Pretending Peace

So a 28 point Ukraine peace plan has been leaked...most of which seems unrealistic to me. Perhaps it will serve as a starting point for conversation and reconciliation. Just returning to normal relations...like we had during the entire "cold war", would be an improvement. Things like having functioning embassies, direct flights, trade...would be a step in the right direction. Meanwhile in SW Asia, we have the Gaza (and West Bank) genocide continuing under the cover of a supposed ceasefire. Many continue to think a new conflict with Iran is in the offing. The aggression against Venezuela seems to be in a holding pattern. Perhaps someone has explained to Trump what an utter shitshow an invasion would be...at least I hope so. Here at home the government reopened with a whimper. The unclassified Epstein files were voted to be released, to which Pam Bondi declared "new information" has caused her to reopen the case and classify most of the documents. Nothing to see here...move along! The big news here locally is MTG has resigned. Many speculate she's planning a presidential run?

Let's start with the empty promises to the Palestinians by the US.

(25 min) Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : Netanyahu Sabotages a Palestinian State
The Palestinians were sold out yet again. Russia and China abstained in the UNSC vote. Most speculate they figure it will accelerate the fall of US empire. Others think they did so in order to not arouse US ire.

Israel Receives 1,000th Aircraft Carrying US Military Supplies Since October 7, 2023
The Israeli Ministry of Defense also announced that it signed a 'multi-billion dollar' contract for new Iron Dome systems in a deal funded by US aid

Israeli forces kill 24 Palestinians in Gaza; Hamas urges US to intervene
Israeli attacks target Palestinians in their cars, shelters and homes in latest violation of the US-brokered truce.

Israeli air strikes pummel Gaza less than 48 hours after UN adopts Trump's plan
Since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on 11 October, Israel has regularly violated many of its provisions.
Deadly attacks have occurred almost daily, killing more than 312 people and wounding over 700.
Since the genocide began in October 2023, Israel has killed nearly 70,000 people and wounded 170,000 more, with at least 10,000 more missing. At least 80 percent of those killed were civilians, according to the army’s leaked data.
Gaza’s government media office has recorded around 400 ceasefire violations by Israel since 11 October.

Human Rights Watch Says Israel’s ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ of West Bank Refugee Camps Amounts to War Crimes
The IDF forcibly displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians from three refugee camps in the northern West Bank at the beginning of the year....
The IDF began a major military offensive in the northern West Bank in January 2025, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall,” which began after a temporary Gaza ceasefire deal was reached. The IDF quickly displaced tens of thousands of residents of the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps, and began destroying many of their homes.
At the time, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Palestinians wouldn’t be able to return, and he has kept that promise. The HRW said that the approximately 32,000 people who have been forcibly removed from the camps have been unable to return.

Israel to seize 180 hectares near Bronze Age heritage site in West Bank
Palestinians say the move masks a plan to expand settlements on privately owned Palestinian land under pretext of ‘developing an archaeological site’

Mike Huckabee Held Meeting With Jonathan Pollard, Who Spied on the US for Israel

China's silence on Gaza...
China‘s Silence on Gaza is Strategic | Zhang Sheng (61 min)
The United States just managed to pass a highly controversial resolution in the United Nations Security Council, which basically transforms Gaza into a UN Mandate and makes Donald Trump its governor. Resolution 2803 has already been heavily criticized by Human Rights experts like Francesca Albanese and Craig Mokhiber. The puzzling thing in this is that Russia and China, both abstained from voting, thereby helping the resolution to pass.
To help understand China’s position on West Asia, I’m today joined by ZHANG Sheng, a Non-resident Visiting Researcher at Turkey’s KUASIA (Coach) University, and the author of a very popular video on Youtube where he recently explained Chinese approaches toward Gaza.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:50 China's Historical Stance on Palestine
00:06:54 Israel's Failed Propaganda Campaign in China
00:17:32 How Gaza Shifted Public Opinion on Israel
00:21:43 Why China Abstained on the UN Gaza Resolution
00:32:26 China's Future Foreign Policy in West Asia
00:37:31 China's Definition of "Terrorism" vs. "Armed Struggle"
00:46:23 Perceiving Western Double Standards on "Genocide"
00:53:53 The Re-Emerging Discourse on Zionism in China

Is there a pause in US aggression toward Venezuela?

(21 min) AMB Chas Freeman : MI6 and Venezuela: What The Brits Know

Stunning US drug war hypocrisy on Venezuela exposed

(25 min) The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate on the WMD-grade lies underpinning the Trump administration's case for attacking Venezuela, and the hidden history of Washington's friendship with narco-tied pro-US leaders.

Max was also on with the Judge:
Max Blumenthal : The CIA’s Cocaine Business and Regime Change (30 min)

Sheriff David Hathaway explains the workings of the US drug trade. Recommended!

(29 min) Sheriff David Hathaway : Breaks Silence on Government-Sanctioned Killings
Interesting interview!

Touching on all these issues, Col. Larry Wilkerson

Col. Larry Wilkerson: Epstein Files - NATO's Moves ALL FALLING APART - Iran closer to Russia

Palestine nor Venezuela didn't dominate the news this week...it was the Ukraine Proxy War

The leaked 28 point peace plan may be fabricated. I'm reserving judgement until I hear official recognition from Russia and the US.

Dumpster Fire. 28-point Ukraine peace plan

0:00 - Discussion on the Trump 28-point peace plan for Ukraine
1:02 - Overview of discrepancies in the peace plan details
2:55 - Analysis of Russia's potential sovereignty over Donbass and Crimea
5:52 - Speculation on the motivations behind the peace plan's urgency
11:01 - Summary of the peace plan's implications for Ukraine and Russia
17:01 - Discussion on the potential for the peace plan to serve as a negotiation document
19:06 - Concerns about the peace plan being misrepresented in media
22:03 - Examination of the document's authenticity and various versions
27:00 - Putin's stance on regime change in Ukraine as a prerequisite for negotiations
30:30 - Discussion on the vague elements of the peace plan regarding ideology
35:00 - Analysis of Russia's public relations failures in the negotiation process

Ukrainian DOOMED Military - Thanks' to U.S. advice

(12 min) In this explosive breakdown, Douglas Macgregor, former Pentagon adviser, reveals why Ukraine was never positioned to defeat Russia — and how disastrous American and British advice crippled the Ukrainian military from day one.

Putin responds to Trump plan. US military envoy to Moscow. MTG resigns. STUBB to keep war going

(37 min) 0:03 - Introduction to the video update from Athens, Greece
1:36 - Discussion on Marjorie Taylor Greene's unexpected resignation
7:35 - Overview of President Putin's statement on the Trump peace plan
12:20 - Putin's rejection of the 28-point peace plan in a diplomatic manner
17:01 - Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine regarding the peace deal
20:22 - Reports on the U.S. military's assessment of Ukraine's situation
23:12 - Zelensky's dilemma regarding the peace plan and Ukraine's position
29:27 - European concerns over Trump's plan, particularly regarding frozen Russian assets
35:58 - Conclusion and wrap-up of the video discussion

Alastair Crooke : Russians Believe Europe Wants War

(26 min) There were some interesting comments under the clip:
I am 73 years old now, and I have never in my life seen such incompetent and corrupt politicians across the west than we see today. That is why I think they want war, because it diverts from their incompetence. Some countries were very comfortable in WWII by being occupied, because all responsibility is abdicated. They want to give responsibility to military because they have messed up economies and they are not equipped to correct the situation without some great reset. Maybe the US dollar will collapse and Nato be dissolved to come to that point, but Russia will remain, there is no doubt.

There has never been a greater disconnect between the people of Europe and their pathetic, treasonous leaders. No Government that has submitted itself for reelection recently has survived, not even remotely. It tells Russia that the peoples of Europe have no need for war with Russia and every time they have the chance to kick out politicians who call for it is further evidence of it. The real question is why the Deep States are not being forced to be re-elected too, because decisions made to go to war taken by unelected people are acts of treason.

Larry Johnson: The 28-Point Peace Plan Is Not Acceptable to Russia

(44 min) Fresh from Moscow, Larry sees the plan as unworkable, but the Russians are willing to use it as a place to begin negotiations.

Chas compares the emptiness of the Gaza ceasefire and the Ukraine "peace" deal

(60 min) Amb. Chas Freeman: Why Ukraine AND Israel Are Closer to a Dead End Than Ever

The End of Western Dominance: Russia, China & BRICS

(56 min) In this gripping episode of Countercurrents, we dive deep into the shifting global order as China, Russia, and the BRICS nations rise to challenge Western dominance. From China’s technological revolution and AI advancements to Russia’s newfound sovereignty amidst global sanctions, our longtime friends Pepe Escobar and Alexander Babakov explore how these powerful forces are reshaping the future of geopolitics.
00:00 Silk Road 2.0: China’s Technological and Environmental Leap
10:00 Why Russia and China Are Natural Partners: Cultural Foundations
13:22 Quality Over Profit: China’s Alternative to Western Economics
18:38 China’s Tech Revolution: How Planning Defeats Sanctions
21:10 Russia’s New Development Path: Focus on Domestic Strength
28:12 Cotton Candy Economics: Why the US Model Fails
34:24 Why 40% of World GDP Won’t Accept Western Rules Anymore
37:23 Russia–China–Iran: Iran Protected, Not Alone
38:59 Why Europe No Longer Matters to Russia’s Growth
47:57 Will the US Invade Venezuela? Geopolitical Breakdown
54:10 Why the UN Security Council Is No Longer Effective

Larry C. Johnson & Col. Larry Wilkerson: The WARNING Signs Are Clear: WAR Is Coming

(73 min) I like the way Larry and Larry exchange ideas. These Friday conversations are worthwhile if you have time and interest.

Have you ever heard Doomberg the insightful animated bird?

(36 min) Doomberg Reveals 1 IMMINENT Country COLLAPSE & 1 IMMINENT War

I'll use the bird animation to transition to some nature stories...
I'm a fan of eliminating our military bases around the world. I thought this was an interesting approach to managing a California base.
Camp AMP (adaptive multi-paddock grazing)

(18 min) "camp AMP" is the story of Eric Czaja and his family’s quest to bring regenerative grazing to U.S. Department of Defense bases around the country.
The pilot program is at Camp Luis Obispo (on the California coast) - where the current grazing lease holder, Mark Simonin, has agreed to let Eric change the way his cattle are being grazed, adopting regenerative methods.
Even in the first year, the base’s land is more resilient to drought and flood, both wildfire risk & cost of land maintenance are greatly reduced, and of highest priority to the base, there is an increase of warfighter readiness - the regeneratively grazed land is cleared and ready for training.
As the base commander Col. Brian Wintzer says, “It’s a win, win, win, win."

The Ancient Trail That Shaped a Nation

(26 min) The clip is focused on Kentucky, but the trail went from Florida to the Great Lakes.
From mastodons and bison to Native peoples and pioneers, the Warrior’s Path carried life, culture, and survival across Kentucky. Join us as we trace this ancient route from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio River, uncovering the stories, struggles, and legacies that shaped our land and life.

As a parting shot, I want to feature a conversation of two investors. Someone once asked me why I would listen to oligarchs? Well, it is because they have insights.
Perfect Storm for WW3 Just Started – Cash Will Be Worthless, Load Up on THIS : Marc Faber

(47 min)
"Within 10 years, big changes will occur and the dollar will no longer be the reserve currency," says Dr. Marc Faber. In today's interview with Daniela Cambone, the famed contrarian investor and Grant Williams detail their stark outlook for the West, arguing that true capitalism has been dead for decades. "We haven't had real capitalism for 50-odd years now. It's been creeping further and further away to crony capitalism," Williams states, with Faber adding that the "damage has been done" after years of money printing that has expanded government and eroded living standards.
They break down the surprising optimism and economic growth they see across Asia, contrasting it with the declining conditions in the U.S. and Europe. Faber also shares why he believes physical precious metals, and specifically platinum which he calls a prime target for a market "squeeze", are the ultimate assets to protect wealth, while Williams reveals his argument for why Bitcoin and stablecoins are "highly questionable" in a world facing the risk of systemic blackouts and why central bank gold buying is a signal every investor must follow.
00:00 – What people are saying in Asia
04:26 – The current state of the UK
11:06 – NYC’s new mayor
13:33 – Capitalism: how did we get here?
16:17 – Reasons Europe is declining
19:23 – Can central banks be eliminated?
19:48 – Mark’s prediction for gold
26:57 – Why Mark favors the platinum market
30:25 – De-dollarization
36:30 – China’s role on global stage
38:05 – Marc’s warning about war
43:26 – Final thoughts from Grant and Marc

As usual my friends there's lots of stories I didn't cover. I hope you will fill in any of them you found important in the comments below. The thread is open to any and all thoughts...