Rules, Rulers, and Ruin

Estonian President Alar Karis said in his first address of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday:

The Russian invasion, including the illegal occupation of Crimea and Russia's prior land grabs in Georgia and Moldova, demonstrate Russia's total disrespect of international law and the rules-based international order, and are an assault on the UN Charter, every value and principle the United Nations stands for.

Their defense minister said it more clearly...(30 sec)

The "Russia Bad, Putin Bad" messaging was similar from all the western leaders.

The problem with this rhetoric is whose rules, and to whom do they apply?

Did you catch Lavarov's rebuttal speech (19 min) at the UN this week? I found his recounting of the history more reliable than western governments accusations. He spoke again yesterday in a speech (20 min) which is relevant this week's topic.
"The future of the world order is being decided today. This is clear to any impartial observer. The question is whether it will be an order where one hegemon forces everyone else to live according to their notorious 'rules' which benefit only itself. Or will it be a democratic, just world - a world without blackmail and intimidation of unwanted peoples, without neo-Nazism and neo-colonialism? Russia has made a firm choice in favor of the latter, and together with our allies, partners and like-minded people are calling for work on its implementation," Lavrov said.
...
Western powers' attempt to preserve their 'rules-based order' has led to the drawing of dividing lines of bloc confrontation across the globe, with their motto being "you're either with us or against us," Lavrov said.
"Clearly, the notorious Monroe Doctrine is becoming global in scope. Washington is trying to turn the entire world into its own backyard, using the means of unlawful unilateral sanctions which have been used for many years in violation of the UN Charter and as a tool of political blackmail to do so," Lavrov said.
...
"How has Russia been infringing on the interests of our opponents in recent decades? Is it that we cannot be forgiven for making the military and strategic detente of the 1980s and 1990s possible? Or is it that we voluntarily dissolved the Warsaw Treaty Organization and thus removed the reason for NATO's existence? Is it that we supported the reunification of Germany without any preconditions and against the position of London and Paris? That we withdrew our military from Europe, Asia, Latin America? That we recognized the independence of former Soviet republics? That we believed the promises of Western leaders not to expand 'one inch east', and when it began, agreed to basically legitimize it by signing the Russia-NATO Founding Act? Did we infringe on the interests of the West when we warned them that it was unacceptable to bring a threatening military infrastructure closer to our borders?" Lavrov asked.
More here.

Wild sunflowers are blooming in my world providing a little relief from the miseries of the world.

I think the collective west has been caught off guard as Russia holds referendums in the Donbass, and has called up 300,000 reservists to reinforce it's borders. If the referendum is successful, (and remember this population has been shelled and persecuted by the US/NATO puppet, Ukraine for 8 years) then henceforth when Ukraine shells the Donbass, that will be like attacking Russia. Of course the west is already calling the referendum vote a sham in another case of rules for thee, but not for me...

Recall that in 2008—9 years after NATO had been used for the very first time ever in warfare (to bomb Belgrade, the first such bombing of a European capital since 1945, and to carve out the NATO protectorate of Kosovo in the heart of historical Serbia—the U.S. announced it was recognizing Kosovo as an independent nation. The NATO bombing had been justified by Clinton as necessary to prevent “genocide” (the same excuse as used by Hillary in destroying Libya in 2011); some NATO allies participated reluctantly. When the announcement was made in 2008 the Spaniards and Greeks were indignant, noting that they’d agreed to participate on the assurance that Serbia would not be divided. NATO members Spain, Greece, Romania, and Hungary do not recognize Kosovo.

Ahead of the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June 11 in the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, Sputnik Serbia talked to Kosovan political scientist Nexhmedin Spahiu, who explained that Kosovo is the "creation of the west", and it will be the west who will now form the country's parliament.

https://sputniknews.com/20170519/kosovo-parliamentary-elections-10537766...
"The west plays the key role in forming of the new government, as it was with the former cabinet, which was a joint product of Germany and the US. Nothing could have been done without them. It depends, first of all, on the western embassies [deciding] which coalition will come to power. They will break and unite parties at their own will," he told Sputnik

So the US and NATO, with no provocation and false rationale invade and destroy Iraq, Libya, Syria, illegally withhold Afghanistan's national wealth after destroying their country, steal Venezuela's gold and declare a puppet president. and more...much more. Endless sanctions on any country which does not do as we tell them and allow us to rape their resources....all done in the name of spreading democracy.

And, the west will declare who has a democracy or not...
EU lawmakers declare that Hungary is no longer a democracy So unelected EU appointees declare the elected government of Hungary isn't a democracy. Kinda ironic. Evidently democracy is when people elect the people the west wants... otherwise you're not a democracy. Much like the US has done in Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Alexander defines democracy in the first few minutes of this clip as a state where the people exercise power. Alex discusses current news and Italian election as he walks through the Turkish border in Cyprus. The EU is already warning the people of Italy they better vote the way the collective west wants or else...(4 min)

A recent statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has shocked Italians and other European nations alike. She was asked a question regarding “political figures close to Putin” contesting in the upcoming legislative elections in Italy. To this, her reply landed more like a threat and irked many Italian leaders. She said, “We’ll See. If things go in a difficult direction — and I’ve spoken about Hungary and Poland — we have the tools.”

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke to reporters about the rise of far right-wing politics in Europe ahead of the Italian elections on Sunday. Sweden already is moving away after their recent election.

In an excellent exchange Alex and Alexander of The Duran speak to Garland Nixon (1 hour - last 10 min highly recommended)

Garland present his concept of a fact based exchange vs a narrative (story based) discussion. He suggests right and left can unite around facts. From the comments below the clip:
"To paraphrase Garland Nixon: It's not about left or right, it's about the facts. Indeed, we need to move on! We need to surpass party agenda's and get real again."
"Garland Nixon has an exceptional ability to explain social, political, and economic dynamics in a way that dummies like myself can understand. I love his analogies. Thanks for the fantastic show."

Jimmy, Jackson, and Craig discuss MAGACommunism. (16 min)

You may have seen the hashtag #MAGACommunism trending on Twitter and elsewhere and wondered, “What the hell is that?” Put simply, it’s the idea of uniting the right and left around shared working class interests and against the establishment, the elites and the most powerful interests that control practically every aspect of our lives. But is it a good idea? And even if it is a good idea, is it a good label to use to describe the phenomenon.

I found Craig's analysis the best because he attends MAGA events. I liked his labels divide philosophy.

George and Chris have an interesting conversation (13 min)

In an ideal world Chris Hedges not Anthony Blinken would be US Secretary of State. Veteran former NYT Foreign Editor Hedges lifts the lid on current events in the #UkraineRussiaWar and discusses his fascinating new book The Greatest Evil is War.

George also spoke with Gonzalo last week... (17 min)

While the Western MSM pushes one side of the story in the Ukraine advances into Kherson and Kharkov, Gonzalo Lira helps tell the other. It took Russia six months to bomb infrastructure in Ukraine, something we’d have done in six hours.

Gonzalo hosted some interesting round table discussions this week too. The first with Suzie Dawson, John Kiriakou, and Ray McGovern and the next one with Alex Christoforou, Larry Johnson, Brian of The New Atlas

George explains the poor leadership in the west. (2 min)

US hegemony sinks while the BRICS rise and rise! The pound and the euro crash as the ruble becomes the strongest performing currency in the world! Our leaders are singularly unfit to govern us in this economic melt-down!

One of the more egregious examples of western "disrespect for international rules and law" can easily be seen in Julian Assange's persecution. Chris and Julian's dad, John, discuss the absurdity and illegality of his torture and imprisonment. (33 min)

Julian Assange has spent over a decade fighting imprisonment, extradition, and CIA espionage. On Oct. 8, Chris Hedges and others will gather in Washington, DC, to demand Assange's release at the same time that protestors surround the British Parliament. For this special episode of The Chris Hedges Report, John Shipton, Assange's father, shares updates on the international campaign to free his son.

There is a War on Journalism.

Check out the 40 min film at the link above followed by commentary from Daniel Ellsberg, James Goodale, Stefania Maurizi, John Kiriakou, Chip Gibbons, Cathy Vogan, Juan Passarelli and host, Joe Lauria.

There are new legal avenues being pursued... (6 min)

The defense has submitted its perfected grounds for appeal to the UK High Court against the United States Government and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. High Court judges will now determine if Assange’s legal team can bring the case before the UK courts. Meanwhile, two American journalists and two American lawyers file a lawsuit against the CIA for infringing on their human rights by violating their privacy while visiting Julian Assange in Ecuador’s embassy in England.

So a new world order is coming. I hope it is a fair world order in which journalists will not be tortured for exposing war crimes. Where all people will be treated with kindness and respect. That seems to be what India suggested at the UNGA this week.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India, addresses the general debate of the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, September 2022).
Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has called into question the over-centralized nature of globalization, Mr. Jaishankar said that the world is poised for “transformational change”. The war in Ukraine and climate events have also, he continued, added to the disruption the world is already facing.
The Minister declared that India is pursuing climate action and climate justice, and stands ready to “support any collective and equitable endeavour to protect our environment and to further global wellness.”
India’s approach, he explained, is based on principles of mutual respect and national ownership with a commitment to sustainable development for all, and he announced that, as it assumes the presidency of the G20 organization of advanced economies, India will work with other members to address serious issues of debt, economic growth, food and energy security and the environment.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127891

It is the BRICS+ and the SCO countries that offer the possibility of a new "Fair World Order". I wish them luck in creating a peaceful world focused on National sovereignty rather than the globalist goals of the WEF. We live in interesting times when the world is in flux. Enjoy the ride if you can.

I look forward to your ideas, comments and thoughts in the comments below.