Putin And Xi Preparing For Long War; Ilan Pappe
Yesterday, in the first paragraph of Putin's Shakeup--Looking To A Future Of Conflict?—I wrote:
It appears likely that Putin sees a future of conflict—whether that conflict will be diplomatic, economic, or military will depend on the American Empire.
Also yesterday, Will Schryver wrote on similar topics, with a focus on military conflict:
In the case of Russia and China, a comprehensive full-spectrum partnership has emerged: military, economic, and monetary.
I’ll get to excerpts from Schryver’s thoughtful post, but first I’ll point out an observation that Alexander Mercouris made to Alex Krainer this morning. Mercouris noted that Putin is currently visiting Xi in Beijing, but then added that—very unusually—essentially the entire Russian government has accompanied Putin. Lavrov, Shoigu, and other military and diplomatic officials. Most significantly, the new Defense Minister, Belousov, and very unusually the head of the Central Bank of Russia, Elvira Nabiullina.
The inclusion of Belousov makes sense, but it also fits in with the very unusual inclusion of Nabiulina. And so the title of this episode of The Duran is: Putin & Xi, preparing for big sanctions war. Belousov’s background is in economic planning, but with a strong financial background. The inclusion of Nabiulina suggests that the purpose of this inter-governmental summit is, indeed, to prepare for the American Empire’s developing sanctions war by coordinating economic and monetary policies. Indeed, Putin very prominently stressed the enormous increase of Russia - China trade and the fact that this trade is now almost entirely carried out in rubles and yuan.
Which is not at all to suggest that military coordination will not be discussed intensively. That is the topic that Schryver focuses on. Follow the link for the full post, but here are some trenchant excerpts. Schryver first spends some time discussing the increasingly close coordination of the Russian, Chinese, and Iranian militaries—who are determined to act All For One And One For All. Then:
It is increasingly evident that Russia, China, and Iran recognize that an attack against any one of them would constitute an existential threat to them all. The strategic interests of all three countries are now inextricably intertwined.
Most importantly, they are united in a single overriding strategic objective: to dismantle the dominion of the long-reigning Anglo-American empire.
Naturally, the rapidly waning global hegemon is not inclined to relinquish its throne without a fight. What form that fight takes remains to be seen. But if the empire attempts to preserve its so-called “rules-based international order” via force of arms, it is essential to understand this incontrovertible reality:
In order for the United States to make war against any ONE of Russia, China, or Iran, it would be necessary to effectively vacate every major US base on the planet in order to concentrate enough military power to undertake the mission.
This is an important point. The advent of Russian hypersonic missiles and their deployment on naval platforms, as well as Iran’s impressive display of their own missile technology’s ability against the best missile defense the American Empire could must in Israel, has demonstrated that not only aircraft carriers but also US military bases around the world are now at great risk. It would not be only a matter of concentrating power for a mission, it would also be a matter of self preservation.
In a putative war between the United States and Iran, both Russia and China would actively support Iran. I'm not suggesting Russian or Chinese forces would fight alongside Iranians — although that could happen. But it would likely not be necessary. Iran would simply be supplemented with arms and other logistical necessities from both its partners — and quite possibly taken under their nuclear umbrella in an explicit act of deterrence.
Additionally, in consequence of the US weakening its force posture in Europe and the western Pacific in a bid to militarily subdue Iran, Russia and China would be enabled to apply immense pressure to western logistics, trade, and political influence in those regions. This is not to suggest that China would invade Taiwan or Russia would invade the Baltics or Poland. They would need only to exert their dominant influence in what were previously considered to be unassailable American imperial domains in east Asia and Europe.
The empire is stretched so thin and its potential for power projection is so diluted that undertaking even one Big War would be enough to bring the entire house of cards tumbling down.
Shameful treatment of a notable historian by Zhou regime:
Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand
We've reached a whole new level of insanity and paranoia. Ilan Pappé, a 70 years old Jewish Israeli historian, was interrogated during 2 hours by the FBI at the airport in Detroit and asked if he was "a Hamas supporter"
His comment: "actions like this smell of sheer panic and desperation in reaction to Israel becoming very soon a pariah state with all the implications of such a status".
Here’s an example of what the Israeli government and its US proxy regime don’t want you to read:
Why Israel wants to erase context and history in the war on Gaza
The dehistoricisation of what is happening helps Israel pursue genocidal policies in Gaza.
Ilan Pappe
Ilan Pappe is the Director of European Center of Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter.
Also:
Tony Shaffer (Pronouns: Apocalypse/Now) @T_S_P_O_O_K_Y
Fact Check:
Quote
The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee
Nancy Pelosi Begins Dressing As Hobo After Learning San Francisco Giving Vodka Shots To Homeless https://buff.ly/3WJDH5U
Yikes. We’re so fucked.
I doubt either that Xi enjoyed being lectured to and patronized by Von Der Leyen and Macron during his recent visits. This kind of emotional and immature behaviour by Western leaders only serves to deepen China and Russia's resolve.