Palestine Open Thread 2024-051
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Posted by b on February 15, 2024 at 14:17 UTC | Permalink
next page »Erik Prince, head of mercenary group Blackwater, openly calls for the return of imperialism with the U.S. colinisong and ruling Africa and South America.
This was stated in his “off leash” podcast with Marc Serrano:
Here are Prince’s exact words:
“If so many of these countries around the world are incapable of governing themselves, it’s time for us to just put the imperial hat back on, to say, we’re going to govern those countries … ’cause enough is enough, we’re done being invaded. …
You can say that about pretty much all of Africa, they’re incapable of governing themselves.
Prince’s co-host Mark Serrano then warned him that listeners might hear his words and believe he means them: “People on the left are going to watch this,” said Serrano, “and they’re going to say, wait a minute, Erik Prince is talking about being a colonialist again.”
Prince responded: “Absolutely, yes.” He then added that he thought this was a great concept not just for Africa but also for Latin America.”
The American Conservative enthusiastically reposted Prince’s call for renewed imperialism:
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/erik-prince-wants-to-let-the-market-decide/
The title is a lie. There is nothing here about markets deciding anything. It’s about imperial overlords ruling over what they are openly saying are inferior races.
This is unbelievable.
Prince’s piece is without doubt a kite flown by Queen Victoria Nulend and the neocons.
It’s their next step after Gaza and Ukraine.
They don’t just want to rule the world financially or metaphorically, but in the actual brutal racist colonialist sense. In the American Conservative article the writer - like Adolph Hitler - admires and envies the British rule of India and desires to emulate it for their own nation.
This is the real neocon agenda and their real face.
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
This is a very good comment by Richard Boyd on the Irish parliament about Gaza:
https://youtu.be/6AYpIbTRYrU?si=LMV0qkaiTWy1vJKI
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 15:00 utc | 3
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
========
re the Eric Prince podcast.
The thought has crossed my mind that it might be a good thing if someone rich hired Eric Prince or some other mercs to fight alongside Hamas, provide some AD, stop the Gaza genocide, take out the Zionists, and impose "order" on Israel---an obviously sick society that cannot govern itself in a responsible fashion.
Clearly Netanyahu is out of control as a head of state. So, why not start the new "We're here to help you manage your playground" program with taking out Net?
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 15:06 utc | 4
Erik Prince's sister is Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education under Trump. He is often on Bannon's show. Prince is weird but hyperconnected hence dangerous.
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 15 2024 15:13 utc | 5
This is a very good comment by Richard Boyd on the Irish parliament about Gaza:
https://youtu.be/6AYpIbTRYrU?si=LMV0qkaiTWy1vJKI
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 15:00 utc | 3
============
I watched the video.
The "ceasefire" talk is a way of kicking the can down the road and avoiding what needs to be done: Sanctions, as Boyd states forcefully.
We all know how clever Israel is at twisting words, lying,playing for time, blah blah. They want to kill all the Palestinians. That is their state raison d'etre. It is almost like their reason of state is to prove their exceptionalism by getting away with mass murder in plain sight.
What is wrong with these "ceasefire" people?
Are they blind?
"Sanctions NOW" should be the demand that citizens make on their governments.
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 15:16 utc | 6
Jane is right: it is long past the time when we should be demanding sanctions, withdrawal of embassies, freezing of assets etc.
As today's news indicates to even Canada's purblind government, cloistered in a Parliament full of zionists and drooled over by media that it keeps alive to drool over it, is now calling for a ceasefire. If that isn't evidence that we should be asking for much more, what could be?
Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
One thing nobody need worry about is the return of old fashioned imperialism. Erik Prince is simply a man without any ideas of his own, looking for nasty racist things to say in order to impress his nasty racist friends, fans and family.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 15 2024 15:29 utc | 7
The thing with colonialism is that you need a real big military and economic advantage over those you wanna dominate. The US nowadays has neither. If there is anyone who theoretically could do it, it would be China, but they clearly have no interest in the business, having been on the wrong end of the bayonet for long enough. So no, I'm not worried about the return of colonialism (as for neo-colonialism, it seems to be imploding in real time, though it is still mighty capable of doing some nasty damage. We're staring in the face of a new Third World debt crisis...)
Posted by: bevin | Feb 15 2024 15:29 utc | 7
> If that isn't evidence that we should be asking for much more, what could be?
Well, if the time for words is done, then it's time for the sword, is it not? The only question is: who is going to swing it?
Posted by: furnace | Feb 15 2024 15:37 utc | 8
the children of Gaza will never bow to your synagogue of satan
your so called idf glory was tainted with weakness and humiliation
defeat when a few stood up to resist.
counterfeit is ra hell heil
must fail
fall
the rothschild chabad crime syndicate and its tel aviv abomination must end.
Posted by: todd | Feb 15 2024 15:46 utc | 9
The IDF now desires to attack and destroy the Nassar Hospital in Khan Younis.
This hospitals is full of patients wounded by the random IDF attacks, thousands of them.
Tens of thousands more are sheltering on the hospitsl grounds.
No matter to the IDF.
We note that Irish and Spanish governments are now urgently requesting that the EU end the trade pact with Israel until and unless the IDF adopts a permanent ceasefire. The wall of support crumbles each and every day.
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Feb 15 2024 15:52 utc | 10
Israel Today followed the crazy to the Hague.
'I am going to The Hague to speak for those who no longer can’
Families of captives in Gaza fly to The Hague to charge Hamas with kidnapping, sexual violence.marginalia: Hostages Families Forum: Not sending delegation back to Cairo is 'death sentence' for remaining hostagesOne hundred representatives of families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza left for The Hague on Wednesday morning to submit a comprehensive complaint to the International Criminal Court [ICC] on behalf of the victims of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist invasion.
[...]
“We submitted this brief to support the investigation led by International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan, hoping that he will ask the pre-trial chamber to issue arrest warrants against Hamas perpetrators,” attorney Yuval Sasson from the Meitar law firm representing the Hostage Families Forum, told JNS [Jewish News Syndicate]. “It is historic for Israelis to seek justice through the ICC with such substantive magnitude,” said DIY assassin Sasson, who filed the submission in conjunction with Dr. Shelly Aviv Yeini, head of the ["]international law["] team at the Hostage Families Forum, and members of the Montreal-based Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
[...]wut
“I am going to The Hague to speak for those who no longer can, who were murdered, so they are not forgotten,” Yael Adar, the mother of 38-year-old Tamir Adar, who was abducted by Hamas and declared dead in captivity, told JNS. “According to ["]international law["], the bodies of the deceased should not be included in hostage negotiations. As such, they need to be returned to us immediately,” she added.
[...]
Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 15 2024 15:53 utc | 11
bevin (7)
<< One thing nobody need worry about is the return of old fashioned imperialism. Erik Prince is simply a man without any ideas of his own, looking for nasty racist things to say in order to impress his nasty racist friends, fans and family. >>
Indeed but more worrying than Erik Prince’s rant is its echoing and support by the American Conservative site. I don’t know how important or influential this site is. Is it just Prince’s racist friends? Otherwise it starts to look like the beginning of a choreographed kite-flying, by someone higher in the food chain.
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 15:54 utc | 12
Re Erik Prince
Mostly his remarks are just dumb. Are the overlords that dumb? Yes, they are. As there have been no penalties for non-performance in a dog's age they get dumber and dumber.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 15 2024 16:16 utc | 13
An earlier comment here referred to a twitter post by Sinai for Human rights (@sinaifhr) on current building of walls that looked like preparation for a "buffer zone" or words to that effect to accomodate those fleeing Rafah. Now the governor of North Sinai has denied the idea, but his summary of Egyptian policy is to reject "forced" movement of people to Egyptian Sinai "permanently". Mohannad Sabry is an expert i n this area, and he warns everyone to take the possibility seriously. The governor's expression that Egypt is "prepared for all scenarios", which presumably could include the enemy blowing a hole in the separation wall.
Mohannad Sabry
@mmsabry
نفي محافظ شمال #سيناء للتقارير الصادرة عن صحفيين وباحثين مختصين، من بينهم شخصي المتواضع، حول تجهيز #مصر لمناطق محكومة امنيا وعسكريا في تطور جديد بتجهيزات لتهجير فلسطينيي #غزة لداخل سيناء، هو كلام لا يصدقه طفل من أطفال سيناء اللذين تم طردهم من أراضيهم في ذات المنطقة الحدودية.
Translated from Arabic by
The North Governor #سيناء ’s denial of reports issued by specialized journalists and researchers, including my humble person, about preparing #مصر areas governed by security and military forces in a new development with preparations to displace Palestinians #غزة into Sinai, is something that one of the Sinai children who were expelled would not believe. Of their lands in the same border area.
Quote
العربية مصرNow the
@AlArabiya_EGY
·
2h
محافظ شمال سيناء، ينفي تقارير عن إقامة معسكرات لإيواء الفلسطينيين تحسبًا لتهجيرهم من غزة، موضحًا أن ما يتم في رفح هو حصر البيوت والمنازل المهدمة خلال الحرب على الإرهاب.
#العربية_مصر
Posted by: Badger | Feb 15 2024 16:23 utc | 14
Technical --
Since yesterday whenever I refresh an MoA page I get a Cloudfare/verify you are a person page.
Wondering what this means, if anything.
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 16:29 utc | 15
Sir Halford Mackinder was a British geographer, academic, and politician.
Re: Prince has no ideas of his own
In certain circles ghat is a strength The reference to British rule over India is a sure sign they study Mackinder (1861 - 1947). To realize how serious they are, just look at how Mac's Heartland Theory is unfolding before our eyes: control of Eastern Europe and Western Asia (the heartland) could lead to dominance over the world island (Eurasia) and, by extension, the world. Uoie, Palwstine, ROW.
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 15 2024 16:32 utc | 16
Well, if the time for words is done, then it's time for the sword, is it not? The only question is: who is going to swing it?
Posted by: furnace | Feb 15 2024 15:37 utc | 8
====
Yeah, I was just thinking, why doesn't the UN send a peace-keeping force in to oversee the distribution of food and aid to its own agency, UNWHRA (letters right, I hope). It is absurd that the Zionists are accorded authority to mess with this aid and starve more people by prevarications.
Hamas is just an excuse for them.
Time to call them out on it.
Indirectly, IDF soldiers are eating food provided by the USA.
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 16:33 utc | 17
The IDF attack on the Nassar Hospital has begun.
According to Irish news sources, it began several hours ago when IDF MBT's opened fire with their main 120mm cannon, on the hospital buildings. One person was killed, and eight more injured in this blatant attack.
IDF soldiers then ordered doctors and nurses to abandon their patients in the ICU and other departments including the ER (probably so the IDF could summarily execute any patient they wished without any of those messy eye witnesses).
Basically the IDF turned the largest trauma hospital in Gaza into chaos. A hospital which is also sheltering tens of thousands of Palestinian Christian and Muslim civilians and their families, in addition to thousands of critically ill patients wounded by IDF tank fire and airstrikes. Is there no end to this madness and blood lust?
This attack is clear evidence of continuing war crimes by the IDF....firing main tank guns into a hospital chocked full of injured civilians, is yet another specific war crime charge that Bibi and his gang of war criminals will have to answer to in the Hague.........
Posted by: Tobias Cole | Feb 15 2024 16:40 utc | 18
What is wrong with these "ceasefire" people?
Are they blind?
"Sanctions NOW" should be the demand that citizens make on their governments.
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 15:16 utc | 6
____
One can say the same regarding the “two state” people.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 16:45 utc | 19
As there have been no penalties for non-performance in a dog's age they get dumber and dumber.
Don't forget the culture of nepotism, cronyism and yes men that is absolutely required to advance in the Maerican empire bureaucracy. The stifling group think and desire to please superiors by telling them things they want to hear has led to a entirely predictable and entirely imbecilic juncture.
Erik Prince is just fantasizing. The fact is Maerica doesn't have the straight up power to invade more than a handful of smaller states all of which would cost Maerica more than it could possibly be worth. Meanwhile the dollar continues slow-motion train wrecking into the end of the Maerican overfinancialized instrumentation 'economy'.
Those whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad.
Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Feb 15 2024 16:45 utc | 20
The dams are breaking!
The Murdoch talk radio propaganda machinery this morning in London is actually allowing discussion on whether being anti-illegal-apartheid-entity is the same as being judeaophobic. The overall response by the man-in-the-van is ‘hell no’.
The zionazi entity itself is doing what the Ukrops are doing with their natzios - driving themselves off the edge into oblivion.
Any that are alive afterwards who were party to both sick abortions and has loaded their boots for decades will NOT escape and be able to freely enjoy their blood money. Nor their dynasties.
Including Dimon & Fink’s, Graham and Biden’s, the special force assassins and the torturers and murders of civilians.
I don’t need to eat any more popcorn today.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 15 2024 16:51 utc | 21
Re: Al-Qassem Daily Sitreps
Have been rather sparse the last few days. A couple of videos popped up - one video nearly 6 minutes long. The usual ambushes of oblivious IDF plus usual armor getting hit with RPGs and as always shots of homegrown mortars being fired off in spray and pray mode.
Not a criticism - just it’s impossible to make any conclusions about the fighting other than Al-Qassem continues to be active.
Posted by: Exile | Feb 15 2024 17:00 utc | 22
The dams are breaking!
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 15 2024 16:51 utc | 21
No. The spillways are opening. That's what you do to keep the dams from breaking.
I know I'm repeating myself, but CIA-Asset Tucker Carlson was sent to Moscow to signal a change in direction by the top of the ruling class pyramid. A bit at a time, the 'free press' of the corporate media will follow along. "Allowing" debate is another step in changing the narrative. Then the change looks like 'democracy.'
Ask whether anyone is going to jail, having their heads cut off, their assets seized or being impeached over this. No? That tells you who is making the change.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 17:06 utc | 23
@Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 15 2024 15:53 utc | 11
There is much that I would say at The Hague to those "representatives" of family members taken captive on Oct 7th and much that I would ask.
First I would ask if their family members were trespassing on stolen land.
Land that was stolen through murder, systematic rape, threat of violence,
and kidnapping. Were they not warned for years and decades by the owners of that land that they were
trespassing on to remove themselves. Did those family members not respond to the owners with
more violence, more rape, more murder, more kidnapping and additional theft.
Are those representatives themselves **still** trespassing.
Are they still trespassing while making continued threats of violence to the true owners.
Second I would point out that their government handed their family members over to Hamas on Oct 7th.
The IDF is not IDF nor IOF it is ISF - Intentional Security Failure, their true name and character.
The ISF were co-creators of the Oct 7th jail break. Intentional Security Failure (ISF).
The ISF knew it was coming. They hid what they knew about the imminent Oct 7th jail break.
They withdrew the majority of ISF troops away from the Gaza border just prior to Oct 7th
so that their family members could be taken hostage.
The ISF waited hours until they arrived in force, ensuring that the Oct 7th jail break would
achieve maximum success.
Once the ISF finally arrived they opened fire on hostages and Hamas alike, implementing the
Hannibal Directive.
The ISF is in Gaza under false pretenses. They do not want hostages that can bear witness
to the slaughter of family member under the Hannibal Directive. And especially the ISF
wants a pretext for remaining in Gaza until they succeed in their goal of ethnic cleansing
or genocide, whichever comes first. The ISF could have the family members traded for Palestinian
hostages which have been languishing in jails for years, many taken as children. But your family
members are not important to your government. They are props for a pretext, just props, just things.
Your government was a co-creator of Oct 7th. Their priority is Palestinian land and the gas fields
offshore. Their last priority is your family members.
Posted by: librul | Feb 15 2024 17:07 utc | 24
The prisoners currently held by Hamas are nearly all IDF or paramilitaries - hence the best way to describe them is POWs
Posted by: Exile | Feb 15 2024 17:10 utc | 25
@ Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 17:06 utc | 23
I wholly agree. Have said as much about TopCats ‘interview’ timing. His trajectory into the twatter sphere as the gob of Musk and the other barons.
Justice comes after victory. Their throwing crumbs is just bargaining to hold onto their Powers. Fact is that Putin, Xi , the Multipolar hearts, have never been interested in the blood money of their fellows. Their main goal is to raise the poorest.
That will happen as will punishment of the murdering robber barons, not just their minions being offered as scapegoats.
That may take decades hunting them down in whatever hole or shapeshifted appearance they will try and escape to.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 15 2024 17:17 utc | 26
Ref Egypt
Sinai is a military zone ever since Camp David as per the peace agreement.
Most of the people living between al qarish and Rafah are themselves the 1948 refugees and their descendants. There is a shortage of drinkable water already all over Sinai, it is a desert for f... sake.
Posted by: Minaa | Feb 15 2024 17:26 utc | 27
Prince’s piece is without doubt a kite flown by Queen Victoria Nulend and the neocons.
It’s their next step after Gaza and Ukraine.
They don’t just want to rule the world financially or metaphorically, but in the actual brutal racist colonialist sense. In the American Conservative article the writer - like Adolph Hitler - admires and envies the British rule of India and desires to emulate it for their own nation.
This is the real neocon agenda and their real face.
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
"Goyim were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world – only to serve the People of Israel.
...
"Why are gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat.
That is why gentiles were created"
Chief Rabbi of Israel Ovadia Yosef
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 17:31 utc | 28
The thought has crossed my mind that it might be a good thing if someone rich hired Eric Prince or some other mercs to fight alongside Hamas, provide some AD, stop the Gaza genocide, take out the Zionists, and impose "order" on Israel---an obviously sick society that cannot govern itself in a responsible fashion.
Clearly Netanyahu is out of control as a head of state. So, why not start the new "We're here to help you manage your playground" program with taking out Net?
Posted by: Jane | Feb 15 2024 15:06 utc | 4
My understanding has been that Blackwater, Erik princes company's biggest customer has been the United Arab Emirates, probably in Yemen. With Saudi as a close second.
Of course, nowadays they seem to be on the same side as Netanyahu...
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 17:35 utc | 29
The prisoners currently held by Hamas are nearly all IDF or paramilitaries - hence the best way to describe them is POWs
Posted by: Exile | Feb 15 2024 17:10 utc | 25
That's why Israel doesn't want them back, and the rationale behind the Hannibal Doctrine, to remove the incentive for IDF soldiers to surrender and wait for a prisoner exchange, rather than fight to the death.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 17:38 utc | 30
"This is unbelievable.
Prince’s piece is without doubt a kite flown by Queen Victoria Nulend and the neocons.
It’s their next step after Gaza and Ukraine.
They don’t just want to rule the world financially or metaphorically, but in the actual brutal racist colonialist sense. In the American Conservative article the writer - like Adolph Hitler - admires and envies the British rule of India and desires to emulate it for their own nation.
This is the real neocon agenda and their real face."
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
A well thought pout post-you should post more often
[email protected] Apartheid Regime occupying Palestine has killed many UN Peace Keepers over the years including a Canadian Col. They just cash out a few policies pay off the victims family, buy some grift at the UN, rinse, repeat. If Palestinians are ever to be freed it will not come from the UN. Can the Axis of Resistance up their game....time will tell, meanwhile the deaths will just pile higher, regardless if it's all in or Cease Fire.....which is just a divestment till the next round of slaughter begins.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 15 2024 18:35 utc | 32
The vice prime minister of Ireland has accused Israel of misinformation about UNRWA involvement in Oct 7 and urges other countries to keep supporting the UNRWA.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0215/1432403-unrwa-lazzarini-martin/
I'm starting to think that Ireland is the only country in the golden billion who actually have a government that seriously will lose power if they don't call out the nazis of Israel. Doesn't say much for the morals of the European citizenship.
Posted by: Eoin Clancy | Feb 15 2024 18:36 utc | 33
Prince’s piece is without doubt a kite flown by Queen Victoria Nulend and the neocons.
It’s their next step after Gaza and Ukraine.
They don’t just want to rule the world financially or metaphorically, but in the actual brutal racist colonialist sense.
Posted by: Andrew Sarchus | Feb 15 2024 14:52 utc | 2
There was an opinion piece by Bret Stephens in the NYT in December 2019 about Jewish superiority that had strong overtones of supremacism - so much so there were several complaints and it ended up getting watered down. Worth a read.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/opinion/jewish-culture-genius-iq.html
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 18:42 utc | 34
"Fact is that Putin, Xi , the Multipolar hearts, have never been interested in the blood money of their fellows. "
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 15 2024 17:17 utc | 26
The fact is Putin and Xi are basically Kings.
A King's power is derived from the contentedness-for lack of a better of word-of the lower classes. Not the oligarchs.
When the Nobles forced a weak King John into signing the Magna Carta (which has been heralded as a 'democratic breakthrough, was, in reality, a conservative reactionary document) the Nobles took over the commons (previously the Serfs could catch game in the King's land) uch that if the Serf's took anything from the ,commons' they were, "hung by the neck until they were dead".
Later, came the enclosures.
Biden, Sunak, Van der Leyen, Trudeau et al though they seem 'democratic' they are totally beholden to the oligarchs so they really don't give a flying fuck whether the Peasants are contented or not...
Hence Xi and Putin can do longer range policies and can't be easily overthrown by Western powers as they have popular support -because of the above.
""We are reaching the barriers of language in describing the humanitarian situation," ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric told a Geneva briefing for diplomats on events in Gaza.
Israel has accused humanitarian actors of not doing enough to bring in aid.
Particular criticism has been directed at the ICRC, which stands accused of failing to visit the hostages and provide them with adequate assistance.
The Red Cross chief told the diplomats their countries were responsible for ensuring the Geneva Conventions on human treatment are upheld.
"It is not in your interest to offload (that) responsibility... onto humanitarian actors," she said.
"If the way operations are conducted today limits our operational space to a minimum... we will not be able to resolve the problem," she added."
https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/58/1262/517827/War-on-Gaza/War-on-Gaza/Israel-could-not-;offload;-responsibility-for-its-.aspx
Posted by: Minaa | Feb 15 2024 18:51 utc | 36
“Hostage families” appeal to ICC -
A credible appeal would require evidence, which they most likely do not possess.
IDF attacks on hospitals -
Recalling the peak of the hostilities in Syria, a decade or so ago, the number-one go-to humanitarian human-rights complaint directed against the Syrian government involved “barrel-bombing” of hospitals. The mainstream media, Human Rights Watch, etc were constantly in hysterics and would breathlessly report each and every “atrocity” reported to them by White Helmets. R2P proponents wailed. NATO almost invaded. In retrospect, the extent of the alleged atrocities in Syria do not come even close to the full horror-show on display in Gaza. It is truly insane, as is the generally muted response of governments and institutions which in previous circumstances were so outspoken.
International law -
Brazil’s Lula calls for reform at the UN, including getting rid of the UNSC veto: "It is the permanent members of the Security Council that foment wars," he said.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/it-killing-women-and-children-brazils-lula-slams-israel?nid=341171&topic=Israel-Palestine%2520war&fid=502421
Legal threats to energy firms:
“Major energy companies awarded licenses by Israel to explore for gas off Gaza's coast have been warned that they could face legal action for possible breaches of Palestinian maritime sovereignty and war pillaging.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/energy-firms-face-legal-threat-over-israeli-licenses-drill-gas-gaza?nid=341171&topic=Israel-Palestine%2520war&fid=502421
Posted by: jayc | Feb 15 2024 18:52 utc | 37
And right now if there were an elected parliament in Saudi led by an elected PM, what would you propose they do?
EXACTLY.
Imagine that you are the democratically elected PM of Saudiand that your party has a majority in the Parliament what exactly would you do?
I'm all ears.
Posted by: Pq | Feb 14 2024 16:48 utc | 144
Ideally, several countries would be liberated and would act cooperatively for a common goal of independence from Western and Zionist interference.
This could include boycotting purchases of products and services from those countries, control of the oil price by adjusting production ( Bidens swallowing of pride to visit KSA to ask for increased production/ lower oil prices shows how much leverage a more proactive policy could have on the west).
Even a temporary outright ban on oil sales to raise the price abruptly might be enough to force the US to cut arms resupply to Israel and force Netanyahu to ceasefire.
Periodic changes in policy of oil sales in return for petrodollar/ accepting alternate currencies or gold instead of US dollars would have an effect on the exchange rate and US consumer prices/oil prices which would have powerful leverage on the US and western governments.
There are several security cooperation agreements between Israel and the Egypt Jordan and KSA, which could also be suspended as leverage over Israeli behavior.
As can be seen, these tools for leverage are quite granular and can be used to prevent Israeli abuse of Palestinians and US cooperation with it.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 18:56 utc | 38
And right now if there were an elected parliament in Saudi led by an elected PM, what would you propose they do?
EXACTLY.
Posted by: Pq | Feb 14 2024 16:48 utc | 144
____
Let me guess . . . “represent the will of the people who elected them” is not a valid response?
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 19:19 utc | 39
When I was a kid in the Seattle area I wondered how people in Germany could have allowed their government to do the industrial slaughter of people like cattle in vast slaughter houses. Now I understand , being citizen of the USA and being aghast at my country’s support for a similar large scale slaughter and other thinly veiled military adventures resulting in mass death and suffering around the world. The population has been lulled into apathy by main stream media bread and circuses. And meanwhile the monsters rule for money and power.
As B’s recent article suggests , now is the time of monsters.
Bartholomew Cubbins
Posted by: Bartholomew Cubbins | Feb 15 2024 19:28 utc | 40
The leader of the Houtis, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al Houthi, in his addressed today, among other, said:
“In exchange for the American support for the enemy entity, most recently the $14 billion package announced by the American President, where is the Arab support for Palestine?”
He mentioned that Arab countries have huge budgets that spend enormous amounts of money on absurd and trivial matters, reviewing the positions of the Arab and Islamic countries, where many stand in the position of laziness and some stand in the position of colluding with the enemy and aiding the enemy in secret.
Full long speech: https://www.saba.ye/en/news3305182.htm
Posted by: JB | Feb 15 2024 19:29 utc | 41
I'm actually surprised American Conservative echoed Prince's BS. Maybe it was just an opinion piece by an outlying contributor? I don't know; haven't read it yet.
That said, TAC in the past has argued AGAINST wars of imperialism and dissented from the DC establishment party line on things like Hezbollah and the Ukraine proxy war.
Example: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/americas-permanent-war-complex/
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 15 2024 19:45 utc | 42
Bartholomew Cubbins
You can add to the mix a good Christian education : Lutheran (Germany), Catholic (Poland), Uniate (Ukraine)
Posted by: Minaa | Feb 15 2024 19:45 utc | 43
I did just click on and skim the laughable piece at The American Conservative. It's rubbish literally and figuratively. What the moron author argues is that the "civilized" West needs to step into places like Haiti and Africa (and presumably Latin America and parts of Asia) where all the "competent people" have been "driven out."
LOL...what he intentionally or ignorantly fails to address is that it was precisely the "civilized" western nations and their empires who either directly drove those people out (or imprisoned/murdered them) or created the conditions which caused them to leave. It's asinine.
On top of that he argues that the US **isn't** and never has been an empire and that we don't have a ruling class unified enough, or the education/indoctrination system to meet the definition. Laughable. It's like reading the daily report for employees of the Ministry of Truth from "1984".
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 15 2024 19:51 utc | 44
The U.S. and several Arab states reportedly aim to present a long-term plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, including a timeframe for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
CIA chief William Burns visited Israel and met PM Netanyahu after the latter ordered Israel's delegation not to return to Cairo for continuing talks on a possible new hostage release/cease-fire deal.
(Haaretz)
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 15 2024 20:05 utc | 45
Let me guess . . . “represent the will of the people who elected them” is not a valid response?
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 19:19 utc | 39
The original discussion this was a reply to was about possible options for exerting pressure on the US, Israel and allies in a situation like that in which the Palestinians find themselves.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 20:20 utc | 46
The fact is Putin and Xi are basically Kings.
A King's power is derived from the contentedness-for lack of a better of word-of the lower classes. Not the oligarchs.
Posted by: canuck | Feb 15 2024 18:49 utc | 35
Putin and Xi are not kings on the western model, they are Sage Kings on the Chinese model. They organize great works, like taming the Yangtze, and organize society with a minimum of direct effort, the most important things that they accomplish are in plain sight, but invisible to most people. Putin, by force of circumstance, still has to carry on the role of king-as-focus-of-national-power ('national' referring to the old notion of a 'nation' being a polity of culturally integrated people (not homogenous)), but Xi and his predecessors have been at this for a long time, and it's very difficult to see what he is actually doing now. It seems to happen on its own. By nature, a Sage King cannot control everything, and he doesn't try.
Laotse triumphs after all!
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:24 utc | 47
Has Ansar Allah been defeated? There are no more reports in the country where I live. They have disappeared from the news for a few days now.
What do you say in the bar?
Posted by: John Heartfield | Feb 15 2024 20:25 utc | 48
Posted by: jayc | Feb 15 2024 18:52 utc | 37
Lula seems to have risen beyond his competence. As a BRICS member he really ought to know that the UN can't be reformed and that it's going to be replaced. Probably with something like BRICS or SCO, which to the best of my knowledge, assign themselves no right to coerce their neighbors. Because unanimity cannot be achieved in large groups on granular issues, I doubt the replacement(s) for the UN will be global, rather countries will belong to a variety of such organizations which will have overlapping but not identical memberships.
A long way in the future, certainly, but the UN will have to go the way of the League of Nations as a first step.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:32 utc | 49
Let's recap.
arab.org (NGO 1945): AE, BH, DJ, DZ, EG, IQ, JO, KM, KW, LB, LY, MA, MR, OM, PS (PLO, PA), QA, SA, SO, SS, SY, TN, YE
OPEC (1960 FTA): IR, IQ, KW, NG, SA, VZ, LY, AE, DZ, AO, GQ, CG, GA; + OM*, s-SS*, SS*, BN*, RU*, MX*, AZ*, KZ*, MY*, BH*, EC*, ID*, QA*
• US exploring new bases in Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions (26.01.21)
• UAE dismantles Eritrea base as it pulls back after Yemen war (18.02.21)
• UAE suspends talks on $23B weapons deal with US (14.12.21 F-35 LOL!)
• UAE official calls for 'unambivalent' US security commitment (14.11.22)
----
• Joint Trilateral Statement by the People's Republic of China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran (10.03.23)
• Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman to form joint naval force under China auspice 03.06.23)
• 15th BRICS Summit South Africa (24.08.23
BRICS (2009 FTA): AE, AR, BR, CN, EG, ET, IN, IR, RU, SA, ZA
• UAE denies US military aircraft in Abu Dhabi air base linked to Israel-Hamas conflict (13.10.23)
Saudi Arabia Calls OIC Meeting to Discuss Gaza Conflict (10.10.Oct)
OIC (1969 NGO): AZ, AE, IR, IQ, BD, TR, TN, SN, SL, GA, GW, QA, KW, ML, MR, YE, JO, ID, PK, AF, UZ, BH, AL, UG, BN, BJ, TM, BF, TJ, TG, TD, DZ, SA, SS, SD, SY, SR, SO, OM, GM, GY, GN, PS, KM, KG, KZ, CM, CI, LB, LY, MV, MY, EG, MA, MZ, NE, NG
• Yemen declares war on Israel (31.10.23)
• Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit Adopts Resolution on Israeli Aggression against the Palestinian People (11.11.23)
World Governments Summit (12-14 Feb 2024)
Now, this
UAE restricts US ability to launch retaliatory airstrikes against Iran proxies
[...]defense.gov cover story
The news that some countries are restricting access is based on information from a U.S. official, a congressional aide and two Western officials, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive security issue.
The news that some countries are restricting access is based on information from a U.S. official, a congressional aide and two Western officials, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive security issue.
[...]
Certain Arab countries are restricting access to basing and overflight for the assets participating in these retaliatory strikes, the official said. It’s not clear how many countries are taking this action. The reason the UAE in particular is doing this, per one of the Western officials, is “they don’t want to appear like they’re against Iran and they don’t want to appear too close to the West and Israel for public opinion reasons.”
[...]
Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 15 2024 20:37 utc | 50
Has Ansar Allah been defeated? There are no more reports in the country where I live. They have disappeared from the news for a few days now.
What do you say in the bar?
Posted by: John Heartfield | Feb 15 2024 20:25 utc | 49
I haven't seen much either, but the last I heard they had tagged an American naval vessel and forced it to withdraw to its home port for repair. I haven't seen this confirmed, though. If that's the case, USUK naval operations are probably on pause, which might make the long distance air campaign pointless and expensive. If western navies are gone from the Red Sea, and pro-Israel shipping is gone from the Red Sea, then what would the Houthi shoot at? Biden can declare victory and go home.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:37 utc | 51
That will happen as will punishment of the murdering robber barons, not just their minions being offered as scapegoats.
That may take decades hunting them down in whatever hole or shapeshifted appearance they will try and escape to.
Posted by: DunGroanin | Feb 15 2024 17:17 utc | 26
Glad to see somebody gets it re: Tucker.
As for your closing remarks, I think you're optimistic. Part of Tucker's job is to cover the retreat of the Empire, to make everything look like "OMG! Look what those neocon bastards have been doing! We're gonna stop, I swear!" and prevent a rout. The neocons know where the bodies are buried, though, and there's a lot of them deeply infesting the organs of power. Bringing them to justice is not a ruling class priority, they are just worn out tools. Most of them will live comfortable lives and die peacefully in bed, like Henry K. The Young Turks will take the reins of power, but not to overthrow the Sultan, but to preserve him by placating the people.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:41 utc | 52
malenkov | Feb 15 2024 16:45 utc | 19
Prior to the Gaza genocide I had considered those who had been in palestine for three or so generations and was ok with a two state solution. Now not only do I think they have have lost any right to continue living in Palestine, but many have lost the right to live period.
When this is over, the plight of immigrant Zionists in Palestine will be far far worse than that of whites in post apartheid South Africa.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 15 2024 20:46 utc | 53
An excellent essay by As’Ad Abukhalil (Professor at California State University, Stanislaus), in Consortium News, one of a few, with his fingers on the Arabs in general and the Arab leaders and ME in particular:
AS’AD AbuKHALIL: Arabs Divided on ICJ Ruling
February 14, 2024
"The liberal Arab camp thinks the ICJ ruling will lead to a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, while the popular camp has lost faith in international organizations, including the ICJ."
https://consortiumnews.com/2024/02/14/asad-abukhhalil-arabs-divided-on-icj-ruling/
Posted by: Menz | Feb 15 2024 20:54 utc | 54
Meant to say.. with his fingers on the pulse of Arabs in general...
Posted by: Menz | Feb 15 2024 20:55 utc | 55
DunGroanin, Honzo
In the MSM some days ago there was something about a ship bound for Iran being hit. I didn't look into it at all but that was the last I heard.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 15 2024 20:55 utc | 56
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:41 utc | 53
Have you seen this? WGS "interviews" Carlson.
Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 15 2024 21:14 utc | 57
As a nuetral reporter, i notice that according to the BBC since 2nd Oct their have been a surge in anti semetic attacks in Britain into the thousands, alot are violent.
Every action has a reaction.
Its nature.
The sooner the violence stops in Gaza by Israel the better for everyone.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 21:27 utc | 58
Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 21:27 utc | 59
UK seems to have been the birth place of Zionism. Throughout the west there has been marches and so forth cheering the genocide in Gaza.
It's funny here in Australia. Our puppet government voted against outlawing nazism. Since our backing of nazism in Ukraine, neo-nazi groups here seem to have taken off big time as well as becoming far more public so laws are being passed to outlaw nazism here. This also coincides with the genocide in gaza so any violence at a pro genocide march is caused by far right and neo-nazis.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 15 2024 21:34 utc | 59
Peter Au1 @ 60
Thats a fasinating thing to compare notes from both ends of the globe, i can confirm exactly the same down here.
As i watch society is breaking down no one gives a dam any more. Not about politics or wars, apathy reigns supreme. Just look at their peers, and influencers. The curuption and rot started at the top and it was enevitabley going to infect all strata of society.
"So they say"
Every reaction has a reaction.
It's nature.
Much respect, hang on in ther mate, we cant miss the next episode.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 21:48 utc | 60
The U.S. and several Arab states reportedly aim to present a long-term plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, including a timeframe for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
(Haaretz)
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 15 2024 20:05 utc | 46
Yes, a wonderful plan is being prepared for the Palestinians.
"Voluntary migration" in the scenic desert of Sinai, where they can finally enjoy their long-awaited state, in the entire 8 square miles being currently graciously prepared by Egypt to welcome them:
The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing satellite imagery, that Egypt is clearing land next to Gaza.The newspaper also received videos, taken by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights, showing trucks and bulldozers "clearing debris from a rectangular plot of land adjacent to the border with Gaza, measuring about eight square miles".
Earlier this week, the foundation reported that Egypt was building a security zone near Gaza that could be used to take in Palestinians ahead of a planned Israeli military invasion of the southern city of Rafah.
When the handshakes with their new, "moderate leadership" concludes, they'll present this state as a gift to the Palestinians for which they should be grateful.
I even smell a Nobel prize being given to Netanyahu for finally solving the Middle East problem...
Posted by: Lathe Biosas | Feb 15 2024 21:56 utc | 62
Posted by: sln2002 | Feb 15 2024 21:14 utc | 58
No, and it appears that Youtube has finally found a way to cut me off for not paying the rent. Oh well.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 22:00 utc | 63
Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 21:48 utc | 61
*** .... i can confirm exactly the same down here.
As i watch society is breaking down no one gives a dam any more. Not about politics or wars, apathy reigns supreme. Just look at their peers, and influencers. The curuption and rot started at the top and it was enevitabley going to infect all strata of society.***
That's how those who rule want it.
Preparing the way for the WEF regime ... Agenda 21/30 ... "Trans" ... 15-minute cities and mafia so-called "freeports" .... endless mass immigration ... Soros initiatives and thought policing on steroids
See what Macron is now imposing in France ... glory to certain US multinationals and their "experimental" products, and praise be to the WHO (or else!) ....
Posted by: Cynic | Feb 15 2024 22:01 utc | 64
Cynic @ 65
If you bomb or exploit others country,
And then look around you, and see that forigners have moved into your country.....
Jus say after me....
Every action has a reaction.
Its nature you wont stop it.
Ooh and.....will they ever learn.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 22:14 utc | 65
Has Ansar Allah been defeated? There are no more reports in the country where I live. They have disappeared from the news for a few days now.
What do you say in the bar?
Posted by: John Heartfield | Feb 15 2024 20:25 utc | 49
An attack on a cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden was reported ca. 7 hours ago: https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1758134531121410385
Posted by: Lathe Biosas | Feb 15 2024 22:23 utc | 66
I fear that even if IDF stopped now...not enough food aid can get through in time to avoid famine...considering before Oct 700lorries a day were needed....nor can there be enough clean water supplies...nor enough emergency hospitals nor medicines...nor can a fully functional health service can be provided to cope with even normal health needs cancer treatments diabetes dyalisis..dentistry .a person can die from a tooth absess...
IFF have dug up roads to prevent vehicular access...that can only be restored by more heavy machinary....desalination plants by the score are needed...miles of pipelines and distribution....vaccinations are needed.. total rebuilding of power sources and distribution.
Then how to rebuild Gaza strip.. heavy machinary ...demolition of damaged buildings....temporary housing for rebuilding workers how are materials to get through by land and sea let alone refurbishing and refitting out hospitals houses administrative buildings . Where are replacement medical staff.. builders planners ...inspectors to certify...admin peoples...what economy can there be? Who can find the missing bodies?
Isr. clearly has decided to take Gaza to the stone age literally just mountains piles of rubble.It could take ,50 years to rebuild. Will Israel be made to pay? Not afterwards sent the bill...but pay upfront.
Posted by: Jo | Feb 15 2024 22:31 utc | 67
Jo | Feb 15 2024 22:31 utc | 68
Quite often there are crocodile tear articles in the MSM on the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza - diseases, starvation, civilian death toll and so forth, but never is there a condemnation of the Zionists nor the countries that back them, primarily the US supplying the bombs for the carpet bombing of the cities. Compares that to many "Russia bombs hospitals and cities" headlines we see constantly in the MSM.
And the sheeple of the west keep plodding forward to their own destruction rather than hanging their governments from light poles.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 15 2024 22:38 utc | 68
If typoid or cholra break out in Gaza now. As it will if this fucking tragedy is'nt stoped it will be america and englands fault.
As to wheather it occurs natruly or is deliberatly introduced as part of the Genicide is imateral.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 22:39 utc | 69
Since the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1918, the Turkish State has sworn to avenge their enemies and recover their lost territories. Yesterday Erdogan's stealing of Kurdish and Syrian Oil to Israel was described as a nothingburger. But thinking about it , I wonder if Palestine is one of those countries that got up Turkiye's nose
100 years ago.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 15 2024 22:53 utc | 71
Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 22:14 utc | 66
*** If you bomb or exploit others country,**
Which is what the pretty much unaccountable ruling class do ....
*** And then look around you, and see that forigners have moved into your country...***
The "your" as in country is interesting -- can mean two totally opposite things :
(1) the country that belongs to its indigenous population (the nation)
or
(2) the country the self-appointed ruling class regards as exclusively its property, to dispose of as it wishes .... and with the "rulers" obviously being 'patriots', since that means fanatically supporting their own specific interests / institutions ... that can mean "to hell with the nation".
Which in the case of Britain, it certainly does.
Posted by: Cynic | Feb 15 2024 22:54 utc | 72
Can there be reparations compensation ? Not just infrastructure... but for every death....the economy ...everything damaged and stolen...cars.. family possesions... finances pillaged... to restore agriculture ....etc etc to UNRWA....red crescent.....etc etc
pension funds be set up....any other ideas? A whole state.
Posted by: Jo | Feb 15 2024 23:05 utc | 73
Cynic @ 73
I dont think we are far apart, hopefully.
Do we agree imigration is the symptem, and imagrants the victem as well as the public of the country they join, a joint problem both groups should fight side by side to solve.
Any ways we've gone off topic. And time to hit the sack here.
If you want to reply put it on the open topic thread, i'l look in the morn.
Cheers.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 23:11 utc | 74
Cynic
"The "your" as in country is interesting -- can mean two totally opposite things :
(1) the country that belongs to its indigenous population (the nation)"
That does apply to four of the five eyes, but who are the indigenous of UK which Mark2 is obviously a citizen of.
But at what point does one become indigenous? The have been many migrations and changes of culture/peoples throughout history.
My grandfather enthusiastically went away to fight for King and country. One year in he wrote in his diary "Never again will we leave these sunny shores to fight another foreign war". Off memory, in WWI, he was third generation Australian but already considered himself Australian as separate to the British and that was only a decade and a half after federation. My grand children are seventh generation.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 15 2024 23:13 utc | 75
My best mate was born just down the hill in bath his grand father came from the carabian on the 'windrush', his name was brown thats the name of the slave owner who took his family from Africa.
My best mate has twenty children from several partners white and black. They all got together for a group photo. Brilliant. I think it was for his 50th birthday.
Poor bloke think of the xmas presants and birthdays.
He says if you kill one of us 20 will sprout and grow.
Its nature you cant stop it.
Gone.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 15 2024 23:26 utc | 76
The leader of the Houtis, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al Houthi, in his addressed today, among other, said:
“In exchange for the American support for the enemy entity, most recently the $14 billion package announced by the American President, where is the Arab support for Palestine?”
Posted by: JB | Feb 15 2024 19:29 utc | 41
_____
Hot damn, how user pq must now hate the Houthis!
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 23:35 utc | 77
Let me guess . . . “represent the will of the people who elected them” is not a valid response?
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 19:19 utc | 39
The original discussion this was a reply to was about possible options for exerting pressure on the US, Israel and allies in a situation like that in which the Palestinians find themselves.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 20:20 utc | 47
_____
I’m aware of that. What’s your point?
Mine is that if the USA’s MENA satrapies were credible democracies, they would behave according to the wishes of the people (and not the money-grubbing kleptocrats): maybe they would be satisfied by measures such as you proposed; maybe they’d demand more concrete action. In any case they wouldn’t be satisfied by expressions of “concern” while continuing to cut deals with the Ziosquatters.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 23:41 utc | 78
malenkov | Feb 15 2024 23:41 utc | 79
The majority poplation in Saudi Arabia is Sunni Wahhabi, the minority is Shia. In democracy there, Wahhabi wins every time. Similar I think in Bahrain. Not sure about the others.
In Chechnya, Kadyrov had to wait until he attained the age of thirty to take up the leadership position. After his father was killed in a bombing an interim president was appointed until he obtained the age of thirty.
As we have seen in the 'democratic' democracy is largely and empty word. From what I can see, it doesn't much matter how a leadership comes to power.
In the west we have politicians that operate in election cycles and generally have low approval ratings. In other parts of the world they have actual leaders with high approval ratings rather than politicians.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 16 2024 0:06 utc | 79
The majority poplation in Saudi Arabia is Sunni Wahhabi, the minority is Shia. In democracy there, Wahhabi wins every time. Similar I think in Bahrain. Not sure about the others.
_____
Yes indeed, Peter AU1, but how about Egypt and Jordan?
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 16 2024 0:09 utc | 80
@ Peter AU1 | Feb 16 2024 0:06 utc | 80
Well, now we enter a discussion of what democracy really is. King Bhumibol Adulyadej once remarked that he was a democrat because he did what the people wanted, and because the great majority of his people adored him, it’s hard to say he was wrong.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 16 2024 0:14 utc | 81
Are China and Russia doing anything to help?
If not, why not?
Posted by: Afro | Feb 16 2024 0:40 utc | 82
malenkov | Feb 16 2024 0:14 utc | 82
*** Well, now we enter a discussion of what democracy really is. King Bhumibol Adulyadej once remarked that he was a democrat because he did what the people wanted, and because the great majority of his people adored him, it’s hard to say he was wrong.***
In the UK -- especially in the Guardian newspaper
-- that would invoke condemnation as a "populist".
"Democracy" (liberal democracy) is where someone, usually under a Party label, tells a lot of fine-sounding lies to get elected -- and then does the opposite of what was promised.
"Populism" is where a politician gets elected because people want the policies offered, which the politician then delivers.
Posted by: Cynic | Feb 16 2024 0:46 utc | 83
Earlier this week, the foundation reported that Egypt was building a security zone near Gaza that could be used to take in Palestinians ahead of a planned Israeli military invasion of the southern city of Rafah.
Posted by: Lathe Biosas | Feb 15 2024 21:56 utc | 63
I don't care about pq's hysterical support for Arab sellout regimes. I hope the people of Egypt hang sisi, his government, his army from the lamp posts of Cairo for this.
Burn the whole bloody thing down and build a country with some dignity in it's place.
Nasser would be proud.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 16 2024 1:12 utc | 84
@ Arch Bungle | Feb 16 2024 1:12 utc | 85
Thank you.
And for all of your other comments too.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 16 2024 1:19 utc | 85
Has Ansar Allah been defeated? There are no more reports in the country where I live.
Posted by: John Heartfield | Feb 15 2024 20:25 utc | 49
Maybe because The Empire's ships are "in the shop":
"Uk Red faced as second British warship - hms prince of Wales - fails to join NATO wargames"
https://youtu.be/IQ6ZBjuWHpM?si=Ac8nblCi_MzLeB0z
The Houthi have in fact claimed victory in the Red Sea and are talking about moving on Gaza:
https://youtu.be/P6BNndtYQH8?si=XVxGBC_WkLZ-PEF0
Fwiw
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 16 2024 1:27 utc | 86
Has Ansar Allah been defeated? There are no more reports in the country where I live. They have disappeared from the news for a few days now.
What do you say in the bar?
Posted by: John Heartfield | Feb 15 2024 20:25 utc | 49
No, they are still active according to XTwix, well, that is, according to the source I follow - Arya, who reports most days on all the Resistance Axis groups. Most recent a British cargo ship. Perhaps they are running out of targets? :-)
Most of Arya's reports today are from Hezbollah intensifying on Golan/Galilee targets.
Posted by: Rain | Feb 16 2024 1:40 utc | 87
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 15 2024 22:53 utc | 72
Can we please not do the hackneyed middle easterners getting outraged spectacle thing? I was referring to matters strictly within the context of Oct. 7. My comments made no reference to Kurdish matters. In fact, I would be very interested in hearing your perspective on the Kurds on a non Palestinian thread.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 16 2024 2:12 utc | 88
From Caitlin Johnstone’s latest:
https://open.substack.com/pub/caitlinjohnstone/p/the-perfect-recipe-for-a-real-antisemitism?
If I wanted to increase antisemitism, I imagine I’d do a lot of really evil stuff under a Star of David flag while adamantly insisting that my actions are inseparable from the Jewish people and the Jewish faith. I’d kill children by the thousands and commit genocidal atrocities.
To really help antisemitism spread I’d do everything I can to make people less vigilant against it. I’d try very hard to make the warning label of antisemitism look ridiculous and meaningless — circulate narratives that people who oppose genocide and ethnic cleansing hate Jews, frame peace marches as hate crimes, brand calls for justice as calls for the genocide of Jewish people. I’d falsely cry wolf as many times as possible in the most self-evidently absurd ways I could think of in order to desensitize everyone to alarm bells about the real spread of anti-Jewish hate.
I’d try to make sure the Jewish soldiers carrying out the atrocities under the Star of David flag make themselves look as inhuman as possible, thereby dehumanizing ordinary Jews in the eyes of the public. They should film themselves doing the most evil things imaginable while laughing and celebrating their deeds, and then share those videos on social media. The more viral content they can create with their horrific acts, the better.
I suppose I’d also want to research longstanding antisemitic conspiracy theories and make sure everyone’s helping to feed into them. “Jews control the media”? I’ll make sure the media are wildly biased in favor of the Star of David flag. “Jews control the government”? Make sure governments are bending over backwards to facilitate the crimes of the Star of David nation. “Child blood sacrifices”? Make sure the war crimes perpetrated under the Star of David flag are killing as many kids as possible.
These steps would create the perfect environment for very real acts of hatred toward members of the Jewish faith, which I suppose could then be used to drum up support for further atrocities, thereby making the very real antisemitism even worse. This would create a self-reinforcing feedback loop of violence and hatred, causing steadily escalating antisemitism throughout our society that one day could potentially lead to something as terrible as history has ever seen.
Posted by: tawharanui | Feb 16 2024 2:58 utc | 89
How do we read China’s and Russia’s new world order concept when in it comes to Gaza and the genocides happening there by Israel? Does the new world order for them mean to fairly splitting the world’s countries under the imperialistic super powers’ control, or governing the world by international law?
If the latter, why haven’t they gone further than few words in the UN to translate this campaign rhetoric into action by the least like sanctioning some Israelis companies? Wouldn’t that be a great example to show to the rest of the world?
Posted by: Man | Feb 16 2024 3:01 utc | 90
@ Man | Feb 16 2024 3:01 utc | 91 asking why the China/Russia axis is not doing more to stop the genocide in Gaza.
The China/Russia axis is using the existing global agencies and structure to try and effect change and their actions are being stymied by the MAD American face of empire which the genocide in Gaza is under the umbrella of as well.
I keep saying humanity is in a civilization war against the Western top/bottom form of social organization enforced by global private finance and Might-Makes-Right force. Most folks outside the golden billion know the Western social and financial jackboot and killer of cultures intimately.
I see the China/Russia axis strategy that has evolved here at MoA over years as one where the barbarism of Might-Makes-Right patriarchy needs to be not responded to by more Might-Makes-Right supremacy but replaced by global respect for all nations and diplomacy instead of military conflict.
It is had to get from here to there and we have written here about China = Good Cop and Russia = Bad Cop and I still think that is mostly true but could change in a heart beat.
To summarize let me just encourage you to think about the global social challenges that humanity is rising to after 2+K years of Western dominance and 500 or so of this global private finance cult that we don't even know who they are but refer to as City of London Corp, US Fed, Pope Frank and King Chuck.....the existing system needs to be seriously invalidated as we are seeing happen. At some point that invalidation results in the system crashing of internal inconsistencies and the China/Russia axis caravan rolls on and works to help the Western countries move to sovereign finance based forms of governance.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 16 2024 3:45 utc | 91
The leader of the Houtis, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al Houthi, in his addressed today, among other, said:
“In exchange for the American support for the enemy entity, most recently the $14 billion package announced by the American President, where is the Arab support for Palestine?”
He mentioned that Arab countries have huge budgets that spend enormous amounts of money on absurd and trivial matters, reviewing the positions of the Arab and Islamic countries, where many stand in the position of laziness and some stand in the position of colluding with the enemy and aiding the enemy in secret.
Full long speech: https://www.saba.ye/en/news3305182.htm
Posted by: JB | Feb 15 2024 19:29 utc | 41
The fact that these countries were actively fighting Houthi with Israeli and American support until recently, and have all treated Muslim resistance groups they themselves didn't create as existential threats puts them on the same side as Israel in these battles.
That's why only lip service is paid to protecting Palestinian civilians.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 16 2024 4:43 utc | 92
I’m aware of that. What’s your point?
Mine is that if the USA’s MENA satrapies were credible democracies, they would behave according to the wishes of the people (and not the money-grubbing kleptocrats): maybe they would be satisfied by measures such as you proposed; maybe they’d demand more concrete action. In any case they wouldn’t be satisfied by expressions of “concern” while continuing to cut deals with the Ziosquatters.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 15 2024 23:41 utc | 79
The goal is to increase the political cost to American politicians for supporting Israel, especially military, by increasing the cost of supporting Israel for Joe and Jill Six-Pack.
Military provocation will just provide an excuse for Zionist genocide of Muslims which they have shown abundantly doesn't cause them to lose sleep over.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 16 2024 4:51 utc | 93
For those who can't wait for Al Houthi's next hot track, the (ostensibly) British ship LYCAVITOS just ate what the Houthi think is an "appropriate" load of hot metal:
Direct Hit: Houthis attack ship in the Gulf of Aden
Clearly Yemeni missile power stands erect and supreme in the face of floppy-membered British and American naval power!
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 16 2024 4:59 utc | 94
to Peter AU1
hum, not exactly, if my memory is right. The ruling family in Barein is sunnit, but the people is mostly Shia. It revolted during the arab spring, and the ruling family called the saudi army for help. This "arab spring" lasted only a few day.
Posted by: Honzo | Feb 15 2024 20:41 utc | 53
You can count me
Posted by: Parisian Guy | Feb 16 2024 5:14 utc | 95
As can be seen, these tools for leverage are quite granular and can be used to prevent Israeli abuse of Palestinians and US cooperation with it.
Posted by: Delhiliterally | Feb 15 2024 18:56 utc | 38
Not going to happen. Egypt, Jordan, KSA, UAE etc have been called by lowkey (Mintpress News) the 'Axis of Assistance', and with plenty of historical evidence, of patterns of betrayal of Arab solidarity, eg during the 1967 and 1973 wars.
Cant recall which one, but the grandfather of the current King of Jordan was executed at Al Aqsa as a traitor. And after 73 and the oil embargo, MBS's grandfather was assassinated in Riyadh and his father signed up to the petrodollar agreement
The road from UAE, through Saudi and Jordan to Israel, while it cant replace full shipping is kept open. Protestors at the Jordan/Israel border trying to block the road, have been crushed by Jordanian security forces.
Egypt and Turkiye are both fully supplying Israel, with food, oil etc. Most of Israels oil comes from the Caucasus fields via Turkiye. All have decades of huge investment in Israeli MIC industries, and hence significant economic dependence on Israel. That may change in the future, but not soon.
They do however, provide a lot of Aid to Palestine.
Its why I cant understand why there is so much chatter about KSA "normalisation" with Israel, a symbolic piece of paper when they have been dealing with Israel for years. KSA refusing to agree publicly without a Palestinian state, is all optics and meaningless political theatre, performed solely for the angry masses at home. Similar words to those of Kirby, Blinken etc telling the US media at their pressers. KSA is also delaying joining BRICS+
As for the 'Axis of Resistance', not even Hezbollah has bothered Israel very much so far, incremental escalation and 'a thousand cuts', may be fine in theory and even work eventually, but methinx the Palestinians dont have that much time.
Posted by: Rain | Feb 16 2024 5:14 utc | 96
As for the 'Axis of Resistance', not even Hezbollah has bothered Israel very much so far, incremental escalation and 'a thousand cuts', may be fine in theory and even work eventually, but methinx the Palestinians dont have that much time.
Posted by: Rain | Feb 16 2024 5:14 utc | 97
I wouldn't call pushing back hundreds of thousands of Zionist settlers a minor thing.
Neither is it a small issue that Hezbollah has destroyed IDF bases and their equipment multiple times over.
I wouldn't call it a thousand cuts either. More like a thousand bludgeons.
Hezbollah has literally proven the IDF powerless against a small non -state actor without yet using much of it's power.
They have literally decolonized parts of idf-occupied Northern Palestine.
And these are just the preliminaries ...
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Feb 16 2024 5:30 utc | 97
Parisian Guy | Feb 16 2024 5:14 utc | 96
Thinking about it, you are right on Bahrain. Awhile since I read up on the 'Arab spring' in those places.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Feb 16 2024 6:03 utc | 98
Rain 97
Axis of Assistance
You do realise that Muslims are bound by mountains of tiny detail of religious tasks and oceans of deep ethics. We are 24 hour busy with earning reward for our next life and we care not allowed to attack civilians.
If you've seen so called Muslims like Al Qaida and Deash behaving badly, they are Israeli terrorists working for USUKIS. The sole function of Saudi Arabia is to.maintain the Holy sites and maintain the 'Umra and Hajj.
No Muslims is going to join a terrorist group and kill other Muslims for those who have sold their next life for a miserable worldly gain of a few million dollars from USUKIS. Erdogan's membership of NATO is forbidden in Islam , except in the eyes of British-invented Muslim Brothethood. Imagine trying to help Palestinians when your own president has tied you up your religion like a fly in a spider's web.
Sorry, you can't imagine it. Islam is highly constrained by the fabrications of the USUKIS media about Terrorism and antisemitism. It's
easy to insult and pillory people and who are in the stocks. Islamists operate from inside the protected zone of 24/7 USUKIS spying, but that of course doesn't prevent them also from being betrayed by USUKIS. Never a good idea to be a friend to the British, Israel or the US
Look what happened to Daesh.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 16 2024 6:15 utc | 99
If you've seen so called Muslims like Al Qaida and Deash behaving badly, they are Israeli terrorists working for USUKIS
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 16 2024 6:15 utc | 100
One view could also be that Islam is not able to take responsibility for its misdeeds (or perhaps its rogue actors) but always shifts the blame. Or is it just you? It is not as if jihad is a CIA invention. It did exist before the US came into being. I am getting tired of this site being used as a religious propaganda site although I do understand where you are coming from.
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 16 2024 7:09 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Spanish, Irish leaders call on Ursula von der Leyen to review EU-Israel trade accord over human rights concerns
Duo calls for “urgent review” of trade agreement between Israel and the EU in light of Rafah military operation.
Politico
Posted by: Jonathan W | Feb 15 2024 14:44 utc | 1