Welcome to Saturday's Potluck - Oct 7, 2023

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 5:59am

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Conflict broke out last night when Hamas attacked Israel. Live updates report possible Israeli soldiers captured, multiple dead and 545 people are being treated in Israeli hospitals.

Ironically any mention of Israel and Middle East was included in the diary prior to the current violence.

________

A summary of various panels and Putin's speech at the Valdai International Discussion Club 2023 conference. (an englich translation of the speech)

Pepe Escobar: Putin and the Magic Multipolar Mountain Sputnik Globe October 6, 2023

Almost all panels at Valdai focused on how to develop an alternative system, but the two main themes were inevitably the lack of democracy in current international institutions and the weaponization of the US dollar. Batista correctly observed how the US itself is the main enemy of the US dollar when using it as a weapon.

At the Q&A, Putin addressed the key issue of economic corridors. He noted how BRI and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) might have different interests: “Not true. They are harmonious and complement each other”. This is reflected in how they are geared to “ensure new logistic routes and industrial chains”, and all that “complemented by the real productive sector”.
...
Pierre de Gaulle, grandson of the iconic General, expanded on the French notion of universality, embodied in the much-quoted slogan “liberté, egalité, fraternité” – not exactly upheld by Macronism. He made a point to stress he was the “sole representative of France” at Valdai (only a handful of European academics came to Sochi, and no diplomats).
De Gaulle reminded everyone how Saint Simon was a Russophile and how Voltaire corresponded with Catherine the Great. He alluded to the deep Franco-Russian cultural ties; a “shared community of interests”; and “the bond of Christianity”.
...
A broad coalition of states that support multipolarity actually do not support the “civilization” concept; instead, they support the notion of people sovereignty.
It was up to Dayan Jayatilleka, former Sri Lankan plenipotentiary ambassador to Russia, to come up with a brilliant formulation.

He showed how Vietnam faced a proxy war against the hegemon successfully – “using 5,000 years of Vietnamese civilization”. That was “an internationalist phenomenon”. Ho Chi Minh took his ideas from Lenin – while enjoying full support from students in the US and Europe.
...
Alexander Prokhanov came up with another startling formulation. He compared the Russian dream with a cathedral on the top of a hill, whereas the Anglo-Saxon dream is a fortress on the top of the hill, engaged in constant surveillance. And if you misbehave, you “will receive some Tomahawks”.
...
And it was (Sergy) Karaganov who arguably posed the most challenging question to Putin. He stressed how nuclear deterrence does not work anymore. So should we lower the nuclear threshold?”
,,,
And then came the clincher – actually a veiled message to the characters whose dream is “victory” via a first strike: “Do we need to change that? Why? I see no point. There’s no situation when something can threaten the existence of the Russian state. No sane person would consider the use of nuclear weapons against Russia.”

An additional article I did not include in last week's diary.

Discusses the India-Middle East-Europe transportation corridor announced at the last G20 summit.
War of Economic Corridors: the India-Mideast-Europe ploy The Cradle September 25, 2023

________

Multiple interactive maps in this presentation show the scale of Russia's gas industry. Well worth a look.

Piviot to the East. History of Russian Gas Exports Sputnik Globe September 25, 2023

According to the Central Bank of Russia, natural gas accounted for 11% of all goods sold abroad in 2021, making it the third largest commodity in the structure of all Russian exports.

Find out how Russian gas became the backbone of Europe's energy systems and what has transpired with gas exports since early 2022 in a new special project.

________

United States and England's special relationship alluded to, but never defined. It does seem to be a requirement to have a genealogical background back to British Empire and be a christian.

The author of the video presents another interesting aspect possibly influencing The Special Relationship - British Israelism. Beleif systems do not always match history and archeological findings.

The Cult I Grew Up In | British Israelism Debunked (15:30 min)

Why am I not surprised the christian cult leader mentioned in the video above started his ministry in Oregon.

Herbert Armstrong's teachings have similarities to those of the Millerites and Church of God (Seventh Day) (sometimes referred to as "COG7" to differentiate it from similarly styled sects named "Church of God" which worship on Sunday and generally hold to traditional Christian teachings), from which WCG is spiritually and organizationally descended. The religion is a blend of Christian fundamentalism, non-belief in the Trinity and some tenets of Judaism and Seventh-Day Sabbath doctrine.[6] Armstrong himself had been a COG7 minister before the Oregon conference stripped him of his ministerial credentials and excommunicated him for his seeking to water down and change their long established COG7 doctrines. It was in the fall of 1937 when Elder Armstrong's credentials were revoked by the Salem Church of God organization. The reason given by the Board of Twelve Oregon Conference of the Church of God, 7th Day (COG7) for this adverse action against Herbert W. Armstrong, was because he taught and kept the annual Feast days. But the real reason seems to have been because of his uncooperative attitude.[7] Armstrong then began his own ministry. Wikipedia 2023

A major part of the belief system was British Israelism which goes back at least to the beginning of England's colonization of North America. Good ol King James IV of England and I of Scottland, the person s a new version sponsored a new translation of the bible King James Version.

British Israelism

According to Brackney (2012) and Fine (2015), the French Huguenot magistrate M. le Loyer's The Ten Lost Tribes, published in 1590, provided one of the earliest expressions of the belief that the Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Scandinavian, Germanic, and associated peoples are the direct descendants of the Old Testament Israelites.[3][10]: 176 Anglo-Israelism has also been attributed to King James VI and I,[10] who believed he was the King of Israel.
...
n the late 19th century, Edward Hine, Edward Wheler Bird, and Herbert Aldersmith developed the British Israelite movement. Hine and Bird achieved a degree of "doctrinal coherence" by eliminating competing forms of the ideology: in 1878, the Anglo-Ephraim Association of London, which followed Wilson by accepting the broader community of western European Germanic peoples as fellow Israelites who were also favoured by God, was absorbed into Bird's Metropolitan Anglo-Israel Association, which espoused the Anglo-exclusive view promoted by Hine.[12]: 209

By 1886, the "Anglo-Israel Association" had 27 affiliated groups throughout Britain.[11]: 9 Hine later departed for the United States, where he promoted the movement.[13]: 56 [10]: 176

The 1906 edition of the Jewish Encyclopedia stated that British Israelism's adherents "are said to number 2,000,000 in England and the United States",[16] an unreliable figure if association membership and journal subscription numbers are any guide; the number of passive Protestant sympathisers is almost impossible to determine
...
A commonly held British-Israel doctrine is the belief that the Tribe of Ephraim and the Tribe of Manasseh can be identified as modern day Britain and the United States of America.[47][48][49]

Part of the foundation of the British-Israel doctrine is the theological claim that particular blessings were bestowed upon three of the tribes of Israel,[50][51][49][24]: 317 in that the tribe of Judah was to be the 'chief ruler' e.g. King David, and Ephraim was to receive the birthright (See Jacob and Esau). Adherents believe that these blessings have continued down through the ages to modern times, with the British Monarchy being identified as the continued blessing upon Judah, and both Britain (Ephraim) and the USA (Manasseh) as recipients of the national birthright blessing. They cite passages such as 1 Chron 5:1–2 and Gen 48:19–20 in order to support their claim. Wikipedia 2023

________

Another Nazi recognized in European aristocracy from the WW II era.

New Findings Confirm Late Dutch Prince Bernhard's Nazi Party Membership Sputnik Globe October 7, 2023

The Dutch government has officially acknowledged the authenticity of a Nazi party membership card belonging to Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterfeld, the consort of Dutch Princess Juliana. Despite his repeated denials of Nazi affiliation, historians have long questioned his claims.

However, new evidence has emerged, including the recently discovered authentic NSDAP membership card by Flip Maarschalkerweerd, the former head of the palace archives, following the prince's death.

Maarschalkerweerd further stated he uncovered that the card was nearly destroyed in 1949 by Lucius Clay, a US military administrator in Germany who revealed in a note that he had been on the verge of trashing the document. However, Clay instead stated in the message that the prince "earned the right to destroy it" himself.

________

Each of the videos are worth watching in full. I have started them at the spot with new infomatioin or it corroborated info I have found in various sources.

At the end of this video Ray McGovern discusses Harvard education as part of shaping the thoughts of some of the current foreign policy elites. Professor Richard Pipes - A Russophobe, Jewish refugee from Poland who taught at Harvard. Fiona Hill and Anthony Bliken studied under him. In the mid-1980's Blinken wrote a dissertation for his bachelor degree - Ally versus Ally American Europe and the Siberian Pipeline Crisis.

x-CIA: Pentagon PANICS As Putin Exposes Biden’s Secret Agenda (35:34 min) (starts at 29:14)

________

American Neocons and Their Global Community w/Alastair Crooke fmr Brit ambassador (26:58 min) Starts at 21:03 where Alastair mentions "It was Britian who did it, I am not suggesting it was America, because we set up OSS and the CIA at the time. But, we brought in them. I mean many Germans into them. I mean many, you know thousands, 4,000 Germans." (OSS = Office of Strategic Services was set-up in 1941) The book OSS in China mentions original OSS officers were trained in Canada, overseen by British.

How Much Longer Can Ukraine Last? w/Prof Jeffrey Sachs (22:37 min) Starts at 7:16 where
~~Judge Napolitano mentions Hillary Clinton is a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson. Is this part of the reasoning she uses to push herself into the presidency, a birth right privilege?~~

added - Napolitano mentions Hillary Clinton is in a direct line of public servants to the traditions of Thomas Jefferson our first Secretary of State.

The livestream videos this week by Judge Napolitano channel ongoing discussions regarding current Ukraine/Russia conflict and this week Canadian Parliament. The interviews are generally posted on Monday through Friday if would like to view them in a more timely manner. The link opens in the LIVE column, occasionally an interview only appears in VIDEOS section.

________

What is on your mind today?

Tags:

Open Thread

Saturday

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Comments

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 6:56am

Find it interesting that Netanyahu declares a state of war

Only now that Hamas has pushed back against the IDF de-facto ongoing war against the Palestines.
This has been going on for many years. As a technical matter, Israel has been at war with most of
the Middle East for generations.

Whether Israel prevails militarily in this most recent violence, its situation overall is unsustainable.
It must transition from a US forward operating base to a nation willing/able to live in peace/cooperation with its neighbors.
Riyadh/Tehran prove there's alternatives.

-- Brian Berletic

Thanks for bringing this issue up.

—

question everything

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 7:42am

The apparent cause of the Hamas retaliation

A couple days ago ..

More than 800 Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning under the protection of Israeli forces.

https://www.newarab.com/news/over-800-israeli-settlers-storm-al-aqsa-com...

—

question everything

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:27pm

Missed the event - thanks for posting

@QMS the latest settler aggression towards Palestinians. Eventually there is blowback even if not successful in the big picture.

Hamas' Sneak Attack on Israel Deemed 'Major Failure' for Israeli Intelligence Sputnik Globe Oct 7, 2023 (my bold)

Elran’s concerns were echoed by Dr. Simon Tsipis, an expert on national security, political science, and international relations, who argued that the current crisis has become probably one of the biggest failures for the Israel Security Agency (ISA), Israel’s internal security service.

While it is unclear at this time exactly how the Palestinian militants managed to obfuscate their preparations, Tsipis speculated that ISA might have been deliberately misled by its own assets in the Gaza Strip whose hatred of the Israelis prevails over their greed, as he put it.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by Lookout on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 9:22am

Good chilly morning...

Fall is in the air today. We caught a little much needed rain yesterday, and a passing front pushed temps into the 40's. Trade day was fairly empty as today is the big festival in the park. The steam engine from Chattanooga arrives later today.

Bought gas for $2.95/gal this AM, GA has suspended their tax for the month. I need another 5 gal of tractor gas this week while it is cheap(er).

Sorry to hear of more ME Israeli conflict. Will it ever stop?

Y'all have a good weekend. Thanks for the OT!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:17pm

A functional steam engine would be interesting

@Lookout to see.

Gas I bought this week was $4.69/gal. Bought an electric riding mower this year to keep the grass down in spots since the livestock density is so low compared to pasture. Enables me to still listen to nature. Still have not seen any cost effective alternative for the horsepower needed for grading or field work.

As a youth very optimistic for peace, now do not believe will see it in my lifetime.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:09am

Good morning soe, thanks for all the information, links,

videos, and the OT. I've done the easy part (reading) but need to head off to farmers' market before starting any of the videos, which look quite intriguing.

How much difference is there between a cathedral on a hill and a fortress? The Papal States' Castel Sant'Angelo is a blend of both, n'est ce pas. The fortress, especially as explained involving constant surveillance and tomahawks is horrible, but the history of christianity and it's cathedrals and their occupants and rulers is not a whit more pleasant, involving constant surveillance, hideous tortures, holy wars, endless persecutions and more. What's in your wallet?

That's about it for morning first reactions, heh. 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 --

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:51pm

Thanks for stopping by

@enhydra lutris cathedral on a hill or fortress - suppose the difference is the type of Christianity the cathedral supports. A quick Wikipedia read does not show the same type of systematic persecution and torture by the Russian Orthodox as the Roman Catholics or protestants for control. Governments of Russian lands on the other hand..

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by wokkamile on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:12am

Above link

to Napolitano-Sachs chat and the mention of Hillary and Jefferson: Napolitano was just referring to the fact that as Sec'y of State, Hillary was in a direct line starting with the first, Thomas Jefferson, not that she was a descendant by birth.

Here in SoCal on the outskirts of LA, gas is a mere $6.29.9/gal, which of course is a whole lot better than if it were $6.30/gal, which would be outrageously expensive.

The Marianne Williamson campaign has disappeared, though some would cynically say it never appeared to begin with. Something similar will happen to the West campaign after this latest switcheroo, which some see as his way of quietly dropping out.

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:13pm

thanks for catching the error - editted

@wokkamile found some interesting information on President Jefferson regarding US history of regime change, encouraging then abandoning an alley and keeping sea routes open for US ships via warfare beginning with the Barbary coast.

The First Barbary War The Jefferson Montecello 10/2023

The conclusion of the war in 1805 set off a wave of national pride among Americans, inspiring artwork and patriotic songs. But the circumstances under which peace was achieved gave President Jefferson's political opponents ammunition to criticize his decisions. The Federalists championed the cause of William Eaton, who complained that the American navy had abandoned Hamet Qaramanli and Eaton's plan to reinstall him as pasha. Eaton felt that if his plan had been carried through, the United States would have won a more glorious victory.[50]

Jefferson formally addressed questions about his treatment of Hamet in a letter to the Senate. There, he reiterated and amplified the reasoning of Madison's 1802 letters to Eaton and Cathcart: "we considered that concerted operations by those who have a common enemy were entirely justifiable, & might produce effects favorable to both, without binding either to guarantee the objects of the other," explaining that "co-operation only was intended, & by no means an union of our object with the fortune of the Ex-bashaw." Jefferson explained that the U.S. government had never planned a full-scale land attack to place Hamet back in power, noting that Hamet himself had acknowledged that he was to carry out the land operations, while the U.S. undertook those by sea. The experience reaching and taking Derne made it clear that Hamet had little local backing and access to few resources. When, at the same time, an opportunity for peace presented itself, Tobias Lear seized it. Jefferson exonerated himself from playing any part in building up the expectations of Hamet, and he defended any unauthorized verbal commitments Eaton may have made, stating that, "In operations at such a distance, it becomes necessary to leave much to the discretion of the agents employed: but events may still turn up beyond the limits of that discretion. unable in such a case to consult his government, a zealous citizen will act, as he believes that would direct him, were it apprised of the circumstances, & will take on himself the responsibility. in all these cases, the purity & patriotism of the motives should shield the agent from blame, & even secure a sanction, where the error is not too injurious."

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:38am

The American Colonies started with such a small gene pool

that it's not surprising that everyone who can trace their ancestry back far enough is related to everyone else who can do the same thing.

Editorial afterthought: The usual link-point, though, isn't King John but his great-great-grandson Edward III. Ed3 was very prolific, and the younger sons and daughters had to marry down if they wanted to marry at all - not enough European royalty to go around. A few generations of that and you're in the rising middle class.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 5:38pm

Might find the story of Elizabeth Warren interesting

@TheOtherMaven Her husband show on the presidential chart as a forefather of 2 presidents.

(3:48 min)

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 9:37am

I think you mean "descendant"

@studentofearth
He's not a time traveler, is he?

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:43am

Good discussion on the parasite class.

The Bottomless Swamp of Regulatory Capture

All this grift, graft, predatory pricing, price-fixing and parasitic monopolizing costs the public and the economy dearly.

CHARLES HUGH SMITH
OCT 6, 2023
In the great scheme of civilization, governments arose to consolidate resources, wealth and power, and protect these scarce and valuable assets from outsiders. Outsiders included invading hordes, competing states and self-serving entities within the realm guided by one goal: to maximize private gain by any means available.

In the past, these entities included petty fiefdoms, warlords and brigands. In the present, corporations are the entities guided by one goal: to maximize their private gain by any means available. This pathological drive to profiteer, exploit and pillage goes by the polite term "increasing shareholder value." (I'm sure the warlords and brigands would be jealous of the modern-day PR machinery wielded by corporations.)

The powerful central state is both a threat to warlords / corporations and a potentially unmatchable ally. Should the warlord / corporation worm their way into the good graces of the state via bribes, gifts and other blandishments, then the state can legalize and enforce whatever predatory mechanisms they've established to fleece the public of their hard-earned wages.

In the modern iteration of warlord predation, this harnessing of the state to maximize private gains is called regulatory capture. In the old days, petty fiefdoms and warlords bought state protection by funneling a share of their profits to the monarch. (Brigands converted themselves from outlaws to respected warlords by the same path.)

In democracies, this sluicing of predatory gains to the state takes the form of campaign contributions to politicians and lavish legal lobbying via absurdly bloated speaking fees, private junkets on billionaire's boats, seats on philanthro-capitalist foundations, and so on.

As Richard Bonugli and I discuss in our podcast on How Regulatory Capture is a Net Negative to Society, The opportunities for grift are not a bug to those at the top of the democracy machinery, they're a feature: how else can an opportunistic parasite gain wealth while "serving the public"?

Michelle Obama just got paid $700,000 to give a speech to her fellow parasites. She and Barack got paid $60 million right after they vacated the White House and they have received many payments since for the services they rendered whilst in power. The Clintons were flat broke when they left power according to Hillary and Bill got paid $10 million to give a speech to some bankers and used it to buy a house with the mortgage payment being $10 a month. They had housing on the property to house their secret service detail which they charged them $10,000 month to occupy. Baby Bush also got paid to give some speeches, but so far I haven’t heard that Trump has been paid for anything yet. I’m sure that if he had the corporate media would have told us by now how he was being naughty cuz that’s just goush. And corrupt of course.

Anyhooo it’s a good read.

—

The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.
~Hannah Arendt

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 12:05pm

A tad more

@snoopydawg

In the old days, warlords exacted tolls at bridges and on pathways. Today, parasitic corporations stripmine the public with cartels, quasi-monopolies, price-fixing and predatory pricing mandated by the government. Look no further than Americans paying 7 to 10 times more for insulin than the citizenry in other developed nations for an example of how modern-day parasites maximize profits while delivering no additional value for the predatory 7X cost.

Theoretically, democracies are supposed to limit the pillage, predation and parasitic exploitation of the public by warlords--oops I mean corporations. But democracy is in effect a wide-open auction of favors in which corporations bid for loopholes inserted in 700-page congressional bills, regulatory tweaks that favor their interests at the expense of competitors and innovators that might threaten their monopoly, etc. ..

All this grift, graft, predatory pricing, price-fixing and parasitic monopolizing costs the public and the economy dearly. Funding that could have been invested productively to serve the common good is sluiced into the private accounts of politicos, fixers, lobbyists, billionaires and other "shareholders" (i.e. the top 0.1%) where it piles up as dead capital, unavailable for any purpose other than the further maximization of private gain by any means available, which of course is led not by innovation but by regulatory capture, as innovation is risky while regulatory capture is like shooting fish in a barrel.

There is a systemic cost to the predation of regulatory capture: stagnation, decay and collapse. Bleed the productive populace dry and stifle competition to maximize private / corporate gains, and you end up hollowing out your economy and society, with easily predictable consequences: the parasites expire with the host.

A recent article said that 80 ex generals have joined defense companies in the continuation of the
same revolving door that brought secretary of defense Austin from his grifting at Raytheon. Where do you think Milley will end up at? My guess is Boeing or one of the many think tanks that also steal the money meant for us.

The only way for this to ever be fixed is by dismantling the entire government at once. Tom Clancy has a great way to do it in the end of his book, Executive Orders. I won’t tell you what it is cuz I don’t want the site to get more eyes on it. We’re tiny, but we are vocal.

.

The Bottomless Swamp of Regulatory Capture

All this grift, graft, predatory pricing, price-fixing and parasitic monopolizing costs the public and the economy dearly.

CHARLES HUGH SMITH
OCT 6, 2023
In the great scheme of civilization, governments arose to consolidate resources, wealth and power, and protect these scarce and valuable assets from outsiders. Outsiders included invading hordes, competing states and self-serving entities within the realm guided by one goal: to maximize private gain by any means available.

In the past, these entities included petty fiefdoms, warlords and brigands. In the present, corporations are the entities guided by one goal: to maximize their private gain by any means available. This pathological drive to profiteer, exploit and pillage goes by the polite term "increasing shareholder value." (I'm sure the warlords and brigands would be jealous of the modern-day PR machinery wielded by corporations.)

The powerful central state is both a threat to warlords / corporations and a potentially unmatchable ally. Should the warlord / corporation worm their way into the good graces of the state via bribes, gifts and other blandishments, then the state can legalize and enforce whatever predatory mechanisms they've established to fleece the public of their hard-earned wages.

In the modern iteration of warlord predation, this harnessing of the state to maximize private gains is called regulatory capture. In the old days, petty fiefdoms and warlords bought state protection by funneling a share of their profits to the monarch. (Brigands converted themselves from outlaws to respected warlords by the same path.)

In democracies, this sluicing of predatory gains to the state takes the form of campaign contributions to politicians and lavish legal lobbying via absurdly bloated speaking fees, private junkets on billionaire's boats, seats on philanthro-capitalist foundations, and so on.

As Richard Bonugli and I discuss in our podcast on How Regulatory Capture is a Net Negative to Society, The opportunities for grift are not a bug to those at the top of the democracy machinery, they're a feature: how else can an opportunistic parasite gain wealth while "serving the public"?

Michelle Obama just got paid $700,000 to give a speech to her fellow parasites. She and Barack got paid $60 million right after they vacated the White House and they have received many payments since for the services they rendered whilst in power. The Clintons were flat broke when they left power according to Hillary and Bill got paid $10 million to give a speech to some bankers and used it to buy a house with the mortgage payment being $10 a month. They had housing on the property to house their secret service detail which they charged them $10,000 month to occupy. Baby Bush also got paid to give some speeches, but so far I haven’t heard that Trump has been paid for anything yet. I’m sure that if he had the corporate media would have told us by now how he was being naughty cuz that’s just goush. And corrupt of course.

Anyhooo it’s a good read.

—

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:11pm

It’s like in GoT when Cersei destroys the Great Sept of Baelor,

@snoopydawg
no doubt.

Some renegade does a “V for Vendetta,” having discovered where the Dem-Rep Uniparty has been keeping all their ~~wildfire~~ dry powder.

#7

In the old days, warlords exacted tolls at bridges and on pathways. Today, parasitic corporations stripmine the public with cartels, quasi-monopolies, price-fixing and predatory pricing mandated by the government. Look no further than Americans paying 7 to 10 times more for insulin than the citizenry in other developed nations for an example of how modern-day parasites maximize profits while delivering no additional value for the predatory 7X cost.

Theoretically, democracies are supposed to limit the pillage, predation and parasitic exploitation of the public by warlords--oops I mean corporations. But democracy is in effect a wide-open auction of favors in which corporations bid for loopholes inserted in 700-page congressional bills, regulatory tweaks that favor their interests at the expense of competitors and innovators that might threaten their monopoly, etc. ..

All this grift, graft, predatory pricing, price-fixing and parasitic monopolizing costs the public and the economy dearly. Funding that could have been invested productively to serve the common good is sluiced into the private accounts of politicos, fixers, lobbyists, billionaires and other "shareholders" (i.e. the top 0.1%) where it piles up as dead capital, unavailable for any purpose other than the further maximization of private gain by any means available, which of course is led not by innovation but by regulatory capture, as innovation is risky while regulatory capture is like shooting fish in a barrel.

There is a systemic cost to the predation of regulatory capture: stagnation, decay and collapse. Bleed the productive populace dry and stifle competition to maximize private / corporate gains, and you end up hollowing out your economy and society, with easily predictable consequences: the parasites expire with the host.

A recent article said that 80 ex generals have joined defense companies in the continuation of the
same revolving door that brought secretary of defense Austin from his grifting at Raytheon. Where do you think Milley will end up at? My guess is Boeing or one of the many think tanks that also steal the money meant for us.

The only way for this to ever be fixed is by dismantling the entire government at once. Tom Clancy has a great way to do it in the end of his book, Executive Orders. I won’t tell you what it is cuz I don’t want the site to get more eyes on it. We’re tiny, but we are vocal.

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 12:16pm

So, do we have war now and where are most bombs falling?

life is beyond fubar, but what is beond fubar supposed to be?

Good evening, where I am it is a couple of minutes beyond 7 o clock in the evening. I go to shut down.

Good Night from over here in the northern part of Germany, near Hamburg.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:22pm

Landtagswahlen / state parliamentary elections tomorrow, oh boy!

@mimi
…in Bavaria and Hesse.

Every five years, poor abused ordinary German voters supposedly get a say.

Since the expected result in both states is the exact same coalition they have now, a cynic might say it’s meaningless theater, just a ritual to rubber-stamp the status quo.

Schlaf gut, träum dir was Schönes!

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:59pm

thank you, lotlizard

@lotlizard
My sister always says in order to say 'Good Night' to me, that I should 'dream something nice = Träum was Schönes. I then say that I never dream anything, and she says that this is nonsense. I just forget what I dream and then I say I would rather forget what I don't dream about but see and hear in the news. But that she doesn't understand anymore.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 12:53pm

Aaron states clearly what I couldn’t

If we’re going to deprogram cult members, we should start with cult leaders.

I nominate the BlueAnon elder who programmed followers to believe in deranged Trump-Russia conspiracy theories and support an apocalyptic proxy war with Russia: https://t.co/laAn1maLhg

— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) October 6, 2023

I am always suspicious when Hillary is in the news

@snoopydawg She is firing up the dem party base with some old themes. Thing is, democrats still hold onto Russiagate and TDS so she is pressing the right buttons.

If we’re going to deprogram cult members, we should start with cult leaders. I nominate the BlueAnon elder who programmed followers to believe in deranged Trump-Russia conspiracy theories and support an apocalyptic proxy war with Russia: https://t.co/laAn1maLhg — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) October 6, 2023 More on this from Turley: Discussing the recent vacating of the position of the Speaker by all of the Democrats and eight Republicans, Clinton said that Democrats had to groom selected Republicans while treating the rest as sick cultists: “[S]adly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA extremists take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. He’s only in it for himself. He’s now defending himself in civil actions and criminal actions. And when do they break with him? Because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members, but something needs to happen.” It appears that the “basket of deplorables” are now a cabal of cultists due to “emotional, psychological needs and desires.” Amanpour was clearly bemused by the suggestion, but the combination of the two is chilling for those of us concerned about free speech in this age of rage. Many countries have historically treated dissenters as mentally ill or requiring reeducation. The media has long embraced the need to educate the public to accept its views. Former President Barack Obama joined a number of journalists in discussing how to reeducate the public. Obama denounced “anger-based journalism while promoting an advocacy-journalism model in which the media shape the news for citizens who supposedly need help to properly frame ideas. The fact that Amanpour elicited these comments only magnified the unease over the underlying intolerance for opposing viewpoints. In an interview with James Comey, Amanpour pressed Comey on why the FBI did not “shut down” President Donald Trump’s “hate speech” during the 2016 presidential election. Comey correctly pushed back on Amanpour by noting that she was suggesting something grossly improper and unconstitutional: “That’s not a role for government to play. The beauty of this country is people can say what they want even if it’s misleading and it’s demagoguery.” Neither CNN nor Amanpour ever addressed a CNN host suggesting the use of the FBI to shutdown political debate. Now, however, Amanpour has found a leader who is willing to treat political opponents as sick cultists. The sense of smug superiority is precisely why Hillary remains one of the least popular political figures in America. What is ironic is to watch Amanpour and Clinton denounce the right for reckless rhetoric and anti-democratic sentiments as they voice voice intolerant and inflammatory views. She seems to be popping up more frequently recently and I sure hope that she isn’t planning on running again. Seems that neither she nor Trump can just ride into the sunset and fade away to where we never hear from them again.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:56pm

Thing is that both Mueller and Durham thoroughly debunked

@MrWebster

the Russia gate narrative and boy did Mueller go from being the person who would bring Trump down to a person who had slipped into senility licitly split! And of course Durham was just Barr's puppet who covered up all the evidence of Trump being on Putin’s leash.

I naively thought that once the truth was revealed that people would see that they had been taken for a ride, but sadly that didn’t happen. They still believe the original story and that most of the republicans are doing Putin’s bidding. Even Moscow Mitch and Leningrad Lindsay even thought they are some of the biggest Ukraine supporters and want even more money sent than what Biden has done. They have been thoroughly brainwashed and I don’t think that if Hillary herself told them that she just made everything up they would believe her.

—

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 7:05pm

I caught BBC news several times last week

@snoopydawg

...quite by accident, and saw Amanpour's interview with Hillary. BBC is no more or less odious than US state-sanctioned news, in my opinion. Most of it has sickening moments of subversion, which I am braced for, where the propaganda view is confirmed by the host. Other than that, Hillary was fairly neutral. She felt safe with her disdain for Trump, and seemed to assume that most people who matter in the US would share her distaste. No point in trying to hide it. The interview seemed carefully rehearsed — at the very least, Hillary had a copy of the questions.

Corporate news should come with a warning. The programming is meticulously edited and paced to make specific points and to deposit negative views where they belong. Within the culture of a corporate news monopoly, all shows resonate the same tone and triggers, and reinforce the keywords of current propaganda, and all maintain the same omissions in context.

In any event, I don't think there's any danger that Hillary Clinton will be rehabilitated to the point where she ever again has meaningful political influence. In 2016, I thought that forcing Hillary Clinton on the nation as a Presidential candidate was a huge mistake that would permanently harm the Democratic Party. Afterward, I realized that the Democratic Party had staged a massive political deception that ended up damaging Democracy, itself. As a result of this and the desperately orchestrated election of an incoherent Biden and his Neocon operators — reactionary waves of populism have developed, and they continues to rise outside the news cycle.

Going forward, I don't think Americans will be happy with any candidates that are produced within the Party system. They shouldn't be; they deserve better.

If we’re going to deprogram cult members, we should start with cult leaders. I nominate the BlueAnon elder who programmed followers to believe in deranged Trump-Russia conspiracy theories and support an apocalyptic proxy war with Russia: https://t.co/laAn1maLhg — Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) October 6, 2023 More on this from Turley: Discussing the recent vacating of the position of the Speaker by all of the Democrats and eight Republicans, Clinton said that Democrats had to groom selected Republicans while treating the rest as sick cultists: “[S]adly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA extremists take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. He’s only in it for himself. He’s now defending himself in civil actions and criminal actions. And when do they break with him? Because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members, but something needs to happen.” It appears that the “basket of deplorables” are now a cabal of cultists due to “emotional, psychological needs and desires.” Amanpour was clearly bemused by the suggestion, but the combination of the two is chilling for those of us concerned about free speech in this age of rage. Many countries have historically treated dissenters as mentally ill or requiring reeducation. The media has long embraced the need to educate the public to accept its views. Former President Barack Obama joined a number of journalists in discussing how to reeducate the public. Obama denounced “anger-based journalism while promoting an advocacy-journalism model in which the media shape the news for citizens who supposedly need help to properly frame ideas. The fact that Amanpour elicited these comments only magnified the unease over the underlying intolerance for opposing viewpoints. In an interview with James Comey, Amanpour pressed Comey on why the FBI did not “shut down” President Donald Trump’s “hate speech” during the 2016 presidential election. Comey correctly pushed back on Amanpour by noting that she was suggesting something grossly improper and unconstitutional: “That’s not a role for government to play. The beauty of this country is people can say what they want even if it’s misleading and it’s demagoguery.” Neither CNN nor Amanpour ever addressed a CNN host suggesting the use of the FBI to shutdown political debate. Now, however, Amanpour has found a leader who is willing to treat political opponents as sick cultists. The sense of smug superiority is precisely why Hillary remains one of the least popular political figures in America. What is ironic is to watch Amanpour and Clinton denounce the right for reckless rhetoric and anti-democratic sentiments as they voice voice intolerant and inflammatory views. She seems to be popping up more frequently recently and I sure hope that she isn’t planning on running again. Seems that neither she nor Trump can just ride into the sunset and fade away to where we never hear from them again.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 7:41pm

I agree with you on this

@Pluto's Republic

BBC is no more or less odious than US state-sanctioned news, in my opinion.
…..

In 2016, I thought that forcing Hillary Clinton on the nation as a Presidential candidate was a huge mistake that would permanently harm the Democratic Party.

Lots of people felt that way about her, but of course it was Her Turn! and dammit they were going to run her hell or high water. I wonder if Obama hadn’t screwed us so badly and were out of patience with democrats would she have won? But that she lost to the game show host Trump will keep me laughing till the end of my days.

So much of corporate media should be tagged with this is state sponsored content. I read yesterday that unnamed sources said that Trump told someone about our submarines and how many missiles they carry and now the DoJ is going to open an investigation into Trump for it. Hell anyone can just say anything with no evidence to back it up and Trump is once again found guilty through the media.

Hillary has been bitching and accusing Trump of the same things that she is doing, but she gets a pass for it.

Love this:

The sense of smug superiority is precisely why Hillary remains one of the least popular political figures in America. What is ironic is to watch Amanpour and Clinton denounce the right for reckless rhetoric and anti-democratic sentiments as they voice voice intolerant and inflammatory views.

—

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 1:25pm

Good afternoon, everybody!

I read articles in the essay, all very informative, and will catch the videos later this afternoon.
I need to view a class on Firearms laws, a 12 hr class. I will take in in 2 hour doses.
Oh, well, at least I can watch it from home, no longer have to spend tons of $ on travel and hotels for the live presentations.
My fear is that the war in Gaza will spread. Seems in all the wars and coups going on, I secretly root for the "wrong" side, every single time.
Have a great weekend everybody, and many thanks for the outstanding OT, Soe.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:13pm

What is right in war?

@on the cusp

Also cheer for the losing side, except for Ukie.
If Israel goes full ballistic and hits Iran,
it could real ugly quick.

Good luck with your gun laws.

—

question everything

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 8:16pm

War is never justified for money and resources,

@QMS but just might be the last resort to stop genocide. Or slavery. Or theft of a country's treasure.
I am learning a lot about guns. When, where, why, or how to use them legally.
And, this speaker is a friend of mine, I have had her involved in 2 cases, she also teaches at a law school in Houston, and she is an ex-cop, her husband is a cop, her son and daughter are cops, so her hour long lecture was her deep concern about how to get your gun collections passed properly to beneficiaries, either in through wills or trusts.
And, according to her, non-gun owners are nerds.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 6:01pm

Afternoon (early evening is your timezone)

@on the cusp Switched from conferences to on-line CE (continuing education) several years ago. Miss the professional gossip, but not the time and expense required to attend a conference.

It is hard to support an apartheid style government. The Ukrainian drone lessons of war and weaponry spread is not favorable to reduce violent conflicts. Would like to see the killing and oppression stop.

—

Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:52pm

I hate war

@studentofearth having been raised by a WWII vet, gone through my high school pals drafted to Nam, where they died.
Sometimes I view war as that last stand, when an enemy pushes and kills beyond what can be tolerated.
Sometimes wars of aggression just may be to stop killing.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 1:04am

Were you referring to "Responsibility to Protect?"

@on the cusp

Sometimes wars of aggression just may be to stop killing.

R2P is what Putin declared when he sent the Special Military Operation into Ukraine. In the end, creating a defensive barrier between the ethnic Russian communities along the Eastern borderlands and the Kiev armies sent to bomb them illustrates the R2P concept. After Crimea fell under attack from Ukraine, it became necessary to extend the defensive line to the south to protect the access roads built to supply Crimea and to assure that water and power continued to flow to the Russian-populated peninsula. Again described by Russia as a R2P operation. The Russian army did not venture into western Ukraine to make war.

The Responsibility to Protect ( R2P or RtoP) is a global political commitment which was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

The West and the UN will not accept this concept and believe that Russia sent a limited army to Ukraine for some other purpose they have not yet explained.

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Mon, 10/09/2023 - 11:06pm

Except when THEY do it

@Pluto's Republic

"The West and the UN will not accept this concept [R2p]"

Except when they use it, or nice-sounding phrases that mean the same thing, as a fig leaf to cover their own grabs for land and resources.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 10:00am

Exactly.

@Pluto's Republic n/t

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 2:01pm

that is supposed to be EuroNews in English

https://www.euronews.com/video/2023/10/07/watch-cars-on-fire-after-rocke...

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:21pm

If the word Nazi wouldn't exist, how would you call them ? n/t

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 3:44pm

them

@mimi

—

question everything

Submitted by mimi on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:08pm

lol

@QMS

so now I had something to smile about and I go to sleep. thanks. Don't fall in love with them
/s

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 4:24pm

NSDAP, or N.S.D.A.P.

@mimi

NAZI, of course, as you know, isn't a word or name, but an acronym, which is why Alex always carefully says N A Z I.

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 --

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 7:17pm

More updates on the Israel/Palestinian

Thread

The unprecedented operation from Gaza comes on the heels of the killing of 4 Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli settler attacks, especially in Huwara, and increased tensions at Al-Aqsa

— Dalia Hatuqa (@DaliaHatuqa) October 7, 2023

So far there is no thread reader for this.

Israelis will not forgive Netanyahu or his govt for what will be remembered as the biggest security failure in Israel since 1973. The infiltration from Gaza, images of Palestinian fighters in Israeli towns, on a Saturday that's also a holiday, taking Israelis by complete surprise

— Dalia Hatuqa (@DaliaHatuqa) October 7, 2023

He’s getting lots of flack in the replies.

I’m seeing lots of people saying that there no way that Israel shouldn’t have known that the attack was coming. This woman is in Tel Aviv and she has some interesting points.

Oct. 7th, 2023, This is Efrat Fenigson, and I’m here to share an update from Israel-Hamas War which started this morning.

I’m going to share some key details and concerns, mostly based on Israeli citizens’ voices from the ground, and on official statements.

This is a very tough day for me and for us in Israel. It is tough for people of Palestine too, especially now that Israel is starting to attack back. War is a horrible thing for everyone involved, except for those who get rich from it.

This morning, around 6am, sunrise, Hundreds of Hamas terrorists, at least 300, breached the border fence in multiple places, completely unimpeded, leading to terror attacks and kidnappings in Israeli towns or villages.

The terrorists infiltrated a significant number of dryland outposts as well as a naval infiltration point in Zikim. As we speak, Israel is actively engaged in combat in n 22 outposts. - this is from the IDF statement.

The attacks have already resulted in over 100 casualties and more than 100 kidnappings of Israeli citizens.

In one village, 50 Israelis have been taken hostage, leaving people locked in shelters for long periods of 8-9 hours without rescue.

In some places the terrorists were burning the village and people didn’t know if to leave the shelter and surrender or stay and pray the fire doesn't catch them.

Apparently Israeli Defense forces that were supposed to be around Gaza were placed around the West Bank because of security concerns so the Gaza envelope was left unoccupied with military.

Soldiers are being recruited for reserves, but because of stupid reasons such as no public transport they’re waiting hours to get to bases.

A year ago there was a military operation in Gaza to prepare for such events, and ongoingly there are trainings for these kinds of scenarios. This raises serious questions about Israeli intelligence. What happened?

Two years ago there was a successful deployment of underground barriers in with sensors - to alert terrorists breaches. Israel has one of the most advanced and high tech armies, how come there was zero response to the border and fence breaching??

I served in the IDF 25 years ago, in the intelligence forces. There’s no way Israel did not know of what’s coming. A cat moving alongside the fence is triggering all forces. So this??

What happened to the “strongest army in the world”?

How come border crossings were wide open??

Something is VERY WRONG HERE, something is very strange, this chain of events is very unusual and not typical for the Israeli defense system.

A point about the situation in Israel in the past few years - those who follow me know, that there’s a general sense of insecurity in Israel, there’s political and social instability, public funds are being misused on agendas such as Covid, climate, judicial reform, abolishing cash and more. The current and government is highly corrupt in my view, while the previous one was no better.

The last bit is interesting I think.

But of course the saddest thing about this is that a lot of innocent people are going to be killed until this is settled. Last time Israel settled things over 2,200 people were killed and most of them were women and children. Israel called it mowing the lawn. I just read a tweet that said that just that and this time Israel is going to rip the lawn out and it couldn’t happen soon enough. How sad that someone has that much hate in their heart.

BTW anyone know if it’s true that America funds the Palestinian Authority and Hamas?

Oh yeah and for some reason this is Russia/Putin’s fault because they invaded Ukraine. I’m seeing lots of people saying that. Oh yeah and they are upset that Putin is calling for a cease fire.

—

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 8:03pm

Hmmm….

@snoopydawg

I’m wondering if any of the weapons we sent to Ukraine are being used in this conflict that people bought on the black market? Now wouldn’t that put a bee in some country’s bonnet if that happens? Might make those congress critters that voted against monitoring where the weapons were going rethink their vote.

.

Thread

The unprecedented operation from Gaza comes on the heels of the killing of 4 Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli settler attacks, especially in Huwara, and increased tensions at Al-Aqsa

— Dalia Hatuqa (@DaliaHatuqa) October 7, 2023

So far there is no thread reader for this.

Israelis will not forgive Netanyahu or his govt for what will be remembered as the biggest security failure in Israel since 1973. The infiltration from Gaza, images of Palestinian fighters in Israeli towns, on a Saturday that's also a holiday, taking Israelis by complete surprise

— Dalia Hatuqa (@DaliaHatuqa) October 7, 2023

He’s getting lots of flack in the replies.

I’m seeing lots of people saying that there no way that Israel shouldn’t have known that the attack was coming. This woman is in Tel Aviv and she has some interesting points.

Oct. 7th, 2023, This is Efrat Fenigson, and I’m here to share an update from Israel-Hamas War which started this morning.

I’m going to share some key details and concerns, mostly based on Israeli citizens’ voices from the ground, and on official statements.

This is a very tough day for me and for us in Israel. It is tough for people of Palestine too, especially now that Israel is starting to attack back. War is a horrible thing for everyone involved, except for those who get rich from it.

This morning, around 6am, sunrise, Hundreds of Hamas terrorists, at least 300, breached the border fence in multiple places, completely unimpeded, leading to terror attacks and kidnappings in Israeli towns or villages.

The terrorists infiltrated a significant number of dryland outposts as well as a naval infiltration point in Zikim. As we speak, Israel is actively engaged in combat in n 22 outposts. - this is from the IDF statement.

The attacks have already resulted in over 100 casualties and more than 100 kidnappings of Israeli citizens.

In one village, 50 Israelis have been taken hostage, leaving people locked in shelters for long periods of 8-9 hours without rescue.

In some places the terrorists were burning the village and people didn’t know if to leave the shelter and surrender or stay and pray the fire doesn't catch them.

Apparently Israeli Defense forces that were supposed to be around Gaza were placed around the West Bank because of security concerns so the Gaza envelope was left unoccupied with military.

Soldiers are being recruited for reserves, but because of stupid reasons such as no public transport they’re waiting hours to get to bases.

A year ago there was a military operation in Gaza to prepare for such events, and ongoingly there are trainings for these kinds of scenarios. This raises serious questions about Israeli intelligence. What happened?

Two years ago there was a successful deployment of underground barriers in with sensors - to alert terrorists breaches. Israel has one of the most advanced and high tech armies, how come there was zero response to the border and fence breaching??

I served in the IDF 25 years ago, in the intelligence forces. There’s no way Israel did not know of what’s coming. A cat moving alongside the fence is triggering all forces. So this??

What happened to the “strongest army in the world”?

How come border crossings were wide open??

Something is VERY WRONG HERE, something is very strange, this chain of events is very unusual and not typical for the Israeli defense system.

A point about the situation in Israel in the past few years - those who follow me know, that there’s a general sense of insecurity in Israel, there’s political and social instability, public funds are being misused on agendas such as Covid, climate, judicial reform, abolishing cash and more. The current and government is highly corrupt in my view, while the previous one was no better.

The last bit is interesting I think.

But of course the saddest thing about this is that a lot of innocent people are going to be killed until this is settled. Last time Israel settled things over 2,200 people were killed and most of them were women and children. Israel called it mowing the lawn. I just read a tweet that said that just that and this time Israel is going to rip the lawn out and it couldn’t happen soon enough. How sad that someone has that much hate in their heart.

BTW anyone know if it’s true that America funds the Palestinian Authority and Hamas?

Oh yeah and for some reason this is Russia/Putin’s fault because they invaded Ukraine. I’m seeing lots of people saying that. Oh yeah and they are upset that Putin is calling for a cease fire.

—

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 3:55am

I've only heard about a brisk organ trade

@snoopydawg

...for transplants between Israel and Ukraine.

Who knows where the guns in Ukraine are going? Russia claimed Ukraine was using their supposed grain shipments for a nefarious weapons market, and meanwhile dumping their grain in Eastern Europe, instead. That's why Russia pulled out of the Grain Agreement on the Black Sea. I've heard rumors that the Mexican Cartels have weapons from Ukraine. Black markets are familiar territory for both. I did read something about a cluster bomb showing up someplace where it didn't belong.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 10:40am

Ugh!

@Pluto's Republic

I have heard about the organs being taken out of Ukraine, but I didn’t know that Israel was involved in it. Even children are being targeted for this too according to the Russian press secretary. (If that’s her title.) I’ve read a few things that she has said about this.

Russia claimed Ukraine was using their supposed grain shipments for a nefarious weapons market, and meanwhile dumping their grain in Eastern Europe, instead.

of it going to countries in Africa like everyone agreed on. Yep so Russia pulled out of the deal and now they are giving grain to the poorest countries for free. Funny how the media never mentions that.

GD it I’m so sick of the corruption and crimes against humanity that the ~~elite~~ PARASITES of the world get away with while they continue building the walls of the prisons they want us in.

—

Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 7:25pm

Karlof,

drawing on Alastair Crooke, outlines the provocative actions of the Israeli government on the Al Aqsa mosque in order to bring about the crisis unfolding today.

https://karlof1.substack.com/p/zionists-cross-red-line-at-al-aqsa

Submitted by Linda Wood on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 8:10pm

Fellowship of Reconciliation statement:

https://www.antiwar.com/blog/2023/10/07/statement-from-the-oldest-peace-...

Statement From the Oldest Peace Group in the US on the Outbreak of Another Gaza War
by Ariel Gold Posted on October 7, 2023

The Fellowship of Reconciliation is horrified at the new war that has just broken out in Israel/Palestine.

... FOR unequivocally condemns actions of violence that avoid the harder battles of justice. The killing and maiming of civilians, whether by Hamas rockets or Israeli airstrikes are unjustifiable, a war crime under international law. Also, unjustifiable are the actions of Israel that led to this current war: decades of military occupation with no end in sight, apartheid policies, recurrent massacres, and a siege so brutal that has turned Gaza into the largest open-air prison on earth.

FOR recognizes and condemns the failure of the Biden administration to pursue a peaceful solution to this entrenched conflict while providing Israel with almost $3.8 billion annually in unconditional military aid. Even while pursuing normalization agreements between Israel and Arab countries, the U.S. has not worked to bring an end to the occupation or demanded an improvement in the rights and status of Palestinians. To call Hamas’s actions “unprovoked,” as the White House initially did in a statement today, is to put one’s head in the sand, ignoring decades of settlement building, land confiscation, child arrests, home demolitions, and the like, as well as recent of settler and military violence against Palestinians. Just one day before the initiation of this current conflict the Israeli military protected an extremist Israeli pogrom in the West Bank village of Huwara, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old Palestinian child.

... “While horrified by Hamas’s actions and praying for all those, both Israeli and Palestinian, who have been killed, injured, and kidnapped, I am also deeply fearful of the death toll that is yet to come in Gaza,” said FOR Executive Director Ariel Gold. “Past Israeli military actions in Gaza have taken the lives of countless children, women, men, and the elderly and traumatized an entire generation. Whether this current war results in another status quo in Gaza, as past wars have, or a reoccupation of Gaza by Israel, this violence will not aid the aims of safety, equality, freedom, and peace for all people between the river and the sea. In the words of renowned theologian, political analyst, and former FOR executive director, A.J. Muste, ‘There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 9:22pm

Larry and Ray discuss the Hellabitch

My apologies. There was a time in my distant past when I advocated for Hillary Clinton. Boy, was I wrong. I accept full responsibility for that lapse in judgement. Ray McGovern and I get a chance today to discuss some of the latest insane comments by Hillary Clinton. Here is the woman — who perfected the art of the grift and was shaking down nations around the world for “mo” money — claiming that Russia and Vladimir Putin are corrupt. This crazy lady needs to look in the mirror. Any chance she’s going to tell Bill to return the $500,000 he collected a few years back from the Mayor of Moscow? Don’t hold your breath.

Glad that I’m not the only one who is telling Her to buy a mirror.

—

Submitted by soryang on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 1:39am

Thanks for posting this video

@snoopydawg @snoopydawg The video with Putin making such explicit threats of a nuclear counterstrike is extraordinary.

Maybe Putin noticed the not too subtle discussion of the US moving nuclear capable F-35s to RAF Lakenheath-

Increasing Evidence That The US Air Force’s Nuclear Mission May Be Returning To UK Soil

There have been some other threatening signs not that easily discounted, like the dispatch of one of these doomsday flights on Oct. 5:

This is how STRATCOM prepares for the last and final act of nuclear war — and it is terrifying. https://t.co/OKedb2fGrZ

— Annie Jacobsen (@AnnieJacobsen) October 5, 2023

Then there is this- let's make sure these warheads still work-

US moves closer to underground testing of nuclear weapons stockpile without any actual explosions

RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Scientists charged with ensuring the aging U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons are good to go -- if needed -- say they'll start shipping key components to Nevada's desert next year to prepare for underground testing they call "tickling the dragon's tail."

Experts at national defense laboratories haven't been able to physically validate the effectiveness and reliability of nuclear warheads since a 1992 underground test ban. But Energy Department officials announced Thursday they're on the verge of piecing together the technology needed to do the next best thing.

As early as 2027, the $1.8 billion Scorpius project will make it possible to move beyond theoretical computer modeling to study in much more detail the conditions found inside the final stages of a nuclear weapon implosion but without the nuclear explosion, said Jon Custer, the Sandia project lead in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I think the basic problem is that the US isn't really prepared to fight a ground war against Russia in Eastern Europe. I've heard Scott Ritter and Col Macgregor commenting on this at one point or another. In the early cold war days, according to Ellsberg, this was a deliberate choice to rely on nuclear deterrence against Russia, rather than building up a military capable of actually fighting them over Europe.

Saw a film Welcome to Dongmokgol, an offbeat Korean War film from South Korea, with an unexpected theme. I heard a South Korean political analyst mentioning this film as an example of the kind of artistic creativity that emerges in a democratic country rather than during the pervasive censorship found in dictatorships. I watched in on viki.com, it was available for free, but there was no translation and too many commercials that way. I think other streaming services may offer it as pay per view.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 11:28am

I hope Biden and the people holding his puppet strings

@soryang

paid good attention to what he said about his nuclear capabilities.

The video with Putin making such explicit threats of a nuclear counterstrike is extraordinary.

Ray mentions that in 2018 Russia demonstrated their hypersonic weapons and showed how we had no defense against them. Did we listen and decide to back down in Ukraine? Hell no. Russia has used a few of these weapons against ours such as the patriot system and they demolished it. We should have backed down then. Instead NATO has sent longer range missiles and they are still tickling the bear. And half of the American dimwits still don’t think that’s enough. Of course they won’t listen to Putin’s warnings because they don’t believe that Russia would win in a war against us. Plus as you show here we are moving our bombers into bad positions!

Ray also mentions how we are still putting tons of money into the F-35 turkey that can’t fly. Boy if that doesn’t show how captured the government is like in the parasite capture essay I posted.

Just read how Biden is going to send Ukraine $100 billion by doing some fancy work around congress. They blocked him from sending $24 billion. He comes back with 4 times that amount. FJB.

ETA linkS

#16 #16 The video with Putin making such explicit threats of a nuclear counterstrike is extraordinary. Maybe Putin noticed the not too subtle discussion of the US moving nuclear capable F-35s to RAF Lakenheath- Increasing Evidence That The US Air Force’s Nuclear Mission May Be Returning To UK Soil There have been some other threatening signs not that easily discounted, like the dispatch of one of these doomsday flights on Oct. 5: This is how STRATCOM prepares for the last and final act of nuclear war — and it is terrifying. https://t.co/OKedb2fGrZ — Annie Jacobsen (@AnnieJacobsen) October 5, 2023 Then there is this- let's make sure these warheads still work- US moves closer to underground testing of nuclear weapons stockpile without any actual explosions RENO, Nev. (AP) -- Scientists charged with ensuring the aging U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons are good to go -- if needed -- say they'll start shipping key components to Nevada's desert next year to prepare for underground testing they call "tickling the dragon's tail." Experts at national defense laboratories haven't been able to physically validate the effectiveness and reliability of nuclear warheads since a 1992 underground test ban. But Energy Department officials announced Thursday they're on the verge of piecing together the technology needed to do the next best thing. As early as 2027, the $1.8 billion Scorpius project will make it possible to move beyond theoretical computer modeling to study in much more detail the conditions found inside the final stages of a nuclear weapon implosion but without the nuclear explosion, said Jon Custer, the Sandia project lead in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I think the basic problem is that the US isn't really prepared to fight a ground war against Russia in Eastern Europe. I've heard Scott Ritter and Col Macgregor commenting on this at one point or another. In the early cold war days, according to Ellsberg, this was a deliberate choice to rely on nuclear deterrence against Russia, rather than building up a military capable of actually fighting them over Europe. Saw a film Welcome to Dongmokgol, an offbeat Korean War film from South Korea, with an unexpected theme. I heard a South Korean political analyst mentioning this film as an example of the kind of artistic creativity that emerges in a democratic country rather than during the pervasive censorship found in dictatorships. I watched in on viki.com, it was available for free, but there was no translation and too many commercials that way. I think other streaming services may offer it as pay per view.

—

Submitted by soryang on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 1:58pm

Did you get the National Alert warning

@snoopydawg ...on Oct. 4? Sometimes I feel like it's the 1950s again. Do I need to build a bomb shelter? Just kidding. I don't believe they would do any good anyway.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 2:52pm

Nah ….

@soryang

I turned my phone off cuz I thought as you did. It seemed like it like the duck and cover drills done long ago and frankly I just didn’t want to play along. I’m sure that they had computer simulations that showed that it would work so why do that?
Maybe I’m just too cynical, but Lily said that some times we aren’t cynical enough.

—

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:27pm

SMH! This buffoon is leading US foreign relations.

Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (last week): 'The Middle East region is quieter than it has been in two decades' pic.twitter.com/0zwji7oOIq

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 7, 2023

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:47pm

Priceless

@humphrey He's been to all the right schools, has the perfect resume, smartest guy in the world, etc., etc. Advisor to Clinton when she was Secretary of State. How could he make such a mistake? He's visited 120 countries. Jack of all trades, master of none.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:32pm

This leads to this.

- "Mr. President, was there an intelligence failure prior to this attack? "Can you tell us what Bibi asked you?"

BIDEN: *leaves* pic.twitter.com/8jZ5nYGUXH

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 7, 2023

Notice who is one step behind Biden as he leaves.

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 10:45pm

she must be looking for deep pocketed donors for her flailing

campaign.

Absolutely unhinged and psychotic rhetoric from a presidential "candidate". pic.twitter.com/2qr8nj6Ol6

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 8, 2023

Submitted by lotlizard on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:16pm

Demanding a “final solution” to the Palestinian question, eh?

@humphrey
Among the entire U.S. political class, is there no one left who displays a smidgen of self-awareness and is in touch with reality?

Submitted by soryang on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:18pm

She's an idiot

@humphrey Worse than Marco Rubio, if that can be imagined.

—

語必忠信行必正直

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:26pm

Just adding this to those who happen to have a pair of "rose

colored glasses" not that I have a preferable candidate.

This tweet has almost certainly ended any chance Kennedy had of becoming president.

He claims to be different and yet instead of promoting a resolution based on peace, he promotes war. https://t.co/zflYncI6e5

— The Sirius Report (@thesiriusreport) October 7, 2023

Edited to add:

Both Trump and Biden suck and the same goes for war mongering Democrats and Republicans.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:41pm

Ooh

@humphrey His stance on Israel was the issue that gave me pause.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 9:57am

Guess he's taking money from the pro-Israel lobbies

@on the cusp
that we all know exist and tightly control who gets to be a candidate for any major political office.

The current, and almost all past, Israeli governments begrudge the Palestinians any right to exist at all - while screaming about their own "right to exist" under any and all circumstances.

In the final analysis, "Never again" has become (if it wasn't always) distorted to mean "Never again TO US, regardless of what we do to others". Wish Auden hadn't been so terribly right:

I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by wokkamile on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 9:51am

It will only

@humphrey affect a sprinkling of the sprinkling of lefties and far lefties who were already skeptical or hostile towards him. As I see it, he's taking a hardline stance generally consistent with most other public pols and office holders, and one which for political reasons he probably feels he needs to take.

The current media zone, largely parroting Israeli gov't claims, is being flooded w stories depicting this as an existential threat to Israel. Very very difficult for an already scorned candidate on antisemitism charges to try to wander off the reservation during this event. He had to toe the line, though we can quibble about whether he's trying too hard to prove he's pro-Israel, which is a fair criticism.

Still a strong backer, and I never expect to agree with a candidate 100% of the time. The Israeli-Palestinian issue is very complicated and has been out there my entire lifetime, no end in sight, while the Israeli lobby has for 55 yrs had an iron grip on US politics. There are no simple solutions, it's hard to get at what is true and factual, and so for me, tbh, it's just a depressing issue I mostly skip in the daily news feed. Can't follow them all as my plate of issues to follow and care about is already overflowing.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 11:27am

If he says this

@wokkamile to be politically correct, and to avoid being given the anti-Semetic Jeremy Corbin treatment, that does put him into the spineless politician camp, right alongside Bernie.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by wokkamile on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 1:34pm

That's a pretty

@on the cusp harsh sweeping judgment of someone based on one issue. Last I checked, Kennedy has been far from spineless on a host of other major issues, such as covid vaccines and the mandates -- the only pol who has spoken out against. Strong in opposing Biden's UKR War, stronger and more knowledgable on that issue than all other candidates in either party. Strong in opposing the MIC. Bold in talking about how the CIA killed his uncle and probably his father. Good on speaking out against gov't-private censorship of dissenting voices. Of course too his bold actions in holding polluters to account on the environment.

I'm unaware of any other pol out there speaking so boldly and fearlessly on so many issues that run sharply counter to the establishment view.

And RFK Jr just running for president, with his well-known family history, is hardly an act of spinelessness.

My two cents from a supporter's pov.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 3:26pm

If the ongoing

@wokkamile genocide of Palestinians is not even acknowledged by Kennedy, then I could retract the "spineless" criticism, and replace it with something a whole lot worse.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by kelly on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 5:31pm

@on the cusp Worth

@on the cusp Worth considering the alleged backstory of Sirhan Sirhan. Just the twisted histories of Kennedy and Bush dynasty founders and their relation to WWII/Adolph makes it a long story. For the most part, I think he actually wants to win, and his actions, although distasteful to the justice-minded, are perfectly consistent with that. He catches flack for the same reasons others like Brand and Waters do. He is not on board with the bullshit we are being served. The attacks are good signs in reverse, so to speak. Choices be limited, options even scarcer.

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 5:40pm

I am not

@kelly that informed on Sirhan Sirhan.
I would appreciate any link or research suggestion you have.
I am more familiar with the Bush dynasty connections to Hitler than the Kennedy dynasty. I do realize virtually all the 1%ers supported him, some even supplying his government with war materiel and financial support throughout the war. $ is good, loyalty to country cannot stand in the way of $.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by kelly on Mon, 10/09/2023 - 7:25am

@on the cusp rather than

@on the cusp @on the cusp @on the cusp rather than copy and paste the section from Wikipedia's Sirhan Sirhan page, I would direct you there. His motivation appeared to be an obsession with RFK related to his support for Israeli-Palestinian conflicts and the 1967 event. Bear in mind the now deceased polka dot dress Lady became less of a mystery about 10 years back. She must have been proud of it.
I suppose if I was the surviving son of RFK I would hold a certain perspective.

What I do hold is that both Eugene Cesar (RFK in LA) and Claude Barnes Capehart (JFK in Dallas) were present and participated in the killings of the Kennedy brothers.
Which is weird enough.
That they both subsequently went to work in 1973 on CIA's Howard Hughes Glomar (global marine) Explorer-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomar_Explorer
seems like more than enough circumstantial anecdote to verify who they were to begin with.
People need to fake ignorance at this point, about what happened in the 60's.
Perhaps the indifference is sincere.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 3:25pm

It’s a weird position for Kennedy to take

@wokkamile

when he promises to end the forever war, stop the money laundering and bring the troops home.

That you can overlook what Israel does just so you can benefit from Kennedy’s domestic agenda says quite a lot about your values. Would you feel the same if he continues the Yemen genocide because that’s exactly what Israel has been doing for decades. Why don’t all lives no matter where they live matter?

Israel is doing what was done to their ancestors and the fcking world yawns.

—

Submitted by wokkamile on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 10:32am

A friend

@humphrey who has been in contact w Bobby on this issue (it bothers her too) says he replied that he will have a much more complete, written statement to make about it very soon, probably in a Substack format not twitter/X.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 3:08pm

Heh….

@humphrey

Kim Iverson replied to his tweet and said that’s a he has lost her vote. Kennedy knew that he’d take a lot of flack for doing that because of how people reacted last time he said that Israel only targets military objects but he did it anyway.

Check out Caitlin’s essay on how all of the Israel apologists are saying that the Hamas attacks were UNPROVOKED and she includes lots of examples of them using the term. If any attack could have been PROVOKED then I’d say that they have been definitely provoked. America and too damn many countries have done nothing to protect the Palestinians from Israeli brutal attacks for decades.

I read how Israel snipers shoot at civilian’s ankles protesting against Israel causing lots of amputations. The link is on my iPad so I’ll post it when I get home.

And now Israel is bombing almost every inch of Gaza and elsewhere and killing hundreds of innocent civilians and not one Israeli apologist asshole is speaking out against this.

Israel should have been charged for crimes against humanity long ago but instead we’ve kept supporting their brutality.

The Muslim world is rising up and cheering Hamas. Check out Larry Johnson’s latest essay where he shows a video of hundreds of thousands people in Yemen in the street! I always wonder how people can do that because where do they use the bathroom?

—

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 4:47pm

Here’s the link to what Israeli snipers do to Palestinians

@snoopydawg

From Cook’s article today on the Israel/Palestinian War

No one really cared when Israeli snipers targeted nurses, youngsters and people in wheelchairs who came out to protest against their imprisonment by Israel. Many thousands were left as amputees after those snipers received orders to shoot the protesters indiscriminately in the legs or ankles.

Western concern at the deaths of Israeli civilians at the hands of Palestinian fighters is hard to stomach. Have not many hundreds of Palestinian children died over the past 15 years in Israel's repeated bombing campaigns on Gaza? Did their lives not count as much as Israeli lives – and if not, why not?

After so much indifference for so long, it is difficult to hear the sudden horror from Western governments and media because Palestinians have finally found a way – mirroring Israel's inhumane, decades-long policy – to fight back effectively.

This moment rips off the mask and lays bare the undisguised racism that masquerades as moral concern in western capitals.

—

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 10/08/2023 - 5:13pm

On Zelensky's hypocrisy

@snoopydawg

Hypocrisy distilled

Distilling that hypocrisy is Volodymr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's president. At the weekend, he issued a lengthy tweet condemning Palestinians as "terrorists" and offering Israel his unwavering support.

He averred that "Israel's right to self-defense is unquestionable", adding: "The world must stand united and in solidarity so that terror does not attempt to break or subjugate life anywhere and at any moment."

The inversion of reality is breath-taking. The Palestinians cannot "subjugate life" in Israel. They have no such power, even if a few briefly managed to break out of their cage. It is Israel that has been subjugating Palestinian life for decades.

Not all forms of "terrorism", it seems, are equal in the eyes of Zelenskiy, or his patrons in Western capitals. Certainly, not the state terrorism of Israel that has made Palestinian lives a misery for decades.

How does Israel have an "unquestionable right" to "defend itself" from the Palestinians whose territory it occupies and controls? To apply Zelenskiy’s logic, how does Russia then not have an equal claim to be "defending itself" when it kills Ukrainians trying to liberate territory from Russian occupation?

Israel, the much stronger, belligerent party, is now laying waste to Gaza "in retaliation", as the BBC puts it, for the latest Palestinian attack.

So on what grounds will Zelenskiy or his officials be able to condemn Moscow when it fires missiles "in retaliation" for Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory? How, if Palestinian resistance to Israel's occupation of Gaza is terrorism, as Zelenskiy asserts, is Ukrainain resistance to Russian occupation not equally terrorism?

Shizam and bingo!

—

Submitted by humphrey on Sat, 10/07/2023 - 11:43pm

I can not state that this is not accurate. But than again I am

only passing this on.

Slavyangrad:

“So. the US supplies weapons to the IDF, Ukraine supplies weapons to Hamas on the black markets.
Israel transferred some of the weapons to Ukraine, Ukraine transferred them to Hamas... and the US is supplying weapons to Israel....”@Slavyangrad pic.twitter.com/D4JEbpPJUO

— Zlatti71 (@djuric_zlatko) October 8, 2023