A Busy News Week

The collapse is picking up speed and it is hard to keep up with all the happenings. The irony of the week has been not just backfiring western sanctions, but now the boomerang regime changes occurring among those calling for a Putin regime change. Boris and Mario first on the block perhaps followed by Rutte, Scholz, Macron, Trudeau, and Biden. Alex calls it the "elensky curse"...that is all those who went to Kiev and grovelled promising money and weapons are cursed.
...much more below the fold...

Did you catch any of Putin's speech the 20th of this week? Here in the west what Putin says is ignored and misrepresented.
Read it all for yourself at the link, but here's a few critical passages to consider.

The model of total domination by the so-called golden billion is unfair. Why should this golden billion, which is only part of the global population, dominate everyone else and enforce its rules of conduct that are based on the illusion of exceptionalism? It divides the world into first and second-class people and is therefore essentially racist and neo-colonial. The underlying globalist and pseudo-liberal ideology is becoming increasingly more like totalitarianism and is restraining creative endeavour and free historical creation.

One gets the impression that the West is simply unable to offer the world a model for the future of its own. Indeed, it was no accident that the golden billion attained its gold and achieved quite a lot, but it got there not because it implemented certain concepts. It mainly got to where it is by robbing other peoples in Asia and Africa. That is how it was. India was robbed for an extensive period of time. This is why the elite of the golden billion are terrified of other global development centres potentially coming up with their own development alternatives.

No matter how much the West and the supranational elite strive to preserve the existing order, a new era and a new stage in world history are coming. Only genuinely sovereign states are in a position to ensure a high growth dynamic and become a role model for others in terms of standards of living and quality of life, the protection of traditional values and high humanistic ideals, and development models where an individual is not a means, but the ultimate goal.

Sovereignty is about freedom of national development, and thus, the development of every individual. It is about the technological, cultural, intellectual and educational solvency of a state – that is what it is. No doubt, responsible, active and nationally minded and nationally oriented civil society is the most important component of sovereignty.

I am convinced that in order to be strong, independent and competitive, we need to improve the mechanisms for people to participate in the country’s life and to make them more open and fairer. That includes mechanisms for direct democracy and people's involvement in addressing the critical problems facing society and the public.

Peter Kuznick does a good job explaining the root of American exceptionalism (1st 15 min)

Putin met in Tehran this week with President of Iran Sayyid Ebrahim Raisi and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the joint press conference Raisi made the point:

We reaffirmed the need to continue rendering humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Syria. All parties also confirmed the need to work for resolving the economic problems in the Syrian nation, but steps that violate the sovereignty of Syria cannot be allowed. All adopted measures must provide for the preservation of its territorial integrity.

We also reaffirmed the need to denounce Israel’s attacks on Syria, to end them as soon as possible. These attacks on the people and the armed forces of Syria violate Syria’s sovereignty and must be stopped as soon as possible.

The cooperation of our three countries – Russia, Turkiye and Iran, including joint actions with the Syrian government – are still required in carrying out the declared plan to ensure Syria’s security.

Putin emphasized:

Our three states share the belief that the Syrian crisis can only be settled comprehensively through political and diplomatic methods based on intra-Syrian dialogue, which is stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and in strict compliance with the fundamental principles of respect for sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

The future of Syria will be determined by the Syrian people themselves without any enforcement of external formulas or models.

And Erdogan stated:

A full Syrian settlement can only be achieved through political means. No military solution to this problem will endure. We have discussed the possible steps that should be taken in the near future to resolve this problem and to establish a stable peace in Syria. We will make every effort to expedite the political steps to resolve the Syrian problem.

The only mechanism that currently includes all parties to the conflict in Syria is the Constitutional Committee, which is also a product and the fruit of the Astana Three’s efforts. It is also the only mechanism that contributes to the stabilisation of the country.

This new agreement with Russia and Iran create a new trade route between Russia and India. The fist 10 min or so will give you the idea and show you the new trade route.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iran, signed a $40 billion energy cooperation agreement, and pledged to strengthen their economic and military alliance with China. Moscow and Tehran also called to drop the US dollar and use local currencies for trade.

Another interesting discussion with Brian Becker from The Socialist Program & National Director of ANSWER Coalition.
U.S. Diminished: Saudis Leave Biden at Airport While Russia, Turkey & Iran Make a Deal
Russia’s President Putin, Iran’s President Raisi, and Turkey’s President Erdogan met this week, showing that Russia and Iran aren’t as isolated as the U.S. wants to make them out. They analyze the dynamics of these three countries building closer relations and what it means for the end of the U.S.-dominated unipolar era.

We are witnessing the development of a new world order. I hope it fulfills the goal to be a fair world order with respect for all countries.

Meanwhile: US occupation continues to steal Syrian oil

The American occupation forces on Saturday transferred a number of oil tankers carrying stolen Syrian oil from the Syrian Al-Jazira region to the north of Iraq.

According to local sources in Rmeilan area in Hasakah countryside, a convoy of 40 vehicles, including tankers carrying stolen Syrian oil from the oilfields in the areas occupied by the US occupation in the Syrian Al-Jazira region, left the Syrian territories and headed towards the north of Iraq via Al-Walid illegal crossing.

The convoy, which was accompanied by several armored vehicles affiliated to the occupation, also included several trucks carrying military vehicles.

At least Trump was honest about US intentions in the ME.

After President Donald Trump said on Monday the U.S. will be "keeping the oil" in northeastern Syria, his administration is looking into the "specifics," according to a senior State Department official -- but it's prompted renewed cries that doing so is a war crime.

Trump has a long history of calling for the U.S. to "take the oil" in the Middle East, in Iraq and Syria in particular. But any oil in both countries belongs to their governments, and according to U.S. law and treaties it has ratified, seizing it would be pillaging, a technical term for theft during wartime that is illegal under U.S. and international law.

"We're keeping the oil," Trump said Monday to a conference of police chiefs in Chicago. "I've always said that -- keep the oil. We want to keep the oil, $45 million a month. Keep the oil. We've secured the oil."

China and Russia have called out the US for this oil theft.

The US needs to stop "stealing" the oil from the Syrian people and state, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, after meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Tehran. The three guarantors of the "Astana process" also agreed that the US should leave the trans-Euphrates, and stop making the humanitarian crisis in Syria worse with their unilateral sanctions.

American troops must leave the territory east of the Euphrates river and "stop robbing the Syrian state, the Syrian people, exporting oil illegally," Putin told reporters on Tuesday evening. He said this was a "common position" of Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Ukraine continues to dominate the news cycle.
Take a pleasant walk through an Athens market as Alex explains some of the news.

EU wants Russian gas. CIA Burns, 'Putin is too healthy.' Hungary & Russia meet
Alex continues in his next commentary
Odessa deal, valid for 120 days. Unfriendly countries list grows. US Army electric hummer.

Gonzalo is warning the CIA might take out elensky and blame Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mactoSForFY (11 min)
I wonder about the CIA's role in the Odessa missile attack after the grain export agreement

Turkey says Russia denied responsibility for the attack that targeted an Odessa port in Ukraine with missiles, and Kiev accuses Moscow of the assault.

I wouldn't doubt our role trying to sabotage the deal.

The whole wheat export story is full of holes anyway.
Moon of Alabama looks at some of the mythology around the story

Later today Gonzalo is hosting a discussion with Christoforou, Escobar, & iEarlGrey that should be interesting.

But the conflict in Europe isn't enough for the idiots running the US foreign policy...no we are escalating the tensions with China too.

Pelosi to visit Taiwan. Neocons push escalation with China.

U.S. Attempts To Make China An Enemy Require A Lot Of Fantasy

The U.S. weapon industry needs U.S. enemies. Without those it is hard to justify an ever growing war budget. The most lucrative enemy, besides Russia, is of course China. But there is a problem. China has no interest in being a U.S. enemy and certainly not in being THE enemy. In its view that only takes away resources that are better used elsewhere. That is the reason why China avoids talks with the U.S. about military and strategic issues.

The problem is that there is no evidence that there is an actual 'Chinese policy or strategy for achieving hegemony in East Asia'. Colby provides no sources that claim such. He made up the 'threat' because he thinks that is what the U.S. would do if it were China.
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The problem is that in the next republican administration Colby will likely have another high Pentagon position.

Projection is one of our talents.

Caity is a voice of sanity in the chaos of crisis's.

There’s no valid reason why powerful nations can’t simply work together toward their mutual benefit. But it would mean the US empire giving up its plans of total global domination, so it’s not even being considered.

This conflict is slated to last throughout the 21st century, and it already has a massive body count. The war in Ukraine is a direct result of this “great power competition”, and the economic warfare between the empire and Russia will starve many more. This is a terrible thing.

Our world is being steered toward a dark and dangerous path full of impoverishment, starvation and proxy warfare, and fraught with the possibility of nuclear exchanges. They’re playing games with our lives, and because we’ve bought into the propaganda, we’re letting them.

Well as all the global conflicts rage, the Great Reset marches onward under the cover of the crisis. Well the Dutch farmers are standing up against the agenda, and they are being joined all over the world as the MSM ignores the protests. (3 min)

These are huge and don't you think TPTB are bit nervous about it?

Vandana Shiva On How to Fight Back Against the 1%
The 1% are destroying the Earth and convincing us it's good for us. And Vandana Shiva has an answer: "Not on our watch." #vandanashiva teaches us how to see through the false narratives of the 1% so that corporate influence no longer controls us. By harnessing the power of community, diversity, solidarity, and creative vision we can build a global movement to protect the rights of all living beings and the Earth. A new paradigm of an Earth democracy where people and planet thrive together for generations to come.

Britain Is Paying Farmers To Sell Their Lands
The problem is not the aim to make the Earth greener. Besides, with the climate happenings, it is only good that we take measures to prevent harm from coming to our atmosphere so long as it won’t affect us in the process. The problem instead comes from the fact that it is farmers who are being targeted. Why?
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When farmers in the Netherlands revolted, it was thought to be an internal affair. Just a faceoff between the farmers and the Dutch government but then it started happening in other countries like Germany thus revealing something like a pattern with what world governments are doing as regards farming and farmers.

Neil Oliver had some interesting observation in a piece this week ‘…that’s what’s coming, it’s all about control’ (17 min)

I don't agree with everything he suggests, for example most plastic can be recycled into tiles and bricks, but the notion the "Green Agenda" is being used to grab control is I think an important notion. This builds on ideas presented in Moore's Planet of the Humans, a documentary that dares to say we are losing the battle to stop climate change on planet earth because we are following leaders who have taken us down the wrong road — selling out the green movement to wealthy interests and corporate America.

So there you have it. A world in flux... full of war and intrigue. Hang on it looks like the ride is getting wilder. I hope you are all doing well despite the insane nature of current events. I look forward to your thoughts and ideas below.