The Weekly Watch
Seeking Peace in Troubled Times
It is a bit ironic to call for peace when your own country is stirring up most of the world's conflicts, and boy, oh boy, was that on display this week. Perhaps Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week has triggered the start of WWIII. It sure has started a major confrontation between the US and China. That's on top of the Ukrainian proxy war with Russia... initiated by the US led 2014 Nazi coup in Ukraine. And as if that isn't enough, we continue to persecute American neighbors Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. We're fomenting trouble in the ME in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. We drone people in Afghanistan from which we have officially withdrawn, and additionally have stolen the wealth of this very poor country. And it goes on and on in Kosovo, Africa, and around the world. Is there a way to stop US aggression? Cause I can't see the escape hatch.
A great deal of our problem in the US is a lack of background and understanding of the other countries our leadership demonizes. The corporate media blasts the propaganda and the sheeple buy it...again and again. So let's start there today and get some background on some of our many conflicts. Let's start with Taiwan.
Let's hear from a Taiwanese compatriot...We are being used to serve U.S. imperialist interests
1.5 min
A longer discussion... Taiwan, China, and the Historical Basis of One-China Policy (14 min)
Here's a nice explanation of why Pelosi's visit was such a big deal.
Kei Pritsker explains the history and how the U.S. uses the island in its larger plan for Great Power Conflict with China. (4.5 min)
There has been a long history of Pelosi attacking China. (3.5 min)
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, solidified her reputation as the most disliked person in China in over 30 years. At the twilight of her political career, she threw China-U.S. relations under the bus for her own political benefit, and her visit to China's Taiwan region cemented her political legacy. She may have stamped her name on the pages of American political history, but posterity will condemn her on the international stage.
I've seen several here on C99 asking what the big deal was with the visit. If that's you, watch these previous clips (less than 10 min combined).
Kim Iverson left "the Rising" and is back with her own show. She commented on Pelosi's investments in Taiwan. Pelosi Arrives In Taiwan Recklessly Risking WAR For Big Money Interests And Investments. (10.5 min)
Scott Ritter also shares his view...
Scott Ritter on Pelosi’s Visit to Taiwan (11 min)
Col Douglas MacGregor explains the US can't win a war with China... (9.5 min)
Col Macgregor: "War With China IS STUPID"
Col. Douglas MacGregor full 1.5 hour interview including Ukraine
China's preferred strategies for attacking Taiwan is a blockade.
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/08/reaction-to-pelosis-visit-reveals-...
A total blockade of Taiwan would likely bring it to its knees within a few weeks or months. Time that could be used to defeat its air force, air defenses and missiles and prevent attacks from Taiwan on China's continental assets. China does not have to invade the island. It just has to wait until it is invited to come in.
In addition to the maneuvers China has taken political countermeasures against the U.S.:
Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced the following countermeasures in response:
1. Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk.
2. Canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT).
3. Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings.
4. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
5. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters.
6. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes.
7. Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation.
8. Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change
Calls by the Pentagon chiefs to China now go unanswered.
We may look back on Pelosi's visit as the start of WWIII.
On to Ukraine.
CB posted an excellent background and history of US, Canada, and Soro's involvement in creating the current situation in Ukraine. (50 min)
Amazing Polly | Ukraine: Seized by Globalists - Canadian Involvement - CIA, Freeland +
This discussion adds more detail to Oliver Stone's excellent history "Ukraine on Fire"
Ukraine. Across its eastern border is Russia and to its west-Europe. For centuries, it has been at the center of a tug-of-war between powers seeking to control its rich lands and access to the Black Sea. 2014's Maidan Massacre triggered a bloody uprising that ousted president Viktor Yanukovych and painted Russia as the perpetrator by Western media. But was it? "Ukraine on Fire" by Igor Lopatonok provides a historical perspective for the deep divisions in the region which lead to the 2004 Orange Revolution, 2014 uprisings, and the violent overthrow of democratically elected Yanukovych. Covered by Western media as a people's revolution, it was in fact a coup d'état scripted and staged by nationalist groups and the U.S. State Department. Investigative journalist Robert Parry reveals how U.S.-funded political NGOs and media companies have emerged since the 80s replacing the CIA in promoting America's geopolitical agenda abroad.
Executive producer Oliver Stone gained unprecedented access to the inside story through his on-camera interviews with former President Viktor Yanukovych and Minister of Internal Affairs Vitaliy Zakharchenko, who explain how the US Ambassador and factions in Washington actively plotted for regime change. And, in his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Stone solicits Putin's take on the significance of Crimea, NATO and the US's history of interference in elections and regime change in the region.
The full documentary is a well spent 1.5 hours.
Scott Ritter has a fairly short clip on Ukraine
Who Is Winning the War in Ukraine? (13 min)
Full 2.6 hour interview
Russian Operations in Ukraine (August 4, 2022): featuring Mark Sleboda (1 hour)
Joining me for this update is Mark Sleboda, an international relations and security expert based in Russia, and US Navy veteran. We will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine including a recent Pentagon briefing and Western media claims made in recent days.
Ukrainian channels are discussing what might be a leaked data from AFU General Staff:
- The AFU are only at 43-48% strength
- medical workers at their limit
- small arms and armor are not enough
- 191 thousand soldiers were killed and wounded (only AFU, not including others)
- there is not enough hydraulics and liquid nitrogen for M777 howitzers
- no one cares about the missing - there are no statistics
- the equipment transferred by the West is running out
- western weapons are operated by amateurs, since there are no qualified specialists
- no way to repair weapons on the spot due to the lack of spares and specialists - everything is sent to Poland
On The Ground Report - Ukrainian Frontline Collapses
Over the last two to three months the Ukrainian side has used its positions in the vicinity of Donetsk city to more or less randomly shell the civilian population on the Russian affiliated side. After some serious protests the Russian military command agreed to launch a dedicated counter-artillery operation to shut down the deadly Ukrainian harassment.
...
The Russian side also wages a continuous campaign against Ukrainian reserves, brigade headquarters and military installations or temporary storage sides far behind the immediate front line. These less visible attacks kill huge numbers of Ukrainian troops.
...
This is not sustainable. The Ukrainian government should have given up the uneven fight months ago. It is an immense crime to further urge it on.
But no we continue to push Ukraine to fight to the last Ukrainian. Fodder for Russian artillery.
So those who have been misled by the MSM that Ukraine is making progress against Russia are mistaken.
More trouble in NATO's created colony Kosovo.
Serbia & Kosovo Tensions - Will NATO Intervene? Scott Ritter explains... (4.5 min)
Alex has been in Belgrade, Serbia this week reporting on all the conflicts. What a beautiful city he reveals in his walk and talks. Here's four of several videos he produced this week...
He strolls through the city and discusses Nancy in Malaysia, Taiwan next? Kosovo calm, but fragile. Second turbine stuck in Canada (32 min)
Here's a lovely walk to the fortress as he discusses China's Maidan moment. Vucic to Brussels. Elensky wants more HIMARS. (39 min)
In this next one he visits St. Sava a beautiful orthodox church as he discusses Amnesty Int'l turns on Elensky. NATO cools on Ukraine. Turbine panic. Jill worries for Joe.
Yesterday he visited another lovely church as he discusses Putin, EU should thank Turkey. China ditches climate talks. Lavrov to Biden, calm down Joe.
And as if there's not enough violence and war around the world...
Israel hits Gaza with air attacks as tensions escalate
At least 10 people killed – including an Islamic Jihad commander and a young girl – and 55 wounded in a series of missile attacks throughout Gaza.
The people of Gaza live in what is essentially an open air prison after 15 years of a brutal blockade.
Not a word form Western MSM. Israel has a right to defend itself is US policy which means genocide of the Palestinians is fine. Bombing Lebanon, Iraq and Syria is fine. This is hypocrisy on steroids.
But have no fear Western aggression doesn't end.
British Judge overrules Venezuelan Supreme Court decision to return $1 billion Gold
The British judge concluded that the Guaido Board succeeds and that the STJ {Venezuelan Supreme Court} judgments are not capable of being recognized, the judge was cited as saying, effectively giving US puppet Guaido free reign over the assets.
So we steal your gold because we don't recognize you. We appointed your president and it isn't the elected Maduro but US puppet Guaido.
Additionally, Maduro: US wants to ‘steal’ Venezuelan plane grounded in Argentina
Emtrasur is a subsidiary of Venezuela’s flag carrier Conviasa. The company bought the plane from Iran’s Mahan Air more than a year ago. Both airlines have resisted unilateral American sanctions in recent years by flying to various regional and international destinations.
The US Justice Department, however, says the purchase by Emtrasur was an “unauthorized transfer.” Claiming that US “export control laws” were violated, a US court in the District of Columbia issued an order to seize the plane on July 19.
On Wednesday, Maduro slammed the US request to have the plane seized.
“They intend to steal from us a plane owned by Venezuela, legally owned by Venezuela... after kidnapping it for two months. Venezuela voices its protest and asks the Argentine people for all their support to recover that plane,” Maduro said on state television.
The US has targeted all the progressive countries in our hemisphere. We claim we're for competition, but evidently not from socialist countries. Nicaragua is another example.
Nicaragua's President Ortega: US/EU waging war to stop multipolar world (5 min)
Inside Nicaragua's Sandinista Revolution: 43 years resisting imperialism (19 min)
And of course our endless persecution of Cuba. American sanctions on Cuba will hurt the country’s people, not its regime. Even superpowers must learn to live with regimes they dislike.
US President Joseph Biden’s government has sanctioned elements of Havana’s state security apparatus, in a shift away from campaign promises to work for a thaw...
Economic sanctions have often been legitimised as creating the conditions for a social revolution. Experience, though, has given little reason for such optimism. Long decades of economic sanctions against Iran, for example, have shown no signs of undermining the regime, even though protests have often swept across the country. North Korea’s nuclear-weapons programme succeeded in spite of its economic isolation. Even Iraq’s dictator, Saddam Husain, had to be removed by military action—not sanctions.
None the less the US continues to hammer away at imposing sanctions on any country which doesn't bow to its will.
And amidst all these conflicts of choice it is obvious we want more as the US controlled NATO seek more members...
Most of the world rejects NATO’s policies and global aspirations and does not wish to divide the international community into outdated Cold War blocs, writes Vijay Prashad.
In June, member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) gathered in Madrid for their annual summit. At the meeting, NATO adopted a new Strategic Concept, which had last been updated in 2010. In it, NATO names Russia as its “most significant and direct threat” and singles out China as a “challenge [to] our interests.” In the words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, this guiding document represents a “fundamental shift” for the military alliance, its “biggest overhaul… since the Cold War.”...
Although NATO purports to be a “defensive” alliance, this claim is contradicted by its destructive legacy – such as in Serbia (1999), Afghanistan (2001) and Libya (2011) – and its ever-expanding global footprint.At the summit, NATO made it clear that it intends to continue its global expansion to confront Russia and China. Seemingly oblivious to the immense human suffering produced by the war in Ukraine, NATO declared that its “enlargement has been a historic success… and contributed to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area,” and extended official membership invitations to Finland and Sweden.
However, NATO’s sights extend far beyond the “Euro-Atlantic” to the Global South. Seeking to gain a foothold in Asia, NATO welcomed Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand as summit participants for the first time and stated that “the Indo-Pacific is important for NATO.”
On top of this, echoing the Monroe Doctrine (1823) of two hundred years ago, the Strategic Concept named “Africa and the Middle East” as “NATO’s southern neighbourhood,” and Stoltenberg made an ominous reference to “Russia and China’s increasing influence in [the Alliance’s] southern neighbourhood” as presenting a “challenge.”
Kim Iversen: Senate Votes to SIDESTEP Congressional WAR POWERS And Expand NATO To Finland And Sweden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQO4TcUzl4I
Who in the US will speak out against this endless aggression? Not Bernie...
The United States Senate has voted 95-1-1 to approve the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, further engorging the ever-growing “defensive” alliance – this despite the fact that NATO was formed as a pact among nations to protect one another from the Soviet Union, a country that hasn’t existed for more than 30 years. Even onetime peace activist Bernie Sanders voted in favor, showing that the Vermont Senator has essentially given up any semblance of independence and is a good Democrat who will never cross the party leadership on substantive matters.
Jimmy and his panel of The Dive’s Jackson Hinkle and America’s comedian Kurt Metzger discuss the ongoing “cucking” of Bernie Sanders as the so-called “progressive” left in the U.S. goes along with the saber-rattling and warmongering over Taiwan and Ukraine.
Bottom line we are creating conflict around the world as US citizens suffer the degradation of their own country. During our lifetimes we've seen the steady decline as we pour our money overseas to kill other poor people to enrich the global elite. This is a war between working people and the globalists. This war has come to a head in the Netherlands.
Inside the Dutch Farm Revolt (28 min)
The Dutch farmers just sent a message:
"Get ready for the toughest action ever"
Last night, the Dutch farmers together with tractors blocked A7
The Dutch farmers and supporters continue to hang flags upside down everywhere
This revolt offers us all some hope that people will reject this doomsday path we tread.
I find my peace in the forest and garden.
The Kiss of the Sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
This verse, beloved to gardeners everywhere, is the fifth stanza of a poem entitled God's Garden by Dorothy Frances Gurney.
We've had lots to process this week. Here's our one of our daily harvests.
That's when we listen to the clips I post.
We don't have a huge garden...
Here's the tomatoes...
and the peppers..
A cover crop of peas I just pulled as mulch...
and the magic of those peas is in the root nodules containing the Rhizobia bacteria which fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to nitrogen in the plant proteins.
I didn't take a picture of the fig bush (almost tree), but I did snap a shot of the muscadine crop on the gate arbor. Maybe enough for some wine?
So as upsetting as the US warmongering is, I can go down to the garden and find joy and reward to wash away the endless conflict my country bestows upon the world.
Find peace, my friends, as we weather the storm of endless war. Look to nature, music, and friends to share the burden and stress of today's crazy world. I look forward to your stories, insights and perspectives below.
Comments
Pure projection...
Taiwan region key to U.S. geopolitical goal to contain Indo-Pacific (9 min)
This has become the standard US MO...accuse others of our own desires.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning ~
.. there can be no peace of mind without strength of mind ..
strength of mind comes from clarity of thought
this is a battle being fought by the warmongers
against the domestic population to obscure the issues
keep on fighting my friend
exposing the lies is good effort
thanks for the WW!
Yes much in the theme of JtC's piece...
They try to control our thoughts by limiting the information we are allowed to see...from war to health (system) to the capture of government and media. However once seen, it can't be unseen.
Hope your weekend is pleasant. It has been a mild summer here for the most part with a bit of rain.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
RE that motivational poster
I have, mostly on the insistence of others, tried "Spirit's" way; it has never worked.
"Ego's" way has always been my intuitive method - is it difficult? Yes. Slow? Very. Largely reliant on luck to stumble across the answers? Seems like it.
However, it works; it is the only thing for me that ever has.
I am quite sick of this late-19th/early-20th-Century Romantic "less brain, more heart" business; your heart pumps blood, and that's it - and if "Ego" and "Spirit" are not synonymous, I'm inclined to call that schizophrenia.
Logic, ego, and thinking are not the problem; they are the solution.
In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.
Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!
There are many paths
My point is we don't seek peace, we promote war. I don't care how we approach peace, it needs to be the goal. On a personal level, I shared my approach...nature, music, and friends.
Walk your own path toward peace...that's all we can do.
All the best!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
In the midst of climate catastrophe,
war is the exact opposite thing that humanity should undertake. It is pure insanity. War, no matter where it is, will only hasten our demise as a species. Even if it does not develop into a nuclear exchange (given the idiocy of our leaders that prospect is just a hair trigger away) every massive use of energy like war, gets us closer to the tipping point where the feedback loops kick in and it's hasta la vista baby. For all of us. We all know that, I just wonder why everybody doesn't know that when it is so obvious.
I'm reading (still) a book called Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth by Ben Rawlence. He reiterates the oft heard figure that a 2-4 degree celsius temperature increase is already in the pipeline no mater what we do. He notes; "...the status quo is irretrievable". We will never see the environmental conditions that we experienced as children. That environment is gone. "The struggle now is to limit the damage and prepare for what is coming."
Some say there are too many people on the planet. But there is so much to do. All the people everywhere could be engaged in action geared towards buying time to attempt to stave off those tipping points. There is so much to do, we need everyone's help and everyone matters. There are no guarantees that this would work, but just a chance is good enough for me. Well, actually I wish for more, but it's all I got.
Absolutely!
The MIC is a major polluter and climate influencer. I can imagine using those resources and people to work toward reclamation. China uses their military to help in such projects.
If we would cooperate and work together we might have a chance. Our adversarial approach is a road toward extinction.
Your book sounds interesting. Perlin's book "A Forest Journey" influenced me long ago.
Hope you've gotten some rain. Take care and be well!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks for that book link
. I will check it out. I'm a sucker for books about forests.
No rain here yet. It is very dry. But yesterday our temperature was in the nineties as opposed to our usual triple digit readings. It was a cold front for us
the link takes you to an ebook
It is the same story over and over as civilization after civilization rapes their forest and crumbles thereafter. We can't seem to learn important messages.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Interesting story.
Maybe that is why China has been replanting millions of acres of forest. It is arguably the world's longest lasting civilization.
Yes they are greening the desert...
They use their military to not only plant trees, but to help farmers learn to do things like fly drones to check out their farms and how to record and post video...promoting several farmers into celebrity status. Looks like Canada plans to use its military to police farms to NOT use fertilizer.
However there seems some push back in the farming provinces. (6.5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyMl0OwoRV8]
The Prairie Provinces Rejects Trudeau's Starvation Policy
Front page news appears to be a Canadian outlet. Hope y'all can get rid of Turdoo.
Thanks for the positive China links!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning Lookout
thanks for all your work on the WW, much appreciated.
Your harvest looks beautiful. I'm jealous of your figs. Mine are not doing well. Hopefully I can get them up to snuff asap. I did harvest one (yes only 1) Aleppo pepper last week. It was a first for me and long anticipated. I have had dried Aleppo peppers but never fresh. It has a sweetness to it but is also packs some heat. I have more on the plant hopefully soon to be ready to harvest, I can't wait. We also harvested some shisho peppers and put them on the grill bathed in olive oil and a bit of salt. They were great.
To continue the theme of JtC's piece which you mentioned;
"The revolution begins with a walk in the woods". (Or a walk in the garden or both.) "Systems change when there is a culture that demands it." "Everything we do matters." Ben Rawlence
I agree with you, there are many paths at hand to get where we must go.
love your Ben Rawlence quotes...
Thanks for the tip!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
CBS documentary - only 30% Of Ukranian military "Aid"
actually gets delivered.
NGO's are bringing war material into Ukraine under cover of humanitarian aid. The problem is that no one knows where it is going. I believe that the US/UK know this and are OK with it in order to fuel a continuing insurgency that will prevent peaceful resolution of the conflict in the future. Ukraine and its people are just disposable canon fodder. The US Deep State has been playing this game all over the world because they know they are incapable of winning a war with a near peer adversary without unacceptable casualties of Americans.
Look at the results of all the dozens of conflicts the US has been involved in since WWII. Country after country have been turned into literal "hell holes" which have taken them decades, if ever, to rebuild their societies - some only to be knocked down again.
Over and over again my friend...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2loUgTAo-I]
Thanks for the clip. I'll check it out. I appreciate the amazingpolly piece I re-posted here today. Great background and history in that one.
Hope all is well in your world!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
LO, you knocked it outta the park,
as is your way.
I have to head to the office, get my file in order for a morning hearing. I just got a call from my assistant. She is sick, will get a test to see if it is COVID. Her BF is sick with the exact symptoms. Hoo, boy.
My afternoon and evening will be devoted to your videos.
Peace, our inner peace, is hard to find with the world afire, our culture and social mores being flipped upside down, just chaos everywhere. I know my profession is being eroded. Lawyers today do not adhere to the specific rules mandating a standard of conduct in lawyer relations, and relations with judges. What once got you held in contempt and jailed for saying in court, is now not even raising the judge's eyebrows.
A lawyer argued a point in her case based upon telling the judge at least 4 times, that I was lying. After court, I found 4 emails I had sent her in May, so I can easily prove I was telling the truth. She had her client bring his support group to court, who all thoroughly enjoyed her long rant about me. It is some marketing ploy to demonstrate what a courtroom warrior she is. Well, I poured her client out, he got absolutely nothing, my client got everything we asked for. Now, I am getting the docs together to file a grievance against the lawyer. I hope the committee gives her a couple of years off to rethink her marketing ploy.
This is the new norm? We shall see.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
heh, do I not recall
If the facts favor the opposition, attack the law
If the law favors the opposition, attack the facts
If the facts and law favor the opposition, attack opposing counsel
seems like you must've had the facts and law sewed up.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
It only took me
one witness to wipe the floor with her 3 witnesses.
I told the judge I had given her 100 original documents on May 16, that I would send a courier to her office to retrieve them, so give me an hour to do that before we start trial. She said I was lying, they were copies. After court, I found my email telling her I would be delivering original documents to her office that afternoon. I asked for them to be returned to me within 2 business days. Hunk Husband did the delivery.
The Grievance Committee will not appreciate her "style".
I will ask for court sanctions, using the emails to support my motion. Maybe the judge will order her to write me a check for $5,000.00.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I vote for the 5K!
Best of luck with your litigation!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
What happened to mutual respect...
All they got is attack the source, not the content. We've lost our quest for substance in a ball of fluff.
Good luck with your case, and don't work too hard. Hey to B.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hey back from B
A couple of months ago some lawyer screamed, called me unprofessional, because I assigned her a pronoun. It was the correct one, but I was unprofessional for assigning one at all. Damned if you do, etc... I saw her in court in another jurisdiction, and that judge called her young lady, ma'am, Ms., over and over. She didn't bat an eye.
The woke thing is strategic, apparently not a sincere belief.
It rained 15 minutes this week. Dammit.
Your small garden produces quite the yield, pal.
Maybe we will try a winter garden.
Meanwhile, we will go to the grocery store, continue to purchase with future shortages in mind.
My horse back rides through the forests were always my getaways from harsh realities. The rides didn't improve the realities, but did strengthen me for dealing with them. I improved them, too!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Feeling a bit
burned by Bernie and his Aye vote and the lack of any progressive pushback against our war machine. Isn't Bernie about at the age where he should be taking truly principled progressive stands regardless of the political risk?
Where the hell is the left on FP? Dormant, cowering, hiding behind slender pretexts. Even in 1964, the Ds managed to find two brave senators (Gruening and Morse, but not McGovern or Ted Kennedy) to stand up to LBJ's obvious effort to obtain a blank check on waging war in VN. (For the next few yrs, Johnson always carried around a copy of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, whenever a senator in his presence would begin to express skepticism about the war, in order to say "You've already given me your approval to do what I am now doing".)
It would take another year or so before McG and Wm Fulbright (who helped gather senate votes for LBJ's blank check) began to speak out, which is about the time Johnson began referring to him as "Halfbright". Noteworthy too, in a sad way, was LBJ's Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who, in early '65, as he sensed there was about to be a major decision on the war, sent his boss a 5-pg memo explaining why the US should not undertake a major military commitment over there.
Johnson regarded this bold act of candor as a major act of disloyalty, and cut out HHH from all future WH discussions about the war, and mostly never forgave him. He also arranged via friend J Edgar Hoover to bug Humphrey's VP office, to monitor future acts of disloyalty. Humphrey quickly learned the error of his ways and there and then set about trying to show his boss just how loyal he was on VN and all the rest, as he struck a proper hawkish posture while the public was in the dark about his early war opposition.
Well at least some of the more timid liberals back then had the excuse about fearing Johnson's well-known vindictiveness. But what do today's libs and progs have to fear with Biden?
We have no one to represent our antiwar voice
I think the only one to vote against the NATO expansion was Josh Holley cause we need to focus on China not NATO.
We need to restart and shape the entire government and I don't see TPTB allowing that. So we're in a pickle...
I don't want a pickle
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvLtNBm1yyA]
Hope you're doing well!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Well, we do have
Jimmy Doré and a few indy lefty bloggers and YTers, the Brit Roger Waters and the Aussies John Pilger and Caitlin Johnstone. Iow, just enough for a lively but modest-sized dinner party.
And where are the singer-songwriter folkie antiwar types today? Died off mostly, some have sold out, others are rather quiet. CSN&Y need to get back together asap and pen a few meaningful songs for these times. John Fogerty? The Dixie Chicks? Anyone?
See the Roger Waters Clip
posted down below.
His voice is powerful!
NYCVG
Bernie not only abandoned his movement
He ended up throwing it under the bus. The Squad then backed over it. I thought he would be an outsider moral and policy voice but Joe Biden you know is a friend.
But curious to look back at the invasion of Iraq and see how many people who got their creds from being anti-Bush and anti-war. DK was born as an anti-war website which now must be one of the most militant democratic party organs. How many Air America personalities are war or hate mongers now. I would include Obama who wiped out the left in America and gave the keys to state governments to the gopers.
I wouldn't sell Clinton short in the sell out category...
His turd way converted the dims into into rethugs...NAFTA, telecommunications bill, crime bill, eliminating a half a million federal jobs, eliminated Glass Steagall turning banks into gambling casinos, and even more. Then what a sell out by Obummer...bailed out banks not homeowners, turned health care into an insurance give away, turned two wars into five plus at least 2 coups, legalized drone murders, did away with habeas corpus...and even more. Bernie is just another in a long line dims working against our interest.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Excellent points.
Clinton was the founding daddy of democratic party as a neocon project.
And I hate to say I drank the koolaid
That Clinton and Obummer served up. I'm grateful to Bernie for opening my eyes to dim corruption, and am so sorry he couldn't admit it and bring the point to the people. I was so disappointed he didn't walk out of the 2016 DNC convention with his delegates and run with Jill as a green. A missed opportunity on the scale of Wallace being kicked out of his VP slot and replaced by puppet Truman.
Thanks for the visit this Sunday!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thank you, Lookout
It will take me a while to watch and read through all of the entries but that's what I intend to do.
Let me add 2 bits: Apparently the Senate parliamentarian has stripped out a significant part of the Lowering Drug Costs out of the Bill That is Supposed to Save The Democrats.
So, Manchin and Sinema on board? Tooooooooo bad. The third revolving villain has been trotted out to defeat the working people and feed Big Pharma. Vote is ongoing.
PLUS---Roger Waters dis-emboweled a CNN dope concerning Russia.
NYCVG
Great truth bombs from Rodger
There ain't no savin' the democrats.
Thanks for the Rodger clip.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Have Another:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamLmpVOgE0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JamLmpVOgE0
NYCVG
Thanks...
It's been nice to see you around the site. I like your additions.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Now
that I've plowed thru much of the video you provided this am I recommend both Richard Medford, Scott Ritter clips.
The one on Russia has won the war will persuade any Doubting Thomas still lingering on this site.
NYCVG
Good morning Lookout.
Thanks for the Weekly Watch, all the stuff we weakly watch, pretty much unable to do very much about it. Resistance is mostly limited to non-cooperation, boycotts, strikes and self-sufficiency, supporting locals where we can't supply ourselves, etc. All are a bit limited in their applicability for most of us. Our garden, for instance, doesn't provide much in terms of quantity outside of apples and oranges. I once had some apps to help me with boycotts, but it became on overwhelmingly compendious project that devolved into boycott everything except ... . Crazy times are crazy making and the ongoing war on the populace really tends to get one down now and then. [[ pauses to step outside and shake fist at sky]]
Ah well, this will pass, but the question, I guess, is how; fire, war, famine, or, perhaps with some luck for the world, the collapse of the US into an ineffectual has been wannabe. We can only hope for the latter, grim as it may be for US citizens and residents economically.
Be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
You remind me of eyo with this last bit...
First part is dead on too.
Sad to say, eyo is having health issues. Wish her well and send good thoughts her way if you got some karma to spare.
wishing us all well in this crazy world...
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hi Lookout,
Hi Lookout,
Great post of current events or better said global madness.
From this perspective, it all reflects an induced mass psychosis wherein:
The Oligarchs, Corporations and Banks,
Own and Control the Politicians and Media,
That Own and Control us.
Sadly, the 99% are just chattel to the 1%.
All just meat and bones to be exploited as they see fit.
A sad state of affairs all around.
ThouArtThat
Well howdy...
Glad you came by to read today. The Dutch farmers offer a glimmer of hope. The BRICS quest for a fair world order is to my mind our greatest hope. It is possible our economy collapses before we start throwing nukes in a fit of rage over our lost hegemony. We can hope anyway.
So thanks for the visit and welcome aboard the raft here at C99!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hola
Such That it is That; Tathegata
sorry, couldn't resist
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Taiwan has lost the buffer area created by observing the
Taiwan Strait median line in sea lane between mainland China and the island.
Reuters today. China to conduct 'regular' military drills east of Taiwan Strait median line, state media report
Excellent selection of material to understand the complexity of the Taiwan issue and other world hot spots to poke for war. One bright spot less US citizens are signing up to support conflicts as military personnel. Now we need to create more options of living a good life (individual definition) without supporting conflict as a civilian.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Taiwan misplayed this one...
As did Pelosi. And we all will pay the price of our hubris.
Hope all is well on the homestead! We're in the jungle phase of life here in the humid subtropics. Forest seem healthy which is good.
Nice to "see" you this Sunday!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Brian Berletic -Russian Ops in Ukraine (August 8, 2022)
Brian has been doing good work...
in his calm analytic style.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Gee what a effing surprise
CBS reports that 70% of the weapons sent to Ukraine never make it to the troops. Hey Zelensky maybe that’s why you have to keep asking for more weapons daily? And just maybe Rand Paul should have been taken more seriously when he wanted someone to oversee where the weapons were going. Another republican congress woman has also been speaking out on it, but she has been told to sit down and shut up.
https://www.rt.com/russia/560419-ukraine-weapons-lost-cbs/
So countries are sending all their old and outdated equipment to Ukraine just so they can buy new ones and they don’t care where the weapons end up because arming terrorists is a side benefit that will require countries to continue to have a threat against them which requires more weapons being sold and bought. Meanwhile many people are falling on harder times because of course it’s being rigged that way. Seems like people are being pushed to the brink and eventually they are going to have enough. It’s got to be peaceful whatever response people do because I’m betting countries are itching to declare martial law. Why else would Biden be asking for 100,000 more cops?
Good roundup LO. Thanks.
We got heavy rain last night but it’s sunny and warm here today. From the low 50’s to the high 70-80. Good thing both the furnace and air work.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
It's raining here right now...
Already got 0.4" but it is starting to play out. This time of year we have hit and miss thunderstorms. All week it has been raining around us ... storms passing North, south, East, and West with us losing the lottery...but it seems it was our turn this evening.
Those missing weapons are showing up on the dark web for sale. The US and EU are going to reap what they sow. I feel for our European friends. Not that we've got it great, but this is going to be a long difficult winter in the EU, I'm sad to say.
Hope you and Sam are doing well! Thanks for the links...
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
The US may be banking on much of the missing weapons
staying in Ukraine to be used in counterinsurgency after Russia dismembers the country and tries to put it back together. Think of it like a long term investment.
what cb said
I think this is nail on head, like arming the Taliban or Al Quaeda, just kindly Azov this time. Feeding the turmoil and disorder to keep it alive and going... The U.S. does it better than anyone else, they are number one at it.
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
I've no doubt about that either...
I think the Russians are hoping Poland will occupy most of west Ukraine and have to deal with the homeland of the Nazis (which they hate)...in which case there may not be the opportunity our idiot leaders are calculating...but that is way out there past the limits of my crystal ball.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I think the US is preparing to ditch Zelensky.
Cue the negative reports by the MSM.
The US/UK (CIA/MI6) engineered war is not going to plan. Ukraine has been getting thrashed by the Russians (they just destroyed another of the vaunted
wunderwaffeHIMARS yesterday).BTW, Zelensky has been complaining that the €8 billion/month he wants from the EU to keep Ukraine afloat has not arrived.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNu1UgFuxJs]
I wonder how the PTB are going to dispose of him. Maybe let what's left of the Azov Battalion do the dirty work? I think the US would accept a Ukraine run by the Right Sector (just like they did with ISIS in Syria) to turn the country into a failed state that was antagonistic to Russia.
hey cb
I think they have been working overtime trying to figure out how to pin it on Putin and Russia. As soon as they think they have that part all figured out so well no one would ever know it was them (which will be another complete and total miscalculation), poof! Or voila! Kersplat goes Zelensky!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Oh yeah...
I think TPTB are ready to throw him under the bus. Gonzalo suggested a couple of weeks ago the plan was to stage a missile strike on he and his cabinet and blame it on the Russians. (11 min)
We'll see. They are ready to shift to Taiwan and blame 'elensky (the Z is illegal you know?).
Thanks for the clip!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Russians depleting weapons before they get to front?
Maybe the Russians are destroying the weapons in transit? Would be bad PR for Ukraine that they can't even safely transport them. Or maybe Ukrainian Mafia selling them off course, but also hiding them for when the Russians win and maybe easier to sell.
A Funny article
although unfortunate if it is truly what the whole of East Asia thinks of the U.S. leadership. Words like crude, obtuse, coarse, insensitive, gauche, gracelessly assertive, clod—clumsy, indelicate, incapable of nuance, not the slightest interested in the perspectives of others, ignorant of how she was looked upon, are used to describe our first envoy in 25 years to go to Taiwan.
To be sure, these are the words of the author, Patrick Lawrence, who is evaluating the situation based on the reaction he observed. https://scheerpost.com/2022/08/07/reeking-of-butter/
The whole article is worth a read, if only to lighten the mood.
We need a national mirror...
We can't get much more ignorant really.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Big news if true
https://bioclandestine.substack.com/p/russian-mil-declares-ukraine-origin
There has been lots of talk about Covid being lab created and that originally there were different variants released in certain countries. China and Italy are 2 that I remember being more virulent and deadly. And don’t forget that Vicky Nuland confirmed that there were bio labs in Ukraine. Russia has lots of evidence to back this up.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
My understanding is...
the labs in Ukraine were experimenting with strains targeting ethnic Russians.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Very interesting
and damning. Very supportive of the COVID virus being a bioweapon.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
This is a don’t miss read
It’s from IM doc from naked capitalism and he goes into further detail on how Covid was created and why.
https://amidwesterndoctor.substack.com/p/where-did-covid-19-come-from-an...
The most damming evidence on the theory is how Fauci refused to allow repurposed drugs and instead insisted on using the deadly remdisiver instead.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
A musical interlude - DONBASS IS WITH US
Official Anthem of Donbass & Novorossiya
Performance at sold out 90,000 attendance Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on March 18th.
Read the powerful lyrics:
Lyrics:
Donbass is With Us
In pitch darkness, the Beast woke up
And the price of God was set.
Everyone succumbed - even the brothers in Christ
Everything succumbed, but not my country.
It was a fruitful leap year
And death was drunk to satiety with blood
The firmament bent from the leaden clouds
Everything succumbed, but not my country.
[Chorus:]
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Donbass is behind us, and God is with us!
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Russia is with us, and God is with us!
Here, the memory of the ancestors isn't betrayed
Here, the forefathers' land isn't given away
At what price - words can't express
Here, they fought to the death for the Motherland.
And again the Russian might is in the hands
Both life and death for the Motherland is fair
It stands and holds the firmament for centuries -
My unconquered country.
[Chorus:]
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Donbass is behind us, and God is with us!
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Russia is with us, and God is with us!
Let it be destined to perish on the cross
But you can't bring us to the knees!
In a bloody field, one for all
Donbass stands and holds the firmament
[Chorus:]
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke32
Donbass is behind us, and God is with us!
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Russia is with us, and God is with us!
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Moscow is behind us, and God is with us!
Half the sky is flame, half the sky is smoke
Russia is with us, and God is with us!
This song
was performed for Putin and 100,000 viewers this year at the May 9 Memorial Day Parade.
Only the 2 women singers. No dancers.
This is significant because the West had promised that Russia would be doing something nefarious on Memorial Day.
No invasion of Kiev.
no false flag.
Just a stadium filled with 100,000 Muscovites, and performancess for 2 1/2 hours ended with fireworks.
Not available on line. The NY Times has an uninformative piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/09/world/europe/russia-victory-parade-ph...
I watched the Giant celebration on The Saker a while ago.
NYCVG
Appropriate lyrics...
Thanks for the inclusion. They will be proud of their efforts. They have been leading the charge all along. As well as the Chetniks.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Hi weekly watchers
Hi all, Hey LO!
Great WW as always... pretty bad out there lately... Drs. orders: just go watch nature, watch the river flow, or the waves, or listen to and smell the forest. Look at the birds, butterflies, or dragonflies, or stars. Gotta get yer mind away from the shat lest it get cluttered with it.
Your garden looks fantastic! Great work man! We have had the worse time ever trying to have one here where we are, for several years now. A couple small areas we fenced for deer, racoons, armadillos, and rabbits, all of which would destroy everything in a heartbeat. But the Cotton Rats (Sigmodon sps.) and White-footed Mouse go through all that keeps the bigger stuff out and are incredible destroyers of our efforts at a garden.
Lots of birds are bugging out, done breeding for the season. Most had a poor season here due to the D4 exceptional drought and consequent near lack of insects of all sorts. Swallows, Martins, and Swifts have all left for the season. Almost all adult male Painted Bunting are gone now. Meanwhile the first longer distance migrants from northward are just starting to show, like Rufous Hummingbird and Solitary Sandpiper. Orchard Oriole are on the move, going south through yard every morning now. The first wisps of signs of fall migration.
Hope all is well! Take care! Send rain!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
listen to and smell the forest
Doing that now. I’m listening to the leaves on the quakies blowing in the wind and smelling the pine trees and the dirt after the rain. Sure does lower ones BP and give a feeling of calm. Love being surrounded by quakies and they remind me of Bev Doolittle’s art work. If you haven’t seen her work with them you’re in for a treat. I especially love the one that I think is titled Spirits. Check it out.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
The only time I've been out your way...
was four corners. Had a lovely cable car ride from Telluride over a mountain to the ski resort and back through lovely Aspens. Great memory...
Thanks for the reminder!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Trying to send rainy thoughts your way...
We had a summer like that in 2016. So dry the grass crunched and the river dried up except for a few pools. It was hard to experience with the trees all wilting and showing stress.
And we battle critters all the time. In fact caught a racoon in the live trap last night. Something had been into the compost. Drove him a few miles away and let him out along a creek. If you notice we have row covers over the sweet potatoes cause somehow a rabbit has been getting in under the electric hot strand 4" above the ground and grazing on them. Then there's voles, and birds feeding on the figs, and... But it's okay they gotta make a living too, and we grow enough to spare some.
I like your Drs orders and couldn't agree more with the prescription.
Be well!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Aye that’s a keeper
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Let's catch a ride...
I like these playing for change compilations...
“Peace Train” – Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ timeless anthem of hope and unity – was originally released on the classic album 'Teaser and the Firecat' in 1971 and was Stevens’ first US Top 10 hit, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This Song Around The World version features more than 25 musicians from 12 countries and unites Yusuf / Cat Stevens, singing and playing a beautiful white piano in a tranquil open air setting in Istanbul, Turkey, with musicians such as five time Grammy Award winning blues/americana artist Keb’ Mo’; Grammy nominated Senegalese artist Baaba Maal; Silkroad’s Rhiannon Giddens—also a Grammy Award winner; Ghassan Birumi playing the oud in Ramallah, Palestine; musicians from the Silkroad Ensemble in Rhinebeck, New York; Pat Simmons (The Doobie Brothers) and James “Hutch” Hutchinson (bass player with Bonnie Raitt) performing in Maui, Hawaii; and bringing together conflict regions with Tushar Lall playing the harmonium in Delhi, India, and Joshua Amjad playing the Kartaal in Karachi, Pakistan.
"Everyone jump upon the Peace Train" and let's make this world a better place.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Yeah man, peace!
I love these Playing for Change songs... wife and I saw this Peace Train when it came out, it is fantastic. I have a couple of those peak early Cats on vinyl. The Gimmie Shelter and When the Levee Breaks Playing for Change are also great. I just saw a newer one with Waddy Wachtel and Buddy Guy (!) that was outstanding.
peace brothers and sisters
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Has the situation in Mariupol improved since the fighting ended?
Videos of Interest from the Russo-Ukrainian War
If you want to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine
watch the following which documents what Ukraine has been doing against the people in the Donbas since 2014. Putin didn't start this conflict - but he WILL end it. This documentary also shows the historical origins of the Donbas from WWI.
About Dunbass (2022)
Thanks for all the clips!
I'll get to them this evening. Headed out to harvest figs and more, and then a quick errand in town. Later...and thanks again!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”