AFRICAN & BLACK HISTORY
@AfricanArchives
June 20th, 1967 — Muhammad Ali was convicted in Houston of violating Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted.

https://x.com/AfricanArchives/status/1936069025098088860

Posted by: Menz | Jun 22 2025 12:11 utc | 1

THE PLAN TO BOMB IRAN
The war strategy towards Iran was published in a policy paper outlining how the United States could use Israel to fight the war against Iran, while justifying it with a false narrative of failed negotiations.

by Peter Cronau | 19 Jun, 2025 | Iran, Israel, United States

plan was developed for the United States to use diplomacy to entice Iran into negotiations that then fail, so Iran can be attacked while the US is pushing a false narrative saying the Iranians “brought it on themselves”.

The plan also urged the US to encourage or assist the Israelis, as a direct US proxy, to conduct the strikes on Iran so as to deflect criticism and retaliation onto Israel, as Declassified Australia reports.

The audacious plan for a ‘plausibly deniable’ war is detailed in an analysis flippantly titled ‘Leave It To Bibi: Allowing or Encouraging an Israeli Military Strike’, published in a report named Which Way To Persia: Options for a New American Strategy Towards Iran by the Brookings Institution, a longstanding Washington DC thinktank.

The plan, recently reviewed by strategic analyst Brian Bertelec, no doubt since perfected after being written in 2009 following the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, outlines options for a new venture by the US – this time, to counter Iran.

The US intelligence community is well served by the plan’s authors. They include liberal ‘war hawks’ and propagandists for US Middle East policy, Kenneth Pollack who is a former Iraq and Iran military analyst at the CIA and adviser at the White House, Bruce Riedel a 30-year veteran of the CIA and a Middle East presidential adviser, and Daniel Byman a former CIA analyst on Middle East terrorism.

MORE...
https://declassifiedaus.org/2025/06/19/the-plan-to-bomb-iran/

Posted by: Menz | Jun 22 2025 12:13 utc | 2

Last week we totally failed on predicting oil price at monday open. ( limit up )

This monday open ?

Posted by: Exile | Jun 22 2025 12:14 utc | 3

I hunted yesterday but could not find the following interview at Dialogue Works with Pepe Escobar -- it had been advertised on the site but was not there when I looked, nor on youtube listings, all conversation going to war issues, as did this week's here. I haven't even listened myself yet but Pepe begins with the Saint Petersburg 'most important' business forum.

You would think Trump might be interested. It's business, after all.

I still don't know how much we learn from Pepe, and as karlof1 has been travelling we await his promised Monday additional info. Don't bust yourself, karlof1. We can wait. I will just say here that an important change on US site monitoring would be to allow all citizens open access to Russian channels and important gatherings. Not to do so is medieval.

Anyway, here at last is Nima's conversation with Pepe from yesterday, which begins with St. Petersburg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV-5w3mzyGU

Posted by: juliania | Jun 22 2025 12:33 utc | 4

Posted by: Menz | Jun 22 2025 12:13 utc | 2

"Leave it to Bibi" LOL

Which makes Trump Wally, or Eddie Haskell?

June and Ward Cleaver are Russia and China watching the kids beat each other up.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 22 2025 12:46 utc | 5

Colonel Baud on Glenn Deisin today.

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/col-jacques-baud-america-bombs-irans?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2670149&post_id=166519442&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=26opay&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Posted by: Lantern Dude | Jun 22 2025 14:50 utc | 6

https://news-pravda.com/world/2025/06/22/1455751.html

Dmitry Medvedev

What did the Americans achieve with their night strike on three points in Iran?

1. Critical infrastructure of the nuclear cycle appears to have suffered little or no damage.

2. Enrichment of nuclear materials, and now we can say directly, and future production of nuclear weapons, will continue.

3. Several countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their nuclear weapons.

4. Israel is under attack, explosions are thundering, and people are in panic.

5. The US is drawn into a new conflict with the prospect of a ground operation.

6. Iran's political regime has been preserved, and it has likely become stronger.

7. The people are consolidating around the spiritual leadership, even those who did not sympathise with him.

8. Trump, who came as a peacemaker president, started a new war for the United States.

9. The absolute majority of countries in the world are against the actions of Israel and the United States.

10. With such success, Trump will never see the Nobel Peace Prize, even despite all the venality of this nomination. A good start, congratulations, Mr. President

I assume that Medvedev has accurate intelligence for these statements, but we are still in the hot take phase and Medvedev has often said things that are far more inflammatory than Putin's measured and diplomatic official statements. So, take with a grain of salt for now.

Posted by: team10tim | Jun 22 2025 15:04 utc | 7

I hear you Exile. I predicted limit up also. I ran out and filled up my car(did the same last night) and heard from a good friend who now thinks that I am the boy who cried wolf.
My only prediction now is we have seen the last of cheap gas.

Posted by: morongobill | Jun 22 2025 15:10 utc | 8

This post by Adam Tooze is weakened by a commitment to a reformed capitalism in my view, but it does offer useful world wide historical perspective on the big developments in PRC (and some basic methodological remarks as well.)

Deflation is dangerous for the economy both in its acute sudden form, as during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and in a slow and entrenched variety, as demonstrated by Japan since the 1990s. Fundamentally, falling prices, though they are good for consumers, and may be seen as a sign of “competitiveness”, progressively shift the terms of trade against producers. This tends to make new investment less and less attractive, particularly so if this investment has to be financed by borrowing, debts whose value will increase in real terms as prices fall. Consumers, meanwhile, begin to expect further price cuts, deferring expenditure until the last possible moment. Hoarding cash, whose value increases as prices fall, becomes the safest investment.

All too often the question of whether China should be counted as a “developing economy” is treated as a matter of cheap gamesmanship. Western critics, allege that China shirks its responsibilities by insisting on its status as a developing country. But triviality aside, as I have argued here, the question is actually a fundamental one. China is a huge and complex society with a powerful regime undergoing the most dramatic process of socio-economic change in world history. To describe this ongoing process as one of development is, if anything, an understatement.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Jun 22 2025 15:34 utc | 9

Feb 2019 BRENNAN:

Can you trust the Taliban? Can you actually broker a deal? THE PRESIDENT: Look, whether we should have been there in the first place, that's first question. Second question-- BRENNAN: That's where 9/11 was launched from.

Senator Vance, the U.S. did have a diplomatic deal with Iran to temporarily pause parts of its nuclear program and President Trump did exit that deal. He recently said, just five days ago, the U.S. must now make a diplomatic deal with Iran because the consequences are impossible. Did he make a mistake? You have one minute. [...] BRENNAN: We're going to turn now to immigration. The crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border consistently ranks as one of the top issues for American voters. Senator Vance, your campaign is pledging to carry out the largest mass deportation plan in American history, and to use the U.S. military to do so. Could you be more specific about exactly how this will work? For example, would you deport parents who have entered the U.S. illegally and separate them from any of their children who were born on U.S. soil? You have two minutes.

The national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said last month that President Trump is asking for thousands of Ukrainian children who were taken into Russia to be released now as part of what he called confidence-building measures. What steps has Russia taken to meet Mr. Trump's request?

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 22 2025 15:42 utc | 10

plan was developed for the United States to use diplomacy to entice Iran into negotiations that then fail, so Iran can be attacked while the US is pushing a false narrative saying the Iranians “brought it on themselves”.
Posted by: Menz | Jun 22 2025 12:13 utc | 2

"the last offer to be such that only an insane goverment would refuse"

well. the last offer I heard of was such that only an insane government would accept. so what could go wrong with this perfect scheme?

tip of the iceberg. the diplomatic blunders of this us admin are legion. tulsi gabbards dilly dallying e.g. this way they wont win an apple.

Posted by: umuntu | Jun 22 2025 15:48 utc | 11

Bless me Father, I am sinning by responding to a troll who wrote
"
The videos I refer to may be AI generated but the messages only confirm of what's going in China.
Keep in mind, AI is being trained by information out on the internet. AI does not write stories themselves, it doesn't come up itself with the news.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 21 2025 21:58 utc | 112

Excellent point I didn't fully consider yet. The US is very good at making propaganda that's 1) beneficial for the US Empire and it's friends 2) detrimental for the enemies of the US Empire and its friend. We have seen multiple examples of that in the last decades. I also wouldn't be surprised that "China Observer" ( https://www.youtube.com/@ChinaObserver0 ) is a "western" propaganda outlet to make look China as bad as possible. But it's NOT difficult to find "bad news" about China because there is A LOT OF bad (economic/financial) news coming out of China.

A LOT OF people who visit this blog "don't like" the actions of the US and Israel and I am among those people. While at the same time these same visitors have a "(more) favourable view" of China, Iran and Russia. I understand why because I am "on the same page". But that shouldn't mean that one should close one's eyes for the horrible financial/econommic situation in China (a giant pile of debt). That's NOT propaganda !!!!! That's the reality !!!

Again I post three videos that make that point:

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssmWMezN_-c ( "Why China’s Deflation Crisis is (Still) Getting Worse" ). Falling /very low inflation is a sign that an economy is in deep, deep trouble. Think: low household income & spending.

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOfETepcRk ( "The chinese growth model by Michael Pettis." ) Chinese households also have massively increased their debt.

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE5VczIFGZA ( "Michael Pettis: The Chinese Growth Miracle Is Over" )

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 14:18 utc | 115

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 16:18 utc | 12

Which makes Trump Wally, or Eddie Haskell?
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 22 2025 12:46 utc | 5

Neither. The correct options are (a) BEAVIS, (b) BUTTHEAD, (c) Ye, or (d) not that Bianca, the other one

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 22 2025 16:19 utc | 13

thanks b for the links and updates here....and thanks to others for their energy in staying on top of all they perceive as relevant as well..

Posted by: james | Jun 22 2025 16:32 utc | 14

A LOT OF bad (economic/financial) news coming out of China
Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 16:18 utc | 12

A LOT OF bad (economic/credit) "pre-bunking" coming out of G7 retail think tanks: FIFY

Not that it's a problem so long as OTC investors are convinced that 1. they inhabit One Economy; 2. the positive slope (RATE) of price inflation (excluding fuel and shelter) continually signals GDP "growth"; and 3. dissipating purchasing power of legal tender is a desirable outcome of monetary policy so long as periodic observations resemble magical average MoM and YoY + 2.5% target.

PS. Pettis is a moron. Lo, the 15 years since US bidness press pumped up his E Asia expertise, I still cannot figure out who in China employs him, much less why given the host of academic arrivistes who flooded Tier 1 cities after GD IV. I suspect, US institution of hedge fund cuts his checks, and TOTALITARIAN CCP functionaries tolerate his presence for entertainment purposes.

Posted by: sln2002 | Jun 22 2025 17:06 utc | 15

Iran is following a successful strategy against Israel.
The US bombing run is an attempt to divert Iran from this successful strategy.
If Iran now goes after the US then Israel has time to recover.
But if Iran continues with daily missile attacks on Israel, then we get an Ukraine-like attrition scenario for Israel.

Posted by: Passerby | Jun 22 2025 17:36 utc | 16

Steve Keen: "Steve Keen: China's private debt bubble is the biggest in the history of capitalism"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC6ClzWYiwU

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 17:44 utc | 17

Posted by: james | Jun 22 2025 16:32 utc | 14

Yes, thanks b, for imaginative reworkings this past week, and to you, james, for all your calming influential posts on the flaming tictocs. Another I'd thank is Norwegian there, and others, some of whom no doubt I missed -- there was an extreme amount to wade through ; it was quite a week.

I found the Dialogue Works conversation I linked to above, very helpful indeed. So, thanks to Nima and to Pepe as well, particularly as they posted again with Professor Marandi today. Clarity was provided on all fronts, so now I am going to enjoy cooking my particular version of chile --- lamb kiwi style with a dash of Greece. It's absolutely yum.

Happy Sunday, everybody! I'm sending the sun back to my family in the southern hemisphere, one day at a time. Off you go, sun!

Posted by: juliania | Jun 22 2025 17:47 utc | 18

The US minimally struck the surface of the Iranian sites as theater; Trump posts his usual hyperbole on his social media account - and although I support the domestic policy of this Administration I warn everyone never to torture one's mind by taking in any single word from Trump.

It had to be this way to appease the neocon forces impinging on Trump. He still has to get that bill passed, and by July Fourth. After that, he's more free. Prior to that, as a commenter here remarked, the only question is if this strike will appease the Israeli lobby. I guess not, but every day is buying time.

The story comes that the US warned Iran before the strike. It's not clear to me yet if Iran made any response to that warning. One assumes therefore that Iran holds the escalation dominance here, and can choose its favored retaliations. I would guess this means hitting US bases rather than jacking the oil price with maritime efforts.

I think the US will gladly sacrifice its soldiers on those bases before it will tolerate the inflation that will come from oil prices through the roof. Base strikes will be much easier for the Pentagon to hide from the US public than inflation.

And every base that Iran doesn't hit is a tacit surrender by the US for another hit on Israel

Posted by: Grieved | Jun 22 2025 17:59 utc | 19

Michael Pettis:

"China's Economic Growth Model Is Dying"

At 10:00 (10 minutes) there is a chart that shows that chinese DEBT-to-GDP is at 290%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO8o0TO-rfg

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 18:06 utc | 20

Michael Pettis:

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 18:06 utc | 20

==================================================================

The correct text should be: "At 20:00 (10 minutes) there is a chart that shows that chinese DEBT-to-GDP is at 290%."

Posted by: WMG | Jun 22 2025 18:25 utc | 21

….. I am going to enjoy cooking my particular version of chile --- lamb kiwi style with a dash of Greece…..

Please post your recipe - fascinated

Thank you ahead of time

Posted by: Exile | Jun 22 2025 18:42 utc | 22

Good dog!

https://youtube.com/shorts/o2lLFnLf91A

Posted by: gibb_er_ish | Jun 22 2025 18:54 utc | 23

The hullabaloo about Iran's nuclear program seems yet another instance of the US government's wanting to effect regime change but claiming that its motive is instead to protect the world. (This statement might be echoing the tic-toc threads, which I haven't had time to read.) I don't know how much this country (the US) will suffer, but I can't claim we didn't provoke it.

Posted by: David Levin | Jun 22 2025 19:08 utc | 24

@ juliania | Jun 22 2025 17:47 utc | 18

thanks juliania and back to you as well! yes, norwegian has been a constructive voice here at moa!!

there is too much to wade thru, but i am very curious to hear from a couple of my favourite moa posters - william gruff and c1ue!!

off for a lunch we were invited to... all is well! enjoy the day...

Posted by: james | Jun 22 2025 19:57 utc | 25

Anyone know what the following means?

So, who exactly were the Nazis?

Seeing that many of the politicians in "neo-Nazi" Ukraine are Jews, or of Jewish descent, I wondered if the same may have been true in Nazi Germany. So, I checked the surnames of a large number of people from the Nazi era. What I found is truly amazing. Note that all surnames designated Jewish can be found in one of the books on Jewish Genealogy listed below.

Adolf Hitler [Jew surname].

Below is a list of Nazi Field Marshalls.
Looks like they were all of Jewish descent.

Fedor von Bock [Jew surname].
Werner von Blomberg [Jew surname].
Walther von Brauchitsch = Brauch-itsch [Jew surname-son of]
Ernst von Busch [Jew surname].
Hermann Göring = Gör-Ring [Jew surname-Jew surname] Luftwaffe.
Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb [variant of Jew surname Lieb?]
Wilhelm Keitel [Jew surname].
Albert Kesselring = Kessel-Ring [Jew surname-Jew surname] Luftwaffe.
Ewald von Kleist [Jew surname].
Gunther von Kluge [Jew surname].
Georg von Küchler [Jew surname].
Wilhelm List [Jew surname].
Erich von Manstein [Jew surname]. Born Lewinski [Jew surname].
Erhard Milch [Jew surname] Luftwaffe.
Walther Model [Jew surname].
Friedrich von Paulus [variant of the Jew surname Paul?]
Walther von Reichenau = Reiche-Nau = [Jew surname-Jew surname]
Erwin Rommel [variant of Jew names Frommel and Trommel?]
Gerd von Rundstedt = Rund-stedt [Jew surname-town]
Ferdinand Schörner [variant of the Jew surname Tschorne?]
Hugo Sperrle = Sperr-le = [Jew surname-common suffix] Luftwaffe.
Erwin von Witzleben [variant of Witzler-ben? Jew surname-son of]

Those of Jewish descent in Hitler's life (non-military).

Martin Bormann [Jew surname]. Hitler's private secretary. Money man.
Eva Braun [Jew surname]. Hitler's mistress and wife.
Hans Frank [Jew surname]. Hitler's lawyer.
Ulrich Graf [Jew surname]. Hitler's personal companion 1920-1923.
Gertrud Junge [Jew surname] nee Gertrud Humps. Hitler's private secretary.
Theodor Morell [Jew surname]. One of Hitler's personal physicians.
Karl Brandt [Jew surname]. One of Hitler's personal physicians.
Albert Speer [Jew surname]. Hitler's personal architect and city planner.
Fritz Wiedemann [Jew surname]. Personal adjutant to Hitler.
Julius Schreck [Jew surname]. Hitler's chauffeur.
Karl von Frank [Jew surname]. Hitler's genealogist.
Hugo Blaschke [Jew surname]. Hitler's dentist.
Hugo Erlanger [Jew surname]. Hitler's landlord for ten years.

Some others.

Adolf Eichmann [Jew surname]. Head of the Scientific Museum for Jewish Affairs.
Rudolf Hess [Jew surname]. Deputy to the Fuehrer.
Heinrich Himmler [Jew surname]. Leading National Socialist politician.
Alfred Rosenberg [Jew surname]. Leading proponent of National Socialist ideology.
Julius Streicher [Jew surname]. National Socialist politician.
Wilhelm Messerschmitt [Jew surname]. Aircraft designer and manufacturer.
Hjalmar Schacht [Jew surname]. Financier, president of the Reichsbank.
Joseph Goebbels [variant of the Jew surname Göbel?] National Socialist politician and propagandist.
Reinhard Heydrich = Heyd-Rich [Jew surname-Jew surname] Administrator of the concentration camps.

Here is a list of Nazi Chiefs of General Staff.
They were probably all of Jewish descent.

Heinz Guderian [Jew surname]. Chief of General Staff Jul 1944 to Mar 1945
Adolf Heusinger [Jew surname] Chief of General Staff Jun 1944 to Jul 1944
Kurt Zeitzler [variant of the Jew name Weitzler?] Chief of General Staff Sep 1942 to Jul 1944
Franz Halder [variant of the Jew name Halde?] Chief of General Staff Sep 1938 to Sep 1942
Ludwig Beck [Jew surname] Chief of General Staff Jul 1935 to Aug 1938

Various leaders.

იოსებ ჯუღაშვილი [variant of the Jew name ჯუდაშვილი] (Joseph Stalin) General Secretary of the Soviet Union; ჯუდაშვილი translated means "son of Judah".
Mikhail Gorbachev [variant of the Jew name Gorbaczyński?] President of the Soviet Union
Boris Yeltsin [variant of the Jew name Peltson?] President of Russia
Vladimir Putin [variant of the Jew names Jutin Kutin Mutin Rutin Yutin?] President of Russia [Владимир Путин]
Angela Merkel [Jew surname] nee Kasner [Jew surname] Chancellor of Germany
Olaf Sholtz [variant of the Jew name Shultz?] Chancellor of Germany
Friedrich Merz [Jew surname] German politician (Head of CDU)
Annalena Baerbock Baer-Bock [Jew surname-Jew surname] German Foreign Minister
Johann Wadephul Wade-Phul [Jew surname-Jew surname] German Foreign Minister
Adolf Hitler [Jew surname] Chancellor of Germany
Franklin Roosevelt [variant of the Jew name Rosenfelt] President USA
George Bush [variant of the Jew name Busch?] President USA
Donald Trump [variant of the Jew name Trumpf?] President USA
Keir Starmer [variant of the Jew surnames St{eiuü}rmer] British Prime Minister
Stepan Bandera [variant of the Jew surname Bander?] Ukrainian Nationalist
Volodymyr Zelensky [Jew surname] President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Groysman [Jew surname] Prime Minister of Ukraine
Denys Shmigal [variant of the Jew name Schmigelski] Prime Minister of Ukraine
Vitali Klitschko [variant of the Jew name Klitsch?] Mayor of Kiev
Lech Kaczyński [Jew surname] President of Poland
Jarosław Kaczyński [Jew surname] Prime Minister of Poland
Mateusz Morawiecki [variant of the Jew names Morawiec Morawietz etc?] Prime Minister of Poland
Mark Rutte [Jew surname] Dutch Prime Minister
Pedro Sanchez [Jew surname] Spanish Prime Minister
Bart De Wever [Jew surname] Belgian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni [variant of the Jew name Melon?] Italian Prime Minister
Kaja Kallas [variant of the Jew names Khallas Callas Challas?] Prime Minister of Estonia
Mette Frederiksen [Jew surname-son of] Prime Minister of Denmark
Petr Pavel [Jew surname] Czech President; Chief of the NATO Military Committee
Klaus Johannis [Jew surname] President of Romania
Jaap Scheffer [Jew surname] NATO Secretary General 2004-2009
Jens Stoltenberg [variant of the Jew name Stoltzenberg?] NATO Secretary General 2014-
Charles Michel [Jew surname] European Council President
Ursula von der Leyen [Jew surname] nee Albrecht [Jew surname] President of the European Commission

Note that all the surnames designated Jewish can be found in one of these books:

Handbook of Ashkenazic Given Names and Their Variants by Alexander Beider
A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia by Alexander Beider
A Dictionary of German-Jewish Surnames by Lars Menk
Handbook of Ashkenazic Given Names and Their Variants by Alexander Beider
A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Italy, France and "Portuguese" Communities by Alexander Beider
A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Maghreb, Gibraltar, and Malta by Alexander Beider
The Jacobi Papers: Genealogical Studies of Leading Ashkenazi Families by Paul Jacobi & Emanuel Elyasaf

Here is a list of Jewish surnames taken from these books:

Posted by: Beider | Jun 22 2025 21:42 utc | 26

So far as I know, the only indisputably Jewish surnames are the variations on Cohen or Levy. The first refers to temple priests and the second to Levites, the caste priests were recruited from.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Jun 22 2025 22:06 utc | 27

Posted by: Passerby | Jun 22 2025 17:36 utc | 16:

But if Iran continues with daily missile attacks on Israel, then we get an Ukraine-like attrition scenario for Israel.

Good observation! It's also the views of some Chinese military analysts (in China). They opined that subsequent to Trump's knee-jerk, there are three probable scenarios:

1: Iran abides by its own words and turns on all US Bases in the ME. Doing so gives the US the alibi (flexibility) to do whatever it might well choose to do without having a moral image problem.

2. Overlook what Trump did but continue harassing Israel, stressing its defense inventories, infra-structure facilities, and the nerve of it population. Make this a long, drag-out non-stop war which Israel (and in turn USA) can ill afford.

3. Tug tail between legs and surrender to the Empire/Satan.

Chinese wisdom is always the Middle Way, which I deliberately put above as #2--The Middle!

There are people in sympathy with Iran in this world, would contribute money, arms, logistic support, and over time likely even bodies/boots-on-ground support, let alone behind-the-scene antics that directly sap Empire/Satan's strength.

Don't we all have faith in the almost worn out cliche that "The Just Side Will Always Prevail"???

Empire/Satan are on their slippery slope way DOWN! This is obvious to all; even to themselves. Let them slip in agony and pain. This may well be the final solution event for the Chosen People.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jun 22 2025 22:24 utc | 28

@Grieve, #19:

Good post. Your opinion echo's what b opined yesterday of Trump TACO-ing the other way--doing something minimal to appease the Chosen People (and their minions crawling everywhere in the US of A), to get them off his back.

The opinion is: For Trump, if the choice is between benefitting himself or his country, he will always choose himself. If the choice is between benefitting USA or another country, he would likely choose USA. Oh, by the way, Israel in this sense is considered synonym with USA.

Posted by: Oriental Voice | Jun 22 2025 22:37 utc | 29

I repeat three posts I made yesterday.. IRT several commentators:
Posted by: Suresh | Jun 22 2025 8:33 utc | 33 Tic-Toc No. 8 on the War on Iran
'Ghost of Fowdow" will go down in history as the lie that finished the Empire.
Russia, China and Iran set the trap and TACO obliged.
I believe Dimona is now on the table.
<= its possible that was the deal, Iran would allow the USA to shut in Irans' nuclear facilities iff the USA would shut in Israel's nuclear facilities and capacities. This is
something JFK was trying to accomplish back in the 1960s and it makes sense to me..
But if such is the case Pakistan proclamation that Trump should be given the Nobel peace prize makes sense. Trump has come to realize MAGA and the existence of Israel are incomputable! Trump has realized nothing can be done in Washington, ALA Israeli warriors are embedded in Washington policies with purpose to run interference on every facet of MAGA politics. Trump may have just removed Israel from USA politics..

: Cyril | Jun 22 2025 8:45 utc | 41 Tic-Toc No. 8 on the War on Iran
If the US can attack Iran's nuclear sites, Iran can attack the nuclear sites of the US's proxy. People working at Israel's nuclear power plant (Dimona) should beware.
<=yes I am guessing that is the plan.. Iran and Russia may have become allies of the USA.. China may even have been in on it.. Trump may have done a deal.. most of the planes have been moved to Taiwan.. out of harms way..

: James Richard | Jun 22 2025 9:09 utc | 61 Tic-Toc No. 8 on the War on Iran
Iran will ignore this and keep up its pummelling of its real threat, Israel. In no way did this strike deflect Iran's focus on its objectives in forcing Israel to desist in its aggression against them. <== I think that may be the plan.. Trump pulled one over on Israel.

please excuse the spelling errors every time i post some words get misspelled it seems I d/n yet know why?

Posted by: snake | Jun 22 2025 22:55 utc | 30

Thanks b for all that you're doing.

Posted by: Suresh | Jun 22 2025 22:56 utc | 31

@ Grieved | Jun 22 2025 17:59 utc | 19

good to see you! that is what scottiindallas had said previously, so yeah - reasonable position to take..

Posted by: james | Jun 22 2025 23:06 utc | 32

If a laowai (foreigner) spends a week in China, he writes a book. If he spends a month in China, he writes an article. If he spends a year +, he writes nothing, since he has begun to realize how complex things are.

China seemed like an alternate universe from an SF novel during my years there.

Posted by: lester | Jun 22 2025 23:44 utc | 33

...
I assume that Medvedev has accurate intelligence for these statements, but we are still in the hot take phase and Medvedev has often said things that are far more inflammatory than Putin's measured and diplomatic official statements. So, take with a grain of salt for now.

Posted by: team10tim | Jun 22 2025 15:04 utc | 7

Well, team10tim, Putin cares enough about Iran to supply the noble Iranians with Oreshniks and they're already using them to penetrate Wasrael's Iron Sieve.

But don't take my word for it. Look up the DW News website and find the June 21 broadcast covering Iran's attacks on Wasrael.
After about 1 minute from the start there's vision of a missile attack and a time stamp up near the top right hand corner of the screen.

Initially, the time stamp reads: "Tel Aviv, Israel June 13"
After a few seconds the time stamp changes to:
"Tel Aviv, Israel June 14"
During this time a glowing, very Oreshnik-looking, projectile streaks to the ground in a fraction of a second and explodes behind a building about half a km away. If that's not an Oreshnik I'll eat my hat.
The time stamp display keeps updating to June 21.

Regretably, there's only 1 Oreshnik in the entire 9-day sequence so I assume that Iran is saving them for 'special' targets.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 23 2025 0:58 utc | 34

@Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 23 2025 0:58 utc | 34

The Oreshnik in Ukraine was a mirv, not just one warhead.
Iran has its own hypersonic delivery systems that are capable of what you saw. I doubt Russia has let anyone see an Oreshnik let alone gifted it to anyone.

Posted by: nobody | Jun 23 2025 1:12 utc | 35

Posted by: Exile | Jun 22 2025 18:42 utc | 22

Thanks for asking, Exile. My recipe changes every time I do it. My favorite one is with lamb shanks - lots of flavor to those but less meat. This time the store didn't have them so I used a small leg roast instead.

In New Zealand, the veggies are exceptionally flavorful but I compensate with fresh herbs from the garden, root veggies from the store. Down there the roast went in the oven surrounded by whatever veggies were in season, potatoes, onions, kumara (local sweet potato but creamier intense flavor to them.) Accompanied by mint sauce and peas or beans, very basic stuff.

I do mine in a pressurized pot - and I use whatever veggies I can find at the store --- carrots and parsnips usually. Plus all my herbs fresh from the garden: greek oregano, thyme, some lemon thyme, a sprig of fennel, small tip of rosemary. So start by searing the meat in olive oil, then remove the meat and add to the pot onions and garlic, chopped. Cook those a bit. Then the wine cooks with that for a minute. All the rest (water about equal to the wine)i but go big on the herbs, fresh if you've got them. Oh, I forgot - also kalamata olives,chopped -- that's the Greek bit. My tomatoes I ran out of so added small can of tomato paste... Meat back in on top. Small yellow potatoes I cook on the side as it concentrates the flavor in the pot juice to leave those out. 35 minutes is about right, pressurized.

I hasten to say, I am NOT a great cook. My mother was, so I never had to. She would do it better were she here. As I say, the recipe was always what was in the garden back then. A kiwi side ingredient I don't have was puha - milkweed from the side of the road ditch. Very spinachlike. That was my grandmother's staple.

Posted by: juliania | Jun 23 2025 1:45 utc | 36

Posted by: nobody | Jun 23 2025 1:12 utc | 35

I hope you are correct.
The reason I thought it was an Oreshnik is that I recorded the broadcast.
When I cue the image of the missile with >> << on the slowest setting, my recorder performs a frame by frame sequence and the missile is glowing so brightly that it's not identifiable as a solid object.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 23 2025 1:53 utc | 37

If Iran takes the offer of backing down and taking the last few licks passively, this will be confirmation that Iran has not commitment to the long fight.
That's when the real destruction of Iran will begin.
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Jun 23 2025 1:45 utc | 686
What if Iran tried a little Sun Tzu…
“Appear weak when you are strong”….. lull the U$ into thinking Iran has been “punished” and, like a whipped dog, now wants to timidly lick the hand that delivered the blows.
When U$ comes back to “finish Iran off”””…. ‘err, guys, we got this one wrong’… - whack.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 23 2025 1:59 utc | 38

Forgot to say I pepper the meat before I sear it, then serve with plenty of Greek yogurt at the end, sourdough bread to soak up the juices and the rest of the wine. That's all you'll hear from me tonight!

Posted by: juliania | Jun 23 2025 2:07 utc | 39

Scrolling back through my open tabs.
Now things here have slowed I’ll post.. My super power is … schadenfreude

Kit Klarenberg: Completely obsessed with this video of an 'Israeli' running into lamppost because she's overly preoccupied filming a selfie video fleeing to a bunker for Instagram victimhood points. It's such a perfect encapsulation of Zionist entity settler colonial 'society'. In six seconds.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 23 2025 2:07 utc | 40

This time with the Klarenburg link

https://nitter.net/KitKlarenberg/status/1936720505081364772

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 23 2025 2:09 utc | 41

A nobody on the internet says there’s a False Flag scheduled for July 4.
Probably will be blamed on Iran.
He has a link to the scenario they ran.
Believe it. Or Don’t. IDGAF. I warned many of my family about the virus-vax hoax and of course was ridiculed and ostracised from events and gatherings. More than one have now confided they regret taking the jab. None have told me they regret their behaviour…..
§| Some of us know they ran a scenario just ahead of Con-Vaxx19.
§| Some of us were familiar with the ID2020.org website (before it underwent a content purge)

They are planning a false flag for July 4th. Pic related was taken from a book published last year called The National Blueprint for Biodefense. The false flag will be a biological attack that will most likely be blamed on Iran. Please spread this.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 23 2025 2:39 utc | 42

@Hoarsewhisperer

the missile is glowing so brightly that it's not identifiable as a solid object.

Sounds like the plasma shield which forms around hypersonics in atmosphere. This could also be the cause of the red tracer effect we saw in some videos.

Anway, it's not an Oreshnik, for its specialty is the MIRVs with submunitions thing. Pic of corkscrew hazel.

Posted by: persiflo | Jun 23 2025 2:39 utc | 43

Juilanna

Thank you and bless you !

Posted by: Exile | Jun 23 2025 3:38 utc | 44

Xinhuanet has two related postings up that I want to share about.

The first is titled

AI + TCM: 2-second tongue scan reveals your body type

quote

No more waiting in line! An AI tongue scanner delivers a Traditional Chinese Medicine body report and health advice in just 2 seconds. Accurate and free at many community clinics, it helps bring smart tech to traditional care.

You place your head in a face cradle and stick out your tongue which the system takes a picture of and in two sends produces a comprehensive TCM health report, tongue features, overall body condition such as organ function balance and potential health risks....and what to do about them in depth.

It is scheduled to be rolled out to 12000 communities by the end of the year.

The second posting is titled

Latest global rankings show shift in global research landscape

quote

LONDON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's contribution to world-class science is advancing at a remarkable pace, further extending its lead in research output, according to calendar-year data for 2024 released in the latest Nature Index Research Leaders report.

Beyond the Nature Index, numerous global rankings have also highlighted Asia's growing influence, particularly China's significant contributions to worldwide scientific research.

Asian countries as a whole have gained greater prominence, while Western institutions have seen a decline in the number of top positions held within the rankings.

An increasing number of experts believe these data indicate a fundamental transformation in the global research landscape, with scientific and research leadership shifting from the West to the East.

...
In 2023, China surpassed the United States to claim the top position for the first time in the Nature Index Research Leaders list, which ranks countries, territories, and institutions based on their contributions to papers published in 145 leading health and natural sciences journals.

Over the past year, China's leadership has expanded rapidly.

According to the latest data, China's lead over the United States in the Nature Index database has grown more than fourfold in just one year. The country's Share -- the Nature Index's key metric of author contributions to high-quality research -- reached 32,122, a 17.4 percent increase from 2023. The region now has eight institutions in the top 10, compared to seven last year.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) retained its top position. The University of Science and Technology of China ranked third, while Zhejiang University (Share 819.57) rose from tenth to fourth place.

Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief at Nature, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview earlier this year that China's increasingly mature and impactful contributions to global research have been recognized not only in the Nature Index, but also in other major rankings and evaluation systems for scientific output.

According to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China continues to lead the world for the second consecutive year with 26 of the top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, further establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in innovation over the past decade.

"It is, of course, a testament to China's systematic investment in research and education, as well as its recognition of the importance of international collaboration," said Skipper.

The US did basic research in its past but its economy has been financialized by the God Of Mammon cult....is it any surprise that China is progressing like it is?....it shouldn't be!

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jun 23 2025 4:28 utc | 45

Anyone who can genuinely say that they support Trump's domestic policy - in much the same way as his foreign policy - as it is being carried out vs. how it was campaigned on, is either a self-suicidal poor person or a VERY well off (albeit possibly deluded into thinking they aren't "rich") right-wing ideologue who isn't concerned with the majority of the Constitution at all.

But I guess @Grieved approves of the 1st Amendment being totally trashed because: brown people and "antisemitism" and the social safety net and national character because: waste and fraud in our National Parks and Medicaid programs have eclipsed the "defense" budget 10-fold. I would also guess that @Grieved is a big fan of Facebook/Twitter Sillycone valley oligarchs and massive upward wealth redistribution and the class war even Warren Buffet admits his class is uniquely aware of...and decidedly winning.

Queue up the accusations of "TDS" or being a "Democrat supporter" from the not-missed @Grieved now.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 23 2025 5:16 utc | 46

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Jun 23 2025 5:16 utc | 46

Who taught you to read?
You should track them down and ask for a refund.

P.S. If you've got nothing to say, please shut up.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jun 23 2025 7:13 utc | 47

Jacques Baud has clearly framed the US as a terrorist state as well as Israel in this conversation with Glen Diesen.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D26_5bxSAaA&pp=4gcKEghzdWJzdGFjaw%3D%3D

Putin last week or so had labeled the current regime in Kiev as a terrorist regime.

It is clear that concerted action by the states who want a regime of international law to prevail over the law of the jungle is needed at this point.

I add that regime change actions by third parties also go against the UN charter and are likely illegal and are a covert way of destroyng the political infrastructure of another country; this could be viewed as another form of terrorism.

Posted by: Richard L | Jun 23 2025 12:01 utc | 48

The reason that the US is attacking Iran is the fall of Syria - there is a cost to that failure.
The failure was of Russia and Iran.

Well, now there will be a cost to others if Iran falls.

I suggest that if Iran agrees, Russia and China divide responsibility for securing Iran - one takes north and other takes south.
If Iran does not agree, then: "Mozel Tof, Iran".

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 13:17 utc | 49

To clarify my point - I meant to say that only Iranians will fight for Iran.
Russia and China to provide support - air defense, intelligence, planning, strategy...

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 13:23 utc | 50

@jared #49,50

Agreed. Unfortunately, it seems that some factions in Iran still can't see the West for the colonial power it still is and see where their future lies depending on their own political choices. Do they believe in Teheran that they can face Israel and the West alone all by themselves?

Posted by: Richard L | Jun 23 2025 14:22 utc | 51

This is what colonial genocide looks like
https://x.com/thinking_panda/status/1937155934624866692

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jun 23 2025 14:31 utc | 52

Apparently, Putin has stated that there was no justification for the attack on Iran.
I suspect that Trump thought that they had an understanding - Russia not to interfere with US in Iran in return for US not interfere (too much) regarding Ukraine.

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 14:34 utc | 53

Time for the High Plains Drifter scenario.

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 14:48 utc | 54

Michael Hudson: Why America Is at War with Iran

Sample comment...

However, after reading Ali Abunimah (Electronic Intifada) and speaking to him on a call-in radio program about 15 years ago, I began to change my opinion. Then I heard Michael Hudson interviewed and he spoke on the topic (I can’t recall exactly, but shortly after). I started to put Israel into the long-term historical context.

I now agree with Michael Hudson, Richard Wolff and others who have pointed out that Israel is a settler-colonial “garrison state” of the empire. A proxy “attack dog” with nuclear weapons pointed at the heads of the countries of West Asia.

As George Galloway says: the British had no right to give away land that did not belong to them. Much debate on this has ensued. In short: Israel serves long-term UK and US foreign policy, as prof. Hudson and others have explained. The British created Israel to serve their interests, not out of any concern for Jewish holocaust survivors. The British treated the local Palestinians very badly, well before Israel existed.

The UK and US enjoy “splendid isolation”, while Israel does the dirty work and is now getting hammered. They can fight to the last Ukrainian and until the last Israeli flees or gets killed. The US can hide behind Israel to deflect criticism, but I think the world knows that it us US (and UK) policy.

Been saying this for years.

Israel ,PH, jp, TW, SK, OZ, Ukraine etc etc, all are FUKUS attack dogs

Except Israel has an additional role, the designated fall guy for Washington.

Lots of people use scapegoat and fall guy interchangeably , actually there's subtle difference.

A scapegoat is often innocent , a fall guy is mostly complicit while carrying the can for the real mastermind.

Example,
Fauzi is the fall guy for ptb,s covid genocide, thrown under the bus to implicate China.

There's this poster brainless [ID withheld to avoid embarrassment] who snickered 'Jew lover', as if exposing Israel the fall guy amounts to absolving the Jews' sins. ! [sic]

Posted by: denk | Jun 23 2025 14:49 utc | 55

Gabbard and Vance are living Apocalypse Now.

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 15:15 utc | 56

@ psychohistorian | Jun 23 2025 4:28 utc | 45

fascinating! thanks pscyhohistorian!

Posted by: james | Jun 23 2025 15:20 utc | 57

A piece on the difference between economic liberalism and political liberalism, and why real political liberalism was only ever intended for the ruling class. If it becomes too infested by the masses of the population it will be removed in favour of authoritarian and even fascist rule until society has been made safe again for political liberalism.

Political Liberalism Was Never Meant For The Masses

P.S. The position that the attack on Iran was a performative "declare victory and go home" attempt gains ground as each day passes without a closing of the Straits of Hormuz or large attacks upon US bases.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 23 2025 15:40 utc | 58

Gabbard would do better to resign, rather than continue to discredit herself.
Let the warmongers have their fun.

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 16:03 utc | 59

26 - Nothing "amazing" about it. Ashkenazim tend to have German or Slavic family names (Sephardic Jews often have Spanish-sounding names). This does not mean everyone with a German or Slavic or Spanish name is Jewish, however...
This was block-copied and posted a few days ago by "truth", and then again a few months ago. When I was young, I was obsessed with dinosaurs. Allegedly Jewish names? Nah... And I eventually grew out of my obsession with dinosaurs...

Posted by: Waldorf | Jun 23 2025 16:17 utc | 60

Iran targeting US bases (per RT).
Interesting move.

If Iran were smart, they would have been screaming about how everything was destroyed.
But they are not.

Posted by: jared | Jun 23 2025 17:03 utc | 61

G7

Why cant China forget about the past and move on....?

What if they dont want the Chinese to forget ?

HKFP

“The British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The UK has once again taken concrete action to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and demonstrate the firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters.”

The last time a British Navy ship transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2021, when the HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain’s aircraft carrier strike group, sailed through from Japan to Vietnam.

A Canadian warship passed through the strait in February this year, days after a US destroyer and a US ocean survey ship made the passage.

-------------

TOKYO - A Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait last week, days after a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a Japanese patrol plane over the Pacific, diplomatic sources said on June 19.

It was the third known passage through the waterway by an MSDF ship, with all occurring within the past year, apparently aimed at warning China, which continues to pressure Taiwan, the self-ruled democratic island it claims as its own.

The Takanami entered the strait from the East China Sea on June 12 and spent more than 10 hours as it sailed toward the south, the sources said. After the transit, the destroyer headed to waters off the Philippines’ main island of Luzon.

Why are the jp anglo's fav Asian "?
the 'honorable whites no less?

We share many common values

The other fav Asians are Indians ,the whites official sepoy and Mongols, the original yellow peril !

You know a man by his mates
The coalition of genocidaire

Yet According to the narrative, this is yet another Jew conspiracy !

Posted by: denk | Jun 23 2025 18:54 utc | 62

The 'attack' was to provoke retaliation in order to accomplish the underlying goal of regime change. And even with the supposed ceasefire between Iran and IsraelTrump is touting, we are not out of the woods yet.

Please take notice, this is Pepe Escobar in Moscow and he is telling the judge (I know, I know -- ) how it looks from there. This is the most recent look into what Russia and China are thinking I could find, which I posted twice on the current thread today. I am hoping folk will take the time to hear what Pepe is saying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxK_D1cQPFw

Posted by: juliania | Jun 24 2025 0:13 utc | 63

One would have thought, with all these 'beautiful sights' going on , USAss would be too busy to indulge in its fav passtime, committing arson everywhere ?
Except they had just bombed Iran !

Just goes to show that, while USAss is good for nuthin , it does possess a seemingly unlimited capacity for wreaking havoc and destruction !

BUt hey, guess who's the one stoking WW3 !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC66CblD7Fw&t=8s

Posted by: denk | Jun 24 2025 0:27 utc | 64

Carney's Canada Corner - Bill C-2 : Canadian 'Friendly Fascism' & Fortress America

https://citizenlab.ca/2025/06/a-preliminary-analysis-of-bill-c-2/

"A preliminary analysis of Bill C-2 and Canada's political data-sharing obligations towards the US. The bill is omnibus legislation that, if passed, would introduce a wide array of new federal agency and law enforcement powers..."

If Carney Government's Bill C-2, The Strong Borders Act passes..

https://x.com/RussDiabo/status/1936965820527091770

"Expect this!"

Posted by: JohnGilberts | Jun 24 2025 2:26 utc | 65

Me -- I was initially puzzled by Grieved's post here below. I have bolded one section that appears to me extremely important:

"The US minimally struck the surface of the Iranian sites as theater; Trump posts his usual hyperbole on his social media account - and although I support the domestic policy of this Administration I warn everyone never to torture one's mind by taking in any single word from Trump.

It had to be this way to appease the neocon forces impinging on Trump. He still has to get that bill passed, and by July Fourth. After that, he's more free. Prior to that, as a commenter here remarked, the only question is if this strike will appease the Israeli lobby. I guess not, but every day is buying time.

The story comes that the US warned Iran before the strike. It's not clear to me yet if Iran made any response to that warning. One assumes therefore that Iran holds the escalation dominance here, and can choose its favored retaliations. I would guess this means hitting US bases rather than jacking the oil price with maritime efforts.

I think the US will gladly sacrifice its soldiers on those bases before it will tolerate the inflation that will come from oil prices through the roof. Base strikes will be much easier for the Pentagon to hide from the US public than inflation.

And every base that Iran doesn't hit is a tacit surrender by the US for another hit on Israel"

Posted by: Grieved | Jun 22 2025 17:59 utc | 19

******
Me --Much of what follows the bolded part above I do not understand. The following posts are from the main thread b posted yesterday that is still running.
*******

"The REAL shock of this conflict was that the supposed regime change failed. Israel coped a belting the like of which it had never seen.

Much is still unclear and unstable. But so far not perfect but not too bad either."

Posted by: watcher | Jun 23 2025 23:29 utc | 421

******

watcher | Jun 23 2025 23:29 utc | 421
"Good post. Insight, historical perspective. Thoughtful opinion.
And succinct.
And, best of all. I agree!"

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jun 24 2025 0:37 utc | 503

********

"Iran hasn't said yea or nay about a ceasefire and continues because the Zionists continue. Iran said it will stop only when the Zionists stop--and IMO the Zionists must halt ALL their war/genocide making. Many have already pointed to the fact that the Zionists don't honor ceasefires; they say okay then break them as years of evidence shows. Al-Mayadeen:

"Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around."

The one who started it must be the one to halt. IMO, the Zionists will need to be forced into obeying a ceasefire, and the only way that will happen is via additional, serious damage being done by Iran."

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 24 2025 1:10 utc | 537

The latter post by karlof1 is extremely important. I think, and have said previously, that an Armageddon situation can only,for a believer in the validity of martyrdom, have a favorable outcome if they themselves are not the perpetrator of the attack which brings it about. Otherwise, it is they themselves who will be condemned as the perpetrators.

Even if one doesn't hold to this 'rationale' for one who is desiring it, that is why they tempt, or try to facilitate, such an occurrence. And even if Iran doesn't hold to this belief, it is part of their faith not to be the ones bringing about such destruction.

Maybe I'm way off base here --- I hope that I am. Still, karlof1 points to the only solution, which is a rational one, that the losing entity, who made the first attack, is thereby responsible for the entire chain of events seeking to 'shift the blame.' And if an agreed ceasefire happens, they may try the patience of Iran to such an extent that a violation, however small, will give them the excuse to end everything, being, as they now convince themselves, the victim who had no other choice.

Posted by: juliania | Jun 24 2025 2:27 utc | 66

I know the above sounds crazy, but it would explain Trump's odd behavior, since for him, the outcome would make his role that of mediator or good guy in it all, since he too is trapped in the same delusion as is Israel.

Posted by: juliania | Jun 24 2025 2:33 utc | 67

Roger in fine form ...

b did mention Fascism on ISI/ZIO thread ...

Political Liberalism Was Never Meant For The Masses
Roger Boyd
Jun 23, 2025

https://rogerboyd.substack.com/p/political-liberalism-was-never-meant

*****

Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 24 2025 8:37 utc | 68

I skimmed the newspaper stand today and one of the rags made up with a headline saying "Germany to triple its defense budget" to 158 billion Euros annually in order to comply with NATO guidelines. Now this number is so fantastical that it cannot possibly be taken serious - where would you pour such an amount of money in?!

There are currently 183,000 active soldiers in the Bundeswehr. The figure computes to almost 0.9 million per each one of them. The new headroom could buy about 500 F-35 jets assuming a price tag of 250 million each, or 25 U-212 submarines including servicing, or 5,000 Puma IFV, per year.

It is clear that this is not about the defense budget. I also believe that such an outsized figure would not pass parliament (well, it yet hasn't) under normal circumstances, as it simply makes no sense at all. So I am left to assume this is about raison d'état. Why? It could only be a desperate attempt to stabilize the financial system.

Posted by: persiflo | Jun 24 2025 17:17 utc | 69

The new headroom could buy about 500 F-35 jets

More likely to buy 50 F-35s and then spend the rest of the cash on maintenance and repairs...

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Jun 24 2025 19:22 utc | 70

Meanwhile ....

Putin: Oreshnik Ballistic Missile Proven in Ukraine, Now in Mass Production | APT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK5FggxAB_c [ 14 mins

Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 25 2025 0:16 utc | 71

Looks like Cuomo has been very fully rejected by the New York Democratic Party, with Zohran Mamdani getting the candidacy for the November mayoral election. I would not put it past the NY billionaires to push Cuomo to run as an independent to split the Democratic vote and allow the Republican candidate to win. The current large Mamdani lead (8% after 70% of the vote counted) may make that more difficult to pull off.

Posted by: Roger Boyd | Jun 25 2025 1:45 utc | 72

juliania | Jun 24 2025 2:27 utc | 66--

Just home from my travels and went to this thread first to find some very curious commentary. I also read what Lavrov said today at the Primakov Readings about Iran, Ukraine, the West, NATO, and how they're all interconnected in his remarks and answers to the questions posed. Gaza/Palestine wasn't included specifically but tangentially as its fate is ultimately the West's doing. IMO, the Global Majority must recognize that it's now their duty to rescue those peoples from the fate caused by the West. A golden opportunity arose from the Zionist and US attack on Iran but wasn't acted upon--a great deal of Zionist military near Gaza and in West Bank needed to be targeted but wasn't, although the Zionist economy is certainly crippled. The ceasefire in this case will have an outcome very similar to the Minsk charades, although I'm hopeful the Zionists will follow their usual behavior and break it so the damage not done can then be meted out.

The reality is there's not really a ceasefire since the Zionists continue their genocide against Palestinians and that needs to return to the surface and become the #1 issue. Ansarallah will not cease its attacks, and that's good, but more must be done. IMO, Hudson in his most recent chat with Diesen spelled out the very major problem the Gulf Arabs face which tells us why they appear to be so timid and the Palestine conflict continues instead of being solved by regional forces.

Will the Zionists relent on allowing residents to leave or will they try and force them to stay? Unfortunately, Occupied Palestine wasn't turned into the "parking lot" many thought possible. IMO, the Zionist-Iran conflict is on pause, while the conflict the World has with the Zionists continues. Not one soul should feel sorrow for the Zionists as the genocidal government remains and still has the means and desire to kill more innocents.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 25 2025 1:47 utc | 73

"The Chinese economy is dying".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNC0kQeTRsM

Posted by: WMG | Jun 25 2025 2:32 utc | 74

@Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:22:00 GMT | 70

More likely to buy 50 F-35s and then spend the rest of the cash on maintenance and repairs...

I won't doubt your estimate of 120 billion; however, this is still just the sum for one year.

Posted by: persiflo | Jun 25 2025 2:40 utc | 75

"Bangkok tower collapse"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuPDqsGt17Y

This tower was build by a chinese company who has cut corners, used cheaper materials.

Posted by: WMG | Jun 25 2025 2:58 utc | 76

Posted by: karlof1 | Jun 25 2025 1:47 utc | 73

Thanks very much for your response, karlof1. To me it was puzzling to have Trump able to make the statements he was making about a ceasefire, just as his hoorah for the initial Israeli strike which killed so many in the early hours ought to have horrified everyone - surely it did the Russians as being so similar to what had just happened in Ukraine.

I would have loved to have had more video on the ST. Petersburg big gathering, but glad for a long news coverage bit involving the press that screened at youtube with a voice over. Putin was simply amazing. Pepe Escobar gave good descriptions- he was impressed that China was interested in business opportunities in Donbass! He himself was in a discussion panel with Maria on false news. That had to be fun.

I had stayed up very late to read the first two tictocs here, having come in late when comments described the initial attack. It seemed Iran had no protection against the incoming missiles, that was horrifying. The Iranians were being very upfront about what was happening, announcing the assassinations as soon as they happened. Nightmarish. Later tictocs I didn't follow, just scrolled through my next mornings.

Thanks for the link. Hudson has been very good with Nima also. I'll make it my late night reading tonight -- far better than those tictocs!

Posted by: juliania | Jun 25 2025 3:52 utc | 77

Just off the press - both sound

# Iran's Calculus: The West Will Only Get Weaker Over Time
Roger Boyd
Jun 25, 2025

https://rogerboyd.substack.com/p/irans-calculus-the-west-will-only

# Humiliation: Israel Tucks Tail After Failing All Objectives in War against Victorious Iran
Simplicius
Jun 25, 2025

https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/humiliation-israel-tucks-tail-after

Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 25 2025 5:16 utc | 78

Remember September 3 at 8am China's grand military parade with all their latest gizmos. Catch on CCTV13 LIVE online.

Posted by: Surferket | Jun 25 2025 5:37 utc | 79

Mark Carney: War Hawk or Lap Dog?

https://noraloreto.substack.com/p/carney-war-hawk-or-lap-dog

"In his two short months of power, Carney has been the biggest supporter of military spending of any prime minister that we have seen, perhaps since the second world war..."

banksters love war and debt and canadians are gullible and easily conned by corporate hustlers like him. you ain't seen nothing yet...

Posted by: JohnGilberts | Jun 25 2025 5:56 utc | 80

Over 700,000 companies compete in China’s robotics market: Morgan Stanley
The market is set to double from 2025 to 2028
Hua Bin
Jun 25, 2025

I recently wrote about Morgan Stanley’s April report titled Humanoid: A $5 Trillion Market (https://huabinoliver.substack.com/p/morgan-stanley-predicts-china-will )

A couple of weeks ago, Morgan Stanley published another research paper on the Chinese robotics industry. According to the report, China’s robotics market is set to grow at an annual rate of 23 per cent to US$108 billion by 2028 from US$47 billion in 2024, solidifying the country’s dominant position in the fast-developing sector.

China’s share of the global robotics market was about 40 per cent last year, according to Margan Stanley. “China is not only the largest market but also is arguably the world’s innovation hub, propelling cost efficiencies and next-gen robotics development.”

“Robots have been reshaping China’s manufacturing and will have a deeper impact on society in the future as they become more intelligent, collaborative and affordable.”

Separate data published by China’s National Bureau of Statistics on Monday revealed that the country’s industrial robot output surged 35.5 per cent year on year in May, reaching 69,056 units, while service robot output jumped 13.8 per cent to 1.2 million units.

https://huabinoliver.substack.com/p/over-700000-companies-compete-in

Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 25 2025 6:17 utc | 81

"Bangkok tower collapse"

This tower was build by a chinese company who has cut corners, used cheaper materials.

Posted by: WMG | Jun 25 2025 2:58 utc | 76

______

The irony being, as any Thai could tell you, that they could’ve stuck with any number of Thai companies that would’ve cut corners and used cheaper building materials.

Posted by: malenkov | Jun 25 2025 13:47 utc | 82

Over 700,000 companies compete in China’s robotics market: Morgan Stanley
The market is set to double from 2025 to 2028
Hua Bin
Jun 25, 2025

Posted by: Don Firineach | Jun 25 2025 6:17 utc | 81

If China is going to use that many robots then where is DEMAND supposed to come from ? More robots = less workers = less (human) DEMAND !!!!

Posted by: WMG | Jun 25 2025 16:47 utc | 83

The Swiss Franc has just broken through 0.8/$ and is now trading at an all time high with a 0.7 handle.

This after the SNB cut rates to 0% last week.

Posted by: too scents | Jun 26 2025 8:55 utc | 84

Posted by: too scents | Jun 26 2025 8:55 utc | 84

https://finviz.com/forex.ashx

Posted by: too scents | Jun 26 2025 8:57 utc | 85

Lever up boys!

Federal Reserve Releases Plan to Relax Key Bank Capital Rule

The Federal Reserve unveiled plans to roll back an important capital rule that big banks have said limits their ability to hold more Treasuries and act as intermediaries in the $29 trillion market.

The Fed board voted 5-2 on Wednesday to propose changes to what’s known as the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio, which applies to the largest US banks like Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The revisions would reduce holding companies’ capital requirement under the ratio to a range of 3.5% to 4.5%, from the current 5%. Their banking subsidiaries would see that requirement lowered to the same range from 6%.

continues ==> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-25/federal-reserve-releases-plan-to-relax-key-bank-capital-rule?

Posted by: too scents | Jun 26 2025 9:10 utc | 86