Happy Sunday everyone.
MOA is in my opinion currently the overall best blog on the internet. If anyone disagrees, please be so kind as to share your thoughts!
Peace.

Posted by: Robert Hope | Apr 23 2023 13:54 utc | 1

You want eggrolls with that?
China’s 4th Industrial Revolution rattles US tech stocks

Two of the worst-performing US tech stocks this week – Cisco and Tesla – have something in common: Both ran into a buzz-saw of Chinese competition. At the New York opening April 21, Telsa had lost more than 12% during the week and Cisco more than 8.1%.
Tesla’s Chinese competitor BYD announced an $11,400 electrical vehicle, a challenge to Tesla’s lowest-cost offering at about $33,000.
BYD’s 78,000 Yuan ($11,400) Seagull EV, which offers a 300-mile radius and acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in five seconds, stole the show at last week’s Shanghai auto fair, according to industry websites. That’s half the base price of the Nissan Leaf or the Chevy Bolt, making the Seagull the world’s cheapest electric vehicle – possibly, the Ford Model T of the 21st century. BYD says it will export 300,000 vehicles this year, a six-fold increase over 2022.
China produced 27 million cars in 2022, compared with 10 million in the United States, 7.8 million in Japan, 5.5 million in India and 3.7 million each in South Korea and Germany. With nearly US $3 trillion in revenues, the automotive sector is by far the world’s largest manufacturing industry. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 14:22 utc | 2

thanks b…. that ny post article is good.. the dems make a federal case about the jan 6th insurrection, but ckrickets. over 51 intel folks saying thehunter biden laptop was russian dis ifo.. now they see it was not!
those 51 intel folks ought to be the ones serving time for stealing an election, but…… america where accountability is a4 letter word, never spoken inpolite company, let alone by either sideof thewar party- repubs or dems.. sorry eric newhill.. the usa is rotten to the core…

Posted by: james | Apr 23 2023 14:33 utc | 3

https://www.rt.com/news/575214-baltic-states-protest-china-ambassador-sovereignty/

Beijing’s ambassador in Paris called into question the sovereignty of former Soviet republics: Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

very interesting what is, and where is, the international legally accepted and enforceable definition of sovereignty defined ?

Posted by: snake | Apr 23 2023 14:41 utc | 4

@snake | Apr 23 2023 14:41 utc | 4
The US has defined sovereignty in several ways.
>Grabbing land from its rightful owners (Hawaii)
>Taking land away from nations it has defeated (Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines)
>Occupying lands in nations it has defeated (Korea, Germany, Japan)
>Declaring sovereignty in US hemisphere (Monroe Doctrine)
>Claiming sovereignty based on oil (Middle East - Carter Doctrine)
>Stepping all over and stealing from countries it doesn't like (Syria)
>US presidents enacting impulses to stick it to nations (sanctions, sabotage, murder)
etc.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 14:56 utc | 5

I am surprised by this finding:
https://www.rt.com/news/575192-us-taiwan-china-wargame/

Earlier this year, another Washington think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), ran 24 different wargame scenarios for a US-China conflict over Taiwan. The study found the US and Japan would emerge victorious but that they would lose dozens of warships, hundreds of planes and thousands of troops. Taiwan would be left in ruins, while China would lose hundreds of ships and aircraft, as well as tens of thousands of troops, the CSIS said.

Additional, Taiwan leader estimates war in 2027 if things continue as they are:
https://www.rt.com/news/575173-taiwan-foreign-minister-china-war-timeline/

Posted by: jared | Apr 23 2023 15:03 utc | 6

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 14:56 utc | 5

You forgot to mention Guantanamo in Cuba...........or Diego Garcia.........or Ramstein or Grafenwöhr

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Apr 23 2023 15:14 utc | 7

Additional, Taiwan leader estimates war in 2027 if things continue as they are:

So the unmarried, childless woman who acts as US puppet actually won the Jan 2024 election already ?

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Apr 23 2023 15:16 utc | 8

@jared | Apr 23 2023 15:03 utc | 6

Don't be. Motivated thinking can produce any result in the absence of evidence. Reality will set in very rapidly if anyone were sufficiently foolish as to attempt to implement this. The production capacity differential means that without thermonuclear war, which would result in human extinction, the US cannot "win" this conflict, even though it could destroy exerything on Taiwan several times over. However, this would be the final straw for the US camel, which would not longer possess the ability to defeat or control anyone, and Japan without the US could not survive either.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 15:20 utc | 9

@ my 5
And, of course, the most obvious gaining of sovereignty by invasion, regime change and occupation.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 15:22 utc | 10

@ my 5
And, of course, the most obvious gaining of sovereignty by invasion, regime change and occupation.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 15:22 utc | 10

Let's not forget, this whole business of determining sovereignty by means of elections is still pretty new. So it is no surprise there is still often a need to fix them to get the right result.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 15:29 utc | 11

Let's not forget, this whole business of determining sovereignty by means of elections is still pretty new. So it is no surprise there is still often a need to fix them to get the right result.

Let's see all those purple thumbs, people!

Posted by: Chaka Khagan | Apr 23 2023 15:40 utc | 12

How to wreck the dollar. Have nations calculate the amount of their mutual trade and exchange their currencies up to the point of perfect balance - the return of mercantilism.

https://www.rt.com/business/575172-india-bangladesh-ditch-dollar/

India will even offer government debt securities for their vostro accounts, if surplus rupees are held. This is evolving into a real reserve currency - by a big economy.

Posted by: Eighthman | Apr 23 2023 15:46 utc | 13

Interesting article on Sudan, Russia, USA.

"Putting everything together, the US plans to achieve the following strategic objectives by introducing the narrative that Russia is arming the RSF:

Entice Burhan to extend credence to these claims in exchange for US military support;
Demand that he also rescinds Russia’s naval base rights and cuts off its overflight access to the CAR;
- Consider direct support to the SAF on the pretext of commencing an “evacuation operation” in Sudan;
- Discredit Russia and the UAE’s African engagement policies by framing both as “destabilizing forces”;
- Attempt to provoke a crisis in Russia’s relations with Sudan’s Chadian and Egyptian neighbors;
- Exploit the above scenario to assemble a regional coalition for pushing back against Russia in Africa;
- Encourage Chad to support a French-backed rebel/terrorist offensive in the Russian-allied CAR;
- Plot a copycat proxy war in Russian-allied Mali in order to crush the Kremlin’s influence in the Sahel;
- Perfect this new Hybrid War method prior to employing it all across the continent;
- And thus turn Africa into the top proxy war battleground of the New Cold War.

The US therefore has many reasons to push this fake news campaign, though it’s unclear whether it’ll ultimately achieve any of its envisaged objectives or not."

https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2023/04/us-tries-blame-russia-for-sudan-deep-state-war/

Posted by: daffyDuct | Apr 23 2023 15:54 utc | 14

Opening words of "Greedflation" article in Forbes

"When costs go up, so do profits? That’s not how capitalism is supposed to work, but..."

My education in economics consist of a single course in University in 70-ties (Marxist, or at least it was supposed to be) and reading business section of NYT for a number of years, and nowhere I have seen a relation between costs and profits which is suggested here. Costs and profits have different determinants, one is "elasticity" of demand, another, competition, and "elasticity of supply". In any case, the openings of articles usually regurgitate some "conventional wisdom", so one should not dwell too much on it. The graph in the article is quite interesting. Profit margins are the most dynamic part of eventual price, as opposed to labor and non-labor costs. And indeed they jumped in the aftermath of COVID. Interesting, the largest jump in the graph follows 2008 crisis, there is an oscillation before and after, but the average share of profits in final prices jumped by 50% when you compare before 2008 and after 2010.

One possibility is a wave of bankruptcies and consolidations, hence reduced competition enabling "paring excess capacity", another, more cooperative behavior of the sellers (least cooperative behavior is a price war that if successful, leads to most vulnerable supplies to drop out and the remaining ones increasing prices). The other mechanism is brand dominance: when a seller becomes dominant, say Walmart and now Amazon, increases prices or squeezes suppliers. E.g. Amazon can get much better shipping costs as a dominant client. Precise profit-jumping scenario require more data, e.g. what companies racked those profits.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Apr 23 2023 16:04 utc | 15

Per Intel Slava Z the US evacuated its embassy in Sudan yesterday (last night).

https://t.me/intelslava/47109

(Also, Intel Slava Z is available to Telegram non-members again)

Posted by: Mary | Apr 23 2023 16:04 utc | 16

@snake | Apr 23 2023 14:41 utc | 4

What the Chinese Ambassador to France observed upon is the fact that if the people of the Crimea and Donets Basin can be refused the right to self determination, then mutatis mutandis, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for example,cannot assert that right for themselves.

The inability of some people to comprehend conditional hypotheticals does not mean that the Chinese Ambassador to France was incorrect in using this construction.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 16:11 utc | 17

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 14:56 utc | 5

True, but only when the US does those things. Sovereignty for row is defined by kowtowing to the US.

Posted by: Mary | Apr 23 2023 16:13 utc | 18

@Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 15:29 utc | 11

Beautiful phrasing Nobody is more expert than the US at fixing elections ;-)

More seriously, the UN Grand Charter, a treaty signed by all countries, prohibits the the use of force except in defense unless authorized by the UN, and, despite the USA's frequent violations of the laws of war and treaties, the Geneva Conventions prevents the change of à system of government by an occupying force. So it is only through the UN Security Council, or a local vote by indigenous residents, that a new country can be formed. The USA normalized the ability to secede in Kosovo, and Russia has deliberately and repeatedly supported this precise formulation on the grounds that a denial of it's legality would invalidate the secession of Kosova.

PS perhaps the greatest challenge to the US would be if one or more US states were to cite the Kosovo precedent as grounds for a peaceful secession from the USA.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 16:37 utc | 19

Hermit: all jokes about being well rid of Texas (or California) aside, it’s difficult to imagine any Congress’s consenting to a secession, even less a SCOTUS willing to overturn Texas v. White. Secession would almost of necessity have to be violent—although as I’ve mentioned before, several states would dissolve in the process.

Posted by: malenkov | Apr 23 2023 16:53 utc | 20

PS perhaps the greatest challenge to the US would be if one or more US states were to cite the Kosovo precedent as grounds for a peaceful secession from the USA.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 16:37 utc | 19

US' people are very experienced and able to keep many contradictory ideas in our heads all at the same time, and believe them all too.

I have known and read of those international treaties since I was a child, and it has been obvious since then that the US government views them strictly as rhetorical devices. But they sure were popular, boy howdy. It is interesting to note that we were behind them, at one time. I was taught about that in school. They had classes called "Civics".

I could not tell you now whether I think politics was crazier in the 60s or now. (Well, probably now.)

"There can be only one." The politics of the great apes.

Thank you for your comment.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 16:58 utc | 21

anyone with a brain: "this inflation bullshit is just greedflation."

MSM/99.9% of financial reporters: "STFU tin foil hatters! you don't get the invisible hand!"

"Albert Edwards, a global strategist at the 159-year-old bank Société Générale": "this inflation bullshit is just greedflation."

MSM/99.9% of financial reporters: "such sage and wise words from a true oracle!"

bunch of assholes.

Posted by: the pair | Apr 23 2023 17:32 utc | 22

iPosted by: james | Apr 23 2023 14:33 utc | 3

James, we've been hearing about Lavrov's and Putin's travels.

If you're back from your MoA diplomatic mission :-) I'd love
to hear about your travels/travails.
If not, it can wait til you are home.
Or not, up to you. Tx.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Apr 23 2023 17:51 utc | 23

@ waynorinorway.. thanks! i am in seville at the moment with a head cold! still seeing lots.. back may 9th and will comment more when back.. cheers james

ps, went to the largest privately owned palace earlier today called plaza de pilatos.. the arabic influences are really on display in both he tile work, or art of building and in the art form flamenco.. we have gone to two shows of flamenco in the lpast four days.. all in all it is quite stimulating and the locals seem friendly enough.. i cant access rt news however.. that is interesting!

Posted by: james | Apr 23 2023 18:03 utc | 24

@malenkov | Apr 23 2023 16:53 utc | 20
@Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 16:58 utc | 21

I agree with both of you about the likely violent response to a secession attempt. In fact I argued just that yesterday. See my Response to Scorpion | Apr 21 2023 23:29 utc | 100s on the Not Ukraine thread yesterday

Bemildred, you might find my Why Civil Disturbance (and other catastrophes) might cause Civil Collapse and the Death of 95% of Americans cited there interesting.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 18:32 utc | 25

Today is the "74th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy" and many of its bases and ships were opened to the public as announced in this article, "PLA Navy's 3rd aircraft carrier Fujian holds propulsion tests; more Chinese carriers to be built":

From Saturday to Monday, the PLA Navy is holding barracks-open events in 22 cities and displaying warships in active service to the public.

In Qingdao, East China's Shangdong Province, one of the main event sites, the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng, the Type 054A frigate Daqing, the comprehensive replenishment ship Kekexilihu and the comprehensive submarine rescue ship Hongzehu are open for the public to visit.

These are some of the PLA Navy's main combat and support vessels, and their opening to the public is an encapsulation of the PLA Navy's rapid development over the past two decades, showing the PLA Navy's confidence and serving as a good opportunity for national defense education, observers said....

The PLA Navy's development comes as China is facing traditional security threats from the sea, including in the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, where external forces like the US continue to make provocations by sending warships and warplanes for close-in reconnaissance operations, exercises and transits, as well as arming the island of Taiwan and countries in the region in an attempt to contain China militarily....

With its rapid and continued development, the PLA Navy serves as a maritime "Great Wall" that safeguards China's sovereignty, protects national maritime interests, tackles multiple security threats and carry out diverse military missions, analysts said.

Lots of info and additional links to more about China's Navy.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 18:32 utc | 26

Bemildred, you might find my Why Civil Disturbance (and other catastrophes) might cause Civil Collapse and the Death of 95% of Americans cited there interesting.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 23 2023 18:32 utc | 25

Yeah, I'm already there, they invite catastrophe, East Palestine for example. It just goes on and on. I grew up with leaded gas, because the didn't want to pay for the disposal of tetra-ethyl lead. Creatures that pollute their own nest do not do well.

It's too bad, we had a lot of potential. "Coulda been a contender."

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 18:44 utc | 27

james | Apr 23 2023 18:03 utc | 24

Thanks james. We're in the same time zone then.
Bummer about the head cold.
Stay safe, Vancouver Island needs you!

Posted by: waynorinorway | Apr 23 2023 18:59 utc | 28

The Censorship case has been filed.

Berenson v. Biden: The Potential and Significance

What if President Trump’s advisors worked with oil executives and tech platforms to censor green activists? What if there was concrete evidence that the Bush Administration and Halliburton board members encouraged media companies to silence journalists for challenging the official narrative of the Iraq War? What if the efforts had been successful?

Surely, the media would cover the federal-corporate censorship operation with taglines of fascism. Democracy dies in darkness would echo from the halls of the Washington Post. Woodward and Bernstein would make the rounds on the Sunday morning shows, and the New York Times would dedicate its Sunday edition to the new rise in fascism. The resulting lawsuit would be heralded as a David v. Goliath in which one journalist and the First Amendment took on the most powerful forces in the nation.

Berenson v. Biden should fit this narrative. Journalist Alex Berenson is suing President Biden, White House advisors, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and Pfizer Board Member Scott Gottlieb for orchestrating a public-private censorship campaign against him.[.]

Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court held that the US government cannot coerce private parties to violate citizens’ constitutional rights. “It is also axiomatic that a state may not induce, encourage or promote private persons to accomplish what it is constitutionally forbidden to accomplish,” the Court wrote in Norwood v. Harrison. The government abandoned this principle during Covid, colluding with the nation’s largest companies to strip Americans of their constitutional liberties.

Now, Berenson v. Biden offers a challenge to the federal-corporate partnership that stripped Americans of their First Amendment freedoms and augmented the power of the state.

Media Blackout and What it Means

Berenson has proof that the federal government worked in tandem with the country’s most influential lobbying force to encourage the world’s most powerful information sources to censor a journalist, yet mainstream media has been silent.

he New York Times(Berenson’s former employer) has not mentioned Berenson v. Biden. The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, and The Los Angeles Times have also ignored the case entirely.

The media blackout is not an indication that the case lacks merit. Berenson demonstrated the strength of his case against the public-private censorship complex in his suit against Twitter.[.]

Read more
https://brownstone.org/articles/berenson-v-biden-potential-significance/

Posted by: Likklemore | Apr 23 2023 19:00 utc | 29

Very forceful editorial aimed at EU vassalage, "Borrell and his likes should avoid leading Europe into a ditch". Its opening salvo:

The European Parliament just spent a whole week discussing China, and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will convene foreign ministers from across EU on April 24 local time to discuss the same topic. In anticipation of this meeting, Borrell published a column on April 22 urging the EU to take a more active role in the Taiwan question and calling for European navies to patrol the Taiwan Straits.

This highly provocative statement immediately attracted a lot of attention, especially in light of the fact that the South Korean leader made similarly incorrect remarks about Taiwan around the same time. We can reasonably assume that the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, held in Japan not long ago, discussed the Taiwan question in a coordinated manner, and the result was that Washington's will was more fully implemented. For Europe and South Korea, this is not only a sad loss of independence, but also means moving closer to meaningless risks.

Borrell has been criticized for engaging in "gunboat diplomacy," which is more of a sarcastic mockery than a criticism. This not only reminds people of the infamous colonial history, which is still missed by some Europeans, but also makes it more repugnant that Europe cannot let go of the idea of interfering in Asia-Pacific affairs despite its absolute decline in power and being mired in multiple difficulties. Just like a senile old man who has long been out of touch with the times, if European warships still want to show off their might in the Pacific today, the result would only be an embarrassing failure. For the People's Liberation Army, which has powerful strength to defend its homeland, facing European warships that come to provoke and show off is not even worth raising an eyebrow. We advise them not to bring shame upon themselves.

Borrell is known as the "foreign minister" of Europe, but the extent of his representativeness is debatable. Most Europeans, especially ordinary people, neither understand nor care about Taiwan. What they are really concerned about is whether their lives can be guaranteed and improved in the context of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict and difficult economic recovery. However, Borrell's article reflects that there is indeed a political force within Europe that always divides ideological boundaries and holds a cold war mentality toward China. Regardless of whether there is a shadow of the US behind Borrell, it's clear this part of the political force is deeply influenced by the US.

That Borrell was made to do an about-face on China there's no doubt as the editorial continues:

What is confusing is that just a week before Borrell made his remarks on Taiwan question, he posted an emotional review on social media on April 13 of his three visits to China. He praised the tremendous achievements made by China since the reform and opening up, and called for further enhancing EU-China public diplomacy and cultural exchanges and working together to solve global issues. Prior to this, Borrell also expressed that the EU would not follow the US in adopting strict economic and trade restriction policies against China.

It gives people the impression that Borrell has a split personality when dealing with China. This kind of contradictory attitude toward China is quite common among European elites. Specifically speaking, it is not complicated. He wants to take advantage of both sides. From the perspective of Europe's own interests, it is unwilling to "decouple" with China and needs to cooperate with China on global issues. It wants to maintain exchanges with China because of the importance of China-EU relations to Europe. On the other hand, European politicians represented by Borrell have been brainwashed by Washington on the Taiwan question without knowing it, and it is difficult to quit the addiction of being human rights and ideology lecturers. Borrell and his likes are self-righteously trying to manage this contradiction and want to achieve a balance, but this is harder than walking a tightrope, and it is a mission impossible.

Pepe Escobar a few days ago announce the Atlantic was now located in the South China Sea and here we have confirmation of what at the time was a cryptic remark. The Western Europe portion of Eurasia is economically dependent on the rest of the continent. As I've noted repeatedly in commentary, decoupling from Eurasia will cripple those nations who try. Glenn Diesen has written an excellent book on the topic, Europe as the Western Peninsula of Greater Eurasia: Geoeconomic Regions in a Multipolar World, whose content can be appraised by an essay he wrote for the Journal of Eurasian Studies having a similar title, "Europe as the Western Peninsula of Greater Eurasia". I should note the 9 page essay was published in 2021 and much has changed since as Europe is now on its knees economically and the Outlaw US Empire isn't in much better condition.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 19:00 utc | 30

Sudan...

As a country along the ancient Silk Road routes, Sudan was one of the earliest countries to actively respond to the BRI and enter into a Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

Here is an article published by Chinese Ambassador to Sudan Ma Xinmin June 15, 2021
Seize the Historic Opportunity of BRI for Common Development of China and Sudan
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb_663304/zwjg_665342/zwbd_665378/202106/t20210615_9169725.html

Posted by: Irish | Apr 23 2023 19:05 utc | 31

Likklemore | Apr 23 2023 19:00 utc | 29--

Thanks very much for providing that info. The suit ought to be a Class Action and name a much larger suite of criminals.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 19:07 utc | 32

"PLA Navy releases anniversary celebration video, underscores resolution to shatter Taiwan secessionist forces". The video is at the top of the page.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 19:10 utc | 33

The inflation of our current time, meant to last 2-3 years, is just a deliberate policy to make real wages more competitive and reduce not just the real cost not just of labor, but also of debt, in particular mortgages. Currently the real rate of interest on mortgages is around -5% to -9%, in practice a licence to print money. It is case of internal devaluation.

There are 3 ways to do a devaluation:

* External: make the exchange rate fall so wages and debt, expressed in foreign "hard" currency, become cheaper.

* Internal in nominal terms: squeeze the economy with a recession, to make nominal wages fall. Unfortunately this is also likely to impact negatively real estate and other assets.

* Internal in real terms: make non-labor prices increase, which at the same time reduces real labor costs and increases real asset incomes, usually.

The third option was the choice in the 60s and 70s, and again this decade.

Posted by: Blissex | Apr 23 2023 19:22 utc | 34

I expect a future of destabilisation across the BRI network and amongst the new Development Bank membership...

Posted by: Irish | Apr 23 2023 19:23 utc | 35

Posted by: daffyDuct | Apr 23 2023 15:54 utc | 14

Good article, short and to the point. Thanks for posting.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 19:41 utc | 36

@ Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 15:29 utc | 11
Let's not forget, this whole business of determining sovereignty by means of elections is still pretty new. So it is no surprise there is still often a need to fix them to get the right result.

Many people in the US, especially in the government and media, wrongly equate elections with democracy, or government by the people. Biden is big on that. China is evidence that the election advocates are wrong. Chinese people get good results from their government, US citizens get bought-and-paid for politicians. And just compare the biographies of Xi and Biden (and Hillary OMG), including their capabilities.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 19:42 utc | 37

Posted by: daffyDuct | Apr 23 2023 15:54 utc | 14

Good article, short and to the point. Thanks for posting.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 19:41 utc | 36

Damnit wish there was an edit function. I forgot to mention the inherent inconsistency laid bare in the article. Which is it? Is - as CNN, one of the sources cited by The Automatic Earth author - Russia running out of ammo and personnel or is Wagner taking part in two separate wars involving heavy tactical equipment and weaponry? The Western corporate news media can't seem to make up its mind.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 19:45 utc | 38

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 19:00 utc | 30

Also good article. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Posted by: Likklemore | Apr 23 2023 19:00 utc | 29

What if there was concrete evidence that the Bush Administration and Halliburton board members encouraged media companies to silence journalists for challenging the official narrative of the Iraq War?

Glad to see a suit has been filed, but LOL, I'm pretty sure there is proof that the Bush regime intimidated (alternative and of course corporate) media for challenging the official Iraq war narrative(s - plural).

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0303/S00228.htm

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 19:52 utc | 39

Many people in the US, especially in the government and media, wrongly equate elections with democracy, or government by the people. Biden is big on that. China is evidence that the election advocates are wrong. Chinese people get good results from their government, US citizens get bought-and-paid for politicians. And just compare the biographies of Xi and Biden (and Hillary OMG), including their capabilities.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 19:42 utc | 37

Well I have to agree, I think that elections are mainly a way to gain legitimacy in their eyes, and already any dirty tactic is OK if you get away with it. Nowadays US Pols live in the media bubble and rarely venture outside it. (Hey, it's just like living in the Matrix!)

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 20:03 utc | 40

@Don Bacon, yes Xi's biography is illuminating, a vast range of real-world experience, most of all is what I see. And a real good argument against knee-jerk term limits. You want to keep the good ones.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 20:06 utc | 41

A rare admission from a US/Wall Street source.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-18/china-s-economic-growth-bounces-back-as-consumers-spend-again?

China’s economy grew at the fastest pace in a year in the first quarter, putting Beijing on track to meet its growth goal for the year without adding major stimulus, while also helping to cushion the global economy against a downturn.

Gross domestic product expanded 4.5% last quarter from a year earlier, official data showed Tuesday, beating economists’ expectations. In March, retail sales soared 10.6% from a year earlier, the biggest monthly gain since June 2021.

China is continuing to blitz the United States in almost every sector of superpower politics. As Western economies are being relentlessly pushed into recession by their central banks, China post-Covid economy is booming back into high gear. So much so that the global economy will be relying on demand from China to save it from itself. (It is not all roses. Like the rest of the world, China has a big problem with high youth unemployment.)

China has played this saviour role before. In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis 15 years ago, it was state-sponsored spending by China that shielded Australia and New Zealand from the worst of the GFC fallout. Clearly, PM Chris Hipkins should have been flying to Beijing to find new ways to foster our trade relationship, while reminding China that we’re not (yet) lining up against it in the AUKUS pact.

Instead, Hipkins has headed off to the Coronation, after which he will reportedly be talking over the teacups with the British about ways to finesse our relatively insignificant trade deal with them.

Among a lot of other things, Beijing is also emerging as a major global rival for Tesla on the development and uptake of EVs.

"This year will have new energy vehicles rising close to 10 million units [ie, a third of all auto sales] and their volume in 2035 will be at least 25 million units and they will account for 80% of all new vehicles sold," said Ouyang Minggao, professor of automotive engineering at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 20:16 utc | 42

" @Don Bacon, yes Xi's biography is illuminating, a vast range of real-world experience, most of all is what I see. And a real good argument against knee-jerk term limits. You want to keep the good ones.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 20:06 utc | 41 "

Exactly ! Lets not get carried away with term limits. Some leaders are so well equipped for the job they should be allowed to stay in office for life. In fact, they probably have a genetic predisposition to lead, therefore, once they die their children should take over the job. This is probably the future of human governance, hence, this new system needs a proper name. I propose it be called a Monarchy.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 20:37 utc | 43

Hermit: I repeat herewith my request that you divulge or create a site that collocates all of your writings. :-)

Anyone re democracy: I can't find the quote, but King Bhumibol Adulyadej once said that he was a democrat because he honored the will of his people. That might strike us as amusing or absurd, but I submit that a king who honors the will of his people is a better example of democracy than a body of elected representatives who consistently flout that will.

Posted by: malenkov | Apr 23 2023 20:46 utc | 44

Take that stupid sanctions. I'm sure all the dead Russian troops finally understand why bridges weren't bombed and pipelines remain open. Russia wins again.

- Russian billionaires see wealth rise to over half a trillion dollars - Forbes -

After Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the West imposed what it casts as the most severe sanctions in modern history on Russia's economy.

Russia's richest people added $152 billion to their wealth over the past year, buoyed by high prices for natural resources and rebounding from the huge loss of fortunes they experienced just after the Ukraine war began, Forbes Russia said.

Russia has 110 official billionaires in the list, up 22 from last year, according to Forbes' Russian edition, which said their total wealth increased to $505 billion from $353 billion when the 2022 list was announced."

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-739952

- RUSSIAN JEWISH BILLIONAIRES -

https://www.jpost.com/tags/russian-jewish-billionaires

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 21:02 utc | 45

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 14:56 utc | 5

The question of sovereignty is not a political one but a symbolic one. Blind Freddie knows that sovereignty means zip without the capacity to defend it. This is why Aristotle would fall off his perch laughing if you tried to convince him of 'basic human rights': there is only dunamis ('capacity to act'—consider a word for the elite in Athens: dunotatoi 'those most capable').

What people talk about when they say 'sovereignty' is legitimacy. That is, who is authorised in such a way that the result of their action will be effective? If I am asked to marry a couple my words will not produce a married couple; when a civic celebrant or priest speaks those same words the result is effective. This is because, in relation to the ritual, I lack sovereignty.

You'd be right if you then said: "But this depends on the consent of the audience who recognise that authority to act". Sovereignty only works if it is recognised by a community of actors. Bourgeois societies separate the sovereign figures from the political ones (like the UK, Australia, etc and 'constitutional monarchies') or contain them with other forms of power (USA). They do this because sovereigns make excellent charismatic lightning rods that can instigate revolution very quickly (e.g., the tyrants of archaic Greece). This is why the Dems fear Trump. The Presidency in the USA is potentially fatal to the established order there, which is why assassinations occur but also how FDR pulled off the New Deal—'executive orders'. The history of Roman political thought is a history of how to create and formalise new sources of legitimate power.

Now obviously this becomes very tricky with nation states. There is a three-way contradiction between the national integrity of a state that is recognised by the 'international community' (but what authority does that have? The UN was never given it, perhaps for good reasons), the fiction of borders, ethnicities, traditions etc, and the economic desires of groups which have a vested interest in dissolving sovereignty wherever they find it (transnational corporations are only the latest and most blatant example historically). Ultimately what sets our teeth on edge about the USA is not that the powerful can act as they wish but the bullshit narrative that justifies it. These are hard to disentangle though because sovereignty needs a narrative of legitimacy.

The USA simply cannot accept (in the way that the Third Reich could) that it pursues its end with violence without some moral justification. So long as its allies—and even its enemies—buy that justification it works.
But here's the rub: the USA's global hegemonic moral justification is the protection of the sovereignty of other states. Talk about painting yourself into a corner. The Romans are laughing in their sarcophagi.

So, kiddies, the moral of this story is that sovereignty in itself is theatre. What matters, as the Russians teach us daily, is being able first to define who you are as a sovereign group and second to be resist those who threaten it.

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 23 2023 21:21 utc | 46

" This is why the Dems fear Trump. The Presidency in the USA is potentially fatal to the established order there, which is why assassinations occur

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 23 2023 21:21 utc | 46 "

I always found this argument very interesting. In your assessment, what can Trump do in his second term that he couldn't do in his first ?

Also, there wouldn't be a revolution in the US, if anything breaks out it will be a multi-way free for all based ultimately around race as too many bridges have been burned at this point. Not to mention the millions of foreigners who have their own agendas and no loyalty to the US.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 21:30 utc | 47

Lavrov's calling out the Outlaw US Empire's "ugly behavior" as having "chickened out" for its refusal to provide visas for Russian media to cover Lavrov's appearance at the UNSC needs to be spread virally as he suggests:

Of course, I understood how famous our American colleagues are for this kind of thing, but I was sure that this time, given the attention drawn to their ugly behavior, everything would be different. I was wrong.

A country that calls itself the strongest, smartest, freest and fairest, chickened out and did the stupid thing of showing what its sworn assurances about protecting freedom of speech and access to information are really worth.

We will also have to work for you and show more energy, put more effort to convey the truth to the world community and the public.

Try to keep track of what we will do there and spread this truth through our channels. I am convinced that there will be much more interest in it all over the world than in the "filtered" information that our Western colleagues are lowering on the heads of their viewers, listeners and readers.

Most importantly, rest assured that we will not forget or forgive it. [My Emphasis]

The MFA's official English translation differs slightly.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if in 2024-5 there's a call by either Russia or China to remove the UN from the Outlaw US Empire to another location within the Global South--Africa or Southeast Asia are my guesses. That's what Lavrov's bolded promise implies IMO.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 21:33 utc | 48

The following is what Lavrov has planned to do at the UNSC:

On April 24, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in one of the central events of our country's presidency of the UN Security Council – an open debate on effective multilateralism through the protection of the principles of the UN Charter.

The expansion of the range of modern challenges and threats, the complication of their nature increases the urgency of the task of strengthening true multilateralism, which is based on equal cooperation and consideration for the interests of all countries of the world without exception. We are convinced that such cooperation should be based on universally recognised norms of international law, including the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The fundamental rules of interstate communication, approved at the conference in San Francisco almost eight decades ago, remain fully relevant.

The main purpose of the meeting is to provide Member States with the opportunity to reaffirm their strict commitment to the key provisions of the UN Charter document, primarily those related to strict respect for the sovereign equality of states and the refusal to interfere in their internal affairs.

On April 25, Sergey Lavrov will chair another high-level meeting of the UN Security Council – an open debate on the agenda item "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question". This event is regularly held within the framework of the mandate and reporting cycle of the Security Council, but in the current extremely tense conditions in the Middle East region, it is of particular importance and relevance.

We consider it necessary to return to the focus of close attention of the international community, including the UN Security Council member states and interested regional players, the dangerous developments on the ground, primarily in the Arab-Israeli conflict zone, which, unfortunately, were unjustifiably relegated to the background in connection with the crisis in Ukraine. Today, the Palestinian problem, which is more important than ever in the Middle East settlement process, is far from being resolved. All the more urgent is the common task of restoring a peaceful horizon and reaffirming the universally recognised international legal basis for a settlement, including the two-state formula. [My Emphasis]

Monday's exchange ought to be a real howler as the three NATO members will lie brazenly if they attempt to reaffirm their commitment to the UN Charter. The Outlaw US Empire in particular since it's been serially breaking the Charter daily since it came into force will be hard pressed to admit the truth of its longstanding actions. Given the agenda, it becomes very clear why the Empire doesn't want media coverage of any sort but can't bar everyone.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 21:44 utc | 49

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 21:30 utc | 47

The problem with Trump is that he never used that Presidential potential because he's too invested in the established order. He's a landlord, stockholder, etc. So his brand of populism is about containing the revolutionary potential of the American poor not releasing it, not unlike early 20th century fascisms in Europe which were very acceptable to big Capital because it redirected those energies into phantom enemies. This is why woke identity politics is with us, the cul-de-sac of race, the past, gender, etc. The only struggle is the class struggle, and hence the only important time is the future. But the ruling classes in the USA defuse that with spectres and fears. Trump is part of that show, promising radical change, delivering the opposite. Now, if Trump were truly interested in transformation and MAGA it would be necessary to kill him.

This is why it is so interesting that RFK's son might be Trump's main opponent. There's true charisma: the son of the man who truly did want to transform America and liberate the poor. RFK Jr is the one to watch because we know he was prepared to fight to wire over vaccines and he wrote a book on it, so he's an intellectual of a kind. But he has the aristocrat's edge: blue blood from Camelot! The return of Arthur! Revolutions led by heroic aristocrats who show disdain for money and wealth terrify the elite because they cannot be bought and hold to concepts like honour. If RFK can convince voters of his conviction the combo he represents could be incredible. And then they'll assassinate him.

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 23 2023 21:47 utc | 50

Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 23 2023 20:16 utc | 42
_____

Thanks, Tom. The Bloomberg article underscores karlof1's @30 on Josep Borell driving Europe into a ditch. Sanctioning Russia was akin to shooting one's own feet (pl). US/NATO isolating China economically over Taiwan (now in the North Atlantic?) would be the equivalent of a quadruple amputation and military conflict, a decapitation. It appears impossible to diagnose Westworld's compound mental disorders. "Criminally insane" isn't quite adequate.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 21:48 utc | 51

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 21:30 utc | 47

...what can Trump do in his second term that he couldn't do in his first ?

Trump could be physically assassinated in a second term. I doubt he would be able to do much else.

Posted by: lex talionis | Apr 23 2023 21:50 utc | 52

I've combined my comments at 48-49 above into one easy to digest and share article, "Lavrov and Monday's Spectacle at the UNSC". BigLie Media is certain to collude with team Biden and blackout what occurs as best it can, so it's up to us to be the tribunes.

/////

Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 21:48 utc | 51--

Team EU are marionettes or sock puppets manipulated by their Master. They are essentially Pinocchio's and are brainless or perhaps braindead is the better descriptor. For them, there's no magical flying elephant aptly named Dumbo to rescue them from their ineptitude; they all merit the Mussolini treatment. And of course, ours are no better and merit the same end.

I do wish I could be in New York City tomorrow in the UNSC's public gallery to watch the proceedings. But I can't so I must try to connect using this info from the UN website: the event starts at 10am EST and continues at 3pm EST.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 22:26 utc | 53

karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 21:44 utc | 48, 49
____

Thank you, karlof1. Withholding visas from legitimate UN attendees seems to be a glaring violation of the spirit of the UN charter, if not established rules. It is also a surprising public display of ugly, petty petulance ... and ultimately impotence. This is especially ironic, coming so soon after US-Westworld's Summit for Hypocrisy.

It must be hard to choose what to emphasize in Lavrov's pithy messages. This is especially encouraging, although Israel has made the two-state solution extremely difficult:

"Today, the Palestinian problem, which is more important than ever in the Middle East settlement process, is far from being resolved. All the more urgent is the common task of restoring a peaceful horizon and reaffirming the universally recognised international legal basis for a settlement, including the two-state formula.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 22:46 utc | 54

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 21:48 utc | 51

It's all a part of the greater plan. Make the West appear bad and the East good. Our leaders are in on it. That way people in the West will accept communism after the WW3 that's about to start in a few years (and which the West is going to lose, by design).

Here's something to read: https://www.henrymakow.com/2019/04/The-NWO-Will-Arise-From-the-East.html?_ga=2.240048131.1258959081.1656585956-712031134.1656585956

Posted by: just somebody | Apr 23 2023 22:52 utc | 55

Hermit | Apr 23 2023 18:32 utc
The USA collapse is eminent, but not entirely fatal. Expert analysis of the available information and deeds done by industry, over zealous political forces, and a more than willing ignorant programmed population is that it will proceed in a rather phased 4-10 year event that one expert personally told me would be the 'time of tears'. Re-organization will take another 8 or so years, probably starting after the initial 4 year period. My calculation is that there will be a 75-80% rapid to gradual collapse of the population over this period, along with the collapse of all the participating westernized world in somewhat a lesser degree. This is mainly due to over reporting in the lesser countries, that are more corrupt, but with a general population that is much less trusting of the US Government. Europe is significantly worse off. Canada is 'toast' and so is Australia along with most of SE Asia (85-90%).
The moral of this event is not to dip into Pandora's box and attempt to bear fruit and offend the work of GOD. Man has not learned to live in harmony, yet.

Posted by: T S | Apr 23 2023 23:09 utc | 56

This is why it is so interesting that RFK's son might be Trump's main opponent.

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 23 2023 21:47 utc | 50

Indeed. Trump is a famous counter-puncher. If he really wants to sock it to the Deep State he will get all his voters to vote for Kennedy. This would get a massive mandate for substantive reform, more than either man can get on their own working from within conventional R & D structures. Because one of the only ways to blow things up (peacefully and creatively) is to thoroughly undermine both Parties and the Administrative State. If they can get enough military intelligence backing them they could contain the bankster-led DHS-CIA-FBI matrix and muzzle their presstitute media sock puppets. They would have working majorities in House and Senate which rarely happens. The Senate would still be able to resist but by the first mid-term they should be home free and brave. Trump could be in charge of massive infrastructure rebuild and integrating US with new multipolar order with mission to rebuild US manufacturing base. Kennedy can clean up the financial order with proper currency, no more FED, dismantling CIA etc. and cleaning up the Justice Dept and Courts top to bottom.

Of course this will never happen. Kennedy seems wedded to some cliche Democrat-Establishment notions just like Trump.

But if there really were a union of 'left' and 'right' on a reform platform, it could sweep the resistance away.

(Well, it's Sunday and I'm on my first beer.....)

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 23 2023 23:19 utc | 57

I really urge b to do a follow-up to his Biden laptop article given the newly revealed info by Caleb Maupin and others as this notes, "Suppression of 'Laptop From Hell' Story Was 'Partisan Political Move by Anthony Blinken'":

New developments in the story of Hunter Biden's infamous laptop suggest that US intelligence officials were involved in “blatant partisan activity" aimed at affecting the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in the United States.

Journalist and political analyst Caleb Maupin has weighed in on recent revelations about members of the US intelligence community helping to suppress the story of Hunter Biden’s “laptop from hell” in 2020, when the story posed a risk to the presidential ambitions of Hunter’s dad, Joe Biden.

During a conversation with Sputnik, Maupin pointed out that claims about Hunter’s laptop being some kind of Russian conspiracy meant to interfere with US elections – claims based on a letter signed by some 51 US intelligence officials – turned out to be false: the laptop and the data on Biden family’s shady dealings it contained are quite real.

Between the Twitter Files and this massive fraud bigger than Watergate (what should we name it?), IMO there's enough evidence to impeach, sack, then charge, criminally prosecute, and sentence to Life a massive number of people of various stripes. If anything, the Jan 6 people were all correct to revolt, and many more should have joined them.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 23:29 utc | 58

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 22:26 utc | 53

Great piece.
But I keep wanting to see you on substack. Your ongoing coverage of geopolitical developments is thorough and helpful and you have a clear voice that more would benefit from reading.

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 23 2023 23:35 utc | 59

just somebody | Apr 23 2023 22:52 utc | 55--

There's no Communism. There's Collectivism and mixed economies with heavy amounts of "public goods" included in the mix.

Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 22:46 utc | 54--

Thanks for your reply. Big problem is most people have no clue because of BigLie Media censorship, as with a plethora of other issues. Brings new meaning to American Pie.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 23:37 utc | 60

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 23:29 utc | 58

I have like "Trumpocalypse" since when he was elected. Trump is a wrecker, and he is really good at it.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 23 2023 23:38 utc | 61

Recall that Lavrov, his wife, his daughter and his step-daughter have been sanctioned by the rules-base international order-keeper Biden and his Treasury henchmen. The Justice Department’s enforcement of these new measures has been led by Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement[sic] task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 23 2023 23:47 utc | 62

Scorpion | Apr 23 2023 23:35 utc | 59--

Thanks again for your suggestion. I'm warming to the possibility.

///////

IMO, House Speaker McCarthy has some really good smoke, "Some White House Officials Concerned Over ‘Serious Possibility' of Default--Report":

It also noted that “amid the simmering standoff over spending with the ticking time bomb of the debt ceiling in the background”, a number of Democrats continue urging President Joe Biden “to engage” Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy “sooner rather than later.”

The claims come after McCarthy said last week that House Republicans would seek to pass a bill to lift the debt ceiling using budget compromises based on their spending priorities.

“Since the president continues to hide, House Republicans will take action. So here’s our plan: In the coming weeks the House will vote on a bill to lift the debt ceiling into the next year, save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make us less dependent upon China, curb our high inflation - all without touching Social Security and Medicare,” he said in a speech at the New York Stock Exchange.

The word delusion is being used with greater frequency these days for excellent reasons. Without at least halving the war/Empire budget, vastly increasing taxes on financial transactions and Capital Gains, and prosecuting the massive fraud that exists almost everywhere, there's no way any of McCarthy's dream will ever become reality; and two items--inflation and dependency on China--cannot be legislated away via budgetary action. he ought to be asked what brand of Hopium he smokes.

Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 23:58 utc | 63

@karlof1 | Apr 23 2023 23:58 utc | 63

The only answer the Republicans or Democrats have is "screw the poor". The poor are those with capital of less than about 3 to 6 million depending on location, or dependent on a job, pension or state/federal income on any way, includes those reliant on medications, energy, water or food.

RFK's family money, which exceeds $1.2 billion unless their money managers are utterly incompetent, is from mafia dominated sectors, and his son was a mercenary in the Ukraine, working for the Nazi's. Given that apples don't fall very far from trees, I think that anyone placing hopes here is more delusional than those vesting their hopes in Trump.

@Scorpion | Apr 23 2023 23:19 utc | 57

I still think that, given a voice, (Twitter?), Gabbard could do it with relative ease.

@T S | Apr 23 2023 23:09 utc | 56

Between your 70% to 80% and my 95% (based on the same model as was used by the CRS in the EMP studies) is not much wriggle room. The difference between 1 in 10 and 3 in 10 is not a whole lot of room to navigate through.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 24 2023 1:00 utc | 64

Borrell and his likes should avoid leading Europe into a ditch:

Global Times Editorial

That these European politicians who are full of superiority cannot position themselves in the right place is a common problem. To some extent, this is also one of the psychological causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Now, do Borrell and his likes think that Europe is not deep enough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? Do they want to travel thousands of miles to the Taiwan Straits to muddy the water? They are really taking Europe into a ditch.

To put it bluntly, Borrell's Taiwan-related remarks are a very classic and hypocritical political performance, reflecting his ignorance of the Taiwan question and "brainless following" of Washington. Europe has no reason to support itself to intensify conflicts with China at the moment. A wrong choice by anyone, including Europe, on the Taiwan question is enough to destroy all positive factors in other areas, not only out of balance but also out of control. Regarding this point, Borrell should weigh it carefully.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289670.shtml

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 24 2023 1:17 utc | 65

Deplorable Commissar | Apr 23 2023 21:30 utc | 47

Idont think there will be a revolution in the USA either.

Also, the USA will not disband, in fact it will probably expand. Think about it. Canada has less than 100 battle tanks and 200 pieces of artillery. They cannot defend themselves their defense capabilities are absurd.

Chinese actions will be the catalyst for a new American Union between USA and Canada, as Nato was for Russia and Belarus.

Security will be the driver. The Chinese police stations in the USA and Chinese Security forces now in Canada under an agreement Truedo signed in late 2020 allowing Chinese to use their own security personnel to protect THEIR Canadian investments, will be reason.

This New American Union makes sense at many levels. It provides an excuse to limit Chinese imports and develop USA manufacturing of higher cost replacements. But perhaps more importantly, the combined USA and Canadian energy, materials, and agricultural base will permit them to retain the dollar's supremacy. It wouldn't be the petrodollar, it will be the Resources-dollar instead. Just what Putin and companions want. The big benefit is that US and Canada have this large resource base under their direct control. Now they can play the markets like a new Western version of OPEC, (of course, with the help of a few greedy accomplices along the way).

Security will also be an excuse to stop and clean up the migrant mess.

My point here is to present an alternative perspective that shows there are many ways the hand we see before us can be played. I don't think anyone is going to fold their hand and leave the table in the near future.

Posted by: Jerr | Apr 24 2023 1:17 utc | 66

On A. Blinken's role as writ by Typically Wealthy Heirs in a 5th-Grade School Play.

The default slide into the White House has been oiled and prepped for The Blinken. He is #1 on the list as Biden will gracefully/tearfully remove himself for the good of the nation. The next in line will accept a Ladyship position and fade away, followed by another lady suddenly grinning to reality and raucus cheering amd stepping aside. Then Mr. Diplomat merely enters and agrees to sit in The Chair at The Desk...explaining "Only because it is my duty" [which he learned from a guy named Harry].

And he becomes the 2024 incumbent.

God blessed the child that's got his own.

Posted by: chu teh | Apr 24 2023 1:31 utc | 67

@jared | 6

CSIS is a neocon propaganda rag (bambaclaat) that has been wrong about pretty much everything it has ever "predicted" or "reported" on. Literally nothing that it "analyzes" should be believed. Currently the CSIS claims that Ukraine is winning, Russia is haemmoraghing troops, and Ukraine is poised to take back Crimea and the Donbass in its "coming offensive".

The only source regarding war games that can be trusted is the US Military, and that institution has made it clear that every game it has run since ~2000 (last tally 18, but probably more, now) in a war over Taiwan the US has lost catastrophically.

If the US cannot win against Russia with 1.2 million troops in Ukraine (and counting--6 mobilizations already!), then how is it going to win against Chinese hypersonic anti-ship missiles and a submarine fleet that's operating just off-shore from the Chinese coastline?

Add to that th threat from North Korea plus the emerging alliance with Russia--which I am sure will happily supply hypersonic missile tech to China that could easily wipe out most of the US presence on Guam and Okinawa (in addition to China's own Dongfeng missiles) and it's clear that any war between the US and China would certainly push US influence out of most of the eastern Pacific, permanently.

Ignore anything that comes out of the CSIS, and urge anyone who believes that trash to do the same.

Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | Apr 24 2023 1:33 utc | 68

@ Deplorable Commissar | 47

Re: Trump's possible 2nd term: he could ignore the mainstream GOP, do a full-court press to evict it's incumbents, and appoint an anti-neocon staff to eliminate that toxic influence as well.

Personally I think the GOP knows this and will cooperate with the Dems again in rigging the election against him a 2nd time.

Keep in mind that I detest Trump, both as a man and as a politician. But that is certainly what he *would* do, were he reelected.

Posted by: Pacifica Advocate | Apr 24 2023 1:39 utc | 69

RFK's family money, which exceeds $1.2 billion unless their money managers are utterly incompetent, is from mafia dominated sectors, and his son was a mercenary in the Ukraine, working for the Nazi's. Given that apples don't fall very far from trees, I think that anyone placing hopes here is more delusional than those vesting their hopes in Trump.

@Scorpion | Apr 23 2023 23:19 utc | 57

There isn't anything much more dispiriting to contemplate than the US political landscape, that's for sure. Countries have many layers and levels, of course, just like individuals. On some levels, the populace does actually matter. The system is rigged to minimize this but there is something there.

I watched RFK's full speech. There is something there too. What you say about their family may be fair. They have been up there for a while. But I find it hard to believe that someone whose uncle and father were murdered and who has then gone on to take on huge companies like Monsanto and GE and who spearheaded a legal initiative that turned the Hudson from one of the most polluted rivers in the US to one of the best in the developed world (as measured by fish per volume of water) is entirely crooked.

Policy-wise he said many good things. In terms of Ukraine I find his position distasteful.And I don't trust anyone running as either a Dem or Rep.

That said, he has the potential to garner significant, widespread support and with such support he might have sufficient political capital to tackle tough dynamics. Might.

Most likely the US has to be starved into submission at which point all bets are off as to how it will play out. Personally, I think the best option for American people (which is mainly all I care about and that not much given I voted with my feet to live elsewhere) is to push for various State secessions as a simple way to break up the Union. At the very least the effort will expose further corruption as well as maybe opening avenues to other things. It's a lever that can at least be attempted to be used, put it that way though Presidential elections are huge distractions which effectively obfuscate such approaches. But that said, and again, I think RFK has the potential to become a truly galvanizing figure.

If he stays within usual political parameters, ie the Democrat Political Party machine, then even if electorally successful he will be another Trump who garners significant support by promising substantive reform and then fails to deliver. But for We the People to have any chance at reforming things from the top via a presidential election (which I personally doubt is possible at this stage but) something extraordinary has to take place, a sea-change, one symptom of which might be a significant wave of support in the political-electoral arena. Despite his very painful, obviously traumatized, voice, he's the first pol I've seen in a while who has the potential to serve in that sort of iconic capacity without just being purely for show - like Obama for instance.

Tulsi? There have been some effective hit pieces on her showing her endorsements of Killary and Hiden which are truly cringe. She lacks weight and punch though speaks well. The times require someone larger than life. But again, more likely is decline and collapse. The notion of someone leading the charge on behalf of the people is romantic but not realistic. Still, it IS possible and so....

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 24 2023 1:53 utc | 70

"It's all a part of the greater plan. Make the West appear bad...

just somebody | Apr 23 2023 22:52 utc | 55
_____

I'm not following. No grand plan is needed to make that which is certifiable, manifest evil "appear bad".

By their fruits, you shall know them. The Outlaw US Empire's fruit is putrid, rotten to the core --way past its sell-by date and beyond redemption.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 24 2023 1:55 utc | 71

Sorry but I'm still not quite grasping the theory that the WEF actually wants to implement communism when they say "You will own nothing and be happy." I'm also not falling for the notion that Western leaders are intentionally trying to destroy the West in the interest of China or Russia or whoever "the East" means.

On the first count, what Schwabb was saying with the quote about owning nothing is that the economy (in the West and all over the world) will become almost a completely rentier-based system where only a select few own all the goods, property, and provide the services and the rest of us will be renting from them continuously without owning anything ourselves. This is borne out in the software industry where when you used to be able to buy a CD or download an executable that installed a fully functional program on your computer, and it could be used with no web connectivity or any further registrations, now everything "production" or "creative" related has moved to the monthly subscription model and hosted on the cloud. Adobe, Microsoft, most project management and accounting software for businesses. Try calling Microsoft and telling them you want to buy MS Office as a standalone, one-time bundle and they will talk you in circles trying to convince you to just subscribe to their monthly service. I forget the name of it, but of course the word "office" is part.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 2:14 utc | 72

Here's an author talking about what I posted just above at #71.

https://onezero.medium.com/landlord-2-0-techs-new-rentier-capitalism-a0bfe491b463

Excerpt:

Rather than representing some disruptive new “subscription” paradigm, however, what all these companies are doing — including Apple — is revitalizing of an old form of rentier capitalism that we long associated with landlords and feudalism.

Whether we call it platform capitalism, surveillance capitalism, or just next-gen rentier capitalism, this model for how capital operates uses mediation and enclosure to achieve extraction and control over its subjects. “Rentier” refers to a relationship where an asset owner charges others to access that asset, just as a landlord charges tenants to rent a home the landlord owns.

It’s difficult to understate the extent to which this rentier model is now being applied to the consumer world. Recent years have seen a surge of businesses that describe themselves as “Uber for X” or “X as a service,” such as WeWork offering “space as a service” or Amazon’s Mechanical Turk offering “humans as a service.” Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs are on the lookout for opportunities to capture value — dollars and data — by controlling assets and then charging users for access to those assets, whether it’s office space, music, or games.

In addition to consumer services, many governments, businesses, universities, and other organizations now rent core services, such as software and storage, from platforms. These software-as-a-service operations now take place within the ecosystem of private platforms, which supplies those platforms with a continual source of revenue, while also solidifying their critical position in the economy and society.

While examples like Uber and Airbnb are fairly obvious, through widespread application of the X-as-a-service model, platforms have also been able to expand rentier relations in ways that enclose everyday things. The key technology of enclosure is the software license, which allows the new rentiers to claim ownership over the software embedded in and data emanating from increasingly more physical things that we use in our daily lives.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 2:17 utc | 73

@Likklemore 29:
Concerning the Iraq war. I've talked to many American storm troopers and was told a most interesting story about the real reason. Concerns archaeology. Specifically the museum an a dig. Total of 20 minutes. Go to 8 minute mark if in a hurry.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nZQVvR9li5Y

Posted by: Ancient Times | Apr 24 2023 2:42 utc | 74

@Deplorable Commissar 45
Glad to see another poster is awake. Ukraine is just kubuki theater. There is a site that I used at one time to track the 1% folks.Incredible charts/cross connects. Still looks good. Not a member yet. They got noticed and had to go behind a sign up wall. If interested go to:
https://littlesis.org/

Posted by: Ancient Times | Apr 24 2023 3:13 utc | 75

Posted by: Ancient Times | Apr 24 2023 2:42 utc | 73

Gotta say that's a pretty interesting theory. If everything the video says is true about scientists/archaeologists being kicked out, it's also pretty compelling, although I doubt the ENTIRE invasion was really about the tomb of Gilgamesh. Germany is a US vassal as we have all learned and I'm sure they'd share anything they found with "us". That said, I'm sure a TON of extremely important artifacts were looted by the "coalition" forces.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 3:57 utc | 76

Posted by: Patroklos | Apr 23 2023 21:47 utc | 50

There's true charisma: the son of the man who truly did want to transform America and liberate the poor. RFK Jr is the one to watch because we know he was prepared to fight to wire over vaccines and he wrote a book on it, so he's an intellectual of a kind. But he has the aristocrat's edge: blue blood from Camelot! The return of Arthur! Revolutions led by heroic aristocrats who show disdain for money and wealth terrify the elite because they cannot be bought and hold to concepts like honour. If RFK can convince voters of his conviction the combo he represents could be incredible. And then they'll assassinate him.

NSA Archives - Dead Kennedies Brazil

President Kennedy dispatched a special envoy — his brother Robert — to issue a face-to-face de facto ultimatum to Goulart. Robert Kennedy met with Goulart at the Palacio do Alvarada in Brazilia on December 17, 1962. During the three-hour meeting, RFK advised Goulart that the U.S. had "the gravest doubts" about positive future relations with Brazil, given the "signs of Communist or extreme left-wing nationalists infiltration into civilian government positions," and the opposition to "American policies and interests as a regular rule." As Goulart issued a lengthy defense of his policies, Kennedy passed a note to Ambassador Gordon stating: "We seem to be getting no place." The attorney general would later say that he came away from the meeting convinced that Goulart was "a Brazilian Jimmy Hoffa."

I have absolutely no faith in any politicians. Especially if their name starts with a K, and if they have an aristocrat's edge. Should that have been plutocrat?
It's nice that some people still have faith, though.

Posted by: lex talionis | Apr 24 2023 4:02 utc | 77

lex:

How funny - "...given the "signs of Communist or extreme left-wing nationalists infiltration into civilian government positions"

Infiltration of leftists. LMAO, I suppose he meant by way of elections and elected leaders appointing others to certain positions.

I share your doubts about RFK Jr. or any rich and well connected politician. They only seem to get richer and more well connected after they're elected and the Kennedy clan is by no means an exception.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 4:07 utc | 78

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 4:07 utc | 77

Well, I guess not including the two most prominent among them. Oops.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 4:11 utc | 79

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 4:07 utc | 77

It's so sad and stupid. Perhaps in time we can laugh some time in the future. Tragedy + Time = Humor

Right now it's just depressing. But I don't care. At least I can have a chat with other somewhat like minded people. I did a bit of a deep dive into Brazil for some work stuff. Found a bunch of Kennedy stuff on NSA Archives. I have never understood the allure with the Kennedy klan. But I was born in '67. There is a great bar across the street from where the Ambassador Hotel once stood on 3400 Wilshire Blvd in LA, the HMS Bounty. I used to work right by there. I think I saw the ghost of RFK having a drink with some chick in polka dots, but I was fairly lit by then.

Posted by: lex talionis | Apr 24 2023 4:24 utc | 80

" @Deplorable Commissar 45
Glad to see another poster is awake. Ukraine is just kubuki theater.

Posted by: Ancient Times | Apr 24 2023 3:13 utc | 74 "

Thank you. I'm so awake at this point that I cant sleep anymore.

Posted by: Deplorable Commissar | Apr 24 2023 4:33 utc | 81

Posted by: lex talionis | Apr 24 2023 4:24 utc | 79

Well, the allure with JFK is somewhat easy to understand even discounting the Camelot bullshit from when it was contemporaneous. Whether or not they carried it out, covered it up or both (and who else could do both?) the CIA definitely didn't like him. And if you subscribe to the "my enemy's enemy is my friend" maxim (at least in some cases), then like me, you may be inclined to want another president like that. Anyone the CIA and big oil/fossil fuels doesn't like is probably someone I could be convinced - with the right amount of arm twisting from a wife or lover - to vote for. LOL

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 4:42 utc | 82

Leaks and Bellingcat being exposed as purveyor of clumsy interference in USA security state:

In this operation, Teixeira was the patsy for a Pentagon attack on Washington, Kiev and other allied officials who are planning to launch a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. This, the Pentagon Papers reveal, risks not only Russian defeat of the Ukrainians on the battlefield, but also the destruction of US military dominance in Europe and the international credibility of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) alliance.

Its a big read but worth the effort.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Apr 24 2023 5:00 utc | 83

humans are very sneaky
they look around the world
and think they can overcome
control everything,
except themselves

have a good week, ya”all

Posted by: Dingo | Apr 24 2023 5:29 utc | 84

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Apr 24 2023 5:00 utc | 82

Once again this week, thanks. I had neglected to check Helmer's site for the past several days and if it's anything as detailed and meticulous as his work on MH-17, I'm sure it will bear fruit.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Apr 24 2023 5:35 utc | 85

Posted by: Ancient Times | Apr 24 2023 3:13 utc | 74

Wow! Thanks. Quite a resource for those who like digging.

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 24 2023 5:49 utc | 86

But I find it hard to believe that someone whose uncle and father were murdered and who has then gone on to take on huge companies like Monsanto and GE and who spearheaded a legal initiative that turned the Hudson from one of the most polluted rivers in the US to one of the best in the developed world (as measured by fish per volume of water) is entirely crooked.

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 24 2023 1:53 utc | 69

Well I found it hard to BELIEVE that JFK daughter Caroline would work for "The Machine" that eliminated her father by taking post of ambassador in Japan. What twisted logic she used to do that is beyond me.

"Caroline Bouvier Kennedy[1][2] (born November 27, 1957)[3] is an American author, attorney, and diplomat serving in the Biden administration as the United States Ambassador to Australia since 2022. She previously served in the Obama administration as the United States Ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017.[4] A prominent member of the Kennedy family, she is the only surviving child of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy (JFK) and former first lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy."

Only now do I find out she is now an ambassador to Australia for the demented Joker in the White House. Guess she can't find anything better to do with her time than work for the Mafia. Sic.

Posted by: Tom_12 | Apr 24 2023 6:23 utc | 87

The Waste is scrambling to evacuate their embassies in Sudan. Russia isn't in any hurry. Afghanistan vibes.

https://t.me/UAexposed/199480

Posted by: unimperator | Apr 24 2023 6:24 utc | 88

@Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 22:46 utc | 54

A two state solution is no longer possible. Israel stole the aquifers, depleted them, and has now pumped them full of sewage. Israel takes every possible opportunity, making opportunities if necessary, to destroy water tanks, rainwater collection systems, water and sewage lines and systems, in addition to banning the importation of everything needed to fix them or sanitize water on the grounds that 5hey might be used to create fireworks.

Israel has horrendously expensive water desalination plants that are turning the eastern Mediterranean into another dead sea, and with US assistance to the tune of some $13,000 a year per Israeli Jew can afford exorbitant water fees. Palestinians cannot. So they give their thirsty children nitrate laden water and they die. They water their fields with sewage water and get cholera, while the soil is hyper-salinated and the crops fail. Eventually the indigenous people will leave or die. Israel's deliberate genocide will be explained away as economic reality. And the bought, browbeaten and blackmailed politicians of the world will shrug. We know that the West has been a partner in Israel's theft of the Palestine and genocide of the Palestians for the past 70 odd years. Maybe China and Russia can change this. One can certainly hope so.

If anyone can help, they should be insisting on a unitary state, implementation of the "right to return" insisted upon by the US and guaranteed by the UN. And the world should be providing a way for Israeli colonists and Palestians to emigrate to wealthier countries, because the Palestine cannot sustain 2 million, let alone 9.4 million odd Jews, and around 11 million Palestians.

See also my On the Founding of Israel and the Slow Genocide of Palestinians which addresses the above in greater detail, and a lot more besides.

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 24 2023 6:38 utc | 89

karlof1 #58

Between the Twitter Files and this massive fraud bigger than Watergate (what should we name it?),

for the laptop: Hiltery Gate? or Hullery Gate perhaps.

IMO there's enough evidence to impeach, sack, then charge, criminally prosecute, and sentence to Life a massive number of people of various stripes.

Agreed, but as in Hillarygate and the email scam no one gets prosecuted, she holds a get out of jail free card and so will Hunter.

As you so rightly point out, the little people strolling about on Jan 6 get busted, flogged and incarcerated. Proudhon comes to mind...

“To be GOVERNED is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be GOVERNED is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be placed under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited, monopolized, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored. That is government; that is its justice; that is its morality.”

― Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, General Idea of the Revolution in the Nineteenth Century

Julian Assange and the Palestinian oppressed come to mind.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Apr 24 2023 7:25 utc | 90

lex talionis #76

I have absolutely no faith in any politicians. Especially if their name starts with a K, and if they have an aristocrat's edge. Should that have been plutocrat?
It's nice that some people still have faith, though.

Thanks for that anecdote.

RFKjr. Ye shall know him by the party he chooses to run with.

Either major party is beneath contempt so its gonna take a lot of lipstick.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | Apr 24 2023 7:34 utc | 91

Posted by: Hermit | Apr 24 2023 6:38 utc | 88

My friend runs an aggregator site that migrated from his old One Democratic State site that used to have a lot about this issue.
https://legacy.sitrepworld.info/Home.html

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 24 2023 7:36 utc | 92

Only now do I find out she is now an ambassador to Australia for the demented Joker in the White House. Guess she can't find anything better to do with her time than work for the Mafia. Sic.
Posted by: Tom_12 | Apr 24 2023 6:23 utc | 86

Good point!
Maybe. Riddles, enigmas, mysteries!

Posted by: Scorpion | Apr 24 2023 7:39 utc | 93

(Just putting this out for anyone who cares, which I can't say is many)

Continuing from the previous open thread:
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/04/ukraine-open-thread-2023-96.html?cid=6a00d8341c640e53ef02b68534f2c6200d#comment-6a00d8341c640e53ef02b68534f2c6200d

As alluded to previously, the RT website has posting rules, the first few of which are as follows:

Your post will be deleted if it is

* rude, insulting, a personal attack, abusive, derogatory or defamatory, sexual in nature

Your post will be deleted for containing

* hate speech; racist, sexist, homophobic slurs; if it is discriminatory

* incitement; advocates violence, public disorder or criminal behavior
...
Opinions and information contained in the comments belong to the authors of the comments. While RT strives to keep all objectionable messages off the site, it will not be held responsible for the content of comments posted by users. If you come across a comment that you think should be brought to the attention of the moderators, please use the feedback form to share your concerns.

I admit I have been doing this ever since RT moved to Disqus. Sometimes it works (commentary in question is deleted), sometimes it doesn't. In the latter case, if the comment turns out to not have broken said rules after all, much as I disagree with it, I shrug and move on, not letting it ruin my day any longer.

Within 24 hours of the article's publication, at least one reader posted: (names have been omitted)

Like for like. So now it should be acceptable for the RF to strike Germany for their esculation & weapons supply to their nazi family. Time to do what should have been done @ the end of the www2 destroy Germany TOTALLY with a SARMAT. [emphasis mine]

Another wrote:

Obviously, not enough Germans were exterminated during WW II. The Morgenthau Plan should have been implemented.

As of this writing these two comments and then some (e.g. a comment advocating for Germany to be nuked) still remain on even after filing a complaint to RT. Either I did so at a bad time (doesn't seem to work on weekends like it does on weekdays - maybe that's why?), or somehow said commentary is not considered, and I quote,

incitement; advocates violence, public disorder or criminal behavior

In the end, I guess I shouldn't expect much in the way of intelligent discussion from RT readership as much as I do here. At least the barflies here are aware that Germany isn't a sovereign nation, instead a puppet state controlled by Washington (and London?) since 1945.

Posted by: joey_n | Apr 24 2023 9:05 utc | 94

MoA Quotes of the Week April 17-23

Gold:
The US wants to make money off war in the middle east, China prefers to make money off peace.
Different business model. Posted by: ian | Apr 18 2023 17:18 utc | 11

Silver:
Few seem to know that in his speech delivered on 21 September 2022 Putin made the following vow: "It is in our historical tradition, in the fate of our people, to stop those who are striving for world domination, who threaten to dismember and enslave our Motherland, our Fatherland. We will do it now, and so it will be." Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 20 2023 3:20 utc | 74

Bronze:
... AND replacing Rockefeller Medicine. We'll see just how different this multipolar world really is by how in lockstep they are with the medical tyrants. Posted by: Raelyn | Apr 17 2023 12:48 utc | 187

Hon. Mention:
- If you've closely observed Russian FM Lavrov's rhetoric since February 2022--and more so now that the new Concept is out--his assignment [is] to show to those willing to listen--most of the world--that it's the Outlaw US Empire and its gaggle of vassals who are the International law breakers, not Russia, and that Russia was completely within its rights to do what it did, is now doing, and will proceed to do. Posted by: karlof1 | Apr 20 2023 3:20 utc | 74 [my emphasis, not karlof1]

- No matter how much they might despise Trump, all humans owe him their lives, because if Hildemort had stolen the election in 2016, WW III would have occurred already, and we would not be here. Posted by: Hermit | Apr 17 2023 7:46 utc | 185

- There is such a naive belief in the alleged worth of the so-called 'amerikan experiment' which IMO has been corrupt from its outset, that getting out any information at all which discredits this most vicious of all empires is a vital job for those who say "Enough!" even if it is a naively recent dissatisfaction. Posted by: Debsisdead | Apr 22 2023 5:47 utc | 118

Posted by: waynorinorway | Apr 24 2023 9:17 utc | 95

... It appears impossible to diagnose Westworld's compound mental disorders. "Criminally insane" isn't quite adequate.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 23 2023 21:48 utc | 51

Kleptophrenia?

Posted by: anon2020 | Apr 24 2023 9:20 utc | 96

Hermit | Apr 24 2023 6:38 utc | 88
_____

Thanks for your reply. I read your article earlier, "On the Founding of Israel and the Slow Genocide of Palestinians." It's certainly worth another read. The usuper "Hebrews" are certainly diabolically creative.

About a decade ago, my late uncle, who had been tear-gassed by the IOF while participating in a demonstration, had told me then that a two state solution wasn't possible. When I countered with talkpoints of conventional wisdom, he explained to me how the shrewd machinations of Israel in its obsessive pursuit of Eretz (ersatz) Israel had deliberately foreclosed that possibility. He also explained how this Greater (sic) Israel was conceived to achieve world dominion. At the time, I thought that was quite a stretch. How naïve.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 24 2023 13:02 utc | 97

About a decade ago, my late uncle, who had been tear-gassed by the IOF while participating in a demonstration, had told me then that a two state solution wasn't possible. When I countered with talkpoints of conventional wisdom, he explained to me how the shrewd machinations of Israel in its obsessive pursuit of Eretz (ersatz) Israel had deliberately foreclosed that possibility. He also explained how this Greater (sic) Israel was conceived to achieve world dominion. At the time, I thought that was quite a stretch. How naïve.

Posted by: Doug Hillman | Apr 24 2023 13:02 utc | 96

Nothing is too stupid but the Zionist Jingos will consider it golden.

The last time two-states might have been possible was the nineties (Oslo), and Bibi put paid to that by the turn of the millenium. Meanwhile like the USA they have been assiduously crapping up what little in they way of natural resources they had and dumbing down their population vigorously with propaganda.

The Izzies have not really (IMHO) had the ability to attack Iran (outside of spookery and IRBMs) since around that time either, as reflected in the results of the 2nd Lebanon war, which they lost to Hezbollah in spades, despite rampant war crimes in Lebanon.

Hezbollah sits in relation to Israel in somewhat the same way that DPRK sits in relation to Seoul, it holds all of N. Israel hostage with massive artillery barrages. And this has only gotten much worse in the last 20 years.

And even Oslo was not really going to work.

Posted by: Bemildred | Apr 24 2023 13:18 utc | 98

re: Palestine
Just look at the time-phased maps here.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Apr 24 2023 13:28 utc | 99

@ 94 waynorinorway.. thanks for that! a select condensation from a trusted source is helpful!

Posted by: james | Apr 24 2023 13:44 utc | 100