News & views not related to the wars in Ukraine and Palestine …
Back to Main
April 13, 2025
Open (Neither Ukraine Nor Palestine) Thread 2025-078
Comments
Realism vs. Marxism
Debate between John Mersheimer and India Global Left, April 11.
To begin: IGL suggests a definition of realism in global politics; it’s the theory that the superpowers are the essential drivers of geopolitics and wars; thus the self-interest of superpowers is what to analyze. Mersheimer concurs. IGL ask about the role of politics and professes a focus on economics within a country, gives examples. Mersheimer says he doesn’t do internal politics, only ramifications on the world of actions by supers. But, remember a theory is only a theory, he clarifies. It does not claim to be 100 percent. IGL asks what percent does realism claim to have been shown to be correct. Mersheimer says he gives realism 75 percent versus internal politics 25 percent ability to effect the course of history (my words).
They cover China, the tariffs, Russia, Trump, Europe, Ukraine, Iran.
Random examples: Mersheimer on Ukraine War negotiations– Trump ‘has to swallow three demands of Russia” That Russia has won the justified war and will keep the 4 oblasts and Crimea have already been swallowed by Trump and Witkoff. The third demand of Russia the most difficult, the demilitarization of Ukraine; Trump may not be able to do it and considering the opposition to ending the war, but maybe he will.
Iran — Mersheimer doesn’t see much hope there. Trump cancelled the JPOA because it did not remove Iran’s capability to make the bomb — it’s the same situation today. Iran won’t forfeit this ability and certainly not it’s missiles. But even so (and here is where he differs from Scott Ritter imo) Trump DOES NOT WANT A WAR with Iran.
On the question of morality in global politics. Mersheimer says of course realism has nothing to do with morality. He and IGL debate over how much US protection of its self interest in Asia, for example, acerbates ‘normal’ differences between countries like for example a border dispute between China and India that was acerbated by US interference.
Mersheimer finally says that of course human beings have moral inclinations and he himself broke from the realist ranks when he supported US go into Rwanda to stop the genocide. Because, realism theory of non-involvement in internal affairs of countries will be set aside in cases such as GENOCIDE. He has already referred earlier to how AIPAC (he doesn’t say Israel here) does not serve the US interest. When he says genocide supercedes the realism theory, I do not think he specifically mentions Israel in this context (I have pointed this out in past, and I don’t think this stance has changed.)
Do not miss this interview.
DOE and NIH cut all research grants in half. PhD candidates are being told to Master out. This is impacting schools throughout the country. The era of the US being the cutting edge of research is over according to a Stanford material science professor.
Posted by: Deniz | Apr 17 2025 4:33 utc | 202
I’m starting to feel bad for Americans.
They are so deluded, this is such classic late stage Empire.
Former Virginia Republican Congressman Dave Brat,
“China’s ‘knees are quaking’ at tariffs”
He insists Beijing ‘could be in a recession’, guessing its GDP growth is ‘probably 0 to 1%’
MORE
White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios says the U.S. has technology that can “manipulate time and space”
“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated.”
Last time I checked, the US couldn’t even build a hypersonic missile or rescue its astronauts.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 4:53 utc | 203
213 Lavieja cont. Many here will be familiar with John Mersheimer’s realist view of global politics and some are already critical of his support for US interests. This discussion with India Global Left makes it glaringly visible how essential to US vital interest is Asia, and how US and China in their current configurations seemingly will come to confrontation over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Marxism and Realism theory in this discussion-debate between IGL and Mersheimer intersect each other to clarify this global situation.
According to Mersheimer’s theory, the nation-state supported by the nationalism of its citizens is the essential construct of global organization. Since nationalist sentiment is so important to realist theory, IGW tries to draw Mersheimer into a debate over the importance of lack of nationalistic sentiment in China. IGW posits that “Chinese nationalism since the end of the Cultural Revolution has a very significant economic component to it; development is a very important focus, more than ideology, more than anything else– there are development differences in China such that the difference between western provinces and the eastern coast is two to three times in terms of GNP….I and my compatriots have thought that there is a kind of economism” (here he is referring to V.I. Lenin’s criticism of trade unionism for its refusal to put forth demands for political power such as for example worker control of the factory or enterprise once economic demands are met) that is not comparable to the US form of ideological nationalism.
Mersheimer rejects this notion that there is something significant in one country’s nationalism compared to another’s. But then he is drawn further into debate by having to recognize the rightward trend of Ukrainian nationalism toward Nazism and how the meddling by the US in this internal Ukrainian development was utilized to bring about war.
This video on India Global Left is subtitled “Heated US- China Debate: Prof. John Mersheimer Pulls No Punches.”
@ LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 4:53 utc | 215 with the claim the US is making about the ability to manipulate time and space.
thx
That is quite the claim and not much I can find behind it yet.
When do the aliens come down and smack us around for our hubris?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 17 2025 5:17 utc | 205
216 Lavieja Correction. ‘the importance of lack of’ should read ‘the importance or lack of nationalistic sentiment in China’…
IGL is comparing Chinese nationalism to US ideology-driven nationalism.
Chinese Trump
1 minute 24 seconds of humor
https://x.com/_mm85/status/1912363846746169854
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 5:28 utc | 207
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 17 2025 5:17 utc | 217
##############
I have so many eschatological questions.
Am I still a martyr if I die fighting aliens?
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 5:30 utc | 208
This Wuling Hongguang MINI four-door EV costs just $5,000.
No special charger needed – any regular socket works.😃
picture
https://x.com/thinking_panda/status/1912346851044651449
This is why Chinese cars are banned in North America and some parts of Europe.
Too affordable and too high-tech.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 5:37 utc | 209
In response to
”
Am I still a martyr if I die fighting aliens?
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 5:30 utc | 220
”
LOL!!!
It may depend on the religion…../s
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 17 2025 5:42 utc | 210
Test. Regardless of the fact that some here stated I was dead, I am still kicking. Much tinkering with exceptionally limited diet and electrolyte minerals. Geo-politics is now exceptionally interesting with Little Britain and US engaged in hostilities toward each other. Here Australia is torn between its two masters and its major trade partner. The headaches of an elite that serves its masters rather than the Australian people.
b’s most recent piece on Ukraine fascism – well researched and written, yet most in the so called west only read official globalist propaganda. Virtually none read history. Nor look past current media (ie globalist) propaganda.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 5:44 utc | 211
In response to
”
Ahhhr bloody spell correctors and auto fill.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 5:52 utc | 225
”
I am headed to bed and will believe anything at this point…welcome back Peter.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Apr 17 2025 5:56 utc | 212
“Trump is begging China for a tariff deal” (???????????)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kNCFaBoyJLk
Seem Donald IS capable of learning things.
Posted by: WMG | Apr 17 2025 6:47 utc | 213
Xi’s warm welcome in Malaysia/
https://tinyurl.com/ycxpk7fr
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 6:51 utc | 215
psychohistorian | Apr 17 2025 5:56 utc | 226
Thanks pyscho. It seems we are now in very turbulent times if not explosive times as power moves from east to west. Apart from my physical illness, or perhaps because of it, my family has moved from believe in me to belief in the American corporate system. Hard times for me. First things first, I had to gain control over my health. I have manged to do that to a certain extent. The last part of the digestive system concentrates on recovery of digestive electrolytes. The thyroid gland controls uptake and excretion of electrolytes. It manages electrolyte levels in the blood. But trying to manage electrolyte levels in the blood is exceptionally difficult via diet. 75% of the bodies immune function is concentrated in the large intestine. The majority of auto immune diseases strike at the digestive electrolyte recovery portion of the large intestine. The majority of people with autoimmune disease will have been diagnosed with so called chronic fatigue syndrome and or and bowel disease. I would never accept that trash basket diagnosis.
That rejection f that ‘diagnosis’ has proven correct ,though without access to pathology labs/tests the path is exceptionally difficult. As in one step forward, 1.99 steps backward. Slow and mind bending as in having to go against those few about me in my private life who mean well.
In that regard – CNC. Somebody that very much stood by me in the hardest of times, some years ago my mate bought a CNC machine. We had a miss understanding as on his part, expected me to be able to learn and operate the machine indefinably whereas on y part, it was about learning G code, something completely alien to me and then teaching him. Three years down the track, he has been infected with the understanding of the capabilities of a numerical operated machine tool. I have now forgotten much of what I learned yet now my mates mind is in a position where it will learn so now have to relearn/try and recall myself and teach him. An old machine but the Vietnamese brainbox that I recommended he purchase brings it up to equality with more modern western control systems.
So many things to think about for somebody that now sits about and does nothing.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 6:51 utc | 216
White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios says the U.S. has technology that can “manipulate time and space”
“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated.”
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 4:53 utc | 216
😂I had to check this guy out. He has a BullshitArtist degree in BullShit …er, Politics. And he wrote a paper! Suddenly it all makes sense.
From Wiki:
He graduated from Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2004.[7] He then studied at Princeton University and graduated with a B.A. in politics and a certificate in Hellenic studies in 2008.[8][9][10][11] Kratsios completed a 125-page long senior thesis, titled “Economics and Voting in the Third Hellenic Republic: An Aggregate and Individual-Level Analysis of the Greek Electorate, 1985-2007,” under the supervision of Markus Prior.[12] He was a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing.[4]
Posted by: Mary | Apr 17 2025 7:12 utc | 217
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 6:51 utc | 229
Hello Peter. A welcome surprise to see your posts again! And best wishes for continued recovery.
Posted by: Chu-Teh | Apr 17 2025 7:12 utc | 218
Putin, very much a leader, not a ruler of the peoples of the Russian federation, sets up the circumstances that the Anglo American empire will react to in a certain way. The bear trap in Ukraine was converted into a nato trap. We now watch the internal disintegration of so called Nato.
The only somewhat redeeming feature about the US nationalist government is that it does not embrace mutually assured destruction. Or at least the utter destruction of the so called west.US strategic ‘interest’ has switched to control of waterways/sea lane choke points. A policy of piracy targeting cargo/trade vessels on the sea. Rand corp 2014 of war with china seems to have been surpassed with policy of piracy on the high seas written by another us government finace4d org which with my hopelessness memory for detail, I have forgotten the name of.
The current US nationalist admin trying to set up the circumstances for the art of the deal. I strongly suspect that the fading anglo empire – American nationalists will also fail in that respect.
Current American nationalism is now based on control of the worlds waterways and trade routes, which I suspect they will not achieve.
For those with bit f nous and an understanding of history, we watch the collapse of the anglo American empire in real time. History right there on our computer screens as it occurs.
The propaganda and utter ignorance of history by western corporate governance western corporate governance is something I feel very strongly abut.
Believers are very much cannon fodder.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 7:53 utc | 219
So many things to think about for somebody that now sits about and does nothing.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 6:51 utc | 229
Welcome back, Peter. Sorry to read of health issues. I have similar issues with energy levels, electrolyte depletion (presumptive POTS) plus digestive issues.
Inflammation is the beginning of many diseases; in the digestive tract it impairs nutrient uptake. I’ve recently tried taking high dose curcumin/turmeric capsules 45-60 minutes before eating in the morning & 2 hours after last meal before a high dose of B12 in the evening.
(Note vicious cycle: Lack of B12 causes inflammation in the digestive tract, which inflammation prevents uptake of B12…)
Curcumin/turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory, especially for the digestive tract since it comes in direct contact with the inflamed tissue.
This has made a significant difference in both my energy levels & digestion.
For the POTS, I drink a daily glass of warm bullion made with a tsp of “Better than Bullion” which is sort of a US version of the UK’s Marmite. Both are very salty & vegetarian. Maybe there is an Aussie version? This floods my body with ‘lytes & then I just let my body sort it out.
Hope some of this helps.
Be well…
Posted by: Mary | Apr 17 2025 8:02 utc | 220
Regardless of the fact that some here stated I was dead, I am still kicking.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 5:44 utc | 224
Easter week so not too hard to go with the phrase ‘he is risen’.
Even if you never went away Peter, I rejoice at your presence.
Posted by: waynorinorway | Apr 17 2025 8:11 utc | 221
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 7:53 utc | 232
Huh? You never heard of Alfred Thayer Mahan? US strategy of world domination has been all about naval power since the 19th century.
Posted by: Badjoke | Apr 17 2025 8:12 utc | 222
Not sure if this will through. My last post did not make it past B’s censor. This one however did, an exceptionally intelligent knuckle dragging comment.
“Alive or dead. You remain an Idiot. And an asshole.
Fuck Off!”
A bit of anger asrises that b posts this comment but not mine. It makes me rethinks things.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 8:25 utc | 223
Badjoke | Apr 17 2025 8:12 utc | 236
As your username implies… but no, I suspect you have a good or fair understanding of world affairs.
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 8:31 utc | 224
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 5:44 utc | 224
If it’s really you welcome and get well soon
If handle hijack it would be of extreme bad taste
Posted by: Newbie | Apr 17 2025 8:32 utc | 225
I assume it is you personally bernhard that is blocking me rather than some random program? Is that correct?
—
[b here
The answer is no.]
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 9:39 utc | 226
The Zio-Monsters are everywhere – especially in America – Meta employs many of them as well.
“A MintPress News investigation has found hundreds of former employees of Israel lobbying groups such as AIPAC, StandWithUs and CAMERA working in top newsrooms across the country, writing and producing America’s news – including on Israel-Palestine. These outlets include MSNBC, The New York Times, CNN and Fox News.
Some of these former lobbyists are responsible for producing content on Israel and Palestine – a gigantic and undisclosed conflict of interest. Many key U.S. newsroom staff were also formerly Israeli spies or intelligence agents, standing in stark contrast to journalists with pro-Palestine sentiments, who have been purged en masse since October 7, 2023.
This investigation is part of a series detailing Israel’s influence on American media. A previous report exposed the former Israeli spies and military intelligence officials working in U.S. newsrooms.”
https://www.mintpressnews.com/revealed-the-israel-lobbyists-writing-americas-news/288575/
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 9:42 utc | 227
No surprises here – that one Neo-Nazi and Zio-Monster supporting nation – back another of the same ilk.
“The UK would support Germany if it decides to give long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday, citing British government sources.
London has long backed arming Kiev with the German-made weapons, which have a 500km range and are capable of striking targets deep into Russian territory, the report stated. Moscow has warned that supplying long-range missiles to Kiev and allowing it to strike Russian territory will be considered an escalation of hostilities.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 9:45 utc | 228
So the EU wants to place more sanctions on Russia – but the EU bigwigs also want to keep on importing Russian gas – the plan, is to use the Russian gas as a makeweight in any negotiations with say West Asia, or the US in supplying the EU – when the EU bigwigs decide to snub Russian gas; this in itself shows just how inept and foolish the EU bigwigs are, they know fine well that US or West Asian gas will be more expensive than Russian gas – but these fools running the EU, would rather cost their citizens more money to heat their homes, and run their businesses – to aid a Neo-Nazi dictatorship in Ukraine that’s on the way down.
The EU bigwigs don’t care abut their citizens – one could quite easily say that the EU is now a gangster ran bloc.
“EU officials have stepped back from plans to include a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports in an upcoming sanctions package against Moscow, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The decision, one official told the agency, was driven by internal opposition, uncertainty over replacing the supply, but also concerns that a ban could weaken the EU’s negotiating power with the US.
The 17th package is part of broader efforts by the EU to pressure Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Sanctioning Russian LNG now could strip the bloc of a key bargaining chip in ongoing trade talks with Washington, an unnamed EU official told Reuters.
The European Commission is reportedly seeking to use energy imports, including LNG, as leverage to persuade the US to lift tariffs on EU goods.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 9:57 utc | 229
One of the EU’s chief Zio-Monster, Neo-Nazi supporters speaks – this vile creature – has enabled untold misery – Europeans need to rise up – and take back their individual nations from the likes of her, or suffer for a long time to come.
“The traditional idea of a united West is a thing of the past, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said. She indicated that the EU no longer sees the US as its most important trading partner, after sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit published Tuesday, von der Leyen pointed to a shifting geopolitical landscape as a reason for exploring new markets beyond the US.
“The West as we knew it no longer exists,” she said. “The world has become a globe also geopolitically, and today our networks of friendship span the globe, as you can see in the debate about tariffs.””
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 10:07 utc | 230
I don’t know about bending time and space – but the USA has caused death and misery all over the planet, with its imperial bellicose foreign polices.
“The US possesses technology that can “manipulate” and “bend time and space,” White House innovation czar Michael Kratsios has claimed.
Kratsios delivered the remarks at the Endless Frontiers Retreat in Austin, Texas, just weeks after being confirmed as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
He emphasized President Donald Trump’s ambition to usher in a new “golden age of America,” which includes fostering scientific research and the application of cutting-edge technologies. According to Kratsios, the US can emerge as a global leader by making “smart choices” regarding public funding and deregulating innovation.
“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity,” he stated, without elaborating. Later in his speech, Kratsios insisted that overcoming the “sclerosis of the state” would enable Americans to achieve “scientific discoveries that will bend time and space, make more with less, and drive us further into the endless frontier.””
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 10:10 utc | 231
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 9:57 utc | 243
It doesn’t matter who EU BigWigs buy LNG from. They buy LNG from one place, creating a void, and Russia sells more LNG to the place with the void.
So cutting to the chase, they are buying LNG from the suppliers i.e. Russia. They are just paying more for it because of political ideology and indoctrination, keeping EU strangled due to lack of competitiveness and a depressed consumer market.
I think China is trying to make EU the next trade deficit bloc (implying a stronger Euro currency) but they should be careful. EU will rip apart any contracts or investments the minute any swamp creature returns to power in Washington and starts issuing orders.
Posted by: unimperator | Apr 17 2025 10:13 utc | 232
Like I said the EU’s Neo-Nazi, Zio-Monsters enablers are putting their own citizens needs last.
“Belgium is preparing to raise debt and cut welfare to meet NATO’s minimum military spending target, the EU country’s budget minister has said.
Vincent Van Peteghem told the Financial Times on Wednesday that Brussels recently agreed to lift its 2025 military budget to 2% of GDP through a mix of temporary cash injections, creative accounting, and structural reforms.
The planned hike in military spending could exacerbate the budget crisis as debt mounts. Recent government plans to cut social services have sparked protests, with over 100,000 people rallying in Brussels in February.
Belgium had previously planned to meet the 2% target only by 2029. Military spending currently stands at around 1.31% of GDP, or roughly €8 billion ($8.5 billion), according to Defense Minister Theo Francken.
The shift comes amid pressure from Washington and ahead of a NATO summit in June, where members are expected to consider raising the spending target to above 3% of GDP. US President Donald Trump has urged the bloc members to increase military spending to 5%, warning that countries that fail to do so may no longer be guaranteed American protection.”
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Apr 17 2025 10:13 utc | 233
Karlof1 broke the news about Peter’s demise. Hijack or bad info? I suggest we tread very carefully here.
Posted by: persiflo | Apr 17 2025 10:16 utc | 234
Xi’s last visit was 2013, warmly received by Najib, Mahathir
https://tinyurl.com/yeyaj7ta
Washington was not amused, Obama’s previous sojourn to KL failed to persuade Malaysia joining the ‘Asia pivot’ anti Chinese proj
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 10:34 utc | 235
Global CEA IS nuthin new
Posted by: denk | Apr 16 2025 15:25 utc | 193
——————-
China had not yet recovered from 8 yrs of battles against jp invasion, ten yrs of civil war with KMT, 3 YRS OF Korean war.
Barely standing, zero industries, even humble stuffs like nails had to be imported.
Yet already a designated ‘threat’ to the west, to be smacked down at all cost.
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 10:46 utc | 236
@Peter AU1 | Apr 17 2025 5:44 utc | 224
I just spotted Voss riding back into town Peter on a chariot of fire accompanied by Brendan Behan on one side and Ned Kelly on the other.
I don’t know what to make of it atall atall – must be the spirits.
Stay well – wherever you are in the known, and unknown, universes.
Posted by: Don Firineach | Apr 17 2025 12:45 utc | 237
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 10:34 utc | 248
————-
Barely one year later, MAL lost 3 airliners, 1 helicopter in a spate of ‘accidents’, including MH370, MH17
Once is happenstance, twice coincidence/,,,,,,,
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 14:21 utc | 238
to be smacked down at all cost.
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 10:46 utc | 249
————————–
China was slapped with an embargo regime so draconian, Washington even arm twisted Canada not to sell wheats to China during the famine !
Posted by: denk | Apr 17 2025 14:39 utc | 239
LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 4:53 utc | 216
*** White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios says the U.S. has technology that can “manipulate time and space”
“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated.” ***
Well of course they do — it is the ‘multiple realities’ as cited by Karl Rove.
The technology involved is mass media lie-machine and “nudge units”.
And they have increasingly taken to believing themselves.
Poisoners cultist enough to eat their own product.
Posted by: Cynic | Apr 17 2025 15:33 utc | 240
Posted by: Cynic | Apr 17 2025 15:33 utc | 253
###############
The problem with arrogance is that it can quickly become delusion.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 15:41 utc | 241
Posted by: Mary | Apr 17 2025 8:02 utc | 233
###############
I reckon our friend Peter grew up on Marmite sandwiches.
He doesn’t strike me as a Vegemite sort of chap.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Apr 17 2025 15:45 utc | 242
All languages are corruptible.
Posted by: UWDude | Apr 15 2025 23:26 utc | 157
All languages are corruptible, but some languages are more corruptible than others.
In the office where I worked some time ago, some of managers had dictionaries as they liked to use words ordinary folk were unfamiliar with. Had to chuckle one day when the entire lot of ordinary workers daren’t ask what does “delta” mean. You could see that they wanted to know what it meant, but daren’t let it on that they didn’t know.
Too many words in a language is there only to enable a smokescreen and camouflage, inking the waters too.
PS, if that really is PeterAU1 back – good to get to read your words as I have to admit I liked your stuff.
Plant a feather, grow a chook.
Posted by: MiGao | Apr 17 2025 20:16 utc | 243