You can’t keep Donald Trump out of the headlines again this week as he declares tariff war on the rest of the world. Sometimes he appears to be mockingly imitating the ‘dictator’ many thought he would become, once elected.
At the moment our Donald sometimes acts more like a bull in a China shop than the leader of the ‘free world’. Canada and Mexico have been threatened with 25% tariffs unless they take steps to prevent illicit activity on their borders (such as the import of fentanyl) - which both have agreed to do. Both countries will be sending 10,000 troops to their respective borders.
China will retaliate against the 10% tariffs Trump has imposed, warning that the US will be punishing itself if it continues because the burden of tariffs will eventually be borne by the American people. The Chinese will also complain to the WTO regarding the tariffs which the US claims to have imposed because the Chinese are allowing immigrants and fentanyl into the US. Cynics might suggest that this is simply an excuse to obtain a trade advantage. The Chinese have responded by claiming that they have the strictest drug control policies in the world. The Ministry for foreign affairs has insisted that Fentanyl is a US problem, that these tariffs benefit no one and are in conflict with WTO rules. Even the European Union could come under attack from US tariffs.
In Washington, Trump revealed his Zionist instincts when he articulated his intention of building a ‘big Israel’ in the Middle East. Shamefully, Trump entertained mass murderer Bibi Netanyahu as the first leader to visit him in the White House. It may have been politically expedient for him to do this but it was still a shameful act. In a press conference, Trump lamented about the destruction in Gaza financed by the US and inflicted by the smiling Netanyahu standing beside him. He said that it would be best if the Palestinians moved out of Gaza. But this would not be popular with the countries to which they will be assigned - including Egypt and Jordon.
Trump even talked about bringing Gaza under US ownership and rebuilding it so that the whole world can enjoy it. Gaza would become the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’. The President may have changed but the US arrogance and hubris are still in evidence. There is no time in the history of the Israeli state that attempts to take over Gaza will be resisted more vehemently than today - as you will see below from comments made by Yousef Fares and Islamic Jihad. You can read more about the Middle East response to this in the Palestine Chronicle. Spokesmen from Russia, Australia, Turkiye, Amnesty International, China the European Union and elsewhere, have reiterated their desire for a two state solution. Some say Trump has ‘completely lost it’. You can read more here. Professor Mohammad Marandi discusses the matter with Nima at Dialogue Works.
Professor Gilbert Doctorow, on the other hand, takes the view that Trump has no intention of taking over Gaza but in talking about US involvement in redevelopment he is telling Bibi to lay his hands off the city. Most commentators are not really sure why Trump is saying such outlandish things and I am equally baffled.
The Israelis continue to murder civilians in Lebanon and in the West Bank while in Syria HTS has agreed a deal with Turkiye (see below).
European leaders (including Starmer) met this week to discuss their approach to the Trump leadership. Viktor Orban put a spanner in their display of unity by admitting that he trusts Putin because he keeps his word (unlike some).
The Ukrainians have launched another offensive in Kursk which has been repelled with high losses. The battlefronts are much the same as they were last week but the intensity of the conflict has decreased as b discusses at the MoA (Feb 6th). According to the Russian MoD (see below) Ukrainian manpower losses have reduced in recent weeks but this week their equipment losses were near record levels. The once great Z is still calling for NATO membership and Nuclear weapons. He is sounding more and more deranged.
In mid February, Trump will present his Peace Plan at the Munich Conference. So much to look forward to.
2nd Feb 1943 - Stalingrad Liberated
On the 2nd February 1943 General [Field Marshal] Friedrich Paulus surrendered what was left of his 6th Army to the Russians at Stalingrad. 2.1 millions combatants were involved in the battle that lasted 199 days. Many civilians remained in the city throughout the conflict.
Stalingrad is now known as Volgograd and is attacked every week by Ukrainian drones.
Putin on the European Leaders
Talking to journalist Pavel Zarubin, Putin had the following to say about European leaders.
European politicians will soon stand at the feet of their master and gently wag their tails. Among European politicians there are no equals to Chirac and Schroeder, there are people there without education, doing something that is not their business. The "political fry" in Europe is trying to ban alternative parties to the mainstream instead of offering an attractive program. European leaders of the past dared to fight for their own opinions, today there are no such people.
I agree completely: they are a bunch of amateurs masquerading as politicians.
Kremlin-Washington Talking?
According to Donald J, talks are taking place between Washington and the Kremlin with regards to Ukraine. In a cryptic statement, Trump said that he and Putin could do something ‘significant’. This was reported in Tass but there is no official Russian confirmation of Trump’s claim of talks.
RFK Jnr Confesses CIA Sins
In an interview with Tucker Carlson, RFK Jnr admitted that $5 billions in funding from the USAID pot was used by the CIA to overthrow the legitimate government of Ukraine as part of the Maidan:
In 2014, there were riots in Ukraine, which were called the "Maidan" and we weren't told that we (the US) were financing them - the newspapers did not write about it, the government did not tell us about it.
He also explained that a month before this, Victoria Nuland was picking the cabinet of the government which would be formed following the coup. You can read more at Sputnik.
This is an important development which changes the narrative most people have of unprovoked Russian aggression in their ‘invasion’ of Ukraine. A report in Sputnik claims that USAID funds were also used to support the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine and other ‘regime change’ operations. See below for Musk’s exposure of USAID.
Schoolboy Spies
In Finland, a Russian schoolboy was prevented from attending a tour of a nuclear power plant ‘for security reasons’. Apparently, the authorities carried out a risk assessment which concluded that allowing Belorussian and Russian schoolboys into nuclear plants poses a risk. This has absolutely nowt to do with risk but lots to do with being petty and nasty towards Russians.
Zelensky - Mutterings
Negotiations Without Ukraine Dangerous
Zelensky has announced that negotiations without Ukraine would be ‘dangerous’. He believes that the EU should also be involved, according to this report from a Ukrainian source. The Americans are insisting that Ukraine conduct elections this year, which will be problematic for Zelensky if he wishes to stay in power: Zaluzhny and others are much more popular.
Ukraine Must Join NATO
It seems that the once great Z is having difficulty with Russian insistence that Ukraine not join NATO. He cannot grasp the fact that Russia views this matter as an existential threat which even Donald Trump acknowledges. Ukraine joining NATO is the cheapest option, he argued, totally oblivious to the fact that Russia started the SMO because Ukraine was applying to join NATO. But Z insisted that the US, as leader of NATO, should decide who can join NATO, not Russia. In doing so, he is denying the pragmatic reality of Realpolitik - so is beyond help.
Give Us Nukes
In an interview with Piers Morgan Zelensky suggested that if Ukraine cannot join NATO it should be given nuclear weapons so he can stop Russia. This man is completely insane. Dmitry Peskov agrees, claiming that these words show that Zelnsky is ‘approaching madness'.
$100 Billion Went Astray
Joe Biden has said that the US has sent $177 billions to Ukraine but Zelensky claims that only $70 billions was received. He doesn’t know what happened to the other $100 billions. Given that Ukraine is the most corrupt place on the planet, we can guess whose pockets it filled. It is also possible that the money was skimmed off even before it crossed the Atlantic. Zelensky is still begging for more aid but many people are getting fed up with his well worn ‘bowl’ and may wonder where their money will go.
I Will Negotiate With Putin
‘If this is the only option of achieving peace in Ukraine’, Zelensky said ‘let’s think realistically - we can lose millions of people for a result that may not happen’. That realisation has come nearly three years too late, Vladimir.
Repeat the Leningrad Blockade - Nemtsova
Czech Senator Nemtsova demanded that the Leningrad Blockade (which killed over a million) be repeated. Medvedev responded:
Just think about it: some degenerate European creature wished for our country, and therefore for us, that at least a million of our citizens would die again. How can you wrap your head around that, huh?
Ukrainian Brigades Disbanded
Last week I talked about the 150 series of brigades and the problems experienced with them. This week it is being reported that the 158th, the 159th, the 160th and the 162nd Separate Mechanised Brigades are all being disbanded.
Ukrainian Major Sacked For Singing in Russian
Ostrog mayor Yuriy Yagodka lost his job after a scandal in the local library, where he started singing in Russian after drinking on the Day of Remembrance of Ukrainian soldiers.
TCC Policemen Murdered
On February 1st, one person was killed and six wounded after an explosion inside the recruitment and registration centre in Rovno (North West Ukraine). An investigation is underway.
Also on February 1st, a Ukrainian civilian killed a TCC policeman, according to a Ukrainian source. It was bound to happen sooner or later and the source blames Zelensky and Yermak for creating divisions between the people. The man was killed at a gas station in Piryatin (Poltava).
On February 5th, in Khmelnytsky region, a man tossed a grenade at a military mobilisation office killing himself and injuring four others. This was an act borne of rage and frustration. It appears that such incidents are on the rise. Other TCC officers will be taking note.
Ukraine Terrorist Attacks
31st January/1st February
According to the Russian MoD (reported by the Two Majors):
Over the course of the past night, nine Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems on duty : seven UAVs over the territory of the Bryansk region and one each over the territories of the Belgorod and Saratov regions.
In Gorlovka (DPR), ten people were injured by cluster munitions as they walked towards a clinic.
1st/2nd February
Overnight, the Ukrainians attacked a boarding school in Sudzha (Kursk) inside Ukrainian controlled territory. According to the War Chronicle:
Last night, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the approval of Zelensky, hit a boarding school in Sudzha, where, according to some estimates, according to the enemy, from 80 to 150 Russian citizens were sheltering. Mostly the elderly, disabled, with serious illnesses.
It is feared that Dozens of people have been killed. The Ukrainians are attempting to blame the Russians for killing their own people. The missiles were recorded as being launched from Ukrainian held territory in Sumy. According to this report, there were no flights by Russian aviation at the time of the attack. The Western media, no doubt, will use this incident to discredit the Russians but we’ve seen it all before. The Two Majors provides some analysis here and RT provides a report here.
Belgorod suffered drone attacks overnight which damaged residential buildings and vehicles while injuring two civilians. On the Shebekino-Belgorod highway, a drone killed one and injured another in their vehicle.
2nd/3rd February
According to the War Chronicle:
In the Rostov region, 29 UAVs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were shot down. There are several more in the Voronezh region. In total, air defense forces shot down at least 70 UAVs overnight. Temporary restrictions have been introduced at the airports of Kazan, Nizhnekamsk and Ulyanovsk.
In Belgorod, drones attacked an agricultural enterprise injuring 4 workers. Houses cars and a shopping pavilion were also hit by drones. In Gorlovka (DPR) five people were injured by cluster munitions which hit residential buildings.
In Alye Parusa, an elite housing estate in Moscow, a radio controlled explosive device killed one and injured four others.
It is thought that the strike was aimed at the founder of the Arbat battalion, Armen Sargsyan, who lost his leg in the explosion and later died of his injuries. He was a recipient of the Russian Order of Courage.
In Kursk, one man was injured by a drone drop on his car.
3rd/4th February
Belgorod suffered drone attacks overnight which damaged residential buildings and vehicles. In the village of Tsercovny, three people were injured by a drone drop while in Gorlovka (DPR), three people were injured by a drone attack on their car. In Kurakhovo, a fourth was injured by cluster munitions.
In Zaporozhye region, a drone hit a school bus (pictured) seriously injuring the driver and inflicting shrapnel wounds on five children.
4th/5th February
The governor of Bryansk reported that kamikaze drones had injured two civilians while FPV (first person view) drones injured another. These were only light injuries. Many villages in Belgorod region also came under attack but there were no reports of damage or casualties.
According to the Two Majors:
In Gorlovka, DPR, 10 civilians were wounded by strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The enemy used artillery to hit the Komsomolets market, and drones to hit city buses, garbage trucks, and cars.
5th/6th February
Rostov came under drone attack overnight while in the Zaporozhye region the Ukrainians attacked private homes and moving vehicles, injuring two civilians. A school in the village of Shevchenkovo was attacked with three drones but caused no casualties. Drones also attacked residential buildings in Russian held Kherson. On February 5th, Belgorod suffered drone attacks which damaged houses and cars but caused only one casualty. However, on the 6th February a drone drop on a car killed three civilians near the village of Logachevka.
6th/7th February
Overnight in Belgorod region a man and two teenage girls were killed by a drone drop on their car.
The Sea War
31st January/1st February
Overnight one unmanned boat headed for the Crimean peninsular was destroyed in the Black Sea.
3rd/4th February
Overnight, a long range ‘Neptune’ missile was destroyed over the Sea of Azov.
6th/7th February
Overnight, an unmanned boat carrying a huge amount of explosives was destroyed in the Black Sea near the Dnieper estuary.
The Air War
Russian Missile/Drone Attacks
31st January/1st February
Overnight, Russian Iskander missiles attacked the Bristol Elite hotel in Odessa where foreign mercenaries were staying. Another report suggests that French intelligence officers were meeting there.
According to this Ukrainian source, the Russians launched 46 missiles and the Ukrainians used 120 air defence missiles in a bid to destroy them. You can read more here. According to rumours, Ukraine has sufficient missiles for only 4 more such attacks. The TCC building on Rivne also came under Russian attack.
Following this attack which coincided with a 3.7 earthquake:
the Yablunivka gas processing department in the Mirgorod district of the Poltava region and the Yarovka gas field nearby are actively blazing…
1st/2nd February
Overnight, a 2,000 square metre warehouse in Solobodsky District of Kharkov was attacked causing a massive fire.
In Sumy region, the Russians attacked an infrastructure facility causing another large fire.
According to the Russian MoD:
-tactical aviation, combat unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces’ group of forces inflicted damage on infrastructure of military airfields, fuel storage facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as troops and equipment of the Ukrainian armed groups in 153 areas.
In Sumy, an underground command post of the AFU was hit.
3rd/4th February
Overnight, Shaheed drones set fire to three enterprises in Cherkasy.
5th/6th February
On the 5th February, a Ukrainian military base in Izyum was attacked by Iskanders that killed 200 combatants including Czechs, Swedes, Norwegians, Slovaks and Romanians as well as Ukrainians.
According to the Two Majors:
At night, our attack UAVs operated on targets in Kiev, Kharkov, Cherkasy, Kirovograd, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Poltava regions.
The Russian MoD confirmed the following targets:
Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck the infrastructure of military airfields, the sites for storing and preparing unmanned aerial vehicles for launch and amassed enemy manpower and equipment in 142 areas
Ukrainian Missile/Drone Attacks
31st January/1st February
Overnight, falling debris from a drone caused a fire at an oil depot in Volgograd region.
2nd/3rd February
Overnight, Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery in Volgograd region while fuel and energy facilities were attacked in Astrakhan.
4th/5th February
Overnight, drone fragments set fire to an near empty oil tank in Krasnador Krai.
The Ground War
Russian Weekly MoD Reports (excludes Kursk)
w/e 17th January 2025 12,945 Casualties killed and wounded : equipment losses 661
w/e 24th January 2025 12,815 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 654
w/e 31st January 2025 11,400 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 570
w/e February 7th 2025 10,435 Casualties killed and wounded: equipment losses 745 (record high?)
Kursk
Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to more than 58,230 troops, 348 tanks, 251 infantry fighting vehicles, 197 armoured personnel carriers, 1,797 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,853 motor vehicles, 412 artillery guns, 46 MLRS launchers, including 13 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 18 anti-aircraft missile launchers, eight transport-loading vehicles, 106 EW stations, 15 counter-battery warfare radars, five air defence radars, 37 units of engineering and other materiel, including 17 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, nine armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.
The Fronts
Front Line Cats
Kursk
On February 5th, according to the Two Majors:
No changes in Kursk Oblast. The Sever group of forces is fighting hard to liberate Kurilovka. Fighting is reported in Maryevka and Pogrebki. A missile strike was carried out on an enemy concentration near the village of Stetskovka in Sumy Oblast. The enemy has transferred a combined special forces group of 220 people to the Sudzhan border area.
On the morning of 6th February, the Two Majors gave this report as the Ukrainians attempted a counteroffensive of sorts:
The enemy is trying to push back the Russian Armed Forces units from the settlement of Makhnovka, the fighting does not subside near the settlement of Ulanok. The enemy is advancing on equipment (tanks, armored vehicles) with forces of up to 3 battalions, and our aviation and artillery are working against him.
The situation is difficult.
According to Pravda, this is part of a Ukrainian offensive which seeks to secure the 65km long highway between Sumy and Sudzha using Abrams tanks. The Ukrainians, deploying 300 men and 50 pieces of equipment, penetrated less than 5 kms into the Russian defences in the direction of Cherkasskaya, Konopelka and Ulanok. They also attacked in the direction of Ulanki but failed to reach the settlement. A later report from the Russian MoD/Two Majors claimed that during their failed attacks the Ukrainians lost 50 units of equipment and 200 combatants.
Kharkov
On February 5th, Novomlynsk was liberated while the Sever group of forces hit two Ukrainian territorial defence brigades near Volchansk.
North Of Kupyansk
According to the Majors:
In the north of the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Army is crossing the Oskol River and creating new bridgeheads on the right bank: the settlement of Novomlynsk in the Kharkov region has been liberated, progress is reported to the southwest and south of the settlement of Topoli, success is developing near Dvurechnoye and Zapadnoye.
Kupyansk
South of Kupyansk
Chasiv Yar
Toretsk
Fighting is still going on in Toretsk but I have not seen any detailed reports.
Pokrovsk
According to the Two Majors:
In the Pokrovsky (Krasnoarmeysky) direction, the Russian Armed Forces continue offensive operations near Elizavetovka, in the area of the settlements of Lysovka, Zverevo, Kotlino, Udachnoye, Nadeyevka, Sribnoye and Andreyevka. The enemy is taking counter-actions to slow down the advance of our troops.
The Ukrainians are throwing reserves into battle slowing the Russian advance.
Kurakhovo - Konstantynople
By the end of the week, the Russians were advancing north west of Dachnoye.
Velikaya (Bolshaya) Novosolka
To the north of Velikaya (Bolshaya) Novosyolka, fighting is taking place in the area of the settlements of Rivnepil, Novy Komar and Razdolnoye.
Zaporozhye
According to the Two Majors:
On the Zaporozhye Front, the Russian Armed Forces are destroying enemy Starlinks in the Orekhov direction with UAV drops. Our aircraft and multiple launch rocket systems are striking the enemy's near rear in the area of Malaya Tokmachka and Orekhov, where the enemy is concentrating manpower and armored vehicles.
The Economic War
Poland
Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, has warned against restoring Russian gas supplies to Europe via pipelines just in case the Europeans become dependent on Russian energy. In order to insure against this, he is proposing that the Nordstream pipelines be dismantled. Such a move would be terrorist vandalism and most Germans would not approve. Even if there is a peace deal, he said, Russian gas should still be banned from Europe. This man could be stupid, he could be overwhelmed by hatred or he may simply be obeying orders. He doesn’t seem to appreciate these pipelines could save Europe from a future catastrophe or that without them Europe would become even more reliant on Russian LNG.
I wonder whether a grand solar minimum and a mini ice age could be such a catastrophe? Just saying.
Trump Deal on Ukraine’s Rare Earth Minerals
Donald J has done a deal with Ukraine on ‘rare earth minerals’ which will be ‘exchanged’ for US aid. However, most of Ukraine’s rare minerals are in Russian held territory, including the Donbass. Furthermore, 49% of Ukrainians are against the deal with only 33% in favour, according to a survey of 42,000 Ukrainians. You can read more here.
Obliterate Iran if They Kill Me - Trump
Trump is fearful of an assassination attempt from the Iranians who probably have no intention of eliminating him because it is against their interests. I wonder, how many Western leaders have been assassinated by Iranians? Perhaps Trump is feeling guilty about killing Soleimani. But he must surely know that if Iran is struck, Israel will be obliterated automatically.
Indian Labour to Russia - Deal
The Russians and the Indians have penned a deal which will allow skilled labour into Russia which is badly needed. The Indians will benefit from Russian energy. According to RT, an Indian spokesman said: ‘The demographic dynamics between the India and Russia provide a unique opportunity for mutual benefit’.
Hungary
Hungary has not blocked EU sanctions on Ukraine having received reassurances that their energy problems would be resolved. Foreign Minister Szijjarto said:
Last Monday, we received guarantees from the European Commission that it will ensure that Ukraine does not threaten the energy security of Hungary and Central Europe. If the European Commission does not keep its word and cannot force Ukraine to take measures that ensure Hungary's energy security, they will have to bear responsibility for this when the next decision on sanctions is made. Obviously, our position in the next vote on sanctions will depend on whether the European Commission keeps its word and whether the Ukrainians fulfill the promises made to the European Commission.
The next vote on sanctions will be in March. You can read more at Tass.
Musk On USAID
Elon Musk, commenting on the recently suspended USAID, described the organisation, which has funded biological weapons programs along with terrorists, as a ‘ball of worms’ that is ‘beyond repair'. The acting administrator of the fund, Jason Gray, said that they had discovered "several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people’. Musk has said that he will be shutting USAID down. This report suggests that George Soros was heavily involved in using USAID to finance the many ‘colour revolutions’ of the 1990s and the 2000s. You can read more at Sputnik. This is part of the Donald’s ‘draining of the swamp’ - which is welcome so long as another swamp isn’t created in the process. You can find out more at the Islander.
Here is a list of some unsavoury projects that have been funded by USAID. It should be noted that USAID was also used for worthwhile causes.
World Politics
Turkiye-Syria Defence Agreement
Turkiye and Syria are negotiating a defence agreement that would allow Turkey to deploy military bases in the country and protect the regime until its own army/Air Force is created. Turkish armed forces would train the Syrian army as part of the deal. This report hasn’t been confirmed by official Turkish sources.
Shame on You Donald
Nothing has angered me in a long time as much as the above photograph because it has given legitimacy to the mass murderer with a smirk on his face. Trump made his Zionist inclinations and intentions known by entertaining Netanyahu as the first leader to visit him in the White House and telling the world that he wishes to complete the job of ethnic cleansing Bibi started, but in a more humanitarian way. Palestinians don’t want to live in Gaza, he claimed, because there is hardly a building standing there. Trump’s suggestion that Gaza be turned into a Riviera type resort must be particularly sickening to Gazans who have suffered so much over decades but especially since October 2023. This was astonishingly insensitive by Trump who is so out of touch that he is embarrassing. In what must have been seen as a reprimand by Netanyahu, Trump talked about the US taking Gaza away from Israel - making the rather dubious assumption that Gaza belongs to Israel.
I am aware that some commentators believe that Trump’s statement was not serious and could be a form of theatre designed to embarrass Netanyahu but I have to take it at face value because it has been delivered by the leader of the Hegemon to the world’s press.
US Congressman, Al Green has announced that he will be initiating impeachment proceedings against Trump for promoting ‘ethnic cleansing’, according to Tass. If you would like some analysis from the ‘experts’, Ritter, Johnson and McGovern discuss the matter here. There is no consensus among them.
Later, according to Zero Hedge, the White House emphasized that Trump is not suggesting that his Gazan utopia would involve US troops on the ground.
Journalist, Youssef Fares (below) knows the Palestinians better than Trump does.
Youssef Fares
Victory is a worn-out slogan, just like defeat. This duality does not suit our Palestinian situation at all. Since 1936, all those who have stained the soil of this land with their blood have not achieved victory in its tangible mathematical sense, but they have preserved the life, pulse, and legitimacy of this cause, the legitimacy of defending it, and the sanctity of fighting and struggling for it. In the face of attempts to erase us and dissipate our being in the manner of the Red Indians, maintaining equality, rejection, and conscious, balanced resistance that does not lead to destruction and genocide remains the essence of our victory, which is synonymous with survival. In short and clearly: “There are international and global circumstances that emerged at the beginning of the last century, which produced the existence of Israel as a state and entity that the world agrees that its survival and dominance in the Middle East is a necessity for the stability of the global system in its current form, and Israel will not be eliminated except by turning these circumstances upside down.” Until then, no one should imagine that he can eliminate Israel with a knockout blow, unless he possesses the same power that enables him to eliminate America. Here we return to the reasonable function of the resistance. And what is possible and accomplished at the same time: “to keep the flame of conflict burning”, meaning to be the scale of “no” that must be raised in the face of all projects of uprooting, ending and displacement. All of the above does not contradict the fact that the Palestinians and the Lebanese and Yemenis behind them have proven in this war that they are loyal, righteous and honest in their slogans, and they have sealed what they raised and believed in with their blood, but wars are not fought and goals and aspirations are achieved with honesty alone. May God have mercy on those who have died, reward those who have been patient and make steadfast those who have been afflicted.
Palestinian journalist Youssef Fares
Islamic Jihad Responds to Trump
Islamic Jihad Movement:
- Trump, while exercising his arrogance and putting our people in Gaza before the only option of displacement, should have remembered that 15 months of insane bombing with American weapons did not succeed in displacing them. Does he imagine that evasive racist statements wrapped in false humanity will displace them?!
- Our Palestinian people always have the option of resistance, which they have been practicing for more than a century, before and after Trump.
Child Survivor Of Gaza - Message To Donald
‘Hello dear Trump, President of the United States of America, if someone asked you to leave your home and live in China or Egypt, would you accept that?’. Of course you wouldn’t, she says, so why do you expect me to leave my home in Gaza. You can see her statement in full on X.
The Reality - According to a Hebrew Channel
Channel 12 Hebrew
- American control over the Gaza Strip requires the deployment of thousands of American soldiers in a sensitive area, exposed to threats from Hamas and the factions, and will lead to the killing of thousands of American soldiers, and a return to decades of war in the Middle East.
- According to analysts, controlling the Gaza Strip will require the deployment of a large military force, which will expose American soldiers to continuous attacks, guerrilla operations, and escalating popular resistance.
“Most South Carolinians are not excited about the idea of sending Americans to take over Gaza,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press. Sen. Chris Coons went further, calling the plan “absolute madness.”
Even Ultra Hawk, Lindsey Graham, can see the madness of attempting to subdue Gaza.
The emerging Multi-Polar World Order
Marco Rubio on The Multi-Polar World
Alexander Mercouris recently reported on an interview given by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The interview is also the subject of articles by b at the Moon of Alabama on February 1st and February 4th. Rubio expressed a rather unusual view of US foreign policy that we have not heard before. He believes that the US’s role as the sole superpower and world policeman after the collapse of the Soviet Union was an anomaly. The Multi-Polar World, rather than the Unipolar World Order is the norm, he said. It is worth quoting Rubio at length:
And I think that was lost at the end of the Cold War, because we were the only power in the world, and so we assumed this responsibility of sort of becoming the global government in many cases, trying to solve every problem. And there are terrible things happening in the world. There are. And then there are things that are terrible that impact our national interest directly, and we need to prioritize those again. So it’s not normal for the world to simply have a unipolar power. That was not – that was an anomaly. It was a product of the end of the Cold War, but eventually you were going to reach back to a point where you had a multipolar world, multi-great powers in different parts of the planet. We face that now with China and to some extent Russia, and then you have rogue states like Iran and North Korea you have to deal with.
Rubio also complained that the post war world order is not only outdated but that it was turned into a weapon against US interests by other countries. Therefore America’s altruistic concern for global affairs prevented it from putting America first and other countries took advantage.
I think this perspective is underdeveloped and based on some dubious claims regarding America’s altruism and lack of self interest. It probably flatters the United States and many people have taken issue with it. It could be argued that the internal politics of the US and the role of the Deep State, whose interests are not coincidental with those of the USA, could account for the fact that America (and Americans) has (have) not been put first. However, it is a refreshing viewpoint tarnished somewhat by the usual demonisation of Iran and North Korea. Israel is a terrorist state without doubt and some would say that this accolade has also been earned by the US under the Democrats and the Deep State.
Rubio also welcomed the return of Diplomacy:
I think the mission of American foreign policy – and this may sound sort of obvious, but I think it’s been lost. The interest of American foreign policy is to further the national interest of the United States of America, right? [..]
[A]nd that’s the way the world has always worked. The way the world has always worked is that the Chinese will do what’s in the best interests of China, the Russians will do what’s in the best interest of Russia, the Chileans are going to do what’s in the best interest of Chile, and the United States needs to do what’s in the best interest of the United States. Where our interests align, that’s where you have partnerships and alliances; where our differences are not aligned, that is where the job of diplomacy is to prevent conflict while still furthering our national interests and understanding they’re going to further theirs. And that’s been lost.
Rubio’s remarks are open to interpretation based on what he has said and what has not been said. Sergei Lavrov is concerned that no mention has been made of the UN Charter which could continue to provide a legal basis for the emerging Multi-Polar World Order in which individual states have sovereignty and equal rights. This is part of the post war order that should not be rejected. But the US may distance itself from the UN if it is unable to control it. Already, Trump has pulled out of the UN Human Rights Council and UNWRA, which provides aid to Palestine. You can read more at Sputnik.
Lavrov understands Rubio to be saying that the principle of ‘America First’, which is very much part of Trump’s ethos, overrides the rights and sovereignty of other states. See b’s article dated 4th February and the comments underneath it. But it is too early to judge the extent to which Rubio’s remarks shape US policy.
Rubio also connected with the following reality:
Over the next 5 years, the use of currencies other than the dollar will become so widespread that we will no longer be able to impose economic sanctions on other countries.
Rubio has announced that he will not be attending the G20 meeting in Johannesburg due to South Africa’s anti-American activities such as promoting Climate Change and DEI - though it may have more to do with South Africa’s role in helping to prosecute Israeli genocide in Gaza. You can read more at Zero Hedge.
The US will continue to erect barriers between Europe and Russia/China but once ideology, manufactured hatred and prejudice have been set aside, it makes sense for Germany and the rest of Europe to benefit from Russian oil and gas and it makes sense for it to benefit from cheap Chinese produce. It also makes sense for people and countries to have good relationships with their neighbours. I am confident that in the long run this logic will prevail - but then I’m a hopeless optimist.
It’s been quite an amazing week really. Thanks for your views, subscriptions, shares, restacks, follows, likes and comments. You gave me a record number of likes and shares last week so I am grateful. Have a good week - Best Rob
2012 seems like a long time ago.
Today there is a substack comparing China vs US
"Is the average Chinese already better off than the average American?
Not yet, but ... Roger Boyd Feb 07, 2025"
https://rogerboyd.substack.com/p/is-the-average-chinese-already-better
The US has extremely high basic cost of living level making us non competitive in many areas. For example health care costs in US vs China. Also, US spends much more on military than China. The average US citizen only knows about rising costs and extreme levels of income inequality.
***
A book by a friend, since deceased, published in 2012 was a wake up call on political economy. The book can be downloaded from amazon.com for 99 cents. This book could be used for a class because now books can cost over $200 in some fields. Search amazon.com using the title and his name: Worse Than You Think Quincy
"Worse Than You Think: The Real Economy Hidden Beneath Washington's Rigged Statistics, and Where to Go from Here Kindle Edition
by Keith Quincy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
"In the 1990s, the economy performed so poorly it had become an embarrassment. To hide the truth from the public, Washington rigged the formulas for calculating unemployment, inflation, and GDP growth, turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse. Worse Than You Think reveals the true numbers by recalculating the data, using the formulas before they were rigged.
What the recalculation reveals is this. By 2008, the typical wage had shrunk to one-third of what it was in 1973. This is why it now takes two bread winners and a maxed out credit card to make it in today’s economy. This has not been easy to do. For one thing, unemployment has been painfully high. In the Clinton years, it averaged 12 percent. It was 13 percent under Bush. And under Obama, so far, it has been 22 percent. Inflation has also been much higher than reported. It averaged 7.5 percent in the Clinton years, nearly 10 percent when Bush was at the helm, and 9 percent under Obama (an amazing feat during a depression). On top of this, the economy has performed miserably. It grew only 4 percent during Clinton’s two terms, shrank 10 percent under Bush, and continues to shrink under Obama, at a rate of -3.23 percent per year.
Washington committed other crimes besides rigging economic statistics. It stole $4.2 trillion from the Social Security and Medicare trust funds to hide the true size of the deficit. It cut taxes for the rich and corporations and dramatically increased taxes for working Americans. Reagan set the pace, increasing workers’ taxes nine times during his two terms. The largest increase was in the withholding tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes). Between 1980 and 2008, the withholding tax rate nearly doubled. Add this to the income tax and American workers now pay higher taxes than their counterparts in Canada, Europe, or Japan.
Worse Than You Think not only explains why our economy has failed, it reveals why our leaders deliberately allowed this to occur. Every president since Truman believed it was the price we had to pay to win the Cold War and, today, to maintain our sprawling military empire.
A final twist to the story is that Wall Street advisers were able to convince Clinton, Bush, and later Obama, that we can continue our military empire indefinitely even while broke. We can, they explained, finance the project by relying on foreign loans from nations that need unfettered access to our market to sell their exports to American consumers. So long as we remain a free trade country, they will give us loans. The price we pay for this strategy is an unrelenting fall in American wages, which hurts workers but benefits American corporations. For Wall Street, a side benefit is that banks will be kept busy processing the flood of foreign money, which increases the income of bankers and Wall Street CEOs.
Worse Than You Think also points the way out of this mess. First, wages will rise if we return to the 1944 tax code. We used this code for thirty years, the period of our nation’s greatest prosperity. Wages doubled even after adjusting for inflation. The economy grew nearly 4 percent, year after year. Second, our economy will grow again if we abandon the policy of free trade. We are the only industrial nation that practices free trade. Every one of our competitors is protectionist. They use tariffs (often disguised as VAT taxes) to shelter their manufacturing from foreign competition. They manipulate their currency to make their products artificially cheap. They subsidize their industries and even nationalize them when they fail. They violate patent rights, ban certain imports, and tightly control investment, making sure the money stays at home. They learned these tricks from us. We were once the most protectionist nation in the world. It is why our wages were once the highest and why we became the most powerful economy on earth. We did it once. We can do it again."
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 19 ratings"
Great piece. The world is getting so complicated you do well to keep the structure coherent. Its tantalising to see where things will head. The US looks like its collapsing like 1950s Britain. Trump has been warned though. Beware of Israelis bearing gifts! Golden pagers in particular. Intriguing to see Turkey so entrenched in Syria. Ottoman Empire Mark 2? I wonder if it will lead to a direct collision between Turkey and Israel? Nato going to war against Israel. That would be a dilemma for the US. I dont know if you agree with your statistics but apparently the Russians have been slowing down against the Ukrainians. The speculation is that there are discussions ongoing with the US. My reading of the Russians is that when they slowed against the Germans they were planning something big. I hope your mother has a great 98th birthday. My mother asked me a question during the week: what kind of world have we become when we care more about whether a football director has kissed a female football player without her consent than tens of thousands of people being killed in Palestine and Ukraine. She's correct. Apparently, Britain under Starmer, France and Germany etc dont mind the Israelis murdering Palestinians and destroying their cities but suggesting they should leave is beyond the Pale? I dont agree with Trump but think its more naivety than anything.