fyi,
international pressure on israel and its staunchest allies, builds
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/nicaragua-shuts-embassy-in-germany-amid-icj-case-for-abettin
Nicaragua shuts embassy in Germany amid ICJ case for abetting genocide
Nicaragua says the embassy in Austria will now handle its consular tasks and official businesses after having announced the accreditation of its ambassador in Vienna as a concurrent representative in Germany.
“…Earlier this week, during hearings at the ICJ, Nicaragua stated that Germany is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by aiding “Israel” militarily and financially, in addition to suspending funding to UNRWA……”

Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 11 2024 21:29 utc | 103

Iran has endangered itself by delaying retaliation, the short attention span media will spin any Iranian response as an attack rather than retaliation. The neocons perceive restraint as weakness. Iran should have responded in kind immediately by striking an Israeli embassy. The media would have to link the two events. Iran should be prepared to retaliate swiftly next time Israel attacks.
Posted by: Willow | Apr 11 2024 20:06 utc | 97
Most westerners still think a slumbering Israel at peace was cruelly attacked on October 7 because of antisemitism. That is, most westerners who actually care to watch Fox News on the subject. The fact that Oct 7 was provoked by land grabs, settler violence and desecration of Aqsa mosque is lost on most in the West, because of the strenuous efforts of the media to keep events in the West Bank out of sight.
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the media to disclose all facts equally and fairly, for the audience to reach their own conclusions.
Most people in the propaganda war have already chosen what they want to believe.

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Apr 11 2024 21:43 utc | 105

Saying What Can’t Be Said: Israel Has Been Defeated – a Total Defeat – Israel News – Haaretz.com
Opinion in Israeli news Haaretz. I don’t subscribe, but the header is enough.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-11/ty-article-magazine/.premium/saying-what-cant-be-said-israel-has-been-defeated-a-total-defeat/0000018e-cdab-dba9-a78e-efef6ba10000

Posted by: MrH | Apr 11 2024 22:23 utc | 107

My comment at @102 was meant for Vargas. Sorry, typed too fast.
Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 11 2024 21:26 utc | 103
The primacy of “markets” does explain a lot. I have often wondered why Russia doesn’t just torpedo a few LNG ships crossing into the Baltic. Only the Ansar Allah guys have the balls to say, “fuck markets!”

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Apr 11 2024 23:02 utc | 109

@smuks 73
thanks for the resposne.
Re: Israel must not want to fight Iran… It would be a hard one for them to fight, lacking a border. Therefore it would be a regional war (not for the first time), and from that I think Israeli leaders must conclude that the US would step in to save them.
I think they’re most likely right in thinking that. Biden/Blinken/Sullivan would not hesitate, if push comes to shove. They made that clear. I think the Democrats’ beef with Netanyahu is primarily that he supports Trump. That Israel’s handiwork in Gaza is going to get the US chased out of other Muslim countries, can be used by Dems to argue for getting rid of Netanyahu. They know whoever they get instead won’t be fundamentally different, it’ll just undercut Trump a little. Anyway all that would I’m afraid be forgotten, if the more serious regional escalation scenario materializes.
Does that mean it such a war works out well for Israel, or Biden, or anyone else? No, it’d be an devastating mess. But the Blinken/Sullivan team has a hard enough time negotiating a compromise when they represent themselves – when they’re holding the fate of a manipulatively suicidal Israeli state in their hands, I really don’t see them doing anything but acting on reflex.

Posted by: pxx | Apr 11 2024 23:13 utc | 111

Ghost of Zanon | Apr 11 2024 17:04 utc | 84
Interesting thought, but I think it’s not the cause (this time).
Treasury yields spiked higher on the 10th, apparently caused by inflation data.
Yellen’s visit ended on the 8th.

Posted by: smuks | Apr 11 2024 23:23 utc | 113

pxx | Apr 11 2024 23:13 utc | 112
Let’s agree to disagree.
I really see this differently, but of course defending Netanyahu doesn’t win you any points anywhere.
Maybe the one thing he’s got going for himself is that western Neocons (and MSM) suddenly hate him…
Should make people think, and maybe re-examine their views, imo.
Many don’t seem to realize that Israel is just another US/UK proxy tool. They think it’s somehow ‘special’ and ‘dear’ to Washington’s & London’s heart. Which is a rather strange idea imo.
Would US/UK be willing to throw their ‘ally’ under the bus, once he’s no longer needed? Sure.
Will they fight a disastrous regional war to save their proxy? Hell, no.

Posted by: smuks | Apr 11 2024 23:39 utc | 115

Willow @ 97
Iran has made a concerted effort at deceleration. In the absence of recipocal actions, Iran has personally informed countries in the region of likely outcome, as well as announced in the UN that he failure of the UNSC to condemn the Zionist entity for the attack on diplomatic premises has forced Iran to respond.
In the same manner that Russia has won over the RoW. What the Western or the western media has to say is no longer relevant or important.

Posted by: Suresh | Apr 11 2024 23:58 utc | 117

RE: . Only the Ansar Allah guys have the balls to say, “fuck markets!”
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Apr 11 2024 23:02 utc | 110
Completely agree. Ansur Allah guys are the only “normal” human beings in this pitiful plot. Everyone else is busy being “smart” & “calculating”… whatev’s… it’s the “new age”…of “un-enlightenment” and maximum phony.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 12 2024 0:28 utc | 119

@smuks 117
No worries, glad we can keep it civil

Posted by: pxx | Apr 12 2024 0:44 utc | 121

@MrH & librul #108, 109
https://archive.ph/aHktF
Thank you for this. Devastating and unbelievable that the Editor of Haaretz, which I dip into from time to time, allowed it.
Simply a MUST READ.

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 12 2024 1:52 utc | 123

Scott Ritter making a lot of scary sense:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O8hagyd4zVM

Posted by: PJB | Apr 12 2024 2:58 utc | 125

This long essay, an edited version of a lecture given by Andreas Malm in Beirut on April 4, 2024, was worth the reading time imo. Prof Malm is a Swedish academic and historical materialist.
There are some sections on the structure of empire in 1840s which carry over to today and a discussion of the theory of the tail wagging the dog, among much else.
https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/news/the-destruction-of-palestine-is-the-destruction-of-the-earth
~~
Excerpt:

The first time Napier got to practise this perfection was in 1840, right here, on the shores of Lebanon and Palestine. In that year, Britain went to war against Muhammed Ali. Ali was the pasha of Egypt, nominally serving under the Ottoman Empire but in practise the ruler of his own realm, which, by now, was in a state of war with the sultan. Ali’s forces had fanned out from Egypt and conquered the Hijaz and the Levant and formed an Arab proto-empire, on a collision course with the Porte and with London. Ali’s rise threatened to bring down the Ottoman Empire, whose stability and integrity Britain, at this point in time, regarded as a strategic asset against Russia.
If the Ottoman Empire disintegrated, Russia might expand south and east towards the crown colony of India, so Britain wanted to prop it up. Inter-imperialist rivalry, we might say, prompted Britain to intervene against Ali.
So did, no less importantly, the dynamics of capitalist development inside Britain itself. The cotton industry was its spearhead, but in the 1830s, it had run so far ahead of every other branch as to suffer a crisis of overproduction: there were too large mountains of cotton thread and fabric coming out of the factories. Sources of demand were insufficient to absorb them all. Britain was, therefore, desperate for export markets; and thankfully, in 1838, the Ottoman Empire agreed to a fabulously advantageous free trade agreement, known as the Balta Liman treaty.
This would open the territories under the sultan’s control to essentially unlimited British exports. The problem, however, was that ever more of these territories were passing into the control of Muhammed Ali, who pursued the opposite economic policy: import substitution. He built his own cotton factories in Egypt. By the late 1830s, they had grown into the largest industry of its kind outside Europe and the US.
Ali would have none of the British free trade: he put in place tariffs and monopolies and other protective barriers around his cotton industry and promoted it so effectively that it could make incursions into markets hitherto dominated by Britain, as far away as in India itself.
Britain hated it. And no one hated it with more fervour than Lord Palmerston, the foreign secretary and chief architect of the British Empire in the middle of the nineteenth century. He would blurt out: ‘the best thing Mehemet could do would be to destroy all his manufactures and throw his machinery into the Nile.’[7] He and the rest of the British government considered Ali’s refusal to accept the Balta Liman treaty a casus belli. Free trade had to be forced onto Ali and all the Arab lands he ruled.
Otherwise the British cotton industry would remain suffocated, without the outlets it needed to keep expanding, potentially choked even further by this Egyptian upstart. Lord Palmerston did not conceal his foreign policy principles. ‘It was the duty of the Government to open new channels for the commerce of the country’; his ‘great object’ in ‘every quarter of the world’ was to prise open lands for trade, and this committed him to an all-out confrontation with Ali.[8]

Posted by: suzan | Apr 12 2024 4:28 utc | 127

01:40 Violent clashes taking place between resistance fighetrs and IOF in Gaza’s Nuseirat amid intense Israeli strikes
Seriously??? 6+ months on an the mighty yanqui backed Jewish Army can’t put down a bunch of kids with home-made weapons?
What a bunch of pansies!

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Apr 12 2024 5:34 utc | 129

I had noticed all that. No doubt Iran will have its own plans but my thought is Iran’s best move is to enhance the US economic implosion.
Like cutting shipping through the red sea. There is likely more asymmetric moves like that to be made. Persian gulf is the big one but unless that’s played right, China would be hit hard.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 12 2024 6:17 utc | 131

Stonebird | Apr 12 2024 7:43 utc | 134
I haven’t been commenting much on the Palestine threads as not many game changers to be seen as yet but something is surely brewing. Russia and Iran both said at the start the US is the enemy to be defeated. From that I assume they see the zionists as merely the tools. To destroy the tool, the owner first has to be neutralized or destroyed.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 12 2024 7:59 utc | 133

Peter AU1 | Apr 12 2024 7:59 utc | 135
A tool they don’t really control. Both sides seem to be trying to “use” the other, but what is worrying me is the control over the “Western” Governments. 37% of Conservatives in the UK are “friends of Israel, Starmer is a self-proclaimed Zionist etc. (and I am not in the UK even). The US is worse.
ALL those people have to be changed before any real separation of evil and humanity happens in the minds of the population.

Posted by: Stonebird | Apr 12 2024 8:10 utc | 135

Posted by: MrH | Apr 11 2024 22:23 utc |

Saying What Can’t Be Said: Israel Has Been Defeated – a Total Defeat – Israel News – Haaretz.com
Opinion in Israeli news Haaretz. I don’t subscribe, but the header is enough.
“>https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-11/ty-article-magazine/.premium/saying-what-cant-be-said-israel-has-been-defeated-a-total-defeat/0000018e-cdab-dba9-a78e-efef6ba10000

Reposted at Information Clearing House
Saying What Can’t Be Said: Israel Has Been Defeated – a Total Defeat

Posted by: scanalyse | Apr 12 2024 8:49 utc | 137

Can someone please post the summary 11/12.April SITREP from telegram ?
1) The Nahal Brigade is isolated, surrounded, and outnumbered. On Wednesday, they called in air strikes, naval bombardment, and arty. Wonder how many friendly fire casualties the Nahals suffered ? Wild bombardment Doesn’t smell like victory to me, more like panic.
2) are the Arabs still able to strike the IDF beyond the Gaza killing zone ?

Posted by: Exile | Apr 12 2024 10:31 utc | 139

Hoarsewhisperer | Apr 12 2024 10:57 utc | 140
There’s also a bit of a movie on Blackhawk down in Somalia. I watched it years ago. A problem for the US is they require a heavy lift helicopter to get their beefcake in and out. The oz Brit, Russian special forces are all nearly as lean as the houthi’s and can cover ground on foot if need be.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 12 2024 11:22 utc | 141

https://archive.ph/aHktF
Thank you for this. Devastating and unbelievable that the Editor of Haaretz, which I dip into from time to time, allowed it.
Simply a MUST READ.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 12 2024 1:52 utc | 123
____
A mildly amusing read — so much self-righteous yammering with a drop or two of the delusionary hopium librul @ 12:13 utc identifies, all in a “paper of record” that’s mostly read outside of Occupied Palestine.
BTW I note that Firefox refuses to open anything at the archive.ph and archive.is sites; I have to use Chromium to view it.

Posted by: malenkov | Apr 12 2024 12:49 utc | 143

If you ask me, this is about finance just as much as foreign policy.
Posted by: smuks | Apr 11 2024 23:08 utc | 110
Consequence of being indebted to a foreign country.
But keep those tax cuts for the rich a comin’

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Apr 12 2024 13:12 utc | 145

Honzo | Apr 12 2024 0:17 utc | 118
Complicated matter.
The importance of Netanyahu keeping his a. out of jail has been overstated imo. Explaining big strategic moves with individuals and their ‘petty’ interests/fate seems rather dodgy to me. Convenient obfuscation.
As for J.E., so far my understanding is that he represented the interests of financial elites. The 90s were the heyday of neoliberal deregulation and speculating bonanzas. Were political decision makers actually dumb enough to believe deregulation was in ‘the best interest of the country’ – or did they have to be convinced/ coerced?
But yeah, that’s just my thoughts/ interpretation, not ‘facts’.
Delhiliterally | Apr 12 2024 13:12 utc | 145
Being indebted to foreign creditors is a consequence of persistent current account deficits.
For the US, *not taxing the rich* actually makes economic sense: This way, they pay their trade deficit with US Treasury bonds – rather than having to hand over stuff of actual value (companies, real estate).

Posted by: smuks | Apr 12 2024 14:39 utc | 147

Alarms sounding in Israel
Is it happening???

Posted by: Comandante | Apr 12 2024 15:50 utc | 149

There is a very interesting conversation between Pepe Escobar and Kevork Almassian of Syriana channel. It is wide ranging but it’s all worth the time. It’s the best I’ve seen in over 2 weeks. Save yourself some time; the video really starts at 6:00. I never watched Syriana before, but Kevork Almassian is very knowledgeable and a peer to Pepe, which made it enjoyable to watch.
Pepe Escobar: Eurasia vs. Natostan is the Defining Struggle of Our Time | Syriana Analysis
At 54:00, so nearly at the end, they agree that the Golan Heights offers “the best return on investment” for Iran’s retaliation. So I guess the Israeli radar station atop Mount Dov (Lebanese territory) would likely be the first target, reducing Israeli ISR in the Golan Heights. By not striking Occupied Palestine, the Iranians would avoid giving the Zionists any excuse for the hot war they desperately need.

Posted by: JessDTruth | Apr 12 2024 16:03 utc | 151

How will Iran retaliate? It already is. Lucas Leiroz has a point…
Iran appears to make clear that any retaliation will occur on its own terms – when, where and how Tehran decides it will be. Israel can only wait.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Apr 12 2024 15:22 utc | 148
This is the key. Iran can wait, while Israel has to stay mobilized, keep the northern border evacuated and the residents rehoused, shipping insurance rates sky high, energy costs sky high, etc cause more damage than any physical attack could.

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Apr 12 2024 16:31 utc | 153

Why would Iran send troops to Ukraine?? Russia has plenty of troops and has no need of any more. That would be a total waste.

Posted by: Comandante | Apr 12 2024 16:36 utc | 155

Whelp, there goes any hope of Iranians response to Israel’s lunacy. America pledges to defend Israel if Iran attacks.

U.S. Pledges to Defend Israel in Case of Iranian Attack

Posted by: bored | Apr 12 2024 17:04 utc | 157

https://t.me/intelslava/57355?single

Posted by: Apollyon | Apr 12 2024 17:33 utc | 159

Initially I replied to comment #16 by bevin. My reply is comment #53. Then Giyane felt compelled to reply to my remark with comment #59.
So here is my response to Giyane’s comment #59:
The understanding of the Word of God is not limited to those who are scholars of the semitic language of Aramaic. The understanding of the Word of God is given to those who have the spirit of God, be they learned men or not. It is the spirit of God with which His words are learned and understood. If a learned scholar does not have this spirit he will remain alien to the Word of God and will interpret it according to his own desirable imagination. The Word of God has been given for all men, not just learned scholars who, more often than not, interpret it according to the selfish interests of the organizations which they are members of.
I have been studying the translations of Scripture, which generally is called “the Bible”, in four different languages, two ancient languages and two modern languages. The ancient languages being Armenian and Persian, and the modern languages being the Old English of King James’ time and the Old German of Martin Luther’s time. These are translations which are more than thousand years apart from each other, from different cultural and geographic backgrounds, having been translated by top scholars of their time, at the behest of the kings and rulers of their time. And despite the various intentional and unintentional errors in the English translation of the King James version, I am pretty confident Giyane that I do get the meaning of Scripture right when I post my comments here.
—
Concerning satan and Allah…
satan does not mean “fallen angel”, nor “a lizard creature with a pitchfork in his hand”. satan or “satana” means “adversary of God”, someone who opposes God and tries to do the opposite of that which is the will of God. It is rather an adjective than a Nomen (noun). Whether it be an angel or a man, male or female, an individual or a collective; anyone who chooses to make opposition against God is called “satan”. The confusing part starts when they who are satan blame others to be “satan”. For this I can again refer you to my quote in comment #53 about:

“…When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

The turks in Kazakhstan showed their reverence for their father the devil when they in 1998, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, renamed their capital city to Astana which is an anagram of “satana”. They changed it temporarily to “Nur Sultan” when the ridiculousness of their anagram logic got into public awareness, but recently there have been reports that they are changing it back again to “Astana”.
“Allah” is not the name of God. “Allah” is the name of a pagan moon-god which was worshiped by the people in that part of the world as the chief god of many idols before Islam was introduced to the world through Muhammad. Muhammad went to Mecca and overthrew the other idols which were being worshiped there and left the one idol called “Allah”, which his tribe worshiped, as “the only god”. Islam is an idolatrous religion showing itself as monotheism. It’s purpose is to divert people away from God. Islam denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God which makes it a religion of anti-Christ. It is not the only religion which anti-Christ uses, it’s just one flavor of many.
Here is the quote from Jesus for those who do not believe that He is the Son of God; from the book of John, chapter 8, verse 24, King James version:

“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

…and this regardless of what the final kill-count in Gaza at the Al Mayadeen English website ends up to be after this episode of Babylonian scape-goat slaughtering is over.
Islam is yet another narrative of the great whore “Mystery Babylon”, you can read about her in the book of Revelation chapters 17 and 18. This whore was already old when the Egypt of the Pharaohs was young, and this is a quote from an American Baptist preacher. She has deceived and exploited mankind from the very beginning of civilization. They take the truth, change it for their own selfish interests and use it to deceive people and keep them in bondage. Through deception they have ruled over mankind. And they have done this for thousands of years.
When Christ says in John chapter 8, verse 32:

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

…he means this very bondage, the bondage of Babylon, from which He freed us. But so many refuse to accept it, or are prevented by deceitful leaders and ideologies, or the lusts of this world.
—
Someone wrote an article about the pagan origins of Islam, summarizing it with interesting details. It was published on the website “Veterans Today”. I will post the old link here, but the web-page is no longer found on that website:
The Pagan Origins of Islamic Hajj
by Ian Greenhalgh, published on August 29, 2017
—
Some people admire Sun-tzu and “The Art of War”. And they cite it as if it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, or even before sliced bread because it’s that old. I am not such an admirer of Sun-tzu. But they who are will know the saying from “The Art of War” which is “know your enemy”. Well, if “knowing your enemy” is a necessary thing to do, then let me explain to you the religion of this enemy. Based on what they believe so they act; therefore, if you understand what they believe it can help you to stay out of harms way. I will use for this explanation, as an example, the recent involvement of Nicaragua being used to blame Germany for anti-Christ Israel’s crimes in Gaza. This will be my next post in this thread on this forum if the thread is still open by the time I have finished writing it. Otherwise I will post it in the next “Palestine Open Thread”. But frankly, I could also post it in the “Ukraine Open Thread”, because it’s the same enemy.
Sincerely,
George

Posted by: George | Apr 12 2024 17:52 utc | 161

One hour ago …
Northern Israel rocket attack: Dozens of rockets launched from southern Lebanon
10 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHDq6rt4Bao

Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 12 2024 18:53 utc | 163

@bungling @86
I have followed you, how you have derailed every thread on the genocide with meaningless posts about religion, foreskins and such idiotic nonsense since the beginning of the naqba the latest one in the long trail of Israel atrocities.
You have managed to chase away the good quality posters who were trying hard with your impolite and crude posts, so prolific you were till you have managed to destroy the conversations which really mattered in favor of the idiocy now.
I do not hate you, but despise you from the bottom of my heart.
As I do all the other useless creatures, thus the statement that you are not welcomed here any more.
We, the rest of the globe, more than 80%, see you as ugly as you are, no you are not welcome anymore, and thus are no your lies.
Ugly f…ck.
Once I have written that I live in the city 1000 years old, it is true.It had a pharmacy in 1200th etc.
In my opinion, you are the monkey who hangs from a tree, and you disgust me with your noise.
So, shut up, finally, as you have managed to destroy the contribution of some very precious posters, ugly creature

Posted by: stranger | Apr 12 2024 19:21 utc | 165

Judging by the reports on all the US military assets being moved into position in the ME, it is clear that Iran missed it’s window for a response. Their best bet is to sit tight and not give the reaction that is being provoked.
An asymmetric move would be their best. It would be a real shame if a tanker full of LNG were to blow sky-high in the Red Sea or Straights of Hormuz. I mean, with markets on edge, who knows how high the price of LNG in Europe would go.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Apr 12 2024 20:51 utc | 167

Why do I have the idea that the rest of the world is watching “israel” and ju.s.a. finally swirling the drain and have therefore decided against needlessly ruining their struggling economies by engaging in armed conflicts with either?
The problem of course being the probable exponentially increasing deaths by exponentially increasing sufferings of the people of Palestine who are being forced to pay the price of that strategy, the same people who have been forced to pay the price for the actions and inaction of the rest of the Earthlings for… how many generations is it now?
Also… who took down the sign above the bar that said no attacking other commenters?

Posted by: DuchessAndBob | Apr 12 2024 21:07 utc | 169

Most humorous bumper sticker I’ve seen:
I’m an agnostic praying for the arrogance to become an atheist
My personal favorite bumper sticker:
I have no problem with God, but his fan clubs are making things crazy

Posted by: DuchessAndBob | Apr 12 2024 21:15 utc | 171

Fantastic article. Geopolitical strategies: same as it ever was.
https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/labor-and-the-bibi-modi-bromance/?utm_source=Boston+Review+Email+Subscribers&utm_campaign=28949433de-ourlatest_4_11_24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2cb428c5ad-28949433de-41271470&mc_cid=28949433de&mc_eid=900942b090

Posted by: JAB | Apr 12 2024 23:54 utc | 173

RE: Posted by: smuks | Apr 12 2024 21:10 utc | 170
Agreed, was mostly venting. I’d like to see someone’s, anyone’s army, march in with a R2P article and stop the Israeli massacre.
As for Ukrainians, only meant sold bill of goods, which can’t help but feel Palestinians are in same boat. Recent UNSC shows they will NOT be recognized for Statehood, ICJ sits on their laurels, UN & UNRWA have done zero on the ground except also get killed, Israel has complete impunity & all this jazz talk means nothing with no boots on the ground & no army marching in to protect.
Everyday, everyday… more and more land in West Bank & Gaza is being stolen and occupied.
Thinking Palestinians need to start thinking about preserving their life, as do what’s left of Ukrainians. There will hardly be a need for a “Statehood” soon, as no Palestinians will be left alive if an army doesn’t march in and physically defend them.
It wasn’t an easy decision for Russia, but they did it.
Only Iran, Turkey or Pakistan could exercise the R2P option, but appears none will.
That’s all.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 13 2024 1:02 utc | 175

The US dangles Yemen bait, but Ansarallah doesn’t bite
The US has secretly offered a stunning array of concessions to Ansarallah to halt its naval operations in support of Gaza – to no avail.
Posted by: michaelj72 | Apr 12 2024 1:33 utc | 122
IIRC the Chinese brokered an improvement in relations between Saudi and Iran that included negotiations between Saudi and the Houthis.
The Saudis have conspicuously not interfered with Houthis operations in the Red Sea.
The Houthis rightly don’t trust any agreements with the Zionist controlled US, and probably doubt the US has any influence on such matters with Saudi themselves.

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Apr 13 2024 1:14 utc | 177

@ Delhiliterally | Apr 13 2024 1:15 utc | 178
Excellent observations (as yours characteristically are); I’d just add that I’m sure that, rapprochements notwithstanding, the Houthis are probably too wise to trust the Saudis implicitly.

Posted by: malenkov | Apr 13 2024 1:32 utc | 179

Excellent observations (as yours characteristically are); I’d just add that I’m sure that, rapprochements notwithstanding, the Houthis are probably too wise to trust the Saudis implicitly.
Posted by: malenkov | Apr 13 2024 1:32 utc | 179
Thank you.
Indeed the Houthis would never trust the Saudis, but by dealing with them through Iran they retain the support of Iran regardless of what Saudi eventually does, and they don’t have to abandon their support of the Gazans.
By dealing with the Americans, they risk alienating their trusted allies the Iranians, weakening their image amongst the Arab street by abandoning the Gazans, and opening themselves to eventual betrayal by the Americans.

Posted by: Delhiliterally | Apr 13 2024 2:05 utc | 181

I’ve been scanning Russian and Chinese media all day, barely a word in there of “Iran imminent attack”…
Pretty much the usual, new sanctions, the 2-faced West, no alarms cited particularly. Heck, even Iran’s Press TV, barely a scratch about anything other than Palestinian genocide.
So, guessing drama Queen US/Israel either out for attention/distraction or prepping a false flag.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Apr 13 2024 3:41 utc | 183

No national Armies are going to invade Israel for fear of nuclear/ non-nuclear reprisals .
Only state-less proxies.
It makes no difference in Law whether Palestinians are alive or dead. International Law states that there must be an independent Palestinian State with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Nobody can profit from genocide.
Israel and its backers USUKISEU are now pariah states. Muslims are no more allowed to live in pariah states than the first Muslims who emigrated to Madinah. They must gather power and defeat the criminals in USUKISEU by force.
There is an anti-colonial revolution going on in Central Africa, an anti-colonial revolution going on in Ukraine, an anti-colonial revolution going on in Pakistan, and an anti-colonial revolution going on in South America.
The open crimes of USUKISEU have reminded the world of Western colonialism and it’s a massive shock to realise that the Empire2 Tories really think it’s time to build a new empire at exactly the same time as the new superpowers Russia and China are strong enough to stop it.
Like child sitting at the steering wheel of a car saying beep beep.
All the oil and all the minerals with which USUKISEU wants to build Empire2
come from outside USUKISEU.
Like kids saying beep beep.

Posted by: Giyane | Apr 13 2024 5:38 utc | 185

The pro-peace and reconciliation speech by (ex-Greek Finance Minister) Yanis Varoufakis on Palestine that German police shut down
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9JXXBhruGhc&feature=youtu.be

Posted by: Exile | Apr 13 2024 7:39 utc | 187

Retaliation?
“Iran seized ship ‘linked to Israel’, says state news agency
Iran’s state news agency IRNA said on Saturday that its Revolutionary Guards had seized the MSC Aries vessel it said was “linked to Israel” and it was being transferred to Iran’s territorial waters, reports Reuters.
A Guards navy special forces helicopter boarded the Portuguese flagged vessel and seized it, IRNA added.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/apr/13/middle-east-crisis-israel-gaza-hamas-iran-biden?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-661a61948f087ec9b8534d0d#block-661a61948f087ec9b8534d0d

Posted by: johnf | Apr 13 2024 11:36 utc | 189

There is a very interesting conversation between Pepe Escobar and Kevork Almassian of Syriana channel. It is wide ranging but it’s all worth the time. It’s the best I’ve seen in over 2 weeks. Save yourself some time; the video really starts at 6:00. I never watched Syriana before, but Kevork Almassian is very knowledgeable and a peer to Pepe, which made it enjoyable to watch.
Pepe Escobar: Eurasia vs. Natostan is the Defining Struggle of Our Time | Syriana Analysis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue9ZtVxBdb4
At 54:00, so nearly at the end, they agree that the Golan Heights offers “the best return on investment” for Iran’s retaliation. So I guess the Israeli radar station atop Mount Dov (Lebanese territory) would likely be the first target, reducing Israeli ISR in the Golan Heights. By not striking Occupied Palestine, the Iranians would avoid giving the Zionists any excuse for the hot war they desperately need.
Posted by: JessDTruth | Apr 12 2024 16:03 utc | 151
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Thanks for posting that, Jess. 100% quality talk. Events in the next 2 weeks could be definitive.
I was pleased to hear Pepe refer to Occupied Palestine as a Frankenstein. (I’ve been occaisionally calling the yiddisher state by that name for a year or two at least)

Posted by: Ново З | Apr 13 2024 12:04 utc | 191

To 181. Yes, Washington missed a trick.feom the start should have proposed to work with Ansar Allah to put pressure on Netanyahu, Whatever they actually wanted.

Posted by: T J Putnam | Apr 13 2024 12:33 utc | 193

Trubind1 | Apr 13 2024 1:02 utc | 175
Hmm. We’re generally on the same page (of course). I agree most Ukrainians are on the receiving end of the conflict, same as Palestinians – with the key difference I mentioned: Ukrainians had a choice, Palestinians didn’t. But IDF brutality notwithstanding, Palestinians aren’t in danger of “extinction”. Millions in the West Bank, millions more in neighbouring countries…the “people” (however you define that) will survive.
What’s actually puzzling me the most is Israel’s suicidal behaviour.
Israelis are educated people, generally speaking – they must be aware of the fact that Arabs/ Muslims outnumber them 100 to 1, and the IDF is already losing its supremacy. If Tel Aviv continues on this political path, (jewish) Israel won’t be around much longer. It would be logical to make peace *now* – rather than wait until force relations have changed and the other side can dictate terms & conditions.
“R2P” is a western invention to workaround (or rather ignore) international law.
It’s good that it’s gone to the dustbin of history imo – though of course it can be used to troll “humanitarian interventionists”: If ever there was a case for it…
Russia has used the R2P argument of “protecting Donbass civilians”, and it’s certainly very important for the Russian public. But let’s not kid ourselves: The key reason for intervening was/ is the threat of Ukraine becoming a NATO forward base threatening Russia’s territory. NATO’s ambiguity on this is what lead to the escalation. It’s pure geostrategy, covered with a propaganda narrative to ensure public support.

Posted by: smuks | Apr 13 2024 13:43 utc | 195

@ librul | Apr 12 2024 12:13 utc
Yes, I enjoined the comedy factor in the article you emphasised.

There is a problem with the article you reference. Caitlin Johnstone has covered it, namely, that there is this terrible idea out there that if only Netanyahu and a handful of others would go then all would be right with Israel.
The problem with Israel is that thin? Just sweep away a few bad eggs and then all is right with the world?

That woke Israeli sounded exactly like panicked West after they have realised that Russia is not playing by rules-based order while kicking their collective ass.

Posted by: scanalyse | Apr 13 2024 14:39 utc | 197

I have a couple of question for our American Barflies. Id be grateful if the House Trolls, Hasbarans and other Nato narrative-turdflingers hold fire until later please 🙂
The Israel lobby, not just limited to Aipac, is enormously powerful in the US. So much so that it gives the appearance (reality?) of controlling Congress & the Senate, Academia and the Press when it comes to any subject relating to Israel.
The US, from a foriegn policy perspective, is taking considerable diplomatic and reputational damage from its unconditional support (considering its actions) for Israel, post 7the October.
My first question is this: Is the grip on politics by the Israel Lobby so great that it will be able to maintain its control for the foreseeable future, regardless of how much damage is done externally (diplomacy) or domestically by rising resistance from US voters to Israels actions – thus harming incumbent representatives ?
My second question is : can the control of the narrative by the Israel lobby make sure that no amount of dissatisfaction with Israel will manifest itself in elections where pro Israel candidates fail to win?
At the bottom of all this is the thinking that the Lobby has been so successsful for so long that rational debate has ended and, the US is being driven over a geopolitical cliff, by idealogues.

Posted by: Judge Barbier | Apr 14 2024 8:52 utc | 199