Geopolitical dance cards and who's making nice - or not - with whom

207 posts / 0 new

Thu, 2010-11-04 02:22

NDPP

NATO Head in Moscow for Partnership Talks

http://rt.com/Politics/2010-11-03/nato-rasmussen-moscow-visit.html#

Medvedev noted that positive changes are taking place in the bilateral ties...'On the whole, relations between Russia and NATO have become more productive and intensive,' the president told the NATO chief, Interfax reported.

'This allows us to expand cooperation more attentively and to build a more solid security system in Europe and in the world.'

Head of Military Coup Col. Gen. Achalov Appeals to the People of Russia

http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2010/11/03/12729.shtml

"An appeal to the people of Russia by Colonel General Vladislav Achalov, head of a possible military coup scheduled for Nov. 7, and Chairman of the Russia Union of Paratroopers, has been posted on the Internet. Col Gen. Achalov said:

'The Russian Minister of Defense Serdyukov and his cronies created a direct threat to the security of our country. In this situation, the Union of Russia Paratroopers is forced to call for a mass demonstration in support of the rule of law...

We proclaim the Minister of Defense, Serdyukov as a person who is not entitled to give orders to the military and demand his dismissal, from the Russian President. We expect the participation of everybody who is not indifferent to the fate of the Army and the Navy and finally to the fate of our Russia..'

Ahmadinejad Slams Russia For Selling Out to 'Satan'

http://rt.com/Politics/2010-11-03/ahmadinejad-russia-weapons-satan.html#

"They want to sell us off to our enemies and unilaterally breach a contract that they had been paid for. The Iranian nation will stand firm in the face of arrogance. The Iranian people do not need missiles to defend the nation.."

new twists in the 'great game'

Thu, 2010-11-04 08:45

NDPP

UK, France Sign Nuclear Deal

http://beta.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=4470

"Setting aside their historic rivalry, Britain and France on Tuesday signed an unprecedented 50 year nuclear deal that would see them share nuclear facilities and jointly develop technology..

They also agreed to create a joint rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 troops deployable at short notice and to cooperate in a range of other defense related areas...

Speaking after signing the deal with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Cameron said: 'Today we open a new chapter in a long history of cooperation on defense and security between Britain and France.."

Fri, 2010-11-05 22:29

NDPP

World Geopolitics And the Battle for the Mediterranean - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21638

"NATO and EU expansion and control: Projected inclusion of Israel in EU and NATO - Emergence of a new order

Washington - Tokyo Axis: US Supports Japan, Confronts China and Russia Over Island Disputes - by Rick Rozoff

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21769

"In a 6 day span the US State Department has bluntly affirmed unequivocal backing for Japanese territorial claims against both Russia and China, even invoking a defense treaty provision that could lead to direct military intervention and war..."

Wed, 2010-11-10 01:27

NDPP

World's Sole Military Superpower Extends Its Reach

http://www.radio4all.net/files/[email protected]/3199-1-In_Context_1...

audio - interview with Rick Rozoff - STOP NATO

Wed, 2010-11-10 02:15

NDPP

Threatening Russia and Iran? US and NATO Deploy Missile Defence System in Turkey

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21836

"Turkey's decision to allow the United States and NATO to deploy elements of the European missile defence system on its territory has triggered a negative reaction across the region and the rest of the world.."

Thu, 2010-11-11 18:23

NDPP

Lisbon Summit: NATO to Retain Nuclear Arms, Build Missile Shield in Europe

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/lisbon-summit-nato-to-retain-...

"At the summit the world's only military bloc will endorse its new Strategic Concept, the first since 1999 and as such the first for the 21st century, a doctrine which will formalize NATO's role as an international military -security-political force and a rival to the United Nations in that regard...

The Lisbon summit will further commit to training Afghan military and securing forces to allegedly assure control of the war in their country in the next 4 or 5 years, even as US and NATO troop strength is at a reord high and yet more troos are arriving,

but the most significant decision to be formalized in Portugal is that of subordinating all of Europe to a US global interceptor missile system.."

Thu, 2010-11-18 22:49

NDPP

NATO's True Role in US Grand Strategy - by Diana Johnstone

http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone11182010.html

"The one thing missing from the Strategic Concept Summit agenda is a serious discussion of strategy. This is partly because NATO as such has no strategy and cannot have its own strategy. NATO is in reality an instrument of United States strategy. The main threat to NATO is its own obsolescence. The search for a 'strategic concept' is the search for pretexts to keep it going...

The implicit strategy of the United States, as percieved by its actions, is a gradual military conquest to ensure world domination. Currently the main explicit 'enemy' is Iran.

'Israel and NATO share a common strategic vision. In many ways, Israel is the front line defending our common way of life.."

Fri, 2010-11-26 12:07

NDPP

NATO Making Russia 'Subservient'

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/152424.html

"A Paris based journalist says NATO invited Russia into their missile system program just to 'neutralize' it, stressing that problems between Russia and NATO are not yet solved.."

Wed, 2010-12-01 01:17

NDPP

The Great Game and the Conquest of Eurasia: Towards a WWIII Scenario? - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22140

"The chess pieces for a colossal geo-strategic project are being put into place and coming together. The ultimate goal is the encirclement and control of Eurasia through the jackboots of an ever expanding military machine. While these developments are barely covered by the media, the fate of humanity literally hangs in the balance.."

Sat, 2010-12-04 01:12

#10

NDPP

North Korea As Pretext: US Builds Asian Military Alliance Against China and Russia - by Rick Rozoff (Stop Nato)

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22248

"On Dec 1 the US and its South Korean military ally completed 4 days of naval maneuvers in the Yellow Sea where China claims a 200-mile exclusive economic zone...Washington is proceeding at a breakneck - alarming - pace with plans to politically and militarily polarize East Asia, using the crisis on the Korean Peninsula to do so.."

Thu, 2010-12-16 03:10

#11

NDPP

US Builds Military Alliance with Japan, South Korea for War in the East - by Rick Rozoff

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/u-s-builds-military-alliance-...

"The Washington-Tokyo-Seoul military axis is preparing for war. And not only on the Korean Peninsula..."

When North Korea's Threats Become Reality - by Kim Myong Chol

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LL15Dg01.html

"A resumption of hostilities on the tiny Korean Peninsula would mean immediate war between two nuclear powers, North Korea and the United States. The latter keeps a nuclear-armed garrison of some 20,000 troops with a sprawling network of military bases across South Korea...

Acting for supreme leader Kim Jong-Il, the young general is one click away from issuing a long awaited order to the Korean People's Army (KPA) shiny and sleek, quick-response global strike force. This would see the torching of the bulwark of the US empire, the skyscrapers of New York City and other centers of metropolitan America..."

Wed, 2010-12-29 05:08

#12

NDPP

NATO Weaves South Asian Web - by MK Bhadrakumar

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LL23Df05.html

"In sum, TAPI is the finished product of the US invasion of Afghanistan. It consolidates NATO's political and military presence in the strategic high plateau that overlooks Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan and China. TAPI provides a perfect setting for the alliance's future projection of military power for 'crisis management' in Central Asia."

Towards A New Iron Curtain: The US-NATO Missile Shield Encircles Eurasia - by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22365

"Western Europe through NATO and the EU forms the primary bridgehead of America into Eurasia. According to Brzezinski: [NATO and the EU consitute] America's most important global relationship. It is the springboard for US global involvement, enabling America to play the decisive role of arbiter in Eurasia - the world's central arena of power - and it creates a coalition that is globally dominant in all key dimensions of power and influence.

The secondary bridgeheads of American into Eurasia are: (1) Japan and South Korea; (2) The Arabian Peninsula; and (3) The US and NATO military forces in occupied Iraq and Afghanistan.

That is why the expansion of the US missile shield from a US project to a NATO project should come as no surprise. The globalization of NATO is part of that process.."

Tue, 2011-01-25 03:23

#13

NDPP

NATO And Russia Must Stop Targeting Each Other - Dimitry Rogozin

http://rt.com/politics/nato-russia-wikileaks-rogozin/

"Russia's ambassador to NATO has invited the alliance not to draft military plans against each other in light of wikileaks revelations...Rogozin added that the revealed plans 'are an indication that within NATO there are violent processes determining attitudes toward Russia. It also suggests that NATO and its member countries continue to conduct military planning against Russia.."

Mon, 2011-02-07 20:48

#14

NDPP

America's Star Wars: NATO Surrenders Europe to US Global Missile Shield Project - by Rick Rozoff

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23117

"On January 27, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization took the most decisive step yet toward the implementation of the decades old project first proposed by Ronald Reagan's administration for a Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars..."

Sat, 2011-03-05 15:36

#15

NDPP

US To Dominate All Europe, Mediterranean, Through NATO - by Rick Rozoff (STOP NATO)

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23525

"Cyprus joins Atlantic alliance. The parliamentary action of last month is the culmination of several years of a concerted campaign by DISY, NATO and the EU to incorporate the last truly neutral European nation into the Pentagon-nATO global mlitary nexus. Six years ago, Canada's General Raymond Henault, at the time the chairman of the NATO military committee, said in relating to 'Cyprus's strategic importance in the eastern Mediterranean' that 'NATO has a very open policy for countries that want to work with it and Cyprus could be one of these..."

Sun, 2011-04-17 12:17

#16

NDPP

BRICS Leaders Issue Joint Declaration Urging Avoidance Of Using Force

http://english.cntv.cn/20110414/107680.shtml

"We are deeply concerned wtih the turbulence in the Middle East, the North African and West African regions..."

Sun, 2011-06-05 21:43

#17

NDPP

How The Empire Will Prevail: Will Washington Foment War Between China and India? - by Paul Craig Roberts

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25137

"...What is Washington's solution for the rising power of China? The answer might be to involve China in a nuclear war with India..."

Mon, 2011-06-13 03:17

#18

NDPP

Lining The Chessboard Against The Resistance Bloc: War With Syria, Iran and Lebanon In the Works? by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya

http://www.voltairenet.org/Lining-the-chessboard-against-the

"In their counter-revolutionary push to roll back any democratic changes arising from the Arab Spring, the US/Israeli/Saudi troika is out to destabilize the countries in the region that refuse to abandon their national sovereignty. In this game, Turkey is emerging as a key, albeit ominous player. Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya deciphers the multiple facets of this explosive scenario.."

Thu, 2011-12-08 22:29

#19

NDPP

Clinton Lectures Russia on Election, NATO Chief on Missiles - by Rick Rozoff, John Robles

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28110

"Interview with Rick Rozoff, manager of the STOP NATO website.."

Mon, 2011-12-12 19:37

#20

NDPP

Obama Raises the Military Stakes - by James Petras

http://www.voltairenet.org/Obama-Raises-the-Military-Stakes

"...Obama has adopted a provocative offensive military strategy right on the frontiers of both China and Russia..."

Sun, 2012-02-19 08:11

#21

NDPP

Empire's Double-Edged Sword: Global Military and NGOs - by Tony Cartalucci

http://www.landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2012/02/empires-double-edged-sword...

"Tearing down sovereign nations and replacing them with global system administrators. There are several pertinent examples illustrating how imperialism is still alive and well.."

Mon, 2012-05-14 16:24

#22

Boom Boom

NATO Rehearses For War In The Arctic 23 April 2012

To the world's military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasure trove of resources and long-dreamed-of sea-lanes. Rick Rozoff scrutinizes the feverish military activity taking place in the High North, under the official label of a joint Norwegian-NATO-Partnership for Peace endeavor, including preparedness drills against terrorist threats, mass demonstrations...and spies coming in from the cold!

Tue, 2013-04-02 02:52

#23

NDPP

Part 1 of 3: Cyprus, Israel, Turkey, Syria: NATO and Global Resource Diversion/Control

http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.ca/2013/03/part-1cyprus-israelturk...

"...A set of exchange control measures more reminiscent of Latin America or Africa? What should they tell us? That an imperialist agenda is at play? That we are witnessing the tyranny of global empire? It does appear to be the case..."

Mon, 2013-04-29 01:39

#24

NDPP

Interview: NATO's Global Expansion Unparalleled in History, Fraught With Catastrophe

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/interview-natos-global-expans...

US controlled NATO dangerously and relentlessly continues its global expansion. Interview with Rick Rozoff of the STOP NATO website

Mon, 2013-04-29 01:51

#25

NDPP

Enemies Seek to Disintegrate ME: Iran president

http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/04/28/300747/enemies-seek-me-disinteg...

"Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned of plots hatched by arrogant powers to create discord among regional nations and to disintegrete regional countries. 'All nations must be vigilant because arrogant powers want to pit everyone against each other...We are aware of their plots."

Mon, 2013-04-29 01:56

#26

NDPP

China Invades India's North (and vid)

http://12160.info/video/china-invades-india-s-north

Border Dispute with China Can Be Solved Peacefully: Indian PM

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/04/27/300572/india-to-solve-border-dis...

"Indian Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharma and other military officials said in a report that Chinese troops advanced nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) into the Indian claimed territory on April 15, and pitched their tents there..."

Mon, 2013-08-05 21:50

#27

NDPP

NATO Will Make Sure Russia is An Enemy - Rozoff

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/interview-nato-will-make-sure...

"NATO and the West have an agenda, and that agenda is complete and total military domination of the world. NATO, as an organization, should have been disbanded after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. But they have done quite the opposite and have continued with a global expansion that made NATO the single-largest military power in the history of the world..."

Sat, 2013-12-21 22:50

#28

NDPP

The Changing Contours of US Imperial Intervention in World Conflicts - by James Petras

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37182.htm

"Zionists are deeply committed to pushing the US into more wars for Israel..."

Mon, 2014-01-06 01:05

#29

NDPP

All in Play in the New Great Game - by Pepe Escobar

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-03-231213.html

"...essentially the scenario points to the Central-South Asia crossroads as the second-largest geopolitical - and sectarian - battleground in Eurasia after the Levantine-Mesopotamian combo..."

Past and Prologue: Great War Centenary Prelude To WWIII - by Francis Boyle

http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/2014/01/past-as-prologue-great-war-c...

"This current bout of US imperialism is what Hans Morgenthau denominated 'unlimited imperialism'..."

Sun, 2014-01-19 15:50

#30

DLivings

The Special Ops Surge

Nothing especially new in this article, but it describes the more than doubling of special ops in more than twice the countries, with more than twice the personnel, and more than twice the budget that occurred with GW Bush. US Imperialism hasn't changed course under Obama, it has simply become more intense and is arguably more successful in terms of interventionism in support of US interests.

Mon, 2014-02-03 19:30

#31

NDPP

CrossTalk: 1914 Repeat? (and vid)

http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/international-system-compare-1914-546/

"How does the international system today compare to the system a hundred years ago? How stable is the post Cold War system? What does the averting of attack from the US and its allies on Syria say about the international order? And could the great powers once again find themselves going to war against their will?"

Mon, 2014-12-22 17:04

#32

NDPP

Pepe Escobar: Blowback After Blowback For the 'Empire of Chaos' (and vid)

http://youtu.be/NRYJ2ctBLHI

Lars Schall spoke with Pepe Escobar, foreign correspondent at Hong Kong based Asia Times online. Escobar discusses his new book 'Empire of Chaos'...

Tue, 2014-12-23 15:25

#33

ikosmos

Interesting thread and links. I would argue that the issues can be usefully understood as the contrast/conflict between the unipolar world of the US Empire vs. the multipolar world that is coming into being, against the feverish wishes of the Empire to "freeze" things in place.

An Empire in decline. Then, some of the idiotic actions of the US make a kind of "sense".

See the other thread I started: unipolar vs multipolar world.

ETA: I see that NDPP has posted there already. The link may be useful for other readers here.

Tue, 2014-12-30 15:54

#34

NDPP

The Imperial Collapse Playbook - by Dmitry Orlov

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40585.htm

"Some people enjoy having the Big Picture laid out in front of them - the biggest possible - on what is happening in the world at large, and I am happy to oblige.

The largest development of 2014 is, very broadly, this: the Anglo-imperialists are finally being forced out of Eurasia..."

Tue, 2019-12-31 10:34

#35

NDPP

China-Iran-Russia-Alliance Ending US Unilateral Global Hegemony

https://ejmagnier.com/2019/12/30/china-iran-russia-alliance-ending-us-un...

"The maritime security belt trilateral four-day drill between Iran, China and Russia in the sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean will mark the Middle East for decades to come. It signals the end of US absolute hegemony and control of the ME - and of the world. The maritime 'message' addressed to the world this December 2019 realistically is that the period of global dominance of the USA as the sole and self-elected 'policeman of the world' is coming to an end..."

Pepe Escobar: You Say You Want A (Russian) Revolution?

https://t.co/ztTHkZKubC

"American Invulnerability is over - for good..."

Mon, 2021-10-18 21:42

#36

NDPP

Thoughts on three issues...

https://t.co/U4x18V33WJ

"Putin on Europe's gas shortage, Iran talks, Lebanon shootings."

Sat, 2021-10-30 21:11

#37

NDPP

Prashad: Is a Multipolar World the Answer to US Imperialism?

https://youtu.be/R9eaPlHsTG4

"Is there a growing resistance to the unipolar imperial order? Is the US an empire in decline? Will the future be a multipolar world? If so what does that mean and how should the left in the imperialist core respond?"

An excellent overview and discussion of American unipolarity and developing contemporary challenges.

Sun, 2021-10-31 11:45

#38

Pondering

NDPP wrote:
Prashad: Is a Multipolar World the Answer to US Imperialism?

https://youtu.be/R9eaPlHsTG4

"Is there a growing resistance to the unipolar imperial order? Is the US an empire in decline? Will the future be a multipolar world? If so what does that mean and how should the left in the imperialist core respond?"

An excellent overview and discussion of American unipolarity and developing contemporary challenges.

So far I have only made it to the 22 minute mark but I think I get the gist of the argument. I think it is great for other countries to band together and do what they can. The alternative is to give up which (like for Taiwan) isn't an attractive option.

The US cannot directly control the entire world. No single entity can. They remain the largest economy with the most advanced military by far with bases all over the world.

International law is unenforcable so the US will continue to do as it pleases.

By the wikipedia definition:
Multipolarity is a distribution of power in which more than two nation-states have nearly equal amounts of military, cultural, and economic influence.

From the same source:
In terms of military power, Nuno Monteiro writes that American defense spending is "close to half of global military expenditures; a blue-water navy superior to all others combined; a chance at a powerful nuclear first strike over its erstwhile foe, Russia; a defense research and development budget that is 80 percent of the total defense expenditures of its most obvious future competitor, China; and unmatched global power-projection capabilities."[8]

The world is too big for the US to control it but it seems to me they will remain the dominant power by far for the foreseeable future.

Americans have annointed their President the leader of the free world and are seemingly content with having a massive military budget and bases around the world.

China and Russia, even together, can't match the power and influence of the US.

A while back I was hearing noises about using a different currency in oil trading and a general desire to move away from the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. I could be unaware but it seems like that plan isn't happening.

Whenever things get rocky economically in the world people swarm to the US dollar even when the US caused the problem as happened in 2007/2008. (I remember because it surprised me.)

Sun, 2021-10-31 14:03

#39

NDPP

For me the most important part is at the end. Question: 'How should the Western left approach the shift in the global order? Especially on how we should approach China. I'm curious what your response is...'

Vijay Prashad:

"Chomsky recently said 'the United States is the greatest threat to the world.' I would say to any young leftist, take Chomsky seriously.

You need to build a movement inside countries like the US, Canada, Great Britain and so on, that's against militarism.

So much of your wealth is spent on building destructive capacity. Why don't you have a robust peace-movement, an anti-war movement?

Fight to shift this spending. Take care of poverty in your countries. Build a movement inside your country against militarism. I think that's a responsible thing for a person on the left.

Frankly, the primary issue for anyone on the left - I want to ask them...What have you done today to abolish hunger in your country? The only way to abolish hunger is a better use of the social wealth. That's where the left should spend a lot of its energy.

Help your own country to establish a civilized order and at the same time cut back on the military spending which is used to cut the throats of people around the world. Spend a little more time building a movement.

When Italian communists visited Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh in the 1960s and asked very sincerely how they could help the oppressed people of Vietnam, he said 'Go home and make a revolution.'

Sun, 2021-10-31 14:03

#40

epaulo13

..you can always count on prashad for a thorough analysis

..2 things i'd like to add.

..climate is a wild card. i suspect it will lead to a global financial collapse. this will certainly provide opportunity for big changes.

..multi-polar is an improvement..i agree. but it's not the answer to the problems we face from working class perspectives. the world is not full of progressive leaders looking to express themselves. it's full of despots getting where they are with crooked elections..and more. and i include the western world when i say this.

Sun, 2021-10-31 14:03

#41

epaulo13

..cross posted

Sun, 2021-10-31 20:10

#42

Pondering

For me the most important part is at the end. Question: 'How should the Western left approach the shift in the global order? Especially on how we should approach China. I'm curious what your response is...'

My response is yes and I would add expanding links between leftists throughout the world which is already being done.

..climate is a wild card. i suspect it will lead to a global financial collapse. this will certainly provide opportunity for big changes.

I don't think financial collapse beyond the 2007/2008 example is possible. We dumped the gold standard. We have seen with bitcoin that money can be created out of thin air. All it takes is for everyone to agree that is is worth something. Then it does.

I do think climate change could bring radical change I just don't think it will include the financial system collapsing.

I hope that people will blame those that got us into this mess, Liberal and Conservative governments, and reject them.

Sun, 2021-10-31 20:21

#43

melovesproles

I like Prashad a lot too. I think he is spot on with what the Western left should be focusing on. And it does echo what I always found one of Chomsky's most compelling arguments-that the left in the heart of the empire should take advantage of its privileged position to shackle the militarism of its elites as much as possible because for most people in the world the consequences of such resistance tend to be much more deadly and severe. For me, that understanding has always been a bit of a litmus test between leftists that take this responsibility seriously and those who want to obsess about having the "correct" position towards the governments of other countries.

I agree that a multipolar world of antidemocratic militarized power blocs while an improvement to a unipolar world is far from ideal, but I think the (potential) power we as citizens have to reign in our own elites could have positive repercussions for movements in other blocs, whereas getting distracted from that only allows the world to slide further into nationalism and militarism.

Sun, 2021-10-31 23:03

#44

NDPP

Canada-China: Where to Next?

https://youtu.be/hD_-w0ql7pM

'What's next for Canada-US-China relations?"

Obviously more conventional than Prashad, but this discussion of 'Canadian interests' is worth a listen if only to sample some of the various elite views and considerations involved.

Sun, 2021-11-21 19:11

#45

NDPP

An excellent learned analyst on the increasingly dangerously provocative words and actions by the West against both China and Russia.

Alastair Crooke: Russia & China no longer accepting declining US shaping the international order (and vid)

https://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/540824-alastair-crooke-tensio...

"On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to former Middle East adviser to the European Union and the founder of Conflicts Forum, Alastair Crooke.

He discusses the rising tensions between the US and China over the US' tacit support for Taiwanese independence, the 'Kosovization' of Xinjiang and Taiwan, China and Russia's refusal to continue to allow the US to shape the future of the world and western media hysteria over a supposed invasion of Ukraine by Russia's Vladimir Putin and much more."

Sun, 2021-11-21 19:21

#46

NDPP

CrossTalk: Hybrid War (and vid)

https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/540659-hybrid-war-russia-belarus-eu/

"Growing tensions are in abundance in Eastern Europe. Some are calling this a hybrid war. But whose hybrid war against whom?"

Sun, 2021-11-21 23:54

(Reply to #46) #47

Pondering

NDPP wrote:

Canada-China: Where to Next?

https://youtu.be/hD_-w0ql7pM

'What's next for Canada-US-China relations?"

Obviously more conventional than Prashad, but this discussion of 'Canadian interests' is worth a listen if only to sample some of the various elite views and considerations involved.

That was really long to stay focused on but excellent aside from the neoliberalish feel.

I particularly appreciated Woo's suggestion of how to engage China on human rights. It would contribute to healing in Canada if we shared our failures with China rather than lecturing.

I agree that we should be strengthening ties as much as possible in as many areas as we can. It will make us less dependent on the US.

that we can support Taiwan without sending a warship through. It was not helpful. I agree that we can maintain our positions while still communicating respectfully with China.

The only kind of power Canada really has is soft power. It gives us nothing to be a lapdog to the US. They still do whatever they want without any regard for Canada.

Mon, 2021-11-22 10:39

#48

NDPP

'Soft-power' is no-power if you need acquiesence or permission from the hegemon to practice it.

Mon, 2021-11-22 14:50

(Reply to #48) #49

Pondering

NDPP wrote:

'Soft-power' is no-power if you need acquiesence or permission from the hegemon to practice it.

But we don't. We act as if we do but we don't. We accepted draft-dodgers. We did not join the coalition of the willing. We can have an independent foreign policy.

There is the limitation that we don't have a leader who is intellectually capable not that I am either, but then I'm not Prime Minister. It really is a sad state of affairs.

Mon, 2021-12-27 06:05

#50

NDPP

NATO in Russia's Crosshairs?

https://thesaker.is/nato-in-russias-crosshairs/

The Near Abroad of Russia, China and Iran:

"Russia is part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, like China and Iran, which espouse the principle of multipolarity, and so we must take a step back and try to discern what else is going on in the Near Abroad of these three states of the main island of Asia, and between the collective rimland West, as per Mackinder*. The situation may appear complex, but then a very simple scenario emerges. First what happened on Dec 15, 2021..."

* "Mackinder pointed out that in the context of global geopolitical processes, the Eurasian continent is found in the center of the world, with the Heartland occupying the center of the Eurasian continent.

His doctrine suggested that the geopolitical subject (actor) that dominated the Heartland would possess the necessary geopolitical and economic potential to ultimately control the World Island and the planet..."

The Heartland Theory and the Present Day Geopolitical Structure of Central Asia

https://www.silkroadstudies.org/resources/pdf/Monographs/1006Rethinking-...

Sat, 2022-01-08 00:55

#51

NDPP

Pepe Escobar: Steppe on Fire - Kazakhstan's Color Revolution

https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2022/01/06/steppe-on-fire-kazakhs...

"...The prospect of yet another color revolution inevitably comes to mind: perhaps Turquoise-Yellow reflecting the colors of the Kazakh national flag.

Especially because, right on cue, sharp observers found out the usual suspects - The American Embassy - was already 'warning' about mass protests as early as December 16, 2021.

Maidan in Almaty? Oh yeah..."

(See Mackinder, #50)

Geopolitical dance cards and who's making nice - or not - with whom

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