The Weekly Watch

The Insanity of Instigating War

What a week, sitting on the brink of WWIII. It is insane to attempt to be THE World Superpower. Stability comes from balance of power, but instead we want to be the sole world power. Adding to the insanity is this quest to dominate oil production (and consumption)...the very substance driving the extinction of lifeforms and the devastation of the climate. The situation in Australia should make this obvious to everyone. Winter is here though our temperatures are mild this year (not that I'm complaining mind you). Then we have the kabuki theater of the presidential election. The polls are not believable, and I'm not sure our votes are either. None the less the primary election is upon us. What sort of damage would Trump (Israel, Saudi Arabia, Et al.) cause in another four years? Not a pleasant thought. All is not doom and gloom. There are good people and beautiful places all around the world.

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Lee Fang at the intercept had perhaps the most telling story of the week...(2 min)

“The American people are ruled by murderers, whose killings are sanctioned by their friends.” https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/07/pers-j07.html

Yes, our infrastructure stinks, our schools are failing, this country’s a nightmare of inequality, and there’s a self-promoting madman in the White House, so isn’t it time to take pride in the rare institutional victories America has had in this century? Arguably, none has been more striking than the triumphal success of the American war system.

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-end-of-american-empire-wont-be-pre...

The US and Israel remain active bombing and droning Iranian targets...
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/11/iran-j11.html
...and not a single European leader has condemned the US assassination and escalation toward all out war. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/01/11/euro-j11.html

Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is following Iraq's Parliament decision to remove all foreign forces from Iraq. But his request for talks with the U.S. about the U.S. withdrawal process was answered with a big "F*** You":
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/in-iraq-the-us-is-again-an-occupat...

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Iran now admits they accidentally shot down the Ukrainian plane...
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/iranian-armed-forces-say-they-inad...

Aaron Mate' interviews Larry Wilkerson about the US aggression in Iran and Iraq.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVWmmVhS0uc (25 min)

Iran hit ‘obvious’ targets to avoid spiral of war – Chris Hedges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK2LUaHs8DI&t=7m45s (5 min or so)

War is bipartisan... Aaron Maté and Max Blumenthal how neoliberal Democrats allied with Republicans to kill a measure to block Trump from waging war on Iran. Rania Khalek and Ben Norton also discuss Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Pete Buttigieg and their awful warmongering stances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ7MiughG5o (22 min)

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Aaron Mate' had an interesting interview on Rising this week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ6mWMyjJv8 (9.4 min)
He asks a good question, what if the dims had fought to keep us in the Iranian nuclear agreement with the same energy which they pursued Russiagatee and Ukrainegate?

They also interviewed Tulsi. She discusses the Iranian "briefing".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46RRv_YfpM (11.5 min)

Lee Camp had a couple of good rants this week...

We are not at war with Iran but Trump tried his hardest to make that happen this week by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani. Since then the mainstream media have been losing their minds with indecision over whether the orange man is bad or the illegal assassination of an enemy of US empire is good. Lee dives into why the US wants war with Iran, how the media has helped, and what you can do to stop it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK6aaiQWb9Y (1st 10 min or so)
One more from Lee...
The US recently assassinated the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. He was known as the man who defeated ISIS. Here are 6 of the main reasons why this assassination wasn't just a war crime but also a horrible blunder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEAp_UouT2Q (14.5 min)

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The threat of an immediate US-Iran military conflict has been averted, but President Donald Trump has vowed to continue his "maximum pressure" campaign with new sanctions on Tehran. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister's claim that Qassem Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission in Iraq when the U.S. assassinated him is raising new questions about Trump's motives. Aaron talks with Sina Toossi, Senior Research Analyst at the National Iranian American Council. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_PN_iEUWAg (16.5 min)

We've always been lied into war. Danny Sjursen and Matthew Hoh explain (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/liars-war-iraq-iran-history

It is eerily similar to the way they started the Iraq war in 2003 (1.2 min)

In a two-part interview, Chomsky and Scheer meet to discuss topics ranging from the type of dystopian future we face to the unfortunate, brutal success of the U.S. empire.
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/noam-chomsky-america-has-built-a-globa...
(audio or text)

There was some good news from Venezuela this week. Our coup isn't going well. The President we appointed is being rejected by his own party...
Anya Parampil breaks down recent events in Venezuela, after US-backed coup leader Juan Guaidó was replaced as President of the country’s National Assembly by fellow members of the opposition. Anya cuts through the mainstream narrative, which claims the Venezuelan government blocked Guaidó from entering the National Assembly and demonstrates he appears to have staged the event in order to gain international support. Anya also speaks with Diego Sequera, an investigative journalist from the Venezuelan website Misión Verdad, to get the view from the ground in Caracas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OuK6kDZJjc (20 min)
Anya Parampil and Diego Sequera, an investigative journalist with the Venezuelan website Misión Verdad, reflect on Juan Guaidó’s greatest failures throughout his first year as wannabe president of Venezuela.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSv8AYE1TTI (41 min)

What is so ironic about these wars and coups we promote and create is their purpose to control fossil fuel production.

The blowback from Trump's assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani and PMU leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis is increasing. A scandal is developing as one consequence of Trump's evil deed after Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi revealed the gangster methods U.S. President Trump used in his attempts to steal Iraq's oil.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/blowback-from-the-soleimani-assass...

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Meanwhile Australia burns...

Climate scientist Michael Mann is in Australia, where the bushfire crisis is unfolding in real time. He says voters there need to look for 'climate hawks' who can counteract the climate-denying policies of politicians like current prime minister Scott Morrison.
(video or text) https://therealnews.com/stories/australia-fire-denying-climate-change-wo...

Young activists say they’re seeing more of this “youth-washing” as the global youth climate movement gains momentum, including at the U.N. annual climate conference, known as COP 25, ... With “youth” becoming synonymous with climate action, corporations and politicians are increasingly using young people to portray themselves as climate serious.
https://theintercept.com/2019/12/13/youth-climate-movement-fossil-fuel-i...
https://therealnews.com/stories/fossil-fuel-industry-shifts-from-climate...

Even as the world seems to unravel there are reminders of our humanity and the natural beauty of our planet...

Chris Hedges explains the power of kindness...(7.5 min)

And I'll leave you with a 2.5 min clip of the natural beauty which we tend to miss...

As OPOL would say, "PEACE OUT!"

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Comments

Lookout's picture

Here's another clip I just noticed I forgot to include. Can't have a WW without at least one Jimmy Dore clip...(13 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EVL7SGbO8]

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15 users have voted.

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

Raggedy Ann's picture

Indeed, it was a scary week. We were on the edge of our seats, wondering what was going to happen. The problem is that war has not been averted. Both sides are still thumping their chests and grabbing their testicles. We will all suffer due to their bravado.

Making a boatload of money is serious business. We, the American people, should not try and stop the 1% from making all the money they want. They need to use our military to accomplish this. Who cares how many die - they are not their children, nor any of their relatives. They are our children and our relatives, but their lives mean nothing in the march to profit.

We've been talking revolution for four years, now. I've been talking revolution for a couple of decades. Until the people decide they have had enough, we will be taken deeper down this rabbit hole until we cannot escape. We will be nuked beyond recognition if we do not awaken.

Still, I do have hope things will improve, however, not until the people rise up. That could be tomorrow or it could be in 10 years. In any event, I do see a turn of the tide before 2030.

We're drying up and warming up in these parts. We got a pinch of snow on Friday morning, but it's gone and we had 47degrees yesterday, with the same predicted today. The well drillers are here and have been drilling for a day and a half. They should finish Monday.

Enjoy your Sunday, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lookout's picture

@Raggedy Ann

The war machine will be difficult to stop even if the average person was aware of our horrors.

war machine_1.jpg

Great news about the well! Wishing you lots of good quality water.

Have a wonderful week!

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

magiamma's picture

Another beautiful early spring day. Looking like things are blooming at least two weeks early. Maybe three. Our second voter reg training at ucsc is this afternoon. Much to do to get ready for this and for next week.

Thanks for the news roundup. Be well. Onward...

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

Lookout's picture

@magiamma

super Tuesday. I'm hoping Bernie makes a good showing all the way through, so they can't cheat him again. I'm still a Tulsi fan, but if Bernie is looking likely to win the nomination I'll support him.

Thanks for all your work!

Australia is in a mess too...(3.5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shBwf97O7zk]

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

ggersh's picture

@Lookout [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1efOs0BsE0g]

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3 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Lookout's picture

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

ggersh's picture

@Lookout and for a cartoonist so is Brad

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6 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Lookout's picture

@ggersh

as are many on his site...https://bradblog.com/?p=13263

Thanks for the introduction!

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

CB's picture

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Lookout's picture

@CB

The endless forever war, and MSM still ignoring the leaked papers.

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

fakenews's picture

Can't be any worse than Fukushima bleeding out into the ocean for 100 thousand years... and no solution in sight.

Peace
FN

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"Democracy is technique and the ability of power not to be understood as oppressor. Capitalism is the boss and democracy is its spokesperson." Peace - FN

Lookout's picture

@fakenews
all the depleted uranium bullets the US has sprayed across the ME which will kill for millennia.

It is sad that US culture is so blind, warped, and misled that there is no real blow back against these endless wars.

Well do your best to have a good day.

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

ggersh's picture

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/death-liars-iran-protests-demand-...

First the headlines making it seem as if all hell has broken loose

"Death To Liars!" Iran Swept By Wave Of Protests Demanding Ayatollah Quit Over Airplane Downing

then the obligatory pic of many people in the street, they could be
there for any reason.

Students at Amir Kabir University in Tehran chant against Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei calking him a killer who can not lead. #IranPlaneCrash ✈️ pic.twitter.com/pbkqzBy5sn
— Negar Mortazavi (@NegarMortazavi) January 11, 2020

In a rarity, Iranian state media also acknowledged the new anti-government unrest fueled by news that it was Iran's Revolutionary Guards which shot down the passenger jet, and not "mechanical failure" as was initially claimed.

As Reuters describes of the semi-official Fars report:

The report said the demonstrators on the street also ripped up pictures of Qassem Soleimani, the prominent commander of the Guard’s Quds Force who was killed in a U.S. drone strike.

The agency, widely seen as close to the Guards, carried pictures of the gathering and a torn banner of Soleimani. It said the protesters numbered about 700 to 1,000 people.

Oh now for the reason why, plus affirming the great satan assassination is ok
w/these protesters. But then a little truth then comes out, it was only 700-1000
protesters

Video also showed moments where police rushed in to attempt to quash the growing protests, which could turn into bigger demonstrations Sunday.

Iranian forces lashing out at protestors again... pic.twitter.com/TfCqRST6uG
— Bessma Momani (@b_momani) January 11, 2020

Protests seem to be legal everywhere except against oil pipelines in the states,
and as usual good reporting cough cough assumes bigger protests coming soon to
a theater near you.

Then in the next paragraph comes the icing on the cake as well as you can't make this shit up

It also appears Iran's significant political opposition in exile is seizing on the dramatic events of this week, with exiled Persian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issuing a statement on Saturday saying, "This is not human error. This is a crime against humanity."

He added in the Twitter statement: "He who has irresponsibly empowered his thugs to fire at will at innocents bears full responsibility. Enough is Enough. Khamenei and his regime must go."

Any how it goes on and on to tell us how can we possibly think that Iran is a rogue country.

But we couldn't have a propaganda piece w/out the Pompass weighing in could we.

The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime’s lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC under @khamenei_ir's kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future. pic.twitter.com/tBOjv9XsIG
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 11, 2020

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14 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Lookout's picture

@ggersh

asking if anyone believed Soleimani was on a peace mission?

Let's see the Iraqi PM does for one...
https://thefreethoughtproject.com/iraqi-pm-soleimani-peace-missiontrump-...

The liar is Pompous obviously.

Thanks for the info and links!

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15 users have voted.

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

@ggersh
Or is it the MSM making shit up again? Maybe Putin did it! (That's snark, BTW. Regular readers know I'm not a fan of Putin but he seems to be a convenient goat for the MSM)

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4 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Lookout's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

The general in his press conference claimed that his organization is guilty:

Our dear brothers at the Aviation Organization categorically rejected the possibility of a missile hitting the plane; they acted based on what they knew. I must say they were not guilty and have nothing to do with this. All the blame is on us; they’re innocent. The plane was also on its track, it made no mistake. It did the right thing, as did the Aviation Organization. Everyone did the right thing. Only one of our forces made a mistake. Since he is under our command, we are responsible for that. We must be accountable.

....

Regarding the details of the incident, I should say; well, you know the region’s conditions remained tense and the risk of conflict was high for over a week. It was really unprecedented compared to what we saw in previous years, even since the 1979 Revolution. The risk of conflict was very high; both the Americans and the Iranian Armed Forces were on highest alert. The Americans had also threatened to hit 52 sites in Iran.

This is a main point one must keep in mind. There really was a threat from the U.S. and everyone thought that war would break out within the next minutes or hours. Decisions made under such stress are more prone to be wrong:

What we know from our investigations and from what our friends explained is that, well, at that night, for example from [Tuesday] evening, the level of preparedness was at wartime conditions; the highest alert level communicated by the integrated air defence to all systems. Under such circumstances, a number of air defence systems was added to Tehran’s air defence ring. The first system – which was behind the incident – was deployed in Bidganeh in western Tehran.

An integrated air defense system provides a full picture of the air situation to all connected units. Fixed radars, defense missile units and command and control centers are connected by secure landlines, not by radio.

But the mobile Tor M1 system responsible for shooting down the Ukrainian airliner was added as a stand alone system. It is an relatively old system. Its operators only had a voice radio connection to other parts of the network. If they had a data connection at all it was also via radio and with very little throughput. The system did not have the full picture of the air situation. Its own radar has a maximum detection range of 25 kilometer (16 miles). In most practical situations it will be a lot less than that. Bidganeh, where the system was deployed, is some 30 kilometer away from Tehran airport. The Tor operator did not know that a civil airplane had just taken off:

At several stages, the Alert Level 3, which is the highest level, is communicated and emphasized to the entire network. So all air defence systems were at highest alert level. For several times, these systems including the one involved in the incident were notified by the integrated network that cruise missiles have been fired at the country. For a couple of times, they receive reports that ‘the cruise missiles are coming, be prepared’.

The conclusion is the real take away...
It is sad that this incident happened and that 176 lost their life. But if one wants to find a person guilty for it one must look for the person who caused the whole situation. That person is not the lowly sergeant who pressed the button. That person is U.S. President Donald Trump.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2020/01/was-the-shootdown-of-the-ukrainian...

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@Lookout
Of course there is NOTHING about this on TV "news". I really watch "news" for the weather forecast and local news of more FBI raids on our local politicians.

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8 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

ggersh's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness Theories abound on this....certainly taking responsibility for it changes the narrativeand whereas I believe Iran is playing long term and tRump is being led by
Christian Zionists who have only one desire anything could be the truth.

Did Iran do it to show the west they are as bad as them, was it an accident, was it
an ameriKan proxy on Iranian soil and Iran knows it? So many questions.

My only take is that Iran won this battle short term, what happens next is on tRump
and the neocons who can't be trusted at all. My $0.02

up
9 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

@ggersh
Why upset Ukraine? Or you could take the MSM position: "Putin ordered them to do it!"

Don't know if we still have anything like Nike, but imagine the furor if a battery sergeant accidentally blasted a Lufthansa plane taking off from Dulles!

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Azazello's picture

And thanks for the links , Lookout.
Here's a couple more that are worth a look.
Jimmy Dore sat in for Jesse Ventura on his RT show.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbkLcjxdZpg width:500 height:300]
RJ Eskow with Maj. Danny Sjursen:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v96eqH96aqo width:500 height:300]

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Lookout's picture

@Azazello

I always appreciate the info you bring, and I'm glad you contribute them here.

Thanks again.

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

earthling1's picture

@Azazello
was a masterpiece.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Pluto's Republic's picture

@Azazello

I agree with other commenters on your thread that you do consistently bring unusual insight to these discussions.

The interview with Maj. Danny Sjursen was uncommonly authentic, and for that reason intellectually stimulating. From his considerable experiences, he paints the picture for us of the lead up to the surprise attack and how the operation was rationalized in advance and afterward. He notes that there was very little context provided for this assassination, and so he fills it in to complete the picture.

Unfortunately, he didn't start at the very beginning of this event with the right question: "How, exactly, did this particular poisonous ball get put into motion?" America's failure to analyze the starting points of events that have slammed them all over the game board is a hallmark of all discussions and investigations that take place after illegal, transformational, self-inflicted catastrophes like these — from 9/11 to Benghazi and beyond.

Sjursen tells us he doesn't know the beginning here, but says in his experience US military threats against a foreign enemy all come from the same well: An antsy President who wants to send a strong military message or blow something up will tell his military advisors what he wants to do. They come back to him with three choices, one of which is their preference. The other two are horrible choices that they know the President will reject. He seems to imply that Trump picked one of the horrible choices.

This is not what happened.

He does demonstrate, however, how to successfully close the door that leads to that one moment and the real motive that send the country careening down a different path toward a different future.

After the truth about the beginning is discovered — and it will be — it won't matter. The nation will not turn back. Just as the truth that we were lied into war in Iraq didn't matter after we were engaged in our endless slaughter in the Middle East. The US always 'stays the course' to protect its war criminals and to spread the blame. It never goes back to correct the beginnings, legally or even historically.

This, then, is the 'nobel cause' that the nation's sons and daughters die for.

My point is irrelevant already. Learning how the US chain got yanked once more and the progress of the nation got derailed again won't change anything at this point. I am posting this in support of persistent curiosity and in support of new skeptics who are honing their skills and boldly questioning authority.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Lookout's picture

@Pluto's Republic

R J is not my favorite interviewer, but I enjoyed Danny's take.

The most insightful piece I've seen is the saker article by Michael Hudson that Snoop dropped somewhere in this thread. Follow the money...

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

Pluto's Republic's picture

@Lookout

...in fact I've had an article of his open in my browser for weeks.

The first article Snoopy posted, I read as economics.

America Escalates its “Democratic” Oil War in the Near East.

Hudson provides a useful background narrative explaining how the geoeconomic systems during the various industrial revolutions came to be what they are today. And how money and oil are drivers of these structures. Offers some unique insights, too.

I didn't think anyone grasped the ebb and tide of foreign cash flows as well as Michael Hudson. And then I read the Saker's interview with him.

The Saker Interviews Michael Hudson

I don't know if The Saker planned his intricate questions deliberately, but as Hudson answered them, he exposed himself as a solid part of the bubble. He bent over backward to cover for the Israeli lobby and hide any influence exerted by that country. I was dismayed to read the Reader's comments, which confirmed my observations. It's the New York bubble that I talk about at times. I know it well. The Schumer bubble.

I flipped back to the first article, again, and I saw the subtle propaganda that I had missed because I was so predisposed to the economist. In my own defense, Hudson writes on many topics within the wide spectrum of his knowledge. Only in certain areas does he become a Mossad asset (as I learned his long-time business partner was the head of Mossad). Reading him has left me better than before, but I can see that most people would be easily infected by his subtle message.

So, I pass that on, because that is all I can do now.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Lookout's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Only in certain areas does he become a Mossad asset (as I learned his long-time business partner was the head of Mossad).

Hadn't read the interview, just the article which lays out the economic premise of our forever war...which I found insightful.

Thanks for the heads up about the Israel bias which I'll pay more attention to as I encounter his work.

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

WaterLily's picture

72738112_10219362959079927_3930506717837656064_n.jpg

From the Maldives in October.

Thanks for the round-up, @Lookout. Lots to digest. A deadline beckons, so it's off to work ... but I hope to sit down with some of your links later.

Have a lovely Sunday, all.

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Lookout's picture

@WaterLily

Storms on the horizon I see. I've never been to the India Ocean. Looks lovely.

Well best of luck with the chores today. Have a good one!

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

mimi's picture

Australia fires: Plants photographed regrowing in ashes

I always thought that ash is one of the best fertilizers and have a lot of trust plants will recover.

If just the aninmals would return that way too, it's just hearbreaking to watch and understand the devastations for the animal world. AFAI understand the estimates about how many animals and insects have been decimated and/or lost is not really clear yet, but the imaginations one can have watching the images, leaves not much to hope for.

At the same token I wonder about the knowledge and wisdom of the indigieous population to use bushfires for good purposes:
Australia's indigenous people have a solution for the country's bushfires. And it's been around for 50,000 years

"Even though people can see the Aboriginese doing the fire control, and could see the benefits, they couldn't copy it," he said.
Now, the juxtaposition is clear.
"Where the Aboriginal people are in charge, they're not having big fires," Gammage said. "In the south, where white people are in charge, we are having the problems."

Thats a little paragraph of that article that made me chuckle a bit.

Thanks for your Weekly Watch and hoping the weather at your corner of the world is behaving and not causing storms, cold, floods and other terrifying catastrophies.

Good to "see" you every Sunday. Have a good one.

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Lookout's picture

@mimi
....after the volcanic eruption spread ash everywhere.

It is too bad modern day culture doesn't value to wisdom of the indigenous folks. We would all be better off emulating them in many regards.

It is nice here today, but yesterday was pretty wild...25 to 35 MPH winds howling from the south. A balmy 70 degrees followed by about an inch of rain last night. Sunny and 60's today. No complaints here.

I'm facing lots of activities in the next couple of weeks...most of them fun. Hope all is well with you and yours, and that your weather is pleasant too.

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

@Lookout
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/chicago/60104/january-weather/338068
But it's about to turn bad (i.e. normal).

My daughter South of you reports (actually sent me a picture) of a dormant pear tree starting to bloom! Also some other plants are starting to bloom. Are you having Spring a month early? Or is it about to drop in the pot?
And what does all this portend for crop failures in 2020?

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Lookout's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

Winter has just begun. No telling what wild swings we will see. No blooms here on the mt yet.

I'm picking up my new trees on 1/22 and hope to get them planted in a day or two.

Stay warm as the cold blast approaches!

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

smiley7's picture

Let peace be our guide.

Hope your fruit trees don't think it's Spring; can't remember a longer warm spell this time of year, approaching a whole month of uncharacteristic high temps.

Doing little chores around the van gogh room. Wish we still had the beach place, would be off in a second as this feels so unnatural in these hills.

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Lookout's picture

@smiley7

I wouldn't count cold weather or snow out. Winter has only just begun.

Beach would be nice to visit. We've got friends on the Pensacola back water that keep inviting us down. May be we can get it in this spring.

Have a great one smiley!

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10 users have voted.

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

Thanks as usual even if the news is not hopeful or uplifting. It is amazing watching the "news" on one of the major networks and see how much is being said with no reliable resources cited. Have been in TV land where what is reported there is taken as fact with no questioning.

Jimmy Dore did a good job of summing up the new endless war cycle we are entering and not just from Iran but from places all over the world.

Did have a wonderful time in Hawaii. Spent most of the time on the beach or the front porch of my friends visiting and just enjoying the trade winds. In my yoga class, our teacher has asked us to come up with a word to live our life by this year instead of focusing on the negative. Hard to do but my word is "positivity."

Well must be off to do some of my chores on this beautiful sunshiny day. Thanks again for the Weekly watch.

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Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

Lookout's picture

@jakkalbessie

So glad you had a good trip.

I believe in keeping a positive outlook. That doesn't mean being blind to things, but approaching them in a positive manner. Losing myself in nature somehow recharges my battery. When I find myself in a rant, as I did a couple of times this week, I take a walk or putter in the garden...just getting outside helps me anyway.

Have a terrific week, and thanks for dropping in.

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8 users have voted.

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

@jakkalbessie
Interference as truth. Some commenters accepting as Gospel that Rusiia hacked voting machines to throw the election to Trump.

Bad as it is, can you imagine the wars we would be in with Her Heinous as POTUS?

I STILL say the lesser evil won.

EDIT: Obviously Russia has been hacking my keyboard! Sorry for all the typos, folks.
Eyes are getting worse. A little snow blindness doesn't help.
Just installed a new 27" monitor to replace the 22". Helps a lot. Text is big but still blurry.

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10 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Steven D's picture

Iran was the grownup in the room that prevented war. Yes, they fired some missiles in retaliation for the assassination of their General, but they made certain those missiles were targets at locations on that airbase the US was least likely to have personnel, and they fired ballistic missiles they knew the US had the capability of tracking from the moment they were fired, giving US troops plenty of time to bunker down to protect themselves. Then the Iranian government announced this strike concluded their military response, unless we attacked them again.

Luckily, someone advised Trump that this was a signal they did not want an escalation, and talked him out of doing something stupid.

Iran could have chosen to attack that US base with proxy forces, Shia militias in Ieaq, and with weapons that would not have been detected in time to prevent casualties. Yet, how often was the Iranian government's restraint mentioned in the US media, versus the number of statements made justifying an illegal act of war against a state with whom the US was not at war? I's say the media spent more time disparaging the character of the Iranian general than the efforts of Iran to avoid a larger conflict.

Our media spent more time justifying a crime our government committed than anything else they said about the situation. And no one on the media spoke about the fact that our presence in Iraq, and elsewhere in the ME has destabilized the region and increased sectarian strife. Instead, I saw many, many pundits arguing our military presence in the ME is a force for good. That is the Big Lie they continue to promote, even as they now have turned against Trump for acting "hastily" or without consulting Congress.

The best thing for the ME would be a negotiated withdrawal of all foreign forces from the region: US, Russian, Turkish and jihadists funded by Saudi Arabia. But that won;t happen because the MIC needs these wars to justify the obscene amounts of money we are spending on weapons systems. So, we are told this Big Lie that we have to stay in these countries in violation of International Law to protect the region and, of course our own citizens.

And they will keep repeating this lie because the media is just a mouthpiece for those in government who want to maintain the status quo. The oil must flow, and our oil companies must be ensured of making profits.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Lookout's picture

@Steven D

Evidently Iran warned the US of its targets through the Swiss embassy in Tehran prior to the launch.

Our media spent more time justifying a crime our government committed than anything else they said about the situation.

The same people who advised the Iraq invasion plus retired generals, CIA, etc as experts and commentators? Come on.

The best thing for the ME would be a negotiated withdrawal of all foreign forces from the region

That's exactly what Iraq is asking, and the US is ignoring.

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. Hope the book is coming along. Proofing etc can be tedious. All the best!

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13 users have voted.

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

Steven D's picture

@Lookout Book is coming along fine. Just sent my re-edit of MSS back to publisher. Waiting for galley proofs.

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8 users have voted.

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

@Steven D
They are locals. Let them fight among themselves. They have for millennia.
But US, Europeans, Russia, Asia - out!

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3 users have voted.

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

CB's picture

@Steven D
that the Iranians gave 2-3 hours advance notice of where and when the strikes would occur. This allowed the US forces to take cover in order there be no casualties and is also why there were no attempts at all to down the incoming missiles.

If the Americans would have done so, it would have demonstrated the effectiveness of their missile defense system. Knowing this would be of great value to the Iranians for any future attack.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@CB

Seymour Hersh could not get his account of the event published in the United States. No US Media would carry it. So he published it in Europe:

Von Seymour M. Hersh | Stand: 12:41 Uhr | Lesedauer: 24 Minuten
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On April 6, United States President Donald Trump authorized an early morning Tomahawk missile strike on Shayrat Air Base in central Syria in retaliation for what he said was a deadly nerve agent attack carried out by the Syrian government two days earlier in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun. Trump issued the order despite having been warned by the U.S. intelligence community that it had found no evidence that the Syrians had used a chemical weapon.

::

Some American military and intelligence officials were especially distressed by the president’s determination to ignore the evidence. “None of this makes any sense,” one officer told colleagues upon learning of the decision to bomb. “We KNOW that there was no chemical attack … the Russians are furious. Claiming we have the real intel and know the truth … I guess it didn’t matter whether we elected Clinton or Trump.“

::

...the immediate popular [propaganda-based] assumption worldwide was that this was a deliberate use of the nerve agent sarin, authorized by President Bashar Assad of Syria. Trump endorsed that assumption by issuing a statement within hours of the attack, describing Assad’s “heinous actions” as being a consequence of the Obama administration’s “weakness and irresolution” in addressing what he said was Syria’s past use of chemical weapons.

::

In an important pre-strike process known as deconfliction, U.S. and Russian officers routinely supply one another with advance details of planned flight paths and target coordinates, to ensure that there is no risk of collision or accidental encounter (the Russians speak on behalf of the Syrian military). This information is supplied daily to the American AWACS surveillance planes that monitor the flights once airborne. Deconfliction’s success and importance can be measured by the fact that there has yet to be one collision, or even a near miss, among the high-powered supersonic American, Allied, Russian and Syrian fighter bombers.

.

Here's just some of the copious intel that this war crime revealed to the world concerning America's inferior weapons effectiveness:

The report of the Russian Ministry of Defense quoted below is consistent with the multitude of independent sources quoted above. The Russian briefing was held at noon Damascus time, hours before the Pentagon issued its report. It mentions 103 cruise missiles against eight targets:

In total, 71 cruise missiles have been intercepted.
...

Four missiles targeted the Damascus International Airport; 12 missiles – the Al-Dumayr airdrome, all the missiles have been shot down.

18 missiles targeted the Blai airdrome, all the missiles shot down.

12 missiles targeted the Shayrat air base, all the missiles shot down. Air bases were not affected by the strike.

Five out of nine missiles were shot down targeting the unoccupied Mazzeh airdrome.

Thirteen out of sixteen missiles were shot down targeting the Homs airdrome. There are no heavy destructions.

In total 30 missiles targeted facilities near Barzah and Jaramana. Seven of them have been shot down.

.

Here's the reason President Trump was never charged with this obvious war crime and impeached, as he should have been:

Neither Chuck Schumer, nor Nancy Pelosi, the highest ranking congressional Democrats, condemned the attack or said it was the wrong decision.

Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, said on Thursday night that “making sure Assad knows that when he commits such despicable atrocities he will pay a price is the right thing to do,” while House Minority Leader Pelosi said the strike appeared “to be a proportional response” to the chemical weapons attack.

Senator Elizabeth Warren said the “Syrian regime must be held accountable,” while Senator Mark Warner said that Assad “could not go unpunished,” and Senator Dick Durbin called it a “measured response.

Rather than questioning the need for military action, many Democrats instead questioned whether the Trump administration’s strategy will be effective, and emphasized the need for congressional involvement if the administration escalates the conflict.... In practice however, presidents, including Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, have launched unilateral military operations without authorization from Congress.

Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate, raised constitutional and legal concerns over the strike, calling the action “unconstitutional” and asserting that “the president’s failure to seek congressional approval is unlawful,” on Twitter Thursday evening. But in an interview on CNN Friday morning, Kaine said that “from a moral standpoint” he believes the strike “was the right thing to do.” “It is the right thing to do to try to deter Assad from war crimes,” he said, adding: “President Trump doing this, finally waking up to the atrocities in Syria, is a good thing.” He warned, however, that “He should not have done this without coming to Congress.”

The reaction from Democrats makes clear that the modern-day party is not reflexively opposed to military intervention. Hillary Clinton, who was criticized by the party’s left flank during the presidential election for a tendency to be overly supportive of military action, even said earlier in the day on Thursday that the United States should “take out” Assad’s airfields.

“I really believe that we should have, and still should take out his airfields and prevent him from being able to use them to bomb innocent people,” she said. The collective Democratic reaction in Congress indicates that the party’s mainstream remains largely in lockstep with its former presidential standard bearer’s approach to foreign policy.

.

Corrupt from top to bottom.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
snoopydawg's picture

Great roundup of news this morning. Great job.

If anyone missed Michael Hudson's First Article on what he says is happening with out FP you might enjoy it.

And Here Is his Follow up essay that is gives even more info.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Lookout's picture

@snoopydawg

Worth the whole read, but here some choice comments...

The assassination was intended to escalate America’s presence in Iraq to keep control the region’s oil reserves, and to back Saudi Arabia’s Wahabi troops (Isis, Al Quaeda in Iraq, Al Nusra and other divisions of what are actually America’s foreign legion) to support U.S. control o Near Eastern oil as a buttress o the U.S. dollar. That remains the key to understanding this policy, and why it is in the process of escalating, not dying down.

The great threat to this is dedollarization as China, Russia and other countries seek to avoid recycling dollars. Without the dollar’s function as the vehicle for world saving – in effect, without the Pentagon’s role in creating the Treasury debt that is the vehicle for world central bank reserves – the U.S. would find itself constrained militarily and hence diplomatically constrained, as it was under the gold exchange standard.

That is the same strategy that the U.S. has followed in Syria and Iraq. Iran was threatening this dollarization strategy and its buttress in U.S. oil diplomacy.

Oil also explains U.S. opposition to Russian oil exports via Nordstream. U.S. strategists want to treat energy as a U.S. national monopoly. Other countries can benefit in the way that Saudi Arabia has done – by sending their surpluses to the U.S. economy – but not to support their own economic growth and diplomacy. Control of oil thus implies support for continued global warming as an inherent part of U.S. strategy.

America opposed General Suleimani above all because he was fighting against ISIS and other U.S.-backed terrorists in their attempt to break up Syria and replace Assad’s regime with a set of U.S.-compliant local leaders – the old British “divide and conquer” ploy. On occasion, Suleimani had cooperated with U.S. troops in fighting ISIS groups that got “out of line” meaning the U.S. party line. But every indication is that he was in Iraq to work with that government seeking to regain control of the oil fields that President Trump has bragged so loudly about grabbing.

And that's just a few of the choice quotes.

Thanks SD!

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8 users have voted.

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

@snoopydawg all political stripe so that we can move on from party politics, Trump, Pelosi, and talk about our history and economic policies regarding oil that have kept us and will keep us at war until the oil runs out, or Sauds run toward Russia.

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3 users have voted.

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

Lookout's picture

@on the cusp

both the article and interview. Best summary description of the Iranian ME issue I've read.

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5 users have voted.

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