% or less under market price. That small discount would allow India, which has a high capacity for refining, to turn a huge profit over what they would normally get from other (OPEC) countries. Do you really think the Russians are stupid? You must because everything you ever write on this topic makes the implicit assumption that Russia is losing money rather than making slightly less than they would have without the sanctions. Show us some data on how much it costs Russia to extract a barrell of oil from the ground and some exact pricing offered to countries like India and maybe we can have a discussion. Otherwise you’re just concern trolling as usual, and if I learned anything here, it’s why nobody else has responded to you yet.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 19:32 utc | 27 ”
Learn to read, it says the EU is getting oil at ” COMPETITIVE ” prices. Secondly, use logic , why does Russia need to sell oil at severely discounted prices only to have India and China resell it to Russia’s , publicly declared enemies, at ” COMPETITIVE ” prices ? What 5d strategy is that ?
Finally, if Russia is so set on selling oil, indirectly, to its enemies why not shutdown the pipeline through Ukraine and just have its other customers buy through India and China ? Does giving continued income to the Ukie regime make sense ?
In fact, I’d wager the reason we dont hear much about the price cap is because India and China are actually selling to the EU at its level.
None of this passes the logic test.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 20:16 utc | 34

. . .from SCMP
US-Philippines defence cooperation hits turbulence amid domestic opposition
While the Marcos administration continues to push for closer defence ties with Washington, a domestic coalition has risen up in anger over the president’s plans
Members of the Filipino-Chinese business community, former president Rodrigo Duterte and even Marcos’ sister are collectively resisting a fully fledged alignment with the US against China . . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 9 2023 20:18 utc | 35

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 20:16 utc | 34
What doesn’t pass the logic test is your understanding of the intricacies of the global oil market.
For your starter for 10, which specific grade of Russian oil are you referring to?
Is it:
A) ESPO
B) Sakhalin Blend
C) Siberian Light
D) Sokol
E) Urals
???
Which one of these grades is being sold at “severely discounted prices”?
Don’t forget to show your sums in the margins…

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 20:29 utc | 36

” Which one of these grades is being sold at “severely discounted prices”?
Don’t forget to show your sums in the margins…
Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 20:29 utc | 36 ”
Its the grade being sold, in virtual secrecy, at “Competitive ” prices to Russia’s sworn enemies. Now instead of being a smart ass why dont you address my questions instead of avoiding them with ” intricacies ” ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 20:34 utc | 37

Forgot to add: you should state whether you are measuring your ”severely discounted prices” in US$ terms or in ₽ terms.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 20:37 utc | 38

Or indeed, troy ounces per barrel.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 20:38 utc | 39

karlof1 | Apr 9 2023 19:47 utc | 31
Demographics is an interesting thing. Western demographics would be in a far worse state than Russia. Some women choose not to have children. A family now seems to consist of at most two children. Numbers are made up for by migration from countries that often have large families.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 9 2023 20:48 utc | 40

Its the grade being sold, in virtual secrecy, at “Competitive ” prices

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 20:34 utc | 37
So there we have it, you have no idea what grade is being sold, at what price, or even which currency is being used for those transactions.
The adjustment to the growing global multipolarity is going to fry a lot of neurons, I think I can detect some fizzing and sparking coming from your cranium…

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 21:02 utc | 41

Deplorable Commissar @ 34:
I read the RT article you linked to @ 25. You are reading far too much into the “discounted” prices at which Russia is selling oil to India, and ditto for the “competitive” prices at which India is reselling the oil to Europe, with its own costs of refinement and any other charges (for shipping, for shipping insurance and so on) Indian refiners and exporters want to add.
As Tom Q Collins @ 27, the actual discount may be only a small percentage of the sale price at which Russia is selling oil to India. The “competitive” prices at which India resells the oil may be more, perhaps far, far more, than the Europeans would be paying if they were purchasing directly from Russia. The prices then, are not competitive for the Europeans.
BTW doesn’t the pipeline going through Ukraine that you referred to @ 34 transport natural gas instead of oil? And Russia’s continuing supply of gas to Ukraine shows goodwill on the part of Russians, to demonstrate that Russians have nothing against Ukrainians, that it is the post-Maidan Ukrainian govt whom Moscow is in conflict with.
You definitely owe Tom an apology but somehow I doubt that we barflies will see it.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:08 utc | 42

Any barflies got some details on what this is about?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 9 2023 16:24 utc | 17
Brian Berletic has spoken about the leaked document in a couple of videos and Martyanov has something on them in his latest.
Martyanov believes it to to do with the coming tribunals Russia will hold. Perhaps to be put alongside the records from the Biolabs Russia raided.
US is an exceptionally corrupt place. But there are also Manning’s and Snowden’s. Every whistle blower in the past decades has been persecuted. To me that means those sort of people that don’t like what they see will send the information elsewhere. Like the scientists that worked on the Manhattan Project.
Martyanov thinks Russia simply payed for them which is not out of the ballpark.
Berletic also thinks they are most likely genuine but by using Ukraine numbers of Russian casualties show that US has no understanding of what is going on. He also warns that this could be a deliberate leak containing some but not all false information.
Overall the opinion seems to be that the leak was genuine. I haven’t bothered to read through it.
As for SK and the Reuters article, that is interesting.
“One of the documents, obtained by Reuters, showed details about internal discussions among top South Korean top officials about U.S. pressure on Seoul to help supply weapons to Ukraine, and its policy of not doing so.”
“The report was based in part on signals intelligence, which suggests that the United States had been spying on one of its most important South Korean allies.”
Modus operandi. SK has been garrisoned by US occupation forces since WWII. The US assets will make token noises to pacify the public.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 9 2023 21:16 utc | 43

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:08 utc | 42
Indeed the whole question of a “discount” entirely depends on the currency the transaction is measured in.
Now wouldn’t it be fun if Russia and India had agreed to exchange gold for oil…
A “discount” in US$ terms becomes meaningless in a bilateral transaction such as that.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 21:20 utc | 44

Peter AU 1@ 40:
The current childbearing age cohort (20s – 30s) in Russia is (I believe) very small compared to other age demographic groups. This is the generation that was born in the 1990s (the Yeltsin period), during which living standards crashed. The impact of this period on Russia’s annual birth stats is likely to continue for the rest of this decade, until the generation born after the year 1999 reaches the ages at which people start having families in Russia.
Countries with the lowest fertility rates (Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain) tend to be those that expect women to bear the brunt of caring for young children and older parents, often at the same time, with little or even no assistance in the form of parental leave for parents of new babies, other forms of family support, and welfare payments and service provisions for elderly people. You’ll note these countries are notorious for having very conservative cultural or religious attitudes about women’s place in society.
Property prices are likely to be high in those countries, making house purchases difficult for young couples: this is particularly so in Japan and South Korea where everyone and every business wants to be in or be close to the capital (Tokyo and Seoul respectively).

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:31 utc | 45

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 20:16 utc | 34
Western notions about profit margins on crude oil are colored by the way that the industry is “regulated” and managed in the US and Canada. It probably costs Russia next to nothing to extract the crude, so coupled with the fact that they aren’t stupid, just because they are selling at a discount doesn’t mean it’s a net loss for them. Sheesh, man. Come on. Besides, where are the exact numbers?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 21:33 utc | 46

Western notions about profit margins on crude oil are colored by the way that the industry is “regulated” and managed in the US and Canada. It probably costs Russia next to nothing to extract the crude, so coupled with the fact that they aren’t stupid, just because they are selling at a discount doesn’t mean it’s a net loss for them. Sheesh, man. Come on. Besides, where are the exact numbers?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 21:33 utc | 46
Agreed, plus our friend Disposable Antimacassar makes the all too common mistake of continuing to price bilateral oil transactions in US$. The parties involved will choose a mutually beneficial arrangement that may, or may not, involve measurement via the dollar as an intermediary currency.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 21:44 utc | 47

” So there we have it, you have no idea what grade is being sold, at what price, or even which currency is being used for those transactions.
Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 21:02 utc | 41 ”
However, can you find that data ? For starters, how much is India charging the EU, and in what currency is it being paid in ?
Thanks for proving my point completely.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 21:44 utc | 48

West of England Andy @ 44:
I should think Russia and India would be trading in rubles. At present the current value of the ruble against the US dollar is low but its value will also depend on the demand for it from other countries to buy other Russian exports (like wheat) if Russia starts to insist on payment in rubles. The value of the ruble is likely to rise in spite of the sanctions against Russia.
Also regardless of how much Russia discounts the sale price of crude oil exports to India, whatever Indian exporters of refined oil charge to Europeans will be independent of what those exporters paid for the crude oil. The Indians probably prefer gold but are likely to be paid in US dollars.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:46 utc | 49

Can someone explain the following to me, please?
The EU and US put a “price cap” on Russian oil. Russian oil is not being purchased directly from that country because of the embargo. So if Russia wants to sell oil to India, for whatever price, how is the EU to know whether the jet fuel or diesel they are buying from India is of Russian origin or not? There’s no price cap on jet gas or diesel is there? All that we know is that India is selling to EU countries at “competitive prices.” But this is the refined product we’re talking about. So on what markets is Russia currently selling its oil at the $60US price cap and is India purchasing the crude (of course depending on grade) according to the EU/US imposed caps? Same goes for other countries who are purchasing from Russia directly. China and Turkey are in the top 5 along with India. Are we to believe that China is abiding by this price cap or is Russian crude being sold to them at a discount, but somewhere between the capped USD price and “market value”?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 21:52 utc | 50

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:46 utc | 49
I hadn’t hit refresh in time to see your comment that partially answers my questions # @50 just above. That – and what West of England Andy says about the currencies involved (or gold) – leads me to believe that 1) Nobody has any idea what India or China (even Turkey despite them being NATO) is paying for Russian crude (or what grade) and 2) It’s highly likely that this $60USD price cap imposed by the EU and US is probably being ‘halved’ at the most in sales to countries like India, China and Turkey – meaning that they know Russian oil can only sell in some other countries for $60/bbl but to purchase it directly from Russia they are willing to pay something in the range of $60+ some amount that brings the total to slighly less than market value.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 21:56 utc | 51

However, can you find that data ? For starters, how much is India charging the EU, and in what currency is it being paid in ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 21:44 utc | 48
You made the initial assertion, without backing it up, which strikes me as typical troll behaviour.
In case you (likely) misunderstood my earlier question: which currency are you using to measure Russia’s “severely discounted prices” in?

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 22:02 utc | 52

I thought this was old news about the profit India is making with its arbitrage. I’ve seen enough stories about it over many months that I never bothered to bookmark anything. Europe is getting screwed by the US over LNG, and is also paying a premium to the intermediaries selling petroleum products to it, that are coming from Russia and Iran, through India and other countries.
The fundamentals are very clear: politically, EU countries must toe the line and embargo Russian hydrocarbons, but existentially, they need the products. So in reality they buy them through subterfuge while keeping the tough narrative of moving away from Russia.
I even saw a story somewhere illustrating a growing partnership between Russia and Iran at the shipping level, since the latter is a master at selling hydrocarbons to countries that are also embargoing it.
The reality is funny. The troll is part of the fun – all that’s left are cheap words, while oil, gas and money talk the real conversation.

Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:03 utc | 53

This is interesting:
Rupee closer to replacing dollar as 18 nations agree to trade in INR
From what I can tell, Russia’s main concern is that it doesn’t want to accumulate too many Rupees as reserves, since India has a trade deficit with Russia, buying more than it sells there. I don’t know how real that is, not sure about the source, but it probably is one of the great concerns between the Eurasian nations as they devise alternatives to the USD.
Nouriel Roubini seems to think that India would be willing to be a reserve currency.
These are the things the grown-ups are thinking about. Trolls, not so much.

Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:18 utc | 54

As to demographics and shrinking populations, I get the impression that since the recent vaccines, the fertility rate is dropping significantly in many nations – probably coincidence /s.
So although I don’t have stats to hand – and maybe they’re not that, uhm, fecund yet anyway – even so we may start to see population concerns in much of the west over the next year or two.
That’s if their governments are actually concerned about declining populations, of course.

Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:22 utc | 55

The reality is funny. The troll is part of the fun – all that’s left are cheap words, while oil, gas and money talk the real conversation.

Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:03 utc | 53
Yep, the trolls are comical fun. They have no idea what is coming towards them, they still regard the US$ as a stable measure of value; oh boy are they in trouble! As are the currencies that leverage their strength off of the dollar, such as the £, the € and the ¥.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 22:23 utc | 56

“..The war-loving romantics of Congress haven’t seen a dollar they wouldn’t like to send to Ukraine, even as it’s been rated by foreign aid nonprofits and humanitarian organizations as one of Europe’s most crooked countries for years, over and over.
“The firings and resignations substantively mean very little. Zelensky’s administration released no explanation for them, nor are there any official details about specific evidence of corruption, other than that one of Zelensky’s deputies rode around town in a General Motors-donated SUV that was supposed to be for “humanitarian missions” (rather than, say, for attending a Vogue cover photoshoot). There’s also something about using government funds — that is to say, U.S. taxpayer dollars — to buy eggs at an inflated price, raising the grave question: Why were they shopping for eggs in America?
“Over the course of nearly a year, the U.S. has spent $113 billion on Ukraine and counting. Every step of the way, anyone with a question about why or for whom or to what end has been shouted down as a Putin sympathizer or dismissed as anti-democracy. And then Zelensky shows up to tell us we’re not doing enough….”
This Federalist piece, recommended by b, above, makes a delicious mixture when read with this from RT today:
“..The gold and foreign currency reserves of Ukraine have reached an all-time high of $30 billion, presidential adviser Oleg Ustenko said on Sunday, adding that the funds are enough to pay for Ukrainian imports for at least five months.
“Our foreign reserves have reached a decade all-time high of over $30 billion,” Ustenko told Rada TV channel. “The amount would be enough to cover more than five months’ worth of Ukrainian imports.”
“According to Ustenko, the economic situation is considered to be stable if the reserves are sufficient to pay for the country’s imports for at least three months….”
In other words as Zelensky begging bowl in hand, demands more and more from NATO, Ukraine gets richer. It must be very tempting to take that gold and the dollars and euros too and put them in a safer place like the Cayman Islands or the Isle of Man.

Posted by: bevin | Apr 9 2023 22:24 utc | 57

I should think Russia and India would be trading in rubles. At present the current value of the ruble against the US dollar is low

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 9 2023 21:46 utc | 49
This is the thing either I don’t understand, or maybe others don’t understand; why would the US dollar be involved in a ruble/rupee exchange between Russia and India? Is the dollar somehow sacrosanct in its exchange rate? Well, yes, maybe it is, as long as everyone else is willing to sell and buy oil in US$.
It seems to me though that some kind of Catch-22 point has been reached. The dollar is only worth anything as long as everyone agrees it is worth anything.

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 22:37 utc | 58

I recommended this book (“American Midnight) a few weeks ago and Covert Action Mag has now put up a review along with some historical lessons demonstrating a couple of facts. It has always been illegal to be “left” in the United States of Capital, especially if one was well heeled/spoken or effective in his/her actions, and there is absolutely nothing new about the current regime of government-sillycone valley censorship being complained about a particular portion of the right and the anti-war movement (the latter of which recognized it immediately, the former seems to think it’s unprecedented). Plenty of current parallels to what happened during that period.
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2023/04/05/a-look-back-at-the-american-experience-in-world-war-i-shows-the-danger-of-where-we-may-be-headed/

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 22:45 utc | 59

And for Easter.
https://consortiumnews.com/2023/04/09/chris-hedges-christian-heresy/
“This talk was given ahead of Easter Sunday on Holy Thursday at a protest at Princeton Theological Seminary demanding the removal of hedge fund billionaire Michael Fisch as chair of the seminary’s trustee board.”

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 22:52 utc | 60

” I thought this was old news about the profit India is making with its arbitrage. I’ve seen enough stories about it over many months that I never bothered to bookmark anything. Europe is getting screwed by the US over LNG, and is also paying a premium to the intermediaries selling petroleum products to it, that are coming from Russia and Iran, through India and other countries.
Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:03 utc | 53 ”
It baffles me as to why so many people cant grasp the meaning of ” COMPETITIVE “. Additionally, can one of you fine scholars explain to me why China is willing to pay market prices for oil when buying from the Saudis but expects a massive discount from its awesome ” partners ” the Russians ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:15 utc | 61

” As to demographics and shrinking populations, I get the impression that since the recent vaccines, the fertility rate is dropping significantly in many nations – probably coincidence /s. ”
That’s if their governments are actually concerned about declining populations, of course.
Posted by: Grieved | Apr 9 2023 22:22 utc | 55 ”
Absolute Cohencidence, and true, the governments dont care.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:19 utc | 62

Haven’t read through all the comments, but it seems to me there are rules of behaviour among all MSM. In the case of “leaked” documents, by the MSM, one must assume that, since everything the MSM reports is biased and owned by the MIC or government, so are their leaks. That alone should indicate they are lying.
Just something I’ve noticed for several years, since I started paying attention. Another rule I learned during the pandemic: When everyone and everything is in lockstep, when everyone agrees, when the science is settled, its all bullshit.

Posted by: madmarc | Apr 9 2023 23:31 utc | 63

It baffles me as to why so many people cant grasp the meaning of ” COMPETITIVE “. Additionally, can one of you fine scholars explain to me why China is willing to pay market prices for oil when buying from the Saudis but expects a massive discount from its awesome ” partners ” the Russians ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:15 utc | 61
In which currency are your concepts of “market price”, “discount” and “COMPETITIVE” measured in? You seem keen on dodging this…

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 23:33 utc | 64

” In which currency are your concepts of “market price”, “discount” and “COMPETITIVE” measured in? You seem keen on dodging this…
Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 9 2023 23:33 utc | 64 ”
Alright, I’ll go really slowly for you as you seemed confused. Your question is the basis of my whole point. I dont know, you dont know, nobody seems to know. This information is normally plastered all over the place, yet in this scenario, everyone is dead silent.
Now, since you kept asking me the same question over and over again answer mine.
Why do China and India pay market prices to everyone , but Russia ? What kind of 5D voodoo does Russia gain by minimizing its profits ? What kind of good partners scalp a friend in a time of need ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:49 utc | 65

About the document leak Reuters is currently saying

Officials say the breadth of topics addressed in the documents, which touch on the war in Ukraine, China, the Middle East and Africa, suggests they were leaked by an American rather than an ally.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 0:28 utc | 66

Pat Lang wrote of having a very bad reaction to the covid vaccines.

Posted by: Lysias | Apr 10 2023 0:30 utc | 67

In responsed to
‘
Why do China and India pay market prices to everyone , but Russia ? What kind of 5D voodoo does Russia gain by minimizing its profits ? What kind of good partners scalp a friend in a time of need ?
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:49 utc | 65
”
You are mostly on my ignore list but thought I would point out the smoke you are blowing out your ass. If you don’t have the actual contracts between Russia and China/India then you you really don’t know shit do you?
Let alone the bigger picture energy strategies of all three countries….

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 0:36 utc | 68

@67 Lysias | Apr 10 2023 0:30 utc
I think this is what we assume now about anyone we know or hear of who died suddenly. Lang is probably included among the statistics in Ed Dowd’s latest report on excess deaths, a succinct summary of which can be found here:
Ed Dowd’s Grim Accounting
The damage is astounding. The blanket whitewash/blackout is even more astonishing.

Posted by: Grieved | Apr 10 2023 2:11 utc | 69

Sorry to hear about Col Lang.
He did a lot of good may he Rest In Peace.

Posted by: Chris | Apr 10 2023 2:20 utc | 70

In skimming headlines tonight I LOL at the Bloomberg one saying that the World Bank is considering debt restructuring.
LOL!!
When the US defaults on its fiat money debt, what will the RoW do?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 3:17 utc | 71

” You are mostly on my ignore list but thought I would point out the smoke you are blowing out your ass. If you don’t have the actual contracts between Russia and China/India then you you really don’t know shit do you?
Let alone the bigger picture energy strategies of all three countries….
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 0:36 utc | 68 ”
As much as I appreciate your words of love I wish you would just answer my questions professor ?

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 10 2023 4:38 utc | 72

Macron visiting China was accompanied by the vampire dwarf von der layen.
Macron was received with all due respect to a head of state, red carpet…
This was not the case for VDL.
Uninvited she must have gotten off the plane by the ass of the plane.
Finally, the back door.
No official welcomed him and had to reach the terminal by begging a vehicle. Confusion breaks out.
For VDL, no meeting seats or even outright exclusion, the slaps follow one another.
For the return same thing for VDL, passage through the passenger contoire with presentation of the passport please.
She drank the chalice to the end.
I still laugh about it.
But it clearly shows the consideration of the Chinese for this body (sub-state, homosexual, American) that is the EU.

Posted by: la bouteille | Apr 10 2023 4:48 utc | 73

A wide Israeli war with its neighbours is not in the cards. What one can expect is continued military harassment against the Palestinians to provoke a third Intifada that the extremists in the Knesset will use to launch a second Nakbah.
My reaction now reproduced in an article on Geopolitiek in context:
https://geopolitiekincontext.wordpress.com/2023/04/10/will-israel-start-a-big-war/

Posted by: Paul-Robert | Apr 10 2023 5:29 utc | 74

And while the economies of the West are collapsing, China is steaming ahead as evidenced by the announcement on Sunday of Musk building a new mega factory in Shanghai to produce its energy-storage product Megapack.
Also in the Xinhuanet report is the following

The country’s economic performance has gotten off to a strong start this year, showing robust growth momentum and raising investors’ confidence. In the first two months of 2023, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 6.1 percent year on year to 268.44 billion yuan (about 39.07 billion U.S. dollars).
A recent survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China also pointed to growing optimism, as over 90 percent of the participating companies considered China to be one of their most important investment destinations, while 75 percent of the surveyed companies said they plan to reinvest in China in 2023.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 5:55 utc | 75

Below is a link to a suggested read for barflies because of the content
Xiplomacy: Meetings of leaders facilitate steady, long-term development of China’s ties with France, EU
Some quotes

China and France, according to Xi, as permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, major countries with a tradition of independence, and firm advocates for a multi-polar world and for greater democracy in international relations, have the ability and responsibility to rise above differences and obstacles, keep to the overall direction of a comprehensive strategic partnership that is stable, mutually beneficial, enterprising and dynamic, and practice true multilateralism for global peace, stability and prosperity.
As for China-EU relations, Xi stressed that China and Europe are two major forces, big markets, and great civilizations in the world, saying that China-Europe relations bear on the wellbeing of both sides and the stability and prosperity of the world at large.
China will keep its Europe policy stable in the long run, continue to see Europe as an independent force in a multi-polar world, and stay committed to a China-Europe relationship that is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party, Xi said.
….
Senior executives from a number of renowned French companies including the electric giant EDF, Airbus and Alstom were on Macron’s delegation list. They all cherished the hope of further tapping the huge potential of the world’s largest consumer market.
“We have already seen potential opportunities in the market, which makes us even more bullish about China’s economic outlook and prospect,” Fabrice Megarbane, president of L’Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L’Oreal China, told Xinhua.
In China, Xi and Macron witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering agrifood, science and technology, aviation, civil nuclear energy, sustainable development, and culture, demonstrating the vitality and broad space between China and France in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Although the world economy is recovering slowly, China-EU trade and investment cooperation has maintained a robust momentum. In 2022, bilateral trade reached 847.3 billion U.S. dollars, up 2.4 percent year on year.
As an epitome of China-EU cooperation, the China-Europe Railway Express service has been expanded to more than 200 European cities, ensuring the stability and smooth flow of the global supply chain. In 2022, China-Europe freight trains made 16,000 trips, carrying 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods.
…….
During the trilateral meeting with Macron and von der Leyen, Xi called on China and the EU to seek common ground while shelving differences, and learn to accommodate, appreciate, draw upon and facilitate each other’s development.
The EU and China are each other’s important trading partners and the two economies are highly intertwined, von der Leyen said, adding that decoupling from China is neither in the EU’s interests nor the EU’s strategic choice.
Macron noted that in a world full of uncertainties, the EU and China should work with each other to stay away from the trap of economic decoupling and severing supply chains, carry out mutually-beneficial cooperation on an equal footing, tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and keep deepening the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
……
During the meetings, von der Leyen and Macron agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis, and said that they appreciate China’s efforts to promote a political settlement and look forward to China playing a more important role. They also said that they are prepared to work with China to find a way to facilitate talks for peace.
“China advocates peace and talks. It is playing a positive role for ending the crisis,” said Herve Juvin, a member of the European Parliament, adding that “China is now playing as a peacemaker.”

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 6:06 utc | 76

Below is the complete Xinhuanet posting about Russia/Iran relations

TEHRAN, April 9 (Xinhua) — A top Iranian security official said on Sunday that reducing the U.S. dollar’s influence on regional and international trade will minimize the West’s domination over the global economy.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with the Russian president’s aide Igor Levitin in Iranian capital Tehran, according to SNSC-affiliated Nour News.
During the meeting, Shamkhani said the process to reduce the dollar’s clout on regional and international transactions has already started, noting that many countries are joining the path.
He described the initiatives finalized between Iran and Russia in the area of monetary and banking transactions as an “effective” method for “dooming the illegal Western sanctions to failure.”
Shamkhani expressed satisfaction with the improved level of economic cooperation between Iran and Russia over the past months, highlighting the need to accelerate the joint economic projects’ implementation.
He said completing the International North-South Transport Corridor and expansion of the transportation sector cooperation between the two countries constitute an important part of the joint projects.
For his part, Levitin said Moscow is ready to make investments in different Iranian economic sectors, including those pertaining to the steel, oil and petrochemical industries.
Commenting on the numerous bilateral visits by the two countries’ economic and banking officials over the past months, he said favorable ground has been prepared for signing multilateral economic deals and attracting other countries to participate in the lucrative economic projects.
Levitin arrived in Tehran on Friday night for talks with senior Iranian officials, including Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.
Iran and Russia, both under sanctions imposed by the United States, have been expanding their political and economic relations to counter the U.S. moves.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 6:12 utc | 77

Canadian Appeasement: A Presentation At Moscow State Institute of International Relations by Dimitry Lascaris (and vid)
https://dimitrilascaris.org/2023/04/08/canadian-appeasement-a-presentation-at-moscow-state-institute-of-international-relations/
“On April 6, 2023, I delivered a presentation at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Russia’s leading university for the study of international affairs.
The subject of my presentation was the Canadian government’s chronic appeasement of US aggression…”
Having a ‘left’ that is largely apathetic or outright collaborationist doesn’t help either.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Apr 10 2023 6:19 utc | 78

In response to myself psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 6:06 utc | 76 about Good Cop China and the EU.
Maybe there are camps within the God of Mammon cult and the EU, now that it doesn’t include the UK, may be represented by a group of oligarchs and politicians that see potential for a break-away within the historical bastion of Western “culture”.
We are in a civilization war and who says all of the West has to go down with the ship of empire?
Interesting times indeed.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 6:27 utc | 79

The BBC asks Twitter to remove “as soon as possible” the “Government funded media” label. Twitter defines “state media” as those in which the state exercises control over editorial content, in particular through funding.
The BBC told CNN that the British Broadcasting Corporation is “funded by the British public through a licensing fee.” At the same time, in March, the British Foreign Office stated that the authorities had allocated 20 million pounds to the BBC to support English-language broadcasting and counter disinformation.

https://t.me/Slavyangrad/41203
Just keep BBC labeled as it is and add the same label to the Norwegian NrK as it is government funded and modelled after the BBC. Actually, NrK is license funded it is just that the government decided you can’t opt out.

Posted by: Norwegian | Apr 10 2023 7:39 utc | 80

West of England Andy @ 58:
All foreign trade between countries, no matter who they are or what they’re exchanging, is supposed to be done in US dollars. This condition arose in the late 1940s, when the US was the dominant economic and military power in the world, and could dictate its terms at the Bretton Woods conference in 1946. It is this condition that generates demand for US dollars and which the US is most concerned to maintain, even as this condition has proved detrimental to US manufacturing in the long term.
One reason the US invaded Iraq in 2003 was that Iraq was selling its oil in euros, and when the value of the euro rose against other currencies, Iraq’s gold reserves shot up in value.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Apr 10 2023 9:10 utc | 81

What do Macrons words in China really mean?
Does France want to shift away from NATO?
Is it searching for China to regain Nr. 1 status in Europe again – against Germany?
Will it quit the Anti-Russian-Koalition for that end?
Well, Marco Rubio isn’t enchanted of what he heard.
“If Macron is speaking for Europe, we gonna change that!”
https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1645081063230783491

Posted by: njet | Apr 10 2023 10:45 utc | 82

Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 9 2023 21:56 utc | 51
Something to keep in mind is the differences between long term contract prices and spot prices. Spot price is the only figure we see in the media.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 10 2023 11:04 utc | 83

Posted by: Maracatu | Apr 9 2023 16:41 utc | 19
How “woke” do you think those Azov and Banderista adherents are? How readily would they accept a transsexual or drag queen into their ranks?
Posted by: William Gruff | Apr 9 2023 17:32 utc | 23
Seems the Ukrainian Nazis are a little more “inclusive” than their ideological forebears, at least where twinks are concerned: Semen(imgbox).
The content in the link below should have a sobering impact on the drag queen issue for every person who wants to remain human. Seems the technocrats want to dehumanize everyone remove their sex organs and use technology to reproduce. read it because it reveals what looks like the WEF plans for the future.
https://www.unz.com/article/todays-sodomites/
particularly look at the youtube given in the comments by Jennifer Bilok..

Posted by: snake | Apr 10 2023 11:54 utc | 84

I don’t understand the current obsession with gay and trans people. They are few in number but the fact that a large group of people in the west are prepared to accept this is seen as some sign of degeneracy.
I beg to differ as I think that it is a good thing that a society does not hammer people of a difference. They are always there.
This is where scapegoats arrive. Weird people might be more apparent at the moment because they are all of a sudden out in the open and enjoying their flowering. This won’t last and the old problems will return because odd people aren’t the problem. It is the eternal and insatiable greed of the corrupt that control everything.

Posted by: ZimZum | Apr 10 2023 12:15 utc | 85

ZimZum@85. Society never has ‘hammered people of difference’. the LGBT/Trans issue is, in its own right, a non issue. if people have a preference towards same sex relationships well, so be it. It is a different thing though to have surgery to make you look like a woman but in fact, biologically, you remain and always remain, genetically a male. The surgery, were it going on in the 3rd World would be considered to be butchery; hacking off healthy organs. Men who transgender to a woman do not share a woman’s history, the suffragette movement, the fight for careers and promotions etc. They are not women after all. However, I have seen photos of Transgender protests in the USA outside a Women’s Conference where some slogans on the banners were “Suck my D**k you transphobes”. In other words, they actually hate biological women.
I do believe there is an evil WEF agenda vis-a-vis this in your face aggressive promotion of this degeneracy. I personally think it is one of the divide and rule strategies by pushing the rights of extreme minorities to shut out the majority of the population and to promote genetic engineering. It is a shameful disgrace to a civilised society that a man who Transgendered to a female was awarded America’s “Woman of the Year” trophy. Putin was right when he called it a descent into degeneracy that is exactly what it is.
Notwithstanding this, the LGBT/Trans agenda is being actively promoted by TPTB and the WEF Leaders in a highly aggressive ‘in your face manner’. The obsession is theirs, not ours. I know that the majority of people are entirely fed up with this propaganda. It cost Nicola Sturgeon her job after all following a major backlash by scottish women.
There is no such thing as ‘Parent 1 and Parent 2’ they are mothers and fathers first and foremost. There is no such thing as men being able to become women. They are biologically men first and foremost. And so on and so forth.
I was appalled during the World Cup in Qatar to see Football being turned into a protest movement for LGBT ‘rights’ and the One Love Armbands which FIFA was quite right to ban. Since when have LGBT and Trans rights been the major burning political issue of today). Homosexuality is banned in Qatar. It is not for a bunch of idiotic footballers to try to force change there by these protests. Other countries Laws should be respected whether you agree with them or not.

Posted by: Jo Dominich | Apr 10 2023 12:55 utc | 86

My guess with those leaked documents is that Ukraine forged them.
Until now I haven’t seen anything surprising in the documents. Anyone who follows the alterative media will already know or suspect the “disclosures”.
The only thing that stands out is the depth of the US intelligence penetration of the Russian government. My suspicion is that that is the real goal of the operation: sowing mutual suspicion and discord within the Russian government and army.
Slavyangrad listed some reasons to doubt the genuinity: https://t.me/Slavyangrad/41086

Posted by: Wim | Apr 10 2023 13:11 utc | 87

Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 15:52 utc | 13
The difference is that the US is a foreign invader, murdering Syrians, stealing Syrian assets, destabilizing the region, protecting violent revolutionaries, orchestrating, supplying and financing terrorism, and supporting Israeli depredations, while Russia is a trusted friend, in Syria by invitation, protecting Syrians, rebuilding damage done by the US and Israel, controlling violent insurgents, stabilizing the region, bringing terrorists to justice or killing them and resisting Israeli depredations.
For those with functional eyes and an interest in knowing what is actually happening, it is not actually challenging to see and comprehend these differences. If you cannot do this, check yourself for motivated thinking and cognitive dissonance.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 10 2023 13:35 utc | 88

J@o Dominich | Apr 10 2023 12:55 utc | 86
Where did you obtain your qualifications in medicine, neurology and human rights?
How do you explain brain differences between people on different regions of the gender continuum having physically different brains operating in different regimes (see for example Kurth, F., Gaser, C., Sánchez, F. J., & Luders, E. (2022). Brain Sex in Transgender Women Is Shifted towards Gender Identity. Journal of clinical medicine, 11(6), 1582. .”>https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11061582. What is your motivation for not only denying people their recognized human rights including the rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, medical treatment of their choice by providers of their choice and the ability to express themselves as they choose?

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 10 2023 13:50 utc | 89

ZimZum | Apr 10 2023 12:15 utc | 85
This is being used by the oligarchs as a tool to divide and trigger people, and to get them to deny science and essential human rights, because once people internalize this it is much easier to get them to accept limitations on other or all people’s rights.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 10 2023 13:54 utc | 90

Jo Dominich | Apr 10 2023 12:55 utc | 86
By and large I with all that you say and I am hugely surprised that this is a major issue. I do agree that there is an element of divide and conquer about the whole thing.
What surprises me is how this whole tosh actually works and divides people. I could not care in the least who consenting adults copulate with yet this seems to have a lot of people distracted and in a tizz. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people minded their own business.

Posted by: ZimZum | Apr 10 2023 14:03 utc | 91

@ psychohistorian | Apr 10 2023 6:06 utc | 76
quote: Macron agreed that China did not create the Ukraine crisis
Yes, and Macron DID have a hand in it. Macron was at the helm of the EU January – June 2022.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 10 2023 14:06 utc | 92

Hermit | Apr 10 2023 13:54 utc | 90
Thanks Hermit I agree with you as well. There seems to be quite an effort to deny people their legitimate space in the great scheme of things.
Allows the fuckwits that claim certainty to sweep the board.

Posted by: ZimZum | Apr 10 2023 14:11 utc | 93

John Gilberts | Apr 10 2023 6:19 utc | 78
It looks as if understanding of class theory is being lost in Russia too. If accurate, this would be a tragedy.

Left and Right
The terms left and right originated in the French Revolution to describe the seating arrangement where the sans culotte (people too poor to own trousers) were not represented by anyone, representatives of the proletariat and petite bourgeoisie demanding “movement” (what we would call progress) sat to the left of the speaker, so-called moderates on each side clustered in the center around the speaker, while the representatives of the bourgeoisie, aristocracy, and clergy demanding order (or what we would call conservatives) sat on the right. In the USA there is no left because the USA is an oligarchy and the people have neither representation nor control. Obama correctly characterized himself as being right of Nixon, who was far right of center.
Left
The 99%. The poor, workers, and professionals. Progressives. Congruent with millennials and post-millennials. Currently unrepresented in the US.
Center
Eliminated or co-opted by the oligarchs. Does not exist in US politics.
Right
Traditionally the crown, the bourgeoisie (bankers and money lenders), and the church. Wealthy conservatives. Ranges from Republican fiscal conservatives, through all shades of Democrats to those Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians right of Attila the Hun.
This is why communism and socialism are leftist, and all other political structures are rightist. Anarchists are not a political organization and so are not left or right.

[My Political Terminology – The 9 minute FAQ to knowing everything necessary to understand American politics]
The differences between Canada and the US are vanishing as a consequence of hypercapitalism (fuck the poor) and propaganda promoting class conflict, along with a surfeit of neoconservative and neoliberalism.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 10 2023 14:13 utc | 94

@psychohistorian multiple
Thank you for your interesting and topical posts above.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 10 2023 14:19 utc | 95

ZimZum and Hermit. The thing is there is too far too much emphasis on ‘Rights’ and very little on ‘Responsibilities. The world ‘inclusion’ is bandied around by Govts as necessary. However, there is nothing ‘inclusive’ about this strategy it is, in essence, extremely divisive. I am ok with giving the minorities in society their right to voice their views and opinions. However, what I’m not o.k. with is that this is being heavily promoted to children 6yrs of age and upwards in schools as a good lifestyle. Children of this age do not and should not have sexual identities, they are innocent children. It is social and very close to genetic engineering. Thank God the Tavistock Institute here in the UK was forced to shut down allegedly ‘treating’ children as young as 6yrs for Gender dysmorphia. Were it not hammered in schools, these children wouldn’t have these issues.
When any Govt or Nation gives overt, constant coverage and preference to views of the minorities over and above the rest of the population it is a recipe for the collapse of the nation. I cannot remember the full original quote but it is very apposite.
Things have got out of control with this issue. Scientific fact: People can choose their relationship preferences freely and free from prejudice that is their personal life but they cannot choose or change their Gender they are what they were born Genetically and Biologically. It’s time this madness stopped. Unfortunately, it’s become a ‘thing’ now.

Posted by: Jo Dominich | Apr 10 2023 14:30 utc | 96

Posted by: Et Tu | Apr 9 2023 15:52 utc | 13
The cited author complains “If Saudi Arabia and Syria reestablish relations and involve Russia, it would likely be a gesture at a time when the country is sanctioned by the United States, Europe, and some of their Asian allies rather than because Moscow actually had a substantial contribution to make.”
A plausible answer is that for KSA, this gesture is a feature, not a bug. KSA as an observer of those sanction gains more if they fail than if they succeed. For example, Trump threatened Iraq with freezing Iraqi accounts in USA, would Iraq insist with the demand that USA withdraws its military from Iraq, and since Iraq keeps all the foreign reserves, a bit more than 100 billions, in USA, it folded. KSA can be very easily in the same boat, sanctions are used to impose colonial status. For example, KSA may also be interested in removing USA military from its territory, and it is manifestly interested in regulating energy trade without regard for American objections.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 10 2023 14:52 utc | 97

@Hermit 94
“Anarchists are not a political organization and so are not left or right.”
would strongly disagree
Anarchists originated from splits within the left idea.
The fact that state and central Bolshevik government was contradicting Anarchist concepts is not an argument against what makes the left core values and unites them more than it would separate them.
The fact that Stalin did not support true leftists in Greece after the war and congratulated Churchill on smashing that revolution and the tragedy of Spain in the 30s would only confirm this.
Same with some segments of Hungarian uprising in 1956 or Prague.
Stalin was of course aware of this.
But since violence only will bear violence the progressive humanism of Marxist/left ideas was turned upside.
the tragic heritage of Stalin:
Modern neoliberal capitalism could have no better advocate than Stalin disavowing left ideals.
INMHO. (being aware that this is a complex issue.)
“Notes on Anarchism
Noam Chomsky
In Daniel Guérin, Anarchism: From Theory to Practice, 1970”
https://chomsky.info/1970____/

Posted by: AG | Apr 10 2023 15:02 utc | 98

It baffles me as to why so many people cant grasp the meaning of ” COMPETITIVE “. Additionally, can one of you fine scholars explain to me why China is willing to pay market prices for oil when buying from the Saudis but expects a massive discount from its awesome ” partners ” the Russians ?
Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 9 2023 23:15 utc | 61
There’s a difference between long term negotiated contract prices and spot market prices. The former can be any arrangement agreed upon by the signatories, the latter reflect the “competitive” price on the current commodities market. If China wants to make some long term committment to buy Russian gas or oil, it will try to get a discount set price over the terms of the contract. Right now it’s a crap shoot over pricing because nobody knows whether the U.S. attempt at universal sanctions will work.

Posted by: Deskscape | Apr 10 2023 15:39 utc | 99

A bit more on oil prices; from Reuters a few days ago: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-shifts-dubai-benchmark-indian-oil-deal-sources-2023-04-03/

NEW DELHI, April 3 (Reuters) – Russia’s largest oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and India’s top refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) agreed to use the Asia-focused Dubai oil price benchmark in their latest deal to deliver Russian oil to India, three sources familiar with the deal said.
The decision by the two state-controlled companies to abandon the Europe-dominated Brent benchmark is part of a shift of Russia’s oil sales towards Asia after Europe shunned Russian oil following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago.
Both benchmarks are denominated in dollars and set by S&P Platts, a unit of U.S.-based S&P Global Inc (SPGI.N), but Brent is mostly used by European oil majors and traders, whereas Dubai is heavily influenced by Asian and Middle Eastern oil trading.
Rosneft’s chief executive Igor Sechin said in February that the price of Russian oil would be determined outside of Europe as Asia has emerged as largest buyer of Russian oil since the West imposed progressively tighter sanctions on the export.
Under the new deal, announced on March 29, Rosneft will nearly double oil sales to Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), two of the sources told Reuters.
IOC and Rosneft did not immediately respond to Reuters emails seeking comment on the details of the agreement, which have not been previously reported.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that Russian oil sales to India jumped 22-fold last year, but he did not specify the volume sold.
Rosneft would sell up to 1.5 million tonnes (11 million barrels) each month, including some optional quantities, to IOC in the new fiscal year from April 1, the two sources said.
They said that in 2022/23, IOC had a deal to buy 3 million barrels of Urals grade with an option to double the quantity every month priced at differentials to dated Brent on a delivered basis.
The new contract includes Urals crude, shipped from Russia’s European ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk, and Sokol oil exported from Sakhalin which will be sold at a discount of $8-$10 per barrel to Dubai quotes on a delivered basis, three sources said.
The larger volumes and change in Russian oil pricing highlight closer ties between Moscow and India, which has now become the largest buyer of seaborne crude from Russia.
Indian refiners rarely bought Russian oil in the past due to higher freight costs compared with Europe, but after Urals prices fell to historical lows Russia has now replaced Iraq as top oil supplier to India in the last few months, data from trade sources showed.
Russia has been rerouting its energy supplies from traditional markets in Europe to Asia, mainly India and China, since the West imposed wide-ranging sanctions, including an embargo on seaborne Russian oil imports.
The European Union nations stopped buying Russian oil from Dec. 5 and the Group of Seven (G7) countries joined the EU in imposing a price cap on Russian crude of $60 per barrel. The move was aimed at cutting Russia’s oil revenue while maintaining stability on the global oil market.
India was the biggest buyer of Russia’s benchmark Urals grade crude in March. Deliveries to India are set to account for more than 50% of all seaborne Urals exports last month, with China in second place.
China, which buys Russian Urals at prices pegged against either dated Brent or ICE Brent, doubled its purchases of Urals oil in the first half of February compared to the same period of January, according to traders and Refinitiv Eikon data.

If we then look here: https://oilprice.com/oil-price-charts/ we can see the last reported Dubai price is $84.99, so a discount of $8 to $10 per barrel takes this to $74.99/$76.99.
Looking at the same charts, we also see Urals listed at $55.06 per barrel, so India is paying a premium of ~$20 per barrel for the Urals grade reported in the Reuters Article.
Don’t know why Disposable Antimacassar gets so het up about this. Perhaps I should have pointed him towards this link: https://lmgtfy.app/ …

Posted by: West of England Andy | Apr 10 2023 15:50 utc | 100

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