2016/02/27 11:57:06
Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day.
The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week.
The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post.
The Cafe is now open for business … come on in and have a good time.
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No obscenity allowed? Fine. Stuff like this: http://journal-neo.org/2016/02/27/armor-piercing-toxic-shocking-the-us-s-ongoing-depleted-uranium-manifesto/ ticks me off.
this comment has been flagged as of little/no value (possibly troll) by the saker
Being a callow, pampered American youth, I only have a limited awareness of the woe that is war and its corrupting logic. It is a continuation of disorder by other means intimately linked to its brother politics: by deception shalt thou make war. The last time I stepped into a polling booth, I acutely felt that just by my presence I was insulting my own (and others) human dignity. I get that some candidates are marginally less bad, how Obama for all his faults is preferable to someone like McCain but I am starting to agree with Imam Hosein that voting is an abomination. In many countries, Turkey for example, voting compelled by law. Law, of course is another can of worms. Perhaps this is a suitable reflection for the penitential season of lent.
Thanks for the link.
I keep listing DU ammunition as a weapon of mass destruction alike any other radioactive weapon. In my opinion, the use of DU weapons is a war crime against the targets and attackers as well. In fact, against humanity. Army veterans should know by now what they took home from their rampages in foreign countries. I hate to say it, but it is well deserved.
I long for the day when Damascus is free, and the old splendor is somewhat restored.
Here are some pictures from before the war.
I do not intend to diminish the urgency of fighting this war now, just hope that it will end some day…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edoBAFZtTQ8
“Halab – Aleppo”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaa4x0mZPPA
Having visited it long time ago before the war, I remembered not so modern as it is showed here, but looked splendorous.
“From every ruin, life springs up again and everything that dies is born again.”
Isabelle Eberhardt
Saker, when are you going to prevent 2 or more posters from using the same name?
Also maybe having a ratings up/down arrows for reader comments?
And how about at least once a month – or fortnight – having an update on the Donbass, especially militarily?
Good ideas.
What ? Ratings ? What is this ? Facebook ?
Yes! Updates on Donbass would be really appreciated.
Saker, when are you going to prevent 2 or more posters from using the same name?
Sorry, but I don’t have a workable way of doing so. We can’t start a long process of registration, control, etc. Sorry
Also maybe having a ratings up/down arrows for reader comments?
Sorry, I hate the idea. That ain’t happening. If somebody likes/dislikes something let him/her present an *argument* rather than just some kneejerk arrow up or down
Updates on Donbass would be really appreciated.
Keep an eye on Scott’s SITREPs. But also consider that right now the conflict is kinda frozen while Urkoland is slowly sinking into total anarchy
On February 12,2016 took place the meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Russia.The Russian Patriarch came on 11 February and the Pope came only a day later – as someone who feels more important and therefore he came later to show who is he in the hierarchy.After the meeting the Pope left shortly for Mexico where he attended a five-day religious ceremony – of course catholic one.Since den,almost nothing has emerged in the media even though this was an important meeting after 1000 years or so.I found an interesting article which I post right-down : (excerpt)
“On February 12, 2016 a historic event took place: Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met in Cuba, paving the way for the reunification of the two Churches – the Eastern and Western.No doubt other Orthodox Churches will join the Uniate (the act of unity) between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches. There is still time left before the all-Orthodox Council for all Orthodox Church leaders to meet with the Roman celebrant, who is also a Jesuit.Thus the Vatican can finally become the Church of Freemasonry: Templars, the Society of Jesus, the Order of Malta and Opus Dei, which henceforth will determine the policy of the Orthodox Churches.
Is that good or bad? For the Russian Orthodox Church it is a sign of end times, according to Jesus: “And I say unto thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Chapter 16, Verse 18)
In other words, the Russian Church that has kept the apostolic tradition until this day, would not be destroyed, would not be an abode for heretics like the Catholic Church, but would stay alive until the last day. How can this be possible, since the Uniate was signed with the Catholics, signifying the violation of apostolic rules and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils? This can only be explained by the mighty works of God that are beyond human understanding. ”
the complete article you may find here :
http://russia-insider.com/en/christianity/joint-declaration-pope-patriarch-may-split-russian-orthodox-church/ri12987
PS.it’s worth reading it !!
Unless Russia finally does something to silence the traitorous 5th column inside Russia they will be lost. I saw the “handwriting on the wall” in Ukraine for months before the coup. And waited for the Ukrainians to do something to stop it. But they had so many pro-West traitors inside their government that they did nothing. I can see the same “handwriting” going on in Russia. And also seeing the government doing nothing about it. Either there are too many pro-West traitors there as well,or the patriotic forces are not strong enough to finally stop them.
Today in Moscow “30,000” (7,500 according to police) people according to the media (including RT) marched to “commemorate” the murder of Nemtsov. A Nemtsov,who was a total traitor,pro-US asset,and criminal. And thousands were marching for him. With pro-Western slogans,and anti-Putin slogans. Are the Russians unable to see where that is headed.The money for the propaganda for that march,the banners,flags,etc,etc. Comes from the West and/or pro-Russian oligarchs (again like in Ukraine).Can the Russians not understand that. On God’s green earth,do they not understand where that is heading.Say what anyone wants to about Stalin’s time. But can anyone “imagine” 30,000 pro-nazi traitors marching to support Hitler’s policies in Moscow in those days. Can anyone “imagine” traitors being permitted to sell themselves to “nazi Germany” during those times.And work to destroy the country from the inside,in those days.
I hear talk that Putin and the Russian government want to show that Russia is a “democracy” so they do nothing to stop this type of thing. Can’t they see that that is “exactly” how the US subverts countries in the World. How do they think the US subverted Ukraine. They “use” that democracy to subvert nations from the inside to destroy them. They gain control of the “independent” media. They “Westernize” the weak youth,and lumpen elements in a country. They bribe the elite elements in a country to betray their own motherland.They use that “praised” democracy as a knife to gut those nations. Democracy in itself is a wonderful dream for a nation to have. But its not meant to be able to be used by foreign powers to control a nation. Once that happens,democracy is worthless.And the entire meaning of a democracy is lost forever. All someone has to do is look around the World today to see that.
So the bottom-line question is. Will we see Russia fall as another trophy for the West,from treason inside. Or will Russia finally “wake-up” and do something to save themselves. The answer to that question is not clear at all right now. And today is not a good sign for them surviving.
https://www.rt.com/politics/333841-nemtsov-march-anniversary-murder/
“Democracy in itself is a wonderful dream…” Indeed it is, and that’s why it is nowhere to be seen; all there is is ‘sham democracies’ to fool the subjects into perpetual subjugation to the elites.
Perhaps it’s time to abandon the pretence that democracy is achievable and honestly seek forms of governance with just and fair rules for all, but without rulers. Free-market capitalist democracy is an oxymoron.
more pressing than ever since recent events eg about 10 days ago where Camoron, who openly brags about how much arms he sells to S.A., has now made it a crime there for any public agencies & their employees, etc. to advocate BDS!
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/27/452709/West-Bank-Ramallah-BDS-boycott-Israeli-products
Hundreds of Palestinians, including lawmakers, held a demonstration in the occupied West Bank Saturday, calling for the boycott of Israeli products.
Marching through the streets in Ramallah City, the demonstrators urged people worldwide to unite against the Tel Aviv regime and put an immediate embargo on Israeli goods.
The demonstration was part of a campaign that is a coalition of worldwide organizations established a decade ago, which advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, known as the BDS movement.
Nothing will change until at the very least Turkey’s position towards the Kurds is forced to turn 180 degrees, by some major event of whatever type.
I highly doubt this ‘truce’ is even on Erdogoon’s list of major irritants or concerns.
Claim was last week that Cizre was finally ‘peaceified’ with 600 total dead over the past many months, so he’ll just move on to the next bunch of unruly homies on the list.
http://www.todayszaman.com/national_clashes-erupt-during-diyarbakir-protest_413475.html
Clashes have erupted in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeastern city of Diyarbakır during protests against security operations.
Thousands of demonstrators rallied Saturday to demand an end to military operations and the 24-hour curfew imposed on parts of the city’s historic Sur district since December.
Turkish security forces fired water cannons and tear gas to break up the demonstration, which had been called by a pro-Kurdish political party. Some protesters hurled stones at the police.
http://www.deutsch-tuerkische-nachrichten.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DTN-Erdogan-YouTube-Meme-600×386.jpg
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941208000831
TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent Lebanese military analyst underlined that the gap between Washington and Ankara will widen given their differences over priorities.
“Today, the situation in Turkey is at the peak of complications due to its differences with the Americans on priorities and the biggest difference is on the issue of Kurds,” Omar Ma’rabouni told FNA on Saturday.
“I believe that the gap between the US and Turkey will even widen further due to their differences on the priorities and interests,” he added.
Assad Must Go and ISIS is a humilation and failure for the US. I really think Russia has given the US a face saving way out of Syria. Erogan will be villified forced to step down or be physcally removed from power with the threat of being kicked out of Nato. Russia receives justice for the downing of its aircaft, A win win for both sides.
Check out what these bunch got for a measly $20K or so!
Funny to think of how much it would have cost to get a true, working, on-time 2-engine F-35 into service if only they’d crowd-funded it.
TEHRAN (FNA)- A Russian team of aerospace engineers and enthusiasts are preparing to launch their ‘Mayak’ satellite into space aboard the Soyuz-2 rocket, where it will be the brightest “star” that shines above Earth.
A team of aerospace engineers and enthusiasts from Moscow’s University of Mechanical Engineering (MAMI) are putting the finishing touches to their ‘Mayak,’ or ‘Beacon’ satellite, and have raised enough money for the next stage of the spacecraft’s testing before it is launched into space by the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket, Sputnik reported.
On Thursday the Mayak team announced they have managed to raise 1.5 million rubles ($19,650) on the Boomstarter crowdfunding platform, which allows them to complete the next stage of the satellite’s flight testing.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941208001401
Hello Saker,
I would be interested to hear about additional info, if you got any, about Kirill and Francis meeting. Needless to say, your interpretation of what does it mean would be much appreciated. Some of the questions are: why now, why in Cuba, how it is related to ongoing wars and how it would relate to other orthodox churches that want nothing to do with it, like Serbian, Greek, Armenian and Syrian. Any political significance to Kirill’s visit to Antarctica?
Thanks, Spiral
Dear Spiral,
I am very sorry to say that I don’t think that this was a historical event at all. This was, in fact, a total non-event. One fraud met another fraud and both walked away with a new sense of relevance conferred to them by the other fraud. I could write up a long and well argued article explaining my position, but it would do no good, there is too much to explain, to many ideas to over-turn, to many concepts to redefine. It is also very sad for me and I just don’t feel up to this right now.
I am very sorry.
Kind regards,
The Saker
http://sputniknews.com/news/20160228/1035471556/US-Urges-China-to-Demilitarize-South-China-Sea.html
The US is urging China to apply its claim of non-militarization in parts of the disputed South China Sea to the entire region.
Pacom Commander: Rebalance to Asia-Pacific ‘Being Realized’
http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/673465/pacom-commander-rebalance-to-asia-pacific-being-realized
WASHINGTON, February 25, 2016 — The U.S. military’s strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region is “real and being realized,” the commander of U.S. Pacific Command told Pentagon reporters today.
….The Navy and Air Force want to have 60 percent of their forces in the region by 2020, and because the Navy’s presence is nearly at 50 percent today, “we’re proceeding apace,” Harris said. “It’s a well-thought-out strategy in my opinion, and I think we’re moving right along at the proper timeline,” he added…..
Chechen Leader Ramzan Kadyrov Says He Is Stepping Down
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/breaking-chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-says-he-stepping-down/ri13091
Yes just read it last night. Oh, no, it´s not the time!
With him happens the same than with Comrade Vladímir Vladímirovich. Not the time now! Even when well deserved .
But, Comrade Ramzán Ajmatovich, you are still very young to retire to study Islam ( even when I understand you would like to do it right now, as I also would like to retire to study Islam and many other things to e.g. Mount Wudang? ) and you are now more needed than ever, in a situation where Russian borders will be threatened, be it the Syrian conflict resolved or not, and in a situation like this, the Chechen Republic need a strong leadership who keeps people confident and connected.
Please, stay, Tovarishch!
He also said he would pick up a gun if needed. I think he stays a fighter and will gain considerable freedom of operation by stepping down in April.
A place to retire when we finish our duty with Russia and the world:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4cPEZkCTqI
“My students must have this ability, without seeing he must be able to tell “a blow is coming”, and they must be able to make a timely response. This ability takes much instinct and good hearing.
Anything incoming will first give a signal and one must train himself to notice this in advance. After trainning, if he possesses this ability and is able to give a quick response to unexpected hostile moves, he has gained the right conciousness, and this conciousness is the highest attainment one can achieve in responding to something without seeing it. It is an instinctive response”
<b<Taoist Monk Zhong
Wudang Mountain
As a sign that no one can retire right now:
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/02/taysaev-right-wing-forces-in-georgia.html
As it seems that the purchasing power of people in the Georgia led by the US Embassy is swooping and dissatisfaction of people becoming evident, as witnessed by the aforementioned strike of miners in Tkibuli, here thay are the Nazis to coming to scare people.
But these clowns in the video what are they, Georgians or Ukrainians?
If they are Georgians, why are disguised as Ukrainians with the flag of the Ukraine in the arm and shouting Glory to Ukraine!?
Can anyone be more simpleton? … or be more lost than an octopus in a garage and have no more personal, moral and spiritual reference but f***ing money.
Chavs!
For God´s sake!, Koba and Sergó must be turning in their graves, now that they could rest in peace …..
We shall see is that really happens.
But, if it does,
I bet you that he will take on an even more important role
Either a spiritual one in Chechnia
or a Federal one in Moscow
So don’t be too sad.
A giant like that does not just retire :-)
Cheers,
The Saker
Another German comment regarding to the z. I. O
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dXhhz-IENPM
The picture for this cafe moment indicates that the cafe is closed, not open.
Ah, the pause that refreshes. Nicely timed with the truce made in Russia.
If I don’t periodically pause, I get manic and drive myself crazy until I get sick enough so that my body demands I pause. Or, I have an accident. You know, the accident where there are no accidents.
It’s not really the black letters that make sense but their lack; the white space around them is the pause that refreshes.
OK, OK, no one in this war is really pausing. They’re just pausing to refresh their supplies. But let that scruple pass and say there is a pause.
It’s a pause into which a thousand devils can rush in, as Jesus noted. Or it’s the space where the mirror shows us our speechless face.
As noted increasingly in the comments, Russia needs to see its true face before the mirror shatters in a bigger and better war which Russia will lose it she doesn’t see what’s behind the mirror.
Now is the time to lie down, take a deep breath and let the speechless one speak in the language only she can hear. Someone has to magnetize all those scattered iron filings pointing every which way.
“It ain’t me babe, it ain’t me you’re looking for, babe.”
However, it might just be a vineyard located non-locally in cafes that move all over the place; or like that bicycle parked out front wondering where all the people are.
Oh Love, Love, where are you tonight? Please hit my pause button.
This ‘babushka’ vs. OSCE slime is worth every moment of viewing:
http://russia-insider.com/en/osce-ukraine-mission-chief-hug-humiliated-irate-babushka-video/ri13056
The babushka tells us a lot. She confirms that it is the Nazis shelling, and not the DPR militia, as western propaganda would have it. She also confirms that the militia is not defending the DPR against Kiev’s attacks, contrary to Ukrainian propaganda. This is the tragedy of Minsk. The Kremlin is apparently pressuring the DPR/LPR so severely, the militias are obeying a unilateral ceasefire, in order to appear to be compliant with the agreement. Zakharchenko promised he would defend DPR territory against Ukrainian attack. He has not. He has betrayed that promise. Meanwhile, since December, Kiev has taken nine towns along the contact line that were not under their control at the time of the Minsk signing. But what is so disturbing about the video is how condescending and disdainful the OSCE observers are. “Are you going to talk, or just curse?” one asks, and “You are being shelled? Who is shelling you?” As if! As if! No, the OSCE is despicable, and the corrupt officials in the Kremlin are despicable for letting this happen. And Putin is pathetic for not stopping it.
Johnnie Carson, U.S. assistant secretary for African Affairs,
*China is a “very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals.*
———————————————–
exhibit l = libya.
*NATO’s Libya campaign was and is all about oil. But not about simply controlling Libyan high-grade crude because the USA is nervous about reliable foreign supplies. It rather is about controlling China’s free access to long-term oil imports from Africa and from the Middle East. In other words, it is about controlling China itself. [1]
Libya geographically is bounded to its north by the Mediterranean directly across from Italy, where Italian ENI oil company has been the largest foreign operator in Libya for years. To its west it is bounded by Tunisia and by Algeria. To its south it is bounded by Chad. To its east it is bounded by both Sudan (today Sudan and Southern Sudan) and by Egypt. That should tell something about the strategic importance of Libya from the standpoint of the Pentagon’s AFRICOM long-term strategy for controlling Africa and its resources and which country is able to get those resources.
It is useful to briefly recall the sequence of Washington-sponsored “Twitter” revolutions in the ongoing so-called Arab Spring. The first was Tunisia, an apparently insignificant land on north Africa’s Mediterranean. However Tunisia is on the western border of Libya. The second domino to fall in the process was Mubarak’s Egypt. That created major instability across the Middle East into north Africa as Mubarak for all his flaws had fiercely resisted Washington Middle East pollicy.
Then in July 2011 Southern Sudan declared itself the independent Republic of South Sudan, breaking away from Sudan after years of US-backed insurgency against Khartoum rule. The new Republic takes with it the bulk of Sudan’s known oil riches, something clearly not causing joy in Beijing. US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, led the US delegation to the independence celebrations, calling it “a testament to the Southern Sudanese people.” She added, in terms of making the secssion happen, “the US has been as active as anyone [sic]
[sorry to disappoint , there’s nothing *spontaneous* about the *arab spring*, tam, hk’s *umbrella rev* and assorted *people power movement* etc etc, there’s method in the seeming chaos !] [2]
Gaddafi’s Libya had maintained strict national state control over the rich reserves of high quality “light, sweet” Libyan crude oil. As of 2006 data Libya had the largest proven oil reserves in Africa, some 35%, larger even than Nigeria. Oil consessions had been extended to Chinese state oil companies as well as Russian and others in recent years. Not surprisingly a spokesman from the so-called opposition claiming victory over Gaddafi, Abdeljalil Mayouf, information manager at Libyan rebel oil firm AGOCO, told Reuters,
“We don’t have a problem with Western countries like the Italians, French and UK companies. But we may have some political issues with Russia, China and Brazil.” China and Russia and Brazil either opposed UN sanctions on Libya or pressed for a negotiated settlement of the internal conflict and an end to NATO bombing.
chinese work sites came under attacks by libyan *insurgents*, 30000 chinese workers had to flee libya after ghadaffi’s gruesome death, another astronomical loss of investment costing 20-30 billions.
nobody seems to be paying attention to the africa *pivot*, but chinese co have been hermorrhagging trillions of rmb, not to mention thousands of workers/engineers slained by assorted aq franchises, courtesy of uncle sham.
[1]
http://www.globalresearch.ca/nato-s-war-on-libya-is-directed-against-china-africom-and-the-threat-to-china-s-national-energy-security/26763
[2]
during the outbreak of violence in libya, the diehard *conspiracy theorist* in me immediately cried cia !
then someone labelled me *gadaffi apologists* and *con theorists* to boot.
one clown produced this image to mock us, *whats with all these cia con theory* ?
http://tinyurl.com/z5h9lfo
a very professional piece of work dont u think so ?
http://tinyurl.com/jx2f3hl
i related to him this story.
* there was this peasant who distrust them bankers so he kept all his fortune in a box at home, to safeguard his monies from theft , he pasted a label on the box with the bold msg, *there aint 300 taels of gold in this box* !*
i told the clown that libya *insurgents* banner reminded me of the msg on that peasant’s box.
he still didnt get the point !
some people just dont seem to be able to connect the dots.
inspite of hanging around alternate sites for many yrs, they often gawk at the trees while missing the forest. !
Zwo watch rule 1
———————-
scratch the surface of any mayhem and u’d find the snake and/or its cohorts lurking beneath !
Priest in Siberia chides a bumper sticker praising Stalin and talks history. From RI. the glorification of Stalin makes no sense given his track record ( defeating Hitler at an unnecessarily exorbitant cost just does not give him the right to be glorified).
http://russia-insider.com/en/society/russian-orthodox-priest-slams-car-sticker-glorifying-stalin/ri13130
Believe me, Zombification is happening in the West, but exactly not in Siberia.
Maybe he should read serious books, and generally rather switch back to TV channel 1 (not USA’s channel 1).
The apparent change in Vladimir Putin since the Sochi olympics. My conjecture that his divorce had changed him came as a result of deep thought over a period of time about why he took such a strong stance on Crimea, then neglected to defend Donbass. The question as to his hesitancy on Donbass has been discussed on this website in the past. I finally came to the conclusion that perhaps his divorce had affected him adversely. Other hypotheses were that Putin was afraid of starting World War III if he sent the military into Donbass. But to me it seemed the man himself had weakened. I did express disrespect for Putin’s girlfriend in comparison with his strong former wife Lyudmila. I think this is an interesting topic.
Your comments to the moderator have been taken out. The rest of your post has been left as is. Mod on duty.
Why was my original comment by “Cary Grant” about Putin censored? You did not answer that question. And why was my next comment censored and only published in part?
A little more honesty might liven this post up. After all, the “open thread” is not doing so well, is it? If my original comment had been published, it might have generated controversy and original thought.
Who are you to appoint yourselves censors and decide which ideas are politically correct and which are not, especially if a commenter is obviously concerned about the fate of Putin and Donbass? What sense does it make to censor me, of all people?
Saker did not censor comments this severely. I am intending to write him an email, appealing for relief, so that there is more open expression. What else is this website for?
I believe his moderators have become overzealous. This is a truly sad development.