Welcome to Saturday's Potluck - June 3, 2023
“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso
Lack of accountability for an individual's actions seems to be a growing problem. Seeing push back expands my hope for the future.
Judge finds Australian war hero to be a war criminal Russia Times June 2, 2023
Canberra’s most-decorated living soldier loses the “defamation case of the century” over alleged murder of Afghan civilians
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The newspapers and journalists raised a defense of truth, and Roberts-Smith and witnesses called by the defendants, including three Afghan villagers and some of Roberts-Smith’s fellow soldiers, gave conflicting evidence about what happened on various combat missions involving Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan. The trial judge disbelieved Roberts-Smith and accepted the evidence of the witnesses called by the newspapers, which will make it very difficult for any appeal that may be brought by Roberts-Smith to succeed.
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Defamation actions are strange and unpredictable things, but they sometimes provide instructive insights into the dysfunctional operations of powerful organizations that are in need of root and branch reform. Ben Roberts-Smith inadvertently did Australia a service by bringing defamation proceedings against those newspapers and journalists who dared to tell the truth about what was really happening in Afghanistan.
No reason to add this except I found it interesting.
Are the rich more intelligent? Here’s what science says Asia Time June 2, 2023
Intelligence, education and socioeconomic status all affect one’s income and wealth but studies show Lady Luck is also important
In fact, intelligence is the best predictor of both educational achievement and work performance. And academic and professional success is, in turn, a fairly good forecaster of income. But that’s not the whole story.
Not all highly intelligent people are primarily driven by a desire for wealth – they often have a thirst for knowledge. Some may instead opt for comparatively less well-paying jobs that are more intellectually rewarding, such as architecture, engineering or research.
A recent Swedish study showed that cognitive test scores of the top 1% of earners were not significantly different to the scores obtained by those who earned slightly less.
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Intelligence is not a monolithic trait, though. In fact, it consists of at least two broad constructs: fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence taps into core cognitive mechanisms, such as the speed of processing stimuli, memory capacity and abstract reasoning. Conversely, crystallized intelligence refers to those skills developed in a social environment, such as literacy, numeracy and knowledge about specific topics.This distinction matters because these two types of intelligence develop in different ways. Fluid intelligence can be inherited, cannot be boosted and decreases fairly quickly with age. By contrast, crystallized intelligence increases throughout most adulthood and starts declining only after about 65 years.
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That said, innate capabilities are not the only thing that matters. Another significant factor is education.
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Unsurprisingly, education in turn is affected by family socioeconomic status.
...Of course, the influence of family socioeconomic status on wealth does not operate solely through education. Inheritance and networks are among the most obvious mechanisms. This is particularly true for entrepreneurs, whose investing potential and connections are fundamental for business success.
The Sultan 2.0 will heavily tilt east The Cradle by Pepe Escobar May 31, 2023
The first immediate priority, from Erdogan’s point of view, is to get rid of the “terrorist corridor” in Syria. This means, in practice, reigning in the US-backed Kurdish YPG/PYD, who are effectively Syrian affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – which is also the issue at the heart of a possible normalization of relations with Damascus.
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The Sultan is at his prime when it comes to hedging his bets between east and west. He knows well how to profit from Turkiye’s status as a key NATO member – complete with one of its largest armies, veto power, and control of the entry to the uber-strategic Black Sea.And all that while exercising real foreign policy independence, from West Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Whatever happens next, Erdogan will not hop on board the sanctions-against-Russia sinking ship. The Kremlin bought Turkish bonds tied to the development of the Russian-built Akkuyu nuclear power plant, Turkiye’s first nuclear reactor. Moscow allowed Ankara to postpone nearly $4 billion in energy payments until 2024. Best of all, Ankara pays for Russian gas in rubles.
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It’s no wonder that nearly 10 years ago, when he first unveiled his ambitious, multi-trillion dollar BRI in Astana, Kazakhstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping placed the China Railway Express as a core BRI component.Direct freight trains from Xian to Istanbul are plying the route since December 2020, using the Baku-Tblisi-Kars (BTK) railway with less than two weeks travel time – and plans afoot to increase their frequency. Beijing is well aware of Turkiye’s asset as a transportation hub and crossroads for markets in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa, not to mention a customs union with the EU that allows direct access to European markets.
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Meanwhile, hard business prevails. To fully profit from the status of the energy transit hub, Turkiye needs not only Russian gas but also gas from Turkmenistan feeding the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) as well as Kazakh oil coming via the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) is heavy on economic cooperation, active in a series of projects in transportation, construction, mining, and oil and gas. Ankara has already invested a whopping $85 billion across Central Asia, with nearly 4,000 companies scattered across all the “stans.”
Of course, when compared to Russia and China, Turkiye is not a major player in Central Asia. Moreover, the bridge to Central Asia goes via Iran. So far, rivalry between Ankara and Tehran seems to be the norm, but everything may change, lightning fast, with the simultaneous development of the Russia-Iran-India-led International North South Transportation Corridor (INSTC), which will profit both – and the fact that the Iranians and Turks may soon become full BRICS+ members.
Another geographical spot to watch for potential conflict with the Chinese.
Strategic value of Luzon Strait must not be overlooked Asia Times May 28, 2023
s regional geopolitical attention shifts to Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait, it is easy to overlook the Luzon Strait. Yet it is perhaps the most important strategic strait providing exit and entrance to the South China Sea. Moreover, it is the increasing focus of competing US and China intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
What makes it so important? The answer must be found in the context of strategic plans of both China and the US in the event of war.
The Luzon Strait is situated between Taiwan and Luzon, the northern portion of the Philippine archipelago. It connects the South China Sea to the Western Pacific. It is important for commercial shipping and cable communications that provide important links among Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Such cables are quickly becoming a security issue in the region.
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For China, the South China Sea has historically been its vulnerable underbelly. It also harbors its vital trade routes, especially for the flow of oil and gas imports.Most important, the South China Sea provides relative “sanctuary” for its retaliatory-strike nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarines based in Yulin on Hainan. These submarines are its deterrent against a first strike on it – something the US, unlike China, has not disavowed.
The US wants to deny China this sanctuary.
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Monitoring and control of the Luzon Strait may be one purpose of the new US access to two military bases in Cagayan province (in the Philippines) adjacent to the strait. This may well mark the beginning or intensification of a contested military focus on it. Indeed, it may soon rank with the Malacca and Taiwan Straits as tinderboxes for conflict.If this analysis is correct, it would mean that strategic thinkers in both the US and China are already preparing for conflict – even nuclear conflict. If so, the US-China South China Sea conflicts are just sparring in preparation for a possible existential nuclear contest.
Discusses his observations from his resent trip to Russia.
Scott Ritter - Is the Biden Team Delusional about Ukraine War? (29:24 min)
Scott Ritter: Sanctions Against Russia Failed. I Saw It Firsthand. Sputnik Globe June 1, 2023
Upon my arrival to Russia, I expected to see a nation heavily impacted by the consequences of American-led sanctions. Instead, I saw a nation undergoing an economic revival, in large part thanks to the policies Russia was compelled to undertake because of Western sanctions.
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In January and February 2023, Russia spent 2 trillion rubles ($26 billion) on defense, a 282% jump on the same period a year ago. Far from being unable to replenish its military strength and sustain the conflict in Ukraine, Russia is far outpacing NATO in terms of rushing military material to the frontlines by 4 to 1 in terms of tanks and armored fighting vehicles and 5 to 1 in artillery ammunition. ,,, Moreover, Russia’s increase in military production has not only softened the economic impact of the US-sponsored sanctions, but also helped reverse their impact across Russia’s industrial base.
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Everything I saw while touring Russia underscored the incontrovertible fact that, because of Western sanctions, the Russian economy has been compelled to undertake changes which have not only made it more resilient, but also more productive and efficient. Foreign investments are surging in, proving that there is a world that exists beyond that controlled by the American economic hegemon. Moreover, because sanctions have curtailed the previous practice of Russian business tycoons sending their wealth abroad, there is a huge amount of domestic economic capital available for reinvestment into the Russian economy.
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I thought about this upon my return to the US, contrasting my journey from JFK airport through New York City with a similar journey I made from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport into Moscow. My New York journey took me from a decaying airport, through decaying highways and bridges, into a decaying city. The Moscow equivalent was, by comparison, one of pristine facilities, roads, and a city that was not only composed of recently constructed buildings, but alive with new construction as well.
Scott is a prolific author. His site. Scott Ritter Extra maintains a list of recently published articles. Including ones exclusive to the site, such as June2, 2023 Waging Peace: In Search of the Russian Soul
Disclaimer, I hosted Russian software developers in the mid 1990's when serving as a board member of a local software test bed center. Since then have never doubted the quality of Russian educational system.
How Europe sees the Ukraine War Now - Alastair Crooke fmr Brit Ambassador June 2, 2023 (24:36 min)
Is the Ukraine War Spreading into Russia? Ray McGovern, fmr CIA May 39, 2023 (22:01)
The the other livestream videos this week by Judge Napolitano channel ongoing discussions regarding current Ukraine/Russia conflict. the interviews are generally posted on Monday through Thursday if would like to view them in a more timely manner.
What is on your mind today?
Comments
thanks for the judge and Ritter
the propaganda piece up today over at auto earth is interesting
https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/how-a-tour-of-russia-showed-me-that-prop...
cheers!
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Scott nails one of US's major reasons for limited understanding
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Good morning...
So much going on so quickly around the world. I always enjoy Pepe's international views. Massive change happens, as the adage goes, slowly, slowly, slowly, then all at once. I think we've reach the downhill slope as we pick up the speed of change.
Thanks for the varied news. Hope all's well on the homestead... I bet that occupies much of your time.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
The world would seem stable and unchanging if I simply
Thanks for stopping by.
PS The two pear trees and a replacement nectarine tree I planted five years ago set fruit. The original surviving nectarine planted 20 years ago still only produces a healthy abundance of leaves. First time I have seen these immature fruits, looking forward to watching them grow.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Why I gave up gardening and raising livestock:
July and August will be worse.
I can no longer tolerate it.
I actually had time to view your videos. Thank you for offering them. I particularly learned new things from Cooke. Europeans can see the income disparity in Ukraine. They see the rich getting richer. They feel the brunt of our stupid Russian sanctions. With luck, a split in NATO support for the war is coming.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Decided should no longer be handling large livestock by
Plan on spending more time on personnel use size plantings of perennial crops close to the house. This year arranged leasing out the pastures. A slow migration of changes, unless outside world changes drop in suddenly.
The Ukrainian leadership showing off their new wealth is very short sighted.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
My first husband died in 1998.
Having horses also became a big issue. I needed to ride the two horses 3 or 4 times a week to keep them in shape. It seemed like one summer to the next, I just couldn't do it anymore. I would feel lightheaded, start to worry about heat stroke. I had to consider the horses and carefully rinse them down after just 20 minutes of riding. They would be white with foamy sweat.
Could be an age thing, but I really am aware of heat in these times I do not remember when I was a kid. It just wipes me out. No way I can go out and take a hoe to a row of vegetables. The young people I could hire have zero knowledge about agriculture. I do not have the time to get out there in the heat to show them the fundamentals.
Maybe they are the generation that will think eating fake meat and processed bugs is cool.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
This planet is way too brutal for my sensibilities.
My earliest memories and reactions suggest that I was somehow diverted here from a very different part of the Universe. A very tedious mistake all around.
Thanks for a stimulating read, as always.
I've always found Asia Times an annoying read. The editorial tone strikes me as negative and judgmental, but perhaps it's just me. However, that's where Pepe used to publish, long ago, so I learned to put up with it.
The underlying theme, you touch on: The inexplicable US mind-disease, which paints all of Russian existence a weird evil color, has always fascinated me, even as a child. I've tried to root out the source of this madness, but it seems to extend deep into an unknown (or false?) history. Sure, there were plenty of conflicts in the past, but nothing that still matters. I immersed myself in Russian fiction, and German, too, to no avail. There's not a trace of logical plausibility that can explain the enduring grip of this violent hatred on euro-anglo-consciousness. If it is caused by an artificial psychological construct, or an actual mind virus — then it is a very successful one.
Populations don’t like wars. They have to be lied into it.
That means we can be “truthed” into peace. — Julian Assange
But here you are Pluto,
and for that I am thankful. I also feel saddened that you feel separated from the place you belong. We humans are transforming an exquisite planet into a wilderness of scraps, of both nature and humanity.
When I think about 'madness' I am aware that there is both an element of hostility as we'll as an element of manufactured fear.
It's a brave new world and we ain't included in it
for we are the bullies, terrorists that cause all the mayhem.
https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2023/06/debt-rattle-june-3-2023/
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
the truth bombs seem to be arriving from all around the
Saw The Automatic Earth had more info on bioweapons.
Open source docs prove Hunter Biden’s biolab companies, Metabiota and Black & Veach, were conducting Covid 19 ‘research’ BEFORE the pandemic started pic.twitter.com/hBXADVPmJS
— Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) June 2, 2023
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Good morning SOE, thanks for the OT. Good stuff, as
usual. though I don't have time for all the vids. Off to the airport and on the road, so to speak, rsn. Back on the 11th in the evening sometime. Have a good weekend.
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 --
Bon voyage, El!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Have an enjoyable trip n/t
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Too good to be true! It would be great if it became reality.
prosecuting one Australian is relatively easy
what do you do when the execution torture and rape of both captured combatants and civilians is systemic throughout an armed forces such as with Russia? Similar to the Nazis of WWII or the unpunished rape of Berlin at the end of WWII atrocities are simply too widespread. The vast majority of crimes will go unpunished.
He still has not been prosocuted, his defamation suit has been
the crimes they are listed on his Wikipedia page.
dismissed. The Judge ruled using civil law requirement of proof the murders of Afghan citizens happened. If your interested in understandingMost war crimes have remained unacknowledged and unpunished in the past, but the future could be different. Until contemporary War Criminals from the political and military leadership classed from all nations are charged and prosecuted the continuing pattern will continue. US does not need to wait for International courts to start the process for our citizens who have committed, ordered or deliberately stayed ignorant of crimes committed by subordinates.
Germany occupation is an interesting spot in history to look at war crimes, specifically rape. The country was occupied by multiple countries armed forces, except not a Russian army. The Soviet Union Red Army was in Germany and was comprised of soldiers from various geographic areas.
Rape during the occupation of Germany - Wikepedia
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
The battle of Bakmut explored
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Big Serge has a deep dive into it.
This essay talks about the old equipment Ukraine troops are using while the better equipment is either being saved for the upcoming battle or has been sold on the black market. Troops are using 80 year old equipment and even older. And lots of men being sent to the front have few days of training. And for what? There is no way that Ukraine will win the battle and lots of people have said that if the west stops sending equipment they will lose in just days.
But Blinken is yapping about America staying in the fight until every inch of Ukraine that is now Russia is vacated…that’s never going to happen.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
'If you harm an American, we will respond"
~ Joe Biden
Blinken has no respect for a human life
Thanks for the link to Big Serge article.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
musical interlude
~
truth is considered foreign influence, world peace is a threat to national security
Thank you - fits the mood n/t
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Just a bit of snark.
Nothing to see here! The thumb on the scale is accidental.
Quick censorship
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Is there any doubt that Blinken is a war monger?
None at all
He’s saying that he and his NATO allies are going to build up Ukraine’s military capabilities with an Air Force and lots of other military equipment, but in the latest simplicius update he says most of the equipment being sent to Ukraine isn’t in working order. Out of 29 humvees only 3 are working and other equipment is even worse off. Tires are rotten and even the replacement tires are just as rotten. One tire exchange cost $174,000. The contractors that have been paid for years have done nothing to keep them in working order.
Ukraine contractors have been paid millions to buy weapons and haven’t done it, but have pocketed millions. Another great update. Full of interesting tidbits. I don’t know what planet Blinken is on, but I want someone to ask him just where all those goodies are going to come from since America doesn’t have a manufacturing base anymore and what they do make is overpriced and comes with many flaws.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
'If you harm an American, we will respond"
~ Joe Biden