Imperial Delusion

It was a week of contrasts. The rising powers held a meeting of the SCO in Kyrgyzstan. There was also a meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok this week. BRICS+ meeting is next week. Meanwhile the western powers try to maintain their proxy war in the rapidly failing state of Ukraine, as the US continues trading attacks with Iran. We are losing both of these wars of economic and military attrition, and seem unwilling to admit our defeat and cut our losses.

I want to begin again this week with Robert Pape's weekly review.

(18 min) So what were the main actions this week.
1. Iran in Hormuz, the back and forth strikes between the United States and Iran, and we want to talk about who's really winning.
2. Ukraine and Vladimir Putin's call for peace that excludes the US as a mediator.
3. The summit at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Bishkek Declaration.
00:00:05 Intro
00:00:34 3 Main Events Last Week
00:02:13 Event #1 Aug 30th US Strike
00:03:30 Aug 31 Iran Escalates
00:04:12 Sep 1 US Hits Back
00:05:13 Sep 1 Iran Retaliates
00:06:31 Iran's Strategy To Raise US Military Costs
00:07:50 Iran's Goal
00:08:14 Event #2 Russia-Ukraine
00:09:04 The Ratcliffe Trip
00:10:04 US Negotiators Sent To Russia
00:10:43 The Effect On US Power
00:11:26 Event #3 Shanghai Cooperation Summit
00:12:55 Cracks In The US Anti-China Coalition
00:14:00 Death of American Invincibility
00:15:50 The Global Power Big Picture

I think he hits the high points, and his organization makes it easy to follow.

Pepe has long been a proponent of both the SCO and BRICS+

(46 min) Rise of a Post-Western World at the SCO Summit
Pepe's Article on the SCO Worth a read IMO

Let's transition from building cooperative relationship to our war of choice in Western Asia.

Chas Freeman is one of my favorite diplomats.

(61 min) Chas Freeman: Inside Israel’s Crumbling Multi-Front War

Larry Wilkerson

(53 min) Iran Just Changed the Rules– Preemptive Strikes Are Now Their Default Strategy
The Col. discusses Iran's superior missiles and recommends the book The Second Oldest Profession

M. Marandi: Iran Launches SURPRISE Attack, US Bases & Warships UNDER FIRE

(53 min) Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi discusses Iran's shocking surprise attack on US assets and the new war doctrine driving it as Trump remains paralyzed by mounting military and economic crises.

Israel’s Gaza “Solution” Is To Empty It Of Palestinians, Defense Minister Says
Katz admitted this week that Israel’s goal for Gaza is the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza in “every way possible,” despite denying allegations of ethnic cleansing for years.

Jeffrey Sachs: The World Order Built on Lies Is Now Unravelling

(41 min) Prof. Jeffrey Sachs discusses how the post-Cold War world order was built on lies, which have blinded the West to why it is all collapsing.

Alex Krainer brings his insights on the region.

(55 min) Alex Krainer: The Middle East Just Broke: Here’s What Happens Next

He is also warning about the economic consequences

(10 min) Alex Krainer discusses how to prepare for a potential economic and financial crisis without panic. He explores debt saturation, banking risks, de-banking, geopolitical instability, and why having emergency reserves and alternative assets could matter.
Krainer also explains his broader view of the global debt system and why he believes a major financial reset could reshape the future.

Speaking of the economy. Martin is a bit challenging to listen to, but he has some powerful stories. Martin Armstrong - The Hidden Economics Behind the Wars! Escalation Ahead?

(47 min) Is the West going broke? In this interview we spoke with financial forecaster Martin Armstrong, founder of Armstrong Economics, about the growing global sovereign debt crisis, war spending, Europe, Japan, the US dollar, gold, bonds, and the future of financial markets. Armstrong explains why he believes the global bond sell-off could continue, why Japan or Europe could become the first major sovereign debt domino, why he remains more bullish on the US dollar than many expect, and when he sees gold potentially turning higher. He also discusses escalating geopolitical tensions involving Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Iran and Israel, the impact of war on government finances, the rise of AI and autonomous warfare, and why his computer models point toward major financial and political turning points ahead. Is the current debt-driven economic system approaching a global reset? Martin Armstrong shares his outlook on what investors should be watching next.
00:00 Intro
01:11 – Russia, Ukraine & the Risk of a Wider War
03:29 – Why September Could Be a Major Turning Point
04:01 – The Decline of Political Unity in the West
09:44 – Russia, Ukraine, Iran & Israel: Can Peace Be Achieved?
11:33 – Nuclear Weapons: Are They Still a Deterrent?
13:36 – Can the US & Europe Afford Their Military Commitments?
16:25 – Regime Change, Putin & the Russia-West Conflict
19:47 – The Global Bond Sell-Off: What Breaks First?
20:47 – Why Europe May Be More Vulnerable Than the US
24:48 – Why the US Dollar Could Actually Strengthen
27:06 – Dubai, Oil & the “3D Chess” Being Played
28:46 – Could Japan Trigger the Global Debt Crisis?
32:29 – Why the Dollar May Not Collapse
36:34 – Outlook for Gold
40:33 – Is the Stock Market Actually Overvalued?
41:53 – The AI ​​Bubble vs. the Dot-Com Bubble
43:31 – AI, Drones & the Future of Autonomous Warfare
45:07 – 2027 Turning Point

I'm posting this for Luke Gromen's initial point of East vs West approach. (about 15 min)
We're Past The Point Of No Return" | Luke Gromen and Lyn Alden

0:00 - Intro
1:12 - Treasury Event or Broader Sovereign Debt Crisis
1:34 - Why China Avoids the Global Bond Rout
2:00 - Hyperscalers Emerge as New Bond Vigilantes
3:41 - Path Leading to Yield Curve Control
4:15 - Why Chinese 10-Year Yields Hit Global Lows
6:00 - AI Driving Deflation in Chinese Manufacturing
10:17 - Orderly Bond Market Grind vs Sensationalized Crash
13:43 - The Dog That Didn't Bark in Bessent's Move
14:38 - Silent Crisis Brewing in Private Credit
15:38 - Insurance Insolvency Risk Triggers Treasury Sales

Then they really get into the weeds and lost me.

Ukraine is barely hanging on. I don't know if they survive till 2027.

Out of Money, Out of Missiles: Zelensky Exit Plan as Trump Faces Ukraine Defeat.

(41 min) Ukraine's front lines are collapsing as Russian forces advance on Kharkov, Zaporizhzhia and Donbass all at once. In this episode we break down Zelensky's desperate push to close Russian airspace, the empty 90 billion euro loan and the very real chance Kiev's railway lifeline to Europe gets cut. Is this the checkmate moment that finally ends project Ukraine?
00:00:00 Ukraine collapse and the panic gripping Kiev and the West
00:01:13 Why the West is realizing the war is being lost
00:03:05 The Leipzig drone incident and the hybrid war narrative
00:05:14 Zelensky demands Europe close Russian airspace
00:07:30 Russian army breakthroughs in Kharkov Orekhov and Dobropillya
00:08:56 Ukraine out of air defense and its budget crisis
00:10:24 The 90 billion euro loan that was never really raised
00:16:37 Russian strikes creep toward Kiev and its railway station
00:20:07 Why cutting the Poland rail link would be a checkmate move
00:22:52 The failed 500 drone strike on Moscow airspace
00:26:54 Is Washington capable of pulling out of project Ukraine
00:27:31 CIA director Ratcliffe and the Telegram channel scandal
00:32:53 Can Zelensky survive, Fedorov, Azov and coup risk
00:36:22 Zelensky's exit plan and a government in exile in France
00:38:33 Why the conflict continues even after Kiev falls

The Europeans can't seem to let go of project Ukraine.

Europe Wants U.S. To Fight Russia

(30 min) Ukraine is being pounded on every front as Putin declares Russia does not negotiate with terrorists after Zelensky threatens to shut down Russian airspace and target civilian airliners. In this episode we break down the collapsing front lines around Kupyansk and Kharkov, the bizarre Leipzig drone false flag, Norway seizing a Russian passenger ship, and a stunning intelligence agency shootout in Kiev. Is Europe deliberately provoking Russia to drag the United States into a direct fight.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:58 Ukraine pounded from the air and blockaded on its coast
00:03:12 Zelensky says Europe's allies are on holiday
00:03:43 Zelensky threatens to shut down Russian airspace
00:04:43 The Leipzig drone false flag incident
00:05:13 Italy and Norway seize Russian linked ships
00:06:19 Shootout between Ukraine's SBU and GUR intelligence agencies
00:08:11 Scam call centers and the fight over money
00:09:46 Bessent blames Ukraine for the energy price shock
00:12:20 Putin says Russia does not negotiate with terrorists
00:13:40 Putin asked about striking Kiev's leadership
00:16:06 Norway's ship seizure tied to the Naftogaz lawsuit
00:18:07 Europe as vassals pushing America toward conflict
00:20:30 Trump asked about Ukrainian press gangs
00:23:04 Hardliners versus moderates inside Washington
00:27:55 Why the Americans have not told Europe to stop
00:29:37 US leverage over Britain and Germany

The Judge is in Russia. Here he is in an RT interview.

(21 min) I've never seen the Judge interviewed. I thought he did a good job.
Former US judge Andrew Napolitano says Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown an “almost saint-like capacity for patience and forbearance” by refraining from striking weapons and munitions facilities in NATO countries that supply arms used by Ukraine.
Speaking to RT, Napolitano argued that Russia would have a right under international law to target military facilities involved in producing weapons used against Russian territory, while stressing that Putin “does not want a war against NATO.”
His comments come amid continued Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia and growing Western involvement in supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Napolitano also warned that the Ukraine conflict is heading towards an “acceleration” and predicted a “last-ditch effort” by some NATO countries to prevent what he described as the Russian military achieving its objectives.

So as one part of the world builds cooperative relationships, here in the west we spread chaos and disaster. As we've been saying for a long time, the East is rising as the West declines. I guess it is all just the cycle of empires.

I hope you found something of interest, and will share your favorite stories of the week in the comments below. Have a good Sunday. The thread is open...