"According to Scott Ritter..." Who, I believe for the first time, explicitly said that Russia was going to take all of Ukraine, go to Kiev and remove the Ukrainian government, and the Ukrainian state will "cease to exist". - as I've been predicting. He didn't mention putting a Military District in western Ukraine but that's the logical outcome of the preceding.
"Zelensky’s Latest Fantasy Decree" - Ritter covered that, too. He explained that he went to a Ukrainian restaurant in Russia where the wait staff all wore Ukrainian dress. The place was full of Russians.
"Britain needs a ‘citizen army’ - Kinda hard to do when firearms are extremely restricted in the UK - unlike the US where we have militias all over the place armed to the teeth (albeit all infiltrated by the FBI and the ATF).
"Trump" - To paraphrase what we used to say in Federal prison, "Trump ain't gonna bust a goddamn grape."
"South Africa did not secure a ceasefire" - Yes, it did, as Moon of Alabama reports today:
The ICJ Could Not Order A General Ceasefire. It Ordered Israel To Cease Fire.
In other words, for the legal reason that Hamas is not a state, the court could not order a GENERAL ceasefire. It DID tell Israel to cease killing any more people or harming them and a list of other actions which are de facto a ceasefire. I don't know if the order said anything about Hamas stopping its fighting, as I haven't read it yet (and may not immediately). If it didn't, then in essence it supports the idea that Hamas has a legitimate reason to keep fighting while Israel has to stand down.
Not that it matters, as I've argued before. Everything will continue as it has. Israel and the US will ignore the ICJ.
Ritter made the excellent point with Nixon that the US lost its first actual engagement with Ansar Allah. The US Navy escorted two Maersk Line ships full of US weapons intended for Israel, Ansar Allah fired at them, almost hit them, the two ships turned around and went back, and Maersk Line refuses to ship any more. So Ansar Allah won.
Meanwhile the consensus from most analysts is that Israel will start a larger conflict with Hezbollah in the very near future - probably this coming month. And the pressure is building for the US to directly attack Iran, although the possibility that the US will withdraw its forces from Iraq and Syria might delay that. However, the fact that the US is considering withdrawing is in fact more evidence that the US intends to attack Iran and has already decided to do so, as leaving those forces in those countries during a war with Iran would be suicidal. Biden will spin that as an effort to save US lives, but in reality it's a pre-war move.
Thanks for that Richard. Yes - it seems to me that if Israel obeys the court's instruction it could do so only through a ceasefire. But will Israel obey? I liked the point about a citizen' army btw.
Thanks so much for another summary, it is superb as usual, but I want to add that Zelensky is not only a hypocrite, but also a mass murderer since he allows all the killing of the soldiers at the front. He is a new Hitler, equally deluded and fanatical.
The economic situation in Germany is even worse than the big media report. We had a recession in 2023 and for this year many analysts suggest a further recession. Many small, medium an large companies are closing down or moving abroad due to high energy and raw material costs. Production of solar panels and Wind turbines as well as building construction is practically dead.
Our Government diverts the attention of the public from the reality by arranging protests against right extremists and Nazis out of fear of the conservative Alternative für Deutschland party, which get in polls Up to 35%. Even the Chancler and the President marched with them. Reminds me on the marches in socialist GDR.
I think people are beginning to realise that renewables are useless in reducing carbon emissions (see e.g. Planet of the Humans/Michael Moore). Lets hope the global warming scam will also die soon. Being on the left for much of my life, I am accustomed to scary claims about the right wing taking over - and it's all nonsense. The AfD is a conservative party not a fascist party. It is so sad that Germany is declining so much.
over. As well it is necessary to look for the poor, not by giving everybody everything for free, but to enable them to get out of their lethargig state an lead a self sufficient live. Btw, the AfD is aiming for more direct democracy, as it is in Switzerland.
Another great recap.
"According to Scott Ritter..." Who, I believe for the first time, explicitly said that Russia was going to take all of Ukraine, go to Kiev and remove the Ukrainian government, and the Ukrainian state will "cease to exist". - as I've been predicting. He didn't mention putting a Military District in western Ukraine but that's the logical outcome of the preceding.
"Zelensky’s Latest Fantasy Decree" - Ritter covered that, too. He explained that he went to a Ukrainian restaurant in Russia where the wait staff all wore Ukrainian dress. The place was full of Russians.
"Britain needs a ‘citizen army’ - Kinda hard to do when firearms are extremely restricted in the UK - unlike the US where we have militias all over the place armed to the teeth (albeit all infiltrated by the FBI and the ATF).
"Trump" - To paraphrase what we used to say in Federal prison, "Trump ain't gonna bust a goddamn grape."
"South Africa did not secure a ceasefire" - Yes, it did, as Moon of Alabama reports today:
The ICJ Could Not Order A General Ceasefire. It Ordered Israel To Cease Fire.
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/01/the-icj-could-not-order-a-general-ceasefire-it-ordered-israel-to-cease-fire.html
In other words, for the legal reason that Hamas is not a state, the court could not order a GENERAL ceasefire. It DID tell Israel to cease killing any more people or harming them and a list of other actions which are de facto a ceasefire. I don't know if the order said anything about Hamas stopping its fighting, as I haven't read it yet (and may not immediately). If it didn't, then in essence it supports the idea that Hamas has a legitimate reason to keep fighting while Israel has to stand down.
Not that it matters, as I've argued before. Everything will continue as it has. Israel and the US will ignore the ICJ.
Ritter made the excellent point with Nixon that the US lost its first actual engagement with Ansar Allah. The US Navy escorted two Maersk Line ships full of US weapons intended for Israel, Ansar Allah fired at them, almost hit them, the two ships turned around and went back, and Maersk Line refuses to ship any more. So Ansar Allah won.
Meanwhile the consensus from most analysts is that Israel will start a larger conflict with Hezbollah in the very near future - probably this coming month. And the pressure is building for the US to directly attack Iran, although the possibility that the US will withdraw its forces from Iraq and Syria might delay that. However, the fact that the US is considering withdrawing is in fact more evidence that the US intends to attack Iran and has already decided to do so, as leaving those forces in those countries during a war with Iran would be suicidal. Biden will spin that as an effort to save US lives, but in reality it's a pre-war move.
Thanks for that Richard. Yes - it seems to me that if Israel obeys the court's instruction it could do so only through a ceasefire. But will Israel obey? I liked the point about a citizen' army btw.
Excellent and accurate report.
Thank you.
Thanks so much for another summary, it is superb as usual, but I want to add that Zelensky is not only a hypocrite, but also a mass murderer since he allows all the killing of the soldiers at the front. He is a new Hitler, equally deluded and fanatical.
I can't disagree with any of that. There are similarities between Z and Hitler. Many thanks.
Thank you for your update.
The economic situation in Germany is even worse than the big media report. We had a recession in 2023 and for this year many analysts suggest a further recession. Many small, medium an large companies are closing down or moving abroad due to high energy and raw material costs. Production of solar panels and Wind turbines as well as building construction is practically dead.
Our Government diverts the attention of the public from the reality by arranging protests against right extremists and Nazis out of fear of the conservative Alternative für Deutschland party, which get in polls Up to 35%. Even the Chancler and the President marched with them. Reminds me on the marches in socialist GDR.
I think people are beginning to realise that renewables are useless in reducing carbon emissions (see e.g. Planet of the Humans/Michael Moore). Lets hope the global warming scam will also die soon. Being on the left for much of my life, I am accustomed to scary claims about the right wing taking over - and it's all nonsense. The AfD is a conservative party not a fascist party. It is so sad that Germany is declining so much.
It is not about being left or right. I am for a free market economy, but brideled by the government, so that the rich cannot
take
I don't believe in left and right anymore
over. As well it is necessary to look for the poor, not by giving everybody everything for free, but to enable them to get out of their lethargig state an lead a self sufficient live. Btw, the AfD is aiming for more direct democracy, as it is in Switzerland.
Direct democracy is a good idea imv