Today, on a lighter note, I want to share with you two official US statements which gave the Russians a monumental case of uncontrollable laughter. First, US Trade Representative Tai which actually declared that the Russian import substitution program violates the WTO norms and hurts the US workers (see here and here). Yup, you read that right. The US imposes (totally illegal) sanctions on Russia and when Russia begins to produce domestically, the US whines that this violates WTO norms.
What did they expect? I mean, seriously, did they think the Russians would simply do nothing?
Still, there is even better. Listen to US Secretary of State Blinken:
A few guiding premises animated our work this year. One is that American engagement – American leadership – matters. The world doesn’t organize itself. When we’re not engaged, when we don’t lead, then one of two things happens: either some other country tries to take our place, but probably not in a way that advances our interests and values, or no one does, and then you get chaos. Either way, it doesn’t serve the American people.
Get that? Blinken seriously believes that:
- The US can still lead something (other than itself into the grave) and
- Blinken believes that “chaos” is not the inevitable outcome of “US leadership” (the US screwed up every country it ever touched), but believes that the way to avoid chaos is for the US to try to run the planet again
Both Tai and Blinken are viewed by Russians as the US version of Zelenskii: clowns, which are really funny, but should not be tasked with anything bigger than a smalltown theater.
More serious Russian analysts marvel at the level of degradation of the US ruling elites. During the Cold War the US and the USSR were enemies, but nobody on the Soviet side would have denied that their US counterparts were at least competent professionals, some of them quite formidable.
One Russian commentator suggested that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs hire psychiatrists to deal with the US officials. He was only half joking.
Anyway, tomorrow should be an interesting day, the US will give its response to the Russians. Right now the US side is saying that it does not want to engage in public diplomacy, but since the Russian ultimatum was public, I don’t really see how they will be able to keep their reply confidential, especially if the US reply is as out of touch with reality as are the delusional ravings of Tai and Blinken. We shall soon see.
Andrei
This is what happens when the competent 5% of a country give up and go into internal exile. Only the corrupt clowns are left over to steal what’s left and get caught in the act.
There are sane, dedicated, intelligent Americans. They just have no desire to go down with the ship at this point. (My own family reflecting this pattern. My great-uncle was on the Joints Chiefs of Staff two generations ago.)
That is the story of the decade/century, “Where are the West’s elite?”. Echoes of the Western Roman collapse in the 5th century.
Someone did a montage of Western “Health Ministers” currently running our lives. Bunch of unhealthy, overweight, gender-confused freaks. Where are the likes of George Bush senior, James Baker, Reagan, Truman, FDR, etc.? Not that I like those guys but if you met them face-to-face, you would at least not laugh in their face or feel pity for them.
Blinkin’s remarks are bat shit crazy.
He rambles off a list of things he calls “multilateralism” but which in reality are US bullying and/or war mongering or neoliberal entities which have wrecked countries and working class lives the world over.
American liberals actually believe this nonsense. They’re terrifying. They think they’re good people and citizens of humanity when they are really just murderers and thieves like any other brute imperialists in history. My god, what a crazy world. Liberal narcissism needs a fierce hard slap.
Personally, I find that James Baker was the last truly superb US diplomat. That is NOT to say that I “liked” him or his policies, but I know for a fact that he was extremely well-educated and a formidable negotiator. He was also a realist. I also had intellectual respect for George Bush senior and even a guy like Dick Cheney who was a total SOB, but an SOB with brains.
Does anybody remember remember Senator Sam Nunn? Another very sharp man.
I can also testify that during my years of study in Washington DC (1986-1991) I met A LOT of smart folks, including folks from the Navy, the Office of Net Assessment, RAND, etc.
Blinken could probably make a decent tailor and Obama would have been a terrific car salesman. Pompeo looked to me like a petty Mafia don, as for Bolton, he could have made a good grocery store manager.
But the fact that this menagerie is allowed to participate in the definition and implementation of policies is outright scary…
Blinken would make a great tailor after all he spends a lot of time with dummies and Obama a car salesman tricky – would you buy a used car from this man ?
I would not, but then, I don’t like salesmen anyway
but he could peddle anything, from cars to pampers.
Obama was a great salesman I think
Smart and educated people are currently off limits in US administration.
Folks, don’t regret the American imbecility so much, in Brazil we have things even worse, there’s certainly been heard of Bolsonaro ne !
“Folks, don’t regret the American imbecility so much, in Brazil we have things even worse, there’s certainly been heard of Bolsonaro ne !”
The big problem in Brazil right now is the imminent military coup having already been prepared by Mr. Bolsonaro and his great mentor Mr. Trump. Everybody knows that the sure winner of the election in 2022 would have been the the leftist candidate “Lula”, who had promised a realignment away from thee USA and the dollar.
^^;;^^
Morc
Jones & Morc:
Não sei no Estado de vocês mas, no meu, em muitos Municípios, algumas castas religiosas/políticas/partidárias estão mudando as leis a seu bel prazer…
Comissionados indicados politicamente, sem qualificação, ganhando mais que Concursados.
Até parece que no meu Estado e no Município onde moro, há uma equipe pensando, nos fins de semana, o que vai apresentar na segunda feira, qual notícia ruim apresentar aos funcionários Concursados…
Esse pessoal não tem noção do que é o Estado, de como funciona e, principalmente, não tem noção do que é “Memória Pública “, um conceito que os russos têm, podem crer…
Aumentaram absurdamente a idade de aposentadoria e o desconto da previdência municipal e estadual, já está acontecendo de morrer gente no serviço, não é Covid-19, não levaram em consideração a expectativa de vida de quando as pessoas nasceram !!!
Bom, se me desculpem o desabafo!
Nasci em 1962, comecei a trabalhar com carteira assinada aos 14 anos de idade, ano passado completei 35 anos de contribuição pecuniária, meu trato com a sociedade era aposentar aos 55 anos e 25 anos de contribuição porque sou Professor, esse trato foi quebrado.
Estou atuando como Professor a 23 anos.
Ano que vem farei 60 anos de idade, esse pessoal que aplicou Neoliberalismo no Brasil, os mesmos que estão privatizando (vendendo na bacia das almas ) toda Economia, precisam de uma boa lição, já tenho no capítulo do meu Fusca 1.300 1974, 15 metros de corda, não será difícil achar um poste de energia pra pendurar alguns políticos…
Google translation,MOD:
Jones & Morc:
I don’t know in your state, but in mine, in many municipalities, some religious/political/partisan castes are changing the laws at their leisure…
Politically nominated commissioners, without qualification, earning more than public tenders.
It even seems that in my State and in the Municipality where I live, there is a team thinking, on weekends, what they are going to present on Monday, what bad news to present to employees with public exams…
These people have no idea of what the State is, of how it works and, above all, they have no idea of what “Public Memory” is, a concept that the Russians have, believe me…
The retirement age and the discount on municipal and state social security have increased absurdly, people are already dying in the service, it’s not Covid-19, they didn’t take into account the life expectancy when people were born!!!
Well, if you’ll excuse the outburst!
I was born in 1962, I started working with a formal contract at the age of 14, last year I completed 35 years of pecuniary contribution, my deal with society was to retire at 55 years and 25 years of contribution because I am a Professor, this deal was broken.
I have been working as a teacher for 23 years.
Next year I will be 60 years old, those people who applied Neoliberalism in Brazil, the same people who are privatizing (selling in the basin of souls) the entire economy, they need a good lesson, I already have it in my Beetle 1,300 1974, 15 meters rope, it won’t be hard to find a power pole to hang some politicians…
What you just described is word for word what we have been experiencing in Serbia since bombing in 99′. Sentiment is shared. We call it Western influence. Rot.
Manifests itself thru corruption. Parasite infecting host, thru induced incompetence in crucial areas using all means possible, if necessery. Conservation of action equals bigger plunder in order to gain and preserve control. Crucial component or just frequent innocent victim of the plan is moral code of a targeted society, resulting in least moral part of the society to rise on the societal ladder which eventually must lead to a certain regression(s), ultimately resulting in disintegration of said society.
And your Beetle was made in Brasil, the industrial power-house of South America, maybe even of all the Americas.
obama had one great attribute he used extremely well, he has a great radio voice which persuaded people emotionally
More importantly would you want Obama to decide what books go in your library?
“… But the fact that this menagerie is allowed to participate in the definition and implementation of policies is outright scary…”
Scary as hell.
Jim Baker might have been the last US statesman. Job placements for the other ones are spot on, specially full time idiot, war criminal, Pompeo.
Wonder how the response to Russia’s proposal would combine with Die Welt announcement of 40,000 troops from NATO’s Joint High-Readiness Task Force placed on high alert, ready to be transferred to Banderastan in case Russia decides to walk over their rag-tag “army.” It is not clear whether that’s a Eurostan initiative, given the US, Canada and the UK officially announced they won’t sent troops to Ukraine in case conflict breaks out. Have to wait and see what the US response entails.
Lone Wolf
Baker and Papa Bush were also war criminals (Iraq)
but at least they had brains
The Clintons were a dramatic step down in terms of IQ and education
After that, it was freefall ever since…
Aww, Saker
The Clintons were such cunning combinations of rat and ape.
“China threatened to send Lithuania to the ‘garbage bin of history’ after it stood up to Beijing by strengthening ties with Taiwan”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-threatened-to-send-lithuania-to-the-garbage-bin-of-history-after-it-stood-up-to-beijing-by-strengthening-ties-with-taiwan/ar-AAS5EB1?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=W022
Good riddance!!
Could Mr. Xi take the other 2B+PU too?
Poor lapdogs, have been lost looking for a master ever since the break up of the good old Soviet Union.
Bill Clinton was a truly brilliant person. Unfortunately, he used his brilliance in the service of big business, banks and other members of the wealthy elite. If you think Clinton was stupid, then you weren’t paying attention. The same is true of Obama— very bright, but pointed in the wrong direction.
To Lone Wolf
This situation will unfold as follows: there will be lots of screaming that they are not in the slightest are intimidated by Russia, (this is the phase we are now), because, you know, Russia is just a gas station pretending to be a country and they KNOW how they will deal with such! All of THAT will be for the domestic consumption only. Behind the scenes they will be running in circles, terrified of what Russia’s response is going to be if they don’t comply. So, what we will see, to start with, is this BRAVURO they will display and then they will feel the start of the tightening of the screws. They will then offer the contra proposal with demands of their own, which will be totally unacceptable to Russia and that tightening of the screws will become a bit more painful. Eventually, we will see the (very) quiet withdrawal of the NATO garbage, first from the so-called Ukraine, then from the little Baltic cheap prostitudes, then from that ghastly place called Poland and the rest, as per Russia’s demand or ultimatum – whatever one wants to call it. Putin doesn’t want to call it an ultimatum publically for one simple reason – to give the imbecils some saving grace and get all that done without losing face. Purely psychological approach. He knows very well what he is dealing with here. He is bringing them down gently..but they are absolutely being brough down! Make no mistake.
“…He is bringing them down gently..but they are absolutely being brough down! Make no mistake.”
Sorry I missed your post, I was checking on an earlier of my comments I had not seen posted, found it and found yours below. I agree with you one hundred percent, the process you describe, give or take a few adjustments, is what we can expect…if hell doesn’t turn lose. Let’s hope it will be as you visualize it..
“…ghastly place called Poland…” :-)
Lone Wolf
Vladimir tem uma boa tradição: o segundo ultimato será pior que o primeiro, mas melhor que a terceiro., ;-)))
Google translation,MOD:
Vladimir has a good tradition: the second ultimatum will be worse than the first, but better than the third., ;-)))
Here’s the Statesman James Baker with Hillary on CIA Stooge Charlie Rose’s show
highlighting his diplomatic credentials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0JyZwqGoQ
…”then we outta takem out” What does that mean? to the prom? to a ball game? simple words from a simple-minded, smug, self-concerned authoritarian, played to an audience of simpletons. Imagine that, destroying such a huge country starting w/the simple words: takem out! The reduction of the entire U$ diplomatic effort to a cliche. Good riddance to all these imposters: baker, clinton, and charlie blows.
thanks for posting that short, nauseating vid.
Re “Joint High-Readiness Task Force”
Every military in the world has high-readiness force that are kept ready to go on short notice. Ready to go where? Wherever it is — natural disaster, go to war, whatever. What NATO has done is take everybody’s word for it and add them all up. They don’t train together: it’s a paper force.
Russian airborne units, on the other hand….
The corruption, hubris and arrogance of this slightly more intelligent generation (of narcissistic war criminals) you mentioned setup the system for and raised this generation of incompetant fools.
@Harry_Red
I agree.
America have become like the USSR after its collapse.
Just compare Boris Yeltsin to Joe Biden, and you’ll realize that the inmates have taken over the asylum.
When the asylum started to lack funding because of corruption,
The first who left was the natural and educated leaders who knew what was going to happen.
Then the competent staff left, because they realized the consequences of the “New leader policies.”
The new policies dictated to open the cages and let the freaks roam.
Then the secondary staff just left, not to be harmed by the insanity unfolding.
And now that the inmates have wrecked the asylum they are on the Streets creating havoc.
That was what happened for every public institution in the former USSR.
And that is what is happening in the US and the EU today.
The only solution is to get the freaks back behind bars, or we will have war.
uh, we have war now. Please look around you. Americans define everything and anything in terms of war, only. Trade War. War on Terror. War on Drugs. War on… take your pick du jour. This war now is, as yet, missing only the active gunfire.
Saker
I pretty much agree with this brilliant assessment, but I am not sure that Bolton is fit to rum a grocery store- he would scare away al the customers. Obama is not a car salesman-he is an HR consultant.
On a more serious note, this reality you describe is what scares me most and undermines much of your rational analysis. The US leaders are just stupid or insane. Russia has usually acted in a way that assumes US sanity but I think now this has changed.
this reality you describe is what scares me most and undermines much of your rational analysis.
Same here. During the Cold War, for all their sins, on both sides, you have at least rational players.
Now the US is run by ignorant and arrogant narcissistic imbeciles who can’t even think rationally as they ended up believing their own propaganda…
The CPSU produced Gorbachev and Eltsin and it took Russia 20 years to recover.
How many years will it take to recover from every single idiot from Clinton to Biden?
God only knows…
Speaking narcissism (and I’ll add psychopathy), better hope they do not hire quackiatrists who follow the Delusional Sadistical Manual, especially version V. From what I hear, according to lamestream Western quackiatry, narcissism is rare in the U.S. if not the West in general and there is no specific diagnosis for narcissistic (or psychopathic) unipolor megalomaniacs with delusions of grandeur. It is just projection of incompetent (not just professionally) clowns who somehow got More Dung degrees who outmaneuvered the Peter Principle by reaching several levels above their competence.
No Mafia don would brag publicly about lying, cheating and stealing. Decent criminals have too much self-respect.
Very good point!
You are correct.
The mere fact that many of the current crop were allowed to exist outside the womb is amazing enough.
The people in government, congress (Westminster and Downing Street included) and the armed forces who are public figures – the menagerie – meet your description but we should not forget that they have no real agency. Ultimately they are owned by the big bankers from Rothschild and Rockefeller down. Does Lord Rothschild (pars pro toto) want to die for principles he holds dear? Or does he want to gain time to plot more sinister plans as to how preserve his might while the main tool of his might, the Dollar, is eroding fast. If the latter, the bankers who are cunning guys will seek to appease Russia and China for the time being without being perceived as powerless losers. And after some years or a decade or two have passed they will start their game of world domination anew. They have been in this game for centuries and 20 years do not count as much.
All the people on the Western public stage are only tools and as such disposable. The real power stays behind in the deep shade.
Spot on right about the Rothschild dynasty.
Jesus believed he knew the difference between right and wrong, and died for it. We now have a travesty of his teachings from the realms of riches.
One could tell this same story of countless millions of humans throughout the ages. Few are remembered. Those that are, have their messages mangled to suit the prevailing orthodoxy by those who control the Narrative.
Any and all decent people understand the tragedy of Julian Assange. Of course we can stand up and be counted. But who does the counting, and (sadly) what does it matter?
Jesus threw the moneylenders out of the temple, but they live on and still dominate.
Long after we are all dead and forgotten, the money-manipulators will be still at their business of robbing and cheating; and funding wars to keep wealth circulating through their purses and pockets. And when they are overthrown by revolution, then counter-revolution will see them back in place, stirring the pot, funding change and discontent.
Humans get what they deserve and … they will never learn. Such is the History of Humans.
I agree with you David.
The only nuance I would bring is that learning is, for us humans, our forte and our downfall.
A paradox in which humans stand both as profane knowers and holy amnesiacs.
Shogyam Trungpa, in “ Cutting through spiritual materialism”, describes very well what he calls “the 6 realms of the monkey” , with the monkey being the ego: Hell, Hungry ghosts, Animal, Human, Jealous gods and Blissful oneness. That monkey is like a hamster in its wheel, experiencing the different realms without “ever learning”… even at the “highest point” of consciousness, the bliss thing, the ego will eventually doubt its blissful Union and fall back to paranoiac jealous gods mode, and then likely will see some improvement to be made to secure better its position, and by seeing so, will drop to the human realm of improving things, and facing so much unhappiness there, it will slip in the oblivion of habits, the animal realm, and soon find itself stretching its long narrow neck in an eager attempt to reach some desired object that won’t ever fill its hungry ghost big belly… and so it starts banging its head against the walls, back in Hell.
Relaxing is the key.
The point I think is that we cannot escape the realms of our ego, for better or worse.
And yet, although Shogyam Trungpa mentions that the human realm is the least happy one, due to knowing what is wrong and seeing how good it could be (if only…), he says also that it is the only realm with a “window of opportunity” where/when we can transcend the illusory nature of the whole thing: we can be in Truth.
Merry Christmas.
I wish us to invite Christ in our lives, not to save us, but to act through us, so we have a “Christ en masse” experience.
Morality: A little pun can make for a grand finale!
PS: is my comment of comment too far off tracks to be “published”?
Your chances would have been better without that last line, but okay, tis the season to be giving I suppose. But please don’t try that again.
Andrei
I believe Jesus transcended good and evil, as he was standing in his heart.
Well Western Roman Elites in the 5th century were not Gender confused freaks at least.
Not quite so sure about that. They had lead poisoning which must have mucked about with their brains. Also there have been lots of allegations about gender confusion with famous Romans- including Julius Caesar and Sulla.
And Caligula.Though these were in the early days of Empire, 400 years before the real fun began.
And the very last Roman Emporer was a teenaged male prostitute.
“There are sane, dedicated, intelligent Americans.” Really? Where are they? But accepting your point, I have yet to meet any American who is not ignorant, biased, selfish, disrespectful. Do you know what is the largest dept in the US Embassy and Consulates in China? Citizen Services. Why? This is the dept tasked to bail citizens out from Chinese jails, by the thousands, for their violations of China laws. I have been forced to deal with Americans for decades. None have honoured their contracts. Your government is supposed to be of the American people; not of any other. Your government pillaged and plundered Afghanistan and then departed abruptly, leaving over 30mm people destitute. Today, 23mm people face starvation, because you, the American people, have stolen $ billions in cash and refuse to return it to the Afghan people in their hours of greatest need. This is the hallmark of an intelligent group of people? No. This is the hallmark of the most vile people in history.
You cannot make this stuff up, it’s manic delusion. The fact remains “ Never confuse incompetence with conspiracy.”
Just like a domestic argument, no boundaries, no rational opinions, then the realisation …..a divorce is the only solution.
Walking away will not stop the hysterical behaviour but it fades into nothing. America is done…greed and corruption destroys everything, just add time and patience, Then it’s Rome all over again.
A big set of furry bear balls helps the recovery therapy no end. Only what l’ve heard.
They don’t believe what they say. It is pure propaganda for the mainstream media.
Stop pretending that they give a rat’s ass about what they say and start reacting to what they do.
No, they do believe what they say and it isn’t pure propaganda. When a psycho says he will shit on your lawn and rape your Chihuahua, he really means what he says. These guys want to tear down everything and let the cockroaches take over. Take them at their word…
The US already have their response:
NYTIMES “U.S. Considers Warning Ukraine of a Russian Invasion in Real-Time”
Those clown should never be trusted upon other than two small rainbow colored balls.
The piece about domestic production was especially funny because it came at roughly the same time as another statement from the Department of State, threatening to cut smartphone exports to Russia. On some news feeds the two actually followed one another, which created an especially bizarre effect.
Kindof reminds you of a line from the Simpsons. “Would it be okay if I just lay down and die? Hmm, let us consult with the legal team… Yes, that would be acceptable.”
What we have here is the imperial mentality, namely sick arrogance. For years I have stated that it’s questionable if the people in Washington DC are fully responsible for their actions. This latest statement that the world cannot function without American leadership is not only an example of infantile nonsense, but potentially a dangerous psychological state of mind for political and military aggression. Not encouraging for 2022.
I’ve listened to Charles W Freeman Jr talking at length about the US and geo-politics,
he struck me as very perceptive and insightful, evidence that there are plenty of smart Americans, just none near the levers of power these days,
Blinken has to think that way to act his role at least half convincly (to him and his masters)…
Pax Americana is Chaos.
Today Putin said that Russia and China are jointly developing certain high tech weapons systems.
Do you have an idea about what those weapons could be?
As for “tomorrow”, the main problem lies here:
“Right now the US sides is saying that it does not want to engage in public diplomacy”
That is, they seem they want to address (to some extent) the russian requests — but only if that could be made in secrecy.
In secrecy, however, the US will soon slip into the pattern of being “non-agreement-capable”…
Putin used a slang expression in Russian which I would very liberally translate as “you won’t be able to talk you ways out of this one” and then he added “I am fed up”.
Now, OF COURSE, if the US requests some degree of confidentiality, the Russians will agree to it, but only if it is to their clear advantage too.
And only for a limited time.
Whatever the outcome from this crisis, it won’t be a hidden one.
Even idiots are useful. George shrub did a fantastic job for his Masters. Obama did a better job than Shrub for the owners. Trumb tried to out do them both but got scared of Putin. He said Putin has nukes too. He tried Kim Un but he wouldn’t budge. He tried the Israelis and gave them the Golan Heights and Jerusalem. He really sucked up to them but his best was not good enough. Not everyone is good enough to serve the masters.
I’m sure the Russians appreciate the laughter.
BTW, Obama selection was worthy of evil smart. Obama was to the Africans one them and would not let them down. For the Arabs he was Muslim and he would help them out and solve the Palestinian problem. To the Asian he was one them. To the Europeans people America overcame its prejudices and racial divide and they would have someone who would mend what shrub did. Look what he did in Africa, Arabia and Middle East, Asia, Russia and europe and America. It was master stroke. The devil would have been envious. Now sleepy Joe and morons of team. I hope nobody would fall for it and lower their guard.
RT is starting to question what Saker has been saying for a while now, that the US died on Jan 6th.
Did Jan 6 kick-start the end of US democracy?
The irrationality that now pervades the US political system is making sensible debate impossible and undermining its entire legitimacy, causing a number of commentators to voice their fears over where the country is headed.
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/543976-us-civil-war-democracy/
Appears headed for destruction the way most empires dissolve from, the have nots wrecking the things made in the past to the extent the haves can not stop them and even their environment eventually becomes a wasteland as they migrate to find greener pastures.
I’ll bet it happens slowly at first, then all at once.
The US already gave its reply, through Nato secretary Stoltenberg. The reply was clear: Nato doors are open and Ukraine will continue to be provided with weapons, personnel & training. In my opinion, tomorrow’s reply will be a doubling down on what Stoltenberg already stated, along with a set of preconditions for January talks. It will be interesting to see if Kiev decides to take Donbass by force, and if so, will Russia respond with more than just harsh words.
Again
NATO has no authority
and neither does Stoltenberg.
He is just a mouthpiece for an organization which self-destructed itself years ago
Russia wants pease that is guaranteed but that will see the final death of Nato as an organisation.
Of course they’re going to go down fighting.
“Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on Tuesday that U.S. private military companies have stationed troops in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine and are preparing a “provocation using unknown chemical components.”
Shoigu’s statements came during a Defense Ministry meeting in Moscow amid growing fears that Russia could launch an invasion of Ukraine.
“We have identified the presence of over 120 members of U.S. mercenary groups in the cities of Avdiivka and Krasny Liman to commit provocations…Tanks filled with unidentified chemical components were delivered to the cities of Avdeevka and Krasny Liman to commit provocations,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted Shoigu as saying.” https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/12/21/us-mercenaries-preparing-donbass-provocation-russian-defense-chief-a75892
How many recall the story of Pinocchio? It was a puppet. Puppets don’t act on their own or have thoughts about anything. As such, all it could do is lie, which caused its nose to grow longer. Real life puppets don’t act much different from Pinocchio because they’re puppets afterall!!
When closely examined, The Outlaw US Empire’s been governed by puppets since the fall of Nixon, although some will argue for an earlier start. The Age of Neoliberalism ushered in the puppets whose strings were controlled primarily by Wall Street Neoliberals. And the Neoliberals have fortified their hold on power as the years passed by to the point where the Outlaw US Empire at the domestic federal end of governance is an Oligarchy structured as a Duopoly.
Putin understands this state-of-affairs as he let slip the fact that the only thing they care about is money–profit over people is their highest value. But there’s the big problem of to whom to address Russia’s proposals? Biden is clearly the figurehead/puppet in charge; so, how would Putin look if he addressed Russia’s proposals to those his intel people say are the string pullers? Would it be more affective for Russia’s diplomats to talk over the puppets heads by addressing the string pullers despite their lack of official capacity to speak/act for the US government? It would rapidly get cumbersome since each official has multiple string pullers. Or perhaps that’s exactly what needs to be done–but would the public ever be allowed to know the names of the string pullers aside from us reading Russian press and government announcements?
Perhaps the Chinese could verify the puppeteers, and they could be seconded by Iran or perhaps the SCO or BRICS as collective organizations? IMO, doing something like the above would be a great method to “meddle” in Outlaw US Empire domestic affairs in an innocent manner: Look, we just need to know to whom we need to address our concerns.
I’ve been wanting to know who the puppeteer are for years.
Saker, this post and the comments are the best I’ve ever seen.
Now is the time for Russia to release their 9/11 papers/evidence, plus their JFK material.
And yes, info on the string pullers.
“But there’s the big problem of to whom to address Russia’s proposals? Biden is clearly the figurehead/puppet in charge; so, how would Putin look if he addressed Russia’s proposals to those his intel people say are the string pullers?”
A good point Karlof1 as always. Even more relevant is how many options directly effect this crowd? What makes them care if not enjoy the carnage?
So the answer is Europe which you can make scream even if the pain is equally shared. A full escalation of what has always been an economic conflict ends with Europe suing for peace.
Terrific piece. Never underestimate the greed, arrogance or dishonesty of the Empire. No doubt, NATO’s ‘response’ to Russian proposals will mirror those of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s (a US stooge) statement that NATO “has never promised not to expand”. Link follows. Happy Holidays.
See: NATO boss responds to Moscow on bloc’s expansion- NATO has never promised anyone it would not expand, the bloc’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday, as he responded to security proposals recently made by Russia. RT Dec 23, 2021; Link: https://www.rt.com/russia/544257-nato-boss-expansion-proposals/
“…No doubt, NATO’s ‘response’ to Russian proposals will mirror those of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s (a US stooge) statement that NATO ‘has never promised not to expand’….”
Not quite. And it is not so simple as calling him “US stooge.”
Stoltenberg is a Norwegian political hound, ambitiously working on his political future as his term with NATO ends in 2022. He’s clearly connected to Eurostan MIC. Norway saw an exponential increase in defense spending during his time as prime minister.
The US and Europe have both a confluence and a divergence of interests, and that dichotomy is mainly due to their geographical locations. “If you know a country’s geography, you can understand and predict its foreign policy,” said Napoleon. Eurostan is undergoing a compounded deep crisis thanks to the pandemia and the cost of energy, among other factors. The US is suffering a similar crisis, under different circumstances, and for the US one of the palliatives is to make Europe dependent on US gas, which will not only be useful as a political strategy, diminishing Eurostan dependency on Russian gas, but it will also help the US economically, as US gas has a higher price.
According to S&P Global, “…The TTF day-ahead price was assessed at Eur79.55/MWh on Nov. 15, up 472% from the same assessment a year ago,” and that was more than a month ago, when Germany stopped the certification of NS2 on the entanglements of European bureaucratic labyrinth. Now NS2 is hanging in the balance of the latest Russian/US/Eurostan/NATO kerfuffle, once Russia decided “enough is enough.” One of the difficulties for Europe is their economic vulnerability given their energy dependence…from Russia.
Stoltenberg can bark and foam at the mouth (he just called Russia “a power in decline”) all he wants, as he represents Eurostan’s attack dogs, the sector of Eurostan’s economy for which “war is business, business is war.” The other sectors of Eurostan economy cannot afford a war, they don’t have the energy reserves the US can muster at times of conflict, and if war breaks out, Russia will make sure to isolate Eurostan from any supplies, regardless of the point of origin.
Russia’s master stroke in presenting this demands to the US/Eurostan/NATO powers, was the timing, mid-December, with 30 days to respond, mid-January, the depth of winter. So, there is more than Stoltenberg barking until hoarse, in the response to Russia. Hopefully sober minds will prevail over the Norwegian hound.
Lone Wolf
The Russians will be flogged and sanctioned until morale improves.
There should be a degree course in the myth that Obama was a great orator. I have listed to his speeches from the early street hustler era, through his campaigns and as president . . . . and if anyone can find anything of substance in among that cowpat, then you’re easily pleased. Malcom X and Mohamed Ali were way more articulate. Still, they spoke from the heart while O’Barry read from some CIA script/playbook.
Everything today about America is FAKE; fake smile, fake money, fake food, fake tits. Folks with threads ought to cut down reporting from/on the US as it does not warrant the attention.
Much of the human race is in decline, being evermore consumed by the industrial cancer of it own making.
But one advantage of evolution exists to keep the race, and its pace, moving faster until that one fateful day of judgement, when it then starts all over again, just w/a new set of actors and a level playing field.
He is so much of a lobotomized dweeb suffering from dementia that he forgot that Gobarchev is still alive to call him a useful idiot who does NATO bidding and a gargantuan liar to the (googleplex)^(googleplex) order of magnitude.
Yesterday, there was an explosion in Texas ExxonMobil. At 2:00 am. Nobody killed. Accident? I doubt.
In Baytown, TX which happens to be the ExxonMobil terminal that receives Russian oil. As well as a 500,000+ bbd refinery and chemical plant.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-24/russia-oil-demand-hits-record-high-in-u-s-amid-rising-tensions
Of course it’s not unusual for fires and explosions to occur in refineries.
Yes, I know… Of course, it is just a coincidence that it happened just after the US announced that they would never accept all the terms of the Russian document…
Among the skilled trade-people who “boom” ’round doing refinery work in US Baytown has long had a reputation for getting fellas kilt. I myself turned down contract work there at a princely pay with extras – I was being set up to take the blame for such events. I suppose I passed up 100 K, but, well, you know, it was a job for a fall guy or a patsy.
It is not difficult to run a refinery safely, just expensive. Whatever happened can only be deliberate in one way or another.
The energy sector incidents keep mounting. The shenanigans are increasingly brazen. Remember the multiple W.VA coal barges on the Ohio River found with hidden explosives. And isn’t West Virginia the king of coal, the same state of the Senator Manchin now in the limelight? What could convince him to sign the Dems’ stalled law, hmm? Add to these incidents the concerted lack of investment in new gas/oil/coal fields (disincentives by BlackRock and other Vultures to punish global drillers/corporations via ESR and carbon taxes), shutdown of Keystone and many other pipelines, etc… and the intent is clear.
In EU, in addition to all I mentioned a few days ago, even reliable French nuclear plants had “outages” recently, preventing electricity export to the UK and other neighboring states. What next, will North Stream 1 spring a leak?
https://www.rt.com/business/543544-europe-energy-crisis-worsens/
https://www.rt.com/business/543953-europe-faces-energy-crisis/
And their timing is impeccable: at the onset of winter, just as with the Russian ultimatum. As Trump/Game of Thrones promised, Winter is Coming
https://pics.me.me/winter-is-coming-winter-is-here-13399148.png
https://i.insider.com/54033f7469beddea0bbef4d2?width=480
Good work!
The Iceman cometh, be very afraid.
Remember what they said about Richard Nixon and cars ?
Must apply to all POTUS lol
Thanks for sharing these two bright insights, Andrei.
Especially that from Mrs Tai is a hilarious gem, she grumbles about Russian violations of ‘open trade’ values of the WTO. Seriously, wtf? My guess is that she wants it to be punished by *drumroll* more sanctions.
(Btw, be prepared to read more similar BS from our new German government, apparently project Baerbock had to be *explained* by Lavrov that the RF has similar concerns as the US government had when Soviet missiles were stationed on Cuba – apparently the CFR didn’t teach her that. I guess Lavrov was so polite in the beginning to not start the question what German historical pespective is, to give unconditional support to openly neo-nazi’s, and yearning for a repeat of the successful Operation Barbarossa.
The German Defense (?) Dept. lately bragged about sending a navy ship to Chinese waters with some remarks like ‘we’re back’. When the Chinese would display some humor, they could ask how many German navy ships are operational anyway thanks to the leadership of former Defense minister Ursula von der Leyen.
Both the Russians and Chinese could also refer to the great cult book/movie here ‘Er ist wieder da’.)
Many years ago I’ve read a remark by an American comedian (can’t remember or find who for now), who stated something like ‘America needs a president who is smart enough to not want that job’.
As long as a chaotic swamp is present, capable enough to get rid of a president, I’m afraid that this situation will not improve. Especially not with the remarkable capabilities of maybe future president Kamala Harris, like having the right woke skin colour, and experience with messy pull-outs.
Isn’t it curious that I’m less worried about, say, India, Pakistan and North Korea having nukes than the USA?
Enjoy these days, cheers, Rob
Andrei
Clearly many American politicians, government officials, academics and military officers are not the sharpest pencils in the box. However, for all American so-called leaders the target audience is only the American people and no one else. Their only job is to mislead, obfuscate and confuse the American people to justify obscene expenditures of money necessary to sustain and maintain the war state and hide other gross thefts of the national treasure. At the same time, it should be noted, their opinion of the American people is close to zero. We, the American people, are deplorables, degenerates, ignoramuses, racist, uncouth, unwashed yokels deserving of abuse and contempt. The public’s job is to simply agree with the talking heads on television, where fitting in is more values than speaking out. Thus, the so-called leaders, such as Tai and Blinken, are not concerned whether the rest of the world is listening. It is not important. Telling the truth is not important.
All that matters is securing policy aims in terms of squeezing the last drop of blood out of every American’s wallet, while making them believe the debt-based Ponzi scheme will last forever.
“More serious Russian analysts marvel at the level of degradation of the US ruling elites. During the Cold War the US and the USSR were enemies, but nobody on the Soviet side would have denied that their US counterparts were at least competent professionals, some of them quite formidable.”
Reliance on absolutes are a form of self-delusion.
In 1969 some believed in convergence whilst some understood and used opportunities of divergence, which increased the sum of some understanding opportunities facilitated by divergence, and participating in the lateral process of divergence.
1971 was an interesting year in the lateral process of dumbing down by some and increasing understanding by others including, but not limited to, their understanding that increasingly their “US” counterparts were becoming more incompetent strategically, whilst some in the “Soviet Union” were emulating that trend of incompetency, which facilitated detente on the “agreed” basis of spheres of influence, as Mr. Gorbachov and others continued to believe in 1991, whilst also facilitating “perestroika” in limited areas from 1971 onwards; a contributory factor of why in 2021 “Meet the folks who make (some) Russians laugh.” has become an option for an increasing sum of some.
what do the signs that journalists held up during Putin’s speech say? Are you journalists from the west, holding up signs with words in Russian? what’s happening?
Saker, you say: “During the Cold War the US and the USSR were enemies, but … US counterparts were at least competent professionals, some of them quite formidable.”
Yes. But the world financial system (where capital does the show – as well as the capitalists) was not broken as it is now. There were many crises, but they were expected and were controlled… When the crises started to become closer to the terminal crisis, the US and its vassals (west) started outsourcing their factories (to China and other States where labour and regulations reduced production costs). Then, every break became closer and closer to the terminal break, the systemic break. We are, now, at this point in history.
It is, thus, a dangerous time. There are only two options (determinism? Yes!): 1) create a new socio-economic system from the ashes of the old capitalist-imperialist system; or 2) destroy all human civilizations with wars (nuclear or otherwise). In other words: or we make it, or we break it…
Russia and China have been trying to start a transition to a new system — it is a complex task, it will require non-stop human creativity and cooperation –; but the west refuses to listen, refuses to participate. Obviously, the transnational elite is too stupid to understand that there is no other way.
For Russia and China (as well as some others that are aware of the danger), the only way to survive is by nulifying western threats to them while advancing their survival and prosperity programme.
” I don’t really see how they will be able to keep their reply confidential, especially if the US reply is as out of touch”
The US side can’t keep it confidential – even if they send it privately, russians will publish it.
And one can’t help but wonder – what exactly the US side is trying to keep so secret in this scenario? After all, the russian ultimatun can’t be made more public than that.
Hybrid wars have many secret operations, including assassinations, kidnappings, explosions of relevant infrastructure, etc. The US are specialists in these secret operations. Russia should make use of them, too, IMHO, as they have been victims of many of those filthy acts…
And this planned false-flag chemical attack in Ukie-stan? Is this the product of the brilliant mind of Li’l Blinkin? I’m guessing that the “attack” is staged, Russia found to be high likely” source of chemicals, Ukie’s ask for, and get, NATO troops stationed in LDNR. Was that the plan, or something like that?.
The same happened already a couple of years ago when China decided to stop all imports of waste paper. The US employed 250,000 workers in its recycling facilities and they squealed like stuck pigs about losing their jobs because of Chinas unilateral decision. The British too went through a similar crisis. A TV Documentary then exposed how waste paper from Britain was simply dumped in a Malaysian tropical forest area without permission from the Malaysian government…
These nations should develop their own recycling systems of their own waste ….but of course it needs investment…
And there is this:
https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/12/24/a-mass-murdering-regime-dares-to-lecture-the-world-on-human-rights/
“The criminality and duplicity of U.S. governments is something to behold in a perverse sort of way. It is astounding that the world is being driven further towards dangerous tensions and possible confrontation by a regime whose record is so nefarious and hypocritical. How is such a gross deception enabled? That is partly due to the function of a Goebbels-like mass media that pretends to publish news instead of propaganda.”
That sums up the justification of the USA claim to leadership: kill with impunity
Here is an example of how the Western media twists everything Putin says (and in general, everything coming from the Russian official sources). During the press conference, referring to how NATO had violated their promise not to move an inch to the Russian border, he said (not verbatim) “Initially, we trusted them. But they continued to move farther East. When we asked them again, they told us “Go to hell”). And how do the Western talking heads present this? “Putin told NATO and the West to go to hell”.
This is their M.O. Never changes. But the Americans take all the bs from the mainstream media at its face value.
How sad!
Peter e Marina
Pois é exatamente isso o que acontece.
Ao que parece só os sionistas são os que realmente conseguem entender o papel estratégico da mídia. Não é a toa que eles controlam toda a comunicação no ocidente e em boa parte do mundo.
E também são capazes de entender que a humanidade é formada por uma maioria esmagadora de pessoas que beiram a imbecilidade e que portanto estão sempre mais propensas a acreditar na mentira do que na verdade.
A compreensão dessa obviedade dá aos sionistas uma dianteira consideravel em relação a Rússia que ainda está engatinhando nessa área.
Os russos parecem acreditar piamente que só falar a verdade é suficiente sem levar em conta que essa verdade deve ser repetida ad nausea de tal forma que ela seja soldada na cabeça da maioria, não pelo princípio da razão mas simplesmente pelo da repetição, porque infelizmente é assim que a coisa funciona na cabeça dos imbecis. Tanto isso é fato que uma mentira repetida mil vezes acaba se transformando na verdade.
Por exemplo: o fato relevante da Rússia estar exigindo garantias por escrito no ultimato que enviou aos ianques deixando claro que os eua não são um ente confiável, está sendo neutralizado pela mídia quadrilheira ocidental simplesmente repetindo ad nausea o mantra mentiroso da “concentração de tropas russas para invadir ucrânia”. É só isso o que se ouve na mídia do ocidente.
Além disso o jornalista Pepe Escobar chamou mais de uma vêz a atenção para o fato de que várias declarações e documentos importantes tornados públicos pelo governo russo não tem tradução para o inglês dificultando muito o trabalho dos jornalistas para difundir a versão russa dos fatos.
Isso tudo deixa perceber que o esforço de comunicação da Rússia está muito aquém das suas necessidades como potência.
É evidente que a Rússia precisa fazer um grande esforço para defender seus interesses chegando mesmo a ter que usar meios militares quando poderia fazer isso de outra forma se tivesse uma mídia mais preparada. É certo, também, que criar uma comunicação efetiva capaz de produzir uma narrativa contra hegemônica requer grandes investimentos. Mesmo assim qualquer um há de convir que eles sempre serão menores que o de uma guerra.
Google translation,MOD:
Peter and Marina
For that is exactly what happens.
It seems only the Zionists are the ones who can really understand the strategic role of the media. No wonder they control all communication in the West and in much of the world.
And they are also able to understand that humanity is made up of an overwhelming majority of people who border on stupidity and are therefore always more likely to believe a lie than the truth.
Understanding this truism gives the Zionists a considerable lead over Russia which is still in its infancy in this area.
The Russians seem to firmly believe that just speaking the truth is enough without taking into account that this truth must be repeated ad nausea in such a way that it is soldered in the minds of the majority, not by the principle of reason but simply by repetition, because unfortunately it is That’s how it works in the minds of imbeciles. This is so much a fact that a lie repeated a thousand times ends up turning into the truth.
For example, the relevant fact that Russia is demanding written guarantees in the ultimatum it sent to the Yankees making it clear that the USA is not a trustworthy entity, is being neutralized by the western gang media simply repeating ad nausea the lying mantra of “concentration of Russian troops to invade ukraine”. That’s all you hear in the Western media.
In addition, journalist Pepe Escobar has more than once called attention to the fact that several important statements and documents made public by the Russian government have no translation into English, making it very difficult for journalists to disseminate the Russian version of the facts.
All of this makes it clear that Russia’s communication effort falls far short of its needs as a power.
It is evident that Russia needs to make a great effort to defend its interests, even having to use military means when it could do it otherwise if it had a more prepared media. It is also true that creating an effective communication capable of producing a counter-hegemonic narrative requires large investments. Even so, anyone will agree that they will always be smaller than that of a war.