Another half-hour chat today between Alastair Crooke and Judge Napolitano, but not preceded by an SCF essay this time as that cam earlier as was provided in my previous article.
There is so much to try to wrap my head around- a rank amateur trying to unravel sectarian Muslim diplomatic allegiances and animosities- I’m getting cross-eyed! To read that the Yemeni population is primarily Sunni but Ansarallah (Houthis) are Shia?! Does this seriously divide Yemeni support for actively supporting Gaza and Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territory? Saudi Arabia is ruled by Salafist Muslims (who I know next to nothing about 🤯) who made life miserable for Yemen for many years- until the Houthis were able to send missiles into Saudi oilfield assets. I get the sense that they (Saudis) have more allegiance with Sunnis than Shia but the times they are a-changing thanks to Russian and Chinese diplomacy- I am humbled by their sensitivity and skill in nurturing the new multipolar World Order into existence. Shia and Sunni are at the table breaking bread together and realizing their common interests and agreeing to seek solutions to their differences - who’d a thunk it? I need to lay down………
Yeah, the level of duplicity over the decades by the al-Saud family is dizzying to be sure. Houthis are a Shia sect and march to their own drummer. West Asian Islam's manipulation by the British and French is a very large part of the problem--as I wrote, Imperialism. It's a shame Westerners aren't as concerned with their independence/freedom as Houthis. The world would be vastly different if that was the case.
I’ve since gleaned that Yemen is indeed split- with a western-backed government (Sunni, I’d guess )in the south with Aden as its capital, while Shia AnsarAllah (Houthi) is based in the hills to the north with Sanaa as its capital. I saw an old tourism website some time ago and apparently it’s a spectacular country - tropical beaches and deserts, ski hills and amazing agriculture (I used to to buy unbelievable Yemeni raisins in a Middle Eastern emporium in downtown Brooklyn- pre 911, I’m afraid) . It’s definitely on my bucket list!
The hinge is the hegemon and associates; as their viability diminishes through financial, economic, and social mal-management a new set of on the ground realities will take shape. It's the collapsing US empire which will suck the wind out of the eurocrats/bankster elites plans as they too deal with now evident social divisions and demographic realities. The drive to more equitable development arrangements is tipping the balance. For those of us living in the collective west financial cannibalism is looming.
it seems like the the west would still live to divide the ''arab world'' along sectarian lines - shite/sunni and etc. etc.. regardless uae and ksa are all about money and so they gravitate towards like minded assholes.. there are no morals or ethics that seem to motivate them.. case in point is their attempt at taking over southern yemen.. and of course the usa likes all that, as does israel..
Not so sure I agree with Crooke assessment US not wanting regional escalation nor removing military assets due to pre-election face saving measures. On the contrary US intentions are quite the opposite, although currently buying time. I do believe they have every intention to go to war directly with Iran, like Israel, whom believe Iran the primary obstacle to the greater Israel project and western regional monopoly of the gulf states.
The overall problem is how to continue control over the Oil Lands as domestic US oil extraction depletion rates begin to rise forcing more oil importation with a dollar no nation wants anymore. Resources are always at the root of Imperialism, and in this case the discussion made years ago of wars for oil is now muted despite the rising reality.
When considering the oil rich gulf states as a geostrategic global necessity, China is almost completely dependent on ME oil primarily from Saudi Arabia, the life blood of China's industrial manufacturing base and public enemy #1 for western Corporate interest.
Yes, China's dependent on imports for its hydrocarbon needs and gets a huge percentage from Russia. However, China recognizes the trap such dependence creates and is thus striving to become 100% energy self-sufficient, which means they have a plan and are executing it.
Thanks John. Russia has its plan too but it's vastly different given its vast resource base. The tough nut to solve is storage of already generated electricity. Eliminating Hegemony is a requirement for future energy production for the planet as we get into the latter quarter of the century. The reason is that energy production will be space-based solar since the harnessing of fusion continues to be so elusive.
Space Based Solar' now that's an interesting concept. Although hydrocarbons due to its high british thermal unit (btu) of energy density and the proliferation of NG due to new fracking will continue to play
Response to Karl Sanchez' "Crooke & Judge Napolitano Again & GCC Supporting Resistance?"
"It would appear that the unspoken goal of current Outlaw US Empire West Asia policy is to muddle through without there being another major explosion while Biden can say “We tried to move the Two-State Solution” while of course continually supporting the Genocide."
In my view, this is a smokescreen. There may be some people who are more election-oriented, such as Jake Sullivan, who would prefer to avoid a major war, but in my view almost everyone else around Biden - and Biden himself - are fully on board for a major war.
BUT - and this but applies to virtually every President and every Beltway politician and policy bigwig - they don't want to be BLAMED for starting the war. The "enemy" has to be the one blamed by the world for the war, or at least the US electorate has to believe that.
So the issue is how can they widen the war without making it obvious to J. Random US Asshole that the US is responsible for a war that will eventually be lost with thousands of dead US soldiers and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dead foreign civilians.
The answer is: bomb people all around the Middle East until someone reacts sufficiently severely enough to sell it to the dumb US electorate as a casus belli for war.
People keep talking about how little effect the bombing has in these cases. I'm listening to Colonel Macgregor talking about that with Daniel Davis right now. But that's irrelevant. The goal is to get a casus belli. The US has done this in most of its wars. It wanted to get into WWII, so it blockaded Japanese oil - an act of war - to which the Japanese responded with Pearl Harbor. Look up the phrase "Remember the Maine!" And of course, 9/11.
As Macgregor just said a moment ago, quoting the neocon Wolfowitz before 2003, "Let's just get the US army into Iraq!" - and then they'll figure it out. Except as Macgregor points out, this doesn't work. But it doesn't matter that it doesn't work. The goal is the war itself, win or lose. As we anarchists say, "War is the health of the state."
Then they go on to say, "well, we need to get our troops out of there" and "Biden can call Israel and end this", and other pointless comments which are irrelevant to the real situation because neither of those prescriptions will ever be done because they counter the real goal: to get a war.
Irritates me that no one has the balls to simply sit there and say, "The US wants war and will do anything it can to get it - as long as it doesn't get blamed for it." Period. End of story. What else needs to be said?
There is so much to try to wrap my head around- a rank amateur trying to unravel sectarian Muslim diplomatic allegiances and animosities- I’m getting cross-eyed! To read that the Yemeni population is primarily Sunni but Ansarallah (Houthis) are Shia?! Does this seriously divide Yemeni support for actively supporting Gaza and Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territory? Saudi Arabia is ruled by Salafist Muslims (who I know next to nothing about 🤯) who made life miserable for Yemen for many years- until the Houthis were able to send missiles into Saudi oilfield assets. I get the sense that they (Saudis) have more allegiance with Sunnis than Shia but the times they are a-changing thanks to Russian and Chinese diplomacy- I am humbled by their sensitivity and skill in nurturing the new multipolar World Order into existence. Shia and Sunni are at the table breaking bread together and realizing their common interests and agreeing to seek solutions to their differences - who’d a thunk it? I need to lay down………
Yeah, the level of duplicity over the decades by the al-Saud family is dizzying to be sure. Houthis are a Shia sect and march to their own drummer. West Asian Islam's manipulation by the British and French is a very large part of the problem--as I wrote, Imperialism. It's a shame Westerners aren't as concerned with their independence/freedom as Houthis. The world would be vastly different if that was the case.
I’ve since gleaned that Yemen is indeed split- with a western-backed government (Sunni, I’d guess )in the south with Aden as its capital, while Shia AnsarAllah (Houthi) is based in the hills to the north with Sanaa as its capital. I saw an old tourism website some time ago and apparently it’s a spectacular country - tropical beaches and deserts, ski hills and amazing agriculture (I used to to buy unbelievable Yemeni raisins in a Middle Eastern emporium in downtown Brooklyn- pre 911, I’m afraid) . It’s definitely on my bucket list!
The hinge is the hegemon and associates; as their viability diminishes through financial, economic, and social mal-management a new set of on the ground realities will take shape. It's the collapsing US empire which will suck the wind out of the eurocrats/bankster elites plans as they too deal with now evident social divisions and demographic realities. The drive to more equitable development arrangements is tipping the balance. For those of us living in the collective west financial cannibalism is looming.
it seems like the the west would still live to divide the ''arab world'' along sectarian lines - shite/sunni and etc. etc.. regardless uae and ksa are all about money and so they gravitate towards like minded assholes.. there are no morals or ethics that seem to motivate them.. case in point is their attempt at taking over southern yemen.. and of course the usa likes all that, as does israel..
Thus my concern about them becoming BRICS members.
yes - a fair concern, for fair weather friends, lol..
Not so sure I agree with Crooke assessment US not wanting regional escalation nor removing military assets due to pre-election face saving measures. On the contrary US intentions are quite the opposite, although currently buying time. I do believe they have every intention to go to war directly with Iran, like Israel, whom believe Iran the primary obstacle to the greater Israel project and western regional monopoly of the gulf states.
The overall problem is how to continue control over the Oil Lands as domestic US oil extraction depletion rates begin to rise forcing more oil importation with a dollar no nation wants anymore. Resources are always at the root of Imperialism, and in this case the discussion made years ago of wars for oil is now muted despite the rising reality.
When considering the oil rich gulf states as a geostrategic global necessity, China is almost completely dependent on ME oil primarily from Saudi Arabia, the life blood of China's industrial manufacturing base and public enemy #1 for western Corporate interest.
Yes, China's dependent on imports for its hydrocarbon needs and gets a huge percentage from Russia. However, China recognizes the trap such dependence creates and is thus striving to become 100% energy self-sufficient, which means they have a plan and are executing it.
Thank you Karl your knowledge abounds.
Thanks John. Russia has its plan too but it's vastly different given its vast resource base. The tough nut to solve is storage of already generated electricity. Eliminating Hegemony is a requirement for future energy production for the planet as we get into the latter quarter of the century. The reason is that energy production will be space-based solar since the harnessing of fusion continues to be so elusive.
Space Based Solar' now that's an interesting concept. Although hydrocarbons due to its high british thermal unit (btu) of energy density and the proliferation of NG due to new fracking will continue to play
Response to Karl Sanchez' "Crooke & Judge Napolitano Again & GCC Supporting Resistance?"
"It would appear that the unspoken goal of current Outlaw US Empire West Asia policy is to muddle through without there being another major explosion while Biden can say “We tried to move the Two-State Solution” while of course continually supporting the Genocide."
In my view, this is a smokescreen. There may be some people who are more election-oriented, such as Jake Sullivan, who would prefer to avoid a major war, but in my view almost everyone else around Biden - and Biden himself - are fully on board for a major war.
BUT - and this but applies to virtually every President and every Beltway politician and policy bigwig - they don't want to be BLAMED for starting the war. The "enemy" has to be the one blamed by the world for the war, or at least the US electorate has to believe that.
So the issue is how can they widen the war without making it obvious to J. Random US Asshole that the US is responsible for a war that will eventually be lost with thousands of dead US soldiers and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dead foreign civilians.
The answer is: bomb people all around the Middle East until someone reacts sufficiently severely enough to sell it to the dumb US electorate as a casus belli for war.
People keep talking about how little effect the bombing has in these cases. I'm listening to Colonel Macgregor talking about that with Daniel Davis right now. But that's irrelevant. The goal is to get a casus belli. The US has done this in most of its wars. It wanted to get into WWII, so it blockaded Japanese oil - an act of war - to which the Japanese responded with Pearl Harbor. Look up the phrase "Remember the Maine!" And of course, 9/11.
As Macgregor just said a moment ago, quoting the neocon Wolfowitz before 2003, "Let's just get the US army into Iraq!" - and then they'll figure it out. Except as Macgregor points out, this doesn't work. But it doesn't matter that it doesn't work. The goal is the war itself, win or lose. As we anarchists say, "War is the health of the state."
Then they go on to say, "well, we need to get our troops out of there" and "Biden can call Israel and end this", and other pointless comments which are irrelevant to the real situation because neither of those prescriptions will ever be done because they counter the real goal: to get a war.
Irritates me that no one has the balls to simply sit there and say, "The US wants war and will do anything it can to get it - as long as it doesn't get blamed for it." Period. End of story. What else needs to be said?
I liked what Ritter said about Biden's latest crimes:
“We are a terrorist organization, and we are sponsoring attacks against the legitimate government of Syria,” Ritter lamented. “That's the mission. And I wish every American would recognize this and understand that there's no legitimacy here. It's actually the most illegitimate mission one can imagine. And it should disgust every American that we are literally state sponsors of terrorism.” https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/we-defeat-ourselves-us-backed-orgy-of-violence-in-iraq-syria-further-delegitimizes-country-1116610978.html
Gets my knickers in a twist as well, cuz. To quote the immortal Talking Heads song, “I’ve said it before, why say it again? Psycho killer……….”