Busy day, but briefly noted: Open Source Intel @Osint613 BREAKING: RAFAH According to The Guardian, Israel is pouring in tanks and artillery around the Gaza Strip in preparation for a ground entry into Rafah. Via @Now14Israel 5:20 AM · Apr 18, 2024 Haaretz has been a pretty reliable source:
The American public is clueless. No idea what is being done throughout the world in their name. Propaganda works. The corporate narrative is what they know and believe.
You are absolutely correct. I am truly demoralized by the Republican embrace of genocide. Recent statements by some of our politicians in support of genocide has left me speechless and angry.
Conservative Inc. sure seems to be fully on board with an expanded war. After all that we have been through, you would think that questions would be had about trusting the same cast of characters to wage a new war. But nope. Never learn, and suckers again.
Meanwhile, in other news, RealClear reports that investigators on the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden have established through email records that Eric Ciaramella (remember him?), who was the whistleblower who anonymously accused Donald Trump of linking military aid for Ukraine to a demand for an investigation into alleged Biden corruption in Ukraine, had four years earlier in fact been a close adviser to Biden when Biden threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Ukraine unless it fired prosecutor Viktor Shokin. At the time, Shokin was investigating Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company which was paying Hunter Biden millions of dollars. If true, Ciaramella knew of Biden's corruption when he falsely accused Trump of political motives for investigating Biden.
We haven't discussed the Biden impeachment inquiry here recently. I wonder how Trump and the Republicans plan to play this card as the the 2024 election approaches and the Trump prosecutions continue, the wars in Ukraine and Palestine don't end (but expand), the US economy worsens, the Southern border remains open, and Biden's senility becomes increasingly and horrifyingly obvious.
I want to believe that Rep Comer and friends are having or will be having discussions with Biden's 'people' regarding what they would show in an impeachment process...which, if it doesn't happen in 2024 could still happen in 2025 if Biden were to run...and win. Maybe Biden will 'decide' not to run.
I think Trump is going to have to walk a very fine line to get himself elected.
He wants (needs?) a meaningful portion of the Jewish vote, which he has been working hard to attract. But how many votes will a hard-line pro-Israel stance cost him?
He wants (needs?) a good portion of the pro-Ukraine vote (which includes many conservative Republicans), which he has been working hard not to offend. (Mostly by saying nothing about how he would handle the war.)
Many Republicans are convinced that Trump's covid performance was less than admirable, and Trump has not yet figured out how to spin it.
And there is no sign that TDS has in any way abated among 2020 Biden voters...
Perhaps Trump's greatest asset is Biden's horrendous performance. And if Biden doesn't make it to election day...
I am increasingly dissatisfied with Trump. I see no hope here. The only reason to vote Trump, in my opinion, is to slow down the destruction of this country, maybe he can steer the ship to safer water, and hold some of this psychopathic animals to account. But his embrace of Israel, his relationship with Jared Kushner, et-al, and his inability to accept his failure with Covid and the vaccine makes me distrust him to do what he says he will do. When I speak to people and impart a POV that criticizes Israel, they go crazy and tell me I'm the one who is nuts. So, many people on the right continue to watch Fox, my wife does, I don't although I have to when she commandeers the T.V. during the day. The other day Jeannine Pirro offered up such an ill-informed rant about Hamas on behalf of Israel it made me want to puke. Fox is simply just another propaganda outlet unwilling to be truly honest in their coverage. Where is sanity hiding out these days?
I suspect that the Israeli military knows they’d get clobbered and how by Iran, so they’ve reverted to brutally attacking the weak and defenseless instead. As with Ukraine, but for differing reasons - although there are electoral considerations in each, the war (s) continue(s). I think whatever happens, the powers that be are ready to dump Biden or steal the election, or both!
Our (US Gov) response is two-faced and ghoulish. One face says don't do it, while the other sends money and weapons to support it. How can anyone not be ashamed of their country. Move aside Moochelle, millions more are for the first time are ashamed of our country.
Bernard was simply wrong. His remark presupposes that Israel arose somehow on its own, as a result of Zionists moving to Palestine. Any simpleton should be able to recognize that Israel is primarily a tool of Western hegemony and would not exist but for Western support. The proper question, therefore, has to do with the reasons behind Western support for the Zionist project. Is it strictly a tool of Western hegemony, has it at least in part taken on a life of its own, if so, how and why, etc.?
Simpleton though I may be (I take it as a compliment), I don't think Bernard was 'wrong'. As those of us who are students of today's conflict(s) are learning, the history of Zionism and Western Imperialism, as well as the history of the relationships between Jewish interests and Western power structures (especially royal families) is complex and intertwined. At various times Jewish interests moved European politics, at others European power structures and interests supported and created opportunities for Zionism. And often simultaneously.
And regardless of the history of the power and impetus behind the creation of the State of Israel, the world does find itself in danger of WWIII today, as Bernard worried, not in small measure "because of those people". However, the State of Israel, itself, is hardly the only culprit.
John Mearsheimer tells a Dutch interviewer: “Things are going to get worse in Ukraine, Middle-East and South-East Asia.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y789SugNiA0
Hopefully only AIPAC
What does that mean, Ellie?
Maybe: Only AIPAC supports genocide?
and their posse of politicians who dance to their tune like low class strippers with dollar bills stuffed in their G (goverrment)-string.
“How many Americans actually support genocide?”
The American public is clueless. No idea what is being done throughout the world in their name. Propaganda works. The corporate narrative is what they know and believe.
You are absolutely correct. I am truly demoralized by the Republican embrace of genocide. Recent statements by some of our politicians in support of genocide has left me speechless and angry.
Conservative Inc. sure seems to be fully on board with an expanded war. After all that we have been through, you would think that questions would be had about trusting the same cast of characters to wage a new war. But nope. Never learn, and suckers again.
Con-Inc. for sure, they don't go to D.C. to learn, they go to earn. The means justify the ends in this case.
There is a dark place in hell for the enablers of this.
Yet Israel will widen its murder spree after slaughtering the Palestinians anyway.
Meanwhile, in other news, RealClear reports that investigators on the House impeachment inquiry into President Biden have established through email records that Eric Ciaramella (remember him?), who was the whistleblower who anonymously accused Donald Trump of linking military aid for Ukraine to a demand for an investigation into alleged Biden corruption in Ukraine, had four years earlier in fact been a close adviser to Biden when Biden threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Ukraine unless it fired prosecutor Viktor Shokin. At the time, Shokin was investigating Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company which was paying Hunter Biden millions of dollars. If true, Ciaramella knew of Biden's corruption when he falsely accused Trump of political motives for investigating Biden.
https://realclearwire.com/articles/2024/04/17/impeachment_whistleblower_was_in_the_loop_of_biden-ukraine_affairs_that_trump_wanted_probed_1024937.html
We haven't discussed the Biden impeachment inquiry here recently. I wonder how Trump and the Republicans plan to play this card as the the 2024 election approaches and the Trump prosecutions continue, the wars in Ukraine and Palestine don't end (but expand), the US economy worsens, the Southern border remains open, and Biden's senility becomes increasingly and horrifyingly obvious.
Assuming Biden makes it to the election.
Yes.
I want to believe that Rep Comer and friends are having or will be having discussions with Biden's 'people' regarding what they would show in an impeachment process...which, if it doesn't happen in 2024 could still happen in 2025 if Biden were to run...and win. Maybe Biden will 'decide' not to run.
I don't like to be pessimistic, but ...
I don't expect "the Republicans" to play that card at all. As for Trump, we have yet to see a sign that he will.
"As for Trump..."
I think Trump is going to have to walk a very fine line to get himself elected.
He wants (needs?) a meaningful portion of the Jewish vote, which he has been working hard to attract. But how many votes will a hard-line pro-Israel stance cost him?
He wants (needs?) a good portion of the pro-Ukraine vote (which includes many conservative Republicans), which he has been working hard not to offend. (Mostly by saying nothing about how he would handle the war.)
Many Republicans are convinced that Trump's covid performance was less than admirable, and Trump has not yet figured out how to spin it.
And there is no sign that TDS has in any way abated among 2020 Biden voters...
Perhaps Trump's greatest asset is Biden's horrendous performance. And if Biden doesn't make it to election day...
I am increasingly dissatisfied with Trump. I see no hope here. The only reason to vote Trump, in my opinion, is to slow down the destruction of this country, maybe he can steer the ship to safer water, and hold some of this psychopathic animals to account. But his embrace of Israel, his relationship with Jared Kushner, et-al, and his inability to accept his failure with Covid and the vaccine makes me distrust him to do what he says he will do. When I speak to people and impart a POV that criticizes Israel, they go crazy and tell me I'm the one who is nuts. So, many people on the right continue to watch Fox, my wife does, I don't although I have to when she commandeers the T.V. during the day. The other day Jeannine Pirro offered up such an ill-informed rant about Hamas on behalf of Israel it made me want to puke. Fox is simply just another propaganda outlet unwilling to be truly honest in their coverage. Where is sanity hiding out these days?
Yes, except for those Mark bans....;o)
We both know they are gonna do both. Rafah and Retaliation.
I suspect that the Israeli military knows they’d get clobbered and how by Iran, so they’ve reverted to brutally attacking the weak and defenseless instead. As with Ukraine, but for differing reasons - although there are electoral considerations in each, the war (s) continue(s). I think whatever happens, the powers that be are ready to dump Biden or steal the election, or both!
Our (US Gov) response is two-faced and ghoulish. One face says don't do it, while the other sends money and weapons to support it. How can anyone not be ashamed of their country. Move aside Moochelle, millions more are for the first time are ashamed of our country.
Bernard was simply wrong. His remark presupposes that Israel arose somehow on its own, as a result of Zionists moving to Palestine. Any simpleton should be able to recognize that Israel is primarily a tool of Western hegemony and would not exist but for Western support. The proper question, therefore, has to do with the reasons behind Western support for the Zionist project. Is it strictly a tool of Western hegemony, has it at least in part taken on a life of its own, if so, how and why, etc.?
Simpleton though I may be (I take it as a compliment), I don't think Bernard was 'wrong'. As those of us who are students of today's conflict(s) are learning, the history of Zionism and Western Imperialism, as well as the history of the relationships between Jewish interests and Western power structures (especially royal families) is complex and intertwined. At various times Jewish interests moved European politics, at others European power structures and interests supported and created opportunities for Zionism. And often simultaneously.
And regardless of the history of the power and impetus behind the creation of the State of Israel, the world does find itself in danger of WWIII today, as Bernard worried, not in small measure "because of those people". However, the State of Israel, itself, is hardly the only culprit.
Nicely put Cass!
The problem is in the West.