I spent a fair amount of time listening to a video at The Duran today. It featured a long discussion among Alex Christoforou, Alex Mercouris, and Gonzalo Lira. They start out, naturally enough, with the fall of Boris Johnson and what that portends for the war with Russia and Davos’ hold over the EU. From there they move on to the barking mad speech that Mike Pompeo gave to the Hudson Institute on 6/24/22—more on that further down.
I read the Duran often and find Alex Christoforou and Alex Mercouris usually sane and informative. On the other hand, I cannot stand Pompeo, the Warmonger Neocon Load who claims that the American People are in agreement with his neoCon worldview. I am even more repulsed by his idea that Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan be the three lighthouses for liberty. Just totally vomitous!
"The people of America are committed to seeing Ukraine emerge from this war as an undivided nation which will be a beacon to all, to show the world the primacy of freedom, determination, and of love."
That the Mighty (or is it the Almighty?) United States will fight to the last Ukrainian and lead the World to a state of freedom, determination and love. Regardless of consequences.
In the past I have looked back, and do so here again, to the doctrines, including the warnings, of Washington, Lincoln and Eisenhower. I invite the readers here to read, and read carefully, these warnings, and compare and contrast to Pompeo's message.
Thank you for the reminder to read Eisenhower's warning,
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded. Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific/technological elite."
We have not just a military-industrial complex, starting wars to sell arms, we have a pharmaceutical-industrial complex, in which public policy is captive to an elite looking for a return on its investment in pharmaceutical companies, starting diseases to sell cures.
You'll need to do better than a flat assertion supported only by your conversations with some Ukrainians to convince at least me that there has not been a gross provocation of Russian speakers, as well as of Russia, in Ukraine.
Among Pompeo's many great lines in this speech is "The world has become too small for free countries to not be part of something greater, which will forestall armed conflict rather than react to it."
Right. Its not enough that the US currently has (at least) 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad.
All 'free' countries should join something greater, i.e., NATO, over which they will have no independent control, which will be run by the likes of Joe Biden, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and Victoria Nuland, so that they can be told to participate in (hot and cold) wars against other 'free' countries, like Russia and China, not to mention Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia. And Iran and North Korea. And probably a dozen others.
Wait until President Pompeo declares war on Russia and orders Finnish and Polish and Turkish troops to get the job done.
Pompeo would look appropriate with some bagpipes - even at his reduced weight. I agree with Mark that he is unbalanced. His personal ambition has ALWAYS been VERY poorly concealed and he has always been neo-con establishment. What he does he does well - it is just wrong. Was Trump so bereft of candidates for SOS? Was he lied to? Where did the pressure for Pompeo come from? If Trump becomes President again he needs a Philippe de Commines, a Mazarin, or a Richilieu - someone strategic and cunning who knows the people of the foreign policy establishment and the workings of the DOS, DOD, intelligence agencies, and deep state, and is conniving enough to undercut them. Does such a person exist?
I think the changeover in government heads in Europe will cascade now. The question is will the replacements persist in the same policies? I think the governmental systems in Europe are too impervious to change at this point (case in point the German Greens). And are all of the candidates compromised as in Britain? What will it take to actually effect change in policies? How much will people put up with? We will see. As the Dutch and German farmers are just beginning to understand, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
There is a war to decrease oil exploration funded by the West, as well as drilling in Western Countries. The Mantra is Don’t drill to prevent global warming, or was it cooling?
In the US the war is using investment funds (net zero), banks, sec, epa, and department of interior.
China due to soft power / western elite corruption is untouchable economically. Trump was an exception to this, but with Biden we are back to business as usual.
Russia somehow became the perfect villain / scapegoat for the western elites.
No. In large parts of the inhabited world there are simply no alternatives to fossil fuel as the primary and dominant means of energy production at this point. Financial competitiveness is not even a question. The question is availability to meet peak and sustained demand.
Well, commenter Mary stole my thunder! I believe that they will “just go ahead with it” also. These people have shown me no evidence that they have ever “reflected on, or considered the consequences of” any policy decisions that they have ever made and I can’t see any reason why they would start now.
The collateral damage from inducing a possible depression is, well, almost unimaginable, but to consider it as a viable policy option is, well, totally insane.
These guys make Constable Dogberry look like a genius.
I do not oppose support of Taiwan and Israel, Ukraine? Like why did they all of a sudden get so important to John Q. Public? Actually the world seemed to be breaking out in peace 3/4's the way through President Trump's term, no telling how he would have done but when Obama left office the world was on fire, we would have to learn to live with ISIS yadda yadda now he's in his 3rd term and the flames lick higher. Obama/Biden's Iranian Nuke deal let them continue to develop long range missiles, we can handle WWII to break out now but appeasing has never turned out good and the last 2 years have seen it in absurdity. I read many years ago, a suggestion for a UN replacement (one can dream) based on something similar to what he was talking about. Of course it needs a lot of fleshing out but the UN hasn't and won't work. That only 38% in a recent poll said they are Proud to be an American is our first major war to win. Talk of anything else is kinda useless at this point. Recruitment is way down and if Biden pushes US into Ukraine how many Occupy Wall Street'ers you think are going to sign up? Not to be an isolationist, we have to have presence and influence on the world stage but we got serious serious domestic issues to square up, STAT and that means retaking Education then the rest of the institutions.
I am curious as to where Pompeo is getting his power to even think these thoughts. From what I can glean, he has worn out his welcome with Trump. I haven't read that he is a part of the deep state. Is he just a loose cannon spouting off? As a conservative, I can't imagine myself voting for him no matter his bona fides.
The story I read pointed out the paradox: That the general said to prepare for war even as they were also saying they were going ahead with plans for downsizing. I think UK "mobilizing" means backing up the US with rhetoric.
It is not a matter of number of Nazis it is a matter of the power of Nazis. There is nowhere else in the world where the power of the Nazis is equal to the Ukraine. Prove me wrong.
"...they put Ukraine first, willing to fight and die for Ukraine and better soldiers than most". Nice description. Would you be glad to have them your neighbors?
I read the Duran often and find Alex Christoforou and Alex Mercouris usually sane and informative. On the other hand, I cannot stand Pompeo, the Warmonger Neocon Load who claims that the American People are in agreement with his neoCon worldview. I am even more repulsed by his idea that Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan be the three lighthouses for liberty. Just totally vomitous!
Pompeii is a John McCain wanna be.
Yes, there is the horrifying Pompeo Doctrine:
"The people of America are committed to seeing Ukraine emerge from this war as an undivided nation which will be a beacon to all, to show the world the primacy of freedom, determination, and of love."
That the Mighty (or is it the Almighty?) United States will fight to the last Ukrainian and lead the World to a state of freedom, determination and love. Regardless of consequences.
In the past I have looked back, and do so here again, to the doctrines, including the warnings, of Washington, Lincoln and Eisenhower. I invite the readers here to read, and read carefully, these warnings, and compare and contrast to Pompeo's message.
Washington: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp
Lincoln: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/gettyb.asp
Eisenhower: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/eisenhower001.asp
These are dark days indeed.
Thank you for the reminder to read Eisenhower's warning,
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded. Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific/technological elite."
We have not just a military-industrial complex, starting wars to sell arms, we have a pharmaceutical-industrial complex, in which public policy is captive to an elite looking for a return on its investment in pharmaceutical companies, starting diseases to sell cures.
@Freedom
"There have been no persecutions of Russian speakers in Ukraine..."
I guess it depends on your definition of 'persecution'. For a different perspective see Stephen McIntyre's take:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1543204552203173888.html
You'll need to do better than a flat assertion supported only by your conversations with some Ukrainians to convince at least me that there has not been a gross provocation of Russian speakers, as well as of Russia, in Ukraine.
Among Pompeo's many great lines in this speech is "The world has become too small for free countries to not be part of something greater, which will forestall armed conflict rather than react to it."
Right. Its not enough that the US currently has (at least) 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad.
All 'free' countries should join something greater, i.e., NATO, over which they will have no independent control, which will be run by the likes of Joe Biden, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and Victoria Nuland, so that they can be told to participate in (hot and cold) wars against other 'free' countries, like Russia and China, not to mention Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia. And Iran and North Korea. And probably a dozen others.
Wait until President Pompeo declares war on Russia and orders Finnish and Polish and Turkish troops to get the job done.
Well said. I was stunned by that line, too. I mean, who does he think he's kidding?
Pompeo would look appropriate with some bagpipes - even at his reduced weight. I agree with Mark that he is unbalanced. His personal ambition has ALWAYS been VERY poorly concealed and he has always been neo-con establishment. What he does he does well - it is just wrong. Was Trump so bereft of candidates for SOS? Was he lied to? Where did the pressure for Pompeo come from? If Trump becomes President again he needs a Philippe de Commines, a Mazarin, or a Richilieu - someone strategic and cunning who knows the people of the foreign policy establishment and the workings of the DOS, DOD, intelligence agencies, and deep state, and is conniving enough to undercut them. Does such a person exist?
I think the changeover in government heads in Europe will cascade now. The question is will the replacements persist in the same policies? I think the governmental systems in Europe are too impervious to change at this point (case in point the German Greens). And are all of the candidates compromised as in Britain? What will it take to actually effect change in policies? How much will people put up with? We will see. As the Dutch and German farmers are just beginning to understand, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
I don’t see the price of oil going down.
There is a war to decrease oil exploration funded by the West, as well as drilling in Western Countries. The Mantra is Don’t drill to prevent global warming, or was it cooling?
In the US the war is using investment funds (net zero), banks, sec, epa, and department of interior.
China due to soft power / western elite corruption is untouchable economically. Trump was an exception to this, but with Biden we are back to business as usual.
Russia somehow became the perfect villain / scapegoat for the western elites.
They are nuts if they think they can drive the price of oil down to $40.
No. In large parts of the inhabited world there are simply no alternatives to fossil fuel as the primary and dominant means of energy production at this point. Financial competitiveness is not even a question. The question is availability to meet peak and sustained demand.
The hope is higher prices will make alternative energy more efficient.
Reality due to battery technology is different.
Pompeo sounds deranged. I can't believe neoconservatism is still a thing. It's like Iraq and Afghanistan never happened.
Well, commenter Mary stole my thunder! I believe that they will “just go ahead with it” also. These people have shown me no evidence that they have ever “reflected on, or considered the consequences of” any policy decisions that they have ever made and I can’t see any reason why they would start now.
The collateral damage from inducing a possible depression is, well, almost unimaginable, but to consider it as a viable policy option is, well, totally insane.
These guys make Constable Dogberry look like a genius.
Pompeo lost 90 pounds, he must have used meth, explains his raving insanity.
I do not oppose support of Taiwan and Israel, Ukraine? Like why did they all of a sudden get so important to John Q. Public? Actually the world seemed to be breaking out in peace 3/4's the way through President Trump's term, no telling how he would have done but when Obama left office the world was on fire, we would have to learn to live with ISIS yadda yadda now he's in his 3rd term and the flames lick higher. Obama/Biden's Iranian Nuke deal let them continue to develop long range missiles, we can handle WWII to break out now but appeasing has never turned out good and the last 2 years have seen it in absurdity. I read many years ago, a suggestion for a UN replacement (one can dream) based on something similar to what he was talking about. Of course it needs a lot of fleshing out but the UN hasn't and won't work. That only 38% in a recent poll said they are Proud to be an American is our first major war to win. Talk of anything else is kinda useless at this point. Recruitment is way down and if Biden pushes US into Ukraine how many Occupy Wall Street'ers you think are going to sign up? Not to be an isolationist, we have to have presence and influence on the world stage but we got serious serious domestic issues to square up, STAT and that means retaking Education then the rest of the institutions.
I'm tired of your trolling.
I am curious as to where Pompeo is getting his power to even think these thoughts. From what I can glean, he has worn out his welcome with Trump. I haven't read that he is a part of the deep state. Is he just a loose cannon spouting off? As a conservative, I can't imagine myself voting for him no matter his bona fides.
I'm still waiting for that "smooth transition to a second Trump administration", ha.
The story I read pointed out the paradox: That the general said to prepare for war even as they were also saying they were going ahead with plans for downsizing. I think UK "mobilizing" means backing up the US with rhetoric.
It is not a matter of number of Nazis it is a matter of the power of Nazis. There is nowhere else in the world where the power of the Nazis is equal to the Ukraine. Prove me wrong.
https://mate.substack.com/p/siding-with-ukraines-far-right-us?s=r
"...they put Ukraine first, willing to fight and die for Ukraine and better soldiers than most". Nice description. Would you be glad to have them your neighbors?
The real issue is what is the definition of a Nazi…
I just view it as another weaponized term, similarly to racist, White Supremacist, Transphobic, gay basher, etc…
Alinsky Rule # 13 explains:
"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. "
Listening to the radio this morning,
"The Beltway is a great big freeway
Put a hundred down and buy a car
In a week, maybe two, they'll make you a star
Weeks turn into years. How quick they pass
And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas..."
Maybe.
Its hard to reconcile this Pompeo with the one that was so proud of the Abraham Accords.