The MoA Week In Review - OT 2025-022
Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama:
- Jan 27 - Ukraine - Organizational Chaos, Commanders Fired
- Jan 31 - CIA/NYT Remove North Korean Troops From Ukraine's Front Line
Related:
- Nazi Propaganda at Sundance? - Moss Robeson
- Exclusive: U.S. wants Ukraine to hold elections following a ceasefire, says Trump envoy - Reuters
- Servility and political mimicry by Ukraine's pro-Western elites as they face military defeat - AlMayadeen
- ‘Everybody is tired. The mood has changed’: the Ukrainian army’s desertion crisis - Guardian
- AP Interview: Zelenskyy says excluding Ukraine from US-Russia talks about war is ‘very dangerous’ - AP
- Jan 28 - On Biden/Blinken Etc. - Matt Taibbi On Tucker Carlson's Show
Related:
- Tucker & Piers Morgan Debate Foreign Aid, Hate Speech, NATO, Gun Control, & Is Zelensky a Dictator? (video) - Tucker Carlson Show
- Musk's Junta Establishes Him as Head of Government - Doomsday Scenario
- Jan 29 - Halt Of USAID Exposes Malign Foreign Influence
Related:
- Trump is wreaking havoc at USAID. Is the goal to shut it down? - Politico
- End the Aid Charade - Trump and Rubio put foreign assistance under the microscope. - AmCon
- A career official tried to undo Trump’s purge at USAID. He was then purged, too. (archived) - Washington Post
- Did a Trump executive order just cripple the global US regime change network? - Grayzone
- US aid was long a lifeline for Eastern Europe. Trump cuts are sending shockwaves through the region - AP
- Development as a Tool of Economic Statecraft - A Net Assessment of U.S. and Chinese Approaches - RAND
- Jan 30 - Syria - New York Times Claims Mysterious Coalition Installed Dictatorship
Related:
- Syria enters new era amidst uncertainties - Indian Punchline
- Ahmad al-Sharaa's Address to the Syrian Nation - Translation and Overview - Aymenn AlTamimi
- Syria’s Al-Qaeda Branch Dissolves, Says Goals Completed by Regime Change - Antiwar
- Feb 1 - Rubio: "It’s not normal for the world to have a unipolar power."
Related:
- Did the US Declare the End of the Unipolar World Order? - Glenn Diesen
- Trump says he ordered air strikes on Islamic State group in Somalia - BBC
Brian McDonald @27khv - 11:31 UTC · Feb 2, 2025A lot of glee on X over Marco Rubio admitting the US is no longer the unipolar hegemon Of course, accepting the reality of a multipolar world—where powers like China and Russia act in their own interests—could lead to a more peaceful global order.
But here’s the catch: a humbled US that recognizes its limits might actually become more effective. Without the costly burden of maintaining global dominance on every front, it could shift focus to sharper, more calculated moves, like strategic trade wars and targeted alliances.
A Washington that stops pretending to rule the world and starts playing smart could be a tougher competitor for Beijing and Moscow than the one we’ve seen desperately clinging to a crumbling 'rules-based order.' The era of unipolarity might be over, but the game is far from done.
---
Other issues:
Eastern Europe:
- Venice Commission opposes cancellation of presidential elections in Romania - Strana
- Calin Georgescu talks to James Freeman on The Freeman Report (video)
- Zelenskyy backs Slovakian protests against PM Fico's pro-Russian policy - Ukrainska Pravda
- Slovakia bans Georgian volunteer, 9 others, from entry as Fico ramps up coup plot accusations - MSN
- Georgia’s Struggle Between Democratic Aspirations and Geopolitical Pressures and The Left’s Challenges Within - Sopiko Japaridze
- Color Revolution in Serbia Results in High Level Resignations - UNZ
Palestine:
- ‘Unacceptable’: Indonesia rejects report of US relocation plan for Palestinians - SCMP
- Footage shows Yahya Sinwar on Gaza's frontlines, with Jon Elmer (video) - Electronic Intifada
- The Gaza Resistance, feat. Jon Elmer (Podcast, unlocked) - Radio War Nerd
China:
- China’s CXMT Memory Chip Breakthrough Beats US Export Controls - Bloomberg
- The Great Leap? China’s Ballistic Missile Program. A Technical Report. - IFSH
- Only pathetic bootlickers spend their energy criticising China - Caitlin Johnson
DeepSeek:
- Deep Impact - Edward Zitron
- AI Will Degenerate In Much The Same Way Google Did - Ian Welsh
- What DeepSeek Says About Nuland’s Role in Ukraine War - Consortium News
- The Bogus Justification for AI Uptake and the Real Reason for the Scam - Naked Capitalism
- Too late, US Commerce nominee calls DeepSeek a technology ‘thief’ - Asia Times
- Cerebras becomes the world’s fastest host for DeepSeek R1, outpacing Nvidia GPUs by 57x - Venturebeat
- DeepSeek Debates: Chinese Leadership On Cost, True Training Cost, Closed Model Margin Impacts - Semi Analysis
- Cyberattacks against DeepSeek escalate with botnets joining, command surging over 100 times: lab - Global Times
Use as open (not related to the wars in Ukraine and Palestine) thread ...
Posted by b on February 2, 2025 at 13:54 UTC | Permalink
next page »Well so far what I have seen from trump 2.0 is about what we could have expected.
Sure hope they still like free speech when we start turning the truth on them.
What a bought and paid for bully.
I hope this bully gets a really good bloody nose one day.
Maybe him and nutty yahoo can both choke on a double cheeseburger.
Ye our turduea should really get the fentynal problem sorted, it would help everyone on both sides of the border, but the fact that trump isn't shutting down the northern border tells me this ain't about what he says it is.
If he was that concerned about fent he would a really address the problem from his side of the border.
I think he's being an a hole because he can.
Going to have to go take a shit on an American flag this week.
Sad it has to come to this, but I sure do love free speech.
Don't worry everyone your country is its own stain on its own flag far bigger than anything I could muster myself.
I get the fentynal issue, but if he caredas much as he says, he would be rolling out the military on the northern border to stop the poison.
Posted by: Northern Savage | Feb 2 2025 14:39 utc | 2
Saw some pics of the strike in Somalia. Those were som big bombs.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113931812065727107
FWIW
The Two Sides of Criminal Illegal Immigration: Terrorism and Free-Range Infectious Diseases
Will the Nord Steam gas pipelines be turned back on soon?
https://www.intellinews.com/will-the-nord-steam-gas-pipelines-be-turned-back-on-soon-364523/?source=russia
Posted by: Dogon Priest | Feb 2 2025 15:02 utc | 3
Surrender!
https://x.com/deAdder/status/1885724756697133355
"We could offer them some of your mother's butter tarts..."
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 2 2025 15:02 utc | 4
The notion that fentanyl distribution is the work of independent actors should make everyone fall over laughing. That Mexican 'cartels' are independent is so silly it should discredit any who suggest it.
How many times does it have to be shown that the opium trade, the heroin trade, the cocaine trade, are all completely state controlled before someone gets the idea?
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 15:04 utc | 5
The Consortium News article is very important: they have shown exactly how an LLM is manipulated. In DeepSeek's case, it has been blatantly trained to adhere to the Chinese government's policy position on Ukraine matters.
For any LLM - the opacity of its operation means this type of fuckery is simply not going to be detectable to the uninformed user...and all such users will eventually end up being uninformed.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 15:15 utc | 6
@oldhipper #5
I think you are conflating corruption based/other policy based tolerance of a criminal activity with the instigation and execution of an illegal drug trade.
The US government is not growing coca leaves or manufacturing fentanyl precursors. It is not reaping the majority of the profits from these illegal drug trades - these profits are large in absolute terms but tiny compared to even 2nd tier US agency budgets.
Some US agencies do benefit from big budgets to fight this trade, but there are far easier ways to continue justifying than becoming operators of the drug business - for example, simply doing what corrupt cops are paid to do: look the other way for some and prosecute their enemies.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 15:20 utc | 7
@oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 15:04 utc | 5
How many times does it have to be shown that the opium trade, the heroin trade, the cocaine trade, are all completely state controlled before someone gets the idea?
Until Twelfth of Never.... and that's a long, long time.
Posted by: majoab | Feb 2 2025 15:25 utc | 8
Everyone globally knows that the CIA runs the drug trade.
If Fentanyl is coming into the USA, Trump is powerless to stop it, because Trump does not control the CIA which is funded through the drug trade, and has killed American pols before.
This is more scapegoating, distraction from domestic issues, like the Wuhan lab nonsense, like the Uighur genocide propaganda.
It is funny to see Canadians overreact. One of the most spineless colonies, suddenly discovering group identity.
Trump worked with the WWE. He is a master of kayfabe.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 15:28 utc | 9
- John Mearsheimer pointed out that Russia is only advancing gradually westwards in the Ukraine and thinks that Russia has more difficulties in conquering more territory.
- I think that there is/could be a good reason why Russia is only slowly advancing in the Ukraine. I think that Russia doesn't want to use its (newly build) tanks in the war (yet ???). I think Russia doesn't want to deploy its tanks because I think Russia fears that these tanks could be destroyed by ukrainian drones. Only when it's clear that Russia can safely use its tanks then it will deploy/consider deploying these tanks in the war. Then Russia can deploy these tanks to fight a "manoevre warfare" or e.g. a "Blitzkrieg" like war.
(Am I right am I wrong ? I don't know. We'll have to wait ans see what happens)
Posted by: WMG | Feb 2 2025 15:29 utc | 10
Posted by: WMG | Feb 2 2025 15:29 utc | 10
########
The faster and further an advance goes, the more stress there is on logistics.
Logistics is everything.
A huge miscalculation by the Russians wrt to their supply lines right now could be the opening NATO is looking for.
Slow and steady win the race.
Mearsheimer is a Western thinker, and thus, lacks the sense of time that older civilizations have developed.
Russia knows it will be in the world 100 years from now.
The NATO powers do not feel that same certainty.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 15:46 utc | 11
Did anyone see that Candace Owens is doing an expose on Chef Macron and his tranny wife?
I don't get much into drama. I already think most Western "leaders" are lizard people that drink blood for andrenochrome.
That some of the leaders are married to trannies wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 15:52 utc | 12
To those TDS types that say Trump never stars wars there is this posting title from ZH
Trump Orders First Airstrikes On Foreign Soil Since Taking Office
Of course, this is all the public knows about after 2 weeks of Trump 2.0
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 2 2025 15:52 utc | 13
thanks b! and to the informed folks who post here - thanks..
as for fentanyl - it is a supply and demand issue... the demand for fentanyl is in the usa, thus the supply regardless where it comes from... and the usa sends a huge amount of drugs into canada too, of which nothing is mentioned.. this is a 'red meat' topic to appeal to trumps base who are down on drugs, immigration, crime and etc. etc. - blaming canada is very short sighted, but wins brownie points with his fan base..
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 15:54 utc | 14
Would Warshington drop the new tariffs if MX and CA agree to tariff their imports from China?
Posted by: I forgot | Feb 2 2025 16:03 utc | 15
How many times does it have to be shown that the opium trade, the heroin trade, the cocaine trade, are all completely state controlled before someone gets the idea?
@ oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 15:04 utc | 5
Toward the close of the previous millennium, Gary Webb (RIP) called it a Dark Alliance. The subsequent crucifixion of Webb effectively slammed the door on investigative journalism, hereabouts. We US Americans lost all contact with adversarial reality so long ago, we'll never discern how long ago.
My goodness. There was a time I studied journalism at the University and cherished some prospect of writing to right the wrongs. Then they made a grotesque example out of Gary Webb: this is what happens to sincere humanitarians.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Feb 2 2025 16:04 utc | 16
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 15:54 utc | 14
########
Governance becomes easier when rulers can lay blame on the "other".
America didn't fail with hypersonic tech. Russia stole it.
China didn't innovate AI. They cheated.
A constant lack of accountability, for a person or a nation, is often fatal.
That Americans are the most medicated national cohort on the planet makes Fentanyl addiction a cultural issue, not a criminal one.
Trump, thus far, has spoken little about American culture or values (specifically what they are beyond political platitudes). I doubt it is on his agenda to improve the American character during his final term in office.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 16:05 utc | 17
Thanks for another great week b.
Just a thought:
It has been argued by many that there are no civilian Palestinians in Gaza.
Fine.
Watching the columns of Gazans going north, I thought, by the argument above, Hamas has, now, 1.5-2 million people to fight the entity. No recruitment required. Larger than many neighboring armies.
Oh, and, it's the Hamas babies (if they're not shot in the head) that piss on the graves of the occupiers/invaders, as they leave. How nice.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Feb 2 2025 16:12 utc | 18
@ LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 16:05 utc | 17
thanks.. i like what you say about fentanyl addiction being a cultural issue, as opposed to a criminal one..
----------------------- on the usaid article from ap - here is a quote
"Vital aid for former communist countries
Since the 1990s, USAID has invested several billion dollars in countries like Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina — all former communist countries with aspirations of joining the European Union.
In these countries, USAID money has promoted democratic institutions and reforms, aided infrastructure and energy security projects, bolstered businesses and economies, and supported a significant number of nongovernmental organizations and independent media platforms. The agency says it “tailors its approach to each country’s unique challenges and opportunities.”
“It’s no exaggeration to say that we have democracy in Moldova, in part thanks to American financial support,” Valeriu Pasa, the chairman of the Chisinau-based think-tank WatchDog, said in a statement on Wednesday. He added that the U.S. benefits “from us being more democratic and developed, ensuring we don’t turn into a Russian or Chinese colony.”
i guess it is cool to be a usa colony, but not a russian or chinese one, lol..
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 16:22 utc | 19
James @ 14
You are quite correct there is a built-in cultural demand for dope in US. People want to escape their shitty lives. Demand for any specific product can readily be goosed by distributing abundant supply. When crack cocaine was an all new drug there was no demand at al. No one demands something which has not previously existed. If the order goes out that every dealer shall have inventory of dope X demand will follow.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 16:30 utc | 20
Anecdotal, but I had a colleague who was a mechanical engineer from Colombia about a decade ago.
He said that the US applied massive pressure against his country initially, but after the drug trade became controlled by US interests the pressure disappeared. That was 100% his belief, and probably reflects the understanding of others in the upper-middle-class cohort.
Given what we now know about the SE Asia drug trade, it seems quite plausible. There is much that we do not know about what really goes on behind the curtain, and much of it is ugly and dark.
Posted by: Billb | Feb 2 2025 16:37 utc | 21
Biran Berletic weighs in on “Why tariffs?”
Feb 2, 2025https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Oml-FedcM▪️It should be remembered that President Trump's previous "bad" tariffs were not only kept in place under the Biden administration, they were expanded upon over the last 4 years indicating this is a bipartisan "deep state" agenda;
▪️Follow-up tariffs on not only China but now also Canada and Mexico are aimed at further permanently decoupling the US from China, not at negotiations or the stemming of "drugs" and "illegal immigrants," all of which are fabricated pretexts;
▪️Tariffs have precipitated a cost of living crisis in the US (coupled with a similar crisis in Europe linked to sanctions on Russia), a crisis both the Trump and Biden administrations are clearly indifferent to;
▪️The goal is very obviously to prepare for war with China, including a blockade of Chinese maritime shipping US moves against Panama and Greenland both serve as steps toward preparing;
▪️Under the Biden administration, the reorganization of the US Marine Corps into an anti-shipping force likewise served as preparation for this;
▪️China and its trading partners (virtually the rest of the world) need to realistically face this and prepare for this US plan to strangle multipolarism in the cradle - negotiations with the US must be done with this in mind, realizing the US has no intention of ever striking an actual deal, but is instead preparing the battlefield;
▪️China's ability to innovate and replace US imports as well as diversify and protect alternative exports elsewhere from US destabilization (both regime change installing anti-China client regimes and the backing of violence targeting Belt & Road Initiative routes) will determine the outcome of Washington's actual objectives;
References:
Posted by: suzan | Feb 2 2025 16:47 utc | 22
@ oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 16:30 utc | 20
thanks... trudeau is saying about 1 % of fentanyl in the usa is coming from canada.. i don't know what the numbers are... as i see it this is more ''war on drugs'' ideology that is a popular sell in the usa and anywhere... war on communism, replaced by war on drugs, and then war on terror... i asked the poster 'watcher' here yesterday - would the usa exist if it wasn't at war with something?? the alternative to blaming others is to take responsibility!!
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 16:52 utc | 24
You are quite correct there is a built-in cultural demand for dope in US.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 16:30 utc | 20
---
Thinks to look forward to in Trump's 2nd Administration:
The Barron Trump drug scandalA forgone conclusion as obvious as the nose on your face.
Posted by: too scents | Feb 2 2025 17:06 utc | 25
Rubio and the end of U.S. world dominance.
He talks a good game but let's see what he actually recommends. Hmm ... how about trading Taiwan for Greenland, the world's largest island? The U.S. quest for Greenland and the Panama Canal is a raw land grab, while China's pursuit of unification of Taiwan involves territory that has always been ruled by China.
Will Rubio come up w/clever arguments justifying our land grab while denouncing China's military drills a threat to humanity? [I'm betting yes]
Even though I expected it, I am still appalled by how the MSM, especially FOX, talks about Trump's desire to annex the Panama Canal as if this is somehow a normal thing to consider.
Posted by: Christian J Chuba | Feb 2 2025 17:10 utc | 26
[email protected] have sexuality issues......Dr Eleven.....paging Dr Eleven.....
Cheers M
.....deep seated ones, going by what you write.....
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 2 2025 17:15 utc | 27
Re: China, from 1300s-1911, the Empire was officially closed to foreign businessmen. The various Opium Wars were fought to gain exceptions, like Hong Kong.
Now, our half-wit leaders are sh*tting baozi because the Chinese are not stupid, uncreative, etc. They concentrate on academic achievement and on food, while we _laowai_ waste our time, money, energy on new ways to kill each other.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 17:22 utc | 28
from msn
Donald Trump ends his first day back in the White House by unexpectedly firing Brian Hook, the former special envoy for Iran during his first term.
It’s unclear exactly why Trump axed Hook, but the president says he and three others “are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again.”
Hook was a hawkish adviser who backed the maximum pressure sanctions regime Trump instituted against Iran.
“YOU’RE FIRED!” Trump writes in the Truth Social post making the announcement.
from TehranTimes
Does Trump’s firing of Brian Hook signal a change in his Iran policy?
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 2 2025 17:23 utc | 29
Re fentanyl, why do so many in the USA want to use so many varites of drugs? If they were all legal, as in 1900, we might not have the largest prison population in the world.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 17:26 utc | 30
With some help from DeepSeek, here's a list of American companies Canadians could consider boycotting in response to the trade war initiated by the US:
1. Gasoline and Fuel: Esso, Ultramar, Costco.
2. E-Commerce and Retail: Amazon, Walmart, Costco.
3. Food and Beverages: Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, etc.
4. Streaming and Entertainment: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, Apple, Spotify, etc.
5. Technology and Electronics: Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Starlink.
6. Automotive: GM, Ford, Tesla.
7. Fast Food and Restaurants: McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, Burger King.
8. Social Media and Tech Services: Facebook/Instagram, Google, ChatGPT, X.
9. Financial Services: Visa, Mastercard.
DeepSeek: "By focusing on high-spend categories like fuel, retail, and food, Canadians can effectively reduce their contribution to U.S. companies and make a meaningful statement during a trade war."
Canada should perhaps also consider dropping its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs so that Canadians can benefit from affordable alternatives to Tesla.
Posted by: CC | Feb 2 2025 17:32 utc | 31
Mexican cartel bosses have reportedly allowed to use weaponized drones against US border patrol agents.
Does the Washington swamp/CIA control Mexican drug cartels? Is all the chaos, including jet and helicopter crashes because they are unhappy of Trump?
https://x.com/iAnonPatriot/status/1885857153790947683
Posted by: unimperator | Feb 2 2025 17:40 utc | 33
" I already think most Western "leaders" are lizard people that drink blood for andrenochrome.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 15:52 utc | 12"
Trump is a batrachina frogman, enslaved by Cthulhu. See "Shadow Over Innsmouth", by H. H. Lovecraft.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 17:42 utc | 34
@Don Bacon #29
The Hook firing is proof that Trump really has a very specific requirement for anyone working for him: they must be loyal and adhere to Trump's policies.
Hook was tabbed, legitimately, as a neocon by many on MoA when he was first appointed as the transition liasion to the State Department - but what I noted then, and repeat now, is that Hook's appointment to the temporary position is not any form of indicator of Trump's kowtowing the the neocons.
Hook in turn has gone full (or openly now) TDS. Good fucking riddance.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 17:44 utc | 35
Posted by: suzan | Feb 2 2025 16:47 utc | 22 'Why tariffs?'
As I commented previously (Jan 21): To 'Make America Great Again' Trump is building a wall (physical, economic, geopolitical) around the U.S. to give it time and space to rebuild as an industrial economy.
The tariffs are an integral part of the economic wall. They have nothing to do with fentanyl or the border, and there is nothing that can be done to have them removed, at least in the short to medium term.
It appears that Trump is using the period of the late 19th/early 20th century, when the U.S. initially developed as an industrial power, as the model for MAGA. During that period the U.S. was both economically isolated from the rest of the world, through tariffs, but also physically isolated by distance. Trump is trying to recreate those same conditions today.
For Canada, if it wants to avoid the tariffs, i.e. to get inside the tariff wall, it can become the 51st state. Otherwise, Canada must reinforce its sovereignty, its self sufficiency, and become a member of the multi-polar world.
As for Trump's MAGA plan, success is hard to predict. The U.S. is in a much less favorable position than in the late 19th century. It has many fewer available resources than it had at that time. It is much more centralized and authoritarian, which reduces the dynamism of the economy. And its infrastructure, be it transportation, education, governmental, is in a state of rapid decline, rather than in full development.
Posted by: dh-mtl | Feb 2 2025 17:46 utc | 36
Christoforou's program today is talking about the USAID takedown: no administrator appointed, double digits of upper level executives/officials on leave, hundreds of contractors fired as noted in this Politico article from 2 days ago
USAID has always been a very big part of the Deep State.
So this ending except from the article is particularly interesting:
But the steps already taken suggest that, at the very least, a smaller, weaker version of USAID is to come. Even if the agency is never officially deleted on paper — which would almost certainly require sign-offs from Congress — it could become smaller and more politicized, without the ability to direct its own agenda.
WTF is USAID directing its own agenda?
Maybe now people will start to understand that Trump really is serious about taking down the Deep State.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 17:49 utc | 37
May I focus your attention on this newest form of hand-wringing (sorry, B, just calling it as I see it):
But here’s the catch: a humbled US that recognizes its limits might actually become more effective. Without the costly burden of maintaining global dominance on every front, it could shift focus to sharper, more calculated moves, like strategic trade wars and targeted alliances.A Washington that stops pretending to rule the world and starts playing smart could be a tougher competitor for Beijing and Moscow than the one we’ve seen desperately clinging to a crumbling 'rules-based order.' The era of unipolarity might be over, but the game is far from done.
--------------------------------
And in other news, Water is Wet.
--------------------------------
One of the key skills of a Loyal Opposition is to know when to say "Yes".
So when the Elites finally, actually, sorta do one small thing right, the proper response is to reward the behavior.
Say "Yes! Ooooooh, you Clever and Resourcefully Unclad Emperors, We Love You!!"
And then concentrate your attention on all the rest of the several thousand other things they're still screwing up.
-----
And this drugs-n-money-laundering rationale for the tariffs is nothing but a flimsy cover story - a plausible, noble rubric that can be presented to the proles as inoculation for several painful things that are about to happen.
In the short run, tariffs surely cause inflation, and they surely increase government revenue. That's "bad", and "probably bad, too".
----- What else might tariffs do?
The tariffs can also:
a. cause production to (re)-domesticate. Factories re-locate in the U.S. to avoid the tariffs
b. reduce demand for a now-more-expensive product; consumer switches to some alternative. Maybe consumer just switches vendor. Switch from China-based supplier to Vietnam-based supplier, for ex.
c. cause the supplier to pay the tariff, rather than pass the cost on to the consumer. Supplier is therefore less profitable.
d. cause the supplier to reduce sales in the U.S. and increase sales elsewhere. Supplier switches customers.
Any and all those things can and will happen; the relative degree is the question.
------
For the little guy here in the U.S., the key questions are:
a. How bad and how long the inflation, and
b. If and how soon new jobs, with good pay, come to the U.S. and
c. Where will the new gov't revenue be directed? (anyone want to hazard a guess?)
-----
I happen to be in favor of the tariffs. Why?
a. It concentrates people's attention; it's a tangible, wide-spread, fairly painful (sudden inflation) expression of "we got a problem"
b. It increases expectations that production will be re-domesticated, and in conjunction with the border controls, may increase the demand (and wages for) labor, which badly needs doing. Especially if the industrial infrastructure construction boom continues, and I believe it will
c. It shows, yet again and very clearly, that the U.S. elites are fearful. The globalization ploy has collapsed, and they're desperate for answers, hence all the hard-ball
The downside is it will give companies yet another massive opportunity to raise prices, just like Covid did. A big chunk of Covid-era inflation was opportunistic price increases, and the Companies rode that pony long and hard.
We're going to get a pretty good dose of inflation, and it might get worse as the trading partners retaliate. It will surely, absolutely accelerate the BRICS integration.
"Americans always do right .... after they've exhausted every other possibility".
Who am I quoting?
Posted by: Tom Pfotzer | Feb 2 2025 17:55 utc | 38
@dh-mtl #36
Most of what you write, I agree with/is accurate.
But the last statement is not:
The U.S. is in a much less favorable position than in the late 19th century. It has many fewer available resources than it had at that time.
This is not true. Yes, the original Pennsylvania oil fields are depleted but there is all manner of fossil fuel energy in the US. The US can trivially become an energy superpower - which today it is not because production is roughly equal to consumption. There are also all manner of other resources which, even if they are less ideal than virgin ones in the 3rd world, are still valuable particularly given tariffs and multipolarity.
It is much more centralized and authoritarian, which reduces the dynamism of the economy.
This is fixable.
And its infrastructure, be it transportation, education, governmental, is in a state of rapid decline, rather than in full development.
The decline is a function of lack of attention - not an immutable, structural outcome. If the US redirected its focus on infrastructure instead of say, Silicon Valley social media or AI or self driving cars or DEI or solar PV/wind or similar forms of nonsense - the infrastructure would improve.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 17:55 utc | 39
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 2 2025 17:15 utc | 27
##########
It is of little surprise that you're so animated about mental illness.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 17:58 utc | 40
@I forgot #15
I really doubt it. The tariffs are to prove who is boss.
Trudeau is a dumbfuck - Canada will remove his ass very quickly, as the tariffs he has tried to respond with will do nothing but cripple the country. I think 70% of Canada's exports are to the US vs. single digit percentages in reverse. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure who is going to lose that war.
Mexico is being a lot smarter. Rather than foolishly trying to out-headbutt Trump and the US, they are instead going to use the tariffs as an excuse to block GMO corn imports - which the ISDA court had ruled Mexico could not do.
And so the US ag industry will put pressure to resolve the situation and/or Mexico gets what it wants anyway: to block the GMO corn imports.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:00 utc | 41
The US is all but an afterthought. Its nuclear threat is suicidal and its domestic scene is macabre. It could have been a champ beginning in 1946 except for its disdain for the working class (communism). Seeing how it now provides only expensive health services and expensive education was and is its cruel and fatal tell. It may take a century for it to come around and become a just and shared nation.
Posted by: Carnaby Jones | Feb 2 2025 18:00 utc | 42
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 17:42 utc | 34
#########
I am a huge Lovecraft fan. He had an amazing talent for making people feel unsettled using only words.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 18:00 utc | 43
@dh-mtl #36
Another major difference is that there are, or can be, viable alternatives for just about everything the US supplies.
In particular, from greater China, but even in its current state the EU has a strong position in some areas of technology, the EU and the ROW can supply healthier and cheaper agricultural products and, to the extent they are actually needed in the Post-WWII world, both Russia and China have competitive and functional military products.
Some saw the writing on the wall before the current administration marched into power, which is why we saw this article in The Economist in January:
https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/01/02/why-canada-should-join-the-eu
A possibility that appears to be actively being discussed right now in Canadian media. Perhaps not the most desirable outcome, but also perhaps better than the realistically available alternatives.
Posted by: Billb | Feb 2 2025 18:04 utc | 44
@Tom Pfotzer #38
We rarely agree on much, but we are in agreement here.
The one part you are missing is:
inflation is only bad if real wages are negative i.e. wages growing slower than inflation.
Post WW2: inflation was enormous but real wage growth was positive i.e. wages were growing even faster.
To me, it is clear what Trump aims to do: get real wages growing faster with tax cuts to bridge the time period between now and the job/wage growth from redomestication.
On the budget side: cut a big chunk of the garbage neocon pointless foreign adventure and aid spending to offset the reduction in tax income and keep the deficit manageable.
The end goal is a larger, vibrant US domestic economy with good paying jobs for the middle class and blue collar, who in turn make more money working than they lose in grocery prices.
Whether this will work or not, time will tell but I personally fully approve the attempt.
Anyone who is antiwar, who does not cheer this is a TDS moron.
Anyone who believes in the middle class and an equal opportunity, egalitarian US society and economy who opposes this is also a moron.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:08 utc | 45
"Will Rubio come up w/clever arguments justifying our land grab "
McKinley decided to conquer the Philippines because of a dream in which Filipinos begged him to come help his little brown brothers. So he said, anyway. I suspet he was copying St. Paul's Macedonian dream in the book of Acts.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 18:12 utc | 46
Are we there yet?
The concept of the Noosphere, which stems from the Greek words "nous" (mind) and "sphaira" (sphere), refers to the idea of a collective consciousness or a sphere of human thought and knowledge that emerges through the interconnectedness of human minds, particularly facilitated by technology and communication. To synthesize a hypothesis that positions the Noosphere as a logical next step in human evolution, particularly in light of the developmental trajectory of the human brain, we can explore the evolution of the brain and its implications for social and cognitive dynamics.
Evolution of the Brain:
1.Reptilian Brain Stem:
The brain stem represents the most primitive part of the brain, responsible for basic survival functions, reflexes, and instincts. This part of the brain governs survival-related behaviors and is largely autonomous, functioning without higher-level thinking or reasoning.
2. Limbic System:
Building on the reptilian brain, the limbic system is involved in emotions, memories, and motivations. This portion of the brain facilitates social connections, creating the foundation for emotional responses and group living, which are essential for human evolution.
3.Prefrontal Cortex:
The prefrontal cortex is crucial for complex cognitive behavior, decision-making, social behavior, and the ability to think abstractly. This area of the brain allows humans to engage in planning, moral judgments, and self-regulation, reflecting a significant leap in cognitive sophistication and social interaction.
4.Cerebral Cortex:
The cerebral cortex, particularly the neocortex, is involved in sensory perception, language processing, and consciousness. This part of the brain enables advanced forms of communication, creativity, and the capacity to form intricate societal structures.
Synthesis of the Noosphere Hypothesis:
Thesis:
Given the evolutionary trajectory of the brain from basic survival mechanisms to complex forms of reasoning and social interaction, one can argue that the emergence of the Noosphere is a natural extension of this evolutionary process where human cognitive capabilities are increasingly interlinked.
Components of the Hypothesis:
1.Interconnected Cognitive Networks:
The development of the Noosphere can be seen as the digital manifestation of the interconnectedness of the human brain, akin to the neural networks that allow the brain to function as a cohesive unit. Technology, especially the internet and digital communication systems, allows human brains to connect, share, and collaborate on an unprecedented scale. This mirrors the development of the neocortex, which emphasizes abstract thinking and complex interactions.
2.Collective Problem-Solving and Knowledge Accumulation:
As humanity has evolved, each leap in brain complexity has facilitated enhanced language and social structures. The Noosphere enables collective intelligence, wherein the shared knowledge and experiences of multiple individuals contribute to problem-solving and creativity. The integration of various forms of intelligence—emotional, analytical, and creative—can be viewed as an evolution of the human mind where collective consciousness enhances individual capabilities.
3.Cultural Evolution:
Human culture and knowledge are cumulative and evolve over time, much like biological evolution. The Noosphere can be seen as a cultural evolutionary process, where the exchange of ideas, philosophies, and innovations leads to a higher level of consciousness. As societies become more interconnected, this cultural evolution accelerates, creating a vast repository of knowledge accessible across the globe.
4.Moral and Ethical Development:
The prefrontal cortex’s role in ethical reasoning suggests that as the Noosphere develops, humans will face increasingly complex ethical dilemmas. The collective consciousness could lead to a higher level of empathy and moral reasoning as diverse perspectives contribute to a more nuanced understanding of global issues.
5.Potential for Global Challenges:
The ability to collectively address global challenges highlights the evolutionary advantage of seeking collective solutions through a shared sphere of knowledge. The Noosphere can facilitate cooperation across cultures and disciplines, leading to innovative solutions rooted in shared human experience.
In summary, the evolution of the brain from primitive structures to advanced cognitive capabilities sets the stage for the emergence of the Noosphere as a logical next step in human development. This interconnected sphere of thought enables enhanced collaboration, collective problem-solving, and cultural evolution, revealing the profound potential of human beings to transcend individual limitations and work together for shared goals. As technology continues to advance, the manifestation and realization of the Noosphere may reflect the next phase in our evolutionary journey toward a more interconnected and conscious global society.
Posted by: fleischwurst | Feb 2 2025 18:12 utc | 47
Hudson: Trump's Balance-of-Payments War on Mexico and the Whole World
https://globalsouth.co/2025/01/24/trumps-balance-of-payments-war-on-mexico-and-the-whole-world/
"As Trump changes the rules of the game - America's rules based order - at what point will a critical mass be achieved that changes the world order as a whole?"
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 2 2025 18:13 utc | 48
ctue@1800 Feb 2
Astute observation. Mexico is the homeland of corn/maize. Over the centuries they developed literally hundreds of veritals; each of them closely adapted according to soil and climate conditions in particular zones...a magnificent human enterprise.
So along comes Monsanto, Cargill and all the rest of the Big-Ag heavy machinery operatives and chemical warfare applicators. Those "production uber alles " pushers have succeeded in degrading America's finest farmlands into a biotic wasteland. It would take no fewer than five YEARS of soil remediation procedures to restore some level of viability to those millions of previously productive acres.
President Scheinbaum, whom Richard Wolff in a recent podcast, described as having a most Latino surname...with tongue bulging out his Brooklynese cheek...is no dummy. She understands the importance of retaining integrity of Mexico's farmlands and remaining genuine farmers. NO fukkin GMO corn to cross the border is likely Mexico's RED LINE.
The die is cast. Mexico is girding its loins and the Trumpeting blowhard will need to take a second look.
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 2 2025 18:14 utc | 49
Canada should apply for BRICS membership...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 18:16 utc | 50
@Billb #44
the EU and the ROW can supply healthier and cheaper agricultural products
Like hell they can.
The EU was able to compete with foreign ag imports due to a combination of massive trade barriers and cheap fertilizer from cheap natural gas. Well, one part of this is gone for the foreseeable future.
The ROW is also heavily dependent on imports of fertilizer. Brazil, for example, is an enormous ag export economy but also imports enormous amounts of fertilizer. Australia, another significant ag exporter, also imports a lot of fertilizer.
The literal death of the EU nitrogen fertilizer industry due to Nordstream has jacked up fertilizer prices across the board, all over the world because the EU is now a black hole, new massive sink for fertilizer exports.
The US has the natural gas to make lots of cheap fertilizer but has allowed that sector of the economy to become monopolized/oligopolized - a problem that is fixable.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:16 utc | 51
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 18:16 utc | 50
##############
You will notice that all of the BRICS countries are sovereign.
Canada remains a colony making them ineligible to sit at the big kids' table.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 18:20 utc | 52
The CIA was running drugs out of the Golden Triangle before it was officially established as the CIA.
Then the Vietnam War allowed an enormous expansion.
It is obvious that drug use is not a demand-sided phenomenon when you see what happened in the 80s, after the US had left Vietnam and started its attack on Central America. The drug of choice in the 80s was cocaine, straight outta the killing fields and flown into the US on CIA planes. A lot of the cocaine was flown into Mena, Arkansas, then headed by Bill Clinton, who was rewarded in the 90s with the presidency of the entire US.
When the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, they let the drug growers out of prison, and the heroin production skyrocketed. No more Golden Triangle, Afghanistan became the world's largest supplier of heroin. As usual, the CIA and military controlled the distribution, and pocketed the profits.
Heroin use in the US became so widespread that people in flyover country started to ask questions about the role of the US in Afghanistan.
Presto! After a brief propaganda flurry trying to pin the entire blame on the Sackler family, the CIA switched to fentanyl, first blaming Mexico, then China.
They started by lacing heroin with fentanyl, but now that the US is out of Afghanistan, it's All Fentanyl, All The Time.
Nothing to do with demand, it's all about the CIA and Friends supplying whatever drugs are most convenient for them, and Americans buying whatever drug is most available.
Posted by: wagelaborer | Feb 2 2025 18:22 utc | 53
China's ability to innovate and replace US imports as well as diversify and protect alternative exports elsewhere from US destabilization (both regime change installing anti-China client regimes and the backing of violence targeting Belt & Road Initiative routes) will determine the outcome of Washington's actual objectives;
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Oml-FedcM
Posted by: suzan | Feb 2 2025 16:47 utc | 22
The PRC made a very careful study of the collapse of the Soviet Union. If you go back in time, before the Sino-Soviet split, they were also the beneficiaries of Soviet largesse.
I have no doubt that the experience of the Russian Federation with the SMO (and the import substitution, etc., etc.) is also a matter of careful study by the wise people of the "Middle Kingdom" and they will get that right as well.
The Russian-Chinese relations, which have never been so good in the entire history of those relations, are going to help turn the corner on the ugly uni-polar moment in world history.
Hooray for the Chinese. Russia and the other Soviets saved the world in 1945. Now it is the turn of the Chinese.
Posted by: NH | Feb 2 2025 18:25 utc | 54
Posted by: Northern Savage | Feb 2 2025 14:39 utc | 2
Trump has already shown that *free speech" applies only to approved speech. Case in point: deporting visitors who dare speak out against genocide.
Posted by: Mary | Feb 2 2025 18:31 utc | 55
Trump is building a wall (physical, economic, geopolitical) around the U.S. to give it time and space to "rebuild as an industrial economy.
Posted by: dh-mtl | Feb 2 2025 17:46 utc | 36"
This worked out very, very, badly for Qing dynasty China.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 18:33 utc | 56
@NH #54
The Chinese fought the Japanese, but very unsuccessfully in WW2.
It was the Red Army that destroyed Japan's main land military force in literally 6 weeks, after having crossed the entire Eurasian continent.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:33 utc | 57
@Mary #55
Clearly you don't understand that US laws and protections apply to US citizens, not foreigners.
I don't particularly approve this set of actions, but there are far more legal justifications for doing so than the lawfare nonsense executed on Trump by the Biden DOJ, the New York attorney general's office, the Georgia attorney general's office, etc etc.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:35 utc | 58
The Chinese fought the Japanese, but very unsuccessfully in WW2.
It was the Red Army that destroyed Japan's main land military force in literally 6 weeks, after having crossed the entire Eurasian continent.Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:33 utc | 57
It's not clear to me whether you are supporting my argument about likely Chinese success or whether this is supposed to be part of a counter-argument.
Care to elaborate?
Posted by: NH | Feb 2 2025 18:37 utc | 59
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 18:20 utc | 52
Oh I know it’s out of the question, I was idly entertaining myself by imagining the reaction from an already fulminating White House...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 18:38 utc | 60
@lester #56
Which Qing dynasty are you referring to?
The Great Wall Qin dynasty or the last monarchy Chin dynasty?
The former did great - China remained sovereign and unified for literally thousands of years after that.
The latter did not have the strength to wall off anything, as the Opium wars and the foreign concessions in Shanghai amply demonstrated. I have actually read a lot about how the Chin tried hard to industrialize - they just could not get around their own Deep State bureaucrats to do it. Of course, those Deep State bureaucrats were focused mostly on their own positions and power as opposed to foreign wars and the MIC, but nonetheless...
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:38 utc | 61
"a humbled US that recognizes its limits " probably worn't come about voluntarily.
Posted by: lester | Feb 2 2025 18:39 utc | 62
aristodemos @ 49
Corn wind-pollinates. While Mexico still has thousands of varieties of corn there is no longer any corn anywhere which is not hybridized with GMO corn. Remotest mountain valleys of Mexico are that way.
Mexico drew the line and outlawed glyphosate, aka Roundup. That was to have been effective April 1 of 2024. Cartels executed a lot of the campaigners and Bayer/Monsanto continued business as usual. Mexico is not sovereign.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 2 2025 18:47 utc | 63
@NH #59
This is what you wrote
Hooray for the Chinese. Russia and the other Soviets saved the world in 1945.
First of all, the Chinese Communists did not consider themselves Soviet. It is, in fact, a symptom of the ideological differences between Marxist-Leninism and Maoism.
Secondly, while the Communists under Mao did fight the Japanese - they were not the only Chinese fighting the Japanese. The actual government of China during World War 2 was under Chiang Kai Shek - and fought the Japanese as well. The Communists did not actually take over China until 1949.
But neither of these 2, nor any of the other Chinese resistance, actually defeated Japan. It was the Russian Red Army as I note in the original response.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:48 utc | 64
@ dh-mtl | Feb 2 2025 17:46 utc | 36
canada would be better served learning how to be independent and not reliant on selling to the usa.. i agree with another comment here - drop the tariffs on the import of chinese electric vehicles for a start.. quit being a servant to the usa.. does canada have a backbone or not?? our politicians give off the impression of not..
i like what maxine bernier is saying on this topic.. -
"Everyone should take a deep breath and stop freaking out following this threat by Trump to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian exports. This is extremely unlikely to happen, although it doesn’t mean we should ignore it.
Trump is the author of “The Art of the Deal”, and he has a habit of making outrageous declarations as a bargaining position to force his counterparts to do something or make concessions under threat.
He similarly threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imported goods from Mexico in 2019 if the Mexican government didn’t curb the flow of migrants.
There are limits to how much tariffs he can impose given how interdependent our economies are. Trump says he will make us pay, but he knows that it’s American businesses and consumers who will actually pay the tariffs. Our exporting industries would of course suffer considerably, but inflation would spike in the US.
Trump knows that the flow of illegal migrants and Fentanyl from Canada into the US is a tiny problem compared to what’s coming from Mexico (or China in the case of Fentanyl).
He probably added Canada to this threat not because he believes we are a big part of these problems, but because he despises Trudeau, knows he’s weak and on his way out, and wants to wield a big stick in preparation for the renegotiation of the USMCA, and demands that we spend more on defence.
Thanks to Trudeau’s insane mass immigration policy, we are also seen internationally as a country that opened its doors to everyone, including criminals and terrorists who sometimes cross the border into the US. The new administration rightly see Canada as a threat to American security.
What we need to do to preserve our access to the US market is by all means not to get into a commercial war and threaten to retaliate. It’s to make real reforms, regain control of our borders, impose a moratorium on immigration and deport all illegals and foreign criminals, stop the experiment on making hard drugs more easily available, and upgrade our defence instead of turning our armed forces into a club for woke sissies.
And get ready for a renegotiation of the USMCA with tangible offers to put in the table, including scrapping supply management, which would actually be good for Canadian consumers.
What we need is a serious government willing to do the necessary reforms — not just to placate Trump and preserve our access to US markets, but because this will be beneficial to Canadians."
@ c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:16 utc | 51
canada is the 3rd largest exporter of fertilizer after russia and china... i wonder if trump put tariffs on that too??
just following the commentary...
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 18:54 utc | 65
Hey Jeremy?
You got a sense of humour?
I only ask as I've had a few pigs and a greasy saveloy and I'm sure i know your boat from somewhere?...
As the sun dipped low over the historic city of Bath, the scent of fresh rain and blooming roses filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere that welcomed Norman, a London-born Rastafarian, on his pilgrimage to Fairfield House. The iconic Georgian architecture loomed around him, each building telling its own story, much like his own journey threaded between cultures and spiritual dimensions.
https://i.postimg.cc/hPV426Hh/c9496699-526b-4919-b5cc-60666f7abdee.png
Upon his arrival at the former residence of Emperor Haile Selassie, he was met with a familiar face from his past; it was Jeremy, an old friend from London. They embraced warmly, exchanging stories of their journeys and the ties that brought them together from different walks of life.
"Come on, I've got a few sights to show you," Jeremy said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. Together, they wandered through Bath, taking in the majestic Roman Baths, the intricate architecture of the Royal Crescent, and the vibrant atmosphere of the local market filled with artisanal goods.
As they strolled, Jeremy mentioned that he had a friend nearby, an elderly lady named Miss Agnes, who had a remarkable story about the Emperor. “She met him during his time in exile here in Bath. She’ll be thrilled to tell you about it.”
Intrigued, Norman followed Jeremy to a quaint little cottage adorned with climbing ivy and blooming flowers. Miss Agnes welcomed them with a bright smile and a sparkle of nostalgia in her eyes. She invited them into her cozy living room, filled with photographs and memorabilia from her long life.
“I remember Haile Selassie well,” she began, her voice soft yet steady. “He was such a dignified man, always carrying himself with grace. I was a young girl back then when my parents volunteered to assist the community during his stay.”
Norman leaned in, captivated by her memories. “What was he like?” he asked softly.
“Oh, he was warm-hearted,” she replied, reminiscing. “One day, I was lucky enough to be invited to join him for an outing. We took a trip to Weston-super-Mare. He wanted to swim in the sea, something he hadn’t experienced in many years.”
Norman's eyes lit up with inspiration. “What a beautiful connection! We must retrace his steps, Jeremy! Let’s go to Weston-super-Mare and swim in the same waters he did.”
Jeremy smiled at Norman's enthusiasm. “That’s a fantastic idea! Let’s make a day of it.”
Early the next morning, the two friends set off, the excitement bubbling within them. As they traveled toward Weston-super-Mare, they imagined what it would have been like for the Emperor, the salty air and the roar of waves a distant call to freedom. Upon arriving, they were struck by the expansive sandy beach and the glimmering brown of the Bristol Channel.
They took a moment to breathe in the scent of the sea, allowing the soothing sound of the waves to wash over them. “The same waves that splashed against Haile Selassie,” Norman mused, looking out at the horizon.
With their spirits high, they changed into their swimming gear and made their way to the water’s edge. Norman's heart raced with anticipation as he thought of the joy Haile Selassie must have felt that day, his laughter echoing through time. He splashed into the water, feeling the coolness envelop him, reminding him of freedom, unity, and the embrace of nature.
Jeremy followed close behind, and together they laughed and played in the waves, splashing and diving beneath the surface. For Norman, every moment became a tribute to the Emperor's legacy—a celebration of the life affirming power of joy and connection.
After their swim, they lay on the warm sand, gazing up at the sky, their hearts light with camaraderie and the spirit of Haile Selassie. Their conversation drifted to dreams of a united world, drawing inspiration from the past, as they contemplated the importance of love and solidarity.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in vibrant hues, Norman felt a deep sense of gratitude. “Today was more than just a swim. It felt like a communion with our roots, with the essence of righteousness. Haile Selassie's spirit here feels alive.”
Jeremy nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “We’ve forged new memories today, all while honoring a great man. This connection will stay with us forever.”
With their hearts full and enriched by the experience, Norman and Jeremy returned to Bath, knowing their journey mirrored that of the Emperor—one filled with laughter, warmth, and the unbreakable bond of friendship.
https://i.postimg.cc/TPNTy6WN/367e020f-9425-4ebd-bff9-d7708909ab7f.png
Posted by: fleischwurst | Feb 2 2025 19:03 utc | 66
9 LoveDonbass
It takes two to kayfabe… and, yes, that is what the Canadian elites response has been so far…
Posted by: E | Feb 2 2025 19:09 utc | 67
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:35 utc | 58 Attacking people for speaking against genocide is promoting the genocide. It is attacking the free speech rights of American citizens. Their free speech must include the voices from foreigners as well. Ignoring foreigners is one reason so much of the American population is so blindly supportive of US atrocities. Ignorance is not innocence, but promoting ignorance under color of law is despicable. And so too are fatuous legalisms. No doubt the Trump cultists will find the irrelevant aside about so-called lawfare inflammatory enough to prevent thinking.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 2 2025 19:09 utc | 68
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 18:48 utc | 64
Thanks for the non sequitur.
?? My argument, simply put, it that the PRC is in a position, including with past experience, that it should be able to manage the coming war with the US empire. It's still not clear to me whether you agree with this claim or not ...despite the fact that you've had two goes at it.
Posted by: NH | Feb 2 2025 19:17 utc | 69
There isn't the slightest indication that Trump's alleged attacks on the Deep State will include digging up the bodies in the CIA's drug deals. CIA proprietary bodies like Air America don't get shut down until they're an embarrassment/failure, much less get expropriated and their execs jailed.
In addition to such corruption, there is I think extensive corruption in money laundering, which means banks, and investment of profits, which means real estate investment trust, various financial funds, elite law firms, numerous police and prosecutors all across the country. The last means not the so-called Deep State, but local and state governments. But the Trumper trash pretend that local and state is the salt of the Earth, so they have nothing of value to contribute. Insofar as some elements of the CIA are hard to control even by their appointed administrators, it is because they are connected to outside money and the politicians of both parties the money funds.
If you insist on being anti-woke, the BLM insistence that the only corruption in the police is racialized murder is a fine example of how conservatives use manufactured outrage to divert from the bigger problems, dividing the masses...and ruling them.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 2 2025 19:17 utc | 70
36 dh-mtl
Sound analysis
What would be an effective Canadian response?
What would be an effective Mexican response?
Posted by: E | Feb 2 2025 19:19 utc | 71
@c1ue #44
The level of ag subsidies in the US and EU are actually similar. The US has a structural advantage due to huge farm sizes, less social spending and loose regulations but that's offset by other high costs. I believe you'll find that the share of US agricultural exports in world trade of agricultural products has dropped precipitously over the post-war (origin of the "feed the world" myth) period to present and is continuing to decline year by year. India, Brazil, Thailand and other developing countries such as China are exporting more and more.
It has obvious potential to be weaponized- even US allies such as Japan refuse to become dependent. As we saw happen in the Asian crop failures ca. 1960.
I doubt the present energy situation in Europe will be any more than a blip on a long term chart- and even it is is, there are plenty of other countries who can fill the gap. The energy is still there and will find a way. Who wants California or Florida oranges when Moroccan or Spanish ones are better quality and cheaper?
Posted by: Billb | Feb 2 2025 19:20 utc | 72
Posted by: fleischwurst | Feb 2 2025 19:03 utc | 66
What’s this? Going to Weston-super-Mare and not having a donkey ride along the beach???!!!
Or admiring the razor wire around a derelict Birnbeck Pier... https://postimg.cc/N2wFnSLG
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 19:28 utc | 73
@ E | Feb 2 2025 19:19 utc | 71
i offered canada's ppc leaders viewpoint on this which i think is a sound response...see @ 65
------------
Posted by: james | Feb 2 2025 19:32 utc | 74
@james #65
Canada does export fertilizer - but it is not clear to me that it goes to the US.
How do I know? North Dakota, which borders Canada as well as Canada's energy provinces, has the highest nitrogen fertilizer prices in the US because they are literally the ass-end of the fertilizer supply chain.
If Canadian fertilizer is only going to California or China or Brazil, it won't make any difference to Trump...
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 19:33 utc | 75
@steven t johnson #68
Meh. I could give a shit about your argument given what the Biden administration did, as well as all of the Democrat party supporters in the University professor and administration ranks.
Giving up their merit badges to PMC wealth would be a true expression of sacrifice in the name of principle.
I say let them do it.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 19:34 utc | 76
@NH #69
So you won't admit that you wrote a sentence that was factually and historically incorrect, ok fine.
Then you start blabbing about China going to war with the US.
Don't conflate your fantasies about the US "getting what it deserves" with China's actual policy goals.
What China wants is to be able to take its rightful place in the world as the large sovereign nation that it is.
China has no desire to start a war with anyone just for ego sake.
Furthermore, the extension of the policy articulated by Trump and Rubio would mean a dramatic reduction of the likelihood of a war between China and the US; if the Trump administration stops poking China over Taiwan and focuses on cementing its sphere of interest including Canada, Mexico and Greenland, great from China's point of view.
The Chinese leadership is pragmatic and has no problem with Trumpian tariffs, so long as they are not an expression of economic warfare preceding actual warfare - as opposed to a tactic to promote Trump's domestic agenda.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 19:40 utc | 77
@billb #
The cash subsidies are similar, but the EU has far more import restrictions on par with Japanese methods of preventing "foreign rice" from being consumed in Japan.
As for US exports - they dropped for a very simple reason: corn ethanol. Why bother with risky, highly price variable foreign food exports when you can sell into the giant boondoggle that is corn ethanol?
And no, your blithe presumption that
I doubt the present energy situation in Europe will be any more than a blip on a long term chart- and even it is is, there are plenty of other countries who can fill the gap.
I categorically disagree. Algeria ia a BRICS member. Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Iran are BRICS members. The EU is literally surrounded by BRICS - it is ludicrous to think that these nations will not conspire to keep natural gas prices high in Europe, now that the Europeans have no gigantic Russian natural gas deals to horsetrade under the aegis of.
I expect (and European/German businesses clearly agree) that natural gas prices will remain high in Europe until they change their stance vs. Russia - and maybe even then. And such a major policy change would require a major revamping of the EU leadership - which by now is thoroughly infiltrated with Baltic chicken hawks at the specific conniving of von der Leyen.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 19:47 utc | 78
74 James
Et al
In light of the breaking news offer from trump again today:
All this goes away if Canada becomes the 51st state
It is time to address the “elephant” in the room , Canadian institutions holding in the region of 400 billion in US treasuries… hmmm, I wonder what these could be traded for? Some of the truckers could tell Ottawa…
An oil / commodity embargo is a viable pillar, though it wouldn’t stand alone
any other ideas for a third pillar??
Posted by: E | Feb 2 2025 19:57 utc | 79
What would be an effective Canadian response?
What would be an effective Mexican response?
Posted by: E | Feb 2 2025 19:19 utc | 71
Good questions.
For me, it starts with recognizing that there is nothing that one can do, at this point in time, to dissuade Trump from tariffs. He believes that they are integral to the success of MAGA. Therefore, as I start I would suggest to avoid antagonizing Trump and making the situation worse. Eventually some of the tariffs, such as on raw materials, will be reduced or eliminated as the U.S. will find that they are counter-productive.
Secondly, one must ensure alternate egress for Canada's natural resources, particularly oil and gas. Canada needs pipeline access to both the east and west coasts. Is shipping oil by boat across the Great Lakes possible as a temporary measure?
Thirdly, Canada should eliminate inter-provincial trade barriers.
Fourthly, Canada should focus on improving trade relationships with complementary economies, particularly Mexico, Latin America and Asia.
Fourthly, Canada should cease to be an attack dog for the 'Globalists' and develop a collaborative relationship with the emerging multi-polar world.
Posted by: dh-mtl | Feb 2 2025 20:00 utc | 80
c1ue @ 18:35 utc writes:
“Clearly you don't understand that US laws and protections apply to US citizens, not foreigners.”
This isn’t as true as you might wish. Because the Bill of Rights refers to “people” rather than “citizens” with admirable consistency, the rights enumerated therein are usually applied without regard to citizenship status. Thus if you’re a “green card” holder, or a foreigner in the US on a tourist visa (to offer two examples) and are charged with a crime, you have the same due process rights as a citizen.
In fact those rights are — at least in theory — extended to those in the country illegally, but since such people are always subject to deportation, honoring such rights might not enter into consideration.
Of course all of this could change, and may indeed be changing as I type this; we’ll have to see how courts rule in such matters.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 2 2025 20:02 utc | 81
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 19:34 utc | 76 In addition to confirming my belief about Trump cultists not thinking because they're still election campaigning, the blanket condemnation of university professors of the so-called PMC is symptomatic. No one who thinks business school professor and law school professors and divinity professors are PMC=woke is a fool or a liar or both. Law schools are the recruitment pool for the Federalist Society! The America First Policy Institute is the so-called Deep State, if anyone saying those words meant anything rational. But they don't, because they aren't.
Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 2 2025 20:03 utc | 82
As I commented previously (Jan 21): To 'Make America Great Again' Trump is building a wall (physical, economic, geopolitical) around the U.S. to give it time and space to rebuild as an industrial economy.
Posted by: dh-mtl | Feb 2 2025 17:46 utc | 36
——————
I think that ship has already sailed.
Not to overgeneralize but I think baby boomers and millennials tend to be self centered.
I think we will see leaders of a workers proletariat emerge from Gen Z.
Trump is already sitting the stage for this by banning pro Palestinian rallies on college campuses.
Posted by: financial matters | Feb 2 2025 20:09 utc | 83
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 19:28 utc |
Dismal!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dismaland
You gotta have a larf ain't ya🤣
Posted by: fleischwurst | Feb 2 2025 20:14 utc | 84
80 dh-mtl
Thanks for the reply! Especially about Canada becoming multi-polar… what better way than abandoning the “crack-dollar” system
Posted by: E | Feb 2 2025 20:17 utc | 86
Ottawa Releases Full List of Retaliatory Targets
"See what's on the list and follow live updates here."
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 2 2025 20:19 utc | 87
Trump is already sitting the stage for this by banning pro Palestinian rallies on college campuses.
Posted by: financial matters | Feb 2 2025 20:09 utc | 83
______
Umm, that didn’t start with Trump.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 2 2025 20:25 utc | 88
Posted by: fleischwurst | Feb 2 2025 20:14 utc | 84
Sssh... whisper it quietly...I’ve actually met Banksy...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 2 2025 20:36 utc | 89
….The data can also confirm that the Fed's rate-cutting cycle is over, and the yield curve steepening process has further to go. Historically, at least since 1985, the 10-year rate has peaked on several occasions nearly 350 to 400 bps higher than the Fed Funds rate and a minimum of around 115 bps. The difference between the 10-year and the Fed Funds rate is 22 bps.At a minimum, it would suggest another 90 to 100 bps of steepening to return the curve to its late 1990s level. If the 10-year rate returns to its historical peak, it would be in the 5.5 to 5.6% range and potentially well above 6%. This would probably be triggered by confirmation that the Fed's rate-cutting cycle is over…..
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4754147-bear-steepener-to-hit-market
Posted by: Exile | Feb 2 2025 20:38 utc | 90
Umm, that didn’t start with Trump.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 2 2025 20:25 utc | 88
————-
Very true. I should have said that these are the sort of things that resonate with Gen Z. I think they have a strong sense of social activism.
Posted by: financial matters | Feb 2 2025 20:40 utc | 91
The guardian article allegedly on Ukrainian deserters is authored by englander security services plant Luke Harding, author of such notable pieces as 'Russian fans heard singing Nazi song' during the soccer world cup final held in Russia - it later transpired that the singing was from englander arsenal supporters sledging england jews who ironically are currently big supporters of arsenal. He also pushed out bulldust such as 'Assange meets with Trump campaigner Paul Manafort' which was also proven to be a crock.
Many other articles particularly about the Skripals also appeared under his byline although their source was undoubtedly englander state security deceivers. So many I cannot recall individual ones off the top of my head; they basically reinforced the 'they caught it off a doorknob' tall tale, as well as alleged that the two Russian operatives tasked with assisting the Skripals to escape england, who arrived in Salisbury hours after the pair had been poisoned, were in fact the poisoners. I don't believe Harding has published a truthful article in his life.
This article on deserters only appears to feature deserters who still support the regime & its aims but who deplore some aspects of the methods employed, it is a sop to englander fascists, they type who read the daily mail which supported hitler's nazi party up until england declared war on germany- who are told to 'understand' some deserters whilst they continue to support this unconscionable west-provoked conflict.
I dunno why the guardian which if it wanted to be accurate would re-name to the 'Englander Womens Daily' since all it seems to feature nowadays are recipes, fashion & television soap opera, along with 'long' reads by agony aunts, bothers to carry this crap which most of its readers would judge to be too militaristic, but I suppose it still strives to satisfy big MIC donors such as bill gates who has tipped millions into the rag.
So the war-mongering lies are published in the hope some fascist's partner will chance across it and support hubby in his desperate effort to bail out england by screwing Ukraine.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Feb 2 2025 20:53 utc | 92
@malenkov #81
The reality of how "people" are defined vs "citizens" will be eventually adjudged by the US Supreme Court.
Do you seriously think the outcome is going to be any different than what I stated?
The only way this does not happen is a Constitutional Amendment stating categorically different.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 21:17 utc | 93
@steven t johnson #82
I guess I am "no one" then, because I ESPECIALLY consider those morons, fools.
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 21:18 utc | 94
Posted by: c1ue | Feb 2 2025 15:15 utc | 6
The only thing the article shows is that the author is pretty much clueless in regards to 'AI programs'.
Posted by: kspr | Feb 2 2025 21:26 utc | 95
Trump worked with the WWE. He is a master of kayfabe.Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 2 2025 15:28 utc | 9
Good point. Trump as a TV wrestler, using the world as his stage. Pretty well sums him up, from all I've seen. He's got everybody watching and for someone who craves attention the way he does, it doesn't get much better.
Posted by: Clever Dog | Feb 2 2025 21:37 utc | 96
FFS, Canada should do this, Canada should do that.....how many Canadians have taken the Canadian Oath of Allegiance......Canada is not sovereign, go read the damn thing......you are all subjects.
Cheers M
Posted by: sean the leprechaun | Feb 2 2025 21:59 utc | 97
https://tass.com/world/1907709
Elon Musk
"Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including COVID-19, that killed millions of people?"
In late January, NBC News reported that more than 50 USAID employees were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice. This decision was made following an audit that uncovered "several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people.".
Posted by: Thurl | Feb 2 2025 22:20 utc | 98
@ c1ue | Feb 2 2025 21:17 utc | 93
I do anticipate some erosion of noncitizen rights — despite the clear language of the Bill of Rights — but not the de jure denial of all rights and protections.
Of course, de facto is another matter. But given the notorious erosion of rights and protections in the case of actual American citizens, this might be a purely academic point anyway.
Posted by: malenkov | Feb 2 2025 22:22 utc | 99
Michael Hudson has been focusing on the debt crisis enfolding in the Global South recently,. Needless to say, the debt will be the most important issue for the BRICS going forward. This debt crisis will differ from the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980's and '90's by virtue of the existence of a resurgent China. The latter, acting within BRICS could proffer a Brady-bonds type of debt relief; only this time, ...well... I'll let this economist spell it out😎: "To start, Brady-like bonds can be denominated in currencies beyond US dollar, such as the renminbi (RMB), as overdue loan repayments to Chinese creditors are soaring. Various forms and modifications of the original Brady bond model could be used for restructuring loans held by Chinese lenders through Brady-like RMB bonds. A coordination mechanism, informally known as the “Shanghai Club,” could be established to facilitate the issuance of Brady-like RMB bonds, which, in addition to alleviating debt distress, could also lead to the establishment of off-shore RMB bond markets. There is also great potential to link Brady-like debt restructuring with green and inclusive bonds by adopting related international standards and by mobilizing grant funding through debt-for-climate swaps."
Posted by: Maracatu | Feb 2 2025 22:44 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
Donald Trump Has Ruptured The Canada-US Relationship. To What End? And What Comes Next?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-canada-tariffs-reaction-trudeau-1.7448263
"Paul Krugman, the Nobel-winning economist and commentator, suggested this week that the use of fentanyl to justify this trade war was akin to a previous American administration's claims of 'weapons of mass destruction' as a pretext to launch an invasion of Iraq in 2003.
It's just a plausible-sounding reason for a president to do what he wants for other reasons.
The White House referred to the tariffs as 'leverage' on Saturday. But it's unclear what more the United States wants.
And whatever his stated concerns about fentanyl, Trump may more profoundly view tariffs as a way to raise revenue for a federal government that is already running a deficit of $1.8 trillion US, and as a method to force companies to manufacture products within the US..."
Posted by: John Gilberts | Feb 2 2025 14:15 utc | 1