Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
September 25, 2024
How Political Corruption Allows Antony Blinken To Break The Law

ProPublica headlines:

Israel Deliberately Blocked Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Two Government Bodies Concluded. Antony Blinken Rejected Them.

The selected formulation is unfortunately not covering the real issue at hand.

U.S. law prohibits military aid to countries which are hindering U.S. humanitarian aid.

Two government entities subordinated to the State Department concluded, in writing, that Israel was blocking their humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, reported to Congress the opposite conclusion because he intended to deliver more military aid to Gaza.

By misleading Congress on humanitarian aid to Gaza Blinken deliberated broke the law.

That should have been the headline:

The U.S. government’s two foremost authorities on humanitarian assistance concluded this spring that Israel had deliberately blocked deliveries of food and medicine into Gaza.

The U.S. Agency for International Development delivered its assessment to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the State Department’s refugees bureau made its stance known to top diplomats in late April. Their conclusion was explosive because U.S. law requires the government to cut off weapons shipments to countries that prevent the delivery of U.S.-backed humanitarian aid. Israel has been largely dependent on American bombs and other weapons in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.

But Blinken and the administration of President Joe Biden did not accept either finding. Days later, on May 10, Blinken delivered a carefully worded statement to Congress that said, “We do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance.”

This case should be sufficient for Congress to open an inquiry and to demand under oath witness statements from Blinken and others involved in the affair. It could be a great instrument during the current election campaign to damage the position of Democratic candidates.

However that is unlikely to happen.

Unfortunately Blinken lied to Congress about Israeli war crimes because he knew that he would get away with it.

The uni-state, the foreign policy conglomerate which resides in both parties and the bureaucracy, will not allow that U.S. war-crimes or those of its associated forces will ever be prosecuted. The Bush administration did get away with lying about weapons of mass destruction. The CIA and the Pentagon got away with torturing hundreds of innocent people.

Would the Republicans prosecuted Blinken as they should they would have to break with their own support and commitment to Zionist supremacy. With their own candidate's campaign depending on donations from Zionist billionaires there is no chance that the Republicans will break away from their previous policies.

The will of the people, as enacted in laws, gets ignored in favor of monies that allow established politicians to continue their games.

Comments

B – The problem we’re facing in the US is that the founders never contemplated a situation where entire branches of government would be derelict in their duties. Or actively collude to break the law, in bad faith.
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Sep 25 2024 13:15 utc | 14
I think that’s imprecise. The system of checks and balances was designed to assure the interests of certain class, and one part of that system was a very limited franchise. No real estate, no vote. This made for an electorate with a lot of shared interests and much to lose if they allowed corruption to take hold. Of course, it still entered the system, but for a long time it was unable to corrupt the system as a whole because the system represented a narrow class interest, and only members of that class had the means to corrupt it- but the others had the means to resist. Every widening of the franchise has made electoral politics more susceptible to manipulation, and put more ‘corruptibles’ in positions where they were worth corrupting. Cracking the existing class system, but not wiping it out or disempowering its members, created more openings and at the same time more motivation for those with the power to do so to corrupt the system in their own interests lest someone else beat them to the punch.
The US electoral system was designed around a very small electorate. Using it with a mass eloctorate guarantees corruption.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 25 2024 17:51 utc | 101

waynorinorway | Sep 25 2024 17:47 utc | 99
You’re likely right there. I think I cranked the dog a bit.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 17:56 utc | 102

“tonyopmoc,
So like how much Microdot have you tried in your lifetime ? Totally
Rock on’, man
Posted by: Exile | Sep 25 2024 17:16 utc | 85”
I don’t know what a Microdot is? Can you please supply more information about the meaning of your question.
I do have a microscope, but its only a cheap Chinese thing for about £10 from China.I can smell it still works at the age of 71. How’s yours?

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 17:56 utc | 103

From Southfront:

Hezbollah continues to launch heavy rocket attacks deep into northern Israel in response to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ongoing aerial campaign against Lebanon.
In three separate statements, Hezbollah said that it had launched two barrages of rockets at the settlement of Kiryat Motzkin and another salvo at an explosives factory in the Zichron area. Hebrew media reported interceptions over both areas, but no losses.
The group announced in another statement that its air defense opened fire at two Israeli fighter jets over the towns of Hula and Mays al-Jabal, forcing them to withdraw.

I wonder what air defence they’re referring to, and why it’s not more widely distributed.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Sep 25 2024 17:57 utc | 104

Good luck to this US Senator – in finding out the truth of the real total of military casualties in the Ukrainian armed forces – however I doubt he’ll get a straight answer on it.
“Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has demanded information on Ukraine’s losses in the conflict with Russia as a condition for approving further military assistance to Kiev, and accused US officials of keeping lawmakers in the dark on the issue.
This summer, the Kentucky representative introduced an amendment to next year’s National Defense Authorization Act, requiring a “report on the casualty and equipment losses for both sides involved in the conflict.” According to the politician, the amendment has been approved by the House and will be reviewed by the Senate.”
According to Massie, even House Speaker Mike Johnson does not know the real numbers.

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Sep 25 2024 18:04 utc | 105

NoName@1747
Both Brandeis and Bernard Baruch were prime operatives for the self-perpetuating Talmudist circle of Rabbis which since the return from Babylon became known as the heavily secretive Sanhedrin. Even the Pharisees take their marching orders from the Synagog of Satan, as Jesus, the Great Spiritual Teacher described them, prior to his arrest by the “authorities” for scourging the moneychangers and driving them from the Temple.

Posted by: aristodemos | Sep 25 2024 18:06 utc | 106

waynorinorway | Sep 25 2024 17:42 utc | 97
My mistake on threads. Ukraine open thread.
Starts about here Jake Blanchard | Sep 24 2024 1:27 utc | 368
Fair bit of abuse to others who were well known and had been here for a while prior to this.
But follow on through the thread from that point.
I hit control F to bring up the search box, type in the name then its just a matter of clicking through each result rather than scrolling the page.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 18:12 utc | 107

20 Packard
ICJ 26January
The ruling issued by the ICJ ordered six provisional measures including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Crucially, the Court also ordered Israel to preserve evidence of genocide and to submit a report to the Court, within one month, of all measures taken in line with its order.
19 July
“The ICJ fulfilled its legal and moral duties with this historic ruling. All states must now uphold their clear obligations: no aid, no assistance, no complicity, no money, no arms, no trade, no nothing – no actions of any kind to support Israel’s illegal occupation
you can ownload the 83 page ICJ decision

Posted by: Jo | Sep 25 2024 18:15 utc | 108

There’s a solution to the problems being experienced by the jewed-up West’s Mock Democracies. People must stop voting for political candidates who:
1. Make excuses for Jewrael’s bloodthirsty behavior.
2. Support privatisation of suppliers of basic necessities such as water, and energy, AND Solicit & Accept ‘donations’ from the new ‘private’ owners.
3. Have a record of conducting secret meetings about Defense and Economic Policy matters. It’s complete bunkum, and insultingly peurile, for amateur politicians to insist that some things are too important to keep the public fully informed about.
If one had to define what “The West” means in political terms then “Jewed-up Fake Christian with Neoliberal Characteristics” would adequately pigeonhole most NATO countries + Oz and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand.
They are utterly corrupt – the natural result of voting for Privately Owned politicians.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Sep 25 2024 18:15 utc | 109

With that post, I can see why your son banned you from his blog.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 17:48 utc | 101
I find you extremely rude and officious, as if you think The Moon of Alabama is your own Personal Blog.
My Son was 13 at the time he banned me…He was just starting off running his own ISP…all kids about the same age as him – all over the world – over 1 Millions hits in a year, supported by kids sending him money, to help pay for his very fast server located in The London Docklands.
He ain’t gone bust yet though come very close. he even had to move all his Servers to Manchester Science Park, when some dishonorouble people tried to steal his Business.
Who The F’ck are You Peter AU
Australians I’ve met are not normally like you. You don’t even give me the impression you are a Yank.

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 18:16 utc | 110

EI Livestream: Israel’s genocide in Gaza Day 355
https://x.com/intifada/status/1838971748856803692
“Hizballah fights back.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Sep 25 2024 18:22 utc | 111

tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 18:16 utc | 111
You were a bit of a nuisance at time but seemed harmless. But that pissing in b’s pocket, then pissing in Karl’s pocket, then straight after pissing in Karls pocket, you buddy up to the name changing troll Karl had just banned and that b had previously banned and is now abusing both of them.
So much gutter trash and out and out weirdos have blown in and collected here since b stopped policing the comment section its mind boggling.
Plenty of good people but also some real weird whack jobs as well.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 18:23 utc | 112

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Sep 25 2024 13:15 utc | 14
—————————————————————————-
One of the big lies behind Bourgeois Liberal Democracy is the so-called “separation of powers”. It exists primarily in the voters’ minds than in reality.

Posted by: Ed | Sep 25 2024 18:34 utc | 113

Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 17:38 utc | 95–
Paco | Sep 25 2024 17:39 utc | 96–
aristodemos | Sep 25 2024 17:23 utc | 90–
Thanks for your replies. Yes Peter, your idea has great merit as the Outlaw US Empire dishonors its responsibilities as the host nation just as it does the entire Charter.
Paco, the thanks for the FYI. Given the rate of events, I need three computers and three heads to monitor it all.
aristodemos, they look to be “out of control” but the reality is they’re flailing about in no particular manner as the reality is they’ve lost control, and more is slipping away from them daily. The Wolf has finally encountered the Brick House, while the pigs have matured to boars with very sharp tusks.

Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 25 2024 18:35 utc | 114

Honzo@102 That is provocative. But is it correct? First of all, the hypothesis the problem of government is the problem of “corruption” is altogether too ideological. Second, a property franchise in the American colonies was much less restrictive due to the different economic situation. Mass politics was certainly practiced in the New England colonies in particular, and the role of the popular masses in the Revolution was a living memory in Philadelphia. Thirs, the classical precedents in Athens, Sparta, other Greek city states, the Roman Republic, the city states of Italy and Germany such as Venice and Florence and Rome. Fourth, there is no more restricted franchise than a monarchy, or the Papacy too. They certainly seemed to be “corrupt” enough. But that brings us back to the ideological nature of the charge of “corruption.” Conceiving “corruption” as an eternal manifestation of God (or Devil) given human nature is clearly ideological enough and immune to mere facts of history. But seeing corruption as a problem in persons rather than the practical workings of the system itself is equally ideological. Using “corruption” as a causal principle needs documentation I think. Personally I think true corruption is what is legal but unjust, while the orthodox view as here is, corruption is what is illegal or perhaps what is against custom. This is inherently conservative in morals and politics I think.
Or, in other words, blaming a wide franchise for corruption is an implicit call to limit the franchise. That suits the conservative aim in framing corruption as the problem. But in my view, that is misleading.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Sep 25 2024 18:36 utc | 115

Posted by: Republicofscotland | Sep 25 2024 18:04 utc | 106
#########
In the US, Senators wield a lot of power.
Massie is a member of the House, which doesn’t carry any of the weight of the Senate where one vote has enormous power.
Massie is a good guy but, IMO, a misguided libertarian. Like Ron Paul, he’s there to be a gadfly, not to create any accountability.
One thing Yanks are good at is talking a good game. Right, Left, whatever, they know which buttons to press, and which catchphrases to repeat. It almost always yields nothing tangible.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Sep 25 2024 18:37 utc | 116

Publication by Hudson Institute describing war crime of exploding pagers as chutzpah. Vile and disgusting … favorite place for EU’s Von Der Leyen to speech and praise.
https://www.hudson.org/technology/exploding-pagers-tech-race-china-mike-gallagher

Posted by: Oui | Sep 25 2024 18:39 utc | 117

Re: state power
% of GDP allocated to the Gov’t (typical)
3% 18th Century
6% 1912
40%+ 2020
So…..those brutal Authoritarian Monarchies barely had any money compared to the lovely sweet democracies of today.
Dig on that

Posted by: Exile | Sep 25 2024 18:48 utc | 118

Posted by: Oui | Sep 25 2024 18:39 utc | 118
They must thing that gang raping of Palestinian prisoners is real “chutzpah”. Fucking scum!

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Sep 25 2024 18:49 utc | 119

PhilR@1723
In a re-established Republic; the basic Constitution will need to be thoroughly examined…as will all Amendments beginning with the Eleventh and right on through the most current one. Only section of that document which would be included almost in toto by the reformed document would be the first 10 Amendments, specifically the Bill of Rights.

Posted by: aristodemos | Sep 25 2024 18:50 utc | 120

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 17:56 utc | 104
Microdot is an LSD hit sold back in the day–certainly in the 70s.

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Sep 25 2024 18:56 utc | 121

So like how much Microdot have you tried in your lifetime ?
Posted by: Exile | Sep 25 2024 17:16 utc | 85
So I googled Microdot – still no wiser. Google’a AI obviously knows I come from Oldham. It remembers everything, but understands nothing – and I get loads of references to Manchester Oasis and Wigan The Verve
I was already in London with My Girlfriend – and so were They.
I even said to Lemmy (North Wales) at the back of the Marquee – wtf are you doing here?
He says he is living on a houseboat on the Thames
You could say wtf you wanted then. It was OK. No one complained

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 18:58 utc | 122

LoveDonbass@1837
No need to disregard gadflies like Congressman Massie. His somewhat libertarian but primarily populist stance as the representative of his Kentucky district is absolutely essential as a counterbalance to Miss Mc., “serving” as the senior senator from that state of intermingled affairs. That long sold-out $hithead somehow manages to get re-elected in KY, mostly as he happens to be a familiar name to those whose political understanding level is nestled deeply within the terminally deluded elements in this ruptured republic.
In deep contrast to the GOP minority leader; Massie is a breath of fresh air, rather than pleasing platitudes.

Posted by: aristodemos | Sep 25 2024 19:02 utc | 123

Below is from Reuters

MOSCOW, Sept 25 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it was struck with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any assault on it supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack.
His decision to change Russia’s official nuclear doctrine is the Kremlin’s answer to deliberations in the United States and Britain about whether or not to give Ukraine permission to fire conventional Western missiles into Russia.
Putin, opening a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, said that the changes were in response to a swiftly changing global landscape which had thrown up new threats and risks for Russia.
The 71-year-old Kremlin chief, the primary decision-maker on Russia’s vast nuclear arsenal, said he wanted to underscore one key change in particular.
“It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation,” Putin said.
“The conditions for Russia’s transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly fixed,” Putin said, adding that Moscow would consider such a move if it detected the start of a massive launch of missiles, aircraft or drones against it.
Russia reserved the right to also use nuclear weapons if it or ally Belarus were the subject of aggression, including by conventional weapons, Putin said.
Putin said the clarifications were carefully calibrated and commensurate with the modern military threats facing Russia – confirmation that the nuclear doctrine was changing.

CHECK!

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 19:05 utc | 124

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 18:23 utc | 113
“But that pissing in b’s pocket, then pissing in Karl’s pocket, then straight after pissing in Karls pocket, you buddy up to the name changing troll Karl had just banned and that b had previously banned and is now abusing both of them.”
I never thought an Australian, could give such a Brilliant impersonation of President Biden
“pissing in b’s pocket”? I bet you have never sent b any money whatsover.
I have and he acknowledged it.
So your turn now… He very rarely asks

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 19:07 utc | 125

aristodemos@121 thinks the abolition of slavery should be canceled, aka 13th amendment, if you take the words seriously. Somehow I’m not surprised.
It seems to be forgotten that the body of the Constitution provides for amendment, which means even the Framers accepted that the power of the people might change the very basis of the national government. To me that just reminds us the Framers knew what revolution was and despite their conservatism accepted it. To my mind, that makes them homologous to the Directory in France, except (big exception) the Framers were successful and the Directory wasn’t.
Incidentally, the Tenth Amendment reserving unspecified powers to both the people and the states means the amendment is effectively impossible to interpret. Unless you read it contextually with the Ninth Amendment? Or you insist that individual states must derive their powers from the people as a whole? But reading contextually is forbidden to conservatives, who adhere to the letter of the law (or Constitution) when it empowers the ruling class and defy it when it threatens to give rights, powers, liberties, immunities and privileges to the people as a whole. And the “people” is never conceded to be the majority, not by conservatives.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Sep 25 2024 19:08 utc | 126

tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 19:07 utc | 126
You have never met an Australian for a start. As for the rest…. You just come here to spam threads.
Get lost spammer.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 19:11 utc | 127

@ Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 18:12 utc | 108
OK I see what you’re saying. (I don’t spend much time on the Ukraine threads.)
In that post you gave there the Jake puppet ended with “See who can spot my new handle, if at all. Lol.”
So now Lavrov’s Dog -> Jake Blanchard -> Fred -> Escobar -> all the same jerk.
I still think Geopolitics/Derek Henry/Echo Chamber is one poster but a different one.
IOW two sockpuppets at work.
zzz time.

Posted by: waynorinorway | Sep 25 2024 19:13 utc | 128

A major flaw in the design of the constitution is that it enables the politics of corruption. The governed peons have no say in any important function of government, no enforcement power to require specific performance, and no view of or familiarity with the activities of those who abuse the government because the constitution allows activities of those who are appointed to govern to conduct their affairs as members of government in secret and with nearly total immunity. The electoral college, and the bifucation of American voting power into a two party system, cut American voting power off at the pass.
Posted by: snake | Sep 25 2024 13:19 utc | 16
—————————————————————
What can one expect from a constitution designed by, and for, slave masters and the extremely rich?

Posted by: Ed | Sep 25 2024 19:15 utc | 129

I’ve been wondering if tonyopmoc and Mark2 are one and the same. Haven’t seen much of Mark2 since tonyopmoc re-appeared. If they are the same, I much prefer Mark 2.

Posted by: Chas | Sep 25 2024 19:16 utc | 130

My dear b, what surprises you here: Isn’t this Empire 101? This isn’t a ‘story’, it’s just SOP.

Posted by: Patroklos | Sep 25 2024 19:18 utc | 131

Posted by: Chris Cosmos | Sep 25 2024 18:56 utc | 122
“Microdot is an LSD hit sold back in the day–certainly in the 70s”
Yeh, I remember it now. I got some at Stonehenge Free Festival in 1982, with my New Girlfriend. My Ex from Bradford 1981, said Tony – Do Not Take That (She was Really Sweet) – You will not be able to handle it….
She says – You need to be in a very safe place (home) with someone who totally loves you (new girlfriend) and do not give her (who she had never met) more than half a tab.
Do not take LSD unless you are already Really Happy and In Love
Never had a bad trip

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 19:20 utc | 132

waynorinorway | Sep 25 2024 19:13 utc | 129
I think it was the second last page of that thread, you can see where jake is interspersed with geo on the same meme and in one case, a straight out copy paste of the first but using the other name. both names to the same post. Also the geo name only appeared some time after the jake identity said it was changing its name.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 19:23 utc | 133

A ground invasion of southern Lebanon? Is Hizbollah now doing military strategy for Israel? I’m curious to see how many western mercenaries or Islamic Jihadis are part of this invasion.

Posted by: EoinW | Sep 25 2024 19:30 utc | 134

psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 19:05 utc | 125
At first glance it would seem easy to stop all attacks on Russia. Just make it clear that the response to any long range missiles hitting Russia will be nuclear strikes on every NATO capital.
The trouble is that there are people in the West who want war – any kind of war – at all cost. This complicates the decision making process for Russia and Iran.

Posted by: EoinW | Sep 25 2024 19:35 utc | 135

The US capitalist oligarchy made themselves the sovereign, and protect the courtiers who serve them dutifully. Of course they are above the law, there would have to be a revolution to overthrow them to change this reality. Blinken and his fellow genocidists will live a long and happy life, like so many of the Nazis who were let off from their crimes after WW2 by the West (but not by the Soviets). Only if a courtier forgets to follow orders to the letter, or an oligarch loses their mind and starts threatening the oligarch class as a whole, will any of them start to feel the arm of the law.

Posted by: Roger | Sep 25 2024 19:39 utc | 136

/cheep
^.^
I’d really like this fact of Blinken’s criminal behavior (lying about humanitarian aid reaching Gaza so as to pump more armaments into Israel) to become more widespread news, especially as we are so close to the election.
🙂
If you could, since the discussion here sort of petered out beyond this fact (not much to comment on besides “same as usual” expectations of criminal Blinken and Co.), please share this MoA article with other independent sites you visit!
^.^
I’m off to do my part in sharing this with the Wee Lil’ Bird Network! Be nice to each other while I’m away! Oh, and b, be so kind as to put aside my favorite hopscotch bottlecap so no one gets hurt stepping on it.
/cheep cheep
/foies away to share the news

Posted by: titmouse | Sep 25 2024 19:45 utc | 137

The US capitalist oligarchy made themselves the sovereign, and protect the courtiers who serve them dutifully. Of course they are above the law, there would have to be a revolution to overthrow them to change this reality. Blinken and his fellow genocidists will live a long and happy life, like so many of the Nazis who were let off from their crimes after WW2 by the West (but not by the Soviets). Only if a courtier forgets to follow orders to the letter, or an oligarch loses their mind and starts threatening the oligarch class as a whole, will any of them start to feel the arm of the law.
Posted by: Roger | Sep 25 2024 19:39 utc | 137
Totally agree, but you’re confidence in Blinken’s bright future betrays real doubt about the revolutionary potential of the international working class.
Cheer up. The revolutionary situation hasn’t been this good since Russia 1917. They say Lenin had no more than 10 reliable people a decade before the revolution. Of course the bourgeois tells us nobody cares, but why would anyone believe them. Go leaflet at any college campus and you’ll get a totally different impression.
Plus, who says it has to happen in America first? Western Europe is getting the worst of the hotpoker today and it’s got some historical familiarity with revolution. If it happens in just one western country that would change the global situation radically.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Sep 25 2024 19:52 utc | 138

Medvedev does not post too often on TG, he did today, concerning the new Nuclear doctrine announced today by Putin.
t.me/medvedev_telegram/531

Posted by: Paco | Sep 25 2024 19:52 utc | 139

At first glance it would seem easy to stop all attacks on Russia. Just make it clear that the response to any long range missiles hitting Russia will be nuclear strikes on every NATO capital.
Posted by: EoinW | Sep 25 2024 19:35 utc | 136
Its done. Guest at the open Ukraine thread just posted/linked it. Russian security council meeting on changing the nuke doctrine. On tg Kremlin channel. I assume a full document will appear on the Kremlin website soon.
Basically a nuclear response to any attack on Russia or Belarus. Attack by non nuclear country allied to a nuclear country – same response.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 19:52 utc | 140

So what? No one can do anything about it. Those who govern will stop any attempt to change things because the government serves the interest of those with BUCKS.
. . .
Posted by: snake | Sep 25 2024 13:19 utc | 16
=========
I don’t think the Founders/Framers foresaw parties funded by donors, PLUS the volume of cash enabled by Citizens United.
Rolling back that ruling is priority no. 1 to even think about attacking corruption in DC and state capitals.

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 19:57 utc | 141

MEE: Israel puts troops on alert for possible ground incursion into Lebanon
“‘We are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hizbollah has prepared as large military outposts,’ according to a statement from the military.”
General consensus is that Hezbollah is not in the villages, let alone having “prepared” them in any way. This statement seems to anticipate the villages will regardless be carpet bombed like Gaza.

Posted by: jayc | Sep 25 2024 20:02 utc | 142

Reuters has a posting up with the title
Putin to speak on nuclear deterrence as Ukraine tensions rise
The volume of troll feces in the bar speaks to the potential quality of some comments. I know that this info is tangential but, IMO, important to what is happening
The shit show continues until it doesn’t and maybe when it’s over the lies will stop
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 15:54 utc | 62
Here’s Tass’s article on that, as for trolls, I stopped reading some that sound like monkeys on an acid drip (or a failed AI sent to pasture here)
Russia expands category of states subjected to nuclear deterrence — Putin
The head of state noted that the modern military and political situation is changing rapidly, and Russia must take it into consideration, including the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and its allies
© Alexander Kazakov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS
MOSCOW, September 25. /TASS/. The proposed updated Russian nuclear doctrine expands the list of states and military unions subject to nuclear deterrence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
“The draft document expands the category of states and military unions subject to nuclear deterrence. It updates the list of military threats that require nuclear deterrence measures for their neutralization,” Putin said during the Russian Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence.
The head of state noted that the modern military and political situation is changing rapidly, and Russia must take it into consideration, including the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and its allies.
“It is important to predict the development of the situation and to adapt the strategic planning document in accordance with the current reality,” the president added.

Posted by: Newbie | Sep 25 2024 20:14 utc | 143

Newbie | Sep 25 2024 20:14 utc | 144
And psychohistorian from the Ukraine thread. Thanks for the extra postings on that.
I suspect having an inkling, or perhaps being warned by Russia on what was coming played a part in the US grounding the F16’s in the last 24 hours or so, and plainly stating it was too dangerous to strike Russia with long range weapons.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:25 utc | 144

“Nantucket Sleighride” is a term from the early whaling industry, which had a large presence on Nantucket Island. The “sleighride” occurs when a whale is harpooned. The injured whale tries to escape, but is bound to whaling boats by lines connected to the harpoons, so the whale drags the whaling boats for a “ride”. Eventually the whale is exhausted, and the whalers finish it off by lancing its heart.
Pretty gruesome, but that’s capitalism. It kept the whale oil lamps lit.
Posted by: William Gruff | Sep 25 2024 17:13 utc | 83
=================
OT, but someone has brought up Nantucket and whales!
To clarify:
A hit was landed by one harpooner on a whale boat.
After the “sleigh ride” (the joke is that snow is extremely rare on Nantucket), if the whale was still on the surface and had not sounded and gotten away, the harpoonist would aim to hit the exhausted whale’s lungs and heart.
They rowed and towed the dying whale back to the mother ship, made it fast to the vessel, and immediately started to process it. Depending on what type of whale and what type of product it supplied.
Multiple images of how whaling was actually done:
https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/0006.php
https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/whale-whaling-thumbnails.php
https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/whale-whaling-thumbnails2.php
https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/whale-whaling-thumbnails3.php
https://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/whale-whaling-thumbnails4.php
More photos here from the early 20th C (New Bedford Whaling Museum):
https://www.nps.gov/nebe/learn/historyculture/whalehunt.htm
Just when the North Atlantic right whale population was starting to recover from centuries of being hunted almost to extinction, along come fishing gear and offshore wind and other disruptions to their life cycle to kill them off again. (It was called the right whale because it was the easiest to catch.) Now there are just 338 individuals left, of which just 70 are reproducing females.

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 145

Is the update on Russia nuclear policy also related to events in the Middle East: Notably Israel’s attempted strikes on Tartous? Netanyahu has been reported as not only authorizing an immediate invasion of Lebanon but also with the dictate to “destroy everything.” If true, this would reference a distinctly visceral as opposed to strategic response, since such commentary and potential invasion would take place in full view of the UN General Assembly, many of whose participants such as China have been excoriating Israel for their actions in Gaza and Lebanon, labeling them clearly as “terrorism”, genocide and viscious war crimes. Rumors on side bar to comments suggest Hezbollah is more than ready for such invasion and that militias of non state actors enraged with Israel’s actions are organizing in Syria. Desperation drives wildly poorly considered behavior – is Putin anticipating that a deranged Netanyahu and his fellow travelers (some in the White House?) would consider nuclear weapons on Russian assets in Syria?

Posted by: abierno | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 146

@ Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:25 utc | 145
How long until surrender?

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 147

Newbie | Sep 25 2024 20:14 utc | 144
And psychohistorian from the Ukraine thread. Thanks for the extra postings on that.
I suspect having an inkling, or perhaps being warned by Russia on what was coming played a part in the US grounding the F16’s in the last 24 hours or so, and plainly stating it was too dangerous to strike Russia with long range weapons.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:25 utc | 145
I often post and say it’s from Tass.
It’s often worth following the news there (though sometimes on palestine they sit too much on the fence and use western MSN format)
You get updates on the SMO, updates on kremlin, updates on foreign affairs… not half bad if I had to just have one news source.

Posted by: Newbie | Sep 25 2024 20:37 utc | 148

@ abierno | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 147 with the good question about the breath of coverage assumed in the latest Russia nuke position.
If you read here much you know I call this a civilization war and yes, I think all the parts are connected. Occupied Palestine is just another proxy of the God Of Mammon cult and you know they heard what Putin said…….CHECK!

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 20:41 utc | 149

The vast majority of Children, tend to learn their basic skills, from their Mum And Dad, their Older Brothers and Sisters, and now, their Grandmother and Grandad
She just said to me, after to coming home from a Monty Python Theatre show in London, can You Tell The Grandkids how to BEHAVE at Breakfast Time – They RESPECT You.
My eldest brother said to me, when he briefly came back from university when I was 15…if you can find all the bits of my BSA250 C15 and put it all back together – its yours for free – I don’t want any money for it…
What you are giving me, your Motorbike?????? I am 15 you lunatic…
So I was riding it completely legally on my 16th Birthday… My Dad had already fixed with a brief Apprenticeship at The Electrical Contractors….You need to learn all The Practical Skills First (Electrics and Plumbing) – Before You Do Your Further Education, or you will have no money to put Petrol in Your Motorbike, to go to College.
Other Children inherit the Skills of their Mum, and become Nurses, Paramedics, policeman, and fireman – but they had more courage than me..
It was much easier and far better paid doing what I wanted to do.
I kept applying, and the kept turning me down, but on the third attempt, my social skills at interviews, (mainly due to working on a building site, for 3 days, such that I couldn’t take any more – and then losing my dole – I am registered as a computer Programmer – Well you did accept the job…)
I had also worked out how to pass THE ICL COMPUTER TEST – its more practice than IQ….
They offered me the job. I had only done a year at University, and was only 19
I still had no money, Can I claim 39p a mile on my Motorbike?
No, we can see from your CV you have also passed the Test to Drive a Car..
You need to get a Car. It cost me £35. My Dad at the age of 72, helped me remove the Petrol Tank with a hole in it, and replace it with a New One…
He ways you are ready to go now, on 39p a mile…Manchester to Bracknell over 200 miles + expenses + repeats – posh hotels
1972 was Really Good when I was 19…I just went for it. I didn’t like being on the dole.

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 20:47 utc | 150

Never had a bad trip
Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 19:20 utc | 133
===========
The reason you annoy people here is that your comments are totally off-topic, personal reminiscenses that no one is interested in and that just take up space.
I have seen your comments at other political blogs and they are always the same nostalgic, airy-fairy irrelevancies.
You might be happier at a blog about nostalgia and life in the 1970s.

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:50 utc | 151

psychohistorian | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 148 “How long until surrender?”
Shortly after they have torn Zelensky to pieces. I suspect they are a bit too cranky to go to the trouble of hanging him from a light post
Judging by the numbers on the crumbling Donbass front now deserting, numbers quickly rising, it shouldn’t be long before they turn their eyes on Zelesky. The resistance movement in Ukraine (to Zelensky) has been growing rapidly.
The Brits and the Euro twits may try and drag it out a bit more, but they won’t have a proxy army, just a few die hard Nazis. If the previous general that’s now ambassador to Britain is installed, that may drag it out a bit as he is the one had a large pic of Bandera hanging behind him in his office.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:52 utc | 152

..
1972 was Really Good when I was 19…I just went for it. I didn’t like being on the dole.
Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 20:47 utc | 151
======================
What I said.

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:54 utc | 153

Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:50 utc | 152
A somewhat different version of Vargas. In this case going by the earlier comment, an LSD fried brain.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:56 utc | 154

Newbie | Sep 25 2024 20:37 utc | 149
Thanks. I became quite ill a while ago and since then never been able to concentrate on longer reads. I since realized its the black and white contrast. I scan a few twitter accounts that post a repost good range of whats in various media ‘ short summaries ect, the Ukie tg accounts, a Reuters headlines once a day. he covers most things, then I read here fore whatever I have missed in my now limited reading. This black on blue contrast is still readable for me.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 21:05 utc | 155

I just found out that the US still controls all of the money that Iraq earns from its oil sales. The US and UK were allowed to do this while they were occupying Iraq, via a UN Security Council resolution, although the funds were supposed to be held at Iraq’s central bank. Instead the funds are held in the Federal Reserve of the US.
Iraq was considered to no longer be under occupation in 2008, and in 2010 the USSC issued a resolution demanding the closure of the US Developement Fund for Iraq (DFI), as this holding of funds is called. The UN has repeatedly demanded that the US transfer all the funds back to Iraq. The US refuses to do so.
A US executive order which the US has used as a “legal” document to “override” the UNSC order, has been renewed annually by every US president up to and including Biden in 2024. This way, the US holds all of Iraq’s oil money and when the Iraqi government needs money to pay salaries, buy food, medicine, build schools, do construction projects, etc., they have to make a request to the US Treasury. The Treasury will approve or deny the requests (based on some secret formula) and will send the amount it has approved to Iraq in planeloads of actual cash each month. The funds the US holds were valued at $41 billion as of 2023.
This whole process makes it really easy for the US to blackmail Iraq.
For instance, “Whenever Washington feels that Iraq is not compliant with US regional goals, these fund transfers can be delayed or reduced. In January 2020, for instance, after the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel US troops following the assassination of Iranian Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Trump administration threatened to freeze Iraq’s access to its oil revenues,” per the article.
I wonder how many other UNSC resolutions we are currently breaking, or if we will ever find out. Helps explain why the US gov’t doesn’t give a damn if Israel listens to the UN.
Entire article here: https://thecradle.co/articles/why-does-the-us-still-control-every-penny-of-iraqi-oil-revenues

Posted by: teri | Sep 25 2024 21:21 utc | 156

We don’t care about the colour of your skin, and We are sometimes enthralled, and embraced by your music and culture In so many different ways you mostly represent and portray the entire human race.
In England what have got as our New Leader?
Sir Keir Starmer – a Complete Disgrace to the Human Race – Can’t tell the Diffenece Between Sausages and over 45,000 Dead Women and Babies _ Live in Liverpool????Labour Party Conference.
Genocide Bill – Kill em all Freeze them to Death???
If it wasn’t for this current lunatic, trying to start WWIII – even the Pentagon, think he should be locked up in a Mental Hospital, and Straight Jacket
We might well have gone to Cyprus Rocks 2024
Its still on. Everyone is very nice..Still recovering from a bit of Sepsis, and we do not like bombs.
Are the Russians allowed this Year?

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 21:29 utc | 157

I wonder how many other UNSC resolutions we are currently breaking, or if we will ever find out.
Posted by: teri | Sep 25 2024 21:21 utc | 157
Passed UNSC resolutions are international law. Mink II was international law. UN Charter once signed and ratified is domestic and international law.
How many other? You would probably have gather up all the fingers and toes of the dead Palestinians to add up the total.
karlof1 has concentrated on that area and it is the reason he has long named the US the Outlaw Empire.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 21:32 utc | 158

Jim H @ 8
“‘Rootless cosmopolitan’ is no antisemitic canard. It is simply a calm, factual description of the repeatedly observed behavior of rootless cosmopolitans such as Blinkey.”
Recall that Blinken grew up in the Paris apartment of Sam Posar, Robert Maxwell’s attorney. Blinken is legally an American citizen but has little n common with his countrymen.
Recall that Sam Posar was the last man to see Robert Maxwell alive. Maxwell fell overboard from his yacht, at night, observed by no one but his attorney. Maxwell had been caught dead to rights embezzling/looting the entirety of all his employees pension funds. Posar had already told him there was no way out legally. So, overboard. No body was ever found. There was a large state funeral in Israel.

Posted by: oldhippie | Sep 25 2024 21:36 utc | 159

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:54 utc | 154
What is your problem with me? Are you on LSD or gone mad on covid?
I merely wrote
“1972 was Really Good when I was 19…I just went for it. I didn’t like being on the dole.”
I worked exceedingly hard, when on the dole to get a job.
I was delighted and amazed when I got one.
What do you do for a livin luv?

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 21:46 utc | 160

Recall that Blinken grew up in the Paris apartment of Sam Posar, Robert Maxwell’s attorney. Blinken is legally an American citizen but has little n common with his countrymen.
Recall that Sam Posar was the last man to see Robert Maxwell alive. Maxwell fell overboard from his yacht, at night, observed by no one but his attorney. Maxwell had been caught dead to rights embezzling/looting the entirety of all his employees pension funds. Posar had already told him there was no way out legally. So, overboard. No body was ever found. There was a large state funeral in Israel.
Posted by: oldhippie | Sep 25 2024 21:36 utc | 160
News you can use. Thanks, old hippie.

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Sep 25 2024 21:46 utc | 161

3 Updates on Lebanon/Israel:
—————–
Israel’s ceasfire reportedly contains the following terms:
1. Surrender of Hezbullah in all of southern Lebanon and a withdrawal of soldiers beyond Litani river.
2. Creation of a de-militarized 7-km zone in southern Lebanon.
3. Implementation of 1701 UN deal, and the dismemberment of Hezbullah and all other non-state groups in Lebanon.
https://t.me/s/Middle_East_Spectator/
—————–
🇱🇧 Lebanese source close to Hezbollah: ‘I do not know what has given the Israelis the impression that Hezbollah will agree to a ceasefire, but we are extremely entertained by the absolute stupidity of this so-called proposal’
https://t.me/s/Middle_East_Spectator/
—————

Never go full retard – Sun Tsu
https://t.me/s/Middle_East_Spectator/

—————–

Posted by: teri | Sep 25 2024 22:01 utc | 162

Posted by: oldhippie | Sep 25 2024 21:36 utc | 160
The last words of Robert Maxwell were communicated at 4.45am on 5 November 1991 when he contacted the bridge of his luxury yacht to complain about the temperature of his cabin, demanding, in his customary gruff tone, that the crew turn up the air conditioning.
Twelve hours later, a Spanish fisherman spotted his naked body floating in the Atlantic Ocean – 15 miles from his boat.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 25 2024 22:06 utc | 163

The vast majority of the problems of the human race, are self afflicted. You do not have to eat all this shit, nor take the drugs that you are programmed, by relentless propaganda to swallow…
The vast majority of girls now over 50, look far fitter than their daughters…because they eat well, do loads of exercise and get high on RockFitChick – no interest in taking any drugs.
It is possible to get fit and sexy again, but is about self discipline not ozempic -jabbing your tummy followed by 10 jam do-nuts and 6 custard creams
3 pints of Speckled Hen is very much better, and contains most of the nutrients you might need to turn up at the next funeral…
another one jabbed – covid?
Its not going to get better, until more people take responsibilty for their own lives, and start telling the truth

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 22:10 utc | 164

Drop Site
@DropSiteNews
Secretary of State Blinken is asked about ProPublica’s reporting stating he ignored two different reports from within the administration that Israel was deliberately blocking aid into Gaza.
Blinken says this is ‘actually pretty typical’. His job is to ‘draw conclusions’ from different expert reports … and then ‘put out our own report’.
The interview concluded without a follow up.
https://x.com/DropSiteNews/status/1838966840300622301

Posted by: Menz | Sep 25 2024 22:18 utc | 165

Khalissee
@Kahlissee
Former MI5 Agent Annie Machon says Israeli intelligence service Mossad bombed their own embassy in London in 1994
They then stitched up two prominent Palestinian activists to take the blame
Samar Alami and Jawad Botmeh received 20 year sentences for a crime they didn’t commit
https://x.com/Kahlissee/status/1838518302143823872

Posted by: Menz | Sep 25 2024 22:22 utc | 166

tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 21:46 utc | 161
You’ve gone passed a joke. You are a troll who gets his narcotics fried jollies spamming blogs.
Fuck off troll.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 22:33 utc | 167

Posted by: Menz | Sep 25 2024 22:22 utc | 167
“Former MI5 Agent Annie Machon says…. ”
Nearly met her at a 9/11 Truth Tent at The Eastern Haze Music Festival where my wife and I took our teenage daughter and her friend about 1997
The music was surprisingly good, not all teenage stuff, and the Banglas turned up – George Harrison’s inspired kids from somewhere in India ?? They used to be big in London’s West End…
They were giving Free Food Away, and it would e impolite to say no, so I missed Annie Machon, though I did talk to the bloke outside with his CD’s and his blurb. I have no evidence whatsoever that it was David Shayler – but he seemed a nice bloke….How’s it going mate?
No one could give s hit

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 22:37 utc | 168

All roads no longer lead to Rome but to Jerusalem/Tel Aviv.

Posted by: Kaiama | Sep 25 2024 22:51 utc | 169

Posted by: Jane | Sep 25 2024 20:34 utc | 146
Why are you verbally attacking me, when I am trying to agree with you…
I have swum with whales…the first time just off Nefyn in North Wales….Scared the shit out of me..I thought they were sharks, so although I am a crap swimmer, I bought myself a pair of flippers, a snorkel mask, two kids and went diving with my wife…Probably seen more underwater than you…
Can you swim – or just float?
“Just when the North Atlantic right whale population was starting to recover from centuries of being hunted almost to extinction, along come fishing gear and offshore wind and other disruptions to their life cycle to kill them off again. (It was called the right whale because it was the easiest to catch.) Now there are just 338 individuals left, of which just 70 are reproducing females.”

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 22:55 utc | 170

Suppressed News.
@SuppressedNws
⚡️BREAKING: Israel has sent a truck filled with more than 80 decomposed bodies to Khan Younis.
Local sources added that the Ministry of Health asked israel for the identity of the bodies yet nothing was provided.
According to previous Hebrew Media reports, Israel has been excavating graves to perform DNA tests on bodies and bodies were also decomposing in Sde Teiman concentration camp, it’s not clear where the bodies originated from yet.
https://x.com/SuppressedNws/status/1838909527514640793

Posted by: Menz | Sep 25 2024 22:58 utc | 171

Posted by: Menz | Sep 25 2024 22:22 utc | 167
“Former MI5 Agent Annie Machon says…. ”
Nearly met her at a 9/11 Truth Tent at The Eastern Haze Music Festival where my wife and I took our teenage daughter and her friend about 1997
Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 22:37 utc | 169
Typical AI crap. I explained several times that they are illiterate (although good at weaving words) and suck at math and logic.
Afterwards he’ll be explaining that he met 007 in 1917.
9/11 references in 1997 when (almost) meeting Mi5 in a festival…
I was feeling this vibe from his first post but now it is a big F on Turing .

Posted by: Newbie | Sep 25 2024 22:59 utc | 172

@ 147 abierno
The two are related without any doubt. Lebanon and Syria are a terribly unstable reality at present. The western aim will be to further isolate Syria, to bring Lebanon under full western hegemony, which is partly what “Israel” is about now – destroying Hezballah. Hezballah are Iran backed, as is Syria aligned with Iran also now.
In that equation is Russia, which defends Syria, and Iran to a certain degree. Russia (and Iran and China and others) have an interest in keeping an east west access open, that would be via Syria given Turkey is not considered reliable. Russia also appreciates the use of Tartus as Mediterranean port.
The west have a north south controlling interest, to link europe via the levant to north Africa, to the Arabian peninsula, to control east west access, to deny access to Russia to the Mediterranean.
Iran and Syria is not so much an ideological framework with Russia but of pragmatic associations, where proximity and learned distrust of the west also shape understandings.
As support from Iran to Hezballah will be via Syria, it is quite possible that “Israel” at some point engages Syria or that Syria feels obliged to react to the endless low level targeting on its territory. At that point, or if an attack is launched on Iran , what would Russia do ? So far Russia acts defensively of both, probably engages in a limited way, or has set limits to “Israel”, against activity on Syria and Iran. Should “Israel” target Tartus on behalf of west, Russia is not likely to use a WMD on “Israel” for example, or if Turkey invades Lebanon via Syria and then sides with west, what would Russia do ?
There are far too many questions beyond those to try to get any idea at all, but the point is that Russia has set a clear limit with its recent statement : The tactics being applied in near and middle east will not be tolerated on Russian territory.
The clear danger is that an overlap, a confuscation in western thought, planning or presentation, leads it to act as if the rules of conflict involving Russia in the near east should logically therefore apply elsewhere, for example Ukraine. In the near east we might see “Israel” as a western proxy directly attack Russian assets with US approval of that being publicly aknowledged (for example troops from Syria cross into Lebanon, “Israel” attacks Syria heavily , Russia downs an “Israeli” aircraft, “Israel” attacks Russian bases and air defense) .
Allowing Ukraine by extension the same leeway of action, but actually within Russia, would be a very small step, easy to fob over public acceptance of. It would also be a very costly mistake.
Unfortunately I am not sure that the west takes any notice at all of the statements made beyond trying to recalculate how to circumvent them. That is to say the west appears to have no intention of building a framework of honourable respect of any kind with Russia.
There is a lot of hypothesis in the above clearly, and perceptions could be argued over endlessly, but some of the basic tenets of inter-relation of the two conflicts are not deniable in my opinion, at the very least will be visible to strategists and be responsible for shaping policy .

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 25 2024 23:07 utc | 173

The clear danger is that an overlap, a confuscation in western thought, planning or presentation, leads it to act as if the rules of conflict involving Russia in the near east should logically therefore apply elsewhere, for example Ukraine. In the near east we might see “Israel” as a western proxy directly attack Russian assets with US approval of that being publicly aknowledged (for example troops from Syria cross into Lebanon, “Israel” attacks Syria heavily , Russia downs an “Israeli” aircraft, “Israel” attacks Russian bases and air defense)
Posted by: Ornot | Sep 25 2024 23:07 utc | 174
Russian bases in Syria are, like embassies, Russian sovereign territory. I assume the new nuclear doctrine will apply. A nuclear nation or a nonnuclear nation allied to a nuclear nation, will get a nuclear response if it attacks Russia.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 23:17 utc | 174

My son has got a Sailing boat..I do not know all the details, but it was something about some large originally based in the USA, and Saudi Arabia,company, not paying their Bills to his Company who was hosting Their stuff ISP – London Fastest in The World..
He said if you don’t pay your Bills, I am going to cut you off…No money – No Money No Service….I am going to Sue you, and he did…He hired a Saudi…to sue the Saudi….The Lawyer, said he is serious about this, he has already turned up here, to give a full Presentation, and we nearly gave his company the job
Just Pay The Pay the Boy –
This all started with two 13 year old kids one in The USA and one in the UK playing computer games.
They actually really liked each other…so when invited into the depths of Saudi Arabia which didn’t phase him at all – well travelled with his parents and his school….
He asked him – whilst socialising it wasn’t all meetings…
How do You Meet a Girl?
He said well McDonalds has Two Entrances – The Girls Come in From The Left and The Boys come in from The Right.
So we did go Sailing with him in The North Atlantic – and hit an Enormous Storm
Saved by Sheltering in the Scilly Isles – which have the most beautiful beaches in the world, bar none – and we were close to running out of food.
I had brought along some fishing gear…and when you are hungry…the grandkids were extremely impressed…
Being at Sea, is not like being on a quiet English River, where you might catch a fish, maybe weigh it, and throw it back to live a longer life.
if you are trapped by a storm for 10 days, you kill and eat the fish
Pollock tastes even better than Cod
You Fridge Warriors, should wonder where food comes from..cos its you, they are after next, as you Fat Americans wobble to cast your vote….More War..More War.. More Genocide…
Good luck with that.

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 23:29 utc | 175

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 23:17 utc | 175
Is Russia the ‘knight in shining armour’?

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 25 2024 23:33 utc | 176

Zelensky is politicking in the US . . .here.

Posted by: Don Bacon | Sep 25 2024 23:33 utc | 177

Working Class Hero by John Lennon.
As soon as you’re born, they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
‘Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you’re clever and they despise a fool
‘Til you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they’ve tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can’t really function, you’re so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you’re so clever and classless and free
But you’re still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There’s room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me
If you want to be a hero, well, just follow me

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 25 2024 23:53 utc | 178

Siddhartha | Sep 25 2024 23:33 utc | 177
What do you reckon. A knight in shining armor is a soldier. A soldiers job is to destroy the enemy. In bygone days there used to also be warrior Kings. Today as per Clausewitz, war is an extension of politics. A soldier, an army, is a tool to be used when diplomacy has failed and politics needs extending.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 23:54 utc | 179

I was feeling this vibe from his first post but now it is a big F on Turing .
Posted by: Newbie | Sep 25 2024 22:59 utc | 173
“Alan Mathison Turing OBE FRS (/ˈtjʊərɪŋ/; 23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher and theoretical biologist.[5] He was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer”
I was nearly a year old when Turing died. I have no recollection of working with working with the inventor of the World Wide Web’s Dad..I was only about 20 years old when I was working for 3 months in Bracknell, but Tim’s Dad, also spent some time, as I did at ICL West Gorton Manchester, and most probably Manchester University
Conway Berners-Lee Dad
Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee (born 8 June 1955),[1] also known as TimBL, is an English computer scientist best known as the inventor of the World Wide Web, the HTML markup language, the URL system, and HTTP.
Americans think they invented everything including the TV

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 25 2024 23:56 utc | 180

Tobias Cole | Sep 25 2024 13:21 utc | 17
Susan Power. Watching her at the UN. I knew succubus are real.
She’s married to Cass Sunstein.

Sunstein is an American legal scholar known for his work in constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and behavioral economics.
He is also The New York Times best-selling author of The World According to Star Wars and Nudge.
He was the administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2012.
As a professor at the University of Chicago Law School for 27 years, he wrote influential works on regulatory and constitutional law, among other topics.
Since leaving the White House, Sunstein has been the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School.
In 2014, studies of legal publications found Sunstein to be the most frequently cited American legal scholar by a wide margin.

What his Wikipedia doesn’t credit, is his contribution to lawfare against Trump.
They. Are. All. Connected.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Sep 25 2024 23:59 utc | 181

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 23:54 utc | 180
I don’t think Russia is the knight in shining armour.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 0:00 utc | 182

In this case going by the earlier comment, an LSD fried brain.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 25 2024 20:56 utc | 155
=====
That seems to explain it.

Posted by: Jane | Sep 26 2024 0:06 utc | 183

I suspect that the ostensible deaths of both Robert Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein were staged and that they were both spirited alive into Israel, which owed both of them so much.

Posted by: Lysias | Sep 26 2024 0:14 utc | 184

I don’t think Russia is the knight in shining armour.
Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 0:00 utc | 183
Why is that?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 0:15 utc | 185

@ 175 Peter AU
That Syria allows the base at Tartus sovereign status (for 49 yrs) does not make Tartus a Russian territory. The same applies for embassies, where the agreements kept to are “as if” they were sovereign territory, and where failure to respect that understanding is very poorly looked upon – because it is understood as essential in the realm of international relations to grant unhindered representation for communication within a country, and to allow a service to own nationals abroad. The embassies are not above national law however, if national law decides to de-recognise them (or the countries they pertain to even).
There are eschelons of hierarchy to all of these questions, and obviously different countries may respect different hierarchy or perceptions.
So an attack on Tartus might be understood as an attack on Syria by Syria and Russia, or as an attack on Russia proper by Russia, as self defense from an illegal Russian base by “Israel” ( because the Syrian government might be deemed as not legitimate). Etc.
Even for a nation to purposefully harm another nation’s citizens, wherever they may be, can be regarded as an attack on their nation.
Hence the clarifications by Russia.
Personally I take Russia to mean the homeland proper – I might be mistaken.
If Tartus was attacked I think Russia would retaliate on the proxy country attacking, and not using WMD. “Israel” would start losing all its jets.

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 26 2024 0:16 utc | 186

decades experience i can share that a shill is present posting llm-derrived material. Nomenclature of “t”. They’re testing here.

Posted by: NJH | Sep 26 2024 0:19 utc | 187

Chris N | Sep 25 2024 13:39 utc | 23
… Zionist extremists don’t want unconditional surrender – they want ethnic cleansing…
Which is something they are achieving in Ukraine, with significantly less scrutiny and outrage per Gaza.
The two projects are connected. If you know, you know.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Sep 26 2024 0:20 utc | 188

The embassies are not above national law however, if national law decides to de-recognise them
Ornot | Sep 26 2024 0:16 utc | 187
Police, troops anything of that nature is I believe grounds for war. Assange, US had to do a regime change in Ecuador then police were invited in to arrest Assange.
There was some incident in south America just recently I think it might have been Ecuadorian troops entering the Colombian embassy or something like that There was talk about war or something. I noticed it but didn’t follow up on it.
I haven’t ever read international law in this regard, just things I have picked up/assumed over the years.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 0:25 utc | 189

Menz 166
thanks for that share.
“Blinken says this is ‘actually pretty typical’. His job is to ‘draw conclusions’ from different expert reports … and then ‘put out our own report’.”
peak “banality of evil” weasel-wording. he’s asked a specific question with specific reference to detailed documents, which he infers were superseded by other documents (i.e. USAID). Fairly sure the USAID doc does not do that, and fairly sure no other document does either. His non-specific inference required a follow-up by the news anchor (which didn’t happen). In context of the brutal horrors of the last year, Blinken’s blithe remarks are simply repugnant and outside of the US political-media bubble will be understood as such.

Posted by: jayc | Sep 26 2024 0:39 utc | 190

The topic of this thread is How Political Corruption Allows …
Here’s the ultimate nexus of political corruption… Ukraine and the U$ ……
Source= RT.
US house speaker demands Zelensky fire Ukrainian ambassador
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has called for Vladimir Zelensky to fire Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador in Washington, accusing her of interference in American elections.
“I demand that you immediately fire Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova,” Johnson wrote in a letter to Zelensky on Wednesday, noting that she organized the Pennsylvania event.
“The facility was in a politically contested battleground state, was led by a top political surrogate for Kamala Harris, and failed to include a single Republican because — on purpose — no Republicans were invited,” Johnson wrote.
“The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference.”
The Louisiana Republican said that his party has lost trust in Markarova’s ability to serve in the US and that she “should be removed from her post immediately.”
While both Republicans and Democrats support Ukraine against Russia, Johnson wrote, “our relationship is unnecessarily tested and needlessly tarnished” when Zelensky and others in Kiev speak ill of Republican candidates in the media.
“These incidents cannot be repeated,” Johnson wrote, urging Zelensky to “take immediate action.”

Posted by: Melaleuca | Sep 26 2024 0:44 utc | 191

Posted by: steven t johnson | Sep 25 2024 18:36 utc | 116
Honzo@102 That is provocative. But is it correct? First of all, the hypothesis the problem of government is the problem of “corruption” is altogether too ideological. Second, a property franchise in the American colonies was much less restrictive due to the different economic situation. Mass politics was certainly practiced in the New England colonies in particular, and the role of the popular masses in the Revolution was a living memory in Philadelphia. Thirs, the classical precedents in Athens, Sparta, other Greek city states, the Roman Republic, the city states of Italy and Germany such as Venice and Florence and Rome. Fourth, there is no more restricted franchise than a monarchy, or the Papacy too. They certainly seemed to be “corrupt” enough. But that brings us back to the ideological nature of the charge of “corruption.” Conceiving “corruption” as an eternal manifestation of God (or Devil) given human nature is clearly ideological enough and immune to mere facts of history. But seeing corruption as a problem in persons rather than the practical workings of the system itself is equally ideological. Using “corruption” as a causal principle needs documentation I think. Personally I think true corruption is what is legal but unjust, while the orthodox view as here is, corruption is what is illegal or perhaps what is against custom. This is inherently conservative in morals and politics I think.
Or, in other words, blaming a wide franchise for corruption is an implicit call to limit the franchise. That suits the conservative aim in framing corruption as the problem. But in my view, that is misleading.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Sep 25 2024 18:36 utc | 116
To begin with, I did not assert that the problem of government is the problem of corruption. I said that a particular system of democracy in a mass context was an enabler of corruption. So, your reply is irrelevant or ‘misleading.’
As far as mass democracy in New England goes, in 1860 there were 1.2 million people living in Massachusetts, for example. Half of these may be presumed to be female, and thus without the franchise. About sixty percent of the remainder were too young to vote. Only 160,000 votes were cast in the state in the 1860 presidential election. I don’t see that as an exercise in ‘mass democracy’ relevant to the modern scale.
To be clear, the problem with American Democracy is capitalism, and the electoral system enables capitalism to corrupt the political system more easily as the franchise gets wider, the number of voters increases, and capital is concentrated into few and fewer hands. Having said that, American democracy was always a fraud, full of mechanisms to maintain the power of the upper echelons of the ruling class by enlisting the participation of smaller capitalists and small holders at a period when many of their interests aligned. The fact that lots of people fought and died to liberate the bourgeoisie from the constraints of feudalism doesn’t show us anything about the democratic nature of the system (which didn’t exist yet anyway). After all, the French peasants fought for the King against their revolution. It was the urban minority that powered the revolution.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 26 2024 0:46 utc | 192

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 0:15 utc | 186
I’m not aware of Russia condemning Israel for its genocidal actions in Gaza.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 0:47 utc | 193

decades experience i can share that a shill is present posting llm-derrived material. Nomenclature of “t”. They’re testing here.
Posted by: NJH | Sep 26 2024 0:19 utc | 188
I think the model must have been trained on Kamala Harris and other subjects of MK-Ultra.

Posted by: Honzo | Sep 26 2024 0:52 utc | 194

Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 0:47 utc | 194 “I’m not aware of Russia condemning Israel for its genocidal actions in Gaza.”
Putin likened it to the siege of Stalingrad. I haven’t read The Russian Ambassador to the UN when this issue comes up. Have you?

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 0:57 utc | 195

Now is the time to be a Prepper if you live in the UK, and think the entire idea is ridiculous, cos you have never experienced it being REALLY COLD, nor having NO ELECTRICITY – NOR getting to The Supermarkets, cos the Snow is so Deep…and there is no one there..
What will you do?
Have you got a torch, and some camping gear to make a cup of coffee, and cook some food to eat…
Have you got a camping toilet, and some ice shoes, may be skis…
and have you got a cat and some games to play, and hot water bottles, and a battery, and a battery charger, for when the electricity comes back on for a bit.
If it gets really cold, unless you are young, strong and fit, you are likely to get really cold, and if you do not have the money to pay your heating bill, because the Labour Government has just cancelled the money that you thought you were about to receive, well don’t cluster round the telly to warm up cos the telly won’t work with. A cat might help…keep you warm in bed

Posted by: tonyopmoc | Sep 26 2024 0:57 utc | 196

Give your profits to b.
Sell gold and give your profits to b. Don’t just laugh at the gold bugs.
Never go against the producers of the commodity, as they are experts in the physical market they operate in. Have operated in all their lives is a very hard lesson they are about to learn.
Producers are getting short and off loading during these rallies.The banks That fund the gold producers via loans are also getting short.
That and cutting interest rates isn’t inflationary – MMT 101.
The zombies think cutting interest rates are inflationary and raising interest rates fights inflation. They have it all backwards.
Ask Japan and the EU who slashed interest rates for decades and had a zero interest and negative interest rate policy for years.They could never hit their 2% inflation target and were always below it. They suffered from deflation not inflationary pressures.
They thought cutting interest rates would cause inflation. They had it backwards.
They don’t understand the fundamentals. As Warren Mosler explains here.
Here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo8uVSqeik
You would think these people would understand this after all they have done nothing but shout about the $ 36 trillion national debt. How since the last Quarter of 2020 they have been screaming recession.
As Hudson explains it is held by the private sector in the form of US treasuries. That pays interest to house holds and businesses that hold.
Interest payments on $ 36 trillion worth of treasuries held by the public is Huge. Made up 4% of the 6% deficit.
Of course why their predictions of a recession was wrong because they are stupid.
$36 trillion of interest payments at 5.5% going to the public and they thought hiking rates fought inflation. When it only made inflation worse obviously as it was a HUGE fiscal stimulas.
Because they stupidly believe gold is an inflation edge they all piled into gold. Now gold is a FOMO play. The fear of missing out when every granny and their dog is in it and the postman.
Meanwhile producers and the banks who fund the producers are getting short. It is the 3 card monte trick of the decade. Where as per usual the sheep suffering from FOMO will get burned. We have seen it a million times before where gold bugs buy gold and pump up the price by advertising on the judge and Jimmy Dore using the usual agile standard myths to herd the sheep. Who can’t think for themselves.
The producers and the banks that fund the producers know like MMT’rs that cutting rates are not inflationary but deflationary. As $ billions of interest income on the $36 trillion of interest payments gets slashed. Which anything but a fiscal stimulas.
What happens after the rate cuts is you get a little pop up in gold like we have seen. The sheep rushing in On FOMO on a mis understanding of the fundamentals. Sold to them by a bunch of charlatans on judge nap and Jimmy Sore show who want to keep pumping up the position they hold.
Then the fundamentals and the True MMT understanding kicks in and gold heads downwards.
The more the cut rates the more gold falls.The producers of gold and the banks that fund the producers make out like bandits.
What about the working class people who’d all jumped into gold ? Told fairy tales by the gold bugs on social media. Who follow judge nap.and Jimmy dore etc, etc.
There the victims and always will be by these con artists.
So sell gold give your profits to b and never ever be taken in by the gold bugs again. It is why they disappeared for 30 years after their last scam.
Say hello to Elvira Nabiullina when you see her as she has it backwards also.

Posted by: Geopolitics | Sep 26 2024 1:08 utc | 197

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 0:57 utc | 196
I haven’t read any Russian statement condemning the genocide in Gaza.

Posted by: Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 1:09 utc | 198

Siddhartha | Sep 26 2024 1:09 utc | 199
Did a quick search before and one instance where the Russian ambassador stood up and walked out a the zionist rep was about to give his speech.
A lot of countries speak empty words. I guess to you, fluffy words words sound wonderful. But then you’ve always come across as a bit of a weird crank. You’ve got plenty of company with the gutter large amount of gutter trash that has blown in.
What are the Muslim and Arab states doing would be more to the point though. Russia has not just used empty words when it comes to the ethnic Russians of the former SSR’s.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Sep 26 2024 1:20 utc | 199

@ Peter AU 190
I don’t pretend to be a full authority on any of this. Even much “international law” is largely based on “custom” and is not engraved in stone. The UN was supposed to be forum for resolution, but as known its structure is often unworkable or corrupt.
Ultimately, if two nations disagree on the laws that are valid, they often go into conflict to impose their own version on the other and there is often not much other countries can do to stop them.
The most obvious and common of serious disputes are over territorial jurisdiction – borders and recognition of those. Tend to be by force.
As embassies are a representation of that, countries tread lightly with regard, because the message given otherwise is that other countries don’t count. No country wants its embassies to be seen free to be stormed whenever chosen either.
So diplomacy is often a very tacit reality.
These are some of the differences present between say “the rules based international order” and an accepted formal organisation (as would be a functioning UN for example).

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 26 2024 1:21 utc | 200