by Ramin Mazaheri for The Saker Blog Allow me to give a summary of my conversations with well-meaning Westerners since at least 9/11. Everyone: “Ramin, I’m so worried about Iran! I expect US troops to land in Tehran every time I turn on the news!” Me: “The Basij.” Everyone: “Ramin, the US invaded Afghanistan and Iraq – Iran is obviously next!” Me: “Yawn…the Basij.” Everyone: “Dubya Bush…no, wait – Barry
The Globalization of “Lifelong” Corporate-Technocratic Education: “Classrooms without Walls,” Teachers without Degrees by John Klyczek for The Saker Blog Throughout candidate Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, The Donald spewed slogans of “America First” nationalism that were the bedrock of his electioneering rhetoric. But apparently, this was all just con-game carnival barking because Trump’s choice for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, has announced that the fascistic merger of the United States Department
By Oleg Falichev and Yury Petrov Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard cross posted with http://www.stalkerzone.org/yury-borisov-six-military-products-that-the-west-has-no-answer-for/ source: https://www.vpk-news.ru/articles/43508 Yury Borisov was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister from the Deputy Minister of Defence position. He is very familiar with the mechanisms of interaction between the military-industrial complex and the Armed Forces, as well as problems with state defence orders and the state arms program. How does the Deputy Prime
By Amir NOUR[1] for The Saker Blog “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” (Albert Einstein)[2] A red alert in an age of fear, anger and extremes In anticipation of its 2018 edition, the well-regarded Munich Security Conference issued a report which aimed to serve as a useful compilation for an impressive gathering of
I just came across this amazing documentary made in 2004 by Sean Langan and I decided to share it with you because of the many analyses I have recently written on the US armed forces. Watching this documentary I realized how vividly it illustrates the totally dysfunctional and delusional nature of the US military. Now, 14 years later, we can clearly see how what Langan showed in this documentary has
Dear friends, I am going to be on the road for 10 days or so, visiting a sick relative of mine and seeing some good friends. I should have Internet, at least in the evenings, but please be patient with me if I am slow in answering emails. I will be updating the blog as best I can, mostly in the evenings. Hopefully, my short trip will therefore have little,
by Gary Littlejohn for The Saker Blog Part 1: Divergent views on the Russian Economy While there is widespread consensus in the West about the nature of Russian politics and the Russian economy, my own view is that the Western consensus is wide of the mark, being based on a naive acceptance of stereotypes that are at best outdated, originating as they do from either the Yeltsin years or the
by Pepe Escobar (cross-posted with the Asia Times by special agreement with the author) The tariff tussle that began today is linked to Beijing’s ambitious ‘Made in China 2025’ and Belt and Road strategies, which will transform the global economic and geopolitical landscape; this rivalry could last for decades, some experts have said Way beyond the first midnight shot in what could possibly turn into a vicious trade war, the
by Peter Koenig for The Saker Blog In June 2018 alone, more than 500 refugees drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Their boats were refused access to land in either Malta, or Italy. They were force-driven back by gun-boats to the North African shores they came from, mostly Libya, but many boats capsized and countless refugees didn’t make it. These are de facto murders, high crimes against humanity, committed by the
by Peter Koenig for The Saker blog During the recent meeting in Caracas of the Venezuelan Presidential Economic Advisory Commission, in mid-June 2018, President Maduro said something extremely interesting, but also extremely disturbing – nonetheless highly important for the region to be aware of. Mr. Maduro mentioned Yugoslavia, the foreign induced local conflicts, the breakup and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, starting with the “Ten Days War” on Slovenia in 1991, the
[This article was written for the Unz Review] The fact that the USA is facing a profound crisis, possibly the worst one in its history, is accepted by most observers, except maybe the most delusional ones. Most Americans definitely know that. In fact, if there is one thing upon which both those who supported Trump and those who hate him with a passion can agree on, it would be that
By Saker Latinamerican Community for the Saker blog A few days ago, we had access to the video we share below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=8WLIunFd3vE The video is self-explanatory, and it makes it hard to avoid seeing what’s undeniable. There is a fifth column within the revolutionary government that threatens the Revolution from within. This phenomenon, certainly not exclusive to Venezuela, has been taking shape and expanding dramatically in recent years, since the
RT reports: UK police say couple in Wiltshire contaminated with same substance as Skripals British authorities are saying that the couple that is currently in critical condition in Salisbury hospital was exposed to the same substance as Sergei Skripal and his daughter in March. UK counter-terrorism chief Neil Basu said that the substance was ‘Novichok,’ the same one that the UK claims the Skripals were poisoned with. He said
By Rostislav Ishchenko Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard cross posted with http://www.stalkerzone.org/rostislav-ishchenko-kiev-will-abolish-the-ukrainian-army-just-to-spite-putin/ source: https://ukraina.ru/opinion/20180704/1020558385.html Kiev Will “Abolish” the Ukrainian Army Just to Spite Putin The army is not just soldiers (summoned, mobilised or employed under contract), not only officers and generals who graduated from schools and academies, not only weapons and equipment, and not only rear services and HQs. The army, first of all, is a tradition. It’s
If you’re able, and if you like our content and approach, please support the project. Our work wouldn’t be possible without your help: PayPal: southfront@list.ru or via: http://southfront.org/donate/ or via: https://www.patreon.com/southfront, BTC: 13iYp9CDYZwgSnFXNtpEKgRRqaoxHPr2MH, BCH: 1NE49pQW8yCegnFCMvKuhLUnuxvTnxNUhf, ETH: 0x962b312a9d41620f9aa0d286f9d7f8b1769bfae6 PLEASE SUPPORT SOUTH FRONT HERE: https://southfront.org/donate/ 1. History of the movement, structure, and ideology History The movement of Ansar Allah (Supporters of Allah), also known as the Houthis, is a paramilitary group of Zaidi Shi’ites, acting in Yemen. This is one of
By Rostislav Ishchenko Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard cross posted with http://www.stalkerzone.org/ishchenko-crimea-recognition-trump/ source: https://ukraina.ru/opinion/20180702/1020548537.html When in Ukraine people fall into hysterics because of Trump’s “we will see” concerning Crimea, it is understandable. The US President publicly stated his intention to reach an agreement with Russia discounting Ukraine and at the expense of Ukraine. The stake on “the whole world is with us” and “The West will help us”
by Pepe Escobar (cross-posted with the Asia Times by special agreement with the author) Major states buying oil from Iran are unlikely to heed the US call to drop imports; key allies want a waiver to avoid sanctions; OPEC, meanwhile, will have trouble boosting output in the short-term; the puzzle is not solved, but there are dark clouds History may have registered stranger geoeconomic bedfellows. But in the current OPEC-plus
by Ramin Mazaheri for The Saker Blog As every journalist and critic knows, the laziest (and fastest) way to describe something is to present it in terms of something else. This is the “new that”, or this is similar to “that combined with this”. This article, which is part of an 11-part series on Iran written in response to the World Socialist Web Site’s “A reply to a proponent of
By Ruslan Khubiev Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard cross posted with http://www.stalkerzone.org/german-writer-eugen-drewermann-if-only-we-had-listened-to-the-russians/ source: https://cont.ws/@barbera/990566 Here is a fragment of an extremely interesting interview of the German journalist and researcher Ken Jebsen with the German theologian, writer, and psychoanalyst Eugen Drewermann. A translation of the key theses: Ken: “Could you explain to our listeners why it is so difficult nowadays for peace-loving and the peace movement to stand at
by John Bull, England for The Saker Blog I’m an ordinary member of the British public concerned about the consequences of the Salisbury poisoning. My contribution to the debate is modest and mainly in the public domain, but I do have some personal snippets which may be relevant. Where I have indulged in conjecture, I have made this obvious. I am not a ‘conspiracy theorist’ nor a Kremlin stooge. I
