All the geopolitical pundits have been talking about the latest admissions coming from the Neocon West. Alexander Mercouris mentioned this yesterday, and Larry Johnson and Simplicius the Thinker weigh in today—first LJ, then Simplicius at the links:
They most certainly are flying by the seat of their pants, Mark. What is happening now is pure desperation as they try to figure out how to extend and pretend this war through the election cycle to maintain the possibility of the ages-old enmity versus Russia.
But the KSA flip is real. Swap lines are a precursor to intervention. My tweet was high concept but it goes like this:
1) announce swap lines
2) start taking real amounts of yuan for oil
3) this breaks the peg of the Riyal to the USD when oil is relatively strong, not in crisis mode.
4) the substitution of the CNY for the USD is existential for the US who then attacks the KSA exchange rate, pulling money out of the country...
5) SANCTIONS ON KSA
6) expanded swaps to convert USD encumbered assets with Riyal assets, once USD are verboten in KSA.
7) China provides them, with loans repayable in CNY.
"...Ethiopia, the largest country in the African continent..." I don't understand in what sense it is. Algeria is the largest geographically and Nigeria is the most populous.
Impressive and cogent analysis, as always. You “unspool” (amazing verb - Simplicius!) the significant points and ramifications of various and sundry (but reliable!) observers from the eminent Mercouris, the laser-like Simplicius and the reasoned detachment of MKB. Touché! Flying blind! It really is pitiful to see us squirming for something resembling a strategy…
Neocons . . . do they have any redeeming qualities? I describe them as satanic, insane and stupid, Macgregor called 'em delusional, they are consistent and stubborn and never learn anything, since they suffer no adverse consequences personally. I answer my own question, NONE !!!
As always, the neocons have no true, viable "strategy" and will overestimate their abilities/power and underestimate their chosen "boogey-men". If the US were to attack Yemen, that seems like it would actually benefit MBS - sure takes that conflict off of his hands. "Its not me, its the Americans!". I'm betting he'd pop popcorn & watch the Houthis/Iranians & the US slug it out.
Zbigniew Brzezinski and his plan to arm/fund/train the mujahideen to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan all those years ago set all the following events in ME in motion...and here we are!
The neocons don't realize that the numerous militia groups, that they always say are Iran's puppets, have plenty of reason to hate the US. The US going all in on Ukraine, then the conflict between Israel/Gaza has simply given them an opportunity they've been waiting for - to have a go at the Empire when its stretched like a cheap piece of bubble gum.
Garland Nixon posited an interesting take a few weeks ago: Iran could always shut down the strait of Hormuz. It seems I read a few months ago a story about the UAE leaving the US-led "coaliton" of naval security in that area, then Iran announcing they were partnering with them, the Saudis and some other Gulf countries in a naval security coalition. I thought it might be BS...but maybe there is something to it?
If the neocons keep on this track, I think this whole ME situation is going to go sideways. They have no more control over the outcome than they have in Ukraine. I hope it doesn't happen, because I think there will only be losers when its over.
Good roundup - Larry's post was especially good today. I like a little humor with my doom lol.
Reality is staring them in the face and they just simply refuse to acknowledge the fact.
They prattle on endlessly, oblivious to the fact that the rest of the world has moved on, and clinging to their deluded fantasy only makes them appear more foolish. This is Biden’s “A-Team”? Where’s Abbot and Costello when you need them?
What a fricking dumpster fire. Our only hope is that all of our foes will simply laugh themselves to death at this appalling public display of incompetence.
They most certainly are flying by the seat of their pants, Mark. What is happening now is pure desperation as they try to figure out how to extend and pretend this war through the election cycle to maintain the possibility of the ages-old enmity versus Russia.
But the KSA flip is real. Swap lines are a precursor to intervention. My tweet was high concept but it goes like this:
1) announce swap lines
2) start taking real amounts of yuan for oil
3) this breaks the peg of the Riyal to the USD when oil is relatively strong, not in crisis mode.
4) the substitution of the CNY for the USD is existential for the US who then attacks the KSA exchange rate, pulling money out of the country...
5) SANCTIONS ON KSA
6) expanded swaps to convert USD encumbered assets with Riyal assets, once USD are verboten in KSA.
7) China provides them, with loans repayable in CNY.
"...Ethiopia, the largest country in the African continent..." I don't understand in what sense it is. Algeria is the largest geographically and Nigeria is the most populous.
There seems to be a difference from GOP and Democrat Neocons.
McCain, Lyndsey Graham, Wolferitz, snd Cheney on the GOP.
GOP neocons:
- would love to flatten Iran.
- 100% support Israel, right or wrong
Democratic Neocons
- support the Iranian Government
Both:
- Hate Russia
- Want to pivot to Asia
- Hate Secular Arab Governments. See Libya and Syria.
Impressive and cogent analysis, as always. You “unspool” (amazing verb - Simplicius!) the significant points and ramifications of various and sundry (but reliable!) observers from the eminent Mercouris, the laser-like Simplicius and the reasoned detachment of MKB. Touché! Flying blind! It really is pitiful to see us squirming for something resembling a strategy…
The “Houthani” helicopter borne capture in the Red Sea of an Israeli ship was brilliant.
Neocons . . . do they have any redeeming qualities? I describe them as satanic, insane and stupid, Macgregor called 'em delusional, they are consistent and stubborn and never learn anything, since they suffer no adverse consequences personally. I answer my own question, NONE !!!
As always, the neocons have no true, viable "strategy" and will overestimate their abilities/power and underestimate their chosen "boogey-men". If the US were to attack Yemen, that seems like it would actually benefit MBS - sure takes that conflict off of his hands. "Its not me, its the Americans!". I'm betting he'd pop popcorn & watch the Houthis/Iranians & the US slug it out.
Zbigniew Brzezinski and his plan to arm/fund/train the mujahideen to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan all those years ago set all the following events in ME in motion...and here we are!
The neocons don't realize that the numerous militia groups, that they always say are Iran's puppets, have plenty of reason to hate the US. The US going all in on Ukraine, then the conflict between Israel/Gaza has simply given them an opportunity they've been waiting for - to have a go at the Empire when its stretched like a cheap piece of bubble gum.
Garland Nixon posited an interesting take a few weeks ago: Iran could always shut down the strait of Hormuz. It seems I read a few months ago a story about the UAE leaving the US-led "coaliton" of naval security in that area, then Iran announcing they were partnering with them, the Saudis and some other Gulf countries in a naval security coalition. I thought it might be BS...but maybe there is something to it?
If the neocons keep on this track, I think this whole ME situation is going to go sideways. They have no more control over the outcome than they have in Ukraine. I hope it doesn't happen, because I think there will only be losers when its over.
Good roundup - Larry's post was especially good today. I like a little humor with my doom lol.
Another telltale sign:
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/dutch-central-bank-admits-it-has-prepared-new-gold-standard
These people remind me of Baghdad Bob.
Reality is staring them in the face and they just simply refuse to acknowledge the fact.
They prattle on endlessly, oblivious to the fact that the rest of the world has moved on, and clinging to their deluded fantasy only makes them appear more foolish. This is Biden’s “A-Team”? Where’s Abbot and Costello when you need them?
What a fricking dumpster fire. Our only hope is that all of our foes will simply laugh themselves to death at this appalling public display of incompetence.