Last week's post on Moon of Alabama:
Ukraine:
- December 18 – The Total Defeat Of Ukraine Is Coming Into Sight
- December 20 – Ukraine 2023
- December 21 – Zelenski For Sales
- December 22 – The Fantasy Of Missile Defense In Ukraine
Related:
– NATO is a mess and the Russians are winning – Asia Times
– 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
– Elements of an Eventual Russia-Ukraine Armistice and the Prospect for Regional Stability in Europe – Rand / Stimson Center – Dec 21, 2023
This flight from Moscow to DC and back stayed on the ground for some 54 hours. Those were looong negotiations.

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It is likely not by chance that this somewhat positive New York Times piece appeared soon after the flight had left.
- Putin Quietly Signals He Is Open to a Cease-Fire in Ukraine – Dec 23, 2023 – New York Times
Palestine:
- December 19 – "America is something that can be moved easily."
Related:
– It’s Time for the U.S. to Give Israel Some Tough Love – New York Times
– Israel is losing the war against Hamas – but Netanyahu and his government will never admit it – Guardian
– Analysis | The Unbridgeable Gulf Between Israeli Politicians' Rhetoric and the Reality in Gaza (archived) – Haaretz– Israeli Military Advisors Arrive In Socotra Island On UAE Plane – ISW News
– Spain, Italy, France Decline US Command Of Red Sea Operation Prosperity Guardian – GCaptain– Israeli airstrike kills Gaza aid worker and 70 of his extended family, UN says – Guardian
– In unprecedented slaughter of Gaza civilians, US claims Israel is the “victim” – Aaron Maté
– Israel’s military campaign in Gaza seen as among the most destructive in recent history, experts say – AP
– A Times Investigation Tracked Israel’s Use of One of Its Most Destructive Bombs in South Gaza – New York Times
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Other issues:
Empire:
- Getting Used To Being Weak. – Aurelian
- Biden emailed son’s business associate 54 times – Republicans – RT
- Biden said to be increasingly frustrated by dismal poll numbers – Washington Post
- How Putin’s Right-Hand Man Took Out Prigozhin (archived) – Wall Street Journal
"… according to Western intelligence officials and a former Russian intelligence officer"
Economy:
- Myth of the Unprecedented – Stephen Roach
Brexit:
Germany:
- NORD STREAM AND GERMANY’S SHRINKING ECONOMY – Seymore Hersh
- Memory Failure – Germany – Pankaj Mishra / LRB
Use as open (not related to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza) thread …