Alastair Crooke, in what passes for a rant, I suppose, says it’s because of the Chicago Boys. This comes in a 26 minute video with Judge Napolitano. Despite the title—”Zelenskyy: Russian explosives planted on nuke plant roof”—the first 13 minutes, half of the entire video, is devoted to Paris in flames. You may or may not accept everything he says, but he’s an intelligent man who is obviously passionate about what has happened to the West. The question is, Where else will we see this? Are we in the early stages in America, or are conditions here fundamentally different?
Is the State Department running a Color Revolution against France? If so, why? “The French are right: Diallo is a foreign-trained subversive. The tragedy is that her subversion is the result of an intentional program courtesy of an ally, the USA.” (credit: 10:30 am by Glenn Reynolds )
US State Department-Trained French Activist/Arsonist Pouring Fuel on the Fire
US State Department-Trained French Activist/Arsonist Pouring Fuel on the Fire (substack.com)
Great summary, as ever, Mark. "Rent-a-generals". Agreed on that one. It's truly scary that these maniacs were once in charge of hundreds of thousands of soldiers' lives. The most egregious example has to be Ben "Rumblossom" Hodges. He makes Wesley Clark seem like an adult.
At the end Putin dealt with the Prigozhin situation brilliantly. What now seems to be overlooked was when it was just a battle of words between Prigozhin and the Russian military, Prigozhin was very clearly going too far. If Putin had stepped in at that time, the whole coop could have been avoided. Yes he corrected his mistake but better not to have made a mistake at all.
Putin is head and shoulders above the "leaders" in the West. His key quality is one that the neocons completely lack: humility. He acknowledges his mistakes and corrects them. I actually think that Putin did well to let Prig strut his stuff for a while, because it not only ended the coup peacefully but also gave the neocons enough time to make themselves look even more stupid.
I think this is true. You can't judge Russian politics by, say, American political standards. Prigozhin had a significant following among those "ultra-nationalist" Russians who were Putin's main opponents. They used Wagner as a stick with which to beat Putin's "soft" approach. By allowing this to play out, Putin not only takes control over a PMC with political influence, but reveals the ultra hero as an empty suit.
Agreed. And it always needs to be remembered that the vast majority of the Wagner boys rejected Prig's madcap power grab. They seem loyal and still full of fight.
Some thoughts to add to Rascal and Ray’s comments below.
Paris is burning, yes: it’s a “rejet massif de l’Etat” a massive repudiation of the State, for these are not communists, socialists, not one party against another: this is an insurrection against the State. Armed only with fury and resentment, these mostly young kids (14-18 yrs old), many, if not most of North African/African descent, and joined by other gangs, black-gloved and ready to commit acts of terror, are lashing out against years of kicking-the-can-down-the-road policies combined with meaningless but dangerous pablum about openness, equality and humanity (sound familiar?) The inhumane is what has brought France to this crisis.
Why? Because after being welcomed to France with open arms under the States’ official credo of equity, diversity and humanity, the migrants are sent to the “cités” on the outskirts (“banlieus”) of Paris and told to get a job. However, and Crooke is right here, unlike the immigration of of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, these young people cannot get work. While their forbears had jobs and integrated into French culture and society, they have not: for before we hadn’t completely transfomed the economy from a manufacturing to a service economy. Thus does anger and resentment build up like a pressure cooker. Honestly, when you see how hard it is already for French people to find work, how much more difficult it is for these disillusioned, deracinated and unskilled (un-credentialed) youth to join the work force.
At the same time, however, these rebels are biting the hand that feeds them - the State has gifted them with dependence: “allocations” (subsidies) for housing, unemployment, education and health. The State itself, beginning with Mitterrand, who was the first president to weaponize racism (a crafty, Machiavellian figure whose éminence grise, Jacques Attali, mentored Macron) built up this powder keg by brandishing, not the tricolore or the Marseiilaise but an empty humanism of “values” (Haass!), anti-racism, equality, all the theme songs of a state-run, top-down utopia. Mitterrand was the first president to practice these dark arts of division with his “SOS racisme” memes on race, diversity and…open borders. Watered-down sovereignty. No doubt Haass and most of DC approves whole heartedly of “institutions” such as banks and tech companies running things. Well, Macron is his man: a technocrat, banker (Rothschild) and spawn of Hollande/Attali. Macron is not a politician. He has no charisma for crowds. The days of a glad-handing, smiling Chirac are long gone. I’ve always felt Macron’s loyalties lie elsewhere - Davos maybe?
Politically, where are we? No more Left (in the traditional sense, as in the UK and Italy). And, no more Right. Mitterrand weakened the Right over 20 years by pushing racism (promoting conflict and division), thereby getting voters from the Right to vite for Le Pen, who could never muster much over 5 pct - the Frint National was always a very small party, but it grew incrementally, taking votes away from the Right - Center Right. Now, the Right has been destroyed (François Fillon removed from the 2017 presidential race). Coming from Hollande’s government, Macron ran as hybrid Leftie/social dem/pro-tech, pro-business). Mélanchon is a sort of extreme left gadfly, a great orator, but whose chances of being elected appear nil…mais on verra…Meanwhile Le Pen is speaking out and is attracting more support (like the AfD rising in Germany, for similar readons).
Meanwhile, Macron is making another visit to a top-tier sporting venue today: first it was Quatar, where the French lost the World Cup, and now the Tour de France. He’s the only one who sees himself as a winner.
Now, who to vote for? Quelle merde! A lot of our friends have voted for Macron (and we find it difficult to socialize with them!) - to vote for Hollande is possible, to vote for Macron is impossible, as my husband says. It’s the same in the US! “Well, we had no choice! We voted for Biden!” In French: “We voted for Macron, never Le Pen!” Well, à la Mercouris, we shall have to wait and see.
That's because there probably is no solution. Unless it's something incredibly extreme like physically escorting all immigrants to the border. And that would probably lead to civil war.
God forbid - no mass deportations, but a sober, reasoned, sane immigration policy. Is that too much to ask? I’ve known recently arrived immigrants who are very patriotic - and there are many who deplore the wanton violence and destruction of their own neighborhoods.
Demanding a sober, reasoned and sane immigration policy these days makes you a neo-nazi. As does asking that your kid's school teacher refrains from preaching sexual depravity. Fair is foul, foul is fair, as a moderately talented English playwright once said.
French elite couldn’t possibly be attempting a color move on their own people now, would they? Crack down via involuntary electronic surveillance began this afternoon. I wonder who they round up first....
I think many of us know who the really bad guys are, but afraid to state definitively and publicly so we disguise it by naming them neocons. People won't be loaded in cattle cars they will be forced to take jabs which will likely kill them slowly then suddenly.
If many of us agree there are factions who are scheming for power and money whether davos crowd or deep state or ??? And that they war game this out who is doing the same but from POV of people like us who resist and hope to survive? There is no unified group to counter those fascist efforts.
It's not much different here. Same problems, similar mess, but our Oligarchs are not shy about why they are doing what they do to destroy the USA. Or rather in Obama terms, fundamental transformation, which means out with white Christians and bring on the barbarians who are much more malleable then the native American who has tasted freedom.
And then offer benefits that make it so they don’t need to work. And make it an economic challenge to hire full time employees due to red tape and other costs, reducing employment opportunities.
And get rid of Khadafi that limited immigration, but supporting a color revolution.
And keeping French ex colonies as poor as possible by controlling their currency.
Bingo! you are spot on Castelleto, but who are "they?" None dare to call them by name, they are protected. I heard this snippet on a series I was watching and the guy says if you have enough money in this country you are above the law. Yes, that's how it is.
I see no thing wrong with both MAGA and end-staging ("loss" for the weast) the accursed Ukrainian war. By the application of powerful and awful perfidy in the name of the USA & West, we are now attached to a European & Eastern healing moral arc. The first pavers must involve clean accountability and consequences to the evil doers. Shame and blessings con tiempo. Schade.
Is this why Paris is burning?
Is the State Department running a Color Revolution against France? If so, why? “The French are right: Diallo is a foreign-trained subversive. The tragedy is that her subversion is the result of an intentional program courtesy of an ally, the USA.” (credit: 10:30 am by Glenn Reynolds )
US State Department-Trained French Activist/Arsonist Pouring Fuel on the Fire
US State Department-Trained French Activist/Arsonist Pouring Fuel on the Fire (substack.com)
Great summary, as ever, Mark. "Rent-a-generals". Agreed on that one. It's truly scary that these maniacs were once in charge of hundreds of thousands of soldiers' lives. The most egregious example has to be Ben "Rumblossom" Hodges. He makes Wesley Clark seem like an adult.
At the end Putin dealt with the Prigozhin situation brilliantly. What now seems to be overlooked was when it was just a battle of words between Prigozhin and the Russian military, Prigozhin was very clearly going too far. If Putin had stepped in at that time, the whole coop could have been avoided. Yes he corrected his mistake but better not to have made a mistake at all.
Putin is head and shoulders above the "leaders" in the West. His key quality is one that the neocons completely lack: humility. He acknowledges his mistakes and corrects them. I actually think that Putin did well to let Prig strut his stuff for a while, because it not only ended the coup peacefully but also gave the neocons enough time to make themselves look even more stupid.
I think this is true. You can't judge Russian politics by, say, American political standards. Prigozhin had a significant following among those "ultra-nationalist" Russians who were Putin's main opponents. They used Wagner as a stick with which to beat Putin's "soft" approach. By allowing this to play out, Putin not only takes control over a PMC with political influence, but reveals the ultra hero as an empty suit.
Agreed. And it always needs to be remembered that the vast majority of the Wagner boys rejected Prig's madcap power grab. They seem loyal and still full of fight.
Some thoughts to add to Rascal and Ray’s comments below.
Paris is burning, yes: it’s a “rejet massif de l’Etat” a massive repudiation of the State, for these are not communists, socialists, not one party against another: this is an insurrection against the State. Armed only with fury and resentment, these mostly young kids (14-18 yrs old), many, if not most of North African/African descent, and joined by other gangs, black-gloved and ready to commit acts of terror, are lashing out against years of kicking-the-can-down-the-road policies combined with meaningless but dangerous pablum about openness, equality and humanity (sound familiar?) The inhumane is what has brought France to this crisis.
Why? Because after being welcomed to France with open arms under the States’ official credo of equity, diversity and humanity, the migrants are sent to the “cités” on the outskirts (“banlieus”) of Paris and told to get a job. However, and Crooke is right here, unlike the immigration of of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, these young people cannot get work. While their forbears had jobs and integrated into French culture and society, they have not: for before we hadn’t completely transfomed the economy from a manufacturing to a service economy. Thus does anger and resentment build up like a pressure cooker. Honestly, when you see how hard it is already for French people to find work, how much more difficult it is for these disillusioned, deracinated and unskilled (un-credentialed) youth to join the work force.
At the same time, however, these rebels are biting the hand that feeds them - the State has gifted them with dependence: “allocations” (subsidies) for housing, unemployment, education and health. The State itself, beginning with Mitterrand, who was the first president to weaponize racism (a crafty, Machiavellian figure whose éminence grise, Jacques Attali, mentored Macron) built up this powder keg by brandishing, not the tricolore or the Marseiilaise but an empty humanism of “values” (Haass!), anti-racism, equality, all the theme songs of a state-run, top-down utopia. Mitterrand was the first president to practice these dark arts of division with his “SOS racisme” memes on race, diversity and…open borders. Watered-down sovereignty. No doubt Haass and most of DC approves whole heartedly of “institutions” such as banks and tech companies running things. Well, Macron is his man: a technocrat, banker (Rothschild) and spawn of Hollande/Attali. Macron is not a politician. He has no charisma for crowds. The days of a glad-handing, smiling Chirac are long gone. I’ve always felt Macron’s loyalties lie elsewhere - Davos maybe?
Politically, where are we? No more Left (in the traditional sense, as in the UK and Italy). And, no more Right. Mitterrand weakened the Right over 20 years by pushing racism (promoting conflict and division), thereby getting voters from the Right to vite for Le Pen, who could never muster much over 5 pct - the Frint National was always a very small party, but it grew incrementally, taking votes away from the Right - Center Right. Now, the Right has been destroyed (François Fillon removed from the 2017 presidential race). Coming from Hollande’s government, Macron ran as hybrid Leftie/social dem/pro-tech, pro-business). Mélanchon is a sort of extreme left gadfly, a great orator, but whose chances of being elected appear nil…mais on verra…Meanwhile Le Pen is speaking out and is attracting more support (like the AfD rising in Germany, for similar readons).
Meanwhile, Macron is making another visit to a top-tier sporting venue today: first it was Quatar, where the French lost the World Cup, and now the Tour de France. He’s the only one who sees himself as a winner.
Now, who to vote for? Quelle merde! A lot of our friends have voted for Macron (and we find it difficult to socialize with them!) - to vote for Hollande is possible, to vote for Macron is impossible, as my husband says. It’s the same in the US! “Well, we had no choice! We voted for Biden!” In French: “We voted for Macron, never Le Pen!” Well, à la Mercouris, we shall have to wait and see.
Even Huffpost Europe has a sobering view. A poll shows 76% of French have no faith that Macron is able to find a solution to this crisis.
https://fr.style.yahoo.com/gestion-émeutes-emmanuel-macron-désavoué-040010577.html
That's because there probably is no solution. Unless it's something incredibly extreme like physically escorting all immigrants to the border. And that would probably lead to civil war.
God forbid - no mass deportations, but a sober, reasoned, sane immigration policy. Is that too much to ask? I’ve known recently arrived immigrants who are very patriotic - and there are many who deplore the wanton violence and destruction of their own neighborhoods.
Well then France is lost - - if the ones who are rioting simply must be kept inside the polity, the polity will shatter.
Things do look bad. This article just appeared setting out very clearly the origins of the present crisis:
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/french-riots-show-decades-mass-colonizing-immigration-could-lead-collapse-says-former
Cheers!
Demanding a sober, reasoned and sane immigration policy these days makes you a neo-nazi. As does asking that your kid's school teacher refrains from preaching sexual depravity. Fair is foul, foul is fair, as a moderately talented English playwright once said.
Ha!
I can't unsee the thirty years of neocon failure.
French elite couldn’t possibly be attempting a color move on their own people now, would they? Crack down via involuntary electronic surveillance began this afternoon. I wonder who they round up first....
I don't think so, Melinda. Of course, these people never let any crisis go to waste (Covid, anyone?), but in this case, I think they were blindsided.
Yeah, there's a lot of speculation about such a move. Emergency powers put in place and then somehow the emergency never ends.
Here:: https://twitter.com/wallstreetsilv/status/1676724700074897409?s=46&t=JmAXKLElwziLBtT30UjQqg
Whatever politico and the rest named in the article may be "pro", they are certainly not pro Israel in any but the most extreme left wing sense.
I think many of us know who the really bad guys are, but afraid to state definitively and publicly so we disguise it by naming them neocons. People won't be loaded in cattle cars they will be forced to take jabs which will likely kill them slowly then suddenly.
Perhaps, but that doesn't stop psychopaths when they are fully committed to their heinous acts of mayhem.
If many of us agree there are factions who are scheming for power and money whether davos crowd or deep state or ??? And that they war game this out who is doing the same but from POV of people like us who resist and hope to survive? There is no unified group to counter those fascist efforts.
It's not much different here. Same problems, similar mess, but our Oligarchs are not shy about why they are doing what they do to destroy the USA. Or rather in Obama terms, fundamental transformation, which means out with white Christians and bring on the barbarians who are much more malleable then the native American who has tasted freedom.
And then offer benefits that make it so they don’t need to work. And make it an economic challenge to hire full time employees due to red tape and other costs, reducing employment opportunities.
And get rid of Khadafi that limited immigration, but supporting a color revolution.
And keeping French ex colonies as poor as possible by controlling their currency.
Jesus got their name out of them: Legion. They are devils.
There is nothing "neo" new about them either. They are ancient at this point
Exactly. The evil people that have permeated every elite since time began.
Bingo! you are spot on Castelleto, but who are "they?" None dare to call them by name, they are protected. I heard this snippet on a series I was watching and the guy says if you have enough money in this country you are above the law. Yes, that's how it is.
C - who is the 2nd group then? The actual neocons and who directs them?
Is there any group who can truly want maga without necessarily adopting Trump and yet also back a smart battle plan vs Russia?
I see no thing wrong with both MAGA and end-staging ("loss" for the weast) the accursed Ukrainian war. By the application of powerful and awful perfidy in the name of the USA & West, we are now attached to a European & Eastern healing moral arc. The first pavers must involve clean accountability and consequences to the evil doers. Shame and blessings con tiempo. Schade.
I would argue that the ties to Neocons go back further than "lately".