In his most recent substack Seymour Hersh maintains that Zhou is being fed “happy horsesh*t” about Ukrainian war prospects by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), but contrary intel from the CIA doesn’t get to him.
R. Taggert Murphy’s recent essay in Compact magazine provides a fascinating comparative framework to understand the end of our Empire. Forget about the fall of Rome, he says. A better comparison is the fantastic rise and ignominious decline of Spain. His breezy and relatively non-technical history of “dollar hegemony” alone makes the essay worth reading.
A great comparison and one that I doubt would come to mind for many Americans. The rise and fall of Spain happened at a pace much closer to ours than that of the Roman Empire, although the proximate causes are similar in all cases.
They maintain Patriarchates in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem and in old Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. Those seem like a couple if tight needles to thread. Too bad they can’t also maintain relations with Azerbaijan.
Mark, thanks for your rhoroughness and fine analysis of this truly vile affair. Listening to Mercouris earlier today ( the program in which he mentions Ted Snider’s article at Antiwar), made me realize something horrific: we didn’t deign to speak to the Russians (or take their misgivings re security seriously), and war began. Now, on the brink of defeat (but unable to admit the failure of the counteroffensive), we will not speak to the Russians…so nothing has changed, except in order to get back to where we started, we have sent hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to their death. What time insanity - despicable.
Putin gave the peace terms in late 2021, before the SMO commenced. He knew that the West would not accept them, so he pressed the Start button. I don't think that he will stop until the West is prepared to accept those terms. What reason would he have?
R. Taggert Murphy’s recent essay in Compact magazine provides a fascinating comparative framework to understand the end of our Empire. Forget about the fall of Rome, he says. A better comparison is the fantastic rise and ignominious decline of Spain. His breezy and relatively non-technical history of “dollar hegemony” alone makes the essay worth reading.
https://compactmag.com/article/spain-s-lessons-for-american-decline
A great comparison and one that I doubt would come to mind for many Americans. The rise and fall of Spain happened at a pace much closer to ours than that of the Roman Empire, although the proximate causes are similar in all cases.
Thanks. I thought it was something unique (and special) like that. Will check these out. Thanks.
They maintain Patriarchates in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem and in old Constantinople in Istanbul, Turkey. Those seem like a couple if tight needles to thread. Too bad they can’t also maintain relations with Azerbaijan.
Do you know what flavor of Christians are the Armenians? It's one thing to hang allies out to dry. It's another to do that to brothers of the faith.
And duly noted, the Armenians will get what they deserve for putting a Soros acolyte in charge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church
It's been separate from Constantinople since 554. Also this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Catholic_Church
Bhadrakumar's writings are always so instructive. He shares a diplomat's view, and always makes it clear and convincing.
Mark, thanks for your rhoroughness and fine analysis of this truly vile affair. Listening to Mercouris earlier today ( the program in which he mentions Ted Snider’s article at Antiwar), made me realize something horrific: we didn’t deign to speak to the Russians (or take their misgivings re security seriously), and war began. Now, on the brink of defeat (but unable to admit the failure of the counteroffensive), we will not speak to the Russians…so nothing has changed, except in order to get back to where we started, we have sent hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to their death. What time insanity - despicable.
I was listening to that while writing. The video with Crooke and Diesen was also excellent.
Putin gave the peace terms in late 2021, before the SMO commenced. He knew that the West would not accept them, so he pressed the Start button. I don't think that he will stop until the West is prepared to accept those terms. What reason would he have?
My view as well.
And when that doesn’t happen? (Which it won’t) what will he do?
As they say, “Boom” I think and hope that you’ve got it there.
Good a guess as any. Hopefully our crazy noecon masters don’t blow us all up first
He has been resistant to baiting so far. The big question is if he can keep the rest of the country hanging in there with him
Medicare wasn’t/isn’t a good thing by any measure. It has destroyed medicine and medical care in this country.
Getting rid of George H. W. Bush was worth it.