Ha! I just saw that too, ML. I'd like to think that my moving here raised the tone, but it's probably due to the good old common sense of the Swiss. It's a real haven of sanity. Of course, I don't know how long that will last. The Swiss are like most other humans and have their fair share of silly people. We're also very reliant on the Germany economy, so there is that. Anyway, if things do go pear-shaped we have our nuclear bunkers and about 200 years' worth of cheese!
I think AC overstates divisions within Israeli society, and I don't know why he does that.
I think Trump is completely in touch and aligned with the thinking of the moneymen in America who have the gold and make the rules and pay the scriptwriters to write the script for why we have to bomb Iran to safeguard the Jews who have built a flourishing Liberal Democracy out of empty desert using nothing but sand and their bare hands.
I'd love to think Trump is going to do an amazing rug-pull. But, he has been saying since after his first assassination attempt that if he is assassinated, Iran is responsible. Why did he say that? The goofiest provocation on the list to choose from to build the storyline around to sell war to folks back home in flyover country. Sad.
I have a sense of foreboding that you may be right. At first it was his foreign policy team selections that raised concern (all of them being Iran hawks). Then it was bellicose words. Now it is military aggression. This doesn't lead anyplace good and it won't solve any immediate problems either.
Mercouris nails it (he was particularly brilliant in this discussion!) re the future for young Europeans:
“I agree and it will be a very hard and grim time for young people, especially, because they're the people in front of whom the bridges have been destroyed, in effect.”
How many times a day do we say, “would so-and-so send (Harry, Yann, Victor - to name a few!) to fight the Russians?” A cyber-security specialist (in late 50’s) and friend told me yesterday (in France) - and he has years of experience- that 2024 was the worst year employment-wise he can remember, and ‘25 is shaping up to be even worse. He himself is also an entrepreneur (in his spare time!) and said that the conditions are extremely bad for raising funds…on a good day things are tough here, but now…reminder: Macron has no kids. When the Euros should have stood up to the 2008 Bushie idea to bring Ukraine into Nato, they folded (all the while feeling shock and well-founded anxiety about such a move - per J Sachs -), and now, when they should get on the side of reason and peace (not to mention geography), they “burn their bridges.”
I also love what AM said about militarism being a blind alley way out of not only foreign but domestic problems. Isn't that always the way with the elite leaders? Thing is they used to always issue a call to patriotism to garner popular support for their military diversions. Now how do they raise popular support?
One wonders how long the Euros are going to take this. In Germany Merz is basically rubbing the people's face in the brown stuff. The majority of them voted for parties that were anti-war and for keeping the debt brake. Now they find they have a government who is gagging for war and is about to throw away 70 years of wise fiscal policy. If the Germans don't revolt about this, they never will. Not that we Brits or the French are any better.
I just saw that Switzerland was voted the numéro 1 best place to live! Best schools, employment prospects, universities and quality of life…Congrats on your adopted country!! Mine is letting me down by the day…
It’s pretty obvious a combined effort to destroy Shia Islam is taking place. Syria gone, Hezbollah isolated and now Yemen being pounded. All with Israel barely raising a sweat.
Seems like they’re getting their ducks in a row before they take on Iran.
One has to wonder what they have in mind for the Shia in Iraq.
The Saudi’s I had something like a six year war against Yemen and failed. Everyone who tried to take on Yemen and the Houthi have failed. Now exactly what overwhelming lethal force does Trump think he’s going to use. You can bomb them all you want, but you’re not going to wipe them out and we do not have the resources to land and army in Yemen to try to go after them so what’s the endgame?
My own personal opinion is that this will fail, and that the Houthi will continue to have weapons sophisticated weapons that is to be a great thorn in our side in the red sea.
Trump can huff and puff all he wants, but unless he’s going to land a full-blown army core in Yemen to go after these people, an air war alone will not solve the situation. we found that out in the aftermath of World War II that strategic bombing for all it was worth could not win the war without putting in a ground army
Bombing them helps many to believe that we are doing something, even if its costly and ineffective. I'm disappointed with Trump. In less than two months, he's taken out supposed terrorists in Somalia and Iraq and Syria and now there's bombing in Yemen - not to mention his supplying Israel with the means to bomb Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. His Ukraine peace policy is obtuse and constantly changing, and the US can't be the broker for peace when we are still using Ukraine as a proxy for war with Russia.
I think we know, at this point, who pulls Trump's strings. How far can they pull? We'll see, I'm sure.
The resolution of the Ukraine conflict is proceeding swiftly. Just shut off the flow of money and intel, and the proxy war collapses. This, quite obviously now, won't be happening to Israel. We're going to have to do this "clash of clivilizations" the hard way.
I assume someone in his cabinet recommended this action to Trump. Waltz, Tulsi, Pete, others? Recent announcement from the Houthi's that they will re-start their targeting of ships based on lack of Israel ceasefire in Gaza. That was announced this week.
One presumes this meant someone in his inner circle said "Hey we're ready to take out some missile sites if you are". Trump always wanting to out do Zhou says fire away. And Steve Chung... get some talking points ready.
Trump only survived and got back into power through having some very powerful backers. They now want their payback. I'm starting to lose faith in Trump big time.
While it certainly looks that way, or at the least that Trump made deals with powerful interests, it's difficult to be entirely clear on the parameters of the deal and the who the players are. For example, and a key--why were those people dissatisfied with the Zhou regime, in which reliable Neocons were making the decisions? Why are they content to let Trump back out of the war on Russia--as it seems, now--while mindless backing of Israel and the war on Russia previously seemed to go hand in hand? Obviously Trump got something out of this besides the title. He must've got a lot of what he wanted in any deal, but how do we distinguish Trump from the others? Perhaps time will tell.
Reported USS Harry S. Truman is in the Red Sea, together with the cruiser Gettysburg, the destroyers USS Stout, Jason Dunham and destroyer " The Sullivans " as well as Guided missile submarine USS Georgia
—over 260 by the US and its partners Operation Prosperity Guardian
PRIOR CONFLICT The Saudi-led intervention Coalition included the UAE, Egypt, and others, with logistical support from the US and UK
in Yemen’s civil war March 26, 2015 - March 2022 - 2,590 days (or roughly 85 months) of active involvement
According to the Yemen Data Project, a widely cited independent initiative tracking the conflict, the Saudi-led intervention Coalition carried out 25,054 air raids in Yemen
- I really Trump is over extended, too much going on at home and abroad --
In 2024, three B-2 bombers flew from Whiteman afb in Missouri to drop bombs on Yemen. That was an expensive trip for each of the $2 billion bombers. The distance one way is 8,000 miles. For each hour of flight time, 119 hours of maintenance is needed afterward for each plane.
No wonder so many people in high places are eager to make war~there is a lot of money to be spent and made.
Joe, I read about the B-2s' mission in very few news spots, and I read no results from the bomb-dropping.
U. S. Vice Admiral George Wikoff, Operation Prosperity Guardian
November 23, 2024
" Biden is not the only person to say that the US attacks on Yemen have failed. US Vice Admiral George Wikoff, who leads Operation Prosperity Guardian, addressed an audience in Washington, DC from his headquarters in Bahrain in August.
Wikoff said that the United States cannot “find a centralized center of gravity” for the Yemenis, which means that it cannot apply “a classic deterrence policy.” If the United States cannot strike fear into the leadership of the Yemeni government, then it cannot halt the Yemeni attacks on Israeli shipping or infrastructure. "
Steven Cheung are you suggesting he will become another Michael McFaul but on the Houthi issue ?
Michael McFaul clown I don't know whose worse McFaul or Boris Johnson Two Clowns in a Circus of many.
70+ international shipping attacks in this area. Impact is?
Impact is just what the Houthis want it to be, if history is correct, not much can be done to stop them, excepting, mass slaughter of Yemen civilians if they do not stop but Sauds and US UK pretty much already tried that for 7 years previously.
Is Trump going to attack Iran due to the Houthis ?
The only twist in the story is - Israel so far is staying out Houthis to avoid a counter attack - we will see - maybe it is Trump plan to attack Iran on his own so Israel theoretically can claim they are not part of the attack and avoid counter attack.
Reports I have read thus far are the attack was directed against Saada governorate & Dhamar, Yemen; reported Reuters specifically hit was a residential area in the capital Sana'a and the northern province of Saada,
If this is the case, and no proven military target destroyed, Trump has his hands full = it would be further indication that Biden accomplished nothing because Biden could accomplish nothing = Biden tried with the Eisenhower and Truman and was beaten back
Whats Trumps plan ? eg: To indiscrimantely bomb residential areas killing civilians in the capital, hoping Yemen Government can put a stop to the Houthis ?
ATTRITION The Eisenhower and Truman earlier trips estimated cost +/- $3 billion or more EACH , encompassing operational costs, maintenance, and support. Add in the missiles expended by Eisenhower Houthis probably spend at most +/- $ 20,000 per drone verse $ 1 Million average cost of each US missile launched off aircraft carrier
Trump needs $$$$$$ to fund this
Also Bolsters the discussion Trump Needs To Dump Ukraine Quick and focus monies and weapons on the Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing with Israel
. No Planes Out Of Israel if true indication is Israel Too Afraid Houthis Too Powerful
Simply praying no one is injured or killed on the Truman [ nor anywhere else ] this is a foolish game, Completely resolved by US Israeli Palestinian ceasefire now it may get worse
Yes, whatever happened to a Declaration of War? The US calls the Houthis in Yemen "terrorists" in order to justify bombing them in the country of Yemen.
But here is the reality, as stated in Mark's post:
" The naval blockade declared by Yemen in support of Gaza is limited to Israeli shipping until humanitarian aid is delivered to the people of Gaza..."
It is obvious to me that the horrible bombing of Yemen, the threats to Iran, and the smackdown of American protestors against genocide of Palestinians~show that Israel (Zionists) are looked upon as precious gods by our ruling elite.
Contacts among the Lebanese? That’s interesting. Not completely related, or maybe it is, but the Lebanese are among the kindest and most generous people I know. quite the diaspora in the South. It’s encouraging that Trump gets a different perspective. though i confess Im in agreement with @SarcasticCynicalTexan. (hello friend. I used to be in Texas but got sick of the Californians and moved to Mississippi).
Zionist's foreign policy bad ideas dominate in the Imperial City on the Potomac. Little Satan owns The Great Satan . . . same old song and dance continues endlessly.
Ha! I just saw that too, ML. I'd like to think that my moving here raised the tone, but it's probably due to the good old common sense of the Swiss. It's a real haven of sanity. Of course, I don't know how long that will last. The Swiss are like most other humans and have their fair share of silly people. We're also very reliant on the Germany economy, so there is that. Anyway, if things do go pear-shaped we have our nuclear bunkers and about 200 years' worth of cheese!
I think AC overstates divisions within Israeli society, and I don't know why he does that.
I think Trump is completely in touch and aligned with the thinking of the moneymen in America who have the gold and make the rules and pay the scriptwriters to write the script for why we have to bomb Iran to safeguard the Jews who have built a flourishing Liberal Democracy out of empty desert using nothing but sand and their bare hands.
I'd love to think Trump is going to do an amazing rug-pull. But, he has been saying since after his first assassination attempt that if he is assassinated, Iran is responsible. Why did he say that? The goofiest provocation on the list to choose from to build the storyline around to sell war to folks back home in flyover country. Sad.
It's what Israel wanted him to say.
I have a sense of foreboding that you may be right. At first it was his foreign policy team selections that raised concern (all of them being Iran hawks). Then it was bellicose words. Now it is military aggression. This doesn't lead anyplace good and it won't solve any immediate problems either.
The Peace President is looking like a big lie.
Thanks to Mark for another great report. Please also see this: Europe in Chains.
https://montanarcc.substack.com/p/europe-in-chains
Mercouris nails it (he was particularly brilliant in this discussion!) re the future for young Europeans:
“I agree and it will be a very hard and grim time for young people, especially, because they're the people in front of whom the bridges have been destroyed, in effect.”
How many times a day do we say, “would so-and-so send (Harry, Yann, Victor - to name a few!) to fight the Russians?” A cyber-security specialist (in late 50’s) and friend told me yesterday (in France) - and he has years of experience- that 2024 was the worst year employment-wise he can remember, and ‘25 is shaping up to be even worse. He himself is also an entrepreneur (in his spare time!) and said that the conditions are extremely bad for raising funds…on a good day things are tough here, but now…reminder: Macron has no kids. When the Euros should have stood up to the 2008 Bushie idea to bring Ukraine into Nato, they folded (all the while feeling shock and well-founded anxiety about such a move - per J Sachs -), and now, when they should get on the side of reason and peace (not to mention geography), they “burn their bridges.”
I also love what AM said about militarism being a blind alley way out of not only foreign but domestic problems. Isn't that always the way with the elite leaders? Thing is they used to always issue a call to patriotism to garner popular support for their military diversions. Now how do they raise popular support?
One wonders how long the Euros are going to take this. In Germany Merz is basically rubbing the people's face in the brown stuff. The majority of them voted for parties that were anti-war and for keeping the debt brake. Now they find they have a government who is gagging for war and is about to throw away 70 years of wise fiscal policy. If the Germans don't revolt about this, they never will. Not that we Brits or the French are any better.
I just saw that Switzerland was voted the numéro 1 best place to live! Best schools, employment prospects, universities and quality of life…Congrats on your adopted country!! Mine is letting me down by the day…
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/switzerland-2025s-best-country-live-work
I see France is now a Judeo-Christian country. Whatever that is.
If this is any indication- from a typical, lost-generation Frog deep stater and EU demagogue: https://x.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1901467862625116236
PS France didn’t even make the rankings!
It’s pretty obvious a combined effort to destroy Shia Islam is taking place. Syria gone, Hezbollah isolated and now Yemen being pounded. All with Israel barely raising a sweat.
Seems like they’re getting their ducks in a row before they take on Iran.
One has to wonder what they have in mind for the Shia in Iraq.
The Saudi’s I had something like a six year war against Yemen and failed. Everyone who tried to take on Yemen and the Houthi have failed. Now exactly what overwhelming lethal force does Trump think he’s going to use. You can bomb them all you want, but you’re not going to wipe them out and we do not have the resources to land and army in Yemen to try to go after them so what’s the endgame?
My own personal opinion is that this will fail, and that the Houthi will continue to have weapons sophisticated weapons that is to be a great thorn in our side in the red sea.
Trump can huff and puff all he wants, but unless he’s going to land a full-blown army core in Yemen to go after these people, an air war alone will not solve the situation. we found that out in the aftermath of World War II that strategic bombing for all it was worth could not win the war without putting in a ground army
Bombing them helps many to believe that we are doing something, even if its costly and ineffective. I'm disappointed with Trump. In less than two months, he's taken out supposed terrorists in Somalia and Iraq and Syria and now there's bombing in Yemen - not to mention his supplying Israel with the means to bomb Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. His Ukraine peace policy is obtuse and constantly changing, and the US can't be the broker for peace when we are still using Ukraine as a proxy for war with Russia.
I think we know, at this point, who pulls Trump's strings. How far can they pull? We'll see, I'm sure.
The resolution of the Ukraine conflict is proceeding swiftly. Just shut off the flow of money and intel, and the proxy war collapses. This, quite obviously now, won't be happening to Israel. We're going to have to do this "clash of clivilizations" the hard way.
I assume someone in his cabinet recommended this action to Trump. Waltz, Tulsi, Pete, others? Recent announcement from the Houthi's that they will re-start their targeting of ships based on lack of Israel ceasefire in Gaza. That was announced this week.
One presumes this meant someone in his inner circle said "Hey we're ready to take out some missile sites if you are". Trump always wanting to out do Zhou says fire away. And Steve Chung... get some talking points ready.
Trump only survived and got back into power through having some very powerful backers. They now want their payback. I'm starting to lose faith in Trump big time.
While it certainly looks that way, or at the least that Trump made deals with powerful interests, it's difficult to be entirely clear on the parameters of the deal and the who the players are. For example, and a key--why were those people dissatisfied with the Zhou regime, in which reliable Neocons were making the decisions? Why are they content to let Trump back out of the war on Russia--as it seems, now--while mindless backing of Israel and the war on Russia previously seemed to go hand in hand? Obviously Trump got something out of this besides the title. He must've got a lot of what he wanted in any deal, but how do we distinguish Trump from the others? Perhaps time will tell.
Agreed, Mark. Things should become a bit clearer about Trump's profile as time passes.
Reported USS Harry S. Truman is in the Red Sea, together with the cruiser Gettysburg, the destroyers USS Stout, Jason Dunham and destroyer " The Sullivans " as well as Guided missile submarine USS Georgia
Unfortunately all may be Houthi targets
Or vice versa.
BIDEN air strikes on Houthis
Reported:
—over 260 by the US and its partners Operation Prosperity Guardian
PRIOR CONFLICT The Saudi-led intervention Coalition included the UAE, Egypt, and others, with logistical support from the US and UK
in Yemen’s civil war March 26, 2015 - March 2022 - 2,590 days (or roughly 85 months) of active involvement
According to the Yemen Data Project, a widely cited independent initiative tracking the conflict, the Saudi-led intervention Coalition carried out 25,054 air raids in Yemen
- I really Trump is over extended, too much going on at home and abroad --
March 26, 2015 - March 2022 7 Years
25,054 air raids on Yemen
What's Trump Going To Do Differently ???
25,055 raids should do it! :)
In 2024, three B-2 bombers flew from Whiteman afb in Missouri to drop bombs on Yemen. That was an expensive trip for each of the $2 billion bombers. The distance one way is 8,000 miles. For each hour of flight time, 119 hours of maintenance is needed afterward for each plane.
No wonder so many people in high places are eager to make war~there is a lot of money to be spent and made.
Joe, I read about the B-2s' mission in very few news spots, and I read no results from the bomb-dropping.
US YEMEN NEWS
U. S. Vice Admiral George Wikoff, Operation Prosperity Guardian
November 23, 2024
" Biden is not the only person to say that the US attacks on Yemen have failed. US Vice Admiral George Wikoff, who leads Operation Prosperity Guardian, addressed an audience in Washington, DC from his headquarters in Bahrain in August.
Wikoff said that the United States cannot “find a centralized center of gravity” for the Yemenis, which means that it cannot apply “a classic deterrence policy.” If the United States cannot strike fear into the leadership of the Yemeni government, then it cannot halt the Yemeni attacks on Israeli shipping or infrastructure. "
https://asiatimes.com/2024/11/us-israel-not-winning-their-war-on-yemen/#
Saudi led intervention 2015-2022. How many shipping attacks at the same time?
Last 18 months 70+ international shipping attacks in this area. Impact is? See Steve Chung.
Steven Cheung are you suggesting he will become another Michael McFaul but on the Houthi issue ?
Michael McFaul clown I don't know whose worse McFaul or Boris Johnson Two Clowns in a Circus of many.
70+ international shipping attacks in this area. Impact is?
Impact is just what the Houthis want it to be, if history is correct, not much can be done to stop them, excepting, mass slaughter of Yemen civilians if they do not stop but Sauds and US UK pretty much already tried that for 7 years previously.
Is Trump going to attack Iran due to the Houthis ?
The only twist in the story is - Israel so far is staying out Houthis to avoid a counter attack - we will see - maybe it is Trump plan to attack Iran on his own so Israel theoretically can claim they are not part of the attack and avoid counter attack.
Pretty smart; I wasn't thinking that.
Well the appearance always was and seems like ever shall be
the Mid East will never prevail, for they will never unite
If even a Genocide in Gaza cannot make them united add to it expansion
in Lebanon and Syria, nothing will
Did this One Attack just tell us Palestine is doomed, Nothing will ever
come out of the UAE Qatar and others & despite rhetoric of support they have folded,
Gaza will be Trumps Riviera ?
Menchosint reports [ I took a look at his site after you posted - thanks Mark]
US Navy 🇺🇸 P8 Poseidon from Bahrain 🇧🇭
US Navy 🇺🇸 MQ-4C Triton from UAE 🇦🇪
US Air Force 🇺🇸 RC-135V Rivet Joint from Qatar 🇶🇦
*** UK RAF 🇬🇧 KC2 Voyager from Cyprus 🇨🇾
F/A-18s 🇺🇸 from the USS Truman
*** Cyprus is part Turks in the North ; there is a British airbase RAF Akrotiri in
the South
So Yemen apparently won't retaliatory attack Muslims in BH AE QA CY
but apparently reported they did fire back at the Truman
we shall see if Yemen attacks Cyprus
Appears Israel is left off that list for Israel is afraid of Yemen retaliation
- so would not surprise me nothing flying out of Israel
Reports I have read thus far are the attack was directed against Saada governorate & Dhamar, Yemen; reported Reuters specifically hit was a residential area in the capital Sana'a and the northern province of Saada,
If this is the case, and no proven military target destroyed, Trump has his hands full = it would be further indication that Biden accomplished nothing because Biden could accomplish nothing = Biden tried with the Eisenhower and Truman and was beaten back
Whats Trumps plan ? eg: To indiscrimantely bomb residential areas killing civilians in the capital, hoping Yemen Government can put a stop to the Houthis ?
ATTRITION The Eisenhower and Truman earlier trips estimated cost +/- $3 billion or more EACH , encompassing operational costs, maintenance, and support. Add in the missiles expended by Eisenhower Houthis probably spend at most +/- $ 20,000 per drone verse $ 1 Million average cost of each US missile launched off aircraft carrier
Trump needs $$$$$$ to fund this
Also Bolsters the discussion Trump Needs To Dump Ukraine Quick and focus monies and weapons on the Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing with Israel
. No Planes Out Of Israel if true indication is Israel Too Afraid Houthis Too Powerful
Simply praying no one is injured or killed on the Truman [ nor anywhere else ] this is a foolish game, Completely resolved by US Israeli Palestinian ceasefire now it may get worse
Swag
4 sides are all negotiating by increasing pressure:
- Hamas by drone attack into Israel
- Israel by cutting off food and electricity
- houthis by threatening shipping
- U.S. by air attacks
Didn’t the Houthis hit an American ship last year? I can’t remember which one but didn’t the military try to hide it and not to admit it happened?
Affirmative
Yes, whatever happened to a Declaration of War? The US calls the Houthis in Yemen "terrorists" in order to justify bombing them in the country of Yemen.
But here is the reality, as stated in Mark's post:
" The naval blockade declared by Yemen in support of Gaza is limited to Israeli shipping until humanitarian aid is delivered to the people of Gaza..."
It is obvious to me that the horrible bombing of Yemen, the threats to Iran, and the smackdown of American protestors against genocide of Palestinians~show that Israel (Zionists) are looked upon as precious gods by our ruling elite.
Declarations of War are so passé
Contacts among the Lebanese? That’s interesting. Not completely related, or maybe it is, but the Lebanese are among the kindest and most generous people I know. quite the diaspora in the South. It’s encouraging that Trump gets a different perspective. though i confess Im in agreement with @SarcasticCynicalTexan. (hello friend. I used to be in Texas but got sick of the Californians and moved to Mississippi).
Zionist's foreign policy bad ideas dominate in the Imperial City on the Potomac. Little Satan owns The Great Satan . . . same old song and dance continues endlessly.