Let’s begin by stating the obvious: those who now claim that the Biden Putin summit did not produce anything tangible and was, at best, a waste of time are plainly wrong, mainly because they misunderstood what was really at stake (and what still remains at stake following the Summit). What is the evidence for this? The first and most obvious sign that something very real took place is the absolutely
Original link: http://middleeastobserver.net/expert-explains-why-top-uae-officials-visited-iran-syria-in-recent-weeks/ Description: In a recent talk show appearance on RT Arabic, expert in Iranian and Middle East affairs Dr Hakam Amhaz revealed what he thought were the motives behind the UAE’s latest diplomatic moves across the region which have caught many observers by surprise. In recent weeks, top Emirati political and security officials paid high-profile visits to regional rivals Iran and Syria. Source: RT Arabic Date: December 6, 2021
Dear friends, I promised you an analysis by last week’s end, but I had to leave on an exhausting 3 day trip from which I returned safely but very tired and feeling spent. I will recuperate this afternoon and I will try to deliver my promised analysis of the Biden Putin summit tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest. Also, one important clarification for both authors and commentators: If you are a
By Walt Garlington for the Saker Blog Though the idea has been ridiculed relentlessly, and for good reason, there really is something exceptional about the United States, and it lies in the terrible hubris of their view of their place in world history. Every normal, traditional people, tribe, nation, etc., has had as its ultimate goal the friendship or union with some divine Absolute principle or being; everything for them
Russian media is discussing this interview actively today. https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/4992391 Question: Mr Ryabkov, is there any predictability in relations with the United States today? Sergey Ryabkov: There is one-sided negative predictability, in fact. As for any prospects for improvement, everything is completely unpredictable. This is a sad conclusion based on the results of the long journey that we have travelled with the current US administration, with Donald Trump, and with Barack
By Thorsten J. Pattberg for the Saker Blog 1989 A Red Pill moment is the ultimate reality check. 11-years old Egon Walther Pillard waited outside the two-level Virgin megastore just around Haymarket corner, Central London. He knew every square foot of the gamer section and decided the place was now sufficiently swell with older students and tourists. He walked inside, barefaced and no-fuss, and straight to the aisle with the
By Tarik in the Vineyard for the Saker Blog If Russia shot down a NATO bomber or ship flying or sailing where it shouldn’t be (or even a US one), who would dare respond in kind? It begs the next question: Why Russia didn’t shoot anything down yet? Things need to be put in perspective. So here is a third question: Why is the West and the US in particular,
An Algerian Jewish ‘demonizer’ of Arabs and Islam is the new political protagonist electrifying France’s 2022 presidential elections By Pepe Escobar, posted with the author’s permission and cross-posted with The Cradle In sharp contrast with the morose political environment across Europe, the French presidential election – against all odds – is now set to become the most enthralling polls to watch in 2022. Just when everyone from Normandy to the
After all the initial euphoria and hopes placed upon the original concept of a non-aligned, social-democratic Euro-bloc, the reality has turned out somewhat differently. By Francis Lee for the Saker Blog In 2011 I drafted an article in an obscure publication called ‘Chartist’. It was entitled: ‘’Europe: The Unfinished Project’’. It ran as follows. ‘’At the present time the EU project seems to be stuck in no-man’s land, unable to
By Dmitry Orlov, posted with permission from the author I have received a flurry of emails from people concerned that World War III could erupt at any moment. Most of their concern has a single cause: the crazy stuff printed and broadcast by Western press. But I would like to suggest that it is Western press that is the problem, not any incipient military conflict involving the Ukraine. Western press
Please support Andrei Martyanov on his website and Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/martyanov https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/ Posted by permission from Andrei Martyanov
In the annals of diplomacy, the White House official confirmation of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing might qualify at best as a disc thrower being hit by a boomerang. By Pepe Escobar, posted with permission and widely cross-posted Realpolitik minds struggle to find a point in this gratuitous provocation, intervening less than two months before the start of the show, on February 4, 2022 at
Seyed Mohammad Marandi: Professor at the University of Tehran and adviser to the Iran delegation at talks on restoring the JCPOA in Vienna. At the Vienna talks on restoring the Iran nuclear deal, the US and EU are accusing Iran of refusing to compromise. Mohammad Marandi, a University of Tehran professor advising the Iran delegation in Vienna, says that the compromise was the nuclear deal itself, and the problem is
By Pepe Escobar, posted with permission and first posted at Asia Times. So Russian President Vladimir Putin, all by himself, and US President Joe Biden, surrounded by aides, finally had their secret video link conference for two hours and two minutes – with translators placed in different rooms. That was their first serious exchange since they met in person in Geneva last June – the first Russia-US summit since 2018.
The western media is writing with a uniformity and discipline which goosestepping SS on a parade could envy them: Joe Biden delivered a “stern warning” to Putin: don’t invade the Ukraine, or else… (see here, here or here). Since Russia has no intention, need, or even capability (as currently poised) to “invade” the Ukraine we can be certain that Biden will make his best impersonation “sheriff squinting eyes at OK
The expanded format meeting between the two delegations was followed by a face-to-face conversation over a working lunch, lasting 3 and a half hours. Following the summit, a Joint Statement Russia – India: Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity was adopted. (Ed: Joint Statement below) In addition, the two countries signed a package of documents before the Russian President’s meeting with the Prime Minister of India. They include an intergovernmental agreement on technology protection due to cooperation in space research and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and on building
http://middleeastobserver.net/george-kordahis-resignation-speech-full-english-translation/ Description: The full English translation of the resignation speech of Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi. Kordahi was at the center of a weeks-long major diplomatic row between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia/Gulf states, which you can read more about here: http://middleeastobserver.net/a-window-into-the-saudi-lebanon-row/ Source: Al Jadeed KSA (YouTube) Date: December 5, 2021 (Please help MEO keep producing independent translations for you by contributing a sustainable monthly amount at Patreon. Transcript: George Kordahi, Lebanese Minister of
http://middleeastobserver.net/as-turkeys-currency-plummets-al-jazeera-guests-clash-over-state-of-economy/ Description: In a recent episode of the long-running program Al-Etejah al’Mu’akis on Al Jazeera Arabic hosted by Faysal al-Qasim, two guests based in London and Istanbul, debated ‘why the value of the Turkish Lira was falling rapidly’. The following are key excerpts from this episode translated into English. The two guests featured were: – London-based writer and journalist Ghassan Ibrahim – Istanbul-based economist and political analyst Yusuf Katipoglu Source: AlJazeera Channel (YouTube) Date: November
Dear friends, As promised, we are doing away with “anonymous” comments later today. Other than that, the blog is doing great and there is nothing special to report. Kind regards Andrei
Posted by Amarynth Maria Zakharova, I mean, or did I mean Maria Z Kalashnikov? ❗️ Maria #Zakharova: @usairforce actions have posed risks to civil aviation. Just because an air incident over the Black Sea’s Int waters has been prevented, this does not mean the US and NATO can further put people’s lives at #risk with impunity. 🔗 https://t.co/mHgrPfSV9f pic.twitter.com/wKBBlPViVk — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) December 5, 2021 MFA spox #Zakharova:
