It's so very cute how mainstream Western thought is so unanimous on the idea that "Putin" is just going to accept whatever it is they want him to, after 2 years of open war against Russia at that.

It seems like the West is going to - for yet another time - get defeated by the simple yet repeating error of forgetting that Russians are humans. They keep thinking of Russians as machines or animals at best and talking like Putin is just a controller of a drone fleet out to enrich himself, not the president of a nation of 150 million human souls. Those souls got their own opinions too.

The West has spent the past 10 years in general and 2 years in particular doing its level best to, intentionally or not, convince Russians - actual Russians, the humans who live there - that the West wants them all dead and will never stop fighting to achieve it. Russians are not a people that gets intimidated by this sort of messaging, they get mad and entrenched instead - their history is entirely defined by them fighting for their survival against foreign forces. And the West has now dispelled whatever "we're actually friends!" illusions they had for the past decades.

So now it doesn't matter what Putin wants or even thinks. It matters what the Russians want and think. And the West has convinced them we're all in an existential life-or-death war where giving up means national obliteration. Putin is too smart to propose some sort of half-hearted "halfway stop" solution to his people - that would be political suicide after everything that's happened. The West wanted a war to the end with Russians, they got it - now they don't get to change the rules to "stop and resupply" halfway, a war to the end it will be.

Posted by: Red Outsider | Dec 24 2023 12:50 utc | 1

https://www.newsweek.com/what-independent-texas-would-look-like-1854810

The media finally breached this forbidden topic. Of course, they covered themselves by treating it as nonsense but there it is. Throw the US into an economic and political crisis and surprising things might happen. Are snowflakes going to fight for Union? Will they continue to avoid military service altogether?

Posted by: Eighthman | Dec 24 2023 12:59 utc | 2

Thank you b for all your work and insight.
Thanks Red Outsider for the comment on Putin and the Russians too. There has been so much personal vilification of Russia's leader, who is a person that the whole world should be profoundly thankful for in the last twenty years. A lot of the "expert information" pundits produce is envy for the obvious qualities of a leader no other country can rival.

Posted by: anaisanesse | Dec 24 2023 13:12 utc | 3

Craig Muray today, "What have we learned?"
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2023/12/what-we-have-learned/

Quote:
"I have no doubt we are in for a period of more propaganda, fake terrorist plots, false flag actual terrorism and agent provocateur led terrorism. It is the only way the Establishment can hope to regain the propaganda narrative."

Posted by: Blue Dotterel | Dec 24 2023 13:25 utc | 4

I want to wish b and everyone at MOA a Happy Christmas in the spirit of John Lennon's call for peace.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Posted by: Norwegian | Dec 24 2023 14:24 utc | 5

That WSJ article about the inside story of how Prigozhin was disappeared is a doozy.
The usual crap. Could have been written by Hersh and his ‘sources’ but he has had enough sauce this year already.

Apparently the Cook had returned from his farewell tour of Africa and was waiting for an hour in his plane until it was ready to take off ! And nobody noticed an explosive device being attached to its wing! And then it went down an hour later with ALL his senior men and abracadabra the whole problem vanished - magic .

lol hogwash for the failure of the western spooks who bought into the whole march to Moscow and revolution against Putin and co! They must believe that the $billion that they handed to the make believe Cook turned PMC was actually a real deal and their guy got cut down by the kremlins top spy ! 😆

A name in that article is a clue to the fuckwit PR aristo thugs who go around making this shit up - ‘Pottinger’.

The other story of how long that RF plane was in DC - 2 days, is more of a clue as to what is going on - the little green hog is already making noises that he won’t be signing any surrender , sorry peace deal, meanwhile Arestovich is putting out the ‘we’re fucked and we must surrender’ line.

While threatening every last Ukranian who has sensibly sought safety in any European country is to be forced to return and fed into the meat grinder or lose any future right to return to their homeland (it’s a clause in the Blackrocks Finks’ purchase and clearance of the rump Ukraine for some ‘special’ peoples who may soon be looking for a homeland).

There’s just a couple of weeks before orthodox Xmas ! Maybe that’s when it will be announced as it’s too late for today when Europeans have their midnight feast.
Not that anyone should even be celebrating anything this year with 12000 dead children in Gaza.

I will though wish us all Peace and an end to the Unipolar psychopathic empires centuries of suffering of the majority of humanity.

Posted by: DunGroanin | Dec 24 2023 14:46 utc | 6

About the Russian plane on a tour in the USA, was it to deliver the following message ?

"If you cease Russian bank assets and deliver them to Ukraine, we will sever diplomatic relations with the entire western block"

Because I think discussion have reached now that low

Posted by: W | Dec 24 2023 15:46 utc | 7

@ W | Dec 24 2023 15:46 utc | 7

I'm not sure such a message would be perceived in Warshington as much of a threat. In other words, how interested us Warshington in relations with Russia?

Posted by: malenkov | Dec 24 2023 16:14 utc | 8

"Memories appear in our mind as if out of nowhere without our doing anything other than our desire for them. If the brain is doing that for us, that would mean the brain would have to be intelligently aware of our state of mind, and have the ability to read our desires, and then intelligently respond with words or images which we “hear” or “see” as our memories.

Whatever is causing that to happen, it must be aware of your desires, your mind, your thoughts. It must therefore be conscious of you, and intelligent. What exactly is going on?" From The Way Our Memory Works Proves The Existence of God

Posted by: kana | Dec 24 2023 16:55 utc | 9

@ kana | Dec 24 2023 16:55 utc | 9

How many times are you going to troll-spam the site with this astonishing collection of non sequiturs?

Posted by: malenkov | Dec 24 2023 16:57 utc | 10

The only way for superstars to peacefully retire is to die. Fortunately, superstars tend to have sufficient resources to arrange to "die" without actually dying. Take for instance a superstar musician who has made his millions and tires of playing in huge stadiums. He looks back with aching fondness to the days when he was unknown and played in the intimacy of seedy bars and little clubs, but no matter where he goes he will be recognized and people will want his autograph and take selfies with him. The only way out is for his previous self to die, and in as spectacular a manner as possible. A plane crash, for instance. Some tragedy that is in the news for a week at least and everyone hears about.

"Hey, is that guy tuning up his guitar down at the end of the bar Randy Rhodes?"
"Nah dude, he's dead. That's just an impersonator... a damn good one, though."

Always something to consider when a superstar looks like they might be wanting to wrap up their career. It is also better for a superstar to end a successful career at its peak rather than to ride it into the ground. I have no evidence that was a direction chosen by Prigozhin, but he certainly was a superstar at his peak, and he had the resources and backing in high places to arrange a spectacle.

Posted by: William Gruff | Dec 24 2023 17:08 utc | 11

thanks for the links b and all your work...

@ Norwegian | Dec 24 2023 14:24 utc | 5

thanks! to you as well..

@ DunGroanin | Dec 24 2023 14:46 utc | 6

i appreciate your commentary.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Dec 24 2023 18:36 utc | 12

B, especially, and to all others here reading this: This place is a ray of light in the dark. I don't post much as there are many here worth reading, and I was brought up to listen rather than speak. To all of you, and all of yours, the very best wishes for the season.

Posted by: dask | Dec 24 2023 18:44 utc | 13

In the related:

- Patrick Lawrence: What? Ukraine Is Not Winning the War? - Scheerpost
- U.S. and Europe Eye Russian Assets to Aid Ukraine as Funding Dries Up - New York Times

Excellent juxtaposition of content and delivery b.

Thank you again for the excellent work.

Posted by: Forest | Dec 24 2023 19:53 utc | 14

Posted by: Red Outsider | Dec 24 2023 12:50 utc | 1

It's been much longer than 10 or 12 years. Russians remember the rape and pillage of their country in the 1990s under the Clinton administration. And, although I usually don't read Putin's speeches (which I generally accept to be on a level far exceeding the childish rants we in the West expect from our "leaders"), you can bet that he's always reminding the Russian people what lays in store if the D.C.-City of London-Wall Street-Brussels Axis sees an outcome in Ukraine that's to their liking.

Frankly I'm disappointed that the Russians apparently sent a delegation to D.C. rather than the other way around, but then again, I'm not sure the Russian military was willing to allow a hostile foreign power in the business of waging open war on their country to send a plane full of American Nazis like Vicky Nuland and her crowd to Moscow without an "errant missile" or something like it. After all, stranger things have happened in Russia in the past two years, have they not?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 20:12 utc | 15

Rob Urie pats himself on the back for his prescience in 2019 (and Robert Parry's in 2013-2015) - rightfully so - on the Biden-Burisma-Russia affair:

https://roburie.substack.com/p/repost-from-2019-impeachment-brought

For the first time in half a century, the political left in the U.S. is ascendant. Bernie Sanders is holding his own in the primaries. A group of well-considered programs to save the environment and provide good jobs and health care for all is gaining political traction. And the need is dire. The climate is warming, the seas are polluted and fished out and industrial agriculture threatens to end life on the planet. So, it’s time to change the subject?

Despite occasional warm gas passed in a leftish direction, establishment Democrats never had any intention of allowing a left political program to move forward. After four decades of asserting that they ‘believe’ climate science, the moment has arrived when the only political path forward is to take on their donors. Whatever your assessment of their motives, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have no intention of doing this.

Following the electoral fiasco of 2016, the DNC defended itself in court by arguing that it has no obligation to provide a fair and open primary. In fact, the DNC ran a disinformation campaign against Bernie Sanders, used Superdelegates to overturn primary results, miscounted and misplaced ballots in crucial state primaries and violated its own charter in the allocation of funds to the candidates. In other words, they stole the primary election.

Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump and impeachment, it is the political establishment that is trying to bring him down. That the ‘whistleblower’ is a CIA officer who has since returned to active duty at the agency isn’t lost on Mr. Trump’s supporters. As much as the NPR tote bag set believes that it is the fount of wisdom and truth, they, along with the CIA, inflicted three years of the cynical farce of Russiagate on us and came up empty handed.

The CIA was the central protagonist in Russiagate. The origins of the New Cold War are found in Bill Clinton’s first term, when administration neo-cons looted, plundered and moved NATO against a prostrate Russia in contradiction to explicit guarantees not to do so made by the George H.W. Bush administration. Vladimir Putin’s apparent crime was to oust the Clintonites from Russia and restore Russian sovereignty.

Proponents of impeachment want none of the geopolitical back-and-forth that ties the CIA to U.S. actions in Ukraine, Russiagate and now to impeachment. But considered in context, the charges against Mr. Trump are almost arbitrary. Russiagate was a declaration of war by the ‘intelligence community’ against a duly elected President. As argued below, the CIA’s motive is to move its own foreign policy agenda forward without even the illusion of democratic consent.

If you get your news from NPR or the New York Times, Joe Biden’s threat to withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine until Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, fired the prosecutor who was investigating Hunter Biden’s role at Burisma Holdings, was ‘looked into’ and no wrongdoing was found. Of course, the U.S.— the Obama administration, controlled the government that found no wrongdoing. Even still, the charge that the prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, was ‘corrupt’ was later retracted in private.

Rather than questioning why the Obama administration chose to overthrow the democratically elected President of Ukraine to install a puppet government hostile to Russia, American liberals simply accepted the Cold War mindset as it was handed to them. The official reason given, that Viktor Yanukovych was corrupt, was premised on the fact that he owned a hot tub. But how ‘corrupt’ was it for Mr. Obama to overthrow a democratically elected president in the first place?

In other words, if elections grant legitimacy to political leaders and a political order, how is it legitimate for a foreign power— in this case the U.S., with advance logistics provided by the CIA, to simply charge in and install a new government that answers to it, and not the electorate? In fact, with the CIA planted in the White House, this seems remarkably like what the CIA is attempting to do against the Trump administration.

During the Clinton years, American economic advisors were sent to Russia to advise the Russian government on how to reorganize the Russian economy along neoliberal lines. As true neoliberals, the American advisors looted the country. The result was the worst economic catastrophe in Russia since WWII. Lest this come as a shock, this is what America does. The CIA is the logistical arm of American smash-and-grab.

That excerpt is a direct follow-on to my previous comment in response to Red Outsider. The Russian people surely remember and the RoW knows that NATO - despite recent additions and a non-stop PR PROPAGANDA psyop - is descendent.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 20:16 utc | 16

Blast from the past, highly relevant in light of Biden's (im)pending impeachment.

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/463307-solomon-these-once-secret-memos-cast-doubt-on-joe-bidens-ukraine-story/

I'm shocked, shocked I tell you that none of this was looked into seriously at the time by NYT, WaPo or the other organs of the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 20:38 utc | 17

And the conclusion to Rob Urie's 2019 article. The rot of the Democrap corruption machine smells even worse 4 years later.

An explanation of Russiagate that ties establishment Democrats to the CIA and the U.S. adventure in Ukraine should be emerging. When, during his 2016 campaign, Donald Trump began making friendly noises toward Russia and Vladimir Putin, the neocons / CIA saw their geopolitical game vis-à-vis Russia going up in smoke. The entire point of the U.S. project in Ukraine was to weaken Mr. Putin in order to do to Russia what the Clintonites did to Ukraine.

Then consider, Joe Biden is the establishment candidate for president for a reason. He tied his lot to the Clintonite / CIA program of regime change to control the global distribution of oil and gas a long time ago. But how likely is it that a President Bernie Sanders would go along with this program? He would be in the same position that Donald Trump is in. Furthermore, how plausible is it that any left programs will be passed and implemented if the CIA has the final say?

This is where Russiagate / impeachment stands today: national security and surveillance state liberals have joined with a not-so-bright left to oust a not-neocon / not-CIA insurgent (Trump) from power. In other words, Mr. Trump may be everything that the not-so-bright left claims he is, but that has nothing to do with why he is being ousted from power. Impeachment is to bring Joe Biden to power to go after Russia.

The CIA’s overthrow formula can be found in Stephen Kinzer’s All the Shah’s Men. Step 1: pose an unimaginably horrific boogeyman— let’s call it communism; and align the leader / government to be ousted with it. Step 2: overthrow said leader / government while marching paid operatives playing communists in front of the American press. Step 3: install a puppet government sympathetic to American interests, declare a victory for freedom, and call it a day.

For those who may have forgotten, the CIA’s ‘achievements’ include the U.S. war in Vietnam that left 4,000,000 Vietnamese dead, ‘Iran-Contra’ that had Oliver North running a global cocaine smuggling ring out of the basement of the White House to raise money to fund right-wing militias that terrorized Central America in the 1980’s, and the crack epidemic that devastated poor neighborhoods across the U.S. in the early 1990’s.

It’s hardly incidental that the former president of Poland sits on the Board of Burisma Holdings. On the day that impeachment was announced the current President of Poland was signing the papers to replace Russian with American-supplied gas to Poland. And Ukraine was inking a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to do the same— to cut Russia out of the oil and gas supply chain. The CIA’s Cofer Black joined the Board of Burisma in 2017.

So, along comes accidental President Donald Trump, who apparently has no idea who in the CIA is trying to screw him or why. In NPR / New York Times world, having a CIA officer planted in the White House is legitimate because, you know, Trump! However, they didn’t appear to agree when the CIA spied on the Senate Intelligence Committee and tried to blackmail it into ignoring reports of illegal torture.

Speaking of torture, Nancy Pelosi, who announced the impeachment investigation against Mr. Trump, was explicitly told of the CIA’s illegal torture regime in 2002. As a Senior Member of the House Intelligence Committee, Ms. Pelosi was herself legally culpable when she announced that impeachment of George W. Bush was ‘off the table.’ Had that impeachment proceeded, she could have been prosecuted and sent to prison.

So, Mr. Trump, politically astute domestically, but the intellectual equivalent of Joe Biden when it comes to technology, smells a rat in the CIA’s use of Ukraine as the launch site for the nefarious machinations of Russiagate. Apparently not knowing that Ukraine in toto is a CIA ‘asset,’ Trump stupidly asks the Ukrainian president for political dirt on Joe Biden. A quick bet is that Langley is the ‘whistleblower’s’ source for the complaint.

Given the CIA’s history of overthrowing democratically elected leaders and governments for the benefit of connected oligarchs, why is it a good idea to have the CIA within a million miles of domestic politics? Again, how would the CIA treat Bernie Sanders, or even liberal doyen Elizabeth Warren, if it is given the power to oust elected political leaders at will?

Nancy Pelosi, who saw how easily the ‘reality based community’ was rolled with Russiagate, apparently believes that she can thread the needle to simultaneously 1) end the momentum of left political ascendance, 2) bring the Democrats’ donor base back into the fold, 3) raise Joe Biden to the top of the 2020 heap, and 4) end talk of a Green New Deal, Medicare for All and a Job Guarantee. Early reports suggest the bourgeois left is on board with her program.

However, the other left, the part of the country that supports Donald Trump because they despise the manager class that has spent the last five decades dispossessing them for the benefit of the oligarchs, doesn’t get its news from NPR or the New York Times. Both of these sources heavily promoted both the George W. Bush administration’s WMD lies and charges of Russian interference in the 2016 election— Russiagate, which turned out to be wholly fraudulent.

Mr. Trump could have spent five minutes on the internet and found so much dirt on Joe Biden— such as his actual record of public ‘service,’ that he could easily win the 2020 election if Mr. Biden is his Democratic opponent. But rather than put up a political program to entice voters, establishment Democrats have spent the last three years being not-Trump. By keeping the contest in the realm of political marketing— blue versus red, Democrats hope to win the election while keeping their donor base happy. God help everyone else.

Here is the problem: Bernie Sanders’ electoral chances and the entirety of the left political program require taking on the Democrat’s donor class— and the Republican’s. Mr. Sanders has made inroads by broadening the electorate and crossing the traditional left / right divide. This, plus Mr. Trump inserting himself into the CIA’s turf in Ukraine to bring Joe Biden down, explain the sudden establishment interest in impeachment.

Without impeachment, the primary process proceeds apace, and voters have a real choice for President for the first time in five decades. With it, the marketing divisions of blue v. red drive unaffiliated voters away while solidifying the lines of division along Party lines. The establishment goal is to crush the left and stop its momentum. Impeachment is the tool of convenience toward this end.

Let the electoral process play out.

Any guesses as to who the Democraps choose to replace their senile capo in 2024? Personally, I don't care other than as entertainment value. And with that I'll stop "spamming" the O/T.

Merry Christmas to those Christians capable of enjoying it with all that's going on.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 20:41 utc | 18

@ Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 20:41 utc | 17

in answer to your question down near the bottom, i was thinking gavin newsom...

Posted by: james | Dec 24 2023 20:59 utc | 19

Red Outsider | Dec 24 2023 12:50 utc | 1--

I agree to a certain extent. Putin has vowed on several occasions to defeat the West and its system of oppression and control. To do that, Russia must be as strong as possible and continue to increase that strength. His recent mea culpa is related to this escalation we see in Russia's socio-economic drive. I conducted my own review of Russia's actions since 2013 as the Ukraine Coup was brewing and noticed a definitive change in policy as a result that set the stage for 2021's December proposals and subsequent SMO in February. Once Putin was reelected in 2018, he accelerated Russia's efforts, but there's so much to be done as Putin just recently said in his meeting on Arctic development. This isn't ever mentioned, but Russia needs no further escalation of war with NATO as that will negatively impact Russia's development and modernization. Russia needs to liberate Ukraine and end its existence to present the Outlaw US Empire with a new reality. From there, perhaps a new Iron Curtain or not will be Europe's choice. As Putin has said, that's their business as long as the kinetic conflict is concluded. The recent spilling of the beans by the Institute for the Study of War Simplicius outlined sets up Russia's reply.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 24 2023 21:19 utc | 20

Thank you, b, for the Aurelian post! Also for your Christmas one, commendably brief. I've had Christmas music on the radio, and a visit from family, just truly wonderful to see them, the littlest being four. I hadn't seen any of them for a while, grandkids unexpectedly grown -- how can that be? My springtime is becoming, will have crocuses in January, just around the corner, sunroom full of greenery and sun.

The tone of the Aurelian piece was just right - getting used to being weak. I have next to me here my favorite quote from Second Corinthians: " My Grace is Sufficient for You; for My Power is made Perfect in Weakness."

That is my Plato quote for the day as well: Power is made Perfect in Weakness!!

Blessings, All

Posted by: juliania | Dec 24 2023 22:44 utc | 21

Posted by: james | Dec 24 2023 20:59 utc | 18

Seems likely at this point. No way Biden Kamala or any combination involving either of them would make for a believably winning ticket.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 23:01 utc | 22

@ Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 23:01 utc | 21

we'll have to wait and see... lots of surprises can happen between now and then.. my motto - expect surprises in life!

Posted by: james | Dec 24 2023 23:20 utc | 23

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 24 2023 23:01 utc | 21:

No way Biden Kamala or any combination involving either of them would make for a believably winning ticket.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

It wouldn't be the first time the Democrats have run a campaign designed to fail.

Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 1:01 utc | 24

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/463307-solomon-these-once-secret-memos-cast-doubt-on-joe-bidens-ukraine-story/

The story was provably False from the minute it sprouted from old Joe's mouth.

Biden was nowhere near Ukraine when the prosecutor got fired. The notable absence of Joe Biden in Ukrsine makes the story False, without even getting into the details;

There never was any $1 billion that was withheld or released as a consequence of the Prosecutor Shokin quitting his job.

Prosecutor Shokin resigned because he had become enormously unpopular in Ukraine due to his failure to investigate who committed the murders that occurred during the Maidan Revolution. Shokin was a US intelligence asset that helped cover up US involvement in the Maidan Revolution.

Joe Biden completely fabricated the story that he had Prosecutor Shokin fired. There is not a bit of truth to the story, but the story has been used for years to bolster Trump's popularity. What can one conclude from those facts?

Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 1:17 utc | 25

Thanks for a great week/year b.

Happy/Merry Christmas to you and the bar. May there be peace on earth.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Dec 25 2023 2:01 utc | 26

Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 1:17 utc | 24

You're missing the point. Nobody cares whether Joe was lying when he said he got the guy fired.

And who cares if Joe was in Ukraine or if he made the threat from the USA?

Further, nobody says that $1Bn was withheld. It was **THREATENED**.

The controversy ignited anew earlier this year when I disclosed that Joe Biden admitted during a 2018 videotaped speech that, as vice president in March 2016, he threatened to cancel $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees, to pressure Ukraine’s then-President Petro Poroshenko to fire Shokin.

Seriously?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:02 utc | 27

From the article:

Some media outlets have reported that, at the time Joe Biden forced the firing in March 2016, there were no open investigations. Those reports are wrong. A British-based investigation of Burisma’s owner was closed down in early 2015 on a technicality when a deadline for documents was not met. But the Ukraine Prosecutor General’s office still had two open inquiries in March 2016, according to the official case file provided me. One of those cases involved taxes; the other, allegations of corruption. Burisma announced the cases against it were not closed and settled until January 2017.

After I first reported it in a column, the New York Times and ABC News published similar stories confirming my reporting.

Joe Biden has since responded that he forced Shokin’s firing over concerns about corruption and ineptitude, which he claims were widely shared by Western allies, and that it had nothing to do with the Burisma investigation.

Some of the new documents I obtained call that claim into question.

In a newly sworn affidavit prepared for a European court, Shokin testified that when he was fired in March 2016, he was told the reason was that Biden was unhappy about the Burisma investigation. “The truth is that I was forced out because I was leading a wide-ranging corruption probe into Burisma Holdings, a natural gas firm active in Ukraine and Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, was a member of the Board of Directors,” Shokin testified.

“On several occasions President Poroshenko asked me to have a look at the case against Burisma and consider the possibility of winding down the investigative actions in respect of this company but I refused to close this investigation,” Shokin added.

Shokin certainly would have reason to hold a grudge over his firing. But his account is supported by documents from Burisma’s legal team in America, which appeared to be moving into Ukraine with intensity as Biden’s effort to fire Shokin picked up steam.

Burisma’s own accounting records show that it paid tens of thousands of dollars while Hunter Biden served on the board of an American lobbying and public relations firm, Blue Star Strategies, run by Sally Painter and Karen Tramontano, who both served in President Bill Clinton’s administration.

Just days before Biden forced Shokin’s firing, Painter met with the No. 2 official at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington and asked to meet officials in Kiev around the same time that Joe Biden visited there. Ukrainian embassy employee Oksana Shulyar emailed Painter afterward: “With regards to the meetings in Kiev, I suggest that you wait until the next week when there is an expected vote of the government’s reshuffle.”

Ukraine’s Washington embassy confirmed the conversations between Shulyar and Painter but said the reference to a shakeup in Ukrainian government was not specifically referring to Shokin’s firing or anything to do with Burisma.

Painter then asked one of the Ukraine embassy’s workers to open the door for meetings with Ukraine’s prosecutors about the Burisma investigation, the memos show. Eventually, Blue Star would pay that Ukrainian official money for his help with the prosecutor’s office.

At the time, Blue Star worked in concert with an American criminal defense lawyer, John Buretta, who was hired by Burisma to help address the case in Ukraine. The case was settled in January 2017 for a few million dollars in fines for alleged tax issues.

Buretta, Painter, Tramontano, Hunter Biden and Joe Biden’s campaign have not responded to numerous calls and emails seeking comment.

On March 29, 2016, the day Shokin’s firing was announced, Buretta asked to speak with Yuriy Sevruk, the prosecutor named to temporarily replace Shokin, but was turned down, the memos show.

Blue Star, using the Ukrainian embassy worker it had hired, eventually scored a meeting with Sevruk on April 6, 2016, a week after Shokin’s firing. Buretta, Tramontano and Painter attended that meeting in Kiev, according to Blue Star’s memos.

Sevruk memorialized the meeting in a government memo that the general prosecutor’s office provided to me, stating that the three Americans offered an apology for the “false” narrative that had been provided by U.S. officials about Shokin being corrupt and inept.

“They realized that the information disseminated in the U.S. was incorrect and that they would facilitate my visit to the U.S. for the purpose of delivering the true information to the State Department management,” the memo stated.

The memo also quoted the Americans as saying they knew Shokin pursued an aggressive corruption investigation against Burisma’s owner, only to be thwarted by British allies: “These individuals noted that they had been aware that the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine had implemented all required steps for prosecution … and that he was released by the British court due to the underperformance of the British law enforcement agencies.”

The memo provides a vastly different portrayal of Shokin than Biden’s. And its contents are partially backed by subsequent emails from Blue Star and Buretta that confirm the offer to bring Ukrainian authorities to meet the Obama administration in Washington.

For instance, Tramontano wrote the Ukrainian prosecution team on April 16, 2016, saying U.S. Justice Department officials, including top international prosecutor Bruce Swartz, might be willing to meet. “The reforms are not known to the US Justice Department and it would be useful for the Prosecutor General to meet officials in the US and share this information directly,” she wrote.

Buretta sent a similar email to the Ukrainians, writing that “I think you would find it productive to meet with DOJ officials in Washington” and providing contact information for Swartz. “I would be happy to help,” added Buretta, a former senior DOJ official.

Burisma, Buretta and Blue Star continued throughout 2016 to try to resolve the open issues in Ukraine, and memos recount various contacts with the State Department and the U.S. embassy in Kiev seeking help in getting the Burisma case resolved.

Just days before Trump took office, Burisma announced it had resolved all of its legal issues. And Buretta gave an interview in Ukraine about how he helped navigate the issues.

Today, two questions remain.

One is whether it was ethically improper or even illegal for Biden to intervene to fire the prosecutor handling Burisma’s case, given his son’s interests. That is one that requires more investigation and the expertise of lawyers.

The second is whether Biden has given the American people an honest accounting of what happened. The new documents I obtained raise serious doubts about his story’s credibility. And that’s an issue that needs to be resolved by voters.

John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work over the years has exposed U.S. and FBI intelligence failures before the Sept. 11 attacks, federal scientists’ misuse of foster children and veterans in drug experiments, and numerous cases of political corruption. He serves as an investigative columnist and executive vice president for video at The Hill. Follow him on Twitter @jsolomonReports.

Editor’s note: Blue Star Strategies, the U.S. public relations firm cited in the column, has subsequently disputed several of the column’s contentions. Blue Star CEO Karen Tramontano said that the company’s engagement by Burisma and its contacts with Ukrainian officials began in November 2015, four months before the firing of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, and that Blue Star’s statements to Ukrainian prosecutors were mischaracterized as apologizing for U.S. officials’ statements. She said that Blue Star did not compensate a Ukrainian embassy employee “while he was employed by the Ukrainian government.” The company does not have a board of directors, she said, and Hunter Biden “was never employed by or worked with Blue Star Strategies.” She added, “Hunter Biden has never had any financial interest or governance role in Blue Star Strategies, LLC.” Tramontano acknowledges Solomon did reach out to her for comment, but she chose not to speak to him.

Why are you so concerned with deflecting from the fact that Biden was indisputably wrapped up in Ukrainian corruption and that his son was one of the direct beneficiaries?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:04 utc | 28

The recently released FD-1023 memorandum summarizing a “highly credible” confidential human source’s (CHS) reporting provides further corroboration that Shokin was investigating Burisma — or, at a minimum, Burisma executives believed he was. According to that longtime CHS, in discussing Burisma’s desire to purchase an American oil and gas business, the CHS “told Zlochevsky that due to Shokin’s investigation into Burisma, which was made public at this time, it would have a substantial negative impact on Burisma’s prospective [for an Initial Public Offering] in the United States.” According to the CHS, Zlochevsky replied, “something to the effect of, ‘Don’t worry Hunter will take care of all of those issues through his dad.’”

It is unbelievable that Burisma would speak of being under investigation by Shokin and would “place constant pressure” on Hunter Biden to get help from D.C. unless Shokin were investigating the Ukrainian energy company. It is plain silly for The Washington Post to pretend the evidence establishes that Shokin was not investigating Burisma.

The second defense proffered by The Washington Post and Biden’s other apologists, however, moves them from silly to laughingstocks. It’s that the millions of dollars Burisma allegedly paid to Hunter Biden were not illegal because the then-vice president was merely executing American policy.

Initially, it is unknown how much of the “Shokin must be fired” policy originated from then-Vice President Joe Biden. But even if Joe Biden had nothing to do with formulating the policy — something unlikely given his position as the point person on Ukraine — that merely means Burisma paid Hunter Biden (and Joe Biden if the CHS’s reporting is accurate) for something the United States would have done without millions showered on the son of the now-president.

That doesn’t exonerate Hunter Biden or Joe Biden: It merely means they sold the illusion that Joe Biden had forced Shokin’s firing for Burisma as promised.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:07 utc | 29

@ jinn | Dec 25 2023 1:17 utc | 24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXA--dj2-CY

watch this 1 minute video and get back to us.. thanks..

Posted by: james | Dec 25 2023 2:17 utc | 30

jinn:

Prosecutor Shokin resigned because he had become enormously unpopular in Ukraine due to his failure to investigate who committed the murders that occurred during the Maidan Revolution. Shokin was a US intelligence asset that helped cover up US involvement in the Maidan Revolution.

If you could provide some evidence for this (in any language - I've tried Yandex with no luck) I think it might lend some credibility to your alternative theory. But that's quite an allegation; and it's one that - as someone who has followed - nay, studied - this geopolitical clusterfuck for over 9 years, I've never seen made in such stark terms, let alone proven.

So what is your source that says Shokin was fired because he refused to investigate the (sniper?) murders committed during the Maidan coup/putsch?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:21 utc | 31

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:21 utc | 30

Also what's the evidence that Shokin was 1) Very unpopular, and 2) Was unpopular because he didn't investigate the murders?

I'm genuinely at a loss for what you're going to come up with there. But I'm not calling you a liar...yet.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:23 utc | 32

via RT

Serbia thanks Russian spies for warning about color revolution attempt

Moscow shared vital intelligence with Belgrade, according to PM Ana Brnabic

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabiс has expressed gratitude to the Russian security services who alerted Belgrade of the planned riots in the capital.

Pro-Western demonstrators attempted to break into government buildings in Belgrade on Sunday evening, in what Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has called an attempted “color revolution.” While Vucic initially thanked unnamed “foreign services” for letting his security services “know exactly what the thugs were preparing,” Brnabiс later unveiled that Belgrade was actually tipped off by Moscow.

“I feel that it is important, especially tonight, to stand up for Serbia and to thank the Russian security services who had that information and who shared it with us,” Brnabic told TV Pink on Sunday night.

“I can only say thank you, and it probably won't be popular with those from the West,” the PM added, noting that when the Serbian government tried to raise alert – it was taken with a pinch of salt. “When we shared that information with everyone else, they said: ‘Well, that's Russian disinformation, that's spreading fake news.’”

The anti-government protests erupted in Serbia on Monday, with the opposition accusing the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of “vote theft” during last week’s parliamentary elections that saw it win over the pro-EU Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition.

President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed the vote-rigging allegations as “lies” claiming that the protests were sponsored by the West, who wanted him removed over his cordial relations with Russia and refusal to abandon Serbia’s claim to Kosovo.

Following the unrest in Belgrade, Vucic is expected to host Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko at his residence just across the square from the unrest-hit assembly on Monday, local media reported citing the presidential press service. Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has also scheduled a meeting with the Russian envoy.

(via alt RT site)
https://www.swentr.site/news/589632-serbia-thanks-russian-spies/

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 25 2023 2:43 utc | 33

Check this one out. Implications?

Putin Takes a Question from an AI Image of Himself

Posted by: circumspect | Dec 25 2023 3:00 utc | 34

Posted by: james | Dec 25 2023 2:17 utc | 29

Ha Ha HA
James thinks Joe Biden always tells the truth.

..........

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 2:21 utc | 30

So what is your source that says Shokin was fired because he refused to investigate the (sniper?) murders committed during the Maidan coup/putsch?
________________________________

Your source that says " Shokin was fired" is a liar named Joe Biden.
Shokin submitted his resignation on Feb 16 2016. The story that Old Joe had him fired in 6 hours was invented by Old Joe 2 years later.

Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 3:48 utc | 35

@ jinn | Dec 25 2023 3:48 utc | 34

most politicians pick their spots, but of course all of them are liars.. sometimes they do tell the truth too, especially when they are flattering themselves.. my impression here is the later..

Posted by: james | Dec 25 2023 4:25 utc | 36

Your source that says " Shokin was fired" is a liar named Joe Biden.
Shokin submitted his resignation on Feb 16 2016. The story that Old Joe had him fired in 6 hours was invented by Old Joe 2 years later.
Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 3:48 utc | 34

For fuck's sake man. Lay off the sauce and answer the questions I actually asked; not your straw man version of the ones you want to answer.

AGAIN, and for the last time, I repeat **YOUR** quote:

"Prosecutor Shokin resigned because he had become enormously unpopular in Ukraine due to his failure to investigate who committed the murders that occurred during the Maidan Revolution. Shokin was a US intelligence asset that helped cover up US involvement in the Maidan Revolution."

So where is your evidence that 1) Shokin was incredibly unpopular (let alone that someone in his position is subject to popularity contests) but more importantly 2) that his alleged unpopularity was because he failed to investigate the Maidan coup killings?

If you can't answer this time, or even pretend to, you can be dismissed as a charlatan and troll. You aren't interested in honest, good faith conversation if you can't even make an attempt.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 5:42 utc | 37

Posted by: jinn | Dec 25 2023 3:48 utc | 34

I should also note that you're using a timeworn troll technique of choosing a mistake in my verbiage to paper over your own previous comments.

I misspoke. What is your evidence regarding my comment at #36 that Shokin RESIGNED (not fired, duh) because of his lack of popularity regarding his alleged and never before proven inability or unwillingness to look into the Maidan murders - which, by the way, benefited Joe Biden's side of the game?

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 5:44 utc | 38

But he RESIGNED!!!!

https://www.rferl.org/a/why-was-ukraine-top-prosecutor-fired-viktor-shokin/30181445.html

Says the CIA's own source "Radio Free Europe" - and with that, Merry fuckin' Christmas. Two classic REM tunes. One on the exact topic, and the other which will surely go down as one of the all time classic American guitar riffs (brought back to life by an amazing but hated movie - also linked).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac0oaXhz1u8 (the first song and near & dear to my teenage heart)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWkMhCLkVOg (just a proven classic. I hated this album when it came out - as I did all REM after "Green" but good grief it's so powerful)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51G7lU-jN5c (and the movie "Under the Silver Lake - a veiled fuck you to Zionist Hollywood; which is a take I refuse to defend here - but watch it. If you're young at heart.)

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 6:36 utc | 39

I'd hate to turn anyone off from such a film. Here's a spoiler and giveaway.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/400645895?h=e290b3a56d

Merry Xmas, Gen-X.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 6:41 utc | 40

And before an erudite MoA denizen "corrects" me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akx3yYAStPA

It was Game Theory who did it first.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Dec 25 2023 6:51 utc | 41

@ jinn | Dec 25 2023 1:17 utc | 25

Kinda pathetic when your best (and only, and frantically desperate) defense of Shits is that he’s a liar.

Posted by: malenkov | Dec 25 2023 11:35 utc | 42

Just a quick post with some Canadian updates for Christmas Day:

Which is Justin Trudeau’s birthday, he and his family will vacation in Jamaica
http://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-family-vacation-jamaica-2nd-year

La Presse is in Beirut, latest article opens with a beautiful Christmas tree, with a large “Hope” sign on it, courtesy of NGO, Lebanon of Tomorrow
https://www.lapresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/2023-12-24/la-presse-a-beyrouth/les-gens-souffrent-en-silence.php

Rare full moon expected to rise right after Christmas in the northern hemisphere — Cold Moon, Long Night Moon or Moon before Yule
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/the-cold-moon-a-rare-full-moon-is-expected-to-rise-soon-after-christmas-1.6700686

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Dec 25 2023 13:19 utc | 43

So with these sanctions, the US is effectively the all powerful Global Dictator who can do whatever it wants, and no one can (or will) do anything about it.

All cower before the might of the Great Omnipotent Dictator.

Foreign firms freeze work on Russia’s Arctic gas project – media

The move reportedly follows the latest US sanctions banning countries from buying LNG produced by the plant

According to the report, French TotalEnergies, Chinese CNOOC and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), and a consortium of Japanese Mitsui and JOGMEC declared force majeure on their participation in the project, in which they each own a 10% stake. This effectively means that the four shareholders have renounced their responsibilities for financing the plant and fulfilling offtake contracts for the supply of LNG it produces.

This comes after the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Arctic LNG 2 in early November, banning third countries in Asia and Europe from purchasing LNG produced by the plant when it starts operating in 2024. OFAC has set January 31, 2024 as the deadline for closing transactions with the project.

According to a Reuters report last week, Novatek, Russia’s largest independent LNG producer, which owns a controlling 60% stake in the project, sent clients force majeure notices over future gas deliveries from Arctic LNG 2. The notices reportedly warned Novatek clients that the start of exports from the project was at risk of being delayed. Upon receiving the notice, CNOOC and CNPC both reportedly asked the US government for exemptions from sanctions on the plant, warning that restrictions could cause a disruption to crucial gas flows. According to a separate report from Poten & Partners brokerage, the Japanese consortium has also asked for an exemption, but experts say this could take a while.

Commenting on the latest report by Kommersant, JOGMEC said it is analyzing the impact of the sanctions and has neither confirmed nor denied freezing participation in the project. CNOOC was unavailable for comment, and other shareholders have not responded to requests for comment.

Arctic LNG 2 is located in Russia’s Gyda Peninsula. The first train was launched in July. The plant began producing gas last week, and was set to begin commercial LNG shipments in early 2024. After the addition of two more trains in 2024 and 2025, the plant is supposed to reach a full capacity of 19.8 million tons by 2026.

alt RT https://www.swentr.site/business/589645-foreign-firms-freeze-arctic-lng/

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 25 2023 13:55 utc | 44

[email protected] to see some Canadians have a deep insight into the garbage that runs the Country. Unlike like many Canadians who feel voting for the opposite of what rules brings change....for the better.....ok, stop laughing.

Merry Christmas james, to you and yours, and all the best for the new year......

Cheers M

Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Dec 25 2023 15:02 utc | 45

@ sean! thanks man! i hope you are doing well on the open horizons of manitoba! i have a friend who is going back to visit his folks in regina and he says there is not much of any snow and no outdoor ice rinks as it hasn't been cold enough consistently..

merry christmas to you and your family and loved ones! i am celebrating it today by connecting with susans daughter and daughters partner later today.. my brother is down in california, and i hope to see my sister at some point in the next day or two.. parents have been long gone.. stay well and thank you!

Posted by: james | Dec 25 2023 17:09 utc | 46

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231225/events-of-2023-usher-in-de-facto-start-of-organized-new-economic-order-1115801933.html

Alliance of cowards and vassals had to pay an extra 185 billion for fuel, Too bad, so sad.

Posted by: Eighthman | Dec 25 2023 17:31 utc | 47

@18 tom

It does seem odd celebrating Christmas in a time of great sadness. But we are up to the task, nonetheless. We know who has already won. We lament those caught in satan's death throes, in this current violent orgy. It could have easily been you and I.

Lord, in the midst of unquestionable evil being perpetrated against these weakest ones, please grant them comfort, an end to their misery, and a wariness to become vengeful in their hearts, even though this evil cries out to Heaven for justice. Give them peace, Lord. Amen.

Merry Christmas

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Dec 25 2023 17:35 utc | 48

Rare full moon expected to rise right after Christmas in the northern hemisphere — Cold Moon, Long Night Moon or Moon before Yule

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Dec 25 2023 13:19 utc | 43

And glorious it is! I'm just in from a long snowshoe trek thru the woods and frozen bogs behind my house at almost 70 degrees north here in Tromsø. We've had recent snow and with the temps at 8-10C below zero the crystals reflecting the moonlight were like a zillion LEDs. It's the middle of the long winter night here now but I didn't even use my headlamp.

I wove through the woods and came out into the clearing of a bog. Amidst the splendor of the moon, the stars, the glistening snow, a sadness came over me. I looked back into the now leafless birch trees, their trunks and branches standing there like eternal skeletons. I couldn't help but be reminded of the Palestinians, stripped of so many lives, the rest denied opportunity for a decent existence and robbed of most everything except their dignity.

But then I thought about the large 60 year old birch that is in my backyard. It will bloom again in a few months with leaves so thick you can't see through it. The woods behind my house will come alive again, with birds singing and nesting. The Palestinians too will survive the cold fate being visited upon them in this cold and cruel autumn and winter. They will have a spring! They will have a summer! They will own ALL the seasons and they will reclaim the land, the land they own. Zionists, beware!

Thank you b and thank you MoA commenters for being on the right side of history.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 25 2023 19:43 utc | 49

"Our Christmas is Ordinary Work Day for Putin, Lavrov & Team". I'm sure many are busy attending to their Christmas. Just remember the kids and adults who have little or nothing as you're drinking down your wine as the Kinks admonish us in their "Father Christmas."

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 25 2023 23:59 utc | 50

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 25 2023 23:59 utc | 50

Just tried to post a comment over at your substack, but didn't go thru.
Wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful thoughts and word re xmas. Felt sheepish not having commented there previously, but have been lurking.
Much success Karl.

Happy/Merry Christmas to one and all. May there be peace on earth.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Dec 26 2023 1:18 utc | 51

A couple of pieces on the US open border situation.

One at Zero Hedge entitled: "Mass Migration Blueprints" Reveal NGOs "Carefully Planned" US Migrant Invasion, Report Says http://tinyurl.com/yugrsov5

A network of NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, seems to be playing a powerful role in coordinating the large-scale invasion of illegals at the US southern border.

The new website Muckraker revealed a treasure trove of "mass migration blueprints," handed out by NGOs across South and Central America to illegals with details about their route to the US.

"The collapse of the US southern border is the result of a carefully planned and deliberately executed industrial mass migration program," Muckraker said.

The muckraker piece cited: https://www.muckraker.com/articles/illegal-alien-invasion-maps-exposed/

Muckraker has obtained multiple maps, handed out by non-government organizations across South and Central America, that detail the routes to take to the U.S. and where to cross the U.S. border.

These maps are hardly reported on by the mainstream media since illegal aliens usually lose the maps along their way.

We were able to obtain these blueprints by directly visiting numerous NGOs along the mass migration route through South and Central America.

The collapse of the U.S. southern border is the result of a carefully planned and deliberately executed industrial mass migration program.

MAP #1 - Distributed by the NGO Amigos Del Tren (Friends Of The Train in English).

This NGO aids illegal aliens in riding the "Train of Death", (also known as "La Bestia"), a freight train that U.S.-bound illegal aliens ride on top of to reach the U.S. border.

The front shows the train routes across the country of Mexico.

The back lists numerous hostels that can be found along the train routes and also shows the distances between Mexican cities.

Some claim that there is no reliable news etc. about the mass immigration or it's just something that racists and bigots worry about and all much ado about nothing. Possibly. But also possibly something is up....

Posted by: Scorpion | Dec 26 2023 1:51 utc | 52

Thanks b. Karlov has a very interesting report today on Putin's and Lavrov's activities including new ships, Marinka and the Deurasian Economic Council meeting.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/our-christmas-is-ordinary-work-day?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1779344&post_id=140081855&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1h5k3a&utm_medium=email

Posted by: Richard L | Dec 26 2023 1:59 utc | 53

Fair warning: this is a report about a controversial topic from the controversial anti-China Bannon site Warroom. That said, the subject of the article does seem a little odd. Nations have many layers and levels; whilst the grunts on both sides might be killing each other as enemies in the trenches, their respective oligarchs are enjoying champagne and caviar in private clubs selling and buying weapons and oil among each other. So who knows what is going on between the upper echelon Chinese and US networks. No matter what it is you can bet it's very different from whatever narratives are out there in the media both MSM on both sides and independents.

https://warroom.org/white-house-secretly-set-up-agriculture-working-group-with-chinese-communist-party/

Ambassador to China Nick Burns revealed that the White House secretly established an Agricultural Working Group with the Chinese Communist Party to despite concerns over the national security risk posed by China’s foray into America’s farmland and food supply.

The stunning announcement follows efforts from Republican lawmakers to forbid Chinese Communist Party-linked companies and individuals from purchasing U.S. farmland, blocking their ability to influence the security of America’s food supply. President Joe Biden, however, appears to have taken a different and considerably more inviting approach to the Chinese Communist Party on agriculture matters, according to Ambassador Burns’s recent speech.

The group has not been previously reported.

Ambassador Burns – who worked for consulting firms representing the Chinese regime prior to joining the White House – made the remarks during a keynote address for the China United States Exchange Foundation’s (CUSEF) annual Hong Kong Forum on U.S.-China Relations. CUSEF is a Chinese state-sponsored propaganda effort that seeks to "influence foreign governments and other actors to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijing’s preferred policies,” according to the U.S. government.

CUSEF functions as part China’s "United Front,” which the federal government identifies as Beijing’s covert operation "to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party.” The U.S. State Department also compares the United Front to the Chinese regime’s "magic weapon” to advance its preferred policies by infiltrating American politics, media, and academia.

While the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign influence operations are vast, CUSEF is one of the most wide-reaching and nefarious components of the United Front.

Posted by: Scorpion | Dec 26 2023 2:00 utc | 54

@ waynorinorway | Dec 25 2023 19:43 utc | 49

thanks for that! a merry christmas to you as well in your winter wonderland! i truly appreciate your presence here at moa waynorinorway!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpSThLYkmSE

Posted by: james | Dec 26 2023 2:44 utc | 55

@ juliania

you are another one i want to directly wish a merry christmas to.. i know you don't celebrate for another week or two, so this is an early merry christmas to you! i thought of you when i read this short story by tolstoy that you may be familiar with.. happy trails my friend..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Hermits

Posted by: james | Dec 26 2023 2:57 utc | 56

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Dec 25 2023 17:35 utc | 48

There has never been a time without injustice and anguish. Life can be celebrated cheerfully even so, not with the sense that everything is free from suffering or blemish, but despite it, accepting the many imperfections and travails - some of them extreme - that life inevitably entails.

We could perhaps go further: it is precisely when things are the most ghastly that sacred 'holy days' Christmas can yet be appreciated; canceling them lets the bad guys win.

Put another way: we can wish all well even with tears of suffering on our cheeks.

Posted by: Scorpion | Dec 26 2023 3:01 utc | 57

Meanwhile, 'Turns out Alcohol is good for your health!' Zero Hedge: http://tinyurl.com/ytll8sou

Posted by: Scorpion | Dec 26 2023 3:02 utc | 58

This film predicts the perfect American apocalypse
Anyone with an interest in the cultural and political decline of the contemporary US should see ‘Leave the World Behind’

RT alt site
https://www.swentr.site/pop-culture/589661-film-predicts-american-apocalypse/

a good movie and a surprisingly excellent article

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 26 2023 4:05 utc | 59

Interesting that the Russian government transport sat on the ground for over 2 days.

I will NOT, however, make a speculative claim that any negotiations actually occurred. That is why the NYT spun such an obviously BS piece.

My guess is that the Russian diplomatic mission merely presented factual realities to their American counterparts, and also may have prompted them to arrive at certain conclusions. Thus, no strikes on Yemen.

From all publicly available data, it is obvious who is winning and who is losing in this global war. We, the US, are NOT winning. If we Americans HOPE to survive, we’re going to have to replace our octogenarian “leadership” class ASAP. Preferably with folks who are not partial to Anglos and Zionists. Yeah, it’s a BIG ask

Posted by: OldFart | Dec 26 2023 11:58 utc | 60

Any thoughts on Serbia?

Posted by: Dogon Priest | Dec 26 2023 13:37 utc | 61

Since I didn't see it posted so far:
Most senior iranean IRGC adviser killed in israeli missile attack
plus:
US strikes against Iran proxies in Iraq
Hezbollah already reacted with increased strikes, but escalation in Iraq and Syria is also expected.

Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 26 2023 15:08 utc | 62

Re Xinjiang
The entire garden are chanting in chorus,...

We'r all Uighurs today

What the hell is going on here ?

As some wit wryly observed...
gardenists dont care much about Han Chinese.
[They orchestrated the 1965 Indon genocide FFS]

Nor do they care much about moslems
[30M Muslims killed by NATO since WW2]

But hey they sure have this fetishism about Chinese Muslims !

hehehehe

http://tinyurl.com/8akds7e4

Posted by: denk | Dec 26 2023 16:02 utc | 63

Gardenists

We'r all HKers today

WTF is going on here ?

As we all know,
gardenists dont care much about Han Chinese, so whats the big fuss about JImmy Lai, why are the entire anglophone led garden crying murder over a simple sedition case in China ?

Hell he holds a British passport, a bloody British citizen ! [sic]

Hong Kong Watch patron Lord Alton of Liverpool to RFA...

"The key question now is whether we finally joins the U.S. and Europe’s Parliament in calling for Jimmy Lai’s immediate and unconditional release," .

"The U.K. Government needs to demonstrate that it stands up for its own citizens and puts as much effort into fighting their corner as it does trying to drum up business deals with the [Chinese Communist Party] regime.

Earth to limeys...
The ruling 'elites' are different from joe six packs.
Them lawyers, bankers, death merchants etc, are color blind, Blacks, Whites, Yellows., Limey, chinks... makes no difference to their eyes, all they see are assets and liabilties.

When it comes to 'standing up for its own citizens' the limeys, gringo, in fact the entire anglophone have been a mighty disgrace.

Exhibit A
The Balibo five were thrown to the wolves cuz they were gawd damned liabilities.
[Oil are thicker than blood !]
Whereas,
JImmy Lai is an useful asset

Thats all there's to it.

http://tinyurl.com/4empmbes

Posted by: denk | Dec 26 2023 17:25 utc | 64

Merry Christmas, james at | Dec 26 2023 2:57 utc | 56 ! I went looking for my copy of Tolstoy's tales, could not find it, but did a duckduckgo and found this better link (wikipedia's had problems on my computer)

https://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/prayer/the-three-hermits

After reading it I realized that is a tale that was often repeated by some of the wonderful Russians who frequented our little church in Santa Fe. They knew it by heart I guess! Something similar is that of a mother who proudly brought her little boy for confession before the usual age of doing so, convinced he was ready. The priest took him in, and indeed the boy reeled off a very lengthy, impressive account of all his committed offences. The priest took him back out to his mother and said "Sorry - he's not ready yet."

Posted by: juliania | Dec 26 2023 17:32 utc | 65

@ james | Dec 26 2023 2:44 utc | 55

Thanks for the Matt Wilson piece james. I played some trumpet when I was young but it didn't stick.
Listening to that I'm more sure than ever if it had been sax I would have stayed with it. I love that sound.

@ juliania | Dec 26 2023 17:32 utc | 65
OK juliania, james maybe started it but you kept it going, so I can too :-)

(This may or may not be true.)
In our little town we have a Lutheran church and a Catholic church. One Saturday the retired
pastor of our Lutheran church went in to the confession booth at the Catholic church and told the priest,
“Father I have sinned. Last week I had sex with two young 19 year old girls.”
The priest replied, “But you are a Lutheran. Why are you telling me?”
The Lutheran pastor said, “Father, I’m 86 years old. I’m telling EVERYONE!”

Best to you both and all barflies this holiday season.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 26 2023 18:02 utc | 66

Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 26 2023 18:02 utc | 66

And best to you, waynorinorway - merry Christmas! I loved your outing with the moon, especially as the name of my street is moon in the native language here - I believe it would be an old trail named that way as it runs along a curving ridge east to west and climbing uphill. We don't have snow but the mountains around us do, and it is January cold nights already though not as cold as you have it!

Posted by: juliania | Dec 26 2023 18:34 utc | 67

@ juliania - that is a funny story about the boy and a relevant take on the mom too! mom's are always so proud of their children

thank you both - juliania and waynorinorway..

Posted by: james | Dec 26 2023 19:31 utc | 68

I will celebrate Christmas in the Russian Slavic Ortodox metaverse.
Because I am a patriot.

“The head of State participated in the main discussion of the conference on artificial intelligence and data analysis 2021 on the topic “technologies with artificial Intelligence for solving social problems”.
12 November 2021

Vladimir Putin:
...
The issues of personal data protection and digital payments, countering the hidden manipulation of the preferences and actions of citizens, the actions of a person are increasingly coming to the fore, and it is not only about ensuring the cybersecurity of the person himself, but also his virtual counterpart – the Avatar, which will be located in the Metaverse that is now being formed. Their developers promise that a person with the help of such virtual worlds will be able to overcome the spaces without leaving home. I know that here, even among those present in this chamber, there are those who deal with this topic. All this, of course, will help people to be close to other people who live even on other continents.

Let me remind you that the very term “Metaverse” was proposed three decades ago by a famous science fiction writer, and according to his plan, people escaped, literally saved themselves from the imperfections of the real world in it. But such an approach would be too pessimistic for us today, and I think this is definitely not the right path. On the contrary, it is necessary to use the possibilities of the metasverse so that people can communicate, work together, learn, realize joint creative and business projects, regardless of any – even very large – distances.

This is a real challenge for tech companies, creative industries and creators of virtual and Mixed Reality devices. Even for lawyers who need to develop norms to regulate economic and social relations in a fundamentally new world, this is also a challenge, of course. ...."

http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67099

https://virtonex.com/eng/tpost/ikblnsp4v1-the-first-figital-event-at-moscow-state
https://venera-metaverse.com/
https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3563-3564-4235-a338-333438326438/bitcoin4736_white_hu.png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW5Oyjl23Es

WE ARE READY TO IMPLEMENT YOUR MOST DARING PROJECTS!

https://thumb.tildacdn.com/tild6537-3131-4739-b763-646437626365/-/resize/694x/-/format/webp/image6.png

Posted by: Metapatriot | Dec 26 2023 20:07 utc | 69

ZH has a posting up with the title

World's Most Dangerous Combination: China And Russia

The quotes

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy knows how to end the greatest threat to American national security.

"I would freeze the current lines of control," the candidate told Fox News's Jesse Watters during his prime time show, referring to the battlefields in Ukraine.

"I would further make a hard commitment that NATO will not admit Ukraine to NATO. That's enough to get Putin to do the deal."

"But I would require something even greater in return, Jesse," Ramaswamy said. "Russia has to exit its military alliance with China."

Putin will take the deal, the charismatic candidate assured Watters:

"He's gonna say, 'Ok' because I'm going to say, 'We'll reopen our economic relations with Russia and further, we'll end the Ukraine war and also make sure NATO never admits Ukraine.' "

Delusion runs deep in zombie America. I won't bore you with the rest of the delusion in the posting

Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 26 2023 21:10 utc | 70

I was looking at the border of Gaza and Egypt at the Mediterranean sea.
It appears that there are only destroyed houses there. Looking for the nearest significant city, Sheik Zuwied, all the housing there seems to be intact.
The satellite image at Sheik Zuwied is dated: 7/19/2020.
The area near the Gaza border is dated: 1/9/2022.
I am by no means a news expert but I try to understand what is happening in the world, there is always something that captures the headlines but I don't ever remember hearing about the total destruction of that area. Houses blasted apart and pock marks in the surrounding fields.
Right where Gazan's would likely establish some shelter if they could escape the Israeli attacks.
So, what should I know about all this?

Posted by: Cynogutatum | Dec 26 2023 21:25 utc | 71

@Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 26 2023 21:10 utc | 70

Ramaswamy is so obviously an establishment creation, strangely able to invest in companies just before big announcements when he was a student and then straight into being a successful corrupt financier (pumped and dumped his first BS company to make some serious money). He is as delusional as the deep state and someone that Trump should under no circumstances put in a position of power as he is so obviously a Manchurian plant. He is a Republican version of Obama, a puppet to do the establishment's bidding.

Posted by: Roger | Dec 26 2023 23:22 utc | 72

Posted by: waynorinorway | Dec 25 2023 19:43 utc | 49

Thank you, waynorinorway, for your moonlit story. It inspires, and reminds.

It reminded me of my mom. Years past, before cellphones were ubiquitous, and when I was away from her, she insisted that I communicate with her, via the moon.
At first it sounded pretty absurd. The moon? Yes, she insisted.
So I did. Believe it or not, it worked fairly well. The messages were simple — I’m fine, I’ll be home soon, and such. But the point is that those messages were indeed received, when they were sent. We compared notes, as to timing. It was particularly effective when the moon was full. Pretty amazing, if you asked me.
Well, that’s my story. As she is no longer with us, I still communicate, yes, via the moon, in the vain hope that these messages too, will be received as well. May she RIP.

La Bella Luna.

Cheers, and happy holidays.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Dec 26 2023 23:45 utc | 73

Putin chatted with Alexey Miller, Gazprom CEO, about Gazprom's acc0omplishments for the year, in particular the heating season:

Vladimir Putin: Alexey Borisovich, how are you?

Alexey Miller: Mr President, everything is in working order.

Gazprom reliably supplies our Russian consumers with gas during the autumn-winter period. The country has passed its first winter peak. The first half of December in the area of the unified gas supply system in Russia turned out to be cold, and the whole week was generally in many regions of Russia with abnormally cold temperatures. And it should be noted that Gazprom has fully met all the requests and needs. On December 8 and 13, we delivered 1 billion 717 million cubic meters of gas from the unified gas supply system to our consumers. Vladimir Vladimirovich, this is a historical record for the entire history of the Russian gas industry in terms of the volume of deliveries in the winter period, in the month of December.

December 8 was the coldest day this winter, with the average temperature in the unified gas supply system zone being minus 17 degrees. In many regions, really abnormal temperatures were observed, because minus 17 is, of course, the average temperature. It was very cold on the Middle Volga, it was very cold in St. Petersburg in particular, especially in the first decade. The first decade in St. Petersburg was one of the coldest in the entire history of weather observations in St. Petersburg. Supplying a huge megacity is, of course, a very important, priority task, and we, of course, have reliably provided our Russian consumers with gas.

Vladimir Putin: What about our foreign partners?

Alexey Miller: Mr President, during the autumn-winter period, we work very constructively and in a neighborly way with our partners. Frosts also came to Uzbekistan in December, and our Uzbek friends and colleagues asked to increase gas supplies to Uzbekistan in an amount that exceeds twice our daily obligations under the signed contract. Currently, we supply Uzbekistan with the maximum technically possible volume of gas that can be delivered via the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline in December.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, the pipeline was commissioned by three presidents, and you opened it on October 7. Indeed, of course, for Uzbekistan, in particular, the possibility of gas supplies via the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline in reverse mode is a very important factor in passing the autumn-winter period. And we, accordingly, already have such technical capabilities - we supply gas to Uzbekistan in full at the request of our Uzbek colleagues.

On December 23, Vladimir Vladimirovich, we set a historic record for daily gas supplies to China, the largest volumes. We are also currently delivering daily volumes to China that exceed our contractual obligations. This year, gas supplies to China will be one and a half times more than in 2022. And in 2025, we will meet our contractual obligations: in 2025, gas supplies to China will amount to 38 billion cubic meters.

Vladimir Putin: Excellent. Congratulations!

A. Miller: As for all your instructions on gasification and gas supply to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as for the pre-gasification program, I am ready to report that in 2023 we completed 50 percent more work than in 2022. This is what concerns pre-gasification.

At the beginning of 2024, about 1 million 150 thousand contracts will be concluded, and the number of contracts is growing literally every day. For these contracts, the technical possibility of bringing the pipe to the site boundaries has already been provided. 875 thousand households – gas has already been supplied to them up to the border of the plot, and 500 thousand households of them have already received gas.

Next year, we plan to further increase the pace of our work on pre-gasification and gasification of the country. We have allocated a record amount of 270.3 billion rubles for this purpose. This is 33.5 billion rubles more than this year. And the level of gasification in the country as of January 1, 2024 will be 89 percent, but out of one hundred percent of technically possible network gasification in the Russian Federation.

In 2023, I can say that more than 400 settlements will be supplied with gas, and 2,900 kilometers of main gas pipelines will be built. Therefore, your goal of achieving one hundred percent gasification in the Russian Federation by 2030 will be absolutely fulfilled.

Vladimir Putin: Excellent.

Gazprom also performs social functions. You have a lot of sponsorship through different channels, you run different programs. Are you continuing this work?

Alexey Miller: Yes, Mr President, we are continuing this work. This year, Gazprom has built 115 social sports facilities as part of the Gazprom for Children program. And the most important thing is that this year a unique complex was introduced, which we implemented on your behalf. This is the Academy of Martial Arts in the federal territory "Sirius". This is the largest facility under the Gazprom for Children program for all the time we have been implementing it.

Vladimir Putin: Absolutely unique.

Alexey Miller: It is unique not only from the point of view of the Gazprom for Children program, but it is also unique in the world. Because this facility is the largest facility for sambo and judo in the world. Even in a country like Japan, where judo is a national sport, there is nothing like this. And this is the largest and most modern object.

Vladimir Putin: I was in the Kodokan. You can compare it. You're absolutely right. In general, the program has been implemented by Gazprom since what year?

A. Miller: We have been working for more than 15 years.

Vladimir Putin: I know the responses from the regions. Thank you very much.

Alexey Miller: It's a pleasure.

Vladimir Putin: I congratulate you on the results of your work. I congratulate all gas workers on the upcoming New Year.

Alexey Miller: Thank you.

For those not acquainted with Gazprom's recent history since 1992, I highly suggest Wikipedia's Gazprom page. Vlad and Alex have know each other for decades.

Posted by: karlof1 | Dec 27 2023 2:07 utc | 74

Substituting Renewable Energy for Fossil Fuels is a Doomsday Stratagem
Energy Institute, University of Texas with Arthur E. Berman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lW3D3hs1WU

There is no energy transition, no paradigm shift or green revolution. The popular idea that fossil fuels can be and are being replaced by renewable energy is false. New energy sources have always been additive with no empirical evidence for replacement of one energy source by another.

Renewable energy requires materials that use fossil energy for their extraction, transport, manufacture, and distribution. The four essential pillars of modern civilization are steel, cement, plastic and ammonia. None of these are possible without fossil energy.

Energy substitution is a doomsday stratagem that condemns civilization to its status quo path of growth & biophysical destruction. No amount of non-fossil energy will make a difference unless we lower total energy consumption & accept its consequence of no growth.

Climate change is a big problem but it is a subset of the larger problem of biophysical overshoot. We have exceeded the carrying capacity of the planet. Continued economic and material growth based on renewable energy does not begin to resolve that fundamental reality.

It's time to get honest. Growth is the core of the human predicament.

Biography:

Arthur E. Berman is a petroleum geologist with 45 years of energy industry experience including both fossil and non-fossil energy sources. He routinely gives keynote addresses for energy conferences, boards of directors and professional societies. Berman has published more than 100 articles energy and their effect on earth systems including climate. He has more than 38,000 followers on Twitter (@aeberman12)

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 27 2023 4:52 utc | 75

@ Lavrov's Dog | Dec 27 2023 4:52 utc | 75 who quoted
"
Growth is the core of the human predicament.
"

The core of the human predicament is that a cult of folks that own global private finance along with most governments and use growth to keep the oligarchs salivating are still dominant over most of the world.

Thank goodness that dominance is being challenged by those that would and do measure growth in a more humanistic way.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 27 2023 5:21 utc | 76

Xinhuanet has a posting up with the link below that, to me, says they are angry

China firmly opposes U.S. signing into law national defense authorization act: spokesperson

the quote

In response to a media query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that the Act interferes in China's internal affairs, preaches U.S. military support to Taiwan, and violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques.

China urges the United States to honor the commitment of its leader of not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop manipulating the Taiwan question and stop endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, she said.

I think this coming election in Taiwan should be interesting, to say the least.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Dec 27 2023 7:11 utc | 77

[The Russian] history is entirely defined by them fighting for their survival against foreign forces.

Posted by: Red Outsider | Dec 24 2023 12:50 utc | 1

This is just a comment regarding this specific framing of Russian history. No comment regarding the rest.

Russia's history can be divided in two broad periods: Khanate pseudo vassal, and sovereign people. That latter period itself is divisible into distinct periods: pre-modern Russian, and modernizing & European self-identity. It is possible Putin has introduced a new chapter in Russia finally accepting that Asia is not an inferior continent.

During the pre-modern and initial part of modernizing period (Peter the great) Russia contended with Sweden and Poland. The latter appears to be a long running Slavic feud, and the fight with Sweden was over land that Russia wanted and Sweden lost.

Then begins the period spanning centuries (and we can included USSR in this period) when Russia acted as a (wannabe) member of European "Powers". Russian Empire (lest we forget) was an expansionist entity and quite fairly we can say their history also features, possibly more characteristically for other nations that met Russians on their expansionist campaigns, as 'typically Russian'.

Now we have two major epic attacks on Russia by a European power that underpin this victim role that Russia uses as a PR or possibly coping strategy (since as you note, they are not wall flowers).

Napoleon attacked Russia because the Russian emperor proved "agreement incapable". He and Napoleon had an arrangement. It was supposed to be that Russia would help France keep the pesky "Anglo-Saxons" out of mainland Europe. But alas, the Russian Emperor was "agreement incapable" and stabbed our friend N. in the back. So, Napoleon did not, "as a matter of the historic hatred for Russians by West", pack up the Grand Army to go and seek to find a "final solution" to keeping "Anglo-Saxons" out of Europe.

Then we have secret police agent cum Fuhrer attacking Uncle Joe's USSR. Here again, just like with Napoleon's Russian campaign, we are being sold a victim story of "innocent USSR" just sitting there minding its own business until the "West" got into one of its "historic" "Russia hating" phases. But the facts are Uncle Joe and "Supreme Leader" Hitler had been making secret deals under the table to divide Poland. So.

The historic fact is Russia is major power contender and harbors the appropriate ambitions of such nations. In the attempt at realizing this ambition, (Imperial) Russia "historically" butt heads with other equally ambitious nations, such as Imperial France, Imperial Britain and now this "West" construct lead by US.

That pattern is the "history" of Russia, not that victim nonsense. And historically, the Russians have given as good as they gotten and they know this. The violin playing is oddly reminiscent of Jews and their laments of victimhood.

Posted by: robinthehood | Dec 27 2023 9:04 utc | 78

Forgot to add butting heads with Imperial Japan and Imperial Turkey.

So, we see Russian history is the history of an empire having big power diplomacy by other means with the French, British, American, Turkish, and Japanese empires. All empires.

Posted by: robinthehood | Dec 27 2023 9:11 utc | 79

@ robinthehood | Dec 27 2023 9:04 utc | 78

well said imho

" The violin playing is oddly reminiscent of Jews and their laments of victimhood. "

Yes and Putin and his governmental entourage have spent the last 20 years trying to curry favour with the UK Germany, France, the EU as a whole and the United States and Canada. Bending over backwards to assist in the war on terror, backing Israel to the hilt no questions asked, doing deals with monarchs (some may call tyrants) not backing Serbia in a any way, allowing Libya to get rolled and utterly destroyed .... sat on their hands for 9 years while the ethnic Russians in Ukraine were murdered and impoverished by their own government, and has happily allowed oth the US, NATO and Israel to pond the shit out of Syria despite supposedly being it #1 military ally .. and where Putin did to Chechnya exactly what Israel is doing to Gaza right now.

so yeah, do cry me a river. Putin isn't a wall flower. Yes the US are sick phucks and agreement incapable and untrustworthy-- that the NEOCONS took charge big time in 2001 is no secret, I knew and saw what was happening .. so did Julian Assange and millions of others ... but it took Putin 20 years to work this out? Is he an idiot? No! :-)

Yes the victimhood tears are a bit rich.

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 27 2023 9:34 utc | 80

@ psychohistorian | Dec 27 2023 7:11 utc | 77

"..... Mao said, adding that if the United States insists on going ahead with it, China will take resolute and strong measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development rights and interests. "

Yes well. I would like to see that actually happen one day. It has never happened thus far ... all they do is talk, blather, look intense, and make threats that never materialise.

.. resolute, LOL, like the desk?

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 27 2023 9:41 utc | 81

@ psychohistorian | Dec 27 2023 5:21 utc | 76

"The core of the human predicament is that a cult of folks that own global private finance along with most governments and use growth to keep the oligarchs salivating are still dominant over most of the world."

Yes, absolutely.

They are definitely in the drivers seat and calling all the shots. Only they have choices and make the decisions. Then everything keeps running on automatic from there. Everyone else are mere pawns and expendable, of no importance. That'd be us. And I suspect Putin and Xi as well. :-)

Posted by: Lavrov's Dog | Dec 27 2023 9:47 utc | 82

https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/27/ethiopia-defaults-on-33-million-bond-payment/
More bad news for BRICS: after Argentinia turned out to be a rotten egg, now Ethopia has severe financial problems. The flawed decision in August to accept Egypt, Ethopia and Argentinia into the organisation, but leave Algeria out, is backfiring. This will weigh heavy on the shoulders of the BRICS.

Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 27 2023 11:47 utc | 83

The Really Big, No Good, Very Bad Reach Around, Dec 19 [MAP]

state.gov | Announcement of U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Outer Limits

Today, the Department released the geographic coordinates defining the outer limits of the U.S. continental shelf in areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast, known as the extended continental shelf (ECS). The continental shelf is the extension of a country's land territory under the sea. Like other countries, the United States has rights under international law to conserve and manage the resources and vital habitats on and under its...

wilsoncenter | Strategic Implication of the US Extended Continental Shelf

The continental shelf contains nodules rich in strategic minerals and rare earth elements needed for everything from green energy to the semiconductors that drive Artificial Intelligence computer programming. The US announcement on the US extended continental shelf (ECS) highlights American strategic interests in securing these hard minerals on its seabed and subsoil, lying sometimes hundreds of miles offshore. The US entitlement to sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the area is key to ensuring American economic prosperity and national security. The continental shelf comprises the natural prolongation annex of land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin....

rcinet.ca | U.S. Stalking Department extends continental shelf claims, including in Arctic

Announcement despite not ratifying UNCLOS
The State Department says the extended continental shelf claim was made according to the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The U.S. Senate has never ratified that treaty, but, after 40 years, the government is announcing its continental shelf limits anyway.

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 14:52 utc | 84

....This will weigh heavy on the shoulders of the BRICS.
Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 27 2023 11:47 utc | 83

nope.

Ethiopia's official sector government creditors, including China, agreed to a debt service suspension deal.

Hello. Who owns the "strategic default"?

Parallel negotiations with pension funds and other private sector creditors, who hold Ethiopia's bond, collapsed on December 8

worldbank | International Debt Report 2023, 214 pp illustrated pdf, p 69 in particular

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 15:04 utc | 85

IMF "debt restructuring" Option A
Argentina: Fifth and Sixth Reviews Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Request for Rephasing of Access, Waivers of Non-observance of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criteria and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Argentina

imf.org | Ukraine: 2023 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, and Requests for Modification of Performance Criteria and a Waiver of Non[-]observance of Performance Criterion-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Ukraine

IMF Option B: World Bank offering
Gulf Cooperation Council: Economic Prospects and Policy Challenges for the GCC Countries wealth management services for an undisclosed fee

The GCC region's non-hydrocarbon growth momentum remains strong, driven by higher domestic demand, increased gross capital inflows, and reform implementation. Oil production—which depends on OPEC+ decisions—will be subdued in the near term. Inflation is contained and current account surpluses are high. Fiscal balances remain healthy, supported by fiscal reforms and LOL! high oil prices. The primary non-oil LOL! deficits are expected to decrease to 24 percent of GDP by 2028, with higher non-oil revenue reflecting sustained fiscal and structural reforms and contained expenditures. High global uncertainty is weighing [nope] on the outlook....

GCC (FTA 1981): AE, BH, KW, OM, QA, SA
BRICS (2009 FTA): AE, BR, CN, EG, ET, IN, IR, RU, SA, ZA; DZ*, BO*, ID*, BD*, CM*, ML*, SN*, TH*, UZ*, FJ*, KZ*, TN*, TR*

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 15:18 utc | 86

Who owns the "strategic default"?

I don't know anything about international finances and have not looked into the creditor list. However, my memory of similar cases seems to indicate that, once a country defaults on any debt from IMF and Worldbank, a vicious cycle of inflation and downgrading by the allmighty rating agencies starts. This usually ends in brutal privatizations of state owned assets to vultures like Black Rock. And Ethopia is already quite capitalist to begin with.
At least on the surface it looks concerning to me.

Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 27 2023 15:29 utc | 87

I don't know anything about international finances and have not looked into the creditor list....
Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 27 2023 15:29 utc | 87

alrighty then. This a rule of thumb from GD IV (2008 "Financial Crisis" alias "Great Recession" alias "Housing Crash" that you can bank.
Debts that can’t be paid, won’t be

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 15:47 utc | 88

When it comes to 'standing up for its own citizens' the limeys, gringo, in fact the entire anglophone have been a mighty disgrace.

Posted by: denk | Dec 26 2023 17:25 utc | 64
-----------------------

Quora

Why hasn't the U.S. government taken stronger action against Indian call center scams, which steal billions of dollars each year from vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly?

why can’t the US deploy troops into India to raid these call centers?

gringo 1

America can’t send them in there it would cause a major international incident. India wont crack down because they have bad corruption and it’s beneficial to their own economy

[sic]

Pleeeeeeze !
' 251 military interventions since 1991, and 469 since 1798'

Since when has USAss ever shied away from major international incident ?

Has the United States government done anything about the overseas phone scams, tricking Americans into transferring them money?

gringo2

the United States government has no jurisdiction over somebody breaking USlaws from a foreign country. about all they can usually do is request the local government investigate and prosecute the wrong-doers

Never heard of long arm jurisdiction ?
Tell that to the Alstom CEO and Huawei CFO, both kidnapped on foreign land for allegedly breaking USAss illegal sanction on Iran. !

And WTF has Tibet, Xinjiang, HK, TW...gotta do with any gawd damned USAss laws ?

These mushrooms are really full of it. !
Kept in the dark and fed BS all day long.
[courtesy Pilger]

Posted by: denk | Dec 27 2023 16:35 utc | 89

Has the Atlantic Council instructed the MSM to report on the CIA .vs. China?

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/us/politics/china-cia-spy-mss.html

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/american-spies-confront-a-new-formidable-china-5c384370

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1304439.shtml

It must be something in the air.

Posted by: too scents | Dec 27 2023 16:48 utc | 90

AURELIEN
27 DEC 2023

The Obligatory End-of-Year Essay.

part 3 of pat metheny interview... start at 5:15 if you want to skip some of the history... it is interesting if you are a musician..

Pat Metheny plays LIVE in Richard Niles Exclusive Interview PART 3

Posted by: james | Dec 27 2023 17:16 utc | 91

#88: thanks for the link to the Michael Hudson piece.
My reading is that it depends on circumstances whether the creditor or the debtor benefits from the default. Well, time will tell, I guess.

Different topic:
https://www.declassifieduk.org/conservative-party-donors-and-the-battle-for-offshore-oil-claimed-by-venezuela/
Despite the agreement not to use any violence to settle the conflict, my gut feeling is that the last words are not yet spoken. Venezuela will have to be prudent and patient, but when an opportunity to liberate Essequibo shows up, they will seize it.

Posted by: Hamburger | Dec 27 2023 17:44 utc | 92

ahahahahaha
BRICS candidate becomes latest African defaulter, Dec 27

...Last Thursday, Ethiopia’s finance minister Ahmed Shide said the government did not want to make the payment because it “wants to treat all creditors in the same way,” Bloomberg reported, citing state TV.

Hinjat Shamil, senior reform advisor at the Ministry of Finance, also told Bloomberg on Monday that the payment “had not and will not be made.”

Addis Ababa requested debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework in early 2021 and had been able to service interest payments on its international bond, until now.

Africa’s second most populous nation has now joined a growing list of developing countries that have defaulted on Eurobonds [!] in recent years, including Zambia, Ghana, and Sri Lanka....

Banks pile into euro zone bond sales as rates shoot up, 28 Feb 2023

Banks are becoming the leading buyers of some euro zone governments' bond sales, taking advantage of surging interest rates as the European Central Bank looks to reduce its presence in the market.

Euro zone governments need private buyers to pick up some 400 billion euros ($422 billion) of additional debt this year.
Funding needs remain high due to the energy shock that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while the ECB, a huge buyer in recent years, will soon start reducing the bonds it holds on its 8 trillion euro balance sheet as it tightens monetary policy to contain inflation.

Europe faces increasing financial pressure after ECB pulls out of bond market 23 Apr 2023
suckers!
EU readies €20bn plan B to fund Ukraine, 26 Dec 2023

After EU leaders failed to agree a proposed €50bn four-year package for Ukraine earlier this month, officials have searched for alternatives to save Kyiv from a looming budget crisis if the bloc’s differences cannot be resolved.
[...]
This scheme would involve participating member states issuing LOL! guarantees [ie. proceeds of sovereign bond sales] to the EU budget, enabling the European Commission to borrow up to €20bn on capital markets for Kyiv next year, people briefed on the talks said. The precise terms are still under discussion and the final amount would be set according to Ukraine’s needs, they added.

The EU recovery fund unmasked: "The historic part is the separate €750 billion post-pandemic recovery fund"

The arrangement is similar to the structure used in 2020 when the commission provided up to €100bn [LOLnope] in cheap financing to EU countries for short-term work-support schemes during the COVID pandemic. Crucially, the option would not require guarantees from all the EU’s 27 member states, as long as the main participants included countries with top credit ratings. That would allow the EU to sidestep Hungary’s veto because it would not require unanimous backing.
[...]

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 18:15 utc | 93

Hinjat Shamil, senior reform advisor at the Ministry of Finance, also told Bloomberg on Monday that the payment “had not and will not be made.”

Posted by: sln2002 | Dec 27 2023 18:15 utc | 93

---

Strategic default.

These things tend to snowball.

Posted by: too scents | Dec 27 2023 18:28 utc | 94

(Oh no, it’s the white downward arrow in the blue box again.)

I guess the 27th is Unboxing Day? I just learned that today, while I was checking the Twitter feeds for Canada’s spy agency, CSIS, and the Communications Security Establishment, Canada’s Five Eyes’… eye.

Sami Khoury, head of Canada’s Cyber Centre, gives out a warning about staying cyber safe (and who knew Canada had all these departments/agencies, not me):

https://x.com/cybercentre_ca/status/1739360479632375825

Meanwhile, CSIS posts a reminder about disinformation, with a few evocative graphics:

https://x.com/csiscanada/status/1740024893683417409

And satire news site The Beaverton tells us, “Couple thrilled new remote includes shortcut buttons for streaming services Quibi, BingBong, and DankDoo”

https://x.com/TheBeaverton/status/1739790695341195582

Happy Unboxing Day to those barflies celebrating!

Posted by: Bruised Northerner | Dec 27 2023 19:07 utc | 95

Any thoughts on Serbia?

Posted by: Dogon Priest | Dec 26 2023 13:37 utc | 61

Failed color

Classic, try to win the capital to make it easier, but even losing go ahead and make a coup

Colors and Springs are getting a bit old...

Posted by: Newbie | Dec 27 2023 21:24 utc | 96

I would be interested in the opinion of a financial expert on the following topic.

Could the BRICS countries attack the dollar by doing the following?
Members holding US government bonds are cancelling the debts (Dollar) of other members or candidates. A solution is agreed between these countries based on their national currencies.
The worthless dollar is thus returned and at the same time a sales market is gained that is lost to the dollar.
The question is whether trade without the dollar is currently possible. Would all the necessary resources and goods be available?

Posted by: 600w | Dec 27 2023 22:52 utc | 97

Metapatriot at| Dec 26 2023 20:07 utc | 69,

Your post and karlof1's at| Dec 27 2023 2:07 utc | 74 give me the opportunity to say something about my own explorative re-reading of Plato's The Republic. (Don't groan, please, people!)

I'm only a bit into Book III, so not very far, and so far very occupied with the eraser at the end of my pencil, as it seems past attempts I pretty much underlined everything so far, (fortunately with the same pencil!) So, obviously, my past readings of the text didn't give a lot of insights into what it is all about. It is only now, and that's how this forum relates, that I can thank the world at large for getting into the fixes it is currently in, and for seeing how Athens at the time of Plato's writing now echoes similar circumstances I could never have imagined when I was in college and the world was a far different 'seeming' place.

I promise anyone taking up the text today cannot help but see what I am talking about. We are there. I'll just remind everyone that one of the reasons Socrates was put to death was it was claimed he was corrupting the youth.

In Plato's saga, as I see it, that is precisely what it is ALL about.

More anon.

Posted by: juliania | Dec 28 2023 1:52 utc | 98

a quick to the point comment on Serbian Maidan by German MP Zaklin Nastic frm THE LEFT now Alliance Sarah Wagenknecht (BSW)

"Serbischer Maidan?
Proteste in Belgrad. Gastkommentar
Von Żaklin Nastić"
https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/466055.serbischer-maidan.html

Engl.:
https://www-jungewelt-de.translate.goog/artikel/466055.serbischer-maidan.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Posted by: AG | Dec 28 2023 4:22 utc | 99

a quick to the point comment on Serbian Maidan by German MP Zaklin Nastic frm THE LEFT now Alliance Sarah Wagenknecht (BSW)

"Serbischer Maidan?
Proteste in Belgrad. Gastkommentar
Von Żaklin Nastić"
https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/466055.serbischer-maidan.html

Engl.:
https://www-jungewelt-de.translate.goog/artikel/466055.serbischer-maidan.html?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Posted by: AG | Dec 28 2023 4:22 utc | 100