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TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #900 on: June 14, 2018, 02:01:06 PM »
The coalition has started their assault on Yemen. This is going to be bad.
Our Saudi Allies are hitting the only port where humanitarian aid enters Yemen.

The United Nations says it could cause more than a quarter of a million civilian casualties.

American weapons, guided by American logistics will leave behind another river of civilian blood.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-11/un-red-cross-evacuate-staff-yemen-port-city-ahead-imminent-us-saudi-coalition
Terry

zizek

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #901 on: June 14, 2018, 06:13:19 PM »
And just a reminder that past administrations including obama clinton, and trudeau supported Saudi since the start of the Yemen war in 2015.

Everyone is supporting one of the worst genocide in modern history! Hooray! wahooo! America! Yeah!



it probably was the russians. 

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #902 on: June 16, 2018, 05:06:49 AM »
Engelhardt has an interesting thesis:

"Though no one ever thought of it that way, from 1945 to 1991, the United States, like the Soviet Union, was, after a fashion, “contained.”

In those years, the Russians were, in essence, saving Washington from itself. "

"Despite what it looked like in Washington once upon a time, the disappearance of the Soviet Union proved to be no gift at all, but a disaster of the first order. It removed all sense of limits from America’s political class and led to a tale of greed on a planetary scale. In the process, it also set the U.S. on a path to self-decline."

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176436/tomgram%3A_engelhardt%2C_a_twenty-first-century_history_of_greed/

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #903 on: June 18, 2018, 01:25:18 AM »
Over at blackagendareport, Baraka analyses Korea in the context of decolonization:

"for the people in Korea and throughout the global South, the real issue has always been the unfinished business of ending the war and beginning the de-colonization of the Korean peninsula."

"the psychopathology of white supremacy invisibilizes the absurdity and illegitimacy of the United States being in a position to negotiate the fate of millions of Koreans. The great “white father” and savior complex is not even a point of contestation because it is not even perceived–the rule of whiteness through the dominance of the Western capitalist elite has been naturalized."

"it is quite understandable that for many, the summit is the space where the North Koreans are essentially supposed to surrender to the United States"

"The concrete, geopolitical objectives of U.S. imperialist interests in the region drives the logic of regional dominance, which means peace, de-colonization and national reconciliation for Korea are counter to U.S. interests."

"self-determination of the Korean peoples must be the center of our discussions"

https://blackagendareport.com/north-korea-issue-not-de-nuclearization-de-colonization

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sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #904 on: June 19, 2018, 12:08:36 AM »
People standing up. Internal structures of repression break down:

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHOW THEM *SHIT*!!! "

Go, sister, go.

https://www.commondreams.org/further/2018/06/17/you-dont-have-show-them-shit

sidd

TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #905 on: June 19, 2018, 07:06:08 PM »
Trump's America will be pulling out of the UN Human Rights Council later today.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-06-19/trump-withdraw-un-human-rights-council-today

Possibly a reasonable move, but the PR will be terrible.
Terry

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #906 on: June 27, 2018, 06:46:35 AM »
This would be funny if it were not so sad.

"We call on the government of Cuba to release all political prisoners immediately,"

Where's Guantanamo, again ?

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018-06-26/united-states-urges-cuba-to-release-two-prisoners-of-conscience

sidd

TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #907 on: June 28, 2018, 01:46:56 AM »
An interesting expose of The Human Rights Foundation & Gary Kasparov.



Kasparov is 30 min in if that's all you're interest is.
Terry

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #908 on: June 29, 2018, 10:20:21 PM »
Fisk thinks the USA has given up on ousting Assad. I am not yet convinced.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/06/29/the-us-has-given-up-on-the-overthrow-of-assad/

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #909 on: July 31, 2018, 09:32:27 PM »

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #910 on: August 06, 2018, 11:39:02 PM »
Bellum sine fine.

--
“Did you imagine in 2001 that you would be deploying... to Afghanistan in 2018?” he asked. Miller replied that he had not, adding, “Senator, I actually recall conversations of people who were out over Christmas in 2001 talking about they were doing this so their kids did not have to.” That response led Cotton to call attention to a soldier seated just behind Miller: a young Army 2nd Lieutenant with the 82nd Airborne Division who just happened to be the general’s son, Austin Miller.

“If Lieutenant Miller does his job well and stays as a platoon leader at the 82nd Airborne into next year, 2019, he is going to have a private report to his platoon in all likelihood who was born after the 9/11 attacks. That is a pretty shocking fact. Is it not?”

“Yes, Senator,” Miller agreed.
--

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176456/tomgram%3A_nick_turse%2C_a_grim_inheritance/#more

In other news, the miitary has blocked tomdispatch under the category of "Hate and Racism." Although breitbart and infowars, apparently, are fine.

 You can't make this up. But they may have a reason:

"On consideration, however, I’ve concluded that the Department of Defense might have a point. Since this site was launched as a no-name listserv in October 2001 soon after the Afghan War started -- you know, the war that the DoD is still pursuing so successfully almost 17 years later with its 17th commander now in the field, 15,000 American troops still fighting and advising there (and still dying there as well), and the enemy, the Taliban in particular, in control of yet more territory in that country -- TomDispatch has always hated America’s never-ending, ever-spreading, refugee- and terror-producing wars that now extend from South Asia across the Middle East and deep into Africa. So perhaps this site is, after all, a must-block “hate” site."

sidd


sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #911 on: August 10, 2018, 03:01:28 AM »
Discontent in the satrapies: Turkish lawyers want US servicemen arrested

"The pro-government lawyers have filed complaints against almost a dozen personnel at the Incirlik Air Base"

"The document requested a temporary freeze on flights leaving the base—which is home to thousands of Americans—and a search warrant to allow investigators access."

https://www.newsweek.com/turkey-wants-arrest-american-troops-ties-terrorist-group-1065017?amp=1

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #912 on: August 10, 2018, 03:07:13 AM »
Another vassal eyes China as alternative to Western hegemon:

--
The developing country is also awash in external debt, having taken on loans from China for the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

It has two options: the International Monetary Fund or Beijing

If the administration of incoming Prime Minister Imran Khan seeks out another loan, estimated at $10 billion, the country will be subject to the IMF's strict austerity measures

The U.S., meanwhile, has taken issue with the idea of IMF funds going toward Pakistan's Chinese debt

Last month, the Asian giant loaned Pakistan $1 billion to boost its shrinking foreign currency reserves. For the current fiscal year thus far, China's lending to Pakistan is set to exceed $5 billion, according to Reuters.

--

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/09/pakistan-looks-to-imf-or-china-for-bailout.html

sidd


sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #913 on: August 10, 2018, 07:04:15 AM »
America's Finest News Source on futuristic weapon systems:

" ... using seraphim-targeted bombs and heretic-seeking missiles to protect America from hostile sinners is not feasible, nor indeed useful, at this time ..."

" ... a proposed Holy Ghost cloaking device that would allow planes to fly undetected above the homes of prostitutes and thieves ..."

"The National Guard, however, may consider Pence’s contingency plans for non-lethal counters to possible civil unrest, saying the idea of a crowd-dispersing holy water cannon is “not completely without merit.” "

Oh, surely there's room in that 780 billion defense budget, supported by Democrats and Evangelicals alike for divinely supported military action ?

Or is the problem that sometimes these heretic seeking missiles might hit ... gasp ... Washington, DC ? Lotsa heretics, apostates, idolaters, prostitutes and thieves there ....

sidd

SteveMDFP

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #914 on: August 10, 2018, 09:52:03 PM »
America's Finest News Source on futuristic weapon systems:

I think sidd neglected the URL.  It's quite funny:
Pentagon Officials Listen In Silence As Mike Pence Details Plans For Angel-Guided Defense Weapons System
https://politics.theonion.com/pentagon-officials-listen-in-silence-as-mike-pence-deta-1828231250

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #915 on: August 11, 2018, 05:40:45 AM »
Thanx. I read it again, and it made me giggle again.

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #916 on: August 18, 2018, 06:46:48 AM »
ivica posted an article by Ahmad at grayzone on Imran Khan's victory in Pakistan:

https://grayzoneproject.com/2018/08/13/pakistans-russiagate-elections-imran-khan-and-the-rational-villains-the-west-loves-to-hate/

"In a nutshell, from whatever angle you want to look at it, his victory represents the intensification of imperial decline, since Pakistan was always expected to be a loyal client state of the US."

Recall, the Pakistani military tipped the scales against his opponent, Sharif. That is an even bigger tell, the military is the greatest beneficiary from US aid.

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #917 on: August 18, 2018, 07:41:34 AM »
China courts Turkey:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-currency-china/china-offers-turkey-moral-support-says-can-overcome-difficulties-idUSKBN1L210C

These moves by China remind me of sumo from across the sea of japan: small and almost imperceptible shifts of balance with immense power and weight behind them, calculated and thought out well in advance, leading to irresistible advantage.

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #918 on: August 21, 2018, 07:01:06 AM »
Mr. Terry M. asked in another thread:

"Why would the US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems. "

1) Destabilized Syria suits interest of the USA/Israel/Saud  in the middle east, keeps Russia bogged down.
2) Increased flux of refugees into the EU burdens their economy and makes EU less likely to challenge US hegemon

As we see, on the southern US border the greater influx is from precisely those countries that the US has destabilized. So the problems do come home to roost. So sad.

sidd

Rob Dekker

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #919 on: August 22, 2018, 09:15:14 AM »
Mr. Terry M. asked in another thread:

"Why would the US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems. "

You failed to note that Mr. Terry M did not provide a single thread of evidence that the "US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems".

Mr. Terry M made that up all by himself out of thin air.

In other words : He lied.

And you were oh so happy to provide support for his lie.
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #920 on: August 22, 2018, 09:28:56 AM »
Mr. Terry M. asked in another thread:

"Why would the US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems. "

You failed to note that Mr. Terry M did not provide a single thread of evidence that the "US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems".

Mr. Terry M made that up all by himself out of thin air.

In other words : He lied.

And you were oh so happy to provide support for his lie.
Remember this one the next time you reply with "I've never called you a liar"
Terry

Rob Dekker

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #921 on: August 22, 2018, 10:42:22 AM »
Mr. Terry M. asked in another thread:

"Why would the US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems. "

You failed to note that Mr. Terry M did not provide a single thread of evidence that the "US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems".

Mr. Terry M made that up all by himself out of thin air.

In other words : He lied.

And you were oh so happy to provide support for his lie.
Remember this one the next time you reply with "I've never called you a liar"
Terry

There is a difference between calling somebody a liar and calling a particular statement a lie.
You lied about this statement, Terry.
You made it up out of thin air.
Why ?
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

Rob Dekker

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #922 on: August 22, 2018, 11:27:49 AM »
In other words : He lied.
And you were oh so happy to provide support for his lie.

Do you never learn? Here you go again, within days, defaulting to making false accusations against other posters, throwing insults and Ad hominem attacks ..... while beating it up with the histrionics. It's disrespectful, unnecessary, unwarranted and on top of that - you're wrong - as usual. Try a little humor instead?

I did not make any "false accusations against other posters, throwing insults and Ad hominem attacks" at all.

I pointed out one lie that originated from your post of a lie from Lavrov.

I understand that I'm not getting any credits for de-bunking lies and propaganda on this forum.
Yet it bothers me if people tell lies. It's simply not right.

And to see you stand up for Terry spreading lies is despicable.

Once again, it's really simply.
Terry made this statement :

Quote
the "US want to discourage others from spending their own resources in projects that would aid in reducing Europe's refugee problems".

Now, if you have ANY evidence for that statement to be true, then please present it.
If not, you have to admit that it was a fabrication. A lie. Which is my point exactly.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2018, 11:42:43 AM by Rob Dekker »
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

Rob Dekker

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #923 on: August 22, 2018, 11:47:28 AM »
Why do you stand up for people that parrot Russian lies, and blame it all on Obama, without ANY thread of evidence, and why do you support people that spread these lies to other threads ?

And then call ME a fraud for pointing out these lies ?

What's going on here ?
This is our planet. This is our time.
Let's not waste either.

TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #924 on: August 22, 2018, 09:09:28 PM »
It appears that it has indeed been Putin's Puppet raising tariffs, enacting sanctions, even bombing the allies of his supposed partner in crime. Strange to see this marionette attacking the one pulling his strings. Is Punch abandoning his attacks on Judy to now be swinging his cudgel at the hand up his own behind?
Such masterful performance art! He deserves his own reality show -The Autocrat's Apprentice.


Rather than quivering in fear that the infamous pee pee tapes will at last be exposed, our Orange Lochinvar dares to bite the very hand that fed his presidential ambitions, and now directs his every move. What daring - What panache. Small wonder that his notoriety grows exponentially among the few, the brave, the deplorable!


As The Donald flips another latent Lilliputian ornithic obscenity in the direction of his Machiavellian marionettist, his voyeuristic voters cringe. When will the ever patient Perfidious Putin react? When will those sickening scenes of sodden sheets and saturated slipcovers be unleashed on a gullible gentry?

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #925 on: August 23, 2018, 08:13:28 AM »
Chas Freeman, old time, big time deep state heavy hitter par excellence, points out the consequences of imperial hubris:

--
"Neocon False Assumptions

First, wars in countries with significant natural resources, like oil, can easily be made to pay for themselves.

Second, regime change can transform foreign societies because inside every foreigner there is a liberal democrat yearning to get out.

Third, if you kick the natives hard enough they will turn into the moral equivalent of Canadians – meek, unfailingly polite to everyone, and reconciled to American primacy.

Fourth, in addition to the gerbils who inhabit the deserts of the Fertile Crescent, this region is full of Arab moderates eager to risk their lives by bravely making war on savage Islamist fanatics.

Fifth, exiles say what they mean and mean what they say; and

Sixth, if we sock it to would-be terrorists over there, they won’t dare follow us home. "

...

"The dead and wounded come home.  The money will never return."

"Today our homeland is shabbier and we are less – not more – secure than we were before we began our rampage through the Muslim world.  Placing Russia and China at the top of our roster of enemies and preparing to go to war with them will make our military-industrial complex feel better by justifying the procurement of super-expensive weaponry.  But it will not improve our position in the wars we are currently losing ..."

" ... starting wars without any idea of how we will end them, on what terms, and with whom, is a recipe for endless disaster.

" ... there are not many problems that can be solved by the ill-considered use of force, but there are almost none that can’t be made worse by it."


Read the whole thing:

https://consortiumnews.com/2018/08/20/fifteen-years-of-forever-wars/
--

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #926 on: August 23, 2018, 08:31:08 AM »
Chas Freeman is an interesting guy. Made man in the deep state, as i mentioned, but sharp as a razor, polyglot, very clear sighted and always worth reading. You may not agree with his motives and agendas, but i think one needs to read him.

This link might go in many places, like the "Must read" thread, but it is a fascinating look at the inner workings of Empire. This guy was there at pivotal moments, for example, quite early in his career the guy was interpreter in Nixon's china meetings ...

"I should say that there is a family tradition, on my mother’s side, going back at least to the time of my great grandfather, which would be the late nineteenth century, of conversation twice a week at the dinner table in a foreign language. "

" It essentially became difficult, if not impossible, for Foreign Service officers dealing with the Arab world, or with the Middle East generally, to take anything other than a stance that was assertively loyal to causes espoused by the Israelis ...  an atmosphere of intimidation, worthy of the McCarthy era, in many respects, imposed on Arabists."

" ... the Arab specialists there were operating under extraordinary political constraints, really worthy, in many ways, of those that apply in totalitarian countries. They could not speak, even privately to friends, an ill word of Israeli actions, let alone Israeli policy, without fear of consequences to their career. "

"I personally collected $16.9 billion from King Fahd, including $3.2 billion that he had never agreed to…."

"When I left Saudi Arabia, in my farewell call on the finance minister, I treasured his remark when he asked me what I was going to do when I left. I said that I thought I had done enough government service, and I planned to go to the private sector. He said, “Well, I don’t know what you’re going to do, but if you ever need a letter of recommendation, say, for example, you decide to become a mafia bill collector, I will provide the letter,” which, unfortunately, I never did get from him, but I would have treasured such a letter.

So I found myself in the odd position of arguing with Washington that Saudi Arabia was strapped, and arguing with the Saudis that they could and should pay more. And I was more successful, I think, with Saudi Arabia than I was with Washington…. "

" there are several foreign services of which I know that are very self-consciously professional, some of them very effectively so, some of them less so. I think of the French foreign service, which is quite self-consciously professional; of the German foreign service; of the Brazilian foreign service; of the Ghanaian foreign service; of the foreign service of Singapore, which I think is probably, pound for pound, by far the most effective in the world. "

https://adst.org/oral-history/fascinating-figures/chas-freeman-the-u-s-values-amateurism-over-professionalism-in-diplomacy/

I end with one of my favorite quotes from C. S. Lewis:

"The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices."

Chas Freeman is one such. But read him nonetheless.

sidd
« Last Edit: August 23, 2018, 08:41:17 AM by sidd »

SteveMDFP

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #927 on: August 23, 2018, 01:28:13 PM »
Chas Freeman, old time, big time deep state heavy hitter par excellence, points out the consequences of imperial hubris:

--
"Neocon False Assumptions

First, wars in countries with significant natural resources, like oil, can easily be made to pay for themselves.

Second, regime change can transform foreign societies because inside every foreigner there is a liberal democrat yearning to get out.

Third, if you kick the natives hard enough they will turn into the moral equivalent of Canadians – meek, unfailingly polite to everyone, and reconciled to American primacy.

Fourth, in addition to the gerbils who inhabit the deserts of the Fertile Crescent, this region is full of Arab moderates eager to risk their lives by bravely making war on savage Islamist fanatics.

Fifth, exiles say what they mean and mean what they say; and

Sixth, if we sock it to would-be terrorists over there, they won’t dare follow us home. "

...

"The dead and wounded come home.  The money will never return."

"Today our homeland is shabbier and we are less – not more – secure than we were before we began our rampage through the Muslim world.  Placing Russia and China at the top of our roster of enemies and preparing to go to war with them will make our military-industrial complex feel better by justifying the procurement of super-expensive weaponry.  But it will not improve our position in the wars we are currently losing ..."

" ... starting wars without any idea of how we will end them, on what terms, and with whom, is a recipe for endless disaster.

" ... there are not many problems that can be solved by the ill-considered use of force, but there are almost none that can’t be made worse by it."


Read the whole thing:

https://consortiumnews.com/2018/08/20/fifteen-years-of-forever-wars/
--
 

It's quite a good speech by Ambassador Freeman.  I don't like much of consortiumnews's content, but I think they did a service in publishing the speech.

SteveMDFP

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #928 on: August 23, 2018, 03:32:42 PM »
It appears that it has indeed been Putin's Puppet raising tariffs, enacting sanctions, even bombing the allies of his supposed partner in crime. Strange to see this marionette attacking the one pulling his strings. Is Punch abandoning his attacks on Judy to now be swinging his cudgel at the hand up his own behind?

Trump has a very long history of screwing over his business partners, after the ink has dried.  Trump got the White House, the ink has dried.  Why would Trump treat Putin any better than any of the other business partners he's screwed over?

mostly_lurking

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #929 on: August 24, 2018, 10:20:41 AM »

...snip

Trump has a very long history of screwing over his business partners, after the ink has dried.  Trump got the White House, the ink has dried.  Why would Trump treat Putin any better than any of the other business partners he's screwed over?

Because I don't think he actually cares about HIS money anymore. I do think he wants to go down in history as a good potus ( he would say great...) . Can he flip that switch in his brain- I think so.

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #930 on: August 26, 2018, 09:00:29 AM »
Wait, what ? China buying the "unsinkable aircraft carrier" that used to belong to the USA ?

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-china-britain/china-says-agrees-with-britain-to-discuss-top-notch-free-trade-deal-idUKKCN1LA0IB

sidd

sidd

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #931 on: August 26, 2018, 09:07:13 AM »
Rats leaving the ship: Afghan puppet government of Empire collapsing

"resignations were from Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak, as well as Masoom Stanekzai, the head of the National Directorate of Security. They followed a decision by National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar to quit. "

"Heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan forces across the country this year, as well as repeated suicide attacks ..."

" ... parliamentary elections due on Oct. 20 ..."

" ... the scale of the violence has shocked government officials, who are facing bitter criticism over their handling of the war. "

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gerontocrat

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #932 on: August 27, 2018, 08:18:31 PM »
The French leader stated that he wants “to launch an exhaustive review of [EU] security with all Europe’s partners, which includes Russia.”
https://www.rt.com/news/436925-macron-eu-security-us/ (with video)

Democrat news network
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/27/europe/macron-eu-security-intl/

https://www.axios.com/emmanuel-macron-european-union-defense-united-states-ff2c8998-6137-4c73-ac1c-101f51173e0e.html

Hey, they all say the same thing.
If US foreign policy (including economic relations) is "America First" and is a zero-sum game - i.e. "We (the USA) Win,  You (Everybody Else) Lose", then the only appropriate response for the other 190+ countries and other 95% of the World's population is - "America Last".

In February 2003 I was in Jordan - some senior Arab diplomats asked me (while in our favourite watering hole) - surely the USA won't do it. (Turkey had just said no to the 2nd front). Too late, said I, things reach an unstoppable momentum. The same seems to apply to much of human activity.

So "America First" and the response "America Last" may not pretty, may not be a good idea, but even in a one-term Presidency the process can be seen to be already in motion. If it turns out to be a 2 term Presidency, that process may well reach that unstoppable moment. Even now it is probable that that perceived unbreakable trust in Article V of NATO "An attack on one is an attack on all" is now irrevocably compromised.
"Para a Causa do Povo a Luta Continua!"
"And that's all I'm going to say about that". Forrest Gump
"Damn, I wanted to see what happened next" (Epitaph)

jacksmith4tx

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #933 on: August 27, 2018, 08:50:27 PM »
gerontocrat,

Many of those 190 countries are economic subsidiaries and military colonies of USA Inc. but I agree with your sentiment.

Is there even a functioning United Nations anymore?

Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.

TerryM

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #934 on: August 27, 2018, 09:36:26 PM »
UN - Good
UN Security Counsel with veto power - not so good
Terry

johnm33

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #935 on: August 28, 2018, 11:24:00 PM »
"Chas Freeman is one such. But read him nonetheless." Interesting guy, great read, i was left wondering if the lack of 'Profession' is default or design.

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #936 on: August 29, 2018, 02:48:03 AM »
That whole site is full of interesting interviews. Huge time sink.

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #937 on: August 29, 2018, 10:39:46 PM »
This could almost be in the Onion:

https://news.antiwar.com/2018/08/28/pentagon-does-not-expect-endless-large-scale-military-mission-in-afghanistan/

"No, not endless, of course. Another two decades mebbe. Three tops. But certainly until after my retirement," said the general.

Actually he didn't say that. But he might as well have. As Engelhardt and Turse remind us so powerfully.

Engelhardt:

"I began writing about that war in October 2001, almost 17 years ago ...
"I wrote about our Afghan War in 2008 ..."
"I wrote about Afghanistan in 2009 ..."
"I wrote in 2010 ..."
"I wrote in 2012, when Afghanistan had superseded Vietnam as the longest war in American history ..."
"I wrote in 2015 ..."
"I wrote last year ..."
"it’s a reasonable bet that, in August 2019, or August 2020, not to speak of August 2021, I’ll be repeating all of this yet again."
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176458/tomgram%3A_engelhardt%2C_america%27s_%28near%29_thirty_years%27_war/

Turse:
"Raids by U.S. commandos in Afghanistan. (I could be talking about 2001 or 2018.)

A U.S. drone strike in Yemen. (I could be talking about 2002 or 2018.)

Missions by Green Berets in Iraq. (I could be talking about 2003 or 2018.)"

"“This young guy sitting behind me,” he said, referring to his uniformed son, “I never anticipated that his cohort would be in a position to deploy as I sat there in 2001.” "

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176456/tomgram%3A_nick_turse%2C_a_grim_inheritance/

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #938 on: August 30, 2018, 12:01:23 AM »
Excerpts from playbook of Empire: Lee Camp over at truthdig:

--
STEP ONE: Create a strong U.S.-backed “fifth column.”
STEP TWO: Undermine the country’s economy.
STEP THREE: Wait for internal protests and/or create them.
STEP FOUR: Get violent while accusing the government of getting violent.
STEP FIVE: If steps 1 through 4 don’t work, kidnap or assassinate.
--

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/how-to-create-a-u-s-backed-government-coup-for-fun-and-profit/

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magnamentis

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #939 on: August 30, 2018, 05:44:01 PM »
No, no, no, can't be right. Lee Camp works for RT and so he works for Putin and therefore Lee Camp himself is part of a fifth column intent on bring down American democracy and freedom. He's projecting his own guilt onto American ngos. Obviously. Besides Venezuela and Nicaragua govts deserve to be toppled because they are so bad and anti-American. Like all the other govts that were toppled. (mind you I cannot see this ever changing, do you?) I'm petty much over it long ago and have no expectations at all.

not meant as a "no but" or to oppose anything you said, i'd just like to add that the U.S. democracy is brought down by itself. not much external input needed for the process.

each time i see this thread title my first thought is "there is no future" but then i remember that the title is not "and it's future" but "and the future" and of course there is "a" future, just not for the "empire" and that's great news.

empires are evil by definition and there is no reason why the U.S. should be spared from the fate of all ancient empires.

i remember a heated discussion when i predicted the downfall of the USSR in 1970 in primary school when our teacher tought us to be afraid from the "Russkies" and when he ask me why i little boy claim to know such a thing, the answer was the same, no such system ever survived longer than a given time, mostly less than 100 years ( i said mostly and it would be necessary to analyze what the differences were with systems that survived longer)

i know the U.S is older than 100 years but it's not an empire for much longer, if at all, again it would have to be defined when an empire started to be an empire, hence when the clock started to count.

further the U.S  of A. are not "such a system" they are a first of it's kind, the first "democratic empire" all earlier empires were either monarchies or dictatorships.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2018, 05:54:49 PM by magnamentis »

mostly_lurking

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #940 on: August 30, 2018, 06:02:18 PM »
Generally the US is considered an empire from WW2 (some say WW1) so it is exactly 100 years or a less. One does have to take into consideration that the world today is way different than any time in history- the globalization/communication aspect should effect the "life" of an empire although hard to say which direction. Also being an empire can be more subtle than the old definitions (armies conquering territory).

magnamentis

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #941 on: August 30, 2018, 10:01:35 PM »
further the U.S  of A. are not "such a system" they are a first of it's kind, the first "democratic empire" all earlier empires were either monarchies or dictatorships.

No arguments there mag., but I think you'll find that England/Britain was the first genuine modern era democracy (and an empire) before the US.  The Brits were wise and saw the writing on the wall and their own limitations. If the Americans were smarter & patient (and more respectful of their own history and their 'parent') they could have formed their own nation without a revolution or a shot being fired.


LOL, i knew this was coming, that's something that has to be discussed. The only real democracy IMO is switzerland anyway, all others are kind of variations.

yes the british were the first to cut the absolute power of their kings and having a parliament, this if we don't count the people from athens who gave democracy the name.

and then the people of ancient israel elected their kings, so if we make the ancient word king a president, a president of the U.S. or french kind, we get close to the amount of power in one man's hand and how he/she got into office.

however, the topic is huge, only thing is that the united KINGDOM is up to this day a monarchy and certainly the british empire was mostly built and influenced by a system of nobility and monarchistic structures, the parliament at that time had close to zero impact on the structure, building, defense and size of the british empire. last but not least, the upper house and the king together more or less had most of the power in their own hands for a long time, much later the lower house gained more significant influence. in the beginning it appears to me a bit like an alibi parliament while nowadays it's the other way around, the queen is kind of a figure like for example the german president who has very little real power and the power he has would oust hime if it were really consequently executed.

in short, somehow you are right, certainly not wrong, but then i think in the context we mean or i meant in my post that fact is not significant. even the USSR had a DUMA and almost any dictatorship nowadays has a parliament.

Does this make them democracies ?   IMO NO !

but again i enjoy the input because it's increasing my viewing angle or increase the angle where i see sharp ;)

very much appreciate your feedback either way :D
« Last Edit: August 31, 2018, 12:00:58 AM by magnamentis »

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #942 on: August 30, 2018, 10:48:05 PM »
Orwell warned a long time ago of the corruption of language. Calhoun points out examples today:

"imminent no longer implies immediacy. Imminent really means potential."

"combatants are military-age males located in hostile territories. Combatants need not bear arms, and need not pose any direct threat to the life of any human being when they are killed ..."

"suspected militants become terrorists upon their execution by the US government ..."

"All military-age males in hostile territories are unlawful combatants incapable of surrender, because they are metaphysical terrorists who may be dispatched en masse ..."

"In a signature strike, a target’s actions reflect a disposition matrix of known terrorist behavior patterns. Every savvy analyst affirms that men who bear arms in remote tribal regions = terrorists. And a fortiori when they are Arabs."

https://thedroneage.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/obama-speak-drone-warfare-lexicon-and-the-meaning-of-near-certainty/

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #943 on: August 31, 2018, 12:42:47 AM »
Empire cracks the whip. Except these days it's more like a wet noodle. Phillipines, Turkey, India look to Russia. So sad.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/india-face-sanctions-buys-russia-400-missiles-180830083608701.html

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #944 on: August 31, 2018, 01:06:12 AM »
What ? Japan and North Korea making nice ? They hate each other. And not informing the hegemon, either ...

" “secret” meeting with North Korea in Vietnam in July without informing the United States ... "

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/29/japan-north-korea-held-secret-meeting-abe-loses-trust-trump/

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #945 on: August 31, 2018, 01:08:15 AM »
Apparently Saudi pilots are not efficient enuf in killing Yemeni children. Need better training.

" the Pentagon is currently preparing to train Saudi military pilots on U.S. soil."

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/30/plan-train-saudi-pilots-us-soil-undermines-pentagon-denial-complicity-yemen-carnage

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #946 on: August 31, 2018, 01:15:47 AM »
List of allies keeps thinning.

France:

"It is in our interest for the EU to have a strategic relationship with Turkey as well as with Russia that brings stability ..."

"simply a realistic means ... to cooperate more deeply"

Finland:

"Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, who joined Macron at the news conference, has been credited at home for forging a constructive relationship with Putin. "

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-finland-defense-russia/its-time-for-realism-in-eu-russia-ties-frances-macron-idUSKCN1LF0UP

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #947 on: August 31, 2018, 02:10:48 AM »
I posted this text into the Trump presidency thread, but upon reflection, it might belong here:

--begin included text

A perceptive look at North Korea from 38North covered by Raimondo at antiwar:

"Congress is tackling the president’s feet, the judicial branch is grabbing him by the collar, and news media are bashing him. [in the past]…infighting between vested interests inside US politics did more damage than differences of opinions between North Korea and the United States did. We see it as a higher priority to straighten out fragmented and messed-up US politics than a quick improvement in North Korea-US relations, ..."

"His administration and even his advisors are sleeping in the same bed with the president but dreaming different dreams. They are speaking and acting in a way that is inconsistent with the president’s wish, and they are misleading facts to blur the president’s eyes and ears and steering him toward making unintended decisions."

"the North Koreans are genuinely worried that Trump is not in control of his own government (true) and may soon be on the way out. "

"Our ignorance of how North Korea works is apparently not matched by their knowledge of American politics, which seems both extensive and perceptive. "

"The North Koreans are no dummies: they know a regime change operation when they see one. "

Raimondo:
https://original.antiwar.com/justin/2018/08/29/korea-fake-news-and-whats-really-going-on/

38north:

https://www.38north.org/2018/08/rcarlin082118/

--end included text
 

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #948 on: August 31, 2018, 02:32:27 AM »
RE: Korea
It's a shame President Moon of S. Korea doesn't get more credit for what progress there has been so far.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/moon-deepens-civilian-control-south-korea

Science is a thought process, technology will change reality.

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Re: Empire - America and the future
« Reply #949 on: August 31, 2018, 05:38:33 AM »
It's clear N and S Korea are doin a deal, regardless of what Empire wants. Japan sees that and wants in, in spite of generations of Japanese Korean enemity. Note that the meet was held in Vietnam, another place which bore the brunt of US aggression.

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