Rubio: "It’s not normal for the world to have a unipolar power."
President Joe Biden showed a lunatic believe of being 'the leader of world'. He cherished the extension of the 'unilateral moment' when the U.S., after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, could act globally without restrictions and without fear of consequences.
There is some dread abroad that President Donald Trump, with his boarish demanding style of negotiation, would also follow that view.
But Trump's choice as Secretary of State, former Senator Marco Rubio, is offering a different perspective. In an extensive interview with Megyn Kelly, Rubio is doing away with the unilateral moment and starts to endorse multipolarity.
He is asked for his big picture overview:
QUESTION: It’s such a tricky time to be Secretary of State, especially as a Republican, because you look at the Republican Party and it’s fractured internally about where we should be on foreign policy. [...] So how – just give me the 30,000-foot-level view of how you’re going to navigate that fracture.
Rubio seems to have thought quite a bit about this. Foreign policy as practiced over the last years, he says, has lost its focus:
I think the mission of American foreign policy – and this may sound sort of obvious, but I think it’s been lost. The interest of American foreign policy is to further the national interest of the United States of America, right? [..][A]nd that’s the way the world has always worked. The way the world has always worked is that the Chinese will do what’s in the best interests of China, the Russians will do what’s in the best interest of Russia, the Chileans are going to do what’s in the best interest of Chile, and the United States needs to do what’s in the best interest of the United States. Where our interests align, that’s where you have partnerships and alliances; where our differences are not aligned, that is where the job of diplomacy is to prevent conflict while still furthering our national interests and understanding they’re going to further theirs. And that’s been lost.
To recognize that the other side is pursuing its own (at least subjectively legitimate) interests is indeed what had been lost at the basis of U.S. diplomacy.
Rubio expands on that:
And I think that was lost at the end of the Cold War, because we were the only power in the world, and so we assumed this responsibility of sort of becoming the global government in many cases, trying to solve every problem. And there are terrible things happening in the world. There are. And then there are things that are terrible that impact our national interest directly, and we need to prioritize those again. So it’s not normal for the world to simply have a unipolar power. That was not – that was an anomaly. It was a product of the end of the Cold War, but eventually you were going to reach back to a point where you had a multipolar world, multi-great powers in different parts of the planet. We face that now with China and to some extent Russia, and then you have rogue states like Iran and North Korea you have to deal with.
That is a great (if very late) insight from a U.S. secretary for foreign policy.
The Biden administration had overextended the unilateral moment by underestimating Russia. It had launched the proxy-war in Ukraine because it had thought that Russia was weak. It limited technical exports to China because it thought that would hinder its development. It was so blind that it came to believe that it was successful in this.
In an exit interview with the Financial Times Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan is still making those claims (archived):
“Our alliances are stronger than they’ve been in a very long time. Our competitors and adversaries are weaker too in ways that have defied expectations, certainly with China. And we’ve produced that very strong American hand without getting entangled in war overseas,” [Sullivan] argues.
People with clear eyes have a different view. Since the U.S. started its proxy-war in Ukraine, which that country is losing, Russia has nearly tripled its forces. The former British commodore Steve Jermy asserts that NATO would lose in a conflict with it:
In summary, NATO is positioning itself as Europe’s defender, yet lacks the industrial capacity to sustain peer-to-peer warfighting, is wholly dependent on U.S. forces for the remotest chance of success, is unable satisfactorily to defend its sea lines of communication against Russian submarine, or its training and industrial infrastructure against strategic ballistic bombardment, is comprised of a diverse mix of un-bloodied conventional forces, and lacks the capacity to think and act strategically.An easy NATO victory cannot be assumed, and I am afraid that the opposite looks far more likely to me.
Sullivan's 'success' in limiting China's progress has also defeated itself (archived):
China policy, [Sullivan] adds, was another achievement. “America is in a demonstrably better position in the long-term competition with China than we were, and yet we did it while stabilising the relationship and finding areas to work together.”He says the US and China are in a “decisive decade” that will determine which comes out ahead in key areas such as artificial intelligence and the transition to a clean energy economy. “Four out of those 10 years in the decisive decade . . . [have] turned in America’s favour in a really significant way,” says Sullivan, adding that the export controls the US imposed on high-end chips and manufacturing equipment have had a “demonstrable impact”.
They indeed had a demonstrable impact. Lacking access to U.S. made tools China set out to make its own, better ones:
Days after our lunch, a Chinese company called DeepSeek stunned Silicon Valley by unveiling an AI model that appears to rival US models. After the news broke, I emailed Sullivan to get his reaction. He says it shows that the US needs to “stay on our game” but he is “still confident in the American lead” in AI. He stresses that it “only reinforces” his view on the importance of export controls.
China has in fact blown up the U.S. idea of having expensive to use, privately owned AI models closed off from public scrutiny. It open-sourced its own better models which can now be used for mere pennies. There is no longer an 'American lead' in this field.
Rubio seems to have understood that unilateral behavior has failed and that a multilateral world requires to pragmatically compromise:
So now more than ever we need to remember that foreign policy should always be about furthering the national interest of the United States and doing so, to the extent possible, avoiding war and armed conflict, which we have seen two times in the last century be very costly.
...
[N]ow you can have a framework by which you analyze not just diplomacy but foreign aid and who we would line up with and the return of pragmatism. And that’s not an abandonment of our principles. I’m not a fan or a giddy supporter of some horrifying human rights violator somewhere in the world. By the same token, diplomacy has always required us and foreign policy has always required us to work in the national interest, sometimes in cooperation with people who we wouldn’t invite over for dinner or people who we wouldn’t necessarily ever want to be led by. And so that’s a balance, but it’s the sort of pragmatic and mature balance we have to have in foreign policy.
There are many foreign policy points in Rubio's long interview I wholeheartedly disagree with.
But I am delighted to see that he gets the basic principal right: the U.S. has interests; so do others(!); surviving requires compromise.
Posted by b on February 1, 2025 at 17:21 UTC | Permalink
next page »Common Sense?? From Rubio?? AMAZING, Grace...I'll take it. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, B. Good job.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 1 2025 17:29 utc | 2
Astonishing to hear from Rubio, but very welcome. Hopefully this sane view will be put into practice.
Hopefully this sane view will be put into practice.
Posted by: D | Feb 1 2025 17:34 utc | 3
---
Eyes on Panama.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 1 2025 17:37 utc | 4
At the end of the day, like many others in the current administration; Rubio will be solely judged by his actions not just fancy words. In the meanwhile, I remain skeptical.
Posted by: pepe | Feb 1 2025 17:47 utc | 5
Words are cheap. I'll believe it when I see it.
Everything Trump has said and done in the short time since he took up his post is contrary to - regard for others' interests and compromise.
Posted by: JB | Feb 1 2025 17:53 utc | 6
"Rubio seems to have understood that unilateral behaviour has failed and that a multilateral world requires to pragmatically compromise."
Thanks. Let's hope.
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 1 2025 17:57 utc | 7
Rubio claiming he doesn't want a unipolar world led by the US empire happens to sound like Alice Weidel claiming Hitler was a communist.
That same Rubio who made the preposterous claim that China can supposedly close the Panama canal, a lie to facilitate US re-appropriation of the canal so it can control and block trade between China and Latin American countries.
🇺🇸The US will impose 100% tariffs on BRICS if it tries to replace the dollar in world trade - Trump🇺🇸 The U.S. will impose tariffs on imports from Canada, China, and Mexico starting February 1, the White House announced.
The tariffs will be 25% for Mexico and Canada and 10% for China.🇺🇸🇪🇺Trump says he will impose tariffs on EU goods because Brussels treats the US terribly.
🇺🇸🇵🇦Trump: Let's Take Back the Panama Canal
To me that sounds like the US empire desperately grasping on to its unipolarity, by amongst other demanding higher tributes from its direct vassals.
Rubio knows his task and will act accordingly. Pursuing the (impossible) preservation of the US empire as the world unipolar power.
Posted by: xor | Feb 1 2025 18:00 utc | 8
Rubio within the declining Empire admits the obvious to the Imperial audience that many globally have known for years. As pepe @5 notes, the Outlaw US Empire's actions will determine how well it understands what Rubio said. Trump's imperialistic blather says it doesn't; indeed, there's great conflict there. What all of the Empire's competitors have--innovation, sophistication, smart planning, and higher quality human capital--the Empire lacks, which is why it's declining. For the past two generations, the Empire has failed to advance the wellbeing of its primary resource--its human capital--but very few Neoliberals see or understand that negative as they focus only on the amounts of rent they can extract. Having the market cap of tech stocks chopped by 1-2 Trillion in a week ought to be a wake-up call, but all Trump can muster is the overly worn and false accusation that the innovation and others were "stolen"--another BigLie that degrades the small amount of credibility held by Trump.
If Team Trump is to follow what Rubio has surprisingly admitted, there will be no attempts at Greenland, Canada, Mexico, or Panama, or anywhere else. Perhaps he read up on what happened almost 80 years ago at Yalta whose anniversary is in a few days. The Outlaw US Empire is diminished and declining and must begin to deal with that reality.
thanks b...
glenn diesen shared this perspective in an article that i shared last night on the open forum... here it is again for anyone interested..
Did the US Declare the End of the Unipolar World Order?
Professor Glenn Diesen
Posted by: james | Feb 1 2025 18:13 utc | 10
I think little marco has been taking doublespeak lessons from blinkenstein.
Admittedly, I will have to read the entire interview, but what b posted is a complete 180 from his entire political history. Especially in regards to Cuba, Venezuela, Columbia, Honduras, Haiti, Palestine - in fact the whole of West Asia and South America.
Posted by: motorslug | Feb 1 2025 18:18 utc | 12
In the Kelly interview, Rubio also said (based on nothing about China, but possible) --
China’s perception of America – this is China’s perception of the world. China’s perception of the world is that they are in a – they are inevitably going to be the world’s greatest power by 2035, 2050. Whatever date they’ve set in their mind, they believe that they are on an irreversible rise and we are in inevitable decline, that the West at large, but the U.S. in specific, is a tired, spent, former great power in inevitable decline. And they believe the foreign policy is about managing our decline and their rise, and they want nothing to interrupt it. That’s how they view the West writ large and the United States in particular.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 1 2025 18:19 utc | 13
only 12 cents of every dollar spend on US foreign aid reaches the end recipient. The NGOs in the middle consume the rest.
I'm actually impressed it's that much (12%). The number could also be compared to "welfare spending" (either in USA or elsewhere), which again has heavy overhead, lost in bureaucracy.
Posted by: Call it what u will | Feb 1 2025 18:19 utc | 14
The end of American exceptionalism would be a welcome new framework. There are a few blindspots in Rubio's formulations:
Projection - concerns over, for example, Chinese investment in Panama is expressed as strategic worries, without acknowledging aggressive US moves in the waters of south east Asia, as being realized through regional military alliances and with aggressive strategic intentions, such as impacting Chinese shipping lanes, openly discussed.
Lack of historical memory - failing to acknowledge “globalist” trade agreements which offshored US manufacturing, instead trying to portray this system as actions undertaken against USA rather than by the USA. Complaints of current export controls directed against US interests without acknowledging the deeper range of similar controls imposed by USA on China etc beforehand.
No mention of working according to International law as established by the United Nations system - something the BRICS countries make point of doing. The Trump admin appears prepared to continue the reckless assault on UN institutions and international humanitarian law in the occupied territories, continuing the diplomatic cover for these gross violations, and continuing the material support for these gross violations. In this way, the Trump vision appears as a step back to the international system as existed in pre-WW1 environment.
Posted by: jayc | Feb 1 2025 18:31 utc | 15
Seems Rubio is willing to cede ground for the time being in Eurasia, while further disciplining the EU and Latin America, especially with regards to an economic structure in the West entirely subsumed within the exigencies of American capital.
Posted by: Ludovic | Feb 1 2025 18:31 utc | 16
It is public knowledge now that USA did not expect Ukraine to beat Russia but only to be an antagonist as much as possible.Whereas EU had been led or fervently self believed that Russia would be beaten on the battlefield. One wonders if their delusional state is now brought to a state of realism, whether being faced by facts or self realisation, and are their citizens now at the point of exposing their folly so they are now in the process of being reduced to nought? Any signs? EU and UK still sending weaponry etc .
Posted by: Jo | Feb 1 2025 18:34 utc | 17
Dear Rubio, The world has always had a unipolar ruler, it’s called money, it fights with itself using other people’s bodies to make a buck. You have to go to the top to find it, half way up the rulers ladder is nowhere.
Posted by: sadness | Feb 1 2025 18:37 utc | 18
But I am delighted to see that he gets the basic principal right: the U.S. has interests; so do others(!); surviving requires compromise.b
Yes, multipolarity under US financial authority (irony).
;
The US financial class wants to maintain it's privileges across the world. Rubio and Trump are figureheacds, I am quite sure. The captain changes the figurehead as he likes. However pirates end up being eliminated themselves.The creative activities within the US have decreased since tthe 1990's at the very least. We now live in an era of "monsters' while awaiting for a new Renaissance. The old Christian civilization that was the backbone of Western development died after WWII. Now the "monsters" have their free ride. The Mosters zre ghe creatures living out of the corpses. They are destructive but they prepare the soil for a new life to come next.
Mark Svoboda coined the expression "Era of the Monsters" in a conversation he had with Nima of DialogueWorks yesterday. David Goldman of Asia Times has also expressed similar views in his book "How civilizations die".
Posted by: Richard L | Feb 1 2025 18:41 utc | 19
Rubio has a hard-on for Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, deal breakers. He and Trump are raging anti-communists and anything even slightly socialist is anathema to them. They may be talking to Venezuela now but trust Yankees as far as you can throw them.
I'm quite sure that a multipolar world is not part of Trump's vision of 'MAGA'.
It is only a matter of time before Trump's team of "smart, beautiful people" starts coming apart.
Little Marco hates socialism and Chavismo. Little Marco will help big Trump regime change Venezuela.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 1 2025 18:43 utc | 21
Important to remember that Rubio is a politician.
He still has Presidential ambitions.
He will promote whatever idea would get him closer to power.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 1 2025 18:53 utc | 22
I swear I’m not Rubio nor had I read his interview , but it stands
“as Kissinger said - Its dangerous to be an enemy of the USA - its lethal to be its ally.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Jan 31 2025 15:07 utc | 111
This phrase is repeated hundreds of times, and in many ways it would seem to apply, BUT
the original context was "if we do nothing, people will think", i.e. should the us fail to act they'd lose credibility
a better phrase, from kissinger, is " 'America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests'
But it is nothing new, Czar Alexander III said it better as “Russia only has two allies: the army and the navy.”
Posted by: Newbie | Jan 31 2025 16:10 utc | 125”
Posted by: Newbie | Feb 1 2025 18:59 utc | 23
At the end of the day, like many others in the current administration; Rubio will be solely judged by his actions not just fancy words. In the meanwhile, I remain skeptical.Posted by: pepe | Feb 1 2025 17:47 utc | 5
Agreed, he can “talk the talk”, let’s see him “walk the walk”.
And it’s got me wondering: who is the real target audience for this? The Global Majority? Are they going to get suckered or will they be suspicious (rightly so, IMHO) of such blandishments?
Who is Rubio really aiming at here?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 18:59 utc | 24
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is especially proud of its democracy. . .until now.
from Taipei Times--
EDITORIAL: Taiwan’s constitutional moment
. . .English theologian Thomas Fuller optimistically pointed out in 1650 that “it’s always darkest before the dawn.” We could paraphrase by saying the coldest days are just before the renewed hope of spring. However, one must temper any optimism about the damage being done in the legislature by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), under KMT legislative caucus leader Fu Kun-chi’s (傅崐萁) disruptive manipulation: All indications are that the chaos and disruption have only just begun. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 1 2025 19:03 utc | 25
I for one do not believe one word from Rubio. Words spelled by yankees are worth nothing. What about Canada, Greenland and Panama canal? What about tariffs?
Acts not words. Act like putting back Cuba to the list of terrorist States. Rogue countries by Rubio: I was thinking they have their own interests too?!
Peace through strength? Did he denied it?
Posted by: Naive | Feb 1 2025 19:05 utc | 26
Posted by: xor | Feb 1 2025 18:00 utc | 8
It is important to add to this list Trump's statements and US actions in the Middle East, among which, by way of example, direct strong-arm type of interference in Lebanon.
And Rubio is largely right in his understanding of China's view of the US; it is the view of many, because it is reality.
So instead of looking at everything through the confrontation/competition lens, why not accept China's and Russia's position that as powerful countries they share responsibility for peace, stability and welfare of the world and should, therefore, cooperate, in everyones interest.
But US interests do not cooperate, they dictate, or else. Rubio's words are not going to change that.
Posted by: JB | Feb 1 2025 19:08 utc | 27
thanks to b and the other great comments so far!
the contradictions of 'Murica continue to pile up
Posted by: E | Feb 1 2025 19:10 utc | 28
Megan Kelly is an interesting choice for this interview. She is unaffiliated with any media network. That she was the choice gives more leverage to any Trump request for access (publish a story) in a legacy platform (NYT por exemplo - a little Spanish lingo there for our Cuban Secretary of State).
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 19:14 utc | 29
The deep thinker Rubio has realized other countries are sovereign and have their own interests, and will not work with the US unless those interests are understood and respected.
Posted by: JustTruth | Feb 1 2025 19:14 utc | 30
Continuing my ending thought @9 regarding Yalta, there's lots of discussion about the possibility of a Yalta 2.0 occurring in the next few years while Trump remains POTUS. As Doctorow notes towards the end of his conversation with Judge Napolitano, Team Putin seems to have had such an arrangement when it tabled its security proposals in December 2021, which have evolved further into his conception/proposal for an Eurasian Security Structure that completely displaces NATO and any need for it. I've tied the adoption of such a structure to the finale to the US-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, while Doctorow sees it as a separate negotiation between today's Big Three--Putin, Xi and Trump. My reasoning is based on the lack of a legal entity on the Ukrainian side as neither Zelensky nor anyone from the Rada is legally legitimate under the current Ukrainian constitution. Here are the most important excerpts from their chat:
Napolitano: 15:51 Okay. Switching gears slightly, you have reminded me, and you’ve reminded everybody that reads your materials, that next week is the 80th anniversary of Yalta. That’s the conference in February of 1945 between Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt, as they were convinced that World War II was coming to an end. Does president Putin have in mind in your view, Professor Doctorow, another Yalta, this one with Donald Trump, a big-picture negotiation for long-term peaceful relationships between Russia and Europe and Russia and the United States?Doctorow: 16:42
I think that Vladimir Putin had this in mind from before December 2021 when he and his team presented their demands to revise the security architecture in Europe to the United States in one version and to NATO in a second version.I think he clearly was referring to what happened in Yalta, and there’s more to it. It is not just what you just mentioned. The Yalta agreement, aside from putting finishing touches on preparations for creation of the United Nations, it also addressed security in the Far East. That is to say, it corresponds to what has been a topical subject among international affairs experts for the last six months or more, that the end of the war in Ukraine should take in not just security in the West, the peninsula at the Western end of Eurasia called Europe, but also the eastern part, the Pacific part of Eurasia. and deal with China and all of the security problems around China....
Napolitano: 18:15
Fascinating observations. This of course would presume that the conflagration in Ukraine was over. This is not the negotiation and the problems in Ukraine. This is a vaster, grander scheme, which might play right into Donald Trump’s personal and political aspirations.Doctorow:
Very definitely. In the person of Mr. Trump, the Russians have someone who understands spheres of influence, who understands, shall we say, real estate and how it is divided up and distributed. This is a man who is speaking the same realpolitik language as they are. And if anyone had any doubts, you look at what he said in the first days of entering into the Oval Office, about his plans for taking over for reasons of state necessity, Greenland, and taking over the Panama Canal.This is the kind of big-boys stuff that the Russians can relate to, not because they’re dictators, but because they understand how the world works, how it always did work, and how it always will work, where like it or not, might makes right. And they would like to align right with might in a positive way. [My Emphasis]
It's possible Rubio's remarks are also aimed at China and Russia signaling that Trump is open to some sort of action. Doctorow's closing sentence IMO is critical.
What is remarkable about genociders such as Jake Sullivan is they tell the most outlandish lies consistently.
Posted by: Exile | Feb 1 2025 19:24 utc | 32
This is the kind of big-boys stuff that the Russians can relate to, not because they’re dictators, but because they understand how the world works, how it always did work, and how it always will work, where like it or not, might makes right. And they would like to align right with might in a positive way. [My Emphasis]
It's possible Rubio's remarks are also aimed at China and Russia signaling that Trump is open to some sort of action. Doctorow's closing sentence IMO is critical.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 1 2025 19:16 utc | 31
Might makes right? This is a typical yankee thought and way of plundering the rest of the world. Fight does not make right. Strength does not make right. Yankees always behaved like this, but it is coming to an end.
Cooperation makes right when the interests of everyone are respected.
Posted by: Naive | Feb 1 2025 19:27 utc | 33
This is a typical yankee thought and way of plundering the rest of the world. Fight does not make right. Strength does not make right. Yankees always behaved like this, but it is coming to an end.
Posted by: Naive | Feb 1 2025 19:27 utc | 33
---
Yes. But consider the bagholders.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 1 2025 19:31 utc | 34
The kissinger quote most taken to heart by magats is:
“The illegal we do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little longer.”
–Henry A. Kissinger, August 29, 1967
Posted by: motorslug | Feb 1 2025 19:35 utc | 35
@Posted by: Ludovic | Feb 1 2025 18:31 utc | 16
Seems Rubio is willing to cede ground for the time being in Eurasia, while further disciplining the EU and Latin America, especially with regards to an economic structure in the West entirely subsumed within the exigencies of American capital.
Exactly, the US is consolidating itself within its own vassals (forcing greater levels of tribute to keep the Imperial homeland afloat) and within its own hemisphere - looking to take back control of Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia etc. and discipline the uppity Mexico. Greenland is simply a resource grab. A tactical retreat will be followed in EurAsia to allow a restructuring within the West and the Americas.
The problem for the US is that it is fundamentally weakening the European vassals and creating a significant amount of nationalist fervour. While EurAsia goes from strength to strength. At home the rentier oligarchy will block any moves that will reduce its profiteering, blocking any real recovery in the competitiveness of its economy. The tactical retreat will become a strategic one, creating even more exploitation of the vassals in a self-reinforcing downward spiral. The homeland will increasingly resemble a third world country as the oligarchy ramp up their rentier profiteering.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 1 2025 19:36 utc | 36
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 19:14 utc | 29
########
The Deep State has made a concerted effort to create a controlled alt-media. (Lex Fridman, Shawn Ryan, Jordan Peterson)
I don't know that Kelly is a part of it, but until I see her speak more unspeakable truths, I will remain cautiously skeptical.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 1 2025 19:38 utc | 37
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 1 2025 19:16 utc | 31
Hmmm... it’s still got to get past the unreconstructed unipolarists, the Fukuyama-ites, the Ignatieff(Triumph Of The West)-ists.
Who is Rubio really talking to, here?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 19:38 utc | 38
Neil Gorsuch actually has that quote with his Columbia U yearbook photo.
https://www.magazine.columbia.edu/article/education-neil-gorsuch
Posted by: motorslug | Feb 1 2025 19:39 utc | 39
Btw, notice how the Guardian uses Wokism to camouflage Israeli precognizance of Oct 7: "Mix of chauvinism and complacency led senior officers not to heed young women who saw Hamas preparing attack."
That subhead is really a microcosm of how that paper operates at the macroscale, i.e. by using Wokism to whitewash deeper and far more transcendental injustices and conspiracies.
Posted by: Ludovic | Feb 1 2025 19:40 utc | 40
Is mature balance and pragmatism the excuse for recognizing Al Qaeda as the legitimate government of Syria?
America is a joke with nukes :)
Posted by: Natalya Volkova | Feb 1 2025 19:40 utc | 41
What Rubio said was definitely meant to be heard well beyond the limited audience of The Megyn Kelly Show.
He's lipsticked up, in a short skirt and red stilettos trying to catch the eye of Russia and China.
He is to play the good cop while Trump pays the bad one in WWE style.
Is it sincere or durable?
Sure, if you are a goldfish.
Both Russia and China have economic planning periods longer than a US presidential term and even longer memories.
Posted by: ChatNPC | Feb 1 2025 19:50 utc | 42
@ ludovic
How, exactly, does pointing out zionazi brass ignoring the spotters' reports classify as 'woke'?
Posted by: motorslug | Feb 1 2025 19:52 utc | 43
@karlof1
Interesting. Using Meghan Kelly to send this type of message appears to omit the special services from the conversation. So it could be genuine. After all this is generally sent with Washington Post or New York Times, and so maybe there is some hope that CIA special services will be reformed.
I make my first comment here, it was not very good and I don't know how to reply anyway.
Kind wishes to you and yours and all at the gym.
Posted by: Natalya Volkova | Feb 1 2025 19:53 utc | 44
Real Clear Polling
Direction of Country
RCP Average
Right Direction 34.1
Wrong Track 53.9 . . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 1 2025 19:53 utc | 45
I imagine we can hope in vain that Marco Rubio recognises that smaller countries like Cuba, Panama and Venezuela also have their own national interests. Or is it only that faraway countries in Europe and Asia that are the economic or political equals of the US, or even superior in those respects to the US, that are recognised to have national interests or spheres of interest?
I would be curious to know also if the Trump govt freeze on foreign aid will have any effect on political parties opposed to Maduro's govt in Venezuela, and their counterparts in other countries in Latin America. As in Ukraine and Georgia, the political opposition in Venezuela and its supporters in the country's media must be getting a lot of money from NGOs masquerading as humanitarian and religious charities or missions.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2025 19:57 utc | 46
*** Who is Rubio really talking to, here?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 19:38 utc | 38
To me Marco seemed tentative and struggling for phraseology. The language of diplomacy is far diffetent from what plays in Miami. The suit he was donning was cut distinctly in the real politic style. So he didn't have his sea legs. Strange look because he has always been Jedi master with the language of politics.
This discomfort may be also because Trump has been hands off and Marco feels off on his own. So unlike being a Senator Marco needs to deliver wins or he will be tossed aside. So his language choices were all chalk plays.
Karlof1 is on to something it seems. The language Marco used keeps him clear of the direction of that bus to Yalta II
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 20:01 utc | 47
It is now generally accepted by the politicians that to make peace in Ukraine and end the war, both sides will have to make concessions.
It is accepted by some and understood by most that the conflict is between Russia and the West, which is using Ukraine as a proxy. Ukraine is the gun in the American / European cowboy’s hand.
The two parties in the conflict are Russia and the West, conflict resolution between the two parties requires concessions by both parties.
The obvious question then is “What concessions are the US and the West willing and or able to make in order to achieve peace?”
That is the necessary starting point for peace negotiations.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Feb 1 2025 20:03 utc | 48
Just read the full Rubio interview and don't see any reason for optimism or expectation of substantive change.
Perhaps because today I also read Joseph Plummer's summary of Carroll Quigley’s book, Tragedy & Hope. ;-)
Posted by: Fool Me Twice | Feb 1 2025 20:19 utc | 49
Ludovic @ 40:
It would just be enough to say that The Fraudian always plays up a narrative of sexual chauvinism and exploitation where possible (especially if the victims are young and attractive) to titillate its readers, with a highly emotional and personalised story-telling mide of reporting, while it ignores other abuses that go on in the Israeli Defense Forces.
An army that compels teenaged conscripts to patrol areas where Palestinians live, even as border guards staring at screens for hours (and potentially ruining their eyesight), with nothing to defend themselves if attacked, and which then ignores the conscripts' reports, seems abusive enough to me, to say nothing of how that army treats other people it designates as its enemies.
No need to invoke the identity politics agenda here.
Posted by: Refinnejenna | Feb 1 2025 20:22 utc | 50
Natalya Volkova | Feb 1 2025 19:53 utc | 44--
Thanks very much for your reply, which you did properly given the way this platform develops. As you read, most here have a negative assessment, while I see it differently. As time and events move forward, more f the policy puzzle will be revealed and better assessments can be made. I've missed your informed comments at the Gym.
If the USA were to act in its self interest, how would that affect the Star (of David) of the Middle East?
Posted by: James Speaks | Feb 1 2025 20:25 utc | 52
Karlof1 is on to something it seems. The language Marco used keeps him clear of the direction of that bus to Yalta II
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 20:01 utc | 47
Yalta I lead to the cold war and the destruction of the CCCP. BRICS are another way to consider the world out of any hegemony. Getting rid of western hegemony once and for all.
Posted by: Naive | Feb 1 2025 20:26 utc | 53
Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 19:38 utc | 38--
Thanks for your reply. I'm curious to see how other analysts react and read/hear their assessments. The problem is we have a very limited data set in which to place his remarks as SoS Rubio is proving to be different from Senator Rubio. More importantly, were his remarks vetted by Trump beforehand? My guess is yes.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 1 2025 17:28 utc | 1
This was echoed by the VP in his recent interview with Fox, so seems to be a coordinated attempt to inject a sense of global realism into foreign policy, especially the acknowledgement that a countries leadership should be primarily focused on ensuring the best outcome for its citizens. This is why the globalist establishment tries to falsely equate populism, in Western countries, with dangerous nationalist sentiments that require suppression, or judicial intervention. Countries acting in their best interests, outside of their assigned roles, is not part of their plan, neither is allowing the mutual resolution of the resulting conflicts, without enforced interventions.
Posted by: Milites | Feb 1 2025 20:29 utc | 55
The US has no interest in peace. There's no profit in peace, so the US has been at war for 93% of its existence. The proper current consideration is comparing Ukraine and North Korea, with the US at endless war with DPRK. Trump's previous goal of ending that war was torpedoed by TPTB. Russia is in no hurry either. Currently they are moving slowly, trying to envelope target cities.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 1 2025 20:30 utc | 56
It is now generally accepted by the politicians that to make peace in Ukraine and end the war, both sides will have to make concessions.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Feb 1 2025 20:03 utc | 48
Russia has not to make any concession. CCCP made no concession to Nazi Germany. Some people still have difficulties to understand these two words: denazification and demilitarisation.
Posted by: Naive | Feb 1 2025 20:31 utc | 57
@ jayc | Feb 1 2025 18:31 utc | 15
well said jayc and all important observations that must be taken away from this interview..
@ Naive | Feb 1 2025 19:05 utc | 26
i agree with you... sweet words for some, and the cane for cuba, venezuala, panama, nicaragua and any country in south or central america that doesn't bow down to usa dominance... his nice words don't jive with the reality and he is being disingenuous at best and a liar at worst.. obviously he hasn't been challenged on it by the american megyn kelly either..
Posted by: james | Feb 1 2025 20:31 utc | 58
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 20:01 utc | 47
Some good points, what’s nagging at me is the narrative management aspect:
- how does this square with the quote attributed to Karl Rove about “We make our own reality...”?
- who is this narrative aimed at, really?
- are the beneficiaries of the previous narrative going to go “quietly into that long goodnight”?
I remain aligned with @pepe | Feb 1 2025 17:47 utc | 5
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 20:32 utc | 59
Now this is interesting.....
https://consortiumnews.com/2025/02/01/what-deepseek-says-about-nulands-role-in-ukraine-war/
What happens when you ask two Western AI programs and the new Chinese DeepSeek a politically sensitive question? We decided to find out, as Cathy Vogan reports.
Posted by: motorslug | Feb 1 2025 20:43 utc | 60
I see Trump as an American imperialist, but tempered with a dose of realpolitik. He gets that the US can no longer assert dominance on the other side of the world, in the hemisphere where most of the people and economic power exist. So he has turned his focus to our own hemisphere, as has Rubio, who already leaned in that direction. Neocons like Sullivan still live in a world of delusion, they are willing to bang their heads against a brick wall, believing that they can break it down. Dangerous people who should be nowhere near the seat of power. A couple things I've noticed lately: I haven't heard anyone in this administration tell Ukraine to draft 18-25 men, and no ATACMS/Storm Shadow strikes since the Don took office. And there's this: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/pentagon-removes-major-media-outlets-including-nbc-news-from-dedicated-workstations-as-part-of-a-new-rotation-program/ar-AA1ydw3d?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LCTS&cvid=cd03deb37f1a4795aee1bab1b25ade89&ei=34
Posted by: Mike R | Feb 1 2025 21:08 utc | 61
Don Bacon @56: "The US has no interest in peace. There's no profit in peace..."
Not all capitalists' source of wealth is the same. Trump's wealth is in real estate and hospitality. There are lots of capitalists who are not sucking at the MIC teat, and there are lots of capitalists who have no love for Big Finance and would love to see it kicked out of the driver's seat. This doesn't mean those capitalists are friends of the working man or anything like that. They just want to see less resources wasted on what are to them useless adventures and more lucre steered towards their own vaults. Trump Tower Odessa would not be an attraction if Odessa gets leveled, for instance.
We can acknowledge that Trump wants current conflicts to end without having to believe he is an altruist.
Posted by: William Gruff | Feb 1 2025 21:10 utc | 62
The Empire excels at only one thing: the Narrative.
Well, two things, piracy and Narrative.
One interview does not change the narrative. Matt Orflea is good at showing how the narrative is pushed.
It takes a village (of idiots) to make a narrative switch.
https://old.bitchute.com/video/UKyOeRjPHYU3/
Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 1 2025 21:20 utc | 64
If the USA were to act in its self interest, how would that affect the Star (of David) of the Middle East?
Posted by: James Speaks | Feb 1 2025 20:25 utc | 52
———-
Good question. :)
If you view it from the standpoint of Israel as an outpost to protect US petroleum interests it would mean the US is going to have to play nicer in the Middle East which is going to happen anyway.
If you view it from the standpoint of general corruption in Israel similar to Ukraine which benefits the US that is going to end anyway.
If you view it from the standpoint of Israel funding US elections that is a dead end anyway.
All of this is in the overall self interest of the USA public.
Posted by: financial matters | Feb 1 2025 21:22 utc | 65
Posted by: Richard L | Feb 1 2025 18:41 utc | 19
"era of monsters" is part of this quote from Antonio Gramski who died a horrible death after 11 years in a Mussolini prison in the aftermath of the first world war a the age of 46.
"The old world is dying, a new world struggles to be born and now is the time of monsters."
His notes mostly written while in prison also defined "cultural hegemony" which astonished me; this would have to be the most cogent description of what the US has been about ever since the 1981 quote from the head of the CIA William J Casey "We'll know our disinformation campaign is complete when everything the American public believes is a lie"
Here is the essence of Gramski's Cultural Hegemony:
"Cultural hegemony is the dominance of a culturally diverse society by the ruling class who shape the culture of that society — the beliefs and explanations, perceptions, values, and mores—so that the worldview of the ruling class becomes the accepted cultural norm.
As the universal dominant ideology, the ruling-class worldview misrepresents the social, political, and economic status quo as natural, inevitable, and perpetual social conditions that benefit every social class, rather than as artificial social constructs that benefit only the ruling class."
Posted by: Saul Goode | Feb 1 2025 21:30 utc | 66
Rubio? He was instrumental in labeling Cuba a "state sponser of terrorism" a few days ago.
Some multi-polar world. Just saying.
Posted by: teri | Feb 1 2025 21:33 utc | 67
Did Rubio stay awake one day in his freshman world history survey? Yes, attempts to rule the world, esp. via military force, usually fail. Otherwise, Mongolia would still be in charge.
Wasn't Rubio the first to warn us Trump had a small penis, back in Rubio's presidential campaign?
Posted by: lester | Feb 1 2025 21:35 utc | 68
z wants the Russian money held in EU banks to compensate for lack of USA funds...trouble is EU countries ate nervous of Russian seizing EU assets affecting trust in world economic setups banking trust etc and subsequent and historical compensation claims. If Trump says no problem ..he might not care if EU marches further to its doom?
Ukr creates Bucha2 at# Suja....fires missiles into rus civilians hundreds being held in building trying to blame it on Rus????
Posted by: Jo | Feb 1 2025 21:47 utc | 69
Correct !!!! NATO gambled that it could weaken Russia as much as possible. But actions have consequences. NATO has become weaker and Russia has become stronger and that's a new (I hate these words) "Balance of Power" with which NATO has to deal with. I am NOT sure whether NATO is able to survive. Still too many "unknowns" to be dealt with.
Posted by: WMG | Feb 1 2025 21:52 utc | 70
It's possible Rubio's remarks are also aimed at China and Russia signaling that Trump is open to some sort of action. Doctorow's closing sentence IMO is critical.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 1 2025 19:16 utc | 31
----------------------------------------------------
Rubio is proving to be different from Senator Rubio. More importantly, were his remarks vetted by Trump beforehand? My guess is yes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 1 2025 20:29 utc | 54
----------------------------------------------------
This harks back to Trump's November 18 speech which you posted on your substack, revealing DJTs view of Ukraine and related foreign policy matters.
My only value add has been that DJT is speaking with forked tongue to avoid getting JFKd.
Rubio seems have more going on than I have ever given him credit for. He still has to walk the walk.
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 1 2025 21:58 utc | 71
Rubio is simply saying that the US will look after its own interests at all times and at everybody else's expense.
How can it be expected to listen to the United Nations when that limits their (Jewish Nazi Neocons') interests?
The US uses the same words we use with different meanings to them from ours.
What Trump means by Peace is total victory for Israel and wiping Arabs off the map.
What Trump means by Multipolarism is the US using all means possible to protect their own interests. A manifesto for Nazism. I can't understand how this shitty doublethink could mean anything other than a direct challenge to everybody else.
" we're sick and tired of own disgusting charade of being nice We aren't nice."
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 1 2025 22:01 utc | 72
Well, we ARE bombing Somalia today. Of course, they are just ISIS guys that we are taking out:
[...]. “The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians. Our Military has targeted this ISIS Attack Planner for years, but Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done. I did!” Trump said. “The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that “WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!” [...]
https://news.yahoo.com/us-military-conducts-airstrikes-against-175704860.html
And Hegseth is threatening Mexico with invasion:
Pete Hegseth refuses to rule out military strikes on Mexico: 'All options will be on the table‘
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pete-hegseth-won-t-rule-161903440.html
The above article points out that Trump has ordered thousands of active-duty US military to the border. Maybe we are invading ourselves. I personally do not feel that active-duty military being used on US soil is a good thing.
Posted by: teri | Feb 1 2025 22:10 utc | 73
Posted by: teri | Feb 1 2025 22:10 utc | 73
His Muskness also mused on twitter how it might be necessary to send SpecOps down south over the border.
Seems like the new administration isn't too fond of nuclear war, for now at least.
Instead they shake down their biggest trade partners, Mexico and Canada.
Posted by: kspr | Feb 1 2025 22:19 utc | 74
what Rubio just stated, monroe doctrine is back in full force. in exchange for panama canal, trump offers backing out of Ukraine, and already pulling 20k us troops out of Europe as a start. looks like trump is actually serious on a Ukraine war negotiated peace , in exchange for America owning it's backyard again. i predict trump making concession on nato to putin, in exchange for the sacrifice of Venezuela and cuba most likely undergoing regime changes, and this after the USSA reclaims the panama canal.
The solo husbandry of the world since the collapse of the USSR by the American Governing Elite has failed abysmally, the Doomsday clock has never been closer to midnight, it's time to adopt another model that of multipolarity before we all either bake or start bleeding from our eyes for months then drop dead.
Posted by: Baron | Feb 1 2025 22:28 utc | 76
Just watched the whole thing - not impressed.
Apart from the comments about the end of unipolarity, it is the usual 'US is the bestest and the rest of the world better just jump to it' bombast we have been hearing since Dubya's 'either with us or against us' moment.
Megyn Kelly is a former Fox News honey - fatuous, parochial, unchallenging. Her move into the 'alt' realm has not improved her style.
All in all, lower your expectations.
The way Rubio is talking war with China seems already timetabled.
Posted by: ChatNPC | Feb 1 2025 22:29 utc | 77
trump's #1 stated goal, break up the strategic alliance of Russia & China together, with the American pivot against china's continued rise. THE ONLY WAY Trump can succeed with this, cutting the cancerous tumor that is the Ukraine failed state proxy war against Russia. not get tied down in BiBi's desired war against iran, and solely focus on reconquering the Americas, reestablishing the monroe doctrine, and slowly attempting to blockade China. the odds of success are very slim. but, mark my words, this is America's 1 way of reversing it's terminal decline vs China. Trump recognizes this, and it will be the driving force behind all his future actions. Chy-Nah!
Everything official in USUKIS is now composed by AI to sound well-meaning and intelligent. But this computer garbage is presented by evil idiots whose brains are addled by greed and lies, private and public. They are so addled that they are incapable of generosity or sense.
Posted by: Giyane | Feb 1 2025 22:30 utc | 79
Don’t trust Rubio anymore than most other yahoos in DC. The only thing I hate more than the Dems are the Repubs.
Posted by: Sick and tired | Feb 1 2025 22:34 utc | 80
Posted by: BurnEye | Feb 1 2025 22:22 utc | 75
Why would the US want the Panama Canal? It uses so much fresh water that Panama runs out of water for agricultural uses due to it all being siphoned off into operating the Canal. Are there secret sources of fresh water that the US has special knowledge of? Maybe in Nicaragua or Columbia?
Posted by: teri | Feb 1 2025 22:35 utc | 81
*** Karl Rove about “We make our own reality...” ***
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 1 2025 20:32 utc | 59
Rove said this when, 2007 or so? A lifetime ago and he is way on the outs.
As far as directing narrative, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. You need to get you opponent off message by them having to respond to whatever your narrative is, and while they are responding their ability to ridicule (Rules for Radicals 5) is degraded.
Current example: Budanov has this headline to deal with "Ukraine's intelligence clash: State secrets and press freedom" and this narrative "The Security Service of Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of classified state information by individuals who had direct access to it during a confidential session of the Verkhovna Rada." Budanov is frozen for no reason other than that what someone (Maybe Rubio?) wants that now. The truth of the charges matter less than their effect.
Impressive neutralization really. Whoever engineered that one in the State Dept is up for promotion.
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 22:38 utc | 82
Posted by: teri | Feb 1 2025 22:35 utc | 81
To keep Chinese trade out of the americas.
Posted by: kspr | Feb 1 2025 22:43 utc | 83
More importantly, were his remarks vetted by Trump beforehand? My guess is yes.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 1 2025 20:29 utc | 54
I would agree, especially given his crabbed presentationn.
During Trump presidency I, I listed to Trump speak about foreign affairs and I asked how is anybody going to know what he means (We had a good call, a beautiful call ... ?? )? He has a very narrow vocabulary to start with and has no finesse with diplomatic vocabulary.
So maybe Marco lacks his usual style and ease because doesn't fully grasp what the playback is or he is being kept in the dim but not the dark about it, so Trump has room to maneuver.
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 22:51 utc | 84
Posted by: Acco Hengst | Feb 1 2025 21:58 utc | 71
Trump does what he says he’s going to do, not always giving the details, but the objective is perfectly clear. Drain the swamp, secure the border, revitalise the military, unleash US energy, stop pointless wars, these are not vague aspirations but clear statements of intent.
This time though the strategies to achieve those objectives are being executed by veterans and the plans they are following are forged from eight years of near-continuous conflict. Trump’s first priority is the US because without the rapid transformation, or planned regression, any grand schemes abroad will be ruthlessly undermined by the vested interests it challenges. All those posters predicting and Monday morning quarterbacking global events should perhaps check back in a month and their scrying skills can be assessed.
Posted by: Milites | Feb 1 2025 22:54 utc | 85
So places like Syria can be carved up by sphere of influences and proxy wars will continue where they can be won.
Sounds like same old, same old to me. Chileans are going to do what’s in the best interest of Chile takes the biscuit for me after what they did to Chile.
Romania elections, French elections and what is happening in Georgia. Proves Rubio is talking out of his arse. Not to mention what happened in the South Korean parliament.
It is all irrelevant anyway as the next neocon Republican takes office in a few hundred days time.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 1 2025 23:04 utc | 86
Well, what are we saying by condoning Rubio's remarks about the Trump-phenomenon (i.e. the coming-back-to question of nationalism especially as it pertains to the U.S.)?
We are saying that, yes, nations (that have firmly-established borders or lines on a map) should protect their own people first.
The Neo-Cons that emerged after the Soviet Union were a product of the evil-twin mechanism that befell both the U.S. (the liberal world order) and the Soviet Union (the international communists). When the liberal world order emerged victorious, it took advantage of the vacuum to establish supremacy in areas of the world previously under custodianship by the U.S.S.R.. Everyone knows this.
But the evil-twin mechanism can not be satisfied by tiny skirmishes in the Middle East or even with Iran, as convincing the public of an existential threat to the homeland from these nationalistic (read: "inward-looking") countries has proven too difficult a task and has engendered domestic blowback that has exacerbated the convulsing Trump-phenomenon we are seeing.
The Neo-liberals are just the domestic wing of the Empire, making sure that the white-collar and college-educated are provided enough of a payout to turn the other way from the cry of the domestic, heritage-poor who point out the phenomenon of off-shoring, of illegal immigration, and H-1Bs have gutted the social fabric in this country.
Indeed, a stronger national thread might have identified sooner the evil-twin mechanism the Neo-Cons have utilized in vain since the fall of the U.S.S.R. and that has precipitated this moment. One could say that the only way to galvanize such a disparate people in the U.S. would have to be an evil-twin for which our reason-for-being is given breath by the other's sheer, goatee-affixed existence.
But none of the usual suspects have thus far taken the bait. Not Iran. Not China. Not Russia. They have wisely taken the cheap-shots the empire has employed at them unemotionally and have instead resigned themselves quietly to do business-as-usual outside the narrow-channels the empire has set-up.
This is like the empire having a beautiful woman, taking her to a party, parading her around for all the other countries to admire and then saying, "I know you all want to bed my girl, here. But she's mine!"
And the other countries pay no mind to this obvious need for attention and resort to no flattery of the empire's girl. Instead, they just seem annoyed.
But the empire continues: "Look, you can't have her. She's mine. She only loves me."
People began to move away from the clearly insecure man making a scene. But he won't let them get away from his accusations.
As his pitch becomes more shrill, finally Russia comes up to him and slaps him across the face, giving the empire a hard look.
The Russian makes clear: "There is no woman, you mad-dog. You came alone."
The empire looks around the room at all the faces, their frightened glances turning to gazes of pity and then indifference.
...
History is littered with examples of such comeuppance. But it also suggests that there is still hope in taking responsibility for yourself and your sin and sallying forth. I hope we can truly adopt a more inward-looking approach here in the states. Undoing the mess we have made seems such a daunting task.
Posted by: NemesisCalling | Feb 1 2025 23:13 utc | 87
Next time they interfere in an election and also put a head chopper in charge of a country. Those that believed Rubio's marketing and advertising campaign will be scratching their heads.
They are terrified of BRICS and large parts of the world moving against them.
This is a marketing and advertising campaign of bullshit. To try and halt BRICS progress. Until they can regroup and get the people they want in BRICS parliaments.
Modi and Lula are their first targets. The EU's priority is Serbia and Turkey for regime change.
There has never been a better time in the history of America for American enemies to defeat America in areas all over the world. BRICS and others need to grasp the nettle and grab this opportunity with both hands. Make American sphere of influence smaller.
If they don't take that oppertunity now. They will live to regret it.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 1 2025 23:18 utc | 88
You just need to listen to the narrative regarding Palestine.
To know fine well that Palestinians will NOT be allowed to do what is in the interests of Palestine.
It is all bullshit with disco lights attached. As they send more 2000 pound bombs to the middle east.
Their military industrial cupboards are empty and they are on the back foot. It is a stalling tactic equivalent of the Minsk accords to give them time to regroup.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 1 2025 23:35 utc | 89
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 1 2025 23:04 utc | 86
Syria? Chile? Romanian elections? The guy hasn't been in office for even two weeks yet. This is concern trolling to the other degree.
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 23:37 utc | 90
Posted by: D | Feb 1 2025 17:34 utc | 3
Astonishing is the correct word.
Posted by: Michael Weddington | Feb 1 2025 23:40 utc | 91
While I am both encouraged and surprised by Rubio's acknowledgement that US unipolarity is over and multipolarity is the new paradigm, I find what Trump is saying and doing is the complete opposite. Trump in his push to take over Greenland, Canada, Panama, and the bullying of Mexico and Columbia, appears to reinforce American imperialism and unipolar exceptionalism. Secondarily he has threatened BRICS nations with possible 100% tariffs and sanctions - this when BRICS is actually the current vehicle of multipolarity. Adding to this he still pushes the idea that only the (rent seeking) US dollar should reign supreme in world trade. Thirdly, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and Mount Denali to Mt MacKinley, is yet another provocative statement of US imperialism and suppression of other peoples and cultures. MacKinley was the US's ultra imperialist president who provided the impetus for the world to be dominated by America during the entire 20th Century. He ushered in a false flag war against Spain based on the lies of yellow journalists after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbour. He opportunistically provided the conditions to take over the Philippines, Guam etc during the Spanish-American War; then later decided Hawaii belonged to the US as well. Nothing that Trump is doing seems to support Rubio's view that the US is going to accept multipolarity in the least.
Posted by: George | Feb 1 2025 23:48 utc | 92
I can't help feeling Putin is going to fuck up in Ukraine.
Whatever is signed as a peace agreement will be the equivalent of toilet paper in a few hundred days time.
Just like Trumps North and South Korea so called deal. Which lasted 2 mins after he was gone.
If he doesn't take everything East of the Dnieper and Odessa when he very clearly has the opportunity to do so.
My gut feeling is that will be another grave mistake.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 1 2025 23:48 utc | 93
I won’t lie. This is surprising stuff and unexpected, especially from a guy like Rubio. It might even lead to a few, modest improvements. Unfortunately, the U.S. has reached a stage of empire where it can’t necessarily just go back to being a great power. It could do the necessary things of building a robust, national economy built on domestic industry. It won’t because that runs counter to the financial ethos and the nation has become dependent on the financial benefit of the empire.
Posted by: Lex | Feb 1 2025 23:58 utc | 94
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 23:37 utc | 90
No it's not ... It is looking beyond a few hundred days.
You suffer from Trumpcopium. Think he's Jesus when he is just an empty suit for a few hundred days. You think he is going to be there for thirty years.
If the tables were reversed and Russia was in the state America is in , in Ukraine. The Americans would finish Russia off in Ukraine. In a heart beat and not give it two seconds thought.
You know it, I know it , everybody knows it.
Putin has NEVER had a better oppertunity to do the same. Finish them off and push them.out . Take everything East of the river and Odessa.
Then sign the future bit of toilet paper. Rather than as always regret trusting the Americans later.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 2 2025 0:03 utc | 95
Trump orders 40 arctic ice breakers!
In 2020 Trump ordered 3 heavy ice breakers, with the first scheduled for delivery in 2024. In February 2023 it was announced that the project was 60% over budget and the first unit was now scheduled for 2025. Except at that time the design hadn’t been finalized. In 2024, the U.S., Canada and Finland made a formal(ish) agreement to work together to make ice breakers. First delivery scheduled for 2027 They’re also looking at possibly converting or using existing hulls, which means they still don’t have a finalized design. Given that, 2027 sounds optimistic. There isn’t going to be 40 arctic icebreakers. There may never be the three called for 5 years ago.
was tentatively scheduled for 2029.
Posted by: Lex | Feb 2 2025 0:08 utc | 96
It could just be that it's a jab at the illusionists in the TLA's. Who seem to fit the characterisation spotted decades ago :
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles
Such are promises
All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
The Boxer, Paul Simon
Posted by: frithguild | Feb 1 2025 23:37 utc | 90
" Chinese will do what’s in the best interests of China, the Russians will do what’s in the best interest of Russia, the Chileans are going to do what’s in the best interest of Chile, and the United States needs to do what’s in the best interest of the United States. "
If you think the disco lights with bullshit attached means..
Palestinians will be allowed to do what's in the best interest of Palestine.
Then buy a Trump shaped comfort blanket. I'm sure he will be selling them for $200 a piece along with a leopard print Trump onesie and his latest book. Sleep with it every night until your fantasies come true.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Feb 2 2025 0:19 utc | 98
It is now generally accepted by the politicians that to make peace in Ukraine and end the war, both sides will have to make concessions.
It is accepted by some and understood by most that the conflict is between Russia and the West, which is using Ukraine as a proxy. Ukraine is the gun in the American / European cowboy’s hand.
The two parties in the conflict are Russia and the West, conflict resolution between the two parties requires concessions by both parties.
The obvious question then is “What concessions are the US and the West willing and or able to make in order to achieve peace?”
That is the necessary starting point for peace negotiations.
Posted by: CitizenSmith | Feb 1 2025 20:03 utc | 48
That is presuming either side actually wants to negotiate as urgently as they say.
In my view, it is not in the best interests of either the United States or Russia to have high level contacts at this stage. If the new US administration is pre-disposed to toss the Ukraine project aside, and the Russians know they are winning but are still a couple of months away from triggering the widespread collapse of the Ukrainian military that is coming, both sides may be willing to wait until that collapse happens, to take Zelensky out of the picture and enable the Ukraine to arrive at a peace deal that will make "concessions" on the part of the West more palatable, due to facts on the ground and the fact that the Ukrainians are negotiating the terms themselves. There will be no Bo-Jo mischief this time!!
Posted by: Activist Potato | Feb 2 2025 0:33 utc | 99
I decided to announce this new article here on this thread since one of the cornerstones of modern geopolitics is energy, both resources and power output. I've been noting for many years that energy consumption, production and reserves are not favorable in the long-term for the Outlaw US Empire. As you'll discover when reading "Russian Fuel and Energy Complex – Reliability, Sustainability, Development", Russian resources dwarf those of the Empire, which is why they were/are coveted. What we've seen now with the Empire's defeat in its proxy war against Russia is what looks to be its preliminary attempts to try and capture more resources. IMO, those attempts won't go much further because the Empire lacks the military and financial resources to complete its threats. Plus, the world is wise to the fact that the Outlaw is mostly a paper tiger having only a few coercive tools remaining. Plus, they've also seen how it uses those it calls allies--it throws them under the bus once they're used up.
So, enjoy Mr. Novak's--Russia's Mr. Energy--article.
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The whole interview is worth reading.
In addition to the above, which Alexander Mercouris has termed "the death knell of American exceptionalism", Rubio also noted that only 12 cents of every dollar spend on US foreign aid reaches the end recipient. The NGOs in the middle consume the rest.
Mercouris, in a separate program, also noted that the aid freeze has uncovered the extent to which US aid was underwriting so-called "independent" media in Ukraine, Hungary, Georgia and elsewhere. He also notes that the effects on this aid freeze will have further effects over time - the "independent" media are the ones screaming now, but it is certain that there are many more sectors affected.
Rubio also repeatedly touches on the theme of national interests: that China, Russia, Chile all act in their own national interests and that it is high time that the US start doing so.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 1 2025 17:28 utc | 1