Annihilate what.
 
Posted by: paddy | Sep 17 2026 18:29 utc | 3
 
I believe they mean the large scale use of nuclear weapons.

Posted by: Arch Bungle | Sep 17 2026 18:39 utc | 4

One hour well spent – West Asia in revolutionary mode …. Nima
 
Alastair Crooke: West Asia Is Incubating a New Era of Revolutions — “A Decisive and Historic Stage”
 
Also on Crooke’s substack

Posted by: Don Firineach | Sep 17 2026 18:49 utc | 6

 
https://t.me/RezistanceTrench/56968#
ResistanceTrench mirror
 
🇾🇪⚡️🇸🇦 Ansarallah Leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi: 
 
We are facing an ongoing aggression and an unjust siege. We are in the 12th year, and the Saudi enemy continues to carry it out with U.S. oversight and Zionist support. 
 
During the period of de-escalation, the Saudi regime did not seriously move toward peace. Instead, it used this period to tighten its measures and build military formations. 
 
We are in a position of necessary defense. We were not the ones who started the aggression against Saudi Arabia. 
 
The siege remains one of the main problems with the Saudi enemy, which insists on closing airports and imposing unjust restrictions on imported goods.  The Saudi enemy continues the siege and continues to pressure our people…..
 
————————-
 
https://x.com/MoloWarMonitor/status/2100637641603535079
MoloMonitor 🇮🇹  @MoloWarMonitor  
 
The stalemate in the war between the U.S. and Iran could soon come to an end.  
 
A few minutes ago, speaking to Axios, President Trump said, “I have a major decision coming up, I am approaching a major turning point in the war with Iran,” referring to a possible escalation of the conflict.  
 
Trump is alluding to a new large-scale bombing operation, similar to the one launched in February, intended to definitively end the war in the Middle East, however, I believe it is highly unlikely he would undertake this before the midterm elections.  
 
Furthermore, Pentagon officials told Axios that “U.S. forces in the Middle East are prepared for the possibility of all-out war against Iran,” which means there is still a slim chance Trump might decide to launch this new attack immediately, before the election date arrives.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 17 2026 18:55 utc | 8

Trump suppose to meet with GCC on UN sidelines,  guessing Arab NATO nonsense will come up again
 
Posted by: Trubind1 | Sep 17 2026 18:52 utc | 7
 
—
 
More likely there will be lots of shrill screeching about the US dollar.
 

Posted by: too scents | Sep 17 2026 19:01 utc | 10

Nations don’t change leadership during a large scale war.
 
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Sep 17 2026 19:04 utc | 11
 
—
 
They certainly do when they are losing.
 

Posted by: too scents | Sep 17 2026 19:10 utc | 12

🚨 BREAKING: 🇺🇸🇸🇦 US approves a possible $24.3B sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and 49 F135 engines to Saudi Arabia.@BreakingGlobalHQ

Posted by: Jo | Sep 17 2026 19:47 utc | 14

My friend Mullah-Nasreddin says (it sounds better if I call him friend),

Mullah-Nasreddin is protagonist of many fables in west Asia, mostly Iran. He’s the butt of all jokes, but teaches by story telling. You come away with: “the moral of the story is” after hearing the story.
 
Case 1
The good mullah is standing in a long bread-line, and in order to get rid of some of the customers in line, he tells a lie that they are giving away ash(pronounced awsh –soup in Farsi) on the next block. He later shows up on the next block thinking, what if it’s true that they are giving ash away.

The moral of the story: believing one’s own BS.

Case 2
The good mullah is searching for his keys that he dropped.
A passerby says: Hey Mullah how are you? What are you looking for?
Mullah: for my keys.
The passerby: where did you lose them?
Mulah: over there.
The passerby: then why are you looking over here?
Mullah: The lighting is better over here.

The moral of the story, well, you know.

Case 3

The good mullah set his infant son in the middle of a rug, and proceed to defecate on him.
Mullah’s wife comes out and protests: hey, what are you doing?
Mullah: well, he peed on me yesterday, I’m just returning the favor.

The moral of the story? Well, I’m searching.
The Mullah plays the role of Iran. The baby plays the role of the empire.
I’m trying to figure out the mother/wife’s role in this fable.
Grin.

Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Sep 17 2026 19:59 utc | 16

Iran has expended construction at the Taleqan-2 nuclear site, a testing chamber for nuclear weapons program in the early 2000.
 
Pakistan Minister of War has declared the Mecca Pact is to be activated. Those airmen shot down were probably Pakistanis.
 
Turkey has banned Iranian airline due to US sanctions.

Posted by: Suresh | Sep 17 2026 20:04 utc | 18

Last weekend
According to two sources, the Houthi representatives told American officials that they did not intend to attack American vessels and remained committed to the ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthis concluded in 2025. One of the sources also reported that the Houthis said they would not target Israeli vessels or commercial ships, except for vessels owned by Saudi Arabia.
This meeting takes place as Saudi Arabia is seeking more active U.S. involvement in the fight against the Houthis.
According to reports, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week asked President Trump for U.S. military support as Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast. Washington is so far refraining from direct participation in the fighting.
Reuters reports that the State Department did not confirm that the meeting took place, but repeated that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the spread of terrorism remain priority tasks .
Extract Intel slava..
__————-++++
 
Seems strange this sort of stuff is going on but Saudi getting assistance to attack houthis??????
Presume this a thread for all West Asia…..

Posted by: Jo | Sep 17 2026 20:09 utc | 20

If posted before apologies
 
Senior military commanders from the US, Israel, and eight Arab countries secretly met last week in Germany to discuss the war with Iran and the overall security situation in the region.
According to Axios, the meeting, organized by CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper, brought together military leaders from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt.
This was the first such meeting since the start of the war between the US and Israel with Iran more than six months ago, and it brought together Israeli and Arab military leaders from countries that in some cases still do not have diplomatic relations.
According to reports, Cooper assured the meeting participants that the US would maintain its military presence in the region, and briefed them on plans to expand protection of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The meeting also took place amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to the Bab-el-Mandeb area. Axios reports that Israel, Saudi Arabia, and CENTCOM are discussing the possibility of providing Israeli intelligence and strike support for Saudi operations against the Houthis.
@IntelSlava

Posted by: Jo | Sep 17 2026 20:28 utc | 22

 
https://t.me/RezistanceTrench/56966#
ResistanceTrench mirror 
 
⚡️🇸🇦 Ansarallah Leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi to Saudi Arabia: 
 
What have you actually done for the Palestinian cause?   You have provided trillions of dollars from which weapons were supplied to the Israeli enemy. 
 
You provided oil, while its aircraft moved with the fuel you supplied to kill the Palestinian people. 
The real threat to the holy sites is the Jewish Zionist enemy, which is clear about its plans. 
 
Yet you try to shift the focus toward those who are more sincere and devoted in defending this nation and its sanctities.
 
———————–
 
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/17/iran-war-live-trump-says-us-nearing-end-of-war-claims-tehran-direct-talks
Russia, China veto US draft resolution on Iran sanctions at UN Security Council 
 
Russia and China have vetoed a US draft resolution at the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of a committee that oversees sanctions on Iran. 
 
According to a Security Council report, the two permanent member states had opposed the draft when the text of the resolution was presented in late August, expressing their opposition to the so-called “snapback mechanism” for international sanctions against Iran. 
 
Created by the 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the mechanism allows any original participant to invoke the clause if they believe Iran is in major breach of the pact. 
 
Russia and China argued the snapback was invalid and that the JCPOA and resolution 2231 expired late last year.
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 17 2026 20:55 utc | 24

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/iran-strikes-on-amazon-data-centers-caused-permanent-loss-of-customer-data/

A commenter: Thanks Iran. Now do Oracle next.

Posted by: Keme | Sep 17 2026 21:31 utc | 26

Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 17 2026 20:59 utc | 25
 
These ones come with a free dreamcatcher.

Posted by: ChatNPC | Sep 17 2026 21:49 utc | 28

Well that nearly worked.I’m sure you can figure out what’s me and what’s the quote.  Next. 
 
Confirmation: 

  @upholdreality9hYemen leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi: “Saudi Arabia has no agenda or project of its own. Its project is Zionist, American, British and Israeli. It serves these powers, and NOTHING else.” 0:43 Sep 17, 2026 · 2:29 AM UTC

Posted by: DunGroanin | Sep 17 2026 21:57 utc | 30

This one’s got too many links going to have to cull a few so not exact quote. 
 
allies.
 
 
@MayadeenEnglish
Sep 15
Top military commanders from the US, “Israel” and seven Arab countries held a secret meeting in Germany last week to discuss the war on Iran and regional tensions, according to Axios.
 
The meeting, organized by US CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper, brought together military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, the uae , bahrain, kuwait , Qatar, Jordan and Evypt, along with the US and “Israel”, marking the first such meeting since the US and “Israel” waged war on Iran more than six months ago.
 
According to Axios, the meeting discussed the war on Iran, regional security and the Strait of Hormuz, with Cooper assuring participants that US forces would remain in the region despite Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US bases.
 
Cooper also briefed the participants on the United States’ plan for “expanding ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” Axios added.
 
On his part, the Israeli military chief, Eyal Zamir, briefed attendees on the IOF “operations on various fronts,” Axios reported, citing an Israeli official.
 
Meanwhile, saudi Arabia and “Israel”, with CENTCOM’s assistance, are discussing possible Israeli support for Saudi “operations” against Yemen , including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance modeled on Israeli support for the UAE.
 
CENTCOM confirmed the meeting, saying it had “hosted senior military leaders from eight nations during a scheduled conference in Germany. The leaders discussed opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East.”
 
 
Sep 16, 2026 · 7:37 PM UTC

Posted by: DunGroanin | Sep 17 2026 22:06 utc | 32

Am more of the view that election is just to buy some time, that starting a conflict just before tends to completely change the results, or that opportunity might be taken to act early if loss of authority was forecast.

I don’t follow US politics hardly at all, so if someone could explain to me like the five year old I am:

If all the votes go against Republicans or Trump, does it make the slightest difference on who holds say over the country afterwards ?

(That using the questionable assumption that there is more than one party in the US)

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 17 2026 22:13 utc | 34

DD Geolpolitics TG channel. 
 
🇺🇸🤡🎺Another Fauxios “exclusive”
 
We read these things so you don’t have to.
 
Here’s just the juicy parts and quotes by the Orangetan Stable Daddy Emperor:
 
 

🤡“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.”

The Supreme Emperor is planning a meeting with the 6 GCC vassal statelets/OnlyFans Emirates on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next Tuesday(TACO alert!!!):
 
 

🤡“I want to find out where they are and how they are doing. We have been very protective of them.”

 
 
Also this:
 

“Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have ordered the military to maintain its level of forces in the Middle East until the end of the year, U.S. officials say, to remain ready for a potential return to full-scale combat.”

 
And of course:
 

🤡“Not one ship has gone to Iran since we started. They tried and we blew them up.”

🐻Since it’s not a Tuesday yet – no TACO today. But since it’s Thursday – some oil market soothing by the Stabelest Genius in the Universe and his trusted Mossad hasbara peddler Rabbid Bark – ahead of a pre-Friday Wall Street closing “shocker” announcement.
 
This is all getting beyond repetative. Where’s the UFO’s?! We’ll start talking about Epstein files again, if the Smartypants don’t pick up their pace a bit…

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Sep 17 2026 22:38 utc | 36

Annihilate what.
 
Posted by: paddy | Sep 17 2026 18:29 utc | 3
 
I believe they mean the large scale use of nuclear weapons.
 
Posted by: Arch Bungle | Sep 17 2026 18:39 utc | 4
Right and all that comes with normalizing the renewed use of nuclear weapons.  
Seems like more bluff, but the Zio Imperialist elite certainly has many reasons that want to commit suicide so who knows?

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | Sep 17 2026 22:57 utc | 38

America held direct talks with Houthis in Oman … Saudi Arabia was cut out.
 

Washington described the Muscat channel as a de-escalation measure aimed at protecting Red Sea shipping. For Riyadh, the practical effect is that the United States has separated its own security interests from Saudi Arabia’s.

 
 
How Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Houthi Strategy Crashed And Burned | Responsible Statecraft |
 

Posted by: Oui | Sep 17 2026 23:12 utc | 40

“Saudi Arabia asked China to pressure Iran into restraining the Houthis”
Middle East Spectator
 
Amazing, to me, that the Saudis do not understand that Arabs do not take orders from Persians.

Posted by: necromancer | Sep 17 2026 23:34 utc | 42

– “Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić inaugurated a new Israeli-designed combat drone assembly plant on Thursday, established through a partnership between Israel’s Elbit Systems and Serbia’s Yugoimport SDPR.

The facility employs around 100 people and will manufacture drones for the Serbian military as well as for export.

Vučić said, “Our plans are huge,” and announced that Serbia expects to open at least three more factories with its Israeli partners” Tabz

– “4 hours ago · European Union will disburse €3.3 billion to Ukraine on Friday to procure ⁠missiles and drones” Reuters

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 18 2026 0:03 utc | 44

Woofers on X: This demonstrates good coordination amongst their leadership and subordinates, something that Saudi-backed forces have struggled with in Yemen. If the Houthis are not fighting, they’re digging, which is generally a good practice. I would not expect the YNA to just walk back in. Recapturing this territory may be very time consuming and bloody.
 
Power Dozer: In traditional construction of defensive fortifications straight runs of wall or earth are essential for the emplacement of crew-served weapons. Straight berms eliminate dead space and decrease vulnerability.
 
From these vantage points, crew-served weapons can be emplaced for maximum effective lethality with optimized range fans that minimize the size of the security force required.
 
📝 Tom Bike: “Not trenches, earthen berms.”
 
https://t.me/CIG_telegram/84071

Posted by: UWDude | Sep 18 2026 0:06 utc | 46

More regional…

Libyan forces on the move after rift and tensions.

Southern Lebanon bombed, as most days.

Shelling on Gaza, as most days

Northern Iraq drone activity and interceptions.

“Reports of clashes near University and Daneshju streets in Zahedan, Iran.
Security forces have reportedly been deployed, with checkpoints blocking entrances to the city.
Unconfirmed reports claim that several security personnel were killed or wounded in clashes with unidentified gunmen.”

https://t.me/TPOnow/65377

Posted by: Ornot | Sep 18 2026 0:19 utc | 48

Posted by: Sebgo | Sep 18 2026 0:16 utc | 47
 
Exactly right…
 
Assuming the following numbers are somewhat accurate… 
 
China – 
Estimated 1.2 to 1.4 billion barrels of crude oil in total strategic and commercial reserves – about 60% of capacity.
 
Domestic Production: China extracts about 4.3 to 4.4 million barrels per day.
Needs 16.2 to 16.4 million barrels of oil per day to support it’s economy under normal conditions, therefore needs to import roughly 11 to 12 million barrels per day.
 
Currently importing approximately 8.93 million barrels of oil per day.
Resulting shortfall is around 3 million barrels a day, which is presumably being taken from the strategic reserves.
 
Alternative sources of supply being tapped by China which have come online or are in the process…
 
Russia – seaborne deliveries from east coast of Russia to supplement the overland pipeline.
Brazil, USA, Argentina, Angola and the Republic of the Congo.
 
The downside to this are the additional costs and the reduced refining capacity as the refineries need to be recalibrated to handle the different grades of crude.
 
Conclusion – far from being an ideal situation for China, I don’t think they are suffering as nearly as badly as the western msm would like us to believe.

Posted by: Persona Non Grata | Sep 18 2026 1:25 utc | 50

Far from being an ideal situation for China, I don’t think they are suffering as nearly as badly. Persona Non Grata | Sep 18 2026 | 50
 
You guys need to stop thinking in the short term. Rather, consider the global resource wars as a now permanent fixture of daily life.
 
EROI is the defining constraint of this century. (Strategic) reserves, transport, refining, delivery, the entire supply chain are irrevocably linked to demand, the overall economy and ability to sustain financing ongoing war efforts.
 
(Tech research, weapons development, production capabilities, military strength at arms, etc)
 
Right now, plenty of people are wishing away reality, whether they are drooling sports morlocks or high IQ alt.media consumers lost in fantasies of equity and diversity.
 
So far only Orlov and Berletic seem to be addressing what really is happening, strategic objectives and defensive capabilities to resist.
 
The only area we differ is allegiance – the terms of engagement are understood, the stakes are in play, and any crying about ethics or lack of fairplay is very bad form.

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 1:53 utc | 52

Pepe Café – How Yemen brought the petro-sheikhs to a standstill:
https://youtu.be/lhipfhEpiUQ?si=s8ZiQuHkCjzd38kj

In Portuguese.

Posted by: Soviético | Sep 18 2026 2:39 utc | 54

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 1:53 utc | 52
 
“You guys need to stop thinking in the short term.”
 
You have totally misunderstood the responses to this statement by jonny Law “The oil blockade to China…”. 
The present, the now.
 
Your statement “You guys need to stop thinking in the short term. Rather, consider the global resource wars as a now permanent fixture of daily life.” – on the assumption that I am one of the “you guys”, you are totally clueless and have zero knowledge concerning my ‘thinking’, short or long term.
 
“The only area we differ is allegiance – the terms of engagement are understood, the stakes are in play, and any crying about ethics or lack of fairplay is very bad form.” – what does this nonsense even mean?
 
I wasn’t going to bother, but maybe an explanation is in order…
Quoting myself correctly – which you failed to do – “…I don’t think they are suffering as nearly as badly as the western msm would like us to believe.”
 
Do you undestand the role of the western msm?
In a nutshell – it is the propaganda arm of the various governments, and its job is to disseminate managed information to shape public opinion, promote agendas etc. 
 
So when a commentator makes the following statement – “The oil blockade to China…” which can be disproved by some simple numbers, the only logical conclusion is that said commentator is a ‘victim’ of msm diseminated anti China propaganda.
 

Posted by: Persona Non Grata | Sep 18 2026 2:54 utc | 56

Posted by: John Gilberts | Sep 18 2026 1:39 utc | 51
 
Thank you for the information.

Posted by: Sebgo | Sep 18 2026 2:55 utc | 58

Who’s to say that Russia, China and the USA aren’t all on board with the efforts to make uninhabitable and de-populate Iran + the GCC region?
 
Destroying the desal plants does the trick, by putting millions of refugees into motion and driving economic growth in the immigrant host countries.
 
Better yet, it places the lions share of proven reserves into hiatus, in effect forming enormous strategic storage systems simply by placing them offline until eventually claimed by the victor.

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 3:23 utc | 60

— / NEW: The U.S. has granted visas for President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, and other Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembly in New York
 
 
——————————————————————————————–
 
Bribe time? Even without a bribe, Pezeshkian is a naive and gullible peacenik who will believe in any false promises made.

Posted by: Suresh | Sep 18 2026 3:33 utc | 62

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 3:23 utc | 60
 
Even more vague and difficult to engage directly.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Sep 18 2026 3:37 utc | 64

re:   Ornot | Sep 18 2026 3:10 utc | 59
you posted:
https://t.me/tabzlive/103840
“After 3 years of genocide, the killing of over 100,000 people in Gaza, and the attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen — Morocco has decided to exchange ambassadors with Israel and open an Israeli embassy, as well as reinstate direct flights to and from Tel Aviv” MES
 
The flood of  Moroccan “immigrant invaders” was sent to Ceuta to punish Spain for its repeated condemnation of Israeli genocide in Gaza. This exchange of ambassadors with Israel is part of the deal, I suppose. 
 

Posted by: Perimetr | Sep 18 2026 4:09 utc | 66

Ladies and Gentlemen
 
Who will fall first?
 
Syria is surviving on GCC funds, all of which are in doubt. 
 
Jordan is surviving on GCC funds, all of which are in doubt.
 
Bahrain and Kuwait were always just a Western military bases. First UK, then the US.
 
The UAE increasing looks like fragmenting.
 
The dry up of Saudi funds have stayed Turkish and Egyptian ground troops. Pakistan is making the right noises, but will they follow through? Will the sweet, sweet Saudi spice flow into the Pakistani regime’s coffers?
 
MbS has been nothing but a failure since taking over in 2014. Worse, he went after family members.
The End of the Saudi Crown Prince MBS. – by mitraraheb
 

Posted by: Suresh | Sep 18 2026 4:52 utc | 68

In response to
”
Today Crooke was on two podcasts–Nima’s and Davis’s–promoting what he sees as a “Revolution” by Ansarallah, and he published an essay at his substack on the subject. Crooke’s argument makes great sense. 
Posted by: karlof1 | Sep 18 2026 3:33 utc | 63
”
 
I watched them both as well Karl because Crooke sees the bigger picture of what is going on in our world……civilization war.
His description of the revolution in the ME region is right on the mark and talk of a federation of ME tribes makes perfect sense as a replacement for the current set of GCC despots.
 
Let me mumble more at the Crooke level about other parts of our world’s civilization war.
I have written before that the reason for the manufactured blowup in the ME was because the Russia/Ukraine proxy war was/is not going well as this was seen as critical to containing China.
I and others have also written about how the primary challenge to empire is China and its finance as a public utility form of social organization which is in direct conflict with the God Of Mammon global PRIVATE finance core element of the Western form of social organization.
 
 
Let me digress for a moment because some folks just don’t get this perspective.
The Western world is controlled by the God Of Mammon cult, NOT America or any other country.  Those folks don’t give a shit about what happens to America as long as they come out of this existential challenge to their supremacy of the financial plumbing of our world, which they see slipping away if they don’t act.  America is the current PROXY face of the God Of Mammon cult, not the real thing as Hollywood media would lead people to believe.
 
So what can they do to hold on?
Crash the global economies ASAP so that refinancing of the aftermath has global private finance stamped all over it.
No other reason makes sense given what Trump has done as his part in this shit show.  Trump is not running for re-election is he?  He is playing his Hollywood part in this movie about the proxy war against the China/Russia/Iran Axis Of Resistance and keeping the focus off the folks that control the global financial jackboot that has existed for centuries and laughs at the smallness of the Gates/Musk God Of Mammon cult wannabees.
 
This is fascinating to watch which I have been doing since studying the future 50+ years ago with a genius cultural anthropologist.  I never thought I would see resistance to the God Of Mammon cult like is happening and glad to see our species challenge the anti-humanistic cancer that infects our society.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 18 2026 5:02 utc | 70

fyi,
 
 
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/russian-satellites-reportedly-helped
Russian Satellites Reportedly Helped Iran Target US Bases, as Saudis Beg China to Intervene 
 
……..As a last update, new satellite images show the secret work being done at the Saudi East-West pipeline. Apparently, the Saudis are now trying to bypass the blown pumping stations with a re-directed emergency pipeline that literally goes around the station: 
 
https://x.com/MizarVision/status/2100642719668326906
“New Vantor satellite imagery from September 16 appears to show Saudi crews rapidly constructing a temporary bypass around one of the pumping stations damaged in last week’s attack. 
 
Workers can reportedly be seen laying and welding two new pipeline sections, potentially allowing crude flows to bypass the damaged facility. 
 
Reuters has separately confirmed that three pumping stations along the critical East–West Pipeline were hit and that Saudi Arabia is working to restore flows. Full repairs could take 5–6 weeks, although partial operations may resume earlier. 
 
If completed successfully, the bypass could significantly shorten the disruption to one of the world’s most important alternative oil export routes.” 
 
This obviously suggests the damage is far worse than previously thought, given that they chose to redirect around the stations rather than immediately restore the stations themselves 
 
The East-West line was said to be carrying 4-5% of the entire global oil supply and a previous hit on just one pumping station earlier in the year was said to have slowed the supply by 700,000 daily barrels. This time three stations were hit.
 
We will have to see if the hit was only a warning for now, or the beginning of a systematic campaign to continue degrading the pipeline in perpetuity. Latest reports indicate KSA is begging China to intervene and force Iran to curtail its campaign against Saudi assets, but that China supposedly merely “passed the message” to Iran without asking any favors or issuing any direct guidance……
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 18 2026 5:39 utc | 72

serves the head-choppers right
 
 
 
https://x.com/GeromanAT/status/2100803815486185619
— GEROMAN — time will tell – 👀 —  @GeromanAT 
 
HAHAHA
 
 
 
https://x.com/DarioCpx/status/2100760923946541465
JustDario  @DarioCpx 
 
Saudi Aramco is in the market BUYING DIESEL
 

Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 18 2026 6:35 utc | 74

 BREAKING:  US approves a possible $24.3B sale of 48 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and 49 F135 engines to Saudi Arabia.@BreakingGlobalHQPosted by: Jo | Sep 17 2026 19:47 utc | 14
ah… lucky them, a bunch of overpriced, hard-to-parts for, planes that should arrive in 2035.Guessing the possible part is SA willingness to sign Abraham Accord.
Posted by: Truebind1 | Sep 17 2026 20:00 utc | 17
Is that the version of the F-35 with the gymnasium weights substituting for radar in the nose cone?
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Sep 17 2026 20:59 utc | 25
Reasonable to guess F-35’s to Saudi will be Gym Weights nose-cone ballast without Northrop Grumman APG-81 radars?
Radars are an element of the Block 4 upgrade, including APG-81swap-out to more advanced APG-85.The APG-85 radar’s core components include: gallium nitride, “claimed not directly linked to Chinese REE exports”.
However, production of the AN/APG-85 has faced delays is blamed on export controls on REE metals, (The Diplomat) such as gallium and germanium. In general the F-35 fighter requires more than 400 kilograms of rare earth elements to build…
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/the-us-military-cant-function-without-china/
Meanwhile, Israel has successfully developed (Raphael w/Lockheed) SPICE:- Smart, Precise Impact and Cost-Effective, guidance kits designed to transform conventional bombs into precision stand-off weapons:

The SPICE 1000 has been operational with the Israeli Air Force since 2017 and is already integrated with the country’s F-15 and F-16 fighters. The munition can also be programmed to approach and strike a target from a specified direction and angle. This provides considerable flexibility against fixed targets, particularly heavily protected facilities…

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/israel-glide-bombs-f35-ideal-precision-strike
How far developments with new 40,000 one-ton bombs incl. 20,000 MK 84’s “Hammers”… how soon bombs can be converted to glide vehicles with ??? range and how quickly REE deficiencies can be resolved… questions above my pay grade.

Posted by: Mercury | Sep 18 2026 7:04 utc | 76

Saudi Aramco is in the market BUYING DIESEL 
Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 18 2026 6:35 utc | 74
 
This is some post – well, well I do declare.
 
# On the pipeline – a basic enough job to divert the flow around the three of five pump stations damaged – however, with only two pump stations working the flow rate will be significantly decreased – 
 
The pump stations require very powerful engines plus loads of electrics and instrumentation to pump the stuff – if seriously damaged then it will take quite some time to either repair or build new stations if beyond repair. The vulnerability is obvious …
 

Posted by: Don Firineach | Sep 18 2026 7:17 utc | 78

Perhaps Trump will sell them some since the US is the largest producer and exporter of diesel worldwide. 

Posted by: John Gilberts | Sep 18 2026 7:23 utc | 80

Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 18 2026 5:02 utc | 70 …Western world is controlled by the God Of Mammon cult, NOT America or any other country. To hold on [the GoM cult has decided to] Crash the global economies ASAP so that refinancing of the aftermath has global private finance stamped all over it….
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<=excellent description of present top down controlled situation ..
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Consider: China’s Yuan and China’s renminbi (RMB) [used in cross-border transactions outside mainland China, commonly called the offshore yuan (CNH), which trades freely in international hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore. The onshore yuan (CNY) is tightly controlled within mainland China by the People’s Bank of China, while CNH is market-driven and used for international trade and investments.] 
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So is China’s RMB a response to the GoM cult.or an intended result of the GoM cult? 
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Is the world moving to the RMB?  Will the world adopt CIPS (the new Chinese clearing system) because it avoids top down GoM cult controlled (Bretten woods conference) intentions?  Is the force driving change a result of conditions imposed by the GoM cult?  Is the switch from Swift to CIPS and from USD to the Renminbi or to “just any old currency” happening?
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Consider Bretton Woods Conference. the international meeting held July 1–22, 1944
Held at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, with 730 delegates from 44 allied nations which led to the creation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the world bank.  see also https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/bretton-woods-created see https://english.sse.com.cn/start/settlement/clearing/.
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Consider the Cross-border Interbank Payment System (CIPS; the Chinese payment system ) that offers clearing and settlement services for its participants in cross-border renminbi (RMB) payments and trade.It looks like CIPS is so efficient that it may evolve into  the system of clearing payment for trade used by the whole world?   It may enable trade outside of state controlled cross border trading. It may lead to a truly open market trading system. ..It may help to eliminate monopoly power enjoyed by the too big to fail.  It may have the potential to eliminate the necessity of using a hegemonic currency or a state mandated currency “as a go between” when combined with CIPS which avoids SWIFT.  Under CIPS the currency used in the trade does not seem to matter. 
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so the control over trade and business enjoyed by the scoundrels that run the top down governments might be disappearing?
Could be International, national and local trade without a bank or currency intermediary might now be possible? 
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Thanks for your post.  

Posted by: snake | Sep 18 2026 8:01 utc | 82

The BRICS Summit: 12th-13th September 2026.

Posted by: The Busker | Sep 18 2026 8:46 utc | 84

Failing to learn from the past would be criminal at this stage.
 
—
 
Revanchist forces employ an army of revisionists.  The past is always being challenged.  The future requires a firm hand on the present.
 
The greatest problem of exchange is that, beyond the most dire Malthusian needs, values are not universal.
 

Posted by: too scents | Sep 18 2026 8:54 utc | 86

Posted by: Savonarole | Sep 18 2026 8:55 utc | 87
 
Ah, finally someone who is following current events.
 
Indeed, certain bombing attacks were attributed to militias in Iraq, groups that vehemently denied having targeted Saudi Arabia.
 
Generally speaking, since the conflict began, certain strikes on oil and gas production facilities have been blamed on the Iranians, the Houthis, and the Iraqi resistance, all of whom denied involvement.
 
Given that they are not the type to lie about their military exploits, one must conclude that other actors are carrying out false-flag attacks.
 
Who would want to destroy oil production capacity while remaining anonymous ?
Who stands to gain from keeping oil prices high over the long term, yet cannot politically admit to it before their own population and their allies ?
*Cui bono?*
 
If you answer that question, you will immediately see who is behind these acts, whether directly or by proxy.

Posted by: Sebgo | Sep 18 2026 9:12 utc | 88

Palestinian child killed by Israel on first day back at school in Gaza

Wafaa Akila, aged eight, was photographed smiling in her blue school uniform hours before an Israeli strike killed the little girl and her father

 
 
https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending/palestinian-child-killed-first-day-back-school-gaza-aged-eight

Posted by: Amalek (né Exile) | Sep 18 2026 10:04 utc | 90

I watched them both as well Karl because Crooke sees the bigger picture of what is going on in our world……civilization war.His description of the revolution in the ME region is right on the mark and talk of a federation of ME tribes makes perfect sense as a replacement for the current set of GCC despots. Let me mumble more at the Crooke level about other parts of our world’s civilization war.I have written before that the reason for the manufactured blowup in the ME was because the Russia/Ukraine proxy war was/is not going well as this was seen as critical to containing China.I and others have also written about how the primary challenge to empire is China and its finance as a public utility form of social organization which is in direct conflict with the God Of Mammon global PRIVATE finance core element of the Western form of social organization.  Let me digress for a moment because some folks just don’t get this perspective.The Western world is controlled by the God Of Mammon cult, NOT America or any other country.  Those folks don’t give a shit about what happens to America as long as they come out of this existential challenge to their supremacy of the financial plumbing of our world, which they see slipping away if they don’t act.  America is the current PROXY face of the God Of Mammon cult, not the real thing as Hollywood media would lead people to believe. So what can they do to hold on?Crash the global economies ASAP so that refinancing of the aftermath has global private finance stamped all over it.No other reason makes sense given what Trump has done as his part in this shit show.  Trump is not running for re-election is he?  He is playing his Hollywood part in this movie about the proxy war against the China/Russia/Iran Axis Of Resistance and keeping the focus off the folks that control the global financial jackboot that has existed for centuries and laughs at the smallness of the Gates/Musk God Of Mammon cult wannabees. This is fascinating to watch which I have been doing since studying the future 50+ years ago with a genius cultural anthropologist.  I never thought I would see resistance to the God Of Mammon cult like is happening and glad to see our species challenge the anti-humanistic cancer that infects our society.
Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 18 2026 5:02 utc | 70
 
If there is a plan then that’s a good analysis of what it may be.  But is there a plan?  You give the oligarchs much credit by suggesting they are as thoughtful as you are.  Maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.  I don’t know any personally.  Perhaps, as with most human issues, it’s a mixed bag.  Some are thinking big picture, while others aren’t thinking long term at all.  In that case their actions will contradict themselves…isn’t that what we’re seeing now?
 
I look at where their Global Economy was 3 decades ago and I see how they’ve destroyed it through short term profit taking.  To me that does not indicate any long sighted plan.  Can one simply flip a switch and go from short term actions to long term actions?  Perhaps they are now trying to put band aids on all the damage they have done.  That’s still short term thinking – putting fingers in the dyke.
 
I also have a hard time with the idea China was a threat to them.  Even today, the Chinese are doing what they can to maintain some version of the status quo.  If these oligarchs can’t work with the Chinese then they can’t get along with anyone.  If Trump’s personality is representative of how many of these oligarchs are then we shouldn’t be surprised they’ve wrecked everything – unintentionally.
 
We’ve been given a glimpse at how psychotic the Jewish squatters in Palestine are.  Are the oligarchs as sick in the head?  People like to be diplomatic and call them Zionists, however they are Jewish, they’ve had the full support of all Jews world wide since 1948 and the Jews run 21st century western society, even deciding who rules specific countries.  Don’t forget the Masada Complex many of these people have.  Perhaps wrecking everything isn’t about retaining full control after the destruction.  Maybe, like at Masada, it’s simply a mass suicide.
 
I wonder what the Reverend Jones would think to see Jonestown in Washington, London, Tel Aviv…etc
 
 

Posted by: EoinW | Sep 18 2026 10:48 utc | 92

 https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Arts&Culture/ms-rachel-backs-macklemore-with-1m-match-for-palestine-aidMs Rachel backs Macklemore with $1m match for Palestine aid  Ms Rachel urges wealthy celebrities to support Palestinian children as artists increasingly use their platforms to raise funds and speak out for Gaza……… 
Posted by: michaelj72 | Sep 18 2026 7:39 utc | 81

 
Good for Ms Rachel. As candidate Anti-Semite of the Year for 2025, she is obviously having another run at the title for 2026.
 
Good luck!

Posted by: ChatNPC | Sep 18 2026 11:16 utc | 94

So, the USA (jews) blew up the Saudi pipeline.
They also told their Saudi vassals to poke Ansar Allah so they would block their complete oil exports in a counter move.
Saudi being thrown under the bus, and now they are announcing the sale of crap planes for 25 billions where the Saudi are out of oil revenues. 
Jews have incriminating Epstein files on Saudi.
USA blocked both Hormuz and the other passage as well so they can dominate the oil sales and hurt everyone (I dont understand why, to weaken China? WTF?).
All the vassals are suffering, including the American people who have historically high gas prices now.
Economic disaster incoming for a while now, but now with the other strait closed and the pipeline blown the world is losing another 4% of oil so the economic disaster is imminent?
Diesel prices going wild, no one gives a shit. Everything runs on diesel but no one is protesting, no one gives a shit.
We are all screwed, diesel was 1.35 at the start of the year, its 1.95 per liter in my vassal EU state, now thats a 50% increase or something like that. No one gives a shit – the only conclusion is we all have too much money, spending it on the wrong stuff, we need to reflect… I dont use my car much even tho I have 4 children, bus takes them to school, school is 5 km away if I need to pick them up from something extra. I was in the capital the other day, there were so many cars on the road it took me an hour to move 4 kilometers… you can only conclude everyone has too much money otherwise they wouldnt be driving all the time unless super necessary.
People also spending money on coffee in the coffee shops, junk food, cigarettes and other luxuries… everyone has too much to spend.
Keep taking the wool from the vassal sheep oh dear USA master, we have too much still. BTW, I dont go to coffee shops, I dont have a mobile phone, dont buy junk food, grow my own food and animals so I will be fine LOL?
What a fucked up time to be alive at…
Thank you for reading. 😀
 
 

Posted by: Jzo | Sep 18 2026 12:41 utc | 96

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 1:53 utc | 52
Nature wins. Nothing being discussed here will happen as anyone plans or predicts, except perhaps in the short term. 
 
Why? “Nuke ’em, Rico.” That the “bugs” have a mind, plan, goals, unforseen capacities, needs, etc, ie exhibit rationality, means nothing. Obey or die is the only law – of the West.
 
Make sure your ejector seat works. For that, it probably is safest to buy Chinese.

Posted by: Duck n cover | Sep 18 2026 13:17 utc | 98

Posted by: Hobbes | Sep 18 2026 3:23 utc | 60
One cynical possibility, for sure.
 
However, to date: how many water treatments facilities have Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, et al targeted? Compared to the Zionazis? I dont think these parties are planning to nuke or otherwise render the oil-rich areas uninhabitable. Also, what countries are they sanctioning into starvation? Whose NPPs are they targeting?
 
Who destroyed (all of?) iraq’s water treatment facilities? Not entirely O/T, the whole data center thing is a water resource theft, and the USG has ruled people dont have a right to water (as Flint MI already knows.)
 
Who learns from Israel about sewage? No one who supports Israel, that’s who. 
 

Posted by: Duck n cover | Sep 18 2026 13:34 utc | 100