Scott Ritter took part in a very lengthy panel discussion hosted by a professor at the University of Teheran a few days ago. The discussion is two hours long, so I haven’t listened to the entirety. The format is basically that the moderator asks a general question and the participants get to do monologues. Ritter does a segment that runs for about ten minutes (~13:53 - 24:15). He’s an articulate and informed speaker whose speaking style can catch and hold your attention so, whether you agree or disagree, your time isn’t wasted.
In the Ritter video, I also appreciated the observations of Alastair Crooke (who has of course appeared a number of times in Mark's posts before now). When he was discussing the legitimacy of people in various nations having their own distinct cultures, foundational documents, and beliefs (apart from strictly religious beliefs), I couldn't help but hear that clarion call in my head saying "diversity is our strength." Haha. What happened to that when it comes to Russia? Of all the nations in the world, it seems they are the only one whose culture, beliefs, and self interest are considered illegitimate in the eyes of the U.S. and Europe. Or does that maxim apply only within the former borders of the U.S. and within the former borders of European states?
Yes, my brain started playing out how a multipolar world would look. For example, are we Americans prepared to allow terrible suffering and evil by states like China? Mass organ harvesting from political prisoners etc? Genocide (true genocide) of Uighurs? Where is the balance point between an imperious tyranny of American values at the point of a gun (essentially our Uniparty foreign policy since 1946) versus a blind eye to horrific human rights abuse? China and Iran clearly want a world where anything they do within their borders is strictly their business and a "cultural difference " vs the West. I suppose we could impose trade sanctions etc directly related to the abusive practices. Maybe that's the limit.
I believe the proper purpose of government is to ensure the peace and tranquility of its citizens (1 Timothy 2). So: 1) Our government should not impose an "imperious tyranny at the point of a gun" on any other governments of the world, unless they directly threaten our peace and tranquility. 2) Our government should not accede to the evil done by other governments when they engage in such gross violations of human rights, as we understand them to be given to us by our creator and to be honored as such. Because to do so would imply such violations being OK as applied against its own citizens. At the same time we should realize that our government is not responsible for all of the evil in the world. Making the world "safe for democracy" or pushing for our idea of perfect is a fool's errand and IMO a convenient excuse for a power-seeking agenda.
Finland would have to be under the control of suicidal lunatics to join NATO, becoming another of the vassal states of the USA.
If only the Fed would allow me the same financial opportunities enjoyed by prior generations of Americans. My grandfather retired in 1975, had saved about $70,000, his savings grew to $455,000 when he passed in 1990. He used exotic financial investments called money market saving accounts and certificates of deposit to earn compound interest.
It seems that the only “public debate” nowadays is what pronouns to use and how bad an idea freedom of speech is.
Pretty much no one speaks for the American public, especially not politicians.
And the only ones who seek to keep Americans informed, well, that’s folks like you Mark, and for that you have my deepest thanks. Clarice Feldman said something yesterday that resonated with me, she said that she resents how much hard work is required to find the truth about what’s really going on in the world.
Ritter on FIRE at approx 1:45:00 regarding the West's supposed legacy of free speech.
Beginning at 1:40:00 he states that once they have imposed unconditional surrender on Ukraine then Russia will have total control of the narrative by virtue of military tribunals and sworn statements from high-ranking captives. And the effect will be the overthrow of the West's false narrative and censorship machines and the realization by us common folk that they have been denied the opportunity to have informed debate about issues of vital national interest. Unlike such bastions of free speech (sarc) as Iran and Russia.
I think you may have touched on this once or twice.
The captives will be a nice negotiating chip. From Russia's standpoint there is no need or purpose to wait until after surrender to play it. I read today that negotiations are already being attempted by the West - wish I could find the link.
I have to point out that in the early part it is said that American Presidents have been unfair to Putin. Putin has appeared opposite US on the world stage, as has CCP, virtually always so I'm just not THAT sure how much cooperation we owe him. Obama and Biden and GW were all of the globalist and not American interests. I was greatly disappointed in GW, he let a lot go to China then I read Peter Schweitzer's new book, his pocket is full of China Cash, and don't look to Musk as some savior, China has a big chunk of him to.
Given what we now know about the corrupt people who have led America since at least 1989, why *wouldn't* Russia and Putin oppose US policy at every opportunity? Far from holding it against Putin, I applaud him for being one of the only national leaders who didn't sell out his country to Globalistas. Without his resistance we'd be in far worse shape. Idk about cooperation, but we sure as heck owed an obligation to negotiate in good faith and honor the promises made. The USG are the bad guys here, not Putin.
Excellent article and compilation. Takeaway point: the US (and most Euro nations) has been captured by the Deep State that hates We, The People. How do we get out of this one?
Ginned up, the short answer is found in Psalm 73. God is in control and good and evil still and always are defined and apply. In particular, when the Psalmist says of the great and powerful:
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
18 "Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart turns toward God I believe that the evil authorities of this world will not prevail (although God's ultimate use of their planning for His purposes may not be apparent to us). I also think of the many people who have worshiped God and worked hard to establish and build this country in accordance with His principles, through the Grace of God and the Holy Spirit. I do not believe all of that was for nought and not part of His plan. He tells us: "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).
That is the source of my heart's hope, despite my brain's doubt. And above all, “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
I think Ritter's positive opinion was limited to the fact that Iran had open information for their public about the JCPOA deal and therefore was able to handle the whiplash of US policy changes
Fiona Hill also spoke about the Interagency as if it was the real government. I recall her remarks indicating how ludicrous it was that Trump thought he could set foreign policy when everyone who matters knows that Interagency does that!
It was sickening then, and even more so now. I, too, had no idea how long they’d been in action and how deep they went. Root and vine, dig them up and stop the infestation.
The obvious: does this not speak volumes as to who may actually be running this country, or at least identify one group, in the running, that fears no repercussions for ignoring Presidential orders?! This is unchartered territory here in the US, but these scenarios haven't ended well in other countries.
In the Ritter video, I also appreciated the observations of Alastair Crooke (who has of course appeared a number of times in Mark's posts before now). When he was discussing the legitimacy of people in various nations having their own distinct cultures, foundational documents, and beliefs (apart from strictly religious beliefs), I couldn't help but hear that clarion call in my head saying "diversity is our strength." Haha. What happened to that when it comes to Russia? Of all the nations in the world, it seems they are the only one whose culture, beliefs, and self interest are considered illegitimate in the eyes of the U.S. and Europe. Or does that maxim apply only within the former borders of the U.S. and within the former borders of European states?
Yes, my brain started playing out how a multipolar world would look. For example, are we Americans prepared to allow terrible suffering and evil by states like China? Mass organ harvesting from political prisoners etc? Genocide (true genocide) of Uighurs? Where is the balance point between an imperious tyranny of American values at the point of a gun (essentially our Uniparty foreign policy since 1946) versus a blind eye to horrific human rights abuse? China and Iran clearly want a world where anything they do within their borders is strictly their business and a "cultural difference " vs the West. I suppose we could impose trade sanctions etc directly related to the abusive practices. Maybe that's the limit.
I believe the proper purpose of government is to ensure the peace and tranquility of its citizens (1 Timothy 2). So: 1) Our government should not impose an "imperious tyranny at the point of a gun" on any other governments of the world, unless they directly threaten our peace and tranquility. 2) Our government should not accede to the evil done by other governments when they engage in such gross violations of human rights, as we understand them to be given to us by our creator and to be honored as such. Because to do so would imply such violations being OK as applied against its own citizens. At the same time we should realize that our government is not responsible for all of the evil in the world. Making the world "safe for democracy" or pushing for our idea of perfect is a fool's errand and IMO a convenient excuse for a power-seeking agenda.
Yes, he does make some good contributions.
Finland would have to be under the control of suicidal lunatics to join NATO, becoming another of the vassal states of the USA.
If only the Fed would allow me the same financial opportunities enjoyed by prior generations of Americans. My grandfather retired in 1975, had saved about $70,000, his savings grew to $455,000 when he passed in 1990. He used exotic financial investments called money market saving accounts and certificates of deposit to earn compound interest.
It seems that the only “public debate” nowadays is what pronouns to use and how bad an idea freedom of speech is.
Pretty much no one speaks for the American public, especially not politicians.
And the only ones who seek to keep Americans informed, well, that’s folks like you Mark, and for that you have my deepest thanks. Clarice Feldman said something yesterday that resonated with me, she said that she resents how much hard work is required to find the truth about what’s really going on in the world.
Thanks for making that task a little easier Mark.
Thanks very much.
Ritter on FIRE at approx 1:45:00 regarding the West's supposed legacy of free speech.
Beginning at 1:40:00 he states that once they have imposed unconditional surrender on Ukraine then Russia will have total control of the narrative by virtue of military tribunals and sworn statements from high-ranking captives. And the effect will be the overthrow of the West's false narrative and censorship machines and the realization by us common folk that they have been denied the opportunity to have informed debate about issues of vital national interest. Unlike such bastions of free speech (sarc) as Iran and Russia.
I think you may have touched on this once or twice.
The captives will be a nice negotiating chip. From Russia's standpoint there is no need or purpose to wait until after surrender to play it. I read today that negotiations are already being attempted by the West - wish I could find the link.
I have to point out that in the early part it is said that American Presidents have been unfair to Putin. Putin has appeared opposite US on the world stage, as has CCP, virtually always so I'm just not THAT sure how much cooperation we owe him. Obama and Biden and GW were all of the globalist and not American interests. I was greatly disappointed in GW, he let a lot go to China then I read Peter Schweitzer's new book, his pocket is full of China Cash, and don't look to Musk as some savior, China has a big chunk of him to.
RF
Given what we now know about the corrupt people who have led America since at least 1989, why *wouldn't* Russia and Putin oppose US policy at every opportunity? Far from holding it against Putin, I applaud him for being one of the only national leaders who didn't sell out his country to Globalistas. Without his resistance we'd be in far worse shape. Idk about cooperation, but we sure as heck owed an obligation to negotiate in good faith and honor the promises made. The USG are the bad guys here, not Putin.
OK so we got one for Putin and one for USA, NEXT?
Excellent article and compilation. Takeaway point: the US (and most Euro nations) has been captured by the Deep State that hates We, The People. How do we get out of this one?
Only exit path now is collapse. How Americans and the military and LEO respond in such collapse will be the ultimate answer.
Brain says yes, heart says no. Heart will keep hoping.
Intriguing, diss. What does your heart say then? What exactly is the hope? What does it look like?
Ginned up, the short answer is found in Psalm 73. God is in control and good and evil still and always are defined and apply. In particular, when the Psalmist says of the great and powerful:
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
18 "Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart turns toward God I believe that the evil authorities of this world will not prevail (although God's ultimate use of their planning for His purposes may not be apparent to us). I also think of the many people who have worshiped God and worked hard to establish and build this country in accordance with His principles, through the Grace of God and the Holy Spirit. I do not believe all of that was for nought and not part of His plan. He tells us: "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).
That is the source of my heart's hope, despite my brain's doubt. And above all, “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
I think Ritter's positive opinion was limited to the fact that Iran had open information for their public about the JCPOA deal and therefore was able to handle the whiplash of US policy changes
Plus, as I understand it, there were no casualties. They had time to evacuate everyone.
Fiona Hill also spoke about the Interagency as if it was the real government. I recall her remarks indicating how ludicrous it was that Trump thought he could set foreign policy when everyone who matters knows that Interagency does that!
It was sickening then, and even more so now. I, too, had no idea how long they’d been in action and how deep they went. Root and vine, dig them up and stop the infestation.
The obvious: does this not speak volumes as to who may actually be running this country, or at least identify one group, in the running, that fears no repercussions for ignoring Presidential orders?! This is unchartered territory here in the US, but these scenarios haven't ended well in other countries.