Wednesday, August 31, 2022

How Russia Views America — Philip Pilkington

REVIEW ESSAY
Disintegration: Indicators of the Coming American Collapse by Andrei Martyanov, Clarity, 2021, 286 pages

The focus of this article is on deployment of real resources with respect to national capability.
American Affairs Journal
How Russia Views America
Philip Pilkington
This article originally appeared in American Affairs Volume VI, Number 3 (Fall 2022): 102–12.
https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2022/08/how-russia-views-america/

Philip Pilkington is an economist (M.A. in Economics from Kingston University) working in investment finance. He is MMT savvy. 

See also

Phil sure got this one right, while our fearless leaders didn't think things through and made decision based on faulty assumptions.

Newsweek 3/15/22
Sanctions Could Harm Us and Bolster Russia on the World Stage | Opinion
Philip Pilkington
https://www.newsweek.com/sanctions-could-harm-us-bolster-russia-world-stage-opinion-1687703

Links — 31 August Part 2

A Son of the New American Revolution
Escalating Blowback from Russian Sanctions (civilization hangs on energy)
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/escalating-blowback-from-russian-sanctions/

Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs
Remembering Gorbachev
Gilbert Doctorow
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/08/31/remembering-gorbachev/

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #189: In The Tradition Of Ilovaisk
yalensis

Consortium News
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/2022/08/31/scott-ritter-the-death-list/

The Grayzone
Jon Stewart and the Pentagon honor Ukrainian Nazi at Disney World
Alexander Rubinstein
https://thegrayzone.com/2022/08/31/jon-stewart-pentagon-ukrainian-nazi-disney/

US News
UN Cites Possible Crimes Vs. Humanity in China's Xinjiang
JAMEY KEATEN and EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-08-31/deadline-looming-china-vies-to-block-un-report-on-xinjiang

Politico
China’s Uyghur abuses ‘may constitute crimes against humanity,’ UN finds
Stuart Lau
https://www.politico.eu/article/chinas-uyghur-abuses-may-constitute-crimes-against-humanity-un-finds/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
https://www.rt.com/news/561925-china-demands-us-dispel-pelosi-influence/

US to expedite arms shipments to Taiwan
https://www.rt.com/news/561905-us-expedite-arms-shipments-taiwan/

German minister [Annalena Baerbock] vows to back Ukraine ‘no matter what voters think’
https://www.rt.com/news/561934-baerbock-ukraine-voters-sanctions/

Zero Hedge
"A Structural Rupture" - German Companies Shutting Down In Response To Record Energy Prices
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/structural-rapture-german-companies-shutting-down-response-record-energy-prices





edX — Modern Monetary Theory: Economics for the 21st Century

edX
Modern Monetary Theory: Economics for the 21st Century
Demystify macroeconomic principles and terminology and discover how Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) provides explanations for some of the world's most troubling financial concerns.


4 weeks
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Starts Sep 13
Ends Oct 11

Sign up at the link above.

Scott Ritter - Ukraine Russia War Latest —Judge Napolitano (video 17:49)

Scott Ritter - Ukraine Russia War LatestScott Ritter - Ukraine Russia War Latest 


Scott Ritter - Ukraine Russia War Latest
Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
https://youtu.be/geW6G8_855k

Links — 31 August 2022 Part1

Asia Times
Ukraine – the situation (August 31, 2022) (inconclusive)
Uwe Parpart
https://asiatimes.com/2022/08/ukraine-the-situation-august-31-2022/

Reminiscence of the Future (Russian government funding electronics industry)
Speak of the Devil.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/speak-of-devil.html

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine - A Frontline Report - Vanishing Foreign Weapons
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/ukraine-a-frontline-report-vanishing-foreign-weapons.html

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Russian Defense Ministry: Ukraine Lost Over 1,700 Soldiers in 2 Days of Counterattack (The attacking force is estimated at 12,000. Do the math. "To decimate" means to reduces by a tenth. The attacking force was apparently more than "decimated" in the first couple of days.) 
https://sputniknews.com/20220831/russian-defense-ministry-ukraine-lost-over-1700-soldiers-in-2-days-of-counterattack-1100233284.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220831/us-army-general-urges-washington-to-give-kiev-weapons-to-strike-deep-into-russian-territory-1100230992.html

Ukrainian Sabotage Group Plotted Attack at ZNPP During IAEA Visit: Regional Official
https://sputniknews.com/20220831/ukrainian-sabotage-group-plotted-attack-at-znpp-during-iaea-visit-regional-official-1100226928.html

US Government Using Microsoft to Conceal Cyber-Aggression Against Russia, Moscow [Maria Zakhoarva Says (Microsoft will lose markets.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220831/us-government-using-microsoft-to-conceal-cyber-aggression-against-russia-moscow-says-1100215516.html

United States Should Recognize That Afghan War Ended in Their Defeat, Says Russian Embassy in US (Like Vietnam, and like Vietnam also, it was predictable and avoidable. Vietnam was my wake-up call. The US has leaned nothing since.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220831/united-states-should-recognize-that-afghan-war-ended-in-their-defeat-says-russian-embassy-in-us-1100202740.html

The Cradle
Ukraine: Somewhere between Afghanization and Syrianization ("By now it’s abundantly clear this is not a mere war of territorial conquest. It’s certainly part of a War of Economic Corridors – as the US spares no effort to sabotage and smash the multiple connectivity channels of Eurasia’s integration projects, be they Chinese-led (Belt and Road Initiative, BRI) or Russian-led (Eurasian Economic Union, EAEU)." The not-so-hidden agenda.)
Pepe Escobar
https://thecradle.co/Article/Columns/14989

Zero Hedge
A Third Of Pakistan Is Underwater As Monsoon Rains Create Crisis Of "Unimaginable Proportions"
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/third-pakistan-underwater-monsoon-rains-create-crisis-unimaginable-proportions

"How In The Name Of God": Shocked Europeans Post Astronomical Energy Bills As 'Terrifying Winter' Approaches
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/how-name-god-shocked-europeans-post-astronomical-energy-bills-terrifying-winter-approaches
Irina Slav
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Europe-Must-Prepare-For-Energy-Rationing-And-Blackouts.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Gorbachev helped to fundamentally change global security — Borrell (Conversely, many Russian view Gorbachev as a simpleton or even a traitor.)

Gazprom announces complete halt in supplies via Nord Stream due to repairs
https://tass.com/economy/1500295

Counterpunch
How Mikhail Gorbachev Became the Most Reviled Man in Russia (hero in the West, traitor at home)
Jeffrey Sommers
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/08/31/how-mikhail-gorbachev-became-the-most-reviled-man-in-russia/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
Caitlin Johnstone
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/08/31/were-being-trained-to-worry-about-russian-propaganda-while-drowning-in-us-propaganda/

JonathanTurley.com
Jonathan Turley | Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University
https://jonathanturley.org/2022/08/30/bidens-disinformation-dependables-bash-joins-a-long-line-of-biden-officials-who-pushed-false-russian-disinformation-claims/










Reasons For Scepticism About Nominal GDP Targeting — Brian Romanchuk

 There has been an ongoing push for a switch to nominal GDP targeting by Market Monetarists and some mainstream allies. Although I agree that being able to hit a nominal GDP target would be attractive, it would also be attractive to have a yacht. There are a few fundamental issues with nominal GDP targeting. The first is that the target is going to be harder to hit than an inflation target. The second is that it is unclear how much of an advantage the change would have in practice — as opposed to in neoclassical models. Finally, it looks like a much harder proposition to convince voters that a nominal GDP target makes more sense than an inflation target....

Bond Economics
Reasons For Scepticism About Nominal GDP Targeting
Brian Romanchuk
http://www.bondeconomics.com/2022/08/reasons-for-scepticism-about-nominal.html

Bill Mitchell — A ‘broad agreement’ on the need for climate change action – doesn’t mean a solution is forthcoming

It’s Wednesday and I have been on the road most of the day so have had less time to write. A few issues are discussed below, including the problem that climate change is presenting central banks with, recent research on how an initial Covid infection appears to be causally related to a range of life threatening maladies. And then some music....
Bill Mitchell – billy blog
A ‘broad agreement’ on the need for climate change action – doesn’t mean a solution is forthcoming
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Links — 30 August 2022 Part 2

A Son of the New American Revolution
Ukrainian Counter Offensive Fizzles Out After Political Push to Launch
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/ukrainian-counter-offensive-fizzles-out-after-political-push-to-launch/

The Vineyard of the Saker
Russian MoD updates the losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the failure of their counter-offensive
The Saker
http://thesaker.is/russian-mod-updates-the-losses-of-the-ukrainian-armed-forces-after-the-failure-of-their-counter-offensive/

Reminiscence of the Future
Not Again, Please.
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/not-again-please.html

About Iranian UAVs, Again...
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/about-iranian-uavs-again.html
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

Oilprice
Iran Plans Critical Gas Hub In Bid For Global Gas Supremacy
Simon Watkins
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Iran-Plans-Critical-Gas-Hub-In-Bid-For-Global-Gas-Supremacy.html


Biden’s Demand of ‘Unconditional Surrender’ to Russia Will Fail — Col. (ret.) Douglas Macgregor interviewed by Judge Napolitano (video 19:34)


 
Biden’s Demand of ‘Unconditional Surrender’ to Russia Will Fail
Col. (ret.) Douglas Macgregor interviewed by Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
https://youtu.be/jRmtI-bOxPI

"When all else fails, you lie."

Kherson Offensive" Announced by Western Media — The New Atlas (Brian Berletic) (video 19:44)

 


Kherson Offensive" Announced by Western Media
The New Atlas (Brian Berletic)
https://youtu.be/aZnzbMv6i20

Links — 30 August 2022 Part 1

Reminiscence of the Future
Sic Transit Gloria Americae.
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues

Operation "Thermostat". (Tucker Carlson video)
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/operation-thermostat.html

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine - A 'Counteroffensive' That Was Destined To Fail (even official US is hedged)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/ukraine-a-counteroffensive-that-was-destined-to-fail.html

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #188: Ukrainian Counter-Offensive (balanced view. inconclusive so far)
yalnesis
https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/2022/08/30/ukraine-war-day-188-ukrainian-counter-offensive/

Turcopolier
” … as Kyiv ‘breaks through’ Russian defences in Kherson.” (Ukrainian sources)
Col. W. Patrick Lang, US Army (ret.)
https://turcopolier.com/as-kyiv-breaks-through-russian-defences-in-kherson/

Zero Hedge
Pentagon Stockpiles "Uncomfortably Low" Amid Ukraine Transfers, Officials Admit ("What's more is that the shortfall will likely last into the future, given the norm is for new purchases and then manufacturers supplying the weapons to take a process of years." Europe is drained too.)
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/pentagon-stockpiles-uncomfortably-low-amid-ukraine-transfers-officials-admit

Ukraine Fatigue? British War Support Wanes Amid Energy Hyperinflation (food and energy more important than sacrificing for Ukraine?)
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukraine-fatigue-british-war-support-wanes-amid-energy-hyperinflation
Tyler Durden

1945
The Real Problem With Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal: It Came 10 Years Too Late (never should have gone in in the first place, especially when Bin Laden had escaped at Tora Bora at the very beginning. Moreover, what Davis says about Afghanistan was true in spades about Vietnam, as I discovered, like him, serving in the theater of operation. It was the beginning of repeated catastrophes, including Ukraine. Why? in the first place, hubris — the arrogance of power. Secondly, faulty assumptions and failure to think things through at the beginning and then inability to change based on feedback.)
Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis (USA ret.), Senior Fellow and Military Expert for Defense Priorities
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/08/the-real-problem-with-bidens-afghanistan-withdrawal-it-came-10-years-too-late/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Poll: Half of Americans Say Afghanistan War Was a Mistake a Year After Withdrawal ("blunder" would be a better choice of terms.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220830/poll-half-of-americans-say-afghanistan-war-was-a-mistake-a-year-after-withdrawal-1100182639.html

Taiwan Fires Warning Shots as Chinese Drones Approach Kinmen Islands(would this happen without US knowledge and permission?)
https://sputniknews.com/20220830/taiwan-fired-warning-shots-as-pla-drone-approached-kinmen-islands-report-1100180657.html

The Unz Review
A Death in Moscow, by Philip Giraldi (clearly an intel operation due to complexity of esecution across borders. Ukrainian SBU was identified as the proximate cause by Russian FSB, but involvement of others likely, e.g., MI6, CIA, or Mossad.)
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/a-death-in-moscow/

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Taiwan fires live rounds at Chinese drones 'for first time' (significant escalation.)
https://www.rt.com/news/561820-taiwan-shots-chinese-drone/

Poland warns of EU ‘implosion’ over Ukraine conflict (unity breaking?)
https://www.rt.com/news/561812-poland-eu-implosion-ukraine/

TASS (Russian state media)
Russian financial system needs adaptation in sanctions environment — PM [Mikhail Mishustin]
https://tass.com/economy/1499959

Russian-Chinese freight traffic via Tury Rog-Mishan checkpoint up 51% year-to-date (China replacing Europe as Russian supplier.)
https://tass.com/economy/1499809














Monday, August 29, 2022

Links — 29 August 2022 Part 2

The Vineyard of the Saker
Ukraine SITREP: the promised “major Ukrainian counter-attack” ends in disaster (too early to tell much about the "offensive" but at this point it seems more tactical and informational than operational and strategic, as claimed.)
The Saker
http://thesaker.is/ukraine-sitrep-the-promised-major-ukrainian-counter-attack-ends-in-disaster/

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
First Results Of Ukrainian Counteroffensive In Kherson Region (inconclusive)
https://southfront.org/first-results-of-ukrainian-counteroffensive-in-kherson-region/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Scott Ritter to Sputnik: Any Afghan Pilots Who Make Way to Ukraine Will Be on a ‘Suicide Mission’ (The post is interesting in that it refers to thousands of Afghan military that emigrated and are potentially available for a mercenary force. It's a job, after all.)
Ilya Tsukanov
https://sputniknews.com/20220829/scott-ritter-to-sputnik-any-afghan-pilots-who-make-way-to-ukraine-will-be-on-a-suicide-mission-1100137404.html

Politico
Ukraine has ‘good chance’ to retake territory, U.S. assesses (The American view.)
Lara Seligman
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/29/u-s-ukraine-retake-territory-russia-00054092

Ukraine has hobbled Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Could it turn the tide of the war? (Another one for the rubes. Interesting though for the claim that two Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles took out the Moskva, as the US claimed at the time of the sinking. But most of the rest of the article is clueless about naval warfare and combined arms operations.)
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/29/russias-black-sea-fleet-stuck-struck-and-sinking-00054114

Moon of Alabama
Europe's Economic And Social Suicide - Provoked by The U.S. And Helped Along By Europe's Leaders (faulty assumptions and failure to think things through)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/europes-economic-and-social-suicide-provoked-by-the-us-and-helped-along-by-europes-leaders.html

Doctrine-Mongering as US Military's Pastime — Andrei Martyanov (video 34:49)

 


Doctrine-Mongering as US Military's Pastime — RESISTANCE OPERATING CONCEPT (ROC)
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/4ItrC8-xGdk

Links — 29 August 2022 Part 1

A Son of the New American Revolution
The NY Times Spins While Ukrainian Officials contradict themselves
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/the-ny-times-spins-while-ukrainian-officials-contradict-themselves/

Biden’s New Crisis–Is he U.S. Losing Control of Iraq?
https://sonar21.com/bidens-new-crisis-is-he-u-s-losing-control-of-iraq/

Turcopolier
“Armed Forces of Ukraine break through first line of Russian defence in Kherson Oblast Kakhovka Operational Group” (Western media is on this but it is unconfirmed as yet, Some links follow.)
Col. W. Patrick Lang, US Army (ret.)
https://turcopolier.com/armed-forces-of-ukraine-break-through-first-line-of-russian-defence-in-kherson-oblast-kakhovka-operational-group/

CNN
Ukrainian forces begin 'shaping' battlefield for counteroffensive, senior US officials say
Jim Sciutto, Chief National Security Correspondent
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/29/politics/ukraine-shaping-counteroffensive/index.html

Kyiv Post
Ukrainian Counteroffensive Underway in Kherson Region
https://www.kyivpost.com/russias-war/ukrainian-counteroffensive-underway-in-kherson-region.html

Axios
https://www.axios.com/2022/08/29/ukraine-launches-kherson-counteroffensive

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
Russian FSB Identified Second Ukrainian Citizen Who Took Part In Dugina’s Assassination
https://southfront.org/russian-fsb-identified-second-ukrainian-citizen-who-took-part-in-duginas-assassination/

Naked Capitalism
Will Europe Go Down to Defeat Before Ukraine? ("We will be so bold as to posit that not only has the sanctions war against Russia backfired spectacularly, but the damage to the West, most of all Europe, is accelerating rapidly. And this is not the result of Russia taking active measures2 but the costs of the loss or reduction of key Russian resources compounding over time. So due to the intensity of the energy shock, the economic timetable is moving faster than the military. Unless Europe engages in a major course correction, and we don’t see how this can happen, the European economic crisis looks set to become devastating before Ukraine is formally defeated.")
Yves Smith
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2022/08/will-europe-go-down-to-defeat-before-ukraine.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Russia managed to keep jobs despite foreign companies’ exit — PM [Mikhail Mishustin]
https://tass.com/economy/1499563

Official says West gave more than 4 bln rubles to aid collaborators in Russia this year
https://tass.com/politics/1499559


Ukrainian attack strikes Zaporozhye plant’s nuclear reactor fuel storage unit
https://tass.com/politics/1499553

Crimea head says statements that Ukrainian forces are on offensive in south are false
https://tass.com/politics/1499459

Statements on NATO’s presence in Arctic reveal plans to confront Russia — Peskov
https://tass.com/politics/1499357

















 

Bill Mitchell — Elites using monetary policy to deal with paranoid fears that power might shift towards workers

What a world we live in where we are snowed with propaganda from the elites about how the only way forward is that we accept “pain” or “sacrifice” to prevent some inflationary catastrophe from accelerating out of control and that if workers dare seek some cost-of-living redress as corporations go for broke in their margin push, then the pain the policy makers will inflict will be greater. The annual gathering of the elites at Jackson Hole in Wyoming over the last days has been one of those ‘can you believe this lot’ moments. First, we had the US Federal Reserve boss almost joyfully telling Americans that he will inflict pain on them because “these are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation”. At the same event, the ECB Board member Isabel Schnabel told the gathering that the central banks had to inflict higher unemployment rates to control inflation to stop wages getting driven by inflationary expectations. And then we look at wages growth in Europe and see that real wages are in free fall (dropping 5.9 per cent in the June-quarter 2022)....
Bill Mitchell – billy blog
Elites using monetary policy to deal with paranoid fears that power might shift towards workers
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Links — 28 August 2022 Part 1

A Son of the New American Revolution
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/videos-of-the-ground-war-in-ukraine-ukraine-attacks-thwarted/

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #185: The Whole World is With Ukraine – Right? (Only 54 out of 193 voted for the UN resolution put forward by Ukraine.)
yalensis
https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/2022/08/27/ukraine-war-day-185-the-whole-world-is-with-ukraine-right/

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
A nuclear showdown? One of the greatest 'realist' fears about the Russia-Ukraine conflict is actually groundless, and here's why (Andrei Martyanov comments approvingly in the link below.)
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://www.rt.com/russia/561376-ukraine-russia-conflict-us/

Ukraine relying on US-developed blueprint to fight Russia – CNN ("Civilian resistance under the ROC includes nonviolent actions such as boycotting public events, labor strikes, and even using satire and jokes as means of resistance. Violent actions, like using Molotov cocktails, arson and putting chemicals in gas tanks to sabotage enemy vehicles, are also part of the concept. Generally, the doctrine calls for a major PR campaign to control the narrative of the conflict, preventing the dissemination of the other side’s message, and keeping the population united.")
https://www.rt.com/news/561664-ukraine-us-resistance-concept/

EU can’t let Putin set energy costs – Austria ("Electricity prices across Europe are tied to the price of gas, which now costs around ten times what it did last year. However, while some EU countries are heavily dependent on Russian gas for heating and industry, they use alternate fuels to generate electricity. Austria, for example, generates more than three quarters of its electricity from renewables, per 2020 figures from the International Energy Agency. [Austrian Chancellor Karl] Nehammer argued that decoupling electricity and gas prices would result in a fairer bill for consumers that more accurately reflects electricity production costs.")

Reminiscence of the Future
Scott Ritter On Mearsheimer. (and more. Weekend primer.)
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/scott-ritter-on-mearsheimer.html

Turcopolier
“Russia transfers heavy military equipment to Crimea (preparing offensive?)
Col. W. Patrick Lang, US Army (ret.)
https://turcopolier.com/russia-transfers-heavy-military-equipment-to-crimea/

1945
Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis (USA ret.), Senior Fellow and Military Expert for Defense Priorities
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/08/ukraine-claimed-it-didnt-know-russia-would-invade-evidence-says-otherwise/

TASS (Russian state media)
West’s actions may slow down forming of multipolarity but will not stop it - Lavrov (The transition is already effectively over, but the process is ongoing and will take a number of years. This is what will take some time as new institutions are formed to replace the old ones that are now obsolescent. But de-colonization is now in progress, and that will be a good thing overall. Globalization is happening, it just won't happen the way that Western globalist want it to, that is, under neoliberalism, neo-imperialism and neocolonialism.)
https://tass.com/politics/1499167

Moon of Alabama
The MoA Week In Review - (Not Ukraine) OT 2022-140 (In case you missed something.)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/the-moa-week-in-review-not-ukraine-ot-2022-140.html































The West steered Ukraine into a Bloodshed — Col. Douglas Macgregor (video 33:17)

 


Col. Douglas Macgregor
https://youtu.be/eq8nIp8wpAI

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Links — 27 August 2022 Part 1


The Vineyard of the Saker
All the way to Odessa (Important. Where things are most likely headed based on Russian pronouncements.)
Pepe Escobar
http://thesaker.is/all-the-way-to-odessa/

India Punchline
Ground beneath Zelensky’s feet is shifting (It may be that the US strategy is shifting away from the initially assumed destruction of the Russian economy using "sanctions from hell," and the succeeding assumption about arming Ukraine to one of assuming that longer terms, the sanctions will bring down the Russian economy. Neither the US nor NATO wants to see this escalate to war in Europe, which is tantamount to WWIII. They know that Russia is serious and has the wherewithal to make life very uncomfortable for the West — read "escalation dominance" — in the case of expanding hostilities. So sanctions over the long term may be the last, best hope, even though sanctions have not worked to dislodge the policies or governments of Cuba, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, or China. And Europe, especially the UK and Germany, are already buckling under the effects of the attempt to isolate Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine's military is being ground up day by day. Give it up, guys.)
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador
https://www.indianpunchline.com/ground-beneath-zelenskys-feet-is-shifting/

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine - 'Game Changing' Policy Moves That Ain't Game Changing (picking through the details, with the devil being in the details, including why Scott Ritter's initial prediction that the 40 billion USD for Ukraine's defense would be a game-changer and why it was not.)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/ukraine-game-changing-policy-moves-that-aint.html

CNN
How Ukraine is using warfare developed by the US to fight back against Russia (One side's "insurgent" is the other side's "terrorist." Anyway, it is also interesting that this approach is US developed and it actually goes back a long way. BTW, I would not say that he has either operational or strategic implications. It's purely tactical unless the insurgency is huge, which requires a resistant population, and that doesn't apply to the largely ethnic Russian territory being contested in Ukraine.)
Oren Liebermann, CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/27/politics/russia-ukraine-resistance-warfare/index.html
Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs

Schadenfreude? Iran television casts ‘Spotlight’ on UK and European Union energy crisis (faulty assumptions and failure to think things through. The article doesn't mention that the situation is backfiring on the perps.)
Gilbert Doctorow
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/08/27/schadenfreude-iran-television-casts-spotlight-on-uk-and-european-union-energy-crisis/

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Sanctions war isn’t going as planned – The Economist (The Economist gets one right. Faulty assumptions and failure to think things through, which requires system awareness.)
https://www.rt.com/news/561634-sanctions-ukraine-china-economist/

One World 
(The following two posts are broad-brushed but the subject matter is nuanced. They are useful distinctions if this is kept in mind. Unipolarity and multipolarity are not only different policy choices but they reflect a fundamental difference in worldviews. The charge is that the 
 view of the West is systemically "racist," reflecting its colonial past and path dependence. Of course, the issues are far more nuanced, but at the same time, the fundamental distinction is now the perception in the Global North/West and the Global South/East, speaking generally. Why is this important? Clashes in worldviews indicate mismatches in perception of reality, which can lead to conflict.)
CNN Defamed Darya Dugina As A “Disinformation” Agent To Discredit Her Multipolar Legacy
https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3180

Russia Correctly Described The US-Led West’s Golden Billion As Racist To The Core
https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3183
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

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Turkey Urges France to Recognize Consequences of Colonial Past (Of course, Turkey had its own imperial history in the form of the Ottoman Empire.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220827/turkey-urges-france-to-recognize-consequences-of-colonial-past-1100068478.html

Russian FM Lavrov Slams Western Neo-Colonial Order in Address to Young Diplomats Forum (Russian hammering hard on this in spite of Russia's imperial past.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220827/russian-fm-lavrov-slams-western-neo-colonial-order-in-address-to-young-diplomats-forum-1100064999.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Western-imposed order provides for racist division of world — Russia’s top diplomat (de-colonization)
https://tass.com/politics/1498943

Kiev preparations for conflict with Russia became clear in early 2020 – Lugansk ambassador (Russia's intervention as pre-emptive.)
https://tass.com/world/1498917

Defend Democracy Press
‘Soon the world will be unrecognisable’: is it still possible to prevent total climate meltdown? (I have been focusing in the links on the conflict in Ukraine and mostly ignoring the other two horsemen of the apocalypse, one being "famine" (climate change) and the other "pestilence" (pandemic). All three are still operative. and climate change is now coming to the fore fast with massive flooding from glacier melt in Southeast Asia, a heat wave in China, and drying rivers in Europe. Craig Murray sees the elite as preparing to survive the coming catastrophes by tightening security.)
http://www.defenddemocracy.press/soon-the-world-will-be-unrecognisable-is-it-still-possible-to-prevent-total-climate-meltdown/

Bracing Views
Vote for What You Believe In, Not for Crumbs (Yeah, I know, US politics, which I supposedly don't cover here since it is a can of worms. But this is an important contribution by a rational voice about the state of political system in the US. It's broken. To vote for candidates that could win, i.e., who are two-party affiliated, one is forced to choose not the better candidate but rather the least bad, or else either not vote or vote for someone that has almost zero probability of winning. A lot of people feel helpless to effect change, and this is not good for the national psychology. After all, this is supposed to be the rationale for superiority of the democratic system over other systems.)
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/2022/08/27/vote-for-what-you-believe-in-not-for-crumbs/

Craig Murray Blog
The Great Clutching at Pearls (Craig Murray: I am not now a Marxist nor was I ever one, but it is turning out that Marx was right about capitalism. As neoliberalism, capitalism is inexorably self-destructing.)
Craig Murray, formerly British ambassador to Uzbekistan and Rector of the University of Dundee
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2022/08/the-great-clutching-at-pearls/

Understanding Society
Philosophers and Marx in the 1950s (I attended a grad school — Georgetown — that specialized in the history of philosophy, one of the few that did in the 6o's. While it is true that Marx was paid scant attention, but not none, so were many other thinkers of greater prominence than Marx. In the history of philosophy, Marx is not even second-rate, although his historical importance might belie this. But in the system of rational enquiry characteristic of Western civilization, he and many other just are not that great given the competition. He may have been world-class in social and political philosophy, but still had no breadth and depth in comparison with many others. Marx stands in the shadow of Hegel, for example, who was and is considered second-rate in comparison with top-rated Kant. One simply cannot read philosophy without Kant any more than without Plato and Aristotle. 
Actually, Marx is much more influential as an economist than a philosopher, and the economics profession in the West has excluded his work and that of his followers. It should also be noticed that "philosophy" in the West means the output of the Western rational tradition pioneered by the Greeks. Now there is a push toward "world philosophy" to include non-Western thinkers. Similarly, Marx is being great recognition now. Actually, I backed into economics in the same what that Marx did, realizing that it was impossible to approach social and political thought without a grasp of economic beyond Econ 101 and that conventional economics doesn't cut it. So expect to hear more about Marx as well as Eastern thinkers like Shankara and his Advaita Vedanta, for instance.) In fact, this "invasion" is already well underway.
Daniel Little concludes his post with: "So maybe the neglect of Marx was not entirely ideological, but more a question of “knowledge frameworks” or paradigm shifts. Marx’s theories did not fit readily into the conceptual frameworks of mainstream Anglophone philosophy. (Imagine J.L. Austin trying to make sense of the Grundrisse.) But that paradigm shift did eventually occur, and social philosophers came to recognize the ground they needed to share with social scientists, biologists, and historians — including Marx. Substantive theories about how the world works — including the social world — are indeed relevant to the main problems of social and political philosophy." I think this is about right. Thankful some of my professors were of a similar mind back then, especially the Europeans, so I was exposed to many thinkers that were not treated in the Anglo world then, with some not even considered "philosophers.")
Daniel Little | Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the Chancellor for the University of Michigan-Dearborn 2000-2018




















Friday, August 26, 2022

Links — 26 August 2022 Part 2

Asia Times
Ukraine: the situation (August 26, 2022)
by Uwe Parpart
https://asiatimes.com/2022/08/ukraine-the-situation-august-26-2022/

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #184: Nazi Fashion Statements
yalensis
https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/2022/08/26/ukraine-war-day-184-nazi-fashion-statements/

1945
The Russia-Ukraine War at 6 Months: Could Ukraine Have Avoided War? (The fundamental problem with this post is that it ignores the stated objective of the US — to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. This is  part of the overall political and strategic objective of ensuring permanent US hegemony by colonizing Russia and China, the only actual competitors of the US. This objective is not about Ukraine per se, but Ukraine as a US proxy in a conflict with Russia. Apparently the objective is so important to the US elite as to justify an open commitment to "do what it takes." If it isn't Ukraine, it will be something else.)
Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis (USA ret.), Senior Fellow and Military Expert for Defense Priorities
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/08/the-russia-ukraine-war-at-6-months-could-ukraine-have-avoided-war/

Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs
Book review: Alexander Zhuchkovsky, “85 Days in Slavyansk” (A report on Donbas in 2014)
Gilbert Doctorow
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/08/26/book-review-alexander-zhuchkovsky-85-days-in-slavyansk/

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/08/26/when-billionaires-and-the-government-work-together-to-control-information/

Moon of Alabama
No. Russia's Iran Relations Do Not Change With The Nuclear Deal.
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/no-russias-iran-relations-do-not-change-with-the-nuclear-deal.html

The Vineyard of the Saker
Week-end short news + some good music (state of Russian commercial aircraft production for import substitution and eventual export)
The Saker
http://thesaker.is/week-end-short-news-some-good-music/

One World
https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3177
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

Whitewashing Zelensky’s Corruption
https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3176
Maria Heemskerk, Dutch political commentator who blogs at https://ruslandinperspectief.wordpress.com/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Russian Security Council's Chairman [Dmitry Medvedev]: US and NATO De Facto Involved in Ukraine Conflict
https://sputniknews.com/20220826/russian-security-councils-chairman-us-and-nato-de-facto-involved-in-ukraine-conflict-1100042967.html

Ukraine's Security Service Uses Musk's Starlink to Track Russian Troops, Detained SBU Informant Says (dual-use technology. potential targets?)
https://sputniknews.com/20220826/ukraines-security-service-uses-musks-starlink-to-track-russian-troops-detained-sbu-informant-says-1100040946.html

TASS (Russian state media)
Aeroflot to clinch deals for more than 300 Russian aircraft — CEO
https://tass.com/economy/1498627

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
US explains why it won’t supply Ukraine with longer-range missiles (WWIII)
https://www.rt.com/news/561582-atacms-missiles-ukraine-pentagon/

PsyPost
New study helps pinpoint the key differences between liberals and progressives in the United States (There is a similar dynamic on the right in the difference between traditional conservatives and MAGA. As on the left, it is a difference in kind rather than a difference in degree, that is, a difference in basic world views and values. This likely indicates a tectonic shift in American politics.)
Eric W. Dolan
https://www.psypost.org/2022/08/new-study-helps-pinpoint-the-key-differences-between-liberals-and-progressives-in-the-united-states-63768














Links — 26 August 2022 Part 1

A Son of the New American Revolution
Combined Arms–A Look At Russian Air Ops in the Donbas
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/combined-arms-a-look-at-russian-air-ops-in-the-donbas/

Reminiscence of the Future
Speaking In Purely Military Terms...
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/speaking-in-purely-military-terms.html

Well...
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/well.html

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Americans Blacklisted by Ukraine Demand US Lawmakers Take Action – Letter (Lambert Strether discovered that the Myrotvorets kill-list is linked to a Washington-based NATO server. See Links at Naked Capitalism, 25 Aug 22) "On its site, Myrotvorets claims an address in Langley, VA. I don’t know what that might mean, but what is clear is that Myrotvorets’ logo is served by NATO: [screen shot, not included here] (natocdn.net is owned by NATO; see also here.) It’s not clear to me why NATO would put its infrastructure at the service of a hit list including American academics. Perhaps somebody could ask the State Department about this.")
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/americans-blacklisted-by-ukraine-demand-us-lawmakers-take-action--letter-1100003627.html

Nord Stream 2 Provided Opportunity to Secure Peace in Europe - Ex-US Lawmaker [Retired US Colonel and former Virginia State Senator,  Richard H. Black] (One of the voices of reason.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/nord-stream-2-provided-opportunity-to-secure-peace-in-europe---ex-us-lawmaker-1100003972.html

Defense One
The US Just Revealed a Secret Airborne Test of a Long-Range Cruise Missile ("The December test was part of the effort to equip B-2 bombers to fire the stealthy JASSM-ER")
Marcus Weisgerber
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2022/08/us-just-revealed-secret-airborne-test-long-range-cruise-missile/376347/

The Verge
The US government got caught using sock puppets to spread propaganda on social media (Who started this, Russia and China or the US?)
Mitchell Clark
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/25/23322214/us-government-propaganda-campaign-twitter-facebook

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
EU Tug-Of-War Policy On Ukraine Crumbling Further As Member States Diverge
Drago Bosnic, independent geopolitical and military analyst
https://southfront.org/eu-tug-of-war-policy-on-ukraine-crumbling-further-as-member-states-diverge/
















Current consensus

 

THIS is the current institutional and public consensus:






Thursday, August 25, 2022

Ukraine Russia War Latest with Philip Giraldi — Judge Andrew Napolitano (video 17:49)

 


Ukraine Russia War Latest with 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
Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
https://youtu.be/YEwc7tCzfcw

Primer for August 25 — Andrei Martyanov, (video 26:59)

 


Primer for August 25 — Phantom Pains for the Lost Empire
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/l-YZScwetCE

Links — 25 August 2022 Part 2

a News
Poland's president [Duda] calls for removal of Nord Stream 2 (Call to destroy Germany's best hope.)
DPA 
https://www.anews.com.tr/economy/2022/08/23/polands-president-calls-for-removal-of-nord-stream-2

TASS (Russian state media)
Zelensky says he had ‘great conversation’ with Biden, discussed Kiev’s further steps (Out in the open now, US calling the shots, which is only natural since the US is footing the bill.)
https://tass.com/world/1498363

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
US shuts down ‘Ministry of Truth’ ("The Disinformation Governance Board will be dissolved on the Department of Homeland Security’s recommendation.")
https://www.rt.com/news/561564-disinformation-board-closed-homeland-chertoff/

NATO chief outlines Arctic expansion ("NATO chief outlines Arctic expansion")
https://www.rt.com/news/561561-nato-strategic-challenge-arctic-expansion/

Americans to get medals for Ukraine (So the US is now getting a formally established Ukraine Command. Sure looks like co-belligerency.)
https://www.rt.com/news/561569-us-ukraine-weapons-mission/

TASS (Russian state media)
US State Department claims it is unaware who shells Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant ("'"Washington "cannot now clarify who exactly is shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant,' said Deputy Secretary of State Bonnie Jenkins."  Bro you have 20000 satellites working 24/7 over Ukraine, stop eating shit for once 😂" — Col. Douglass Macgregor)
https://tass.com/world/1498349

Zero Hedge
FBI Leadership Ordered Agents Not To Investigate Hunter Biden Laptop: Whistleblowers
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fbi-leadership-ordered-agents-not-investigate-hunter-biden-laptop-whistleblowers

Internationalist 360º
Western Elites Fear the New Multipolar World Order (report on a recent Putin speech, manifesto really.)
James O'Neill
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/08/24/western-elites-fear-the-new-multipolar-world-order/

US Becomes a Party to the Conflict in Ukraine
Valery Kulikov
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/us-becomes-a-party-to-the-conflict-in-ukraine/

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Number of Russian Military Personnel to Increase by 137,000, Reach 1.15 Million
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/number-of-russian-military-personnel-to-increase-by-137000-reach-115-million-1099988102.html

Germany's 'Absolute Deficit' in Weapon Reserves Impedes Supplies to Ukraine, FM Baerbock Says
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/germanys-absolute-deficit-in-weapon-reserves-impedes-supplies-to-ukraine-fm-baerbock-says-1099979404.html

MoD: Russian Iskander Missile Hits Railway Station, Eliminating 200 Ukrainian Troops (the other side of the story.)
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/mod-russian-iskander-missile-hits-railway-station-eliminating-200-ukrainian-troops-1099977853.html

Moscow: US Afraid Inhumane Acts Committed by Azov Terrorists Will Be Made Public
https://sputniknews.com/20220825/us-afraid-inhumane-acts-committed-by-azov-terrorists-will-be-made-public-russian-embassy-says-1099967315.html

Counterpunch
NPR Host and NYT Guest Stress that Russia is Communist While Vilifying Uninformed Republicans ("In a remarkably unhinged analysis, NPR host Terry Gross and New York Times Magazine writer Robert Draper claimed that Russia is a communist country — as they went on about how detached from reality rightwing Republicans are. Here’s the crux of the exchange (many thanks to Bryce Greene), which almost comes off like a comedy.")
Sam Husseini
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/08/25/npr-host-and-nyt-guest-stress-that-russia-is-communist-while-vilifying-uninformed-republicans/






































Links — 25 August 2022 Part 1

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #183: Slow But Steady Wins The Race (why Russia is "taking so long" to wrap up Donbas. Russia doesn't fight like the US.)
yalensis
https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/2022/08/25/ukraine-war-day-183-slow-but-steady-wins-the-race/

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine Previously Cited High Casualty Rates - It Is Now Lowballing Those Numbers (the Western media dutifully publish what Ukraine puts out, in spite of inconsistencies.)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/ukraine-previously-cited-high-casualty-rates-now-it-is-now-lowballing-its-numbers.html

Turcopolier
The Asov Organisation – Potential Serial Pest? By Walrus. (Azov embedded in refugees to the West?)
https://turcopolier.com/the-asov-organisation-potential-serial-pest-by-walrus/

One World
Kiev’s Representative To The Vatican Just Vilely Justified Darya Dugina’s Assassination [after Pope Francis criticized it.]
https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3173

https://oneworld.press/?module=articles&action=view&id=3171
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

Gilbert Doctorow — International relations, Russian affairs
Russian allegations of rampant Nazism in Europe (The basis of Nazism is exceptionalism leading to quest for dominance. This is the basis of not only German Nazism under Hitler. Those who identify specifically as Nazi show this, but there are many others that have similar views that don't identify with German Nazism or consider themselves Nazi. But exceptionalism (read superiority) is endemic in Western society and it manifests as systemic racism resulting from centuries of imperialism and colonization that have affected the culture. It's complicated. Doctorow explains. Should-read. Important but suppressed in the West.)
Gilbert Doctorow
https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2022/08/25/russian-allegationsn-of-rampant-nazism-in-europe/

CaitlinJohnstone.com
US Invades Syria, Kills People, Claims Self-Defense
Caitlin Johnstone
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2022/08/25/us-invades-syria-kills-people-claims-self-defense/

India Punchline
Where JCPOA, oil conjoin stands OPEC+ (US as odd man out even though it is a major producer.)
M. K. Bhadrakumar | retired diplomat with the Indian Foreign Service and former ambassador
https://www.indianpunchline.com/where-jcpoa-oil-conjoin-stands-opec/
 
Sixth Tone (China)
For China’s New ‘New Women,’ a Dream of Flight ("the central theme that emerged from my fieldwork was not so much the decisive overthrow of neo-traditionalist ideals, but rather the exhausting emotional work that mobile women perform in mediating between divergent systems of gendered value." Another instance of liberalism colliding with traditionalism. The longer term result will be a modification of Chinese cultural value regarding gender. But it probably won't come quickly.)
Fran Martin
https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1011062/For%20China%E2%80%99s%20New%20%E2%80%98New%20Women,%E2%80%99%20a%20Dream%20of%20Flight











Bill Mitchell — The Japanese wage problem

I read a lot about Japan. It has interested me since the early 1990s commercial property collapse and the subsequent fiscal and monetary policy measures that the Japanese government deployed to deal with it, which took policy settings outside the bounds that mainstream economists could cope with. These economists predicted the worst based on mindless extrapolations of their ‘theoretical’ models, which are really incapable of dealing with the real world in any meaningful way. Their worst didn’t come and some 3 decades later, with policy settings still at ‘extreme’ levels compared to the way mainstream economists think (and the policy makers are not budging it seems), Japan continues to demonstrate why New Keynesian macroeconomics is inapplicable and why Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) has traction. And while Japan provides first-class public transport, health and education systems, a viable housing policy, good urban systems, and has maintained low unemployment rates even during the GFC and the pandemic, there is one feature that is troublesome – the flat lining wages growth over the last 20 years. I have been very interested in learning the reasons for this phenomenon, which sets Japan apart from most other nations (who have also experienced low wages growth – but not that low). I plan to work on this aspect, in part, when I move to Kyoto next month for an extended stay.…
Bill Mitchell – billy blog
The Japanese wage problem
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=50350

The Incentives For Inflation "Targeting" — Brian Romanchuk

Now that the furore about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) has died down (other than the continuous pathetic strawman attacks), I am seeing a downtick in economic theory arguments that I find interesting. People are arguing about the details of fiscal policy and what is happening with inflation, which end up either being political or datamining time seri…

One theoretical topic that comes up is the idea of nominal GDP targeting. I have doubts about nominal GDP targeting, the main one being that it is difficult to dislodge something like an inflation target (I am not concerned with the details of the policy framework). In this article, I explain the political attractions of inflation targeting before turning to nominal GDP targeting....
Bond Economics
The Incentives For Inflation "Targeting"
Brian Romanchuk
http://www.bondeconomics.com/2022/08/the-incentives-for-inflation-targeting.html

Navarro on TruthSocial now

 

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂









Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Links — 24 August 2022 Part 2

A Son of the New American Revolution
What Is Going On In Ukraine–Intel Ploy or Real Threat?
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/what-is-going-on-in-ukraine-intel-ploy-or-real-threat/

Awful Avalanche
Ukraine War Day #182: The Start Of The Nikolaev Offensive ("The Russians got tired of waiting for the Ukrainian counter-offensive. So they said, Never mind, we’ll just do it ourselves.”)
yalensis
https://awfulavalanche.wordpress.com/2022/08/24/ukraine-war-day-182-the-start-of-the-nikolaev-offensive/

Reminiscence of the Future
On Wunderwaffe Thinking, Again. And Some Other Items. (more wishful thinking combined with magical thinking)
Andrei Martyanov, former USSR naval officer and expert on Russian military and naval issues.
http://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/on-wunderwaffe-thinking-again-and-some.html

Southfront (sanctioned by the US Treasury Department)
Another Civilian Official Assassinated In Zaporizhia Region (insurgency or terrorism?)
https://southfront.org/another-civilian-official-assassinated-in-zaporizhia-region/

The Libertarian Institute
Taiwan Sending Armed Drones to Ukraine Through Poland (incendiary if true.)
Kyle Anzalone /
https://libertarianinstitute.org/blog/taiwan-sending-armed-drones-to-ukraine-through-poland/

Politico
Biden pumps billions into the long war in Ukraine (“At some point, particularly for the U.S., U.K., and some of the near neighbors like Estonia and Poland who have been generous with the equipment they have, [donating existing stocks] isn’t going to be sustainable forever.” Hmm. The Russians were supposed to be the ones running out of ammo.)
Paul McLeary, Connor O'Brien, Lee Hudson
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/24/biden-billions-ukraine-defense-russia-00053635

Covert Action Magazine
Intelligence Expert [Douglas Valentine] Believes CIA Behind Car Bomb Assassination of Daughter of Alexander Dugin (why the CIA is likely involved and plausible deniability. Scott Ritter thinks that CIA involvement is iffy but an MI6 connection is near certain.)
Jeremy Kuzmarov
https://covertactionmagazine.com/2022/08/24/cia-expert-believes-cia-behind-car-bomb-assassination-of-daughter-of-alexander-dugin/

The Grayzone
Intelligence operative confirms British gov’t is targeting The Grayzone
Kit Klarenberg
https://thegrayzone.com/2022/08/24/intelligence-british-govt-grayzone/


Scott Ritter - Ukraine, Russia & Poland interviewed by Judge Andrew Napolitano (video 17:33)

 


Scott Ritter - Ukraine, Russia & Poland
Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom
https://youtu.be/Vo02ZZOAHcIhttps://youtu.be/Vo02ZZOAHcI

Links — 24 August 2022 Part 1

The Vineyard of the Saker
Geopolitical tectonic plates shifting, six months on ("What Moscow is doing is talking to virtually the whole Global South, bilaterally or to groups of actors, explaining how the world-system is changing right before our eyes, with the key actors of the future configured as BRI, SCO, EAEU, BRICS+, the Greater Eurasia Partnership. And what we see is vast swathes of the Global South – or 85% of the world’s population – slowly but surely becoming ready to engage in expelling the FIRE Mafia from their national horizons, and ultimately taking them down: a long, tortuous battle that will imply multiple setbacks."
Pepe Escobar
http://thesaker.is/geopolitical-tectonic-plates-shifting-six-months-on/

Moon of Alabama
Ukraine - Wrong Assumptions, Wrong Conclusions - And A Lot Of Dead Soldiers (wishful thinking compounded by an inability to think things though)
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/ukraine-wrong-assumptions-wrong-conclusions-and-a-lot-of-dead-soldiers.html

Breaking Defense
With biggest-yet security package, US aid to Ukraine nears $13B (US and UK still committed to Russian strategic defeat in Ukraine, no matter the cost, with the ultimate objective of colonizing Russia.)
Lee Ferran
https://breakingdefense.com/2022/08/with-biggest-yet-security-package-us-aid-to-ukraine-nears-13b/

RT — Question More (Russian state-sponsored media)
Ukraine will seize Crimea ‘by any means necessary’ – Zelensky (Zelensky committed to destruction of Ukriane?)
https://www.rt.com/russia/561410-zelensky-take-back-crimea/

UK pubs face ‘extinction’ – survey (now that is a real crisis!)
https://www.rt.com/news/561486-uk-pubs-face-extinction/

Macron warns of ‘end of abundance’ (the coming age of austerity as the new normal)
https://www.rt.com/news/561466-macron-france-crisis-sacrifices/

Zero Hedge
Boris Johnson Arrives in Kiev For 3rd Time, This Time Bearing Gifts ("I believe Ukraine can and will win this war." — Johnson)
Tyler Durden
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/boris-johnson-arrives-kiev-3rd-time-time-bearing-gifts

TASS (Russian state media)
US president announces $2.98 bln in new military aid to Ukraine
https://tass.com/world/1497739

EU, NATO pledge to stick with Ukraine as long as it takes, statements say (The other outcome is the end of NATO and the EU. Which is more likely? Trap to capture Russia or Russian trap to finish its chief adversaries?)
https://tass.com/world/1497715

US-led West using Ukraine issue to justify economic war against Russia, defense chief [Sergei Shoigu] says
https://tass.com/politics/1497621

https://tass.com/politics/1497597
https://sputniknews.com/20220824/why-ukraine-risks-becoming-europes-graveyard-despite-uk--eu-putting-on-brave-face----1099953941.html

US military biological program poses direct threat to SCO nations, Shoigu says (exactly why is the US military running a biological program anyway?)
https://tass.com/defense/1497631

Russian diplomat [Maria Zakharova] slams Zelensky’s denial of Kiev’s involvement in journalist’s murder (Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Kiev regime was doing exactly what Western guidelines said.)
https://tass.com/politics/1497573

Russian army slows down advance to reduce civilian casualties — defense minister [Sergei Shoigu] (countering Western narrative that Russia is bogged down and the Ukrainians are now winning.)
https://tass.com/politics/1497555

Sputnik International (Russian state-sponsored media)
Why Ukraine Risks Becoming Europe's Graveyard Despite UK & EU Putting on Brave Face  (sacrificing themselves for the cause — US dominance. How dumb is that?)
https://sputniknews.com/20220824/why-ukraine-risks-becoming-europes-graveyard-despite-uk--eu-putting-on-brave-face----1099953941.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220824/us-initially-provided-ukraine-only-with-portable-weapons-expecting-quick-defeat-reports-say-1099944168.html

Stoltenberg Urges NATO States to Ramp up Defense Investment (they didn't have the euro before, where will they come from now under Maastricht?)
https://sputniknews.com/20220824/stoltenberg-urges-nato-states-to-ramp-up-defense-investment-1099937652.html

Rector of Leading Russian University [Alevtina Anatolievna] on Trends That Will Determine the Future (STEM)
https://sputniknews.com/20220824/rector-of-leading-russian-university-on-trends-that-will-determine-the-future-1099933565.html

PEARLS AND IRRITATIONS—John Menadue's Public Policy Journal
The west’s false narrative about Russia and China ("At the core of all of this is the US attempt to remain the world’s hegemonic power, by augmenting military alliances around the world to contain or defeat China and Russia. It’s a dangerous, delusional, and outmoded idea. The US has a mere 4.2% of the world population, and now a mere 16% of world GDP (measured at international prices). In fact, the combined GDP of the G7 is now less than that of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), while the G7 population is just 6 percent of the world compared with 41 percent in the BRICS.")
Jeffrey D. Sachs | Professor of Sustainable Development and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University, Director of Columbia’s Center for Sustainable Development, and Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
https://johnmenadue.com/the-wests-false-narrative-about-russia-and-china/

Countercurrents
UK sued by Africans over colonial-era abuses (decolonization)
Countercurrents Collective
https://countercurrents.org/2022/08/uk-sued-by-africans-over-colonial-era-abuses/

Internationalist 360º
Blinken Returns Empty Handed from Africa Tour ("A week after Blinken’s departure from Rwanda, Veronica Mbaye wrote in the New Times pointing out the contradictory character of Washington’s foreign policy saying: “Whatever residue of faith persisted after George Bush lied about mass destruction weapons existing in oil-rich Iraq, as an excuse to invade the country and cause decades-long instability, was exhausted during the Barack Obama years. Obama, who ran a successful campaign by feigning an impeccable moral core (which I suppose Americans did want to see in him to prove they were not racist) positioned himself as anti-war, only to line the pockets of gun lobbyists and drop bombs on innocent Syrian children when elected. As Antony Blinken will recall, having served as Obama’s close aide for years, the Obama Administration orchestrated the assassination of an African leader on African soil, despite the full awareness that it would send Libya and the entire region into deathly, dehumanizing turmoil. So frankly, I am dazed and amazed that a single American, State official or not, would think their act is convincing when claiming to have the interests of the Africans they so casually kill at heart.”)
Abayomi Azikiwe
https://libya360.wordpress.com/2022/08/24/blinken-returns-empty-handed-from-africa-tour/

Oilprice
20 Million American Households Are Behind On Energy Bills
Michael Kern
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/20-Million-American-Households-Are-Behind-On-Energy-Bills.html

ECNS (Chinese official English news service)
Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and Taiwan question is China’s domestic affairs: China’s Defense Minister
Global Times
http://www.ecns.cn/news/politics/2022-08-24/detail-ihccnavh2349256.shtml