There are some conflicting interpretations of what’s going on, in the wake of Zhou’s disastrous European trip—which is continuing into farce back in DC:
Yes, thank you Mark, this is one of your best posts and, it seems to me, approaches the beating heart of the globalist cabal's demented project. You are a keen and principled observer of events in this so-called WWIV,
a kind of strange and wonderful cross between Ernie Pyle and Russell Kirk (pardon my clumsy metaphor). To me you are indispensable.
Thanks Mark for the fantastic post. I think Luongo is right (as usual) in his analysis. He is, I believe, right that the neo-Cons and warmongers in the Exec branch and Congress will push for military escalation. I don't know that the Pentagon will be the limiting factor for preventing that escalation, though. I think it more likely that Europe will be. I think the European political and financial system leaders will back down shortly given the ramifications of their supporting a direct military attack on Russia. They may be stupid but I don't think they are all insane (other than maybe Poland) and they are certainly not courageous. Even Davos and its band of billionaire lunatics doesn't have enough money to pay off all of the people needed to suicide the European continent and the world economy. At least that is what I hope.
Reading Mark's post i can't help but wonder, At what point do each of us become culpable in this evil? It bears resharing this short video, not only because it's funny as heck, but it makes a serious point for all of us: are WE the baddies?
Seriously, at some point, each of us bears personal responsibility if we continue to allow this Regime to stay in power. Not because of voting--- most of us know elections at the federal level are shams-- but because we continue to do all the things that allow and empower this Regime to function.
For example, at what point did the ordinary German citizen have a duty by all that is holy and righteous to oppose the Nazi regime? In the 1930s, certainly. That would have been relatively easy before Hitler came to power. And anyone who voted for him is guilty too. But what about the ones who didn't vote him in, who actively agitated against him and donated to good candidates and causes without success? Is that enough? Did those Germans have a moral duty even after Hitler came to power?
Because that's the position i feel we're in now. Sock Puppet isn't Hitler, of course. The Regime, however, is every bit as evil. What's our duty here? At some point we are deserving of being wiped out by the wrath of a world that has suffered at least 75 years of US abuse and now stands on the edge of needless starvation due to the Regime's policies viz Russia. To say nothing of God's judgment.
I think we are deluding ourselves in order to avoid hard truth that we must do something more than hope for 2022 or 2024. If Republicans in Congress are hot and bothered for war now, we are deluded to think it will change in 2023. At some point, when we reasonably know that elections are not going to bring down the Regime, what's our responsibility?
It is a mistake to assume most of Germany was not on board when Hitler instituted his programs. For the most part they approved and cheered. Our regime does not have mass support, certainly not with the intelligent and responsible among us. They will succeed in bringing misery to the masses, and we will work hard to preserve some normalcy to our lives and those of our loved ones, assuming we cannot reverse politically the illegal takeover of our government.
Well you missed my point. It's irrelevant whether 1 German citizen or 100,000 of them supported Hitler. I am making a simple comparison about us, you and me and everyone who has a conscience. Do we have a duty to do more than just keep our own lives normal, as you put it? We all love to bemoan the dire threat the Regime poses to all of us, but is that just rhetorical games? If we see someone laying dynamite under a large bridge that has substantial traffic, don't we have a duty to do more than just shrug and say, oh well, cant do anything so I'll make sure that me and mine have as normal a life as possible?
I did get your point, and I admire your attitude. My point is that it is not always given us to alter the course of human events, not that we shouldn't try. On occasion our efforts may turn out to be counter-productive, and it is better to refrain. I may be mistaken, but I strongly support President Trump in whatever efforts he may suggest to rectify our current situation. I hold out hope that in seven months with the midterm election we can turn things around. I also recognize that for the regime it is a fight to the death, and they may be powerful enough to 'fortify' that and all future elections. It then becomes incumbent on us to keep the spirit of America alive. My point about Germany is our guv'mint has neither the intelligence nor the popular support to enforce anything radical, although they can certainly wreck things. Active confrontation, giving them an excuse to enact laws against 'domestic terrorism', may not be a good idea. We got through one Great Depression under an evil President and we can weather another under an incompetent one.
Just wanted to add a word of hope. Did you pen the following? "There is a real balancing act going on keeping this Regime from collapsing. They are far more fragile than we think."
Maybe? I fully echo Lawrence's comment about strikes, work stoppages, civil disobedience where useful. We learned from the Canadian truckers that parking your trucks in the Capitol is ultimately a mistake. But refusing to drive them at all is a potential ruin of the economy and forces the issue without violence and without an easy target for the Regime.
One other idea is to get local. We can't do anything in our current isolation. How many fellow patriots do any of us know and fellowship with in our immediate vicinity? Most of us don't have that at all. We have to build local networks of people we can rely upon for support and communication. This is, incidentally, one way we might develop a genuine community of believers like the book of Acts, chapter 2. I suggested to American Greatness and Chris Buskirk that they use their enormous reach to help patriots connect locally w each other, just a basic nothing fancy network. They weren't interested.
Bottom line, there's much we can do but having local community seems critical.
I've been advocating for a general strike to be called, and ratcheted upward for each day it is ignored. Why just the truckers? Why not every patriot no matter what their occupation? Start with two days. Go from there. No laws broken. No civil disobedience. No work. Demand an end to all vaxxing of everybody. Demand an end to all Covid lockdowns and masking. Demand an end to the warmongering without a declaration of war. Demand an end to the border chaos--resume mass deportations at the border. Demand an return to US energy independence post haste.....
Com on guys, Biden said none of this happened and he never said any of those things!! And he said it in front of a bazillion people, so why all hand wringing?
Hey, the “Big Guy” has it all under control.
Why, he has more foreign policy experience than all the rest of the politicians in the world combined. How can you possibly question his skills and ability?
Sorry everyone, I had a momentary “vaccine side affect event” and would like to revise and extend my previous remarks.
Biden and the collective group of stupid people who created this dumpster fire, appear to be dead set on bringing the world to complete and total destruction while in pursuit of their misguided goals.
As has been pointed out, these buffoons don’t realize it will not end well for anyone.
Tom Luongo's comment about push back from the Pentagon I just don't see. My gut feeling is the Pentagon has been emasculated / castrated with a Woke Office Corp, that has been culled of warriors with the Vaccine Mandate and in the Obama Era where anyone not Woke, was canned. The upper education requirements for advancement, along with the woke infiltration of the academies has furthered this.
My guess is there is a faction, probably with real experience in Finance, that is running around as if their hair is on fire. They see the weakness / frailness of the current financial system that has been stressed by Covid, and the huge bubbles created through QE 1-5 (or was there more?), and inflation. As well as all the manipulation that goes on in the various markets, from stocks (I am sure the plunge protection team is working hard), to commodity futures, to raw resource futures.
Another faction is the one that focuses on Biden's Job Approval Rating to avoid a mid term wipe out. It is all about the narrative, and they were trying a reboot with the Biden Tour of Europe to replicate Reagan's, Tear Down that Wall, Moment. They are also pushing their Jan 6 insurgency narrative. They believe they can just print more money, to keep power.
And there are the Globalists / Neocons, that believe they can regime change Russia, blame Russia for everything, and use the fall out of their sanction policy to create their new world order.
Disagree slightly. There *does* appear to be a faction in the Pentagon that does things to defend its turf or react when they think SPOTUS and the other factions threaten their key interests. Think back to the Afghanistan debacle. There was a sheetstorm of leaks and counterleaks going out from the Pentagon to their approved media outlets, slamming SPOTUS and the State Department. Just a few weeks ago the Pentagon leaked again that there was *no way* that jets would be accepted from Poland and flown into Ukraine.
I agree the Pentagon is thoroughly Wokestered but they will balance that dysphoria with a ferocious defense of their privileges and powers. Ultimately, the military is the 600 lb gorilla that none of the other Cartel gangsters can afford to abuse or neglect too much. If that gorilla decides that it isn't getting enough respect and bananas, it will quickly go ape $^#@ and crush the other Cartel members. How many times have we seen this happen in other Banana Republics when the military decides their cut isn't big enough?
There is a real balancing act going on keeping this Regime from collapsing. They are far more fragile than we think.
"A ferocious defense of their privileges and powers." - Yes. But I read that to mean that they need to walk a fine line between putting up a front advertising their own potency, in order to obtain support (money) from Congress, and the very real limits on what they can do, of which they are well aware. The balancing act is at the Pentagon, too.
Well we need to distinguish here between the public face that all of the Cartel factions put up and the private actions they take w each other. Whatever they say to Congress publicly is a sham and just to fool us rubes. The real action occurs in secret where they balance their avarice against killing the golden goose. That's the balance. The Pentagon is happy to take the money and enrich themselves so they rein in their demands accordingly. But they also know like good gangsters that they hold the ultimate power and don't hesitate to bully or threaten if their interests are threatened.
I think we are saying pretty much the same thing. Yes, they are a faction with their own power and interests - no doubt! On the other hand they are downstream in a sense from Congress, the appropriations process, and the defense contractors. All of these entities need one another to milk the money cow - and if one leg of the stool is cut off the stool no longer works.
I heartily agree that, despite his presentation style, Alexander Mercouris of the Duran is worth listening to, though putting him at 1.25x or even 1.5x speed helps!
Biden has jettisoned all but the flimsiest pretenses of seeking a diplomatic solution to end the horrors of the war in Ukraine. Instead, his administration keeps ratcheting up the self-righteous rhetoric while moving the world closer to ultimate catastrophe.
RUSSIA MFA: RUSSIA HOPES THAT BIDEN'S EMOTIONS WILL NOT LEAD TO HIM DOING SOMETHING IRREPARABLE AND DANGEROUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD WHILE UNDER THEIR INFLUENCE
Mark, do you have a moment to read this thread, factor the ideas into your analysis and suggest for me, (please), if it is plausible or not? I do not want to prejudice your thoughts with mine, but will happily share my opinion later. Thank you for your consideration, in advance.
Anyone with the slightest army experience knows that armies screw up. Especially a peacetime army that will improve with combat experience. Combat means casualties. Not having the foggiest idea of Putin's goals and relying on media propaganda the author sees a Russian defeat. Might I suggest that with a ceasefire in place Putin has achieved all he wanted, and more. He got it on the cheap. All the other things Mark mentions, our regime and the economic repercussions, are icing on the cake for Russia.
The author is a member of the credentialed global elite. The comparison to North Korea, a cult, is strange, and just rhetoric / propaganda. Putin is more about Make Russia Great Again, with a Russian First Policy. In other words a Russian Nationalist, and Globalists HATE Nationalists.
This thread is written by someone who has little to no understanding of Russia and Russians. In what sense might Russia become like N Korea? I can tell you for certain that Russians have absolutely NO desire to return to a totalitarian regime. That includes Putin. As for Putin being a “dictator” — only someone ignorant of the complexity of Russian politics and state can traffic in such cartoonish notions. Russia’s system isn’t “democratic” in the same way we used to think ours was. But Putin is genuinely popular. Moreover, he balances the competing interests of large factions of people — oligarchs, institutions, etc. Beyond that, I had to stop reading because my eye-rolling was beginning to hurt.
Yes, thank you Mark, this is one of your best posts and, it seems to me, approaches the beating heart of the globalist cabal's demented project. You are a keen and principled observer of events in this so-called WWIV,
a kind of strange and wonderful cross between Ernie Pyle and Russell Kirk (pardon my clumsy metaphor). To me you are indispensable.
Thanks Mark for the fantastic post. I think Luongo is right (as usual) in his analysis. He is, I believe, right that the neo-Cons and warmongers in the Exec branch and Congress will push for military escalation. I don't know that the Pentagon will be the limiting factor for preventing that escalation, though. I think it more likely that Europe will be. I think the European political and financial system leaders will back down shortly given the ramifications of their supporting a direct military attack on Russia. They may be stupid but I don't think they are all insane (other than maybe Poland) and they are certainly not courageous. Even Davos and its band of billionaire lunatics doesn't have enough money to pay off all of the people needed to suicide the European continent and the world economy. At least that is what I hope.
Thank you for all of the responses.
Reading Mark's post i can't help but wonder, At what point do each of us become culpable in this evil? It bears resharing this short video, not only because it's funny as heck, but it makes a serious point for all of us: are WE the baddies?
https://youtu.be/hn1VxaMEjRU
Seriously, at some point, each of us bears personal responsibility if we continue to allow this Regime to stay in power. Not because of voting--- most of us know elections at the federal level are shams-- but because we continue to do all the things that allow and empower this Regime to function.
For example, at what point did the ordinary German citizen have a duty by all that is holy and righteous to oppose the Nazi regime? In the 1930s, certainly. That would have been relatively easy before Hitler came to power. And anyone who voted for him is guilty too. But what about the ones who didn't vote him in, who actively agitated against him and donated to good candidates and causes without success? Is that enough? Did those Germans have a moral duty even after Hitler came to power?
Because that's the position i feel we're in now. Sock Puppet isn't Hitler, of course. The Regime, however, is every bit as evil. What's our duty here? At some point we are deserving of being wiped out by the wrath of a world that has suffered at least 75 years of US abuse and now stands on the edge of needless starvation due to the Regime's policies viz Russia. To say nothing of God's judgment.
I think we are deluding ourselves in order to avoid hard truth that we must do something more than hope for 2022 or 2024. If Republicans in Congress are hot and bothered for war now, we are deluded to think it will change in 2023. At some point, when we reasonably know that elections are not going to bring down the Regime, what's our responsibility?
It is a mistake to assume most of Germany was not on board when Hitler instituted his programs. For the most part they approved and cheered. Our regime does not have mass support, certainly not with the intelligent and responsible among us. They will succeed in bringing misery to the masses, and we will work hard to preserve some normalcy to our lives and those of our loved ones, assuming we cannot reverse politically the illegal takeover of our government.
Well you missed my point. It's irrelevant whether 1 German citizen or 100,000 of them supported Hitler. I am making a simple comparison about us, you and me and everyone who has a conscience. Do we have a duty to do more than just keep our own lives normal, as you put it? We all love to bemoan the dire threat the Regime poses to all of us, but is that just rhetorical games? If we see someone laying dynamite under a large bridge that has substantial traffic, don't we have a duty to do more than just shrug and say, oh well, cant do anything so I'll make sure that me and mine have as normal a life as possible?
I did get your point, and I admire your attitude. My point is that it is not always given us to alter the course of human events, not that we shouldn't try. On occasion our efforts may turn out to be counter-productive, and it is better to refrain. I may be mistaken, but I strongly support President Trump in whatever efforts he may suggest to rectify our current situation. I hold out hope that in seven months with the midterm election we can turn things around. I also recognize that for the regime it is a fight to the death, and they may be powerful enough to 'fortify' that and all future elections. It then becomes incumbent on us to keep the spirit of America alive. My point about Germany is our guv'mint has neither the intelligence nor the popular support to enforce anything radical, although they can certainly wreck things. Active confrontation, giving them an excuse to enact laws against 'domestic terrorism', may not be a good idea. We got through one Great Depression under an evil President and we can weather another under an incompetent one.
Just wanted to add a word of hope. Did you pen the following? "There is a real balancing act going on keeping this Regime from collapsing. They are far more fragile than we think."
Gin, great question. Do you have suggested actions for us to take?
@husk
Maybe? I fully echo Lawrence's comment about strikes, work stoppages, civil disobedience where useful. We learned from the Canadian truckers that parking your trucks in the Capitol is ultimately a mistake. But refusing to drive them at all is a potential ruin of the economy and forces the issue without violence and without an easy target for the Regime.
One other idea is to get local. We can't do anything in our current isolation. How many fellow patriots do any of us know and fellowship with in our immediate vicinity? Most of us don't have that at all. We have to build local networks of people we can rely upon for support and communication. This is, incidentally, one way we might develop a genuine community of believers like the book of Acts, chapter 2. I suggested to American Greatness and Chris Buskirk that they use their enormous reach to help patriots connect locally w each other, just a basic nothing fancy network. They weren't interested.
Bottom line, there's much we can do but having local community seems critical.
I've been advocating for a general strike to be called, and ratcheted upward for each day it is ignored. Why just the truckers? Why not every patriot no matter what their occupation? Start with two days. Go from there. No laws broken. No civil disobedience. No work. Demand an end to all vaxxing of everybody. Demand an end to all Covid lockdowns and masking. Demand an end to the warmongering without a declaration of war. Demand an end to the border chaos--resume mass deportations at the border. Demand an return to US energy independence post haste.....
Com on guys, Biden said none of this happened and he never said any of those things!! And he said it in front of a bazillion people, so why all hand wringing?
Hey, the “Big Guy” has it all under control.
Why, he has more foreign policy experience than all the rest of the politicians in the world combined. How can you possibly question his skills and ability?
Sorry everyone, I had a momentary “vaccine side affect event” and would like to revise and extend my previous remarks.
Biden and the collective group of stupid people who created this dumpster fire, appear to be dead set on bringing the world to complete and total destruction while in pursuit of their misguided goals.
As has been pointed out, these buffoons don’t realize it will not end well for anyone.
Tom Luongo's comment about push back from the Pentagon I just don't see. My gut feeling is the Pentagon has been emasculated / castrated with a Woke Office Corp, that has been culled of warriors with the Vaccine Mandate and in the Obama Era where anyone not Woke, was canned. The upper education requirements for advancement, along with the woke infiltration of the academies has furthered this.
My guess is there is a faction, probably with real experience in Finance, that is running around as if their hair is on fire. They see the weakness / frailness of the current financial system that has been stressed by Covid, and the huge bubbles created through QE 1-5 (or was there more?), and inflation. As well as all the manipulation that goes on in the various markets, from stocks (I am sure the plunge protection team is working hard), to commodity futures, to raw resource futures.
Another faction is the one that focuses on Biden's Job Approval Rating to avoid a mid term wipe out. It is all about the narrative, and they were trying a reboot with the Biden Tour of Europe to replicate Reagan's, Tear Down that Wall, Moment. They are also pushing their Jan 6 insurgency narrative. They believe they can just print more money, to keep power.
And there are the Globalists / Neocons, that believe they can regime change Russia, blame Russia for everything, and use the fall out of their sanction policy to create their new world order.
Disagree slightly. There *does* appear to be a faction in the Pentagon that does things to defend its turf or react when they think SPOTUS and the other factions threaten their key interests. Think back to the Afghanistan debacle. There was a sheetstorm of leaks and counterleaks going out from the Pentagon to their approved media outlets, slamming SPOTUS and the State Department. Just a few weeks ago the Pentagon leaked again that there was *no way* that jets would be accepted from Poland and flown into Ukraine.
I agree the Pentagon is thoroughly Wokestered but they will balance that dysphoria with a ferocious defense of their privileges and powers. Ultimately, the military is the 600 lb gorilla that none of the other Cartel gangsters can afford to abuse or neglect too much. If that gorilla decides that it isn't getting enough respect and bananas, it will quickly go ape $^#@ and crush the other Cartel members. How many times have we seen this happen in other Banana Republics when the military decides their cut isn't big enough?
There is a real balancing act going on keeping this Regime from collapsing. They are far more fragile than we think.
"A ferocious defense of their privileges and powers." - Yes. But I read that to mean that they need to walk a fine line between putting up a front advertising their own potency, in order to obtain support (money) from Congress, and the very real limits on what they can do, of which they are well aware. The balancing act is at the Pentagon, too.
Well we need to distinguish here between the public face that all of the Cartel factions put up and the private actions they take w each other. Whatever they say to Congress publicly is a sham and just to fool us rubes. The real action occurs in secret where they balance their avarice against killing the golden goose. That's the balance. The Pentagon is happy to take the money and enrich themselves so they rein in their demands accordingly. But they also know like good gangsters that they hold the ultimate power and don't hesitate to bully or threaten if their interests are threatened.
I think we are saying pretty much the same thing. Yes, they are a faction with their own power and interests - no doubt! On the other hand they are downstream in a sense from Congress, the appropriations process, and the defense contractors. All of these entities need one another to milk the money cow - and if one leg of the stool is cut off the stool no longer works.
So many of your articles are so spot on that all I can do is comment as KD does, Yep.
Thanks. I try.
I heartily agree that, despite his presentation style, Alexander Mercouris of the Duran is worth listening to, though putting him at 1.25x or even 1.5x speed helps!
But Zhou has Irish roots....
https://original.antiwar.com/solomon/2022/03/28/bidens-unhinged-call-for-regime-change-in-russia/
Biden has jettisoned all but the flimsiest pretenses of seeking a diplomatic solution to end the horrors of the war in Ukraine. Instead, his administration keeps ratcheting up the self-righteous rhetoric while moving the world closer to ultimate catastrophe.
RUSSIA MFA: RUSSIA HOPES THAT BIDEN'S EMOTIONS WILL NOT LEAD TO HIM DOING SOMETHING IRREPARABLE AND DANGEROUS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD WHILE UNDER THEIR INFLUENCE
MFA?
Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Mark, do you have a moment to read this thread, factor the ideas into your analysis and suggest for me, (please), if it is plausible or not? I do not want to prejudice your thoughts with mine, but will happily share my opinion later. Thank you for your consideration, in advance.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1508576670587895810.html
Please--a Wilson Center writer, heavily funded by the US government? I've seen her stuff before.
Anyone with the slightest army experience knows that armies screw up. Especially a peacetime army that will improve with combat experience. Combat means casualties. Not having the foggiest idea of Putin's goals and relying on media propaganda the author sees a Russian defeat. Might I suggest that with a ceasefire in place Putin has achieved all he wanted, and more. He got it on the cheap. All the other things Mark mentions, our regime and the economic repercussions, are icing on the cake for Russia.
Essential reading to support my contentions "Scott Ritter On The Russian Campaign Strategy" that came out later on this blog.
The author does not like Putin:
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/kamil-galeev
The author is a member of the credentialed global elite. The comparison to North Korea, a cult, is strange, and just rhetoric / propaganda. Putin is more about Make Russia Great Again, with a Russian First Policy. In other words a Russian Nationalist, and Globalists HATE Nationalists.
Totally agree, Ray-SoCa. It is the patina of a high school sophomore essay paper from an aspiring historical fiction writer.
Thanks for looking up this joker. I will amend my judgement that he’s an ignoramus. Turns out, he’s a liar and a propagandist.
This thread is written by someone who has little to no understanding of Russia and Russians. In what sense might Russia become like N Korea? I can tell you for certain that Russians have absolutely NO desire to return to a totalitarian regime. That includes Putin. As for Putin being a “dictator” — only someone ignorant of the complexity of Russian politics and state can traffic in such cartoonish notions. Russia’s system isn’t “democratic” in the same way we used to think ours was. But Putin is genuinely popular. Moreover, he balances the competing interests of large factions of people — oligarchs, institutions, etc. Beyond that, I had to stop reading because my eye-rolling was beginning to hurt.
Ignorant or peddling disinfo, as paid to do by the USG. You're absolutely right about the cartoonish stereotyping.
I agree--means to an end. The idea that that's the real end results from an excessive focus on economics and insufficient focus on human nature.
Thanks. Fixed.