[First a small announcement: I will contact the “Saker correspondents” over the week-end with details about how we will get organized and the kind of stuff we will do. Over 40 people have responded to my offer and I am happy to announce that we got all five continents covered. Another seven candidates have not answered my request to confirm their desire to participate: “fsd”, “cc”, “sl”, “y”, “aa”, “ov” and “fg”. If you are still interested, please email me over the week-end.]
Listening to Kerry today I went through a series of rather contradictory emotions. First, I felt disgusted, then my disgust turned to anger, then to outright amazement and, by the end, I actually felt rather happy. Let me explain why.
First, of course, my stomach turns every time I hear this prototypical representative of the 1%er plutocracy speaking to the world as if he was some kind of Emperor-schoolteacher scolding a class of rather dumb and unruly kids for their bad behavior and promising them a spanking. We all know that folks like Obama or Baby Bush are just puppets, a mostly empty shell shown to the zombified public as “The President and Commander in Chief” while in reality these guys are basically spokesmen. Not so Kerry. He is in the Dick Cheney or James Baker class, not quite at the top of the power pyramid, but much higher up. These are the folks who step in when the mindless puppet makes a mess and some brains are needed on the frontlines. I find these people profoundly repulsive (though I could not help admiring James Baker’s fantastic diplomatic skills).
My initial disgust turned into rage when I heard Kerry speak such lies that out to make even a politician feel ashamed of himself. Most of what Kerry said could quite literally be turned around by 180 degrees and become true. Even though I am now 50 years old and I have seen all sorts of lies, deceptions, betrayals and falsehoods over the years, I still have a naive voice in me screaming “how can he say that?”, “does he not feel horribly ashamed?”, “how can he live with himself?”. I know. I am naive and idealistic. I just cannot get used to it. Even after 50 years.
Eventually, my rage turned into outright amazement. At this point, I was beyond good and evil, I was marveling at the nerve it takes to go on world-wide TV and basically state that he earth is not round, but triangular, that 2+2=317 and that black is pink with green dots. He even added that it was impossible to turn black into grey, that black was just that, black. At this point I was awed.
And then, suddenly, it hit me. Kerry and the interests he represents are really terrified and frustrated. His statement is a desperate attempt to do what the lawyers call the “last resort rule“. It goes like this: “If you have the law, hammer the law. If you have the facts, hammer the facts. If you have neither the law nor the facts, hammer the table”. Kerry was hammering the table really very, very strongly and that, I realized, was an implicit admission that neither the (international) law nor the facts were on his side. Had the facts or the law been on his side, there would have been no need for table hammering, of course.
His panic and frustration also showed in his rather clumsy attack on the Russia Today TV channel. Here is what he said:
In fact, the propaganda bullhorn that is the state-sponsored Russia Today program, has been deployed to promote – actually, Russia Today network – has deployed to promote President Putin’s fantasy about what is playing out on the ground. They almost spend full time devoted to this effort to propagandize and to distort what is happening or not happening in Ukraine. Instead, in plain sight, Russia continues to fund, coordinate, and fuel a heavily armed separatist movement in Donetsk.
But think about it: Russia Today does not broadcast in Ukrainian or Russian. It broadcasts in English, Spanish and Arabic. The only thing RT does broadcast in Russian are its documentaries on its dedicated website: http://doc.rt.com/on-air/. This is a tiny fraction of what the channel really does and its audience in Russia or the Ukraine is minute compared to the one of the big Russian TV channels. So why did Kerry single our Russia Today? The answer is obvious, of course, it is because Russia Today is a very popular TV channel outside Russia or the Ukraine. According to Wikipedia,
The network’s signal is carried by 22 satellites and over 230 operators, which allows some 644 million people to watch the channel in more than 100 countries. RT America is available to 85 million people in the United States. In 2011 it was the second most-watched foreign news channel in the U.S. after BBC World News, and the number one foreign station in five major U.S. urban areas in 2012. It is also very popular among younger American people, U.S. college students, and in U.S. inner city neighborhoods. In 2013 RT has become the first TV news channel in history to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. According to the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board between 2.2–2.3 million Britons tuned their televisions to RT during the second half of 2012, making it the fourth-most watched rolling news channel in Britain, behind BBC News, Sky News and Al Jazeera English.
Remember the candid admission of Walter Isaacson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, who openly declared that,
“We can’t allow ourselves to be out-communicated by our enemies, you’ve got Russia Today, Iran’s Press TV, Venezuela’s TeleSUR, and of course, China is launching an international broadcasting 24-hour news channel with correspondents around the world [and has] reportedly set aside $6 -10 billion dollars – we have to go to Capitol Hill with that number – to expand their overseas media operations.”
So there you have it. The problem is not that Russia Today is stirring up the people of eastern Ukraine, the problem is that thanks to Russia Today the people in the West are beginning to see through the official propaganda! That is the real reason for Kerry frustrated outburst.
So, to sum things up:
1) The law is not on Kerry’s side.
2) The facts are not on Kerry’s side.
3) The people in the West are beginning to see through the lies of the propaganda machine.
4) There is nothing the Empire can do about any of that.
If any confirmation of that was needed, it came today with the amazing performance of Mark Levine on today’s CrossTalk show. It’s not on YouTube yet, but you can watch it here: http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/154788-ukraine-info-war-russia/. Levine turned CrossTalk into CrossShout, another clear case of “table hammering”. Why – for the same reasons as Kerry. Nothing else works for him anymore.
Ever since Putin came back to power, Russia is not playing by the same set of rules as the ones drafted by the Empire. Both in Syria and the Ukraine, Russia has been very carefully but steadily pushing back the international AngloZionist plutocracy and loosening its grip on the planet and this is directly reflected in the impotent rage of Kerry and his fellow 1%ers.
This, I think, is very good news indeed.
Cheers,
The Saker
Anonymous said…
It won’t be long before this blog is getting a million hits a day. Word is spreading fast.
25 April, 2014 16:03
Indeed, our esteemed host must find someone he trusts with a password in Russia or in Europe to manage the comments, I wonder when checking at all hours when the Saker sleeps.
At least the racist/truly anti-Semitic and fanatically pro-empire trolling is now down to a minimum.
Germans need to break out of NATO and re establish their age old ties with Russia. If not they will pay the price for kowtowing to the Anglo Saxons evil plotters across the channel and pond.
Just started reading your blog. Keep it up. Trying to sort the golden nuggets from the reams of crap on the MSM is a pain. I keep track of about 8 papers round the world. The differences are amazing.
Any way, here’s an interesting tidbit on how the God class look at us. There is a bit of a stink going on up here in Canuckistan about temporary foreign worker. Listen to this;
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/audio-mcdonald-s-ceo-calls-bullshit-on-conference-call-1.2621456
Where-Wolf:
While I agree that nobody should take what RT says wholesale, or accept all of what any news organization says, I disagree that we only have a limited set of choices for our information.
We have more sources of information now than we have ever had.
But governments and those in power are still not yet accustomed to this world. The media was one of their most important tools. The media is in a state of flux now and even if they buy up all the media corporations, they still can’t control the message.
As for the US, many more Americans are now looking and reading outside of the mainstream media now and have more contact with people in other countries.
I realize you all know this. I don’t want to sound condescending. But we just aren’t limited to a small set of choices anymore. Big media corporations have more influence because they have more viewers, true, but that’s not good enough for governments and controlling authorities who were accustomed to having control over almost all of it. And we’re talking about control freaks who liked the status quo.
@ Rowan Berkeley
“I would be really grateful if religious preselytisers, whether shi’a musim, hindu, sikh, or jewish, would refrain from using this as a sermon board.”
I am with you on this one, Rowan. Every time I hit a post like this I try to scroll down as soon as my mouse allows.
Я
Saker: me cheering and clapping to your response to that hater- who said the only good russian is a dead russian
hoot, hoot, holler, cheer, hip, hip hurray! rah, rah sis boom bah!
It’s hard to shake life long ingrained propaganda but it can be done and is worth the time and effort to do so
Better to see all humans as humans then to get sucked into the us and them mindset
Hi Saker and followers,
Here in Spain, the mass media prospect is bleak. They have passed this Pascua demonizing Putin and russian government without a hint of shame.
Like one person (Anonymous) has said, RT is one of the sources of alternative information for me too since almost the last 5-6 years, when, because the tremendous crisis we are suffering, I was driven to look for information of how the world really goes on. Taking part in some forums of comments in the official media, like El Pais, where they are lying all the time, I have collected, thanks to people links, a variety of internet sources that now I review every day, specially when I want a different point of view about Siria, Irán, Middle East in general, and now Ucraine, these are sources like Red Voltaire, Land Destroyer, Rebelión, Hispan Tv,RT and now, Saker´s.
If it´s any consolation, here we have our trolls too, perhaps the same who offend you. Curiously, Saker, last Easter Thursday, one woman acussed me of writing of KGB dictation because I was defending Putin and Lavrov´s prudence. You can laugh now. Normally, when people begins to offend, I usually say “over and out” and ignore them, but in some cases, like Saker, I joke them.
Although I am agnostic in religious matters,I´m very interested in religions and philosophy so I don´t mind if some people here comments or share interesting links about this. The same with any subject.
Best regards from Spain.
P.S: apologies for my terrible english. I had not writen in this language for ages.
The ‘Free World’ shut down Press TV in the UK, al-Manar here in Australia (the local Zio-elites only needed to nod for the last but one PM, Julia Gillard to jump to orders)and now have RT in their sights. It certainly indicates not just desperation, as they jettison their ‘Freedom of Speech’ bulldust pronto, but also the very apparent end-stage recklessness of their behaviour. No doubt, behind the scenes, whatever rationalists remain in the Anglosphere have told the ruling puppets that the only way out is through a cleansing bout of ‘demand destruction’ like WW2, which bought capitalism another thirty years of ‘growth’ for the middle classes in the West. That era ended in the 1970s, and the plebs have begun to notice. The actions of Kenny-Cohen and the other Atlanticist lunatics are driving for war, with nuclear-armed Russia. It’s becoming more and more deranged.
uh-huh, stating the exact opposite of the truth is AH’s ‘Big Lie’ in action. Tell a lie so great that ordinary people, those with morals and who detest lying and are troubled by their consciences if they lie themselves, will not believe that anyone could have the audacity to lie so blatantly, and, hence, tend to believe the Big Lie. It is now a standard method of communication in Australia, and much of the West.
And, of course, Kerry-Cohen’s blatant inversion of reality is also good old-fashioned psychological projection. Remember that although the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were a bunch of Republican nasties set on Kerry-Cohen in 2004, in the election stolen from him by computerised chicanery, what they said about Kerry-Cohen was basically accurate. He’s a true representative of the 0.01%.
uh-huh, stating the exact opposite of the truth is AH’s ‘Big Lie’ in action. Tell a lie so great that ordinary people, those with morals and who detest lying and are troubled by their consciences if they lie themselves, will not believe that anyone could have the audacity to lie so blatantly, and, hence, tend to believe the Big Lie. It is now a standard method of communication in Australia, and much of the West.
And, of course, Kerry-Cohen’s blatant inversion of reality is also good old-fashioned psychological projection. Remember that although the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth were a bunch of Republican nasties set on Kerry-Cohen in 2004, in the election stolen from him by computerised chicanery, what they said about Kerry-Cohen was basically accurate. He’s a true representative of the 0.01%.
Anonymous at 15:21
It was the agent traitors of Hindu congress party that wanted someone they could control that pushed mm singh into politics to keep the seat warm for Rahul Gandhi. And if he didn’t do as the traitors wanted they could always play the religion card. He was actually the best finance minister India ever had. Look at the rates of growth under him. I agree Russia was the best friend India had and I think the relationship is headed in the right direction again.
Soaker thank you for the great blog with excellent analysis.
Thanks Saker,
Yes they’re afraid and they have excellent reason to be. With western dominance of the information sphere, they have managed to demonize and then overthrow governments around the world. They know precisely what it means to control the flow of news…and what it means to loose that control. Not only will their power to destroy governments and countries elsewhere diminish, but what they really fear IS THE TECHNIQUES THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED AND PERFECTED CAN SOMEDAY BE TURNED AGAINST THEM!!!! With RT, Voice of Russia and the internet and alternative media in general the potential for such an event is their. Imagine if next time there is another occupy wall street of another tea party protest and all of a sudden it is all over the world and RT and VOR are covering it, Russian officials are tsk tsking the US government response and demanding accountability for renegade law enforcement, showing videos of police brutality throughout the globe, etc.
Yes, this can happen. Maybe not today or next year, but in a decade or two?
Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind as Shakespeare said. And their minds have a lot to be guilty about.
P.S., has RT ever done a documentary on Waco? It would be a good one.
Ополченцы задержали 40 украинских диверсантов в Славянске (Militia detained 40 Ukrainian saboteurs Slovyansk)
http://lifenews.ru/news/132053
(auto trans) “Supporters of federalization conducted a successful operation to detain Ukrainian military was preparing a provocation. After the events of April 24, when security forces broke through roadblocks and almost took the city ring ( military could not overcome the resistance only in the east ), there have been reports that in the Slovyansk were seen armed men.
On the same day in downtown locals found the bomb , packed with nails. Bomb with a chemical in the bag eliminated popular militias.
April 25 Slovyansk Vyacheslav Ponomarev told a news conference that the popular militia detained 40 Ukrainian saboteurs.
– We have detained about 40 Ukrainian soldiers who entered the city during yesterday’s attacks on checkpoints Sloviansk, – he explained. – All of them unarmed. Release them if they promise not to raise their hand against the civilian population…”
More about the “OSCE” critters in the next article.
@ the blissfully ignorant and delusional ” American” who is disgusted by the ugliness it takes to keep him/her shielded from the reality the rest of the world exists under.
In reply to your comment-
“SemperFiknuckledragger – you’re unbelievably ignorant and arrogant from your privileged “I’m an Americunt”…
The “monopoly on theft and murder” is done at their behest by ignorant morons such as yourself..Fuck you and virtually everything you stand for. You’re full of hate. You’re blinding by hate. You have no reason. Just hate..Go crawl back into your hole until they summon you again.”
The theft and murder isn’t done at the behest of “morons like me”, nor even with the permission of geniuses like you. It’s done because there’s nothing to stop it. News flash, mankind has been wishing, praying and bribing the powers that be for ages to prevent violence and wars, and guess what, it’s no worse nor any better than it was when the first prayer was uttered on the lips of ignorant man.
Kindly enlighten me, what exactly separates you from those being victimized by their millions across the world from Aleppo to Côte d’Ivoire, from Dagestan to Ukraine, The Sahel and everywhere else in between? I ask because it seems to me folks like you have an almost religious belief that the world revolves around them. That natural disasters and nature itself should somehow cease its infinite march on your account. What you call evil in this world isn’t going to stop just because you pray or wish it to. Or perhaps you think your voting and political activism really makes a difference?
Just consider for a moment, suppose you lived in Ukraine right now, you’ll have no certainty or right to dream of a pension, simply because either Putin or some other greedy oligarch, who is immune to your childish sense of law and order, decides he wants more. And you as a Ukrainian, have no men to speak of, selfless or violent enough to stop them. There are a lot of innocents caught up in a maelstrom of forces beyond their control, and no one cares- not even you citizen “do-Gooder who abhors violence”.
Insignificant people the world over, fall victim to terror and violence on a daily basis not because they’re guilty of any special offense, or because you in your safe country wish more for peace, or are any more enlightened than them, but rather because they are unfortunate enough to live in places unprotected by citizens even more violent and aggressively territorial than their would be assailants.
In your naïveté, you probably think that you’re so intelligent, so much more enlightened than I am, just because you have a right to examine your chains. I’ve been where you are, and I passed that exuberance and illusion of freedom a lifetime ago. When you slowly but surely wake up to the fact that you’re not going to affect the inexorable march of nature by your new found sense of self importance, you’ll feel first the cold hand of fear from a highly acute sense of vulnerability, then a little ray of common sense will seep through your make believe world, and you’ll be grateful you live in America, where the predators see you as a fellow American, protected from naked aggression and entitled to at least an excuse, before your pension is looted and your sense of self worth is shattered permanently.
Far from the ignoramus you take me for, me and men like me, might be all that stands between you, and the chaos that reigns supreme worldwide.
Unlike you I’m fully awake and ready to defend mine with unrestrained aggression, under the only real law that ever mattered, the law of survival. So when I read the enlightened sheep that pass themselves off as my betters, and you don’t even own a gun??- I just smile and wonder why nature in her infinite wisdom, permits the survival of so many suckers.
Ополченцы заявили о задержании восьми разведчиков стран НАТО (Militia announced the arrest of eight scouts NATO)
http://lifenews.ru/news/132062
“According to the “people’s mayor” Vyacheslav Ponomarev Slovyansk undercover OSCE mission operated group human intelligence officers.
Among those detained in the Donetsk region were career intelligence officers in Germany, Denmark, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. This was stated by the “people’s mayor” Vyacheslav Ponomarev Sloviansk. According to him, these people acted under the guise of the OSCE mission. Along with them were detained Ukrainian military, including Colonel General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, whose name does not name Ponomarev.
– OSCE Mission can not be done by military personnel. These people in addition to military insignia were found cards with marks all checkpoints, which is proof of their intelligence activities under the guise of the OSCE mission, – says Ponomarev. – In addition, when the search they were found expansive munitions that is banned in many countries and enjoyed by militants “right sector.”
According to the “people’s mayor”, will soon be established the identity of all detainees and will test the legality of actions overseas touring.
– These people migrate to the city in order to arrange a diversion. Junta zavralsya to such an extent that does not know what else to think. Their comments are insane. Better they wrote a fantastic book – said Ponomarev.
Previously, he also said that in the popular militia detained 40 Ukrainian saboteurs and that the behavior of the OSCE observers raises questions.
In most organizations reported that people who were captured on Friday in a bus in the Donetsk region, have no relation to the OSCE observers.
“All members of the special observation mission of the OSCE observer mission and elections are safe, no one is missing” – the organization said in the “Twitter”.
However, the same microblogging organization noted that on April 25 Slovyansk was detained “military Verification Mission”, “arrived at the invitation of the Ukrainian authorities, in accordance with the Vienna accords in 2011.”
“It consists of eight people: four German citizen and one representative from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden and Poland.”
From RT: http://rt.com/news/154832-russian-agents-ukraine-lavrov/
Lavrov complained that his western counterparts were not abandoning the language of slogans, even in one-on-one telephone conversations.
“If you think that when John Kerry, William Hague or Laurent Fabius call me, they speak differently in those personal contacts and say something you don’t know from their public speeches, you are mistaken,” Lavrov said, adding that he was still making attempts to have a real constructive dialogue with the officials he mentioned.
I am speechless.
As to the Kerry – Bush connection referred to in at least one comment:
Bush I, Bush II and Kerry are all members of the ‘skull & bones’ secret society, as are many senior CIA.
This is not a ‘conspiracy theory’ it is fact. He has admitted he is a member during an interview and has refused to answer any questons about it.
The are the people that rule the world folks – they meet each other and do weird things in secret. then they come out and lecture the people about what is right and wrong in their demented minds.
April 22, 1971 – John Kerry’s statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
“We who have come here to Washington have come here because we f eel we have to be winter soldiers now. We could come back to this country; we could be quiet; we could hold our silence; we could not tell what went on in Vietnam, but we feel because of what threatens this country, the fact that the crimes threaten it, not reds, and not redcoats but the crimes which we are committing that threaten it, that we have to speak out.”
Tico tiger, Levine followed the standard Zionazi tactic of hissing and spitting like an outraged goose, which he is. It is Standard Operating Procedure for the hasbara crew. If the facts are ‘antisemitic’ commence yelling ‘bigotry’, ‘Holocaust’, ‘terrorist’, ‘blood libel’, ‘Nazi’, etc and shut down the opposite opinion, which is usually a better approximation to the truth than the Judeo-supremacist narrative. Inviting these creatures might seem like madness, but it opens eyes to the truth about their character. They of course don’t care, because they hold the goyim, everywhere and always, without exception, in contempt.
@Kerry… not quite at the top of the power pyramid, but much higher up
There might be a reason for the awe:
“Fred (Kohn>Kerry, the granpa of Skull and Bones, but no brains), who worked as an accountant at his uncle’s shoe factory, married Ida Loewe, a Jewish musician from Budapest. Ida was a descendant of Sinai Loew, a brother of Rabbi Judah Loew, the famous Kabbalist, philosopher and Talmudist known as the “Maharal of Prague” who some say invented the character of the Golem. Two of Ida’s siblings, Otto Loewe and Jenni Loewe, were killed in Nazi concentration camps”.
“Golem” passed into Yiddish as goylem to mean someone who is clumsy or slow.
“The most famous golem narrative involves Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the late 16th century rabbi of Prague, also known as the Maharal, who reportedly created a golem to defend the Prague ghetto from antisemitic attacks and pogroms”
WizOz
Saker,
Thank you for the laugh out loud in your response to anonymous hater. Sarcasm and irony were exactly the best way to deal with him. At first I was surprised because you usually have a different more straight forward approach, but I really enjoyed this instead. “…these jerks they offered to pay me in Rubles” and “What the hell am I supposed to do with them Rubles?” It still makes me laugh when I re-read the whole thing.
BTW, your regular readers know very well what you meant by that response, but like you say, you now have thousands of new readers, so it’s good you clarified your meaning in your follow-up response to Nora.
I also agree with other commenters here that I can no longer tolerate listening to Kerry, as well as Obama, McCain, Clinton, and especially Jen Psaki…I usually just rely on reading their quotes because I cannot look at them or hear them speak. But I forced myself through it this time because of the discussion here.
What you said here: “Most of what Kerry said could quite literally be turned around by 180 degrees and become true” was exactly what I thought too.
Thanks for your blog.
M.
Where-Wolf,
I very much agree with what you said here: ”It is time for all the good, tolerant, generous and peaceful people of the world to stop judging the ruling oligarchy by our own standards. These people are not like you and me. Good people always assume that other people are motivated by the same basic desire to get along and do no harm”.
That is the key for “understanding” these psychopaths and their actions. It is to realize that their motivations are much different and darker than a normal person. Yes they do choose to kill innocent people to further their own interests. Anything goes…
Not understanding this is part of the reason that you cannot convince some people of the horrible, evil things the US government (and its pathetic allies) has done. People say “Oh, they wouldn’t do that”. But the answer is “You wouldn’t, but they definitely would”.
M.
@ Stan 25 April, 2014 21:53
Counterpunch – Weekend Edition April 25-27, 2014
If Not Now, When?
Unite Against Imperialism!
by ANDRE VLTCHEK
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/25/unite-against-imperialism/print
Indeed, the latest piece by Andre Vltchek is amazingly uplifting. It completely fits the several aspects of this discussion, and praises the new and alternative media operations that “shield” the global population from the propaganda of the old west.
I always forget what a gifted writer Vltcheck is. He never writes a boring paragraph.
I recommend this article to all.
I also want to comment on one small piece of what Where-Wolf wrote at 25 April, 2014 22:26
He mentions that among other things, those who become fans of RT are “coralling and marking themselves as potential enemies of the state”
This is true but somehow it no longer frightens me as it did before I watched the ordinary people of Ukraine make their stand for liberty and good governance.
It strikes me that Slavyansk is a “corral”. And that the outcome of any battle between the ordinary heroes of the local defense and the incursions of the state is by no means known in advance.
The people of the West in their own ways will probably have to dismantle their deep state by their own actions. And this is a sobering prospect.
I wanted to attest that the examples of Ukraine and Russia have given me strength – this is the only word for it. Moral virtue is more powerful than evil, once the veils are drawn aside, as Slavyansk, Crimea and Russia herself are showing us all.
@Nora 18:34
John Kerry’s career is a study in how the most unprincipled people can approach the pinnacle of power in the US. Try a google on “accidental atrocity Kerry”. The first item is a good start.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/07/26/what-john-kerry-really-did-in-vietnam/
Presumably the recent articles which refer to his inadvertant contribution to Syria negotiations which Lavrov brought to fruition are wordplay on this past.
http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/317422-intentional-gaffe-or-accidental-diplomacy-kerry-obama-russia-and-syria/
Brian
The Saker,
I would be most interested in your opinion about the article “Forget the Spin, Putin Is Holding a Losing Hand” that appeared in Huffington Post on 20 April 2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-paul/forget-the-spin-putin-is_b_5183691.html , which concludes:
“Vladimir Putin has not been the master strategist of the media’s imagination, the puppetmaster who has outfoxed American at every turn. Instead, he has long been caught in a trap, his actions manipulated in a game of power and strategy that goes back decades and in which he is playing a role, not writing the script.”
Is the position of Russia indeed so hopeless?
Thank you.
I tried but could find any evidence Kerry went with Bush 41 to Tehran to treasonously undercut President Carter and break a few other laws vis-a-vis Iran Contra. Since he was deeply involved in the hearings, it would be really something to know for a fact he was investigating his own crime! Does anyone have anything on this? Like, WOW.
Я, Rowan Berkeley,
I’m feeling a need to respond to both of you bc I really do understand your point and I’m hoping maybe you can see mine. This blog, like the greater world we all live in, has people from a variety of backgrounds, geographic, cultural, and religious. So even if you have no interest in religion per se — and that’s fine — it’s just a wonderful opportunity to learn where other people, and cultures, to whom faith may matter very deeply, are coming from. The best example I can give is the answer I gave to a woman from the Native American tribe to which I am most closely related when she asked what I thought about her son attending a Christian church youth group, especially since Native American spirituality and faith traditions were very important to her and definitely how she wanted to raise her children. I totally get that but what I said to her was that the bottom line was, he’d do well to understand how at least that branch of white American Christianity works bc like it or not, he’s going to have to live with them anyhow and besides, his own faith is strong enough to stand up to some challenges. So, even though I’ll own up front my deep respect for and interest in both Shi’a Islam and genuine Orthodox Christianity, I’m figuring I’m probably not the only one here who’s curious and could stand to learn more about them. But also you guys really do have the option of scrolling on by, or learning about something without necessarily having it challenge your own ways of looking at things.
grunt,
I’m as American as you, maybe even more so, but you’re about the last person on earth I’d depend on for defense. At least you’re finally admitting your age though. It’s too bad your heart and mind are as closed as your eyes — I think I’ll just start calling you the Grinch and praying for a Christmas miracle! But do try to get out more often and look around. You might even find you don’t really need that gun.
M. and Grieved:
Thank you both for your thoughts and kind words.
The article by Vltchek reinforces my conviction that the dam has broken. We have achieved a critical mass of realization. The question is no longer if we will confront this insanity but when.
Doggone it! I tried but could NOT find any evidence…
@semper fi 00:30
Your remarks belie your handle. To whom can one with such a view be faithful?
“Yea though I walk through the valley of Death I will fear no evil ‘cos I’m the baddest mofo around” or “kill ’em all and let God sort ’em out” are really not helpful principles.
Or perhaps you’ve just done an all-nighter watching episodes of Walking Dead.
Get a hold of yourself man. Grow up and stop being part of the problem.
Brian
That HuffPo article characterizes pretty well my fears. Unless Russia, China, and rest of the BRICS unite then divided they will fall to the rotting empire.
That said I have found it interesting that the commenters on the NYT Ukraine articles I have read have given the highest ratings to posts that call out the hypocrisy and lies. There seems to be a growing awareness and skepticism – yet an invasion might well turn the masses against the ‘aggressor’ …
Where Wolf.
The more interesting question is “how?”
The 1% own our political party system lock stock and rotting barrel.
It is used to control us. We can control it with one very simple action. Promote, support and elect political representatives who are fiercely independent of the party system, and fire them if they waver. Seek out individuals of proven ethical character, leadership ability and who understand the concept of “common good”.
Start organisations to encourage this behavior and watch the psychopaths rage against the unfairness of it.
I am interested more in how the upcoming Russia and China summit will decide on doing trade without using Dollar.
Can BRICS come up with a system that will rival the existing global system ?
I would love to know.
In my view it will be difficult since apart from Russia and China all the rest are mainly Western colonial legacies and not true sovereign countries.
What do you think ?
PuppetMaste said…
Well, the problem is that it is not easy to tell the difference between the last gasp of an empire and the birth pang of a reinforced empire. Because “Only when the dusk starts to fall, does the owl of Minerva spread its wings and fly.”
The knowledge which is not allowed to us now is the answer to this question.
Is the history at the threshold of a World Empire?
If the answer is no, and if we survive, the US will follow the footstep of Periclean Athens. A militaristic and expansionist democracy, at the threshold of becoming an empire turning the Delian League(NATO?) into an real empire. The imperial ambition of Athens was destroyed in the Peloponnesian war by Sparta, and the authoritarian Sparta(Russia or China?) became the defender of Greek freedom.
If the answer is yes, and if we survive, the US will follow the course of either Rome or China.
Rome after the victory of the Punic wars(Cold War?) was poised to take over the whole Mediterranean World. Most neocons seems to be thrilled at this dream.
The US is showing all the symptoms of social decay, the growing inequality, destruction of the industrial base, the gutting of constitution, the world highest incarceration rate equaled only by Stalin’s Soviet Union, overextended expensive empire of bases,you can go on for a while. And they are in no small part the price of the Empire.
So was late Republican Rome. The collapse of small farmers, slave revolts, failure of reform by Gracchi brothers, the emergence of ambitious generals backed by mercenary armies, and civil wars among them. However, at the end, all those symptoms of decay worked in a way to provide an impetus to deepen and perfect the empire.
Or the US could follow the course of China. Qin Shi Huang’s Qin state conquered and unified the whole China. But his success did not last long. After 14 years, only 3 years after Qin Shi Huang’s death, Qin capital was captured and burnt by rebel army and his successor was executed.
The rebels who rose against the hated Qin tyranny, wanted to restore previous multi-polar order and rebuild the independent kingdoms of the past. However they soon realized that it was no longer feasible and accepted the inevitability of the unified and imperial China. Thus Han dynasty was established.
Here, empire building was completed only by the defeat of the empire builders. You achieve your goal only by being defeated.
Of course, we don’t know the answer. We will only play our roles the cunning of the reason assigned to us.
I personally prefer the Athenian course. However, if an empire is inevitable, I would prefer the Chinese course, since it has a poetic justice in it.
But it all matters only if we survive. We may all perish in the nuclear holocaust in the process.
Check this pic of a Tu-95 Bear from the BBC:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-27157504
Someone has painted ‘BBC RUSSIA’ on the tail.
It occurrs to me that the net effect of all this posturing is that the price of oil has been forced skywards even as the global economy shows signs of a major slowdown. It is possible that the Unscrupullati who’ve been printing money like gangbusters to keep the petrodollar bubble inflated have realized this strategy is only viable if the economy keeps growing. A drop in energy prices is immediately reflected as a drop in the value of the global economy. A large and long overdue correction could very quickly careen out of control.
The ruling oligarchy has likely run out of options. They are reluctant to let the correction take place because they recognize their unprecedented weakness in the court of world public opinion.
This might also explain why the media has been locked on the missing plane story for weeks. They are working hard to bore viewers to death encouraging everyone (or just a critical few) to avoid their discredited media and the news altogether.
Remember what Putin said yesterday about the internet being a creation of the CIA. Is he trying to send a message to all those people hunkered behind flickering screens? Is the cabal trying to direct everyone onto their prefferred battleground — where they can pull the plug at a moments notice if things get out of hand?
I am somewhat surprised that anti-war messages are not going viral in the same way they seemed to ahead of the cancelled war in Syria (cancelled for America, anyway). We are arguably in a much more precarious position than we were during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Maybe now is a good time to gather with friends and family and begin to confront this crisis.
Maybe now is a good time to resolve that this time, after this bubble bursts, the gansters will be punished
@Saker, I would like to post for you a link from a member of the german CDU talking about Chancellor Merkel and also the situation in the Ukraine, please read this this interesting german comment here: http://www.cashkurs.com/kategorie/wirtschaftsfacts/beitrag/sind-die-usa-ueberhaupt-noch-friedensfaehig-angela-merkels-besuch-bei-einem-fremd-gewordenen-freund/
re:Can BRICS come up with a system that will rival the existing global system ?
NEO – USA in Mid East – Going, Going, Gone
Russian media has recently reported that Moscow and Tehran had signed a deal worth $20 billion. Russia agreed to buy Iranian oil, and Iran in return would buy Russian goods.
The preparation of this Oil-for-Goods deal began in December of the last year. In essence, the oil would be sold at a price of a few percent lower than the market for a wide range of Russian products, from agriculture to engineering ones. Additionally, Russia will participate in Iranian industrial projects.
Thus, Iran would obtain a guaranteed sale of its oil, and Russia — an access to the Iranian market. The contract is mutually beneficial and does not affect the interests of any other country.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/04/24/neo-usa-in-mid-east-going-going-gone/
T1
The weakness of Washington’s diplomatic efforts is creating a vacuum of sorts which Germany seems to have identified. There is much to be gained for the US ally who can step into the void and bring a tolerable conclusion to this debacle without embarassing the Americans. Unlike John Kerry, German FM Steinmeier recognizes the importance of diplomacy in history.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/frank-walter-steinmeier-interview-about-new-german-foreign-policy-a-955286.html
—————————————
From http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/202367.html
The United States, the European Union and Russia should make a joint high-level trip to hotspots in Ukraine with local officials to signal political backing for the April 17 Geneva agreement, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said.
His proposal was reported by Deutsche Welle radio on Friday.
In a letter to Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, whose country chairs the OSCE, the German minister urged to strengthen an organization’s intermediary role in Ukraine’s conflict settlement.
According to the newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the OSCE monitoring mission could organize roundtables involving the representatives of both conflicting parties.
“It is important to achieve visible changes quickly for the population,” Steinmeier wrote in a letter.
Also this: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_25/Russian-German-FMa-support-involving-OSCE-mission-to-assist-accord-de-escalation-measures-Moscow-2677/
and: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_20/Necessary-to-normalize-situation-in-Ukraine-not-discuss-sanctions-against-Russia-German-FM-0051/
This may be the closest any Western actor has come to acknowledging that the eastern area is peopled by Ukraine citizens- not terrorists (i.e. we don’t negotiate with terrorists)
-Brian
Anonymous said…
Where Wolf.
The more interesting question is “how?”
First comes shock and awe(be ready).
Then a sudden, unexpected event reveals the weakness of our enemy — galvinizing us to do the impossible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGeN0wwC5To
I would urge readers to go to “Antiwar.com” for two revealing article on the Ukraine. “Ukraine: Out of Control” is by Justin Raimondo from the Libertarian right. The other “On treating Putin as Pariah” by Pat Buchanan, probably the best known advocate of the anti-intervention, anti-free trade “paleo-right” that once dominated the Republican party.
Buchanan, in common with leaders of the surging nationalist parties in Europe, is strongly pro-Putin. Reimondo, however, takes a view of the Geneva agreement much like my own. “The Geneva talks” he writes, “were supposed to have de-escallated the looming conflict; instead they made conflict more likely. The reason is because Lavrov,Kerry and the EU failed to invite the key participants, the east Ukrainians, including representatives of the self proclaimed Donetsk Republic…The big powers thought they could devise a diplomatic “solution” without consulting the people most directly involved. The Russians are just as responsible for this slight oversight as the Americans; indeed, more so, since they pose as champions of Russian speakers in their “near abroad”.
More to say but past time for bed.
Saker
“Levine turned CrossTalk into CrossShout”
I finally got around to watching that one. Levine is the typical obnoxious gay zionazi one sees all over the web. They should have silenced his mike when the others were talking because he made the show unwatchable. Which I am sure was his strategy. This is what most of these people do to websites when allowed, as well. Many sites are pointless to comment at because of the “Levines” and zionist hosts that facilitate these turds.
Also vz.ru has an article up you might find interesting. They asked several retired Russian military leaders what a Russian peacekeeping force would be like for the Ukraine. Some of the same things that you have described about such a force was mentioned. they go into quite a bit of detail. while they differ in their approaches, they all seem to agree it’s better Russia doesn’t send any military to the Ukraine if it can be helped.
«За два–три дня сможем дойти до Киева»
http://www.vz.ru/
I recommend this article to anybody interested, it is understandable using an auto translator.
As a side note, I think that I have identified a problem that we in the West have been slowly having to come to grip with over the past decade or more in dealing with our leaders and our so-called mainstream media.
At the risk of being considered facetious I would draw your attention to the clip at the following-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VImnpErdDzA
As funny as it is, you begin to wonder when you see one of the latest US spy satellite logos also to be seen at http://consciouslifenews.com/tag/nro-spy-satellite-octopus-seal/
@ Brian_J
“@semper fi 00:30
Your remarks belie your handle. To whom can one with such a view be faithful?
“Yea though I walk through the valley of Death I will fear no evil ‘cos I’m the baddest mofo around” or “kill ’em all and let God sort ’em out” are really not helpful principles.”
I’ll try to be patient with you Brian_J because you sound like you’re honestly confused and trying to help solve “the problem” in your own misinformed way, unlike the Saker, who is knowingly attempting to subvert and undermine American interests. So Brian, what gave you the idea that somebody who constructs arguments the way I do holds the childish principles you ascribe to me? I know, you saw marine, and all you could think was ignorant killer, etc. etc. the handle is a simple decoy Brian, and you fell for it. I doubt you’re even aware that those google quotes you posted are the efforts of 17-22 year old young men attempting to fortify themselves before entering combat and the unknown. Those Russian soldiers you’re so righteously hoping will crush the nascent Ukrainian state hold similar principles too, or are they excused because they’re advancing the “right” ends in your eyes? In your haste to show that you’re better than they are, you committed the very crime you accuse them of- condemning before comprehending the nature of the thing you’ve decided against. You’re compounding this mindless error by swallowing whole the propaganda you’re being fed by the Russian government via the Saker. You’re accepting at face value that America is the worst criminal state there is, because another criminal entity in order to further its own interests said so. Are you not? You’re excusing Putin’s destruction of a defenseless country and it’s people in Ukraine with your consent, without even realizing that you’re condoning the very thing you accuse your own country of. I can accept your genuine instinct to help right what you perceive as wrongs, but brother, think before you act, or else you’re no better than the 17yrs old marine. Are you still sure you’re part of the solution, or did Saker tell you so.
@Brian 26 April, 2014 04:58
Thanks for the German news – please keep this coming. I suspect many of us are hampered by lack of understanding of the German position and status.
But as the western end of the new Silk Road, Germany’s mind and heart matter to us in the West perhaps even more than the fevered hallucinations of the US at this point in history.
Where-Wolf said…26 April, 2014 04:38
“Someone has painted ‘BBC RUSSIA’ on the tail.”
That’s funny. But the lettering is in Cyrillic. In Latin equivalent letters of ВВС, is VVS. It is the name of the Long Range Aviation service of the Russian air force.
Are the energy junkies really about to bite one of the hands that feeds them?
CEO of German Siemens to Putin/Russia @ http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-ukraine-germany-siemens-idUSBREA2P2DB20140326
I don’t think so.
About religion: I’m waiting for the first person to come to my door and convince me not to believe [in a god/s].
If I were god [or a dog looking in the mirror] I’d invent the devil as my sidekick.
About antisemitism: in its current context it is an Apartheid Word, for it embraces only a select few, whilst simultaneously excluding all others.
Help in stopping this injustice by correctly labeling what is what; anti/pro Jew/wish/ess/Israel/i/Palestinian/s/Arab/s/Muslim/s/etc.
in response to Anonymous(2014 01:42) who posted this link.
Forget the Spin, Putin Is Holding a Losing Hand
Is the position of Russia indeed so hopeless?
On the contrary, Russia is really holding the better hand at this point. This will start to be more evident as|if things progress and sides have to be chosen by those who currently sit on the fence.
On the article itself, on the initial read, I had an impression a message of capitulation was starting to be sent. Something along the lines of ‘Ok, you win this round, but we’ll get you in the end’ sort of childish attitude. Then I had to remind myself the source of what I was reading and remembered that the word ‘capitulation’ was something to be despised(feared|embarrased|failed).
So, look at the one shocker…
To those who embrace Brzezinski’s strategic perspective, Putin’s aggressive actions will only undermine his and Russia’s credibility in the world. The impact on the lives of Ukrainians in Kiev and Kharkov and Odessa is not the point, Brzezinski’s strategic formulation is designed to enhance American power in the region in the long term, and whether Putin finds a way to pull back or chooses to invade is immaterial. Either choice Putin makes, in Brzezinski’s long view, will ultimately serve America’s interests, even if a Ukrainian civil war and an energy crisis in Europe have to be part of the price along the way.
There is the real message. Back off Russia or Kiev burns, gas supply be damned.
another bluff?? or is it for real now?
“And I would be grateful if you let me manage this blog the way I see fit. What you call “religious proselytizers” are already persecuted enough and sneered at in this confused and dysfunctional society without you coming here telling them to go away. I tell them to please come here, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Shinto or any other and speak freely without having to worry about some religion-hating bigot condescendingly telling them to shut up. I welcome and encourage an open and free discussion of religious issues and I welcome and encourage the discussion of non-religious issues from a religious point of view”
I totally agree with your point.
Yesterday, as planned, a local antifascist movement in Carpathian Rus has formally declared independence of Carpathian Rus with the justification that they have no intention and no desire to live under the fascist junta. This is a Western part of Ukraine, which was between the two world wars administered by Czechoslovakia. http://novorus.info/news/policy/15489-zakarpatskaya-oblast-byvshey-ukrainy-obyavlyaet-o-svoey-nezavisimosti.html
state dept flack dismisses RT question on Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOnwdmpButo clearly a very important question
“Nora said… on 25 April, 2014 21:36,
A Shia Muslim and Mindfriedo,
Thank you both for your recommendations, …”
Hi Nora,
You are welcome. Regards to you and Mr. Nora, :)
Mohamed.
>> Far from the ignoramus you take me for, me and men like me, might be all that stands between you, and the chaos that reigns supreme worldwide. >>
I’m glad to hear you say that, sweetheart. Judging by this indeed huge responsibility at your own discretion, the question arises whether you have the time and capacity to tend to your intimate hygiene, ha!
Dearest Saker,
Below is a beautiful YouTube Video, especially John Kerry’s part. I am sure, you will love it. It is really, really funny. We need some humor! :)
“Published on Apr 24, 2014
RAP NEWS 24: ISRAEL & PALESTINE [S02:E04]. Decades of failed peace talks have led nowhere. But do not lose hope just yet: join Robert Foster as he attempts to host the first ever Middle East Peace Raps, using rhyme and reason to bring together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, and a representative of Hamas. We investigate the key arguments, counter-arguments and ad-hominems from both sides. But the picture would not be complete without a thorough discussion of “America’s last taboo”, as Edward Said once referred to it: the USA’s role as Israel’s best (and only) buddy in the world (Ok, together with Australia). Featuring special cameos from prominent American Jewish scholar, Dr. Norman Finkelstein, and Palestinian rap legends, DAM, this is an episode for the ages. Join us as we bravely (or perhaps stupidly) take on one of the most bitter, divisive and controversial conflicts of our times: Israel & Palestine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U3by9FoEFB8 “
Many, many thanks! :)
Kindest regards and fiamanallah,
Mohamed.
Kerry has hit bottom. He needs to go to a meeting.
Kerry’s Conundrum – Time for Truth on Ukraine, Michael Collins
Kerry’s Sad Circle to Deceit, Robert Perry
Russian says:
Saker, думаю Вам будет интересно, выступление С. Лаврова на форуме молодых дипломатов СНГ от 25 апреля. Храни Вас Бог, и спасибо!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9-5P50AOjM&list=UUrVo0BXjIUlZ-YylYF8oNxg
Further to my earlier remarks on this thread about about the precarious position of Germany, in its clear – almost uncanny – analogy with the way in which it was maneuvered into both 20th century world wars:
I must say I find the position of German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier refered to by Brian_J to be at least slightly encouraging. It is evidence that he too is accutely aware of these things. One can only imagine the pressure being brought to bear on Germany by the Anglo-US establishment because Germany really is the key to furthering their globalising agenda and they will do whatever it takes to keep Germany on-side.
On present form Herr Steinmeier is making life very dangerous for himself.
Latest:
Since the “invasion of Crimea”, President Vladimir Putin and President Barack Obama have had regular phone calls in an often half-hearted attempt to deescalate the ongoing crisis inside Ukraine. But as the U.S. and EU prepare to unveil new sanctions against Russia, Putin has decided the interactions should stop. The Kremlin has ended high-level contact with the Obama administration, according to diplomatic officials and sources close to the Russian leadership. The move signals an end to the diplomacy, for now.
Full aryicle at ICH – http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38340.htm
Water supply to Crimea from Ukraine has apparently ben cut off –
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27155885
here’s a dude from the Euro CFR who told the US forces rag stars & stripes on Apr 24: “Russia is militarily weaker than the Europeans. The conventional threat that Russia poses to Europe nowadays isn’t particularly alarming.”
https://twitter.com/spainbuca
Recent summary.
[He uses the phrase “private military” from the US. I’ve kept that way of putting it, though a more standard term would “mercenaries”.]
Private military made the rounds through all the strategic points in Kiev, including airport. They are trying to get us to say that the Ukrainian air space was invaded [by the Russians] last week, these gentle American persons. The decadence of Ukraine is seeing all these foreigners, like right out of an American movie, go around giving orders, they claim to be experts. Timoshenko receives non-declared international help to try to cancel the May elections. From February until now, the imposed government has stolen more than 2000 million euros. Russian planes did cross the border into Ukraine back in February and March, but not since then, no matter what the Pentagon claims. Also, they should be told that NATO planes entered Ukrainan airspace without permission, from Romania and from Poland. I see the record in my TW. The office of the private army from the USA is gathering the radar data from March and trying to pass it off as current. This is the first time someone has threatened us or made suggestions or warnings to us – private military from the US. What do you mean by the office of the private army? Do you mean Blackwater or somehting like that? Yes, they are here.
Report by Pravda that US controls Black Sea – could that possibly be correct?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ1LKEk_RzE
Petition to abolish all US military bases in Germany and withdrawal of all US troups and atomic weapons from Germany
https://www.openpetition.de/petition/bestaetigen/aufloesung-aller-us-militaerbasen-und-abzug-aller-us-truppen-und-us-atomwaffen-aus-deutschland
https://www.openpetition.de/petition/statistik/aufloesung-aller-us-militaerbasen-und-abzug-aller-us-truppen-und-us-atomwaffen-aus-deutschland
Since 23. April 2014 there are 2,527 signatures. I bet the number is still rising.
Good observation. Ketchup boy looks a little disoriented. As if the gods are reigning in the empire through Alzheimers. The minions in Germany are also getting nervous, calling all dissenters Nazis and are now catching criminal complaints over this (Jutta Ditfurth).
On a more positive note the junta is beginning to rule in style:
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-04-25/friday-haircuts%E2%80%A6
To Elsi from Spain. About the dis-informing/lying media. I coulkd recommend for you wwww.atimes.com (asia times online), there is an excellent writer/journalist there Pepe Escobar. Tom Dispatch is also recommended. Regards!
Proof of foreign military working under Ukraine command in Krematorsk!
Soldier remarks that his previous service was in Baghdad. Speaks russian, but with an accent!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9IyLWrKlYI
An information from Germany about the four german OSCE hostages: Three of them are active german soldiers WITHOUT any OSCE-Mandate and one is translator.
It’s not correct that only the 1% benefit from the current neoliberal globalized economy.
In reality, the transational oligarchic elites who control business, media and politics in the western world are about 0.01% of population in every country. They are an oligarchic elit who rules in a system of parliamentary dictatorship, known as “democracy” by the propaganda of the media …
But also about 20% of the population has greatly benefited from globalisation.
The other 80% is suffering…..
Mass unemployment & underemployment, worsening of working conditions, lower wages, increasing inequality, higher cost of public services due to privatization of health & education….
Water supply to Crimea was cut off by Ukraine. What’s the Russia’s response for this junta actions ?
Best regards for you Saker.
SemperFi,
“You’re accepting at face value that America is the worst criminal state there is, because another criminal entity in order to further its own interests said so.”
Huh? People are here precisely because they *don’t* accept anything at face value, not from the US, not from Russia, not from anywhere. You’re the one who does that — you’ve swallowed the propaganda fed you by FOX News, Rush Limbaugh and probably the John Birch Society before that. Have you ever considered the possibility that your team has been lying to you, that although they consider you and yours no more than cannon fodder at best, they’re quite happy to have you mindlessly attack anyone who disagrees with The Party Line? Thinking involves analyzing data, not running on emotion or gullibly swallowing whole what anyone says. You might try it some time, especially before blindly attacking people who do dig beneath the surface and find things you disagree with or are too blinded by hate to see. If you really read the posts and comments on this blog — open your eyes, heart and mind and actually take in what people write and try to understand what they mean — you would see that what you’re saying only makes sense when it’s turned around and applied to you.
Lawsuit over American dronw deaths tossed out
http://rt.com/usa/drone-lawsuit-americans-yemen-565/
This is a pretty bizarre ruling. A judge rules the 4th Amendment cannot be applied to Americans killed by drone attacks.
The 4th Amendment speaks of “the right of the people to be secure in their persons” but because it specifically mentions protection against “unreasonable searches and seizures” the judge concluded it is not applicable.
In other words, you have the right to be “secure in your person” except when you are hit by a missile by your own government. The right to be secure only applies if the government seizes you or searches you “unreasonably”. But if it “just” kills you, that’s totally okay.
Isn’t that something?
And of course since foreigners are not part of “the people” they can be killed wherever and whenever the emperor wants, no explanations required.
I wonder if there has ever been a nation so blatantly contemptuous of the most basic rules of law and behaviour, while simultaneously claiming to be the guardians of universal law and decencey.
Dear The Saker,
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/72966
Now they are cutting off Crimea’s fresh water supplies.
Rgds,
Veritas
Mohamed,
You’re welcome, and that video was HYSTERICAL! And also quite good. That Palestinian group was great, and I loved seeing Finkelstein. Thank you!
Russian planes have not entered Ukrainian airspace (Russian Defense Ministry)
http://rt.com/news/155084-russia-planes-ukraine-airspace/
oscar said…
Thank you, oscar for the recommendation.
I knew Pepe Escobar yet from Voltairenet and not only I really like his articles but I apreciate his particular sense of humour.
If I have any time free I´ll look for the Tom Dispatch´s. Like someone said a few days ago, day have 24 hours only!
Best regads.
Dear Saker –
about those OSCE ‘observers’ which were ‘kidnapped’:
turns out they were all military, all from NATO countries, three of them German and four from the Ukraine Military (some allege they were form the General staff).
While there is an OSCE group dealing with military affairs, these are generally meant to verify disarmaments, especially nuclear disarmament.
So what were NATO (not exactly neutral here!) and Ukrainian military doing in Slovyansk?
Allegedly, the militia who took them in found maps showing road blocks, and explosives in the minibus they were transported in.
Now I cannot verify all this because this is from many comments on the article at faz.net where links re not allowed.
However, it seems to me that, just as the many Germans commenting, we should, ask who gave the Germans, of all people, permission in Germany to go on that excursion?
I hope you can find out more, Saker, because this is yet another incident which shows how close the regime in Kiev and NATO/USA are working together.
@ Nora,
I appreciate your response. Believe me, I didn’t mean for my comment to come across as indifferent, heartless, and/or soulless. I absolutely agree with you in that we need to learn from others, how they think, identify themselves, what inspires them or motivates their actions. I’ve done some work in my early years (self)studying different religions including earlier indigenous and historical polytheistic religions.
I’ve come to understand the difference between religion and faith. Faith does not need religion to manifest itself. Religion in my view is a social construct. And however important it might be, it’s not required for someone to feel deep connection with nature and spirit.
While I understand and respect peoples’ religious needs and inspirations, this subject doesn’t interests me anymore. That’s all there is, really. I am not against people expressing their views or making comments here or anywhere else as long as they don’t instill hatred and intolerance.
BTW, not to draw any offensive parallels, but I also scroll down comments from SemperFi and the likes. I got where he is coming from after his first comment. His views don’t have any added value to me. Check and move on.
With all respect,
Я