Trump is a lost cause six weeks before his inauguration. The Zionists are in charge, even though the worst actors--Kagan/Nuland, et.al.--are hiding out. So they are going to drive the US into the feared regional war, and it will be up to Russia to answer. Way to go, MAGA.
As much as I want to take to heart what Ritter says, my mind is always asking, just what are you looking at on your computer monitor while pontificating.
In the last year, Israel has destroyed Gaza, invaded Lebanon and dropped bombs there, bombed Iran, and now is meddling in Syria. And the US is backing all of this action? Is anyone safer now, including the Israelis?
Maybe Trump should explain exactly what he plans to do in the ME. Many of us assumed he would start to withdraw the 50,000 troops deployed to various ME bases.
If Trump doesn't reign in the warfare state and stop the meddling worldwide, his party is going to get wiped out in 2026 and it will be well deserved.
They, in essence, are two sides of the same coin to use an old phrase. There is a slight difference, though. Republicans in general tend toward the patriotic and want to make money and keep America relatively safe. Democrats want to make money through chaos and revolution and will destroy America to achieve their ideological goals. Their path has no trickle down effect.
I often said that the difference between them is that the Democrats promise to do evil things and then do them whereas the Republicans promise to do good things and then don't. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of [the Democrats] is for [Republicans] to do nothing." h/t Edmund Burke.
At least this is what I used to believe. Now, I believe the Republicans are simply controlled opposition - the "good cop" to the Democrat's "bad cop." Peas in a Uniparty pod. It is or will be a horrible shame if Trump falls prey to landing anywhere within this paradigm. His support in both 2016 and 2024 was largely intended to expose both sides of the Uniparty and break through their corruption as a means to restoring our proper Constitutional order. Hard to believe he doesn't realize this.
I've commented that the Democrats are hellbent on driving the country into a ditch while the Republicans are content to take a more leisurely approach.
I can't get too excited about the future of the country until the voters quit picking names like McConnell, Shumer, Graham, Durbin, Cornyn, Schiff, etc.
I vote the best I can in primaries. If the incumbent is good, he gets my vote for two terms. I don't support candidates who climb from state rep to state senator to governor, etc. I vote for candidates I know have no chance if they're honest and have good ideas. I write in names.
Yeah, it boggles the mind, doesn't it? To beat a probably dead horse, the Seventeenth Amendment (direct election of Senators) was perhaps the most pernicious of all amendments and bills, only rivaled by the Sixteenth Amendment (Federal Income Tax).
Still that does not excuse responsibility for electing these horrible people over and over again. Kentucky is a head-scratcher for me: How can the same state that elected Rand Paul and Thomas Massie also keep reelecting Yertle the Turtle? The system ensures that it's all about money and politics and not about popularity and certainly not about productivity.
Same for SO MANY states. Once they get in it is virtually impossible to get them out no matter what they do as long as they are backed by their party and the political machinery of the state - especially if they have accumulated national power and monetary support. Who or what do we blame most in the end?
I see so many ppl complain about the state of our politics but no one talk about campaign finance reform. I appreciate that at least you’ve touched on money in politics here.
I’m from KY and that is part of the key to McConnell. He’s a master of the game.
Always smeared his opponent and brought home just enough pork-bacon to dampen criticism.
I am sickened by it all. He’s already failing us and he hasn’t even taken office yet.
As for Ritter’s hope that someone can break through and talk some sense to Trump: as I’ve said before, no doubt he’s been told the truth about Ukraine, Israel, all of it. Either he doesn’t listen or, as Mark suggests, he acts and speaks contrary to the truth for nefarious reasons. Either way, we’re screwed.
His only power right now is announcements. And bellicose bluffs are part of Trumps negotiating style. He still needs to get his appointments confirmed,
Alastair Crooke, who knows a thing or two about diplomacy as well as intel work, says that bellicose bluffs don't cut it in the diplomatic world of high stakes negotiations.
Trump's bellicose statements, bluffs or not, have only the value the "marketplace" ascribes to them. If his counterparties and adversaries believe them, then they are a legitimate and purposeful and effective negotiating tactic. If not, they are worthless. At this point, Trump (as a professional negotiator) must feel that such statements of his have significant value or he would not be making them.
The bluster this time seems different. Here he's not calling for negotiations or a deal. At all. Unlike the Ukraine Russia front bluster. Here he's creating a red line.
Remember recognizing Jerusalem as capital? Remember recognizing annexation of Golan? Who called those shots? Those were Adelson conditions for their money.
If Netanyahu says bombing Iran is the way to go, the donor base will go along with it. WW3 is your term. Trump did bomb Syria and murder Soleimani.
Those named people don't have to sign off on bombing Iran--although most of them already have, one way or another. Possibly Congress would want to sign off, but they'll do it.
My suspicions of regional enmity toward the Palestinians is due to surrounding states not wanting the spill over from the conflict, their kingdoms are already shaky enough. So, they disparage the Palestinians to appease the forces they fear. What gets little attention is the desires of the real owners of Israel and their expansionist/imperialism to expand or often being referred to as Lebensraum by many who see history repeating. They also covet the oil and the profits to be made transporting oil to Europe via an alternate gateway to the Mediterranean. I think the project is referred to as the Ben Gurian Canal or pathway. No one among the Western leaders wants to admit Israel is the problem because of strong financial entities who own the propaganda cycles and use om-sites forces that keep the Israeli's safe from non-Western detractors. I don't think Crookes way of diplomacy has ever been tried. The diplomacy between Israel and it's main foe has long been Western arms and munitions and plenty of U.S. tax payer money to protect and grow the Jews of Israel and their absentee owners in the City of London..
Like, which ME country wants Israel as a neighbor? The Lebanese? Ask the Christians in Lebanon how they like being bombed and having their churches descrated by Jews.
I couldn't agree more. My point is there is a lot of misunderstanding of the motivations of such countries as Saudi Arabia, perhaps the Egyptians and any bordering country that might be subject to unwanted refugees, want to keep their options open, but you are correct the surrounding countries surely do not like Israel as a neighbor. I have many Egyptian Coptic Christians (some Iraqi, and plenty of Syrian Orthodox) who despise Israel. They know the view in the USA is largely based on years of propaganda that is pro-Israel.
Brilliant satire. Of course Israel has ***an enforcement mechanism on the US.***
It's called The Israel Lobby, and it's all about money, which is the lifeblood of American politics.
Re the Abraham Accords--a Kushner real estate deal in essence--that's what led to the current situation. Or haven't you been paying attention. It was a scheme to lock the Palestinians out of any negotiations and then ethnically cleanse them. That was Trump's brilliant scheme, and look what it led to.
"the Palestinians. No one likes them and nobody wants them as a neighbor"
That's Jewish propaganda. The problem with Palestinians is not Palestinians in Palestine. Nobody wants a flood of refugees into their countries that are already struggling. Not so different from border issues in the US. Except that we don't live under the threat of air strikes.
What reality are you living in? Yes, actions do speak louder than words that's why the United states and it's allies provide plenty of arms and money to protect them. That's action the Western way.
"they do nothing to assist them of any consequence ever."
And what has happened to Arab countries that have attempted to stand up to Jewish supremacy? There are some historical examples, and they do explain the lack of assistance. The US crushes resistance--it least it has in the past.
"But first the killing has to stop."
The killing is an implicit part of the Abraham Accords plan. The plan was always ethnic cleansing, but the Palestinians weren't supposed to resist the ethnic cleansing--killing is just a supplement to forced deportation. That has been the history of Jewish treatment of the Palestinians. It will happen on the West Bank, too.
Just yesterday the Israeli government announced that they envision reducing the population of Gaza by 50%. The methods currently being used--explicitly avowed by Israel--include bombing and starvation. North Gaza has been declared a civilian free zone--anyone non-Jew there is presumptively a terrorist. Where do you suppose those Palestinians will go? Egypt for starters. Will Egypt--a desperately poor country--be consulted on this flood of refugees? No.
Trump is a lost cause six weeks before his inauguration. The Zionists are in charge, even though the worst actors--Kagan/Nuland, et.al.--are hiding out. So they are going to drive the US into the feared regional war, and it will be up to Russia to answer. Way to go, MAGA.
As much as I want to take to heart what Ritter says, my mind is always asking, just what are you looking at on your computer monitor while pontificating.
In the last year, Israel has destroyed Gaza, invaded Lebanon and dropped bombs there, bombed Iran, and now is meddling in Syria. And the US is backing all of this action? Is anyone safer now, including the Israelis?
Maybe Trump should explain exactly what he plans to do in the ME. Many of us assumed he would start to withdraw the 50,000 troops deployed to various ME bases.
If Trump doesn't reign in the warfare state and stop the meddling worldwide, his party is going to get wiped out in 2026 and it will be well deserved.
I've commented in the past that the only thing worse than a Democrat is a Republican and the only thing worse than a Republican is a Democrat.
They, in essence, are two sides of the same coin to use an old phrase. There is a slight difference, though. Republicans in general tend toward the patriotic and want to make money and keep America relatively safe. Democrats want to make money through chaos and revolution and will destroy America to achieve their ideological goals. Their path has no trickle down effect.
I often said that the difference between them is that the Democrats promise to do evil things and then do them whereas the Republicans promise to do good things and then don't. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of [the Democrats] is for [Republicans] to do nothing." h/t Edmund Burke.
At least this is what I used to believe. Now, I believe the Republicans are simply controlled opposition - the "good cop" to the Democrat's "bad cop." Peas in a Uniparty pod. It is or will be a horrible shame if Trump falls prey to landing anywhere within this paradigm. His support in both 2016 and 2024 was largely intended to expose both sides of the Uniparty and break through their corruption as a means to restoring our proper Constitutional order. Hard to believe he doesn't realize this.
Well said, diss. I share your feelings and you articulated it well for the current phase of our Republic. It wasn't always this way.
I've commented that the Democrats are hellbent on driving the country into a ditch while the Republicans are content to take a more leisurely approach.
I can't get too excited about the future of the country until the voters quit picking names like McConnell, Shumer, Graham, Durbin, Cornyn, Schiff, etc.
Voters don't pick these people, they are chosen for us and then we vote on the evil of two lessers.
I vote the best I can in primaries. If the incumbent is good, he gets my vote for two terms. I don't support candidates who climb from state rep to state senator to governor, etc. I vote for candidates I know have no chance if they're honest and have good ideas. I write in names.
Most importantly, I pray for the country.
Yeah, it boggles the mind, doesn't it? To beat a probably dead horse, the Seventeenth Amendment (direct election of Senators) was perhaps the most pernicious of all amendments and bills, only rivaled by the Sixteenth Amendment (Federal Income Tax).
Still that does not excuse responsibility for electing these horrible people over and over again. Kentucky is a head-scratcher for me: How can the same state that elected Rand Paul and Thomas Massie also keep reelecting Yertle the Turtle? The system ensures that it's all about money and politics and not about popularity and certainly not about productivity.
Same for SO MANY states. Once they get in it is virtually impossible to get them out no matter what they do as long as they are backed by their party and the political machinery of the state - especially if they have accumulated national power and monetary support. Who or what do we blame most in the end?
I see so many ppl complain about the state of our politics but no one talk about campaign finance reform. I appreciate that at least you’ve touched on money in politics here.
I’m from KY and that is part of the key to McConnell. He’s a master of the game.
Always smeared his opponent and brought home just enough pork-bacon to dampen criticism.
‘Who or what do we blame most in the end?’ - the MSM. (Or, those who refuse to recognize who and who not to trust)
I am sickened by it all. He’s already failing us and he hasn’t even taken office yet.
As for Ritter’s hope that someone can break through and talk some sense to Trump: as I’ve said before, no doubt he’s been told the truth about Ukraine, Israel, all of it. Either he doesn’t listen or, as Mark suggests, he acts and speaks contrary to the truth for nefarious reasons. Either way, we’re screwed.
Trump has not assumed office yet.
His only power right now is announcements. And bellicose bluffs are part of Trumps negotiating style. He still needs to get his appointments confirmed,
Alastair Crooke, who knows a thing or two about diplomacy as well as intel work, says that bellicose bluffs don't cut it in the diplomatic world of high stakes negotiations.
Trump's bellicose statements, bluffs or not, have only the value the "marketplace" ascribes to them. If his counterparties and adversaries believe them, then they are a legitimate and purposeful and effective negotiating tactic. If not, they are worthless. At this point, Trump (as a professional negotiator) must feel that such statements of his have significant value or he would not be making them.
The bluster this time seems different. Here he's not calling for negotiations or a deal. At all. Unlike the Ukraine Russia front bluster. Here he's creating a red line.
Remember recognizing Jerusalem as capital? Remember recognizing annexation of Golan? Who called those shots? Those were Adelson conditions for their money.
If Netanyahu says bombing Iran is the way to go, the donor base will go along with it. WW3 is your term. Trump did bomb Syria and murder Soleimani.
Those named people don't have to sign off on bombing Iran--although most of them already have, one way or another. Possibly Congress would want to sign off, but they'll do it.
LOL, Ray. I just saw your comment after I posted mine.
I agree. I'm not throwing in the towel yet. His comments are concerning but I will wait until I see his actions.
He's a master at pushing people's buttons.
We talk big, but we don't have the means anymore to back up our bellicose rhetoric.
OT. Evidently Trump is headed to Paris this weekend, attending ceremonies of the reopening Notre Dame Cathedral.
Not sure if this is a good idea from a security standpoint?
Oh yeah. We better protect this guy because he’s the only one standing between us and WWIII. <sarcasm alert>
It's Greater Israel or bust.
My suspicions of regional enmity toward the Palestinians is due to surrounding states not wanting the spill over from the conflict, their kingdoms are already shaky enough. So, they disparage the Palestinians to appease the forces they fear. What gets little attention is the desires of the real owners of Israel and their expansionist/imperialism to expand or often being referred to as Lebensraum by many who see history repeating. They also covet the oil and the profits to be made transporting oil to Europe via an alternate gateway to the Mediterranean. I think the project is referred to as the Ben Gurian Canal or pathway. No one among the Western leaders wants to admit Israel is the problem because of strong financial entities who own the propaganda cycles and use om-sites forces that keep the Israeli's safe from non-Western detractors. I don't think Crookes way of diplomacy has ever been tried. The diplomacy between Israel and it's main foe has long been Western arms and munitions and plenty of U.S. tax payer money to protect and grow the Jews of Israel and their absentee owners in the City of London..
Like, which ME country wants Israel as a neighbor? The Lebanese? Ask the Christians in Lebanon how they like being bombed and having their churches descrated by Jews.
I couldn't agree more. My point is there is a lot of misunderstanding of the motivations of such countries as Saudi Arabia, perhaps the Egyptians and any bordering country that might be subject to unwanted refugees, want to keep their options open, but you are correct the surrounding countries surely do not like Israel as a neighbor. I have many Egyptian Coptic Christians (some Iraqi, and plenty of Syrian Orthodox) who despise Israel. They know the view in the USA is largely based on years of propaganda that is pro-Israel.
"create an enforcement mechanism on ... Israel"
Brilliant satire. Of course Israel has ***an enforcement mechanism on the US.***
It's called The Israel Lobby, and it's all about money, which is the lifeblood of American politics.
Re the Abraham Accords--a Kushner real estate deal in essence--that's what led to the current situation. Or haven't you been paying attention. It was a scheme to lock the Palestinians out of any negotiations and then ethnically cleanse them. That was Trump's brilliant scheme, and look what it led to.
"the Palestinians. No one likes them and nobody wants them as a neighbor"
That's Jewish propaganda. The problem with Palestinians is not Palestinians in Palestine. Nobody wants a flood of refugees into their countries that are already struggling. Not so different from border issues in the US. Except that we don't live under the threat of air strikes.
I've heard this so many times from Jews and their Goyish supporters:
"the Palestinians. No one likes them and nobody wants them as a neighbor"
The subtext being:
'Nobody likes you--that's why you're being killed. It's your own fault.'
What reality are you living in? Yes, actions do speak louder than words that's why the United states and it's allies provide plenty of arms and money to protect them. That's action the Western way.
"they do nothing to assist them of any consequence ever."
And what has happened to Arab countries that have attempted to stand up to Jewish supremacy? There are some historical examples, and they do explain the lack of assistance. The US crushes resistance--it least it has in the past.
"But first the killing has to stop."
The killing is an implicit part of the Abraham Accords plan. The plan was always ethnic cleansing, but the Palestinians weren't supposed to resist the ethnic cleansing--killing is just a supplement to forced deportation. That has been the history of Jewish treatment of the Palestinians. It will happen on the West Bank, too.
Just yesterday the Israeli government announced that they envision reducing the population of Gaza by 50%. The methods currently being used--explicitly avowed by Israel--include bombing and starvation. North Gaza has been declared a civilian free zone--anyone non-Jew there is presumptively a terrorist. Where do you suppose those Palestinians will go? Egypt for starters. Will Egypt--a desperately poor country--be consulted on this flood of refugees? No.
This is what you call "a real peace process"?