Mike Norman Economics: May 2022

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

GRESHAM’S NEW LAW – IN WAR THERE IS NO LAW — John Helmer

On the Russian wartime economy.

Dances with Bears
GRESHAM’S NEW LAW – IN WAR THERE IS NO LAW
John Helmer

http://johnhelmer.net/greshams-new-law-in-war-there-is-no-law/

The Sanctioned Ones: How Iran-Russia are setting new rules — Pepe Escobar

The first Eurasia Economic Forum, held last week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, should be regarded as a milestone in setting the parameters for the geoeconomic integration of the Eurasian heartland.

Sergei Glazyev, Russia’s Minister in Charge of Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU), is coordinating the drive to design an alternative monetary-financial system – a de facto post-Bretton Woods III – in cooperation with China.

According to Glazyev, the forum “discussed the model of a new global settlement currency pegged to baskets of national currencies and commodities. The introduction of this currency instrument in Eurasia will entail the collapse of the dollar system and the final undermining of the US military and political power. It is necessary to start negotiations on signing an appropriate international treaty within the framework of the SCO.”

Glazyev described the initiative to upend the western global financial system in more detail during an exclusive interview with The Cradle in April.…

The Cradle
The Sanctioned Ones: How Iran-Russia are setting new rules

Pepe Escobar

https://thecradle.co/Article/columns/11133

Biden's Plan to Fight Inflation — Stephanie Kelton

At this point, the president’s plan to bring down inflation can be summed up as follows:
Leave the Fed alone to hike rates and slow the economy
Take proactive steps to reduce some costs and build more capacity
Take proactive steps to cut the fiscal deficit even more
I joined Bloomberg TV’s David Westin to talk about this at noon today....

The Lens
Biden's Plan to Fight Inflation

Stephanie Kelton | Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stony Brook University, formerly Democrats' chief economist on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and an economic adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders

https://stephaniekelton.substack.com/p/bidens-plan-to-fight-inflation

Links — 31 May 2022 Part 1

A Son of the New American Revolution
INTRODUCTION–AMERICA’S DANGEROUS NARCISSISM
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

https://sonar21.com/introduction-americas-dangerous-narcissism/

The Dreizin Report
A rude awakening… and stale toast!

Jacob Dreizin

https://thedreizinreport.com/2022/05/30/a-rude-awakening-and-stale-toast/

Moon of Alabama
Rape Allegations Against Russian Troops In Ukraine Were Fake

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/rape-allegations-against-russian-troops-in-ukraine-were-fake.html

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Top US general [Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff] suggests how Ukraine conflict should end (negotiations between Russia and Ukraine)
https://www.rt.com/news/556376-ukraine-negotiations-milley-us/

MintPress News
Elon Musk Is Not a Renegade Outsider – He’s a Massive Pentagon Contractor
Alan Macleod

https://www.mintpressnews.com/elon-musk-not-renegade-outsider-cia-pentagon-contractor/280972/

Monday, May 30, 2022

Links — 30 May 2022 Part 2

Consortium News
SCOTT RITTER: Phase Three in Ukraine

Scott Ritter, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, serving in the Soviet Union as an inspector implementing the INF Treaty, on General Schwarzkopf’s staff during the Gulf War, and from 1991-1998 as a UN weapons inspector

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/05/30/scott-ritter-phase-three-in-ukraine/

Reminiscence of the Future
Bernhard Did An Excellent Write-up.
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/bernhard-did-excellent-write-up.html

The Essence Of Western Media.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-essence-of-western-media.html

Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)

Vladislav Ugolniy: Ukraine's unity is crumbling amid serious military losses in the Donbass and Zelensky is feeling the heat

Vladislav Ugolniy, a Russian journalist based in Donetsk

https://www.rt.com/russia/556326-vladislav-ugolny-how-ukraines-unity/

British media ‘whitewashing’ Ukrainian neo-Nazis, UK journalist tells RT (Steve Sweeney, an international editor at the Morning Star, London)

https://www.rt.com/news/556276-azov-ukraine-uk-nazi/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Empire Solves Ukraine’s Nazi Problem With A Logo Change
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/31/empire-solves-ukraines-nazi-problem-with-a-logo-change/

Econospeak
The "Red" Roots of the U.S. National Security State

Sandwichman (Tom Walker)

http://econospeak.blogspot.com/2022/05/the-red-roots-of-us-national-security.html

Where Can I Study MMT? — Stephanie Kelton

FYI

The Lens
Where Can I Study MMT?
Stephanie Kelton | Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stony Brook University, formerly Democrats' chief economist on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and an economic adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders.
https://stephaniekelton.substack.com/p/where-can-i-study-mmt

Links — 30 May 2022 Part 1

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine Bits: Russian Artillery - Counter Attacks - New Missile Systems

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/ukraine-arty.html

The Vineyard of the Saker
Lavrov x two
Amarynth for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/lavrov-x-two/

MR Online

Eight years ago in Odessa (commemorating the Odessa massacre)

Editors

https://mronline.org/2022/05/30/eight-years-ago-in-odessa/

Angry Bear
An Army of All-American Paramilitary Death-Squad Soloists

Sandwichman (Tom Walker)

https://angrybearblog.com/2022/05/an-army-of-all-american-paramilitary-death-squad-soloists

Spiegel International
The West Tries to Figure Out What Peace Might Look Like ("The West" still thinks it is winning and that Russia is on the ropes in spite of facts on the ground.)Christian Esch, Matthias Gebauer, Martin Knobbe, René Pfister, Jan Puhl and Britta Sandberg

https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/what-s-next-for-ukraine-the-west-tries-to-figure-out-what-peace-might-look-like-a-9116433c-ff62-4438-b7fd-12a1241525c9#ref=rss

Oilprice
Blackouts Looming Over Millions Of British Households [Next Winter}
Irina Slav
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Blackouts-Looming-Over-Millions-Of-British-Households.html

U.S. Gasoline Prices Surge To New Record High On Memorial Day
Tsvetana Paraskova
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/US-Gasoline-Prices-Surge-To-New-Record-High-On-Memorial-Day.html

Lukoil Exec: Russia Should Cut Oil Production By 30% To Get Higher Prices

Tsvetana Paraskova

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Lukoil-Exec-Russia-Should-Cut-Oil-Production-By-30-To-Get-Higher-Prices.html

Zero Hedge
Mastercard CEO: SWIFT Payment System May Be Replaced By CBDCs In Five Years
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/mastercard-ceo-swift-payment-system-may-be-replaced-cbdcs-five-years

German Inflation Hits 60-Year-High, 'Worse To Come', Says Allianz

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/german-inflation-hits-60-year-high-worse-come-says-allianz

Tyler Durden

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
McKinsey Poll: Most Europeans Switching to Cheaper Goods in Wake of Higher Inflation

https://sputniknews.com/20220530/mckinsey-poll-most-europeans-switching-to-cheaper-goods-in-wake-of-higher-inflation-1095877692.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Poll reveals how many Russians approve of Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine (72%)
https://tass.com/society/1457797

Russian artillery wipes out Italy-made howitzers in Ukraine, top brass reports

https://tass.com/politics/1457789

Dances with Bears
THE OLIGARCHS PLAY THEIR CARDS – THAT’S THE LOYALTY CARD, THE GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD, THE REWARDS REDEMPTION CARD (important economically as well as politically)
John Helmer

http://johnhelmer.net/the-oligarchs-play-their-cards-thats-the-loyalty-card-the-get-out-of-jail-free-card-the-rewards-redemption-card/

The Great Borrower/Lender Mismatch(es) — Brian Romanchuk

The structure of financial markets is influenced by imbalances between how lenders would like to lend, and borrowers would like to borrow. The economist community often refers to “maturity transformation,” but this formulation is too vague to be useful. Instead, we need to look at a few axes of disagreement.
The structure of banks to a certain extent bridge these mismatches, which explains why they are the centre of financial markets. However, non-bank financial instruments can be structured to bridge the gap. It is therefore that there is a continual blurring between bank and non-bank finance as they attempt to move into each other's turf. It is also unsurprising that the so-called “crypto community” has ended up re-inventing the structures of traditional finance, since even internet money faces the same economic forces....

Bond Economics
The Great Borrower/Lender Mismatch(es)
Brian Romanchuk

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Links — 29 May 2022 Part 2

Reminiscence of the Future
German General Has An Opinion. So Does Russian General--They Are Close.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/german-general-has-opinion-so-does.html

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Ten Times Empire Managers Showed Us That They Want To Control Our Thoughts

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/29/ten-times-empire-managers-showed-us-that-they-want-to-control-our-thoughts/

India Punchline
Ukraine is a millstone around Europe’s neck
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/ukraine-is-a-millstone-around-europes-neck/

Popular Resistance
UN Warns of ‘Total Societal Collapse’ Due to Breaching of Planetary Boundaries
Nafeez Ahmed, Byline Times.
https://popularresistance.org/un-warns-of-total-societal-collapse-due-to-breaching-of-planetary-boundaries/

China to provide South Pacific countries ‘what US, Australia failed to offer’

Yang Sheng And Liu Caiyu, Friends of Socialist China

https://popularresistance.org/china-to-provide-south-pacific-countries-what-us-australia-failed-to-offer/

Bill Mitchell — US Federal Reserve Bank economists going Marxist on us

It only took about 6 decades or so. And, in between, there has been denial, fiction, and diversions. But here we are 2022 and work that was explicit in the 1960s is now being recognised by the central bank of the largest economy. In fact, the foundations of this new acceptance goes back to the C19th and was developed by you know who – K. Marx. Then a socialist in the 1940s wrote a path breaking article further building the foundations. And then a group of Marxist economists brought the ideas together as a coherent theory of inflation early 1970s as a counter to the growing Monetarist fiction that inflationary pressures were ultimately the product of irresponsible government policy designed to reduce unemployment below some ‘natural rate’. I am referring here to a Finance and Economics Discussion Series (FEDS) working paper – Who Killed the Phillips Curve? A Murder Mystery – published on May 20, 2022 by the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System. I suppose it is progress but along the way – over those 6 decades – there have been a lot of casualties of the fiction central banks created in denial of these findings.

The topic is of course close to my heart given that I have specialised in the Phillips curve since early in my academic career....

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
US Federal Reserve Bank economists going Marxist on us
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Links — 29 May 2022 Part1

A Son of the New American Revolution

Two Examples of Russia’s Use of Drone Warfare

https://sonar21.com/two-examples-of-russias-use-of-drone-warfare/

Ukrainian Military Units Betrayed by Their Commanders

https://sonar21.com/ukrainian-military-units-betrayed-by-their-commanders/

Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

Reminiscence of the Future

Plans Are Changing For The US. Larry Talks To Eva.

Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/plans-are-changing-for-us-larry-talks.html

Yahoo Finance
RPT-UPDATE 1-Ukraine receives missiles and howitzers, Zelenskiy expects good news on arms supplies

Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic and David Ljunggren. Editing by Helen Popper and Jonathan Oatis.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rpt-1-ukraine-receives-missiles-202453468.html

Peoples Dispatch
Indo-Pacific power dynamic in radical shift

M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/05/29/indo-pacific-power-dynamic-in-radical-shift/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Kayfabe Populism: Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/28/kayfabe-populism-notes-from-the-edge-of-the-narrative-matrix/

The Vineyard of the Saker

Whose Lies Can You Trust?

James Rothenberg for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/whose-lies-can-you-trust/

TASS (Russian state media)
US mass media demonizing Russian Armed Forces — Russian Embassy

https://tass.com/politics/1457389

Defend Democracy Press
French media documents war crimes by NATO-backed Ukrainian neo-Nazi militias

Alex Lantier

http://www.defenddemocracy.press/french-media-documents-war-crimes-by-nato-backed-ukrainian-neo-nazi-militias/

Russia’s breakthrough Sarmat ICBM to carry high-yield hypersonic warheads - defense firm

https://tass.com/russia/1457475

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
France limits water usage (drought)

https://www.rt.com/news/556277-france-water-usage-drought/

Consortium News
Nuland-Pyatt video restored to YouTube
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/05/27/nuland-pyatt-video-restored-to-youtube/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Trump Says Warned NATO Allies US ‘Will Not Protect You’

https://sputniknews.com/20220529/trump-says-warned-nato-allies-us-will-not-protect-you-1095855068.html

The New Dark Age
Operation Z
https://williambowles.info/2022/05/29/operation-z/

MSM Offers Rare Glimpse Into How Bad Things Are Really Going For Ukrainian Forces
https://williambowles.info/2022/05/29/msm-offers-rare-glimpse-into-how-bad-things-are-really-going-for-ukrainian-forces/
William Bowles

Informed Comment
In Global Sea Change, 52% of Prospective Car Buyers Aim for New Energy Vehicles as Gasoline Spikes
Juan Cole

https://www.juancole.com/2022/05/prospective-electric-vehicles.html

The Hill
Trump blasts Cheney for 'loving endless, nonsensical, bloody wars'

https://thehill.com/news/campaign/3505078-trump-blasts-cheney-for-loving-endless-nonsensical-bloody-wars/

Zero Hedge
Zelensky Signals Donbas Could Soon Fall: "Indescribably Difficult" Russian Onslaught
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/zelensky-signals-donbas-soon-fall-indescribably-difficult-russian-onslaught

ECNS (Chinese official English news service)
China-U.S. relations not zero-sum game: Chinese FM [Wang Yi]

Xinhua (Chinese state media)

Veteran of the CIA & State Department, Larry C Johnson, on Ukraine, Donbass & Russia — Eva Bartlett interviews Larry Johnson (video 11.02.10)

Veteran of the CIA & State Department, Larry C Johnson, on Ukraine, Donbass & Russia
Eva Bartlett interviews Larry Johnson

https://youtu.be/UHIap72SViY

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Links — 28 May 2022 Part 1

RayMcGovern.com
Scott Ritter & Ray on Ukraine, Russia, China
Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch
https://raymcgovern.com/2022/05/28/scott-ritter-ray-on-ukraine-russia-china/

The Vineyard of the Saker
Sitrep Operation Z: We’re going down (see the comments also, many good ones.)
The Saker Staff
http://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-were-going-down/

Russian MoD: Briefing on the results of the analysis of documents related to the military biological activities of the United States on the territory of Ukraine (maybe not a smoking gun, but concerning, especially in the aftermath of Covid 19.)

http://thesaker.is/russian-mod-briefing-on-the-results-of-the-analysis-of-documents-related-to-the-military-biological-activities-of-the-united-states-on-the-territory-of-ukraine/

Gonzalo Lira: Things Are Disintegrating (The Red Tide Is Coming) (2 videos)

http://thesaker.is/gonzalo-lira-things-are-disintegrating-the-red-tide-is-coming/

A Son of the New American Revolution
Putting the War in Ukraine in Context
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

https://sonar21.com/putting-the-war-in-ukraine-in-context/

Asia Times
Cardinal Richelieu foresees Russia’s victory in Ukraine

Spengler (David P. Goldman)

https://asiatimes.com/2022/05/cardinal-richelieu-foresees-russias-victory-in-ukraine/

1945 (3 part series)

Counterattack: How Ukraine Can Drive Russia Out (Part I) May 16, 2022

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/05/ukraine-plan-to-win/

How Ukraine Can Drive Russia Out: Part II, Deepening the Defense May 17, 2022

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/05/how-ukraine-can-drive-russia-out-part-ii-deepening-the-defense/

Counterattack – How Ukraine Can Drive Russia Out (Part III: Building an Offensive Army) May 28, 2022

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/05/counterattack-how-ukraine-can-drive-russia-out-part-iii-building-an-offensive-army/

Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis (US Army retired), senior fellow for Defense Priorities

Should Congress Shrink the Deficit to Fight Inflation? — Stephanie Kelton

Last month, I was in Brussels for a client event. Instead of the usual keynote address, I did a fireside chat with one of their senior market analysts. He put seven questions to me and then moderated an extended Q&A with the audience. It was a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, because it was a private event, there’s no recording for me to share with you. But I thought the questions—and my responses—might be of interest. To avoid writing one really long post, I’ve decided to divide it into a seven-part series.

I’ll answer the first question today, but here’s a preview of what’s to come.…

The Lens

Should Congress Shrink the Deficit to Fight Inflation?

https://stephaniekelton.substack.com/p/should-congress-shrink-the-deficit

Also

The event is entirely virtual this year. It’s also free and open to the public.
Bravo!

The 4th Annual MMT Conference

The Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education — Gonzalo Lira

Good description of what a liberal arts education used to be but no longer is.

The Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education
Gonzalo Lira
https://youtu.be/Z_FBkZL3b9I

The Eurasian Economic Union Steps Up — Pepe Escobar

The EAEU comprises five full members – Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia – yet 14 nations sent delegations to the forum, including China, Vietnam and Latin American nations.…

The Eurasian Economic Forum was established by the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council explicitly to further deepen economic cooperation between EAEU members. No wonder the official theme of the forum was Eurasian Economic Integration in the Era of Global Shifts: New Investment Opportunities, focusing on strategic development in the industrial, energy, transport, financial, and digital areas.

President Putin’s speech to the plenary session was quite revealing. To really appreciate the scope of what’s implied, it’s important to remember that the Greater Eurasian Partnership concept was presented by Putin in 2016 at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, focused on a “more extensive Eurasian partnership involving the Eurasian Economic Union” and including China, Pakistan, Iran and India.
Putin stressed how the drive for developing ties “within the framework of the Greater Eurasian Partnership” (…) “was not the political situation but global economic trends, because the centre of economic development is gradually – we are aware of this, and our businesspeople are aware of this – is gradually moving, continues to move into the Asia-Pacific Region.”
He added, “in the current international conditions when, unfortunately, traditional trade and economic links and supply chains are being disrupted”, the Greater Eurasian Partnership “is gaining a special meaning.”
Putin established a direct connection not only between the Greater Eurasian Partnership and EAEU members but also “BRICS members such as China and India”, “the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN and other organizations.”

And that’s the core of the whole, ongoing, multi-layered process of Eurasia integration, with the China-led New Silk Roads intersecting with the Eurasia Economic Union, the SCO, BRICS+, and other converging strategies.
Read the whole post. It's even more expansive than this, encompassing the entire Global South/East. This is advancing quickly, spurred by Western unipolarism in the form of globalization under neoliberalism, neo-imperialism and neocolonialism that the South/East countries view as a form of fascism instead of true liberalism and insofar as it is "liberal," it is anti-traditionalist, while the majority of the South/East is culturally and institutionally traditionalist.

Putin for his part was careful to define the Greater Eurasian Partnership as “a big civilizational project. The main idea is to create a common space for equitable cooperation for regional organizations”, changing “the political and economic architecture on the entire continent.”

The world is changing fast.

The Vineyard of the Saker

The Eurasian Economic Union Steps Up
Pepe Escobar

http://thesaker.is/the-eurasian-economic-union-steps-up/

Does Ukraine Need To Be Denazified? — Iain Davis

There is a lot of debate over the role of neo-Nazism both in Ukraine and and in today's world, where it also goes by the name "fascism," although "fascism" is often used more broadly to include those that do not express specifically Nazi ideas, dress, or paraphernalia, but rather Nazi-like ideas and behavior. Sometimes there is a fine line here. Russia regards the West as primarily fascistic rather than as Nazi or truly liberal, as do many in the West on both left and right, as well as many in the Global South.

For example, American or Western "exceptionalism" can be viewed as an expression white supremacy and the right to rule the rest based on it, whether this is conscious and intentional or not. For some it is conscious and intentional but in an environment of cultural racism is so endemic that many do not even realize it or cannot see it when it is pointed out to them. It has been an issue in the US since the founding owing to the incorporation of slavery into the Constitution. The US fought a civil war over this and that war is still smoldering, occasionally breaking out into violence.

This is a major subtext of contemporary politics and geopolitics. Ukraine is just one instance of this issue rearing its head violently.

Regarding Ukraine, not all those accused of being Nazi are readily identified as such, but rather as fascist. However, many are readily identifiable as Nazi and some of those are in positions of power, and they were put there with the connivance of the West, the US in particular after the Maidan.

The following is a recently published article exploring this phenomenon in Ukraine. It is a bit longish and detailed, so good weekend reading.

UK Column (13 My 2022)
Does Ukraine Need To Be Denazified?

Iain Davis

https://www.ukcolumn.org/article/does-ukraine-need-to-be-denazified

Friday, May 27, 2022

Solidarność

Where it all started… if Russia fucks with Poland it might really be on… many are either too old or too young to understand…

Backgrounder here.

“Make the Adjustment”

Umpire is Art Degree all the way (or uneducated and polluted with Art Degree tendency) … Art Degree morons no ability to make adjustments…

Why the British state is a magic money tree — Josh Ryan-Collins

Excellent summary of basic MMT principles with specific reference to British institutions and policy.

The New Statesman
Why the British state is a magic money tree
Josh Ryan-Collins is an associate professor in economics and finance at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

Dear Ursula, you are dead wrong — Jorge Vilches

Longish and detailed, but definitive summary of oil situation in Europe.

The Vineyard of the Saker
Dear Ursula, you are dead wrong
Jorge Vilches for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/dear-ursula-you-are-dead-

Former Virginia State Senator and Purple Heart Winner Warns: “We’re at a 1914 Moment Jeremy Kuzmarov interviews — Col. (ret.) Richard Black

This is a somewhat longish interview but it is worth reading in full owing to the experience of Col. Black.

Covert Action Magazine
Former Virginia State Senator and Purple Heart Winner Warns: “We’re at a 1914 Moment
Jeremy Kuzmarov interviews Col. (ret.) Richard Black

wrong/https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/05/27/former-virginia-state-senator-and-purple-heart-winner-warns-were-at-a-1914-moment/

Links — 27 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker

Will NATO Aggression Force Russia to Extend the Special Operation Beyond the Ukraine?

Batiushka for The Saker Blog

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2761684730989137546/2209055447703728436#

Moon of Alabama
As Things Fall Apart Biden May Want To Escalate ("Combined Biden" have decided to attempt to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and are already escalating.)

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/as-things-fall-apart-biden-may-want-to-escalate.html

Zero Hedge
Biden Readies Approval Of Long-Range Rockets To Ukraine - Russia Warns Over "Red Line" (when does the "special military operation" turn into war? BoJo tells Z not to negotiate.)
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-prepares-approve-long-range-rockets-ukraine-russia-warns-over-red-line

China's Military Must Be Able To Destroy SpaceX's Starlink Satellites: Researchers

Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/chinas-military-must-be-able-destroy-spacexs-starlink-satellites-researchers

Asia Times
China aims to take out Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites (dual-use)
Gabriel Honrada
https://asiatimes.com/2022/05/china-aims-to-take-out-elon-musks-starlink-satellites/

Antiwar
US General Floats Military Options to Help Export Ukrainian Grain (Gen. Cavoli is nominated to be NATO's next commander)

Dave DeCamp

https://news.antiwar.com/2022/05/26/us-general-hints-at-military-options-to-help-export-ukrainian-grain/

Reminiscence of the Future
A Bit Of Military Porn.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-bit-of-military-porn.html

CaitlinJohnstone.com
MSM Offers Rare Glimpse Into How Bad Things Are Really Going For Ukrainian Forces
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/27/msm-offers-rare-glimpse-into-how-bad-things-are-really-going-for-ukrainian-forces/

The Internationalist 360º

The Battle for the Donbass

Hugo Turner

https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/05/26/the-battle-for-the-donbass/

India Punchline
Indo-Pacific power dynamic in radical shift (US expansionism and Japanese militarism and revanchism meet Sino-Russian alliance)
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/indo-pacific-power-dynamic-in-radical-shift/

Katehon (Russian Traditionalist orthodox Christian think tank alleged by the US to be linked to the Russian state)

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict; a Proxy War between Russia and NATO (3 possible courses of action)

Leonid Savin

https://katehon.com/node/83262

One World

Putin Touched Upon Russia’s Grand Geo-Economic Strategy In Eurasia (Eurasia emerging as an economic and power center to counterbalance the West)

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2915

Kiev’s Threat To Cut Off Russian Oil To Hungary Debunks Another Fake News Narrative

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2914

Andrew Korybko, American geopolitical analyst and independent journalist based in Moscow, and member of the expert council for the Institute of Strategic Studies and Predictions at the People’s Friendship University of Russia

Oilprice
Russia Sends Record Volumes Of Oil To India, China

Tsvetana Paraskova

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Russia-Sends-Record-Volumes-Of-Oil-To-India-China.html

Personal consumption and expenditures — Warren Mosler

Graphs.

The Center of the Universe
Personal consumption and expenditures
Warren Mosler

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Links — 26 May 2022 Part 2

Reminiscence of the Future
They Begin To Feel The Pinch. Or, Didn't I Tell You So?
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/they-begin-to-feel-pinch-or-didnt-i.html

The Vineyard of the Saker
Andrei Martyanov: Davos “news”, real resources, Operational Art-2 (video)

http://thesaker.is/andrei-martyanov-davos-news-real-resources-operational-art-2/

Gonzalo Lira: Lysychansk, fire control, retreat and truth

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2761684730989137546/5996046215257688374#

Oilprice
Why You Should Care About The Price Of Diesel

Josh Owens

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-You-Should-Care-About-The-Price-Of-Diesel.html

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)

China, Russia Veto US-Sponsored UNSC Resolution on North Korea

https://sputniknews.com/20220526/china-russia-veto-us-sponsored-unsc-resolution-on-north-korea-1095810725.html

Quote of the week: Ha-Joon Chang on liberalism, ‘the most confusing term in the world’ — Nick Johnson

The Political Economy of Development
Quote of the week: Ha-Joon Chang on liberalism, ‘the most confusing term in the world’
Nick Johnson

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Liberalism

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism/

Legal Dictionary

Liberalism

https://legaldictionary.net/liberalism/

Links — 26 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker
Sitrep Operation Z: + consequences = petty Tabaquis howling
The Saker Staff
http://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-consequences-petty-tabaquis-howling/

Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the 1st Eurasian Economic Forum

http://thesaker.is/vladimir-putin-addressed-the-plenary-session-of-the-1st-eurasian-economic-forum/

A Son of the New American Revolution
The Truth About the $40 Billion Ostensibly Being spent to arm Ukraine
https://sonar21.com/the-truth-about-the-40-billion-ostensibly-being-spent-to-arm-ukraine/

Let’s Talk Game changers in Ukraine and the Future

https://sonar21.com/lets-talk-game-changers-in-ukraine-and-the-future/
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

Reminiscence of the Future
About Force Multipliers And Game-Changers. By Larry.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/about-force-multipliers-and-game.html

Naked Capitalism
The Danger of Underestimating Russia
Yves Smith

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/05/the-danger-of-underestimating-russia.html

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
Russian Forces Capture First US-Made Switchblade Loitering Munition In Donbass (Photos)
https://southfront.org/russian-forces-capture-first-us-made-switchblade-loitering-munition-in-donbass-photos/

Briefing by Russian MoD On Morning Of May 26, 2022
https://southfront.org/briefing-by-russian-mod-on-morning-of-may-26-2022/

SouthFront.org Is Under Attack

https://southfront.org/southfront-org-is-under-attack-2/

One World
Why’s Kiev Finally Telling The Truth About The Eastern Ukrainian Front?
Andrew Korybko, American geopolitical analyst and independent journalist based in Moscow, and member of the expert council for the Institute of Strategic Studies and Predictions at the People’s Friendship University of Russia

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2913

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
US launches ‘China House’("team of diplomats focused on coordinating policy to confront Beijing")
https://www.rt.com/news/556153-blinken-china-house-policy-shift/

EU not prepared for war – top diplomat [Josep Borrell]

https://www.rt.com/news/556147-josep-borrell-war-eu-unprepared/?

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Ukraine Warns ‘Something Should Happen’ to Pipeline Delivering Russian Oil to Hungary

https://sputniknews.com/20220526/ukraine-warns-something-should-happen-to-pipeline-delivering-russian-oil-to-hungary-1095802828.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Russia’s latest weapons offer better results with fewer troops in Ukraine, deputy PM says (force multiplier)

https://tass.com/politics/1456167

Kiev regime’s brutality: Ukrainian POWs open up about ruthless anti-retreat squads

https://tass.com/defense/1456129

Zero Hedge

Ruble Slides From 4-Year-High On Russian Rate-Cut
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ruble-slides-4-year-high-russian-rate-cut

China Builds World's First AI-Powered Drone Carrier For Maritime Operations

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/china-builds-worlds-first-ai-powered-drone-carrier-maritime-operations

Bill Mitchell – Australia – business capital expenditure declines in March-quarter but outlook remains positive

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released the latest version of – Private New Capital Expenditure and Expected Expenditure, Australia – today (May 26, 2022), which is part of several releases leading up to the publication of the March-quarter National Accounts next Wednesday. Today’s business investment data shouws that private new capital expenditure in Australia fell by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter but was up by 4.5 per cent on the year. With the uncertainty continuing about the extent and duration of the current supply-side disruptions, the decline in business investment was, in fact, modest. And the expected investment plans signal that there is still no sense of crisis among those responsible for capital expenditure. One of the challenges facing the new Federal government is to maintain optimism in the economy in order to avoid the current-quarter decline in business investment becoming consolidated. If the new Treasurer keeps harping on about the $A1 trillion debt and the need to cut the fiscal deficit, they will fail that challenge and business will get spooked and we will head towards recession with on-going inflationary pressures....
Bill Mitchell – billy blog
Australia – business capital expenditure declines in March-quarter but outlook remains positive
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Links — 25 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker
NATO vs Russia: what happens next
Pepe Escobar
http://thesaker.is/nato-vs-russia-what-happens-next/

Grains of deceit (disinformation over Russian blockage of ports shipping wheat to provide an excuse for NATO intervention in the Black Sea.)

Natsouth

http://thesaker.is/grains-of-deceit/

India Punchline

Ukraine after 90 days of war (Ukrainian forces in the ropes in Donbass.)
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/ukraine-after-90-days-of-war/

Bill Mitchell — Presentation to Economic Society of Australia

It’s Wednesday and I just finished a ‘Conversation’ with the Economics Society of Australia, where I talked about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and its application to current policy issues. Some of the questions were excellent and challenging to answer, which is the best way. You can view an edited version of the discussion below and then enjoy The Meters....

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
Presentation to Economic Society of Australia
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Shadow Banking... — Brian Romanchuk

I had an article planned and started, but I got caught up with events. Instead, I just wanted to make a few comments about the dreaded “shadow banking” sector — non-bank finance. I had seen a few articles complaining about lack of regulation and risks posed by shadow banks, which I think is just extrapolating the last financial crisis.

I had written a sequence of articles on banks (first one here), in which I emphasised that financial flows are circular. If the flows are not circular, things break, and you get a crisis. The issue is that shadow banking is outside the view of regulators, and hence things can blow up.
Bond Economics
How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Shadow Banking...
Brian Romanchuk

http://www.bondeconomics.com/2022/05/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love.html

Links — 24 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker

Sitrep Operation Z: ‘The Grind’ is mainly done for now – Donbas Arc lights up like a solar storm
The Saker Staff
http://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-the-grind-is-mainly-done-donbas-arc-lights-up-like-a-solar-storm/

The Secret American Plan to Make Russia Great Again
Dmitry Orlov for the Saker Blog
http://thesaker.is/the-secret-american-plan-to-make-russia-great-again/

History is Being Written Before our Eyes
Batiushka for The Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/history-is-being-written-before-our-eyes/

A Son of the New American Revolution
Looks Like CNN and Rest of The American Media Are Growing Weary of the war in Ukraine
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

https://sonar21.com/looks-like-cnn-and-rest-of-the-american-media-are-growing-weary-of-the-war-in-ukraine/

India Punchline
IPEF will be a hard sell in Indo-Pacific
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/ipef-will-be-a-hard-sell-in-indo-pacific/

Moon of Alabama
Flag Abuse And Other Bits On Ukraine

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/flag-abuse-and-other-bits-on-ukraine.html

CaitlinJohnstone.com

They’re Just Outright Telling Us That Peace In Ukraine Is Not An Option (CJ is a bit naïve. She is unaware that this was the objective of expanding NATO eastward in the first place and later the coup that overthrew the Ukrainian democratically elected government. It's part of the larger plan to take down Russia and China to cement Western (read "white captialist") domination globally. The notion that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was unprovoked is a figment of an information war that is part of the multi-domain operations being used to attack Russian and China on all levels from the cultural to the military, including the potential for "limited" nuclear war to accomplish this objective if need be.)

Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/24/theyre-just-outright-telling-us-that-peace-in-ukraine-is-not-an-option/

TASS (Russian state media)
West ignores others’ sovereignty for the sake of "golden billion" — SC secretary [Nikolay Patrushev]
https://tass.com/politics/1455011

US uses terrorists as geopolitical tool, Russian security official [Nikolay Patrushev] says
https://tass.com/politics/1455095

Russia had to begin special operation to stop genocide in Ukraine — Defence Minister [Sergey Shoigu]
https://tass.com/politics/1455113

Ukraine to get just 15% of $40-bln US aid, but must return entire sum, Duma speaker [Vyacheslav Volodin] says

https://tass.com/world/1454961

American Committee for US-Russian Accord
Paul Robinson’s Testimony Before the Canadian Parliament on Human Rights Violations in Ukraine

Irrussianality

Paul Robinson | Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa

https://usrussiaaccord.org/paul-robinsons-testimony-before-the-canadian-parliament-on-human-rights-violations-in-ukraine/

The Unz Review
Biden Administration’s Ministry of Truth Stumbles, by Philip Giraldi
Philip Giraldi, former CIA counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer, now Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest and founding member of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/biden-administrations-ministry-of-truth-stumbles/

The Hill
NATO chief: ‘Freedom is more important than free trade’
Zach Wendling

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3499626-nato-chief-freedom-is-more-important-than-free-trade/

Popular Resistance
UN: Four Key Climate Indicators Broke Records in 2021 (greenhouse gas concentrations, ocean acidification, ocean temperature and sea level rise)

Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch

https://popularresistance.org/un-four-key-climate-indicators-broke-records-in-2021/

Monday, May 23, 2022

Rising interest rates could lead the central bank to pay out more in interest than it earns

We told you this years ago… now WSJ finally catching up…

WSJ parroting Mike’s long held opinion; saying it would cause a “political problem” but imo negative equity position technically implies insolvency or a pending insolvency…

It’s also funny here that WSJ refers to “rising interest rates!” as if the Fed itself doesn’t control the interest rate…

All they have to do to avoid this problem is not increase the rates above what their short term liabilities will allow… which is about another 1%…

Rising interest rates could one day lead the central bank to pay out more in interest than it earns, creating a political headache https://t.co/qY0bC5SvVQ
— WSJ Central Banks (@WSJCentralBanks) May 23, 2022

Mike beaks it down in a YouTube here along with his daily markets summary:

An Important Headline — Andrei Martyanov (video 28.00)

An Important Headline
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues. Martyanov was born in Baku, USSR in 1963. He graduated from the Kirov Naval Red Banner Academy and served as an officer on the ships and staff position of Soviet Coast Guard through 1990. He took part in the events in the Caucasus which led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. In mid-1990s he moved to the United States where he currently works as Laboratory Director in a commercial aerospace group. He is a frequent blogger on the US Naval Institute Blog. He is author of Losing Military Supremacy, The (Real) Revolution in Military Affairs, and Disintegration: Indicators of the Coming American Collapse — Clarity Press

https://youtu.be/_BKT_32HcCg

Why Biden’s off-the-cuff comment about defending Taiwan matters — Jonathan Guyer

Ukraine and Taiwan are entirely separate matters from the military point of view, so that comparisons are peripheral But the two are identical from the point of view of the national security of Russia and China, alone and together, in that the fall of one ensures the eventual fall of the other.

Strategically, Taiwan is needed by the US to successfully prosecute a war against China, as Ukraine was with respect to NATO engaging Russia. But their Russia and China present existential threats to the US or even threats to US national security. It is a stretch to argue that they impinge on vital US national interests.

Therefore, they are existential for both Russia and China but discretionary for the US. For the US, this is purely a matter of serving the interest of the ruling elite that wishes to extend and cement US Post-WWII global dominance and the economic benefit this bestows.

Whether the US can undertake this endeavor successfully is another issue.

Vox

Why Biden’s off-the-cuff comment about defending Taiwan matters
Jonathan Guyer

Links — 23 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker

Sitrep 180 Hot Potato : Ritter, Lira, Johnson and Martyanov

Amarynth for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/sitrep-180-hot-potato-ritter-lira-johnson-and-martyanov/

A Son of the New American Revolution
Debating Scott Ritter
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

https://sonar21.com/debating-scott-ritter/

Reminiscence of the Future
Larry Wrote An Excellent Counter-Argument To...
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/05/larry-wrote-excellent-counter-argument.html

Energy Intelligence (May 18, 2022)

Ukraine War Has No End in Sight (If you aren''t up on the change in Scott Ritter's position.)

0Scott Ritter, former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, serving in the Soviet Union as an inspector implementing the INF Treaty, on General Schwarzkopf’s staff during the Gulf War, and from 1991-1998 as a UN weapons inspector

https://www.energyintel.com/00000180-d669-d410-aba9-f66dbd120000

Internationalist 360º
Ukraine’s Nazi Connection and the British National Cover-up
Brett Redmayne-Titley

https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/05/22/ukraines-nazi-connection-and-the-british-national-cover-up/

Asia Times
In Tokyo, Biden puts two boots into China—President says US will definitely stand by Taiwan if attacked while kicking off talks on ex-China Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (Biden verbally commits US to fight for Taiwan as he apparently abandons strategic ambiguity.)

Andrew Salmon

https://asiatimes.com/2022/05/in-tokyo-biden-puts-two-boots-into-china/

Moon of Alabama

White House Rejects President's Foreign Policy

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/white-house-rejects-presidents-foreign-policy.html

The Unz Review
Neocon Propaganda Backfires

Kevin Barrett

https://www.unz.com/kbarrett/neocon-propaganda-backfires/

Zero Hedge
Russian Strategist Tells TV Pundit Ukraine War Is "Rehearsal" For NATO Conflict
Tyler Durden

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russian-strategist-tells-tv-pundit-ukraine-war-rehearsal-nato-conflict

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
EU’s weapons stockpile depleted – Borrell

https://www.rt.com/news/555937-eu-army-ukraine-borrell/

TASS (Russian state media)
China says US shipped $70 bln worth of weapons to Taiwan

https://tass.com/world/1454651

CaitlinJohnstone.com
They’re Worried About The Spread Of Information, Not Disinformation
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/23/theyre-worried-about-the-spread-of-information-not-disinformation/

Bill Mitchell — We have a new federal government – finally some decency will hopefully return

Australia has a new federal government. We have finally rid ourselves of the worst government in my lifetime. An indecent, lying, corrupt government. A government that messed up so many important things yet never took responsibility. During the pandemic, it was the state governments that saved the day, while being hectored by the federal government to abandon restrictions. Thankfully the state premiers held firm. The outgoing federal government has attacked minorities and the poor. It has gutted the higher education system and the public broadcaster. It has installed its cronies throughout the public sector and other important regulative bodies. It has been a vehicle for the coal lobby. It has failed to support the growing needs of women against domestic violence. It has now received its marching orders. I had a glass of champagne on Saturday evening to celebrate the passing of this awful gang. I hope we have a ‘night of the long knives’ and the new government cleans out all the cronies and appoints progressives to these important positions. In general, the policy direction will improve. But all is not well given the predominance of neoliberals in senior economics positions in the new government. I hope they broaden the advice they receive. But for now – we have rid ourselves of this awful government.

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
We have a new federal government – finally some decency will hopefully return
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=49824

Paradigm and Nervous Breakdown: Globalization Goes Into Reverse as Inflation/Scarcity Crisis Accelerates Yves Smith

Important!

The old world order is breaking down. Where we go from here is unclear.

Naked Capitalism

Paradigm and Nervous Breakdown: Globalization Goes Into Reverse as Inflation/Scarcity Crisis Accelerates

Yves Smith
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/05/paradigm-and-nervous-breakdown-as-globalization-goes-into-reverse-in-combination-with-inflation-scarcity-crisis-accelerates.html

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Wood: Potential of Artificial General Intelligence

This is her story and she is sticking to it…. (I think her use of “DNA” here is figurative)…

.@ARKInvest must share more of our research about #artificialgeneralintelligence (AGI) and how it is likely to transform the way the world works. Within 6-12 years, breakthroughs in AGI could a accelerate growth in GDP from 3-5% per year to 30-50% per year. New DNA will win! https://t.co/RxVp8K4IK4
— Cathie Wood (@CathieDWood) May 22, 2022

Links — 22 May 2022 Part 2

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
US Military Expert [Scott Ritter]: Russia to Score Major Victories in Donbass, Must Adapt to New NATO Game

Sputnik interviews Scott Ritter

https://sputniknews.com/20220522/us-military-expert-russia-to-score-major-victories-in-donbass-must-adapt-to-new-nato-game-1095703665.html

TASS (Russian state media)
US Indo-Pacific strategy geared to instigate confrontation - Chinese top diplomat

https://tass.com/world/1454347

India Punchline
CSTO won’t be drawn into Ukraine war
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/csto-wont-be-drawn-into-ukraine-war/

Oilprice
Geopolitics Takes A Back Seat As Biden Drops [Some] Sanctions On Venezuela

Felicity Bradstock

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Geopolitics-Takes-A-Back-Seat-As-Biden-Drops-Sanctions-On-Venezuela.html

Russian and Eurasian Politics
The Influence of Neofascist and Other Nationalist Groups in Maidan Ukraine
Gordon Hahn | Expert Analyst at Corr Analytics, http://www.canalyt.com and a Senior Researcher at the Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (CETIS), Akribis GroupM.

https://gordonhahn.com/2022/05/18/the-influence-of-neofascist-and-other-nationalist-groups-in-maidan-ukraine/

Defend Democracy Press
US and UK Split With France and Claim There Is No Exit Ramp for Putin ("Russia must lose.")

Kyle Anzalone

http://www.defenddemocracy.press/us-and-k-split-with-france-and-claim-there-is-no-exit-ramp-for-putin/

The Independent
Russia’s war on Ukraine can only be resolved through ‘diplomacy’, says Zelensky

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-end-diplomacy-zelensky-b2084448.html

American Affairs
The EU after Ukraine
Wolfgang Streeck

https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2022/05/the-eu-after-ukraine/

Modern Monetary Theory: The Right Compass for Decision-Making — Dirk Ehnts

Download paper.

Intereconomics — Review of European Economic Policy
Modern Monetary Theory: The Right Compass for Decision-Making

Dirk Ehnts | Lecturer at Bard College Berlin, research assistant at the Technical University of Chemnitz, and spokesperson of the board of Pufendorf-Gesellschaft eV in Berlin

Links — 22 May 2022 Part 1

One World
Milley’s Latest Remarks On Great Powers & Technology Are Worth Paying Attention To

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2900

Russia, Iran, And India Are Creating A Third Pole Of Influence In International Relations

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2899

RayMcGovern.com
CIA Vets McGovern & Kiriakou: It’s Scoundrel Time Back in the USA (podcast transcript)
Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch

https://raymcgovern.com/2022/05/22/cia-vets-mcgovern-kiriakou-its-scoundrel-time-back-in-the-usa/

Turcopolier
Ukrainian artillery: the true king of battle – TTG (gamechanger?)
https://turcopolier.com/ukrainian-artillery-the-true-king-of-battle-ttg/

The Vineyard of the Saker

Pepe Escobar : Interview with The Press Project (video 51.34)
http://thesaker.is/pepe-escobar-interview-with-the-press-project/

Sitrep Operation Z: Yes, it is ‘The Grind’
The Saker Staff
http://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-yes-it-is-the-grind/

Azov surrenders. Who will be the sacred martyr now?
Batko Milacic for the Saker Blog
http://thesaker.is/azov-surrenders-who-will-be-the-sacred-martyr-now/

Germans ´schwedt´ hard for Russian oi
Jorge Vilches for the Saker Blog

http://thesaker.is/germans-schwedt-hard-for-russian-oil/

Inflation and Modern Monetary Theory- MMT | Seeing the Forest — Dave Johnson

Of interest. Short plug for MMT. Recommends The Deficit Myth.

Seeing the Forest
Inflation and Modern Monetary Theory- MMT | Seeing the Forest
Dave Johnson

https://seeingtheforest.com/inflation-and-modern-monetary-theory-mmt/

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Links — 21 May 2022 Part 1

A Son of the New American Revolution

Mariupol’s Final Ukrainian Chapter, Russia Writes New book
Larry C. Johnson | CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering, formerly Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (1989-1993, and CIA operations (1984-1989)

https://sonar21.com/mariupols-final-ukrainian-chapter-russia-writes-new-book/

India Punchline
In the wake of Russian victory in Mariupol
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador

https://www.indianpunchline.com/in-the-wake-of-russian-victory-in-mariupol/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Western Media Run Blatant Atrocity Propaganda For The Ukrainian Government
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/21/western-media-run-blatant-atrocity-propaganda-for-the-ukrainian-government/

Moon of Alabama
No, The Ukraine War Has Not Stoked A Global Food Crisis.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/no-the-ukraine-war-has-not-stoked-a-global-food-crisis.html

Bracing Views
The Murderous Madness of Trillions for Nuclear Weapons
W. J. Astore, Lieutenant Colonel (USAF ret.), taught at the Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and currently at the Pennsylvania College of Technology

https://bracingviews.com/2022/05/21/the-murderous-madness-of-trillions-for-nuclear-weapons/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
‘That’s the Real World’: Fmr. US Ambassador [Michael McFaul] to Russia Says US Was Lying to Ukraine About NATO Bid

https://sputniknews.com/20220521/thats-the-real-world-fmr-us-ambassador-to-russia-says-us-was-lying-to-ukraine-about-nato-bid-1095678504.html

Consortium News

US National Press Club Still Refuses to Defend Assange

Joe Lauria

https://consortiumnews.com/2022/05/20/cn-lobbies-national-press-club-on-assange/

One World

Obama’s Infowar Czar Admitted That The Global South Supports Russia’s Special Operation

Andrew Korybko

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2895

The Atlantic Is Right: America Has Never Really Understood India

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=2897One World

The Grayzone
A history of naked imperialism continues as Biden approves Somalia redeployment
TJ Coles

https://thegrayzone.com/2022/05/21/us-somalia-imperialism-military-biden-redeploy/

Friday, May 20, 2022

Links — 20 May 2022 Part 2

The Vineyard of the Saker

Russia Rewrites the Art of Hybrid War

Pepe Escobar

http://thesaker.is/russia-rewrites-the-art-of-hybrid-war/

Andrei Martyanov: Feeling Sitrepish on May 20
http://thesaker.is/andrei-martyanov-feeling-sitrepish-on-may-20/

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
In Video: Russian Military Column On Fire
https://southfront.org/in-video-russian-military-column-on-fire/

Russia Vows To Take Measures After Reports Of US Plan To Arm Ukraine With Anti-Ship Missiles
https://southfront.org/russia-vows-to-take-measures-after-reports-of-us-plan-to-arm-ukraine-with-anti-ship-missiles/

BREAKING: Azovstal Is Under Full Control Of Russian Armed Forces
https://southfront.org/breaking-azovstal-is-under-full-control-of-russian-armed-forces/

Fate Of Ukrainian Militants Who Surrendered In Azovstal

https://southfront.org/fate-of-ukrainian-militants-who-surrendered-in-azovstal/

Naked Capitalism
Michael Hudson on the Ongoing Economic War
Peter Scott, RT anchor, interviews Michael Hudson

Yves Smith

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/05/michael-hudson-on-the-ongoing-economic-war.html

Michael Hudson adds edited portions of the interview that were not published in a comment.

RT Just sent me (unexpectedly) the OFF-CAMERA discussion, FYI.

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/05/michael-hudson-on-the-ongoing-economic-war.html#comment-3727374

MR Online
Who is leading the United States to war? (originally for a Chinese audience)
Deborah Veneziale, American journalist and editor who has worked in the global supply chain sector for 35 years, now living in Venice, Italy

https://mronline.org/2022/05/19/who-is-leading-the-united-states-to-war

Donbass Insider
[Neo-Nazi leader] IGOR MOSIYCHUK “CRIMEA WILL BE UKRAINIAN OR WILL BE DEPOPULATED»

Laurent Brayard, for Donbass Insider

https://www.donbass-insider.com/2022/05/19/igor-mosiychuk-crimea-will-be-ukrainian-or-will-be-depopulated/

Internationalist 360º
Katerina Yushenko: First Lady, CIA Asset
Laurent Brayard

https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/05/20/katerina-yushenko-first-lady-cia-asset/

Mint Press News
From UK Troll Farms to Covert Psyops: The Troubling Past of Nina Jankowicz
Kit Klarenberg

https://www.mintpressnews.com/uk-propaganda-nina-jankowicz-biography/280899/

Zero Hedge
[Sen. Tom] Cotton, [Tulsi Gabbard Warn That Government 'Ministry Of Truth' Is Only On Pause
Steve Watson via Summit News

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/cotton-gabbard-warn-government-ministry-truth-only-pause

Stop The Denial: Ukraine Is A Proxy War That Will Lead To Wider World War
Brandon Smith via Alt-Market.us

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/stop-denial-ukraine-proxy-war-will-lead-wider-world-war

Bracing Views
The Death of the Democratic Party (unquestioning unanimity on Ukraine defense spending)
W. J. Astore, Lieutenant Colonel (USAF ret.), taught at the Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and currently at the Pennsylvania College of Technology

https://bracingviews.com/2022/05/20/the-death-of-the-democratic-party/

Oilprice
World Sees First Global Energy Shock: World Energy Council (food shock to come)

Irina Slav

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/World-Sees-First-Global-Energy-Shock-World-Energy-Council.html

Links — 20 May 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker
Sitrep Operation Z: The Ukrainian fighters’ will to resist is deteriorating fast

The Saker Staff

http://thesaker.is/sitrep-operation-z-the-ukrainian-fighters-will-to-resist-is-deteriorating-fast/

So How Serious is Ukraine’s neo-Nazi Romance?
Cynthia Chung for the Saker Blog
http://thesaker.is/so-how-serious-is-ukraines-neo-nazi-romance/

Gonzalo Lira: There Is No “Open Corridor” Through West and Central Ukraine (2 videos)
http://thesaker.is/gonzalo-lira-there-is-no-open-corridor-through-west-and-central-ukraine/

Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, May 18, 2022 (Extensive)

http://thesaker.is/briefing-by-foreign-ministry-spokeswoman-maria-zakharova-moscow-may-18-2022-extensive/

RayMcGovern.com (podcast)
Will Biden’s Ivy-Mantled Advisers Take China’s Warnings Seriously This Time?
Ray McGovern, co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and retired 27-year career CIA whose tasks included preparing and briefing The President’s Daily Brief and leading the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch

https://raymcgovern.com/2022/05/20/will-bidens-ivy-mantled-advisers-take-chinas-warnings-seriously-this-time/

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine SitRep - Russians Break Through U.S. Bolsterism

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/05/ukraine-sitrep-russians-break-through-us-bolsterism.html

The Dreizin Report
The #1 Structural Problem with U.S. Governance

Jacob Dreizin

https://thedreizinreport.com/2022/05/20/the-1-structural-problem-with-u-s-governance/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Twitter To Ramp Up Censorship Of ‘Misinformation’ About The Ukraine War
Caitlin Johnstone

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/05/20/twitter-to-ramp-up-censorship-of-misinformation-about-the-ukraine-war/

Vast Swath of US at Risk of Summer Blackouts, Regulator Warns

😂😂😂😂😂

* Vast Swath of US at Risk of Summer Blackouts, Regulator Warns

⁦@business⁩ (h/t ⁦@JohnSpall247⁩) pic.twitter.com/63MjX93sUW
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) May 18, 2022

Bannon: The Market Implosion

This weeks MAGA breakdown:

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Multi-Domain Operations: The US Wages Constant War and Across All Domains — Brian Berletic (video 18.57)

The price of empire.

The New Atlas
Multi-Domain Operations: The US Wages Constant War and Across All Domains
Brian Berletic, American industrial designer living in Bangkok and former US Marine

https://youtu.be/LUNi5zKqKQQ

Links — 19 May 2022 Part 2

Internationalist 360º
Lieutenant Colonel Jacques Guillemain: “Ukrainian Soldiers are Entrenched in the Cities”
Originally at Continental Observer in French
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/lieutenant-colonel-jacques-guillemain-ukrainian-soldiers-are-entrenched-in-the-cities/

Multi-Domain Operations: The US Wages Constant War and Across All Domains

Brian Berletic, American industrial designer living in Bangkok and former US Marine

https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/us-multi-domain-operations-war-by-additional-means/

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
ZELENSKY DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO PORTRAY ‘AZOV’ SURRENDER AS A WIN FOR UKRAINE
Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst
https://southfront.org/zelensky-desperately-attempts-to-portray-azov-surrender-as-a-win-for-ukraine/

ALGERIA HAS ACQUIRED CHINESE SUPERSONIC ANTI-SHIP MISSILE

https://southfront.org/algeria-has-acquired-chinese-supersonic-anti-ship-missile/

The Grayzone

Leaked emails expose UK Home Secretary Priti Patel’s connection to MI6-style ‘research and influence operation’

Kit Klarenberg

https://thegrayzone.com/2022/05/18/leaked-emails-uk-home-secretary-priti-patels-mi6-operation/

TASS (Russian state media)
Dollar falls below 62 rubles on Moscow Exchange first time since January 2020

https://tass.com/economy/1453137

Bracing Views
Priming the Pump for More War
W. J. Astore, Lieutenant Colonel (USAF ret.), taught at the Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, and currently at the Pennsylvania College of Technology

https://bracingviews.com/2022/05/19/priming-the-pump-for-more-war/

Tulsi
Politicians rushing to pass $40B Ukraine bill

Tulsi Gabbard, Lt. Col. US Army Reserves, 2020 Presidential candidate, and former congresswoman

Pages

Pages

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Monday, May 30, 2022

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Friday, May 27, 2022

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Monday, May 23, 2022

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Friday, May 20, 2022

Thursday, May 19, 2022