Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
January 7, 2026
Mafia Increases Activities

Both of these current news items about criminal U.S. behavior trigger the question “What are you going to do about it?”

RT.com

US military breached UN maritime convention – Russia

The Russian Transport Ministry has confirmed that the oil tanker ‘Marinera’ has been captured by the US military.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US European Command announced having taken possession of the ship, previously named the ‘Bella 1’, for alleged “violation of US sanctions.”

The tanker was boarded by US military personnel “in the high seas outside the territorial waters of any state,” and that “contact with the vessel was lost,” the Russian Transport Ministry has said.

“On December 24, 2025, the Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian flag, issued in accordance with Russian and international law,” the ministry stated, adding that the attack on the vessel came in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which ensures freedom of navigation in international waters.

AP:

Trump’s Energy Department outlines new policies for Venezuelan oil

The Trump administration is “selectively” removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to markets worldwide, according to an outline of the policies published Wednesday by the Energy Department.

The oil sales are slated to begin immediately with the sale of 30 million to 50 million barrels from the South American country, and “will continue indefinitely,” the outline says.

Proceeds will settle in U.S. controlled accounts at “globally recognized banks” and then be disbursed to the U.S. and Venezuelan populations at the “discretion” of the Trump administration, it says.

If I were in Russia’s position I would look for valuable U.S. assets, at sea or elsewhere, to seize and hold hostage.

I do not know enough of Venezuela’s alliances and capabilities, but I not do see any other way out for it but to fight the pirates by all possible means.

Please comment with suggestions of other serious means of response.

Comments

GeorgeWendell | Jan 8 2026 3:56 utc | 531
 
The saga of the speedy Russian rust bucket. 404 is the battlefield of Russia’s choosing. The Trumpster is trying to move the battle to a new field.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 5:12 utc | 501

Re: ‘Mafia Increases Activities’: ICE Feds Go Insane!
 
https://www.youtube.com/@Mahmood_OD
 
“Minneapolis shooting| Trump backs ICE| State responds”|
 
Wars without. Wars within. Arise.

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 8 2026 5:20 utc | 502

“On October 21, 2025, the Burevestnik reportedly completed a significant test flight, covering approximately 8,700 miles (14,000 kilometers) in about 15 hours. This flight demonstrated its capability to operate over long distances, potentially around the Atlantic.”

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 8 2026 5:20 utc | 503

General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 4:43 utc | 544
 
Some of your physics stuff is a bit much for my uneducated mind but I always like reading what you write. My funny bone has a bit of an itch. Feeding pearls to swine comes to mind.
 
Anyway, I am a born again Lavrov now. The consummate diplomat 🙂

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 5:21 utc | 504

Re: Posted by: Nostradamus | Jan 7 2026 17:54 utc | 60

Conclusion: the human creation “god” no longer needs to save us, because we saved ourselves!

 
 
lol – you are certainly no Nostradamus – none of that has any chance of happening!!

Posted by: Julian | Jan 8 2026 5:25 utc | 505

see the 1:41 video at the second link.  the Rogue Pirate Nation completely destroyed a vital scientific and academic center in Venezuela, in Miranda state.  Now hated throughout the world, the Rogue Pirate Nation can only bomb, plunder, destroy, kill, sanction, torture, abduct, lie and steal the national resources from other nations. 
 
 
 
https://x.com/camilapress/status/2008780864076083213
Camila  @camilapress 
 
Brazil to send medical supplies, specialized equipment and health personnel to Venezuela after the U.S. attack destroyed the medical supplies distribution center in La Guaira
 
——————
 
https://x.com/camilapress/status/2008934970916782243
Camila  @camilapress 
 
Confirmed: The United States completely destroyed a vital scientific and academic center in Venezuela, located in Miranda state.
On Saturday, January 3 at 1:57am, facilities of the Mathematics Center of the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC) were destroyed in the U.S. bombing attack of Venezuela. The Center is part of the National University of Sciences Dr. Humberto Fernández-Morán. 
 
The attack has been described as ‘total’: these areas housed servers and essential equipment for computer networks that were completely devastated. 
 
Two missiles directly hit the area, leaving fragments that show imperial hatred against Venezuela’s sovereign technological development. 
 
In addition to the completely destroyed Mathematics Center, four more research centers of the Institute were affected: the Physics Center, Chemistry Center, Ecology Center and Nuclear Technology Unit 
 
These spaces have been fundamental in training the professionals who support health, engineering and oil sovereignty.
Video from Alberto Quintero, Vice Minister of Application of Scientific Knowledge – Director of the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC)
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 8 2026 5:34 utc | 506

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 8 2026 5:20 utc | 547
 
As elite imperialists do internationally, they also do domestically. 
 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 8 2026 5:38 utc | 507

  • When the lunacy is all said and done, the Atlanticists will be sucking their thumb. Regressing back to infancy, aligning their perception of the outside word with manifest childish emotions.

Posted by: Upsidedowndingo | Jan 8 2026 5:44 utc | 508

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 8 2026 5:34 utc | 551
 
Well in GAZA every Palestinian school, university, museum, and archaeological research facility was destroyed to impact the culture, not to mention the human lives = USrael. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 8 2026 5:52 utc | 509

If I were in Russia’s position I would look for valuable U.S. assets, at sea or elsewhere, to seize and hold hostage.
 
Posted by b on January 7, 2026 at 17:02 UTC | Permalink

 

 
Pursuant to the original topic, and having slept on it, I see the following non-lethal options (with the exception of the people in orbit who have become a tripwire) for a response to the USA’s lawlessness.
 

  • Make low earth orbit untenable.   Both Russian and China probably have the appropriate measures in place.  The economic cost would fall mostly on the West and is surely on the order of $1 Trillions.
  • Drag undersea cables.  London and New York are very vulnerable.

 
On the symmetric action front, following the precedent of Maduro’s kidnapping, China very recently laid the groundwork for arresting separatists on the Island of Taiwan.
 

Two individuals in the island of Taiwan-Liu Shyh-fang and Cheng Ying-yao-have been listed as diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists and will be subject to punishment in accordance with the law, Chen Binhua, spokesperson from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced on Wednesday.
 
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202601/1352527.shtml

 

Posted by: too scents | Jan 8 2026 6:04 utc | 510

see the 26-second video at the second/third link
 
 
 
https://x.com/GlobalIJournal/status/2008698052320579975
Global Insight Journal  @GlobalIJournal 
 
🇨🇴🇺🇸 The President of Colombia sends a message to Trump: 
Instead of arresting the president of Venezuela for oil, you should have arrested Netanyahu, the genocide leader wanted by the International Criminal Court.
 
—————–
 
https://x.com/thatdayin1992/status/2008606995935334437
Hassan Mafi ‏  @thatdayin1992 
 
Number of countries Maduro bombed last year: 0 
 
Number of countries Trump bombed last year: 7 
 
I rest my case.
 
 
https://x.com/BRICSinfo/status/2008570968508428317
BRICS News  @BRICSinfo 
 
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇻🇪 US President Trump says Nicolás Maduro is “a violent guy who has killed millions of people.” 
 
“They have a torture chamber in the middle of Caracas.”
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 8 2026 6:04 utc | 511

I reformatted titmouse’s post for easier consumption — with my apologies to titmouse for the liberties i took with the composition.   (Jane would have done finer work.)
These threads are so long and, yes, i have waded through them so i guessed it would not be a problem to take this liberty and add to the bulk. Just skip over as tou please.
 
titmouse clearly points one’s gaze onto the longer term trajectory and to behind the facade.
 
No solution can be found without correct framing to see clearly to get to the the root of the problem.
 
~~

This is the fevered lashing out of the USA vessel
possessed by a deep sickness…
 
the struggle of antibodies
build up against a parasitical invasion.
the fever is sweating out and heating up
so that the opportunists cannot continue to reside comfortably.

 

lashing out in the diseased possession
the disease wants to remain
And extract the most it can while it can
at the expense of its victim vessel.
 
 
I still believe the best thing to do is wait out the delirium
as you would in a hospital
real courage & restraint
paired with kindness & patience…
 
 
You *are* allowed to defend yourself against a bully, yes
but not bully in return
true self defense
 
but restraint is better
if you notice the body politic is being set aside
and similarly abused for dynastic parasitism.
 
Stop serving the interests of dynastic parasites
they want a win coming and going       while unnoticed
stop letting them come and go       without direct consequences
 
notice the true actors of said villainous actions.
 
Qui bono? Follow the money and power.
 
Posted by: titmouse | Jan 8 2026 0:39 utc | 428
 

 

Posted by: suzan | Jan 8 2026 6:05 utc | 512

“Mandatory evacuation for families with children declared in villages of Synelnykove district of Dnipropetrovsk region”
 
https://liveuamap.com/
 
That’s quite a distance from the front line over a reasonably large territory at once. Things are moving fast now.

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | Jan 8 2026 6:12 utc | 513

The Anti-Empire Project: Venezuela SitRep: ‘The View From Caracas’ 1/7/26
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsRWarneqel
 
“Cira Pascual and Chris Gilbert joins from Caracas…We conclude with a call for rationality from Chris, noting the ubiquity and disinformation…”
 
 
MAKC: Venezuela Responds To The Kidnapping of Their President Nicolas Maduro
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVHdMKDXXBU
 
“We’ll be joined by Andreina Chavez Alava a Venezuelan journalist based in Caracas who has been reporting about Venezuela’s struggle against US imperialism for over a decade.”
 

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 8 2026 6:23 utc | 514

The EU has managed to force people use the GAFAM. It is almost impossible to use a phone without being in the panopticon these days. There were degooglify initiatives but they stopped around 2023 as the majors were imposing new protocols making the surveillance tools unavoidable.

Posted by: Minaa | Jan 8 2026 6:25 utc | 515

563: The Anti-Empire Project – Venezuela SITREP (corrected)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsRWarneqeI

Posted by: John Gilberts | Jan 8 2026 6:26 utc | 516

Now Senator Rick Scott of Florida is talking about regime change in Cuba, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
 
It’s going to get wild.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 6:35 utc | 517

“We’re bringing Democracy back to the Americas”.
 
This will be great.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 6:36 utc | 518

Now Senator Rick Scott of Florida is talking about regime change in Cuba, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
 
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 6:35 utc | 566
 

 
“South America take it away!” ==> https://youtu.be/2IDwpTABJG4
 

Posted by: too scents | Jan 8 2026 6:39 utc | 519

By great, lots of colonial soldiers will be returning home in zinc boxes. “Thank you for your service”.
 
The Latin militias will attack on US soil too. They are brutal and don’t recognize foreign governments.
 
Man, this is nuts.
 
This is what Trump wants, and I believe that everyone should get what they want, good and hard.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 6:42 utc | 520

The Venezuelans, Cubans, Colombians, and Nicaraguans are all Hamas/Hezbollah/Muslims/Communists/Drug Cartels in 3-2-1…
 
The great thing is that by the Americans arrogantly telegraphing their plans, Russia, if they get involved, can start positioning assets and support equipment.
 
I could see Chairman Kim sending some men, too. He really values getting his elite commandos some field experience.

Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 6:51 utc | 521

The US was so keen on catching the Marinera because they thought it had loaded something of very high value. As there was obviously no oil on board, they allegedly thought there must be gold and Silver and in their greed they tried anything to seize this ship. Maybe the empty vessel was just a distraction. Whereas the US Navy and Special Forces chased the Marinera which was heading to Russia, many other vessels broke the blockade around Venezuela and escaped. 

Posted by: Lesjeuxsontfaits | Jan 8 2026 6:54 utc | 522

Anyway, I am a born again Lavrov now. The consummate diplomat 
Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 5:21 utc | 549
 
************
 
Your new mantle suits you. Such splendid attire!
 
Always persevere with the physics. It is addictive, and richly rewards efforts to understand. Always feel free to request further explanation. There is no such thing as a silly question (unfortunately, I can’t claim the same for the answers…)
 
I’m trying to put together a little homily on China’s recent advances on closed cycle super-critical CO2 waste-heat turbines. My lovely wife is off with the grand-kids for a few days, so in between jobs on the task list I may get to ‘waste’ a few minutes on the keyboard. When I was last in research, I tried to get our research group to look into super-critical CO2 for micro-machining features for advanced solar cells, but was met with polite laughter. I may yet have the last laugh – vicariously – as I’m no longer in a position to be involved.
 
The post(s) – hopefully in the next open thread – will be dedicated to Peter, who is a great motivator!

Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 6:57 utc | 523

While it is personally disappointing to me that the information I posted was of no value to you, I live in desperate hope that at least on barfly found it useful.
 
Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 4:43 utc | 544

Ha. I found your post informative. Given the widespread practice of flags of convenience it seems difficult to establish a true comparison (of ownership, not flags)  on a country basis given almost all are owned by corporate entities whcih are often shells. Interestingly looks like its mainly the West who partakes in this practice. I also was amused at your postings, a rare thing indeed. More like this will always be welcome.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Jan 8 2026 7:02 utc | 524

Posted by: Patroklos | Jan 7 2026 23:26 utc | 383
 
The BBC have produced what may be the funniest comedy so far this year: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77krp7m362o
 

Analysis: Why Trump chose Delcy, not Machado

 

“What is it about Delcy Rodríguez, daughter of a former Marxist guerilla and deputy to ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro, that has caught the eye of the Trump administration?
 
And why has Washington decided on an avowed “Chavista” revolutionary to stay in power, rather than backing the opposition leader, María Corina Machado, whose opposition movement is widely believed to have won the 2024 presidential elections?”
 
 

Posted by: Occasional poster | Jan 8 2026 7:08 utc | 525

see the 23-second video at the first/second link. crackpot Sen. Rick Scott, on “Democracy” coming back to the Western Hemisphere. another right-wing war-criminal dork.
 
 
 
https://x.com/AdameMedia/status/2008934717899358508
ADAM @AdameMedia 
 
BREAKING: 🚨 Senator (Rick Scott) says Cuba, Nicaragua, and Colombia will be next: “Democracy is coming back to this hemisphere.” 
 
Prepare for poverty, immigration, inflation and dedollarisation while oligarchs and Israel get rich and powerful.
 
 
https://x.com/atrupar/status/2008886745266291043
Aaron Rupar @atrupar 
 
Rick Scott: “This is the start of changing Venezuela, then we’re gonna fix Cuba, Nicaragua will get fixed, next year we’ll get a new president in Colombia. Democracy is coming back to this hemisphere.”
 
————–
 
https://x.com/BootsRiley/status/2008954825942421606
Boots Riley  @BootsRiley 
 
Venezuelan opposition’s racist political line, as espoused by hosts of a popular anti-chavista & anti-cuban revolution podcast 
 
This is the heart of their beliefs. They hate socialism cuz it means sharing power w those they think inferior. All other statements are a facade.
 
https://x.com/mplpodcast305/status/2008942323254874213
Mostly Peaceful Latinas @mplpodcast305
Goes to show why castizos need to rule Latin america. You leave it up to the mestizos and they always bring poverty, death and despair.
Marco Rubio will rule over them. By the way, Chavez did look like a monkey
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 8 2026 7:08 utc | 526

When one actor on the world stage goes mad with dayly perpetrations of international law and the two others behave calmly, what will be the perception of the rest of the world?
Trump tests out, what he can do, but with tiny pinpricks only. The other two will be seen a wise, measured states. The perception of the USA has already been bad, but it worsens. 
In the end, the world will accept the Leadership of the other two.
It just needs patience.

Posted by: Johann Siegfried von Oberndorf | Jan 8 2026 7:31 utc | 527

b, this blog is the only remaining source that pursues a certain intellectual diversity. The Mafia has always been the determining factor in why wars were provoked and then fought. Whether it’s oil or any other resource. When you then ask, in the hope of constructive ideas, “Please comment with suggestions of other serious means of response,” you run the risk of exposing this discussion to a staccato of polarising opinions that really only serve to escalate the situation. What I mean is: we have already passed the point of no return. Similar to natural climate change, where the response was panic-stricken and involved the most stupid measures. You know the German saying: “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”. That would be the result if political leaders in the so-called civilised world do not take the helm again fairly soon. We really shouldn’t provoke or propagate confrontation here. I’ve been reading here for years and find the diversity to be a true treasure. If we escalate things too much here, our perspective will narrow.

Posted by: Lmaa | Jan 8 2026 7:51 utc | 528

“Let’s save the human race, let’s finish off the U.S. empire.”  – Hugo Chavez
 
“Privatization is a neoliberal and imperialist plan. Health can’t be privatized because it is a fundamental human right, nor can education, water, electricity and other public services. They can’t be surrendered to private capital that denies the people from their rights.” – Hugo Chavez
 
 
 
https://x.com/BladeoftheS/status/2008636237666464225
BladeoftheSun  @BladeoftheS 
 
Hugo Chavez was the best thing to happen to Venezuela, he took extreme poverty from 67% to just 6% in a decade. 
 
He was so successful in fact that the USA decided they had to destroy Venezuela or they would lose South America to Socialism. 
 
That is what actually happened.
 
 
https://x.com/BladeoftheS/status/2008886510960185855
BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS
 
Venezuela has nothing to do with the USA, it is 2,200 miles away and there have been no armed conflicts between the two countries
 
But for the last 20 years the USA has wanted Venezuela’s oil and it has tried to do everything it can to steal it 
That is the only side to the story
 
—————
 
https://x.com/ejmalrai/status/2009155609405292733
Elijah J. Magnier 🇪🇺  @ejmalrai 
 
Trump is not reinventing the wheel; he appears eager to claim credit he has not earned. Venezuela has long been open to business with the US. Washington, backed by its allies, chose sanctions, seized Venezuelan assets, and confiscated its money and gold. Caracas never closed the door.
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Jan 8 2026 7:55 utc | 529

 The US is destroying itself.  As the US implodes, it will leave a huge mess behind.  The best others can do is to try and stay out of the mess. …….Russia and China have no need of any US products or services. so maintaining their prosperity is all by itself a huge win.
 
Posted by: Woke American | Jan 7 2026 20:18 utc

Posted by: exile | Jan 8 2026 7:55 utc | 530

Thank you, psychohistorian, for correcting the attribution to Karlof1, and my apologies Karlof1 for the mix up. 🙂 And yes, the dictionary made for some fine reading during these recent marathon topics. 😉 Who knew the new year would start off with such a bang? (Well, besides the noticeable desperate haste among the world’s villains; but why let trends bias our expectations?)
 
 
And thank you suzan for reformatting my post to clarify for those who may have missed it. Targeting each other and chasing scapegoats, while possibly cathartic, can easily lose sight of the origins of such problems, the manipulators. Better to keep those villainous few in clear vision before they sneak off to cause mischief elsewhere.
 
 
And how convenient that said manipulators tend to travel in similar social circles regardless of other social boundaries, surrounded by a flock hand-cultivated to shield them. You know who we are talking about, the frequent flyer lanyard class, the professional managerial class, the rootless white collars who lease in new fashionable neighborhoods like locusts. It reminds me of a recent Chris Hedges interview with Anand Giridhandras and his book, “Winners Take All.” It is discussing (forgive my poor summary) how “Epstein Elites” are those ‘best at deafening themselves to the screams of others’ in their ‘zeal for power to change the world’ in their unrooted idealism. Basically an internally deadened cadre of servant functionaries to give a smiling face to old dynastic systems of exploitation. They are the pitiable tools in the hands of the uncaring elite. You shall know them by their works.
 
How the ‘Epstein Class’ Fails to the Top — Chris Hedges

Posted by: titmouse | Jan 8 2026 7:57 utc | 531

WOW some barflies here are out for blood… 
 
I think that there is a time for everything, overextending the broke US ass while their society boils is a strategy that keeps on giving. It is trivially easy to take out Z and his generals as it is trivially easy to unite Taiwan yet both RF and China chose to buy their time. They can send few submarines to keep trade lines open but this will stop the flailing around of Trump when this can culminate with the seizure of Greenland.
After that happens EU is obliged to help Denmark or have their centralization plans ruined while the Danes pioneer ways to drop out of the union. Undoing the EU sweater is much more important than few tankers.  Whoever thinks that those policies are shaped out of fear for the supposed US military or financial might is out of his mind.
 

Posted by: 667 | Jan 8 2026 8:02 utc | 532

Go go, chess and high stakes poker.  The Trumpster is trying to pull off the bluff of the century. Incredibly interesting stuff.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 8:10 utc | 533

Seems a lot of commenters want to see us all fry. China & Russia, in my opinion, are conducting a managed decline of the Empire of Lies. We don’t know what’s going on in the background. The US has 800+ bases worldwide. That’s incredible power. The answer isn’t some knee-jerk reaction. It’s economic strangulation. Slow & steady…

Posted by: Hmck | Jan 8 2026 8:14 utc | 534

Hmck | Jan 8 2026 8:14 utc | 550
 
The Americans see that and are trying to break out of it. Gambling with mutually assured destruction. Very high stakes at the moment.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 8:19 utc | 535

Sorry but I believe you are dreaming here, despite many others also thinking like this. Your framing only accommodates a minority of nations states (despite population majority status), while ignoring the position of the majority of States many tight allies and all those unable / incapable and powerless to cut the umbilical cord to American norms.
 
Posted by: Funny | Jan 8 2026 7:45 utc | 536
 
*****************
 
Ahhh… that’s Funny – but  it’s not funny.
 
Only a handful of nation-states: China, India, Russia, Brazil, Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, most of Africa (we’re already more than three-quarters of the world’s population) against US, EU, UK, Aus, NZ, along with all those really important ones that vote in UNGA like Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, St Kitts and Nevus, – have I missed any? oh yes, Andorra… And to make it really fair, the EU gets a vote as well as the constituent states entities (just to be sure to be sure?)
 
Truly the number of nation-states aligned with the US is overwhelming!

Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 8:21 utc | 536

Trisha | Jan 8 2026 2:08 utc | 456
Trisha is packing.
Good to know.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 8 2026 8:28 utc | 537

If I was a UK resident, in the wake of UK confession to assistance in the latest piracy, I would be acutely aware of any withdrawal of Russian embassy relations combined with news of a forthcoming announcement by VVP – and keep the kids away from the London gold and silver depository, lest it be viewed as a juicy target. 
I would also be very wary of any offer the Danish may make to the Russians re designating Thule Airbase as a missile testing ground…

Posted by: necromancer | Jan 8 2026 8:30 utc | 538

Without reading all, my thoughts.
It’s a bit of a thin case as the ship was just temporarily re-flagged as russian to help it get out of the blockade zone.The US weighs forcing their blockade heavier than avoiding serious incidents like that.
Nothing much can now be done with that ship. The US/UK pirates have air support. Surface a sub, bring a destroyer en route, fly circles around it with fighter jets.. yes, looks good at first but how would that play out.
Russia and others might impose blockades elsewhere and mirror this behavior of absolutely no one escaping, no matter what help (flagging) he receives to further the attempt.
Obviously it’s time for “gloves off”. There will be no peace treaty. The EU will also get more reckless from here on out.

Posted by: ruediger | Jan 8 2026 8:42 utc | 539

General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 4:43 utc | 507
Once again. You’ve triggered my column envy.
Facts.

Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 8 2026 9:08 utc | 540

The Clue in case you’ve missed it, is the name, Department of War.
 
They are going all in. Venezuela is the stepping stone, Oil. They think it’ll allow them to bypass Hormuz if and when Iran’s time comes. 
 
The target is BRICS. The first domino is Iran. Hezb’Allah and Syria was prep work. What the fuck is the point of having the largest drone force in the world when Iran can’t or doesn’t use it to keep tabs on possible flashpoints and nip riots in the bud or as Airborne Early Warning? 
 
Can’t win in Ukraine? No biggie, let’s keep them distracted with Piss Talks. That’ll will have ‘ol Poootin blabbing on for weeks starting from the Neolithic age. 
 
Empire is telling Russia and China, this is how we cut you off. Going after your friends, one by one. 
 
War is what they want, they not even hiding it anymore.
 
Syria had enough missiles to destroy all of Israel. So, what happened?  As Arch Bungle use to say. “Use it or lose it”.
 
On the flip side, Russia has learnt invaluable lessons from the SMO. Incompetent and corrupt personnels have been exposed and removed. China has purged a huge number of senior military and political figures, all for corruption. The type of people that sold Assad and Maduro out.
 
The riots in Iran is a golden opportunity to root out the traitors, but if they don’t go on the offensive, it’s just a matter of time.
 
Hezb’Allah have started to surrender drones supplied by Assad’s forces, fyi. Could be delay tactics, too soon to tell.
 
Civilian ships can and have been transferred to Auxiliary Navies, just saying. 

Posted by: Suresh | Jan 8 2026 9:11 utc | 541

Melaleuca | Jan 8 2026 9:08 utc | 565
 
Talking to my sister one time and she stated point blank she had no interest in facts. She has spent her life in a professional career and that absolutely stunned me.
 
Facts have no meaning to the woke. Documents and transcriptions are facts but the woke will not be sidetracked by facts.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 9:16 utc | 542

The curse of the indeterminate quantum state. 
Posted by: too scents | Jan 8 2026 9:19 utc | 551
 
I’m not too sure the Chinese boffins would try and use the minds of the woke for quantum communications. The world of the woke is a weird weird world.

Posted by: Peter AU1 | Jan 8 2026 9:34 utc | 543

I’ve been so angry about recent developments that I’ve had to take a break from it all. It sometimes reaches the point where the impact on mental health, sleep, appetite, etc, just ain’t worth it.
 
On a brighter note, I think I may have found a weathered old aboriginal spear-tip fashioned from a shell while sitting on the beach across the road. I’m now investigating who to hand it over to, in case it has some archaeological or cultural significance. Sorry for the OT.
 
With regards the tanker seizures, I think Russia/Venezuela have several main options:
 
1) As suggested by several others, is the tit-for-tat approach. Escalate as required.
 
2) Directly target the decision makers, ie: Trump, Rubio, Miller, Graham, Adelson, et al. The US (and EU) has already set a precedent here, with sanctions targeting Russian individuals. However, sanctions won’t be enough. In this case, they should unleash full spectrum warfare on these individuals and try to ruin them financially, or at least make life incredibly difficult for them. All assets, financial or physical could be targeted.
 
3) Sabotage. Attack US refining cspacity by any means available. You could ruin the country if you could take their refining capacity offline for months at a time, then hit them again while repairs are underway causing total chaos and issues for replacement parts. Drones with bombs are very cheap, and could do a lot of damage to gulf coast refining.
 
4) Have hidden remotely activated bombs on each tanker that they can detonate as soon as the seized tankers reach any US port.
 
I think all of these would be highly affective, but I’d rather not see even more of the environment destroyed, so my preferred option is to target the individuals directly. It is their repeated crimes followed by impunity that encourages the US to escalate, and there are hundreds of creative ways to sabotage their personal lives and finances.

Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Jan 8 2026 9:53 utc | 544

*effective.

Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Jan 8 2026 9:55 utc | 545

Once again. You’ve triggered my column envy.Facts.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Jan 8 2026 9:08 utc | 548
 
**************
 
You’re too kind!
 
I’m embarrassed to note that I buggered up the ‘value’ column. It should be in US$Billions. (Also, note to self: make sure to compensate for disparity in window width in ‘Visual’ window compared with ‘post window’ to prevent line wrapping).

Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 10:49 utc | 546

I’ve been so angry about recent developments that I’ve had to take a break from it all. It sometimes reaches the point where the impact on mental health, sleep, appetite, etc, just ain’t worth it. 
Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Jan 8 2026 9:53 utc | 552
 
***********
 
It is worth it! Be at ease with yourself knowing you’ve done everything reasonably possible (the impossible just takes a bit longer). Keep talking to people. Plant ideas in their mind – some of the seeds will grow…
 
Early on in the SMO I was kicked out of a good friends house for mentioning the irresponsible behavior of the OSCE. Even mention of China caused all but one of my friends to ‘go ape-shit’. Now they are all universally appalled at the US, EU, UK, France… and have swung around to grudging acknowledgment of China’s progress and integrity. Four years… three of them miserable – but the sun shines, and if you squint hard enough the future is starting to look brighter.
 
Hang in there – and plant dem seeds, mate… and don’t look back.

Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 11:00 utc | 547

Posted by: Trubind1 | Jan 8 2026 3:29 utc | 486
———————-
So preventing the whole world from getting russian oil is not sanctioning Russia?

Posted by: scc | Jan 8 2026 11:01 utc | 548

Russian FM disagrees with admiral-general Marty from Amerika who says US has the right to board any stateless ships, it does NOT break any international laws, the ship did not have Russian flag or crew. What can you expect from Maga church….
“Russia is urging Washington to return to the rule of law and immediately halt its illegal actions against the tanker Marinera, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The ministry stressed that the United States had repeatedly received reliable information confirming the vessel’s Russian ownership and its civilian, non-military status.According to Moscow, the Marinera incident risks further escalating military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region.Expanding on the case, the Foreign Ministry stated that the US could have had no doubts about the tanker’s ownership and had no grounds to claim it was sailing “without a flag.”
Moscow warned that Washington’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging other states to follow suit, with Britain singled out as particularly prone to such predatory behavior. Russia emphasized that US threats of legal prosecution against the Marinera’s crew are categorically unacceptable ”
 
Chinese FM: “China considers the US seizure of oil tankers a serious violation of international law”

Posted by: rk | Jan 8 2026 12:57 utc | 549

Few tears will be shed when America collapses. One of the greatest sources of human misery in history.
Posted by: LoveDonbass | Jan 8 2026 4:33 utc | 545
 
To this statement- I would add Israel. Both states are vile and degenerate.

Posted by: Original Newbie | Jan 8 2026 13:07 utc | 550

There is no such thing as a silly question (unfortunately, I can’t claim the same for the answers…)
 
The post(s) – hopefully in the next open thread – will be dedicated to Peter, who is a great motivator!
 
Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 6:57 utc | 531
 
I agree with both and think it’s cool that you said that. I heard that very line during my undergrad studies in Heidelberg as well, and have always loved the approach.

Posted by: persiflo | Jan 8 2026 14:13 utc | 551

b
Mafia Increases Activities
 
——————–
 
Gen Butler
‘“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
 
 
I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.
 
 
I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903.
 
 
In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.
 
 
Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
 
 
Every potus has been following the same script ever since
 
Wash, rinse, repeat.
 

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 14:15 utc | 552

A story which might be pertinent.
 
I used to know a young lady who was a bouncer. Worked at a very large popular punk dance club. My dancing days were over, she was daughter in law to a good friend my age. She was 5’4″ and 115 pounds and had a reputation to say the least. A few approximate quotes from her.
 
“I never fight. 115 pounds against 200 pounds is suicide. They never know what hit them.”
 
“The best way to get rid of trouble is to arrange a pratfall, literal or figurative. Get the crowd to laugh at them. Nobody stands up to being laughed at. The meanest angriest clown folds and slinks out the door. I don’t even have to follow them out to make sure they leave. They are just gone.”
 
“My job is to dance and look good and keep the party going. When everybody is happy problems don’t happen. We have had a couple bouncers who act grim and threatening. No. They can’t work with us. That act just draws trouble.”
 
” I don’t need to be bigger and tougher. I am smarter. What kind of dope goes to a nightclub on Saturday night and wants trouble? They are dumb as rocks. I would be ashamed if I could not find an advantage over someone that dumb”.
 
Only once did she ever cause real injury to the dumb ones. A group of four SEALs heard of her reputation and came to check her out. They lost badly. When I look at these threads and see the Special Forces romance and the calls for ultra violence I think of that.
 
Looking at the crew of current Western leaders they are seriously dumb. There has to be a reason the face of power is so uniformly and extremely dumb. If China or Russia is any good at all they will find an advantage.

Posted by: oldhippie | Jan 8 2026 14:24 utc | 553

Gen William Loony
 
Enforcing the No Fly Zone over Iraq
 
 
‘They know we own their country. We own their airspace… We dictate the way they live and talk. And that’s what’s great about America right now. It’s a good thing, especially when there’s a lot of oil out there we need.”

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 14:27 utc | 554

FUKUS imposed no fly zone over Iraq ‘to protect the Kurds from Turkey bombing’
 
 
But as John PIlger reported,
 

‘Last December, more than 10,000 Turkish troops invaded northern Iraq, killing untold numbers of civilians and fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’Party, the PKK.
 
British and American aircraft “protecting” the Kurds did nothing to prevent the invasion; indeed, most patrols were suspended to allow the Turks to get on with the killing. Inside Turkey, the Ankara regime has destroyed 3,000 Kurdish villages, displaced more than three million people and killed tens of thousands.
 
Racist laws prevent Turkish Kurds from speaking their language; parliamentarians and journalists who speak out end up in prison, or assassinated. The pilots agreed to speak, on a non-attributable basis, to Dr Eric Herring, the Iraq sanctions specialist at Bristol University. “They were all very unhappy about what they had been ordered to do, and what they had seen,” he said, “especially as there had been no official explanation.”
 
 
While British government ministers have repeatedly described the no-fly-zones as “humanitarian cover” for the Kurds, the pilots’ unease has become an open secret in the United States. Last October, the Washington Post reported: “On more than one occasion [US pilots who fly in tandem with the British] have received a radio message that ‘there is a TSM inbound’ – that is, a ‘Turkish Special Mission’ heading into Iraq.
 
 
Following standard orders, the Americans turned their planes around and flew back to Turkey. ‘You’d see Turkish F-14s and F-16s inbound, loaded to the gills with munitions,'[pilot Mike Horn]said. ‘Then they’d come out half an hour later with their munitions expended.’ When the Americans flew back into Iraqi air space, he recalled, they would see ‘burning villages, lots of smoke and fire’.”

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 14:42 utc | 555

IOW
The FUKUS imposed no fly zone ‘to protest the Kurds from Turkey bombing’ was actually a private firing range for the Turkey airforce !
 
You couldnt make this shit up babe

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 14:47 utc | 556

The complete quote of General
William loony…
 
‘If they turn on their radars we’re going to blow up their goddamn SAMs [surface-to-air missiles].
 
They know we own their country. We own their airspace…. We dictated the way they live and talk. And that’s what’s great about America right now. It’s a good thing, especially when there’s a lot of oil out there we need

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:29 utc | 557

Actually in terms of cui bono, I think Big OIl plays second fiddle to MIC…
 
vIZ
MIC, Big Oil, Big Bank, BIg Agri, Big Pharma….

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:34 utc | 558

Paul Craig Roberts has long said that Russia needs to take more forceful action, as Washington mistakes restraint for weakness:
“Russia’s response to the illegal seizure of its ship, Marinera, in the high seas–an act of war–is to demand that Washington ensures dignified treatment of the Russian citizens aboard. Washington could not care less about Russian demands. Putin proved to Washington long ago that Russia’s bark has no bite.
As I have written for years now, the absence of any bite in Russia’s bark is driving the world to nuclear war. By tolerating every provocation, Putin has encouraged the provocations to increase and to worsen. For example, when Russia’s strategic bombing fleet was attacked, Putin refused to acknowledge it as an act of war. When the United States attempted to assassinate Putin in his residence, Putin refused to acknowledge it as an act of war . . . Putin has convinced Washington that there is no provocation that will produce any Russian reaction except a few meaningless words. This is the road to the final war.”

Posted by: Perimetr | Jan 8 2026 15:37 utc | 559

P N I is a pale shadow of its former self
 
one week into the Venezuela caper, the PN I front page still has nothing except Israel/Jews…..The narrative.

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:37 utc | 560

Also, Im blocked by the Australian Citizen Party site.
 
Two of Oz’s best anti imperialism sites are neutralised
 
Another two bite the dust

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:41 utc | 561

Is Iran about to fall too?
According to Reuters, Iraqi authorities are nationalizing one of the world’s largest oil fields, owned by Lukoil. The Iraqi cabinet has approved plans to nationalize the West Qurna-2 oil field, which is owned by the Russian company. The facilities are to be transferred to US companies.

Posted by: Genesis | Jan 8 2026 15:50 utc | 562

Also, Im blocked by the Australian Citizen Party site. Two of Oz’s best anti imperialism sites are neutralised Another two bite the dust
Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:41 utc | 569.Easily accessible from Germany

Posted by: Genesis | Jan 8 2026 15:52 utc | 563

Posted by: Genesis | Jan 8 2026 15:52 utc | 571
————–
 
Thank you for the info !

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 15:57 utc | 564

The Venezuela caper ,
One stone kills four birds,
Venezuela, Cuba, China, Russia
 
 
The Trump/Rubio/Graham cabal are having a field day over the ‘imminent Cuba collapse’
 
 
‘“If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, at least a little bit,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Maduro’s capture.
 
“Cuba is ready to fall,” Trump told the press on Sunday next to a delighted Lindsey Graham. “Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out. But Cuba now has no income. They got all of their income from their Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. And Cuba is literally ready to fall.”
 
 
Arsonists crowing on their handiwork.
 
 
uncle sham is a sicko

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 16:15 utc | 565

USAss is crawling with sicko…
 
MOre sadist.
Pelosi getting off over the HK mayhem
 
‘What a wonderful sight to behold’

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 16:30 utc | 566

former senior adviser in the Trump and Bush administrations Christian Whiton, who met both Lai and Lee in Hong Kong this summer, put it “causing this crisis for the Chinese government … is good in the national interests of the US
 
What a sick country !

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 16:37 utc | 567

Meanwhile,
 
Cuba says 33 have died of dengue and chikungunya as …
 
The Straits TimesDeputy Minister of Health Carilda Pena said 12 people had died of dengue and 21 of chikungunya, the two viruses circulating widely across the Caribbean
 
 

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 16:59 utc | 568

It wouldnt be the first time…
——————————
‘ for decades the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon employed far-right Cuban mercenaries to attack the economic and agricultural infrastructure of socialist Cuba.
Indeed, Newsday reported as far back as 1977, that “operatives linked to anti-Castro terrorists introduced African swine fever virus into Cuba in 1971. Six weeks later, an outbreak of the disease forced the slaughter of 500,000 pigs to prevent a nationwide epidemic.”
The African swine fever virus deployed in the attack according to participants, was believed to have originated from stockpiles stored at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center and handed over to CIA-trained terrorists at Ft. Gulick, an Army base in the former Panama Canal Zone. And in 1981 according to researcher William H. Schaap, Cuba was struck by a devastating epidemic of Dengue fever, “one of some 250 arthropod-borne viruses, or ‘arboviruses,’ diseases transmitted from one vertebrate to another by hematophagous arthropods–blood eating insects, usually mosquitoes.” “Dengue and other arboviruses” Schaap wrote, “are ideal as biological weapons for a number of reasons. Dengue, especially hemorrhagic dengue, is highly incapacitating; it can be transmitted easily through the introduction of infected mosquitoes; it will spread rapidly, especially in highly populated and damp areas.” Citing the simultaneous outbreak of the disease in three widely separated parts of Cuba and that it is “extremely unusual that such an epidemic would commence in three localities at once,” and the absence of the disease on adjacent islands such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Schaap concludes that the pathogen was purposely introduced into Cuba as a bioweapon.
Indeed, Army researchers at Ft. Detrick had conducted dispersal studies of the Aedes aegypti mosquito–and Dengue fever–used in the 1981 attack against the island nation.
The epidemic which hit Cuba in May 1981 was of type 2 dengue with hemorrhagic shock. Except for the type 1 epidemic reported in 1977, this was the first major dengue outbreak in Cuba since 1944, and, most importantly, the first in the Caribbean since the turn of the century to involve hemorrhagic shock on a massive scale. From May to October 1981 there were well over 300,000 reported cases, with 158 fatalities, 101 involving children under 15. At the peak of the epidemic, in early July, more than 10,000 cases per day were being reported. More than a third of the reported victims required hospitalization. By mid-October, after a massive campaign to eradicate Aedes aegypti, the epidemic was over. (William H. Schaap, “The 1981 Cuba Dengue Epidemic,” Washington, D.C.: Covert Action Information Bulletin, Number 17, Summer 1982) And if the past is any guide to future actions by the Pentagon and the so-called Intelligence Community, what can we infer from DHS’s stated goal of standing-up NBAF as a center for assessing “potential threats to humans and animals alike”?
As it turns out, quite a lot. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigators charge that DHS relied on “a rushed, flawed study” to justify its decision to locate the $700 million research facility for highly infectious pathogens “in a tornado-prone section of Kansas, according to a government report,” The Washington Post reported July 26. The dubious report in question, United States Department of Agriculture Biocontainment Feasibility Studies, Study Report: Plum Island Animal Disease Center, was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and prepared by the giant defense and security firm Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
Talk about feathering one’s own nest! 
——————–
America’s Ultimate Weapon of Mass Destruction: Biological WarfareBy Tom Burghardt
Global Research, August 03, 2009
 
Thats all folks !

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 17:17 utc | 569

Ceterum censeo civitates americae unitas esse delendam.

Posted by: Pnyx | Jan 8 2026 21:26 utc | 570

Posted by: denk | Jan 8 2026 17:17 utc | 577

To compliment your above post, here is a link.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/america-s-ultimate-weapon-of-mass-destruction-biological-warfare/14619

Posted by: Fíréan | Jan 8 2026 23:11 utc | 571

Have Oreshniks been used against gas storage?
 

Alleged footage of an Oreshnik IRBM strike in the Lvov region of Western UkraineRegional authorities confirm a ‘critical infrastructure’ facility was hit, with Ukraine’s largest underground gas storage facility being in the area of ​​​​the strike.

 
https://t.me/llordofwar/550770
 
 

Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Jan 8 2026 23:33 utc | 572

If Russia were serious about finally stopping American antics like seizing oil tankers and arming/funding Ukraine, it would send President Trump the following ultimatum:
President Donald J. Trump,
As President of the Russian Federation, I am obliged legally and morally to give you this warning and ultimatum concerning your current and ongoing assistance to the illegitimate Government of Ukraine. Forgive me for the bluntness of this letter, but I feel it is necessary to avoid any misunderstanding and to help you understand the severity of the actions your government is committing and to let you know the Russian Government’s view of the direction they are leading us toward.
Effective January 15, 2026, the Russian Federation will view any drone or missile attack, ostensibly launched by Ukraine, against the constitutionally defined territory of Russia as having been committed by the United States. The terrorist-like assassinations of its military officers and civilians must also stop by this date. The toleration that the Russian government has shown toward the loss of life of its citizens to U.S.-inspired hostile activities will come to an end, and if those activities do not cease, Russia will respond in the following manner.
Using newly developed military technology against which the United States has no defense, including the Oreshnik cruise missile, the Russian Federation will attack and destroy the following targets after allowing you and your allies three days in which to evacuate them.

  1. The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor
  2. The Big Ben tower in London
  3. The Eiffel Tower in Paris

As President of the Russian Federation, I fully understand that such attacks will activate your vaunted Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. So be it. If, after the attacks take place, the United States continues to arm and supply Ukraine, or if it attempts to retaliate by invoking Article 5, or launching further drone or missile strikes on Russia and its citizens, the Russian Federation will attack three more targets, again giving you three days in which to evacuate those targets.

  1. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
  2. Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State
  3. The Brooklyn Bridge in New York

Should the United States continue to exhibit stubbornness and intransigence instead of a willingness to recognize the resolve of the Russian Government to defend its legitimate interests, then the attacks will continue. If you do not mind seeing your people suffer when the Golden Gate Bridge, the St. Louis Arch, and your many other symbols of American power and prestige are destroyed, then this conflict will continue to escalate until you are brought to a painful understanding of the true limits of American power. You may decide to attack Moscow or the Kremlin to preempt the coming attacks. You may even succeed in killing me in a decapitation strike. It will not matter. The attacks will come anyway because they do not require my existence in order to occur.
You have been warned. You have until January 12 to respond.

Posted by: Ctesiphon1963 | Jan 8 2026 23:52 utc | 573

@ Ctesiphon1963 | Jan 8 2026 23:52 utc | 581 with the scenario that fit together except for
 
Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State
 
The rest do not directly threaten massive amounts of lives which destroying the dam system on the Columbia river would…..not saying bad lists but all don’t fit the same meme.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 9 2026 0:28 utc | 574

Posted by: Fíréan | Jan 8 2026 23:11 utc | 579
——————————
Thank you for the info !
 
For the record….
 
2020
Nicaragua accused the CIA of creating a massive outbreak of dengue fever
 
2014
Indonesia accuses US of bird flu plot – World – smh.com.au
 
Pak…
DENGUE VIRUS BIOLOGICAL WAR STARTED BY AMERICANS IN PAKISTAN It dates back to the era when we decided to give free hand to the Central Intelligence Agency CIA
 
bioweapon ebola
African leaders have to stop Europeans and Americans from testing vaccines in any African country
 
Is Ebola an opportunity to compete with China for military control in Africa ?
 
Ebola is nothing more than an excuse for martial law at home and occupation of West Africa
 
Dr. Basson alleges that the UK and U.S. helped South Africa with its biowarfare research ebola
‘Secret Project Created Weaponized Ebola in South Africa in the 1980s _The local CIA agent in Pretoria threatened me with death’ !
 
USA Agenda In Nigeria,africa
Through Ebola And Boko Haram(a Must Read) -africom
 
US sent 101 airborne to shoot Ebola virus
 
2003
Chinese author accused US of the SARS genocide
[gringo and jap collected Chinese DNA prior to SARS outbreak]
 
2013
Chinese colonnel accused US of bird flu attack
 
2019
China hit with bird flu, swine flu, army worms [native North America], SARS2
[ALLegedly came from the Wuhan lab]
 
Tip of an iceberg
————–
 
Ebola, Dengue, SARS, SARS2 etc etc all sprang from FUKUS dual use bio research labs or projects in victim countries, ostensibly a collaboration for pandemic prevention
 
MOral of the story,,,
 
Beware of pale faced bearing gift !!!
 
Thats all folks !

Posted by: denk | Jan 9 2026 1:44 utc | 575

Posted by: General Factotum | Jan 8 2026 11:00 utc | 555
 
Thanks General Factotum. Your kindly comment is much appreciated.
 
We are in for a very rocky 2026. I’ll just try and keep focus on the little positives that abound.
 
At least in coming here I can enjoy a small island of relative sanity. (Thanks b).
 
Cheers.
 

Posted by: Jon_in_AU | Jan 9 2026 2:04 utc | 576

@ChatNPC | Jan 8 2026 0:59 utc | 421
You mention Mearsheimers ranting about the jewish Lobby.
.
He never exposed the truth, that the Israel project and Zionism was always nothing but an anglosaxon protection racket to force the private bankers to remain in the fold. That was the real reason why the bankers were private and of foreign extraction tied to a weak group.
More recently it looks like the anglosaxons are saving Israel to a perhaps more independent status. But the truth about what it was always about still escapes many of you.

Posted by: petergrfstrm | Jan 9 2026 10:45 utc | 577

petergrfstrm | Jan 9 2026 10:45 utc | 585
*** Israel project and Zionism was always nothing but an anglosaxon protection racket ***
 
 
A line that’s exactly what the Khazarians want to be promoted, since (as usual) it conveniently makes absolutely everything someone else’s fault, never theirs.
So what next — the supposedly nice innocent paragon of virtue Zionist Jews (plus their religiously duped puppets) claiming compensation for having been allegedly thus exploited?
 
 
And anyway, when it comes to “Saxons” and “Angles” — isn’t it a not particularly odd coincidence how Normans (ancestors of much of the UK robber-baron Establishment) hardly ever get negatively cited …. including by the same Establishment.

Posted by: Cynic | Jan 9 2026 16:17 utc | 578

Here’s my two cents worth.  I can’t suggest anything right now for Venezuela or any other target of our childish ire.  But for Russia, my advice is a repetition of what I heard from this one interesting character I knew, who said that he was always guided by a piece of advice his father gave him as a kid, to wit:  “Son, only break one law at a time.”  
I always liked that line, and there is a lot of practical wisdom in it–lets face it, breaking the law is to some degree unavoidable (no matter what the preachy moralizing types say) if you want to get things done.  You think different–well, all of us who drive break the law every single day we drive. 
My advice to Putin et al is to reframe that into:  “Only fight one war at a time.”  Russia needs to finish the Ukraine war and not be provoked into more wars by the clown posse running the show in DC these days.  Myself I’m wondering what if anything the DC Bozo squad and their western European dunce patrol has planned for a future with no Ukraine, which is likely to be Russia’s end game nowadays.  In a real (working) world someone in the newsmedia or in academia would have thought about that eventuality by now, and started asking questions about that to the US political leadership.  Nope, hasn’t happened; nope, not happening in the future either.
Anything bad happens to us in the future from all this happening to us (more accurately, all the stupidities we are doing as a nation to a wide range of countries), well, we had it coming.

Posted by: Daniel White | Jan 9 2026 22:20 utc | 579