Posted by: karlof1 | May 18 2023 16:44 utc | 4
I wonder if the Global Times article was meant in any way to indirectly address this recycled narrative:
https://apnews.com/article/china-debt-banking-loans-financial-developing-countries-collapse-8df6f9fac3e1e758d0e6d8d5dfbd3ed6

A dozen poor countries are facing economic instability and even collapse under the weight of hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign loans, much of them from the world’s biggest and most unforgiving government lender, China.
An Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China — including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia — found paying back that debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of the tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel. And it’s draining foreign currency reserves these countries use to pay interest on those loans, leaving some with just months before that money is gone.
Behind the scenes is China’s reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help. On top of that is the recent discovery that borrowers have been required to put cash in hidden escrow accounts that push China to the front of the line of creditors to be paid. [CONTINUES]…

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 18 2023 16:48 utc | 3

Tom_Q_Collins | May 18 2023 16:48 utc | 5–
Given the massive amount of documentation of the destructive nature of the Washington Consensus and related Structural Adjustment policies/programs enforced by IMF and World Bank over the past 40+ years (Confessions of an Economic Hitman and The Shock Doctrine being two of many), the RoW isn’t fooled by the bullshit spouted by All Propaganda AP. The Xinhua report I linked to mentions trade 24 times, sanctions 48 times, economic 39 times, and the root of coercion and related terms 62 times, which combine to destroy the basis of the AP crap. There was also the release back in February of the document, “US Hegemony and Its Perils”, which complements this newest report. Combined along with so much other documentation that’s been ongoing since the late 1970s, there’s zero credibility in the AP crap or in statements made by Dollar Zone governments. As many have noted, most dollarized debts are actually Odious and ought to be repudiated.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 18 2023 17:25 utc | 5

Where is Zelenskyi and Zaluzhnyi…??????

Posted by: sejmon | May 18 2023 17:44 utc | 7

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 18 2023 16:48 utc | 3
Did you read this?
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/04/how-china-is-breaking-the-colonial-effects-of-western-lending.html

Posted by: Surferket | May 18 2023 17:48 utc | 9

unimperator | May 18 2023 17:55 utc | 10–
To go with your comment. The picture at the bottom of the text shows who it’s directed at:

Syria’s return to occupy its seat at the Arab League is primarily an Arab matter.
Foreigners can complain and protest all they want; the Arabs no longer pay attention to them.
Particularly, the Arabs don’t listen to foreigners who have played a destructive role in the Arab world over recent decades.
If they are interested in win-win relations, foreigners, especially those who appear to be interested in keeping the region in a permanent state of chaos and conflicts for their own selfish gains, should adjust their policies and align their interests with those of the region — not the other way round.
Plus, coming and trying to lecture the Arabs on “human rights”, while their own human rights record is dismal, won’t get foreigners any points. It only elicits derision and exposes their double standards.
The world is no longer in early 1990s or even early 2020s; the Arabs see through the foreign officials’ hypocrisy and don’t accept condescension, especially from those whose policies have been detrimental to regional stability and prosperity.
Some foreign officials are unaware that they behave amateurishly and sound crude. They seem to lack essential understanding of world affairs and basic diplomatic etiquette; they obviously need re-education and re-training.
Arab officials are a lot more sophisticated and educated than many of their foreign counterparts. Perhaps, Arab officials should offer to give them training on the art of diplomacy and world affairs.

The Age of Plunder is ending!!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 18 2023 17:59 utc | 11

Matt Taibbi re: Twitter Files from April admittedly
but still relevant.
He has free articles on various aspects of the history and significance of this “t.h.i.n.g.”
https://twitterfiles.substack.com/
the first 2 entries are i.e.
“HOW TWITTER LET THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IN ”
“TWITTER AND THE FBI “BELLY BUTTON””

Posted by: AG | May 18 2023 18:04 utc | 13

Posted by: Mike | May 18 2023 18:02 utc | 12
Hate to say it, but Ukraine does pretty much play a very central role on how power relations in Europe will turn out.
In a hypothetical scenario where Russia could manage to cut Ukraine off the Black sea, and get a land border with Hungary, would pretty much automatically lead, due to various reasons, lead to the break up of EU and thereafter Nato. It would be a massive advantage for non-US controlled world. It would establish a land route between Hungary and China and everything between, including Turkey and Iran, and would make Hungary, and Serbia the true Oasis of Europe in contrast to the rest of Europe burnt down by the EU pupppet regime.
However, when you look at the map, you can see the chance of that happening is very small. Now the US also got Moldova cry itself into EU and NATO, which is a very bad thing when it comes to releasing pressure off Hungary and Serbia. There must be a lot of levers US can pull to force Hungary and Serbia make things they want.
This is truly beginning to look like Napoleon and Hitler coalition in Europe now, just this time the US coalition. Yugoslavia was also invaded in both world wars with little to be done about it, it’s a huge risk it will happen yet again.

Posted by: unimperator | May 18 2023 18:11 utc | 15

Cmt
@karlof1 | May 18 2023 16:44 utc | 2
re: coercive diplomacy
The US also used coercive diplomacy to instigate the SMO and the damage it’s doing not only in Ukraine but in many other nations also. The Biden-Blinken team absolutely knew that they were instigating a war as they were doing it, with the results being “unfortunate.”
Here’s Blinken, bragging about how he and Biden provoked Russia and knew exactly what they were doing:

. . .And the hope, of course, was that the democratization of information would be a good thing overall. And fundamentally, I believe that’s still the case. But as a result of this, as a result of this disaggregation, you’ve lost exactly what you said, which are sort of the trusted mediators who can make sure that information, to the greatest extent possible, is actually backed up by the facts. And at the same time, that technology itself has allowed the abuse and the spreading of misinformation and disinformation in ways that we probably didn’t fully anticipate or imagine.
So we see authoritarian governments using this. We see it, for example, right now in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. We saw it in 2014 when Russia initially went at Ukraine and was using information as a weapon of war.
So in that particular instance and in this instance, we’ve actually reversed this on them precisely by using information, real information, to call out what we saw them preparing and working to do. And being able to do that and to bring to the world everything that we were seeing about the planned Russian aggression and to lay out exactly the steps they were likely to take, and which unfortunately they did, I think has done a profound service to making sure that credible information is what carries the day and disinformation is undermined. . .here

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 18 2023 18:44 utc | 17

The easiest way to check if you have been brainwashed is by deep diving into history.
Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself what are your beliefs. Then double checking if those beliefs fit in neatly with your class. Your own personal situation.
This is a short summary of history that allows you to start that process.
https://jacobin.com/2023/04/moral-economies-of-money-book-review-jakob-feinig-monetary-policy-us-history-federal-reserve-democracy
In my opinion the biggest con trick Washington ever performed was to convince the working class that they are capital. Turned the working class against themselves and convinced the working class to support capital while the working class fought against each other.
I’m convinced many voters would be shocked to realise who’s narrative and framing they have supported over the years and how they betrayed their own class. Along with betraying their own interests. For me knowing history as I do, nothing highlights this more than those in the working class who scream for a return to the gold standard.
Jakob Feinig new book – Moral Economies of Money: Politics and the Monetary Constitution of Society. That deep dives into the history of money and credit is excellent. A must read for anybody with an interest in this part of human history. Worthy of any book shelf.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 18 2023 20:14 utc | 19

Reuters is laying the tracks for another war
China, birthplace of the COVID pandemic, is laying tracks for another global health crisis
One of the sub titles
How Reuters pinpointed bat-virus risk zones worldwide
Reuters creates all the “news” necessary to run empire…….until it doesn’t

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 18 2023 20:17 utc | 21

@ Derek Henry | May 18 2023 20:14 utc | 20
re: . . .. Turned the working class against themselves
recall a book from 2005 —
What’s the Matter with Kansas?: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America –by Thomas Frank
Amazon blurb
The New York Times bestseller, praised as “hilariously funny . . . the only way to understand why so many Americans have decided to vote against their own economic and political interests” -(Molly Ivins)

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 18 2023 20:29 utc | 23

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 18 2023 20:29 utc | 24
What’s the Matter with Kansas?
It’s not just conservatives Don. The one party nation state has performed the same trick for hundreds of years. Books that blame Republicans and books that blame Democrats just feed into that left wing – right wing pantomime. To hide the class war being carried out from above.
There was nobody better at carrying out ” monetary silencing ” than FDR for example. Even though mainstream history tried to convince you otherwise.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 18 2023 20:43 utc | 25

sejmon | May 18 2023 17:44 utc | 7 Where is Zelenskyy?
According to his twitter, in Kiev [2hrs ago]

I am glad to see that the Crimea Platform we have created effectively channels the joint power of our entire state and the Crimean Tatar people. I am glad to know that our joint work with the Mejlis brings the result Ukraine needs. By the way, we are preparing some very important joint steps for the near future. We are bringing the issue of Crimea, Crimean prisoners and all our people in Crimea to a new international level.
May 18: I welcome the historic decision of the French Senate to recognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of Ukraine people. I’m grateful to all senators who initiated and supported the resolution. This is another important step towards restoring historical justice and perpetuating the memory of millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death.

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1658887334706675730

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 18 2023 20:53 utc | 27

@karlof1 | May 18 2023 16:44 utc | 2/4/11 etc
Thank-you. Brilliant.

Posted by: Hermit | May 18 2023 21:06 utc | 29

It’s not just conservatives Don. The one party nation state has performed the same trick for hundreds of years. Books that blame Republicans and books that blame Democrats just feed into that left wing – right wing pantomime. To hide the class war being carried out from above.
Posted by: Derek Henry | May 18 2023 20:43 utc | 26
—————————————————————-
Mr. Henry is exactly correct about the state of US politics as it exists in our one class party state.
In the past, the real (and only) difference between a Democrat (D) and a Republican (R) was the corporations and business interest that the two groups generally attached themselves to and provided favors to in return for kickbacks and campaign funds. Among the D’s this included large Unions which did allow some relief for Union workers, relief that at times would spill over into the working class in general; like the minimum wage and the eight-hour working day.
From the time of Jimmy Carter, but primarily Bill Clinton, the D’s and the R’s have come to depend on the same corporate capitalist groups to accept bribes and campaign donations (they amount to the same thing). It has become harder and harder to show that there are any real differences between them in order to pretend that we live in a democracy with real choices.
The only issues left with any substance today are social issues, often exaggerate, like race, sex, abortions, guns, welfare for the poor (the rich get all the welfare they want), and government debt.
There is almost total agreement among the political class on matters of war and the military budget, which only means that the MIC has captured the entire government: All the D’s and the R’s.

Posted by: Ed | May 18 2023 21:29 utc | 31

China and the Middle East/West Asia
China and the Revenge of the Sanctioned
Posted on May 18, 2023 by Yves Smith
Yves here. Forgive me for running this very fine Juan Cole piece a bit late, since it means you may have already seen it elsewhere. It gives a solid overview of how China has economic interests in the Middle East which continued conflict could endanger, and how US mis-steps, plus things like the Saudis managing to learn from their mistakes further undercut our already self-undermined position. It’s good one-stop shopping to send to friends and family who might want to catch up on how the US so wrong-footed this situation. Of course, 20 years of nation-breaking in the region didn’t help either.
As Cole says, “Washington is now the skunk at the diplomats’ party.”
Mind you, I think that is entirely unfair to skunks, who by all accounts have lovely personalities and don’t attack unless threatened. But the point still holds.
By Juan Cole, who teaches Middle Eastern and South Asian history at the University of Michigan. His newest book, “Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires” was published in 2020. He is also the author of “The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation Is Changing the Middle East” (2015) and “Napoleon’s Egypt: Invading the Middle East” (2008). He has appeared widely on television, radio, and on op-ed pages as a commentator on Middle East affairs, and has a regular column at Salon.com. He has written, edited, or translated 14 books and has authored 60 journal articles. Originally published at TomDispatch
A photo Beijing released on March 6th of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a seismic shock in Washington. There was the Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party standing between Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, and Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban. They were awkwardly shaking hands on an agreement to reestablish mutual diplomatic ties. That picture should have brought to mind a 1993 photo of President Bill Clinton hosting Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chief Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn as they agreed to the Oslo Accords. And that long-gone moment was itself an after-effect of the halo of invincibility the United States had gained in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the overwhelming American victory in the 1991 Gulf War.
This time around, the U.S. had been cut out of the picture, a sea change reflecting not just Chinese initiatives but Washington’s incompetence, arrogance, and double-dealing in the subsequent three decades in the Middle East. An aftershock came in early May as concerns gripped Congress about the covert construction of a Chinese naval base in the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally hosting thousands of American troops. The Abu Dhabi facility would be an add-on to the small base at Djibouti on the east coast of Africa used by the People’s Liberation Army-Navy for combating piracy, evacuating noncombatants from conflict zones, and perhaps regional espionage.
China’s interest in cooling off tensions between the Iranian ayatollahs and the Saudi monarchy arose, however, not from any military ambitions in the region but because it imports significant amounts of oil from both countries. Another impetus was undoubtedly President Xi’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, that aims to expand Eurasia’s overland and maritime economic infrastructure for a vast growth of regional trade — with China, of course, at its heart. That country has already invested billions in a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and in developing the Pakistani Arabian seaport of Gwadar to facilitate the transmission of Gulf oil to its northwestern provinces.
Having Iran and Saudi Arabia on a war footing endangered Chinese economic interests. Remember that, in September 2019, an Iran proxy or Iran itself launched a drone attack on the massive refinery complex at al-Abqaiq, briefly knocking out five million barrels a day of Saudi capacity. That country now exports a staggering 1.7 million barrels of petroleum daily to China and future drone strikes (or similar events) threaten those supplies. China is also believed to receive as much as 1.2 million barrels a day from Iran, though it does so surreptitiously because of U.S. sanctions. In December 2022, when nationwide protests forced the end of Xi’s no-Covid lockdown measures, that country’s appetite for petroleum was once again unleashed, with demand already up 22% over 2022.
So, any further instability in the Gulf is the last thing the Chinese Communist Party needs right now. Of course, China is also a global leader in the transition away from petroleum-fueled vehicles, which will eventually make the Middle East far less important to Beijing. That day, however, is still 15 to 30 years away.
Read on:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/05/china-and-the-revenge-of-the-sanctioned.html

Posted by: Don Firineach | May 18 2023 22:03 utc | 33

Synthesis of all of the above:
In West Asia the coercive diplomats are now the skunks at the diplomats’ party.

Posted by: Don Firineach | May 18 2023 23:04 utc | 35

Posted by: Ed | May 18 2023 21:29 utc | 32
Ed you’ve nailed it. ” Monetary silencing ” is a huge part of that. Hiding how banking and government financing actually works. Even though the truth has been out there for years. Every generation that dies a little bit more of the truth is lost.
Post war banking policy
https://new-wayland.com/blog/post-war-banking-policy/
Who has the time to learn it really. If you are working to bring up a family nobody has the time to learn how things really work. You depend on the government and media to tell you the truth. Might as well ask Rosie Lee and her Crystal ball when the travelling circus comes to town. Complete myths have been ingrained in the public psyche.

Posted by: Derek Henry | May 18 2023 23:14 utc | 37

DOD is pleading with Congress for their $842 billion FY24 budget (fiscal year starts Oct 1, and the budget usually is not passed by that date)
..part of it. . .
Third, we’re determined to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open. Most countries in the region share a common vision of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific free of bullying and coercion. We’re proud to stand together with them. //
I suspect we’ll hear a lot of chatter about (China) “bullying and coercion.” The US can’t stand for such while implementing its rule-based international order, which of course does not include bullying and coercion.. . .s/

Posted by: Don Bacon | May 18 2023 23:39 utc | 39

Deplorable Commisar # 1
There you go stating the obvious ;-). The Donbass Cowboy has a few things to say about this BS. The podcast is low quality(host is NYC accent),but Russell comes thru loud and clear. What he has to say about this Ukraine tragi-comedy is worth a listen. My 2¢.
https://jackheartblog.org/wp/2023/05/jack-hearts-conversations-from-the-porch-episode-28/.html

Posted by: Ancient Times | May 18 2023 23:53 utc | 41

I wonder why this time almost nobody is worry about Gonzalo Lira destiny. The first time he was detained there was a lot of people asking for him, but this time, looks like nobody really care anymore. Anyone can tell me why this indiference?

Posted by: Ocelote | May 19 2023 1:33 utc | 43

Prefer compania bărbaților goi.

Posted by: uncle tungsten | May 19 2023 2:08 utc | 45

artificial intelligence
is sold to an isolated
detached, lonely
civilization.
as a friend with a digitized
voice. and an algorithm
designed for mediocrity

Posted by: Dingo | May 19 2023 2:53 utc | 47

They call you a conspiracy theorist if you point out inconvenient truths to the narrative then imply motive. Now they will shut you down with what-aboutism when they sling shit at Russia’s move into Ukraine. Now here is more what-aboutism:
‘Death Outlives War’: Analysis Estimates Post-9/11 ​US Conflicts Killed Over 4.5 Million
Note my first post with a link, I hope it works.

Posted by: Cofcanuckistan | May 19 2023 3:34 utc | 49

Recently, Chinese authorities gave a life sentence to a 78-year-old Chinese American known for his staunch support of the CPC. The man was accused of being a foreign spy. The harsh sentence confused many die-hard CPC loyalists as they didn’t understand why Beijing punished one of them. Well, Beijing wanted to send a warning message to solve its loyalty crisis:
-Who is John (Yang) Leung? Is he a Texan American or Chinese spy?
-Why does Beijing want to punish him?
-Warnings to those who work for the CPC in the U.S. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8_u0_xhpvo

Posted by: Antonym | May 19 2023 5:17 utc | 51

regarding Derek Henry’s observations, try listening to the Manic Street Preachers’ song “30 Year War” from their album Rewind The Film. It more or less explains the neoliberal anti-worker project, but in a form you can dance to.

Posted by: MFB | May 19 2023 6:16 utc | 53

re Ed | May 19 2023 1:26 utc | 43
who claimed I must be some right-winger merely because I question the actions of a right wing government which poses at ‘being’ leftist strikes me as a particularly imperceptive individual, one easily swayed by the facile statements, statements which somehow never get acted upon, spouted by that faux left party in amerika known as ‘The Dims’.
As for my nym ‘Debsisdead’; that came about in the usual manner by which I choose nyms – so long ago I had forgotten the details until I was reminded by a fellow poster a few years back. I came across a blog called the ‘whiskey bar’ in my travels round the net, travels I made in search of a site where posters’ points of view lined up sufficiently with my own that I wouldn’t get into an immediate shouting match with them & straight away find myself banned. It was the early noughties and shrub was doing his worst; it seemed to me that instead of regarding 911 as a most unfortunate learning experience for amerika, = blow back if you will, he had decided to declare war on a big chunk of the world for no better reason than recovering lost machismo or as we say in this part of our shared old rock, lost Mana.
So when I did make a first post I decided to invoke the type of spirit I would most like to see permeating amerika, the spirit of a man whom I discovered in my local library whilst at intermediate school (sort of like junior high a school for kids aged between about 9 to about 12, although you only spend 2 years there the age range varied a bit as some kids -such as myself commenced primary school aged 4 whilst others may be as old as 7 when they kick off education.) Anyway I’d come across Eugene Debs and immediately borrowed his biography because reading its flycover told me something I had been unaware of, that there had been socialists in amerika at one time, when I imagined that they had all been assassinated and amerikan trade unions were fronts for gangsters who sold their members down the river in return for bribes. This was a popular view in Aotearoa/NZ at that time which prided itself on its practical agrarian socialism & staunch trade unions back then.
Anyway when I picked a nym I picked ‘Debs in 04′ hoping that a person who shared Gene Debs’ values would be found to displace the awful to the entire world, George W Bush jnr next election in 2004.
Of course nothing like that happened and worst of all after having watched the machinations of tweedledum vs tweedledee throughout the process I then recognised there was no chance of it ever occurring so I changed my nym to ‘Debs is dead’.
I know I’m not the only contributor here imagined by idiots to be a right wing Rethug supporter just because I express dislike for the fascist Dim Party, idiots who seem incapable of grasping a simple fact; that is although the two amerikan political parties differ from time to time on what they say, there is zero difference between them on what they do.
I dunno why that is so difficult for idiots to grasp. I mean it is so bloody obvious it shouldn’t even need to be said.

Posted by: Debsisdead | May 19 2023 6:52 utc | 55

The Arab League Zelinsky invitation is being reported as an initiative of King bin Salman, not Prince MbS.

Posted by: too scents | May 19 2023 7:25 utc | 57

How the corporate multinational climate change narrative replaced ecology:
https://www.beyondwasteland.net/p/climate-regime-change

Posted by: KevinB | May 19 2023 7:49 utc | 59

artificial intelligence
is sold to an isolated
detached, lonely
civilization.
as a friend with a digitized
voice. and an algorithm
designed for mediocrity
Posted by: Dingo | May 19 2023 2:53 utc | 48
Profound and true.

Posted by: jpc | May 19 2023 8:39 utc | 61

Don Bacon | May 19 2023 12:56 utc | 63
let me edit cnn:
the world’s most imperialist autokracies….
none are democracy, the usa constitution is for a representatve republic, which is subverted since 1890….

Posted by: paddy | May 19 2023 13:05 utc | 63

Chronicles of Democracy.
A Ukrainian working as a courier in Austria ate a burger intended for the customer and left a note instead:
— I ate your burger. I’m from Ukraine. Don’t write a bad review. Glory to Ukraine!
P.S. Refers to Austria, not Ukraine. Poor Austrian customer) On the other hand, this is a natural result of supporting the barbarians.

Posted by: alaff | May 19 2023 13:50 utc | 65

https://t.me/DDGeopolitics/64012

🇨🇳🌏China’s Xi unveils grand development plan with Central Asia allies – Reuters
China’s President Xi Jinping on Friday unveiled an ambitious plan to help elevate Central Asia to the next level of its development – from building infrastructure networks to boosting trade – while shunning “external interference” at the same time.
China stands ready to synergise development strategies with the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and make joint efforts to promote the modernisation of all six countries, said Xi in an address at the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China.
“The world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious, and well-connected,” Xi said.
“China is ready to help Central Asian countries improve their law enforcement, security, and defense capability construction,” Xi said.

Posted by: anon2020 | May 19 2023 14:12 utc | 67

Posted by: Debsisdead | May 19 2023 6:52 utc | 56
I always enjoy reading what you have to type.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans in the USA is that Democrats will stab you in the back. Republicans will stab you in the front.

Posted by: lex talionis | May 19 2023 15:15 utc | 69

I concur with bevin and debsisdead on the odiousness of Juan Cole, who I proved to be a fraud back in 2010 when commenting at Common Dreams. He supported 100% the Arab Spring Color Revolutions, resulting Rape of Libya and War on Syria, and he lambasted Occupy Wall Street. But he wasn’t the only Obama “liberal” during those years as many lost their “compass” and became what I call Obama/Clinton Reactionaries. From 2009-10, it was easy to tell who was a genuine Progressive Anti-Neoliberal: You condemned Obama for not jailing the Banksters and bailing them out, not ending Afghanistan, and then going onto the next round of Empire building mentioned above. After those two terms, Sanders was seen as a Godsend which enabled him to then become a backstabber. And all that and more enabled Trump–the nation so wanted to see the Swamp get Drained. New polling puts Trump ahead 62%-12% of his nearest (Desantis) competition for the R-Party nomination. Only massive fraud will keep Trump from winning in 2024.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 19 2023 15:27 utc | 71

@0paddy | May 19 2023 13:05 utc | 64
The US constitution was written by oligarchs for oligarchs in the face of peasant rebellions (Shay’s Rebellion 1786-1787, Whiskey Rebellion 1791-1794, Fries’s Rebellion 1799-1800, State of Muskogee 1799-1803, etc). The founding oligarchs intended the US to be an oligarchy (rule by the wealthy and powerful) and to remain an oligarchy and they were successful. In order to achieve this, they established the US as an oligarchy masquerading as a Republic (representational government) where only the oligarchs are represented, witb pretensions to democracy (everyone has a vote) but where voting cannot change anything. Today the masquerade has been dropped, as America’s are too stupid to realize that alternatives are possible, even though 62% of Americans recognize that neither the Republicans or Democrats (the only oligarch sanctioned parties) represent them or their interests.
See my article at the Greanville Post, The USA is an oligarchy.

Posted by: Hermit | May 19 2023 15:46 utc | 73

Posted by: Hermit | May 19 2023 15:46 utc | 74
Yup. I fully agree. I read the hagiography of Alexander Hamilton from which came the stage production.
I guess our reptilian overlords have been around for a while.
Oh well.
Dermocracy. Woo Hoo.

Posted by: lex talionis | May 19 2023 15:58 utc | 75

@ Paco | May 19 2023 15:55 utc | 75
That sounded like Medvedev, but it was sure enough Putin. Extraordinary.
And pondering this, I think it is not so much that the rhetoric and diplomatic plain-speaking of the Rest of World is being ramped up, so much as that the sheer, bewildering idiocy of the west has become so outrageous that there’s no way to sugar-coat it anymore.
Simply by accurately addressing what the west manifests and communicates, one automatically sounds disparaging.
I suppose that’s what it’s like when an entity causes its own self destruction.

Posted by: Grieved | May 19 2023 16:16 utc | 77

The Central Asia-China Summit is making great progress building on and complementing relations within the SCO and must be seen in that light. This GT article offers a good recap of what’s transpired. The most important event was Xi’s keynote speech which opened with some past and present history:

Xi’an, known as Chang’an in ancient times, is an important cradle of the Chinese civilization and nation. It is also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road on the east end. Over 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty envoy, made his journey to the West from Chang’an, opening the door to the friendship and exchanges between China and Central Asia. With their joint endeavor of hundreds of years, Chinese and Central Asian peoples made the Silk Road expand and prosper, a historic contribution to the interaction, integration, enrichment and development of world civilizations. The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once wrote, “In Chang’an we meet again, worthy of more than a thousand pieces of gold.” Our gathering in Xi’an today to renew our millennia-old friendship and open up new vistas for the future is of very important significance.
Back in 2013, I put forward the initiative of jointly building a Silk Road Economic Belt during my first visit to Central Asia as Chinese president. Over the past decade, China and Central Asian countries have worked closely together to fully revive the Silk Road and actively deepen future-oriented cooperation, steering our relations into a new era.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway that runs across the Tianshan Mountain, the China-Tajikistan expressway that defies the Pamir Plateau, and the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline that traverse the vast desert — they are the present-day Silk Road. The China-Europe Railway Express operating around the clock, the endless streams of freight trucks, and crisscrossing flights — they are the present-day camel caravans. Entrepreneurs seeking business opportunities, health workers fighting the COVID-19, cultural workers delivering message of friendship, and international students pursuing further education — they are the present-day goodwill ambassadors.
The China-Central Asia relationship is steeped in history, driven by broad actual needs, and built on solid popular support. Our relations are brimming with vigor and vitality in the new era.

Xi then went on to reiterate the main points raised at the virtual Summit held last year marking the 30th anniversary in relations between China and the Central Asian nations. Note how he includes his three main Global Initiatives into the following four points:

At the virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Central Asian countries held last year, we jointly announced our vision of a China-Central Asia community with a shared future. It was a historic choice made for the fundamental interests and bright future of our peoples in the new era. In building this community, we need to stay committed to four principles.
First, mutual assistance. It is important that we deepen strategic mutual trust, and always give each other unequivocal and strong support on issues concerning our core interests such as sovereignty, independence, national dignity, and long-term development. We should work together to ensure that our community features mutual assistance, solidarity, and mutual trust.
Second, common development. It is important that we continue to set the pace for Belt and Road cooperation and deliver on the Global Development Initiative. We should fully unlock our potentials in traditional areas of cooperation such as economy, trade, industrial capacity, energy and transportation. And we should forge new drivers of growth in finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, green and low-carbon development, medical service, health, and digital innovation. We should work together to ensure that our community features win-win cooperation and common progress.
Third, universal security. It is important that we act on the Global Security Initiative, and stand firm against external attempts to interfere in domestic affairs of regional countries or instigate color revolutions. We should remain zero-tolerant to the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and strive to resolve security conundrums in the region. We should work together to ensure that our community features no-conflict and enduring peace.
Fourth, everlasting friendship. It is important that we implement the Global Civilization Initiative, carry forward our traditional friendship, and enhance people-to-people exchanges. We should do more to share our experience in governance, deepen cultural mutual learning, increase mutual understanding, and cement the foundation of the everlasting friendship between the Chinese and Central Asian peoples. We should work together to ensure that our community features close affinity and shared conviction.

More technical aspects related to security and commerce can be read in the remainder of the speech at the above link. The Civilizational aspect present in the above IMO is highly important as the long term goal is to draw all Eurasian peoples together so they begin to see and think of themselves as not just nationals but as Eurasianists. Eventually, this idea will be extended to other portions of Eurasia–Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. Most of Europe is being omitted from the equation for now as its people and governments need to become free and evolve beyond their Colonial past and subjugated present. Enlightened Europeans know those must occur for Europe to have a prosperous future once freed from its demented present.
The main point Xi delivered is China seeks to build its relations with all Eurasia on an equitable basis that promotes the interests of all, not just China’s; that China’s the good neighbor willing to help its neighbors to advance the wellbeing of the entire community. And ultimately, there’s no reason whatsoever to fear China. IMO, Xi’s speech was also aimed at RoW as the relations with Central Asia are the same type of relations it wants with RoW–even its current adversaries who are currently too backward to see that truth.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 19 2023 16:24 utc | 79

Paco @75–
Too funny. My translation calls them “halfwits.” Here’s the opening of Putin’s speech/remarks to the conference participants, the themes expressed dove-tail with those spelled out similarly by Xi in his speech at Xi-an yesterday. Later today, I’ll post the entire translation of Putin’s address to my VK for those unable to translate the transcript at the link Paco provided:

Vladimir Putin: Dear colleagues, good afternoon!
I welcome you to the meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations.
My colleagues and I are located in the North Caucasus Federal District. By the way, we can talk to everyone later, we can postpone some of our meetings until tomorrow, and we will calmly discuss the situation in each subject of the Federation.
We have a National Policy Strategy on our agenda. It has been operating for more than 10 years. We constantly pay attention to its implementation and understand that in modern conditions it requires updating.
We can see the aggressive external pressure being exerted on Russia and on our entire society. Almost the entire arsenal is directed against us: economic, military, political, informational, and the most powerful anti-Russian propaganda is deployed. Attacks on our history, culture, and spiritual values do not stop, as do attempts to drive a wedge into the harmony and brotherhood of the peoples of our country.
Our opponents have decided that Russia’s multiethnic nature is its weak spot, and they are doing everything possible to divide us. I’ll say a few more words about this now. The opponents I mentioned – you know this firsthand-are staging provocations within national communities, allegedly creating various socio-political associations on behalf of the Russian peoples, which represent only themselves and provocateurs like themselves, and brazenly declare the need for the so-called decolonization of Russia.
By the way, they speak their own language, because [they] themselves are countries that owned colonies, and today they are pursuing a neo-colonial policy. So they talk about us thinking of themselves, thinking that we are just like them. They say that Russia needs to be divided into dozens of small state entities, and it is clear why – in order to then subordinate it to its will, exploit it, and use it for its own selfish interests. They have no other goals.
The authors of such concepts are used to being guided by Western ideological patterns with their racist neocolonial approaches, with statements about the exclusivity of some and the inferiority of other peoples, with the habit of dividing peoples into the first, second, and third grades. It seems to me that they also have higher ones there-who consider themselves even higher than their allies.
I repeat, they were and continue to be guided by the fact that Russia’s cultural and national diversity is our weakness. On the contrary, as we all know very well, dear friends and colleagues, the challenges we have faced have shown that this is our strength – a special all – conquering force of Russia.
The kind and sincere attitude of the peoples of Russia to each other has been formed over many centuries. Of course, in the history of our multiethnic nation for a thousand years, of course, everything was like in any family – quarrels, quarrels, and contradictions. It can’t be otherwise. But this is how the Russian family of peoples gradually developed over the course of a thousand years.
Our ancestors from generation to generation worked together for the benefit of our common big Motherland, multiplying the spiritual heritage of a single state by the diversity of their languages and traditions, forming its unique multinational multi-confessional culture.
Our country was built around the values of multinational harmony. This is the most important foundation of our consolidation, which is only getting stronger in the face of external aggression and threats. And the opponents I mentioned, the neocolonial-minded people who are really half-witted, don’t understand that it is this diversity that makes us stronger. And in vain they expect the effect for which they are trying. I have already said that people who are guided by their neocolonial ideas are halfwits, and in the competition of halfwits they would take second place. Why only the second one? Because they’re halfwits. (Laughter.) They do not understand that in the face of external aggression and external pressure, we are only strengthening our multinational people.

Whether morons or halfwits, as I mentioned several years ago, Western misleaders threw Russian Brer Rabbit into the Briar Patch where all he could do was become stronger and be protected by the patch’s thorns–Divide and Rule has met its match and is being slowly, methodically destroyed on a global scale for the first time ever.

Posted by: karlof1 | May 19 2023 16:45 utc | 81

karlof1 | May 19 2023 16:24 utc | 80
A good livestream from Berletic and Co.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqYOAAO3xRo
They talk about the brainwashing of the young Asians. Very relevant.
We watch the geopolitics, and the thing that strikes me is how deadly it is to become brainwashed into being an American proxy. Changing of an era is no kiddies game.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 19 2023 16:47 utc | 83

Deplorable Commisar #67
Yes, I’ve noticed a small group of posters just gets ignored. In the cowboy interview,he states,the reason for this whole debacle is >>Gun Control<<. The people did not have the necessary "tools" to deal with the situation early on. The real joke was the steel mill. A 12 hour operation max. Putting yourself right on the doorstep of the hostage areas. Wonder what was down there? Hmmmmmm.

Posted by: Ancient Times | May 19 2023 17:01 utc | 85

All I can say is WOW! to the opening ceremony at Xi’an as shown in this video. What a display!

Posted by: karlof1 | May 19 2023 17:01 utc | 87

Peter AU1 #84
To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal. -Henry Kissinger Former United States Secretary of State.
However,even worst,be associated with the Clintons.

Posted by: Ancient Times | May 19 2023 17:24 utc | 89

” Yes, I’ve noticed a small group of posters just gets ignored. In the cowboy interview,he states,the reason for this whole debacle is >>Gun Control<<. The people did not have the necessary "tools" to deal with the situation early on. The real joke was the steel mill. A 12 hour operation max. Putting yourself right on the doorstep of the hostage areas. Wonder what was down there? Hmmmmmm. Posted by: Ancient Times | May 19 2023 17:01 utc | 86 " I'm sure you've also noticed, that no matter the evidence presented, only a small set of conclusions is ever " allowed " to be correct here. Additionally, certain posters are always active no matter the time zone or time of day.

Posted by: Deplorable Commisar | May 19 2023 18:15 utc | 91

To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal. -Henry Kissinger Former United States Secretary of State.
However,even worst,be associated with the Clintons.
Posted by: Ancient Times | May 19 2023 17:24 utc | 90
Very much so.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | May 19 2023 18:19 utc | 93

Posted by: Deplorable Commisar | May 19 2023 18:22 utc | 95
Dang. I just paid premium for the Diversity Channel on CNN++MagaFoxNewsMSNBCWetworks.
What is a working stiff to do?
It’s pretty hard work to make Australians not look bad, unless their name is Cheyne Horan, Nat Young or Angus Young, though.
I do like the Laughing Clowns and Flash and the Pan. Perhaps Nick Cave. And maybe Helen Caldicott. She kind of seems like a female Aussie version of Noam Chomsky, though.
The Chats are great.
Fentanyl prices have really dropped here in Pindostan!

Posted by: lex talionis | May 19 2023 18:57 utc | 95

Posted by: malenkov | May 19 2023 19:02 utc | 97
Romper Stomper is a great movie, in case you haven’t seen it.
😉

Posted by: lex talionis | May 19 2023 19:06 utc | 97

” Diversity has not destroyed Russia, nor will it, the foundation of ethnic and cultural equality is too strong, unlike America, which turned from anti-black culture up to the late 1990s to now anti-white in the 2010s+. Russia doesnt even have a 10th of the racial animosity between ethnic groups, especially between such large parts of the population, as black white and latino in usa.
Posted by: UWDude | May 19 2023 19:08 utc | 99 ”
Two concepts for you:
Low Russian birth rates and increasing movement of non-Russians into indigenous Russian lands. Even if Russia was a multi-ethnic utopia, which it isnt and never was, that means the end of indigenous Russians, but I guess your happy about that.

Posted by: Deplorable Commisar | May 19 2023 19:44 utc | 99