Russian diplomatic officials are working feverishly to finish emptying out their San Francisco Consulate and two US annexes, which the US has given them until Saturday to withdraw from as part of the latest US diplomatic measures against them.
In emptying the consulate, the Russian diplomats have been burning unknown items in the fireplace, leading to black smoke seen pouring out of the chimney. Local fire department officials said the burning was intentional, and not a problem.
Once that’s sorted out, however, the real question is the Russian reaction to the latest move, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warning that they would “respond harshly” to the latest US measures. Other officials warned the US was starting what could be a spiral of tit-for-tat measures.
US State Department officials expressed similar concerns yesterday, admitting that US-Russia relations are spiraling to new all-time lows all the time. Mutual recognition that this is a problem, however, doesn’t look like it’s going to keep either side from taking more measures.
It seems like the pieces on the chess board are in place. Nato has forward strategic forces placed across the Russian border. Economic sanctions placed on Russia by the west are a form of warfare already. Trying to effect regime change in Syria and withdrawing from the nuclear agreement with Iran who have defence treaties with Russia is another affront. Arming of the Ukrainian US backed regime and North Korean regime change are fuses waiting to be lit. Now the decline to tit for tat diplomatic expulsions being waged are a slow escalation to open warfare. The tipping point is fast approaching prepare.
The fuse was lit about twenty years ago when United States destroyed Yugoslavia against both Russia and China’s will . Kosovo was separated from Serbia and completely destroyed the old world order that we had worked to hard to create . Now we say Russia can not free Crimea or South Soeatta because its against the law .. Russia and China say { WHAT LAW ??? } we are talking out of both sides of our mouth . They have been both preparing 20 years for this confrontation .And I bet they are more ready than we might imagine . We humiliated both of them in Yugoslavia in 1999 in ways that they have not been able to forget .
Nor should they.
I said then that Kosovo should not have been touched. It was snatched from Serbia for no strategic reason, but for our elite hate of Christianity, especially the mystical variety that did not reform itself out of any meaning. Kosovo has been known as a curse. The Clintons did it out of spite, not any national interest, or security. It was immediatelly after Kosovo debacle that Yeltsin took a trip to China. In 1999 the foundation has been layed for a new wotld order. As the Charter of Shanghai Cooperation Organization puts it — the new, more just world order.
I have carefully followed the tapestry that SCO created. It is really a tapestry not a simple organization with hierarchy and corporate like goals. It weaves thousands of patterns, actoss various member levels, and non-member affiliates. Economy, transit, infrastructure, security, universities, research, museums, hundreds of thousands orofessional exchanges. Yet, not closed to anyone. Principles are unlike any we practice, and the key is, practice — not proclaim. Since 2000 till today, the organization has changed the Eurasean world, and is moving slowly into Africa, Southeast and Central Europe, and expanded not only in Turkey and Iran, but is in the process of comprehensively adressing issues between India snd Pakistan, just as India and China are adressing their outstanding issues. In Europe, Greece and Hungary are blocking EU urge to play colonial supervisor, and stick their nises into South China Sea.
I remember saying — after Kosovo, nothing will be same. We are the disruptive force blocking progress and economic development globally. How on earth did we get here. Instead of being engine of positive energy, we drag things down.
Without insisting that something should be done about North Korea, we would have a. country of farmers on its way to industrial revolution. But by trying to haste history — we have North Korea jump from horse and plow into nuclear weapons and missiles. We bave bern bitten by Trotskyite bug, and cannot stop the urge to hurry history along.
This view of affairs is like listening to one side of telephone conversation. There are things happening that are tipping the balance, and these overt acts of might are merely tactics without strategy. As Sun Tzu said, strategy without tactics is the longest way to victory, but tactics without strategy is merely a noise before defeat.
Bianca, I thought the same about Kosovo and Libya. I knew it would be disasterous for Europe.
For some disaster, for others opportunity. Literally hundreds of humanitarian roups sprang from nowhere, distributing leaflets on refugee rights, some supplies, and magically free trains and busses were streaming accross Balkans taking hundreds of thousands refugees from Syria snd Iraq. The. Pump was primed, and nie the rest of the mass was left stranded st borders, desparate to get to some safety paying to criminals to take them across woods and fields to nearby towns. Panic in lical pooulation was devlared intolerance and rasizm, hate of religion, etc. This deliberate pitting of scared population against each other resulted in the opportunity. EU formed new border agency with powers to override national legislation on border controls. Bottom line, “nationalism” us bad, open birders good
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Bottom line, “nationalism” us bad, open birders good
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True.
False.
Open borders = no accountability in politics, free movement for criminals, money launderers, modern slave trade, militants with no country that claims them, wars with no end for profit, no ability to budget for services, and no cohesion in society to hold politicians accountable.
If one thinks open borders are good, why not apply it to one’s home. Open it to homeless, with access to all of your home’s comforts. No limits. This is exactly what we are demanding of counties that are overwhelmed, and expect them to take the burden, while we call them backwards and racist. Or are we elitists, the ones who actually enable all the wars of choice and militarization of foreign policy? We eloquently decry the destructive militarism, while at the same time creating the very conditions for the militant globalism to thrive.
Without borders, institutions of governance erode, and the accountability of any government is diminished. But without the ability of governments world wide to have functioning institutions and effective control of territories, we have failed states, opportunistic neighbors using rag tag militias and cults to further damage state’s ability to defend its population. And we act like imperial power that finds it beneath its mighty dignity to ever talk to foreign states before entering their territory in pursuit of some bad guys we enabled either directly or through our “friends”.
Lack of respect for the independance and territory of other states is nothing more then the extension of no borders mentality. Any internal problem of any country becomes our problem to sort out, all the cultural differences become subject to judgement by newly minted “universal human rights”. Globalism — the trans national jurisdiction of corporate interests, , and militarism that accompanies it — are two sides of the same coin. But anything that is not based on the consensus of governed, will not last. Empirial alliance on vasals called allies, sooner or later results in backlash. Only this time, the profiting elites can get away easily, as their assets are dispersed globally, but population around the globe will blame Americans. The very people that actually believe in borders and the rights of sovereign states. The bad “nationalists”. The ones trying to determine who exactly is in charge, and if our democracy has been stolen by shapeless, stateless entity, hiding behind liberal mantras of universality of globe without borders.
Give me a racist any time. I orefer racists to global elitist supremacism any time. Racists are people who see physical differences, and the ignorance and fear of unknown leads them to cling to their own. Supremacism — the bug that has bitten our progressive elite — decries racism, but in fact believes in superiority of elites to order the lives of those that are inferior. If one subscribes to this core elitist belief — out of geniune belief in own exceptionalism, or out of career ambitions — one no longer see those less worthy as having a right to have a say in matters of running a society. Elite will provide us with suitable mannequins to mimic the functioning of democratic institutions. But the deplorables suddenly hit back. Inarticulatelly, and chaotically. Clearly, the supremacist in both parties, corporate universe snd their academic and media entourage– struck promptly back. Struck viciously, not choosing the weapons carefully. Not caring at all that they are exposing themselves. Why would they care? They have nothing to fear from the intellectualizing bunch, and as for unwashed — they will go back to waving flags.
Open borders = empire with no democratic controls. Nationalism = ability to democratically hold elected people accountable for their actions within the borders of their jurisdiction and defined resources.
I am not a citizen of the world, not black, white, nor a woman when entering a voting booth. I am first and foremost an American, and concerned about issues that affect us all — endless wars harmfull to America, pollution, including nuclear, that will kill us before any climate chane will, GMO impact on our health, lack of integrity in scientific research affecting pharmaceutical industry. And I do not care about global implications to the profitability of corporations. I care about what we, citizens of THIS nation can do to bring about the debate on such vital issues — and what can we do to adress ACCOUNTABILITY. Not in Mexico, not in Syria, or Israel — but here. In our voting booth.
Open borders = ability to travel as a free individual instead of begging for permission as a serf.
Nationalism = the recipe for turning tribalism into authoritarian statism.
States deserve no respect, of any kind, from anyone. They’re nothing but street gangs on steroids.
Globalism on stereoids.
Elites, international corporate bureaucrats, international organization crowds, are enamoured with free travel to far away places and feel like they own the place. For most ordinary people travel is a more personal
affair. It might be a real inconvenience to such superior beings to have to apply for visas. Not for ordinary people who know that other countries have different laws, and customs. And do not expect that everyone speaks English. And that respecting the people you visit is same as respecting a host when invited to someone’s home.
Are we so superior as to demand that other countries do not inconvenience us with their “state” racket? I think most Americans will disagree with you that state is a racket — even if grossly incompetent and corrupt.
You can have a state without democracy — you will never have a democracy without having a state. And this is why we want to hang onto having our state, not begrudge others for protecting their interests. As we will make politicians HEAR us — soner or later.
Absence of borders has resulted in smuggling and crime and the spread of terrorist groups. The very weaknesses of state institutions have been exploited around the globe, especially as opportunistic sponsors of such groups count on weakened state institutions.
The only travel opportunities for hundreds of millions of poor and refugees has been a desparate escape from the hell holes their countries turned into — having been crushed by the jaws of IMF and corruption it breeds.
Globalists just shrug shoulders, and expect open borders, so all people would enjoy the benefits of huddled masses at train stations and parks. And then look down on those tribal nationalists and their rejection of such free travel. In the meantime, not a single moralizing elitists took refugees into their homes or even nrighborhoods. The hypocrites! Instead of admitting honestly that globalist IMF regimes have destroyed economies, and that wars destroyed whole countries, they chose to make a lemonade. So, they declared the migrant crisisand declare the migrant crisis just an opportunity to improve European falling birth rates! Open borders are just life savers for childless Europeans.
Nationalism is belonging to a country, not tribalism. If being an American is tribal — then I am very proud to be tribal! Whether a state is run by people who work in the interest of the country and its citizens, or are self-serving, corrupt individuals — is the outcome of historic circumstances, not in the nature of state.
Yes, state can be autoritarian, a dictatorship, a monarchy, a federation or confederation of peoples. Your BLANKET depiction of all states as a racket deserving no respect is in my view disingenuous. Even the WORST state is better then a failed state. Ordinary human beings are not concerned with the power struggle and games of thrones. People need the basic daily services.
They need police to protect them from criminals and armed gangs.
They respect army if it keeps them safe and out of wars. And this is true in the plains of East Africa, as it is in Middle East or Europe.
No matter the quality of state institutions or the caliber of politicians and bureaucrats — state is a home, and individuals everywhere think of their government as accountable for problems. And over time, societies do change, go through ups and downs, and state institutions change over time. But it is an ultimate folly to assume that all societies do not respect their homeland, and that all states are rackets.
If we were to give up on our state institutions, we would expose ourselves to powerful interests, and have ZERO control over them. Even though we are treated with disrespect by our politicians, military brass, gargantuan buraucracy — it was clear that the elites and their politicians in tow were shocked when people rebelled. The sick and tired of wars, wathching destroyed industries, suffering dropping living standards. Their lives were sacrificed on the altar of globalism, or better put, on the altar of financialization of our entire lives — from cradle to grave. It is no wonder the globalist financial elite thinks we are stupid. We deserve it.
The instincts of people are often more accurate then the intelectualuzing of our elites — thoroughly divorced from reality. The ordinary folks understand that our institutions need to work for our country. And that we Americans — call us tribal if you will — better get together to address the burning problems of our economy and global wars. It was not the liberal intelectuals, the no -border crowd that elected the candidate to adress these problems. It was the presumably the racist America, the despised deplorables that saw through the presumably progressive racket.
The only hope we have for the return of peace in war devastated regions — is the strength of reconstituted states, and the rebuilding of national unity. Without peace and order at home — there will be no peace in Syria and Iraq.
Luckily, there are now a growing number of states that subscribe to the principles of international order that strengthen states. Not that globe trotting crowd will ever notice it between coctails.
I have no idea how Trump has gotten us into this mess . I thought he believed he could get along with Putin and be friends . Why doesn’t Trump try that plan instead of lining up both Russia and China for war .I have not seen one friendly act coming from the USA to either Russia or China .
Literally less than 1% of Congress (just 5 total) voted against new sanctions vis-à-vis Russia, and even officially restricted the Presidency’s ability to rescind sanctions. WIth that kind of resistance, and the “Russia investigation” against Trump, it’s certainly unfair for you to say “Trump has gotten us into this mess”.
very good point only the American voters can take care of congress So Trump has no choice but to scare the American people in the possibilities of a war or keeping their beloved congressmen .
We have a one party system, and bow to our master. It is clear, perfectly.
Trump is powerless. If we still do not get the fact that we have ONE party system, and that the top military brass Trump got surrounded with — have de facto executed a soft coup. Trump’s speech at Fort Myers painfully testified to that fact.
Looking at the frozen, unsmiling faces of young soldiers there, I was reminded who voted for Trump and why.
Neocons are at the apex of their might. Cannot see what can stop them.
Trumpenstein is an irrelevance. The Deep State, the Kosher Nostra, the MIC, the MSM, the Spooks, Israel’s 30 shekel whores in Congress, all have staged a coup and seized power from a supposed elected president. They have just arrogantly seized control of foreign policy from him. Some gullible people actually still believe America is a democracy. Trumpenstein will either give up and retire to the golf course, like Obama, or be impeached. He would also be well advised to steer clear of any grassy knolls.
I think it is because it doesn’t matter who we elect. They are nothing but figure heads held in prison (figuratively speaking) by the national security state who really run the govt. Even the mighty Trump with his billions and not beholden to any special interest group can’t even get away from this. This is business as usual and convinces me without a doubt that elections don’t matter for the President. It is a dictatorship with the perception of a democracy.
A new Cold War ambience is established and formed It is not developing . Good for a lot of countries – allow them wiggle room and develop independent of US hegemony . Russia is upping panthers reassure in N Korea , Mali Already after doing it in Eukraine and Syria and is showing interest in Yemen .
This cold war is different Russians trust Russia Americans don’t America . Rest of the world is not persuaded by Freedom and Liberty anymore .
This is an outgrowth of the over-the-top attacks on the election. Sore losers, acting un-American and not accepting the election, have produced this.
That is true whether or not Trump is a jerk.
As Americans we should all be deeply deeply ashamed of our government.
Is the Northern Distribution Network still functioning? If so, why doesn’t Russia shut it down? Considering current U.S. relationships with Pakistan, a shutdown of the NDN would cripple the U.S. in Afghanistan, wouldn’t it?
Trump has become worse than Hillary. Good lord the madman has done nothing but make hatred a policy and threatening to go to war with everyone. Geez, we thought Hillary was going to be bad; I guess we haven’t seen nothing yet.
The United States gave the Russians 72 hours to get out of 3 buildings in the USA .. So Maybe Russia should up the ante and give the United States 27 hours to vacate their facilities in Russia . You would not think the two most Christian countries on earth would act so nasty to each other
The reason all these flash points are in play can be summed up in one sentence. The petrodollar is being usurped by the yuan.