Maria Zakharova:
NATO Secretary General Responds to Danish Intelligence Report:
“If Putin decides to attack NATO, he will lose. The response will be absolutely devastating.”
“This statement by Rutte is not about who might lose in the future—it’s an admission that the West’s “Ukraine project” has already failed. Not long ago, their rhetoric was all about “defeating Russia on the battlefield” and “delivering a strategic defeat to the Russians.” They also repeatedly pushed the narrative that “Russia’s economy has been torn to shreds.”
Now, the focus is shifting. It’s clear they no longer see the Kiev regime as a viable bet—used and discarded.
Another crucial shift is the attempt to shift responsibility onto the EU side of the collective West, leaving an already struggling Western European economy to deal with the problems created by the Anglo-Saxons on its own.”

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 12 2025 20:57 utc | 103

Ukraine’s UN ambassador who was previously kicked out of Germany for denying the Holocaust, calling Scholz “sausage” and justifying Bandera’s crimes, has made a new claim.
The Ukrainian diplomat has demanded $100 billion a year from Donald Trump to “rebuild Ukraine”

This Clown clearly doesn’t know that Trump has always been about reducing risk and exposure by using OPM.
In this case, Europe’s money.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Feb 12 2025 21:01 utc | 105

Putin should remember US (esp Trump) does not keep agreements but here is what his opening conditions should be.
Demilitarized Ukraine. Russian Inspectors to monitor compliance.
No NATO member troops in Ukraine.
All land East of the Dnipier River and Crimea to be recognized as Russian Territory
Complete withdrawal from Kursk
No NATO for Ukraine.
Denazification of Ukrainian government

Posted by: Pete Lincoln | Feb 12 2025 21:02 utc | 107

LoveDombass @ 101
That we can both / all enjoy,
Cheers

Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 12 2025 21:03 utc | 109

Volo just got pollaxed……and the pro Nazis in the MSM and the DC and London deep state have exploding heads……
Its just great to observe rock heads like Macron, and Starmer completely left out of any process……..
General Kellog too is out, a cold war has been and now a potemkin figurine.
VV still needs to be wary however, no deal without Odessa, and all of the Ukronazi land east of the Dneiper, and a complete de-militarization of the remained of the Ukraine, and of course a corridor to Transnistria……..

Posted by: tobias cole | Feb 12 2025 21:06 utc | 111

Got to enjoy the fact that DJT lifted all federal security privileges for Toni Soros Blinkensky and Jake Russiagate Sullivan, Vicky Butcher of Maidan Sq Nuland, and 51 deep state security moles who acted to proclaim the falsehood of the Hunter laptop…..
All gone…..but be wary they will attempt to strike back, like all good fascists…….

Posted by: tobias cole | Feb 12 2025 21:14 utc | 113

I said before, a purge of Ukrainian elites has started in post-Biden/neocon era. All old USAID darlings of Ukraine lost their protection and are now susceptible to corruption, treason or other criminal charges.
Ultimately it’s likely that this will lead to at minimum neutral or perhaps pro-Russian government.
https://x.com/distant_earth83/status/1889781337659216180

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 12 2025 21:23 utc | 115

***Thus, access to Transnistria will simply be a matter of course.***
Posted by: aristodemos | Feb 12 2025 21:16 utc | 114
This leaves the “real estate development corridor” through Bukovina and across the Carpathians to Hungary. Not much in the category of minerals there …
Zakrova speaking to Romania: Now, the focus is shifting. It’s clear they no longer see the Kiev regime as a viable bet—used and discarded.

Posted by: frithguild | Feb 12 2025 21:31 utc | 117

The EU needs a nuclear umbrella that is entirely independent of the US, perhaps an extension of the French, but with significant collaboration with both Germany and the major Slavic countries, operating under the assumption that the principal peril is Russia, but by no means exclusively so. The trigger for the activation of this umbrella (underground and invulnerable) is a first strike attack by the enemy, where the counter strike is both land based within Europe, but also in territories such Greenland, submarine based, and island based (Atlantic and Pacific EU territories). Under such a scenario, which I assume is akin to the present American or Chinese defensive (but also, in their case, offensive) configuration, the EU could both resume trading widely with Russia, thus preserving its superior economic configuration and simultaneously achieving for the first time nuclear parity with the Russian Federation, making thereby the US defensive role entirely redundant, unnecessary, and more of an impediment and hindrance than anything else.

Posted by: Ludovic | Feb 12 2025 21:52 utc | 119

“The first time we’ll meet in Saudi Arabia, see if we get something done,” Trump told journalists in the Oval Office.
Trump indicated that several meetings with Putin could take place in the coming months, saying, “We expect that he’ll come here, and I’ll go there, and we’re going to meet also, probably in Saudi Arabia,” according to Matt Viser, the White House bureau chief for The Washington Post.
https://www.rt.com/news/612610-trump-putin-saudi-arabia/

Posted by: Elber | Feb 12 2025 21:57 utc | 121

Saudi Arabia would be a poor choice by Putin (keep in mind, Trump makes shit up and could be BS-ing.)
India, or maybe China would be better sites for neutrality.
At least he didn’t say Turkey …

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 12 2025 22:03 utc | 123

There will be a grand bargain. Expect China to get invited to the talks, which have probably been ongoing for several weeks already. Probably something on nuclear weapons and spheres of influence. Points of contention to be worked out are likely to be the Japan, Korea, and the Middle East. Europe will be pretty much ignored by all and told to wait in the corner until the adults decide what they require of it.

Posted by: CullenBaker | Feb 12 2025 22:11 utc | 125

It is clear, Putin has betrayed all these dead soldiers.
Russia is scared of NATO, scared of Trump.
Posted by: Lenox | Feb 12 2025 21:58 utc | 122
STOP TALKIN FECKIN BOLLOX YOU IMBECILE

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 12 2025 22:15 utc | 127

>Trump can’t lift sanctions
ORLY?
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-disbands-task-force-targeting-russian-oligarchs-2025-02-06/

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 12 2025 22:18 utc | 129

Happy to see the EU get what it deserves. But was that dealt in exchange not intervening in case of a war with Iran or within Syria?
Now that the EU has cut ALL connection with RU (banks, energy, planes, research, exchanges of any sort…they even banned RU academics from some teams and…RU apps and softwares!) it would be fun to see the US benefitting from a renewal of those same relations.

Posted by: Tom | Feb 12 2025 18:50 utc | 52
Considering it was the US that manipulated Europe into burning its bridges with Russia, as the US was threatened by whatever good relations Europe had with Russia before 2014, I don’t expect Russia to reward the USA for its bad behavior. At least not when Maria Zakharova, as quoted by LoveDonbass, implicates the “Anglo-Saxons” (of which the USA is part) in starting the conflict.

Another crucial shift is the attempt to shift responsibility onto the EU side of the collective West, leaving an already struggling Western European economy to deal with the problems created by the Anglo-Saxons on its own.

What am I missing?

Posted by: joey_n | Feb 12 2025 22:26 utc | 131

Posted by: abel | Feb 12 2025 22:22 utc | 130
the best nato can expect is complete withdrawal from the former territory of the ukraine. before the war, nato was hoping of a quick collapse of russia, and that didnt happen. they are now deep into supporting and financing an unwinnable kerkuffle, and trump is desperately trying to get a way out, at least for the us. as russia is never going to leave.

Posted by: Justpassinby | Feb 12 2025 22:27 utc | 133

It is sad that so many of the “alternative” commentators mistake the Trumps, the Melonis, the Farages, the Weidels for agents of real change. But that is the genius of the oligarchy, it excels at co-option, corruption and misdirection to keep the eyes of the working majority away from the greatest problem in society; themselves. And also to mislead the majority into serving the interests of the small oligarch minority.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 12 2025 17:32 utc | 4
Just excellent – one of the best articles I’ve read for quite some time!
Just a minor observation/addition: there’s another faction originally backing the Greens and they are currently pushing the left (Die Linke) to ensure that it achieves the 5% restriction. This would ensure that, as your article states, the Greens would be needed for a coalition…

Posted by: Zet | Feb 12 2025 22:31 utc | 135

Posted by: HughG | Feb 12 2025 19:07 utc | 62
“The Ukrainians can fight on for another year without US support. Will the EU states take up the baton passed on by the Americans? Yes I suspect they will.”
How many bake sales will they need to have to replace the weapons no longer coming from the US? Too bad they sold off so much weaponry to the Mexican cartels. I wonder if they can get them back?

Posted by: Paranaense | Feb 12 2025 22:36 utc | 137

The Telegraph reporting on Ukraine has spun around on a dime.
“We have always been are not at war with Eastasia.”

Posted by: too scents | Feb 12 2025 22:50 utc | 139

Mr Abel, what happened to those kiev ambitions of getting Crimea back? What about a Maydan in Moscow? What happened to the russian ecomomy “collapse”? Youve grossly miscalculated EVERYTHING throughout this conflict.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 12 2025 22:39 utc | 138
you must be confusing me with someone else. i’ve never believed or claimed those things

Posted by: abel | Feb 12 2025 22:53 utc | 141

They are purging Ukrainian elites associated with USAID, Blinken or Biden. That’s the end game that matters, as far as the political sphere is concerned.
Out with the Nato oriented elites, in with the new… wonder who the new are affiliated to?

Posted by: unimperator | Feb 12 2025 23:00 utc | 143

Posted by: Milites | Feb 12 2025 21:57 utc | 120
As always, thanks for your sanity, insight and fine writing. Happiest I’ve been since this nightmare began three years ago. If only the killing and ruin can stop. Trump seems to have learned so much from the first time and is truly cleaning out the Augean stable. Not Hollywood…just reality, and for once an ending that will be better rather than worse.

Posted by: Robert Smith | Feb 12 2025 23:10 utc | 145

Mr Abel, what happened to those kiev ambitions of getting Crimea back? What about a Maydan in Moscow? What happened to the russian ecomomy “collapse”? Youve grossly miscalculated EVERYTHING throughout this conflict.
Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 12 2025 22:39 utc | 138
you must be confusing me with someone else. i’ve never believed or claimed those things
Posted by: abel | Feb 12 2025 22:53 utc | 141
Beg your pardon Sir, Ive left a free drink for you at the bar. Enjoy!

Posted by: HERMIUS | Feb 12 2025 23:16 utc | 147

This has the look of a Viet-Afghan scenario, lots of “peace talks” as fighting ebbs & flows as usual.
The doomed proxy tries to go on, even as it’s patrons disengage.
Trump needs a preemptive “out” to save face, so dumping Ukraine on Europe, blaming Biden for the US getting rinsed for hundreds of billions etc.
Then blame the whole thing on the EU & Zelensky, when it all implodes. Seems the way to go.
Since the EU certainly can’t prop up the Ukrs on their own…

Posted by: Urban Fox | Feb 12 2025 23:24 utc | 149

Posted by: CullenBaker | Feb 12 2025 22:30 utc | 134
I’m magpie’ing that phrase for work, I’d just add, ‘not my pile of elephant dung in the corner’.
Posted by: Passerby | Feb 12 2025 23:03 utc | 144
In his defence, this is the same person who thinks he’s going to win a second term in office, when it’s doubtful he’ll survive the first! He’s a DEI hire, who’d be better suited as a particularly officious traffic warden, or a similar petty, bureaucratic, tin-pot Hitler, position.
Posted by: Robert Smith | Feb 12 2025 23:10 utc | 145
Thanks for the kind words, as somebody joked, ‘if Trump pulls this off, he’ll have an excellent chance to be snubbed for the Nobel Peace prize!’

Posted by: Milites | Feb 12 2025 23:27 utc | 151

The US government budget deficit for the first four months of fiscal 2025 just came out and its a wowser, US$840 billion which is a worse start to the fiscal year than during COVID! In January 2025 the US govt spent 29% more than in January 2024, US$642 billion vs US$500 billion. Only the 2021 January COVID pandemic was worse.
The Dems truly opened up the spigots pre-Trump inauguration and there is a huge amount of fiscal momentum built in. And with all this fiscal tail wind US GDP grew only at an annual rate of 2.3% in Q4 2024. The US govt ran a deficit of 6.4% of GDP in 2024, and its heading higher in 2025 – during a time of GDP growth. Trump needs to get the pain of deficit cutting out of the way as quickly as possible, as it will very badly impact the economy. No wonder he is trying to cut all the foreign stuff first. He REALLY needs to shut down the Ukrainian mess asap, and desperately wants 5 and 10 years interest rates to go down. Instead they may be back on their way above 5%.
Trump is walking a tightrope here between immediate domestic growth and a possible government bond and US dollar debacle. This rate of addition of new debt is utterly unsustainable.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 12 2025 23:34 utc | 153

Instead they may be back on their way above 5%.
Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 12 2025 23:34 utc | 153
—
You missed way way.

Posted by: too scents | Feb 12 2025 23:41 utc | 155

Deficits? Is the future of the US easy to predict? Trump pulls back the Empire and erodes the Warmonger Industry. Inflation returns and Congress goes to the Democrats – who get stuck with cutting Social Security and Medicare after they get the White House back. Then, back to Republicans who will drift into Isolationism because there’s nothing else that can be done. That’s how it looks.

Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 12 2025 23:42 utc | 157

Donald Trump is definitely the Abe Lincoln of his era. If you substitute oligarchs for slaves, that is. Free the oligarch chattel slaves! (from even the most minute constraints they have under fake two-party rule) Let them loose from their shackles!

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 12 2025 23:44 utc | 159

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 12 2025 23:34 utc | 153
Trump’s well aware of the Democrats, ‘throwing gold bars off the Titanic’ strategy, hence his announcement of DOGE, in November. Before you can pump out a holed vessel you have to fix the holes first. It’s also why the head of the OFM is going to resurrect the practice of Presidential authority to practice impoundment. Congress actually passing a budget wouldn’t hurt matters, instead of continuing resolutions that lock in the previous year’s spending.

Posted by: Milites | Feb 12 2025 23:57 utc | 161

Fitch is predicting US budget deficits of 7.5% of GDP in 2025 and 2026. As the Fed is working to shrink its balance sheet with QT. You either get higher interest rates, driving up US govt interest payments even more, or full on monetization through a new QE and an “operation twist” to smother the 5 and 10 year rates.
We look set for a full rerun of the late 1970s, with high inflation and negative interest rates crushing the dollar and living standards. Tariffs will raise some revenue, nowhere near enough, while driving inflation. By reducing the ability to earn US$’s tariffs also tend to strengthen the currency, which together with domestic inflation will make US exports even less competitive. With the level of debt at the societal level a “Volcker Shock” would make the 1930s look like a small scale rehearsal.
Over two decades of debt-funded (instead of tax-funded) foreign wars, the mass socialization of private losses in 2008 and 2021, and repeated tax cuts are coming home to roost. The Dems did the opposite of trying to fix this in late 2022 by opening up the spigots to stop a recession and then ramping spending even more in the election year. The handed a poisoned chalice to a Trump who is allergic to any tax raises(unless they are tariffs).
The Russians and Chinese just have to wait until the flame reaches the end of the fuse, then the Us economic “strength” will be shown for what it is. Russia govt debt to GDP is 15%, with 4% GDP growth. China govt debt to GDP is 83% with 5% GDP growth. And the Chinese government owns and controls most of the financial sector, so can very effectively manage it.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 0:00 utc | 163

@Posted by: Milites | Feb 12 2025 23:57 utc | 161
Cuts to government spending rapidly feed through to reductions in economy final demand, which then feed back into lower tax revenues. The scale of cuts necessary would dump the economy into a very nasty recession/depression. Interest rate effects tend to be lagging, and historically current interest rates are not out of line in real terms.
Not good for a Trump who promised to make the lives of his working class base better. They tend to have an outsized share of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Veterans Affairs spending.
I see why Trump wants to dump the costs of foreign bases more on the locals, as that money mostly does not benefit the US domestic economy. Same with USAID and NED. Then get the vassals to buy more MIC products to help boost the domestic economy. And inflationary tariffs.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 0:08 utc | 165

@ Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Feb 12 2025 23:41 utc | 156
I’ve thought for a while that LGBT protections and tolerances would be stronger in countries like Russia had the US not made these things part of international outreach, and thus hadn’t made them look like foreign interventions (discourse on “homonationalism” is relevant here – before Israel was taken over by religious reactionaries, they used to talk up their LGBT-bonafides in opposition to the Palestinians whose own religious reactionaries condemn homosexuality – ironically some Muslim nations like Pakistan are now more inclusive of gender non-conformity (long rooted in local traditions) than some Western states). Cuba, where US NGOs operate aboveground, is a bastion of LGBT inclusion in public life. This was entirely an internal development, and a change of pace (accompanying an apology by Fidel Castro) from the government’s former policy of “toughening” gay men in labor camps. East Germany began to embrace LGBT rights in the 70s, and became a destination for sex change operations; unfortunately, the Warsaw Pact was overthrown by Western intervention. China, while it doesn’t make a big show of LGBT inclusion, does not actively discourage homosexuality or transsexuality. Rounding off my deviant’s tour of extant AES states, I can’t find any reliable evidence of LGBT inclusion in the DPRK or Laos, but Vietnam has made advances on this front. Meanwhile LGBT rights are under attack in the West, despite LGBT inclusion being an expression of Western values like the tolerance of social non-conformity (many important figures in Western history engaged in what we would call today homosexual behavior – Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, etc., although attitudes were mixed; Caesar being a power bottom was certainly held against him by the decadent and hypocritical Roman Oligarchy.)
Societies that are advancing towards socialism on a materialist basis have no reason to oppose or condemn LGBT people. Decadent societies like the US, where religious reaction and not hard-nosed materialism is governing statecraft, use LGBT people as scapegoats – for example, the attacks on LGBT inclusion in the military is obviously promoted by morons who don’t realize cross-dressing, lesbianism, and sodomy are time-tested military traditions.

Posted by: fnord | Feb 13 2025 0:13 utc | 167

I believe that Trump will use all the purported savings from the DOGE fandango to insure the tax cuts that expire this year are extended….the ones he passed in his first tenure.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 13 2025 0:21 utc | 169

Posted by: fnord | Feb 13 2025 0:13 utc | 167
fnord, I would like to know more about this subject, to prepare a defense; here in Brazil, a lifelong judge was compulsorily retired for assuming his homosexuality.
https://www.brasil247.com/nordeste/juiz-baiano-e-aposentado-compulsoriamente-apos-defender-inclusao-de-trans-no-judiciario

Posted by: Elber | Feb 13 2025 0:25 utc | 171

@ Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 0:00 utc | 163
You’re in fine informative form today Roger.
Have a pint of Guinness – in the black.

Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 13 2025 0:35 utc | 173

@Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 13 2025 0:21 utc | 169
I could not agree more!

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 0:43 utc | 175

@ karlof1 | Feb 13 2025 0:25 utc | 170
Ah Yes. But one must admit that more than a few of us are enjoying a good few chuckles as all these ‘experts’ and politicos are rolled out to discuss the ‘unprovoked invasion’ and the dreadful mistake in taking NATO off the table etc etc
The facial expressions in Brussels during Hesketh’s speech are pure gold –

Posted by: Don Firineach | Feb 13 2025 0:46 utc | 177

The Russians just got the signal to turn up the heat and give the Ukies more immediate reasons to surrender.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 13 2025 0:25 utc | 170
Comment I selected from karlof1’s substack:
“Biden stabbed Europe and Trump will take the knife out by twisting it”.

Posted by: Elber | Feb 13 2025 1:00 utc | 179

It is clear, Putin has betrayed all these dead soldiers.
Russia is scared of NATO, scared of Trump.
Posted by: Lenox | Feb 12 2025 21:58 utc | 122
______
Oh yippee. vargas is back.

Posted by: malenkov | Feb 13 2025 1:18 utc | 181

“If Putin is in a position now where Trump will negotiate with him even as the RUAF continue to make advances and launch missile and drone attacks within Ukraine, that’s a major victory”
Posted by: Babel-17 | Feb 13 2025 0:55 utc | 179
In this war againts the USA and NATO, any negotiations are not in Russia’s interest.
The victory for Russia in Ukraine can come only with Russian Army.
Whatever Trump says or promises or writes on paper, should be no weight to the Russians.
To talk a US president, gone after 4 years or sooner, is a waste of time.
Putin may decide otherwise, of course.

Posted by: k | Feb 13 2025 1:30 utc | 183

@ fnord | Feb 13 2025 0:13 utc | 167
@ malenkov | Feb 13 2025 1:35 utc | 185
I read the article in the link below, I found it interesting, but I can’t abstract the content; is it a genetic phenomenon? cultural?
https://thegrayzone.com/2025/02/07/republicans-transgender-dance-bangladesh/

Posted by: Elber | Feb 13 2025 1:56 utc | 185

*** There aren’t any actual peace negotiations, more like the mere opening of normal diplomatic channels after years of psychotics like Blinken and Biden acting like they could just heap “2 minutes of hate” on Russia and call that diplomacy. ***
Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Feb 13 2025 1:29 utc | 183
Truth but you can look at like this:
Elensky – we can have a land swap for peace and we give back Kursk!
Response – Widespread missiles.
Trump / Hegseth – We can have more sanctions and lower energy prices to force Russia to the table!
RF – GDP growth rate is 4.1% without inflation, with all this external pressure and sanctions, and many economic theories that are written in textbooks will be adjusted. So please more sanctions.
Hegseth repeats what Russia has been saying you years now.
RF – I had a beautiful call with “President Vladimir Putin of Russia” (Not Putin while sneering). Press asks what concessions did Putin grant? Trump – nothing really …
In the meantime, with USAID (The “information ecosphere”) crippled, the no to everything Trump crowd appears uncoordinated, out of tune, off key and ugly – all signaling higher costs to maintain such a relationship.

Posted by: Frithguild | Feb 13 2025 2:00 utc | 187

@ Elber
I have no insider knowledge of Bangladeshi society, but this line from the Grayzone article pretty much says it all: the IRI (and for that matter the NED, USAID, CIA, etc.) “views gay and transgender people as uniquely disruptive actors who can be deployed to manipulate political realities overseas.”
The same Washington blob has used the same approach domestically, and it has backfired spectacularly, which I find more than troubling because transsexuals deserve better than to be used as pawns in a game of political power. It’s not inconceivable that the backlash will result in a significant rollback of gay/lesbian rights as well.

Posted by: malenkov | Feb 13 2025 2:10 utc | 189

Excellent video of the realities of the Russian front line in Ukraine, in the Siversk area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZdH8b6MGeY

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Feb 13 2025 2:15 utc | 191

Posted by: malenkov | Feb 13 2025 2:10 utc | 190
Thanks.

Posted by: Elber | Feb 13 2025 2:16 utc | 193

Trump isn’t “desperate”. He is going to end this or he is going to throw up his hands, walk away, and say “Not my monkeys, not my circus.”
Posted by: CullenBaker | Feb 12 2025 22:30 utc | 134

That’s right … Trump can very easily end this simply by doing the rug pull and leaving Ukraine without a lifeline. The hardship will be horrible but the real question is whether the Democrats can make Trump own it. The claim no doubt is that Ukraine was just about to win, until Trump came along. That’s exactly what the trolls have been jamming into every comment channel on the Internet.
In my very approximate guestimate … I doubt the average middle-American cares deeply about what happens in Europe. Of course, they want to be told they are all winning, and who knows what Trump might tell these people? Most Americans have no idea where their soldiers and sailors are sent to, what they do in those places and why. They are fed up being blasted with Ukrainian propaganda and it’s all turned out.

Posted by: Tel | Feb 13 2025 2:28 utc | 195

Elber @ 186:
The IRI applies the same regime-change template as its competitors in the CIA, NED, USAID and other organisations (who may be ideological opponents) do, simply because it works (some of the time, anyway) and if it works one, two times out of ten, then the organisation will keep using it. If the method ain’t broke, why fix it or do something different?
What is intermittent reinforcement?
Pick what appears to be a marginalised or disadvantaged group – in this case, transgender people, the current flavour of the decade – and provide that group with funding and other resources to pursue goals of attaining recognition, equality and social justice. Of course the funding comes with strings attached and concepts such as “recognition”, “equality” and “social justice” must be redefined, so as to bring the disadvantaged group members around to the desired thoughts and behaviours to follow. Such behaviours can and will include public protests (leading eventually to riots and sniper attacks coordinated with Western embassies and consulates) and demanding to share or usurp space and resources with other weak and disadvantaged groups.
Of course as Malenkov @ 190 notes, once the target marginalised group has fulfilled its role, the IRI and its ilk will amble off to apply the regime-change template elsewhere, leaving that target group to the tender mercies of the people abused by the regime-change tactics.

Posted by: Refinnejenna | Feb 13 2025 2:33 utc | 197

https://nypost.com/2025/02/12/us-news/military-fighter-jet-crashes-into-water-off-san-diegos-point-loma-coast/
There seems to be a plane crash every week or few days. This aspect of Trump’s America is getting scary.

Posted by: Eighthman | Feb 13 2025 2:52 utc | 199