I can’t vouch for Pepe’s accuracy, but this business of sanctions should not be undertaken—or ramped up—lightly: For example, there are proud and ancient countries and civilizations that are important parts of the world economy—but don’t want to be run by the US and WEF:
The cancel culture has taken on Russia, China and India. The amount of propaganda is amazing to me. I wonder if propaganda will ever peak and then collapse back into itself.
Treehouse has the same thoughts. It’s interesting and terrifying how Western public and private parties are colluding as a woke mob to cancel Russia and Russians.
And there is no thought of the back lash, especially if Putin wins. There is no off ramp / exit. They are treating Russia as if it’s Nazi Germany. A fight against evil.
Add to this Emerald Robinson's article on Hannity's texts about the election, where he said one thing in public, and in private said no more stolen election talk.
Great link Ray. It's certainly fashionable for experts on State Media to trash Russia's economy but which economy seems more resilient, one based upon vital energy and mineral supplies or one based on financialized borrowing and deficit spending?
I find most of what Luongo is saying to be compelling. He has some funny ideas about Poland and Hungary accepting parts of Ukraine. Either country would be insane to do that, based on long history.
However, the bulk of the article about finance and economics makes a lot of sense. Re-monetization of gold seems to me to be very shrewd. Cutting "petro" loose from dollars also seems shrewd. This 1-2 punch would cause acute pain in the West, IMO, which--as Luongo says--would be blamed on the people in charge. Not on Putin. People want stability, not war with Russia--anyone telling you different is delusional. Which means our ruling elite.
More Luongo: “Russia has now, in effect, begun the remonetization of gold for domestic purposes. By removing the VAT on gold purchases Russian citizens can now offset their currency risk with gold and stabilize the domestic monetary situation.”
Meanwhile, here in upside-down-world, Fed Chair Powell denigrates gold by labelling it a “speculative” asset.
I like that "speculative asset". Whereas if I put my money in a bank there's no speculation--I lose. But of course Powell isn't talking about the little people. They don't count.
“This isn’t a war for Ukraine, it’s a war for the future of the entire world. Ukraine represents the hill both Davos and Russia have chosen to live or die on.”
Reading Interfax (post-Communist independent news) on a VPN routed via Hong Kong--can't get it with a US IP address. This is like living in China! Nothing's allowed in major media but State Dept. agitprop, and Russian media are blocked. We're fighting for freedom, right?
Thanks. The stupidity of the greens is something I have never been able to fully grasp. I guess it has the characteristics of a cult. The apparent stupidity of governments in embracing the green ideology, on the other hand, I have always attributed to the associated graft and the personal enrichment of politicians. Is it actually possible that the European governments (and Germany in particular) never considered the strategic geopolitical implications of making themselves energy-dependent on Russia? That too is hard to believe but I don't have an alternative hypothesis to offer. On the face of it they are imbeciles.
Hear hear, anyone who hasn't read (or listened to) Dostoevsky is missing out on one of the greatest thinkers and novelists of last 200 years. Crime and Punishment is also genius. Anna Karenina too.
Couldn’t agree more. My family — including high school aged boys — enjoyed listening to Crime and Punishment and Brothers K on our Sunday morning commute to/from church (45 min both directions). However, I have to point out that Anna Karenina was written by a lesser Russian author named Tolstoy.
No doubt. Dostoevsky was amazingly prescient in predicting and deploring the rise of communist thought in Russian intellectual circles. He was a great believer in Russian orthodoxy.
The cancel culture has taken on Russia, China and India. The amount of propaganda is amazing to me. I wonder if propaganda will ever peak and then collapse back into itself.
Treehouse has the same thoughts. It’s interesting and terrifying how Western public and private parties are colluding as a woke mob to cancel Russia and Russians.
And there is no thought of the back lash, especially if Putin wins. There is no off ramp / exit. They are treating Russia as if it’s Nazi Germany. A fight against evil.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/03/03/senator-lindsey-graham-calls-for-the-assassination-of-russian-president-vladimir-putin-things-are-getting-out-of-control/
What happens in a week if Putin has won?
Assume:
1. War is over.
2. Ukraine has agreed it won’t be part of NATO or develop nukes.
3.Russia sets up ethnic Russian dominated areas as independent countries.
4. Crimea is recognized as part of Russia.
5. Ukraine is now landlocked.
Scott Ritter's latest:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-crazy-fox
And Lindsay Graham calls for Putin's assassination....we have crossed the Rubicon, folks.
I have to agree with Ilhan Omar on Graham’s tweet:
https://mobile.twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1499588619887071275
He's a disgrace.
Hannity also did Wednesday night:
https://dailycaller.com/2022/03/02/sean-hannity-assassinate-putin/
Add to this Emerald Robinson's article on Hannity's texts about the election, where he said one thing in public, and in private said no more stolen election talk.
https://emeralddb3.substack.com/p/what-happened-to-hannity?s=r
But, but, but....all the good stuff, the music, the ballets, the literature was pre-Soviet, with a few rare exceptions.
Speaking of Ukraine and Nazis… this short documentary is very revealing:
https://www.bitchute.com/video/BCQdjYkcudCw/
As is Jimmy Dore’s recent screed here:
https://youtu.be/KfaAyiP8Wuc
Pepe Escobar with more details:
https://www.unz.com/pescobar/follow-the-money-how-russia-will-bypass-western-economic-warfare/
My take is the West has gone nuclear on financial and information warfare, and Russia has barely begun to fight.
Tom Luongo has some excellent points:
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/luongo-opening-salvos-thrown-what-are-putins-next-steps-ukraine
Great link Ray. It's certainly fashionable for experts on State Media to trash Russia's economy but which economy seems more resilient, one based upon vital energy and mineral supplies or one based on financialized borrowing and deficit spending?
Thanks. I've been waiting for him to weigh in.
I find most of what Luongo is saying to be compelling. He has some funny ideas about Poland and Hungary accepting parts of Ukraine. Either country would be insane to do that, based on long history.
However, the bulk of the article about finance and economics makes a lot of sense. Re-monetization of gold seems to me to be very shrewd. Cutting "petro" loose from dollars also seems shrewd. This 1-2 punch would cause acute pain in the West, IMO, which--as Luongo says--would be blamed on the people in charge. Not on Putin. People want stability, not war with Russia--anyone telling you different is delusional. Which means our ruling elite.
More Luongo: “Russia has now, in effect, begun the remonetization of gold for domestic purposes. By removing the VAT on gold purchases Russian citizens can now offset their currency risk with gold and stabilize the domestic monetary situation.”
Meanwhile, here in upside-down-world, Fed Chair Powell denigrates gold by labelling it a “speculative” asset.
I like that "speculative asset". Whereas if I put my money in a bank there's no speculation--I lose. But of course Powell isn't talking about the little people. They don't count.
“This isn’t a war for Ukraine, it’s a war for the future of the entire world. Ukraine represents the hill both Davos and Russia have chosen to live or die on.”
Luongo is spot on.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/03/03/the-motive-for-the-strategic-creation-of-brics-resurfaces-in-the-ukraine-conflict/
David P. Goldman
@davidpgoldman
Reading Interfax (post-Communist independent news) on a VPN routed via Hong Kong--can't get it with a US IP address. This is like living in China! Nothing's allowed in major media but State Dept. agitprop, and Russian media are blocked. We're fighting for freedom, right?
For those who are interested here is a Chinese analyst (Chen Feng) highly respected by Spengler (https://twitter.com/davidpgoldman/status/1499368334173020162?cxt=HHwWhIDRncrj6c4pAAAA) on the Ukraine situation:
https://www-guancha-cn.translate.goog/ChenFeng3/2022_03_02_628308_s.shtml?_x_tr_sl=zh-CN&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Nothing earth shattering but it is still interesting to see what this analyst can and does say.
Thanks! Very interesting.
This is just an expansion of what was done to Trump, unpersoning him.
Thanks. The stupidity of the greens is something I have never been able to fully grasp. I guess it has the characteristics of a cult. The apparent stupidity of governments in embracing the green ideology, on the other hand, I have always attributed to the associated graft and the personal enrichment of politicians. Is it actually possible that the European governments (and Germany in particular) never considered the strategic geopolitical implications of making themselves energy-dependent on Russia? That too is hard to believe but I don't have an alternative hypothesis to offer. On the face of it they are imbeciles.
Hear hear, anyone who hasn't read (or listened to) Dostoevsky is missing out on one of the greatest thinkers and novelists of last 200 years. Crime and Punishment is also genius. Anna Karenina too.
Couldn’t agree more. My family — including high school aged boys — enjoyed listening to Crime and Punishment and Brothers K on our Sunday morning commute to/from church (45 min both directions). However, I have to point out that Anna Karenina was written by a lesser Russian author named Tolstoy.
My apologies to Leo! The hazard of audiobooks rather than book in hand.
No doubt. Dostoevsky was amazingly prescient in predicting and deploring the rise of communist thought in Russian intellectual circles. He was a great believer in Russian orthodoxy.
Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself… at least you were sensible enough to be anti-communist!