Today and tomorrow I have personal business to take care of, but I’ve done a transcript/summary of what I found to be a fascinating geopolitical discussion. I’ll paste in my summary first—and it is just a summary. If you look at the summary first you’ll be able to decide if you want to watch/listen to the whole thing.
Thanks Mark. This blog reminded me of the recent UN security council vote on the Russian resolution re: Nordstream II. Russia, China, BRICS has more work to do. US hegemony in action.
9295TH MEETING* (PM)
SC/15243
27 MARCH 2023
Security Council Rejects Draft Resolution Establishing Commission to Investigate Sabotage of Nord Stream Pipeline
The Security Council failed today to adopt a resolution, put forward by the representative of the Russian Federation, which would have established an international independent investigative commission into the September 2022 “acts of sabotage” committed on the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
By a vote of 3 in favour (Brazil, China, Russian Federation) to none against, with 12 abstentions, the Council rejected the draft resolution, owing to a lack of sufficient votes in favour.
The Council is composed of 15 Members:
Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year):
Yeah, my thinking on China has evolved. To paraphrase what I've heard Col. MacGregor say, "China didn't steal our manufacturing base, we gave it to them."
I occasionally check in with this YouTube team, SerpentZA and C-milk (?). They are younger guys with a good understanding of China---lived there for years, read/write, married to Chinese--mostly social and economic; not so much political. But they brought up a point I've not heard anywhere else: If Xi were to start a war of choice, and thousands of Chinese men start coming home in body bags (consider the old one-child policy), the people would be outraged. Like, overthrow-level. Chinese people still hate Vietnam after that 70's fiasco. Apparently Xi's hold is not ironclad and Xi knows it. Their opinion, but dots are easy to connect.
For intelligent analysis and commentary this site can't be beat. I find this article problematic, and would appreciate some assistance. We in the US it seems live in a bubble, and are disturbed by world developments. Who are 'we'?
V. D. Hanson had an article yesterday in American Greatness entitled "Can We Do Anything About America's Decline." It summarizes much of what is of concern to most Americans. Millions of Trump voters feel disenfranchised. More millions are disturbed that the rule of law and our Constitution no longer seem relevant. True, many others live in a bubble, and are blissfully unaware of what is going on in the world. Just who, then, represents the views of the 'US' in this article?
As a schoolkid I lived through WWII. We collected paper for the war effort, there was Rosie the Riveter replacing the young men off fighting and Hollywood and the media inspired us. Now the media is busy feeding us the Washington line and the 'woke' way of life and we ain't buying. So when push comes to shove, when an actual effort is required to back up what the 'US' wants to implement, who will be there, Kemo Sabe?
We have WWII to thank for the military industrial complex. Eisenhower warned of this at his farewell address.
JFK kept it alive with his goal to have a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Spawned all kinds of innovation. Incredible stuff. I especially appreciate the microwave Pop Tarts.
My point is that in my 80+ years I have never met an American who was inspired to think of America as an empire. Many of us took pride in our freedom, our humanity, our pragmatic approach to life, and the benefits we enjoyed. I now have a further question. Just who in this country see us as above all an empire, and how much of the population do they represent?
The question used to be, "Why do send so much money to foreign nations?" Now it's "Why do send so much money to foreign nations when we have so many problems at home?"
Read today where a Citibank big shot is backing US engagement on behalf of Ukraine justifying it by saying there is 150B in capital waiting to be consumed. Sick.
I read on this site that Powell and the New York bankers are very concerned with saving the American economy, in the face of the Congress and Europe doing everything hey can to destroy things.. Could be they are the adults, the good guys, and there are lots of others to blame for what is happening.
McCarthy's all talk on the debt ceiling.
Thanks Mark. This blog reminded me of the recent UN security council vote on the Russian resolution re: Nordstream II. Russia, China, BRICS has more work to do. US hegemony in action.
9295TH MEETING* (PM)
SC/15243
27 MARCH 2023
Security Council Rejects Draft Resolution Establishing Commission to Investigate Sabotage of Nord Stream Pipeline
The Security Council failed today to adopt a resolution, put forward by the representative of the Russian Federation, which would have established an international independent investigative commission into the September 2022 “acts of sabotage” committed on the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
By a vote of 3 in favour (Brazil, China, Russian Federation) to none against, with 12 abstentions, the Council rejected the draft resolution, owing to a lack of sufficient votes in favour.
The Council is composed of 15 Members:
Five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly (with end of term year):
Albania (2023)
Brazil (2023)
Ecuador (2024)
Gabon (2023)
Ghana (2023)
Japan (2024)
Malta (2024)
Mozambique (2024)
Switzerland (2024)
United Arab Emirates (2023)
Yeah, my thinking on China has evolved. To paraphrase what I've heard Col. MacGregor say, "China didn't steal our manufacturing base, we gave it to them."
I occasionally check in with this YouTube team, SerpentZA and C-milk (?). They are younger guys with a good understanding of China---lived there for years, read/write, married to Chinese--mostly social and economic; not so much political. But they brought up a point I've not heard anywhere else: If Xi were to start a war of choice, and thousands of Chinese men start coming home in body bags (consider the old one-child policy), the people would be outraged. Like, overthrow-level. Chinese people still hate Vietnam after that 70's fiasco. Apparently Xi's hold is not ironclad and Xi knows it. Their opinion, but dots are easy to connect.
For intelligent analysis and commentary this site can't be beat. I find this article problematic, and would appreciate some assistance. We in the US it seems live in a bubble, and are disturbed by world developments. Who are 'we'?
V. D. Hanson had an article yesterday in American Greatness entitled "Can We Do Anything About America's Decline." It summarizes much of what is of concern to most Americans. Millions of Trump voters feel disenfranchised. More millions are disturbed that the rule of law and our Constitution no longer seem relevant. True, many others live in a bubble, and are blissfully unaware of what is going on in the world. Just who, then, represents the views of the 'US' in this article?
As a schoolkid I lived through WWII. We collected paper for the war effort, there was Rosie the Riveter replacing the young men off fighting and Hollywood and the media inspired us. Now the media is busy feeding us the Washington line and the 'woke' way of life and we ain't buying. So when push comes to shove, when an actual effort is required to back up what the 'US' wants to implement, who will be there, Kemo Sabe?
We have WWII to thank for the military industrial complex. Eisenhower warned of this at his farewell address.
JFK kept it alive with his goal to have a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Spawned all kinds of innovation. Incredible stuff. I especially appreciate the microwave Pop Tarts.
Your genial sarcasm has no match!
My point is that in my 80+ years I have never met an American who was inspired to think of America as an empire. Many of us took pride in our freedom, our humanity, our pragmatic approach to life, and the benefits we enjoyed. I now have a further question. Just who in this country see us as above all an empire, and how much of the population do they represent?
NeoCons with the MSM.
Hammer the empire message home, perle - it transcends partisanship.
The question used to be, "Why do send so much money to foreign nations?" Now it's "Why do send so much money to foreign nations when we have so many problems at home?"
Read today where a Citibank big shot is backing US engagement on behalf of Ukraine justifying it by saying there is 150B in capital waiting to be consumed. Sick.
I read on this site that Powell and the New York bankers are very concerned with saving the American economy, in the face of the Congress and Europe doing everything hey can to destroy things.. Could be they are the adults, the good guys, and there are lots of others to blame for what is happening.
The bankers want to save themselves and this time their actions appear to align, at least for now, in trying to save the country, too.