Of course, I agree that the US Empire and Israel are a bunch of war mongering assholes, but it isn't a whole lot better in other places. Here, in Canada, Mark Carney, our newly elected prime minister is promoting more military, cozying up to Trump, and regularly refers to Iranians as terrorists, seemingly not realizing that the terrorists are the people that he supports. I have heard that the Australian PM isn't doing any better with trying to keep peace. We are screwed. Somehow, through our "democratic" elections we have managed to elect the worst bunch of greedy, warmongering, money hungry assholes that exist on this earth. Must have something to do with their bank accounts.
Yes, Carny (the American Banker) is another neo-liberal corporatist (see https://breachmedia.ca/carneys-first-100-days-trade-war-class/ ) but slightly better than the MAGA stool PP. Of course we were lied to, it's called politics. There is one party, it's name is "Money" and all other parties are just divisions of it.
Capitalism is the religion of the Money party. It trumps all others -- no pun intended. The ancient tenets of Judaism, Christianity and Islam condemn usury and Capitalism as they are practiced, today.
When you say Moloch are you pointing to Murdoch media, who became a US citizen to better spread the muck around the world by the man who sees himself as a king maker but is really a pawn to money greed. In Australia we call home Murloch bevsuaecwe knew what he was while here but got worse the bigger bite of the pies he got,
Murdoch may be a disciple of Moloch. The worshipers of Moloch would offer up children to be burned alive. The Israelis have been burning children of Gaza. The Americans burned children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, etc. They also sacrificed many of their own children to fight to "protect" private corporate interests in most of those countries.
Good on you Susan T. Here in Ausland it is no better. The Foreign Minister - after the Israeli regime bombed Iran - said "Israel has the right to defend itself"!
Yes, as you say it must have "something to do with their bank accounts" That's how Capitalism works.
Whose bank accounts? - Governments real function is to control the people and collect taxes to fund lie based wars, then where did those taxes end up?
From my humble perspective it's the entire system that's working exactly as it was intended to be - anytime there's a squeaky wheel somewhere it gets replaced with a new and improved one.
Our biggest problem is that were divided and have never learned how to unite in order to turn the tables on the tyrants who've taken over.
I'm not sure why you're so surprised, Susan T. This is how the world (and empires) have always worked (at least for a long time now). What's different this time around is that we actually have the technology to completely annihilate every life form on this planet for the first time in history, and human evolution (i.e. psychological development of homo-sapiens) has been unable to keep up with the pace of science and technology.
Yes, me too. Unfortunately, it seems like it's only going to get worse, as the decline of major empires often have grave consequences that affect almost anything and everything...
I agree. But the issue of psychological development is a thorny one. The kind of maturation of individual psychologies that often happens as a life is well lived doesn't solve the problem. And the evolution of pacifism was impossible according to game theory modeling of competition for resources. So, is there no solution? I think there is one, but normies are too timid to implement it. The solution would be to identify the high-functioning sociopaths in society and prevent them from gaining more power than can be had by running a lemonade stand.
>>"The solution would be to identify the high-functioning sociopaths in society and prevent them from gaining more power...."
How does one implement that? And successfully? If it was that simple, there would have been attempts to do just so. In fact, everything about human civilizations is the opposite - sociopaths and psychopaths are elevated to the 'highest positions' of power and authority.
The other issue with such a solution is that there does not yet exist a rigorous approach/system to INDENTIFYING a 'high-functioning sociopath or psychopath'. And often by the time such individuals are identified, they are ALREADY in positions of power and authority.
Your dogmatic tone is inappropriate given your lack of knowledge concerning scientific advances in detecting sociopathy. It can be characterized via D-Factor scores and via brain scans. What is lacking is the political will among the normies to require such screening methods prior to advancement in government bureaucracies and political offices. Naysayers like you don't move anything forward.
Do you have any links to share on the science of this? And by that I mean solid science (and not just pre-prints or unreplicable studies or studies with small sample sizes, etc.).
I've never seen any evidence of this, but I'm willing/open to looking at the evidence (if you have any).
I get the frustration but lumping Carney in with Trump muddies the waters. Cozying up? Canada just froze the F-35 deal, signed a massive defence pact with the EU, and told Washington to pound sand. Yes, he's building military capacity BUT not to serve empire, to exit it. There's a difference between rearmament and alignment. Let’s not confuse sovereignty with submission here
freezing the f35 deal and backing out from the deal are different. the f35 is considered a substandard next gen fighter by many experts. canada should disarm? who is going to attack canada (besides maybe the usa). all that cash could be better spent improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, r&d
Fair point but rejecting empire doesn’t mean embracing pacifism, Carney’s just decoupling. And YES, Canada should spend wisely on healthcare, edu and infrastructure nonetheless sovereignty requires more than wishful thinking. Now Trump's demanding NATO members raise defence spending to a whopping 5% of GDP in the next 10 years pushing allies to ""pay in a big way"" or risk losing US commitment and that's the real pressure we're rebelling agains (and a virtual high five if it started an Encanto song in your head, we don't talk about NATO or Surface pressure, you pick). IMHO it'sb etter to build a self-reliant defence and say “no” to empire than wait for the hope that the U.S. won’t pull the plug.
Carney’s Bill C-2 makes it clear he is not decoupling from the USA. He’s copying American anti-democratic laws and will be linking Canada’s 2025 version of Gestapo with the American version.
I thought the end of this comment interesting from a Celia Farber posting (Here we are, America’s at war):
“ My first impression was that Trump was just putting on a show, do his little bombing run and claim victory, while standing aside to let Iran do a token attack on a US missile base. Job done.
Note, the "devastating" attack by Trump was a nothing burger, mostly just bombing rubble or no longer needed buildings and plugging a couple entrances to a large underground complex. It's pretty easy to defeat the non-nuclear bunker busters. It's called mining, its done all over the World, they routinely mine out giant caverns down to 10,000 ft deep.
But the rhetoric I'm hearing now is leading me to believe this is right back to the Bankster "seven countries in five years plan" ending with Iran. And since the Banker Cult are Malthusian, Misanthropic Psychopaths, recklessness with human life is just an excellent way to "reduce the World population" get rid of more "useless eaters". They sure were trying hard to provoke a nuclear war with Russia in Ukraine, failed miserably, now trying to do the same in Iran.
Question is, WTF is up with Trump? Look's to me he's been compromised. He sure went all out to ensure #1 Globalist stooge Mark Carney won Canada's election. Carney's company did buy out over a $billion of his son-in-law Jared Kushner's unpayable real estate debt.”
Sadly it is the same with the UK Prime Minister, the hapless, incompetent, Zionist asshole Starmer. The majority of Brits don’t want war and certainly oppose the genocide virulently but the establishment, including the mainstream media do. Does liberal “democracy” tend to fascism, as we forget how hard earned our liberties were?
Susan, it's the same for Europe, who refuses to admit Israël's still ongoing genocide and thus to cut commercial treaties with Israël. Moreover, Europe complies with Trump’s "demand" of 5% army expenses for the European countries with the 'request" of buying the arms from the US. Trump has to feed his armindustry.
Israel has been behaving like an S-hole self-proclaimed world’s greatest fighter who has been only picking on little kids and babies. When he finally picked on someone who punched back, he is now panicking and crying for help from his bigger friends (Uncle Sam) who stupidly always help him out by hitting the one who punched back.
And how on earth is a nation that supplies weapons to and fully supports a country that has committed genocide for over twenty months be considered the global policeman who decides who gets to have nuclear weapons and who doesn't.
When you have no moral authority, like the USA, you don't get to do that. And you have never had the right to do that.
The USA was founded upon the genocide -- or attempted genocide -- against the indigenous people of North America. The USA proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine to lay claim to all lands of North, Central and South America. While the USA has not yet been able to seize Canada, Trump is working on annexing it along with Greenland.
Since the mid-20th Century, the USA has overthrown governments in Central and South American countries but supporting assassins, dictators, military coups in order to make those countries subservient to their colonial master.
The U.S. Empire's behavior and actions are paradoxical. They are doing the EXACT things that they shouldn't be doing, and they are going out of their way to achieve the VERY results that they are trying to avoid.
Are such STUPID actions (and behavior) a sign of an Empire on the decline? I think so.
I see no reason for Iran to not ramp up its acquisition of nuclear weapons - as the U.S. has made it abundantly clear that that may be the only way to protect one's sovereign territory in our current age of Empires.
Thank you for the repeated attempts at trying to deflect form the 'real character of the U.S. Empire'. Yes, being indoctrinated from birth on American Exceptionalism can create levels of cognitive dissonance - as you seem to have in abundance - that make understanding the TRUE NATURE of the Empire difficult.
I see no difference between YOUR 'indoctrination about the U.S. Empire' and the Israeli's Zionist's 'indoctrination about Israeli/Jewish supremacy'. Just 'peas in a pod'. Sad really.
Also, there are many 'non-Zionist' billionaires/oligarchs that can outspend these lobbies if they wish too. Not to mention, there are several other 'country-specific' lobbies (and countries themselves) with MORE money than either the Israel lobbies or the country of Israel.
So if you really want to understand why the U.S. Empire does what it does, I suggest not succumbing to 'ease/simple' narratives like 'Yeah, the Israel lobbies spend so much money and that's why the U.S. supports Israel the way it does'.
Sometimes straightforward facts are “simple” to understand, they are simply true. The “Israel lobbies” work our elections ferociously. Bribery makes the world go round.
The Israel Lobbies play a significant role in influencing U.S. Empire behavior. I'm not (and have never) denied that.
Briberies (and corruption) are everpresent in almost EVERY human endeavor (of significance). Again, I'm not (and have never) denied the role(s) played by greed, bribery, etc. in the relationship between the U.S. Empire and Israel (which is a part of said empire).
I'm approaching the subject of 'analyzing the U.S. Empire' from multiple angles, with multiple variables, factors, etc.
The lobbies, bribery, etc. are some of those factors. They are NOT ALL the factors. Hence, I would not stop thinking/looking/analyzing after encountering just a few of the factors. If I do that, then my analysis would likely be faulty and incomplete.
Just as in scientific research one needs to consider MULTIPLE 'causational factors', variables, be on the lookout for confounding bias (Confounding bias occurs when an outside variable influences both the independent and dependent variables in a study, leading to a false association between them. It can distort the true relationship and is a common issue in observational studies, making it essential to control for potential confounders in research design and analysis), and consider AS MANY variables and data points that are available.
In such analyses, different people will have knowledge of different amounts of data points, workings of different systems, interactions between such systems, etc. Hence, it would be folly (and incomplete thinking) to arrive at a 'final conclusion' such as 'the only reason the U.S. Empire is supporting Israel is because of the Lobbies and bribery'.
I think Chang sincerely despises Israel. The “who controls who” argument is one that energises people one way or another, for their stated reasons. I think both sides of the argument bare truth
I hate, abhor, despise, detest, loathe, scorn Israel more than you can EVER imagine! I even often run out of words to express by hatred towards that country and its culture.
What I'm trying to do (which is what I always try to do), is really understand why things are the way they are and why people and organizations (like Empires) behave the way they do.
My interest is in deeply analyzing things (instead of accepting easy to believe narratives) to get to a better understanding of the dynamics of complex systems like Empires (it's a never-ending process).
That is the spirit in which I am discounting the simplistic 'Israeli funding' narratives. It logically does not compute when hundreds of other factors (variables, etc.) come into play in sometimes unknowable ways in complex systems/scenarios such as Empires and the motivations of people.
It feels more like you are trying to get others to change what they have learned about both the US and Usrael over long years on earth, you can never admit you could be wrong, I've noticed heat quite often with you, same as some pro-Usraels cannot stop even when they are beaten.
When you realise that the US gives Usrael 4(?) Billion every year, and all those damn weapons, Usrael has mo ey to play with as they lobby, pay off, congressmen /women.
Davina, what is $4 billion to the U.S. Empire? Nothing. Not even 'chump change'. The U.S. has a YEARLY military budget of $1 trillion. The U.S. has a printing machine that can print obscene amounts of money when it wants to (as in the $6 trillion during the bailouts during the 2008 financial crash and the $4+ trillion during Covid).
Trillions are traded in bond markets, currency markets, and equity markets and billions are made in such security markets EVERY DAY.
Hence, I suggest some perspective is in order. Again, don't be misled by such simplistic narratives. Attempt to dig deeper (if you have the time and interest to do so).
That is not the point, Change. USrael using US money given to them can be used to pay off congressmen/women. They sure get enough weaponry from the US already.
I really do not care on iota what the US spends its trillions on. I think more about what USrael spebd US taxpayer dollars on.
So perhaps your perspective needs a renewal, you seem to to be the one touting fir the US and Usrael.
""I see no reason for Iran to not ramp up its acquisition of nuclear weapons...""
Totally agree!!
I have been "struggling" just a tiny bit with how to respond to some of these rabid US/Israel supporters when they come back at me with something along the lines of "Well, why was Iran enriching up to 60% instead of the 3.75%".
I always just want to just answer back that what country wouldn't want to start producing their own nukes when faced with such lying inhuman horrific monsters like the U.S. and Israel (especially since Trump had torn up the previous nuke agreement)!! But if I do, in their minds, I just sort of make their case for them that that is why the U.S./Israel were considering Iran some type of existential threat... even though, as Michael Hudson explains in his excellent new article, the U.S. has been wanting to take out Iran since even well BEFORE the 1979 hostage crisis (a crisis that the U.S. apparently caused by providing safe refuge to the shah, who was considered a war criminal by many people in Iran... and that was after the U.S. got rid of Iran's elected leader in a 1953 coup... something along those lines?).
Anyone reading this who feels like chiming in, to provide me with some good responses for these types of people... that would great.
Btw, just in case anyone is interested, here is the link to that excellent new Michael Hudson article (he seems to come about it from more of an economic perspective):
Indu, here are some reasons for Iran NOT having nuclear weapons (not that I am suggesting that Iran not have such weapons), but here's the reasoning behind why not to ->
The MENA region has 4 major/relatively strong powers all competing for dominance of the region. They are Turkey, Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Israel is the only one that has nukes in the region. History of the MENA regions tells us that there has always been uneasy alliances between these 4 powers in the region. None have ever gotten along with the other. They compete and cooperate (out of necessity), but rest assured if given an opportunity, each and every one of them would like to be the DOMINANT power in the MENA region (just as the U.S. likes to be the dominant power in the Americas and China in Asia).
Knowing all this, if Iran were to get nukes too, this would greatly upset the FRAGILE balance of powers in the MENA region. Saudi Arabia would likely want nukes too (they have a long history of enmity with Iran), and Turkey would also want nukes (Erdogan often laments of the loss of power for Turkey that came with the end of the Ottoman Empire).
So if more and more countries get nukes, does this make the world more safe or less safe? Now if ALL 4 of these countries had nukes (taking this hypothesis one step further), I am of the opinion that Egypt wouldn't want to be left out of this either. And so on and on it goes...
There are no easy or right answers, just plenty of bad ones that we seem to have to make do with for the time being. Now, if only Israel was eliminated from the MENA region, maybe there is potential for a better re-ordering of geopolitics in the region? Then again, who really knows for sure?
Your response is a good one. I would also suggest that attacking Iran deceitfully during the course of negotiations about the matter of enrichment is wholly counterproductive to the goal of deterring enrichment.
I don’t know anything about the subject of using enriched uranium to produce medical isotopes for certain cancer treatments, but I read that 30% is needed. Doesn’t help with the “why 60%”, but it’s interesting.
>>"provide me with some good responses for these types of people..."
Unfortunately, I doubt anything would work, just as not much works in dissuading a 'conspiracy theorist' from their 'pet conspiracies'.
Such is the nature of belief systems (and religions are yet another example of such belief systems) and narratives that strengthen such belief systems. Taken to extremes, these are like cults.
The empire starts the fire then hands itself the extinguisher and calls it peace, I feel Iran showed more discipline under attack than the US ever has in peacetime
🙋Caitlin is right on the money. Donald Trump fooled the American electorate just like he fooled Iran. He lied about not wanting to start new wars. In his first term, he helped start the Ukraine war. Almost all the people in his cabinet are either Zionists or neocons or both. Iran is the last cog in the infamous policy statement of the US made post 9/11 about taking out 7 Middle Eastern countries in 5 years. This was a goal of Israel and the US to be implemented by the US. The goal's name was "a Greater Israel". To expand on that, retired Colonel Wilkerson said all these Global conflicts involving the US /NATO are connected. From the brewing Arctic tension to UKR to Iran are meant to contain China and it's BRI. I think he mentioned another place and described the sequence as an "arch" but I can't recall the other one. Trump is just following the continuity of US foreign policy which is bipartisan and all US presidents are told to do so by the "Deep State". The US and Israel still want regime change in Iran. Trump is lying...again. It's ultimately about US "Primacy".
Trump, all other previous presidents, Israel have been lying throughout their tenures. The question is: why those others continue to be fooled? Are they indeed fools?
You know "fool me once..." proverb. Definitely by this time it hasn't been twice or thrice. It's been way more. So shame is squarely on all those others as the US/Israel/etc continue their trolling out in the open.
Israel/America attacked Iran for no reason whatsoever except the one they made up in their collective minds to meet their own goals. Nothing was verifiable because the evidence wasn't there. At this point, I point out Iran is a sovereign country that doesn't need permission to make decisions. Still, it follows agreements made. Perhaps some tech company like Palantir got involved and stirred the predictive pot. Maybe Israel saw that the timing looked promising with a preponderance of politicians in a supportive cast. The warmongers in Congress finally just got their way after years of conniving.
After a few days of death and devastation, Israel cries uncle and calls for a ceasefire AND GETS IT. The bullies got knocked around and knew they were losing, so they called for a ceasefire. However the genocide in Gaza continues because it's so easy to pull off. It was even off the radar for a few days so win win. There were no demands made by Iran to accept a ceasefire. What are the terms of this ceasefire? No one seems to know.
Trump claims victory and everyone walks away. For now. Because when Israel spots a good chance, it will resume where it left off. As journalists often say, "It's a developing story".
The Iranian - or Persian -- civilization is more than 3,000 years old, and is possibly more than 7,000 years old. Eretz Israel is only 77 years old, and the American Empire is less than 250 years old.
Compared to the Iranians, the Israelis and Americans are mere neophytes regarding diplomacy, international cooperation, cultural values, etc. The Americans and Israelis are not sophisticated enough to hold nuclear weapons responsibly. The USA is the only country to have dropped nuclear bomb onto another country as a demonstration of its lack of restraint and lack respect for the lives of unarmed civilians.
No, what matters is whether they have that power. You may not like who has the whip hand, much less what they do with it, but that doesn't take away the fact that they have it.
Today the political parties throw out from their lines the free speakers, analyzing intelligence and critical intellects. They do so in the gropus of the obeying mediokracy that follow the Big Brothers lines. So politics is not , as we have been told, a way. It offers not democratic means but keeps us still. Maybe it always was so.
Democracy, as a practical matter, is basically an exercise in passing the buck, in avoiding responsibility. Everyone in power claims to answer to and derive their authority from someone else, going ultimately back to "the people" who themselves do not directly exercise power, and who would find it difficult to exercise as a collective action problem, even if they had the formal authority to do so. The technical term for this is a "beard".
What you are describing is not democracy, but is the pretense of democracy.
Everyone in power claims to answer to and derive their authority from someone else, including Divine authority. Collective action by "the people" is especially difficult when many of the people are ignorant and/or superstitious and conditioned by many years of exposure to propaganda. Collective action still requires some level of leadership and coordination along with perpetual vigilance.
The concept of representative government would be workable if the representatives actually operated according to the best interests and desires of all of "the people" instead of only the wealthiest people.
Let's press the pause button for a second. In 1962, the USSR was about to ship nuclear missiles to Cuba. Cuba didn't have the means to produce a nuclear arsenal, but it was in the process of building missile silos. We know the rest of the story. There is absolutely nothing that is stopping Iran from buying nuclear missiles from North Korea, Russia, China, Pakistan and/or India. It could have nuked Israel 100 times over in the past 60 years with purchased nuclear missiles, but it hasn't. So, let's put to rest this narrative that Iran must not enrich uranium so it won't have nuclear missiles. Medvedev just offered Iran nuclear missiles and Trump had a fit. This is not about uranium enrichment or nuclear missiles. This war is about Iranian oil and US hegemony. It's the same playbook used before the US attacked Iraq: Weapons of Mass Destruction will Destroy Israel.....blah, blah, blah.
I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to anyone who's been following along, but Palantir is right at the core of the IAEA's and Grossi's deception on the Iranian nuclear program. This has farther reaching ramifications than it would appear from the headline. This "AI" bullshit was gamed to produce the most sinister possible picture of the "threats" emanating from Iran's peaceful nuclear development efforts. Truly horrifying to think how this same 'software' is being used by western law enforcement, the Trump administration, militaries, and God knows who else and that now some or all of us living in the US likely have full profiles stored away in one of Palantir's (and their customers') electronic dossiers.
When they lay it all out like this today, the immediate natural reaction is ' Yes, exactly so.
You listen a second time. Then you contemplate writing a comment in support of their rational argument because you KNOW they are right,, but you wonder what can you can say that hasn't been said. Then you think...... what is it that I do that will change anything, anything at all.
It is the greatest of all frustrations.
IMany people, readers here as well, would go anywhere and do anything if they thought it would help. But you are fighting the USA as the great big controlling host, by far the most evil environment in my memory, while also at the same time supporting the parasitic state of Israel, a state that has nothing to recommend it or to justify it remaining in existence at all. A state which is counter to everything that is decent.
The situation is a wall you cannot climb over.....or go around......or knock down.
Finally. Think on this. 750 military bases around the world? How did that happen?
How did the people in the world allow such a gross anomaly develop after World War II?
THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT MUST END ..........as a United Nations initiative and demand and if they cannot do this using one vote per Country / State for the judgement, then it has no further value as a world organisation. Close it down.
The reports are the Iranians moved the nuclear material so this will be used to restart the bombing “to finish the job.” I doubt this ceasefire is anything more than restocking the iron dome.
Thank you for this! Yes, the Axis of Evil (Zionist entity plus USA) are rogue nations and must be dealt with accordingly. When the President of the Russian Federation met with the President of China at the Beijing Olympics, they signed an agreement to reject USA's "international Order" and begin to take actions to isolate the world's bully and follow instead the UN Charter. The process of implementing BRICS+ continues to undermine the hegemony of the US$ as world-reserve currency - nations are refusing to accept the "coin of the realm" - this is how empires end.
The Empire may be dying, but the oligarchs are doing quite well. Some billionaires and mega-millionaires have residences outside of the USA, and may own private aircraft and yachts to take them wherever/whenever they wish to go.
I think the will need space ships more than just yet planes and sailboats to get away from the destruction of more than a few nuclear bombs would cause, especially depending on wind direction, but it would catch up eventually.
Anyone read Cormac Mc Carthy's "The Road"? If you think you can outrun nuclear bombs to and from different countries, think again.
My question is not about the misguided purposes of the United States. My question is what the fanatical Islamic rulers of Iran think they need 63% enriched uranium for? The only thing it's good for is to further enriched to weapons grade. And after screaming death to Israel and death to America for last 40 years and indeed even in their daily prayers; just what do you think they are up to ?
Yes, all religious fanatics are a problem on this planet. Iran has complied with the non-proliferation treaty and has IAEA inspections, while the Zionist entity does not. If the attacks by the Zionist entity and USA were to discourage an Iranian bomb program, they failed by instead demonstrating Iran's necessity for one. All nuclear weapons must be dismantled, if there actually is a civilization on this planet.
I will agree that the actions of my, and the Israeli, government are "depraved".
So this leads us to a problem which I hope I can illuminate without making anyone angry.
We have to stop blaming the USA and Israel. They are imaginary constructs called nations that have no emotions; no ability to think; no way to take action. They are just a container for an association of people who may, or may not support the actions of governments in the war against the people of Iran.
We should recognize that Israel is just 9M people. It is silly to think that 9M people can dictate how the 350M citizens of the USA will act. It amazes me that the MAGA folks don't understand how the "tail wags the dog" theory makes them look like such --- "Wimps".
The government of Israel deploys its forces to commit genocide against the Palestinians because the people who control the government of the USA -WANT-THEM-TO!
The question then becomes, "Who are the people that control the government of the USA"?
Many will insist it is Zionists. Well, that's just silly. Why would the people who control the US government care about Israel? There are a thousand questions here. It is easy to get diverted and not reach an understanding. So I'll just jump ahead to the answer.
The people who run (own) the government of the United States (and Israel) care solely and only about their position of power and prestige and ability to control money. They will offer up all sorts of excuses and diversions, some of which they truly believe; but strip away all the distractions and the bottom line is -- Greed.
It is a special kind of Greed. It is a religion that says "if you are rich God wants you to be rich" -- no matter what crimes you might have committed to obtain that wealth.
That is the American Oligarchy. A subset of that group are the "Jewish Supremacists" that Norman Finkelstein has labeled. Together they are the "rich" that Chris Hedges declares you should hate now more than you ever have in the past.
Once upon a time it was trite to say "All Wars are Bankers Wars". It was true then, it is still true now, but why then MAGA?
The American Economy is now in "end-stage Capitalism". The monopolies are go huge that they have to turn on one another. The only way to have become such monopolies is through crime.
Let's cut to the chase. America is run by criminals. Label them anyway you like, but know they are crooks who obtained their wealth through fraud, extortion, and threats.
Stand up to them, or let them eat your liver. Your choice.
Of course, I agree that the US Empire and Israel are a bunch of war mongering assholes, but it isn't a whole lot better in other places. Here, in Canada, Mark Carney, our newly elected prime minister is promoting more military, cozying up to Trump, and regularly refers to Iranians as terrorists, seemingly not realizing that the terrorists are the people that he supports. I have heard that the Australian PM isn't doing any better with trying to keep peace. We are screwed. Somehow, through our "democratic" elections we have managed to elect the worst bunch of greedy, warmongering, money hungry assholes that exist on this earth. Must have something to do with their bank accounts.
Yes, Carny (the American Banker) is another neo-liberal corporatist (see https://breachmedia.ca/carneys-first-100-days-trade-war-class/ ) but slightly better than the MAGA stool PP. Of course we were lied to, it's called politics. There is one party, it's name is "Money" and all other parties are just divisions of it.
Don't forget to mention the worship of Moloch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moloch
Capitalism is the religion of the Money party. It trumps all others -- no pun intended. The ancient tenets of Judaism, Christianity and Islam condemn usury and Capitalism as they are practiced, today.
When you say Moloch are you pointing to Murdoch media, who became a US citizen to better spread the muck around the world by the man who sees himself as a king maker but is really a pawn to money greed. In Australia we call home Murloch bevsuaecwe knew what he was while here but got worse the bigger bite of the pies he got,
Murdoch may be a disciple of Moloch. The worshipers of Moloch would offer up children to be burned alive. The Israelis have been burning children of Gaza. The Americans burned children in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, etc. They also sacrificed many of their own children to fight to "protect" private corporate interests in most of those countries.
Good on you Susan T. Here in Ausland it is no better. The Foreign Minister - after the Israeli regime bombed Iran - said "Israel has the right to defend itself"!
Yes, as you say it must have "something to do with their bank accounts" That's how Capitalism works.
Whose bank accounts? - Governments real function is to control the people and collect taxes to fund lie based wars, then where did those taxes end up?
From my humble perspective it's the entire system that's working exactly as it was intended to be - anytime there's a squeaky wheel somewhere it gets replaced with a new and improved one.
Our biggest problem is that were divided and have never learned how to unite in order to turn the tables on the tyrants who've taken over.
I'm not sure why you're so surprised, Susan T. This is how the world (and empires) have always worked (at least for a long time now). What's different this time around is that we actually have the technology to completely annihilate every life form on this planet for the first time in history, and human evolution (i.e. psychological development of homo-sapiens) has been unable to keep up with the pace of science and technology.
I don't know why you assume I am surprised. I have always hoped things would not get to this. But here we are.
Yes, me too. Unfortunately, it seems like it's only going to get worse, as the decline of major empires often have grave consequences that affect almost anything and everything...
Yes Chang, as Bertolt Brecht said in The Caucasian Chalk Circle:
" When the houses of the great collapse
many little people are slain.
Those who had no share in the fortunes of the mighty
Often have a share in their misfortunes."
i recommend to stop watching and waiting (for that great leader) and start getting to the nitty gritty of talking and organising.
I agree. But the issue of psychological development is a thorny one. The kind of maturation of individual psychologies that often happens as a life is well lived doesn't solve the problem. And the evolution of pacifism was impossible according to game theory modeling of competition for resources. So, is there no solution? I think there is one, but normies are too timid to implement it. The solution would be to identify the high-functioning sociopaths in society and prevent them from gaining more power than can be had by running a lemonade stand.
>>"The solution would be to identify the high-functioning sociopaths in society and prevent them from gaining more power...."
How does one implement that? And successfully? If it was that simple, there would have been attempts to do just so. In fact, everything about human civilizations is the opposite - sociopaths and psychopaths are elevated to the 'highest positions' of power and authority.
The other issue with such a solution is that there does not yet exist a rigorous approach/system to INDENTIFYING a 'high-functioning sociopath or psychopath'. And often by the time such individuals are identified, they are ALREADY in positions of power and authority.
Your dogmatic tone is inappropriate given your lack of knowledge concerning scientific advances in detecting sociopathy. It can be characterized via D-Factor scores and via brain scans. What is lacking is the political will among the normies to require such screening methods prior to advancement in government bureaucracies and political offices. Naysayers like you don't move anything forward.
Do you have any links to share on the science of this? And by that I mean solid science (and not just pre-prints or unreplicable studies or studies with small sample sizes, etc.).
I've never seen any evidence of this, but I'm willing/open to looking at the evidence (if you have any).
I get the frustration but lumping Carney in with Trump muddies the waters. Cozying up? Canada just froze the F-35 deal, signed a massive defence pact with the EU, and told Washington to pound sand. Yes, he's building military capacity BUT not to serve empire, to exit it. There's a difference between rearmament and alignment. Let’s not confuse sovereignty with submission here
freezing the f35 deal and backing out from the deal are different. the f35 is considered a substandard next gen fighter by many experts. canada should disarm? who is going to attack canada (besides maybe the usa). all that cash could be better spent improving infrastructure, healthcare, education, r&d
Fair point but rejecting empire doesn’t mean embracing pacifism, Carney’s just decoupling. And YES, Canada should spend wisely on healthcare, edu and infrastructure nonetheless sovereignty requires more than wishful thinking. Now Trump's demanding NATO members raise defence spending to a whopping 5% of GDP in the next 10 years pushing allies to ""pay in a big way"" or risk losing US commitment and that's the real pressure we're rebelling agains (and a virtual high five if it started an Encanto song in your head, we don't talk about NATO or Surface pressure, you pick). IMHO it'sb etter to build a self-reliant defence and say “no” to empire than wait for the hope that the U.S. won’t pull the plug.
Carney’s Bill C-2 makes it clear he is not decoupling from the USA. He’s copying American anti-democratic laws and will be linking Canada’s 2025 version of Gestapo with the American version.
I thought the end of this comment interesting from a Celia Farber posting (Here we are, America’s at war):
“ My first impression was that Trump was just putting on a show, do his little bombing run and claim victory, while standing aside to let Iran do a token attack on a US missile base. Job done.
Note, the "devastating" attack by Trump was a nothing burger, mostly just bombing rubble or no longer needed buildings and plugging a couple entrances to a large underground complex. It's pretty easy to defeat the non-nuclear bunker busters. It's called mining, its done all over the World, they routinely mine out giant caverns down to 10,000 ft deep.
But the rhetoric I'm hearing now is leading me to believe this is right back to the Bankster "seven countries in five years plan" ending with Iran. And since the Banker Cult are Malthusian, Misanthropic Psychopaths, recklessness with human life is just an excellent way to "reduce the World population" get rid of more "useless eaters". They sure were trying hard to provoke a nuclear war with Russia in Ukraine, failed miserably, now trying to do the same in Iran.
Question is, WTF is up with Trump? Look's to me he's been compromised. He sure went all out to ensure #1 Globalist stooge Mark Carney won Canada's election. Carney's company did buy out over a $billion of his son-in-law Jared Kushner's unpayable real estate debt.”
all western leaders are part of empire. don't look for anyone who can 'save' you there. people must stand up for themselves.
of course he serves empire.
that's good to know
What's the unifying factor here Susan?
Isn't it the "Jewish Supremacist" Oligarchy that lives in the USA? It is the American "Deep State".
no, it's capitalism.
Sadly it is the same with the UK Prime Minister, the hapless, incompetent, Zionist asshole Starmer. The majority of Brits don’t want war and certainly oppose the genocide virulently but the establishment, including the mainstream media do. Does liberal “democracy” tend to fascism, as we forget how hard earned our liberties were?
fascism is the attack dog of failing capitalism.
Susan, it's the same for Europe, who refuses to admit Israël's still ongoing genocide and thus to cut commercial treaties with Israël. Moreover, Europe complies with Trump’s "demand" of 5% army expenses for the European countries with the 'request" of buying the arms from the US. Trump has to feed his armindustry.
Still waiting for people to start organizing and making examples out of a few of them.
Israel has been behaving like an S-hole self-proclaimed world’s greatest fighter who has been only picking on little kids and babies. When he finally picked on someone who punched back, he is now panicking and crying for help from his bigger friends (Uncle Sam) who stupidly always help him out by hitting the one who punched back.
And how on earth is a nation that supplies weapons to and fully supports a country that has committed genocide for over twenty months be considered the global policeman who decides who gets to have nuclear weapons and who doesn't.
When you have no moral authority, like the USA, you don't get to do that. And you have never had the right to do that.
The USA was founded upon the genocide -- or attempted genocide -- against the indigenous people of North America. The USA proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine to lay claim to all lands of North, Central and South America. While the USA has not yet been able to seize Canada, Trump is working on annexing it along with Greenland.
Since the mid-20th Century, the USA has overthrown governments in Central and South American countries but supporting assassins, dictators, military coups in order to make those countries subservient to their colonial master.
That's American moral authority.
The U.S. Empire's behavior and actions are paradoxical. They are doing the EXACT things that they shouldn't be doing, and they are going out of their way to achieve the VERY results that they are trying to avoid.
Are such STUPID actions (and behavior) a sign of an Empire on the decline? I think so.
I see no reason for Iran to not ramp up its acquisition of nuclear weapons - as the U.S. has made it abundantly clear that that may be the only way to protect one's sovereign territory in our current age of Empires.
These stupid, paradoxical actions are the result of the influence of the Israeli lobby on Congress and the Executive Branch.
Thank you for the repeated attempts at trying to deflect form the 'real character of the U.S. Empire'. Yes, being indoctrinated from birth on American Exceptionalism can create levels of cognitive dissonance - as you seem to have in abundance - that make understanding the TRUE NATURE of the Empire difficult.
I see no difference between YOUR 'indoctrination about the U.S. Empire' and the Israeli's Zionist's 'indoctrination about Israeli/Jewish supremacy'. Just 'peas in a pod'. Sad really.
Yeah, lobbying by lobbing money at both parties. Good thing the US sends Usrael Billions every year, as well as weaponry or Usrael would be bankrupt 😉
The 'lobby narrative' is a red herring, a deceptive 'easy-to-swallow' explanation.
There are several lobbies that spend MORE than the Israel lobbies. For example, take a look at this -> https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/top-spenders
Also, there are many 'non-Zionist' billionaires/oligarchs that can outspend these lobbies if they wish too. Not to mention, there are several other 'country-specific' lobbies (and countries themselves) with MORE money than either the Israel lobbies or the country of Israel.
So if you really want to understand why the U.S. Empire does what it does, I suggest not succumbing to 'ease/simple' narratives like 'Yeah, the Israel lobbies spend so much money and that's why the U.S. supports Israel the way it does'.
Sometimes straightforward facts are “simple” to understand, they are simply true. The “Israel lobbies” work our elections ferociously. Bribery makes the world go round.
The Israel Lobbies play a significant role in influencing U.S. Empire behavior. I'm not (and have never) denied that.
Briberies (and corruption) are everpresent in almost EVERY human endeavor (of significance). Again, I'm not (and have never) denied the role(s) played by greed, bribery, etc. in the relationship between the U.S. Empire and Israel (which is a part of said empire).
I'm approaching the subject of 'analyzing the U.S. Empire' from multiple angles, with multiple variables, factors, etc.
The lobbies, bribery, etc. are some of those factors. They are NOT ALL the factors. Hence, I would not stop thinking/looking/analyzing after encountering just a few of the factors. If I do that, then my analysis would likely be faulty and incomplete.
Just as in scientific research one needs to consider MULTIPLE 'causational factors', variables, be on the lookout for confounding bias (Confounding bias occurs when an outside variable influences both the independent and dependent variables in a study, leading to a false association between them. It can distort the true relationship and is a common issue in observational studies, making it essential to control for potential confounders in research design and analysis), and consider AS MANY variables and data points that are available.
In such analyses, different people will have knowledge of different amounts of data points, workings of different systems, interactions between such systems, etc. Hence, it would be folly (and incomplete thinking) to arrive at a 'final conclusion' such as 'the only reason the U.S. Empire is supporting Israel is because of the Lobbies and bribery'.
Why are you always so steadfast in your defense of Israel? It almost feels like you are, intently and very purposefully, trying to muddy the waters.
I think Chang sincerely despises Israel. The “who controls who” argument is one that energises people one way or another, for their stated reasons. I think both sides of the argument bare truth
I hate, abhor, despise, detest, loathe, scorn Israel more than you can EVER imagine! I even often run out of words to express by hatred towards that country and its culture.
What I'm trying to do (which is what I always try to do), is really understand why things are the way they are and why people and organizations (like Empires) behave the way they do.
My interest is in deeply analyzing things (instead of accepting easy to believe narratives) to get to a better understanding of the dynamics of complex systems like Empires (it's a never-ending process).
That is the spirit in which I am discounting the simplistic 'Israeli funding' narratives. It logically does not compute when hundreds of other factors (variables, etc.) come into play in sometimes unknowable ways in complex systems/scenarios such as Empires and the motivations of people.
It feels more like you are trying to get others to change what they have learned about both the US and Usrael over long years on earth, you can never admit you could be wrong, I've noticed heat quite often with you, same as some pro-Usraels cannot stop even when they are beaten.
When you realise that the US gives Usrael 4(?) Billion every year, and all those damn weapons, Usrael has mo ey to play with as they lobby, pay off, congressmen /women.
Davina, what is $4 billion to the U.S. Empire? Nothing. Not even 'chump change'. The U.S. has a YEARLY military budget of $1 trillion. The U.S. has a printing machine that can print obscene amounts of money when it wants to (as in the $6 trillion during the bailouts during the 2008 financial crash and the $4+ trillion during Covid).
Trillions are traded in bond markets, currency markets, and equity markets and billions are made in such security markets EVERY DAY.
Hence, I suggest some perspective is in order. Again, don't be misled by such simplistic narratives. Attempt to dig deeper (if you have the time and interest to do so).
That is not the point, Change. USrael using US money given to them can be used to pay off congressmen/women. They sure get enough weaponry from the US already.
I really do not care on iota what the US spends its trillions on. I think more about what USrael spebd US taxpayer dollars on.
So perhaps your perspective needs a renewal, you seem to to be the one touting fir the US and Usrael.
""I see no reason for Iran to not ramp up its acquisition of nuclear weapons...""
Totally agree!!
I have been "struggling" just a tiny bit with how to respond to some of these rabid US/Israel supporters when they come back at me with something along the lines of "Well, why was Iran enriching up to 60% instead of the 3.75%".
I always just want to just answer back that what country wouldn't want to start producing their own nukes when faced with such lying inhuman horrific monsters like the U.S. and Israel (especially since Trump had torn up the previous nuke agreement)!! But if I do, in their minds, I just sort of make their case for them that that is why the U.S./Israel were considering Iran some type of existential threat... even though, as Michael Hudson explains in his excellent new article, the U.S. has been wanting to take out Iran since even well BEFORE the 1979 hostage crisis (a crisis that the U.S. apparently caused by providing safe refuge to the shah, who was considered a war criminal by many people in Iran... and that was after the U.S. got rid of Iran's elected leader in a 1953 coup... something along those lines?).
Anyone reading this who feels like chiming in, to provide me with some good responses for these types of people... that would great.
Btw, just in case anyone is interested, here is the link to that excellent new Michael Hudson article (he seems to come about it from more of an economic perspective):
https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/06/23/why-america-is-at-war-with-iran/
musicbob, Michael Hudson is an economist. So he comes to it from an economic perspective which is more relevant to events that are happening.
Why shouldn't Iran have a nuclear bomb - if Israel can have one and more. If all things were equal no country should have them.
Because of the dystopia we are living in, each and every country in the global south should have their own nuclear weapons.
Unless they all want to be serfs of a US empire bent on subjugating and pillaging.
Indu, here are some reasons for Iran NOT having nuclear weapons (not that I am suggesting that Iran not have such weapons), but here's the reasoning behind why not to ->
The MENA region has 4 major/relatively strong powers all competing for dominance of the region. They are Turkey, Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Israel is the only one that has nukes in the region. History of the MENA regions tells us that there has always been uneasy alliances between these 4 powers in the region. None have ever gotten along with the other. They compete and cooperate (out of necessity), but rest assured if given an opportunity, each and every one of them would like to be the DOMINANT power in the MENA region (just as the U.S. likes to be the dominant power in the Americas and China in Asia).
Knowing all this, if Iran were to get nukes too, this would greatly upset the FRAGILE balance of powers in the MENA region. Saudi Arabia would likely want nukes too (they have a long history of enmity with Iran), and Turkey would also want nukes (Erdogan often laments of the loss of power for Turkey that came with the end of the Ottoman Empire).
So if more and more countries get nukes, does this make the world more safe or less safe? Now if ALL 4 of these countries had nukes (taking this hypothesis one step further), I am of the opinion that Egypt wouldn't want to be left out of this either. And so on and on it goes...
There are no easy or right answers, just plenty of bad ones that we seem to have to make do with for the time being. Now, if only Israel was eliminated from the MENA region, maybe there is potential for a better re-ordering of geopolitics in the region? Then again, who really knows for sure?
I learned some new stuff by reading that Michael Hudson article. I really like it when that happens. Lol.
yeah for sure Indu. With you on that. Thanks.
Your response is a good one. I would also suggest that attacking Iran deceitfully during the course of negotiations about the matter of enrichment is wholly counterproductive to the goal of deterring enrichment.
I don’t know anything about the subject of using enriched uranium to produce medical isotopes for certain cancer treatments, but I read that 30% is needed. Doesn’t help with the “why 60%”, but it’s interesting.
Thank you. Yes, that’s a good suggestion, and one that I believe Chris Hedges made in his recent article (and also Scott Ritter as well I think?).
>>"provide me with some good responses for these types of people..."
Unfortunately, I doubt anything would work, just as not much works in dissuading a 'conspiracy theorist' from their 'pet conspiracies'.
Such is the nature of belief systems (and religions are yet another example of such belief systems) and narratives that strengthen such belief systems. Taken to extremes, these are like cults.
The empire starts the fire then hands itself the extinguisher and calls it peace, I feel Iran showed more discipline under attack than the US ever has in peacetime
🙋Caitlin is right on the money. Donald Trump fooled the American electorate just like he fooled Iran. He lied about not wanting to start new wars. In his first term, he helped start the Ukraine war. Almost all the people in his cabinet are either Zionists or neocons or both. Iran is the last cog in the infamous policy statement of the US made post 9/11 about taking out 7 Middle Eastern countries in 5 years. This was a goal of Israel and the US to be implemented by the US. The goal's name was "a Greater Israel". To expand on that, retired Colonel Wilkerson said all these Global conflicts involving the US /NATO are connected. From the brewing Arctic tension to UKR to Iran are meant to contain China and it's BRI. I think he mentioned another place and described the sequence as an "arch" but I can't recall the other one. Trump is just following the continuity of US foreign policy which is bipartisan and all US presidents are told to do so by the "Deep State". The US and Israel still want regime change in Iran. Trump is lying...again. It's ultimately about US "Primacy".
Trump, all other previous presidents, Israel have been lying throughout their tenures. The question is: why those others continue to be fooled? Are they indeed fools?
You know "fool me once..." proverb. Definitely by this time it hasn't been twice or thrice. It's been way more. So shame is squarely on all those others as the US/Israel/etc continue their trolling out in the open.
Give it a bit, the only question is whether the War On Russia or the War On Iran will take precedence for now.
Don't forget the War on Pakistan (Israeli and US military equipment and support for India) or the War on China.
"So for now we’ve got a ceasefire."
Settle down. This is just temporary to give Israel a chance to reload.
Iran was foolish to let up the pressure.
Israel/America attacked Iran for no reason whatsoever except the one they made up in their collective minds to meet their own goals. Nothing was verifiable because the evidence wasn't there. At this point, I point out Iran is a sovereign country that doesn't need permission to make decisions. Still, it follows agreements made. Perhaps some tech company like Palantir got involved and stirred the predictive pot. Maybe Israel saw that the timing looked promising with a preponderance of politicians in a supportive cast. The warmongers in Congress finally just got their way after years of conniving.
After a few days of death and devastation, Israel cries uncle and calls for a ceasefire AND GETS IT. The bullies got knocked around and knew they were losing, so they called for a ceasefire. However the genocide in Gaza continues because it's so easy to pull off. It was even off the radar for a few days so win win. There were no demands made by Iran to accept a ceasefire. What are the terms of this ceasefire? No one seems to know.
Trump claims victory and everyone walks away. For now. Because when Israel spots a good chance, it will resume where it left off. As journalists often say, "It's a developing story".
The Iranian - or Persian -- civilization is more than 3,000 years old, and is possibly more than 7,000 years old. Eretz Israel is only 77 years old, and the American Empire is less than 250 years old.
Compared to the Iranians, the Israelis and Americans are mere neophytes regarding diplomacy, international cooperation, cultural values, etc. The Americans and Israelis are not sophisticated enough to hold nuclear weapons responsibly. The USA is the only country to have dropped nuclear bomb onto another country as a demonstration of its lack of restraint and lack respect for the lives of unarmed civilians.
None of this matters. Power is all that matters.
It matters to the extent that unruly immature children should not be entrusted to handle great power, responsibly.
No, what matters is whether they have that power. You may not like who has the whip hand, much less what they do with it, but that doesn't take away the fact that they have it.
Talk of civilization and culture is just cope.
Today the political parties throw out from their lines the free speakers, analyzing intelligence and critical intellects. They do so in the gropus of the obeying mediokracy that follow the Big Brothers lines. So politics is not , as we have been told, a way. It offers not democratic means but keeps us still. Maybe it always was so.
Democracy, as a practical matter, is basically an exercise in passing the buck, in avoiding responsibility. Everyone in power claims to answer to and derive their authority from someone else, going ultimately back to "the people" who themselves do not directly exercise power, and who would find it difficult to exercise as a collective action problem, even if they had the formal authority to do so. The technical term for this is a "beard".
What you are describing is not democracy, but is the pretense of democracy.
Everyone in power claims to answer to and derive their authority from someone else, including Divine authority. Collective action by "the people" is especially difficult when many of the people are ignorant and/or superstitious and conditioned by many years of exposure to propaganda. Collective action still requires some level of leadership and coordination along with perpetual vigilance.
The concept of representative government would be workable if the representatives actually operated according to the best interests and desires of all of "the people" instead of only the wealthiest people.
Of course, it's a sham. Twas ever thus.
Actions speak louder than words. The western terrorists and their lickspittles can keep saying Iran is the terrorist, but the truth is obvious.
When Piers Morgan tried to play the “Iran as the greatest sponsor of terrorism” card, Candace Owens says pretty much the same thing.
~~~
https://youtu.be/42CM3zpY3Ic?si=xhvd4fazqalc_ByI
~~~
Don’t worry, you don’t have to subject yourself to Beck or O’Reilly. Candace goes first, one on one with Morgan. And she is fire!
Let's press the pause button for a second. In 1962, the USSR was about to ship nuclear missiles to Cuba. Cuba didn't have the means to produce a nuclear arsenal, but it was in the process of building missile silos. We know the rest of the story. There is absolutely nothing that is stopping Iran from buying nuclear missiles from North Korea, Russia, China, Pakistan and/or India. It could have nuked Israel 100 times over in the past 60 years with purchased nuclear missiles, but it hasn't. So, let's put to rest this narrative that Iran must not enrich uranium so it won't have nuclear missiles. Medvedev just offered Iran nuclear missiles and Trump had a fit. This is not about uranium enrichment or nuclear missiles. This war is about Iranian oil and US hegemony. It's the same playbook used before the US attacked Iraq: Weapons of Mass Destruction will Destroy Israel.....blah, blah, blah.
I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to anyone who's been following along, but Palantir is right at the core of the IAEA's and Grossi's deception on the Iranian nuclear program. This has farther reaching ramifications than it would appear from the headline. This "AI" bullshit was gamed to produce the most sinister possible picture of the "threats" emanating from Iran's peaceful nuclear development efforts. Truly horrifying to think how this same 'software' is being used by western law enforcement, the Trump administration, militaries, and God knows who else and that now some or all of us living in the US likely have full profiles stored away in one of Palantir's (and their customers') electronic dossiers.
https://ddgeopolitics.substack.com/p/the-ai-that-triggered-a-war-how-palantir
This AI bullshit sure had the power to override Gabbard’s sworn testimony about Iran’s nuclear program. Why she didn’t resign is beyond me.
An excellent commentary from Caitlin and Tim.
When they lay it all out like this today, the immediate natural reaction is ' Yes, exactly so.
You listen a second time. Then you contemplate writing a comment in support of their rational argument because you KNOW they are right,, but you wonder what can you can say that hasn't been said. Then you think...... what is it that I do that will change anything, anything at all.
It is the greatest of all frustrations.
IMany people, readers here as well, would go anywhere and do anything if they thought it would help. But you are fighting the USA as the great big controlling host, by far the most evil environment in my memory, while also at the same time supporting the parasitic state of Israel, a state that has nothing to recommend it or to justify it remaining in existence at all. A state which is counter to everything that is decent.
The situation is a wall you cannot climb over.....or go around......or knock down.
Finally. Think on this. 750 military bases around the world? How did that happen?
How did the people in the world allow such a gross anomaly develop after World War II?
THAT IS THE FIRST THING THAT MUST END ..........as a United Nations initiative and demand and if they cannot do this using one vote per Country / State for the judgement, then it has no further value as a world organisation. Close it down.
Right. The US has completely neutered the UN. Very sad. Eisenhower warned about the MIC, but he was fine with re-installing the damn Shah.
The reports are the Iranians moved the nuclear material so this will be used to restart the bombing “to finish the job.” I doubt this ceasefire is anything more than restocking the iron dome.
Thank you for this! Yes, the Axis of Evil (Zionist entity plus USA) are rogue nations and must be dealt with accordingly. When the President of the Russian Federation met with the President of China at the Beijing Olympics, they signed an agreement to reject USA's "international Order" and begin to take actions to isolate the world's bully and follow instead the UN Charter. The process of implementing BRICS+ continues to undermine the hegemony of the US$ as world-reserve currency - nations are refusing to accept the "coin of the realm" - this is how empires end.
The Empire may be dying, but the oligarchs are doing quite well. Some billionaires and mega-millionaires have residences outside of the USA, and may own private aircraft and yachts to take them wherever/whenever they wish to go.
I think the will need space ships more than just yet planes and sailboats to get away from the destruction of more than a few nuclear bombs would cause, especially depending on wind direction, but it would catch up eventually.
Anyone read Cormac Mc Carthy's "The Road"? If you think you can outrun nuclear bombs to and from different countries, think again.
And have probably have lots of gold, since US$ will soon be just paper.
The US$ is not much paper anymore. It's digital fiction in electronic ledgers.
Owning land, houses, aircraft and naval vessels may be more useful and gold. Gold is only useful in transactions with people who want gold.
My question is not about the misguided purposes of the United States. My question is what the fanatical Islamic rulers of Iran think they need 63% enriched uranium for? The only thing it's good for is to further enriched to weapons grade. And after screaming death to Israel and death to America for last 40 years and indeed even in their daily prayers; just what do you think they are up to ?
Yes, all religious fanatics are a problem on this planet. Iran has complied with the non-proliferation treaty and has IAEA inspections, while the Zionist entity does not. If the attacks by the Zionist entity and USA were to discourage an Iranian bomb program, they failed by instead demonstrating Iran's necessity for one. All nuclear weapons must be dismantled, if there actually is a civilization on this planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z5yRqv4RzA
The True Origin of Capitalism - George Monbiot (Part 1)
I'm an American.
I don't think I'm "depraved".
I will agree that the actions of my, and the Israeli, government are "depraved".
So this leads us to a problem which I hope I can illuminate without making anyone angry.
We have to stop blaming the USA and Israel. They are imaginary constructs called nations that have no emotions; no ability to think; no way to take action. They are just a container for an association of people who may, or may not support the actions of governments in the war against the people of Iran.
We should recognize that Israel is just 9M people. It is silly to think that 9M people can dictate how the 350M citizens of the USA will act. It amazes me that the MAGA folks don't understand how the "tail wags the dog" theory makes them look like such --- "Wimps".
The government of Israel deploys its forces to commit genocide against the Palestinians because the people who control the government of the USA -WANT-THEM-TO!
The question then becomes, "Who are the people that control the government of the USA"?
Many will insist it is Zionists. Well, that's just silly. Why would the people who control the US government care about Israel? There are a thousand questions here. It is easy to get diverted and not reach an understanding. So I'll just jump ahead to the answer.
The people who run (own) the government of the United States (and Israel) care solely and only about their position of power and prestige and ability to control money. They will offer up all sorts of excuses and diversions, some of which they truly believe; but strip away all the distractions and the bottom line is -- Greed.
It is a special kind of Greed. It is a religion that says "if you are rich God wants you to be rich" -- no matter what crimes you might have committed to obtain that wealth.
That is the American Oligarchy. A subset of that group are the "Jewish Supremacists" that Norman Finkelstein has labeled. Together they are the "rich" that Chris Hedges declares you should hate now more than you ever have in the past.
The message is spreading like wildfire. Here's an obscure link that references the original: https://braveneweurope.com/chris-hedges-rob-larson-why-you-should-hate-the-rich-even-more
Once upon a time it was trite to say "All Wars are Bankers Wars". It was true then, it is still true now, but why then MAGA?
The American Economy is now in "end-stage Capitalism". The monopolies are go huge that they have to turn on one another. The only way to have become such monopolies is through crime.
Let's cut to the chase. America is run by criminals. Label them anyway you like, but know they are crooks who obtained their wealth through fraud, extortion, and threats.
Stand up to them, or let them eat your liver. Your choice.