Seems to me that both Mark and Mac are on the right track. In all probability, The ‘Don’ will be goated back into something not logical. If you look at his past think of four topics: (1) $$$ ; (2) Character; (3) Loyalty; and (4) tie it all together into morality.
Heritage: Daddy leaves Germany. Engages in the Z world of finance. Opens up a house of ill repute during a stage in the Gold Rush. Goes back East takes shekels earned from the world’s oldest profession and engages in real estate.
TD’s foundation: Grows up in a zyd environment. Enters youth and is noted as a school bully (he’s bigger than most). Daddy exits the picture (dies), but Daddy gives progeny a bundle of shekels.
DT enters puberty. Marries. Dumps the mother of his children. Dumping his wife of yrs, for a younger version. Ask yourself what kind of a person would do that! Karma enters the picture. Young wife copulates his her guard.
Hormones still raging. Befriends Epstein. Thousands of cyber posts allege specific behaviors with teenage children. Thousand of Epstein files/records disappear. Again marries a young gal. Allegations don’t go away.
Epstein, his one time friend “commits suicide.” It’s from a bed about a foot of the ground. Alleged cadaver immediately cremated.
From the dawn of time intellectuals have indicated that, more often than not, you can judge a person by his friends. Another of DT’s comrades was Roy Cohn, the notorious Lawyer. Cohn told him just keep saying things positive. In others words, honesty was of little relevance.
Alleged con artist becomes a TV star. Is nationally recognized. Takes credit for his ghost author writing Art of the Deal. A plethora of individuals insist DT’s a con artist.
Runs for Prez and just about promises the world. He’ll return US to the American dream. Millions sick of Israel-First policies by Capitol Hill; DT promises he’ll be America-First!
With such a track record of using others, betrayal, and pathological lying, what kind of a mentality would believe The ‘Don’?
Current Events. -
He kidnaps a present and praises such. Guys in little boats, over a thousand miles for the US are murdered. The world yells with outrage. Hegseth’s excuse is that men in little boats were drug dealers. Many begin to believe that precious life has little meaning to the administration.
No sense in relaying global opinions about the regime being an Israeli-First as it’s too encompassing in the land of lawfare. Mark’s indicates the WH master and gambler mentality. Es a person think ofM our ships and boys being placed in harms way; of endangering over 70,000 service men and millions of Middle East citizens.
Psychologists are reiterating data about narcissistic personality, along with tendencies pertaining to numerous other impairments. The economists are insisting he would be a catastrophe for the world economy. PoliSci experts are inferring DT could be endangering much of the planet. The bought Con - gress enhances the meaning of “traitor.”
Col Kwiatkowski sez Trump, in the overall realm of things, might not be the brightest star in the universe. She wondered if he has the attention to actually read a page or two. She tells her enormous audience about his screwball… signature.
Seems the USA is at the stage of Tucker Carlson, MTG, and Massie. Judge Nat speaks of the military-US-Tel Aviv tie in. We disagree. Millions of Anglo-Zionists dual loyalists most certainly will hold most of the cards.
Could DT’s soul have anything to do with all this? After all, he’s openly stated the war was for Bibi. As usual Mark is 100% correct; in a nut house no one knowns…
JULIAN is a Notorious Supporter of Ukraine from Germany a reporter from a German magazine and for years he has been posting glorifying Ukranian Statements
After another week in Ukraine, numerous conversations with soldiers—including three colonels of the Ukrainian armed forces—and many positive but also sobering impressions, here is my assessment of the current situation in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
➡️The cautious optimism of early summer has largely evaporated on the Ukrainian side. As recently as June, there was hope that the intensifying Ukrainian attacks on Russian logistics in the occupied territories and deep in the Russian hinterland could sustainably weaken the invasion army and bring its offensive to a halt. This expectation has not yet been fulfilled.
The extraordinarily high Russian casualty figures since the start of the year have also only partially produced the hoped-for strategic effect so far. While the pace of the Russian advance has noticeably slowed, it has not been stopped.
At the same time, numerous soldiers report a clear intensification of Russian attacks on positions at and behind the front. Russia is now deploying significantly more kamikaze drones, glide bombs, and long-range weapons than just a few months ago. The approach increasingly feels systematic: forest belt by forest belt, village by village, and bridge by bridge are being destroyed to sustainably weaken Ukrainian logistics behind the front.
Even far behind the front, a new quality of Russian warfare is emerging. While Russia has frequently targeted gas stations, logistics centers, or civilian infrastructure at random in recent years, Ukrainian officers now observe a markedly more systematic campaign against the Ukrainian supply structure. Notably, Russia is now attacking logistics centers on a similar scale to what Ukraine does on Russian territory—albeit with far greater firepower. Many of these facilities are located along key highways. During our trip, we passed numerous logistics sites that had been destroyed just hours or days earlier.
Unlike Ukraine, which predominantly uses precision weapons for such strikes, Russia often deploys ballistic missiles or entire swarms of Shahed drones. The result is far greater destruction around the actual targets, along with correspondingly high casualty figures.
From the numerous conversations with Ukrainian soldiers, two distinct assessments of the further course of the war emerged.
➡️The more optimistic view is: If the West—particularly Germany—continues to support Ukraine consistently, this war can ultimately be won. The underlying conviction is that the economic and industrial capacity of the Western supporters could lead to a resource advantage over Russia in the long term.
However, I only partially share this assessment. Russia continues to receive substantial military and industrial support from China, North Korea, and Iran. These factors make a prolonged war of attrition extremely challenging from a Ukrainian perspective.
➡️The second, far more sobering analysis from a Ukrainian officer was: Russia must be pushed into a domestic political crisis faster than it can achieve its operational goals in Ukraine.
In his view, the momentum on the battlefield remains predominantly on the Russian side. Particularly in the Kramatorsk and Sloviansk areas.
🚨According to this, the Ukrainian deep strikes primarily serve the purpose—or the hope—that Russia must abandon its war aims politically or economically before it can fully achieve its military objectives. In the best case, through a downfall of Putin from within his own ranks. Whether that ever happens, “we’ll only know on the day it does,” the officer said.
Simplicius the Thinker has just come out with a good article about an interview with Robert Kagan, father of the Neocons. Kagan is in full retreat now, denying he ever was a neocon and calling the label "antisemitic". This guy is evil but he knows which way the wind is blowing. https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/testy-new-interview-reveals-the-changing
Yeah, we also read the recent Simplicius piece. He seems to be a quality guy. I generally go at least 6 months before joining any group (paid). He has class. Recently saw that 50,000 read him. That's good to hear. Steg, what's interesting is that Kagan is still around. He's in the class of Wolfowitz. Those two made most of WMD a reality... Devoted their lives to "their nation..."
and a friggin liar too. He says, "The same was true of 9/11 in the sense that it was at least in part a response to the American presence in the Middle East." No! It's been a response to the Zionist presence in the Middle East and their terrorism, imperial style colonialism and military aggression under the guise of assuring their safety. The USA became embroiled in this mess because of Zionist-neocon driven policies of supporting that aggression.
No matter what happens in the war against Iran, it's a fundamental contest between the Anglo-American Empire and the Eurasian civilizational powers, revitalized after the era of colonialism, that will permanently divide the world--at least as far ahead as we can see. Iran in Western Asia, Russia on its eastern front, China, vis-a-vis the imperial Asiatic fringe of apan, Oceania, etc.
So we need to get used to this. Of course prominent within the Empire is the pretensions of Zionism.
So there is not going to be a resolution in the near future. That leaves it up to people of good will--us, and similar folks on the other side--to work from within to make our half of the world as rational and decent as we can, starting with our own lives. Clearly the West has a long, long way to go. We need to start by overthrowing the Money Power that drags everything else down.
It's a good perspective, Richard! The thing I find difficult is the how to. How to organize resistance in a world increasingly under surveillance and no where to hide let alone gather to figure out a new path forward. Rule by fear is what the Jewish Nationalists and their Zionist and Bolshevik factions and they have a tight grip on the mechanisms to punish. How to break the party chaos where social engineering through mass media has divided us ideologically and hardened our hearts to such a degree we cannot discuss anything rationally or critically without heated disputes. I believe there is 60% in the middle who likely share more in common then they realize, but are unwilling to work together because of party (my team) thinking and the fringe is likely split between hard left and hard right and each would prefer to see the other dead. It's a conundrum, but we need to break the chains that hold us back.
If the Houthis attack Saudi Arabia, then Pakistan and Turkey are going to jump in with the Saudis? Is this a way for SA to neutralize the Houthis as they would be facing three countries and not one? An interesting overnight development.
I don't have the ZH premium member benefit, but talk about combining the worst of finance over the last 30 years. I think it's on how AI is being financed.
What Do You Get When You Combine a 2008 Housing Bubble, a 2000 Dot-Com Bubble and a 1998 Leverage Crisis?
Alon Mizrahi wrote about this referring to it as "The Borat Agreements." to wit:
1. The less politically relevant, the more ceremoniously hectic
News of the fresh military alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey caught me completely prepared. After all, in the past 3 years that we have been looking closely at West Asia, the 3 regimes have been consistently reactionary and subservient to the US and Israel, offering nothing but lip service in protest of the Gaza Holocaust and Israel’s regional mass murder spree.
I've heard Mac say that Trump isn't stupid before, and I always chuckle, and he loses credibility with me. This guy tanked a casino where the house always wins.
For decades, he raped little girls for pleasure and let Jeffrey take pictures of him. He was either already in the bag to USrael, or had no idea he was involved in a bribery sex ring. Either way, he's a pawn of Israel and now the Billionaire Zionists who seemingly control every industry remaining in the US.
As for his strategy with Iran, it just shows more delusion. His pressers are so far from reality it's just crazy. I can't even understand why the Legacy media doesn't just blow him up. Obviously, except for CBS.
Bread and circuses.
Sadly, Trump is nothing more than a punchline. Furthermore, China and Russia are once again playing chess while Trump is acing "cognitive tests."
The idea that this is orchestrated and being carried out in order to kill off Africans and many in the ME, ensuring Greater Israel is a formal thing, ending the petrodollar and replacing with the new digital surveillance/monetary system just doesn't seem to enter these people's minds. Why is that?
To me this is obviously not some unhinged person (although he IS unhinged) going rogue. We all know that if TPTB didn't want this action, it wouldn't happen.
Therefore, it is by design and they are slowly dismantling power and water and stopping fertilizer shipments. This will take a year or so. We are in for the slow bleed, but those places will take the brunt.
On the veto it’s a combination of Israel brown nosing Trump appealing to his narcissism, his insecurities, and creating a pro Israel / Zionist echo chamber / environment around Trump. Plus the fund raising angle. Note Susan Wiles used to be a lobbyist for Israel plus the Jared Kushner factor.
A long time ago I read VDH's book Mexifornia. For many years, he very ably pointed out the greater social, and civic, problems created by importing unassimilating labor into California based on his own family's experience in the Central Valley.
He defended the concept of "yeoman", which is a Republic concept that gets washed away in the fact of our Empire.
I think VDH simply got swept up into being very, very useful to the Anglo-Zionists to defend their war-making as though the US was a Republic and not an Empire, now.
I agree, Tamsin. I was a big fan of VDH, for a while then he became boring by writing the same thing over and over with no solutions just pointing out the obvious. Not a clock that is right twice a day, but a broken record that plays the same song long forgotten and out of fashion.
My father, a clinical psychologist, always maintained that true intelligence--as manifested in behavior--is very much a function of character training in upbringing. That was his explanation for why people with above average IQs nevertheless do objectively stupid things--history is littered with examples of smart people doing objectively dumb things. Because human beings aren't simply thinking machines--they have emotions, too. As St. Paul says, 'although I want to do what's right, I'm unable to do it.' Mac specifically mentions Trump being "emotionally unbalanced."
One line that stood out for me from the Davis/Macgregor interview was that he'd heard of all available strategic bombers (52s, 1s and 2s) are being readied for deployment. That would point towards a potential large-scale strike using bombs in addition to remaining long-range weapons, given that there simply aren't many left, unless every other theatre is stripped.
Possibly related, interview with Scott Ritter by Danny Haiphong:
I'm not a fan of Danny, but Scott touches on the imo underreported issue of US nuclear doctrine revision towards tactical nuke usage, which he rightfully calls the most dangerous in history, and which would go in line with persistent chatter over the years of winnable, limited nuclear wars.
Problem with gravity bombing is Iran has perfectly good portable anti-aircraft missiles. Hence why standoff bombing has primarily been used so far. Regardless even if Iran is nuked they’ll still retaliate with their missiles and crash the world economy
MANPADS won't reach a B-52 flying high, these things can operate and precision-drop JDAMs from something like 50000 feet.
Iran does have more capable air defence systems (S-300 and domestic derivatives) that can reach that high, and it's not without risk, but as a desperate measure with appropriate suppression it would be feasible.
Yeah as soon as they fire up the targeting radar they are a target. They do have some pretty cool domestic derivatives plus it’s rumored some Chinese stuff of fairly recent vintage as well.
100%, I don't think it would end well, possible US losses plus the inevitable retaliation against infrastructure in the region, but I wouldn't put it past Trump and Hegseth to do it anyway
Yesterday you mentioned Iran "upping the ante." I think that is what is going on here. Iran is calling Trump's bluff. If he walks away, fine. They will largely have what they desired, most essentially control of the Straight of Hormuz but also Trump's humiliation. If he chooses to prolong the war because of the terms they presented (which they know are unacceptable to him) they will ultimately win anyway, humiliate him just the same, and have even stronger control over the Straight of Hormuz than they do now.
Reasons 2 Resist had on an academic and analyst, Mostafa Khoshcheshm, who explained the thinking of Iranians vis a vis any 'deal'. They are under no illusions as to what the USA really wants and are guarding against that: no US / Israeli shop as they might use the access to establish a foothold on one of the islands; the power of the economic weapon that the closure of SoH represents, the need to degrade the intelligence gathering (hence the AI centre hit in Bahrain) and forward bases hits on military hardware that could be used to harm Iran.
Trump may not be stupid but he's way out on a limb that's about to snap, all by himself. I think Trump will act on his gut instinct when the acid reflex of anxiety reaches a persistent level of organ-tear throughout his system. Trump likes to massage every political position into an exclusive personal "win", even as multiple positions stand in opposition, one to another, on multiple fronts: economic (inflation, empty SPR, gas/diesel rationing, no groceries to be bought) military, mid-term election Republican outcomes, and of course riots not-protests in the streets. I can't guess which way the wind blows for Trump, but, unbearable pressure upon his soul-body-mind will force ultimate decisions that only reckless, addicted gamblers are presented with---not to be considered but only to choose, then act out with blind faith........
Thanks for suggesting a prayer for me, today: Please, dear Lord, infuse DJT's remaining mental faculties with your grace to perceive the "imagination of disaster with[in] him".
I suspect the best way to understand PDJT is to first understand his stressors (NB epstein, financial obligations), before ascribing this or that action to psychopathology. Then we can begin to predict, or even hope.
Back in 1866, the US Army had built a fort call Fort Phil Kearney in present-day Wyoming.
Wikipedia: "The Fetterman Fight, also known as the Fetterman Massacre or the Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands or the Battle of a Hundred Slain, was a battle during Red Cloud's War on December 21, 1866, between a confederation of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and a detachment of the United States Army, based at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming. The U.S. military mission was intended to protect travelers on the Bozeman Trail. A group of ten warriors, including Crazy Horse, acted to lure a detachment of U.S. soldiers into an ambush. All 81 men under the command of Captain William J. Fetterman were then killed by the Native American warriors. At the time, it was the worst military disaster ever suffered by the U.S. Army on the Great Plains."
I pass on this story as I hear the words of my Palestinian friend still in my mind who says of Trump's endless threats: "Bring it on." I wonder why he says that.
When I was a kid my dad bought a whole leather bound set of books about the Old West. They covered everything from the gunfighters, soldiers, Indians to the trailblazers and railroaders. I must have spent days reading them, completely entranced. I remember the Fetterman Massacre and of course Custer's Last Stand well. Both examples of overweening arrogance and underestimation of the enemy. Nothing has changed much!
Check out my book Our Country, Then and Now. Custer had a newspaper reporter with him who was poised to send a wire on his great victory to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Custer's name would then be entered for the nomination for president. He told his Indian guides he would amply reward them when he became their Great Father. The rest of the story....
Sounds very interesting, Richard. Was the journalist Mark Kellogg? I know he had a lot of family and friends along with him who also died. The one I felt really sorry for was the Indian scout, Mitch Boyer. He warned Custer that they wouldn't come out alive if they attacked but went on to die with him. I also always wondered what happened to the guy Custer sent away to give a message to Benteen. John Martin/Giovanni Martini IIRC. He was one lucky fellow!
The U.S. never stops policy, it only pauses. Syria comes to mind.
Various think tanks have shown the road maps in Iran, Russia etc.
One thing I question is “when will U.S. drones show up?”. We know they are working on them. AI targeted via Palantir is being integrated. Anduril is going hard. It’s almost too quiet in that front.
It feels like Trump is trapped. Pape has been on top of that. But what if going into the trap was by design? A huge economic collapse is exactly what is needed for the WEF plan. Trump has been ramming through the Technocratic infrastructure. His money backers are deep into Technocracy.
Stem is a funny area with lots of h1b’s, and engineers treated similar to seasonal farm workers. When expenses need to be cut, engineers are laid off. And then the Dei push in large companies, Boeing is a poster child for this. And a continual talk of an engineering shortage. And age discrimination is a fact.
It’s very hard to compete with China on manufacturing. There is an entire ecosystem of suppliers, and if China decides it’s a critical sector, it will get subsidized. And China has done a lot to increase efficiency in exports. Their port infrastructure is amazing.
Another challenge in the U.S. is capital expenditures such as factories gets punished financially For stock valuations.
Regarding the Chinese (and Taiwanese) ecosystem of suppliers, have you seen any quality coverage of how the US plans to try and duplicate these ecosystems around the chip plants the US is feverishly constructing?
I have seen a few vague statements in articles about how the US currently lacks that ecosystem, but I haven't seen any comprehensive coverage or plan about how the US is going to close that gap.
Semiconductors are a bit different with their supply chain. My guess is due to capital finance issues US companies have off loaded chip manufacturing. It makes the financials look better if you buy the product from somebody else, verses manufacturing increasing your capital expenses.
Gm used to make their own chips, large wafers, but good enough for cars. Of course this hit them hard during Covid when their supply chain collapsed.
This is why so much chip manufacturing was outsourced to Taiwan semiconductor. Plus the environmental issues and permitting delays. Taiwan also has an expertise advantage in semiconductors now.
China has been very smart on requiring any U.S. manufacturing to joint venture, so western firms taught their competition.
I'm not in the '12D chess' camp, but neither do I hold with MacGregor that Trump has only two options. A suspicion lurks that there is a master plan at work; Trump is the court jester whose function is to distract from a larger agenda.
"Syria comes to mind." Recall the euphoria just before Assad was forced to leave Syria. It was quite sudden, that Syria folded and within days Israelis destroyed all of Syria's defensive capabilities. Jewish Nationalists have been on a tear ever since. They are relentless.
Seems to me that both Mark and Mac are on the right track. In all probability, The ‘Don’ will be goated back into something not logical. If you look at his past think of four topics: (1) $$$ ; (2) Character; (3) Loyalty; and (4) tie it all together into morality.
Heritage: Daddy leaves Germany. Engages in the Z world of finance. Opens up a house of ill repute during a stage in the Gold Rush. Goes back East takes shekels earned from the world’s oldest profession and engages in real estate.
TD’s foundation: Grows up in a zyd environment. Enters youth and is noted as a school bully (he’s bigger than most). Daddy exits the picture (dies), but Daddy gives progeny a bundle of shekels.
DT enters puberty. Marries. Dumps the mother of his children. Dumping his wife of yrs, for a younger version. Ask yourself what kind of a person would do that! Karma enters the picture. Young wife copulates his her guard.
Hormones still raging. Befriends Epstein. Thousands of cyber posts allege specific behaviors with teenage children. Thousand of Epstein files/records disappear. Again marries a young gal. Allegations don’t go away.
Epstein, his one time friend “commits suicide.” It’s from a bed about a foot of the ground. Alleged cadaver immediately cremated.
From the dawn of time intellectuals have indicated that, more often than not, you can judge a person by his friends. Another of DT’s comrades was Roy Cohn, the notorious Lawyer. Cohn told him just keep saying things positive. In others words, honesty was of little relevance.
Alleged con artist becomes a TV star. Is nationally recognized. Takes credit for his ghost author writing Art of the Deal. A plethora of individuals insist DT’s a con artist.
Runs for Prez and just about promises the world. He’ll return US to the American dream. Millions sick of Israel-First policies by Capitol Hill; DT promises he’ll be America-First!
With such a track record of using others, betrayal, and pathological lying, what kind of a mentality would believe The ‘Don’?
Current Events. -
He kidnaps a present and praises such. Guys in little boats, over a thousand miles for the US are murdered. The world yells with outrage. Hegseth’s excuse is that men in little boats were drug dealers. Many begin to believe that precious life has little meaning to the administration.
No sense in relaying global opinions about the regime being an Israeli-First as it’s too encompassing in the land of lawfare. Mark’s indicates the WH master and gambler mentality. Es a person think ofM our ships and boys being placed in harms way; of endangering over 70,000 service men and millions of Middle East citizens.
Psychologists are reiterating data about narcissistic personality, along with tendencies pertaining to numerous other impairments. The economists are insisting he would be a catastrophe for the world economy. PoliSci experts are inferring DT could be endangering much of the planet. The bought Con - gress enhances the meaning of “traitor.”
Col Kwiatkowski sez Trump, in the overall realm of things, might not be the brightest star in the universe. She wondered if he has the attention to actually read a page or two. She tells her enormous audience about his screwball… signature.
Seems the USA is at the stage of Tucker Carlson, MTG, and Massie. Judge Nat speaks of the military-US-Tel Aviv tie in. We disagree. Millions of Anglo-Zionists dual loyalists most certainly will hold most of the cards.
Could DT’s soul have anything to do with all this? After all, he’s openly stated the war was for Bibi. As usual Mark is 100% correct; in a nut house no one knowns…
Why does this not surprise me? The reaction of a leader who has no critical or strategic thinking ability.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-threatens-jail-arms-shortage-leakers-slams-fake-reporting-treasonous
I have a feeling the cat is out of bag and his lie has been exposed and he wants/needs someone to blame.
UKRAINE UPDATE
JULIAN is a Notorious Supporter of Ukraine from Germany a reporter from a German magazine and for years he has been posting glorifying Ukranian Statements
Reality appears to be settling in
https://x.com/JulianRoepcke/status/2085312379911393476
Julian Röpcke 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦 reposted
Julian Röpcke 🇩🇪🤝🇺🇦
@JulianRoepcke
Translated from German
#Analysis
After another week in Ukraine, numerous conversations with soldiers—including three colonels of the Ukrainian armed forces—and many positive but also sobering impressions, here is my assessment of the current situation in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
➡️The cautious optimism of early summer has largely evaporated on the Ukrainian side. As recently as June, there was hope that the intensifying Ukrainian attacks on Russian logistics in the occupied territories and deep in the Russian hinterland could sustainably weaken the invasion army and bring its offensive to a halt. This expectation has not yet been fulfilled.
The extraordinarily high Russian casualty figures since the start of the year have also only partially produced the hoped-for strategic effect so far. While the pace of the Russian advance has noticeably slowed, it has not been stopped.
At the same time, numerous soldiers report a clear intensification of Russian attacks on positions at and behind the front. Russia is now deploying significantly more kamikaze drones, glide bombs, and long-range weapons than just a few months ago. The approach increasingly feels systematic: forest belt by forest belt, village by village, and bridge by bridge are being destroyed to sustainably weaken Ukrainian logistics behind the front.
Even far behind the front, a new quality of Russian warfare is emerging. While Russia has frequently targeted gas stations, logistics centers, or civilian infrastructure at random in recent years, Ukrainian officers now observe a markedly more systematic campaign against the Ukrainian supply structure. Notably, Russia is now attacking logistics centers on a similar scale to what Ukraine does on Russian territory—albeit with far greater firepower. Many of these facilities are located along key highways. During our trip, we passed numerous logistics sites that had been destroyed just hours or days earlier.
Unlike Ukraine, which predominantly uses precision weapons for such strikes, Russia often deploys ballistic missiles or entire swarms of Shahed drones. The result is far greater destruction around the actual targets, along with correspondingly high casualty figures.
From the numerous conversations with Ukrainian soldiers, two distinct assessments of the further course of the war emerged.
➡️The more optimistic view is: If the West—particularly Germany—continues to support Ukraine consistently, this war can ultimately be won. The underlying conviction is that the economic and industrial capacity of the Western supporters could lead to a resource advantage over Russia in the long term.
However, I only partially share this assessment. Russia continues to receive substantial military and industrial support from China, North Korea, and Iran. These factors make a prolonged war of attrition extremely challenging from a Ukrainian perspective.
➡️The second, far more sobering analysis from a Ukrainian officer was: Russia must be pushed into a domestic political crisis faster than it can achieve its operational goals in Ukraine.
In his view, the momentum on the battlefield remains predominantly on the Russian side. Particularly in the Kramatorsk and Sloviansk areas.
🚨According to this, the Ukrainian deep strikes primarily serve the purpose—or the hope—that Russia must abandon its war aims politically or economically before it can fully achieve its military objectives. In the best case, through a downfall of Putin from within his own ranks. Whether that ever happens, “we’ll only know on the day it does,” the officer said.
.
Röpke is a diehard Bandera groupie but at least he's realistic.
He is a little more realistic now - after beatings and more beatings
after being so wrong so often for 3 years
after so many Ukrainians dying
He blocked me at least two years ago
I used to consistently point out his errors whenever I saw them
from time to time - I did not follow him or anything
Just saw nonsense and pointed it out and he blocked me
Simplicius the Thinker has just come out with a good article about an interview with Robert Kagan, father of the Neocons. Kagan is in full retreat now, denying he ever was a neocon and calling the label "antisemitic". This guy is evil but he knows which way the wind is blowing. https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/testy-new-interview-reveals-the-changing
Yeah, we also read the recent Simplicius piece. He seems to be a quality guy. I generally go at least 6 months before joining any group (paid). He has class. Recently saw that 50,000 read him. That's good to hear. Steg, what's interesting is that Kagan is still around. He's in the class of Wolfowitz. Those two made most of WMD a reality... Devoted their lives to "their nation..."
True, Bronek. I remember the whole scurvy crew: Wolfowitz, Richard "Prince of Darkness" Pearle, Kagan and his awful wife...What a bunch!
and a friggin liar too. He says, "The same was true of 9/11 in the sense that it was at least in part a response to the American presence in the Middle East." No! It's been a response to the Zionist presence in the Middle East and their terrorism, imperial style colonialism and military aggression under the guise of assuring their safety. The USA became embroiled in this mess because of Zionist-neocon driven policies of supporting that aggression.
No matter what happens in the war against Iran, it's a fundamental contest between the Anglo-American Empire and the Eurasian civilizational powers, revitalized after the era of colonialism, that will permanently divide the world--at least as far ahead as we can see. Iran in Western Asia, Russia on its eastern front, China, vis-a-vis the imperial Asiatic fringe of apan, Oceania, etc.
So we need to get used to this. Of course prominent within the Empire is the pretensions of Zionism.
So there is not going to be a resolution in the near future. That leaves it up to people of good will--us, and similar folks on the other side--to work from within to make our half of the world as rational and decent as we can, starting with our own lives. Clearly the West has a long, long way to go. We need to start by overthrowing the Money Power that drags everything else down.
That's how I see it anyway.
It's a good perspective, Richard! The thing I find difficult is the how to. How to organize resistance in a world increasingly under surveillance and no where to hide let alone gather to figure out a new path forward. Rule by fear is what the Jewish Nationalists and their Zionist and Bolshevik factions and they have a tight grip on the mechanisms to punish. How to break the party chaos where social engineering through mass media has divided us ideologically and hardened our hearts to such a degree we cannot discuss anything rationally or critically without heated disputes. I believe there is 60% in the middle who likely share more in common then they realize, but are unwilling to work together because of party (my team) thinking and the fringe is likely split between hard left and hard right and each would prefer to see the other dead. It's a conundrum, but we need to break the chains that hold us back.
"reports suggested Iran was seeking transit fees of between 5% and 7% of each cargo’s value"
yea - Reuters.
i couldn't believe that Mario waisted so much air time based on this fake news!
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/saudi-arabia-turkey-pakistan-sign-islamic-nato-style-defense-pact-amid-iran-war
If the Houthis attack Saudi Arabia, then Pakistan and Turkey are going to jump in with the Saudis? Is this a way for SA to neutralize the Houthis as they would be facing three countries and not one? An interesting overnight development.
I don't have the ZH premium member benefit, but talk about combining the worst of finance over the last 30 years. I think it's on how AI is being financed.
What Do You Get When You Combine a 2008 Housing Bubble, a 2000 Dot-Com Bubble and a 1998 Leverage Crisis?
Sarah T recommended this Reason 2 Resist interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZl7P-OHho
Iranian professor-journalist Mostafa Khoshcheshm explained the Pakistan-Saudi linkage
(beginning ~52 min)
Since US replaced Pakistan's leader, Pakistan is run by military - ISI -- and ISI has very close ties with Saudis and with CIA.
Pakistan also has extensive economic ties with Iran and has maintained good relations for several decades.
Alon Mizrahi wrote about this referring to it as "The Borat Agreements." to wit:
1. The less politically relevant, the more ceremoniously hectic
News of the fresh military alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey caught me completely prepared. After all, in the past 3 years that we have been looking closely at West Asia, the 3 regimes have been consistently reactionary and subservient to the US and Israel, offering nothing but lip service in protest of the Gaza Holocaust and Israel’s regional mass murder spree.
It goes on..........
https://alonmizrahi.substack.com/p/the-borat-agreements?publication_id=2356168&post_id=210212743&isFreemail=true&r=8t0x5&triedRedirect=true
I've heard Mac say that Trump isn't stupid before, and I always chuckle, and he loses credibility with me. This guy tanked a casino where the house always wins.
For decades, he raped little girls for pleasure and let Jeffrey take pictures of him. He was either already in the bag to USrael, or had no idea he was involved in a bribery sex ring. Either way, he's a pawn of Israel and now the Billionaire Zionists who seemingly control every industry remaining in the US.
As for his strategy with Iran, it just shows more delusion. His pressers are so far from reality it's just crazy. I can't even understand why the Legacy media doesn't just blow him up. Obviously, except for CBS.
Bread and circuses.
Sadly, Trump is nothing more than a punchline. Furthermore, China and Russia are once again playing chess while Trump is acing "cognitive tests."
"I can't even understand why the Legacy media doesn't just blow him up."
The only way I can understand this is that the legacy media recognizes that Trump is, at least for now, part of the establishment and its goals.
and currently protected by those he has enabled to acquire this legacy media for propaganda and gas lighting purposes. The protocols predicted this.
The idea that this is orchestrated and being carried out in order to kill off Africans and many in the ME, ensuring Greater Israel is a formal thing, ending the petrodollar and replacing with the new digital surveillance/monetary system just doesn't seem to enter these people's minds. Why is that?
To me this is obviously not some unhinged person (although he IS unhinged) going rogue. We all know that if TPTB didn't want this action, it wouldn't happen.
Therefore, it is by design and they are slowly dismantling power and water and stopping fertilizer shipments. This will take a year or so. We are in for the slow bleed, but those places will take the brunt.
In the end, they will own the new world order.
I happen to be against that.
A global "Samson option", for which covid was the shakedown cruise.
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/israel-vetoes-trump-in-the-middle-east-again/
I read that. Very disturbing. But Mac's right. It's not Israel that has the veto--it's the people with the money to buy our government.
On the veto it’s a combination of Israel brown nosing Trump appealing to his narcissism, his insecurities, and creating a pro Israel / Zionist echo chamber / environment around Trump. Plus the fund raising angle. Note Susan Wiles used to be a lobbyist for Israel plus the Jared Kushner factor.
May be related - Ron Lauder stopped donating.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/nyregion/ronald-lauder-republicans-donor.html?unlocked_article_code=1.21A.CRjh.5BUFz8E9BDcF&smid=url-share
The f-35 veto to Turkey will have a huge impact with Turkey.
Same with veto on Saudi nuke deal. Who can trust US anymore?
A positive view on the Iran war, I disagree with its premise - vdh. I expect better of him.
https://amgreatness.com/2026/08/06/the-long-view-of-iran/
"I expect better of him." ???
Life is short.
I avoid VDH.
VDH writing on the dysfunctional kafkaesque state of living in California is spot on.
He seems to willful blindness when writing anything related to Israel.
Yes.
A long time ago I read VDH's book Mexifornia. For many years, he very ably pointed out the greater social, and civic, problems created by importing unassimilating labor into California based on his own family's experience in the Central Valley.
He defended the concept of "yeoman", which is a Republic concept that gets washed away in the fact of our Empire.
I think VDH simply got swept up into being very, very useful to the Anglo-Zionists to defend their war-making as though the US was a Republic and not an Empire, now.
One vdh observation he wrote about years ago that resonated with me:
About 1/3 of carpool lane users are single drivers.
I observe this all the time, and it irritates me tremendously. If they can do cameras for toll lanes, why not carpool lanes?
Report from last year, some freeways are at 60%.
And tint is an excuse, but note the laws on tint are ignored.
https://ktla.com/news/california/the-number-of-carpool-lane-cheats-is-skyrocketing-in-california/
I agree, Tamsin. I was a big fan of VDH, for a while then he became boring by writing the same thing over and over with no solutions just pointing out the obvious. Not a clock that is right twice a day, but a broken record that plays the same song long forgotten and out of fashion.
Appealing? They own him. Period. Rape of kids or something worse. THEY OWN HIM.
And the fact that this brought him in this blackmailable position, kills the intelligency debate.
His IQ must be somewhere in the single digit area.
My father, a clinical psychologist, always maintained that true intelligence--as manifested in behavior--is very much a function of character training in upbringing. That was his explanation for why people with above average IQs nevertheless do objectively stupid things--history is littered with examples of smart people doing objectively dumb things. Because human beings aren't simply thinking machines--they have emotions, too. As St. Paul says, 'although I want to do what's right, I'm unable to do it.' Mac specifically mentions Trump being "emotionally unbalanced."
I don't believe for a second that Trump has above average IQ.
We saw that during Covid. A lot.
His grip on the English language (lack thereof) already showed me his limitations in intellect. Stable genius my ass.
"also listened to Marion and Brandon"
Is Marion, Mario's sister? Or (I jest!) is Mario... transitioning? 😉
(my deepest apologies to Mario)
Marlon and Brando.
One line that stood out for me from the Davis/Macgregor interview was that he'd heard of all available strategic bombers (52s, 1s and 2s) are being readied for deployment. That would point towards a potential large-scale strike using bombs in addition to remaining long-range weapons, given that there simply aren't many left, unless every other theatre is stripped.
Possibly related, interview with Scott Ritter by Danny Haiphong:
https://www.youtube.com/live/APW-QTYQJD8
I'm not a fan of Danny, but Scott touches on the imo underreported issue of US nuclear doctrine revision towards tactical nuke usage, which he rightfully calls the most dangerous in history, and which would go in line with persistent chatter over the years of winnable, limited nuclear wars.
Problem with gravity bombing is Iran has perfectly good portable anti-aircraft missiles. Hence why standoff bombing has primarily been used so far. Regardless even if Iran is nuked they’ll still retaliate with their missiles and crash the world economy
MANPADS won't reach a B-52 flying high, these things can operate and precision-drop JDAMs from something like 50000 feet.
Iran does have more capable air defence systems (S-300 and domestic derivatives) that can reach that high, and it's not without risk, but as a desperate measure with appropriate suppression it would be feasible.
Yeah as soon as they fire up the targeting radar they are a target. They do have some pretty cool domestic derivatives plus it’s rumored some Chinese stuff of fairly recent vintage as well.
100%, I don't think it would end well, possible US losses plus the inevitable retaliation against infrastructure in the region, but I wouldn't put it past Trump and Hegseth to do it anyway
Yep, the retaliation would cause an epic worldwide financial crash. Netanyahu and Hegseth are crazy enough to do but I don't think Trump is.
Exactly.
Yesterday you mentioned Iran "upping the ante." I think that is what is going on here. Iran is calling Trump's bluff. If he walks away, fine. They will largely have what they desired, most essentially control of the Straight of Hormuz but also Trump's humiliation. If he chooses to prolong the war because of the terms they presented (which they know are unacceptable to him) they will ultimately win anyway, humiliate him just the same, and have even stronger control over the Straight of Hormuz than they do now.
And November is getting ever closer. Surely, they aren't hiding the poll numbers from him, are they? They are terrible.
Reasons 2 Resist had on an academic and analyst, Mostafa Khoshcheshm, who explained the thinking of Iranians vis a vis any 'deal'. They are under no illusions as to what the USA really wants and are guarding against that: no US / Israeli shop as they might use the access to establish a foothold on one of the islands; the power of the economic weapon that the closure of SoH represents, the need to degrade the intelligence gathering (hence the AI centre hit in Bahrain) and forward bases hits on military hardware that could be used to harm Iran.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZl7P-OHho His interview segment comes up after a summary of developments.
Trump may not be stupid but he's way out on a limb that's about to snap, all by himself. I think Trump will act on his gut instinct when the acid reflex of anxiety reaches a persistent level of organ-tear throughout his system. Trump likes to massage every political position into an exclusive personal "win", even as multiple positions stand in opposition, one to another, on multiple fronts: economic (inflation, empty SPR, gas/diesel rationing, no groceries to be bought) military, mid-term election Republican outcomes, and of course riots not-protests in the streets. I can't guess which way the wind blows for Trump, but, unbearable pressure upon his soul-body-mind will force ultimate decisions that only reckless, addicted gamblers are presented with---not to be considered but only to choose, then act out with blind faith........
One hopes that there is at least a modicum of sense, of humility, of intelligence, of an imagination of disaster with him.
Thanks for suggesting a prayer for me, today: Please, dear Lord, infuse DJT's remaining mental faculties with your grace to perceive the "imagination of disaster with[in] him".
I suspect the best way to understand PDJT is to first understand his stressors (NB epstein, financial obligations), before ascribing this or that action to psychopathology. Then we can begin to predict, or even hope.
Have you ever read about the Fetterman Fight?
Back in 1866, the US Army had built a fort call Fort Phil Kearney in present-day Wyoming.
Wikipedia: "The Fetterman Fight, also known as the Fetterman Massacre or the Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands or the Battle of a Hundred Slain, was a battle during Red Cloud's War on December 21, 1866, between a confederation of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and a detachment of the United States Army, based at Fort Phil Kearny, Wyoming. The U.S. military mission was intended to protect travelers on the Bozeman Trail. A group of ten warriors, including Crazy Horse, acted to lure a detachment of U.S. soldiers into an ambush. All 81 men under the command of Captain William J. Fetterman were then killed by the Native American warriors. At the time, it was the worst military disaster ever suffered by the U.S. Army on the Great Plains."
I pass on this story as I hear the words of my Palestinian friend still in my mind who says of Trump's endless threats: "Bring it on." I wonder why he says that.
As it happens, I used to read about that history as a kid.
When I was a kid my dad bought a whole leather bound set of books about the Old West. They covered everything from the gunfighters, soldiers, Indians to the trailblazers and railroaders. I must have spent days reading them, completely entranced. I remember the Fetterman Massacre and of course Custer's Last Stand well. Both examples of overweening arrogance and underestimation of the enemy. Nothing has changed much!
Check out my book Our Country, Then and Now. Custer had a newspaper reporter with him who was poised to send a wire on his great victory to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Custer's name would then be entered for the nomination for president. He told his Indian guides he would amply reward them when he became their Great Father. The rest of the story....
Sounds very interesting, Richard. Was the journalist Mark Kellogg? I know he had a lot of family and friends along with him who also died. The one I felt really sorry for was the Indian scout, Mitch Boyer. He warned Custer that they wouldn't come out alive if they attacked but went on to die with him. I also always wondered what happened to the guy Custer sent away to give a message to Benteen. John Martin/Giovanni Martini IIRC. He was one lucky fellow!
Yes, Mark Kellogg.
Yes, Mark Kellogg
Yes, my dad, from Oklahoma, was an expert in this kind of Western history.
Loved Shelby Foote too on the Civil War
The U.S. never stops policy, it only pauses. Syria comes to mind.
Various think tanks have shown the road maps in Iran, Russia etc.
One thing I question is “when will U.S. drones show up?”. We know they are working on them. AI targeted via Palantir is being integrated. Anduril is going hard. It’s almost too quiet in that front.
It feels like Trump is trapped. Pape has been on top of that. But what if going into the trap was by design? A huge economic collapse is exactly what is needed for the WEF plan. Trump has been ramming through the Technocratic infrastructure. His money backers are deep into Technocracy.
🤔
Trump has invested heavily in AI. I forgot the amount, but it was substantial.
GoPro attempted to compete in the drone market several years ago.
It was a complete disaster.
I attribute their failure to a lack of STEM human capital in the US.
Stem is a funny area with lots of h1b’s, and engineers treated similar to seasonal farm workers. When expenses need to be cut, engineers are laid off. And then the Dei push in large companies, Boeing is a poster child for this. And a continual talk of an engineering shortage. And age discrimination is a fact.
Yes, I have an undergraduate in engineering.
It’s very hard to compete with China on manufacturing. There is an entire ecosystem of suppliers, and if China decides it’s a critical sector, it will get subsidized. And China has done a lot to increase efficiency in exports. Their port infrastructure is amazing.
Another challenge in the U.S. is capital expenditures such as factories gets punished financially For stock valuations.
Ray-
Regarding the Chinese (and Taiwanese) ecosystem of suppliers, have you seen any quality coverage of how the US plans to try and duplicate these ecosystems around the chip plants the US is feverishly constructing?
I have seen a few vague statements in articles about how the US currently lacks that ecosystem, but I haven't seen any comprehensive coverage or plan about how the US is going to close that gap.
Semiconductors are a bit different with their supply chain. My guess is due to capital finance issues US companies have off loaded chip manufacturing. It makes the financials look better if you buy the product from somebody else, verses manufacturing increasing your capital expenses.
Gm used to make their own chips, large wafers, but good enough for cars. Of course this hit them hard during Covid when their supply chain collapsed.
This is why so much chip manufacturing was outsourced to Taiwan semiconductor. Plus the environmental issues and permitting delays. Taiwan also has an expertise advantage in semiconductors now.
China has been very smart on requiring any U.S. manufacturing to joint venture, so western firms taught their competition.
Good points.
I'm not in the '12D chess' camp, but neither do I hold with MacGregor that Trump has only two options. A suspicion lurks that there is a master plan at work; Trump is the court jester whose function is to distract from a larger agenda.
"Syria comes to mind." Recall the euphoria just before Assad was forced to leave Syria. It was quite sudden, that Syria folded and within days Israelis destroyed all of Syria's defensive capabilities. Jewish Nationalists have been on a tear ever since. They are relentless.