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January 20, 2024
Middle East Open Thread 2024-021

This morning Israel bombed a three story house in Damascus. The attack killed General Haj Sadegh Omidzadeh, deputy intelligence officer of IRGC's Quds Force, along with his deputy Haj Gholam (Muharram). This was most likely a revenge act for the killing of Israeli intelligence assets four days ago by an Iranian missile strike in Erbil, Iraq.

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Only for news & views directly related to the war in the Middle East.

The current open thread for other issues is here.

Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators.

Posted by b on January 20, 2024 at 10:11 UTC | Permalink
Comments

For those who prefer a transcript here is the link (in sections as it is long) to the one at nakedcapitalism.com:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/
michael-hudson-on-russia-iran-and-the-red-sea-natos-war-economy-collapses.html

Posted by: juliania | Jan 20 2024 17:57 utc | 101

DunGroanin, somewhere downstream, around 1530 GMT.
Pray, yes. Sad, but the only way this misery for the rest of us is going to be brought to an end.

Posted by: petra | Jan 20 2024 18:02 utc | 102

Russia and Iran agree to sign a bilateral strategic pact
according to telegram (the Islander) of today, 18:33.
https://t.me/TheIslanderNews/4849
This sounds like really good news, given the West’s determination to isolate and encircle Russia. The post goes on:

A significant development this week with respect to Iran. Russia has agreed to enter into a bilateral strategic pact with Iran.
Iran has been a target of U.S. and Israeli intelligence operations for several decades. These efforts appear to have accelerated over the last ten years because of shared Israeli and U.S. fears that Iran was edging towards becoming a nuclear power.
Both sides stressed their commitment to the fundamental principles of the Russian-Iranian relations, including unconditional respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which will be confirmed in the major intergovernmental treaty between Russia and Iran as this document is being finalised already.
After China, Iran became the next major “player” who signed such an agreement (or is about to sign). This is a huge development in world politics and will further shift the balance of power and influence away from the U.S. I cannot overstate how big of an impact this will have. It means that Israel and the United States will face the risk of going to war with Moscow if either openly launch a military attack on Iran. This puts a new arrow in Iran’s quiver.

Posted by: grunzt | Jan 20 2024 18:02 utc | 103

Where would Russia stand if /when the now direct conflict between israel and Iran goes full on hot war.
Putin stated “an atack on Iran would be an atack on Russia”
Yet ther is a lot of Russian jews in israel.
israel being americas proxy just like ukraine being americas proxy.
It didnt prevent Russias SMO respose.
Mmm a paradox, any thoughts ?

Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 20 2024 18:03 utc | 104

Galloway 78: I agree, Canuck should read “Lost Victories” by Mannstein. I think Hitler put him in the reserves too late rather than too early. In any case, the lives of thousands of soldiers could have been put to better use than eliminating a front line near Kursk.
But if you honnor Shukov, don’t forget to add: “If a minefield is in front of my men, they’ll attack as if it wasn’t there.”

Posted by: Oliver Krug | Jan 20 2024 18:03 utc | 105

Galloway 78: I would not mention Kesselring, at least he was responsible for the Africa desaster.

Posted by: Oliver Krug | Jan 20 2024 18:07 utc | 106

Israel is ready to use nukes, Israel is not afraid
Posted by: zorge | Jan 20 2024 17:43 utc | 96
Until recently that would have been an antisemitic statement. Times change. These days at a lightning speed.

Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 20 2024 18:07 utc | 107

Hudson, who’s related to Trotsky…
Posted by: zeke2u | Jan 20 2024 16:58 utc | 81 & 86
Not really related. Trotsky was Michael Hudson’s godfather.
Michael’s father worked with Trotsky in Mexico.
Not sure you should be advising Hudson to re-read Lenin
when he can still probably quote Lenin chapter and verse.
Hudson

Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 20 2024 18:17 utc | 108

Mark 104: Iran is an important ally of Russia, even as a buffer zone. For states, only strategic interests count, people do not. As soon as Israel nukes Iran, the Russians will end Israel. Then they could use the nuclear cruise missiles on their German submarines to kill a few hundred thousand more Arab civilians – as German politicians have made possible – but that won’t help them anymore.

Posted by: Oliver Krug | Jan 20 2024 18:21 utc | 109

Netanyahu and his war cabinet are 180 degrees in opposition to US UK demands for a two state solution. The fig leaf of two states somewhere in the far, far distant future has been removed. From the river to the sea reflects from the Nile to the Euphrates, all of which will belong to Israel and for now all of what is currently occupied by the boundaryless Israel. Palestinians in either Gaza or the West Bank either depart or be killed by IDF, IOF or rag tag settler militias. These very directive comments, coached in critical “security for Israel” did not have the expected USUK or world response… thus, it is imperative to create World War III as subterfuge to mask the real and now explicit goals of Likud. What is not available to any public at this time, are the carefully considered, well integrated discussions of the ever growing Axis of Resistance. Clearly, actions on that side of the table are extensive and well coordinated. Again, underscore – USUKIS facing non state actors – so actions such as the bombing in Damascus reflect serious violations of the sovereignty of state actors. As all of these actions play out, one can anticipate that USUKIS actions predictably have significant unintended consequence. And it appears that prior puppets are showing a tinge of spine in standing up to the hegemon.

Posted by: abierno | Jan 20 2024 18:23 utc | 110

I find it surprising how well Iran and Pakistan managed their little missile strike exchange. The Pakistan regime was put into place by the US and is acting as an agent of Washington and usually not in the interest of the people of Pakistan. It has suppressed all popular revolt and public calls for elections. The legitimate president is under arrest. Yet they seem to have enough sovereignty to not be used as a proxy against Iran. Washington does not seem to have full control over it’s client. Will Pakistan eventually slip away from the US? Wouldn’t be the first time one of their puppets started moving on it’s own.
Posted by: Hamburger | Jan 20 2024 13:26 utc | 24

An excellent summary — however, rest assured when the time comes, the installed puppet regime in Pakistan WILL act at the behest of its masters. It will likely be just a matter of the pricetag the corrupt generals put on it, which might do nothing good for the Pakistani people. The Iranians likely know this, too and have acted, planned and prepared accordingly.

Posted by: Tranquilo | Jan 20 2024 18:24 utc | 111

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 14:46 utc | 52
My choices vs your list
Zhukov
Rokossovsky
Koniev
1. von Manstein. — excellent
2. Rommel. — overrated and fighting on secondary front
3. Zhukov
4. Macarthur — over rated
5. Guderian — panzer general but not a strategist
6. Patton — most overrated officer of WWII. He fought depleted German units.

Posted by: Joseph B | Jan 20 2024 18:24 utc | 112

Israel serves notice on Lebanon to implement UN resolution 1701….,ie remove Hezbollah .. disarm in region south of Litani …..or else.. in this powderkeg area?

Posted by: Jo | Jan 20 2024 18:26 utc | 113

thanks for the update b!

Posted by: james | Jan 20 2024 18:26 utc | 114

BREAKING
Massive escalation in Iraq today
Iraqis say 4 American soldiers were killed, while the US says 2 soldiers were wounded after a deadly missile attack on the Ain al Assad base in Iraq
The Iraqis completely overwhelmed the US air defence, even though American forces fired 15 Patriot missiles

Most likely US trying to hold on to Syria and Iraq bases benefits Iran, and they can cause more easy casualties on US troops because they are spread thin and can’t probably defend those bases.
https://twitter.com/IranObserver0/status/1748773466201833698

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 20 2024 18:26 utc | 115

Grunzt @ lo3 Great minds think alike. Luv all your comments respect.
Oliver krug @ 109
Thanks for your reply exactly how i see it.
Its a questiom of long term interests for Russias survival, that and geography, same for China.
Iran could should bomb the hell out of telaviv, israel america would do nothing.
Paper tiger bullys great at genicide and effnic clensing weaker opponants. nothing but pussy cats. Pure arms dealers only.

Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 20 2024 18:34 utc | 116

The “strategic defeat” of Israel warned by SecDef Austin in December is beginning to come visible, as is now being acknowledged in western press:
“…this is a tacit acknowledgement by Israel that its military goals are now unachievable. ‘This is an admission that they are not going to achieve their objectives — if they failed to achieve them with four divisions [fighting in Gaza] it is unlikely they will topple Hamas with less forces.’”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-war-goals-unachieved-1.7087509
“After more than 100 days of war, Israel’s limited progress in dismantling Hamas has raised doubts within the military’s high command about the near-term feasibility of achieving the country’s principal wartime objectives: eradicating Hamas and also liberating the Israeli hostages still in Gaza.
Israel has established control over a smaller part of Gaza at this point in the war than it originally envisaged in battle plans from the start of the invasion…”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/20/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-hostages-strategy.html

Posted by: jayc | Jan 20 2024 18:42 utc | 117

My call from a long time ago was that Russia would end up purging all invited “guests” out of Syria’s lands, Israel being kicked out of Golan Heights being the biggie. I’d also stated that Syria was likely to be the trigger point in the current blowup. It’s working on that path…
https://nitter.net/MyLordBebo/status/1748725632379285543#m

Posted by: Seer | Jan 20 2024 18:56 utc | 118

@ jpc 26
So many turncoats and spies in the Middle East. It is no wonder that the area is so famous for barbarism of the gruesome kind, complete with medieval torture, as opposed to the clean kind (reaper drones, nuclear weapons).
It all goes back to westerners drawing imaginary lines on a map, thinking it will hold the situation together. The result is that minds can be changed because they all rest on the boundary of historical subduction zones, where power shifts happen all the time.
In this tenuous arrangement, money means taking care of your family even as chaos is knocking on your door.
In short, Mossad and the west have deep pockets. And money buys the best information in an area rife with tumult.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 20 2024 19:00 utc | 119

Satellite pictures of US al-Asad base in Iraq. Seems like the rockets found their mark, and several buildings, maybe barracks and equipment sheds have been precisely hit.
https://twitter.com/IranObserver0/status/1748710467462140294/photo/1

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 20 2024 19:03 utc | 120

A few days ago, I attended a diplomatic event where the national day of a certain country was being celebrated.
Many ambassadors there. I saw the Iranian and Pakistani ambassadors embrace warmly with hugs and kisses, much to many people’s surprise. Later, I discreetly asked them about the recent events and they both smiled and the Pakistani counterpart said that public/international image needed to be maintained.
It confirmed my suspicions that this was coordinated, even down to the Pakistani response. They both attacked separatists cells which is con evening for both.
So all this talk about a big rift starting because of this is wishful thinking by the zionists. And they fell for it.

Posted by: Alpi | Jan 20 2024 19:04 utc | 121

Israel serves notice on Lebanon to implement UN resolution 1701….,ie remove Hezbollah .. disarm in region south of Litani …..or else.. in this powderkeg area?
Posted by: Jo | Jan 20 2024 18:26 utc | 113
Israel is in no position to dictate anything to its northern border. Military is already stretched too thin, economy is on verge of collapse. Lobbing missiles at Hezbollah isn’t going to accomplish anything, they’ve long been accustomed to it . If they move north the south will flare up.
Expanding the war will bring other nations in. Jordan, Egyptian, Saudi and UAE governments are already on eggshells, another outrage will lead to revolution and subsequent intervention. Russia will also intervene if Syria is attacked, maybe will provide antiaircraft cover for southern Lebanon.
Netanyahu is playing with fire and dragging Israel into the abyss with him

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Jan 20 2024 19:06 utc | 122

Q1: Are the jews killing journalists to conceal the fact that they’re not losing their ‘war’, or to conceal the fact that they’re not winning?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jan 20 2024 17:14 utc | 87
It’s to hide their crimes. Narrative control is always a priority for the Anglo-Zionists.

Posted by: JMW | Jan 20 2024 19:06 utc | 123

: eradicating Hamas and also liberating the Israeli hostages still in Gaza.
. . .
Posted by: jayc | Jan 20 2024 18:42 utc | 117
=============
It seems like those two objectives are incompatible.
Purely by Israeli choice, not necessity.
In the process of “eradicating Hamas” Israel is also “eradicating the hostages.
Freeing the hostages means making a deal with Hamas to free Palestinians and allowing food and water etc. into Gaza. And easing up on attacking Hamas long enough for hostages to get out of the tunnels, etc. And then, not shooting them when they approach waving white flags.
Israel knows perfectly well what it has to do to get the hostages back and is choosing not to do it.
It looks like Israeli citizens also know this.
As many have suggested, Israel does not actually want the hostages to come home, where they can blab about their experiences.
The longer they are hostages, the longer they can become subject to Stockholm syndrome.
It seems like Israel has nothing to gain at this point by taking realistic actions necessary to free the hostages. What it has to do is spin the situation for the home front.
The best thing Hamas can do, short- and long-term, is keep the hostages in as good health and spirits as possible and try to help them maintain contact with their families.

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 19:08 utc | 124

@ 120
I wonder who took the pictures and which satellite was used? 😉
Probably by that “tumbling webcam in space”.

Posted by: Alpi | Jan 20 2024 19:10 utc | 125

Posted by: Mark2 | Jan 20 2024 18:03 utc | 104

…Putin stated “an atack on Iran would be an atack on Russia”…

Did he really? When and where?

Posted by: robin | Jan 20 2024 19:24 utc | 126

Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 20 2024 15:18 utc | 53–
He’s been that way for years, which is why I prefer transcripts to the videos. Although Hudson’s been interviewed hundreds of times, he’s always had an issue with organizing his thoughts, some of the problem being the age-related tip-of-the-tongue issue most of us suffer with as we age. And Hudson has such a large mass of information within his brain, I find his verbal gaffs, ers, ums and such understandable. Our last Patreon chat in December revealed some of that, but that’s been the norm. As such, it’s easy to see why he prefers the written formats of papers and books since he has the opportunity to edit and hone the narrative. Compare his issues with Radhika Desai’s incoherent delivery on their joint podcasts as she struggles to gather her thoughts, a situation I find distracting, which makes trying to follow her points more difficult. Also, subject matter makes for a different delivery when you compare the two latest interviews as the one prior to Haiphong’s was concentrated on Neoliberalism. Another pressure in interviews is the time factor where an hour is all you have to get your message across, and Hudson’s message is complex as its context needs to be provided–there’s no easy soundbite aside from the Bankers own the government.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 20 2024 19:33 utc | 127

@ Inka: And I would rather see the IRCG or Gazan citizens kill the armed squatters.
@ abierno: Since neither “Israel” nor the USA nor the UK desires a two-state solution. I don’t know where you’re getting that 180-degree measurement.
@ canuck: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A VODKA MARTINI.

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 20 2024 19:39 utc | 128

Jane | Jan 20 2024 15:25 utc | 55–
As far as I know, Michael has never smoked, although he may have grown up in a household with smokers. His wife takes very good care of him. As for health concerns I have for aged analysts, Alastair Crooke’s chronic cough is an issue that Hudson clearly doesn’t have–Crooke’s 74, Hudson’s 84.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 20 2024 19:40 utc | 129

From RT.com https://www.rt.com/news/590981-borell-accuses-israel-iran-aid/
For once Borrel shocked me by this statement:
Josep Borell said
Posted by: ctiger | Jan 20 2024 13:38 utc | 29
————————————————-
In the Netherlands, ordering a ‘borrel’ gets you a small glass of gin (jenever), young or old. A Borell gets you an a**hole.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jan 20 2024 19:52 utc | 130

@Canuck, squeeth, Galloway and anyone else I missed
With respect, could Amateur Military History Club meet on the Open Thread?
(Having to wade through endless Protocols of Zion nonsense was already bad enough)

Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 19:52 utc | 131

zeke2u | Jan 20 2024 16:58 utc | 81–
You’re grossly misrepresenting Hudson. In our conversations, he’s said straight out that a revolution’s required to change the status quo. He’s also very aware of the Class conflict, and his actual relation to Trotsky is he he’s Trotsky’s godson. As for his knowledge of contemporary Russia, he’s been getting educated as to its current reality and has recently shown he has altered his outlook. China’s another issue where it needs to rectify the contradictions within its political-economy. As Putin has said, there’ll always be problems to solve within governance, with the key being to let the people know that you know about the problem and are working to find a solution. The Global Majority can easily see that the Russia/China way is far superior to those if the West. Utopia isn’t the goal; rather, the goal is a reasonable, just, world for human development and peace.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 20 2024 19:55 utc | 132

I like vodka martinis myself but two is my limit. When the waiter or waitress asks me if I want a third I reply: “Do you know what women’s breasts and martinis have in common?” The waitress shudders thinking I am going to tell a nasty joke. She hesitating replies, “No what?” I then exclaim : “One is not enough and three is too many”!!!!
Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 13:47 utc | 31
—————————————————–
Precious. New too me.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jan 20 2024 19:56 utc | 133

So many questions. If the arms embargo on Iran expired years ago, why is poor Iran need to upgrade 57 year old planes ? Why hasnt Russia and China sold it new gear by now ? Whats the hold up if they’re ” allies ” who have a mutual defense pact supposedly ?
” 57-year-old Su-22s are being upgraded to carry Yasin aerial bombs ”
https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/01/19/57-year-old-su-22s-are-being-upgraded-to-carry-yasin-aerial-bombs/

Posted by: Moonie | Jan 20 2024 19:56 utc | 134

Posted by: zeke2u | Jan 20 2024 16:58 utc | 81
Hudson, who’s related to Trotsky
——-
Incorrect. Trotsky was Hudson’s godfather (as in Catholic baptism, not the mafia). They are not blood relatives.

Posted by: john brewster | Jan 20 2024 19:57 utc | 135

In this tenuous arrangement, money means taking care of your family…
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 20 2024 19:00 utc | 119
That accurately describes most workplaces, especially large organizations anywhere in the Western world.
How else would you explain the complete capture of the political class by the Zionist lobby in EU and and the Five Eyes.
US federal workers were supposed to have a walkout this past Tuesday to protest Gaza. They were threatened they’d lose their jobs and to my knowledge it never happened.

Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 20:00 utc | 136

Alpi | Jan 20 2024 19:04 utc | 121–
Thanks for your testimony on that event. I saw the photo and knew there were no issues. Their joint membership in SCO allows for lots of shielded communications. And in many ways, the Pakistanis have shown independence from the Outlaw US Empire.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 20 2024 20:02 utc | 137

Two Generals from the War whose names haven’t been mentioned are O’Connor who I believe ended up as a POW. And Chu Teh of the PLA.
It’s curious that while many Americans have been mentioned none of the Japanese, who really scythed their way through South East Asia, has been mentioned.
I regard both Patton and MacArthur as undistinguished.
The guy that British officers used to talk up was Alexander. I’m surprised that Eisenhower is on some lists. I suspect that he would have been surprised too.

Posted by: bevin | Jan 20 2024 20:09 utc | 138

A US base has had about 20 missiles landed on it in Iraq.

Posted by: jpc | Jan 20 2024 20:11 utc | 139

“Israel is ready to use nukes, Israel is not afraid, like Russia is afraid.”
Posted by: zorge | Jan 20 2024 17:43 utc | 96
How old are you? Israel is inhabited by the most cowardly tribe known for its incessant whining about “incomparable victimhood” and “superior morality.”
Where is bibi’s son? – In Miami. Both Milejkowky Sr. and Jr. are afraid to death of being targeted by the truly fearless Palestinians.
Israel is a sentimental toy for global jewry that relies on the private banking cartel (“the great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money”). How is the western financial system (managed by the cartel) doing?
Also, what is your principal slogan to extract a lot of money from the ethical westerners, “Never again?” — After the ongoing Holocaust of the Palestinian babies, toddlers, women, infirm, et cet., your profitable schema loses completely any ground. Only cowards do mass slaughter of civilians (70% if victims are children and women) “to protect” themselves.

Posted by: Cerena | Jan 20 2024 20:12 utc | 140

Crooke’s Al-Mayadeen column’s been available for a few days but has yet to be linked, “Bluffs and Counter Bluffs as the War Widens”:

So, US envoy Hochstein now concedes that moving Hizbullah is no longer his focus. The US, he now says, wants “calm” on the southern border: i.e. the aim now being merely to separate the Lebanese front from that of Gaza (so that the war be contained to Gaza). This would, of course, give “Israel” latitude to continue its operations against Hamas and Gaza, without fear of the northern front igniting.
Here then is the first key bluff: The Biden Administration was never seriously trying to prevent the widening of the war; military action against Hizbullah was already ‘green-lighted’. Only this weekend Minister Ben Gvir insisted that “Israel” preemptively strike Hizbullah in Lebanon. And Netanyahu emphasised: “No one will stop us”.
So, widening the war is ‘ok’. Biden’s aim rather is to give Israel maximum latitude to achieve its maximalist aims — tempered only by the ‘kicker’ that he doesn’t want a widened war to draw-in Iran or Russia into the frame. (Russia in respect to Syria.)
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps on Saturday warned Iran that the world is “running out of patience”, saying that ‘the Iranian regime’ needs tell its “Houthi thugs” to call off their Red Sea attacks, and for other Iranian ‘proxies’ to “cease and desist” their actions, warning that a “limit has been truly crossed”. Shapps warned:

“We see you; we see through what you’re doing. We see how you’re doing it, particularly the Houthi rebels, and no good can come from it”.

Of course, this is pure nonsense too. It is a bluff. Houthis maybe Shi’a — as are Iranians — but they are Zaidis and not the same Shi’a as Iranians — Iranians are ‘twelver’ Shi’a; whereas Houthis are ‘severners’. The fiercely independent Houthis (Ansarallah) may see eye to eye with Iran on many things, yet no one, but no one, tells them what to do.
“Who attacked your country?” Ansarallah leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi asked Friday at a rally in San’a’s Sabeen Square. Tens of thousands of Yemenis who had gathered there to protest the US and UK strikes replied: “America”! “America is the devil. America is your enemy. America is terrorism,” the Houthi leader responded.
Biden and Shapps’ bluster will be called by Ansarallah. They will not ‘cease and desist’. Confrontation with the US has long been an ambition for Ansarallah. The Wall Street Journal aptly describes the position into which the US and UK are cornering themselves: “The Strikes Give Houthis the Enemy They Long Sought”.
White House spokesman John Kirby said that the US doesn’t want war with Yemen, but won’t hesitate to take further action. The bluff here, as Larry Johnson notes, is that neither the UK nor the US have the ability for a sustained naval presence off the Yemeni coastline, where cheap drones and missiles can easily exhaust the vessels’ supply of air defence missiles.
The greater bluff in play, however, is that towards Iran. The neo-cons in the US have long yearned for military action to be taken against Iran, but Iran’s deterrence ability has transformed in the intervening years since the US hawks began calling to ‘bomb, bomb, bomb Iran’.
The bottom line facing the US must be the Iranian ‘Red Pill’. Put bluntly, ‘yes’ the US can rain destruction on Iranian civil infrastructure, but no longer on either its nuclear infrastructure, nor its dispersed concealed ‘Red Pill’ missile defence.

Crooke’s closing citation of former PM Barak is a must read as it makes clear that Iran holds the winning hand. The formalization of the de facto Iranian/Russian Strategic Partnership makes clear to the West that the Arc of Resistance now includes both Russia and China along with Iran, all the non-state actors, and the Global Majority. The Big Picture reality being the West faces having to wage war on the entire world, which is what Todd foresaw and is the driving force of his book, IMO. For those who missed Pepe Escobar’s review of Todd’s book, it’s here.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jan 20 2024 20:18 utc | 141

For once Borrel shocked me by this statement:
Josep Borell said the only peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict included the creation of a Palestinian state, and suggested this might need to “be imposed from the outside,” without Israel’s agreement.
Maybe some common sense is starting to set in…
Posted by: ctiger | Jan 20 2024 13:38 utc | 29

Maybe garden borreliosis realises that his satanist masters are losing.

Posted by: Michael A | Jan 20 2024 20:21 utc | 142

@ pq
This is a profound indictment, though one I agree completely with.
You ‘r in a box.
A moving box. They want you
dead or in their lie.

Posted by: NemesisCalling | Jan 20 2024 20:23 utc | 143

“9- Rommel (good in offense up to 43, average in defense afterwards).”
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Jan 20 2024 16:42 utc | 78
You are wrong about Rommel on defense: If Rommel had his way the Normandy landing would have been a failure- his plan was over ruled by his superior von Rundstedt:
“In 1944 Rommel was entrusted with the defense of France’s Channel coast against a possible Allied invasion. The master of the war of movement then developed an unusual inventiveness in the erection of coastal defense works. From his experience in North Africa with Allied air interdiction, Rommel believed the only successful defense of the beaches lay in preventing the enemy a bridgehead by all possible means. To do so, he boldly advocated the placement of reserve forces immediately behind coastal defense works for counterattacks.
His superiors, most notably Gerd von Rundstedt, demurred, however, insisting on a more traditional placement of reserves farther behind the lines to maximize the forces’ potential range of movement after the place of invasion became known. This disagreement and the dissonance it fostered within organizations charged with repelling the Allies weakened the effectiveness of the German defense when the invasion finally came along the Normandy coast.'”
In my opinion you are wrong footed in your estimation of von Manstein-yes he was an arrogant blowhard- and wrote about his great exploits so did Julius Caesar its called, “Gallic War”.
However, picking Kesselring was a good choice.
As for Nazis and ‘subjective stuff’ you should first read the propaganda book by Liddell Hart ,”The Other Side of the Hill”.1949
The newly created CIA financed the book-they had realized they would need German men and materiel to fight against the USSR so they had to build the morale back up.
.
So the book covers the ‘good’ Nazis such as Rommel in order to

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 20:29 utc | 144

@ john brewster | Jan 20 2024 19:57 utc | 135
See:
Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 20 2024 18:17 utc | 108
Great interview of Hudson there too, btw, with full transcript.
Fascinating life, over-achiever.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Jan 20 2024 20:30 utc | 145

Gordon Duff has an interesting piece on the New Eastern Outlook journal detailing his views on what the US is up to targeting Syria, Irak and Ergodan and redeploying / rearming it’s proxies ISIS and the other ones.
https://journal-neo.su/2024/01/19/why-the-red-sea-is-vital-for-us-redeployment-of-isis-against-syria-and-iraq/

Posted by: Richard L | Jan 20 2024 20:30 utc | 146

Middle East Eye is reporting that:
“US Senator Bernie Sanders has responded to Israeli Prime Minister’s statement in opposition of US President Joe Biden’s call for a two-state solution.
“Netanyahu has made his position clear: He will never allow a Palestinian state, ever,” Sanders said in a statement on Saturday.
“Despite the illegal and inhumane actions of Netanyahu’s government, President Biden has thus far offered unconditional support to Israel. That must change,” he said.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/live/israel-palestine-gaza-live-war-hamas-conflict

Posted by: bevin | Jan 20 2024 20:31 utc | 147

Where do you see this conflict heading the next 1-2 months. Some have predicted it to end after the ICJ verdict, if its in favour of the Palestinians, others are saying that the IDF is having troubles and cant continue much longer. Then you have Crooke who is predicting an increase in the conflict, with Israel invading Lebanon soon. This is forming up to be a war between the muslim countries and the west, and even though it may seem that the GCC countries arent doing the muslim cause any favour I think they are, by the sound of their statements about being firm on a two state solution and their quietness about the Yemen conflict. Pakistan and Turkey havent entered the conflict yet, probably the two biggest muslim armies. Turkey might not be able to do much because of their NATO affiliation but Pakistan might. Do you think that Pakistan might get more involved?

Posted by: Norsk | Jan 20 2024 20:36 utc | 148

@ Norsk | Jan 20 2024 20:36 utc | 147
No.

Posted by: malenkov | Jan 20 2024 20:38 utc | 149

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 13:06 utc | 21
Montgomery had the highest vermouth to gin ratio (15-1) which made Sir Harold Alexander a
fellow general to quip: “Montgomery uses the same ratio before he will launch an attack”. (1)
For barflies see below-the James Bond character drinking vodka martinis instead of gin caused
depressed gin sales to this day!
1. https://downtondistillery.com/pages/the-perfect-martini
Thanks for a nifty factoid, but you got the ratio backwards: Montgomery’s recipe was 15 parts gin to 1 part vermouth. And gin seems to be making a strong comeback as distillers have run out of novel flavors to put into their vodkas.
Posted by: Clever Dog | Jan 20 2024 17:38 utc | 95
Thanks for the correction-thinking about it that would be have been one lousy tasting drink!
I take after my late mother’s gin/vodka martini process. Take vermouth pour it into frosted glass. Take glass swirl the vermouth around ,then pour the vermouth back into the vermouth bottle. Shake with ice cold vodka (3oz minimum.) then pour into glass, add olive.
In her later years I gently chided my mother to slow down her drinking. She looked at me as if I was retarded then would point to her vermouth bottle: “Heavy drinking, Jesus Murphy canuk [not his real name, editor] I have had that vermouth bottle for 7 Goddamn years”!! she would exclaim triumphantly, hurummphing bigly..
I just smiled.

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 20:42 utc | 150

eye agree with the poster constantine the israeli attack on damascus was probably a hamas nazi attack anti semites trying to give chabad hero bb nuttyahu a bad reputation. as constantine says greater israel oded yinon is the only demonocracy in the region and must be protected by all lovers of satan for without israhell how can innocent souls be captured

Posted by: todd l | Jan 20 2024 20:44 utc | 151

“I rate Mao Zedong as one of the best generals of WWII. He accomplished the most with the least, and his strategic and tactical lessons are more valid today than ever. The west, stuck on Manstein and Guderian, is failing against opponents following Zhukov and Mao.”
Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 17:31 utc | 92
Yeah, I can see that-I would put him in the Pantheon as well.

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 20:52 utc | 152

An Iranian compromised by the scum disclosed the arrival and set a beacon to guide the missiles,

Posted by: chet380 | Jan 20 2024 20:57 utc | 153

For those who prefer a transcript here is the link (in sections as it is long) to the one at nakedcapitalism.com:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/
michael-hudson-on-russia-iran-and-the-red-sea-natos-war-economy-collapses.html
Posted by: juliania | Jan 20 2024 17:57 utc | 101
Thank you juliana

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 20:57 utc | 154

Jonathon W 56
“”Tell me: who should the ‘Muslim community’ in Britain or the US or Canada support in this violent border skirmish?””
It’s a good question and most easily answered.
USUK always secretly support both sides in any conflict because it is only through war that borders can be changed and oil, minerals and produce be stolen.

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 20 2024 20:58 utc | 155

Jonathon W 56
“”Tell me: who should the ‘Muslim community’ in Britain or the US or Canada support in this violent border skirmish?””
It’s a good question and most easily answered.
USUK always secretly support both sides in any conflict because it is only through war that borders can be changed and oil, minerals and produce be stolen.

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 20 2024 20:58 utc | 156

Question Barflies:
The Likud‘s War Aims are fairly clear, but what are Hezbollah‘s and Hamas war aims ?

Posted by: Exile | Jan 20 2024 20:59 utc | 157

the zionists of israel simply don’t know how to stop killing
nor how to defeat the axis of resistance
since the zionists can’t win their war of aggression and genocide in Gaza, they turn to targetted assassination, one of the oldest malicious tricks in their playbook
https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1748801993118769487
The targeted assassination that #Israel is carrying out is expected to be met w/ a devastating response to impose deterrence. Otherwise, Israel will continue the killing. Only significant use of disproportionate force – not hitting a ship or more – deters Israel, nothing else.
The number of Iranian #IRGC officers killed in #Damascus, #Syria, by #Israel is 5. The account remains open.
https://twitter.com/ejmalrai/status/1748737284143202748
#Iraq resistance launch 40 missiles against #US military base in Ayn al-Assad, Anbar, in support of #Gaza.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 20 2024 21:02 utc | 158

Honzo 92: “I rate Mao Zedong as one of the best generals of WWII.” – And the way they grilled the Yankees in North Korea was world class. That’s just how they are. They don’t move for a long time, but when they move, they move with everything they have.

Posted by: Oliver Krug | Jan 20 2024 21:05 utc | 159

Posted by: Joseph B | Jan 20 2024 18:24 utc | 112
I could trade Patton for Rokossovsky-yes I think you are right about that one.

Posted by: canuck | Jan 20 2024 21:05 utc | 160

Imran Khan is one name to bear in mind. Where is he anyway? #32
“This week, the idea of ‘the Muslim world’ took one hell of a beating…Iran and Pakistan, got dangerously close to all-out conflict this week. Tell me: who should the ‘Muslim community’ in Britain or the US or Canada support in this violent border skirmish?”
Posted by: Jonathan W | Jan 20 2024 15:34 utc | 56
Imran Khan is in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. He says he would prefer PTI to be in the opposition rather than as part of a weak government.
There was never any danger of all out conflict. It was kind of funny: analysts were not angry about the bombing but rather that they were not informed. And that the Iran apology should have been more polite. Both Iran and Pakistan know the attacks were not aimed at each other but at USUKIS shit disturbing using “Balochi rights” as a cover. Since when has USUKIS ever cared about Balochis or any Muslims?
If the “Jewish community” in USUK is split on Israel why would you insist on a monolithic “Muslim” one???
Is there a cohesive “Christian” world? Dubai to Ramallah is farther than Paris to Moscow. I didn’t see the French running over to save Christian bros in the Donbas for 8 years but aristodemos even advocated for bombing the UAE simply for being “rich Aaayrabs”!!!
The UAE was less than 2 years old during the Yom Kippur war. In less than 2 generations they’ve built so much soft power that people are always talking about them even if imho they are a tiny country, population the size of Estonia (citizens only) whose influence is waaaay overrated.
Of course the perspective and context of a GCC ruler is going to be different from Iran. But at MoA they all get thrown into ONE “Muslim” basket or a maximum of TWO “Resistance vs Stooges” buckets.
On Palestine, I compared Times of India homepage with Dawn. If you looked at TOI you would not know anything is happening in Gaza. Dawn has running breaking news under Israel Gaza invasion. I get the impression that the Pakistani public AND political elite while they may bicker over domestic politics are pro Palestinian.
In India, the indifference is not HIndutva related. I think the Indian political and corporate elite identified with the West since the 1990s market liberalization. More recently, India has become the Western tool of choice to shit disturb with China. Yet India has more Muslims than Egypt, GCC, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon all together.
Pakistani politics is too complex but skimming through, one gets the impression there are many parties. It is not as easily controlled as US, Canada, UK, Oz, EU. With a few corrupt people the US may be able to fund terrorism in border areas to harass Iran, Afghanistan, India, but I doubt they have more control than that.

Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 21:13 utc | 161

Posted by: zorge | Jan 20 2024 17:43 utc | 96
You’re right about Israel, but not about Russia: not scared, just sensible.
Israel is run by fascists/lunatics and has no nuclear opponents.
Russia has many nuclear opponents and, at the opposit of israel, is aware of the nuclear danger, and wants a future for its people and for humankind.
Russians have brains and use them.

Posted by: Tak-Tik | Jan 20 2024 21:14 utc | 162

The Likud‘s War Aims are fairly clear, but what are Hezbollah‘s and Hamas war aims ?
Posted by: Exile | Jan 20 2024 20:59 utc | 156
Hamas aims have been very clear and were stated from day one:
1. Protest the destruction of Al Aqsa mosque
2. Take Israeli hostages for an exchange to free Palestinian hostages. Before Oct 7, there were at least 5,000. Now there are over 11,000.
3. Put the issue of the Palestinian state back on the table
Nasrallah was also quite clear:
1. Help Gaza by dividing Israeli forces
2. They do not want war but are ready to come in if Hamas needs more help.
I don’t that Likud has any strategy other than flailing around and meeting random objectives
-trying to kill, torture and harm in any way as many Palestinians as possible
– destroy as much of Gaza as possible
– try and bring the US in
How any of this Likud activity makes the future of Israel more viable and that of Palestine less viable is not clear to me. I highly doubt it is clear to N whose only goal is to keep the chaos going as long as possible to stay out of jail.

Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 21:19 utc | 163

Just saw this on the last thread

Posted by: robinthehood | Jan 20 2024 6:03 utc | 269
…
I can tell you right now, I didn’t read it, and I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. As compared to, say, a post of similar length from karlof1 or another longer-term regular barfly.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jan 20 2024 6:05 utc | 268
Please Tom. I beg you to have mercy. Take it easy on this character. He’s making a living doing — production — I think the pay is by paragraph. It’s a measly living, but a living — nonetheless. He’s a displaced person, and needs to feed a family. Displaced? Yes, displaced from Camp Ashraf, to, where I now geo-located him in the troll-farm in Albania. He’s fully dis-armed, and been given a lap-top for production.
How do I know? After his many diatribes against IR of Iran, I asked him a simple question:
Whom would you like to see run Iran, If not IR?
He has yet to respond, which leads me to other questions for him:
Now that you are totally dis-armed and dis-placed, where do you store those menacing tanks that Saddam loaned you to kill Iranians?
My guess is they are now fully ensconced in his bee-hind. The pictures of the said tanks are all over the net, showing rows upon rows, columns upon columns, with their filthy, un-Iranian heads bobbing out of the tank driver’s port-hole.
There are many other questions, but I won’t bore you…
So, please Tom…

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Jan 20 2024 21:20 utc | 164

Exile 156
The same answer as 154. Likud’s war aim is totally phoney Khazar bs. Zionism, Political Islam and Iran are all proxies of FUKUSHIT. Hezbullah and Hamas war aims are to do enough damage to Israel to get the 3 proxy sheep-ticks to drop off, interrupting FUKUSHIT plans to carve up West Asia.
Saudi Arabia dangling the carrot of Normalisation with Israel is just a facile presentation of what FUKUSHIT hopes to achieve , the 3 proxies’ Carrot. Intact the opposite will happen, political Islam is already exposed as the opposite of Sunmi Islam, Zionism.is already exposed as the opposite of Judaism, and Shi’a Islam alternately harbours Islamist terror groups and destroys as FUKUSHIT requests.
Then , there are also genuine Jews and Christians and Muslims who are caught up in all this colonial
Politics.

Posted by: Giyane | Jan 20 2024 21:21 utc | 165

karlof1 @ 127
“Although Hudson’s been interviewed hundreds of times, he’s always had an issue with organizing his thoughts, ”
================
I have never noticed any issue with Hudson’s ability to organize his thoughts.
Considering the often pretty broadband questions that get lobbed his way, I’d say he is extremely good at organizing thoughts and producing coherent ideas on the fly. Similar to Vladimir Putin. Few people can do this. Often Hudson is much more on the ball and articulate than his interviewers.

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 21:25 utc | 166

karlof1 @ 129
Glad to hear that Hudson’s wife takes good care of him.
Re thinking he might smoke, I didn’t realize his age (smoking makes one look older).
Re Crooke, yes, I have noticed that cough.
I think he lives in Italy. I think a lot of Italians smoke.

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 21:30 utc | 167

That air base sat photo looks eerily similar to the one from Iran’s attack in reprisal to the Soleimani hit.
Right down to the same buildings right next to the same helos on the tarmac.

Posted by: earthling1 | Jan 20 2024 21:38 utc | 168

Where do you see this conflict heading the next 1-2 months.
Posted by: Norsk | Jan 20 2024 20:36 utc | 147
The anglo European elite have settled in for a fight to the end Hitler in the bunker strategy. It has been written down many times in history. As we have a real time view of this one, its just a matter of sitting back and enjoy the twists and turns of the plot. Ukraine was just a bit of foreplay.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 20 2024 21:38 utc | 169

The trial of Israel’s Genocide on the Palestinians in the ICJ is a trial *of* the ICJ’s relevance. Don’t worry about the results, any result means success against Israel’s war crimes.
As for an Israeli assassination campaign, against a people who believe in martyrdom, heh, good luck with that. Better the Resistance to destroy the spying eyes and ears to erode options & influence. Remove the guardians to ensure victory; you see similar by Russia.
It is Israel that has poorly defined, or poorly achievable, goals and plans. He who has the clearer and more reachable goals is less dependant upon upper eschelon personalities in the heirarchy. And with stubborn fools in charge of Israel steering the nation to full spectrum disaster, why would the Resistance want to shuffle the personnel to those who might accidentally be more competent?

Posted by: titmouse | Jan 20 2024 21:41 utc | 170

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 21:30 utc | 166
You seem to have a preoccupation with smoking.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Jan 20 2024 21:43 utc | 171

From that Haiphong/Hudson interview, previously linked in this thread, and highly recommended. Hudson ties up all the loose ends like nobody else, for anyone who doesn’t yet understand what Gaza has to do with Ukraine…

You’re having really unwinding of the whole world system of the World Bank, the IMF, the United Nations, the whole diplomatic system of the world that was put together in 1945 is now being outmoded. And you could see the inability of the United Nations to cope with the war in the Near East, to cope with the war in Ukraine. This is the death knell of the old world. And you’re seeing a new world being created spontaneously, not ideologically, but basically spontaneously in an ad hoc fashion by China, Russia, and the 99%.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/michael-hudson-on-russia-iran-and-the-red-sea-natos-war-economy-collapses.html
The World Court (ICJ), not much mentioned in this interview, is due to prove itself outmoded by ruling against South Africa’s application, any day now. Given the systemic rot deep in the root of the “whole world system,” I’d be shocked by anything anomalously enlightened from ICJ’s fifteen judges; I’d eat my hat.

Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jan 20 2024 21:43 utc | 172

Posted by: unimperator | Jan 20 2024 19:03 utc | 120
The date stamp on the photo in your link is 8th January, 2020.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Jan 20 2024 21:46 utc | 173

Re Malenkov 1.20.2024; 19:38; 128
USUK much prefer the fig leaf version of affirmations toward a two state solution while providing virtually unlimited military support to Israel from the outset. Very important to maintain such given 1) many, many government employees, including state department careerists, are diametrically opposed to current genocidal foreign policy, as well as failure to assert Palestinian rights in the situation. Note demonstration was called off after Congress/Senate threatened immediate firing of any and all participants (and considering Jan 6 wholesale jailings this too was more probably than not on the table) 2) the ICJ issues weigh large since US is considered geopolitically more complicit than Israel; if Israel loses, the US will suffer equally harsh treatment 3) its an election year, so dems and Biden are desperately trying to paste the fig left back on Netanyahu who simply becomes exponentially more belligerent 4)BRICS+ ASEAN GCC – all not only lined up against USUKIS but also Putin is the president of BRICS+ this year and has opined on the possibility of a Nuremburg style court under the auspices of the aforementioned given the USUK blocking varied UNSC resolutions. Also, major cracks in EU integration. This is my thinking – all speculative.

Posted by: abierno | Jan 20 2024 21:53 utc | 174

The Demographics between the river to the sea are against Israel so they are moving much more extreme than usual.
1967 war really long term was a strategical disaster in the long term as Ben Guiron (the founding father of Israel) saw it.

Posted by: Ahmed1 | Jan 20 2024 21:55 utc | 175

Moreover, Israel is ready to use nukes, Israel is not afraid, like Russia is afraid.
Posted by: zorge | Jan 20 2024 17:43 utc | 96
You got that wrong. Israelis are afraid of absolutely everything, along with having every personality disorder known to man. The only thing keeping them from launching nukes at everyone is their biggest fear: that of dying, second only to possibly the fear of their money bags being torn apart.
Whereas the Russians, like any normal human being, don’t want to use nuclear weapons on anyone.

Posted by: Michael A | Jan 20 2024 21:55 utc | 176

The Iraqis completely overwhelmed the US air defence, even though American forces fired 15 Patriot missiles
Posted by: unimperator | Jan 20 2024 18:26 utc | 115
————————————————————
The Patriots have limited capabilities as noted and extensively discussed here after Khinzals wiped them out in Kiev (no, I cannot remember the details either) and duly noted earlier when Houthis attacked a Saudi refinery.
The Russians have taught many lessons based on their Ukraine experience.

Posted by: Acco Hengst | Jan 20 2024 22:07 utc | 177

Under Likud auspices, a planning group of settlers from several settlements in affiliation with a major Israeli real estate development group is already meeting to plan settlements in Gaza. Motto: A beach house is more than a dream. Would be surprising if were not in the works prior to Oct 7, and has the impact of bolstering Netanyahu and Likud power at a time that Israel is badly divided.
Beyond barbaric and offensive in the light of Israeli actions over the past 100 days.

Posted by: abierno | Jan 20 2024 22:11 utc | 178

@ Michael A | Jan 20 2024 21:55 utc | 175
I must not be normal then. I have a list of targets ready to go.

Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:12 utc | 179

the Haiphong/Hudson interview
@ Aleph_Null | Jan 20 2024 21:43 utc | 171
Haiphong/Hudson, and everyone else rushing ahead at a million miles per hour, need to come back down to Earth and stop believing their fantasies have already become real.
But your point aleph about the ICJ likely to vote in Israel’s favour is, imo, spot on and rational given what’s known. I foresee many heads being badly bent out of shape soon.

Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:20 utc | 180

In India, the indifference is not HIndutva related. I think the Indian political and corporate elite identified with the West since the 1990s market liberalization.
Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 21:13 utc | 160
When were the Indian Political Elites NOT identified with the west? If we want to treat the term “India” as a unitary political entity, I think the answer would be ‘never.’

Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 22:21 utc | 181

Narrative control is always a priority for the Anglo-Zionists.
Posted by: JMW | Jan 20 2024 19:06 utc | 123
Indeed so, and this is one of the many factors of their demise. They care about optics more than the actual essence of things, and therefore their calculations are misguided. They don’t even allow for tactical retreat if it “looks bad”. Ukraine testifies to that.

Posted by: Lathe Biosas | Jan 20 2024 22:26 utc | 182

By watching consistency of an interference in a GPS signal, one can have a very clear picture of the front-lines.
Just zoom out a bit.
https://gpsjam.org/?lat=48.33674&lon=24.40078&z=3.3&date=2024-01-19

Posted by: whirlX | Jan 20 2024 22:26 utc | 183

Israel using nuclear weapons is a fantasy…If that ever happens, Israel will rapidly cease to exist, and jews everywhere will be in a lot of danger….

Posted by: pyrrhus | Jan 20 2024 22:33 utc | 184

And you’re seeing a new world being created spontaneously, not ideologically, but basically spontaneously in an ad hoc fashion by China, Russia, and the 99%.
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/michael-hudson-on-russia-iran-and-the-red-sea-natos-war-economy-collapses.html
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Jan 20 2024 21:43 utc | 171
What kind of word salad is Hudson spewing? ‘Not Ideologically’? One of the prime movers of all of this China which is just as ideological as ever. Iran is not ‘ideological’? The Houthi are not ‘ideological’? Hezbollah? Hamas? North Korea? It’s not all the same ideology, but it has a shared component of anti-imperialism and multi-polarity.
And ‘spontaneously’? Where has Hudson been since, oh, say, 1917, to pick a landmark in the struggle of anti-imperialism? Or, if you want to look at the specific multi-polar order being established, where has he been since 2001 and the proposals for BRICS? 2013 and the launch of BRI? All of this has been in planning for decades, and Russia and China have been building the foundations for at least that long. I can forgive anyone for not seeing this coming in 2001, or 1991, if they really on public media for their information, but it takes an ‘ideologue’ of the worst odor to fail to recognize it in hindsight. Or perhaps a senile old man. Given his Trotskyite background, I suspect the former, but his age suggests the latter.

Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 22:33 utc | 185

How any of this Likud activity makes the future of Israel more viable and …
Posted by: pq | Jan 20 2024 21:19 utc | 162
It must have been said at least 100 million times the last 10,000 plus years, that it is critical to understand your enemy and see things from their point of view and what’s most important to them.
If you (or Hamas, or Hezbollah, or Iran, or China or Russia, or anyone) cannot do that they are wasting your and everyone else’s time.
example McNamara
Lesson #1: Empathize with your enemy.
Lesson #7: Belief and seeing are both often wrong.
Lesson #8: Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.
Lesson #11: You can’t change human nature.
We viewed the people and leaders of South Vietnam in terms of our own experience … We totally misjudged the political forces within the country.
We underestimated the power of nationalism to motivate a people to fight and die for their beliefs and values.
Our misjudgments of friend and foe, alike, reflected our profound ignorance of the history, culture, and politics of the people in the area, and the personalities and habits of their leaders.
We did not recognize that neither our people nor our leaders are omniscient. Our judgment of what is in another people’s or country’s best interest should be put to the test of open discussion in international forums.
We do not have the God-given right to shape every nation in our image or as we choose.

Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:35 utc | 186

@ zorge, # 41 “Iran has no chance in confrontation with Israel as Israel is ready to use nuclear weapons.”
Iran has demonstrated it has ballistic missiles that can wipe out Tel Aviv. Deterrent enough. Nukes are passe. Israel should consider the self harm from radiation if it launches nukes. Wind blows and all that. Israel may win the battle but lose the war if it keeps up this zero sum game of tit for tat. already 700,000 Israelis have fled. Natanyahu is ethnically cleansing Israel of Jews.

Posted by: Willow | Jan 20 2024 22:36 utc | 187

Question Barflies:
The Likud‘s War Aims are fairly clear, but what are Hezbollah‘s and Hamas war aims ?
Posted by: Exile | Jan 20 2024 20:59 utc | 156
————-
I think their aims are evolving to a one state solution ruled by Palestinians. I would imagine that the Jews would be much better treated than the Palestinians are now but the Palestinians will be in charge.

Posted by: financial matters | Jan 20 2024 22:36 utc | 188

I must not be normal then. I have a list of targets ready to go.
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:12 utc | 178
Oh, I do as well. Just not nuclear bombs; anything else.

Posted by: Michael A | Jan 20 2024 22:38 utc | 189

Alistair Crooke:
– Biden was lured into supporting Israel. But Biden didn’t need too much persuation to do so. (this was confirmed by Ray McGovern).
– Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave Netanjahu a stern warning that he should stop enlarging the settlements. Netanjahu was shocked and went to vice president Biden. Then Biden made sure that Clintons’s “point of view” was completely ignored and never became US policy.
– Israel is intent to widen the war in the Middle East (think: Lebanon) according to Gantz and the israeli president (Herzog ?). Israelis in the far north of the country have been evacuated and don’t want to return to their homes before the Israel “takes care of Hezbollah”.
– The south african case before the International Court of Justice against Israel was not broadcasted in its entirity on TV in Europe and North America. The israeli response was broadcasted but the south african presentation was not broadcasted in Europe and North America. Although Al Jazeera did broadcast footage of both days.
– On the World Economic forum in Davos there was A LOT OF talk of “Controlling the discourse”. This year there are elections for the european parliament (EP) in Brussels. (Does the EP want to surpress a number of views from right wing parties ?).

Posted by: WMG | Jan 20 2024 22:39 utc | 190

When were the Indian Political Elites NOT identified with the west? If we want to treat the term “India” as a unitary political entity, I think the answer would be ‘never.’
Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 22:21 utc | 180
India was a founding member of NAM in 1961: Nehru, Tito, Nasser, Sukarno, Nkrumah.
1960s-1980s there was a lot of trade with USSR especially for military stuff. Heavier reliance on five year plans, building up heavy industry, conserving foreign exchange reserves, markets for consumer goods were largely closed to Western companies.
With the fall of the USSR and the balance of payments crisis India ended up in the grip of the Western loan sharks.
Imho, the Indian economy was not integrated with western corporationd as it is right now.
Everywhere in the ex “third world” but even USSR always aspired to “Western” everything aka blue jeans and coca cola. That’s different.
Ironically it’s the Collective Waste that needs these large markets. But then you see companies like Tata Steel expanding globally and buying Western companies which wasn’t the case before.
Market liberalisation led to higher economic integration.

Posted by: Pq | Jan 20 2024 22:44 utc | 191

Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 22:33 utc | 184
What kind of word salad is Hudson spewing? ‘Not Ideologically’?

I don’t tend to understand Hudson very well but I think what he meant there is that there is no new ideological movement – like communism in Russia and China last century for example.
The polycentrists have laid out some basic principles which boil down to ‘States should do unto others as they would have done unto themselves’ versus the self-serving ‘rules based order’. But there is no new unifying ideological thrust. Maybe when they have their new financial scheme in order there will be something substantively different from the Central Bank model – which also would not be ideological per se although deeply important – but Glazyev complained a few months back that their efforts were being stymied by BIS which makes it sound like they are not so much breaking from that network as ‘resetting’ it, probably with the participation of the BIS.
This is why I find one of the comments above about how the US elites are deliberately crashing the West of interest. If true (as I happen to suspect) they are not doing so to bow out and retire quietly to Paraguay but more likely, again, to reconfigure the system to their advantage. The rumor is some sort of more authoritarian CBDC-laced technocracy with democratic characteristics. In this they are probably aligned with Russia and China at alia, though of course this would not tend to come out in public.

Posted by: Scorpion | Jan 20 2024 22:50 utc | 192

Imho, the Indian economy was not integrated with western corporationd as it is right now.
Posted by: Pq | Jan 20 2024 22:44 utc | 190
That’s certainly true, but nothing to do with India’s elites. The whole point of Gandhi was maintain economic ties with the west. The bourgeois elites were not the only force, though, so policy took many directions, as long as it didn’t undermine the position of the Indian compradors. Without the USSR as a development partner, and China still over the horizon for such purposes, the Indian elites were able to consolidate both economic and political power and move closer to the west in both spheres. Even now, they are not integrated to the degree the EU nations are, or most of Latin America.

Posted by: Honzo | Jan 20 2024 22:52 utc | 193

I think this video (thank you Mike) deserves way more attention than it got in a past thread, because it gives the viewer who has never suffered anything like what these families are being forced to endure, a drive-it-home taste of what is happening:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1748129802878677179
Posted by: 🌶️Mike | Jan 19 2024 14:03 utc | 39

Posted by: DuchessAndBob | Jan 20 2024 22:53 utc | 194

You seem to have a preoccupation with smoking.
Posted by: Siddhartha | Jan 20 2024 21:43 utc | 170
==============
I was expecting just such a comment!
I wouldn’t say “preoccupied,” but when I hear a persistent cough, I wonder “smoking?”
I am not a “smoking nazi”–I understand why people like to smoke, especially writers (aids concentration), and they should have the right to do so somewhere. But it is terribly damaging to every part of the body, including looks (hair, skin, eyes).
I am very glad I stopped doing that about 20 years ago.
The topic is OT, but you kind of poked it!

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 22:55 utc | 195

Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:35 utc | 185
I don’t need to understand “the enemy” because I’m not in this war.
I think Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar have a very good understanding of Israel. The Palestinians know Israelis much better than the Israelis know Palestinians. Palestinians speak or understand Hebrew whereas few Israelis can be bothered to learn Arabic.
I think they understood what the Israeli reaction would be, but they also understood that it was now or never after Netanyahu showed the Palestine free map at the UN.
I’m on the side of enforcing international law. That would take care of the problem without further violence. Just enforce the law on Israel and arrest the Israeli war criminals over the last 30-40 years who are still alive.
Palestinian resistance have a looooong way to go before any crimes they committed against civilians come close to catching up with IOF score.

Posted by: Pq | Jan 20 2024 22:56 utc | 196

I must not be normal then. I have a list of targets ready to go.
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Jan 20 2024 22:12 utc | 178
======
Yee haw!
How about starting with these guys?
“Israeli Billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva Offloads Stake in Tamar Petroleum to Media Mogul Eli Azur”
The combination of media and natural gas isn’t new in Israel; Tshuva owns about 20% of the company that operates Channel 12 television, while Azur controls The Jerusalem Post—so I was told.
)”

Posted by: Jane | Jan 20 2024 22:58 utc | 197

Also regarding the comment about “Muslim Ummah being dead”
Latest Polls particularity in the Arab World show a massive solidarity with the Palestine people.
Egypt in particularity in the next couple of years could be facing another revolution especially with worsening economy.

Posted by: Ahmed1 | Jan 20 2024 22:58 utc | 198

For those who prefer a transcript here is the link (in sections as it is long) to the one at nakedcapitalism.com:
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2024/01/
michael-hudson-on-russia-iran-and-the-red-sea-natos-war-economy-collapses.html
Posted by: juliania | Jan 20 2024 17:57 utc | 101
—————-/
Thanks juliana. From Hudson:
“”And the big fighting—there’s not a word of this in the United States press—but the big fighting is on the West Bank. Netanyahu is saying, well, here while they’re all looking at what we’re bombing the civilians and the hospitals and the ambulances and starving Gaza, we’ve distracted the world and we can now wipe out the Arabs on the West Bank and move right into Syria on the Golan Heights. And apparently the United States has promised Israel that it can take whatever it wants of Syria, which it’s still opposing.“”
——————-
I think Russia is also evolving to a one state solution. I think they also want the Golan Heights to be part of Syria.

Posted by: financial matters | Jan 20 2024 23:00 utc | 199

Israel is done. Simple math. A country of seven million Eastern European Jewish Khazarian invaders openly declare that the 500 million Arab Muslims that are on their borders are sub-human animals that must be exterminated. Every man, woman child and infant. And they set about doing so with US made F-15s and US made 2000 pound bombs.
And Bibi thinks that the women, blacks and trannies of the US military are going to ride in and save the day. Well send in the Women, Blacks and Trannies against those white alpha male Russian Christian soldiers. Against those alpha male Muslim soldiers. Against those alpha male Han Chinese soldiers.
Hey. Maybe diversity is strength. Maybe I’m wrong. But we’re sure as hell about to find out.
But in the meantime. Me and my white brethren and all of our white children are going to get our popcorn and sit on the sidelines and watch. Whilst we guard our own families and farms right here in the USA. Good luck fuckers.

Posted by: RLTW | Jan 20 2024 23:01 utc | 200

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