The Weekly Watch
Putting More War on the Credit Card
Trump has seemingly lost his mind, flip flopping like a fish out of water. It is difficult to keep track of his delusions as he drives the global economic system toward recession and depression. Bibi must have some serious dirt from Epstein on the Donald and perhaps Melania as well to entice the war with Iran. The majority of the world sees the US (and Israel) as unhinged, destructive, and vengeful. As Trump told us...We can't afford child care or medical care because we have to pay for more war.
Just charge it...
War and debt have long gone hand in hand. Over extension and the resulting debt often spell the end of empires. I think that's our current situation, but it is an old pattern.
Britain Sold Palestine to Pay Its WWI Debt — The Balfour Declaration Was a Banking Deal
(27 min) In 1917, Britain wrote a 67-word letter that promised a land it didn't own, to people who didn't ask for it, over the heads of those already living there. That letter — the Balfour Declaration — is still reshaping the world today.
But the story you've been told leaves out the most important part. By 1917, Britain was financially collapsing. Its national debt had exploded from six-hundred-and-fifty million pounds to nearly eight billion. Its overdraft at J.P. Morgan had hit four-hundred million dollars. Woodrow Wilson was using American money as a weapon, threatening to cut off the loans keeping the Allied war effort alive.
So Britain did what desperate empires do. It made deals. It promised Palestine to the Arabs in exchange for the Arab Revolt. It secretly agreed with France to place Palestine under international administration. And then, two years later, it promised the same land to the Zionist movement — addressed personally to Lord Walter Rothschild, the most powerful banker in the world — in exchange for financial influence, propaganda leverage, and a foothold in the post-war Middle East.
Three promises. Three incompatible destinations. One piece of land. And none of the people actually living there were consulted once.
This is the full story of the Balfour Declaration — the financial crisis behind it, the competing secret agreements that contradicted it, the chemistry of explosives that helped make it happen, and the consequences that have never stopped unfolding.
Alex Krainer is the person who educated me about Britain's role in creating chaos around the world.
(about 8 min) Nima and Alex discuss the use of religion to drive the war and west Asia. He concludes with an explanation of the UK's use of education in the region to drive religious conflict. (I've cued this clip to the end, but the whole discussion was interesting)
The current situation in the Persian Gulf is difficult to follow. There's a ceasefire, no there's not, yes there is. The Strait is closed, now it's open, no it is closed again. Chas has a good review...Chas Freeman: Diplomacy Fails - Strait of Hormuz Shut Down Again
(53 min) Ambassador Chas Freeman discusses the failure of diplomacy as the Strait of Hormuz shut down again. Ambassador Freeman was a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, earning the highest public service awards of the Department of Defense for his roles in designing a NATO-centred post-Cold War European security system and in reestablishing defence and military relations with China. He served as U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm).
The Strait not only provides transit of 20-25% of the world's oil, but also fertilizer (mainly Urea), sulfuric acid (needed for things like copper mining), about a third of global seaborne methanol used for resins, coatings, and plastics pass through the strait. There's also graphite needed for batteries, aluminum, helium needed for chip manufacturing, plus other resources. This is why economist are predicting global impacts which have only just begun.
What's going on in the states?
War On Iran: – Trump Claims Victory, Lays Grounds To Resume Fighting
Meanwhile U.S. President Donald Trump was all over social media pretending that the conflict with Iran had been resolved (archived):
President Donald Trump declared Friday that Iran has agreed to virtually all his demands to end its nuclear program forever and said that talks to finalize the deal, “probably” held this weekend, “should go very quickly.”
In a flurry of social media posts and media interviews, Trump said the United States “will work with Iran” at what he called “a leisurely pace” — with no need for American ground troops — to retrieve all of its buried highly enriched uranium and turn it over to the U.S. He said Iran would receive no money for agreeing to an “unlimited” halt to all nuclear activities.
With U.S. help, Trump said, Iran was removing all sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz — which Tehran, earlier in the day, said it would reopen to commercial shipping. He said Iran has agreed “never to close” the waterway again.
Trump’s flurry of positive claims lifted the stock market while oil prices slumped.
That may well have been its sole purpose:
BREAKING: Just 20 minutes before Trump’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz was open, massive trades hit the market.
Investors sold a combined 7,990 lots of Brent crude futures, a $760 million bet that oil would go down.
These orders were much larger than anything else at the time.
The traders made huge gains.
Soon after Trump’s victory jump Iranian officials stepped in to counter his claims:
Iranian officials did not confirm most of Mr. Trump’s claims and disputed several of them. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator and the speaker of its Parliament, said on social media Friday evening that Mr. Trump made seven claims in one hour, all of which were false.
It was not immediately clear which claims he was referring to, but Mr. Ghalibaf said the United States would not make progress in negotiations with what he described as lies.
Despite the NY Times saying that it was not immediately clear which claims Ghalibaf was referring to. he had indeed responded in detail:
1- The President of the United States made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false.
2- They did not win the war with these lies, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either.
3- With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open.
…
Robert Barnes | What the HELL is going on in the White House?
(58 min) The more Trump's show is running, the more his closest allies seem to be walking on eggshells. 100% narcissism, pure madness and hot temper — is anyone besides JD Vance even trying to bring Trump back to reality? In this episode ex-CIA analyst Larry Johnson and constitutional lawyer Robert Barnes are diving deep into serious issue - will Donald Trump still be president in a year?
Trump Argues Warrantless Surveillance Is Needed to Secure America
Capitol Hill sources told Politico that a vote is unlikely to happen this week as Johnson does not believe enough Republicans will vote for the bill.
Debt, Decline and Iran: Why the U.S. Can't Afford Another Forever War? w/ Dennis Kucinich
0:00:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome — Dennis Kucinich
0:01:25 Is the Iran War Another Unwinnable War?
0:02:56 Lessons from Vietnam, Serbia & Iraq
0:04:14 A War of Choice Pushed by Netanyahu & Israeli Interests
0:05:34 How Does Israel Have Such Influence Over Washington?
0:06:44 AIPAC, Congressional Funding & the Pro-Israel Majority
0:08:50 Practical Effects: War Costs, Budget Deficit & Inflation
0:11:39 Exhausted Tomahawk Stockpiles & the $200 Billion Request
0:13:27 Militarizing the Budget = Militarizing Society
0:15:00 Why Is There So Little Public Opposition to This War?
0:17:10 Campus Suppression of Dissent & the No Kings Protests
0:19:39 Can Iran Be Defeated? Why This Is a Fantasy
0:21:24 Off-Ramps: Comparing to Vietnam Era Diplomacy & Great Power Relations
0:22:24 The Unipolar World Illusion & Trump's Megalomaniacal Worldview
0:24:44 Petrodollar Decline, BRICS & America Isolating Itself
0:27:19 Military Keynesianism: Does War Actually Create Jobs?
0:29:55 America Must Change Its Role — Nation Among Nations
0:32:09 Will This War Be the Catalyst for Change?
0:33:18 The Human Cost: Children Killed, Gaza, Lebanon & Iran
0:35:25 Closing Remarks & Where to Find Dennis Kucinich
Larry, Ray, and Scott analyze the current situation in the Persian Gulf
(29 min) INTEL Roundtable w/ Johnson / McGovern & Scott Ritter
Lebanon has been the sticking point with the ceasefire in the Gulf. Max explains...
(25 min) Max Blumenthal : An Arch Zionist Career Collapses
As Chas said above, Gaza isn't an outlier is has become the Israeli M.O.
Mass Destruction in Southern Lebanon as Israeli Forces Use ‘Gaza Tactics,’ Level Villages
Satellite images confirm over 1,400 buildings destroyed in Israeli invasion...
Israel’s promise of Gaza tactics seems definitely to have come to pass, but beyond Israeli military intentions to install more permanent military bases on Lebanese soil, practical policy has been forced mass displacement and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, both war crimes under international law.
I think that is the plan for Iran as well.
Hegseth Says US ‘Locked and Loaded’ To Bomb Iran’s Power Plants and Energy Industry
Caine also detailed the US blockade on Iranian ports, saying the US was ready to use force against ships that don't comply
This has become one of my favorite conversations of the week...
(72 min) Larry Johnson & Col. Wilkerson:
Iran Just FULLY Opened the Strait of Hormuz – It’s OVER for Trump
Seyed M. Marandi: U.S. Naval Blockade & Ground Invasion of Iran?
(33 min) Seyed Mohammad Marandi explains the Iranian perspective on why the negotiations with the US failed, what to expect from the US naval blockade, and the likely war that will continue. Marandi is a professor at Tehran University and a former advisor to Iran's Nuclear Negotiation Team.
There's much more going on around the world. Russia is warning European countries that are making drones for Ukraine to send into Russia. Russian troops continue to make gains across Ukraine. The US continues bombing small craft around S. America. The US is also bombing Somalia. The US appetite for war is sad. We've built a war based economy, and it is bound to collapse under its own weight...probably in the near term due to the Hormuz Strait.
I think it is best to spend some time outdoors enjoying spring (or Autumn). The house of cards will fall, but enjoying the growing living world is still a joy. Have a great Sunday!
I look forward to your stories and insights below...
Comments
Hey, good morning
.
Looks like a great line-up of interviews you have
for us today! Since we are predicted to have a
cool, wet one - this will be a good form of entertainment.
Krainer, Freeman, Kucinich, Blumenthal, and Marandi are all good.
(Most of the other ones I've already seen).
~
There is a school of thought floating around the toilet of public
opinion describing trumpet's aberrant behavior as a ruse
to cover his market manipulation. I'm not on board with that
explanation as I seriously doubt he is clever enough to pull
something like that off, unless it is scripted for him.
Anyway, thanks for the timely topics.
~
Zionism is a social disease
Good morning...
we got a much needed 0.2" of rain last night. It is a cool 47F this AM.
Doug Macgregor talked last week in a few different interviews about Roy Cohn, who was Trump's mentor.
I've cued it to the point...
Col Doug Macgregor: US Strategy in Iran NEVER ADMIT DEFEAT
a few minutes will do it
Have a great Sunday! Thanks for coming by.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good history review of WWI and economic repercussions
Alex Krainer and Mario have an interesting discussion.
Alex Krainer: Iran War Is Just Another Imperial War for Control of Banking Collateral.
(50 min)
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
good morning, LO!
As a subscriber, I received this Scott Ritter article assessing the failure and dire consequences of this military adventure in Iran and Lebanon. The diplomatic talks tomorrow in Islamabad are unlikely to bring about anything positive. Although this article does not mention it, I have read elsewhere that the talks will not take place unless Vance comes. As of now, Witkoff and Kushner are in charge.
https://scottritter.substack.com/p/the-consequences-of-incompetence
Your suggestion to get out and immerse yourself in nature is wonderful. I clipped vines out of 50 ft of fence line yesterday, and intend to do at least that much today. I love the fresh air, the breeze, and the instant satisfaction of getting the job done.
Thanks so much for the WW, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I think the war resumes...
...in the near term...diplomacy by trickery.
Good to "see" you as always!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I do not
consent.
n/t
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
nor do I
...but whatcha goin' to do?
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
The prospect of a continuing ceasefire is on life support!
This is from Aljazeera which is obviously not a supporter
of Iran commenting on Trump's post.
You can't listen to Trump
You have to watch what he does...like sneak attacks during so called diplomacy.
How can any country trust the US?
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
This just posted.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thanks for the clip!
I expect increasing conflict.
It is cool here today. We just got to 60F. Low 40's expected tomorrow AM.
It is a wild ride on many dimensions. Hang on my friend!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Including the Lego videos the Iran propaganda campaign is
quite effective.
Pretty funny...
No doubt it is a childish administration...almost cartoonish.
Thanks!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Equal time: Why is Israel unpopular?
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1239434/jewish/Why-Is-Isr...
——
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425724
——
https://jewishinsider.com/2026/04/john-fetterman-cnn-israel-senate-democ...
The Zionist hold on governments is amazing...
Thanks for all the additional evidence. Is there an escape hatch? I can't see it.
Take care my friend!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I think I saw somewhere in the podcastosphere
that there was still an elite fantasy circulating in the top circles about "It's gonna be great! World War Three will be like World War Two." "See, if we fight another world war," they're telling each other over cocktails, "this will rejuvenate the world economy and especially America's economy just like World War Two did." And so the US and the West are preparing for another war, in the only way they remember -- by throwing money at it. So if we assume this elite fantasy, it explains Trump's trillion-and-a-half dollar budget and Europe reintroducing conscription and rearming.
Of course, it's ridiculous.
1) During World War Two, more or less between 1942 and mid-1945, the United States became essentially a state capitalist regime. Corporate wealth was appropriated for the war effort, using the doctrine of eminent domain. It's not going to happen this time, for the obvious reason that it's the corporations that control the government this time around. Thus the US will be fighting World War Three for neoliberal purposes -- basically to please those who control the markets. Which brings us to another purpose for war -- expensive gasoline means profits for someone. It's just not us.
2) The US has long fought non-serious wars, using a process of weapons procurement designed to produce high-priced and low-yield instruments for the greater profits of the manufacturers. Russia and China, on the other hand, are using processes of weapons procurement that will a) produce basic army needs, 155mm artillery shells for instance, far beyond what the US can do, but will also b) innovate far beyond what the US is doing.
3) US "leadership" during World War Two was cautious -- the US actively entered the war at the end of 1941, and only after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, by which time it was responsible for a mop-up operation in the West while the Japanese were kept busy with the Guomindang and the Communists in China. The present-day US, on the other hand, is led by insane people who are driving the march to war despite the best efforts of the opposition. What's that Sun Tzu quote? Never interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake, or something like that?
4) The driver of prosperity after World War Two was Keynesian pump-priming, the restablishment of government spending, economic circulation, and production/ consumption which revived Europe and created the colossus that was America in the Fifties and Sixties. Today, on the other hand, the world tries as best it can under capitalist conditions to get out from under the US Dollar.
5) The end of World War Two brought us the boom in petroleum production in western Asia. This war will put much of western Asia out of production.
So can anyone here locate for me the discussion of this elite fantasy, that the rest of World War Three is magically going to produce some sort of economic boom on the order of the postwar one?
At any rate, here's some activism to warm the cockles.
We will hear more from Greg when they reintroduce draft conscription.
"The reason we feel alienated is because the society is infantile, trivial, and stupid. So the cost of sanity in this society is a certain level of alienation. ” -- Terence McKenna
It will be an economic
boon to the globalists as they usher in The New World Order.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I see WWIII as in process...
As Alex K. said in the video above in the comments. We continue Britain's goal of controlling of the seaways and therefore trade. WWI involved stirring the Arabs to overthrow the Turks. At that time there was a Berlin - Baghdad train line. The Arab war induced by the UK put a stop to that.
China has a train to Tehran which we keep bombing and they keep repairing. The US doesn't want land routes (Belt and Road) which they can't patrol and control.
We aren't only warmongers, but incompetent warmongers.
Thanks for all the info!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Chalk this up as another US diplomatic success story.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-trump-trade-u-s-negotiations-wea...
I think most countries see things like Carney...
Thanks for the link!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning LO, thanks for the weekly watch. Fun
round table today. Debt causes war and war causes debt, vicious circle throughout history, One really doesn't know how to approach it. Come to think of it, didn't DJT not only lose has daddy's fortune, at least once if not more, but hasn't he had more than on bankruptcy to his name, always through some shell corp?
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 --
I think he went bankrupt six? times...
Not such a good deal maker after all. I think we can all see that.
Have a good Sunday evening!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
And so it begins!
Downhill from here I'm afraid...
There was no doubt in my mind Trump's ego wouldn't allow him to say we won and leave. The world wide reverberations are not being considered. We'll see what we see.
Thanks for the news!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
From an MoA comment
1) U.S. Marines have taken custody of the vessel, Trump said, adding that the Touska is under U.S. Treasury sanctions for prior illegal activity.
2) Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported it differently: IRGC Navy rapid reaction forces responded to U.S. forces “opening fire” on an Iranian commercial ship, and said American forces were “forced to retreat and flee the area” following the IRGC response. Iran did not name the commercial vessel
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hard to know what is happening...
...both sides of the media mouth so to speak. I find it best to wait for reports tomorrow.
Thanks for the heads up!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Agreed
n/t
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The latest Lego videos. Perhaps it is a bit ambitious? Second
one is a bonus.
Iran caught on to the propaganda game...
...and is out playing the western media. Interesting isn't it?
Thanks for the X posts!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I am not quite sure which side is looking for the money? LOL
Never trust Trump nor MBS...
They are both backstabbers.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
From Aljazeera
I am listening to this now.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I caught that one too...
interesting conversation. Thanks for posting it!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
This is what winning bigly looks like
Sacrificing 10,000 troops for the trumpet ego
is crazy. That does not mean he won't do it.
Insanity is what insanity does. Somebody leash
this madman before he gets us all killed.
Zionism is a social disease
It'll be tit for tat...
...but we can't admit that. Whatta mess. Thanks for the news!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Sal's report on Touska seizure
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Thanks for the clip...
Not such a good strategy if TPTB really want a peace settlement. My opinion is their Zionist masters will only accept Iran's destruction, but my bet is it backfires.
Thanks again!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Signing out with this one...
Bad Moon Rising...
I don't wish it but seems like it is whether like it or not. Hang on friends. We're in for a ride.
"Bad Moon Rising"
I see the bad moon a-rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightning
I see bad times today
Don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers overflowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
All right
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
Well, don't go around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Don't come around tonight
Well, it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Sleep well. I plan to do so. See you around the site!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”